of Desmond who had faithfully promised to performe all the dueties of a loyall Subiect and others who were broken out into ciuill warres To extinguish these Controuersies Queene ELIZABETH calls Desmond into England and makes him Gouernour and Iustice of that Prouince with an Assessor two Lawyers and a Clerke and nominated Warham S. Leger chiefe President a man that had beene long conuersant in Irish affaires About the middle of October the same yeere dyed Thomas Chaloner lately returned Ambassadour from Spaine a famous man borne in London brought vp at Cambridge who had addicted himselfe as well to Mars as to the Muses and being but young got honour vnder Charles the fifth in the expedition of Alger who hauing suffered ship-wrack and had swomme so long that his strength and armes fayled him saued himselfe by taking hold of a Cable with his teeth whereof he lost some Vnder EDVVARD the Sixth at Mussleborrough where hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that the Duke of Sommerset honoured him with the Dignitie of Knight-hood And vnder Queene ELIZABETH in an extraordinary Ambassie to the Emperour Ferdinand and foure yeeres ordinary Ambassadour in Spaine where he composed fiue Bookes in pure and learned Verse of the restauration of the English Common-wealth which he called Hieme in fumo aestate in horreo Hee was honourably buried at Saint Pauls in London Cecill being chiefe mourner when Thomas his Sonne who liued neere HENRY Prince of Wales was very yong THE NINTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1566. IN the beginning of the yeere Charles the 9. King of France sent into England to the Queene Rambouillet with the Robes of the order of S. Michael to bee giuen to two of the Peeres of England whom shee pleased She made choice of the Duke of Norfolke as being much more noble then any other and to the Earle of Leicester louing him very well Rambouillet hauing beene for and in the Name of his King placed honourably at Windsor amongst the Knights of the Order of Saint George inuested them solemnly in the Royall House at Westminster This shee tooke for a great honour remembring her selfe that no English was euer honoured with this Order saue HENRY the Eighth EDVVARD the Sixth and Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke But when she exactly obserued all things that belonged to the honour of it she was at length much displeased to see it so vilified that it was prostituted indifferently to euery man And shee busied her selfe not onely in things concerning honour but chiefely what was for the good of her Subiects For the Ayre beeing so intemperate that yeere that experienced men feared a want of Corne and other victuals she did not onely prohibit any Corne to be carried out of the Kingdome but tooke care that great quantity was brought in While these things past Henry Earle of Arundell being great and powerfull among the Lords of the Realme after hauing consumed much wealth vpon a vaine hope to marry the Queene and the Earle of Leicester who then was in great credit with her and his friends which had failed in the trust which hee reposed in them taking away this hope quite from him tooke leaue of her and voluntarily went out of the Kingdome vnder colour to recouer his health but in effect to strengthen himselfe against sorrow But the other English who for their naturall valour thought themselues borne to liue in Armes and not in idlenes seeing the Nobility of all parts did rise at the report of the warre against the Turke and carried their Armes and Courages into Hungarie Amongst whom the most remarkeable were Iohn Smith cousin german to EDVVARD the Sixth by the Sister of I. Seimor the Kings Mother H. Champernon P. Butshid R. Greuill G. George T. Cotton c. In Iune following the Queene of Scotland had a most auspicious and happy Deliuery for the eternall prosperity of Great Brittaine IAMES her Sonne who is now Monarch thereof whereof she gaue present notice to Queene ELIZABETH by Iohn Meluin Queene ELIZABETH howsoeuer angry to see her out-strip her in honour who enuied her as speedily sent H. Killigrewe to congratulate her lying in and the birth of her Sonne and to admonish her not to fauour any longer Shan O-Neale who rebelled in Ireland nor to assist Roquerbay an English Fugitiue and to punish some theeues that rob'd vpon the Borders After hauing vn-wearied her minde by a Progresse to shew herselfe as fauourable to the Muses of Oxford as well as of Cambridge betweene which there was then a sincere emulation goes toward the Vniuersitie of Oxford where she was magnificently entertained and staid there full seuen dayes taking pleasure in the pleasant aspect of the place at the beauty of the Colledges in the spirits and learning of most exquisit Schollers which passed the nights in Comedies and the dayes in learned Disputations for which she gaue them ample thankes by a most sweet discourse in Latine and a most louing farewell As soone as shee was returned to London the States of the Kingdome assembled there the first day of Nouember beeing the day assigned and after hauing established a Statute or two they begun to dispute among themselues of the Succession of the Kingdome seeing that the Queene hauing vowed Virginity had already reigned eight yeeres without thinking seriously of an Husband that on the one side the Papists made account of the Queene of Scots who had lately had a Sonne that on the other side the Protestants being deuided some of them made account of one and some of another and euery particular prouiding for their safety and Religion presaged the stormes of a most fearefull time if shee should dye without assuring a Successor And the keener sort of spirits proceeded so far as to blame her as if she abandoned both her Country and Posteritie and to teare by reprochfull defaming Libels wicked Councellor therein and to curse Huic her Phisicion because he disswaded her to marry for I know not what womanish infirmity The Earles of Pembroke and Leicester were openly and the Duke of Norfolke couertly of opinion that a necessity of marriage should be imposed vpon her or else publikely to appoint a Successor by authority of the Parliament whether she would or no which caused them to bee forbidden to enter into the Priuie Chamber or come neere the Queene who neuerthelesse granted them pardon as soone as they demanded it They neuerthelesse being much troubled and all the rest of the vpper House of Parliament touching the Succession all with one mind by the mouth of Bacon Keeper of the great Scale according to the dutie which they ought vnto God the fidelity to their Prince and the charity to their Countrie so to doe that as by her meanes they then sweetly enioyed all the benefits of Peace Iustice and Clemency they and their posterity might by her meanes likewise enioy the same assuredly and continually But
put these words into her eares Mortua non mordet Being dead she will byte no more And notwithstanding as she was naturally slow to anger she had this custome that she neuer would enter vnaduisedly or without premeditation into any action so she began to weigh in her minde whether it were better to put her to death or to let her liue From putting her to death she was disswaded By her owne naturall clemency not to vse cruelty to her who was a Princesse and her next kinswoman from the feare that she had Histories should make her infamous to posterities and from the dangers which might fall vpon her as from the part of the King of Scotland who then was the next in succession to the Crowne of England so also from the Catholick Princes and from desperate people who would attempt any thing From pardoning of her likewise she foresaw no lesse danger to ensuâ That the Nobility which had giuen the sentence against her would couertly seeke to regaine the fauour of her and her sonne and that could not be done without danger to her selfe That her other subiects would take it ill when they perceiue their labour to be lost and though then they were carefull for her welfare yet hereafter they might grow carelesse and that many would change their religion and become Popish vpon a supposition of greater hopes seeing her preserued as it were by fatall prouidence to inherite the Kingdome of England That the Iesuites and Seminaries whose eyes were all cast vpon her seeing her sickly and not like to liue long would be so much the more busie to procure the death of Q. Elizabeth to set vp their religion Her Courtiers also ceased not to suggest these and the like things vnto her Wherefore should you pardon so monstrous a malefactor being already iustly condemned who after shee had subscribed to the combination made for the preseruation of your health and safety notwithstanding presently after attempted the taking away of your life and thereby to procure the vtter ruine of Religion the Nobilitie and commons Clemency indeed is a Princely vertue but not to be shewed to such as are mercilesse Let the vaine shew of mercy yeeld to life-preseruing seueritie and haue regard that your mercy bring you not to misery It is enough to haue the commendation of clemency in that you haue once giuen pardon to pardon her againe were nothing else but to pronounce her innocent to condemne the States of the Kingdome of iniustice to animate her agents to attempt new mischiefes and to discourage your faithfull subiects from hauing any care for the preseruation of the weale publick Religion the Common-wealth your own welfare the loue of your countrey the oath of association the care of posteritie to come doe all together begge and beseech you that she which desireth the destruction of all these may speedily be brought to destruction her selfe If these be not heard there is no safety left for this State and Historians will leaue it recorded to the ages to come that the fayre sunne-shine dayes of all prosperity which were in England vnder Q. Elizabeth ended in a darke and dreadful euening nay turned into a dismall night of eternall obscurity Our posterity shall find that we wanted wisedom hauing power to foresee our miseries but not to preuent them the which will thereby become the greater the grossenesse whereof will be imputed not so much to the malice of our enemies as the improuident stupidity of these times That the life of a titulary Queene of Scotland was not so much worth as the safety of this whole kingdome nor is there any place left for lingring for delayes are dangerous We should not giue malefactors of that monstrous nature leaue to breathe which from their insolency will take their last support and from the impunity of their crime expect some recompence He which keepeth not himselfe out of danger when he may seemeth rather to tempt God than to trust in him All the danger that can be from strangers will cease with the cause and cannot harme England vnlesse it be by her What will or power soeuer the Pope can haue to hurt will cease with her death The Spaniard can haue no cause to finde fault who for his own security put his onely sonne Charles to death and doth what he can at this present also to make away Don Antonio King of Portugale the more to extend his ambition The king of France entertayneth an inuiolable league of loue with England and is aboue all things so interested herein that by the present dispatch of the Q. of Scotland the hope of the Guises shall be layd flat vnder foot since it is so that out of the desperate hope they haue in the long looked-for ayde from their kinswoman their insolency is growne so great at this time against him That the King of Scotland euen in nature and out of a true respect of his royalty cannot but be moued to displeasure at his mothers death yet he will rather out of better deliberation wayt wisely till time shall ripen his hopes with security than to attempt out of season the things which can affoord him nothing but disturbance and danger And the neerer he shall growe to his great hopes the farther off will forraigne Princes who of customary course are alwayes opposite to the growing greatnesse of others estrange themselues from him They propounded also to her domesticall examples because that that which is warranted by president is the more tolerable As What comportment the Kings of England for their securities haue had with their competitors namely Henry the first with Robert his elder brother Edw. the third or rather his mother with Edward the second Henry the fourth with Richard the second Edward the fourth with Hen. the sixt with his sonne the Prince of Wales and George of Clarence his owne naturall brother Henry the seuenth with the Earle of Warwick the yonger sonne of the Duke of Clarence and HENRY the eightth with De-la-Poole Earle of Suffolk with Margaret of Salisbury and Courtney Marquesse of Exeter all which in comparison of their offences dyed for very sleight matters Neyther did the Courtiers only suggest these and the like to the Queene but diuerse fiery-tongued Preachers also tooke occasion to exercise with all asperity of spirit the heate of their desires in hastning on her death Sundry also of the vulgar sort were of the same temper according as their affections or humours carried them away with hope or feare Amidst these sad-afflicting thoughts of minde which so troubled the Queene of England's perplexed heart as that she delighted to be all alone and to sit solitary by her selfe neyther looking vp nor vttering any speech yet would suddenly many times breake out into these words and sighing say AVT PETERE AVT PERCVTE and withall also a kinde of Emblem PREVENT THE STROKE BY STRIKING shee deliuered Secretarie Dauison letters vnder her
Annals and then by my last Will to bequeath them to my honorable friend IAMES AVGVSTVS THVANVS who hath begun a Historie of his owne Times with great truth and modestie lest that as strangers are wont he a man most deare vnto me should like a traueller in a forraine Countrie be ignorant of our affaires But this resolution I was forced I know not by what fate to alter for a great part being sent vnto him some few years past wheÌ they were like rough-drawn pictures scarcely begun deformed with blots imperfect places swarming with errors patches thrust in as they fell from a hasty pen ill vsed by Transcribers Out of these he took as it were inter-weaued some things into the eleuenth and twelfth Tomes of his Historie hauing first polished them by adding altering substracting but all with good iudgement according to that order of the worke which he proposed to himselfe for he intended a vniuersall Historie of his owne Time selecting some few things concerning ENGLAND and IRELAND ommitting many things not only fit but peraduenture necessary for vs to know and I had heard that beyond the Seas the Historie of English affaires was much and not without reproach desired I therefore betook me to my intermitted study read all ouer againe corrected added diuers things refined the eloquution yet without affectation for it sufficeth me if I may place this Booke like a picture in water colours vnskilfully done in a commodious light But when all was done I was much perplext irresolute whether I should publish it or not But CENSVRES PREIVDICE HATRED OBTRECTATION which I foresaw to display their colors and bid battell against me haue not so much deterred me as the desire of TRVTH the loue of MY COVNTRY and the memory of that PRINCESSE which deserues to be deare and sacred amongst English men did excite me against those who shaking off their allegeance towards their Prince and Country did not cease beyond the Seas to wound aswel the Honor of the one as the glory of the other by scandalous libels conceiued by the malice of their own hearts now which they sticke not to confesse are about to publish a Book to remain to posteritie as a monument of their wickednesse As for me I desire nothing more than to be like my self they like themselues Succeeding ages will giue to euery one their deserued Honor. I confesse with sorrow that I haue not done so wel as the height of the argumeÌt requires but what I could I haue done willingly To my selfe as in other writings so neither in these haue I giuen satisfaction But I shall hold it more than sufficient if out of an earnest desire to conserue the memorie of things of truth in relating them instructing mens minds with that which is wise and honest I shall be ranked only amongst the lowest writers of great things WHATSOEVER IT IS AT THE ALTAR OF TRVTH I Dedicate and Consecrate it TO GOD MY COVNTRIE AND POSTERITIE ⧠TO THE TRVE MIRROR AND PATTERNE OF PRINCES THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAINNE c. SIR I COVLD not but shelter this Historie vnder your most renowned Name for to whom can I commit the Story of Her who whilst shee liued was the ioy of England the terror and admiration of the VVorld but to your HIGHNESSE who is the Fame and Honour of this spacious hemisphere Great Britaines both hope solace by your princely valour constant vertues no lesse dreaded and admired abroad than feared beloued at home A true admirer humble Obseruer of your diuine worth A. Darcie To the Highly Borne Princesse Frances Duchesse Dowager of Richmond Lenox This Noble Princesse's Father was Thomas Lord Howard created Viscount Bindon by Queen Elizabeth the first yeare of her raigne second son to Thomas Duke of Norfolke AND To the noble Prince her Cosin Thomas Earle of Arundell Surrey Earle Marshall of England This Duke of Norfolke the Duchesse of Richmond and Lenox's Grandfather had two wiues the first was the noble Princesse Anne Daughter to King Edward the fourth by which he had issue a young Prince who died young The other was the Lady Elizabeth daughter to Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham by whom he had issue the Lord Henry Hâward whose son succeeded to the Dukedome of Norfolk which Dukes eldest son Philip Howard was by Queen ELizabeth alâo created and summoned in Parliament where he sate as Earl of Arundel being the primary Earledome of England in the right of his Mother sole daughter and heire to Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell He was this Noble Earles Father Thomas Viscont Bindon and a Daughter who was Duchesse of Richmond and Somerset Countesse of Nottingham Aunt to the now Duchesse of Richmond and Lenox This said Duke of Norfolke after a long sicknesse tooke his iourney peaceably to Heauen at his Palace in Kinninghall in Norfolke the first yeare of Queene Mary AND To the Illustrious fauourers of Vertue true mirrors of Honour and exact patternes of Nobilitie William Earle of Hartford c AND To the Noble Lady Frances his Princely Countesse This Earles grandfather Lord Edward Seimor son to Edw. Duke of Somerset was restored to his honours patrimonie by Queene Elizabeth who created him Earle of Hartford and Baron of Beauchamp in the Tower of London the second yeare of her raigne This noble Countesse's grandfather also was created Earle of Essex c. by Qu. Elizabeth the 14. of her raigne he died in Ireland 1575. and was magnificently buried at Carmarden in Wales where he was borne Edward Earle of Dorset Baron of Buckhurst AND To his noble sisters the lady Anne Beauchamp And the Lady Cecilia Compton This illustrious Earle and honourable Ladies grandfather was a most prudent and learned man for his heroick deserts and Princely descent from an ancient and true noble blood was created by Q. Elizabeth Baron of Buckhurst next by her Maiestie enstalled in the royall order of the Garter one of her intimate priuy Counsellors Lord High Treasurer of England c. Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford Hee died in White-hall 1608. Theophilus Lord CLINTON Earle of LINCOLN Anno 1572. Edward Lord Clinton Lord high Treasurer of England was created Earle of Lincolne by Queene Elizabeth for his Noble merits and faithfull seruice to his Soueraigne Lady The same day her Maiesty created Sir Walter Deureux Earle of Essex He died the eighth day of Ianuary Anno 1585. and was with great solemnitie buried at Windsor To this right Honorable Lord Theophilus Earle of Lincolne he was great Grand-father Thomas Earle of Suffolke knight of the most honorable Order of the Garter This worthy Earle second sonne to Thomas Howard the last Duke of Norfolke by his martiall valour was Princely vertue and by Queene Elizabeth created Lord Howard of Walden and tooke place in the high Court of Parliament among the Peeres as Baron of Walden And Q.
Elizabeth partly to requite his warlike exploits for shee imployd him in sundry Sea-seruices to his immortall honour and commendation made him Knight of the Garter Charles Earle of Notingham Baron of Effingham Anno 1597 The 23. of Octob. the Lord Charles Howard for his Princely desert and illustrious birth was created by Q. Elizabeth Earle of Nothingham Likewise for his worthy seruices done to his Prince and Countrie in generously repelling Spaines inuincible Nauy of 88 being Lord High Admirall As also for his Martiall valiancy in the sacking of Cadiz with the Earle of Essex her Maiestie honour'd him with the Gartet the noblest order of Knighthood Iohn Baron of Elsemere Viscont Brackley Earle of Bridge-water This Noble Earles Father Sir Thomas Egerton Viscont Brackley Baron of Elsemere Lord high Chancellour of England was a Noble man of admirable parts excellency well seene in the Lawes of England industrious in State affaires which mou'd Q. Elizabeth to choose him her Maiestie Solicitor Anno 1583. And for his other deserts Anno 1593 she Knighted him Next she made him Master of the Rolls and finally Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England Anno 1594. William Earle of Salisbury c. And William Earle of Excester c. Sir William Cecil for his graue wisedome and excellent vertues was by Q. Elizabeth created Baron of Burghley he was also one of her Maiesties Priuy Councell Lord High Treasurer and Chancellor of Cambridge's Vniuersitie He was these two Noble Earles graââ father both issued of two of his Sonnes William Baron of Compton Earle of Northampton This noble Earles grandfather Sir William Compton waâ for his worthinesse created Baron Compton by Queene Elizabeth To the no lesse Illustrious than Noble Henry Lord Cary Baron of Hunsdon Viscont Rochford AND The Noble Lady Elizabeth Barkeley now married to Sir Thomas Chamberlaine HENRY CARY Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth His cousin for he was the sonne of William Carie Esquire to the body of King Henry the eight by the Lady Mary Bullen his wife sister to Queene Anne Bullen the mother of Qâeene Elizabeth this Henry was by Queene Elizabeth created Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Also by her Maiestie made Knight of the Garter one of the Lords of her Priuie Councell and gouernour of Barwicke To this Noble Lord Henry Viscont Rochford hee was Grandfather and this Illustrious Lady Barkley was his only daughter and heire Rob. Lord Willoughby of Eresby Baron of Perke AND Henry West Baron de la Warre Peregrinâ the Father to this generous Lo Willoughby was restored in his ancestors Honors by Qu. Elizabeth who created him Baron Willoughby of Eresây the 14. of her raâgn 1582. before thee sent him with the Garter to the King of Denmarke being the son of the Duchesse of Suffolke sole daughter and heire to the Lo Willoughby of Eresby Also Sir William West This Lord de la Warr's grand Sire was created Baron de la Warre by Queene Elizabeth being Nephew to Thomas West Lord de la Warre and knight of the Garter in King Henry the eight's daies who died without issue Anno 1570. IOHN POVLET Lord Saint Iohn Baron of Basing heire apparant to the Lord Marquesse of Winchester c. Anno 1594. WILLIAM POVLET this Noble Lord's Grandfather was in the time of his Father IOHN Lord Marquesse of Winchester by Queene ELIZABETH made a Petre of England and sate in that High Court of Parliament among the Barons and Peeres of the Realme as Baron Saint Iohn of Basing He died the first day of Ianuary 1598. and was sumptuously buried by his predecessours at Basing The truly Pious Lady Frances Wray Countesse dowager of Warwicke AND The Lady Elizabeth daughter and sole heire to Francis Lord Norice late Earle of Barkshire Viscount Thame and Baron of Ricot wife to the right Noble worthy Edward Wray Esqu Sir Christopher Wray for his great deserts the noble family from whence hee was deriued was by Qu Elizabeth Knighted and for his rare wisedome being expert in the Law was aduanced to his great Praise and immortall fame to diuers Honourable dignities in this Kingdome First he was made Lord Chiefe Iustice of England and then Lord Keeper of the Priuy Seale He was one of her Maiesties most prudent Counsellours and Father to this Religious Countesse Dowager of Warwick Also Grandfather to these Noble Brothers Sir Iohn Wray Knight Edward Wray and Nathanaell Wray Esquires Anno 1572. Sir Henry Norrice was for his Noble worth created by Queene Elizabeth Baron Norrice of Ricot He was this Noble Ladie ELIZABETH WRAY her Grandfather DVDLEY Lord North Baron of Kirtling AND To the vertuous Lady his only Sister the Lady Mary Conningsby Anno 1594. Roger Lord North Baron of the ancient Baronry of Kirtling for his Vertues and Prudency was in gracious fauour neare Q. Elizabeth who respecting him much made vse of his faithfull seruices in diuers honourable affaires of importance Anno 1574. he was by her Maiestie sent Ambassadour Extraordinary into France to giue King Henry the third good Counsell and to condole with his Maiestie after the death of K. Charles the ninth And although this Noble-man was not created Baron by Q. Elizabeth yet I haue erected these lines to his noble and immortall memory for his Vertues sake and for the duty and humble seruice which I must euer owe to his illustrious Grand-Children The Lord North Sir Iohn North Captaine Roger North Gilbert North and the noble Lady Conningsby To the Honour of the right Worshipfull Sir Arthur Capell his noble Sons AND The Nobly desceÌded Ralph Sadleir Esquire of Standen in Hertfordshire This worthy Knight was the last which her Maiesty Knighted Also this noble Esquires Father Sir Thomas Sadleir son to Sir Ralph Sadleir was the last knight banneret of England Chancellour of the Duchy of Lancaster and Priuy Counsellor to King Henry the eight Edward the sixt Queen Mary and Queene Elizabeth A PREPARATION AND INTRODVCTION TO THE HISTORY THE All-glorious All-vertuous incomparable inuict and matchlesse Patterne of Princes the Glory Honour and mirror of Woman kind the Admiration of our Age ELIZABETH Queene of England was by the Fathers side truely Royall being Daughter to HENRY the Eighth Grand-child to HENRY the Seuenth and great Grand child to EDVVARD the Fourth of the Mothers side indeed vnequall yet nobly descended and had many great Alliances spred through England and Ireland Her great-Grandfather was Iefferay of Bolene descended from the famous House of Norfolke who in the yeere 1457. was Maior of London and was then graced with the Dignitie of Knighthood a man of much integrity and of such reputation that Thomas Baron of Hoo and Hastings Knight of the Order of S. George gaue him his daughter and heire to wife he was of so great meanes that he married his Daughters into the famous houses of the Chenies Heidons and Fortescues he left a great Patrimonie to his sonnes and by Will gaue a thousand pounds sterling
slow Counsels but to dispatch and take armes That the prudence of England had alwaies beene accustomed to goe meete their enemies and not to waite for them and that it had euer beene aswell suffered to preuent dangers as to expell them to defend themselues with the same weapons that they are assayled with That England was neuer assured but when it was powerfull and armed that it was more powerfull when it had nothing to feare but the Scottish coast and that to take away this feare it were meete to assist those which professed the same Religion and chace the French out of Scotland against whom Armes are very auaileable but not Counsels That for hauing contemned them too much heretofore they had lost Calais with shame and hurt and a little before by surprize Ableville and the forts neere Bullen whiles they fained to seeke a peace which was the cause that Bullen afterwards was constrayned to render and that they should looke for no lesse of Barwicke and the frontier Townes if they tooke not armes the sooner without staying to see what the French will doe who looke as if they meant to make peace in Scotland Their designe being hidden their ambition infinite their reuennew exceeding great insomuch that it is growne a Prouerbe long agoe in England that France cannot be three yeeres both without warre and without meanes Queene ELIZABETH also often alledged this saying of the Emperour Valentinian Haue French for a friend but not for a neighbour It was resolued then that it was iust necessary and profitable to driue the French out of Scotland as soone as could be possible In the end a Nauy was sent into Borrough which is now called Enden-borrough Frith coÌducted by W. Winter master of the Nauall Artillery who to the great terrour of the French set vpon their ships which were there in the Road and vpon the Garrison that they kept in the I le of Inch-Keith Likewise presently the Duke of Norfolke was established Lieutenant generall in the Northerne parts towards Scotland the frontiers of the East and of the South were coÌmitted to the Lord Baron Gray who not long ago had couragiously but vnluckily defended Guien against the French and Thomas Earle of Sussex who in the reigne of Queene MARY had beene Deputy of Ireland is sent back thither with title of Lieutenant together with speciall command to ouer-looke this Irish Nation being so much the more superstitious by how much lesse it was husbanded and tilled should not be stirred to rebellion by the practices of the French vnder pretext of Religion to furnish Ophalie with some small Forts to giue to the old Soldiers some lands to be to them and their heires males begotten of their bodies to receiue Sulij-Boy Scotsh-Irish to hold the possessions which hee had claimed by hereditary right in the Countrey of Vlster to hold in fee and to doe homage and seruice for the same to increase moderately the reuenues of the Prince and reduce the treasury to the forme of that of England While these things passed thus F. Talbot the fifth Earle of the House of Shrewsburie dyed who was one of the chiefe Councellors of the Kingdome leauing for Heire George his onely Sonne by Marie Daughter to T. Dacre of Gilsland THE THIRD YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1560. AS soone as the Duke of Norfolke was come to Barwicke the Prior of Saint Andrews the Baron of Rethuen and others came to meete him and in the name of the Duke of Chastelraut and his Confederates treated allyance with him for the Queene of England in these termes Whereas the French haue striuen by right or wrong to subdue Scotland and to vnite it to the Scepter of France the Queene of England will take into her Protection the Duke of Chastelraut the Heire apparent to the Kingdome of Scotland as long as the marriage of the King of France and Mary Queene of Scots shall last and one yeere more He shall set forth Armies by Land and Sea with all sort of warlike Munition to chase and driue the French out of Scotland He shall not make peace with them but with condition that Scotland shal enioy its former libertie The Forts which shall be taken from them by the ayde of the English shall be also presently demolished or put into the hands of the Duke of Norfolke according as hee shall thinke good The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but by the counsel of the Duke of Chastelraut and the Peeres of the Kingdome The Scots shall assist the English to their vttermost endeuours they shall hold their Enemies theirs and shall not suffer that the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee ioyned to France otherwise then by marriage as now it is If England be set vpon by the French on this side Tine the Scots shall send at the Queenes charge two thousand Horse and a thousand Foot-men If on the other side they shall ioyne themselues to succour the English with all the strength they are able to make and at their owne charge for thirtie dayes as they haue beene accustomed to doe for the defence of Scotland The Earle of Argaehel Iudge of Scotland shall labour to reduce vnto due obedience the Northerne parts of Ireland vnder certaine Conditions which shall bee agreed vpon betweene the Vice-roy of Ireland and himselfe Finally it is determined what the one and the other shall doe if Iames Maconel or others raise any commotion in the Countrey of Hebride in Scotland or in Ireland For establishing these things Hostages shall bee sent into England before the English Armie enter into Scotland which shall be changed at the discretion of the Scots from sixe moneths to sixe moneths or from foure to foure Moneths so long as the Marriage betweene the King of France and the Queene of Scotland shall last and a yeere ouer and aboue That the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles and Barons Conferrates shall ratifie these Coââentions vnder their Signes and Seales within twenty dayes and shall declare that in all things which shal not tend to the oppressing of their ancient Liberty they shal yeeld obedience to the Queene of Scotland and to the King of France her Husband forasmuch as the Queene of England vndertakes not these things but by way of friendship and neighbourhood and to free the Scots from Bondage It was already discouered by Messages from stranger Princes and intercepted Letters that the French were resolued to set vpon England Seb. Martigues a young Gentleman of the House of Luxembourg with a thousand old Souldiers and two wings of Horse was come into Scotland and Doisel a Frenchman assuring himselfe too much to be of the Councell of the Queene Regent of Scotland had propounded to the chiefe of the Kingdome at Aymouth neere Barwicke that ioyning their forces they at the very instant would put the King and Queene of Scotland in possession of England but hauing considered the difficultie of the thing
and pleasing to her but she could not yet finde in her heart to marry in changing her present condition which was vnto her much more delightfull pray'd him to proue her good wil in any other thing assuring him that although hee could not enioy his desires neuerthelesse hee should perceiue that his loue had not beene ill placed and admonished him not to deferre the time any longer to make choyce of a Wife which might be worthy of him With this answer I. C. of Finland returnes into his Countrey After hauing imployed all kinde of meanes to make this marriage in courting her Maiestie importunately by bold demands vsing of great liberality towards her Courtiers captiuating the good will of the inferior sort amongst which he often strowed pieces of Siluer telling them that when his Brother should come he would distribute largely pieces of Gold to the common people in generall Neuerthelesse his Brother suspecting that he had made this suit for himselfe receiued and intertained him ill at his returne and obstinating himselfe in his designe ceased not to continue this suit two yeeres after and made the condition of it to be propounded by Nicholas Guildenstain but as hee was imprudent and light at the same time hee demanded the daughter of Philip Landgraue of Hessen hauing beene refused at last married with a Lady of meane condition But as for Charles Duke of Austria he conceiued such hope that his House already allied by marriages with great Princes would be much more augmented by the addition of the alliance with England and that the ancient Religion should be tolerated if not altogether established which he so expected as a thing which he could not faile of and Qu. ELIZABETH tooke not at an instant this hope from him For her Matie shewed openly to euery one protested in the presence of C. Elphinstain and writ to the Emperour that of all the illustrious marriages which were propounded to her there was not any more or greater than that of the Arch-Duke that neuerthelesse neither the storme of dangers had not power heretofore nor the fauourable winde of honour could yet for the present diuert her from that manner of life in which shee had settled her selfe Notwithstanding without being come so farre as to renounce altogether the state of marriage and that shee hoped that God vpon whose goodnesse shee wholly supported her selfe would addresse his ends in that and in euery other thing to the safety both of her and her Subiects Adolphe likewise Duke of Holsatia was stirred vp by Frederic the Second King of Denmarke his Nephew to hinder her from marrying with the King of Sueden and carried with hopes to be able to effect it by the desire which her selfe had by her Letters witnessed vnto him that he was possest with the same affection towards the English as he had beene long agoe towards the Spaniards and by the promise that shee had most louingly made him hee came into England where she intertained him royally honoured him with the Order of the Garter gratified him with an annuall pension and through her extraordinary courtesie profest vnto him her Maiestie obliged for euer a most illustrious Prince who had purchased the renowne to be a most famous warriour in a conquest lately by him wonne against those of DITHMARS There were also in her Kingdome certaine Lords who according to the custome of Louers vainly prated concerning the marriage viz. Sir William Pickering Knight of the Order who had an indifferent good estate but honourably descended hee through his rare study and affability had gotten much honor and no lesse applause by his Ambassage in France and Germanie The Earle of Arundel a man of a most ancient House no lesse great in meanes than illustrious by birth but growing into yeeres and Robert Dudley the yongest Sonne of the Duke of Northumberland whom Queene MARY restored to his right and honours a noble young Lord of most comely lineaments of body who was as farre in fauour with the Queene as his Father and Grand-father were generally hated of the people out of a rare and royall clemency which she professed towards him in conferring heaping honours vpon him whose Father would haue attempted her death Whether this might proceed from some secret instinct of those vertues apparant in him or out of common respect they both being prisoners vnder Queene MARIE or from their first procreation by a secret coniunction of the Planets at the houre of their birth combining their hearts in one no man can easily conceiue Howsoeuer it were it is most certaine that onely Destinie causeth Princes to affect some and reiect others In token of honour and for the testimony of her well-wishing towards him the first yeere of her reigne after she had made him her Champion shee made him Knight of the Garter which amongst the English is the most honourable dignitie of all with the Duke of Norfolke the Marquis of Northampton and the Earle of Rutland at which euery one wondered In the meane time Vicount Montaigu Ambassadour for Spaine moued him of the necessitie of the warres of Scotland and laboured what in him lay to preuent the imputation of the Scots to be Rebels shewed him by the instructions wherein he was commanded but coldly in regard hee was a zealous professour of the Roman Religion that that which was established in England was conformable and grounded vpon the holy Scripture and the Aecunomicke Councels and intreated him to renew the alliance of the Burgundians formerly contracted betweene the Kings of England and their predecessours The Spaniard howsoeuer it was agreeable and vsuall amongst Princes to confirme such a renouation in respect it giueth as it were life to their Alliances and testifieth to the world their mutuall good will and howsoeuer himselfe and Charles his Father in the treaty of marriage with MARY Queene of England in the yeere 1533. were bound to confirme this alliance answered notwithstanding that it was needlesse lamented the alteration of Religion happened in England seemed to distaste the raising of an army and rooting out the Rebels in Scotland and fained to be too late aduertized thereof But for all this hee still opposed the designes of the French who laboured to excommunicate ELIZABETH and brought it so to passe that she could be no way subiect to excommunication without his consent and to aduertise her though it were too late that they ought for her aduantage to insert in the Articles concluded with the King of France that if the French should returne into Scotland it might be lawfull for the English to expulse them and in expresse termes to condition for the certaine assurance of the restitution of Calais The Earle notwithstanding perceiued well and so did the Queene that he was displeased as well by the circumstances I haue related as principally for that hee re-deliuered into the said Vicounts hands the tokens and ensignes of the order
security she should in her life-time set her winding-sheete before her eyes yea she should likewise make her own funerall liuing and seeing it Hauing made this answere she sweetly admonisheth her againe by Letters which were deliuered her by Peter Meutis to confirme the Treatie which she refused not directly but gaue him to vnderstand that she could not commodiously doe it vntill the Affaires of Scotland were well established In the meane time Queen ELIZABETH with all maner of courtesie entertaines Monsieur le Duc D' Aumale the Grand Prior and Monsieur le Duc D'elbeuf her Vnkles and other French Noble-men which had conducted her into Scotland And yet notwithstanding Monsieur de Guize behaued himselfe in that sort that the English Ships are taken vpon the Coasts of Brittanie and the Marchants vnworthily handled and labours againe closely at Rome to procure Queene ELIZABETH to bee excommunicated Howbeit the Pope Pius the fourth aduised that it behoued to deale more gently with her Maiesty and as he had already sought by courteous Letters as I haue said vpon the last yeere hauing then also to appease the discords which were for matter of Religion assigned a day to the Councell of Trent long sinnce begunne and broken off by continuall Warres and drawing gently thither all the Princes which had forsaken the Romish religion hee deputed into England the Abbot of Martinegues with Letters full of assurance of loue But because that by an ancient Law it is most expressely forbidden the Popes Nuncio's to goe thither before he had obtained leaue from thence and taken Oath not to worke any thing by subtilty there tending to the preiudice of the King and Kingdome The Abbot being vpon the way stayed in Flanders and demanded leaue to come hither But Englands Councell of State iudg'd that it was not safe to admit him hither in regard that so many people from all parts nourished in the Romish religion laboured carefully both within and without the Realme to trouble the affaires thereof The Abbot not being permitted to come into England the Bishop of Wittenberg the Popes Nuncio with the King of France labours that Queene ELIZABETH should send Ambassadours to the Councell and many Princes of Christendome viz. the Kings of France of Spaine and of Portingall Henry Cardinall of Portingall and aboue all the Duke of Albe who yet bore good will to her Maiestie counselled her that in matters of Religion which is the onely Anker of Christians and stay of Kingdomes she would rather asscent to the Oecumenique Councell of Trent than to the particular opinions of a few men although they be learned She answers them That shee desired with all her heart an Oecumenique Councell but that shee would not send to that of the Popes with whom she had nothing to doe his authority being vtterly beaten downe and reiected in England with the consent of the States of the Kingdome That it is not for him but for the Emperour to assigne a Councell and that he hath no greater authority then any other Bishop At the same time that this Abbot was denyed accesse into England beeing the last Nuncio that the Popes of Rome haue sent hither Sir Edward Carne aforementioned being a most iudicious and wise man very well vnderstood in the right of Emperours by the Emperour Charles the fifth honoured with the dignitie of Knight-hood he dyed at Rome and was the last Ambassadour sent from the Kings of England to the Pope Chamberlaine Ambassadour for England in Spaine perceiuing that this answere did more and more alienate the affection of Spaine who iudged it to bee iniurious to the Pope and fearing no more that England Scotland and Ireland should fall into the hands of the Kings of France since that King Francis was dead began to make no more account of the English tooke leaue of him and returned into England Thomas Chaloner is sent in his place who as he was impatient of iniuries and had beene many times Ambassadour in Germany where he had receiued all manner of courtesies as soone as he was arriued in Spaine instantly besought by Letters to be reuoked complaining that according to the custome of the Countrey they had searched his Trunkes But Queene ELIZABETH admonished him that an Ambassadour must support all that which is of equity prouided that the honour of his Prince were not wronged Queen ELIZABETH being then capable of good counsell and very prudent and prouident and Religion somewhat wel established to strengthen her selfe with remedies against forces prouides for the safety of her selfe and of her Subiects and to enioy Peace more sweetly although she found the Coffers empty at her comming began to establish a Magazin of all sorts of Instruments of War and to that end employed great summes of money in Germany The Spaniard retained those Furnitures which shee had agreed for at a price at Antwerpe causeth many Cannons of Brasse and Iron to be cast discouers in the Country of Cumberland neere Keswicke by a speciall fauour from God on what occasion how farre and at what time shee should vse her liberality and indeed was prouidently bountifull to those that deserued it For notwithstanding that King HENRY her Father howsoeuer charged with three Children and EDVVARD and MARIE who had none had beene bountifull of the Crowne Land shee neuerthelesse hauing none neither gaue very little of it and yet what she gaue was vpon condition that for default of issue it should returne to the Crowne for which both the Realme and their successors ought to remember her and thanke her as a carefull fore-seer Whilest this good correspondencie was betweene the Queene and her people the Common-wealth seeming to take life and strength to the common ioy of all fell out a sad accident A most rare Piramide of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London which was froÌ the ground to the top of the square Tower 525. foote from thence 260. and was couered with wood ouer-laid with Lead was strucken at the top with fire from heaueÌ which was so deuouring and burnt downeward with such violence to the great terrour of all the Inhabitants that in the space of fiue houres it reduced it to ashes with the whole couering of the Church which was most ample and spacious but the vaults which were of solid stone remained entire Notwithstanding all this couering was new made by the Queenes liberality and to the effecting of the same gaue great quantity of money and materials beside the collection of Ecclesiasticicall persons and others So all was repaired saue the Piramide This yeere dyed Iohn Bourchier a man of ancient Nobility Earle of Bath second of that name and Baron of Fitzwarin who by Elenor daughter of George Baron of Rosse had a great Progenie and left his Sonne William yet liuing his Successor THE FIFTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1562. THe troubles of France begunne then to
brought her vp she would be no lesse to the loue of her Sister Queene ELIZABETH Notwithstanding as shee was subtill of spirit shee was afraid if shee should tye her selfe with a stricter friendship to Queene ELIZABETH to incurre the disgrace of the King of France and to be abandoned of the Guizes her Vnkles and lose the money which shee drew from France for her dowry while shee should preferre this friendship which was vncertaine and as shee said her selfe there is none but transgresseth and of the friendship of the French she was assured And that that was the cause why the interuiew which had beene in deliberation many moneths came to nothing chiefly after she had declared by Letters that shee altogether refused it vnlesse that for to ground a certaine peace and the vnion of the two Kingdomes so much desired she were by authority of the Parliament designed Heire of the Kingdome of England or adopted Queene ELIZABETHS Daughter and that if these things were granted her she promised to be wholly at the deuotion of Queene ELIZABETH though she quitted all consideration and respect to the Guizes her Vnkles Furthermore she assured that she did not presse these things but vpon aduice which she had giuen her of the secret practices of some vnder pretence of religion intended to suborne some other Successour than her selfe howbeit she tolerates the Protestants Religion in Scotland But as the Cardinall of Lorraine treated at the same time with the Emperour Ferdinand to marry her with Charles his Sonne Arch-Duke who then sought to haue Queene ELIZABETH ELIZABETH declareth vnto her by Thomas Randolph that if shee lent any eare to this marriage to the Cardinall capitall enemy to the Engglish she might dissolue the amity betweene England and Scotland and peraduenture therewith to include the losse of the Kingdome of England admonisheth her amiably not to fall off but to chuse her a Husband in England first to please her selfe and afterwards for the contentment of her owne Subiects and of the English and to intertaine the friendship which was betweene them and to prepare her selfe a way to a certaine assurance of the succession of England of which declaration could not be made if it did not first appeare with whom she meant to marry All these cares held Queene ELIZABETH in great suspence neuerthelesse she was altogether attentiue to the warres of France to hinder that the flames of it in Normandie should not be blowne into England and after mature deliberation receiued into her protection the King of France his Subiects which were in Normandie and implored her succour by a Couenant which shee passed with the Princes of Condé Rohan Coligni and others to this effect That shee would send them a hundred thousand crownes and passe ouer sixe thousand Souldiers of which three thousand should be employed for the defence of Deepe and Roüan That they would put into her hands for assurance Ville-Franche which is situated at the mouth of Sene and was built by King Francis the First the French calling it Haure de grace and the English New-Hauen to be kept by a Garrison of three thousand Engglish Souldiers vnder the name of the King of France vntill Calais be rendred The same day that this agreement past to giue a reason of her designe shee published a manifestation to this effect That shee sent not an armie into Normandie to recouer this Prouince an ancient patrimony of England which had been wrongfully vsurped but to conserue it for the King of France being but yet a Childe and to warrant it against the Guizes who had begun cruelly to ouer-runne those who professed the pure Religion and iniustly to robbe her of her right which shee had to Calais and to take possesssion of the Ports of Normandy from thence they threaten next to fall vpon England which they haue by hope deuoured already insomuch as shee could not chuse but meete their attempts vnlesse shee should seeme to be fayling to the young King her Brother and Confederate and his Subiects that are oppressed to enuy the quiet of Christendome and which is more cowardly betray her Religion her securitie and her saluation And as Paul de Foix Ambassadour of France in England summoned her by vertue of the Treaty of Cambray to deliuer into the Kings hands the Vidame of Chartres of Hai and others who had signed the accord as Traitors to their Countrey shee excused her selfe of that by her Letter to the King discharging them of the crime and charged the turbulent spirits of the Guizes for it who had wrapped in the tempest of warre the Kings Father and Brother and the King himselfe In the moneth of September one part of the English Army landed at New-Hauen vnder the conduct of Adrian Poining who was appointed Marshall where they were with ioy receiued by the inhabitants the other part landed at Deepe The Earle of Warwicke Generall of the Army arriued there later hauing been by contrary windes twice driuen backe into England Afterwards they made diuers incursions into the Countrey neere thereabout but to hinder the same the Ringraue came and camped neerer The English and the French had notwithstanding often light skirmishes and those which were men of warre vpon the Sea brought in rich spoyles taking and bringing in euery day French ships from the neighbouring harbors This yeere Iohn Vere the Earle of Oxford died the sixteenth of that illustrious House who by his first Wife Daughter to Ralph Neuill Earle of Westmerland had Katherine who was wife to Edward Baron of Windsor by his second Wife Margaret Goulding Edw. Earle of Oxford who ouer-threw and wasted his Patrimony and Mary who was married to Peregrine Bartie Baron of Willoughbie At the same time Shan O-Neale came out of Ireland to performe that which he had promised the yeere before hauing for his Guard a troupe of Galloglassorum who had their heads naked and curled haire hanging on their shoulders yellow shirts as if they had beene died with Saffron or steeped in Vrine wide sleeues short Cassockes and rough hairy Clokes The English admired them no lesse than they should doe at this day to see those of China or America Hauing beene receiued with all courtesie hee cast himselfe at the Queenes feete and with teares acknowledged his crime asked pardon and obtained it After being graciously questioned Wherefore he had excluded Matthew his Brother from the succession of his great Grand-father answered fiercely as hee was vsed to doe in Ireland that it was his right and being the certaine and lawfull sonne and Heire of Cone borne of a legitimate woman he had taken his succession That Matthew was the issue of a Lock-Smith of Dundalke married with a woman named Alison after this marriage and notwithstanding had beene deceitfully supposed by his Mother Cone to be her sonne to the end falsly to take away the dignity of O-Neale And although he should suffer it some of the House
of O-Neales would not The grant which his father had made to King HENRY the Eighth and the restitution that HENRY the Eighth had made vnto him were nothing considerable seeing that Cone had nothing in the things granted but during her life could not haue made this grant without the consent of the Peeres and of the people who had elected him to the honor of O-Neale That such Letters also could not be of any valew vnlesse witnessed by the othes of twelue men that hee was the certaine Heire of the House which had not been done in this matter That by diuine and humane right he was vndoubted Heire moreouer the eldest Sonne of his Father begot in lawfull marriage designed O-Neale with a generall consent of the Peeres people by vertue of the Law of Temster which was his Countrey by which a man of ripe yeeres ought to be preferred before a Child and an Vnkle before a Nephew whose great Grand-father out-liued the Father To conclude hee had not vsurped any authority ouer the Lords of Vlster though in times past his Ancestors by a particular right had vsed it But of this I haue spoken else-where Which when the Queene found true he was sent home with honour where he behaued himselfe both faithfully and industriously against the Irish Rebels THE SIXTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1563. IN the moneth of Ianuary the States of the Kingdome assembled at Westminster and established Lawes for the reliefe of the poore for the increase of traffique by Sea and for husbandry to represse South-sayers Negromancers Sodomites Coyners and Periury and translated the Holy Bible and Liturgy into the Welsh Tongue And to maintaine the Maiesty of the Queene and Realme tooke order that the like inconueniences might not happen to them which shamefully fell out by the Popes vsurped authority and to curbe the violence of those which vpheld it declared them criminals laesae Maiestatis whosoeuer after three admonitions should maintaine in print in words or in deedes that any Prince Prelate or stranger should haue any authority in Spirituall things in England or any other Countries of the Queenes Dominions or whosoeuer should refuse twice to take the Oath which should be offered to him for acknowledging of the Queenes soueraigne authority in Spiritual things and ouer Ecclesiasticall persons yet with this charge without spilling of blood neither that it should bee required of any Baron of this Kingdome or of those of more eminent dignity the Queene not doubting their fidelity nor any others Saue those which were which had been or hereafter should be of some Ecclesiasticall Order or those who after hauing bin aduertised of the forme of seruice of the English Church will not obserue it or shall publikely in words or actions depraue it which shall celebrate or heare Masse with like things which is seene in the Ordinance established for it Now to witnes the ioy which they had to see the prosperity of the times the Clergie granted the Queene a Subsidie and the Lay people another together with two Tenths and two fifteenths in acknowledgment of her reformation of Religion establishment of Peace deliuering England and Scotland from stranger Enemies to put downe base money repaire the Fleet make preparation for Warre and Nauigation beyond expectation and of the laudable designe which she had for France to assure England and the yong King of France and to recouer Calais Now this Tenth and Fifteenth that I may make it remarkable in the behalfe of strangers is a Taxe which long agoe hath bin imposed vpon euery City Borrough and village not by the pole but by generalities according to the fifteenth part of the reuenew of the places A Subsidie is that which is imposed vpon euery particular for goods and lands which he possesseth But neither of these two Taxes are euer imposed but by the Parliament In the meane time the Prince of Conde who made haste to get into Normandy to the English succour is taken in the famous Battell of Dreux and with him Nicholas Throgmorton who suffered himselfe voluntarily to bee taken by the Protestants to communicate some secret designes vnto them And beeing presently after set at liberty he presented the money which was promised to Coligni who was marched forward with the Troupes of auxiliary English to the Castle of Cane which he then besieged and easily compelled Cane Bayeux Falexe and the Temple of Saint Lo to render While things were thus carried in France Queen ELIZABETH made knowne to the King of Spaine by Chaloner her Ambassadour that to preuent the Guizes in time who insultingly and with deadly intent rais'd vp against her pernitious things and dangerous Treaties that shee had sent an Armie into France and kept still in her hands Haure de grace which was deliuered vp to her till shee receiued full satisfaction for Calais He answered her That if she demanded onely the restitution of Calais it was all shee desired from the beginning but if she vndertooke this warre for Religions sake he could not likewise abandon that of his Grandfathers and Predecessors As for the Guizes who are they said he for a most puissant Queene of England to feare they beeing of no alliance to the King of France as hereto fore they haue beene Whereunto she made no other reply but conformable to that English Prouerbe which sayes Euery one must looke to their own when their neighbours House is on fire And the King of Spaine vnderstood well inough how shee politikely treated with the Protestant Princes of Germany by the sollicitation of then Henry but now Lord Knowles and Christopher Hill for the Prince of Condé's reliefe and to defend the common cause of Religion whereat being more highly offended he likewise secretly sought meanes against her vnder the colour and pretext of Religion Withall those French Hostages who were sent into England for the security of the payment of âne hundred thousand Crownes promised in case Calais were not restored perceiuing all things enclining to a warre laboured all they could to flye away but beeing ready to take Barke they were taken and brought backe againe together with that famous Pylot Iohn Ribant who came secretly into England to conuay them ouer In the meane while peace was accorded in France between the King and the Prince of Condé allured thereunto out of hope that hee should haue the generall managing of all affaires and marry the Queene of Scots the Protestants and the Queenes Maiestie of England being no waies therein comprehended all men with one generall voice protested that if the English withdrew not themselues forthwith out of Haure de grace the promise of surrendting Calais intimated by the Treaty of Cambray should be frustrate and take no effect and by publique sound of Trumpet the French were permitted in this case to assaile the English to take and pillage them while they yeelded it vp The Queenes Maiesty of
England also for her part permitted the English to repute of the French-men as enemies those onely excepted that did inhabite in London while they detayned Calais and the English put to sea with such a powerfull Nauie as was incredible clozing it vp from all French nauigation as also from the Spaniards making so many and such insolent surprizals of them both as her Maiestie was vrg'd to excuse the same to the King of Spaine and to divulge prohibitions by publike Proclamation to the English The Earle of Warwicke Gouernour of Haure de grace obseruing how the fidelity and loyaltie of the French Inhabitants began to wauer and that vpon so weake a rumor of Peace they held secret Councels amongst themselues and that the Ryngraue was in the adiacent parts with his forces to surprize the Towne and expell the English he in like manner draue out all the French indifferently both Papists and Protestants out of the Towne and seazed on their shipping which they tooke in grieuous ill part complaining that the English were not so carefull to protect the afflicted French-men as to make themselues absolute Masters of the place and how they felt their oppression more heauy then that of the Enemie himselfe And certainely to speake but truth nothing euer so alienated the hearts of the Normanes those of Guyenne the Poytouines and all other Prouinces liuing vnder the subiection of the Kings of England as because the English euer reputed and entreated them like meere strangers The French-men had now studiously prepared all things to assaile the Towne The King and the Prince of Condé at the same time laboured hard and very earnestly in England by Brickmore and D. for the surrender of the Towne and her Maiestie consented thereunto vpon these conditions First That the King of Spaine should ioyne in Caution for the restitution of Calais within the time prefixed Then the Treatie of Cambray was to be confirmed by the Kings Oath the Queene Mothers and that of the Princes of the Bloud ratified by all the Parliaments of France and Gentlemen of greatest note and quality giuen for Pledges In the meane while the Plague raigned very hot in Haure de grace amongst the Soldiers of the Garrison and two-hundred sent for their reliefe and succour were lost by ship-wracke with Sir Thomas Finch their Conductor and two Brothers of the Lord Wentworth Wherefore there being no great likely hood of maintayning and holding the Towne Sir Thomas Smith ordinary Leager in France receiued expresse Commandement to propound the restoring of it for Calais and so in like maner that the King of Spaine should arbitrate this affaire who had married the King of France his Sister But the French would in no wise giue any eare vnto it alleadging that the King of France acknowledged none for his Superiour neither would hee commit his affaires to the arbitrement of any Prince They detayned Master Nicholas Throgmorton sent to moue these Conditions suspecting he was returned into France for the disturbance of proceedings as hee could play his part well grounding their Action vpon this that he had no publique Commission though he had about him Letters of Credit besides others he had from the French Ambassadour Leager in England and they would in no wise heare him verily beleeuing that Haure de grace would presently be recouered by maine force by reason the Pestilence caused there such a fearefull mortality Monsieur Memorancie was already come thither with all the most remarkeable Nobility in his company Not long after arriued the Prince of Condé with the whole Flowre of the Protestant Cheualrie and the English wondring at this sudden alteration answer was made them that Peace was now generally established and the forces of both parties ioyn'd in one and now no motiues were made of fighting for Religion but for defence of their Countrie A Trumpet was sent from Monsieur Memorancy to the Earle of Warwicke to summon him to surrender and another returned from the said Earle to the Constable Memorancie with a Gentleman one Master Paulet to certifie him how the English were resolued to suffer all extremities rather than to yeeld vp the Place without the Queenes expresse Commandement Wherfore the Frenchmen hauing rais'd Mounts to make their Batterie ruin'd and battered the Towne for the space of many daies broke vp all the Conduit-heads and diuerted the water out of its proper Chanell which was seated aboue the Sea they applied all their endeuours to take the Towne by force the English on the other side with most loyall and couragious fidelity opposed theirs daylie losing more men by the Plague than by the Armes of their Enemies When Queen ELIZABETH heard of the lamentable and vnhappy estate of her people no longer to expose such valiant spirits to slaughter and pestilentiall Infection after an approofe of her Captaines and Soldiers valours in a publike Proclamation she sent to the Earle of Warwicke commanding him to compound with the French vpon reasonable and equall Conditions There were also incontinently delegated from the Earle of Warwicke to Monsieur Memorancy Master Paulet Master Pelham with whom in a short time they came to an Accord vpon these Capitulations ensuing That the Towne with all the war-like munition should be surrendred to the King of France and his Subiects That presently Monsieur Memorancie should take possession of the greatest Towre within the Towne That the prisoners both of the one and other side should instantly be redeliuered And that the English might de part with all freedome and liberty carrying whatsoeuer belonged to their Queene or themselues within the compasse of sixe dayes if the Winds would permit For performance whereof they deliuered for Hostages Mr. Oliuer Mannors Brother to the Earle of Rutland Mr. Leighton Mr. Pelham and Mr. Horsie The last remaining was Mr. Edm. Randolph Marshall of the Campe who with a pitty and commiseration neuer ouer-highly to be extolled ceased not to carry vpon his owne shoulders poore miserable and weake Soldiers into the Ships And thus Haure de grace being more violently assailed by the Plague then any enemie was left to the French hauing beene formerly in the Englishmens hands about eleuen Moneths during which time besides priuate Soldiers there dyed of the Pestilence these famous Captaines Somerset Zouch Alb. Darcy Drurey Entwessel Ormesby Vaughan Crookes Cocson Proud Saul and Kemish and with the Sword two Brothers of the Tremayns Sanders Bromfield Master of the Ordnance Robinson Baylife of the Towne Strangewaies very expert in Sea-seruice Good-all maruelous vnderstanding in casting of Mines For the so happy recouery of this little Towne the King of France gaue publike thanksgiuing vnto God the Papists all ouer France made Bonefires of ioy exulting and boasting in that the English-men were driuen out by the ayde and helpe of the Protestants who first called them in and that by this meanes some seeds of discord were sowne betweene them and the Protestants
of France and the Chancellour of the Hospitall in an ample Discourse expressing to them the present felicity they thereby enioyed and the generall contentment they ought to receiue and testifie the same withall for the amplification of this subiect and out of a false surmize he reported to them that the day before the Townes surrender there was seene within the view thereof an English Fleet which came for ayde and succour and he openly auerred that by reason of this warre the English were wholly frustrate of their right and demand touching the restoring of Calais The infected Soldiers were transported into England who so spred the face of this sicknesse through a contagious and infectiue poyson as all the Kingdome was therewith grieuously afflicted onely in the Citie of London consisting of an hundred twenty and one Parishes within the compasse of one yeere an hundred and thirty thousand men rather more then lesse dyed Monsieur de Guize Vncle to the Queene of Scots dying while this Ciuill Warre lasted the Queenes Maiesty of Scotland not beeing paid her Dowrie Marquis Hamilton depriued of the Duchy of Chastelraut and the Scottish Guard being excluded from the King of France the Queen of Scots tooke it very much to heart But the Cardinall of Lorraine her other Vncle fearing that this would bee a subiect which might cause her to reiect the French and become friend to the English sends her word againe by Croc to marry with Charles of Austria and to offer for her Dowrie the County of Tyrol Shee aduertiseth Queene ELIZABETH thereof who counselled her by Randoll who I haue spoken on before to make choice of a Husband as heretofore I haue said and withall more plainely then yet shee had done recommended Robert Dudley whose wife beeing heire to Robsert had lately broke her necke and promised her in case that she would marry him to declare her Her Sister or Daughter and Englands Heretrix by Act of Parliament Foix the French Ambassadour made the Queene Mother and her Vncle 's acquainted with this who presently disdained the Party so much as altogether vnworthy of that Race and Royall Maiestie that they promised not onely to pay her Dowrie but also that the Scots should haue their ancient immunities yea and more if shee would stand firme in amity with France and reiect the marriage which was offered her telling her that Queen ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage to her seriously but with dissimulation as hauing destin'd Dudley for her owne Husband and that shee should not ground her hope vpon the authority of the Parliament because that in England one Parliament abolisheth what another hath established Furthermore that the designes of the Councell of England were no other but to hinder her from marrying at all She neuerthelesse referres it to the Colloque being molested with troubles in her Kingdome to see that the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrewes had beene imprisoned by the command of the Earle of Murray for not desisting to celebrate the Masse who would scarce grant him pardon though he asked it with flowing teares and that the feruent Ministers supporting themselues by Murrayes authoritie did violence to the Priest who had celebrated Masse in her Court being allowed by the Law and were not punished And it was not possible for her to suppresse those which troubled the affaires though all her care was wholy for the Common-wealth granting a perpetuall forgetfulnesse of all that was past increasing the stipend of Iudges establishing wholesome Lawes inflicting capitall punishment vpon Adulterers and often her selfe hearing causes pleaded in the Seat of Iustice so that by an equall Law shee gouerned both the great and the small In this vnlucky yeere dyed William Gray Baron of Wilton Gouernour of Berwicke who had in warre purchased great glory much diminished his patrimony for the ransome that he payed when he was taken prisoner in France The Protestants lamented much for him and Francis Earle of Bedford was substituted in his place Aluarus of Quadra Bishop of Aquila Ambassadour of Spaine in England likewise dyes who was no lesse lamented by the Papists whom he had fed with hope that the Romish Religion should haue beene re-established The Poles of whom I haue spoken were his intimates whereby he made himselfe suspected to haue nothing else in his minde but to trouble and disorder the affaires of England and to breake the amitie which was betweene the Queene and the King of Spaine whereupon the Queene intreated the King to reuoke him But hee excused it by his piety and writ backe that it would be a great incommoditie to Princes if at the first discontentment that is taken at their Ambassadours they should be constrayned to reuoke them And to say truth hee was displeased that without giuing him notice they had shut him vp in his House subiect to be questioned and publiquely reprehended for no other cause but that one Italian hauing shot another with a Pistoll he admitted him into his House and conueyed him priuately away whereupon he was more prouoked against the English than euer tofore taking occasion thereby to say that the English Pyrates molested the entries of Spaine and prepared to goe for the West-Indies and made it appeare manifestly sending Richard Shelley an English Fugitiue for Religion who was greatly bent against his Prince vpon an Embassie of honour to Maximilian the designed King of the Romanes to congratulate with him and seyzed vpon some English Merchants Ships in the Ports of Beotia because the English pursuing the French had intercepted some Spanish Ships William Lord Paget who for his vertue was exalted to three eminent dignities died Hee was so learned that HENRY the Eighth made him his Secretary sent him in an Embassie to the Emperour Charles the Fifth and to Francis the First King of France and he nominated him to be one of the Gouernours of the Kingdome during the minority of his Sonne Then Edward made him Chancellor of the Duchie of Lancaster Controller of the Kings House honoured him with the dignity of a Baron gratified him with the Order of the Garter which was reprochfully taken from him by Dudley Earle of Northumberland but restored againe with honour by Queene MARIE because by his prudence and sound aduice he had done good seruice to the Common-wealth and hee conferred vpon him the keeping of the Priuy Seale which is one of the foure highest dignities of ciuill honour For HENRY the Eighth by Act of Parliament constituted the first in the Chancellor the second in the Treasurer the third in the Lord President of the Priuy Councell and the fourth in the Keeper of the Priuy Seale aboue all Dukes and inferiour onely to the Children Brethren Vnkles or Nephewes to the King Queene ELIZABETH perceiuing that his old yeeres exempted him from being conuersant in matters of State as formerly he had beene remitted him of whatsoeuer belonged to publique administrations and
being diuorced from his first Wife tooke in her place the Lady Ienet Beton Aunt by the Mothers side to the Cardinall Beton by whom hee had Issue Iames Hamilton Duke of Chastel-Heraut Marie Sister to the Earle of Arraine bore to Mathew Iohn Earle of Lenox who being slaine by the Hamiltons when hee attempted to set King IAMES the fourth at liberty left this Mathew Earle of Lenox whom King Iames the Fifth loued most dearly in respect of his Father When the King was dead and the Hamiltons in full authority Mathew went secretly into France from whence being sent backe by the French King Henry the second into Scotland to preuent all detriment to the Scottish Common-wealth through the practices of the Regent Hamilton hee valiantly carried himselfe in this employment But being of an honest milde nature and very open-hearted permitting himselfe to bee out-reached by Hamilton and the Cardinall Beton in a small time hee lost the amity of the French and when hee could neither tarry in Scotland nor returne into France he went into England and committed himselfe in trust to King Henry the Eighth who very graciously entertained him as one that was powerfull well beloued in the Westerne parts of Scotland Whervpon he acknowledged him for next Heire to the Crowne of Scotland after Queene MARY who was then exceeding yong though neuerthelesse the Hamiltons condemned him and confiscated all his Lands gaue him to Wife the Lady Margaret Douglasse his Neece by the elder Sisters side with demeanes in England which amounted in an annuall reuennew to the summe of 1700. Marks after hee had made promise to surrender into his hands the Castle of Dunbritton and the I le of Buthe with the Castle of Rothsay which is in England The which hee vndertooke with courage but fayled in the successe The Queene of Scots beeing a wise and prudent Lady all whose drifts aymed at England shee gaue him her safe conduct and restored vnto him his Fathers goods both that hee might oppose the designes of Iames his bastard brother whom shee had honoured with the Earledome of Murray as also to cut off the hopes of others by the meanes of Darley her Sonne which they might any wayes foster and nourish of succession to the Diadem of England For shee feared that being of the Blood Royall borne in England and very well beloued of the English if hee were ioyned with any puissant Family in England relying on the English power and forces hee might happely one day disturbe her right of succession to the Kingdome of England many men reputing him for the second Heire apparant after her and shee affected nothing more feruently then by his meanes to bring the Kingdomes of England and Scotland to fall into some Scottish Race and Name and so by him to propagate them to posteritie in the name of the Stewards his Ancestors Queene ELIZABETH well discerned all this and to preuent it gaue the Queene of Scots to vnderstand by Randolph that this Marriage was so distastfull to all the English as against the consent of her Councell she was enforst to prorogue the conuentions of Parliament to some other fitter time for feare lest the States of the Kingdome therewith prouoked should enact somewhat to the preiudice of her right to the succession And therefore to cut off all occasions of this Issue hereafter and to satisfie the English she aduised her to thinke of some other marriage and so by this meanes shee once againe and with great affection commended vnto her the Earle of Leicester for an Husband who for this speciall reason she had exalted to the Dignity of an Earle For prosecution of this the Earles of Bedford of Randolph and of Lidington were deputed to treat of this marriage at Barwicke in the Moneth of Nouember The English promised vnto her a firme and constant Amity a perpetuall Peace and that vndoubtedly shee should succeed to the Crowne of England if she married with the Earle of Leicester The Scots on the other side contested alleadging That their Queenes Dignitie who had beene sued vnto by Charles Sonne to the Emperour Ferdinand the King of France the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Ferrara could not permit her so farre to embase and vnder-valew her selfe as to match with a new-made Earle a Subiect of England and who propounded nothing but bare hopes without any certaine Dowrie neither stood it with the honour of the Queene of England to commend such a man for an Husband to so great a Princesse her neere Kinswoman but rather shee should giue an infallible testimonie of her great loue and affection towards her to giue her absolute libertie to make choice of such an husband as might entertaine perpetuall peace with England to assigne her a yeerely Pension and with the authority of the Parliament confirme the right which shee had to succeede In all this busines the extreme desire of Queene ELIZABETH was although she made discreete haste to assure by such a marriage the succession of the Kingdome in an English Race The Queene of Scotland seeing that this businesse had beene prolonged full two yeeres and making account to marry Darley doubted whether she was proceeded withall in good earnest or no and that Queene ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage but to make a pre-election of the most worthy for herselfe or to marry the more excusable with Leicester She beeing absolute Queene after she should haue really consented to marry him But the Commissioners of Scotland weighing these reasons to maintaine their power with the Queene had resolued to hinder by all meanes all kinde of marriages Queene ELIZABETH admonisheth them to hinder that with Darley Leicester himselfe full of hope to enioy Queene ELIZABETH by secret Letters priuily warnes the Earle of Bedford not to presse the thing and with this hope it is credibly thought that hee secretly fauoured Darley THE EIGHTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1565. DARLEY in the meane time by the intercession of his Mother with Prayers and diligence to Queene ELIZABETH obtained though with much difficultie leaue to goe into Scotland and to stay there three Moneths vnder pretext to be partaker of his Fathers establishment and came to Edenborrough in the Moneth of February in the great winter when the Thames was so frozen that people passed dry ouer on foot Hee was a Youth of a most worthy Carriage fit to beare rule of an excellent composition of members of a milde spirit and of a most sweet behauiour As soone as the Queene of Scotland had seene him she fell in loue with him and to the end to keepe her loue secret in discoursing with Randolph the English Ambassadour in Scotland she often-times intermixt her discourse with the marriage of Leicester and at the same time seekes a dispensation from Rome for Darley shee being so neere in bloud that according to the Popes Ordinance they stood in neede of one This being come
to incite him to doe good to the religious Princesse the Lady Charlotte of Bourbon daughter to the Duke Mont-pensier who fled for her Religion into Germany But hee obtained nothing for France as it were pushed by fate ran headlong into a direfull warre Neuerthelesse the King and his mother the Queene writ iointly into England and sent La Garde to prosecute the marriage of the Duke of Alanzon For seeing this young Prince grow cholericke to see himselfe so vnworthily handled by his mother on all sides as if he had beene a prisoner and vnderstanding that he held secret Councel with the Politicians of France they thought it safest to diuert him from warre to send him into England In the interim they imployed all their cunning in Scotland to get Iames the young King ouer into France and to displace Morton the Vice-roy from his charge and for this purpose they sent thither the Kings Scottish guard The Queene of Scotland greatly desired this perswading her selfe that if her sonne were in France out of danger shee and the Catholikes should be more gently handled in England that the English faction which was in Scotland and alwaies relying vpon the Kings name would quickly be ruinated as he riper increased in yeres so the English should increase in feares as well of the French partie as of the Scots side The French did no lesse desire it fearing that the Regent of Scotland who was altogether at the deuotion of the English would breake the ancient Alliance which was betweene them and the Scots and neuertheles then when he instantly required that they would contract the Alliance of mutuall defence against strangers betweene England and Scotland it was denied him lest perhaps he should by the same meanes demand an annuall Pension to bee assigned to him and certaine Scottish men But eare was giuen to those who vpon a light suspicion accused the Queen of Scotland the Countesse of Shrewsbury and the Earle himselfe to haue without the Queenes priuity made the marriage between Charles the Paternall vncle of the King who had a little before confirmed vnto him by Parliament the County of Lenox and the Lady Elizabeth Cauendish the Countesse of Shrewsburies Daughter by her first Husband Wherevpon the mothers of either sides and others for this cause being kept prisoners a little time imputed and laid all the fault vpon the Queene of Scotland As it was vnknowne whither this marriage tended and that diuers suspicions had their birth by it Henry Count of Lidington was established President of the Assembly of the North with new instructions and secrets for this affaire This kind of Magistrate which at this present is very honourable hath in a little time from weake beginnings growne to this greatnesse and now what I haue learned of it by a free and short digresion I meane to leaue to posterity When in the reigne of HENRY the Eighth the rebellion of the inhabitants of that Countrie had stirred vp for the destruction of Monasteries was laid asleepe many made complaint of the iniuries which he had receiued during that Rebellion vnto the Duke of Norfolke who remained in those parts some of which he determined and left the rest to be finished by persons which to this purpose hee had established with Commissions sealed with his owne Seale but the King being aduertised hereof sent him a particular Seale to serue in such causes and hauing reuoked him gaue that Commission to Tunstall Bishop of Duresme and appointed Commissioners with power to heare and determine the complaints of the poore Hee was the first which bare the name of President and since the authority of his Successours hath bin of great value In these times the superfluity of Apparell so preuailed in England by a Vice peculiar to the Nation which pleaseth it selfe by imitating others that the ancient fashion fell in such disgrace that the men by a new fashion of habit and too much brauery made manifest the filthinesse and insolency of their spirits swaggering euery where couered with silke gold and siluer pure and mingled The Queene marking that this superfluity drew euery yeere out of the Kingdome to the dammage of the publike great quantity of money for the buying of silke and other strange Merchandizes and that many Gentlemen who might doe good seruice to the Publike and others to seeme to be He did not onely consume their demeanes to their particular dammage but also increased their debts vsed deceits and by this meanes fell into the nets of the Law and after they had prodigally lauisht their goods studied to make a change she endeuoured to prouide a fit remedy for it And although by the Lawes of HENRY the Eighth and MARY she could preuaile against them and draw from it great summes of money neuerthelesse she rather lou'd to preuent it by a simple commandement She commanded therefore that within 14. dayes euery one should forme his apparell to the prescribed fashion if he would not incurre the seuerity of the Lawe and shee herselfe began this reformation in her Court But by the malice of time this Edict and these Lawes by little and little gaue place to this superfluity which grew to a greater height of insolency was immediately traced by the riotousnesse of Feasts and splendor of Buildings for since that time more magnificent ample and faire Countrie houses of Noble-men and priuate men haue beene raised vp in England then in any other Ages whereby truly the Kingdome was greatly adorned but the glory of Hospitality greatly decreased The English which were at warre in Holland vnder Chester and Gainsford failed this yeere the one in vertue the other in successe For those which lay in Garrison at Valkenburgh gaue ouer the place and yeelded to the Enemy neuerthelesse they were pardoned for feare lest Queene ELIZABETH should not suffer the Spanish Fleet which was sayling towards Flanders vpon the Sea of Great-Brittaine to enter into her Hauens to victuall themselues The others which were in the Channell of Sluce after they had sustained a sharpe Combate and couragiously repulsed the Spaniards being surprized by theit enemies who had trauersed the Riuer were ouerthrowne and chased from the place with the losse of three hundred men and three Ensignes I know not whether it be expedient to record these triuiall things That this yeere the pious credulity of certaine Preachers of London was deceiued by a young wench who fained herselfe possessed with a Deuill That there was a great Whale found dry on the Shores of the I le of Thanet whose length was twentie Elles of our measure the breadth from her belly to her backe bone thirteene foote the space betweene her eyes eleuen foote That the Thames did ebbe and flowe twice in one houre That in the moneth of Nouember from the North to the South fuming Clouds were gathered together in a round the night following the Skie seemed to burne the Flames running
caried her selfe more difficultly neither would she heare those which would assure the Lady Arbella borne in England to be next to King Charles her Vnkle to the Inheritance in England nor Embassador which would make it appeare by Historie that the Kings of Scotland borne in Scotland had in time past by hereditarie right succeeded in the Countie of Huntington and he instantly besought her that she would not denie a Prince her neerest Kinsman that right of inhabitance which she vouchsafed to vnknowne Strangers But she commanded that the Reuenues should be sequestred in the hands of the Lord Burghley Gardian of the Pupils and warneth the King to satisfie Creditors out of the Earle of Lenox his goods in Scotland She tooke it impatiently that it should be suggested that the King would reuoke the infeoffement of the Earledome of Lenox to the preiudice of the Lady Arbella although by the Regall right of Scotland it alwaies hath beene lawfull to reuoke Donations hurtfull to the Kingdome and done in minoritie The Counsell of England doe not hold it conuenient and fit that the Treatie of Edenborough should be confirmed thinking it yet to stand firme They require that the Embassadour would propound something that might somwhat recompence the fauors and friendship that the Queen had manifested to the King who spared not the Blood of the English in his defence and consolidate a friendship Whereupon he propounds according to his instructions That a League may be made not Offensiue but Defensiue and with mutuall succours against the Pope and his confederates with certaine Lawes against those which should attempt any thing against either Kingdome and Rebels vnder pretence of Religion But besides these the English thinke it Iust that seeing the Queene had not omitted nor would omit any thing for the defence of the King and that for this cause she had incurred the Indignation of many That the States of the Kingdome of Scotland should giue caution that so long as the King is vnder age he should not contract nor renew couenants with any neither to marrie nor be sent out of Scotland without the Queenes aduice But these things being of such moment require to be exactly and circumspectly considered and are put backe to Scotland till another time In the meane time Morton who indeed was of a most eager and sharpe disposition trusting in his long experience and multitude of his vassals thinking nothing wel done but what he did himselfe not being able to endure to be lesse than he had been contemning his Colleagues and reiecting the manner of administration prescribed tooke againe the managing of affaires and detained the King in his power in the Castle of Sterlin admitting and denying entrance to whom he pleased The Peeres prouoked therewith tooke the Earle of Athole to be their Generall and in the Kings name summoned all that were aboue fourteene yeeres of age and vnder sixtie to meete together with Armes and Victuals to deliuer the King and true many came and hauing displaid their Colours marched towards Faukirk where Morton presented himselfe with his men But Sir Robert Bowes the English Embassadour interceding hindered them from comming to blowes Morton being vext to see how matters went presently retires to his House The Earle dyed as quickly and left a suspition that he was poysoned Which thing those that were moued against Morton tooke that aboue all to increase their hatred vntill they brought him to his ruine as we shall say hereafter This yeere nothing of note was done in Ireland But the Spaniard and Pope Gregorie the thirteenth prouiding for their owne profit vnder shadow of restoring Religion held secret counsell how at one time to inuade both Ireland and England and dispossesse Queene ELIZABETH who was the surest defence of the Protestants Religion The Pope he was to conquer Ireland for his Sonne Iames Bon-Compagnon whom he had created Marquis of Vignoles The Spaniard secretly to succour the Irish Rebels as Queen ELIZABETH had done the Hollanders while he entertained Parlies of friendship with her to enioy if he could the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie and then the States her confederates he could easily reduce to a course which he despaired to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Sea and this hee saw could not be done vnlesse hee were first Lord of England And it is not to be doubted but that as he holds Naples Sicilie and Nauarre of the Popes liberalitie so most willingly would he hold England as a Beneficiarie ought to doe Those which know the principall strength of England consists in the Nauie Royall and in Merchants Shippes which are built for Warre thought it were good to fraught the Merchants Shippes for some long voyage by Italians and Flemmish Merchants and whilest they are vpon their voyage this Royall Fleet might be ouer-whelmed by a greater At the same time Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue of whom I haue spoken in the yeere 1570 ioyned to his Forces the Rebels of Ireland by this notable subtiltie and his great ostentation and shew and the promises which he made of the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes base Sonne he had so wonne the fauour of this ambitious old man that he honoured him with the Titles of Marquis of Lemster Earle of Wexford and Caterlaughie Viscount Mourough and Baron of Rosse all of them remarkeable Places in Ireland and made him Generall of eight thousand Italians payd by the King of Spaine for the Warres of Ireland With which Forces hauing weighed Anker from the Ciuita Vecchia in the end he arriued in Portugal at the entry of Tage where a greater power by the Diuine Prouidence puft downe these that threatned England and Ireland For Sebastian King of Portugal to whom the whole expedition was committed because in the heate of his youth and ambition he had promised the Pope to goe against the Turkes and Protestants and employ all his power being drawne into Africa by Mahomet Sonne of Abdalla King of Fesse by great promises treates with Stukeley to goe before with these Italians to Mauritania And Stukeley being easily wonne to that knowing that the Spaniard disdaining that the Sonne of a Pope should be designed King of Ireland had consented to it hoisted saile with Sabastian and by an honest Catastrophe there he ended a dissolute life in a memorable combate Wherein dyed three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdalemelech If this fate of Sebastians had not altered the King of Spaines mind from inuading England in hope of the Kingdome of Portugal England had felt a terrible storme of warre if credit may be giuen to English Fugitiues For they report that the great forces which hee had begun to rayse in Italy to showre vpon England were stayed for the taking of Portugal And being that his minde was wholly bent vpon that hee could not be made to thinke of England although the English Fugitiues earnestly sollicited him and for that businesse the Pope
and worthy a Subiect But howsoeuer I was willing the best I was able to pay this my humble Duty to Her blessed Memory and to your Honorable selues by my poore endeuours to make knowne the desire I haue to intitle my selfe A true denoted to your resplendent vertues ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THAT EVER Most blessed and Glorious Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of happy renowne and matchlesse Fame OR ANNALLS Of all such things of note as hapned during her happy Reigne as well in England France Ireland as Scotland Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke and the foure and twentieth yeere of her Raigne Anno MDLXXXI HEreupon in the beginning of Ianuarie next was Thomas Randolph Captaine of the Light-horse sent into Scotland with coÌmand that he should attempt nothing that might any way bee preiudiciall to the present religion or the peace of the two Nations he was also to sollicite in the behalfe of the Lord Morton that Lenox might be sent out of Scotland and such of the Nobility as fauoured the English faction might bee encouraged Randolph the better to effectuate his message for the good of Morton maketh recitall of his many great merits and good services done to his Maiesty the inueterate malice of his aduersaries the high respect and honor they ought to haue of Queene ELIZABETH who expected nothing lesse then to haue her suit now reiected in so honest a cause The King answered that by the duty of his royall charge hee was to execute iudgment and iustice vpon a person so conuicted in matter of Maiesty that he ingeniously acknowledged the Queenes manifold fauours nor would hee act any thing might any way bee iustly offensiue to her Maiestie Then after Randolph being admitted into the Assembly of the States of the Kingdome reckoneth vp the well knowne benefits which both the King and Country had earst receiued from the Queene namely HOW by the blood of the English their Country had beene deliuered from the French and of their King his Kingdome and Religion she had euer been a chiefe supporter but for any way seducing the King although some but most falsly did intimate so much or seeking to hold one foot of ground in Scotland shee neuer entertained such a thought yet were they not ignorant that she wanted not opportunity the King being in his cradle the Queene-mother in Prison and the Nobles in combustion But on the contrary all her royall care was for the conseruation of their King her neere and deare kinsman and allyed to her in a triple bond of neigborhood religion and consanguinity nor had shee euer found him or any of his Regents or Vice-Roies defectiue towards her in their loues before this Aubigny of France came into Scotland but since his ariuall hee wholly vsurped the Regall authority hee had withdrawne all affection from the English to bestow it vpon the French who before his ariuall neuer somuch as acknowledged their King had remoued from his person his most trusty friends brought in strangers had conferred with foraigners by letters which he shew'd for inuading England that he had brought the Scotish Presbytery into contempt with the King as a people altogether turbulent seditious had peruerted the administration of iustice vpon the borders Nor could her Maiesty endure a Prince so vertuous so neerely allyed vnto her to bee thus abused and caried away by such sinister practices Notwithstanding this for the present there was nothing done either for Morton or against Lenox whom the Scots for the most part supposed no way guilty of such aspersions or calumnies as had beene obiected Randolph seeing that thought hee would try another conclusion consorts himselfe with the friends of Morton and Lenox aduersaries bewaileth the miserable estate of Scotland representeth to them the imminent perills which hang ouer the heads of the King the Country and them all complaineth that the Queens message by way of intercessioÌ hath beene slieghtly respected suggesteth with them secretly to attempt to gaine that by force of Armes which they cannot get by faire meanes promising to further and furnish them out of England with men money and munition This Oratory of his proued so perswasible with them that thereupon the Earles of Argathel Mont-Rosse Angus Mortons Nephew by the brotherside Glencarne Reuthen Lindsey others became all of his side But soone after they fell at discord amongst themselues and seeing the King wholly caried away with the fauour of Lenox nor no whit danted for the English forces which were now vpon the borders and had already encountred theirs generally respecting the kings personall presence with them though a child were not affraid to bend all the powers they could make vpon Lenox and thought it was enough to haue pity on Morton notwithstanding the Earles of Angus and Marre practised couertly and cunningly with Randolph in the behalfe of Morton and against Lenox whereof Whittingham hauing aduertised the King Angus was commanded to retire himselfe beyond the riuer Spea Marre to yeeld vp the Castle of Sterlin into the Kings hands Randolph hauing an apprehension of feare got him priuately into Barwicke and seeing matters proue desperate aduiseth Angus Marre to prouide for themselues either in submitting themselues to the King or to seeke the protection of the Queene of England The English forces were no sooner withdrawne from the borders but Morton conuicted of murthering the King had his head cut off for he had confessed as the report went that Bothwel Archebauld Douglas had imparted their intent of making away the King but in so tumultuous a time as that was hee durst not reueale it Nor could hee deny but that since the Kings death hee had beene very inwardly conuersant and more familiar then before with Douglas the Kings murtherer and had promised by his letters if Bothwel should at any time be accused to defend him the best he might Instantly Douglas and others the friends of Morton fled into England In the Low-Countries against the Graue Van Reneberg who had there valiantly serued the King of Spaine and now laid siege to Stenwicke in Friezland the States sent the English vnder the conduct of their General Norris who with no lesse courage then good successe after he had twice releeued the besieged with victuals caused the Enemy to raise his siege But after that comming to fight with Verdugues the Spaniard hauing the victory in his hands his enemies put to flight suddenly fortune changing he is beaten off the field dangerously wounded and many of his men slaine amongst which not to nominate the rest were these men oâ note Captain Cotton Fitz-Williams and Bishop I know not well whether I should here recite a Combate which was betweene Thomas Chieftaine of the Wallons and Generall Norris but Norris by the Law militarie being not permitted to admit of because he was Generall of the Armie his Lieutenant Roger Fitz-Williams
accepted the Challenge which two after a while trauersing their ground to and fro without one drop of blood-shed betooke themselues to drinke freely together and so of enemies became friends and parted Yet here wee must not omit to obserue that our Englishmen who of all the Northerne Nations haue beene most commended for sobrietie haue learned since these Low-Country warres so well to fill their cups and to wash themselues with Wine that whilest they at this day drinke others healths they little regard their owne And that this vicious practice of drunkennesse hath so ouerflowed the Land that lawes proscripts of restraint are vsually made for the drying vp of the same But whilest they were all this while contending in the Low-Countries for Dorppes Villages the King of Spaine getteth into his hands the rich Kingdome of Portugall For Henry which was King hauing paid Natures tribute the yeare before left the Realm to diuers Competitors amongst whom Philip King of Spaine sonne of his eldest Sister puissant enough in force though not in right by reason of his priority in blood and descent comming of the elder line and being Male thought with his friends himselfe worthiest to bee preferred to the succession of the said Kingdome before the women the yonger sort and such as did lesse participate of the blood The Duke of Sauoy reiected for that he came of the yonger Sister Farnese sonne to the Prince of Parma borne of the eldest Daughter of EDWARD brother King HENRY and KATHERINE of Brabant second daughter to the said EDWARD grounding themselues only vpon the benefit of Representation a simple fiction could not annihilate the true Title of Inheritance nor intercept the King of Spaines lawfull succession and this the Spaniards stood to maintaine And as touching Don Antonio Prior of Crates sonne to Lewis the second brother of King HENRY he was ipso facto reiected for that he was illegitimate The King of Spaine neuerthelesse propounded the matter twice to his Clergy and men of Law to decide the cause charging them in the name of God and vpon their faith and saluation to tell him freely whether hee had rightfull claime or no to that Kingdome They hauing with vnanimous voice assured him that it was proper to him he quickly putting forth first the Duke of Alua put to flight Antonio elected of the people and within 70 dayes brought all Portugall vnder his iurisdiction But touching the Right of Katherin de Medicis the Queen of France who claimed it from Alphonsus and the Earles of Boulogne for 320 yeares agone that the Spaniards laughed at as a Title out of date and fetcht from the old Prophetesse the Mother of Euander a thing iniurious to so many of the Kings of Portugal which had lawfully and lineally succeeded one another and therefore ridiculous to both Spaniards and Portugals Whereat the Queene incensed with anger and considering how mightily the Spaniard now in his ascendant enriched himselfe farre and neare by the accession or surcrease of this new-got Kingdome his Ilands and the East Indies breeding a feare within her to her selfe and the Princes her neighbouring friends aduised them and amongst the rest the Queene of England that it was already high time to stay the Spaniards in his mounting and to stop him vp within his owne bounds before his ambition should extend any further Queene ELIZABETH who was not to learne what shee had to doe in that nature for her selfe and her friends and foreseeing how dangerous the growing greater of the neighbour Princes would be lent eare thereto with no light attention but with great and Royall kindnesse entertained Antonio banished out of Portugall and recommended to her from France thinking that Spaine could not take exception thereat because hee was of her Alliance issued from the Blood Royall of England and of the House of Lancaster as shee well knew nor in any Treaties that euer had past betwixt Spaine and England was any caueat at all inferred forbidding England to receiue or to haue commerce with the Portugals At the same time for the more confirmation of assured amitie the Queene of France and the King her sonne prosecuting the mariage of the Duke d' Anjou addrest an honourable ambassage into England for the consummation thereof came ouer François de Bourbon Prince of Daulphiné Arthur de Cosse Cont de Secondigny Marshal of France Louis de Lusignan M. de S. Gelais Lansac Salignac Mauuisser Bernarde Brisson President of the Parliament of Paris and one of the learnedest men of France and others who as they they were of Honorable ranke were very nobly receiued and banqueted in a Banquetting-House built on purpose neere Westminster richly adorned with rare and sumptuous furniture and Titls and Tournaments proclaimed which were presented in a most princely manner by Philip Earle of Arundell Fred Lord Winsor Philip Sidney and Fulk Greuill Knights against all commers with sundry other courtly sports and Princely recreations not necessarily coincident to our History To conferre with them concerning these Nuptials were appointed the Baron of Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England the Earles of Sussex Lincolne Bedford and Leicester together with Sir Christopher Hatton and Secretary Walsingham Amongst whom these matrimoniall Contracts following were concluded vpon THe Duke d' Anjou and the Queene of England within six weekes after the ratification of these Articles shall personally contract mariage here in England The Duke and his associates seruants and friends being no English subiects shall haue libertie to vse their owne Religion in a certain place in their houses without molestation or impeachment He shall not alter any part of the Religion now receiued in England Hee shall inioy and haue the Title and Dignity of King after the mariage shall bee consummate but notwithstanding shall leaue intirely to the Queene the managing of affaires And whereas his demand was that immediately after the celebration of the mariage he should be crowned King instantly to inioy the title and dignity during the gouernment of the Kingdome in the minority of their children The Queene answered she would propound and further it at the next high Court of Parliament to be holden within fifteen dayes after the ratification Letters Patents and other things shal be passed in both their names as in the time of Philip and MARIE The Queene by Act of Parliament shall ordaine an Annuall pension for the Duke but the valuation thereof shall bee left to her pleasure she will also ordaine the said Pension to continue if he shall surviue her The Duke in Dowry shall bestow on the Queene to the value of forty thousand Crownes per annum out of his Duchy of Berry and shall forthwith infeofe her therein As touching their Issue it shall likewise be enacted by Parliament in England and registred in the Annals of France as followeth That the Heires of them as well Males as Females by maternall right of
or enterprize ought in France the King according to equitie would chastise them but whatsoeuer they had done in England the King would neither enquire after nor execute the Law vpon them That all Kingdomes were free and open to fugitiues and that euery King should labour to defend the liberties of his Kingdome That ELIZABETH her selfe had not long before receiued into her Realme Montgomerie the Prince of Conde and others of the French Nation And that at that time Seguri the King of Nauarre his Ambassador remained in England plotting new deuices against the King of France Whilst these things past on Bernardin Mendoza Spaines Ambassador in England secretly past into France murmuring and raging as if he contrarie to the right of Ambassie had beene forc'd out of England being indeed a man of violent and turbulent nature and hauing himselfe abused the holy and sacred rights of Ambassadors did deserue according to the opinion of many after the ancient seueritie to bee pursued with sword and fire Hee was commanded to depart the Realm because he had intermixt himselfe amongst those wicked conspiracies with Throckmorton and others that laboured for the bringing in of Strangers into England and dispossessing of the Queene for which being gently reproued he in stead of excusing and purging himselfe by a modest reply accused the Queene and her Councel about the money which was detained from the Geneuois for the aide and succours which were sent to the States of the Netherlands to the Duke of Anjou and to Antonio King of Portugall and also for the Pyracies of Drake But lest the King of Spaine should thinke the rights of Embassie vvere violated by this and not the offence of Mendoza reuenged W. Waade one of the Queenes Councell for the expedition of Letters was dispatched into Spaine there plainely to demonstrate how mischieuously Mendoza had behaued himselfe in his Ambassage And to signifie likewise lest the Queene should be thought by returning of Mendoza to renounce the ancient friendship between the Kingdomes that she was ready to performe all Offices of humanitie towards him if the King in Mendoza's place would send any other more carefull for the maintaining of friendship prouided that the like might be performed to her Ambassador in Spaine But the King disdaining to receiue or conferre with Waade referred him to his Councell Whereat Waade somewhat incensed boldly declared that it had beene an ancient custome ouer all that the Ambassadors should bee admitted to speake in presence euen of their enemies and in time of Warre And that the Emperor Charles the fifth father of the King gaue admittance to the Herald that denounced warre against him from the King of France refusing to impart to the Councell the tenour of his Ambassie Now Idiac Secretarie to the King of Spaine endeuoured himselfe much to come to the knowledge of those matters but his Art and policies failing him hee was fully instructed out of France of the whole passage by Mendoza Whereupon laying aside the quality of a publike person he familiarly declared to Waade that to his griefe hee saw many men which bent all their studies to breake and seuer with mischieuous deuices the Leagues and amity of Princes and to increase their enmities That the iniury was done to the King of Spaine himselfe and not to Ambassadors first on the person of Dispez and then of Mendoza That there was no reason why he should any more accuse Mendoza to the King that had receiued for his fault if hee committed any sufficient punishment being so ignominiously and disgracefully sent backe That the Catholique King had dealt iustly in rendering like for like and as the Queene had dismissed Mendoza without hearing but appointed him to bee heard by her Councell the King in like manner had appointed him to the Cardinall Granuellan To this Waade made answer that there was a large difference between himselfe that had neuer giuen the least distaste to the Catholike King and Mendoza who had highly grieuously offended the Queene hauing insolently a great space disdained and refused to come neere her and committed many things vnfitting and vnworthy an Ambassador Notwithstanding all this Waade could not bee admitted but returned into England without being heard All those crimes for the most part which were obiected against Mendoza were taken out of the confession of Throckmorton For when Throckmorton saw himselfe at the point of being apprehended hee sent vnto Mendoza a little trunke wherein were contained his secrets neuerthelesse his other trunkes being diligently searched there were found two Catalogues in one of which were contained the names of the Ports which were most appropriate and conuenient for the landing of their troopes in the other the names of such Noblemen in England as did entertaine and imbrace the Roman Religion Which Catalogues when hee saw produced he cryed out aloud that they were things suborned and that he neuer saw them before that time and that they were purposely inserted into his trunke by some that plotted his destruction and being tortured to force him confesse hee still persisted but tortures being applyed the second time he confessed all that he knew and being examined touching the Catalogues to what end they were written he made this Declaration THat a few yeares since taking his iourney to the waters of Spaw with one Ieney and Englefield they consulted among themselues of the meanes by which England might bee inuaded of the strangers and the forme of the gouernment changed and to that end the names of the Ports and Noblemen were set downe in those Catalogues That Morgan had signified to him by Letters out of France that the Catholique Princes had already deliberated vpon the inuasion and by the auspicious succours of the Duke of Guise to set at libertie the Queene of Scots the Guise wanting nothing but money and some helping hands in England That to procure these things C. Paget vnder the assumed name of Mopus was sent into Sussex where the Guise had determined first to land his troops That he had communicated the businesse and shewed the names of the Ports and Noblemen to Mendoza who was now perfectly instructed by the rect of the conspiracie Neither doth he deny that hee had promised his owne helpe and industry And had also aduertised Mendoza with what Noblemen being a publique personage he might conferre with with whom he himselfe being but a priuate man could not without danger hold parley And with him found the meanes by some of the principall Catholiques to take vp souldiers in the Queenes name then when the stranger forces should ariue to bee ioyned with them These things he freely confessed Neuerthelesse being accused publikely in the Court at London hee precisely denied all affirming that hee had spoken out of his owne inuention and not the truth onely to free himselfe from the tortures againe and openly accused the Queene of cruelty and those of the Inquest of falshood framing
from comming home to her Scotland as yet wauering and that the forces of the Spaniards might not be too farre extended in the adiacent Countries vvhich would be most commodiously seated for the transporting of warres into England for exercising of traffique as well by sea as the Riuer of Rhine And to hinder that there might not be any prouision of Nauigation caried to her enemies which besides were well prouided of strong Shipping and men of valiant spirits that if they should bee ioyned vvith the English Nauy it would be an easie thing for them to be soone Commanders of the Sea so rich and powerfull that they had long time since without any foraine aide supprest the insolencies of their proudest enemies and that they might not commit themselues to the trust and faith of the French She resolued that she was bound in Christian charitie to succour the afflicted Dutchmen being professors of the same Religion and in wisedome to prouide for the conseruation of a people which God had committed vnto her by cutting through the ruinous complots of their enemies not for any desire of glory but for the necessitie of goodnesse Whereupon shee openly tooke vpon her the defence of the Netherlands The Christian Princes admiring such a Masculine valour in a woman to haue such a magnanimous spirit as to denounce warre as it were to so potent a Monarch Insomuch that the King of Sweden speaking of her said that she had taken the Diadem from off her owne head to expose it to the doubtfull and dangerous euent of warre These were the conditions that were agreed vpon betweene Queene ELIZABETH and the Estates of Holland THe Queene would send as succours to the Vnited Prouinces 5000 foot and a thousand horse vnder a generall Commander of famous remarke and during the warre would pay the souldiers which should after the Peace were made be paid backe by the Estates that is to say in the first yeare of the Peace such summes as had beene disbursed in the first yeare of the warres and the rest in the foure yeares following In the meane time they should deliuer into her hands for assurance the towne of Flushing the Castle of Rameken in Zeland and the I le of Breil with the towne and both the Skances The Gouernors that should bee appointed should not haue any command ouer the Inhabitants but onely of their Garison which should pay the Tributes and Imposts as well as the inhabitants Those places should after the money were repayed bee deliuered backe not to the Spaniard but the Estates The Gouernors and two other English which the Queen would name should be admitted into the Councell of the Estates and the Estates should not entertaine any League without the Queenes aduice nor she the Estates not acquainted therewith Ships for their common defence in equall number and at a common expence should be set forth vnder the command of the Admirall of England The Ports of either should he freely open to either With other conditions which were printed and exposed to all mens view For the memoriall of this alliance the Zealanders triumphing with ioy caused new money to be coyned bearing vpon one side the Armes of Zealand which is a Lyon floating vpon the waues with this inscription Luctor emergo Ie comba et me sauue J fight and I saue my selfe On the other side the Armes of the townes of Zealand with this Authore Deo fauente Regina God Author the Queene fauourable The Queene by a booke set forth gaue all to vnderstand that in times past Leagues and Societies were contracted betweene the Kings of England and the Princes of the Netherlands for the mutuall faith and defence one of another She remonstrateth the barbarous cruelty of the Spaniard against the miserable Netherlanders and the mischieuous complots which they had wrought against her selfe that had with much labour sought a Peace and had done this to keepe the Dutch from reuolting Neither did shee propose any other thing to her selfe in aiding of them then that the Dutch might inioy peaceably their former liberty her subiects safety and either Nation a secure commerce and traffique And to prouide that warre should not assaile her at home and set the Spaniard to worke abroad She set forth a Nauy to the West Indies vnder the command of Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Carlile of one and twenty sayle in which besides Saylors were 2300 voluntary souldiers which surprized in the I le of Saint Iames neere to Cap-Verd the towne of Saint Iames which gaue name to the Iland where they celebrated with the thunder of the Cannon the Coronation day of Queene ELIZABETH which was vpon the fourteenth of Nouember and pillaging the town they found great store of Meale Wine and Oyle but no money at all The fourteenth day after they set sayle and many which kept their quarters guard in the open aire and slept vpon the ground were taken with grieuous sicknesse called Calentura whereof they dyed a disease very familiar in âhat Iland and dangerous to strangers which sleepe in the open fields The first of Ianuary they ariued at Hispaniola where the souldiers being landed in a secure place by the direction of a Spaniard whom they had taken and kept to that purpose they marched in order against the towne and hâuing repulst a hundred and fifty Spanish horsemen which opposed their passage and putting to flight certaine Musketiers which were placed in Ambush they entered pell-mell into the towne with them by the two westerne gates and all the inhabitants being strucke with feare and terrour fled out at the North gate of the said City The English brought their troops into the Market-place neere to the great Temple and because they were not in number sufficient to man the towne they fortified it with rampars of earth after that they seized vpon other conuenient places So hauing the whole towne in their possession and command they remained a moneth there And seeing the inhabitants offered but a small summe of money to redeeme their towne they began first to set fire vpon the suburbs and after vpon the fairest house in the towne vntill the inhabitants had redeemed their towne with 25000 Crowns of gold which with much paine they gathered They found there no great store of pillage excepting some pieces of Artillery with Corne and Sugar for they vsed there nought but Copper money and glasse vessels with some made of earth which were brought out of the East India Amongst other things in the towne Court were found the Armes of the King of Spaine with the world vnder placed from whence a horse with his foure-feet rampant was figured leaping out with this inscription Non sufficit orbis The world doth not suffice Whereat some scoffing tooke it for an argument of the infinite auarice and ambition of the Spaniard as neuer satisfied From thence sayling vp into the Continent of America
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath coÌmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since caÌ testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
and likewise for the Kingdome of Scotland Yet they neuerthelesse would not agree thereunto but meerely for those foure Cities which the Queen then had in possession as Ostend Flushing Bergen vp Zoom and the Breele and that during the said Treaty and twentie dayes after prouided that in the meane while it was lawfull to the Queene of England to assault Spaine and to the King of Spaine to inuade England as well out of Spaine as of Flanders During that time thus runned in speech about this Truce and the place appoynted for the conference which at last was appoynted at Bourbourgh Sir W. Crofts who for the great desire hee had of peace was gone to Bruxels without the knowledge of the rest of the Commissioners propounded in particular some Articles for which hee afterwards was imprisoned vpon the Earle of Leicesters accusation though that to the iudgement of others hee ought not to haue beene reproued or disauowed yet it is not lawfull to Commissioners to exceede the limits of their Commissions prescribed vnto them Finally the English seeing they could not obtaine a full and intyre cessation of Armes nor to see at all the Commission containing power for the Duke of Parma to treat of peace they propounded THat the ancient alliances betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundie might be renewed and confirmed That the Flemmings might peaceably enioy their priuiledges and serue God with libertie of conscience That the Spaniards and other strangers might be sent out of Flanders to ridde the Flemmings and the neighbouring-Prouinces of all feare And that if they would grant these things the Queene to shew that shee had not taken vp Armes for her owne particular interest but for the necessary defence both of the Flemmings and her selfe would willingly hearken vnto any reasonable conditions touching the Townes which shee then possessed in the Low-Countries paying the mony which shee had laide out about them Whereunto the Dukes Deputies answered THat when it would please them friendly to conferre with them about the renewing of their ancient alliances there should be no disagreement in that regard That stranger Princes had nothing to doe with the Flemmings priuiledges of grace graunted as well vnto the reconciled Townes and Prouinces as vnto the rest which by force of Armes haue beene brought vnto obedience That their stranger-Souldiers were of necessitie retained there because they were vp in armes both in Holland England and France As for Townes taken from the King and expences of money the King of Spaine might well demand recompence of the Queene of many thousands of Crownes spent in the warres of the Low-Countries since her assisting and taking into her protection the rebellious Flemmings About this time Dr. Dale by the Queens coÌmandement was sent vnto the Duke to make a friendly complaint vnto him of a Booke lately set forth by one Allin an English Cardinall by which hee admonished the Nobles and people of England and Ireland to ioyne with the forces of Spaine vnder the Dukes conduct for the execution of Pope Sixtus the Fifth his Sentence published by a Bull against the Queene by which he declared her an Heretique illegitimate and cruell against the Queene of Scots c. and commanded her Subiects to assist the Duke against her Many of those Bulls were printed at Antwerpe to be dispersed in England The Duke made him answere that hee had not seene any such Booke or Bull and that hee would not vndertake any thing in the Popes name yet that hee was to obey his King Moreouer that he honoured and admired so much the Queene for her Royall vertues that next vnto the King he made more account of her Maiestie than of any other Prince That hee had counselled the King to treate of that peace which would be more profitable to the English than to the Spaniards for quoth hee if the Spaniards be ouercome they can easily recouer their losse again but if you be once vanquished your Kingdome is vtterly lost Whereupon Doctor Dale replyed That the Queene was powerfull enough to defend her Kingdome and that himselfe might well iudge according to his graue wisdome that shee could not easily be ouerthrowne by the losse of one battell seeing the King of Spaine himselfe by so long a warre could not as yet recouer the inheritance of his Ancestors in the Low-Countries Well said hee these things are in the hands of the Almightie God Afterwards the Commissioners had many conferences and alterations and as it were weaued the same webbe againe When the English desired a toleration of Religion to be granted but for two yeres to the Vnited Prouinces it was answered That as the Spaniard interceded not in the like kinde for the English Catholikes so they hoped that the Queene in her owne wisedome would forbeare to request any thing of the Spaniard preiudiciall to his honour his oath and his conscience When they required re-payment of the money which the States of Brabant owed the Queene they answered That that money was lent without the Kings priuity or authoritie But all accounts beeing cast vp it might appeare both how much that money was and how much the King had spent in this warre to whom more ought to be paid By such kinde of answeres they deluded the English vntill the Spanish ARMADA approched the coast of England and the thunder of their Ordnance was heard from the Sea Then receiuing a conuoy from the Prince who during this treatie had brought almost all his forces to the shore by his Commissioners were honourably conducted to the borders neere Calais So vanished this treatie into nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wisest sort of men iudged to auert the Spanish Fleete continued by the Spaniard to surprize England vnawares vnprouided so that both of them seemed to sew the Foxes tale to the Lyone skin That Spanish ARMADA the greatest and best furnished with men munition and all warlike preparations that euer the Ocean did see and arrogantly named Inuincible consisted of one hundred and thirtie ships in which were nineteene thousand two hundred and ninety souldiers eight thousand three hundred and fiftie Mariners two thousand eightie Gally-slaues chayned two thousand six hundred and thirty peeces of great Ordnance The Generall was Alphonsus Perez Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian of S. Cruz or of the holy Crosse designed Generall dyed during the preparation and vnder him was Iohn Martinus Recaldus a most skilfull Nauigator The third before the Calends of Iune they loosed from out of the Riuer of Tagus and bending their course towards the Groin in Galicia by a strong tempest they were dispersed three Gallies with three Oares on a seat beeing by the industry of Dauid Guin an English slaue and the perfidiousnesse of the Turkish Gally-slaues carried to the coast of FraÌce after some time with great difficulty met at the Groin and the Hauens thereabouts So
infamous by the incredible crueltie of Prelates who polluted England through all parts with a most sad dreadfull spectacle in burning the Protestants aliue For as some haue obserued there were more consumed of all rankes Bishops Ministers and common people by this vengible and direfull way of death these fiue yeeres than England saw in all the seuen and thirtie yeeres of HENRY the Eighth In the reigne of Iohn Christians against Christians with vs began to tyrannize with flames The same day that MARY dyed within a few houres after Cardinall Pole Arch-bishop of Canterbury tormented with a quartane Feuer expired A man whom pietie learning and integritie had made much more famous than the splendor of his Royall Race though hee was Nephew to George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the Fourth King of England A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this matchlesse and famous HISTORIE The first Booke Anno M.D.LVIII QVeene ELIZABETH is proclaymed Queene of England Fol. 2. Choyce of her Priuy Councell Fol. 3. Her care to re-establish the Catholike Christian Religion Fol. 4. Philip King of Spaine Queene MARY's Widdower is a Sutor to her Sister Fol. 5. Queene ELIZABETH refused him and wherefore Fol. 7. Consultations about the safe re-establishment of true Religion Fol. 9. Diuine Seruice allowed by the Queene in English Fol. 11. Anno M.D.LIX. CReation and restoration of diuers Noble-men Fol. 12. A Parliament summoned and held at Westminster Fol. 14. Proposition to reforme Religion Fol. 15. Dispute established betweene Protestants and Papists Fol. 17. Sir Edward Crane Ambassadour for England is detayned at Rome Fol. 18. Disputes and strifes for Callais Fol. 19. A Treatie of peace with the French King in Cambresis Castle Fol. 22. The Articles of the said peace Fol. 23. Peace concluded betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 24. The Baron of Wentworth and others questioned about Calais Fol. 25. The Parliament exhort the Queene to marry Fol. 26. Her Maiesties answer Fol. 27. Lawes and Ordinances established by the Parliament Fol. 29. The Nobles of the Land re-established and Papists deposed Fol. 30. By what degrees Religion was altered in England Fol. 33. The profit proceeding by Religions alteration Fol. 34. Queene ELIZABETH's Poesie or Motto Fol. 35. Her Maiesties answer to forreine Princes interceding for the Papists ibid. The Emperour seekes Queene ELIZABETH for his sonne Fol. 36. The French King challenged the Kingdome of England for the Queene of Scots Fol. 37. The King of France his sodaine death being kill'd at a tilting ibid. Francis the Second King of France and Mary Queene of Scots his Wife take vpon them the Title of King Queene of England and Ireland Fol. 38. The originall of the hidden hatred which hath beene betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 39. The Scots refuse to obey the Queene-Regent but seeke helpe of Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 40. They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland Fol. 42. The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea Fol. 43. The death of Francis Talbot the first Earle of Shrewsbury Fol. 44. Anno M.D.LX. A Treatie of peace in Barwicke Fol. 45. Martigues brings French-men into Scotland and the Marquesse of Debeux is driuen by a tempest Fol. 47. Spaines counsell to peace Fol. 48. Spaniards detaine from the English munition ibid. The French call the English from Scotland and doe protest they are meerely the cause that peace is broken Fol. 49. The Guizes are sworne and profest enemies to Queene ELIZABETH ibid. The French offer to render vp Calais Fol. 50. Queene ELIZABETH answered them and sends Viscount Montague into Spaine ibid. Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Gray wounded and lyeth besieged Fol. 51. The English repulsed Crofts is accused Fol. 52. The Queene-Regent of Scotlands death Fol. 53. The Treatie of Edenborough ibid. A peace is published Fol. 54. Queene ELIZABETH is sought in marriage by diuers potent Princes ibid. Spaine fauoured England against the French Fol. 58. The King of Spaine deliuered backe the Order of the Garter ibid. Hee is disdained to be refused in things of small importance and the Count of Feria whets his indignation Fol. 59. The Pope is incensed against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 60. Yet the Pope writes and sends his Nuncio ouer Fol. 61. The King and Queene of France and Scotland refuse to confirme the Treatie of Edenborough with their reasons Fol. 63. Francis the Second King of France dyed ibid. An Edict set forth by Queene ELIZABETH against Anabaptists and sacrilegious persons Fol. 64. The Colledge of Westminster founded ibid. The Coyne brought to full valew ibid. Good Coyne stampt for Ireland which wee call Sterling Fol. 65. The death of the Earle of Huntingdon the second of that Race Fol. 66. Anno M.D.LXI THe Queene Dowager of France Queene of Scotland deferred the confirmation of Edenboroughs Treaty Fol. 68. The Queene of England refused passage to the Queene of Scotland from France ouer Fol. 69. Shee complayned to Throckmorton Ambassadour for England Fol. 71. Throckmortons answer to the said Queeene Fol. 72. Contestation betweene them two Fol. 73. The Queene of Scotland laboured to content Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 74. But in vaine ibid. The Queene of Scotland takes her iourney out of France into Scotland where she well and safely arriued Fol. 75. She sends to Queene ELIZABETH who answered her Fol. 76. Queene ELIZABETH presseth the confirmation of the treatie Fol. 77. The Guizes and other French Noble-men who had conueyed the Queene of Scots into Scotland returning home thorow England are magnificently entertained with all royall courtesies by Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 77. That the right to assemble a Councel belongeth not to the Pope Fol. 78. How farre an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Fol. 79. Queene ELIZABETH prepares things necessary for the warre ibid. She findes the Calamite stone Fol. 80. And prepares a Fleet. ibid. The English in emulation of their Queene striue who can build the best Ships ibid. Tillage more vsed than euer Fol. 81. An Edict in fauour of the King of Poland ibid. S. Pauls famous Steeple in London is burnt Fol. 82. The Earle of Bathe dyed ibid. Anno M.D.LXII ARthur Pole his Brother and others are examined Fol. 84. The Lady Katherine Gray is imprisoned ibid. The Guizes practize against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 85. Henry Sidney is sent into France and presently after into Scotland Fol. 86. They deliberate the inter-uiew of the Queene of Scotland Fol. 87. The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queene of Scotland and Queene ELIZABETH endeuours to diuert her from it Fol. 88. Shee excuses the French Fugitiues Fol. 89. The death of Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford Fol. 90. Shan O-Neale comes into England to defend his cause ibid. Anno M.D.LXIII LAw established by Parliament Fol. 92. Fifteenes and Subsidies granted Fol. 93. The Prince of Condé is taken in the Battel of DREVX Fol. 94. The King of Spaines answer ibid. Hostages giuen
Aimé Stuart Lord Aubigny into Scotland 393. Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Thomas Bromley Sir Thomas Gresham dye one after another 396. Dauile murdered in his bed 398. The death of the Lord Druty Deputie 401. Anno M.D.LXXX ARthur Lord Gray made Deputie of Ireland 405. The Spaniards and Italians land in Ireland 406. They are all slaine and the subiects hanged 407. The taking of Malines And of an Earth-quake 409. The beginning of the English Seminaries 410. Persons and Campian Iesuites came into England 413. Sir Francis Drake returnes into England 417. Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America 419. Drakes voyage and warlike exploits 424. The Spaniards demand his riches 428. The death of Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell 430. The Earle of Lenox enuyed by the Scots is accused by them to Queene ELIZABETH 432. Alexander Earle of Homes Baron of Dunglas is sent from King IAMES to excuse it 434. Regent Morton is cast into prison 435. The end of the Contents of the Second Booke THE CONTENTS Of this royall and famous HISTORY THE THIRD BOOKE RANDOLPHS intercession for Morton against Lenox Folio 1. The King of Scotts answer 2 Norris his victories in Freezland 4 Albanois 5 Drunkennesse brought out of the Low-countries ibid. By what right the King of Spaine possesseth Portugall ibid. The Qu. of France her title to Portugall reiected 6 Antonio banisht Portugall 7 Couenants of marriage betweene the Duke of Anjou and Q. Elizabeth concluded on 8 The K. of France vrgeth the marriage and the Q. of Engl. deferreth 10 Qu. Elizabeth giueth the Duke of Anjou a Ring 12 The queene much disquieted 13 Reasons disswading her from marriage and a booke set out against it 14 The Queens declaration against this pernicious libell 15 Champian the Iesuite and other Priests put to death 17 New lawes against Papists 18 The Duke of Anjou sayleth into Flanders 19 A Comet 21 Qu. Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke 21 The treaty concerning the queene of Scotts is deferred 22 Gowry and others tumult in Scotland 23 The Duke of Lenox driuen out of Scotland ibid. An Ambassie from the French K. for the deliuery of the king of Scots 24 The qu. of Scotland's letter to queen Elizâbeth 25 The Duke of Lenox returnes thorough England 33 Consultations about the deliuery of the queene of Scotland 34 The K. of Scotland seekes the loue of the queene of England 36 The King of Scotland sets himselfe at liberty 37 Walsingham is sent into Scotland from queene Elizabeth ibid. The king of Scots answers him freely 38 Walsinghams remonstrations to his sacred Maiesty ibid. The King answereth them 39 His Maiesty reestablâshed the reputation and honour of the Duke of Lenox causing likewâse his children to returne into Scotland 39 The Ministers of Scotland are against their Kings authority 40 A peace obtained for the King of Sweden ibid. The Emperour desires alliance with England and is a suiter to her Maiesty to graunt him an English Lady for his wife ibid. The Emperours death 41 A Polonian Nobleman commeth into England to see queene Elizabeth 42 A wonderfull earth-quake in Dorset-shire ibid. The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Essex 43 Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned by shipwrack 44 The death of E. Grindall Archbish of Canterbury ibid. Iohn Whitgift preferred to bee Archbishop of Canterbury 45 The English betray Alost and do deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard 48 A miserable end of traytors ibid. The Earle of Desmond is slaine ibid. Nicholas Sanders an English Seminary Priest famisht himselfe 49 Viscount of Baltinglasse fled out of Ireland 50 Labouring men sent into Ireland 51 The gestures and behauiour of Sir Iohn Perrot Viceroy of Ireland ibid. Troubles in Scotland 52 The Earle of Gowry is taken the conspirators are dâspersed queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them the king demandeth them by the league but in vaine 53 Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiue Hunsdon against them 54 The power of a Secretary argued ibid. The arraignement of Gowry ibid. He is beheaded 55 The treason of Fr. Throkmorton 56 The Lo Paget retyreth into France ibid. The queenes clemency towards Papists 57 The Priests are banished 58 Spanish Ambassadour sent out of England 59 Thokmortons confession 61 A new treaty with the qu. of Scots 63 She answereth propositions made vnto her 64 She demandeth to be associated to the kingdome with her sonne 65 The queene of Scotts maketh new propositions 66 The Scotts of the English faction oppose them 67 The insolency of the Scottish Ministers 68 Buchanans writings reproued ibid. The Scottish and English make incursions one vpon another 69 Patrick Grayes Ambassage ib. The queen of Scotts committed to new guardians 72 Councell holden amongst the Papists 73 The death of the Earle of Westmerland ibid. The death of Plowden ib. Alancon dyeth and the Prince of Orenge is slaine 74 The French king inuested with the Order of the Garter 75 Is accused of treason 76 His confession 77 He consulteth with the Iesuites about the murdering of the queene ibid. He discloseth the matter to the queen 78 Alans booke addeth fresh courage to him 79 Neuill offereth him his helpe ibid. Parry is arraigned and executed 80 Lawes demanded in Parliament against Bishops and against Non-residents 81 Lawes against Iesuites and Priests 82 The Earle of Arundell resolueth to flye out of England 83 The Earle of Northumberland is found dead ibid. The causes of his imprisonment manifest 85 Lamentation for the Earle of Northumberland 87 Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Princes of Germany ibid. The like with the king of Scotts 88 Arâatâon of the death of Russell and the manner thereof ibid. The death of Thomas Carre 90 The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England back into Scotland ibid. They are reconciled vnto the King 92 The rebellion of the Bourkes in Ireland 93 The Sccots of Hebrides called into Ireland 94 The Gouernour laboureth for a peace but in vaine 95 He pursueth the Scotts and defeateth them 96 The States of the Netherlands consult of a Protector 97 They are refâsed of the French and the English consult about it 98 The Dutch offer themselues to the queene 100 Antwerpe is yeelded vp the queene deliberateth with her selfe and takes vpon her the protection 101 Vnder what conditions 102 Queene Elizabeth publisheth the causes and sends to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard 103 Iames town taken from the Spaniard 104 Hispaniola or S. Dominick surprised ibid. Spaniards motto Auarice and Couetousnesse 105 Carthagena assaulted ibid. Saint Anthony and S. Helena fired by the English 106 Booty of the English voyage and expedition 107 A search made for a discouery of a way to the East Indies ibid. An Edict against Woad 108 Death of the Earle of Lâncolne and of the Earle of Bedford 109 Earle of Leister sent into Holland ibid. His instruction 110 Absolute authority giuen to the Earle of Leyster by the States 111 Queen Elizabeth offended thereat
Prayse of those who were of the English Nauy ibid. Publike ioy encreased by good newes out of Scotland ibid. Leicesters goods are sold 289 Bergen ap Zone besieged by the Duke of Parma ibid. Who rayseth the siege ibid. Innouâtions in England ibid. Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous bookes 290 FINIS THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST High Mighty and Inuincible Princesse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and neuer-dying memory OR ANNALLS Of all the most remarkable things that happened during her blessed Raigne ouer the Kingdomes of England and Ireland c. The first yeere of her Raigne Anno 1558. AFter that for certaine houres the decease of Queene MARY had beene concealed the Peeres Prelates and Commons of England being at that time assembled together in Parliament First notice was giuen to them of the vpper house which were in a manner strucke silent with griefe and astonishment for a while But they presently after rowzed vp their spirits and amazed senses moderating their mournings with ioy either not to seeme altogether sad or sorrowfull that Queene ELIZABETH succeeded the Crowne or else ioyfull that by the death of Queene MARY the succession thereof fell to her Maiesty so they bent their cares to publike affaires and with a common accord and firme resolution concluded and agreed that by the law of succession in the 35. yeere of King HENRY the eighth ELIZABETH was ought to be declared true and legitimate Heire of the Kingdome Therefore at that instant Nicholas Heath Lord Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellour of England carried the first newes to those of the Lower-house giuing them to vnderstand with much sorrow and sighs that death preuenting the course of nature had depriued them of a Queene no lesse fauourable to the Roman Religion then kinde and louing to the Common wealth and that each member of the Vpper-house had receiued such extreme griefe thereby that they seemed to be comfortlesse without hope of consolation if God through his speciall grace fauour towards the English Nation had not reserued for them ELIZABETH another Daughter to King HENRY the â to succeed her Sister and that her right to the Crowne was so euident and true that no man could nor ought to make any doubt or question thereof and that the Peeres and Prelates of this Realme had all with one accord and voice determined that she should be forthwith publisht Queene and proclaimed Soueraigne if they were so pleased to condescend thereunto Which words being scarce vttered the whole Assembly immediatly with a common acclamation cryed aloud GOD SAVE QVEENE ELIZABETH that her Raigne may be long and happy And immediatly the whole Parliament rising she was openly proclaimed Queen by sound of Trumpets first in Westminster-Hall and then soone after thorow the whole City of London by the title of Queene of England France and Ireland and Defendresse of the faith with the happy applause and ioyfull shouting of all the people vndoubted presages truly most happy for indeed no Prince was euer cherisht of his people and Subiects with more ardent and constant loue and zealous affection then this Queene was nor none receiued and welcommed with more respect and ioy then she hath beene nor blessed and prayed for with more vowes and prayers so often iterated as this happy Princesse hath beene all her life time chiefly when shee shewed her selfe in publike or openly abroad Queene ELIZABETH was about fiue and twenty yeeres of age when her Sister died But she was so rarely qualified by aduersity and so well accomplisht and accommodated by experience which are most effectuall Tutors that she had purchased Prudence and Iudgement farre aboue the capacity of her age and of her pregnant wit and admirable wisdome she gaue sufficient proofe and worthy testimony in the election and choice that shee made of her Priuie Councellors for she tooke into her Priuie Councell the aforesaid Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke a Prelate no lesse prudent then modest and discreet William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Lord high Treasurer of England Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundel Francis Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Edward Stanley Earle of Darby William Herbert Earle of Pembrooke Edward Baron of Clynton Lord high Admirall The Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord Chamberlaine Sir Thomas Cheney Sir William Peter Sir Iohn Mason Sir Richard Sackuile Knights and Nicholas Wotton Deane of Canterbury All which had beene Priuie Councellors to Queene MARY and professing her owne Religion Shee adioyned to them by temporizing according to the time these vndernamed who were all Protestants and had had no office at all nor charge of gouernment in Queene MARIES Raigne William Parr Marquesse of Northampton Francis Lord Russell Earle of Bedford Thomas Parr Edward Rogers Ambrose Caue Francis Knollys and William Cicill who before had beene Secretary to King EDVVARD the sixth a noble Gentleman most wise vnderstanding and iudicious whose learning and worth exceeded many others and a little after she brought in Sir Nicholas Bacon whom she made Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England She so ordered and tempered them in place with all those which succeeded since in such sort that they were true faithfull and affectionate to her Maiesty and she alwaies free and not subiect to any At these happy beginnings her first and chiefest care was to re-establish the Protestant Religion the which as much by the instruction and knowledge that shee had receiued thereof from her infancy as also by her owne particular iudgement she firmely held and maintained to be very true and most conformable to the holy Scripture and to the sincerity of the primitiue Church so effectually resoluing in her heart to settle and re-establish the same that she imployed to that purpose some of her Councellors being the most intimate with the rest of the other Lords of her most honorable Priuy-Councel she tooke order that the Ports Hauen-Townes should be fast shut secured and fortified The Tower of London she committed to the care of one whose fidelity and loyalty had been fully approued a new Commission she sent to Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputie of Ireland who with a Garrison of three hundred and twenty Horse and one thousand three hundred and sixty foot yeelded in submission the whole Countrey which otherwise had not bin quiet nor peaceable Also the like Commission shee sent with a clause or restraint not to conferre any office to Iudges and Magistrates for to hinder the Conuocation of the Assembly of the iurisdiction by the authority there appointed New Iustices and Sheriffes shee likewise established in each County and tooke order that no money nor coine should be transported by exchange out of the Realme to forraine Nations beyond Sea and that the Preachers should desist and abstaine from treating of questions or disputing about Controuersies in Religion and withall concerning State-affaires out of the Kingdom she gaue order that Ambassadors should be sent to all
who was father to the gracious Princesse Frances Dutchesse of Richmond and Lenox now liuing Moreouer her Maiestie created Sir Henry Carie Baron of Hunsdon who was allyed to her Maiesty by the Lady M. Bullen and that Noble Gentleman Oliuer Saint Iohn shee made Baron of Bletso who all were free from the Popish Religion After this her Maiesty is conuayed in pompe and Royall Magnificency from the Tower of London to Westminster thorow the Citie of London with incredible applause and generall acclamations which as her Maiestie was equally venerable in sight and hearing increased meruailously and the next morning her Maiestie was there inaugurated with the right of her Ancestors and anoynted by Owen Oglethorpe Bishop of Carlile when as the Arch-Bishop of Yorke and diuers other Prelates had refused the performance of that duty through a suspicious feare of the Roman Religion conceiued partly because her Maiesty had beene brought vp from the Cradle in the Protestant Religion and partly also that she had a little before forbidden a Bishop at the Diuine Seruice from lifting vp and adoring the Hoste and likewise permitted to haue the Letany Epistles the Gospell in English which they held as execrable Yet Queen ELIZABETH was truely godly pious and zealously deuoted for her Maiestie was not so soone out of her bed but fell vpon her knees in her priuate Closet praying to God deuoutly Certaine houres were by her Maiestie reserued and vowed to the Lord. Moreouer her Maiestie neuer failed any Lords day and holy day to frequent the Chappell neither was euer any Prince conuersant in Diuine Seruice with more deuotion then her sacred Maiestie was Shee zealously heard all the Sermons in Lent beeing attyred in blacke and very diligently gaue attention thereunto according to the ancient vse and custome although shee said repeated oftentimes that which she had read of HENRY the third her Predecessor that her Maiestie had rather in her Prayers speake to God deuoutly then heare others speake of Him eloquently And concerning the Crosse our blessed Lady and the Saints she neuer conceiued irreuerently of them neither spake her selfe nor suffered any others to speake of them without a certaine kinde of Reuerence Within few dayes after there was a Parliament held in which was enacted by a generall consent First that Queen ELIZABETH was and ought to bee both by the Diuine and Ciuill Law and the Statutes of this Realme and as I may vse their proper termes and forme the lawfull vndoubted and direct Queene of England rightly and lawfully descending from the Royall Blood according to the order of succession which was likewise formerly enacted by Parliament in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRIE the Eighth yet neuerthelesse that Law was not abolished by which her Father excluded both her and her Sister MARY from succeeding him in the Crowne And therefore it was thought by some that the Lord Bacon vpon whom her Maiesty relyed as an Oracle of the Law had forgotten himselfe and was destitute in that particular of his wonted Prudencie in not foreseeing the euent and especially because the Duke of Northumberland had obiected the same both against her Sister MARY and her selfe and to that end Queen MARY had abolished it in as much as concerned her selfe At which time there were some that drew against her Maiestie most dangerous inuectiues and conclusions in such manner as if she had not bin lawfull Queene although the Lawes of England many yeeres agoe determined Que la Couronne vnefois prinse ofte toute sorte de defaults That the Crowne once possessed cleareth and purifies all manner of defaults or imperfections But many on the other side commended the wisdome of the Lord Bacon therein as vnwilling in regard of such confusion of the Lawes and Acts to open a wound already clozed vp with the Time For that which made for Queene ELIZABETH seemed to tend to the shame and disgrace of Queene MARY And therefore shee held her selfe to the Law made in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRY the Eighth who restored and vpheld in a certaine manner each of their Honours Afterwards there was in the Parliament likewise propounded that forasmuch as concerned the Crown of England and the ancient iurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall matters should be re-established with the Lawes of King HENRY the Eighth against the Sea of Rome and of EDVVARD the Sixth in the behalfe of the Protestants which Queene MARY had vtterly abolished ordaining That all Iurisdictions Priuiledges and Spirituall Preheminences which heretofore were in vse and appointed by Authority for to correct Errours Heresies Schismes Abuses and other Enormities in Ecclesiasticall Affaires should for euer remaine as vnited to the Crowne of England and that the Queenes Maiestie with her successors should likewise haue full power to appoint Officers by their Letters Patents to execute this Authority neuerthelesse vpon this charge that they should not define any thing to be haereticall but that which had beene declared such long agoe by the holy and Canonicall Scriptures or by the foure first Oecuminike Councels or others according to the true and naturall sense of the holy Scripture or which should afterward in some Synod by the authority of the Parliament and approbation of the Clergie of England be declared That euery Ecclesiasticall Magistrate and such as receiue pension out of the publike Treasure to aduance and promote themselues in the Vniuersities to emancipate Pupils to inuest Domaines or receiue seruants of the Royall House were oblig'd by Oath to acknowledge her Royall Maiestie the sole and soueraigne Gouernour of the Realme for as much as concerneth the Title of Soueraigne Head of the Church of England it pleased her not in all things or causes as well spirituall as temporall all forraigne Princes and Potentates excepted entirely excluded to informe of any causes within the Lands of her obeysance But there were nine Bishops that sare the same day in the vpper House of Parliament and opposed themselues and were wilfully refractary against these Lawes beeing then but foureteene aliue namely the Arch-Bishop of Yorke the Bishops of London of Winchester of Worcester of Landaff of Couentrie of Exceter of Chester and of Carlil with the Abbot of Westminster And amongst the Nobility there were none that gaue aduice that England should bee reduced againe to the vnity of the Romane Church and obedience of the Apostolike Sea except the Earle of Shropshire and Anthony Browne Vicount Montaigue who as I said here before was in Queene MARIES Raigne sent in Ambassage to Rome by the States of the Kingdome with Thurbey Bishop of Ely who by a feruent zeale of Religion insisted sharpely that it were a great shame for England if she should retire so suddenly from the Apostolike Sea vnto which it was but lately reconciled and more danger if by reason of such reuolt it should be exposed by the thunder of an Excommunication to the rage of her enemies That by
that it was done in consideration of the marriages which ought to be contracted with the other Princes and hereupon propounded to marry the first Daughter who should issue by the mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland and the Dolphin of France with the first Sonne that might be procreated by Queene ELIZABETH to whom she should bring in dowry the Towne of Calais and that for this cause the Queene of Scotland should quit her right which shee had vnto the Kingdome of England or otherwise to marry the first Daughter which should be borne of Queene ELIZABETH with the eldest Sonne that should descend from the Queene of Scotland and hereupon the English should renounce the right which they pretend vnto the Realme of France and the French should be discharged of all the debts they ought to England and that Calais should in the meane time remaine in their hands But these propositions being vncertaine for another time they sought to win time and increase the delayes but were contemned by the English who made as if they seemed not to haue heard them As they stood vpon these termes the Spaniard hauing aduice that Queene ELIZABETH did not onely breake the marriage which hee had offered her but likewise changed many things in Religion began to giue ouer the desire which he seemed to haue before the restitution of Calais and his Ambassadours almost losing their patience were somewhat of accord with the French for the rest made account to continue the warres no longer for Calais vnlesse the English would contribute more men and money as before and would aduance it for sixe yeere This raised the heart of the Cardinall of Lorraine who assured the Spaniards that the Queen of Scotland his Niece was truely and vndoubtedly Queen of England and therefore that the King of Spaine ought to imploy all his forces if he made any account of iustice to cause Calais to be deliuered into the hands of his Niece the direct Queene of England But the Spaniards which suspected the power of France not hearing that willingly tryed secretly to draw out of England the Lady Katherine Gray the yonger Niece of King HENRY the Eighth for his Sisters sake to oppose her to the Queene of Scotland and the French if Queene ELIZABETH should happen to decease and to hinder thereby that France might not be augmented by the surcrease of England and Ireland And strongly insisted that there should be a Truce betwixt England and France vntill such time they should agree together and that in the meane time Calais should be sequestred in the hands of the King of Spaine as an Arbitrator of honour But that was refused as much by the French as the English Queene ELIZABETH had well presaged that for shee could not hope for any good from the Spaniards side seeing that she had contemned and despised to marry with their King and changed Religion She also had knowledge that the treatie of Cambray was not made for any other purpose but to exterminate roote out the Religion of the Protestants And truely the consideration of her Sex and the scarsitie of treasure made her Maiesty finde that peace was more to be wisht for than warre though most iust Also it was her ordinary saying that there was more glory in settling a peace by wisdome than in taking vp armes to make warre neither did shee thinke that it was beseeming either to her dignity or to the dignity of the name of the English to relye vpon the defence of the Spaniard And she thought therefore that it was better for her to make a peace aside and separably and to go thorow and conclude for Calais with the King of France being sollicited thereunto by continuall Letters from the Duke of Mont-morancy Constable of France and the Duke of Vandosme as also by message of the Duke of Guise who sent the Lord Gray who had beene taken prisoner at Guienne and released to that end And for to conclude this agreement B. Caualcance a Lord of Florence was employed who from his infancy had been brought vp in England with whom the French King hauing conferred in secret did hold that it should be safer to treat thereof by new Commissioners in such priuat Country-houses of the Kingdomes of England or France that were of no great note But Queene ELIZABETH being mooued shewed her selfe to be of a manly courage in declaring that shee was a Princesse absolutely free for to vndergoe her affaires either by her owne selfe or by her Ministers and although that during the reigne of her Sister nothing was concluded but according to the Spaniards aduice and that shee would neuerthelesse without giuing him the least notice or taking his counsell dispatch these affaires betweene the Deputies of both sides not in an obscure and priuate place but openly in the Castle of Cambresis neere Cambrai This offended no lesse the Spaniard than the refusall and contempt of his marriage with her Maiestie with the alteration of Religion had done heretofore Neuerthelesse the French who was crafty and cunning enough to discouer how she was affected to match with Spaine prayed her Maiestie first of all to take away two scruples from them before the yeelding of Calais to wit that they forsaking that Towne before they were assured whom shee should marry it might easily fall into the hands of the Spaniard because that he would haue her Maiestie if possible vpon any condition and that there is nothing so deare but women will part with it to their beloued husbands the other whether as the Spaniards boast that the English haue such neere alliance with them that they ought to ioyne in armes with them against all Nations whatsoeuer to these it was answered that her Maiestie bore such motherly affection toward the Kingdome of England that she would neuer part with Calais for to fauour a husband and that although her Matie shold grant it yet England would neuer suffer it Moreouer that betwixt her Maiesty and Spaine there was not any such alliance but a meere forced amitie and that her Maiesty was most free for any contract with any Prince which might be commodious and beneficiall to England Vpon this it was thought good and expedient that the Commissioners of each part should equally vse their vtmost endeuours in the Castle of Cambray to agree all differences and to conclude a peace Therefore Queene ELIZABETH sent for England as Commissioners Thurlbie Bishop of Elie the Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord high Chamberlaine to her Maiesty and Doctor Wotton Deane of the two Metropolitan Sees of Canterburie and Yorke For the French King Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop and Duke of Rheims the chiefest Peere of France Anne Duke of Mont-morancy Peere Constable and great master of France Lord Iames Aulbon Lord of Saint Andrewes Marquis of Fronsac and Lord Marshall of France Iohn of Moruillier Bishop of Orliens and Claude Aubespine Secretary of the Priuy-Councell of France These ioyntly
that they should forbeare absolutely to beare these Armes by the intercession of M. Memorency the Guizes Emulator who thought it not to be any honour for the King of France to take any other Title or to graue in his Seales any other armes than the Armes of the Kings of France and shewed that this Title alone was of more importance than many others and that the precedent Kings had no other when they sought their right in Naples and Milan And truely from these Titles and these Armes which the King of France at the instigation of the Guizes hath taken from the Queene of Scotland then vnder age all the disasters which afterwards happened vnto her haue flowed from that for from thence came the enmities openly declared by Queene ELIZABETH against the Guizes and those which shee practised against her priuatly which by the subtil malice of men who made vse of the growing enuy and of the occasions which sprung from day to day haue beene so fomented on both sides that nothing could extinguish them but death for Soueraigntie admits no Companion and Enmitie against Maiestie is grieuous A few daies after in stead of giuing foure Hostages for the Towne of Calais as they were bound by the treaty of Cambray they gaue onely three the English Merchants are iniuriously dealt with in France one of the Ambassador Throgmortons seruants was sent to the gallies which F. great Prior of France had taken carried away by force from a publique place Some Pistols were shot at the Ambassadour himselfe and in his owne lodging and to make him the more contemptible hee was serued at the Table with no other Vessell but such as the Armes of England and France were ioyntly grauen on Finally la Brosse was sent into Scotland with a troupe of choyce men Gallies were sent for from Marseilles and from the Mediterranean Sea Those in Scotland which professed the Protestants Religion and qualified themselues with the title of the Assembly perswaded by certaine heady Ministers and especially by Knox a most hot controller of the Royall authority that it behooued the Peeres of the Realme to take away Idolatry from their authority by force to settle the Princes within the limits prescribed by the Lawes had already refused to obey the Queene-Mother and Regent though shee was a modest and a prudent woman changed Religion tumultuously ransacking and burning the sacred places drawne to their partie Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut the most powerfull of all the Kingdome much prouoked by the wrongs done by the French and many Nobles were bayted with hope to haue the Ecclesiasticall Reuenues insomuch as they seemed not to thinke of Religion but to plot in good earnest a reuolt against the Queene Regent and against the French which made warre in Scotland and accused Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes Bastard brother to the Queene their Coriphea who since was Count of Mura to haue coueted the Kingdome from his Sister But by the holy protestations which hee made vnto them hee tooke away all suspition of hauing any other ayme but the glory of God and the Countries liberty and that seeing it opprest by the Queene Regent and the French he could not chuse but lament most bitterly for it They sent William Maitland of Lidington Secretary to Queene ELIZABETH and hee in a pittifull discourse complained to her that since the marriage of the Queene of Scotland with the Daulphin the administration of the Kingdome had beene changed strange Souldiers spoyl'd and ruin'd all the French were placed in the chiefest offices of the Kingdome the Castles and strong places put into their hands the pure money corrupted for their particular profit and that by these deuices and the like they fortifie themselues fraudulently to take away the Kingdome as soone as the Queene should be dead Cecill who was the principall minister that Queene ELIZABETH vsed in this businesse and in all other for his singular wisedome employeth H. Percy who afterwards was Earle of Northumberland to know what end the Lords of that Assembly propounded to themselues what meanes they had to obtaine that which they desired and if one should send them succour vpon what conditions might Amitie bee maintained betweene the two Kingdomes They answered that they propounded not to themselues any other end but the aduancement of the glory of Iesus Christ and the sincere preaching of Gods Word to extirpate superstition and idolatry and to keepe the liberty of their Ancestors which they knew not by what meanes it might be done but they hoped that God would giue successe to their designes according to their desire to the confusion of their aduersaries And as for the intertaining of amitie betweene the two Kingdomes that that was the abridgement of their wishes and thereunto vowed their goods their faith and their constancy They deliberate slowly of these things in England because the Scots were not well furnished with money and armes nor very faithfull among themselues But they considered that the Marquis D' Elbeuf Vnkle to the Queene of Scotland had leuied men in Germanie by the meanes of the Ringraue for the Scottish warre that they had brought downe into the Hauens peeces for battery that the preparations which were made were greater than was necessary for the restraining as was pretended of a small number of vnarmed Scots that the French to draw to their league the King of Denmarke promised him that the Duke of Lorraine should quit the right which hee pretended to haue to his Kingdome and that likewise the censure of the Pope against the Queene was more importunately sollicited than euer and a sentence declaratory for the right of the Queene of Scots to England there was sent vpon the frontiers of Scotland one Sadler a prudent man and the Counsellor of the Duke of Northumberland who guarded the South frontier and Iames Croft Gouernour of Barwicke For the Councell of England could not see what these things tended vnto except to inuade England and to pursue by armes that which they attributed to themselues by their Coates and Titles Now doe they in England seriously consult vpon the businesse and it seemed to them to be a very bad example that one Prince should lend ayde and succour to the subiects of another Prince who rayse vp broyles and tumults but it seemed also that it were an impietie to abandon those who professe the same Religion a slow wisdome to permit the French who were sworne enemies to the name of English challenged the Realme of England and enioyed at that time in all places an assured peace to remaine armed in Scotland so neere England and so opportunely for the inuading of that side where Nobles and Commons of England are most affectionate to the Romish Religion That it were to deliuer cowardly into the Enemies hand the safetie of particulars and the peace of the generall For that cause it behooued not to stand vpon dreaming and
forged reasons Queen ELIZABETH doubting lest they intended the ruine of England resolued to suppresse them Shee sent thereupon T. Randolph into Scotland to perswade the Peeres to a mutuall amitie grounded vpon the vnity of Religion aduertising them that the Princes of Germanie were vnited together against the Pope and that shee desired nothing more than that the English and Scottish were combined in this accord shewed them that the Queene of Scotland being a Widdow now was the onely opportunitie for the appeasing of all discords betwixt England and Scotland who had so many Ages the one fought against the other with so much bloud-shed on either part whether in contracting a perpetuall League with the English or in razing out of the ancient league with the French those Couenants which were wont to breed discord betweene England and Scotland Lastly shee exhorted them to beware that the Queene who was now a Widdow should not dispose her selfe in marriage to a stranger Prince by whose power shee might reuenge her selfe vpon those who had lately resisted the French and so expose their freedome to the hazard of seruitude In the meane time the Queen of Scotland who thought to retyre her selfe into her Kingdome hauing sent before Doysell a French-man intreating ELIZABETH by him to giue her Highnesse leaue to passe by Sea and to Doysell through England vnder the common faith ELIZABETH vtterly denyed her in presence of a whole multitude of her Assistants alledging for excuse that shee had not yet ratified the Treaty of Edenborrough as shee had promised to doe and assured her that in case shee should performe all that shee might expect from a Queene being her Cousin and Neighbour shee might freely passe either by Sea or Land into Scotland The Queene of Scots extremely stomaking this refusall called for Throgmorton and intertained a great deale of discourse with him about this occasion which I will briefly here insert according to the Contents of Throgmortons Letters collected by mee howsoeuer I must repeat diuers things of which I haue formerly spoken to the end that the originall and degrees of the secret grudges and hatred betweene two of the prudentest and most puissant Princesses of our Age might more euidently and clearely appeare Shee being then withdrawne a little aside and there being no more but her selfe and Throgmorton she spake in this manner vnto him ALthough I were so weake that I did not sufficiently know it nor whither the heat of my spirit might carry mee yet am I not so weake that I should desire so many witnesses of mine infirmitie as your Mistresse not long sithence held discourses with my Ambassadour Doysell Nothing vexeth mee so much as to haue intreated her for that I could well haue beene without and as I am come hither against her will and notwithstanding the hinderance by her Brother EDWARD I shall also be as well able God willing to returne into my Countrey without asking her leaue And I want not friends nor friends that are willing and powerfull to bring mee backe thither as they were to bring mee hither But I chose rather to try her friendship than any others I haue often heard you say that it was chiefly necessary to our two Kingdomes to intertaine amity the one with the other and neuerthelesse it seemes that shee hath another meaning otherwise shee would not haue refused mee so small a courtesie But peraduenture she loues those Scots better which are Rebels to me who am Queene of Scotland of equall Maiestie to her her neere Kinswoman and the most certaine Heire Doe you thinke that with so great a faith and loue which is betweene her and me she should keepe correspondency with the Scots which rebell against me Does shee thinke that I shall be forsaken of my friends Truely shee hath brought mee to that passe that I haue reclaymed the ayde of those which otherwise I would not haue imployed and I cannot maruell enough by what counsell she hath heretofore assisted my Subiects against mee and now that I am a Widdow am hindered from returning into my Countrey I stirre not vp any businesse nor meddle with those of England although I be assured that many English are not content with such as passe there at this present She reproches mee for my small experience I confesse age brings that yet neuerthelesse I haue so much as to know how to carry my selfe louingly and iustly with my friends I doe not cast at randome any word against her which may be vnworthy of a Queene and a Kinswoman and by her permission I dare say that I am a Queene as well as shee and want no friends more than shee doth and can carry my courage as high as shee knowes how to doe insomuch as it is fitting for vs to measure our selues with some equality But I leaue comparisons which cannot be but with debate and hatred As for the Treaty of Edenborrough it was made in the life-time of the King my Husband to whom I was bound by duety to obey in all things and since hee deferred the confirmation of it the fault ought to be his and not mine Since his death the Councell of France hath left me to be guided by mine owne friends and my Vnkles would not meddle with the affaires of Scotland for offending in any thing either Queene ELIZABETH or the Scots The Scots that I haue neere about me are priuate persons and are not such as I would aske their counsell in things of so great importance As soone as I haue consulted with the States of my Kingdome I will giue you a reasonable answer and to giue it so much the sooner I goe forward to returne to my House But shee makes account to stop my passage insomuch that shee her selfe is the cause that I cannot satisfie her and peraduenture she does it to the end that there may not be any end of our discords Shee often obiects vnto me as to my shame that I am young and truely shee might rightly say it both very young and very ill-aduised if I would treate of a businesse of that importance without the consent of my States A woman as I haue learned is not bound either by honour or conscience to her Husbands fact But I will haue no dispute vpon that and neuerthelesse I will truely say that I haue done nothing to my most deare Sister that I would should not haue beene done vnto my selfe I haue rendred her all duties of friendship but shee either beleeues them not or despiseth them I would to God that I were as deare to her as I am neere to her for that would be a precious kinde of proximitie God pardon those which sow discords betweene vs if there be any But you who are her Ambassadour say if you dare wherefore shee is so much offended against mee who vntill this present neuer offended her neither in word nor in effect To which Throgmorton told her I Haue no Commission to answer
to that but to heare that which you haue to answer touching the confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough But if it please you to heare the cause of this offence hauing quitted the qualitie of an Ambassadour I will tell it you in few words As soone as the Queene my Mistris was sacred and inaugurated you vsurped the name and armes of England although you had not done it before in the reigne of Queene MARY You shall iudge in your owne wisdome if a greater offence can be done to a Prince Surely priuate persons themselues doe not willingly digest these offences much lesse Princes But said She my Husbands Father and my Husband would haue it so commanded it As soone as they were deceased and that I was of my selfe I presently quitted both the Armes and the Title And notwithstanding I know not if this be to defraud the Queene that I who likewise am one and Grand-child to the eldest Sister of HENRY the Eighth carry these Armes seeing that others haue borne them which are further off of kinne than I am Indeed Courtney Marquis of Exceter and the Dutches of Suffolke Neece to HENRY the Eighth by his yonger Sister by a speciall fauour carryed the Armes of England in adding to them the Limbes for a marke of difference The Queene of Scotland not being able by these words to giue Qu. ELIZABETH content who stedfastly beleeued that shee sought but delayes to husband some new hope seeing that at the holding of the States of Scotland who had assembled twice since the death of Queene MARIE shee had not made any proposition which concerned the confirmation of this Treaty as shee was already vpon the way to come for Scotland shee caused Throgmorton a second time to come to her to Ableville and asked him curteously How shee might either by word or deed giue satisfaction to Queene ELIZABETH In ratifying sayes he the Treaty of Edenborrough as I haue often told you Whereupon she said vnto him HEarken then to iudge if this which shee thinkes to be delayes and vaine excuses are not most iust reasons The first Article of this Treaty which concernes the ratification of that which passed in the Castle of Cambray betweene England and France toucheth mee nothing at all The second which concernes that of the Treatie passed in the same place betweene England and Scotland hath beene ratified by my Husband and mee and I cannot ratifie it more amply if it be not concluded in my name alone seeing my Husband is there expresly named The third fourth and fifth Articles are already effected for the preparatiues of Warre haue ceased the French Garrisons are called backe out of Scotland the Fort which was neere Aymouth is razed Since the death of my Husband I haue refrained to carry the Armes and the Title of England and it is not in my power to raze them out of the Vtensils Edifices and the Letters Royall which are dispersed through France no more than I can send backe the Bishop of Valence and of Raadan since they are not my Subiects to contest vpon the sixth Article As to the last I hope that my seditious Subiects will not complaine of my inclemencie But as I see shee which thinkes to hinder my returne will goe about to hinder that they shall not try my clemencie What remaines now in this Treatie which is preiudiciall to your Queene Neuerthelesse to heape her vp with satisfactions I will write to her of it more amply with mine owne hand though shee vouchsafes not to write to mee but by a Secretarie As for you Ambassadour I pray you to doe the duetie of an Ambassadour rather to sweeten businesses than make them sowrer But these Letters did not giue Queen ELIZABETH any contentment who had euer in her heart the iniury which shee had done her in taking the title and armes of England and at that time feared much that shee tooke them yet if by the confirmation of this Treatie and the Religion of the othe shee was not bound to forbeare them In the meane time the Queene of Scotland finding the time fit goes to Calais and gets into Scotland hauing the fauour of Heauen which was cloudy and darke got the winde of the English Ships that some thought had beene sent to Sea in honour to conuoy her others to take Pirates and others to take her they grounding it vpon this that Iames her bastard-brother a little before returning from France and passing through England had counselled Queene ELIZABETH to doe it if shee would prouide for Religion and her owne safetie The which Lidington being ioyfull that Doysell was retayned in England perswaded as his Letters make mention Lest being returned shee should stirre vp Tragedies take away the commerce of letters and messages with the English ruine the faction which was at their deuotion and exercise crueltie vpon the Protestants of Scotland not vnder colour of disloyaltie but of heresie euen as MARIE Queene of England had lately done Howbeit her Maiestie being returned into Scotland shewed all gentlenesse to her Subiects shee changed nothing in Religion although tumultuously brought in and begun to temper the Common-wealth by excellent Lawes and good Ordinances Her Maiestie sent Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH with Letters from her selfe and from the Peeres of Scotland by which shee referred to her all the care to make and intertaine the peace betweene England and Scotland prayed her to seeke some good dispatch thereof and gaue for her aduice that shee did not thinke of a better and more certaine remedie than that Queene ELIZABETH dying without issue should declare her Heire to succeed her in the Kingdome of England c. by authority of Parliament This seemed strange to Queene ELIZABETH who expected to receiue the Confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough promised both by word and writing Notwithstanding she answers him THat for concerning the matter of Succession shee hoped that the Queene of Scotland would not violently take the Scepter from her nor from her Children if shee should haue any Promiseth not to derogate in any manner from the right which she had to the Kingdome of England howsoeuer by the precipitate and ouer-hasted ambition of others shee had attributed to her selfe the Title and the Armes of the same for which it were iust and requisit shee should make some satisfaction And said shee feared that the Designation of a Successour would disioyne their friendship rather than re-vnite it by reason that those which rule haue alwayes those in suspition which ought to succeed them That the inconstant people vexing themselues at the present state of things turne away the eyes from the Sunne-setting and looke toward the Sunne-rising and that those which are once designed Successors cannot containe themselues within the limits of equitie nor can keepe vnder the ill desires of their owne and of others insomuch that if she did confirme and assure the succession she should depriue her selfe of all
withall they shewed her that it could not bee done except she married or designed a certaine Successor For which cause they desired and aboue all things besought her to be ioyned by the sacred bond of Marriage with whom she would in what place she liked as soone as she pleased to the end to haue Children for helps to the Kingdome withall to ordaine with the States of the Realme a Successor certaine in case that shee or the Children which she might haue should dye without Children which God forbid And for the obtaining of these things so much the more easily being so necessary they represented vnto her many reasons for the same the feare which of fresh memory had seized vpon them with such a sicknesse of which they had beene but newly recouered the opportunity of the time the States of the Kingdome beeing then assembled which might maturely deliberate of so great matters the terrour which she should giue to her enemies by this meanes and the incredible ioy which she should fill the hearts of her Subiects withall They praise the examples of her Ancestors who in like cases prouided for the suretie of their Posterity condemning this saying of Pyrrhus who would leaue his Kingdome to him that had the sharpest sword And moreouer shewing her with what a storme England were threatned if she should dye without designing a certaine Successor there would follow impetuously vpon it seditions and intestine Warres of which the Victory it selfe is most miserable and that Religion should bee driuen out Iustice ouerwhelmed the Lawes trodden vnderfoot there beeing no Prince who is the soule of the Law and the Kingdome a prey to strangers They numbered and exaggerated many other like calamities which would inuolue all sorts of Families if she should dye without Issue And modestly they added counsels Precepts and examples drawne from the holy Scriptures But those of the Lower House debated of these things more tumultuously Bell and Monson Lawiers of great renowne Dutton P. Wentworth and others refuted Royall Maiestie too much and among other things maintained that Kings were bound to designe a Successor that the loue of Subiects was the most strong and inexpugnable Rampart of Princes their onely stay and Support That Princes could not obtaine this loue if they did not prouide for the good of their Subiects not onely while they liued but after their death That that could not be done if a Successor did not plainely appeare That the Queene for lacke of designing one prouoked Gods wrath and alienated the hearts of her Subiects That then to gaine the fauour of God and haue Subiects most affectionate and obliged and to raise her vp Statues in the hearts of men which would neuer perish shee should declare a Successor Others that shee should knowe that they did hold her not for a Mother and a Nurse but for a Stepdame and a murderesse of her Countrie seeing shee loued her selfe better than England which then breathed by her spirit would expire with her rather then subsist aliue That there were neuer but cowardly Princes haters of their Subiects and fearefull weake women who conceiued feare because of their Successors and that such as be enuironed with the loue of their Subiects ought not to apprehend the danger which might bee stirred vp against them by a declared Successor These things she heard with a great deale of displeasure but shee contemned them for a time and for a time kept them hidden For as vse had instructed her she well knew what danger there is to designe a Successor insomuch that Queene MARIE reigning many of the Nobility and of the people had cast their eyes and hearts vpon her as beeing to succeed her that euen as any thing had bin said or done in her most holy Cabinet or secret Councell they reported it to her and that Wyat and others misliking their state and desiring to innouate things had conspired against her to set her vpon the Royall Throne in her place Shee knew that the hopes of Competitors were better restrained and they kept in their duety while she suspended the wayting of euery one and made no declaration of any That by a precipitate desire to reigne euen Children haue tooke Armes against their Fathers and that shee could not looke for lesse from her kindred She had obserued in reading and when she disputed of that remembred incontinently that it was rarely found that the Successors had bin declared in the collaterall line That Lewis Duke of Orleans had neuer been declared Successor in the Kingdome of France to Charles the Eighth nor Francis Duke of Angoulesme to Lewis yet neuerthelesse they succeeded without any noise That such designation had alwaies in England beene the ruine of the designed and that Roger Mortimer Earle of March designed Heire by King Richard had not beene so soone extinct and his sonne Edmond constituted and kept prisoner twentie yeeres together but for this cause That I. Polhem Earle of Lincolne declared Successor by Richard the 3. after the death of his sonne by Henry the Seuenty was alwaies suspected and finally killed in warre as he was weauing of innouations and his brother Edward beheaded vnder HENRIE the Eighth But these things make vs goe from the purpose But as some ceased not with prouoked spirits and sharpe contention daily more and more to cry aloud these things which I come to tell and other things which had a greater sting the Queene hauing commanded that choyce should be made of thirty of the Vpper-House of Parliament and as many of the Lower and that they should appeare before her Shee with a light reproose made them milder and by force of her most worthy Maiesty diuerted them from their designe promising them with many words not onely the care of a Princesse but also the affection of a Mother And the States hauing offered her for Subsidies more than they were accustomed to doe vpon condition that she would designe a Successour Shee vtterly refused it as being too much receiued the ordinary commending their affection remitted the whole fourth payment of the granted Subsidie saying That her Subiects money was as well in their owne coffers as in hers The last day of these Sessions she spoke thus in few words which I will shut vp in fewer SEeing that the words of Princes doe often penetrate deepe into the hearts and eares of men heare these from mee As I haue simply cherished truth so haue I alwayes thought that you would ingeniously haue cherished her but it hath beene in vaine For I haue discouered that dissimulation thrusts her selfe into these assemblies vnder the maske of libertie and of succession There are some of them among you who are of opinion that I ought presently to grant or vtterly to refuse libertie to dispute of the Succession and to establish it If I should haue granted it those would triumph ouer mee hauing their wishes If I refused they had
deserued extreme punishment yea greater torments then those of hell fire Whereunto Smith made answere That it nothing concerned him and to search out what right and title the French had in former times to Calais one must rip vp wonderfull ancient and absolute Antiquities but well he perceiued at last that what the French laid hold of either by right or wrong they take it for their own as if their claimes and titles lay in nothing but Armes and little car'd whether they possest a good or bad conscience That they resolued to hold Calais by that Law of Nations which permits captiues to release themselues from their enemies and recouer former libertie though the other held it by vertue of a solemne Conuention and Accord And that they cal'd not to consideration how after the first there was another so as they determined in no wise to performe their promise giuen touching the restitution of Calais And yet neuerthelesse this was of more waight and consequence then the most important reasons that could bee alleadged That they euer tooke to themselues and denyed the English the glory and honour which then they willingly ascribed to them for beeing capable and apprehensiue in Contractations That this renouation of Contract was but a meere Antistrophe which might iustly bee returned vpon the French because the reason why the Queene redemanded Calais was for nothing else but in that the French attempting and innouating by their Armes in Scotland had lost the right they pretended thereunto because the Queene of England vpon this surprized Haure de grace As if in so doing the one Prince minded not to yeeld one iot to the other We said he accorded a Peace at Troyes which if it induced any nouation or change this innouation or change cut off the right which the French had to Calais and confirmed the English Title which the English could not as yet iustly claime because the eight yeeres were not then fully expired Whereupon rising and turning toward the Councell of France I appeale saith hee to your faith and conscience seeing your selues were then present when wee insisted in making a Reseruation by expresse termes for our right to Calais you labouring as much to haue it omitted because the full time was not expired Is it not true that the Accord was made betweene vs with this prouiso and secret reseruation exprest in this Clause All other respectiue intentions and demands to remaine solid and entire and so likewise the exceptions and prohibitions both of the one and the other side reserued As for Haure de grace the English entred it without one blowe strucke at the intreaty of the Inhabitants and the Normane Nobility and after a solemne protestation that it should bee kept and held to the King of France his behoofe so as heerein they vndertooke nothing against him by course of Armes nor innouated not any thing to the infringement of the former Treaty As for the moneys lent to the Prince of Condé and his Confederates this was done with no other drift or intention then to satisfie the Almaine Souldiers who mutined for their pay and to detaine them from forraging those Countries that liued vnder the King's obedience which the King himselfe acknowledged to haue beene done to a good end and for his owne speciall seruice And thus you see what Sir Thomas Smith vttered with diuers such matters and allegations Whereupon Monsieur Memorancy beeing Constable of France holding vp his Sword on high the Scabbard whereof was set with Flowers-de-Luce for a marke and embleme of his high Office and vsing many words of the great warlike preparations which the English brought before Haure de grace as if they had not only beene able to defend a small Towne but further to haue taken in all Normandy No man said Smith need to wonder because the Englishmen being a maritime Nation vnderstanding that they haue no command ouer the Winds who are Lords of the Sea they prouide plentifully and in due season for time to come Then the Frenchmen complaining that conformable to the Accord the Protestants that fled out of France were refused to bee deliuered to the French Ambassadour who had demanded them this busines was put off till another time and so by little and little came to be buried in silence the Ciuill Wars instantly renewing in France And certainely the French-men were resolued among themselues neuer to deliuer vp Calais againe For they no sooner tooke it but they razed all the old Fortifications began to make new let houses and grounds for fiftie yeeres and granted a perpetuitie in others While these matters thus passed in France the Count of Stolberg came into England from the Emperour Maximilian to treate of a Marriage with the Arch-duke for which end likewise the Queenes Maiestie not long before had sent to the Emperour the Earle of Sussex with the Order of the Garter who for the loue he bare to his Countrey and hatred to the Earle of Leicester employed all his best endeuours to bring to passe that the Queene might marry with a strange Prince and Leicester by this meanes to bee frustrated of his hopes this alwaies readily comming out of his mouth That whether in respect of honour power or meanes a strange Prince was to be preferred before the most noble Subiect of the Kingdome of England Which made one of a contrarie opinion vpon a certaine time vtter ingeniously these words in his presence That in marriages wherein respect is had to three things to honour power and riches the Diuell and the World were the Paranymphes and Solliciters Notwithstanding Leicester conceiuing good hopes found meanes to suborne the Lord North whom the Earle of Sussex had chosen to accompany him in his voyage that he should giue an eare to what he spake cast a vigilant eye ouer what hee did and vnder-hand to plucke backe the Marriage of the Arch-duke as fast as hee aduanced and set it forward letting him vnderstand that the Queene was farre from it whatsoeuer shew shee made of a willing mind and what face soeuer Sussex set on it As also himselfe laboured incessantly in Court to diuert the Queene from any such resolution he hauing the command of her eare and to this end he representing vnto her all the discommodities which might accrew by her marrying out of the Realme The Marriage of late memory that her Sister MARY contracted with the King of Spaine whereby shee cast her selfe into perpetuall sorrow and England into danger of comming vnder the Spanish seruitude That it was vnpossible to discouer the manners cogitations and inward inclinations of strangers though these things ought to be lookt into in the person of an Husband who by an inseparable band is one and the same flesh How it was an extreme misery and griefe to be dayly conuersant with a man of strange maners and language That Children begotten in such marriages tooke from their birth I know not what kind of
hand to your presence and if you be pleased to commiserate my case I will at large informe you of all God grant you a long and happy life and me the patience to attend that comfort I hope for from Him by your gracious meanes and dayly Prayer for with all my heart Queene ELIZABETH returning her great comfort in Letters and by the mouth of Francis Knowles and others promised her assistance according to the equitie of her cause but neuerthelesse she refused her accesse because shee was commonly taxed with many grosse crimes and commanded she should be conuayed to Carlile where shee might remaine in greatest security if her Aduersaries attempted any thing against her by Lowder Lieutenant Gouernour of the place and the Gentlemen of the Countrey Hauing receiued this answere and refusall she once againe made her request by Letters and by the mouth of Maxwell Baron of Heris to this effect THat she would admit her in her own presence to report the iniuries and indignities had been offered her and to answer those crimes laid to her charge Intimating to her Maiesty how it was iust that Qu. ELIZABETH who was so neere vnto her in blood should giue care to her in her banishment and to re-establish her in her Kingdome against those who hauing beene expelled for their offences committed against her by Queene ELIZABETHS intercession they were againe restored and to her owne finall ruine if the storme were not out of hand preuented Wherefore shee requested her that either shee might bee admitted to speake personally to her and to grant her some ayde or else to permit and be pleased that she might presently depart out of England to seeke for succour some where else and that she might not be detained any longer time in the Castle of Carlile in that shee came voluntarily into England vpon the confidence shee had in the loue and affection which had so many times beene honourably promised her by Messengers Letters and Remembrances These Letters and Heris words seemed for who can diue into the secret thoughts of Princes and wise men lay them vp in their hearts to moue Queene ELIZABETH to compassion of a Princesse her neere Kinswoman and so deepely distressed who hauing been surprized by her own Subiects with force and Armes committed to prison brought to extreme danger of her life condemned and depriued of her Kingdome without beeing heard although no Iudgement can passe vpon a priuate man without former hearing shee was retyred into England vnto her with infallible hopes of finding ayd and succour And the free offer which this vnfortunate Queene made to pleade her owne cause in her presence the charge she tooke vpon her to conuince her Aduersaries of the same malefacts whereof they accused her though most innocent were to her hopefull and encouraging motiues thereunto What pitty and commiseration soeuer Queen ELIZABETH had of her the Councell of England deliberated grauely and aduisedly what in this case was to bee done They fear'd that if shee remained any longer in England hauing a perswasiue and mouing tongue she might drawe many to her partie who fauoured the Title which she pretended to the Crowne of England who might peraduenture inflame her ambition and attempt all meanes to maintaine her claime That forraigne Ambassadours would be present at her Consultations and the Scots would not in this case forsake her seeing so rich a booty to offer it selfe Besides they considered that the fidelity of her Guard might be doubtfull and if shee chanc'd to dye in England though it were of some infirmity or sicknesse many slanders might be rais'd and so the QVEENE should be dayly encumbred with new cares If she were sent into France the Guizes her Cousins would againe set on foot the Title whereby she laid claime to the Crowne of England That what opinion soeuer was conceiued of her she might preuaile greatly in England with some for pretext of Religion with others for the probability of her right as before I told you and with the most part of men out of their precipitate affection of Nouelties That the Amity betweene England and Scotland so behoofefull and beneficiall would be broken and the ancient Allyance between Scotland and France renewed which would then bee more dangerous then heretofore because the Burgundians who had no infallible friends but the Scots should bee linckt to the English by a firme Alliance If shee were sent backe into Scotland those that tooke with the English partie should thereupon be banisht and that of France rais'd to the publike administration of gouernment of Affaires the young Prince exposed to danger Religion chang'd the French and other strangers still retained in Scotland Ireland would bee more grieuously molested by the Scots of Hebrides and her selfe exposed to the perill of life within her owne Kingdome Wherefore the greater part ioyned in opinion that shee was to be retained in England as beeing taken by the Law of Armes and not to bee releast till shee had giuen ouer her present claime to the Crowne of England which shee tooke vpon her and answered for the death of the Lord Darley her husband who was a naturall Subiect of England For the Countesse of Lenox mother to the Lord Darley blubbered all ouer with teares had not long before prefer'd a Petition about her and her husband to the Queene of England with supplication that she might be brought to Iudgement for the murder of her Sonne But the Queene graciously comforting her admonisht her that she would not accuse so great a Princesse who was her very neere Kinswoman of a crime which could not be prooued by any euident testimonies intimating vnto her how the times were bad and wicked and hatred blind imputing offences oftentimes to the Innocent On the contrary the Baron of Heris was a suiter to Qu. ELIZABETH that she would suddenly beleeue nothing to the preiudice of truth and that Earle Murray might not hurrie vp Assemblies of Parliament in Scotland to the iniurie and wrong of the Queene who was expelled and the absolute ruine of her good Subiects But though the Queene of England much pressed this point Earle Murray the Vice-Roy summoned them still in the Kings name banished some that remained yet behind of her partialitie and vented the malice hee bare to them vpon their demeanes and houses The Queene of England beeing herewith mightily incens'd certified him in expresse termes by Mildemay that she could not endure for a most pernicious President to Kings that the Royall Authoritie of sacred Maiestie should bee esteemed vile and abiect amongst the Subiects and trampled vnder-foot at the will and pleasure of men turbulent and factious That howsoeuer they forgot the duety and fidelitie which Subiects owe to their Prince yet for her part shee could not bee vnmindfull of that pitty and Commiseration which obliged her to a Sister and a neighbour Qu. Wherefore she wisht him either to come in person or
vnder pretence and colour to consult with them about her re-establishment But the Lord Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut then made Lieutenant of Scotland by the Queene and the Baron of Heris were perswaded by the Letters of the credulous Qu. But Murray fearing to be deceiued by them circumuents them and claps them vp in prison not expecting the comming of others and pursued grieuously in oppressing all the fauourers of the Queene with all the rigors of Warre This Act produceth rumours through all Scotland That Murray had agreed and determined with Qu. ELIZABETH that the young King IAMES should be giuen her to be brought vp and educated in England and that the Castles of Edenborrough Sterling were to be fortified with English Garrisons Dunbriton also taken by force for the vse and profit of the English and Murray be publisht and declar'd true and lawfull Successour of the Kingdome of Scotland if the King should happen to dye without Issue and to hold the Kingdome as Tenent to Queene ELIZABETH These rumours increased ran and were divulg'd in this manner and through a certaine probability strook in such fashion the spirits of men all ouer Great Brittaine that Qu. ELIZABETH thought herselfe obliged to take away and clense all such spots both for her honour and Murray's sake To which end her Maiestie declar'd by a Royall Speech published and set forth in Print That these things were farre opposite to the Truth and meerely forged and inuented by such as enuyed the Peace and tranquillitie of both Kingdomes That since the last departure of Murray from England there was not any such thing propounded nor such Paction past either by word of mouth or writing betweene her Maiesty or any of her Officers and him that came to her knowledge But that the Earle of Lenox Grandfather to the yong King had prayed her Maiesty that he might be sent into England if hee could not bee secure in Scotland from the plots of the wicked Likewise her Maiestie affirmed that she held the Compact as false which was reported to bee betweene Murray and the Earle of Hartford to wit that they had both agreed and resolued together mutually to helpe and giue assistance one to another for to enioy the Crowne of both Kingdomes and to conclude that it was not her fault that the affaires and businesses were not ended betweene the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne but rather she still endeuoured that it might be finisht and though her Maiesty was in a conflict through feare and inueterate emulation which neuer dyes betweene Femall Princesses yet out of the remembrance and recordation of the misery of Scotland and the commiseration of humane frailety she sincerely laboured to effect it The Queene of Scots made an addition to that her pious pitty and sollicited her with many kind Letters in which she solemnly protested that in regard of the kindnesse she had found and the propinquity of their affinity she would attempt nothing against her neither be willing to owe restitution to any other Prince for her re-establishment This caus'd Queene ELIZABETH by Letters sent by Wood to deale with Murray and other Scots for her re-establishment to her Royall Dignity or if that could not be granted that shee might bee permitted to leade a priuate life and spend her daies at home freely and honourably which notwithstanding could not any wayes moue Murray hauing brought his busines to perfection There was a rumor at this time amongst those of better sort that the Duke of Norfolke should be linked in Hymens bonds with the Queene of Scots the which was desired of many the Papists expecting by it the aduancement of their religion others hoping by that meanes for the welfare of the Common-wealth Truely many which saw the Queene remote and farre from marriage and the forraigne Princes which were deadly professors to England did settle their eyes and hearts vpon the Queene of Scots as the true and vndoubted heire of England they esteem'd for to ground their rest and tranquillity and to keep thereby the Queene of Scotland within the bounds and limits of her Kingdome it was much more behoofefull and expedient that she should be married with the Duke of Norfolke who was the most Noble and the greatest Peere of England beloued of the people educated and brought vp in the Protestants Religion then to a forraigne Prince by whose meanes both Kingdomes should be in danger and the hereditary succession by him apprehended which they had alwayes and from the beginning wisht to be re-vnited in an English Prince of the blood the yong King of Scotland happening to dye whom they propounded to send into England to the end that as he was the true apparent heire thereof and being educated and brought vp there by the English he should be to them dearer and more beloued all scruple of Religion taken away and Queene ELIZABETH hauing him in her power were free from all feare and apprehension both of the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scots Moreouer lest the Duke should attempt any thing against her but should more dearely affect her they resolued that Margaret the only Daughter of the Duke should bee marryed afterward to the young King of Scotland Amongst these were the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Sussex Pembroke Southampton and many other Barons and Leicester himselfe it being doubtfull whether aiming intending the destruction of the Duke thought it fit first to acquaint the Queene with it and to commit it to her iudgement censure and that she should prescribe and make wholsome Lawes salutiferous to her selfe Religion and the Kingdome But this if you please you may haue written more at large in the Dukes Confession and the Commentaries of the Bishop of Rosse which was a great part of this businesse When as the Deputies and Arbitrators put in trust with those affaires had met at Yorke Lidington and the Bishop of Rosse in their Enquirie acquainted the Duke with the intended Contract as Murray himselfe did also at Hampton Court who in his priuate conference with the Duke and some others dissembled and did seeme that he desired and wisht for nothing more then that all differences being ended in Scotland shee might be restored to her former Dignities prouided that she should truely and heartily affect her Subiects as she had done formerly all iniuries on both sides beeing forgotten forgiuen and buryed in obliuion Notwithstanding hee feared that if as shee desired shee should marry a man out of France Spaine or Austria shee would reuenge her former iniuries make an alteration of Religion in Scotland and much damnifie the State of England To preuent all which he promised his assistance and best endeuours that she who formerly had beene married to a Child an improuident young man nay more a furious young man should now be contracted to the Duke a man of stayednesse mature iudgement the which would conduce to the welfare of
of London for intertaining clandestine conferences with the Earle of Southampton a most deuoted man to the Romish Religion In the meane time Sussex accompanied with the Lord Scroope with Companies of Souldiers being gone againe into Scotland burn'd the Villages in the Valley of Annandale ruined the Castle of Annandale which belonged to Heris and the Castle of Caer-Laueroc belonging to Maxwell who had made some pillaging incursioÌs into England and brought them to such distresse who continued on the Queene of Scotlands side that the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley and Argathell send them a promise in writing sealed vnder their hands obliging themselues thereby no longer to maintaine warres and to abandon the English Rebels This being done hee forthwith returned and for their valour Knighted Hastings Russell Browne Hilton Stapleton and Musgraue and himselfe afterwards for his approued wisdome and vertue was admitted to be of the Queenes Priuy Councell ELIZABETH hauing her thoughts full of doubts with various suspitions by reason of this Bull and Norfolkes conspiracy sent vnto the Queene of Scotland being then at Chettesworth in the Countie of Darbie Cecil and Walteââ Mildmay who in regard the waters were risen aboue measure it being in the Moneth of October came thither with much difficultie to consult with her about the most conuenient meanes how to compound the variance in Scotland for the restoring of her to her former estate to secure ELIZABETH and prouide for the safetie of her young Sonne Shee could say nothing but deplore her afflicted condition and complayned of the fraudulent deuices of Count Murray iustified the Duke of Norfolke and reposed all her hope on the courtesie of ELIZABETH vnderstanding that shee had the generall gouernement of the affaires of Scotland as well as of England They propounded vnto her that to conclude a certaine peace betweene the two Kingdomes she ought to oblige her selfe to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and disclaime the title and right which shee pretended to England so long as ELIZABETH or any issue of her body should liue Not to renew or entertaine any alliance with any Prince whatsoeuer against England Not to admit any forreine troupes into Scotland nor hold any Councell with the English or Irish without notice first giuen to ELIZABETH To send backe the English Fugitiues and Rebels to satisfie the dammages done vpon the Frontiers To make search according to the Law of the Murder aswell of Darley her Husband as of Murray and deliuer her Sonne into England for a pledge Not to contract her selfe in marriage with any English man without acquainting the Queene of England nor with any other contrary to the Ordinances of Scotland That the Scots might not goe for Ireland without leaue of the Queene of England That for the performance of these things the Queene and the Commissioners appointed for the same shall thereto set their hands and Seales Six Hostages whom the Queene of England would nominate should be sent into England That if the Queene of Scotland or any other by her procurement attempted any thing against her she should in that reâpect alone be cut off from all right which shee might claime in England That the Castles of Hume and Fast-Castle were held from the English for three yeeres space That shee should deliuer into their hands certaine Forts in the Countrey of Galloway or Cantire to the end that the Borderers on that coast might not inuade Ireland And lastly that the State of Scotland should confirme al these things by Act of Parliament To these things her selfe suddenly with great dexteritie and wisdome made answere neuerthelesse referred it to be answered more fully by the Bishop of Rosse her Ambassadour in England Alexander Gorden Bishop of Galloway and to the Baron Leuinstone deputed by Her lieutenants of Scotland who afterwards allowing some of these Articles and reiecting others made answer as here followeth THat it was reasonable to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and renounce the title of England during the life of ELIZABETH but as concerning the ancient alliance of France it was to be considered that if they did not intertaine that still the Queene should lose her dowrie the 100. armed Men and the 124. Souldiers of the Scottish Guard being Archers the Merchants Schollers and many who are to haue inheritance their pensions and immunities which they enioy shall be cast out and depriued of them and of the loue and assistance of a most puissant Nation which things if the English did not amply satisfie the Queene of Scotland could in no manner renounce this alliance But that shee would not entertaine any forraigne souldiers vnlesse such rebellion might happen which could not be suppressed by the strength of the Countrey That she would haue no intelligence or keepe correspondancie with any of the English to the preiudice of England prouided that the Q. of England on the other side intertayned none with the Scots to the preiudice of Scotland That if there were any English Rebels and Fugitiues in Scotland they might demand them of the Scottish Rebels who were for the more part neere as they to examine by deputies the dammages which they had receiued and make inquiry according to the Lawes of Scotland of the death of Darley and Murray That shee could not deliuer the King in pledge in regard hee was in their custodie who vnder his name coloured the Rebellion against the Queene That it was a strange innouation that a free Princesse should receiue Lawes from a stranger-Prince or his Subiects for her marriage That the Scots should not passe into Ireland to any preiudice of the Queene of England prouided that the Irish were by a reciprocall Law obliged not to passe into Scotland Agreed for confirmation of the securitie to giue such pledges as the Queene of England should nominate the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley Argathell and of Athole excepted Furthermore it shall be in their power to exclude the Queene of Scots from all right of Succession in England if shee should goe about to doe any thing contrary to the right and authoritie of the Queene of England so that the Queene of England would be bound in the like penaltie if shee should doe any thing against the power and priuiledge of the Queene of Scotland They demand that restitution be made of Castle-Hume and Fast-Castle to the Baron of Hume being the Lord to whom by right they appertaine and the English to hold them no longer To deliuer vp the Forts in Galloway and Cantire were to no other end but to minister a new occasion of warre When these things could in no wise bee agreed vpon neither any Commissioners came from the Vice-Roy of Scotland in the meane while it was divulged all abroad that the Pope the King of France and the Duke D' Alua was importunately sought vnto for ayde to set the Queene of Scotland at libertie and the English Rebels the Earle of
we haue created establisht and raised him to the state dignity and honour of Baron Burghley and haue imposed vpon him and giuen and granted vnto him the name stile and title of Baron of Burghley to haue and to hold the same foreuer to him and the heires males which shall be borne from his body Of whom I haue already freely spoken and will againe make mention as well as of others whom shee hath raised to the state of Barons because it is amongst the most ample degrees of Honour For the Barons of the Parliaments of England are borne Peeres and great Councellors of the Kingdome and enioy diuers immunities and Priuiledges which are not to be mentioned in this place but I haue noted else-where A little after Ridolph a Florentine who had vsed trading for fifteene yeeres space in London deliuered secretly vnto the Queene of Scotland Letters from the Pope importing promises to imploy himselfe for the aduancement of the Catholique Religion and Himselfe willed her to giue credit in all things to Ridolph and to learne from him who was then going for Italy what meanes might be best for the re-establishing of the Catholique Religion and appeasing of the mischiefs in England Ridolph also sollicited the Queene by the seuerall Letters which he wrote vnto her to aduise herevpon with the Duke of Norfolke his friends and to recommend it to them But shee deferred the returne of any answer vntill she might perceiue how the Treaty which was already begun would take effect notwithstanding the Kings of France and Spaine and the Duke of Alua had written to her to the same purpose For the Earle of Morton Petcarne Abbot of Dunfermelin and I. Macgill were come to treat about the affaires of Scotland in the Kings name and hauing receiued command from Queene ELIZABETH more cleerely to vnfold the causes of the Queenes deposing and to proue them to be iust exhibited a prolix CoÌmentarie by which with an insolent freedome and vehemencie of words they strained themselues to proue by ancient and moderne examples searcht out of all places that according to the ancient right of Scotland the people of Scotland were vnder the King and that by the authority of Caluin the Magistrates were appointed to bridle their vnrulie appetites and had authority to punish wicked Kings by imprisonment depose them from their Kingdomes and vaine-gloriously boasted to haue shewed the Queen courtesie in permitting her to substitute her Sonne in her place and appoint him Tutors That it was not in respect of her innocency that shee subsisted but out of the mercy of her people with diuers other things which factious spirits are accustomed to alledge against Royall Maiesty Queene ELIZABETH not able with any patience to read this secretly condemned it as iniurious to Kings and as for the Deputies she answered them that she could not yet perceiue any iust cause why they should so vexe and trouble their Queen and therfore wisht that they would rather seeke out some meanes to quench the discord in Scotland In the prosecution whereof it was propounded in the house of Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale to the Bishops of Rosse and Galloway and to Baron Leuiston Deputies for the Queene of Scotland that for the safety of the Kingdome and Queene of England and the Nobles of Scotland who were of the Kings part that the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles of Huntley and Argathell of Hume of Seris and another Baron ought to be giuen in pledge and the Castles of Dunbriton and Hume deliuered for three yeeres vnto the English before the Queene could be set at liberty To which they answered THat it need not be doubted that the Queene of Scotland who had voluntarily put herselfe vnder the Protection and guard of the Queene of England would willingly giue contentment in any thing which might conueniently be done But to deliuer such great persons in pledge with such Forts were nothing lesse then in depriuing a miserable Queene of the helpe of her faithfullest friends and her strongest places of defence to be exposed as a prey vnto her aduersaries But they offered to giue in pledge the two said Earles and two Barons And as for the Forts they said that according to their Couenants with France they could not giue them to the English that they could not grant them also to the French But said Bacon the whole Kingdome of Scotland the Prince the Peeres and the Forts are not sufficient security for the Queene and the most flourishing Kingdome of England and therefore what security soeuer the Scots might propose the Queene of Scotland ought not to be set at liberty Hereupon the Scots forthwith began to coniecture and spake openly that now they fully perceiued that the English had resolued to hold their Queene perpetually in England and by the same meanes interrupt the Treaty sithence they stood so stiffly in demanding such security as Scotland could not any maner of way performe Howsoeuer the other Councellours of England protested to desire nothing more then the freedome of the Queene of Scotland prouided that they gaue good and sufficient security and in this nature they treated hereupon and to haue the King with Morton and his Companions Who plainely answered that they had no power nor authority to treat whether they ought to receiue the Queene into Scotland or deliuer the King But her Deputies reiected such flying off as friuolous iudging that those who were the authors of deposing her had power sufficient to free her without asking the other Conspirators sithence the fault of one equally polluteth all the Confederates As for the Prince who was yet scarce fiue yeeres of age he could giue no power at all And as for the Vice-Roy that he had left all his affaires to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH They prayed them either to bring in the others who were sworne into consultation or to proceed without them vpon equall conditions But Queene ELIZABETH knowing well that they could conclude of nothing for her security or for the King and Queen of Scotland if th' one and th' other consented not thought it reasonable that the States of Scotland who ought forth-with to assemble should make choice of certaine men who might labour the mediation of the peace Whereupon the Bishop of Rosse and his Colleagues openly complayned that certaine Councellors of England had abused the vnderstanding of their Queene and the patience of the Queene of Scotland deceiued the Stranger Princes and soothed the Scots with a preiudiciall hope the Queene of Scotland her selfe being full of indignation and griefe to see such delayes called home the Bishop of Galloway Count Leuiston notwithstanding that Qu. ELIZABETH had commanded the Bishop of Rosse to depart from London she countermanded him to continue still there which was not without ielousie to those who were of her part in Scotland who determined to take vp Armes and giue no more
and Thomas his brother Percy Lowder Powell and Godier who all declared what they knew in hope of pardon Assoone as the Councell had produced their Confessions in the Dukes presence the Queene of Scotland and the Bishop of Rosse's Letters with the said Remembrance hee was very much deiected considering this remembrance and those Letters which through a weake credulity he supposed to bee burned he sighed and brake out into these words I Haue beene betrayed and vndone by mine owne people in fayling to distrust which is the onely sinnewe of Wisedome But he humbly besought the Councell to mediate the Queenes fauour in his behalfe promising to conceale nothing of what he knew and seriously protested that he neuer approued of any thing which was to the preiudice of the Qu. or Kingdome But on the contrary from the very bottome of his heart condemned the designe of seizing vpon the Queenes person or the Towre of London and the setting at liberty of the Queene of Scotland and that hee neuer harboured a thought so much of bringing forraigne Troupes into Great Brittaine but only to suppresse certaine of the Scots rebelling against the Queen Being this day examined vpon 50. Articles or thereabouts hee answered without dissimulation After that they penned the substance of the whole businesse in the Star-Chamber before a great Assembly of Noble-men in presence of the Lord Maior and Shiriffes of the Citie of London from thence in the Palace of London in view of all the inhabitants by G. Fleetwood Recorder of the Citie And forasmuch as by all these confessions especially by the Dukes the Bishop of Rosse was conuicted as Author of these Plots they seriously consulted what was best to bee done For as they doe ordinarily that haue such charges he conceiued that it was lawfull for him to vse any meanes for the aduancement of the affaires of his Princesse and that by the oath and inuiolable right of an Ambassadour he was not bound to acknowledge the authority of any other and relying hereupon exposed himselfe to the liberty of diuers turbulent Actions kindling of seditions and taking counsell in the night with the Earle of Southampton and afterwards inclining to the English Fugitiues in Flanders the Duke of Alua the Spaniard and the Pope about the inuasion of England They proposed hereupon vnto Lewes Dale Drury Aubrey and Iones men of sound iudgement in the Ciuill-Lawes In the first place WHether an Ambassadour mouing sedition against the Prince vnto whom he is sent may enioy the priuiledge of an Ambassadour or not and whether he be not subiect to punishment as an Enemy To which they answered that by the Common Lawe of Nations and Ciuill-Law of the Romanes such an Ambassadour was falne from all priuiledge and was subiect to punishment as an enemy WHether a Minister or Agent of a deposed Prince another being crowned in his place ought to haue the priuiledge of an Ambassadour They answered that if such a Prince be lawfully deposed his Minister cannot challenge the priuiledge of an Ambassadour forasmuch as none but absolute Princes which haue soueraigne power can constitute Ambassadours In the third place WHether a Prince being come into another Kingdome and kept in hold may haue his Agent and if this Agent ought to be accounted an Ambassadour or not They answere That a Prince may prohibit an Ambassadour to enter into his Kingdome and command him out of his Kingdome if he doth not containe himselfe within the limits prescribed to Ambassadours but in the meane time he ought to enioy the priuiledge of an Ambassadour for the authority of his Ambassie Vpon the answers of these Ciuill-Lawiers the Bishop of Rosse being called backe from the Isle of Ely and sharply reprooued the Councell denounced him not to be acknowledged an Ambassadour but to be punished as a pernicious Malefactor To which he answered THat he beeing Ambassadour to an absolute Queene vniustly deposed had according to his duty laboured for the libertie of his Princesse and for the good of both the Kingdomes that hee was come into England with ample authoritie vnder publique testimony which hee exhibited and that the sacred Rites of Ambassadours ought not by any meanes to be violated Whereupon Burghley grauely shewes him that neither the Rites of the Ambassies nor publique Letters of Credit are of validitie for Ambassadours which offend against the publique faith but are subiect to penall actions and that otherwise it should be permitted to wicked Ambassadours to attempt against the life of Princes vnpunished He on the contrary opinatiuely maintained that the authority of Ambassadours had neuer beene violated by way of Rite but onely by way of fact to vse his owne words and boldly admonisheth them not to deale with him more sharpely then the English Ambassadours had beene dealt with Throgmorton in France Randolph and Tamworth in Scotland who had apparantly excited and nourished rebellions and were acquitted vpon command to depart within a certaine time They began to presse him vpon the witnesse of some English-men he gently intreated them not to doe it because saith hee that a receiued custome doth establish it selfe for a Law An Englishman ought not to beare witnesse against a Scottishman nor a Scottishman against an Englishman After some arguings hereupon whether such custome tooke place elsewhere then vpon the Frontiers of both the Kingdomes and whether English Ambassadours had stirred Rebellion or no Rosse is carried to the Tower of London where being straitly kept within a few dayes hee briefly made answere to all the interrogatories with this caution that his answeres might not be preiudicious to any And first he excused the Queene of Scots who being prisoner and in the prime of her age seeking to escape by any meanes ELIZABETH hauing excluded all from seeing her and barred her from all hope of libertie and openly supported all her aduersaries afterwards excuseth the Duke that hee had not treated marriage with her but by the aduice of many that were of Queen ELIZABETHS Councell nor could he relinquish her although he had vnder his owne hand-writing promised to doe it forasmuch as before that promise a former promise of marriage had passed betweene them And finally excuseth himselfe that being Ambassadour and Minister could not without blame leaue the duety of his charge and be wanting to his Princesse in her afflictions and that he had propounded the seyzing of the person of Queene ELIZABETH to no other end but to try whether the Duke had a minde prepared to doe a mischieuous act and verily hee craftily extenuated the offences of the rest and would neuer discouer the names of the Nobles which offered themselues to the Dukes seruice for the seyzing of the Queenes person onely confessed that by the commandement of the Queene of Scots he consulted with the Earles of Arundel Lumley and Throgmorton and by Lumley and the Vicount of Mountague because that he was to deliuer into the hands of the English the
of Spaine the Iudges of England had no power ouer him But hee was condemned according to the forme of Nihil dicit because no man can free himselfe from the Lawes of the Countrey where he is borne nor renounce his naturall Countrey nor his Prince and suffered as a Traytor There was then for certaine yeeres controuersie betweene the Portugals and the English during the commerce betweene them and the Moores for pure Gold from the yeere 1552. in that part of Africa called Guienne and others who had first discouered those Coasts hindered as much as they could by force of armes so as they fought sometimes by Sea and detained Ships on both sides But Sebastian King of Portugall being newly come to age to make a peace sent Francis Gerard into England who made a Couenant with the Queene almost in these very words THat a perfect amitie may be made and free commerce had on both sides the one shall not attempt any thing to the preiudice of the other nor lend succour to their enemies Rebels or Traytors the Merchandize Moneyes and Ships which are vnder arrest to be restored And Queene ELIZABETH to gratifie the King of Portugal prohibiteth the English to vse any Nauigation in the Seas or to the Lands which the Portugals had conquered And that if they should doe otherwise it should be vpon their owne perill if the Portugals should depriue them both of goods and liues The Kingdomes of Portugal and Argarbe also the Iles of Azores and Madera excepted in which free Nauigation was permitted This yere W. Parre Marquis of Northampton being very old peaceably departed this life a man much conuersant and well read in the delectable studies of Musicke and intertainement of Louers and other courtly iucundities who was first raised to the dignitie of Baron Parre of Kendal afterwards he married Anne Bourchier sole daughter heire to the Earle of Essex at the same time when the King married his sister and afterwards bâ EDVVARD made Marquis of Northampton vnder the reigne of MARIE hee was condemned of High-Treason for taking armes on the behalfe of Iane Grey who was brought in by subornation to be Queene but was shortly after pardoned and restored to his inheritance as he was afterwards to his honours by Queene ELIZABETH He had no Children but left to be his heire Henrie Herbert Earle of Pembroke his other Sisters Sonne Iohn Iewell a man of an excellent spirit and exquisit learning in Theologie and of great pietie died the same yeere being hardly fiftie yeeres of age descended of good Parents in Deuonshire and commendably brought vp in Corpus Christi Colledge in the Vniuersitie of Oxford who in Queene MARIES reigne was banished into Germanie and afterwards by Queene ELIZABETH beeing made Bishop of Salisburie put forth in the yeere 1562. an Apologie for the English Church and most learnedly defended the Protestants Religion against Harding who was falne from it in two Volumes in our owne Tongue which are now translated into the Latine Ireland at that time was quiet enough for Iohn Perât President of Mounster had so ransacked Iohn Fitz-Morris who had pillaged Kilmalocke that hee was constrained to hide himselfe in Caues and in the end as wee shall relate hereafter brought to begge pardon with humble submission Sidney Deputie of Ireland returning into England Fitz-William who had married his Sister succeeded in his place THE FIFTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1572. THe beginning of a new yeere brought forth a new Tragicall spectacle to the Inhabitants of London for in the Palace of Westminster a Scaffold was erected from the one end to the other with a Tribunall vpon it and seates on either side the like had not bin seene for eighteene yeeres before Thither vpon the sixteenth day of Ianuary was Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke conducted betweene Owen Hopton Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Peter Carew Knight before whom was borne the fatall Axe with the edge forward vpon the Tribunall was seated George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury constituted Lord high Steward of England for that day vpon either side of him were placed the Nobles appointed Commissioners which we call Peeres to wit Reynold Gray Earle of Kent Tho. Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Henry Hastings Earle of Huntington Francis Russell Earle of Bedford Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Edw. Seimor Earle of Hartford Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester Walt. Deuâreux Vicount of Hereford Edward Lord Clinton Admirall William Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlaine William Cecill Lord Burghley Secretarie Arthur Lord Gray of Wilton Iea. Blount Lord Mountioy Will. Lord Sands Tho. Lord Wentworth William Lord Bourrowes Lewes Lord Mordant Iohn Pawlet Lord S. Iohn of Basing Robert Lord Rich Roger Lord North Edm. Bruges Lord Chandos Oliuer Lord S. Iohn of Bletso Tho. Sackuill Lord Buckhurst and Will. West Lord De-la-Ware Silence being commanded the Commission was read importing the power giuen to the Iudge Then Carter chiefe King of Heralds deliuered into his hands a white wand which he presently after deliuered to the Groome Porter who standing by did hold it erected the whole time of the Court. Silence againe commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower was bidden to bring forth his charge and present the Duke before the Seat of Iustice who foorth-with appeared on either side were the Lieutenants of the Tower and Peter Carew next of all he that carried the Axe the edge thereof turned from the Duke Silence the third time proclaimed the Clerke appointed for the Acts of Iudgement thus spake to the Duke Thomas Duke of Norfolke late of Kenninghale in the County of Norfolke hold vp thy hand When he had holden vp his hand the said Clerke read aloud the Crimes of which he was accused that is to say That in the eleuenth yeere of Queene ELIZABETH and afterwards the Duke hath treacherously held counsell to depose the Queene from her Kingdome to take away her life and to inuade the Realme by raysing of warre and bringing in troupes of Strangers That notwithstanding he had certaine knowledge that Mary late Queene of Scots had arrogated to herselfe the Crowne of England with the Title and Armes thereof yet hath he treated vnknowne to the Queene of a marriage betwixt them and contrary to the promise vnder his hand and Seale hath lent vnto her certaine large summes of money That hee had assisted and succoured the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Marquenfield and others notwithstanding that hee had good notice that they had raised Rebellion against the Queene and were chased into Scotland That in the thirteenth yeere of the Queenes Reigne by Letters he demanded succours of the Pope Pius Quintus sworne Enemy to the Queene of the Spaniard and Duke D' Alua to set the Queene of Scots at liberty and re-establish the Romane religion in England Finally that hee had relieued and aided Heris a Scottish-man and others enemies
businesse more deliberately attempted carried with more courage and constancy of the Confederates nor lasted longer time vndiscouered by any of the coniurate-society That their military Companies might in foure and twentie houres space be put ouer out of Flanders into England the Queene and the City of London suddenly surprized Religion restored and the Queene of Scotland settled and crowned in her steade All which were like to haue the better successe for that Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue was then in readinesse with three thousand men to bring Ireland in subiection to the King of Spaine and with three Ships that were Spies set the English Fleete on fire Thus H. Catene of which much was vnknowne till the yeere 1588. when he published a booke printed at Rome and priuiledged by Sixtus the Sixth Now returne wee to the purpose if we be digrest Scarce ten dayes after the Dukes death were sent to the Queene of Scots then all mournefull and in sorrow Will. Lord de-la-Warre Sir Ralph Sadler Tho. Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Lawes and T. Bromley the Queenes Attourney who were so to expostulate with her as to charge her for vsurping the Title and Armes of England nor that she had renounced them according as it was conditioned at Edenborrough and to assume them more freely had secretly contriued to marry with the Duke of Norfolke which the rather to bring to passe shee had left nothing vnassayed by the ministery of her Agents by force and Armes to set the Duke at liberty had raised Rebellion in the North Countrey had succoured the conuicted Rebels of Scotland and Flanders had by Ridolph the Italian his solliciting implored the aydes of the Pope the King of Spaine and others for inuading the Countrey of England they vrged also that shee had receiued Letters from the Pope who had promised to keepe her as safe vnder his wing as the Hen doth her Chickens calling her and her Complices The true Children of the Church And finally that shee had procured a Bull from the Pope against the Queene and and had suffered herselfe by her friends in forraigne parts to be called The Queene of England To all these with a bold countenance and constant resolution hauing first protested herselfe to be a free Prince and subiect to none she answered THat she had not vsurped the Title or Armes of England but that being yet young and vnder the power of her Husband the King of France necessity imposed them vpon her but since her Husbands death shee neuer bore them wherefore it was not to be imputed to her as any fault of hers neither would she take them to her so long as ELIZABETH liued or any Childe shee should beare That in the matching with the Duke of Norfolke shee had no thought of any ill might happen to the CoÌmon-wealth but rather much good and if she should renounce the marriage it was contrary to the matrimoniall Vow she had made and that by dutie thereof she was bound to aduertise the Duke of his dangers and to quit himselfe out of prison That she had neuer raised nor consented to the raising of any tumults but was alwaies ready to discouer what plots shee knew of against the Queene or Countrey if she had pleased by her to bee admonished of or to haue admitted her to her sight or hearing nor at any time had succoured the English Rebels but only by her Letters had recommended the Countesse of Northumberland to the Duke D'Alua Of Ridolph she was to haue necessary vse for her pensionary Annuities and in some money-matters whom shee knew to be a great Fauourite of the Popes but neuer had receiued any Letters from him had neuer dealt with any touching her deliuery but indeed had not refused to giue eare to such as had offered the seruice in that kind and for that cause had passed her priuie Seale to Rowlston and Hall She had sometimes receiued Letters consolatory and full of piety from the Pope wherein was no mention of any such matter nor had shee procured any Bull from Rome onely on a time a copie of one of them was shewed her which after she had read shee cast it into the fire But if any out of forraigne Countries shall write or speake otherwise then they ought they ought to answere it and to suffer the penaltie of their faults She neuer sought or sent either to the Pope or K. of Spaine for the procuring any inuasion vpon England but had implored their helpes for her restoring into her owne Realme but not before her Maiestie had preadmonition thereof But if shee were to be called in question concerning these Letters she requested for that shee was issued from the Bloud Royall of England that she might answere for herselfe in person in open Parliament In the meane time was Scotland all vp in Armes miserably troubled with Ciuill Warres whilest on the one side such as fauoured the Queene relying vpon aide from the French and the other party expecting the like from England had dayly encounters together notwithstanding both English and French shewed themselues most desirous to appease and accord their dissentions by the Ambassages which either countrey sent into Scotland Of which France proposed that their most commodious course would bee to elect amongst them some persons of well-known worth and wisedome to gouerne the Kingdome for a time not taking vpon them supreame authority or the names of King or Queene they were not willing to acknowledge for King the King of Scotland for that they held hee had no right but by his mother and that shee was vniustly deposed of her Subiects and therefore shee was iustly to bee reputed their Queene and the ancient League of Alliance betwixt her and France to continue firme and inuiolable Those likewise from England on the contrary maintained by strong argument that such an Administration or popular gouernment would be an Anarchy and that the Commonwealth was not to admit plurality of Gouernours and that Scotland hauing alwaies beene commanded by Kings was not now to haue an election of such Administrators That the States of the Realme had deposed the Queene and lawfully crowned and inthroned the King and that the ancient recited Alliance was a contract not of persons but of the two Kingdomes of France and Scotland alledging also that by an expresse Law the most Christian King was bound to defend the King of Scots in these termes If there happen at any time controuersie about the Kingdome of Scotland the Kings of France shall support ayde and defend him whom the States of Scotland shall adiudge the Title of the Kingdome to And as touching the causes of the Queenes deposing it should bee enquired of of those Scots who haue deposed her The French notwithstanding openly fauouring the partie of the Queene of Scotland became serious intercessours to her Maiestie for to set her at liberty lest that as his Ambassadour did freely hee might
bee thought not to respect her who had been wife to the King his brother and now the Dowager of France and to neglect the now puissant Family of the Guizes in France or to approoue that pernicious example of deposing of Kings And which was the most capitall point of all that shee finding her selfe abandoned of the French in her aduersity might seeke Patronage from Spaine and that by her meanes the three prepotent Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland might colleague them in amity with Spaine to the no small endamagement of the State of France To these Qu. ELIZABETH with milde alacrity answered THe King of France will be well aduised what or how he shall doe with the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding she was their Queene and now is their Dowager howbeit for the dissoluing of the Duke of Aniou's mariages she hath held secret coÌsultation with the Spaniard He will also consider whether that ancient Law of Alliance be violable and whether he be bound therby or no to defend the King in his nonage He will also bethinke him how much France is beholden or obliged to the Family of the Guizes by whose practices the Countrey hath beene afflicted with long and bloody wars the French haue beene forced to lose the loue of Scotland and the poore Queene brought into this calamitable case she is in In very deed the example of deposing Kings I hold a thing most pernicious and well deseruing infernall punishment but for that the Scots are to answere And for mine owne part I call to mind the things which grieue my heart to remember But notwithstanding I know not how the French in old times allowed of Pepin when he supplanted Childeric Hugo Capet Charles of Lorraine depriuing them of their ancient successions descended to them from a long-continued Race of Ancestors to transferre the Scepter to new-erected Families As also Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundie exiled Iaquette from his countries of Hainault Holland or the Danes when they expulst from his Kingdome Christianus the second and his Daughters Or the Spaniards who imprisoned the Queene Vraca after they had put her from the Crowne It is no nouelty for Sonnes to succeed their deposed Mothers So Henry the Second was admitted King of England Alphonsus the yonger Sonne of Vraca King of Castill and of late memory Charles the fifth King of Spaine and Sicily their Mothers then suruiuing The world is full of examples of many Queenes that haue exchanged their Diademes for prisons which France doth testifie at large hauing imprisoned not to say further the wiues of three of their Kings one after another Lewes Hutin Philip the long and Charles the faire For my part I detaine the Queene of Scots vnder a reasonable Guard but I doe it for the preseruation of England and mine owne safety after the example of the French who for their better security of affaires put Chilperic into a Monasterie Charles of Lorraine into a safe and straite prison and Lodowicke Sforza Duke of Mylan into a Dungeon with Iron grates Whereunto as she was very conuersant in the Histories of all Nations shee annexed other examples of the same nature drawne out of the Historie of Spaine and finally concluded that true it was such Presidents carried euer with them some semblance of Iniustice but she required that the King of France would vndertake the defence of the Queene of Scotland euen as he was bound by his Allyance intimating that it would bee an action of greater glory to the French than all those vnhappy enterprizes they assumed in the cause of that infamous woman Iane of Naples But when it was discouered that at the same time the Queene of Scots practised secretly to confirme an alliance with the Spaniard by the negotiations of the Lord Seton who arriuing in Essex disguised in the habit of a Mariner and returning from thence into Scotland through England hee had promised succours in the Duke of Aluaes name to the Scottish partakers with the Queene shee was kept with a straighter Guard and the affection borne to her by the French by little and little waxed cold And certainely as the Duke of Alua omitted nothing wherein he might vent his hatred to Queene ELIZABETH so was shee no lesse cautelous to preuent it and frustrate his dissignes For in the first moneths of this yeere hee complained by the Spanish Ambassadour in England that the Flemmish Rebels bought all their warlike munition there and were receiued into all her Ports and Hauens shee presently by a strict Proclamation commanded that all Flemmings any wayes suspected of sedition should depart out of England and that their ships of warlike equipage should be seysed vpon in her harbours All which returned to the dammage of the Duke of Alua. For Humes Earle of March and other Flemmings reduced as it were to a desperate poynt whether they were terrified by this Proclamation or that they were vnder-hand admonished to retyre but they presently surprised the Breele which is seated vpon the mouth of the Meuse caused Flushing forthwith to reuolt and other Townes which expelled the Spaniards as they were in hand to make cittadels to captiuate their libertie in a short time cut off the Duke of Alua by Sea and through the meanes they had to make it good for themselues had a power to molest and detaine the Spaniard with a long and tedious warre wherein Souldiers haue obserued that hee shewed for his part such palpable carelessenesse and negligence as was not beseeming so great a Generall who for the space of foure whole yeeres grossely ouer-slipt the maritime affaires and expeditions of Flanders At the same time there was a famous generall muster before the Queene at Greenwich with a pleasant trayning in Armes by the Citizens of London and after their returne from thence martiall men who began to rust and corrupt in their owne houses began to flow out of England into Flanders and according as they stood affected betooke themselues some to the Duke of Alua and others the farre greater number to the Prince of Orange who opposed his proiects for the defence of Religion and his Countries libertie Amongst whom Sir Thomas Morgan was the first that brought three hundred men into Flushing vpon the report whereof the Duke who intended the recouery of it forbare and retyred Further hee vsed such expedition and diligence as hee caused greater troupes to come for after himselfe there landed nine Companies more of English conducted by Humfrey Gilbert who being consorted with the French first attempted to surprize Scluse and Bruges then hee set vpon Tergow in Suethebenelant But their scaling-Ladders being too short hollow correspondancie betweene the French and the English and Mondragon comming on with fresh succours for the assieged they retyred to Flushing of which both the one and the other sought to make themselues masters each to themselues But the Prince of Orange made good vse of this
enuy among themselues so as neither of them obtained their end and purpose At that very time a pleasing serenity seemed to shine vpon the Protestants in France and Charles the Ninth pretending onely a warre in Flanders which he affirmed to be the preseruation of France and couering himselfe with this maske he feigned as though hee meant to contract alliance and amitie with the Queene of England and the Princes of Germanie to giue some testimony herein of his loue to the Protestants whose absolute ruine notwithstanding he couertly intended And as if he leaned to them of the one side and the Spaniard on the other hee substituted to this end the Duke de Mont-Morancy Birag de Anbisine the Bishop of Limoges and of Foix. The Queene of England who truely apprehended the secret plots and stratagems of the Duke of Alua deputed Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Francis Walsingham And Articles were drawne betweene them whereof you shall see an abridgement in the same expresse words and termes THis alliance shall not tye Princes allyed to leaue other Treaties past betweene them so they be not opposite and contrary thereunto There shall be a Confederation League and Vnion betweene them to defend themselues mutually against all who vnder some pretext or any other occasion whatsoeuer shall inuade or attempt to inuade their persons or Territories whereof they are now possest It shall remaine firme betweene them not onely while they liue but also betweene their Successours so the Heire of the first deceased giue notice to the suruiuant within the space of a yeere by Ambassadours and Letters that hee accepts of the same conditions Otherwise the suruiuant shall be reputed discharged of the obseruance of the same It shall bee validious against all yea and euen against those that are ioyned in affinitie to the one or other Prince and against all other Alliances contracted or to contract If the Queene of England be required to send succours by Letters sealed and subscribed with the King of France his owne hand shee shall be bound to passe ouer into France within two moneths after a thousand foot armed or fiue hundred Horse at her choyce whom the King must pay from the first day of their arriuall in France Shee was to send for the warre of Flanders eight Ships of equall greatnesse wherein twelue hundred Souldiers must be imployed with all things necessary and there must bee no Marriners nor Souldiers but English but yet they must be commanded by the Admirall of France payed and victualled by the King from the first day they enter into Seruice Shee was also to victuall her Ships for two Moneths which the King was also to pay within two moneths And if the Queene be moued to any warre the King hauing receiued Letters subscribed with her owne hand was to send ouer into England or Ireland within two Moneths sixe thousand foot or at her choyce fiue hundred Conductors armed at all poynts who should bring fifteene hundred Horse and about three thousand foot with good Horse and Armes after the French manner whom shee must pray from the time they set foot in her Countries And for the warre by Sea he was to furnish eight Shippes with twelue hundred Souldiers in manner and forme aboue mentioned Order agreed vpon for succours and pay to be digest in writing running in this forme that the one shall bee bound to sell vnto the other Armes and all necessary things to the Prince assayled They shall innouate nothing in Scotland but defend it against Strangers and permit them to enter and nourish the Scottish partialities But the Queene of England was permitted to pursue with Armes those amongst them who maintained or fostered the English Rebels who were at that present in Scotland That this Alliance shall be so taken and vnderstood as the onely proprietie and meaning of the words imported Each of the two Princes shall confirme euery one of these Articles by Patents and faithfully and really to deliuer them into the hands of Ambassadours for the one and other within three moneths For ratification of this Alliance on the behalfe of the King of France the Queene of England sent into France the Earle of Lincolne Admirall with a great traine of Gentlemen among which were these Barons the Lord Dacres the Lord Rich the Lord Talbot the Lord Sands and others And the King of France sent into England Anne Duke de Mont-Morancie and Monsieur de Foix with a magnificent traine that in the presence of them and Messieurs de Saligna and de la Mottef his Ambassadour ordinary the Queene might reciprocally confirme the same with oath which was performed at Westminster the seuenteenth of Iune and the day after the Queenes Maiestie with the consent of the French inuested with the Order of Saint George the Duke de Mont-Morancy in gratefull commemoration of the loue which Anne Constable of France manifested vnto her to whom HENRY the Eighth vouchsafed the same honour out of the loue he bare to the House of Mont-Morancy who carries the title of the first Christian of France and is there held for most Noble While Mont-Morancy remayned in England hee moued certaine propositions in the King of France his name that the Queene of Scots might there finde fauour so farre as it might be performed without danger That there might be a cessation of Armes in Scotland and that a Concord might be established by Act of Parliament And if a Parliament could not commodiously be summoned that some might be elected of the one and other part among the Scots to repayre to London to settle affaires with the Deputies of the King of France and Queene of England But answere was made him That more fauour had been shewed to the Queene of Scots than shee deserued and yet for the King of France more should be shewed her though the Estates of the Kingdome assembled had iudged how the Queene of England could not liue in security except some rigor were vsed to her That the Queene had carefully employed her whole power to establish Concord and procure a cessation of Armes hauing for this end lately sent into Scotland Sir William Drewry Gouernour of Berwicke with de la Croce the French Ambassadour But they could by no meanes induce Grange to peace nor the Garrison of the Castle of Edenborrough out of the hope they conceiued to bee succoured from France and Flanders though Huntley and Hamilton Arbroth for the Duke their Father had obliged themselues in writing to Queene ELIZABETH to enter it and other of the Queenes partakers had plighted their faith and promise thereunto After these motiues hee also propounded many other touching the marriage of the Duke of Aniou but in that they could not agree about some circumstances concerning Religion the matter grew hopelesse and he returned into France when there was preparation of the Nuptials betweene Henrie King of Nauarre with Margarite Sister to the King of
Rebels at the Earle of Kildares perswasion came vnder due obedience and at the same time Sir Thomas Smith a learned and prudent man with pitty entring into consideration what small account was made of Ireland obtained of the Queene that a Colonie might be sent thither vnder the conduct of his owne onely bastard sonne into the halfe Iland called Ardes at the East entry into Vlster to instruct and ciuilize the Demibarbarous inhabitants and to make them humane hoping the place might easily bee defended if Garrisons were planted in the straight or Istmus which ioynes it to the rest of the Iland He gaue to euery Footman 120. acres to each Horseman 240. ammounting to fiue hundred acres of English ground paying euery yeere but a penny for an acre But this businesse footed not according to his desire for Thomas his sonne hauing conducted thither the Colonie was surprized and slaine by the treachery of Neel Brian Artho Afterwards Malbie an English Gouernour of Lecale a frontier Prouince iudging all meanes lawfull to kill a perfidious murderer slew him likewise not long after and so left him to the Wolues iawes to be deuoured and eaten I know not whether it be materiall or no here to make mention as all the Historiographers of our time haue done how in the moneth of Nouember was seene a strange Starre except you had rather haue me tearme it a Phinomene in the Chaire of Cassioperaes Constellation which exceeded in relucencie that ãâã himselfe then when he is in the Perigie of his Eâceâtrick or Epicicle as I obserued my selfe and seated in the same Spheare of the heauens as also moued by his diurnall motion remained there 16. moneths Tho. Digsay and Ioh. Dee rare Mathematicians among vs learnedly did demonstrate by the maximes of the Paralels that it remained not onely in the elementall Region but in the very Celestiall circle and were of opinion that daily mounting higher by little and little at last it vanisht out of our sight And certainely their Iudgement was good and sound for after the eighth moneth it continually diminished Theodore Beza ingeniously compared this Starre to that which appeared at the birth of Christ and at the massacre of Infants which was perpetrated vnder Herod and in this short verse Thou therefore cruell Herod shake and feare admonished Charles new King of France who confest himselfe to be the author of that which was executed at Paris to tremble and feare and this was not out of a vaine and credulous beliefe For fiue moneths after the disappearing of this Starre he dyed of a bloody fluxe rackt with long and terrible torments THE SIXTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1573. THe proceedings of Spaine in the Low-Countries being wonderfully crost by the taking of Flushing the reuolt of the Townes of Holland and the losse and discomfiture of the Spanish Fleet by the Hollanders with which the Duke de Medina coeli had a Commission with Chapin Vitelli to succour the Papists in England The Duke of Alua was constrained in despight of himselfe to shew himselfe more fauourable to the English and so it happened that in the moneth of Ianuary the commerce of the English with the Flemmings which in the same moneth of the yeere 1568. was interdicted at last came to be opened for two yeeres and the Articles were agreed vpon at Bristoll confirm'd by the Spaniard in the moneth of Iune amongst which this clause was inserted THat though this mutuall correspondencie and amity had beene obscured yet was iâ in no wise to be reputed dissolâed and broken and it was accorded that if the Deputies within a ãâã pâââscript time could not arbitrate the businesse that then the said Entercourse should be expired when the two yeeres came to an end But when the troubles renewed in Flanders it grew dead by little and little nay and before the two yeers were fully accomplished and a new one was commenst betweene the vnited States And as for Queene ELIZABETH she recompensed all the dammages of the English Marchants with such Flemmish goods as she retained in her hands restored the rest to the Duke of Alua and amply contented the Genoa Marchants for the money of theirs she seized vpon and tooke vp at loane which was the first cause of the warre although the Duke of Alua restored nor one shilling to the Flemmings of the English-mens goods which did accrue to the wonderfull honour of Queene ELIZABETH And yet she performed a farre more glorious Action then this and more pleasing to her Subiects by discharging England of those debts which her Father and Brother had taken vpon credit of Strangers which were greatly augmented by reason of the long interests due and to the inexplicable ioy of the inhabitants of the Citie of London calling in all the Citie obligations which had beene so often renewed Neuerthelesse both the Queene and the whole Clergie were wonderfully vext with certaine Ecclesiasticall persons who boyling with zeale and breathing nothing but Euangelicall Purity reprehended not only the Ecclesiasticall Gouernment as still defiled with Romane corruptions as well publikely as priuately both by Sermons Books which were intituled An Aduertisement to the Parliament and An Appologie of the Aduertisement but refused also to be present at the receiued forme of Common-Prayer vsurping framing to themselues other courses of seruing God So as the Queene condemning them for people impatient of Peace greedy of nouelties and apt to subuert things well established to preuent Schisme coÌmanded that throughout the Kingdome they should by rigour of Law be vrged to obserue a generall forme and manner of publike Prayers and that these Libels might be deliuered into the hands of the Bishops or some one of the Priuie-Councell vpon paine of imprisonment although Iohn Whitegift who was afterward Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had with learned soliditie refuted them There was also diuulged by the English Rebels and Fugitiues a booke full of iniurie and calumniation whose title was A Treatise of Treason which to make Sir Nicholas Bacon Keeper of the great Seale and the Lord Burghley Treasurer of England odious to their Prince because they had often by their prudence and vigilancie cut off their wicked hopes and designes they preferred an accusation against them of being Traitors to their Countrie But the Queene was so farre from giuing credit to such friuolous accusations that by a publike Proclamation shee declared them idle and frustrate false calumnious and inuented by sworne Enemies to Religion and their Countrie by their wicked and secret practices to depriue the Queene of her faithfull Councellours And therefore shee admonished euery one to giue no credit to them to contemne throw them into the fire except themselues would bee punished as seditious persons in stead of those that were the true Authors Notwithstanding through a speciall vice very incident to the naturall curiosity of men they were frequently read till as it
through all parts of the Horizon met together in the verticall point of Heauen Neuerthelesse let it not be imputed to me as a crime to haue made mention of these things in a few words and by a short digression since the grauest Historians haue recorded them in many words THE EIGHTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1575. HENRY the third King of France being returned from Poland and already inaugurated in the City of Rhemes confirmed by his oath and signe of his owne hand before all things the Alliance passed in the City of Blois in the yeere 1572. betweene Charles his brother and Queene ELIZABETH and hauing giuen it to the Ambassador ordinary of England Queene ELIZABETH also for her part ratified it at Saint Iames neere Westminster Notwithstanding a while after he inquired by letters if the words mutuall defence against all mentioned in that alliance comprehended the cause of Religion And after that Queene ELIZABETH had discreetly replyed Yes and that she was alwaies ready prest and desirous to effect that mutuall defence euen in the cause of Religion if it was required by vertue of the alliance he tooke armes against the Protestants the Duke of Alanzon being drawne to the contrary part the marriage slept in a long and profound silence Notwithstanding Queene ELIZABETH in fauour of the Duke of Alanzon furnished the Duke Casimier with a great summe of mony to carry into France the Alman Rutters against the disturbers of the publike peace As her minde was busied about the affaires of France those of Flanders happened for De Requesens successor to the Duke of Alua was fully bent and endeuored nothing more then to recouer if it were possible the Sea which the Duke of Alua by a remarkable error in so great a thiefe had despised and by this meanes had caused that long warre of the Low Countries which indured so many yeeres but he being not well furnished with necessary things to set forth a nauall Armie because the tempest had broken and lost the Ships which for this purpose had a little before beene conducted from Spaine to Flanders by the aid of the English hee sent Boischot into England to leuy ships and furniture of warre with the Queenes leaue who being vnwilling to aduenture her ships and Sea-men in anothers cause denied it and gaue publike charge to all persons not to arme any Ships without her licence and did forbid the English Sea-men to enrole themselues vnder other Princes Vpon this refusall Boischot prayed her not to take it in ill part if the fugitiue English in Flanders should serue in a nauall Warre against the Hollanders vnder the command of the Spaniard and permit them to touch freely in the ports of England to victuall themselues But she would not approue that the rebellious English so she termed those whom he stiled Fugitiues should fight in the seruice of the Spaniard not to perswade her that Requesens would gratifie them prayed them not to doe it and namely T. Copely whom the Spaniards had loaded with the titles of the great master of the Muze Lord of Gaten and Rouchtey and intended to set to Sea to rob both English and Dutch For the ports she esteemed it exceeding folly to open them to Rebels and sworne enemies Yet Boischot to obtaine more vniust things required in the name of the Spaniard that the rebellious Dutch might bee banished from England But she refused that also knowing that those whom he called Rebels were poore miserable people of no note and had neuer enterprized any thing against him but being chased from their Country and spoiled of their goods during the warre had retired themselues into England thinking she should commit a great inhumanity and violate the lawes of Hospitality if shee should deliuer them into the hands of a Cut-throat She also remembred how far the affaires of Spaine were interessed in Flanders Then when at the prayer of the Duke of Alua she commanded 1572. the Dutch to leaue England and that hauing commanded the Count of March and other Dutch to be gone they had taken Brill and suscitated that warre neuerthelesse not to seeme altogether to depart from the ancient Alliance of the Burguinions although the Spaniard had refused to confirme it with him shee forbad by publike writing the Dutch Ships prepared for warre to goe forth and those Dutch that had taken vp armes against the Spaniard to enter into England and expresly the Prince of Orange and his house the Count of Culenberge of Berg of March and fifty others the most notable of that faction And she performed with more alacrity in regard Requesens at the intercession of Wilson the English Ambassador had caused the Earle of Westmerland and other English to retire themselues out of the Country of Flanders which was vnder the Spaniard and had dissipated the English Seminary which was at Doway in whose stead the Guizes at the sollicitation of Pope Cregory the 13. established another in the City of Rhemes The Prince of Orange finding his forces no way equall to those of the Spaniard and expecting no succour from England consulted with his friends in whom he might put his trust Now when Queene ELIZABETH vnderstood he had fixed his eye and heart vpon the King of France she first sent Daniel Rogers to disswade him but nothing being effected in regard he had before created with the Admirall Coligni and the King of France she sent H. Cobham to the King of Spaine to let him vnderstand how great the danger were if Holland and Zealand should reuolt from him and giue themselues to the King of France and by the most important reasons she could represent she perswaded him to make change of warre for peace to which he seemed to accord She then gaue aduice to Requesens by R. Corbet and ceased not by all meanes to turne the Prince of Orange from his designe by the imployment of I. Hasting but she could not obtaine her purpose being countermined by Villiers a French Church-man who came poore into England with a scuruy Cloake all torne I speake this because I knew him but was inriched by a collection which was giuen him to reade Diuinity Lessons fearing lest the Prince of Orange should cast his eye vpon the English maintained amongst other things nay by a publike writing that Queene ELIZABETH had no man of warre to whom she would trust an Army but the Earle of Sussex and that he bare no good affection to the Protestants and according as he had learned of Coligni he gaue forth that if the English did set foot in the Low-Countries they would renew their ancient hate against the French Neuerthelesse the intestine warres of France hauing taken away all hope of succour from the Prince of Orange and the Dutch they afresh consult to whom they may runne and rely vpon for aid They knew that the Princes of Almany were against the Spaniards also
they hauing no good intelligence did niggardly depart with their mony discorded with the Dutch in certaine points of Religion and that the Emperour a neere Kinsman of the Spaniards would giue impeachment to it They also saw the French so engaged in their owne ciuill warres that they could finde no end that there was simulated inueterate hate betweene the inhabitants of the Low-Countries and the French that the Brabanders Flemmish and the neighbouring people of France would oppose it with all their force that the Commandement of the French was rude and burthensome as well as that of the Spanish and that the hauens of France are not much commodious for the nauigation of the Dutch But for the English that were almost vnder one paralell with the Dutch who also seemed to be of the same nature and Religion with them that their language was not much different their Countrey neere adioyning furnished with Ports commodious for Nauigation and fruitfull in Merchandize That the Queen both by Sea and Land was very powerfull a milde and gracious Princesse temperate in her commands one that would conserue their Liberties and in no wise burthen them with exactions They forthwith sent into England Phil. Marnix Lord of Saint Aldegonde I. Douza of Nortwic Paul Busy and D. Melsen which with an honourable legacy and learned oration offered to the Queene Holland and Zeland eyther to possesse or protect as being a Princesse issued from the Princes of Holland of the bloud of Philip Wife to Edward the Third Daughter to William Bauier the third of that name Earle of Hainaud and of Holland by whose second Sister the Spaniard came to the inheritance of the Prouinces The Queene gaue a willing and an attentiue hearing to these things But first of all shee weighed and considered in her minde the cause which they had vndertaken against their Lord and King the enmities of the Spaniard the enuy of the French the great expences and doubtfull euents of the warre and also what offence might be taken by this insolent example Then shee doubted whether by her discent from Bauier she might make claime to Holland and Zeland and whether shee might lawfully contract a league of protection with the Subiects of another Prince and whether they themselues could doe this without the consent of the Emperour who was Soueraigne Lord of the Fee Then further she scarce gaue credit to what some whispered in her eares that the Prouinces fell not to the Spaniard by hereditary right but by the election of the Subiects Finally hauing maturely deliberated vpon these things after she had respectiuely rendred thankes to the Prince of Orange and the rest for their great good will she answered that she had alwayes had a speciall regard of the honour and faith worthy a Prince nor could shee yet conceiue how she could in honour and conscience receiue the Prouinces into her protection much lesse into her possession but she would imploy her best labours to mediate for a happy peace betweene them At the same time arriued at the Court Iohn Perenot of Champigni from Lodwick Zuniga of Requesens who in his name modestly aduised the Queene to entertaine the league betweene England and Burgundie and not to entermeddle in the affaires of the Netherlands To whom the Queene promised to obserue the league notwithstanding the Spaniard had refused to confirme it Yet would shee alwayes prouide for her owne honour and safety if shee perceiued the ancient forme of command amongst the Burgundians to be changed and forreine Souldiers in great numbers daily to be admitted into the adiacent Prouince Before Champigni was returned Requesens yeelded to death and a strange confusion had ouercast the Netherlands the Souldiers deuasting all places with Sword and Fire And the Estates of Brabant Flanders c. assuming their former authority in the administration of the Common-wealth which the Spaniard by necessity was constrained to confirme to them vntill the comming of Iohn of Austria whom hee had instituted Gouernour ouer the Prouinces Queene ELIZABETH carefully laboured that the Spaniard might receiue no discommoditie conserue as much as she possible could the NetherlaÌds intyre to him and sent Dauison diligently to exhort them to a peace But by reason of outragiousnesse of the Spanish Souldiers nothing was effected England for this whole yeere remained in a peaceable quiet excepting in the moneth of Iuly there happened vpon the Southerne borders of England towards Scotland a conflict betweene the borderers of eyther part whereof the occasion was this Iohn Foster Knight Gouernour of the Meridionall Frontiers and at the same time of Barwicke also entred into parley vpon the Mount Redsquire with I. Carmichell Warden of Liddisdale in Scotland notwithstanding it was a custome that none but Gouernours should meete with Gouernours and Wardens with Wardens as equals in dignitie they were of either side accompanied besides certaine Noble-men with a multitude of Fugitiues and Malefactours all armed of which the most part quarrelled with one another about inueterate and mortall hatreds betweene them These sort of fellowes according to their custome hauing put their horses out here and there to feed round incircled the Gouernour Warden whom when they heard breake out into eager termes about the sending backe of Fugitiues they whose Lawes were onely their weapons knowing themselues guilty were afraid lest they should be deliuered into the hands of iustice vpon a squabble which fell out about the taking away of a spurre they tumultuously ranne to armes and euery one to reuenge their priuate spleene assayled his particular enemy or made prey of his Horse Whether a Scot or an English-man was the beginner it is vncertaine At the first encounter the English repulsed the Scots and tooke Carmichell But as they being too confident in their owne forces ranged about for booty and trifling pillage a troupe of Scottish succours sallying out of Iedbourgh Carmichell escaped and the English were put to flight George Heron Knight Warden of Tyndale and Ridisdale with others was slaine and the Gouernour Forster himselfe Fran. Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford and sonne-in-law to Forster Cuthbert Collinwood Iames Ogle Henry Fenwich and many others were taken and carried to Dalquith in Scotland where the Regent was resident who courteously receiued them but fearing lest if hee should so soone permit them to depart their bloud yet boyling for the murther should inflame their courages to vengeance and so rayse a warre betweene the two Kingdomes hee for a time deteined them and would not release them before they had promised by writing to appeare at a certaine day in Scotland When Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of these matters shee was then if euer anger had preuayled with her full of vexation and mightily incensed that the Scots which were as her selfe spake indebted to her for their rest and libertie should violating the peace assault and murder the
priuiledges belonging to the place were gathered together a certaine impunitie imboldening them For EDVVARD the third had granted to the Earle of Desmond all Regall Liberties that the Kings of England had in that Countie except for Burnings Rapes Forestallings and Treasure found Notwithstanding the President iudging that these Liberties were granted rather for the exercise of Iustice then for the protecting of Mischiefe valiantly defeated the most selected troopes of the forlorne Rebels which the Earle of Desmond had layd in Ambuscado and made search through all Kerria and punished many of them seuerely The Earle of Desmond vexing at this and grieuously complaining to the Lord Deputie of Drury as well of this as of the Taxe which they call Ceass This Taxe is an exaction of Victuals at a certaine price as the Glebe among the Ancients for Prouision of the Deputies Family and the Garrison Souldiers Of this Taxe he complained not alone but in Lemster the most ciuill part of the Isle the Viscount Bultinglas Deluin Hoth and Trimleston Barons and also other of the Nobler sort complaining denied to pay it as not to be exacted but by authoritie of Parliament And thereupon sent Deputies into England who being heard before the Councell were committed and in like manner in Ireland were those that sent them vntill they submitted to pay it It appearing by the Records of the Kingdomes Exchequer to be instituted long agoe and is a certaine right of Maiestie called Royall Prerogatiue which is not subiect to the Lawes nor yet repugnant as the Lawyers haue iudged it But the Queene commanded the Lord Deputie to vse a moderation in such like exactions and vsed the old saying While they may sheare her subiects doe not shaue them and said moreouer AH how greatly I feare lest that which Bato in time past to Tiberius vpon the reuolting of Dalmatia be obiected against vs by the Irish You you are in fault who commit not your flockes to Shepheards but to Wolues THE TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1577. DOn Iohn of Austria perceiuing himselfe too weake for the States of Holland strengthened by the amitie of neighbour Princes sent Gastel to Queene ELIZABETH to thanke her for the ayd which she had offered him against the French to declare his desire of Peace She by Edw. Horsey now sent the second time to him commends his disposition to Peace and withall treates that the goods of the English detained in Antwerpe might be restored Answer was made verie slowly he being much distracted as he pretended with other affaires wholly intending The perpetuall Edict for Peace as they call it which scarce lasted a yeere Queene ELIZABETH seriously desiring Peace sends Sir Thomas Leighton to the Prince of Orange to perswade him not to labour or attempt any thing against Peace vntill Iohn Smith who was sent into Spaine to procure a Peace should returne The Prince of Orange who from his heart condemned this perpetuall Edict hauing opportunely learned that Don Iohn of Austria did endeuour to marrie the Queene of Scots which occasion he willingly catch't and by Famier forthwith aduertiseth Queene ELIZABETH to auert her from Peace She neuerthelesse as seeming to know nothing by Daniel Rogers congratulates with Don Iohn for the perpetuall Edict of Peace although she had discouered for certaine that by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and the English Fugitiues and the inclination of the Pope and the fauour of the Guizes he had an assured hope to attaine to this mariage and together with it to swallow England and Scotland and had alreadie resolued to possesse himselfe of the Isle of Man situate in the Irish Sea as a fit place for the inuading of England on Ireland side and from the West-side of Scotland where the Queene of Scots had many people at her deuotion and in the opposite part of England to make vse of North-Wales and the Counties of Cumberland Lancaster and Chester where the most part of the Inhabitants are most addicted to Poperie And certainly as we haue learned by Perez the King of Spaines Secretarie Austria caried away with ambition seeing himselfe falne from all hope of the Kingdome of Tunis had dealt secretly with the Pope to pull downe ELIZABETH from her Throne to marrie the Queene of Scotland and to subdue England and vnknowne to Philip wrought with the Pope to excite Philip for the publike good to the English Warre Don Iohn himselfe is readie to goe for Flanders this was prosecuted in Spaine and anon after Escouedo is sent from Flanders to desire that a Port in Biskye might be granted him from whence with a Nauie he might inuade England But Philip not likeing these designes begun to neglect him as a man too ambitious Neither did Queene ELIZABETH vnderstand of these things till as I haue said the Prince of Orange did informe her Notwithstanding it wanted not suspition that Thomas Copley a prime man among the English Fugitiues being commended to the French King by Vaulx Secretarie to Don Iohn had beene made Knight and Baron But Copley endeuouring to auoide suspition protested obedience to his Prince and that he had accepted this Title out of no other reason but for the greater accesse of honour to his wife his companion in exile and that his Pension from Spaine would be the greater because a Gentleman of Title is of more esteeme among Spaniards and he thought he was capable of the Title of a Baron his Grandmother being the eldest Daughter to the Baron of Hoo and his great Grandmother the eldest Daughter of the heires of the Baron of Welles In the meane time Don Iohn vnderhand prosecutes this match and withall the better to cloke the matter sends the Viscount of Gaunt Embassadour to ELIZABETH who shewed her the Articles of Peace and to demand a longer terme for the paiment of the Money which the States borrowed of her This she willingly grants and after treates with him by Wilson that the dammages which the English Merchants receiued at the sacking of Antwerpe may be repared He deludes her and while he pretended to be busie about this perpetuall Edict of Peace breakes out into Warre and by craft surprises Castles and Townes and writes to the King of Spaine that the wisest course is to take the Islands of Zeland before they lay siege to the interiour Prouinces and being thus transported with hope striues to perswade him by Escouede his Secretarie that it were easier for him to take England than Zeland At length when all things tended to warres in the Low-Countries the States send to Queene ELIZABETH the Marquis of Maure and Adoulfe Medkerke to borrow of her a hundred thousand pound sterling for eight moneths Shee made them this answer That if they could borrow it else-where Shee with the Citie of London would willingly giue caution for it prouided that such Townes of the Low-Countries as She shall
from Rome was cast abroad that serenitie by little and little turned into clouds and tempests and brought vp that Law which was made in the yeere 1571. against them which brought into the Kingdome such Bulls Agnos Dei and Grana Benedicta being tokens of Papall obedience or as we haue said did reconcile any to the Church of Rome Neuerthelesse this Law was not put in execution against any one in sixe yeeres after although it was knowne to haue beene violated by many The first against whom this Law was put in practice was Cuthbert Maine Priest a stubborne defender of the Popes authority against the Queene hee was executed at Saint Stephens commonly called Launston in Cornewall and Trugion a Gentleman that intertained him into his house had all his lands and goods confiscated and he condemned to perpetuall imprisonment Of these and such like things concerning the Church I will but giue a touch in regard of others that vndertake to write the Ecclesiasticall History of those times who I hope although it be scarcely to be hoped for by reason of exasperated mindes in this deuision of Religion will faithfully performe it This yeere the title of Baron of Latimer after it had flourished in honour and riches from the time of Henry the Sixth is now extinct in Iohn Neuill who hauing no Issue male left an ample inheritance to foure Daughters the eldest of which Henrie Earle of Northumberland married the second Thomas Cecill who was afterwards Earle of Exceter the third Sir William Cornwallis and the fourth Sir Iohn Dauers of which came a plentifull ofspring Sir Th. Smith one of the Secretaries of State likewise died of a consumption this being his clymactericall yeere a man memorable for much learning and wisdome approued in many Ambassies He was descended of noble Parents at Saffron Walden in Essex brought vp at Queen Margarets Colledge in Cambridge and beeing come to riper yeeres was chosen to bee sent into Italy vpon the Kings charge vntill our time many of the most hopefull youths were chosen out of both the Vniuersities and trayned vp in strange Countries for the better adorning and inabling of their mindes From thence he returned Doctor of the Ciuill Law he was in fauour with the Duke of Sommerset Protector of EDVVARD the Sixth and made the other Secretary with Cecill and Lord Warden of the Stanneries Deane of Carlile and Prouost of Eaton Queene MARIE comming to the Crowne tooke all these dignities from him assigned him a hundred pound a yeere to liue on with condition not to goe out of the Kingdome As soone as Queene ELIZABETH inioyed the Scepter he was called againe to the seruice of the Common-wealth to be an assistant with the Diuines in correcting the English Liturgy and afterwards as I haue said before hauing with great applause performed his Ambassies hee dyed In the yeere 1571 being made second Secretary to the Queene hauing but one onely Sonne sent him to leade a Colony into the barbarous Pen-insale Ardes in Ireland where hee was vnfortunately slaine Hee tooke speciall care and was the first that procured an order for the dyets of Students in Colledges and by that meanes aduanced learning more than he did by his writings although hee left a worke imperfect de Reipublica Anglorum a singular booke de Linguae Anglicae Orthographia another de Graecae pronunciatione and an exact Commentary de re nummaria most worthy to come to light In his stead to the place of Secretary came Thomas Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Law Master of Saint Katherines neere London who dyed within foure yeeres after In Ireland the O-Mores O-Conores and others whose ancestors the Earle of Sussex Lord Deputie in the reigne of Queene MARY had for wrongs and offences done by them depriued of their inheritance Leisa and Ophalia neither had hee assigned them any other place to liue in broke out into Rebellion vnder the conduct of Rorio Oge that is to say Rodorick the Younger burnt a little Towne called Naasse they assaulted Lachliny and were repulsed by Sir George Crew Gouernour but they tooke Henry Harrington and Alexander Cosbie in a deceitfull parley which they sought of purpose to surprize them whoÌ when Captaine Harpole went about to recouer set vpon a little Cottage by night where Rorio was and they two tyed to a post Rorio being awaked with the noyse gaue Harrington and Cosbie many wounds in the darke and with a desperate boldnesse rusheth into the middest of the Souldiers which compassed him round and by the benefit of the night escaped Afterwards hauing layde an Ambuscado for the Baron of Osser was taken and being slaine his neighbours were deliuered from much feare THE ONE AND TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1578. ALthough Spaine approued not of the propositions that Wilkes had made and as I lately saide had dissembled Queene ELIZABETH notwithstanding seriously pittying the Flemmings whose Prouinces were so commodiously and with a mutuall necessity situated to England had for many ages adhered like Husband and Wife and therefore impatient to see the French vnder colour of taking them into protection should become Masters of them sends Wilkes at his returne from Spaine to Don Iohn to aduertize him that the States had called the Duke of Aniou now so but before Duke of Alanzon with an Armie of French and that it would be more safe for him to make a Truce lest he should expose the Prouinces to the present danger But he being of a firie and warlike Spirit and puffed vp with the Battell against the States at Gemblacke answered in a word that he neither thought of any Truce nor feared the French She neuerthelesse for her own behoofe and the Flemmings sends Sir Edward Stafford into France to watch if they should attempt any thing vpon the Frontiers of the Low-Countries and how many Souldiers they had leuied Out of England are past ouer I. North eldest Sonne of Baron North Iohn Norris second Sonne of Baron Norris Henry Cauendish and Thomas Morgan with many voluntaries there to plant their first rudiments of Warre Casimire also Sonne to the Prince Elector Palatine drew a great Armie of Horse and Foot out of Germanie which cost the Queene verie much Don Iohn burning to assault the Armie of the States at Rimenant before all the auxiliarie Forces of the French and Germanes should ioyne with it flyes vpon them sooner then they were aware of and forthwith made the Cauallerie which were set to guard retreate runnes in vpon the Enemie as if he had been sure of the victorie but they resuming their spirits beat backe the Austrians who being turned towards the Hedges and Bushes where the English and Scottish voluntaries were placed stroue to breake through them but by no meanes could they were valiantly entertained by the English and Scots who for the feruent heat had cast off their Cloathes and with their Shirts âyed betweene their
promised him a Croysado as for a sacred warre Moreouer when certaine news came that Stukeley and those Italians were lost in Mauritania and that Spaine thought on nothing else but Portugal they called backe the English Fleet which attended for Stukeley vpon the Irish coast and Henrie Sidney deliuered vp the Countrey to William Drury President of Mounster When he had beene xi yeeres at seuerall times Lord Deputie and being ready to imbarke he gaue this farewell to Ireland with a Verse out of one of the Psalmes of Dauid When Israel came out of Egypt and the House of Jacob from a barbarous people This Lord Sidney verily was a singular good man and one most laudable among the best that had beene Deputies of Ireland and although Deputies are often complained of yet Ireland cannot but acknowledge to be much indebted to him for his wisdome and valour THE TWO AND TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1579. IOhn Casimere Sonne to Frederick the Third Prince Elector Palatine who the yeere before had brought a powerfull armie out of Germanie into the Low-Countries with great charge to the States and to Queene ELIZABETH and at the latter end of the yeere without performing any thing being drawne to Gaunt by the tumult of the people who were in diuision came into England in the moneth of Ianuary in a sharpe Winter full of Snowes to excuse himselfe and lay the blame vpon the French King and after hee had beene sumptuously receiued and brought with a number of torches to the City of Londons Senate-house by the prime Nobility of the Court he was intertayned with Barriers Combats Bankets honoured with the order of Saint George and the Garter which the Queene tyed about his legge with her owne hands indued him with an annuall Pension being loaden with many honorable gifts about the middest of February hee passed into the Low-Countries in one of the Queenes Ships where hee found this mercenary Army dispersed For the Germanes seeing Alexander Fernesa Prince of Parma established Gouernour of Flanders by the Spaniard readie to thunder vpon them and they wanting their pay and being brought somewhat low required money from him that they might depart out of the Low-Countries But he with an imperious fashion neuerthelesse which carried a grace and grauity replyed that he had spoke for them that they might depart their liues saued they were contented so they might haue a sure passe they make haste home but not without the losse of reputation but with greater detriment to the States Queene ELIZABETH fayles them not for all that but furnisheth them with great summes vpon the old gage of the rich ornaments and vessels of the house of Burgundie which by Matthew Duke of Austria and them were deliuered to Dauison who being sent to appease the commotions in Gaunt which had falne vpon the Church and Church-men brought them into England During which time Semier ceaseth not louingly to call vpon the marriage for the Duke of Aniou and although shee excellently put him off for a long time yet he brought her to this poynt that Leicester being intirely against this Match and others had raysed a report that hee had charmed her and made her in loue with the Duke with drinkes and vnlawfull arts hee to the contrary sues that Leicester may be degraded and put out of the Queens fauour telling that hee was married to the Earle of Essex his Widdow whereat she was so moued that she commanded him from the Court to Greene-wich Tower and did purpose to haue put him into the Tower of London which all his Enemies much desired But Sussex who was his chiefe Emulator and wholly bent to aduance this marriage disswades her from it being of a right noble minde and in-bred generositie was of opinion that it hath alwayes beene accounted honest and honourable and that none ought to be troubled for lawfull marriage notwithstanding he was glad that it had made Leicester out of all hope to marry the Queene Neuerthelesse Leicester was herewith so prouoked that he thought of nothing but of meanes how to be reuenged and they were not wanting that would doe what he would haue them doe Tewdor one of the Queenes guard is suborned to kill Semier which caused the Queene by a publique proclamation to forbid all persons to offend by word or deed him his companions or seruants And there happened at the same time shee going for her recreation in her Barge vpon the Riuer of Thames neere to Greenewich and with her Semier the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Chr. Hatton Vice Chamberlaine that a young fellow from a-board a Ship-boat with a pistolet shot a water-man thorow the arme that rowed in the Queenes Barge who anon after was taken and brought to the Gallowes to terrifie him but when he had religiously affirmed not to haue done it maliciously hee was let goe Neither would the Queene beleeue that he had beene suborned of purpose either against her or Semier So farre shee was from giuing place to suspition against her Subiects that it was an vsuall saying with her That shee could beleeue nothing of her Subiects that Parents would not beleeue of their Children Within a few dayes after the Duke of Aniou himselfe came priuily into England accompanied with two men onely and went to the Queene to Greenewich who likewise knew nothing of it where they had priuate conferences together which is not lawfull to search after the secrets of Princes being an inextricable Labyrinth and afterwards went away vnknowne except to very few But a month or two after shee commanded Burghley the Treasurer Sussex Leicester Hatton and Walsingham that after they had seriously weighed the dangers and commodities that might arise vpon this marriage they should conferre with Semier vpon the Couenants of the marriage There appeared some danger lest the Duke of Aniou should attempt any thing against the receiued Religion or take possession of the Kingdome as the Popes gift or render it vp into the hands of the Queene of Scots and Queene ELIZABETH being dead should marry her or his Brother dying should returne into France and place a Vice-Roy in England which the English would neuer indure Furthermore lest hee should inuolue the English in forreine warres lest the Scots assuring themselues of their ancient alliance with France should take better courage against the English lest Spaine being of so great power should oppose it Lastly lest the people oppressed with taxations to maintaine his magnificence should stirre vp sedition The commodities may be seene a firme confederation with the French might be established the rebellions of Papists if any should be the more easily supprest all the Queene of Scots hope and of all that seeke her in marriage and fauouring her are excluded Spaine would be compelled to compound the businesse of the Low-Countries and confirme the League of Burgundie and England at length should enioy a solid and
darke and thicke cloudes extremity of cold and open Cliffes couered thicke with snow hee landed at the 38. Degree and hauing found a commodious Rode remained there a certaine time The inhabitants of that Countrie were naked merry lusty iumping leaping and dancing perpetually sacrificing and showing by signe and words that they would elect Francis Drake for their King neither could it be coniectured that euer the Spaniard had bin there or so farre in that Countrie Drake named that very countrey being fat and good full of Deeres and Conies The new Albion Causing a great Poste to be there erected vpon which there was ingrauen an Inscription which shewed the yeere of our Lord the name of Queene ELIZABETH and their landing there and vnderneath a piece of siluer of Queene ELIZABETHS Coine was nailed to the said Poste Afterwards hauing weighed Anchor in the moneth of Nouember he arriued in the Ilands of the Mollucques where the King of the I le of Ternata receiued him graciously and from thence sayling vpon that sea full of Rockes and Ilands his ship was the ninth day of Ianuary driuen to the top of a Rocke couered with water where it remained in great danger seuen and twenty houres and was accounted no better then lost by all the men of the ship who fell deuoutly vpon their knees praying hartily vnto the Lord expecting hourely to perish with all the aboundance of riches heaped vp together with so much paine But after they had hoysted their Sprit-Sayle and cast into the Sea 8. Peeces of Ordnance and diuers marchandizes a fauourable wind rose as sent of God which bore the ship aside and withdrew it from aboue the Rocke After this he landed at Iaua major greatly afflicted with the Poxe which the Inhabitants doe cure sitting in the heate of the sunne to drie vp the poysonous and malignant humor Where hauing tryed the humanity of the little King of the Countrey he tooke his way towards the Cape of Bona esperance which was celebrated as very remarkable by the Mariners which had formerly seene it He landed vpon that coast to take in water but found no fountaine there if he had not in time prouided of water when it rained they had all beene in great distresse for sweet water At last he tooke in some at Riogrand from whence hee finished his iourney into England with a fauourable wind which brought his Ship the ninth of Nouember 1580. safe into the Hauen of Plimouth where he tooke shipping after his being abroad about the space of three yeeres during which time he worthily sayled round about the Earth to the admiration and laudable applause of all people and without purchasing blame for any other things than for his putting to death Doughty for leauing at the mercy of the Spaniards that Portugal Ship by him taken at the mouth of Africa neere vnto Aquatulqua and for hauing most inhumanely exposed in an Iland that Negro or Black-more-Maide who had beene gotten with Child in his Ship Queene ELIZABETH receiued him graciously with all clemency caused his riches to be sequestred and in readinesse whensoeuer the Spaniard should re-claime them Her Maiesty commanded likewise that for a perpetuall memory to haue so happily circuited round about the whole Earth his Ship should be drawne from the water and put aside neere Deptford vpon Thames where to this houre the body thereof is seene and after the Queenes feasting therein shee consecrated it with great ceremonie pompe and magnificence eternally to be remembred and her Maiesty forthwith honoured Drake with the dignity of Knighthood As these things were performed a slight Bridge made of Boords by which people went vp into the Ship was broken downe by the Multitude and about a hundred persons fell with it they neuerthelesse receiued no harme at all insomuch that the Ship seemed to haue beene built in a happy coniunction of the Planets That very day against the great Mast of the said Ship many verses composed to the praise honour of Sir Francis Drake were fastned and fixed among which these in Latin were written by a Scholler of the Colledge of Winchester PLVS VLTRA Herculeis inscribas Drace columnis Et magno dicas Hercule maior ero Escri DRAC ces deux mots sur les piliers du Temple Qui sut sacré iadis à Hercule guerâier PLVS OVLTRE quelque grand qu'ait esté son lauâier Di que le tien doibt estre plus grand plus ample DRAKE on the Herculean columnes these words write Thou farther wentst then any mortall wight Though Hercules for trauell did excell From him and others thou didst beare the bell DRACE pererrati quem nouit terminus orbis Quemque simul mundi vidit vterque Polus Si taceant homines faciunt te sydera notum Sol nescit comitis non memor esse sui DRAC qui as parcouru tous les quartiers du monde Et les Poles as vâu Quand les gens manqueront A chanter tes vertus les Astres le feront Le Soleil n'oublira celuy qui le seconde Braue DRAKE that round about the world didst saile And viewedst all the Poles when men shall faile Thee to commend the starres will do 't the Sunne Will not forget how with him thou didst run Digna ratis quae stet radiantibus inclyta stellis Supremo coeli vertice digna ratis CE NAVIRE qui rend à tous homines notoire La gloire d'vn grand Chef merite que les Dieux Mettent autour de luy des Astres radieux Et au plus hault du Ciel estre éclatant de gloire THAT SHIP whose good successe did make thy name To be resounded by the trump of Fame Merits to be beset with Stars diuine Instead of waues and the Skie to shine Nothing anger'd worse Sir Francis Drake than to see the Nobles and the chiefest of the Court refuse that Gold and Siluer which he presented them withall as if hee had not lawfully come by it The Commons neuerthelesse applauded him with all praise and admiration esteeming he had purchased no lesse glory in aduancing the limits of the English their honour and reputation than of their Empire Bernard Mendoze then Ambassadour for Spaine in England murmuring at it and as not well pleased demands vehemently of the Queene the things taken But he was answered THat the Spaniards had procured vnto themselues that euil through their iniustice towards the English in hindering against the right of Nations their Negotiations That Sir Francis Drake was alwaies ready to answere the Law if by iust inditements and certaine testimonies they could conuict him to haue committed any thing against equity That to no end but to giue satisfaction to their King the riches he brought in were sequestred though her Maiesty had spent against the Rebels which Spaine had moned and instigated in Ireland and England against her more money than Drake was
to preuent the mariage the Vice-Chamberlaine Hatton and Walsingham were most of all malecontented as if the Queene Religion and Kingdome had been vndone Her women which were about her fell all in sorrow and sadnesse and the terror they put her into so troubled her minde that she passed all that night without sleepe amongst her houshold seruants who made a consort of weeping and sighing The next morning finding the Duke and taking him aside had serious discourse with him The Duke retiring himselfe after hee left her into his Chamber plucketh off the Ring casteth it on the ground taketh it vp againe rayleth on the lightnesse of women and inconstancie of Ilanders As she was perplexed with these passions shee called to minde what once the Lord Burley and the Earle of Sussex had told her that there was no Alliance offensiue to bee hoped for without marying with the Duke nor being alone and without assistancy was able to withstand the greatnesse of the Spaniard That the Spaniard offering his daughter in mariage to the King of Scots hee would easily draw the Papists in England to be his adherents and all the Fugitiues Rebels discontented persons and such as were sine spe sine re whereof the number was great to be on his side that al good people were now out of hope euer to haue issue of her body of the Blood Royall by this mariage and now hauing their hearts alienated from her hereby would cast their eyes and affections vpon some other of her Competitors That also shee could not but highly displease the King of France and the Duke his Brother who after the imploiment of so much time the holding of so many Counsels the sending of such honorable Ambassadors and the expences of so much money could hardly endure to finde himselfe in fine derided what colour so euer should be cast ouer the matter And to raise mony for the Duke of Anjou to imploy him in the warres of Flanders assigning him an annuall Pension for the time to come There remained also a scruple vpon her conscience that he so deluded of her might match himselfe in Spaine and then shee should bee in danger on both sides as well from France as from Flanders as euery one could breathe into her eares and her selfe presage Some thought that amidst this anxiety of doubtfull thoughts which troubled her minde about this mariage the necessitie of the time and matter made her put on a resolution that it would stand more with her honour and the good of her Common-weale to liue single then to be maried foreseeing that if she should marry with a subiect from such disparitie would grow disgrace to her selfe and kindle heart-burnings secret displeasures and domestique troubles and hatred If with a stranger she should bring her selfe and subiects vnder a foraine yoake and Religion in hazard remembring withall how vnfortunate that match of her Sister MARIES with King Philip was and that of her great grandfather EDWARD the fourth who was the first English King since the Norman conquest which tooke a subiect to wife She feared also to transfer vpon a husband that glory which whilst she liued vnmarried remained with her entire withall she was diuerted in minde from mariage by reason of the great perils she should be subiect to by conception and child-bearing as diuers women and Physicians bore her in hand Her Maiestie likewise burned with choller that there was a booke published in print inueighing sharply against the mariage as fearing the alteration of Religion which was intituled A gaping gulfe to swallow vp England by a French mariage In this Pamphlet the Priuy Councellors which fauoured the Match were taxed of ingratitude to their Prince and Countrey the Queene as not vnderstanding well her selfe by the way of flattery is tauntingly touched the Duke d' Anjou and his country of France in contumelious tearmes shamefully reuiled the mariage condemned for the diuersitie of Religions by poisonous words and passages of Scripture miserably wrested would seeme to proue that the Daughter of God being to match with the sonne of Antichrist it must needs bee the ruine of the Church and pernicious to the State neither would Queene ELIZABETH bee perswaded that the Author of this booke had any other purpose but to bring her into hatred with her subiects and to open a gap to some prodigious innouation it being so that shee neuer had respected so much the power shee had ouer her people as the loue they bore to her and as Princes are accustomed was neuer more carefull then of her royall reputation notwithstanding the writer of that booke neuer once made mention of meanes to establish in future securitie her selfe or Realme or for auoiding danger or how the States of the Land had in former times most importunately perswaded her Maiestie to mariage to giue an assured remedy against imminent euils And this she published in writing condemning the Author of the Libell made knowne the Dukes propensitie of minde towards her selfe and to the Protestants Religion grieuing to offer iniury to so worthy a Prince who neuer had once motioned to haue any change in State Common-wealth or Religion Shee also commended Sir H. Simier the Duke's Agent for his modesty and wisedome whom some had before in malignant speeches calumniated intimating to the people also that this Libell was a deuice of Traitors to stir vp hatred abroad seditions at home commanding it should be burnt in the presence of Magistrates Since that shee begunne to bee the more displeased with Puritans then she had been before-time perswading her selfe that such a thing had not passed without their priuitie and within a few dayes after Iohn Stubbes of Lincolnes Inne a zealous professor of Religion the Author of this Ralatiue Pamphlet whose Sister Thomas Cartwright the Arch-Puritan had maried William Page the disperser of the Copies and Singleton the Printer were apprehended against whom sentence was giuen that their right hands should be cut off by a law in the time of Philip and MARIE against the Authors of Seditious Writings and those that disperse them Some Lawyers storming hereat said the iudgement was erroneous and fetcht from a false obseruation of the time wherein the Statute was made that it was onely temporarie and that Queene MARIE dying it dyed with her Of the which Lawyers one Dalton for his clamorous speeches was commited to prison and Mouson a Iudge of the Common-pleas was sharply rebuked and his place taken from him after that Sir Chr. Wray chiefe Iustice of England had made it manifest by Law that in that Statute there was no errour of time but the Act was made against such as should put forth or divulge any seditious writing against the King and that the King of England neuer dyed yea that Statute likewise in the first yeare of Queene ELIZABETH was reuiued againe to the Queene and her Heires for euer Not long after vpon a Stage
set vp in the Market-place at Westminster Stubbes and Page had their right hands cut off by the blow of a Butchers knife with a Mallet strucke through their wrests The Printer had his Pardon I can remember that standing by Iohn Stubbes so soone as his right hand was off put off his hat with the left and cryed aloud God saue the Queene The people round about him stood mute whether stricken with feare at the first sight of this strange kinde of punishment or for commiseration of the man whom they reputed honest or out of a secret inward repining they had at this mariage which they suspected would be dangerous to Religion These things passed within a little after the Dukes ariuall in England and whilest hee stayed here the Queene to take away the feare conceiued by many that Religion should change and Papists should be tolerated by the importunity of Campian the Iesuite of whom I haue spoken Ralph Sherwing Luke Kirby and Alexander Brian who were indicted by an Act made in the 25 of Edward the third for attempting the ruine of the Queene and Kingdome for adhering to the Bishop of Rome the Queenes Aduersarie for raising sedition in her Realme and gathering forces together to the vtter subuersion of her Dominions of which they were found guilty and so condemned for that they obstinately defended the Papall Authoritie against the Queene they were put to death For Campian then condemned being demanded whether Queene ELIZABETH were right or lawfull heire answered nothing and againe If the Pope should inuade the Land whether he would take his part or the Queenes hee openly said the Popes which hee testified vnder his hand-writing After these some others were executed for the like matters and for ten whole yeares space together since the Rebellion but fiue Papists But I leaue the handling hereof to the Ecclesiasticall History neuerthelesse with permission I will briefely here obserue and note some such occurrences as are adioyning with those of States These times were such as that the Queene who was neuer of opinion that mens consciences should bee constrained often complained to haue beene of necessitie forced to these punishments lest vnder a pretext of conscience and Catholike Religion she should endanger her selfe and her louing subiects neuerthelesse her Maiesty beleeued not that the most part of these poore and miserable Priests had plotted the destruction of her country but that their Superiors made vse of them as instruments of their mischiefe for as much as they which were sent were wholly subiect to the power and authoritie of them which had sent them For when as such as were now and afterwards apprehended were demanded whether by the Authority of the Bull of Pius the fift the Queene of Englands subiects were so freed of their Oath of Allegeance that they might take Armes against her whether they esteemed her a lawfull Queene whether they approued the opinions of Sanders and Bristow touching the Authoritie of this Bul to which partie they would incline if the Pope should warre against the Queene Some of them answered so doubtfully others with such pertinacy and some with such preuarication or keeping silence so mocked the questions propounded to them that diuers Papists begunne to suspect that they nourished some falshood and Bishop although ingenious most zealous for the Roman Religion writ against them shewing that this Cannon which had passed vnder the name of the Lateran Councell vpon which was absolutely grounded the oath of absoluing subiects from their Obedience and fealty to their Princes and for the deposing of them was nothing else but a Decree of Pope Innocent the 3 which neuer was receiued in England as also that that Counsell was repeal'd and annihilated wherein nothing was done by the Fathers of the same at that time The more the number of the Priests comming by stealth into England increased the more increased suspitions of them who secretly practised to grope the hearts of men preached that it was lawfull to depose Princes excommunicated muttered and murmured that such as were not of the Roman religion were to be depriued of all regall power and Dignity and that such as had taken religious Orders were exempt from all obedience to Princes nor were any such held to be subiect either to them or their lawes That the Pope had supreme power ouer the whole world yea euen in politick affaires That the Magistrates of England had no lawfull institution and therefore were not to bee obeyed as Magistrates And that whatsoeuer Queene ELIZABETH had done since the publication of the Bull Declaratory of Pius the 5 was by the Lawes of God and Man disanull'd and to be held for naught And some of them denyed not in publike hearing that they were sent for no other causes into England then to absolue euery one seuerally and apart of all oath of fidelitie and obedience towards the Queene as the Bull had absolued all in generall which they did in taking confessions of their reconciliation And this they seemed to doe with more ease in promising Absolution from all mortall sinne and with more securitie because it was done priuately and vnder the Seale of Confession THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXII THese and the like things brought vpon Papists new and sharper lawes made by Act of Parliament at Westminster in the moneth of Ianuary where all such were declared guilty of high Treason which disswaded any of her Maiesties subiects froÌ their obedience to their Prince or from the Religion now profest in England or that should reconcile any to the Church of Rome or which should haue beene so perswaded turned or reconciled Two hundred markes fine and a yeares imprisonment inflicted vpon those which should celebrate Masse so long till they had paid And such as had willingly beene at any of their Masses one hundred markes and one yeares imprisonment and such as were not found to resort to their owne Parish Churches to diuine seruice for euery moneths omission ten pounds Which was maliciously vnderstood and interpreted by the Papists of Lunarie months who before had paid but one shilling to the poore for euery Sunday or Holidayes absence But I referre it to the Ecclesiasticall Historie to intreat of these things more at large The Duke d' Anjou after some three moneths abode in England tooke his way towards Flanders in the moneth of February Queene ELIZABETH in person accompanied him to Canterbury and commanded the Earle of Leicester the Lord Charles Howard the Barons of Hunsdon Willoughby Winsor and Sheffeild Sir Philip Sidney Sir Francis Russel Sir George Bourchier Knights and diuers other noble Gentlemen to accompany him to Antwerpe where he was created Duke of Brabant of Lymbourg Lotharing c. For the confederated States of Flanders had from thence proclaimed the King of Spaine falne from his Principality for infringing their Lawes broken his Seales cast downe
extract the particularities of the things you had intreated of with Babington As he was thus speaking she interrupted him saying That the circumstances indeed were probable but not the thing That her sincerity depended not vpon her Secretaries fidelity or memory though she knew them to be ingenuous Or if for feare of punishment or hope of profite and escape they had confessed any thing it was not to be admitted for diuerse good reasons which she had alleaged before That the mindes of men are carried away with many passions for her Secretaries would neuer haue confessed such things if eyther profite or some other hope had not induced them thereto That the letters might be directed to others than them they were written to and that oftentimes many things had beene inserted that were not dictated And if her papers had not beene taken from her or if she had a Secretary she could more soundly haue confuted their obiections But said the Lo Treasurer they will obiect nothing but since the xix of Iune and your papers would stand you in no stead seeing the Secretaries and Babington himselfe vninforced by torture haue confessed that you sent these letters to Babington But if you shall deny this let the Commissioners iudge whether there be more credite to be giuen to your denyall or their affirmation But to returne to the point marke what I denounce as a Counsellor You haue mentioned many things for the procuring of your liberty which haue had no successe and that hath proceeded from your selfe or the Scotts not from the queene For your Lords of Scotland haue refused to deliuer the King of Scotts in hostage and when last there was a treaty about your liberty Parry was sent from Morgan your clyent to slay the queene Ah said shee you are mine aduersary I replyed he I am aduersary to all Q. Elizabeth's enemies But enough of this Let vs returne to our proofes When she refused to heare Yet we will heare said he And I too answered she in another place and will defend myselfe Now they read againe her letters to Charles Paget wherin she certified him That there was no way left for the K. of Spaine to bring the Low-countries into his subiection but by placing a Prince in England to serue his turne And her letters to the Lo Paget to hasten the ayde he should send for the inuading of England And those which Cardinall Allen had sent her wherein he saluted her by the name of Most excellent Lady and certified her that the matter was recommended to the Prince of Parma Whilest they were reading them she said That Babington and her Secretaries had accused her to excuse themselues That she neuer heard of six murtherers the rest were nothing to the purpose She held Allen a venerable Prelate and knew no other head of the Church but the Pope of Rome neyther could shee tell how he or other stranger kings did style her nor could she hinder them in their letters from calling her queene of England Affirming that her Secretaries were not to be trusted for that they had proceeded against her contrary to the duety and fidelity which they had sworne to her That the periured are not to be credited though they sweare neuer so much neyther did shee thinke their oathes were to be taken in any Câuât of conscience because formerly they had sworne fidelity and silence neyther were they any English subiects That Nauue had often written otherwise than she dictated and Curle alwayes that which he told him That she could beare with their faults ân all things but such as touched her honour They might also confesse these things for to saue themselues thinking that in so doing she could not hurt them and that being a queene they would deale more gently with her And that she had neuer heard of Ballard but of one Hallard that had offered his seruice to her which notwithstanding she refused because she had heard that he had likewise proffered it to Walsingham After this when they read certaine notes out of letters which Curle confessed hee had written to Mendoza in her secret characters and pressed her with them as hauing had a purpose to make ouer the title of the kingdome to the Spaniard and that Allen and Parsons were resident now in Rome for that cause shee protesting that they had forsworne themselues answered I being a prisoner without hope of liberty languishing in griefe and in dispayre tâ performe that which many expected from me who am nâw in my declining age and without my health some were of opinion to settle the succession of the English Crowne vpon the Spaniard or some other English Catholick A booke was sent me to declare the Spaniards right but because I refused to receiue it sâme were grieued at me As for the rest being at this instant out of all hope of aide from England I haue resolued not to reiect that of the Stranger Vpon that Sir Thomas Egerton the Queenes Sollicitor opened to the Commissioners what would become of them their honours goods and children if the kingdome were so transported But the L. Treasurer answered That could not be because by the Law the Crowne was hereditarie Then askâd he the Queene of Scotts if she had any more to say She desired to be heard in open Parliament or in presence of Queene Elizabeth and her Councell not doubting but one Queene would haue consideration of another Then rising vp with a bold countenance she conferred apart with the L. Treasurer Hatton and Walsingham about some businesse That being done they reiourned their meeting together again vntill the xxv of October in the Starre Chamber at Westminster And this is that which I haue gathered from the memories of Ed. Barker chief Clerke of the Councell Tho. Wheeler publique Notary and Clerke of the Court of Canterbury and other credible persons whose assistance I haue had in this At the time appointed all the CoÌmissioners being assembled together except the Earles of Shrewsbury Warwick who then were sick Nauue and Curle hauing voluntarily without hope of future preferment or present reward affirmed ratified by oath that all euery the letters copies of letters to fore produced were most true sentence was pronounced against the Q of Scotland signed and sealed by the Commissioners and recorded in these words WIth one vnanimous accord and consent of theirs they pronounce and giue their sentence and iudgement which was read aloud vpon the last day and in the assigned place saying That since the end of the aforesaid Sessions of Parliament specified in the said Commission to wit since the said first day of Iune in the yeare xxvij afore mentioned and before the date of the said Commission many things haue bin attempted and conceiued against the Realme of England by Anth. Babington and others with the knowledge and priuity of the said Mary pretending that the Crowne of England
appertayneth to her tending to the hurt death and destruction of the royall person of our soueraigne La the Q. that is to say that since the first of Iune Ann. 27. and before the date of this Commission the said Mary pretending as aforesaid practised and conceiued against this Realm many things tending to the hurt death and destruction of the royall person of our said Lady Q. Elizabeth against the forme of the Statute specified in the said Commission This sentence bred diuers doubtfull opinions amongst men because it was grounded onely vpon the credite of the Secretaries and they were neuer brought face to face as was required by the first Statute Anno 13. of Elizab. some thinking them men of credite and some not I saw Nauue's Apology which he wrote to the Kings Maiesty in Scotland 1605. wherein he greatly laboureth to excuse him selfe protesting that he was neyther author nor perswader to this matter nor yet the first discouerer And that he had neither by negligence nor ignorance fayled in his devoire but stoutly at his death defended the contrary to all the accusations brought against the Queene his Mistresse notwithstanding there are publicke Acts thereof to be seene Now the same day the Commissioners and Iudges of the Realme declared That this sentence did derogate nothing from the right or honour of Iames King of Scotland but that he remained and was in the same ranke estate and right as if it had neuer beene A few dayes after the Parliament sate at Westminster commenced by certaine authoritie granted by Qu. Elizabeth to the Archb. of Canterbury the L. Treasurer and the Earle of Derby as her Lieutenants and that not without example wherein was confirmed a Proscription that the goods possessions of the L. Paget C. Paget Sir F. Englefield E. Iones Chediock Tichburne C. Tilney other traytors were adiudged confiscate The States of the Realme also after they had by generall suffragie and consent approued and confirmed the sentence pronounced against the queene of Scotland all with one accord by the Lo. Chancellor presented a petition to the queene wherein they desired that for the preseruation of the true Religion of Christ the tranquillitie of the land the securitie of her person the good of them all and their posteritie the Sentence against Mary Q. of Scotland might be publickly pronounced according to the tenour of the Law alleaging reasons drawne from the dangers stirred and practised against Religion her own person and the Realme by her who was a mother-nourse of the Romane Religion and had sworn an inviolable accord to extirpate the Religion now established and had long since laid claime to the Crowne Q. Elizabeth yet liuing esteeming that seeing she was excommunicated it was lawfull to conspire against her and meritorious to take away her life She had ruinated some noble houses of the land and had kindled the fire of rebellion in England That to pardon her were to destroy the people who much repined at her impunitie and that she could not be freed from the oath conspiracie otherwise than by punishment and lastly they recited the example of the horrible vengeance of God against K. Saul for not putting Agag and Benadad to death And this is that which was presented by the States of the Parliament Queene Elizabeth with a most graue countenance and ââââsticall speech answered to this effect THe benefites which God hath bestowed vpon me are so great that I doe not only acknowledge them with humilitie but call them to minde with admiration wanting wordes sufficiently to expresse them And although there be no mortall aliue more bound to the Almighty who hath so often and so miraculously deliuered me from eminent dangers yet am I most of all for this that after hauing gouerned this kingdome now the space of 28 yeares I doe finde in my subiects the same if not farre greater affection than when I came first to the Crowne the which entire loue if I should finde to fayle I might well perhaps perceiue my selfe to breathe but not to liue And now my life hath bin attempted to be taken away it grieueth mee most that it was by such a person as was of mine owne sex estate and ranke to whom I was so farre from bearing ill will that on the contrary after she had complotted diuerse matters against me I wrote to her in priuate that if in any writing secretly she would acknowledge them I would bury them all in obliuion Neyther would I haue done this to entrap or circumuent her for I knew already all she could confesse and although the matter was at that passe yet if she had but shewed her selfe truely penitent none should haue taken her cause against me in hand Neuerthelesse if only it had concerned mine owne life and not the safegard of my people without ostentation be it spoken I would willingly haue pardoned her If England by my death might flourish the more or gaine a better Prince I could bee well content to lay downe my life for I desire to liue onely for your good and the peoples Neyther is there any cause I haue so ledde my life why I should desire life or feare death I am not ignorant of the common state of life I haue obeyed I haue commanded I haue had both good bad neighbours I haue found treason in trust I haue bestowed some benefites ill and where I haue done good I haue beene badly requited When I ponder these things in minde I see what the condition of the present time is and I foresee the future thinking them the happiest that soonest depart hence But against these and such like I haue put on a warlike resolution that whatsoeuer shall happen death shall not surprise me vnprouided As touching these late treasons I will not so much preiudice neither my selfe nor the ancient lawes of my countrey in such fashion as not to thinke this arch-treason to be subiect thereto although this new had neuer bin made the which although some fauourers of her haue suspected so was not made against her but was so far from entangling her that rather it was an aduertisement or preadmonition to her not to come within the danger of it neuerthelesse seeing she hath now incurred the lawe it is thought good to proceede against her by vertue thereof But you captious Lawyers you are so precise so curious in the quercks and quidities of law to follow the formalitie of it in stead of interpreting the true sense that forsooth according to the form of proceeding she should be called to iudgment within the countie of Staffordshire there to appeare holding vp her hand at the Barre to stand to the verdict of twelue men vpon her fact And is this a braue fashion of proceeding against a Princesse But I haue thought good rather auoyding such absurdities that it was more conuenient to referre a matter of such importance to the Peeres and Iudges of the Realme
safeguard of the Common-wealth so much as for their owne particular as Boniface the eightth put to death Celestine the fift deposed from the Papacy fearing that he should be called againe because of his singular piety Vrban the sixt who caused fiue Cardinalls to be sewed vp in sackes and cast into the Sea beheaded some and two others he caused to be baked in an Ouen and for the more terror commanded they should be laid on Mules and carried about the countrey Moreouer that Secretaries are not to be held for seruants and that domestick witnesse is to be admitted for proofe of secret things done in the house And it was argued vpon whether the accusers which haue sworn voluntarily and those which are suspected of crimes ought to come face to face in criminall matters to maintain the accusation Lastly That there is no such perfect example but hath some thing in it which is not iust These and such like are the matters which then were debated In the meane time the K. of Scotland for the remarkeable deare loue he bore his mother laboured with all his power by the imploimeÌt of W. Keith to saue her omitting nothing beseeming a good vertuous sonne but without successe because the Scots were diuided into factions amongst themselues more fauoured Q. Elizabeth than their prisoned Q. insomuch that some of them by priuate letters sollicited Q. Elizabeth to hasten her punishment and that the Ministers of Scotland being commanded by the King to pray to God in the Churches for his mother they obstinately refused so to do for the hate they bore the Religion which she professed And though the King had formerly beene earnest by messages and letters with Q. Elizabeth in his mothers behalfe yet then he became more instant complayning That it was most vniust that the Nobles the Counsellors and subiects of England should giue sentence against a Queene of Scotland borne of the English blood and as vniust also but to thinke that the States of England can by authority of Parliament exclude the true heyres from the right of succession and their lawfull inheritance The which some did often threaten to cause the more terrour He sent also Patrick Gray and Robert Meluin to delare to Q. Elizabeth That the great proximitie which was betwixt them would not let him beleeue that shee would violate that renowned reputation which shee from all parts had purchased by her vertues and especially by her mercifulnesse which shee had reserued vnstained with any spot of cruelty and that she would by no meanes now defile it in his mothers blood who was of the same princely dignity parentage and sexe whom he because his mothers blood had so great an interest in him could not forsake nor leaue to the cruelty of those who had so long breathed after his death as well as hers After he had by other letters shewed at large with what heauinesse of heart and doubtfull perplexities he was afflicted by reason of this weighty businesse which touched and bound him in nature and honour and into what extremities of distresse and danger his reputation was like to fall among his subiects if any violence were offered to his mother these things he propounded to her serious consideration drawne from the inward sense of his sorrow and filiall affection How greatly it concerneth his honour being a King and sonne if his dearest mother who was also an absolute Princesse should dye an infamous death and that by her commandement who was the next in league of loue and consanguinitie Whether by the word of God any thing may iustly be enacted by law against those whom God hath established for the administration of iustice whom be vouch safeth to call gods vpon earth whom he hath anoynted whom he hath forbid to touch because they are his anoynted and whom he will not permit to suffer wrong vnreuenged How monstrous a thing were it that an absolute Prince should be subiect to the censure of subiects How prodigious that an entyre Prince should leade the way to giue such a detestable example to prophane the diadems of others What should inforce her to this bloody cruelty Honour or profit If honour then might she acquire more and greater in pardoning for so to her eternall glory for her clemency should she binde to her for this benefite both Him and all the Kings of Christendome whose affection otherwise she should lose together with her reputation and brand her selfe with the marke of cruelty If profite it is to be considered whether any thing can be accounted profitable but that which is iust and honest And then concluded in desiring her to send such an answer by his Ambassadors as should be welbeseeming so pious a Princesse and not vnworthy for such a King as was her most affectionate kinsman But these Ambassadors intermingling tempestiue menaces with their messages were not pleasing and so taking their leaue some few dayes after returned back carrying with them as little comfort as hope Pomponius Bellieure sent for this cause from the King of France had accesse to the Q. of England accompanied with l'Aubespine de Chasteauneuf the ordinary Ambassador and hauing giuen her to vnderstand how many contrary thoughts had troubled the K. of France on the one side for the singular affection which he bore her on the other for the neere alliance of kindred which was betwixt him and the Q. of Scotland propounded to Q Elizabeth at two seuerall times in writing these and the like things viz. That it neerely concerned the K. of France and other Kings that a free Queen and absolute Princesse should not be committed to death That the safetie of Queene Elizabeth would be in more danger by the death of Mary than by her life and that being set at libertie she could not attempt any thing against the Queene of England because that her want of health did promise no long life That she had arrogated to her selfe the Kingdome of England was not to be imputed as a crime so much to her as to that she had learned in her youth of naughty Counsellors That shee came into England as a suppliant and therfore she could not be iustly detained but was at the last to be released eyther for money or mercy And besides that an absolute Prince ought not in any sort to be brought to arraignement which made Cicero say that it was a thing neuer heard of that a K. should bee called in question of accused of any capitall crime That if she were innocent she ought not to be punished if culpable she should be pardoned because that would redound to the greater honour and profite and would remaine an eternall example of the English clemency Alledging to this purpose the History of Porsenna which drew out of the fire the right hand of M. Sceuola who had conspired his death and let him go That the first precept to raigne well is to spare blood
English are not wont to feare the Frenchmens menaces nor can these diuert them from prouiding how to settle their State in securitie Forasmuch as the Ambassadours in the meane time haue not made any demonstration or mention how to preuent the imminent ieopardies and dangers hanging ouer Englands head THE NINE AND TWENTIETH YEARE OF HER RAIGNE ANNO DOM. M.D.LXXXVII AS men thus according to the varietie of their apprehensions discoursed busily and at large of these matters as they were led either by enuy or affection D' Aubespine the Ambassadour for France in England who was of the Faction of the Guises thinking that if he could not by Arguments or Reasons deliuer the Queene of Scotland yet would he by some mischieuous craft Treateth priuatly and first with one William Stafford a young Gentleman and apt to conceiue strange hopes whose Mother was one of the Ladies of Honour and his Brother Leger in France about the killing of Queen Elizabeth At first he dealt with him vnder-hand but afterwards more plainely by his Secretary Trappe who promised him if he performed it that he should haue thereby nor only great glory and a large summe of money but also exceeding fauour from his Holinesse the Pope of Rome the Guises and all Catholikes Stafford as loathing such a monstrous mischiefe would not be the Actour thereof but notwithstanding notifyed to him one Modey a fit fellow to be imploed in matter of murther one who would dispatch it though neuer so bloody for money This Modey was a prisoner in London to whom Stafford made it knowne that the French Ambassadour desired to speake with him He answered that he desired the same if he were out of Prison intreating him in the meane time to speake with Cordalion the Ambassadours vnder-Secretary who was his familiar friend The morrow after was sent to him Trappe and Stafford which Trappe Stafford going apart grew into talke with Modey how and by what meanes they might kill Qâeene Elizabeth Modey aduised to haue it done by poyson or by bringing priuately into the Queenes Chamber a barrell of Gun-powder to be secretly set on fire But this liked not Trappe who desired a resolute fellow which feared nothing such a one as the Bourgoignon which had slaine the Prince of Orange Stafford had quickly reuealed this to the Councell And Trappe now preparing himselfe for France is apprehended and being examined confesseth all the matter Hereupon the twelfth of Ianuary following the Ambassadour was sent for to the House of Cicile whither he came about euening where there was present at that time by the commandment of the Queen Cicile the Baron of Burghley Lord High Treasurer of England the Earle of Leicester Sir Christopher Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine to the Queens Maiestie Dauison one of her Maiesties Secretaries who declared that they had inuited him thither to acquaint him with the cause why they had stayed his Secretary Trappe being bound for France and so discoursed to him the whole matter as Stafford Modey and Trappe themselues had confessed and had caused them to be brought in to testifie the same before his face The Ambassadour with great impatience bending his browes and standing vp said That he being the Kings Ambassadour would not abuse his Master the King of France or preiudice other Ambassadours in that kinde to be a hearer of Accusations be what they will But they hauing answered him that these things were not produced as accusations against him but to let him perceiue that they were neither false nor faigned and to the ende hee might take occasion to conuince Stafford of Calumnie the more freely hee became quiet But so soone as Stafford came in and had begun to speake he interrupting of him in rayling manner swore That Stafford had first mentioned the matter and that he had threatned to send him bound hand and foote to the Queene of England if he would not giue ouer that businesse and that at that time he forbore him for the loue and affection he had to his Mother his Brother and his Sister Stafford falling on his knees protested many times vp on his Saluation That the Ambassadour had first broken the matter to him The Ambassadour then more moued than before Stafford was commanded forth and Modey not permitted to come in Hereupon the Lord Burghley out of his owne words and Trappe his Confession reproued him but somewhat gently for this intended mischiefe The Ambassadour answered If he had beene guiltie or acquainted with the matter yet as being an Ambassadour he was not bound to reueale it to any but his owne King Burghley answering said Admit it be not the part of an Ambassadour which yet is a matter questionable to discouer such matters but only to their owne King when the life of a Prince is in hazzard yet it is the part of a Christian to preuent such enormities as touch the life of a Prince nay of any priuate Christian This he stoutly denied and withall recited an example of a French Ambassadour not long agone in Spaine who knowing of a treacherous practise against the King of Spaine although it concerned his life yet discouered it not to him but to his owne King for which he receiued great commendation both of his King and of his Councell But the Lord Burghley very grauely admonished him hereafter to haue a care how he offended her Maiestie and not to forget his duty and her Maiesties mercifulnesse which was loath to offend the good Ambassadours by punishing the bad neither was he all this while exempt from the fault though freed from the punishment From this attempt such as were the sworne enemies of the Queene of Scotland and sought to doe her hurt tooke occasion hereby to hasten her death knowing that in extreame danger of safetie Feare leaueth no place for Mercy and tooke order the more to terrifie the Queene of England to spread rumorous speeches daily and false and fearefull exclamations all ouer the Land to wit That the Spanish Fleet was already landed at Milford-Hauen That the Scots were come vpon their borders That the Guise was in Essex with a mighty Armie That the Queene of Scots had broken prison raysed a great troope of Souldiers and began to make a Rebellion in the North That there were new plots in hand for murthering the Queene and to burne the Citie of London yea That the Queene of England was dead and such like which in those that are crafty and fearefull by a natural desire are nourished and encreased and Princes credulous by curiositie will soon lend their eares thereunto By such divulged horrors and fearefull arguments they brought her Maiestie into such trouble and perplexitie of minde that she signed the Letters of Warrant to her deadly Sentence and was perswaded most of all to it by Patricke Gray Scottishman whom the King of Scotland had sent to disswade the Queene of England from putting his mother to death who many times
nor acquainted with Court-tricks was purposely brought vpon the Stage as diuers haue thought to be an actor in this Tragedie and being put out of his part as being at a non plus in the last Act was for a long time after shut vp in prison to the great griefe of many Hitherto hath beene related what was publikely done against him Now obserue in briefe how he excuseth himselfe as I haue collected out of his owne accusation and the Apologeticall discourse which he made thereof to Sir Fr. Walsingham The queene said he after the Ambassadors of France and Scotland were departed wished me to shew her the Warrant for the execution of the sentence pronounced against the queene of Scotland Hauing shewed it she willingly set her hand thereto and bid me likewise affixe the great Seale of England and iestingly said You will shew this now to Walsingham who is sicke already but will dye when he sees it She added by and by That she had put it off so long because shee would not seeme to be carried away by violence yet knowing well the necessitie thereof Then blaming Sir Ayme Poulet and Sir Drue Dâury for not hauing eased her of that care and trouble commanded Walsingham to know the cause of their cessation and delay The day after I had sealed the Warrant she forbade me by Killegray to doe it then telling her that it was done already shee checkt me for my diligence saying That by some wise-mens aduice another course might haue beene taken I answered that iust courses are alwayes good and sure But fearing she would cast some blame on me as she had formerly done vpon the Lo. Burghley about the Duke of Norfolks death I disclosed the whole matter to Sir Christ Hatton protesting that I would neuer hereafter be so forward in so weighty a busines Hatton presently discouered it to Burghley and he to the rest of the Councell who all concluding vpon the dispatch of the execution vowed as reason was to be faulty alike and to effect it sent Beale instantly away with the Warrant and Letters The third day after I perceiuing the Queene to be troubled in minde to haue the precedent night as her MAIESTY sayd dreamed of the Queene of Scotland's death I asked her if shee had changed her purpose She answered me That some other meanes might haue beene vsed and then inquiring of me Whether I had receiued any answer from Sir Ayme Poulet I shewed her his letters wherein he refused to vndertake the execution as vniust to which in great choler she replyed He and his confederats are all faithlesse periured in promising great matters and not performing but she should find some that for her sake would doe it As for my selfe I told her how ignominious it was and into what perills shee should bring Poulet and Drury If she approued the deed being done her renowne would be blasted with iniustice and disgrace besides other dangers and in disallowing it she should ruinate men of worthy merite and their posterity for euer would be vndon To conclude the very day that the queene of Scotland dyed her Maiesty checkt me iestingly for that it was not yet dispatched Now setting aside to speake of the anger and sorrow which the Queene of England conceiued for the death of the Queene of Scotland and her anger against William Dauison the truth is that the King of Scotland her onely Sonne drew thereof extreme anguish bitter and passionate torments shewing himselfe a more pious Son then any that can be heard or read of he lamented night and day his deare Mothers lamentable end in weeping and shedding many sad and brinish teares in his bitter agony not thinking that Queene ELIZABETH in regard of the mutuall loue which was betwixt them the late and strait contracted league of amity and the intercession of so many mighty Princes would haue suffered his Mother to haue beene exposed into the cruell hands of an Executioner she beeing a Princesse of coequall Maiestie of her neerest alliance and consanguinity from the Blood Royall nor could he receiue in Scotland Sir Robert Carie Sonne to Henry Baron of Hunsdon who was sent with Letters from ELIZABETH to excuse her Maiestie and to cast the fault vpon Dauison and the Councell He heard him but hardly from the mouth of another and hardly receiued the Letters he brought He reuok't the authority of his Ambassadour in England and thought of reuenge For there was no want of folke which were busie to egge him on by perswasions that the Christian Princes would not leaue vnreuenged so great and grieuous an iniury offered to Royall Maiesty and to the Royall Name The Estates of Scotland which were then gathered together in multitudinous numbers protested to his Maiestie that they were ready and prest to reuenge this death to defend the rightfull Title which hee had vnto England and in that to hazzard both life and goods and that they could not digest this iniury offered not so much to his Maiestie as to the whole Nation of Scotland Some perswaded him to demand Nauall assistance of the K. of Denmarke with whom he had then begun a Treaty touching marriage with his Daughter Others addicted to the Roman Religion exclaiming against the Queene of England that She which had slaine the Mother would willingly slay the Sonne too put it into his head to ioyne rather with the Kings of France and Spaine and with the Pope of Rome and that he might easily by this meanes possesse himselfe of England Aboue all he should not trust the Protestants of England That they were now at the full height of their power and sought secretly his ruine Others admonished him not to shew himself openly inclin'd to any party but to hold both Papist and Protestant in suspence Because that if he should openly ranke himselfe with the Protestants all the Papists of Europe in their practices would make him their marke to shoot at and would prouide them in England some other Support then he to rely vpon which could not be without danger to him Others aduised him to continue constant in amity with England not to expose or put foorth a certaine hope into the vncertaine hazzard of warre and to perseuer in the Religion now receiued wherein if he should seeme to wauer he could neither purchase friends nor put off enemies These were the things propounded to him by one and other as euery mans particular pleasure or desire carried him The King himselfe of perspicuity and politique apprehension aboue his age beeing some times alone by himselfe and sometimes with some few others not with precipitate rashnes which is alwayes blind but with deliberate consideration at many times and for a long space together cast these things in his mind But Queene ELIZABETH after shee had laid all the fault vpon Dauison and the rash credulity of her Councell seeketh by little and little to weare away his griefe lest consolations vntimely applyed
should the more irritate and attended till the dolour being appeased by the protraction of time would suffer it selfe to be dealt withall For perceiuing then that the French did sharpen and incitate the young King to reuenge and fearing that through suttle sleights and eager desire of reuenge he might be diuerted from the Protestant Religion and from louing the English she imployed all her possible industry and Princely meanes to cure his wounded heart and alienated from her And for that cause propounded to him by such Agents as shee had in Scotland as also by the Lord of Hunsdon Gouernour of Berwicke FIrst what danger there was in making warre vpon England for this cause which now to all the Estates of England seemed necessary for the good of the whole Iland and most iust And whether hee were of power to goe thorow withall England being then neuer more potent in military men money and munition and Scotland neuer weaker being brought low and exhaust by ciuill and intestine broyles If hee would haue the assistance of forreine powers let him learne by the experience of his Mother who so long and often implored that in vaine what labour and trouble he would haue to obtaine it And if he should procure it what successe could he hope for by it seeing that England ioyning with the shipping of Holland and Zeland feared not the most puissant Princes of Europe What hope could he put the King of France or the King of Spaine in sith his power being once increased with the addition of England and Ireland to his Crowne ought to be contrary to their designe and that his Religion was so directly opposite to theirs that they could not ayde and succour him but to their owne preiudice That the King of France could not behold but with griefe the King of Scotlands Dominion augmented by the Kingdome of England without feare that he should pursue the ancient right which the English haue in France or giue assistance to the Guizes his Allies who at this instant gape for the Kingdome of France That the King of Spaine who would questionlesse giue place to his ambition because that he brags though falsly to be the first Catholique King issued from the Bloud-Royall of the English and of the house of Lancaster That to this purpose some Iesuites and others haue with their vttermost power endeuoured during the life of Queene MARY of Scotland to enthrone him by election in the Kingdome of England as most fit to re-establish there the Romane authoritie in eiecting from the Crowne both Mother and Sonne Nay moreouer they begun to perswade the Queene of Scotland to make him thereof a legacy by her Testament if King IAMES her Sonne would still perseuer in the Protestant Religion Let the King consider whither these things doe tend what succour hee can looke for from Spaine and to what ignominy hee will precipitate his Soule to his eternall damnation and all Great-Britaine to his vtter ruine if hee forsakes the true Religion in which hee hath beene educated That the Peeres and States who haue giuen sentence against his Mother seeing that hee meditates vpon a reuenge will not fayle to exclude him from the Crowne of England by a new Act of the right of Succession That in giuing place to necessity and keeping in the agitation of his courage hee will mediate easily their loue sith that which is done cannot be vndone Let him then expect to possesse in his time the most flourishing Kingdome of England and enioy in the meane while a Crowne of securitie and beleeue that those which can tell well how to weigh and prize things will iudge that hee hath sufficiently fore-seene to his honour in not fayling in due opportunitie to doe his Mother all the dutifull seruices of a most pious sonne Moreouer let him likewise assure himselfe that the Queene of England will accounnt hold and esteeme him as her owne sonne and will doe him all offices of amity and vse him as a Mother her dearest sonne These are the things that Queene ELIZABETH endeuoured with great care to possesse the King with and to the end hee should not doubt but that his Mother had beene put to death without Queene ELIZABETHS consent shee resolued to send him the sentence pronounced against William Dauison sealed with the broad Seale of England and all the Commissioners hands subscribed therunto and to appease his Maiestie the more another iudgement signed by all the Iudges of England certifying that that sentence pronounced could in nothing hinder or bee preiudiciall to his right to the Kingdome of England In the mean time that Q. ELIZABETH by these or such like reasons endeuoured gently to calme the King of Scotlands agitations fore-seeing the warre wherewith she was furiously threatned by the King of Spaine whose hopes to frustrate shee sent Sir Francis Drake with foure Royall Ships well appoynted to the Coast of Spaine and elsewhere with command to take burne and pillage all such Ships as hee could finde as well in the Harbours and Port-Townes as on the Ocean Drake arriuing in the Streight of Gibraltar entred the Hauen thereof where after he had caused sixe great Ships to flye vnder the Forts protection hee tooke and burnt a hundred Ships more or lesse in the which there was infinite prouision of warlike munitions victuals and among others the Great Gallion of the Marquis of Santa Cruz called Rageusa richly loaden with merchandize From thence returning to Cape S. Vincent hee there burnt all such Ships and Fisher-boats which lay in that Rode And then went to Cascalet Hauen which is situated at the mouth of Tage he vrged there the Marquis Santa Cruz to fight but hee not daring stirr'd not but let Drake freely sayle along that Coast and take their Ships without the least impeachment Then hauing turned saile to the Iles of Azoris met by chance which he tooke with ease a great and lusty Ship most rich and well furnished called Saint Philip which was returning from the East-Indies This act caused the vulgar sort of Mariners of diuers Countries to take the name of Philip for an ill signe or prognostication against Philip King of Spaine By this Drakes worthy though briefe expedition England was much enriched and the Spaniards sustayning so great a losse of munition and warlike preparations were constrayned to giue ouer their designe they had to inuade England for that yeere Since which time the English begun with alacrity couragiously to assault those great and huge Ships most like vnto Castles which they before did much dread and feare and discouered so plainely the opulent and rich commodities of the Indies the meanes how to trade and traffique in those Easterne parts in such sort that they haue since established an aduantagious trade and profitable nauigation in those Countries hauing established an East-Indie Company of Merchants At that very time Thomas Cauendish a Suffolke man which two
the Noble House of the Seymors at Dudley Earle of Warwickes perswasion during his plotting of the ruine of this puissant and princely House and all to preuent lest shee who was Wife to this Noble Protector should giue place or precedence to this Queene Dowager who then was her Husbands Brothers wife The next was Sir Ralph Sadler Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster a prudent and learned man whose worth and vertue had beene approued in diuers weighty and important affaires of State He was the last Banneret of England which worthy dignity of Knighthood had bin conferred on him at the famous Battel of Musselborough After him also died Sir Thomas Bromley Lord High Chancellor of England hauing scarce attained to the sixtieth yere of his age a man excellently well seene in the Law Six dayes after he was followed by Edward Manner Earle of Rutland to whom the Queene had chosen and appointed for his Successour the third of the Noble House of Manner a Noble man most learned and skilfull in the Law and humane Arts hauing but the Lady Elizabeth one onely Daughter for heire then but very young who was married to William Cecill Baron of Burleigh Lord High Treasurer Sir Christopher Hatton who was a Noble personage excellently endued with rare vertues flourishing at that time illustriously at the Court as one whose merit had purchased him the honour to be dearely affectionate intimate to her Maiestie in whose fauour his worth greatly aduanced him was from a Courtier established to this high dignity of Lord Chancellour of England not with little discontent of the Iudges and professors of the Law who since Church-men had bin depriued and dismist of that honour had iudiciously discharged that place with no lesse glory and equity than prudence and discretion which is the supreme magistracy of the Law yet in former times past it was oftner prouided for with Ecclesiasticall men and Nobles than of others Neuerthelesse though Sir Christopher Hatton had been aduanced to that place by the subtill art of some Courtiers who hoped that by his absence from Court and the difficulty he should haue to exercise duly so high and so weighty a Magistracy should weare out and diminish the great fauour he was in neere Queene ELIZABETH Neuerthelesse hee behaued himselfe in that high Seat of Iustice discreetly and worthily to the well-liking of the Queene and admiration of all her Subiects discharging that Dignity with as great magnificence and honour as any whatsoeuer had done before him studying to supply by equitie that which he wanted in the knowledge of the Law Sir Iohn Perot being this yeere sent for out of Ireland left that Kingdome very peaceable to Sir William Fitz-Williams for he had drawne from those persons whom hee suspected to be apt to rebell oathes and hostages which they as soone granted vnto him as hee demanded for not seeming any way to fauour rebellion hee imprisoned diuers Irish Rebels and such as were more dangerously giuen to rebellion he hanged them shewing admonishing the rest of their duety and the fidelity which they ought to their Soueraigne in so doubtfull a time The Irish seeing the sincere loue respect and affection he bore to them who were true subiects most willingly lent their eares thereunto and were true obseruers of his instructions Hitherto that I may a little stray were the Irish warres very easie to the English and eight hundred foot with three hundred horse were esteemed an inuincible Army For Randolph with sixe hundred English with much facility defeated O-Neale with foure thousand Irish Collier in the yeere 1571. with his onely one Company preuayled likewise against one thousand Hebridians in Connach The Butlers with a great Company of the Rebels were ouerthrowne by three hundred Horse-men And to passe the rest ouer two Companies of foot surprized in one day aboue twenty of the Irish Castels But after that the Perots had by command daily exercised themselues at home in their owne Countrey and were well instructed in the discipline of Armes and in the vse of their Muskets to resist the Hebridians and being practized in the wars of the Netherlands had learned the arts of fortification they vexed the English as wee shall finde with a difficult and dangerous warre THE THIRTIETH and most maruelous yere of her Reigne the euer-remembred Yeere of the Lord. Anno Dom. 1588. TO this admirable yeere of Christ 1588. are we now arriued Which by Regiomontanus the Astrologian was foretold about a hundred yeeres before to be a Yeere of Wonder and by the Germane Chronologers to be the Climacterical yeere of the World The rumors of warres which were before but slender relations began now daily to be augmented and were now become not as before a variable report but an assured certainty by the generall voice of all men that the Spaniard had prepared a most inuincible Nauy against England and had out of Italy Sicilie and also America gathered into Spaine the old experienced Commanders such as were most famous Captaines skilfull in military affaires For the Pope of Rome with certaine religious and deuout Spaniards and some English Fugitiues had long agoe diligently exhorted the Spaniard to inuade and conquer England but that counsell was by the Portugals warres for tenne yeeres before interrupted which now they carefully reiterated and with much instigation perswaded him that since Heauen had heaped vpon him infinite benefits and blessings by subiecting to his Empire the Kingdome of Portugall with the East-India and many other wealthy Ilands that it was now his part of duety to enterprize something which might bee agreeable and pleasing to God That there could be nothing more acceptable to God nor ought more worthy himselfe than the aduancing of his Church That the Church could not with more glory and merit be aduanced than by the conquest of England and there by the extirpation of Heresie to plant the Roman Catholique Religion That these warres would be most iust not onely because they were most necessary but because they were vndertaken to propagate the Religion of Christ seeing that the Queene of England being excommunicated notwithstanding obstinately persisted against the Church of Rome had succoured the Rebels in the Netherlands molested the Spaniards with continuall pyracies had surprized and pillaged diuers townes both in Spaine and America and lately violating the Maiesty of all Princes had caused the Queene of Scots to be put to death Therefore such warres should bee no lesse profitable than iust Because by this meanes the King of Spaine making addition to his Empire of the most flourishing Kingdomes he might easily extinguish the Netherlandish Rebellion which was nourished as it were by the breath of England hee should assure to himself the voyages to both India's in safetie and so lessen the annuall expences laid out for the conuoying of his Fleetes forward and backward To prooue this to him with more facility
they suggested that the English Nauy was neither in number greatnesse nor strength comparable to the Spanish the Portugall Fleet being then added That England was altogether vnfortified neyther was it furnished with Commanders Souldiers Horse or prouision for warres but destitute both of friends and money besides there were many through the Kingdome which were addicted to Papistrie and would soone ioyne themselues in his ayde Last of all so great were the forces of the King of Spaine both by Sea and Land and the vertue of the Spaniards such that none would dare to oppose him and therefore they promised assuredly a certaine victory To this enterprise also that God had presented a fit opportunity for the Turke hauing then coÌcluded a truce with him and the French beeing intangled with intestine warres were neither to be doubted or feared That it was more facile to subdue England than the Low-Countries because the passage out of Spaine into England is more short and commodious and through a vast and open Sea but into the Netherlands of greater length and difficultie through a narrow Sea and very neere adiacent to England That the Netherlands were in a manner continually a strong Bulwarke being on all parts fortified with Townes and Castles but England not with any and therefore it would be an easie matter euen at the first in an instant for him to penetrate to the very heart of the Land with an Army Finally according to that military Axiome That the Enemy should not be left behinde therefore it was most necessary for the Spaniard to subdue England being a mortall enemy by whose assistance the Low-Countries had so long sustained a great warre and with whom they could not at all stand So that if England were but once conquered the Netherlands must of necessity yeeld to subiection These matters thus resolued they began seriously to deliberate vpon some meanes for the inuasion of England Aluarus Bassanus Marquesse of Santa Croix Generall of the Nauy was of a minde That before all some Port or other in Holland or Zealand should by those Land-troupes which the Prince of Parma had and some few Spanish Ships sent before be vnawares to them surprized where the Spanish Fleete might make their retreate and from thence most opportunely begin the inuasion because that in the Brittish Sea being tempestuous the windes are subiect to often changing the ebbing and flowing thereof principally to be obserued the Fleete could not safely ride Of this aduice likewise was the Prince of Parma who earnestly vrged this expedition Others notwithstanding disallowed thereof as being a thing difficult full of danger requiring much time great labour large expence yet vncertaine of successe neyther could it be done secretly or vnawares and by the English would easily be hindred and frustrated And these were of opinion That one might at lesse charges and with more facilitie assault and subdue England if at the mouth of the Thames a puissant Army of Spaniards and Flemmings were placed and conuayed in a powerfull Nauy to take at the first vnawares the City of London the Capitall and Chiefe of the Kingdome This seeming easie was resolued vpon and speedily determined to be put in execution yet some neuerthelesse were of a mind that war should first be proclaymed by a Herauld and that in so doing it would be a sleight to take away all suspition from all Neighbouring-Princes and moue the Queene to call to her helpe forreine souldiers who as mercenary being insolent and vile would behaue themselues rudely and tumultuously ransacking and pillaging the Countries in such sort that it would take away the loue of her Subiects and put England in confusion But these mindes were not seconded by those who were obstinate as relying vpon the assurance of their forces and strength contenting themselues to put their cause their Nauy Armada's into the Popes hand and into the intercessions of the Catholiques to the Saints and to afright and terrifie England they set out a Libell printed containing the particulars of so great an equipage which truely was such that in Spaine Italy and Cicilia the Spaniards were amazed astonished at it and therefore audaciously termed it The inuincible NAVY The Duke of Parma caused also Ships to bee built in Flanders by the commandement of the Spaniard and likewise a number of Flat-bottom'd Boats each of them bigge enough to transport thirtie Horses with Bridges fitting to them hyred Mariners out of the East-Land Countries of Germany prouided Pikes sharpened at the one end and shod with Iron with hookes on one side twenty thousand Vessels and an infinite number of Wicker Baskets and placed in the Sea-Townes of Flanders one hundred and three Companies of foot and foure thousand horse amongst which were seuen hundred English Fugitiues a most contemned and despised Company Neyther were Stanley their Generall nor Westmerland nor any other who had assisted eyther with purse or person regarded but for their impietie against their Countrey prohibited all accesse and deseruedly and as ill presages not without detestation reiected And Pope Sixtus the Fifth lest hee should seeme to be wanting renewes vnto Cardinall Alane an English man sent into the Low-Countries The Declaratory Bulls of Pius the Fifth and Gregorie the Thirteenth excommunicates the Queene deposes her from her gouernement absolues her Subiects from their allegiance publisheth in print the Crusado as against Turks and Infidels whereby out of the Treasury of the Church hee bestowes vpon all assistants plenarie indulgence whereupon the Marquesse of Burgaw of the House of Austria the Duke of Pastraua Amadaeus of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn de Medices and diuers other noble Gentlemen serued in this warre as Volunteers On the other side Queene ELIZABETH lest shee should be vnawares opprest with singular diligence prepares as many ships and warlike necessaries as was possible And shee her-selfe who was of a piercing iudgement in distinguishing of dispositions and when shee was at her owne election without commendation of others alwaies happy designed by name the principall Officers to the seuerall Offices in the Nauie and made Charles Howard of Effingham Lord high Admirall of England Generall of whose good successe shee was very well perswaded as a man whom she knew to be skilfull in Nauigation prouident valiant industrious and of great authority amongst Sea-men by reason both of his moderation and Nobility Shee sends him seasonably enough to the West parts of England where Drake whom shee made Vice-Admirall ioyned himselfe with him Shee commands Henrie Seimer the second sonne of the Duke of Sommerset to lye in waite vpon the Belgique shores with fortie Ships English and Dutch to hinder Parma's comming out of the Riuers with his forces Although there wanted not some who earnestly aduised to expect the Enemy and receiue him in a Land-battel as it was deliberated in HENRY the Eighth's Reigne when the French threatned England with a mightie Nauy For the Land-seruice
there were twenty thousand Souldiers dispersed vpon the South shores besides two Armies of choyce trained Souldiers were leuied and enrolled Of the one consisting of one thousand horse and two and twenty thousand foot Leicester was Generall and had his Campe at Tilbury not far from the mouth of the Thames for the Enemy had certainely determined to approch London first And of the other which consisted of thirtie foure thousand foote and two thousand horse for the Queenes guard shee made the Baron of Hunsdon Generall Arthur Lord Grey Sir Francis Knollys Sir Iohn Norris Sir Richard Bingham Sir Roger Williams Knights great and expert Souldiers were appointed to consult about the Land-seruice They aduized That all those places which were fit for the Enemies approch eyther from Spaine or the Low-Countries as Milford-Hauen Falmouth Plimouth Portland the I le of Wight Portsmouth the Downes vpon the Shore of Kent the Thames mouth Harwich Yarmouth Hull c. should be fortified with workes and with Garrisons that the trayned Souldiers vpon all the Sea-coasts should meet vpon giuing a signe to defend these places they should with all their endeuour hinder the Enemies landing But if hee should happen to land that they should waste the Countrey farre and neere spoyle euery thing that was vsefull that he might finde no victuals but what he brought vpon his shoulders and to keepe the Enemy continually busied and distracted with assiduous alarmes and crying Arme arme day and night But that they should not fight till other Commanders should ioyne their forces with them That amongst the Leaders they should nominate one which should command the forces of euery seuerall Prouince But it is superfluous to set downe in particular what inland Prouinces were appoynted to guard both the shores what number what armes and what manner of fight was prescribed by them About this time there were diuers who made often remonstrances to the Queene that the Spaniards were not more dreadfull abroad than the Pontificians dangerous at home for that the Spaniards had not dared to haue entred into hostility with England but vpon confidence of and from them and therefore that some pretences were to be deuised to make them shorter by the head alledging the example of HENRY the Eighth when the Emperour and the French King vpon the Popes instigation were ready to inuade England Presently as soone as hee had caused the Marquesse of Exceter the Baron Montacute Edw. Neuill and others whom hee suspected to fauor the Enemy to be executed the inuasion fell with them but shee refusing this counsell as too cruell thought it sufficient to commit to prison to Wisbich in the Fen-Countries certaine of the Pontificians and those none of prime note neyther And hauing an eye and a care of euery place with frequent Letters excites those of the Nobility and Gentry which were without them ready enough giues instruction what was to be done in Ireland by Fitz-Williams the Deputy Admonisheth the King of Scotland both by his owne Seruants and her Messengers to be vigilant ouer the Papists and Spanish Faction in his Country But hee well knowing how great a tempest and destruction threatned him out of his perpetuall loue to true Religion and the Queene of his owne accord had now before refused to giue audience to the Bishop of Dunblan sent to him from the Bishop of Rome and had caused a League to be made amongst the Protestants in Scotland to resist the Spaniards And hee himselfe marching with his Army into Annand hauing taken Maxwels campe who contrary to his faith giuen was then lately returned out of Spaine and enclining to the Spanish faction caused him to be cast into prison proclaymed the Spaniards Enemies and with great alacrity prouided armes against them Amongst these great preparations of Warre on both sides ouertures of peace were neuerthelesse made About two yeeres before when the Prince of Parma had considered with himselfe how difficult a thing it was to end the Low-Countrey warre while they were daily aided with supplies from the Queene had by Letters vsing also the assistance of Iames Crofts a Priuy-Counceller a man very studious of peace and of Andrew Loe and others seriously negotiated for a treaty of peace and that hee had authority from the Spaniard to that purpose Shee fearing that this was but a pretence whereby to make a breach of friendship betwixt her and the Confederate-Prouinces and secretly to draw them to the Spaniard deferred the matter for a time But now that the imminent warre might be auerted and auoyded she resolued to treat of peace but with the Sword in her hand and the Duke of Parma refused not the treaty Therefore in February there were sent into Flanders Henrie Earle of Derby William Brooke Lord Cobham Iames Crofts Controller of her Houshold Valentine Dale and Iames Rogers Doctors of the Lawes who being with all humility receiued in the Dukes name they forthwith sent Dale vnto him to consult of the place of meeting and to peruse his Commission from the Spaniard Hee appointed a place neere to Ostend not in Ostend it selfe which was now held against the King by the English and promised to shew his Commission at the meeting He aduized them to be speedy lest something might fall out which might disturbe or interrupt the treaty of peace Richardot said openly That hee knew not what might bee done to England in the meane time Not long after Rogers was sent to the Prince by the Queenes expresse commandment to know certainly if the designe for the inuasion of England were yet enterprized which both hee and Richardot seemed to intend Hee affirmed That hee had not so much as thought of the inuasion of England When he desired a quicke dispatch and expedition of that affaire hee blamed in some manner Richardot who was sorry to haue vttered any such words concerning Englands inuasion The twelfth of Aprill the Earle of Arenberg Champigny Richardot Doctor Maesie and Garnier Commissioner from the Duke of Parma sat in Commission with the English vnder Tents neere the Towne of Ostend to whom they gaue place and precedence and after their protestations that the Duke had full power giuen him to treate and conclude a Peace the English propounded to them that before all things it was requisite to embrace a truce But they refused it alledging that if a Peace was not forthwith concluded it would be preiudicious to the Spaniard who since sixe moneths had to their great charges maintained a puissant Army The English insisting replyed that that Peace was promised before those troupes were conueyed into Flanders They answered againe that it was true they had promised it sixe moneths agoe but that it was not then accepted Moreouer that it was not in the Queenes power to vndertake it for the Hollanders and Zealanders who daily acted deeds of hostility But the English maintained that it would be generall for all the Queenes Dominions
all the Churches of England and went her selfe in triumph amongst the Companies and Societies of London which marched on both sides of her Maiestie with their Banners and roade thorow the Streetes which were richly hung with blue hangings in a Chariot drawne with two Horses Princes themselues not vsing foure as now adayes particular persons doe to Saint Pauls Church were shee gaue God humble thankes heard the Sermon which shewed the glory due to GOD alone and caused the Ensignes taken to be there set vp and shewed vnto the people Then shee assigned some reuenewes vnto the Admirall for the seruice which hee had performed with so good and happy successe praised highly her Sea-Captaines as men borne for the preseruation of their Countrey and as often as shee saw any of the other called them by their names to witnesse that shee tooke note of their deserts which they tooke as sufficient reward for their seruices Shee also recompenced the maymed and poorer sort with honourable pensions This publique reioycing was increased by the arriuall of Sir Robert Sidney who being come out of Scotland assured her Maiestie that the King of Scots embraced most affectionately the Queenes friendship made sincere profession of true Religion and would defend it with all his might Hee was sent vnto him before when Great Britaine was first threatned with the Spanish Fleete to acknowledge by his reioycings and thankes-giuing of the good will which he bore to the Queene to praise his forwardnesse to defend the common cause to promise him reciprocall succours if the Spaniard made any inuasion in Scotland To giue him to vnderstand with what ambition the Spaniard gapeth after the whole Monarchy of Great Brittaine solliciting the Pope to excommunicate his Royall person both to spoyle him of the Kingdome of Scotland and to exclude him out of the succession of the Kingdome of England To put him in minde of the threatnings which Mendoza and the Popes Nuntio vttered against him and that therefore hee was to take heed of Papists Whereunto that wee may note it by the way the KING answered graciously and merrily J expect no other courtesie of the Spaniard then such as Poliphemus promised to Vlysses to wit That he would deuoure him the last of all his fellowes About this time died the Earle of Leicester on the fourteenth of December of a continuall burning Feauer as hee was on his way to goe to Killingworth which death although the Queene much grieued at yet this ioy was neuer a whit diminished thereby Hee was the fifth sonne of Iohn Duke of Northumberland vnder King EDVVARD first Gentleman of the Kings Chamber vnder Queene MARIE who restored him to his first honours together with his Brothers and Sisters Master of the Artillery at the Siege of Saint Quintaines and vnder Queene ELIZABETH who affected him because of a simpathy of spirits betweene them occasioned perhaps by some secret constellation which the Greeke Astrologers call Sinastria he was Master of the Horse Knight of the Royall Orders of the Garter and of S. Michael one of the Priuy Councell Steward of the Queenes House Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford Iustice in Eire of all the Forrests beyond Trent the Queenes Lieutenant and Captaine of the English Forces against Spaines Gouernour and Captaine generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands he began in his latter time to conceit a new hope and title of honour and authority looking to haue with Soueraigne power annexed thereunto a generall Lieutenancy vnder the Queene both throughout all England and Ireland of which he had gotten Letters Patents if that the Right Honourable William Cecill Lord Burleigh and Sir Christopher Hatton had not opposed themselues thereunto and also if the Queen had not betimes preuented the danger which might haue insued in giuing too-much power to one man alone Hee was reputed a compleat Courtier magnificent liberall a protector and benefactor of Souldiers and Schollers very skilfull in temporizing and fitting himselfe to the times to serue his owne turne very officious and cunning towards his ill-willers for a time much giuen to Women and finally a good husband in excesse To conclude as long as he preferred a power subiect vnto enuy before a solid vertue euill speakers tooke occasion to tugge and teare at him continually during the best of his fortune by defamatory libels which contained some slight vntruths And to say the truth hee was openly held to be in the ranke of those which were worthy of praise but the things which hee secretly plotted displeased many The Queene who was flexible ynough in all other things was hardly euer seene to remit any thing due to her treasure caused his goods to be sold to their vttermost value to pay that which he ought her The Duke of Parma hauing now broken off his purpose of inuading England to carry away notwithstanding with this great prepared Army for that end some glory from the English and by the same meanes to open the way of Zeland and deliuer Brabant from incursions besiegeth Bergen ap Zoom a Towne of Brabant strong by reason of the situation thereof and the Forts round about it and garded by a garrison the most part English But his indeuour was frustrated by the fore-sight of the Noble Lord Willoughby and the valour of the Garrison Souldiers For although that during the whottest of the siege there arose a great discord amongst the besieged some fauouring Drury Gouernour of the place established by the Lord Willoughby the English Generall and others adhering vnto Morgan prouided thereof by the Queenes Letters each of them notwithstanding hauing a care of the common good behaued themselues valiantly and by sallies and other military deuices did all of them so finde the Enemy busied that after hauing slaine taken or drowned about foure hundred which Grimston and Redhead feigning themselues to be Fugitiues had drawne into the Fort by great promises protestations and oathes the Duke hauing lost all hope of shutting vp their Hauen and to make himselfe Master of the Towne and seeing the Winter at hand and victuals fayling raysed his siege two Moneths after And the Lord Willoughby to honour with some recompence the well-deseruing knighted Sir Francis Vere who then began to shew himselfe Sir Thomas Knowles Sir N. Parker and Sir I. Pooly for their worthy valours England being now freed from the present feare of a forreine Warre found not her selfe so happily deliuered of an inward Schisme For schismaticall impiety waxeth alwaies insolent when any Warres be stirring nor euer did shamelesse and rebellious impudence and outragious malice more insolently beard the Ecclesiasticall Magistracie For whereas the Queene who was EVER THE SAME was very vnwilling to innouate any thing in Religion thinking it the way to cut the nerues of the Ecclesiasticall administration and the Royall Prerogatiue some which onely admired the discipline of the Church of Geneua iudging that there was no
Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester in France The Sea is purged of Pirats by Holstoc The French Protestants handle shrewdly the French Papists in England The French Leger Ambassadour complained to Queene Elizabeth concerning the helpe and assistance sent out of England to the Protestants of Rochell besieged Her Maiesty excused her selfe * Flagges Queene Elizabeth is earnestly sollicited to marry with the Duke of Alanzon Her Maiestie heares of it willingly By a double apprehension Queene Elizabeth graÌts leaue to the Duke of Alanzon to come into England And her Maiesty presently sends him word not to come as yet Gondy returned into England Earle of Morton Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of France endeuours to destroy him Qu Elizabeth to defend him Grange opposeth The English are sent to besiege it Vpon what Conditions The Castle besieged by the English Forces The Castle yeelded Kircald and others hanged Lidington dyes Peace made in Scotland The Bishop of Rosse banished out of England Absence innouates Enterprizes The Duke of Alua is called out of the Low-Countries Lodowicke Zuniga sucseedes him Burches heresie Marshall Law Burch is hanged Effingham dies Gray Earle of Kent dies Caius the Phisition dyes The Colledge of Gonuell Caius Troubles in Ireland The Earle of Essex sent into Ireland The Deputie enuies it Mac-Phelim is taken The vnprofitable attempt and force of Chaterton Booke 2. 1574. The Duke of Alanzon desires to visit Queene Elizabeth Queene Elizabeth agrees to it He is suspected in France He is as it were prisoner being garded Queene Elizabeth comforts him Charles the ninth King of France died The right Honourable Lord Roger Lord North Baron of Catelage is sent Ambassador with a noble train to Henry of Valois the third of that name King of France Poland The King of France and mother Queene recommend the Duke of Alanzon to Queene Elizabeth They fauour the Queene of Scots against the Vice-Roy Morton She giueth credit to those who make reports aginst the Queene of Scotland The Earle of Huntington President of the North. An Edict against the riâtousnes of apparell England imbellished with magnificent structures The English worke treason in Holland They are defeated Ministers deceiued A Whale cast on shore An extraordinary floud in the Thames The Skie seemed to be on fire Booke 2. 1575. The league with France renued Warre kindled in France The Queene of England denieth ships to Requesens The entrance of the Ports To banish the Dutch fugitiues She denies the confederate Dutch entrance into the English ports Requisens chaseth the rebellious English from Flanders Dissolues their Seminary The Prince of Orange thinkes to run to the protection of the King of France The Queene of England disswades him The confederat Dutch deliberate what Protector they should chuse They haue recourse to the Queene of England She deliberateth thereupon She reiecteth their proffer The Ambassy of Champigni Requesens dyeth The Queene studieth to bring the affaires of the Netherlands to a composition A conflict vpon the borders of Scotland Heron is slaine The English led as prisoners into Scotland The Queene of England is much incensed The death of the Duke of Castell-Herauld Essex reduced into distresse in Jreland Sidney the third time Deputy maketh his progresse in Ireland The death of Peter Carew Booke 2. 1576. The French propound a marriage to Queene Elizabeth She peace to them She labours to diuert them from the Netherlands The Zelanders molest the English by Sea are repressed A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners The Queene laboureth a peace for the Netherlands The arriuall of John of Austria in Flanders The Queene furnisheth the Estates with money to continue the Prouinces in the King of Spaines obedience The traffique re-established betweene England and Portugall With what probabilitie Witnesse Ienkinson an Englishman Bernard le Tor a Spaniard Furbisher is sent to discouer the Strait in the North part of America The death of Maximilian the Emperour Queene Elizabeth mournes The Elector Palatine dyes A Franc is two shillings English Essex death suspected The death of Sir Anthony Coke Tumults in Ireland William Drury President of Mounster Malefactors pursued and punished Ceass what it is The Irish complaine of exactions The Queene hath compassion Booke 2. 1577. Austria inclines to Peace Elizabeth perswades to it Orange diuerts her Austria seekes to marrie the Queene of Scots And by her to get the Kingdome of England Copley made a Baron of France The dissimulation of Austria He takes vp armes again Elizabeth couenanted with the Scots She declares the reason of it to the Spaniard The Spaniard did not willingly heare these things Don John complaines to Queene Elizabeth of the States England the ballance of Europe A pestilent sicknesse caused by the stinke of a prison Maine a Priest executed The death of the Lord Latimer Secretary Smith dyes Saffron Walden Rebellion in Ireland Rorio Oge Rorio slaine Booke 2. 1578. Queene Elizabeth is carefull of the Low-Countries English gone into the Low-Countries The Embassie for the Low-Countries Peace is irritated Egremond Radcliffe and his associate are put to death Don John dyes Aniou prosecutes the mariage with the Queene Leicester murmures The death of the Countesse of Lenox The business of Scotland Morton the Regent admonished The King sends an Embassador into England The Summe of the Embassage The answere of the Queene Morton takes vpon him the administration againe The Peeres rise vp against him The inuading of England consulted vpon Th. Stukeley takes Armes against his Countrie Ciuita Vecchia He is slaine in the African Warre William Drury Lord Deputie of Ireland Sidney's adieu to Jreland Booke 2. 1579. Casimire comes into England The Queene lends the States mony Semier solicites the marriage for the Duke of Aniou Thinkes on nothing but reuenge One was shot with a Pistolet being in the Boat with the Queene The Duke of Aniou came into England The dangers of the marriage The commodities of it The incommodities if it be neglected Aimé Stuart Lord of Aubigni came into Scotland From wheÌce hee tooke the name of Aubigni He is raised to honours He is suspected of the Protestants Hamiltons deiected Proscribed Succoured by Elizabeth The Societie of the Turkey-Merchants Hamonts impietie N. Bacon dyes Thomas Bromley succeedes Gresham dyes His Colledge of London Rebellion of James Fitz-Morris in Ireland Stirred vp by the Pope and the King of Spaine Fauoured by the Earle of Desmond Dauile murdered in his bed Sanders approues of the slaughter He fights with those of Bourg Fitz-Morris is slaine William of Bourg made Baron He dyes for ioy John Desmond kils the English The Lord Deputy sick N. Malbey Gouernour of Mounster Defeats the Rebels The Earle of Desmond manifests himselfe a Rebell The death of Drury Lord Deputy The Rebels thereby incouraged William Pelham is Lord Chiefe Justice of Ireland Admonisheth the Earle of Desmond of his duety Proclaimes him Traitor The Earle of
Ormond pursues the Rebels The Earle of Desmond writes to the Lord Chiefe-Justice Booke 2. 1580. James taken being wounded to death Desmond miserably oppressed Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland He pursues the Rebels They kill the English Italians and Spaniards land in Jreland They raise a Fort. They are besieged They answer to the Deputies demands They disagree Their Generall shewed himselfe a Coward They aske a parley They yeeld vpon discretion Strangers slaine with the Sword the Subiects hanged Excesse in apparell reformed The taking of Malines in Brabant The sacriledge of the English An Earthquake The Papists begin to be afflicted The beginning of English Seminaries Their Doctrine is then thought The euent proceeding thereof New Seminaries are sent into England To what end Jesuites doe steale priuately into England A Proclamation against Seminaries and Iesuites Robert Persons and Edmond Campian English Iesuits came into England Power granted to the Papists Who and what haue beene these Jesuits The English Fugitiues doe moue and excite strangers to war against their Prince and Countrey Queene Elizabeths declaration against them The seuerall Sects of Holland The house of LOVE A Proclamation against these Sects Francis Drake His originall extraction Francis Drakes education Drakes expedition in America A Vow Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America Jsla de Perlas John Oxenham depriued of life falls from a great and famous enterprize Drakes second voyage Doughtey beheaded Passeth the straightes of Magellan Eclipse of the Moone South Stars Little clouds of Magellan Drake finds booty both by land and sea Meets by chance with great wealth Sir Francis Drake takes a Spanish ship called Shite-Fire which hee made shite Siluer He thinkes of his return Drake discoueres a land which hee called the Nouam Albion He arriued at the Molucques Falls into a great danger He passeth beyong the Cape of Bona Esperance Returnes into England Drakes ship is consecrato perpetuall memory Francis Drake is knighted by Queene Elizabeth The King of Spaine by his Ambassadour demandeth Drakes goods which he had pirapirated He is answered The Spaniard hath part of Drakes money deliuered backe Iackman and Pets Nauigation to seeke away to the East-Jndies The death of the Earle of Arundell who was the first that brought the vse of Coches into England The Lord Gray represseth the Rebels in Ireland Innocency is an assured comfort Rebels supprest The Earle of Lenox is enuied of the Scots They accuse him in England Consultation holden against him They rayse false reports against him The Scots will not admit Bowes to accuse him Hume excuseth it Burghley's admonitions to him Morton imprisoned These Noble Knights for their worth and Vertues were honoured with the dignity of Knighthood by Qu. Elizabeth most of them in that Honourable euer-remembred Voyage of C. Howard Earle of NotinghaÌ L. high Admirall and that renowned Souldier the late Generous Earle of Essex c. in Spaine bâfore Cadiz taken ranâacked by the English Iun. 26. Anno 1â96 * Their Honourable Predecessours were for their deserts aduanced both to Honour Dignity Sir Ch. Hatton was Lord Chancelor of England vnder Qu. Elizabeth he dyed in Hatton house the 20. of Nouember 1590. * Sir Walter Rawleigh Knighted and employed about diuers worthy affaires of waight and consequence by Queene Elizabeth * Wray Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale * And wherefore It is that these Noble persons haue by their worthy liues purchased Honour to their noble selues or else their Prodecessors haue by their Vertues deserued both Honour and Dignity from this vnparalel'd Empresse who as she was a true aduancer of Vertue and destroyer of Vice did liberally bestowe her Royall gifts of Honour vpon those and their Ancestors Booke 3. Randolphes intercession for Morton against Lenox The King of Scots his answer Randolph complaineth to the Nobles of Scotland Endeauoreth to raise Rebellion Getteth him out of Scotland Morton beheaded His friends fled for England Norris victorious in Friezland Is discomfited * Albanois A ridiculous combate Drunkennes brought out of the Low-Countries into England The King of Spaine possesseth Portugall By what right The Queene of France her title to Portugall fetcht farre and reiected Inciteth the Q. of England secretly against the Spaniard Antonio banisht Portugall commeth into England Delegates sent into England from France about the Duke of Anjous mariage Couenants of mariage concluded vpon A reseruation added The King of France vrgeth the mariage The Queen of England deferreth Wherefore Duke d' Anjou returneth againe into England Queene Elizabeth giueth a Ring vnto the D. of Anjou A motion of sundry conceits in Court The Queen greatly disquieted Her Maiesty thinks what inconueniencies might ensue in contemning and despising the Match with the Duke of Anjou Reasons disswading her from marying A book published in print against the mariage The Queens Declaration against this pernicious Libell The Author discouered and he that had dispersed the bookes Right hands cut off The Iesuite Edm. Campian with other Priests are put to death The punishing of Catholikes needfull Suspition of them increased By their tergiuersation False positions spread abroad Booke 3. New Lawes against Papists The Duke d' Anjou sayleth into Flanders Hee is made there Duke of Brabant c. Certaine English reuolt from him Generall Norris carieth himselfe generously and behaueth himself valorously The Duke d'Anjou departed from Flanders with shame A Comet Queene Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke * Or the Coller of Esses The Merchants complaint not regarded The Treaty with the Queene of Scots is deferred Gowry and others begin tumults in Scotland Gowries conspiracie They intercept the King The Duke of Lennox driuen out of Scotland An Embassie from the French King sent to deliuer the King of Scots Mary Q. of Scotland her Letter to Quene Elizabeth The Q. of Scots deploreth her sons intercepting and her owne desolation Lidington and de Grange Booke 3. The Duke of Lenox's returne through England It is consulted about the deliuery of the Q. of Scots The Scots of the English faction are against it The English and French in emulation striue to obtaine the fauor of the King of Scotland The King of Scotland seekes the loue of the Queene of England The Lord Esme Stuart Duke of Lenox reputed a Papist by some malicious ill-willer of his dyed at Paris a true and sincere Protestant The King of Scotland sets himselfe at libertie His Maiesty vseth kindly those who formerly had seaz'd themselues of his Royal person Cals to the Court all such Nobles as stood and were of his side Walsingham is sent into Scotland from Q. Elizabeth The King of Scotland answers him freely Walsingham âemonstrations to his sacred Maiestie The King answered them The King propounds a Pardon to those who had seaz'd themselues of his person Hee commands such as refus'd it to void the Kingdome His Maiesty re-established the Reputation and Honor of the Duke of Lenox causing
likewise his children to returne into Scotland The Ministers are against the King of Scotlands Authoritie Q. Elizabeth obtaineth of the Musconian Emperor a peace for the King of Sweden That Emperor requires an absolute alliance with England being a suter to her Maiesty to grant him an English Lady for his wife Sir Hierome Bowes is sent Ambassador to him from England The Emperor died A certaine kind of Deere called Maclis Theodore the New Emperor of Muscouia disallow'd the company or Monopolie of Englands Merchants Alberto Alasco a Polonian Nobleman came then to England to see Queen Elizabeth A wonderfull and fearfull Earthquake in Dorsetshire The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Likewise the decease of Henry Wriothesly Earle of South-hampton Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight drowned vpon the Sea by shipwracke It is a most difficult matter and a very hard thing to bring the Colonies in farre countries The death of Edmund Grindal Lord Archbishop of Canterbury A wood called Tamarin first brought into England Iohn Whitgift is preferred to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury He endeuored to vnite the English Church Brownist Schismatiques One Someruille strangled himselfe in prison and Ardern is hanged The English betray Alost and doe deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard A miserable end of Traitors The Earle of Desmond is killed Nicholas Sanders an English Seminarie Priest affamisht himselfe Vicount of Balting glasse fled away out of Ireland Sir Iohn Perot is made Lord Deputy of Ireland Labouring men are sent into Ireland The gesture and behauiours of Iohn Perot Vice-Roy of Ireland Booke 3. Troubles in Scotland The Earle of Gowry is taken The conspirors are dispersed Queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them The King demandeth them by the League but in vaine Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiues Hunsdon against theÌ Controuersie or the power of a Secretary argued The arraignment of Gowry He defendeth his own cause He is beheaded The treason of Francis Throckmorton The Lord Paget retyreth into France The complaints of the Catholikes Spies are suborned Many suspected The malice of the Papists against the Queene The clemency of the Queene towards the Papists Priests are banished Fugitiues demanded of the King of France The answer of the King of France The Spanish Ambassador sent out of England Waade is sent into Spaine Is not receiued· Throckmortons confession He denieth all He seeketh an evasion Being condemned he inlargeth his confession About to dâe he denyeth all A new treaty with the Queene of Scots Propositions made to her She answereth She demandeth to be associated in the Kingdome with her sonne The treaty dissolued by surmises An association begun in England The Queen of Scots maketh new propositions The Scots of the English faction oppose them The insolencie of the Scotch Ministers Against the Lawes Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Scotland Buchanans writings reproued A fained conference The Scots and English make incursions one vpon another The Ambassie of Patrick Gray Hee is suspected of bad dealing The patience of the Queene of Scots offended She is committed to new guardians She earnestly seeketh for liberty Things plotted against her Counsell holden amongst the Papists The death of the Earle of Westmer land NEVILL a most nobleâ most ancient and illustrious name The death of Plowden Alancon dyeth The Prince of Orange is slaine The power of Spaine growne terrible Booke 3. The French King inuested with the order of the Garter Is accused of treason He perceiueth not the euasion His confession He consulteth with Iesuits about the murthering of the Queene With the Popes Nuncio With Morgan With Priests With the Pope himselfe He discloseth the matter to the Queene He wauereth in his minde Alans book addeth fresh courage to him Neuil offereth him his helpe He discloseth the matter Parry is arraigned Punished with death Lawes demanded in the Parliament against Bishops Against Non-residents The association established Lawes against Iesuits and Priests Felony Praemunire The Earle of Arundel resolueth with himselfe to fly out of England He writeth to the Queene Is apprehended The Earle of Northumberland is found dead The Coroners Enquest The causes of his imprisonment manifested The Earle of Northumberland is lamented of diuers Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Prince of Germany The like with the King of Scots A relation of the death of Russell The manner of his death The proofes amongst the borderers The death of Thomas Carre of Fernihurst The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England backe into Scotland They haue intelligence of others remaining in the Kings Court. They enter into Scotland Sterlin is taken by them They are reconciled to the King Amnistie Maxwell establisheth the Masse The rebellion of the Bourgs in Ireland Mac-William * or Sheriffe The Scots of Hebrides called into Ireland The Gouernor laboreth for a peace but in vaine He pursueth the rebels And he brings them to submission Next the Scots of Hebride Whom he doth assault and defeats them The title of Mac-William abolished The Estates of the Netherlands consult of a Protector Reasons of the French side For the English They are refused by the French The English consult about the protection The Dutch offer themselues to the Queene Antwerpe is yeelded vp The Queen deliberateth with her selfe She takes vpon her the protection Vnder what conditions The Queen publisheth the causes She sends forth a Nauy to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard The towne of S. Iames taken by the English froÌ the Spaniard A disease called Calentura whereby many perish The surprize of Hispaniola or Saint Dominick by the English The proud and audacious Motto of the Spaniards Auarice and Couetousnesse The English doe assault the City of Cartagena They set fire vpon the townes of S. Anthony and S. Helena They come to Virginia They bring the Colony thence Tobacco The booty of the English voyage and expedition Their pillage A search made for the discouerie of a way to the East India * Or Straits An Edict against Woad The company of the Barbary Merchants The death of the Earle of Lincolne Of the Earle of Bedford The Earle of Leicester sent into Holland His instructions Booke 3. Absolute Authoritie is giuen to Leicester by the Estates The Queen offended thereat She expostulateth with him With the Estates also They excuse themselues Leicester sendeth succours to releeue the City of Graue besieged But it is yeelded vp The Spaniards expelled out of the Betow An aduentrous enterprize Venlo is lost Axele is taken Graueline attempted Duisbourgh beleagerd Which yeelds Sir Philip Sidney is slaine The valour of Edward Stanley of the house of Elford The Estates complaine to Leicester against himselfe He returneth into England The Earle of Arundell is accused of many things He answered them well and is but fyned The King of Denmarke intercedeth for Peace with the Queene of England Queene Elizabeth answereth She furnisheth Henry King of Navarre with money She desireth a league with Scotland By what counsell The fugitiues
Castles which were in Scotland the Hostages and the King of Scots to renounce the title to England and the English Rebels But for this matter enough is spoken of this yeere and the particularities of it may be drawne from the Dukes confession and the memoriall sent to the Queen of Scots written by the Bishop of Rosse's own hand At the same time Mathew Earle of Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland and great Grand-father to the King hauing appoynted the assembly of States at Sterlin and thinking to be safe there was surprized by the Lords of the contrary faction which met together by the Queenes authoritie at Edenborrough and hauing yeelded himselfe to Dauid Spencer who laboured very hard to protect him was slaine with him by Bell and Cauder after hauing with much trouble and paines ruled the Kingdome for the King his Nephew the space of foureteene moneths more or lesse at what time France tooke the Queenes side and Queen ELIZABETH the Kings not so much to get their friends the victory as to keepe them from being ouercome Queen ELIZABETH hoped that the young King should haue beene deliuered into her hands and the French thought that Dunbriton and Edenborrough should be giuen them whereupon some Scottish Merchants were very much troubled and traffique in France was denyed them which drew a great partie to the Queenes side in hope thereby to haue freedome of trade there againe In Lenox his place by the common consent of the people Iohn Areskin Earle of Marre was elected Vice-Roy a man of a calme spirit and a great louer of his Countrie who beeing no lesse afflicted with the turbulent counsels of his friends then by the insultings of his aduersaries for very griefe dyed when hee had gouerned thirteene moneths The iniquitie of these times and the loue which the people of England bore to their Queene and Countrey drew the States to Westminster where they made a Law to preuent the plots of the seditious by which it was ordayned by ancient authoritie THat if any did attempt to ruine or hurt the Queene to make warre or excite others to doe it in any part of her dominions or affirme that shee had no right to the Kingdome but that it were more iustly due to another or said that shee was an Heretique a Schismatique or Infidell that shee did vsurpe the right from another that was liuing or that the Lawes and Statutes were not of power to define and tye the right of Succession It should be Crimen laesae Maiestatis If any one during the life of Queene ELIZABETH should expresly affirme either by writing or Booke printed that any one is or ought to bee the Queenes Heire or Successour except the naturall Line which should proceede from her owne body or that should publish print or sell Bookes written vpon this Subiect he and his maintainers for the first time should suffer a whole yeeres imprisonment and lose halfe their goods but returning to the same offence againe they incurred the penaltie of a Praemunire which is losse of all goods and imprisonment during life This seemed grieuous vnto some which thought that the tranquillity of the Kingdome ought to be strengthened by the designation of an Heire but it was beyond beliefe what iests the maliciously-curious made of this clause Naturally begotten of her body because the Ciuill Law calls those Children naturall which are borne out of marriage and that nature onely and not the honesty of wedlocke begot them and the English Law Legitimate those that are lawfully begotten And I remember being then young to haue heard it spoken aloud that this word was prest into this Law by Leicester that some bastard-sonne of his should thrust in as one of neerest kinne to Queene ELIZABETH It was also ordained that those who had by any Bull or writing from the Pope reconciled any to the Church of Rome should vndergoe the punishment of Crimen laesae Maiestatis Those who sustaine the Reconcilers or bringers into England of Agnus Dei's Graines Crucifixes or any other things consecrated by the Pope of Rome should lose all their goods and indure perpetuall imprisonment and those that shall conceale and not detect these Reconcilers were holden guiltie of Misprision of Treason Furthermore those goods and lands which were conuicted for Rebellion in the North beeing in the possession of Iames Pilkinton Bishop of Durham who challenged Regall power betweene the Riuers of Teise and Tyne were adiudged to the Queene and her Successours because she had with great cost deliuered both the Bishop and the Bishopricke from Rebels yet so as that in time to come it shall not be preiudiciall to the Regall rite of that Church of Durham It was also ordained that to meete with the insolencies of such as were deuoted to the Pope and despising the authority of the Lawes and their obedience to their Princesse who day by day with-drew themselues into forraine Countries without the Queenes licence hoping in time with a great number and to innouate something they should returne within a certaine time and make their submissions and that the fraudulent conueyances which they had made should be burnt So much for the Papists On the other side by wholsome Lawes they suppressed as well the couetousnesse of certaine of the Clergie who as if they had beene borne onely to themselues with a notorious malice to their Successours wasted the goods of the Church and let out the Lands for many yeeres as the impudencie of others who with a desire to innouate opposed themselues to Articles of the Synod of London for the abolishing of Schisme in the yeere 1562. It was likewise againe propounded that if the Queene of Scots should againe offend the Lawes of England she might be proceeded against as if she were a Peeres Wife of the Realme of England But the Queene by her authority hindered that from being made a Law In the beginning of Iune the Parliament being ready to be dismissed they sate vpon Iohn Story a Doctor of Law and Spie to the Duke of Alua of whom I haue made mention in the yeere 1569. to know whether Iohn Storie being an English-man should be found guilty Laesae Maiestatis for hauing conferred with a stranger-Prince in Brabant for the inuading of his Countrey and shewing the meanes to doe it The learned'st sort in the Law did affirme that hee might be accused Laesae Maiestatis Whereupon hee was called vnto iudgement for hauing conspired against the life of his Princesse with one Prestoll a man much addicted to magicke and in giuing thankes at the Table alwayes cursed her and the King of Scotland to the fiends of Hell and demonstrated to the Duke of Alua's Secretary the meanes to inuade England to make Ireland reuolt and at the same time to bring the Scots into England He refused to submit himselfe to be iudged by the Lawes of England maintayning that being a sworne Subiect not to Queene ELIZABETH but to the King
worth Moreouer that her Maiestie could finde no reason wây Spaine should hinder her Subiects and those of other Princes from sayling to the Indies that shee could not be perswaded that they were his owne although the Pope had ne'r so much giuen them to him that shee acknowledged no such Prerogatiue in the Pope much lesse the least authority as to oblige Princes who owe him no obedience at all vnder his to power inuest put the Spaniard as in fee and possession of that New-World also that shee could not see how he could deriue the least right but by those desconts and landing here and there of his Subiects who built there small cottages to inhabit and named the Promontorie Things neuerthelesse that can purchase no propriety So that by vertue of such donation of other mens goods which in equitie is nothing worth and of this proprietie that is meerly imaginary hee cannot iustly hinder other Princes to negotiate in those Regions but they without infringing any waies the Lawes of Nations may lawfully bring in Colonies in those parts that are not yet inhabited by the King of Spaines Subiects sith Prescription without possession is of no validity euen as to sayle vpon the mayne Ocean that the vse of the Sea as of the Ayre is common to all and that publique necessitie permits not it should be possessed that there is nor people no particular that can challenge or pretend any other right therein Neuerthelesse since this great summes of money were pay'd backe to Piedro Sâbâre a Spaniard who styled himselfe Attourney for the recouery of the Gold and Siluer though hee could shew no such Letter of procuration or receits And it was discouered but too late that he made no retribution at all to particulars but spent it against Queene ELIZABETH vpon the Spaniards who maintained the warre of Flanders While Sir Francis Drake circuited so prosperously the World Iacman and Pet renowned Pylots sent by the Merchants of London with two Ships did seeke with lesse happy successe a short way or passage to sayle into the East Indies by the Sea of Cronie but hauing past some miles beyond the Iles Vaigats they found ebbing and flowing so vncertaine so many shelues and so great store of Ice that they could not possible goe any further hauing much adoe to returne At the beginning of this yeere died Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell and with him the name of that most noble House which had flourished in honour aboue three hundred yeeres sonne to Richard Fitz-Allen sprung from the Albaines ancient Earles of Arundel and Sussex in the reigne of EDVVARD the First which title they had without creation in regard of the possession which they had of the Castle and Lordship of Arundell This man being heaped with honour had beene a Priuy-Councellor to all the Kings vnder whom he liued and performed great offices vnto his end Vnder HENRY the Eighth he was Gouernour of Calice Marshall of the Army at Bullen and Lord Chamberlaine At the inauguration of EDWARD the Sixth hee was Lord Marshall of England in which charge he continued at the Coronation of Queene MARIE and was after made Lord High-Constable Lord Steward of her house and President of her Councell Vnder Queene ELIZABETH hee was made the second time Lord Steward And when he began to grow old he sought to marry her for which he lost much of her fauour afterwards he intermeddled in the Duke of Norfolkes matters and openly withstood the marriage of the Duke of Aniou He professed himselfe an open-hearted man and made it appeare that he loued not the French and would often say that his father dwelling in Sussex neighbour vnto France would teach him not to beleeue them He had three Children by Katherine his Wife daughter to Thomas Gray Marquis of Dorset which children hee suruiued Henry being young and of great hope dyed at Bâaxels Iane who was Wife to the Lord Lumley and Marie who married Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke and bare vnto him Philip Earle of Arundel of whom wee will speake in his owne place Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland being gone against the O-Conores who were stirring vp new troubles in Ophalia by Law executes Hugh O-Moloy a seditious man and pacifies this Countrey and that of Magohiganores and Ocaroles and in the very bud crushed a great conspiracie that was a growing and beginning to spread For some of the chiefest Families in Lemster and many others that were originally English driuen partly by the affection they bore to the Romish Religion and partly for their hatred to the new-come English who since their comming had excluded them contrary to the Law from all gouernments and Magistracy as if they had beene naturall Irish had conspired to kill the Lord Deputie and his Family to surprize the Castle of Dublin wherein was all the prouision of war and to kill all the English that were in Ireland and this conspiracy was so closely carried that it was neuer conferred vpon with more than two in a company Neuerthelesse among so many complices it came to light and was extinct with the death of a few men and amongst them of chiefest note was I. Nogent Baron of Fiske a man singular in fame and life who was as the Irish report seduced by the craft of those that enuyed him and his conscience assuring himselfe of his innocency chose rather though the Deputie promised to giue him his life if hee would confesse himselfe guiltie to dye an innocent by an infamous death than to liue in infamy for betraying his innocency And verily howsoeuer the truth of this businesse was in it selfe the Queene was much offended with the Lord Gray for the death of those men whom the Earle of Sussex being more offended therewith for rarely is true loue betweene great Ones the more stirred vp by reason of the cruelty which before hee had vsed toward the Spaniards which yeelded and now against Subiects that he had diminished the glory of his Princesse and augmented the number of her enemies Howbeit hee forbare not to terrifie Turlough-Leinich who began to raise tumults in Vlster and driue him to conditions of peace Whereby hee likewise brought the O-Brins the O-Mores and the Cauanaghies Rebels in Lemster humbly to desire peace and to offer Hostages These matters of Ireland though time doth much disioyne them for the helpe of memory I haue thought to put them together In Scotland some Ministers and some of the great Ones considering the Earle of Lenox of whom I haue spoken to be strong in the Kings fauour stirred vp Iames Stuart of Ochiltrie Captaine of the Guard who carried the title of Earle of Arran I know not by what grant from Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran a man of an vnable spirit for which cause he was ordained his Tutor to be his Emulator But the King quickly reconciled them When this would not succeed they brought him as much as