to haue beene aliue would not haue made some hinderance or stop at least some challenge at the time of his mariage with the Ladie Margaret Teuther So as this Ladie might more easilie and honourablie haue shrunke back from the mariage and avoided it before it was solemnized then to haue sought to dissolue it it being once accomplished and admit that this was the cause yet it can stand with no reason that she should deferre it whole foure yeeres and more and after all this while to seek then to be divorced from him when he had issue by her But they that are but meanlie acquainted with the Scottishe histories knowes that this is non causa pro causa and that the true cause was because the Erle fel in loue with a gentle woman of Douglas-dale whome hee kept as his concubine which his Ladie took so to heart as she would never be reeonciled to him after that by this act he had defiled her bed such was her Princelie minde And it is reported of king Iames the fift that hee was accustomed to aske such of his servants as were moste inwarde with him whither the said gentle-woman were fairer then his mother So this act of the Earle of Angus falling out about some fowre yeeres after the birth of the Ladie See Holins compare pag. 303. with 306. in the Scottish historie Margaret Douglas his daughter can no whit stain or embase her in blood being begot and borne in lawfull mariage But for further proofe of the legitimation she was alwaies by all men taken reputed as the sole and onlie heire to the Earle of Angus and served as they call it by the Scottish lawes to the said Earedome and had all the evidences writtings Pag. 335. of the same delivered to her as to whome of right they did appertaine But vpon the mariage of her sonne the Lord Darnlie with the late Queene of Scots she was content at the said Queenes instance to permit and yeeld the said Earledome to the disposing of the Queene according her best liking which honor and Earledome the said Queene of Scots did bestow vpon Archbald late Earle of Angus Fran. Thyne in his supplem to Holinshed all which you may see at large in the Scottish and English Chronicles And my Lord Dowglas who at this present hath his lodging in Lyme-street was the man as I take it that was sent from the said Queene to the Ladie Margaret beeing then prisoner in the Tower to treate of the resignation of the Earledom with this message It was a wel lost Earledome which brought home a kingdom These are sound proofes that the L. Margaret was no bastard and that this which is brought to impeach her legitimation beeing truelie delivered doth maynlie strengthen the same For mine own part I make no question if her Maiesty would be pleased but that my Lord Treasurer who hath sifted this matter more then anie man and who is esteemed of all men to bee warie and wise enough and not to bee any of the Scottishe Kings greatest friends would venture Sir Roberts young sonne though he be vnder yeeres vppon Ladie Arbella her title albeit it come by this onely branche of the Ladie Margaret Dowglas and come also even in it a degree after the king and his children And that you may the better belieue me I pray you be remembred what attempt my Lord made for one of Sir Thomas his sonnes To cōclude this point whatsoever right my L. doth giue by this branch to the said king collaterallie with Ladie Arbella I see no reasō why any other mā should seek to take it from him knowing that most men comes shorte of my Lord in the search and knowledge of this matter but verie few or none short of my L. in favour and affection towards him The obiection made against his mothers line is not so much the argument of any competitor or anie of their favourers or the doubt of anie of the skilfuller and better sorte as a scruple bred in the minds of the common people arising frō I know not what buzing reporte of an act of Association the truth of which is this During the custodie of the Scottishe Queene there were diuerse conspiracies practized by Iesuites and other Papists male-contentes against our Soveraigne Ladie not without the knowledge and privitie of the said Queene which course of conspiracies treasons when the LL. of her Maiesties moste honorable privie councell did discerne that they could by no meanes stop so long as the Scottish Queene lived and withall that the only remedie to prevent them was that the Law should take place for her triall Yet fearing that her execution if she should bee found guiltie might be the cause of great sturres troubles by reason of her great factions in the neighbour Realmes and of her favourers in this land it seemed good to them for withstanding and repressing of such commotions if anie shoulde ensue and for the better maintenance of the peace and tranquillitie which the state did enioy to make an act of Association the tenor whereof for your better satisfaction further instruction I haue thought good to set down at large as followeth AN INSTRVMENT OF ASsociation for the preservation of the Queenes Maiesties person made An. 1584. and confirmed by an act of Parliament Anno Reg. Eliz. 27. FOrasmuch as Almightie God hath ordained Kings Queenes and Princes to haue dominion and rule over their subiects and to preserue them in the profession and obseruation of the true Christian Religion according to his holie Word and commandement and in the like sort that all subiectes shoulde loue feare and obey their Soueraigne prince beeing king or Queene and to the vttermost of their povver at all times vvithstand pursue and suppresse all manner of persones that shall by any meanes entend and attempt any thing dangerous and hurtfull to the honours states and persons of their Soueraignes Therefore vvee vvhose names are or shall be subscribed to this vvryting being naturall borne subiects of this Realme of England and having so gracious a Ladie Elizabeth by the ordināce of God our most rightfull Queene raigning over vs these many yeeres vvith great felicitie to our inestimable comfort and finding of late by diuerse depositions confessions and sundrie aduertisements out of forraine parts from credible persons vvell knovvne to her Maiestie counsell and diuerse others for the furtherance and aduancement of some pretended titles to the crovvne of this Realme it hath beene manifest that the life of our most gracious Soueraigne Ladie hath bene most trait erouslie and diuelishlie sought and the same follovved most dangerouslie to the perill of her person if Almightie God her perpetuall defender of his mercie had not reuealed and vvithstood the same by vvhose life vve and all others her Maiesties true and loyall subiects doe enioy an inestimable benefite of peace in this land DOE FOR the reasons and causes before alleadged
christian nobility and commons and the christian Scottish king his christian nobilitie commons albeit the imperiall crowne of this worthie realme shoulde be given after her highnes decease from the said Scottish king sithence hee and his nobilitie may hereby plainelie and evidentlie see that we kindlie desire and imbrace his loue and neither envie him nor his title neyther yet his rule nor government but desire onlie that the right may be carefullie and vprightlie examined sought our given to him to whom of right it duelie appertaineth wherby God may giue a blessing to both these noble Realmes for this heavenly iustice by means whereof the vnnaturall and vngodlie subversion of both these worthie common-wealthes may be avoyded If the Scottish king were conferred with in this matter of great importance as much concerning his safetie and the safetie of his realme as the safetie of our state and shoulde refuse and denie this godlie and quiet triall offered in the ellevinth question thereby perilling both these worthie Common-wealthes it would wound all hearts And God in his iustice would revenge himselfe who is the Lord of anger and the mighty revenger Nahum 1. 2. And the Prophet Ezekiell saith As Ezech. 35. 6. I liue saith the Lord God I will prepare thee vnto blood except thou hate blood even blood shall pursue thee FINIS A TREATISE CONTAINING M. WENTWORTHS IVDGEMENT CONCERNING THE PERSON OF THE TRVE and lawfull successor to these Realmes of England and Ireland WHEREIN THE TITLE IS BRIEFLY AND PLAINLIE SET down DOLMANS objections refuted and inconveniences remoued Made two yeeres before his death but published a yeere after his death for the publick benefite of this Realme IMPRINTED 1598. A TREATISE CONTAINING M. VVentvvorth his Iudgement of the heire apparant SIR I haue receaved your letters by the which you craue my opinion for the drift of DOLMANS book and further what I think for the person of the true sucessor Sir my iudgement in my own conceit is but weak and I would The occasion of this treatise bee loath to diue into such questions as may encrease my affliction But yet as conscience doeth binde mee to communicate my small measure of knowledge vpon good respects with al those that seek not to entrap me as the late L. Chancellour did at the Counsell table but to enforme themselves of the right in a matter so highly importing them that they may be able to discerne betweene errour and truth So I am first to discharge this duty to you and to those your freinds whom you doe mention by reason of manie other great bonds I pray you bee carefull how you impart it the times are ticklish and the handling of this question verie dangerous although conscience and sound policie doe require that even they who forbid it should moste of all others searche it out and earnestlie debate it for as wee nowe finde in experience by this book the most dangerous practise which the enemies and traitours to our state could ever haue vsed for the vndermining of the same is by such seditious and pernitious courses to overwhelme the light right of succession with so great darknes as the iudgements not onlie of the multitude but even of manie of the better sort may be dazeled and when the time of trial shal come they may be striken with such a dump and amazement as they shall not discerne what to doe or whom to follow So the mercilesse sword shall giue iudgement with them that may be strongest and our country which is now populous wealthie renowmed for valour shal be by our owne hand dispeopled wasted tread vnder foote and made a by-word by the proud enemie Al which might bee easilie prevented if it would please God to moue our dread soveraigne to take to hart that humble petition which in the conscience of my bounden dutie to God her Maiestie and my countrie I did exhibite to her highnesse and for which now I patiently suffer thogh most guiltlesse not only in my own conceit but even in the judgement of my Lorde Tresurer who as hee affirmed at the counsell table had three severall times perused my book and found no thing but what he thought to be true and stood assured would at last come to passe But as he then said her Maiesty had determined that that question should be suppressed so long as ever shee lived Good Sir God hath his owne work going on which no man shall stay whither it be for our good as I hope most hartilie wishe or otherwaies and on his will I willinglie rest that hath appointed a time for everie purpose vnder heaven As for the booke this is my opinion in few words That no man can in reason expecte to gather grapes of thornes or The authors opinion of Dolmans book thinke anie good can be intended to our Queene and countrie by a Spanish harted papist His name doth forewarne you of his deceite which cleerelie appeareth in everie part of his booke His purpose is plaine to worke our dissension debate and destruction The booke is no fuller of lynes then of lies which are countenanced most times with the credite of noble men other whiles floorished and glazed with sentences and textes of Scripture impudentlie disswading the tryall of succession which everie favorer of our good doth wish it giveth title to manie who haue no reason to be touched with anie such matter and closlie impeaches the right and governement of our gracious Queene It is wiselie suppressed not for that it carries anie other force or greater matter then grosse forgeries and palpable lies but because our people are weak and simple in this question and may bee easilie seduced beeing barred to looke into it notwithstanding they stand charged by their dutie to God their countrie to examine and search out the same I haue not a litle stoode with some of my friends whither this question was more to be regarded then the matter of discipline And I thinke by such practises we haue sufficient proofe that this is the foundation and pillar on which the Realme and Religion doeth rest It is to no purpose to answere him for we shall never be without gainsayers even against the cleerest truthes yet in this my discourse I will briefly touch in their owne places some things which hee hath craftilie foisted in applying himselfe closlie and covertlie to the dispositions of our nation especially of the common sort that hee may the more forceablie perswade the doubtfulnes of the right of succession and so distract vs in mindes and turne our forces against our selues As for anie thing els that is in the said booke I say with Salomon that a foole is not to be answered in his foolishnes when the answering may imply some estimation or conceite of that which of it selfe is iust nothinge but yet by answering may be thought to be something For my opinion of the right of succession it were fitter it
that Dauid had by diuers wyues and so great perill to the kingdome The comparison of Israell and England and subiects of Dauid The consideration whereof made Dauid carefull to end the controuersie in his life-time But now amongst vs the contention for the crowne when God hath once taken you hence if by like meanes by you it be not preuented is like to bee amongst the children of diuerse families and therfore the more deadlie and consequentlie the more dangerous Wherefore as the state of Israell then mooued Dauid to make his successor knowne so nowe the state of England ought to moue you for herein he did but that which Moses example taught him to doe and therefore that which as a king he was bound to doe Againe it is euident in the story that the Lord did lyke and allowe of his so doing and therefore there was obedience therein to the Lordes will for mans owne will-works he neuer delighteth in An example then it is to follow in the like case to all good Kings and Queenes and as a mirrour it remayneth still to all such to teache them to doe the like when like neede requyreth For whatsoeuer is written in the Scripture Application of the former examples to her Maiestie Rom. 15. 4. is written for our learning Think therefore moste gratious soueraigne that these facts of Moses and Dauid are thus recorded in the holiestoric not onlie that you should knowe that God his Magistrates thus gouerned but especiallie that hereby you may learne to gouerne to the safetie of your subiectes as they did Thus you see that neither perill to their persons nor feare of Eclipsing of their owne present honors could stay either of these from gouerning to the safetie of their people and yet they had sufficient wisdome to foresee what might befall them that way And therefore if it were vertue and obedience to God in them and so no worke of supererogation as sufficientlie it hath alreadie appeared how can it be but a falt and disobedience to his holy will in your Maiestie if vppon so vrgent and iust occasion as they or euer any Prince had you refuse to doe as they did Further we reade that when Esay the Prophet brought Hezekiah word that he should set his house in order for that hee should die that the king wept sore of Esay 38. 1. 2. The fift argument from the example of Ezechiah who wept when he heard that he should die becaus then there was no heire apparant to succeed him which his weeping S. Augustine vppon Esay affirmeth this to bee the principall cause that if theÌ„ he had died he had died without an heyre apparant And very well may it be so for if it had so falne out to his griefe he foresawe that not onely great calamities and troubles therevpon would haue ensued to his people but also that it was some testimonie of the Lords wrath towards him if in him God should haue ceased from performing his promise to Dauid of neuer leauing him without one to sit on his throne after him which caused him rather to weepe then the newes of his death saieth Augustine And to vse a good proofe for the truth heereof this is certaine that Manasses his heire that succeeded him was not either borne or begotten when he so wept For it is said that he was but twelue yeares old when he began to raigne and Ezechiah vppon his repentance had 15. yeares added to his life after thus he had wept Least therefore your Maiesty haue iust cause bitterly to weepe for the denying of this mercie to your naturall people euen then when you woulde moste gladelie haue comfort and consolation and doe moste ferventlie craue it at the Lords hand Sweet Ladie prouide aforehand that there may be one known who of right is to sit vppon your throne after you when you be gone to the Lord. The rather most noble soueraigne The sixt argument from the example of her Maiesties father King Henrie the eight your Maiestie is to take these examples to heart and to imitate them because your owne most noble Father King Henrie the eight of famous memory shewed himself as appeareth not onelie by diverse statutes made in his time and by him produced to that end but also by his wordes yet in Chronicle to his great â—â—â—â—ton pag. â—â—76 honor and renowne most carefull willing to imitate the same for it is chronicled that hee saide thus in Parliament to his subiects When wee remember our mortalitie and that we must die then do we think that our doings in our life-time are cleerlie defaced and worthie of no memorie if wee leaue you in trouble at the time of our death for if our true heire be not knowne at the time of our death see what mischief and trouble shall succeede to you and your children Marke gracious Queene your deare father in his wisdom fore-saw wonderfull miseries immediatlie and directlie arising from his leaving of his subiectes without succession knowne and established and that of his compassion and commiseration that therein hee had of his naturall subiectes hee was a prouoker of them that therein sufficient order might bee taken to preuent it Marke also that hee contented not himself with ruling of them well and protecting of them in safetie peace whilest hee himself liued but that his care for them stretched to their children childrens children God for his Christs sake grant your grace to proue his naturall childe heerein But that it might appeare that vppon sound aduise and good experience he had spoken the former words he addeth a dole-full president saying vnto his Nobles The experience whereof some of you haue heard what mischief and man slaughter continued in this Realme betwixt the houses of Yorke and Lancaster By which dissention this Realme had like clearlie to haue bene destroied O Christian and sweet words worthie such an heroicall and mightie Potentate of the world truly worthy to be written in letters of gold and alwaies to be carried and drawne in a Table before the eies of all his successors to the worldes end for though the things done by him in his life-time for the good of his people were manie and great euen such as ought neuer to be for gotten yet see he counted al them clearlie defaced and worthie of no memorie if before his death to prevent the mischiefs that otherwise would ensue to his subiects hee did not make knowne vnto them who of right ought to succeede The lamentable euils that befell this land by the dissension of the houses of Yorke and Lancaster proceeded hence that the right of succession was not cleered and established him yea it seemeth by his speach that he was of opinion as indeed it may be well gathered that all the euils that came to this Land by the dissention of the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster whiche were infinite arose even hence that ther had not sufficient care
spak these naturall words to his nobilitie and commons Grafton pag. 1278. namelie For your defence my tresure shall not be hidden nor if necessity require my person shal not be vnadventured And so Madame giue not your maiesties kind subiects cause once to imagine that a conceit onlie of fear to peril either your person or honour can or will stay you from doing so great a duetie as to perserue all your most loving subiects and whole countrie by this meanes from vtter confusion and desolation otherwise palpably sene to be vnavoidable ready to come vpon them euerie howre Nay how can it be but you having so oft yea so miraculouslie and sensiblie found God readie to protect and saue you from manie perils but you must needes gather to your comfort that much more if you honour him in this case hee will shewe that both hee can and will preserue you from all your enemies Therefore let not your noble heart perswade it self for fear of perill either to your person or honor to omit the doing of that which in al honour dutie and conscience both to god and man you are most bound to doe for the furtherance of Gods glorie and safetie of al your people and countrie Howbeit for a third generall answere to these obiections of peril the making your successour knowne hauing such reasons to warrant and iustifie the doing of it as we haue shewed so farre off it is that there is any peril indeed therin or therby like to arise vnto you that it is an especiall meane of your safety honor For out of what fountain spring al the calamities ruines of princes but from the neglect of Gods glorie of their dutie to the people committed to their charge or what castle and tower of defence proved ever so safe to princes as the favour of God and loue of his subiects which he vouchsafeth ever to them that preferre his will before their owne and obedience to him before their own safetie Let all histories both sacred and profane be perused and it shal be throughout all ages found true God give th◠blessing to those that obey him in actions that seeme verie dangerous that those princes even in shew and apparance of greatest perils haue alwaies beene most safelie protected preserved by the Lord which for doing their duties to God and their people haue hazarded themselues And therefore in doing this so needfull mercifull honorable dutie your Maiestie needes not once doubt of Gods providence protection towardes you therein but boldlie this shew of perils notwithstanding and confidentlie resting on the Lords safegarding of you therein you may when you wil most safelie go about and effect it Yet for your Maiesties full satisfaction The obiectiō of peril answered particularlie let vs by your Graces patience proceed to lay before you in order as they were propounded the weaknesse of everie one of these obiections The first feare ariseth from the longing that is supposed wil be in your successour when hee is once knowne after the highest place The second from the provocation that hee is like to haue that way by others Wherin first wee will answere the obiection concerning his owne ambition and then the other concerning provocation by others It is supposed in the obiection that it cannot be but that there will bee such a desire to climme in the once made knowne successor as will perill the present Prince Wee grant that naturallie fleshe blood is prone to be so affected but yet this is certaine that where the sprit of God is this corruption of nature The knowne successor doth strengthen the present Prince is so bridled that it bringeth foorth no dangerous fruits to the present governor Let King David beare witnesse heerevnto whose succession beeing appointed Confirmed by the example of David and confirmed by God and hee himself long time most iniuriouslie and cruellie persecuted by the present king Saule and he having oportunitie twise to haue slain his enemie and to haue saved his owne life and also to haue taken the crown yet neither the glorie of a kingdome the desire of revenge nor the care of preserving his owne life could make him once to lay hands on the Lords annointed to perill him Nay not onelie the spirit of God in Gods children but also naturall pietie and humanitie hath so much prevailed And of the heathen in this case that we read that Antoninus Philosophus beeing made the known successour to Antoninus Pius in the Romain Empire hearing that Antoninus Capitolinus Pius did lye in most extreame miserie even wearie of his life and to be ridde thereof had commanded one of his men to kill him This Antoninus Philosophus hearing thereof with a forcible hand staied that vnnatural murther for the which fact the story saith that the present Prince with furious words rebuked his successor bitterlie and that yet his said successor answered him againe thus Were I worthie to succeede so noble a Prince in so high a dignitie if I did not vse my best endeuor to preserue your life seeing it in perill No surelie I were not worthie thereof Loe heere an heathen knowne successor not by nature but by adoption as it is cleere in the storie for al that which is obiected against a known successor hath not onlie not perilled but preserved the life of him that had made him his successor And infinit be the exāples in all stories of such as beeing next to succeede yet haue never perilled the present governour and in comparison verie few be the examples to the contrarie And why then may not your Maiestie rather presume to finde the like good affection in him whome you shall make your successour then otherwise Trulie the reason is verie strong that maye bee yeelded to proue why he wil as little perill you as David did Saul or Antoninus Philosophus the other Antonine that was in the place before him for who soever it be the title now standing so doubfull as it doth when you haue cleered his title and by Parliament authority established it he must of necessity confesse and take himselfe so bound to you therefore as though you had even given him the kingdome for the which your wonderfull goodnes and bountie if there be but common reason and nature in him it will binde both his heart tongue and hands from ever contriving any thing to your perill Yea who can bee so monstrouslie brutish and voide of reason as having received such a benefit at your hands as the cleering of his title to such a noble kingdome so much also to the good safetie of al your subiects but he will thinke that by this meanes you must needs so winne the hearts of all your subiects and binde them to such an heartie loue and thankfulnes in such fast sort to you that if he should once but offer you vnkindnes he should be thought generallie a monster amongst
men and so not worthie of common life and then to be had in a generall contempt amongst all degrees Which so being were it likelie that ever he should get anie strength to perill your person And for further streÌ„gthening of this reason we are perswaded that if all stories wer perused there could hardlie any one example be found wher the present Prince was periâ—led by the meanes of that successor who had his title to succeede cleered vnto him by the present prince it being obscure doubtfull Few Princes hurt by their successors thus established before that time And this will bee your Graces verie case if that it shall please God to stirre vp your hart to make your successour knowne and even thus much shall he stand bound vnto you Againe who soever it shall please God to The successor whither Protestant or Papist or neuter would not hurt her Maiesty the one for conscieÌ„ce the other for feare lay it vpon he is like to be either Protestant papist or neuter if the first then Religion and conscience will keepe him in due order if he be either of the latter yet then also feare to lose all that they haue alreadie whiles they seeke more or to make their state worse then it was before by all good reason and likelyhoode will cause them patientlie to waite for their time But to put this feare quite out of feare good meanes would be vsed to reforme and bridle this ambitious inclination in the once known successor and so And if he should how he might bee restrained to prevent all perill thereby As first a sharpe and severe law would be made to take away his life if he be a subiect and quite disable his issue also that shall contriue the perill of the present Prince or anie way consent there-vnto Secondlie he would be vsed honorablie and courteouslie of the present prince for if the present Prince want issue hee is then his childe by adoption and heyre by lawe Thirdlie he is vertuouslie and religiously to be brought vp if he be vnder yeeres and to haue about him alwaies some trustie and faithfull freends and counsellors to the present Prince to direct him in a good course and to descrie him if he begin but to treade awrie And lastly where these means wil not serue there restraint of libertie vnder straight trusty guarde if hee owe alleageance may well and lawfullie be vsed And thus the daunger that might arise to your maiesties person by the proper motioÌ„ of a known successor hath his answere That which followeth is that which might ensue by their means The knowne successor can not be able to hurt her Maiestie by the provocation of others who were likelie to pricke him forward to perill the present Prince eyther hoping for further advancement by him or els vppon what sinister conceite so ever desire to see an alteration wherein wee shall not neede to trouble your Maiestie with manie words for if fidelitie be planted in the heart of the successor or hee kept within the boundes thereof by the meanes and reasons afore-said the provocations of others shall be in vaine For though Davids servants were readie 1. Sam. 24. 5. to provoke David when he had Saule at advantage in the caue to kill him saying Nowe is the day come wherof the Lord said vnto thee I will deliver thine enemie into thine hand Yet David therby woulde neither bee mooved to suffer them to doe it neither would hee doe it Ver. 7. himself saying God forbid that I should touch the Lords annointed But it may be said that all successors be not Davids Truth it is but yet what so ever they be by the meanes afore-said this danger of yeelding to the provocation of any may well be prevented And this still remaineth a comfort to your Maiestie that the Lords arme of protection and defence wil not be shortned towards you for the performing of this so acceptable a service of mercy compassion towards his people yours And sure you may be if God defended wicked Saule when godly David was to succeed that more assured shal his defence be over you studying by this godlie way to please him The daungers that can arise either of his owne motion or through the instigation of others suppose the worst must eyther be by open hostility or secrete practize By open Neither by open hostilitie hostilitie force he will never attempt it first because he must needs see that you haue possessed iustlie and deservedlie the hearts of your subiectes through your manifold and vnrecompensable desertes and lastlie through this deserved loue of yours fastlie knit vnto you he shall never be able to grow to anie strength to stand against you in the fielde because taking a viewe of your subiects though hee shall finde amongst them some mal-contents some for religion and some otherwise yet when he hath mustered them all together in his minde he shall finde them not one handfull to those that will like so wel of their present state that they wil never be brought to hazard that sweete and peaceable governement that they presentlie enioy vnder you for a change for the number of those that loue you for religion sake God be thanked are great these will you may be sure liue and die in your defence most willinglie and worldlings there be verie manie wee thinke more then eyther Papists or Protestants and those sure take such ioy and pleasure in the things of this world that they can never bee brought to hazarde the quyet possession fruition thereof which they now possesse and which they must needs see they do hazard in consenting to treason for sure to prevaile they can not be And if they shoulde neither can they be sure to better their estate for there will be then so manie rake-helles to please and satisfie with other mens goodes that for satisfying of them they maye iustlie feare that they must parte with some of their owne goodes And if the knowne successour bee a Protestant as Whither he be a protestaÌ„t there is great ods it will so fall out when the matter commeth to determining The Scottishe King theâ— all kinde of Papists whither they be Papists of state or of conscience will refuse to ioine with him least they feele his little finger heavier then they haue felt your whole hand and least he make their yoak much heavier then you haue done And whereas you so they keep their fingers from treason beat them but with rods as a mother doth her children hee shal then beat them with whippes as slaves and dogs for they can never hope for more mercie at the handes of anie Christian Prince differing from them in Religion as you doe then they finde at your hands But suppose which we hope is impossible that the right to succeede shall bee found in a Papist yet by open Or Papist force hee were never
white the nearer winning of the goale though they should take away your Maiesties life For that notwithstanding yet no civill warre or discorde within this Realme the onelie cause of their greedie thirsting after your Maiesties blood were like to ensue therof for that your subiects wits and mindes would not thereby bee distracted seeing they then should know and be certaine what head to leane and cleaue vnto and woulde so be all vnited in one minde to follow one and the selfe same head Manie therfore great are the benefits which your Maiestie and the whole Realme should reap by the present establishment of succession for assoone as this were done those English traitours which are vsed by the strangers as wicked instruments to shorten your Maiesties daies would presently desist from practizing of that vile enterprise your Maiesties enemies will likewise desist from hyring and pricking anie forward therevnto for that no civil warre the onlie mark wherat they aime would ensue thervpon And further they should see that by executing their malicious longed for attempt the Realme shoulde be governed by such a man who in their They closelie meane the King of Scots who in everie mans judgement is moste able to defend it but chieflie in the opinion of strangers opinions would defend it more strongly and stoutlie then anie woman Further the consideration heereof by the straungers will be heere after a good meane to stay their purpose of comming againe if they heare of it before if they heare of it after their landing it will hasten them faster away then a thousand peales of gunnes for small is their hope of over-running this land without the advantage of domesticall warre amongst our selues And it is not like that they will leaue off with this dishonour but will another yeere giue a newe onset Lastly admit that they will presume vppon their owne strength without this advantage yet the establishment of the succession will so effectually and vnfainedly winne vnto your Maiestie the hearts of all your Nobilitie and commons some handfull of desperate Papists and Male-contents set a side and so reconcile their minds one towards another which are now distracted by favouring and inclyning to sundrie titles that the whole Realme without al doubt and difficultie will put on hearts like vnto the hearts of Lyons and so stick whollie and hartilie together for the defence of your Maiestie this their noble countrie If the setling of the succession proue not the surest and best meanes for your Maiesties present safetie and also for the discharge of your dutie to God and your people therby banqueting with the most daintie dishe of a quiet conscience and for the winning to your Maiesty of an honorable name and fame throughout the whole world and for the knitting of all your subiectes hearts fast vnto you with loue deserved and so vnremoueable let our heades pay our ransome for stirring vp your Maiestie heere-vnto Wherefore now to grow to an end A recapitulation of the arguments going before with a pithie exhortation annexed therevnto most gratious soveraigne if obedience to God examples of Kings both Christian and heathen yea and of your owne deare Father or care and compassion over all your owne naturall liege people otherwise sure to come to extreame cōfusion the necessarines profitablenes honorablenes of the action to the eie of the whole world and to your self also both before God man together with the weaknesse of all obiections that can be made to the contrare be of any force and accompt with your Maiestie as wee doubt not but they are then Princelie Ladie denie not to your most mercifull God this thankfulnes but in thankfull consideration of all his benefites bestowed vpon you yeelde in moste effectuall manner to this holie naturall and moste needfull motion denie not this Princelie mercie and dutie to your noble Realmes and Dominions that haue bred you and hitherto maintained you in all honour princelie estate and without the which you could not nor cannot bee preserved and so maintained And so not we only but all your people one and other that haue anie true feare of God or loue to their whole countrie generallie or anie naturall care to posteritie night day with teares gronings in most lamentable and pittifull manner doe cry and call vpon you sweet Ladie in this point for mercie as ever there was anie sparke of true mercie in your princelie heart that you will now with speede shew mercie on vs all all our wiues and children kindred friends al our whole posterities but especiallie to shew mercie vppon our soules for that otherwise as all your true faithfull subiects cannot but perish with the sword even so our soules will surelie sterue for want of the Word yea we in most fervent manner humbly beseech you God chargeth you to shewe mercie in this point if in anie to his whole Church throughout Christendome For it will receiue great strength by the establishment of the succession heere Alas if you should not what sinne impietie were it in you when by this onelie meane you may prevent vnavoidable perils to your whol people noble Realme to suffer so manie thousands of your loving subiectes who woulde willinglie haue shed their bloode in your defence to haue their blood most cruellie spilt by sundrie cruell and bloodie battailes yea to suffer such a florishing Church and common-wealth by your vnkinde leaving it without a known successor to be spoiled of al policie order government and Religion and to be brought to vtter desolation Oh in so dangerous times especially as these be in the midst of secrete enemies at home and mightie and malicious abroad provoke not moste noble soveraigne the wrath of your kinde God vppon you so iustlie neither offer any such vnkinde occasion of alienating the affections of your best subiects from you so deservedlie it tending so much as it doth to the weakning and perill of your self but in the feare of God and of desire everie way to please him and to the discharge of a good conscience take in hand and that without delay because delay breedeth danger this most godly honorable and naturall action And stil to whet you therevnto in stead of a finall conclusion wee leaue these short questions to be considered of by you and answered betweene God and you in your secrete chamber FIRST whither the Lord himself did Ten questions to be considered of by her Maiestie not set the crown on your head when your enemies earnest purpose was to haue taken your head away Secondlie whither the same Lord hath not with a mightie hand and out-stretched arme kept the same hitherto on your head in despite of all your foes Thirdlie whither hee hath not also wonderfullie in your regiment blessed you and made you so famous that you are a wonderment to all the Princes and their kingdomes round about you Fourthlie whither in
regarde of all these exceeding benefites you are not bounde to serue the Lorde with all your soule with all your strength Fiftlie whither you do not think that it is an especiall dutie that Princes owe vnto God and their people to doe what may be done to preserue them and their posterities from all evils mischief Sixtlie whither you do not plainly palpablie feele and fore-see that if you leaue your people without a known successor that then it must needes followe that you shall leaue both Gods religion his people your dominions in evident hazarde of extreame confusion and vtter overthrow Seventhlie whither you do not think that in your life-time to make knowne your successour bee not by all likeliehood the best and onlie way to prevent all these dolefull evils Eightlie whither then you doe not think it a grevous sin in you if you should not doe the best that lieth in you by making your successor knowne to prevent these perils to your whole people Ninthlie and whither that therefore if these perils bee not prevented you though a Queene shall not come one day before the tribunall seate of God the revenger of all vngodlines to make straight accompt of this greevous sinne Lastlie whither in the meane time it bee not a meane greatlie to your perill thereby not only presentlie to harden the hearts of your subiectes against you but also to provoke the Lord to bee angrie with you and so to withdrawe his hedge and strong wall of defence from about you if anie humaine perswasion whatsoever continue you still in this vnnaturall sinne TRue and vnfained loue doeth even The conclusion of the whole treatise and exhortation enlarged with two new arguments the one from the ignominie which is like to befall to her Maiesties person afâ—er her death for wanting the honor of buriall the other from the danger the conusellors are like to fall into after her decease for not procuring the establishing of a successor as though by their default her Maiestie had neglected the same force vs to vtter vnto you our most deare and natural Soveraigne that when soever it sall please God to touche you with the pangs of death as die most certainlie you shall and howe soone is knowne to none but to the Lord onlie if your Maiestie doe not settle the succession in your life-time which God for his mercies sake long prolong we do greatlie feare that your grace shall then finde such a troubled soule and conscience yea ten thousand helles in your soule even such bitter vexation of soule hart for the perilling of the Church of God and of your naturall countrie as to be released therof you would giue the whole world if you had it Of true loue to your Maiestie and of a reverent regarde that wee haue vnto your honour and good name after your decease wee beseeche your Maiestie to consider whither your noble person is like to come to that honorable burial that your honorable progenitours haue had or that as we doubt not your grace will take order for by your testament or whither anie part of yourwil shal be performed by your executors if your successor be not setled before your death It may be that this is a matter neither thought of nor yet doubted of by your highnes but that you holde it as a cleere and vndoubted matter or question To let your maiestie vnderstand our opinions herein we do thinke it our duties Wee doe assure our selues that the breath shall be no sooner out of your body if your successor be not setled in your life-time but that al your nobility counsellours and whole people will be vp in armes with all the speede they may yea their care and haste to arme themselues will be so earnest that they will thinke themselues moste happie that can first draw themselues and their power into the fielde and then there will be as many kings proclaimed as there will be competitors the which will be fowre or fiue at the least though all haue not the like right so that then your executors will be so busied to set vp a new king yea it is likelie two or three that they shall not possiblie haue one howres leysure to attend nor once thinke of your buriall or will and then it is to be feared yea vndoubtedlie to be iudged that your noble person shall lye vpon the earth vnburied as a dolefull spectacle to the worlde but chieflie to such as dearelie loue you The shame and infamie hereof wee beseeche your grace to be careful of and true and vnfained loue yea our duties do force vs to warne your maiestie of it for it would be a wonderfull sorow to a great number of our hearts if your noble person being the restorer of true religioÌ„ should come to that shame as to lye vnburied Againe we feare if your maiestie do not prevent these perils before your death that after the dissolution of your life you shall leaue behind you such a name of infamie througout the whole world even in such an opprobrious manner that the forethinking therof cannot we do perswade our selues but deepelie grieue wound your honorable pitifull tender heart especiallie sithence your wisdome and kinde heart cannot but foresee that those whome you shall leaue behinde you which bee of naturall kinred or beare anie heartie or true loue and affection towardes you will daylie die a thousand deathes to heare the evils that shall be howrelie vsed in vile reports songs and rymes against your noble person may not with truth defend you for that you haue not dutifullie prevented the overthrow of the Church of God and of your noble kingdome but haue suffered both to be subverted even by the most cruell meanes that may be to wit by the mercilesse shedding of rivers of innocent blood by all those endlesse bloodie battailes which shal be fought in that cause and al for that you haue not shewed pitie mercy in the setling of the succession of the imperial crown of your noble realm This is not al for your privie counsellors which you shal leaue aliue after you who of feare to trouble you haue suffered you to sleepe in quiet as though you had no iust cause to take care for the safetie of the Church of God and of your countrie and also in that they haue not incessantlie called vpon you thereby stirring you vp with all ferventnesse to prevent these intolerable evils shall in all likelyhoode pay full dearelie for their silence after your decease For wee cannot perswade our selues but that the realme wil call them to a sharpe accompt for suffering the Church of God and the crowne of England to be vtterlie subverted And well they shall deserve it both at the Lords hand and of this their worthy and natiue countrie if it should so fall out for they tooke their corporall oathes to be true counsellours vnto this noble realme Counsellers sworne aswell
to the realme as to the Prince aswel as to your noble person when they were sworne to be counsellours to both And when they shall reape the iust rewarde of their deserts then they will cry out vppon your Maiestie with a dolefull woe saying that you haue vtterlie cast them and all theirs away This wofull tuned song we do perswade our selues will the Lord in his iustice force them then to sing doubtlesse if the afore-named mischiefes be not prevented in your maiesties life-time Therefore an happie and a thousand times happie yea and a most blessed thing were it to your maiestie and to all your said counsellours also if they did so heartilie and trulie loue you that they woulde not suffer you to rest in quiet neither at bed nor at board vntil you had prevented the afore-named lamentable perils to your own soule and noble person and to theirs also For then might your Maiestie and they also both liue and end the residue of your daies in great safetie with a merie cheerefull quiet heart and bee at good peace both with God and man things greatlie desired and heartilie wished to your noble heart by vs your loyall true and moste faithfull subiects even of very true vnfained loue as the Lord knoweth before whom we shall make a straight accompt if wee vse anie flattering or dissembled speaches Wherfore we humbly beseech your Maiesty to beare with our true harted plainnesse Thus with all humble ferventnesse loving dutie our most sweet soveraigne and mercifull Princesse wee eft-soones begge the reading the reading againe heereof by your highnesse with patience and with all godly attention and wise weighing of the reasons therein And God graunt you grace to suck out the hony out of the sweet flowrs thereof and to spit out the venome that hath heertofore envonomed you with a fearfull wrongfull and deceit-full conceit and setled opinion even to the great and wonderfull perill of wounding the Church of God and your whole people and noble Realme vnto death yea and a poisoned dart to wound your own sweet soule and your noble person likewise whose line of life wee as heartilie desire may be stretched out of as great a length as any subiects you haue whatsoever they be yea albeit they haue receiued never so much honor credite estimation or benefite at your Maiesties hands And this we speake trulie from our hearts of loue vnfained and without flattery according to the rule of S. Paull being heartilie desirous to gaine vnto your Maiestie the favour of God the generall fervent and true loue of eache degree of your subiects vnfainedlie a glorious and immortall good name throughout the earth with the immortality of your most sweet and pretious soule The Lord of heaven and earth worke so effectuallie in your noble heart that you may so throughlie and so deepelie weigh this and what else we haue said in these few leaves as to the glorie of God to the safetie of your noble person and honor and to all your true subiects comforts and preservations wee may haue shortlie in Parliament this most necessarie question who hath moste right to succeede you lawfully peaceablie and effectuallie decided and determined God grant it for his sweete Christs his sake AMEN THIS OBIECTION WAS SENT AND answered when I was prisoner of the Gate-house at Westminster VVHereas the Scottish King is nowe our friend if the successor were setled and the title to the crown given from him to another hee would after become our enemie And for revenge hee would suffer the Spaniards with all their power to land in his countrie so to enter into ours FIVE GENERALL ANSVVERES VNTO THIS OBIECTION FIrst a wise King may thinke it verie dangerous to suffer or receiue such a strong power to enter into his countrie as are not easilie to be repulsed especiallie beeing division betweene him and his subiects as there is betweene the papists and the Scottish king for so might the papists ioine with that strange power either perill or vtterlie driue him out of his countrie And he his counsel are to wise to trust wicked deceitfull papists having had so good experience of their false hearts as they haue And there are manie presidents of states greatlie perilled and free cities lost and gotten by this policie slender care and trusting the vntrustie And were it not a good policie of the Spaniard to winne the possession of Scotland by such a strategeme For then woulde hee deeme England more then halfe gotten No no the Scottish king and his counsell are to wise and godlie disposed to perill both the Church of God and their common-wealth by trusting of the false Romish sect who haue set this downe for a principle That no solemne oath faith or faithfull vowe is to bee kept with heretikes Of the which number in their iudgement the noble and vertuous Scottish king and his counsell are numbered yea even as the most chiefe and principall heretikes If the Scottish king should take offence hereat I affirme it were an offence taken and not given For what can bee a more godlie and dutifull act in anie Prince then to preserue both the Church of God and the common wealth committed to his charge seing them in apparant and vnavoideable dangers To prevent this mischiefe I affirme it were a simple policie in vs wittinglie to see and suffer our state to be overthrown rather then to haue the Scottish king our enemie It is a generall rule amongst the wise of two evils the lesse is to be chosen and the greater is to be avoided Heerein the question is whither the Scottish Kings malice if his title should not be iudged good by Parliament or the subversion of the state will be vnto vs the lesse evill To forbeare to prevent an apparant and vnavoidable danger or rather an intollerable and vnrecoverable mischief for the preventing of a supposed or imagined perill I referre to your graue and wise iudgements what wisdome it were NOw let vs consider what commoditie or benefite would growe to him thereby or whither he should not therby make a rodde to scourge himselfe withall To the which ende I desire to haue the questions ensuing considered of Whither were he ever the neerer the attaining of Crowne of England if the Spaniardes had conquered it or the farther off Whither will his owne experience moue him to expect better neighbourhoode at our soveraigne her hand during her life after her decease at the hand of an English Prince or at the Spaniards hand if he were king heere Whither the malice that the Spaniards and all the princes of the league of Trent doe beare vnto this land bee not chiefly for Religion If it be for Religion whither the like malice be not borne vnto him and to his countrie by them for the same Whither if one selfe same cause moue a like hatred and malice to both the Realmes of England and Scotland will not the