here on earth hath placed three Crownes beares both the warlike Sword of Maâ—s and the peaceable Oliue branch of Minerua as did that Pallas whom the Athenians took for their titulary goddesse because she presided in peace as well as in warre But what is the expedition of Warre to the subduing vnder his lawes by the sweetnesse of Peace the passions of men to bring them to reason and to settle them in a firme and assured rest what to vanquish by force a people to the conquering of whole nations hearts by loue to lose them in stead of gayning them The multitude wondring at the Sonne of God who calm'd the greatest tempest cryed out What is he whom both Seas and Windes do obey Euen so happy King when I saw at my landing so many exquisite effects of your rare wisedome the peace happinesse of your subiects with the tranquillitie blessednesse of your diuine soule I could not but likewise exclaime Ah! what is this IVST MASTER and prudent King whose admirable spirit workes so many wonders God gouernes from the highest place of heauen the earth and from the lowest place of it the heauens because his prouidence and almighty power being infinite fills all places yet vnlimited For though by his omni-presence hee be euery where yet he is included no where Your Maiestie who by the excellent and harmonious order of your wise dispensation doe rule with a melodious delightfull harmonie with One of your Kingdome all the Three from the farthest place of Great Brittanne all Great Brittanne presiding by your power in all places disposing by your wisedome all things neere and farre and perfecting them by your iustice you cause all the dependences of your essence to be found in all places and all things to be but one and the same thing each thing to be as all things And euen as to the humane body that excellent part of the brain which the Anatomists call the admirable lines or traces by their serpentine courses and turnings exquisitely folded and vnited together whose number is no lesse infinite than the workmanship thereof most rare doth so excellently refine the vital spirits that they are sent thither from the heart which makes them moueable and serue as instruments of Conception of Iudgement and Memory Your Maiestie doth in like maner receiue in your Spirit which is the most admirable and exquisite peece of that great imperiall body of which your Maiestie is the head the aduises and counsailes the requests and demonstrances which from the heart of your estate as the vitall spirits of it are sent to you for to passe them thorow that labyrinth of Rarity your iudgement where you refine them so with the diuers considerations of your prudency that they proue necessary instruments of peace the tranquillitie and prosperitie of all your subiects The entrance or beginning of a raigne is most commonly thornie and difficulty yea dangerous and painefull not onely full of cares but also tedious and troublesome so that it had beene better for some kings to haue neuer raigned or else to haue ended their dayes at their beginning This moued the Philosopher Solon to sing these verses to Mydas king of Phrygia at the entrance of his Cities Le puissant Dieu de tout Souuerain Maistre Ne scauroit mieux les hommes secourir Qu'entre mortels ne les laisser point naistre Ouestans nez les faire tost mourir But your Maiestie great King who by the speciall grace of God and the prudence wherewith he hath endued you farre aboue all other Princes haue found the entrance of your raign spacious delightfull and secure and being grounded vpon the protection enuironed with the blessings conducted by the prouidence of that Soueraigne dispenser of Scepters and Crownes you haue hitherto raigned to the admiration of all the world PVISSANT AND MAGNIFICENT RICH AND CONTENT HAPPY AND GLORIOVS and in all perfect and accomplisht PVISSANT AND MAGNIFICENT indeede sith that with full power and authoritie you raigne ouer so many puissant Nations which God hath subiected to your Maiestie vnder the homage and duety which you daily pay vnto him as to the onely soueraigne King of kings RICH AND CONTENT in possessing them peaceably without opposition extracting pleasure of all that can be contributed for the glory of God which you seeke for your owne contentment HAPPY AND GLORIOVS also sith that by those testimonies of loue which God giues you and the thankesgiuing which your Maiesty yeeldeth him you haue vpon all occasions free accesse to his incomprehensible Maiesty a familiar entertainment with his infinite goodnesse Heauen being alwayes open to your contemplations and whatsoeuer your Maiesty can thinke most exquisite rare on earth fauourable to your wishes is all bent for your felicitie Oh how happy is your sacred Maiestie what mortall can apprehend it how glorious and who is he that can expresse it But behold this is the chief point ouer which my considerations cannot pass without staying yet rest they neuer so little they enter as it were into a labyrinth for a while Gods graces and blessings fall most commonly into vngratefull hands who dispence thereof the more niggardly by how much they receiue them aboundantly and the most part of men erre so farre that in stead of worshipping in them the soueraigne power and prouidence of God they striue to excell him nay it lies meerly in their owne vnpowerfulnesse that they doe not ouerthrow his incomprehensible Empire and Throne of glory By meanes whereof it falls out that it ofttimes chances to them as to those subalternal Deities who for putting themselues in Iupiters bedde were by a boysterous winde suddenly metamorphosed into strange shapes But your Highnesse mighty king makes vse of it as fire of the perfume you returne those blessings to heauen againe through your praises and thanksgiuing you disperse them about you by your royall liberality for whosoeuer hath the honour to approach neere your Diuinity is enlightned with the beames of your diuine vertues And as Salomon did build and with the stones of mountaines and Cedars of Libanus erect Altars to God so you make therof instruments and materialls to prop the house of God Soueraigne authority vpon the people meetes oftentimes with violent hearts which makes him not vnlike the daily motion of the Sunne so swift that it is terrible and so terrible that it would consume away if it should last long but your Maiesty knowes well how to temper your Authoritie by your Iustice likewise your will by your prudence insomuch that this first course is moderated by the second which is yearely and runneth from West to East by the oblique Zodiaque circle by this sweet temperate and moderate course you order the seasons in your Monarchy you cause a delightsome Spring that produceth diuersity of flowers in aboundance a rich and pleasant Summer which yeelds all kinde of fruites plentifully by which you reward paines and labours
them to be burned aliue By which acts he made himselfe terrible in his owne Kingdome and to be holden a Tyrant abroad and first being reiected by Marie of Lorraine daughter to the Duke of Guise whom hee desired as riuall to Iames King of Scotland his Nephew afterwards of Christian of Denmarke Dutchesse of Milan Grandchild to Charles the Fifth In the end seeking the friendship of the Protestants of Germanie with much adoe he obtained Anne of Cleue for his wife But beeing as readie to distaste Women as to loue them turning his heart away from her as soone as he had marryed her put her away as not beautifull enough for a Prince grounding himselfe vpon this that shee had beene betrothed before to the Duke of Lorraine's Sonne and that shee had some womanish weaknesse that made her vnfit for marriage But it was to take in her stead Katharine Howard daughter to Edmond Howard and Neece to Thomas of Norfolke whom he beheaded the yeere following accusing her to haue violated her chastity before shee was married and opens the Royall-Bed to Katharine Parre a Knights daughter and the second time Widdow Now when through intemperancy of his youth he perceiued the vigor of his body to decay being angry with the French King for hauing ayded the Scots against the English hee reconciles himselfe and makes alliance with the Emperour Charles against the French who hauing quite forgot the diuorce of Katharine his Aunt secretly giues him hope to reconcile him to the Church of Rome After hauing resolued to set vpon France thereby so much the more to worke himselfe into the Emperours friendship and quickly to cure the vlcers of his conscience propounded to the Parliament which was then assembled that when hee should happen to dye and his Sonne EDVVARD without issue MARIE should first succeed to the Crowne and afterwards shee leauing none ELIZABETH That if neither left any the Crowne of England should deuolue vpon such as he would designe eyther by Letters Patents or by Will Which passed for a Law with the good liking and consent of all and that the penaltie of Laesae Maiestatis should be inflicted vpon any that should goe against it Being returned from France after he had taken Bologne and consumed much treasure and beeing sad and heauy to see England deuided by new opinions which daily sprang vp and England groaned for sorrow to see her selfe so exhausted of her riches her Money corrupted with Brasse her Monasteries with the Monuments of great antiquity ruined the bloud of Nobles Prelates Papists and Protestants promiscuously spilt and entangled in a Scottish warre hee died with a perpetuall fluxe of Grease flowing from him caused by a poysonous inflammation in the thigh An. 1547. he breathed his last A magnanimous Prince but I know not what confused temper of spirit he had great vertues he had and no lesse vices EDVVARD his sonne hauing scarce attained to the age of tenne yeeres succeeded him and had for his Protector Edw. Seymor Duke of Sommerset his Vnkle vnder whom the English hauing taken vp armes for to reuenge the violated faith of the match agreed vpon betweene Edward and Marie Queene of Scotland the English obtained a notable victory ouer the Scots neere Musselborough this pernicious Law of Six Articles and others which had beene established by King HENRY the Eighth against the Protestants are suppressed and those which tended to the abolishing of the Popes authoritie confirmed the Masse abrogated the Images taken out of the Temples the Bookes of the Old and New Testament imprinted the Diuine Seruice celebrated in the vulgar Tongue the Eucharist distributed vnder both kindes But neuerthelesse the auaritious sacriledge fell rauenously vpon pillaging the goods of the Church Colledges Quiers Hospitals as things iudged to bee for superstitious vses ambition and enuy among the great ones audacitie and disobedience among the Commons so insolently exulted that England seemed to be raging madde with rebellious tumults taking sides deprauation of money and withall the euils that are accustomed to be during the minority of a King these wasted and consumed within the Land Also dammage was receiued abroad as the losse of Forts which the English had made in Scotland and in France and the Towne of Bologne which had cost so much which to the shame of the name of English was deliuered vp into the French Kings hands for money with all the Fortresses of the Countrey of Bologne which the English had built the Cannons and Munitions of warre when England was so disioynted by diuision that it was not able to keepe them and Charles the Emperour hauing no will to ayde it although he was intreated in consideration of the alliance with him excusing himselfe for that it had beene conquered since no not to accept of it being offered vnto him gratis And to adde an ouer-plus of infelicity the Protector not being wary enough of the subtilty and deceits of Dudley Duke of Northumberland is by vertue of a new law condemned of Felony for entring into counsell how to take away the liues of some of the Kings Councellors to wit of Dudley and some others hee lost his head and his Sonne by a priuate Law bereaued of the greatest part of his patrimony and of his Fathers honours The King being vnprouided of his faithfull Guard is snatched away vncertaine whether by sicknesse or poyson before hee was ripe leauing an incredible griefe with his people for the great and excellent vertues which hee had farre surpassing his age At the same dolefull and heauy time Dudley hauing broken the fraternall amity that was between the Protector and Tho. Seimor his brother vpon occasion of an emulation of Women which was betweene the Queene Dowager wife to Thomas and the Dutches of Somerset the Protectors wife amongst other things to conuict Thomas of Crimen laesae Maiestatis that he intended to reduce the King into his owne power and to marry ELIZABETH the Kings Sister shee indeed ignorant of the matter grew vp in yeeres and was in singular fauour with EDWARD her brother who neuer saluted her but called her his sweet Sister as also with the Peeres and the Common-people For she was full of grace and beauty and worthy of Soueraigne Authority of modest grauity cleere and quick-witted of a happy memory and indefatigable in the studies of best letters insomuch that before she attained to the Age of 17. yeeres she very well vnderstood the Latine tongue the French the Italian and the Greeke indifferently Neither wanted shee skill in Musicke that was beseeming a Prince and she sung and plaid cunningly and sweetly With Roger Ascham who was to guide her in her Studies she read the Common places of Melancthon all Cicero a great part of the History of Titus Liuius the choice Orations of Isocrates wherof she translated two into Latine Sophocles Tragedies and she read the New-Testament in Greeke By which
slow Counsels but to dispatch and take armes That the prudence of England had alwaies beene accustomed to goe meete their enemies and not to waite for them and that it had euer beene aswell suffered to preuent dangers as to expell them to defend themselues with the same weapons that they are assayled with That England was neuer assured but when it was powerfull and armed that it was more powerfull when it had nothing to feare but the Scottish coast and that to take away this feare it were meete to assist those which professed the same Religion and chace the French out of Scotland against whom Armes are very auaileable but not Counsels That for hauing contemned them too much heretofore they had lost Calais with shame and hurt and a little before by surprize Ableville and the forts neere Bullen whiles they fained to seeke a peace which was the cause that Bullen afterwards was constrayned to render and that they should looke for no lesse of Barwicke and the frontier Townes if they tooke not armes the sooner without staying to see what the French will doe who looke as if they meant to make peace in Scotland Their designe being hidden their ambition infinite their reuennew exceeding great insomuch that it is growne a Prouerbe long agoe in England that France cannot be three yeeres both without warre and without meanes Queene ELIZABETH also often alledged this saying of the Emperour Valentinian Haue French for a friend but not for a neighbour It was resolued then that it was iust necessary and profitable to driue the French out of Scotland as soone as could be possible In the end a Nauy was sent into Borrough which is now called Enden-borrough Frith coÌ„ducted by W. Winter master of the Nauall Artillery who to the great terrour of the French set vpon their ships which were there in the Road and vpon the Garrison that they kept in the I le of Inch-Keith Likewise presently the Duke of Norfolke was established Lieutenant generall in the Northerne parts towards Scotland the frontiers of the East and of the South were coÌ„mitted to the Lord Baron Gray who not long ago had couragiously but vnluckily defended Guien against the French and Thomas Earle of Sussex who in the reigne of Queene MARY had beene Deputy of Ireland is sent back thither with title of Lieutenant together with speciall command to ouer-looke this Irish Nation being so much the more superstitious by how much lesse it was husbanded and tilled should not be stirred to rebellion by the practices of the French vnder pretext of Religion to furnish Ophalie with some small Forts to giue to the old Soldiers some lands to be to them and their heires males begotten of their bodies to receiue Sulij-Boy Scotsh-Irish to hold the possessions which hee had claimed by hereditary right in the Countrey of Vlster to hold in fee and to doe homage and seruice for the same to increase moderately the reuenues of the Prince and reduce the treasury to the forme of that of England While these things passed thus F. Talbot the fifth Earle of the House of Shrewsburie dyed who was one of the chiefe Councellors of the Kingdome leauing for Heire George his onely Sonne by Marie Daughter to T. Dacre of Gilsland THE THIRD YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1560. AS soone as the Duke of Norfolke was come to Barwicke the Prior of Saint Andrews the Baron of Rethuen and others came to meete him and in the name of the Duke of Chastelraut and his Confederates treated allyance with him for the Queene of England in these termes Whereas the French haue striuen by right or wrong to subdue Scotland and to vnite it to the Scepter of France the Queene of England will take into her Protection the Duke of Chastelraut the Heire apparent to the Kingdome of Scotland as long as the marriage of the King of France and Mary Queene of Scots shall last and one yeere more He shall set forth Armies by Land and Sea with all sort of warlike Munition to chase and driue the French out of Scotland He shall not make peace with them but with condition that Scotland shal enioy its former libertie The Forts which shall be taken from them by the ayde of the English shall be also presently demolished or put into the hands of the Duke of Norfolke according as hee shall thinke good The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but by the counsel of the Duke of Chastelraut and the Peeres of the Kingdome The Scots shall assist the English to their vttermost endeuours they shall hold their Enemies theirs and shall not suffer that the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee ioyned to France otherwise then by marriage as now it is If England be set vpon by the French on this side Tine the Scots shall send at the Queenes charge two thousand Horse and a thousand Foot-men If on the other side they shall ioyne themselues to succour the English with all the strength they are able to make and at their owne charge for thirtie dayes as they haue beene accustomed to doe for the defence of Scotland The Earle of Argaehel Iudge of Scotland shall labour to reduce vnto due obedience the Northerne parts of Ireland vnder certaine Conditions which shall bee agreed vpon betweene the Vice-roy of Ireland and himselfe Finally it is determined what the one and the other shall doe if Iames Maconel or others raise any commotion in the Countrey of Hebride in Scotland or in Ireland For establishing these things Hostages shall bee sent into England before the English Armie enter into Scotland which shall be changed at the discretion of the Scots from sixe moneths to sixe moneths or from foure to foure Moneths so long as the Marriage betweene the King of France and the Queene of Scotland shall last and a yeere ouer and aboue That the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles and Barons Conferrates shall ratifie these Coâ—â—entions vnder their Signes and Seales within twenty dayes and shall declare that in all things which shal not tend to the oppressing of their ancient Liberty they shal yeeld obedience to the Queene of Scotland and to the King of France her Husband forasmuch as the Queene of England vndertakes not these things but by way of friendship and neighbourhood and to free the Scots from Bondage It was already discouered by Messages from stranger Princes and intercepted Letters that the French were resolued to set vpon England Seb. Martigues a young Gentleman of the House of Luxembourg with a thousand old Souldiers and two wings of Horse was come into Scotland and Doisel a Frenchman assuring himselfe too much to be of the Councell of the Queene Regent of Scotland had propounded to the chiefe of the Kingdome at Aymouth neere Barwicke that ioyning their forces they at the very instant would put the King and Queene of Scotland in possession of England but hauing considered the difficultie of the thing
and not willing to violate the Peace newly agreed vpon they refused it Neuerthelesse Martigues being yong and liuely did so burne in desire to attempt England that with much adoe was he hindred by the wholsome councell of the Queene Regent but this heat was quickly quenched when it was knowne that a storme had so beaten the Marquis D'elbeuf vpon the coasts of Holland who sayled towards Scotland with greater Forces that he was constrain'd to returne to Diepe froÌ„ whence he departed with losse of some Ships of many Souldiers At that time Ph. Stauel of Glâ—ion Knight of the Golden Fleece and Master of the Artillerie was sent into England employed from Spaine to expose the complaints that the French made against the Queene touching the Affaires of Scotland and to counsell in the name of the King to Peace and concord yet neuerthelesse hee secretly counselled the Queene to pursue with courage what she he had begun in Scotland though contrariwise the Spaniard had openly forbidden to transport into England those munitions of War which she had couenanted for at Antwerp insomuch as she was constrained to make a new prouision thereof in Germany And the Proposition that Stauel made was not without suspition that some Companies of Spaniards should be sent into Scotland together with the French to suppresse the Scottish Rebels and by the same meanes the French themselues if they should attempt any thing vpon England At the same time M. Seuerin ordinary Embassadour of the King of France instantly sollicited the Queene to call backe her Armies both by Sea and Land from Scotland which she willingly accorded vnto prouided that the French should be recalled but by delayes sought out of the one side and the other the businesse is drawne into length till the comming of I. de Mouluc Bishop of Valence who differed not much from the Protestants Religion who vpon his arriuall from France being carried vnto the place said that he was not furnished with any power for this busines and notwithstanding he was very eloquent strained himselfe to his vttermost that those Armies should be recall'd from Scotland and maintain'd that it was not to defraud the Queene of England that the King and Queene of Scots carried the Armes of England but by that rather to honour the Royall House But not beeing able to perswade the one as being absurd nor the other as dangerous Seuerin desired Stauel and the Bishop of Aquilé Embassadour ordinary of Spaine in England to bee present and witnesses when he should protest against the Queene of England that shee had violated the Treatie of Peace to which they refused him because they had it not in Commission Neuerthelesse he made by a discource prolixe enough his protestation to which the Queene made an Answere which was published and set foorth by which shee testified to all the world That the violating of the Treaties proceeded only from the French and that nothing could happen to her more vexing and odious then this Warre and such like things which might easily be drawne from what had beene spoken heretofore and by a declaration in writing which she had formerly caused to be published Notwithstanding that although she had receiued many wrongs and iniuries in that they had vsurped the Title and Armes of her Kingdome she could not for all that beleeue that it had beene done with the consent of the King or Queene of France or the Princes of the Blood but by the wicked deuices of the Guizes who abusing the King and riches of the French were ready to wound England through the sides of Scotland That shee could not abandon her safety nor her Subiects And surely it is not to be doubted that the Guizes for the loue which they bore to the Queene of Scotland the hatred to Queene ELIZABETH in regard of Religion and the ambition to oblige France by adding new Kingdomes vnto it being assured of an English party of contrarie Religion to the Protestants linckt themselues together obstinately to ruine Queene ELIZABETH But they were diuerted by meanes of discontentments and hidden hatreds which grew vpon the Subiect of the administration of the affaires which were put into their hands after they had taken them from the Princes of the Bloud And the QVEENE went so prudently to worke and vpon the nicke to meete the designes of her Enemies that she hath beene alwayes had in admiration of her friends and in terrour to her Enemies The same day that Gray entered into Scotland with an Armie Seuerin and Mouluc earnestly sollicited Queene ELIZABETH to call it backe giuing her hope that Calais should bee rendred if shee did it But shee answered very plainely That she made no account of Calais a small Fisher-Towne in comparison of the safety of all Great Brittaine And the same day sent into Spaine Anthony Browne Vicount of Montaigue a man very remarkable for his wisedome but very zealous in the Romish Religion thinking that for that consideration he would bee more pleasing to the King of Spaine together with Tho. Chamberlaine Embassadour Ordinary to iustifie vpon how many iust causes she had sent an Armie into Scotland to wit those that I haue heretofore declared and to shew the Queen of Scotland had beene married very young to a sickly King vvho was without hope to leaue Issue that Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut hauing beene by the authority of the Parliament designed of the Kingdome of Scotland the Guizes had prepared Ambuscadoes for his Sonne as he should passe through France their designes were bent to ioyne the Crowne of Scotland to the Crowne of France and to conserue it for the Queene This matter the King of Spaine examined seriously how dangerous it was to the Prouinces of the Low-Countreys and of Spaine that it behoued not blast with Rebellion the assembly of the great ones in Scotland which was made for no other end but to keepe as by duty they are bound the Kingdome for the Queen and her lawfull successors not induring to permit that by the wiles of the Guizes it should be ruined or transferred to the French without wronging them or theirs Vpon the beginning of Aprill the English Armie composed of an hundred Horse and sixe thousand Foote marcheth toward Lieth which is a place situated neere Bodir where all the Seas of Great Brittaine doe beate and the Riuer of Lieth spreading broader dischargeth it selfe and makes a commodious Rode for Ships scarce two miles distant from Edenborrough the Capitall Towne of Scotland The French knowing this commodity had fortified it to retire thither and there receiue the succour which might be sent vnto them the English shewing themselues there Martigues goes as speedily out vpon them with some companies of Foote to hinder their approach to a Hill vpon which he supposed they intended to Campe but after a Skirmish of foure houres where some were slaine they driue them backe into the
Towne next after they make Trenches and raise Mounts from which they battered no lesse the Towne then the Ships The French make many Sallies out with more courage than strength and shewe many proofes of Magnanimity Amongst others vpon the fifteenth day of Aprill they tooke the Trenches nayled three of the greatest Cannons tooke and led away prisoner M. Berclé But I. Croft and C. Vaghan driue them backe as fast into the Towne and it was not done without losse of men Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Baron Gray who had the principall command in the Campe was shot into the shoulder After that they bring the Campe neerer to the Towne because the Battery was so farre off that the Bullets for the most part fell without effect and a short time after part of the Towne and a great quantity of Corne was burned by casuall fire which was much encreased by the English who placed on that side their biggest Cānons and being in the meane time entred into the Ditch tooke the height of the Wall and the sixth of May while the English and the Scots were together of accord hauing placed the Ladders on all sides gaue three powerful alssaults to gaine the Wall but because they were too short and the waters higher then ordinary the Sluces beeing shut they were repulsed with a showre of Bullets that ouerwhelmed them from aboue and there were many slaine yet more wounded This check was imputed to Croft's fault because he had stayed in his Quarter with his Armes foulded as if he had reproued this expedition seeing others doe without putting himselfe in action to assist those who had neede thereof and I cannot tell whether hee did it out of iudgement or for affection which he bore to the French or for hatred to Gray But so it is that Norfolke and Gray accused by Letters which they writ to the Queene to haue had secret consultations with the Queene of the Scots and to haue oppos'd this designe and in hauing sequitiuely bin brought in iustice the gouernment of Barwicke was taken from him and giuen to the Lord Baron Gray But the Queene shewing him fauour conseru'd it for him and for his merit established him afterward Controwler of her Maiesties House This first Mis-hap hauing abated the courage of the English and Scots the Duke of Norfolke rais'd them as quickly vp againe by new Troops which hee brought to strengthen and since that time there were some light combates vntill that the King of France hauing aduice that his men were so blockt vp at Lieth that all the Passages by Sea and Land were shut also considering that they could not send him succour in time requisite for the great distance of places and the seditions which augmented from day to day in his Kingdome gaue power to the Bishop of Valence and De la Roche Faucaud to accord the Affaires with Qu. ELIZABETHS Commissioners esteeming and the Queene of Scotland with them that it were a thing vnworthy their Maiesty to enter into equall dispute with their Subiects And Queen ELIZABETH deputed as speedily into Scotland W. Cecill and N. Wotton Deane of Canterburie and Yorke At the same time the C. of Murray made some propositions But Cecill thought that they ought not to be made by Subiects nor agreed on by Princes During these debatings the decease of Queene Marie of Lorraine mother to the Queen and Regent of the Kingdome of Scotland hapned a pious most prudēt Princesse who was neuerthelesse ignominiously and vnworthily handled by hot-headed Preachers as it may appeare euen by the Ecclesiasticall History of Scotland which Queene ELIZABETH caused to be suppressed vnder the Presse and by the Lords of the Assembly who as being borne Councellors of State had vnder the name of Queene of Scotland and her Husband suspended her from all administration as contrary to the glory of God and the libertie of Scotland The Articles of which the Commissioners after the siege begun agreed vpon are these THe treaty of peace made in the Castle of Cambray betwixt Queene ELIZABETH and Henry the Second the French King shall be renewed and confirmed They shall cease both the one side and the other to make preparation of warre The Fortresse of Aymouth in Scotland shall be demolisht The said King and Queene Mary shall quit the title and armes of England and Ireland The strifes touching the recompence of the iniurie done to Queene ELIZABETH and the assurance of the first Article are remitted to another Assembly which shall be holden at London and if they cannot then be agreed of it shall be referred to the Catholique King The King and the Queene shall reconcile themselues with the Nobles amongst their Subiects of Scotland the Confederates shall be therein comprised and aboue all the Catholique King This Treatie shall be confirmed within sixtie dayes the intertayning of it sworne on both sides This Peace is published as well in the Campe as in the City with a common reioycing of all The English growing weary of the warre seeing their neighbouring Countrey vtterly spoyled The French because they were depriued of all traffique commerce and the Scots for not hauing beene payed their wages And indeed it was holden for the weale good and well-fare of Great Brittaine since Scotland retained his ancient liberty and England kept the dignity and surety which it had gotten And since that time she hath beene really exempt and freed from all subiects of feare from Scotland side The English haue merrily acknowledged that Queene ELIZABETH was the founder of the surety and the Protestants of Scotland Restoresse of the liberty During all that time Queene ELIZABETH for the singular loue which shee bore to the parties was so attentiue to the publique good that shee razed from her heart the loue of powerfull Princes who sought her in marriage to wit CHARLES Arch-duke of Austria second Sonne of Ferdinando the Emperour who made this suit by the Count of Elpheston Of Iames Earle of Arran who was recommended by the Protestants the which propounded to themselues to vnite by his meanes the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which were diuided which was also quickly reiected and neuerthelesse to her Maiesty praise Of Erric King of Sueden who to the same purpose imployed Iohn his Brother Duke of Finland to this end sent into England by Gustaue his Father a little before his death and grounding his hopes vpon this that hee was of the same Religion as Queene ELIZABETH was made himselfe so credulously importunate that hee thought of nothing but England notwithstanding that the King of Denmarke his sworne enemy had resolued to take him in the way thinking that it concerned him greatly if England and Sueden betweene which Denmarke lyes should be ioyned by the meanes of a marriage Queene ELIZABETH acknowledged and praised his singular and Soueraigne loue and made him answer that his comming should be very agreeable
security she should in her life-time set her winding-sheete before her eyes yea she should likewise make her own funerall liuing and seeing it Hauing made this answere she sweetly admonisheth her againe by Letters which were deliuered her by Peter Meutis to confirme the Treatie which she refused not directly but gaue him to vnderstand that she could not commodiously doe it vntill the Affaires of Scotland were well established In the meane time Queen ELIZABETH with all maner of courtesie entertaines Monsieur le Duc D' Aumale the Grand Prior and Monsieur le Duc D'elbeuf her Vnkles and other French Noble-men which had conducted her into Scotland And yet notwithstanding Monsieur de Guize behaued himselfe in that sort that the English Ships are taken vpon the Coasts of Brittanie and the Marchants vnworthily handled and labours againe closely at Rome to procure Queene ELIZABETH to bee excommunicated Howbeit the Pope Pius the fourth aduised that it behoued to deale more gently with her Maiesty and as he had already sought by courteous Letters as I haue said vpon the last yeere hauing then also to appease the discords which were for matter of Religion assigned a day to the Councell of Trent long sinnce begunne and broken off by continuall Warres and drawing gently thither all the Princes which had forsaken the Romish religion hee deputed into England the Abbot of Martinegues with Letters full of assurance of loue But because that by an ancient Law it is most expressely forbidden the Popes Nuncio's to goe thither before he had obtained leaue from thence and taken Oath not to worke any thing by subtilty there tending to the preiudice of the King and Kingdome The Abbot being vpon the way stayed in Flanders and demanded leaue to come hither But Englands Councell of State iudg'd that it was not safe to admit him hither in regard that so many people from all parts nourished in the Romish religion laboured carefully both within and without the Realme to trouble the affaires thereof The Abbot not being permitted to come into England the Bishop of Wittenberg the Popes Nuncio with the King of France labours that Queene ELIZABETH should send Ambassadours to the Councell and many Princes of Christendome viz. the Kings of France of Spaine and of Portingall Henry Cardinall of Portingall and aboue all the Duke of Albe who yet bore good will to her Maiestie counselled her that in matters of Religion which is the onely Anker of Christians and stay of Kingdomes she would rather asscent to the Oecumenique Councell of Trent than to the particular opinions of a few men although they be learned She answers them That shee desired with all her heart an Oecumenique Councell but that shee would not send to that of the Popes with whom she had nothing to doe his authority being vtterly beaten downe and reiected in England with the consent of the States of the Kingdome That it is not for him but for the Emperour to assigne a Councell and that he hath no greater authority then any other Bishop At the same time that this Abbot was denyed accesse into England beeing the last Nuncio that the Popes of Rome haue sent hither Sir Edward Carne aforementioned being a most iudicious and wise man very well vnderstood in the right of Emperours by the Emperour Charles the fifth honoured with the dignitie of Knight-hood he dyed at Rome and was the last Ambassadour sent from the Kings of England to the Pope Chamberlaine Ambassadour for England in Spaine perceiuing that this answere did more and more alienate the affection of Spaine who iudged it to bee iniurious to the Pope and fearing no more that England Scotland and Ireland should fall into the hands of the Kings of France since that King Francis was dead began to make no more account of the English tooke leaue of him and returned into England Thomas Chaloner is sent in his place who as he was impatient of iniuries and had beene many times Ambassadour in Germany where he had receiued all manner of courtesies as soone as he was arriued in Spaine instantly besought by Letters to be reuoked complaining that according to the custome of the Countrey they had searched his Trunkes But Queene ELIZABETH admonished him that an Ambassadour must support all that which is of equity prouided that the honour of his Prince were not wronged Queen ELIZABETH being then capable of good counsell and very prudent and prouident and Religion somewhat wel established to strengthen her selfe with remedies against forces prouides for the safety of her selfe and of her Subiects and to enioy Peace more sweetly although she found the Coffers empty at her comming began to establish a Magazin of all sorts of Instruments of War and to that end employed great summes of money in Germany The Spaniard retained those Furnitures which shee had agreed for at a price at Antwerpe causeth many Cannons of Brasse and Iron to be cast discouers in the Country of Cumberland neere Keswicke by a speciall fauour from God on what occasion how farre and at what time shee should vse her liberality and indeed was prouidently bountifull to those that deserued it For notwithstanding that King HENRY her Father howsoeuer charged with three Children and EDVVARD and MARIE who had none had beene bountifull of the Crowne Land shee neuerthelesse hauing none neither gaue very little of it and yet what she gaue was vpon condition that for default of issue it should returne to the Crowne for which both the Realme and their successors ought to remember her and thanke her as a carefull fore-seer Whilest this good correspondencie was betweene the Queene and her people the Common-wealth seeming to take life and strength to the common ioy of all fell out a sad accident A most rare Piramide of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London which was frō the ground to the top of the square Tower 525. foote from thence 260. and was couered with wood ouer-laid with Lead was strucken at the top with fire from heauē which was so deuouring and burnt downeward with such violence to the great terrour of all the Inhabitants that in the space of fiue houres it reduced it to ashes with the whole couering of the Church which was most ample and spacious but the vaults which were of solid stone remained entire Notwithstanding all this couering was new made by the Queenes liberality and to the effecting of the same gaue great quantity of money and materials beside the collection of Ecclesiasticicall persons and others So all was repaired saue the Piramide This yeere dyed Iohn Bourchier a man of ancient Nobility Earle of Bath second of that name and Baron of Fitzwarin who by Elenor daughter of George Baron of Rosse had a great Progenie and left his Sonne William yet liuing his Successor THE FIFTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1562. THe troubles of France begunne then to
of Spaine the Iudges of England had no power ouer him But hee was condemned according to the forme of Nihil dicit because no man can free himselfe from the Lawes of the Countrey where he is borne nor renounce his naturall Countrey nor his Prince and suffered as a Traytor There was then for certaine yeeres controuersie betweene the Portugals and the English during the commerce betweene them and the Moores for pure Gold from the yeere 1552. in that part of Africa called Guienne and others who had first discouered those Coasts hindered as much as they could by force of armes so as they fought sometimes by Sea and detained Ships on both sides But Sebastian King of Portugall being newly come to age to make a peace sent Francis Gerard into England who made a Couenant with the Queene almost in these very words THat a perfect amitie may be made and free commerce had on both sides the one shall not attempt any thing to the preiudice of the other nor lend succour to their enemies Rebels or Traytors the Merchandize Moneyes and Ships which are vnder arrest to be restored And Queene ELIZABETH to gratifie the King of Portugal prohibiteth the English to vse any Nauigation in the Seas or to the Lands which the Portugals had conquered And that if they should doe otherwise it should be vpon their owne perill if the Portugals should depriue them both of goods and liues The Kingdomes of Portugal and Argarbe also the Iles of Azores and Madera excepted in which free Nauigation was permitted This yere W. Parre Marquis of Northampton being very old peaceably departed this life a man much conuersant and well read in the delectable studies of Musicke and intertainement of Louers and other courtly iucundities who was first raised to the dignitie of Baron Parre of Kendal afterwards he married Anne Bourchier sole daughter heire to the Earle of Essex at the same time when the King married his sister and afterwards bâ— EDVVARD made Marquis of Northampton vnder the reigne of MARIE hee was condemned of High-Treason for taking armes on the behalfe of Iane Grey who was brought in by subornation to be Queene but was shortly after pardoned and restored to his inheritance as he was afterwards to his honours by Queene ELIZABETH He had no Children but left to be his heire Henrie Herbert Earle of Pembroke his other Sisters Sonne Iohn Iewell a man of an excellent spirit and exquisit learning in Theologie and of great pietie died the same yeere being hardly fiftie yeeres of age descended of good Parents in Deuonshire and commendably brought vp in Corpus Christi Colledge in the Vniuersitie of Oxford who in Queene MARIES reigne was banished into Germanie and afterwards by Queene ELIZABETH beeing made Bishop of Salisburie put forth in the yeere 1562. an Apologie for the English Church and most learnedly defended the Protestants Religion against Harding who was falne from it in two Volumes in our owne Tongue which are now translated into the Latine Ireland at that time was quiet enough for Iohn Perâ—t President of Mounster had so ransacked Iohn Fitz-Morris who had pillaged Kilmalocke that hee was constrained to hide himselfe in Caues and in the end as wee shall relate hereafter brought to begge pardon with humble submission Sidney Deputie of Ireland returning into England Fitz-William who had married his Sister succeeded in his place THE FIFTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1572. THe beginning of a new yeere brought forth a new Tragicall spectacle to the Inhabitants of London for in the Palace of Westminster a Scaffold was erected from the one end to the other with a Tribunall vpon it and seates on either side the like had not bin seene for eighteene yeeres before Thither vpon the sixteenth day of Ianuary was Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke conducted betweene Owen Hopton Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Peter Carew Knight before whom was borne the fatall Axe with the edge forward vpon the Tribunall was seated George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury constituted Lord high Steward of England for that day vpon either side of him were placed the Nobles appointed Commissioners which we call Peeres to wit Reynold Gray Earle of Kent Tho. Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Henry Hastings Earle of Huntington Francis Russell Earle of Bedford Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Edw. Seimor Earle of Hartford Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester Walt. Deuâ—reux Vicount of Hereford Edward Lord Clinton Admirall William Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlaine William Cecill Lord Burghley Secretarie Arthur Lord Gray of Wilton Iea. Blount Lord Mountioy Will. Lord Sands Tho. Lord Wentworth William Lord Bourrowes Lewes Lord Mordant Iohn Pawlet Lord S. Iohn of Basing Robert Lord Rich Roger Lord North Edm. Bruges Lord Chandos Oliuer Lord S. Iohn of Bletso Tho. Sackuill Lord Buckhurst and Will. West Lord De-la-Ware Silence being commanded the Commission was read importing the power giuen to the Iudge Then Carter chiefe King of Heralds deliuered into his hands a white wand which he presently after deliuered to the Groome Porter who standing by did hold it erected the whole time of the Court. Silence againe commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower was bidden to bring forth his charge and present the Duke before the Seat of Iustice who foorth-with appeared on either side were the Lieutenants of the Tower and Peter Carew next of all he that carried the Axe the edge thereof turned from the Duke Silence the third time proclaimed the Clerke appointed for the Acts of Iudgement thus spake to the Duke Thomas Duke of Norfolke late of Kenninghale in the County of Norfolke hold vp thy hand When he had holden vp his hand the said Clerke read aloud the Crimes of which he was accused that is to say That in the eleuenth yeere of Queene ELIZABETH and afterwards the Duke hath treacherously held counsell to depose the Queene from her Kingdome to take away her life and to inuade the Realme by raysing of warre and bringing in troupes of Strangers That notwithstanding he had certaine knowledge that Mary late Queene of Scots had arrogated to herselfe the Crowne of England with the Title and Armes thereof yet hath he treated vnknowne to the Queene of a marriage betwixt them and contrary to the promise vnder his hand and Seale hath lent vnto her certaine large summes of money That hee had assisted and succoured the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Marquenfield and others notwithstanding that hee had good notice that they had raised Rebellion against the Queene and were chased into Scotland That in the thirteenth yeere of the Queenes Reigne by Letters he demanded succours of the Pope Pius Quintus sworne Enemy to the Queene of the Spaniard and Duke D' Alua to set the Queene of Scots at liberty and re-establish the Romane religion in England Finally that hee had relieued and aided Heris a Scottish-man and others enemies
darke and thicke cloudes extremity of cold and open Cliffes couered thicke with snow hee landed at the 38. Degree and hauing found a commodious Rode remained there a certaine time The inhabitants of that Countrie were naked merry lusty iumping leaping and dancing perpetually sacrificing and showing by signe and words that they would elect Francis Drake for their King neither could it be coniectured that euer the Spaniard had bin there or so farre in that Countrie Drake named that very countrey being fat and good full of Deeres and Conies The new Albion Causing a great Poste to be there erected vpon which there was ingrauen an Inscription which shewed the yeere of our Lord the name of Queene ELIZABETH and their landing there and vnderneath a piece of siluer of Queene ELIZABETHS Coine was nailed to the said Poste Afterwards hauing weighed Anchor in the moneth of Nouember he arriued in the Ilands of the Mollucques where the King of the I le of Ternata receiued him graciously and from thence sayling vpon that sea full of Rockes and Ilands his ship was the ninth day of Ianuary driuen to the top of a Rocke couered with water where it remained in great danger seuen and twenty houres and was accounted no better then lost by all the men of the ship who fell deuoutly vpon their knees praying hartily vnto the Lord expecting hourely to perish with all the aboundance of riches heaped vp together with so much paine But after they had hoysted their Sprit-Sayle and cast into the Sea 8. Peeces of Ordnance and diuers marchandizes a fauourable wind rose as sent of God which bore the ship aside and withdrew it from aboue the Rocke After this he landed at Iaua major greatly afflicted with the Poxe which the Inhabitants doe cure sitting in the heate of the sunne to drie vp the poysonous and malignant humor Where hauing tryed the humanity of the little King of the Countrey he tooke his way towards the Cape of Bona esperance which was celebrated as very remarkable by the Mariners which had formerly seene it He landed vpon that coast to take in water but found no fountaine there if he had not in time prouided of water when it rained they had all beene in great distresse for sweet water At last he tooke in some at Riogrand from whence hee finished his iourney into England with a fauourable wind which brought his Ship the ninth of Nouember 1580. safe into the Hauen of Plimouth where he tooke shipping after his being abroad about the space of three yeeres during which time he worthily sayled round about the Earth to the admiration and laudable applause of all people and without purchasing blame for any other things than for his putting to death Doughty for leauing at the mercy of the Spaniards that Portugal Ship by him taken at the mouth of Africa neere vnto Aquatulqua and for hauing most inhumanely exposed in an Iland that Negro or Black-more-Maide who had beene gotten with Child in his Ship Queene ELIZABETH receiued him graciously with all clemency caused his riches to be sequestred and in readinesse whensoeuer the Spaniard should re-claime them Her Maiesty commanded likewise that for a perpetuall memory to haue so happily circuited round about the whole Earth his Ship should be drawne from the water and put aside neere Deptford vpon Thames where to this houre the body thereof is seene and after the Queenes feasting therein shee consecrated it with great ceremonie pompe and magnificence eternally to be remembred and her Maiesty forthwith honoured Drake with the dignity of Knighthood As these things were performed a slight Bridge made of Boords by which people went vp into the Ship was broken downe by the Multitude and about a hundred persons fell with it they neuerthelesse receiued no harme at all insomuch that the Ship seemed to haue beene built in a happy coniunction of the Planets That very day against the great Mast of the said Ship many verses composed to the praise honour of Sir Francis Drake were fastned and fixed among which these in Latin were written by a Scholler of the Colledge of Winchester PLVS VLTRA Herculeis inscribas Drace columnis Et magno dicas Hercule maior ero Escri DRAC ces deux mots sur les piliers du Temple Qui sut sacré iadis à Hercule guerâ—ier PLVS OVLTRE quelque grand qu'ait esté son lauâ—ier Di que le tien doibt estre plus grand plus ample DRAKE on the Herculean columnes these words write Thou farther wentst then any mortall wight Though Hercules for trauell did excell From him and others thou didst beare the bell DRACE pererrati quem nouit terminus orbis Quemque simul mundi vidit vterque Polus Si taceant homines faciunt te sydera notum Sol nescit comitis non memor esse sui DRAC qui as parcouru tous les quartiers du monde Et les Poles as vâ—u Quand les gens manqueront A chanter tes vertus les Astres le feront Le Soleil n'oublira celuy qui le seconde Braue DRAKE that round about the world didst saile And viewedst all the Poles when men shall faile Thee to commend the starres will do 't the Sunne Will not forget how with him thou didst run Digna ratis quae stet radiantibus inclyta stellis Supremo coeli vertice digna ratis CE NAVIRE qui rend à tous homines notoire La gloire d'vn grand Chef merite que les Dieux Mettent autour de luy des Astres radieux Et au plus hault du Ciel estre éclatant de gloire THAT SHIP whose good successe did make thy name To be resounded by the trump of Fame Merits to be beset with Stars diuine Instead of waues and the Skie to shine Nothing anger'd worse Sir Francis Drake than to see the Nobles and the chiefest of the Court refuse that Gold and Siluer which he presented them withall as if hee had not lawfully come by it The Commons neuerthelesse applauded him with all praise and admiration esteeming he had purchased no lesse glory in aduancing the limits of the English their honour and reputation than of their Empire Bernard Mendoze then Ambassadour for Spaine in England murmuring at it and as not well pleased demands vehemently of the Queene the things taken But he was answered THat the Spaniards had procured vnto themselues that euil through their iniustice towards the English in hindering against the right of Nations their Negotiations That Sir Francis Drake was alwaies ready to answere the Law if by iust inditements and certaine testimonies they could conuict him to haue committed any thing against equity That to no end but to giue satisfaction to their King the riches he brought in were sequestred though her Maiesty had spent against the Rebels which Spaine had moned and instigated in Ireland and England against her more money than Drake was
accepted the Challenge which two after a while trauersing their ground to and fro without one drop of blood-shed betooke themselues to drinke freely together and so of enemies became friends and parted Yet here wee must not omit to obserue that our Englishmen who of all the Northerne Nations haue beene most commended for sobrietie haue learned since these Low-Country warres so well to fill their cups and to wash themselues with Wine that whilest they at this day drinke others healths they little regard their owne And that this vicious practice of drunkennesse hath so ouerflowed the Land that lawes proscripts of restraint are vsually made for the drying vp of the same But whilest they were all this while contending in the Low-Countries for Dorppes Villages the King of Spaine getteth into his hands the rich Kingdome of Portugall For Henry which was King hauing paid Natures tribute the yeare before left the Realm to diuers Competitors amongst whom Philip King of Spaine sonne of his eldest Sister puissant enough in force though not in right by reason of his priority in blood and descent comming of the elder line and being Male thought with his friends himselfe worthiest to bee preferred to the succession of the said Kingdome before the women the yonger sort and such as did lesse participate of the blood The Duke of Sauoy reiected for that he came of the yonger Sister Farnese sonne to the Prince of Parma borne of the eldest Daughter of EDWARD brother King HENRY and KATHERINE of Brabant second daughter to the said EDWARD grounding themselues only vpon the benefit of Representation a simple fiction could not annihilate the true Title of Inheritance nor intercept the King of Spaines lawfull succession and this the Spaniards stood to maintaine And as touching Don Antonio Prior of Crates sonne to Lewis the second brother of King HENRY he was ipso facto reiected for that he was illegitimate The King of Spaine neuerthelesse propounded the matter twice to his Clergy and men of Law to decide the cause charging them in the name of God and vpon their faith and saluation to tell him freely whether hee had rightfull claime or no to that Kingdome They hauing with vnanimous voice assured him that it was proper to him he quickly putting forth first the Duke of Alua put to flight Antonio elected of the people and within 70 dayes brought all Portugall vnder his iurisdiction But touching the Right of Katherin de Medicis the Queen of France who claimed it from Alphonsus and the Earles of Boulogne for 320 yeares agone that the Spaniards laughed at as a Title out of date and fetcht from the old Prophetesse the Mother of Euander a thing iniurious to so many of the Kings of Portugal which had lawfully and lineally succeeded one another and therefore ridiculous to both Spaniards and Portugals Whereat the Queene incensed with anger and considering how mightily the Spaniard now in his ascendant enriched himselfe farre and neare by the accession or surcrease of this new-got Kingdome his Ilands and the East Indies breeding a feare within her to her selfe and the Princes her neighbouring friends aduised them and amongst the rest the Queene of England that it was already high time to stay the Spaniards in his mounting and to stop him vp within his owne bounds before his ambition should extend any further Queene ELIZABETH who was not to learne what shee had to doe in that nature for her selfe and her friends and foreseeing how dangerous the growing greater of the neighbour Princes would be lent eare thereto with no light attention but with great and Royall kindnesse entertained Antonio banished out of Portugall and recommended to her from France thinking that Spaine could not take exception thereat because hee was of her Alliance issued from the Blood Royall of England and of the House of Lancaster as shee well knew nor in any Treaties that euer had past betwixt Spaine and England was any caueat at all inferred forbidding England to receiue or to haue commerce with the Portugals At the same time for the more confirmation of assured amitie the Queene of France and the King her sonne prosecuting the mariage of the Duke d' Anjou addrest an honourable ambassage into England for the consummation thereof came ouer François de Bourbon Prince of Daulphiné Arthur de Cosse Cont de Secondigny Marshal of France Louis de Lusignan M. de S. Gelais Lansac Salignac Mauuisser Bernarde Brisson President of the Parliament of Paris and one of the learnedest men of France and others who as they they were of Honorable ranke were very nobly receiued and banqueted in a Banquetting-House built on purpose neere Westminster richly adorned with rare and sumptuous furniture and Titls and Tournaments proclaimed which were presented in a most princely manner by Philip Earle of Arundell Fred Lord Winsor Philip Sidney and Fulk Greuill Knights against all commers with sundry other courtly sports and Princely recreations not necessarily coincident to our History To conferre with them concerning these Nuptials were appointed the Baron of Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England the Earles of Sussex Lincolne Bedford and Leicester together with Sir Christopher Hatton and Secretary Walsingham Amongst whom these matrimoniall Contracts following were concluded vpon THe Duke d' Anjou and the Queene of England within six weekes after the ratification of these Articles shall personally contract mariage here in England The Duke and his associates seruants and friends being no English subiects shall haue libertie to vse their owne Religion in a certain place in their houses without molestation or impeachment He shall not alter any part of the Religion now receiued in England Hee shall inioy and haue the Title and Dignity of King after the mariage shall bee consummate but notwithstanding shall leaue intirely to the Queene the managing of affaires And whereas his demand was that immediately after the celebration of the mariage he should be crowned King instantly to inioy the title and dignity during the gouernment of the Kingdome in the minority of their children The Queene answered she would propound and further it at the next high Court of Parliament to be holden within fifteen dayes after the ratification Letters Patents and other things shal be passed in both their names as in the time of Philip and MARIE The Queene by Act of Parliament shall ordaine an Annuall pension for the Duke but the valuation thereof shall bee left to her pleasure she will also ordaine the said Pension to continue if he shall surviue her The Duke in Dowry shall bestow on the Queene to the value of forty thousand Crownes per annum out of his Duchy of Berry and shall forthwith infeofe her therein As touching their Issue it shall likewise be enacted by Parliament in England and registred in the Annals of France as followeth That the Heires of them as well Males as Females by maternall right of
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath cōmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since cā testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
they suggested that the English Nauy was neither in number greatnesse nor strength comparable to the Spanish the Portugall Fleet being then added That England was altogether vnfortified neyther was it furnished with Commanders Souldiers Horse or prouision for warres but destitute both of friends and money besides there were many through the Kingdome which were addicted to Papistrie and would soone ioyne themselues in his ayde Last of all so great were the forces of the King of Spaine both by Sea and Land and the vertue of the Spaniards such that none would dare to oppose him and therefore they promised assuredly a certaine victory To this enterprise also that God had presented a fit opportunity for the Turke hauing then cōcluded a truce with him and the French beeing intangled with intestine warres were neither to be doubted or feared That it was more facile to subdue England than the Low-Countries because the passage out of Spaine into England is more short and commodious and through a vast and open Sea but into the Netherlands of greater length and difficultie through a narrow Sea and very neere adiacent to England That the Netherlands were in a manner continually a strong Bulwarke being on all parts fortified with Townes and Castles but England not with any and therefore it would be an easie matter euen at the first in an instant for him to penetrate to the very heart of the Land with an Army Finally according to that military Axiome That the Enemy should not be left behinde therefore it was most necessary for the Spaniard to subdue England being a mortall enemy by whose assistance the Low-Countries had so long sustained a great warre and with whom they could not at all stand So that if England were but once conquered the Netherlands must of necessity yeeld to subiection These matters thus resolued they began seriously to deliberate vpon some meanes for the inuasion of England Aluarus Bassanus Marquesse of Santa Croix Generall of the Nauy was of a minde That before all some Port or other in Holland or Zealand should by those Land-troupes which the Prince of Parma had and some few Spanish Ships sent before be vnawares to them surprized where the Spanish Fleete might make their retreate and from thence most opportunely begin the inuasion because that in the Brittish Sea being tempestuous the windes are subiect to often changing the ebbing and flowing thereof principally to be obserued the Fleete could not safely ride Of this aduice likewise was the Prince of Parma who earnestly vrged this expedition Others notwithstanding disallowed thereof as being a thing difficult full of danger requiring much time great labour large expence yet vncertaine of successe neyther could it be done secretly or vnawares and by the English would easily be hindred and frustrated And these were of opinion That one might at lesse charges and with more facilitie assault and subdue England if at the mouth of the Thames a puissant Army of Spaniards and Flemmings were placed and conuayed in a powerfull Nauy to take at the first vnawares the City of London the Capitall and Chiefe of the Kingdome This seeming easie was resolued vpon and speedily determined to be put in execution yet some neuerthelesse were of a mind that war should first be proclaymed by a Herauld and that in so doing it would be a sleight to take away all suspition from all Neighbouring-Princes and moue the Queene to call to her helpe forreine souldiers who as mercenary being insolent and vile would behaue themselues rudely and tumultuously ransacking and pillaging the Countries in such sort that it would take away the loue of her Subiects and put England in confusion But these mindes were not seconded by those who were obstinate as relying vpon the assurance of their forces and strength contenting themselues to put their cause their Nauy Armada's into the Popes hand and into the intercessions of the Catholiques to the Saints and to afright and terrifie England they set out a Libell printed containing the particulars of so great an equipage which truely was such that in Spaine Italy and Cicilia the Spaniards were amazed astonished at it and therefore audaciously termed it The inuincible NAVY The Duke of Parma caused also Ships to bee built in Flanders by the commandement of the Spaniard and likewise a number of Flat-bottom'd Boats each of them bigge enough to transport thirtie Horses with Bridges fitting to them hyred Mariners out of the East-Land Countries of Germany prouided Pikes sharpened at the one end and shod with Iron with hookes on one side twenty thousand Vessels and an infinite number of Wicker Baskets and placed in the Sea-Townes of Flanders one hundred and three Companies of foot and foure thousand horse amongst which were seuen hundred English Fugitiues a most contemned and despised Company Neyther were Stanley their Generall nor Westmerland nor any other who had assisted eyther with purse or person regarded but for their impietie against their Countrey prohibited all accesse and deseruedly and as ill presages not without detestation reiected And Pope Sixtus the Fifth lest hee should seeme to be wanting renewes vnto Cardinall Alane an English man sent into the Low-Countries The Declaratory Bulls of Pius the Fifth and Gregorie the Thirteenth excommunicates the Queene deposes her from her gouernement absolues her Subiects from their allegiance publisheth in print the Crusado as against Turks and Infidels whereby out of the Treasury of the Church hee bestowes vpon all assistants plenarie indulgence whereupon the Marquesse of Burgaw of the House of Austria the Duke of Pastraua Amadaeus of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn de Medices and diuers other noble Gentlemen serued in this warre as Volunteers On the other side Queene ELIZABETH lest shee should be vnawares opprest with singular diligence prepares as many ships and warlike necessaries as was possible And shee her-selfe who was of a piercing iudgement in distinguishing of dispositions and when shee was at her owne election without commendation of others alwaies happy designed by name the principall Officers to the seuerall Offices in the Nauie and made Charles Howard of Effingham Lord high Admirall of England Generall of whose good successe shee was very well perswaded as a man whom she knew to be skilfull in Nauigation prouident valiant industrious and of great authority amongst Sea-men by reason both of his moderation and Nobility Shee sends him seasonably enough to the West parts of England where Drake whom shee made Vice-Admirall ioyned himselfe with him Shee commands Henrie Seimer the second sonne of the Duke of Sommerset to lye in waite vpon the Belgique shores with fortie Ships English and Dutch to hinder Parma's comming out of the Riuers with his forces Although there wanted not some who earnestly aduised to expect the Enemy and receiue him in a Land-battel as it was deliberated in HENRY the Eighth's Reigne when the French threatned England with a mightie Nauy For the Land-seruice
his Armes and so absolued the people from all oath of Fealtie so that it was lawfull and free for them to elect another Prince The Duke permitted all those the vse of the Romish Religion which would sweare Allegeance to him and abiure the Spaniard After this hee betooke himselfe to the field where he lost Aldenard and tooke in Alost But six hundred English souldiers exclaiming of General Norris his imperious seueritie ouer them forsaking him fled to the Spaniard vnder the leading of Captaine T. Norris Barney Cornish and Gypson who exposing themselues to all perils and being basely respected were paid with slow and late repentance and infinite miseries the paine of their perfidiousnesse But notwithstanding General Norris with three hundred horse and the rest of his foot-companies got the renowne of a valorous and most iudicious Warriour for his couragious encountering the Duke of Parma who fell vpon him with a farre greater power the whilest he warily and wisely made his retreat into the City of Gand in sight of the two Dukes of Anjou and Orleans admiring his martiall valour from off the Ramparts where they stood to behold him But why insist I vpon these matters The Duke d' Anjou hauing now without successe spent huge summes of money sent him out of England weighing with himselfe that only apparant Titles were bestowed vpon him and considering that all the managing of these matters were in the power of the States assayed by a precipitate counsell with his Armie to enter by force Antwerpe and some other townes but all in vaine and with the losse of many of his men and shortly after was constrained shamefully to quit leaue Flanders It shall suffice to note in a word in passing that nere vnto CHAPELLE in the month of May in the 12 degree of Gemini appeared a Comet or blazing starre with bright shining beames streaming ouer the right sholder of the Dragon About that time happened a horrible tempest in Norfolke with fearefull flashes of lightning and thunder of long continuance with violent furious winds and hailstones of three inches about Queene ELIZABETH for better security and to fortifie her selfe the more abroad against the Spaniard whom shee knew to be infest against her for that she had furnished the Duke d'Anjou with moneyes admitted into the fraternity of the order of Saint George Frederick the second King of Denmarke who had alwaies shewed himselfe most affectionate towards her Maiesty and to inuest him therewith sent ouer Sir Peregrin Bertie whom shee as her Maiesty was euer nice in conferring honors had with some difficulty honoured with the title of Lord Willoughbey of Eresby before he had giuen any proofe of his martiall vertue howsoeuer the Duchesse of Suffolke his mother was daughter and sole inheritrix to the ancient Baronry of Willoughby of Eresby The King of Denmark with ioyfulnesse put the chaine of Roses about his necke and the Garter about his legge the other Robes he locked vp in his Chest but refused to put them on because they were exotick or to take the oath for that he had taken one afore when by the French King hee was installed Knight of the Order of Saint Michael The whilest the Lord Willoughby was in Denmarke he propounded to the King a complaint from the English Merchants concerning the raising of Imposts and customes for that in times past for passing the Oresunde or straits of Denmarke they vsed to giue for euery ship but a Rose-Noble which made the fourth part of an ounce of gold as much for the fraught with some smal peeces of siluer for the fire-beacons giuing light by night vvhich vvere to direct them by their Sea-markes ouer the Shallowes and by the Shelues bankes Rocks He treated also for the Merchants that the tribute vvhich they call their LAST GELT might be remitted by the vvhich they begunne vvhen the Warres were so hot betwixt the Kings of Denmarke and Sueden to exact by vvay of borrowing the thirtieth part of all manner of Merchandizes vvith promise to repay them or the value of them againe the warre once ended But these as matters of importance vvere referred till another time For Princes doe seldome or neuer abate of their Custome Taxes or Imposts esteeming that such things as these vvhich they call Royalties belonging to the rightfull liberty of euery Kingdome are not things subiect to be moderated or abrogated by any strangers Queene ELIZABETH the better to secure her state at home imployed Sir Walter Mildmay to comprimise businesse with the Queene of Scots But finding that the Guises had consulted with certaine English Fugitiues about the setting her at liberty and gathering forces together vnder the pretext of sending supplyes to the Duke of Anjou in Flanders vvhich in very deed vvere to haue beene past ouer from the Hauens of Aux or Ew obscure harbours of Normandy into England which the French King hauing notice of out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH certifieth her thereof and stayed them hereupon the matter was intermitted and the Queene of Scots affaires deferred But by the vvay to meet with the Guises attempts in Scotland whither it is supposed he employed the Earle of Lennox to dissolue the League betweene the King of Scots and the English whilest Will Ruthen lately created by the K. Earle of Gowry begunne to be mutinous He for that hee vvould not degenerate frō his Father bearing a mortall malice to the Kings Mother together with others of his confederacie were to put in practice the best wits they had for the vvorking of the Duke of Lennox and the Earle Arran both out of the Kings fauour and company vnder a colour of Religion the Kings securitie and the league of amity vvith England Now behold their subtilty and crafty proiects They begin to perswade Lennox vvho had been established L. High Chamberlain of Scotland to exercise the rigor of his iurisdiction though then out of vse for no other purpose but to purchase his owne disgrace with the people vvhilest the Presbytery out of their Pulpits should declaime against him as a Papist of the faction of the Guizes and a rude and seuere Executioner of the Law should publikely foretell and denounce his ruine and destruction When as therefore Lennox was departed from Perth where the King remained to execute his office at Edenburgh and the Earle Arran absent from the Court Gowrey Marre Lindsey and others taking their opportunity inuited the King to the Castle of Ruthen being there they held him in such feare that hee durst not walke abroad such of his seruants as he thought best of they sent away the E. of Arran they arrested and cast into prison and compelled the King by the intercession of Queen ELIZABETH to recal the Earl of Angus out of exile and to sends the Duke of Lenox into France who as he was a Noble man of milde disposition and altogether inclin'd to
the publike peace and good of the Land by the Kings perswasion but their impulsion although he might easily haue stood vpon his guard and withstood them departed quietly from Dunbriton where he tooke shipping for France Not content with this they forced the King by his Letters to signifie to Queene ELIZABETH this his interception and that it was a meeting made by his willing consent with some of his Lords concerning speciall businesses But Buchanan they could not possibly perswade to approue this Act or by composing any booke of this subiect nor by perswasions of a messenger but he wept bitterly and sorrowed grieuously that he had to-fore taken the Rebels part against the Prince and soone after dyed A man as himselfe sings in his Poems though borne in a countrey barren for learning yet hee attained to the soueraigne degree of Poesie so as by right hee ought to bee accounted the Prince of Poets of our age The French King hauing had certaine intelligence of the passages in Scotland sendeth both with one message Mons de la Moteff through England and Mons de Manninguille by Sea into Scotland by all possible means to haue the King set at liberty to confirme the French faction to draw the King into loue amity with France and to let him vnderstand that his mother to make him be knowne true and legitimate King by Christian Princes and all Scotland setting aside all partialitie out of her motherly piety and indulgence yeelded him freely the title of the Kingdome and admitted him into the society freely to Raigne Shee distressed Queene in the meane time afflicted with many miseries the calamities of a prison in indurance without hope of deliuery bewayled the dismall fortunes of the King her sonne with her owne in a large Letter written in French to Queene ELIZABETH which the tender loue of a mother and the disquietnesse of her Spirit extorted from her the which out of the originall Copy of her owne hand-writing I haue more briefely recollected as followed AFter I was certainly informed that my sonne was intercepted and detained in captiuitie as my selfe haue beene for some yeares a sudden feare suggested into my minde that hee and I were to drinke of one cup of sorrow I cannot therefore in opening my sad afflicted heart but vtter my anguish to imprint them if it may be vpon yours offer the same to your conscionable commiseration that the ages to come may know my innocency and their tyrannie by whose meanes I endure these intolerable indignities But for that their subtil plots and mischieuous practices haue all this while been preferd with you before my iust complaint it being in your gracious power to doe equity and iustice where violence treadeth downe vertue and might suppresseth right I doe appeale vnto God immortall whom alone I know to haue power ouer vs Princes coequall in right and honour and him in whom there is no place for fraud or falshood I will inuoke that at the last day hee will recompence vs according to our demerits howsoeuer my Aduersaries the whilest haue cautelously cloaked their treacheries from men and perhaps from you I beseech you now then in the name of God and by his all-powerfull Maiestie I adiure you to call to minde how cunningly some sent forth in your name to me could stirre vp the Scots my subiects whilest I liued with them into open rebellion against me and haue been the first mouers of all the mischiefe which euer since hath hapned in that countrey as euidently appeareth by sundry plain testimonies thereof and Mortons confession from his own mouth who for such matters grâ—w vp to great honors whom if I could haue prosecuted according to his desert and if your assisting the Rebels had not bâ—en they could neuer haue stood vp so long against mee and my friends as they did When I was detained Prisoner in Lake-Leuin Sir Nich. Throckmorton was the first that came to me in your name who perswaded me to quit the Kingdome vndâ—r Letters Patents signed with my hand which he assured me should be of no effect as all the world knoweth them so to be vntill that you had assisted the Authors of these Letters with your fauour and Armes But say in good sooth would you acknowledge that your subiects should haue such power ouer you The regall power I had in the meane time by your aide aduice was taken from me to be conferred on my sonne a yong child by reason of his Infant-age vnfit to manage the administration of a Kingdome And when as of late I determined to make him a lawfull resignation for the certaine establishing of him in the Kingdome hee was by force of Armes caried violently away by Traitors who doubtlesse had no other intent then to depriue him as they did me of the Crowne and perhaps of his life After I got out of Lake-Leuin and was to raise Armes for the suppressing of the Rebels I sent you then the Diamond which formerly you had giuen me as a pledge of mutuall loue betwixt vs when you made me many large promises and faithfull protestations to succour and support me against the Rebels when also you promised that if I should come towards you you would meet me in person vpon the frontiers and would assist me I relying vpon these promises so often and so seriously iterated although your messengers had many times before deluded me resolued to resort to you as to a Sanctuary And assuredly I had come had I but found the way as open to me and as easie to passe as it was for those who reuolted against me But before I could come at you I was arrested vpon the way guarded with troops of men shut vp in strong places and since that time haue endured things worse then death I know you will obiect some intercourses of businesse haue past betwixt the Duke of Norfolke and me but I assure you there hath neuer any thing past preiudiciall to you or your Kingdome as also your chiefe Counsellors haue giuen approbation thereto as I can proue who likewise promised mee by the way of attestation to procure your consent And how I pray you should these so great persons promise your consent to a thing which might despoile you of honour life and Diadem And notwithstanding you would that euery one should be so perswaded Besides as diuers of the Rebels by a tardy repentance re-aduising themselues and by a Commission held betwixt our Deputies at Yorke vnderstood how wickedly they had dealt with me they being besieged with your Souldiers in Edenburgh-Castle two of the principall dyed miserably the one by poison the other in a halter And that came to passe for that twice I had dismist the Armies at your request in hope of peace which God knowes whether euer my Aduersaries once haue thought on Since that I had resolued to try whether patience can haue power to conquer cruelty in suffering all