Lord Fitz-Water was created Viscount Fitz-VVater and Sir Thomas Bullen Treasurer of the Kings Houshold was created Viscount Rochâ—ord At this time the French Kings mother as then Regent of France procured by her Embassadours at first a Truce and afterward a peace with England which was proclaimed in London the eighth of September By the covenants of which peace the King of England should receive at certaine dayes twenty hundred thousand Crowns which in sterling money amounted to the summe of foure hundred thousand pound whereof fifty thousand was to be paid in hand Sir VVilliam Fitz-Williams and Doctor Talour was sent to the Lady Regent to take her corporall oath and likewise King Henry the foure and twentieth of Aprill at Greenwich in presence of the Embassadours of France Rome and Venice tooke his corporall oath to observe the peace betweene him and his loving brother the French King during his life and one yeer after In this winter was great mortality in London so as the Terme was adjourned and the King kept his Christmas at Eltham with a small number and was therfore called the still Christmas At which time the Cardinall comming to the Court took order for altering the state of the Kings House many officers and other servants were discharged and put to their pensions in which number were foure score and foure Yeomen of the Guard who before having had twelve pence the day with check were now allowed but six pence the day without check and commanded to goe into their Countries On Shrovetuesday this yeere a solemne Justs was held at Greenwich the King and eleven other on the one part the Marques of Excetur and eleven other of the other part In his nineteenth yeer King Henry kept a solemne Christmas at Greenwich with Revels Maskes disguisings and Banquets and the thirtieth of December and third of Ianuary were solemne â—usts holden when at night the King and fifteen other with him came to Bridewel and there putting on masking apparel took his Barge and rowed to the Cardinalls place where were at supper many Lords and Ladyes who daâ—ced with the maskers and after the dancing was made a great Banquet This Christmas was a play at Grayes-Inne made by one Master Roe a Sergiant at Law the effect whereof was that Lord Gouvernance was ruled by dissipation and negligence by whose evill order Lady Publick-Weale was put from governance This the Cardinall took to be meant by him and therupon seâ—t the said Master Roe to the Fleet though the Play were made long before the Cardinall had any authority by which we may see how inseperable a companion suspition is to a guilty conscience The fourteenth of Ianuary came to the Court Don Hugo de Mendoza a Grande of Spaine as Embassadours from the Emperour to the King with a large commission to make King Henry Judge how just the conditions were which the Emperour required of the King of France and about this negotiation â—arried two yeers in England so desirous the Emperour was to continue good correspondence with the King of England On Shrovetuesday the King and the Maquesse of Excester with others in most sumptuous attire came to the Tilt and ran so many courses till two hundred fourescore and six Speares were broken and then disarming themselves went into the Queenes Chamber where a sumptuous Banquet was provided But this Banquet was one of the last of the Queenes preparing for hitherto there had been no exception taken to the lawfulnesse of her marriage but now came over Embassadours from the King of France requiring to have the Kings Daughter the Lady Mary to be given in marriage to the Duke of Orleance second Sonne to their Master the French King wherein they that were the suitors for it were the hinderers of it for amongst them was the President of Paris who made a doubt whither the marriage betweene King Henry and the Lady Katherin of Spaine having been his Borthers wife were lawfull or no But howsoever the French Embassadours at Greenwich on Sunday the fifth of May in the name of their Master the French King took their Oâ—thes to observe the League concluded betweene them during their lives And shortly after were sent Sir Thomas Bullen Viscount Rochford and Sir Anthony Browne Knight as Embassadours to the King of France to take his Oath in person for performance of the League But enough of small Occurrances and indeed there will be Occurrances now more worthy to be related but more lamentable to be heard for now the Duke of Bourbon Generall of the Emperours Army in Italie was slaine by a shot from the Walls of Rome as he was passing by upon whose death the Army entred and sacked the City made the Pope flye to the Castle of Saint Angâ—lo and there cooped him up abused the Cardinals and put them to grievous ransomes spared neither Sacred places nor Religious persons but commitâ—ed all manner of barbarous and inhumaine cruelty These insolencies of the Emperours Army committed against the Pope â—ogether with the hard conditions the Emperour had imposed upon the King of France for setting him at liberty and the Emperours breach of promise in not marrying the Lady Mary King Henries Daughter were the apparent causes of King Henries breaking League with the Emperour Charles but a more enforcing though concealed cause perhaps was the growing greatnesse of the Emperour by his acquests in Italie and other places enough to breed a jealousie in all neighbouring Princes and indeed King Henry had some cause to thinke the Emperours spirits were grown higher with his Victories seeing where before he was wont alwayes to write letters to King Henry with his own hand and subscribe them your son and faithfull friend now after his Victories in Italie he caused his Secretaries to write them subscribing only Charles And yet a more pressing cause though not avowed might be the Cardinalls spleene against the Emperour for denying him the Bishopricke of Toledo in Spaine But which soever of these was the predominant cause all of them together made a cause sufficient for King Heâ—ry to fall off from amity with the Emperour and his falling off from the Empeâ—our cause sufficient â—o fall in with the King of France and thereupon the two Kings send their severall Heraulds to the Emperour King Henry Clarentiuâ— the French King his Herauld Guyen to expostulate their grievances with the Emperour and he refusing to returne a satisfactory answer to defiâ— him as their enemy The Emperour heard the Heraulds with great temper and answered Clarentius very mildely that he knew his Masters grievance was grounded upon misinformation wherein he would shortly rectifie him by his Letters as desiring nothing more then to continue his friend but â—uyen hee answered rougly bidding him tell his Master that he had broken his faith in not performing the Covenants agreed upon for his liberty and with these answers dismissed them only Guyen not thinking it fit to deliver his answer being in such termes by
but who can thinke himselfe too old for a Kingdome when Galba for attaining the Romane Empire was contented to buckle on Armour being fourescore yeares old The Dâ—ke in his time of peace came over into England to visite his cousin King Edward who besides his Princely entertainment made him at that time as some thinke a promise to leave him his Successour in the Kingdome Harold after this going over to the Dukâ— in Normandy for procuring some friends of his to be released the better to effect it tooke his solemne Oath to assist him for obtaining the Kingdome So as having the word of Edward and the oath of Harold he had now sufficient obligations to expect it But hearing of the death of King Edward and that Harold was Crowned King he thought himselfe not more forgotten by Edward then wronged by Harold and therefore sent messengers to him to put him in mind of K. Edwards Pâ—omise and his owne Oath but Harold puffed up with the conceit of being a King as though that very name were enough to expiate all breach of Oathes and that nothing could binde him who had now the fetters in his owne hand returned onely sleight answers that his Oath was forced and voyd in it selfe as being made without consent of the Kingdome Whereupon the Duke thus sleighted by Harold endevours to make him an honest man by force assuring himselfe he should find him the weaker Enemy for finding him a perjured Friend The Reasons that facilitated his Conquest of England DUke William incensed with Harolds answers acquaints his Nobility with his purpose who with some adoe consented to ayd him as likewise many other great Lords of France but specially Baldwyn Earle of Flanders whose daughter he had marryed and who being at that time Guardian of the young King of France procured ayde from him also and to make the Enterprise the more successefull Pope Alexander the second sent him a Banner with an Agnus of Gold and one oâ— the haires of Saint Peter So as the preparation of the Duke both by Sea and Land was very great having three hundred saile of ships and as some write 890â— and as one Norman above a thousand and as Cemeticensis three thousand and though Harold had likewise provided a warlike Fleet to encounter him yet it was at thaâ— time unfortunately diverted another way for Taustayâ—e his Brother being then in rebellion in the North and Harold Harfager King of Norway at the same time invading those parts and perhaps upon a bruite that the Dukesâ— Fleet was not yet ready to come forth removed both his Fleet and Army thither where though he got the Victory at Stamford with the death both of his Brother Toustayne and of the King of Noâ—way yet it made way for the Duke to land quietly and he entred the Kingdome as one may enter a house when the doores are all left open By this meanes King Harâ—lds shipping the best wall of defence to an Island was utterly frustrate and as for his Land Forces they were by his Battaile at Stamford exceedingly both weakned and impaired yet hearing that Duke William was landed at Pemsey not farre from Hastings in Sussex he repaired thither with all speed and gathering together his broken Forces and encreasing them by all the meanes he could made himselfe ready to give the Duke Battaile Duke William in the meane time as soone as he had landed his men sent his ships presently away that there might be no thinking of any thing but either Death or Victory And then going himselfe on land it is said his foot slipped and he fell downe which some that stood by taking for an ill signe No saith he I have by this taken possession of this Land And indeed Presages are but as Animus ejus qui praesagit as in this Dukes fall it afterwards fell out Many wayes of composition betweene Duke William and King Harold were propounded yet Harold would hearken to none as nothing doubting of successe and perhaps thinking it a disgrace to capitulate for that which was now his owne and when one of his Brothers called Gyrth being lesse interessed and therefore clearer sighted intreated him to consider what a fearefull thing it was to breake an Oath which he so solemnely had sworne Harold seemed to conceive that nothing which he did being a private man could be of force to binde him now being a Prince and so on the fourteenth day of October being Saturday in the yeare 1066. which day he liked the better because it was his Birth-day hoping that the day of his Birth would not so much degenerate to prove the day of his death though even this also bred no good blood to the Action for the Souldiers of Harold thinking thereby to honour their Kings Birth-day spent the night before in revelling and drinking where the Souldiers of the Duke out of consideration of their next dayes worke spent the night in quietnesse and devotion they joyned battaile the Kentish-men being placed in the Fore-front as by an ancient custome is their due and King Harold with his Londoners leading the maine Battaile where though their Armies were not much unequall in number for they were each of them neare about threescore thouâ—and men yet there was great oddes in the expertnesse of their Souldiers and more in the advantage of their weapons for the Duke had with him all the flowre of France and Flanders where King Harold had lost his best men in his late Battaile and for advantage of weapons the Normans had long Bowes and Arrowes which of the English at that time were not at all in use what mervaile then that the Normans got the Victory though King Harold losing his life yet lost no Reputation and though the English Souldiers shewed no lesse valour in being Conquered then the Normans did in Conquering One circumstance may not be omitted that King â—arold as an expert Generall had ordered his men in so firme a Body that no force of the Normans could disorder their Rankes till Duke Williamâ— used a Stratagem commanding his men to retire and to counterfeit flight by which he drew the English on upon a hollow ground covered with earth whereinto many of them fell and perished and besides into an ambush of his Horsemen which unexpectedly fell upon them and cut them in pieces Withall there seemes one great errour to have beene committed at least if it were an errour and not rather a neceâ—sity that there was not a supplementall Army provided as his Brother Gyrth would have had it which might have come on if the first had failed and would have beene of great advantage against a wearyed Army But when Sic visum est superis all humane force is weake and cannot withstand all humane Providence is unprovided and cannot prevent The body of Harold at his Mother Thyrace suite was recovered and lyes buryed in Waltham Abbey which he had begunne to build at least to repaire But here Gyraldus
he had private conference with three other that came with him to whom at their departure he gave these instructions in writing You shall charge all Lombards and Merchant-strangers Genona's Venetians Florentines and others this day to draw themselves together and to ordaine for us the Captain twelve Harnesse compleat of the best fashion foure and twenty Brigandiâ—es twelve Battell-axes twelve Glaves sixe horses with saddle and bridle compleatly furnished and a thousand maâ—ks in ready money and if they shall faile herein we shall strike off the heads of as many as we can get But they failed not but sent him what he had demanded who thereupon the next morning being the third of Iuly returnes to London and presently sends to the Lord Scales to bring his Prisoner the Lord Say to the Guildhall whither he had called the Lord Major with his brethren before whom he caused the Lord Say to be arraigned who craving to be tryed by his Peeres was forthwith taken from his keeper caried to the Standard in Cheap and there had his head chopt off which being pitched upon a Pike was borne before him to Mile-end whither he went to have conference with the Rebels of Essex and by the way meeting with Sir Iames Cromer High-sheriffe of Kent who had lately maried the Lord Sayes daughter he caused his head also to be strucken off and caried likewise before him in deâ—ision The next morning he came againe to London where after publick execution done upon some of his fellowes and particularly upon a petty Capâ—aine of his named Paris that had done things contrary to his Proclamation upon a displeasure taken against Alderman Malpas he sent and seized upon all his wares and goods and fined Alderman Horne in five hundred marks whereupon the Citizens finding him to grow every day more insolent than other they send to the Lord Scales for assistance who sendeth Matthew Gough an old souldier to them with some forces and furnitures out of the Tower who presently make a stand at the Bridge where Cade notwithstanding forceth his passage and then began to set fire on houses where many aged and impotent people miserably perished Captaine Bough Alderman Sutton and Robert Hayson valiantly fighting were slaine yet upon a fresh supply the Londoners recovered the bridge againe and drove the Rebels beyond the Stoope in South-warke at which time both sides being weary agreed of a Truce till the next day After the Retreat Cade finding he had lost many of his best men was driven for supply to set at liberty all the Prisoners in Southwarke aswell Felons as Debtors when now his company entring into consideration of their danger and of the desperate services their Captaine had brought them to began to discover by their countenances their willingnesse to leave this course whereof the Archbishop of Canterbury having notice he with the Bishop of Winchester came from the Tower by water to Southwarke and there shewed the Kings Generall-Pardon under the Great Seal of England which was so welcome to the Rebells that without taking leave of their Captaine they withdrew themselves that night to their severall habitations Iack Cade with some few followers bent his journey to Quinborough Castle where being denyed entrance he disguised himselfe and privily fled but upon Proclamation with promise of a thousand markes to any that should bring him dead or alive he was afterward by one Alexander Eden Gentleman attached and making resistance in a Garden at Hothfield in Sussex was there slaine his body was brought to London beheaded and quartered his head set upon London bridge his quarters dispersed in divers places in Kent Upon the news whereof the King sends Commissioners into Kent to enquire of the abettours of this Rebellion whither he followeth himselfe in person and though five hundred were found guilty yet eight onely were executed Though London were the chiefe stage of this Rebelion yet other Countries were not free especially Wilâ—shire for the Rebels there upon the nine and twentieth day of June drew William Askot Bishop of Salisbury from the High Altar where he was saying Masse in Edington Church to the top of the hill and there in his Priestly roabes most inhumanely murthered him This Insurrection was not unknown to the King of France who taking advantage thereof seizeth upon all places which the English had in France leaving them nothing but only Callice and the Castles of Hames and Guisnes and this was the issue of the Duke of Somersets Regency in France whereupon comming into England at a Pâ—â—liament holden at Westminster the sixth of November in the nine and twentieth yeer of the Kings râ—igne he was put under Arrest upon notice whereof the Commons of London despoiled his house at Blackfriers and ceased not till Proclamation was made to inhibite them for disobeying whereof there was one man beheaded at the Standard in Cheape At this time the Duke of Yorke under pretence of comming to the Parliament comes out of Ireland and at London had private conference with Iohn Duke of Norfolk Richard Earle of Salisbury the Earle of Devonshire and other his assured friends where it was resolved to keep the chiefe purpose the claime to the Crown secret and onely to make shew that his endeavours were but to remove ill Counsellours from the King of whom they instanced in the Duke of Somerset as chiefe and hereof the Duke sent divers letters to the King complaining of the wrongs the Duke of Somerset had done him but withall making Protestation of his own loyalty To which the King maketh answer that he would take his complaints into consideration but somewhat blames him for the death of the Bishop of Chester by his means suspected to be slaughtered and for dangerous speeches uttered by his servants tending to Rebellion concluding that notwithstanding any thing said or done to the contrary he took and esteemed him a faithfull subject and a loving kinsman But the Duke of York not herewith satisfied departeth into Wales and there leviâ—â—h men making his colour for the good of the Common wealth and the reremoving of bad Counsellours The King advertised hereof presently raiseth an Army and with the Duke of Somerset now enlarged marcheth towards Wales while the Duke of Yorke having notice which way the King came by another way marcheth toward London but being told the Londoners would not admit him entrance he passed the river Thames at Knightbridge marched into Kent and encamped at Burnt-heath The King in his pursuite came to Blacke-heathe and there pitched his Tents from whence he sent the Bishops of Winchester and Ely the Lord Rivers and Richard Andrews Keeper of the Privy Seale to know the cause of this commotion and to make offer of reconcilement if the Dukes Demands were not unreasonable The Duke made Answer that nothing was intended against the Kings person his Crown or Dignity All that was sought was to remove ill Counsellours from about the King but especially Edmund Duke of Somerset
the King of France for composing whereof the Cardinall of Yorke was sent attended with the Earle of Worceâ—ter Lord Chamberline the Lord of Saint Iohns the Lord Ferrers the Lord Herbert the Bishop of Duâ—ham the Bishop of Ely the Primate of Armagh Sir Thomas Bullen Sir Iohn Pechye Sir Iohn Hussey Sir Richard Winkfield Sir Henry Guildâ—ord and many other Knights Gentlemen and Doctors On the twelfth of Iuly he arrived at Callice whether came to him the Chaâ—cellour of France and the Count de Palice attended with four hundred horse as Embassadours from the French King and from the Emperour the like with Commissions to treat and conclude of Peace There were also Embassadours from the Pope whom the Cardinall moved to have the Pope be a party also in their League but they wanting Commission Letters were presently sent to Rome about it and in the time till answer might be had the Cardinall went to Bruges to speak with the Emperour with whom having stayed thirteene dayes after most Royall entertainment he returned back to Câ—llice and then fell presently to the treaty of Peace with the French Commissioner but was colder in the matter then he was before as having had his edge taken off by some dealings with the Emperour so as nothing was concluded but that Fishermen of both the Princes might freely Fish on the Seas without disturbance till the end of February following whereof he sent advertisement to both the Princes to the Emperour by the Lord of Saint Iohns and Sir Thomas Bullen to the French King by the Earle of Worcester and the Bishop of Ely During all which time of the Cardinalls stay in Callice all Writs and Paâ—ents were there by him sealed and no Sheriffe could be chosen for lack of his presence having the Great Seal there with him and full power in things as if the King had been there in person Before he returned he made a new League with the Emperour and intimated to the French King that he doubted the King of England would not hereafter be so much his friend as heretofore he had been whereat though the King of France were much offended yet he signifyed by his Letters perhaps dissemblingly that he would continue the King of Englands friend asmuch as ever onely he enveighed against the Cardinall as a man of no truth withdrew many Pensions which he had before given to some English Presently upon this was Tourney besieged by the Lord Hugh de Moncada a Spaniard and though the French King sent great Forces to succour it yet it was rendred up to the Emperour the last of November in the thirteenth yeer of King Henries Reigne This yeer Pope Leo died the first of December suspected to be poysoned by Barnabie Malespina his Chamberlaine whose office was alwayes to give him drinke After whose death Doctor Pace was sent to Rome to make friends in behalfe of the Cardinall of Yorke who was brought into a hope through the Kings favour to be elected Pope but that hope was soon quailed for before Doctor Pace could get to Rome Adrian the sixth was chosen Pope This Doct. Pace was a very learned and religious man yet thorow crosses in his imployment fell mad and dyed in whose place of Imployment succeeded Doct. Stephen Gardyner On the second of February King Henry being then at Greenwich received a Bull from the Pope whereby he had the Title given him to be defender of the Christian Faith for him and his successours for ever which Title was ascribed â—o him for writing a Booke against Luther of which Booke saith Holingsâ—eard I will onely say â—hus much that King Henry in his Booke is reported to rage against the Devill and Antichrist to cast out his foame against Luther to race out the Name of the Pope and yet to allow his Law which Booke Luther aâ—swered with as little respect to the King as the King had done to him In this meane time many displeasures grew between the two Kings of England and France specially two one that French-men seized upon English ships as they passed for remedy whereof one Christopher Cee an expert seaman was sent with six ships to safeguard the Merchants Another that the Duke of Albanye was returned into Scotland contrary to that which was Covenanted by the league which though the King of France denied to be done with his privity yet King Henry knew the Duke of Albanye had Commission from the French King to returne which did the more exasperate him and hereupon were Musters made in England and a note taken of what substance all men were This yeere died the Lord Brooke Sir Edwad Poynings Knight of the Garâ—er Sir Iohn Pechy and Sir Edward Belknappe all valient Captaines suspected to have poysoned at a Banquet made at Ard when the two Kings met last At this time Owen Dowglas Biship of Dunkell fled out of Scoâ—lnad into England because the Duke of Albanye being come thither had taken upon him the whole Government of the King and Kingdome whereupon Clarentiaux the Herald was sent into Scotland to command the Duk of Albany to avoid that Realm which he refusing the Herald was â—ommanded to defie him Thereupon the French King seized all English-mens goods in Burdeaux and impisoned their persons and retained not onely the money to be paid for the restitution of Tourney but also with-held the French Queenes Dower whereof when King Henry understood he called the French Embassadour residing in England to give account thereof who though he gave the best reasons he â—ould to excuse it yet was commanded to keep his house and the French Hostages remayning here for the money to be paid for the delivery of Tourney were restrained of their liberty and committed to the custody of the Lord of Saâ—t Iohns Sir Thomas Lovell Sir Andrew Windsor and Sir Thomas Nevyle each of them to keep one and withall all French-men in London were committed to prison and put to their Fines and all Scots-men much more There were then also sent to sea under the conduct of Sir William Fitz-Williams Viceadmirall eight and twenty great ships and seven more towards Scotland who set fire on many Scottish-ships in the Haven and at length tooke many prisoners and returned King Henry hearing that the Emperour would come to Callice so to passe into England as he went into Spaine appointed the Lord Marquesse Dorsett to go to Câ—llice there to receive himâ— and the Cardinall to receive him at Daverâ— The Cardinall taking his Journey thither on the tenth of May rode thorow London accompanied with two Earles six and thirty Knights and a hundred Gentlemen eight Bishops ten Abbots thirty Chaplains all in Velvet and Sattin and Yeomen seven hundred The five and twentieth of May being Sunday the Marquesse Dorset with the Bishop of Chichester the Lord de Lawâ—re and divers others at the water of Graveling received the Emperour and with all honour brought him to Callice where he was received with Procession by the
France to mâ—leâ—t Scotland with any War not to think any more of Bothwells love or meditate revenge upon Bothwells adversaries Murray being now proclaimed Regent of Scotland he bindeth himself under his Hand and Seal to do nothing which shall concerne War or Peace the Kings Person or his marriage or the Liberty of the Queen without the consent of the confederaâ—es and then gives Throgmorton warning by Lydingâ—on not to make any further intercession for the Queens Liberty for that he and the rest had rather run any hazard then to suffer it Soon after he puts to death Iohn Hâ—pburn Daglish and others that were Bothwells servants for having a hand in the murther of the King But they which he little expected when they were at the Gallows ready to dye protested before God and his holy Angells that Bothwell had told them that Morton and Mâ—rray were the first authors of the murther They freed the Queen from all suspition like as Boâ—hwell himself being prisoner in Denmark both living and dying often protested with deep asseâ—erations that the Queen was innocent And fourteen yeers after Morton going to execution confessed that Boâ—hwell dealt with him to consent to the murther of the King which when he refused utterly unlesse the Queen under her hand writing would allow of it Bothwell made answer that could not be but the fact must be done without her knowledge A little before this time upon one and the same day dyed two of the Privy Councell Sir Iohn Mason Treasurer of the Queenâ— Chamber a grave and learned man but a great Usurper and Encroacher upon Ecclesiasticall Livings and Sir Richard â—acâ—vile Vice-Treasurer of the Exchequer a man both prudent and provident and allyed to the Queen by her mother Anâ—e Bolâ—â— In his room succeeded Walter Mildmay a man of wisdom and integrity In Masons Office came Sir Francis Knowles who married Katherine Carâ—e the daughter of Mary Bolen the Queens Mothers Sister It was now the yeer 1567. And the tenth yeer of Queen Elizabeths Raign when the Earl of Stolberg came into England from the Emperour Maxâ—millian to treat of the mariage of the Queen with the Archduke Charls upon which very occasion the Queen a little before had sent the E. of Sussex to the Emperor with the Order of the Garter But in the Treaty of marriage there fell out so many difficulties about Religion maintenance of the Duke about the Royall Title and concerning succession that after it had been treated of seven whole yeers together it came at last to nothing and the Duke not long after marryed Mary daughter to Albert the fifth Duke of Bavaria yet both he and the Emperour continued ever after a good correspondence with the Queen About this time there came from Iohn Basil Emperour of Russia and Muscovia Stephen Twerdicâ— and Theodore Pâ—gorella with a Present of rich Furs of Otter Miniver and the like tendering all service and obsequiousnesse to the Queen and the English The Merchants by vertue of a Grant from Queen Mary had combined themselves into a Society which they called the Muscovie Company and having large Priviledges granted them from the Emperour went thither with a Navie yeerly making a very gainfull Voyage but then it proved most gainfull when for the Queens sake they obtained at the Emperours hands in the yeer 1569. That none but the English of that Company should Traffique in the North-parts of Russia With these Russian Embassadours there returned into England Anthony Ienkinson who in his Travels had made curious Observation of Russia set forth a Geographicall Description of it and was the first of the English that sailed through the Caspian Sea And this yeer the 8. of June Sir Thomas Sackvile was created Baron of Buckhurst at Whitehall We have seen before the first Act of the Queen of Scots Tragedy Now comes in the second having been 11 Moneths kept a prisoner at last by the help of George Dowglas to whose Brother she was committed she made escape from Loch-levyn to Hamiltons castle where upon the testimonies of Robert Melvyn and others in a meeting of a great part of the Nobility there was drawn a sentence declaratory That the Grant extorted from the Queen in prison which is Iustus metus was actually void from the beginning Upon which Declaration great multitudes â—locked to her so as within a day or two she had gotten an Army of at least six thousand but when they joyned battell with Murray being but raw and unexpert Souldiers they were soon defeated In this case the Queen sought to save her self by flight journeying in one day threescore miles and coming at night to the house of Maxwell Lord Heris from thence she sent Iohn Beton to Queen Elisabeth with a Diamond Ring which she had foâ—merly received from her as a Pledge of mutuall Amity intimating that she would come into England and implore her aid if her Subjects offered to prosecute her any further Queen Elisabeth returned answer that she should expect from her in abundant manner all loving and friendly offices But before the Messenger was returned she contrary to the advice of her friends entred into a small Bark with the Lords Heris and Flemming and a few others landed at Wickinton in Cumberland neer the mouth of the River of Decwent the seventeenth day of May and the same day wrote Letters to the Queen in French with her own hand the effect whereof was That having made an escape from the the hands of her insolent and rebellious Subjects she was now come into England upon certain hope of her approved clemencie and therefore humbly desiring she might forthwith be conducted to her presence Queen Elisabeth sending Letters by Sir Francis Knolles comforted her and promised her aid and defence according to the equity of her cause but denyed her accesse for that she was held guilty of many crimes giving command to have her brought to Carlile as a place of better safety The Queen of Scots receiving this answer and finding accesse to the Queen denyed her maketh request again by Letter that she might have leave both to unfold the injuries she had received and to answer the crimes objected in her own presence humbly intreating her that either she might be admitted to have conference and assistance or else have free leave to depart out of England to gain supply elswhere and not be held a prisoner in the Castle at Carlileâ— for â—s much as she came voluntarily into England relying upon her love so often professed Upon thesâ— Letters Queen Elisabeth exceedingly commiseraâ—ed her case and could have foâ—nd in her heart to admit her to her presence but that her Councellours conceived it to be matter for consultation what to do in this case To detain her in England had many mischiefs attending on it to send her into France as many to send her back into Scotland many more so as in conclusion the most were of opinion to have her detained as one
Leicester makes delayes and pretends causes to put it offâ— which Cecill seeing he adviseth the Duke to go and acquaint the Queen with it himself This councell Leicester opposed promising to open it to the Queen as she went in Progresse At length at Farnham the Duke standing by as the Queen sate at Table she gave him a tart Admonition That he were best take heed upon what pillow he rested his head After this at Tichfield Leicester fell sick or at least counterfeited to whom the Queen coming and bidding him be of good cheer hee with sighs and tears craved pardon for his fault and unfolded to her the whole story from the very beginning Whereupon the Queen called the Duke into the Gallery reproving him sharply for going about the Marriage without acquainting her and commanding him upon his Allegiance to desist The Duke made her a free and hearty promise of obedience and spared not to say as if he little regarded the Qu. of Scots that his Revenues in England were not much lesse then hers in Scotland and that when he was at his house in Norwich he thought himself in a sort not inferior to some kings but notwithstanding finding the Queens anger by her countenance and perceiving Leicester to be in a manner quite alienated most of the Nobility also as scarcely saluting him when they met him he grew extremely dejected and prepared presently to leave the Court meaning to stay at Norfolk till by his friends intercession and his own submissive Letters the Queens heart might be mollified towards him Mean while the Court was suspitously fearfull lest he should raise Rebellion and they say it was concluded that if he did so the Qu. of Scots should presently be made away And now the Duke who held secret commerce by Letters with the Bishop of Ross Throgmorton and Leicester for they were sent to and fro in bottles being examined touching the marriage of the Qu. of Scots and certain secret conferences with the Bishop of Rosse confessed most of the Objections and was thereupon committed to the Tower under the custody of Sir Henry Nevill within two dayes after the Bishop of Rosse likewise is examined and together with the Florentine Robert Ridolph is delivered to the custody of Sir Francis Walsingham the Earl of Pembroke is confined to his house and examined privately but his confession was not committed to writing It being his request because he could not write himself At this time the rumor of Insurrection in the North begun in Autumne before grew very strong by reason of some frequent meetings of the Earls of Northumberland Westmerland and others who thereupon being upon their Allegiance sent for to repaire presently to the Queen they make delayes for they stayed waiting for supplies both from the Scots and from the Duke D'Alva when the Earl of Northumberland doubtfull what to do was frighted of purpose by his servants telling him that men in Arms were neer at hand to apprehend him Who thereupon in a tempestuous night riseth out of his bed and in great fear gets into his Park at Topcliffe and the night following to Branspith to the Earl of Westmerlands house where a great many were met that were acquainted with the Enterprise Here they brake forth into an open Rebellion being pressed forward by one Nicholas Morton a Romish Priest sent by the Pope to pronounce Queen Elizabeth an Heretick and therefore to have utterly lost all Right of Soveraignty By and by they send forth a writting wherein they declare that they had taken Arms for no other end bâ—t that the Religion of their fore-fathers might be restored wicked Counsellors removed from the Queen the Duke of Norfolk and others of the loyall Nobility relieved who were now in disgrace but towards the Queen professing themselves most dutifull Subjects withall they send Letters to the Papists all the Kingdom over requiring them to come to their assistanceâ— but they were so far from joyning with them that many sent both the Letters and the bearers of them to the Queen and afforded their aides and purposes against them no lesse then the best Protestants even the Duke of Norfolk himself was not backward in it These Rebells go first to Durham where thâ—y tear in pieces all the Bibles and Books of Common Prayer they could finde in Churches of the English tongue when they had been twelve dayes in Rebellion they numbered their Army and could not reckon above 600 horse and 4000 foot wherupon being certainly informed that the E of Sussex with 7000 and the E of Warwick with 12 were setting out against them they betook themselves to Rabie the chief house of the E of Westmerlâ—â—d going from thence they besieged Bernards castle which for lack oâ— provision was yeelded to them At which time being proclaimed Traitors and heâ—ring afresh of the great forces that were coming against them thâ— two Earls with a small company get presently into Scotland hard by where the Earl of Northumberland hid himself at Harclow in a poor Cottage amongst the Grayhams famous Robbers who afterwards betrayed him to the Earl Murray Westmerland made a shift to get into the Low-Countryes where he had a slender Pension from the King of Spain and there lived even to old age Of the rest for terrour and examples sake there were hanged at Durham threescore and six of the chief amongst whom Plomtree a noted Priest At York were executed Simon Digby Iohn Fulthrop Thomas Bishop Robert Penyman and at London a few months after Christopher and Thomas and some other in other places After this the heads of the Rebels being convict of High Treason were proscribed namely Charles Earl of Westmerland Thomas Earl of Northumberland Anne Countesse of Northumberland Edward Dacres of Morton Iohn Nevill of Leversege Iohn Swinborn Thomas Markenfield Egremond Ratcliffe brother to the Earl of Sussex Christopher Nevill Richard Norton Christopher Marmaduke Robert and Michael Tempest George Stafford and forty others of good account Out of the ashes of this Rebellion a new fire was kindled at Naworth in Cumberland by Leonard Dacres second son to the Lord Dacres of Gyllisland He was a Party with the Earls in their Rebellion but they breaking forth sooner then he expected and he at that time being at the Court and there admitted to kisse the Queens hand tendered his service to go against them and to that purpose was sent home but in his Journey branding himself with a double disloyalty he consulted with the Rebels and encouraged them to go on and by vertue of Letters of Credence from the Queen he surprised the Castle of Greystock and other houses of the Dacres and gathered together an Army of three thousand men But being encountred by the Baron of Hunsdon after a great fight wherein though he were crook-backt he behaved himself valiantly he was put to flight and fled into Scotland from whence soon after he passed over into the Low-Countryes and in great misery and poverty died
the Commissioners made unto her certain Propositions of Agreement First That the Treaty of Edinborough should be confirmed then That she should renounce her Right and Title to England during Queen Elizabeths life or any children of her body lawfully begotten then That she should send her sonne for a Hostage into England with other six Hostages such as the Queen should nominate then That the Castles of Humes and Fast-castle should be held by the English for three yeers with some other To which Propositions the Queen of Scots for the present gave a provident answer but referred the fuller Answer to the Biship of Rosse her Ambassadour in ENGLAND and some other Delegates who afterwards allowing some of the Propositions and not allowing others the Treaty came to nothing but the matter rested in the state it was before Aâ— this time Philip King of Spain had contracted Marriage with Anne of Austria Daughter to the Emperour Maximilian his own Neece by his Sister who was now setting Sayl from Zealand towards Spain when Queen Elizabeth to testifie her love and respect to the House of Austria sent Sir Charls Howard with the Navy Royall to conduct her thorow the Briâ—ish Sea And now was the twelfth yeer of Queen Elizabeths Raign finished which certain Wizards had made Papists believe should be her last but contrary as if it were but her first a new Custome began of celebrating the seventeenth day of November the Anniversary day of her Raign with ringing of Bells Tiltings and Bon-fires which Custome as it now began so it was never given over as long as she lived and is not yet forborn so long after her death At this time in Ireland Connagher ô Brien Earl of Towmond noâ— brooking the severe Government of Edward Fitton President of Connaght entred into Consultation with some few to raise a new Rebellion which being at the point ready to break forth was strangely discovered for the day before they meant to â—ake up Arms Fitton knowing not at all of the matter sent â—hâ— Earl word in friendly manner That the next day he and a few friends with him would be his Guests The Earl convinced by his own conscience imagined that his Intendments were revealed that Fitton would come as an enemy rather then a Guest Out of which feareâ— he presently set Sayle into FRANCE where repenting himselfe seriously of his fault he confessed the whole businesse to Norris the Queenes Embassadour in France and by his intercession was afterward pardoned and restored In Ianuary the thirteenth yeer of her Raigne Queen Elizabeth in royall pompe entring the City of London went to see the Burse which Sir Thomas Gresham had lately built for the use of the Marchants and with sound of trumpets and the voice of a Herald solemnly named it the Royall Exchange A few dayes after for his many great services she made Sir William Cecill Baron Burgley There were now about the Scottish affaires in the name of the King of of Scots the Earle Morton Peruare Abbot of Dumformelin and Iames Mac-Gray whom when Queen Elizabeth required to shew more clearely for what causes they had deposed the Queen they exhibited a long and tedious Commentary wherein with a certain insolent liberty they endeavoured to prove by the ancient Right of the Kingdom of Scotland that the people of Scotland were above the King and urged Calvins Authority also That Popular Magistrates are constituted for the moderation of the Licentiousnes of Princes and that it is lawfull for them both to imprison Kings and upon just causes to depose them This writing the Queen could not reade without indignation but to the Delegates she gave this Answer She saw no just cause yet why they should handle the Queen in such manner and therefore willed them to think upon some course out of hand how to allay the dissentions in Scotland Hereupon in Sir Nich. Bacons house Keeper of the Great Seal a Proposition was made to the Bishop of Rosse the Bishop of Galloway and Baron Levingston delegates for the Queen of Scots that for the security of the Kingdom and the Qu. of England it were requisite that before the Queen of Scots should be let at libertie The Duke of Castle-Herald the Earle of Huntley and Argyle the Lord Humes Heris and another of the Barons should be delivered for Hostages and the castle of Dumbriton and Hâ—â—eâ— yeelded up into the hands of the English for three yeers But they made Answer that to yeeld up great personages and such fortifications as were demanded were nothing else but to leave the miserable Queen utterly destitute of faithfull friends and naked of all places fit for guard and defence yet they offered to give two Earls and two Barons for Hostages till two yeers were expired which not being accepted they straightway gathered and spoke it openly That now they plainly perceived the English meant to keepe the Queen of Scots perpetually prisoner and likewise to break off the Treaâ—y seeing they rigorously demanded such securitie as Scotland was not able to make good And now Queen Elizabeth seeing that nothing could be done for her owne the King and Queen of Scots safety unlesse Both Factions in Scotland consented she held it fit that the Lords of Scotland should themselves appoint some chosen persons to compound the matter While matters in England proceeded in this sort the Queenes partie in Scotland was hardly used Frythâ— the strongest castle in Scotland was taken and I. Hamilton Archbishop of Saint Andrewes the Duke of Castle-Heralds brother as an accessary to the murder of Dâ—â—lye was hanged without being arraigned according to Law In England the Queen of Scots had all her servants taken from her except Tenne only and a Priest to say masse with which indignities the Queen of Scots provoked causeth a large Commentary of her Counsels with certain love-letters to the Duke of Norfolk to be carried to the Pope and the King of Spain by Ridolphuâ— which being brought first to the Duke Higford one that waited on the Duke in his bed chamber had copyed out but being commanded to burne them he hid them under a Matt in the Duke Bed-chamber and that it should seeme purposely Ridolphus to daw on the Duke to be Head of the discontented Partie in England aggravated to him the wrongs he had sufferedâ— how against all law he had been kept a long time in prison and now to his great disgrace was not Summoned to the Parliament he exhibited to him a Catalogue of such of the Nobilitie who had vowed to Assist him he shewed how the Pope so the Catholick Religion might be promoted would himself undergo all the charge of the Warre and had already layd down an hundred thousand Crownes whereof himself had distributed twelve thousand amongst the English that were fled he promised that the King of Spain would send four thousand horse and six thousand foot to his Assistance to these reasons the Bishop of Rosse added That it was an
Wright Francis Tresham Guido Fawkes and at last Sir Edward Digby all earnest Papists and all bound by Oath and by receiving the Sacrament to be secret For effecting of this plot they hired a house close adjoyning to the Upper house of Parliament where they were to dig thorow a Wall for the fit placing of their Powder About Candlemasse they had wrought the Wall halfe thorow when suddainly they heard a noyse in the next room which made them feare they had beene discovered but sending Guy Fawkes who went now under the name of Iohn Iohnson as Master Percies man to see what the matter was he brought word that it was a Cellar where Sea-Coles had beene layd and were now a selling and the roome offered to bee let for a yearely rent This roome therefore as most fit for their purpose being right under the Parliament House Master Percie presently went and hired laying into it twenty barrells of powder which they covered with Billets and Faggots for being discovered Thus the first part of the plot was put in a good readinesse It now remained to consider what was to be done when the blow should be given for though the King and Prince might be slain yet the Duke of York and the Lady Elizabeth should still be safe and so they should bee no nearer their end than now they were This work therefore for surprizing the D. of Yorke Percie undertook and for surprizing the Lady Elizabeth they agreed upon a match of huâ—ting neare to Dunchurch under colour whereof they would draw company together and surprize her at the Lord Haringtons house in Warwick-shire where she then lay and then proclaime her Queen and so be sure to have all things done as they would themselves Thus farre their bloudy plot went fairely on and had perhaps gone on so still if they had continued onely bloudy but now a tendernesse of heart tooke some of them lest their friends should perish together with the rest and this tendernesse overthrowes them for to prevent such promiscuous slaughter a Letter was framed and sent to the Lord Mounteagle sonne and heire to the Lord Morley brought him by one of his Foot-men which hee received from an unknowne man in the street The Letter was this My Lord out of the Love I beare to some of your friends I have a care of your preservation therefore I would wish you as you tender your life to forbeare your attendance at this Parliament for God and man have concurred to punish the wickednesse of this time And thinke not slightly of this Advertisement for though there bee no appeâ—râ—ce of any stirre yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet shall not see who hurts them This Councell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no harme for the danger is past as soone as you have burnt this Letter and I hope you will make good use of it My Lord having read the Letter though much perplexed yet went presently to the Court at White-hallâ— the King being then a hunting at Royston aâ—d delivered it to the Earle of Salisâ—â—â—ie principall Secretary of State and the Earle having read it acquainted first the Lord Chamberlaine with it and then the Lord Admirall the Earle of Wâ—rcester and Northampton who as soon â—s the King was returned from Huntingâ— acquainted him with it the Earle of 〈◊〉 telling hiâ— thâ—â— he thought it must be written either by a foole or by a mad 〈◊〉 because of those words for the dâ—â—ger is past as soone as you â—ave 〈◊〉 thiâ— Letter â—or iâ— the daâ—gâ—r-wâ—re so soâ—ne past what needed 〈◊〉 warniâ—gâ— But th◠〈◊〉 considering it more deeply apprehended presently some violent 〈◊〉 and thâ—t it must be some suddaine danger 〈◊〉 blowing up with powder and thereupon commanded than diligent search 〈◊〉 be made in the Parliament house and all other roomes and lodgings 〈◊〉 adjoyningâ— which search was made by the Lord Chamberlaine accomâ—â—nyâ—â— with the Lord Mountâ—â—gle who entring the Cellar under the upper 〈◊〉 â— found there great store of Faggots and Billets which was answered to 〈…〉 Mr. Pâ—rcie's owne provision but then it being considered why such stoâ—e 〈◊〉 be laid in for Mr. Percie who used to make but little stay in Towneâ— and â—hereuâ—on more diligent search being made there was found under the Billets one of the Barrells of powder and after that all the rest being six and thirty â—ogâ—ther with other instruments fit for their purpose and then spying the 〈◊〉 Fâ—wkes to stand suspitiously they apprehended him and found in his pocket a peece of Touch-wood a Tynder boxe to light the Touch-wood and a Watch which Mr. Percie had bought the day before to trie the short and long burning of the Touch-wood which he had prepared to give fire to the traine of powder The plot being thus discovered yet the most of the confederates met at Dunchurch as they had agreed where they divulged many detestable untruths against the King and State signifying withall that they were there met for advancement of the Catholike cause hoping thereby to have drawne many to joyne with them in their Rebellion but this availed them noâ—â—ing for first Sir Richard Verney high Sheriffe of Warwick-shire chased them from thence and then Sir Richard Welsh Sheriff of Worcestershire knowing them to be entred into Master Littleton's house at Walbach beset them round where Cateâ—â—iâ— and Percie issuing forth were both slaine with one shot of a Musquet and after them both the Wrights Iohn and Christopher were likewise slaine outright Thomas Winter was taken alive all which time Francis Tresham remained still about the Court offering his service for their suppression but being suspected was examined and sent to the Tower where he confest all and within a few dayes after dyed of the Stranguâ—ie On the seven and twentieth of Ianuarie following a Commission was directed to divers Lords and Iudges of both Benches for tryall of the rest of the Confederates namely of Thomas Winter Guydo Fawkes Robert Keyes Thomas Bates Robert Wintâ—r late of Hoodington in Warwick-shire Esquire Iohn Graunt late of Yorthbrook in the Countie of Warwick Esquire Ambrose Rookwood late of Staningfield in Suffolk Esquire Sir Edward Digby late of Gotthurst in Buckingham-shire Knight who were all condemned and had judgement to dye and on the thursday following Sir Edward Digbie Robert Winter Graunt and Bates were accordingly drawn hanged and quartered at the west end of Pauls Church in London and on the friday the other foure namely Thomas Winter Keyes Rookwood and Fawks were executed in the Parliament yard at Westminster Of all whom none was so much lamented as Sir Edward Digbie and indeed worthily for he was a goodly personage and of excellent parts and had it seemes beene cunningly drawne in and bound to secresie by Oath when he little thought of any such treason The seventh of November the Earle Northumberland upon suspition of being acquainted with