their dinner the Earl of Gowry being present with them one of the E. of Gowries seruants comes hastily in assuring the Earle his maister that his maiesty was horsed away through the Insh which the Earle reporting to the Noble men and the rest of his Maiesties traine that was there present they all rushed out together at the gate in great hast and some of his maiesties seruants enquiring of the Porter when his maiesty went forth The porter affirmed that the king was not yet gone forth Wherevpon â—he Earle looked very angerly vpon him and said he was but a lyar yet turning him to the Duke to the Earle of Mar said he should presently get them sure word where his Maiesty was and with that ran through the close and vp the staires But his purpose indéed was to speake with his brother as appeared very well by the circumstance of time his brother hauing at that same instant left the king in the little study ran downe the staires in great haste Immediatly after the Earle commeth back â—unning againe to the gate where the Noblemâ—n and the rest were standing in a maze assuring them that the king was gone long since out at the back gate and if they hasted them not the sooner they would not ouertake him and with that called for his horse whereat they rusht all together out at the gate and made toward the Inshe crying all for their horses passing all as it was the prouidence of God vnder one of the windows of that study wherein his maiesty was To whom M. Alexander very speedily returned and at his in comming to his Maiesty casting his hands abroad in a desperate manner said he could not mend it his Maiestie behooued to die and with that offered a garter to bind his Maiesties hands with swearing hee behooued to bee bound His maiesty at that word of binding said he was borne a frée King and should die a frée King Wherevpon he griping his Maiesty by the wrest of the hand to haue bound him his Maiesty releeued himself sodainly of his gripes wherevpon as he put his right hand to his sword his maiesty with his right hand seazed vpon both his hand and his sword and with his left hand clasped him by the throat like as he with the left hand claspt the King by the throat with two or three of his fingers in his Maiesties moâ—th to haue stayed him from crying In this manner of wrestling his Maiestie perforce drew him to the window which he had caused the other man before to open vnto him and vnder the which was passing by at the same time the Kings traine and the Earle of Gowry with them as is said and holding out the right side of his head and right elbow cryed that they were murthering him there in that treasonable forme whose voice being instantly heard and knowne by the Duke of Lennox the Earl of Mar and the rest of his maiesties traine there the said Earle at Gowry euer asking what it meant and neuer seeming any wayes to haue seene his Maiesty or heard his voice they all rushed in at the gate together the Duke and the Earl of Marre running about to come to that passage his Maiesty came in at But the Earle of Gowry and his seruants made them for another way vp a quiet Turnepeck which was â—uer condemned before and was onely then left open as appeared for that purpose And in this meane time his Maiesty withstrugling and wrastling with the said M. Alexander had brought him perforce out of that study the doore wherof for hast he had left open at his last in-comming and his Maiesty hauing gotten with long strugling the said M. Alexanders head vnder his arme and himselfe on his knees his master droâ—e him back perforce hard to the doore of the some Turne-pike as his maiesty was throwing his sword out of his hand thinking to haue striken him therewith and then to haue shot him ouer the stairs the other fellow standing behind the kings back doing nothing but trembling all the time Sir Io Ramsey not knowing what way first to enter after he had heard the Kings cry by chance findes that Turn-peck doore open following it vp to the head enters in into the chamber finds his maiesty and M. Alexander strugling in that forme as is before said and after he had twise or thrise stricken M. Alexander with his dagger the other man withdrew himselfe his Maiesty still kéeping his gripes holding him close to him immediatly thereafter he tooke the said M. Alexander by the sholders and shut him down the staire who was no sooner shut out at the doore but hee was met by Sir Thomas Erskine and Sir Hew Hereis who there vpon the staire ended him the said Sir â—ho Erskine being cast behind the Duke the Earl of Mar that ran about the other way by the occasion of his medling with the said late Earle in the stréet after the hearing of his maiesties cry For vpon the hearing therof he had clasped y â— Earle of Gowry by the gorget casting him vnder his féet and wanting a dagger to haue striken him with the said Earles men rid the Earle their maister out of hâ—s hands wherby he was cast behind the rest as is said and missing the company hearing the said Sir Iohn Ramseys voice vpon the Turn-peck head ran vp to the said chamber cryed vpon the said Sir Hew Hereis another seruant to follow him where méeting with the said M. Alexander in the Turn-peck he ended him there as is said the said M. Alexander crying for his last words Alas I had not the weight of it But no sooner could the said Sir Thomas Sir Hew and another seruant win into the Chamber where his maiestie was but that the said Earl of Gowry before they could get the doore shut followed them in at the back hauing cast him directly to come vp that priuy passage as is before said who at his first entry hauing a drawn sword in eueâ—y hand and a stéele bonet on his head accomâ—anied with seuen of his seruants euery one of them hauing in like manner a drawne sword cryed out with a great oath that they should al die as traitors All the which time his maiesty was still in his chamber who séeing the Earle of Gowry come in with his swords in his hands sought for M. Alexanders sword which had fallen from him at his out shutting at the doore hauing no sort of weapons of his own as it is said â— but then was â—hut back by his own seruants that were there into 〈◊〉 little study and the doore shut vpon him who hauing put his maiesty in safeâ—y re-encountred the said Earle and his seruants his maiesties seruants being only in number â—â—ure to wit Sir Hugh Hereis and Sir Iohn Ramsey one Wilson a seruant of Iames Erskins a brother of the said sir Thomas the said E. hauing 7. of his own seruants with him Yet it pleased God after many strokes on all hands to giue his maiesties seruants
CHRISTS VICTORIE OVER SATHANS TYRANNIE WHERIN JS CONTAINED A CATALOGVE OF ALL CHRISTS FAITHFVLL SOVLDIERS THAT THE DIVELL either by his grand Captaines the EMPEROVRS or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the POPES haue most cruelly Martyred for the TRVTH WITH ALL THE POYSONED DOCTRINS WHEREWITH THAT GREAT REDDE DRAGON hath made drunken the Kings and Inhabitants of the Earth with the confutations of them TOGETHER WITH ALL HIS TRAYTEROVS PRACTISES AND DESIGNES AGAINST ALL CHRISTIAN Princes to this day especially against our late Queen ELIZABETH of famous memorie and our most religious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of Martyrs and diuers other Books By Thomas Mason Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by George Eld and Ralph Blower 1615. To the most Reuerend Father in GOD the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his GRACE PRIMATE and METROPOLITAN of all England and one of his MAIESTIES most Honourable Priuie Councell And to the Right Honourable SIR EDVVARD COKE Lord Cheefe Iustice of England and one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Councell THOMAS MASON wisheth all Happinesse in this Life and eternall Felicitie in the world to come MOST Reuerend and Right Honorable zealous Lords your daily and faithfull Orator being a professed Soldiour vnder Christs Banner in the behalfe of his spouse against Antichrist I could busie my selfe in no office so profitable for the Church and hurtfull vnto Antichrist as to gather together the bullets which haue been shot at him by Christs Souldiours in times past that now his children may shoote them at him againe with great facilitie And whereas venerable M r Fox of worthy memory hath gathered into one Booke the Acts and Monuments of the Church vnto his time one of the most profitablest Bookes that is for Gods Children except the Bible a Club able to beate downe the Popish Tower of Babell Yet what with the labour of reading so large a volume together with the deareness of the price thereof few that haue the Booke reade it ouer and the most part of men are not able to buy it whereby very little profit ariseth thereof vnto the Church I haue according to my power pared off the barke of this Club and made it tractable for all sorts of people they may buy it with little charge and peruse it with small paines and I dare promise them that they shall reape as much profit by reading this abridgement as by reading of the Booke at large I haue willingly omitted no matter of substance Here the Reader may see the cruelty of the Emperors vnto the Primitiue Church and whom they put to death and the manner of their deathes during the first ten Persecutions and how and when Christianitie began in this Realme And what successe it hath had at all times and when by what occasion and by whom most of the Monasteries and Cathedrall Churches of this Realme were builded and how when and by whom all points of Popery came into the Church and how the Pope hath exalted himself against Emperors Kings what iniuries he hath done to them With the Treasons Conspiracies that Papists haue practised against those that the Lord hath annointed vnto this day The Reader may also heere see the innumerable multitude of the Saints of God that the Papists haue from time to time murdered in all Countries for the testimonie of the Truth With all the points of Religion that the Martyrs did defend vnto death and all the reasons that the Papists vsed against their Arguments and how cruelly they handled them with many other most profitable things After I had done this Booke I was discouraged from putting of it to Print by reason I found another had abridged the Booke of Martyrs before me but when I perceiued it was done but superficially for all the points of Religion that the Martyrs defended or Papists obiected were omitted which disputations I chiefly labour to set forth therevpon I was resolued to goe forward When I had begun to quote all the Authors from whence M r Fox had his proofes for them that the Emperors put to death the Quotations were almost as large as the Story and made it very vnpleasant wherefore in most places for breuitie I haue omitted them leauing them that would see the proofes to the Book at large I haue herein abridged many bookes but especially the Booke of Martyrs as the Papists cannot abide the booke of Martyrs of all bookes so much more will they hate my booke which hath so truely and briefely discouered all their shame not onely out of that booke but out of diuers other bookes Wherefore most Reuerend and Right Honorable Lords your manifest dislike that you beare against the wickednes and falshood of Antichrist hath imboldned me to be an humble sutor vnto your Lordships to bee the Patrons of this my Booke and that you would vouchsafe to defend and further it by your Spirituall and Temporall Powers to the honour of Christ the great dishonour of Antichrist and the vnspeakeable benefit of Gods Children So with my hartie prayers I commit both your Honors your soules bodies and all that you haue vnto the safe preseruation of Christ Iesus and his holy Angels Your Lordships daily Oratour THOMAS MASON Preacher of Gods word in Odiham in the County of Southampton whose Father was Heire vnto S r IOHN MASON sometime a Priuy Councelor vnto Queene ELIZABETH THE EPISTLE VNTO THE RBADER EVen as the Reuelation and other places of Scriptures good Reader doâ— foretell Antichrist to come so this Historie declareth the fulfilling of those prophecies in all points all the Martyrs died in this faith that the Pope is Antichrist I could bethink my selfe of no instruction so profitable for the reading of this Booke as to giue thee a few rules to manifest vnto thee that the Popedome is that Antichrist which I will endeuor to declare vnto thee by these rules following first by his outward place of abode secondly by his inward and spirituall throne thirdly by his doctrine fourthly by his conditions fiftly by the height breadth length and ruine of his Kingdome I will but open the way vnto thee this Booke shall proue by experience my sayings to be true Touching his outward seate Reuel 17. 18. it is the Citie that then did raigne ouer the Kings of the earth which was Rome the place is also described in the ninth verse to be compassed about with seuen mountaines This Booke shall proue that Rome hath seuen mountaines about it In the same verse this Citie hath had fiue kings that were then falne another King did raign which was the Emperour when the Reuelation was made and another was to come afterward This book shall teach thee that the seuen Kings signifie seuen maner of Gouernments in Rome of which fiue was falne the Emperour then raigned and after the Pope should raigne there so the Holy Ghost hath pointed out Rome as plainly as can be the place of Antichrists Kingdome
al people with whom they dare deale so to allow the Popes Buls and Authority and be discharged of their Allegeance and to be well warranted to take armes against her Maiesty when they shall bee thereunto called and to be ready secretly to ioyne with any Forraine force that can be procured to inuade the Realme whereof they giue great comfort of successe And because most euident perils would follow if these virmine were suffered to creepe by stealth into the Realme and spread their poyson therein therefore doe they most iustly sufâ—er death as Traitors One of their compaine Doctor Sanâ—ders a lewd Scholler and subiect of England a fugitiue a principall conspirator with the traytors and rebells at Rome was the Popes Legat and commander and treasorer for those warres aforesaid passing into Ireland openly by writing he gloriously auowed the Popes Bull as is before declared but God plagued him with a strange death who wandring in the monâ—ntaines in Ireland without succour died rauing in a frensie The miserable Earle of Desmond being a principall doer in the rebellion in Ireland secretly wandring without succour as a miserable beggar was taken by one of the Irishrie in his Cabbin and his head cut off from his body an eâ—d due to such an arch-rebell Iames Fitz Morrice the first traytor in Ireland next vnto Stukeley was slaine by an Irish yong Gentleman as he went to burne his fathers countrey Desmount brother vnto the Earle a blondie faithlesse traytor and a notable murtherer of his familier friends who likewise wandring to séeke some prey like a Welâ—e in the woods he was taken and beheaded as he had vsed others being as he thought sufficiently armed with the Popes Bulls and an Agnus Dei and a notable ring hanging about his neck sent from the Popes â—â—â—ger Iohn Someruile a furious yong man of Warwick shire of late he was discouered and taken in his way comming with a full intent to haue killed the Quéen he confessed his attempt and that he was moued thereunto in his wicked spirit by inticements of certaine seditious and trayterous persons his kinsemen and allies and by often reading of sundry seditious vile bookes lately published against the Quéenes Maiestie William Parry his treasons against Queene ELIZABETH HEe had committed a great outrage against a Gentlemâ—n one M. Hare of the Inner Temple meaning to haue murdered him in his owne chamber for which he was iustly conuicted wherefore he went beyond Sea and subiected himselfe vnto the Pope and vpon conference with certaine Iesuits he conceiued his detestable treason to kill the Quéene which he vowed himselfe by promise letters and vowes to performe it and so returned vnto England in Ianuary 1583. and put in practise diuers times to execute his diuellish purpose Pretending that he had matter of great importance to reueale vnto the Quéen he obtained secret accesse vnto her Maiestie she hauing then but one Councellor with her who was so farre distant as he could not heare his spéech he shewed her Maiestie his procéedings with the â—esuits and one Thomas Morgan a fugitiue at Parris who perswaded him to kill her Maiestie saying that his only intent of procéeding so farre with â—hem was but only to this end to discouer the dangerous practises deuised and attempted against her Maiestie by her diâ—loyal subiects and other malicious persons in forren parts but afterward it appeared most manifestly by his owne confession and by his dealing with one Edmund Neuill Esquire that his intent in discouering the same in such sort as he did was but to make the way the easier vnto his most diuellish purpose The Quéen suffred him diuers times to haue priuate conference with her â— offered him a most liberal pension yet notwithstanding he did vehemently importunat the said Neuill to be an associate vnto his wicked enterprise as to an action lawfull and meritorious but the Almighty God that was protector of her Maiesty euen from her cradle so wrought in Neuils heart as he was moued to reueale the same vnto her Maiesty whereupon the examination of the matter was committed vnto the Earle of Leicester and Sir Christopher Hatton vpon the examination whereof when Parrie saw the said Neuill so to declare the truth and so constantly affirme the same he confessed all saying that comming vnto the chamber of Thomas Morgan aforesaid one greatly beloued and trusted in the Papists side he broke with me that I should vndertake to kill the Quéen I told him it would be easily done if it were lawfully done and warranted in the opinion of som learned Deuines then I was resolued by Deuines and I went so farre by Letters and conferences in Italie that I could not goe backe but promised faithfully to performe the enterprise if his holinesse would allow it and grant me remission of my sinnes then I confessed my selfe vnto a Iesuite and tooke his aduice in the matter who most louingly imbraced and commended me then I wrote a Letter vnto the Pope to require of him absolution of my sinnes in consideration of so great an enterprise vndertaken without promise or reward then I went vnto the Popes Nuntio and read the letter vnto him and inclosed and sealed it he promised me to procure answer from the Pope and louingly imbraced me wished me good spéede and promised me that I should be remembred at the Altar Then he said he comming to England hee got accesse vnto the Quéene as before then came Letters into England vnto me from Cardinall Como whereby I found the enterprise commended and allowed and my selfe absolued in the Popes name of all my sinnes and willed to go forward in the name of God That Letter I shewed vnto some in Court who imparted it to the Quéene notwithstanding it confirmed my resolution to kill her and made it cleere in my conscience that it was lawfull and meritorious When I looked vpon her Maiestie and remembred her many excellencies I was greatly troubled yet I saw no remedie for my vowes were in heauen and my letters and promises in earth after Doctor Collens book was sent me out of France it redoubled my former conceits euery word in it was a warrant to a prepared minde it taught that Kings may he excommunicated depriued and violently handled it proueth that all wars ciuill or forren vndertaken for religion are honourable whereupon hee was condemned of treason and drawne vpon a Hurdle from the Tower vnto the Pallace of Westminster where he was executed Francis Throgmorton HIs confession was to this effect When I was at Spaw in the Countrey of Liege I entred into conference with one Ienney a notorious traytor touching the altering of the State of the Realme here and how the same might be attempted by forreign inuasion and to the like effect I had sundry conferences with Sir Francis Englefield in the Low Countries who daily solicited the K. of Spaine to inuade the Realme and I continued practising against her Maiestie and the State by
Scottish man and therefore since he had forgotten to drink to his Maiesty or sit with his guests and entertayne them his maiesty would drink to him his own welcom desiring him to take it forth and drink to the rest of the company and in his Maiesties name to make them welcome Whereupon as he went forth his Maiesty rose from the table and desired M. Alexander to bring Sir Thomas Erskine with him who desiring the K. to goe forward with him and promising that he should make any one or two follow him that he pleased to call for desiring his Maiesty to commaund publikely that none should follow him Thus the K. accompanied only with the said M. Alexander comes forth of the chamber passeâ—h through the end of the hall where the Noblemen and his Maiesties seruants were sitting at their dinner vp a Turnepeck and through three or foure Chambers the sayd Master Alexander euer locking behinde him euery doore as he passed and then with a more smiling countenance than hee had all the day before euer saying he had him sure and safe enâ—ugh kept vntill at the last his Maiesty passiâ—g thorow three or foure sundry houses and all the doores locked behinde him his Maiesty entred into a little studie where he saw standing with a very abased countenance not a bond-man but a free man with a dagger at his girdle but his Maiesty had no sooner entred into that little study and Master Alexander with him but Master Alexander locked to the study doore behinde him and at that instant changing his countenance putting his hat on his head and drawing the Dagger from that other mans girdâ—e held the point of it to the Kings breast auowing now that the King be hoouâ—d to be in his will and vsed as hee list swearing many bloody oths that if the king cryed one word or opened a window to look out that the dagger should presently go to his heart affirming that he was sure that now the kings conscience was burthened for murthering his father His Maieâ—â—y wondring at so sodaine an alteration standing naked without any kinde of armour but his hunting horne which he had not gâ—â—ten leysure to lay from him betwixt these two traytors which had conspired his life the said maister Alexander standing as is said with a dagger in his hand and his sword at his side but the other trembling and quaking rather like â—ne condemned than an executioner of sâ—ch an enterprise His Maiesty begun then to â—ilate to the said M. Alexander how horrible a thing it was for him to meddle with his Maiesties innocent blood assuring him it would not be left vnreuenged since God had giuen him children and good subiects and if they neither yet God would raise vp stocks and stâ—nes to punish so vile a deed Protesting before God that he had no burthen in his conscience for the execution of his father both in respect that at â—he tiâ—e of his fathers execution his Maiesty was but a minor of age and guided at that time by a faction which ouer-ruled both his Maiesty and the rest of the countrey as also that whatsoeuer was done to his fathâ—r it was done by the ordinary course of Law and iustice Appealing the saide Master Alexander vpon his conscience how wâ—ll hee all times since had deserued at the hands of all his race not onely hauing restored them to their lands and dignities but also in now ishiâ—g and bringing vp of two or three of his sisters as it were in his own bosâ—me by a continuall attendance vpon his Maiesties dearest bed-fellow in hâ—r â—riuie chamber Laying also before him the terrors of his conscience especially that he made profession according to his education of the same religion which his Maiesty had euer professed and namely his Maiesty râ—membred him of that holy man Mast. Robert Rollocke whose scholler he was assuring him that one day the said Master Roberts soule would accuse him that he had neuer learned of him to practise such vnnatural cruelty his Maiesty promising to him on the word of a Prince that if hee would spare his life anâ— suffer him to go out againe he would neuer reueale to any one liuing what was betwixt them at that tâ—me nor neuer suffer him to inâ—ur any harm or punishment for the same But his Maiesties feare was that he could hope â—or no sparing at his hands hauing such cruelty in his looks and standing so irreuerently couered with his â—at on which forme of rigorous behauiour could prognosticate nothing to his Maiesty but present extremity But at his Maiesties perswasiue language he appeared to be somewhat amazed and vncouering his head againe swore and protested that his Maiesties life should be safe if he would behaue himselfe quietly without making any noyse and that he would only bring in the Earl his Brother to speak with his Maiesty whereupon his Maiesty enquiring what the Earle would doe with him since if his Maiesties life were safe according to promise they could gaine little in kéeping such a prisoner His answere onely was that he could tell his Maiesty no more but that his life should be safe in case he behaued himselfe quietly the rest the Earle his brother whom he was going for would tell his Maiesty at his comming With that as he was going forth for hiâ— brother as he affirmed he turned him about to the other man saying these words vnto him I make you here the Kinges kéeper tul I come backe againe and see that you keepe him vpon your owne perill and therewithall said to his Maiesty you must content your selfe to haue this man now your keeper vntill my comming backe With these words he passeth forth locking the doore after him leauing his Maiesty with that man he found there before Of whom his Maiesty then enquired if he were appointed to be the murtherer of him at that time and how farre he was vpon the â—oâ—nsel of that conspiracy whose answer with a trembling and astonished voice and behauiour was that as the Lord should â—â—dge him he was neuer made acquainted with that purpose but that he was put in there perforce the doore lockt vpon him a little space before his Maiesties comming as indeed all the time of the said M. Alexanders menacing his maiestie he was euer trembling requesting him for Gods sake and with many other attestations not to meddle with his maiesty nor to doe him any harme But because M. Alexander had before his going forth made the King sweare he should not cry nor open any window his maiesty commanded the said fellow to open the window on his right hand which he readily did so that although he was put in there to vse violence on the King yet God so turned his hart as he became a slaue to his prisoner While his maiesty was in this dangerous estate none of his owne seruants nor â—raine knowing where he was as his Maiesties train was arising in the Hal from
the victory the said E. of Gowry being striken dead with a stroke through y â— hart which the said sir Io Ramsey gaue him without once crying vpoÌ„ God the rest of his seruants dung ouer the staires with many hurts as â—n like maner y â— said sir Tho Erskin 〈◊〉 Hugh Hereis sir Iohn Ramsey were all thrâ—â— very sore hurt and wouâ—ded But al the time of this â—ight the D. of Lâ—nnox the Earl of Mar the rest of his Maieâ—ties traine â—ere striking with great hammerâ— at the vtter doore whâ—rby his maiesty paâ—â—t vp to the chamber with the said M. Alexander which also he had lockt in his by-comming with his maiesty to the chamber but by reason of the strength of the said double doore â—he whole wall being likewise of boords and yéelding with the strokesâ— it did bide the◠〈◊〉 space of half an houre more before they could break it â— hauâ— entreâ—â—e who 〈…〉 with his maiesty found beyond their expectation his Maiesty deliuered from so imminent a perill the said late Earle the principall conspirator lying dead at his Maiesties â—éet Immediatly thereafter his maiesty knéeling down on his knées in the middest of his own seruants they all kneeling round about him his maiesty out of his own mouth thanked God of that miraculous deliuerance and victory assuring himselfe that God hath preserued him from so dispaiâ—ed a peril for the perfecting of some greater work behind to his glory and for procuring by him the weale of his people y â— God had committed to his charge In the first beginning of the Kings Maiesties raign ouer England William Watson William Clarke Seminary Priests and George Brooke brother vnto the Lo Cobham had most traiterously deuised a plot whereby the Kings person should haue bâ—en surprised and the whole kingdome ouerthrowne and they had entised to the imbracing their trayterous Machinations Anthony Copley Gentleman Sir Griffin Markam Knight the Lord Cobham the Lord Gray Sir Walter Rawleigh and others But before they had brought their Conspiracies vnto â—ffect the Lord of his accustâ—med goodnes and carefulnes ouer his Maiestie made all their Conspiracies apparant vnto the King and his Councell and about the middest of Iuly in the first yeare of his Highnes raigne proclamations were made out for the apprehension of them whereby they were taken and in Nouâ—mber after they were all condemned of High Treason and the nine and twenty day of Nouember the two Priests were executed and sir dayes after George Brooke was â—eheaded and the ninth of December Sir Griffin Markam and the Lord Cobham and the Lord Gray after they had been seuerally brought vpon the scaffold in the Castle of Winchester and had made their Confessions and prepared themselues likewise seuerally to die vpon the sudden the Kings warrant written with his own hand was there deliuered vnto Sir Beniamin Tichborne high Sheriffe of Hampshire commanding him to stay execution these three and Sir Water Rawleigh were returned priâ—oners vnto the Tower the fifteenth of December The Gunpowder Treason THomas Pearcy Robert Catesby Thomas Winter others in the last yeare of the raigne of Q. Elizabeth by the inâ—â—igation of certaine Iesuites practised with thâ— King of Spain to send a well â—urnished Army vpon England promising him great ayde to entertaine them at their arriuall at Milford Hauen and to that purpose the King promised to 〈◊〉 them fifâ—y thousand pound for leuying of horse and foote and preparation of Munition in England to second them but whilst this was in a manner concluded Q. Elizabeth dyed the King of Spaine vpon certaine knowledge that K. Iames was established dispatchâ—d his Ambassadors and Commissioners for England â—or coâ—firmation of a lasting Peace between them yet neuerthelesse the said Rob. Catesby sent Tho Winter againe to the King of Spaine to resolicite their former proiect but the King answered him your old Quéens is dead with whom I had wars and you haue a new King with whom I haue euer bin in good peace and amity and for continuance thereof I haue sent my speciall Commissioners and vntill I sée what will become thereof I will not hearken vnto any other course whatsoeuer When Winter returned and made this knowne vnto Catesby Pearcy and the rest then they began to cast about what they might doe of themselues to aduance the Romance Catholick Religion but first they would see the euent of the first Parliament if that would mittigate any former Lawes and try what good the Conclusion of Peace with Spaine would doe vnto them before they attempted any further but when they perceiued that neither Parliament nor publike Peace sorted in any part to their desire and that the Peace concluded was rather a more ready meanes for the Law to procéed against them then otherwise because the Peace concerned onely the Amitie of Christian Princes for the generall good of Christendome without any particular or priuat respect then Catesby told the rest he had a deuice in his head that should free them and the rest of the English Catholiques from their oppressions and when he had found out â—it Ministers for execution of his deuice after they had taken oath and Sacrament for secresie hee told them hee had deuised the meane to vndermine and blow vp the Parliament house at the instant when the King Queene Prince Peeres and Commons were all assembled which proiect they presently embraced and forthwith Pearcy hired certaine lodgings close to the Parliament house and then they appointed Miners who with great difficultie digged and vndermined a part of the wall but after a while they vnderstood that the Uaâ—t right vnder the Parliament house was to bee let to hyre then Guydo Fawkes went and hyred it this Fawkes was late a Souldiour in Flanders and for this purpose was sent for who by consent of the rest changed his namâ— and was called Iohn Iohnson Maister Pearcies man after they had hyred the Uaut theâ— secretly conuayed into it thirty and sir barrels of powder and couered them all ouer with Billets and Faggots â—bout ten daies before the Parliamâ—nt should begin an vnknowne party in the Euening met a seruant of the Lord Mounteagles in the streâ—t and deliuered him a Letter charging him speedily to giue it vnto his Lord which he did when his Lord had read it and obserued the dangerous câ—ntents with a speciall caueat not to appeare the first day of Parliament he was amazed and forthwith deliuered it to the Earle of Salisbury the Kings Principall Secretary a chiefe Counselor of Estate when the Earle had iudiciously obserued the strange Phrase and Tenor thereof with the terrible threats therein against the whole State he acquainted the Lord Chamberlain therewith and then they câ—nioined vnto them the Lord Admirall the Earles of Worcester and Northampton who instantly consulted what was
Cardinall signifying that he would drowne himselfe and to leaue his clothes there and another Letter to the Mayor of the Towne to search for him in the water because he had a Letter written in parchment wrapt in wax about his neck for the Cardinal which would teach all men to beware of him vpon this they were seuen daies a searching for him but he went to London in a poore mans apparell and thence to Anwerpe to Luther and there answered all the Bishops of the Realme and made a Booke called acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henry When it was told the Cardinall he was drowned he said perit memoria eius cum sonitu but this lighted vpon himselfe for shortly after he poyso-himselfe In the beginning of the Raigne of Quéene Anne he and others came againe into England and continued a faithfull Preacher in the Citie of London and in her Graces time well entertained and promoted and after sent by King Henry the eight Ambassador to the Duke of Cleaue for the marriage of the Lady Anne of Cleaue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted vntill Gardiner came out of France but then neither Religion nor the Queene prospered nor Cromwell nor the preachers Then followed alteration in marriage vntill hee had grafted the marriage into another stocke by the â—ccasion whereof hee began his bloudy worke Soone after Doctor Barnes and his Brethren were carried to the King to Hampton Court to be examined But the King seeking meanes of his safety bad him goe home with Gardiner and confer with him they not agréeing Gardiner sought opportunitie to dispatch Barnes and the rest as he had done by the Queâ—ne the Lady Anne of Cleue and the Lord Cromwell and he appointed them three to preach thrée Sermons at the Spittle which were baites to minister iust occasion of their condemnations A hen they were sent for to Hampton Court and from thence carried vnto the Tower and came not thence but to their deathes Then the Protestants went beyond Sea Priests were diuorced from there Wiues certaine Bishops deposed and other good men denied Christ and bore Faggots then they were put to dâ—ath without iudgement a Papist and a Protestant were laid vpon one hurdle and drawn to Smithfield This was Winchesters deuise to colour his tyrany Then Barnes hid the Sheriffe beare him witnes he died Christianly and Charitably and prayed them all to pray for him and if the dead may pray for the quick we will pray for you so they forgaue their enemies and kissed one another and stood hand in hand at the stake vntill the â—â—re came and so rested in Christ. The same day one Powell Fetherstone and Abel were hanged drawne and quartered in the same place for denying the Kings Supremacie and maintaining the Kings marriage with the Lady Katherine Dowager The reason was because as one halfe of the Councell being Papists called vpon Barnes Garet and Hierome to be executed so the other part of the Councell called vpon these thrée Papists to be executed In this yéers a Boy one Richard Mekins but fiftéene yeares old was burned in Smithfield for speaking somewhat against the Sacrament of the Altar In like manner Richard Spencer Priest leauing his papistry married a Wife and got his liuing by day-labour Hee was burnt in Salisbury because hee was thought to hold opinion against the Sacrament and one Andrew Hewet was burned with him About this time Cardinall Poole Brother to the Lord Mountegew was attainted of high treason and fled to Rome where he was made Cardinall of Saint Mary Cosmoden where he remained vntill Quéene Maries time Stokely Bishâ—p of London and Tunstone Bishop of Duresme writ to him to perswade him to abandon the Supremacy of the Pope and to conforme himselfe to the Religion of his King which Letter thou maist reade in the Booke at large which sufficiently proueth the Pope not to be supreme head of the Church but because this Doctrine is as sufficiently proued in other places I omit to abridge it In this yeere the King by the aduice of his Councell sent forth a Decree for the setting vp the Bible in the great volume in euery parish Church in England This yeare Iohn Porter a Taylor a lusty yong man was by Bonner Bishop of London cast into Newgate for reading in the Bible in Paules Church where he was miserably famished to death About this time Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne burned two vpon one day one Thomas Barnard and the other Iames Morton the one for teaching the Lords Prayer in Englâ—sh and the other for kéeping the Epistle of Saint Iames in English In this yeare the Kings Maiestie vnderstanding that all Idolatry and vainâ— pilgrimages were not vtterly abolished within these Dominions directed his Letters vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury for the spéedy amendment of the same Anthony Pierson Priest Robert Testwood singing man Henrie Finmore Taylor and Iohn Marbeck singing man were burned at VVindsor THese Articles were obiected against Pierson that he had said Euen as Christ once hanged betweene two theeues so when he is holden vp betwixt the Priests handes he hangs betwixt two theeues except the Priest sincerely preach Gods word That he preached that Christ should not be eaten as he did hang vpon the Crossâ— with his flesh torne and the bloud running about their mouthes but he was to be eaten this day that we might also feed on him to morrow and next day and continually and that he was of more power after his resurrection then he was before That Christ sitting amongst his Disciples commended the Scriptures vnto them when he said This is that bread this is that body of Christ so when hee brake bread and bade them deuide it amongst them and eate it for it was his bodie and likewise the cup saying This is my bloud hee signified to vs that wee should receiue the Scriptures and distribute them vnto the people It was obiected against Finmore that he had said that the Sacrament of the Altar was but a similitude and that if it were God he had eaten twenty Gods in his life He condemned Testwood for iesting with the Priest when he lifted vp the host saying Ho take héed that he fall not That Marbeck with his owne hands had writ notes out of certaine Authors which were repugnant to the masse and sacrament of the Altar and that he said The Masse was impure and defiled with much vngodlinesse and it spoyleth God of his honour and that the eleuation of the sacrament represents the Calues of Ieroboam and is worse Idolatrie then those were and that therein Christ was counted a mocking-stock There was a fift man named Bennet vnto whose charge it was laid that hée should say the daily Masses vsed in the Church were superfluous and that it were sufficient the seuenth day were kept holy Bennet and Marbeck were pardoned by the King the other thrée stoutly suffered