Palmeus he told him that he had found out a way to help the afflicted Catholicks in England if the Pope or some learned Divines would approve it as lawful The Jesuit Palmeus approved it Next in France one Morgan drew him to consent to murder the Queen if it should prove lawful This Act the Pope's Nuncio Ragazonius commended Parry afterward having access to the Queen shewed her all and not long after Cardinal Come his Letter approving the enterprize Now he taketh a new resolution to perform it encouraged especially by Doctor Alen's Book teaching that Princes Excommunicated are to be spciled of their Kingdoms and Lives These with many other things Parry confessed before the Lord Hunsdon Sir Christopher Hatton and Sir Francis Walsingham in Westminster-Hall the heads of his Accusation being read he confessed himself guilty He died in the Palace-yard before Westminster-Hall not once calling upon the Name of God At this time also Henry Earl of Northumberland for entring into Traiterous Counsels with Paget and the Guises to invade England was cast into the Tower where he was found dead being shot with three Bullets under the left Pap the Chamber-door belted in the inside A Pistol was found in his Chamber and himself the author of his own death Thus from time to time the most noble Families of England have been Seduced and Ruined by the false and bewitching coundsels of Jesuits and Seminaries Savage's attempt to kill the Queen NOw again there was a most abominable Treason conspired and voluntarily confessed by the Conspirators One Gifford a Doctor in Divinity Gilbert Gifford and Hodgeson Priests persuaded one John Savage a bloody Fellow to undertake to kill Queen Flizaheth To hide their mischievous intents more conningly from the Queen's Council who were very careful to foresee all Danger they wrote a Book in which they advise the Papists in England not to go about to hurt the Queen For they were to use no other Weapons against their Prince than the Christian Weapons of Tears Fasting Prayers and the like And most cunningly also these Foxes spread a Rumour that George Gifford one of the Queen's Pensioners had sworn to kill the Queen and for that cause had gotten from the Guises a very great sum of Money The Easter following John Ballard an English Priest of the Colledg of Rhemes was come into England who had been trying the minds of Papists in England and Scotland He had dealt with Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador in France Charles Paget and others for the Invasion of England And although it seemed to be a very hard work yet he had sworn to use his utmost endeavour in it and also for the liberty of the Queen of Scots At Whitsuntide in a Souldiers habit and under the name of Captain Fortescue he had a conference in London with Anthony Babington a young Gentleman of Darby-shire Romishly affected who not long before in France had conference with Thomas Morgan and the Bishop of Glasco the Scotch Queen's Ambassador He was drawn by them shewing him most assured hopes of Honour from her to addict himself to them and by their means had favourable Letters from her Ballard and Babington conferred together concerning the Invasion of England but it was not deemed a thing could be done Queen Elizabeth being alive Then Ballard informed Babington that Savage had undertaken to kill her Babington's advice was that it should not be committed to Savage alone lest perhaps he might be hindred but to six resolute Men of which number Savage should be one Upon this Babington took into his consideration the Ports in which the Invaders should land the Confederates that should joyn in the act of murdering Q. Elizabeth and delivering the Scots-Queen In the mean time a Letter was brought from the Imprisoned Queen to Babington in a secret Character blaming Babington's long silence but he excused it because she was under the custody of Sir Amice Paulet a severe Keeper declared unto her that which Ballard and he had resolved before and that himself with one hundred more would deliver her The purpose by her Letters unto Batington was commended And it was advised that it should be undertaken considerately and that nothing should be moved before they were sure of External Forces that they should make an Association as if they feared the Puritans that some Tumults might be raised in Ireland while the thing should be done here That Arundel and his Brethren and Northumberland should be drawn to their side Westmerland Paget and others called Home The way to deliver the scots-Scots-Queen was appointed to overthrow a Coach in the Gate or set the Stables on fire or intercept her as she rode to take the air betwixt Chartly and Stafford Babington undertook for rewards to all that should give their help He had gotten unto him Edward Windsor the Lord Windsor's Brother Thomas Salisbury Charles Tinley the Queens Pensioner Chidioc Tichbourn Edward Abingdon whose Father was the Queen's Cofferer Robert Gage John Travers John Charnick John Jones Savage Barnwel an Irish Gentleman Henry Dun Clark of the First-fruits Office and one Polly also joyned himself who was thought to reveal all to Sir Francis Walsingham Abingdon Barnwel Charnick and Savage took an Oath to kill her with their own hands Babington enjoyned that whosoever was admintted into the Conspiracy should take an Oath of secrecy They were so confident of the success that they did not fear to cause the undertakers of the Treason to be Pictured together which Picture being seen of the Queen she knew only Barnwel and seeing him a good way off she blamed the neglect of guarding her Person This Fellow afterward gave it out that if the Conspirators had been present the deed might easily have been done That the aid from France might not be wanting leave was obtained for Ballard to pass over thither for Money under a false name and Babington was to follow who that he might the more cunningly work his ends pretended to Sir Francis Walfingham that he had a desire to go into France to discover what the Fugitives plotted for the delivery of the Scots-Queen Walsinghom seemed very much to like the matter and to commend Babington's resolution but upon pretences delayed his going This was known to Walsingham either out of a fingular faculty he had to find out Treasons or else by the means of Gilbert Gifford a Priest who was sent out of France to incourage Savage in his wicked resolution and that Letters might safely be transmitted by him to the Queen of Scots Gifford corrupted with Money or for fear revealed the Plot to Walsingham and promised to communicate unto him all his Letters Walsingham kindly used him sent him into Staffordshire to Sir Amice Paulet in a Letter persuading Sir Amice to suffer some of his Servants to be corrupted by him Gifford for some Gold prevailed with Sir Amice his Brewer who conveyed the Letters to and from Gifford which by Messengers for that end appointed came
Protestants in France Northumberland and Westmerland having thus taken Arms Supplies and Moneys failing withdrew themselves into Scotland Norfolk was thrown into Prison Rodolf being in Custody for whom the Pope had appointed 150000 rowns to help the Conspirators was for want of clear proof dismissed Rodolf being got out of Prison asterward distributeth the 150000 Crowns to the Partners in the Treason He being with the Pope is sent by him to the Spaniard to press him to give assistance to the King of Portugal also for the same purpose He wrote alse to the Duke of Norfolk promising to send him aid The Popes Letter to the Spaniard was That he should send an Army out of the Low-Countries to invade England And this very thing the Spaniard endeavoured There was now a difference betwixt Queen Elizabeth and the Spaniard about Money sent by him to the Duke of Alva but was intercepted by the Queen and that was one pretence that the Spaniard had for his dealing against our Queen and Kingdom But the Duke of Norfolk was put to death Nor is this the Relation of an English Protestant but of a Panist a good part whereof had not been known but for him one Hieronimus Calena The Book was printed at Rome by the priviledg of Pius Quintus 1588. The Earls of Northumbrland and Westmerland seduced by one Morton a Priest and at Duresme set up the Mass thence they marched to Clifford-moore where hearing that the Queen of Scots was removed to Coventry that the Earl of Sussex was sent with strong Forces against them and that Sir George Bowes was behind them and had fortified Bernards Castle that Scroupe and Cumberland had fortified Carlile and had also an Army in readiness that the Souldiers of Barwick and the power of Northumberland were in New-castle besieged Bernards Castle and took it on Conditions Then for fear of the Earl of Sussex they fled to Hexam thence by by-ways to Naworth Castle from that place into Scotland and from thence was Northumberland sent and here behcaded Westmerland escaped into the Netherlands where with a poor Pension under the Spaniard he lived poorly all his Days Dacres his endeavour to deliver the Scots Queen IN the Year 1569 Leonard Dacres second Son of William Lord Dacres of Gillesland being grieved to see a very great Patrimony go from him to the Daughters of the Baron whom the Duke of Norfolk their Father-in-Law had joined in marriage with his Sons grew revengeful and joining with the Rebels endeavoured to deliver the Queen of Scots yet a little before being at the Court promised to assist the Queen his Soveraign against the Rebels but treacherously he undertook to kill the Lord Scroup and Bishop of Carlisle to whose custody the Scottish Queen was committed but he failing in the performance took Grastock Castle holding it as his own and gathered Soldiers The Lord Hunsdon met him with the trained Souldiers of Barwick and after a sharp conflict overcometh him and Dacres fled into Scotland from thence into the Netherlands were at Lovaine he lived and died poorly Fitz-Morris raiseth Rebellion in Ireland IN this Year Edmund and Peter Butler Brethren to the Earl of Ormond joining with James Fitz Morris of the House of Desmond entred into a Conspiracy against Queen Elizabeth and to further it came Joannes Mendsza secretly out of Spain The Earl of Ormond going into Ireland caused them to submit they were imprisoned and for their Brother the Earls sake not brought to Tryal The Lord Deputy and Sir Humphry Gilbert through Gods assistance appeased that rebellion It is clear enough that this Rebellion in Ireland arose from the Spaniard as the first mover for to this end he sent Mendoza into Ireland and had not long before written to the Earl Brother to the two Rebels to raise a Rebellion in Ireland Stanleys Conspiracy IN the Year 1570 under a colour of delivering the Queen of Scots Thomas Stanly and Edward younger Sons of the Earl of Darby Thomas Jerard Rolston Hall with others in Durby shire conspired but the Son of Rolston which was Pensioner to the Queen disclosed the Conspiracy All but Hall were imprisonce Hall escaped into the Isle of Man thence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent into Dunbritan whence the Castle being won he was brought to London and suffered Death Dissimulation of Don John of Austria IN the Year 1576 Don John of Austria coming into the Low-Countries as Governour sent Gastelius to Queen Elizabeth pretending a perpetual Edict for Peace Teh Queen as if ignorant of any bad intent sent Rogers to congratulate Don John's Edict yet she knew that Don John had conceived a certain hope of marrying the Queen of Scots and of enjoying Scotland and England intending to invade the Isle of Man that from thence he might out of Ireland the North of England and Scotland also where he knew were many Papists invade England This Man to help forward this great design practised secretly with the Pope and with the King of Spain for the Havens of Biscay But the King of Spain neglected him in this desire accounting England and Scotland a Morsel sitter for his own Palate During this Treaty of perpetual Peace this treacherous Don treateth secretly with the Scottish Queen about the Marriage and the better to work his own ends took divers Towns and Castles in the Low-Countries by treachery and wrote into Spain that for the invasion of the Netherlands it would be best to seize on first the Towns of Zealand before the more inland places and that England might with the more ease be first invade The Queen in the mean while prepareth for War but God cut off this her Enemy very suddenly before the fruits of his high thoughts were ripe Stucley's design against Ireland Not long before this time in Ireland Thomas Stucley a prodigal riotous and needy English man discontented for that he lost the Stewardship of Wexford breaths out Contumelies against the Queen and betaketh himself to the Pope with whom he treateth and boasteth that he will subdue Ireland with 3000 Men and burn the Queen's Navy Pope Pius Quintus ahd a great opinion of him After him Gregory the 13 and the King of Spain consulted together to invade England and Ireland at once The Pope aimed to get for his Son James Boncompayno the Kingdom of Ireland and the Spaniard chiefly to imitate the course of Queen Elizabeth who to keep the Spaniard busy abroad secretly sent aid to the Dutch that he migth with-draw her help from the Low-Countries But because the strength of England consisteth chiefly in the Navy the King of Spain setteth the Merchants of Italy and the Netherlands a work to hire the Merchants ships of England and so to send them away in very long Voyages that the Ships being from home and Stucley joining with the Rebels of Ireland the Queen's Navy might be overthrown by a greater The Pope gave him very great Titles in Ireland
against the Protestants secretly sought entrance into the Queens Presence with a drawn Sword set upon one or two in his way and being apprehended confessed that he purposed to have killed the Queen Ed. Ardern his Father-in-Law a Gentleman of Warwick-shire and Arderns Wife and their Daughter Somervil's Wife and Hall a Priest were condemned as guilty of Somervil's practice After three days Somervile was found strangled in Prison for fear of revealing it as was thought where he lay and Ardern was hanged the next day Mendoza the Spanish Amhassador thrust out of England IN 1584 some English Gentlemen began to practise the delivery of the Queen of Scots Francis Throgmorton was suspected by Letters written to the Queen of Scots and intercepted Presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundel a Courtler left the Land secretly Henry Earl of Northumberland and Philip Earl of Arundel were commanded to their Houses And there was great cause of circumspection for the Papists by printed Books incited the Maids of Honour to do that against the Queen that Judith did against Holofernes Yet was the Queens Mercy such that she caused 70 Priests to be sent out of England The chief of them were Gasper Heywood who of all the Jesuits 〈…〉 England James Basgrave John Hare and Edward Rishton who presently after wrote a Book against the Queen At this time Bernardinus Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador was thrust out of England for practising Treason against the State He having dealt with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers to invade the Land as appeared by Throgmorton's action who being apprehended sent one of his Packets to Mendoza His other Packets being searched there was found a Catalogue of all the Havens in England fit to land in and another of all the Noblemen in England which favoured the Romish Religion And he did not deny that he had promised his help to Mendoza and the help of those Nobles it was fit he should deal with A Popish practice against Q. Elizabeth discovered not without a Miracle by Creighton's torn Papers a Scotish Jesuit QUeen Elizabeth that rare Paragon of her Sex and that fairly flourishing Flower which Traitors though oft attempted could never nip nor crop up being a Princess both Prudent Pious and Pitiful seeking therefore a fair opportunity and sutable means to set the Queen of Scots at those Times tainted with some Treasonable Practices against her Crown and Person at liberty And for that purpose sent Sir William Wade who was then returned out of Spain to confer with her of the means thereunto And the good Queen was about to send Sir Walter Mildmay to bring this aim of hers to further issue But some further terrors and fears in the interim brake out between them which disturbed that intention especially by a notable discovery by certain Papers which one Creighton a Jesuit sailing into Scotland did then tear in pieces when he was apprehended in the Ship by Dutch-Pirates at Sea whose person being by them seised on he took forth his Papers wherein it seems the project of a Traiterous Plot against Queen Elizabeth at that time was described tore them into small pieces and with all his force threw them into the Sea But see how the Lord 's good Providence ordered it as they flew in the Air the Wind blew stifly by force whereof they were all blown back again into the hip even in a miraculous manner as the Jesuit himself confessed when he saw it Which Papers were all kept and gathered together sent to England to Sir William Wade aforesaid and with much labour and singular skill so joyned and set together again that he found they contained a notable new Plot among many other of the Popes the Spaniards and the Guise's resolution to Invade England Whereupon and by reason of many other rumours of dangers intended against the Queen and whole Kingdom of England a great number of all sorts of Men out of common charity and to shew their love and affectionate care of the welfere of the Queen and State bound themselves by an Association as then it was called by mutual promises and subscriptions of Hands and Seals to prosecute all such by all their sorce and might even unto death that should attempt any thing against the Life of the Queen or Welfare of the Kingdom Now the Queen of Scots took this as a thing devised to bring her into danger and she also was so continually set upon by seditious spirits who if they may but have access are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what have been their practices from time to time but to bring great Persons and greatest Families to ruin Lamentable experience shews openly the fruit of their malice and mischevous plots of Treason which they impiously and audaciously call and count nothing else but advancing of their Catholick Cause Now the Scots Queen led on by her blind guides dealt most importunely with the Pope and Spaniards by Sir Francis Englefield that by all means they would with speed undertake their intended Business namely the Invasion of our Realm For the advancing whereof the Pope and Spaniard had resolved on these points 1. That Queen Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdom 2. That the King of Scots a manifest favourer of Heresie should utterly be dis-inherited of the Kingdom of England 3. That the Scots-Queen should Marry some Noble-Man of England that was a Catholick 4. That this Man must be chosen King of England by the Catholicks of England 5. That this choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope 6. That the Children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots-Queen must be declared Successors in the Kingdom All these things were confirmed to be true by the testimony of one Hart a Priest Who was that noble English-man that should marry the Scots-Queen was much enquired after by Sir Francis Walsingham with all diligence but not certainly found out yet there was strong suspicion of Henry Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk who was Noble by birth unmarried and a fast favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them All these things were discovered by this Creighton the Jesuite's torn Papers as aforesaid And all this their plotting and contriving of France Spain and the Pope against Queen Elizabeth and King James sor no other cause but for their Religon which they had now sairly begun to establish among their People Parry Executed for Treason IN the year 1585 William Parry a Welchman and Doctor of Law spake against that Law which in the Parliament then held was Exhibited and called it a Bloody Law Presently after he was accused of practizing the Queen's death He confessed voluntarily in the Tower that having obtained the Queen's pardon for breaking into the Chamber and wounding one Hare for which he was Condemned he being a sworn Servant to the Queen from England he went into France and was reconciled Afterward at Venice in consultation with Benedict
ever to the hands of Sir Francis Walsingham who coppied out the Letters and by the Art of Thomas Philips found out the Character and by the help of one Gregory sealed them up that none could suspect them opened and then sent the Letters as they were directed The Qu en hereupon commanded Ballard to be apprehended which was done Babington advised presently to send Savage and Charnick to kill the Queen Babington intreateth leave of Walsingham to go into France and sueth for Ballard's liberty who would be of use to him for discovery and to avoid suspition Sir Francis keepeth him back with delays and draweth him to his own House Skidmore Sir Francis's Servant was commanded to observe him strictly and to go with him pretending lest he should be taken with Messengers This Letter being read for the Command was written by Skidmore was perceived and read also by Babington sitting by him who Supping with Sir Francis's Man in a Tavern pretending to rise to go pay the Reckoning left his Cloak and Rapier and fled Then Barnwel Gage Dun Charnick being in the mean time proclaimed Traitors fled into the Woods and after were concealed fed and clothed in a rustical habit by one Bellamy at Harrow on the Hill After ten days they were found and brought to London Salisbury was taken in Staffordshire and Traverse also Jones in Wales not privy to the Conspiracy but he concealed them and furnished Salisbury and his Man with a changed Cloak Windsor was not found Gilford was sent into France as an Exile and there died Sept. 13. Seven of the Conspirators being brought to Judgment confest themselves guilty and were condemned of Treason other seven the next day pleaded not guilty but were guilty and condemned Polly though guilty yet for confessing something to Sir Francis Walsingham was not brought to Judgment on the 20th the first seven were hanged and quartered in St. Giles's Fields where they used to meet The French Ambassador's Plot to kill the Queen IN the Year 1587 Obespineus the Freuch Ambassador of the Guisian faction conferred with William Stafford to kill Q. Elizabeth Stafford refused it but commended one Moody in Prison Trappius Secretary to the said Ambassador in the absence of Stafford conferred with Moody about the deed Moody proposed Poison or a bag of Gun-powder Trappius disliked it and wished rather for such a Man as the Burgundian which killed the Prince of Orange this thing Stafford revealed to the Council Trappius was apprehended going into France and afterward the Ambassador Moody Stafford Trappius all accused the Ambassador before the Lords who sent for the Amoassador Stafford beginning to speak was interrupted by the Ambassador saying that Stafford first proposed it to him who if he did not desist threatned to send him bound Hand and Foot to the Queen Stafford upon his Knees with great protestations affirmed that the Ambassador first moved it The Ambassador was admonished to take heed of such Crimes and dismist by Burley insinuating unto him that it was more the Queen's Clemency than that his Office claimed any such favour The Spainsh Armada IN the Year 1588 was set out by the King of Spain for the Conquest of England the Invincible as they called it Navy For this purpose the Duke of Parma had an Army in Flanders of one hundred and three Companies of Foot and three thousand Horse among which were seven hundred English Fugitives the Bull of Pius Quintus for Excommunicating Q. Elizabeth is renewed by Sixtus Quintus and a plenary Indulgence granted to all who would joyn against England The Queen prepared a Navy also and makes the Lord Charles Howard Admiral and sends him into the West to joyn with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral Henry Seymor second son to the Duke of Somerset with 40 Ships English and Dutch is appointed to stop Parma's coming forth upon the Land Southward were placed 20000 Men another Army of 22000 Foot and a 1000 Horse at Tilbury under Leicester another Army guarded the Person of the Queen consisting of 34000 Foot and 2000 Horse under Henry Lord Hunsdon The Council of War decreed that all places commodious to land in should be strengthened with Men and Ammunition which places should be defended with the Trained-Bands in the Maritime Countries to hinder the Enemies landing if he should land then they should waste the Country round about that he might find no more relief than he brought and that they should keep him in continual Alarms To secure the Queen at Home from Papists some were committed to Wisbitch Castle There was in the mean time a Treaty of Peace from the Spaniards even till the Fleet was almost come to the English Coast The Spanish Fleet consisted of 130 Ships 19290 Souldiers Mariners 8350 chained Rowers 2080. Great Ordnance 2630. They loosed out of the River of Tagus three of their Ships by the help of David Guin an English Servant and the Turkish Rowers were carried into France the rest of this mighty Fleet was by God's help overthrown and dispersed with eight Fire-ships made to cut their Cables weigh their Anchors and flie confusedly and the Admiral Gallyasse was taken when they began again to gather together they were battered and torn divers of them perishing in the Sea So a Navy three years in preparing was overthrown in a Month many of their Men being slain and drowned divers of their Ships sunk and taken not 100 Englishmen lost and but one Ship driven about Scotland Orcades and Ireland much inpaired and returned with shame God's Name be honoured Lopez his undertaking to poison the Queen IN the Year 1593 one Stephen Ferrera de Gama which came with Don Antonio the expulsed King of Portugal into England and afterwards sought to be reconciled to the King of Spain being of inward familiarity with one Roger Lopez a Portugues the Queen's Physician prevailed with him to promise to poison Q. Elizabeth Ferrera writeth to Ibarra the King of Spain's Secretary at Wars about the promise of Lopez and his requiring for the undertaking 50000 Crowns Ferrera promised him that there should one come in the habit of a Mariner to him who should bring him the value of 50000 Crowns in Rubies and Diamonds this was Lopez's own confession who added also that it could not be but that the King of Spain was acquainted with the matter for the Money was to come from the King of Spain He further confessed that Stephen Feerera told him that if he would offer to the Count Fuentes this great service to poison her Majesty he should want no Money and hereupon he was content that Ferrera should write to the Count Fuentes or Secretary Ibarra to assure them that the Doctor would undertake to poison her This secret was discovered by Letters which were intercepted for all Letters to any Portugues and every Portugues coming from beyond Sea was to be staied superscribed to Diego Hernandes from Francis Torres Diego Hernandes Ferrera confessed to be himself Francis Torres