with the then congregation And afterwards in the ordering of distribution for Ministers amongst the Burgs he was elected for Aberdeen the place then of the ablest Papists the rather therefore to reclame them from their errors by practice of Piety profound preaching wherein he profited to again of many to the faith in 14 years labour and dyed 60 years of age And now was Andrew Melvil a fiery zelot labouring for the absolute Presbyterial discipline of Geneva iâ—sinuating with Iohn Dury minister of Edenburugh in their Assembly to question the lawfulness of the Episcopall function and the Authority of Chapiters in their election but himself cunningly pretended ignorance but since the question was so started he commended the speakers zeal seconding the purpose with a tedious discourse of the flourishing estate of Geneva Church and the opinion of wise Mr. Calvin and reverend Mr. Beza and came to affirm That None ought to be Officers in the Church whose Titles were not found in the 〈◊〉 And though that of Bishops were in Scripture yet not to be taken in the same sense that commonly was conceived Christ allowing no Superiority amongst Ministers Himself only Lord of his Church and all the Servants in one degree having like power Concluding Then the Corruptions of Bishops were so great that unless removed Religion could not be long preserved Hereupon divers are selected to confer three to three and concluded their opinions to the Assembly 1. That the Name Bishop was common to able Ministers of a flock his chief function to preach to administer Sacraments and exercise Ecclesiastical Discipline with consent of his Elders 2. That some one Minister might oversee and visit such reasonable bounds besides his own flock 3. And he to appoint Preachers with advice of the Provincial Ministers and the consent of the flock 4. And to suspend Ministers from their Office with consent of the Ministers of the bounds It is strange that the Arch-bishop of Glasgow and six other Bishops with Super-intendents and all interessed were not called to the conference though present in the Assembly Nor doth it appear that they spake at all therein so humble to hold their tongues in a case of their own or rather referring it to the Regents Wisdom whose opinion had been ever to uphold Episcopacy The next Assembly altered the question and formed it Whether Bishops as they were then in Scotland had their function warranted by the Word of God But the Major part approved of those in the last Meeting The Regent finding them so to differ sent them word to settle upon somewhat and to abide therein Of which they take advantage and with much ado present a form of Policy to the Regent Acknowledging in their Preface That they did not accompt it compleat but to add or diminish as God shall reveal vnto them But some Troubles in State prevent their further progress The Regent flesht in the fury of rapine having fleeced Commons and Clergy and settled the North and South Borders cared not for the Gentry and grieved the Peers His neerest friends the Earl of Angus and others forewarned him of his Slippery station But Morton settled in the very seat of the Scorneâ— careless of any complaints made good his greatness by grace of Queen Elizabeth whom he conserved with all diligent observance His aim was to ruin Hamiltons house hating them as his Hereditary Enemies scared thereto by an old Wives Rhime which bid him beware of Arrans Race Hamiltons Family whom he banished or suppressed The two last years as it seems slipt away in shew I am sure in silence of any disturbance for ought that Authors can tell to much purpose but it is like the more was in secret hatching For as the Queens Imprisonment grew to her impatient so by Q. Elizabeth it was heightned to some danger As a Wolf by the Ear. To keep her in durance was her own disquiet and to release her dangerous to the State all their study was to counsel what to do with her and with much difficulty it was agreed upon to put her to Death There was one Antonio d' Peres Secretary to Philip of Spain escaped thence out of Prison and over he comes to England as best able here to do his Master most injury He was grown intimate with the Earl of Essex which being known to Caecil Lord Burleigh he advised that Essex might deal with him to fish out somewhat from his Masters streams which was done to the purpose revealing all his designs for the imprisoned Queen and being rewarded here had his Invitation home again with some hope of reconcilement and favor also which fell out not as he desired but as he deserv'd for he was at last hangd for his labor In many of his Letters to Essex which since came to my hands I find much of the mâ—tter but for want of the Key the Cyphers put me to trouble with some consideration What uneven policies there were towards that poor imprisoned Queen Don Iuan of Austria Governour for the King of Spain over the Netherlands proud and ambitious being Neighbourly acquainted with the Troubles of England and Scotland for to him all these discontented Fugitives repaired was made believe that the Duke of Norfolk being gon the Queen of Scots was most fit to be offered to him and easie enough to be effected with the expulsion of Queen Elizabeth and assured hopes of both Kingdomes To which purpose he hastily makes perpetual peace with the Netherlands and labours his time and means to infest England But underhand to amuse Queen Elizabeth the more gives her the occasion to congratulate the Peace by sending the Articles for her perusal intending secretly with all speed to surprize some Pieces and Ports in England and Scotland with help of the Pope who sent to the King of Spain in his behalf and the chief Fugitives of England and Scotland being with him he in an instant had swallowed the Conceit and Mariage of a Queen with two Kingdomes to boot but his wilde ambition the sooner flatted and he fooled into neglect and disdain And now dies that Princely Lady Margaret Dowglas old Countess Dowager of Lenox 63 years of age whom Queen Elizabeth kept in England at her elbow whilst her sonne Darly was maried to the Scots Queen and her husband had power there She was descended from Henry 7. by Margaret his eldest daughter maried to James 4. who had James 5. And being a widow maried to a second husband Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus by whom she had Margaret Dowglas of Harbotel in Northumberland who maried Mathew Earl of Lenox leaves France and comes into England to Henry 8. And here invested with honour and land in Yorkshire From these issued Henry Stuart Lord Darly who maried Queen Mary of whom came King James 6. So then her descent was royall in King Edwards time in much honnor here but after in adverse fortune she lived
to him and acknowledged the kindness and his young Lady was presented with a Noble and valuable Reward 30001. besides a pension of one thousand pound per annum during his life and this was done with so much love and liking that I have often observed Buckinghams great Civility ever after at meetings to call him Father and bend his knee without the least regret of that Lord that gained more by the bargain And because Sir Robert Mansel a dependant of Nottingham had the place of Vice-Admiral at pleasure only Buckingham for his Lords sake continued him so by Patent during his life for which courtesy the good old man came himself to give thanks as I remember the last Complyment his age gave him leave to present And thus was this office of honour and safety to the Kingdom ordered from the command of a decrepit old man to a proper young and active Lord strengthened with the abilities oâ— an experienced Assistant without deserving quâ—râ—el of our carping Pamphleter Aâ—ter Suffolk the weight and charge of the Treasurers Staff was conferred upon the Lord Chief Justice Sir Henry Mountague Viscount Mandevile Son of Sir Edward Mountague of Bolton in the County of Northampton Son of another Sir Edward likewise Chief Justice who had three Sons Edward the eldest Knight of the Bath bred up in the Wars a faithful Noble stout Commander Iames that reverend eloquent and learned Bishop of Winchester a man so highly in favour and esteem with this King his Master that he had the honour of the Bed-chamber which no Prelate ever enjoyed from any King This Henry was created Baron of Kimbolton Viscount Mandevile and Lord Treasurer in 1620 Afterwards Preâ—ident of the Council and the first year of King Charles Earl of Manchester and Lord Privy Seal and dyed after the entrance of the long Parliament 1643. A man of singular learning in the Laws his Wisdome and experience deserving those high places of Trust and honour He married three wives Katherine the Daughter of Sir William Spencer in Oxon by whom he had five sons and four daughters Edward the eldest Viscount Mandevile Knight of the Bath Walter Iames Charls and Henry His second Wife Ann Wincol of Suffolk Widow to Alderman Holyday Lord Major of London by whom he had issue His third Wife was Daughter of Iohn Crowch of Cornbury in the County of Hartford Widow of Iohn Hare of the Court of Wards by whom he had issue George and Sydney men of eminent vertues now living 1655. Our Historian tells us of the swarming of Jesuits That our Counsellors of State and Secretaries were Counselors to the Pope and of a Divelish Sermon before the King which he the Lyar saw and heard if the King did not for Bishop Neal would always ingrosse the Kings ears with baudy Tales This his Discourse smells too rank he saies and craves excuse having had hammerings and conflicts within himself to leave it out and yet goes on with his baseness and tells us that this Bishops hand closed up the Countess of Essex's virginity and that such like practices as these gave an after period to that Hierarchy Then follows a Tale of the female Iesuitrices in England an Order he says first framed in Flanders by two women Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Twily clothed in Ignatian habit supported by three Fathers Gerard Flack and Moor to preach their Gospel to their Sect in England and two hundred English Damosels of great Birth and quality sent of the Errand and for the truth of all produces a Proselyte Turn-coat of any Religion and every Trade that tells this story in the Spanish Pilgrime which our Adversary recites to grace his History The Iesuits indeed are bad enough but to cope them with our Counsellours of State and other Tales with no better Authority we may herein minde our Authour Not to bely the Devil Sir Francis Cottington Resident in Spain had the conveniency three years before to discover the affairs of those parts and gave intelligence hither of the increase of Pirates in the Mediterranean Sea their whole Fleet then consisting of fourty tall Ships of two hundred and four hundred Tuns in two Squadrons the one remaining before Malago the other about the Cape St Maria between Lisbone and Sevile That within the Streights they entered the Road of Mostil a Town by Malago beat down the Castle and had taken the Town but for succour of Souldiers that came from Granado yet they took divers Ships and four of the West of England two other of ours that ran on shore they burnt also and absolâ—tely perverting our Trade into Spain These at Cape St. Maria met with seven Sail of London five they took and two eâ—caped They are usually manned with Turks and Spanish Moriscoes and attend the coming of the West India Fleet then commanded by Don Iohn Faxardo Upon this occasion the State of Spain moved King Iames to joyn some Sea-forces for their suppression as the common Enemy of Christendom And indeed those courses of the Pirates do but exercise the Forces of Spain by Sea without any great hurt the most dammage falls upon the Trade of Merchants thither of which the English will be the greatest number and so of Sufferers The last year the Hollander having leave of Spain for certain of their Ships armed against the Pirates to have safe recourse thither but instead of offending them sold to Algier as much Powder and Ammunition as ever since hath furnished the Pirates Fleets By which means now grown formidable few Merchant-men escaping them thâ— strong Town of Algier upon the Coast of Barbary countenancing their Thievery and depending on the Turks Protection yet so cunningly contrived as not to be seen to protect them that all Christian Ambassadours concerned herein and complaining at Constantinople could have no redress And therefore it was now concluded to conjoyn Forces of Christendom to free that Sea In so much that they in some fear eighteen of the chieâ—est Pirates in the Levant authorized the Viscount L' Orme and one De la Pomeray Frenchmen to search for their pardon and to come in with all their Shipping offering to the English mostly concerned therein for retribution of this grace fourty and five thousand pound sterling but this was negotiated onely by their Emissary La Forest at Bruxels unto our Agent there Sir William Tromâ—all on purpose to tempt us and the French unto whom the like was offered from joyning with others to ruine them but was therefore attempted by all And for the English was sent Sir Robert Mansâ—â— Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas with a Fleet this year And arriving in May with expectation of other Assistants they all failing to any purpose his noble heart disdaining to return without Attempts He first furnished two Prizes which he took by the way three Brigandines and a Boat with Fire-locks and combustible materials for buâ—ning the Pirates Ships in the Harbâ—r who were all come home
supervivor to eight of her children thrice imprisoned for affecting mariages with Thomas Howard son to the Duke of Norfolk then for her sons match with Queen Mary and the last was for her younger son Charles with Elizabeth Candish daughter to the Countess of Shrewsbury and mother to the Lady Arabella She was Nobly intombed at Westminster an elaborate Sepulture and then left living King Iames the sixth and this Arabella who was thus neer to the Crowns And therefore imprisoned hereafter by King Iames for intermariage with Seymor the now Earl of Hartford but she died without issue and so without 〈◊〉 of future interest to these Kingdomes See anno 1616. Amongst other of Mortons plots and processes raysing the Revenues of the Crown one was for recovery of some lands which was given by the Queen to Mary Levingston whilst she was her maid of honour and now maried to Iohn Simple who made his best defence in his sute but fearing the Regents rigour had passionately avowed That if he lost his land the other should lose his life This and other discourse that he was countenanced by Lord Iohn Hamilton and his brother Lord Claud instigating also Adam Whiteford of Milton Nephew to Simple to kill the Regent in the street with an Harquebus Simple upon Torture confessed all and more also his cowardize not affording him courage to hold out Whiteford did better his constancie was not terrified with the wrack and therefore gave suspition that the others confession was extorted by the pain of punishment yet to make out the matter Simple was arraigned condemned and brought to the Scaffold but pardoned the like had the other and both of them the favour of the people to blame the Regent for his rigour whose main intention was thereby to invalue these Lords and their estates to his griping gain One Allester Dow Macallan a notorious thief was apprehended by Earl Athol who was prohibited by the council and charges directed against him for exhibition of the man the fellow being set at liberty by Arguile falls to his old profession and robd Athol who in revenge invades Arguile and so the countrey take uprore thereat until an Herauld discharges those convocations and cites them both before the Council but were reconciled Arguile goes on and arms against Claudonald seizes the Regents Messenger tears his Letters missive and swears him and his Train not to return to tell tales This insolencie fires the Regent to revenge and for the present did no more than proclaim him Rebel But these and other tumults shewed an Ecclipse of Ministerial Government and gave means to private mens discontents to open a way of complaint against the Regent Alexander Arskin attending on the King takes advantage of Arguile and Athols reconcilement plots with them to open their Causes to the King which they must countenance and did but so craftily as that the one Athols counsel was called upon the others complaint And advise to summon the Lords mostly enemies to the Regent to meet at Sterlin Mortons avarice and lust subjects him from his strength and Power that ruled all to become weak in Authority over any His enormities of several natures numberless which brought him sodainly to sinck Besides his fins the Hamiltons were his Enemies made so by his own malice upon that Noble Family as also upon the Earls Athol Montross and Arguile whose kinsmen he proclaimed Traytors for not appearing at his Call Arguile invites these Lords and others to accompany him to the King at Sterlin with remonstrance of such grievances as the State groaned under and were seconded by fit Instruments such as evermore reside at Court He is sent for by the King and Council but delaies time to make Friends their opinions various it was yet concluded as the safest way to piece Friendship with Arguile who refused unless he would also quit the Regency To this he demurs and retires from his Enemies power And this gave good occasion to the boisterous Praecisians whose pursute was after such prey as might innovate Authority which they hated because it was Regal though Mortons interest had been ever to preserve them the Arch-bishops only being lately commanded not to obey the Synods Decretalls against which they complain in the Pulpit and having there the liberty of the tongue for that time they tell all to the people and of more than he could be guilty The Earl of Angus was his Ally in blood and the chief of the Dowglasses who with Carmichel a Commander of War advise him to Arms But Morton rather submitted to a Parliament at Sterlin Thither he sends his Friends but withdrew himself and with them his Papers and Notes expostulatory of his good Services which were not liked because not Petitionary And thus they seemed to signify and first He craves leave of publique Iustice upon his Accusers If otherwise that his Majesty thought fit to oversee their disobedience to authority then to be pleased to disburthen him of his Office and not to suffer his Royall Name and Authority to be despised in the Person of his Servant for as he had oft times made offer to demit his Regency to his Majesty so now the more willing if a Substantial course might be assured for preservation of his Highness person the ordering of his Majesties Houshold and dispensing of the Revenues of the Crown And herewith he recommended the keeping of the peace contracted with England as a security to his Majesties Right and Title to Succession And so recounting his former Services from the Kings birth to this present His assistance at the Kings Coronation His and his Friends hazard at Lanside field the siege 〈◊〉 Brichen His legations undertaken into England the recovery of the Castle of Edenburgh the Pacification of the Realm all on fire a◠his first entrance the redeeming of Iewels and Plate of the Crown and restoring of the Royall Patrimony to some reasonable condition And in regard of all he craved no more than allowance of his expence and a discharge of his Intromissions by the Estates of Parliament These not sufficient to prevail and his friends having littl◠Power and his bad Cause to plead he was voted non-Regent And accordingly into the hands of Angus Claim Ruthen and Harris he delivers the Crown Scepter and other Regalities which were presented by them in a great Convention of Lords and Angus invests them on the King with the univocal acclamation of all He having not yet attained to the years of youth yet in this turbulent time took upon him the Scepter which was celebrated at Edenburgh and the affairs of State rendered to the King now at twelve years old but with assistance of twelve Noblemen three of them by turns alwaies about him and Morton of the number as to bring him to reason not to cast him quite off to ruin whose wit and experience was useful to the State which he soon imployed to master
Wars upon the Duke of Savoy to recover the Marquisate of Saluses and this King of Spain under colour to aid the Duke his Brother in Law sent him Horse and foot of Spaniards But the peace concluded by exchange of Saluses with the Countries of Bresse and Gex the Spanish Auxilliaries being muzled in warm quarters at Carboniers Montemellion Savillau and Pignorell the best places of Savoy and Piedmont would not budge no! though the Duke begg'd of them to be gone but were absolutely commanded the contrary by Count Fuentes Viceroy of Millain and so staid until that valiant Duke in this danger very desperate cut all their throats Spain in policy to revenge pieces with France to disjoyn Savoy upon whom he had afterward many Treacherous Designs as that Plot upon his Castle of Nice the Key of his Counties when his Spanish Gallies lay at Villa Franca to have seized all Savoys Issue And as it was usual with Princes in Peace and Amitie to congratulate Nuptialls The Lord Hay was looked upon as the most proper for this Errand into France In some measure he had the Kings favour his affection not at all For Wise Kings know how to do the One and yet hide the Other so mysticall things are Courts this makes many men misjudge That the Kings friendships made every one a Favourite and by often changing their Persons was therefore held inconstant in his passions This Lord born a Gentleman in Scotland by his bearing of Cote Arms Argent three Escocheons Gules Supported two countrie Swains armed Plough Trails The crest a Dove volant proper His story was that his Ancestors at Plough with those Instruments their Geer slew Malton an High-land Rebel and discomfited his Train for which service had so much Land barren Rocks as a Pigeon cast off the fist flew over till she rested And all this great purchase could not keep him from seeking livelyhood in France where he was bred no other than a Gens d' Arms unto Henrie the fourth but quitted that service in hopes of better preferment of his own Sovereign And over he comes to meet the King at his entrance into England upon recommendation of the French Lieger in Scotland who continued so here and presented Haies upon former knowledge in France This and his other good parts being well accomplished hastened him higher in esteem than others of his Countrey whose neerer attendance had merited more But to boot he sought out a good Heir Gup my Ladie Dorothy sole Daughter to the Lord Dennie and to fit him forward after Knighthood he had honour and was made a Lord for reasonable riches his wife brought with her In grateful acknowledge of his first preferment he feasted the former Embassadour being lately returned extraordinary to this King wherein he exceeded the limits of an Entertainment which for that time was excused as a grateful Ceremony of a large Dinner The Scots were never very eminent with neighbour Nations what credit they had came by the French to keep ballance with Them and England the increase might heretofore be hoped for when the union of these Crowns should afford the means to set them forth And it wat prudential in the King to pick out one of his Own to splendour that Nation in our way of Peace and Courtship especially when all was done at the Masters cost For Haies was ever reasonable poor unless by repute of his first Match which was not much while her Father lived and by his last he had less the great spirit of Peircie Earl of Northumberland though a Prisoner then in the Tower disdaining the Mariage denied her a Groat to a beggerlie Scot as he called him This first Embassie was for no other end than to congratulate for certainly he had no Commission nor Credential to make scrutiny for matching our Prince with the other Sister she being then too young and overtures were then thought on with Spain and so it was advertised from Sir Dudley Charlton Ambassadour at the Hague that there was a fame spread of such as desire to weaken the Kings correspondence with that State That his Majestie was on neer terms of matching our Prince with Spain and by an Adviso out of Spain That this match had been there debated in the Inquisition and judged necessarie And in truth the Lord Ross was sent Ambassadour thither partly for that purpose at this time also upon the like errand to give joy to that King for the counter-match of his Son and had his Instructions to feel the pulse of that Court concerning the same for I waited on him neerer in his affairs than any of his Train and both these Ambassadours sent away at the same time It was remarkable how each of them strove for the prize to out-vy in the vanity of these Voyages the Baron to his utter undoing having no other helps but his own when the other had it from the Kings purse and in truth for this purpose to put down the English as in that great Feast at Essex-House and many his Masqueradoes afterwards at Court for he medled not with the Tilt as being no Swordman but in the other and such like he never scaped to act his part Amongst many others that accompanyed Haies Expedition was Sir Henrie Rich Knight of the Bath and Baron of Kensington afterwards Earl of Holland natural son to the then Earl of Warwick He took his initiation of expence from this journey and continued the practice afterwards to the weakning of his long time unsettled fortunes being forced through custom of the Court to follow the other in all his fashions and which infection by after-custome became his disease also and almost not over-mastering yet over-shadowing his natural eminent parts with which his inside was habited and perspicuous to such as afterwards knew him Thus much I had occasion to say heretofore to which hath been exception as if I undertook him besides the Text in a wanton pleasure of my own pen to blazon his memory with the foyl of his friend Truly it was not so by any unequal disparity to pride out the other For let me here take the freedom to speak more of him who from henceforth being received into publick and comming in by his own endeavours to the place of Cap. of the Band of Yeomen of the Guard to the Kings person a place of honour and profit and increasing with years and experience into some favour now and afterwards in high grace and esteem with the succeeding Sovereign was yet I must confess in the fate of State and Court circumvested now and then with some prejudice And it may be uneasy for a stranger not for me to research with due distinction into the Actions of his whole life succeeding not to enliven him by a line whom envy heretofore and now malice after his decease have endeavoured to blemish more than his own former felicity did or could any way corrupt If we deduce him from his
the manner It hath been conceived over-long saith he to defer my Mariage being alone without Father Mother Brother or Sister and yet a King of this Realm and heir to another which nakedness made him weak and his Enemies strong For one is no number and where no succession contempt follows And my delay thus long may beget a suspition of impotency nor am â— over rash or passionate without reason to direct me but the treaty made perfect I resolved of a Bridegrooms honor to make it possible on my part which was not on hers to perform to me For the manner I first intended the voyage to the Admiral Bothwell which miscarried upon his Miscarriage Then I commended it to the Chancellour who in truth and prudence made some difficulty for the State to furnish a Fleet seeing the Queen was there provided but zealous of my service offered his duty and obedience which I made publick reserving my resolution only to my self not that I varied from his Counsel as in my weightier affairs heretofore I valued but to cleer him from advising me this way with hazard of my person and which indeed had not become any Counsellor to have done And because his wisdom enabled me in my youth to what I did it might still reflect also on my weakness to be wanting to my self and suffer him to act all to the Malice and envy of others and so in pitty to heap no more slanders on him I made this work my own without injury to any Besides what I have said the short passage and safety from Seas and Sands without Peril of Pyrates for other enemies I have uone conclude that it is my pleasure that all conform to my directions in my absence God willing not twenty daies Farewel Iames Rex This Declaration was the next day after he was shipt presented by Hay Clerk of Register to the Council together with the directions hereafter Seeing it hath pleased God to bring Us to the age of Manhood and that nothing hath been more earnestly desired by our good subjects than to have Us honourably matched that the Crown might descend to our Suâ—cession after so many worthy Progenitours And so setting down the course of his Treaties with Frederick King of Denmark lately deceased and contracted by Proxie with his Daughter who in her voyage to Scotland was by storms driven to Norway willing rather to winter there than to return back This hazard so far adventured it becomes him in Kingly honour and affection to relieve so great a Princess from so long time of sadness and to associate her Consortship with his presence and God willing to return back in twenty daies We hope no man will seem to regret upon our pleasure and purpose seeing the Kingdom hath wanted a Governour longer than we now intend by our absence from the Death of our Grand-mother the Queen Regent unto the arrival of our Dearest Mother out of France fourteen Moneths and the State in that time more happy in Peace and Quietness than before or since and yet we have and do Ordain That our Council remain at Edenburgh and the Duke of Lenox our Nephew Preâ—ident thereof assisted by our Cosin Francis Earl of Bothwel together with our Treasurer Controwler Master of Requests Privy Seal the Captain of the Castle of Edenburgh Advocate and Clark Register or five at the least of them Then he ordains several Noblemen in their Courses to attend at Edenburgh for fifteen daies Anguss Athol Fleming and Innerness to begin The next course to be by the Earl Mar and Morton Seaton and Yester the Barons of Lothian Fiâ—e Shrivelingshire and Strathern The South to be commanded by the Lord Hamilton Lieutenant General to be assisted by the Lords Maxwel Boyd Herris Hume Cesford and to reside at Dunfres or Jedbrough Finally he recommended the Church to peace and quietness and to discharge all Conventions and other Assemblies till his return and not to fail to remember him in their dayly prayers for his safety and happy return And thus having settled affairs at home he imbarks with Maitland the Chancelour Ballendine Iustice Clark Dowglas and the Gentlemen of his Bed-chamber and honshold Servants and Lindsey his Minister and â—rrived neer Upsto in Norway within five daies after The Sunday following he did solemnize the Mariage and the ceremony was performed by Lindsey in French and because of the Winter season he was invited by Ambassadours to visit the Queen Mother and her Son Christern King of Denmark elect The King Queen and Train set forward the two and twenty December from Upsto and came to Bahouse a Castle bordering Norway and Sweden the 1. of Ianuary where he staied seven daies for a Convoy from that King then at Stockholm and was met with a Troop of four hundred horse upon the Frozen River and so to Denmark the next day to Westbury five daies thence to Falhenburgh Holmstade Cowhalm Elsingburgh and the 21. of Ianuary received by Queen Mother at Crownenburgh the young King the Duke of Holstat his Brother and the four Regents of the Realm with all possible magnificence There he remained till the end of February and being to give honour to the Nuptials of his Queens eldest Sister with Duke Brunswick to be in April next he advertiseth his Council the reason of his stay and sends for shipping to return which were six arriving at Elsenore in the middle of April and landed the King Queen and Company at Lieth the twentieth day of May. Not without the general opinion that the Witches in the blind Light of the Gospel usually trading for Devilish Money had his help to hinder the meeting before which now notwithstanding prospered well by the Kings presence so it was ascribed It being confirmed also afterwards That Bothwell had inquired of them the Kings fortune which by Law was made Treason Queen Elizabeth congratulates the Nuptials by her Emissary Edward Seymor Earl of Worcester with the honor of the Garter as she had done to the French King In whose absence a wonder to all that no insurrection or feud had been in publique or private unless two petty Riots by Wachop and Clangregore nay Bothwell so reclaimed that in true sense of his former debaucheries does voluntary penance and confession in the publique Church But this resolution lasted not long for he returns to the vomit to his utter undoing hereafter The Bishops absent Bruce performs the Ceremony of the Queens Coronation a Iewish rite sayes the Ministers abolished at Christs comming and introduced by the Pope and not to be used Certainly that ceremony had not been used by the Jews only and being mentioned in Iudges by Parable shews it was a custome in creating Kings and frequent with other Nations Hasael of Aram was annointed by Elias and Esay calls Cyrus of Persia Gods annointed Nor was every rite if introduced by Papists to be rejected Seeing therefore all free Monarchs use the same their
an ordinary fate which often accompanies them to bear the burden of their masters mistakes which yet was but an experiment proper enough for the L. Chamberlain Rochester to put in practice whose creature he was But we may not forget our good Lord of Essex our digression most necessary to his story which was thus There was amongst other persons of Honour and quality in Court a young Lady of great birth and beauty Frances the Daughter of Thomas Howard Earl of Suffolk married in under-age unto the Earl of Essex now become a forward stripling she two and twenty and he three and twenty years of him common fame had an opinion grounded upon his own suspition of his insufficiency to content a Wife And the effects of this Narration with the sequel of his life and conversation with his second Wife is so notorious as might spare me and the Reader our several labours for any other convincing arguments But with the first when both were of years to expect the blessing of the Marriage-bed he was always observed to avoid the company of Ladies and so much to neglect his own that to wish a Maid into a mischief was to commend her to grumbling Essex as they stiled him and increased the jealousie of such men whose interests were to observe him that he preferred the occasion himself for a Separation and which indeed from publick fame begat private disputation amongst Civilians of the legality thereof wherein those Lawyers are boundless This Case followed the heels of a former Divorce fresh in memory between the Lord Rich and his fair Lady by mutual consent but because Mountjoy Earl of Devonshire married her whilest her Lord lived the King was so much displeased as it broke the Earl's heart for his Majesty told him that he had purchased a fair Wife with a foul Soul But this of Essex was a different Example when you seek to parallel them together And therefore we may with more charity to truth not admit such hasty credit as to believe that now the Kings delight was onely for the love of the Viscount who is supposed to be in love with the Countess of Essex and upon no other score to command the Bishops to sue out a Divorce from her Husband which in truth was done with ample Reasons and legal Geremontes And because the Nullity gave freedom to either and so the means of her after-marriage with Rochester the sad occasions of all the sequel mishaps I have with some diligence laboured out the truth precisely and punctually as it was acted and proceeded by Commission Delegative not easily now otherwise to be brought to light which the Historian passes over briefly as unwilling to spend time to set down truths when it makes not for his turn for this Author had been Essex his Man and turn'd away by his Lady Upon Petition of the Earl of Suffolk and his Daughter Frances to the King That whereas his Daughter Frances Countess of Essex had been married many years unto Robert Earl of Essex in hope of comfortable effects to them both that contrariwise by reason of certain latent and secret imperfections and impediments of the said Earl disabling him in the rights of Marriage and most unwillingly discovered to him by his Daughter which longer by him to conceal without remedy of Law and the practice of all Christian policy in like cases might prove very prejudicial And therefore prays To commit the cause of Nullity of Matrimony which she is forced to prosecute against the said Earl to some grave and worthy persons by Commission under the great Seal of England as is usâ—ally c. Which accordingly was granted unto four Bishops two Privy Counsell ours learned in the Law and unto four other Civil Lawyers with clause to proceed cum omni qua poterint celeritate expeditione summarie ac de plano sine strepitu ac figur a judicii sola rei facti veritate inspecta mera aequitate attenta And with this clause also Quorum vos praefati Rev. Patrem Cant. Archiepiscopum Reverend Patrem Lond. Episcopum Iul. Caesar. Mil. aut duos vestrum in ferenda sententia inâ—eresse volumus But for some Exceptions concerning the Quorum by the Commissioners in the words Sententia esse not interesse A second Commission was granted and adjoyned two Bishops more with this Quorum Quorum ex vobis praefat Reverend Patrem George Cant. Archiepisc. Ioh. Lond. Episc. Tho. Wint. Episc. Lancelot Eliens Episc. Richard Covent Lich. Episc. Ioh. Ross. Episcop Iul. Caesar. Mil. Tho. Parry Mil. in ferenda Sententia nos esse volumus Upon this the Countess procures Process against the Earl to answer her in a Cause of Nullity of Matrimony The Earl appears before the Commissioners by his Proctor and she gives in her Libell viz. That the Earl and the Lady six years since in January Anno Domini 1606. were married her age then thirteen and he fourteen and now she is two and twenty and he three and twenty years old That for three years since the Marriage and he then eighteen years old they both did co-habit as married folk in one bed naked and alone endeavouring to have carnal knowledg each of others body Notwithstanding the Earl neither did nor could ever know her carnally he being before and since possessed with perpetual incurable impediment and impotency at least in respect of her That the Lady was and is apt and fit without any defect and is yet a Virgin and carnally unknown by any man That the Earl hath confessed oftentimes to persons of great credit and his nearest Friends that he was never able carnally to know her though he had often attempted and â—sed his utmost endeavours And therefore prayeth the Commissioners upon due proof hereof to proneunce for the invalidity and nullity of the Marriage The Earl by his Proctor denies the said Contents Contestatio lit is negative His Answer is required by Oath by second Process where in open Court his Oath was administred with so great care and effectual words to minde him of all circumstance as the like hath been seldom observed The Earl viva voce confesseth the Marriage and circumstance as in the Libell and were not absent above three Moneths the one from the other in any of the said three years That for one whole year of the three he did attempt divers times carnally to know her but the other two years he lay in bed with her nightly but found no motion to copulation with her That in the first year she shewed willingness and readiness therito That he did never carnally know but did not finde any impediment in her self but was not able to penetrate or enjoy her And believeth that before and after the Marriage he found in himself ability to other women and hath sometime felt motion that way But being asked whether he found in himself a perpetual and incurable impediment
direct honesty to purchace large possessions And now the place of Secretary was joyned in two Principals Sir Ralph Winwood and him and so he continued with honourable esteem untill malice and revenge two violent passions over-ruling the weaker sex concerning his Wife and Daughter involved him into their quarrel the chief and onely cause of his ruine He had by his Wife Sons and Daughters his eldest married unto Baron Rosse in right of a Grand-mother the Son of Thomas Earl of Exeter by a former venter this Baron therefore and upon Lake's credit was sent Ambassadour Extraordinary into Spain Anno 1611. in a very gallant equipage with hopes of his own to continue Lieger to save charges of transmitting any other In his absence here fell out a a deadly feud 't is no matter for what between the Lady Lake and her Daughters Step-mother the Countess of Exeter which was particularly described in a Letter and sent from England to me at Madrid in Spain and because of my near relations in that Ambassie I shewed the same to my Lord Ambassadour A youthfull Widow this Countess had been and virtuous the relict of Sir Thomas Smith Clerk of the Council and Register of the Parliament and so she became Bed-fellow to this aged gouty diseased but noble Earl and that preferment had made her subject to envy and malice Home comes the Lord Rosse from his Ambassie when he fell into some neglect of his Wife and her kindred upon refusing to increase allowance to her senttlement of Jointure which was promised to be compleated at his Return Not long he stays in England but away he gets into Italy turn'd a professed Roman Catholick being cozened into that Religion here by his publick confident Gondamore In this his last absence never to return the Mother and Daughter accuse the Countess of former incontinency with the Lord Rosse whilest he was here and that therefore upon his Wifes discovery he was fled from hence and from her Marriage-bed with other devised Calumnies by several Designs and Contrivement to have impoysoned the Mother and Daughter This quarrel blazened at Court to the Kings ear who as privately as could be singly examines each party The Countess with tears and imprecations professes her innocency which to oppose the Mother and Daughter counterfeit her hand to a whole sheet of paper wherein they make her with much contrition to acknowledg her self guilty craves pardon for attempting to impoyson them and desires friendship for ever with them all The King gets fight of this as in favour to them and demands the time place and occasion when this should be writ They tell him that all the parties met in a Visit at Wimbleton the Earl of Exeter's house where in dispute of their differences she confessed her guilt desirous of absolution and friendship consents to set down all under her own hand which presently she writ at the Window in the upper end of the great Chamber at Wimbleton in presence of the Mother and Daughter the Lord Rosse and one Diego a Spaniard his conâ—iding Servant But now they being gone and at Rome the King forthwith sends Master Dendy one of his Serjeants at Arms sometime a Domestick of the Earl of Exeter an honest and worthy Gentleman post to Rome who speedily returns with Rosse and Diego's hands and other Testimonials That all the said accusation confession suspitions and Papers concerning the Countess were notorious false and scandalous and confirm it by receiving their Eucharist in assurance of her honour and his innocency Besides several Letters of her hand compared with this writing concluded it counterfeit Then the King tells the Mother and Daughter that this writing being denied by her their testimonies as parties would not prevail without additional witness They then adjoyn one Sarah Wharton their Chamberess who they affirm stood behinde the Hangings at the entrance of the Room and heard the Countess reade over what she had writ And to this she swears before the King But after a Hunting at New Park the King entertained at Wimbleton and in that Room he observes the great distance from the Window to the lower end and placing himself behinde the Hanging and so other Lords in turn they could not hear a loud voice from the Window besides the Hangings wanted two foot of the ground and might discover the Woman if hidden behinde The King saying Oaths cannot deceive my sight And the Hangings had not been removed that Room in thirty years before Nay more than all these the Mother and Daughter counterfeit a Confession in writing of one Luke Hotton that for fourty pounds the Countess should hire him to poyson them which man with wonderfull providence was found out and privately denies it to the King And thus prepared the King sends for Lake whom in truth he valued tells him the danger to imbarque himself in this quarrel advising him to leave them to the Law being ready for a Star-chamber business He humbly thanked his Majesty but could not refuse to be a Father and a Husband and so puts his Name with theirs in a Crossâ—Bill which at the Hearing took up five several Days the King sitting in Iudgmâ—nt But the former Testimonies and some private confessions of the Lady Rosse and Sarah Wharton which the King kept in secret made the Cause for some Days of Triall appear doubtfull to the Court untill the Kings discovery which coâ—cluded the Sentence pronounced upon several Censures Lake and his Lady fined ten thousand pounds to the King five thousand pounds to the Countess fifty pounds to Hutton Sarah Wharton to be whipt at a Carts-tail about the streets and to do Penance at St. Martin's Church The Lady Rosse for confessing the truth and Plot in the midst of the Trial was pardoned by the most voices from penal Sentence The King I remember compar'd their Crimes to the first Plot of the first sin in Paradise the Lady to the Serpent her Daughter to Eve and Sir Thomas to poor Adam whole love to his Wife the old sin of our Father had beguiled him I am sure he paid for all which as he told me cost him thirty thousand pounds the loss of his Master's favour and Offices of honour and gain but truly with much pity and compassion at Court he being held an honest man Discontent among the Roman Prelates put the Ach-bishop of Spalato Mark Antonio de Dominis to seek his peace against that Sea by sundry overtures unto several Princes in Italy and otherwhere Spanish and French at last he becomes tainted with some opinions heretical to them which either he believed or took up such Tenents for the present time to prepare him a fitter Prosâ—lyte hereafter and finding no safe footing from the fury of the Pope and Conclave he steals over into England and to please the King pretends Conversion by his Majesties Works of Controversie and quarrels with Bellarmine however it was though fit to bid him welcome and to
that the world may speak well of their mutual agreeing Thus much in effect the King told them and which prepared their wild resolutions to strike at Prerogative now to undermine it only by quâ—rrelling with the Kings best Ministers and whilest these bandy in the Lower House the King proceeds in his Publick course concerning Germany and forthwith sends the Lord Digâ—y extraordinary to the Emperour for a posiâ—ive answer for rendition of the Palatinate by force or friendship These businesses abroad and expence at home brings him to accompt with his Exchequer where he finds his Exits increased the Incomes and intending the best Husbandry to piece out the expence He changes his Treasurer Mountague for other preferments of honour and profit and puts in Sir Lionel Cranfield upon no other merit saies one but for marrying the Marquesses Kin such Another saies more But I find him of an antient family in Gloucester-shire and being bred a Merchant Adventurer of London and other his extraordinary qualities in that and other Commendable wayes became useful to the State also And first had the honour of Knight-hood then the custody of the Kings Wardrobes afterwards Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries and now Lord Treasurer and created Earl of Middlesex Some busie Barons had gotten together a gang of Discontents of several Titles and framed a petition and their hands to it with this General Title The humble Petition of the Nobility of ENGLAND SHEWETH THat whereas your Majesty by importunity of some natural subjects of England hath conferred upon them Honours Titles and Dignities peculiar to other your Majesties Dominions by which the Nobility of this Realm find themselvs prejudiced Our humble desire is that with your allowance we may challenge and preserve our Birth-rights withont any notice of those Titulars to our Prejudice and to be excused to deny them the respect or place as to Noble men Strangers Seeing that these being our Countrymen born and abide here have yet procured their Translation into foreign names onely to our injury But in this address we meddle not to limit or interprete the power of your Soveraignty being the root whence all Honor receives Sap under what title soever to collate what you please upon whom and how you please The Subsigners were Oxford Essex Warwick Abergaveny Dacres Darcy Sheffield Crâ—mwel Scroop Sturton St. Iohn Paget Dudley Spencer Say The Barons indeed came behind but few Earls had cause so to complain And it was Say I remember well the Ring-leader of all though the last in Ranck and least in prejudice But his prejudice and subtilty steered the way to the rest who having a loose Brother amongst them perhaps many more stole the Copy to the King and betrayed their intentions before it was well-moulded The King wisely sent for them a sunder and roughly told them their Petition was sawcy but ended humbly concluding themselves not to expostulate his power or pleasure which if any of them sought to question they should soon find the effects but the first Man declined it as brought in by the buy and so did the second and third the rest took pattern from their submission and here was an end of that ranting Petition for our Author would enforce belief That the King pulled up his Spirits when he told Essex He feared him not with his fourty thousand men But the Proverb alludes in scorn to the folly of the French Oh the King of France and fourty thousand men and then with more disdam on Essex Hereupon the Commons take example and Petitions are framed as from the people but indicted by the Parliament A custom which the Commons house in those times took up to make business rather than be idle And first they fall upon Patents for Inns Ale-houses Gold and Silver Thread counterfeit pretious matter to spend time being now to quarrel with the Empire The last of them Our Historian saies was of sophisticate materials engrossing all the Trade of that Ages vanity onely in Gold and Silver Lace and so poisonous were the Druggs of the Composition that rotted hands and arms with lameness upon the very work-folks loss of their Eyes and Lives by venome of the vapors that came from it ah abominable un truth The Patron of this Patent was an honourable Lord though led aside by Instruments whom he trusted Indeed a Pragmatick Lawyer whose weakness in that Profession came behind the ordinary Practisers and therefore he got a Privilege and Prerogative to be first heard at the Bar and was nick-named Prerogative Pleader until a witty Judge told him he should have the first Motion but not to be granted at all Sir Giles Mompeson the Patentee for Inns. Sir Francis Michel for Ale-houses two corrupt Justices of the Peace It were wished that they might have been the last of that race But these Patents taking up more time in the Disquisition than their serious business should permit the King rouses the Lords to their Sentence of them with this Speech MY LORDS THE last time I inform'd you the Verity of my Proceedings aâ—d caution in passing these Patents in question by way of Declaration and now to expresse my desire to have your sentence and execution against Mompesson who though he be fled my Proclamation pursued him and shall be as earnest to see your sentence against him executed And tells them his Reasons 1. That there being a Politique Marriage betwixt Him and his people he is in duty to God tyed to the care of good government And had these things been complained of before he would have redressed them sooner Remembring them what he hath often said That no private person should be respected before the publique good not only of the whole Common-weal but even of a particular Corporation that is but a member of it 2. That he intends not to infringe but to satisfie the House Liberties for never any King did so much for them and will doe more and assures them that the Presidents of former good government shall warrant them to him Acknowledging them the Supream Court of Iustice Himself as present by Representation And to add to their Honour he hath made the Prince a member amongst them Professes the love and respect he hath received from the Lower House in their proceedings And always the like from the Lords especially by relation of his son of them all in general and particular and the like he said by One that sits there Buckingham a proof whereof the Earl of Arundel witnessed in his report to them of the privileges of Nobility how earnest he was therein Acknowledges the free gift of this Parliament of two Subsidies and so accepted by him which he will reâ—ribute by a General Pardon at the end of the Parliament and will do somewhat in ease of the people till then As for the Ale-Houses he refers to the Iustices of Peace For the Gold and Silver Thread he damm's
Parliament for now being put to it they are hide bound and yet have an excuse That the King meant not to fight for they were afraid he was forward in the Match with Spain and trusted rather to treat that way and therefore intend not to assist him with Money for a War abroad nor support of his Wants at home But to shadow over their resolve they prepare to expostulate these distempers and lay down a pretended way to the Remedies which the King understood by some of their own ashamed to assist in such thwarting courses when necessity at home and honour abroad called for speedy redress And therefore the King in disdain to attend their slow Motions leaves them to their lazy Committee and whilest they are hammering out a Remonstrance he took no leave but went to New Market And there with regret of the unking Parliament together with the Miseries of the Reformed Churches in Germany the persecution of the Protestants in France besieged in Rochel and Montauban the one by Count Soissons and the Duke of Guise the other by that King and Doncaster sent thither Extraordinary to mediate the Peace which King Iames could not fight for with like Success as usually words have prevailed with Swords The King I say fell into deep discontent Notwithstanding our Calumniator here as in all other the like places Loads the King with the loss of all for not fighting without men or money If the Kings spirit saies he had been raised up to a War when the voice of God being the voice of the People called him to it it might have hindred the great effusion of blood amongst our selves that happened after in his sons time The consequence of all our sequel Miseries he derives from this King which truly then and after came from the Houses of Parliament The King not so far off but had his spies and Intelligence with a Copy of the Remonstance and thought to save them the labour in a Letter to the Speaker Sir Thomas Richardson Mr. Speaker WE have heard to Our grief thaâ— Our distance from the Parliament caused by Our indisposition of health hath imboldned some â—iery and popular Spirits of the Lower House to debate Matters above their Capacity to Our dishonour and breach of Prerogative Royall These are therefore to command you to make known to them that none shall hereafter presume to meddle with any thing concerning our Government or Matters of State with Our Sons Match with the Daughter of Spain nor to touch the Honour of that King or any other Our Friends or Confederates Nor with any Mans particulars which have their due Motion in Our Ordinary Courts of Iustice And whereas they have sent a Message to Sir Edwin Sandis to know the Reasons of his late Restraint you shall resolve them It was not for any Misdemeanour of his in Parliament but to put them out of doubt of any question hereafter of that nature we think our self very free and able to punish any Mans misdemeanours in Parliament as well sitting there as after which we mean not to spare hereafter upon any occasion of any mans and if they have touched any points which we have here forbidden in any petition of theirs which is to be sent to us tell them except they reform it we will not daign the hearing or answering New-Market Decem. 3. 1621. Iames Rex But on the Parliament will yet to sweeten the bitter Pill they accompany another Remonstrance with a Petition to this effect they are put together Most dread and gratious Sovereign VVE your most humble and loyal Subjects c. in the Commons House of Parliament full of grief c. through the sense of your Majesties displeasure expressed by Letter unto our Speaker and read unto us yet comforted with assurance of your Grace and Goodness to us and of the sincerity of our proceedings In all humbleness c. beseech the King That their Loyalties may not suffer by mis-information of partial Reports but rather to understand from themselves what their humble Declaration and Petition doth contain the occasion of their consideration of what is therein contained and their intention They beseech his Majesty not to give credit to private Reports against all or any Member until they inform him and that they may stand in his Majesties good opinion The Remonstrance runs thus in effect That upon their last re-assembling His Majesty did by three Lords impart to them these particulars following That notwithstanding the Kings piety to procure Peace the time is now come that Janus Temple must be opened No hope of Peace nor Truce Either the King must abandon his children or ingage in a War and so to be considered what foot horse and money sufficient That the Lower Palatinate was seized by the Army of the King of Spain as the Executor of the Ban then in quality of the Duke of Burgundy as the Upper part was by the Duke of Bavaria That the King of Spain had five several Armies The Princes of the union disbanded the Catholick League remains firm to the ruin of the others whose estate was miserable And That out of these considerations the Parliament were called to a War and for supply for keeping forces together to foresee the means for raising an Army against the Spring And accordingly they did address to that service And being now invited thereto and not only to look after a War abroad but also for peace at home with the increase and insolency of Popish Recusants urge us unto The consideration hereof led them on as incident and unavoidable to touch upon the King of Spain as relation to Popish Recusants at home and to the Wars by him maintained against your Children but without dishonour to Him or any of the Kings Confederates In which discourse they did not assume to determine or to incroach â—pon the Sacred bounds of your Royal Authority to whom and in whom only it belongs to resolve of peace or War But as humble subjects to demonstrate these things to his Majesty and humbly to lay it down at his feet This being the effect of their resolves in their Declaration and Petition They humbly desire his Majesty to receive them by those their Messengers with favourable interpretation and to so much as concerns Papists the passing of Bills and granting his Pardon royal that he will be pleased to answer And concerning those General Words in the Kings Letter Not to intermeddle with Matters of Government or particulars which have motion in the Courts of Iustice may involve those things which are proper subjects of Parliamentary Discourse And that his Majestie seems to abridge them freedom of Speech and Liberty of Parliament c. they desire his Majesty to allow them the same And pray for his Majesty c. Twelve select Members are sent herewith whereof Sir R. Weston was the leading Man intrusted to read them And untill their return with some satisfactory answer they