newes I cannot well say whether the Papists more lamented or the Protestants reioyced Queene ELIZABETH now perceiuing her selfe more secure then euer before to the end that the Church might subsist and encrease in her partie and that the Common-wealth might more more flourish in honour and riches proclaimed two most wholsome Edicts by the first wherof she commanded all Anabaptists and such other like Heretiques who vnder pretence of shunning persecution were come from Countries beyond the Seas to certaine Port Townes vpon the Coast of England to depart the Kingdome within twentie dayes whether they were natiue or strangers vpon paine of imprisonment and forfeiture of their goods And by the second Edict her Maiesty supprest a Sect of sacrilegious men who vnder colour of extirpating superstitions had begun to demolish ancient Sepulchers Epitaphs and Ensignes of Noble Families and other Monuments of reuerend Antiquity which had escaped the furie of the prophane vnder King HENRIE the Eighth and King EDVVARD the Sixth and to pull off the Lead that couered the Churches And moreouer cōuerted the Monastery of Westminster a most famous place for the sacring of the Kings of England and the place where the Armes and Royall Ensignes were alwaies kept into a Colledgiall Church or as I may better terme it into a Seminary of the Church And there instituted one Deane twelue Prebends one Master one Vsher fortie Schollers whom they call the Kings Nurseries out of which there be sixe euery yeere or more chosen for the Academies of Ministers and Singers twelue poore c. to the glory of God and the increase of true Religion and good Learning And certainly there comes out from thence happily for Church and Cōmon-wealth a number of Learned men Tooke away by little and little whereby shee gained great Honour and no lesse Glory the course of money mingled with Copper and brought in vse that which was pure fine siluer to restore the honour of the Kingdome to preuent the deceit of those which both within and without this had corrupted the kinds and chang'd things much auaileable for the good of the Common-wealth into coynes of false money and transported the good siluer into forraigne Nations and to abate the prices of vendible commodities which were extremely inhaunc't to the great preiudice of the Common-wealth and aboue all for Stipendiars Soldiers Seruants and all such as are payde for their labours by hyer and brought it most happily to passe in a few moneths without making any stirre first in forbidding all persons to melt or transport out of the Kingdome as well the good and pure money as that which was mingled with Copper Moreouer in bringing that which is so mingled to his value that is to say the Penny to a halfe-penny the two-penny piece to three-halfe-pence the sixe-pence to a groat and the rest to two and a farthing because there was no more money and finally buying them for good siluer of all such as had any of it prouided that they brought it within the time prefixt in the Table of money which could not be done without losse to her insomuch that wee ought to acknowledge it to proceede from Queene ELIZABETH that the siluer was better and more pure in England during her Raigne then in full two hundred yeeres before and that it was not vsed in any other part of Europe She afterward caused good Coyne to bee stamped for Ireland which we call sterling of which the shilling is worth twelue-pence in Ireland and in England nine A matter indeed waighty great and most memorable which neither King EDVVARD the Sixth could nor Queene MARY durst enterprize sithence King HENRY the Eighth was the first King that euer caused Copper to be mingled with Siluer to the great shame of the Kingdome damage of his Successors and people and notable token of his excessiue expence sithence his Father had left him more wealth then euer any other King left his Successor and likewise he had drawne abundance of money by the meanes of Tributes and Imposts without grounding our selues vpon that which Cardinall Poole had left in writing That he had drawne more then all the other Kings which had raigned since the Victory of the Normanes and heapt vp an infinite deale when by the power of a Parliament hee tooke vnto himselfe all the Lordships which the English beeing absent had held in Ireland all the first Fruites of Ecclesiasticall Liuings and the Tenths which were in England and Ireland all the reuennews gifts and goods belonging to Monasteries This yeere dyed Francis Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington the second of that Race who had by Katharine the Daughter of Henry Lord Montaigue Brother to Reinald Cardinall Poole Issue Henry who succeeded him and diuers other Children who agreed well in brotherly loue but not in Religion In Ireland Shan otherwise called O-Neale a great and potent man in the Countrey of Vlster and lawfull Heire to Coni O-Neale who surnamed himselfe Baco which is as much to say as Claude and was created Earle of Tyr-Oene by HENRY the Eighth after he had put to death Mathew Baron of Dungannon his bastard Brother who was taken for legitimate spoyled his Father of his rule and domination for which hee quickly dyed with sorrow tooke vpon himselfe the Title of O-Neale couering his head after a barbarous manner with that hee wore vpon his legges and feete cast himselfe into Rebellion for feare of beeing pursued by the Lawe so as fiue-hundred Foote were sent out of England to ioyne with two Companies of Horse leuied in Ireland against him But after hauing made some light Skirmishes perceiuing himselfe vnable to resist the English and to bee hated of his owne men and that Surly-Boy Iacob Mac-Connell and Odonnell were risen against him hee layde downe Armes at the perswasion of the Earle of Kildare his Kinsman and promised to come into England to aske pardon as wee shall describe it in a more ample manner in its proper place THE FOVRTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1561. AT the beginning of the yeere Fr. Earle of Bedford hauing beene sent into France to end the mourning for the death of Francis the second to congratulate with King Charles for succeeding him summoned often the Queene of Scotland sometimes himselfe alone and sometimes accompanyed with Throgmorton to confirme the Treaty of Edenborrough but all in vaine For he could drawe no other Answer of it but That it behoued and was requisite not to resolue vpon so great a thing without mature deliberations and that shee neither would nor could confirme it without the Peeres of Scotland Throgmorton neuerthelesse ceased not to presse her instantly by all the meanes hee could deuise In like manner the Cardinall of Lorraine and all the other Guizes her Vnkles and Iames her bastard-brother who was newly arriued in France But whiles they thus did nothing but deferd it from day to day by
Reason bids attribute to worth its due And he detracts that spares to speake what 's true How shall I shunne if shunne the Truth to shame A Parasites or a Detractors name Much care I not yet this much dare I say DARSSIE thou hast done well deseru'st thy pay A Guerdon due to thy laborious Pen Raising ELIZA's Royall Fame agen Such as thy worke such honour as is due Shall to thy well-deseruing Pen accrue In making vulgar now this matchlesse Story England shall euer eternize thy glory THOMAS GASNALL To the worthy Patternes of true Nobilitie and Noble Fauourers of LEARNING Theophilus Lord Howard of Walden Heire apparent to the Earledome of Suffolke The Lady Elizabeth Vicountesse of Walingford his noble and vertuous Sister Oliuer Lord St. Iohn Baron of BLETSO Lady Dorothy St. IOHN Countesse of BATH his Right honourable sister George Lord Berkeley Baron of Berkeley-Castell And the most learned Lady Elizabeth Berkley his Most Noble Mother The Lord Mount-ioy Blunt Baron of Mount-ioy SIR Fulke Greuill Baron of Beauchams-Court and Lord Brooke ALthough a History Right Noble Illustrious bee most dangerous and no lesse troublesome to write yet there is nothing more commodious beneficial and salutiferous to men sith it is the Testimony of Time the light of Truth and the preseruer of Life suffering scarce no mens Names to dye nor their renownes to be buried in obliuion for by the recordation of the deedes which they haue inacted in Times past they are committed to future Times eternized to the perpetuall honour of immortall fame and neuer-dying glory Nay more they seeme as Alexander Scipio Pompey Iulius Caesar Charles the Great and diuers other whose memory is fresh and euer-liuing nothing else but the eternall monuments of Annalls deliuered Hercules and freed other worthy men who liued well and singularly profitable to their Countrey from fading and perishing though dead and forgotten It was this therefore which caused Princes and other great men to desire nothing more then that their worthy deedes and noble acts iudiciously performed in time of Peace as well as generously in Warre should be carefully written and so propagated to all posterities by some learned Historiographer as appeareth by Alexander the Great who when a messenger came to him exulting with ioy and running with a chearefull countenance fully to relate the prosperous successe of his fortunate affaires made him this answere What greater and better newes can you participate and vnfold vnto mee vnlesse by certifying mee that Homer is liuing Intimating thereby that all the glory of his Heroicke actions were like to wither and be forgotten except some such a one as Homer was should reuiue to sing worthily his Encomiums sound his Praises and Victories with the shrill sounding Trumpet of Fame Neuerthelesse confessing my selfe vnable though much desirous to doe you that seruice I haue vndertooke the translation of the Heroick Annals of that euer blessed Queene Elizabeth of most happy memory by which I aime at the preseruation of her glory and to the perpetuall honor of your names vnder whose honorable banner I haue sought to shelter these my poore labours To shew aswel the dutiful seruice of a poore Stranger to these Kingdomes in generall as his humble and sincere affection to all your Honours in particular The worthines of the Subiect makes me not doubt of your noble acceptance inuites mee to bring my Oblation to the Temple of your Vertues where after vnfeigned Prayers for your Honours perpetuall happinesse as well spirituall as temporall I with the lowest step of dutie take my leaue vowing euer to remaine Your Honours humblest deuoted obseruant ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST High Mighty and Inuincible Princesse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and neuer-dying memory OR ANNALLES Of all the most remarkable things that happened during her blessed Raigne ouer the Kingdomes of England and Jreland c. The 13. yeere of her Raigne Anno 1570. REbellion being then extinct in England the Earle of Murray Vice-roy of Scotland with much care and policie perswaded and industriously laboured that the Queene of Scots might bee resigned and deliuered into his hands proffering to that effect hostages and pledges withall the better to incite a condiscending to this his demand hee promised that the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland should be immediately deliuered backe In the meane time he wrought with such diligence that the Bishop of Rosse as an Author Fauourer and Assister of the Rebels was committed into the safe guard and custody of the Bishop of London And further to oblige Queene ELIZABETH by some speciall seruice he powerfully entred with an Armie vpon the frontier Prouinces of England there to seeke out the English Rebells but apprehending some fewe of small note in the conclusion finds out the Earle of Northumberland whom he found hidden and disguised among a company of Out-lawes and Fugitiues by the meanes of his Oast that discouered him The Vice-Roy much reioycing in his Noble Prize sent him as Prisoner to Lake-Leuin safely there to be kept in guard whilest he persisting in his reuenge with much rigour afflicted the inhabitants of those Frontier parts But vnfortunately retyring himselfe to a Towne called Limnuch which vulgarly passeth by the name of Lithquo there resoluing with himselfe after so many wearisome trauails and excessiue iournies to giue a quiet repose to his ouer-charged spirits the neuer-changing doome of heauen had there set downe the period of his dayes for riding through the Streetes little suspecting the disaster that attended him he was suddenly slaine by the stroke of a bullet vnder his nauell sent from the fatall hand of the Lord Hamilton who by present flight saued himselfe in France where he remained certaine yeeres oftentimes protesting that the strength of his patience no longer able to hold out against the many insolent iniuries done him by the Earle he made his owne hands the author of his owne reuenge For the Vice-Roy knowing him to be one of the Queenes partisans banished him and afterwards imprisoned him and by many threats and menaces of seuere punishment constrained him to release to one of his Tenants a little Countrie Farme which befell to him by reason of his wife that became lunaticke These inforst him to such rage that hauing by some strange meanes broke his prison hee committed this murder After this exploit liuing in France he was there reputed to be a very fit and ready instrument for such actions yet could he neuer be perswaded or procured to doe the like to the Admirall Coligni often answering that he had himselfe taken vengeance of his owne iust griefes and iniuries of which he repented himselfe yet neither reward nor intreaties should any way preuaile so much with him as to be the instrument of anothers reuenge The rumor of this murder being straight diuulged and spred ouer Great-Britaine there arose various opinions and
fiue miles from Cartagena they left their ships and vnder the conduct of Carlile they in the silence of the night being ranged in order of battell marched alongst the shore whilest Drake with his armed Shallops in vaine assailed the Port of the towne which was fortified with a rampire and a chaine extended in length To Carlile a troope of horse shewed themselues but straight retired he pursued them till hee came to a narrow passage fortified with a stone wall betwixt the inward Hauen of the Port of the Ocean which was so straight that scarce a Cart could passe It was defended with Barracadoes full of stones and fiue great Cannon wherwith they often discharged vpon the front of his companies yet without effect whilest Carlile by the benefit of the darknesse being politick in auoiding dangers taking opportunitie by the ebbing of the Ocean drew his men down lower by the sands iust to the entrance which they couragiously forced notwithstanding two great Ships from the inward Hauen of the Port which caried eleuen great pieces and three hundred Musquetiers furiously thundered against their flanke This done they easily gained the Barricadoes which were placed at the entrance of euery street and chaced the Spaniards and Indians which cast poysoned darts amongst them Being thus Masters of the towne they made sixe weekes aboade there and receiued for the ransome of the towne 110000 Crownes which were paid presently downe and distributed man by man to the Mariners and Souldiers and especially to the neediest But the pillage was little for the Inhabitants being forewarned by them of Hispaniola had remoued all their most precious and richest things in to farre distant places The disease called Calentura still remaining amongst them and much diminishing their numbers they were constrained to leaue off their designe of surprising Nombre de Dios and make sayle for their returne by the Cape of the I le Cuba which is called Saint Anthony where they tooke in fresh water out of raine pits Then sayling along the coast of Florida they seized vpon two townes Saint Anthony and Saint Helena which were abandoned by the Spanish Garisons and burned them and being caried further vpon a ragged and rocky coast they found the English in the Plantation of Virginia so called in the honour of ELIZABETH the Virgin Queene which Sir Walter Raleigh whose worth and vertues purchased him the honour to be one of the Queenes chiefest fauourites by his neuer enough praised labours in the discouerie of remote Countries and promulgation of the glory of the English Nauy had placed there as Colony Drake offered to Ralph Lan President there all offices of humanity two ships with prouision and some men if they thought good to remaine there and prosecute what they had begun if not to transport them for England But whilest prouision was prepared for these ships there arose a violent storm and extraordinary furious tempest which seuered and dispersed the whole Nauy in such sort that it could not be collected together againe vntill they all ariued in England Insomuch that Lan and the rest that were with him being oppressed with penury and much diminished in their number they all with one voice requested Drake to giue them passage for their Country which he willingly agreed to These were the first that I know of that brought at their returne into England that Indian Plant called Tobacco or Nicotiana which they vsed being instructed by the Indians against crudities of the Stomack And certes since that time it is growne so frequent in vse and of such price that many nay the most part with an insatiable desire doe take of it drawing into their mouth the smoke thereof which is of a strong sent through a Pipe made of earth and venting of it againe through their nose some for wantonnesse or rather fashion sake and other for healths sake insomuch that Tobacco shops are set vp in greater number then either Alehouses or Tauernes And as one said but falsely the bodies of such Englishmen as are so much delighted with this plant did seeme to degenerate into the nature of the Sauages because they were caried away with the selfe-same thing beleeuing to obtaine and conserue their health by the selfe-same meanes as the barbarians did In this voyage perished seuen hundred men and almost all of that disease called Calentura The pillage was esteemed to be worth 60000 pounds of English money besides two hundred and forty great pieces of artillery as well Brasse as Iron which were taken from the Enemies Whilest these things thus passed in America vnder the torride Zone Iohn Dauis made search vnder the frigide Zone for a way to the East India by the vpper part of America with two ships at the expences of William Sanderson a man who by setting forth Globes hath well deserued in the studies of Geography and of other inhabitants of London He tooke his course towards the North and being fiue hundred miles from the Cape of Not in Ireland he discouered the Coasts of Greeneland whose Cliffes being white by reason of the snow which couered them might easily afarre off be discerned so round begirt with Ice as with a forewall for the space of two miles from the shore that it was inaccessible The course of this coast hee followed which bent first towards the West and then Northward to 64 degrees in Latitude from thence passing the Ice his course brought him amongst certaine greene flourishing Ilands where he found the Inhabitants of a middle stature little eyes without beards and of milder disposition then the most part of Northerne people From whence sayling to 66 Degrees in Latitude he encountred a shore which discouered it selfe by little and little towards the West with a sea of equall largenesse into which being entred forty miles and being full of hopes hee turned sayle homeward vpon the end of August The following yeare hee entred fourescore miles into these Straights where hee obserued this sea to be on all sides well stored with Ilands and in his returne found it full of fish The third time he set forth with two ships appointed for fishing and a third for the discouerie of passages in which hauing sailed to 83 degrees into this Sea and discouering it to bee forty miles in breadth hee returned During this an Edict was published in England to represse the auarice of some priuate persons that had conuerted the fertilest fields and pastures into grounds to sow Woad in for the vse of Dyers not without much losse to the Cloath-workers and Husbandmen which are commonly fed with Milke Cheese and such like meats Whereupon it was forbidden to sow that hearbe within eight miles of any of the Kings houses and foure miles of Cities Market-townes and of other places wheresoeuer Drapery is vsed But to the intent that English Cloathes might be sold to greater gaines it was permitted to the Earle of Warwicke
Christian Princes to let them vnderstand Queen MARY's decease She therefore appointed and sent with all speed to the Emperour Ferdinando Sir Thomas Chaloner with letters of her owne hand-writing by which shee gaue him notice of her Sisters death and that first by Gods speciall grace next by her hereditary right and through the generall loue and consent of all her Subiects she succeeded these her Crownes and dignities And that now she desired nothing more than to maintaine the loue and to encrease the ancient amitie which of long time had beene betweene the Houses of England and Austria To the King of Spaine who at that time was in the Low-Countries she also sent Ambassador the Lord Brook Baron of Cobham with the like Embassage and Commission by which shee of new imployed and delegated the Earle of Arundell Turlbey Bishop of Ely and L. Wotton who before had beene delegated and appointed by Queene MARY for the treatie of peace in the Citie of Cambray and adioyned to them W. Howard Baron of Effingham She also secretly sent Sir Henry Killigrew Ambassadour to the Princes of Germany to inflame them in the zeale of Gods pure Religion To the King of Denmarke D. B. was sent Ambassador and to the Duke of Holsatia also Armigild Waade Philip King of Spaine hearing of the death of Queen MARY fearing one way to lose the title of King of England and the force of that Realme which were vnto him most vsefull and profitable and likewise that the kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland should be vnited to the Crowne of France by the meanes of the high and mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland hee therefore treats seriously of a match with Queene ELIZABETH with promise to obtaine a speciall dispensation from the Pope And to that effect imployed the Earle of Ferie who had visited her MAIESTIE by the like meanes as he had done Queene MARY in her sicknesse This Sutor puts Queene ELIZABETH into great anxiety and perplexity considering how inconsiderate and ingratefull her Maiestie might seeme to be in refusing a Christian Prince who had already obliged her in other things much but yet more in this as to seeke her to his wife through his owne free desire and motion The French King likewise was in an extasie considering how important and dangerous it was to France if Spaine her enemy should vnite adioyne to his kingdoms the Realmes of England and Ireland therefore hee vseth his best endeuours at Rome by the intermission of the Bishop of Angoulesme to hinder the grant of such dispensation shewing to that end that Queene ELIZABETH was held for Supportresse of the Protestant Religion and rather than faile went about to declare her illegitimate But all this most secretly and closely for feare to irritate England before that his affaires were throughly well settled The Earle of Ferie contrariwise on the other side labours as hard to bring this marriage to passe and to that end giues the English Papists to vnderstand who were dispersed throughout all parts of the Realme that it was the sole and onely way left for them to preserue their Religion and defend their ancient dignities and honours and that if they should contemne it hee could not but deplore the misery and calamity of England as being out of money vnprouided of men trained vp and vnskild in the military discipline void of fortification and lacking munition and garrisons for Warre and her Councellors of State depriued likewise of good aduice And indeed to speake truely Englands affaires were at that time in a most miserable case and lamentable state for England had warre on the one side with Scotland and on the other side with France and was in a manner vndone by those debts that King HENRY the Eighth and King EDWARD the Sixt had run into and her treasury was exhaust and empty and the Town of Callais had beene but newly lost and the whole Countrey of Oyes with all the munition and furniture of warre The people here were diuided into contrarieties through differency of religion and the Queene left without any powerfull friend to assist her hauing no alliance at all abroad with forrain Princes But when as her Maiestie had more seriously agitated her spirit and carefully considered in her minde the proposition of this match shee findes the holy Scripture expressely inioyning that no woman ought to ioyne with him who had beene her sisters Husband no more than it is lawfull for a man to marry his brothers widdow and therefore that such marriages were directly illegitimate and wholly forbidden by Gods Law although the Pope should neuer so much grant a Dispensation And moreouer that if she should contract it by vertue thereof shee should acknowledge and proue her selfe illegitimate sith shee was issued from the match that King HENRY her father had contracted after his diuorcing and putting away Katherine of Spaine for hauing beene his brothers wife which neuerthelesse had beene approued iust and lawfull according to the Diuine Law by all the Academies of Christendome and likewise the Synod of London as well as that of Katherine vniust and vnlawfull Her Maiestie therefore endeuours to stop preuent and hinder by little and little the course of King Philips suite by an honest answer truely modest and well-beseeming the chaste integrity of her constant virginity and chiefly grounded vpon scruple of her conscience But he notwithstanding all this surceased not his suite but persisted therein vrging her with feruent and frequent Letters By which shee obserued the manners and behauiours of so great a King compounded with grace and graue modesty and truely worthy his Maiestie the said Letters being much by her admired in the often publishing of them yea her Maiestie taking pleasure to imitate them vntill some Nobles of her Court began to defame and speake against the matchlesse pride and practices of the Spaniards Also some of the intimate Lords and fauorites of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell fearing lest the tender and young spirit of a Maide often moued might easily condescend to their desires told to her MAIESTIE secretly that both her Maiestie and friends with the whole Realme of England were vndone if in such Dispensations or in any thing else whatsoeuer she should giue any credit or make the least estimation of the Popes authoritie and power since that two of them had declared and published her Mother illegitimate and vnlawfully ioyned in wedlocke with King HENRY the Eighth Also that by vertue of such Declaration the most high and most mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland should pretend right to the Crownes of England c. and that the Pope would neuer retract nor goe from that iudgement and that her Maiestie should not expect nor looke for any thing good or iust from the Popes hand who had beene enemies and shewed themselues vniust both towards her Maiestie and her Mother And that the French King laboured hard vsing his vtmost power and
of Desmond who had faithfully promised to performe all the dueties of a loyall Subiect and others who were broken out into ciuill warres To extinguish these Controuersies Queene ELIZABETH calls Desmond into England and makes him Gouernour and Iustice of that Prouince with an Assessor two Lawyers and a Clerke and nominated Warham S. Leger chiefe President a man that had beene long conuersant in Irish affaires About the middle of October the same yeere dyed Thomas Chaloner lately returned Ambassadour from Spaine a famous man borne in London brought vp at Cambridge who had addicted himselfe as well to Mars as to the Muses and being but young got honour vnder Charles the fifth in the expedition of Alger who hauing suffered ship-wrack and had swomme so long that his strength and armes fayled him saued himselfe by taking hold of a Cable with his teeth whereof he lost some Vnder EDVVARD the Sixth at Mussleborrough where hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that the Duke of Sommerset honoured him with the Dignitie of Knight-hood And vnder Queene ELIZABETH in an extraordinary Ambassie to the Emperour Ferdinand and foure yeeres ordinary Ambassadour in Spaine where he composed fiue Bookes in pure and learned Verse of the restauration of the English Common-wealth which he called Hieme in fumo aestate in horreo Hee was honourably buried at Saint Pauls in London Cecill being chiefe mourner when Thomas his Sonne who liued neere HENRY Prince of Wales was very yong THE NINTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1566. IN the beginning of the yeere Charles the 9. King of France sent into England to the Queene Rambouillet with the Robes of the order of S. Michael to bee giuen to two of the Peeres of England whom shee pleased She made choice of the Duke of Norfolke as being much more noble then any other and to the Earle of Leicester louing him very well Rambouillet hauing beene for and in the Name of his King placed honourably at Windsor amongst the Knights of the Order of Saint George inuested them solemnly in the Royall House at Westminster This shee tooke for a great honour remembring her selfe that no English was euer honoured with this Order saue HENRY the Eighth EDVVARD the Sixth and Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke But when she exactly obserued all things that belonged to the honour of it she was at length much displeased to see it so vilified that it was prostituted indifferently to euery man And shee busied her selfe not onely in things concerning honour but chiefely what was for the good of her Subiects For the Ayre beeing so intemperate that yeere that experienced men feared a want of Corne and other victuals she did not onely prohibit any Corne to be carried out of the Kingdome but tooke care that great quantity was brought in While these things past Henry Earle of Arundell being great and powerfull among the Lords of the Realme after hauing consumed much wealth vpon a vaine hope to marry the Queene and the Earle of Leicester who then was in great credit with her and his friends which had failed in the trust which hee reposed in them taking away this hope quite from him tooke leaue of her and voluntarily went out of the Kingdome vnder colour to recouer his health but in effect to strengthen himselfe against sorrow But the other English who for their naturall valour thought themselues borne to liue in Armes and not in idlenes seeing the Nobility of all parts did rise at the report of the warre against the Turke and carried their Armes and Courages into Hungarie Amongst whom the most remarkeable were Iohn Smith cousin german to EDVVARD the Sixth by the Sister of I. Seimor the Kings Mother H. Champernon P. Butshid R. Greuill G. George T. Cotton c. In Iune following the Queene of Scotland had a most auspicious and happy Deliuery for the eternall prosperity of Great Brittaine IAMES her Sonne who is now Monarch thereof whereof she gaue present notice to Queene ELIZABETH by Iohn Meluin Queene ELIZABETH howsoeuer angry to see her out-strip her in honour who enuied her as speedily sent H. Killigrewe to congratulate her lying in and the birth of her Sonne and to admonish her not to fauour any longer Shan O-Neale who rebelled in Ireland nor to assist Roquerbay an English Fugitiue and to punish some theeues that rob'd vpon the Borders After hauing vn-wearied her minde by a Progresse to shew herselfe as fauourable to the Muses of Oxford as well as of Cambridge betweene which there was then a sincere emulation goes toward the Vniuersitie of Oxford where she was magnificently entertained and staid there full seuen dayes taking pleasure in the pleasant aspect of the place at the beauty of the Colledges in the spirits and learning of most exquisit Schollers which passed the nights in Comedies and the dayes in learned Disputations for which she gaue them ample thankes by a most sweet discourse in Latine and a most louing farewell As soone as shee was returned to London the States of the Kingdome assembled there the first day of Nouember beeing the day assigned and after hauing established a Statute or two they begun to dispute among themselues of the Succession of the Kingdome seeing that the Queene hauing vowed Virginity had already reigned eight yeeres without thinking seriously of an Husband that on the one side the Papists made account of the Queene of Scots who had lately had a Sonne that on the other side the Protestants being deuided some of them made account of one and some of another and euery particular prouiding for their safety and Religion presaged the stormes of a most fearefull time if shee should dye without assuring a Successor And the keener sort of spirits proceeded so far as to blame her as if she abandoned both her Country and Posteritie and to teare by reprochfull defaming Libels wicked Councellor therein and to curse Huic her Phisicion because he disswaded her to marry for I know not what womanish infirmity The Earles of Pembroke and Leicester were openly and the Duke of Norfolke couertly of opinion that a necessity of marriage should be imposed vpon her or else publikely to appoint a Successor by authority of the Parliament whether she would or no which caused them to bee forbidden to enter into the Priuie Chamber or come neere the Queene who neuerthelesse granted them pardon as soone as they demanded it They neuerthelesse being much troubled and all the rest of the vpper House of Parliament touching the Succession all with one mind by the mouth of Bacon Keeper of the great Scale according to the dutie which they ought vnto God the fidelity to their Prince and the charity to their Countrie so to doe that as by her meanes they then sweetly enioyed all the benefits of Peace Iustice and Clemency they and their posterity might by her meanes likewise enioy the same assuredly and continually But
deserued extreme punishment yea greater torments then those of hell fire Whereunto Smith made answere That it nothing concerned him and to search out what right and title the French had in former times to Calais one must rip vp wonderfull ancient and absolute Antiquities but well he perceiued at last that what the French laid hold of either by right or wrong they take it for their own as if their claimes and titles lay in nothing but Armes and little car'd whether they possest a good or bad conscience That they resolued to hold Calais by that Law of Nations which permits captiues to release themselues from their enemies and recouer former libertie though the other held it by vertue of a solemne Conuention and Accord And that they cal'd not to consideration how after the first there was another so as they determined in no wise to performe their promise giuen touching the restitution of Calais And yet neuerthelesse this was of more waight and consequence then the most important reasons that could bee alleadged That they euer tooke to themselues and denyed the English the glory and honour which then they willingly ascribed to them for beeing capable and apprehensiue in Contractations That this renouation of Contract was but a meere Antistrophe which might iustly bee returned vpon the French because the reason why the Queene redemanded Calais was for nothing else but in that the French attempting and innouating by their Armes in Scotland had lost the right they pretended thereunto because the Queene of England vpon this surprized Haure de grace As if in so doing the one Prince minded not to yeeld one iot to the other We said he accorded a Peace at Troyes which if it induced any nouation or change this innouation or change cut off the right which the French had to Calais and confirmed the English Title which the English could not as yet iustly claime because the eight yeeres were not then fully expired Whereupon rising and turning toward the Councell of France I appeale saith hee to your faith and conscience seeing your selues were then present when wee insisted in making a Reseruation by expresse termes for our right to Calais you labouring as much to haue it omitted because the full time was not expired Is it not true that the Accord was made betweene vs with this prouiso and secret reseruation exprest in this Clause All other respectiue intentions and demands to remaine solid and entire and so likewise the exceptions and prohibitions both of the one and the other side reserued As for Haure de grace the English entred it without one blowe strucke at the intreaty of the Inhabitants and the Normane Nobility and after a solemne protestation that it should bee kept and held to the King of France his behoofe so as heerein they vndertooke nothing against him by course of Armes nor innouated not any thing to the infringement of the former Treaty As for the moneys lent to the Prince of Condé and his Confederates this was done with no other drift or intention then to satisfie the Almaine Souldiers who mutined for their pay and to detaine them from forraging those Countries that liued vnder the King's obedience which the King himselfe acknowledged to haue beene done to a good end and for his owne speciall seruice And thus you see what Sir Thomas Smith vttered with diuers such matters and allegations Whereupon Monsieur Memorancy beeing Constable of France holding vp his Sword on high the Scabbard whereof was set with Flowers-de-Luce for a marke and embleme of his high Office and vsing many words of the great warlike preparations which the English brought before Haure de grace as if they had not only beene able to defend a small Towne but further to haue taken in all Normandy No man said Smith need to wonder because the Englishmen being a maritime Nation vnderstanding that they haue no command ouer the Winds who are Lords of the Sea they prouide plentifully and in due season for time to come Then the Frenchmen complaining that conformable to the Accord the Protestants that fled out of France were refused to bee deliuered to the French Ambassadour who had demanded them this busines was put off till another time and so by little and little came to be buried in silence the Ciuill Wars instantly renewing in France And certainely the French-men were resolued among themselues neuer to deliuer vp Calais againe For they no sooner tooke it but they razed all the old Fortifications began to make new let houses and grounds for fiftie yeeres and granted a perpetuitie in others While these matters thus passed in France the Count of Stolberg came into England from the Emperour Maximilian to treate of a Marriage with the Arch-duke for which end likewise the Queenes Maiestie not long before had sent to the Emperour the Earle of Sussex with the Order of the Garter who for the loue he bare to his Countrey and hatred to the Earle of Leicester employed all his best endeuours to bring to passe that the Queene might marry with a strange Prince and Leicester by this meanes to bee frustrated of his hopes this alwaies readily comming out of his mouth That whether in respect of honour power or meanes a strange Prince was to be preferred before the most noble Subiect of the Kingdome of England Which made one of a contrarie opinion vpon a certaine time vtter ingeniously these words in his presence That in marriages wherein respect is had to three things to honour power and riches the Diuell and the World were the Paranymphes and Solliciters Notwithstanding Leicester conceiuing good hopes found meanes to suborne the Lord North whom the Earle of Sussex had chosen to accompany him in his voyage that he should giue an eare to what he spake cast a vigilant eye ouer what hee did and vnder-hand to plucke backe the Marriage of the Arch-duke as fast as hee aduanced and set it forward letting him vnderstand that the Queene was farre from it whatsoeuer shew shee made of a willing mind and what face soeuer Sussex set on it As also himselfe laboured incessantly in Court to diuert the Queene from any such resolution he hauing the command of her eare and to this end he representing vnto her all the discommodities which might accrew by her marrying out of the Realme The Marriage of late memory that her Sister MARY contracted with the King of Spaine whereby shee cast her selfe into perpetuall sorrow and England into danger of comming vnder the Spanish seruitude That it was vnpossible to discouer the manners cogitations and inward inclinations of strangers though these things ought to be lookt into in the person of an Husband who by an inseparable band is one and the same flesh How it was an extreme misery and griefe to be dayly conuersant with a man of strange maners and language That Children begotten in such marriages tooke from their birth I know not what kind of
this Company might traffique into the North part of Russia and they onely should sell their merchandizes throughout the whole extent of his Empire which is large and spacious as in fit place shall be declared An. Ienkinson returned with these Ambassadours into England who had obseruantly runne ouer all this Countrey he described the same in a Geographicall Map and was the first man of the English that cross'd the Caspian Sea and landed in the Countrey of the Bactrians The Emperour committed vnto him secret matters which hee would by no meanes communicate to any of his owne people which was seriously to treat with Queene ELIZABETH in his name that she would enter into mutuall league with him offensiue and defensiue against all the world and that she would send into Russia Ship-wrights Mariners warlike Munitions and to oblige her selfe by solemne oath courteously to receiue him with his Wife and Children if he were driuen out of his Empire eyther by rebellious Subiects or open enemies And thus this Tyrant whom no man could trust seemed to be distrustfull euen of himselfe and though he were somewhat moued with the short and ambiguous answer that her Maiesty returned yet did he not giue ouer solliciting of her in these things both by Letters and Ambassies as hereafter shall be expressed requesting her continually to send him backe that same Anthony Ienkinson who as he thought had not beene so faithfull as in matters of so great waight was requisite The first Moneth of this yeere dyed Nicholas Wotton a Doctor of the Ciuill Law and Deane of the Churches of Canterbury and Yorke a very honourable person for his parentage but much more for his prudence whereof he had giuen ample testimony both within and without the Realme For hee was one of the Priuy-Councell to the Kings HENRY the Eighth and EDVVARD the Sixth as also to Queene MARY and Queene ELIZABETH Nine times he went Ambassadour to the Emperour the Kings of France and Spaine and other Princes Three times he was a Commissioner to make peace betweene the English French and Scots and one of the sixteene whom HENRY the Eighth chose for Executors of his last Will and Testament There dyed also El. Leyborne third Wife to Thomas Duke of Norfolke and formerly Widdow to the Lord Dacres hauing brought him forth no Children But she had one by her first Husband George the Baron who dyed young with a fall off of a Vauting-Horse of wood when he learned to vaut and three Daughters who were all affianced by promises of performance to the Dukes three Sonnes I told you how Shan O-Neale lawfull Sonne to Cone-Oneale surnamed Bacon that is to say Lame the mightiest man in the North part of Ireland which is called Vlster was come into England and craued pardon for his offence in the yeere 1563. When hee was returned into his Countrey hee valiantly defended that part of Ireland against the Scots which landed there out of Cantria and Hebride and he slew 10. Mac O-Neale his father in Law and Anny his Brother who conducted them This victory causing him to be insolent he began to exercise tyranny vpon other petty Lords of Vlster not of so powerfull a command as himselfe hee burnt Armach the Metropolitane City of Ireland for hatred to the Arch-bishop draue Mac-Guire out of the inheritance of his Predecessors pilled and sacked Mac-Genisse and others and the English receiuing them into their protection hee spred rebellious colours against Queene ELIZABETH But he presently wrapt them vp againe at the instigation of Cusac a Knight of the Order yeelded vp his Sonne in Hostage and submitted himselfe And Queene ELIZABETH to containe him within bounds hauing rent and torne all those Letters by which HENRY the Eighth declared Matthew falsly reputed for his Sonne to be Heire to Cone she resolued to conferre vpon him the honourable titles of Earle of Tyrone and Baron of Dungannon as being the vndoubted Sonne and Heire But this man altogether impatient of repose and peace perceiuing that he was able to bring into the field a thousand Horse and foure thousand foot of his Vassals and Tenants and he had already fiue hundred of his Guard with barbarous pride hee reiected such titles of honour in comparison of the name of O-Neale but caused himselfe by his owne people to be styled King of Vlster He trayned vp the Peasants to War offered the Kingdome of Ireland to the Queene of Scots and conceiued such a mortall hatred against the English that hauing built a Castle vpon the Lac Eaugh he named it Feognegall which is to say the Hatred of the English and strangled some of his people because they ate the bread of the English though hee would neuer speake otherwise than honourably of the Queene Sir Henry Sidney was commanded to arme against him and Randolph a braue Conductor sent by Sea vpon the Northerne Frontiers of Vlster to Derry which is a small Episcopall See neere to Loygh-foy with a troupe of horse and seuen hundred foot to assaile him vpon the backe when the Vice-Roy would come vp and set vpon him in his Van. Shan vnderstanding this hotly beleaguerd Dundalk but was repelled by the Garrison with great losse of men as he was likewise from Wittscastell where hee met with no lesse losse Then being about with fire and sword to waste the Earledome of Louth with the ouerthrow of a number of men he was rowted by a small troupe of the English when making towards Derry he forraged all the Countrey round about and prouoked the English Garrison to fight who ranging themselues in battell fell on all sides vpon this disordered multitude disarrayed ouerthrew and put them to open flight But the victory proued but sorrowfull by reason of a lamentable accident that light vpon Randolph who was slaine fighting valiantly among the thickest of his enemies as braue a Gentleman questionlesse as our present times haue seene and none euer purchased greater respect ioyned with loue among Souldiers than this man had done S. Lo being constituted in his place he much endammaged the Rebels in that quarter till on a day when the Fort by an vnhappy accident was set on fire with all the Munition and Powder which blew vp many Souldiers For then embarking all his foot in shipping and with a wing of Horse commanded by one Haruey he past through the middest of his enemies who continually galled him and by a way of foure dayes iourney went to the Lord Deputy who to honour Randolphs vertue solemnized his Obsequies and was himselfe in mourning And raising forces presently to goe into Vlster Shan retyred with his men into the Woods and Forrests re-amassing againe together at seuerall times here and there the rest of his men about Clogner and Castell Salmon belonging to Turlogh-Leinich who then had left it But when the Lord Deputy had constituted Garrisons settled Odonel againe in his State and was returned to appease the
condemned to the Gallies The Spaniard also by Letters written to the Count De Mont-Agond Gouernour of Boetia forbade the transportation of Oyle Allum Sucker Aromatiques and all other such like things into England supposing that if the English wanted these things they would readily rebell and so vpon this he likewise treated with the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Ormond by secret messengers to the end the latter might hold the Queene play in Ireland and the former in England But they freely discouered his motions out of the fidelity and loyalty they bare to the Queene When the inhabitants of the coasts of England heard of these things it is incredible to see with what ioy they made our to Sea and how resolutely they put in execution their Letters of Mart against the Spaniards so that to depresse them Proclamations were faine to be published prohibiting the buying of any Merchandize of such as came by it by way of reprizall As the English men were denyed traffique in the Low Countries so were they no lesse debarred the same in Russia as well through the false dealing of Factors and bad intelligence that past betweene them as out of the enuy of the Germanes and Russians the Russians complaining of fraudulent commodities and that the price of Merchandizes was enhaunsed and the Germanes of their monopoly and societie To remedy these euils Thomas Randolph was sent thither the yeere before who though with no liking to the Emperour of Russia because whereas hee should haue treated of the amity hee desired to entertaine with Queene ELIZABETH whereof wee spake in the yeere 1567. hee onely employed himselfe carefully in the matter of traffique neuerthelesse obtayned so much by his sollicitations that the Emperour for the singular good will he bare to the Queene and the English nation granted to the Company of English residing in Russia immunities from customes with Commission to sell their commodities ouer all the Countrey where they would within the extent of his Empire which is ample and large and to transport them into Persia and Media by the Caspian Sea though Merchants of other Nations were permitted to goe no further than a mile beyond the Citie of Mosco hee allotted them houses to winde and twist their Ship-tacklings with Wood for their yron-workes and he receiued the English for OPPRISMâ—Y that is to say the elect seed and choyce of his people Wherefore they began to trauell more confidently ouer all those Countries and to transport their commodities to Vologda vpon the Dwine in Vessels made of one entire peice drawne by force of arme against the current of the water by an handiworke gouerned with Oares and long Piles from thence to Yeraslaue which is ten daies iourney by Land afterwards into Germanie for 30. dayes and nights trauell downe the riuer of Volga which is about a mile in breadth and runnes along a clay soyle set with Oakes and Bouleaux and when they had built Boats they oftentimes crossed the Astracane and the Caspian Sea that in many places may be waded ouer and so by the Defarts of Hercania and Bactriana they came to the Teueres and Casbine Cities of Persia out of an assured confidence they should at last open a way and passage to Cathay But the warres that suddenly grew betweene the Turkes and Persians and frequent robberies of the Barbarians cut off this commendable designe of the London Merchants and as for the Emperour he sent backe Randolph with gifts and presents and with him An. Gregoritzki an Ambassadour in very honourable equipage certainely for the custome of that Countrey who was receiued of the Londoners with great festiuities and of the Queenes Maiestie with much honour This Ambassadour exhibited a formall Writing in the Russian Tongue and required that the alliance and amitie might be confirmed in his presence in the same termes a secret Letter which hee propounded translated into the Russian Tongue with all the Letters subscribed with the Queenes Hand and sealed with her Seale and that shee should likewise send an Ambassadour into Russia reciprocally to receiue from the hand of the Emperour priuy Letters written in the same words which in his presence should be sealed with his Seale and confirmed with a kissing of the Crosse The Queene agreed to this Alliance reseruing onely this Clause So farre as that formerly contracted with other Princes might permit That they might so ayde one another against their common enemies that nothing be performed vniust or vnlawfull and by the word of a Christian Princesse in the presence of the Ambassadour and the most honoured of her Priuy-Councell shee promised inuiolably whereof likewise hee had Letters sealed with her owne Priuy-Seale that if accidentally eyther by his owne Subiects or strangers he brought to such a poynt as to forsake his Countrey she would receiue and entertaine both himselfe and his children with al the honour befitting so great a Prince shee would assigne him a peculiar place for his residence permit him freely to exercise his Religion and to depart at his pleasure For these things hee earnestly required in his secret Letters But this was so far from satisfying this harsh-natur'd and sauage man who held for all right and Law meerely his will pleasure that he by numerating and setting out at large by Letters the sundry benefits and good deedes which hee had done to the English Nation and reproaching them with such fauours and friendships growes angry and is irritated against Queene ELIZABETH for not sending an Ambassadour with his to take the Oath blames her Maiestie that shee made no greater account of her selfe saying shee was ouer-much giuen to Merchants affaires as much vnworthy to be so much respected of a Prince and suspecting the Marchants to be opposite to his designe as being ouer-base vpbraided them in contemptible despitefull and iniurious manner as sordid people who respect their owne profit and priuate gaine more then the Honour and credit of their Soueraignes threatning them in a most barbarous manner to suppresse and abolish all former Priuiledges by him granted to them Which neuerthelesse hee effected not beeing moderated and appeased by the courteous and kind Letters that Qu. ELIZABETH wrote vnto him which were sent by Ienkinson he shewed himselfe all his life time most diligent and carefull to please her Maiestie cherishing and honouring her as a Sister often vrging her to confirme more straitely and firmely that Alliance and lou'd singularly the English far aboue all other Nations Murray had then procured a safe returne into Scotland propounding vnto the Queene herselfe and the Duke of Norfolke and the rest of her friends in England her re-establishment in the Kingdome of Scotland who to that end had hindred and kept in awe the Scots who sought to kill him by straitely charging and prohibiting not to hinder his comming Being first arriued in Edenborough he summon'd all such Nobles as fauoured the Queene
of Spaine the Iudges of England had no power ouer him But hee was condemned according to the forme of Nihil dicit because no man can free himselfe from the Lawes of the Countrey where he is borne nor renounce his naturall Countrey nor his Prince and suffered as a Traytor There was then for certaine yeeres controuersie betweene the Portugals and the English during the commerce betweene them and the Moores for pure Gold from the yeere 1552. in that part of Africa called Guienne and others who had first discouered those Coasts hindered as much as they could by force of armes so as they fought sometimes by Sea and detained Ships on both sides But Sebastian King of Portugall being newly come to age to make a peace sent Francis Gerard into England who made a Couenant with the Queene almost in these very words THat a perfect amitie may be made and free commerce had on both sides the one shall not attempt any thing to the preiudice of the other nor lend succour to their enemies Rebels or Traytors the Merchandize Moneyes and Ships which are vnder arrest to be restored And Queene ELIZABETH to gratifie the King of Portugal prohibiteth the English to vse any Nauigation in the Seas or to the Lands which the Portugals had conquered And that if they should doe otherwise it should be vpon their owne perill if the Portugals should depriue them both of goods and liues The Kingdomes of Portugal and Argarbe also the Iles of Azores and Madera excepted in which free Nauigation was permitted This yere W. Parre Marquis of Northampton being very old peaceably departed this life a man much conuersant and well read in the delectable studies of Musicke and intertainement of Louers and other courtly iucundities who was first raised to the dignitie of Baron Parre of Kendal afterwards he married Anne Bourchier sole daughter heire to the Earle of Essex at the same time when the King married his sister and afterwards bâ— EDVVARD made Marquis of Northampton vnder the reigne of MARIE hee was condemned of High-Treason for taking armes on the behalfe of Iane Grey who was brought in by subornation to be Queene but was shortly after pardoned and restored to his inheritance as he was afterwards to his honours by Queene ELIZABETH He had no Children but left to be his heire Henrie Herbert Earle of Pembroke his other Sisters Sonne Iohn Iewell a man of an excellent spirit and exquisit learning in Theologie and of great pietie died the same yeere being hardly fiftie yeeres of age descended of good Parents in Deuonshire and commendably brought vp in Corpus Christi Colledge in the Vniuersitie of Oxford who in Queene MARIES reigne was banished into Germanie and afterwards by Queene ELIZABETH beeing made Bishop of Salisburie put forth in the yeere 1562. an Apologie for the English Church and most learnedly defended the Protestants Religion against Harding who was falne from it in two Volumes in our owne Tongue which are now translated into the Latine Ireland at that time was quiet enough for Iohn Perâ—t President of Mounster had so ransacked Iohn Fitz-Morris who had pillaged Kilmalocke that hee was constrained to hide himselfe in Caues and in the end as wee shall relate hereafter brought to begge pardon with humble submission Sidney Deputie of Ireland returning into England Fitz-William who had married his Sister succeeded in his place THE FIFTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1572. THe beginning of a new yeere brought forth a new Tragicall spectacle to the Inhabitants of London for in the Palace of Westminster a Scaffold was erected from the one end to the other with a Tribunall vpon it and seates on either side the like had not bin seene for eighteene yeeres before Thither vpon the sixteenth day of Ianuary was Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke conducted betweene Owen Hopton Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Peter Carew Knight before whom was borne the fatall Axe with the edge forward vpon the Tribunall was seated George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury constituted Lord high Steward of England for that day vpon either side of him were placed the Nobles appointed Commissioners which we call Peeres to wit Reynold Gray Earle of Kent Tho. Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Henry Hastings Earle of Huntington Francis Russell Earle of Bedford Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Edw. Seimor Earle of Hartford Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester Walt. Deuâ—reux Vicount of Hereford Edward Lord Clinton Admirall William Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlaine William Cecill Lord Burghley Secretarie Arthur Lord Gray of Wilton Iea. Blount Lord Mountioy Will. Lord Sands Tho. Lord Wentworth William Lord Bourrowes Lewes Lord Mordant Iohn Pawlet Lord S. Iohn of Basing Robert Lord Rich Roger Lord North Edm. Bruges Lord Chandos Oliuer Lord S. Iohn of Bletso Tho. Sackuill Lord Buckhurst and Will. West Lord De-la-Ware Silence being commanded the Commission was read importing the power giuen to the Iudge Then Carter chiefe King of Heralds deliuered into his hands a white wand which he presently after deliuered to the Groome Porter who standing by did hold it erected the whole time of the Court. Silence againe commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower was bidden to bring forth his charge and present the Duke before the Seat of Iustice who foorth-with appeared on either side were the Lieutenants of the Tower and Peter Carew next of all he that carried the Axe the edge thereof turned from the Duke Silence the third time proclaimed the Clerke appointed for the Acts of Iudgement thus spake to the Duke Thomas Duke of Norfolke late of Kenninghale in the County of Norfolke hold vp thy hand When he had holden vp his hand the said Clerke read aloud the Crimes of which he was accused that is to say That in the eleuenth yeere of Queene ELIZABETH and afterwards the Duke hath treacherously held counsell to depose the Queene from her Kingdome to take away her life and to inuade the Realme by raysing of warre and bringing in troupes of Strangers That notwithstanding he had certaine knowledge that Mary late Queene of Scots had arrogated to herselfe the Crowne of England with the Title and Armes thereof yet hath he treated vnknowne to the Queene of a marriage betwixt them and contrary to the promise vnder his hand and Seale hath lent vnto her certaine large summes of money That hee had assisted and succoured the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Marquenfield and others notwithstanding that hee had good notice that they had raised Rebellion against the Queene and were chased into Scotland That in the thirteenth yeere of the Queenes Reigne by Letters he demanded succours of the Pope Pius Quintus sworne Enemy to the Queene of the Spaniard and Duke D' Alua to set the Queene of Scots at liberty and re-establish the Romane religion in England Finally that hee had relieued and aided Heris a Scottish-man and others enemies
they hauing no good intelligence did niggardly depart with their mony discorded with the Dutch in certaine points of Religion and that the Emperour a neere Kinsman of the Spaniards would giue impeachment to it They also saw the French so engaged in their owne ciuill warres that they could finde no end that there was simulated inueterate hate betweene the inhabitants of the Low-Countries and the French that the Brabanders Flemmish and the neighbouring people of France would oppose it with all their force that the Commandement of the French was rude and burthensome as well as that of the Spanish and that the hauens of France are not much commodious for the nauigation of the Dutch But for the English that were almost vnder one paralell with the Dutch who also seemed to be of the same nature and Religion with them that their language was not much different their Countrey neere adioyning furnished with Ports commodious for Nauigation and fruitfull in Merchandize That the Queen both by Sea and Land was very powerfull a milde and gracious Princesse temperate in her commands one that would conserue their Liberties and in no wise burthen them with exactions They forthwith sent into England Phil. Marnix Lord of Saint Aldegonde I. Douza of Nortwic Paul Busy and D. Melsen which with an honourable legacy and learned oration offered to the Queene Holland and Zeland eyther to possesse or protect as being a Princesse issued from the Princes of Holland of the bloud of Philip Wife to Edward the Third Daughter to William Bauier the third of that name Earle of Hainaud and of Holland by whose second Sister the Spaniard came to the inheritance of the Prouinces The Queene gaue a willing and an attentiue hearing to these things But first of all shee weighed and considered in her minde the cause which they had vndertaken against their Lord and King the enmities of the Spaniard the enuy of the French the great expences and doubtfull euents of the warre and also what offence might be taken by this insolent example Then shee doubted whether by her discent from Bauier she might make claime to Holland and Zeland and whether shee might lawfully contract a league of protection with the Subiects of another Prince and whether they themselues could doe this without the consent of the Emperour who was Soueraigne Lord of the Fee Then further she scarce gaue credit to what some whispered in her eares that the Prouinces fell not to the Spaniard by hereditary right but by the election of the Subiects Finally hauing maturely deliberated vpon these things after she had respectiuely rendred thankes to the Prince of Orange and the rest for their great good will she answered that she had alwayes had a speciall regard of the honour and faith worthy a Prince nor could shee yet conceiue how she could in honour and conscience receiue the Prouinces into her protection much lesse into her possession but she would imploy her best labours to mediate for a happy peace betweene them At the same time arriued at the Court Iohn Perenot of Champigni from Lodwick Zuniga of Requesens who in his name modestly aduised the Queene to entertaine the league betweene England and Burgundie and not to entermeddle in the affaires of the Netherlands To whom the Queene promised to obserue the league notwithstanding the Spaniard had refused to confirme it Yet would shee alwayes prouide for her owne honour and safety if shee perceiued the ancient forme of command amongst the Burgundians to be changed and forreine Souldiers in great numbers daily to be admitted into the adiacent Prouince Before Champigni was returned Requesens yeelded to death and a strange confusion had ouercast the Netherlands the Souldiers deuasting all places with Sword and Fire And the Estates of Brabant Flanders c. assuming their former authority in the administration of the Common-wealth which the Spaniard by necessity was constrained to confirme to them vntill the comming of Iohn of Austria whom hee had instituted Gouernour ouer the Prouinces Queene ELIZABETH carefully laboured that the Spaniard might receiue no discommoditie conserue as much as she possible could the Netherlāds intyre to him and sent Dauison diligently to exhort them to a peace But by reason of outragiousnesse of the Spanish Souldiers nothing was effected England for this whole yeere remained in a peaceable quiet excepting in the moneth of Iuly there happened vpon the Southerne borders of England towards Scotland a conflict betweene the borderers of eyther part whereof the occasion was this Iohn Foster Knight Gouernour of the Meridionall Frontiers and at the same time of Barwicke also entred into parley vpon the Mount Redsquire with I. Carmichell Warden of Liddisdale in Scotland notwithstanding it was a custome that none but Gouernours should meete with Gouernours and Wardens with Wardens as equals in dignitie they were of either side accompanied besides certaine Noble-men with a multitude of Fugitiues and Malefactours all armed of which the most part quarrelled with one another about inueterate and mortall hatreds betweene them These sort of fellowes according to their custome hauing put their horses out here and there to feed round incircled the Gouernour Warden whom when they heard breake out into eager termes about the sending backe of Fugitiues they whose Lawes were onely their weapons knowing themselues guilty were afraid lest they should be deliuered into the hands of iustice vpon a squabble which fell out about the taking away of a spurre they tumultuously ranne to armes and euery one to reuenge their priuate spleene assayled his particular enemy or made prey of his Horse Whether a Scot or an English-man was the beginner it is vncertaine At the first encounter the English repulsed the Scots and tooke Carmichell But as they being too confident in their owne forces ranged about for booty and trifling pillage a troupe of Scottish succours sallying out of Iedbourgh Carmichell escaped and the English were put to flight George Heron Knight Warden of Tyndale and Ridisdale with others was slaine and the Gouernour Forster himselfe Fran. Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford and sonne-in-law to Forster Cuthbert Collinwood Iames Ogle Henry Fenwich and many others were taken and carried to Dalquith in Scotland where the Regent was resident who courteously receiued them but fearing lest if hee should so soone permit them to depart their bloud yet boyling for the murther should inflame their courages to vengeance and so rayse a warre betweene the two Kingdomes hee for a time deteined them and would not release them before they had promised by writing to appeare at a certaine day in Scotland When Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of these matters shee was then if euer anger had preuayled with her full of vexation and mightily incensed that the Scots which were as her selfe spake indebted to her for their rest and libertie should violating the peace assault and murder the
in them lay to be in hatred within the Kingdome and accused him to Qu. ELIZABETH to be sent by the Guizes to ouerthrow Religion to procure the liberty of the captiue Queene and to disunite the amitie which was between the Kingdomes of England and Scotland They are easily beleeued and notwithstanding that he purged himselfe by Letters to the Queene and made profession of the Protestants Religion serious deliberation is hereupon taken in England The Councell of England was afraid that he would oppresse those Scots that stood best affected to the English and fauour the incursions which were made vpon the Borders and allure the King to marry in France or else-where vnknowne to the English and that the King now in his youth would molest the affaires of England and beeing come to more maturitie of age would assume the title of King of England as his Mother had done Which if he did the danger would fall more heauily from him than from his Mother in regard his birth gaue him an assured hope of two Kingdomes and gaine more friends to fauour his cause and that the Scots trayned vp in the ciuill warres and the warres of the Low-Countries were more expert to learne warlike offices Therefore from hence it is thought good by some meanes or other to infringe the fauour and authoritie that Lenox had with the King or to driue him out of Scotland and that without delay because rumours were giuen out that Balfour was sent for out of France who had found I know not what Writing of his owne hand to conuince him of the Murder of the Kings Father to ruine Morton and that he had for no other end obtained the gouernement of the Castle of Dunbriton but to set in stranger-forces into Britaine or to transport the King into France It was likewise said that he had perswaded the King to resigne the Kingdome to his Mother who had beene vniustly and by a most wicked example deposed by her Subiects after hauing taken her faithfull promise to resigne it by and by after vnto him againe by a lawfull resignation which would be a solid confirmation to him and a meanes to extinguish all factions and make him knowne to all to be lawfull King After this Sir Robert Bowes Treasurer of Barwicke is sent into Scotland to accuse Lenox of these things before the King and his Councell and to aduertise the King of the eminent dangers thereof As soone as hee had beene admitted hee demanded that Lenox might for a while be remoued from that place but the Councell would not agree vnto it as being a thing new and vnheard of to cause one of the Kings Councell to be put out from the Councell without shewing cause Also they made a doubt whether or no the Queene had giuen him that in charge expresly and therefore willed him to shew his instructions which he refused to doe saue to the King and to one or two others And seeing that he could not be heard hee was presently called backe and tooke leaue of the King when it was little thought on complayning that the wholesome admonitions of a well-deseruing Queene were reiected Shortly after Alexander Hume is sent from Scotland to excuse these matters hee had not admittance to the Queene but was sent to the Lord Burghley Treasurer who grauely and succinctly gaue him to vnderstand THat it was not any contempt of his person that was cause why the Queene would not permit him to see her knowing very well by experience that he was well affected to Religion to his Prince and Countrie and most studious for the peace of both the Kingdomes but out of a iust sence and sorrow for the contempt which was shewed towards her Maiestie and of the trust of her Ambassadour who had contained himselfe within the prescribed bounds of his Legation Layes all the blame vpon the new and ill-aduised Councellors excuseth the King as not being of age to haue much experience and wished him to lend an eare to the holy and wholesome counsels of the Queene who truely bare him a maternall affection and not to make lesse account of them than of those from a French kinsman the King of France his subiect who laboured to marry him to a French woman of the Romish Religion and peraduenture goes about now the Hamiltons exulting to be designed the Kings Lieutenant Let the King saith he remember that no passion is more feruent than ambition and let the Scots remember what troubles the French had caused in ScotlaÌ„d if the Queen by her wisdome and power had not preuented it So Hume was sent backe into Scotland and all of purpose to strike terrour into the King and to make him beleeue that the Earle of Lenox had some pernicious designe against him and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse within a while after Morton who was most addicted to the English was accused by Arran Laesa Maiestatis and cast into prison The end of the second Booke of the Annals and History of that mightie Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and blessed memory THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST HIGH MIGHTY AND Euer-glorious Empresse ELIZABETH Inuincible Queene of England Ireland c. True Defendresse of the Faith of immortall Renowne and neuer-dying Fame and Memory OR ANNALLES OF ALL SVCH REMARKable things as happened during her blest Raigne ouer her Kingdomes of England and Ireland as also such Acts as past betwixt her MAIESTY and Scotland France Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke Fâ—â—thfully translated out of the French and â—â—â—â—isht in English with the KINGS leaue and Authority granted by his most Excellent Maiestie to ABRAHAM DARCIE To the euery way Noble and accomplished with all vertues Sir EDVVARD CONVVAY the Kings Secretary of State Sir WILLIAM HARVEY Lord HARVEY Baron of Rosse Sir ORACE VERE Sir ARTHVR THROCKMORTON Sir ROBERT MAVNCELL Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Sir WILLIAM MOVNSON Sir RICHARD WESTON The Right vertuous generous Sir THOMAS HATTON AND CHRISTOPHER HATTON Sir CARIE RAVVLEIGH EDVVARD WRAY Esquire I Here presume to consecrate to your perpetuall Honour this Booke which vnder the Honourable Shield of your Noble protections I haue sought to shelter knowing the Fame of this Heroicke Empresse to be no lesse deare vnto you then your Illustrious Persons are carefull to propagate to all Posterities your cleere and vntainted Names which by your pious liues and religious conuersations you haue engrauen in the Temple of Eternity your vertues cannot but cherish this History which containes the life of so matchlesse a Queene whose Diuine perfection the whole world admired as one who was the perfect Patterne of Princesses and the true Mirour Honour of Virgin-kinde I confesse many far better able then I a Stranger could haue discharged this Enterprise with far more skill and both in smoother and more elegant termes if they had beene willing to honour their Labours and Industries with so rare
for the rebellion had spoiled and deuasted the same But some of those that had Commission for the enquiry and searching out of the possessions of the Rebels and others that were to prize and set the same to hyre began to expell and chase from their possessions with such violence those who were true subiects that the Queen was constrained to represse them by an Edict lest the violent auarice of some particular men might kindle and inflame a new rebellion In which the Vice-Roy tooke much laudable paines although by the English he was accused and blamed for being too indulgent and fauorable to the Irish and too too rough to them But he equally distributing iustice to either part by fauouring as well the Irish as the English brought the Prouince into a most desired tranquilitie and with a milde and gentle command subiected to the obedience of the Lawes the most barbarous inhabitants of the same holding the Scotchmen of Hebrides that from their Ilands did breake into Ireland to a hard taske And inforc'd Donel Gormi that is to say blue with his brother Mac-Conel who had possest thēselues of the little Country of Glinnes and Surley-boy that is to say Red their Vncle that had inuaded the Countrey of Rout neighbouring and adioyning to the Iland Richnee now called Raclis to such a point that after many of their kindred were ouercome and slaine by the valorous exploits of Captaine Meriman they receiued the oath of allegeance to the Queene accepting from her Maiesty certaine Lands in that corner vnder conditions that they should serue the Kings of England onely in their warres and not any other whatsoeuer without their permission that they should furnish forth vpon any expedition a sufficient number of horse and foot and that a certaine number of Beeues and Hawkes should euery yeare be truely paid Thus much for what hath past in Ireland THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIV DIVERS Scots that had compacted with Gowry who now againe was plotting of new stratagems to get the King of Scots into his power secretly returned from Ireland into Scotland vpon the entrie of the Spring There they protested openly that their intent was onely for the honour of God the truth of Religion and to secure the King the Realme and the League with England against those that with wicked deuices would seduce the King not being as yet of sufficient age The King hauing notice of these things hee forthwith commanded Colonell Stuart to apprehend before all Gowry the chiefe Architect of the conspiracy who presently retired himself to a Port called Dundey as though he would haue departed the Kingdome where he knowing himselfe guilty despising the Kings authoritie obstinately withstood them and defended himselfe in his lodging but after two houres he was apprehended and led to prison In the meane while the Conspirators surprising the town of Sterlin they constrained the Castle to yeeld But vnderstanding that the King was marching towards them in person with an armie and finding themselues but weakely accompanied in respect of the number vvhich Gowry had promised them also in vaine attending succours out of England they forsooke their hold And as euery one being full of feare sought to shift for himselfe the Earles of Marre Glan and Angus holding together vvith others took their flight through many by-wayes into England humbly requesting the Queene to releeue them in their afflictions and bee an intercessor for them to their King seeing that they vvere depriued both of their fortunes and the Kings fauour by endeuouring for the good of her and her Kingdome The King on the contrary accused them to the Queene of many hainous things demanding according to the league of alliance betweene them that they might bee deliuered into his hands But there were some about the Court that perswaded the Queene that they were men most obedient to their King and most desirous of his welfare that hauing him vnder their custody and power yet neuer attempted any thing against his state or person and that law which was vsually expressed in leagues concerning the deliuerie and restoring backe of Rebels was long since abolished and out of vse amongst Princes These men also endeuoured to perswade the King of Scots that he should deale more mildly and gently with men of such and so great ranke and not to driue them as it were headlong through despaire to more bad designes Remonstrating to him that terrour and violence vvere but feeble and vnhappy props of power alledging to that end two tragicall examples drawne out of the Scottish History attributing great praises to his mother Francis her husband that at the first rising of the French ciuill war past ouer the iniuries and offences of the Nobility without regard Walsingham that studiously fauoured the fugitiues by letters commanded that they should bee receiued into the Island called the holy Iland but Hunsdon who shewed himselfe a greater friend to the King of Scots then any other opposed it because the iurisdiction of the place appertained to him as gouernor of the East frontiers hee thought it altogether vnfit that any entrance should be permitted to the Scots in a place of strength neither would he obey the letters of the Secretary without expresse command from the Queene From hence arose a controuersie whether a Secretary could by his authority direct or execute the affaires of his Prince without receiuing speciall command from him and without the counsell of the gouernor of the place What was determined thereupon is not manifest but the Scots were not admitted into the Isle Neuerthelesse it was esteemed expedient that they should be in some sort fauored to oppose the contrary faction which arose in Scotland which was that the Ministers had spred rumored abroad that the King was about to forsake his religion but they could not produce or alledge any argument probable although they had framed many but onely that he was wholy transported with a filiall loue towards his mother and receiued as a most indeered to him those which he knew were affectionate to her In the meane space Gowry was brought to iudgment before the Peeres at Sterlin And was accused to haue plotted a new conspiracy against the King after he had been confin'd prisoner to his house Notwithstanding that the King had lifted him vp to great honours riches and Commands and accounted of him as a kinsman To haue consulted by night which the seruants of Angus for the taking of Perth Sterlin To haue resisted by force of Armes the authority royall at Dundey To haue concealed the conspiracy which was complotted to ruine the King and the Queene his mother And lastly To haue consulted with the sorceresse Maclene To all this he pleaded innocency and an vnspotted faith towards the King He acknowledged the benefits which hee had receiued He complained bitterly of the Earle of Arran as
memory all iniury and offences She would acknowledge her the true and lawfull Queene of England and neuer pretend or take vpon her any claime or right to the Crowne during her life neither would shee euer enterprise any thing either directly or indirectly against her but for euer renounce all interest in the title and Armes of England which by the command of Francis her husband and the Popes Buls of deposition she arrogated vnto her selfe Yea furthermore would be included in that association and defensiue League for the Queenes saueguard without preiudice to that ancient alliance which hath been betweene France and Scotland Prouided that nothing be enterprised during the life of Queene ELIZABETH or after her death to the preiudice of her her sonne and their heires in the succession before it were first declared before the assembly of the Estates of England She would for the confirmation of these things remaine in England for a time as a pledge and if so be she might bee permitted to depart out of England she would leaue other hostages Furthermore she would not alter any thing in Scotland onely she desired that shee and those of her Family might be suffered to haue the free vse of their Religion in her owne house Shee would forget and forgiue all iniuries which shee had receiued in Scotland with this condition that whatsoeuer had beene raised to her infamy and disgrace might be abolished Shee would recommend to the King such Counsellors as she knew to be studious of peace with England She would reconcile the fugitiue Noblemen if it were possible for her if also they would submissiuely acknowledge their fault and if the Queene of England would promise to assist the King against them if after their reconciliation they should fall from obedience As for the mariage of her sonne shee would doe nothing without the priuitie of the Queene Shee desired that because she would doe nothing without the counsell and consent of her sonne he might be ioyned in this treatie for the more solid and firme assurance thereof Shee doubted not but the King of France would intercede and conioyntly oblige his faith with the Princes of Loraine to entertaine and effect the conuentions thereof Shee entreats for a mature and happy answer lest any discommoditie or hindrance should fall betweene And finally requested that shee might bee allowed a little more liberally in her imprisonment whereby shee might clearely perceiue the loue of the Queene towards her Queene ELIZABETH seemed to take a great delight in these things as being full of courtesie and honour and was then almost perswaded to grant her libertie but there were some in England that with new propositions apprehensions of strange doubts did disswade her But the matter being almost knowne all ouer those Scots of the aduerse faction did labour to trouble and hinder the same Crying out that it would be the finall ruine of Queene ELIZABETHS safety if shee were set at liberty of both the Kingdomes if she were admitted to the administration of Scotland conioyntly with her sonne and lastly of the true Religion through Great Britaine if she were onely permitted to exercise the Roman Religion Not contented with this certaine Ministers in Scotland after they had charged the Queen with slanders and calumnies euen in their Pulpits common assemblies they vehemently bitterly exclaimed against the King and his Counsell whereupon being commanded to appeare before them with disdaine and contempt they refused it As if the Pulpits were exempt from the authoritie of Kings and Ecclesiasticall persons subiect not to the command of the Prince but of the Presbytery contrarie to the Lawes enacted the same yeare by the assembly of the estates wherein was confirmed the Kings authoritie for euer ouer all his subiects as well Ecclesiasticall as Lay-men that is the King and his Councell to be fit and competent Iudges in all causes and whosoeuer denyed or refused the same to be holden guilty Laesae Maiestatis The assemblies of Ecclesiasticall persons as well generall as speciall as also those of the Lay-men wherein they arrogated to themselues an infinite power of calling of an assembly at their owne pleasure against the Kings consent in which they would prescribe lawes to the King and Kingdome were vtterly prohibited and abolished The popular equalitie of Ministers was abrogate The authoritie and iurisdiction of Bishops whose calling the Presbyters condemned as Antichristian was established And all defamatory writings against the King the Queene his Mother and the Councell were interdicted And namely the History of Buchanan and the Dialogue of the right of the Kingdome as containing many things worthy to bee condemned and extirpate Some of the Ministers receiued these things with such impatience that they streight left their Countrey and powred out their complaints and griefes throughout al England as if the True Religion had now beene chased out of Scotland But Queene ELIZABETH with a deafe eare neglected them deeming of 〈◊〉 as authors of â—ouation neither would she permit them to preach in England neuerthelesse she made vse of them to hinder all preiudice and detriment which the Religion in Scotland might receiue And likewise when the Earle of Arran was with all respect imployed for the conseruation of the amity with England Shee thought they would opportunely serue to the purpose that the fugitiue Scots might not be banisht from the assemblies which were instantly to be holden nor the King diuerted from the friendship of the English Whereupon a parley was appointed betweene the Earle of Arran and Hunsdon Gouernor of Barwicke But before it was holden the fugitiues and all those which were in the expedition with Sterlin were banished from the Assemblies which were hastily to be Conuocated Whom Arran likewise in his Parley which presently followed charged with many weighty accusations and amongst the rest that they had of new conspired the ruine of the King But he deuoutly promised not to pretermit any thing which hee thought would content and pleasure Queene ELIZABETH neither would he doe any thing that might endamage her so long as he remained in grace and fauour with the King Notwithstanding these things the Scottish borderers by the priuat practices of the Spaniard who laboured to withhold Queen ELIZABETH from the Flemmish warres being a moneth after brought into Rhedisdale performed there all the deeds of hostilitie the bordering English in like manner vvith fire and slaughter reuenged themselues of that iniurie vpon Liddesdall Then was sent Ambassador from Scotland Patricke Gray heire of that Family a complete yong man that thought himselfe equall if not exceeding for the dispatch of greatest affaires The especiall tenour of his Ambassie was for the repressing of the incursions on both sides for the restoring of goods taken by Pyracie and for the reconciling according to the League of the Scottish fugitiues or else remouing of them from the frontiers of Scotland because they continually
appertayneth to her tending to the hurt death and destruction of the royall person of our soueraigne La the Q. that is to say that since the first of Iune Ann. 27. and before the date of this Commission the said Mary pretending as aforesaid practised and conceiued against this Realm many things tending to the hurt death and destruction of the royall person of our said Lady Q. Elizabeth against the forme of the Statute specified in the said Commission This sentence bred diuers doubtfull opinions amongst men because it was grounded onely vpon the credite of the Secretaries and they were neuer brought face to face as was required by the first Statute Anno 13. of Elizab. some thinking them men of credite and some not I saw Nauue's Apology which he wrote to the Kings Maiesty in Scotland 1605. wherein he greatly laboureth to excuse him selfe protesting that he was neyther author nor perswader to this matter nor yet the first discouerer And that he had neither by negligence nor ignorance fayled in his devoire but stoutly at his death defended the contrary to all the accusations brought against the Queene his Mistresse notwithstanding there are publicke Acts thereof to be seene Now the same day the Commissioners and Iudges of the Realme declared That this sentence did derogate nothing from the right or honour of Iames King of Scotland but that he remained and was in the same ranke estate and right as if it had neuer beene A few dayes after the Parliament sate at Westminster commenced by certaine authoritie granted by Qu. Elizabeth to the Archb. of Canterbury the L. Treasurer and the Earle of Derby as her Lieutenants and that not without example wherein was confirmed a Proscription that the goods possessions of the L. Paget C. Paget Sir F. Englefield E. Iones Chediock Tichburne C. Tilney other traytors were adiudged confiscate The States of the Realme also after they had by generall suffragie and consent approued and confirmed the sentence pronounced against the queene of Scotland all with one accord by the Lo. Chancellor presented a petition to the queene wherein they desired that for the preseruation of the true Religion of Christ the tranquillitie of the land the securitie of her person the good of them all and their posteritie the Sentence against Mary Q. of Scotland might be publickly pronounced according to the tenour of the Law alleaging reasons drawne from the dangers stirred and practised against Religion her own person and the Realme by her who was a mother-nourse of the Romane Religion and had sworn an inviolable accord to extirpate the Religion now established and had long since laid claime to the Crowne Q. Elizabeth yet liuing esteeming that seeing she was excommunicated it was lawfull to conspire against her and meritorious to take away her life She had ruinated some noble houses of the land and had kindled the fire of rebellion in England That to pardon her were to destroy the people who much repined at her impunitie and that she could not be freed from the oath conspiracie otherwise than by punishment and lastly they recited the example of the horrible vengeance of God against K. Saul for not putting Agag and Benadad to death And this is that which was presented by the States of the Parliament Queene Elizabeth with a most graue countenance and â—â—â—â—sticall speech answered to this effect THe benefites which God hath bestowed vpon me are so great that I doe not only acknowledge them with humilitie but call them to minde with admiration wanting wordes sufficiently to expresse them And although there be no mortall aliue more bound to the Almighty who hath so often and so miraculously deliuered me from eminent dangers yet am I most of all for this that after hauing gouerned this kingdome now the space of 28 yeares I doe finde in my subiects the same if not farre greater affection than when I came first to the Crowne the which entire loue if I should finde to fayle I might well perhaps perceiue my selfe to breathe but not to liue And now my life hath bin attempted to be taken away it grieueth mee most that it was by such a person as was of mine owne sex estate and ranke to whom I was so farre from bearing ill will that on the contrary after she had complotted diuerse matters against me I wrote to her in priuate that if in any writing secretly she would acknowledge them I would bury them all in obliuion Neyther would I haue done this to entrap or circumuent her for I knew already all she could confesse and although the matter was at that passe yet if she had but shewed her selfe truely penitent none should haue taken her cause against me in hand Neuerthelesse if only it had concerned mine owne life and not the safegard of my people without ostentation be it spoken I would willingly haue pardoned her If England by my death might flourish the more or gaine a better Prince I could bee well content to lay downe my life for I desire to liue onely for your good and the peoples Neyther is there any cause I haue so ledde my life why I should desire life or feare death I am not ignorant of the common state of life I haue obeyed I haue commanded I haue had both good bad neighbours I haue found treason in trust I haue bestowed some benefites ill and where I haue done good I haue beene badly requited When I ponder these things in minde I see what the condition of the present time is and I foresee the future thinking them the happiest that soonest depart hence But against these and such like I haue put on a warlike resolution that whatsoeuer shall happen death shall not surprise me vnprouided As touching these late treasons I will not so much preiudice neither my selfe nor the ancient lawes of my countrey in such fashion as not to thinke this arch-treason to be subiect thereto although this new had neuer bin made the which although some fauourers of her haue suspected so was not made against her but was so far from entangling her that rather it was an aduertisement or preadmonition to her not to come within the danger of it neuerthelesse seeing she hath now incurred the lawe it is thought good to proceede against her by vertue thereof But you captious Lawyers you are so precise so curious in the quercks and quidities of law to follow the formalitie of it in stead of interpreting the true sense that forsooth according to the form of proceeding she should be called to iudgment within the countie of Staffordshire there to appeare holding vp her hand at the Barre to stand to the verdict of twelue men vpon her fact And is this a braue fashion of proceeding against a Princesse But I haue thought good rather auoyding such absurdities that it was more conuenient to referre a matter of such importance to the Peeres and Iudges of the Realme