A TREATISE DECLARING AND confirming against all obiections the just title and right of the moste excellent and worthie Prince IAMES the sixt King of Scotland to the succession of the croun of England WHEREVNTO IS ADDED A DISCOVRSE Shewing how necessarie it is for the Realme of England that he be in due time acknowledged and admitted to the succession of the Kingdome The Preface SEING the great diuersitie of opinions which is found in men of all Estates throughout this Realme concerning the Royall succession and fore-seing the manifest danger of ciuill and forraine warres which thence are lyke to ensue to the notable hurte and domage if not to the vtter ruine of this noble Kingdome except the subjects thereof bee in due time rightlie informed to whom by right the croun falleth next after her Maiestie I thought it my dutie being a member of one bodie with them trulie to informe so manie of them as I might concerning this matter by publishing this treatise wherein the right of the next lawfull successour is declared and confirmed against all obiections And for that I know it to be the opinion of sundry men that in this present controuersie it is not onlie to be considered to whom by right the croune appertaineth but also whether his admission may be auailable or hurtfull to the common wealth I thought good to adde to the saide declaration defence of his right a discourse shewing howe necessarie and expedient it is for the common wealth that hee be in due time acknowledged and admitted to the succession of this Kingdome Both which parts I haue brieflie handled thinking it ynough to proue and confirme them with a competent number of weighty and forceable arguments the rather for that the former part hath beene more at length declared and confirmed by others in treatises alreadie published and the other point is of it self so cleare and manifest as fewer reasons than I alledge may be sufficient for the certain proofe and euidencie therof I hope that you my deare countrie-men for whose instruction and behoofe I haue published this little pamphlet will thankfully accept this my good meaning and honest endeuour making your profite therof by embtacing and furthering so iuste and honorable a cause as is heere recommended vnto you and procuring thereby together with your owne safetie and advantage the peace honour prosperitie of this your natiue countrie With which happie fore-sight beseeching God to indue you I hartilie bid you fare-well IRENICVS PHILODIKAIOS The right of the King of Scotland by descent of kindred is declared BEing to declare who by all right is next to our soueraigne Ladie Queen Elizabeth in the succession of the kingdom I thought it needeles to draw the descent of such as with anie reason or probabilitie may after her Maiesties decease lay claime to the croun further of than from the vnion of the houses of Lancaster and York in the persons of the most renowmed King Henrie the seauenth and of Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward the fourth right and lawfull heires of both the Royall families For as for the Erle of Huntington and others descended from George Duke of Clarence youngest brother to King Edward the fourth they may not justlie be greeued if they be placed in rank after such as are lawfullie descēded from the heire of their own house of York joyned in mariage to the head of the familie of Lancaster And as for the king of Spaine and his sister the Infanta for whome farre sought titles haue beene forged by some fugitiue Persons of our own nation desiring for the alteration of Religion to make this flourishing common wealth a praie to the enemies therof I am perswaded there is none that hath the hart of a true subiect or naturall English-man how soeuer hee bee affected in Religion that will not vtterlie abhorre and detest the defending or approouing of anie such titles tending to the great dishonour and vtter subuersion of this Realm and to the notable disgrace of so manie worthie Princes as since the time of King Henrie the sixt hitherto therin haue reigned But desisting from the mention of titles no les false than odious I come to the orderlie descent of Henrie the seuenths progenie King Henrie the seuenth of that name had issue by Queene Elizabeth besides Prince Arthur and an other who deceased without succession Prince Henrie Ladie Margaret and Ladie Marie King Henrie the eight who succeeded to his father had issue King Edward Queene Marie and Queene Elizabeth now reigning Ladie Margaret eldest daughter to King Henrie the seauenth was maried to Iames the fourth King of Scotland who begat on her Iames the fift father to Marie Queen of Scotland Douagier of France whose onlie sonne and heire is King Iames the sixt who at this present reigneth and hath alreadie issue Prince Henrie Ladie Elizabeth and another daughter The said Queen Margaret after the death of King Iames the fourth was maried to Archibald Earle of Angus and by him had a daughter called the Ladie Margaret Dowglasse which was wife to Mathew Stewart Earle of Lenox by whome shee had two sonnes Henrie Lord Darlie and Charles whereof Henrie beeing the elder was ioyned in mariage to Marie Queen of Scotland and of her begat the king that now is And Charles the younger brother maried Elizabeth the daughter of Sir William Candish by whome he had one only daughter yet liuing named the Ladie Arbella Marie the younger daughter of King Henrie the seuenth after the decease of her first husband Lewes the twelth King of France by whome shee had no issue was maried to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke by whome she had two daughters Ladie Frances and Ladie Eleonor The Ladie Frances was maried to Henrie Gray Marques of Dorcester afterward Duke of Suffolke who begat of her three daughters Iane Katherine and Marie The eldest of them Ladie Iane was maried to Gilford Duldey the sonne of Iohn Duke of Northūberland of whom she had no issue being sone after her mariage put to death by Queene Marie for taking on her the croun Ladie Catherine first espoused to Henrie Harbert eldest sonne of William Erle of Pembroke this contract being dissolued had by the Earle of Hartford after a priuie contract made betwixt them as they both alledged the Lord Beauchamp and his brother who are yet liuing Ladie Marie the youngest who was betrouthed to Arthur Lord Gray of Wilton died without issue Ladie Eleonor the second daughter of Ladie Marie Duchesse of Suffolke was maried to Henrie Clifford Erle of Cumberland who had by her a daughter named Margaret that was married to Henrie Stanley Erle of Darbie by whome shee had issue Fernande William and Frances This is the orderlie succession of such as are descended from the vnion of both the Royall families of York and Lancaster whereby it is euident that the issue of King Henrie the eight failing in our soueraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth the right of the
then was Treasurer the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke together with his sonne and my Lord of Lecester with others met together vpon that matter And after long conference about the foresaid pretended Will and manie proofes laid downe why it could not be true the olde Earle of Pembrok protesting that hee was with the King in his chamber from the first day of his sicknes to the last houre and that thereby he could assure them this pretended will to be false and counterfait at length by some of them it was mooued that from that place they should go with the rest of the Nobilitie and proclaime the Scottish Queene heire apparent in Cheapside And albeit for some causes to thēselues best known they proceeded not in publishing of the same yet my Lord of Pembrok now liuing can bear witnesse that this much is true that his father the olde Erle told him openly at that time before the noble men that he had brought him to that assembly to instruct him in the truth and charged him to witnesse the same to defend it also with his sword if neede required after his death The remembrance and due regard of which admonition as yet no doubt remaineth in the minde of that noble man All these reasons and proofes being more than sufficient to disproue this pretended Testament I proceed forward to the confutation of the third and last obiection THE ALLEDGED ACT OF ASSOciation is disprooued and vpon occasion offered thereby is declared the great force and prerogative of right by inheritance to the succession of a Kingdome THE third obiection which is an alledged act of association is vrged by a fugitiue and seditious traitour disguising himself vnder the name of Dolman in a conference which he hath published touching the Royal succession wherein going about to disprooue the right and titles of all such as are extract of the blood Royall since King Henrie the sixt and to currie fauour with the King of Spain and the Infanta by forging them titles and interest to the croun of England he sheweth himself most malitious against the King of Scotland aboue all others moouing doubts and surmises though full of notorious vanitie and falshood to bring his right in question to disgrace his person for that hee is assured nothing will so much ouerthwart the desire and purpose that he and his like haue of betraying their natiue countrie to the enemies thereof as the acknowledging accepting of the King of Scotland for right and lawfull inheritour to the croun But the onlie obiection which he auoucheth how shameles soeuer he be to be such as can not be aunswered is an act of association alledged by him to haue beene made in Parliament the 27. yeare of her Maiesties reigne containing these words That whosoeuer shal be conuinced to conspire attempt or procure the death of the Queen or to be priuie or accessarie to the same shall loose all right claime or actiō that the same parties or their heires haue or may haue to the croun of England Wherunto he addeth that vpon this statute the late Queene of Scotland being condemned and executed by authoritie of the saide Parliament it seemeth euident that this King who pretendeth al his right to the croun of England by his saide mother can haue none at all This is the somme of Dolmans obiection which is clearlie disprooued by the manifest vntruth of that which he alledgeth For neither any such act of Parliament hath euer bene made neither also is it true that the king hath no other right to the croun of Englād than by his mother for that hee may likewise justlie claime the same by his father as appeareth manifestlie by the descent of kindred set doun in the beginning of this treatise The ground whereon Dolman hath deuised his forged act of Parliament was an act or Instrument of association made by some Lordes of the counsell not long before the Scottish Queens arraignement wherin were contained certain promises to be made for the preseruation of the Queens Maiesties person by such as should subscribe therunto Among which promises one is That they shall neuer desist from all maner of forcible pursute to the vttermost extermination of all such persons or their abettors that shall by anie act counsell or consent doe anie thing that shall tend to the harme of her Maiesties Royall person And if anie such wicked attempt shal be taken in hand or procured whereby anie that haue may or shall pretend title to come to the croune by the vntimelie death of hir Maiestie so wickedlie procured may be advanced they bind themselues jointly and seuerallie neuer to accept allow or fauour anie such pretēded successor by whom or for whom any such detestable act shall be committed or attempted or anie that may any way claime by or from such a person or pretended successour This act of association being sent throughout the Realme to be with oath ratified and subscribed was by sundry men of honourable degree and good conscience thought so hard and wrongfull by reason of the clause concerning such as might claime by or from anie person culpable of anie attempt against her Maiesties person as they refused their oathes subscription therunto Wherevpon the next Parliament following an act was made limiting and restraining this penaltie and exclusion onelie to those pretenders By whom or by whose meanes assent or priuitie any inuasiō or rebellion shall bee had or made into or within anie of her Maiesties Realmes or dominions or any acte attempted tending to the hurt of hir Maiesties Royal person the same being first denounced by such a nūber of persons of such estate and in such manner as is expressed in the said act Wherunto is also added That if any such detestable act should be executed against her Maiesties person whereby her life should be taken away that then euerie such person by or for whom any such act should be executed and their issues beeing in anie wise assenting or priuie to the same should by vertue of this act be excluded dishabled for euer to haue or claime or to pretend to haue or claime the croun of this Realme or anie other her Maiesties Dominions This act of Parliament whereby the former act of counsell is limited restrained no wise debarreth the King of Scotland from the croun as euidentlie appeareth by that part thereof which I haue rehearsed and by the rest of the same act published among the other acts of that Parliament seeing he is free as the world knoweth from all suspition of anie wicked attempt against her Maiesties person and from al cōsent or priuitie therunto And trulie it is not credible that her Maiestie or the Parliament would go about to debarre him by any such act as is alledged by Dolman seing they may with reason perswade themselues that no such act would stay him from claiming pursuing his right nor such as are in England wel affected towards
they were much discouraged the Treasurer answered that he was not ignorant of the estate and condition of all such Englishmen as followed the king but for his part swearing a spanish oath or two he knew not any of them in regard of abilitie to doe the King seruice worth the straw that lay vnder his feet Moreouer at the verie time that the Duke of Parma lay at Bruges attending the Spanish fleet and making his preparations for England when our English pensioners expected as by all liklihood they might to be aboue others honored and aduanced they wer so far deceaued of their expectation that they were the onlie rejected contemned sort of all those that followed the court all other nations besides them beeing fauoured and releeued with some moneths paie And which is more whereas they mooued the Duke sundrie times to knowe his pleasure how hee would dispose of them in that enterprise telling him that vpon the wel vsing of them depēded much matter of importance as the winning of others of their kindred acquaintance and religion who vpon hope of like good vsage would be able to do great seruice at their landing whereas contrariwise seeing them come ouer so poore in shew without credite money or armes like lackies for so were the words of their request it would be a cause to discourage and withdraw their minds from the Kings seruice they were by the Duke scornfullie and with derision rejected neither did he vouchsafe to giue them anie other answere than onlie that he would think vpon it But on the night in which vpon the hurly burly and rumor of the approching of the Spanish navy they thought to imbark he departed towards Dunkerk leauing thē all behind as vnworthie to bee called vpon or taken with him Whereupon the Earle of Westmerland my Lord Paget and sundrie of the better sort made their complaint to the Duke of Pastrana the King of Spaines base sonne by whom they were as baselie and scornfullie handled as by the other Which euill intreatie wroght so great an apprehension in my Lord Paget that he retired himself to Brussels where what with the conceit of this grief and what with other accidents he shortly ended his life The truth of al this haue I learned of men of good credite and reputation professing the Romane religion together with much more concerning this purpose which for auoiding tediousnesse I omit the rather for that I am perswaded manie of themselues are alreadie acquainted therewith Whereby the professours of that religion may perceaue what fauour they ought to look for at the Spaniards hands if they should conquer the land seing that they beeing but in a vain hope and conceat of prosperous successe did so despise the principal English noble-men and others that were in their company They haue therefore just cause as well as al other English-men to feare the tyrannie of Spaniards and to acknowledge rather the King of Scotland for right lawfull successour to the croun as no doubt but they knowe him to be than the King of Spaine whom they know to haue but a late forged and farre sought title Let them call to minde how the moste honorable and best sort of Frenchemen of their own Religion after the last Kings death woulde not acknowledge anie other then the King nowe reigning albeit at that time hee professed a Religion different from theirs and that there wanted not manie Princes of the house of Bourbon and of the Romane religion whom they might haue acknowledged How much more than should Englishmen howsoever they be affected in religion acknowledge rather the King of Scotlād who hath the right of both the Royal families of York Lancaster being a friend to all our nation and a Prince at whose handes through their faithful and dutifull behauiour they may look for grace and fauour than submit themselues in a slanish maner to the King of Spaine betraying their countrie to the most cruell enemies thereof with apparent and manifest danger of incurring so manie greuous calamities as I haue alreadie rehearsed I need not exhort our own professours of the gospell not to trust the Spaniards mercie I only warne and wish them to vse the right remedy of preuenting the great mischief which they haue just cause to fear if the Spaniards should preuaile And that is no other than to acknowledge receiue in due time the King of Scotland for next lawfull successour to her Majestie For he being thus acknowledged the quarrell which the King of Spaine pursueth against vs partly for reuenge of supposed injuries and partlie for his pretended title will be either whollie remooued or at least wise greatlie weakned For with what pretence of justice can he go about to dispossesse the King of Scotland of his known right whom he may not challenge for anie injurie done hitherto by him to his father or to himself It is very likly also that his courage and desire of inuading vs will be much quailed by this conjunction whereby hee shall perceaue that our power and meanes to defend our selues and offend him wil be redoubled But if proudly and obstinatly he will persist in the prosecution of his vniust quarrell the vniustnesse thereof will become more notorious to the world And not onelie England and Scotland but also the King of Scotlands confederats and friendes wil with al their power and might ioine togeather to withstand his malice and ambition and to be auenged of so manifest an iniurie Besides these commodities which I haue hitherto rehearsed our common wealth shall receaue sundry other great benefits by the due acknowledgement and timelie admission of the King of Scotland The first whereof is that the dominion and power of the crown of England will bee greatlie increased by the ioining therunto of his Kingdome which diuerse of our Kings haue endeauored to bring to passe as well by mariage vvith the heires of the Kingdome of Scotland as by other meanes Neither is it to be feared that the honour and dignitie of this realme vvill be thereby anie vvise empaired as vvas vvell considered and for-seene by the most noble and wise king Henrie the seauenth For when his eldest daughter Lady Margaret was to be maried to Iames the fourth King of Scotland some of his counsell fore-casting that which might fall out and saying that if his issue male failed the croun might be deuolued to the said Lady Margaret he most wisely answered that incace any such deuolution should happen it would be nothing prejudiciall to England for that it beeing the principall and more worthie part of the Iland would draw Scotland to it as it did Normandie and Aquitain with other prouinces from the time of the conquest This was the judgement of that most worthie and prudent Prince concerning the conjunction of both countries wherein without doubt al wise men and such as loue the honour and publik weale of this Realme will aggree with him And truely by all