waxe hot in the minority of Charles the Ninth the Princes which enuied one another pretending on both sides the specious name the defence of Religion and those of the reformed Religion beeing grieuously oppressed And herevpon the Papists of England by I knowe not what hope which they had conceiued thereby to oppresse the Protestants many discourses of importance were whispered very secretly in priuate assemblies and all full of suspicion Margaret Countesse of Lenox who had a secret intelligence with the Queen of Scotland and the Earle of Lenox her husband were for a time put and detayned vnder the custodie of the Master of the Rolles Arthur Pole and his Brother Nephews sonnes to George Duke of Clarence King Edwards Brother Anthony Fortescue who had married their Sister and others were brought into examination for hauing conspired to withdraw themselues into France to the Guizes and from thence to returne with an Armie into Wales and declare the Queene of Scotland Queene of England and Arthur Pole Duke of Clarence as they at their Tryall ingenuously confessed neuerthelesse protesting that they intended not to doe it while Queene ELIZABETH liued and that they had been seduced by diuiners to beleeue that shee should dye that yeere for which they were condemned to dye notwithstanding for the respect which was had vnto their bloud they were suffered to liue But as many haue thought they vsed Katherine Gray very seuerely though she was much neerer of kinne to the Queene being Daughter to the Duke of Suffolke For hauing beene married to Henry eldest Sonne to the Earle of Pembrooke by him lawfully repudiated and left long time in great contempt finding her selfe with child neere her lying down was put in the Tower of London although shee protested that she was married to Edward Seimor Earle of Hertford and great by him Hee himselfe being returned from France whither he went for his pleasure by the Queenes permission hauing made the like acknowledgement was also imprisoned in the same Towre the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others were appointed to examine and decide the Cause without appeale and when hee could not produce witnesse of his marriage within the time prescribed him the Arch-bishop by a definitiue Sentence pronounced That the Carnall company which he had had with her was illegitimate and vnlawfull and that for this offence they ought both to be punished This Sentence was impugned as wicked and vniust by Iohn Hales a man very opinatiue but otherwise very learned who maintained that their sole consent did legitimate their coniunction for which reason he himselfe was committed She was deliuered in prison of her first-borne and afterwards her Keepers being corrupted by the Earle of Hertfords deuice Edward Warner Lieutenant of the Towre was punished as conscious of the fact and displaced Hertford is accused in the Starre-Chamber of three crimes that he had deflowred a Virgine of the Bloud-Royall broken the Prison and had accompanied with her since Whereupon after hauing protested that hee was lawfully married to her he confessed that hauing found the doores of the Prison open hee had visited her in the affliction which was caused by the sentence pronounced against them and had payed her the duty of wedlocke For which cause hee was fined fiue thousand pound for euery offence and kept Prisoner nine yeeres Yet neuerthelesse by perswasion of Lawyers hee insisted against the Arch-bishops sentence by interiecting an appeale and continued to visit her priuily But in this time hee voluntarily and publiquely left it off and she after some yeeres to the end I may in the time of their separation speake ioyntly of them fell into a grieuous sicknesse after hauing in the presence of Hopton Lieutenant of the Towre demanded pardon of the Queene in regard shee had married without her aduice and with Prayers re-commended her Children to her trust and Hertford his libertie She dyed in Christ piously and peaceably Warre renewing then in France betweene the Princes of the Bloud and the Guizes vnder a feigned pretence of Religion as I haue said one sought for to strengthen both parties Queene ELIZABETH began to feare lest neighbour-warres should intangle England therein For she had learned that the Guizes to draw Anthonie of Burbone to their partie had boasted to put him in possession of Nauarre to marry him to the Queene of Scotland and to giue him in dowry the Kingdome of England at the expence of the Spaniard and by the authority of the Pope who would breake the marriage because his Wife was an Heretique and by the same meanes depose Qu. ELIZABETH of her Kingdome as being so Vpon that she sent H. Sidney a man of great renowne that he might informe himself more surely of these things to exhort vnto peace the Conductors of these seuerall parties But the businesse was come to such a passe that the eares of both parties were shut against peace Sidney being returned from France is forthwith sent to the Queene of Scotland that the Colloque which shee desired to be holden in England with Queene ELIZABETH might be prorogued vntill the yeere following or vntill the Warres in France were abated Now it is consulted on whether it were expedient or not that these two Princesses should speake together in that the Queene of Scotland desired it the first it was not without suspition she did it to serue her owne ends and sought out stratagems in their season or to affirme the right which shee pretended to haue in England or to giue hope and increase of courage to the Papists of England and to the Guizes in France Some thought the contrary that this would be a meanes to vnite them with a firme friendship to decay by little and little the alliance with France and to draw the Queene of Scotland to the Protestants Religion Others obserued that such communications might rather sow seedes of emulation than of loue and that the shew of riches and power of the one would euer excite the enuy of the other and that the presence not answering to the opinion and reputation of the body of the grace in speaking and of the gifts of the spirit would leaue both to the one and the other some thing of reprehension The Queene of Scotland did likewise iudge that it were not safe for her to expose her selfe into the power of Queene ELIZABETH with whom shee had contended for the right of the Kingdome and as shee had learned that shee had openly declared her selfe for the Protestants of France shee was likewise in doubt on what side to ranke her selfe considering how shee her selfe had written that of the Father side she had drawne her extraction from England and of her Mother side from France that shee had beene crowned Queene of France and was Dowager of it that shee was the most certaine Heire of England and looked for the succession that if shee were obliged to her Vnkles of France who
put these words into her eares Mortua non mordet Being dead she will byte no more And notwithstanding as she was naturally slow to anger she had this custome that she neuer would enter vnaduisedly or without premeditation into any action so she began to weigh in her minde whether it were better to put her to death or to let her liue From putting her to death she was disswaded By her owne naturall clemency not to vse cruelty to her who was a Princesse and her next kinswoman from the feare that she had Histories should make her infamous to posterities and from the dangers which might fall vpon her as from the part of the King of Scotland who then was the next in succession to the Crowne of England so also from the Catholick Princes and from desperate people who would attempt any thing From pardoning of her likewise she foresaw no lesse danger to ensuâ— That the Nobility which had giuen the sentence against her would couertly seeke to regaine the fauour of her and her sonne and that could not be done without danger to her selfe That her other subiects would take it ill when they perceiue their labour to be lost and though then they were carefull for her welfare yet hereafter they might grow carelesse and that many would change their religion and become Popish vpon a supposition of greater hopes seeing her preserued as it were by fatall prouidence to inherite the Kingdome of England That the Iesuites and Seminaries whose eyes were all cast vpon her seeing her sickly and not like to liue long would be so much the more busie to procure the death of Q. Elizabeth to set vp their religion Her Courtiers also ceased not to suggest these and the like things vnto her Wherefore should you pardon so monstrous a malefactor being already iustly condemned who after shee had subscribed to the combination made for the preseruation of your health and safety notwithstanding presently after attempted the taking away of your life and thereby to procure the vtter ruine of Religion the Nobilitie and commons Clemency indeed is a Princely vertue but not to be shewed to such as are mercilesse Let the vaine shew of mercy yeeld to life-preseruing seueritie and haue regard that your mercy bring you not to misery It is enough to haue the commendation of clemency in that you haue once giuen pardon to pardon her againe were nothing else but to pronounce her innocent to condemne the States of the Kingdome of iniustice to animate her agents to attempt new mischiefes and to discourage your faithfull subiects from hauing any care for the preseruation of the weale publick Religion the Common-wealth your own welfare the loue of your countrey the oath of association the care of posteritie to come doe all together begge and beseech you that she which desireth the destruction of all these may speedily be brought to destruction her selfe If these be not heard there is no safety left for this State and Historians will leaue it recorded to the ages to come that the fayre sunne-shine dayes of all prosperity which were in England vnder Q. Elizabeth ended in a darke and dreadful euening nay turned into a dismall night of eternall obscurity Our posterity shall find that we wanted wisedom hauing power to foresee our miseries but not to preuent them the which will thereby become the greater the grossenesse whereof will be imputed not so much to the malice of our enemies as the improuident stupidity of these times That the life of a titulary Queene of Scotland was not so much worth as the safety of this whole kingdome nor is there any place left for lingring for delayes are dangerous We should not giue malefactors of that monstrous nature leaue to breathe which from their insolency will take their last support and from the impunity of their crime expect some recompence He which keepeth not himselfe out of danger when he may seemeth rather to tempt God than to trust in him All the danger that can be from strangers will cease with the cause and cannot harme England vnlesse it be by her What will or power soeuer the Pope can haue to hurt will cease with her death The Spaniard can haue no cause to finde fault who for his own security put his onely sonne Charles to death and doth what he can at this present also to make away Don Antonio King of Portugale the more to extend his ambition The king of France entertayneth an inuiolable league of loue with England and is aboue all things so interested herein that by the present dispatch of the Q. of Scotland the hope of the Guises shall be layd flat vnder foot since it is so that out of the desperate hope they haue in the long looked-for ayde from their kinswoman their insolency is growne so great at this time against him That the King of Scotland euen in nature and out of a true respect of his royalty cannot but be moued to displeasure at his mothers death yet he will rather out of better deliberation wayt wisely till time shall ripen his hopes with security than to attempt out of season the things which can affoord him nothing but disturbance and danger And the neerer he shall growe to his great hopes the farther off will forraigne Princes who of customary course are alwayes opposite to the growing greatnesse of others estrange themselues from him They propounded also to her domesticall examples because that that which is warranted by president is the more tolerable As What comportment the Kings of England for their securities haue had with their competitors namely Henry the first with Robert his elder brother Edw. the third or rather his mother with Edward the second Henry the fourth with Richard the second Edward the fourth with Hen. the sixt with his sonne the Prince of Wales and George of Clarence his owne naturall brother Henry the seuenth with the Earle of Warwick the yonger sonne of the Duke of Clarence and HENRY the eightth with De-la-Poole Earle of Suffolk with Margaret of Salisbury and Courtney Marquesse of Exeter all which in comparison of their offences dyed for very sleight matters Neyther did the Courtiers only suggest these and the like to the Queene but diuerse fiery-tongued Preachers also tooke occasion to exercise with all asperity of spirit the heate of their desires in hastning on her death Sundry also of the vulgar sort were of the same temper according as their affections or humours carried them away with hope or feare Amidst these sad-afflicting thoughts of minde which so troubled the Queene of England's perplexed heart as that she delighted to be all alone and to sit solitary by her selfe neyther looking vp nor vttering any speech yet would suddenly many times breake out into these words and sighing say AVT PETERE AVT PERCVTE and withall also a kinde of Emblem PREVENT THE STROKE BY STRIKING shee deliuered Secretarie Dauison letters vnder her
to the poore of London and two hundred to the poore of Norfolke Hee had to Sonne William Bolene who was made one of the eighteene selected Knights of the Bath at the inauguration of Richard the Third To whom Tho. Earle of Ormond who was had in so great estimation with the Kings of England that hee only of all the Peeres of Ireland had place and voice in the Parliament and before the Barons of England gaue him his Daughter and Coheire to wife he had by her besides the Daughters which he married to Shelton Caltrop Chaire and Sackuil beeing very rich and of renowned Race Tho. Bolene who beeing but a Youth Thomas Howard then Earle of Surrey and afterwards Duke of Norfolke a famous Warrier chose him to bee his Sonne in Lawe and gaue him his Daughter Elizabeth to wife HENRY the Eighth employed him in two honourable Embassies after hauing made him Treasurour of his House Knight of the Order of Saint George and Vicount Rochford afterwards Earle of Wilton and Ormond and Lord Priuie Seale He amongst other Children had Anne Bolene who beeing sent in her tender yeeres into France was seruant to Mary of England Wife to Lewis the 12. afterwards to Claudia of Brittaine wife to Francis the First and after her death to Mary of Alanson who from her cradle was a speciall fauourour of the Protestants Religion in France Afterwards she being returned into England and entertained to be one of the Queenes Maids of Honour in the twentieth yeere of her age King HENRIE being eight and thirtie fell vehemently in loue with her for the modest behauiour which accompanyed her beauty and the French iollity which seasoned her modesty but not being able to ouercome her chastity he sought to haue her to wife in hope to haue a Linage by her Now before to take this matter a little more deepely after he had liued seuenteene yeeres with Katherine his wife who was of a pious conuersation and of the Spanish grauitie but subiect to aborsements that of all her Children shee brought foorth none liuing but MARIE he begunne to distaste her by the cunning practice of Cardinall Wolsey who was then raised to the highest degree of power and authority about the King but in some fort ouer swayed by his owne affections For being displeased with Charles the fifth Emperour Nephew to Katherine because he had denyed him the Arch-bishopricke of Toledo and then aspiring to the Papasie his hatred to him and his loue so affectionately carried toward the French King he so wrought that he purposed a wife for Henry out of France The King beeing prone to his pleasures prepared this scruple of conscience That the marriage which he had contracted with Katherine who before had beene wife to his brother Arthur was forbidden by the Diuine Lawe although Pope Iulius the second had giuen a Dispensation for it Afterwards he did inculcate into the Kings eares how greatly he had offended God in marrying Katherine and how grieuous a sin he should wallow in if hee kept her that hee had incurred the Sentence of Excommunication that God had powred his wrath vpon so vnlawfull a Marriage not suffering a Male to liue that was begotten of her and that if there were not a lawfull Heire assigned to the Kingdome no other thing was to be expected but that those mortall and cruell wars which had beene but lately lul'd asleepe should be awakened with new slaughters of his people and therefore that he ought for the taking away of all scruple from his conscience to repudiate her and that by assuring himselfe of a Successor in a lawfull line he should prouide for the safety of his soule which and likewise yeeres had been polluted with incest for so many of his Kingdome These reasons caused the King to entreate Pope Clement the Seuenth to depute some to take knowdedge of this cause and either to confirme the Dispensation by authority of holy Scriptures or absolue him of the Sentence of Excommunication and to declare this marriage to be of no force and that it might be lawfull for him to marry any other woman whom he should thinke fit notwithstanding any Canon to the contrary Hereupon the Pope delegates Cardinall Wolsey and the Cardinall of Campepe to whom he secretly gaue a Bull to this effect that he approued of the Kings vowes and granted his requests so farre as God would giue him leaue if the marriage which he had contracted with Katherine should be found vnlawfull and so declared to be But this Bull was to bee conceal'd or publisht according to the successe of the Emperours Affaires in Italy Then these questions begun to be moued euery where whether it were lawfull for a man to take his brothers wife or it beeing prohibited by the Diuine Law whether the Popes Dispensation could make it lawfull or no And when many Academies of Christendome and the most learned men had giuen their opinions and resolued that such a Marriage was repugnant to the Laws both of the Old and New Testament howsoeuer the Popes Dispensation might legitimate it The King became more passionatly amorous of the Lady Anne of Bolene then euer and the Cardinall repenting himselfe too late of what hee had begun grew discontented and wrought so vnder hand that the Pope by his pontificall authority refused to confirme the opinions of the Academies and by delayes after delayes the busines was drawn into length both at Rome in England The Cardinall feared Bolene who for the loue that shee bore to the Euangelicall Doctrine hated his proud and insolent carriage and the Pope feared the Emperour who at that time was powerfull in Italy who maintained to his vtmost power the cause of Katherine his Aunt neither would the Pope prouoke HENRY because hee had lately employed both his paines and pence to redeeme him from the Emperours men who kept him prisoner HENRIE boyling in choler for this refusall yet dissembling it both by Ambassadours and Letters continually solicited and humbly prayed the Pope and after him the Prelates and Peeres of England by request signed with their owne hands which they caused to be carried and presented at his feete to confirme by his Apostolicall Authority what the two Academies of England of Paris and many others and very learned and most entire men both within and without the Realme had set down for a truth and were ready to mainiaine it both by word and writing representing vnto him that it would be a remarkeable vnhappines if He should not obtaine this fauour from the Apostolicall Sea He beeing the onely man that had employed his Sword his Pen his word and power to defend the authority of the Pope and resisting many that stroue against it should bee the onely man to bee denyed the benefit of it and therefore they coniured him to grant it for feare that intestine warres should rise for the right of Succession Notwithstanding the Clergie fearing lest the
and marked it with dignities and Royall preheminences The which the States of Ireland had liberally offered to Henry the eighth and the Queene a little before vsed and enioyed the same But these things are not for this place The Romane Religion seemed then to be well established in England howbeit the Ecclesiasticall company seeing that Mary was now fortie yeeres old growne dry and sickly scarce hoping for any ofspring began forthwith to be afraid of ELIZABETH For they knew she was brought vp in the Protestant Religion and obserued that all men cast as vpon a rising Sunne both heart and eye vpon her Therefore they seriously consult from the very beginning of Maries Raigne how to preuent that the Religion now called backe should receiue any detriment by her The wiser and more consciencious sort iudged it to be an exceeding foule crime to destroy Royall Linage and Mary herselfe who was a godly Princesse though displeased with her Sister for the discord of their Mothers yet certaine sicke-braind fellowes who neither durst vndertake any thing nor performe any thing by right or wrong to establish the Catholike Religion did thinke it fit And it happened very commodiously for them that Tho. Wyat Peter Carew Iames Crofts and others for the Protestants seditiously endeuoured to doe rash and turbulent things labouring with all haste to mary ELIZABETH to Edward Courtney Earle of Deuon-shire She as being guilty hereof is thrust into prison first of all vncertaine rumors are dispersed that she was a partaker of sedition thereupon many are brought in question for their heads and others brought to the Racke Croft with a religious asseueration openly affirmed that she was no way guilty and out of all offence for sedition Wyat also it was thought who was ready to vnder-goe his last punishment would haue accused her and hee openly professed the same Neuerthelesse she is put into the hands of Keepers who hurry her this way and that way at length her Seruants and Maides are laide in fetters harder dealing then her dignity deserued In the meane time the French King Henry the second by priuate Letters full of loue comforts her and by many and great promises seekes to draw her into France whether for loue or by deceit to beget her a greater danger I will not say to make way to the Queene of Scots his Neece to the Crowne of England after Queene MARY In like manner Christian the Third King of Denmarke who long before made profession of the Protestants Religion endeuours all he can and treates vnder-hand to marry her to Frederick his Sonne Which when the Papists of England perceyued they againe threaten perill and mischiefe and fearing her cry out that all of the Romane Religion Queene and Kingdome are in ieopardy while shee subsists therefore necessarily to condemne her eyther Laesae Maiestatis or as a depraued Heretique and during that storme whilest cruelty was rigorously exercised vpon the meaner sort of Protestants I. Storie Doctor of the Law and others cunningly giue it out in all places in seuerall assemblies that they vnderstood it was practising to extirpate and ridde out Heresie ayming at her without sparing the smallest branches Notwithstanding moderating her selfe imitating the Mariner when a storme violently increaseth heard diuine Seruice according to the rule of the Romish Church came often to Confession and verily beeing oft rudely and churlishly disturbed by Cardinall Pole the terrour of death made her confesse her selfe to bee a Romane Catholique Howbeit MARY hardly beleeued it not forgetting that herselfe being forced by the same apprehension had by Letters written to her Father with her owne hand which I haue seene renounced for euer the authority that the Pope pretended to haue in England and acknowledged her Father to be Soueraigne Head of the Church of England and that the marriage betwixt him and her Mother was incestuous and vnlawfull Neyther could the Cardinall and other Prelates perswade themselues to it who to assure the Romane Church wished her to be taken out of the way But Philip MARY'S Husband and other Spaniards being more iust on ELIZABETHS behalfe would not heare of that Not that the fortune of an afflicted Princesse mooued them so much to mercy as their owne reason circumspectly aduised them Because fore-seeing if ELIZABETH were cut off that by Marie Queene of Scots next Heire to the Kingdome of England now married to the Dolphin of France England Ireland and Scotland might be ioyned to the Scepter of France then which nothing could be more fearefull to the greatnes of Spaine with whom they haue continuall warres When therefore without impietie they could not put ELIZABETH to death many thought it would be most aduisedly done to remooue her farre from England and marry her to Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy Neyther did this please Spaine who before had purposed her for Charles his sonne And Thomas Cornwallis who was of the Queenes Councell likewise disswaded it telling Her that the people of Englād would hardly beare it yea in no wise suffer it that the next Heire of the Kingdome should be carryed away into a forreine Countrey At which time MARY for her inueterate hatred to ELIZABETH and because shee refused to marry with Sauoy grew to that heat of anger that shee ouer-charged her with reproaches and often-times would not stick to say that Marie Queene of Scotland was the certaine and vndoubted Heire of the Kingdome of England next to her selfe These consultations holden against ELIZABETH were taken away by a warre which MARY denounced in the behalfe of her Husband against France which although that was the prime and principall cause shee neuerthelesse alledged others and those most true viz. That France against the Lawes of couenant had nourished and sustained by his Agents and ministers the Rebellions of the Duke of Northumberland and Tho. Wyat the machinations and workings of Dudley and Ashton against her person sent out Pyrats against the English Merchants furnished Stafford with Ships and Armes to possesse the Castle of Scarborough had attempted by wicked practices to surprize Callais permitted English mony to be counterfeited and adulterated in France and inuaded the Low-Countries which the English by couenant are bound to defend In this flaming warre and the Scots stirred vp by the French inuading the Frontiers of England Calais is lost the Castles of Lisbanck Newnambrig Mere Oyes Hammes Sandgate the Castle and Towne of Guines and amongst the frequent Funerals of Prelates which sad presage seemed to fore-shew the displeasure of the diuine power MARY neglected of her Husband and with concocted griefe for the losse of Callais which had beene Englands rightfully two hundred yeeres with a Feuer and the Dropsie the seuenteenth day of Nouember 1558. departed hauing reigned fiue yeeres foure moneths A Princesse of a holy behauior to al her piety to the poore liberalitie to the Nobles and Clergie can neuer enough be praysed But the time was
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.
with wisedome and kept by care was firme and lasting Now how by her Masculine care and counsell she surmounted her Sexe and what shee did most wisely in preuenting diuerting and powerfully resisting the attempts of her Enemies those that now liue and shall hereafter will bee able to iudge of what I shall drawe out and set forth of things if I may call them so in the Kingdomes owne memory At that time the Emperour and the Christian Princes interceding by continuall Letters that she would vse the Bishops which were retyred out of her Realme gently and suffer the Papists to haue Churches in Townes by the Protestants She answered that although the Bishops had in the sight of all the world against the Lawes and Peace of the Kingdome and obstinately reiected the same Doctrine which the most of them had vnder the Raigne of HENRY the Eighth and EDVVARD the Sixth propounded to others voluntarily and by publike writings that she would vse them meekely for those great Princes sakes notwithstanding shee could not doe it without offending her Subiects But to let them haue Churches by the others shee could not with the safety of the Common-wealth and without wounding of her Honour Conscience neither had shee reason to doe it seeing that England imbraced no new Religion nor any other then that which Iesus Christ hath commanded that the Primitiue and Catholike Church hath exercised and the ancient Fathers haue alwayes with one voice and one mind approued And to allow them to haue diuers Churches and diuers manners of seruice besides that it is directly oppugnant to the Lawes established by the authority of the Parliament it were to breede one Religion out of another and drawe the spirits of honest people into varieties to nourish the designes of the factious to trouble Religion and Common-wealth and to confound humane things with Diuine which would be ill in effect and worse in example pernicious to her Subiects and not assured at all to those to whō it should be allowed and aboue all at their request she was resolued to cure the particular insolency of some by winking at something neuerthelesse without fauouring in any sort the obstinacie of their spirits The Spaniard hauing lost all hope to marry her and beeing ready to marry the Daughter of France notwithstanding thinkes seriously of England nothing desirous that it should be ioyned to the Scepter of France and to retaine the dignity of so great a Kingdome in his House obtained of the Emperour Ferdinand his Vncle that he would seeke her to wife for his second Sonne which he as soone did by very louing Letters and followed it very carefully by Iasper Preimour a resolute Baron of the Countrey of Stibing The Spaniard himselfe to bring her to that promised her speciall affection and she of her side made him offer by Thomas Chaloner of her Ships and commodity of her Hauens for his Voyage for Spaine which he was about with all remarkable duties of Friendship The French on the other side casting an eye vpon England left the French Garrison in Scotland in fauour of the King Dolphin his sonne and Mary Queene of Scotland which hee had promised to take from thence vpon the agreement before mentioned and sent thither vnder-hand supplies sollicites the Pope of Rome more vehemently than euer to declare Queene ELIZABETH an Heretique and illegitimate and Queene Mary of Scotland legitimate of England and although the Spaniard and the Emperour hindered by their contrary and most strong practices though secretly by the Agents which they had at Rome neuerthelesse the Guizes carried their credulous ambition with such a flattering hope to ioyne Englands Scepter to France by the meanes of the Queene of Scots their neece that hee came so farre as to challenge it for his Sonne and for his Daughter in Law and commanded them in all their Royall Letters to take this Title Francis and Mary by the grace of God King and Queene of Scotland England and Ireland and to let the Armes of England be seene in all places causing them to be painted and grauen together with the French Armes in their moueables and vtensils in the walls of their houses in their Heralds coates of Armes notwithstanding any complaint that the English Ambassadour could make that it was a notorious wrong to Queene ELIZABETH with whom hee had newly contracted a friendship being manifest that hee had not done it during the reigne of Queene MARIE though she denounced warre against him Hee also leuied horse and foote in France and Germanie to goe to the Territories of Scotland neerest adioyning to England insomuch that Queene ELIZABETH had good cause to apprehend it seeing that he breathed nothing but after the bloud slaughter of the Protestants But these enterprizes were broken by his vnlooked-for death hapning at the Tilting which was for the recreation and solemnizing of the marrriages of his Daughter with the King of Spaine and of his Sister with the Duke of Sauoy And much to the purpose it fell out for Queene ELIZABETHS businesse whom hee resolued to set vpon with all his forces as well for being an heretique as also illegitimate on the one side by Scotland and on the other side by France Neuerthelesse to giue him royall honours after his death shee caused his funerall solemnities to be performed as to a King a friend with the greatest pompe in Saint Pauls Church in London and forthwith sent Ch. Howard Effinghams sonne now great Admirall of England and Ireland to condole with him for the death of his Father and to congratulate his succession to Francis his Sonne and Successour exhorting him to entertaine inuiolably the friendship which had lately beene begun But Francis and the Queene of Scotland his wife by the counsell of the Guizes who then had some power in France behaued himselfe publiquely as King of England and Ireland kept alwaies the English Armes which hee had vsurped and made shew of them more than euer and N. Throgmorton ordinary Ambassadour a wise but a hote man complained to them of this They first answere him that the Queene of Scotland had right to carry those Armes with a barre to shew the proximity of bloud which shee had with the royall Race of England After when he had maintained that by the Law which they call the Law of Armes it is not permitted to any to take the Armes and Markes of any House vnlesse hee be descended of some of the Heires of it obseruing to tell him that shee carried them not but to cause the Queene of England to leaue those of France But hauing vpon that put them in minde how D. Wotton had afore-time treated at Cambray how twelue Kings of England had carried the Armes of France and by a right so seldome called in question that by any of the treaties which were made betweene the English and the French nothing had beene resolued to the contrary hee gained in the end
being diuorced from his first Wife tooke in her place the Lady Ienet Beton Aunt by the Mothers side to the Cardinall Beton by whom hee had Issue Iames Hamilton Duke of Chastel-Heraut Marie Sister to the Earle of Arraine bore to Mathew Iohn Earle of Lenox who being slaine by the Hamiltons when hee attempted to set King IAMES the fourth at liberty left this Mathew Earle of Lenox whom King Iames the Fifth loued most dearly in respect of his Father When the King was dead and the Hamiltons in full authority Mathew went secretly into France from whence being sent backe by the French King Henry the second into Scotland to preuent all detriment to the Scottish Common-wealth through the practices of the Regent Hamilton hee valiantly carried himselfe in this employment But being of an honest milde nature and very open-hearted permitting himselfe to bee out-reached by Hamilton and the Cardinall Beton in a small time hee lost the amity of the French and when hee could neither tarry in Scotland nor returne into France he went into England and committed himselfe in trust to King Henry the Eighth who very graciously entertained him as one that was powerfull well beloued in the Westerne parts of Scotland Whervpon he acknowledged him for next Heire to the Crowne of Scotland after Queene MARY who was then exceeding yong though neuerthelesse the Hamiltons condemned him and confiscated all his Lands gaue him to Wife the Lady Margaret Douglasse his Neece by the elder Sisters side with demeanes in England which amounted in an annuall reuennew to the summe of 1700. Marks after hee had made promise to surrender into his hands the Castle of Dunbritton and the I le of Buthe with the Castle of Rothsay which is in England The which hee vndertooke with courage but fayled in the successe The Queene of Scots beeing a wise and prudent Lady all whose drifts aymed at England shee gaue him her safe conduct and restored vnto him his Fathers goods both that hee might oppose the designes of Iames his bastard brother whom shee had honoured with the Earledome of Murray as also to cut off the hopes of others by the meanes of Darley her Sonne which they might any wayes foster and nourish of succession to the Diadem of England For shee feared that being of the Blood Royall borne in England and very well beloued of the English if hee were ioyned with any puissant Family in England relying on the English power and forces hee might happely one day disturbe her right of succession to the Kingdome of England many men reputing him for the second Heire apparant after her and shee affected nothing more feruently then by his meanes to bring the Kingdomes of England and Scotland to fall into some Scottish Race and Name and so by him to propagate them to posteritie in the name of the Stewards his Ancestors Queene ELIZABETH well discerned all this and to preuent it gaue the Queene of Scots to vnderstand by Randolph that this Marriage was so distastfull to all the English as against the consent of her Councell she was enforst to prorogue the conuentions of Parliament to some other fitter time for feare lest the States of the Kingdome therewith prouoked should enact somewhat to the preiudice of her right to the succession And therefore to cut off all occasions of this Issue hereafter and to satisfie the English she aduised her to thinke of some other marriage and so by this meanes shee once againe and with great affection commended vnto her the Earle of Leicester for an Husband who for this speciall reason she had exalted to the Dignity of an Earle For prosecution of this the Earles of Bedford of Randolph and of Lidington were deputed to treat of this marriage at Barwicke in the Moneth of Nouember The English promised vnto her a firme and constant Amity a perpetuall Peace and that vndoubtedly shee should succeed to the Crowne of England if she married with the Earle of Leicester The Scots on the other side contested alleadging That their Queenes Dignitie who had beene sued vnto by Charles Sonne to the Emperour Ferdinand the King of France the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Ferrara could not permit her so farre to embase and vnder-valew her selfe as to match with a new-made Earle a Subiect of England and who propounded nothing but bare hopes without any certaine Dowrie neither stood it with the honour of the Queene of England to commend such a man for an Husband to so great a Princesse her neere Kinswoman but rather shee should giue an infallible testimonie of her great loue and affection towards her to giue her absolute libertie to make choice of such an husband as might entertaine perpetuall peace with England to assigne her a yeerely Pension and with the authority of the Parliament confirme the right which shee had to succeede In all this busines the extreme desire of Queene ELIZABETH was although she made discreete haste to assure by such a marriage the succession of the Kingdome in an English Race The Queene of Scotland seeing that this businesse had beene prolonged full two yeeres and making account to marry Darley doubted whether she was proceeded withall in good earnest or no and that Queene ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage but to make a pre-election of the most worthy for herselfe or to marry the more excusable with Leicester She beeing absolute Queene after she should haue really consented to marry him But the Commissioners of Scotland weighing these reasons to maintaine their power with the Queene had resolued to hinder by all meanes all kinde of marriages Queene ELIZABETH admonisheth them to hinder that with Darley Leicester himselfe full of hope to enioy Queene ELIZABETH by secret Letters priuily warnes the Earle of Bedford not to presse the thing and with this hope it is credibly thought that hee secretly fauoured Darley THE EIGHTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1565. DARLEY in the meane time by the intercession of his Mother with Prayers and diligence to Queene ELIZABETH obtained though with much difficultie leaue to goe into Scotland and to stay there three Moneths vnder pretext to be partaker of his Fathers establishment and came to Edenborrough in the Moneth of February in the great winter when the Thames was so frozen that people passed dry ouer on foot Hee was a Youth of a most worthy Carriage fit to beare rule of an excellent composition of members of a milde spirit and of a most sweet behauiour As soone as the Queene of Scotland had seene him she fell in loue with him and to the end to keepe her loue secret in discoursing with Randolph the English Ambassadour in Scotland she often-times intermixt her discourse with the marriage of Leicester and at the same time seekes a dispensation from Rome for Darley shee being so neere in bloud that according to the Popes Ordinance they stood in neede of one This being come
of Desmond who had faithfully promised to performe all the dueties of a loyall Subiect and others who were broken out into ciuill warres To extinguish these Controuersies Queene ELIZABETH calls Desmond into England and makes him Gouernour and Iustice of that Prouince with an Assessor two Lawyers and a Clerke and nominated Warham S. Leger chiefe President a man that had beene long conuersant in Irish affaires About the middle of October the same yeere dyed Thomas Chaloner lately returned Ambassadour from Spaine a famous man borne in London brought vp at Cambridge who had addicted himselfe as well to Mars as to the Muses and being but young got honour vnder Charles the fifth in the expedition of Alger who hauing suffered ship-wrack and had swomme so long that his strength and armes fayled him saued himselfe by taking hold of a Cable with his teeth whereof he lost some Vnder EDVVARD the Sixth at Mussleborrough where hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that the Duke of Sommerset honoured him with the Dignitie of Knight-hood And vnder Queene ELIZABETH in an extraordinary Ambassie to the Emperour Ferdinand and foure yeeres ordinary Ambassadour in Spaine where he composed fiue Bookes in pure and learned Verse of the restauration of the English Common-wealth which he called Hieme in fumo aestate in horreo Hee was honourably buried at Saint Pauls in London Cecill being chiefe mourner when Thomas his Sonne who liued neere HENRY Prince of Wales was very yong THE NINTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1566. IN the beginning of the yeere Charles the 9. King of France sent into England to the Queene Rambouillet with the Robes of the order of S. Michael to bee giuen to two of the Peeres of England whom shee pleased She made choice of the Duke of Norfolke as being much more noble then any other and to the Earle of Leicester louing him very well Rambouillet hauing beene for and in the Name of his King placed honourably at Windsor amongst the Knights of the Order of Saint George inuested them solemnly in the Royall House at Westminster This shee tooke for a great honour remembring her selfe that no English was euer honoured with this Order saue HENRY the Eighth EDVVARD the Sixth and Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke But when she exactly obserued all things that belonged to the honour of it she was at length much displeased to see it so vilified that it was prostituted indifferently to euery man And shee busied her selfe not onely in things concerning honour but chiefely what was for the good of her Subiects For the Ayre beeing so intemperate that yeere that experienced men feared a want of Corne and other victuals she did not onely prohibit any Corne to be carried out of the Kingdome but tooke care that great quantity was brought in While these things past Henry Earle of Arundell being great and powerfull among the Lords of the Realme after hauing consumed much wealth vpon a vaine hope to marry the Queene and the Earle of Leicester who then was in great credit with her and his friends which had failed in the trust which hee reposed in them taking away this hope quite from him tooke leaue of her and voluntarily went out of the Kingdome vnder colour to recouer his health but in effect to strengthen himselfe against sorrow But the other English who for their naturall valour thought themselues borne to liue in Armes and not in idlenes seeing the Nobility of all parts did rise at the report of the warre against the Turke and carried their Armes and Courages into Hungarie Amongst whom the most remarkeable were Iohn Smith cousin german to EDVVARD the Sixth by the Sister of I. Seimor the Kings Mother H. Champernon P. Butshid R. Greuill G. George T. Cotton c. In Iune following the Queene of Scotland had a most auspicious and happy Deliuery for the eternall prosperity of Great Brittaine IAMES her Sonne who is now Monarch thereof whereof she gaue present notice to Queene ELIZABETH by Iohn Meluin Queene ELIZABETH howsoeuer angry to see her out-strip her in honour who enuied her as speedily sent H. Killigrewe to congratulate her lying in and the birth of her Sonne and to admonish her not to fauour any longer Shan O-Neale who rebelled in Ireland nor to assist Roquerbay an English Fugitiue and to punish some theeues that rob'd vpon the Borders After hauing vn-wearied her minde by a Progresse to shew herselfe as fauourable to the Muses of Oxford as well as of Cambridge betweene which there was then a sincere emulation goes toward the Vniuersitie of Oxford where she was magnificently entertained and staid there full seuen dayes taking pleasure in the pleasant aspect of the place at the beauty of the Colledges in the spirits and learning of most exquisit Schollers which passed the nights in Comedies and the dayes in learned Disputations for which she gaue them ample thankes by a most sweet discourse in Latine and a most louing farewell As soone as shee was returned to London the States of the Kingdome assembled there the first day of Nouember beeing the day assigned and after hauing established a Statute or two they begun to dispute among themselues of the Succession of the Kingdome seeing that the Queene hauing vowed Virginity had already reigned eight yeeres without thinking seriously of an Husband that on the one side the Papists made account of the Queene of Scots who had lately had a Sonne that on the other side the Protestants being deuided some of them made account of one and some of another and euery particular prouiding for their safety and Religion presaged the stormes of a most fearefull time if shee should dye without assuring a Successor And the keener sort of spirits proceeded so far as to blame her as if she abandoned both her Country and Posteritie and to teare by reprochfull defaming Libels wicked Councellor therein and to curse Huic her Phisicion because he disswaded her to marry for I know not what womanish infirmity The Earles of Pembroke and Leicester were openly and the Duke of Norfolke couertly of opinion that a necessity of marriage should be imposed vpon her or else publikely to appoint a Successor by authority of the Parliament whether she would or no which caused them to bee forbidden to enter into the Priuie Chamber or come neere the Queene who neuerthelesse granted them pardon as soone as they demanded it They neuerthelesse being much troubled and all the rest of the vpper House of Parliament touching the Succession all with one mind by the mouth of Bacon Keeper of the great Scale according to the dutie which they ought vnto God the fidelity to their Prince and the charity to their Countrie so to doe that as by her meanes they then sweetly enioyed all the benefits of Peace Iustice and Clemency they and their posterity might by her meanes likewise enioy the same assuredly and continually But
bee thought not to respect her who had been wife to the King his brother and now the Dowager of France and to neglect the now puissant Family of the Guizes in France or to approoue that pernicious example of deposing of Kings And which was the most capitall point of all that shee finding her selfe abandoned of the French in her aduersity might seeke Patronage from Spaine and that by her meanes the three prepotent Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland might colleague them in amity with Spaine to the no small endamagement of the State of France To these Qu. ELIZABETH with milde alacrity answered THe King of France will be well aduised what or how he shall doe with the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding she was their Queene and now is their Dowager howbeit for the dissoluing of the Duke of Aniou's mariages she hath held secret cōsultation with the Spaniard He will also consider whether that ancient Law of Alliance be violable and whether he be bound therby or no to defend the King in his nonage He will also bethinke him how much France is beholden or obliged to the Family of the Guizes by whose practices the Countrey hath beene afflicted with long and bloody wars the French haue beene forced to lose the loue of Scotland and the poore Queene brought into this calamitable case she is in In very deed the example of deposing Kings I hold a thing most pernicious and well deseruing infernall punishment but for that the Scots are to answere And for mine owne part I call to mind the things which grieue my heart to remember But notwithstanding I know not how the French in old times allowed of Pepin when he supplanted Childeric Hugo Capet Charles of Lorraine depriuing them of their ancient successions descended to them from a long-continued Race of Ancestors to transferre the Scepter to new-erected Families As also Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundie exiled Iaquette from his countries of Hainault Holland or the Danes when they expulst from his Kingdome Christianus the second and his Daughters Or the Spaniards who imprisoned the Queene Vraca after they had put her from the Crowne It is no nouelty for Sonnes to succeed their deposed Mothers So Henry the Second was admitted King of England Alphonsus the yonger Sonne of Vraca King of Castill and of late memory Charles the fifth King of Spaine and Sicily their Mothers then suruiuing The world is full of examples of many Queenes that haue exchanged their Diademes for prisons which France doth testifie at large hauing imprisoned not to say further the wiues of three of their Kings one after another Lewes Hutin Philip the long and Charles the faire For my part I detaine the Queene of Scots vnder a reasonable Guard but I doe it for the preseruation of England and mine owne safety after the example of the French who for their better security of affaires put Chilperic into a Monasterie Charles of Lorraine into a safe and straite prison and Lodowicke Sforza Duke of Mylan into a Dungeon with Iron grates Whereunto as she was very conuersant in the Histories of all Nations shee annexed other examples of the same nature drawne out of the Historie of Spaine and finally concluded that true it was such Presidents carried euer with them some semblance of Iniustice but she required that the King of France would vndertake the defence of the Queene of Scotland euen as he was bound by his Allyance intimating that it would bee an action of greater glory to the French than all those vnhappy enterprizes they assumed in the cause of that infamous woman Iane of Naples But when it was discouered that at the same time the Queene of Scots practised secretly to confirme an alliance with the Spaniard by the negotiations of the Lord Seton who arriuing in Essex disguised in the habit of a Mariner and returning from thence into Scotland through England hee had promised succours in the Duke of Aluaes name to the Scottish partakers with the Queene shee was kept with a straighter Guard and the affection borne to her by the French by little and little waxed cold And certainely as the Duke of Alua omitted nothing wherein he might vent his hatred to Queene ELIZABETH so was shee no lesse cautelous to preuent it and frustrate his dissignes For in the first moneths of this yeere hee complained by the Spanish Ambassadour in England that the Flemmish Rebels bought all their warlike munition there and were receiued into all her Ports and Hauens shee presently by a strict Proclamation commanded that all Flemmings any wayes suspected of sedition should depart out of England and that their ships of warlike equipage should be seysed vpon in her harbours All which returned to the dammage of the Duke of Alua. For Humes Earle of March and other Flemmings reduced as it were to a desperate poynt whether they were terrified by this Proclamation or that they were vnder-hand admonished to retyre but they presently surprised the Breele which is seated vpon the mouth of the Meuse caused Flushing forthwith to reuolt and other Townes which expelled the Spaniards as they were in hand to make cittadels to captiuate their libertie in a short time cut off the Duke of Alua by Sea and through the meanes they had to make it good for themselues had a power to molest and detaine the Spaniard with a long and tedious warre wherein Souldiers haue obserued that hee shewed for his part such palpable carelessenesse and negligence as was not beseeming so great a Generall who for the space of foure whole yeeres grossely ouer-slipt the maritime affaires and expeditions of Flanders At the same time there was a famous generall muster before the Queene at Greenwich with a pleasant trayning in Armes by the Citizens of London and after their returne from thence martiall men who began to rust and corrupt in their owne houses began to flow out of England into Flanders and according as they stood affected betooke themselues some to the Duke of Alua and others the farre greater number to the Prince of Orange who opposed his proiects for the defence of Religion and his Countries libertie Amongst whom Sir Thomas Morgan was the first that brought three hundred men into Flushing vpon the report whereof the Duke who intended the recouery of it forbare and retyred Further hee vsed such expedition and diligence as hee caused greater troupes to come for after himselfe there landed nine Companies more of English conducted by Humfrey Gilbert who being consorted with the French first attempted to surprize Scluse and Bruges then hee set vpon Tergow in Suethebenelant But their scaling-Ladders being too short hollow correspondancie betweene the French and the English and Mondragon comming on with fresh succours for the assieged they retyred to Flushing of which both the one and the other sought to make themselues masters each to themselues But the Prince of Orange made good vse of this
to incite him to doe good to the religious Princesse the Lady Charlotte of Bourbon daughter to the Duke Mont-pensier who fled for her Religion into Germany But hee obtained nothing for France as it were pushed by fate ran headlong into a direfull warre Neuerthelesse the King and his mother the Queene writ iointly into England and sent La Garde to prosecute the marriage of the Duke of Alanzon For seeing this young Prince grow cholericke to see himselfe so vnworthily handled by his mother on all sides as if he had beene a prisoner and vnderstanding that he held secret Councel with the Politicians of France they thought it safest to diuert him from warre to send him into England In the interim they imployed all their cunning in Scotland to get Iames the young King ouer into France and to displace Morton the Vice-roy from his charge and for this purpose they sent thither the Kings Scottish guard The Queene of Scotland greatly desired this perswading her selfe that if her sonne were in France out of danger shee and the Catholikes should be more gently handled in England that the English faction which was in Scotland and alwaies relying vpon the Kings name would quickly be ruinated as he riper increased in yeres so the English should increase in feares as well of the French partie as of the Scots side The French did no lesse desire it fearing that the Regent of Scotland who was altogether at the deuotion of the English would breake the ancient Alliance which was betweene them and the Scots and neuertheles then when he instantly required that they would contract the Alliance of mutuall defence against strangers betweene England and Scotland it was denied him lest perhaps he should by the same meanes demand an annuall Pension to bee assigned to him and certaine Scottish men But eare was giuen to those who vpon a light suspicion accused the Queen of Scotland the Countesse of Shrewsbury and the Earle himselfe to haue without the Queenes priuity made the marriage between Charles the Paternall vncle of the King who had a little before confirmed vnto him by Parliament the County of Lenox and the Lady Elizabeth Cauendish the Countesse of Shrewsburies Daughter by her first Husband Wherevpon the mothers of either sides and others for this cause being kept prisoners a little time imputed and laid all the fault vpon the Queene of Scotland As it was vnknowne whither this marriage tended and that diuers suspicions had their birth by it Henry Count of Lidington was established President of the Assembly of the North with new instructions and secrets for this affaire This kind of Magistrate which at this present is very honourable hath in a little time from weake beginnings growne to this greatnesse and now what I haue learned of it by a free and short digresion I meane to leaue to posterity When in the reigne of HENRY the Eighth the rebellion of the inhabitants of that Countrie had stirred vp for the destruction of Monasteries was laid asleepe many made complaint of the iniuries which he had receiued during that Rebellion vnto the Duke of Norfolke who remained in those parts some of which he determined and left the rest to be finished by persons which to this purpose hee had established with Commissions sealed with his owne Seale but the King being aduertised hereof sent him a particular Seale to serue in such causes and hauing reuoked him gaue that Commission to Tunstall Bishop of Duresme and appointed Commissioners with power to heare and determine the complaints of the poore Hee was the first which bare the name of President and since the authority of his Successours hath bin of great value In these times the superfluity of Apparell so preuailed in England by a Vice peculiar to the Nation which pleaseth it selfe by imitating others that the ancient fashion fell in such disgrace that the men by a new fashion of habit and too much brauery made manifest the filthinesse and insolency of their spirits swaggering euery where couered with silke gold and siluer pure and mingled The Queene marking that this superfluity drew euery yeere out of the Kingdome to the dammage of the publike great quantity of money for the buying of silke and other strange Merchandizes and that many Gentlemen who might doe good seruice to the Publike and others to seeme to be He did not onely consume their demeanes to their particular dammage but also increased their debts vsed deceits and by this meanes fell into the nets of the Law and after they had prodigally lauisht their goods studied to make a change she endeuoured to prouide a fit remedy for it And although by the Lawes of HENRY the Eighth and MARY she could preuaile against them and draw from it great summes of money neuerthelesse she rather lou'd to preuent it by a simple commandement She commanded therefore that within 14. dayes euery one should forme his apparell to the prescribed fashion if he would not incurre the seuerity of the Lawe and shee herselfe began this reformation in her Court But by the malice of time this Edict and these Lawes by little and little gaue place to this superfluity which grew to a greater height of insolency was immediately traced by the riotousnesse of Feasts and splendor of Buildings for since that time more magnificent ample and faire Countrie houses of Noble-men and priuate men haue beene raised vp in England then in any other Ages whereby truly the Kingdome was greatly adorned but the glory of Hospitality greatly decreased The English which were at warre in Holland vnder Chester and Gainsford failed this yeere the one in vertue the other in successe For those which lay in Garrison at Valkenburgh gaue ouer the place and yeelded to the Enemy neuerthelesse they were pardoned for feare lest Queene ELIZABETH should not suffer the Spanish Fleet which was sayling towards Flanders vpon the Sea of Great-Brittaine to enter into her Hauens to victuall themselues The others which were in the Channell of Sluce after they had sustained a sharpe Combate and couragiously repulsed the Spaniards being surprized by theit enemies who had trauersed the Riuer were ouerthrowne and chased from the place with the losse of three hundred men and three Ensignes I know not whether it be expedient to record these triuiall things That this yeere the pious credulity of certaine Preachers of London was deceiued by a young wench who fained herselfe possessed with a Deuill That there was a great Whale found dry on the Shores of the I le of Thanet whose length was twentie Elles of our measure the breadth from her belly to her backe bone thirteene foote the space betweene her eyes eleuen foote That the Thames did ebbe and flowe twice in one houre That in the moneth of Nouember from the North to the South fuming Clouds were gathered together in a round the night following the Skie seemed to burne the Flames running
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-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
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
extremities that can be imposed on a poore Prisoner All conference with my sonne by Letters or Messengers for this yeare hath been denyed me renting if it were possible the sonne from the mother by a sad separation of spirits I haue often propounded Articles of peace and concord to bee confirmed betwixt vs at Chatesworth by the most Christian Kings Ambassadors eleuen yeares agone both to your Deputies and to your selfe and by my owne the last yeare I dealt sincerely with Beal But these profers were still reiected delayes interpos'd my best meaning euer suspected and the affection of my true-intending heart continually condemned Nor haue I reaped any other fruit by my long suffering but that by a Prescription I am dayly handled worse and worse not indeed as a Prisoner but as some abiect seruant of base condition But truely I cannot longer endure these indignities howsoeuer the matter shall fall out if I die I will manifest the Authors of my death if I liue I shall so effect I hope that the malicious practices of my Aduersaries shall dye and passe the remainder of my dayes in more tranquilitie Wherefore to take away all occasions of scandall betwixt vs let the testimonies of the Spaniards which were lately taken in Ireland and all the examinations of the Iesuites be produced against mee Let mee be arraigned openly come in who can to accuse me prouided withall I may haue the liberty to defend my selfe and not be condemned before I be heard The malefactors and vilest Prisoners are permitted to defend themselues and to confront their accusers Why then am I denyed this lawfull libertie being an anointed Queene your nearest Kinswoman and the next lawfull heire to your Kingdome But this last is that excruciates my Aduersaries whose chiefest studies are bent to breed debate betwixt vs. Alas alas and why should this vex or afflict my enemies when as I protest before God and on my honour I haue not thought this long time of any Kingdome but that of heauen Neuerthelesse you are bound by oath royall duty and Iustice not to disturbe or impeach after my death my sonnes most certaine Right nor to abett or aide those which seriously and secretly labour his ruine both in England and Scotland as is too-too well knowne by the dealings of your Ambassadors in Scotland who haue dealt no doubt without your priuity most treacherously with me and all by the Earle of Huntingdons setting on Is there any iust dealing in this that a Mother should not be suffered to succour her sonne in distresse nay not so much as to be let vnderstand how he doth If such as you sent for my sonnes good had taken my aduice by the way they would haue beene the welcomer to him and I the more obliged to you nor was there any reason you should so long conceale their goings thither nor then keepe mee so straightly shut vp but to speake freely I beseech you let no more such be imployed for Scotland Thus much I dare promise my selfe that Hunsdon will doe nothing but that standeth with his honour nor Huntingdon any thing may tend to my good for that which he hath already practised against me I entreat you therefore by the bond of that consanguinitie which is betwixt vs to bee circumspect for the safety of my sonne not to intermeddle your selfe with the businesses of Scotland before you haue consulted with mee and the King of France and hold all those for Traitors which keepe my sonne in hold not suffering him to goe any where but at their pleasure In fine I coniure you by the Crosse and Passion of Christ our Redeemer that after so many yeares of desolation I hauing libertie may vpon iust tearmes be suffered to retire my poore weake body into some quiet place out of England there to refresh mee before my death after the long and loathsome time of my imprisonment This doing you shall eternally oblige vnto you me and mine but aboue all my sonne Nor wil I euer cease to craue this till you haue granted it me my indisposition enforcing this importunity Let mee be vsed hereafter a little more gently otherwise I shall not be able to endure nor put mee off to the disposing of any but of your selfe What good or euill hereafter shall betyde me I will impute all to you vouchsafe mee this fauour to let me know your pleasure either by your letter or by the French Ambassador I can repose no confidence in those things which the Earle of Shrewsbury hath imparted vnto me they are so mutable I writ of late to your Councell but you sent me word to acquaint none but your selfe with my businesse for there was no equity in it in giuing them so much power to afflict me And I cannot apprehend it otherwise but that some ill-willers of mine were the occasioners of it for feare that others duly considering my iust complaints in regard of your honor their duties should haue opposed thēselues And now the last thing I am to desire is that I may haue some reuerend Catholicke Priest to instruct me in Religion for the saluation of my soule This is a last duty not to be denyed to wretches of meanest ranck You suffer the Ambassadors of foraigne Princes to vse their Religion and my selfe sometimes haue granted toleration of seuerall professions to my subiects If this be denyed mee I hope to bee excused before God and I feare mine Aduersaries shall not passe vnpunished Assuredly it will be a president to other Christian Princes to exercise the like seuerity amongst their subiects of different Religions if this bee offered me an absolute Princesse of your nearest alliance As I am I will euer be affected to you in despight of my Aduersaries and stomacke they me neuer so much I desire not to haue my family increased but I vpon necessity intreat to retain two of my maid-seruants to attend me in my sicknesse let not mine enemies asswage their cruelty vpon me in causing me to bee denied so small an office of humanity Whereas I am taxed by the Earle of Shrewsbury to haue dealt otherwise then I promised Beal in surrendring my title in Scotland to my son without your priuity Beleeue not Beals suggestions for I past no promise but vpon certaine conditions which I am not bound to performe on my part vnlesse they be performed on yours I haue yet receiued no answer thereof and they haue beene long time silent but for all that in Scotland they haue not ceased their trecherous practizes to the ruine both of me and my son I cannot take this long silence but for a deniall and so I haue certified your Councell by Letters That which the King of France and the Queene his mother haue communicated to me haue I sincerely communicated to you and required your aduice but you haue not vouchsafed me one word in writing or by word of mouth I cannot before I shall know what it is submit my selfe to your
signifying to him that hee was at that instant in danger both of life and fortunes hee entreated him to conceale the matter and to cause them to retire that were knowing of the departure of the Lord Paget and the ariuall of Cha Paget all which hee presently dispatched and likewise remoued a farre off the seruant that hee had vsed betweene C. Paget and himselfe The Sollicitor further added That being a Prisoner hee had corrupted his Keepers and by their meanes gaue Shelley to vnderstand all what hee had confessed That Shelley also by a woman which was hyred to be a priuate messenger betweene them let him know that he could no longer abstaine from confessing that their conditions were farre vnequall because hee should bee forced by torments but the Earle by reason of his place and order not therefore sent him the copie of his confession Whereat the Earle groaned and would often say as Pantin the seruant of his Bed-chamber confessed that by the confession of Shelley he was vndone for euer After this the manner of his death was by testimony of the Coroners inquest of the Lieutenant of the Tower and of Pantin openly declared and from thence was gathered that he for feare lest his house should bee vtterly subuerted and himselfe dishonored had dispatched himselfe Certes diuers good men much sorrowed that so great a personage should perish by so miserable a death being induced thereto partly because they naturally fauoured Nobility and partly because he had obtained much praise by his valor What the suspicious fugitiues muttered against a certaine Bailiffe a seruitor of Hatton who a little before was appointed one of the Earles keepers I will ouer-passe as not certainely knowne Neither doe I esteeme it fit to insert any vncertaine things or vaine heare-sayes Queene ELIZABETH hauing seene the open conspiracies of the Guises against the Protestant Religion the King of France and her selfe well perceiued whence and by whom these mischiefes were dispersed through England Shee to oppose their designes and to contract a league amongst the Protestants for the defence of the Religion sent Thomas Bodley to the King of Denmarke the Elector Palatine the Dukes of Saxony Wittenbergh Brunswicke Lunbourgh the Marquis of Brandenburgh and the Landsgraue of Hessen And amongst other things she commanded him to aduertise the King of Denmarke that it behoued him aboue the rest to oppose the practices of the Guise because they haue made no question to claime the Kingdome of Denmarke as their kinsmans right for the duke of Lorraine as being son to the daughter of Christierne the 2 King of Denmarke neither did the Duke of Lorraine himselfe dissemble the same then when not long before he laboured to obtaine the Queene in mariage And to prouide least any danger should breake through Scotland as through a backe doore into England shee sent Edward Wotton to signifie to the King how acceptably she embraced the declaration of his loue to her by Patricke Gray and by Iustice Cleric And to draw him to a mutuall League of offence and defence by proposing to him the dangers that then threatned and menaced the profession of the Gospell And to offer him an annuall pension the better to maintaine his Royall Dignity because the reuenues of his Kingdome were much shortened by the negligence of the Regents And to commend vnto him in the vvay of mariage the daughter of the King of Denmark And earnestly in her name to make intercession for those Noblemen of Scotland that liued banished in England And to promise him that she would send them backe if she found the offence against the King to haue beene practised by them Wotton found the King affectionately bent to this League notwithstanding that the Earle of Arran and others of the French faction laboured to diuert him and the Estates of Scotland gaue their consent vnder their hands and seales for the conseruation of Religion to embrace this League prouided that the Queene would promise not to preiudice or hinder the Kings right in the succession of England so long as hee remained constant in his friendship and alliance But this matter was retarded and hindered by the death of Fra Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford who was slaine the next day after For I. Forster and T. Carre of Fernihurst gouernors of the middle borders betweene the Kingdomes of England and Scotland hauing assigned an assembly vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iune to treat of the receit and emploiment of the Fynances of the Kingdome after the promise of safety made by both parties with their oaths and Proclamation that none should offend either in word deed or looke for so the borderers spoke The Scots brought with them to the place the number of three thousand men or thereabout being armed and set in order of battell with their ensignes displayed and their drummes beating contrary to the custome in such affaires but the English not surpassing three hundred The Gouernours were no sooner seated to heare the complaints but a tumultuous vproare was raised by the occasion of an Englishman taken in theft the Scots discharging a shower of bullets slue amongst others Russel and put the English to flight and eagerly pursuing them for the space of foure miles within England they caried some back with them as prisoners The author of this murther was not assuredly knowne but the English imputed the fault to the Earle of Arran then Chancelor of Scotland and to Carre of Fernihurst The Queene presently dispatched Ambassadors and Letters demanding that the murderers might be deliuered into her hands Because Henry the seuenth King of England had long time before deliuered into the hands of Iames the fourth King of Scots Will. Heron and seuen other Englishmen for murdering of Ro Carre of Cesford vpon a day of assembly and not long before Morton the Regent sent Carmichel a Scot into England for the murder of George Heron. The King after protestation of his innocency promised to send Fernihurst and the Chancelor himselfe also so soone as by cleare and lawful proofes they were conuicted of set purpose to haue violated the safety or to be guilty of the murder Fenwick an Englishman accused Carre before the King but was refuted by his simple deniall because hee could not produce any Scotchman for a witnesse For it hath beene a custome and so a Law amongst the borderers in their iudgements of causes bred by an inueterate hate that no witnesse can be admitted but a Scot against a Scot and an Englishmen against an Englishman Insomuch that though euery one of the Englâ—sh which were present had plainely beene beholders of this murder yet their testimony would preuaile nothing Arran neuerthelesse was confined within his owne house and Carre was kept prisoner at Dundey where in a short time he dyed Hauing beene a warlike man and one prompt and fit to enterprise matters of importance who for his constant loue and faith
thing vnder her owne hand demanding withall what hurt any had receiued by any letters which came to her for a whole yeare together Then were the copies of Babingtons letters produced and read to her describing the plot of the conspiracy AS for these letters said she it may possibly be that Babington writ so but let it be proued that I euer receiued them If Babington or any haue affirmed it they haue belyed me Others crimes are not to be cast vpon me A whole Packet that had been detained a yeare together from me about that time came to my hands but sent from whom I know not To proue the receipt of Babingtons letters there was read the principall points of the letters out of his confession wherein he voluntarily granted that she had receiued them and had written back againe in which letters was mention made of the Earle of Arundell and his brethren and of the Earle of Northumberland which hearing she wept said NOw alas miserable woman that I am how many things hath that noble house of the Howards endured for my sake And after that hauing dryed her cheekes she said BAbington might confesse what he pleased but to say that she had practised to escape was a notorious vntruth That her aduersaries might as well as she get the same characters and write what falsities they would in the same nor was there any probabilitie that she should vse the helpe eyther of Arundell or Northumberland for her escape seeing the one was a prisoner and the other a young man and vnknowne to her They read also the abstracts of Sauages and Ballards confession importing that Babington had shewed them letters of hers But she protested He had neuer receiued any from her On the contrary she was so farre from consenting to the inuading of the Realme of England or giuing counsaile thereto that she alwayes perswaded the contrary Then they shewed her letters wherein she had commended and approued Babingtons proiects She demanded the sight of them which hauing seene she said These neuer came from her but peraduenture from the Alphabet of the letters she had in France That shee had labourd to recouer her liberty being a thing we all naturally desire and to sundry which had offered her helpe to that end whom she would not name she answered not a word yet notwithstanding she heartily desired that the persecution of Catholicks might cease in England and that she had begged it in loue of the Q. She would not purchase a kingdome with the bloud of the poorest subiect much lesse of the Queene That many had practised dangerous matters vnknowne to her and that by letters some had asked her forgiuenesse for so doing that neuer had spoken to her thereof That any might easily counterfeyt the cyphers or characters as a yong fellow in France not long since had done nominating himselfe the base brother of her sonne the King of Scotts and she suspected this was Walsinghams doing to haue her life who as she heard had practised both against hers and her sonnes She protested she had neuer conceiued any thing hurtfull to the the Queene and that she would more gladly lose her life than to be a cause that the Catholicks should be so afflicted and cruelly tormented And with that there gushed from her abundance of teares BVt said the Lo Treasurer there hath not any beene put to death for Religion which would become an obedient subiect onely some few for committing treason in maintayning the Popes Bull and authority against the Queene Yet I haue heard said shee the contrary and haue read as much in printed bookes The authors of such bookes replyed he write also that the Queene is to be depriued of all regall power Then Sir Francis Walsingham who was toucht a little before in words taking his time stood vp and hauing protested that he carried no ill will in heart said I Take God to record in the place of a priuate person I haue done nothing vnbeseeming an honest man nor any thing in publike but that becomes a person of my ranke I must say that out of my zealous care for the Queene and the good of the Kingdome I haue been inquisitiue in discouering conspiracies against her If Ballard had offered me his seruice I would not haue refused it but rather recompenced him for his paines If I conspired with him why bewrayed he it not to saue his owne life This answer as she said satisfied her And She desired him he would not be offended at that which she had heard by report and that he would no more beleeue her calumniations than shee did his for these pick-thankes are men of little credite which pretend one thing and say another and that he would not by any meanes beleeue that euer she had conspired the death of her dearest sister the Queene And here she brake forth into teares againe saying I will neuer make shipwrack of my soule by conspiring my dearest sisters death and ruine The Lawyers answered That would appeare by euidences This past in the forenoone In the afternoone to proue this they produced the copie of the letters which Charles Paget had written and Curle one of her Secretaries testified she had receiued touching conference had with Mendoza and Ballard for inuading the Realme and setting her at libertie This she said was nothing to the purpose nor any proof that she had plotted the Queenes destruction The Lawyers passing further said That they could proue she had conspired the Queenes death by the confession of Babington and letters of his wherein he called her his Lady and most excellent Queene as also out of those she had written vnto him And by the way put her in minde of consultation had how the kingdome of England was to be transferred to the Spanish King She confessed that once a Priest had visited her and said That if she interposed not her selfe her sonne and she both would be excluded from their inheritance but she would not name him He added That the Spaniard pretended a title to the crowne of England and would yeeld to none but her Then they pressed her vpon Babingtons confession from the testimonies of her Secretaries Nauue and Curle and letters written interchangeably betwixt them And though all the proofe was grounded vpon their bare assertions yet were they neuer brought forth face to face She confest Curle to be an honest fellow but no fit witnesse against her That Nauue sometimes Secretarie to the Cardinall of Lorraine had beene commended to her by the King of France and that he might be easily drawne for money hope or feare to depose falsly and had bound himselfe thereto by a rash oath hauing Curle a fellow of a flexible nature at his command to write what hee would And it may be they had put things into the letters which she dictated not possibly such letters might come to their hands which
nor acquainted with Court-tricks was purposely brought vpon the Stage as diuers haue thought to be an actor in this Tragedie and being put out of his part as being at a non plus in the last Act was for a long time after shut vp in prison to the great griefe of many Hitherto hath beene related what was publikely done against him Now obserue in briefe how he excuseth himselfe as I haue collected out of his owne accusation and the Apologeticall discourse which he made thereof to Sir Fr. Walsingham The queene said he after the Ambassadors of France and Scotland were departed wished me to shew her the Warrant for the execution of the sentence pronounced against the queene of Scotland Hauing shewed it she willingly set her hand thereto and bid me likewise affixe the great Seale of England and iestingly said You will shew this now to Walsingham who is sicke already but will dye when he sees it She added by and by That she had put it off so long because shee would not seeme to be carried away by violence yet knowing well the necessitie thereof Then blaming Sir Ayme Poulet and Sir Drue Dâ—ury for not hauing eased her of that care and trouble commanded Walsingham to know the cause of their cessation and delay The day after I had sealed the Warrant she forbade me by Killegray to doe it then telling her that it was done already shee checkt me for my diligence saying That by some wise-mens aduice another course might haue beene taken I answered that iust courses are alwayes good and sure But fearing she would cast some blame on me as she had formerly done vpon the Lo. Burghley about the Duke of Norfolks death I disclosed the whole matter to Sir Christ Hatton protesting that I would neuer hereafter be so forward in so weighty a busines Hatton presently discouered it to Burghley and he to the rest of the Councell who all concluding vpon the dispatch of the execution vowed as reason was to be faulty alike and to effect it sent Beale instantly away with the Warrant and Letters The third day after I perceiuing the Queene to be troubled in minde to haue the precedent night as her MAIESTY sayd dreamed of the Queene of Scotland's death I asked her if shee had changed her purpose She answered me That some other meanes might haue beene vsed and then inquiring of me Whether I had receiued any answer from Sir Ayme Poulet I shewed her his letters wherein he refused to vndertake the execution as vniust to which in great choler she replyed He and his confederats are all faithlesse periured in promising great matters and not performing but she should find some that for her sake would doe it As for my selfe I told her how ignominious it was and into what perills shee should bring Poulet and Drury If she approued the deed being done her renowne would be blasted with iniustice and disgrace besides other dangers and in disallowing it she should ruinate men of worthy merite and their posterity for euer would be vndon To conclude the very day that the queene of Scotland dyed her Maiesty checkt me iestingly for that it was not yet dispatched Now setting aside to speake of the anger and sorrow which the Queene of England conceiued for the death of the Queene of Scotland and her anger against William Dauison the truth is that the King of Scotland her onely Sonne drew thereof extreme anguish bitter and passionate torments shewing himselfe a more pious Son then any that can be heard or read of he lamented night and day his deare Mothers lamentable end in weeping and shedding many sad and brinish teares in his bitter agony not thinking that Queene ELIZABETH in regard of the mutuall loue which was betwixt them the late and strait contracted league of amity and the intercession of so many mighty Princes would haue suffered his Mother to haue beene exposed into the cruell hands of an Executioner she beeing a Princesse of coequall Maiestie of her neerest alliance and consanguinity from the Blood Royall nor could he receiue in Scotland Sir Robert Carie Sonne to Henry Baron of Hunsdon who was sent with Letters from ELIZABETH to excuse her Maiestie and to cast the fault vpon Dauison and the Councell He heard him but hardly from the mouth of another and hardly receiued the Letters he brought He reuok't the authority of his Ambassadour in England and thought of reuenge For there was no want of folke which were busie to egge him on by perswasions that the Christian Princes would not leaue vnreuenged so great and grieuous an iniury offered to Royall Maiesty and to the Royall Name The Estates of Scotland which were then gathered together in multitudinous numbers protested to his Maiestie that they were ready and prest to reuenge this death to defend the rightfull Title which hee had vnto England and in that to hazzard both life and goods and that they could not digest this iniury offered not so much to his Maiestie as to the whole Nation of Scotland Some perswaded him to demand Nauall assistance of the K. of Denmarke with whom he had then begun a Treaty touching marriage with his Daughter Others addicted to the Roman Religion exclaiming against the Queene of England that She which had slaine the Mother would willingly slay the Sonne too put it into his head to ioyne rather with the Kings of France and Spaine and with the Pope of Rome and that he might easily by this meanes possesse himselfe of England Aboue all he should not trust the Protestants of England That they were now at the full height of their power and sought secretly his ruine Others admonished him not to shew himself openly inclin'd to any party but to hold both Papist and Protestant in suspence Because that if he should openly ranke himselfe with the Protestants all the Papists of Europe in their practices would make him their marke to shoot at and would prouide them in England some other Support then he to rely vpon which could not be without danger to him Others aduised him to continue constant in amity with England not to expose or put foorth a certaine hope into the vncertaine hazzard of warre and to perseuer in the Religion now receiued wherein if he should seeme to wauer he could neither purchase friends nor put off enemies These were the things propounded to him by one and other as euery mans particular pleasure or desire carried him The King himselfe of perspicuity and politique apprehension aboue his age beeing some times alone by himselfe and sometimes with some few others not with precipitate rashnes which is alwayes blind but with deliberate consideration at many times and for a long space together cast these things in his mind But Queene ELIZABETH after shee had laid all the fault vpon Dauison and the rash credulity of her Councell seeketh by little and little to weare away his griefe lest consolations vntimely applyed
Hardinesse is a Vertue which encourages one to blame or defend things iustly her mediocrity is betwixt cowardnesse and temerity To her belong Magnanimity Magnificency Patience and Perseuerance Of True Honour TRue HONOVR which belongeth to Liberality and Iustice is a Diuine Vertue subiect neither to fortune nor force it is that which all good and vertuous men aime at leuell their actions Of Temperance TEMPERANCE is a morall Vertue which moderates sensuall voluptuousnesse and the couetousnesse thereof and the dolour or griefe which is still as it were linked with couetousnes shee mediates or is a meane betweene Intemperancy and Stupidity shee is perfected made whole by Bashfulnesse Honesty shee keepes vnder her AbstineÌ„cy Continency Sobriety and Chastity To her do belong Gentlenesse Clemency Humility Meeknesse and Moderation Of Magnanimity MAGNANIMITY belonges to Force and Courage it is a carefull vertue and as it were a spur to purchase supreme honours her mediocrity or mean is betweene Saperba and â—â—â—â—animity Of Clemency CLEMENCY is a morall vertue which moderating anger quencheth in vs fre or choler to produce pious actions she mediates or is a meane betweene Cruelty and too great Indulgency Of Truth TRVTH by which in all our actions humane society we should make things as they be her meane or moderation is betweene Simulation and dissimulation Of Liberality LIBERALITY is a Vertue truely Noble and most Diuine appertayning to Iustice This excellent Vertue moderating the desire to abound in riches rules the purchasing of goods and orders expences to produce in vs and bring forth to the world rare actions it is a meane betweene Auarice and Prodigality Of Ciuility CIVILITY is also a morall vertue which consisteth in vttering gracefully a speech or discourse in Company by this Vertue both praise and a good opinion is acquired it is a meane betweene Mirth and Melancholy Of Courtesie COVRTESIE is a Vertue truely morall by which we purchase loue in shewing our selues gracious and officious to those who stand in need of vs it is a meane betweene submission and rudenesse or harsh disposition Qu. Elizabeths extraction by the Fathers side The birth of the Lady Anne Bolene The King fals in loue with Anne of Bolone The reason why he puts away his wife The King entreats the Pope for expedition The Prelates and Peeres doe the like The King seeing himselfe contemned renounceth the Pope Marrieth Anne A Nunne of Kent suborned Authoritie of Ecclesiasticall giuen to the King Anne beheaded The King exerciseth his cruelty vpon Papists and Lutherans and his auarice vpon the Monasteries The Law of Six Articles He marries and diuorces Anne of Cleue Katharine Parre Reconciles himselfe with the Emperour Charles Assures the succession to his Children Take Bologne Dyed King Edward the Sixth succeedeth his Father The doctrine of the Gospel is brought in A miserable reigne vnder a King that is a Childe The Protector is sacrificed to death Elizabeth in fauour with her brother Her studies Mary is proclaimed Elizabeth ioynes with her The English with much adoe subiect themselues to the power of the Pope Vpon what conditions they were reconciled to the Church of Rome Reioycing for it at Rome Ireland erected a Kingdome by the Pope The Papists feare Elizabeth They persecute her The Kings of France Spaine comfort her Shee is for feare of death constrained to follow the Romish Religion They goe about to send her out of the Kingdome and exclude her from the succession thereof Calais lost Qu. Mary dyes And Cardinall Pole Booke 1. 1558. Booke 1· 1559. Booke 1. 1560. 1561. 1562. 1563. 1564. 1565. 1566. 1567. 1568. 1569. 1570. 1571. 1572. 1573. 1574. 1575. 1576. 1577. 1578. 1579. 1580. Booke 1. 1558. Queene Maries death is knowne Queene Elizabeth is proclaimed Queene by the Kings Heraulds of Armes Her Maiestie makes choice and election of a priuie Councell Her Maiestie hath a speciall care aboue all things to re-establish the true Religion She ordaines and settles states and domesticall affaires Her Maiestie takes a great care for forraine affaires Queene Elizabeth is earnestly solicited to marriage with Philip King of Spaine her Sisters Widdower Her Maiestie refused to marry with the King of Spaine The reason why Booke 1. 1559. Her Maiesty deliberates and labours for the re-establishment of the Protestants Religion She considers what dangers might happen therby Without the Realme Within the Kingdome Booke 1. 1558. The Queene rebukes and reprehends the impatience of certaine zealous Ministers of the Word of God Queene Elizabeth allowes diuine Seruice to be read in the English Tongue Her Maiestie celebrates her Sisters Funerall and that of the Emperour Charles the Fifth Booke 1. 1559. Queene Elibeth re-establisheth and creates diuers Noblemen On Wednesday the 23. day of Nouemb. Queene Elizabeth remoued from Hatfield vnto the Charterhouse to the Noble Lord NORTHS House where her Maiesty lay fiue dayes and rode in open Charet from the Lord NORTHS House along Barbican entring into the City at Criple-Gate and so came to the Tower from thence to Westminster where she was inaugurated Q. Elizabeths opinioÌ„ concerning sacred things She cals a Parliament which is held the second yeere of her raigne Propositions to reforme Religion The 18. of March. They establish a Dispute betwixt Protestant and Papist The successe thereof Sir Edward Carne is detayned at Rome Disputes and strifes for the Towne of Calais A treaty of peace with the French King The Castell in Cambresis Articles of Peace made and agreed vpon 'twixt the Queenes Maiestie and the French King Henry the second A Peace is concluded agreed vpon betweene the Queenes Maiesty and the Queene of Scotland The Lord Baron Wentworth and others are called in question and brought in compasse of the Law concerning the losse of Calais The whole Parliament doe exhort Queene Elizabeth to marry Thomas Gargraue's Speech made to her Maiesty to that purpose Her Maiesties answer to them all Other Laws and ordinances established by that Parliament The Nobles of the Land reestablished The Lyturgie appointed in English Papist Bishops deposed and discharged from their Benifices Other Protestants learned and zealous Diuines are instituted Bishops in their places By what degrees Religigion was altered here The profit which proceeds from change of Religion Her Maiesties diligent care to defend both the the true Religion and Common-Wealth Qu. Elizabeths Motto or Posey SEMPER EADEM Her answer to forraigne Princes interceding for the Papists The Emperour seekes the Queene for his Son The King of France challengeth the Kingdome of England for the Queene of Scotland Is killed as hee prepared for the war Francis the Second and the Queene of Scotland tooke the title of the Kings of England The original of the hidden hatred which hath beene betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland The French deale vniustly with the English Send men of warre into Scotland The Scots refuse to obey the Queene Regent They seeke helpe of Qu. Elizabeth They deliberate of
Ormond pursues the Rebels The Earle of Desmond writes to the Lord Chiefe-Justice Booke 2. 1580. James taken being wounded to death Desmond miserably oppressed Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland He pursues the Rebels They kill the English Italians and Spaniards land in Jreland They raise a Fort. They are besieged They answer to the Deputies demands They disagree Their Generall shewed himselfe a Coward They aske a parley They yeeld vpon discretion Strangers slaine with the Sword the Subiects hanged Excesse in apparell reformed The taking of Malines in Brabant The sacriledge of the English An Earthquake The Papists begin to be afflicted The beginning of English Seminaries Their Doctrine is then thought The euent proceeding thereof New Seminaries are sent into England To what end Jesuites doe steale priuately into England A Proclamation against Seminaries and Iesuites Robert Persons and Edmond Campian English Iesuits came into England Power granted to the Papists Who and what haue beene these Jesuits The English Fugitiues doe moue and excite strangers to war against their Prince and Countrey Queene Elizabeths declaration against them The seuerall Sects of Holland The house of LOVE A Proclamation against these Sects Francis Drake His originall extraction Francis Drakes education Drakes expedition in America A Vow Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America Jsla de Perlas John Oxenham depriued of life falls from a great and famous enterprize Drakes second voyage Doughtey beheaded Passeth the straightes of Magellan Eclipse of the Moone South Stars Little clouds of Magellan Drake finds booty both by land and sea Meets by chance with great wealth Sir Francis Drake takes a Spanish ship called Shite-Fire which hee made shite Siluer He thinkes of his return Drake discoueres a land which hee called the Nouam Albion He arriued at the Molucques Falls into a great danger He passeth beyong the Cape of Bona Esperance Returnes into England Drakes ship is consecrato perpetuall memory Francis Drake is knighted by Queene Elizabeth The King of Spaine by his Ambassadour demandeth Drakes goods which he had pirapirated He is answered The Spaniard hath part of Drakes money deliuered backe Iackman and Pets Nauigation to seeke away to the East-Jndies The death of the Earle of Arundell who was the first that brought the vse of Coches into England The Lord Gray represseth the Rebels in Ireland Innocency is an assured comfort Rebels supprest The Earle of Lenox is enuied of the Scots They accuse him in England Consultation holden against him They rayse false reports against him The Scots will not admit Bowes to accuse him Hume excuseth it Burghley's admonitions to him Morton imprisoned These Noble Knights for their worth and Vertues were honoured with the dignity of Knighthood by Qu. Elizabeth most of them in that Honourable euer-remembred Voyage of C. Howard Earle of NotinghaÌ„ L. high Admirall and that renowned Souldier the late Generous Earle of Essex c. in Spaine bâ—fore Cadiz taken ranâ—acked by the English Iun. 26. Anno 1â—96 * Their Honourable Predecessours were for their deserts aduanced both to Honour Dignity Sir Ch. Hatton was Lord Chancelor of England vnder Qu. Elizabeth he dyed in Hatton house the 20. of Nouember 1590. * Sir Walter Rawleigh Knighted and employed about diuers worthy affaires of waight and consequence by Queene Elizabeth * Wray Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale * And wherefore It is that these Noble persons haue by their worthy liues purchased Honour to their noble selues or else their Prodecessors haue by their Vertues deserued both Honour and Dignity from this vnparalel'd Empresse who as she was a true aduancer of Vertue and destroyer of Vice did liberally bestowe her Royall gifts of Honour vpon those and their Ancestors Booke 3. Randolphes intercession for Morton against Lenox The King of Scots his answer Randolph complaineth to the Nobles of Scotland Endeauoreth to raise Rebellion Getteth him out of Scotland Morton beheaded His friends fled for England Norris victorious in Friezland Is discomfited * Albanois A ridiculous combate Drunkennes brought out of the Low-Countries into England The King of Spaine possesseth Portugall By what right The Queene of France her title to Portugall fetcht farre and reiected Inciteth the Q. of England secretly against the Spaniard Antonio banisht Portugall commeth into England Delegates sent into England from France about the Duke of Anjous mariage Couenants of mariage concluded vpon A reseruation added The King of France vrgeth the mariage The Queen of England deferreth Wherefore Duke d' Anjou returneth againe into England Queene Elizabeth giueth a Ring vnto the D. of Anjou A motion of sundry conceits in Court The Queen greatly disquieted Her Maiesty thinks what inconueniencies might ensue in contemning and despising the Match with the Duke of Anjou Reasons disswading her from marying A book published in print against the mariage The Queens Declaration against this pernicious Libell The Author discouered and he that had dispersed the bookes Right hands cut off The Iesuite Edm. Campian with other Priests are put to death The punishing of Catholikes needfull Suspition of them increased By their tergiuersation False positions spread abroad Booke 3. New Lawes against Papists The Duke d' Anjou sayleth into Flanders Hee is made there Duke of Brabant c. Certaine English reuolt from him Generall Norris carieth himselfe generously and behaueth himself valorously The Duke d'Anjou departed from Flanders with shame A Comet Queene Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke * Or the Coller of Esses The Merchants complaint not regarded The Treaty with the Queene of Scots is deferred Gowry and others begin tumults in Scotland Gowries conspiracie They intercept the King The Duke of Lennox driuen out of Scotland An Embassie from the French King sent to deliuer the King of Scots Mary Q. of Scotland her Letter to Quene Elizabeth The Q. of Scots deploreth her sons intercepting and her owne desolation Lidington and de Grange Booke 3. The Duke of Lenox's returne through England It is consulted about the deliuery of the Q. of Scots The Scots of the English faction are against it The English and French in emulation striue to obtaine the fauor of the King of Scotland The King of Scotland seekes the loue of the Queene of England The Lord Esme Stuart Duke of Lenox reputed a Papist by some malicious ill-willer of his dyed at Paris a true and sincere Protestant The King of Scotland sets himselfe at libertie His Maiesty vseth kindly those who formerly had seaz'd themselues of his Royal person Cals to the Court all such Nobles as stood and were of his side Walsingham is sent into Scotland from Q. Elizabeth The King of Scotland answers him freely Walsingham â—emonstrations to his sacred Maiestie The King answered them The King propounds a Pardon to those who had seaz'd themselues of his person Hee commands such as refus'd it to void the Kingdome His Maiesty re-established the Reputation and Honor of the Duke of Lenox causing
you reflect the desires you content the hopes of euery one according to your wise dispensation And as God is not contented meerely to bring forth his actions in the highest heauen but by his Spirits administration descends from that palace of glory to the lowest deep runing flying thorow all quarters of this Hemisphere to dispose all things by his almighty powerfulnesse Your Highnesse prudent King imitating the proceedings of that incomprehensible Monarch of Heauen and earth which alone is a patterne to your soueraigne Maiesty do not anchor your actions in that Imperiall Hauen of your glory the kingdome of England which gouerned by the Soueraign authority of your Highnesse as her primum mobile carries those to others which are ioined to him by the bands of one only power Scotland and Ireland but also the fame of your rare vertues spreads all ouer beyond the seas your admirable prudency your immortal pen the fruit of your deep learning at which nations being amazed admire with reuerence so rare and accomplisht a Maiesty But what East wind driues my sails into so wide an Ocean carrying away my endeuours farre beyond the reach of my power Stay my thoughts whither runne yee Rest contented My curiositie what seekest thou Silence my tongue what dost thou say Oh! would my skill which is so small dare to aspire to so high a taske so weake and rashly to think to penetrate thorow so bright a sunne so short and presume to sound his depth Good King pardon these hardy glances of my spirit enlightned with a diuine light and animated by an extraordinary vertue Those which aspect the beames of the Sunne within the Sunne thinke a long time after they behold still a Sunne before their eyes not being able by withdrawing the sense of the obiect to draw the Idea of the spirit Thus since I haue had the honour to see in so happy and glorious deeds your actions in your actions your vertues in your vertues your Maiesty and your Maiesty in it selfe these rare and exquisite obiects as so many Sunnes haue so rauished my senses and eyes that they seeme to see them alwaies present before them Moreouer the Idea which is remayning in my intellect hath brought them to such extraordinary designes that if my forces were correspondent to my desires and my vnworthinesse to the dignity of the subiect which animates me I had alreadie proclaim'd your diuine perfections from one end of the earth to the other yea from the earth to the heauens and taking for my auditors so many blessed soules which there gloriously inhabite I should haue recited to them with the admirable actions of your incomparable vertues these glorious and blessed deeds which issue thereof and the most excellent glory which your Maiestie thereby inherites at least how in these last fearefull troubles of my sad afflicted and sorely desolate countrey which so farre opprest her that losing the sight of her owne reason she had almost lost her selfe in it selfe or as I may well say spoyled her selfe with her owne strength and defence Your Piety all-rare Prince which is all-Iustice cast her compassionate eyes vpon the deplorable and most lamentable condition of her poore oppressed brood your Iustice which is all-Charity lent her eare to their wofull sorrowfull complaints your Charity which is all-Prudence opened her heart to their needy miseries and extreme wants and your Prudence which hath alwayes the eyes the eares and the heart open at all times to such poore afflicted wretches who doe implore of your Maiestie like pious actions making at that time a charitable distribution euer bound both publike and particulars to vow their heartie prayers to heauen for your health their true seruices to the world for the prosperitie greatnesse pleasure and contentment of your Maiestie But the worthinesse of the subiect and my insufficiency hauing deterr'd me from so high an enterprise I haue moderated my designes which aspired so high and placing them in a meane region I rul'd my endeauours by my might doing my best to finde out as well for my owne satisfaction as for the good of others to whom I communicate as many consolations for miseries and instructions of this wicked ages experience in which we see regenerated what remained of workmen instruments materials and labours to perfect the worke of this ages iniquity the lees of ages past which with his muddy wine troubles the braines corrupts the manners and debaucheth the noblest functions of manie I haue destinated them for to seek out the growth beginning and progresse of this happy and magnificent reestablishment of Euangelicall truth and puritie the first and soueraigne cause of your Maiesties glory the securitie of your estate and prosperitie of your people which in this flourishing Empire hath three crowns of which your Ma is the first Monarch who receiue from Gods fauourable grace by the hands of your religious prudence so great a perfection that it makes the whole work most wonderfull a prop so solid that when the raine is fallen the stormy streames and impetuous floods come against it and when the windes haue raged strongly and blowne furiously at it it could not be shaken but still remained firme strong constant and alwayes a flourishing pillar of securitie And my designes haue so happily though vnfortunately succeeded that when I had collected my senses and prepared my selfe for this Work I found it ready done by one of your Ma subiects in the Latine History which he hath digested into yeares describing such things as passed during the most glorious raigne of that heroick inuincible Princesse aboue her sexe full of magnanimitie rare in Piety admirable in her counsailes wonderfull in her courage and blessed in all her enterprises that incomparable Queene ELIZABETH who in her time vndertooke to build the royall worke of this happy reestablishment vpon the ground and ancient foundations laid by her ancestors for a time slackt and decayed but after her Maiesty had gloriously raised it to the last Story she left the rest vnto your most sacred Maiesties care to perfect who hath truely brought it into that happy and magnificent estate now flourishing hauing vtterly dissipated the many errors and abominations which here before her raigne abounded as he who bearing Armes after Ionathan slew the Philistines who fell dead before him Had I not regarded others but my selfe onely I had sufficient matter to content my curiositie in enioying with rest leisure the sweet fruit of a labor meerly premeditated without bringing it to this most tedious no lesse pennible than difficult action But as my naturall disposition reason possesse my inclinations still to practise study and labour for the common good though neuer so much preiudicial to my particular affaires and as this Piety of which I carefully sought the mystery directly opposite to the mysterie of iniquitie risen in these later times permits me not to bury my talent in the earth how small and
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
Pope should proscribe the Kingdome and excommunicate the King by seuerall Letters put him in mind of the sad discord which had been betweene Pope Alexander the Third and Henry the second King of England and representing vnto him many reasons of importance infinitely besought him almost in the very same words that Gilbert Bishop of London did at the same time viz. WEe most humbly beseech you to shut vp for a time your burning zeale within the bounds of modestie lest by interdicting the Kingdome or cuting off the King from the communion of the Catholike Church you cause the ruine of many particular Churches and irreuokeably turne from your obedience both the King and infinite numbers with him Cutting off brings despaire whereas dressing the wound often cureth And therfore if there be a wound it is more expedient if it may bee your pleasure to labour presently to cure it lest by cutting off a most noble member of the Church of God you trouble beyond expression as matters now stand The Blood-Royall cannot be ouercome till it hath ouercome and is not ashamed to yeeld after it hath conquered Hee must be wonne with meekenes and ouer-ruled with admonitions and patience What is it to haue lost some temporall things by patience or by a continuall patience to lose more as the times now are Whether is Seuerity to bee withdrawne when ruine and slaughter threaten a People To cast many goods into the sea when the prouoked waues with the confusion of hideous surges threaten a Ship-wrack But the Pope and Cardinals could not endure that the Papall authority should be questioned in matter of Dispensation and all maner of contempt for the space of fiue yeeres little more or lesse neglected to lend an eare thereto but were of opinion that the King ought to be cited to Rome Insomuch that this Prince who was full of courage being stirred vp to wrath by the arrogancy which some Ecclesiasticall persons had lately shewed thought that for the iustnesse of his cause hee was vniustly dealt with most vnworthily for his Royall dignitie and most ingratefully considering how much good he had done for the Church of Rome that almost all at one time hee diuorced Katharine depriued Wolsey of his goods and drew a great summe of mony from those Bishops who had acknowledged the authority of his Delegation to the preiudice of his Royall preeminence accepted the title of Soueraigne head next vnder Christ of the Church of England which was offered vnto him by a Synod and by both the Vniuersities of England with the consent of the Peeres of his Kingdome made Anne Bolene Marchionesse of Pembrooke for the noblenesse of her extraction and the merit of her vertues so are the words hauing apparelled her in Royall Robes he married her and commanded her to be sacred Queene Clement the Seuenth was much displeased but to little purpose iudged the former marriage to be of force and Canonicall and pronounced that the King had incurred the penaltie of the great excommunication Of this Marriage was ELIZABETH borne at Greenwich vpon Thames the seuenth day of September 1533. Shortly after the marriage contracted with Katherine was iudged by authority of Parliament incestuous and void and that with Anne lawfull by the Diuine Law and ELIZABETH Heire of the Kingdome if Issue-Male of the Royall Line should fayle All sweare fidelity to the King and to the Heires which he had or should haue by Anne And as it was considered vpon that Paulus the Third would againe at Rome proclaime against this Marriage and that within the Realme certaine Religious Women of Kent suborned by some religious men cast out at randome some indiscreete words against Anne ELIZABETH and the King as if they had been strucken with some diuine fury The Title of the Soueraigne head of the Church of England is giuen to the King with all manner of authority for the reforming of errours heresies and abuses and the oath of fidelity to the Heires which hee should haue by Anne is confirmed Neuerthelesse three yeeres scarce passed but giuing himselfe to new Loues to distrusts to wrath to murther and to bloud to make way to his new Loue Iane Seymor he accused Anne who had miscarried of a Male-Childe to haue defiled his Bed and for a light suspition put her into the hands of iustice where being examined shee so resolued the obiections which were made vnto her that the whole multitude which were there present iudged her innocent and that she was circumuented She notwithstanding is condemned by her Peeres and being told of it sent to the King and pleasantly thankes him for many benefits which shee had receiued from him viz. that shee not being very noble by extraction hee had vouchsafed to adde to her condition the dignity of Marchionesse to make her his companion of honour and to raise her vnto Royall Maiestie And which is more than all this that not being able to aduāce her to an higher on earth he pleased to lift her vp to heauen where shee should enioy eternall glory with innocent soules Shee tooke her punishment quietly and Christianly wishing all happines to the King and pardoning all her enemies The day following hee married Iane and by authority of the Parliament declares the marriage with Anne to be no lesse vnlawfull and voyd than the marriage with Katherine and that MARIE and ELIZABETH their Daughters were illegitimate and to be excluded from the Succession of the Kingdome Iane being in labour of EDWARD who succeeded his Father in the Kingdome dyed before hee was borne and hee cut out of her wombe The King being but little grieued for the death of his Wife forthwith applyes himselfe to new Loues both in Italy and France to procure friends Neuerthelesse as he was of an ambiguous minde and fearefull of euery thing lest the Papists should rise in Rebellion and the Nobles moue sedition or ioyne with his forreine enemies hee caused some to be beheaded for light and trifling matters some before euer they were heard and euery houre hee punished the Papists as Traytors which did perseuere in defending the Popes authoritie and beeing transported with couetousnesse hee tooke occasion and subiect by the vices of humane frailtie as of idle and free liuing to demolish the great Monasteries as he had done the smaller that were full of venerable antiquity and Maiesty tooke all the riches which had beene gathered of many yeeres and at the same time burned Protestants aliue for Heretiques by vertue of a Law called the Law of the Six Articles made against those which did impugne the doctrine of the Church of Rome touching Transubstantiation the celebration of the Eucharist vnder one kinde the single life of Priests Vowes priuate Masses and auricular confession In so much that at one time and in the same place hee exercised his crueltie against the Papists causing them to be hanged and quartered and against the Protestants causing
them to be burned aliue By which acts he made himselfe terrible in his owne Kingdome and to be holden a Tyrant abroad and first being reiected by Marie of Lorraine daughter to the Duke of Guise whom hee desired as riuall to Iames King of Scotland his Nephew afterwards of Christian of Denmarke Dutchesse of Milan Grandchild to Charles the Fifth In the end seeking the friendship of the Protestants of Germanie with much adoe he obtained Anne of Cleue for his wife But beeing as readie to distaste Women as to loue them turning his heart away from her as soone as he had marryed her put her away as not beautifull enough for a Prince grounding himselfe vpon this that shee had beene betrothed before to the Duke of Lorraine's Sonne and that shee had some womanish weaknesse that made her vnfit for marriage But it was to take in her stead Katharine Howard daughter to Edmond Howard and Neece to Thomas of Norfolke whom he beheaded the yeere following accusing her to haue violated her chastity before shee was married and opens the Royall-Bed to Katharine Parre a Knights daughter and the second time Widdow Now when through intemperancy of his youth he perceiued the vigor of his body to decay being angry with the French King for hauing ayded the Scots against the English hee reconciles himselfe and makes alliance with the Emperour Charles against the French who hauing quite forgot the diuorce of Katharine his Aunt secretly giues him hope to reconcile him to the Church of Rome After hauing resolued to set vpon France thereby so much the more to worke himselfe into the Emperours friendship and quickly to cure the vlcers of his conscience propounded to the Parliament which was then assembled that when hee should happen to dye and his Sonne EDVVARD without issue MARIE should first succeed to the Crowne and afterwards shee leauing none ELIZABETH That if neither left any the Crowne of England should deuolue vpon such as he would designe eyther by Letters Patents or by Will Which passed for a Law with the good liking and consent of all and that the penaltie of Laesae Maiestatis should be inflicted vpon any that should goe against it Being returned from France after he had taken Bologne and consumed much treasure and beeing sad and heauy to see England deuided by new opinions which daily sprang vp and England groaned for sorrow to see her selfe so exhausted of her riches her Money corrupted with Brasse her Monasteries with the Monuments of great antiquity ruined the bloud of Nobles Prelates Papists and Protestants promiscuously spilt and entangled in a Scottish warre hee died with a perpetuall fluxe of Grease flowing from him caused by a poysonous inflammation in the thigh An. 1547. he breathed his last A magnanimous Prince but I know not what confused temper of spirit he had great vertues he had and no lesse vices EDVVARD his sonne hauing scarce attained to the age of tenne yeeres succeeded him and had for his Protector Edw. Seymor Duke of Sommerset his Vnkle vnder whom the English hauing taken vp armes for to reuenge the violated faith of the match agreed vpon betweene Edward and Marie Queene of Scotland the English obtained a notable victory ouer the Scots neere Musselborough this pernicious Law of Six Articles and others which had beene established by King HENRY the Eighth against the Protestants are suppressed and those which tended to the abolishing of the Popes authoritie confirmed the Masse abrogated the Images taken out of the Temples the Bookes of the Old and New Testament imprinted the Diuine Seruice celebrated in the vulgar Tongue the Eucharist distributed vnder both kindes But neuerthelesse the auaritious sacriledge fell rauenously vpon pillaging the goods of the Church Colledges Quiers Hospitals as things iudged to bee for superstitious vses ambition and enuy among the great ones audacitie and disobedience among the Commons so insolently exulted that England seemed to be raging madde with rebellious tumults taking sides deprauation of money and withall the euils that are accustomed to be during the minority of a King these wasted and consumed within the Land Also dammage was receiued abroad as the losse of Forts which the English had made in Scotland and in France and the Towne of Bologne which had cost so much which to the shame of the name of English was deliuered vp into the French Kings hands for money with all the Fortresses of the Countrey of Bologne which the English had built the Cannons and Munitions of warre when England was so disioynted by diuision that it was not able to keepe them and Charles the Emperour hauing no will to ayde it although he was intreated in consideration of the alliance with him excusing himselfe for that it had beene conquered since no not to accept of it being offered vnto him gratis And to adde an ouer-plus of infelicity the Protector not being wary enough of the subtilty and deceits of Dudley Duke of Northumberland is by vertue of a new law condemned of Felony for entring into counsell how to take away the liues of some of the Kings Councellors to wit of Dudley and some others hee lost his head and his Sonne by a priuate Law bereaued of the greatest part of his patrimony and of his Fathers honours The King being vnprouided of his faithfull Guard is snatched away vncertaine whether by sicknesse or poyson before hee was ripe leauing an incredible griefe with his people for the great and excellent vertues which hee had farre surpassing his age At the same dolefull and heauy time Dudley hauing broken the fraternall amity that was between the Protector and Tho. Seimor his brother vpon occasion of an emulation of Women which was betweene the Queene Dowager wife to Thomas and the Dutches of Somerset the Protectors wife amongst other things to conuict Thomas of Crimen laesae Maiestatis that he intended to reduce the King into his owne power and to marry ELIZABETH the Kings Sister shee indeed ignorant of the matter grew vp in yeeres and was in singular fauour with EDWARD her brother who neuer saluted her but called her his sweet Sister as also with the Peeres and the Common-people For she was full of grace and beauty and worthy of Soueraigne Authority of modest grauity cleere and quick-witted of a happy memory and indefatigable in the studies of best letters insomuch that before she attained to the Age of 17. yeeres she very well vnderstood the Latine tongue the French the Italian and the Greeke indifferently Neither wanted shee skill in Musicke that was beseeming a Prince and she sung and plaid cunningly and sweetly With Roger Ascham who was to guide her in her Studies she read the Common places of Melancthon all Cicero a great part of the History of Titus Liuius the choice Orations of Isocrates wherof she translated two into Latine Sophocles Tragedies and she read the New-Testament in Greeke By which
meanes she adorned her tongue with pure words and instructed her mind with the best documents and good learning not for pompe or ostentation but to recreate her life and frame her selfe to vertue that among the learned Princes of her time shee was held Miraculous But the death of EDVVARD interrupted the studies of the Liberall Arts For scarce was he expired but Dudley Duke of Northumberland who earnestly coueted the Kingdome for Iane Gray to whom he had affianced his Sonne vsed some persons to perswade her to quit the right which shee had to the Kingdome for a certaine summe of money and great possessions in Land She modestly answered that they ought first doe well to agree with Mary her elder Sister because that during her life she could pretend no right to it Anon after by the publike voice of a Cryer Iane Gray HENRY the Eighth's Neece by his second Sisters Daughter was proclaimed Queene of England the cause thereof being sought out was found to bee that in regard of a Lawe by Act of Parliament which had neuer been duely abrogated MARIE and ELIZABETH had beene declared illegitimate although that by the same Lawe the King their Father had declared that after EDVVARD the Sixth if Issue fayled that they should succeede him in order and that by the Ciuill-Law of England such Sisters could not hereditarily succeede EDVVARD because they were not Cousin Germanes but as our learned in the Law say of the halfe Blood They adde likewise that HENRY the Eighth had by his last will nominated Iane Gray Moreouer it was shewed what danger there were if MARIE and ELIZABETH should marrie stranger Princes which would re-establish the Popes authority which was reiected out of the Kingdome And to that purpose they produce Letters Patents that EDVVARD the Sixth a little before his death had perfected and many of the Peeres Bishops Iudges and others by their signes in writing had fortified neuerthelesse the good-will that the Lords and the Commons bore to the Daughters of HENRIE the Eighth within twentie dayes had driuen away this storme and MARY proclaimed Queene through all parts of England who comming toward the Citie of London with an Armie ELIZABETH not to bee wanting her Sisters cause and hers being yet disquieted went accompanied with fiue hundred Horse to meet her vpon the way In the first Assembly of the Parliament that MARY caused to bee holden what things soeuer had beene decreed against the marriage betweene Qu. Katharine and HENRY the Eighth were abrogated and it was iudged lawfull by the Diuine Law and at all times and at all places auaileable for these reasons Because it had bin contracted by the consent of both their Parents of most Illustrious Princes of most graue Personages as well of England as Spaine and with a graue and constant deliberation of the learnedest men of Christendome and consummated by the procreation of Children The same religious Seruice and administration of the Sacraments which were in vse at the decease of HENRY the Eighth are re-established notwithstanding without any mention of acknowledging the Popes authority which thing put the Queene and Cardinall Pole into great trouble and vnquietnesse who thinke that for matter of the marriage consent of Parents and the iudgement of the wise did but onely depend vpon the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the second and were very angry that the vse of the Sacraments were permitted to those who were not as yet well and duely receiued into the Church without the authoritie of the Pope But the States of the Kingdome and MARY bethought her selfe of it feared to receiue and acknowledge the Popes authority which they had already shaken off neither could they suffer that the Queene should quit the Title of Soueraigne head of the Church of England to which the most part of them Prelates Peeres and Common-people had sworne to HENRY the Eighth his heires and successors and there were many of them that had got their riches from those of the Church But tooke it greatly to heart to forsake him perswading herselfe that all the right that she had to the Kingdome of England was vpholden by no other meanes then by the power of the Pope who gaue sentence of her side after her Father had declared her illegitimate Verily many at that time had the Popes power in such hatred and a strangers yoke that within tenne dayes after that MARY was married to Phillip King of Spaine Tho. Wyat and many others of Kent brake out into rebellion perswading themselues that this marriage was made to no other end but the more rigorously to presse them downe vnder the Romane yoke by the strength of Spaine and dispatch ELIZABETH out of the way who was next heire to the Kingdome of England Charles the fifth Emperour knowing what spirits were in England and that Cardinall Pole was going with power of Legate from the Pope cast a blocke in the way not without the Queenes counsell lest he should trouble businesse not as yet established that he should not come into England till fifteene moneths were expired when the third Parliament was ended and the marriage of MARY and Philip should be celebrated by the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the third because they were allied in the third degree and that the Emperour Charles himselfe had heretofore contracted to marry her being then vnder age for time to come At last being dismissed from the Emperour he came into England by demands and obtestations propounded orders that the lawes against Heretikes might be re-established all Lawes published against the Sea of Rome since the twentieth yeere of Henrie the eighth abolished and the whole body of the Kingdome reconciled to the Church of Rome The which with great difficulty he obtained yet not before the goods taken from the Monasteries Colledges Bishops c. by Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth were confirmed vpon like Couenant to the Queene and the possessors lest the Kingdome should be disquieted Foorthwith hereupon he absolued both the Clergie and people of the crime of Schisme and Pope Iulius the third himselfe with great ioy celebrated a solemne Masse at Rome ordained Prayers published a Iubile and granted a plenarie Indulgence to all who had giuen God thankes for the revnion of the Kingdome of England Then is sent vnto him Anthony Viscount Montaigue Thomas Thurlbe Bishop of Ely and Edward Carne to giue thankes for the pardon which he had granted for the Schismes and in the name of the King the Queene and the Kingdome and that due submission and obedience should be performed to the Pope and See of Rome Iulius then being deceased Paulus 4. gaue them audience and publike conference in the Apostolike Palace and in the Hall of Kings receiued their obedience approued the pardon and absolution granted by Cardinall Pole And for the well deseruing of Mary and Philip he out of the fulnesse of his power erected for euer Ireland to be a Kingdome and adorned
for the restitution of Calais Fol. 95. Attempt to flye away ibid. Peace made in France ibid. Warre proclaymed betweene France and England ibid. The Queene offers to giue Haure de grace for Calais Fol. 96. The English Souldiers are afflicted with the plague ibid. Haure de grace beleagred by the French Fol. 97. Articles for Haure de grace's Restitution Fol. 99. The Souldiers comming ouer infect London and other places in England with the plague ibid. Another marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland Fol. 100. Queene ELIZABETH recommends Robert Dudley vnto her for a Husband ibid. The French diuert the Queene from it Fol. 101. The Baron of Gray dyes and the Bishop of Aquila ibid. The Spaniards against the English Fol. 102. The Lord William Paget dyes ibid. The supreame dignities of honour in England Fol. 103. The death of Henry Manners Earle of Rutland ibid. And also of the Lady Frances Brandon Duchesse of Suffolke ibid. Anno M.D.LXIIII THe Articles of peace concluded betweene France and England Fol. 106. The French King enstalled in the Order of the Garter Fol. 107. The English and Hollanders ill vsed in Spaine ibid. A Mart established by the English in Edenborough Fol. 108. Robert Dudley created Baron of Denbigh and Earle of Leicester who accused Sir Nicholas Bacon Fol. 110. Cambridge honoured with Queene ELIZABETHS presence ibid. Diuers opinions about Englands succession Fol. 111. Lenox sent for by the Queene of Scotland ibid. The true discent and extraction of the Dukes of Lenox ibid. Leicesters treatie of a match with Scotlands Queene Fol. 114. Anno M.D.LXV THe Lord Darley's iourney into Scotland where hee is beloued of the Queene Fol. 116. Queene ELIZABETHS consent required about that marriage Fol. 117. Throckmorton sent to hinder it Fol. 118. Lenox and Darley re-called out of Scotland who excuse themselues and the Queene marries with the Lord Darley Fol. 119. Queene ELIZABETH endures it with moderation but some Scots take distaste about that marriage Fol. 120. The Emperour is a sutor for his Brother to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 121. As the Queene of Sheba came to see Salomon so the rare vertues of Queene ELIZABETH brought Cecilia Queene of Sueden bigge with Childe from the furthest part of the North to see so compleat a Maiestie ibid. Creation of the Earle of Glencarne ibid. Nicholas Arnold sent Deputie into Ireland Fol. 124. The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Fol. 125. Anno M.D.LXVI THomas Duke of Norfolke and Robert Earle of Leicecester are honoured with the chiefe order of Knighthood of France Fol. 126. The Earle of Arundell in voluntary exile Fol. 127. The English carry both their armes and courage to the Hungarian warre Fol. 127. The happy birth of King IAMES ibid. Queene ELIZABETH reioyceth much thereby visits Oxenford and holds a Parliament Fol. 128. The States sollicite her to marry and declare her Successor Fol. 129. The Great-Ones modestly and the popular sort eagerly Fol. 130. Queene ELIZABETH is thereby angred Fol. 131. The Queene of Scotlands right to England apparant Fol. 134. Bishops Ordinations confirmed ibid. Bedfords Earle Ambassadour from Queene ELIZABETH to the christning of King IAMES in Scotland Fol. 135. The death of Iohn Masson and Sir Edward Sackuille Fol. 136. Anno M.D.LXVII THe murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Queene of Scots Fol. 137. Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland Fol. 138. Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes the Queenes bastard-Brother discontented for want of greater aduancement returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland whereof being frustrate hee opposeth against the Queene and makes his ambition openly and euidently knowne Fol. 139. Hee is created Earle of Murray he persecutes the great men of Scotland and disswades the Queene from marriage Fol. 140. He takes armes against her after shee was married and flyes into England Hee seekes to sow discord betweene the Queene and her Husband the Lord Darley Fol. 141. The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Fol. 142. Murray is repealed Fol. 142. Earle Morton flyes into England Fol. 143. Dissention betweene the King and the Queene Fol. 144. Earle Bothwell and others murder the Queenes Husband ibid. Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene for her Husband ibid. Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Fol. 145. Earle Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King Fol. 147. Hee marries the Queene ibid. They conspire both against him and the Queene ibid. Earle Murray retyres into France Fol. 148. Earle Bothwell is expelled ibid. The Queene is imprisoned ibid. Queene ELIZABETH by Throckmorton complaynes thereof to the Confederates ibid. They consult what is to be done with the Queene-prisoner Fol. 149. Throckmorton defends the Queenes cause ibid. The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons Fol. 150. They extort from their Queene a resignation of the gouernement Fol. 151. IAMES the Sixth consecrated and inaugurated King Fol. 152. Earle Murray returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Fol. 153. Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy ibid. Some of the Murderers of the King are put to death ibid. They acquit the Queene of all suspition Fol. 154. The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Fol. 154. Queene ELIZABETH demands the restitution of Calais ibid. The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Fol. 155. Sir Thomas Smith's answer to the French Fol. 157. Anno M.D.LXVII THe Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Fol. 160. The Earle of Leicester hinders it representing to the Queen all the discommodities that might happen if shee married a stranger ibid. Articles of the marriage propounded Fol. 162. Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouia Fol. 163. The English open the way to goe to Russia by sea Fol. 164. The Company of Muscouy Merchants instituted ibid. A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouie Fol. 165. The death of Nicholas Wotton and of the Duchesse of Norfolke ibid. Shan O-Neale raiseth troubles and rebelleth Fol. 166. Sir Henry Sidney armes against him and discomfits him Fol. 167. Shan re-assumes courage he vseth cruelty to his men Fol. 168. Hee meanes to yeeld ibid. Hee is slaine Fol. 169. Turlogh-Leinich proclaimed O-Neale by the Queens permission ibid. Hugon Nephew to Shan who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon receiued to grace for an opposite to Turlogh ibid. Troubles in Munster Fol. 170. Anno M.D.LXVIII THe Papists absolue many Fol. 171. The innouators shew themselues and procure vnto themselues thereby the odious style of Puritans Fol. 172. The second ciuill warre in France ibid. The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene ELIZABETH for a Husband Fol. 173. The English Ambassadour vsed disgracefully in Spaine ibid. Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniardâ— in America ibid. The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison Fol. 174. Shee is vanquished ibid. Her Letter to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 175. Shee writes againe Fol. 177. Queene ELIZABETH
Aimé Stuart Lord Aubigny into Scotland 393. Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Thomas Bromley Sir Thomas Gresham dye one after another 396. Dauile murdered in his bed 398. The death of the Lord Druty Deputie 401. Anno M.D.LXXX ARthur Lord Gray made Deputie of Ireland 405. The Spaniards and Italians land in Ireland 406. They are all slaine and the subiects hanged 407. The taking of Malines And of an Earth-quake 409. The beginning of the English Seminaries 410. Persons and Campian Iesuites came into England 413. Sir Francis Drake returnes into England 417. Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America 419. Drakes voyage and warlike exploits 424. The Spaniards demand his riches 428. The death of Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell 430. The Earle of Lenox enuyed by the Scots is accused by them to Queene ELIZABETH 432. Alexander Earle of Homes Baron of Dunglas is sent from King IAMES to excuse it 434. Regent Morton is cast into prison 435. The end of the Contents of the Second Booke THE CONTENTS Of this royall and famous HISTORY THE THIRD BOOKE RANDOLPHS intercession for Morton against Lenox Folio 1. The King of Scotts answer 2 Norris his victories in Freezland 4 Albanois 5 Drunkennesse brought out of the Low-countries ibid. By what right the King of Spaine possesseth Portugall ibid. The Qu. of France her title to Portugall reiected 6 Antonio banisht Portugall 7 Couenants of marriage betweene the Duke of Anjou and Q. Elizabeth concluded on 8 The K. of France vrgeth the marriage and the Q. of Engl. deferreth 10 Qu. Elizabeth giueth the Duke of Anjou a Ring 12 The queene much disquieted 13 Reasons disswading her from marriage and a booke set out against it 14 The Queens declaration against this pernicious libell 15 Champian the Iesuite and other Priests put to death 17 New lawes against Papists 18 The Duke of Anjou sayleth into Flanders 19 A Comet 21 Qu. Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke 21 The treaty concerning the queene of Scotts is deferred 22 Gowry and others tumult in Scotland 23 The Duke of Lenox driuen out of Scotland ibid. An Ambassie from the French K. for the deliuery of the king of Scots 24 The qu. of Scotland's letter to queen Elizâ—beth 25 The Duke of Lenox returnes thorough England 33 Consultations about the deliuery of the queene of Scotland 34 The K. of Scotland seekes the loue of the queene of England 36 The King of Scotland sets himselfe at liberty 37 Walsingham is sent into Scotland from queene Elizabeth ibid. The king of Scots answers him freely 38 Walsinghams remonstrations to his sacred Maiesty ibid. The King answereth them 39 His Maiesty reestablâ—shed the reputation and honour of the Duke of Lenox causing likewâ—se his children to returne into Scotland 39 The Ministers of Scotland are against their Kings authority 40 A peace obtained for the King of Sweden ibid. The Emperour desires alliance with England and is a suiter to her Maiesty to graunt him an English Lady for his wife ibid. The Emperours death 41 A Polonian Nobleman commeth into England to see queene Elizabeth 42 A wonderfull earth-quake in Dorset-shire ibid. The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Essex 43 Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned by shipwrack 44 The death of E. Grindall Archbish of Canterbury ibid. Iohn Whitgift preferred to bee Archbishop of Canterbury 45 The English betray Alost and do deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard 48 A miserable end of traytors ibid. The Earle of Desmond is slaine ibid. Nicholas Sanders an English Seminary Priest famisht himselfe 49 Viscount of Baltinglasse fled out of Ireland 50 Labouring men sent into Ireland 51 The gestures and behauiour of Sir Iohn Perrot Viceroy of Ireland ibid. Troubles in Scotland 52 The Earle of Gowry is taken the conspirators are dâ—spersed queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them the king demandeth them by the league but in vaine 53 Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiue Hunsdon against them 54 The power of a Secretary argued ibid. The arraignement of Gowry ibid. He is beheaded 55 The treason of Fr. Throkmorton 56 The Lo Paget retyreth into France ibid. The queenes clemency towards Papists 57 The Priests are banished 58 Spanish Ambassadour sent out of England 59 Thokmortons confession 61 A new treaty with the qu. of Scots 63 She answereth propositions made vnto her 64 She demandeth to be associated to the kingdome with her sonne 65 The queene of Scotts maketh new propositions 66 The Scotts of the English faction oppose them 67 The insolency of the Scottish Ministers 68 Buchanans writings reproued ibid. The Scottish and English make incursions one vpon another 69 Patrick Grayes Ambassage ib. The queen of Scotts committed to new guardians 72 Councell holden amongst the Papists 73 The death of the Earle of Westmerland ibid. The death of Plowden ib. Alancon dyeth and the Prince of Orenge is slaine 74 The French king inuested with the Order of the Garter 75 Is accused of treason 76 His confession 77 He consulteth with the Iesuites about the murdering of the queene ibid. He discloseth the matter to the queen 78 Alans booke addeth fresh courage to him 79 Neuill offereth him his helpe ibid. Parry is arraigned and executed 80 Lawes demanded in Parliament against Bishops and against Non-residents 81 Lawes against Iesuites and Priests 82 The Earle of Arundell resolueth to flye out of England 83 The Earle of Northumberland is found dead ibid. The causes of his imprisonment manifest 85 Lamentation for the Earle of Northumberland 87 Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Princes of Germany ibid. The like with the king of Scotts 88 Arâ—atâ—on of the death of Russell and the manner thereof ibid. The death of Thomas Carre 90 The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England back into Scotland ibid. They are reconciled vnto the King 92 The rebellion of the Bourkes in Ireland 93 The Sccots of Hebrides called into Ireland 94 The Gouernour laboureth for a peace but in vaine 95 He pursueth the Scotts and defeateth them 96 The States of the Netherlands consult of a Protector 97 They are refâ—sed of the French and the English consult about it 98 The Dutch offer themselues to the queene 100 Antwerpe is yeelded vp the queene deliberateth with her selfe and takes vpon her the protection 101 Vnder what conditions 102 Queene Elizabeth publisheth the causes and sends to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard 103 Iames town taken from the Spaniard 104 Hispaniola or S. Dominick surprised ibid. Spaniards motto Auarice and Couetousnesse 105 Carthagena assaulted ibid. Saint Anthony and S. Helena fired by the English 106 Booty of the English voyage and expedition 107 A search made for a discouery of a way to the East Indies ibid. An Edict against Woad 108 Death of the Earle of Lâ—ncolne and of the Earle of Bedford 109 Earle of Leister sent into Holland ibid. His instruction 110 Absolute authority giuen to the Earle of Leyster by the States 111 Queen Elizabeth offended thereat
she expostulateth the matter 112 The States excuse themselues 113 Leister sendeth succour to the city of Graue it is yeelded and the Spaniard expelled 114 An aduentrous enterprise ibid. Venolo is lost 115 Axell is taken ibid. Graueline attempted ibid. Ausborough beleagred ibid. Sir Philip Sidney slaine 116 States of Holland complaine to Leyster 117 He returneth into England 118 Earle of Arundell questioned and answereth for himselfe ibid. King of Denmarke intercedeth for a peace with the queene of England ibid. Queene Elizabeth answereth 119 She furnisheth Henry king of Nauarr with money 120 Shee desireth a league with Scotland ibid. Iesuites and Popish Priests suggest diuerse things to the queene of Scots ibid. King of Scotland propoundeth conditions and is not a whit deterred by the French 121 King Iames answer to them 122 A conspiracy against queene Elizab. 129 How discouered 130 Ballard returneth into France ibid. Ballard sent back into England meeteth with Babingâ—on ibid. Babington receiueth letters from the queene of Scots 131 He writeth back to her and she answereth him 132 His associates in the conspiracy 133 Babington giueth to euery one his taske 134 They consult together 135 Babington vndertakes to bring in forreine ayde and sends Ballard to worke for him 136 Gifford discouereth all the conspiracy ibid. Sendeth the letters hee receiued to Walsingham 137 Ballard is taken ibid. Babington solliciteth for Ballards liberty and falleth into the same net ibid. Getteth himselfe out lyeth in a wood and is found 138 All the rest of the conspirators are discouered 139 Queene of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seâ—uants ibid. Her coffer with letters sent to the qu. ibid. Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably 140 The traytors come to iudgement ibid. Queene of Scots Secretary examined 143 King of France aduertised ibid. Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Sccottish queene ibid. By what law she should be iudged â—44 Commission granted to that end 〈◊〉 Who met at Fotheringham Castle â—46 Her sudden answer to the letters ibid. She refuseth to be tryed 148 Exception against the new law 149 Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare 150 Her tergiuersation 151 She yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer 152 Manner of the sitting ibid. Lord Chancellors speech 153 Her protestation recorded ibid. Proceeding 154 She denieth the former allegation ib. Copies of letters shewed 155 Extracts out of Babingtons confession ibid. Shee is vrged with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard 156 Walsingham is blamed ibid. Maketh his Apologie 157 Pagets and Babingtons letters produced 158 Secretaries testimonies ibid Their credites questioned ibid. Arguing about transferring the kingdome 159 Giuing of a pension to Morgan excused 160 Queene of Scots offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges 161 Lord Burghley's answer 162 She interrupteth him but hee proceedeth 163 Letters shewed againe 164 She interrupteth their reading ibid. Her Secretaries not to be credited ib. She is accused againe for transferring the kingdome and accuseth her Secretaries of periury 165 Sir Thomas Egertons demonstration ibid. She craueth a hearing in open Parliament ibid Sentence pronounced against her 166 Declaration that the sentence against the queen of Scotl. was not preiudiciall to her sonne 167 The States approue the sentence ibid. Queene Elizabeth's answer 168 Some other remedy desired by the qu. 172 Answer to her ibid Her reply to them 173 Queene of Scotland is certified of her Iudgement 177 French Ambassadour stayeth the publishing of the sentence 178 Courage of the queene of Scots ibid. A request made to queene Elizabeth 179 Opinions of the queene of Scots cause 180 Queen of Scotlands sonne intercedeth for her 18â— Some Scots against her ibid. King of Scots propoundeth some thingâ— considerable 18â— Bellieures reasons for the queene of Scotland 18â— Answers to his reasons 28â— French Ambassador attempteth queen Elizabeth's life 192 Stafford discouereth it 193 French Ambassador rebuked 194 Whether an Ambassador be bound to discouer any attempt against the Prince to whom he is sent ibid. Businesse weighed 196 Courtiers perswade by reasons 197 The queene perplexed with doubtfull feares 199 She causeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution ibid. Her Councell send secretly 200 The queene of Scotland prepares her selfe for death ibid. Her speech 201 She is brought to the scaffold 202 Her speeches to Meluine her steward 203 Also to the Earles ibid. In the behalfe of her owne seruants ibid. Her attendance by officers to the scaffold 204 Her prayers ibid. Her last words ibid. Deane of Petherboroughs speech 205 Her variety of fortunes related 206 Her Epitaph 207 Gods prouidence plainly seene in her death 208 Queene Elizabeth is much grieued at her death ibid. Is angry with her Councell ibid. Her letter to the King of Scotland 209 Dauison brought into the Star-chamber 210 He is obiected against ibid. He answereth for himselfe ibid. He is vrged vpon his owne confession 211 He is reproued by the queenes Sergeants 212 Iudges giue their opinion ibid He is chekt 213 Lord Gray defendeth him ibid. Earles agree with him 214 Sentence giuen against Dauison 215 A request made to the Commissioners ibid. Dauison his particular Apology ibid. Indignation of the Scots 217 Suggestions to the king 218 Drake sent into Spaine 221 Stanley and Yorke traytors 223 Leycester blamed 228 Death of Henry Neuill 234 Baron of Abergauenny 236 Of the Duchesse of Somerset 237 Of Radolph Sadleir 238 Of sir Thomas Bromley 240 Of the Earle of Rutland 241 Of sir Christopher Hatton Lo. Chancellour 242 William Fitz-William Deputy of Ireland 250 Great preparations in Spaine to inuade England and by what counsail 252 The reason 253 Consultation how to assault and subdue England 254 Preparation in Flanders 255 The Pope giues assistance 256 Consultation how to defend the kingdome 257 King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniard 258 Commissioners sent into Flanders to treat of peace 259 Propositions of the English answered 260 Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma 262 Conference of peace breakes 263 The Spanish Armado 264 Sets forth and is dispersed ibid. Sets out againe 266 The English Nauy sets out 267 The first fight 268 Ability of the English Elect. 269 Peter Valdes taken 270 The Ship of Oquenda taken 271 Admirall of Englands prouidence 273 The third fight 275 Knights created for their valour by the Lord Admirall 276 Diuers Noblemen and Knights ioyne with the English Fleet. 277 Spanish Fleet at anchor ibid. Duke of Parma sent for by the Spaniard but he is vnprepared 278 Hollanders good seruice ibid. Spaniards flight 279 Hugh Moncada slaine 280 Fourth combate 281 The Spaniards resolue to return home by the North Sea 282 Queene Eliz. visites her Campe. 283 Conditions offered vnto the King of Scotts 284 Money coyned in memory of this famous victory ibid. Misery of the Spaniards in Ireland 285 Causes of the defeat ibid Patience of the Spaniard in this ouerthrow 286 A generall thankesgiuing and publick reioycing in England ibid.
Prayse of those who were of the English Nauy ibid. Publike ioy encreased by good newes out of Scotland ibid. Leicesters goods are sold 289 Bergen ap Zone besieged by the Duke of Parma ibid. Who rayseth the siege ibid. Innouâ—tions in England ibid. Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous bookes 290 FINIS THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST High Mighty and Inuincible Princesse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and neuer-dying memory OR ANNALLS Of all the most remarkable things that happened during her blessed Raigne ouer the Kingdomes of England and Ireland c. The first yeere of her Raigne Anno 1558. AFter that for certaine houres the decease of Queene MARY had beene concealed the Peeres Prelates and Commons of England being at that time assembled together in Parliament First notice was giuen to them of the vpper house which were in a manner strucke silent with griefe and astonishment for a while But they presently after rowzed vp their spirits and amazed senses moderating their mournings with ioy either not to seeme altogether sad or sorrowfull that Queene ELIZABETH succeeded the Crowne or else ioyfull that by the death of Queene MARY the succession thereof fell to her Maiesty so they bent their cares to publike affaires and with a common accord and firme resolution concluded and agreed that by the law of succession in the 35. yeere of King HENRY the eighth ELIZABETH was ought to be declared true and legitimate Heire of the Kingdome Therefore at that instant Nicholas Heath Lord Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellour of England carried the first newes to those of the Lower-house giuing them to vnderstand with much sorrow and sighs that death preuenting the course of nature had depriued them of a Queene no lesse fauourable to the Roman Religion then kinde and louing to the Common wealth and that each member of the Vpper-house had receiued such extreme griefe thereby that they seemed to be comfortlesse without hope of consolation if God through his speciall grace fauour towards the English Nation had not reserued for them ELIZABETH another Daughter to King HENRY the â— to succeed her Sister and that her right to the Crowne was so euident and true that no man could nor ought to make any doubt or question thereof and that the Peeres and Prelates of this Realme had all with one accord and voice determined that she should be forthwith publisht Queene and proclaimed Soueraigne if they were so pleased to condescend thereunto Which words being scarce vttered the whole Assembly immediatly with a common acclamation cryed aloud GOD SAVE QVEENE ELIZABETH that her Raigne may be long and happy And immediatly the whole Parliament rising she was openly proclaimed Queen by sound of Trumpets first in Westminster-Hall and then soone after thorow the whole City of London by the title of Queene of England France and Ireland and Defendresse of the faith with the happy applause and ioyfull shouting of all the people vndoubted presages truly most happy for indeed no Prince was euer cherisht of his people and Subiects with more ardent and constant loue and zealous affection then this Queene was nor none receiued and welcommed with more respect and ioy then she hath beene nor blessed and prayed for with more vowes and prayers so often iterated as this happy Princesse hath beene all her life time chiefly when shee shewed her selfe in publike or openly abroad Queene ELIZABETH was about fiue and twenty yeeres of age when her Sister died But she was so rarely qualified by aduersity and so well accomplisht and accommodated by experience which are most effectuall Tutors that she had purchased Prudence and Iudgement farre aboue the capacity of her age and of her pregnant wit and admirable wisdome she gaue sufficient proofe and worthy testimony in the election and choice that shee made of her Priuie Councellors for she tooke into her Priuie Councell the aforesaid Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke a Prelate no lesse prudent then modest and discreet William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Lord high Treasurer of England Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundel Francis Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Edward Stanley Earle of Darby William Herbert Earle of Pembrooke Edward Baron of Clynton Lord high Admirall The Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord Chamberlaine Sir Thomas Cheney Sir William Peter Sir Iohn Mason Sir Richard Sackuile Knights and Nicholas Wotton Deane of Canterbury All which had beene Priuie Councellors to Queene MARY and professing her owne Religion Shee adioyned to them by temporizing according to the time these vndernamed who were all Protestants and had had no office at all nor charge of gouernment in Queene MARIES Raigne William Parr Marquesse of Northampton Francis Lord Russell Earle of Bedford Thomas Parr Edward Rogers Ambrose Caue Francis Knollys and William Cicill who before had beene Secretary to King EDVVARD the sixth a noble Gentleman most wise vnderstanding and iudicious whose learning and worth exceeded many others and a little after she brought in Sir Nicholas Bacon whom she made Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England She so ordered and tempered them in place with all those which succeeded since in such sort that they were true faithfull and affectionate to her Maiesty and she alwaies free and not subiect to any At these happy beginnings her first and chiefest care was to re-establish the Protestant Religion the which as much by the instruction and knowledge that shee had receiued thereof from her infancy as also by her owne particular iudgement she firmely held and maintained to be very true and most conformable to the holy Scripture and to the sincerity of the primitiue Church so effectually resoluing in her heart to settle and re-establish the same that she imployed to that purpose some of her Councellors being the most intimate with the rest of the other Lords of her most honorable Priuy-Councel she tooke order that the Ports Hauen-Townes should be fast shut secured and fortified The Tower of London she committed to the care of one whose fidelity and loyalty had been fully approued a new Commission she sent to Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputie of Ireland who with a Garrison of three hundred and twenty Horse and one thousand three hundred and sixty foot yeelded in submission the whole Countrey which otherwise had not bin quiet nor peaceable Also the like Commission shee sent with a clause or restraint not to conferre any office to Iudges and Magistrates for to hinder the Conuocation of the Assembly of the iurisdiction by the authority there appointed New Iustices and Sheriffes shee likewise established in each County and tooke order that no money nor coine should be transported by exchange out of the Realme to forraine Nations beyond Sea and that the Preachers should desist and abstaine from treating of questions or disputing about Controuersies in Religion and withall concerning State-affaires out of the Kingdom she gaue order that Ambassadors should be sent to all
Christian Princes to let them vnderstand Queen MARY's decease She therefore appointed and sent with all speed to the Emperour Ferdinando Sir Thomas Chaloner with letters of her owne hand-writing by which shee gaue him notice of her Sisters death and that first by Gods speciall grace next by her hereditary right and through the generall loue and consent of all her Subiects she succeeded these her Crownes and dignities And that now she desired nothing more than to maintaine the loue and to encrease the ancient amitie which of long time had beene betweene the Houses of England and Austria To the King of Spaine who at that time was in the Low-Countries she also sent Ambassador the Lord Brook Baron of Cobham with the like Embassage and Commission by which shee of new imployed and delegated the Earle of Arundell Turlbey Bishop of Ely and L. Wotton who before had beene delegated and appointed by Queene MARY for the treatie of peace in the Citie of Cambray and adioyned to them W. Howard Baron of Effingham She also secretly sent Sir Henry Killigrew Ambassadour to the Princes of Germany to inflame them in the zeale of Gods pure Religion To the King of Denmarke D. B. was sent Ambassador and to the Duke of Holsatia also Armigild Waade Philip King of Spaine hearing of the death of Queen MARY fearing one way to lose the title of King of England and the force of that Realme which were vnto him most vsefull and profitable and likewise that the kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland should be vnited to the Crowne of France by the meanes of the high and mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland hee therefore treats seriously of a match with Queene ELIZABETH with promise to obtaine a speciall dispensation from the Pope And to that effect imployed the Earle of Ferie who had visited her MAIESTIE by the like meanes as he had done Queene MARY in her sicknesse This Sutor puts Queene ELIZABETH into great anxiety and perplexity considering how inconsiderate and ingratefull her Maiestie might seeme to be in refusing a Christian Prince who had already obliged her in other things much but yet more in this as to seeke her to his wife through his owne free desire and motion The French King likewise was in an extasie considering how important and dangerous it was to France if Spaine her enemy should vnite adioyne to his kingdoms the Realmes of England and Ireland therefore hee vseth his best endeuours at Rome by the intermission of the Bishop of Angoulesme to hinder the grant of such dispensation shewing to that end that Queene ELIZABETH was held for Supportresse of the Protestant Religion and rather than faile went about to declare her illegitimate But all this most secretly and closely for feare to irritate England before that his affaires were throughly well settled The Earle of Ferie contrariwise on the other side labours as hard to bring this marriage to passe and to that end giues the English Papists to vnderstand who were dispersed throughout all parts of the Realme that it was the sole and onely way left for them to preserue their Religion and defend their ancient dignities and honours and that if they should contemne it hee could not but deplore the misery and calamity of England as being out of money vnprouided of men trained vp and vnskild in the military discipline void of fortification and lacking munition and garrisons for Warre and her Councellors of State depriued likewise of good aduice And indeed to speake truely Englands affaires were at that time in a most miserable case and lamentable state for England had warre on the one side with Scotland and on the other side with France and was in a manner vndone by those debts that King HENRY the Eighth and King EDWARD the Sixt had run into and her treasury was exhaust and empty and the Town of Callais had beene but newly lost and the whole Countrey of Oyes with all the munition and furniture of warre The people here were diuided into contrarieties through differency of religion and the Queene left without any powerfull friend to assist her hauing no alliance at all abroad with forrain Princes But when as her Maiestie had more seriously agitated her spirit and carefully considered in her minde the proposition of this match shee findes the holy Scripture expressely inioyning that no woman ought to ioyne with him who had beene her sisters Husband no more than it is lawfull for a man to marry his brothers widdow and therefore that such marriages were directly illegitimate and wholly forbidden by Gods Law although the Pope should neuer so much grant a Dispensation And moreouer that if she should contract it by vertue thereof shee should acknowledge and proue her selfe illegitimate sith shee was issued from the match that King HENRY her father had contracted after his diuorcing and putting away Katherine of Spaine for hauing beene his brothers wife which neuerthelesse had beene approued iust and lawfull according to the Diuine Law by all the Academies of Christendome and likewise the Synod of London as well as that of Katherine vniust and vnlawfull Her Maiestie therefore endeuours to stop preuent and hinder by little and little the course of King Philips suite by an honest answer truely modest and well-beseeming the chaste integrity of her constant virginity and chiefly grounded vpon scruple of her conscience But he notwithstanding all this surceased not his suite but persisted therein vrging her with feruent and frequent Letters By which shee obserued the manners and behauiours of so great a King compounded with grace and graue modesty and truely worthy his Maiestie the said Letters being much by her admired in the often publishing of them yea her Maiestie taking pleasure to imitate them vntill some Nobles of her Court began to defame and speake against the matchlesse pride and practices of the Spaniards Also some of the intimate Lords and fauorites of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell fearing lest the tender and young spirit of a Maide often moued might easily condescend to their desires told to her MAIESTIE secretly that both her Maiestie and friends with the whole Realme of England were vndone if in such Dispensations or in any thing else whatsoeuer she should giue any credit or make the least estimation of the Popes authoritie and power since that two of them had declared and published her Mother illegitimate and vnlawfully ioyned in wedlocke with King HENRY the Eighth Also that by vertue of such Declaration the most high and most mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland should pretend right to the Crownes of England c. and that the Pope would neuer retract nor goe from that iudgement and that her Maiestie should not expect nor looke for any thing good or iust from the Popes hand who had beene enemies and shewed themselues vniust both towards her Maiestie and her Mother And that the French King laboured hard vsing his vtmost power and
best endeuours at the Popes Court in Rome for to cause the high and mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland to be acknowledged and declared Queene of England yet Queene ELIZABETH neuer intended nor meant in her heart to match with the King of Spaine being quite contrary to her vertuous disposition hauing a feruent desire and settled resolution to ground and aduance the true Protestant Religion to which shee was most zealous Therefore deeming that shee could not vndertake or vphold a worthier thing more agreeable to God nor more efficacious for to quench the flames of the pretended loue of so importunate a Sutor then to labour to procure an alteration of Religion with all possible meanes and speede which could be not doubting in so doing to alter likewise the will and intent of King Philip Whereupon and forthwith her Maiesty consulted and tooke aduice with her most intimate and sincere Priuy Councellors how in abolishing the Roman Religion she could conueniently settle in stead of it the true Catholike and Christian Faith and examining what dangers might succeed and happen thereby and how they could be preuented and auoyded who fore-see and iudge what dangers could be procured either out of the Kingdome or within the Realme without either by the Pope who surely would not misse raging with his excommunications to expose the Realme as a prey to whosoeuer could inuade it Or by the French King who taking such opportunity at the occasion by that would slake and delay the Treatise of Peace which was already begun in the City of Cambray or else and rather in the behalfe of the Royall Queene of Scotland would declare open war with England vnder colour of Enemies and Heretiques and would possesse thereunto Scotland to condiscend to it which at that time was at his command and disposing Or by the Irish who were most addicted to Papistry and much apt and giuen to rebellion or by the King of Spaine who was then most mighty and powerfull in the Netherlands Englands neighbouring Countries Vpon this throughly and well considered they first resolue that for the Popes excommunication her Maiestie should not feare accounting it but as a brutish rage and fury and that if a Peace was offered by the French King it was behoofefull and requisit to entertaine it if not to seek it by all meanes because in it it would cōprehend the loue of Scotland yet neuerthelesse not to forsake or disparage any kinde of waies the Protestants of France and Scotland Also that it was requisite to fortifie and strengthen the Towne and Garrison of Berwicke with the rest of the Frontires of Scotland and Ireland and by all meanes possible to increase and maintaine such formal Ioue and the ancient alliance with those of Burgundie Within the Realme first by such Nobles who had bin deiected from the Queenes Priuy Councell next by such Bishops and Church-men who should be degraded and put out of their benefices and places and after by those Iustices of the peace that were for each County as also by the common people who vnder Queen MARIES raigne were most affectionate to the Roman Church Therefore they deemed and thought good first to depriue such of their offices and reprehend them by the seuerity of Laws as Queene MARY had formerly vsed the Protestants and therefore to admit and institute in each place and office of command the Protestants onely and to settle them in euery Colledge of both Vniuersities and by the like meanes to discharge and turne out all Papists-Professors and Rectors there and also such Schoole-masters and Tutors of Winchester Aeton and other free Schooles and for those who being possest onely of a desire of Change though Protestants had begun to inuent a new Ecclesiasticall Policie that it was likewise requisit to reprehend them in time and to suffer and tolerate but one and the selfe-same Religion through the whole Realme for feare that diuersities of Religion should kindle seditions betwixt among the people of England being a warlike Nation both couragious and generous Therefore speciall charge and care was giuen to Sir Thomas Smith a worthy Knight truely iudicious and wise also to the noble Gentlemen M. Parker Master Bill Master Coxe Master Grindall Master Whitehead and Master Pilkinton who all were most learned and temperate for the correcting of the Liturgie which had been before penned and published in English in King EDWARD the Sixt's raigne without making any more priuy thereunto but the Lord Marquis of Northampton the Earle of Bedford I. Gray of Pyrg and Cecil But certaine Ministers impatient of delay by the length of time which ranne and past away in these things desiring rather to runne before good Lawes than to expect them in their feruent zeale began to preach the Gospell of Christs true Doctrine first priuately in houses and then openly in Churches at which the Commons curious of nouelties ranne thither and whole flockes of people resorted to their hearing from all parts and places in great multitudes contesting so earnestly one with another the Protestants against the Papists vpon questions of controuersies in Religion that for to preuent tumults and seditions and also the occasions of further quarrels and strifes the Queenes most excellent Maiestie was as it were compelled of necessity to defend expressely by strict Proclamation to all in generall not to dispute any more nor enter into any such questions yet notwithstanding giuing full leaue and authoritie to reade to her people the holy Gospell and the Epistles and Commandements but not as yet to make any explication thereof and to haue the Lords Prayer the Apostolicall Creede and the Letanie in the vulgar tongue And for the rest shee ordained the Romane stile to be obserued vntill that by the authoritie of a Parliament the whole forme of Gods Diuine Seruice should be settled and of new instituted and in the meane while her Maiestie solemnized Qu. MARIES Funerall which glorious preparation made then a most magnificent shew in Westminster and shortly after shee payed to Charles the Fifth his honours who two yeares afore rare example of all Caesars and more glorious than all his victories in conquering himselfe had renounced his Empire withdrawing himselfe from this mortall life to liue for euer wholly with God THE SECOND YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1559. AT the beginning of this yeere Queene ELIZABETH re-established and restored of new W. Parr to the dignity of Marquis of Northampton who vnder Queene MARIES raigne had beene degraded of that honour Her Maiesty also reconferred the Barony of Beauchamp and Earledome of Hartford vnto Edward Seymor a noble Gentleman who by the force of a priuat Law the malice and enuy of his aduersaries had beene depriued of the greatest part of his Patrimony and Ancestors honours Her Maiestie likewise honoured with the Title of Viscount Bindon the Lord Thomas Howard second sonne to Thomas Duke of Norfolke
who was father to the gracious Princesse Frances Dutchesse of Richmond and Lenox now liuing Moreouer her Maiestie created Sir Henry Carie Baron of Hunsdon who was allyed to her Maiesty by the Lady M. Bullen and that Noble Gentleman Oliuer Saint Iohn shee made Baron of Bletso who all were free from the Popish Religion After this her Maiesty is conuayed in pompe and Royall Magnificency from the Tower of London to Westminster thorow the Citie of London with incredible applause and generall acclamations which as her Maiestie was equally venerable in sight and hearing increased meruailously and the next morning her Maiestie was there inaugurated with the right of her Ancestors and anoynted by Owen Oglethorpe Bishop of Carlile when as the Arch-Bishop of Yorke and diuers other Prelates had refused the performance of that duty through a suspicious feare of the Roman Religion conceiued partly because her Maiesty had beene brought vp from the Cradle in the Protestant Religion and partly also that she had a little before forbidden a Bishop at the Diuine Seruice from lifting vp and adoring the Hoste and likewise permitted to haue the Letany Epistles the Gospell in English which they held as execrable Yet Queen ELIZABETH was truely godly pious and zealously deuoted for her Maiestie was not so soone out of her bed but fell vpon her knees in her priuate Closet praying to God deuoutly Certaine houres were by her Maiestie reserued and vowed to the Lord. Moreouer her Maiestie neuer failed any Lords day and holy day to frequent the Chappell neither was euer any Prince conuersant in Diuine Seruice with more deuotion then her sacred Maiestie was Shee zealously heard all the Sermons in Lent beeing attyred in blacke and very diligently gaue attention thereunto according to the ancient vse and custome although shee said repeated oftentimes that which she had read of HENRY the third her Predecessor that her Maiestie had rather in her Prayers speake to God deuoutly then heare others speake of Him eloquently And concerning the Crosse our blessed Lady and the Saints she neuer conceiued irreuerently of them neither spake her selfe nor suffered any others to speake of them without a certaine kinde of Reuerence Within few dayes after there was a Parliament held in which was enacted by a generall consent First that Queen ELIZABETH was and ought to bee both by the Diuine and Ciuill Law and the Statutes of this Realme and as I may vse their proper termes and forme the lawfull vndoubted and direct Queene of England rightly and lawfully descending from the Royall Blood according to the order of succession which was likewise formerly enacted by Parliament in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRIE the Eighth yet neuerthelesse that Law was not abolished by which her Father excluded both her and her Sister MARY from succeeding him in the Crowne And therefore it was thought by some that the Lord Bacon vpon whom her Maiesty relyed as an Oracle of the Law had forgotten himselfe and was destitute in that particular of his wonted Prudencie in not foreseeing the euent and especially because the Duke of Northumberland had obiected the same both against her Sister MARY and her selfe and to that end Queen MARY had abolished it in as much as concerned her selfe At which time there were some that drew against her Maiestie most dangerous inuectiues and conclusions in such manner as if she had not bin lawfull Queene although the Lawes of England many yeeres agoe determined Que la Couronne vnefois prinse ofte toute sorte de defaults That the Crowne once possessed cleareth and purifies all manner of defaults or imperfections But many on the other side commended the wisdome of the Lord Bacon therein as vnwilling in regard of such confusion of the Lawes and Acts to open a wound already clozed vp with the Time For that which made for Queene ELIZABETH seemed to tend to the shame and disgrace of Queene MARY And therefore shee held her selfe to the Law made in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRY the Eighth who restored and vpheld in a certaine manner each of their Honours Afterwards there was in the Parliament likewise propounded that forasmuch as concerned the Crown of England and the ancient iurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall matters should be re-established with the Lawes of King HENRY the Eighth against the Sea of Rome and of EDVVARD the Sixth in the behalfe of the Protestants which Queene MARY had vtterly abolished ordaining That all Iurisdictions Priuiledges and Spirituall Preheminences which heretofore were in vse and appointed by Authority for to correct Errours Heresies Schismes Abuses and other Enormities in Ecclesiasticall Affaires should for euer remaine as vnited to the Crowne of England and that the Queenes Maiestie with her successors should likewise haue full power to appoint Officers by their Letters Patents to execute this Authority neuerthelesse vpon this charge that they should not define any thing to be haereticall but that which had beene declared such long agoe by the holy and Canonicall Scriptures or by the foure first Oecuminike Councels or others according to the true and naturall sense of the holy Scripture or which should afterward in some Synod by the authority of the Parliament and approbation of the Clergie of England be declared That euery Ecclesiasticall Magistrate and such as receiue pension out of the publike Treasure to aduance and promote themselues in the Vniuersities to emancipate Pupils to inuest Domaines or receiue seruants of the Royall House were oblig'd by Oath to acknowledge her Royall Maiestie the sole and soueraigne Gouernour of the Realme for as much as concerneth the Title of Soueraigne Head of the Church of England it pleased her not in all things or causes as well spirituall as temporall all forraigne Princes and Potentates excepted entirely excluded to informe of any causes within the Lands of her obeysance But there were nine Bishops that sare the same day in the vpper House of Parliament and opposed themselues and were wilfully refractary against these Lawes beeing then but foureteene aliue namely the Arch-Bishop of Yorke the Bishops of London of Winchester of Worcester of Landaff of Couentrie of Exceter of Chester and of Carlil with the Abbot of Westminster And amongst the Nobility there were none that gaue aduice that England should bee reduced againe to the vnity of the Romane Church and obedience of the Apostolike Sea except the Earle of Shropshire and Anthony Browne Vicount Montaigue who as I said here before was in Queene MARIES Raigne sent in Ambassage to Rome by the States of the Kingdome with Thurbey Bishop of Ely who by a feruent zeale of Religion insisted sharpely that it were a great shame for England if she should retire so suddenly from the Apostolike Sea vnto which it was but lately reconciled and more danger if by reason of such reuolt it should be exposed by the thunder of an Excommunication to the rage of her enemies That by
order and authority of the States hee had in the name of the whole Kingdome of England offered obedience vnto the Pope and hee could not but acquite himselfe of this promise And therefore he tryed and endeuoured to preuaile so much by Prayers that they would not retyre or draw backe from the Sea of Rome of which they held the Christian Faith which they had alwaies kept But when these things were brought to the Lower House there were many more than in the vpper House that consented ioyntly to these Lawes Wherevpon the Papist murmuring much said that of a deliberate purpose they had elected the most part of the Deputies amongst the Protestants aswell of the Shires as of the Cities Corporations and that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Arundell the most powerfull and mightyest amongst the Peeres had industriously bribed the suffrages for the profit which they drew or hoped to draw thereby Spirits then disagreeing for matters of Religion by one and the same Edict all persons were forbidden to speake irreuerently of the Sacrament of the Altar and permitted to communicate vnder both species And a Conference appointed against the last of March betwixt the Protestants and the Papists in which the States of the Land should bee present and for the same to keepe and hold elect for the Protestants Richard Coxe Whitehead Edmund Grindall Robert Horne Edward Sandes Edward Guests Iohn Elmar and Iohn Iewell For the Papists Iohn White Bishop of Winchester Rad. Bain of Couentrie and Lichfield and Thomas Watson of Lincolne Doctor Cole Deane of Saint Paul Doctor Landgal Arch-Deacon of Lewis Doctor Harpesfield of Canterbury and Doctor Chatsie of Middlesexe The Questions propounded were these following Of the celebration of the Diuine Seruice in the Vulgar Tongue of the authority of the Church for to establish or abolish Ceremonies according as it is expedient and of the Sacrifice of the Masse But all this Disputation came to nothing for after some conference and writings deliuered from the one to the other side and not agreeing vpon the forme of the disputing the Protestants began to triumph as obtayning the Victory and the Papists to complaine of their hard vsage for not beeing aduertised but a day or two before and that Sir Nicholas Bacon the Lord Keeper being a man little read in Theologie and their great Enemie sate as Iudge although he was but meerely appointed for Moderator But the truth is that hauing thought more seriously vpon this matter they durst not without expresse order frō the Pope call in question such high points which are not argued in the Church of Rome And they cryed of all sides When is it that one shall knowe what hee ought truely to beleeue if it be alwaies permitted to dispute of Faith Disputers of Religion alwaies returne to the Scepters and such like things And the Bishops of Lincolne and Winchester were so offended with it that they were of opinion that the Queen and those that had caused her to forsake the Church of Rome should be excommunicated and punished with imprisonment for it But the wiser sort that it must be left to the Iudgement of the Pope for feare that those which were her Subiects should not seeme in doing this to shake off their obedience due to their Princesse and to display the Ensigne of Sedition And that was not hidden to the Pope who beeing also presently moued with Choller commands Sir Edward Carne of Wales a Ciuill-Lawier who had beene Ambassadour at Rome for HENRY the Eighth and MARY and was then for Queene ELIZABETH to quite this charge and to vse the same termes by the vigor or force of the commandement that was made vnto him by the Oracle of the liuely voice of our most holy Lord the Pope in vertue of the most holy obedience and vpon paine of the greatest Excommunication and losse of all his goods not to goe out of the Citie but to take vpon him the administration of the Hospitall of the English And did it to hinder that hee should not giue notice of the secret traines of the French against Queene ELIZABETH as he had done before with a great care for the loue he bore to his Countrey Neuerthelesse some thought that this old man voluntarily chose this exile for the zeale he bore to the Roman Religion In the meane time I omit for a while the affaires of the Church and Parliament to obserue the order of time the Embassadours of England Spaine which treated of Peace in the Citie of Cambray were in debate with the French about the restitution of Calais but they could not in any manner obtaine it although they should haue propounded to quit thē of three Millions of Gold which France ought by lawfull obligation The Spaniard who otherwise altogether different from Peace held the English side and surely with as much trueth as honour because the Queene had lost this Town by his occasion fore saw that it was expedient for Flanders that it should be in their obedience The French interrupted him saying that shee alone could not recompence the damages which the English had done them their Townes beeing taken by the Spaniards by reason of their ayde and many Borroughs in base Brittaine were sackt and burned many Ships taken and their Commerce or Traffique which is the sinewes of War broken That they had disbursed infinite summes of money to hinder their firings that Calais was the ancient patrimony of France and that if it had beene lost by Warre long agoe it had also then beene recouered by Armes therefore that it ought not to be restored and that the States of France had so resolued That surrendring it were to put weapons into their Enemies hands and withdraw for euer the Kings Subiects from his obedience and therefore that it was an vniust thing for the English to demand it The English on the contrary maintained that they demanded it with reason and Iustice because say they during one yea two ages he had tooke Englands part and that they had not onely conquer'd it by Warre but that it was also falne vnto them by hereditary succession and by cession made by vertue of the pactions and agreements in exchanges of other places which the Kings of England had likewise granted to them of France That these damages ought not to be imputed to them but to the Spaniards who against their will had drawne and associated them in this Warre in which through the losse of well-fortified places the taking of many of their Captaines they had receiued much more damage than the French and had had no profit therby That all that the States of France order or decree is not reasonable because it is only profitable and that Calais could not be lawfully or iustly detayned seeing that by the Conditions already agreed vpon all the places that were taken in the late Warres were restored vnto other Princes To which the French replyed
that it was done in consideration of the marriages which ought to be contracted with the other Princes and hereupon propounded to marry the first Daughter who should issue by the mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland and the Dolphin of France with the first Sonne that might be procreated by Queene ELIZABETH to whom she should bring in dowry the Towne of Calais and that for this cause the Queene of Scotland should quit her right which shee had vnto the Kingdome of England or otherwise to marry the first Daughter which should be borne of Queene ELIZABETH with the eldest Sonne that should descend from the Queene of Scotland and hereupon the English should renounce the right which they pretend vnto the Realme of France and the French should be discharged of all the debts they ought to England and that Calais should in the meane time remaine in their hands But these propositions being vncertaine for another time they sought to win time and increase the delayes but were contemned by the English who made as if they seemed not to haue heard them As they stood vpon these termes the Spaniard hauing aduice that Queene ELIZABETH did not onely breake the marriage which hee had offered her but likewise changed many things in Religion began to giue ouer the desire which he seemed to haue before the restitution of Calais and his Ambassadours almost losing their patience were somewhat of accord with the French for the rest made account to continue the warres no longer for Calais vnlesse the English would contribute more men and money as before and would aduance it for sixe yeere This raised the heart of the Cardinall of Lorraine who assured the Spaniards that the Queen of Scotland his Niece was truely and vndoubtedly Queen of England and therefore that the King of Spaine ought to imploy all his forces if he made any account of iustice to cause Calais to be deliuered into the hands of his Niece the direct Queene of England But the Spaniards which suspected the power of France not hearing that willingly tryed secretly to draw out of England the Lady Katherine Gray the yonger Niece of King HENRY the Eighth for his Sisters sake to oppose her to the Queene of Scotland and the French if Queene ELIZABETH should happen to decease and to hinder thereby that France might not be augmented by the surcrease of England and Ireland And strongly insisted that there should be a Truce betwixt England and France vntill such time they should agree together and that in the meane time Calais should be sequestred in the hands of the King of Spaine as an Arbitrator of honour But that was refused as much by the French as the English Queene ELIZABETH had well presaged that for shee could not hope for any good from the Spaniards side seeing that she had contemned and despised to marry with their King and changed Religion She also had knowledge that the treatie of Cambray was not made for any other purpose but to exterminate roote out the Religion of the Protestants And truely the consideration of her Sex and the scarsitie of treasure made her Maiesty finde that peace was more to be wisht for than warre though most iust Also it was her ordinary saying that there was more glory in settling a peace by wisdome than in taking vp armes to make warre neither did shee thinke that it was beseeming either to her dignity or to the dignity of the name of the English to relye vpon the defence of the Spaniard And she thought therefore that it was better for her to make a peace aside and separably and to go thorow and conclude for Calais with the King of France being sollicited thereunto by continuall Letters from the Duke of Mont-morancy Constable of France and the Duke of Vandosme as also by message of the Duke of Guise who sent the Lord Gray who had beene taken prisoner at Guienne and released to that end And for to conclude this agreement B. Caualcance a Lord of Florence was employed who from his infancy had been brought vp in England with whom the French King hauing conferred in secret did hold that it should be safer to treat thereof by new Commissioners in such priuat Country-houses of the Kingdomes of England or France that were of no great note But Queene ELIZABETH being mooued shewed her selfe to be of a manly courage in declaring that shee was a Princesse absolutely free for to vndergoe her affaires either by her owne selfe or by her Ministers and although that during the reigne of her Sister nothing was concluded but according to the Spaniards aduice and that shee would neuerthelesse without giuing him the least notice or taking his counsell dispatch these affaires betweene the Deputies of both sides not in an obscure and priuate place but openly in the Castle of Cambresis neere Cambrai This offended no lesse the Spaniard than the refusall and contempt of his marriage with her Maiestie with the alteration of Religion had done heretofore Neuerthelesse the French who was crafty and cunning enough to discouer how she was affected to match with Spaine prayed her Maiestie first of all to take away two scruples from them before the yeelding of Calais to wit that they forsaking that Towne before they were assured whom shee should marry it might easily fall into the hands of the Spaniard because that he would haue her Maiestie if possible vpon any condition and that there is nothing so deare but women will part with it to their beloued husbands the other whether as the Spaniards boast that the English haue such neere alliance with them that they ought to ioyne in armes with them against all Nations whatsoeuer to these it was answered that her Maiestie bore such motherly affection toward the Kingdome of England that she would neuer part with Calais for to fauour a husband and that although her Matie shold grant it yet England would neuer suffer it Moreouer that betwixt her Maiesty and Spaine there was not any such alliance but a meere forced amitie and that her Maiesty was most free for any contract with any Prince which might be commodious and beneficiall to England Vpon this it was thought good and expedient that the Commissioners of each part should equally vse their vtmost endeuours in the Castle of Cambray to agree all differences and to conclude a peace Therefore Queene ELIZABETH sent for England as Commissioners Thurlbie Bishop of Elie the Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord high Chamberlaine to her Maiesty and Doctor Wotton Deane of the two Metropolitan Sees of Canterburie and Yorke For the French King Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop and Duke of Rheims the chiefest Peere of France Anne Duke of Mont-morancy Peere Constable and great master of France Lord Iames Aulbon Lord of Saint Andrewes Marquis of Fronsac and Lord Marshall of France Iohn of Moruillier Bishop of Orliens and Claude Aubespine Secretary of the Priuy-Councell of France These ioyntly
agreed and concluded such Articles as are heere set downe almost in the same words That none of these Soueraignes shall goe about to inuade each others Countries nor giue assistance to any that should intend any such designe if any of their Subiects should attempt any thing tending to that effect they should be punished and the peace thereby not infringed nor violated The commerce should be free and that the Subiects of each Prince who haue ships of Warre before they goe to Sea shall giue sufficient caution not to robbe each others subiects The fortifications of Aymouth in Scotland shall be raysed that the French King shall enioy peaceably for the space of eight yeeres Calais and the appurtenances thereunto as also sixteene of the greatest peeces of Ordnance and that time being expired hee shall deliuer it vp into the hands of Queene ELIZABETH and that eight sufficient Merchants such as are not subiects to the French King should enter into bond for the payment of fiue hundred thousand crownes to be payed if Calais were not restored notwithstanding the right of Queene ELIZABETH still to remaine firme and whole and that fiue Hostages should bee giuen to her Maiesty vntill such time as these Cautions should be put in if during that time something might be attempted or altered by Queene ELIZABETH or her Maiesties Subiects of her owne authority command and approbation by Armes directly or indirectly against the most Christian French King or the most mightie Queene of Scotland they shall be quitted and discharged of all promise and faith plighted to that purpose the Hostages and the Marchants should be freeed if either by the said Christian King the Queene of Scots or the Dolphin any thing should be attempted against the Queen of England they shall bee bound to yeeld her the Possession of Calais without any further delay At the very same time and place and by the same Deputies there was also a peace concluded betweene the Queen of England and Francis and Mary King and Queene of the Scots whereupon they brought vnto the English Scots certaine Articles concerning the grant of safe conduct for those who had spoiled and rob'd the Frontiers and for the Fugitiues of the Countrey About which there being a meeting at Vpsaltington betweene the Earle of Northumberland Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of Dunelme Gu. Lord Dacre of Grillesland and Iac. Croft Captaine of the Town and Castle of Barwicke all English-men on the one part the Earle of Morton the Lord of Home and S. Cler. Deane of Glasco all Scottish-men on the other part They proclaimed thorowout all England the Peace concluded between the Queene of England the King of France the Dolphin and the Queene of Scots which seemed very harsh vnto the people and conceiued to be much dishonourable in regard that Calais which they had lost was not restored the Protestants laying the fault vpon the Papists and they vpon the Baron Wentworth a Protestant who hauing beene vnder the gouernement of Queene MARY accused in that behalfe and not brought to publique hearing was againe taxed and brought to iudgement but vpon hearing was freed by the sentence of the Peeres But Rad. Chamberlaine who had beene sometime Gouernour of the Castle of Calais and Iohn Hurleston of the Fort of Risbanc were adiudged to dye as guilty de laesa Maiestate for abandoning their places howsoeuer their censure was remitted The Parliament being ready to breake vp those which were there thought good to aduise the Queene forthwith to marry the great ones being vnwilling to yeeld to that for feare lest some of them might be thought to make this proposition out of some hope which they might haue for themselues Hauing then appoynted Th. Gargraue Deputie of the Lower-house to deliuer this message he addresses himselfe to the Queene with a few choyce men Hauing first by way of preamble intreated admittance and excusing himselfe with the graciousnesse of her Maiesty and the importance of the affaires he had to deliuer by this meanes procured audience and in this manner spake vnto her MADAME There is nothing which wee continually begge at the hands of God with more ardent Prayers than the perpetuity of that happinesse which your iust and vigilant gouernement hath hitherto procured vnto the English Nation But wee cannot conceiue how this should alwayes continue vnlesse that which wee cannot hope for you should continually reigne or by disposing your selfe to marriage might leaue Children which might inherite both your vertues and Kingdome together the Almightie and good God so grant This MADAME is the simple and vnanime desire of all the English which is the conceit of all others Euery one ought to haue a care of that place and estate hee hath and Princes especially that sithence they are but mortall the Common-wealth might bee perpetuis'd in immortalitie Now this eternitie you may giue vnto the English if as nature age and your beauty requires you would espouse your selfe vnto a Husband who might assist and comfort you and as a Companion participate both in your prosperities and aduersities For questionlesse the onely assistance of an Husband is more auayleable in the ordering of affaires than the helpe of a great many ioyned together and nothing can be more repugnant to the common good than to see a Princesse who by marriage may preserue the Common-wealth in peace to leade a single life like a Vestal Nunne Kings must leaue their Children their Kingdomes which were left them by their Ancestors that by them they may be embellisht and be settled and the English haue neuer had greater care than to preserue the Royall House from default of Issue Which is fresh in memory when HENRY the Seuenth your Grand-father prouided marriage for ARTHVR and HENRY his Children being yet of tender yeeres and how your Father procured in marriage for EDWARD his sonne hauing scarce attayned to eight yeeres of age Mary the Queene of Scots and sithence how MARY your Sister notwithstanding shee was deepely strucken in yeeres married Philip the King of Spaine So as if the want of Issue be ordinarily giuen by GOD as a curse vnto priuate Families how great an offence is it then in a Princesse to be a voluntary author of it to her selfe sithence so many miseries ensue thereby that they must needes pester the Common-wealth with a multitude of calamities which is fearefull to imagine But MADAME wee this small number of your Subiects who heere humble our selues at your Maiesties feete and in our persons all England in generall and euery English-man in particular doe most humbly beseech and with continuall sighs coniure your Maiestie to take such order that that may not be This is the whole summe of what he spake vnto her with a great deale of eloquence and more words To whom in few words shee answered thus IN a thing which is not much pleasing vnto mee the infallible testimonie of your good will and all the
that they should forbeare absolutely to beare these Armes by the intercession of M. Memorency the Guizes Emulator who thought it not to be any honour for the King of France to take any other Title or to graue in his Seales any other armes than the Armes of the Kings of France and shewed that this Title alone was of more importance than many others and that the precedent Kings had no other when they sought their right in Naples and Milan And truely from these Titles and these Armes which the King of France at the instigation of the Guizes hath taken from the Queene of Scotland then vnder age all the disasters which afterwards happened vnto her haue flowed from that for from thence came the enmities openly declared by Queene ELIZABETH against the Guizes and those which shee practised against her priuatly which by the subtil malice of men who made vse of the growing enuy and of the occasions which sprung from day to day haue beene so fomented on both sides that nothing could extinguish them but death for Soueraigntie admits no Companion and Enmitie against Maiestie is grieuous A few daies after in stead of giuing foure Hostages for the Towne of Calais as they were bound by the treaty of Cambray they gaue onely three the English Merchants are iniuriously dealt with in France one of the Ambassador Throgmortons seruants was sent to the gallies which F. great Prior of France had taken carried away by force from a publique place Some Pistols were shot at the Ambassadour himselfe and in his owne lodging and to make him the more contemptible hee was serued at the Table with no other Vessell but such as the Armes of England and France were ioyntly grauen on Finally la Brosse was sent into Scotland with a troupe of choyce men Gallies were sent for from Marseilles and from the Mediterranean Sea Those in Scotland which professed the Protestants Religion and qualified themselues with the title of the Assembly perswaded by certaine heady Ministers and especially by Knox a most hot controller of the Royall authority that it behooued the Peeres of the Realme to take away Idolatry from their authority by force to settle the Princes within the limits prescribed by the Lawes had already refused to obey the Queene-Mother and Regent though shee was a modest and a prudent woman changed Religion tumultuously ransacking and burning the sacred places drawne to their partie Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut the most powerfull of all the Kingdome much prouoked by the wrongs done by the French and many Nobles were bayted with hope to haue the Ecclesiasticall Reuenues insomuch as they seemed not to thinke of Religion but to plot in good earnest a reuolt against the Queene Regent and against the French which made warre in Scotland and accused Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes Bastard brother to the Queene their Coriphea who since was Count of Mura to haue coueted the Kingdome from his Sister But by the holy protestations which hee made vnto them hee tooke away all suspition of hauing any other ayme but the glory of God and the Countries liberty and that seeing it opprest by the Queene Regent and the French he could not chuse but lament most bitterly for it They sent William Maitland of Lidington Secretary to Queene ELIZABETH and hee in a pittifull discourse complained to her that since the marriage of the Queene of Scotland with the Daulphin the administration of the Kingdome had beene changed strange Souldiers spoyl'd and ruin'd all the French were placed in the chiefest offices of the Kingdome the Castles and strong places put into their hands the pure money corrupted for their particular profit and that by these deuices and the like they fortifie themselues fraudulently to take away the Kingdome as soone as the Queene should be dead Cecill who was the principall minister that Queene ELIZABETH vsed in this businesse and in all other for his singular wisedome employeth H. Percy who afterwards was Earle of Northumberland to know what end the Lords of that Assembly propounded to themselues what meanes they had to obtaine that which they desired and if one should send them succour vpon what conditions might Amitie bee maintained betweene the two Kingdomes They answered that they propounded not to themselues any other end but the aduancement of the glory of Iesus Christ and the sincere preaching of Gods Word to extirpate superstition and idolatry and to keepe the liberty of their Ancestors which they knew not by what meanes it might be done but they hoped that God would giue successe to their designes according to their desire to the confusion of their aduersaries And as for the intertaining of amitie betweene the two Kingdomes that that was the abridgement of their wishes and thereunto vowed their goods their faith and their constancy They deliberate slowly of these things in England because the Scots were not well furnished with money and armes nor very faithfull among themselues But they considered that the Marquis D' Elbeuf Vnkle to the Queene of Scotland had leuied men in Germanie by the meanes of the Ringraue for the Scottish warre that they had brought downe into the Hauens peeces for battery that the preparations which were made were greater than was necessary for the restraining as was pretended of a small number of vnarmed Scots that the French to draw to their league the King of Denmarke promised him that the Duke of Lorraine should quit the right which hee pretended to haue to his Kingdome and that likewise the censure of the Pope against the Queene was more importunately sollicited than euer and a sentence declaratory for the right of the Queene of Scots to England there was sent vpon the frontiers of Scotland one Sadler a prudent man and the Counsellor of the Duke of Northumberland who guarded the South frontier and Iames Croft Gouernour of Barwicke For the Councell of England could not see what these things tended vnto except to inuade England and to pursue by armes that which they attributed to themselues by their Coates and Titles Now doe they in England seriously consult vpon the businesse and it seemed to them to be a very bad example that one Prince should lend ayde and succour to the subiects of another Prince who rayse vp broyles and tumults but it seemed also that it were an impietie to abandon those who professe the same Religion a slow wisdome to permit the French who were sworne enemies to the name of English challenged the Realme of England and enioyed at that time in all places an assured peace to remaine armed in Scotland so neere England and so opportunely for the inuading of that side where Nobles and Commons of England are most affectionate to the Romish Religion That it were to deliuer cowardly into the Enemies hand the safetie of particulars and the peace of the generall For that cause it behooued not to stand vpon dreaming and
slow Counsels but to dispatch and take armes That the prudence of England had alwaies beene accustomed to goe meete their enemies and not to waite for them and that it had euer beene aswell suffered to preuent dangers as to expell them to defend themselues with the same weapons that they are assayled with That England was neuer assured but when it was powerfull and armed that it was more powerfull when it had nothing to feare but the Scottish coast and that to take away this feare it were meete to assist those which professed the same Religion and chace the French out of Scotland against whom Armes are very auaileable but not Counsels That for hauing contemned them too much heretofore they had lost Calais with shame and hurt and a little before by surprize Ableville and the forts neere Bullen whiles they fained to seeke a peace which was the cause that Bullen afterwards was constrayned to render and that they should looke for no lesse of Barwicke and the frontier Townes if they tooke not armes the sooner without staying to see what the French will doe who looke as if they meant to make peace in Scotland Their designe being hidden their ambition infinite their reuennew exceeding great insomuch that it is growne a Prouerbe long agoe in England that France cannot be three yeeres both without warre and without meanes Queene ELIZABETH also often alledged this saying of the Emperour Valentinian Haue French for a friend but not for a neighbour It was resolued then that it was iust necessary and profitable to driue the French out of Scotland as soone as could be possible In the end a Nauy was sent into Borrough which is now called Enden-borrough Frith coÌ„ducted by W. Winter master of the Nauall Artillery who to the great terrour of the French set vpon their ships which were there in the Road and vpon the Garrison that they kept in the I le of Inch-Keith Likewise presently the Duke of Norfolke was established Lieutenant generall in the Northerne parts towards Scotland the frontiers of the East and of the South were coÌ„mitted to the Lord Baron Gray who not long ago had couragiously but vnluckily defended Guien against the French and Thomas Earle of Sussex who in the reigne of Queene MARY had beene Deputy of Ireland is sent back thither with title of Lieutenant together with speciall command to ouer-looke this Irish Nation being so much the more superstitious by how much lesse it was husbanded and tilled should not be stirred to rebellion by the practices of the French vnder pretext of Religion to furnish Ophalie with some small Forts to giue to the old Soldiers some lands to be to them and their heires males begotten of their bodies to receiue Sulij-Boy Scotsh-Irish to hold the possessions which hee had claimed by hereditary right in the Countrey of Vlster to hold in fee and to doe homage and seruice for the same to increase moderately the reuenues of the Prince and reduce the treasury to the forme of that of England While these things passed thus F. Talbot the fifth Earle of the House of Shrewsburie dyed who was one of the chiefe Councellors of the Kingdome leauing for Heire George his onely Sonne by Marie Daughter to T. Dacre of Gilsland THE THIRD YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1560. AS soone as the Duke of Norfolke was come to Barwicke the Prior of Saint Andrews the Baron of Rethuen and others came to meete him and in the name of the Duke of Chastelraut and his Confederates treated allyance with him for the Queene of England in these termes Whereas the French haue striuen by right or wrong to subdue Scotland and to vnite it to the Scepter of France the Queene of England will take into her Protection the Duke of Chastelraut the Heire apparent to the Kingdome of Scotland as long as the marriage of the King of France and Mary Queene of Scots shall last and one yeere more He shall set forth Armies by Land and Sea with all sort of warlike Munition to chase and driue the French out of Scotland He shall not make peace with them but with condition that Scotland shal enioy its former libertie The Forts which shall be taken from them by the ayde of the English shall be also presently demolished or put into the hands of the Duke of Norfolke according as hee shall thinke good The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but by the counsel of the Duke of Chastelraut and the Peeres of the Kingdome The Scots shall assist the English to their vttermost endeuours they shall hold their Enemies theirs and shall not suffer that the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee ioyned to France otherwise then by marriage as now it is If England be set vpon by the French on this side Tine the Scots shall send at the Queenes charge two thousand Horse and a thousand Foot-men If on the other side they shall ioyne themselues to succour the English with all the strength they are able to make and at their owne charge for thirtie dayes as they haue beene accustomed to doe for the defence of Scotland The Earle of Argaehel Iudge of Scotland shall labour to reduce vnto due obedience the Northerne parts of Ireland vnder certaine Conditions which shall bee agreed vpon betweene the Vice-roy of Ireland and himselfe Finally it is determined what the one and the other shall doe if Iames Maconel or others raise any commotion in the Countrey of Hebride in Scotland or in Ireland For establishing these things Hostages shall bee sent into England before the English Armie enter into Scotland which shall be changed at the discretion of the Scots from sixe moneths to sixe moneths or from foure to foure Moneths so long as the Marriage betweene the King of France and the Queene of Scotland shall last and a yeere ouer and aboue That the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles and Barons Conferrates shall ratifie these Coâ—â—entions vnder their Signes and Seales within twenty dayes and shall declare that in all things which shal not tend to the oppressing of their ancient Liberty they shal yeeld obedience to the Queene of Scotland and to the King of France her Husband forasmuch as the Queene of England vndertakes not these things but by way of friendship and neighbourhood and to free the Scots from Bondage It was already discouered by Messages from stranger Princes and intercepted Letters that the French were resolued to set vpon England Seb. Martigues a young Gentleman of the House of Luxembourg with a thousand old Souldiers and two wings of Horse was come into Scotland and Doisel a Frenchman assuring himselfe too much to be of the Councell of the Queene Regent of Scotland had propounded to the chiefe of the Kingdome at Aymouth neere Barwicke that ioyning their forces they at the very instant would put the King and Queene of Scotland in possession of England but hauing considered the difficultie of the thing
and not willing to violate the Peace newly agreed vpon they refused it Neuerthelesse Martigues being yong and liuely did so burne in desire to attempt England that with much adoe was he hindred by the wholsome councell of the Queene Regent but this heat was quickly quenched when it was knowne that a storme had so beaten the Marquis D'elbeuf vpon the coasts of Holland who sayled towards Scotland with greater Forces that he was constrain'd to returne to Diepe froÌ„ whence he departed with losse of some Ships of many Souldiers At that time Ph. Stauel of Glâ—ion Knight of the Golden Fleece and Master of the Artillerie was sent into England employed from Spaine to expose the complaints that the French made against the Queene touching the Affaires of Scotland and to counsell in the name of the King to Peace and concord yet neuerthelesse hee secretly counselled the Queene to pursue with courage what she he had begun in Scotland though contrariwise the Spaniard had openly forbidden to transport into England those munitions of War which she had couenanted for at Antwerp insomuch as she was constrained to make a new prouision thereof in Germany And the Proposition that Stauel made was not without suspition that some Companies of Spaniards should be sent into Scotland together with the French to suppresse the Scottish Rebels and by the same meanes the French themselues if they should attempt any thing vpon England At the same time M. Seuerin ordinary Embassadour of the King of France instantly sollicited the Queene to call backe her Armies both by Sea and Land from Scotland which she willingly accorded vnto prouided that the French should be recalled but by delayes sought out of the one side and the other the businesse is drawne into length till the comming of I. de Mouluc Bishop of Valence who differed not much from the Protestants Religion who vpon his arriuall from France being carried vnto the place said that he was not furnished with any power for this busines and notwithstanding he was very eloquent strained himselfe to his vttermost that those Armies should be recall'd from Scotland and maintain'd that it was not to defraud the Queene of England that the King and Queene of Scots carried the Armes of England but by that rather to honour the Royall House But not beeing able to perswade the one as being absurd nor the other as dangerous Seuerin desired Stauel and the Bishop of Aquilé Embassadour ordinary of Spaine in England to bee present and witnesses when he should protest against the Queene of England that shee had violated the Treatie of Peace to which they refused him because they had it not in Commission Neuerthelesse he made by a discource prolixe enough his protestation to which the Queene made an Answere which was published and set foorth by which shee testified to all the world That the violating of the Treaties proceeded only from the French and that nothing could happen to her more vexing and odious then this Warre and such like things which might easily be drawne from what had beene spoken heretofore and by a declaration in writing which she had formerly caused to be published Notwithstanding that although she had receiued many wrongs and iniuries in that they had vsurped the Title and Armes of her Kingdome she could not for all that beleeue that it had beene done with the consent of the King or Queene of France or the Princes of the Blood but by the wicked deuices of the Guizes who abusing the King and riches of the French were ready to wound England through the sides of Scotland That shee could not abandon her safety nor her Subiects And surely it is not to be doubted that the Guizes for the loue which they bore to the Queene of Scotland the hatred to Queene ELIZABETH in regard of Religion and the ambition to oblige France by adding new Kingdomes vnto it being assured of an English party of contrarie Religion to the Protestants linckt themselues together obstinately to ruine Queene ELIZABETH But they were diuerted by meanes of discontentments and hidden hatreds which grew vpon the Subiect of the administration of the affaires which were put into their hands after they had taken them from the Princes of the Bloud And the QVEENE went so prudently to worke and vpon the nicke to meete the designes of her Enemies that she hath beene alwayes had in admiration of her friends and in terrour to her Enemies The same day that Gray entered into Scotland with an Armie Seuerin and Mouluc earnestly sollicited Queene ELIZABETH to call it backe giuing her hope that Calais should bee rendred if shee did it But shee answered very plainely That she made no account of Calais a small Fisher-Towne in comparison of the safety of all Great Brittaine And the same day sent into Spaine Anthony Browne Vicount of Montaigue a man very remarkable for his wisedome but very zealous in the Romish Religion thinking that for that consideration he would bee more pleasing to the King of Spaine together with Tho. Chamberlaine Embassadour Ordinary to iustifie vpon how many iust causes she had sent an Armie into Scotland to wit those that I haue heretofore declared and to shew the Queen of Scotland had beene married very young to a sickly King vvho was without hope to leaue Issue that Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut hauing beene by the authority of the Parliament designed of the Kingdome of Scotland the Guizes had prepared Ambuscadoes for his Sonne as he should passe through France their designes were bent to ioyne the Crowne of Scotland to the Crowne of France and to conserue it for the Queene This matter the King of Spaine examined seriously how dangerous it was to the Prouinces of the Low-Countreys and of Spaine that it behoued not blast with Rebellion the assembly of the great ones in Scotland which was made for no other end but to keepe as by duty they are bound the Kingdome for the Queen and her lawfull successors not induring to permit that by the wiles of the Guizes it should be ruined or transferred to the French without wronging them or theirs Vpon the beginning of Aprill the English Armie composed of an hundred Horse and sixe thousand Foote marcheth toward Lieth which is a place situated neere Bodir where all the Seas of Great Brittaine doe beate and the Riuer of Lieth spreading broader dischargeth it selfe and makes a commodious Rode for Ships scarce two miles distant from Edenborrough the Capitall Towne of Scotland The French knowing this commodity had fortified it to retire thither and there receiue the succour which might be sent vnto them the English shewing themselues there Martigues goes as speedily out vpon them with some companies of Foote to hinder their approach to a Hill vpon which he supposed they intended to Campe but after a Skirmish of foure houres where some were slaine they driue them backe into the
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
and pleasing to her but she could not yet finde in her heart to marry in changing her present condition which was vnto her much more delightfull pray'd him to proue her good wil in any other thing assuring him that although hee could not enioy his desires neuerthelesse hee should perceiue that his loue had not beene ill placed and admonished him not to deferre the time any longer to make choyce of a Wife which might be worthy of him With this answer I. C. of Finland returnes into his Countrey After hauing imployed all kinde of meanes to make this marriage in courting her Maiestie importunately by bold demands vsing of great liberality towards her Courtiers captiuating the good will of the inferior sort amongst which he often strowed pieces of Siluer telling them that when his Brother should come he would distribute largely pieces of Gold to the common people in generall Neuerthelesse his Brother suspecting that he had made this suit for himselfe receiued and intertained him ill at his returne and obstinating himselfe in his designe ceased not to continue this suit two yeeres after and made the condition of it to be propounded by Nicholas Guildenstain but as hee was imprudent and light at the same time hee demanded the daughter of Philip Landgraue of Hessen hauing beene refused at last married with a Lady of meane condition But as for Charles Duke of Austria he conceiued such hope that his House already allied by marriages with great Princes would be much more augmented by the addition of the alliance with England and that the ancient Religion should be tolerated if not altogether established which he so expected as a thing which he could not faile of and Qu. ELIZABETH tooke not at an instant this hope from him For her Matie shewed openly to euery one protested in the presence of C. Elphinstain and writ to the Emperour that of all the illustrious marriages which were propounded to her there was not any more or greater than that of the Arch-Duke that neuerthelesse neither the storme of dangers had not power heretofore nor the fauourable winde of honour could yet for the present diuert her from that manner of life in which shee had settled her selfe Notwithstanding without being come so farre as to renounce altogether the state of marriage and that shee hoped that God vpon whose goodnesse shee wholly supported her selfe would addresse his ends in that and in euery other thing to the safety both of her and her Subiects Adolphe likewise Duke of Holsatia was stirred vp by Frederic the Second King of Denmarke his Nephew to hinder her from marrying with the King of Sueden and carried with hopes to be able to effect it by the desire which her selfe had by her Letters witnessed vnto him that he was possest with the same affection towards the English as he had beene long agoe towards the Spaniards and by the promise that shee had most louingly made him hee came into England where she intertained him royally honoured him with the Order of the Garter gratified him with an annuall pension and through her extraordinary courtesie profest vnto him her Maiestie obliged for euer a most illustrious Prince who had purchased the renowne to be a most famous warriour in a conquest lately by him wonne against those of DITHMARS There were also in her Kingdome certaine Lords who according to the custome of Louers vainly prated concerning the marriage viz. Sir William Pickering Knight of the Order who had an indifferent good estate but honourably descended hee through his rare study and affability had gotten much honor and no lesse applause by his Ambassage in France and Germanie The Earle of Arundel a man of a most ancient House no lesse great in meanes than illustrious by birth but growing into yeeres and Robert Dudley the yongest Sonne of the Duke of Northumberland whom Queene MARY restored to his right and honours a noble young Lord of most comely lineaments of body who was as farre in fauour with the Queene as his Father and Grand-father were generally hated of the people out of a rare and royall clemency which she professed towards him in conferring heaping honours vpon him whose Father would haue attempted her death Whether this might proceed from some secret instinct of those vertues apparant in him or out of common respect they both being prisoners vnder Queene MARIE or from their first procreation by a secret coniunction of the Planets at the houre of their birth combining their hearts in one no man can easily conceiue Howsoeuer it were it is most certaine that onely Destinie causeth Princes to affect some and reiect others In token of honour and for the testimony of her well-wishing towards him the first yeere of her reigne after she had made him her Champion shee made him Knight of the Garter which amongst the English is the most honourable dignitie of all with the Duke of Norfolke the Marquis of Northampton and the Earle of Rutland at which euery one wondered In the meane time Vicount Montaigu Ambassadour for Spaine moued him of the necessitie of the warres of Scotland and laboured what in him lay to preuent the imputation of the Scots to be Rebels shewed him by the instructions wherein he was commanded but coldly in regard hee was a zealous professour of the Roman Religion that that which was established in England was conformable and grounded vpon the holy Scripture and the Aecunomicke Councels and intreated him to renew the alliance of the Burgundians formerly contracted betweene the Kings of England and their predecessours The Spaniard howsoeuer it was agreeable and vsuall amongst Princes to confirme such a renouation in respect it giueth as it were life to their Alliances and testifieth to the world their mutuall good will and howsoeuer himselfe and Charles his Father in the treaty of marriage with MARY Queene of England in the yeere 1533. were bound to confirme this alliance answered notwithstanding that it was needlesse lamented the alteration of Religion happened in England seemed to distaste the raising of an army and rooting out the Rebels in Scotland and fained to be too late aduertized thereof But for all this hee still opposed the designes of the French who laboured to excommunicate ELIZABETH and brought it so to passe that she could be no way subiect to excommunication without his consent and to aduertise her though it were too late that they ought for her aduantage to insert in the Articles concluded with the King of France that if the French should returne into Scotland it might be lawfull for the English to expulse them and in expresse termes to condition for the certaine assurance of the restitution of Calais The Earle notwithstanding perceiued well and so did the Queene that he was displeased as well by the circumstances I haue related as principally for that hee re-deliuered into the said Vicounts hands the tokens and ensignes of the order
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
newes I cannot well say whether the Papists more lamented or the Protestants reioyced Queene ELIZABETH now perceiuing her selfe more secure then euer before to the end that the Church might subsist and encrease in her partie and that the Common-wealth might more more flourish in honour and riches proclaimed two most wholsome Edicts by the first wherof she commanded all Anabaptists and such other like Heretiques who vnder pretence of shunning persecution were come from Countries beyond the Seas to certaine Port Townes vpon the Coast of England to depart the Kingdome within twentie dayes whether they were natiue or strangers vpon paine of imprisonment and forfeiture of their goods And by the second Edict her Maiesty supprest a Sect of sacrilegious men who vnder colour of extirpating superstitions had begun to demolish ancient Sepulchers Epitaphs and Ensignes of Noble Families and other Monuments of reuerend Antiquity which had escaped the furie of the prophane vnder King HENRIE the Eighth and King EDVVARD the Sixth and to pull off the Lead that couered the Churches And moreouer cōuerted the Monastery of Westminster a most famous place for the sacring of the Kings of England and the place where the Armes and Royall Ensignes were alwaies kept into a Colledgiall Church or as I may better terme it into a Seminary of the Church And there instituted one Deane twelue Prebends one Master one Vsher fortie Schollers whom they call the Kings Nurseries out of which there be sixe euery yeere or more chosen for the Academies of Ministers and Singers twelue poore c. to the glory of God and the increase of true Religion and good Learning And certainly there comes out from thence happily for Church and Cōmon-wealth a number of Learned men Tooke away by little and little whereby shee gained great Honour and no lesse Glory the course of money mingled with Copper and brought in vse that which was pure fine siluer to restore the honour of the Kingdome to preuent the deceit of those which both within and without this had corrupted the kinds and chang'd things much auaileable for the good of the Common-wealth into coynes of false money and transported the good siluer into forraigne Nations and to abate the prices of vendible commodities which were extremely inhaunc't to the great preiudice of the Common-wealth and aboue all for Stipendiars Soldiers Seruants and all such as are payde for their labours by hyer and brought it most happily to passe in a few moneths without making any stirre first in forbidding all persons to melt or transport out of the Kingdome as well the good and pure money as that which was mingled with Copper Moreouer in bringing that which is so mingled to his value that is to say the Penny to a halfe-penny the two-penny piece to three-halfe-pence the sixe-pence to a groat and the rest to two and a farthing because there was no more money and finally buying them for good siluer of all such as had any of it prouided that they brought it within the time prefixt in the Table of money which could not be done without losse to her insomuch that wee ought to acknowledge it to proceede from Queene ELIZABETH that the siluer was better and more pure in England during her Raigne then in full two hundred yeeres before and that it was not vsed in any other part of Europe She afterward caused good Coyne to bee stamped for Ireland which we call sterling of which the shilling is worth twelue-pence in Ireland and in England nine A matter indeed waighty great and most memorable which neither King EDVVARD the Sixth could nor Queene MARY durst enterprize sithence King HENRY the Eighth was the first King that euer caused Copper to be mingled with Siluer to the great shame of the Kingdome damage of his Successors and people and notable token of his excessiue expence sithence his Father had left him more wealth then euer any other King left his Successor and likewise he had drawne abundance of money by the meanes of Tributes and Imposts without grounding our selues vpon that which Cardinall Poole had left in writing That he had drawne more then all the other Kings which had raigned since the Victory of the Normanes and heapt vp an infinite deale when by the power of a Parliament hee tooke vnto himselfe all the Lordships which the English beeing absent had held in Ireland all the first Fruites of Ecclesiasticall Liuings and the Tenths which were in England and Ireland all the reuennews gifts and goods belonging to Monasteries This yeere dyed Francis Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington the second of that Race who had by Katharine the Daughter of Henry Lord Montaigue Brother to Reinald Cardinall Poole Issue Henry who succeeded him and diuers other Children who agreed well in brotherly loue but not in Religion In Ireland Shan otherwise called O-Neale a great and potent man in the Countrey of Vlster and lawfull Heire to Coni O-Neale who surnamed himselfe Baco which is as much to say as Claude and was created Earle of Tyr-Oene by HENRY the Eighth after he had put to death Mathew Baron of Dungannon his bastard Brother who was taken for legitimate spoyled his Father of his rule and domination for which hee quickly dyed with sorrow tooke vpon himselfe the Title of O-Neale couering his head after a barbarous manner with that hee wore vpon his legges and feete cast himselfe into Rebellion for feare of beeing pursued by the Lawe so as fiue-hundred Foote were sent out of England to ioyne with two Companies of Horse leuied in Ireland against him But after hauing made some light Skirmishes perceiuing himselfe vnable to resist the English and to bee hated of his owne men and that Surly-Boy Iacob Mac-Connell and Odonnell were risen against him hee layde downe Armes at the perswasion of the Earle of Kildare his Kinsman and promised to come into England to aske pardon as wee shall describe it in a more ample manner in its proper place THE FOVRTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1561. AT the beginning of the yeere Fr. Earle of Bedford hauing beene sent into France to end the mourning for the death of Francis the second to congratulate with King Charles for succeeding him summoned often the Queene of Scotland sometimes himselfe alone and sometimes accompanyed with Throgmorton to confirme the Treaty of Edenborrough but all in vaine For he could drawe no other Answer of it but That it behoued and was requisite not to resolue vpon so great a thing without mature deliberations and that shee neither would nor could confirme it without the Peeres of Scotland Throgmorton neuerthelesse ceased not to presse her instantly by all the meanes hee could deuise In like manner the Cardinall of Lorraine and all the other Guizes her Vnkles and Iames her bastard-brother who was newly arriued in France But whiles they thus did nothing but deferd it from day to day by
security she should in her life-time set her winding-sheete before her eyes yea she should likewise make her own funerall liuing and seeing it Hauing made this answere she sweetly admonisheth her againe by Letters which were deliuered her by Peter Meutis to confirme the Treatie which she refused not directly but gaue him to vnderstand that she could not commodiously doe it vntill the Affaires of Scotland were well established In the meane time Queen ELIZABETH with all maner of courtesie entertaines Monsieur le Duc D' Aumale the Grand Prior and Monsieur le Duc D'elbeuf her Vnkles and other French Noble-men which had conducted her into Scotland And yet notwithstanding Monsieur de Guize behaued himselfe in that sort that the English Ships are taken vpon the Coasts of Brittanie and the Marchants vnworthily handled and labours againe closely at Rome to procure Queene ELIZABETH to bee excommunicated Howbeit the Pope Pius the fourth aduised that it behoued to deale more gently with her Maiesty and as he had already sought by courteous Letters as I haue said vpon the last yeere hauing then also to appease the discords which were for matter of Religion assigned a day to the Councell of Trent long sinnce begunne and broken off by continuall Warres and drawing gently thither all the Princes which had forsaken the Romish religion hee deputed into England the Abbot of Martinegues with Letters full of assurance of loue But because that by an ancient Law it is most expressely forbidden the Popes Nuncio's to goe thither before he had obtained leaue from thence and taken Oath not to worke any thing by subtilty there tending to the preiudice of the King and Kingdome The Abbot being vpon the way stayed in Flanders and demanded leaue to come hither But Englands Councell of State iudg'd that it was not safe to admit him hither in regard that so many people from all parts nourished in the Romish religion laboured carefully both within and without the Realme to trouble the affaires thereof The Abbot not being permitted to come into England the Bishop of Wittenberg the Popes Nuncio with the King of France labours that Queene ELIZABETH should send Ambassadours to the Councell and many Princes of Christendome viz. the Kings of France of Spaine and of Portingall Henry Cardinall of Portingall and aboue all the Duke of Albe who yet bore good will to her Maiestie counselled her that in matters of Religion which is the onely Anker of Christians and stay of Kingdomes she would rather asscent to the Oecumenique Councell of Trent than to the particular opinions of a few men although they be learned She answers them That shee desired with all her heart an Oecumenique Councell but that shee would not send to that of the Popes with whom she had nothing to doe his authority being vtterly beaten downe and reiected in England with the consent of the States of the Kingdome That it is not for him but for the Emperour to assigne a Councell and that he hath no greater authority then any other Bishop At the same time that this Abbot was denyed accesse into England beeing the last Nuncio that the Popes of Rome haue sent hither Sir Edward Carne aforementioned being a most iudicious and wise man very well vnderstood in the right of Emperours by the Emperour Charles the fifth honoured with the dignitie of Knight-hood he dyed at Rome and was the last Ambassadour sent from the Kings of England to the Pope Chamberlaine Ambassadour for England in Spaine perceiuing that this answere did more and more alienate the affection of Spaine who iudged it to bee iniurious to the Pope and fearing no more that England Scotland and Ireland should fall into the hands of the Kings of France since that King Francis was dead began to make no more account of the English tooke leaue of him and returned into England Thomas Chaloner is sent in his place who as he was impatient of iniuries and had beene many times Ambassadour in Germany where he had receiued all manner of courtesies as soone as he was arriued in Spaine instantly besought by Letters to be reuoked complaining that according to the custome of the Countrey they had searched his Trunkes But Queene ELIZABETH admonished him that an Ambassadour must support all that which is of equity prouided that the honour of his Prince were not wronged Queen ELIZABETH being then capable of good counsell and very prudent and prouident and Religion somewhat wel established to strengthen her selfe with remedies against forces prouides for the safety of her selfe and of her Subiects and to enioy Peace more sweetly although she found the Coffers empty at her comming began to establish a Magazin of all sorts of Instruments of War and to that end employed great summes of money in Germany The Spaniard retained those Furnitures which shee had agreed for at a price at Antwerpe causeth many Cannons of Brasse and Iron to be cast discouers in the Country of Cumberland neere Keswicke by a speciall fauour from God on what occasion how farre and at what time shee should vse her liberality and indeed was prouidently bountifull to those that deserued it For notwithstanding that King HENRY her Father howsoeuer charged with three Children and EDVVARD and MARIE who had none had beene bountifull of the Crowne Land shee neuerthelesse hauing none neither gaue very little of it and yet what she gaue was vpon condition that for default of issue it should returne to the Crowne for which both the Realme and their successors ought to remember her and thanke her as a carefull fore-seer Whilest this good correspondencie was betweene the Queene and her people the Common-wealth seeming to take life and strength to the common ioy of all fell out a sad accident A most rare Piramide of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London which was frō the ground to the top of the square Tower 525. foote from thence 260. and was couered with wood ouer-laid with Lead was strucken at the top with fire from heauē which was so deuouring and burnt downeward with such violence to the great terrour of all the Inhabitants that in the space of fiue houres it reduced it to ashes with the whole couering of the Church which was most ample and spacious but the vaults which were of solid stone remained entire Notwithstanding all this couering was new made by the Queenes liberality and to the effecting of the same gaue great quantity of money and materials beside the collection of Ecclesiasticicall persons and others So all was repaired saue the Piramide This yeere dyed Iohn Bourchier a man of ancient Nobility Earle of Bath second of that name and Baron of Fitzwarin who by Elenor daughter of George Baron of Rosse had a great Progenie and left his Sonne William yet liuing his Successor THE FIFTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1562. THe troubles of France begunne then to
brought her vp she would be no lesse to the loue of her Sister Queene ELIZABETH Notwithstanding as shee was subtill of spirit shee was afraid if shee should tye her selfe with a stricter friendship to Queene ELIZABETH to incurre the disgrace of the King of France and to be abandoned of the Guizes her Vnkles and lose the money which shee drew from France for her dowry while shee should preferre this friendship which was vncertaine and as shee said her selfe there is none but transgresseth and of the friendship of the French she was assured And that that was the cause why the interuiew which had beene in deliberation many moneths came to nothing chiefly after she had declared by Letters that shee altogether refused it vnlesse that for to ground a certaine peace and the vnion of the two Kingdomes so much desired she were by authority of the Parliament designed Heire of the Kingdome of England or adopted Queene ELIZABETHS Daughter and that if these things were granted her she promised to be wholly at the deuotion of Queene ELIZABETH though she quitted all consideration and respect to the Guizes her Vnkles Furthermore she assured that she did not presse these things but vpon aduice which she had giuen her of the secret practices of some vnder pretence of religion intended to suborne some other Successour than her selfe howbeit she tolerates the Protestants Religion in Scotland But as the Cardinall of Lorraine treated at the same time with the Emperour Ferdinand to marry her with Charles his Sonne Arch-Duke who then sought to haue Queene ELIZABETH ELIZABETH declareth vnto her by Thomas Randolph that if shee lent any eare to this marriage to the Cardinall capitall enemy to the Engglish she might dissolue the amity betweene England and Scotland and peraduenture therewith to include the losse of the Kingdome of England admonisheth her amiably not to fall off but to chuse her a Husband in England first to please her selfe and afterwards for the contentment of her owne Subiects and of the English and to intertaine the friendship which was betweene them and to prepare her selfe a way to a certaine assurance of the succession of England of which declaration could not be made if it did not first appeare with whom she meant to marry All these cares held Queene ELIZABETH in great suspence neuerthelesse she was altogether attentiue to the warres of France to hinder that the flames of it in Normandie should not be blowne into England and after mature deliberation receiued into her protection the King of France his Subiects which were in Normandie and implored her succour by a Couenant which shee passed with the Princes of Condé Rohan Coligni and others to this effect That shee would send them a hundred thousand crownes and passe ouer sixe thousand Souldiers of which three thousand should be employed for the defence of Deepe and Roüan That they would put into her hands for assurance Ville-Franche which is situated at the mouth of Sene and was built by King Francis the First the French calling it Haure de grace and the English New-Hauen to be kept by a Garrison of three thousand Engglish Souldiers vnder the name of the King of France vntill Calais be rendred The same day that this agreement past to giue a reason of her designe shee published a manifestation to this effect That shee sent not an armie into Normandie to recouer this Prouince an ancient patrimony of England which had been wrongfully vsurped but to conserue it for the King of France being but yet a Childe and to warrant it against the Guizes who had begun cruelly to ouer-runne those who professed the pure Religion and iniustly to robbe her of her right which shee had to Calais and to take possesssion of the Ports of Normandy from thence they threaten next to fall vpon England which they haue by hope deuoured already insomuch as shee could not chuse but meete their attempts vnlesse shee should seeme to be fayling to the young King her Brother and Confederate and his Subiects that are oppressed to enuy the quiet of Christendome and which is more cowardly betray her Religion her securitie and her saluation And as Paul de Foix Ambassadour of France in England summoned her by vertue of the Treaty of Cambray to deliuer into the Kings hands the Vidame of Chartres of Hai and others who had signed the accord as Traitors to their Countrey shee excused her selfe of that by her Letter to the King discharging them of the crime and charged the turbulent spirits of the Guizes for it who had wrapped in the tempest of warre the Kings Father and Brother and the King himselfe In the moneth of September one part of the English Army landed at New-Hauen vnder the conduct of Adrian Poining who was appointed Marshall where they were with ioy receiued by the inhabitants the other part landed at Deepe The Earle of Warwicke Generall of the Army arriued there later hauing been by contrary windes twice driuen backe into England Afterwards they made diuers incursions into the Countrey neere thereabout but to hinder the same the Ringraue came and camped neerer The English and the French had notwithstanding often light skirmishes and those which were men of warre vpon the Sea brought in rich spoyles taking and bringing in euery day French ships from the neighbouring harbors This yeere Iohn Vere the Earle of Oxford died the sixteenth of that illustrious House who by his first Wife Daughter to Ralph Neuill Earle of Westmerland had Katherine who was wife to Edward Baron of Windsor by his second Wife Margaret Goulding Edw. Earle of Oxford who ouer-threw and wasted his Patrimony and Mary who was married to Peregrine Bartie Baron of Willoughbie At the same time Shan O-Neale came out of Ireland to performe that which he had promised the yeere before hauing for his Guard a troupe of Galloglassorum who had their heads naked and curled haire hanging on their shoulders yellow shirts as if they had beene died with Saffron or steeped in Vrine wide sleeues short Cassockes and rough hairy Clokes The English admired them no lesse than they should doe at this day to see those of China or America Hauing beene receiued with all courtesie hee cast himselfe at the Queenes feete and with teares acknowledged his crime asked pardon and obtained it After being graciously questioned Wherefore he had excluded Matthew his Brother from the succession of his great Grand-father answered fiercely as hee was vsed to doe in Ireland that it was his right and being the certaine and lawfull sonne and Heire of Cone borne of a legitimate woman he had taken his succession That Matthew was the issue of a Lock-Smith of Dundalke married with a woman named Alison after this marriage and notwithstanding had beene deceitfully supposed by his Mother Cone to be her sonne to the end falsly to take away the dignity of O-Neale And although he should suffer it some of the House
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
England also for her part permitted the English to repute of the French-men as enemies those onely excepted that did inhabite in London while they detayned Calais and the English put to sea with such a powerfull Nauie as was incredible clozing it vp from all French nauigation as also from the Spaniards making so many and such insolent surprizals of them both as her Maiestie was vrg'd to excuse the same to the King of Spaine and to divulge prohibitions by publike Proclamation to the English The Earle of Warwicke Gouernour of Haure de grace obseruing how the fidelity and loyaltie of the French Inhabitants began to wauer and that vpon so weake a rumor of Peace they held secret Councels amongst themselues and that the Ryngraue was in the adiacent parts with his forces to surprize the Towne and expell the English he in like manner draue out all the French indifferently both Papists and Protestants out of the Towne and seazed on their shipping which they tooke in grieuous ill part complaining that the English were not so carefull to protect the afflicted French-men as to make themselues absolute Masters of the place and how they felt their oppression more heauy then that of the Enemie himselfe And certainely to speake but truth nothing euer so alienated the hearts of the Normanes those of Guyenne the Poytouines and all other Prouinces liuing vnder the subiection of the Kings of England as because the English euer reputed and entreated them like meere strangers The French-men had now studiously prepared all things to assaile the Towne The King and the Prince of Condé at the same time laboured hard and very earnestly in England by Brickmore and D. for the surrender of the Towne and her Maiestie consented thereunto vpon these conditions First That the King of Spaine should ioyne in Caution for the restitution of Calais within the time prefixed Then the Treatie of Cambray was to be confirmed by the Kings Oath the Queene Mothers and that of the Princes of the Bloud ratified by all the Parliaments of France and Gentlemen of greatest note and quality giuen for Pledges In the meane while the Plague raigned very hot in Haure de grace amongst the Soldiers of the Garrison and two-hundred sent for their reliefe and succour were lost by ship-wracke with Sir Thomas Finch their Conductor and two Brothers of the Lord Wentworth Wherefore there being no great likely hood of maintayning and holding the Towne Sir Thomas Smith ordinary Leager in France receiued expresse Commandement to propound the restoring of it for Calais and so in like maner that the King of Spaine should arbitrate this affaire who had married the King of France his Sister But the French would in no wise giue any eare vnto it alleadging that the King of France acknowledged none for his Superiour neither would hee commit his affaires to the arbitrement of any Prince They detayned Master Nicholas Throgmorton sent to moue these Conditions suspecting he was returned into France for the disturbance of proceedings as hee could play his part well grounding their Action vpon this that he had no publique Commission though he had about him Letters of Credit besides others he had from the French Ambassadour Leager in England and they would in no wise heare him verily beleeuing that Haure de grace would presently be recouered by maine force by reason the Pestilence caused there such a fearefull mortality Monsieur Memorancie was already come thither with all the most remarkeable Nobility in his company Not long after arriued the Prince of Condé with the whole Flowre of the Protestant Cheualrie and the English wondring at this sudden alteration answer was made them that Peace was now generally established and the forces of both parties ioyn'd in one and now no motiues were made of fighting for Religion but for defence of their Countrie A Trumpet was sent from Monsieur Memorancy to the Earle of Warwicke to summon him to surrender and another returned from the said Earle to the Constable Memorancie with a Gentleman one Master Paulet to certifie him how the English were resolued to suffer all extremities rather than to yeeld vp the Place without the Queenes expresse Commandement Wherfore the Frenchmen hauing rais'd Mounts to make their Batterie ruin'd and battered the Towne for the space of many daies broke vp all the Conduit-heads and diuerted the water out of its proper Chanell which was seated aboue the Sea they applied all their endeuours to take the Towne by force the English on the other side with most loyall and couragious fidelity opposed theirs daylie losing more men by the Plague than by the Armes of their Enemies When Queen ELIZABETH heard of the lamentable and vnhappy estate of her people no longer to expose such valiant spirits to slaughter and pestilentiall Infection after an approofe of her Captaines and Soldiers valours in a publike Proclamation she sent to the Earle of Warwicke commanding him to compound with the French vpon reasonable and equall Conditions There were also incontinently delegated from the Earle of Warwicke to Monsieur Memorancy Master Paulet Master Pelham with whom in a short time they came to an Accord vpon these Capitulations ensuing That the Towne with all the war-like munition should be surrendred to the King of France and his Subiects That presently Monsieur Memorancie should take possession of the greatest Towre within the Towne That the prisoners both of the one and other side should instantly be redeliuered And that the English might de part with all freedome and liberty carrying whatsoeuer belonged to their Queene or themselues within the compasse of sixe dayes if the Winds would permit For performance whereof they deliuered for Hostages Mr. Oliuer Mannors Brother to the Earle of Rutland Mr. Leighton Mr. Pelham and Mr. Horsie The last remaining was Mr. Edm. Randolph Marshall of the Campe who with a pitty and commiseration neuer ouer-highly to be extolled ceased not to carry vpon his owne shoulders poore miserable and weake Soldiers into the Ships And thus Haure de grace being more violently assailed by the Plague then any enemie was left to the French hauing beene formerly in the Englishmens hands about eleuen Moneths during which time besides priuate Soldiers there dyed of the Pestilence these famous Captaines Somerset Zouch Alb. Darcy Drurey Entwessel Ormesby Vaughan Crookes Cocson Proud Saul and Kemish and with the Sword two Brothers of the Tremayns Sanders Bromfield Master of the Ordnance Robinson Baylife of the Towne Strangewaies very expert in Sea-seruice Good-all maruelous vnderstanding in casting of Mines For the so happy recouery of this little Towne the King of France gaue publike thanksgiuing vnto God the Papists all ouer France made Bonefires of ioy exulting and boasting in that the English-men were driuen out by the ayde and helpe of the Protestants who first called them in and that by this meanes some seeds of discord were sowne betweene them and the Protestants
loued him affectionately though hee stood zealously affected to the Romane Religion Hee left behinde him Henry and Thomas his Children who succeeded him one after another in his dignity of a Baron Charles who purchased renowne to his name and some Daughters who were married into honourable Families Henry Mannors or Manners Earle of Rutland died who was Sonne to Thomas the first Earle of that Family Nephew to Iames Baron of Rosse who came of the Daughter of Thomas S. Leger and Anne his wife who by reason she was Sister to EDVVARD the Fourth gaue wonderfull lustre and splendor to that name Cousin-germaine to Robert who hauing married the Daughter and Heire to the Baron of Rosse an honourable and ancient Family augmented his owne with mightie reuenewes and the title of Baron of Rosse and he had by the Lady Neuill Daughter to Ralph Earle of Westmerland two Sonnes Edward and Iohn who were each of them in their due times Earles of Rutland and a Daughter who was married to William Courtney of Powderham Frances Duches of Suffolke Daughter to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke and Mary second Sister to HENRY the Eighth and Queene Dowager of France died who was afflicted with many miseries during her life She saw her eldest Daughter Ianes head cut off after shee had beene proclaymed Queene and presently after her Husbands her second Daughter married to the Earle of Pembroke to be diuorc'd and imprison'd and her third Daughter meanly married to Key who in his time was Master of the Reuels at Court And then her selfe forgetting from what degree she descended to her great dishonour yet notwithstanding for her best security married with Andrew Stoakes a meere priuate Gentleman THE SEVENTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1564. FRance then reioyced for the peace shee enioyed which in some manner was maintayned with the Queene of England as being established to shut vp all entry to the English who began to flye out in calling to mind the cruell slaughters made by them in former ages when the Duke of Burgundie called them in for reuenge of his peculiar rancours and hatreds But this peace hauing rather slaked the feruent heat of warre than fastned any true concord or amity betweene the English and the French and the Queenes Maiesty perceiuing how the Protestants neglected and contemned her ingratefully returning those pleasures and fauours shee had done them resolued to trouble her selfe no more in others behalfe to the preiudice and hinderance of her owne proceedings Wherefore she bent all her care and thoughts to her owne occasions deliberated to make peace commended the ouerture thereof to Sir Thomas Smith a wise and learned man and the French lending a ready eare to the same gaue him Throgmorton for his Assistant who was then in France a prisoner at large to the end they might both together negotiate and procure the same The French King for his part assigned a Commission to Moruillier Bishop of Orleance and to Iohn Bourdin one of his Secretaries You may hereunder see the Articles whereupon they came to an accord in the moneth of Aprill within the Towne of Troyes in Champaigne THat one should not violently assaile the other neither yeeld succours to any other that made assault either vpon the one or other particulars onely should be lyable to their peculiar insults and offences No Traytors nor Rebels of eyther side were to be receiued All former iniuries were to be buried in obliuion Excepted all rights actions suites and pretensions which eyther they haue or pretend to haue respectiuely one against another shall remaine forcible and entire and so likewise all exceptions and prohibitions to the contrary These Articles concluded vpon the day following they annexed these Couenants separately and apart That a certaine summe of money should be payd to the Queene of England at daies constituted and appointed The Hostages in England were to be deliuered after the satisfaction of fiue hundred crownes And so this Treaty being ratified and confirmed Throgmorton might freely returne into his Country The King of France made Bone-fires of ioy according to the custome and after the Queene of England had ratified the same by oath in the presence of Gunor and Foix himselfe likewise within a very small time confirmed it in the presence of the Lord of Hunsdon who hauing at the same instant admitted his Maiesty to the Order of S. George he solemnely invested him with the Garter the Robe of honour a Collar of Esses whereat hung the picture of Saint George and other ornaments belonging to that Order In those dayes there arriued in England clad in the habit and grauity of a Priest to appeare more venerable Diego or Drilaco Guzman de la Forresta a Canon of Toledo sent in stead of the Bishop of Aquilar deceased some moneths before during which internall Roderic Gomez de la Forresta out of an hatred to Religion had bin the procurer of some rude entreaties of the English in Spaine who notwithstanding was much qualified by the Duke of Alua no man being able truely to say whether hee did it out of any loue he bare to the English or hatred to Gomez The like ill entreaty they also found in the Prouinces of the Low-Countries that liued vnder the Spanish gouernement at the instigation of the Cardinal of Granuella who to sow dissention betweene them and the Flemmings who held friendly and neighbourly commerce together in hatred to the said Religion he so brought it to passe that the yeere before the Flemmings complayned by Assonuil that the customes of England were enhaunst though this was performed during the reigne of Philip and MARY and that by Act of Parliament many of their handy-workes were there interdicted The English on the other side they exhibited also Bills of complaint how for small and trifling occasions their goods were confiscated in Flanders by vertue of new Edicts which also prohibited the bringing in of certaine merchandizes or to goe into Italie and Germanie by way of Flanders with horse Salt-Peter and Powder That they iniuriously exacted of them greater Imposts than euer were so much as mentioned in former times and all this against that Treaty of Commerce heretofore concluded on which was called the Grand Intercourse In the meane while the Princesse of Parma Regent of the Low Countries caused publique prohibitions to be diuulged first that no forbidden merchandize should be transported into England and then presently after for the importing of any English clothes into Flanders colouring it with the pretext of the plague which not long before had spred it selfe all England ouer But the naked truth is all these things were managed by the cautelous counsels and stratagems of Cardinall Granuelle to cause the Clothiers and other workemen depending on them to rise when they saw no clothes to be transported and yet the traffique of Clothes was established in Flanders to the preiudice of
to euery bodies knowledge shee sends Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH to haue her consent to contract with Darley and not to be any longer detained with a vaine hope of marriage Queene ELIZABETH propounds the matter to her most intimate Councellors who by the secret suggestions of the Earle of Murray easily beleeued that the Queene of Scotland had no other designe but to strengthen her selfe by such a marriage to carry the right which shee pretended for the Kingdome of England and at length to establish it and likewise the Romish Religion that some did adhere vnto her seeing that by reason of her children the succession was ascertained to her House and others for the affection which they bare to the Romish Religion there being found more Eirenarch's in England deuoted to the Romish Religion than to the Protestants That to preuent these accidents it was chiefly requisite first to pray the Queene to marry speedily to the end that the affaires and hopes of England should not depend else-where but of the certainty of Succession which should come of her and of her Linage for they feared that if the Queene of Scotland did marry and should haue issue first many would incline towards her for the certainty and assurednesse of succession Secondly to ruine as much as may be the Romish Religion in England and to aduance and carefully establish the reformed the one by vsing more moderately in things indifferent such Protestants that are carried with a feruent zeale the other in setting Guards againe vpon the deposed papisticall Bishops who were then dispersed through the Countrey by reason of the plague conferring vpon the other Bishops greater authority to execute the Ecclesiasticall Ordinances then they had contrary to the terrifying Praemunire which the Lawyers doe obiect suppressing those Bookes which Harding and the fugitiue Diuines had sent out of the Low-Countries into England driuing out some Scottish Priests who hid themselues in England depriuing the English fugitiues of the Ecclesiasticall Benefices which they enioyed vntill then and compelling the Iudges of the Land who were for the most part Papists to acknowledge the Queenes Soueraigne authority and to sweare vnto it And that to hinder the marriage of Darley it was fit to leuy Souldiers vpon the Frontiers of Scotland to the end to raise a terrour to fortifie the Garrison of Berwicke to set a guard vpon the Countesse of Lenox Darley's Mother and on Charles her Sonne and to re-call out of Scotland into England the Earle of Lenox and Darley his Sonne vpon paine of losse of their goods before they made any alliance with the French or with Spaine and to assist those which were bent against this match and to receiue the Earle of Hertford and Katherine Gray somewhat into fauour which thing onely was thought that the Queene of Scotland very much apprehended in regard that shee likewise pretended a right to the Kingdome and it seemed none other could bring a greater impediment to this marriage than she From hence Throgmorton is sent to the Queene of Scotland to aduise her that it behooued to deliberate long of a thing that can be but once determined on and that a precipitate marriage was followed with repentance to re-commend Leicester to her againe and againe and that it was altogether contrary to Canon Law to contract with the Sonne of her Aunt by the Father-side For Queene ELIZABETH desired aboue all that some of the English Race should by her meanes succeed to both the Kingdomes albeit there fayled not who for matter of Religion and for the two Kingdomes made account to succeed if shee dyed without issue She answers That it was now past reuoking and that Queene ELIZABETH had no cause to be angry seeing that by her Councell she had made choyce of a Husband which was no stranger but an English man borne of the Royall bloud of both the Kingdomes and the most noble of all Great Brittaine Amongst these things Lidington treateth of affaires in England and dissembling with Leicester often spoke vnto him touching marriage with the Queene of Scotland as also to the Duke of Norfolke much more worthy to marry a Queene who then refused it with a modest excuse The Qu. of England to interpose some hindrance to this so hastened marriage calls backe Lenox and his Son Darley as being her Subiects according to the forme of the leaue which she had granted them The Father excuses himselfe modestly by Letters the Sonne prayes her not to hinder his aduancement representing vnto her that hee might be vsefull to England his dearest Countrey and openly declared vnto her that aboue all things hee loued and honoured the Queene of Scotland To answere which loue she had adorned him forthwith with the dignity Equitis Aurati with the titles of Baron of Ardmanock Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesie and fiue moneths after his comming into Scotland marries him with the consent of many Peeres and declares him King The Earle of Murray who imbraced nothing so affectionately as ambition and vnder pretence of Religion had drawne to his faction the Duke of Chastelraut a man without leauen Murray murmuring exceedingly and others storming and stirring vp such like questions Whether a Papist might be admitted King or no If the Queene of Scotland might chuse her selfe a Husband If the States might not impose their authoritie The Queene of England bare this peaceably knowing the sweete and tractable nature of Darley and the open heart of his Father and taking pitty to see a kinsman and a Queene very young to haue to doe with turbulent men who hauing beene already more than twenty yeeres loosed from Royall command could not indure Kings and feared them not seeing that the power of this Queene who enuied her was not increased by so meane a condition hauing Darleyes Mother in her power and fore-seeing that troubles in Scotland would spring out of this marriage as it happened quickly after for some great ones of the Kingdome and the chiefe of them Hamilton and Murray disdaining this match the one because it had beene contracted without the consent of the Queene of England the other for the enuy which he bare to the House of Lenox but both the one and the other pretending the conseruation of Religion to disturbe the marriage brought their Ensignes into the field insomuch as she was constrained to raise forces to celebrate it in safety and with the helpe of the King her Husband pursued the Rebels so swiftly that she constrained them to flie into England before the English troupes which were promised them for ayde were arriued and the Queene of England conniuing with Murray who was much addicted to the Engglish assigned him a conuenient place to lye heere in safetie and sent him money vnder-hand by the Earle of Bedford vntill his returne into Scotland which was the morrow after the murder of Dauid Riz as wee shall speake of it
in its owne place Now the reasons why shee receiued the Scottish Rebels into England were these Because the the Queene of Scotland had receiued into her protection Yaxley Standon and Walsh English Fugitiues and the Irish Oneale and that she had held Councels with the Pope against the English and had not done iustice vpon Theeues and Pirates This marriage being accomplished those which laboured most for Religion and Englands safetie thought that Queene ELIZABETH could not doe better for that purpose than to take away all hope of the Succession to England from the Queene of Scotland And it fell very commodiously for at the same time Maximilian the Second Emperour sent word by Adam Smicorit his Ambassadour of very honourable conditions for her to marry with his Brother Charles But there arose instantly a most vehement hatred in the Court betweene Sussex and Leicester I know not whereupon vnlesse about this marriage which Sussex sought very eagerly to bring to passe and Leicester vnder-hand hindered hoping to haue her for himselfe verily great and vnsatiable hopes doe those conceiue who haue obtained things beyond their hope Indeede Sussex iniuriously despised him as an vpstart and to detract him would say that hee could cite onely two of his pedigree that is to wit his Father and Grand-father both being enemies to their Countrey and attempters against the State that put the Court in diuision Insomuch as when the Earles went abroade they drew great troupes after them armed with Swords and piked Targets which were then in vse as if it were come to the extremitie But within few dayes the Queene reconciled them and rather smothered than tooke away their malice but endeuoured what shee could to extinguish it quite For shee condemned dissention among Peeres and that old prouerbe vsed by many Diuide Impera and some who were of opinion that the force of command is by the obeyers consent And she delighted her selfe at the emulation and grudging of inferiour women yet not without making speciall good vse thereof Among these things shee is not vnmindfull of the affaires of Scotland A moneth after the solemnization of the marriage there she sent one Tamworth a Gentleman of her Priuy-Chamber to the Qu. of Scotland to exhort her not to breake the peace to expostulate about the marriage which shee had so rashly contracted without her consent and withall to send backe Lenox and Darley his Sonne according to the trans-action and to receiue Murray into grace She perceiuing whereunto this tended admitted not Tamworth but by Articles in writing Promiseth by the word of a Princesse that neither shee nor her Husband would enterprise any thing to the preiudice of the Queene of England or to her Children lawfully begotten of her bodie or to the tranquillity of the Kingdome by admitting of Fugitiues or making alliance with strangers or by any other means but to the contrary they would most freely contract such an alliance with the Queene and Kingdome of England as should be commodious and honourable for both the Kingdomes and innouate nothing in Religion contrary to the Lawes and liberties of England if they should happen to enioy the same Notwithstanding vpon condition that Queene ELIZABETH on her part should fully performe the same to her and her Husband and by authoritie of the Parliament should confirme the Crowne of England vpon her and her issue lawfully begotten and for fault of such issue vpon Margaret Countesse of Lenox her Husbands Mother and of her Children lawfully begotten Moreouer as soone as shee had resolued to marry shee had assured the Queene that it should be with Darley and had no answere from the Queene vpon it That shee had satisfied her demands seeing shee had married an English man and no stranger whom shee knew to be more nobly descended and more worthy of her than any in Great-Brittaine But it seemed strange that shee might not retaine Darley by her to whom she was bound in the sacred bond of marriage or Lenox who was naturally Earle of Scotland As for Murray whom shee had proued to be her sworne enemy shee graciously intreated her to giue her freedome ouer her Subiects seeing she meddled not with the affaires of England Tamworth returned with this answere not hauing been intertained according to his worth And indeed being an impudent man hee had wronged the reputation of the Queene of Scotland and disdained to giue her Husband title of King At the same time Queene ELIZABETH had this augmentation of honour that at the report of her vertue which was equally spred in all places Cecillia Henry the Second King of Suedens Sister and Wife to Christopher Marquis of Baden being then great with Childe came from the furthest part of the North and a great iourney through Germanie to visit her She intertained her and her Husband very magnificently gaue him a yeerely pension christened his Sonne and named him Edward the Fortunate And Donald Mac Cartymore one of the greatest Peeres of Ireland humbly submitted himselfe and his large Territories to the Queene to hold them from her hereafter in fee for him and his heires males lawfully begotten and for default of such issue to the Crowne of England This Princesse who was borne to draw the affections of men according to her humanity most graciously receiued him installed him solemnely and like himselfe Earle of Glencar and Tegue his Sonne Baron of Valance gaue them gifts payed the charge of their voyage and all this to get a party against the Earle of Desmond who was suspected to renouate new things The same yeere Nicholas Arnold of the Country of Glocester Knight was sent to gouerne Ireland with the title of Iusticiary and had for his Garrison onely one thousand fiue hundred ninety sixe Souldiers But within a while after being called backe hee gaue vp his place to Henry Sidney who in the reigne of Queene MARY was Iudge and Treasurer of Ireland and presently after President of Wales Now to note this by the way the chiefe Gouernours of Ireland which now in Latine are termed Proreges since the first entrance of the English vntill the time of Edward the Third were called Iustices of Ireland and their Lieutenants Deputies Since according to the pleasure of the Prince they are called one while Iustices and another while Lieutenants which is a most honourable title but for the most part of like authority And without doubt these chiefe Iustices of Ireland as the Iustices of England which were called at that time simply Iustices were ordained to keepe the peace and to doe Iustice to all and to euery particular as in times past the Romanes had their Pro-Pretors and Pro-Consuls which were sent into Prouinces with Soueraigne authority Sidney being Gouernour of this Prouince found the Countrey of Mounster which lyes toward the South in great confusion in regard of great and sharpe troubles which were betweene Girauld Earle
had spread vpon the Queene or to cleanse it with his bloud vnlesse as he said himselfe his slanders might be accounted vaine by reason of his doting age Giue me leaue that the other side may be heard by diuers that writ thereof and at that time publisht it in print but such writings were soone call'd in both in fauor of the Earle of Murray and in hatred of the Queene and likewise by Ambassadours Letters worthy to bee beleeued In the yeere 1558. at the marriage of Francis the Dolphin of France and Mary Queene of Scotland Iames the Queenes Bastard-Brother commonly called the Prior of Saint Andrewes Metropolitan of the Order of Saint Andrewes despising that title was ambitious after a more splendid one but when the Queene by the aduice of the Guizes refused it him hee returned into Scotland discontented wherein vnder a faire pretext of reforming Religion and to establish the liberty of Scotland hee begun to trouble the State and effected it and so brought it to passe without the knowledge of the Queene in a Conuenticle of Confederates Religion was changed and by the calling in of ayde from England the French were driuen out of Scotland Francis King of France being dead he presently went to his Sister into France and hauing put away all suspition tending to her preiudice or dis-reputation for the affaires of Scotland swore vnto her calling GOD to witnesse to performe all dueties that a Sister could expect from a Brother and vpon the hope which he had that shee being brought vp from her tender age in the delicacies of France would not returne into Scotland workes with the Guizes to appoint some Noble-man of Scotland to be Regent there and almost poynted at himselfe to be the fittest man of all But hee being sent backe into Scotland without any authority but Letters of Commission by which the Queene gaue power to the States to assemble and consult for the good of the Kingdome and seeing himselfe deiected from his hope returned much vexed and passing thorow England made it there knowne that if they wished well to Religion in Scotland to the peace of England and the security of Queene ELIZABETH they ought by all meanes to hinder the Queene of Scotland to passe into Scotland Shee neuerthelesse being safely arriued in Scotland the English Ships being disappointed by obscure weather and being there embraced her Brother with all signes of fauour and good-will and in a kinde of manner committed vnto him the generall administration of affaires Notwithstanding all this the branches of his ambition are not cut off which grew daily and appeared both in words and deedes For hee could not containe himselfe but often among his friends deplored that the warlike Scottish Nation was no lesse subiect to the command of a Woman than the English was and by the instruction of Knox whom he esteemed as a Patriarke often debates that Kingdomes were due to merit and not to linage and that Women should be excluded from succeeding and that their gouernement were monstrous He treated likewise with the Queen by his friends that she should substitute foure of the Royall House of the Stewards who if she dyed without issue should succeed to the Crowne one after another without regarding who were legitimate or no thinking he should be one seeing he was the Kings Sonne though vnlawfully begotten But the Queene wisely considering that such a substitution was contrary to the Lawes of the Kingdome to defraud the right Heires a most pernicious example dangerous for her Subiects and would be an hinderance to her selfe for her second marriage she mildely answered That she would more aduisedly deliberate with the States of the Kingdome about a matter of such weight consequence and to testifie her fauour and bounty towards her Brother shee honoured him with the title of Earle of Mar afterwards with the Earledome of Murray for the dignity of Mar was then in controuersie being ignorant all this while that he aymed at the Kingdome and affirmed himselfe to be the lawfull Sonne of Iames the Fifth To make the easier way hereunto by meanes of the extraordinary fauour the Queene shewed to him he supprest the most noble Family of the Gordons powerfull in vassalage and command whom he both feared in respect of themselues as also by reason of the reformed Religion which adhered vnto him he expelled Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut out of the Court who was reputed next Heire to the Crowne imprisoned the Earle of Arraine his Sonne banished Count Bothwell into England dismissed all opposites of their honourable offices and places and retained the Queene vnder his power and suruey as a Gardian might doe his Ward aboue all other things being carefull that Shee might not negotiate nor intend any marriage And when he saw that of the one side the Emperour sollicited her for his Brother and the Spaniard on the other part for his Sonne he absolutely disswaded her both from the one and the other alledging vnto her how the ancient immunities of Scotland would not permit nor indure a strange Prince and whensoeuer the Scepter fell into the hands of Women they neuer made choyce of an Husband but within their owne Countrey of Scotland But in conclusion he perceiuing that all the Scots generally affected her marrying and discerning that by the perswasion and inducement of the Countesse of Lenox she desired to marry with the Lord Darley hee himselfe likewise then commended him vnto her for an Husband hoping in respect of his youth and for that he was of a tractable nature and disposition he would be euer at his direction and dispose Neuerthelesse when hee saw how dearely the Queene loued him himselfe to fall by little and little out of her fauour and grace hee repented of the counsell and aduice he had giuen and admonished Queene ELIZABETH to crosse this marriage by all the meanes possible that she could Presently after the Nuptials were accomplished and the Lord Darley proclaimed KING the King then presently reuoked such gifts as during his minority the Queene had conferred both vpon him and others whereupon being nigh associated with them he tooke vp armes against the King and the Queene pretending that this new King was dis-affected to the Protestant Religion and how she contracted this marriage without the consent of the Queene of England But hauing scarcely made any triall of the fortunes of warre he fled as I said into England where despayring of all succour he laboured by Letters to Morton a man of great subtilty and another like himselfe to effect that seeing the marriage could not be broken off yet that the affection and loue of the married couple might be abated by some secret practices and a fit occasion offered it selfe for after some domesticall and priuate grudgings to quaile the courage of this young King which boyled a little too hot and to preserue entyre her owne Royall prerogatiues in
their owne hands which they sent to the Queene of England BEcause Earle Murray and others to couer their owne Rebellion against the Queene whose authoritie they vsurped openly imputed her as culpable and guiltie of her Husbands death wee publikely protest and testifie this which ensues In the Moneth of December 1556. the Queene being at Cragmill the Earles of Murray and Lidington acknowledged in our presence that Morton Lyndsay and Rauen murdered Dauy Rice to no other end but to preserue the Earle of Murray who the same day was to be proscrib'd Wherefore that they might shun the note of ingratitude their desire was that Morton and others banished by reason of this murder might be repealed But withall they implyed that this could not be done except the Queene by a Diuorce were separated from her Husband and they promised to doe it if wee would yeeld our consents After that Earle Murray promised to me of Huntley that I should re-enter the inheritances of my Ancestors and haue the perpetuall loue and affection of the banished if I did but further and procure this Diuorce Then they went likewise to Earle Bothwell to draw also from him his consent and liking and lastly they went to the Queene whom Lidington in the name of all the rest instantly requested to release Morton Lindsay and Rauen of their banishment in very outragious termes he exaggerated the Kings faults and the offences hee had committed against the Queene and the Realme prouing how the Queene and the State were deepely interessed in procuring speedily this Diuorce because the King and Queene could not liue securely together in Scotland Her Maiestie made answer That she had rather for a time returne into France while her Husband did more truely discend into the errours and vnstaidnesse of his youth not willing any thing should be done to her Sonnes preiudice or her owne dishonour Whereunto Lidington replyed Wee of your Councell will looke to this well-enough But in any wise said Shee I prohibite you to performe any thing that may in the least manner blemish my honour or burthen my conscience Let things stand as they doe till God from aboue vouchsafe some fitter remedie I much feare lest that you iudge requisite for my good may redound to my hurt A few dayes after when the King was murdered after a most execrable manner wee are assured out of the inward touch and testimony of our Consciences that the E. Murray and Lidington were the Authors Proiectors and Plotters of this abominable Parricide whosoeuer the other were that put it in execution This is that which they affirmed in writing The Confederates aymed then at nothing else but how to free Bothwell of this Parricide Wherefore a Session of Parliament was ordained for this onely cause and apprehension of their bodies enioyned of whom the least suspition was conceiued and the Earle of Lenox accusing Bothwell and feruently vrging that he might come to a triall before the States were assembled it was granted and so command imposed vpon the Earle to appeare within twenty dayes But within the compasse of this time hauing receiued no instructions nor aduertisements from the Queenes Maiestie of England and in that hee could not liue without danger of his life in a place replenished with his enemies Earle Bothwell made his appearance and hauing Morton for his Aduocate preuayled in the cause and so was sent away absolu'd by the Sentence of all the Iudges This businesse being thus contriued the other Complices so wrought that diuers of the Nobility consented to the marriage whereof they made a Draft in Writing subscribed and sealed for feare that if it should euer be broken Bothwell might haue accused them to be the Authors of all that villany This marriage thus solemnized with Earle Bothwell who was created Duke of the Orcades caused euery one to surmize that the Queene was guiltie of this murder and the Conspirators strengthened the same opinion by Letters sent into all parts as likewise they held assemblies at Dundagh where they conspired to depose the Queene and destroy Earle Bothwell Although Murray because he would not appeare to be one of this Combination obtained leaue of the Queene to goe into France and for the remouing of all distrust hee re-commended to her Royall care and Bothwell's fidelitie all his proceedings and occasions whatsoeuer in Scotland He was scarcely arriued in France but they who absolued Bothwell of that crime and gaue consent to this marriage tooke vp armes as if they would haue seyzed on his person But in effect vnder-hand they priuily admonished him speedily to with-draw himselfe for feare lest being taken he might haue reuealed the whole Complot and that from his flight they might draw argument and subiect whereof to accuse the Queene for the murder of the King they seyzed on her person and entreated her so ignominiously and disgracefully that although shee had nothing on but a very homely night-Gowne yet they so clapt her vp in prison at Lake-Leuin vnder the custody of Earle Murray's Mother who was Iames the 5. his Concubine who further persecuted her with most shamelesse malice during her restraint boasting how shee was lawfull Wife to Iames the 5. and her Sonne lawfully descended from him So soone as Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of all these proceedings detesting in her heart this vnbrideled insolency of Subiects towards a Princesse who was her Sister and Neighbour terming them perfidious rebellious ingratefull and cruell Shee sent into Scotland Nicho. Throgmorton to complaine hereof vnto the Confederates and to consult of some meanes how to restore the Queene to her former liberty and authority for the punishments of the Kings murderers and that the yong Prince might bee sent into England rather than into France for his more secure preseruation and safety For that which passed successiuely while Throgmorton lay in Scotland I will deliuer it faithfully euen as I collected it out of his owne Letters which questionlesse are very sincere and well approued of Many in Scotland were very much incens'd against the Queene insomuch as they absolutely refus'd to behold her as likewise Villeroy and De Croc Ambassadours for France Yet the Conspirators could not agree among themselues how to dispose of her The Lord of Lidington and some others were of opinion to haue her re-established in her authority vpon these conditions That the Murderers of the KING should be punished according to the Lawes and the young Prince his safety procured That Bothwell should be separated from her by a firme Diuorce and Religion established Others perswaded a perpetuall banishment of her eyther into France or England so the Queene of England or King of France would be content to be Cautions and Pledges that shee should transferre all the Regall authority to her Sonne and some other great and eminent persons of the Kingdome Againe some would haue cited her to a peremptory triall haue had her
condemned committed to perpetuall prison and her Sonne crowned KING Finally there wanted not others who for her summary chastisement and punishment would haue had her depriued both of her Royall Authority and life And this was vsually preach'd and diuulged by Knox and some other Ministers in the open Pulpit Throgmorton produced against this many reasons and Arguments taken out of the holy Scriptures touching due obedience and submission to superiour power who retaine the Sword of Authority in their hands arguing very strongly and constantly How the Queene was vnder no other Tribunall but that of the heauenly IVDGE neither could shee iuridically be constrayned to appeare and answer in the Court of any earthly Iudge That in Scotland the same authoritie which the Queene had not delegated nor made ouer to any other was nothing and by her reuocable But the Scottish-men replying alledged the peculiar rites and priuiledges of Scotland and that in extraordinary occurrents they might extraordinarily determine euen as they had collected out of Buchanans reasons who by the Earle of Murrayes perswasion then writ that Dialogue of the Right of Reigning or gouerning among the Scots who was condemned wherein he maintained against the Testimony of the Scottish Histories that the people were priuiledged to create or depose their Kings Notwithstanding Throgmorton ceased not importunately to sollicite them for the Queenes re-establishment and that himselfe might visit her though he no sooner opened his mouth in this poynt but they all replyed how this by no meanes could be granted him because herein they had denyed the French and that by this meanes they would not distaste the King of France to please and satisfie the Queene of England who as often experience heretofore had taught them laboured for nothing but her owne peculiar interests when shee was a meanes to driue the French away out of Scotland and lately shewed her selfe but niggardly and sparing of her fauours towards the Scottish Exiles Whereupon he thought it fit to take heed lest this importunity might vrge them to embrace the amity of the French and shake off that of the English when according to the French Prouerbe Qui quicte la partie la perd He that leaues his partie loseth it aduised and counselled the English to be carefull and iealous how they forsooke and lost the Scots After this by a Writing vnseal'd filled with variety of discourse which they committed to Throgmortons hands they vowed and protested that the Queene was remoued and restrained to a close place for no other end but to disioyne her from Earle Bothwell whom shee most entyrely loued till this heat of affection and her wrath conceyued against them might somewhat slacken and therefore they requested him to be satisfied in this Answer while some other Nobles of the Kingdome were assembled and yet neuerthelesse they restrayned the Queenes liberty euery day more and more though with teares shee intreated them to vse her more fauourably if not as Queene yet as shee was a Kings Daughter and Mother to their Prince and so hee many times requested that hee might goe and visit her but all in vaine Briefly not to rip vp in particular all the iniuries and disgraces offered her at last they made triall whether by milde and faire meanes they could induce her freely to giue ouer the gouernement either by reason of her weakenesse and indisposition or in respect of the trouble and annoyance it brought her to to reigne and gouerne which indeed they deuised for an excuse or else as others counselled her with more drift and subtilty to the end that being more weakly and gracelessely garded shee might the more safely and easily make her escape But when all this tooke no place they threatned to bring her to a publique triall to accuse her that shee had led an incontinent life murdered the King her former Husband and practised tyranny in violating the Lawes and ancient priuiledges of their Country especially those which De R. and De Oisel had enacted in the King of France his name and her owne Finally through feare of death and without euer hearing her answers they forced her to seale three Patents the first of which contained that shee assigned the gouernement ouer to her Sonne who was scarcely thirteene moneths old the second comprehending how shee constituted Earle Murray to be Vice-Roy during her Sonnes minority and the third implyed that in case Murray refused this charge shee ordayned for Rectors and Protectors of her Sonne the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Lenox Arguile Athol Morton Glencarne and Mar But then shee presently certified the Queene of England by Throgmorton how shee had surrendred the gouernement of the Kingdome by compulsion and against her will subscribed to the Patent thereof by Throgmortons perswasion who informed her that any Grant extorted from her during imprisonment which causeth a iust and true feare was inualidious and of no effect But I will relate these things more at large in the yeere ensuing according as they may be faithfully extracted out of the Accusations and Answers of parties which were propounded at Yorke before the Commissioners to whom the absolute determination of this businesse was referred Fiue dayes after this Resignation or Grant IAMES Sonne to the Queene was consecrated and crowned King Iohn Knox then preaching publiquely after the Hamiltons had protested how it was without any manner of preiudice to the Duke of Chastelraut in the right of Succession against the Family of Lenox But Queene ELIZABETH forbade Throgmorton to be present hereat to the end that by the presentiall assistance of her Ambassadour shee might not seeme to approue this vniust deposition of the Queene Twenty dayes after Murray returned out of France into Scotland where hauing remained onely three dayes he went to the Queene with certaine of the Conspirators in his company he obiected vnto her many crimes and like a religious Confessor layd open vnto her many demonstrations to moue her to conuert vnto God with true repentance and to implore his mercy Shee shewed her selfe penitent for the sinnes of her life past confest part of them obiected to her extenuated some and excused others out of humane fragility and weakenesse but absolutely denyed the greater part entreated him to assume the mannaging of affaires vnder her Sonne and coniured him to be tender of her reputation and life Whereunto he made answer how this lay not in his power but shee must sue for it from the Estates of the Kingdome perswading her notwithstanding to obserue these things if she regarded either her life or honour That she should not disturbe either the peace of the King or Kingdome not to attempt the breaking of her imprisonment no wayes to excite the King of France or Queene of England to any domesticall or externall Warre no more to affect Bothwell and neuer to seeke any reuenge against them that were his enemies So soone as he was proclaimed Vice-Roy or
deserued extreme punishment yea greater torments then those of hell fire Whereunto Smith made answere That it nothing concerned him and to search out what right and title the French had in former times to Calais one must rip vp wonderfull ancient and absolute Antiquities but well he perceiued at last that what the French laid hold of either by right or wrong they take it for their own as if their claimes and titles lay in nothing but Armes and little car'd whether they possest a good or bad conscience That they resolued to hold Calais by that Law of Nations which permits captiues to release themselues from their enemies and recouer former libertie though the other held it by vertue of a solemne Conuention and Accord And that they cal'd not to consideration how after the first there was another so as they determined in no wise to performe their promise giuen touching the restitution of Calais And yet neuerthelesse this was of more waight and consequence then the most important reasons that could bee alleadged That they euer tooke to themselues and denyed the English the glory and honour which then they willingly ascribed to them for beeing capable and apprehensiue in Contractations That this renouation of Contract was but a meere Antistrophe which might iustly bee returned vpon the French because the reason why the Queene redemanded Calais was for nothing else but in that the French attempting and innouating by their Armes in Scotland had lost the right they pretended thereunto because the Queene of England vpon this surprized Haure de grace As if in so doing the one Prince minded not to yeeld one iot to the other We said he accorded a Peace at Troyes which if it induced any nouation or change this innouation or change cut off the right which the French had to Calais and confirmed the English Title which the English could not as yet iustly claime because the eight yeeres were not then fully expired Whereupon rising and turning toward the Councell of France I appeale saith hee to your faith and conscience seeing your selues were then present when wee insisted in making a Reseruation by expresse termes for our right to Calais you labouring as much to haue it omitted because the full time was not expired Is it not true that the Accord was made betweene vs with this prouiso and secret reseruation exprest in this Clause All other respectiue intentions and demands to remaine solid and entire and so likewise the exceptions and prohibitions both of the one and the other side reserued As for Haure de grace the English entred it without one blowe strucke at the intreaty of the Inhabitants and the Normane Nobility and after a solemne protestation that it should bee kept and held to the King of France his behoofe so as heerein they vndertooke nothing against him by course of Armes nor innouated not any thing to the infringement of the former Treaty As for the moneys lent to the Prince of Condé and his Confederates this was done with no other drift or intention then to satisfie the Almaine Souldiers who mutined for their pay and to detaine them from forraging those Countries that liued vnder the King's obedience which the King himselfe acknowledged to haue beene done to a good end and for his owne speciall seruice And thus you see what Sir Thomas Smith vttered with diuers such matters and allegations Whereupon Monsieur Memorancy beeing Constable of France holding vp his Sword on high the Scabbard whereof was set with Flowers-de-Luce for a marke and embleme of his high Office and vsing many words of the great warlike preparations which the English brought before Haure de grace as if they had not only beene able to defend a small Towne but further to haue taken in all Normandy No man said Smith need to wonder because the Englishmen being a maritime Nation vnderstanding that they haue no command ouer the Winds who are Lords of the Sea they prouide plentifully and in due season for time to come Then the Frenchmen complaining that conformable to the Accord the Protestants that fled out of France were refused to bee deliuered to the French Ambassadour who had demanded them this busines was put off till another time and so by little and little came to be buried in silence the Ciuill Wars instantly renewing in France And certainely the French-men were resolued among themselues neuer to deliuer vp Calais againe For they no sooner tooke it but they razed all the old Fortifications began to make new let houses and grounds for fiftie yeeres and granted a perpetuitie in others While these matters thus passed in France the Count of Stolberg came into England from the Emperour Maximilian to treate of a Marriage with the Arch-duke for which end likewise the Queenes Maiestie not long before had sent to the Emperour the Earle of Sussex with the Order of the Garter who for the loue he bare to his Countrey and hatred to the Earle of Leicester employed all his best endeuours to bring to passe that the Queene might marry with a strange Prince and Leicester by this meanes to bee frustrated of his hopes this alwaies readily comming out of his mouth That whether in respect of honour power or meanes a strange Prince was to be preferred before the most noble Subiect of the Kingdome of England Which made one of a contrarie opinion vpon a certaine time vtter ingeniously these words in his presence That in marriages wherein respect is had to three things to honour power and riches the Diuell and the World were the Paranymphes and Solliciters Notwithstanding Leicester conceiuing good hopes found meanes to suborne the Lord North whom the Earle of Sussex had chosen to accompany him in his voyage that he should giue an eare to what he spake cast a vigilant eye ouer what hee did and vnder-hand to plucke backe the Marriage of the Arch-duke as fast as hee aduanced and set it forward letting him vnderstand that the Queene was farre from it whatsoeuer shew shee made of a willing mind and what face soeuer Sussex set on it As also himselfe laboured incessantly in Court to diuert the Queene from any such resolution he hauing the command of her eare and to this end he representing vnto her all the discommodities which might accrew by her marrying out of the Realme The Marriage of late memory that her Sister MARY contracted with the King of Spaine whereby shee cast her selfe into perpetuall sorrow and England into danger of comming vnder the Spanish seruitude That it was vnpossible to discouer the manners cogitations and inward inclinations of strangers though these things ought to be lookt into in the person of an Husband who by an inseparable band is one and the same flesh How it was an extreme misery and griefe to be dayly conuersant with a man of strange maners and language That Children begotten in such marriages tooke from their birth I know not what kind of
extraordinarie propertie and disposition That frequent commerce with strangers brought into the Common-wealth strange maners and fashions of life and that Ladies Princesses by these Marriages in stead of augmenting their owne Kingdomes added to those of their Husbands submitted themselues and their Subiects to their commands and laid open to strangers the secrets of their Kingdoms That a strange Husband out of the naturall affection he bare to his owne Countrey would preferre his owne Subiects before the Subiects of England That England had no need of the helpe of any stranger beeing strong enough of it selfe to defend the Kingdome and the riches thereof and to repell any forraigne Force That the annexing of another Kingdome would breed but charge care and trouble and how Kingdomes as well as humane bodies fell many times by their owne waight That some alleadged in scorne of the Nobility That the Queene marrying within the Kingdome should somewhat impaire her Royall dignity whereas her Maiestie who by her vertue opened a way to rise vnto this Soueraigntie was extracted from Nobility and that yet there are some Nobles of the Royall Blood who are like Sprigs of the same Royall Branch or Arme and hereupon the Kings of England haue euer in their Letters honoured Dukes Marquisses Earles and Vicounts with this Title of Cousins In the meane while the Earle of Sussex taking his Iourney by Antwerp Cullen Magunce Wormes Spire Vlme and Ausberg came into Austria with a great and magnificent Traine who beeing honourably entertained he there remained fiue moneths at the Emperours charge hauing daily conference with him about serious and waighty matters and touching the Marriage of Charles and on a day appointed he inuested him with the Order of the Garter at an Euening Prayer refusing through scruple of conscience to bee present at the celebration of Masse In this affaire many difficulties presented themselues about Religion and the Arch-duke's mayntenance the stile of King and the succession to the Kingdome and many points were argued both of the one side and the other For the Title and Stile of King it was accorded he should haue it For the Succession in that hee could not enioy it by the Lawes of the Kingdome in that it was preiudiciall to the Children hee should haue the tutelage and gardianship of them And that nothing more was granted to Philip King of Spaine when he married Queene MARY As for his maintenance if hee would furnish them at his charge whom he should bring with him and retaine in the Court the Queene out of her Royall Dignitie would abundantly discharge the rest yea and that too if he required it But one scruple still remained touching Religion For the Emperour demanded as also Charles himselfe that he might haue a publike Church granted him whither hee might repaire with his Court to the celebration of diuine Seruice according to the Romane forme But this beeing refused the Emperour was satisfied with an indifferent motion which was That hee might haue a peculiar place ordained within the Court for this purpose where he might quietly performe his Deuotions as euer it is permitted the Ambassadours of Romane Princes with a prouiso that the English should not bee thereto admitted and that neither hee nor his Followers did oppugne the Religion receiued in England neither fauour any opposites If any discontentment grew about Diuine Seruice hee should for a time forbeare his ordinary exercise and with the Queene repaire to that celebration performed according to the Church of England When this Treatie had beene sagely discussed of in England that I may not relate any further of the negotiation the Queene made answere That if shee yeelded to this she should offend her owne Conscience and openly violate the publike Lawes of the Kingdome to the extreme perill both of her dignitie and safety But if Charles were pleased to come into England to see her he should reape fruites worthy his trauell and paines And thus the Emperour dismissed the Earle of Sussex with great honour and the Earle of Sussex turning a little out of his way to see Charles tooke his leaue of him at Gratz and the Arch-duke Charles expecting to receiue a more fauourable Answere found himselfe frustrated of his intention For this prosecution was giuen ouer by little and little which made a progression of seuen whole yeeres with diuers intercourses of honourable Embassies it leauing notwithstanding a mutuall loue and amity betweene the Princes so cordiall and inherent that the Emperour alwaies crost the Popes designes against Queene ELIZABETH Not long after the Arch-duke married Mary Daughter to Albert the fifth Duke of Bauaria by whom amongst other Children he had two Daughters whereof the one was Queene of Spaine the other of Poland About this time came into England from the mightie Emperour of Russia and Muscouie Ioh. Basilius E. Twerdico and T. Pogarella with most Martlet Sable and Ermyne Skins whereof at that time and in precedent ages the English made great account both for ornament and health and they promised to the Queene and the English Nation continuance of that affection which the Emperour had manifested and what great studie and care he had taken for the English euer since they frequented those parts whereof you shall hereunder see the beginning In the yeere 1553. certaine Marchants of London the principall of whom were An. Iudd G. Barnes and A. Husay shaping out a course for Cathay by the frozen or Hyperborean Sea vnder the conduct of Sir Henry Willowbie who was frozen to death in the Iourney Ro. Chancelour his Lieutenant happily opened the passage of Russia before this time vnknowne running vp with the Riuer of Duina till he came to sixtie degrees of the Pole Articke where a little Monasteerie is seated consecrated to Saint Nicholas When the Emperour heard of it he sent for him to the Mosco in Caroches made after the manner of the Countrie he entertain'd and dismist him with many graces and fauours promising the English great immunities if they would trade into his Empire and reioycing that hee had met with a meanes to transport by Sea into Russia forraign merchandize which the Russiās could not come by before but with great difficultie by the Narue and the Kingdome of Poland enemies When Robert Chancelor vpon his returne gaue inforamtion thereof and of what high esteeme the Clothes of England were in those parts the low rate of Hempe and Flaxe whereof they made their Cables and cordage and what rich Skins they affoorded these Marchants raised a society or company by Queene MARIES permission in a faire Building appropriated to their vse which at this day we call the Moscouie house and Basilius granting them many immunities they haue since that time sent euery yeere a Fleet of Ships and maintained traffique the which likewise hath been greatly augmented since the yeere 1569. when out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH he granted them that none but the English of
hand to your presence and if you be pleased to commiserate my case I will at large informe you of all God grant you a long and happy life and me the patience to attend that comfort I hope for from Him by your gracious meanes and dayly Prayer for with all my heart Queene ELIZABETH returning her great comfort in Letters and by the mouth of Francis Knowles and others promised her assistance according to the equitie of her cause but neuerthelesse she refused her accesse because shee was commonly taxed with many grosse crimes and commanded she should be conuayed to Carlile where shee might remaine in greatest security if her Aduersaries attempted any thing against her by Lowder Lieutenant Gouernour of the place and the Gentlemen of the Countrey Hauing receiued this answere and refusall she once againe made her request by Letters and by the mouth of Maxwell Baron of Heris to this effect THat she would admit her in her own presence to report the iniuries and indignities had been offered her and to answer those crimes laid to her charge Intimating to her Maiesty how it was iust that Qu. ELIZABETH who was so neere vnto her in blood should giue care to her in her banishment and to re-establish her in her Kingdome against those who hauing beene expelled for their offences committed against her by Queene ELIZABETHS intercession they were againe restored and to her owne finall ruine if the storme were not out of hand preuented Wherefore shee requested her that either shee might bee admitted to speake personally to her and to grant her some ayde or else to permit and be pleased that she might presently depart out of England to seeke for succour some where else and that she might not be detained any longer time in the Castle of Carlile in that shee came voluntarily into England vpon the confidence shee had in the loue and affection which had so many times beene honourably promised her by Messengers Letters and Remembrances These Letters and Heris words seemed for who can diue into the secret thoughts of Princes and wise men lay them vp in their hearts to moue Queene ELIZABETH to compassion of a Princesse her neere Kinswoman and so deepely distressed who hauing been surprized by her own Subiects with force and Armes committed to prison brought to extreme danger of her life condemned and depriued of her Kingdome without beeing heard although no Iudgement can passe vpon a priuate man without former hearing shee was retyred into England vnto her with infallible hopes of finding ayd and succour And the free offer which this vnfortunate Queene made to pleade her owne cause in her presence the charge she tooke vpon her to conuince her Aduersaries of the same malefacts whereof they accused her though most innocent were to her hopefull and encouraging motiues thereunto What pitty and commiseration soeuer Queen ELIZABETH had of her the Councell of England deliberated grauely and aduisedly what in this case was to bee done They fear'd that if shee remained any longer in England hauing a perswasiue and mouing tongue she might drawe many to her partie who fauoured the Title which she pretended to the Crowne of England who might peraduenture inflame her ambition and attempt all meanes to maintaine her claime That forraigne Ambassadours would be present at her Consultations and the Scots would not in this case forsake her seeing so rich a booty to offer it selfe Besides they considered that the fidelity of her Guard might be doubtfull and if shee chanc'd to dye in England though it were of some infirmity or sicknesse many slanders might be rais'd and so the QVEENE should be dayly encumbred with new cares If she were sent into France the Guizes her Cousins would againe set on foot the Title whereby she laid claime to the Crowne of England That what opinion soeuer was conceiued of her she might preuaile greatly in England with some for pretext of Religion with others for the probability of her right as before I told you and with the most part of men out of their precipitate affection of Nouelties That the Amity betweene England and Scotland so behoofefull and beneficiall would be broken and the ancient Allyance between Scotland and France renewed which would then bee more dangerous then heretofore because the Burgundians who had no infallible friends but the Scots should bee linckt to the English by a firme Alliance If shee were sent backe into Scotland those that tooke with the English partie should thereupon be banisht and that of France rais'd to the publike administration of gouernment of Affaires the young Prince exposed to danger Religion chang'd the French and other strangers still retained in Scotland Ireland would bee more grieuously molested by the Scots of Hebrides and her selfe exposed to the perill of life within her owne Kingdome Wherefore the greater part ioyned in opinion that shee was to be retained in England as beeing taken by the Law of Armes and not to bee releast till shee had giuen ouer her present claime to the Crowne of England which shee tooke vpon her and answered for the death of the Lord Darley her husband who was a naturall Subiect of England For the Countesse of Lenox mother to the Lord Darley blubbered all ouer with teares had not long before prefer'd a Petition about her and her husband to the Queene of England with supplication that she might be brought to Iudgement for the murder of her Sonne But the Queene graciously comforting her admonisht her that she would not accuse so great a Princesse who was her very neere Kinswoman of a crime which could not be prooued by any euident testimonies intimating vnto her how the times were bad and wicked and hatred blind imputing offences oftentimes to the Innocent On the contrary the Baron of Heris was a suiter to Qu. ELIZABETH that she would suddenly beleeue nothing to the preiudice of truth and that Earle Murray might not hurrie vp Assemblies of Parliament in Scotland to the iniurie and wrong of the Queene who was expelled and the absolute ruine of her good Subiects But though the Queene of England much pressed this point Earle Murray the Vice-Roy summoned them still in the Kings name banished some that remained yet behind of her partialitie and vented the malice hee bare to them vpon their demeanes and houses The Queene of England beeing herewith mightily incens'd certified him in expresse termes by Mildemay that she could not endure for a most pernicious President to Kings that the Royall Authoritie of sacred Maiestie should bee esteemed vile and abiect amongst the Subiects and trampled vnder-foot at the will and pleasure of men turbulent and factious That howsoeuer they forgot the duety and fidelitie which Subiects owe to their Prince yet for her part shee could not bee vnmindfull of that pitty and Commiseration which obliged her to a Sister and a neighbour Qu. Wherefore she wisht him either to come in person or
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
whom Queene ELIZABETH made knowne that shee could not yet discharge the Subiects of Scotland of the offence they had committed against their Princesse but notwithstanding that shee would request her in their behalfe and also heare them if they could alledge any thing for their iust excuse Earle Murray who presently followed them absolutely refused to insist by Accusation against his Sister but vpon the conditions hee had mentioned at Yorke The Commissioners were presently called home and their authority disanulled whereof the Duke who alwayes fauoured the Queene of Scots was very glad and thought he had nothing more then to effect but only to brand her with an eternall infamy to exclude her with her young Sonne from all right of succession to the Crowne of England and that hee had auoided two dangers for in giuing sentence against her he feared to ruine her and violate his owne conscience and denouncing Iudgement on her side to vndergoe the vnplacable wrath of his owne Queene and of all those who for Religions sake and any other consideration were opposite to the Queene of Scots But when Earle Murray saw that the friends shee retained in Scotland disturbed all affaires and that his presence was requisite he framed his Accusation in the presence of the Queene Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Earle of Leicester Clynton Lord Admirall Cecill and Sadler who by new letters were constituted new Commissioners and to proue the Queen of Scots culpable of her Husbands murder hee produced some probable and coniecturall Articles the Depositions of some Witnesses the Acts digested in the Assemblies of the States but aboue all certaine Loue-Letters and verses written as hee affirmed with the Queenes own hand as also he brought foorth Buchanan's Booke entituled The Discouery to be openly read but the greater number of the Commissioners gaue not much credit thereunto it proceeding from a partiall man and one that had made sale of his fidelity As for the Verses and Letters because they had no names subscriptions nor dates and so many Impostors there be who can counterfait others hands so naturally as the one can hardly be discerned from the other Queene ELIZABETH would in no wise affoord them beliefe or credit though shee were much instigated out of feminine emulation wherewith that Sex is many times violently transported remaining satisfied that these Accusations had imposed vpon the Queene of Scots some reprochfull Aspersions Her Deputies hearing that shee was dayly accused by Murray presented themselues to make answere but shee had now reuoked their authority which was but Delegatorie as shee had beene secretly informed by certaine English Ciuilians and this shee might doe by Law seeing that of the Duke and others had beene so formerly reuoked Afterwards shee peremptorily refused the new Commissioners two of whom shee suspected except the Ambassadours of France and Spaine were ioyned in commission with them that shee might be admitted to defend her own innocency openly in the presence of the Queen of England and them except Murray were restrained called to a Triall auerring how she could conuince him and proue that he was the author of the Lord Darleys murder The Duke of Norfolke the Earles of Arundel Sussex Leicester and Lincolne esteeming this to be but iust and equall Qu. ELIZABETH grew into wonderfull choller and told them openly that the Queen of Scots could neuer want an Aduocate till the Duke of Norfolke came short of his life and shee was contented to impart those crimes whereof Murray imputed her to euery one of her priuy Councell and to the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Shrewsbury Worcester Huntington and Warwicke whom shee conuocated to this end vnder an oath of silence exhibited not to damnifie either of the parties And because Murray was called backe into Scotland and 't was commonly bruted abroad that Boyd attempted to release the Queen of Scots of her imprisonment this Proceeding was deferr'd to some other time Queene ELIZABETH so farre as seem'd probable sharply reprehending the insolency of the Scottish-men in deposing their Queene At that time Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut came out of France sent vnder-hand by the Guizes to oppose Murray in the gouernment and administrations of the Kingdome during the yong King's minority and maintayned before Queene ELIZABETH that beeing neerest of blood to the King he should be preferred before Murray who was but a Bastard Contrariwise Murray and the Kings Ambassadors alleadged that the gouernment of the Kingdome was not to bee assigned alwaies to those neerest of blood but to such who by a generall consent of the States were elected and chosen as most sufficient and capable of that Charge That it were a most vniust course to put the King who was young into his hands who by proximity of blood aspiring to the Kingdome might easily be tempted to violate right out of a desire to rule and reigne And how this was greatly to be feared especially of the Hamiltons who had practised many enmities against the Earles of Lenox the Kings Grandfathers wickedly slaine his great Grandfather by the Fathers side expell'd Mathew his Grandfather out of Scotland after he had reduced him to low pouerty and also of himselfe who made this motion who with bitter and implacable hatred wonderfully molested Henry the Kings Father and the more easily to enioy the Kingdome he married his Maiesties Mother with the King of France The which when Queen ELIZABETH vnderstood shee made knowne to Hamilton how his demand was most vniust and forbade him to depart out of England till Earle Murray were returned into Scotland Murray a little before his departure was so subtill as that secretly by his man Meluin he offered the Duke of Norfolk to marry with the Queene of Scots and her he promised to re-establish in her Kingdome as presently we will declare Notwithstanding to conceale it from Queene ELIZABETH he caus'd a rumor to be spred that shee had made ouer her claime of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and how this alienation was confirmed at Rome he shewed certaine Letters shee had written to those of her partie wherein shee blamed Queene ELIZABETH for fayling of her promise and vaunted that shee expected succours otherwise then from her Whether these reports were true or fained I am not able to say But certainely Queene ELIZABETH was much moued herewith who could not imagine from whom she should attend these new reliefes because ciuill warre was so hotly kindled in France as the Bishop of Rhemes sent by the King entreated her that she would not haue any hand in those affaires and the Duke of Alua who was come the yeere before into the Low-Countries to supplant the Protestant Religion staid still there by reason of the troubles But as afterward it proou'd apparant and as H. Catene writ to Cardinall Alexandrine Pope Pius 5. not daring to send an open Nuncio had suborn'd R. Ridolpho a
Florentine who had lyen a long time Factor in London vnderhand to stir vp the Papists against Queen ELIZABETH as questionlesse he very industriously performed and with great secresie A slender but maruelous weake suspition was rais'd of some priuie conferences were held at Yorke betweene the Earle of Lidington the Bishop of Rosse and the Duke of Norfolke who being sollicited to employ his aduice and care for the safety of the afflicted Queen by the Earle and the Bishop who promised to marry him to her with a modest answere he made refusall thereof promising neuerthelesse that hee would not forsake her in her aduersities so far as might safely stand with his honour and the dutie and fidelity he ought to his Prince This suspicion was greatly augmented by meanes of Ligan one of the Dukes seruants being a great Papist by reason of the daily goings and commings he made to Bolton Castle which belonged to my Lord Scroope where the Queene of Scots was kept by Francis Knowles vnder colour to visit and salute his wife who was the Dukes Sister And though nothing was yet certainely knowne neuerthelesse the Queene was remooued from Bolton where a number of Papists dwelt neere together on all sides to be conducted to Tudberry situated in the heart of the Kingdome and was committed to the keeping of the Earle of Shrewsburie Queene ELIZABETH was then the more carefull both of her owne and of the safety of Religion and the Common-wealth because the Guizes in France and the Duke of Alua in the Low-Countries had begun to put in execution those Dessignes they proiected formerly at Bayon touching the vtter extirpation of the Protestants Religion For the Propositions of Peace set downe in France about the beginning of this yeere came to nothing For Edicts were publisht whereby the exercise of the Protestant Religion was absolutely prohibited they that made profession thereof depriued of their publike places the Ministers commanded to depart the Realme within a prefixt time they were threatned with warre all ouer runne vpon in euery place and cruelties practised against them though Queene ELIZABETH vsed many and importunate intreaties by her Ambassadour Seris to bring them to a firme and solid Peace perswading the King not to excite mens stomacks by vnseasonable courses and that he should take heed of them who by remouing from about him his faithfull Subiects laboured so to breake and dis-vnite the Forces of France that it might be exposed as a prey to other Nations When he made no account of her Entreaties or Remonstrances and forbare not to draw out of Italy Germany and Spaine both money and men to re-enforce Queene ELIZABETH also not to abandon them who ioyned with her in one and the same cause she sent an hundred thousand Crownes in pieces of gold cald Angels with great warlike preparations to the Protestants who then professed religiously that they tooke not vp Armes to make warre vpon the King but onely to defend themselues and shee with all humanity entertain'd the French that made their refuge into England as also the Flemmings who seeing that the Duke of Alua breathed nothing but blood and slaughter were in great multitudes retired thither as to an Asyle and planted by permission both at Norwich Glocester Sandwich Maidstone and Southhampton to the singular benefit certainely of England For they were the first that brought in the Art and knowledge of making those light Stuffes which are called Bayes and Sayes with other such like of linnen and woolen But because I must often commemorate the warres of Flanders as linkt and combin'd with the interest affaires of England I shall not digresse much from my purpose if I heere relate how they tooke their beginning When the Spaniard would by no prayers nor intreaties mitigate his bloody Edicts against Religion and those who made profession thereof in the Low-Countries but in stead thereof exercised all manner of cruelty against mens consciences by the meanes of the Spanish Inquisition prohibited all the Assemblies of the States Prouinciall of the Low-Countries which is the onely and most vsuall remedy for the appeasing and according of their differences but gouerned the Common-Wealth by Acts digested in Spaine and not by the Councels of the people of the same Countreys it so happened that a few of the very scumme of the Vulgar sort tooke certaine Images in euery place out of the Churches and tumultuously brake them in pieces and though this Tumult was as soone appeased as excited yet following their counsell who desired to impose a yoke on this Nation strongly bent to liberty and taking occasion from the temerity of some few particulars he entoyled all the people with a publike Delict of manifest Rebellion and as if they had then lost all their liberty to inuade the Gouernment he sent Ferdinando Aluarez Duke of Alua a cruell and bloody man who beeing constituted supreme Gouernour contrary to the ancient customes and immunities of the Countrie though hee was in no sort a Prince of Blood rais'd a long and fearefull Warre abridging the Authority of former Iurisdictions erecting new Tribunals condemning the Nobility of the Country by the ministery and prosecution of such as were not their Iudges putting them to death placing Spanish Garrisons in the Borroughs and Townes building Citadels and for each alienation and commotion drawing by force out of their purses the tenth part of their immouables and the twentieth part of their mouable goods At the very selfe-same time it happened that certaine Marchants of Genoa and other parts of Italy sent out of Spaine into Flanders a quantity of coine to haue it put out to vse in a great Ship of Biscay and foure lesse which the Spaniards tearme Zabres which beeing chased by Chasteler a French-man and defended by Winter an English-man had much adoe to saue themselues in the Ports of Plimouth Fawmouth and Southhampton in England So soone as the Queene was aduertised of it she commanded all the Magistrates of those Ports to vse the Spaniards very kindly and to defend their Shipping from the French and G. D'espes Knight of the Order of Calatraua Ambassadour Leager of the King of Spaine in England fearing the French obtayned of the Queene who thought verily that this money had belonged to the Spaniard that new Mandates might bee sent downe for the defence of these ships against the French who lay in wayte for them and afterwards hee vsed the meanes to haue this money brought into England and from thence to Antwerpe by Sea But in the meane while the French had almost taken away one of the Ships which had bin perform'd but that they were repell'd by the English And therefore it was thought expedient to land it for better security which was done out of hand But notwithstanding it was not all brought on shore for D' Espes supposing the Queenes intention to be other then is was gaue the D. of Alua to vnderstand how
vnder pretence and colour to consult with them about her re-establishment But the Lord Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut then made Lieutenant of Scotland by the Queene and the Baron of Heris were perswaded by the Letters of the credulous Qu. But Murray fearing to be deceiued by them circumuents them and claps them vp in prison not expecting the comming of others and pursued grieuously in oppressing all the fauourers of the Queene with all the rigors of Warre This Act produceth rumours through all Scotland That Murray had agreed and determined with Qu. ELIZABETH that the young King IAMES should be giuen her to be brought vp and educated in England and that the Castles of Edenborrough Sterling were to be fortified with English Garrisons Dunbriton also taken by force for the vse and profit of the English and Murray be publisht and declar'd true and lawfull Successour of the Kingdome of Scotland if the King should happen to dye without Issue and to hold the Kingdome as Tenent to Queene ELIZABETH These rumours increased ran and were divulg'd in this manner and through a certaine probability strook in such fashion the spirits of men all ouer Great Brittaine that Qu. ELIZABETH thought herselfe obliged to take away and clense all such spots both for her honour and Murray's sake To which end her Maiestie declar'd by a Royall Speech published and set forth in Print That these things were farre opposite to the Truth and meerely forged and inuented by such as enuyed the Peace and tranquillitie of both Kingdomes That since the last departure of Murray from England there was not any such thing propounded nor such Paction past either by word of mouth or writing betweene her Maiesty or any of her Officers and him that came to her knowledge But that the Earle of Lenox Grandfather to the yong King had prayed her Maiesty that he might be sent into England if hee could not bee secure in Scotland from the plots of the wicked Likewise her Maiestie affirmed that she held the Compact as false which was reported to bee betweene Murray and the Earle of Hartford to wit that they had both agreed and resolued together mutually to helpe and giue assistance one to another for to enioy the Crowne of both Kingdomes and to conclude that it was not her fault that the affaires and businesses were not ended betweene the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne but rather she still endeuoured that it might be finisht and though her Maiesty was in a conflict through feare and inueterate emulation which neuer dyes betweene Femall Princesses yet out of the remembrance and recordation of the misery of Scotland and the commiseration of humane frailety she sincerely laboured to effect it The Queene of Scots made an addition to that her pious pitty and sollicited her with many kind Letters in which she solemnly protested that in regard of the kindnesse she had found and the propinquity of their affinity she would attempt nothing against her neither be willing to owe restitution to any other Prince for her re-establishment This caus'd Queene ELIZABETH by Letters sent by Wood to deale with Murray and other Scots for her re-establishment to her Royall Dignity or if that could not be granted that shee might bee permitted to leade a priuate life and spend her daies at home freely and honourably which notwithstanding could not any wayes moue Murray hauing brought his busines to perfection There was a rumor at this time amongst those of better sort that the Duke of Norfolke should be linked in Hymens bonds with the Queene of Scots the which was desired of many the Papists expecting by it the aduancement of their religion others hoping by that meanes for the welfare of the Common-wealth Truely many which saw the Queene remote and farre from marriage and the forraigne Princes which were deadly professors to England did settle their eyes and hearts vpon the Queene of Scots as the true and vndoubted heire of England they esteem'd for to ground their rest and tranquillity and to keep thereby the Queene of Scotland within the bounds and limits of her Kingdome it was much more behoofefull and expedient that she should be married with the Duke of Norfolke who was the most Noble and the greatest Peere of England beloued of the people educated and brought vp in the Protestants Religion then to a forraigne Prince by whose meanes both Kingdomes should be in danger and the hereditary succession by him apprehended which they had alwayes and from the beginning wisht to be re-vnited in an English Prince of the blood the yong King of Scotland happening to dye whom they propounded to send into England to the end that as he was the true apparent heire thereof and being educated and brought vp there by the English he should be to them dearer and more beloued all scruple of Religion taken away and Queene ELIZABETH hauing him in her power were free from all feare and apprehension both of the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scots Moreouer lest the Duke should attempt any thing against her but should more dearely affect her they resolued that Margaret the only Daughter of the Duke should bee marryed afterward to the young King of Scotland Amongst these were the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Sussex Pembroke Southampton and many other Barons and Leicester himselfe it being doubtfull whether aiming intending the destruction of the Duke thought it fit first to acquaint the Queene with it and to commit it to her iudgement censure and that she should prescribe and make wholsome Lawes salutiferous to her selfe Religion and the Kingdome But this if you please you may haue written more at large in the Dukes Confession and the Commentaries of the Bishop of Rosse which was a great part of this businesse When as the Deputies and Arbitrators put in trust with those affaires had met at Yorke Lidington and the Bishop of Rosse in their Enquirie acquainted the Duke with the intended Contract as Murray himselfe did also at Hampton Court who in his priuate conference with the Duke and some others dissembled and did seeme that he desired and wisht for nothing more then that all differences being ended in Scotland shee might be restored to her former Dignities prouided that she should truely and heartily affect her Subiects as she had done formerly all iniuries on both sides beeing forgotten forgiuen and buryed in obliuion Notwithstanding hee feared that if as shee desired shee should marry a man out of France Spaine or Austria shee would reuenge her former iniuries make an alteration of Religion in Scotland and much damnifie the State of England To preuent all which he promised his assistance and best endeuours that she who formerly had beene married to a Child an improuident young man nay more a furious young man should now be contracted to the Duke a man of stayednesse mature iudgement the which would conduce to the welfare of
both Kingdomes the peace of either Prince and chiefly for the aduancement of Religion since he who was so great and worthy in Queen ELIZABETHS estimation should make friendship betweene the Scots and the English and might more easily perswade the Queene of Scots to the true Religion which hee had embraced Murray also by the meanes of Robert Meluin imparted this closely to the Queene of Scots and officiously promised his assistance but the Duke answered that he could not determine any thing of the marriage till she could cleare her selfe from her suspected crimes and wipe off those infamous aspersions but Rosse notwithstanding persisted in his perswasion and ceast not to draw him though vnwilling to it Not long after Nicholas Throgmorton met the Duke in Westminster who professing himselfe as euery way obliged and bound to performe all dueties of obseruance said that he vnderstood that Leicester dealt with the Duke concerning the match twixt him and the Scots which seemed strange and moued admiration in him since Leicester himselfe not long since had beaten the same bush and gone about it and friendly aduised the Duke that hee should put it off to Leicester who formerly had sought the honour of that marriage but if that could not be done that he should refuse it in regard the Scots accused her of many crimes but Throgmorton said that hee wisht that shee might bee ioyned to him in marriage that it might be prosperous to Religion and that she might wholly and soly depend and rely vpon Queene ELIZABETH But I doe premonish you that if you proceede in this matter Leicester may precede and goe afore you in counsell for by your owne meanes onely you cannot procure the assent and good will of the Queene Two dayes after the Earle of Leicester propounded the affaire to the Duke and receiued of him the answere that Throgmorton had forged and inuented afore-hand and when it came to the crimes he did moderate them according to the instructions and assurance that he had receiued of R. Cauendish of whom though suspected yet he recommended him to the Duke to make vse of his seruice After this he acquaints therewith the Earle of Pembroke who giues notice thereof to the Earle of Arundell and they all with Throgmorton doe write to the Queene of Scotland recommending vnto her Maiestie the Duke of Norfolke for her Husband as likewise Murray had formerly done The Duke himselfe also writes and witnesseth his loue vnto her offering her Maiestie louingly his humblest seruice and from that time he still communicated vnto them all such Letters as past betwixt them As for them they had ordinary and familiar discourses with the Bishop of Rosse concerning the meanes whereby they could effectuate and bring this marriage to passe and the twentieth of May 1558. a Proposition was made to the Queene of Scotland by Cauendish These ensuing Articles were written by the owne hand of the Earle of Leicester THat she should not vndertake any thing in the succession of the Kingdome of England preiudicious to Queene ELIZABETH or the issue her Maiestie might that haue she should passe an offensiue and defensiue League 'twixt their two Crownes That she should settle and firmely establish the true Protestants Religion in Scotland That she should receiue to her mercy all such Scots as then were against her she should reuoke the assignation that she had giuen of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and that shee should take to her Husband some of the English Nobility and namely the Duke of Norfolke And they promised her that in case her Maiestie should conclude and agree the Articles to re-establish her anew in her Kingdome with all possible speed as could bee and to confirme her in the succession of the Crowne of England The Queene of Scots accorded them presently except that concerning the Allyance shee excus'd her selfe as not able to answere to it except shee had first consulted with the French King and concerning the assignation of the Kingdome of England she protested that she had neuer made any yet neuerthelesse shee would labour if they should desire it that the Duke of Aniou should renounce it Admonishing them to procure aboue all things the will and consent of Queene ELIZABETH for feare the affaire should turne and be preiudiciall both to herselfe and the Duke of Nolfolke as shee had formerly experimented in the match with the Lord Darley priuately contracted without Queene ELIZABETHS consent Yet they neuerthelesse esteemed fit first to sound the will and affection of many Noble-men who for the most part gaue their voice and consent prouided their Queene also to grant hers and likewise the Kings of France and Spaine were not against it but they onely had an apprehension of Murray and forasmuch as he had beene the first to propound this affaire promising to employ himselfe therein with all his might he should bee the first now to hinder it They yet notwithstanding were all of a mind that Lidington who then was lookt for should first sound the intention and disposition of Queene ELIZABETH In the meane while the Duke declares to the Lord Baron of Lumley all that was done and past in this businesse and with much adoe could hee obtaine from the Earle of Leicester leaue to take further consultation and aduice of his other friends he neuerthelesse made Cecill acquainted with it the Earle of Pembroke consenting thereunto At the same time the Lord Dacray resolued in himselfe to steale away the Queen of Scotland who at that time was prisoner at Winfield in the County of Derby vnder the keeping of the Earle of Shrewsburie The Earle of Northumberland who was of his counsell gaue notice thereof to the Duke of Norfolke who forbade to doe it fearing they went about to marry her to the Spaniard being then vpon hope to obtaine the loue and consent of Queene ELIZABETH The rumors and pretence of this match arriued presently to Queene ELIZABETHS eare beeing told her by some of those craftie and curious courtizans who smell and find out soonest the secrets of Louers The Duke knowing it labours with his vtmost power to make a proposition thereof to the Queen and to that end employed therein the Earle of Leicester the Earle of Pembroke and Throgmorton putting it off and deferring it from day to day as if he expected a fitter time and opportunity But Cecill seeing the said Duke perplexed in his mind counselled him himselfe to declare the businesse to the Queene for to take sooner away all scruple But the Earle of Leicester contrary to that opinion is against it promising him to propound the same to her Maiestie when she should walke abroad in the fields But whilest that hee by such sweete courtesies deferred the affaire from time to time Queene ELIZABETH beeing at Farnham causeth the Duke to approch neere vnto her Table and with a most graue and serious smile warned him That hee who
Westmerland and the Countesse of Northumberland and others whom the Pope had supplyed with 12. thousand Crownes by the Bishop of Rosse were come backe out of Scotland It is cleare that this Treaty brought forth nothing but that ELIZABETH euen as one chosen by consent to sit at the Sterne of all Great-Brittaine commands by her owne authority that the Assembly of the States of Scotland should be prorogued and Truce often talked of The Commanders doe grieuously vexe and torment all parts of Scotland Rosse sends the Articles of this Treaty to the Pope to France and to Spaine and certified that the Queene must necessarily consent vnto them vnlesse their succour and counsell came in time to relieue her which he vehemently craued but in vaine For indeed their heads were possessed with other affaires Spaine was preparing to marry Anne of Austria daughter to Maximilian the Emperour his Niece by the sister-side who at the same time departed from Zealand to goe for Spaine To whom ELIZABETH for a chiefe testification of honour and loue to the House of Austria sent Charles Howard with a warlike fleete and choyce Nobilitie to conduct her thither through the English Sea The twelfth yeere of ELIZABETHS reigne beeing now happily finished in which the Papists expected according to the prediction of their Diuines the euent of a golden day as they said all good people were ioyfull and happy and with a delightfull ioy began to celebrate the seuenteenth day of Nouember being the day of her comming to the Crowne with Prayers and Thankes-giuing which were performed in the Churches vowes were multiplied ringing of Bells Carrolls Turneyes and publique solemne ioy euery-where And this hath continued euer sithence she liued in testimony of the loue and obedience that her Subiects did beare her In the middest of these things dyed H. Clifford Earle of Cumberland the Second of the name Henries Sonne whom HENRY the Eighth had raysed to the honour of an Earle in the yeere 1525. being otherwise of a very noble and ancient House and hauing gotten a great increase of honour by marriages which he contracted with the heires of Vesciores and Viponts or Vieux-ponts who had beene anciently hereditary Vicounts of Westmerland who by his first Wife begot Eleanor the second daughter of C. Brandon Duke of Suffolke and of Mary Sister to HENRY the Eighth Margaret who was married to Henrie the Earle of Darbies Son of much hope and with great pompe beeing the onely heire of that House But hauing by his second Wife Anne Dacrey two Sonnes who were successiuely heires to their fathers honour this hope vanished There dyed also N. Throgmorton of whom I haue often spoken the fourth Son of G. Throgmorton the Golden Knight and of Katherine daughter of N. Baron of Vaux a man of great experience of solid iudgement and of a singular dexteritie of spirit who stirring many things vnder the reigne of MARY with great difficultie by his prudence and eloquence saued his life afterwards vnder ELIZABETH hee was imployed in many Ambassies wherein he got much honour vntill for the gaining of the Earle of Leicesters fauour hee opposed Cecill who was his Emulator for thereby hee could attaine but to very small meanes and triuiall preferments as chiefe Butler of England and Treasurer of the Queens Chamber Being at Supper in the Earle of Leicesters House and eating sallads hee was suddenly taken with an inflammation of the Liuer as some haue affirmed or with a Catarre as others say and not without iealousie of being poysoned whereof hee dyed in a good time both for himselfe and his being then in great danger both of losing his life and goods beeing a man of a stirring and working spirit In Ireland Connogher O-Brien Earle of Twomond not able to endure Edward Fitton Gouernour of Connaught who began to gouerne the Prouince something more seuerely and to take away from the great Ones and chiefe of the Countrey all hope of polling the Subiects of Ireland had secretly plotted Rebellion with others but it was preuented by a happy chance For hauing appointed the day to take armes comes in Fitton who knew nothing and courteously aduertised the Earle that he would lodge the morrow following with him with certaine of his friends The Earles conscience accusing him and beeing possest with a strange feare an ill signe in doubtfull things thinking that he was now discouered and that the Gouernour came to him rather like an enemy then a guest retired himselfe forth-with into France leauing them all in doubt what was become of him The Conspirators fearing that he was gone into England to discouer the plot continued in obedience whereof he vnderstanding shewed himselfe wise at last and hauing confest all the busines to Norris then Ambassadour in France imployed him to mediate Queene ELIZABETHS fauour with whom he found such Grace that he was restored againe to his Estate But Stukeley an Englishman a riotous Prodigall and vaine-glorious fellow who after he had consumed all his estate retired into Ireland hauing lost all hope of getting the Marshall-ship of Wexford and perceiuing himselfe to be despised of euery one and being vnable to raise any commotion after belching vp most vnworthy reproches of his Princesse who had done him many fauours slipped ouer into Italie to Pope Pius the fifth and by his flattering tongue insinuated beyond all credit into the fauour of this pernicious old man who breathed out the ruine of Queene ELIZABETH making great blags and promising that with three thousand Italians he would driue all the English out of Ireland and burne the English Fleet which he afterward villainously attempted but to his owne ruine as hereafter we will shew THE FOVRETEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1571. IN the first moneth of the yeere Queene ELIZABETH entring into London in Royall State visited that faire Cloister called the Bourse which T. Gresham Knight a Citizen and a Marchant Royall of London had caused to be built for the vse of Marchants and by the voice of a Cryer and with sound of Trumpets in dedicating thereof named it The Royall Exchange A few dayes after howsoeuer She were very sparing in the disposing of Honours hauing made in twelue yeeres space not aboue foure Barons she solemnly graced William Cecill with the Title of Baron of Burghley hauing on Barons Robes and with these formall words AS well in regard of the long seruice which he hath done in the time of our Progenitors the Kings of England as also for the faithfull and agreeable obedience which he hath alwaies and in diuers waies testified vnto vs from the beginning of our Raigne not ceasing dayly not onely in our great and waighty affaires to afford vs counsell but generally in all dessignes concerning the Kingdome as also in respect of his vigilancy valour prudence dexterity integrity of life fore-knowledge care and fidelity out of our speciall fauour certaine testimony and meere motion
that it was heard by the Neighbours a great wayes off raised vp it selfe as if it had wakened out of a profound sleepe and forsaking his deepe bed below mounted vp into an higher place carrying with it the Trees which were rooted thereupon the Shepheards Tents and the Flockes of Sheepe feeding thereon Some Trees were almost quite couered with Earth as if they had but newly taken root there It left in the place from whence it departed an ouerture of fortie foot wide and 80. elles long the whole field was twenty Akers or thereabouts It ouerthrew a little Chappell neere vnto it carryed from the East into the West an Yew-tree which was planted in the Church-yard and with its violence draue vp before it high-wayes with Shepheards Caues with Plants and Trees which were thereon It made mountaines leuell and arable grounds mountainous as if then they had took their beginnings And thus from Saturday at night vntill Munday noone next following it rested not till at last as if it were then tyred with the long way and wearied with its weighty burthen A little before there was celebrated in France at Mesires sur Meuse the marriage betweene Charles the Fourth King of France and Elizabeth of Austrich the Daughter of Maximilian the Emperour with great and royall pompe Elizabeth to testifie her ioy with honour according to the entyre affection shee bore vnto the Emperour whom she honoured as her father and to shew her loue vnto the King of France her Neighbour and Confederate and for her owne honour sent into France T. Sackuil Baron of Buckhurst who according to his owne worth and his Princes dignitie was magnificently intertained Hee was accompanied with Guido Caulcancius a Florentine a man of great experience with whom the Queene-Mother of France mannaging the affaires of her and her children openly treated of a match betweene ELIZABETH and Henry the Duke of Aniou her Sonne and gaue him withall certaine Articles to present vnto ELIZABETH and after that the King of France made earnest suit for his Brother by Mauluoisie his Ambassadour ordinary La Motte F. Archant and de Foix who bestowed a whole yeere in solliciting ELIZABETH sometimes all together and otherwhiles seuerally This marriage did something fortifie their hope that the Romane Religion had taken no firme root in the Dukes heart as well in respect of his tender yeeres as being educated vnder Carualet who was much inclining to the Protestants Religion the hopes which they had by little and little to win him to the profession of it and the suppositions of the benefits which this marriage might bring to the reformed Religion hee being a young Prince and of a warlike disposition might by vniting the Forces of Germany and England bring the refractory Papists to obedience establish a perpetual league of peace betweene England and France and interrupt the designes of the Queene of Scotland the King of Spaine the Pope and the Irish Rebels sithence hee might ioyne vnto the Crowne of England the Dukedomes of Aniou Burbonnions and Auuergnia yeelding great Reuenues And it appeared that hee might adde greater things hereunto Lastly if this match were refused neuer would there be a more honourable match offered After diuers debatings the French propounded three Articles the first of which concerned the crowning of the Duke the second the gouernement of the Kingdome ioyntly with Queene ELIZABETH the third the toleration of their Religion To which answer was made THat the Queene could not agree without the consent of the State of the Kingdome that hee should be crowned after the marriage was accomplished but that she would willingly consent if the States thought good that vpon termes of marriage he should be graced with the matrimoniall Crowne so She termed it without doing any preiudice to her Maiestie nor to her Heires and Successors And that she would not fayle to make him discerne a most ample honour when hee was once her Husband As for the common gouernement shee thought it not vnfit to take for a Companion and Coadiutor in a coniunct administration him whom shee had honoured with the title of a King and her Husband And as for the toleration of the Religion which hee profest that shee could not giue her consent thereto for certaine causes which as I haue collected them out of the Letters of Queene ELIZABETH were these That howsoeuer the externall reuerence of Religion might bee tolerated between the Subiects of the same Kingdome vnder diuers manners and formes neuertheles this strange forme most repugnant of all which should bee betweene the Queene the head of her People and her husband seemed not onely dangerous but of all most auerse and disagreeing That She desired the King of France and the Queene his Mother equally to weigh in euen Ballance the perill which she should vnder-goe and on the other side the honour of the Duke of Anioâ— And that in tolerating his religion she violated the Lawes establisht in her Kingdome beget a distaste in her good Subiects lightened the heart of the wicked all which she verily should vndergoe for the honour of the Duke But the French-men vrged that if she liued without exercise of Religion shee seemed to haue none at all and that she would not for her Honour bee accounted an Atheist She on the contrary replyed THat if she did but husbandize those seedes of pure Religion which were in him and receiue increase thereof he should see within a short time that it would redound greatly to his Honour In the end they came so farre that if the Duke would assist with the Queene in the celebration of Diuine Seruice and not refuse to heare and learne the Doctrine of the Protestants She would condiscend that neither hee nor his people should be constrained to vse the Ceremonies and Fashions accustomed in the English Church nor molested if they vsed other Ceremonies not vtterly repugnant to the Word of God prouided that they vsed them in priuate places and that they ministred no occasion to the English of violating their Lawes establisht De Foix vpon these words To the Word of God paused a little Queene ELIZABETH to giue them content commanded that in stead of those words they should put in To the Church of GOD but the one pleasing no more then the other he desired that To the Catholike Church might be put in Queen ELIZABETH would no way assent thereunto and hereupon this matter began to waxe colder by little and little Some are perswaded that this Match was not seriously vndertooke by the King of France and the Queene his Mother but onely to the end that the remembrance of a match contracted with a Protestant Princesse might bee a testimonie vnto the Protestants of their sincere meaning vnto them and to preuent the match which they suspected to be treated of with the King of Nauar whom the King of France would haue married to his Sister The like opinion was of
Queene ELIZABETH in England and that shee had not treated of this marriage but to cause the King of France his Mother and Brothers to shew themselues more fauourable to the Protestants in France breake off the hopes of the Queene of Scotland and the plots which the Spaniard and the Irish practised against England by the negotiation of the Cardinall of Lorraine and to auoid the Thunderbolts of the Pope by the interposition of the French For about this time the Earle of Leicester who saw more cleerely into the deepest thoughts of Queene ELIZABETH then any other wrote vnto Walsingham Ambassadour in France THat the Queene had a desire to marry but that she was not very hot vpon it and that she was of opinion that it was more necessary then her desire was to effect it moreouer that when the Duke of Aniou went from the Article concerning the toleration of Religion which Queen ELIZABETH would with such caution haue bound him to that he no longer persisted in his suite As the French tooke care and paine to make vp this Match certaine of the English laboured no lesse to aduance that betweene the Queene of Scotland and the Duke of Norfolke which through their wicked counsels they had againe reuiued contrary to his promise which first of all was discouered by these meanes Ridolph the Florentine who we told you was sent vnto forraigne Nations about the affaires of the Queene of Scotland had declared vnto Charles Bayliffe a Flemming one of his houshold seruants all that he had laboured with the Duke of Alua and put into his hands a packet of Letters written in counterfait Characters to her to the Ambassadour of Spaine to the Duke of Norfolke to the Bishop of Rosse and to Baron Lumley which hee carried with him notwithstanding the Bishop commanded him to leaue it with the Gouernour of Callais to keepe But hee had no sooner landed at Douer but hee was apprehended and imprisoned and the Packet sent to the Lord Cobham Gouernour of the Cinque Ports The Bishop who first of all knew it wrought so quickly and craftily with Cobham who was partly of counsell in the dessignes of the Duke that he deliuered him this Packet and another in stead thereof was sent to the Queenes Councell wherein were old-dated Letters tending to small purposes and aduertised Bayliffe thereof who being brought into question neuerthelesse confessed something of what had past and amongst the rest that this Packet had past through the Bishops hands who beeing aduertised thereof forthwith sent away Cutbert his Secretary to disperse amongst his friends the counterfait Characters and all that might doe hurt so as when Sussex Burghley Mildmay and Sadler came to search his house they could finde nothing at all nor get any thing out of him by examination he standing vpon it that an Ambassadour ought not to giue an account of his dealings to any but his Prince He was notwithstanding committed for two daies after to the Bishop of Ely and a little while after that carried to the Isle of Ely Stanley and Gerard Knights and Rolston of whom I haue spoken were clapt vp in the Tower of London and Howard who aspired to the Arch-bishoprike of Yorke was deliuered vpon suspicion to the custody of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury The Queene of Scots hauing about this time sent a certaine summe of money to the Ambassadour of France to be conueyed to those that were of her partie in Scotland the Ambassadour deliuered it to Barker and Higford who aduising with the Duke put it into the hands of one Browne of the Towne of Shrewsburie a seruant to the Duke to be deliuered in Scotland to Baron Heris by Banister and Lowder Browne beeing a crafty fellow perceiuing by the weight that in stead of Siluer they had giuen him Gold deliuered it ouer to the Councell of State Hereby the wiser sort began to obserue that the Duke had already begun to trespasse against her Maiesty in lending ayde to Heris and to the Scots her professed enemies who had forâ—aged the Frontier Inhabitants of England And hereupon Higford was committed to prison who presently confessed all the businesse concerning the money and shewed where the Letters and other writings were and the secret Characters and the remembrances and instructions of the Qu. of Scotland of which I haue spoken hidden vnder Maâ—â—land Tiles importing THat the French approued of the intended meeting with the Scots but that the Proposition of marriage of the Duke of Aniou with Queen ELIZABETH was to no other end but onely the better to colour the assistance performed to the Queene of Scotland for her re-establishment That they secretly preuented any contract with Iohn of Austria but fauoured the other with the Duke of Norfolke very much for the hatred they bore to the Spaniard That the Duke of Alua did so farre disproue the Designe of sending the Queene backe into Scotland that it would certainely be the ruine of her selfe and of the Catholique Religion through all Great Brittaine because shee being returned must of necessity either hazzard the danger of beeing besieged or try her fortune of the warres against the Rebels who by the aide of the English might easily bring her vnder their power before such time that any Forraigne forces could arriue That being then in no safety in Scotland and no hope to be expected from France so pestred with intestine warres he thought it more expedient to procure ayde from the Spaniard who had made an offer of marriage with Iohn of Austria which notwithstanding she neuer intended sithence she had promised by meanes of the Duke of Norfolke to re-establish the Romane Religion in Great Britaine And moreouer to send her Sonne out of Scotland into Spaine where he might be safely preserued and instructed from his Infancy in the Romane Religion and by this meanes all pretence taken from the Scots who shaddowed their rebellion vnder colour of him and lastly for the effecting of these businesses presently to dispatch away Ridolph with caution first to conceale these things especially from the French The Councell hauing receiued these instructions the Letters whereof I spake and other dispatches from the Pope and Barker who was surprized hauing confest all these particulars they commanded Sadler with a Company of armed men to goe vnto the Dukes house in London which was then at Charter-House Two dayes after the Duke who was altogether ignorant that those people had confessed any thing and confident that those Letters and Remembrances were burned in the fire beeing questioned denyed all that they had confest and therevpon was brought backe the seuenteenth day of September by Sadler Smith Neuill and Wilson to the great griefe of the people vnto the Tower of London from whence he was but the yeere before deliuered Afterwards they imprisoned Banister a Lawyer whose counsell the Duke had taken and followed after that the Earles of Arundell and Southampton Baron Lumley and Cobham
Castles which were in Scotland the Hostages and the King of Scots to renounce the title to England and the English Rebels But for this matter enough is spoken of this yeere and the particularities of it may be drawne from the Dukes confession and the memoriall sent to the Queen of Scots written by the Bishop of Rosse's own hand At the same time Mathew Earle of Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland and great Grand-father to the King hauing appoynted the assembly of States at Sterlin and thinking to be safe there was surprized by the Lords of the contrary faction which met together by the Queenes authoritie at Edenborrough and hauing yeelded himselfe to Dauid Spencer who laboured very hard to protect him was slaine with him by Bell and Cauder after hauing with much trouble and paines ruled the Kingdome for the King his Nephew the space of foureteene moneths more or lesse at what time France tooke the Queenes side and Queen ELIZABETH the Kings not so much to get their friends the victory as to keepe them from being ouercome Queen ELIZABETH hoped that the young King should haue beene deliuered into her hands and the French thought that Dunbriton and Edenborrough should be giuen them whereupon some Scottish Merchants were very much troubled and traffique in France was denyed them which drew a great partie to the Queenes side in hope thereby to haue freedome of trade there againe In Lenox his place by the common consent of the people Iohn Areskin Earle of Marre was elected Vice-Roy a man of a calme spirit and a great louer of his Countrie who beeing no lesse afflicted with the turbulent counsels of his friends then by the insultings of his aduersaries for very griefe dyed when hee had gouerned thirteene moneths The iniquitie of these times and the loue which the people of England bore to their Queene and Countrey drew the States to Westminster where they made a Law to preuent the plots of the seditious by which it was ordayned by ancient authoritie THat if any did attempt to ruine or hurt the Queene to make warre or excite others to doe it in any part of her dominions or affirme that shee had no right to the Kingdome but that it were more iustly due to another or said that shee was an Heretique a Schismatique or Infidell that shee did vsurpe the right from another that was liuing or that the Lawes and Statutes were not of power to define and tye the right of Succession It should be Crimen laesae Maiestatis If any one during the life of Queene ELIZABETH should expresly affirme either by writing or Booke printed that any one is or ought to bee the Queenes Heire or Successour except the naturall Line which should proceede from her owne body or that should publish print or sell Bookes written vpon this Subiect he and his maintainers for the first time should suffer a whole yeeres imprisonment and lose halfe their goods but returning to the same offence againe they incurred the penaltie of a Praemunire which is losse of all goods and imprisonment during life This seemed grieuous vnto some which thought that the tranquillity of the Kingdome ought to be strengthened by the designation of an Heire but it was beyond beliefe what iests the maliciously-curious made of this clause Naturally begotten of her body because the Ciuill Law calls those Children naturall which are borne out of marriage and that nature onely and not the honesty of wedlocke begot them and the English Law Legitimate those that are lawfully begotten And I remember being then young to haue heard it spoken aloud that this word was prest into this Law by Leicester that some bastard-sonne of his should thrust in as one of neerest kinne to Queene ELIZABETH It was also ordained that those who had by any Bull or writing from the Pope reconciled any to the Church of Rome should vndergoe the punishment of Crimen laesae Maiestatis Those who sustaine the Reconcilers or bringers into England of Agnus Dei's Graines Crucifixes or any other things consecrated by the Pope of Rome should lose all their goods and indure perpetuall imprisonment and those that shall conceale and not detect these Reconcilers were holden guiltie of Misprision of Treason Furthermore those goods and lands which were conuicted for Rebellion in the North beeing in the possession of Iames Pilkinton Bishop of Durham who challenged Regall power betweene the Riuers of Teise and Tyne were adiudged to the Queene and her Successours because she had with great cost deliuered both the Bishop and the Bishopricke from Rebels yet so as that in time to come it shall not be preiudiciall to the Regall rite of that Church of Durham It was also ordained that to meete with the insolencies of such as were deuoted to the Pope and despising the authority of the Lawes and their obedience to their Princesse who day by day with-drew themselues into forraine Countries without the Queenes licence hoping in time with a great number and to innouate something they should returne within a certaine time and make their submissions and that the fraudulent conueyances which they had made should be burnt So much for the Papists On the other side by wholsome Lawes they suppressed as well the couetousnesse of certaine of the Clergie who as if they had beene borne onely to themselues with a notorious malice to their Successours wasted the goods of the Church and let out the Lands for many yeeres as the impudencie of others who with a desire to innouate opposed themselues to Articles of the Synod of London for the abolishing of Schisme in the yeere 1562. It was likewise againe propounded that if the Queene of Scots should againe offend the Lawes of England she might be proceeded against as if she were a Peeres Wife of the Realme of England But the Queene by her authority hindered that from being made a Law In the beginning of Iune the Parliament being ready to be dismissed they sate vpon Iohn Story a Doctor of Law and Spie to the Duke of Alua of whom I haue made mention in the yeere 1569. to know whether Iohn Storie being an English-man should be found guilty Laesae Maiestatis for hauing conferred with a stranger-Prince in Brabant for the inuading of his Countrey and shewing the meanes to doe it The learned'st sort in the Law did affirme that hee might be accused Laesae Maiestatis Whereupon hee was called vnto iudgement for hauing conspired against the life of his Princesse with one Prestoll a man much addicted to magicke and in giuing thankes at the Table alwayes cursed her and the King of Scotland to the fiends of Hell and demonstrated to the Duke of Alua's Secretary the meanes to inuade England to make Ireland reuolt and at the same time to bring the Scots into England He refused to submit himselfe to be iudged by the Lawes of England maintayning that being a sworne Subiect not to Queene ELIZABETH but to the King
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
he thought it would be very dangerous Letters also were brought in which the Queene of Scots had written to the Duke importing that shee was much grieued that the Earle of Northumberland was apprehended before hee had taken vp Armes in the Rebellion For whether shee vnderstood this by report or it was inuented of purpose I cannot say To this the Duke answered THat by these reasons it could not probably bee inferred that hee had laboured the destruction of the Queene neither was any thing that hath hitherto bin produced of any moment against him excepting the testimony of the Bishop of Rosse and that also of him being a forreiner by the authoritie of Bracton a man most expert in our Lawes in no wise is to be admitted That he neuer had Northumberland or Westmerland in such esteeme that hee would commit his life into their hands and that his innocencie was such a sure rampire to him that hee neuer meditated of any escape for himselfe Then Gerard the Queenes Attourney spake It is more than sufficiently apparant that the Duke would haue espoused the Queene of Scots to destroy the Queene of England The Letters which he hath writtē to the Pope the King of Spaine and Duke d'Alua doe iustifie that hee had a determination to inuade England That which hee consulted of with Ridolfe was now likewise openly knowne by the obscure Characters which were found hidden vnder the tiles in the house of the Howards and by the Letters also which he commanded to be burnt but were found at the entry of his Chamber vnder the Matte And all these things may easily bee proued by the interrogatories and answeres of them that haue not beene affrighted with torments nor condemned to haue attempted ought against the State To which the Duke replyed I Haue not quoth hee beene eyther author or fauourer of the counsels and deliberations holden with the Pope or Spaniard but to the contrary I haue alwayes reproued and disallowed them Those that haue offended let them suffer and not discharge them vpon me Besides all this Gerard accused the Duke that hee had consulted with Ridolfe for the landing of tenne thousand men out of Flanders at Harwich a Port in Essex and this was iustified out of the examination of Barker That Letters were written by Ridolfe to the King of Spaine and Duke d'Alua to which although the Duke subscribed not yet by the counsell of Rosse hee sent Barker his Secretary as Ambassadour to auerre them to be the Dukes owne Letters MY memory replyeth the Duke beginneth to falter neither can it containe such an intricate varietie of matters You other pleaders haue your notes and memorialls with you but I must ex tempore answere to all mine accusers But surely it is not probable that I who haue alwayes beene contrary to the Roman Religion should entertaine a treatie with the Pope I had a great deale rather be torne in pieces with wilde Horses than to depart from the Religion which I professe Consider but the situation of Harwich and it will easily annihilate the accusation Who sees not how difficult a thing it is to leade an Armie thorow that part of the Countrey which is round inclosed with hedges and most incommodious by reason of the streight and narrow wayes and passages Had I had a determination to rayse an army against my Princesse without doubt I would not haue beene vnprouided of Armes but I haue not for these tenne yeeres past bought any more than eight Corslets and for Gunpowder not any at all I neuer committed any Letters to the trust of Barker but rather of Banister that was to mee more than many Barkers Then were the intercepted Letters of the Bishop of Rosse which he writ in Prison to the Queene of Scots produced by which what things were before spoken were confirmed The Duke requested to see them for it seemed that he suspected them to be supposed But the Iudge answered You need not call them in question for they are written with the Bishops owne hand Besides these a little Letter was brought forth which the Duke had written in Okar to one of his Seruants wherein hee commanded him to burne the packet which was hidden in a certaine place and to turne the fault vpon the Bishop who by the priuiledge of an Ambassadour might delude the Law To which the Duke replyed in these words Being certified that it was diuulged abroad that many had accused mee I answered by this Letter and seeing all things were so neerely searcht into I commanded that packet should be burnt because I would saue others from danger Bromley the Queenes Sollicitor presented the Letters of Ridolfe wherein was conteined that the Duke d'Alua had approued the designe likewise the Letters of the Pope to the Duke dated the fourth of the Nones of May. Then Wilbraham made a faire discourse concerning what credit should be giuen to the testimonies of the Bishop and of the Dukes seruants whereto the Duke made answere CErtes it falls not vnder the power of my faculties to frame a replication to such an elegant and polished Oration Yet this Oratour such and so great as he is hath omitted to speake how great the violence of feare is which oftentimes doth remoue a firme and wel-composed minde out of its place and state Againe hee alledged Bracton against the credit giuen to forreine witnesses But Catelin answered that in such causes as this the testimonies of Strangers were auaileable and that it was in the power of the Peeres eyther to giue or deny them credit Now was that matter come to be proued that the Duke had succoured the rebellious Fugitiues which was found apparant by the Letters of the Countesse of Northumberland in which shee gaue the Duke great thankes for the money wherewith he furnished her husband and her selfe Finally the last obiection of the relieuing of those Scots which were enemies to the Queene was prooued by the Letters of the Duke to Banister by Banisters confession and by the Mony which was deliuered to Browne of Shropshire Hereupon the Duke demanded of the Iudges Whether the Subiects of another Prince confederate with the Queene may be accounted enemies to the Queene Catelin answered They might and that the Queene of England might make warre with any Duke in France and in the meane time obserue a peace with the King of France But as the night began to approch the Lord high Steward demanded of the Duke if he had any thing more to speake for himselfe The Duke answered In the equitie of the Lawes I repose my trust Then hee commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower to retyre with the Duke awhile after silence was proclaimed turning to the Peeres hee thus spake to them YOu haue heard how Thomas Duke of Norfolke being accused of Laesae Maiestatis and not confessing himselfe guiltie hath committed his cause to GOD and to you It is your part then
Ley hee whispered something in his Eare and after he spoke to the Deane of Pauls who turning him to the people said The Duke intreateth you all to pray with him that GOD would be mercifull to him and that you would be silent that his spirit be not disturbed Hee forgaue his Executioner asking him pardon refusing to put the Napkin ouer his face which he offered him saying I feare not death Then kneeling downe his heart lift vp to GOD on high hee prostrated himselfe on the Scaffold the Deane praying intentiuely with him then laying his necke ouer the Blocke at one stroke his head was cut off which the Executioner shewed a lamentable spectacle to the people most mournfully then shedding teares and sighing It is almost incredible how dearely the People loued him and how by his naturall benignity and courteous actions qualities well becomming so great a Prince hee had gained the hearts of the Multitude Diuers of the wiser sort as they were affected passed their censures diuersly some from an apprehension they had of great feare and danger might haue ensued had hee suruiued others commiserating the case of one so nobly borne so gentle by nature so comely of personage of so manly an aspect so compleat in all parts to perish so pittyously one who had not the subtill sleights of his Aduersaries and the slippery hopes he had conceiued vnder a colour of benefitting his Countrey and Common-wealth diuerted from the first-begun course of his life hee had beene the greatest honour and ornament of his Countrey They called also to memory the lucklesse death and destiny of his late Father who although vniuersally admired for Arts and Armes had some fiue and twentie yeeres before this lost his head in the same place vpon sleight occasions to wit for hauing his Armes quartered with King Edward the Confessour which we reade the Mowbrayes the Dukes of Norfolke had borne being giuen them by King Richard the Second from which Mowbrayes he drew his petigree Whereupon it shall not be impertinent to the purpose briefly to adde from what shop these Conspiracies were first forged as Hierome Catene in his History of the life of Pius the fifth relateth An Author for his credit made free Denison of Rome and admitted Secretary to Cardinall Alexandrine Nephew to Pius the fifth POpe Pius the 5. saith he burning with a zealous desire to re-establish the Romane Religion and hauing no other so conuenient a Messenger to bee his Nuncio Apostolike imployed Robert Ridolph Gentleman of Florence who comming into England vnder pretext of other businesse indeuoured himselfe to nothing more then to stir the hearts of the Queenes Subiects to her destruction wherein he dealt with such dexterity that he brought not onely Papists but also some Protestants to be of his faction some for a priuate malice they bore to those which aymed at the Kingdome others out of a desire of innouation As these matters were working vnder-hand and couertly there happened a debate betwixt the Spaniard and the Queene for certaine moneys that had been intercepted now in her possession Hereupon the Pope tooke occasion to perswade the King of Spaine to lend his helping hand to those which were combin'd Conspirators in England against Qu. ELIZA that so he might with the more facillity effect his affaires in the Low-Countries and restore the Catholike Religion in England In like maner dealt he with France as if he were bound to assist his Kinswoman the Queen of Scotland and to pleasure the Scots who to diuert the English from ayding the Protestants in France had made incursions vpon the English nor ought be any lesse to some great persons of the confederacy in England who by their policy had so preuented as that the Queene should not publikely send any ayde to the Huguenots of France by reason whereof the King of France promised his aide to set free the Qu. of Scots but failed to performe In the meane time Ridolph so wrought that he brought Norfolke to bee chiefe of the conspiracie promising him marriage with the Queene of Scots with her consent The better also to effect this businesse the Pope deposed the Queene of her Crowne and Kingdome and absolued her Subiects of all Oath and Allegeance by a Bull which hee caused to be published whereof he sent copies printed to Ridolph to be dispersed through the Kingdome Hereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland raised Armes in the North of England against the Queene but money failing there they speedily fled into Scotland and the Duke of Norfolke with others were committed to prison amongst which Ridolph was one who had receiued commandement from his Holinesse to deliuer to the Confederate League an hundred and fiftie thousand Crownes which hee could not doe beeing now prisoner But her Maiesty not looking so deepely as concerned her into the plot of the Conspiracie set Ridolph and some others at liberty and hauing distributed the foresaid moneys amongst the Confederates was by them sent home againe to the Pope to aduertise him that now all things were in a readinesse for the dispatch of the Queen and to procure with all speed the best supplies he might from the Spaniard out of the Low-Countries The Pope commended well this purpose although indeed the Duke of Norfolke had formerly misliked the same as a matter full of much difficulty in a priuate conference hee had with Ridolph once vpon the way and vnder a colour of other matter addrest himselfe to the Kings of Spaine Portugal to informe them thereof He promiseth the Duke of Norfolke by his Letters to send him succour mooueth with the King of Spaine to bee assistant and to further the matter the more offereth to goe himselfe in person and if neede were to spend the goods of his See-Apostolike Challices holy Vestiments and Crucifixes assuring him that he could and would easily effect the same nor was there any difficultie to be doubted would hee send ouer Chappin Vittel with an Armie out of Flanders into England which thing the Spaniard with all expedition commanded to be done whilest the Pope prouided money But the Duke D'Alua enuying that Vitel should haue the honour of this seruice sought to preferre his Sonne thereunto fearing that the French should fall from them with their Forces and doubting the Conquest of England might yeelde any profit to Spaine or that the Pope was able to comply with them for money sufficient for so great a designe Notwithstanding the King of Spaine gaue expresse command that he should inuade England and to that end sent moneys by Ridolph into Flanders But it pleased God the matter was discouered to the Queene of England by some beyond seas and the Duke of Norfolke apprehended and iudged to death which brought no lesse griefe to the Pope then to the King of Spaine who said in the presence of Cardinall Alexandrine his Nephew That neuer was
businesse more deliberately attempted carried with more courage and constancy of the Confederates nor lasted longer time vndiscouered by any of the coniurate-society That their military Companies might in foure and twentie houres space be put ouer out of Flanders into England the Queene and the City of London suddenly surprized Religion restored and the Queene of Scotland settled and crowned in her steade All which were like to haue the better successe for that Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue was then in readinesse with three thousand men to bring Ireland in subiection to the King of Spaine and with three Ships that were Spies set the English Fleete on fire Thus H. Catene of which much was vnknowne till the yeere 1588. when he published a booke printed at Rome and priuiledged by Sixtus the Sixth Now returne wee to the purpose if we be digrest Scarce ten dayes after the Dukes death were sent to the Queene of Scots then all mournefull and in sorrow Will. Lord de-la-Warre Sir Ralph Sadler Tho. Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Lawes and T. Bromley the Queenes Attourney who were so to expostulate with her as to charge her for vsurping the Title and Armes of England nor that she had renounced them according as it was conditioned at Edenborrough and to assume them more freely had secretly contriued to marry with the Duke of Norfolke which the rather to bring to passe shee had left nothing vnassayed by the ministery of her Agents by force and Armes to set the Duke at liberty had raised Rebellion in the North Countrey had succoured the conuicted Rebels of Scotland and Flanders had by Ridolph the Italian his solliciting implored the aydes of the Pope the King of Spaine and others for inuading the Countrey of England they vrged also that shee had receiued Letters from the Pope who had promised to keepe her as safe vnder his wing as the Hen doth her Chickens calling her and her Complices The true Children of the Church And finally that shee had procured a Bull from the Pope against the Queene and and had suffered herselfe by her friends in forraigne parts to be called The Queene of England To all these with a bold countenance and constant resolution hauing first protested herselfe to be a free Prince and subiect to none she answered THat she had not vsurped the Title or Armes of England but that being yet young and vnder the power of her Husband the King of France necessity imposed them vpon her but since her Husbands death shee neuer bore them wherefore it was not to be imputed to her as any fault of hers neither would she take them to her so long as ELIZABETH liued or any Childe shee should beare That in the matching with the Duke of Norfolke shee had no thought of any ill might happen to the Cōmon-wealth but rather much good and if she should renounce the marriage it was contrary to the matrimoniall Vow she had made and that by dutie thereof she was bound to aduertise the Duke of his dangers and to quit himselfe out of prison That she had neuer raised nor consented to the raising of any tumults but was alwaies ready to discouer what plots shee knew of against the Queene or Countrey if she had pleased by her to bee admonished of or to haue admitted her to her sight or hearing nor at any time had succoured the English Rebels but only by her Letters had recommended the Countesse of Northumberland to the Duke D'Alua Of Ridolph she was to haue necessary vse for her pensionary Annuities and in some money-matters whom shee knew to be a great Fauourite of the Popes but neuer had receiued any Letters from him had neuer dealt with any touching her deliuery but indeed had not refused to giue eare to such as had offered the seruice in that kind and for that cause had passed her priuie Seale to Rowlston and Hall She had sometimes receiued Letters consolatory and full of piety from the Pope wherein was no mention of any such matter nor had shee procured any Bull from Rome onely on a time a copie of one of them was shewed her which after she had read shee cast it into the fire But if any out of forraigne Countries shall write or speake otherwise then they ought they ought to answere it and to suffer the penaltie of their faults She neuer sought or sent either to the Pope or K. of Spaine for the procuring any inuasion vpon England but had implored their helpes for her restoring into her owne Realme but not before her Maiestie had preadmonition thereof But if shee were to be called in question concerning these Letters she requested for that shee was issued from the Bloud Royall of England that she might answere for herselfe in person in open Parliament In the meane time was Scotland all vp in Armes miserably troubled with Ciuill Warres whilest on the one side such as fauoured the Queene relying vpon aide from the French and the other party expecting the like from England had dayly encounters together notwithstanding both English and French shewed themselues most desirous to appease and accord their dissentions by the Ambassages which either countrey sent into Scotland Of which France proposed that their most commodious course would bee to elect amongst them some persons of well-known worth and wisedome to gouerne the Kingdome for a time not taking vpon them supreame authority or the names of King or Queene they were not willing to acknowledge for King the King of Scotland for that they held hee had no right but by his mother and that shee was vniustly deposed of her Subiects and therefore shee was iustly to bee reputed their Queene and the ancient League of Alliance betwixt her and France to continue firme and inuiolable Those likewise from England on the contrary maintained by strong argument that such an Administration or popular gouernment would be an Anarchy and that the Commonwealth was not to admit plurality of Gouernours and that Scotland hauing alwaies beene commanded by Kings was not now to haue an election of such Administrators That the States of the Realme had deposed the Queene and lawfully crowned and inthroned the King and that the ancient recited Alliance was a contract not of persons but of the two Kingdomes of France and Scotland alledging also that by an expresse Law the most Christian King was bound to defend the King of Scots in these termes If there happen at any time controuersie about the Kingdome of Scotland the Kings of France shall support ayde and defend him whom the States of Scotland shall adiudge the Title of the Kingdome to And as touching the causes of the Queenes deposing it should bee enquired of of those Scots who haue deposed her The French notwithstanding openly fauouring the partie of the Queene of Scotland became serious intercessours to her Maiestie for to set her at liberty lest that as his Ambassadour did freely hee might
enuy among themselues so as neither of them obtained their end and purpose At that very time a pleasing serenity seemed to shine vpon the Protestants in France and Charles the Ninth pretending onely a warre in Flanders which he affirmed to be the preseruation of France and couering himselfe with this maske he feigned as though hee meant to contract alliance and amitie with the Queene of England and the Princes of Germanie to giue some testimony herein of his loue to the Protestants whose absolute ruine notwithstanding he couertly intended And as if he leaned to them of the one side and the Spaniard on the other hee substituted to this end the Duke de Mont-Morancy Birag de Anbisine the Bishop of Limoges and of Foix. The Queene of England who truely apprehended the secret plots and stratagems of the Duke of Alua deputed Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Francis Walsingham And Articles were drawne betweene them whereof you shall see an abridgement in the same expresse words and termes THis alliance shall not tye Princes allyed to leaue other Treaties past betweene them so they be not opposite and contrary thereunto There shall be a Confederation League and Vnion betweene them to defend themselues mutually against all who vnder some pretext or any other occasion whatsoeuer shall inuade or attempt to inuade their persons or Territories whereof they are now possest It shall remaine firme betweene them not onely while they liue but also betweene their Successours so the Heire of the first deceased giue notice to the suruiuant within the space of a yeere by Ambassadours and Letters that hee accepts of the same conditions Otherwise the suruiuant shall be reputed discharged of the obseruance of the same It shall bee validious against all yea and euen against those that are ioyned in affinitie to the one or other Prince and against all other Alliances contracted or to contract If the Queene of England be required to send succours by Letters sealed and subscribed with the King of France his owne hand shee shall be bound to passe ouer into France within two moneths after a thousand foot armed or fiue hundred Horse at her choyce whom the King must pay from the first day of their arriuall in France Shee was to send for the warre of Flanders eight Ships of equall greatnesse wherein twelue hundred Souldiers must be imployed with all things necessary and there must bee no Marriners nor Souldiers but English but yet they must be commanded by the Admirall of France payed and victualled by the King from the first day they enter into Seruice Shee was also to victuall her Ships for two Moneths which the King was also to pay within two moneths And if the Queene be moued to any warre the King hauing receiued Letters subscribed with her owne hand was to send ouer into England or Ireland within two Moneths sixe thousand foot or at her choyce fiue hundred Conductors armed at all poynts who should bring fifteene hundred Horse and about three thousand foot with good Horse and Armes after the French manner whom shee must pray from the time they set foot in her Countries And for the warre by Sea he was to furnish eight Shippes with twelue hundred Souldiers in manner and forme aboue mentioned Order agreed vpon for succours and pay to be digest in writing running in this forme that the one shall bee bound to sell vnto the other Armes and all necessary things to the Prince assayled They shall innouate nothing in Scotland but defend it against Strangers and permit them to enter and nourish the Scottish partialities But the Queene of England was permitted to pursue with Armes those amongst them who maintained or fostered the English Rebels who were at that present in Scotland That this Alliance shall be so taken and vnderstood as the onely proprietie and meaning of the words imported Each of the two Princes shall confirme euery one of these Articles by Patents and faithfully and really to deliuer them into the hands of Ambassadours for the one and other within three moneths For ratification of this Alliance on the behalfe of the King of France the Queene of England sent into France the Earle of Lincolne Admirall with a great traine of Gentlemen among which were these Barons the Lord Dacres the Lord Rich the Lord Talbot the Lord Sands and others And the King of France sent into England Anne Duke de Mont-Morancie and Monsieur de Foix with a magnificent traine that in the presence of them and Messieurs de Saligna and de la Mottef his Ambassadour ordinary the Queene might reciprocally confirme the same with oath which was performed at Westminster the seuenteenth of Iune and the day after the Queenes Maiestie with the consent of the French inuested with the Order of Saint George the Duke de Mont-Morancy in gratefull commemoration of the loue which Anne Constable of France manifested vnto her to whom HENRY the Eighth vouchsafed the same honour out of the loue he bare to the House of Mont-Morancy who carries the title of the first Christian of France and is there held for most Noble While Mont-Morancy remayned in England hee moued certaine propositions in the King of France his name that the Queene of Scots might there finde fauour so farre as it might be performed without danger That there might be a cessation of Armes in Scotland and that a Concord might be established by Act of Parliament And if a Parliament could not commodiously be summoned that some might be elected of the one and other part among the Scots to repayre to London to settle affaires with the Deputies of the King of France and Queene of England But answere was made him That more fauour had been shewed to the Queene of Scots than shee deserued and yet for the King of France more should be shewed her though the Estates of the Kingdome assembled had iudged how the Queene of England could not liue in security except some rigor were vsed to her That the Queene had carefully employed her whole power to establish Concord and procure a cessation of Armes hauing for this end lately sent into Scotland Sir William Drewry Gouernour of Berwicke with de la Croce the French Ambassadour But they could by no meanes induce Grange to peace nor the Garrison of the Castle of Edenborrough out of the hope they conceiued to bee succoured from France and Flanders though Huntley and Hamilton Arbroth for the Duke their Father had obliged themselues in writing to Queene ELIZABETH to enter it and other of the Queenes partakers had plighted their faith and promise thereunto After these motiues hee also propounded many other touching the marriage of the Duke of Aniou but in that they could not agree about some circumstances concerning Religion the matter grew hopelesse and he returned into France when there was preparation of the Nuptials betweene Henrie King of Nauarre with Margarite Sister to the King of
France whereunto with notable dissimulation the King of Nauarre and the most noble Protestants were drawne by sweet promises and probable hopes of perpetuating the peace bringing themselues into grace as also the Earle of Leicester and the Lord Burleigh were inuited out of England vnder an honourable colour and out of Germanie the Sonnes of the Elector Palatine to the end that being intangled in the nets if those of the Euangelicall Religion together with themselues were not all denounced in an instant yet they should receiue a mortall and irrecouerable wound For when the Nuptials were solemnized this so expected and wished serenitie was presently ouer-cast with that terrible and bloudie tempest the Parisian Butcherie and through the cruell Massacres that with execrable impietie were committed in all the Citie of France against Protestants of all estates and conditions the which notwithstanding they would faine haue couered with a pretext of equitie yea of pitty and to practise this impious fraud vnder the cloake and shelter of the Edicts imputing to the Protestants that they had wickedly conspired against the King the Queene his Mother his Brethren the King of Nauarre and the Princes of the Bloud For pieces of money were coyned in memorial of this act which had of the one side the Kings effigies with this Inscription Vertu contre les Rebelles Vertue against Rebels and on the other La pieté à esmen la iustice Pittie hath moued iustice Not long before the Queene-Mother of France very subtill in counterfeiting good-will to the Protestants being to vnderstand the future euents and credulous in Astrologicall predictions which by the coniunction of the Royall Planets at the birth of her Sonnes prognosticated Kingdomes to each of them commanded la Mottef to breake with Queene ELIZABETH about the marriage of her with Francis her youngest Sonne Duke of Alenzon to purchase him if shee could the title of a King or at least to diuert Queene ELIZABETH from ayding the Protestants in France La Mottef propounded this matter at Kennelworth two dayes before the Massacre of Paris But Queene ELIZABETH excused her selfe by reason of the difference in Religion and disparity in yeeres For hee was hardly seuenteene yeeres old and she aboue eight and thirtie Neuerthelesse shee promised to deliberate of it and the Duke of Alenzon forbare not to sollicite her by the procurements of Fleri In the same moneth Thomas Percie Earle of Northumberland who because of his Rebellion fled into Scotland had his Head cut off at Yorke after hee was deliuered into the hands of the Lord of Hunsdon Gouernour of Berwicke by the treachery of one Morton who stood much bound vnto him for many benefits when hee was banished into England but was euer found gratefull towards the afflicted And as this yeere like a dreadfull Axe cut off the Duke of Norfolke and Earle of Northumberland in the flower of their age a milde and gentle death carried likewise out of the World two others in their decrepit yeeres who were of the most eminent Nobilitie and of the Priuy-Councell George Pawlet Lord Treasurer of England Marquis of Winchester Earle of Wilton and Lord Saint Iohn of Basing who went through many great honours attained to the age of ninetie seuen yeeres and begot to the number of an hundred and three children Sir William Cecill Baron of Burleigh supplied his place in the dignity of Lord Treasurer Edward Earle of Darbie and Baron of le Strange of Knoking departed this life with whom in some sort dyed the glory of English hospitality After his commendable discharge of many honourable Ambassies there dyed also Sir George Peters an honourable Knight who was one of the priuy Councell Secretary to King HENRY the Eighth King EDVVARD the Sixt Queene MARY and Queene ELIZABETH and Chancellour of the order of the Garter descended from the worthy Family of Exceter after that by his wisedome and learning he had collected a great Estate out of his owne goods and the permission of Queene MARY he augmented with annuall reuennues Exceter Colledge in the Vniuersity of Oxeford where he was a Student and brought vp The Queene her selfe who had alwaies liued in perfect health for she neuer ate but when she had a stomacke neither drunke any Wine felt some small grudging of infirmitie at Hampton-Court But she recouered her former health before it was almost known she was sicke and being vigilant ouer matters worthy of a Princes care forecast shee commanded that Portsmouth should be rampard with new fortifications her Fleet increast with Ships of war that at certaine constituted times Soldiers might bee inrold throughout the Shires and Youth to be trained vp in Armes though she liued then in most secure peace Shee willingly and with much thankes restored the money shee had borrowed of her Subiects in doing of which she gained no lesse loue of her people then in sending foorth two Proclamations which she caused to be publisht in the beginning of the yeere In one of which she ordained that those Noblemen should be taxed according to the ancient Lawes that tooke more followers and retainers then was permitted them because these their retainers followers were hereby exempted from publike Offices they maintained Factions and many waies offended against the Lawes relying on the Protection of the Nobles to whom they had proffered their seruice And in the other shee curbed a rauenous kind of people called Enquirers after conceald Lands by reuoking their warrants and constraining them to restore many things taken away For being appointed to seeke out whether particular men concealed not some land that belonged to the Crowne with most sacrilegious auarice they began to seaze on such as had heretofore beene giuen by pious Ancestors to Parish Churches and Hospitals yea to plucke downe the Bells and Lead wherewith the Churches were couered In Ireland the burdensome authority of one Fitton Gouernour of Connath produced some troubles For the sons of Richard Earle of Clanricard brought foorth by diuers women not beeing able to endure it in that they were headstrong and giuen to liberty they raised a Rebellion and passing ouer Sene made cruell Incursions vpon the inhabitants of the westerne parts of Mijs which with many outrages committed they pillaged and forraged Their Father who was of the ancient Family of Bourgh in England venerably bald and of a staid disposition went to the Deputy iustified himselfe of this crime and required aduice of the Councellours of Ireland how he might depresse his sonnes that spoiled and wasted the Countrie in this manner But her Maiesty thought fit for publike tranquillity by little and little to draw Fitton out of Connath and to make him Treasurer of Ireland A little while after the Earles sonnes defeated by the Garrisons which fell vpon them submitted themselues to the Depruie The Enlagen Omors a kinde of seditious people stird vp also new troubles but they likewise being proclaimed
ordinarily fals out comming at last to be neglected and contemned the vse of them grew out of request From the Month of Nouember in the precedent yeere Charles the Ninth King of France had a Daughter borne The King to make sure with Queene ELIZABETH and aswell to render her fauourable by all offices of humanitie and to take away from the Protestants of France all hope of succour from England intreated her to receiue her at the sacred Font of Baptisme and to this end as also to obtaine some certaine Moneyes from her hee sent into England De Gondy vulgarly called the Count of Rez who by an elaborate discourse indeuoured to perswade her that they had made the Massacre of Paris which some could call by no other name than a great and capitall wickednesse hee a safe and wholesome remedy not in hatred of the Protestant Religion but to dissipate the conspiracy of the Admirall Coligni and others and that the King most inuiolably kept the Edicts touching Religion That shee would not giue eare to those fearefull spirits that did nothing but adde to their owne affrightment and causelesly complaine but that Shee would religiously conserue the alliance of the new contract and exhort them to obey the King assuring her that they should finde him most mercifull To which shee promised to be mindefull of the Alliance and that shee would not faile the King in any thing that was fitting and agreeable for a most affectionate Ally but for the Money shee excused her selfe Nor did he demand it but as a designe to giue impeachment to her ayding of the Protestants in case they should require it after shee had made deniall of it to the King of France And surely shee tooke occasion from hence to make refusall of it to them calling to minde how euilly they had requited her for that which shee had lent them in their first Ciuill Warre By this Ambassage the Count of Rez obtained that from that time the Protestants found lesse fauour with her than they had done before A little after the Lord Somerset Earle of Worcester was sent into France with a Baptistrey of Gold for in Qu. ELIZABETHS name to promise the duetie of a Godmother at the christening of the French Kings Daughter with the Lady Mary the Emperours Wife and the Deputies of the Duke of Sauoy This arriuing to the knowledge of the Protestants of France and Flanders who at the same time were as Pirats vpon the Sea they suspecting the said Earle of Worcester to be a Papist mist him narrowly for they robbed two of his Ships and slew diuers of his people at which Queene ELIZABETH being highly offended sent to Sea Sir William Holstoc Controller of the Royall-Nauy who as much by his taking as chasing of them recouered some Ships loden with goods and purged the Sea of such And forasmuch as the most part of them had vowed their seruice to the Count de-Mont-Gommery who then was in England for helpe to succour those of Rochell besieged it hindered his dispatch parting from thence late and with so little an Army that hee did no good at all to Rochell This occasioned the French Protestants refuged in England being much moued to vse in iniurious manner some other Allens being French Papists in hatred of contrary Religion yea they assaulted them armed and among others the seruants of Monsieur Flery secretly sent into England from the Duke of Aniou to treat of a match with Queene ELIZABETH whereof Monsieur le Vidame de Chartres not knowing his comming accused Flery before the Councell of State as to be come of purpose and hyred to kill the said Earle of Mont-Gommery The ordinary Ambassadour of France contrariwise complained to the Queene that against the Alliance the Earle of Mont-Gommery had through the helpe of England vndertaken a voyage to Rochell and the English Merchants furnished the besieged Towne with victuals and prouisions To this her Maiesty answered THat she had alwayes inuiolably kept and would still to future times keepe her promise mentioned in the alliance That this aide and Succour was compounded of Pyrats and Vagabonds who could not tarry in their Countries and that they were parted out of England without her command vnder false Ensigne and that shee desired they should bee punished Moreouer that such English Merchants basely dealt withall in Bourdeaux were gone to Rochell without leaue and that men of their calling and kind vsed to sayle euery where chiefly where their profit and gaine was greater Shee likewise required that in stead of Rochell they should appoynt in France some Hauen-Towne more commodious for Negotiations The French were much pleased with this answer being assured that Qu. ELIZABETH would still keepe promise and that shee was so farre from sending helpe to the Protestants of France who expected none from her The King of France and his Mother loued intirely more and more Queene ELIZABETH seeing her Maiesty bore vnto them a true amitie and sincere affection they made the Duke of Alanzon write many amorous Letters vnto her from the Royall Campe before Rochell endeuouring with much care and no lesse pain to bring that marriage to passe that whole yeere by their Leger Ambassadour Monsieur de Chasteau-Neuf extraordinarily sent to that effect And truely her Maiesty was moued to consider it seriously by a double apprehension shee had both for the want of a Husband and Children The first was that her Maiesty should perhaps be contemned by her owne Subiects The second that forreiners would plot wicked practices against her Scepter her Maiesty was perswaded and said often that a Husband and Progeny are firme Fortresses against it her Courtiers contrarywise ayming at their particular ends maintained THat true Religion and Equitie were assured Forts and defensiue Rockes against all sorts of plots and designes That her Maiestie ought not to apprehend to be despised or contemned by her subiects for they had settled their fortunes ankered their hopes and grounded their solace vpon her Maiestie onely as much obliged vnto her by a long race of Ancestors affecting and taking pleasure more and more in the contemplation and admiration of her splendant and lustrous vertues With such other discourses familiar to Courtiers But as her Maiesty had often in her mouth that the most part contemned the setting Sunne these Flatterers alledged WHat is hee that will contemne the salutiferous Beames of a Sunne brightly shining for to aspect the fatall and confounded light of little Starres which rise all at once So they often termed her Competitors Among these things the Queene-Mother of France prayed her Maiestie to be so farre pleased as to permit that the Duke of Alanzon her Sonne might passe into England to see her which request finally Queene ELIZABETH granted wearied with the multiplicity of Letters sent to her Maiestie to that end prouided hee should not repute her leaue fraudulous or iniurious if hee should
returne backe againe as he came But so soone as her Maiesty heard how Henrie Duke of Aniou his Brother had beene elected King of Poland Also the French King to be grieuously sicke shee sent word to the Duke of Alanzon to take not as yet his iourney for England alledging him these reasons THe Protestants Massacre lately most cruelly acted on the Bloudy Theater of all France and in hatred of their Religion during the solemnizations and recreations of a marriage That hee hauing already heretofore sought her to Wife the Protestants of England partly suspected fatall the Nuptials and the more sith himselfe transported of a courage enemy to the Protestants had gone in person to besiege Rochell and had written of all parts that hee would come to see her Maiestie presently after the taking of the said City insomuch that hee seemed rather to hate the Protestants Religion than to beare affection or loue to the Queenes Maiestie and that this caused the best part of England to suspect that hee would come into their Countrey to marry the Queene with a Sword dyed in the bloud of those poore Christians who professed their owne Religion Therefore her Maiesty friendly counselled him FIrst to procure and mediate a Peace in France to yeeld some worthy proofe and noted testimony of his affection to the Protestants of France to be the better welcome in England and the more graciously receiued according to his desire Since this Peace was re-established in France the exercise of Religion granted in certaine places to the Protestants The King and the Queene desired nothing more than the absence of the Duke of Alanzon because he was of a harsh and seuere nature inclined to trouble their States affaires they did their best and vsed their vttmost endeuoures to effect the match and by like meanes prayed Qu. ELIZABETH to permit to their other sonne the Duke of Aniou if he should goe by sea to Poland Authority to saile vnder publike assurance vpon Great-Brittaines Sea This their request her Maiestie granted not only most willingly but more shee offered him a Fleet of Ships to conuay him in the meane while the Duke of Alanzon fell sicke of the small poxe and the Queene his mother giuing aduice thereof to Queene ELIZABETH by the Earle of Rez excuseth him by reason of his sicknesse for not comming into England Gondy met Queene ELIZABETH at Canterbury where she entertained him with great magnificence and the same time Matthew Parker Arch-bishop of Canterbury celebrating the Queenes birth-day which was the seuenth of September in the Arch-bishops Hall very spacious and by him newly repaired inuited the Queen thither and Gondy and la Motto and feasted them with like number of Nobility that Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth had being feasted in the same Hall in the yeere 1519. In Scotland Iames Dowglasse Earle of Morton beeing elected Vice-Roy of Scotland in Murray's place by the meanes of Queene ELIZABETH and his authority made sure by the Assembly of the States in the name of the King established these Lawes for confirming Religion against Papists and Heretickes and made sure Alexander Areskin Earle of Marre the Kings Gardian by speciall right being as yet in his minority vpon these Conditions THat the Papists and Factious persons should be excluded from hauing accesse to his person an Earle might be admitted to him with two seruants only and a Baron with one all others alone and without weapons In the Interim the French hauing sent Viriack who endeuoured what he could to supplant the Vice-Roy before he should be authorized set to oppose him the Earles of Athole and Huntley promising them a reward Queene ELIZABETH to counter-scarfe these designes let the Scots vnderstand by H. Killigrewe that this cruell Massacre of Paris had bin put in execution by the conspiracy of the Pope and the Kings of France and Spaine to exterminate the Protestants And therefore warned them to take heed lest being corrupted either with Pensions from France or deuided by Factions they open a way to Stranger Forces which were thought should be conducted by Strossie To oppose themselues all vallianty and with equall courage against it for defence of Religion which was the only bond of concord betweene the English and the Scots And to be very carefull to preserue their King or to send him into England to preuent his taking away and carrying into France Neuerthelesse some great Ones partakers with the imprisoned Queene would in no sort acknowledge the Authority either of the King or his Vice-Roy vntill Queene ELIZABETH by interposing her power had by the Agencie of Killigrew brought the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earle of Huntley who were the principals among them to these Conditions which were equall enough THat they should acknowledge the Religion established in Scotland submit themselues to the King and to the Gouernement of the Earle of Morton and his successours and renounce the authority of all others That all those which should enterprize any thing against the Religion the King and the Vice-Roy should be adiudged Traitours by Act of Parliament The sentences giuen against the Hamiltons and the Gordons should be cut off and annihilated except those which concerned the murdering of the Earles of Murrey and Lenox Vice-Royes which should stand according to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH Who neuerthelesse sent this businesse backe to the King and was of opinion that this Clause ought to be added to it Vntill that the King being come to age should take the Gouernement of the Realme according to the Law of the Kingdome And that of all and euery crime committed since the fifteenth of Iune 1567 the Murder of the Earle of Lenox excepted pardon should be granted to all that would aske it Notwithstanding it was thought good for the safety of the King lest hee should bee exposed to murder that the Queene of England should promise by a publike Instrument that neither the Hamiltons nor any other should be adiudged for the murdering of the Vice-Royes or fined without her consent And that was ordered in the Assembly of States for the settling of a publike peace in a turbulent season Howbeit Kirckall Lord of Grange who had beene established Captaine of Edenborrough Castle after he had taken oath in the Kings name and the Baron of Hume Lidington the Bishop of Dunkeld and others thinking that iniustice was done to the Queene of Scotland would by no meanes admit of these Conditions but with vndaunted Courage contemned the authority both of the King and Vice-Roy kept and fortified the Castle in the Queenes name by the counsell of Lidington thinking themselues sure in regard of the strength of the place which is of a most difficult accesse and of the Munition which were in it for there all Munition Royall is kept and of the Succours promised by the Duke D'Alua and the King of France who had vnder-hand sent them some money the greater part whereof
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
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
caried her selfe more difficultly neither would she heare those which would assure the Lady Arbella borne in England to be next to King Charles her Vnkle to the Inheritance in England nor Embassador which would make it appeare by Historie that the Kings of Scotland borne in Scotland had in time past by hereditarie right succeeded in the Countie of Huntington and he instantly besought her that she would not denie a Prince her neerest Kinsman that right of inhabitance which she vouchsafed to vnknowne Strangers But she commanded that the Reuenues should be sequestred in the hands of the Lord Burghley Gardian of the Pupils and warneth the King to satisfie Creditors out of the Earle of Lenox his goods in Scotland She tooke it impatiently that it should be suggested that the King would reuoke the infeoffement of the Earledome of Lenox to the preiudice of the Lady Arbella although by the Regall right of Scotland it alwaies hath beene lawfull to reuoke Donations hurtfull to the Kingdome and done in minoritie The Counsell of England doe not hold it conuenient and fit that the Treatie of Edenborough should be confirmed thinking it yet to stand firme They require that the Embassadour would propound something that might somwhat recompence the fauors and friendship that the Queen had manifested to the King who spared not the Blood of the English in his defence and consolidate a friendship Whereupon he propounds according to his instructions That a League may be made not Offensiue but Defensiue and with mutuall succours against the Pope and his confederates with certaine Lawes against those which should attempt any thing against either Kingdome and Rebels vnder pretence of Religion But besides these the English thinke it Iust that seeing the Queene had not omitted nor would omit any thing for the defence of the King and that for this cause she had incurred the Indignation of many That the States of the Kingdome of Scotland should giue caution that so long as the King is vnder age he should not contract nor renew couenants with any neither to marrie nor be sent out of Scotland without the Queenes aduice But these things being of such moment require to be exactly and circumspectly considered and are put backe to Scotland till another time In the meane time Morton who indeed was of a most eager and sharpe disposition trusting in his long experience and multitude of his vassals thinking nothing wel done but what he did himselfe not being able to endure to be lesse than he had been contemning his Colleagues and reiecting the manner of administration prescribed tooke againe the managing of affaires and detained the King in his power in the Castle of Sterlin admitting and denying entrance to whom he pleased The Peeres prouoked therewith tooke the Earle of Athole to be their Generall and in the Kings name summoned all that were aboue fourteene yeeres of age and vnder sixtie to meete together with Armes and Victuals to deliuer the King and true many came and hauing displaid their Colours marched towards Faukirk where Morton presented himselfe with his men But Sir Robert Bowes the English Embassadour interceding hindered them from comming to blowes Morton being vext to see how matters went presently retires to his House The Earle dyed as quickly and left a suspition that he was poysoned Which thing those that were moued against Morton tooke that aboue all to increase their hatred vntill they brought him to his ruine as we shall say hereafter This yeere nothing of note was done in Ireland But the Spaniard and Pope Gregorie the thirteenth prouiding for their owne profit vnder shadow of restoring Religion held secret counsell how at one time to inuade both Ireland and England and dispossesse Queene ELIZABETH who was the surest defence of the Protestants Religion The Pope he was to conquer Ireland for his Sonne Iames Bon-Compagnon whom he had created Marquis of Vignoles The Spaniard secretly to succour the Irish Rebels as Queen ELIZABETH had done the Hollanders while he entertained Parlies of friendship with her to enioy if he could the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie and then the States her confederates he could easily reduce to a course which he despaired to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Sea and this hee saw could not be done vnlesse hee were first Lord of England And it is not to be doubted but that as he holds Naples Sicilie and Nauarre of the Popes liberalitie so most willingly would he hold England as a Beneficiarie ought to doe Those which know the principall strength of England consists in the Nauie Royall and in Merchants Shippes which are built for Warre thought it were good to fraught the Merchants Shippes for some long voyage by Italians and Flemmish Merchants and whilest they are vpon their voyage this Royall Fleet might be ouer-whelmed by a greater At the same time Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue of whom I haue spoken in the yeere 1570 ioyned to his Forces the Rebels of Ireland by this notable subtiltie and his great ostentation and shew and the promises which he made of the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes base Sonne he had so wonne the fauour of this ambitious old man that he honoured him with the Titles of Marquis of Lemster Earle of Wexford and Caterlaughie Viscount Mourough and Baron of Rosse all of them remarkeable Places in Ireland and made him Generall of eight thousand Italians payd by the King of Spaine for the Warres of Ireland With which Forces hauing weighed Anker from the Ciuita Vecchia in the end he arriued in Portugal at the entry of Tage where a greater power by the Diuine Prouidence puft downe these that threatned England and Ireland For Sebastian King of Portugal to whom the whole expedition was committed because in the heate of his youth and ambition he had promised the Pope to goe against the Turkes and Protestants and employ all his power being drawne into Africa by Mahomet Sonne of Abdalla King of Fesse by great promises treates with Stukeley to goe before with these Italians to Mauritania And Stukeley being easily wonne to that knowing that the Spaniard disdaining that the Sonne of a Pope should be designed King of Ireland had consented to it hoisted saile with Sabastian and by an honest Catastrophe there he ended a dissolute life in a memorable combate Wherein dyed three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdalemelech If this fate of Sebastians had not altered the King of Spaines mind from inuading England in hope of the Kingdome of Portugal England had felt a terrible storme of warre if credit may be giuen to English Fugitiues For they report that the great forces which hee had begun to rayse in Italy to showre vpon England were stayed for the taking of Portugal And being that his minde was wholly bent vpon that hee could not be made to thinke of England although the English Fugitiues earnestly sollicited him and for that businesse the Pope
comfortable securitie by the Queenes children so often times wished for But if these marriages be neglected it was to be feared that the French would be prouoked the Scots alienated the Duke of Aniou marry the Daughter of Spaine with whom hee should haue in Dowry the Low-Country Prouinces draw the King of Scotland to be of their party procure him a Wife to bring him riches abolish the reformed Religion and the English when they should see no hope of Children by the Queene would adore the Rising-Sunne Whereat shee could not chuse but be much tormented in minde and pine away to death As in these dayes very many English feared a change of Religion by the Duke of Aniou so were the Scots afraid it would be with them by another French-man Aimé or Esme Stuart Lord of Aubigny who at the same time was come into Scotland to see the King his Cousin for he was Sonne to Iohn Stuart Brother to Matthew Stuart Earle of Lenox who was the Kings Grand-father and tooke his denomination Aubigni from a House situate in Berri that is so called which Charles the Seuenth King of France gaue in time past to Iohn Stuart of the Family of Lenox who was Constable of the Scottish Army in France defeated the English at Baugency afterwards slaine by them at the battel of Harrans and euer since that house hath descended vpon the younger Sonnes The King embracing him with a singular good affection gaue him rich demains and admitted him into his most intimate consultations established him Lord high Chamberlaine of Scotland and Gouernour of Dunbriton first created him Earle and afterwards Duke of Lenox after hauing directly reuoked the Letters of honour by which in his non-age he had created Robert Bishop of Cathanesse Earle of the same place his Grand-fathers third Brother and had giuen him in recompence the County of March This flourishing fauour with the King procured many to enuy him who murmured because hee was deuoted to the Guizes and the Romane Religion and that hee was sent to subuert the true Religion This suspicion increased in regard hee ioyned himselfe to Mortons aduersaries and did intercede for the reuoking of Thomas Carr of Fernihurst who was most if any were addicted to the Queene of Scots Morton whose power was apparently falling stroue in vaine although it might seeme that he had excellently well deserued in defeating the Hamiltons and taking the Castle of Hamilton and Daffrane There were at that time who stirred vp much hatred in the King against the Hamiltons obiecting and vrging their names as a thing of great terrour so as out of a necessitie they were for their owne safetie compelled to defend the Castle again the King but they were constrained to yeeld it vp and by authoritie of Parliament proscribed for the murdering as well of Murrey as Lenox Regents as a thing by them performed Many of those fled together into England for whom Queene ELIZABETH diligently interposeth by Erington as well for honour as in reason of Iustice that shee had obliged her faith in the yeere 1573. for the settling of peace that they should not be called in question for those matters without her consent Shee also at the same time was vndertaking in another part of the World Amurathes Cham or the Sultaine of the Turkes granted to William Harburne an English-man and to Mustapha Beg Bassa to the TVRKE that the English Merchants euen as the French Venecians Pollanders the King of the Germanes and other neighbouring Natitions should trade freely thorow all his Empire whereupon they by the Queenes authority made a Company which they call TVRKEY MERCHANTS and since that time they haue vsed a most gainefull Trade of Merchandize at Constantinople Angoria Chio Petrazzo Alexandria Egypt Cyprus and other places in Asia for Drugges Spices Cottons Raw-Silke Carpets Indian-Dyes Corinthian-Grapes Sope c. As for that execrable impiety of Hamont brought forth at that time in Norwich against GOD and his Christ and as I hope is extinct with his ashes or rather confounded in obliuion then remembred Neither am I of opinion of those which thinke that the publique hath interest that all sorts of vices poysons and impieties to be made manifest seeing that hee differs little from teaching which shewes such things This yeere was the last of Nicholas Bacon Keeper of the Great Seale of England who by decree of Parliament enioyed vnder this name the honour and dignitie of Chancellor of England a very fat man of a quicke subtill spirit singular wisdome height of eloquence stedfast memory and the other pillar of the sacred Councell whose place Thomas Bromley enioyed with the title of Chancellor of England Bacon is followed by Thomas Gresham Citizen of London a Merchant-Royall and of the order of Knight-hood Sonne to Sir Richard Gresham Knight who built for the ornament of his Countrey and vse of the Merchants of London that beautifull and goodly Walking-place which Queene ELIZABETH named The Royall-Exchange And the spacious Houses which hee had in the Citie hee dedicated to the profession of Learning and constituted in the same Lectures of sacred Diuinitie of the Ciuill Law Physick Astronomie Geometrie and Rhetoricke with honest pensions In Mounster a Prouince in Ireland new rebellion was kindled by Iames Fitz-Morris who hauing before cast himselfe vpon his knees at the feete of Perot President of Mounster and with teares sighes and humble supplications asked pardon made a holy vow of fidelitie and obedience to the Queene Hee I say who found no rest but in troubles with-drew himselfe into France promised the King if hee would lend ayde to ioyne the whole Kingdome of Ireland to the Scepter of France and restore the Romish Religion But wearied with delayes and in the end derided from France he goes to Spaine and promiseth the like to the Catholike King who sent him to the Pope of whom by the sollicitation of Sanders an English Priest and Allan an Irish Priest both Doctors of Diuinitie with much adoe hauing got a little money and Sanders the authority of Legat a consecrated Ensigne and Letters commendatorie to the King of Spaine returnes to Spaine and from thence with those Diuines three Ships and a few Souldiers they came and arriued about the Calends of Iuly at the Village of Saint Marie which the Irish call Smerwick in Kerrie a-pen-Insule in Ireland and after that the Priests had consecrated the place raised a Fort and brought the Ships neere vnto it those Ships Thomas Courtney an English Gentleman made haste with a Ship of warre which lay in a Road neere vnto them by and by to assault and taking them carries them away and barres the Spaniards from all benefit of the Sea Iohn and Iames brethren to the Earl of Desmond with great speed drew together a few Irish ioyne with their Confederate Fitz-Morris and the Earle himselfe who fauoured
as the other Cities and Townes of the Kingdome were decayed that if it had not beene looked to in time the ordinary Magistrates would not haue sufficed to haue gouerned such a multitude nor the Countries neere about to haue fed them and if any Epidemicke infection should haue happened it would haue infected the ioyning-houses that were filled with Lodgers Inmates The Queen made an Edict prohibiting any new dwelling-house to be built within three thousand paces of the Gates of London vpon paine of imprisonment and losse of the materialls which should be brought to the place to build withall and euery one forbidden to haue more than one Family in a House In the Low-Countries Generall Norris and Oliuer Temple with some companies of Flemmings ioyned to their English forces at the breake of the day set Ladders against the walls of Malines a rich Towne of Brabant tooke it killed a great number of the inhabitants and religious persons the taking whereof got them some commendations of valour but they polluted it with a vile pillage and rauenous sacriledge For they did not onely with great insolency take away the goods of the Inhabitants but set vpon the Churches and the holy things to the violating euen the dead And we haue seene I am ashamed to say it many of their Tombe-Stones transported into England and exposed to sale to set out publique witnesses of this impietie It wil not be amisse to remember the great Earth-quake which is a thing that very rarely happneth in England The third of Aprill about sixe of the clocke in the euening the skie being calme and cleare England shooke in a moment from beyond Yorke and the Low-Countries as farre as Collen insomuch that in some places Stones fell downe from Houses and Bels in Steeples were so shaken that they were heard to ring and the Sea it selfe it being a great calme was exceedingly moued And the night following the Country of Kent shooke and likewise the first of May in the night Whether this was caused by the Windes which were entred into cliffes and hollow places of the earth or by waters flowing vnder the earth or otherwise I leaue that to the iudgement of the Naturalists After this followed a commotion against Papists throughout England but themselues were authors of these beginnings The English Seminaries who were fled into Flanders at the perswasion and instigation of William Allan borne at Oxford accounted and esteemed by them a very learned man assembled themselues together at Douay where they begun to set vp a Schoole and the Pope appoynted them an annuall pension Since Flanders beeing moued with troubles the English Fugitiues banished by the command of Requesens and the Guizes allied to the Queene of Scotland did the like in establishing such other Schooles for English youths in the City of Reims and Pope Gregory the Third in Rome who as fast as time depriued England of Priests and Seminaries he furnished the Land with new supplies of their young ones who sowed the seedes of the Roman Religion all ouer England for which cause they were called Seminaries As well as those who were there bred and borne As among other things the Ecclesiasticall and Politicall power the zeale borne to the Pope the Founder thereof the hatred of Queene ELIZABETH and the hope conceiued to reestablish the Roman Religion by the Q. of Scotlands means were debated and disputed of Diuers so perswaded verily beleeued that the Pope had by diuine right full power ouer all the Earth as well in Ecclesiasticall as Politicall matters and by this fulnesse of power power to excommunicate Kings and free-Princes to depriue them of their Crownes and Scepters after the absoluing their subiects from all oath of fidelity and obedience to them This caused the grant of Pope Pius the Fifth's Bull declaratory published Anno 1569. the Bull of Rebellions kindled in the North parts of England Irelād as I haue already spoken of also that many desisted from Diuine Seruice who before seemed to frequent the Church with much zeale and integrity and that Hans Nelson and Maine Priests and one Shrood durst affirme and maintaine that Queene ELIZABETH was a Shismatique and that she therefore ought to be deposed of Regall rule and so degraded for which they were soone after iustly put to death Such Seminaries were sent in diuers places both in England and Ireland first some young men prematurely inuested in that order and instructed in the said Doctrine then after as they increased a greater number for the administrating the Sacrament of the Roman Church and preaching as they seemed to make shew of but indeed as Queene ELIZABETH her selfe and the Lords of her Maiesties most honourable Priuy Councell found out it was meerely to seduce her subiects to withdraw them from all obedience and loyalty due to their Soueraigne to oblige them by reconciliation to put in practice and truely execute the Sentence of Pope Pius the Fifth pronounced against her Maiesty and by this meanes to make way to the Pope and Spanish designe for the inuading of England And as it was knowne that to the infringing and contemning of the Lawes authority diuers Children young men of sundry Callings were daily vnder-hand secretly sent beyond the Seas in those Seminaries where they hauing made a vow to returne were receiued that from thence new supply of others vnknowne came priuatly into England and that still more were expected to come with such Iesuits who then made here their first entrance and abode so an Edict was proclaimed in the moneth of Iune expresly charging and commanding all such who had children Wards kindred or such others in the Regions beyond the Sea to exhibit and giue vp their names to the Ordinary within ten dayes after to send for them to come ouer within the prefixt time of foure moneths and presently after the said return euery one ought to declare and giue notice thereof to the Ordinary prohibiting likewise to lay out or furnish with money such as should stay or dwell out of England either directly or indirectly neither to nourish relieue or lodge such Priest deriued of those Emissaries nor Iesuits vpon paine for them who should doe otherwise to be reputed and held for fautors of Rebels and supporters of seditious persons to incurre the seuerity and rigour exprest in the Lawes of the said Kingdome Before this Proclamation was published the Papists feined to haue too late taken aduice of the incommodities that this Bull produced they made a shew to be extreme sorry that euer it was sent ouer they supprest Sanders Apology and prohibited to dispute any more such question concerning the Popes authority to excommunicate and degrade Princes But all this most cautelously and cunningly as the euent made it euident for this disputation increased daily amongst them as naturally men are most addicted to things prohibited sith Robert Persons and Edmond
Campian English Iesuites being ready to come into England to set Romish affaires forward obtained of Pope Gregory the Thirteenth power to moderate this seuere and sharpe Bull in these termes IF it be asked to our Soueraigne Lord the explication of Pope Pius the Fifth's Bull against ELIZABETH and her adherents the which the Catholikes desire to be thus vnderstood that it may oblige for euer Her and the Heretikes but no wayes the Catholiques so long as affaires matters shal thus stand as they are at this present but only whē it is so as it may be publiquely executed and generally effected These Graces haue beene granted to Robert Person and to Edmond Campian vpon their departure and iourney for England the 14. of Aprill in presence of Father Oliuero Manarco This Robert Person was a Somersetshire man of a vehement and sauage nature of most vnciuill manners and ill behauiours Edward Campian was a Londoner of a contrary carriage both were Oxford men and I knew them while I was in the same Vniuersity Campian being out of Saint Iohns Colledge profest the place of Atturney in the said Vniuersity in the yeere 1568. and beeing established Arch-Deacon made a shew to affect the Protestant faith vntill that day he left England Person being out of Balioll Colledge in which he openly made profession of the Protestant Religion vntill his wicked life and base conuersation purchasing him a shamefull exile from thence hee retyred himselfe to the Papists side Since both of them returning into England were disguized sometimes in the habit of Souldiers sometimes like Gentlemen and sometimes much like vnto our Ministers they secretly trauelled through England from house to house and places of Popish Nobility and Gentry valiantly executing by words and writings their Commission Person who was establisheed chiefe and superiour being of a seditious nature and turbulent spirit armed with audacity spoke so boldly to the Papists to depriue Queene ELIZABETH of her Scepter that some of them were once determined to accuse and put him into the hands of iustice Campian though something more modest presumed to challenge by a writing the Ministers of the Church of England to dispute with him touching the Romish beleefe which hee maintained he put forth a Latine Pamphlet containing tenne Reasons indifferently well penned as did likewise Person another seditious booke in English raging against one Charcke who before had ingeniously and mildely written against Campians Chalenge But Whitaker answered home to the said Campians pretended Reasons who being taken and rackt a yeere after was produced for the Dispute but he neuer had so much a doe as to maintaine them neither answered hee to that expectation which himselfe had formerly giuen And the Popes faction for Religion was then turned into faction wanted not other men who vowed and bent their vtmost power and endeuours at Rome and else-where in the Courts of forrein Princes to moue warre and excite trouble against their natiue Countrey nay rather than faile they published in Print Pamphlets shewing that the Pope and the King of Spaine had conspired to subdue England and expose it as a prey to no other purpose than to increase the affection and courage of their owne people to affright and terrifie others and by this meanes to seduce and with-draw them from that loue and loyaltie which they ought to their Soueraigne Princesse and Countrey Queene ELIZABETH perceiuing euidently how much shee was offended and threatned by the Armes and subtlety of the Pope and Spaniard after hauing acknowledged the singular goodnesse of God declared by a Booke printed THat shee had not attempted any thing against any other Prince but in defence and conseruation of her owne Kingdome neither had shee inuaded any others Countrey although shee had beene both by iniuries sufficiently prouoked and by set opportunity inuited thereunto That if any Princes should enterprize to inuade her Realmes she doubted not but to be by the Diuine assistance well able to defend them That shee had to that end taken a suruey of her forces both by Sea and Land and stood readily prepared against the attempts of her enemies exhorted her loyall Subiects to persist with vnremoueable stedfastnesse in faith and duety towards GOD and her Ministers Such as had renounced all loue to their Countrey and obedience to their Prince shee commanded to carry themselues moderately and not prouoke the seneritie of iustice Neither would shee in pardoning her euill Subiects shew her selfe cruell to her selfe and her good people And not onely these perfidious Subiects but Strangers likewise out of Holland being a fertill Prouince in Heretiques began at that time not onely to disturbe the peace of the Church but also of the Common-wealth of England by insinuating themselues vnder a colour of singular integrity and sincerity into the opinions of the ignorant vulgar and with a strange and new manner of preaching which men rather wondered at than vnderstood they possest the mindes of many with certaine damnable Heresies which were euidently contrary to the Christian faith they called themselues of the Family of loue or House of Charity and perswaded such as they had drawne to their Sect that those only were the Elect and to be saued which were of that Sect all others were Reprobates and should be damned and that it was lawfull for them to deny by oath what they pleased before any Magistrate or any other which were not of that Family And of this fantasticke vanity they dispersed bookes abroad which were intituled The Gospell of the Kingdome The Sentences of Instruction The Prophesie of the spirit of loue The publication of the peace vpon Earth by H. N. They could not be induced to manifest the name of the Author but it was afterwards found to be one H. Nicholay of Leyden in Hollād who out of his blasphemous mouth preached That he was partaker of Gods Diuinity and God of his humanity The Queene in good time to represse these Heretiques knowing that all Princes ought aboue all to haue an especiall care of Religion by an Edict enioyned the Ciuill Magistrates to assist the Ecclesiasticall in burning of those Bookes About this time Francis Drake returned into England abounding with riches but more illustrious and exceeding in glory hauing sayled about the terrestriall Globe with happy successe being if not the first that had aspired to this glory yet the first next Magellan who dyed in the middest of his course This Drake that I may report no more than what I haue heard from himselfe was borne of meane parentage in the County of Deuonshire at his Baptisme Francis Russell afterwards Earle of Bedford was his Godfather Whilest he was but yet an Infant his Father embracing the Protestant Religion was by vertue of the Law of Sixe Articles made by King HENRY the Eighth against the Protestants called in question whereupon he left his natiue soyle and passed into Kent King HENRY the Eighth
darke and thicke cloudes extremity of cold and open Cliffes couered thicke with snow hee landed at the 38. Degree and hauing found a commodious Rode remained there a certaine time The inhabitants of that Countrie were naked merry lusty iumping leaping and dancing perpetually sacrificing and showing by signe and words that they would elect Francis Drake for their King neither could it be coniectured that euer the Spaniard had bin there or so farre in that Countrie Drake named that very countrey being fat and good full of Deeres and Conies The new Albion Causing a great Poste to be there erected vpon which there was ingrauen an Inscription which shewed the yeere of our Lord the name of Queene ELIZABETH and their landing there and vnderneath a piece of siluer of Queene ELIZABETHS Coine was nailed to the said Poste Afterwards hauing weighed Anchor in the moneth of Nouember he arriued in the Ilands of the Mollucques where the King of the I le of Ternata receiued him graciously and from thence sayling vpon that sea full of Rockes and Ilands his ship was the ninth day of Ianuary driuen to the top of a Rocke couered with water where it remained in great danger seuen and twenty houres and was accounted no better then lost by all the men of the ship who fell deuoutly vpon their knees praying hartily vnto the Lord expecting hourely to perish with all the aboundance of riches heaped vp together with so much paine But after they had hoysted their Sprit-Sayle and cast into the Sea 8. Peeces of Ordnance and diuers marchandizes a fauourable wind rose as sent of God which bore the ship aside and withdrew it from aboue the Rocke After this he landed at Iaua major greatly afflicted with the Poxe which the Inhabitants doe cure sitting in the heate of the sunne to drie vp the poysonous and malignant humor Where hauing tryed the humanity of the little King of the Countrey he tooke his way towards the Cape of Bona esperance which was celebrated as very remarkable by the Mariners which had formerly seene it He landed vpon that coast to take in water but found no fountaine there if he had not in time prouided of water when it rained they had all beene in great distresse for sweet water At last he tooke in some at Riogrand from whence hee finished his iourney into England with a fauourable wind which brought his Ship the ninth of Nouember 1580. safe into the Hauen of Plimouth where he tooke shipping after his being abroad about the space of three yeeres during which time he worthily sayled round about the Earth to the admiration and laudable applause of all people and without purchasing blame for any other things than for his putting to death Doughty for leauing at the mercy of the Spaniards that Portugal Ship by him taken at the mouth of Africa neere vnto Aquatulqua and for hauing most inhumanely exposed in an Iland that Negro or Black-more-Maide who had beene gotten with Child in his Ship Queene ELIZABETH receiued him graciously with all clemency caused his riches to be sequestred and in readinesse whensoeuer the Spaniard should re-claime them Her Maiesty commanded likewise that for a perpetuall memory to haue so happily circuited round about the whole Earth his Ship should be drawne from the water and put aside neere Deptford vpon Thames where to this houre the body thereof is seene and after the Queenes feasting therein shee consecrated it with great ceremonie pompe and magnificence eternally to be remembred and her Maiesty forthwith honoured Drake with the dignity of Knighthood As these things were performed a slight Bridge made of Boords by which people went vp into the Ship was broken downe by the Multitude and about a hundred persons fell with it they neuerthelesse receiued no harme at all insomuch that the Ship seemed to haue beene built in a happy coniunction of the Planets That very day against the great Mast of the said Ship many verses composed to the praise honour of Sir Francis Drake were fastned and fixed among which these in Latin were written by a Scholler of the Colledge of Winchester PLVS VLTRA Herculeis inscribas Drace columnis Et magno dicas Hercule maior ero Escri DRAC ces deux mots sur les piliers du Temple Qui sut sacré iadis à Hercule guerâ—ier PLVS OVLTRE quelque grand qu'ait esté son lauâ—ier Di que le tien doibt estre plus grand plus ample DRAKE on the Herculean columnes these words write Thou farther wentst then any mortall wight Though Hercules for trauell did excell From him and others thou didst beare the bell DRACE pererrati quem nouit terminus orbis Quemque simul mundi vidit vterque Polus Si taceant homines faciunt te sydera notum Sol nescit comitis non memor esse sui DRAC qui as parcouru tous les quartiers du monde Et les Poles as vâ—u Quand les gens manqueront A chanter tes vertus les Astres le feront Le Soleil n'oublira celuy qui le seconde Braue DRAKE that round about the world didst saile And viewedst all the Poles when men shall faile Thee to commend the starres will do 't the Sunne Will not forget how with him thou didst run Digna ratis quae stet radiantibus inclyta stellis Supremo coeli vertice digna ratis CE NAVIRE qui rend à tous homines notoire La gloire d'vn grand Chef merite que les Dieux Mettent autour de luy des Astres radieux Et au plus hault du Ciel estre éclatant de gloire THAT SHIP whose good successe did make thy name To be resounded by the trump of Fame Merits to be beset with Stars diuine Instead of waues and the Skie to shine Nothing anger'd worse Sir Francis Drake than to see the Nobles and the chiefest of the Court refuse that Gold and Siluer which he presented them withall as if hee had not lawfully come by it The Commons neuerthelesse applauded him with all praise and admiration esteeming he had purchased no lesse glory in aduancing the limits of the English their honour and reputation than of their Empire Bernard Mendoze then Ambassadour for Spaine in England murmuring at it and as not well pleased demands vehemently of the Queene the things taken But he was answered THat the Spaniards had procured vnto themselues that euil through their iniustice towards the English in hindering against the right of Nations their Negotiations That Sir Francis Drake was alwaies ready to answere the Law if by iust inditements and certaine testimonies they could conuict him to haue committed any thing against equity That to no end but to giue satisfaction to their King the riches he brought in were sequestred though her Maiesty had spent against the Rebels which Spaine had moned and instigated in Ireland and England against her more money than Drake was
worth Moreouer that her Maiestie could finde no reason wâ—y Spaine should hinder her Subiects and those of other Princes from sayling to the Indies that shee could not be perswaded that they were his owne although the Pope had ne'r so much giuen them to him that shee acknowledged no such Prerogatiue in the Pope much lesse the least authority as to oblige Princes who owe him no obedience at all vnder his to power inuest put the Spaniard as in fee and possession of that New-World also that shee could not see how he could deriue the least right but by those desconts and landing here and there of his Subiects who built there small cottages to inhabit and named the Promontorie Things neuerthelesse that can purchase no propriety So that by vertue of such donation of other mens goods which in equitie is nothing worth and of this proprietie that is meerly imaginary hee cannot iustly hinder other Princes to negotiate in those Regions but they without infringing any waies the Lawes of Nations may lawfully bring in Colonies in those parts that are not yet inhabited by the King of Spaines Subiects sith Prescription without possession is of no validity euen as to sayle vpon the mayne Ocean that the vse of the Sea as of the Ayre is common to all and that publique necessitie permits not it should be possessed that there is nor people no particular that can challenge or pretend any other right therein Neuerthelesse since this great summes of money were pay'd backe to Piedro Sâ—bâ—re a Spaniard who styled himselfe Attourney for the recouery of the Gold and Siluer though hee could shew no such Letter of procuration or receits And it was discouered but too late that he made no retribution at all to particulars but spent it against Queene ELIZABETH vpon the Spaniards who maintained the warre of Flanders While Sir Francis Drake circuited so prosperously the World Iacman and Pet renowned Pylots sent by the Merchants of London with two Ships did seeke with lesse happy successe a short way or passage to sayle into the East Indies by the Sea of Cronie but hauing past some miles beyond the Iles Vaigats they found ebbing and flowing so vncertaine so many shelues and so great store of Ice that they could not possible goe any further hauing much adoe to returne At the beginning of this yeere died Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell and with him the name of that most noble House which had flourished in honour aboue three hundred yeeres sonne to Richard Fitz-Allen sprung from the Albaines ancient Earles of Arundel and Sussex in the reigne of EDVVARD the First which title they had without creation in regard of the possession which they had of the Castle and Lordship of Arundell This man being heaped with honour had beene a Priuy-Councellor to all the Kings vnder whom he liued and performed great offices vnto his end Vnder HENRY the Eighth he was Gouernour of Calice Marshall of the Army at Bullen and Lord Chamberlaine At the inauguration of EDWARD the Sixth hee was Lord Marshall of England in which charge he continued at the Coronation of Queene MARIE and was after made Lord High-Constable Lord Steward of her house and President of her Councell Vnder Queene ELIZABETH hee was made the second time Lord Steward And when he began to grow old he sought to marry her for which he lost much of her fauour afterwards he intermeddled in the Duke of Norfolkes matters and openly withstood the marriage of the Duke of Aniou He professed himselfe an open-hearted man and made it appeare that he loued not the French and would often say that his father dwelling in Sussex neighbour vnto France would teach him not to beleeue them He had three Children by Katherine his Wife daughter to Thomas Gray Marquis of Dorset which children hee suruiued Henry being young and of great hope dyed at Bâ—axels Iane who was Wife to the Lord Lumley and Marie who married Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke and bare vnto him Philip Earle of Arundel of whom wee will speake in his owne place Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland being gone against the O-Conores who were stirring vp new troubles in Ophalia by Law executes Hugh O-Moloy a seditious man and pacifies this Countrey and that of Magohiganores and Ocaroles and in the very bud crushed a great conspiracie that was a growing and beginning to spread For some of the chiefest Families in Lemster and many others that were originally English driuen partly by the affection they bore to the Romish Religion and partly for their hatred to the new-come English who since their comming had excluded them contrary to the Law from all gouernments and Magistracy as if they had beene naturall Irish had conspired to kill the Lord Deputie and his Family to surprize the Castle of Dublin wherein was all the prouision of war and to kill all the English that were in Ireland and this conspiracy was so closely carried that it was neuer conferred vpon with more than two in a company Neuerthelesse among so many complices it came to light and was extinct with the death of a few men and amongst them of chiefest note was I. Nogent Baron of Fiske a man singular in fame and life who was as the Irish report seduced by the craft of those that enuyed him and his conscience assuring himselfe of his innocency chose rather though the Deputie promised to giue him his life if hee would confesse himselfe guiltie to dye an innocent by an infamous death than to liue in infamy for betraying his innocency And verily howsoeuer the truth of this businesse was in it selfe the Queene was much offended with the Lord Gray for the death of those men whom the Earle of Sussex being more offended therewith for rarely is true loue betweene great Ones the more stirred vp by reason of the cruelty which before hee had vsed toward the Spaniards which yeelded and now against Subiects that he had diminished the glory of his Princesse and augmented the number of her enemies Howbeit hee forbare not to terrifie Turlough-Leinich who began to raise tumults in Vlster and driue him to conditions of peace Whereby hee likewise brought the O-Brins the O-Mores and the Cauanaghies Rebels in Lemster humbly to desire peace and to offer Hostages These matters of Ireland though time doth much disioyne them for the helpe of memory I haue thought to put them together In Scotland some Ministers and some of the great Ones considering the Earle of Lenox of whom I haue spoken to be strong in the Kings fauour stirred vp Iames Stuart of Ochiltrie Captaine of the Guard who carried the title of Earle of Arran I know not by what grant from Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran a man of an vnable spirit for which cause he was ordained his Tutor to be his Emulator But the King quickly reconciled them When this would not succeed they brought him as much as
in them lay to be in hatred within the Kingdome and accused him to Qu. ELIZABETH to be sent by the Guizes to ouerthrow Religion to procure the liberty of the captiue Queene and to disunite the amitie which was between the Kingdomes of England and Scotland They are easily beleeued and notwithstanding that he purged himselfe by Letters to the Queene and made profession of the Protestants Religion serious deliberation is hereupon taken in England The Councell of England was afraid that he would oppresse those Scots that stood best affected to the English and fauour the incursions which were made vpon the Borders and allure the King to marry in France or else-where vnknowne to the English and that the King now in his youth would molest the affaires of England and beeing come to more maturitie of age would assume the title of King of England as his Mother had done Which if he did the danger would fall more heauily from him than from his Mother in regard his birth gaue him an assured hope of two Kingdomes and gaine more friends to fauour his cause and that the Scots trayned vp in the ciuill warres and the warres of the Low-Countries were more expert to learne warlike offices Therefore from hence it is thought good by some meanes or other to infringe the fauour and authoritie that Lenox had with the King or to driue him out of Scotland and that without delay because rumours were giuen out that Balfour was sent for out of France who had found I know not what Writing of his owne hand to conuince him of the Murder of the Kings Father to ruine Morton and that he had for no other end obtained the gouernement of the Castle of Dunbriton but to set in stranger-forces into Britaine or to transport the King into France It was likewise said that he had perswaded the King to resigne the Kingdome to his Mother who had beene vniustly and by a most wicked example deposed by her Subiects after hauing taken her faithfull promise to resigne it by and by after vnto him againe by a lawfull resignation which would be a solid confirmation to him and a meanes to extinguish all factions and make him knowne to all to be lawfull King After this Sir Robert Bowes Treasurer of Barwicke is sent into Scotland to accuse Lenox of these things before the King and his Councell and to aduertise the King of the eminent dangers thereof As soone as hee had beene admitted hee demanded that Lenox might for a while be remoued from that place but the Councell would not agree vnto it as being a thing new and vnheard of to cause one of the Kings Councell to be put out from the Councell without shewing cause Also they made a doubt whether or no the Queene had giuen him that in charge expresly and therefore willed him to shew his instructions which he refused to doe saue to the King and to one or two others And seeing that he could not be heard hee was presently called backe and tooke leaue of the King when it was little thought on complayning that the wholesome admonitions of a well-deseruing Queene were reiected Shortly after Alexander Hume is sent from Scotland to excuse these matters hee had not admittance to the Queene but was sent to the Lord Burghley Treasurer who grauely and succinctly gaue him to vnderstand THat it was not any contempt of his person that was cause why the Queene would not permit him to see her knowing very well by experience that he was well affected to Religion to his Prince and Countrie and most studious for the peace of both the Kingdomes but out of a iust sence and sorrow for the contempt which was shewed towards her Maiestie and of the trust of her Ambassadour who had contained himselfe within the prescribed bounds of his Legation Layes all the blame vpon the new and ill-aduised Councellors excuseth the King as not being of age to haue much experience and wished him to lend an eare to the holy and wholesome counsels of the Queene who truely bare him a maternall affection and not to make lesse account of them than of those from a French kinsman the King of France his subiect who laboured to marry him to a French woman of the Romish Religion and peraduenture goes about now the Hamiltons exulting to be designed the Kings Lieutenant Let the King saith he remember that no passion is more feruent than ambition and let the Scots remember what troubles the French had caused in ScotlaÌ„d if the Queen by her wisdome and power had not preuented it So Hume was sent backe into Scotland and all of purpose to strike terrour into the King and to make him beleeue that the Earle of Lenox had some pernicious designe against him and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse within a while after Morton who was most addicted to the English was accused by Arran Laesa Maiestatis and cast into prison The end of the second Booke of the Annals and History of that mightie 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 happened 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 third Booke Fâ—â—thfully translated out of the French and â—â—â—â—isht in English with the KINGS leaue and Authority granted by his most Excellent Maiestie to ABRAHAM DARCIE To the euery way Noble and accomplished with all vertues Sir EDVVARD CONVVAY the Kings Secretary of State Sir WILLIAM HARVEY Lord HARVEY Baron of Rosse Sir ORACE VERE Sir ARTHVR THROCKMORTON Sir ROBERT MAVNCELL Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Sir WILLIAM MOVNSON Sir RICHARD WESTON The Right vertuous generous Sir THOMAS HATTON AND CHRISTOPHER HATTON Sir CARIE RAVVLEIGH EDVVARD WRAY Esquire I Here presume to consecrate to your perpetuall Honour this Booke which vnder the Honourable Shield of your Noble protections I haue sought to shelter knowing the Fame of this Heroicke Empresse to be no lesse deare vnto you then your Illustrious Persons are carefull to propagate to all Posterities your cleere and vntainted Names which by your pious liues and religious conuersations you haue engrauen in the Temple of Eternity your vertues cannot but cherish this History which containes the life of so matchlesse a Queene whose Diuine perfection the whole world admired as one who was the perfect Patterne of Princesses and the true Mirour Honour of Virgin-kinde I confesse many far better able then I a Stranger could haue discharged this Enterprise with far more skill and both in smoother and more elegant termes if they had beene willing to honour their Labours and Industries with so rare
and worthy a Subiect But howsoeuer I was willing the best I was able to pay this my humble Duty to Her blessed Memory and to your Honorable selues by my poore endeuours to make knowne the desire I haue to intitle my selfe A true denoted to your resplendent vertues ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THAT EVER Most blessed and Glorious Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of happy renowne and matchlesse Fame OR ANNALLS Of all such things of note as hapned during her happy Reigne as well in England France Ireland as Scotland Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke and the foure and twentieth yeere of her Raigne Anno MDLXXXI HEreupon in the beginning of Ianuarie next was Thomas Randolph Captaine of the Light-horse sent into Scotland with cōmand that he should attempt nothing that might any way bee preiudiciall to the present religion or the peace of the two Nations he was also to sollicite in the behalfe of the Lord Morton that Lenox might be sent out of Scotland and such of the Nobility as fauoured the English faction might bee encouraged Randolph the better to effectuate his message for the good of Morton maketh recitall of his many great merits and good services done to his Maiesty the inueterate malice of his aduersaries the high respect and honor they ought to haue of Queene ELIZABETH who expected nothing lesse then to haue her suit now reiected in so honest a cause The King answered that by the duty of his royall charge hee was to execute iudgment and iustice vpon a person so conuicted in matter of Maiesty that he ingeniously acknowledged the Queenes manifold fauours nor would hee act any thing might any way bee iustly offensiue to her Maiestie Then after Randolph being admitted into the Assembly of the States of the Kingdome reckoneth vp the well knowne benefits which both the King and Country had earst receiued from the Queene namely HOW by the blood of the English their Country had beene deliuered from the French and of their King his Kingdome and Religion she had euer been a chiefe supporter but for any way seducing the King although some but most falsly did intimate so much or seeking to hold one foot of ground in Scotland shee neuer entertained such a thought yet were they not ignorant that she wanted not opportunity the King being in his cradle the Queene-mother in Prison and the Nobles in combustion But on the contrary all her royall care was for the conseruation of their King her neere and deare kinsman and allyed to her in a triple bond of neigborhood religion and consanguinity nor had shee euer found him or any of his Regents or Vice-Roies defectiue towards her in their loues before this Aubigny of France came into Scotland but since his ariuall hee wholly vsurped the Regall authority hee had withdrawne all affection from the English to bestow it vpon the French who before his ariuall neuer somuch as acknowledged their King had remoued from his person his most trusty friends brought in strangers had conferred with foraigners by letters which he shew'd for inuading England that he had brought the Scotish Presbytery into contempt with the King as a people altogether turbulent seditious had peruerted the administration of iustice vpon the borders Nor could her Maiesty endure a Prince so vertuous so neerely allyed vnto her to bee thus abused and caried away by such sinister practices Notwithstanding this for the present there was nothing done either for Morton or against Lenox whom the Scots for the most part supposed no way guilty of such aspersions or calumnies as had beene obiected Randolph seeing that thought hee would try another conclusion consorts himselfe with the friends of Morton and Lenox aduersaries bewaileth the miserable estate of Scotland representeth to them the imminent perills which hang ouer the heads of the King the Country and them all complaineth that the Queens message by way of intercessiō hath beene slieghtly respected suggesteth with them secretly to attempt to gaine that by force of Armes which they cannot get by faire meanes promising to further and furnish them out of England with men money and munition This Oratory of his proued so perswasible with them that thereupon the Earles of Argathel Mont-Rosse Angus Mortons Nephew by the brotherside Glencarne Reuthen Lindsey others became all of his side But soone after they fell at discord amongst themselues and seeing the King wholly caried away with the fauour of Lenox nor no whit danted for the English forces which were now vpon the borders and had already encountred theirs generally respecting the kings personall presence with them though a child were not affraid to bend all the powers they could make vpon Lenox and thought it was enough to haue pity on Morton notwithstanding the Earles of Angus and Marre practised couertly and cunningly with Randolph in the behalfe of Morton and against Lenox whereof Whittingham hauing aduertised the King Angus was commanded to retire himselfe beyond the riuer Spea Marre to yeeld vp the Castle of Sterlin into the Kings hands Randolph hauing an apprehension of feare got him priuately into Barwicke and seeing matters proue desperate aduiseth Angus Marre to prouide for themselues either in submitting themselues to the King or to seeke the protection of the Queene of England The English forces were no sooner withdrawne from the borders but Morton conuicted of murthering the King had his head cut off for he had confessed as the report went that Bothwel Archebauld Douglas had imparted their intent of making away the King but in so tumultuous a time as that was hee durst not reueale it Nor could hee deny but that since the Kings death hee had beene very inwardly conuersant and more familiar then before with Douglas the Kings murtherer and had promised by his letters if Bothwel should at any time be accused to defend him the best he might Instantly Douglas and others the friends of Morton fled into England In the Low-Countries against the Graue Van Reneberg who had there valiantly serued the King of Spaine and now laid siege to Stenwicke in Friezland the States sent the English vnder the conduct of their General Norris who with no lesse courage then good successe after he had twice releeued the besieged with victuals caused the Enemy to raise his siege But after that comming to fight with Verdugues the Spaniard hauing the victory in his hands his enemies put to flight suddenly fortune changing he is beaten off the field dangerously wounded and many of his men slaine amongst which not to nominate the rest were these men o◠note Captain Cotton Fitz-Williams and Bishop I know not well whether I should here recite a Combate which was betweene Thomas Chieftaine of the Wallons and Generall Norris but Norris by the Law militarie being not permitted to admit of because he was Generall of the Armie his Lieutenant Roger Fitz-Williams
Inheritance should succeed to the Crowne of England And if there bee two males the elder shal succeed to the Crown of France and the yonger shal haue the hereditary Right of his Mother And if one sole male he shal come to both the Crownes and shall resyde in England euery two yeares eight moneths And if the Duke shall not attaine the Kingdome of France the children shall succeed in Appanage If he suruiue the Queene he shall haue the tuition of his children till the sonnes shall accomplish the age of eighteene yeares and the daughters fifteene But if hee die before the tuition shall be left to the Authoritie of the Parliament Hee shall not promote any stranger to any Office in England nor shall hee change any ancient Rite or Custome He shall at no time carry the Queene or her Children out of the Realme without consent of the Nobilitie If shee dye issuelesse hee shall no longer challenge any right in England nor carie or conuay any of her Iewels out of the Land he shall suffer euery one and all places of the Kingdomes to bee guarded kept by the natiue English shall not take or cause to be taken away any munition of Warre Hee shall not engage England into any foraine warres Hee shall to his power procure the Land peace with other Nations The Queene shall onely enioy the Supremacie nor shall assume any Title which may happen to fall vpon the Duke as it were holding by the custome of England The Duke by this match intendeth not to preiudice the Right of his succession to the Kingdome of France The present Contract shall bee read published and kept vnder Record in all the Courts of France and England within six moneths after the Espousals with the Authoritie of the most Christian King for the ratification of these Articles There shall bee made a Treatise Confederation and League betwixt England and France These things shal be confirmed de bona side with an Oath on the part of the King of France as well for him as for his Heires who shall deliuer Letters of the confirmation thereof with all possible expedition hee may carying assurance that the Articles in the present Treaty contained shall be kept inuiolably also A reseruation apart was added vnder the hands and seales of all the Commissioners implying thus much That ELIZABETH was not bound to the consummation of the mariage till the Duke she should haue commutually satisfied and reciprocally setled each other in certaine things betwixt themselues and concerning these points they were within six weekes by writing to certifie the King of France Before the six weekes were expired Secretarie Somer was sent into France about this businesse But the King refuseth to giue him audience vrging the instant celebration of the mariage already concluded as if there had been nothing else remaining to bee done Somer shewing vnder signe and seale that there was first a defensiue league offensiue to bee performed maintaineth the contrary To moderate the matter there was sent ouer Sir Fran Walsingham with Sir Henry Cobham Leiger Ambassador in France and Somer who deliuered this or the like speech ALthough the vulgar sort doth censure hardly of the procrastinating of this contracted mariage Queene ELIZABETH intendeth nothing more then to content her people who are instant to haue her marry that they may be secured of a succession in her children Her Maiestie being sought to by the Duke of Anjou by good right hath his loue preferred before all other Princes by reason of his vertues and resplendent race and shee protesting to beare vnto him most soueraigne loue holding off from the consummation of mariage onely vntill she could haue knowledge from her people how they stand affected thereunto holding it a point of wisdome in the meane time rather to foresee then to repent too late seeming in these respects to demurre the more by reason of the ciuill warres in France the vnfortunate Duke of Anjous vndeseruedly falling out of the Kings fauour and in England an auersion of heart in most of the best of her Subiects since the first motion of the mariage yet all this breeds nor brings no diminution of true loyall loue in her Maiesty towards the said Duke Also it was at this time out of season for the French King to vrge a present consummation knowing the Duke was newly entred into warre against the King of Spaine the which he might not suddenly abandon or relinquish without great dishonour to himselfe discommoditie to the Kingdome of France and England as also the ruine of Flanders the Spaniard there growing dayly greater and greater Moreouer in stead of continuing peace at home for which the people prayeth they must of necessitie bee brought to bloody warres the Queenes husband being so deepely engaged thereinto For these reasons from henceforth that Treaty of sudden mariage is to surcease vntill the Duke of Anjou were dis-intangled out of these warres and that interchangeable conditions of Offensiue and Defensiue Alliance bee passed betwixt the two Kingdomes of France and England And assuredly the Queene desired it aboue all things But the French would promise no other thing but to passe to couenants of mutuall defensiue and as for the offensiue would heare it no further spoken of vntill the Nuptials were celebrated Within a short space after the Duke whom the States had elected Gouernor of Flanders comes into England after he had happily raised the siege of Cambray at the charge and cost of Queene ELIZABETH who had supplyed him with great summes of money by the hands of Henry Seimor Palauicine an Italian and Bex a Frenchman The hope he relyed vpon was this that if he should not presently dispatch the mariage yet should hee so effect that by the fauour of the Queene whom the Dutch honoured as an earthly Goddesse he should bee the better welcome to the Low-Countri-men at his returne He ariued safe in England and was magnificently entertained and receiued with all royall courtesies could be expected euident testimonies of honour and loue which her Maiestie shewed apparantly insomuch that on a time on the day of the solemnization of her Coronation he being entred into amorous Discourse with her Maiestie the great loue which shee bore him drew a Ring from her finger which shee gaue him vpon certain condâ—tions meant and agreed vpon betwixt them The assistants tooke that for an argument and assurance that a mariage was by reciprocall promise contracted betweene them Amongst others Aldegondy Gouernor of the City of Antwerpe dispatched messengers suddenly ouer into the Low-Countries where for great ioy at the hearing thereof both in Antwerpe and all ouer Flanders were made bonefires and their great Artillerie shot off But this bred sundry opinions among the Courtiers For as some reioyced exceedingly others were astonisht at it some quite strucke downe with sadnesse The Earle of Leicester who had laid a secret plot
to preuent the mariage the Vice-Chamberlaine Hatton and Walsingham were most of all malecontented as if the Queene Religion and Kingdome had been vndone Her women which were about her fell all in sorrow and sadnesse and the terror they put her into so troubled her minde that she passed all that night without sleepe amongst her houshold seruants who made a consort of weeping and sighing The next morning finding the Duke and taking him aside had serious discourse with him The Duke retiring himselfe after hee left her into his Chamber plucketh off the Ring casteth it on the ground taketh it vp againe rayleth on the lightnesse of women and inconstancie of Ilanders As she was perplexed with these passions shee called to minde what once the Lord Burley and the Earle of Sussex had told her that there was no Alliance offensiue to bee hoped for without marying with the Duke nor being alone and without assistancy was able to withstand the greatnesse of the Spaniard That the Spaniard offering his daughter in mariage to the King of Scots hee would easily draw the Papists in England to be his adherents and all the Fugitiues Rebels discontented persons and such as were sine spe sine re whereof the number was great to be on his side that al good people were now out of hope euer to haue issue of her body of the Blood Royall by this mariage and now hauing their hearts alienated from her hereby would cast their eyes and affections vpon some other of her Competitors That also shee could not but highly displease the King of France and the Duke his Brother who after the imploiment of so much time the holding of so many Counsels the sending of such honorable Ambassadors and the expences of so much money could hardly endure to finde himselfe in fine derided what colour so euer should be cast ouer the matter And to raise mony for the Duke of Anjou to imploy him in the warres of Flanders assigning him an annuall Pension for the time to come There remained also a scruple vpon her conscience that he so deluded of her might match himselfe in Spaine and then shee should bee in danger on both sides as well from France as from Flanders as euery one could breathe into her eares and her selfe presage Some thought that amidst this anxiety of doubtfull thoughts which troubled her minde about this mariage the necessitie of the time and matter made her put on a resolution that it would stand more with her honour and the good of her Common-weale to liue single then to be maried foreseeing that if she should marry with a subiect from such disparitie would grow disgrace to her selfe and kindle heart-burnings secret displeasures and domestique troubles and hatred If with a stranger she should bring her selfe and subiects vnder a foraine yoake and Religion in hazard remembring withall how vnfortunate that match of her Sister MARIES with King Philip was and that of her great grandfather EDWARD the fourth who was the first English King since the Norman conquest which tooke a subiect to wife She feared also to transfer vpon a husband that glory which whilst she liued vnmarried remained with her entire withall she was diuerted in minde from mariage by reason of the great perils she should be subiect to by conception and child-bearing as diuers women and Physicians bore her in hand Her Maiestie likewise burned with choller that there was a booke published in print inueighing sharply against the mariage as fearing the alteration of Religion which was intituled A gaping gulfe to swallow vp England by a French mariage In this Pamphlet the Priuy Councellors which fauoured the Match were taxed of ingratitude to their Prince and Countrey the Queene as not vnderstanding well her selfe by the way of flattery is tauntingly touched the Duke d' Anjou and his country of France in contumelious tearmes shamefully reuiled the mariage condemned for the diuersitie of Religions by poisonous words and passages of Scripture miserably wrested would seeme to proue that the Daughter of God being to match with the sonne of Antichrist it must needs bee the ruine of the Church and pernicious to the State neither would Queene ELIZABETH bee perswaded that the Author of this booke had any other purpose but to bring her into hatred with her subiects and to open a gap to some prodigious innouation it being so that shee neuer had respected so much the power shee had ouer her people as the loue they bore to her and as Princes are accustomed was neuer more carefull then of her royall reputation notwithstanding the writer of that booke neuer once made mention of meanes to establish in future securitie her selfe or Realme or for auoiding danger or how the States of the Land had in former times most importunately perswaded her Maiestie to mariage to giue an assured remedy against imminent euils And this she published in writing condemning the Author of the Libell made knowne the Dukes propensitie of minde towards her selfe and to the Protestants Religion grieuing to offer iniury to so worthy a Prince who neuer had once motioned to haue any change in State Common-wealth or Religion Shee also commended Sir H. Simier the Duke's Agent for his modesty and wisedome whom some had before in malignant speeches calumniated intimating to the people also that this Libell was a deuice of Traitors to stir vp hatred abroad seditions at home commanding it should be burnt in the presence of Magistrates Since that shee begunne to bee the more displeased with Puritans then she had been before-time perswading her selfe that such a thing had not passed without their priuitie and within a few dayes after Iohn Stubbes of Lincolnes Inne a zealous professor of Religion the Author of this Ralatiue Pamphlet whose Sister Thomas Cartwright the Arch-Puritan had maried William Page the disperser of the Copies and Singleton the Printer were apprehended against whom sentence was giuen that their right hands should be cut off by a law in the time of Philip and MARIE against the Authors of Seditious Writings and those that disperse them Some Lawyers storming hereat said the iudgement was erroneous and fetcht from a false obseruation of the time wherein the Statute was made that it was onely temporarie and that Queene MARIE dying it dyed with her Of the which Lawyers one Dalton for his clamorous speeches was commited to prison and Mouson a Iudge of the Common-pleas was sharply rebuked and his place taken from him after that Sir Chr. Wray chiefe Iustice of England had made it manifest by Law that in that Statute there was no errour of time but the Act was made against such as should put forth or divulge any seditious writing against the King and that the King of England neuer dyed yea that Statute likewise in the first yeare of Queene ELIZABETH was reuiued againe to the Queene and her Heires for euer Not long after vpon a Stage
his Armes and so absolued the people from all oath of Fealtie so that it was lawfull and free for them to elect another Prince The Duke permitted all those the vse of the Romish Religion which would sweare Allegeance to him and abiure the Spaniard After this hee betooke himselfe to the field where he lost Aldenard and tooke in Alost But six hundred English souldiers exclaiming of General Norris his imperious seueritie ouer them forsaking him fled to the Spaniard vnder the leading of Captaine T. Norris Barney Cornish and Gypson who exposing themselues to all perils and being basely respected were paid with slow and late repentance and infinite miseries the paine of their perfidiousnesse But notwithstanding General Norris with three hundred horse and the rest of his foot-companies got the renowne of a valorous and most iudicious Warriour for his couragious encountering the Duke of Parma who fell vpon him with a farre greater power the whilest he warily and wisely made his retreat into the City of Gand in sight of the two Dukes of Anjou and Orleans admiring his martiall valour from off the Ramparts where they stood to behold him But why insist I vpon these matters The Duke d' Anjou hauing now without successe spent huge summes of money sent him out of England weighing with himselfe that only apparant Titles were bestowed vpon him and considering that all the managing of these matters were in the power of the States assayed by a precipitate counsell with his Armie to enter by force Antwerpe and some other townes but all in vaine and with the losse of many of his men and shortly after was constrained shamefully to quit leaue Flanders It shall suffice to note in a word in passing that nere vnto CHAPELLE in the month of May in the 12 degree of Gemini appeared a Comet or blazing starre with bright shining beames streaming ouer the right sholder of the Dragon About that time happened a horrible tempest in Norfolke with fearefull flashes of lightning and thunder of long continuance with violent furious winds and hailstones of three inches about Queene ELIZABETH for better security and to fortifie her selfe the more abroad against the Spaniard whom shee knew to be infest against her for that she had furnished the Duke d'Anjou with moneyes admitted into the fraternity of the order of Saint George Frederick the second King of Denmarke who had alwaies shewed himselfe most affectionate towards her Maiesty and to inuest him therewith sent ouer Sir Peregrin Bertie whom shee as her Maiesty was euer nice in conferring honors had with some difficulty honoured with the title of Lord Willoughbey of Eresby before he had giuen any proofe of his martiall vertue howsoeuer the Duchesse of Suffolke his mother was daughter and sole inheritrix to the ancient Baronry of Willoughby of Eresby The King of Denmark with ioyfulnesse put the chaine of Roses about his necke and the Garter about his legge the other Robes he locked vp in his Chest but refused to put them on because they were exotick or to take the oath for that he had taken one afore when by the French King hee was installed Knight of the Order of Saint Michael The whilest the Lord Willoughby was in Denmarke he propounded to the King a complaint from the English Merchants concerning the raising of Imposts and customes for that in times past for passing the Oresunde or straits of Denmarke they vsed to giue for euery ship but a Rose-Noble which made the fourth part of an ounce of gold as much for the fraught with some smal peeces of siluer for the fire-beacons giuing light by night vvhich vvere to direct them by their Sea-markes ouer the Shallowes and by the Shelues bankes Rocks He treated also for the Merchants that the tribute vvhich they call their LAST GELT might be remitted by the vvhich they begunne vvhen the Warres were so hot betwixt the Kings of Denmarke and Sueden to exact by vvay of borrowing the thirtieth part of all manner of Merchandizes vvith promise to repay them or the value of them againe the warre once ended But these as matters of importance vvere referred till another time For Princes doe seldome or neuer abate of their Custome Taxes or Imposts esteeming that such things as these vvhich they call Royalties belonging to the rightfull liberty of euery Kingdome are not things subiect to be moderated or abrogated by any strangers Queene ELIZABETH the better to secure her state at home imployed Sir Walter Mildmay to comprimise businesse with the Queene of Scots But finding that the Guises had consulted with certaine English Fugitiues about the setting her at liberty and gathering forces together vnder the pretext of sending supplyes to the Duke of Anjou in Flanders vvhich in very deed vvere to haue beene past ouer from the Hauens of Aux or Ew obscure harbours of Normandy into England which the French King hauing notice of out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH certifieth her thereof and stayed them hereupon the matter was intermitted and the Queene of Scots affaires deferred But by the vvay to meet with the Guises attempts in Scotland whither it is supposed he employed the Earle of Lennox to dissolue the League betweene the King of Scots and the English whilest Will Ruthen lately created by the K. Earle of Gowry begunne to be mutinous He for that hee vvould not degenerate frō his Father bearing a mortall malice to the Kings Mother together with others of his confederacie were to put in practice the best wits they had for the vvorking of the Duke of Lennox and the Earle Arran both out of the Kings fauour and company vnder a colour of Religion the Kings securitie and the league of amity vvith England Now behold their subtilty and crafty proiects They begin to perswade Lennox vvho had been established L. High Chamberlain of Scotland to exercise the rigor of his iurisdiction though then out of vse for no other purpose but to purchase his owne disgrace with the people vvhilest the Presbytery out of their Pulpits should declaime against him as a Papist of the faction of the Guizes and a rude and seuere Executioner of the Law should publikely foretell and denounce his ruine and destruction When as therefore Lennox was departed from Perth where the King remained to execute his office at Edenburgh and the Earle Arran absent from the Court Gowrey Marre Lindsey and others taking their opportunity inuited the King to the Castle of Ruthen being there they held him in such feare that hee durst not walke abroad such of his seruants as he thought best of they sent away the E. of Arran they arrested and cast into prison and compelled the King by the intercession of Queen ELIZABETH to recal the Earl of Angus out of exile and to sends the Duke of Lenox into France who as he was a Noble man of milde disposition and altogether inclin'd to
the publike peace and good of the Land by the Kings perswasion but their impulsion although he might easily haue stood vpon his guard and withstood them departed quietly from Dunbriton where he tooke shipping for France Not content with this they forced the King by his Letters to signifie to Queene ELIZABETH this his interception and that it was a meeting made by his willing consent with some of his Lords concerning speciall businesses But Buchanan they could not possibly perswade to approue this Act or by composing any booke of this subiect nor by perswasions of a messenger but he wept bitterly and sorrowed grieuously that he had to-fore taken the Rebels part against the Prince and soone after dyed A man as himselfe sings in his Poems though borne in a countrey barren for learning yet hee attained to the soueraigne degree of Poesie so as by right hee ought to bee accounted the Prince of Poets of our age The French King hauing had certaine intelligence of the passages in Scotland sendeth both with one message Mons de la Moteff through England and Mons de Manninguille by Sea into Scotland by all possible means to haue the King set at liberty to confirme the French faction to draw the King into loue amity with France and to let him vnderstand that his mother to make him be knowne true and legitimate King by Christian Princes and all Scotland setting aside all partialitie out of her motherly piety and indulgence yeelded him freely the title of the Kingdome and admitted him into the society freely to Raigne Shee distressed Queene in the meane time afflicted with many miseries the calamities of a prison in indurance without hope of deliuery bewayled the dismall fortunes of the King her sonne with her owne in a large Letter written in French to Queene ELIZABETH which the tender loue of a mother and the disquietnesse of her Spirit extorted from her the which out of the originall Copy of her owne hand-writing I haue more briefely recollected as followed AFter I was certainly informed that my sonne was intercepted and detained in captiuitie as my selfe haue beene for some yeares a sudden feare suggested into my minde that hee and I were to drinke of one cup of sorrow I cannot therefore in opening my sad afflicted heart but vtter my anguish to imprint them if it may be vpon yours offer the same to your conscionable commiseration that the ages to come may know my innocency and their tyrannie by whose meanes I endure these intolerable indignities But for that their subtil plots and mischieuous practices haue all this while been preferd with you before my iust complaint it being in your gracious power to doe equity and iustice where violence treadeth downe vertue and might suppresseth right I doe appeale vnto God immortall whom alone I know to haue power ouer vs Princes coequall in right and honour and him in whom there is no place for fraud or falshood I will inuoke that at the last day hee will recompence vs according to our demerits howsoeuer my Aduersaries the whilest haue cautelously cloaked their treacheries from men and perhaps from you I beseech you now then in the name of God and by his all-powerfull Maiestie I adiure you to call to minde how cunningly some sent forth in your name to me could stirre vp the Scots my subiects whilest I liued with them into open rebellion against me and haue been the first mouers of all the mischiefe which euer since hath hapned in that countrey as euidently appeareth by sundry plain testimonies thereof and Mortons confession from his own mouth who for such matters grâ—w vp to great honors whom if I could haue prosecuted according to his desert and if your assisting the Rebels had not bâ—en they could neuer haue stood vp so long against mee and my friends as they did When I was detained Prisoner in Lake-Leuin Sir Nich. Throckmorton was the first that came to me in your name who perswaded me to quit the Kingdome vndâ—r Letters Patents signed with my hand which he assured me should be of no effect as all the world knoweth them so to be vntill that you had assisted the Authors of these Letters with your fauour and Armes But say in good sooth would you acknowledge that your subiects should haue such power ouer you The regall power I had in the meane time by your aide aduice was taken from me to be conferred on my sonne a yong child by reason of his Infant-age vnfit to manage the administration of a Kingdome And when as of late I determined to make him a lawfull resignation for the certaine establishing of him in the Kingdome hee was by force of Armes caried violently away by Traitors who doubtlesse had no other intent then to depriue him as they did me of the Crowne and perhaps of his life After I got out of Lake-Leuin and was to raise Armes for the suppressing of the Rebels I sent you then the Diamond which formerly you had giuen me as a pledge of mutuall loue betwixt vs when you made me many large promises and faithfull protestations to succour and support me against the Rebels when also you promised that if I should come towards you you would meet me in person vpon the frontiers and would assist me I relying vpon these promises so often and so seriously iterated although your messengers had many times before deluded me resolued to resort to you as to a Sanctuary And assuredly I had come had I but found the way as open to me and as easie to passe as it was for those who reuolted against me But before I could come at you I was arrested vpon the way guarded with troops of men shut vp in strong places and since that time haue endured things worse then death I know you will obiect some intercourses of businesse haue past betwixt the Duke of Norfolke and me but I assure you there hath neuer any thing past preiudiciall to you or your Kingdome as also your chiefe Counsellors haue giuen approbation thereto as I can proue who likewise promised mee by the way of attestation to procure your consent And how I pray you should these so great persons promise your consent to a thing which might despoile you of honour life and Diadem And notwithstanding you would that euery one should be so perswaded Besides as diuers of the Rebels by a tardy repentance re-aduising themselues and by a Commission held betwixt our Deputies at Yorke vnderstood how wickedly they had dealt with me they being besieged with your Souldiers in Edenburgh-Castle two of the principall dyed miserably the one by poison the other in a halter And that came to passe for that twice I had dismist the Armies at your request in hope of peace which God knowes whether euer my Aduersaries once haue thought on Since that I had resolued to try whether patience can haue power to conquer cruelty in suffering all
Councell concerning my affaires and Country for that were extreame indiscretion You know how my Aduersaries triumph in Scotland both ouer mee and my imprisoned son I haue attempted nothing in Scotland to your preiudice but to stablish a solide peace in the Realme hauing by so much the more a greater care then your Councellors by how much my interest there is more then theirs I haue desired to gratifie my son with the title of King to confirme him and to burie all discords Is that to take the Diadem from him But the enemies of me and my family will not haue it confirmed It is that that they dread whilst they carie in their heart a witnesse against themselues finding themselues culpable of euills apprehend they should bee dealt with accordingly Let not these and others my aduersaries so blind your eyes that during your life and in your sight they shall beare downe your nearest kindred and ruinate both the Crownes as to that end they are plotting villanies against me against my son and perhaps against you also Can it be any pleasure or honor to you that I and my son that you and we are by their meanes so long seeluded and kept asunder Resume your naturall goodnesse and meeknesse oblige your selfe to your selfe and seeing you are a Princesse be tender hearted to me a Princesse the nearest of your consanguinity that all things being set in quiet betwixt vs I may passe the more peacefully out of this life and that the sighes and sobbes of my afflicted soule ascend not to God on high To whose diuine power I present my daily prayers that these my iust complaints and sorrowfull laments my take place with you From Sheffield 8. Nouemb. 1582. Vostre tres-desolée plus proche parente affectionnée soeur MARIE R THE SIXE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIII ELIZABETH Queen of England being sundry wayes moued with these Letters after she had giuen permission to the French Ambassador La Mottef together with Dauison her owne Ambassador to goe into Scotland and had chosen out a time wherin he might opportunely meet with the Duke of Lenox vnawares then returning out of Scotland she her selfe kindely receiued Lenox yet gently blaming him for being somwhat slack in the Scottish affaires and forthwith sent Beale Clerke of her Priuie Councell for the dispatch of her Letters being indeed a man very austere and sharpe to the Queene of Scots to manifest the discontent of Queene ELIZABETH at the sight of her complaining Letters and by the same meanes to treat with the Earle of Shrewsbury concerning her enlargement because she oftentimes before with sundry Letters had sollicited for it and intreated that shee might yet at last her security being established to her inioy her libertie and be an associate with her sonne in the administration of Scotland Vpon these things was the Priuy Councell of England assembled where after serious debating and deliberate consultations it was at length agreed that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie vnder these following conditions THat if she and her sonne would promise not to enterprise any thing to the preiudice of Queene ELIZABETH or the Realme of England That shee would confesse that whatsoeuer Francis the second King of France her husband had vndertaken and performed was altogether against her will and liking and that shee would disproue and disanull it as vniust That shee would confirme the Treaty holden at Edenbourgh That shee would freely and ingenuously confesse and discouer all other complots intendments which were since that time forged and would vtterly condemne the same That if shee would enter into obligation not to plot or doe any thing directly or indirectly to the impeachment of the gouernment or administration of the Kingdome of England either in things Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill but to resist and hinder all those that should undertake in what manner so euer any thing to the contrary and to withstand them as enemies That she would not during the life of Queene ELIZABETH claime any Right or Title to the Kingdome of England and after her death to submit and referre the right of succession to the iudgement of the Estates If she also to cut off all equiuocations and mentall reseruations and to forestall all pretended excuses that shee as a Prisoner accorded and condiscended to these conditions or being in a manner constrained would confirme all these by her aoth and the publique authoritie of the States of Scotland If the King likewise would ratifie the self-same conditions both by oath and writing and for the more assurance would deliuer hostages for the performance As concerning the association which the Queene of Scots demanded to haue with her sonne in the gouernment of the Kingdome it was holden expedient by the Councell that the Queene of England should not intermeddle therewith But if they could agree vpon the association between themselues then should the League be ioyntly treated of with them both but if otherwise then apart with either seuerally Thus these things were debated on yet without any successe For the Scots which were of the English faction altogether reiected them crying out aloud that certaine Scots sworne enemies to England by the Councell of the Queene of Scots were recalled out of France and that Holt an English Iesuite was secretly sent into Scotland there to attend a fit opportunitie to inuade England Then there arose strife betweene Monsieur de La Mottef and Monsieur de Maninguill Ambassadors of France of the one part and Bowes and Dauison Ambassadors for England on the other side which of them by insinuating should induce the King to the greater affectation of their Nation or purchase the greater number to their party vntill at length that with oblique designes they ingenuously became Counsellors either to other The King himselfe became as it were Mediator and knowing how to temper things honest with things profitable without prouing any way deficient either to the Church or the Common-wealth hee wisely endeuoured rather to calme the raging stormes of these factions then intermeddle with them But the Ministers of Scotland being by a certaine zeale prouoked against the French vpon the same day that La Mottef was by the Citizens of Edenborough inuited to a Feast appointed a Fast and the whole day vvith taunts and mocks derided and scoffed the King of France the Duke of Guise and the Ambassadors And as the Ministers did this openly so certain of the Scotch Nobilitie parties with the English ceased not to persecute the French Ambassadors secretly in such sort that first La Mottef retired himselfe and after him Maninguil leauing notwithstanding some certaine seeds of discord amongst those who had seaz'd and kept the Kings Person As soone as they were departed the King presented by Colonell Stuart and I. Coluil all affection and seruice to the Queene of England requesting her counsell for the allaying of troubles and also
for the contracting of a mariage But then those that were keepers or detainers of the Kings person seeing that the French Ambassadors were departed out of Scotland began to take courage which after was increased by the death of the Duke of Lenox who finding small comfort from the French King that then was intangled with diuers intestine troubles and striuing likewise to please Queene ELIZABETH departed this life at Paris and by the testimonies which he gaue on his death-bed being at the point of death in the presence of all the assistants hee declared himselfe to be truely of the Protestants Religion confuting and conuicting the malice of those that had falsely accused him to be a Papist This the death of Lenox much secured those that detained the King who reioyced for the still retaining of him in their power whereupon they began to exult But see they little suspecting any such matter the King although he had scarce yet attained to the age of eighteene yeares disdaining to submit himselfe any longer to the rule and gouernment of three Earles being an absolute King of himselfe as he before-times had giuen way to the time so now finding a time opportune to his purpose he set himself at liberty and with a few selected men retired himselfe to the Castle of Saint Andrewes taking occasion by a rumour that was spread that the Nobilitie disagreeing amongst themselues had brought with them seuerall troopes of Souldiers into that part of the Country there to hold an assembly which hee appointed fearing lest he amongst these tumultuous iarres should be exposed to some vnexpected danger And to that effect he dispatcht Letters to Queene ELIZABETH wherein hee promised to entertaine a constant league of amitie with her and to embrace her counsell in the establishment of his affaires excusing himselfe that these things fell out so suddenly and vnawares to him that it was not possible for him to giue her notice thereof sooner Afterwards vsing gentler speeches and milde perswasions shewing an affable countenance to those that were his guardians he admonished them for the better shunning of turmoyles to retire from the Court promising to them his gracious fauour and pardon if so be they would intreat it Of these Gowry onely asked pardon and submitted himselfe vsing this small distinction That he had offended not in matter but in forme After this he call'd backe the Earle of Arran to the Court accepting him for one of his fauourites much labouring to establish the hearts of his Nobilitie in a mutuall peace and amitie and to purge both the kingdome and the Court from intestine iarres and discord Whilst he was thus busied continually in these matters there ariued at his Court Sir Francis Walsingham sent from the Queene of England out of her earnest loue great care that she alwaies had of him lest by ill counsels being of a flexible age he should bee diuerted from the amity of England which would bee to the preiudice of both the Kingdomes Walsingham at his ariuall found the King accompanied with the chiefe and flower of his Nobility and the affaires of Scotland better setled then hee expected Being receiued admitted after much discourse he rehearst those admonitiōs takē out of Isocrates which the Queen before in her letters had instructed him with That he which commands ought so to cherish truth as to giue more credit to its simple affirmation then to the oaths of others That he should take heed of euill counsellours remaining still constant alway like himselfe The King made this free and hearty reply That what he writ more then his thoughts meaning was against his will much refusing yet inforced by the compulsion of others that he being a free Prince ought not to bee reduced to such streights that others should force counsellors vpon him whom hee altogether misliked That he had done nothing but for his owne honour and safeguard That the pledge of his loue which he before had vowed to his indeared Sister the Queene of England hee now freely and deseruedly offered and that now hee could produce more fairer fruits of amitie being obeyed of all his Nobilitie then before when he himselfe was made obedient to one and to another and rul'd as it were rather by intreating then by power or commandement After this Walsingham requested the King not to impute to Queene ELIZABETH any thing that had happened in Scotland shewing him how good profitable their friendship had hitherto been and how expedient both for himselfe as also for either Kingdome if so bee shee suffered no neglect but were firmely assured and if the differences and contentions which happened amongst the Nobility of Scotland were but for a certaine Amnestia abolished by the authority of the Parliament that those that were remoued from the Court should bee taken into grace that Religion should be conserued entire in it selfe and a firme league established betwixt the two Kingdomes Neither was Walsingham any way defectiue in the distribution of his money amongst the Kings Officers and Attendants that by their meanes hee might effect these things The King thus modestly replyed That he willingly embraced the friendship of England and would not be wanting in any obseruance towards the Queene but most constantly defend the Religion receiued With this answer he graciously discharged Walsingham notwithstanding he suspected him to be transported both against himselfe and his mother and with an intentiue prouidence beyond the expectation of his yeares hee managed his affaires and proposed to the great praise of his clemencie letters of grace to all those that had seized his person if they within a time prefixt would come and intreat pardon But so farre they were from asking it that they priuatly tooke counsell together and complotted how they might haue him againe vnder their power which was the cause that he presently commanded them within a certaine time to leaue the Kingdome whereupon some retired them to one part and some to another that is to say Marre Glan Boide Zester-wemi and Loch-leuin into Flanders Dunfermelin into France and Angus was confined to Angus within certaine prescribed limits Onely Gowry hatching in his braines new stratagems remained in the Realme beyond the prefixed day but to his owne confusion as hereafter shall be recited Thus those that before had driuen the Duke of Lenox out of Scotland were within the reuolution of the same yeare themselues expulst the Land And the King to whom Lenox in his life time was much indeared and beloued after his death cherishing the memory of his goodnesse he reestablished and vnclouded his reputation by suppressing certaine defamatory bookes which some malignant persons had dispersed to eclipse his worth and vertues he likewise recalled his children out of France confirmes his sonne Lodowicke in his fathers honors and his daughters after they were growne to ripe yeares he preferred them in mariage one with the Lord
for the rebellion had spoiled and deuasted the same But some of those that had Commission for the enquiry and searching out of the possessions of the Rebels and others that were to prize and set the same to hyre began to expell and chase from their possessions with such violence those who were true subiects that the Queen was constrained to represse them by an Edict lest the violent auarice of some particular men might kindle and inflame a new rebellion In which the Vice-Roy tooke much laudable paines although by the English he was accused and blamed for being too indulgent and fauorable to the Irish and too too rough to them But he equally distributing iustice to either part by fauouring as well the Irish as the English brought the Prouince into a most desired tranquilitie and with a milde and gentle command subiected to the obedience of the Lawes the most barbarous inhabitants of the same holding the Scotchmen of Hebrides that from their Ilands did breake into Ireland to a hard taske And inforc'd Donel Gormi that is to say blue with his brother Mac-Conel who had possest thēselues of the little Country of Glinnes and Surley-boy that is to say Red their Vncle that had inuaded the Countrey of Rout neighbouring and adioyning to the Iland Richnee now called Raclis to such a point that after many of their kindred were ouercome and slaine by the valorous exploits of Captaine Meriman they receiued the oath of allegeance to the Queene accepting from her Maiesty certaine Lands in that corner vnder conditions that they should serue the Kings of England onely in their warres and not any other whatsoeuer without their permission that they should furnish forth vpon any expedition a sufficient number of horse and foot and that a certaine number of Beeues and Hawkes should euery yeare be truely paid Thus much for what hath past in Ireland THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIV DIVERS Scots that had compacted with Gowry who now againe was plotting of new stratagems to get the King of Scots into his power secretly returned from Ireland into Scotland vpon the entrie of the Spring There they protested openly that their intent was onely for the honour of God the truth of Religion and to secure the King the Realme and the League with England against those that with wicked deuices would seduce the King not being as yet of sufficient age The King hauing notice of these things hee forthwith commanded Colonell Stuart to apprehend before all Gowry the chiefe Architect of the conspiracy who presently retired himself to a Port called Dundey as though he would haue departed the Kingdome where he knowing himselfe guilty despising the Kings authoritie obstinately withstood them and defended himselfe in his lodging but after two houres he was apprehended and led to prison In the meane while the Conspirators surprising the town of Sterlin they constrained the Castle to yeeld But vnderstanding that the King was marching towards them in person with an armie and finding themselues but weakely accompanied in respect of the number vvhich Gowry had promised them also in vaine attending succours out of England they forsooke their hold And as euery one being full of feare sought to shift for himselfe the Earles of Marre Glan and Angus holding together vvith others took their flight through many by-wayes into England humbly requesting the Queene to releeue them in their afflictions and bee an intercessor for them to their King seeing that they vvere depriued both of their fortunes and the Kings fauour by endeuouring for the good of her and her Kingdome The King on the contrary accused them to the Queene of many hainous things demanding according to the league of alliance betweene them that they might bee deliuered into his hands But there were some about the Court that perswaded the Queene that they were men most obedient to their King and most desirous of his welfare that hauing him vnder their custody and power yet neuer attempted any thing against his state or person and that law which was vsually expressed in leagues concerning the deliuerie and restoring backe of Rebels was long since abolished and out of vse amongst Princes These men also endeuoured to perswade the King of Scots that he should deale more mildly and gently with men of such and so great ranke and not to driue them as it were headlong through despaire to more bad designes Remonstrating to him that terrour and violence vvere but feeble and vnhappy props of power alledging to that end two tragicall examples drawne out of the Scottish History attributing great praises to his mother Francis her husband that at the first rising of the French ciuill war past ouer the iniuries and offences of the Nobility without regard Walsingham that studiously fauoured the fugitiues by letters commanded that they should bee receiued into the Island called the holy Iland but Hunsdon who shewed himselfe a greater friend to the King of Scots then any other opposed it because the iurisdiction of the place appertained to him as gouernor of the East frontiers hee thought it altogether vnfit that any entrance should be permitted to the Scots in a place of strength neither would he obey the letters of the Secretary without expresse command from the Queene From hence arose a controuersie whether a Secretary could by his authority direct or execute the affaires of his Prince without receiuing speciall command from him and without the counsell of the gouernor of the place What was determined thereupon is not manifest but the Scots were not admitted into the Isle Neuerthelesse it was esteemed expedient that they should be in some sort fauored to oppose the contrary faction which arose in Scotland which was that the Ministers had spred rumored abroad that the King was about to forsake his religion but they could not produce or alledge any argument probable although they had framed many but onely that he was wholy transported with a filiall loue towards his mother and receiued as a most indeered to him those which he knew were affectionate to her In the meane space Gowry was brought to iudgment before the Peeres at Sterlin And was accused to haue plotted a new conspiracy against the King after he had been confin'd prisoner to his house Notwithstanding that the King had lifted him vp to great honours riches and Commands and accounted of him as a kinsman To haue consulted by night which the seruants of Angus for the taking of Perth Sterlin To haue resisted by force of Armes the authority royall at Dundey To haue concealed the conspiracy which was complotted to ruine the King and the Queene his mother And lastly To haue consulted with the sorceresse Maclene To all this he pleaded innocency and an vnspotted faith towards the King He acknowledged the benefits which hee had receiued He complained bitterly of the Earle of Arran as
or enterprize ought in France the King according to equitie would chastise them but whatsoeuer they had done in England the King would neither enquire after nor execute the Law vpon them That all Kingdomes were free and open to fugitiues and that euery King should labour to defend the liberties of his Kingdome That ELIZABETH her selfe had not long before receiued into her Realme Montgomerie the Prince of Conde and others of the French Nation And that at that time Seguri the King of Nauarre his Ambassador remained in England plotting new deuices against the King of France Whilst these things past on Bernardin Mendoza Spaines Ambassador in England secretly past into France murmuring and raging as if he contrarie to the right of Ambassie had beene forc'd out of England being indeed a man of violent and turbulent nature and hauing himselfe abused the holy and sacred rights of Ambassadors did deserue according to the opinion of many after the ancient seueritie to bee pursued with sword and fire Hee was commanded to depart the Realm because he had intermixt himselfe amongst those wicked conspiracies with Throckmorton and others that laboured for the bringing in of Strangers into England and dispossessing of the Queene for which being gently reproued he in stead of excusing and purging himselfe by a modest reply accused the Queene and her Councel about the money which was detained from the Geneuois for the aide and succours which were sent to the States of the Netherlands to the Duke of Anjou and to Antonio King of Portugall and also for the Pyracies of Drake But lest the King of Spaine should thinke the rights of Embassie vvere violated by this and not the offence of Mendoza reuenged W. Waade one of the Queenes Councell for the expedition of Letters was dispatched into Spaine there plainely to demonstrate how mischieuously Mendoza had behaued himselfe in his Ambassage And to signifie likewise lest the Queene should be thought by returning of Mendoza to renounce the ancient friendship between the Kingdomes that she was ready to performe all Offices of humanitie towards him if the King in Mendoza's place would send any other more carefull for the maintaining of friendship prouided that the like might be performed to her Ambassador in Spaine But the King disdaining to receiue or conferre with Waade referred him to his Councell Whereat Waade somewhat incensed boldly declared that it had beene an ancient custome ouer all that the Ambassadors should bee admitted to speake in presence euen of their enemies and in time of Warre And that the Emperor Charles the fifth father of the King gaue admittance to the Herald that denounced warre against him from the King of France refusing to impart to the Councell the tenour of his Ambassie Now Idiac Secretarie to the King of Spaine endeuoured himselfe much to come to the knowledge of those matters but his Art and policies failing him hee was fully instructed out of France of the whole passage by Mendoza Whereupon laying aside the quality of a publike person he familiarly declared to Waade that to his griefe hee saw many men which bent all their studies to breake and seuer with mischieuous deuices the Leagues and amity of Princes and to increase their enmities That the iniury was done to the King of Spaine himselfe and not to Ambassadors first on the person of Dispez and then of Mendoza That there was no reason why he should any more accuse Mendoza to the King that had receiued for his fault if hee committed any sufficient punishment being so ignominiously and disgracefully sent backe That the Catholique King had dealt iustly in rendering like for like and as the Queene had dismissed Mendoza without hearing but appointed him to bee heard by her Councell the King in like manner had appointed him to the Cardinall Granuellan To this Waade made answer that there was a large difference between himselfe that had neuer giuen the least distaste to the Catholike King and Mendoza who had highly grieuously offended the Queene hauing insolently a great space disdained and refused to come neere her and committed many things vnfitting and vnworthy an Ambassador Notwithstanding all this Waade could not bee admitted but returned into England without being heard All those crimes for the most part which were obiected against Mendoza were taken out of the confession of Throckmorton For when Throckmorton saw himselfe at the point of being apprehended hee sent vnto Mendoza a little trunke wherein were contained his secrets neuerthelesse his other trunkes being diligently searched there were found two Catalogues in one of which were contained the names of the Ports which were most appropriate and conuenient for the landing of their troopes in the other the names of such Noblemen in England as did entertaine and imbrace the Roman Religion Which Catalogues when hee saw produced he cryed out aloud that they were things suborned and that he neuer saw them before that time and that they were purposely inserted into his trunke by some that plotted his destruction and being tortured to force him confesse hee still persisted but tortures being applyed the second time he confessed all that he knew and being examined touching the Catalogues to what end they were written he made this Declaration THat a few yeares since taking his iourney to the waters of Spaw with one Ieney and Englefield they consulted among themselues of the meanes by which England might bee inuaded of the strangers and the forme of the gouernment changed and to that end the names of the Ports and Noblemen were set downe in those Catalogues That Morgan had signified to him by Letters out of France that the Catholique Princes had already deliberated vpon the inuasion and by the auspicious succours of the Duke of Guise to set at libertie the Queene of Scots the Guise wanting nothing but money and some helping hands in England That to procure these things C. Paget vnder the assumed name of Mopus was sent into Sussex where the Guise had determined first to land his troops That he had communicated the businesse and shewed the names of the Ports and Noblemen to Mendoza who was now perfectly instructed by the rect of the conspiracie Neither doth he deny that hee had promised his owne helpe and industry And had also aduertised Mendoza with what Noblemen being a publique personage he might conferre with with whom he himselfe being but a priuate man could not without danger hold parley And with him found the meanes by some of the principall Catholiques to take vp souldiers in the Queenes name then when the stranger forces should ariue to bee ioyned with them These things he freely confessed Neuerthelesse being accused publikely in the Court at London hee precisely denied all affirming that hee had spoken out of his owne inuention and not the truth onely to free himselfe from the tortures againe and openly accused the Queene of cruelty and those of the Inquest of falshood framing
memory all iniury and offences She would acknowledge her the true and lawfull Queene of England and neuer pretend or take vpon her any claime or right to the Crowne during her life neither would shee euer enterprise any thing either directly or indirectly against her but for euer renounce all interest in the title and Armes of England which by the command of Francis her husband and the Popes Buls of deposition she arrogated vnto her selfe Yea furthermore would be included in that association and defensiue League for the Queenes saueguard without preiudice to that ancient alliance which hath been betweene France and Scotland Prouided that nothing be enterprised during the life of Queene ELIZABETH or after her death to the preiudice of her her sonne and their heires in the succession before it were first declared before the assembly of the Estates of England She would for the confirmation of these things remaine in England for a time as a pledge and if so be she might bee permitted to depart out of England she would leaue other hostages Furthermore she would not alter any thing in Scotland onely she desired that shee and those of her Family might be suffered to haue the free vse of their Religion in her owne house Shee would forget and forgiue all iniuries which shee had receiued in Scotland with this condition that whatsoeuer had beene raised to her infamy and disgrace might be abolished Shee would recommend to the King such Counsellors as she knew to be studious of peace with England She would reconcile the fugitiue Noblemen if it were possible for her if also they would submissiuely acknowledge their fault and if the Queene of England would promise to assist the King against them if after their reconciliation they should fall from obedience As for the mariage of her sonne shee would doe nothing without the priuitie of the Queene Shee desired that because she would doe nothing without the counsell and consent of her sonne he might be ioyned in this treatie for the more solid and firme assurance thereof Shee doubted not but the King of France would intercede and conioyntly oblige his faith with the Princes of Loraine to entertaine and effect the conuentions thereof Shee entreats for a mature and happy answer lest any discommoditie or hindrance should fall betweene And finally requested that shee might bee allowed a little more liberally in her imprisonment whereby shee might clearely perceiue the loue of the Queene towards her Queene ELIZABETH seemed to take a great delight in these things as being full of courtesie and honour and was then almost perswaded to grant her libertie but there were some in England that with new propositions apprehensions of strange doubts did disswade her But the matter being almost knowne all ouer those Scots of the aduerse faction did labour to trouble and hinder the same Crying out that it would be the finall ruine of Queene ELIZABETHS safety if shee were set at liberty of both the Kingdomes if she were admitted to the administration of Scotland conioyntly with her sonne and lastly of the true Religion through Great Britaine if she were onely permitted to exercise the Roman Religion Not contented with this certaine Ministers in Scotland after they had charged the Queen with slanders and calumnies euen in their Pulpits common assemblies they vehemently bitterly exclaimed against the King and his Counsell whereupon being commanded to appeare before them with disdaine and contempt they refused it As if the Pulpits were exempt from the authoritie of Kings and Ecclesiasticall persons subiect not to the command of the Prince but of the Presbytery contrarie to the Lawes enacted the same yeare by the assembly of the estates wherein was confirmed the Kings authoritie for euer ouer all his subiects as well Ecclesiasticall as Lay-men that is the King and his Councell to be fit and competent Iudges in all causes and whosoeuer denyed or refused the same to be holden guilty Laesae Maiestatis The assemblies of Ecclesiasticall persons as well generall as speciall as also those of the Lay-men wherein they arrogated to themselues an infinite power of calling of an assembly at their owne pleasure against the Kings consent in which they would prescribe lawes to the King and Kingdome were vtterly prohibited and abolished The popular equalitie of Ministers was abrogate The authoritie and iurisdiction of Bishops whose calling the Presbyters condemned as Antichristian was established And all defamatory writings against the King the Queene his Mother and the Councell were interdicted And namely the History of Buchanan and the Dialogue of the right of the Kingdome as containing many things worthy to bee condemned and extirpate Some of the Ministers receiued these things with such impatience that they streight left their Countrey and powred out their complaints and griefes throughout al England as if the True Religion had now beene chased out of Scotland But Queene ELIZABETH with a deafe eare neglected them deeming of 〈◊〉 as authors of â—ouation neither would she permit them to preach in England neuerthelesse she made vse of them to hinder all preiudice and detriment which the Religion in Scotland might receiue And likewise when the Earle of Arran was with all respect imployed for the conseruation of the amity with England Shee thought they would opportunely serue to the purpose that the fugitiue Scots might not be banisht from the assemblies which were instantly to be holden nor the King diuerted from the friendship of the English Whereupon a parley was appointed betweene the Earle of Arran and Hunsdon Gouernor of Barwicke But before it was holden the fugitiues and all those which were in the expedition with Sterlin were banished from the Assemblies which were hastily to be Conuocated Whom Arran likewise in his Parley which presently followed charged with many weighty accusations and amongst the rest that they had of new conspired the ruine of the King But he deuoutly promised not to pretermit any thing which hee thought would content and pleasure Queene ELIZABETH neither would he doe any thing that might endamage her so long as he remained in grace and fauour with the King Notwithstanding these things the Scottish borderers by the priuat practices of the Spaniard who laboured to withhold Queen ELIZABETH from the Flemmish warres being a moneth after brought into Rhedisdale performed there all the deeds of hostilitie the bordering English in like manner vvith fire and slaughter reuenged themselues of that iniurie vpon Liddesdall Then was sent Ambassador from Scotland Patricke Gray heire of that Family a complete yong man that thought himselfe equall if not exceeding for the dispatch of greatest affaires The especiall tenour of his Ambassie was for the repressing of the incursions on both sides for the restoring of goods taken by Pyracie and for the reconciling according to the League of the Scottish fugitiues or else remouing of them from the frontiers of Scotland because they continually
inuented new stratagems with other of their confederacie in Scotland against the King And the better to obtaine these demands and incline the Queenes mind and affection towards the King more fully hee promised to discouer hidden enterprises that were plotted against the Queene To the first and second Article she answered as she thought fitting but as for the sending backe of the fugitiues she thus replyed THat she was verily perswaded that those Noblemen had not so much as entertained a thought of enterprizing any mischiefe that that vprore which so happened in Scotland proceeded not from any euill intent to the King but of the mutuall discords which dayly arise amongst the Nobilitie about the vnder-age of the King and therefore that belonged to the King to appease and to tye his subiects to him by suppressing factions in one bond of obedience Yet that shee might in some sort yeeld satisfaction to the Kings iust Petition and also receiue intelligence of those secret practices which hee spoke of shee commanded the Scottish fugitiues to remoue themselues farther from the limits But the Queene made shew that what he had reuealed then vnto her she had knowledge of before Whereupon arose a suspition amongst many that the Ambassador had beene hyred by some to disclose something to the preiudice of the King and his mother and had oppos'd against the acceptance of these most iust conditions which the mother of the King had proposed by her Secretary Naue Whereupon the patience of the Queene Mother that had so oftentimes beene deluded began now to breake out into flames of griefe and indignation and the desire which shee had to obtaine her libertie caused her to lay open her eares and minde to all the pernicious counsels of her friends or enemies And so much the rather because she perswaded her selfe that the generall association was deuised to take her life from her because likewise she had intelligence that by the practices of some shee was to be remoued from the custodie of the Earle of Shrewsbury who was a iust man and one that no wayes fauoured their designe and deliuered into the hands of new guardians But to bring this more fairely about lest the singular fidelitie and trust of the Earle of Shrewsbury might be thought to be suspected for it was not thought good to offend the reputation of so great a personage albeit it had been diminished with priuate calumnies by the reproachfull criminations of his importunate wife certaine suspitions were collected of some designes for her deliuery through certaine Emblemes which were sent vnto her importing thus Argus with his many eyes cast into a sleepe by Mercury sweetly playing vpon his Flute with this Motto Eloquium tot lumina clausit Vn Beau Discours â ferme aultant de Lumieres Mercurius beheading Argus keeper or watcher of Io A yong branch set in an old stocke and bound about with cords whereabout was written Per vincula cresco Ie crois Par les liens A Palme depressed yet rising againe with these words Ponderibus virtus innata resistit La vertu qui vient de Naissance resiste à l' oppression That Anagram also gaue much distaste ARMATA VERITAS MARIA STEVARTA Besides all this Letters were produced as though intercepted wherein the friends of the Queen Prisoner did complaine that they should be depriued of all hope of libertie if she were deliuered into the custody of Puritans Vnder this collected pretext shee was withdrawne from the Earle of Shrewsbury which he had often desired and committed to the custody of Drugon Drurey with others And that of purpose as some supposed that thereby being driuen to despaire she might be made the readier to entertaine mischieuous counsels and deuices and so brought into the Ambushes which were prepared for her For the Earle of Shrewsbury had beene her guardian for fifteene yeares with such watchfull and warie prouidence that hee left no place or space for her to enterprise ought against others nor for others to plot any thing against her Then shee sollicited with much importunitie the Pope of Rome and the Spaniard by Inglefield to finish with all mature expedition what they had begunne whatsoeuer betided her And Leicester who was thought to labour in the peruerting of the lawfull succession priuately sent murderers as some report to dispatch her out of the way But Drury more respecting honesty and equity in his heart hated those trecherous designes would not suffer any to haue accesse vnto her Some priuate messengers neuerthelesse conueyed Letters some true some false vnto her by which she might be transported through the imbecility of her sex to a pernicious ruine as shall hereafter be related That the loue of Queene ELIZABETH might wholy be diuerted from her it was whispered in her eares how that Alan for the Ecclesiasticall Catholickes of England Inglefield for the Lay Catholickes and the Bishop of Rosse for the Queen of Scots by common suffrages and with the consent of the Pope and Spaniard had decreed to spoile Queene ELIZABETH of her Kingdome to disinherite the King of Scotland from the same as manifested Hereticks to giue the Queene of Scots in mariage to a Catholicke Nobleman of England and by the English Catholicks to elect him King which Election should by the Pope bee confirmed his children by the Queene of Scots to bee openly declared legitimate successours to the Crowne of England and all these things by the faith of one Hart a Priest Who this Englishman should be Walsingham studiously indeauoured to find but to no purpose but the suspicion lighted vpon H. Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke one of the Nobilitie not maried a great Papist and mightily fauoured of the Papists This yeare obscurely dyed in miserable exile C. Neuill that perfidious rebell against his Prince and Country being the last Earle of Westmerland out of that family which hath beene so fertile in Nobility that besides sixe Earles of Westmerland haue sprung of the same name two Earles of Salisburie and of Warwicke one Earle of Kent one Marquesse of Montague one D. of Bedford one Baron Ferrers of Ousley diuers Barons of Latimer and Abergauenny a Queene fiue Duchesses omitting Countesses and Baronnesses with the Archbishop of Yorke and a copious off-spring of Nobility In England none dyed more worthy of memory then Edmund Plowden who as in the knowledge of the Lawes of England of which he well deserued in his writings he was aboue others excellent so in integrity of liuing amongst those of his profession he was second to none But in France Francis Duke d'Alancon left the world forced by a malady proceeding of the griefe of mind and in Holland William Prince of Orange who with three bullets from a Pistoll was shot through the body Queene ELIZABETH much lamented the death of these two and dispatch into France B. to signifie to the King how greiuously she bore the death
subiects In the meane time as I dayly laboured in the Court for the gouernment of Saint Katherines I receiued Letters from the Cardinall Comense wherein I found mine enterprize much commended and an absolution in the Popes name This I likewise imparted to the Queen What effect it wrought with her I know not But it gaue fresh courage to mee and remoued all scruple Neuerthelesse I had no will to offer any violence to the Queene if she would be perswaded to deale more mildly with the Catholiques But so often as I was to come into her presence I laid aside my dagger lest I should be transported to murder her And when I considered her person and her truely royall vertues I was distracted with many doubtfull cares for my vowes were recorded in heauen my Letters and promises amongst men These things did I often tosse ouer in my vnquiet minde She neuer deserued well of mee indeed she saued my life but if in such a cause had shee taken it away it had beene tyrannie Thus being discontented with my estate and condition I left the Court. At last I happened on a booke of Alans against the Iustice of Great Britaine out of which I was taught That Princes excommunicate for heresie might be lawfully depriued both of rule and life This vehemently incited me to prosecute my purpose This to Neuil whom I had inuited to my table I read ouer six whole moneths before he did accuse me After this he came home to me And let vs heare quoth hee somewhat since we can obtaine nothing of the Queen and so he propounded some things concerning the releasing of the Queene of Scots But quoth I a matter of more weight and more aduantagious to the Catholique Church is now hammered in my head The next day he likewise visited me and touching the Bible with his hand he did sweare he would conceale and constantly pursue all whatsoeuer that might bee profitable to the Catholique Religion I in the same manner took mine oath So we determined with ten Knights more to set vpon the Queene as shee rid through the fields and there to murder her which thing till now he hath concealed But receiuing newes of the Earle of Westmerlands death being transported with the hope of succeeding him he forthwith violating his oath discouered and accused me This was his confession in the presence of the Lord of Hunsdon and Fra. Walsingham Priuy Counsellors to the Queene acknowledging his fault he craued pardon by his Letters to the Queene to Burghley the chiefe Treasurer and to the Earle of Leicester A few daies after being brought to iudgement in the Palace of Westminster and the Articles of his accusation being read he confessed himself guilty His confession being recorded in the Acts Iudgment was demanded to be pronounced against him confessing himselfe guilty Whereupon Hatton thought it expedient to satisfy the multitude there present that the crime might openly bee declared according to his confession which Parry of his owne accord confirmed and desired the Iudges that he might reade it himselfe But the Clerk of the Crowne did read it with the letters of Cardinall Comese those which Parry had writ to the Queene to Burghley to Leicester which he acknowledged for true yet he denyed that he euer had any absolute determination to kill the Queene But being commanded to speake if he had any thing to hinder iudgement from being pronounced against him hee disturbedly answered as tormented in his conscience for the crime which he had vndertaken and said I see plainely that I must dye because I was not fast and constant in my resolution Being commanded to speake his meaning more amply My blood quoth he be vpon you So the sentence of death being pronounced he began to rage and summoned the Queene to Iudgement before God The fift day after he was set vpon a Slead and drawne through the middest of the Citie to Westminster being at the place of his execution after he had vaunted how faithfull a guardian he had beene vnto the Queene hee said hee neuer had any intention to take her life away Thus in boasting manner not in a word committing himselfe to God he was punisht like a Traytor according to the Law in the great Palace yard at Westminster where the States of the Kâ—ngdome were in great number assembled for the holding of the Parliament Iâ— this Parliament some either out of a desire of nouation or reformation earnestly persecuted the Ecclesiasticall estatâ— although the Queene had forbidden it demanding lawes to represse the iurisdiction of Bishops in that which conceâ—ned the gift of Faculties in the Collation of the holy Orders Ecclesiasticall Censures and the oath they take in their office proposing a new oath to be taken in the Chanâ—ery and Kings Bench that is they should not counterâ—and the ciuill Law of England They required that eueâ—y Pastor should be resident in his owne Church and decâ—â—med that the Church of England was destitute of learned teachers when without doubt it could then number vp more learned Diuines then any former age or any other reformed Church But the Queene fauouring aboue all the Ecclesiasticall moderation reproued those Nouators as changing still to worse and reiected their demands and propositions as intended to subuert her Prerogatiue and soueraigne power ouer Ecclesiasticall matters But as for the Association which I haue spoken of it was by the suffrages of all confirmed and established THat foure and twenty or more of the Queenes Priuy Councell or of the Nobilitie chosen by the Queenes Letters Patents should make inquest after those that would inuade the Kingdome incite rebellion or attempt to offend or offer violence to the Queenes Person for or by any one whomsoeuer that shall lay claime to the Crowne of England And that he for whom or by whom any such thing is attempted shall be altogether vncapable of the Crowne of England and depriued of all right and pursued to the death by all the Queenes subiects if by these foure and twenty Noblemen they shall be iudged culpable of inuasion rebellion offence or violence and so publikely declared Lawes also were enacted for the defence of the Queene against the Iesuites and Popish Priests which did then inuent by the Ball of Pius Quintus the Pope many mischieuous and dangerous matters That is to say That they should depart the Realme within fortie dayes And that those which should after that time come or stay in the Kingdome should bee holden guilty of Laesae Maiestatis And all such as wittingly or willingly did receiue or nourish them should be guilty of Felony For so are all capitall Crimes vnder Laesae Maiestatis called That those which were brought vp amongst the Seminaries if they returned not within sixe moneths after the denunciation made and submitted themselues to the Queene in the presence of a Bishop or two Iustices should be holden
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
they should haue recourse either to the King of France or Queene of England for refuge succors For they were both at that time discōtented with the Spaniard but suspicious also one of the other The French could not endure that the English their ancient enemies should encrease their power by the addition of the Netherlands and the English in like sort the French De la Prune the French Ambassador for the Low-Countries that he might diuert the Estates from the English made this demonstration THat the Sea flowing betwixt England the Netherlands the English were too farre distant and could not at all occasions be ready to assist them their command also was intollerable and for that cause were in times past driuen out of France and were like then to hazard the same in Ireland That the succession of the Realme was vncertaine and whether MARIE Queene of Scots or IAMES her sonne did succeed both hee and shee would bee ready to giue vp the Netherlands to the Spaniard for the assurance of their owne affaires But that the French were opportunely adioyning and neighbouring their command most mild and their succession certaine in the person of the King of Nauarre who was of the same profession with them Such as fauoured the English maintained the contrary THat they were not so farre disseuered but they could commodiously send them ayde without the hindrance of any That it appeared by the Histories what the French Command had been of yore in the Netherlands what it now was by the surprise of Dixmond Donkircke and Dendermond and the furious and perfidious invasion of Bruges Alost New-port and Antwerpe and what their faith was hauing beene so often obliged by Edicts and nowithstanding violated by the cruell Massacres which haue beene committed in the townes That the succession of England was assured in the person of King Iames who was zealous in the true religion Besides the English were of the selfe-same religion and faitfull obseruers of the ancient League with Burgundie That their trafficke had brought infinite wealth to the Netherlands and their ports most commodious for them The Estates neuerthelesse by Ambassadors implored the ayde of the French King by whom they were receiued with a fearefull silence and a long time deluded with procrastinations by reason aswell of their enuy to the English as of hate to the Spaniard so the Ambassadours returned home at the last and conceiuing hope from the former bounty of Queen ELIZABETH they determined to fly to her for protection Hereupon vvas holden a consultation in England vvhether they vvere to be receiued into their protection or no Some vvere of aduice that they shold presently be receiued and ayde forthvvith sent them 〈…〉 brought them in subiection should become a vexation to the English on that side Other some aduised that they were to bee esteemed as Rebels and vnworthy of succours as being reuolted from the fidelitie which they ought to their Prince THe Spaniard had not violated any of the Articles of his Ioyfull entrance which they sought for as a colour and pretext for their rebellion and deposition of their lawfull Prince But admit that hee had violated them yet was hee not for that to bee punished with the losse of his principalitie And although some suppose that obedience should bee so long denyed him vntill hee had recompenced his fault yet others esteeme that the diuine Lawes to which humane lawes must yeeld Princes should as powers ordinated by God be simply and for conscience obeyed For God hath giuen them the Soueraigntie of command and to subiects the glory of obedience And that subiects should wish for good Princes but endure all whatsoeuer they be That these Prouinces were falne to the Spaniard not by the election of the people but by the hereditary right of their Ancestors and the donation of the Emperors That the Dutchmen had receiued priuiledges from their Princes but had lost the same by a crime of Laesae Maiestatis in taking vp Armes against them That these were not the estates of the Netherlands that had demanded protection but certaine Plebean persons that had attributed to them the Title of Estates It was therefore thought by the iudgement of these most expedient that the Queene should not intermeddle with the affaires of the Netherlands but rather strongly to fortifie her own Kingdomes indeuouring dayly by her naturall bounty to oblige the hearts of 〈…〉 encrease her treasurie to haue her Nauy alwayes well prepared and furnished with necessaries to fortifie with garisons the frontier townes towards Scotland to conserue the ancient militarie discipline of England which was corrupted by the Dutch warres That in thus doing England would be impregnable secured on all sides and a terrour to the enemy That this would be the most commodioas meanes to auoid the warres which might fall vpon such as are begirt with potent neighbours That none would offer to prouoke them seeing them so well furnished of money and forces garded with the good-will and loue of their subiects and alwayes ready and prepared to reuenge themselues And that it would be preposterous wisedome to consume money and Souldiers which are the life and soule of warre in anothers cause and for Princes or people of no ability being subiects to anothers rule and by reason of their pouerty must alwayes bee supplyed with fresh succours or by ingratitude totally prouiding for their owne affaires will neglect those that had assisted them as the English had while-ere in France experimented to their losse in the Bourgongnian cause and not long since in the defence of the Protestants But such as were of this opinion as men degenerate slothfull and addicted to the Spanish party moued the men of warre to much indignation So soone as the Ambassadors of the Estates presented themselues to the Queene with earnest affection they beseeched her to assume the rule of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands and to receiue them into her protection and perpetuall homage being vndeseruedly oppressed She graciously gaue them hearing but refused to take vpon her their rule and protection Neuerthelesse to raise the siege from before Antwerpe which was then reduced into great necessitie and oppressed by the Prince of Parma she promised them if they would deliuer for a Gage into her hands the towne of Sluce with all the artillery forthwith to send them foure thousand souldiers But whilst these things were propounded Antwerpe was yeelded vp because the passage of the Riuer Scald by admirable deuices was quite cut off After that the Queen had setled a while her thoughts and cares vpon these matters and perceiued the great cruelty of the Spaniards which they exercised vpon the Dutch her neighbours and the hate which they bore to England and the Religion which was there maintained for the Spaniards were verily perswaded that they could neuer reduce the Netherlands to order if they first subdued not England To hinder warre
from comming home to her Scotland as yet wauering and that the forces of the Spaniards might not be too farre extended in the adiacent Countries vvhich would be most commodiously seated for the transporting of warres into England for exercising of traffique as well by sea as the Riuer of Rhine And to hinder that there might not be any prouision of Nauigation caried to her enemies which besides were well prouided of strong Shipping and men of valiant spirits that if they should bee ioyned vvith the English Nauy it would be an easie thing for them to be soone Commanders of the Sea so rich and powerfull that they had long time since without any foraine aide supprest the insolencies of their proudest enemies and that they might not commit themselues to the trust and faith of the French She resolued that she was bound in Christian charitie to succour the afflicted Dutchmen being professors of the same Religion and in wisedome to prouide for the conseruation of a people which God had committed vnto her by cutting through the ruinous complots of their enemies not for any desire of glory but for the necessitie of goodnesse Whereupon shee openly tooke vpon her the defence of the Netherlands The Christian Princes admiring such a Masculine valour in a woman to haue such a magnanimous spirit as to denounce warre as it were to so potent a Monarch Insomuch that the King of Sweden speaking of her said that she had taken the Diadem from off her owne head to expose it to the doubtfull and dangerous euent of warre These were the conditions that were agreed vpon betweene Queene ELIZABETH and the Estates of Holland THe Queene would send as succours to the Vnited Prouinces 5000 foot and a thousand horse vnder a generall Commander of famous remarke and during the warre would pay the souldiers which should after the Peace were made be paid backe by the Estates that is to say in the first yeare of the Peace such summes as had beene disbursed in the first yeare of the warres and the rest in the foure yeares following In the meane time they should deliuer into her hands for assurance the towne of Flushing the Castle of Rameken in Zeland and the I le of Breil with the towne and both the Skances The Gouernors that should bee appointed should not haue any command ouer the Inhabitants but onely of their Garison which should pay the Tributes and Imposts as well as the inhabitants Those places should after the money were repayed bee deliuered backe not to the Spaniard but the Estates The Gouernors and two other English which the Queen would name should be admitted into the Councell of the Estates and the Estates should not entertaine any League without the Queenes aduice nor she the Estates not acquainted therewith Ships for their common defence in equall number and at a common expence should be set forth vnder the command of the Admirall of England The Ports of either should he freely open to either With other conditions which were printed and exposed to all mens view For the memoriall of this alliance the Zealanders triumphing with ioy caused new money to be coyned bearing vpon one side the Armes of Zealand which is a Lyon floating vpon the waues with this inscription Luctor emergo Ie comba et me sauue J fight and I saue my selfe On the other side the Armes of the townes of Zealand with this Authore Deo fauente Regina God Author the Queene fauourable The Queene by a booke set forth gaue all to vnderstand that in times past Leagues and Societies were contracted betweene the Kings of England and the Princes of the Netherlands for the mutuall faith and defence one of another She remonstrateth the barbarous cruelty of the Spaniard against the miserable Netherlanders and the mischieuous complots which they had wrought against her selfe that had with much labour sought a Peace and had done this to keepe the Dutch from reuolting Neither did shee propose any other thing to her selfe in aiding of them then that the Dutch might inioy peaceably their former liberty her subiects safety and either Nation a secure commerce and traffique And to prouide that warre should not assaile her at home and set the Spaniard to worke abroad She set forth a Nauy to the West Indies vnder the command of Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Carlile of one and twenty sayle in which besides Saylors were 2300 voluntary souldiers which surprized in the I le of Saint Iames neere to Cap-Verd the towne of Saint Iames which gaue name to the Iland where they celebrated with the thunder of the Cannon the Coronation day of Queene ELIZABETH which was vpon the fourteenth of Nouember and pillaging the town they found great store of Meale Wine and Oyle but no money at all The fourteenth day after they set sayle and many which kept their quarters guard in the open aire and slept vpon the ground were taken with grieuous sicknesse called Calentura whereof they dyed a disease very familiar in â—hat Iland and dangerous to strangers which sleepe in the open fields The first of Ianuary they ariued at Hispaniola where the souldiers being landed in a secure place by the direction of a Spaniard whom they had taken and kept to that purpose they marched in order against the towne and hâ—uing repulst a hundred and fifty Spanish horsemen which opposed their passage and putting to flight certaine Musketiers which were placed in Ambush they entered pell-mell into the towne with them by the two westerne gates and all the inhabitants being strucke with feare and terrour fled out at the North gate of the said City The English brought their troops into the Market-place neere to the great Temple and because they were not in number sufficient to man the towne they fortified it with rampars of earth after that they seized vpon other conuenient places So hauing the whole towne in their possession and command they remained a moneth there And seeing the inhabitants offered but a small summe of money to redeeme their towne they began first to set fire vpon the suburbs and after vpon the fairest house in the towne vntill the inhabitants had redeemed their towne with 25000 Crowns of gold which with much paine they gathered They found there no great store of pillage excepting some pieces of Artillery with Corne and Sugar for they vsed there nought but Copper money and glasse vessels with some made of earth which were brought out of the East India Amongst other things in the towne Court were found the Armes of the King of Spaine with the world vnder placed from whence a horse with his foure-feet rampant was figured leaping out with this inscription Non sufficit orbis The world doth not suffice Whereat some scoffing tooke it for an argument of the infinite auarice and ambition of the Spaniard as neuer satisfied From thence sayling vp into the Continent of America
whole yeare were the English affaires caried in the Netherlands In England Phillip Earle of Arundel who all the yeare had beene kept close prisoner was accused in the Starre-Chamber THat hee contrary to the Lawes had succoured the Priests had interchange of letters with Alan and Parson Jesuits and enemies to the Queene That he had derogated from the Justice of the Kingdome by publike writing and had enterprised to depart the Kingdome without licence But hauing made protestation of his obedience to the Queene and loue to his Country he modestly excused himselfe out of his zeale to the Catholike Religion and his ignorance of the lawes and submitted himselfe to the iudgement of the Assembly who adiudged him to be fined 10000 pounds and so long imprisonment as the Queenes pleasure should prescribe But of these things in the yeare 1589 must more amply be discoursed About this time ariued in England frō Frederick 2. King of Denmarke Hen. Ramely Chancelor for the German affaires with a warlike traine guard of Muskettiers who at large declared with what affection the K. of Denmarke was transported towards Queene ELIZABETH and the generall peace of Christendome to which he promised with his best indeauors to moue the King of Spaine to condiscend THat as hee said the common enemie of mankinde might not any longer with humane blood water those seeds of warre which he had sowne in the Netherlands The Queene gaue him a gracious hearing and hauing often graciously entertained him with diuers discourses she highly commended the pious intention of the King of Denmarke And by the Lord Burghley Treasurer Charles Howard Lord High Admirall Henry Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Chamberlaine and Sir Francis Walsingham principall Secretarie she gaue him this answer THat she desired nothing more then to embrace a League of amity in which were coucht no treacheries with her neighbouring Princes But considering the complots of the Spaniard which hee had practised against her shee could not but prouide for her owne safety the defence of the True Religion of Christ and the conseruation of the priuiledges of her allyed neighbours in their entier The selfe-same answer to the same purpose she gaue to Bodellan sent into England by the Duke of Parma to treat of a Peace In the meane space shee furnished the King of Nauarre by the hands of Horatio Pallauicine vvith a large summe of money in whose person onely the Guises oppugned the reformed Religion in France But the Queene was to nothing more attentiue then to confirme a solid amity betweene England and Scotland and to conioyne them in one vnited League of mutuall offence and defence vvhereby she might not onely cut off all hope of ayde from Scotland to foraine Nations but to the Queene of Scots her selfe For Queene ELIZABETH suspected that shee being greatly incensed had imbraced some perilous counsell since that the conditions which vvere presented by her vvere reiected the association agreed vpon and she as is before related deliuered into the custody of Sir Aimé Poulet and Drury And it was apparantly manifest that the Iesuites on one side and the fugitiue Nobilitie of the other had suggested her with diuers designes and abrupt counsels by their Letters written one against the other For the Iesuites perceiuing that there was no other hope left for the establishing of the Roman Religion either by her or by her sonne they framed to themselues new deuices they beganne to coyne for the Spaniard whose greatnesse they alwayes laboured to encrease a new and fained right to the succession of England And as Pasquier reported they sent Saumier if the name be not fained into England vvhich vvas one of their owne society for to draw the Nobility to the Spanish faction and to force her to some dangerous matter denouncing that if she were any way troublesome that neither shee nor her son should raigne at all And by inciting the Guises her alliance to new commotions against the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde to the intent to hinder them from aiding of her and her sonne But to conclude the League which was begunne by Wotton and interrupted by the slaughter of Francis Russell which also Desneuall the French Ambassador and Corselle a man of an impatient disposition who not long before was ignominiously driuen out of England began now to hinder Thomas Randolph vvas dispatched vvhose dexteritie in the Scottish affaires was accounted wise and fortunate although to the King hee was scarce welcome by reason of the troubles which he formerly moued in Scotland He proposed to the King the same conditions of the League which Wotton had before propounded The King would haue to be added the Articles concerning the yearely pension assigned and the preiudice not to be offered to his Right to the Crowne of England and vvould haue them inserted into the Contract The Ambassador according to his instructions promised him an assurance of these things in a writing separate by it selfe prouided that hee constantly embraced the League The King out of the loue vvhich hee bore to his subiects propounded that the Scots might inioy the self-same immunities in England as the English themselues But the Ambassador shewing him that it could not be done except by the Parliament authoritie and the States of England vvould not easily accord thereto the King deliberately proposing the Articles to himselfe agreed vnto them and commanded them to be imparted to his Nobility to the entent that they likewise should confirme them with their subscriptions Yet the French Ambassador murmuring first said that the Queene had desired this League not out of any loue to the King but for the iust feare vvhich shee had lest shee should bee ruined by her enemies which were ioyned against her then hee iniected many feares intermixt with threats that the amity of France which is most profitable to the Scots vvould be by this meanes dissolued Lastly he coniured the King that hee would not doe any thing without the King of France his counsell But the King who wel knew these to be but vaine speeches could not be retarded or diuerted from his purpose For hee wel knew that the English forces were much encreased by Englands League with the Low-Countries made this serious answer THat he had reposed his confidence in the diuine bounty and not in the friendship of such as were contrary to the glory of God Neither was it lesse lawfull for him to contract a League with the Queene without the French Kings counsell then it was of late for the King of France to ioyne in friendship with her without his aduice And although the Queene that she might not be thought to buy this alliance did send him lesse money then he expected and made lesse expression of the assurance of the succession neuerthelesse for the zeale which hee bore to Religion and his singular affection to the Queene hee commanded the League to bee
concluded and further to acquite his promise he determined to send into England the Carrs which were suspected murderers of Francis Russell A little after vpon the beginning of Iuly the Earle of Rutland the Lord Euers and Tho Randolph for the Queene the Earle of Bothwell the Lord Boide and Iames Humy Coldingknoll for the King of Scotland were assembled at Barwicke and there consummated the League which was called The League of fast friendship because the word of offence was displeasing to the Scots as followeth FOrasmuch as the Raignes and Gouernments of of these Princes are falne into these doubtful and dangerous times wherein the neighbouring Princes which will be called Catholiques acknowledging the Papall authoritie doe contract Leagues and by mutuall alliances doe oblige their faiths to ruine and extirpate the true pure and Euangelicall Religion not onely out of their owne Territories and Dominions but also out of foraine Kingdomes To the end that those which doe embrace the Euangelicall Religion might not seeme lesse carefull to defend and protect the same then those which at this time doe exercise the Roman Religion are for the euersion ouerthrow of it The said Princes for their greater assurance and securitie of their owne persons vpon whose safety dependeth the good and welfare of the people and for the conseruation of the true ancient and Christian Religion whereof they at this present make profession haue consulted and agreed to combine themselues in a straiter knot of mutuall alliance and friendship then hath beene till now amongst the Predecessors of their Maiesties The first ARTICLE PRimarily then to the end that this so godly and necessary Proposition of either Prince in this turbulent estate of things might come to an effect for the common good and propagation of the truth of the Gospell it is conuented agreed and concluded that the said Princes shall by this mutuall and holy League be especially carefull to defend and conserue the true pure and Euangelicall Religion which they now professe against all others that for the ruine thereof shall enterprize any thing against either of them and shall labour and endeuour with all possible diligence that the rest of those Princes which are professors of the same Religion might accord with them in this holy propounded League and conioyning their forces conserue in their Dominions the true seruice of God and defend and gouerne their subiects vnder the said ancient and Apostolicall Religion The second ITem it is conuented accorded and concluded that this mutuall League for the defending and maintaining of the Christian and Catholique Religion which at this present is holden by either Prince and by the grace of God obserued and nourished in their Realmes and Dominions shall bee a League of offence and defence against all those that shall hinder or endeuour by any means to hinder the exercise of the same within their Realmes and Dominions notwithstanding all Treaties Leagues of friendship and Confederations past betweene either of them and all aduersaries and persecutors whatsoeuer of the same Religion That if at any time any Prince or State whatsoeuer of what condition so euer he be shal inuade or infest the Realmes Dominions or Territories of either of the said Princes or any part of them or indomage or iniure any manner of way their Maiesties persons or subiects or shall attempt these or any of these things The third IT is conuented accorded and concluded that neither of these Princes receiuing intelligence from the person inuaded iniured or indomaged shall directly or indirectly openly or couertly aide counsell or fauour at any time the said inuaders or infestors in what kinde of inuasion so euer it shall bee or by whomsoeuer it shall be attempted notwithstanding all kindred affinitie amitie or 〈◊〉 before contracted or after to bee contracted The fourth THat the said Princes shall reciprocally send aide either to other in manner as followeth If the Kingdome of England shall be inuaded or molested by any stranger vpon those parts which are farre remote from the Kingdome of Scotland the King of Scotland after demand made by the Queene of England shall incontinently and without delay send two thousand horse and fiue thousand foot or any lesse number according to the pleasure request of the Queene to bee conducted at the expence of the Queene from the frontiers of Scotland next adiacent to the Kingdome of England into any part of England whatsoeuer The fift THat if the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee inuaded or molested by any stranger vpon those parts which are farre remote from the Kingdome of England the Queene of England after demand made by the King of Scotland shall incontinently and without delay send three thousand horse and sixe thousand foot or any lesse number according to the pleasure and request of the King to be conducted at the expence of the King from the frontiers of England next adiacent to the Kingdome of Scotland into any part of Scotland whatsoeuer The sixt THat if the Kingdome of England shall by any one bee inuaded vpon the North parts within threescore miles of the borders of Scotland the most illustrious King of Scotland being requested and demanded by the most excellent Queene of England shall assemble all his forces and troopes to his possibilitie effectually and without delay and ioyning them with the English troops shall pursue in all hostile manner those that shall inuade the Kingdome of England their fauourers and assistants whatsoeuer for the space of thirty dayes together or longer if occasion and necessitie shall require according to the space of time which the subiects of Scotland were anciently accustomed and to this day doe hold for bringing of succours to the defence of the Kingdome The seuenth THat when the King of Scots shall haue notice giuen him from the Queene of England of any inuasion or deuastation happening in Ireland he shall not onely forbid the inhabitants of the County of Argathel of the Iles and places adiacent to the said County and the inhabitants of all other places whatsoeuer in the Kingdome of Scotland not to enter into the Kingdome of Ireland and to his power to hinder them from entring But also in what time so euer it shall happen that the inhabitants of any part whatsoeuer of the Realme of Scotland shall contrary to the intent of this Treaty enter in hostile manner into any part of Ireland with an extraordinary and vnusuall number of Souldiers the King himselfe after he had giuen notice to the Queene of the said entry shall by a publique Edict denounce the said inuaders breaking in hostile maner into the said Realme for Rebels disturbers of the publique peace and men guilty of attempt against the estate and as such shall pursue them The eighth THat neither of the said Princes shall giue or permit any other in any sort whatsoeuer to giue at any time hereafter any aide fauour or assistance to any conspirator rebell or one reuolted from
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
heart fayleth me not yet nor will I faint in aduersitie I referre me to my confession made to Bromley now Lo Chancellor and Baron Lauar I am ignorant of the English lawes and Statutes I haue no Counsellers at law Who are my Peeres I know not My notes and writings are taken from me and there 's none dares mediate for me I am free from all trespasse against her Maiestie I haue animated none against her neither am I to be called into iudgement vnlesse it were for some word or writing of mine owne that could be produced against me wherein I haue recommended my selfe and cause to some forraigne Princes which I would not deny The day following Sir Ayme Poulet and Parker two of the Commissioners repayred to her who shewed her in writing her answer and demanded whether she would persist therein which after she had heard read distinctly and truly vnto her she commended it saying she would But this quoth she was out of my minde that which I would haue added now that the Queene wrote vnto me that I was subiect to the lawes of England and to be iudged by them because I liued vnder their tuition To which I answer That I came into England for ayde and hauing euer since beene detayned prisoner I could neuer enioy the tuition or benefite of the lawes nor till this present had I any to teach them vnto me In the afternoone certaine of the Commissioners with some learned Counsellers at the Ciuill and Canon Law came to her The Chancellor and Treasurer shewed their authoritie by Commission telling her That neyther her detayning in captiuitie nor her Princely prerogatiue could priuiledge or exempt her from answering in the kingdome gently intreating her That she would be pleased to heare what was obiected if not they were to proceed by course of Law against her though absent She answereth She was no subiect and that she would rather dye a thousand deathes than acknowledge her selfe to bee one seeing that by such acknowledgement shee should preiudice the soueraignty of her royall Maiesty and become lyable to the Lawes of England yea in case of Religion notwithstanding she was ready to answere to all things in open Court of Parliament though shee knewe that this Convention was for formalities sake purposely continued for the taking away of her life already condemned in opinion She wisheth them to examine their owne consciences and to remember that the spacious Theater of the world was more than the Kingdome of England Then she began to complaine of some iniuries offered her but the Treasurer interrupting her recited fauours which she had receiued from her Maiestie namely that she had punished some for impugning the title of her right to England stayed the State when they would haue condemned her for seeking to haue married with the Duke of Norfolke and for consenting to the rebellion in the North. But when they saw she made no reckoning thereof they departed from her After a few houres Sir Aimé Poulet and the Sollicitor presented the Commission and the names of the Commissioners to her that thereby she might see they were to proceed by no fraudulent but a legall course in equity As for the Commissioners she tooke no exception but that shee excepted against was the seuere new Law as vniust and purposely deuised against her and vpon which their Commission depended whereof they could shew no president neither would she euer yeeld vnto it She demanded by what Law they should proceed Ciuill or Canon saying they must send for Interpreters from Padua Poytiers and other outlandish Academies because there were none in England that vnderstood them adding further that by the expresse words of the Queenes letters it appeared she stood already conuicted of diuers crimes and condemned before she was tryed and therefore had no need to come before them to a second hearing but desired to be resolued of some scruples she had found in the letters yet would not deliuer them out in writing because shee said it became not a Queene to play the Scribe For this cause the selected Commissioners went again to her of whom she desired to know what these words meant For that she was vnder the Queenes protection To which the Chancellor made answer This was easie to be vnderstood by any yet was it not the subiects part to interprete their Soueraignes meaning neyther were they come for that cause She likewise required them that they should shew forth the Protestation which once she had made But it was answered That it had not beene allowed nor should it be now because it was preiudiciall to the Realme of England Then she demanded by what authoritie they were to proceed To whom it was answered By the authoritie of the Commission and the Ciuill Law of England But sayth she you make Lawes as you list and I am not bound to submit my selfe to them seeing the English long since refused to be subiect to the Law-salique of France and that if they would proceed by the Ciuill law of England they must produce examples for that that Law consisteth for the most part of presidents and ancient customes But if by the Canon Law none but the founders therof ought to be the expositors Answer was made They would proceed neyther by the Ciuill nor Canon but by the Law of England yet by the Caesarian and Canon Law both it was plaine if she would heare it that she ought to appeare She refused not shee said to heare them by way of discourse but not iudiciarily From this she fell into other speeches That she neuer had any thought to destroy the Queene That she had been forced to endure many iniuries That she should become a common stone of offence if she were thus stil abused That she had offered to imploy Nauue for the repealing of the Popes Bull and that she would sundry times haue excused her innocencie by letters but was not permitted finally That all the offers of good-will which she had offered for twentie yeares space were still reiected As she slipped aside by these prettie digressions they brought her to the point and intreated her to say plainly whether she would answer the Commissioners She replyed Their Commission was grounded vpon the new Law which was made to entangle her hauing therefore iust cause of suspioion she could not endure it and hauing alwayes carried a true heart she would not now trespasse so much against the Kings of Scotland her ancestors as to acknowledge her selfe a subiect to the Crowne of England For what were that else but to proclaim them rebells and traytors notwithstanding she refused not to answer yet by no meanes in the nature of a subiect for that shee had rather perish than to answer as a malefactor Then answered Sir Christâ—pher Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine saying You are accused of conspiracy against our soueraigne La the Queene an anointed Queene but not condemned You say you are a Queen Admit it yet
extract the particularities of the things you had intreated of with Babington As he was thus speaking she interrupted him saying That the circumstances indeed were probable but not the thing That her sincerity depended not vpon her Secretaries fidelity or memory though she knew them to be ingenuous Or if for feare of punishment or hope of profite and escape they had confessed any thing it was not to be admitted for diuerse good reasons which she had alleaged before That the mindes of men are carried away with many passions for her Secretaries would neuer haue confessed such things if eyther profite or some other hope had not induced them thereto That the letters might be directed to others than them they were written to and that oftentimes many things had beene inserted that were not dictated And if her papers had not beene taken from her or if she had a Secretary she could more soundly haue confuted their obiections But said the Lo Treasurer they will obiect nothing but since the xix of Iune and your papers would stand you in no stead seeing the Secretaries and Babington himselfe vninforced by torture haue confessed that you sent these letters to Babington But if you shall deny this let the Commissioners iudge whether there be more credite to be giuen to your denyall or their affirmation But to returne to the point marke what I denounce as a Counsellor You haue mentioned many things for the procuring of your liberty which haue had no successe and that hath proceeded from your selfe or the Scotts not from the queene For your Lords of Scotland haue refused to deliuer the King of Scotts in hostage and when last there was a treaty about your liberty Parry was sent from Morgan your clyent to slay the queene Ah said shee you are mine aduersary I replyed he I am aduersary to all Q. Elizabeth's enemies But enough of this Let vs returne to our proofes When she refused to heare Yet we will heare said he And I too answered she in another place and will defend myselfe Now they read againe her letters to Charles Paget wherin she certified him That there was no way left for the K. of Spaine to bring the Low-countries into his subiection but by placing a Prince in England to serue his turne And her letters to the Lo Paget to hasten the ayde he should send for the inuading of England And those which Cardinall Allen had sent her wherein he saluted her by the name of Most excellent Lady and certified her that the matter was recommended to the Prince of Parma Whilest they were reading them she said That Babington and her Secretaries had accused her to excuse themselues That she neuer heard of six murtherers the rest were nothing to the purpose She held Allen a venerable Prelate and knew no other head of the Church but the Pope of Rome neyther could shee tell how he or other stranger kings did style her nor could she hinder them in their letters from calling her queene of England Affirming that her Secretaries were not to be trusted for that they had proceeded against her contrary to the duety and fidelity which they had sworne to her That the periured are not to be credited though they sweare neuer so much neyther did shee thinke their oathes were to be taken in any Câ—uâ—t of conscience because formerly they had sworne fidelity and silence neyther were they any English subiects That Nauue had often written otherwise than she dictated and Curle alwayes that which he told him That she could beare with their faults â—n all things but such as touched her honour They might also confesse these things for to saue themselues thinking that in so doing she could not hurt them and that being a queene they would deale more gently with her And that she had neuer heard of Ballard but of one Hallard that had offered his seruice to her which notwithstanding she refused because she had heard that he had likewise proffered it to Walsingham After this when they read certaine notes out of letters which Curle confessed hee had written to Mendoza in her secret characters and pressed her with them as hauing had a purpose to make ouer the title of the kingdome to the Spaniard and that Allen and Parsons were resident now in Rome for that cause shee protesting that they had forsworne themselues answered I being a prisoner without hope of liberty languishing in griefe and in dispayre tâ— performe that which many expected from me who am nâ—w in my declining age and without my health some were of opinion to settle the succession of the English Crowne vpon the Spaniard or some other English Catholick A booke was sent me to declare the Spaniards right but because I refused to receiue it sâ—me were grieued at me As for the rest being at this instant out of all hope of aide from England I haue resolued not to reiect that of the Stranger Vpon that Sir Thomas Egerton the Queenes Sollicitor opened to the Commissioners what would become of them their honours goods and children if the kingdome were so transported But the L. Treasurer answered That could not be because by the Law the Crowne was hereditarie Then askâ—d he the Queene of Scotts if she had any more to say She desired to be heard in open Parliament or in presence of Queene Elizabeth and her Councell not doubting but one Queene would haue consideration of another Then rising vp with a bold countenance she conferred apart with the L. Treasurer Hatton and Walsingham about some businesse That being done they reiourned their meeting together again vntill the xxv of October in the Starre Chamber at Westminster And this is that which I haue gathered from the memories of Ed. Barker chief Clerke of the Councell Tho. Wheeler publique Notary and Clerke of the Court of Canterbury and other credible persons whose assistance I haue had in this At the time appointed all the CoÌ„missioners being assembled together except the Earles of Shrewsbury Warwick who then were sick Nauue and Curle hauing voluntarily without hope of future preferment or present reward affirmed ratified by oath that all euery the letters copies of letters to fore produced were most true sentence was pronounced against the Q of Scotland signed and sealed by the Commissioners and recorded in these words WIth one vnanimous accord and consent of theirs they pronounce and giue their sentence and iudgement which was read aloud vpon the last day and in the assigned place saying That since the end of the aforesaid Sessions of Parliament specified in the said Commission to wit since the said first day of Iune in the yeare xxvij afore mentioned and before the date of the said Commission many things haue bin attempted and conceiued against the Realme of England by Anth. Babington and others with the knowledge and priuity of the said Mary pretending that the Crowne of England
what a woman shee is for whose well-fare you haue been so circumspect Certainly I doe well and with gratitude of heart call your vigilant care to minde but neuer shall be able to giue you condigne thankes although I should liue as long as euery one of you So soone as I receiued the Scepter being not vnmindfull of God who gaue me his grace I begun my Raigne in his seruice and the Religion wherein I was borne and haue beene brought vp and I hope shall die And although I am not ignorant how many ieopardies haue encompassed Mee at home and how great Princes for changing Religion haue enuied Me abroad yet haue I not beene moued thereat For I know that God whom alone I respect will defend both Mee and My cause From thence haue sprung vp against Me so many attempts and conspiracies that I wonder I liue but God hath alwaies beene my succour and support and sent me aide beyond My expectation Since that to proue My selfe a Proficient in the Art of Raigning I haue of long time bethought Mee what things were fitting for Kings and haue found that nothing is more necessary than to be plentifully furnished with the predominant Vertues of Iustice Temperance Wisedome and Fortitude For the two last which appertaine more properly to men My sexe permits Me not to attribute them to my self but as for the two precedent and the more mild I dare say without glorying I haue with indifferency conioyned the highest with the lowest I haue not preferred any vnworthily Mine eares haue not beene too credulous nor haue I before I heard the cause past my iudgement rashly yet I will not say but many things perhaps haue bin brought by report to me by som too partially affected to the Parties For the good and wary Prince is often sold for that hee cannot heare euery Cause My iudgement the best it could hath euermore inclined to the Truth as he which admonished his Friend to make no answer before he had repeated the Alphabet so haue I done nothing vnaduisedly As concerning therefore your Counsels Consultations I acknowledge them so elaborate prudent and prouident for My conseruation issued from hearts so sincere and so well-affected to My seruice that it is My part to endeuour with all My power not to be vnthankfull to men of so great demerit But as concerning your demand I intreat and charge you to hold you content with an Answer without Answer I commend your Iudgements and apprehend the reasons thereof But excuse Me I pray for that doubtfull perplexitie of thought which troubleth Me. Let the most gracious affection which I beare you be acceptable and pleasing to you and withall this Answer if so be you esteeme it an Answer If I say I will not do your demand perhaps I shall say more than I thinke If that I will I whom you would so gladly preserue shall runne headlong vpon mine owne destruction And I thinke such is your wisdome you would not that if you obserue seriously the times and manners of persons After this the Parliament was prorogued At that time were sent to the Queene of Scotland the Lord Buckhurst and Beal to certifie her that Iudgement was giuen against her and that it was approued most iust by Authoritie of Parliament and that the States had demanded the execution thereof for Iustice Securitie and Necessitie And therefore they perswaded her that after she had acknowledged her offences to God Queen Elizabeth she should satisfie therefore by repentance before she dyed and to shew that if she liued the Religion receiued in England could not stand At which she seemed to triumph with extraordinary cheerefulnesse giuing thankes to God and reioycing that she was held to be a worthy Instrument for the re-establishing of her Religion in this Iland Shee did with great feruour and affection desire a Catholike Priest to direct her Conscience and to administer the Sacraments refusing vpon the first motion the Bishop and the Deane which they recommended to her to that end And she greatly blamed the English Nation saying often The English haue many times murdered their Kings it is no strange thing if they do the like to me who am deriued of their Royall blood L'Aubespine the Ambassadour of France stayed the publishing of this Sentence yet by suite and soliciting of some Courtiers it was published in the Month of December with the sound of a Trumpet thorow the Citie of London in the presence of the Maior the Sherifes and certaine selected Citizens And Queene Elizabeth protested seriously in the Preface of this publication that she had beene drawne to it with great griefe of heart by a certaine necessitie and the earnest request of the States of the Kingdome Notwithstanding there were some that thought it was done by a certaine familiar policie incident to women who seeme to doe by compulsion the thing they most desire The publishing of this Sentence of death being declared to the Q. of Scotland she was so far from fainting in courage or seeming disanimated that with alacritie casting vp her eies hands towards heauen she thanked God for it getting leaue of her keeper Sir Ayme Poulet she wrote to Q. Eliza. That She putteth off all malice of minde towards her giueth thankes to God for this Condemnation seeing it was his good pleasure to adde an end to the irkesome pilgrimage which she had in this life and desired her for that shee could not expect any good from some hot-spirited Nouators which held the chiefest ranke in England that she might be beholden to her alone and no other for the benefits following First that when her Aduersaries were glutted in her innocent blood her Body might be carried from thence by her owne seruants to some sacred and hallowed ground there to be buried and aboue all into France where her Mother lyeth in rest seeing that in Scotland they had offered violence to the dead bodies of her Ancestors profaned or ruinated the Churches and in England she could not hope for any buriall according to the Catholike solemnities amongst the ancient Kings both their Ancestors And so her Body that neuer had rest so long as it liued with her Soule may haue some at last after it is parted from it Secondly for that she feared the close tyrannie of some she may not suffer her punishment vnknowne to the Queene of England in some secret place but in the sight of her seruants and other people which may truly beare witnesse of the Faith which she shewed in Christ of her obedience to the Church and of the end of her life against the false rumors which her Aduersaries may bruit abroad Thirdly that her seruants may be suffered peaceably to depart whither they will and to enioy the goods she had bequeathed them by her Will. Shee beseeched her in the name of Iesus Christ to grant her these things and combined her thereto by their alliance in
safeguard of the Common-wealth so much as for their owne particular as Boniface the eightth put to death Celestine the fift deposed from the Papacy fearing that he should be called againe because of his singular piety Vrban the sixt who caused fiue Cardinalls to be sewed vp in sackes and cast into the Sea beheaded some and two others he caused to be baked in an Ouen and for the more terror commanded they should be laid on Mules and carried about the countrey Moreouer that Secretaries are not to be held for seruants and that domestick witnesse is to be admitted for proofe of secret things done in the house And it was argued vpon whether the accusers which haue sworn voluntarily and those which are suspected of crimes ought to come face to face in criminall matters to maintain the accusation Lastly That there is no such perfect example but hath some thing in it which is not iust These and such like are the matters which then were debated In the meane time the K. of Scotland for the remarkeable deare loue he bore his mother laboured with all his power by the imploimēt of W. Keith to saue her omitting nothing beseeming a good vertuous sonne but without successe because the Scots were diuided into factions amongst themselues more fauoured Q. Elizabeth than their prisoned Q. insomuch that some of them by priuate letters sollicited Q. Elizabeth to hasten her punishment and that the Ministers of Scotland being commanded by the King to pray to God in the Churches for his mother they obstinately refused so to do for the hate they bore the Religion which she professed And though the King had formerly beene earnest by messages and letters with Q. Elizabeth in his mothers behalfe yet then he became more instant complayning That it was most vniust that the Nobles the Counsellors and subiects of England should giue sentence against a Queene of Scotland borne of the English blood and as vniust also but to thinke that the States of England can by authority of Parliament exclude the true heyres from the right of succession and their lawfull inheritance The which some did often threaten to cause the more terrour He sent also Patrick Gray and Robert Meluin to delare to Q. Elizabeth That the great proximitie which was betwixt them would not let him beleeue that shee would violate that renowned reputation which shee from all parts had purchased by her vertues and especially by her mercifulnesse which shee had reserued vnstained with any spot of cruelty and that she would by no meanes now defile it in his mothers blood who was of the same princely dignity parentage and sexe whom he because his mothers blood had so great an interest in him could not forsake nor leaue to the cruelty of those who had so long breathed after his death as well as hers After he had by other letters shewed at large with what heauinesse of heart and doubtfull perplexities he was afflicted by reason of this weighty businesse which touched and bound him in nature and honour and into what extremities of distresse and danger his reputation was like to fall among his subiects if any violence were offered to his mother these things he propounded to her serious consideration drawne from the inward sense of his sorrow and filiall affection How greatly it concerneth his honour being a King and sonne if his dearest mother who was also an absolute Princesse should dye an infamous death and that by her commandement who was the next in league of loue and consanguinitie Whether by the word of God any thing may iustly be enacted by law against those whom God hath established for the administration of iustice whom be vouch safeth to call gods vpon earth whom he hath anoynted whom he hath forbid to touch because they are his anoynted and whom he will not permit to suffer wrong vnreuenged How monstrous a thing were it that an absolute Prince should be subiect to the censure of subiects How prodigious that an entyre Prince should leade the way to giue such a detestable example to prophane the diadems of others What should inforce her to this bloody cruelty Honour or profit If honour then might she acquire more and greater in pardoning for so to her eternall glory for her clemency should she binde to her for this benefite both Him and all the Kings of Christendome whose affection otherwise she should lose together with her reputation and brand her selfe with the marke of cruelty If profite it is to be considered whether any thing can be accounted profitable but that which is iust and honest And then concluded in desiring her to send such an answer by his Ambassadors as should be welbeseeming so pious a Princesse and not vnworthy for such a King as was her most affectionate kinsman But these Ambassadors intermingling tempestiue menaces with their messages were not pleasing and so taking their leaue some few dayes after returned back carrying with them as little comfort as hope Pomponius Bellieure sent for this cause from the King of France had accesse to the Q. of England accompanied with l'Aubespine de Chasteauneuf the ordinary Ambassador and hauing giuen her to vnderstand how many contrary thoughts had troubled the K. of France on the one side for the singular affection which he bore her on the other for the neere alliance of kindred which was betwixt him and the Q. of Scotland propounded to Q Elizabeth at two seuerall times in writing these and the like things viz. That it neerely concerned the K. of France and other Kings that a free Queen and absolute Princesse should not be committed to death That the safetie of Queene Elizabeth would be in more danger by the death of Mary than by her life and that being set at libertie she could not attempt any thing against the Queene of England because that her want of health did promise no long life That she had arrogated to her selfe the Kingdome of England was not to be imputed as a crime so much to her as to that she had learned in her youth of naughty Counsellors That shee came into England as a suppliant and therfore she could not be iustly detained but was at the last to be released eyther for money or mercy And besides that an absolute Prince ought not in any sort to be brought to arraignement which made Cicero say that it was a thing neuer heard of that a K. should bee called in question of accused of any capitall crime That if she were innocent she ought not to be punished if culpable she should be pardoned because that would redound to the greater honour and profite and would remaine an eternall example of the English clemency Alledging to this purpose the History of Porsenna which drew out of the fire the right hand of M. Sceuola who had conspired his death and let him go That the first precept to raigne well is to spare blood
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath cōmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since cā testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
English are not wont to feare the Frenchmens menaces nor can these diuert them from prouiding how to settle their State in securitie Forasmuch as the Ambassadours in the meane time haue not made any demonstration or mention how to preuent the imminent ieopardies and dangers hanging ouer Englands head THE NINE AND TWENTIETH YEARE OF HER RAIGNE ANNO DOM. M.D.LXXXVII AS men thus according to the varietie of their apprehensions discoursed busily and at large of these matters as they were led either by enuy or affection D' Aubespine the Ambassadour for France in England who was of the Faction of the Guises thinking that if he could not by Arguments or Reasons deliuer the Queene of Scotland yet would he by some mischieuous craft Treateth priuatly and first with one William Stafford a young Gentleman and apt to conceiue strange hopes whose Mother was one of the Ladies of Honour and his Brother Leger in France about the killing of Queen Elizabeth At first he dealt with him vnder-hand but afterwards more plainely by his Secretary Trappe who promised him if he performed it that he should haue thereby nor only great glory and a large summe of money but also exceeding fauour from his Holinesse the Pope of Rome the Guises and all Catholikes Stafford as loathing such a monstrous mischiefe would not be the Actour thereof but notwithstanding notifyed to him one Modey a fit fellow to be imploed in matter of murther one who would dispatch it though neuer so bloody for money This Modey was a prisoner in London to whom Stafford made it knowne that the French Ambassadour desired to speake with him He answered that he desired the same if he were out of Prison intreating him in the meane time to speake with Cordalion the Ambassadours vnder-Secretary who was his familiar friend The morrow after was sent to him Trappe and Stafford which Trappe Stafford going apart grew into talke with Modey how and by what meanes they might kill Qâ—eene Elizabeth Modey aduised to haue it done by poyson or by bringing priuately into the Queenes Chamber a barrell of Gun-powder to be secretly set on fire But this liked not Trappe who desired a resolute fellow which feared nothing such a one as the Bourgoignon which had slaine the Prince of Orange Stafford had quickly reuealed this to the Councell And Trappe now preparing himselfe for France is apprehended and being examined confesseth all the matter Hereupon the twelfth of Ianuary following the Ambassadour was sent for to the House of Cicile whither he came about euening where there was present at that time by the commandment of the Queen Cicile the Baron of Burghley Lord High Treasurer of England the Earle of Leicester Sir Christopher Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine to the Queens Maiestie Dauison one of her Maiesties Secretaries who declared that they had inuited him thither to acquaint him with the cause why they had stayed his Secretary Trappe being bound for France and so discoursed to him the whole matter as Stafford Modey and Trappe themselues had confessed and had caused them to be brought in to testifie the same before his face The Ambassadour with great impatience bending his browes and standing vp said That he being the Kings Ambassadour would not abuse his Master the King of France or preiudice other Ambassadours in that kinde to be a hearer of Accusations be what they will But they hauing answered him that these things were not produced as accusations against him but to let him perceiue that they were neither false nor faigned and to the ende hee might take occasion to conuince Stafford of Calumnie the more freely hee became quiet But so soone as Stafford came in and had begun to speake he interrupting of him in rayling manner swore That Stafford had first mentioned the matter and that he had threatned to send him bound hand and foote to the Queene of England if he would not giue ouer that businesse and that at that time he forbore him for the loue and affection he had to his Mother his Brother and his Sister Stafford falling on his knees protested many times vp on his Saluation That the Ambassadour had first broken the matter to him The Ambassadour then more moued than before Stafford was commanded forth and Modey not permitted to come in Hereupon the Lord Burghley out of his owne words and Trappe his Confession reproued him but somewhat gently for this intended mischiefe The Ambassadour answered If he had beene guiltie or acquainted with the matter yet as being an Ambassadour he was not bound to reueale it to any but his owne King Burghley answering said Admit it be not the part of an Ambassadour which yet is a matter questionable to discouer such matters but only to their owne King when the life of a Prince is in hazzard yet it is the part of a Christian to preuent such enormities as touch the life of a Prince nay of any priuate Christian This he stoutly denied and withall recited an example of a French Ambassadour not long agone in Spaine who knowing of a treacherous practise against the King of Spaine although it concerned his life yet discouered it not to him but to his owne King for which he receiued great commendation both of his King and of his Councell But the Lord Burghley very grauely admonished him hereafter to haue a care how he offended her Maiestie and not to forget his duty and her Maiesties mercifulnesse which was loath to offend the good Ambassadours by punishing the bad neither was he all this while exempt from the fault though freed from the punishment From this attempt such as were the sworne enemies of the Queene of Scotland and sought to doe her hurt tooke occasion hereby to hasten her death knowing that in extreame danger of safetie Feare leaueth no place for Mercy and tooke order the more to terrifie the Queene of England to spread rumorous speeches daily and false and fearefull exclamations all ouer the Land to wit That the Spanish Fleet was already landed at Milford-Hauen That the Scots were come vpon their borders That the Guise was in Essex with a mighty Armie That the Queene of Scots had broken prison raysed a great troope of Souldiers and began to make a Rebellion in the North That there were new plots in hand for murthering the Queene and to burne the Citie of London yea That the Queene of England was dead and such like which in those that are crafty and fearefull by a natural desire are nourished and encreased and Princes credulous by curiositie will soon lend their eares thereunto By such divulged horrors and fearefull arguments they brought her Maiestie into such trouble and perplexitie of minde that she signed the Letters of Warrant to her deadly Sentence and was perswaded most of all to it by Patricke Gray Scottishman whom the King of Scotland had sent to disswade the Queene of England from putting his mother to death who many times
them that her Seruants might be gently vsed that they might enioy the things she had giuen them by her Will that they might be permitted to be with her at her death and lastly might be safely conducted and sent home into their Countries Her two first requests they granted but for the hauing of her Seruants by at her death the Earle of Kent seemed scrupulous fearing there might be some superstition in that To him she said Feare you not Sir the poore wretches desire nothing but to take their last leaues of me And I know my Sister the Queene of England would not you should deny me so small a request For for the honour of my sex my Seruants should be in presence I am the nearest of her Parentage and Consanguinitie grand-childe to Henry the seuenth Dowager of France and anointed Queene of Scotland Which when shee had said and turned her about it was granted her to haue such of her Seruants as shee would nominate Then she named Meluine Bourgon her Physician her Apothecarie her Chyrurgion two of her Maides and some others of which Meluine carryed vp her traine Then the Noblemen the two Earles and the Sherife of the Shire going before she came to the Scaffold the which was built at the vpper end of the Hall vpon the which was a Chaire a Cushion and a Blocke all couered with blacke So soone as she was set and silence commanded Beal read the Warrant or Mandate to which she listened attentiuely as if it had beene some other thing Then Doctor Fletcher Deane of Peterborough made a large discourse of the condition of her life past and present and of the life to come Twice she interrupted him intreating him not to importune her Protesting that she was setled and resolued in the ancient Romane Catholike Religion and ready euen now to shed her blood for the same He vehemently exhorted her to be repentant and with an vndoubted Faith to put her whole trust and confidence in Christ But shee answered him That she had beene borne and brought vp in this Religion and was ready to die in the same Then the Earles saying they would pray for her Shee replied shee would giue them great thankes if they would pray together with her but to communicate in Praier with them which are of a different Religion were a scandall and great sinne Then they bade the Deane to pray with whom whilst the Assembly about him ioyned in Prayer Shee falling on her knees and holding the Crucifix betwixt her hands prayed in Latine with her owne people out of the Office of our blessed Lady After the Deane had ended his Praiers shee prayed in English for the Church for her Sonne and Elizabeth Queene of England beseeching God to turne his heauy wrath from this Iland and protesting as she held vp the Crucifix that she reposed her hope of Saluation in the blood of Christ Iesus shee called vpon the holy Company of Saints in Heauen to make intercession for her vnto him Shee forgaue all her enemies then kissing the Crucifix and making the signe of the Crosse she said As thy armes ôh Lord Iesu-Christ were spred forth vpon the Crosse so receiue me into the same armes of thy Mercy and pardon me my trespasses Then the Executioner asked forgiuenesse whom shee forgaue and her seruants she making haste tooke off her vpper garments crying and lamenting aloud yet neither by her kissing or crossing of them did she euer change her cheerfull countenance but bade them forbeare their womanish weeping saying That shee was at the end of all her calamities Likewise turning her selfe towards her other seruants most pitiously weeping she signed them with the signe of the Crosse and smilingly bade them all Adieu Then hauing a linnen cloth before her face and laid her head vpon the Blocke she recited the Psalme In thee O Lord haue I put my trust let mee not be confounded for euer Then stretching forth her body and many times together ingeminating these words Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit her Head at the second blow was cut off the Deane crying aloud and saying So perish all the Enemies of Queene Elizabeth to which the Earle of Kent answerd Amen so likewise did the people weeping Afterwards her body being imbalmed and solemnly made ready was with Princely Funerals interred in the Cathedrall Church of Peterborough And in Paris were her Obsequies in most magnificent manner also celebrated by the Guises who neither in her life omitted any offices of loue or kindred toward her nor yet after her death to their great land and glory Here you haue seen what was the lamentable end of the life of Mary Queen of Scotland daughter to Iames the Fift King of Scotland grand-childe to Henry the seuenth King of England by his elder daughter of 46. yeares of age and the 18. yeare of her imprisonment A woman most constant in her Religion of singular zeale and sanctimonie towards God of inuincible animositie and courage in wisedome aboue her Sexe of surpassing beautie and worthy to be recorded in the Catalogue of those Princes who of happy and prosperous became miserable and vnfortunate Being yet an Infant shee was with great sedulitie sought for both by Henry the eighth King of England for his sonne Edward and by Henry the second King of France for Francis the Dolphin Shee was sent into France at fiue yeares of age and at ten marryed to the Dolphine After the death of her husband returning into Scotland and being marryed to Henrie Lord Darley she had by him IAMES the First Monarch of Great Britanne Shee was persecuted by Murrey her base Brother and others her disloyall and ambitious subiects deposed from the Kingdome driuen into England circumuented as some worthy persons haue conceiued by certaine in England carefull for the retaining of their Religion and the preseruation of Queene Elizabeths life exposed into perilous attempts by others desirous of re-establishing the Romish Religion and brought to ruine by the intimations or witnesses of her absent Secretaries who as it is thought were corrupted with coine By her Tombe was fixed and soone after taken away this following Epitaph MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA REGIS FILIA REGIS GALLORVM VIDVA REGINAE ANGLIAE AGNATA ET HAERES PROXIMA VIRTVTIEVS REGIIS ET ANIMO REGIO ORNATA IVRE REGIO FRVSTRA SAEPIVS IMPLORATO BARBARA ET TYRANNICA CRVDELITATE ORNAMENTVM NOSTRI SECVLI ET LVMEN VERE REGIVM EXTINGVITVR EODEMQVE NEFARIO IVDICIO ET MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA MORTE NATVRALI ET OMNES SVPERSTITES REGES PLEBEII FACTI MORTE CIVILI MVLCTANTVR NOVVM ET INAVDITVM TVMVLI GENVS IN QVO CVM VIVIS MORTVI INCLVDVNTVR HIC ERAT CVM SACRIS ENIM DIVAE MARIAE CINERIBVS OMNIVM REGVM ATQVE PRINCIPVM VIOLATAM ATQVE PROSTRATAM MAIESTATEM HIC IACERE SCITO ET QVIA TACITVM REGALE SATIS SVPERQVE REGES SVI OFFICII MONET PLVRA NON ADDO VIATOR IN the lamentable death of this
should the more irritate and attended till the dolour being appeased by the protraction of time would suffer it selfe to be dealt withall For perceiuing then that the French did sharpen and incitate the young King to reuenge and fearing that through suttle sleights and eager desire of reuenge he might be diuerted from the Protestant Religion and from louing the English she imployed all her possible industry and Princely meanes to cure his wounded heart and alienated from her And for that cause propounded to him by such Agents as shee had in Scotland as also by the Lord of Hunsdon Gouernour of Berwicke FIrst what danger there was in making warre vpon England for this cause which now to all the Estates of England seemed necessary for the good of the whole Iland and most iust And whether hee were of power to goe thorow withall England being then neuer more potent in military men money and munition and Scotland neuer weaker being brought low and exhaust by ciuill and intestine broyles If hee would haue the assistance of forreine powers let him learne by the experience of his Mother who so long and often implored that in vaine what labour and trouble he would haue to obtaine it And if he should procure it what successe could he hope for by it seeing that England ioyning with the shipping of Holland and Zeland feared not the most puissant Princes of Europe What hope could he put the King of France or the King of Spaine in sith his power being once increased with the addition of England and Ireland to his Crowne ought to be contrary to their designe and that his Religion was so directly opposite to theirs that they could not ayde and succour him but to their owne preiudice That the King of France could not behold but with griefe the King of Scotlands Dominion augmented by the Kingdome of England without feare that he should pursue the ancient right which the English haue in France or giue assistance to the Guizes his Allies who at this instant gape for the Kingdome of France That the King of Spaine who would questionlesse giue place to his ambition because that he brags though falsly to be the first Catholique King issued from the Bloud-Royall of the English and of the house of Lancaster That to this purpose some Iesuites and others haue with their vttermost power endeuoured during the life of Queene MARY of Scotland to enthrone him by election in the Kingdome of England as most fit to re-establish there the Romane authoritie in eiecting from the Crowne both Mother and Sonne Nay moreouer they begun to perswade the Queene of Scotland to make him thereof a legacy by her Testament if King IAMES her Sonne would still perseuer in the Protestant Religion Let the King consider whither these things doe tend what succour hee can looke for from Spaine and to what ignominy hee will precipitate his Soule to his eternall damnation and all Great-Britaine to his vtter ruine if hee forsakes the true Religion in which hee hath beene educated That the Peeres and States who haue giuen sentence against his Mother seeing that hee meditates vpon a reuenge will not fayle to exclude him from the Crowne of England by a new Act of the right of Succession That in giuing place to necessity and keeping in the agitation of his courage hee will mediate easily their loue sith that which is done cannot be vndone Let him then expect to possesse in his time the most flourishing Kingdome of England and enioy in the meane while a Crowne of securitie and beleeue that those which can tell well how to weigh and prize things will iudge that hee hath sufficiently fore-seene to his honour in not fayling in due opportunitie to doe his Mother all the dutifull seruices of a most pious sonne Moreouer let him likewise assure himselfe that the Queene of England will accounnt hold and esteeme him as her owne sonne and will doe him all offices of amity and vse him as a Mother her dearest sonne These are the things that Queene ELIZABETH endeuoured with great care to possesse the King with and to the end hee should not doubt but that his Mother had beene put to death without Queene ELIZABETHS consent shee resolued to send him the sentence pronounced against William Dauison sealed with the broad Seale of England and all the Commissioners hands subscribed therunto and to appease his Maiestie the more another iudgement signed by all the Iudges of England certifying that that sentence pronounced could in nothing hinder or bee preiudiciall to his right to the Kingdome of England In the mean time that Q. ELIZABETH by these or such like reasons endeuoured gently to calme the King of Scotlands agitations fore-seeing the warre wherewith she was furiously threatned by the King of Spaine whose hopes to frustrate shee sent Sir Francis Drake with foure Royall Ships well appoynted to the Coast of Spaine and elsewhere with command to take burne and pillage all such Ships as hee could finde as well in the Harbours and Port-Townes as on the Ocean Drake arriuing in the Streight of Gibraltar entred the Hauen thereof where after he had caused sixe great Ships to flye vnder the Forts protection hee tooke and burnt a hundred Ships more or lesse in the which there was infinite prouision of warlike munitions victuals and among others the Great Gallion of the Marquis of Santa Cruz called Rageusa richly loaden with merchandize From thence returning to Cape S. Vincent hee there burnt all such Ships and Fisher-boats which lay in that Rode And then went to Cascalet Hauen which is situated at the mouth of Tage he vrged there the Marquis Santa Cruz to fight but hee not daring stirr'd not but let Drake freely sayle along that Coast and take their Ships without the least impeachment Then hauing turned saile to the Iles of Azoris met by chance which he tooke with ease a great and lusty Ship most rich and well furnished called Saint Philip which was returning from the East-Indies This act caused the vulgar sort of Mariners of diuers Countries to take the name of Philip for an ill signe or prognostication against Philip King of Spaine By this Drakes worthy though briefe expedition England was much enriched and the Spaniards sustayning so great a losse of munition and warlike preparations were constrayned to giue ouer their designe they had to inuade England for that yeere Since which time the English begun with alacrity couragiously to assault those great and huge Ships most like vnto Castles which they before did much dread and feare and discouered so plainely the opulent and rich commodities of the Indies the meanes how to trade and traffique in those Easterne parts in such sort that they haue since established an aduantagious trade and profitable nauigation in those Countries hauing established an East-Indie Company of Merchants At that very time Thomas Cauendish a Suffolke man which two
the Noble House of the Seymors at Dudley Earle of Warwickes perswasion during his plotting of the ruine of this puissant and princely House and all to preuent lest shee who was Wife to this Noble Protector should giue place or precedence to this Queene Dowager who then was her Husbands Brothers wife The next was Sir Ralph Sadler Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster a prudent and learned man whose worth and vertue had beene approued in diuers weighty and important affaires of State He was the last Banneret of England which worthy dignity of Knighthood had bin conferred on him at the famous Battel of Musselborough After him also died Sir Thomas Bromley Lord High Chancellor of England hauing scarce attained to the sixtieth yere of his age a man excellently well seene in the Law Six dayes after he was followed by Edward Manner Earle of Rutland to whom the Queene had chosen and appointed for his Successour the third of the Noble House of Manner a Noble man most learned and skilfull in the Law and humane Arts hauing but the Lady Elizabeth one onely Daughter for heire then but very young who was married to William Cecill Baron of Burleigh Lord High Treasurer Sir Christopher Hatton who was a Noble personage excellently endued with rare vertues flourishing at that time illustriously at the Court as one whose merit had purchased him the honour to be dearely affectionate intimate to her Maiestie in whose fauour his worth greatly aduanced him was from a Courtier established to this high dignity of Lord Chancellour of England not with little discontent of the Iudges and professors of the Law who since Church-men had bin depriued and dismist of that honour had iudiciously discharged that place with no lesse glory and equity than prudence and discretion which is the supreme magistracy of the Law yet in former times past it was oftner prouided for with Ecclesiasticall men and Nobles than of others Neuerthelesse though Sir Christopher Hatton had been aduanced to that place by the subtill art of some Courtiers who hoped that by his absence from Court and the difficulty he should haue to exercise duly so high and so weighty a Magistracy should weare out and diminish the great fauour he was in neere Queene ELIZABETH Neuerthelesse hee behaued himselfe in that high Seat of Iustice discreetly and worthily to the well-liking of the Queene and admiration of all her Subiects discharging that Dignity with as great magnificence and honour as any whatsoeuer had done before him studying to supply by equitie that which he wanted in the knowledge of the Law Sir Iohn Perot being this yeere sent for out of Ireland left that Kingdome very peaceable to Sir William Fitz-Williams for he had drawne from those persons whom hee suspected to be apt to rebell oathes and hostages which they as soone granted vnto him as hee demanded for not seeming any way to fauour rebellion hee imprisoned diuers Irish Rebels and such as were more dangerously giuen to rebellion he hanged them shewing admonishing the rest of their duety and the fidelity which they ought to their Soueraigne in so doubtfull a time The Irish seeing the sincere loue respect and affection he bore to them who were true subiects most willingly lent their eares thereunto and were true obseruers of his instructions Hitherto that I may a little stray were the Irish warres very easie to the English and eight hundred foot with three hundred horse were esteemed an inuincible Army For Randolph with sixe hundred English with much facility defeated O-Neale with foure thousand Irish Collier in the yeere 1571. with his onely one Company preuayled likewise against one thousand Hebridians in Connach The Butlers with a great Company of the Rebels were ouerthrowne by three hundred Horse-men And to passe the rest ouer two Companies of foot surprized in one day aboue twenty of the Irish Castels But after that the Perots had by command daily exercised themselues at home in their owne Countrey and were well instructed in the discipline of Armes and in the vse of their Muskets to resist the Hebridians and being practized in the wars of the Netherlands had learned the arts of fortification they vexed the English as wee shall finde with a difficult and dangerous warre THE THIRTIETH and most maruelous yere of her Reigne the euer-remembred Yeere of the Lord. Anno Dom. 1588. TO this admirable yeere of Christ 1588. are we now arriued Which by Regiomontanus the Astrologian was foretold about a hundred yeeres before to be a Yeere of Wonder and by the Germane Chronologers to be the Climacterical yeere of the World The rumors of warres which were before but slender relations began now daily to be augmented and were now become not as before a variable report but an assured certainty by the generall voice of all men that the Spaniard had prepared a most inuincible Nauy against England and had out of Italy Sicilie and also America gathered into Spaine the old experienced Commanders such as were most famous Captaines skilfull in military affaires For the Pope of Rome with certaine religious and deuout Spaniards and some English Fugitiues had long agoe diligently exhorted the Spaniard to inuade and conquer England but that counsell was by the Portugals warres for tenne yeeres before interrupted which now they carefully reiterated and with much instigation perswaded him that since Heauen had heaped vpon him infinite benefits and blessings by subiecting to his Empire the Kingdome of Portugall with the East-India and many other wealthy Ilands that it was now his part of duety to enterprize something which might bee agreeable and pleasing to God That there could be nothing more acceptable to God nor ought more worthy himselfe than the aduancing of his Church That the Church could not with more glory and merit be aduanced than by the conquest of England and there by the extirpation of Heresie to plant the Roman Catholique Religion That these warres would be most iust not onely because they were most necessary but because they were vndertaken to propagate the Religion of Christ seeing that the Queene of England being excommunicated notwithstanding obstinately persisted against the Church of Rome had succoured the Rebels in the Netherlands molested the Spaniards with continuall pyracies had surprized and pillaged diuers townes both in Spaine and America and lately violating the Maiesty of all Princes had caused the Queene of Scots to be put to death Therefore such warres should bee no lesse profitable than iust Because by this meanes the King of Spaine making addition to his Empire of the most flourishing Kingdomes he might easily extinguish the Netherlandish Rebellion which was nourished as it were by the breath of England hee should assure to himself the voyages to both India's in safetie and so lessen the annuall expences laid out for the conuoying of his Fleetes forward and backward To prooue this to him with more facility
there were twenty thousand Souldiers dispersed vpon the South shores besides two Armies of choyce trained Souldiers were leuied and enrolled Of the one consisting of one thousand horse and two and twenty thousand foot Leicester was Generall and had his Campe at Tilbury not far from the mouth of the Thames for the Enemy had certainely determined to approch London first And of the other which consisted of thirtie foure thousand foote and two thousand horse for the Queenes guard shee made the Baron of Hunsdon Generall Arthur Lord Grey Sir Francis Knollys Sir Iohn Norris Sir Richard Bingham Sir Roger Williams Knights great and expert Souldiers were appointed to consult about the Land-seruice They aduized That all those places which were fit for the Enemies approch eyther from Spaine or the Low-Countries as Milford-Hauen Falmouth Plimouth Portland the I le of Wight Portsmouth the Downes vpon the Shore of Kent the Thames mouth Harwich Yarmouth Hull c. should be fortified with workes and with Garrisons that the trayned Souldiers vpon all the Sea-coasts should meet vpon giuing a signe to defend these places they should with all their endeuour hinder the Enemies landing But if hee should happen to land that they should waste the Countrey farre and neere spoyle euery thing that was vsefull that he might finde no victuals but what he brought vpon his shoulders and to keepe the Enemy continually busied and distracted with assiduous alarmes and crying Arme arme day and night But that they should not fight till other Commanders should ioyne their forces with them That amongst the Leaders they should nominate one which should command the forces of euery seuerall Prouince But it is superfluous to set downe in particular what inland Prouinces were appoynted to guard both the shores what number what armes and what manner of fight was prescribed by them About this time there were diuers who made often remonstrances to the Queene that the Spaniards were not more dreadfull abroad than the Pontificians dangerous at home for that the Spaniards had not dared to haue entred into hostility with England but vpon confidence of and from them and therefore that some pretences were to be deuised to make them shorter by the head alledging the example of HENRY the Eighth when the Emperour and the French King vpon the Popes instigation were ready to inuade England Presently as soone as hee had caused the Marquesse of Exceter the Baron Montacute Edw. Neuill and others whom hee suspected to fauor the Enemy to be executed the inuasion fell with them but shee refusing this counsell as too cruell thought it sufficient to commit to prison to Wisbich in the Fen-Countries certaine of the Pontificians and those none of prime note neyther And hauing an eye and a care of euery place with frequent Letters excites those of the Nobility and Gentry which were without them ready enough giues instruction what was to be done in Ireland by Fitz-Williams the Deputy Admonisheth the King of Scotland both by his owne Seruants and her Messengers to be vigilant ouer the Papists and Spanish Faction in his Country But hee well knowing how great a tempest and destruction threatned him out of his perpetuall loue to true Religion and the Queene of his owne accord had now before refused to giue audience to the Bishop of Dunblan sent to him from the Bishop of Rome and had caused a League to be made amongst the Protestants in Scotland to resist the Spaniards And hee himselfe marching with his Army into Annand hauing taken Maxwels campe who contrary to his faith giuen was then lately returned out of Spaine and enclining to the Spanish faction caused him to be cast into prison proclaymed the Spaniards Enemies and with great alacrity prouided armes against them Amongst these great preparations of Warre on both sides ouertures of peace were neuerthelesse made About two yeeres before when the Prince of Parma had considered with himselfe how difficult a thing it was to end the Low-Countrey warre while they were daily aided with supplies from the Queene had by Letters vsing also the assistance of Iames Crofts a Priuy-Counceller a man very studious of peace and of Andrew Loe and others seriously negotiated for a treaty of peace and that hee had authority from the Spaniard to that purpose Shee fearing that this was but a pretence whereby to make a breach of friendship betwixt her and the Confederate-Prouinces and secretly to draw them to the Spaniard deferred the matter for a time But now that the imminent warre might be auerted and auoyded she resolued to treat of peace but with the Sword in her hand and the Duke of Parma refused not the treaty Therefore in February there were sent into Flanders Henrie Earle of Derby William Brooke Lord Cobham Iames Crofts Controller of her Houshold Valentine Dale and Iames Rogers Doctors of the Lawes who being with all humility receiued in the Dukes name they forthwith sent Dale vnto him to consult of the place of meeting and to peruse his Commission from the Spaniard Hee appointed a place neere to Ostend not in Ostend it selfe which was now held against the King by the English and promised to shew his Commission at the meeting He aduized them to be speedy lest something might fall out which might disturbe or interrupt the treaty of peace Richardot said openly That hee knew not what might bee done to England in the meane time Not long after Rogers was sent to the Prince by the Queenes expresse commandment to know certainly if the designe for the inuasion of England were yet enterprized which both hee and Richardot seemed to intend Hee affirmed That hee had not so much as thought of the inuasion of England When he desired a quicke dispatch and expedition of that affaire hee blamed in some manner Richardot who was sorry to haue vttered any such words concerning Englands inuasion The twelfth of Aprill the Earle of Arenberg Champigny Richardot Doctor Maesie and Garnier Commissioner from the Duke of Parma sat in Commission with the English vnder Tents neere the Towne of Ostend to whom they gaue place and precedence and after their protestations that the Duke had full power giuen him to treate and conclude a Peace the English propounded to them that before all things it was requisite to embrace a truce But they refused it alledging that if a Peace was not forthwith concluded it would be preiudicious to the Spaniard who since sixe moneths had to their great charges maintained a puissant Army The English insisting replyed that that Peace was promised before those troupes were conueyed into Flanders They answered againe that it was true they had promised it sixe moneths agoe but that it was not then accepted Moreouer that it was not in the Queenes power to vndertake it for the Hollanders and Zealanders who daily acted deeds of hostility But the English maintained that it would be generall for all the Queenes Dominions
and likewise for the Kingdome of Scotland Yet they neuerthelesse would not agree thereunto but meerely for those foure Cities which the Queen then had in possession as Ostend Flushing Bergen vp Zoom and the Breele and that during the said Treaty and twentie dayes after prouided that in the meane while it was lawfull to the Queene of England to assault Spaine and to the King of Spaine to inuade England as well out of Spaine as of Flanders During that time thus runned in speech about this Truce and the place appoynted for the conference which at last was appoynted at Bourbourgh Sir W. Crofts who for the great desire hee had of peace was gone to Bruxels without the knowledge of the rest of the Commissioners propounded in particular some Articles for which hee afterwards was imprisoned vpon the Earle of Leicesters accusation though that to the iudgement of others hee ought not to haue beene reproued or disauowed yet it is not lawfull to Commissioners to exceede the limits of their Commissions prescribed vnto them Finally the English seeing they could not obtaine a full and intyre cessation of Armes nor to see at all the Commission containing power for the Duke of Parma to treat of peace they propounded THat the ancient alliances betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundie might be renewed and confirmed That the Flemmings might peaceably enioy their priuiledges and serue God with libertie of conscience That the Spaniards and other strangers might be sent out of Flanders to ridde the Flemmings and the neighbouring-Prouinces of all feare And that if they would grant these things the Queene to shew that shee had not taken vp Armes for her owne particular interest but for the necessary defence both of the Flemmings and her selfe would willingly hearken vnto any reasonable conditions touching the Townes which shee then possessed in the Low-Countries paying the mony which shee had laide out about them Whereunto the Dukes Deputies answered THat when it would please them friendly to conferre with them about the renewing of their ancient alliances there should be no disagreement in that regard That stranger Princes had nothing to doe with the Flemmings priuiledges of grace graunted as well vnto the reconciled Townes and Prouinces as vnto the rest which by force of Armes haue beene brought vnto obedience That their stranger-Souldiers were of necessitie retained there because they were vp in armes both in Holland England and France As for Townes taken from the King and expences of money the King of Spaine might well demand recompence of the Queene of many thousands of Crownes spent in the warres of the Low-Countries since her assisting and taking into her protection the rebellious Flemmings About this time Dr. Dale by the Queens cōmandement was sent vnto the Duke to make a friendly complaint vnto him of a Booke lately set forth by one Allin an English Cardinall by which hee admonished the Nobles and people of England and Ireland to ioyne with the forces of Spaine vnder the Dukes conduct for the execution of Pope Sixtus the Fifth his Sentence published by a Bull against the Queene by which he declared her an Heretique illegitimate and cruell against the Queene of Scots c. and commanded her Subiects to assist the Duke against her Many of those Bulls were printed at Antwerpe to be dispersed in England The Duke made him answere that hee had not seene any such Booke or Bull and that hee would not vndertake any thing in the Popes name yet that hee was to obey his King Moreouer that he honoured and admired so much the Queene for her Royall vertues that next vnto the King he made more account of her Maiestie than of any other Prince That hee had counselled the King to treate of that peace which would be more profitable to the English than to the Spaniards for quoth hee if the Spaniards be ouercome they can easily recouer their losse again but if you be once vanquished your Kingdome is vtterly lost Whereupon Doctor Dale replyed That the Queene was powerfull enough to defend her Kingdome and that himselfe might well iudge according to his graue wisdome that shee could not easily be ouerthrowne by the losse of one battell seeing the King of Spaine himselfe by so long a warre could not as yet recouer the inheritance of his Ancestors in the Low-Countries Well said hee these things are in the hands of the Almightie God Afterwards the Commissioners had many conferences and alterations and as it were weaued the same webbe againe When the English desired a toleration of Religion to be granted but for two yeres to the Vnited Prouinces it was answered That as the Spaniard interceded not in the like kinde for the English Catholikes so they hoped that the Queene in her owne wisedome would forbeare to request any thing of the Spaniard preiudiciall to his honour his oath and his conscience When they required re-payment of the money which the States of Brabant owed the Queene they answered That that money was lent without the Kings priuity or authoritie But all accounts beeing cast vp it might appeare both how much that money was and how much the King had spent in this warre to whom more ought to be paid By such kinde of answeres they deluded the English vntill the Spanish ARMADA approched the coast of England and the thunder of their Ordnance was heard from the Sea Then receiuing a conuoy from the Prince who during this treatie had brought almost all his forces to the shore by his Commissioners were honourably conducted to the borders neere Calais So vanished this treatie into nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wisest sort of men iudged to auert the Spanish Fleete continued by the Spaniard to surprize England vnawares vnprouided so that both of them seemed to sew the Foxes tale to the Lyone skin That Spanish ARMADA the greatest and best furnished with men munition and all warlike preparations that euer the Ocean did see and arrogantly named Inuincible consisted of one hundred and thirtie ships in which were nineteene thousand two hundred and ninety souldiers eight thousand three hundred and fiftie Mariners two thousand eightie Gally-slaues chayned two thousand six hundred and thirty peeces of great Ordnance The Generall was Alphonsus Perez Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian of S. Cruz or of the holy Crosse designed Generall dyed during the preparation and vnder him was Iohn Martinus Recaldus a most skilfull Nauigator The third before the Calends of Iune they loosed from out of the Riuer of Tagus and bending their course towards the Groin in Galicia by a strong tempest they were dispersed three Gallies with three Oares on a seat beeing by the industry of Dauid Guin an English slaue and the perfidiousnesse of the Turkish Gally-slaues carried to the coast of Frāce after some time with great difficulty met at the Groin and the Hauens thereabouts So
the charge which was such as the most part of their Shippes were torne and bruised and the Gallion S. Matthew commanded by Diego Pymentel and appointed to assist Francisco de Toleda in the S. Philip was broken with the continuall batteries of Seymor and Winter and being driuen towards Ostend was againe beaten by the Zelanders and taken by them of Flushing as was the other called Saint Matthew and all the rest of the FLEET grieuously afflicted all that day The last day of the Moneth at the breake of day the Winde turned Northwest and the Spaniards striuing to get into the straight againe are driuen towards Zeland The English as the Spaniards beleeue ceased their fight perceiuing some of their Ships in great danger and ready to runne on the sands and shelues on the Coast of Zeland but the winde changing to Southwest the Spaniards tooke the benefit thereof and beeing gotten out from amongst those sands consulted in the Euening what they were to doe and by common consent resolued to returne into Spaine by the North Ocean because they wanted many necessary things and aboue all Bullets that their Ships were broken and that they had little hope of the Duke of Parma's putting to Sea Being then already at sea they tooke their route towards the North followed by the English Fleete vnto whom they would sometimes shew their prowesse and many being of opinion they would returne the Queene with a Kingly courage mounted on horsebacke and holding in her hand the trunchion of an ordinary Captaine made a review of her Army campe which was at Tilbury walkes vp and downe sometimes like a Woman and anon with the countenance and pace of a Souldier and with her presence and words fortifieth the courages both of the Captaines and Souldiers beyond all beliefe The very day of the last fight the Duke of Parma hauing paid his vow to our Lady of Halle came to Dunkerke but too late and was there receiued by the Spaniards with reproach as if to fauour Queene ELIZABETH hee had willingly caused them to lose so faire an occasion to execute their enterprise Therefore in some sort to content them he punished some that had charge of the victuals and mocking notwithstanding at the Spaniards insolency and arrogancy who bragge that in all parts where they beare Armes they euer draw after them an assured victory and that the English dared not to looke them in the face much lesse endure their countenance And surely Bernard Mendoza with great pride and vanity sung forth in France by a printed Pamphlet the triumph before the victory But the English Lord Admirall to keepe the Prince of Parma from comming out of Dunkerke commanded Seimer and the Hollanders to keepe the Coast of Flanders and hee himselfe followed the Spaniards behinde vntill they were past Edenborough Frith in Scotland For some feared they would retyre to the King of Scots at that time much incensed for the death of his Mother that to appease him Ashbey her Maiesties Ambassadour there offered him very good conditions to wit the dignitie of a Duke in England a yeerely pension of fiue thousand pound and a guard for his person at her Maiesties costs and other things Now whether he did this of himselfe or by procurement of others I cannot well say nor take no pleasure to enquire thereafter but so it chanced that the fault was imputed vnto him and these conditions were neuer accomplished The Spaniards then hauing lost all hope of pursuing their enterprize and iudging their safety to consist meerely in their flight follow still their route without staying in any place Thus did this Fleete returne shamefully into their Countrey which was preparing three whole yeeres with so infinite expences after hauing beene fought withall so oftentimes in one Moneth and then put to flight with the losse of many men and not of aboue one hundred English nor no Ship but Cocks Barke onely lost all the shot of those great Spanish Ships being spent in vaine flying ouer the English Ships hauing also gone round about the Iland of Great-Britaine by Scotland the Iles of Orchades and Ireland and beene furiously beaten and greatly diminished by tempests wrackes and all sorts of miseries In memoriall of which defeat there were certaine Medailles coyned wherein some had a Fleete grauen vnder-sayle and hastning away with all speed with this Inscription Ilest venu ilâ— veu il a fuy Hee came Hee saw Hee fledde And others in honour of the Queene with some Ships on fire among a confused Fleete with these words Vne Femme a conduict ceste action A Woman conducted this Action As thus they fled many of their Ships were lost vpon the Coasts of Ireland and Scotland where some seuen hundred Souldiers and Mariners were cast ashore who at the request of the Duke of Parma vnto the King of Scotland in their behalfe and by the Queenes permission were passed into Flanders a yeere after But those poore wretches which were cast away in Ireland were not so mercifully dealt withall for some of them were slaine by the Irish dwelling in the woods the other by the commandement of the Deputy who fearing lest they should ioyne with the Irish Rebels and seeing that Bingham Gouernour of Connaugh had refused vpon his reiterated commandement to kill those which had yeelded themselues hee sent Fowle the second Marshall who drawing them forth which had hidden themselues cut off the heads of about two hundred of them which the Queen detested with all her heart as a deed full of cruelty This so affrighted the rest that sicke and weake as they were and halfe starued they re-embarked themselues in their broken vessels and were for the most part sunke at Sea The Fleete being returned home imputeth this mischiefe vnto the Duke of Parma and vnto their too-much obedient prudence in taking it for so haynous a crime to disobey the commandement imposed vpon them For they were straitly charged to attempt nothing vntill the Duke of Parma were ioyned vnto them with his Forces without reseruing any liberty vnto themselues to iudge of occasions which might happen a thing very fit to haue bin done they boasted to haue bin able without that to haue defeated the English Fleete in their Port and the men of warre were in great dispute whether it were necessary whatsoeuer hapned to obserue religiously what is commanded lest by the neglect of obedience the commandement should be lost Or if it were fitter to correct things commanded by necessity and apply them to present vse according to the growth of affaires that the occasions and moments of doing expeditions might not be lost The Spaniard did constantly beare this losse as comming from aboue rendring thankes vnto God that it was no greater and vsed singular mercy and charity for the comfort of the Souldiers and Mariners Queene ELIZABETH likewise commanded publique prayers and thanks-giuing to be made in
these things They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea The death of Francis L. Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Booke 1. 1560. A Treaty of peace in Barwicke Martigues comes and brings French-men into Scotland D'Elbeuf driuen by a Tempest The Spaniard counsels to Peace The Spaniards detaine from the English their munition The French doe endeuour to call the English backe from Scotland The French protest againg the English that they are meerely cause that the peace is broken An Answer to them The Guizes are sworne and professed enemies to Queene Elizabeth The French offer to render vp Calis Her Maiesties Answer to them She sends the Lord Vicount Montaigue into Spaine Who makes known to the Spaniard the cause of the Wars of Scotland he also excused the Scots Confederates Arthur Gray son heire to the Lord Gray is wounded Lieth is besieged The English repulsed Croft is accused The Queene Regent of Scotland dyes The treaty of Edenborrough A peace is published Queene Elizabeth is sought in marriage by Charles Arch-Duke of Austria by Iames Earle of Arran and by Erric King of Sueden Adolphe Duke of Holsatia Sir W. Pickering The Earle of Arundel Robert Dudley Whom shee fauoured Vicount Montaigu Ambassador to the King of Spaine He fauoured notwithstanding Elizabeth against the French He re-deliuered the order of the Garter He disdained to be refused in things of small importance The Count Ferie whets his indignation He incenses the Pope against the Queene The Pope writes to Elizabeth The Pope Pius the fourth of that name his Letter sent vnto Queene Elizabeth by his Nuncio Vincent Parpalia The King and Queene of France refuse to confirme the Treatie for Edenborrough The reasons Francis the second dyeth The Edict of Qu. Elizabeth against the Anabaptists Her Maiesties Edict against sacreligious persons The Colledge of Westminster founded The Coine brought to full value This was corrupted by King Henry the Eighth His lauish expence The Earle of Huntington dyeth Shan O-Neale stirs vp sedition in Ireland Booke 1. 1561. The Queene of Scotland puts off the confirmation of the Treatie The Queene of England denieth passage to the Queene of Scotland She complained to Throgmorton Ambassadour from England Throgmorton's answer to the Qu. Mary of Scotland Contestation betweene the Queene of Scotland and Throgmorton Queene Elizabeths Ambassador into France The Queene endeuours to content Qu. Elizabeth But in vaine She returnes into Scotland Elizabeth answers him Qu. Elizabeth presseth the confirmation of the Treatie Receiues the Guizes courteously The Guizes vse the English ill That the right to assemble a Councell belongs not to the Pope Carne dyes How far an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Qu. Elizabeth prepares things necessary for Warre Qu. Elizabeths husbandrie S. Pauls Steeple burnt The death of Earle Bathon Booke 1. 1562. Pole had vnder examination Katherine Gray imprisoned He is fined He is fined The Guizes practice against Elizabeth H. Sidney is sent into France After into Scotland They deliberate the inter-view of the Queene of Scotland Which puts her in doubt Vnlesse it were vpon certaine conditions The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queen of Scotland Queene Elizabeth endeuoureth to diuert her from it Giues her reasons Shee excuses the French fugitiues The death of the Earle of Oxford Defends his cause Booke 1. 1563. Fifteenths Tenths Subsidies The Prence of Condé taken in the Battell of Dreux The Kings answer Hostages giuen for the restitution of Calais attempt to fly away Peace made in France War proclaimed between the French and the English The Qu. Maiestie offers to surrender Haure de grace for Calais The English Soldiers molested with the Pestilēce Haure de grace beleagred and assailed by the French Articles for the restitution of Haure de grace France reioyceth for recouery of Haure de grace The English Soldiers bring the Plague into London and other parts of England Marriage againe propounded to the Queene of Scots The Queene of England recommends Dudley for her husband The French diuert her They insult ouer their Queene The Baron of Gray dyes And the Bishop of Aquila The Spaniard against the English Lord Paget dyeth The supreme dignities of honour in England Death of the Earle of Rutland Duchesse of Suffolke Booke 1. 1564. Articles of peace accorded on betweene the English and the French The King of France enstalled in the Order of the Garter The English ill entreated in Spaine And in the Low-countries The mutuall complaints of the English and Flemmish English Merchants prohibited in the Low-Countries The English constitute a Faire or Mart at Embden Guzman labors to atone this difference Queenè Elizabeth visits the Vniuersity of Cambridge Robert Dudley raised to honors Dudley accuseth Bacon Diuers opinions about the point of Succession The Queene of Scots cal◠home the Earle of Lenox into Scotland The discent of the Earle of Lenox Causes of the Repeale of the Earle of Lenox The Queene of England endeuours to preuent the Qu. of Scots proiect Another commendation of the Earle of Leicester A Treaty of Marriage betweene the Queene of Scots and the Earle of Leicester Booke 1. 1565. Darley goes into Scotland He is beloued of the Queene of Scotland Asketh Qu. Elizabeths consent Deliberation vpon it Throgmorton is sent to hinder He is answered Lenox and Darley are re-called out of Scotland They excuse themselues The Queene of Scotland marries the Lord Darley The Earle of Murray and others murmure The Queene of England indures it with moderation Some Scots take distaste about the marriage They are put to flight They are maintained in England They counsell the Qu. of England to marry The Emperour recommendeth his Brother It causeth hatred to grow in the Court. The Queene reconcileth them Tamworth not admitted They answere by writing Cecillia Queene of Sueden comes into England Creation of the Earle of Glencar Vice-Royes and Iustices of Ireland Affaires of Ireland Discord betweene the Earles of Desmond and Ormond Chiefe President of Mounster The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Booke 1. 1566. The Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Leicester Knights of the Order of France Prouision of Corne. The Earle of Arundel goes out of the Kingdome The English carry their Armes and their courages to the Hungarian Warre The birth of King Iames the sixth of Scotland The Queene of England reioyceth Visits the Vniuersity of Oxford Holds a Parliament The States sollicite her to marry and to declare her Successor The modestie of the great Ones The popular sort eagerly The Queene is angry She sweetens the moued spirits Giues backe part of the Subsidie Chides the States Maketh it plainely to appeare that the Queene of Scotland had the right of Succession The ordination of Bishops is confirmed Promoters supprest The Earle of Bedford sent Ambassrdour to the Queene of Scotland for the baptizing of her Sonne The death of I. Mason and Sir R. Sackuile Booke 1.
1567. The murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Qu. of Scots Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland A digression from Scottish affaires Iames Prior of Saint Andrews Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland Being frustrated of it vnder-hand opposes himselfe against the Queene Makes his ambition to be openly and euidently knowne He is created Earle of Murray He persecutes the great men of Scotland Hee disswades the Queen from marrying He takes armes against her after shee was married He flies into England He seekes to sow discord betweene the Husband and the Wife The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Murray is repealed Earle Morton flies into England Dissention set betweene the King and the Queene Lord Darley the Queenes Husband murdered Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene to marry him Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King He marries the Queene They conspire both against him and the Queene Earle Murray retyres into France Earle Bothwell is expelled The Queene emprisoned Queene Elizabeth complaines They consult what is to be done with the Queene prisoner Throgmorton defends the Queenes cause The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons They extort from their Queene a Resignation of the Gouernement Iames the 6. consecrated and inaugurated King Murray returnes into Scotland Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy Some of the murderers of the King are put to death They acquit the Queene of all suspition The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Queene Elizabeth demands the restitution of Calais The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Sir Thomas Smith's answere The Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Leicester hinders it Representing to her all the discommodities that might happē if she married a stranger Articles of the marriage propounded Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouie The English opened the way to goe to Russia by Sea The Company of Muscouie Marchants A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouy The death of N. Wotton And the Duchesse of Norfolke Shan O-neale raiseth troubles He rebels Sir Henry Sidney armes against him He is discomfited Shan re-assumes courage He vseth cruelty to his men He meanes to yeeld He is slaine Hugon who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon Troubles in Munster Booke 1. 1568. The Papists absolue many The Jnnouators shew themselues Puritans Second ciuill warre in France The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene Elizabeth for an Husband The English Ambassador disgracefully vsed in Spaine Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniards in America The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison She is vanquished She writes to Qu. Elizab. She writes againe Queene Elizabeth pitties her The priuy Counsell consult of it The Councell resolues she should be retained in England The Countesse of Lenox complaines of her The Baron of Heris interceds for her Earle Murray is commanded to yeeld a reason of the Queenes deposition Deputies for the King of Scots For the Qu. of Scots Lidingtons declaration to the Scots The protestation of the Queene of Scots Deputies A declaration for the Queene The anwer of the Kings Deputies The Queens Reply Murray refuseth to yeeld an account of the Queenes deposition Authoritie of the Commissioners reuokt The Duke of Norfolke glad New Commissioners granted The Queene of Scots wil not submit her cause to their hearing But vpon certaine conditions The Proceedings dissolued Debate about the Gouernment of Scotland Murray offers to marry the Duke of Norfolke to the Qu. of Scots He disperseth rumors against her The Duke of Norfolke suspected The third Ciuill-war in France Who did good to England The beginning of the Wars in the Low countries The Duke of Alua. Moneys sent into the low-Countries detained in England The English mens goods detained and seized vpon in the Low-Countries The like done to the Flemmings in England The death of Roger Askham Booke 1. 1569. A Proclamation touching goods detained Another declaration against the former Proclamation Practices against Cecil The money detayned in England is demanded Free traffique established at Hamborrough for the English Doctor Story taken The Duke of Alua enraged against the English Men of war called in Traffique of Russia hindred Liberties of the English in Russia Their traffique into Russia And into Persia by the Caspian Sea A Russian Ambassador in England Alliance of Russia The Emperour of Muscouia and of Russia is irritated and inflamed against the English Murray appeased the friends of the Queene of Scotland Rumors spred through-out Scotland against Murray Queene Elizabeth is diligent and endeuours to quench such false rumors She deales by Letters concerning her restoring The first mention of of this marriage Murray's proposition to the Duke of Norfolke Throgmortons counsell Propositions of the match made by Leicester to the Duke The Articles of marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland She agreed them in some manner A dessigne to free the Qu. of Scotland Notice is giuen thereof to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Leicester reueales the whole busines to the Queen at Tichfield She rebukes the Duke of Norfolke The Duke parts from the Court without leaue Cecill findes out the matter The Duke of Norfolke goes into Norfolke Feare caused in the Court through Norfolke He returnes to the Court. Murray discouers the businesse The Duke is imprisoned And others Their Complices craue pardon Libels against this marriage Chapin Vitelli comes into England and why Rebellion in the North. Pretext of the Rebels They runne violently into a Rebellion Their declaration They write to the Papists They rent and tread vnder-foot the Bible Their Colours Their number They returne They take Bernard Castle They fly Some are put to death The rest are banisht A new Rebellion The Rebells are defeated Qu. Elizabeth lends succours to the reformed Churches in France * This Noble Family was honoured with the dignity of Lord Howard of Walden by Queene Eliz. * Their most ancient House was honoured with the title of Baron of Bleso by Qu. Eliz. As also this noble Countesses Husbands Predecessor was also graced with the Earledome of Bath by her MAIESTIE * This Noble Lord is most highly borne from a most Honourable bloud being by his Father-side descended from the illustrious Lord William Berkeley Earle of Nottingham Vicount Berkeley of Berkeley-Castell and also Lord Marquis of Berkeley Earle Marshall of England * An illustrious Branch of the Noble House of the Caries created Baron of Honsdon by Qu Elizabeth * Descended fro◠Charles Blunt Earle of Deuonshire Lord Deputy and Lieutenant of Ireland a braue valiant Nobleman who expulsed the Spaniards there and compelled the Irish Rebells to submission he was created Baron of Mount-ioy by Queene Elizabeth * Knighted by Queeene Elizabeth at Killingworth There is great differency and diuersity tending to the manner of describing Stories First there is
Chronology Chronicles Ephemeride Epitomies Rhopsodies Abridgment History and ANNALS Chronology hath two conditions both particular and necessary called by the Greekes Alathea and Apathia which is the truth of things set forth without any passion The Chronicle aymes at the originall of matters and to seeke the immemoriall Time from the first antiquity and foundation of peoples and Nations as Herodole for Greece Titus Liuius for the Latine Lemaire in the illustrations of the Gauls Mr. Speed for England and others The Ephemerides describes that which hath been said or done betwixt two persons Rhapsodis and Epittonnes are short obseruations of History Annalls and History is different from all those for they describe all the memorable deedes and particular actions that hapned yeerely and from time to time such as Xenophon was in Greece Salust among the Latins Froissard in France and Mr. William Cambden in England and so diuers others The seuerall and yeerely acts must be described without any passion or affections * Such courtesie from your Honours will ingraue your worth in the Temple of Eternity making your names thereby immortall sith it is onely this or such like seruice that can make you liue againe in your graue keepe your noble fame fresh and your happy memory from fading sith it wil cause your ashes to bring forth Laurell and Palme flourish and spring out of your Tombes when the base ignorant contemners of learning which doe abound in this iron age will wither and fade they seeme now only to liue on earth but to warre against Vertues much like vnto wormes in Libraries to destroy and deuour learning which they should cherish Booke 2. 1570. The Earle of Murray demands that the Qu. of Scotland might be put into his hands He pursueth the English Rebells The Earle of Murray is suddenly kild Diuers opinions are had of him The Scots Rebels make incursions vpon England The English take reuenge thereof They succoured those in Scotland that were of the Kings partie They take the Castle of Hamilton The Earle of Lenox is establisht Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of Spaine giues succours against those who were of the Kings side The Lord Setone his Ambassage to the Duke of Alua. The answere of the Duke of Alua. The Bishop of Rosse is set at liberty Laboured the liberty of the Queene of Scots They consult about the freedome of the Queene of Scotland Rebellion in Norfolke assoone ended as begun Felton punished for sticking vp the Popes Bull. The Papists reproue the Bull. The greatest part cōtemne this Bull. Cecill aduiseth him to marry Diuers are imprisoned Sussex chosen a Priuy-Councellor Treaty with the Queene of Scotland The Answer to the proposition of the English They cannot agree The Bishop of Rosse requires helpe to free the Queene of Scots The death of the Earle of Cumberland The death of Throgmorton Rebillion in Ireland quenched before they saw the day Stukeley flieth out of Ireland Booke 2. 1571. The royall Exchange The ereation of Baron Burghley The manner of creating Barons Letters from the Pope to the Queene of Scotland Edict of the Scots against the authority Royall Condemned by the Qu. of England The demāds of the English for the freedome of the Qu. of Scotland The English refuse the offers of the Scots Alteration among the Scots Complaints of the Scots against the English A remembrance sent from the Q. of Scotland to the Duke of Norfolke The counsell of the Bishop of Rosse The attempts of oothers A great Earthquake The Ambassage of Baron Buckhurst A proposition of a match betweene Elizabeth and the Duke of Aniou The hopes which they conceiued Articles of marriage The Answer To what end this marriage was proposed They hasten the mariage of the Qu. of Scotland The Bishop of Rosse and others committed Money sent into Scotland He declines from the English witnesses Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slain The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy Lawes against disturbers Lawes against Papists Iohn Storie condemned to dye Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals Guienne The Marquis of Northampton dyes The death of Bishop Iewell Affaires of Ireland William Fitz William Deputy of Ireland Booke 2. 1572. Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall Peeres of the Kingdome The maner of his arraignement The chiefe points of his accusation The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to plead his cause The second Article of his accusation The third Article of his accusation The Duke of Norfolke contrary to the Romane Religion The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Qu. of Scots are produced The Dukes Letter to his seruant The Letters of Ridolfe Of the Pope The testimony of Strangers The third Article of his accusation The Peeres consult amongst thēselues The Sentence pronounced against the Duke Barney and Marter are put to death Earles created Barons elected Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome The Duke of Norfolke beheaded His speech at the houre of his death The Duke of Norfolke's head is cut off Sundry sensures of him after his death Catenes relations of the precedent matters Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Qu. Elizabeth How he imployed the English The King of Spaine The King of France The King of Portugal The Duke of Alua opposeth Wherefore A vaine successe Wherewith the Pope the King of Spaine are vext and angry The Queene of Scots accused Mary Qu. of Scotland her answere to her accusation Sedition in Scotland The Queene of England the King of France endeuour to accord them They differ in opinions Causes alleadged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland The Queene of England contesteth with the French The loue and affection which the King of France and Queene of England bore once to the Queene Mary of Scotland growes cold The rebellious Flemmings commanded to goe out of England They take the Breele The Duke of Aluaes carelesnesse The English repaire into the Low-Countries to the warre Dissimulation of the King of France The Alliance of Blois The Articles of the same Confirmation thereof Mont-Morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland Answere made to him Hee also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou Massacre of Paris Marriage of the Duke of Alenzon propounded to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Northumberland beheaded Death of the Marquis of Winchester Cecill is made Treasurer Death of the Earle of Darbie And of Sir George Peters The Queene sicke She hath a care of the publike She cut off the superfluous number of followers which dayly augmented She curbeth enquirers after conceal'd Lands of the Crowne Rebellion in Ireland The Omors A strange Starre Booke 2. 1573. The Spanish Fleet discomfited Commerce betweene the Flemmish and English restored She dischargeth her Fathers and brothers debts Innouators trouble the Church The Papists troble the Common-wealth Their Libell is suppressed The
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
likewise his children to returne into Scotland The Ministers are against the King of Scotlands Authoritie Q. Elizabeth obtaineth of the Musconian Emperor a peace for the King of Sweden That Emperor requires an absolute alliance with England being a suter to her Maiesty to grant him an English Lady for his wife Sir Hierome Bowes is sent Ambassador to him from England The Emperor died A certaine kind of Deere called Maclis Theodore the New Emperor of Muscouia disallow'd the company or Monopolie of Englands Merchants Alberto Alasco a Polonian Nobleman came then to England to see Queen Elizabeth A wonderfull and fearfull Earthquake in Dorsetshire The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Likewise the decease of Henry Wriothesly Earle of South-hampton Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight drowned vpon the Sea by shipwracke It is a most difficult matter and a very hard thing to bring the Colonies in farre countries The death of Edmund Grindal Lord Archbishop of Canterbury A wood called Tamarin first brought into England Iohn Whitgift is preferred to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury He endeuored to vnite the English Church Brownist Schismatiques One Someruille strangled himselfe in prison and Ardern is hanged The English betray Alost and doe deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard A miserable end of Traitors The Earle of Desmond is killed Nicholas Sanders an English Seminarie Priest affamisht himselfe Vicount of Balting glasse fled away out of Ireland Sir Iohn Perot is made Lord Deputy of Ireland Labouring men are sent into Ireland The gesture and behauiours of Iohn Perot Vice-Roy of Ireland Booke 3. Troubles in Scotland The Earle of Gowry is taken The conspirors are dispersed Queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them The King demandeth them by the League but in vaine Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiues Hunsdon against theÌ„ Controuersie or the power of a Secretary argued The arraignment of Gowry He defendeth his own cause He is beheaded The treason of Francis Throckmorton The Lord Paget retyreth into France The complaints of the Catholikes Spies are suborned Many suspected The malice of the Papists against the Queene The clemency of the Queene towards the Papists Priests are banished Fugitiues demanded of the King of France The answer of the King of France The Spanish Ambassador sent out of England Waade is sent into Spaine Is not receiued· Throckmortons confession He denieth all He seeketh an evasion Being condemned he inlargeth his confession About to dâ—e he denyeth all A new treaty with the Queene of Scots Propositions made to her She answereth She demandeth to be associated in the Kingdome with her sonne The treaty dissolued by surmises An association begun in England The Queen of Scots maketh new propositions The Scots of the English faction oppose them The insolencie of the Scotch Ministers Against the Lawes Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Scotland Buchanans writings reproued A fained conference The Scots and English make incursions one vpon another The Ambassie of Patrick Gray Hee is suspected of bad dealing The patience of the Queene of Scots offended She is committed to new guardians She earnestly seeketh for liberty Things plotted against her Counsell holden amongst the Papists The death of the Earle of Westmer land NEVILL a most nobleâ— most ancient and illustrious name The death of Plowden Alancon dyeth The Prince of Orange is slaine The power of Spaine growne terrible Booke 3. The French King inuested with the order of the Garter Is accused of treason He perceiueth not the euasion His confession He consulteth with Iesuits about the murthering of the Queene With the Popes Nuncio With Morgan With Priests With the Pope himselfe He discloseth the matter to the Queene He wauereth in his minde Alans book addeth fresh courage to him Neuil offereth him his helpe He discloseth the matter Parry is arraigned Punished with death Lawes demanded in the Parliament against Bishops Against Non-residents The association established Lawes against Iesuits and Priests Felony Praemunire The Earle of Arundel resolueth with himselfe to fly out of England He writeth to the Queene Is apprehended The Earle of Northumberland is found dead The Coroners Enquest The causes of his imprisonment manifested The Earle of Northumberland is lamented of diuers Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Prince of Germany The like with the King of Scots A relation of the death of Russell The manner of his death The proofes amongst the borderers The death of Thomas Carre of Fernihurst The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England backe into Scotland They haue intelligence of others remaining in the Kings Court. They enter into Scotland Sterlin is taken by them They are reconciled to the King Amnistie Maxwell establisheth the Masse The rebellion of the Bourgs in Ireland Mac-William * or Sheriffe The Scots of Hebrides called into Ireland The Gouernor laboreth for a peace but in vaine He pursueth the rebels And he brings them to submission Next the Scots of Hebride Whom he doth assault and defeats them The title of Mac-William abolished The Estates of the Netherlands consult of a Protector Reasons of the French side For the English They are refused by the French The English consult about the protection The Dutch offer themselues to the Queene Antwerpe is yeelded vp The Queen deliberateth with her selfe She takes vpon her the protection Vnder what conditions The Queen publisheth the causes She sends forth a Nauy to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard The towne of S. Iames taken by the English froÌ„ the Spaniard A disease called Calentura whereby many perish The surprize of Hispaniola or Saint Dominick by the English The proud and audacious Motto of the Spaniards Auarice and Couetousnesse The English doe assault the City of Cartagena They set fire vpon the townes of S. Anthony and S. Helena They come to Virginia They bring the Colony thence Tobacco The booty of the English voyage and expedition Their pillage A search made for the discouerie of a way to the East India * Or Straits An Edict against Woad The company of the Barbary Merchants The death of the Earle of Lincolne Of the Earle of Bedford The Earle of Leicester sent into Holland His instructions Booke 3. Absolute Authoritie is giuen to Leicester by the Estates The Queen offended thereat She expostulateth with him With the Estates also They excuse themselues Leicester sendeth succours to releeue the City of Graue besieged But it is yeelded vp The Spaniards expelled out of the Betow An aduentrous enterprize Venlo is lost Axele is taken Graueline attempted Duisbourgh beleagerd Which yeelds Sir Philip Sidney is slaine The valour of Edward Stanley of the house of Elford The Estates complaine to Leicester against himselfe He returneth into England The Earle of Arundell is accused of many things He answered them well and is but fyned The King of Denmarke intercedeth for Peace with the Queene of England Queene Elizabeth answereth She furnisheth Henry King of Navarre with money She desireth a league with Scotland By what counsell The fugitiues
and Scottish Iesuits do suggest diuers things to the Queene of Scots The French labour to hinder the League The King of Scots propoundeth conditions He is not deterred by the French King Iames's answer to them The League of fast friendship A conspiracie against Queene Elizabeth How discouered Ballard returneth into France Ballard sent backe into England Meeteth with Babington He instructs him in the stratagem Babington receiueth Letters from the Queene of Scots He writeth back to her She answereth him His associates in the conspiracie Babington giueth to euery one his taske They confer together Their vanity Babington in care to bring in the forraigne aides sends Ballard to worke for him Insinuateth with Walsingham Deceit by deceit deceiued Giffard discouereth all the conspiracy Sendeth the Letters he receiued to Walsingham Ballard vpon his departure is taken Babington soliciteth for Ballards libertie Falleth into the same net Getteth himselfe out Lyeth in a wood Harrow-Hill They are found And all the rest of the conspirators All discouered The Q. of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seruants Her Cofers with Letters sent to the Queene Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably The Traytors come to Iudgement Are punished The Queen of Scots her Secretaries examined The King of France is aduertised Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Scottish Queene By what Law shee should be iudged Commissioners appointed to heare the cause A Commission granted to that end Booke 6. * William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Edward de Vere Earle of Oxford Lo high Chamberlâ—ine of England George Talbot Earle of Shrewâ—bury Earl Marshall Henry Grâ—y Earle of Kent Henry Stâ—â—â—â—y Earle of Derby William Somerset Earle of Worcester Edward Manners E. of Rutland Ambrose Duâ—ley E. of Warwick Master of our Ordnance Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Robert Dudley E. of Leicester Master of our horse Henry E. of Lincoln Charles L. Howard high Admiral of England Anthony Viscount Montagu Henry Cary BaroÌ„ of Hunsdon Lo. Chamberlaine of our houshold Henry Neuill Baron of Abergaueny Edward Lord Zouch Edward Parker L. Morley Will. L. Cobham Lord Warden of the cinque Ports Edward L. Stafford Arthur Lord Gray of Wâ—lton Iohn L. Lumley Iohn L. Stuâ—ton William L. Sands Henry L. Wâ—ntworth Lodowick L. Mordant Iohn L. Saint Iohn of Bletso Tâ—â—mas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst Henry L. Compten Henry Lo. Cheney Sir Francis Knolls knight Treasurer Sir Iacob Crofts knight CoÌ„troller Sir Christ Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine Sir Francis Walsingham our Secretary of State William Dauâ—son Esq our second Secretary Sir Ralph Sadler knight Chancellor of our Dutchy of Lancaster Sir Walter Mildmay knight 〈◊〉 Aymâ— Poulet knight gouernor of our Island of sarsey all our trâ—sty beloued priuy Counsellor and Sir Christopher Wâ—ay knight L. chiefe Iustice of the Common plees Iohn Wâ—â—sey esq our Secretary for the Latin Sir Edmund Anderson knight L. chiefe Iust of our Bench Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of our Exchequer Sir Thomas Gawdy and Sir William Pickering Commissioners come to her She answereth the letters vpon the sudden Booke 3. Addeth the next day to her answer She refuseth her tryall Exception against the new-made Law Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare Her tergiuersation Shee yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer The maner of the sitting The Lord Chancellor speaketh to her Her protestation Recorded Proceeding She denieth the former allegation Copies of letters shewed Extracts out of Babbingtons confession She denieth them They vrge her with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard She blames Walsingham Walsingham maketh his Apologie Charles Pagets letters are produced and Babingtons and the testimonies of her Secretaries She obiecteth against their credites Arguing about transferring the kingdome She excuseth her selfe for hauing giuen Morgan an annuall pension by pensions giuen to the Scottishmen She offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges for her libertie The Lord Burghley answereth She interrupteth him He proceedeth Letters shewed again She interrupteth their reading Affirmeth her Secretaries were not to be credited She is accused againe for transporting the Kingdome She condemnes her Secretaries as periured Sir Thomas Egertons the Q Sollicitors demonstratioÌ„ She crauest a hearing iâ— open Parliament Sentence pronounced against her Some suspect the credite of the Secretaries Or duety Declaration that the sentence against the Q. of Scotts did nothing preiudice her sonne A Parliament held The banishing of traytors confirmed The States approue confirme the sentence and desire the publication therof The Queen answereth She desireth them to find out some other remedie Their Answer to her Her reply to them The Q. of Scotland is certified of her iudgment The Ambassador of France slayeth the publishing of the Sentence Notwithstanding it is published The Queen of Scotland carrieth herself with a resolute courage She moues a request to Queen Elizabeth Opinions of the Q. of Scotl. cause In her behalfe Against her The Q. of Scotland's sonne intercedeth for her Some Scots against her The K. by letters and messages And propoundeth some things considerable As the K. of France did by his Ambassadors Bellieures reasons for the Qu. of Scotland Answers to his Reasons The Ambassadour of France attempteth Queene Elizabeths life Stafford discouereth the enterprise to the CouÌ„cell The Ambassadour denieth it The Ambassadour mildly rebuked Whether an Ambassador be to discouer the attempts if he know any to be committed against the Prince to whom he is sent But Gray the Scot more She weigheth these businesses The Courtiers perswade her By reasons And by examples She is notwithstanding suspensiue perplexed with doubtfull feares She commandeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution Her Councell send secretly The Q. of Scotl. prepares herself for death Shee is brought to the scaffold Her speeches to Meluine her Steward To the Earles Her last words The Epitaph The prouidence of God plainly seen in her death Elizabeth is sorry therefore and grieueth thereat Is angry with her Councell They vrge him vpon his owne confession The Queen Sergeants reproue him The Iudges opinion vpon his fact The L. Gray defendeth him Sentence giuen against him He maketh request to the Commissioners Dauison his particular Apologie The indignation of the Nation of Scotland Suggestions vsed to the King Qu. Elizabeth indeuoureth to appease them By what reasons Sir Francis Drake is sent into Spaine to preuent the comming of the Jnuincible Nauy for the inuasion of England His expeditions The great Carraque Saint Philip is taken The profit which the English receiued thereby The East Indies Companie Thomas Cauendish circuits the Earth Stanley and Yorke Traitors New kinde of Duels brought into England With what successe The States of the vnited Prouinces doe blame the Earle of Leicester The States send for Leicester again to raise the siege before Sluce Leicester is molested Leicester goes about to make himselfe Lord ouer their Cities He is called home againe The Title of his Excellency Leicester distributes Medailles coyned en memory of his person to those of his faction The Estates doe put in Leicester place Prince Maurice of Nassau Leicesters faction in the Low-Countries Russell suspected Leicester auoids his aduersaries accusation The death of the Lord Neuill Baron of Abergauenny And the Duchesse of Somerset being very aged And Sir Ralph Sadler Also Sir Thomas Bromley The Earle of Rutland dyes And Sir Christopher Hatton is made Lord High Chancellor William Fitz-Williams Lord Deputie of Ireland for the same time The reason why it is a difficult thing to war against Jreland Booke 3. 1588. A wonderfull and admirable Yeere Great preparations are in hand in Spaine to assault and inuade England By what counsell The reason why They consult about the meanes how to assault and subdue England Preparation in Flanders Traytors hated The Popes assistance Preparation in England By Sea And Land Consultation for defence And concerning the Papists at home The King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniards Booke 3· Conference of peace in the meane time Commissioners sent to that end into Flanders Propositions of the English answered Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma The conference breakes vp The Spanish Armada 28. Maij. Sets forth and is dispersed Sets out againe The English Nauy sets out The first fight The ability of the English Flees * Cantabrica Peter Valdes taken The Ship of Oquenda taken The English Admirals prouidence The third fight Knights created for their valours by the Right Honourable Charles Howard Earle of Notingham Lord High-Admirall Diuers Noble-men and Knights of England ioyne themselues with the English Fleet before Calais The Spanish Fleet lyes at anchor and rests betwixt Calais and Douer The Duke of Parma is sent for againe by the Spaniards He is vnprepared The good seruice of the Hollanders who hindred Parma from ioyning his Forces with the Spanish Nauy The Spaniards amazed fly confusedly Hugh Moncada slaine The fourth combate The Spaniards resolue to returne home by the North-Sea The Queene visits her Campe. Conditions offered vnto the King of Scots Money coyned in memory of this famous victory Tout ainsi coÌ„me l'on dit de Caesar IL EST VENV IL A VEV IL A VINCY on peu dire de mesme de L'espagnol auss que IL EST VENV IL A VEV mais qui pis est IL â—'EN EST ENFVY aulieu que Caesar estoit victorieux Misery of the Spaniards in Jreland Causes of the defeat The Spaniard takes patiently this ouerthrow Queene Elizabeth caused a generall thankes-giuing to God for it and publique reioycing in England Praysed those who were of the English Nauy The publike ioy is increased by the good newes which came out of Scotland The death of Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester His dignities and titles His disposition and manners Leicesters goods are sold Berghen ap Zoom besieged by the Duke of Parma Who raiseth the siege Innouations in England Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous Bookes Beginning of a great Rebellion in Jreland Ambassadour in Denmarke The Emperour of Russia most fauourable to the English
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
his enemie and one thirsting for blood saying that hee was apprehended by his cunning policies being vpon the point of departure out of the Kingdome and by him was with the hope both of life grace which he promised him so farre allur'd and treacherously ouer-reacht that hee confessed all that was obiected to him and therefore those things ought not in right and equity or any consequence be brought against him being by treachery and deceit extorted from him As for the resistance which he made hee excused because he perswaded himselfe that the letters of protection sealed with the Kings great Seale which hee had with him were of greater consideration and value then which the Earle of Arran had written with his owne hand for his apprehending Hee likewise answered that hee was not so much blame-worthy in concealing for so short a time the conspiracy against the King and his Queene-mother as hee deserued praise at last for disclosing of it And finally protesting that from his heart hee vtterly hated all witches and sorcerers he openly said that if there were any at all hee verily beleeued that they liu'd in the Courts of Princes The Peeres after they had according to the custome sworne that they had in no waies moued or incited the Kings Aduocate to accuse him they pronounc't him guilty of Laesae Maiestatis and in the end his head was cut off which by his friends was presently taken and stiched to the body and so buried Euen in the same time whilst these Scots enterprised these things against their King in the seruice as they pretended of Queene ELIZABETH to their owne ruine Certaine English likewise to do seruice to the Queene of Scots began to plot against their own Queene things of no lesse weight and attended on with the like bad successe Of which was chiefe Francis Throckmorton eldest son of Iohn Throckmorton Iudge of Chester but by deuices of Leicester hee was degraded and punished because that if I faile not in these law matters hee had stuffed and corrected in many places a copie of iudiciall transaction taken out of the originall which was corrupted and did not present it with all faults and defects This Francis became first suspected by reason of letters which he had written to the Queene of Scots and were intercepted and therefore he was clapt into prison where hee beginning to confesse Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly left their Country and fled into France where they with others zealous in the Roman Religion bitterly deplored their misfortune complaining amongst themselues that by the means of Leicester and Walsingham they had without any desert vtterly lost the fauour of their Queene that they were vnworthily afflicted with iniuries and opprobries that many stratagems were deuised against them and diuers snares laid to force them against their owne wills and intentions to runne into the crime of Laesae Maiestatis neither was there any hope of helpe or succour left for them within the Kingdome And surely at that time that they might with more ease sound the mindes of men there were put in practice many fraudulent deuices counterfeit letters were suborned in the name of the Queen of Scots and the rest of the fugitiues with their hands fasly thereto subscribed and these were cast into the houses of the Papists Spies were likewise sent forth to gather the dispersed rumors and captate scattered speeches Then reporters of tales and falsities were accepted and welcomed and many vvere suspected but amongst others the Earle of Northumberland and his sonne the Earle of Arondell vvho vvas cōfined to his house and his vvife vvhich was giuen in keeping to Shirley G. Howard brother to the Earle and H. Howard their Vncle brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was oftentimes examined about Letters written from the Queene of Scots Charles Paget and a certaine fellow as then vnknowne called Mopus and notwithstanding he was wise and innocent yet he had much to doe to defend and warrant himselfe from their traps Neither were these artificiall policies and easie credulities to bee holden or esteemed as things vaine when the matter lay vpon the safeguard of the Queene For then the detestable malice of the Papists began to manifest it selfe publiquely divulging bookes wherein they exhorted the seruants of the Queene to doe by her as Iudith to her immortall fame dealt with Holofernes The Author of these bookes could not certainly be discouered but the suspition lighted vpon one G. Martine of Oxford a man well learned in the Greeke and Latine tongues and one Carter a Booke-binder because he caused them to be imprinted was put to death And forasmuch as by these books the Queens honour was much distained and she rumoured abroad to bee tyrannous and cruell She which aboue all things laboured and studied to leaue to the world a happy memory of her goodnesse She was much moued and incensed against those that had knowledge of the causes which thus prouoked the Papists as barbarously cruell and iniurious to her honour Insomuch that they found it needfull for them to excuse themselues by divulged writings importing these protestations of their part THat they had alwayes entreated the Priests in a more milder fashion then they deserued neither euer vrged any questions to them concerning Religion but onely of their pernicious machinations against their Prince and Countrey moued by strong suspitions with probable signes and arguments thereto That Campian was neuer so extremely tortured but that hee was able to walke and subscribe his hand to his confessions But Brian refusing either to speake or write his name that was author of those mysticall writings which were found about him was kept from all food vntill by writing he demanded it But this yeelding no sufficient satisfaction to the Queene she commanded the Commissaries that were appointed for criminall proceedings that is to say the examiners to abstaine from tormenting and the Iudges from punishing And a short while after those seuentie Priests whereof some were condemned to be put to death and all of them had incurrred the censure of the Law shee caused to bee banished out of England amongst which the most eminent were G. Heywood sonne to that famous Epigrammatist the first Iesuite that entred into England I. Bosgraue a Iesuite also I. Hart of singular learning aboue the rest and E. Richton that monster of ingratitude who presently after vomited vp the poison of his malice against the Queene to whom hee was indebted for his life and published it in open writing Edward Stafford Ambassador for the Queene in France diligently obserued how the Baron of Paget and Arundell were ariued in France But could not penetrate into their designes Neuerthelesse he sollicited the King of France to expell as well them as Morgan and other English that vvere confederates and complotters against their Queene and Country But his answer was THat if they did plot