would also concerne the rest that nothing doth more ioy the hearts of our enemies then to see those ill dealt withall who are more famous then the rest and indeed innocent that the Earle had no greater enemies then his owne ornaments and that his aduersaries complained of nothing in him but his greatnesse Then they argued from the diuers intents of his aduersaries who although they all meant ill yet vsed not the same meanes Some of them when he was cited in the Starre-Chamber thinking it not best to deale rigorously with him that then the Secretary deuised euill practises against him that yet such euill-minded men desire more then they dare attempt Besides that it was wisedome to vnderstand that affaires in Court turne not alwaies vpon the same wheele that there are periods of hate of loue of iealousie of cruelty and mercy although we cannot define them That no man knowes whither or no he be worthy by to morrow of loue or hatred That the determinations of Princes are very intricate That they are wont sometimes euen to sacrifice to the people for the redeeming of their credit the chiefest of their seruants as appeares by the example of Empson Dudley Cardinall Woolsey and Cromwell Let men wisely deeme that as Princes haue shewen themselues towards others so they will towards themselues too if occesion shall serue Therefore that hence his aduersaries ought to be wary lest they plunge themselues too deepe in this businesse and be not able to follow it lest thereby they doe themselues the greatest hurt in striuing to burthen him more that already is too much laden with hatred Neither that they doe too much exasperate the Queene terribly against so braue a man for if they doe howsoeuer men may be amazed at it yet God will be auenged of them who being himselfe iust will in his best time defend those that are vniustly afflicted So by these perswasions many were of opinioÌ„ that the Earle would recouer fauour again with the Queen both now busiing them selues in consideration how in this doubtfull dangerous time he might spend his life First whether it were best for to put himselfe vpon any free Embasy and so to withdraw himselfe into some forreine Country till such time as the weather grew a little clearer for him secondly whither it were better to addict himselfe wholly to a contemplatiue life that thereby he might lift vp his heauenly minde as his fortunes grow lower and lower Or lastly whither or no he should take some mid-way betweene both being ready prouided for either fortune The Earle in the meane time made â—hew of his great humblenesse of minde protesting that both by words and Letters he had taken his leaue of this world that with teares he had washed away from his heart his hot ambition And that now hee desired nothing more then that the Queene would let her seruant depart in peace for these were his owne his words These speeches so much delighted the Queene that shee forthwith remoued him from his keeper Barckley willing him to be his owne man and if 〈◊〉 pleased he might goe into the Country Admonishing him withall that he make himselfe and his discretion his kâ—â—pers and willing him not to come neere the Queene or 〈◊〉 Court Which certainly if he had done it had fared â—â—tter with him for hee was neuer freer to wit from euill councels then when he was at custody For no sooner had the Earle this sentence of liberty pronounced but Cuffe that alwaies had perswaded the Earle neuer to confesse himselfe guilty but stand in his owne defence and not to impaire his honour with a submission now comes and so vehemently nips him for a pusillanimous Earle and the rest that counselled him to it for such vndiscreet Counsellours that the Earle commanded him to be cashiered out of seruice but yet Mericke his Steward that was of the same opinion with Cuffe fulfilled not the Earles 〈…〉 The Earle being now his owne man and about to goe into the Country signifies by Howard to the Queene 〈…〉 〈…〉 hers which had been his stars wherby he sailed on happily and kept his course on at a iust measure That now he had resolued to repent earnestly and to say with Nebuchadonozor That my habitation is amongst the wilde Beasts of the field that I may eate Hay like an Oxe be watered with the dew of heauen till such time as it shall please the Queene to restore my sence to me againe The Queene was so iocond at these words that she would say I Wish his deeds and words would in iumpe together He hath long tried my patience and I haue reasonable well tried his humblenesse Sure I am my Father would not haue borne with his peruersnesse But I will not looke backe lest like Lots wife I am turned into a pillar of salt All is not gold that glisters c. Shortly after Cuffe hauing accesse againe to the Earle more boldly rings the same things againe into his eares obiecting to him that by his confession he had betrayed his owne cause and that thereby he had lost more credit then his dearest bloud could buy againe That Howard and the rest onely seeme trusty in these petty matters to him that they might the easier deceiue him in weightier and resigne him ouer to the prey of his enemies That all hope of his former liberty was look't vp and not to be purchased vnder desperation Admonishing him that therefore hee would bethinke himselfe to take some course to redeeme his credit and liberty and his friends from seruitude and the whole Kingdome from the tyrannous gouernment of his notorious enemies The Earle stopt his eares against any such councell being assuredly perswaded that he should recover his lost fauour again with the Queene that gainfull Farme of Sweet Wines the time of renuing which was now almost expired The Queene indeed by words and Letters gaue him great hope of her fauour but concerning the Farme she aâ—swered here and there in seuerall places That first she would see what it was and that such good turnes are not to be bestowed blindfold Then shortly after she suffered others to haue the profit thereof saying That they must keepe a wilde horse without fodder that intend to bring him within compasse Also she much vsed to recite and commend that physicall Aphorisme That the more one feeds corrupt and diseased bodies the more one hurts them The Earle being inwardly much discontented at the Queenes answere grew exceeding angry and giuing ouer his iudgement to the moderation and rule of his extrauagant affections and passions he then began to giue eare to Cuffe and any one that would blow the coales of sedition that now had fully perswaded him that the Queene the Councell and his aduersaries had purposely resolued to beggar him quite to make him liue on the Almes-basket and of the crummes that fell from their tables And
that so being made poore neglected of the Queene and forsaken by his friends he might become the laughing stocke to his triumphing enemies Hereupon Southampton is sent for out of the Low Countries And some Diuines counsails in Oxford demanded but for what I know not and the Earle he himselfe returnes to London And now S. Christ. Blunt being much discontented that he had brought the Earle into these troubles for he perswaded him to come ouer out of Ireland but with a few with him hauing also vnderstood that Hen. Howard had in vaine made intercession for the Earle with his potent aduersaries admonished him now as he himselfe afterwards confessed to make his owne way to the Queen intimating that besides many of the Nobility would secure him his ingresse and regresse But the Earle answered that that would breed a scruple in his conscience except he had the fauourable opinion of Preachers thereto Yet for all that he sent word to Bluâ—t by Cuffe that shortly he would take some order what to do and impart the same to him assoone as he had resolued on it And now the Earle kept open house Mericke his Steward entertaining at boord all kinde of Souldiers audacious and discontented persons that would not care whom they wounded with their tongues Euery day there was a Sermon by some precise Minister or other whither all the Citizens almost flock't daily also Ritch the Sister of the Earle that hauing lost the honour of her marriage-bed found the great discontent of the Queene lying heauy vpon her frequented thither also daily And if any man thought ill of these things why he is presently noted as an iniurious person to the honour and freedome of the Earle In the last moneth of this yeare died Roger Lord North Treasurer of the Queenes Court Sonne to Edward Lord North he was a man of a liuely disposition and his wisedome equall to his courage We haue spoken of him sufficiently in 1567. and 1574. Dudley North his Heire succeeded being nephew by the son and Dorothy the daughter and heire of Valentine Dale an excellent Lawyer In his Treasurership William Knâ—lles succeeded him Sir Edward Wottâ—n shortly after succeeded him being a man well tried in many affaires of the Common-wealth THE FOVRE and Fortieth Yeere OF HER REIGNE Anno Domini 1601. IN the beginning of this yeare the Queene was wholly taken vp with very honourable â—mbassies from the South camâ— Hamets King of 〈◊〉 â—ingitana from the North 〈…〉 Pheodâ—riwâ—cke the Emperour of Russia's She also very 〈◊〉 entertained 〈◊〉 William the Sonne of 〈…〉 Count Palatine Duke of 〈…〉 and Virginius Vrsinus the Duke of 〈…〉 and the for he was beholding to him for it Sir Ferdinando Gorge Captaine of the Garrison at Plimmouth Sir Iohn Dauis Superuisor or Ouerseer of the Engines vnder him an excellent Mathematician and Sir Iohn Littleton of Fraâ—kell wise both in councell and warre if so be all his other behauiours had beene correspondent thereunto All these to auoid suspition meeting couertly in Drury House there Essex first proposed to them a Catalogue of the Nobility that were all addicted to him wherein of Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen he reckoned about one hundred and twenty After this he willeth them to consider and tell him whether it were best to surprize the Queene or the Tower or both together and then what they should doe with the City But it seemed best to them all to surprize the Court and that after this manner S. C. Blunt with a choice company should seize on the Gate Dauis the Hall Danuers the great Chamber of the Guard where they sit seeing who is highest amongst them and also the Presence Chamber and then Essex should come out of the Mues with some choice company and hauing way made for him come humbly to the Queene and demaund that shee would remoue from her his potent aduersaries whom he had afterwards resolued as was by some of them confessed to cite to appeare before Iudgement and hauing assembled a Parliament to change the forme of gouernment in the State But whilest these Scottish â—mbassadours and a seasonable time for this matter were daily expected suspitions increased daily of him by reason of a continuall concourse of the Commonalty to Essex house vnder pretence of hearing Sermons as also by reason of some words that fell from one of their Preachers whereby he allowed that the great Magistrates of the Kingdome had power in necessity to restraine the Princes themselues Hereupon at small inckling of the matter on the seuenth of February came Robert Sackâ—ill the sonne of the Treasurer vnder pretence of an honourable visitation but indeed out of a desire of information by knowing who vsed to come thither and what they were Presently after that is Essex sent for to the Lord Treasurers house where the Councell met there to be admonished that he should moderately vse the benefit of his libertie and the very same day a litle note was put into his hands he knew not how wherin he was warned to looke to himselfe and provide for his owne safetie But the Earle fearing that somewhat had come to light and so hee might perchance be committed againe excused himselfe by reason of some distemper in his health that he could not come to the Councell And by this time his resolution which had beene foure moneths a digesting failed and he hasteneth againe to some new plot Wherefore hauing assembled his intimate friends againe and intimated to them that some of them would shortly be imprisoned he propounded to them whither it were best or no forthwith to seize vpon the Court or to try what the Citizens will doe for him and so by their helpe set vpon it or whither or no they had rather counsell him to fly and secure himselfe that way For the surprizing of the Court they were vnprouided of Souldiers and Engines and besides some affirmed that there had beene lately watch and ward duly kept there besides that to assault the Court was inexcusable treason against the Queene Whilest they were arguing about the loue of the Citizens and some obiected the vnstaâ—â—â— disposition of the common people behold one comes in as if sent from them that promised their vtmost endeauours against all their enemies Hereupon the Earle being somewhat cheerefull began to discourse how much hee was â—oued in the Citie by most that were much addicted to his â—ame and fortune which he beleeued absolutely to be true by reason of their continuall murmuring and crying out against his hated enemies Also by other mens speeches he was perswaded that Thomas Smith then Sheriffe of London who was then Captaine of a thousand trained Souldiers would be for him vpon all occasions Wherefore he was resolued by reason that such lingring is as dangerous commonly as rashnesse the next day which was Sunday to come through the Citie with two hundred of the nobler sort and so to passe to Pauls
elsewhere in difficult affaires and no more acquainted with this message than the occasion of it The Queene notwithstanding could not wel endure that the Spaniard should be possessed of so rich and conuenient a place to inuade England Holland or Zeland from In so much that the continuall meditation of this matter wrought these words out of her that This businesse concern'd her more than that of Edward the third who at excessive charges maintained the cause of Iohn of Montfort to keepe the French from possessing themselues of Britaine There were indeed some about the Court to the commendation of their warinesse more than wisdome that prompted the Queene to a parâ—imony aduising her not to be at so great charges for others good but rather to regard her owne wishing her not to put any confidence in French-men as being traâ—terous euen to their owne Kings thence taking an occasion to returne to her memory their cruelty in butchering one of their Kings that was a professed Catholike and their villany in thus persecuting another that is a Protestant They vrged to her likewise the vniust claime the French laid to Metz Toul and Verdune formerly annexed to the Empire of Germany which notwithstanding the memory of later ages witnessing as much they by violence haue disioynted from it That they doe as constantly hate the English euen now when they are friends as others doe when they are enemies that they doe so duely breake promise in repaying of monies to the English that they vse to Nick-name other Creditors whom they likewise disappoint with this by-word Les Anglois These are Englishmen Lastly that by their homebred seditions they haue so rent a flourishing estate into factions that the whole Realme might rather excite her neighbours pity than occasion their feare it being now like a grosse body burthened with its owne weight and so disordered by the mutable obedience of the people that if it should chance to faile of an enemy abroad it would soone find one at home The Queene as desirous of the commendations of the French from the mouth of an English man as careful of their safety from the hands of an enemy entertained this discourse both with disdaine and laughter and when not onely the English but euen some French themselues counsel'd her to put in for her share and ceaze vpon Picardie or Normandie as the Spaniard and the Leaguers had already cantonized all France putting her in minde of the saying of Charles of Burgundy that It was best for all neighbour nations when France had twenty Kings She heard them with a much forced patience and disdainfully putting them by said That whensoeuer France it's last day should be at hand the euening thereof would bring in Englands ruine and destruction Whilst these businesses were on foot Ambrose Dudley Earle of Wâ—rwicke sonne of Iohn Duke of Northumberland and Knight of the Order of S. George departed this life as full of vertue as empty of Issue And not long after Sir Francis Walsingham also the Queenes Secretary and Chancellour of the Duchie of Lancaster and of the Order of the Garter He was a man as commendable for industrie as imitable for his wisdome and piety one that had beene employed in many honourable Embassies a strict professour of the reformed Religion a curious searcher out of secrets one that could diue into mens dispositions and worke them to his owne ends at pleasure His Art that way as it was past imitation so was it beyond the Queenes owne expectation in so much that the Papists euery where traduced him as a subtle enginere to screw simple Proseâ—ytes within the danger of the law This intelligence which hee continually had of all plots and deuises that were hatched within the Realme cost him such excessiue charges that hauing spent not onely his estate but euen his credit which was much impeached by his abundant debts he was in the night time buried at Pauls without any Funerall solemnity Hee left but one daughter who first marrying Sir Philip Sidney bore him a daughter married to Roger Earle of Rutland and then marrying her second husband the Earle of Essex bore him one sonne and some daughters and afterwards being married to the Earle of Clan-Richard an Irish Lord bore to him also Children of both sexes Not long aboue a moneth or two Sir Thomas Randolph ouer-liued him yet not so neere to him in his death as hee was in acquaintance and loue in his life This was he whose brother Edward a braue souldier died victoriously in Ireland in the yeare 156â— In the time of his youth hee liued a Ciuill Lawyer in Christ-Chuch in Oxford and afterwards became the Principall of Broad-gates Hall since named Pembroke Colledge Hee had beene imployed in many seuerall Embassies thrice to the Peeres in Scotland thrice to Queene Mary of Scotland after her returne from France Seuen times to Iames the sixt of Scotland thrice to Iohn Basilides Emperour of Russia once to Charles the ninth of France and againe to Henry the third The Queene rewarded this his seruice with the Chamberlaines Office in the Exchequer heretofore a place of great honour and worth the Mastership of the Post-horses and some small land Neither could ambition or the charge of many chiâ—dren occasion any appetite in him of greater wealth to the true patterne of a contented minde for all high and worldly men whereof there are very few but haue lesse occasion and greater desire And let mee not forget that which may benifit posterity with the memory of it a letter which hee sent to Sir Francis Walsingham a little before his death wherein hee declared how fitting it was and how necessary that the one should leaue of the trickes of a Secretary and the other of an Embassadour and imploy the time before their death in repentance for the sinnes of their life Shortly after him died Sir Iames Croft who in the dayes of Edward the sixt valiantly defended Hadington in Scotland against the French He was for a while Lord Deputy of Ireland hauing beene condemned for treason in the hot dayes of Queene Mary was as gratiously pardoned by Queene Elizabeth and made Gouernour of Barwicke and the Easterne borders He likewise was Comptroller of her Maiesties houshold and a Delegate at the Treaty of Bourbourge After all which hauing had the vertue to excite the very enuie of the Court against him and yet hee happy fortune to ouercome it liued and died in the loue and fauour both of Prince and people With the yeere also ended George Talbot his lifeâ—being Earle of Shropshire the sonne of Francis and the seuenth Earle of that House who in the Reigne of Queene Mary hauing to the number of three thousand vnder him committed to him by his Father the Generall of the Army in the Scottish warres rescued the Earle of Northumberland at Lo-wick out of most eminent danger Hee was also Captayne of a troupe
deliuer him vp to his hands if hee lurk't in England since shee could not chuse but esteeme the fauourers and friends of such an enemy as her owne enemies But notwithstanding when Sir Robert Meluill came and demanded Bothwell and monies also for to pursue the rebellious Papists some monies indeed were sent but as for Bothwell it was answered that hee should bee deliuered vp according to the couenants of the former Treatise or banished out of England Now the reason of this vnexpected answer to the King of Scotland might well bee vnknowne when indeed it was no other but because some Scottishmen in England had enueagled the Queene with conceit that the King of Scotland dealt too fauourably with his popish Nobility Bothwell about the same time hauing beene proclaimed Traitor by the States of Scotland returneth secretly home againe and brought into the Kings Chamber by some of his friends vpon a sudden he fell downe at the Kings feet he little dreaming of any such matter and casting his sword on the ground humbly beg'd for mercy by the importunate intercession of many hee obtained it vpon certaine conditions to wit that hee should depart from the presence of the King that he should appeare personally in iudgment of the case of his dealing with witches that if he be absolu'd and quitted of that he should depart the Kingdome and liue any where where it should please the King Yet for all this the day after hee was quitted from his dealing with Witches he by force drew many of the Kings seruants out of the Court till at length his faction grew so potent in the Court that the King for his owne safeties sake and the peace of the Realme was faine not onely to pardon him and all his Pages and Attendants but also to remooue out of the Court the Chancellour the Treasurer the Lord Humes and George Humes whome he esteemed most loyall vnto him But afterwards within a moneth weighing with himselfe to his great discontent how to the indignity of his Maiesty these things had bin extorted from him against all reason he declared in the next assembly of the Nobility of Scotland that they esteemed no better of him than of a Captiue and euen Bothwel's captiue that hee could no longer suffer a subiect that had now thrise waged was within the walls and chamber of his Prince both to triumph ouer him and his seruants who had so well deserued at his hands And hee easily had it granted by the States that they did approoue him a free Prince to exercise his authority and to chuse his Councellors and other Seruants and Officers according to his owne discretion Hereupon he recals to his Court the Chancellour and the rest againe cancelling whatsoeuer before against his will he had granted to Bothwell Yet notwithstanding by reason of his milde nature hee vouchsafed to pardon him and all his complices all their offences and to restore them to their goods if so bee they supplicantly sought for the same vpon condition that quietly they betake themselues home and approach not to the Court except they bee sent for that Bothwell within a limited and appointed time doe depart into some place beyond Sea and continue in set places so long as it shall please the King Hee makes great alteration in the Court in a short time banisheth Bothwell who thinketh still of worser mischiefe towards the King and Kingdome and to that end lay hid lurking still within the confines of the Kingdome Yet for all this was not Scotland yet at quiet for the Clergy men and Ministers tooke it very hainously that the King persecuted not the Papists with fire and sword against whom they themselues made assemblies and without anthority from the King assembled together the Lords and Burgesses to consultation about it to preuent danger that might fall out to the Common-wealth At this time in Germany there came out in print many libels against Queene Elizabeth calumniating her as if shee had incensed the Turke to warre against all the Christian World the letters came forth also which she had sent to the Turke in many places corrupted altered and changed and many malicious calumnies added and feigned on purpose But the Queene hauing sent a messenger to the Emperour so cleerely washed away these calumnies that forthwith the bookes were called in and the Copies of them burnt at Prague for certainely shee tooke all the paines she could for remoouing the Turke from Christendome and the Emperour acknowledged as much Neither surely had she any thing to doe with the Turke but onely to secure her subiects traffique at Turkie to which purpose she had her agent there at Constantinople as the French Polacke Common-wealth of Venice and others had there he Agent did nothing but helpe the businesse of her Merchants traffique and at their owne charges About this time also Shee procured peace betweene the King of Swedon and Muscouy as also between the Turke Sigismond Bathor Vaiuod of Tranâ—iluania For when as the Turke had trespassed beyond his limited bounds and laid taxes vpon them not only beyond the forme and fashion of their league but euen beyond their strength and ability Sigismond by his Embassadour Stephen Kakaze entreated her earnestly to trie what fauour shee could finde in the Turkes Court and interceed for him that nothing might be exacted beyond the ancient order and that nothing might be detracted from his territories and Dominions Which thing since that euen the good of all Christians was interessed therein she vndertooke and prosecuted according to her mercy wherewith she was wont to succour all her distressed neighbours In lower Britaine in France Norris hauing expected still Marshall D'Aumont and also Espinay of Saint Luke who had promised to ioyne forces spent all the winter the last yeare to no purpose in which time a disease consumed many of the English and the Queene was put to the charges of paying euery weeke three thousand and two hundred pounds of English money Indeed about Aprill next following Espinay came and ioyned his forces whereupon Ravendeers troopes were vanquished at Saint Sulpice Guearch surrendred vp and the forces of the Gouernour of Lauall amongst whom most were slaine quite vanquished wherein also Captaine Randolph Bourley and Christmasse couragious English men were all slaine Marshall D'Aumont not as yet drawing downe towards Britaine neither assigning the English a safe place of retyre as was couenanted for gaue the Queene such iust occasion of discontent that she forth with recalled Sir I Norris home againe notwithstanding that Aumont earnestly â—ollicited the Queene by his letters for more forces from England who had so discourteously entertayned these that were so lately sent before But whilst the Queene onely for Religions sake aydes the French King distrusting his owne strength at so great charges and so great troubles of mind as if â—he esteemed his losse her owne behold a most certaine report flies ouer
in any sort his rebellion At this time the forces of the Rebels of Ireland amounted to 1000. horse 6280. foot in Vlster 2300. in Conaugh who were all at Tir-Oens becke and most of these skilfull in handling Armes being ordinarily exercised therein elpecially since that time that the Deputy Perot had prescribed such a set number for euery Nobleman of Vlster to be exercised in training for better reâ—isting the Scottish Islanders or since Fitz-williams had sent for them ouer to the English warre Neither indeed were the English forces vnder Captaine Norris inferiour to that number who was now commanded to march forwards against the Rebels to preuent the aid they expected daily from Spaine To him was delegated an absolute power of pardoning any Rebell by the Mandate of the Queene from the Deputy also the greatest authority in Martiall affaires with the title of Generall of the Forces in the absence of the Lord Depâ—ty in Vlster by whose policy this was I well know not but it caused much maruelling in many when the whole strength of the Kingdome should now consist in one mans command and that nothing was more dangerous then a â—wo headed Gouernour which indeed is a Monster in policy as well as Nature And â—or all this the Deputy adioyned 〈◊〉 to him besides and they marcht on to Armagh to the so great terrour of the Rebels thaâ— Tir-Oen hauing forsaken and abandoned his Fort at Blacke-water fell to set fire vpon the aâ—â—acent Villages and the Towne Dunganon and demolisht most of his own houses himselfe and grieuing to heare himselfe proclaimed against hee begins to â—eeke out lurking holes when as the forces came not farther on by reason of insufficiency of prouision which indeed hath occasioned an annihilation of many venturous expeditions in Ireland they there stood still proclaiming Tir-Oen a Traitour in his owne Territories and then hauing put a Garrison in the Metropolitan Church of Armagh they returned backe againe As fast as they returned backward so fast would Tir-Oen a farre off shew himselfe to them now and then but he egg'd them not on to the renuing of his pursuit for they placed â— Garrison at Monaghan and hauing euen returned to Dundalke the Deputy according to the authority that hee had receiued committed the whole prosecution of the warre to Captain Norris and many words of complement being banded on both sides the Deputy betooke himselfe to Dublin wisely hauing a care of the affaires of the other three Prouinces Leinster Conaugh and Munster Norris all this time continued in Vlster with a puissant army but did not anything worthy either of the power residing in him or the expectation of things from him whether or no it were out of an emulation of the Lord Deputy whileâ—t one endured not a fellow the other no superiour or whether it were out of the politike feare of most Souldiers that are contented to spin out a little warre in a long twine hauing by experience beene beaten into a truth of this axiome That â— Souldiers estimation lasteth no longer then there is vse of him or whether it were out of fauour to Tir-Oen which hee seemed to shew towards him in as ample manner as the Deputy did his hate For whilest that he gaue an eare to the complaints of Tir-Oen and his fauourers he stucke not to accuse the Deputy as one too vniust against Tir-Oen by reason that his hating passion so ouer ballanc't his reason that he adiudged no peace to be made with him Now the Deputy was alwaies perswaded that the seruile flattering of Tir-Oen and submissions whatsoeuer they seemed were nothing else but his meanes to procrastinate time a little till such time as his aide should arriue from Spaine Wherefore hee alwaies refused parliâ—s and truces with him as most 〈◊〉 and treacherous esteeming it not to stand with the preseruation of his honor conferred by the Maiesty of the Queene either to receiue Lâ—tters or giue hearing to any Messengers â—ent from one that is proclaimed Traitor Norris on the other side hauing a faith very pliable to the probabilities of eâ—ents conceiued a greaâ— hope of bringing him â—o peacefull conditions in as much that he entred into parley with him but not without the worthy wonder of all men that saw or heard of it that so great a warriour as he was should deâ—â—â—nd so low as to parley with a publike enemie and a Traiâ—our before he euer came to a combate which is the best Oratory of a Souldier But he was not so credulous but the Earle Tir-Oen was as craftie who by all meanes possible 〈◊〉 vp that hope in him continually by counterfeiting his submission sealed with his own hand and by falling on his knees before Captaine Norris and Secretarie Fenton and begging pardon Besides protesting THat he neuer neglected his duty towards his Prince out of any malitious humour or an ambitious but onely that his friends and followers had run into a rebellion only to reuenge the iniuries vnderseruedly offered him and to requite the plots layd so often for his life That this was his first offence against the Queene whâ—â—h he promised to waâ—h away with his faithfull seruiâ—â—â—â—d his best bloud promising also to renounce the title of O Neale which hee had lately taken vpon him for feare lest others should vsurpe it against his right that from henceforth he would haue nothing to doe with the Spaniard with whom he said be neuer had any thing to doe before last August onely on condition that mercy pardon and â—orgetfulnesse passe by his offences past and a pleâ—ary pardon be obtained both for him and his O donell likewise submitted himselfe so that hereupon hauing giuen hostages there was a truce made till the Kalends of Ianâ—ary A little after vnder the same maske of dissimulation commeth Fâ—agh Mac-Hugh with a mournfull howling casting himselfe at the Deputies feet begging pardon who being admitted into his patronage for a while continued quiet The wiser men of those times obserued that these Colloquies Parlies Truces c. proued very preiudiciall to the Queene and hurtfull to the Common-wealth For in that space the Rebels enioyed free liberty to digest all their secret plots machinatioâ—s to strengthen their sides by new conâ—edeâ—cies abroad and to encrease them at home with new forces whilest all this while the English lay at a costly idlenesse feeding on the fruites of their friends and faithfull well-willers when by reason of the truce they might not prey vpon the enemy THE NINE and thirtieth Yeere OF HER REIGNE Anno Domini 1596. IN the beginning of Ianuary when the Truce was now expired and yet in the time of 〈◊〉 Truce the Rebels by theiâ— subâ—le sleights had seized vpon 〈◊〉 Castle Sir Henry Wâ—llop 〈◊〉 of the Army in Ireland and Sir Robert Gardiner chiefe Iustice of the Kingdome men of grauity and as great wisedoâ—â— were sent that they might parlâ—y a
Nations To let passe many words the Queene required the whole matter should be referred either to Delegates on both sides or to the Elector of Brandenburgh the Kings Father in Law the Duke of Mekelburgh Henry Iulius the D. of Brunswicke Vncle to the Kings Sister But when neither Stephen Leisiere nor Ferrar nor Nicholas Crage a learned man the one sent into England the other into Denmarke could compose the matter at length it was agreed on that Delegates should be sent to Embda thither the Queene sent Embassadours Richard Bancroft Bishop of London Christopher Perkins and Iohn Swale who might parley with the Delegates of Denmarke But when they came not at the appointed day whether hindered by the winde or some other errour the Danes alleaging that the time of their Delegates was out went home or as some thought because they wanted victuals for the Danes giue to their Embassadours Captaine victuals not mony as other Princes neither could endure to heare that they should require the prolongation of that authority Hence the English complained of the Danes as men proposing nothing else to themselues then that things should remaine as they were to wit that they might exact new tribute daily in the Oresund Sea that by new decrees they might confiscate their ships and merchandize that they might hold their fishng in the Northerne Sea and then saying through the same into Moscouia notwithstanding about these times for the better furtherance of Nauigation the Trades increase and the Kingdomes honour the Queene instituted the Company of East Indie Merchants giuing to them great priuiledges they sent thither with three ships Iames Lancaster of whom we before haue spoken that in the yeare 1594. he ouer came Fernambucke in Brasil Since that time and not vnluckily they sent euery yeare a small Nauy and to their Kingdomes honour erected Markets in Lurat the great Maguls Country in Mossolupatan Bantan Patane Siam Sagad Mecassar also in Iapan crushing by happy victories aswell the insolent enemy as the Turkish falsnesse but whether so great a summe of money daily transported hence and so many Marriners wasted be for the common good let wise men iâ—dge and posterity perceiue While the Queene thus prouides for her Subiects inrichment Clement the eight Pope vnderstanding her to be well in yeares for the better restoring of the Roman Religion to its former height in England sent thither two Breues one to the Clergy the other to the Laity in which hee admonished that they should admit no one to the Scepter after her decase how neere a kinne soeuer vnlesse he were one who would not onely grant a toleration of the Romish Religion but also with his best indeuour further it To the doing of which he must binde himselfe by an oath after the manner of his predecessours but the contents of these were as sparingly reuealed as they themselues closely sent notwithstanding hence was the originall of the monstrous powder-plot and as these Breues were sent from Rome to England for the easier excluding of King Iames from his inheriting England so at the same time was prepared in Scotland a deadly Sword by the Rethuens Brothers who in reuenge of the lawfull punishment inflicted on the E. of Gowry their Brother in the Kings minoritie appointed the same good King to die treacherously seducing him to their house and they had not come short in the performing of this designe had not the Protectour of Kings by these instruments the Kings fortitude the loyall endeauour of Iohn Ramsey and Thomas Areskins made themselues the authours of destruction on themselues for they were made aswell partners in death as in that plot and by decree of the State their goods confiscate their house made leuell with the ground themselues quartered and the Quarters hung on stakes through the Cities and as many as had to their surname Rethuen were commanded to leaue it for the better obliterating both of name and memory let it not be accounted fraud in me to relate their punishment since other Writers in this matter haue beene profuse about this Prince through England arose great complaint of the scarcity of victuals which also increased by reason of the moist constitution in the heauens at the end of the former yeare the vernall cold of this and the priuate auarice of some who by the abuse of an obtained licence transported great store into other Nations Hence the people moued no lesse with opinion then if they had had more rationall proofes by Libels railed on Buckhurst the Treasurer as if he had granted the licence but hee not lightly regarding these things repaires to the Queene from whom by Proclamation his innocence was testified a fault transferred on the Hucsters of Corne the Libellers apprehended and punished But such is the querulous enuy of the people that they complained the more and lashed him by priuate backe-bitings as if he had acknowledged it And now Essex hauing beene vnder the Lord Keeper of the great Seales custody this halfe yeare began mooued thereto by his naturall inclination to goodnesse and by this physicall affliction and many of his friends especially Henry Howard began I say to come to a better minde also determining to send away far from him those turbulent spirits that suggested him to all that was naught Gill Mericke and Cuffe he himselfe putting on such piety patience and modest humility that all his friends hoped well of him againe and his enemies enuied thereat The Queene in short time being pacified with his humble and submissue Letters commanded him to keepe onely his owne house vnder the free custody of Richard Barckly withall protesting that these her punishments were not entended for his ouerthrow but for his amendment But the common people altogether pleading for his innocency thinking him shrewdly wronged it seemed good to the Queene to eschew all kinde of seuerity iniustice or preiudice to her or her Councel that his cause should be heard yet not in the Starre Chamber lest he were too seuerely punished but onely priuately in the Lord Keepers house the Iudges thereof were allotted the Councell-table of the Queene foure Earles two Lords and foure Iudges that thereby he might onely be censured alike but with no marke of treachery or treason The summe of his accusation was that hauing no such authority in his Commission he made Southampton leader of the Horse that he knighted many that he drew his forces from Tir-Oen whom he should haue prosecuted into Mounster that he had priuate conference with Tir-Oen to the violation of the Maiesty of the Queene and the honor of the the Deputy himselfe and that this conference was the more suspected because it was priuate and secret These things the Lawyers sorely aggrauated bringing in also abrupt sentences of his out of Letters writ by himselfe some two yeres before the Copies whereof were dispersed by his followers vp and downe England such as these THat there is
but yet he saw that the Queenes command could not keepe Southampton from iniurie by reason that Grey durst assault him publikely with his sword and that there he prouided some safeguard for himselfe from his friends and Clients to withstand the violent fury of his enemies And that there was such violence offered and intended against him would appeare if but from that that Gorge was admonished by Rawleigh that assoone as hee could he should separate himselfe from him as a ship that was now sincking Then he complained that some Papists were accusers of him onely being hired thereto as also that they had counterfeited his hand-writing which indeed was done by an Impostor a cheater to get money as we shall shew So that hereupon Gorges testimony was brought in who had confessed that the Earle had determined to inuade the Court and to call a Parliament trusting to the helpes of the Londoners c. And then Gorge himselfe was sent for out of prison hard by to witnesse this before his face The Earle assoone as he saw him supposing that either out of hope or â—eare he had betrayed all by reason his was the first testimony that was brought and also because he came as a witnesse of his owne accord very passionately traduces him esteeming his testimony of no truth by reason of his variable countenance which was by and by pale and then red Then was obiected their meetings and consultations in Drury house about the seizing of the Tower or the Court. To which Southampton in a very milde speech protesting his true heart to the Queene made answere that such as those things were indeed there proposed but not determined but onely referred to the Earle of Essex Neither was that which was consulted put into practise but another to wit his going out into London which was to no other end then to get thereby secure accesse vnto the Queene and complaine freely to her of his iniuries That all the day long he drew not his sword neither that he heard of any Proclamation whereby he was proclaimed Traitour That as much as he could he hindered the shooting out of Essex house Wherefore he requested that they iudge of the matter not according to the rigour and letter of the Law but equity And being demanded if he thought not that to seize vpon the Court and to bring the Queene vnder their power was not Treason Hee answered him asking him what hee thought in his conscience they would haue done against the Queene The very same answered the Recorder that Henry Duke of Lancaster did to Richard the second who humbly came into the Kingdome vnder pretence of remoouing away from the King some naughty Councellours but hauing brought the King himselfe vnder his power he took from him his Crowne and shortly after his life The Iudges after this were demanded by the Peeres whether or no that consultation in Drury house were Treason by reason it came not to effect They all said it was and the rebellion in the Citie to be a prosecution of that their consultation for that if so be they could haue got aide enough at London amongst the Citizens they would haue inuaded the Court. Then it being asked whether Essex were the Author and occasioner of these meetings that was proued by many testimonies by the contents of their meeting written with his owne hand and by his casting of some papers into the fire for babling as he said The Earle assoone as he heard these things which he hoped had beene concealed hope said hee of getting their liues or escaping from punishment hath wrought these testimonies out from some and indeed let them enioy their liues as long as they can or will Death is more desired to me then life onely the violence of Cobham Cecill and Rawleigh droue mee to a necessary defence of my selfe which was all howsoeuer the Lawyers interprete my going out into the City my own conscience being cleare from any treachery is my greatest comfort Cobham rising vp protested that he neuer did Essex any malicious office but onely alwayes disallowed of his ambion Essex answered but I with all my heart euen with the losse of my right hand would haue remooued such a calumniator and tale-teller from the Queene Sir Francis Bacon politely and like an Oratour endeauouring to take away that colour from their rebellion which they drew from the enmity that was betweene them affirmed that both Cabham Cecill and Rawleigh were so truely honest and of so good estates that they would neuer hazard both of them in the attempt of any such wicked act Then he shewes that those fictions of waite laid for his 〈◊〉 were false by reason of the variety of them sometimes in that he would cry out he should be murthered in his bed then in the Boat and lastly by the Iesuites Then he accused him of great vanity for crying out in London that the Kingdome of England was put to sale to the Spaniard and to be diuided for the Infanta adding that it was an ordinary matter with Traitours not indeed directly to rise against their Prince but onely obliquely and through the sides of some of the Peeres Then he checkes him for his deepe dissimulation in that he had put on such a Vizard of godlinesse comparing him to the Athenian Pisistratus that would teare his owne body that hee might shew it to the people as if it had beene rent and torne by his enemies and so hauing got aide of them oppressed the whole Common-wealth Essex interrupting him in his proceedings remember how that but lately he himselfe had very efficaciously and pithily written Letters for him to the Queene against these his aduersaries adding besides that he vnderstood that Secretary Cecil had said to one of the Priuy councell that the right of the Infanta to the Realme of England was as good and iust as any of the rest of the Competitors Scarce had he said these words but Cecill that had stood hidden in a little Closet to heare all the proceedings straight way comes forth and falling downe on his knees beseecheth the L. High Steward that he would giue him leaue and licence to answere for himselfe to such a calumny so foule and false Leaue being granted he speakes to Essex in this manner IN wit indeed I giue you place wherein you are very excellent In your Nobility I giue you place for I am not reckoned amongst my Predecessours that were Nobles although I my selfe am In your military affaires I giue you place I am no Souldier But yet for all this my innocence shall protect me in this place am I free where you are guilty Wherefore I challenge you if you dare to tell who was the Priuie Councellour to whom I said these words Essex refused it Therefore sayes Cecill it is but a fained tale Essex denied that Wherefore Cecill turning to South-hampton entreates him by all their acquaintance euen