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A62145 A compleat history of the lives and reigns of, Mary Queen of Scotland, and of her son and successor, James the Sixth, King of Scotland, and (after Queen Elizabeth) King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, the First ... reconciling several opinions in testimony of her, and confuting others, in vindication of him, against two scandalous authors, 1. The court and character of King James, 2. The history of Great Britain ... / by William Sanderson, Esq. Sanderson, William, Sir, 1586?-1676. 1656 (1656) Wing S647; ESTC R5456 573,319 644

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by the King sacredly to observe Which so incouraged the Orange party as to bring all their Sea prizes into Rochel and this Contract drew in Eliz. Queen of England and all these overtures committed by the King to the Admirals prosecution Notwithstanding these publique Conditions therein the Pope sent Cardinal Alexandrine from Rome with Instructions to perswade the French King to enter societ● with the League of Trent to make war upon the Heretiques and had satisfactory answer from the King and Queen-Mother and on the Contrary all possible tokens of favor to the Admiral and his Complices in restoring their losses with a sum of one ●undred thousand pound Sterling out of his Treasure not leaving the least action undon to amuse the Admiral into firm assurance of the Kings faithful intentions And to confirm belief purposed to affiance his Sister Margaret to Prince Henry Son to the Queen of Navar who had defended the Cause of the Religion in the late Wars and this to be celebrated according to the Reformed Religion The League between Charls the King and the Prince of Orange and Articles concluded The Mariage appointed in Paris and the Queen of Navar of the Religion repaired thither for the Solemnity The Admiral also sent for by the King to go before to Paris promising himself to follow and the Spire-Cross-Steeple called Gastignes Cross erected in the rage of the Civil War in Triumph and reproach of the Religion a Monument of Civil Dissention was by the Admirals request overthrown Great Assistance of Men and Ammunition sent to the Army of the Prince of Orange into Germany And order to the Treasurer to deliver moneys to the Admirall for the Publick Service without accompt In this Interim the Queen of Navar was impoisoned at Paris by a pair of perfumed Gloves by one Renat a cunning Apothecary and so the Kingdome descended to Prince Henry her Son who was to be affianced to the Kings Sister and the Mariage solemnized with respect to eithers Religion And five daies after the Admirall solicited the Council in behalf of the Religion and returning home with divers Noblemen he was shot by a Harquehuss out of a Window through both his Arms by one not certainly named but the Abetters were Guisets The King visits the Admiral in some danger of Death from whom he receives advice and Counsel in his private affairs and with great affection and thanks the King commanded a Guard for security of the Admirals person by Cossin Captain of the Kings Guard an utter Enemy to the Admirall and all his Friends advised to draw into the Admirals quarters to be neer to him Thus all things prepared for the purpose of a Massacre the Queen Mother summons all the Confederates with advice to spare the King of Navars life and the Prince of Conde and the Execution to be the next night early by Order of the Duke of Guise who summoned the Diziners and told them the Kings design to destroy all the Rebels of the late Wars at the sound of the Tocksein or Bell and the Mark of difference a while Cross in their hats and a handkercher about the arm The Duke of Guise with the Kings Guard and the Bastard Son of King Henry assisted by Cossins beset the Admirals house who nothing moved in respect of the Kings several sacred Oaths to peace the league with the Queen of England Articles of Treaty with Orange Faith to the Princes of Germany some Towns taken in the Low-Countries by the Kings Command the Mariage of the Kings Sister solemnized but six daies before Ingagement of Forein States shame and dishonor to the Law of Nations all was by him argued as security Cossin with others enters the house and slew all in his way the Admiral comanded his Servants about him to fly and shift for themselvs being ready himself to dy for the Church ●he Villains enter his Chamber Benuese a German thrust the Admiral into the Body and Attin a Picard shot him into the Heart with a Pistol and threw his body out of the Window down into the Court where the Duke de Guise and the Bastard and other staied to view it and so marching out cryed that this was the Kings pleasure for that the Conspirators had resolved to kill the King The Admirals head was sent to Rome his body dragged through the Streets and after hanged up on the City Gallowes with a rope by the feet and so all that day murthering and killing all of the Religion Men Women and Children The King of Navar and Prince of Conde in the Louvre were sent for to the Kings presence their Servants being all slain and so preserved all the Noblemen and Gentlemen their friends slain and the next day a fresh murthering ranged through all the Cities and all the Offices and Places of the dead presented to the Murtherers and by this Example Post news commanded all the other Places of Reformation to be so butchered throughout France ●s in Orleance Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxerre c. The King fearing the Dishonor of this base Treachery and perjury posted Letters to all his Governours of Provinces and speedy Messengers to England Germany and Switzerland of this great Commotion in France raised by the Duke of Guise and his Complices upon the Guard and person of the Admiral and his Friends with the Death of many and hazard therein of the Kings person his Mother and Brethren by the safety of his Castle the Louvre this dissimulation he was forced unto for the present and yet within two daies after declared in open Parliament that the Admirall and his Confederates had conspired his death with his Mothers Brethren and King of Navar which was prevented by the others death And this was published in print to this day and from thenceforth all publique meetings of the Religion were forbidden Some Reluctancies there were of several persons that conclude this horrid fact surpassing the memory of all former ages Others compare it with the monstrous murthers of King Mithridates who with one Messenger and one Letter caused an hundred and fifty thousand Romans to be slain some said it was like the murthers of Peter of Aragon upon eight thousand French in Sicily The difference was their cruelty was executed on Strangers this on the Kings own Subjects and Countreymen These Discourses put the King to consider how to blanch this monstrous act with some colour of Iustice. And therefore they framed a Body stuffed with bottles of Hay for the Admiralls dragged again about the Stre●ts his Arms and Ensigns of Honour to be broken his memory by a form of ●riting condemned his Castles and Houses razed his children infamous and his Trees and Woods to be hewn down from the height of six foot One Cavaignes and Briquemaul men of excellent merit the last being seventy years of age were imprisoned and tormented for to subscribe That they were of counsel with the Admiral to kill the King and his kindred which they
Princes not being so ready in these days to embrace other mens Quarrels but where they are extraordinarily interessed in their own fortunes Wherefore I doubt not but it will be seen by men of judgment not transported with passion or led away with private respects that it should be every way the onely best course for your Sovereign by a good and kinde usage of Her Majesty and by shewing that Princely moderation as well in this grievous Accident of his Mothers death as his whole proceeding with this Realm which his Highness excellent Education seems to promise to seek to win the hearty good wills of this Nation as the chief and principal assurance he can in any sort obtain For to trust and depend either upon the French King or the K. of Spain as if by their assistance he might attain to the present possession of this Crown they being indeed the only two Potentates whom he must have recourse unto if he reject the amity of England whosoever shall so counsel your Sovereign as things now stand shall in the judgment of men of the best understanding be blamed either of fidelity or want of wisdom drawing his Majesty unto so untoward and desperate a course For it is no way safe for any Prince to repose his trust and strength upon their favour and assistance to whose desires and designs his greatness may yield any impeachment or hindrance so it were clearly against common reason to expect other support and assistance from them than might stand with their own commodities and pretensions in respect whereof neither of the two foresaid Kings can simply and roundly joyn with his Sovereign to his good First his Religion being odious to them both and likely to prove most prejudicial to the Catholick Cause he growing so great as he should be made by the union of the two Crowns the consideration whereof caused his Mothers affairs to stick a long time and made now in the end to leave him quite out of the reckoning ordaining the King of Spain her Heir if her Son became not Catholick Next it is meerly repugnant to the policy of France were it but in respect of the ancient claim which England maketh to that Crown to suffer the uniting of this Island under one Prince They have been content in former times when England had footing in France to serve themselves of your Nation therewith to annoy this Realm by the means of diverting or dividing the Forces thereof and so perhaps the Politicks of France can be content to wish at this day by your Sovereigns Quarrel or any such like to be eased of the burthen and miseries of the present War wherewith they are plagued by transporting the same into this Island But as this Realm hath good means to prevent the mi●chief if it were intended so were your Sovereign to look when all were done but to be made an Instrument as his Predecessors have been of the effusion of much Scotish bloud for French Quarrels and the desolation of that Realm And as things stand presently in France it is not to be thought that you shall finde the King ready to hearken unto any Enterprise of this Land He being most desirous to live in peace both with his Neighbours abroad and with his Subjects at home but that he hath been forced full sore against his will by the practice of them of the House of Guise to countenance with his authority the Civil War raised in that Realm which maketh him what ever shew he hath to shadow out the contrary to hate them in his heart Neither would it be held sound counsel to be given him by any that depends upon his fortune to further the advancement of a King of Scots so nearly allied to that Family which he hath discovered and greatly feareth to level at his own Crown with any intention to depose him which by the greatness of a King of Scots they should be so much the sooner and better able to effect The King of Spain's assistance being now in War with this Realm were more likely to be obtained but far more dangerous to be used in respect of his most insatiable ambition deep practices and power accompanied in this case with a colour of Right wherein how far he would seek to prevail any opportunity or advantage being offered it may be justly doubted by the experience that sundry States have had which upon slender grounds of Title have been extorted and wrung from the true Inheritors and annexed to his own Kingdom as Navar Portugal and all that he possesseth in Italy hath been It is believed that the King of Spain considering his years and unsettled Estate every way would willingly incline to peace if it were offered with reasonable conditions and not over readily at this present imbarque himself in any new Enterprise But otherwise it is well known as he had fancied to Himself the Empire of all this part of Europe so he had an eye to this Realm ever since he was King in Right of his Wife The Conquest was intended under colour of Religion as it was discovered by some that were of his Privy Council at that time his pretension to be Heir of the House of Lancaster and since the late Queen of Scots Death the first Catholick Prince of the Bloud Royal of England as also the Donation of this Crown made to him by the Queen of Scots in her Letters with a promise to confirm it by Testament things blazed abroad by the Spanish Ambassadour at Paris ought to breed jealousies and suspitions in your Sovereigns head and give him true cause to think how he should be used at such an Assistants hand Auxiliary Forces have ever been reputed dangerous if they either in number or policy were superior to them that called them in The Assistance therefore of Spain and France being of this nature as your Sovereign hath need of neither so he shall do well to forbear them both and so shall it be well for his ease It may be some will pretend by change of his Religion your Sovereign shall better his condition in regard of these forein Princes besides a great party within this Realm that thereby shall be drawn wholly to depend upon his fortune but the poor distressed estate of Don Antonio being a Catholick Prince spoiled by a Catholick and receiving so little succour at Catholick Princes hands shall be a sufficient bar to all that can be said in that behalf As for the Catholick party in England in his Mothers life it was never so united as they drew all in one line much less will they be brought suddenly to rely upon him if he should alter his Religion as God defend which would be his utter discredit and overthrow both with the one and the other party neither having cause to repose confidence in him the Protestants because he had renounced the Religion wherein he was with great care brought up The Papists because they could not be
also That Angus and Arroll assured him that the King of Spain would send thirty thousand men into Scotland part of this Army to force Toleration of their Romistry here and the other part to be convayed by them into England for the same design and this Army to land in Kirkud-bright in Galloway or in the mouth of Cluydo River These manifest plots of Papists drew the consideration necessary for the whole Nation and meetings of the Ministery and all men to propose their advice and aid to pursue the Rebells already risen and to raise a Guard of three hundred Horse constant with the King and the Conspirators to be called to Justice and the first example fell upon Graham of Fintre and executed in February And in this hurry Angus escapes out of Prison and flies to the North unto Huntley and Arroll But the King in great perplexity of Murthers rapine and slaughters publick and private upon their submission are received to mercy favour and preferment all means used to bring peace to these miserable people The French King in great distress and overwhelmed in his affairs craves more aid out of England and is assisted again with four thousand men more and ordinance But not to make peace with the Leaguers until the Spanish forces were driven out of France So necessary it was for England by these means to stop their career and to keep off revenge from home These Forces intrusted with General Norris land in Bretaign but find no French and so being hurried up and down Normandy Lamain and elsewhere the Spaniard increase number in Bretaign Norris returns home and the French King in distress upon some fear of his fewds and hopes of advantage turns Papist Whilest the Duke of Parma also prepared fresh forces to assault Picardy but being in readiness he fights a private combate with Death and is overcome after fourteen years Government in Flanders a man of excellent honour and virtue as Queen Elizabeth always acknowledged who to amaze and busie the Spaniard and to divert him from hence sends several Expeditions by Sea into his Territories of America with singular succession And to prevent his practices in Scotland of as great concernments to both Nations she keeps watchfull correspondence with King Iames who indeed wary of the Papists encroachments at home began to exercise his Regal power over his Nobility and other seditious Subjects having scattered the last Rebells into their Holds and Bothwel into England These Insurrections thus far happily suppressed contrary to the imagination of the English policies Queen Elizabeth to colour suspition sends the Lord Burrough to congratulate the discoveries and the succe●s offering her aid to bring the Malignants to Trial and wished him if he could not apprehend their persons to confiscate their Estates and seeing his case concerned all Princes of the Religion she desired his resolution therein for her to satisfie all others her Confederates against Spain The King gives her thanks and that he was assured Bowes her Ambassadour had certified her of all proceedings in particular as aforesaid wherein he had begun and was fully resolved to prosecute the guilty but advised with her how dangerous it might be for him to have such potent Rebells without her help to hunt such fugitives their Design being more dangerous to assist the Spaniards attempts upon England than either upon France or Holland to whom she had liberally already afforded supply with men and moneys and therefore what he desired on his particular his own Ambassadour should declare The next Audience furnished the Ambassadour with Arguments from his Mistris to advise the King to wise and well-affected Counsellours help to disarm and suppress such Rebells and withall intimating the Queens punishment upon those that harboured Bothwel in England and so by circumstances to draw out of the King what resolution he intended towards him in so troublesom time and if it were for his Majesties quiet to receive him upon submission The King seeming not to countenance Bothwel nor believing the Queens resentment of his Receivers said That if his Mistris meant honourably to her self or him she would rather deliver him to justice according to their League than to support him in her Dominion whose Crimes were unpardonable and her further favours to him would induce a necessity for the King to joyn with her Enemies for his own safety And so Burroughs returned and Bowes remained In an Assembly of the Church in April the King resolving to give them Items sends them Articles That h● would not suffer diminution of the Privileges of his Crown nor Assemblies without his order That an Act pass to inhidit Ministers to declame in the Pulpit against the King and his Council That some of every Presbytery should inform his Majesty of the Papists practices and Bothwels receivers That some of theirs should cause the Magistrates of Burghs at Sea-ports to examine Passengers and Plotters against the Re●ligion To the first they would follow former Acts. The scond they prohibit without just and necessary causes which the King esteeming no restraint was as causless to answer theirs against Papists his necessities enforcing civilities to the Papists to ballance with the rigid Reformers But the Mundays Market stuck in their stomacks against which their Act passed to alter for Tuesday their Reason was religious to prevent the Trades-men violating the Sabbaths Evening with too much care and travail against the next Morning The Shoomakers whom it most concern'd gathering tumult menaced the Ministers if they urged their consents to drive them out of Edenburgh which begat that saying Rascals and Sowters obtain from the Ministers what the King could not do in matters more reasonable The King sends Melvil to satisfie Queen Elizabeth of the affairs of Scotland and to desire aid of money for levying six hundred Souldiers for some Moneths and to renew the former complaint against Bothwels entertainment in England whilest he steals into Scotland and surprizes the King rood- The Chancellour as you have heard retired from Court upon displeasure of Queen Ann requests the King by Letter that seeing his service was useless and his solitary life irksom he craves leave to depart out of the Kingdom untill his Majesties pleasure command his return The King being earnest with the Queen upon his resign of Muskleburgh which she clamed and his coming to Court resolved Lenox Athol and Ochiltry plot to prevent him and bring in Bothwel under disguise of attending the the Lady Athol by the Postern-gate with another his Companion armed into the very Bed-chamber The King at ●ight of them cried out Treason Treason Strike Traitor strike said he make an end of thy Villany I desire to die He answered with Oaths that he came for mercy And the King replied that Mercy extorted was Insolency and not the form of Suppliants and suddenly rushed in the Earl Mar with numbers of that Faction having possession of the Court
annexed to the Imperial Crown of the Realm Thus oblig'd to their duty they chuse a Speaker whom they accompany to the King whose Election they desire him to ratifie whom the King usually is pleased with which done the Speaker in his own and the House of Commons name gives thanks and beseeches That the Lower House may use their Privileges and freedom of debating That if any therein shall happen to be more earnest in his own opinion his Majesty will vouchsafe not to take it ill nor be angry and that they may have access to the Kings Majesty or Higher House as oft as matters require which leave being granted they are dismissed Both Houses have free liberty to debate of matters propounded by the King or touching making or abrogating Laws and to determine to commit to writing what is to be transmitted to each other by Messenger whereto if upon debate had there ensue an assent by Votes the consent is noted upon the top of the Bill in this form amongst the Lords Les Seigneurs ont assentes among the Commons Les Communes ont assentes but if they differ both Houses not seldom meet or else principal persons chosen out of them to confer together in a commodious place for their meeting in the Painted Chamber there the Commons standing and uncovered with great observance receive the Lords covered and sitting and there they confer if they discord that business comes to nothing but if they agree they present it to the King which if he allows he writes Le Roy le veult and so as by a Soul infused into a Body it receives life and becomes an effectual Law forthwith to be promulgated to the People but when the King refuses to approve it he writes on the top of the Leaf Le Roy s' avisera sometimes he denies it in terminis and thereupon are reputed dasht The sacred matters the King permits not to be handled by Parliaments but Synods unless it may be for the force of Laws from Parliamentary Authority which they cannot so fully obtain from their divine verity The Deans Arch-Deacons Procuratours for the Chapters as also for every Arch-Deaconry the former being delegated by the Suffrages of the Prebendaries these of the Ministers meet in a place assigned to debate touching them where having first chosen a Prolocutor in the name of the Clergy they determine concerning Heads of Religion Ceremonies and other matters belonging to the Church as also granting of Subsidies to the King whose Results notwithstanding are not obtruded on the Seculars to be observed with the Authority of Laws untill as above-said they be allowed by assent of King and both Houses being provided That Civil hands should not intermeddle in these affairs Our Chronicles tell us That Queen Elizabeth expostulates with the Parliament for that they had appointed a Fast without her advice and were not restored to her favour but upon obtaining of Pardon Both Houses have respectively their peculiar Privileges To the higher House not onely to give counsels and to assist in making Laws but likewise to exercise the power of Iudicature and so of imposing Oaths in the more weighty causes as corruption of Iudges and Magistrates and in last Appeals which yet to bring back to examen without the Kings permission and Patent the Lawyers say is praeter-legal nor do they so unless the Judges of Law sitting by The House of Commons have Privileges of supplicating and craving Right or else the Accusers part never challenged to it self the Office of Judg save within their own Walls and on their proper Members and that extended no farther than penalty of Imprisonment or Mulct never having any right of pressing an Oath and therefore in a Statute the House of Commons say That seeing Parliamentary Iudicature belongs to the King and Lords and not to the Commons that they might not be obliged contrary to Custom to give Iudgment If any doubt touching the Election of their Members it was heretofore determined by the Lords House or by the Judg of the Kings Chancery If any of them had departed from the Houses without the Kings leave and both Houses also he was convened before the Kings Council-table or Kings Bench to undergo the penalty and was not punished at the discretion of his own House of Commons But they have Privilege first to debate and determine of levying money among the People This was the temperament of King Parliament and People in proper parts not harming each other for the Kings supreme Authority and Sword is as a sufficient power to vindicate the Laws from the Factions of the Grands and popular Tumults whilest in the mean time the Lords with that chief Authority wherewith they are vested of Iudicature and Legislation put a curb on one hand to the Kings Tyranny if he extravagate on the other to the tumultuating populace and in semblable manner the People by that their power of accusing whom they please and of granting or denying moneys are in a sufficient capacity to retrench the licentiousness of the Nobility and of the Kings Counsellours and break the Kings impetuous incroching on the publick The Laws have exceedingly provided That the freedom of voting and debating be not hindered through fear of insolent persons therefore none may come into either of their Houses with a Sword or armed The Members and their Servants not to be arrested for Debt or offences though of a mean alloy and if any so attached he may not be free but by a Writ out of the Chancery Seldom and that upon weighty cause would Kings create offence to so venerable an Assembly however it hath so faln out that excellent Princes upon too great provocations have reprehended the Senate and punisht some Offenders convening them before the Judges of the Kingdom imprisoned fined and put to death sometimes Thus by past stood the state of Parliaments when the King came in and calls one in March the King Queen and Prince some days before rode from the Tower to his Palace of White-hall in such Triumph as the several Pageants at each convenient place with excellent Oratory assured them the affections and duty of his Subjects as they did some days afterwards when the like occasion presented them in state to this Parliament And as usual with all Sovereigns his Predecessours themselves or Chancellour sweetens the Members with some Rhetorical Oration to the purpose of calling that Assembly and this the King undertakes now as best able of any Prince his Predecessours or any other Assistant for wit or wisdom to compare with him and therein he lays open his heart to both Houses in a very long Speech But because it is in print and bound with the Volume of his Works I shall adventure to abreviate here for some light to the Reader in this History which follows But then in this as in other his most eloquent and gracefull Speeches hereafter where you meet with any of his
that of fame for his Mother what she had been and where interred enough hath been said but not sufficient for him to do untill he had removed her Corps from Peterborough where she had been buried and brought her with all solemn magnificence into a statelier Tomb at Westminster which could not well become his Predecessor to admit though perhaps repenting the stain of her honour and sex in the Act of her execution but left it a piaculous Act no doubt for her own son to perform who yet in this has his bane from the Author that for all his anger at her death his clamour was closed up with a large Pension from Queen Elizabeth and Patrick Grey his Ambassadour to implore for his Mothers life is now belyed in his grave as the greatest Instrument to hasten her death with a Label in his mouth of the writers own devising Mortua non Mordet The King mindefull of matching his only daughter the Princess Elizabeth had made several overtures the year before amongst the Protestant Princes of Germany And for the better fixed upon Frederick Prince Elector Palatine who at this time came hither to consummate the Marriage But in the middest of his wooing he was accompanied with mourning by the death of Prince Henry Of him somewhat more must be said Not that his Excellent merits needs other Memory than publick fame and of us silence of the grave Yet we must ravel into his disease ere we come to vindicate his death which an Author basely labors to lode his father with that by impoysoning Prince Henry was born at Sterling Castle in Scotland February 1594. the first son to King Iames Queen Anne His breeding apted his excellent inclination to all exercises of Honour and Arts of knowledg which gave him fame the most exquisite hopefull Prince in Christendo● In the nineteenth year of his age appeared the first symptome of change from a full round face pleasant disposition to be paler and sharp more sad and retyred often complaining of a giddy heavyness in his fore head which was somewhat eased by usual bleeding at the Nose and that suddenly stopping was his first distemper He retyred to his Palace ●● Richmond pleasantly seated by the River Thames thoughnow destroyed into rubbish which invited him to learn to swim in the Evening after a full supper the first immediate pernicious cause of stopping that gentle flux of bloud and so putrifying might ingender his fatal Feaver He used violent exercises for at this time he rode to meet the King at Bever in Lincolnshire in two days near a hundred miles in extremity of Summer There and at other places all that progress he accustomed to feasting Hunting Balloon and Tennis with too much violence And now returned to Richmond in the fall of the leaf he complained afresh of the pain in his head inclining to feverish and then for the rareness thereof called the new disease The tenth of October he took his Chamber and began Counsel with his Physician Doctor Hammond three days after he fell into a Looseness fifteen times in a day Then removes to London to Saint Iames his Palace contrary to all advice allowing himself too much liberty in a great match at Tennis in his shirt with the Palsgrave and Count Henry of Nassaw lately come over upon fame to see him And on Sunday the 25. of October fell into sudden sickness fainting with heat and head-ach that left him not whilst he had life takes his bed in great drought and little rest The next day increasing high Pulse ill Urine Doctor Mayern prescribes him a Glister after which he rose and very cheary but lookt Pale dead sunk eyes and great drought and therefore Mayern and Nasmith advised to let him bloud but the other Physicians disagreeing it was unhappily deferred The fourth day of his sickness comes Doctor Butler that famous Man of Cambridge he approved of what had been done consented to what should be given to him and hopes of Recovery This Evening two Hours after sun set appeared a Lunar Rainbow directly over the House which was held Ominous The six and seven days increasing his Disease The eighth the Physicians bleed the Median of his right Arm eight ounces thin and putrid after which he found ease and was visited by the King Queen Duke Palsegrave and Sister The ninth worse than before Doctor Atkins assisted their opinions That his disease was a Corrupt putrid fever seated under the Liver in the first passage the Malignity by reason of the putrefaction in the highest degree was venemous The tenth increasing Convulsions and Feavers Mayern advised more bleeding but the rest would not applying Picheons and Cupping-Glasses to mitigate the pain The eleventh small hopes His ●●aplains continuing daily devotions with him the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Doctor Melburn Dean of Roch●ster with whom the Prince daily prayed The twelfth no hope The King with excessive grief removes to Kensington house All imaginable helps Cordialls Diaphoretick and quintessential spirits and a water from Sir Walter Ralegh in the Tower all these by consent administred without And so he died at eight a clock that night Fryday the sixth of November 1612. The Corps laid out the fairest dearest and well proportioned without any spot or blemish The next day solemnly appointed for Imbowelling the Corps in presence of some of the Council all Physicians Chirurgions Apothecary and the Palsgraves Physician And here followes the very Coppy of their view under their Hands The Skinn blackish but no way spotted with blackness or pale marks much less purpled like flee bites could shew any Contagion or pestilentiall venome His kidnies Hips and Thighs full of redness his Belly because his continual lying upon his back swollen The Stomack whole and handsome without any taint The Liver marked with small spots above and small lines below The Gall-Bladder full of wind The Spleen blackish fil'd with black blood The Kidnies without blemmish The Midrife under the Film or Membrance containing the Heart spotted with black redish colour by reason of brusing The Lungs blackish with spots full of adust blood corrupt and thick they concluded an extream heat the Throat and Tongue covered with blackness which was clest and dry The hinder Veins Piamater swoln aboundance of blood more than naturall The substance of the brain fair and clear the other parts by reason of the convulsions resounding benumings and of fullness choaking the Natural heat and destroying the Vitalls by their Malignity have conveyed him to the Grave without any toaken or accident of poyson In quorum fidem presentem relationem manu propria subsignavimus septimo die Novembris Mayern Atkins Hamond Palmer Gifford Butler It is added that his admirable patience in his sickness might deceive his Physicians never dreaming danger His Urine shew'd none but the state of his grief lay closely rooted in his head He dyed in the rage of a Malicious Extraordinary burning
the pulse of that State Sir Henry Rich Lord Kensington was sent over singly and at his own time and discretion to mannage the discovery of the French affections and then to present himself with his credence He arrived in no publique splendour at Paris on Sunday after Noon and was informed that the King intended the next morning a journey for five or six daies to Shantelie a House of Momorancies and therefore in private Kensington gave visit to the Duke of Chevereux who with his Lady were appareling for instant Actors in the Queens Mask and within an hower came the Queen Regent and Madame and in an hours view might have this chata●ter The Sweetest Creature in France her growth as her age little her Discourse discreet and quick and had the report of Wisdom beyond her years and for additions of grace she was said to dance and sing most sweetly I am fure she lookt so My Lord had reason to suspect the Queens reserve towards him she being Spanish and so not well pleased with the breach of her Sisters match But she was changed so much French as to grace him with her hand The King was told of Kensington and because of his journey next Morning purposed to receive him an Ambassadour as some had suggested to him untill Chevereux assured him the contrary his comming meerly to kiss his Majestyes hand and see the glory of his Court this Christmass and so was taken to the Masque danced by sixteen the greatest Princesses of France with whom the King and his Masquers the last Tuesday were now by lot to dance with these Ladies and all these and the Court besides so infinitely rich in Iewels golden and silver dressing being there forbidden as their apparel almost all ●mbroidered and thick with Diamonds and Pearl as usually with purl I doubt not but some counter●eit or else you might have suspected the wealth of that nation on their backs The presence of a Stranger somewhat publique presented to each persons caress made most men acquainted with State to judge the plot of his Journey was rather to set an edge upon Spain to cut off delayes than to cut the throat of that business The Kings weakness or indisposition to affairs gave leave and time to Queen Mother to mannage all who receiving an humble visit by Kensington to kiss her hands she entered discourse of the Spanish Allyance The Treaty said he had suffered many Delaies and was annulled Though the Spanish Ambassadour there had given it out to be concluded on purpose to prevent conjunction with France which he suspected and his design got credit with some persons of power seeing Kensington had no Credentials positive to speak to the purpose Yet from others and not the meanest he apprehended the affections of that State generally prepared to receive offers of Amity and Allyance when the dissolution of the other shall be declared Indeed the Savoy Embassadour there said That the intention of the King of Spain was for a Cross Match with France for himself But the late abuse upon the English in that way made the French wary and hastily to bite at that bate Yet the reasons of State were not unequal Our Design was double both Marriage and League against Spain And if the French should match with Spain and so hold us to hard conditions they have the safer ground for they may expect restitution of the Valtoline as we do demand the Palatinate these two being the open quarrels on both parts to ground And these doubts were suspected to draw on a tedious Treaty and therefore it was thought fit by the English to insist upon the Match and bring on the League necessarily to follow and to have reasonable conditions concerning Catholiques in England Indeed the necessity of the French Affairs least Spain that hath begirt them should in time swallow them up was like to make this Match easie enough for the English the alarm being fresh in Court from the Spaniards raising a fort upon the ruin to command the Town of Liege Queen Mother suspecting that Kensingtons errand was in earnest by degrees gave him incouragement to speak plain though it was his part to plead and wo too without any signal The Duke of Chevereux and Le Grand of credit and power both were the men this Design most affected Kensington bore the Princes Picture tackt to his Breast limm'd in little in a Case of set Diamonds which the Queen would offer to open as to shew the Ladies which they would as often desire to please her Majesty who me thought did love to look on it She wishing that some good occasion might make them meet and she might see him like himself But because Madam could not in modesty or honor get a glance of his shadow she in private delt with a Madamoselle that had some interest in one of the Lords Family to borrow the Picture and so in secret to gaze her fill where in much hast she opened the Picture and discovered her passions her blushes not concealing her inward affections to his person which she prized by praising his Picture in presence of him that saw her Two mouths calmed the way unto the Mother she and Le Grand advised to move the King if this business were fitted to the full But Kensington declined as not to deliver the King his Masters inclination unless he might receive the return answerable to a due respect and value of the Proposition Of which being assured he took his opportunity to withdraw the K. towards the window and told him That his journey to France was singly his own inclination to honour and serve him and therein to discover how the Prince of Wales would be free and disingaged from the Spanish Treaty not finding them to his expectation in such particulars as principally should invite a Conjunction And therefore the Duke of Buckingham had exercised his interest with the King and Prince to convert those thoughts towards his Majesty from whom it was perswaded nothing but truth and honour would be returned as an advantage to both Nations And believed that if the King would shew a disposition inclineable the effects would soon confirm the end of his comming free from other Designs than what he now expressed The King often uncovered said He had not heard that the Match with Spain was as yet broke the just cause for him to be reserved But assured him in general That any propositions from the King of Great Brittain should be heartily received This was short for his Imperfection of extream stammering by nature made him usually speak very little whose affection if one might Guess by his courtesy would have said more as most of the Ministers of that State did And that nothing to them was more equal than Amity and Allyance with England This entrance encouraged Kensington to discover himself and letters of Credence to the King and so was quallified to treat fu●ther And to increase more than
Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 10. Arch Bishop Whitgift dies The Translation of the Scriptures Gen. 19. Isay 29. Psalm 48. Psalms translated Catechizing commended Hist. of the World pag. 249. Gowries aniversarie day celebrated See 1600. 1608. Hist. gr Br. pa. 12. Comotion of some Commoners Parliaments beginnings Jury were Judges so Lilburn pleaded Parliament of King and Barons onely The Commons taken into Parliament Of the Parliament of England The writ to summon the Peers The writ to summon the Knights and Burgesses Oath of Alleageance Of Supremacy Ecclesiastical matters Lords Privileges Lower House Harmony of all King Queen and Prince ride in triumph First Session of Parliament The Kings speech in Parliament abreviated 2 3. Peace and Unity in Religion and Manners Union with Scotland intended Ambassadours for Peace Co and ch pa. Proclamation to conformity in Church-discipline Assembly of the Church in Scotland in spite of the King Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 27. The Kings second Son Charls created Duke of York Pouder Treason Pouder Treason the story Anno 1605. Fauks his Conf●ssion of the Design Th. Winter's Confession of the Plot discovery and success The story p●t together in brief Second Session of Parliament Three intire subsidies and six fifteens Several Acts. The effect of the Oath of Alleageance Taken by Papists The Popes Bull against the Oath The Kings Apologie and Preface to take the oath Justified by forein Princes Jesuits divide the English into four sects Their opinion refuted See before anno pa. 1542. pa. 9 And Imprisonment as bad Best Counsel to convince them by Preaching Anno 1606. Leptons 〈◊〉 to York 〈◊〉 back King of D●●mark land● 〈◊〉 Graves-end Princes for●●●● their liberties by coming into another Kingdom without leave The Earls of Northumberland and other Lords confederates in the Pouder Treason are committed Of the Star-Chamber beginning and ending The Letter Anno 1607. The union argued The Kings Speech in answer to their Arguments Post-nati confirmed H. G. B● pag 41. Judg Nichols his true justice G●ntry flock to London Proclamation in restraint of new buildings unless of Brick Anno 1608. Hist. Gr. B●it p. 49. L. Treasurer Dorset dies George Sp●ot a Conspirator with Gowry his story and execution His Co●fessions His Trial. Restalrig's Letter to Gowry and after the Treason Other Letters to Gowry as also his 〈…〉 Confesseth the Indictment Jurors names Verdict Sentenced as a Traitor Executed A marvellous sign of guilt Abbot Bishop of Canterbury being present History of the Church of Scotland p. 509. The Kings disbursments already 60000 l. 19000. 17428. 11000. 107428. The Scotish Secretary Balmerino's treacherous Letter to the Pope The occasion 1609. He is sent p●isoner to be tryed in Scotland His indictment His confession And sentence Anno 1609. Is reprieved and dies King James a mercifull Prince and restores his son in blood And he a traytor also to King Charles is also pardoned And proves an ungratefull wretch to his blessed Master The Bishops in Scotland inlarged their power Scots Bishops consecrated in England Who ordain others at home Council Table ordered The Earl of Orkney committed High commission-Court The Session seek for grievances Hist G● B● ubique The Kings Speech to both Houses Of his Government Common Law and Civil Prohibiti●●● 2. Grievanc●● how to present them Not to meddle with his Office High Commission 3. The cause of calling the Parliament The quality how to give The quantity His expences Reasons for his liberality Conclusion 1. Religion The Common-wealth Procl●mation against ●ncrease of buildings about London Truce between Spain and the Netherlands Siege of Juliers Duke of Guelders and Juliers c. his descent last of the race The Netherlands sometime subjects to Spain Henry the fourth King of France stab'd 60000 l. Parliament dissolved Henry created Prince of Wales their dignities See before Knights Bachelors Anno 1603. Ayd mony H. Gr. Br. pa. 52. False suggestions to be impoysoned Court and ch of King James pa. 84. Hist Gr. Br. pa. 52. Nearer Intention for Prince Henry to match with Spain See after anno 1624. Papists persecuted by Pens Chelsey Coledge founded and why H. Gr. Br. pa. 53. The Kings favorite Mountgomery Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 54. See 1612. Masks and Comedies at Court H. G. Br. pa. 54. Discussed Our Adversary a Poet and play-maker Contribution-money 111046. l Suttons Hospitall founded Absurd Excommunication and unchristian in Scotland The three Earls revolt So was Padie Paulo Popis●ly excommunicated Earl of Eglington illegally adopts an Heir to his Honors Arminius Vorstius their Heresies Vorstius his blasphemous Books The Kings message to the States Arminius The States Answer Further accusations And proceedings therein Bookes of Vorstius Heresies The King writes again against them all Vorstius is preferred Professor of Divinity Sir R. Winwoods speech concerning Vorstius His Tenen●s Pag. 210 212. 232 237. 308. 441. 271. Pa. 38. 43. Cap. 16. Pa. 999. Conclusion And Protestation States Answer The Kings Declaration against Vorstius See more in the Kings works And against his Bookes Legat and Whithman burnt for Her●sie Legats Heresies Whitemans Heresies Adamites Incests Wald●nses ●in 〈◊〉 Anno 1612. I may be c●nsured by some Robert Carr a favorite Hist. Gr. Br. pa. 55. Queen Mary of Scotland her corps inte●red at Westminster Anno 1586. Hist Gr. Br. pa. 62. Prince Palatine a suitor to Princess Elizabeth Prince Henryes sickness and death vindicated Hist Gr. Br. pa. 72. Lunary Rainbow His Corps viewed Interred at Westminster His character False suspition of poyson Hist. G. Br. pa. 64. Prince Palatine m●ried to P●inc●ss Elizabeth ●a 65. Sanquair a Scotish Baron hanged for murther Treasurer Salisbury dies His Fat●ers descent And preferments Earl of Salisburies preferments His Merits Court and ch King James pa. 12 13. Hist. Gr. Br. pa. .76 Court of Wards how erected and established Court of Wards how erected and established His Offices disposed to others Suffolk Lord Treasurer Rochester Chamberlain Sir W. Cope Master of the Wards and the Favourite made Secretary Sir T. Overbury his story A Friend to Rochester D●sign'd Ambassadour Refuses to go The King wants money Sir Arthur Ingram Court and Ch. pag. 87. E. of Essex and his Countess Car and Overbury their stories intermixt Lady Rich divorced Hist. Gr. Br. pag. 68. Anno 1613 Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 69. ● of Suffolk petitions for his daughters divorce Delegates in commis●ion The Countesses Libell against her husband Essex's answer She is to be insp●cted by Ladies who repute her a Virgin and so do seven more ●adies Sentence of Nullity Signed by sufficient men Arch-bishop Abbots Arguments against the Nullity Answered The Countess marries Somersct H. Gr. Br. p. 72 Hist. Na● ch 28. Overburie designed to be de●troyed Earl Northampton dies His preferments to honour Against Du●lls Rebellion in Orkney The Earl convicted and executed his descent Oglevy a Jesuit his Examinations Plantations in America Hist. gr Br. p. 75. Cabot Virginia New England Elizabeths Isles Nova Francia Baronets created
began his Rants applying all his Wit and Cunning of either he had sufficient to his own private discontent and ambition and under the goodly pretence of Religion had raked together such a rabble of the mad-headed Ministery countenanced also by the Duke Castle-herault that the whole Kingdom feared the disquiet The Queen of England might well as she did take compassion hereat two young couples her kindred and Successors having much to do to qualifie the twenty years custome of a turbulent people not to have a King till now and willing indeed to have none at all For Hamilton and Murray presuming of favour from England take arms but were so hotly persued by the King that they fled into England and were there covertly protected but might have been more openly by the same rule that some English fugitives had been received in Scotland as Taxley Standen and Welch besides Oneal out of Ireland All this was disputed by Ambassie from England of one Tanworth a Courtier to whom the Queen of Scots did not vouchsafe her presence her refusing to call her Husband King Thus stood the State of the Affairs in Scotland whilst the Queen conceived with Child and as if blessed in the peace of this Issue what she could never enjoy in her life she afterwards brought forth her only Son Iames the sixth a Peace-maker to all Our World in Iune 1566. But because the Religion as they call it is much concerned in all the troubles of that Kingdom as a defensive faction taken up at all times to mannage other Designs and Interests Give me leave to tell you their Story intermixing the affairs of State and other concernments of their contemporaries Wherein you shall find their pretended sanction from a Rule of Conscience to be an Instrumental of State from a pretence of Knowledge to be a very practice of Ambition Nor will it I hope repent the Reader the tedious Story for though Truth appears in Ordine Doctrinae yet never more fully than when we search the Original Veins thereof by the Increase Depravations and Decaies in Ordine Temporum And so we proceed to the History of their Church and State and the Contemporary Actions intervening with England and France and other Neighbour Nations The Life and Death of MARY Queen of SCOTLAND KIng Iames the fifth dying of discontent more than disease the 13. of December 1542. in the 33. year of his age and 32. of his reign left his Crown to an only Daughter Mary at six daies old as she did afterwards to her Son born a King Fatal sufferings to a people to be Subjects to young Soveraigns And this Succession was put into a Will patcht up by the Cardinal David Beaton and clapt into the Kings hand to sign The Government of the Kingdom for the present was intrusted unto the Queen Mother a wise and virtuous Princess of the House of Lorain And though she might as yet be ignorant of the Actions of State in this short time of her experience in Scotland but 4. years yet the Nobles dissenting factions agreed the rather herein to accept of her Each party presuming to work their ends the better out of her Ignorance The people were religiously divided in Opinions Romish and Reformed which had put the late King upon extremity of Iustice against the Separatists as they then were stil'd indeed Dissenting among themselves but afterwards Congregating and Covenanting gave them other Names But in their several Professions sundry persons suffered Imprisonment Life or loss of all The Scots derive their Christanity from the disciples of S. Iohn their Patronage of St. Andrew and the propagation thereof not from Rome I dare say no● indeed they will have it from their own Plantations in Germany where increasing Christianity the persecution of Domitian drove them home again into Scotland And so they utterly refuse to have any thing to do with Rome by means of Victor that held that See as others will have it But they confess That Celestine Bishop of Rome sent learned Palladius to convince the Heresie of Pelagius a welchman born and bred up in the Monastery of Banghor then overspreading that Nation And after his good success therein brought in say they Prelate Bishops having had by their favour Priests and Moncks long before and thereafter all kind of Romish Orders Nay Boniface the eighth making use of the complaint of the Sco●ish Clergy against King Edward of England cruelly afflicting them and also of the resignation of the people to the See of Rome The Pope thereby claims right to that Crown writes to Edward and malapertly Bids him not meddle with his Vassalls and Subjects But after too much lording of the Romish Cl●rgy and the great Schism at Rome Pope against Pope three at one time Some men began openly to discover them to the world As Wickliff in England Iohn Hus and Ierome in Bohemia the Scots will have of theirs too Iames Resby and Paul Craw who indeed were but their Pupils that quarrell'd with their Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews and so began their fray So that the Scots reckon themselves happy without Bishops till Palladius from him to Malcolm from him to Patrick Graham their first Arch-Bishop who came in with that title to the dislike of all the Bishops The inferiour Clergy could not brook the strict authority of him and so by them and the Cour●iers too boot Graham lost that Title And one Blacater traces his Steps and procures himself Archbishop also then followed Beaton and he brought in the Cardinals Cap and all these in opposition each of other which gave occasion to sundry men to publish these discontents together with some Corruptions of the Church not unlikely to make a rent And therefore the Pope sent unto Iames the fourth a Sword and Title Protector of the Faith and not long after his gifts were cheap unto Henry the eighth of England a Sword and Title Defender of the Faith I find the Scots had some Martyrs who begun their Reformation with private opinions Resby suffered anno 1422. Paul Craw 1431. In 1494. about 30. persons men and women called Lollards from one Lollard a Schismatick indeed not as the Fryer discanteth Quasi Lolium in area Domini And these put their Articles 34 in writing The first Protestation that we read of amongst them being in the year 1527. then suffered Patrick Hamilton of the Antient Family and so forwards many more The Northern Martyrs had repute of constancy in sufferings beyond others Which gives occasion to discuss the reason for it was observed That the people of this Isle exceed in zeal of profession and are called in Italian Pichia Pelli or Knock-breasts Hypocrites So are they naturally better qualified with courage in extremities of sufferings and therefore accounted most valiant in respect of the Climate the Heart furnished with plenty of Blood to sustain sodain defects is not so soon
et lugubre Caelum And no sooner come but hath Mass in her Chapel and breeding disquiet she proclaims it death to oppose it against which the Earl of Arran protests by Proclamation and Knox by preaching with whom the Queen vouchsafes conference concerning the Mass which she wisely sought to maintain and rebuked him for his insolent Book against Government by Women and Knox gave it for his opinion of Her That she had a proud mind a crafty Wit and indurate heart And the sooner to put Her to it the Provost and Bayliffs upon their Election at Edenburgh customarily proclaim the general Ordinances and Orders of the Town In which they inserted against the Mass and for which they were punished and proclamation for freedome of Papists The Ministers oppose and in private Conventicles dispute Obedience to Soveraigns in that case and conclude to be absolved whereat the Council were offended and Knox and Row urge it the more and resolve to put the question forsooth to the Church of Geneva which Knox undertakes to mannage The Queen being thus busied to quiet her own discontents Queen Elizabeth sends Sir Peter Mewtes to require the Ratification of the Peace at Edenburgh as upon all Scotish distractions she evermore urged who was answered as heretofore that She would advise The General Assembly of the Kirk was now wherein the Ministers could not be ruled with any reason but rashly offered their Book of Discipline which the Lords even of their own Congregation wisely thought fit not so suddenly to prescribe till the affairs of the Estate were settled and the Ministers as madly would have it now drawing with all their ●unning the Gentry to their side and to assemble without the Lords so that it was visible to wisemen Excessit medicina modum or rather excessit medicina malum It was now conceived opportune for the Queen and the peace of all that this assembling at the Will of the Ministery should be questioned and if possible to make them void unless by publick allowance of the Prince for under colour of rectifying some disorders in the Ministery or other petty occasions they took opportunity by this means to convene and so to plot and vent all their devices against Government and this being expresly conceived dangerous and mutinous as they managed the matter it was stopt Then they propose the ratification of their Discipline Book subsigned with hands enough of their Nobles when it was devised they durst then do no other for fear of the Multitude which the Queen refused protesting mer●ily she was well assured The Lords that subscribed never ment to submit being t●● severe for their wilde tempers to obey who under Writ as children are baptized fide Parentum Then they supplicate for maintenance being as yet only at the Will of the people To begin their work a reasonable pittance was sufficient contribution which afterwards they inordinately sought means to increase And therefore for the present to please them the Council Ordered That the Bishops should have two parts of their Livings and the other two parts should be gathered by appointment for uses of the Ministers and the common affairs of State The Queen being served the Ministery should have the Remainder Which Knox interpreted in his Pulpit to be Two parts to the Devil The third between God and the Devil And the fourth for his Dam. And by compute of their own Lords of the Congregation a hundred Marks a year was then sufficient for a single Minister viz. five Old Pieces and three hundred Marks to the highest with Wife and Children the Super-Intendents excepted The Lords fearing the Pride of the Ministers appointed Modificators as they stiled themselvs left they should be over wanton which truly with this pittance could not be much feared But indeed for what they had as the Queen observed they never prayed for any blessing upon Her to which Knox replied That she had no more interest in that Revenue than the Souldiers had to divide Christs Garments Nay she not so good title as they for they parted not them untill Christ was crucified But she shares whilst Christ is preaching These words were accounted insolent which he boasted of That thus Truth will triumph At this time a Riot was committed by the Marquess D' Albuef the Earl Bothwell and some others upon the House of one Ramsey for his Daughter-in-law Allisson Grage in malice against the Earl of Arran who bore affection to her The Ministers were great Sticklers herein evermore siding in all quarrels as might make for themselves and supplicate the Queen for publick Justice She execused her Uncle D' Albuef being a Stranger to the Customes of the Country but she would order his obedience and civility for the future This not sufficient the Duke and Hamilton fomented by Knox take Arms against Bothwell to appease them the Queen sent Murray lately made an Earl Huntley to command Peace But Bothwell having private conference with Knox gained unto them the E. of Arran Not many daies after Arran discovers to Knox and others but falsely that Bothwell should conspire to take the Queen and deliver her to him that Murray and Lething●n the Secretary should be murthered and so he and Bothwell to govern all which he resolved to discover to the Queen and did immediately tetyring to his Father the Duke of Castle-Herault at Kennel who it seems suspected his false Design and restrained him But he getting loose meets his Brother the Earl of Murray who brought him to the Queen at Faulkland Upon his Accusation Hamilton and Bothwell were secured not without some appearance that Arrans tale was disjointed and therefore he was thereupon cunningly advised by Knox to pretend a little whimsey of distraction in the brain to colour their Knavery However the Queen commits them all to Saint Andrews Castle and takes from the Duke his Command of the Castle Dunbarton She returns to Edenburgh where according to the season some Court pastimes were exercised by the Queen her self against which Knox openly preached and which begat a conference with him the Lord Iames Morton and Lethington being present accusing him to have irreverently and dishonestly spoken of her Majesty endeavoring to draw the peoples affections from their duty much besides his Text but upon his better behaviour there might be hope of the Queens Grace and Pardon which was as yet deferred But she no sooner progressed to the North her absence giving occasion as at all such times for the Ministers to assemble and evermore to whisper some dangerous designs against them on purpose the better to linck themselves in power for any plot and to busie themselves in all State-affairs which now began to be in difference amongst the Lords especially Huntleys party against Murrays power and the family of the Gourdons and which gave occasion to Knox and his Party to preach fears and jealousies and to
cause of the Catholiques to Murray and Bothwell whom she assigned Regents The King posts from Sterling to the Queen at Iedburgh where he found Her somewhat convalesced saies the Church-men but scarce would speak to him who immediately returns to Sterlin where the Prince was and so to his Father at Glasgow She being recovered took pleasure to visit Bothwell who was brought in a Litter to her and cured and afterwards she progressed to the Borders neer Barwick which she viewed within half a Mile the Governor discharging the Ordnance for her honor and offered her his lawful Service visiting her in excellent Equipage The Borderers are the Inhabitants of both Nations Men of War Subtile Nimble Experienced Adventurous in arms comprehended by the East Middle and West but bounded and limitted as the Success of War gives distance neer or farther off Continual fewd between either for three hundred years Aut Bellum inter eos populos aut belli praeparatio aut Infida pax fuit A Custome there is amongst all never to believe a complaint against any unless one of his own Countrey-men will witness it also according to that of Cambden Nulla nisi Scotus in Scotum Nullus nisi Anglus in Anglum testis admittitur which seldom happens and so they sight it out And these were Receivers of Fugitives of both Nations as their Crimes or Ne●essities required protection or pardon Indifferent Subjects to either Nation or rather acknowledging no Soveraign Over these people either Kingdome had their three several Governours to rule them by force The Baptism of the Prince was solemni●'d at Sterlin by the B. of S. Andrews at five a clock after-noon Decem. 17. 1566. after the manner of the Protestant Churches and christned Iames the Witnesses were the Earl of Bedford then Governor of Berwick for the Queen of England the Count de Briance for Charles the French King and an Ambassadour for Philbert Duke of Savoy The Queen of Englands Present a Font of pure Gold valued three thousand Crowns though she grieved in heart to hear her Rival prevent her in the honour of a Mother The King belike knowing the English Ambassadours Charge not to salute him King was not present at these Solemnities nor required but kept his Chamber His Father sends to him to repair to Glasgow which he did without adiew to any and not a Mile on his way but he felt pa●gs in his Stomach and at Glasgow blistered blewish which the Physicians suspecting with their Antidotes and his Fresh Youth he recovered The Earl of Bedford had in Commission to compound the differences Domestique of the Court between King and Queen and for them to forbear the bearing the Arms of England quartered with Scotland and to ratifie the old Treaty at Edenburgh The last she refused as in some particulars derogate from the right of her Issue to the Crown of England The Queen in this Christening Triumph congratulates all Suters the Kirk put in and had what they desired Subscription to their Maintenance out of the thirds of Benefices and presented by the Bishop of Galloway to the Assembly when having got their ends their Stomachs were yet squemish for the Collections which granted but of Grace themselves to gather pretending That it was their part to preach to the People and to expect from them maintenance necessary as of duty the Pastor to pray might crave of his flock to pay and farther for them to have no care and also seeing the Tythes were onely for the Ministery they required the Protestants should keep them in their own hands and be so accountable unto them and not to permit the Papists to meddle therein So at one blow they meant to acquit the Papists of their Portion It was observed how soon those Men stand upon terms and by creeping into the people begin now to give Law to their Benefactors And now also they thunder Excommunications for trivial Offences deny the Communion to whom they or the Godly party are displeased withall And though an Offender repentant and done his Penance yet he must stay from the Sacrament till the Minister saies that he is penitent enough that is when he thinks fit as he likes the party If not they are all Father Mother and Daughter called into Disciplinarian Consistory a place of Criminal Infamy And although the Lay had place therein to judge yet the Kirk did all and more than ever any Bishops Spiritual Jurisdiction and the Magistrates Power and Office was only to effect the Forms of the others censure and be their Executioners And of all they had procured the Queens consent at Sterlin Nay more they obtained for every Borough a douation of Altarage Annalls and Obites which alwaies heretofore were due to the Papists but now to be disposed for maintenance of the Ministery without stickling at these Abominations And how ingratefully they acknowledged the Queens bounty they divulging that she intending revenge against the King stroke in with the Kirk lest they might disquiet her designs and affection to Bothwell who also for the favours and countenance that he received in England was much their friend And thus heightned they take upon them to write to the Bishops and Pastors of England who profess with us say they the truth of Jesus Christ. Taking knowledge that divers Brethren the most learned no doubt in England are deprived Ec●lesiastical function for not using S●perstitious and Idolatrous Vestments urging the Apostolick Argument To do as to be done unto insisting much upon the tenderness of scrupulous Consciences and that the Brethren that use not those Raggs neglect not you that do and so conclude not to rend Christs Garments for trifles But they have sithence learned other language and practice worser usage blood and death who follow not therein all things of their discipline The Bishops reformed were as busie on their parts not to be presbytered in their own Jurisdictions and procure to be obeyed in all such cases as before in the time of Popery were used in the Consistory and therefore to discharge the Commissioners for it was now conceived the best policy in the Queen not to deny either of them especially where they might cross and quarrel themselves The King reasonable well recovered of his drench was visited by the Queen at Glasgow and brought him and his Father to Edenburgh lodging him neer the Court in a conveniency from noise and proper for his health where she often visited him and lay in bed with him but returning to her Palace the 9th of February in the 21th year of his age 1566. the King was say some strangled in his Bed at Midnight and one Servant that watched with him the House blown up with Gun-powder his body was found the next morning in a Garden without the Town Wall and without any mark of fire Bothwell with some others by warrant caused the body to be viewed by the Chirurgions at the Q. command and
buried in the Abby This end had Henry Stuart 18. Moneths a King He was a Prince of high extract by Father and Mother His Character sans-parel comely tall ingenious and liberal fitted for all Excellencies of mind and body if time had lent him experience He had a quick wit and writ well and because he was a King Covert-barn and meddled the less he had the more leisure to hunt and hawk and ride great Horses and therein the Mastery His vices were thereafter Greatness and Ease made him feed high and those brought him to Incontinency though the Queen was beautiful and young enough for a Princess Such neglects of his by the Designs of others hastened his ruine who took boldness thereby to work their own ends without the least Guilt of the Queen This is the report of some yet others give as a Story For the Ministers in hate to the Queen who truly it appears did much for them in the case of Policy and their immerits tells us that by Bothwels direction Sir Iames and Gilbert Balfores Chalmers Spency Sebastian Iohn de Bourdeaux and Ioseph brother to Rizio Domestiques of the Queen and Strangers of all Nations were the men that were Actors in the Murther Bothwell being in hope to succeed him in case the Divorce from his Wife should come timely from the Pope which his hast could not stay for and easie enough it was to infuse this into honest Lenox who supplicates the Queen for tryal of Bothwell by Assize before the Earl of Caithness President the Earl Cassiles and other Peers fourteen in all who cleered Bothwel and this was dispatched for satisfaction of the Commissioners of the Christned Prince and their Soveraigns But Bothwell follows the Queen in her visit of the Prince at Sterlin from whence he carries her to Dunbar and for which violence he gets a general pardon and so includes that of the King if it should farther burst out There was no let to the Queens affection but Bothwels Wife from whom he was soon divorced and both content for She made the first hasty second mariage with the Earl of Sunderland and he after the banes publiquely asked by Crage the Minister was married to the Q. May 15. 1567. Mala nubunt Mense Maio by the Bishop of Orkenay And truly compare all those which have writ of this Queen several Authors and in several Languages for all are partial we may yet pick out truth concerning her Husbands and her hasty mariages in their proper stories That Morton and Murray and many others besides plotted the Murther of the late King upon Malice Ambition and Revenge Each of them by several Interests But Bothwell got the best Bone and they their Bones Indeed they also herein murthered the honour of their Mistress for she seemed a Property whirled about with every wind which they sailed by Buchanan speaks much of this matter in a worser way and payes the Queen to the Purpose in his History as also in his Pamphlet The Detection Both which were condemned in Parliament and of them both he repented Wishing that his blood might expiate those his Falsities and Impieties Udal hath more of it in her excuse and if not partial take him who afterwards writ to K. Iames. Or if you please take our relation who write the neerest of truth than can be gathered and thus it was Sir Roger Aston an English-man and preferred in Court by the Earl of Dunbar lodging in the Kings Chamber that night of his Murther Both of them smelt the fire of a Match which caused them hastily to leap out of their Beds and out at a window into the Garden the King had his Sword in his hand and suspecting Treason as also hazard of the young Prince hastily commanded Aston to speed thither and prevent his danger whilst himself single was seized upon by divers and wounded to death and so left in the Garden and to colour it the House was blown up with Gun-powder but the Kings body not scorched by any fire was viewed and found to be slain by such as so ordered the secrecy as not in those daies to be divulged And this Tale was told by Aston himself since he came into England with K. Iames. But that I may unfold the Mistery of these late Murthers and how the Queen was involved into future suspition by her hasty Mariages I shall open Murrays subtilty to be the chief Author and Actor in all The slaughter of Rizio not long ago gave security in that time of distraction at Court for Murray boldly to appear before the Commissioners upon his Indictment of Rebellion the very next day after the Tumult and so no Accusation came against him the Murther being hastned for that purpose The Queen therefore through the Kings intercession receives him her self in such Distraction conceived it the safest way to depend on his Brotherly base Counsel The King very sensible of his own Accessary in Rizio's death and deluded by the Cunning contrivance of Morton and Murray His youth and easiness of belief giving way Now repents of that rashness implores the Queens clemency and ingenuously reveals to her the Villany of them all with resolution to be revenged And seeing the Bastards power and interest in Affairs of State equal if not before His advises with others to remove him farther off Murray hath intelligence of all and under shadow of outward duty thought of nothing more than to ruin him Of which he acquaints Morton by Message into England who was conveyed thither upon Rizio's murder Some difference between the King and Queen gave the advantage for by their former villany they animate him to strain upon the Rights of Soveraignty to his face which covertly they opposed to the Queen and alwaies after he had done a miss to leave him in the lurch And finding the good nature of the King likely to comply into affection with the Queen and to be reconciled together To prevent them Murray draws in Bothwel to the Confederacy with these murtherers who though fled acted in all Councils And so Bothwel must be reconciled to Murray and brought into grace with the Queen Contracting under hands and seals and bound with Oaths That the King being laid aside he advanced the Queen distrusted by the Peers and so the rule of Regency in Murray Upon this Conspiracy the Bastard conveys himself slyly out of the way but twelve hours before the King was murthered and in hurray of affairs returns to Court and altogether they advise nay compel or threaten the Poor Queen to mary Bothwell who they present as nobly born bold and faithful to the State against all assaults of the English to prevent the Tumults of the time and hazard to all If not they would purchase their own security by any otherwaies how prejudicial soever to her safety which at last she was forced to consent unto And this Relation was confirmed under the
her to set her hand unto three Instruments To resign her Crown and Royal Dignitie to her Son scarce 13. moneths old Murray to be called home to be Vice-gerent and if he refuse then To these Rectors Iames Duke of Castle-herault Gilespich Earl of Arguile Matthew Earl of Lennox Iohn Earl of Athole Iames Earl Morton Alexander Earl of Glencarn and Iohn Earl of Mar. And this she did as extorted in Prison which were publisht and proclamed the 19. of Iuly 1567. and 5 daies after the Prince crowned at Sterlin at thirteen Moneths and eight daies old The Royal ●ow much soever infant being due to him at his Birth is furrogated into the Throne of his deceased Ancestors and Morton and Hume take Oath for the King Solemnities and Paction by stipulation and Coronation do but shew him to the people not make the Soveraign and so by these pledges of their faith knit affections together for the Ceremonies of his Coronation due from his birth though prorogued for a while did not derogate from his Right and Regal Authority And Knox knockt out the Sermon Murray is sent for and returns out of France and August 20. accepts the Regency And because very lately we mentioned Bothwells challenge for combate In this void time and place we shall say something concerning Combates It was usual in all parts of Christendo●e where differences could no otherwise be decided the party was allowed his purgation By Oath or otherwise per dquam can●entem ferrum ign●um or duellum vulgare The Northern Saxons and Normans brought it amongst us and so continued whilst we were barbarous but afterwards condemned often by the See of Rome Richard 1. gave leave for Turnaments for it had been done by licence extrajudicial and so we had of them between Counties and Towns It a quod pax terr●● nostr a non infringetur As also Vir is militaribus Com. Lincoln And afterwards Redman and his three Friends Hastiludere cum Halberton tribus sociis suis Civit. Carliol And it followed to be very Ordinary and too much frequent till the Pope forbad it through all Christendom Detestabiles nundinas vel ferias quas vulgo Torniamenta vocant c. unde mortes hominum et pericula animarum s●pe conveniunt The single Combat was also by legal process in Cases Criminal in appeals of Treason out of the Court Marshal as between Essex and Montford in Henry 2. time Audley and Chatterton Rich. 2. For Murther or Robbery it is out of the Kings Bench as you may read it Modus faciendi Duellum It hath been granted in Cases Civil out of the Marshalls Court about different bearing of Arms as between Scroop and Citsil or otherwise for Title of Land as in Paramo●rs Case But the more justifiable hath been used by sundry offers singly for saving blood-shed of many Three of Our Kings severally challenged that tryal against the French King And by Charles of Arragon and Peter de Terracone for the Isle of Sicile and that was allowed of by Pope Martin and his College of Cardinals But it was grown too Common and so afterwards forbidden by Canon between the Duke of Burgandy and Duke of Gloucester Being detestabile genus pugnae omni divin● et ●●mano jure damnatum et fidelibus interdictum c. Et qu●modo existimare quisquam potest rectum Iudicium ex Duello In quo Inimicus veritatis Diabolus dominatur The Regal Prerogative have sometime restrained that liberty in Martial Exercises or private quarrels and punished non-Conformists Edward I. Publice fecit proclamari inhiberi ne quis under loss of Lands and Goods either torneare bordeare aut Iustas facere aventur as facere c. sine licentia Regali speciali Nay none to wear weapons but the Kings Officers and some few excepted But more often to forbid single Combate or to determine it or take it up Mawbray and Hereford both banished And when Aneste and Chatterton were ready to fight Eandem querelam in Manum suam Rex recepit That of Fitzthomas being challenged by Sir William de Vessy to have defamed the King by Words mentioned in a Schedule Willielmus audita tenore Schedulae dementitus est predicto Iohannem dicendo Mentitus est tanquam falsus pr●ditor denegavit omnia sibi imposita tradidit vadium in Manum Iusticiarii quo illud admisit Et predict Iohannes advocavit omnia de●entitus est simul dicto Willielmum This was done in Ireland before the Kings Deputy there but was adjorned into England before the King and there adjudged void Quia non sit citatus in Regno isto placitare in Curia Regis c. Duellum co●ce●ere in pla●is de quibus cognitio ad curiam Regis non pertinet contra legem consuetudinem Regni Igitur concordatum est quod processus totalitur adnulletur Sundry punishments in several Cases without licence The Earl of Surrey fined a thousand Marks pro quadam transgresione in insultu facto in Alanam de la Zouch Inquisitio facta est de omnibus tenementis catallis Ro. Garvois quia Insultum fecit percussit Edwardum filium Willielmi or Williamson Cromwell was challenged by Seagrave to fight in France Subjecting thereby ●aith the Record this Kingdome to that was stopt in the way and tryed at the Kings bench Et super hoc dominus Rex valens habere avisamentum Comitum Baronum Magnatum aliorum de Concilio c. Qui omnes enim dicunt quod hujusmodi factum meretur poenam amission is vitae He was committed to the Tower and long time unpardoned His Second was fined two hundred Marks Droomlenrig and Hempsfield antient Noblemen of Scotland upon Suspition of Treason had leave to Combate at holy-rood-Holy-rood-house armed like antient Palladines fought it out till the King in presence parted them Iames 5. We read of one in the time of Queen Elizabeth 1571. between Simon Low and Iohn Ryme Plaintiffs against Thoma● Paramour Defendant It was by Writ of Right for some Lands in the Isle of Tenet in Com. Canc. and in issue at the Common-pleas Paramour had his Champion one George Thorn who came to the Bar flung his Gantlet into the Court to approve the right of Paramour by single Combate against any One Henry Nayler a Fencer takes it up to answer for the other Defendents And in Tuttle Fields by Westminster the place appointed A Tent for the Lord Chief Iustice Dyer of the Common-pleas and other the Barons of that Court. The Tilt 60. foot square railed in with Scaffolds round about for Spectators Two Pavillions East and West from one issues out Thorn apparell'd in red Sandals upon his black Armour bare legged bare head and bare arms to the Elbo brought by the hand of Sir Ierome Bowes who bore a red Baston of an ell long tipt with horn his Yeoman with an Ox-hide Target and the Gantlet bore before them upon a Swords point To oppose
their aim drew out into Glasgow-moor supposing the Enemy that way but seeing them on the South-side of the River Clide crossed the Bridge and Foords and got there before them who being prevented marched the way of Rothrington which leads to Dunbarton but the Regent more wary galloped his Horse-men and mounted Langside-hill and his foot hasten after Two advantages made for Murray Arguiles sickness a sudden Apoplexie the Army halting he chose the ground The other was the Queens too hardy confidence in her own number which seemed less than they were ever marching over Hills and Dales without perfect view These retired to another Hill oppos●te to Langside drew up in Order Arguile was her Lieutenant and led the Reer and with him the Earls Cassiles Eglinton and Rothesse the Lords Seaton Sommervail Yeston Borthick Sanwhere Boyd and Ross. The Va● committed to Claud Hamilton of Pasley Son to the Duke and Sir Iames Hamilton indeed consisting most of Hamiltons Iames Stuart commanded the Musketeers 300 men The Lord Harris the Horse most of them Borderers and Servants The Regent devides in two Battalia's The Van by Morton with whom were the Lords Hume and Simple Himself the Reer and with him Mar Glenc●rn Monteith the Lords Ruthen Uchiltry and Kinkart the Sons of Lennox and the Citizens of Glasgow the Horse commanded by William Dowglas Alexander Hume and Ioh. Corinchell Upon encounter these Horse retire and fell back to their Foot indeed the other over-powred them but these were driven back by a flight of Arrowes that gawled the Horse The two Vans join Battel The Regents shot secretly placed in Yards Gardens and Orchards of the Village Langside neer the Lane where they shot at pleasure upon Arguiles who being freed from this hazard were fresh assaulted by Mortons Pikes and Speares and other long weapons which being broken they join pell mell within Swords length and neerer with daggers stones and fists In midst of fight the Regents High-landers fled first out of the Rancks of his own Companies or out of the Wings as other● say the Lord Lindsey at hand cryed Let them gang I le supply their place and ●●epping forward charged Arguile afresh whose weapons broken before and overcharged with new impression turned backs and fled disorderly The Regent seeing the victo●y followed the chase wherein more suffered than in the fight The High-landers as yet taking heart made good their first faults and slew without mercy and had done more but that the Regent sent horse to save the Enemy Many were taken of Note Seatons R●sses Hamiltons the Sheriffs of Air and Lithburn with others On the Victors side were slain saies my Author but one of Note he means and for his Epitaph only we shall name him unfortunate yet he was called Iohn Ballony of Preston Mortons man and not many hurt The poor Queen stood a mile off upon a Hill saw all lost and then fled with the Lord Harris and his Horse towards England Some say the Contention between Iohn Stuart and Arthur Hamilton two Captains of the Queens Musketeers strove for precedency and she adjudged it to Stuart for his Name and once of her Guard Hamilton took it ill but nobly challenged the other to the Career who followed as hastily and were both seconded as inconsiderately by the rashness of another Hamilton of Pasley the Just occasion of the Loss of all The Regent convenes the Estates which the Queens faction opposed not willing that he should fix himself with greater Friendship whilest yet their future hopes depended and therfore caused a rumour of some fresh assistance out of France for the Queen under conduct of Mortige of L●xemburgh and in a readiness he was but staied to assist the French King in his Civil Wars Arguile therefore comes to Glasgow with 600. horse and conferred with Hamiltons but to no effect Huntley also with 1000. men was hindred by Ruthen and returned Yet these procured letters fro● the Queen of England to forbear convening till she were acquainted with their proceedings and justness of their cause why they took arms against the Queen her Cosin of whose wrongs she is sensible and expects a speedy account However the Convention continues and divers are punished 5000. Horse and 1000. Musketeers are levied for suppressing the incursions of the Nedisdale Annandale and Galloway men seize certain Houses and Holds of severall late Lords in Arms some oppose but many are made soon to submit The Queen in miserable distress sends away Beaton unto Queen Elizabeth with that same Ring an ezcellent Ada●ant a token of Friendship received from her before to tell her that she intends to come in person and crave her aid which was promised And so by Sea in a small Barge she followes Beaton and lands at Werkington with 16. men and 4. Watermen in Cumberland 17. May 1568. writes to Queen Elizabeth the State of her Affairs in Scotland most pittifully expressed You are not ignorant most Excellent Sister how some of my Subjects advanced by me to the height of honour conspired to oppress and imprison me and my Husband and yet by your intercession I received them into F●vour ●hen they were by force of Arms driven to 〈…〉 Queen Elizabeth could not but commisserate her case but was jealous of her Person and Cause she was told of her eloq●●nt tongue to move credence and her condition considerable with the Ca●●●lique Princes to draw Parties to protect her to quicken the Guises her Cosins to her former Clame to this Crown and the Innovation of others And so to settle her advantages under Protection whilest she may provide to convay her self beyond Seas at her own pleasure And many more likely fears not u●●eigned caused Queen Elizabeth for more safety of the Kingdom to detain her Prisoner ●o Bolton Ca●●le in Tuition of the Lord Scroop and Sir Ralph Sadler M●rray thus at liberty holds a Parliament attains many of the Queens ●●●ends notwithstanding Queen Elizabeths displeasure who requires him to come or send Commissioners to reason with her the misusage of their Queen otherwise she threatens to restore and protect her Murray obeys and not knowing who to trust comes himself on the errand to Berwick with Morton Bishop Adams Lindsey Liddington and others his Confidents And to boot also comes that Monster of Ingratitude Buchanan my Author stiles him so the greatest Creature of Murray Queen Elizabeth sends Howard the fourth Duke of Norfolk created Barons by Edward the 4. 1461. and by Richard the third Dukes of Norfolk 1483. the Earl of Sussex and Sir Richard Sadler And ●or the imprisoned Queen comes Lesley Bishop of Ross Levinston Boyd and Others Lethington first advised with them the danger of calling to question so great a Princess of Crimes before English men their Enemies and how France would resent it at which they were all mute And the Queen of Scots Commissioners to whom the first place was yielded before they took Oath
the Lords Meeting of their Parliament in Augnst after and so with increase of men makes up eight thousand Ranges the Country and spoils his Adversaries with Marshal law hangs them up by Scores and returns to Sterlin The King of Spain not with much affection to the Cause but for his own interest and malice to Queen Elizabeth secretly sends money and ammunition to Huntley in the North. The Duke of Castle-herault and Arguile send Seaton to Duke D' Alva in Flanders for aid and to restore the Captive Queen He promised fair but did nothing having much to do for his Master against Holland Nay the Pope fell to work with his Bulls excommunicates Queen Elizabeth and absolves her Subjects and some fears of a Rebellion in Norfolk to deliver the Duke exceedingly beloved and pit●yed And therefore upon his humble petition and penitency abjuring the Mariage was released the Tower and restrained only to his own House but with a Keeper Sir Henry Nevel whether in favour or to beget in him more Guilt for Henry the Eight's Statute of Treason to mary the Blood Royall without leave was repealed by Queen Elizabeth and his Misdemeanours were not yet come up to Felony But she in much trouble and fear of Forein Forces and Domestique Insurrections dayly put in practice in Darby-shire Sent Caecil and Mildmay with 16. Articles to Queen Mary at Chatsworth in Darby-shire not unreasonable unless those concerning the Scots interest with France of antient League and Security which therefore she wittily argued as not in her power without their consent For her Dowry was from thence the Scots Guard of Gens D' arms in France of one hundred Horse and 124. Archers the interest of some Clergy in pension and immunities from their Scots Merchants and Students in France All which except the English would recompence she could not remove their Amity and some Castles also required in Scotland which she could not render and so these Overtures were quite declined The Scots Incendiaries at home fearing that Queen Elizabeths good Inclination or other Forein assistance should release their imprisoned Queen and so revenge would follow Morton with others from Scotland are sent to prevent it and present a tedious insolent memorial the gall of the pen came from Knox and his Kirkmen with authorities of ipse dixit Calvin too hateful for president to others in justification of themselves and against Royalty which the Queen read and disdained as a Libel Yet she ordered Commissioners to treat with Queen Maries Commissioners and them concerning her Release but they excused themselves by a frivolous restraint of their Authority therein But certainly They that came impowred to deprive had powers to restore And indeed what needed Authoritie from others at home when wicked facts had made all equals Facinus quos inquinat aequat and so all return home Herein nothing to the poor captivated Queens Release her Friends in Scotland worsted in all their actions of Arms or Treaties strong places surprized and many executed for being but suspected of her Party Arch-Bishop Hamilton Brother to the Duke Castle-herault hanged as privy to the late Kings Murther without any Arraignment or Tryal and she here deprived of all her Friends and Domestiques but ten persons She then bethinks her self of the last remedy sends secretly to the Duke of Norfolk renues her affection and conjures his Assistance with other Letters to the Pope and King of Spain by Higford the Dukes Secretary a fiery Fellow even such another Creature as might be a President afterwards unto Cuff Secretary to his unfortunate Master the Earl of Essex who besides his Errand insinuates to the Duke fair hopes of Confederacy and assistance from all the Catholique Princes and the Pope also And with this Plot of impossibilities not without suspition of Treachery to his Master for before these letters were burnt he secretly stole the Minutes of all their private missions and lodged them purposely where they soon came to light The poor Duke easy enough to be cosened but not into the villany of Treason detested and disliked his Motions And yet afterwards but for meddling with money in behalf of that Queen to be sent to her Friends which was misconstrued perhaps in the worst sence for Support of Enemies against Queen Elizabeth he fell into this mischief and Treason which Higford confessed and discovered all the former Matters to boot The Duke not dreaming what was acknowledged denyed all at his Examination and so was again committed to the Tower and presently after him the Earls Arundel and Southampton the Lords Lumley and Cobham with others his Friends but these scaped with life and in hope of pardon told all they knew and more than truth And thus was he betrayed not knowing whom to trust where he lodged till he lost his head the next year after Bishop Ross Queen Maries Lieger Ambassadour of long time ago and so now here A witty and well-experienced Man he was in his Craft and up to the ears in all Designs and Plots for her Relief and Advantage through his Letters intercepted and all their confessions produced was sent for and examined the most guilty Crimes of them all either the Contriver or deeply Acce●●ary some he confessed those which concerned others he constantly concealed and cunningly answered unto all There being sufficient evidence to make him guilty he stood upon his Privilege which he wittily defended and yet were qualified from any punishment The Tribunes of the People in Rome were free from question in their Annual Office Particular Mischief submits to the conveniency of the Publique Leges de Jure Gentium inductum est ut eorum Corpora salva sint propter necessitatem Legationis ac●ne confundant jura comercii inter Principes Let us come to latter Customes of our own kind Henry 2. Restrained the Popes Legat until he swore not to act in prejudicium Regis vel Regni Henry the third did so likewise to another of the Popes Legates Another fled of himself timens pelli sui Edw. 1. Complained to the Pope and had satisfaction ere his Legate was released Henry 8. Restrained the Ambassadour of Charls 5. one Lewis de Prat for but falsely traducing Cardinal Wolsey to his Master Charles the ninth of France did so to Sir Nicholas Throgmorton for Counselling the Prince of Conde against the King In Spain was Doctor Man Ambassadour from England imprisoned for using his own Religion and yet Gusman de Sylva at that instant here in England had Mass with freedom But then the Inquisition mastered that State 1567. We restrained Don Guerman de Aspes in London for Libelling this State to the Duke D'Alva 1568. The French Ambassadour Alpin and Maluset were so used also The Venetian Ambassadour at Madrid protected an Offendor that came into his House the usual Sanctuary who by force was taken out from thence and that State justified that Action condemning the Ambassadors Servants that opposed Some to death
Grange and his Brother Kirkaldy executed by the Hangman Metallan had poisoned himself some daies before to avoid the Regents severity which he deserved He was a man adorned with all natural parts wise and prudent indefatigably busie but Fortune the Mistress of humane Counsels delighted to make him like her self inconstant Hume Petarrow and Melvin kept in prison and so was the renowned Countess of Arguile who was the Daughter of an Harlot Liddington was found there also and sent away Prisoner to Lieth who because he had been a notable Actor all his life and being a pen-man not by Law of Arms to dy by the Sword we may guess how he came to his end by poison the fate of cunning politiques who if they scape the Ax or Halter are too wife to be le●t long-lived for worser effects This Success set Morton aflote which he husbands so ill as made him though he governed all submit to base lusts Pride and Covetousness to supply which he abused his Trust to the prejudice of the People in each particular His exactions were ingeniously observed by 〈◊〉 Fool Bovy that often rubb'd his Masters Shins with his Giers some importunate Beggars craved alms of the Regent the Fool bid him hang them and why so cruel said he Because of your custom and cunning to make an hundred rich men beggars when you please He coined for the King some pieces of Gold with the Kings picture and circumscribed In utramque paratus And contraversed the Royal Arms of Scotland with this inscription Parcere subjectis debellare superbos The silver pieces bore two swords with Trajans Motto Pro me si merior si non in me He was the first Coiner of the Copper in that Kingdom called Hard-heads and after abased them from 3 half pence to a penny as also the black piece and abased them also which never till then were corrupted And by their neighbour the Netherlands coined also and exchanged for good Sterling which in after times made the Dutch cunning in that trade of cosening all Kingdoms and thus having reduced the Kings Coffers to a small purse he sets upon the Clergy In the former Story of the Kirk in Queen Maries time all the Revenues being then in the Papists she settled a part of the third with which she was to relieve the Ministers as a Donative and indeed the disorderly Collection before mentioned was then complained of by those parties and therefore now by remonstrance Morton siding with them orders a Supplement to inculpable or well-affected Ministers annually and so takes into the Kings Treasury all the Thirds to which the Kirk subscribe irrevocable and thereby he commits the cure of 3. or 4. Parishes to one and so out of the Relique of the third there must needs arise much gain The Church therefore in time open their own eyes to see this fraud and complain to the Council but receiving delayes their implacable hatred to Morton increaseth with their suffering and in this nick of time Knox being dead returns Andrew Melvin a Man of the Kirks own making for being drencht in the Genevian discipline he reforms this Church according to a hairs breadth and subjects them all to his vehement spleen against the very Office of Episcopacy and thus broached it drowned withall both Laicks and Church-men out of the easie apprehension of both their advantages and the Dispute was preached by their State-meddling Sermons which begat undominable Presbyterian licentious Tumults ever after The Arch-Bishops of Saint Andrews and Glasgow oppose Melvins Discipline in most acurate Sermons and Declarations The difference grew high and dangerous unless to the Regent whose aim was to fish in troubled Waters not caring for the future gave fuel to the Zelots flame which neither command nor Counsel could ever after extinguish I may not omit to Memory the horrid Massacre throughout all France upon the persons of the reformed Religion called by the Adversaries Hugonites from one Hugo as they would have them the History is so horrid and the more uncertain in particulars because the Papists strain their pens to piece it with some Excuses But the truth was written then by One Ernest Varamund of Freezland in the time of Charls the ninth King of France 1573. In Anno 1561. an Assembly of the Estates in the Kings house at Saint Germans in Lay neer Paris in France in the time of Charls the ninth concluded terms of Pacification in Religion among other Articles It should not be prejudicial to any Man to profess the Reformed Religion in the Subur●s of Towns only Francis Duke of Guise a Stranger of the House of Lorain was not present and within few daies after in Champanie slew men women and children in Vassey 200. persons Among those of the Religion was Lewis of Bourbon of the blood Prince of Conde Gaspar de Caligni Admiral of France and Francis Andelot his Brother Captain of the Fantarie and others Noblemen and Gentlemen Katherine de Medices Pope Clements Brothers Daughter and Mother of King Charls born in Florence a City of Italy had the Government of the Realm in the Kings Minority for though by the Law of France neither Inheritance nor Government are admitted to Women yet by negligence of Anthony King of Navar She had the power The Prince of Conde in fear of the Guises garrisoned some Towns stood upon his Guard and so began their Civil Wars there and published his Reasons For Defence of the Kings Edict for Religion Several Battails and losses on both sides and the Duke slain peace was made and liberty of Religion in certain places which continued for five years The Queen to strengthen her Party cunningly brought in six thousand Switzers and pretended them for defence quiet and peace to all yet suddenly garrisoned such Towns as the Religion had willingly surrendred saving onely Rochel who stood upon their former Conditions two hundred years past Not to be forced to any Garrisons Upon some rumours and fears the Prince of Conde and the now Admiral ●ly thither the cause of the third Civil War The young King by perswasion of Charls Cardinal of Lorain the late Duke of Guises Brother published Edicts That no man profess other than the Romish Religion But both parties wearied out with this last Miserable Distraction the King politiquely pretends to drown all Discontents by a Reconciliation and to join both forces against their Common Enemy the Spaniard who in truth had barbarously murthered the French Plantation in Florida in the West Indies and Marquisdome of Finall And to this Contract ingaged the Prince of Orange in the low Countreys by means of his Brother Lodowick now in the Admirals Camp at the very time when the Emperour had offered to reconcile Orange to the Spaniard And by these pretences this third War was ended with Toleration of Religion as before with unanimous Congratulation by Embassyes from the three Electors of Germany Princes reformed and sworn to
unless she interposed her Se●●●nd Son would be excluded from inheritance to this Crown for that the King of Spain clamed a Right and would give place to none except to her self It was insisted upon the Letters of Nave and Curl She answered Curl was an honest man but no sufficient Witness and Nave was sometime Secretary to the Cardinal of Lorain and commended to her by the King of France and might be drawn by hope fear and reward to bear false witness and had a hand over Curl either of them might insert into Letters more than she dictated oft times she not examining them before she signed that all Princes may this way fall into mischief if their Servants and Secretaries may falsly accuse them I desire their presence face to face to reply to my Exceptions The Treasurer objected that she purposed to send her Son into Spain and to transfer her Right and Title to England upon that King She answered that she had no Kingdom to bestow however what was her own she might dispose as she pleased and not render accompt to any It was urged her Assistance and Pension to Morgan who sent Parry into England to assassinate the Queen She said Morgan for her sake had lost his Estate and therefore she was obliged in honour to relieve him nor was she bound to revenge an injury done to the Queen by a Friend that had deserved well of her yet that she did always deterr him from any bloudy Enterprizes However Pensions were allowed out of England to Sir Patrick Grey and other Scots my adversaries and to my Son also The heads of her several Letters to Paget Inglefield and Mendoza were read She said they made nothing to the Queens destruction but if any forein Prince would endeavour her enlargment it ought not be a crime in them or her having often intimated her self to the Queen that she would endeavour her own freedom She complained of her Servants and Secretaries perjury and treachery and very unfaithfull unto her that being a distressed Prisoner and grown in years there could be no hope to perfect those things which were expected from her and therefore she was advised to confirm the Succession of England to the King of Spain or to some English Catholick Nobleman And said that a Book was tendered to her for that purpose which because she not admitting incurred the displeasure of some eminent persons for being no hope from England she was to entertain forein help She desired to be heard in a full Parliament or before the Queen and her Council And now rising out of her Chair in great Majesty and confidence she exchanged some words with Burghley Hatton Walsingham and Warwick apart And so the meeting again was prorogued till the 25. day of October next at the 〈◊〉 chamber at Westminster before all the Commissioners where Nave and Curl constantly affirmed viva voce all those particulars which concerned them to aver and which she had denied So then Sentence was pronounced against her and ratified under their hands and seals in these words recorded By their unanimous consent at the Day and Place abovesaid they do pronounce and declare this judicial Verdict and say That after the end of the said Parliament specified in the Commission viz. after the first of June in the seven and twentieth Year of the Queen divers matters were compassed and imagined in England by Anthony Babington and others with the privity of Mary Queen of Scots pretending Title to the Crown of England tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Sovereign Lady the Queen And furthermore that after the said Day and Year and before the Date of our Commission the said Mary hath compassed and imagined in this Kingdom of England divers matters tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Sovereign against the form of the Statute specified in the said Commission All the Commissioners declaring that this Sentence did no way derogate to Iames King of Scots in right or honour but that he continued in the same right and honour as if that Sentence had never been passed This Sentence you see depended upon Nave and Curl and not face to face according to the first Statute 13. Elizabeth divers opinions passed whether credulous or incompetent Nave's Apology to King Iames afterwards 1605. purges him with deep Protestations neither Author nor Abetter nor remiss in his duty by negligence or otherwise but opposed the heads of her Accusation to the death But this appears not by Records his guilt shewed somewhat that needed an apology Not many days after a Parliament is called the which was begun by authority from the Queen derived to the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Derby and the same it seems not without former Presidents A kinde of modesty perhaps that if a Virgin Queen must look upon her horrid act it must be seen through her fingers and Maries Sentence accompanied with the Proscriptions of the Lord Paget Inglefield Throgmorton Babington Salisbury Iones Tichburn Tilves and others confirmed and their Goods and Estates confiscate And the House of Peers by the Chancellor petitioned the Queen that the Sentence might be promulgated and besought her Majesty for safety of her Person and Kingdoms to execute justice on the Queen of Scots The Queen was not to be ●aught her Answer She acknowledged Gods protection and their love and circumspection for preservation of Her and her People against the many and mighty Plots of Hers and their Enemies How sorry she was that the Scots Queen notwithstanding her forewarnings should be thus entangled and guilty whom she protests as a Princess as her Kinswoman and Sister she had reluctancy to spare and to forgive were not the security of her People involved for their Peace she values before her own life Concludes her thanks for their care and advice But in a cause of so great consequence she will not be rash but consider Twelve days after she desires the Parliament to consult some other way of safety and to spare the Queen of Scots but they answer with no other satisfaction To which the Queen in an excellent method requests them to be answered without an Answer For if I should say said she I will not do what you desire I shall then say what I do not think and if I shall say I will do it I may precipitate my self to danger whom I know you wish to be conserved Then was Queen Maries Sentence proclamed throughout London and all the Kingdom which she apprehends chearfully and resolute and writes to the Queen for her Body to be allowed Christian ●urial in France where her Mother 's rested since violence was offered to the Ashes of her forefathers by the Puritans in Scotland nor could she hope for burial with the Kings of England that she might take her Death not in secret
Demonstration of Discipline sought mischief upon the Bishops the chief Authours were Penry Udal Ministers Iob Throgmorton Knightley and Wigstone Laicks their Favourites drawn in to defend their Railings and were soundly fined in Star-chamber yet they privately held conventicles and had their Synods Classes and Presbyteries for this cause Thomas Cartwright the Father of the Disciplinarians Snape King Proudlow and Pain were questioned whom certain conspired to rescue and so great was the petulancy of these Patriarchs and their Disciples as would require a particular Volume to unfold See Hist. Q. Eliz. by Martin fol. 782. The King to keep things fair with England resolved to visit the Borders with some Forces to the West Marches whither the Lord Herries was fled but submitting and promising to conform to Protestancy he was dismissed and sent to his charge there again Whilest the King was in this Expedition the Lord Maxwell formerly having leave to travel into Spain and perceiving there the great preparations for an Armado of Ships to invade England returns home invited by some Scotish Catholicks against his promise without the Kings leave and lands in a part of Galloway in April where it was rumour'd that the Spanish Navy should land about the West of Scotland and so by Maxwels means and assistance they would joyn with the Borderers and enter England that way the most likely to prevail where numbers of loose Libertines and out-lodgers repaired to Maxwell of which the Lord H●rries being in his Wardenship acquaints the King Maxwell is sent for to compeer but refuses and fortifies his Houses and other Holds levies Horse and Foot and expects to encounter with the King who came to Dunfres with so hasty marching that Maxwell was almost surprised in the House but gat away some hour before to Galloway whilest some resistance at the Town Port gave him that opportunity and leasure to escape And on the King goes summons Laugholme Treve and Carlavarock places of strength who surrender but the Castle of Lochmaben commanded by David Maxwell bids defiance to the Kings face and made it good against the Assault untill Ammunition and great Guns were sent for to the English Warden who forthwith committed them to a Guard of Souldiers and at the Approach and some Shot they yielded to parly with Sir William Stuart for the King and to render the Castle upon quarter of Life but the Captain refusing the Kings Summons was hanged the rest had pardon The King stays not but pursues Maxwell to Dunfres and sends Sir William Stuart to follow the chace and forced him to fly to Sea in a small Bark whom he follows in a Ship of the Town of Ayr overtakes him a fews Leagues off and forces him to yield who is brought to land and presented a Prisoner to the King this was held timely good service which so pufft up the young Knight with pride that some weeks after contesting with insolent words to the Earl Bothwell at Edenburgh he kill'd him outright The noise of the Spanish Navy gave fears of their setting forth in August and in prudence for the Scots also to arm not knowing whom to trust the King convenes his Nobles at Edenburgh for their advice For howbeit said he I have no occasion to distrust the Friendships and League with all Christian Princes and Estates yet the Case of England lodges so near upon us as in time may turn to be our own and we forced to share in their Troubles the Spanish intention is for England and seeing my Right in Succession to that Crown it were no wisdom for me to suffer another to possess it before and the Spaniard hath not usually been so kinde or consciencious to depart with any thing he lays hand upon though anothers Right they take Religion for a Pretext of their Invasion but it is the Kingdom they seek and we professing the same Faith with England are sure to fare accordingly as in their Success and the Prosecution of their Holy League will fall upon us also But I have ever thought mine own and the safety of Religion so conjoyned as they cannot separate nor do I desire to live and reign longer than I shall maintain the same I suspect what many may counsel that this occasion fits Revenge for my Mothers Death but however I am not over credulous as to be confident of Queen Elizabeths excuses concerning here ignorance therein nor will I be so unwise as to accept the assistance of one mightier than my self to fight my cause lest he become Master of us all Thus you see my minde and my Reasons give me your advice and assistance what we shall do The Chancellour seconded the Kings opinion by many historical Examples and discreet politick Arguments yet since the Queen had not desired any aid from your Majesty it would not be amiss to secure your own Territories by not suffering the Spaniard to land in your Dominions that a general Muster may be taken and some Noblemen named to whom the People might resort for Command that Watches be set upon the Sea-coasts and Beacons erected to allarm the Countrey and that the King and Council would reside at Edenburgh for Command and Authority over all Bothwell urged other Arguments of Revenge and to invade England from whom in this exigent said he we shall be sure to force good conditions and as for himself he had already raised Forces at his own charge for the publick service as an Example for others to do the same expecting that his opinion would prevail for Invasion But the King commanded him to guard the Coast according to his Office Admiral of Scotland and so he seemed to be satisfied To instance the dangerous Treacheries amongst some of the Scots against their own Nation in reference to the Spanish pretentions appears first in the Design of Colonel ●Semple who had about six years before betrayed the Town of Lire to the Spaniard and from that time remained in Flanders with the Prince of Parma arrives now at Lieth pretending a frivolous Commission from Parma to the King which seemed of so small importance as that it was apprehended rather a false colour of practice with some evil disposed persons Sir I. Carmichel Capt. of the K. Guard is therefore commanded to have an eye upon his Actions till the King returned being now journeying to Falkland Carmichel does so and having intelligence of a Pinnace newly arrived in the Frith and a Passenger already landed went hastily and surprizes Semple reading of the Dispatch seizes him and them the Colonel offers of himself to attend the Council but by the way was rescued by the Earl Huntley who undertakes himself to compeer with him The Chancellour hears of this being then at Church the general time of Humiliation and with a throng of people following him made after Huntley but the King happily returning met them before and brought them all to Edenburgh The Chanc. informs
King with some of his Friends Ormston Carmichel and others who mistrusting encompassed the Chancellor and so he got forth The suspition and danger of some design intimated to the King Huntley is sent for examined and committed to the Castle which occasioned the company with Crawford and Arroll to dissolve and their design discovered And for not appearing before the Council Arroll and Bothwell are denowned Rebells Montross and Crawford submit and Huntley left alone does so too and is permitted to go to his North Government By the way he meets with Montross and Crawford belay the way to surprize the Treasurer and gave him chase to Brikel where he was received and they fire the House and so forced to yield himself Prisoner for some Weeks But thus prepared for the cause they take arms again close and undiscovered till several Messengers bring newes to the King a Hunting That Bothwell Huntley and others were marching The King gathers such Forces as he could for the present Bothwell ever inconstant retires to places of strength and is left of his Men. Huntley goes on surprizes Glams his Enemy and Captain of the Guard But at the Kings neerer approach quits all and lurks at home amongst the Rocks at Strathbolgie but not safe from himself his rebellious heart suspects the issue and so submits to mercy which was no worse than a Prison for the present and afterwards he and his pardoned upon Petition Whilst these disorders were at home their former Letters sent to the King of Spain and to Parma and some others also from Bruce were intercepted by Q. Elizabeth which laid open all the practices of the Lords And therefore she writes to the King Complaining of his remissness in punishing these Treacheries and of his kindness to such of the Spaniards that fled into Scotland after their wreck at Sea she besought him not to delay opportunity to punish the Offenders and to rid the Realm of such Strangers Hereupon they were shipped over towards West Flanders and by the way were met a league from that Coast by some Hollanders set out to intercept them who boarded one ship putting all the Spaniards to the sword the rest ran their ships a ground and most of the Men pittifully drowned A Proclamation issued out against all Iesuits remaining and Hay Creighton Bruce and Graham expressly commanded to depart upon pain of death but they inticing Huntley Crawford and Arroll take arms together came to Aberdeen in April and declare That the King is kept Captive requiring all good Subjects to join for relief and freedom of the people They depended on Bothwell and his Forces in the South whom the King proclaimed Rebels And for the present marches against the Earls as far as Cowry neer Aberdeen where he was told that the enemy was three thousand strong and hastning to meet the King The King put to the straight cheers up his Company That they had the better cause and himself in person to suffer with them against such whose conditions could never be wrought upon by benefits or good deeds to make them loyal assist me therefore as you shall find me forward rather for you than for my self Thus resolved Hamilton and Angus differ for the honour of the Vant-guard Angus claiming the place by privilege heretofore granted to his Predecessors Hamilton argued his neerness to the Blood Royall who carried it by the Kings favour But the next Morning discovers the Enemy dispersed for fear or favor to the Kings person to which respect Crawford condescended but Arroll earnest to fight and they refusing he parted from them at d ee Bridge and the King returns to Edenburgh And there in some assurance he disposes his affairs for consumating his mariage with Denmark and to bring his Bride into Scotland The Earl Marshall had the Commission assisted in Company with the Lord Dingwell Sir Iames Seringeour Mr. Iohn Sheen Advocate and Mr. Young Arch-deacon of St. Andrews And for the more honorable defraying the expence a subsidy of a hundred thousand pounds punds I conceive was granted by the Council by a former Warrant of Parliament 1587. and sudden payment was made by the well-willing Subjects earnestly desiring a Mariage for the issue of Royal Succession in his Race Against this time of publique joy the Rebels humbly submit to Justice and were impannell'd before the Earls of Hamilton Angus Morton Athol Mar and Marshall four Lords and four Lairds 1. They were charged for practising with Jesuits and others against the Religion receiving money from Spain and therewith raising forces 2. That they had confederacy with Arroll Montross and others and treasonably surprized Perth 3. That they conspired to imprison the King to murder Maitland and Thirlstan Counsellors of State 4. For besieging the house of Kirkhill firing that house and imprisoning the Lord Treasurer Glams 5. And convocated by Proclamation the Kings liege people against his Majesty 6. They opposed the Kings forces and his Person at Dee 7. They seized the Kings Herauld and rifled his Letters 8. And the last concerned only Bothwell for entertaining Strangers and others at Dalkieth forcing the Town of Lieth They were adjudged guilty but the sentence suspended Crawford committed to Blackness Bothwel to Tantallon and Huntley to Edenburgh Castle We may wonder why the Ministers are missing in all these broyls and now the Assembly convened at Edenburgh the King desired them to afford him Patrick Galloway to attend his Court They now acknowledge his Majesties Power to command and his grace and favour to acquaint them with his pleasure A good beginning of their duty and obedience not long lasting For the King having given his Kinswoman The Duke of Lennox Sister the last year in mariage to Huntley and the Bishop of Saint Andrews celebrating the same was then censured by the Acts of their Church the Bishop not acknowledging their power against his Majesties command they pronounce and deprive him of all function in the Church and ratifie the judgement to be proclaimed in publick This troubles the King and in fear of more disquiet was fain to suffer their Sentence and to make peace with all and remits the imprisoned Lords to liberty for now he hears that the Mariage is accomplished by Proxie and the Queen at Sea when lo an unlookt-for message that the Navy of her Conduct was driven by Tempest into Norway where she should stay till the Spring But his affection over-mastering all difficulties he resolves to hasten a Scotish fleet and fetch her home himself And to shadow his purpose from any home distempers he pretends to send the Chancellour and Iustice Clark in Commission to her But the ships fitted he in private sets sail in October leaving a direction to the Council for Government of his Kingdom under his own hand-writing thus To satisfy some concerning himself and to take off suspition of blame upon others he shews them the Causes and the reason of
unbury the dead saies one and raise the coffined corps of Murray and the Sheriff against Lieth Church door their friends refusing them other funeral until revenge were taken of their slaughter and who more earnest in this resentment than the Lord Uchiltry who ignorant of any ill meaning was put upon the errand to perswade Murray to come to reconcilement which by this means was turned to murther and in regret of his Dishonour the rather sought out Bothwell to bare stakes at all hazards with him And in earnest they are But the Church interrupt the story who when the State was mostly in mischief then were they busiest for themselves the Ministery Intermixing pious Articles in their petition to the Parliament but evermore interfeering with Soveraignty The first of their demands being willingly confirmed against Papists Idolatry and crimes of blood with which the Land indeed was then much poluted But for abrogating the former acts of Anno 1584. against discipline of the Church and their liberty and in place thereof a Ratification now of the practice then The Kings wisdom foresaw the inconveniences which the Ministers assume from that term of liberty But Bothwells Business interrupting the Kings quiet a time of advance to their demands the Act was warily passed and as for the Statute of Regal power Supremacy in the King which they mostly aimed to abrogate It was only declared It should be no waies derogatory to the spiritual Office-bearer in the Church concerning heads of Religion Heresie Excommunication Collation or deprivation of Ministers or any such having ground and warrant of Gods word The King removes to Faulkland where Bothwell attempts a fresh Conspiracy being assisted by the Earls of Angus and Arroll the Master of Gray Collonel Stuart and the Lairds of Iohnston and Balmery they had their several Postures the latter met him with four hundred horse Angus kept watch without and Arrol was alwaies with the King Stuart must be the Porter to let the others in Somwhat they attempted which gave suspition sufficient so that Arrol was committed to Edenburgh Castle and the Collonel to Blackness But why these at Court were so hasty without the power of Bothwell fell out upon a false Spie that gave warning ere the Forces were nigh For Bothwell with no more than six score the Rascallity pickt up upon the Borders English and Scotish marching two daies and nights with slender diet and faint watchings arrived at Faulkland at midnight where he found the Court at their Sentries by which he feared the discovery But the day soon opened the midst of Iune and he encamped on the Hill side His Followers fall upon any booty break open the Queens stables and take out the Horses and what other baggage came to hand more regarding present plunder than the hazard of their Chief who thus at loss and the County coming in He was forced to flie but how or whether in martial Order he knew not and therefore by the next Midnight he stole away The King with his company followed by the Ferry mistaking the way hastened his course by Sterlin-bridge where Bothwells men in disorder separate to all parts and were soon seized some in the Moors of Calder and Carnwath the Horses unman'd their Riders falling from their Saddles for want of sleep Others taken napping not able to stand were committed to several Holds and some knockt on the heads by poor Plow-boys and all of them so weak that a few women mastered the most of them and Bothwell got into England And the King by experience and his own clemency found it the best way to proclaim pardon to all that would forsake the grand Traytor and come in knowing that some others might be interessed in that plot and too many of note for him to meddle with For whether in affection to Bothwell or malice to the Master of Glammis the Treasurer his Enemy Alexander Lindsey Lord of Spinie in great favour works secret attempts to reconcile him to the King Collonel Stuart still Prisoner in Blackness in hope of nope of liberty discovers it to the King at Dunfres by Sir Iames Sandilands the keeper of that house who justified before the Council That Spinie had harboured Bothwel at Aberdowre The other denies all and claims the combate which Sandilands not making good Spinie recovers into favour and yet infected with treasonable intents the next year he openly takes part with Bothwell and is denounced Rebel Others also Weymis of Logie of the Kings Bed-chamber was more than suspected and committed to Guard until his Mistress the Queens Dutch Maid in the Kings name after bed time brought the Prisoner to be questioned by the King himself the Keepers waiting without he was let in to the Chamber and out at a Window by a Rope and this being a Love-trick for her to hazard the halter the Ladies liking the conceipt and upon mariage with her Paramour procured the Queens favour and pardon for them both And with these aforesaid and divers others the faction of Bothwel increased with men of all rancks Barons and Burgesses intertaining him openly in several parts of the Country and in Tweedale the most part of those people whether the King was fain to take journey as far as Iedbury to pacifie them and settle their fidelity No sooner returned but new factions at home against the Chancellor and by the greatest Lenox Arguile Morton Glammis and Lord Hume with whom Angus Arrol and but lately released prison adjoin occasioned by the Chancellours refusing the Queens claim to some Lands of his which set the wheel in going and which forced him in wisdome to withdraw from Court into the Country for this year In the North also the Clanhattons conducted by Angus Williamson in pretence of revenge of Earl Murrays death make havock of all that belongs to Huntley with fire and Sword and fell foul upon an aged Man Gordon of Barckley for no crime but his honesty and kindred to Huntley who in revenge commits cruelties upon his Enemies encountring a great party sixty of them were slain and some of his own side And not satisfied with this he summons all the High-landers and with their help devastates all that Country and kills many until a Commission to Angus Lord Lieutenant with power of the Counties forced a cessation on both sides and returning in Triumph was seized as a Traytor and committed to the Castle of Edenburgh upon some Letters intercepted and signed by him Huntley Arrol and others to the King of Spain and sent by George Ker whose confession was That upon the receipt of Letters from Creighton the Iesuit in Spain unto Gordon and Abercrombie for alteration of Religion those return answer of the Scots concurrence and for more secrecy these three Earls undertake for all and blanks signed by them to be filled in Spain and intrusted to the Bearers in October last And he avowed
colour of doctrine to stir up sedition no good man will grant If Treason and sedition be crimes punishable much more comitted in the Pulpit where the word of truth only should be taught I am not ignorant what France of late and England formerly have suffered by the violence of such spirits And I may not indure it Hereupon the Church finding the King resolved desire some Declaration to be made to the people in favour of Church Assemblies which they feared was hereby of late somewhat weakned which the King assented unto and it was accordingly published to give finall conclusion to these differences Blake was required only to acknowledg his offence to Queen Ann. And to be pardoned of all This he would not do and was therefore sentenced To have falsely s●andered and treasonably calumniated the Kings Majesty his consort the Queen his Neighbour Princesse the Queen of England the Lords of the Council and Session and that till his Majesties further pleasure he should be confined beyond the North water enter ward within six dayes and Ten daies more were taken up to decide these differences and the King condiscends to lesser submissions than before But the Commissioners refuse to agree to any censure of Master Blake as not done by the proper Iudg. And so they ordain a fast and pray and preach complaints of wrong done to the Kingdom of Christ. The King on his part made the grounds of his displeasure known to his people by Decla●ation setting forth particulars of the last Transactions Ordaining all Ministers to subscribe their obedience to his Majesty and to set their hands to the bonds presented to them to that effect under pain of sequestring their rents and stipends till they submitted Blake to go to ward and the Commissioners to remove out of Town They increase Aspersions upon the King who willingly would have recalled these sentences and Publications and some Ministers were treated therein till a scandalous Letter was devised and sent by under hand advise that Huntley had private reception by the King over night and caused the charge against the Ministers Balcanqual takes his text out of the Canticles and so to present the troubles of the Church relates the late proceedings which he calls treacherous forms of the Council naming particular officers The President and Controuler and Advocate with reproachfull raylings and concludes to advise the Barons and Nobles to meet in the little Church for assisting the ministry From them came a petition to the King in behalf of his Ministers and presented to him in the uper house of session with complaints uttered by Bruce of all which had passed The King declining the petition and remonstrance asked who they were that durst convene against his proclomation The Lord Lindsey passionatly replied That they durst do more than so and would not ind●re destruction of Religion Numbers of people thronging into the Room the King removed the people seduced by Lindsey and others some said arm others called out to bring forth Haman others cry'd out the sword of the Lord and Gideon And with much adoe to appease the peoples rage at they knew not what The Lords and Ministers meet propose Articles to the King and whilst they design who shall present them each one refusing The King and Councel remove out of Edenburgh into Linlithgow Ordering a Proclamation to signifie the reasons of this departure the Town being unsafe for his person and Council and unfit for the administration of justice by the late in sufferable Tumults commanding all Lords of session Commissioners c. and their Deputies to remove out of the Town of Edenburgh and be in redinesse to that place they should be after assigned And the Noblemen and Barons to withdraw to their own Houses and not to covene or Assemble under pain of the Kings displeasure The City is amazed with these proceedings not knowing what to do or whom to trust unto The Ministers night and day restlesse to get subscriptions and to covenant to call in certain Noblemen of note Hamelton Backlugh and others Fast and pray and preach what stuffe best befits their projects one amongst many others Iohn Welch takes his theam the Epistle sent to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus rayl'd against the King who he said was possessed of a Divel and one Divel the King put out seven worse are entred in That the Subjects might lawfully rise and take the sword out of his hand by example saies he Of a father faln into frenzie might be bound hand and foot by his family from doing mischief Yet this execrable doctrine was received by some nay they preach that the Earl Arrol had come to the Ferry with four hundred horse the day of Tumult but the rising of the people as a providence of God for good scattered his forces in fear of the Town so prepared And being Masters of all they undertake to send Messengers to the Earl Hamelton with letters that the people animated by motion of Gods spirit had taken Arms with the patronage of such Godly well affected Noblemen and Brethren then at Edenburgh for the cause of God Only they wanted a Head an especial Nobleman to countenance their cause And having made chioce of him they invite him to Edenburgh with all convenient speed and thereby to signifie his affection and to accept the honor which the Church of God had offered unto him It was writ and subscribed by Bruce and Balcanquall and sent to Hamelton who receives the Messenger with all shew of kindness and seems to prepare his journey for Edenburgh but by the way better advised he turns to Linlithgow and presents the King with the letter who wondered at the modesty of the man accounted more ambitious than to neglect such a rise to tempt his humour by whom had the letter taken effect it might have caused strang Rebellions when the Church had begun to act their part with so much power a bloody issue alwaies following the pretended zeal for Religion as the most part of Christendom have felt the miserable effects and great Britain most of all The insurrection and letter made work for speedy Counsel to act for the King and the Provost had order for imprisoning the Ministers who got loose and fled to New Castle in England The Town send Commissioners to purge themselves protesting their Innocenc●e and offer their obedience for repairing the indignity and dishonor done to the King but served not for their purgation for the next day the Tumult was by the Counsel declared Treason and the devisers Actors and Partakers to be Traytors Edenburgh smarted for all the inhabitants in fear of desolation the law-Courts removed to Lith the Session to Perth the Ministers fled the Magistrates dispised and all men without the walls their enemies And again most humbly supplicate the King with the best excuse for themselves The King told them that he would proceed with them
interests in one design of envy Queen Elizabeth was ever shy of her Successor and these two families were equal in power and affection in Court enjoying Her present favour but looking to the future in the Queens declension And in several held correspondence with some of the principal in Scotland if not with the King which had she known might have cost their heads Secretary Caecil had the safer conveyance in disposing all publick addre●●es of State and was in hazard to have forfeited his honesty if not his head but his ready wit served the turn The Queen taking ayre upon Greenwich-heath a post came thither to Caecil from Scotland she hastily commanded the Packet which he with much diligence to obey s●ept neer her person telling her it smelt and looked il-favouredly coming out of a filthy Budget and that it were fit to be ayred She being averse from ill sents bid him do so and so he gained time to sever what he would not have her to see The Earls accident of the same Nature had more cost and difficulty in the redress He entertained a domestick Master Anthony Bacon of a quick wit by whom the Scotish intelligence was managed which dangerous secret he acted for reward And upon that score had private invitation to amend his fortune with Caecil Of which he makes use and as a mercenary man revealed it to his Master who knew well enough it behoved him to out-bid Caecil and sodainly gave him Essex house which was disingaged for 2500l besides another sum before of 1500l so in all we may guess it costly counsel About this time There was a treasonable Assassination acted upon the King by Iohn Ruthen Earl of Gowry and commonly called Gowries conspiracie The principal Actors The Earl and his brother Alexander Ruthen Andrew Henderson and Iohn Cranstone The conspirators were Robert Logain Laird of Restalrigge the Laird of Bour and Georg Sprot the last were discovered afterwards and Sprot executed eight years after And because Gowry had insinuated himself into the faction of the ministery presuming on their wonted way of countenancing all mutinous designes These men in malice to their Sovereign who kept them under with Bitt and Bridle began to quarrel at the publick declarations herein till the Conspiracie was examined and witnessed by their worships Their but infection hath impoysoned others who wilfully and maliciously have now very lately spit their venome in print as if the world had been more than these half hundred years last past abused with a false and feigned story We therefore In perpetuam rei memoriam have endeavoured the truth From such information and printed Narratives as we may with confidence satisfie the most suspicious The name Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious till Anno 1568 when the chief of that familie amongst other confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured the imprisoning the Kings Mother Queen Mary In 1582 his son William was created Earl Gowry in the Kiugs minority and two years after fel into actual Rebellion at Dundee for which he suffered at Sterlin anno 1584. His eldest son Iohn not long after was restored in blood and had leave to travel beyond seas I have a Manuscript which saies that in Padoua amongst other impressa's in a fencing school he caused a hand and sword aiming at a Crown for his device And the Earl of Arguile this mans father 1552 told the King that in a house at Orleans in France where Gowry had been lodged he found a prophecie That he should with too much love fall into melancholy have great power and rule and die by the sword And thereafter his return home he was extraordinary ambitious proud and haughty His answer shew'd no less unto Collonal Stuart a man of high esteem who humbly desiring to be reconciled for acting as a minister of justice in apprehending his father He scornfully answered Aquila non capit Muscas Himself too big in his own thoughts to be comprehended with Court observance retired to his familie accompanied with such of his Creatures that could descend to observe him only his brother Alexander was designed to play the Courtier to take off the suspition being of the Kings Bedchamber And although divers overtures were conceived between the Earl and Robert Logain of Restalrig which took not effect But at last it was resolved in this manner The Earl sends his Brother Alexander from Saint Iohnstons his house to the King at Faulkland to intice him thither with as much privacie as could be And overnight the 4. day of August 1600. commands one of his servants Andrew Henderson to ride with his brother Alexander and one Andrew Ruthen to Faulkland to the Court the next morning by 7. a clock The King putting his foot in the stirrop to hunt Alexander tels him That he had apprehended one lately come from beyond seas with much gold coyn and sundry suspicious letters to Popish Lords advising his Majesty to receive the mony and letters and to examine the person being in safety with his Brother at Saint Iohnstons but 10. miles and this to be done speedily and privately which was concluded at Noon whilst his train and attendants should be at dinner Alexander Immediately commands Henderson to speed to his Brother finding him in his Chamber where they had communication and that the King would be there by Noon and that the business took well with the King for he clipt him about the neck that he was accompanied with a slender Train the Duke of Lenox Sir Thomas Erskin and about a dozen persons Well saies the Earl get on your plate sleeves for I must take an highland robber The King staying longer in his sport of hunting than was expected the Earl at middle of dinner Andrew Ruthen came in hast and signified the King to be nerer at hand presently after came Alexander and William Bloire and withdrew themselves to consult sending Henderson for the Earls Gantlet and steel Bonnet at the instant the King comes in is received by the Earl and retires to dinner Alexander bids Henderson to fetch the keys of the Chambers from one William Rynde and presently after Cranston requires Henderson to come to the Earl who commanded him to attend his brother Alexander and to doe what ere he bid him which was to be locked up within the round Chamber and to stay in silence till his return Neer the end of dinner the King at his fruit and the Lords and wayters gone to eat Alexander beggs of his Majesty in this opportunity to withdraw and to dispatch the business And up he leads Him through four or five roomes locking each dore behind them til they came into the round Chamber where Henderson stood armed No sooner entered but Alexander pulls out Hendersons dagger held it to the Kings brest claps on his Bonnet and with stern countenance faces the King and saies Now Sir you must know I
had a father whose blood calls for revenge you shall die minting to the K. heart with the dagger The King amazed deals gently with his fury excuses himself from the guilt of his death by his then Infancie advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred person of his Annoynted Soveraign especially in a cause of his innocencie pleading the lawes of God and Man and his merits by restoring your brother in blood and honors by breeding your Sister the neerest in the Queens affection and by his reception of his Bedchamber withall promising pardon of all that is past And which wrought so much upon Alexander for the present that he leaves the King in custody of Henderson until he returns from his brother having taken oath of the King not to stir nor cry out and so locks them in Alexander gone Henderson trembles with reverence of his Soveraign and craves pardon the King works upon his passion and asks him what he was who answered a servant of the Earls and wilt thou kill me he replyed with an oath himself would sooner die Presently Alexander enters with a Garter in his hand and saies Sir there is no remedy by God you must dye and strives to bind him Nay saies the King I was born free and will not be bound and struggling together Alexander got the Kings head under his arm and his hand upon his mouth which the King bit by the thumb and dragging him to the window bade Henderson open it The King cried out into a back Court where the Duke the Earl of Mar and others were in pursute of him who was rumoured to be gone out the back way into the Park At the cry of Treason and known to be the King they hastened to the Chamber where he dined but no entrance was found The while Iohn Ramsey formerly the Kings Page and now Groom of the Bed-chamber with Sir Thomas Erskin also sought counter to get up by the Turn-Pike back-stairs directed thither by a Boy of the House who saw Alexander ascend that way and forcing one Door findes them panting Ramsey casts off his Hawk from his fist draws out his Fauchion and wounds him deadly in the belly being bid to strike low for the King found him armed with a Male. And the instant comes in Sir Thomas Erskin Doctor Herres and one Wilson and by them was the body dispatcht whilest Henderson slipt away When they soon suspected by the noise of unlocking Doors that Gowry himself might assail them advising the King to withdraw into the Lobby they cast the Kings Coat upon the dead body The Earl enters by his double Keys with seven servants the fore-way and his Case of Rapiers his usual Weapon ready drawn to whom Erskin earnestly said to divert him from his purpose What do you mean my Lord The King is killed and points to his brothers covered body bleeding on the ground At which Gowry stops sinking the points of his weapons when suddenly Herres assails him with his rusty sword Ramsey steps in and strikes him to the heart not so soon but that the Earl thrust him into the thigh assisted by Cranston who hurt Erskin and Herres in the hand and they him through his body who lived onely long enough to be hanged and quartered And forthwith came up all the Lords the Court and Townsmen After thanks to God for this mercy they surveyed Gowries body which did not bleed untill a Parchment was taken out of his bosom with Characters and these Letters which put together made TETRAGRAMMATON having been told His Bloud should not spill whilest he had that Spell Being thus deceived by the Devil he thought he should not die untill he had power and rule which he had of the King and so suffered by the Sword There remained in Scotland one younger son two other brothers being fled of that House then a childe and was from that time imprisoned by Act of Parliament and so continued afterwards in the Tower of London untill this Kings death and the grace of the late King Charls restored him to liberty with a small Pension which kept him like a Gentleman to these times but now failing he walks the streets poor but well experienced in Chymical Physick and in other parts of Learning which he got whilest he lost his liberty Not long after Herres well rewarded dies Ramsey hath the honour of Knighthood with additional bearing of his Coat of Arms A Hand holding forth a Dagger mounted proper peircing a bloudy Heart the point crowned Emperial with this Motto Haec dextra vindex Principis Patriae Not without increase of Wealth and Honour to his Death Sir Thomas Erskin afterwards created Earl of Kelly and by degrees Knight of the Gart●r Captain of the Kings Guard and Groom of the Stool Henderson had a large Pension confirmed by Act of Parliament and died not long since The Commemoration hereof was advisedly se●tled by Act of Parliament the Anniversary Feast-day of the fifth of August solemnized to Gods glory during this Kings life and Narratives in print in Scotland and England of all these circumstances which I have to produce as also several Examinations taken at Fawkland this year viz. Iames Weyms of Bogye William Rynde and Andrew Henderson the very man assigned to murder the King whose Examination onely I thought good to insert Fawkland 20th August 1600. In presence of the Lord Chancellour Lord Treasurer Advocate Controuler Sir George Hewme and Sir Iames Methold viz. That the Earl Gowry at St. Iohnstons appointed this Deponent Henderson over night to ride with his Brothers Alexander and Andrew Ruthen to Falkland the next morn who came all together thither at seven of the clock Alexander presently spake with the King in private as he gat on hors-back and instantly commanded this Deponent to ride with all possible speed to the Earl whom he found at St. Iohnstons in his chamber at ten of the clock and told him that the King would be there by noon The Earl presently with-draws into his Cabinet demands How his Majesty took with his Brother This Deponent said Very well for the King clipt him about the shoulder The Earl asked if there were many with the King and what special persons He answered The usual number and the Duke of Lenox And that within an hour after the Earl commanded this Deponent to put on his secret plate-sleeves saying He had an High-land man to take That about one a clock the Earl being at Dinner Andrew Ruthen came from Alexander and whispered to the Earl and presently after came Alexander and William Bloir and took the Earl from his Dinner and sent for his Gantlet and Steel-Bonnet and then the King came in That Alexander bids this Deponent fetch the Keys of the chambers from William Reynd and so both went up the stairs but afterwards Thomas Cranston required this Deponent to come to the
no third person admitted and a guard of Horse kept all men off from hearing Considering the former Message by Knowd what construction can this secrecie produce but great surmize of the height of Treason and yet though Essex was not arraigned for his Irish actions his latter in London sufficient let me relate what is testified in pursuance of this in the designes of Essex On Tyrones part it fell out That the very day that Essex returned to the Queen Tyrone told Sir William Warren at Armagh That within two or three Moneths he should see the greatest and strangest alteration that could be imagined and that himself hoped to have a large share in England And unto Bremingham he said That he had promised ere long to shew his face in England little to the publick good thereof Thomas Wood Confesses That the Lord Fitz●orris in Munster about the same time told him That Tyrone had written to the Earl of Desmond so called that the contract was That Essex should be King of England Tyrone Viceroy of Ireland and should assist him in England with 8000 Souldiers With which agrees the answer of Tyrone to Mac Roories letter That Essex had agreed to side with Tyrone and so be ayded by them all towards the Conquest of England The general opinion and discourse of the Rebells That Essex was theirs and they his and that he would never relinquish the sword of Ireland till he was Master of that in England Tyrone after the parley grew proud and secure into strange progresses visitations homages of his confederates as of a new spirit and courage Essex presently thereupon having retired thoughts became melancholly as of doubtfull ambition and secretly imparts himself only to the Earl of Southampton and Sir Christopher Blunt Resolving to go into England with 2. or 3000. choice of the Army to make good his landing at Milford Haven so gather power march to London and make his own conditions They diswade him from the hazard and odiousness of the design but rather to draw out 200. of the most resolute to make sure of the Court and so to follow the effect And accordingly over he comes his Company in a muze of his intents he publisht his pretext to them by the efficacie of his presence to draw the Queen to confirm his Articles with Tyrone But in great choler as to dispute or Revenge and without leave from England He leaves his command to a Lieutenant and lands with 100. Gentlemen his best confidents hastens to Court ere it was known to any but to his dear Uncle Sir William Knowles Controuler of the Queens Houshold to whom he writes Dear Uncle Receiving your last at my entring on shipboard I return you this accompt at my landing being resolved with all speed and our silence to appear in the face of my Enemies not trusting a farr off to my own Innocencie or to the Queens favour with whom they have got so much power At sight of him with amaze the Queen swore Gods death my Lord what do you here your presence hatefull without Tyrones head But he falling more to a dispute than any excuse she in disdain to be taught but what she pleased to do bid him he gone his boots stunck So was he commanded to his Chamber at Court for some daies thence to the Lord Keeper til neer Easter after then to his own house under custody of Sir Richard Barckley til the end of Trinity Term so by degrees of restraint to win him to repentance the Queen said that he was young enough to amend and make amends for all Yet to repress seditious libels dispersed in his Justification and to observe a form of justice ere she gave him libertie There were associates unto her privy Council some chosen persons of the Nobility and judges of the Law to examine his breaking of his instructions in Ireland his treating with Tyrone and leaving his Government coming over without leave nay expresly contrary to his command under her hand signet With limitation not to be charged with disloyalty nor to be questioned publickly in Starr Chamber which upon his most penitent letter he desired to be spared and to be heard at the Lord Keepers house The sentence was then no more than suspension from some of his Places for he called God to witness He made an utter divorce with the world and desired favour only for a preparative for his Nunc Dimittis the tears of his heart having quenched in him all humors of ambition Upon which in few daies his Keeper Barckly was taken from him with this admonition That he was not altogether discharged though left to the guard of his own discretion He had taken into his service as chief Secretary in Ireland and long before one Henry Cuff base by birth a great Scholar of a turbulent and mutinous spirit This fellow a Moneth after his Lords liberty practised with Sir Henry Nevil lately Lieger Ambassadour with the French King and now newly come from Bullen Insinuating as a secret That the breach of the treaty of Bullen was like to light upon him By Cuff it was first concluded that ancient principle of Conspiracie To prepare many and trust but to few and after the manner of Mines to make ready the powder place it firm and then give fire in the instant The first of Nobility was Wriothsly Earl of Southampton and some others of quality and with Profane policie to serve their turns with both factions Papist and Puritan Essex his outside to these professing Hypocriticall zeal and frequent Sermons To the other as to Blunt and Davis his inmost secrecies for Tolleration of Religion And thus he spent Michael●as Term. Towards Christmass there passed a watch-word amongst his associates That he intended to stand upon his guard a double sence as of circumspection or force But in truth not to be cooped up with restraint The time of execution was Hilary Term when by invitation or business the Town would fill with his friends But in Candlemass Term they fell to consult at Drury House where Sir Charls Davers lodged a man obliged unto him for his pardon about the Murther of one Long. Sir Ferdinando Gorges Governour of Plymouth sent for by his letter not to fail before the second of February Sir Iohn Davis Surveyor of the Ordinance his former servant And Iohn Littleton a man of wit and valour Their consultation rest upon three parts The perusal of a List of confederates How to act Distribution of each mans action The List was 106. Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen of Essex own hand writing The action was in two Articles Possessing the Tower Surprizing the Q. Court In which was deliberated what course to hold with the City towards effecting the surprize or after The Tower would give reputation and security to the Action by means of Davis but most of the rest were jealous that whilst they built
upon two foundations one must fail and distract the other therefore the more certain To surprize the Queen the rest would follow The manner thus Certain select persons well known at Court for access should distribute themselves into the Present Guard-Chamber Hall and utter Court and Gate And in each of these places one principal person to guide the assistants Their distribution Sir Iohn Davers to the Presence and Guard-Chamber to seize the Halberds of the Guard Davis to the Hall Blunt to the Gate These in readiness by a signall Essex should remove from his house and well attended or to meet him should with correspondence of the setters and some tumult and confusion effect their design Thus the plot-form the second act to their Tragedy that Essex should prostrate him self at the Queens feet desire removall of evil Counselors who possessed her Majesty and State Then to summon a Parliament alter Government and confirm conditions to themselves In this consult Essex inclined most for possessing London as a surer ground to that of the Court also Being wedded to his false overweening opinion of the people and Citizens and their number Suspecting belike the instinct loyalty of many of his Train when the fury should be over and he perhaps left in the lurch with the fewest of his friends The true Nature of usurping Rebells to ●rust more to the main of Multitude than of qualitie especially Essex who had gotten I know not how nor by what merit the specious Mark of a Patriot proper to infuse and mint jealousies into the heads of the more unworthy and less prudent and these he could easily stirr up by Emissaries who lye at watch to bo utefeux it and inflame mens minds to disperse abroad unshrowded sparks of discord and that way to convert a Kingdom into a flame But this Counsel was afterwards refined by Essex Cuffe and Blunt To assemble a Troop to come sodainly from the Mews in scattered Numbers and unite in a moment at the Court Gate And as good Common-wealths men lest their new contrivements should want Ministers they would supply in a readiness of their own for Counselors and Servants to the Queen in place of such evil ones the beaten path of Traytors as they thought fit to remove which should be their plausible pretext to their own practices and a general ground to the common people The day drawing nigh but not assigned being left to my Lord the Curse of the Psalmist interposed like the untimely fruit of the woman brought forth before it came to perfection For many that knew of the plot diligent with too much resort at Essex house brought forth mutterings of somewhat which states soon discover The afternoon 7. February before the next day of Rebellion was sent to Essex house Secretary Herbert to summon him before the Council sitting at Salisbury Court at the Lord Treasurer Buckhursts which he excused not to do under colour of being ill And suspecting the discovery of his Trains and doubting delays resolved upon his enterprize the next day Sunday But then upon advertizement of doubling the Court Guards and allarum there he determined on his former conceipt of being the peoples darling and the Minion of London upon confidence of Sir Thomas Smith the City Sheriff Giving out that Evening that he was sent for to Counsel to be betrayde by an Ambuscado of Musketeers upon the water by the devise of the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Ralegh to murther him by the way This mean design the best he had took fire like a squib the Messages and warning to his chief confidents all that night and next morning And his servant Temple took up his Tale and told it to the City And to colour it the more watch and ward was up all night to open his gates to all comers in so that the morning hastens Mannors Earl of Rutland Southampton Lord Sands Sir Henry Parker called Lord Mounteagle with some Number of Knights and Gentlemen and being Sunday it gave occasion to others to come to his Sermon whom he carressed with his Cap in his hand telling them his former tale But to his more confidents That he was sure of the City and that strength which the Queen could not oppose nor his Enemies withstand his revenge Alwaies with this caution to his Gate-Keepers to suffer none to return out to tel News Sunday at 10. a clock the Queen had intelligence and yet was willing to cast water on this fire ere it should flame to a Rebellion her authority before her force she sent the Lord Keeper Earl of Worcester the Controuler of hir Houshold the Lord chief Justice who finding the Gates shut after some stay were let in by the wicket but all their servants kept out except the bearer of the Seal the Court full of Company with Essex and his Lords to whom the Lord Keeper said That the Queen sent them to understand the reason of their Assembly that if they had cause of griefs against any persons whatsoever they should have hearing and justice Essex told them aloud That his life was sought to be murthered in his bed and had been perfidiously dealt withall The Chief Justice answered If any such matter were attempted or intended it were fit for him to declare it and to be assured of their faithfull relation and so He should not fail of her Majesties Princely Indifferency and Iustice. Southampton objected the assault upon him by the Lord Gray to which the Chief Justice said that justice had been done and the party in prison The Keeper required Essex to impart his griefs if not openly yet privately and promised satisfaction Upon this arose a high clamour of the multitude Away my Lord they abuse you they destroy you they undoe you you lose time The Lord Keeper putting on his hat commanded them all upon their Allegiance to lay down their weapons and depart When Essex and all the rest clapt on their Caps and going into the House the Lords followed him as to have private conference and fearing the Multitude who ●ryed out kill them shop them up keep them pledges ●●st the great seal out at window And accordingly he gave them in custody principally to Sir Iohn Davis and one Owen Salisbury a seditious notorious robber guarding them with Muskets fired and cockt and left the charge of his house to Sir Gilly Merrick bidding the Lord Keeper to have patience whilst he would take order with the Maior and Sheriffs for the City and be with them again within an hour So goes forth with his Number 200. men entered Ludgate and with a fearfull timorous discomposed tale repeated That he should have been murthered and so passing through Cheap-side unto Sir Thomas Smiths house in Philpot-lane who was at Church where he shifts into a dry shirt the passion of fear firing him into a hot sweat The people flocking and gazing as he went To whom
opposed by any cunning whatsoever if understood by Her he might not so easily have come to this Crown And truly whether his virtue and goodness more remark in Him than usual in Princes guided him in that to depend onely upon the providence of God for his Birth-right or that his policy under hand wrought him any advantage certainly the Success must crown the Work to admiration For though he might not despise honest and honourable advice in such correspondence as was necessary under hand with the Counsellours of Queen Elizabeth to secure himself for the time to come yet we reade not of any that came to light or so much in her days as private suspition The Reign and Death OF KING IAMES OF Great Britain France and Ireland the First c. SO then in a seasonable conjunction of things and time he succeeded Queen Elizabeth who departted this life on Thursday the 24th of March 1602. at her manor-Manour-house of Richmond early in the morning that day being fatal to Henry 8. and to all his Children dying on Thursdays and her Funerals sumptuously solemnized with all speed in April following The same day the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled and having proclamed her Death and the Right and Title of King Iames to succeed her being lineally expressed from Margaret eldest Daughter to Henry 7th and Elizabeth his Wife who was eldest Daughter to Edward 4th and married to James 4th King of Scotland in the year 1503. just a hundred years since who had issue James 5th Father to Mary the First and Mother to this King James the Sixth now 36. years of age and so long King of Scotland Then they poast Letters to the King by the hands of Sir Charls Percy Brother to the Earl of Northumberland and Thomas Somerset Son to the Earl of Worcester signifying the Death of their late Sovereign betwixt two and three of the clock that morning And knowing his Right of Succession they have made Proclamation thereof at Westminster White-hall and Cheapside Cross and seeing they remain a Body without a Head they humbly desire his M●jesty to hasten how soon and in what manner he pleaseth And therein complain as in publick that Sir Robert Cary poasted from hence towards your Majesty contrary to their consent and command thereby as much as in him lay to prevent and anticipate their duty and respect They acquaint the King of a fleet of ten ships royall ready furnished for the Coast of Spain under Command of Sir Richard Lawson whose Commission no● ceasing by the Queens death they desire his Majesties pleasure whether they shall guard the Narrow Seas or be c●lled to the Coast of Scotland as a Convey for the Kings use Dated in London And therefore Robert Leigh Maior Signed first But as in this letter so it goes in Common report that Cary let out by his father Hunsdon Lord Chamberlain came first to the King upon his own score But secretary Cecills secret Packquets went before him or these letters or else he had little credit in his own Commands The King communicates these letters to his Lords and returns them his acknowledgment of their dutifull affections He confirms for the present all Offices Civil Martial as at the Queens death til his farther pleasure Dated the 28. and 31. of March which the Lords heer proclaim the 5. of April after And though the King sets forth his interest of succession commanding both Nations in unity of duty to him and brotherly affection to each other yet did the Scots Borderers make Inrodes into England which was severely punished and all for Example executed to death The King orders his Journey the 5. of April the Queen to follow 20. da●es after Prince Henry Duke Charles and Princess Elizabeth at further pleasure Brings with him those of the greatest birth and most interest in the blood royall who though farr enough off to follow after his Numerous issue of a teeming fruitfull Consort yet too neer to be trusted at home And each one of them begat trouble and charge upon him ever after to reward or to raise them up beyond any desert in both he was wisely regarding Those were Lenox Hamelton Arguile Mar Kinloss and Lord Hewm and a couple of Knights Sir George Hew● and Sir Iohn Ramsey of neer affection with the King So it became his future security advantage to caress those that ushered him in and had underhand merited somewhat from former very late advise and Intelligence how to correspond with his jealous Predecessor we may conceive those then in being for most of the old Ones out-liv'd not that their policie were the Howards and Percies and Caecils The first of them of high birth and former merit the Linage of the late Duke of Norfolk who suffered under the Axe for his affection to this Kings Mother as aforesaid anno 1569. And his brother Henry Howard with the Lord Cobham were the first of Eminencie that met the King at Barwick The last of great wisdom and experience for the Kings urgent affairs to make proper use of And at York Thomas Cecil Lord Burghley President of the North receives him who comes on with his Train and needed no other Guard than the affections of the People that hurried him forward with Excessive Acclamations soon forgetting as the manner of the Multitude their late Sovereign in the hope of a likelyer change in a King with which for many years this Nation had been really unacquainted And so was He feasted by the way freely at each Residence of his Person where he lodged untill he came unto Godmanchester in the Country of Northampton where they presented him with 70. Teem of Horses fairly traced unto as many new Ploughs in honor of Tillage A Custome very antient when their Sovereigns pass that Town being his Tenants and holding their land by that Tenure The King told them He liked their ayre so well and took their gift so kindly as but for undoing such good people in their bounty to visit them often which afterwards he performed that Custome being but for the first time to the comfort of that Town and County At Broxborn his next Gest there met him the gravity of the greatest Officers Egerton Lord Chancellor Buckhurst Lord Treasurer Howard Lord Admiral with the most of the Council and Nobility At Ware the King came to Wiggen heretofore so base a Cottage as begat a saying If a Man would answer the Asker as in despair That it should be granted when as the King comes to Wiggen And at Theobalds the seat of Sir Robert Cecil Secretary of State he stayes for four dayes Entertainment where were made of his Council these Scotish Lords Lenox Mar Hew● Elphington and Kinloss And of English Henry Howard and his Nephew Thomas Howard brother and sonne to the late Duke of Norfolk and 28. Knights-Bachelors dubbed The Name Knight is from
curtesie of Speech not de jure nor have privilege as Lords of Parliament and these are the Son and Heir of a Duke called an Earl his eldest Son a Baron but not in Pleadings and so of Daughters stiled Ladies by curtesie onely On Saint Iames his day in Iuly the King and Queen were crowned at Westminster in that fatal Chair of Sovereigns anointing in it remains a large blackish Stone Jacob's Pillow say the Scots in his Ladder Dream of the Messias from his Loins and indeed so ceremonious he was then that he sacrificed thereon naming it Domus Dei and in his Return from Laban forgat not thereon to pay his Vows in which esteem he conveyed it with his R●licks in his general remove to Egypt but from thence the Israelites flying in haste and pursued they it seems left th●s Monument behinde and one Gathelus wedded to Pharaoh's Daughter though a stranger observant of the Hebrews Rites transported it to Galicia of his name Port-Gathelick thence by his Seed carried into Ireland so by Ferguard sent to Penthland or Scotland crowning their Kings thereon And Edward 3. brought it from thence Even then when grave Bards did sing that ancient Saw Ni fallat fatum Scoti hunc quocunque locatum Inveniunt Lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem The Scots sall bruke that Ream as Naitiff Grund Gif Wierds fail nocht quhair eir this Chair is fund Another very ancient Post Iacobum Iacobus Iacobum Iacobus quoque quintus At sextus Iacobus Regno regnabit utroque After a James sall be a James a third James and a fourth A fifth James also but the sixth sall sway the Scepters both These are no conceits commonly made up ere half-molded for they were read many Ages before he or his abortive Book were born And with his Crown he taketh Oath To keep and maintain the Right and Liberties of the Church and shall keep all the Lands Honours and Dignities righteous and free of the Crown of England and the Rights of the Crown decayed and lost he shall call again to his power into the ancient Estate shall keep the peace of the Church of the Clergy and People and do Equity and Iustice with discretion and mercy shall hold the Laws and Customs of the Realm and the evil Laws put out to establish peace to the People and no Charter to grant but by Oath Abridgment Henry 8. Statutes This Ceremony ended there were 24. Knights of the Bath invested who were received into White-hall in the evening and supped together in one Room sitting by degrees with their Escocheons of their proper Arms placed above their Heads they were lodged upon Pallats on the floor under their Arms after they had been bathed in several Baths provided in Chambers the next morning they were apparelled in Hermits weeds and marshalled into Saint James's Park with loud Musick and the Heralds going before and so about the Courts of White-hall and then into the Chapel with their Reverence before the Altar-table and the Cloath of Estate as at St Georges Feast they take their places in stalls theirs Arms above and hear Service Then each Knight with his two Esquires offered at the Altar Pieces of Gold and so retired in the former manner to their Chambers and then adorned themselves with Robes of Crimson Taffata with Hats and white Feathers and so were conducted to the King into the Presence-chamber under the Cloath of State who girt each of them with a Sword and had gilt Spurs put on their Heels dined together and so to the Even-Song at the Chapel where they offered their Swords The next day in Robes of Purple Sattin with Doctors Hoods on their shoulders Hats with white Feathers and so feasted again and lodged that night as before and the next day departed They are dignified and distinguished from other Knights by a Medall of three Crowns of Gold which is hanging at a Red Ribband which they should wear about their necks during their life These Knights are commonly Youths of the Sons of Noblemen or Nobless So now the King is established with all the Rites of Co●firmation in Honour and Love of his People and may be ranked in competition with the most for the Western Monarchy which had been hotly pursued by Henry 8. in opposition to France and Spain about whose time the House of Austria settled into that Design And because we have left the King in joyfull solemnity let us step aside out of the Court jollity and seriously consider the cunning contrivances of neighbour Kings heretofore for Imperial domination It was set on work by union of Mariage in Charles the Grand-Child of Maximilian the Emperour of the House of Austria and of Ferdinand of Spain who being heir to them both inherited also the Netherland Arragon Castile Scicile and the Indies 1503. And because Lewis of France as great in power stood in Competition the other therefore sought to Master it by cunning inter-marriage with Charles and his daughter Claud which was no sooner contracted but as sodainly crackt and He affianced to Mary the Daughter of Henry the seventh of England and to whose sonne Arthur Ferdinand had married Katherin his youngest daughter 1506. This double union with England encourages the other to break with France but Arthurs death and his father soon following and they still afraid of France clap up a fresh match with the widdow Katherin and Henry the eighth and a Bull subdated the Popes death dispensed with it 1510. Henry the eighth left rich by his father young and active is put upon quarrels with France that either Kingdoms might spend themselves in War as they did in wonderfull designes To whose assistance the other interpose with either party and with inconstancy as the necessity of State-Interest intervened But upon Maximilians death the Emperial Crown falls in Competition of France and Spain Charles now put to it seeks to get in with England and acknowledges the fowl Inconstancies of his Predecessors towards Henry the eighth In which he confesses as he was involved so his youth and duty then tyed him more to Obedience than Truth but now grown a Man and Himself the mutual dangers of either would give assurance for his part where otherwise he saith single faith might mistrust Henry the eighth thus cousened into some kindness both by his own power and purse makes Charles Emperour and the French King his Prisoner 1519. And so his turn served a peace is concluded with France and the King of England at whose charge all was effected is left out of any satisfaction And to amuze him from revenge intices Desmond to rebell in Ireland and assisted Iames the fift of Scotland with amunition and mony to buysie England at home 1526. And being in this height of Imagination to have wrought wonders in reducing the Election of the Popes from the Cardinals to the Emperour set others to quarrel with the Pope also who very
hapily in the nick of time confederates with the Italian Princes with the French and with Henry the eighth as Caput foederis and so Charles is forc'd to descend and at a Treaty at Cambray obliged to render some Pieces to the French and so to sit still from open violence The General safety of Christian Princes necessarily being involved in the danger But He begins again and contracts to assist Henry the eighth for his Title to France who no sooner entered into war and recovered Bullen but the Emperour concludes a perpetual peace with France and joynt confederation for restoring the Catholick Religion which was much declined of its lustre by the protestation of Luther and others in Germanie and soon after spread into all parts of Christendom Henry the eighth wearied with other mens designes with vast expence of blood treasure dies and leaves all the glory of his good actions to this son Edward the sixth who succeeds with no advantage by these and with less money in his purse whose wise Counsel meddles the less with Spain or France but contracts onely Union with the German Princes and other Allyes in confederation of Religion that could best ballance the Emperours ambition His successor Mary Imbarks her body in mariage with Philip of Spain and her Estate in war with France and lost Calice into the bargain 1558. Queen Elizabeth comes to the Crown and at the Treaty of Cambray King Philip pretends to assist her in recovery of Calais but his own turn served he leaves her in the lurch to work out her own safety but under a feigned pretence of Mariage wrought a stay of the Popes declaration against the Queen grounding this favour no doubt from his own fears lest that a Union of France with Scotland in the person of Mary the Mother of this King Iames should Unite these three Kingdomes against him How equall soever Queen Elizabeth had been for peace or war in her own nature and her people humble to follow her will in either yet her course more ambitious in ballancing Neighbour Princes from overgrowing than apt to conquer others carried her all her life in defensive actions at home and abroad and so to impoverish her Enemies but not to inrich her self for by those courses King Iames found her Treasure exhausted and the Estate of the House of Austria in this Condition when he came hither As for the French King his Crown-demain exhausted which he endeavours to recover by Impositions the people light enough the Nobility prone to dismember upon every occasion and so not easie to be governed for the Sovereigns Designs or Interest the Kingdom thereby the likelier to be cantonized by self-division than to conquer others yet their native wealth and variety of Objects preserve both King and people to live secure from their mighty Enemy the Spaniards even by the providence of chance I speak as it was when King Iames came here He saw Germany upon an immoveable centre of self-greatness governed with Bit and Bridle by the Emperour to do as he list with all the Princes or they by love or by fear obeying And however the Danish King was so much of Kin as to stick to his Brother King Iames's friendship the benefit of his Sound and unexhausting profit able to second with Ships and Money and active undertaking yet no doubt if to be trusted unto with all these helps the King might find him wary lest by strengthening a Neighbour himself become overmastered And indeed too wise in common actions to intangle his Estate being also in those daies not so absolute to do of Himself without leave of his people what he hath done very lately against this State in favour of the Dutch he feels the smart I need not repeat it The Swede incompassed with dangers and Enemies the Pole pretending Title to that Kingdom and in Arms they were for the wager and defended barely enough by the distance of Sea and Land between them Be fi des the Dane upon his back in all Advantages to quicken the quarrel though Providence since hath done wonders The Cantons swoln big with pride and equality divide themselves between two Monarches France and Spain that for each others ends they are supported by them both as their hired servants Italy distinguished into Principalities yet bundled together by common caution restrained of their freedoms by force of French and Spanish Multiply profit by strangers and spare the pains to do it themselves So by this narrow kind of wisdom become all Merchants and abused by the Conclave and Spain as never to be Monarchal The Muscovite from a Duke grown big with a Timpanie of Titles was kept under by the more huge and vast Enemy the Tartar making Inrodes of barbarous Murther upon each other without any Interest of Christian Princes unless sometime the Pole at leasure quarrels for the skirt of his Empire as he did very lately and prevailed Now whilst these Potentates lived thus fettered within the narrowness of their Estates or Humours Spain managing the Popedom by his power in the Conclave and pensions to the Cardinals seemed to give law to the Western part of the Christian world His Mines of gold effectual not only to carry on any design with Fleets and Armies where he had will or interest But also to make way where he list by corrupting the Counsels and Actions of any King with temptation and underminings either by his purse or the pates of Iesuits So that in a word he was now grown hard to be pleased and dangerous to be offended Through all these Considerations King Iames comes in to choose his Game and through all these distempers abroad he was to secure himself and his new Inheritance His safest way to take breath for the present was to make peace with Spain first of all and after with the rest which indeed were done together presuming that being in his power so to do then it should depend on his pleasure to break off after or to conserve it to his death which he did And being a wise and wary Prince rather solid than formal having been well seasoned at home with practice and broken to affairs abroad therefore now freed from former Distempers he began to search into the ground of his preceding miseries in Scotland and well assured where the Sword bears sway Virtue and Fortune the Guiders of the best of humane Action do not always endure the lasting no not of the memory of the Actors Here therefore He began to consider what advance ambitious Princes lust after for the present when hazardous success hurls upon them miserable events He was not ignorant of the interests of Christian Estates one with the other as is said and how it concerned them to caress him for his amity Amongst them all whom to trust he was not assured and how to depend upon his new Inheritance without confederacy
Kings to the Commons in Parliament and they to joyn with the Peers from whence it became the wisdom of Princes how to mannage this Government and to maintain this Form Lest some of this Body knit under one Head should swell and grow monstrous And Monarchy may sooner groan under the weight of Aristocracy as it often did than under Democracy which till now it never felt nor feared The Actions of which singly are inconsiderable after many Conjunctions grow at last into one great perfecting power or into Destroying Factions like smaller Brooks falling into some Main River The Parliament of England of long time and at this present was come to be a Convention of the Estates of the Kingdom assembled by the King of Bishops Peers and Peoples Commissioners They sat in two senate-Senate-Houses or Chambers named a Higher and a Lower The Higher called also the House of Peers the Bishops and Peers viz. Dukes Marquesses Earls and Barons sit together with whom sit the Judges of the law for their advice not voice The Lower House called also the House of Commons is constituted of Knights of the Shire two Elected of every Shire and of Cities and Incorporations one or more Burgesses The day and place of Assembly is appointed by the King and adjourned removed elsewhere and dissolved at his pleasure The Lords or Peers are called by writs transmitted to them under the Kings hand The Commons by the Kings writ out of Chancery The writ to the Peers runs thus James by the Grace of God c. To the most reverend father in Christ so he stiles the Bishops Cousin if he speaks to the Peers for as much as by the advice of our Council upon some diffident and urgent affairs us and the State and defence of our Kingdom of England and the Church of England concernant We have ordained that our Parliament be held at c. there to consult and Treat with you and the rest of the Prelates Nobles and Heads of our said Kingdom of England We strictly charge and command you on your faith and love if to the Bishops by your fealty and Alleagance if to the Peers wherein you stand bound to us that considering the difficulty of the said affairs and the dangers iminent laying aside whatsoever excuse you be personally present on the said day and place with us and the rest of the Prelates Nobles and Heads to treat and give your advice touching the said affairs and this as you tender us and our Honour and the safety of our said Kingdom and Holy-Church and dispatch of the said affairs may you in no wise omit if he writes to the Bishops to warn the Dean and Chapiter of your Church and the whole Clergie of your Diocess that the same Dean and Arch-Deacons in their proper persons and the said Chapiter by one and the same Clergie by two sufficient substitutes having plenary and sufficient power from the said Chapiter and Clergy be personally present on the said day and place to consent to these things which then and there by the favor of the divine Clemencie shall happen to be ordained by the Common advice of our Kingdom Witness ourselves c. The other writ to the Sheriffs and Mayors of the Cities and Corporations is thus The King to the Sheriff Greeting For as much by the advice and consent of our Council and so goes on as above and there to confer and treat with the Prelates Peers and Heads of our Kingdom We strictly charge and command you that by proclamation made in your Shire upon the receipt of our writ you cause two Knights with swords by their sides the most sufficient and discreet of the Shire and of every City of that County two Citizens and of every Borough two Burgesses of the most discreet and sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by such as shall be present at the Proclamation according to the form of the Statutes on that behalf set forth and provided And the Names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses to be inserted in certain Indentures to be drawn between you and them that shall be present as such Elections whether the persons so chosen be present or absent And then to come at the same day and place so that the said Knights have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Communalty of the said Shire and the said Citizens and Burgesses for themselves and the Communities of the Cities Boroughs respectively from the same to do and consent to such things as then and there shall happen by Gods assistance to be ordained by the commune advice of our Kingdom concerning the affairs offered so that by your neglect therein the said affairs in any case remain not undone Notwithstanding we will not that you or any other Sheriff of our Kingdom be chosen At the day and place they meet at the Church first then at the Parliament-Houses orderly in their Robes with solemn gate such as might increase in the people the authority of their siting Then the King enters the upper-Upper-House and either in his own person or by the mouth of his Chancellor declares the weighty causes of their Assembling in Contemplation whereof he desires their advice to communicate their Counsels in doubtfull matters most certain That himself be present at these consultations needs not but only as oft as he sees good There is no necessity after this unless in the end of the Session to add the strength and force of Laws to their results The Knights Citizens and Burgesses in the Lower-House are Man by Man called forth by their Names by some one delegated by the King and each is made to take the Oath of Alleageance heretofore was this I will keep true faith and Alleageance to James by the grace of God c. King His Heirs and successors Him and them I will defend to my utmost strength and with the hazard of my life and fortunes against all conspiracies and attempts against his Person Crown and Dignity And lest any should dream of a Consortship in Government there was superadded the Oath of Supremacy in these words I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highness is the onely Supreme Governour of this Realm and all other his Highness Dominions and Countreys as well in all Spiritual and Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no forein Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Iurisdiction Power Superiority Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm and therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all forein Iurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise that from henceforth I shall ●ear Faith and true Alleageance to the Kings Highness his Heirs and lawfull Successors and to my power shall assist and defend all Iurisdictions Privileges Preheminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successors or united and
Brethren in Scotland that they should be enforced also to conform to the utter destruction of their Sion there To qualifie this News another Proclamation comes out in September after against such calumnious surmises That the King will not alter that Form of Government proper for their constitution without Counsel there and so refers mens ●xpectation to the general Assembly to meet at Dundee in Scotland in July after It was usual with the Presbyters in Scotland to have a general Assembly once a year and oftner pro re nata upon any urgent occasion The last was a little before the Kings coming hither 1602. And the next this appointed at Aberdene this year and therefore then adjourns that Meeting unto which he especially had an eye as mistrusting their ill humors to this Summer 1604. And now also prorogues it to a longer day by Proclamation in Scotland Notwithstanding thirteen of them convene at Aberdene and in spite of the Council Authority they formallized their Judicature by constituting a Moderator a Clerk and other essential Members The Privy Council there send a Messenger accompanied with a Herald of Arms to discharge and dissolve their Meeting These holy Fathers in this Sanhedrim protested They would not nor could give way to the Kings sacrilegious power usurped which properly belonged to the Church virtual the Assembly and so sat still till they pleased and after appointed a day for the next Assembly The King hears of this and commands them to be cited and punished These men undanted appear with a Protestation a Declination from the Kings Council and appeal to their own next General Assembly as the sole and competent Judg and were therefore pursued criminally before their Lord Iustice General upon the Act of Parliament 1584. for Treason Some of them acknowledged their fault the rest Zelots were convict ad terrorem and banished and after upon submission were restored to better Benefices The excellent Acts and Laws in this Session prorog●ed to the fifth of November I finde our voluminous Historian passes over excepting against their number too tedious for his brevity being unwilling to mention any thing of so much honour to the King though he can waste time and paper to tell you that the blessing of his Initiation Peace and Plenty brought idle people to Luxury Roaring-boys Bravadoes Roisters and makes it a fault in the King that he breeds his People no better The Parliament began the 19. of March 1603. and continued untill the 7. of Iuly 1604. and then prorogued unto the 7. of February In this Parliament they made a Recognition of the lawfull descending of the Crown to the King his Progeny and Posterity Commissioners of England and Scotland for to treat of the Union That no Bishop should assure Lands to the King Former Statutes against Recusants to be executed Divers other Statutes concerning the City and several Towns Corporate as also other Statutes for the good of the Land And conclude with a Subsidy of Tunnage and Poundage of Wools c. The Kings second Son Charls heretofore in Scotland created Duke of Albany Marquess of Ormond Count Ross and Lord of Ardmannoth is now this year created Duke of York by the girding of the Sword Cap and Circlet of Gold put upon his Head and golden Verge into his Hand to him and his Heirs males for ever with the Fee of fourty pounds per annum out of the issue and profits of that County He is made by Patent and witnessed by all the Lords of the Privy Council and other Peers of the Realm at Westminster the 6. of Ianuary 2. Iac. 1604. K. Edw. 3. by his Charter created Edward his eldest Son the black Prince Duke of Cornwall cum feodo to him and his Heirs the first begotten Sons and Dukes of the same place so that he that is hereditable Duke of Cornwall is Dux natus non creatus and the first day of his birth is in Law presumed to be of full age and may sue out his Livery as at one and twenty years and this was the first Duke in England the reason may be because the Norman Kings themselves were Dukes of Normandy for a long time they adorned none with this Honour of Duke The Papists had very evil success in all their Designs heretofore against Queen Elizabeth and her Religion and were somewhat quieted in hopes that the Kings reception hither might prove troublesom and so proper for them to work in such waters but the Kings late Speech was desperately understood for they being denied Toleration plot his and the whole States destruction by blowing up all in the House of Parliament A story so horrid and therefore so necessary to be communicated to the memorial of our Childrens Children The Parliament having been twice prorogued already in regard of the Seasons of the year and the Terms The time drawing near their Sitting upon Saturday ten days before about seven of the clock at night a Letter sealed was delivered by an unknown Fellow unto a Foot-man of the Lord Mounteagle Son and Heir to the Lord Morley charging him to give it to his Lords own hands who opening the same found it without Date or Subscription and in Letters not easily legible and the matter to him less intelligible but as God would have it he in this doubt repairs herewith to the Earl of Salisbury principal Secretary of State who also in some doubt of the construction the King being absent in his return from Roiston they acquainted the Lord Chamberlain the Earl of Su●folk herewith and after consultation they joyned the Lord Admiral the Earls of Worcester and Northampton but stayed all manner of proceeding untill the Kings coming Thursday night next after Salisbury shews it him The Letter was MY Lord out of the love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some Excuse to shift off your attendance this Parliament for God and Man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this Time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Countrey where you may expect the event in safety for though there be no appearance of any s●ir yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it to whose holy protection I commend you The King conceived the Letter not to be contemned the stile quick and pithy not usual with Libells and judged the words terrible Blow this Parliament and not see who hurts them to be meant by Gun-pouder joyning thereto the other words For the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter
is going to call up the Earl of Northumberland at Essex house where they both finde one Lepton got on hors-back at Essex gate which was conceived to seek out Piercy but Winter going to White-hall findes the Gates shut and the way to Westminster guarded and being told that a Treason was discovered to blow up the Parliament he hasts to his Horse and gallops down to Catesby to Dunschurch the place of Rendezvouz On Thursday they meet there seize Arms at the Lord Windsors and that night to Master Littleton's house one of their number when news came that Catesby was burnt by accident of drying their Pouder Littleton advises Winter to fly he would not till he might see his Friends Catesby's body and bury it but finding him reasonable well with Piercy Wright Rockwood and Grant they all resolved to keep together to fight and die when the Countrey came in both the Wrights killed Catesby and Piercy with one Bullet and Winter wounded and taken This was his Confession and true but the whole story was thus interwoven The News spread abroad of this Accident being on Tuesday morning the fifth of November and the first day of Parliament Winter and the two brothers Wrights hasten out of Town for Catesby and Piercy were gone the morning before and all of them towards their Rendezvouz in Warwickshire towards Coventre where the very next day about the hour that Fauks was taken at Westminster Iohn Grant with others his companions all Papists broke open Benock's Stable a Rider of great Horses in that County and carried away all being eight of them and so both this company as also those which fled out of London met at Dunchurch Sir Digby's house on Tuesday night having appointed a Match of Hunting the next morning according to their former plotting But finding their treachery prevented and not prevailing by a private villany they now resolve to practise publick Rebellion to make up their wickedness any way And first grounded their cause Religion with some provisions of Ammunition Army Pouder and Horses they roved up and down to gather company by whose example it was possible some other such like in other Counties might joyn Forces considerable to raise a Rebellion of themselves never in number above eighty Serving-men and Hors-boys who were watcht hourly for fear of quitting their Masters quarrel and so wandring through these Counties of Warwick and Worcester were by the Sheriff of Worcester taken killed or disperst about Littleton's house Strange were the Accidents which brought the Countrey upon them for as yet the Kings Proclamations had not reacht thither nor was their Treason discovered to them But the Riot of Grant forcing the House for the Horses was an insolency pursued with Hue and Cry among the Commons that the Countrey rise to know the reason Sir Fulk Grevil the elder was then Lieutenant of Warwickshire whose wisdom soon apprehended the danger to be the Indices of Rebellion instantly seizes Ammunition and Arms of all about him either absent from home or doubtfull and with such further directions that a poor Smith got hold on Winter who was rescued by his company and sixteen taken by the Towns-men and by the Sheriff Sir Richard Verney sent Prisoners to London Sir Richard Walsh of Worcestershire pursues them to Littleton's house as aforesaid and there makes a stand sends a Trumpet to command obedience to him as his Majesties Minister and Sheriff and not knowing more of their Treason than was visible by the Tumult promises to intercede with the King to spare their punishment of Death They as best witnesses to their own consciences and high demerit return him in scorn That he must get more help ere he be able to defend himself And whilest thus at parley without the principal of them within drying two pound of Pouder far enough from the Chimney yet a Spark flew out and fell amongst it blew up another Bag-full but not fired and so maimed and disabled Catesby himself Rockwo●d Grant and others of greatest account thereby made unable of forceable defence and wonderfully amazed with horror of conscience thus to be met with by mischief of their own Mineral In quo peccamus in eodem plectimur as forthwith falling down on their knees prayed to God for pardon of their sins opened the Gates and desperately seeking their own destruction Catesby and Piercy back to back were killed with one shot and both the Brothers Wrights and others slain Winter Tresham and the rest taken alive were sent to the next Gaol and so up to London and were met with by such a concourse of people out of the City as the like were never seen wise and weak women and children wondring at these Monsters Tresham in the Tower died of a Strangury the two Winters Grant Rockwood Digby Fauks Keys and Bates were each of them at several times and places arreigned condemned and executed as in case of Treason To disjoyn them in their Designs These labored in the Mine These were afterwards engaged to them Esquires Robert Catesby Robert Winter Gentlemen Thomas Piercy Thomas Winter Iohn Wright Christop Wright Guido Fauks Thomas Bates Catesby 's Man Knight Sir Everard Digby Esquires Ambrose Rockwood Francis Tresham Gentleman Iohn Grant Robert Keys The second Session of this Parliament prorogued till the 5. of November and being on the fourth day met again they enlarged other excellent Laws against Papists wisely discerning how that creeping Monarchy of Rome by her Arch-Instruments the Jesuits had already planted five Schools as fit bates in divers reformed states intending so to tempt those well-believing people with that old forbidden Tree of knowledg as they might sinne desperately against their Sovereign before they knew it But the Parliament enacted the Anniversary Commemoration of this day to be observed for ever with thanksgiving to God for this delivery of which a Man may hardly assure any long continuance Are we bound more to obey it than the statutes of God Almighty for solemnity of several Festivals which all Christians observe and we onely neglect And asscribing the discovery of this Powder-plot to the divine spirit of the King by his Interpreting the dark phrases of the Letter to Mounteagle They gave to the King three intire subsidies and six fifteens together with four subsidies of four shillings in the pound granted by the Clergie amounting in all to four hundred fifty and three thousand pounds And Caecil for his good service was Created Earl of Salisbury The Acts in this Session were these Certain Persons attainted of the Gun-Powder Treason and their Estates Confiscate An Act to prevent and avoid dangers of Papists Recusants To avoid the City and Court unless Inhabitants here disabled from Offices nor to practise Law nor Physick Penalty one hundred pounds wonderfull strickt Act for free Trade of all Merchants to Spain Portingal and France as well as others that have Incorporate Charters Against Misdemeanors of Attornies and Solicitors of the
nor protection That the King hath not taken up wisdom of Government upon credit but carrieth still the Iethro of order in his own bosom disposing the mean causes to the Rulers over hundreds and fifties reserving the greatest to the greatness of himself And freely professes though he doth not participate with the follies of the Fly upon the wheel of fortune yet is he so far ambitious of his Masters favour as to be not so much his creature by the undeserved Honours he holds from his Majesties grace and power as in desire to be the shadow of his minde towards whose royal Person he glories more to be honest and humble than to command in any other Calling And to say that men resolved to die are Masters over others lives such power hath the least Spider by permission and if so that the days of his life were in their hands to take from him some moneths of joys so more years of sorrow but he believes not that the Mountains shake when the Moles do cast nor thinks he to purchace a span of time as for the fear of any mortal power Aut Deo aut Patriae aut Patri Patriae deesse Magistrates who converse with variety of spirits must undergo Tempests And their Glasses being done that glory which makes worthy men live for ever their Heirs shall inherit after them And therefore Suadeat loquent is vita non oratio Besides Romes powers are discovered her Towers taken and it is suspected that she will play so long with the temporal powers of Kings as their work will break down her walls so therefore it ill becomes their servants to slacken for fear of malice the Evening and the Night shall come upon them naturally one after another their faith shall ascend before them and their good fame shall follow after Et hic ●aculum fixit This next Session of this Parliament the Union was revived by motion of the Kings Solicitor Sir Francis Bacon to have the Scots naturalized by Act of Parliament after many subtil Arguments on both sides pro con and to allay the heat the King convenes both Houses before him at White-hall where with an excellent method he recounts all their former controversed Arguments and concludes with Reasons undeniable for unanimous consent to admit of the Union But to avoid their tedious Disputes I shall onely abbreviate the Kings Speech in answer to all He distinguishes his desires the Union which he seeks is of Laws and Persons such a Naturalizing as may compound one Body of both Nations Unus Rex unus Grex una Lex He unravels their intricate Arguments and sweetens them with his intentions 1. That all hostile Laws should cease because the King of England cannot war with the King of Scotland That community of Commerce is necessary He being no stranger but descended of their ancient Kings It were improper for him to be their natural Sovereign and the Nations strangers to one another and being both under the same Alleageance ought to have more freedom and better respect than Frenchmen and Spaniards 2. They all agree that they are no Aliens then must they be allowed to be natural That there was a difference the Ante and Post-nati of either Kingdom and therefore his Proclamations gave notice that the Post-nati were naturalized by his accession but he confessed that Iudges may err in that opinion who told him so so may Lawyers on their side but bids them beware of abusing either lest they endeavour to disgrace King and Laws who have power when Parliaments are not to try them for Lands and Lives 3. That there were some flatterers and would prefer the Ante-nati upon a jearing pretence to have their merit preferred in his service Mel in ore fel in corde But they shall know his Prerogative can prefer at his own pleasure to any Dignity though he is willing to restrain himself for respects to the English He urged it as a special mark of Prerogative to endow Aliens with freedom and where the Law is not therein clear Rex est Iudex he being Lex loquens supplying the Law where it wants thus he speaks as skilfull in the dues of Sovereignty intends not the pressure upon their love but with conveniency to both Kingdoms The inconveniences as from Scotland are pretended to be 1. An evil affection in them to the Union 2. The Union to be incompatible 3. The gain small or none Why then is there talk of Union They allege Reasons of the first from the body of their Act To remain a free Monarchy and not alter Fundamental Laws and yet it was urged heretofore The Scots greedy of this Union to attain to the substance and end These are contradictions but for their free Monarchy he hopes they mean not that he should set Garisons over them as the Spaniards do over Sicily and Naples He need not do so who governs them by his Pen and his Council-commands and his Chancellour there can govern their Tongues too not to speak as ye do what and as long as ye list without contradiction 1. He tells them the Laws of Scotland those of Tenures Wards Liveries Signiories and Lands are in effect drawn out of the Chancery of England brought by Iames the first who lived here and differ onely in terms 2. The second are Statute-laws to which he wishes they would be no strangers 3. The Civil Law brought out of France by Iames the fifth to supply the defects of the Municipal Laws In these respects the Laws alike why not the People First it is an Objection of yours that the King in Scotland hath not a Negative Voice in Parliament he tells them that the Form of Parliaments there inclines nothing to popularity their manner is by Proclamation to bring in their Bills to the Master of the Rolls by a prefixt day then to the King to be allowed by him and then given to the Chancellour to be propounded and no other If any man offers otherwise the Chancellour corrects him and being past the King confirms them rasing out what he doth not approve and if this be a Negative Voice he hath one Secondly that which seems so incompatible is the Union of the French and Scots He assures them it was a League onely between the Kings not the People the occasion was that England and France at one time solicited a League offensive and defensive against each others Enemies The reasons went for England being our Neighbours of one Continent strong and Powerfull Nation and so more security the Amity with England than France far off beyond Seas and hazarded to Accidents of relief Then they who argued for France alleaged that England ever sought to conquer Scotland and therefore never can be Friends The remoteness of France claimes no Interest and therefore more Constant and Faithfull and so it was concluded on their part But then it was concluded meerly Personall from King to King and to be renewed by their Ambassies
And so it was in his Mothers time and without consent of Parliament else it would seem a League of the People And in his time when it came to be Ratifyed least it should appear In odium Tertii it was by Him left out in respect of his Title to England 3. Who is so ignorant as can not see the profit and commodity to England by this Union is there not Gain by Wales is not Scotland greater Lands Seas and Persons added to Greatness certainly Two made One makes them Greater and Stronger He desires Union for the Empire of England and for their security to condescend to reasonable Restrictions And he will never say what he will not promise nor promise what he will not swear nor swear what he will not perform And so dismisses them But although the Parliament could not be drawn to it presently yet not long after it wrought upon the Judges of this Kingdom that the chief Justice Coke confirmed the Post-Nati in Calvins Case and Title And adjudged for him also by that reverend States-man Chancelor Elsmere and all the Iudges likewise in the Exchequer Chamber whose opinions do much confound our Adversary bewailing the Cause That of such stuffe Judges are made who can modell their Presidents to any shape And yet all that this Session could be drawn to do was to repeal the Laws of Hostility between both Nations and so confirmed in Scotland from the fourth of Henry 5. of England and from 1 Iames 1. of Scotland Some excellent Acts were concluded this Session which I refer to the statutes in print But because the Judges in that time are complained of as too partiall for the Kings commands Let me aeternize the memory of Judge Nichols of the common pleas His Predecessor in his Circuite Assize for the County of Northampton had reprieved a Felon indicted before him and found guilty by the Jury and condemned but reprieved by him upon some observation of the weakness of the Evidence This Iudge dying Nichols appointed for that Circuite continues the Prisoners reprieve And the complaint came to the King who urgeth the Judg by letters for Execution which yet he refused His just excuse was That if his Predecessor who heard the Evidence thought good in Iustice to grant his reprieve It became not his Conscience now to condemn him seeing he never heard the Evidence at all And that it was part of his Oath to do right notwithstanding the Kings letters 18. Edward 3. This man therefore the King owned to be a wise learned and just Judge for though he might perhaps have given just Iudgment it could not be true Iustice. Licet aequum statuerit hand aequum fuerit Heretofore Proclamations had been by Queen Elizabeth and King Iames against the excessive repair of persons of quality out of the Country to London by neglecting their duties at home in their respective service to the Common weal the decay of Hospitable Neighborhood and relief of the poor Besides the more room made for them crowded the Mechanick and Trades-men into narrow habitations and dear rents pestering most houses with Inmates Infections and sickness the Country Towns and Burroughs unpeopled trade decayed But these commands not obeyed The wisdom of State was assured that the cause taken away the effects would follow The restraint of New-buildings might necessitate the Gentry to keep to the Country for want of lodgings at easie rates in London And such as should be were prescribed heretofore a form of Brick upright to save Timber so much wanting and to beautifie the streets incroached upon with bay windows and eaves hanging over that even joyned with the opposite Neighbour upon old or new foundations a Custome of freedom in after times of loose liberty which destroys the beauty of buildings And now necessity enforcing a farther Obedience this proclamation hath these Limitations No new buildings in London or two miles about but upon old foundations And such as have been erected within five years last past contrary to former Proclamations which were to be pulled down shall nevertheless be disposed by Officers appointed for tenements to the poor or for their benefit and hereafter offending to be pull'd down No House to be divided hereafter into several Tenements nor any Inmates received to make another family These prohibitions were referred to the Aldermen and Iustices of Peace and this was in October 1607. When the plague ceased and the fresh gang of the Countrey came huddling to keep Christmass at London Our Caluminator that swells his Book with malitious observations and false quotations refers this to 7. Iac. 1609. and belyes the restriction to be pulled down though says he not taken notice of in seven years after for this Proclamation commands the Aldermen and Iustices in their diligent view perambulation and inquiry to certifie the Kings Council every Term or their neglect to be censured punished and removed from the Peace as unworthy Whereby says he many not heeding the Proclamation laid out their whole Estates upon little Hovels and building fair houses upon new foundations must either purchase them anew or pull them down and both to their ruine Name me one that was repurchased Indeed such as offended in this last were to be fined or pulled down And truly the commands were so necessary so wholesome so beautifull and so exemplarily publick that very few offended and such as did deserved due punishment yet this is scored upon the King as a Crime in State which he foresaw would come to pass as now in these days we finde the effects to be pitied the very ruine of this City and Suburbs The Lord Treasurer Dorset died suddenly at the Council-table his Disease an Apoplexy which gave way to Cecil Earl of Salisbury to succeed him Treasurer this Dorset was Thomas Sackvile Son and Heir of Sir Richard Sackvile of Buckhurst who came from the Temple a Barrester and was created Baron Buckhurst by Queen Elizabeth and by King Iames Earl of Dorset 1605. and Knight of the Garter About this time a further discovery was made in Scotland concerning the truth of Gowry's Treason by Attainder of another of the Conspiratours The Treason was attempted the fourth of August 1600. as before remembered and though there followed sundry Suspitions and Examinations of several persons supposed Abettors and Contrivers then yet it lay undiscovered tanquam e post liminio untill this time eight years after by the circumspection principally of the Earl of Dunbar a man of as great wisdom as those times and that Nation could boast of upon the person of one George Sprot Notary publick at Aymouth in Scotland from some words of his sparingly and unawares expressed and some Papers found in his house whereof being examined with little ado he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh 12. August 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman
Sir William Hart then Lord chief Iustice in Scotland and principal in all the Acts of Judicature herein And first Sprot confesseth that Robert Logane late of R●stalrig was privy and foreknowing of Iohn late Earl of Gowry's treasonable conspiracy That divers Letters were interchanged betwixt them therein Iuly 1600. which Letter Iames Bour called Laird Bour Servitour to Restalrig imployed by them and privy to all had in keeping and shewed them to Sprot in Fast-castle That Sprot was present when Bour after five days absence returned with answers by Letters from Gowry and staid all night with Restalrig at Gunnesgreen and rode the next morn to Lothian where he staid six days then to Fast-castle where he abode a short space That Sprot saw and heard Restalrig reade those Letters to Bour and all their conference there annent who said Though he should lose all in the world yet he would pass through with Gowry for that would as well content him as the Kingdom That Sprot himself entered into conference with Bo●r therein who feared that it would be dear to him and prayed Sprot for Gods sake not to intermeddle for he feared within few days the Laird would be landless and liveless That he had these Letters of Restalrig and Gowry which Bour had in keeping and were copied out by Sprot and that the original Letters were in his Chest when he was taken into Custody These and other depositions written by Iames Primrose Clerk of the Kings Council and subscribed George Sprot Present Earl Dunbar Earl Lothian Bishop of Ro●s Lord Schone Lord hallyrood-Hallyrood-house Lord Blantire Sir William Hart Lord chief Justice Iohn Hall Patrick Gallow ay Peter Hewet Minister of Edenburgh and subscribed with all their hands Several other Examinations are attested under his hand with this Protestation That being resolved to die and hopes to be participant of Heaven upon Salvation or Damnation of his Soul that all that he had deposed were true in every point and circumstance and no untruth in them August 12. Sprot was presented in Iudgment upon Pannel in the Talboth of Edenburgh before Sir William Hart Lord chief Justice assisted with these persons Alexander Earl of Dunferling Lord Chancellour George Earl of Dunbar Lord Treasurer Iohn Arch-Bishop of Glasco David Bishop of Rosse Bishop of Galloway Bishop of Brechin Earl of Crawford Earl of Lotharine Lord Abernethe Lord Balmerinoth Lord Blantire Lord Burly Sir Richard Cowburn Iohn Preston Colonel General Sir Iohn Skew Register He was pursued by Sir Thomas Hamilton Knight Advocate to the King for Enteries of the Crimes contained in his Indictments as followeth George Sprot Notary in Aymouth You are indicted and accused for as much as Iohn sometime Earl of Gowry having most treasonably conspired in the moneth of Iuly 1600. to murder our gracious Sovereign the Kings most Excellent Majesty and having imparted that devilish purpose to Robert Logame of Restalrig who allowed of the same and most willingly to be partaker thereof the same coming to your knowledg at the times and in the manner particularly after mentioned you most maliciously and treasonably concealed the same and was art and part thereof And first in the moneth of Iuly 1600. after you had perceived and known that divers Letters and Messages had past betwixt the said Iohn Earl Gowry and the said Robert Logame of Restalrig you being in the house of Fast-castle you saw and read a Letter written by the said Restalrig with his own hand to the said Earl Gowry MY Lord c. At the receit of your Letter I am so confuted that I can neither utter my joy nor finde my self able to requite your Lordship with due thanks and be your Lordship assured that in that matter I shall be as forward for your Honour as if it were my own cause and I think there is no Christian that would not revenge that Machiavilian Massacring of our dear Friends though with hazard of Life and Lands and all My heart can binde me to take part in that matter as your Lordship shall finde proof But one thing your Lordship must be circumspect and earnest with your Brother that he be not rash in any Speeches touching the purpose of Padua And a certain space after the execution of the said Treason the said Logame having desired the Laird of Bour to deliver to him the said Letter or else to burn it and Bour having delivered to you all Tickets and Letters which he then had either concerning Restalrig or others to sue them because he could not reade you abstracted them and retain'd the said Writings in your own hands and divers times read them containing further viz. MY Lord you may easily understand that such a purpose cannot be done as your Lordship intendeth rashly but with deliberation And for my self it were meet to have the men your Lordship spake of ready in a Boat or Bark and address them as if they were taking pleasure on the Sea in such fair Summer time And for your Lordship either to come to my house Fast-castle by Sea or to send your Brother I shall have the House very quiet and well provided after your Lordships advertisement and none shall have access to haunt the place during your abode here And if your Lordship doubt of safe landing I shall provide all such necessaries as may serve for your arrival within a flight-shoot of the House and perswade your self to be as quiet here while we have settled our Plot as if in your Chamber for I trust and am assured we shall have word from them your Lordship knows of within few days for I have a care to see what Ships come by Your Lordship knows I have kept up Lord Bothwell in my house quietly in his greatest extremities in spite of King and Council I hope if all things come to pass as I trust they shall to have both your Lordships at a good Dinner ere I die Haec jocose To animate your Lordship I doubt not all will be well for I am resolved thereof doubt nothing on my part Peril of Life Lands Honour and Goods yea the hazard of Hell shall not affray me from that yea though the Scaffold were already set up The sooner the matter were done the better for the Kings Buck-hunting will be shortly and I hope it will prepare some dainty chear for us to live the next year I remember well that merry sport which your Lordships Brother told me of a Noble-man at Padua for I think that a Parasceue to this purpose My Lord think nothing that I comm●t that secret hereof to this Bearer for I dare not onely venture my Life Lands Honour and all upon his credit but I durst hazard my Soul in his keeping I am so perswaded of his fidelity And I trow ask him if it be not true he will go to Hell gates for me and he is not beg●iled on my part to him and therefore I am perswaded this will give him
Sovereigns choice Service And yet this Man ●ot long after proved the Contriver and the most malicious Prosecutor of such conspiracies as may be said to be the forerunners of that Kings miserable and final destruction I cannot learn whether he be living in this sin and so as yet spared for Gods mercy or unrepentant dead to his Judgments sure and suddain But to our business in Scotland In the next Assembly at Glascow the Bishops took upon them to inlarge their own authority in the Administration of all Church affairs And yet not willing to make any change though by the Kings command without brotherly approbation of the Ministers They assemble together and consent unto Articles of Government and power of the Bishops In which Assembly the Popish Lords supplicate for absolution and to subscribe to the confession of faith Huntley did so and returned to his own County Arroll went about it too but suddainly fell into such confused terror as offering violence upon his own person he was spared by his intercession of tears and prayers not to be forced against the reluctancy of his Conscience who in truth of all that sect shewed evermore much of tender minde to endeavour satisfaction to himself and so received more civility from the Church ever after Angus was most averse and had leave to banish himself into France where he died at Paris some years after There had been a good progress in Scotland for quieting the Clergie and renewing the repute of the prelacie And therefore the Arch-Bishop of Glascow with the Bishops of Brigen and Galloway having audience of the King in relation to the affairs of the Church of Scotland Told them with what care and charge he had repossessed the Bishopricks out of the hands of the Laity and other sacreligious pretenders and settled them upon reverend Men as he hoped worthy of their places But since he could not consecrate them Bishops nor they assume that honor to themselves and that in Scotland there was not a sufficient Number to enter charge by Consecration he had therefore called them into England that being here consecrated themselves they might give ordination at home and so the Presbyters mouths stopped For they had maliciously and falsely reported that the King took upon him to create Bishops and bestow spiritual Offices which he never did always acknowledging that Authority to belong to Christ alone and whom he had authorized with his own power One thing admitted dispute The Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York always pretended Jurisdiction over Scotland and so now this consecration might be taken as a voluntary subjection to this Church But therefore London Ely and Bath performed it to them and they ordained others at home And carried back Directions for a High Commission Court also for ordering of causes Ecclesiastical which were approved by their Clergie and put into obedience From these good Men The King fished out the behaviours of his Council there and therefore to settle them in terms of honor and state at their Table they were to convene twice a week and None to stay in the Room but Counsellors nor any solicitations there But being come instantly to take their places sitting not standing unless they pleaded for themselves and then to rise and stand at the end of the Table for they were wont to quarrel and to cuff cross the board No Counsellor to be absent four days without leave of the rest Each single Counsellor to be Justice of Peace in all the Kingdom to preserve respect to their places they should not trample the streets on foot but in Coach or Horse-back with footcloths This brought some esteem to that Board who before were bearded by every Kirk-Iohn or Lay-Elder And after this posture of Governing Patrick Stewart Earl of the Isles Orkney and Yetland was sent for to humble himself to imprisonment A Custom also which was setled in the Council to command any Malignant to be in Ward by such a day or else to be horned Rebell This great man at home is there humbled before the Bishop of Orkney and is by him examined so soon is the Kings ordinance obeyed His Crimes grew up from his poverty made so by his own riot and prodigality which now he seeks to repair by shifts of Tyranny over the people under his Command and being by the Bishop reported so to the Council he was committed to Prison untill the pleasure of the King deals further in Mercy or Justice But to exercise that Nation by degrees of punishment he was afterwards released and returned home to better behaviour wherein he became for the future so faultie that two years after he was executed We have hinted heretofore the Kings business at home which in truth was his wisdom to wade through To suppress the trayterous designes of the Papists and to settle the fiery dispositions of the Schismaticks for the first their own violent progression in their late Pouder-plot drew upon them publick lawes of chastisement But these Other alas their Motion now not so violent yet perpetual the more warily to be dealt with And because no disputes Arguments nor Policies could reduce them therefore the spiritual High-Commission-Court took some course moderately to regulate their Insolencies Busie this Parliament had been in disputes of the Common and Civil Laws The first strained to such a necessitary power as in short event would mightily qualifie the other to nothing Besides this Session sate long and supplyed not the Kings wants wasting time as ever sithence in seeking Grievances To palliate the lower-Lower-House some Messages had informed his necessary expences and to both Houses the new Treasurer late Earl of Salisbury opened the emptiness of his Office And at last the King speaks for himself at a Meeting at White-Hall He spake well and now prolix which yet I must present thus long Perfect Spe●ches open the times and truth to posterity against our Carping Adversary I need not quote his pages take his whole History passionately and partially distempered throughout The King forgets not their late loving duties and therefore recompenseth them with a rare present a Chrystall Mirror the heart of their King which though it be in Manu Domini so will he set it in oculis populi The principal things says he agitated in this Parliament were three First Your support to me Secondly My relief to you But the third How I would govern as to former constitutions or by absolute power He begins with the last That Monarchy is the supremest thing upon Earth illustrated by three similitudes First out of Gods word You are Gods Secondly out of Philosophie Parens patriae Thirdly out of Policie the Head of this Microcosm Man For the first The attributes of God Creation Destruction Reparation to judge and not be judged and to have power of Soul and Body so of Kings and can make of Subjects as at Chesse a pawn to take a
his supply All eys of forein statutes are upon this affair Either they are unwilling to help him or his state desperate not to be repaired or that they part in disgrace with the King or he in distast with the Parliament our reputations were bred abroad and at home the abilities of retribution to Neighbour Princes of good or harm works much respect A King contemned brings War too late then to be supported things foreseen are soon remedied Meddle not with too much business at once qui trop embrasse rien estreint And recommends to them necessary things Religion Papists increase as if some New plot the feminine sort so proud that as men say they are not to be medled with It is surer to remove the Materials of fire then to quench it Nam levius laedit quicquid praevidimus ante He means not stronger Lawes but better Execution Nor does blood and too much severity severe persecution makes but the gallantness of many mens spirits more than justness of the cause to take a pride to die in repute of Martyrs To clear some obscure doubts in taking the oath of Allegeance who ought to be pressed therewith Let all Recusants be presented without exception and brought under the law To wink at faults is neither Honor nor Mercy in a King but to forgive after Tryal may be Mercy dividing them in two Rancks Old Papists Queen Maries Priests and those that never drank other than what they suckt of their Mothers milk Secondly Or such as do become Apostates from our Religion upon discontent or idle humour new form as a new fashion he pities the first if good and quiet Subjects and may be civil and conversable But for the other Apostates they must expect no favour but Justice and so that these Papists be no longer concealed In the Common-wealth He recommends the framing some New statutes for preservatives of Wood which was the worse liked of you the last Session because I put you upon it then so necessary as not to be without it It concerns their Esse the most Necessary Elements Fire and Fuell Their Bene Esse decay of Wood decay of Shipping The security of this land is from the Sea as a wall and by the Sea wealth Out-going and In-coming of commodities If you will add pleasure Hawking and Hunting some of them may be of his minde in that too and preferre Game almost destroyed He thought them but little for their last law annent Partridges and Phesants that every Farmer may destroy them in his own ground So that if my brede fly over the hedg to his close they are at his pleasure the onely remedy to cast a Roof over all my ground or put his Vervels on all Partridges as on his Hawks so to be known by his Army And for their law against stealing of Dear or Conies After their tedious discourse and prohibition they conclude with restriction onely to stealers in the Night Like the Lacedemonian Law against theft not forbidding it but to do it cunningly whereupon the foolish Boy suffered the Fox to gnaw his heart through his breast Like the lesson of the Canon Si non castè tamen cautè Exclaims also against the Gentlemen that hunt not for sport but ravenly with Nets and Guns destroy the Game And ends as he began the mirror of his heart 1. Which may be abused with a false light to mistake or misunderstand him 2. Not to soil it with foul breath and unclean hands not apt to pervert his words with corrupt affections like the toll of a Bell to some mens fancying what it tincketh that he thinketh 3. Glass is brittle if it fall to the ground it breaks to contemn his heads is not to conform to him But he hopes with Gods blessing all things will end well so farewell And for this the Kings good Counsel to his Law-makers they rewarded him with one Subsidy and one fifteen which came to one hundred and six thousand one hundred sixty and six pounds These times of plenty intice the Gentry to spend at London where the concourse of people raised the house rents Prices Markets and robbed the Countrey of their commerce in the Neighbourhood of the wealthy House-keepers for refreshing the poor discharging that burthen which it brought upon the Commons as hath been said To restrain them another Proclamation forbids all new buildings within two miles of London This and other the like Inconveniences not giving leasure to the Parliament to advise upon remedy the Council-Table took care to rectifie And therefore hereabouts began the frequent necessity of publishing Proclamations which were cunningly carped at by such as could not endure that any Commands should come forth without license of the Lower-house And not only now and heretofore but from time to time during this Kings Reign the new buildings increasing in and about London were endeavoured to be suppressed the chief Justice Popham and all other succeeding resolved in opinion their great Nusance to the whole Kingdom like the spleen in Man which in measure as it over-grows the Body wasts the Countrey must diminish if the City and Suburbs so increase not bringing wealth but misery surcharge to them and the Court and therefore at Christmass the Gentry were commanded into their Countrey to keep Hospitality then and after Peace and plenty with us taught our Neighbours to court their own necessities into a blessing also and humbled the High-spirited Monarch of Spain to descend to a Treaty for a Truce with his Rebell-Subjects held so in former dayes the United provinces of the Netherlands which in much policie he soon concluded not with very religious resolve on either part longto continue for the Dukedome of Cleve descending to nice point of dissention between two neighbor Princes Pretenders Brandneburg and Newburg The house of Austria quarrells his Interest also and got hold of the strong Town of Iuliers The French K. evermore near at hand to draw back any advance to the swelling greatness of Spain was a ready friend to assist the Dutch who liked no such Neighborhood and K. Iames not unwilling to adjoyn his countenance and forces out of the General Interest of all states to ballance the over-powring of Neighbor Nations he being always more ambitious of hindring them for invading one the other than under any pretence of Title or revenge apt to question or conquer upon any others possession and all three not staying any further dispute or delay of a Treaty therein with a threefold Bond of an Army besieges the Town and with little difficulty took it for the right owner But what other Interest King Iames had in this quarrel I know not unless upon the old score of affection to a kinsman of the Scots and a suffering Prince The Duke of Guelders and Iuliers of whom this Duke was descended had been ancient and Magnanimous Kings of Saxonick-frizeland for many ages The younger Brothers of that
House had been Kings of England for neer 600. years untill the time of Edward the confessor The first Counts of Holland till Florus who was the last were younger Brothers of that descent Amongst whom one William was the 26. Emperour of Germany The last Kings of Scotland by alliance were of the same house of Egmont to wit the Grand-children of the Lady Mary of Egmont daughter to Arnold of Egmont Duke of Guelderland which Mary was married to Iames the second King of Scotland And the Lady Margaret his sister espowsed to Frederick the second Count Palatine from whence proceeded Frederick who married the sole daughter of this King Iames the sixth for whose restauration all Germany and many other large Countries have suffered very much in the late years then following I may add also the Lady Philippa of Egmont daughter to Adolphus of Egmont Prince of Guelderland married to Renatus Duke of Lorain from whom descended the Dukes of Lorain who assume among their titles without any Contradiction the qualities of Dukes of Guelderland Iuliers and Cleveland and that by virtue alone of the Alliance with Egmont But greatness submits to providence the remainder of this royall blood is lately Anno. 1654. wholy shut up in the veins of Prince Lewis Duke of Guelders and Iuliers Count of Egmont and Zutphen His great Estate and Revenues relinquishing in the Low Countreys 22. years before his death and sustained himself only with the means of a petty Sovereignty in Lukeland in spite of the Spaniard his mortal Enemy but ranging abroad to seek relief and support against his Tyranny he died at Paris with this Epitaph Hic jacet Egmontos Germano è stemmate Regum Cui mors plus peteret quam sua vita dedit Huic ctenim Patrios quaerebat vita ducatus At mors nobilior regia sceptra dedit As for the Netherlands It belongs not to me to judge of their duty to Spain nor their division now whether Spain hath injured them certainly they were disloyal to him He pretends Absolute Sovereignty They but conditional obedience But without dispute Holland and Zeland belonged to the Lady Iaquelin of Henault who to save her own life was forced to relinquish her Estate And Zutphen and Gelders did of right belong to the Duke Arnold who being Prisoner with the last Duke of Burgundie who died before Nancie that Duke intruded upon his possession to the prejudice of Adolph his son and lawfull Successor the immediate cause of the quarrell after But this siege of Iuliers was the last action of that fourth Henry Le grand of France for the next year succeeding he was stab'd with a Jesuits impoysoned knife as his Coach stopt upon one of the Bridges at Paris In the Junto of time when he had mustered all his forces and ransacked together much Treasure for some secret design which the Spaniard feared might fall upon him And it was suspected for that cause only that the politick Spaniards Interest sent him out of the world farr enough from prejudice of him having but lately repayed to this Crown what had been lent his necessities heretofore by Queen Elizabeth which came unto sixty thousand pounds After five Sessions in six years time the Parliament having wrastled with Sovereignty which the King moderated by often speaking to them Himself yet finding them more willing to dispute than to comply with his occasions having on his part steered with all possible judgment to terms of reconcilement between his undoubted Prerogatives and their Novell Privileges as he termed them which rather increased Arguments by their so often Meetings He resolved therefore to separate their Conjunction and to adventure on the other way to do himself right by his own just reason not to do the people any wrong in the lawes of their liberties and so dissolved the Parliament by Proclamation And now was performed what the King intended last Sessions to set forth his sonne Prince Henry then of the age of fifteen years now 16. And because he was the first Prince here since Edward the sixth we shall say somewhat of his dignity the thirteenth Prince of Wales The Kings eldest sonne heir Apparant in England was styled Prince quasi primum locum capiens post Regem Priviledg they had to wear Purple Silks and cloth of Gold and Tyssue in his apparell or upon his horse 24. Henry the eighth but King Iames had repealed all lawes and statutes concerning apparel quarto Iacobi They had purveyance as the Kings or Queens He is admitted Maintenance to give Signes Liveries Badges to his Menials as the King does but for enormities of that kind several statutes of former Kings abridged them untill 12. Edward the fourth He may have as many Chaplains as he will The King by Common Law may have aid-money of his tenants by Knights fee as of Soccage That is to make his eldest sonne Knight and for marriage of her eldest daughter He at fifteen years of age She at seven saies Fitz-Harbert the sum of money at the Kings pleasure till 25 Edward 3. who restrained it viz. of every Knights fee holden without mean rate 20. shillings of every 20. pounds Land without mean in Soccage 20. shillings and so rata pro rata of lands in Soccage and for lands of the tenure of Chivalry according to the quantity To compass his death or violate his wife is Treason 20. Henry the eighth and before the statute the ancient common law in that case He and other the Kings children Les Enfants du Roy born beyond Seas shall inherit here He had many Priviledges since 12. Edward whose device it was to draw the Welch to acknowledge the Kings Eldest sonne Edward of Carnarvan to be their Prince But 27. Henry the eighth there was a general resumption of his priviledges as to Pardon Treasons Murther Man-slaughter Felony power to make Justices of Oyre Assize and Pea●e Goal-Delivery c. so from thenceforth he had onely Name and Title but no other Jurisdiction then should be granted by his letters patents He is invested with a Garland upon his head a gold Ring on his finger and a Virge of gold into his hand to him and his Heirs the Kings of England for ever as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester To sit at the right hand of the Cloth of Estate in Parliament He shall not find pledges for profecution of any Action Cook cals him Omni Nomine Numine Magnus by Destiny Name and Providence of God the greatest Yet he is as a Subject and shall be sued by action and in token of subjection he bears upon his Arms the three plumes arg with this old Saxon word Ich. Dien I serve Gascon chief Justice in the time of Henry the fourth did commit the Prince who would have taken a prisoner from the Barr in the Kings Bench which the King justified So much premised The King gave his sonne also the honor of Knighthood to
that were grieved or interessed for not having performed the combate when he shall see the rule of State dis-interest him of a vain and unnecessary hazard Secondly This evil must not be cockered The compounding of quarrels is grown so punctual by private Noblemen and Gentlemen who is before hand and wholly behind hand It countenances Duels as if therein somewhat of right The most prudent and best Remedy may be learned out of the Kings Proclamation The false conceated humour must be punished in the same kind In eo quis rectissime plectitur in quo pe●cat such men to be banished the Kings presence and excluded the Court for certain years to be cast into that darkness not to behold his Sovereigns face Lastly We see the Root of this offence is stubborn for it despiseth death the utmost of punishments and therefore these men to be executed by Law without all remission The severity of France had been more where by a kind of Marshal Law established by the King the party surviving was instantly hanged their wounds though bleeding least a natural death should prevent the example of Justice Or if not so to do but with greater lenity yet of no less efficacy which is to punish by fines in Star Chamber the middle acts and proceedings which tend to the Duel 3. Now for the Law of England It is excepted against in two points Not to difference between an infidious and foul murther and killing upon fair terms as they term it The other Not providing sufficient punishment for contumely of words as thely and the like These novelties are thus answered The Law of God makes no difference but between Homicide voluntary and involuntary which we term Misadventure and for which there were Cities of Refuge Our Law hath a more subtil distinction The Will inflamed and the Will advised Man-slaughter in heat and Murther upon Malice or cold blood The Romans had restrained this privilege of passion but onely where the Husband took the Adulterer in the manner Yet Cain inticed his Brother into the Field and slew him treacherously but Lamech vaunted of his Murther To kill a young man and if it were but in his hurt So as the difference is between Insidious and Presumpt●o●s Murther these of Cain and Lamech Greece and Rome had not this practice of Duells It is said fas est ab hoste doceri There was a Duel between two eminent persons of the Turks and one slain the Council of Bashaes reprehended the Other How durst you undertake to fight one with the other are there not Christians enow to kill Did you not know that whether of you were slain the loss would be the great Seigniours T is true we find Combates before an Army amongst the Romans which they called Pugna per provocationem between Generals themselves or by their license to others So David asked leave when he fought with Goliah And Ioab when the Armies met gave leave Let the young Men play before us And of this kind was that famous example in the Warres of Naples between the Spaniards and Italians where Italians prevailed The second combate is a Iudicial Tryal of Right introduced by the Gothes and the Northern Nations and more antient in Spain But yet a wise Writer saies Taliter pugnantes videntur tentare Deum quia hoc volunt ut Deus ostendat faciat Miraculum ut justam causam habens Victor efficiatur quod saepe ●ontra accidit Nay the French folly in this kind had it in Toleration never authorized by Law but of late punished with severe rigour As for the supposed defect in our Law for Lies and fillips words of denyal and flea bites to murther a man Solon's Answer satisfies That he had not ordained Punishments for it not imaging the world so phantastical to take it so highly The Civillians say that an action of injury does not ly for it Indeed Francis the first of France gave the ly to the Emperour and in a Solemn Assembly said That he was no honest man that would bear the ly The Laws of England had onely these degrees of injury Slander Battery Maime and Death But as for a fillip Consalvo said A Gentlemans honour should be De tela crassiore of a strong warp Now for the power of this Court to censure Presidents have been in the Minor Whartons case P lt where Acklam Defendant servant to Elleckars was fined for carrying his Masters challenge but by Word of Mouth And it was concluded to prosecute in these cases against such As shall appoint the field though the sight be not acted Send challenge in writing or message Shall deliver either of them To accept or return them To be a second To depart beyond Seas to combat To revive a quarrel by s●andalous bruits or Pasquils Counsellers of Quarrellers And that a Man may in those cases be as well fur de se as felo de se if he steal out of the Realm to fight he doth Machinari contro Corona● But let us remember Scotland We have forewarned the Earl of Orkneys mis-behaviour in Scotland which of late so increased as he was again sent for and committed Having rioted most of his Estate the remainder was mortgaged to Sir Iohn Arnots of whom the King purchases his Interest by which means he might the better give relief to the distressed Tenants from oppression The Earl now in Dunbarton Castle with a Noble a Day pension for his Maintenance had information how his Estate with his Castles Kirkwall Birsay and other his Houses and Lands in the Isles were rendered to the Kings Sheriffs He endeavouring first to escape but not effecting sends his base Son to get forces and to expulse the Possessors He does so with some loose people assaults Birsay and takes it wherein he puts a Garrison of thirty men and hastens to Kirkwall seizes that also This Insurrection comes to the Kings knowledge and hastens Commission to the Earl of Caithness Lieutenant of those bounds who with his Canon recovers the Castles in 6 weeks and those within made Prisoners Robert Steward the Earls base son and four more principal Actors were arraigned at Edenburgh conv●ct and hanged The Earl as Accessary came to Tryal being indicted for causing his base son to surprize Kirkwall and Birsay inciting the people to Rebellion and detaining the Castles treasonably against the Kings forces He was allowed Prolocutours Lawyers of the best esteem who deny the Libel as they call it but the confession of his base Son and Others with his missive Letters written to one Iohn Sharp for detaining those Castles and a charter of certain Lands assigned by him to one Patrick Haloro for assisting the Rebels the Assize of Iury being his Peers Earls and Lords found him guilty of Treason and he presently executed at Edenburgh The end of Patrick Earl of Orkney Son to Robert Stewart one of the base Sons of King Iames the fifth for he had others
Savile Derb. William Kneveton Esq Norf. Philip Woodhouse Oxon. William Pope Rutl. Iames Harington Staff Richard Fleetwood Esq Oxon. Thomas Spencer Esq Lanc. Io Tufton Camb. Samuel Peyton Norf. Ch Morrison Kanc. Henry Baker Essex Roger Apl●ton Esq Kanc. William Sedley Kanc. William Twisden Kanc. Edward Hales Kanc. William Moynes Essex Thomas Mildmay Esq Essex William Maynard Buck. Henry Lea Esq Wilt. Edward Gorges Essex Harbottle Grimston War Thomas Holt. Som. Io Por●man Linc. Io Wray Berk. William Essex Ebor. Marmaduke Wivill Wilt. Fr Englefield Staff Io Pessel Esq Essex William Aloff Wor. Edward Devereux Dev. Thomas Ridgeway Cornw. Renald Mohune Essex Paul Baning 68 Knights 22 Esquires 90 These afterwards Doneld Thomas Blaxton Esq Chester Rowland Egerton Esq Norf. Roger Townsend Esq It is well known that Queen Elizabeth left her Coffers empty and her Revenue not ample for in Treasurer Burghley's times the profit of the Kingdom besides Wards and Dutchy of Lancaster was one hundred eighty eight thousand one hundred ninety and seven pounds per annum and the Payments one hundred ten thousand six hundred and twelve pounds per annum In which Payments these were constant per annum The Houshold forty thousand pounds Ordinary and now increased necessarily almost treble The Privy Parse two thousand pounds The Admiralty thirty thousand pounds 1. For support this King was to proportion his issues with his Revenues both certain and casual 2. By abating or reforming the excess of his Houshold 3. By raising moneys and improving the Crown Revenues For the first he could not well tell how to begin that Lesson for coming in hither with an increment of expence Himself Wife and Children and a large Train of old Servants to be new rewarded the Marriage of his Daughter very lately which expence in that amounted unto near an hundred thousand pounds and her Atd-money came but to twenty thousand and five hundred pounds And that we may see the Charge and Expence of this Marriage in particular I shall set it down   lib. For the Palsgraves Diet at his standing house 6000 For his Diet at his Instalment of the Garter 4000 For Diet at his Marriage 2000 For Lodgings for his Servants 830 To the Wardrobe for Apparel for the Princess Eliz. 6252 For furnishing her Chamber 3023 Apparel and Necessaries for her to my L. Harington 1829 Jewels and Apparel for her Servants 3914 To divers Merchants for Silks c. 995 The Lords Mask at her Marriage 400 For the Naval Fight of Fire-works on the Thames at her Marriage 4800 More Fire-works on the Thames at her Marriage 2880 To Sir Edward Cecil as Treasurer for her Journey from hence to Heidelbergh and for her Purse 2000 For setling her Iointure and charges to some of the Gentry to go thither and to take the Assurance 800 For her Transport to Flushing 5555 Totale 53294 Paid over to the Palsgraves Agent for her Portion 40000 The Total is ninety three thousand two hundred ninety and four pounds These Expences put the King to consider of the best means of Recovery so that several ways were proposed to make his Disbursments answerable to his In-comes and the way was the first work of Ordinary good Husbandry and might well be expected from a Paterfamilias yet it would not for the present Rebus sic stantibus become this King whose fame and honour as all other Sovereignties so his in particular stood more upon Reputation than profit and therefore he according to the magnificence of Royalty left that consideration and he had done reasonable well if not too much for satisfying his Train His second way was to consider of his great expence of Houshold now enlarged into several Courts King Queen Prince and Nursery and these being lookt into he was forced contrary to the royal and largest heart of any his Progenitors to come to Retrenchment and truly in this he was advised to use the means of mean people and others subordinate Ingram and others And first he removed by Proclamation a number of useless persons of his own Nation that unnecessarily depended upon the bounty of his Court and returned them home again Then he proportioned to each Court their expence particularly rated for personal Diet and Dependance Livery and Wages Charge and Salary And this was done without publick complaint of any pressure upon the people as hath been usual heretofore to Parliaments and by them redressed but prudently considered and so referred to the Council-table In ancient time the Houshold was regulated by Book-order and continued so to Henry 8. when Cardinal Wolsey for more honour to that Christmass King of immoderate expence settled it and so remained a ground-work to this present time being now so corrupt as that new ways were proposed in effect to put down Tables and to allow Attendance-money as France does or else by setting up the Hall again to the best first and most magnificent Order that so being spent in publick to the Kings honour the secret waste of Chamber-diet and purloining prevented for out at the Court back-doors most of the meaner houses at Westminster were maintained with food and firing the stealth of under-chamberers We all know what excess was usual in our ancient Retinue and Servants with blue coats and badges especially respecting the Garter of St George who were now ordered to lessen their number and afterwards to fifty Gentlemen and no more to each Knight of that Order heretofore an excessive number to vie it out who should bring most And to reform himself from the excess of his royal heart in gifts and rewards he published Orders and Articles in print in what manner his pleasure restrained his bounty and what natures he was willing to grant Having been liberal to the Scots whom he brought with him men of the greatest eminency at home thereby to binde them here with Free-hold Lands as also with English Tithes for what held the great Gascoign Iean de Foix firm to the Crown of England but his Earldom of Kendall here A neglect in Queen Elizabeth to draw the chief Nobles 〈◊〉 into England by exchange or gift of Lands to have 〈◊〉 them Free-holders here she might then have spared two 〈◊〉 her Wars 〈◊〉 indeed the Kings gifts in Land to the Scots unthankfully 〈◊〉 ●●●ttingly they sold conveying that Treasure into Scotland 〈◊〉 his great Design of uniting them here became frustrate 〈◊〉 we finde how many of them not so engaged have turned 〈◊〉 ersaries to his Posterity And I remember well not a penny given then freely to the Scots but gave alarm to every part of Englands Discourse Notes Copies of all privy Seals for money given and so shewed then in Parliaments Yet no noise of what the English had though ten times more But his free hand having stretcht his purse-strings there was a free Benevolence considered of from such good Subjects as in hearty affection to their Sovereign were willing to
themselves to search for mischiefs and being found to scandallize the State with them How these were nourished and afterwards fomented the revolution of time hath made obvious to all men and saves me the labour to set down the particulars It was no novelty then to applaud the former times and to vilifie the present for indeed her fame carried it current in a long continuance to have lived and dyed Royally and Victoriously without the disquiet of the peoples affections and being but a Sojourner in the World in respect of her Maiden-hood might be and was a blessing to her own times the impression of her good Goverment besides her happy memory is not without some effect which doth survive her But this K blessed already with Royal issue and whose fruitful Bed promised increase It was more proper and agreeable with him to be studious not onely in the Transitory part of good Government but in those Acts which are in their nature permanent and perpetual to his posterity rather to increase than diminish the Advantages of Soveraignty which he aimed at and for his part and time did perform but t is a tender subject to discuss I have done Yet I may add a truth That all the force and power of his Progenitours and all their merits and policies to boot for more then an age before her could never borrow so much credit upon their Privy Seals as she did during her time and left them all for this King to discharge great and vast sums Which shews that Necessities put her upon that piece of State when neither her Exchequer could afford relief nor the urgency of her affairs indure the delaies of Parliaments assistance For in truth she had strained likewise from her people in that way of Subsidies more then ever any Prince I will not say many that were before her She had the way to do it by complaisance of a Princess and he a King not affecting that Course failed of such effects For he was by nature more reserved than popular and had his virtues fitter for estimation then Love and did like a King his soul being planted higher overshot such matter as lay level to anothers eye And so as I have said some of these ways to get mony was set a foot this year 1614. and upon several occasions in his reign after proposed but not effected In those times of Trade the Merchant-Adventurer usually transported Our English Cloths white undress'd and undy'd and the Dutch had gotten the Art by the end fitted and stretcht them by their Knavery and so returned them to us at high rates of this the Cloth-worker of London complains which was soon remedied by Proclamation forbidding the transport and to countenance that Corporation the King was feasted in their Hall and made free of their Company the rather because their Cote Arms the Thistle is the Scots Embleme And over went our Cloaths accordingly dyed and drest which the Hollanders forbid to be bought by them and therefore dealt with our Fell-mongers and got over Our Woolls and the Mystery of making Cloth Hereupon we proclame and forbid the transport of our wools The Quarrel between those two Corporations and their respective gain is by the Merchant Adventurers complained of and for mittigation of their Mischief several warrants for some thousands of Cloths were sparingly licensed by wisdome of State to be sent over and so evenly moderating the mystery of Merchants that cozen each other and at their great Feast likewise the Prince was made free The King of Denmark makes a second visit to his Sister the Queen for fourteen daies upon no business of State onely his affections to her and jollity to himself with a Train of no more than half a hundred persons of honour and Noblesse of his own breeding to the Dutch Diet and Drink to which he was too much inclined and oft-times had his load for we were not wanting of our boon-Companions that waited on him for that purpose The Earl of Suffolk succeeding Salisbury in the Treasurership yielded his Office of Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold to his Son in Law Somerset as aforesaid and he the Place of Secretary unto Sir Ralph Winwood lately returned from the Netherlands where he had been Ambassadour Lieger of a long time The Summers Progress returns the King to London where had been some muttering of Overbury's death in the Tower discovered beyond the Seas by the Apothecary's Boy that impoysoned the Glyster and having his Reward was sent out of the way to Flushing where he told the Tale to Trimball the Kings Agent there by whom it came to Winwood's knowledg and so to the King and by degrees to particular Examinations Confessions and Executions of all these Weston an Apothecary Mistris Turner a Doctor of Physick's widow Sir Iervis Yelvis Lieutenant of the Tower and Franklin all accessaries But Weston being the principal actor it was therefore his turn first to come to the Bar at the Hinstons Court in Guild-hall where beyond Judg Cook 's expectation the man stood mute notwithstanding all allurements and threats that could be used and so was returned to Prison Cook informs the King that unless the principal be convict the accessaries could not be tried but by continual cunning and some fair promises of pardon Weston put himself upon his Countrey and was cast condemned and hanged Cook not content with that gets knowledg under-hand that Serjeant Yelverton an obliged Servant to the House of Howards had advised this Counsel for Weston not to betray any parties And this Tale was told by Sir Robert Cook from his fathers confession After all comes Somerset and his Countess and both condemned some that were then at their Trial and not partial conceived in conscience he might have been spared that Sentence and as himself says to the King That he fell rather for want of well defending than by force of proofs for I so far says he for sook my self and my cause as that I might be more condemned for that than for the matter And because it was a story of evil fame near and far off I shall put it to the test in a brief Narratory being pleaded before the Lord Elsmore Chancellour and High Steward for the Day and most of the Peers at Westminster Hall May 1616. in this manner A Peer of the Land hath this Privilege upon Treason or Felony indicted to be tried by his Peers the King by Letters Patents assigns some sage Lord of the Parliament to be High Steward of England for that Day of his Arreignment who before that time makes Precept to his Serjeant at Arms to warn to appear before him a certain number of Lords of the Parliament twelve at the least upon that Day at Westminster At which time the High Steward shall sit under the Cloath of State and causeth his Commission to be read the same Serjeant returns his Precept and calls the Lords who appearing by
ordinary custome lately entertained boldly to dispute the high points of his prerogative in a popular and unlawful way of Argument not heretofore usual Making them senceable how weak and impertinent the pretence of their Oath was in a case of this nature as if the Founders of their Oath His Predcessors were so intent in their zeal to be uncharitable to make a weapon to wound their Successors being an ordinary course to put off Hearings and Determinings amongst private persons Termly And commands them peremptorily not to proceed further in that Plea till his return to London there to receive his further pleasure by himself Your Oath being only for avoiding importunites to the Prince of Suiters in their own particular The King come to London convenes them all to the Council Table and himself takes in sunder the parts of the Iudges Letter and their Errours in proceeding both in matter and manner In matter by way of omission as commission When the Counseller shall presume to argue his Supremacy at the Bar and they not reprove his Insolency Himself observing since his comming to this Grown the popular Sort of Lawyers most affrontingly in all Parliaments have troden upon his Pre●ogative though neither Law nor Lawyer can be respected if the King be not reverenced And therefore it became the Iudges to bridle their impudencies in their several Benches especially the Courts of Common-Law who had incroached upon all other Courts High Commission Councils in Wales and at York and Courts of Requests For the Commission in Matter whereas their Letter excepted against his Majesties command to be against the Law and their Oath He tells them deferring upon just and necessary cause is not denying or delaying of Instice but rather wisdom and maturity Nothing more proper than to cousult with the King where it concerns the Crown As for the Manner The Kings absence before the Argument and yet his resolved return speedily and the case though lately argued could not receive Iudgement till Easter Term after as the Iudges confessed And for them to say that the case was private interest of party and party One of the Parties is a Bishop that pleads for the Commendam onely by vertue of his Majesties Prerogative And that they could not prove any Solicitation of either Parties for expedition And for the form of the Letter it was undecent besides to proceed and to return a bare Certificate without giving reasons therefore Upon this all the Iudges fell down on their knees acknowledging their Errour and craving Pardon But for the Matter the Chief Iustice Cook entered into a Defence That the stay by his Majesty was a delay of Iustice and therefore against Law and their Oath that as they meant to handle the Pleading it should not concern the King's Prerogative To which the King told him That for them to discern the concernment of his Prerogative without consult with him was preposterous And for those of Law and Oath he had said sufficient before Therefore he required the Lord Chancellour's opinion herein whether against Law and their Oath The Chancellour excused himself as to that of Law referring it to the opinion of the King's Council whereupon the Atturney General Bacon said That to put off the Day was no Delay of Justice nor endangered their Oath for the King's Reasons were onely that it concerned his Prerogative and required therefore a stay for a small time and advised the Judges whether this refusal of their did not rather endanger their Oath which was To counsel the King when they are called but to counsel after the matter is past was a simple refusal to give him Counsel at all And all the rest of the Council concluded with him The Chief Justice Cook excepted That the King's Council should plead against the Iudges being their duties to plead before them not against them Whereunto the Attourney replied That the King's Council were by Oath and Office not onely to plead proceed and declare against the greatest Subject but also against any body of Subjects or persons nay were they Iudges or Courts or House of Commons in Parliament and concluded That the Iudges challenge was a wrong to their Places and appealed to the King who was firm for them The Chief Justice replied He would not dispute it with his Majesty The King replied Nor with my Council So then whether you do well or ill it may not be disputed The Chancellour gave his opinion with the King and his Council Hereupon the positive Question was put by all the Lords Whether in a Case depending which the King might conceive himself concerned in power or profit and requiring to consult with them they ought not to stay proceedings All the Judges submitted thereto onely the Chief Justice excepted saying When that Case should be then he would do his duty But the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas said For his part He would always trust the justice of the King's command But the Day drawing nigh the next Saturday for arguing the Commendams the King desired the Judges to express Whether they would then argue upon the Kings general power of granting Commendams yea or no. They all concluded Not to draw into doubt his power but to insist upon the point of Lapse which they conceived to be of a form different from former Commendams and concluded to correct the insolencies of bold arguing the Prerogative Judge Doderidge concluded for the King That the Church was void and in his gift and might give a Commendam to a Bishop either before or after Consecration during Life or years The Judges being gone the privy Council resolved that the Kings desire was not against the Judges Oath nor against the Common Law to require and all of them subscribed to the same This Dispute was publiquely scanned and censured in favour of the Judges and on the contrary for the King but the truth I have really extracted out of the Records of the Council Table That you may thereby see the true scope of those times The State of Spain having little to do in Martial affairs K. Philip the third now in peace thought to spend some time in Treati●s wherin he seldom failed of advantage The late French King Henry the fourth had 3. daughters the one maried to the Duke of Savoy which the Spaniard misliking to have those Neighbours lately so great Enemies now to be linkt in love without his Interest conceived it good policy to indeer the young King Lewis of France in a cross Match to his Daughter Infanta Anna and to marry his son Philip to the Princess Elizabeth the second daughter of Henry the fourth And thus those cross Nuptials might seem to cement the affections of the three States lately so imbroyled in War which no doubt either of them had good cause to accept though it was said S. P. Q. R. Spain Pope Queen-Regent had the chief hand to undo the young King For the Father Henry the fourth had made
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-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
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 con●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 Cross●Bill which at the Hearing took up five several Days the King sitting in Iudgm●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 co●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 Pros●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
from Sea and got in for safety within the Mole Mansel having trained his men in the execution of their several Du●●es and likewise appointed a Squadron of Boats with small Shot to rescue the Vessels of Execution both in the Advancement and Retreat The 21. of May the Vessels of Execution were all advanced but by reason of contrary windes were presently commanded to retire The next two nights being likewise in readiness they were becalmed and could execute nothing The fourth night with a fair Gale being advanced again and the Fire-ships almost recovered the Mouth of the Mole the winde turned to the opposite point of the Compass The Boats performed their Direction in towing the Ships but considering that by continuance of this course they should expose our principal men to hazard by the Ordnance and small Shot that played upon them they debate therefore amongst themselves what to do Captain Hughes that commanded one of the Brigandines replied Go on and give attempt by the Boats which they did crying out King Iames and fearless of danger even in the mouth of the Cannon and small Shot which showred like Hail upon them the English fired the Enemies Ships in sundry places and maintained the fight to the delight of their fellow-shipping that were lookers on so long as powder remained striving in the end who should have the honour to come off last which was left to the Captain Hugh●s and so retired only with the loss only of 20 men and leaving the fire flaming up in 7 several places The cowardly Turks who before dur●● not shew themselves to these weak forces but from the Walls and tops of houses so soon as the English were retyred opened their ports and sallied out a thousand and so by help of Multitudes and a sudden shore of rain and a calm the fire was extinguished making some of their Ships unserviceable In which time of Service only one Frygat came out of the Moal which was forced back upon the Shore sunck one of their best men of War being manned with one hundred thirty Turks and twelve Christians whereof twelve onely escaped And took also a Fly-boat which the Pyrates had formerly taken from the Christians which was sold to Leghorn her merchandize to be exchanged for Pyrats goods and some money above two thousand pound Sterling The Turks manned out 3. Gallies to rescue her but were beaten by the help of the 3. Brigandines sent out to her succour Ten daies together the English attended opportunity to send in the Ships with the fire-Works to finish the former service done by the Boats but not a breath of Wind happened fitting for the Work So that in this time the Pyrates had boomed up the Moles with Masts and Raffs and set a double Guard upon all their Ships● planted more Ordnance manned out twenty Boats to guar●●●he Booms and sent out Gallies and Boats for Intelligence hereof East and West-ward to all Ships abroad not to come in during the English abode which made Mansel retire with all his Ships and Merchants assisting him into the Road of Alegant where he received Order from hence over land to return home and to intrust four of the Kings ships into the hands of Captain Rogers and not long after the Plague and infection possessing his Fleet he was forced to return home without any other assistance The time come and Parliament sit in Ianuary The King enters them thus My Lords and you the Commons CUi multiloquio non de est peccatum In my last Parliament I made long Speeches to the lower House I have piped to you and you have not danced I have mourned and ye have not lamented And wills them to apply it to themselves not to spend long Speches That a Parliament is composed of a Head and a Body the Monarch and Estates first a Monarch then after a Parliament No Parliaments but in Monarchies for in Venice and Netherlands there 's none and Parliaments duties is to treat of Difficulties and to Counsel their King To make Laws for the Common-wealth and the Lower House to petition the King with knowledge of their grievances but not to meddle with the Kings Prerogative They are to supply his necessities and he in recompence distributes his Justice and mercy It is the Kings Office to make good Laws whose fundamental is the peoples ill manners and so at this time new abuses and incroaching Crafts The Religious Laws are enough consisting only of Perswasion and Compulsion and Gods blessing Priests Puritans and Sectaries errours of the right and left hand are forward enough their way Let Bishops be as bold by good examples and preaching but compulsion binds the conscience There is talk of the Match with Spain However he will never proceed but to Gods glory and Subjects content And for their supply of his Necessities tells them of their eighteen years peace and plenty and yet he hath received far less assistance than any King since the Conquest Queen Elizabeth had communibus annis above one hundred thousand pounds a year in subsidies and he had in all his time but four subsidies and six fifteens and it is ten years since he had any that he hath been sparing to trouble them or to spend himself abated in his Houshold in his Navies and Munition changed an old Admiral for a young Man whose honesty and care hath lessned that charge Tells them he is not the Cause of Dissentions in Christendom but rather sent Doncaster to appease them at the charge of three thousand five hundred pounds His Son-in-Law sent indeed for his advice and accepts the Crown three daies after which the King never approved of for three reasons 1. Religion not as the Jesuits to dispose and overthrow Kingdoms but with our Saviour to uphold 2. He was no judge and ignorant of those laws Quis te judicem fecit 3. That he treated a Peace and will not be party yet he left not to preserve his Childrens patrimony and accounts to them his Receipts for that purpose and how disposed He borrowed of his Brother of Denmark 7500.l And of his own added 2500 And sent this to his Son   And to the Princes to hearten them 30000 Total 40000l That had the Princes done their parts his handful of men had not failed and now he must be fain to perswade unless a strong hand assist and purposes to provide a strong Army next Summer and desires them to consider his necessities qui cito bis dat And shews his equity to them in course of Law never obstructing Ju●gement by message or Sentence W●shes them to consider advance of Trade and why his Mint hath stood still the●e nine years confesses his Royal heart liberal in Gran●s but being informed he will amend any grievance but yet he tells them that who ever hastens after grievances and neglects all other business of greater moment hath the Spirit of Sa●an for himself will reform any errour and desires
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 qu●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 Dig●y extraordinary to the Emperour for a posi●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 Cr●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 a●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 re●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
the beginning of a golden work The next that after this example it is like that Iudges will flie from any thing in the likeness of corruption without it were a great distance as from a Serpent which tends to the purging of the Courts of Iustice and reducing them to their true honour and splendour And in these two points God is my witness I thought it be my fortune to be the anvil upon which these two are broken and wrought I take no small comfort but to pass from the motions of my heart wherof God is my Iudge to the merits of my cause whereof your Lordships are Iudges under God and his Lieutenant I do understand there hath been expected from me some Iustification and therefore I have chosen one onely Iustification instead of all others out of the Iustifications of Job for after the dear submission and confession which I shall now make unto your Lordships I hope I may say and justify with Job in these words I have not hid my sin as did Adam nor consealed my faults in my bosom this is the only Iustification which I will use It resteth therefore that without Fig-leaves I do ingenuously confess and acknowledge that having understood the particulars of the charge not formerly from the house but enough to inform my conscience and memory I finde matter sufficient and full both to move me to desert my defence and to move your Lordships to condemn and censure me neither will I trouble your Lordships by singling these particulars to which I think I might fall off Quid te exempla juvant spinis de pluribus una Neither will I promise your Lordships to observe upon the proofs where they come not home or the scruple touching the credits of the Witness neither will I represent to your Lordships how for a defence I might in divers things extenuate the offence in respect of the time and manner of the guilt and the like circumstances but only leave these things to spring out of your more noble thoughts and observations of the evidence and examinations themselves and charitably to wind about the particulars of the charge as God shall put into your minds and so submit my self wholly to your piety and grace And now I have spoken unto your Lordships as Iudges I shall say a few words unto you as Peers and Prelates humbly commending my cause to your noble minds and magnanimous affections Your Lordships are not simply Iudges but Parliamentary Iudges you have a further extent of arbitrary power than other Courts and you are not tyed by ordinary course of Courts or Presidents in points of Strickness and severity much less in points of mercy and yet if any thing which I shall move might be contrary to your honorable and worthy end the entroducing a reformation I should not seek it but herein I beseech your Lordships to give me leave to tell you a story Titus Manlius took his Sons life for giving battail against the prohibition of his General not many years the like severity was persued by Papinius Cursor the Dictator against Quintus Maximus who being upon the point to be sentenced was by the intercession of some particular person of the Senate spared whereupon Livie maketh this grave and gratious observation Neque minus formata est disciplina militaris periculo Quinti Maximi quam miserabili supplicio Titi Manlii The Discipline of War was no less established by the questioning of Quintus Maximus than by the punishment of Titus Manlius and the same reason is in the reformation of Iustice for the questioning of men in eminent places hath the same terror though not the same rigor with the punishment But my cause staies not there for my humble desire is that his Majesty would take the seal into his own hands which is a great downfal and may serve I hope in it self for an expiation of my faults Therefore if mercy and mitigation be in your Lordships power and no way cross your ends why should not I hope of favour and commiseration Your Lordships will be pleased to behold your chief pattern the King our Sovereign a King of incomparable clemency and whose heart is inscruteable for wisdome and goodness And your Lordships will remember there sat not these hundred years before a Prince in your House and nevee such a Prince whose presence deserves to be made memoriable by Records and Acts mixt with mercy and Iustice. Your selves are either Nobles and compassion ever beateth in the veins of noble blood or reverend Prelates who are the servants of him that would not break the brused Reed nor quench the smoking flax You all sit upon an high Stage and therefore cannot but be senseable of the changes of humane condition and of the fall of any from high place Neither will your Lordships forget that there are Vitia Temporis as well as Vitia Hominis and the beginning of Reformation hath the contrary power to the Pool of Bethesda for that had strength to cure him only that was first cast in and this hath strength to hurt him only that is first cast in and for my part I wish it might stay there and go no further Lastly I assure my self your Lordships have a noble feeling of me as a member of your own body and one that in this very Session had some taste of your loving affection which I hope was not a lightning before the death of them but rather a spark of that grace which now in the conclusion will more appear And therefore my humble sute to your Lordships is That my penitent submission may be my Sentence the loss of my Seal my punishment and that your Lordships will recommend me to his Majesties pardon for all that is past Gods holy Spirit be amongst you Your Lordships humble Servant and Suppliant Fran. St. Albons Canc. April 22. This Petition found the full effects pity and compassion from all procured pardon also from the King with the loss only of his Peerage and Seal for so weak a husband he had been to lay up any store for the future that the King allowed him a pension to his death He was a person compleat of excellent parts and general learning with that of the Law as proper for that place as any man of the Gown His merits made him so then which his vices in continued time and now basely blemished and he justly removed to his private studies which render him to the world full of worth And with small charity of the Scorner might merit the Bays before many men of that age Indeed his Doom was designed by his Enemies as far as Scotland at the Kings last being there and such a distance might deal some disadvantage to a Wiser Man Yet the King at first intending but to let him loose only to exercise him with the change of his chance like as a rub to an overthrown Bowl which proves oftentimes an help to the Caster by hindering its
course but it fell out more fatal to him which lasted to the end and thereby wrought its best use In the midst of sufferings the bread of sorrow tastes better than the Banquet of fools for afflictions brings such mens souls to be Saints at the Mark which otherwise would be overgrown with too much Greatnesse His memorable abilities remain but in few and his compassionate infirmities common to all To expiate which he did as became him to do to the House of Peers prostrate himself and sins which ingenuously he acknowledged promising amendment of his life and made it good to the Worlds eye Those excellent works contrived in his retirement do evidently manifest his wit and worth with much regret to many good men that such an one should be fallen off from the face of State In Bacons place comes Doctor Williams Dean of Westminster by the Title of Keeper of the Great Seal of England the same power and Jurisdiction as the Chancelour see Statute quinto Elizab which was not so besore At first but as Vice-Chancelour Matthew Paris saith Custodiam ●igilli Regii accepit Cancelarii Vices Acturus Officium c. He was also then made Bishop of Lincoln together to make him more capable of the Office brought in sayes one to serve turns which no Lay-Man was bad enough to undertake Former ages held it more consonant to reason to trust the Conscience of the Clergy with the case of the Lay-man they best knowing a Case of Conscience and antiently the Civil Laws were adjudged by the Ministers of the Church and the Chancery and other Courts of Equity then in the charge of a Divine Minister And therefore a mistake in the Record that sets it down as a Wonder for an Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews to be made Chancelour of Scotland by King Charles a thing he saies not known in that Kingdom for three hundred years before for a Clergy man to bear that office But we find Iames Seaton and David Seaton both Arch-bishops of Saint Andrews and Chancelours of Scotland within one hundred years space And many other Arch-bishops and Bishops within three hundred years not only Chancelours but Judges of the Law Master of the Robes and other Offices of Judicature By which means their onely Bishopricks too poor they advanced to degrees of wealth enabling them to erect most of those sumptuous Fabricks of piety and Honour in that Nation and so in England by our Clergy by this man also in some measure So ran the Channel till Bacons father had it from a Bishop and now a Bishop has it again and had King Iames lived to have effected his Desires the Clergy had fixed firm footing in Courts of Judicature out of the rode of the Common-Law and this was the true cause of Williams initiation thither his quality thus fitted for the Kings intention He was in truth Chaplain to Buckinghams Mother and let into Court parallel in some degree with Cardinal Richlieus entrance by Queen Mother of France a Man may take view of these conformities not few if you consider proportions what is allowed to the Jesuit must rebate of the Reformed and what this man could not do in competition as the other his aim shewed his will but not the effect But at his entrance into this Trust comes two Bills signed from the King to be made Patents by the Seal the one for a Pension of two thousand pound per annum and the other for the Office of Earl Marshal of England both of them to be conferred upon the Earl of Arundel The first though with some regret in those unseasonable times to receive such large pensions which yet he sealed but took upon him to trench upon the Lord Treasurer Middlesex who willingly gave way to it for which they both had enmity ever after The later he refused upon these Queries 1. Whether in the Delivery of the Staff to the Earl his Majesty did not declare it to him for ease of the other Commissioners that executed it before with him and so to imply no inlargement of power which this Patent doth 2. Whether his Majesty means that this Patent leaping over the powers of the three last Earls Essex Shrewsbury and Somerset should refer only to Arundels own Ancesters Howards and Mowbrays Dukes of Norfolk who claimed that place by Inheritance the usual way and reference of Patents being unto the last and immediate Predecessor and not to the remote whose powers heretofore in these troublesome times were vage uncertain and impossible to be limitted 3. Whether that this Lord should bestow those Offices settled in the Crown as Sir Edward Zouches in Court Sir George Reynolds in the Kings Bench and divers others all which this Great Patent sweeps away being Places of Worth and Dignity 4. Whether my Lord Stewards place shall be for all his power of Judicature is in the Verge either altogether extinguished or at least subordinate to the Office A point considerable because of the Duke of Lenox who was Steward his greatness of Person and neerness of blood to the King And here he claws him 5. Lastly whether that the Offices of the Earl Marshall of England and the Marshall of the Kings house in former times distinct shall be now united to this great Lord A power limitted by no Law or Record but to be searched out from Heralds Chronicles Antiquaries and such absolute Monuments and thereupon this sixty years for Essex his power was cleerly limitted only as Marshall unfit to be revived by the Policy of this State And by these queries the Patent was pared which increased malice to the end of their Days Certainly there is a difference between the Earl Marshal of England and the Marshal of the Kings House See Lambert Archiron or of the High Courts of Justice in England The Marshall of England and the Constable are united in a Court which handleth only Duells out of the Realm and matters within as Combats Blazon Armory but may not meddle with any difference tryable by the Laws of the Land The Marshal of the Kings Houshold is united in a Court with the Steward which holds Plea of Trespass Contracts and Covenants made within the Verge and that by the Laws Articl super Cart. cap. 3 4 5. The honour of Lord Marshal is so antient as Thomas Lord Mowbray by Richard 2. was created Duke of Norfolk and the first Earl Marshal of England anno 1397. And so successively unto Iohn Lord Mowbray who dyed the 15. of Edward 4. anno 1475. and had issue one only Daughter married unto Richard Duke of York second son of Edward the fourth and was by his Father created Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshall of England murthered in the Tower anno 1483 without issue Then comes Iohn Howard Son of the Daughter and coheir of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk and was by Richard the third created Duke of Norfolk but not Earl Marshall Nor was his Son Thomas
but Thomas his son was by H. 8. created Earl Marshal of England Afterwards was Seymer by Edward the sixth created Duke of Somerset and Earl Marshal of England And after him came the Grand-child of Thomas Mowbray and was by Q. Mary created Earl Marshal of England Then Robert Devereux Earl of Essex made Marshal of England by Q. Elizabeth And now this Thomas Howard Earl of Arundel and the last Earl Marshall of England But in time this Patent was divided which his greatness intended to swallow up whole And because we have done with the Keeper and his Office we will take our leave of him with this Character which here follows His Acts of Piety to the ragged and ruinous Church of Westminster new clothing warm and dry adorned with the Statues and Structures of the antient English Saints and in truth and merit set up his Master King Iames amongst them And though he sucked not the Milk of Oxford University yet he founded a decent compleat Chappel to Lincoln College there and erected the Library at Westminster as also that Eminent Structure the Library of St. Iohns at Cambridge where he had been Master for many years He had a large heart to men of learning and Arts and though his Stately gait at a blush might present him to appear proud to the common Man yet abating the nature of his Birth-place a Welch man he was not so to conversation for he made himself more familiar at the College School at Westminster than at Court not leaving that society and Mr. Osbastons Company for the consort of Courtiers at Whitehall His bounty like that of Caesar who gave gifts like a King even to mean Beggars witness a hundred pound gratuity to Monsieur du Molin a Minister of France to welcom him hither when in the Judgement of his Chaplain 20 l. had been sufficient His blaze at Court lasted out this King which by quarreling with Lawd the Arch-bishop afterwards retired him to Bugden where he lived the most Episcopal of any Priests his Predecessours how he fell from that and other waies after from worse to worst of all evil example being no rule to a Prelates conscience we leave him dead to his last account the time of Gods grace and mercy 1652. Amongst the factious party of this Parliament were a knot of discontents well mingled for Mutiny high●born Ambitious-bold to bear out any complottings which Subtilty suggested and Hypocrisie dissembled and got in also the plain meaning man and altogether to supplant Order of Church and State Other Characters would be counterfeit a Halter take him that would mistake them a fitter line for his long story Indeed to busie these had been junto of them of whose disposition the King was justly sensible and therefore thought fit to separate their contrivings and by proroguing the Parliament the 4. of Iune till Novem. 20. sent them home during his Summers Progress and this he did sudainly to see what they would do which as he suspected came forth in Declaration thus The Commons fair Declaration to assist the King to recover the Palatinate THE Commons assembled in Parliament taking into most serious consideration the present State of the Kings children abroad and generally afflicted estate of the true Professors of the same Christian Religion professed by the Church of England in foreign parts and being truly touched with a true sense and fellow-feeling of their distresses as members of the same body do with an unanimous consent in the name of themselves and the whole Body of the Kingdom whom they represent declare unto his most excellent Majesty and to the whole world their hearty grief and sorrow for the same and do not only join with them in their humble and d●vout prayers unto Almighty God to protect his true Church and to avert the dangers now threatned but also with one heart and voice do solemnly protest That if his Majestyes pious endeavours by Treaty to procure their peace and safety shall not take that good effect which is desired in Treaty wherein they humbly beseech his Majesty not to suffer any longer delay that then upon signification of his Majesties pleasure in Parliament they shall be ready to the utmost of their powers both with their Lives and Fortunes to assist him so as that by the Divine help of Almighty God which is never wanting unto those who in his fear shall undertake the Defence of his Cause he may be able to do that with his Sword which by a peaceable course shall not be effected This is well said and the King put them to Tryal sor assistance in money the sinews to help on the Treaty first and for settlement of the future effects by the Sword in case the other failed And sundry overtures and propositions amongst themselves somewhat resolving then again declined and as with the houses the like between the King and them that nothing was concluded in pursuite of their fair promises and specious pretences and so they part home to their Houses and the King to his hunting And in Autumn returns to Hampton Court where meets him Digby come home from his Ambassy with Answers dilatory and doubtful and therefore commands him to declare the particulars to the Parliament which was now set from his last Recess He tells them That his Majesty commanded him to account to them his Negotiations with the Emperour who upon advantage of fortune in the success of Bohemia hath invaded the i●heritance of his Son the Palatine That he was directed to treat of Peace which he seemed to incline to but the Dyet in Germany being deferred they both suffered the delay by depending on it and the Princes in the end Restitution was promised of the Palatinate which was only granted by Commission to the Duke of Bavaria until it should be otherwise settled by Peace or War That the Emperours Letters addressed him to the Duke wishing his tractable condescent to terms of peace upon which occasion he urged that he had authority from the Palatine to cause Count Mansfield to desist from War and the like from the King to Sir Horace Vere That the Duke answered He had becalmed Mansfield with money who being at quiet his peace was made To which scornful reply something he saies was answered and so departed to the Infanta at Bruxels who seemed to understand by the Emperours Letters his preparations rather for War than Peace and would give no direct answer till she heard from the King of Spain who he confesses stood at this t●me cleerly a Newter yet is he now prepared with five great Armies in motion which will not misbecome the Wisdome of State to fear the worst and therefore for the Kingshonour and his Sons right he presumes they will contribute not only aid to the present support but supply to invest his Son into his Inheritance But this nor what else could be said by others the true Ministers and Patriots of State could work ought out of the
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 tha● Our distance from the Parliament caused by Our indisposition of health hath imboldned some ●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 ●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
resolve not to proceed to any business in the house but muttering there was though they durst not speak out The King understanding the silent humour of their Action and being yet desirous to have the time better husbanded Christmasse being at hand commands his Secretary Calvert to deliver this message to them in Speech and afterwards in Writing His Majesty remembring that this House was desirous to have a Session between this and Christmass it pleased him thereupon to signifie unto us that we should have contentment herein and that there should be a Session if we our Selves were not in fault taking now notice that we forbear to proceed with any Bills until the return of the Messengers lately sent to his Majesty hath warned me to command the House in his name not to lose time in their proceedings for preparing good Laws in the mean while and in consideration of the neer approach of Christmasse And that his Majestie hopes We will not take upon us to make a Recess in effect though not in shew without his warrant But some captious pates take exceptions as tending to breach of privilege by commanding them to proceed with Bills and so spun out the time and did nothing till the return of their Messengers whom the King receives not with overmuch kindness knowing the effect of their former petitions and observing the Contents of the later and both reflecting on his Person and Government which causeless aspersions and therefore returns them with this answer to all The Kings Answer to their Petition VVE must here begin in the same fashion that We would have done if your first Petition had come to our hands before we had made a stay thereof which is to repeat the first words of the late Queen Elizabeth of famous memory used by her in answer to an insolent Proposition which a Polonian Ambassadour made that is Legatum expitamus Heraldum accipimus For we had great reason to expect that the first message from your house should have been a message of thanksgiving for our continued gratious behaviour towards our people since your last Recess Not only by Our Proclamation of Grace wherein were contained six or seven and thirty Articles all of several points of Grace to the People but also by the labour we took for the satisfaction of both Houses in those three Articles recommended unto us in both their Names by the right Reverend Father in God the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and likewise for the good Government of Ireland we are now in hand with at your Request But not only have we heard no news of all this but contrary great complaints of the danger of Religion within this Kingdom tacitly implying Our ill Government in this point And we leave you to judge whether it be your duties that are the Representative Body of our People so to distaste them with our Government whereas by the ●pntrary it is your duty with all your endeavour to kindle more and more in duty for our gratious Government Now whereas in the very beginning of this your Apology you tax us in fair terms of trusting uncertain Reports and partial informations against your proceedings We wish you to remember that We are an old and experienced King needing no such Lessons being in Our Conscience freest of any King a live from hearing or trusting idle Repotts Which so many of your House that are neerest Us can bear witness unto you if you would give as good ear unto them as unto some Tribunitial Orators amongst you And for proof in this particular We have made your own messengers confer your other Petitions sent by you with the copy thereof which was sent us before between which there is no difference at all but that since the receiving the first Copy you added a Conclusion unto it which could not come to our hands till it was done by you and your messengers sent which was all at one time And if we had had no Copy of it before-hand we must have received your first Petition to our great Dishonour before we had known what it contained which would have inforced us to return unto you a far worse Answer then now we do For then your Messingers had returnd with nothing but that we have judged your Petition unlawful unworthy of an Answer for as to your Conclusion therof it is nothing but Protestatio contraria facto for in the body of your Petition you usurp upon our Prerogative Royal and meddle with things far above your reach and then in the Conclusion you protest the contrary as if a Robber would take a mans purse and then protest he meant not to rob him For first you presume to give us your advice concerning the Match of Our deerest Son with some Protestant we cannot say Princess for we know none of these fit for him and disswade Us from his Match with Spain urging Us to a present War with that King and yet in the Conclusion forsooth you professe you intend not to press upon our most undoubted and Regal Prerogative as if the petitioning of Us in matters that your selves confess you ought not to meddle with were not a meddling with them And wheras you pretend that you were invited to this course by the Speeches of three honourable Lords yet by so much as your selves repeat of the Speeches nothing can be concluded but that we were resolved by War to regain the Palatinate if otherwise we could not attain unto it And ye were invited to advise forthwith upon a Supply for keeping the forces in the Palatinate from disbanding and to foresee the means for the raising and maintaining of the Body of any Army for that War against the Spring Now what inference can be made upon this that presently we must denounce War against the King of Spain break our dearest Sons Match and match him to one of our Religion let the World judge The Difference is no greater than if we would tell a Merchant that we had great need to borrow money from him for raising an Army that thereupon it should follow that we are bound to follow his advice in the Directions of the War and all things depending thereupon But yet not contenting your selves with this excuse of yours which indeed cannot hold water ye come after to a direct contradiction to the Conclusion of your former Petition saying that the Honour and safety of Us and our Posterity and the Patrimony of our children invaded and possessed by their Enemies the welfare of Religion and State of our Kingdome are matters at any time not unfit your deepest consideration in Parliament To this generality we answer with the Logicians That where all things are contained nothing is omitted So as this Plenipotencie of yours invests you upon all power upon Earth lacking nothing but the l'opes to have the Keys also both of Heaven and Purgatory And to this vast generality of yours we can give no other answer for it would trouble all
the Lawyers in the House to make a good Commentary upon it For so did the Puritan Ministers in Scotland bring all kind of Causes within compass of their juris●iction saying that it was the Churches Office to judge of slander and there could no crime or fault be committed but there was a slander in it either against God their King or their Neighbour and by that means they looked into themselves the cognizance of all Causes or like Bellarmines Distinction of the Popes power over Kings in ordine ad spiritualia whereby he gives him all Temporall Jurisdiction over them But to give you a direct answer to the matters of War for which you are so earnest We confesse we rather expected you should have given us thanks for the so long maintaining a settled Peace in all our Dominions when as all our Neighbours about are in miserable combustion of War but dulce bellum inexpertis and we indeed find by experience that a number of our Subjects are so pampered with Peace as they are desirous of change though they know not what It is true that we have professed and in that mind with Gods grace we will both live and die that we will labour by all means possible either by Treaty or force to restore our Children to their antient dignity and Inheritance and whatsoever Christian Princes and Potentates will set themselves against it we will not spare any lawful means to bring ou● so just and honourable purpose to a good end Neither shall the Match of our Son or any other worldly respects be preferred to this our Resolution For by our credit and intervention with the King of Spain and the Arch-Dutchess and her Husband now with God we preserved the Lower Palatinate one whole year from any further conquering in it which in any eight dayes space in that time might have easily been swallowed up by Spinola's Army without any resistance and in no better case was it now at our Ambassadour the Lord Digby's coming through Heidleburgh if we had not extraordinarily succoured it But because we conceive that ye couple this War of the Palatinate with the cause of Religion we must a little unfold your eyes herein The beginning of this miserable War which hath set all Christendome on fire was not for Religion but only caused by Our Son in law his hasty and rash Resolution following evil Counsel to take to himself the Crown of Bohemia and that this is true himself wrote Letters to Us at that time desiring Us to give assurance both to the French King and to the State of Venice that his accepting of the Crown of Bohemia had no reference to the cause of Religion but only by reason of his right of Election as he called it And we would be sorry that that aspersion should come upon our Religion as to make it a good pretext for disthroning of Kings and usurping their Crowns And we would be loath that our people here should be taught that doctrine No let Us not so far wrong the Jesuits as to rob them of their sweet Positions and practice in this point And upon the other part we assure our selves so far of your charitable thoughts of us that we would never have constantly denyed our Son in Law both the title and assistance in that point if we had been well-perswaded of the justice of his quarrel But to conclude this unjust usurpation of the Crown of Bohemia and Hungaria from the Emperour hath given the Pope and all that party too fair a ground and opened them too wide a Gate for curbing and oppressing of many thousands of our Religion in divers parts of Christendom And whereas you excuse your touching upon the King of Spain upon occasion of the incidents by you repeated in that place and yet affirm it is without any touch to his Honor. We cannot wonder enough that ye are so forgetful both of your words and writs for in your former Petition you plainly affirm that he affects the Temporal Monarchy of the whole Earth then which there can be no more malice uttered against any great King to make all other Princes and Potentates both envy and hate him But if you list it may be easily tryed whether that speech touched him in honour or not if we shall ask him the question Whether he means to assume to himself that Title or no For every King can best judge of his own Honour we omit the particular Ejaculations of some foul-mouthed Oratours in the House against the honour of his Crown and State And touching your excuse of not determining any thing concerning the Match of our dearest Son but only to tell your opinion and lay it down at our feet First we desire to know how you could have presumed to determine in that point without committing of High Treason And next you cannot deny but your talking of his Match after that manner was a direct breach of our Commandment and Declaration out of our own Mouth at the first sitting down of this Parliament where we plainly professed that we were in Treaty of his Match with Spain and wished you to have that confidence in our Religion and Wisdom that we would so mannage it as our Religion should receivt no prejudice by it And the same we now repeat unto you professing that we are so far ingaged in that Match as we cannot in honour go back except the King of Spain perform not such things as we expect at his hands and therefore we are sorry that ye should shew to have so great distrust in us or to conceive that we should be cold in our Religion otherwise we cannot imagine how our former Publick Declaration should not have stopped your Mouths in this point And as to your Request that we would now receive your former Petition We wonder what could make you presume that we would not receive it whereas in our former letter we plainly declared the contrary unto you and therefore we have justly rejected that suit of yours For what have you left un-attempted in the highest points of Sovereignty in that petition of yours except the striking of Coin for it contains the violation of Leagues the particular way how to govern a War and the Mariage of our dearest Son both Negative with Spain nay with any Popish Princess and also Affirmatively as to the matching with one of our Religion which we confess is a strain beyond any Providence or Wisdom God hath given to us as things now stand These are unfit things to be handled in Parliament except your King should require it of you For who can have wisdome to judge of things of that nature but such as are dayly acquainted with the particulars of Treaties and of the variable or fixed connexion of Affairs of State together with the knowledge of the secret ways ends and intentions of Princes in their several Negotiations otherwise a small mistaking in matters of this Nature may produce more effects than can
be imagined And therefore Ne sutor ultra crepidam And besides the intermeddling in Parliament with matter of Peace or War and mariage of our dearest Son would be such a Diminution t● us and to our Crown in Foreign Co●ntreys as would make any Prince neglect to treat with us either in matters of Peace or Marriage except they might be assured by the assent of Parliament And so it proved long ago with a King of France who upon a trick procuring his States to dissen● from some Treaty which before he had made was afterwards refused Treating with any other Princes to his great reproach unless he would first procure Assent of his States to their Proposition And will you cast your eyes upo● the late times you shall find that the late Queen of famous memory was humbly petitioned by a Parliament to be pleased to marry but her answer was that she liked their Petition well because it was simple not limitting her to any place or person as not befitting her liking to their fancies and if they had done otherwise she should have thought it a high presumption in them Judge then what we may do in such a case having made our publick Declaration already as we said before directly contrary to that which you have now petitioned Now to the point in your Petition whereof you desire an answer as properly belonging to the Parliament The first and greatest point is that Religion concerning which at this time we can give you no other answer then in the General which is that you may rest secure that we will never be weary to do all we can for propagation of our Religion and repressing Popery But the manner and form ye must remit to our care and providence who can best consider of times and Seasons not by undertaking a publicb War of Religion through all the World at once which how hard and dangerous a Task it may prove ye may judge But this puts Us in mind how all the World complained the last year of plenty of Corn and God hath sent us a cooling card this year for that heat And so we pray God that this desire amongst you of kindling war shewing your weariness of peace and plenty may not mak● God permit us to fall into the Miseries of both But as we already said our care of Religion must be such as on the one part we must not by the hot persecution of Our Recusants at home irritate Foreign Princes of contrary Religion and teach them the way to plague Protestants in their Dominions with whom we dayly intercede and at this time principally to ease them of our profession that live under them Yet upon the other part we never mean to spare from due and severe punishing of any Papist that will grow insolent for living under our so mild Government And ye may also be assured we will leave no care untaken as well for the good Education of the youth at home especially the children of Papists as also for preserving at all times hereafter the youth that are or shall be abroad from being bred in dangerous places and so poisoned in Popish Seminaries And as in this point concerning the good education of Popish youth at home we have already given some good proofs both in this Kingdome and Ireland so will we be well pleased to pass any good laws that shall be made either now or any time hereafter to that purpose And as to your request of making this a Session and granting a general Pardon it shall be in your defaults if we make not this a Session before Christmass But for the Pardon you crave such particulars in it as we must be well advised upon least otherwise we give you back the double or treble we are to receive by your entire Subsidie without Fifteens But the ordinary course we hold fittest to be used still in this case is that we should of our Free Grace send you down a Pardon from the Higher House containing such points as we shall think fittest wherein we hope you shall receive good satisfaction But we cannot omit to shew you how strange we think it that you should make so bad and unjust a Commentary upon some words of our former Letter as if we meant to restrain you thereby of your antient Liberties and Privileges in Parliament Truly a Scholar would be ashamed so to mistake and misjudge any Sentences in another mans book For whereas in the end of our former Letter we discharge you to meddle in matters of Government and Myste●ies of State namely matters of War or Peace or our dearest Sons match with Spain by which particular denominations we interprete and restrain our former Words And then after we forbid you to meddle with such things that have their ordinary course in Courts of Iustice yet couple together these two sentences and plainly leave out these words of Mysteries of State so as ye erre a bene divisis ad male conjuncta for of the former part concerning Mysteries of State we plainly restrain our meaning to the particulars that were after mentioned and in the later we confess we meant it by Sir Edward Cooks foolish business And therefore it had well becomed him especially being our Servant and one of Our Council to have complained unto us which he never did though he was ordinarily at Court since and never had access refused unto him And although we cannot allow of the stile calling it your antient and undoubted Right and Inheritance but could rather have wished that ye had said That your privileges were derived from the Grace and permission of Our Ancesters and Us for most of them grow from Presidents which shews rather a Toleration than Inheritance yet we are pleased to give you Our Royal assurance that as long as you shall contain your selves within the Limits of your duty we will be as careful to maintain and preserve your lawful Liberties and Privileges as ever any of our Predecessours were nay as to preserve our own Royall Prerogative So your House had only need to beware to trench upon the Prerogative of the Crown which inforce Us or any just King to retrench them of their Privileges that would pare his Prerogative and flowers of the Crown But of this we hope there shall be never cause given New-Market 11. December 1621. Iames Rex This Answer on Tuesday returned to the House on Fryday following raises a storm amongst them all to talk freely their privileges now violated denied infringed and therefore committed the particulars to examinatiod So that the more moderate amongst them in some doubt and discontent how to mannage it for reconcilement which caused an Explanation from the King directed to his Secretary Calvert from Royston in his return homewards To Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellour Sir George Calvert one of our principal Secretaries Right Trusty c. VVE are sorry that our reiterated Messages to our House of Commons to go on they
continue yet to loose time And now of late upon our gratious Answer make more delay in appointing a Committee to consider of the points of our Answer concerning their privileges You shall tell them that to lessen mis-spent time we shall descend to explain our meaning Concerning what we said Not to allow of the stile Their antient and undoubted right of Inheritance which we wished that they had said Were derived from grace and permission of our Ancestours and Us for most of them grow from Presidents a Toleration rather than Inheritance And the plain truth is we cannot endure Subjects to use such Anti-Monarchical words to us except subjoined with acknowledgement of grace and favor from us Yet we never meant to deny them lawful privileges as in former times nor what they have right unto or hy Grace now and so we made that distinction either by Law or Statute or long Custom or lawful Presidents and so we shall maintain them in their Rights Therefore advises them to set afide wrangling and proceed to that which is fit for the weal of his Crown and Kingdom otherwise their curious shifts maliciously from time to time found out to frustrate the Kings good purposes to his Subjects will come to light and the Authors not thankfully rewarded Royston Decemb. 16. 1621. All these three several Admonitions of the Kings take no effect for any obedience to follow and therefore the King desirous not to dissolve them without some fruit addresses another Letter to the Speaker Richardson Mr. Speaker Whereas at the humble suite of Our House of Commons we made this Meeting a Session before Christmasse and so till Saturday next and by our Letters to take away mistakings we explained Our selves in points af their privileges and all to little purpose for preparing things necessary for a Session We think good once more to impart our mind that for the Reasons reiterated we have an earnest desire to make it a Session free pardon to the Subjects and good Laws to be passed as they have had both by the unusual examples of Iustice and ●ase and comforts by Proclamation The passing of the Subsidie the continuance of Statutes and the pardon being the most pressing to be effected and the pardon on his part now drawing up So it concerns them the Act for the Statutes And as for the Subsidie though time presses let that be no prejudice if left undon For on Saturday next he expects their performance that so they may go home to their habitations Theobalds December 17. 1921. Nor does this any more prevail but comes to be excused by way of Petition The Parliament return Thanks and Petition May it please your Most Excellent Majesty We the Knights Citizens ●nd Burgesses c. after your Majesties Letter read this morning full of grace and goodness do return our most humble and hearty thanks c. And though we have been desirous to have some good Laws passed and a Session before Christmass yet entering into serious Consideration of those things to be prepared and the straitness of time They humbly submit to the Kings Wisdom for their departure and for their re-access to perfect what is begun The Kings Reply The King returns them Answer How sorry he was this could not be made a Session Excuses himself by his former Advisoes and layes this blame before them to their face He had given Order to adjourn to the eight of February next And omits not to tell them that he expects other thanks then as they sent to him for his promises to maintain their privileges so often contained in his answers and letters explained and inlarged But for all that the King heard nothing though this message was delivered to them the next Morning and having plotted a Thin House and a late hour six a clock at night in December not a third part of their number They enter a Protestation for their Liberties in such dubious manner as may and did for the future serve to invade most of the Rights and Prerogatives annexed to the Crown for grounding the claim of their Privileges upon the Words in the Writ of Assembling the Contrivers of that Protestation craftily mentioned Super arduis Regni Negotiis but of purpose left out Quibusdam which restrains that generality to such particular cases as the King consults with them upon and the uncontroled customes of all times manifest For the King or Chancelour usually declares what things those Quibusdam are wherein he craves their advice and assistance And upon all which undutiful Protestation the King is justly occasioned to publish his pleasure for dissolution of this Parliament by Proclamation to this effect A PROCLAMATION for the dissolving the Parliament ALBEIT the assembling continuing and dissolving of Parliaments be a Prerogative peculiar to our Imperial Crown yet We are pleased to acquaint our good Subjects with the reasons of all Our publick Resolutions and actions intending to have made this the happiest Parliament in our time without imputing however to the Major part of the Members any want of their duty as hath been mutually exprest from either party Beginning in January with good harmony betwixt us so as many ages past could not parallell the like Their love to us our Iustice to them extended not only to private persons but even upon the prime Officer of Our Kingdome we found notwithstanding they mispent time in cavils yet we gave longer time continuing the Session till the eight and twentieth day of May then the Recess till the fourth of June Expressing that our Progress approaching the necessity of our Council to attend us the disfurnishing our Courts of Iustice so many Terms and the long absence of Iustices of Peace and deputy Lieatenants from their necessary duties in the Countrey Then we sent them word we would hear and answer all businesses at an appointed time They are notwithstanding in jealousie and expressed discontent yet made not their address to us and thereof we signified our pleasure to both Houses The Lords submitted to our Resolutions passed the Act for some especial Bills with commendation to the Commons which they neglect We therefore continued the Session for a Fortnight longer Our self in person offered to the Lords the passing Bills had thanks from them which the Commons the same day refuse The Grievances of England and Ireland though not presented to us were rectified by Proclamations in both Realms But during this time of Recess we mediated with the Emperour by Our Ambassadour Digby upon promise of assistance of Parliament in case that failed then we reassemble the twentieth of November and made known in particular all the transactions abroad yet some Members took inordinate liberty to treat of Our prerogative not fit to be medled withall of which we gave them warning And so reciting all the particular passages before-mentioned And therefore concludes whereas the Assembly of Parliament was adjourned untill the eight of February now next
Scaffold for writing against her marriage with the Duke of Anjou she lost much of the peoples love by that spectacle which scared the Commons into fear whether she were the right and not uncertain daughter of H. 8. but wise men could easily resolve it The oft repeated Story of the Merchant Bindet for saying He would make his Son heir to the Crown meaning his House of that Sign for which he was quartered within four hours after by Edward the fourth and the Duke of Buckingham afterward made use of that Record to the Commons against the succession of his Race for that Tyranny The like of Collingburn by Rich. 3. The Rat the Cat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under the Hog How should posterity know their demerits if rigorous justice had been spared for to suppress Pasquils were to make men seek them and being found to prize them Those of Fabritius Venito were condemned to be burnt and so long were they sought for but when permitted they were instantly despised Who can silence them Power cannot suppress Memorials And it is to be pittied that Princes are more affected with future fame than their present honestly It may not be amiss to make strickt lawes against Libellers but not for a good Prince to prosecute the rigour But with wisdome to consider the convoy of such papers whether Truths or Falsehoods if mixed apparances then to be neglected if base and flat railing to be despiced Indeed novel causes of Sedition upon apparent grounds are to be answered and confuted by reason so did that wise Statesman Caecil in his answer to calumnies that stroke at the State through his Sides see before anno 1606. p. 364. Such as are presented by Supplication for redress of errours com● to be Libells when they are urged with popular subscriptions or made publique ere they come to the State That of Humphery Earl of Gloucester against the Cardinal of Winchester was a Libel Taxing the King of Dotage about the King of Scots Liberty the Sale of Crown Iewels his Charter pardon to the Cardinal for receiving his rents Setting the Duke of Orleans at Liberty against Englands Friend the Duke of Burgundy This fault was onely questioned nothing done Miseria summa ubi de injuria conqueri pro delicto habetur Augustus writ to Tiberius Noli in hac re indagare nimium indignari quenquam esse qui de me loquatur Male Satis est enim si hoc habemus ne quis Malefacere possit And though Tiberius beheaded Cremutius for wor●s only yet he could say In Civitate libera cuiquam quoque liberum esse debere Wise Princes may weak Princes cannot suffer liberty of Judgements nor indiscretion of Tongues But to counsel ●uch Justice were to assist Domitian to kill Gnats with his Dagger In a word we have found the unhappy event of the late publique punishment upon Burton Bostwick and Prinn Divine Physitian and Lawyer Their crimes then were thought fit in policie to be punished but were taken up in after time justified when the time served the turn to revenge that punishment It was wisely retorted by King Iames upon himself A Country Clown told his Companion the London News The King to marry his Son to the King of Spains Daughter Why saies his Friend what of that He answered For so our King will turn Papist Nay rather replyed he I le cut his throat For which he was condemned at the County Assize But the King heard of his Sentence and said By my sale sal he not need to do that ere I le turn Papist I le cut my own throat and gave him pardon But debosh spirits distasting their own Miseries are alwaies earnest in Novations and desire a change of fortunes and if they had power would sooner turn Traytors such were some of them in this Kings time by the effects since you may guess at them then We spake of Student Templers These Houses heretofore had been a Covent of Red-fryars for so I find them stiled and afterwards men of the Sword got the possession and were called Knights Templers from that of Ierusalem where they heretofore dwelt and were instituted there by Baldwine King of Ierusalem anno 1100. and created by Pope Gelasius anno 1117. continuing two hundred years untill they were supprest ●bout Edward the first his time anno 1300. and their Substance of great wealth given to the Knights of the Rhodes by Pope Clement the fifth The Romans say They fell away from Christianity to the Sarazens and lode them with inormous Crimes But and in truth others say their destruction grew from siding with the Germain Emperour against the Pope and these Authors are Bo●atius Villanus Antonius and others Indeed they were Enemies to the sins and corruptions of the Court of Rome and Clergy And all Authors conclude That however sundry of them had been accused of Crimes yet they indured cruel torments without confession of guilt Paulus Aemilius stories one of them Iames Burgond the principal of that Order and two others of great Birth who suffered exquisite tortures and dyed in the ●lame innocent Martyrs And Plessis saith that other Authors report That two Cardinals being present Burgond summoned Pope Clement the fifth before the Tribunal of God to answer that injustice and that the Pope dyed the same day Besides the Clause inserted into the Condemnatory Bull Quanquam de jure non possumus tamen pro plenitudine potestatis dictum Ordinem reprobamus But in a word their great wealth was one Notable bait to the Popes and the Gulf of other Orders Hospitalers Knights of the Rhodes and St. Iohns All these together smack this Order and swallowed their Riches at one time by consent of all the Princes in Christendome where they had their habitations Length of Peace necessarily increasing swarms of people it was politickly permitted to disburthen this land by Foreign Plantations into the vast Continent of America unhabited as is before touched in Anno 1614. and since that time pursued with above fourty sail severally trading to Virginia New England and other parts of that Coast with transportation to this year of above three thousand five hundred seventy persons according to a list in several Colonies and Towns built for mutual trade with the Natives being brought with much kindness so communicable as to be hired servants into private families But at last maliciously envying at the English consult with themselves to massacre all at an instant their intent failing in the whole they found means to murther three hundred fourty seven persons being but the eleventh part of the twelve parts of the rest The customary practice of the Indians is to disperse themselves into several Colonies as naturally affecting division under sundry Governours Supreame yet now in policy confederate amity to work their Design for destruction of all the English through out all Colonies at once separate and very remote But their plot necessarily to be divulged in
common not mistrusting discovery from any of their own Yet it pleased God in mercy to put it into the Mind of an Indian servant to one Pace to discover it to him overnight who first securing his own Habitation with all possible speed gave waruing to each Plantation by several intelligence and saved the rest but in the fury three hundred fourty seven were slain And since that time the English are more wary to guard their houses And as the best Maxim in policy to separate the conjunct affections of their Indian Kings to make themselves the more secure It was the Spanish policy that got them the two rich Kingdomes of Peru and Mexico in America for the two heirs Brothers Attapalippa and Gasco quarrelling for the Kingdom each striving to gain the Spaniard to friend Francis Pizacro managing their differences for his own ends stripped them both of Peru. So did F●rdinando Cortes vanquish Matezumo and got Mexico by the Neighbour Friendship of the Province of Tascala deadly Enemies for which service that Province is freed from Tax for ever So did the Romans advantage overcome Great Brittain as Tacitus sayes Ita dum singuli pugnant universi vincuntur And Iustin hath the same with the Grecian Cities And hereupon King Iames furnished these Plantations with ammunition and arms out of his own store-store-house at the Tower at his charge There were likewise shipped unto Summer Islands so named from the first sinder and Planter Sir George Summers alias Burmudoes above a thousand persons and nine Ships to transport them and to trade who have since so increased that they are forced to fly to the Main for elbow-room see before anno 1614. Page 400. The King and Parliament asunder it was resolved with his Councellours to speed Digby into Spain Extraordinary to proceed in the Treaty of the Match Sir Francis Cottington Lieger there form whom Digby had knowledge of that Kings Progresse towards the North of Spain to Lerma a Town in Biscay whether the Duke thereof a sublime Favourite had invited the King to his Princely New Pallace which might save Digby the trouble and discommodity of riding many leagues to Madrid to meet there though it is to be understood by those that know that the Court and Council and State of Spain are said to be alwaies residing in Madrid in New Castile for receiving Ambassadours and making dispatches yet the amity of Digby with that Council hoped now to alter that Custome in favour of this urgent affair and him And therefore lands as the time and weather would afford the neerest Port Saint Andrews in Biscay there he stayes sends his Secretary to Madrid to signify to Cottington his arrival and reason for resting there as yet intimating that if he could surprize the King at Burgos or Lerma so far neerer his return home might there also hasten his dispatch upon that so reasonable consideration The King in complement told Cottington That he hoped the Ambassadours business was of more weight than to be taken up in the road where it became not his Majesty to return him back to his Master without entertainment of the Court of Spain But Digby understood this as State formality and pressing his own conveniency was at last ordered to have audience at Lerma whereupon Digby might say without merit of a scoff That it was the first President of honour to an English Ambassador and to his person a particular favour And so he sest forward to Burgos where Cottington meets him whom he returns back twenty miles to Lerma upon serious affair to prepare some of the Council with such interests as were intrusted besides his sealed Commission resolving himself to follow at the heels with surprize rather than Ceremony Yet the Kings Coaches came to wait on him neer Lerma unto Villa Mansa where he reposed till the Conde de Salazera Maior-Domo one of the Kings Stewards the Conde de Villa Madena Correjo Major or Chief Post-Master and the Viscount Toriza accompanied with several attendants conducted the Ambassadour to Court Thus far and in truth was the passages of Digbyes Reception which our Author abuses with base absurdities Abbot Arch-bishop of Canterbury aiming with a Cross-bow at a Deer in Bramzel park killed his Gamekeeper with the Arrow for which act having his hand in blood he is by Common-Law to forfeit all his estate and by the Cannon-Law irregular ipso facto and to be suspended from all Ecclesiastical function until he be restored This troubled the King what to do Not to add to his affliction and to leave virum Sanguinum Primate and Patriarch of all his Churches ●ounds harsh to the old Councells and Cannons upon either the Papists would descant and therefore it was referred to the Lord Keeper Williams five Bishops the two Chief Iustices and two Civil Lawyers who certifie so much and so he not being received into the full use of the Ministery himself forebore the Council Table as he told me in these words Since they will have it so that I am incapable of the one I shall spare my self the trouble of the other But he enjoyed the benefit of that See whilest he lived Much displeased he was I well remember with the Court and Clergy for Doctor Lawd refused consecration of St. David by his hand being tainted with blood but the Other was quit with him for underhand he caused it to be burited abroad That Lawd was by Puritans reputed a Papist in Oxford And to justifie that his function was not weakned by that Mischance he procured Commission to inquire Whether casual homicide was not excepted in the Cannon In which he was satisfied that it was not and so retired from his Magnificent Structure his Almes-house at Guilford to his Palace at Lambeth where the air of the Court breathing so neer and yet at this little distance he not admitted there he fell upon down right Puritan Tenents which gave occasion to many discontents of our Church and State to visit him then so frequent that they called themselves Nicodemites and his Disciples And I observed very often perhaps therefore that the Arch-bishop constantly with candle-light in his Chamber and Study made it midnight at Noon-day And here he began to be the first Man of Eminency in Our Church a Ring-leader of that Faction for I can name those then his private Disciples which lately appear desperate Proselytes The Tenents of Arminianism which the King feared had infected the Pulpit with so much heat that it inflamed each opponent so that to Suppress the danger of the one and to regulate the disorder of the other both offensive to the State the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had letters to settle their sick brains to this effect The Kings Letter to the Arch-bishop Most Reverend Father in God right trusty and intirely beloved Counsellour we greet you well That the extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been reformed in the Realm by some Act or Council of
desperane terms had the more need of desperate Cures It was therefore resolved here to intrust it wholy and secretly to the Suitor himself the Prince with his Confident the then Marquess of Buckingham for a journey to Spain And the seventeenth of Febr. 1622. disguised with their single Attendants Endimion Portor of his Highness Bed-chamber and Richard Graham Master of the Marquess Horse meeting Sir Francis Cottington the Princes Secretary at Dover These only hazard a journey by the way of France land at ●oloign post to Paris and had ●ight of a Mask there and the first view of the Princess Henrietta Maria his after Queen and Consort in anno 1625. From thence in haste and some difficulty to Bourdeaux and after to Bayon the Confines of France and from thence no sooner gone but that the Governour Count Graimont had notice by the Currier who carryed the advice from hence to the King of Spain that the Prince of Wales was gone thither Where he arrived at Madrid fryday the 7. of March at eight a clock at Night in thirteen daies from Paris seven hundred fifty miles and alighted at Bristols house the Extraordinary Ambassadour and Sir Walter Aston Lieger intrusted underhand to overlook the others actions in this particular being hitherto suspected of the Prince to be too much Catholique there So that this sudden arrival startled Bristol that was a stranger to the Journey which met with such success afterwards as the measure of his Malice did meet out Together with Gondamores regret on the Spanish party who with all his wisdome more by estimation then merit was abused also at home to credit what was commanded to him who thought nothing more sure then now to be effected The next morning the Arrival of Buckingham was willingly discovered to Gondamore and so to the Conde Olivares the Spanish Favorite and by him to the young King Philip who gave him leave to visit the Marquess and Order to be brought to the King in private to whom he delivered King Iames his Letters and discovered that the Prince was come and therefore with the Ambassadours was returned Olivares with the Kings salutations of honor and welcom Where it was observed that Olivares would not be covered though the first Grandee of Spain who are not bare to their own King The next Sunday afternoon though in Lent upon Design 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desire to take view of his Mistress The King Queen 〈◊〉 Infanta and the Infantes Don Carlos and Don Ferdinan●o his two Brothers with a great Train of Coaches took air upon the Prado a publick place of Recreation where the Prince likewise disguised in the Duke of Ceas Coach with his English Train made divers turns and so had sight of the Infanta not refraining though to salute each other with seemly congies The King desired to visit and imbrace the Prince at the Earl of Bristols House But to avoid that disadvantage the Prince would not be denyed to pass to the King who therefore appointed half way where he stayed and there they met The King got out of his Coach first and imbracing the Prince with wonderful Kindness made incomparable professions of love and honour In the strict Obligations which the King his Father and His Highness Himself had cast upon him by that singular act of Confidence and Favour To which the Prince replyed That he was Royally recompenced by the honor he receives to be his own Advocate in this His High Design to visit His Majesty and His Princely Sister And taking Coach together He forced the Prince therein first on the right hand Bristol interpreting between them for the Kings of Spain do not descend to give honour to the French tongue and return home by Torch-light On Munday the Prince was visited by Olivares to let him know the Kings Publique Devotion unto the Monastery La Merced attended on Horse-back with a glorious Train of which the Prince had sight and so passed that day in Recreation abroad The next day the King sent two Dukes to visit the Prince with this Complement That seeing the good service of the Conde Gondamore had imprinted such a singular Character in the K. of Great Brittains affection to trust so excellent a terasure into Spain as his Highness therefore he could not suffer any Subject of His unadvance● who had been so graciously accepted in Eng●●●● For which cause he was resolved to make him a Counsellour of State though he accompted him indeed as an Englishman Nay rather for that respect that they might be the more confident of his proceedings and Privy to the Inmost actions and the Prince was impowred to establish him therein For which Gondamore falls down at His Feet and being by His Highness addressed to the Court was instantly sworn Not long after was proclaimed a General Pardon Of all Offences and all Prisoners within the Continent of Spain released and all English Slaves for Pyracy or Mortal Crimes were set at liberty and manifested to be done in contemplation of the Prince The 16. of March appointed for the Princes Triumphal Entry through Madrid The day before were presented two Barb-Gennets of excellent value for the Prince to choose and the other for the King The Morning come four Counsellours of State were sent to attend and to conduct him to the Monastery St. Ieronimo neer Madrid from whence the Kings of Spain make their solemn Entries of Coronation where he was feasted privately at Dinner by the Kings appointment After Noon was ●ent by the Prince in giving Audience to the Inquisitor General and to all the several bodies of Counsels which continually reside in the Court at Madrid except only the Council of State which never makes visit in Corps the rest did being of Castile Arragon Portugal Italy Militia Indies Treasury and Exchequer c. The Corrigidor and Regidores of Madrid the Governours had audience likewise About four a Clock in the even comes the King whom the Prince receives at the ●ate and all things in Order they dispose to be going They came in Coaches but now all Mount on Horse-back in Magnificent manner and riding to the entry of the Liberties of Madrid there attended twenty four of the Regidores with a large Canopy of Tyssue rich imbossed being their office to bear it were apparelled in rich Cloath of Tyssue lined with Crimson Cloath of Gold They both came under the Canopy the Prince alwaies on the right hand Before them the Courts and Ministers of Justice Then the Grandies and all the principal Noblemen in excellent Bravery attended by their Followers in rich Equipage and Liveries a custom in that Kingdom wherein they have excess Next after the Canopy followed the Marquess Buckingham and the Conde Olivares as Masters of the Horse to them both with eithers cloath of State which Canopy was presented to Buckingham as a Fee to Him in that Office and serving for the Prince in whose honor that daies action was performed Then the Earl
to Buckingham and the Secretaries that so Super totam Materiam he may receive their Assistance and advice for the good of the Commonwealth Religion His Son and His children of the Palatine And for his Estate it is considerable as consisting with theirs And as Res Integra is presented to them so he professes himself free to follow their best advice By Metaphor of good Gardiners that plant good and pluck up bad weeds choak their Labours but jealousies are to be rooted out for they are of a strange depth And cleers himself in the presence of God of either Remissness in Religion or maintenance of Toleration what suspition might be was when he connived at some things which hindred weighty affairs but never to overthrow or disagree with Our Laws For a good Horse-man spares the spur and sometimes suffers the Reigns so a Wise King as his age and experience informs to quicken and execute Laws and upon just occasion to be remiss And closes with that which he would have take best impression as most averse from their faith their Privileges He never restrained Lawful Liberties antiently warrantable therefore he forewarns them as Saint Paul did Timothy to avoid Genealogies and curious Questions quirks of Law idle Innovations And his prayers to God for them and a happy Conclusion of this Parliament Concluding with serious and Christian Protestations before God That never way-faring Man in the burning Desarts more desired water to quench his drought than he thirsted and longed for happy success of this Parliame●t that the good issue of this may expiate and acquit the fruitless of the former AMEN This the effect His occasions were alwaies to speak much and his excellent abilities to speak well worthy of print as they are other where virbatim which the bulk of this History craves leave to breviate The Lord Keeper as Speaker to the Peers whose place there usually adds to the Kings mind and meaning and excuses himself After his Eloquence to be silent not to enamel a Gold Ring with studs of Iron And as One saies of Nerva that having adopted Trajan he was immediately taken away Ne post divinum immortale factum aliquid Mortale faceret So he durst not after his Majesty Divinum Immortale dictum Mortale aliquid addere Of this one complains as the temper of those times onely Men make themselves Beasts by making Kings Gods and advances highly the Spanish and French not idolizing their Kings with Sacred Sovereign Immortal Oraculous Expressions but in their Title Sir tells the business and demands Iustice. When both houses had well digested the Kings excuses and given some hopes of their good satisfaction and so cleerly to go on to business of the time It was thought fit for the King to per●orm his promise in reference to further Relation of the Mysteries in the Match And therefore after five daies breathing the Duke of Buckingham with the Prince gave particular remonstrance to both Houses of such Transactions or so many as is necessary as before remembred especially those which were mannaged by Sir Richard Weston with the Arch-dutchess at Bruxels in reference to the K. of Spain and both their jugglings viz. That thereupon the King sent Porter to Spain and was abused with hopes to credit Bristol till Olivares told him plainly That they meant neither the Match nor the Restitution of the Palatinate Bristol in private discovers this freedome to Olivares who incensed with Porter refuses to speak with him any more And so Bristol orders his return with a dispatch and assurance of both Demands but being of slow performance the Prince undertakes it himself in Person where the Spanish deceipts and Bristols connivance being with some intricacy discovered by the Prince He is now returned through all these hazards to deserve thanks from us all The Duke having satisfyed the curiosity of a searching Parliament was highly esteemed as the Preserver of the Nation contrary to that natural custome of incompatibillity of affections between the vulgar and the Sovereigns favour and so he kept it to the Kings last breath eighteen Moneths after a long course calm and smooth prosperity without any visible ecclipse or variation Though an Author seeks to scandal his Memory And brings Bristol his Accuser hereafter I know not when That the Duke caried the Prince Purposely into Spain to be better instructed in Popery and gave hopes of the Princes conversion and professed himself a Papist heard Masse adored their Sacraments and received a Bull from the Pope to incourage him to pervert both the King and the Prince These imputations so feigned and false need no confutation but neglect and scorn though some Articles since seem to say so much The Parliament had other opinions then and thereupon advised the King to break the Treaty and proclaim open Warre against Spain but in such General terms as gave his Wisdome cause to suspect and therefore thinks fit to propound such cautions to them as should advisedly draw to Resolutions and not leave him in the lurch My Lords and Gentlemen Have cause to thank God that my last Speech takes this effect that with unanime consent you have so speedily given advice in this Businesse to break off the Treaties of the Match and Palatinate And now give me leave as an old King to propaund my doubts and hereafter give me your answer It is true I have been all my life a Peaceable King my Titles and Impress Rex Pacificus give me that Honour and should I now imbroyl my self in War against my Nature and mine honour to spill more blood of which too m●ch had been shed unless it be by Necessity Malum Necessarium Besides He tells them Some hopes of better conditions hath been offered since this sitting But to take off their Iealousies that while they advise he rejects It is therefore left to their consideration as a matter of weight that the course may agree with his conscience In the case of his Children he being old would be glad as Moses saw the promised Land afar off if not to see the Restitution yet to be but assured it shall be and so to sing Nunc Dimittis Domine He hath heretofore said as now not to desire a furrow of Land in all his Dominions without Restitution of the Palatinate but then take the Difficulties of the Case It is unchristian to advise a King to War by blood which may be had by Peace And to consider the Requisites anent his Nccessityes for he tells them plain Parliaments have afforded him least helps of any King His disabilities increased by his Sons journey to Spain Ambassadours maintenance of His Children assisting the Palatinate his debt to Denmark for the Low Countries who if not assisted by him cannot subsist of themselves The Princes of Germany that should help are poor weok disheartned and expect from hence Ireland as a back-door must be secured The Navy though well must
be repaired for securing it self and the Coasts That his children abroad eat no bread but by him His customs the best part of his Revenue in effect the substance of all are farmed with conditions if war follow their bargains sease and Subsidies ask time to bring in unless he take them up upon credit and so lose of their value In these cases he would be loath to shew his Teeth and cannot bite And refers the condition of his own Estate to his Treasurer And thus freely he opens his heart for their Hearts and Help let them shew the means and he will do what they direct referring the dispose of monies to their own Deputies and Treasurers and upon the offer of their Means he makes War he will wave the Prerogative of Kings of War and Peace and be advised by them in either for weapons breed peace He desires to be in Love with Parlaments to make good Laws reform abuses and maintain good Government and so blesses their labours to the end Thus far the King Here was plainess He had cause to fear for he foresaw his own hazard to be left in the lurch So that to set him forward without despair they soeak as they should mean and not long after give him this Declaration They first render thanks to his sacred Majesty for accepting their humble advice to assist him in a Parliamentary way with their persons and abilities And whereas his Majesty was pleased to descend to particular propositions for advance of so great a Bu●iness upon his Majesties Declaration for dissolution and discharge of both Treaties and for defence of the Realm the securing Ireland the assisting the Netherlands and other his Majestyes Friends and Allyes and for the Navy For these they will grant him three intire Subsidies and three fifteens to be paid within a year The money to be in hands of Committes and Commissioners by them to be expended as shall be agreed upon this present Session The King was well pleased and tells them He is willing to dissolve the Treaties their Gift being sufficient to begin a War but when it will end God knowes That he will ingage his Successor his Son for the recovery of the Palatinate and in his old age will assist in Person if need be That as he is pleased the Committes should direct the disposing of the monies so the Design must not be acted by publick councells that is whether two thousan● or ten thousand by Sea or Land East or West by Diversion or Invasion upon the Emperour or Bavaria these be hopes must be left to the King Hereupon a Council of War is chosen of some antient Actors in the Militia of Ireland and other Nobility the Meeting at the Savor at the Lord Caries President of that Council who resolve of six thousand to be sent for the present into the Low Countreys to join with their forces against the Spanish under command of Spinola and so have a freer passage into Germany if need were hereafter The Spanish Ambassadour Marquess of Inojos● much perplexed at the even proceedings between the King and Parliament resolved to put in practice a Jesuite trick upon Buckingham by that means to distemper the Calm proceedings of this State We are told the Manner That Inojosa sent one Padre Majestre a Spanish Iesuit a great Statesman to King James that he under confession had found the King was by Buckingham or by his procurement to be killed but whether by Poison Pistol Dagger c. he could not tell Then that the King should say to Buckingham ah Stenny Stenny a term of favour wilt thou kill me the Duke in high passion being told that Padre Majestre had been with the King who being questioned by the Duke Inojosa undertook the quarrel and told the Duke he would maintain him the Traytor c. Another saies That the Ambassadour sent one to the King to let him know That the Duke of Buckingham had some dangerous Machination on foot that tended to his Destruction and the best He could expect would be a Con●inement to a Country House in some Park during his life the Prince being now ripe for Government c. and the Author concludes That such an attempt could not be done without the Princes privity and yet the King was willing to have the Brat strangled in the Womb though there was cause to suspect that the great intimacy and deerness between the Prince and Duke like the conjunction of two dreadfull Planets could not but portend the production of some dangerous effect to the Old King What horrid infamy is here cast on them both But this was the story and the truth for not a day passed then but that I was present and acquainted with all that transaction to the end It was well known how much it concerned the Ambassadour for his Masters honour to disimprove the value of Buckingham with the King and Parliament and cunningly meant to do it home and to involve the Prince too in one and the same act And therefore aspersed abroad a suspition which really also Inojosa devised to the Kings ear That Buckingham should have plotted this Parliament to over power the King which if resisted then by that authority to con●ine the King and to transfer soveraignty upon the Prince And thus Machevils rule lay the scandal high enough no matter to prove it Himself the Brocher to be free from Examination being qualified an Ambassadour A great noise there was I remember well more in the peoples resentment than any way considerable at Court. And yet the Duke was not so dull to neglect the means of satisfying Others Himself and Prince needed not nor truly did it any way interfear as it was devised to startle the King And being generally cryed down as a false scandal the power of all three could not question an Ambassadour though it was scanned at the Council Table and put to vote in the house too how to proceed with him That the Shield of his Ambassy was too weak to defend him from the Sword of Iustice for then he resolves into a private man The Duke not satisfyed had the opinion of a learned Antiquary who with much circumstance advised and directed a tedious Ceremony of State to be used therein Both Speakers to remonstrate to the Ambassadour the crime and if he reveal not the Informers then is he Author Scandali and so the Houses to petition the King to confine him and restrain his person till his Master know his offence and satisfy Iustice. If he does not then is it Transactio Criminis upon himself and draws a denounce of War But the wisdome of the King would have none of this Geer Yet the Prince and Duke complained hereof to Spain and a command returned to Inojosa to crave forgivenesse which he did and the Duke in confidence of his own Innocency suffered it to passe without much more trouble to seek satisfaction in publique for he
would always say Lyes are not long liv'd And indeed more he could not have Examples vary some Ambassadours in like cases have been secured and punished others freed by privilege for in the times of the Scots Affairs with Us and France frequent Presidents have been used by Throgmorton Randolph Tanworth and Bishop Ross according to the power of the Princes where they have been committed as hath been before mentioned The Earl of Bristol this while in Spain received command to take leave of that King and to return and had intelligence from hence in what hazard he should appear after such Complaints in Parliament against him And indeed he delayed it so long that it was suspected he would stay there being so advised by the King of Spain who gave him assurance of all Civility and kindness in his Court for security rather than adventure his head at home But these branglings here feigned there to be high Distraction gave him courage to return where no sooner appeared but was clapt up in the Tower sa●es one and the next day set at Liberty nor durst any bring him to farther Tryal He was committed by the Lords in Parliament and might have lain there longer a Prisoner but the Duke made means for his release least it should move jealousies that it was his design thereby to delay his Tryal and this to my knowledge for I acted in his release He being earnestly pursued by the Duke and had the Parliament lasted it might have proved his destruction who afterwards humbled himself and gained favour to retire into the Countrey to Shirbone that fatal seat for suceeding Offendors But the Spanish Ambassadours practice failing some Lords set on work a Petition to the King against Papists as intending it necessary to go on with the complyance of the Publick Affair now happ●ly proceeding or to hazard all and nothing would serve to satisfy these Men but several Conferences of both Houses untill they had with consent framed their Propositions and presented them to the King in two Petitions alike We your Majesties most Humble and Loyal Subjects the Lords and Commons do in all humility offer unto your Majesty These two Petitions THat for the more safety of your Realms and better keeping your subjects in obedience and other important reasons of State your Majesty would be pleased by some such course as you shall think fit to give present Order that all the Laws be put in due execution against Iesuits Seminary Priests and others having taken Orders of the See of Rome and generally against all Popish Recusants and as for disarming that it may be done according to the Laws Acts and Directions of State in that Case And least the Iesuits and Priests here may pretend to be surprissed that a day certain may prefix their departure and neither they nor other to return or come hither upon peril of severest Penalties of the Lawes now in force And that no Subjects receive entertain or conceal them upon penalties c. Seeing we are thus happily delivered from those Treaties and the use which your ill affected subjects made thereof and yet we fore see the like hereafter We therefore are humble Suiters to your Majesty To secure the hearts of your good Subjects by your Royal word That upon no occasion of Marriage or Treaty or such other Request from foreign Prince or State what soever you will slacken the execution of the said Laws against Iesuits Priests and Popish Recusants And humbly pray a gratious Answer The King doubting this double Petition intended as a check to the main business resolved yet to satisfie them That he commends both Houses for their Petition but wonders at their suspition to spur him on to his conscience and duty That his Religion Profession and behaviour his own Books declare nor will swarve from them for he that dissembles with God will be distrasted by Men. That his heart bleeds at the increase of Popery as thorns in his eyes and pricks in his sides He hath alwaies desired to hinder the growth as a Martyr As in the sense of Isaac persecuted by Ismael by mocking words as no King ever suffered more of ill tongues Yet he hath been far from per seeuting believing that rule Sanguis Martyrum est semen Ecclesiae As for the Petition he grants in substance what they ask and adds of his own Their Treaties being annulled their desire is granted and will declare by Proclamation to banish Iesuits and Priests by a day but a Proclamation here extends onely to this Kingdome He will do more command his Iudges in circuit to put the Laws in Execution against Recusants as before the Treaties the Laws being in force and never dispensed with by him but as he told them heretofore as a good Horseman to use sometimes the Reigns not alwaies the spur He promis●th by Declaration to disarm them which indeed is done by the Laws Nay will disorder the Papists frequenting to Ambassadours Masses for though he cannot break their privilege yet the Lord Maior and Officers may seize them as they come out And resolves to order the Education of Recusants children as he hath advised therein with his Bishops and Council The second part of the Petition is the best advice in the World being against the Rule of Wisdome that Subjects should transgresse a Law by Intercession of a Foreign Prince and forst in such conditions in such a Treaty which he will avoid in any whatever This his answer so satisfactory as pleased the Parliament Sa●es Calumny He promised much and performed little See what he did by the sequel Order was forthwith to inroll the chiefest Recusants you see he spares none nor were the Parliament so nice as to leave the best of them out The Earl of Rutland Sir Thomas Compton the Dukes two Fathers in Law the Countess his Mother Earl Castlehaven the Lords Herbert Rivers Peter Morly Windsor Eure Wootton Teinham Scroop and of Knights Courtney Brewdnel Somerset Ireland Stonners Brown Howard Powel Lacon Lewkner Awbery Gage Shelly Carvel Wiseman Gerrard Filpot Russel Bedingfield Wrey Conwey Iones Conyers Lamplow Savage Mosly Beston Riddal Wyral Townsend Norris Knevet Tasborough Selby Tichburn Hall Perkins Penruddock Sands and divers Esquires and Gentlemen either by themselves or their Wives These men were all at Mercy and who ever else the Parliament would pick out with lime and baited Hooks to catch them for the King not minded to interrupt them having done his part withdrew to New Market cold air for his Northern conditions the most healthy The Prince increasing in years and in affection of the People it was most convenient also to speed him a marriage The Treaties with Spain being thus far annulled Some Overtures were hinted from France of their willingness for a Match with Madam the Princess Henri●tta Maria the French Kings youngest Sister the two others being preferred to Spain and Savoy And because it was necessary to feel
being sent for from the other factories with horrid Tortures either in truth or for pain of Torment some of them confessed That two Japoners should have gone to each point of the Castle and two to the Governours chamber door and when the Mutiny or Alarum should cause the Governour to come out the two Japoners to kill him for the reward of 1000 Royals a piece Towerson was tortured and confessed That he swore all the English at Amboyna to be secret to his plot with the Japoners to surprize the Castle and to kill the Dutch to this effect divers were accused condemned and suffered Death viz. 10. English 9. Japoners and 1 Portugal The manner of the tortue was thus First they hoised the Examinant up by the hands with a Cord on a large door fastning him upon two Staples of Iron on the Top as wide as the arms could stretch his feet hung to the ground stretched out at length and wideness fastned beneath the Door Then they wrapt a cloath about his Neck and face so close that no water could go by That done powring the water leasurely upon his head and filling the Cloth up to his Mouth and Nostrils that he could not draw breath but must withall suck in the Water and so continued till it forced his inward parts to come out of his Nose Eyes and Ears stifling and choaking him into a Swound or fainting but being taken down they make him vomit out the Water and so somewhat recovered they torture him again four or five times his body Swoln three times bigger his cheeks like Bladders his eyes staring out beyond his browes yet still Colson denyed their accusation then they burn him under his Paps arm-holes elbowes hands and feet till the fat dropt out their Torches lodged him in a Dungeon his flesh putrified Maggots ingendred to an horrid and loathsom condition till at the eight daies end they were executed in March 1623. At which instant a sudden Darkness and tempest two of their Dutch Ships were forced from Anchor in their safe harbour and almost perished One Dunckin their Accuser stumbled at their Grave all buried in a Pit fell stark Mad and dyed so within three Dayes after A sickness followed at Amboyna of 1000 Dutch where 30 dyed not usual in that space And in time the Relation is sent into England by the next return of the Ships which appeared so horrid that a Defence thereof was imprinted and sent hither out of Holland And Sir Dudly Digs undertakes for our East Indie Company to publish the truth and answer that Pamphlet and the Governour of Amboyna leaving his Command was forced by fowl weather upon our Coast his Ships seized on and his person brought to give an accompt hereof before our Admiralty Some Assistants Delegates appointed Iudges but then the Examinations and Confessions under their hands comming hither before any returned on the part of the English viva voce to confute them And though suspected yet for the present set aside till further confirmation In the mean time the Description of the English in their several tortures was lively put in draft and painting so horrid as that the King and Council thought fit to burn it least the monstrous appearance should incense the English to a National Quarrel So great force and resemblance hath that Art with Nature that the effects thereof fell upon Towersons Widow who at sight of the Picture fell down in a Swound with hazard then in that Trance to follow her Husband which the often Relation before did not so much astonish The disparity of a Po●tical pen with the powerful art of painting may thereby be distinguished But to return to the Design of the Parliament which went on in their manner for the Recovery of the Palatinate by War and as the King feared to imbroyl him in the busines●e with pittiful effects which themselves meant to mannage And now they provide four brave Regiments under commands of the Earls of Oxford Southamption Essex and the Lord Willougby elected by the Parliament who afforded forsooth favour to the King to present them their Officers most Scots But indeed for number of Men fifteen hundred in a Regiment and well armed they were compleat the King hastening these away and with them wished no doubt more of their mind that sent them for these were discontents and transported into Hollvnd to join with the States Army intentionally to divert Spinola who was in arms for the King of Spain The English no sooner landed and quartered into Garrisons hardly drilled to obedience were suddenly called out to Service for Spinola was in the Field fitted for Enterprize lay hovering in Brabant sends Count Iohn Nassaw of the House of Orange but alwaies faithful to his Sovereign with a flying Army towards Cleve and after him Marches the Prince of Orange up the Moze first to Ginnegen to the Rendevouse where his Army mustered twenty five thousand thence to Mastrick in deadly fear of a Siege and so to the Town of Cleve lately taken in by the Count which was now soon rendred to Maurice and he was watch all this way by the other In this time Spinola with freedome to choose his Design began with Spade and Pick ax and fell to digging about Breda the twenty sixth of August 1624. and had earthed suddenly so large and deep as Maurice the craftier Fox that way yet knew not how to unlodge him but returns down the River to Guitrudenburgh and incamped at Mede some houres journey from Breda and there besieges the Besiegers The wonder of which was so famous then as deserves particular Remembrance now This Barony and Town of Breda with eighteen Villages belonged to the Dukes of Brabant and sell to the Family of Nassaw by a Wives Dowry 1404. and so remained for one hundred sixty three years till by revolt of William of Nassaw the Duke d' Alva possest it for the King of Spain 1567. from whom Count Holloch took it for Nassaw 1577. and from them surprized 1581. and then again regained by Stratagem in a Turfbote where lay hid seventy Souldiers like the Graecians in the Trojan horse and wan it for Nassaw 1590. who held it to this Siege It is scituated in the uttermost part of Brabant adjoining Holland pleasant strong and wealthy most convenient for either Nation The territory about by Sea-tides or inundation of waters may be made unaccessable And therefore the Prince about two years before had with some additions and fortifications made it invinceable against all but hunger and with much delight called it his Tempe The Arch Duchesse Isabella Infanta of Spain and dowager of Prince Albert now Governesse in Flanders under the King of Spain gives Commission to Spinola Lieutenant General of the Spanish Forces who in Iuly 1624. departs from Bruxels with an Army of eighteen thousand divided into three parts the more to distract the Dutch who in some doubt re-inforces Breda
aids Nava● Spain interessed As●i●ts France with more money 101560 071165 020000 033333. 226058. Crowns And the Dutch 125000. 260000. 385000. Florins See after She raises her Custom-Farm She ballanc●●h her neighbour interests The Assembly petition the King His Answer and advice to suppress ●e●d● Huntley and Murray quarrel Another of the Kers Witches accuse Bothwel who is committed to Prison and escapes Archbish. of St. Andrews die● and abused by the Ministery Secretary Walsingham dies his Character And so does Randolph 18. times Embassadour abroad And the ● of Shrewsbury●dies An Epitaph Irish Rebells Essex expedition into France with 4000. Hackets horrible Tenents and Treasons Mad-headed Hypocrites Anno 1591. His disciples apprehended his blaspemy and execution puny Jesuits Their Seminaries Confirmed by the Pope Bot●wels Treason to seize the King and Court The manner the●eof Fire the Q● lodging● and 〈◊〉 Huntley and Murray fall into the mischief The Sheriff killed Anno 1592. Murray miserably slain The cause of Murrays death put upon others Murry lamented Huntley is at Liberty Uchiltry abused The Chu●ch interfeers the State Affairs And Articles agreed Bothwells other attempts at Faulkland is defeated and flies to England Lindsey Lord Spinie is susspected and becomes a companion of Bothwells A love trick of a Woman Faction against the Chancellour Clanhattons against Huntly Angus committed Ker his Com●mission to Spain Plots of Papists The French King relieved by Q. Eliz. Turns Papist Duke of Parma dies The Queens message by L. Burroughs The Kings Answer the Ambassadours reply Anno 1593. Church Assembly Munday Market to be altered Bothwel seises the King at Holy rood-rood-house And enforces Articles The King complains of Bothwels insolencies The Lords r●sent it and send to him Denounced Rebell Proceedings against Popish Lords by the Ministers The King displeased with the Assembly Their farther proceedings in Tumult Commissioners to try the Popish Lords and conclude these Articles Maxwells and Johnstons fewds The Kinds sad condition Popish Lords come not in Pr. Henry born in Feb. Lord Zowch Ambassadour from England and Ministers assist Bothwels attempt and so do Arguile and Arrol Anno 1594. The King pleads to the people after Sermon for assistance Bothwel dissipated Colvil Ambassadour to England complains of Zowch The Queens ●nswer Papists banished Remonstrance of the Assembly against Papists And the Remedies The Solemnities of the Princes Baptism named Henry Fred●rick At the Chaple The King sends to England for money Bothwel and the Popish Lords join in Rebellion Arguile and Athol against Huntley and Arrol Arguile discomfited The K. comes to the Good-speed they are banished Bothwel flies into France and dies at Naples some years after Assemblie of the Church in Scotland Answer the K. Articles Anno 1595. Q. Anns Design to seize the Prince The Kings letter to Mar. The Chancelor sick and why The Kings letter to him full of grace Chancellour dies his character The King assigns Commissioners of his Treasury Papists private plots Devising sundry other Titles to both Crowns of E. of Essex Of Spains P●actice to impoyson Q. Eliz. by Loper Cullen York and Willians and other fugitive tray●ors Ant Perez infected Essex Spanish de●ignes invasion of Scotland or England Spaniards poo● successe upon England Sr. W. Raleghs Guiana voyage and other attempts in the we●● Indies Anno 1596. Armstrong taken prisoner in a treaty of the Borderers Backlugh complains to the Lo. Scroop Backlughs designe to take the Castle of Carlile And frees Armstrong Bows the Ambassador complains hereof the Q●een offended Backlugh commi●●ed ●●bellion in the Orcades Assemblies make things worse Policie to call home the Popish Lords Mr. Bruce an enemy to Huntley The Popish Lords return home upon Conditions Princess Elizabeth born August 16. 1596. Ministers make work The Coun●il of the Church and the Kings Councel confer The King is offended with them Their complaints Which the K. answers The Minister Blake his muteny and story Blakes r●monstance Blake brought to his Answer The Ministsters factious courses The King by proclamation dissolves their Assembly The Ministers Counterappose the King The Commissioners of the Church petition the K. Is rejected Articles against Blake His answer The King treats wit● them Both part●e● bandie A Dangerous tumult The King and Council retire from danger Proclaim Mad preaching Their letter to Lord Hamelton to be Their head Hamelton comes to the King proceedings against those disorders Citizens brought to submit Is rejected And humbly propose Queen Elizabeths letter to the King The King● merc● The Octavians yield up their office The Northern Ministers are Courted Their answer The King writes to Huntley Twelve Articles from the King to the Assembly Submitted unto in effect And all ends in content Bishop 〈◊〉 death and ●haracter The Netherlands called to account 400001 per annum in ten years 4000001 dept Iris●● rebells increasing Norris goes over assistant Callis taken by the Spaniard the English Navy Publick form of prayer for success of the Navy Take Cadiz Called Cales voyage Digression how farr foreign titles preceed at home In England At Rome Genoa Venice and Scots The Popish Lords submit to the Church Proclamation against Gaurdon a Jesuite Barcklayes de sign discovered he drownes himself Blake the Minister 〈◊〉 out of all Excellent reformation in the Vniversity Witches discovered Margaret Atkin 〈◊〉 Digresses concerning witches and witchcraft Maintainers Several Authors in this subject Expedition of Earl of Essex to the Isles of Azores Essex and Ralagh differ Come home and quarel at Court A Parliament at Edenburgh Ministers voice in Parliament Bruce refuseth imposition of hands but at last is so admitted The King sends Ambassadors to the German Princes Their Answer France craves aid of England against Spain and comes to a Treaty France and Spain dispute precedency and make peace Disputes of peace or war with England Queen Elizabeth strikes Essex His angry letters 〈…〉 King of 〈◊〉 dies One Squire impoysons the Queens saddle Tomas fals●accusation of K. James to Q. Elizabeth K. James his prudence to suppress false rumours Ashfield surprized Prisoner to Barwick Colvil Recants his treatise against the Kings title The Kings Basilicon doron the occasion of it in publick The new year altered from 25. of March to 18. Ianuary The state of Bishopricks at that time Irish Rebellion with Tirone Essex and Caecils Intelligence with King Iames. Caecil Essex Gowries conspiracie See anno 1608. Court and ch● of King James pa● 8 Hist Gr Br Pa 12. Vide ante 1568. et 1582. Earl Gowry retires home The manner of the conspiracie 4. of August Hendersons Examination and confession Alexander treats with the King The King takes to Henderson Alexander 〈◊〉 with the King The King cries Treason John Ramsey comes up and Sir Thomas Erskin follows Ramsey wounds Alexander Henderson slips away Earl Gowry comes up to the fray Gowry astonished is killed by Ramsey Others hurt The Lords and company come in Gowries Spels of Enchantment Two other brothers William and Patrick beyond
he said they did him hurt and no good without weapons The Queen and Court somewhat frighted commanded the City to be in readiness but to keep within doors The Lord Burghley with Garter King of Heraulds proclamed him Traytor in the principal parts of London which was done with expedition and resolution though with loss of some of his Train and hurt of many Clifford Earl of Cumberland with Sir Thomas Gerrard Knight Marshal rode up and down proclaming them Traytors And so divers withdrawing he altered his former pretext and said That Kingdom should have been sold to the Infanta Then making stay in Grace-street and dismaid at the tidings that forces were aproaching under conduct of the Lord Admiral Lieutenant for the Queen resolved to return by water and make good his own person by the pledges of the Lords which a good fellow over-hearing and not well assured of his part there being as deep in the design as death hasted before by land told Davis and Merick that by any means they should release the Council and so got his own pardon and this was Sir Ferdinando Gorges But Essex ignorant as yet goes on by land to Ludgate there at the West end of Pauls he was resisted by the forces of the Bishop of London commanded by Sir Iohn Luson At which Incounter Blunt was wounded young Tracie slain and others on his part Wyat slain and some hurt on the Queens part But upon this small repulse He slips from his Train turns down to Queen-hith and by a pair of oares was received into his Water-gate at home which he fortified and baricadoed And as instantly was he besieged on land by the Earls of Cumberland and Lincoln Lords Thomas Howard Gray Burghly and Compton Sir Walter Ralegh and Sir Thomas Gerrard And by water by the Lord Admiral the Lord Essingham Lord Cobham Sir Iohn Stanhop Sir Robert Sidney and Master Foulk Gervil and this way forcing the walls wonne the Garden And being offered parly and time to remove his Countess and Sister Rich with other Gentlewomen before they would storm the Hourse But Essex with his Lords upon the Leads would not capitulate but intreat That they might be used Civilly To have an honourable Tryal To have Ashton his Preacher with him in Prison And so by ten a clock at night they submitted themselves Prisoners to the Tower This monstrous Treason of this mighty man thus weakly managed was began and ended in twelve hours and the next day as calm as if no Motion or Billowes had been before For which he and Southampton eleven dayes after were arraigned and condmned this one had his reprieve but Essex the reward of his merits and executed the 25. February upon the Inner Hill in the Tower Several dayes before Sir Charls Blunt suffered by the Axe and Cuff by the halter Essex before his and at several times so not surprized betrayed most of his confederates and discovered Sir Henry Nevil late Ambassadour in France as privie to all his conspiracies of whom til then there had been no suspition which was construed in him an Act more of temerity and hope of pardon than in Grace and good Conscience of a Repentant Offender And this being his Tragedy It is no wonder though our Adversarie Authors the one The History of Great Britain the other The Court and Character of King James should so slightly pass over his Treasons With them we shall have some dispute as we meet them Contemporaries in our farther proceedings in the second Part. Let me add the Opinion that a writer had of Essex and published in these verses Quod Regina scelus scelus est quod Virgo petatur quod pia Virgo scelus quod tibi grata scelus Cum Virgo Regina Pia et tibi grata petatur Proh scelus et superat quod scelus omne scelus It 's Treason that a Queen should ruin'd be That a Maid ill That she was Good yet worse that good to Thee More wicked still But when a Queen a Maid Good and thy Friend Thou wouldst dispatch The Treason that thy black heart doth intend Dares Hell to match England thus long sick of the disease of Irish affairs the expence whereof had brought the State into a Consumption which put the Queen to seek money of her Subjects besides her way of sweetning them with good words Tyrone grew so Insolent asto act Soveraignty where ere he came disposing Honours Estates Privileges Freedomes And therefore Charles Blunt Lord Montjoy is sent over Deputy and though others as fit as the former the Queen who seldome chose amiss pickt out him to command for his readiness to obey a fault in Essex proud and stubborn uncounsellable and unconstant The Rebells put him to it salute him by Allarm in the very Suburbs of Dublin which the Deputy with his selected Veteranes meant to requite soon after in a Massy-body and fight him which the Enemy sought for and had been worsted of which some underhand Counsellors at the Queen elbow warned him to prevent by turning a to-side But with several light Brigadoes he was so hotly pursued asput him to his holes again Sir Warham Saint-Leger meets Mac-guire a graceless wretch and with their Launces full Career run each other thorough and dye Romes friendship to those Rebells much encouraged by his Indulgence the aboundance of the Churches Treasure was pleased to spare them pardon of their sinnes for the good service of shedding so much blood of their S●veraigns Subjects and for fighting in the faith of his beloved sonne Hugh Prince O-neal and Earl of Ter-Oen Captain General of the Catholick forces in Ireland Whom His Holiness accompanies with all his spirritual graces and those that follow him or favour him by pains counsel arms provision or any other means a plenary pardon of all their sinnes the very same pardon sayes he that was wont to be granted to those that warre against the Turk or for the Holy land However the deputy sends Docwray into Ulster Garrisons himself with 4000. foot and 300. horse put the Enemie to his lurking with new supplies in Angust out of England he breaks through many difficulties into Ulster Erects Mont-Norris fort in memory of that gallant Iohn Lord Norris under whom he first exercised arms Docwray likewise being assaulted by Ter-oen with treacherie perjurie and cunning deceit and wounded yet gets out of all dangers and takes Dunalong a lesser Castle On the other side the Deputy in winter forces several Rebells to Obedience passes victoriously in compass so farr as Ulster in his first years Regency George Carew no less fortunate in Munster The Southern parts burthened by the Tit●lar Earl Desmond of Ter-Oens making he surprizes but was again rescued Takes seven Castles drives him out of that province reduces many Rebells to obedience quiets the County and comes home at Christmass And this was done there In England they
This Robert was at first Abbot of holy-rood-Holy-rood-house for divers years After the forfeiture of Hepburn Earl of Bothwell and the obtaining those Isles he exchanged the Abbacy with the Bishoprick of Orkney and so became sole Lord of the County Patrick succeeding to an elder Brother and grown a Courtier involved himself in great debts which inforced him the more tyrannous over the people to recover his wants At Glasgow was apprehended Oglevy a Jesuite lately come from Gratts by command of his Superior in that College He answered peremptory to the Commissioners questions professing not to prejudice others by any Confession Their torture to inforce him to impeach others was to debar him sleep for some time until he was forced falsely to accuse any body which he after repose would deny again The King was displeased with such forms to men of his profession and if no crime could be proved but his Calling and saying Mass they should banish him not to return on pain of Death but if his practice had been to induce the people to rebellion and maintained the Popes power transcendent over Kings and resused the Oath of Allegiance they should leave him to the Law But with all they were to urge his Answer to these Questions 1. Whether the Pope be Iudge in Spiritualibus over his Majesty and whether in Temporalibus if it be in Spiritualia 2. Whether the Pope hath power to excommunicate Kings such as are not of his Church as his Majesty 3. Whether he hath power to depose Kings after his excommunication and in particular his Majesty 4. Whether it be no Murther to kill the King so deposed 5. Whether He hath power to assoil subjects from the Oath of their native Allegiance to his Majesty He answers in writing To the first Affirmative in Spiritualibus But whether in Temporalibus he is not obliged to answer to any but a Iudge of Controversyes of Religion the Pope or one by his Authority To the second affirmative and that all persons baptized are under the Popes power To the third He will not declare but to a lawful Iudge of Religion To the rest ut supra He could not be moved by threats but rather railed at the Oath of Allegiance as damnable and treasonable against God and so came to Tryal of Life but was told over night That he was not to be tryed concerning his profession but for his former Answers to the Questions which he may recal and crave mercy but this he utterly refused And so was impannell'd grounded upon the Acts of Parliament against such as declined the Kings authority or maintained other Jurisdiction and upon his former answers He protests not to acknowledge the Iudges nor Iudgement Lawfull for if it be Treason here it should be so in all other Kingdoms which is not Your Acts of Parliament are made by partial men and of Matter not subject to their forum for which I will not give a fig. The King hath no Authority but derivative from his Predecessors who acknowledged the Popes Iurisdiction if the King will be to me as they were to min● he shall be my King if otherwise I value him not And for the reverence I do to you bare-headed It is ad redemptionem vexationis not ad agnitionem Judicii That the Iury were either his Enemies or his Friends if Enemies they could not sit upon his Tryal if Friends they ought to assist him at the Bar That what he suffered was injurious and not Iustice he had not offended nor would crave Mercy My Commission said he was by command of my Superiour and if I were abroad I would return hether again and repent only that I have not been so busie as I should in that which you call Perverting of Subjects and I call Saving of souls I do decline the Kings authority and will do it still in matter of Religion the most of your Ministers maintain it and if they be wise will continue in that mind As for that Question Whether the King being deposed by the Pope may be lawfully killed Doctors of the Church hold the Affirmative not improbably and as it is not yet determined so if it should be concluded I will dy in the defence And now to say It were unlawful I will not to save my life His insolent speech was shortned by the Jurors quick return who found him guilty and had Sentence of Treason and to stop his rayling was after Noon the same day hanged at Glasgow He was a desperate second Ravilliack and ready in that devilish doctrine of deposing and disthroning Kings which he urged the more he said as consonant to the Kirk Ministers tenents And that nothing troubled him but to be taken away ere he had done that which all Scotland and England should not have prevented and had it been performed no torments would have been by him refused So then we see the cause of his Execution For the King professed Never to hang a Priest for his Religion The opening of the Spring gave opportunity to sundry families of England to prepare themselves for planting in America Upon no great incouragement of profit or pleasure by any former Voyages of the English into those parts but people and trade increasing here they would unburthen this State with forein adventures The Design was for New England a part of America in the Ocean Sea opposite to that part of America in the South Sea which Sir Francis Drake discovered in his voyage about the world and named it Nova Albion But he was never imployed thither as a Discoverer or Planter upon this part of America taking the coast from Cape Florida in twenty degrees North Latitude North-East-ward to Cape Brittain Between the Degrees of Latitude from 20. to 45. King Iames granted Letters Patents being about fifteen hundred miles but to follow it aboard near two thousand miles And all this Coast from Cape Florida of twenty Degrees to five and forty was first discovered by Iohn Cabot with six sail of ships who had his Patent from Henry 7. Anno 1442. about the time that Columbus discovered the middle part of America for Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain and is called the West-Indies The first Colony from England was with Sir Walter Ralegh assisted in company of Sir Ralph Lane and Thomas Heriot that learned Mathematician Anno 1584. who in honour of Queen Elizabeth named it Virginia leaving there sixteen men which were brought home by Sir Francis Drake in his return from his West-India Voyage a year after and this part is contained from Florida to the Chesiopech Bay The next Northward is a part of Land to which Sir Iohn Popham Lord Chief Justice sent for Discovery and Trade 1606. but no success returned and since it is called New England Then the Land adjoyning Northward was discovered by Captain Gosnold all that coast being studded with broken Lands and called by him Elizabeths Isles Then you come to Cape Cod