with the then congregation And afterwards in the ordering of distribution for Ministers amongst the Burgs he was elected for Aberdeen the place then of the ablest Papists the rather therefore to reclame them from their errors by practice of Piety profound preaching wherein he profited to again of many to the faith in 14 years labour and dyed 60 years of age And now was Andrew Melvil a fiery zelot labouring for the absolute Presbyterial discipline of Geneva iâ—sinuating with Iohn Dury minister of Edenburugh in their Assembly to question the lawfulness of the Episcopall function and the Authority of Chapiters in their election but himself cunningly pretended ignorance but since the question was so started he commended the speakers zeal seconding the purpose with a tedious discourse of the flourishing estate of Geneva Church and the opinion of wise Mr. Calvin and reverend Mr. Beza and came to affirm That None ought to be Officers in the Church whose Titles were not found in the 〈◊〉 And though that of Bishops were in Scripture yet not to be taken in the same sense that commonly was conceived Christ allowing no Superiority amongst Ministers Himself only Lord of his Church and all the Servants in one degree having like power Concluding Then the Corruptions of Bishops were so great that unless removed Religion could not be long preserved Hereupon divers are selected to confer three to three and concluded their opinions to the Assembly 1. That the Name Bishop was common to able Ministers of a flock his chief function to preach to administer Sacraments and exercise Ecclesiastical Discipline with consent of his Elders 2. That some one Minister might oversee and visit such reasonable bounds besides his own flock 3. And he to appoint Preachers with advice of the Provincial Ministers and the consent of the flock 4. And to suspend Ministers from their Office with consent of the Ministers of the bounds It is strange that the Arch-bishop of Glasgow and six other Bishops with Super-intendents and all interessed were not called to the conference though present in the Assembly Nor doth it appear that they spake at all therein so humble to hold their tongues in a case of their own or rather referring it to the Regents Wisdom whose opinion had been ever to uphold Episcopacy The next Assembly altered the question and formed it Whether Bishops as they were then in Scotland had their function warranted by the Word of God But the Major part approved of those in the last Meeting The Regent finding them so to differ sent them word to settle upon somewhat and to abide therein Of which they take advantage and with much ado present a form of Policy to the Regent Acknowledging in their Preface That they did not accompt it compleat but to add or diminish as God shall reveal vnto them But some Troubles in State prevent their further progress The Regent flesht in the fury of rapine having fleeced Commons and Clergy and settled the North and South Borders cared not for the Gentry and grieved the Peers His neerest friends the Earl of Angus and others forewarned him of his Slippery station But Morton settled in the very seat of the Scorneâ— careless of any complaints made good his greatness by grace of Queen Elizabeth whom he conserved with all diligent observance His aim was to ruin Hamiltons house hating them as his Hereditary Enemies scared thereto by an old Wives Rhime which bid him beware of Arrans Race Hamiltons Family whom he banished or suppressed The two last years as it seems slipt away in shew I am sure in silence of any disturbance for ought that Authors can tell to much purpose but it is like the more was in secret hatching For as the Queens Imprisonment grew to her impatient so by Q. Elizabeth it was heightned to some danger As a Wolf by the Ear. To keep her in durance was her own disquiet and to release her dangerous to the State all their study was to counsel what to do with her and with much difficulty it was agreed upon to put her to Death There was one Antonio d' Peres Secretary to Philip of Spain escaped thence out of Prison and over he comes to England as best able here to do his Master most injury He was grown intimate with the Earl of Essex which being known to Caecil Lord Burleigh he advised that Essex might deal with him to fish out somewhat from his Masters streams which was done to the purpose revealing all his designs for the imprisoned Queen and being rewarded here had his Invitation home again with some hope of reconcilement and favor also which fell out not as he desired but as he deserv'd for he was at last hangd for his labor In many of his Letters to Essex which since came to my hands I find much of the mâ—tter but for want of the Key the Cyphers put me to trouble with some consideration What uneven policies there were towards that poor imprisoned Queen Don Iuan of Austria Governour for the King of Spain over the Netherlands proud and ambitious being Neighbourly acquainted with the Troubles of England and Scotland for to him all these discontented Fugitives repaired was made believe that the Duke of Norfolk being gon the Queen of Scots was most fit to be offered to him and easie enough to be effected with the expulsion of Queen Elizabeth and assured hopes of both Kingdomes To which purpose he hastily makes perpetual peace with the Netherlands and labours his time and means to infest England But underhand to amuse Queen Elizabeth the more gives her the occasion to congratulate the Peace by sending the Articles for her perusal intending secretly with all speed to surprize some Pieces and Ports in England and Scotland with help of the Pope who sent to the King of Spain in his behalf and the chief Fugitives of England and Scotland being with him he in an instant had swallowed the Conceit and Mariage of a Queen with two Kingdomes to boot but his wilde ambition the sooner flatted and he fooled into neglect and disdain And now dies that Princely Lady Margaret Dowglas old Countess Dowager of Lenox 63 years of age whom Queen Elizabeth kept in England at her elbow whilst her sonne Darly was maried to the Scots Queen and her husband had power there She was descended from Henry 7. by Margaret his eldest daughter maried to James 4. who had James 5. And being a widow maried to a second husband Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus by whom she had Margaret Dowglas of Harbotel in Northumberland who maried Mathew Earl of Lenox leaves France and comes into England to Henry 8. And here invested with honour and land in Yorkshire From these issued Henry Stuart Lord Darly who maried Queen Mary of whom came King James 6. So then her descent was royall in King Edwards time in much honnor here but after in adverse fortune she lived
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 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 Mâ—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 noâ— ceasing by the Queens death they desire his Majesties pleasure whether they shall guard the Narrow Seas or be câ—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. daâ—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 Hewâ— 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 Hewâ— 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
to him and acknowledged the kindness and his young Lady was presented with a Noble and valuable Reward 30001. besides a pension of one thousand pound per annum during his life and this was done with so much love and liking that I have often observed Buckinghams great Civility ever after at meetings to call him Father and bend his knee without the least regret of that Lord that gained more by the bargain And because Sir Robert Mansel a dependant of Nottingham had the place of Vice-Admiral at pleasure only Buckingham for his Lords sake continued him so by Patent during his life for which courtesy the good old man came himself to give thanks as I remember the last Complyment his age gave him leave to present And thus was this office of honour and safety to the Kingdom ordered from the command of a decrepit old man to a proper young and active Lord strengthened with the abilities oâ— an experienced Assistant without deserving quâ—râ—el of our carping Pamphleter Aâ—ter Suffolk the weight and charge of the Treasurers Staff was conferred upon the Lord Chief Justice Sir Henry Mountague Viscount Mandevile Son of Sir Edward Mountague of Bolton in the County of Northampton Son of another Sir Edward likewise Chief Justice who had three Sons Edward the eldest Knight of the Bath bred up in the Wars a faithful Noble stout Commander Iames that reverend eloquent and learned Bishop of Winchester a man so highly in favour and esteem with this King his Master that he had the honour of the Bed-chamber which no Prelate ever enjoyed from any King This Henry was created Baron of Kimbolton Viscount Mandevile and Lord Treasurer in 1620 Afterwards Preâ—ident of the Council and the first year of King Charles Earl of Manchester and Lord Privy Seal and dyed after the entrance of the long Parliament 1643. A man of singular learning in the Laws his Wisdome and experience deserving those high places of Trust and honour He married three wives Katherine the Daughter of Sir William Spencer in Oxon by whom he had five sons and four daughters Edward the eldest Viscount Mandevile Knight of the Bath Walter Iames Charls and Henry His second Wife Ann Wincol of Suffolk Widow to Alderman Holyday Lord Major of London by whom he had issue His third Wife was Daughter of Iohn Crowch of Cornbury in the County of Hartford Widow of Iohn Hare of the Court of Wards by whom he had issue George and Sydney men of eminent vertues now living 1655. Our Historian tells us of the swarming of Jesuits That our Counsellors of State and Secretaries were Counselors to the Pope and of a Divelish Sermon before the King which he the Lyar saw and heard if the King did not for Bishop Neal would always ingrosse the Kings ears with baudy Tales This his Discourse smells too rank he saies and craves excuse having had hammerings and conflicts within himself to leave it out and yet goes on with his baseness and tells us that this Bishops hand closed up the Countess of Essex's virginity and that such like practices as these gave an after period to that Hierarchy Then follows a Tale of the female Iesuitrices in England an Order he says first framed in Flanders by two women Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Twily clothed in Ignatian habit supported by three Fathers Gerard Flack and Moor to preach their Gospel to their Sect in England and two hundred English Damosels of great Birth and quality sent of the Errand and for the truth of all produces a Proselyte Turn-coat of any Religion and every Trade that tells this story in the Spanish Pilgrime which our Adversary recites to grace his History The Iesuits indeed are bad enough but to cope them with our Counsellours of State and other Tales with no better Authority we may herein minde our Authour Not to bely the Devil Sir Francis Cottington Resident in Spain had the conveniency three years before to discover the affairs of those parts and gave intelligence hither of the increase of Pirates in the Mediterranean Sea their whole Fleet then consisting of fourty tall Ships of two hundred and four hundred Tuns in two Squadrons the one remaining before Malago the other about the Cape St Maria between Lisbone and Sevile That within the Streights they entered the Road of Mostil a Town by Malago beat down the Castle and had taken the Town but for succour of Souldiers that came from Granado yet they took divers Ships and four of the West of England two other of ours that ran on shore they burnt also and absolâ—tely perverting our Trade into Spain These at Cape St. Maria met with seven Sail of London five they took and two eâ—caped They are usually manned with Turks and Spanish Moriscoes and attend the coming of the West India Fleet then commanded by Don Iohn Faxardo Upon this occasion the State of Spain moved King Iames to joyn some Sea-forces for their suppression as the common Enemy of Christendom And indeed those courses of the Pirates do but exercise the Forces of Spain by Sea without any great hurt the most dammage falls upon the Trade of Merchants thither of which the English will be the greatest number and so of Sufferers The last year the Hollander having leave of Spain for certain of their Ships armed against the Pirates to have safe recourse thither but instead of offending them sold to Algier as much Powder and Ammunition as ever since hath furnished the Pirates Fleets By which means now grown formidable few Merchant-men escaping them thâ— strong Town of Algier upon the Coast of Barbary countenancing their Thievery and depending on the Turks Protection yet so cunningly contrived as not to be seen to protect them that all Christian Ambassadours concerned herein and complaining at Constantinople could have no redress And therefore it was now concluded to conjoyn Forces of Christendom to free that Sea In so much that they in some fear eighteen of the chieâ—est Pirates in the Levant authorized the Viscount L' Orme and one De la Pomeray Frenchmen to search for their pardon and to come in with all their Shipping offering to the English mostly concerned therein for retribution of this grace fourty and five thousand pound sterling but this was negotiated onely by their Emissary La Forest at Bruxels unto our Agent there Sir William Tromâ—all on purpose to tempt us and the French unto whom the like was offered from joyning with others to ruine them but was therefore attempted by all And for the English was sent Sir Robert Mansâ—â— Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas with a Fleet this year And arriving in May with expectation of other Assistants they all failing to any purpose his noble heart disdaining to return without Attempts He first furnished two Prizes which he took by the way three Brigandines and a Boat with Fire-locks and combustible materials for buâ—ning the Pirates Ships in the Harbâ—r who were all come home
England blasted 87 K. KIng's design to meet his Bride in Norway disposes his Government 150 marries the Queen and goes into Denmark 152 his Queen arrives in Scotâ—and and is crowned 153 Kirk have what they desire manner of their Excommunication 45 ingratefull prescribe behaviour to the Church of England 46 stiled Precisians 84 Kirk stirs the State being troubled 166 Kirkmen in Scotland mutiny 137 138 John Knox Minister the prime Incondiary of Reformation 12 his Travels and Faction accused of Treason 15 arrives in Scotland and begins Troubles 20 insolency towards Morton and conâ—ers with the Queen 31 his Breves to his Brethren he is questioned 33 his insolency 34 preaches against Government 38 L. ANtient League between the Scots and French 12 Holy League 106 Holy Leaguers 155 League offensive and defensive between England and Scotland 112 Lenox and Darly return from banishment 34 Lenox elected Regent 69 is slain 77 his old Countess dies her Descent and Issve 87 Lewis Isle reduced in the North and the effect 256 Lords take Arms and are defeated fly into England and get aid and submit 39 banished and return 42 Lords conspire declare seize the King at Sterlin and treat 107 Love-trick of a Woman 168 M. MArriage proposed between England and Scotland 10 Marriage of King James with a Sister of Denmark propounded 107 Ambassadours about that Marriage 137 Earl of Mar Regent 77 dies 78 Northern Martyrs 9 Queen Mary sent into France 14 returns out of France 25 Queen Mary affects the Lord Darly 34 and proposes to marry him 36 she answers the six Articles of the Kirk and marries Darly 37 takes Arms against the Lord 38 is brought to bed of King James 42 Summary of the Lord Darley's murther and of the Queens hasty Marriage 48 Queen Mary resigns the Government to her Son King James 52 is defeated flies into England and writes to Queen Elizabeth 62 Queen Mary imprisoned her Commissioners treat in England 63 Queen Mary designed to dy 86 writes to Queen Elizabeth 95 Queen Maries story returned to 113 Queen Mary comes to her Trial 115 the manner thereof ib. her Sentence of Death 116 the sequel 117 King James perplexed sends to Queen Elizabeth Letters Ambassadours who reason with her 118 120 false Tales Scotland in disorder the Kirk refuseth to pray for Queen Mary ib. Mandate for her Execution the manner thereof 121 her Epitaph 126 Queen Elizabeths Letter to King James 126 Davison sentenced about Qu Maries Death his Apology to Walsingham 127 Walsingham's Letters to the King and the Lord Thirlstan 128 the Kings Deportment on his Mothers Death 134 is caressed by Queen Elizabeth 134 Designs of several Nations to revenge her Death 135 Massacre of Protestants 〈◊〉 France 83 Mass opposed 26 Melvil a Disciplinarian his railings 82 a fiery spirit 85 his evil manners 100 Insolency against the Mass 32 Maxwel arms against Johnstone 106 rebells and is taken Prisoner 138 Messam the Minister hath a Bastard 29 his penance 42 Ministers assemble at pleasure 26 allowed maintenance by Modificators 27 vote themselves exempt 〈◊〉 justice 28 Ministers denounced Rebells fly into England 102 Ordinance of Parliament against them and for what reasons 102 their impudent Reply sharply answered 103 Ministers and their insolence 109 cause of good Acts ib. Ministers in tumult 174 Blake a Minister his mutiny and story 196 Welch a Minister his preaching 202 Ministers refuse to give God thanks for the Kings Deliverance and are silenced ib. Earl Morton Regent 78 basely betrays the Earl of Northumberland 80 besieges Edenburgh 80 his Coin 82 Misgoverns the Lords conspire against him 88 offers to resign 89 Morton deposed plots revenge 90 imprisons the Chancellour 92 is charged with murthering the Lord Darly is executed his Character 95 Mowbray's intent to kill the King 257 Muâ—â—ay made Protector 59 takes Arms 60 posts to Queen Elizabeth 67 is slain 68 Murray slain 166 the cause lamented ib. Murther of the Guises and Henry 3. of France 153 N. NArration of the Spanish Navy 141 number of the Ships Men and Ammunition 142 defeated by Fire-ships 145 Queen Elizabeths message thereof 141 Rumours of the Spanish Navy in 88. 140 the Kings Speech thereupon the Chancellours opinion Bothwel on the contrary Colonel Semple's false Designs ib. is rescued by Huntley who is banished the Court 141 Netherlands called to account 209 〈◊〉 of Norfolk committed his story 68 arreigned and executed 78 Norris sent over to Ireland 209 Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland fly into Scotland 68 betrayed by Morton and executed 80 Earl of Northumberland pistols himself 114 Northumberland writes to King James and his Answer 259 O. ORmston executed about the murther of the Lord Darly 84 P. THe Kirks justice against Papists 30 Papists Plots 169 Papists banished â—â—8 Papists Plots devising 〈◊〉 Titles of Pretendeâ—â— to the Crown of England 188 Parliament surprised 77 Parliament Royal 91 Parliament wherein the Kings Supremacy is conâ—irmed and divers Laws against 〈◊〉 enacted 104 Duke of Parma dies 170 Paulet Lord Treasurer dies his childrens children 〈◊〉 76 Antonio de Perez 86 Perez his character 189 Popish Lords return from banishment 194 Presbyters fly into England and why 104 their equivocation ib. Proceedings against Popish Lords by the Ministers 173 Propositions for Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 67 R. RAndolph Ambassadour 91 abuses his privilege 94 dies 161 Rebells defeated 29 Rebells submit and are committed 149 Reformed rebell 20 covenant and call in Aid French and English 21 covenant to expell the French 24 Articles of their Faith France their Presbytery 24 Reformation in the University 213 Religion The Scots how Christians 8 Remonstrance of the Assembly against Papists and the remedy 178 179 Riâ—t comâ—ittâ—d by the Lords 27 Rizzio thâ— French Secretary 39 Bishop of Rosse Ambassadour for the Scots Queen examined 73 is relâ—â—ed imprisonment 83 his Death and character 208 S. SIiege of Ostâ—nd 252 Earl of Shrewsbury dies 161 Spanish Forces land in Ireland and are defeated 254 Squire impoysons the Queens Saddle 221 T. TItles forrein their precedency at home dispuâ—ed 211 Treaty at Cambray 19 at â—denburgh 24 U. UNiversity reformed 213 W. WAde sent into Spain returns unheard 103 Walsingham dies his character 160 War in Scotland and France by the English 10 assist several Factions 21 Welch a Minister his preaching 202 Witches See Bothwel Witches discovered 2â—3 Wotton sent Ambassadâ—â— to Scotland 206 Wotton plots with the câ—â—spiring Lords and posts home 107 Z. LOrd Zouch Ambassadour from Englandâ—â—mentâ— â—â—mentâ— the send against the King 176 Narrative Passages of the first Part and stories to be read single by themselves 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 of Geneva 15 Queen Maries Marriage with the Lord Darly 36 〈…〉 〈…〉 and story 42 Darly the Queens Husband murthered 48 Narrative of Darly's murther c. 52 Digression of Combates and 〈◊〉 53 Queen Maries escape out of Prison in Scotland her Encounter with her Rebells she is discomfited and flies into England 60 Digression
if the Aunt had married the Nephew it had been a greater sin because the Auâ—t being in loco Parent is to the Nephew he by such marriage being Husband to the Aunt became by that Relation Superiour to his Parent which did aggravate the offence So then that which is to be insisted upon is the law Moral which is the constant and permanent will of God both in the Church Triumphant and Militant So that Adam could never marry any if he had lived until this time being the common Parent of Mankind in the Old World and Noah in the New And thus much concerning the Divorce and Elizabeths Title But to conclude it comes to be our Task to enter upon this work of Mother and Son and to enliven their Memories with their â—ives and Actions not singly neither but contemporary too with such Affairs of State as intermixes with others of Europe As also the State Militant of the Scots Kirk in Persecution Motion and at Peace in relation to the Arks upon the Water in the Wilderness and in the Temple The Materials of All need no Ornament but adjustment Bona fama propria possessio Defunctorum And if ever to any of old stiles and additions were allowed properly and truly they may challenge Piae Memoriae Bonae Memoriae Felices Memoriae as due to them I dare not appropriate to my self abilitâ— in these as to a Compile I rather wish it compleat in another endeavouring onely to set down such particular Actions Memorative as may hereafter enlighten abler pens to consummate Those Collections hereby commended to posterity for that purpose To raise a better Structure out of this imperfect Rubish Index of the first Part to the entrance of King JAMES to the Crown of England THe Introduction of K. James 5. and his Wife and of their Daughter Queen Mary their story in brief to the Birth of King James 6. from page 1. to 8. A. Acts concerning Episcopacy 110 Ambassadours privilege discussed 74 abused 97 Ambassadours about Marriage with Denmark 137 Ambassadours sent by the King to forrein Princes concerning succession to the Crown of England 219 Angus and other fugitives in England their insolence 105 dies bewitched 135 Queen Ann's design to seize the Prince 183 Army of the English and Scots slain 13 Armies of the Queen against the Lords 38 Armstrong a prisoner in England set free by force of Arms with a trick 191 difference hereupon 192 Arch-bishop of St Andrews dies and is abused by the Ministery 160 Earl of Arran's plot 27 dies his character and issue 84 Earl of Arran his power in state 105 Earl of Arundel arreigned 154 Six Articles of the Church 36 Ministers assemble at pleasure 26 Assembly petition and are answered 158 Assembly make work 194 Blake his mutiny and story 196 the Assembly assist him 199 dangerous tumult 202 Qu Elizabeth interposes her Letter to the King 204 Lord Aubigny in favour with King James 93 displeases Queen Elizabeth ib. B. BAbington's treason 114 Basilicon Doâ—on the occasion of it in publick 223 Beaton Cardinal murthered 11 Beza and Calvin at Geneva 16 Bishops restored 104 Bishopricks the state thereof in Scotland 224 Blake his mutiny and story 196 turn'd out of all 213 Blunt sent into Ireland 242 Borders of Scotland how bounded 44 Borderers confer and quarrel 83 Borderers in feud 137 Bothwel flies into France 35 advanced in favour of the Queen 42 visited of the Queen 44 is divorced 47 marrieth the Queen 49 desires the single combat and flies with the Queen 50 flies into Denmark 59 Bothwel accused of Witchcraft 159 is committed and escapes 160 Bothwel's treason to seize the King 164 Bothwel's attempts at Faulkland defeated 167 Bothwel steals into Scotland and surprizes the King 171 inforces Articles 172 Bothwel arms and is defeated 177 Bothwel and Popish Lords rebell 180 are defeated 181 Bothwel flies and dies at Naples 182 Burleigh's Speech to the Scots Ambassadours 94 Lord Burrough Ambassadour to the King 170 C. CAles Voyage 210 Articles at Calice 19 Calvin and Beza their Discipline at Geneva 16 that Confession 44 Catholick Lords of Scotland dismayed plot rebell 145 146 their designs 147 Cecil's Letter to Knox 22 Cecil writes to King James and his Answer 258 Chancellour of Scotland dies his character 184 Chatelet executed 39 Colvil Ambassadour to England complains of Zouch 177 Of single Combats and Duels 53 Câ—mmissioners treat about 〈◊〉 Scots Queen 63 and again 78 Commissioners meet to treat of Peace with France and Spain dispute about Precedency 143 Conspiratours executed 104 Coin over-valued 91 Crag a Minister his Life and Death 132 D. LOrd Darley returns out of banishment 34 marries the Queen 37 is debarred bearing of Royal Arms 40 turns Protestant 41 is discontented 43 and murthered 46 his character 47 Davison's Letter to the Ministers 251 Designs in England for Queen Mary 103 Discipline framed 25 and subscribed 26 Duke of Tuscany fore-warns King James of Poyson 231 E. EDenburgh Castle besiâ—â—ed and won 80 Queen Elizabeth expostulates the Rebellion of Scots Lords moderates the Scots differences 76 Qu Elicabeth aids Navar 156 and the Dutch ib. raises her Custom 157 Queen Elizabeth strikes Essex 221 Queen Elizabeth dies 261 Lady Elizabeth born 194 Christned 199 English confederate with Scots reformed and how 22 English expedition to Portugal 154 English take Cales 210 Acts concerning Episcopacy 110 Essex his expedition into France 162 his Voyage to the Azores 215 Essex and Cecil's intelligence with King James 2â—4 Essex his Treason 233 F. FActions and Feuds 168 The first Fast general of the Kirks 40 Forrein Titles their precedency at home disputed 21 French aid the Scots 13 quarter the Arms of Englandâ—9 â—9 King of France killed at a Tilting 20 King Francis of France dies 25 French break the League with England 25 French King relieved by Queen Elizabeth turns Papist 169 France hath aid of England against Spain 220 Frâ—â—â—h Ambassadour and Cecil discourse about the Kings succesion 258 G. OF Geneva their Government Church and State 15 the promulgation of that Discipline 18 Geneva besieged 225 Earl Gowry created 95 surpriâ—es the King at Ruthen 96 his Imprisonment Arreignment and Execution 100 Gowry's conspiracy â—â—â— Lord Gray's design to kill 〈◊〉 he is banished H. HAcket's horrible Tenets Disciples Blasphemy Execution 162 163 Prince Henry born 176 his Baptism 179 Huntley rescues Colonel Semple 141 writes to Parma and the King of Spain 146 rebells 147 committed and adjudged guilty 149 150 Huntley and Murray quarrel 159 Huntley cause of Murray's death 165 166 I. KIng James born 42 baptized 45 King James and his Mother in faction and feud 80 is crowned 90 his appearance in Parliament his Speech 92 King James surprized 96 makes a Feast and the Kirk makes a Fast 98 frees himself 98 Proclamation against Iesuits 148 Iesuits their Seminaries confirmed by the Pope 164 Interests of Faâ—â—ions discussed 68 Iâ—ish Rebells 161 209 Don Juan de Austria his design against
yours Knox craved the Opinion and sentence of the Assembly for his behaviour formerly and present to which some said It was not for them to justifie rash Iudgments of men who speak their own pleasure not the publick profit Nothing intervend but the Ministers continual railing until the next general Assembly in Iune 1564. whereto the Lords adjoined but withdrew into the Inner Council-house and required to confer there with the Super-Intendents and chief Ministers answer was returned That as they were members of the Church so they ought to propose in publick and be assisted by the whole body inferring some foul play to draw the Ministers singly to the faction of the Court. Which the Lords in answer endeavored to cleer assuring that no conclusion should be of this discourse without consent of the Assembly And so they were permitted a choice number among whom we may be assured Knox was not wanting and to watch the Scribes pen. The Lords began to remonstrate the grace of the Queen for liberty in Religion though not of her own profession which should deserve good Offices from that Church to maintain her advancement and to procure obedience of her people with their unanimous and uniform Prayer for her Majesty especially Mr. Knox to be moderate in obedience to her person and State for others by the evil example may imitate the like liberty albeit not perhaps with the same discretion and fore-sight Knox answered The Queens grace is not the grace of God Idolatry is maintained by her own person and for her Sins the Land must lament So was Juda and Jerusalem for Manasses and though not all the people some followed and some consented by act and deed by suffering and permission as the Q. and you Lords They told him of his prayer which was To illuminate her heart if thy good pleasure so be with condition he answered We must ask according to his will thy will be done and so the Master of the Prophets and Apostles taught him to pray They said it gave a doubt in the people of her conversion No said Knox In her obstinate Rebellion not to hear true preaching but will use the Mass and Peter prayed That if it were possible the thoughts of Simon Magus may be forgiven him and the same doubt toucheth me of the Queen After long disputation of the duty of subjects in general which Knox disallow'd in each particular Lethington desired the Lords to decide these questions and whether the Q. should have Mass but Knox opposed sentence but in the Assembly yet they fell to voting and dissented without concluding In Iuly the Q. in progress there past many letters of kindness between the two Queens with costly presents and tokens In October the E. of Lenox returns from England and for his sake the sooner to restor him to his lands after 22. years exile a Parliament is called at Edenburgh in Decemb. and then arrives his Son Henry Stuart Lord Darly out of England and E. Bothwell out of France against whom Murray complains concerning the Conspiracy alleged by the Earl of Arran and for breaking Prison The Q. taking great affection to Darly she posts away Lethington to Queen Elizabeth that she meant to mary him the rather he being of Kin to both Queens for his Mother was their Cosin German and of the same name Stuart by his Father King Iames the fifth having lost his two Sons declared his Resolution for the Earl of Lenox to be his Heir but the Kings death and his Daughter born prevented that Design Then comes the Earl out of France with intention to mary that Kings Widow and that failing he maries Margarite Dowglas and his Son maries the Kings daughter Mary and so the effect of the Kings desire continues the Crown in the Name and Family Q. Eliz. not pleased to suffer such Contracts with Subjects prejudicial to the Crown seeing her great affection pretends to declare her Heir to the Crown of England if she might advise her Mariage and commands Lenox and Darly to return to England but underhand well satisfied she promoted the Mariage as good security to the succession of the Crown of England he being second heir to the Q. of Scots Nor cared Q. Eliz. to have her meanly maried who she thought of her self was too proud The Court affairs hindred not the business of the Church who receive several Letters from the brethren of the West to them at Edenburgh Dundee Fife and Angus to mind them of the Mass which stuck in their stomacks till it were vomitted out of the Kingdom They feared the Papists Pasche and so made supplication to the Q. by the Super-intendent of Lothian for effecting their desires which the Secretary received and procured the Q. letters to several Bishops of St. Andrews Aberdeen and other places to forbear Mass. The Communion was administred in Edenburgh Apr. 1565. and neer Easter the Bayliffs imprisoned a Priest one Carvet after Mass and others with him revesting him with his Robes and so Priest-like mounted him on the Market Cross with his Chalice bound to his hand and his body to the Cross for 2 hours whilest the Boyes sweetned him with rotten Easter Eggs. The next day he and his Companions were accused and convinced by Assize and sparing his life he was again tied to the Cross for 3 hours the hang-man beside him to keep off the Malignity of the people and after imprisoned whom the Q. shortly after released and well rewarded him and his Assistants Low and Kennedy with livings In May convened at Edenburgh the E. Murray with his Confidents to keep the Law-day against Bothwell who durst not appear but fled into Frace not without suspition of favor and maintenance of the Q. though she was innocent This convention of colour concerning Bothwell being Murray Arguile Glencarn Morton and others Lords and Barons sat upon business of the Church for enlarging some Articles to be ready for the next general Assembly The Queen as far as Sterlin soon had knowledge of the Assembly and jealous of all Conventions without her presence commanded their appearance before her with the Super-Intendents and others This served her turn another way to give presence to her investing the Lord Darly with titles of Honour before Mariage and procured them to sign the Ratification of the Contract though Murray refused and excused until the whole or principal Nobility should be present At this instant arrives at Stâ—rlin Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Ambassadour from England being teturned with â—ethington who declared that his Queen was highly displeased with this precipitate Mariage and the meaness of the Man and desired that the Earl of Lenox and his Son Darly might be dismissed back to England To this the Queen gave fair words and would satisfy her Sister by Embassy of her own And so was the Mariage propounded in Council and granted by all with Murrays consent upon these terms to
establish Religion and abolish Mass but in that particular to be further discussed at Saint Iohnstons And forthwith was Darly created Earl of Ross and withall the Queen called for the Super-Intendents pleasing them with some Court-Holy-water but referred the business of Religion to a publique Dispute for Peace to the Kingdom This was not satisfactory to them but they advise upon six Articles for the next Assembly And then they presented them to the Queen at Saint Iohnstons by Commissioners from the Church National at Edenburgh as they now stile themselves First For abolishing all manner of Popery universally to be suppressed not onely in each Subject but also in the Quâ—ens own Person Secondly Provision of Maintenance for the Ministry and dissposing of Livings Thirdly For Tryal of Sufficiency of Super-Intendents and Ministers Fourthly For all lands of Popish Foundation to be restored for maintenance of the poor and Scholars preferment Fiftly Against all horrid Crimes Ecclesiastick and Temporal be appointed two Iudges Sixthly For ease and support of poor Hâ—â—sbandmen c. The Queen receives these Articles but refers answer till she comes to Edenburgh in eight daies which displeased the Assembly who therefore have private meetings and elect eight persons to see the Brethren well armed and after a longer time of attendance get answer in Writing To the first The Queen is not perswaded to Presbytery and believes no impiety in the Mass and so not to be prest against Her Conscience nor will she forsake hers and having no assured consideration to countervail the same she may not loose thereby her Allies of France the maried Ally of this Realm and other her Confederates That seeing they plead for Freedome of Conscience she lists not to be bound up That for the Establishment thereof in the body of the Realm she refers to the consent of Parliament and in the mean time assures that for Religion on her part none shall be disturbed Secondly She thinks it unreasonable to be defrauded of so great a part of the Crowns Patrimony as to put the Patronage of Benefices out of her own hands and want Support but allows consideration of her own Necessity and the Ministers Support The rest in effect she refers to Parliament By the way from Saint Iohnstâ—n to shew her inclination to the Kirk being to Witness the Christening of the Lord Levinstons child She gave her presence to the Protestant Sermon which she never did before And yet had she notice of some Conspiracy of the Kirk upon which divers were committed at Edenburgh And being minded to mary she prorogues the Parliament till September and summons by Letters such Lords and Gentlemen that were neer with Arms and Forces for fifteen daies to attend her person at Edenburgh the 23. of Iuly and proclamation also for Free-holders in like manner then Ross was made Duke of Roâ—hsay and the same day the Banes and Mariage was concluded Murray both privately and publickly was advised to attend but refusing an Herald is sent and after eight and forty hours he was denounced Rebell and put to the Horn and Arguile also And now begins Parties to stir Athole against Arguile Lindsey against Rothess the Lord Gourdon after three years imprisonment in Dunbar was released and restored to be a Bar in the North to ballance with Murray In the evening the Mariage was proclamed By name Henry and Mary King and Queen of Scotland and solemnized the next Morning 27. Iuly 1565. Not without Divine providence for the more certain conjunction of both Kingdomes in their right of Descension from Margarite the eldest Daughter to Henry 7. of England who had but two children Iames the fifth by Iames the fourth and Margarite Dowglas by Earl Angus her second Husband This Iames the fift had but one Child Mary sole Heir to the Crown Margarite Dowglas brought up with her Uncle Henry 8. maried Stuart Earl of Lennox who was banished into England by them came Henry Lord Darly and Charles father to Arabella So that the whole right of Q. Margarite all other issue of H. 8. failing was united in these The Earl Rothess the Laird Grange and Pilcar with others of Fife were put to the Horn for not appearing and immediately the Drums beat for men of War to take pay for the King and Queen which alteration begat several fears The Lords disperse to Arguile and send Elphinston into England for support who brought ten thousand pound Sterling And in August the Lords meet at Ayre Hamilton Arguile Murray Glencarn Rothess Boyd Uchiltry and Others conclude to be in force the 24. of August which the King prevented by hasty proclamation of their rebellion and commanding all men to appear at Lithgow the same day Upon the ninth of August being Sunday the King comes to the High Kirk at Edenburgh and hears Knox preach who speaks against Government of wicked Princes and for the sins of the people God gives them Boyes and Women Iustly punishing Ahab for not ordering the Harlot Jezabell Immediately Knox was summoned before the Council and silenced for twenty daies and Cragg to supply his place The 25. of August the King and Queen journied to Glasgow and the next day the Lords met at Paisley with a thousand Horse and march to Hamilton keeping the passes in sight of the King and Queen and so to Edenburgh entering the Town notwithstanding the Canon-shot of the Castle and immediately beat their Drum and offered pay for Defence of God as they called it but to Men or Arms came to their Support and that was strange for all the chief Lords were there the Duke Murray Arguile Glencarn Rothess Boyd Uchiltry and other Barons They write expostulatory Letters to the King and Queen without answer who martch with five thousand men Lenox had the Van Morton the Battel and the King and Queen the Rere and come immediately towards Edenburgh In the mean time the Castle makes six shot of Canon and the next day the Lords depart to Hamilton The King Queen pass to Sterlin and command all to return to Glasgow where remaining four daies the Lords being gone to Dunfres they return again to Sterlin their Army increasing both Horse and Foot and so to Fife where the Lords subscribe to defend the King and Queen against the English and Rebells and so come to Saint Andrews where the King summons the Lords by Name to appear within six daies which they refusing are put to the Horn and being come to Edenburgh they proclame The design of the Lords under pretence of Religion to suppress the present Government or to appoint Counsel of their own In October the Super-Intendent of Lothian with the whole Ministery under his Charge meet at Edenburgh present a supplication to their Majesties by their Super-Intendents Spotswood and Lindsay for payment of their Stipends which is promised to be paid The Lords removed to Carlisle the King and Queen march from
and some to the Gallies but were only all banished The King of Spain sends the whole Process to Venice and by His Ambassadour Lieger there one Mendoza declares publickly to all the World That in case his Minisâ—ers should so offend He remits them to punishment where they resiâ—e And another Mendoza for abusing our Ministers of Staâ—e here was first restrained and after banished 1586. See Another hereafter in this Kings Reign the Marquess Inojosa for scandâ—lizing the Prince and Duke of Buckingham 1624. And our Bookmen say that a Forein King though admitted here by safe Conduct for without Licence he cannot come may be impleaded for Debt or Trespass and condemned for Treason for iâ— is a general Law of Nations That in what place an offence is committed according to the Law of that place they shall be judged without regard of any Privilege For a King out of his proper Kingdom hath 〈◊〉 merum Imperium but only retains Honoris Titulos Dignitatis and per omnia distringitur etiam quoad personam And the same assuredly is of their Ambassadours Nâ— occasio daretur delinquendi He hath protection of His pâ—rson Like as a Sanctuary will save a Mans life from Manslaughter but not when Manslaughter is committed within the Sanctuary for then he does willfully wave the benefit Indeed their Persons as their Masters are sacred from violation of private men but not from punishment of offences against the publike State See Cook 7. part c. Here are Presidents but it hath been more nicely disputed let others conclude This year gave end of daies to that antient Noble Lord William Pawlet Marquess of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England twenty years having lived 97. years whilst he saw the Children of his Childrens Children to the number of one hundred and three persons 〈…〉 bishop in spite of Adamson a Minister preaching against that Order which he divided in three sorts 1. The Lords Bishop to wit Christ and such was every Pastor 2. My Lord Bishop such who sit and vote in Parliament exercising Iurisdiction over his Brethren 3. The third sort was my Lords Bishop one whom some Lord in Coâ—â—â—substitutes hiâ— Receiver without means or Power Episcopal whom he called a Tulchan Bishop because the Tulchan which is a Calves skin stuffed with straw is set up to make the Cow give down her Milk Mr. Knox he preached more and pronounced Anathema dantâ— anathema accipienti Whilest the Estates were busie at Parliament far off from Edenburgh and thereby secure an attempt was made upon them There was one George Bell in Edenburgh Ensign to a Foot Company born in Sterlin well acquainted with each Corner there and each Lords Lodgings possibly to be surprized in their careless watch He marches from Edenburgh with two hundred Horse and three hundred foot Earl Huntley and others their Leaders thither and undiscovered till they had planted the Market place and set Guards in the Lanes entered the Lords Lodgings and surprize them Prisoners the Regent Glencarn and others Morton only defends himself with his Servants and the Enemy in hast set the House on fire some of his Men slain he yielded to Balclough who had married his Neece Margaret Dowglas The Souldiers careless fall to plunder the Houses whilst Mar and his men in the Castle force the Market place but in vain Then he sends sixteen pieces of Brass called Founds to his own new House a building and so not reguarded for plundering got up to the upper Rooms and shot out at the Windows into the very street when the Enemy was thickest who thus amazed fled without order and Mar pursues them with such other that crept out of their Hidings and make a sufficient number to be again Masters of their own both Prisoners and Spoil Morton and Glencarn seizing their Keepers the Regent was taken by David Spency who to save him at 〈◊〉 from the Souldier lost his own life and His also So both sides were vanguished and both victorious in a few hours Of such advantage is diligence and expedition and mischievous is negligencâ— and security Multum in utramque partem fortuna potest as Caesar saies The Kings Grandfather Lenox thus dead and presently buried there were three listed for Election Arguile Mar and Morton the first but lately reconciled to the Kings part the last was best beloved but Mar had the charge of the Kings person and so caried the vote to be Regent Sept. 1571. Much he could not do in his small time of Government he convend the Country and sate down against Edenburgh but wanting Artillery returns to Liâ—th parts the Kingdom â—â—to quarters and sends for their Divisions by turns Those in Edenburgh issue oâ—t and set fire on Dalkieth with Spoil and Pillage return but were so close beset that wanting victual they pâ—ocure the Ambassadors from France and England to mediate the reconcilemeâ—t And for a Preaâ—ble to future peace the Ambassâ—â—ours obtain a Truce in Iuly beginning the first of August 1572. until Ianuary following The Conditions were that Edenburgh should be free for all the Kings Subjects which was to say that the Enemy could keep it no longer And before the end of this Truce Mar takes leave of this life in a desperate Feavour at Sterlin October 1572. and without dispute Morton was elected to succeed him And now let us to return to England where in November 1572. appeared a blazing star alwaies portending ill fate to great persons It was placed Northwards in the Constellation of Cassiopeia making a Geometrical figure with three chief fixed Stars lozing-wise called Rombus It appeared bigger than Iupiter and less than Venus It never changed place but carried about by motion of the Heavens as other fixed Stars and so continued six moneths The Sphere far above the Moon where no other Comet was ever seen or indeed Natural can appear so strange to Astronomers as since the Creation was never the like and had onely reference to Caelestial or rather super-Câ—lestial consideration And therefore forthwith followed in Ianuary that Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk was arraigned in Westminster Hall before Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury High Steward and 25. Earls and Barons His Commission being read Garter King of Arms delivers to him the White Rod which he receives and delivers to a Serjeant at Arms standing by and holds it up all the time The Duke was brought in between two Knights and the Ax held besides him by the Executioner with the edge from the Duke but after sentence it was immediately turned to him His Tryal lasted till night and all the matters before remembred were urged against him together with his own Letters as also those of the Queen of Scots and Bishop Rosses besides evidence by Witnesses whereof he was condemned as in Case of High Treason and after 4 moneths delay he was executed upon the Tower-Hill where he acknowledged and confessed all Aboâ—t ten daies after Commissioners were sent
insurrections for this hurried nation often to assemble so in truth little effects followed as at this time for the Ministers to colour their intentions would seem to enact against Self-Interest and begin with themselves and fast pray and preach daies of Humiliation that was all that they would do as to their reforming But then there was sure to followcomplaint of the corruption of Courtiers in the Kings Palace and justice Seats and fear of the banished Lords and left not till the faults were found such as are common even to the best Estates Then would they ravel into Counsel of the Remedies to which the King usually would afford consent but by experience finding out their aim and danger of them to be too severe and earnest which they called zeal the King wisely chekt the bit Telling them That unless there were any evident proofs that the Popish Lords since their departure beyond Seas had conspired with Strangers to the prejudice of the Realm in Religion or State their cautions cannot in honor or justice be convict nor would he change the course of charity and conditions to their wives and children And indeed in prudence the King held himself unsafe whilst such potent Lords were abroad for much mischief they might do underhand unheard and unseen And reasoning one day with Mr. Robert Bruce a leading Minister How much it concerned him to have them recalled That Queen Elizabeth grown old if deâ—th should seize her he might need assistance of his own Interest of State and honour would ballance these Lords even against Catholique or Spanish Titles or other Designs and by such interest may be sooner drawn to the reformed Religion than by compulsory extremity Mr. Bruce yielded to the Reasons to call home Angus and Arroll but not Huntley being so much hated The Kings opinion seemed further to oversway Because Huntley saies he hath maried my Cosin one that I esteem a man of Power to do good or evil and so to be made accordingly In the end Bruce was so bold as to tell the King in plain terms I see Sir said he your affection to Huntley whom I must oppose and you either loose him or me for both you cannot keep This insolency lost him the King This for one example of many which their own Historians record of their Ministers good behaviours and certainly this mans ambition and popularity out-vied the Kings who espying his Trayn that conducted him by the Court into Edenburgh By my Sal said the King Bruce puts me down in his Attendants The exiled Lords of themselves resolved to return but withall possible submission and to avoid the least suspition of jealousie they separate Arroll through Holland Huntley came before and out of the North sends Supplication to the King and Convention at Faulkland in August to reside where his Majesty would appoint upon caution of good behaviour The King concluded aright Either to ruin them and their race or to receive them all into favour and hope of reforming into Religion The first course saith he hath its own difficulties and trouble for me if I could effect it The other is more consonant to my humour and mine honor I desire not destruction errors of conscience are not of matters of the mind I like not to receive conditions from Huntley rather to advise of commands to them all with clemency and favour which was submitted unto And the publick joy of the Queens second Birth of a Daughter made up the common reception of these Lords to community and fellowship with the Congregations She was born in August the 16. day 1596. and to be baptized in November But now the Ministry make work their Commissioners assembling at Edenburgh send Post to all their Presbyteries the State of affairs for so is the Commission That the forfeited Earls were come home without Warrant are like to be received to mercy without submission for their offences of Treason or reconcilement to the Church and conditions confirmed unto them The Preachers Pulpit these tidings to their flocks publick and private to provoke into Tumult and to be in readiness to resist the dangers of Church and State The first Sunday of December held forth for Humiliation and then the power in the Minister to tell all to the people and to inlarge as the zeal of the Spirit shall promp them They assume power to call to account all manner of men Entertainers Receivers or communicate with them to be canvased with the censures of the Church Una citatione quia periclitatur salus Ecclesiae Reipublica And with such busteling with several Commissioners from all parts of the Nation to make Residence at Edenburgh and daily to convene to receive intelligence from all parts and return Edicts and Ordinances to prevent if possible the eminent ruin to Gods People And this daily Convention being a New Modell so must it be stiled The Council of the Church And instantly they find oâ— make work the Lord Seaâ—on President of the Session was 〈◊〉 to account by the Synod of Lothian Not that he was guilty but that their power and pride might strike terror in the people for as they had no proof at all and so as by President of the Popes inquisition his Oath purges himself assures him to their Conclave and so gets home again This monstrous manner of muteny makes the Men of State to foresee mischief and not being powerful to remedie nor was it politick to publish their errors to the people or scorn upon the face of the Church The President Secretary Advocate and Laird of Colluthrie were commanded by the King to confer with as many of theirs To whom they move the question whether if these Lords satisfie the Church otherwise his Majesty desires not that then they might be pardoned and restored to their Estates But receive a Court Answer They came only to hear Prepositions and to remit them to their Brethren And so they did with Apostolick Conclusion Their acceptance of the Kings behaviour and respect to the Church not to resolve of any favour to them Rebells till the Church were satisfied But their censure by Gods Law condemned them to death and being also sentenced to lose their estates they cannot be legally pardoned nor restored or if the King or his Council should take upon them to do otherwise they were to answer it to God and the Country themselves make protestation to be free before God and man I shall not comment upon this Text. The Popish Sanadrin does so An Historian of theirs calls it Passionate zeal under which all impudence may be maintained should they be ignorant of the tender bosome of the Mother Church parent to Babes and to repentant sinners Mark their distinction The Church hath power to do as she pleaseth but the King must not he must do justice The King is wroth against them all common resentment private and publick And wise men advise the
with the Confederates and Allies of either and in the close follow that course which was most likely for his benefit And at their return December 24. Queen Ann was brought to bed of the second Daughter and Christened Margaret The Earl of Montross made Chancellour with the Lord Hamilton and Earl Huntley were God-fathers and these two created Marquesses And to minde men of Gods providence in their Declinations as well as Creations we may not forget to historize the Deaths as we have done the Lives of worthy men Iohn Lindsey Secretary of State of a Noble Family exquisitely learned held worthy of his Judicature in the Senate wise and virtuous he pined away with the grief of the Stone David Carnegy of Colluthy peaceable and sober of good credit with the King and his Counsellour for his excellent knowledg in Civil affairs Thomas Buchanan sometimes a Schoolmaster I name him with distinction from that other his Kinsman whose Life and Death we have heretofore mentioned this man died Provost of Kirkheneh learned and prudent though a strong stickler for the Kirks rights and died of good age David Fergusus of Dunferling a good Preacher a sanguine pleasant condition and thereby the more regarded of the Court and Countrey But Robert Rollock most of all beloved and the more now lamented because his conscience could not conceal from his brethren of what their conscience was so much guilty and therefore as a dying man besought them to carry themselves more dutifull to the King lamenting to be so ill used by most of their Members His learned Works scattered into Pamphlets the more pity so dispersed and not in Volume preserve him learned to all posterity France was persecuted by the Spaniards in Picardy who take the strong Town of Amiens and therefore were sent over out of England four thousand Souldiers to his succour and so retakes it again But the fate of War interchangeable to either with loss to both inclines them to Peace by intercession of the Pope interessing also the Queen who sends over Secretary Cecil and Wilks Master of Requests and the Netherlands send Nassaw and Barnevelt for all were included but the States gaining by Trade whilest their Neighbours fight dehorted the Queen under-hand against any Peace Much altercation there was by the French to introduce England into the accord for Spain now involved with the French being but quit there intended revenge on England and be able to do it and so their Delegates meet at Vervin where the French dispute place with Spain The French state their Precedency from the Sentence of Pope Pius quartus the Spanish deny that and urge besides a point of civility that now they were Guests invited into a Town of France and so the French yielded out of respect to that and to the Popes Legates but after much travel therein the Legate extraordinary for the Pope sits at the upper end the Nuncio the Popes Lieger is placed on the right hand the choice was given to the French either to have the right hand next the Nuncio or the left next the Legate the French accepted the left hand and the Spaniard was content with the right though the second man Indeed the King of Spain had delegated his Authority over to the Arch-Duke whose Ambassadour in truth was here on purpose to avoid the issue of contention which rather than to submit was worse to him than a War and thus was the Charters of Delegation drawn up onely between them so advantagious to France in the sequel that he became stiled Henry 4. le grand And the Queen and Estates having offers of Treaty with Spain she consults thereon and it became work it self for History the disputes pro con The wise States-men of the Gown were for Peace Essex for War Burleigh reacht him Davids Psalms and had so stretched the opening of the Book that ten to one he should light on this Verse Bloud-thirsty men shall not live out half their days Upon this there happened contention between the Queen and Essex and about sending one in chief for the affairs of Ireland in the presence of some of the Council and Cecil she named William Knowls the Earls Uncle He in scorn bid her take Carew indeed expecting his own mighty merits must needs be intreated and in contempt turns his tail to her she in disdain gave him a box on the ear bid him be gone with a vengeance He in passion claps his hands on his Hilt and vows not to put it up and in chafe gets out of the Court and being admonished of his duty by the Lord Keeper who was present he answers very boldly by Letters and more unadvised and unhandsom gives them to his Captains to dâ—vulge They contained thus much That a weak Prince rageth like the Tempest He knows his observance as a Subject but withall what to do as an Earl and Lord Marshal and can distinguish Service and Slavery It is a Wound that smarts and it were a sin to serve after such Disgrace Cannot Princes err injure Subjects Is their Power infinite For my own part I am rent in pieces with Injuries and have long enough endured the bitterâ—ess thereof This was enough to set out his inside which the Queen observed and lodged it for hereafter having for the present some use of his followers who indeed egged him forward to his future ruine But after this digression we minde the occasion and though no peace with Spain the Queen makes sure with the Netherlands in a new League and agreements of addition to the former See before Anno 1585. viz. to pay her in all eight hundred thousand pounds sterling if the War lasted so long thirty thousand pound yearly till they had paid four hundred thousand pounds but if the Peace should conclude by the Queen and Spaniard then to pay twenty thousand pounds yearly till they had paid eight hundred thousand pounds with other covenants But the death of Philip 2. King of Spain gave breath to them both for he left his Netherlands in Dowry with his Daughter Isabel married at this time to Albert Cardinal of Austria who returns his Cap to the Pope and receives his consecrated Sword to conquer wherever he comes and so hasts into Spain There was a fellow one Squire taken at sea and carried Prisoner into Spain and by extremity of the Inquisition turns Papist and for trial of his new Profession Walpool a Iesuite teaches him to compound a Poyson with which if but anointing the Queens Saddle-pummel and she touch it she should be infected and for this villany he should be sure of salvation He came now and put his Poyson in practice which she touched but took not effect so did he to the Chairs of Essex which proved alike Walpool in Spain wondring at Squires neglect as he thought in very vengeance sends over one that accused Squire who confessed and was hanged These and many other
an ordinary fate which often accompanies them to bear the burden of their masters mistakes which yet was but an experiment proper enough for the L. Chamberlain Rochester to put in practice whose creature he was But we may not forget our good Lord of Essex our digression most necessary to his story which was thus There was amongst other persons of Honour and quality in Court a young Lady of great birth and beauty Frances the Daughter of Thomas Howard Earl of Suffolk married in under-age unto the Earl of Essex now become a forward stripling she two and twenty and he three and twenty years of him common fame had an opinion grounded upon his own suspition of his insufficiency to content a Wife And the effects of this Narration with the sequel of his life and conversation with his second Wife is so notorious as might spare me and the Reader our several labours for any other convincing arguments But with the first when both were of years to expect the blessing of the Marriage-bed he was always observed to avoid the company of Ladies and so much to neglect his own that to wish a Maid into a mischief was to commend her to grumbling Essex as they stiled him and increased the jealousie of such men whose interests were to observe him that he preferred the occasion himself for a Separation and which indeed from publick fame begat private disputation amongst Civilians of the legality thereof wherein those Lawyers are boundless This Case followed the heels of a former Divorce fresh in memory between the Lord Rich and his fair Lady by mutual consent but because Mountjoy Earl of Devonshire married her whilest her Lord lived the King was so much displeased as it broke the Earl's heart for his Majesty told him that he had purchased a fair Wife with a foul Soul But this of Essex was a different Example when you seek to parallel them together And therefore we may with more charity to truth not admit such hasty credit as to believe that now the Kings delight was onely for the love of the Viscount who is supposed to be in love with the Countess of Essex and upon no other score to command the Bishops to sue out a Divorce from her Husband which in truth was done with ample Reasons and legal Geremontes And because the Nullity gave freedom to either and so the means of her after-marriage with Rochester the sad occasions of all the sequel mishaps I have with some diligence laboured out the truth precisely and punctually as it was acted and proceeded by Commission Delegative not easily now otherwise to be brought to light which the Historian passes over briefly as unwilling to spend time to set down truths when it makes not for his turn for this Author had been Essex his Man and turn'd away by his Lady Upon Petition of the Earl of Suffolk and his Daughter Frances to the King That whereas his Daughter Frances Countess of Essex had been married many years unto Robert Earl of Essex in hope of comfortable effects to them both that contrariwise by reason of certain latent and secret imperfections and impediments of the said Earl disabling him in the rights of Marriage and most unwillingly discovered to him by his Daughter which longer by him to conceal without remedy of Law and the practice of all Christian policy in like cases might prove very prejudicial And therefore prays To commit the cause of Nullity of Matrimony which she is forced to prosecute against the said Earl to some grave and worthy persons by Commission under the great Seal of England as is usâ—ally c. Which accordingly was granted unto four Bishops two Privy Counsell ours learned in the Law and unto four other Civil Lawyers with clause to proceed cum omni qua poterint celeritate expeditione summarie ac de plano sine strepitu ac figur a judicii sola rei facti veritate inspecta mera aequitate attenta And with this clause also Quorum vos praefati Rev. Patrem Cant. Archiepiscopum Reverend Patrem Lond. Episcopum Iul. Caesar. Mil. aut duos vestrum in ferenda sententia inâ—eresse volumus But for some Exceptions concerning the Quorum by the Commissioners in the words Sententia esse not interesse A second Commission was granted and adjoyned two Bishops more with this Quorum Quorum ex vobis praefat Reverend Patrem George Cant. Archiepisc. Ioh. Lond. Episc. Tho. Wint. Episc. Lancelot Eliens Episc. Richard Covent Lich. Episc. Ioh. Ross. Episcop Iul. Caesar. Mil. Tho. Parry Mil. in ferenda Sententia nos esse volumus Upon this the Countess procures Process against the Earl to answer her in a Cause of Nullity of Matrimony The Earl appears before the Commissioners by his Proctor and she gives in her Libell viz. That the Earl and the Lady six years since in January Anno Domini 1606. were married her age then thirteen and he fourteen and now she is two and twenty and he three and twenty years old That for three years since the Marriage and he then eighteen years old they both did co-habit as married folk in one bed naked and alone endeavouring to have carnal knowledg each of others body Notwithstanding the Earl neither did nor could ever know her carnally he being before and since possessed with perpetual incurable impediment and impotency at least in respect of her That the Lady was and is apt and fit without any defect and is yet a Virgin and carnally unknown by any man That the Earl hath confessed oftentimes to persons of great credit and his nearest Friends that he was never able carnally to know her though he had often attempted and â—sed his utmost endeavours And therefore prayeth the Commissioners upon due proof hereof to proneunce for the invalidity and nullity of the Marriage The Earl by his Proctor denies the said Contents Contestatio lit is negative His Answer is required by Oath by second Process where in open Court his Oath was administred with so great care and effectual words to minde him of all circumstance as the like hath been seldom observed The Earl viva voce confesseth the Marriage and circumstance as in the Libell and were not absent above three Moneths the one from the other in any of the said three years That for one whole year of the three he did attempt divers times carnally to know her but the other two years he lay in bed with her nightly but found no motion to copulation with her That in the first year she shewed willingness and readiness therito That he did never carnally know but did not finde any impediment in her self but was not able to penetrate or enjoy her And believeth that before and after the Marriage he found in himself ability to other women and hath sometime felt motion that way But being asked whether he found in himself a perpetual and incurable impediment
Wars upon the Duke of Savoy to recover the Marquisate of Saluses and this King of Spain under colour to aid the Duke his Brother in Law sent him Horse and foot of Spaniards But the peace concluded by exchange of Saluses with the Countries of Bresse and Gex the Spanish Auxilliaries being muzled in warm quarters at Carboniers Montemellion Savillau and Pignorell the best places of Savoy and Piedmont would not budge no! though the Duke begg'd of them to be gone but were absolutely commanded the contrary by Count Fuentes Viceroy of Millain and so staid until that valiant Duke in this danger very desperate cut all their throats Spain in policy to revenge pieces with France to disjoyn Savoy upon whom he had afterward many Treacherous Designs as that Plot upon his Castle of Nice the Key of his Counties when his Spanish Gallies lay at Villa Franca to have seized all Savoys Issue And as it was usual with Princes in Peace and Amitie to congratulate Nuptialls The Lord Hay was looked upon as the most proper for this Errand into France In some measure he had the Kings favour his affection not at all For Wise Kings know how to do the One and yet hide the Other so mysticall things are Courts this makes many men misjudge That the Kings friendships made every one a Favourite and by often changing their Persons was therefore held inconstant in his passions This Lord born a Gentleman in Scotland by his bearing of Cote Arms Argent three Escocheons Gules Supported two countrie Swains armed Plough Trails The crest a Dove volant proper His story was that his Ancestors at Plough with those Instruments their Geer slew Malton an High-land Rebel and discomfited his Train for which service had so much Land barren Rocks as a Pigeon cast off the fist flew over till she rested And all this great purchase could not keep him from seeking livelyhood in France where he was bred no other than a Gens d' Arms unto Henrie the fourth but quitted that service in hopes of better preferment of his own Sovereign And over he comes to meet the King at his entrance into England upon recommendation of the French Lieger in Scotland who continued so here and presented Haies upon former knowledge in France This and his other good parts being well accomplished hastened him higher in esteem than others of his Countrey whose neerer attendance had merited more But to boot he sought out a good Heir Gup my Ladie Dorothy sole Daughter to the Lord Dennie and to fit him forward after Knighthood he had honour and was made a Lord for reasonable riches his wife brought with her In grateful acknowledge of his first preferment he feasted the former Embassadour being lately returned extraordinary to this King wherein he exceeded the limits of an Entertainment which for that time was excused as a grateful Ceremony of a large Dinner The Scots were never very eminent with neighbour Nations what credit they had came by the French to keep ballance with Them and England the increase might heretofore be hoped for when the union of these Crowns should afford the means to set them forth And it wat prudential in the King to pick out one of his Own to splendour that Nation in our way of Peace and Courtship especially when all was done at the Masters cost For Haies was ever reasonable poor unless by repute of his first Match which was not much while her Father lived and by his last he had less the great spirit of Peircie Earl of Northumberland though a Prisoner then in the Tower disdaining the Mariage denied her a Groat to a beggerlie Scot as he called him This first Embassie was for no other end than to congratulate for certainly he had no Commission nor Credential to make scrutiny for matching our Prince with the other Sister she being then too young and overtures were then thought on with Spain and so it was advertised from Sir Dudley Charlton Ambassadour at the Hague that there was a fame spread of such as desire to weaken the Kings correspondence with that State That his Majestie was on neer terms of matching our Prince with Spain and by an Adviso out of Spain That this match had been there debated in the Inquisition and judged necessarie And in truth the Lord Ross was sent Ambassadour thither partly for that purpose at this time also upon the like errand to give joy to that King for the counter-match of his Son and had his Instructions to feel the pulse of that Court concerning the same for I waited on him neerer in his affairs than any of his Train and both these Ambassadours sent away at the same time It was remarkable how each of them strove for the prize to out-vy in the vanity of these Voyages the Baron to his utter undoing having no other helps but his own when the other had it from the Kings purse and in truth for this purpose to put down the English as in that great Feast at Essex-House and many his Masqueradoes afterwards at Court for he medled not with the Tilt as being no Swordman but in the other and such like he never scaped to act his part Amongst many others that accompanyed Haies Expedition was Sir Henrie Rich Knight of the Bath and Baron of Kensington afterwards Earl of Holland natural son to the then Earl of Warwick He took his initiation of expence from this journey and continued the practice afterwards to the weakning of his long time unsettled fortunes being forced through custom of the Court to follow the other in all his fashions and which infection by after-custome became his disease also and almost not over-mastering yet over-shadowing his natural eminent parts with which his inside was habited and perspicuous to such as afterwards knew him Thus much I had occasion to say heretofore to which hath been exception as if I undertook him besides the Text in a wanton pleasure of my own pen to blazon his memory with the foyl of his friend Truly it was not so by any unequal disparity to pride out the other For let me here take the freedom to speak more of him who from henceforth being received into publick and comming in by his own endeavours to the place of Cap. of the Band of Yeomen of the Guard to the Kings person a place of honour and profit and increasing with years and experience into some favour now and afterwards in high grace and esteem with the succeeding Sovereign was yet I must confess in the fate of State and Court circumvested now and then with some prejudice And it may be uneasy for a stranger not for me to research with due distinction into the Actions of his whole life succeeding not to enliven him by a line whom envy heretofore and now malice after his decease have endeavoured to blemish more than his own former felicity did or could any way corrupt If we deduce him from his
direct honesty to purchace large possessions And now the place of Secretary was joyned in two Principals Sir Ralph Winwood and him and so he continued with honourable esteem untill malice and revenge two violent passions over-ruling the weaker sex concerning his Wife and Daughter involved him into their quarrel the chief and onely cause of his ruine He had by his Wife Sons and Daughters his eldest married unto Baron Rosse in right of a Grand-mother the Son of Thomas Earl of Exeter by a former venter this Baron therefore and upon Lake's credit was sent Ambassadour Extraordinary into Spain Anno 1611. in a very gallant equipage with hopes of his own to continue Lieger to save charges of transmitting any other In his absence here fell out a a deadly feud 't is no matter for what between the Lady Lake and her Daughters Step-mother the Countess of Exeter which was particularly described in a Letter and sent from England to me at Madrid in Spain and because of my near relations in that Ambassie I shewed the same to my Lord Ambassadour A youthfull Widow this Countess had been and virtuous the relict of Sir Thomas Smith Clerk of the Council and Register of the Parliament and so she became Bed-fellow to this aged gouty diseased but noble Earl and that preferment had made her subject to envy and malice Home comes the Lord Rosse from his Ambassie when he fell into some neglect of his Wife and her kindred upon refusing to increase allowance to her senttlement of Jointure which was promised to be compleated at his Return Not long he stays in England but away he gets into Italy turn'd a professed Roman Catholick being cozened into that Religion here by his publick confident Gondamore In this his last absence never to return the Mother and Daughter accuse the Countess of former incontinency with the Lord Rosse whilest he was here and that therefore upon his Wifes discovery he was fled from hence and from her Marriage-bed with other devised Calumnies by several Designs and Contrivement to have impoysoned the Mother and Daughter This quarrel blazened at Court to the Kings ear who as privately as could be singly examines each party The Countess with tears and imprecations professes her innocency which to oppose the Mother and Daughter counterfeit her hand to a whole sheet of paper wherein they make her with much contrition to acknowledg her self guilty craves pardon for attempting to impoyson them and desires friendship for ever with them all The King gets fight of this as in favour to them and demands the time place and occasion when this should be writ They tell him that all the parties met in a Visit at Wimbleton the Earl of Exeter's house where in dispute of their differences she confessed her guilt desirous of absolution and friendship consents to set down all under her own hand which presently she writ at the Window in the upper end of the great Chamber at Wimbleton in presence of the Mother and Daughter the Lord Rosse and one Diego a Spaniard his conâ—iding Servant But now they being gone and at Rome the King forthwith sends Master Dendy one of his Serjeants at Arms sometime a Domestick of the Earl of Exeter an honest and worthy Gentleman post to Rome who speedily returns with Rosse and Diego's hands and other Testimonials That all the said accusation confession suspitions and Papers concerning the Countess were notorious false and scandalous and confirm it by receiving their Eucharist in assurance of her honour and his innocency Besides several Letters of her hand compared with this writing concluded it counterfeit Then the King tells the Mother and Daughter that this writing being denied by her their testimonies as parties would not prevail without additional witness They then adjoyn one Sarah Wharton their Chamberess who they affirm stood behinde the Hangings at the entrance of the Room and heard the Countess reade over what she had writ And to this she swears before the King But after a Hunting at New Park the King entertained at Wimbleton and in that Room he observes the great distance from the Window to the lower end and placing himself behinde the Hanging and so other Lords in turn they could not hear a loud voice from the Window besides the Hangings wanted two foot of the ground and might discover the Woman if hidden behinde The King saying Oaths cannot deceive my sight And the Hangings had not been removed that Room in thirty years before Nay more than all these the Mother and Daughter counterfeit a Confession in writing of one Luke Hotton that for fourty pounds the Countess should hire him to poyson them which man with wonderfull providence was found out and privately denies it to the King And thus prepared the King sends for Lake whom in truth he valued tells him the danger to imbarque himself in this quarrel advising him to leave them to the Law being ready for a Star-chamber business He humbly thanked his Majesty but could not refuse to be a Father and a Husband and so puts his Name with theirs in a Crossâ—Bill which at the Hearing took up five several Days the King sitting in Iudgmâ—nt But the former Testimonies and some private confessions of the Lady Rosse and Sarah Wharton which the King kept in secret made the Cause for some Days of Triall appear doubtfull to the Court untill the Kings discovery which coâ—cluded the Sentence pronounced upon several Censures Lake and his Lady fined ten thousand pounds to the King five thousand pounds to the Countess fifty pounds to Hutton Sarah Wharton to be whipt at a Carts-tail about the streets and to do Penance at St. Martin's Church The Lady Rosse for confessing the truth and Plot in the midst of the Trial was pardoned by the most voices from penal Sentence The King I remember compar'd their Crimes to the first Plot of the first sin in Paradise the Lady to the Serpent her Daughter to Eve and Sir Thomas to poor Adam whole love to his Wife the old sin of our Father had beguiled him I am sure he paid for all which as he told me cost him thirty thousand pounds the loss of his Master's favour and Offices of honour and gain but truly with much pity and compassion at Court he being held an honest man Discontent among the Roman Prelates put the Ach-bishop of Spalato Mark Antonio de Dominis to seek his peace against that Sea by sundry overtures unto several Princes in Italy and otherwhere Spanish and French at last he becomes tainted with some opinions heretical to them which either he believed or took up such Tenents for the present time to prepare him a fitter Prosâ—lyte hereafter and finding no safe footing from the fury of the Pope and Conclave he steals over into England and to please the King pretends Conversion by his Majesties Works of Controversie and quarrels with Bellarmine however it was though fit to bid him welcome and to
the Time and to discharge all Modification advance of stipends to any Minister for a year unless onely to such as have submitted to the Articles and in affection to the Kings service The Ministers thus curbed and the Northern men being come up to Edenburgh for their stipends complain of their Brethren their pride and insolency supplicate the Bishops to intercede and mitigate his Majesties displeasure and so they did and procured Letters from the King for allowance of their stipends And Mr. Simson was now released professing his hearty reluctancy for opposing his Majesty setting his hand to a Supplication which himself framed with all submission But his Brethren not liking any submission but to their Assemblies or Synods his being to the Council he sets out an Apologetick glossing upon each word of his Confession and concludes That whatever frailty or weakness had befallen him heretofore he hoped now to be like Peter Qui ore negavit corde confessus est and never to betray the Lords cause with Judas The Iesuits do even so fast and loose neither tongue hearts nor hands can binde them against their mental secret purposes And yet there being some hope that matters might amend for the Church and their frequent Synods preparing for their better obedience the Bishops procured the Kings consent to another General Assembly to be at Perth in August the next year This royal Progress of pleasure into Scotland and back again gave leasure to the King and advantage to all Attendants for preferment of their persons or other satisfaction for their services by the freedom of their Masters bounty both to Scots and English Especially to our new Favourite now of two years growth in the Kings affection This man George Villiers of an ancient Family in Leicestershire and bears 〈◊〉 on a cross Gu. five Escalops Or. His father Sir George Villiers begat him 1592. upon a second venter Mary Beaumont of noble extraction whom for her beauty and goodness he married By his first he had but one Son rising no higher in honour than Knight and Baronet his disposition not court-like and therefore injoying perhaps the greater greatness self-fruition yet in time he had preferment to the Government of Ulster Province in Ireland The other Sons were three and in order of Birth but not in Preferment Iohn was Viscount Purbech George Duke of Buckingham and Christopher Earl of Anglesey and one Daughter Susan Countess of Denbigh We are told that he came over by chance from his French Travels and sought his Preferment in Marriage with any body but mist of a Match for want of an hundred Marks and so pieces him for the Court like the story of Demetas Caparisons borrowing of each one by piece-meal to put him forward for the Kings Favourite But the truth is thus His Mother a Widow was afterwards married unto Sir Thomas Compton whose Brother the Lord Compton by chance falling upon a wonderfull Match for matchless wealth with the Daughter and Heir of Sir Iohn Spencer Alderman of London and her Father then lately dead this Lord was Master of all which was of more than credible and so might be enabled bountifully to set up a Kinsman without other help or Alms of the Parish It was plotted long before and Villiers sent for to the same purpose by practice of some English Lords to ballance with the Scots who by the help of the last Favourite Somerset and others of great affection with the King had the better of the poor English There had been a private Intertainment of a Supper at Baynards Castle by the family of Herbert Hertford and Bedford and some others by the way in Fleet street hung out Somersets picture at a Painters stall which one of the Lords envying bad his foot-boy fling dirt on the face which he did and gave me occasion to ask my companion upon what score that was done He told me this meeting would discover And truly I waited neer and opportune and so was acquainted with the Design to bring in Villiers who was entred before He had need to be well backed against enough that envyed his neerness and aimed by any affront to discountenance him until he made them know that his courage over mastered his sweetness For having bought the place of Cup-bearer to the King and taking the upper end of the Board at dinner before some other Waiter which not his due was told of it and so removed nor was it done with overmuch kindness for indeed the other was Somersets creature who urging a second incivility Villiers gave him a Box on the Ear. For which the custome of Court condemned him to have his hand cut off And which Somerset as then Chamberlain ought to prosecute the Execution which he did And here the Kings pardon without any satisfaction to the other party made him suspected a budding Favourite Who was indeed raised with or by Somersets ruine so drew envy from him as his competitor and from others his Friends compartners in his fall being then as one cast out of the passions of the King We shall find him come up degrees and to stand firm in favour to the death of this King and his second Master till his assassination The King minding to shew his own power to raise him from nothing and his will to advance him for nothing the others study therefore was the Kings inclination and so to leave on him whose affection was sufficient to hold up his head He waited hard and close his first years rising but having removed all the whole Line of Somersets lincks his Wives interests the Howards being boldly fixed in his Masters favor he would adventure to take leave but not too long to be absent And so by degrees inured the King from his custome of overtyring his Favourites and at last fortifies himself by raising out-works if in case of assault His own mariage with an heir the daughter of the Earl of Rutland rich and Honourable twisting himself and his issue by intermariages with the best and most noble For indeed the brouse boughs cut down or removed to plain the stem Our favorite appears like a proper Palm besides the discerning spirit of the King who first cherished him through his innate virtue that surprized all men Henceforth preserments came thick upon him for the next Saint Georges day after his initiation brought him Knight Bachelour and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber At new-years time Master of the Horse and Knight of the Garter and that Summer in August 1616. Baron of Whaddon and Viscount Villiers the beginning of next year Earl of Buckingham and privy Counsellor and this Summer in Scotland sworn there also Counsellour of that State At Christmass after that favours might be recorded Acts of time and of affection too he was created Marquess Buckingham and Admiral of England chief Justice in Eyre Master of the Kings Bench Office and Steward of Westminster places of profit and Constable of Windsor Castle
The largest was Duke of Buckingham sent unto him by Patent into Spain and last of all Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports And so have we sommoned him at once with all these Titles which came to him in time heretofore and after These accumilations might no doubt astonish the Kitchen stuff conceipt of Sir A. W. Benefits imbroydered without the least vacancy or emptiness to any others workmanship The hearts of Princes once dilated with affection cannot be satiable in the exercise of any narrow bounty or little affection choice and love begets the Gift which act becomes fomented even to be in Love with their own giving and so to excesse And thus have we put together this great Man who was pieced up by degrees and time He had many kindred for his Family was ancient Heraldry might blaze as large fields of his Pedigree as need concern any subject to prove were a Man preferred to pensil his life which I take boldness but to touch with shadows These were dispersed by time into several Matches with the Gentry and what strange or new device was it in him to raise them that were neer in blood by Noble and worthy waies as he did He made his two Brothers Peers his Mother Sister Countesses the one by Patent the other by Mariage the rest of the kindred by his countenance got means to live like their Births being a race handsom and beautiful Imeâ—n the females descending of Villiers or Beaumont either matched with Peers or with the Sons and heirs of Earls or with Knights of plentiful condition for he did not much strengthen his subsistence in Court but stood there on his own feet the most of his Allies rather leaned on him than he sholdered up by any of them And thus much as a Preface to the History of him hereafter during this Kings raign wherein his actions are successively remembred But concerning his Mother made a Countess There are in England three sorts of honourable women by Creation Descent or Mariage 1. H. 8. created Ann Bullen Marchiones of Pembroke before he maried her So was Susan Widow the Sole Daughter of the Baron of Abergaveny created Baroness de le Spencer Cambden 63. 6. So also was the Lady Compton wife of Sir Thomas Compton brother to the Lord Compton made Countess of Buckingham with the see of twenty pound per annum 18. Iac. And also the Lady Finch a Widow created Viscountess of Maidstone 21. Iacobi 2. Noble women by descent or to whom dignities descend as heirs are said to be honourable by Tenure or those Heirs whose Ancestors were seized of an estate descendable to them in their titles of Dukedome Earldome or Baronies or Heirs to Ancestours summoned to the Parliament 3. And lastly Noble Women are these married to a Lord or Peer of the Realm though themselves but in the State of Gentry Knights Wives are not of the Nobility They are stiled Ladies by the courtesie of England but not in Courts of Judicature So much for Noble Women In the Kings return out of Scotland the people took occasion to complain in common and to petition in particular That the freedom of Servants and Laborers was extremely enslaved by their Masters pretended zeal and sanction against Idolizing as was pretended of such days as ancient custome from General Councils and the Church of England reformed even to that time had appointed to be kept Holy Whereby after the â—olemnizing of Divine service the Servants and Workmen were not usual to discompany from their accustomed moderate Pastimes such as the most rigid heretofore could not justly but admit The King not so over-affected to his own sports that the sense of the peoples sufferings might take advantage by his Example and so of Liberty in the like for much of his most serious affairs were shadowed from the vulgar nay from the observing Politicque by his own publick Pastimes But in truth it came to be a business of consequence to consider how the intemperate zeal of our then rigid Reformers to countenance their own design of deforming strook at higher powers through the peoples sides in many matters so in this also For at first these pure conceited Men quarrelled at the name of the Holy seventh day called then as of old Sunday which they would have named Sabbath and thereafter would have it observed levitically so strickt as not to gather sticks This being discussed in some Counties the people forbore their Recreations Then the Reformers took the like exceptions against the peoples lawful pleasures on Saints and Holy-daies and at last against all sports and publick Pastimes exercises innocent and harmless such were Leaping Dancing Running or any Mastery for the Gaol or Prize May-pole or Church-ale as debauched Idols In some of these Pastimes several Counties excelled and to entertain community with their Mirth the Court Progresses took delight to judge of their wagers in their journey to Scotland which the people observing took occasion to themselves to petition the King in his return for freedome and leave to be merry And thus by this means this Mans Monstrum Horrendum the Church-mans Maskarado was begotten and brought to allowance by command in print to justifie the people in their lawful pleasures though upon the Sunday after service This year died Edw. Talbot the 8. Earl of Shrewsbury without issue and therfore it descended upon George Talbot son of Iohn Talbot of Grafton Esq by Katherine his wife Daughter of Sir William Peters heir male of Sir Gilbert Talbot of Grafton second Son of Iohn Lord Talbot second Earls of Shrewsbury after the death of Gilbert and Edward Earls of Shrewsbury without issue male who was this next year 1618. admitted by King Iames the ninth Earl But this man dying also without issue the inheritance descended upon the children of Iohn Talbot brother to this George which Iohn dyed and left issue Iohn now the eleventh Earl 1652. He bears Gules a Lion rampant and a border engraled Or. Sir Walter Raleigh wearied with long imprisonment and having there spent his time well in the History of the World made his petition more passable to the King whose love to learning granted him now at last his Liberty and not long after gave him leave to wander after a design to the Western world where he had been in several Climates before The common World wondering at this mans wit who had a way to break Jests though to hazard his head again for in a jear he said That his whole History had not the like President Of a Kings chief Prisoner to purchase freedom and his bosome Favourite to have the Halter but in Scripture Mordecai and Haman meaning Himself and Somerset To which he was told that the King replyed He might dy in this deceipt which he did and Somerset saved But in truth he had a reaching and roving mind from his first rise and thereafter but a mean fortune which he meant now
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 â—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