diminution to the English they haue deserued as much whereof the Spaniards themselues haue had experience The marriage with Spaine was almost seauen yeares in treaty The Spanish match seauen yeares in treaty which was in part caused by the tender yeares of the marriage couple especially of the Prince But the true reason was that those two Princes being Princes of great policie and profound iudgement stoode a great time looking one vpon anothers fortunes how they would goe knowing well that in the meane time the very treaty it selfe gaue abroad in the world a reputation of a straite coniunction and amity betweene them which serued on both sides to many purposes that their seuerall affaires required and yet they continued still free But in the end when the fortunes of both Princes did grow euery day more and more prosperous and assured and that looking about them they saw no better conditions they shist it vp The second day of October Queene Katherine arriued in England in the 17. yeare of the kings raigne the Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinand and Izabella king and Queene of Spaine arriued in England at Plymouth and she was married to Prince Arthur in Pauls the 14. day of Nouember following the Prince being about 15. yeares of age and the Lady 18. The manner of her receiuing the manner of her entry into London and the celebration of their marriage were performed with great and true magnificence in regard of cost and order The chiefe man that tooke the care was Bishop Fox who was not onely a great Councellour for warre or peace but also a good Suruayor of works and a good Master of ceremonies and any thing that was fit for the actiue part belonging to the seruice of a Court or State of a great king Amongst the deuices and conceits of the tryumphes at the marriage there was a great deale of Astronomy the Lady being resembled to Hesperus and the Prince to Arcturus and the olde king Alphonsus that was the great Astronomer of kings and Ancestor to the Lady was brought in to be Fortune-teller of the match And whosoeuer had those toyes in compyling they were not altogether pedanticall But we may be sure that king Arthur the Brittaine in whose acts were worth enough to make him famous besides that which is fabulous written of him the Prince his discent from him and the Lady Katherine from the house of Lancaster was not forgotten those two particulars had a great part in the play But it seemes it is not good to fetch fortune from the Starres This young prince Arthur drow vpon him not onely the hopes and affections of his Country but the eyes and expectations of Forraigners all frustrated enioying him so little a time as they did the great alterations and strange euents afterwards ensuing The marriage portion the Princesse brought The marriage portion which was turned ouer to the King by renunciation was two hundred thousand Duckets whereof one hundred thousand were payd ten dayes after the solemnization of the marriage and the other hundred thousand at two payments annuall but part of it in Iewels and Plate and a due course set downe to haue them iustly and indifferently prised The Ioyncture Queene Katherines Ioincture or the aduancement of the Lady was the third part of the principalitie of Wales and of the Dukedome of Cornwall and the Earledome of Chester to be after set forth in seueraltie and in case she came to be Queene of England her aduancement was left indiffinite but that it should be as great as any former Queene of England had Prince Arthur imediately after the Solemnization of the Mariage was sent to keepe his rescyance and Court as Prince of Wales at the Castle of Ludlowe after a few moneths in the beginuing of Aprill he there deceased Prince Arthur deceased So that in respect he dyed so young and by reason of his Fathers manner of education that did cast no great Lustre vpon his children there is little particular mention of him onely thus much remaineth that he was very studious and learned beyond his yeares and beyond the custome of great Princes The February next following Henry Duke of Yorke afterward Henry the Eight was created Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester For the Dukedome of Cornewall deuolued vnto him by Statute which was halfe a yeares distance taken for his creation and his Prince Arthurs death which was construed to be to exprect a full time whereby it might appeare whether the Lady Katherine were with childe by Prince Arthur or not when this doubt was cleered Henry the Prince of Wales was presently Contracted to the Lady Katherine his brother Prince Arthurs Widow the reason of the Kings so doing some Writers affirme was because he was close handed and would not part with a second Dowrie some others affirme and it is like they are neerest the truth out of his affection to Ferdinando King of Spaine with whom he had euer a consent euen in nature and customes and out of a politicke consideration to continue his alyance with Spaine being assured that the Lady was of a most worthy vertuous and Princely disposition and in his profound iudgement knew that wiues were casuall commodities both for the loue he bore to his Sonne and the kingdome for that neither of them should runne another hazzard reteyned the Lady to be Queene of England The next instantly taken in hand The King of Scotlands marriage with the Kings eldest Daughter done by Proxie was the worke begun by Hyalus the Spanish Embassador the Solemnization of the Spowsals of Iames the Fourth King of Scotland with the Lady Margarel the Kings eldest Daughter which was done by Proxie and published at Pauls Crosse the 25. day of Ianuary and Te Deum solemnly sung But certaine it is that the ioy of the Citie thereupon shewed by ringing the Bells and Bonfiers and such other incense of the people was more then could be expected in case of so great and fresh enmitie betweene the Nations especially in London which were far enough from the feeling any the former calamities of the Warre and therefore might be truly attributed to a secret instinct and inspiring which many times runneth not onely in the hearts of Princes but in the pulses and veines of people touching the happinesse there to ensue in time to come The Mariage was in August following consumated at Edenborough King Henry bringing his Daughter as farre as Colliweston on the way and then consigning her to the attendance of the Earle of Northumberland who with a great troope of Lords and Ladies of Honour brought her into Scotland to the King her Husband This Mariage had beene in treatie by the space almost of three yeares from the time that Hyalus made the first ouerture and that the King of Scotland shortly after opened his minde to Bishop Foxe The summe giuen in mariage portion by the King The Mariage portion was ten thousand
the storie of those Princes concerning those affaires PRescription and precedents swaying with the positiue lawes of the Kingdome they may then farre better ouer-rule or at least giue Reall satisfaction in point of meere conceit and late conceiued disaffection reading our owne Annalles and Chronicles we shall there finde many mutuall intermarriages to haue beene betweene the two Royall Crownes of England and Spaine began in the very infancie of our Monarchy running in a long discent chayned and linked together one with another making as it were a golden Orbe and circle of sincere Princely loue and amity so that many mighty Kings of Spaine and Portingale haue had Royall mothers of the English Nation and likewise many Royall Princesses of Spaine haue beene the blessed mothers of some puisant and victorious Kings of England King William surnamed the conquerour by whom England receiued his last subuersion and generall alteration his courses of gouernment institutions and lawes by which wee are now gouerned being exactly executed were as linkes intermutually fastned made so strong a Chaine that it hath euer since held together the whole frame of the state in peace and order as all the politique Regiments vpon earth all the inter-leagued societies of men cannot shew a straighter forme of combination This King first began contracted Margaret his youngest daughter to Alphonsus King of Galicia 1076. Henry the second lineally discended from him a famous and worthy King of England married Elenor his second daughter to another Alphonsus the ninth 1171. surnamed the good King of Castile Richard the first surnamed Cuer de Lyon sonne of Henry the second he tooke to wife Berengaria daughter of Sanctius King of Nauarr. The next intermarriage wee finde to haue betweene those two Nations being England had thereby a Queene therein And so for other in like sort I will be more particular it was in the time of King Henry the third Henry the third raigned 56. yeares who of all the Kings of England since the conquest raigned longest and his troubles therein the greatest not any wayes occasioned by the marriage but for that he would rule and gouerne according to his will and lusts and not by his lawes those that desire to be more particularly informed thereof Stowe Hollinsh Speede. the story of his life written by many will giue them further and full satisfaction for so much as shall concerne marriages and other passages betweene England and Spaine I will onely contract my selfe This King when he had raigned 39. yeares with infinite and daily troubles of ciuill warres with his Barons hee was suddainly called to another seruice from home Alphonso King of Spaine The King of Spaine claimed Gascoyne claymed title to Gascoyne by vertue of a Charter from Henry the second confirmed by Richard and Iohn Kings of England Henry the third fearing the Gascoyners would draw in the Spaniards peaceably as it were in the manner of a Progresse repayred into Gascoyne King of England went into Gascoyney and from thence sent Ambassadors to the King of Spayne to desire that the Lady Elenor his sister might bee giuen in marriage to his sonne Prince Edward Ambassadors sent into Spaine to treat of a marriage which was after Edward the first this motion was well approued besides that they brought Letters Patents with them from the King of Spaine in which amongst all other clauses it was contained The King of Spaine released his claime to Gasconey that the King of Spaine did quit his claime and whole right which by vertue of any graunts from Henry Richard and Iohn Kings of England he had or ought to haue herevpon the King of England sendeth both for his Queene and his sonne whom the King of Spaine desired The King of Spaine sends for the Prince of England might be conuayed vnto him onely with a noble intent to see and doe him honour Among other acts of sincerity and loue Alphonso sent to the King of England good aduice that after the example of good Kings and Princes he should be a Lamb to his Subiects and Seruitors and a Lyon vnto Aliens and Rebels Soone after the Queene and her sonne arriuing in Gascoyne when all things were rightly prepared Prince Edward was thence presently sent into Spaine where at the Citie of Burges he married the Lady Elenor sister to the King with great honour The Prince of England marrieth with the King of Spaines sister hauing first receiued Knighthood at his hands which done returnes to Burdeux from whence they altogether came safe through Fraunce into England the King of Fraunce being not long before returned from the Holy land The Prince of England had great entertainment in Fraunce gaue them both safe conduct in their passage and did to him and all his whole company all the honour with triumphes and feasts which the wit of man or the goodly Kingdome of Fraunce could afford afterwards landed safely at Douer what treasure this noble young Princesse brought in portion to her husband our Writers haue not deliuered vnto vs but the king forthwith gaue to his sonne Gascoyne Ireland Bristowe Stamford and Grantham King Henry liued after the marriage of his sonne seauenteene yeares during which time this Spanish Lady carried her selfe The Spanish Lady a most vertuous Princesse as a most noble and worthy Princesse and afterwards being Queene a more renowned loyall and vertuous wife no age euer afforded This King Edward the first amongst many his enterprises of a Royall and Kingly resolution went in person to Warre against the Sarazenes where that renowned and vertuous Lady Elenor his wife did endure with him an vnseperable companion of all his fortunes and was at Acon deliuered of a daughter there baptized by the name of Ione shee is denoated by our owne Writers to be a matchlesse precedent of coniugall affection the King her husband being trayterously wounded by a Sarazen with a poysoned knife that when no medicine could extract the poyson this Lady Elenor whilest the King her husband slept With her tongue daily licked his ranckling wounds drawing forth the impoysoned matter that soone after hee was fully cured and shee fortunately preserued The King and Queene not long after taking their iourney together towards Scotland the Queene in her way thither-wards sickned and dyed in the yeare 1284. The king almost struck dead with sorrpw alters his resolution returnes backe towards London with a long and sorrowfull iourney in a slowe and stately manner shee being conuayed out of Lincolnshire towards London in her honour the king her husband who loued her aboue all worldly creatures caused those many famous Crosses to bee erected wheresoeuer her Royall corpes did rest Charing Crosse at Waltham St. Albones and Dunstable The King with his whole Nobility and Clergie in a pompeous and Royall manner meetes the body at Saint Albones and with a Noble and generall concourse of his Subiects brings it to the
Royall Sepulture of his Auncestors at Westminster and there in Saint Peters Church it was with all possible Royalty and magnificence honourably interred The King gaue vnto the Abbot there twelue large and rich Lordships charitably to giue Almes and deuoutly to pray for the blessed Queene vntill the worlds end Our owne Writers affirme of this Queene Speede. Walsing Camdens Britania to our Nation she was a louing mother and saith one the Columne and pillar as it were of the whole Realme shee added the vertues of a wife to her sex to them both her immortall fame is a glory and an honour to her Nation King Edward the third 1360. married his daughter Iohanna to Henry the second King of Castile sonne of Alphonsus the 11. Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth sonne of King Edward the third did take to wife Constancia eldest daughter of Peter King of Castile To whom in right of his said wife Constancia the Kingdome of Castile and Leon did discend and they both stiled themselues King and Queene of Castile and Leon which illustrious title is yet to be seene vpon his noble monument in Saint Pauls Church in London Katherine the sole daughter of the said Duke of Lancaster by his aforesaid wife Constancia was married to Henry 1388. the third sonne of king Iohn of Castile and Leon. Edmund Duke of Yorke youngest sonne of king Edward the third 1391. married Isabella youngest daughter of Peter king of Castile King Henry the fourth married Iohanna the daughter of Charles king of Nauarr. 1403. The next intermarriage wee finde betweene England and Spaine was in the time of king Henry the seauenth his owne marriage his sonnes with Spaine and marriages of his daughters are the greatest acts of State our English Annalles doe afford vs first his owne marriage made a Vnion whereupon after the effusion of much bloud to the consumption of the greatest part of the English Nobility there followed and euer since continued a happy peace and then by the marriage of his daughter settled an vndoubted and permanent succession for the Crowne of England the blessed happinesse at this instant wee enioy All which with the patience of the Reader contrary to my intended resolution which was onely for the story of the Spanish matches I will a little digresse and briefly touch hauing one with another dependancy and coherence This king Henry the seauenth for his wisedome was said to be a second Salomon and lay somewhat heauie on his people and was Auncestor to our now Soueraigne who will peraduenture some way both for the mannaging of the State and marriage of his children make him a patterne and precedent But the difference is the more is our happinesse Henry the seauenth his gathering of treasure together was to heape vp in store as appeared being found at Richmond after his decease vnder his owne key and keeping eighteene hundred thousand pounds sterling A huge masse of money for those times Our king hath expressed his Royall and Princely bounty and exposed his treasure vpō important occasions wherevnto his Maiestie hath beene necessitated gathered vp from his Subiects but as showers of raine that falls backe vpon the earth againe But it hath beene of late and it is very like hence-forth it will be imployed to repay support and supply About the ninth yeare of king Henry the seauenth his raigne there was one Peter Hyalus an Ambassador A Spanish Ambassadour sent into England sent from Ferdinando and Isabella king and Queene of Spaine to treate of a marriage betweene Katherine their daughter and Prince Arthur sonne and heire of Henry the seauenth it was obserued this Hyalus was a man of great wisedome that through the present could see farre into the future which king Henry soone perceiued Hyalus instantly became in great fauour and estimation with him brought it so about and yet not seene therein that Hyalus was imployed for him into Scotland both about a treaty of peace as also a marriage for Margaret his eldest daughter with Iames the fourth then king of Scotland it was not king Henry his course to seeke peace at any Prince his hands But it was conceiued hee did it then as not louing the barren warres which hee thought would not bee worth his charge Hyalus so caried himselfe in those Ambassies that it was his master-peece which euer after gaue him the esteeme of an excellent workman which shall bee hereafter more particularly related The warres betweene the king of England and the king of Scots were then at the height when Hyalus was sent but comming as it were from the king and Queene of Spaine as from friends equally well affected to both parties to mediate a peace betweene the two kings of England and Scotland as also about a treaty or ouerture at least of a marriage which perhaps in their owne persons would not haue beene so easily brought about the point of honour might therevnto giue impeachment Hyalus so handled the point of his imployment that immediately after Bishop Foxe was sent as an Ambassadour into Scotland wherevpon followed an honourable truce and shortly afterwards a marriage concluded betweene the king of Scots and Margaret the eldest daughter of Henry the seauenth king of England so that Doctor Morton afterwards Cardinall and this Peter Hyalus the Spanish Ambassadour were two of the happiest instruments that euer were the one for composing and contriuing the marriage betweene king Henry the seauenth and Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Edward the fourth whereby the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster were vnited and Hyalus a fore-runner of good hap was therefore by some called an Elias being the first motiue and speciall meanes of the intermarriage betweene England and Scotland whereby we enioy our now Soueraigne whom God graunt long to raigne ouer vs. The Spaniards are obserued generally to be acute and ingenious and many of them of great wisdome and deepe iudgements some reason thereof conceiued for that they are freer from the dull discease of drinke then other Nations are The great Historians writes in this manner of them The Spaniards are more able Guichardine Biterus then either the French or Germanes to endure the actions of the body and to suffer the passions of the minde Their first founder was a Souldier therefore are they held naturally the more for warre Jgnatius and no Nation hath euer beene therein more exercised They haue a Spanish Prouerbe To haue peace with England doth vs betide warres with all the world beside These our auncient Writers affirme Droder Siculus lib. 6. Strabo lib. 3. Mila lib. 2. that the Spaniard is most patient in want hardnesse hunger thirst heat colde and all other toyle and trouble both of body and minde and most ready and resolute for loue of Country or honour to encounter all dangers whatsoeuer For the last particular wherein the Spaniard hath that height of commendation giuen him it neither can be any detraction or
conquest formerly gouerned by Roitelets as petty Kings and now inhabited by seuerall nations of seuerall natures So that the nature necessitie and disposition of the Kings of Spaine their affaires requireth that they must carry somewhat a harder hand in their gouernment then ordinarie otherwise they cannot secure nor make good their plantations nor retaine their subiects in obedience And the very name of conquest imports violence and misery and is of so harsh a sound and odious in nature that from a Nation subdued detractions will suppresse all commendations a Conquerour shall any waies deserue Though their gouerning of such like subiects may be particuler yet the aspersion in that kinde will runne in the generall and a long time as it were in discent especially amongst malignant dispositions In remote parts of Kings Dominions where the gouernment by them is committed to subordinate Officers Commanders sometimes barbarous and in humane acts may be done by them the cōmon people which Kings in their nature may much abhorre and detest yet for the same in their honour and reputation they often suffer Then they further alleage that the Kings of Spaine to the Turkes Moores and such like Infidels haue beene many times a scourge But then in particular with the Italians Portugals French English Scottish and Flemmish their dealings with them to haue beene most honourable quiet iust and without iniurie offered to any which is said to appeare by their owne testimonies and witnesses also of many Writers For the warre Thillip the second and other affaires that haue passed in Portugall they were so carried and no otherwise for the iustification thereof out of Hieromme Francht a Genoes that was present and wrot the storie and in other points sheweth himself no great friend to Spaniards yet doth he so iustifie all the Kings actions in these affaires euen by the testimonie of the Portugals themselues as they seeme rather ouer-scrupulous then onely iustifiable Then there is further cyted Genebrard a French Writer that setteth out the King of Spaine his noble proceedings with France in all the times of the minorities of King Henry the second his children to wit Francis Charles and Henry the third and how he neuer sought either to profit himselfe or to impaire the kingdome of France during those troubles and thereupon giueth a touch by way of taxe for the taking of Newhauen by the English further alleaging that the King of Spaine at his owne charges sent aides of men horse victuals and money often times to the succours of those young Princes notwithstanding the old enmities and emulation betweene those two Crownes of France and Spaine and the cruell warres that had passed betweene them many yeares And maketh further relation of the king his clement proceeding with his owne subiects that rebelled in the low Countries as appeared by his many pardons peaces and tollerations made with them his liberall and noble dealings with the English Irish and Scottish especially such as were subiect to troubles for their conscience at home those he sustained liberally without requiring any seruice at their hands And lastly for the great wealth forces strength Note and power of the King of Spaine being a friend and temperately vsed cannot be fearefull to any good man but rather comfortable nor to be dangerous to Christendome but rather a great and singuler stay and prouidence of Almighty God who foreseeing the tumults and reuolts that heresies might bring in and the dangers Christendome might be subiect vnto by the great power and strength of Infidels the Turkes and Moores hath prouided so potent and opulent a Prince as the king of Spaine for the defence of the Catholike Church For the manifestation thereof two speciall obseruations worthy of note haue beene collected and cited the first after that interleaged and indissoluable knot of amity and alyance which was betweene Henry the seauenth Ferdinando and Isabella King and Queene of Spaine there mutually passed betweene them many Letters congratulatory amongst which there came Letters from Ferdinande and Isabella signifying the finall conquest of Granada from the Moores which action it selfe so worthy King Ferdinando whose manner was as indeed the nature is neuer to lose any vertue for the shewing expressed and displayed in his Leters at large all the particularities and religious punctures and ceremonies that were obserued in the reception of the Citie and king dome shewing amongst other things that the King would not by any meanes in person enter the City vntill he had first aloose seene the Crosse set vp vpon the greater Tower of Granada whereby it became Christian ground That likewise before lie would enter he did homage to God alone pronouncing by an Herauld from the height of that Tower that he did acknowledge to haue recouered that kingdome by the helpe of God Almighty and the glorious Virgin and the vertuous Apostle S. Iames and the holy Father Pope Inocent the eight together with the aides and seruice of his Prelates Nobles and Commons that he stirred not from the campe till he had seene a little armie of Martyrs to the number of seauen hundred and more Christians that had liued in bonds and seruitude as slaues to the Moores passe before his eies singing a psalme for their redemption and that he had giuen tribute to God by almes and reliefe extended to them all for his admission into the City these things were in the Letters with many more ceremonies of a kinde of holy ostentation King Henry euer willing to put himselfe into the consort or quier of religious actions and naturally affecting much the King of Spaine as much as one King could affect another partly for his vertues and partly for a counterpoise to France vpon the receipt of these Letters sent all his Nobles and Prelats that were about the court together with the Maior and Aldermen of London in great solemnity to the Church of Pauls there to heare a declaration from Bishop Morton then Lord Chancellour and Cardinall standing vpon the vppermost step or halfe pace before the Quier and all the Nobles Prelats and Gouernours of the Citie at the foot of the stayres made a speech vnto them letting them know that they were assembled in that consecrated place to sing vnto God a new song for that said he these many yeares the Christians haue not gained new ground or territorie vpon the infidels nor enlarged and set further the bounds of the christian world But this is now done by the pronenesse deuotion of Feredinando and Isabella King and Queene of Spaine who haue to their immortall honour recouered the great and rich kingdome of Granada and the populous and mighty citie of the same name from the Moores hauing beene in possession thereof by the space of seauen hundred yeares and more For which this assembly and all Christians are to render laud and thankes to God and to celebrate this noble act of the King of Spaine who in this is not onely
the English onely to thanke God for their deliuerance If the Spaniards will forget and passe it ouer as being farre the greater loosers it is both charity and religion for the English to doe the like And the rather for that and such like hostile actions passing betweene the two Nations in the time of warre and now in peace in all Christian and religious considerations enuie and hatred should haue an end and not be continued States are subiect to the wheele times haue their turnings and great Princes themselues not free from calumny and detraction and many times with much agrauation therein For these particulars I will conclude with that graue and sage obseruation of Cornelius Tacitus that free tongued Romane that wrote they made it a custome to make Kings the instruments of oppression they may many times seeme so and yet they themseues of a most gracious and Royall disposition Queene Elizabeth therein not second to any and yet according to the fate and fashion of great princes by some great and graue Councellours neere about her and by some that could thriue onely by warre she was much swayed and ruled which she thought was no diminution to her commendation though it made not so much for her absolutenes yet it seemed she held it the more for her safety Let vs not be transported with passion and doubts beyond reason good ground or probability the Kings and Monarchies of England in their whole choise of wiues made from all parts of Europe were neuer more fortunate and happy in any then in those Royall Queenes which they had from Spaine The first in this Scene of honour shall be the Royall Queene Elenor wife to Edward the first formerly mentioned what was shee but the wonder and myracle of her Sex The next Queene Katherine wife first to Prince Arthur afterwards to Henry the eight shee was the cleare mirrour and example of wisedome integrity sanctity and all Royall and Princely vertues in all which she was farre more precious and excellent being so tryed as she was with the touchstone of fortune Constancia Izabella Beringaria and Ioanna Spanish Princes all these were proper and peculiar to our English Monarchy our owne Chronicles telleth vs no otherwise of them but that they were as so many glorious and conspicuous lights of matrimoniall faith loue piety and chastity And lastly King Philip the second that married Queene Mary our own Writers leaues him to posterity highly commended So that for those Princes that we haue formerly had from Spaine England hath had ioy and comfort of them we haue loued them and they vs. Wherefore should we now so much doubt and feare for the future the like successe vnlesse we will conclude our dispositions are growne worse and that the then times deserued a great part of their commendations So that here you may see that no Nations in former times did euer more faithfully and entirely loue each another or were in more straighter leagues and bonds of friendship vnited together then the English and Spaniards vntill by the late warre they were â—â—â—oynted Seuere iudgement threatens high places Sa. ca. 6.4.8 The greatest happinesse of great Kings and Princes is to make happy their Subiects and that happinesse on eath is esteemed greatest which commeth neerest to that in heanen consisting onely in the eternity of blessed peace then consequently those Princes must be deemed most blessed who doe chiefly direct their Royall cares and endeuours to bring glory to God on high peace and good will to those on earth Our now gracious King hath so gouerned vs this 21. yeares that we haue enioyed that happinesse as God hath beene truly honoured he obayed and we haue liued in quiet vnder our own Figge trees and Vines eating the fruites of our owne labour4s free from those calamities and miseries of warre some of our neighbour Nations are subiect vnto and by Gods grace he will so continue vs whereby he will be worthily held in the esteeme and deemed one of the most blessed Princes according to the position before mentioned How willing desirous and obseruant the Spaniards haue beene to bee in peace and amity with vs let the Reader but duly consider that which hath beene formerly related and for farther satisfaction to an ocular experience we late had thereof The Xing of Spaine his desire to be in league and amity with England No sooner then our now gracious Soueraigne came to the Crowne but the King of Spaine Philip the third instantly sent ouer his Ambassadours sought peace at his hands and had it which euer since hath beene religiously nobly muioable kept and so continued his sonne now King of Spaine Philip the fourth An ouerture of marriage long time in treaty for our now Royall Prince Charles with the Lady Maria daughter of the said Philip the third by him much desired and now as much as her brother Philip the fourth as it is generally conceiued that those two Royall Scepters should be now conioyned in the sacred knot and bond of marriage thereby to strengthen their auncient Alliances and make a perpetuall league and indissoluble confederation of blessed peace and friendship betwixt them Seeing many excellent learned men meerely out of zeale and some others wise and polliticke in the affaires of State that are true louers of their countrie haue written and spoken freely proposing doubts feares and dangers that may come and ensue to England with the mariage with Spaine and also others of both those sorts of like ranke and quality only in religion contrarily affected haue written and will speake as much for the approbation and commendation thereof proposing the infinite vnspeakable good the match may be to the Kingdome of England Without farther intermedling I will leaue those things to their learnings and iudiciall experiences that which I relate may be as materials for them to worke on and is intended but as home made stuffe for the Country people who in State affaires sees no farther then the Rhine and many of them wade not so deepe as into the point of Religion yet in their affections haue beene very auerse and expressed vnwillingnesse for our Princes Royall match I would herewithall cloathe or at least someway couer their bare opinions that there is no such great cause of feares doubts and dangers as they seeme to apprehend though the Spaniards were lately our enemies yet aunciently they were our friends and seeme to desire to be so againe to liue in league and amity with vs I would gladly so moderate and reclaime the disaffections of the common people that they might forget and remit all former occasions conceaued of distaste and not in their affections and discourses so disobe diently mutinie and dispute against our Soueraignes high commands and Royall intentions It is incident for men so to doe of some one of the dispositions following A kingdome composed of men of diuers humours and dispositions whereof some doe burne in hatred some busied in
THE COVNTRIE GENTLEMAN MODERATOR Collections Of such intermarriages as haue beene betweene the two Royall Lines of ENGLAND and SPAINE since the Conquest with a short view of the Stories of the liues of those Princes And also some obseruations of the passages with diuers reasons to moderate the Country peoples passions feares and expostulations concerning the Prince his Royall Match and State affaires Composed and collected by Edm. Garrard AT LONDON Printed by Edward All-de 1624. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY Lord DANVERS Baron of Dauntesey RIGHT HONORABLE IF I poore and infortunate should say that I can no more forget your Noble house I so long followed and many Noble fauours from thence receiued then the children of Captiuity could forget their owne Ierusalem if I should tell your Lorship how much I honour you ioy at your sight memory and happines liberally protesting all this and much more it may be thought but superficiall and the common phrase of indigent men But God that knoweth the secrets of all mens hearts can witnes frō mine it sincerely proceedeth If I could doe any thing worthy acceptance I humbly acknowledge it is due to your Lordship yet howsoeuer I here make bolde to put out vnder your Honourable Patronage these my poore endeuours First the Title is some way sutable to the condition your Lordship now liueth in as being indeede more a Country Lord then a Court If the Fate and State shall please to haue it otherwise Tam marti quam Mercurio for the seruice of the King and Countrey amongst the rest of the Starres placed in that Spheare your Lordship would at least contribute light but your daily relieuing of many poore in the Country where and for which your renowne is done more to Gods glory then your owne your Lordships preferment will be in a better Kingdome Secondly the Subiect Treatise are likewise agreeable to your Lordships loyall disposition which is only desiring God may be truly honoured all things sute and succeede to the compleat comfort contentment good of the King Prince and Kingdome if they amongst their serious affaires shall vouchsafe to looke into this worke I humbly desire the motiue thereof might bee as from your Lordship receiuing your fauourable acceptance pardon for this my boldnes and to liue esteemed Your Lordships euer deuoted seruant Edm. Garrard To the Reader I Intend by Gods helpe and your patience gentle Reader to present vnto your view an Abstract of such intermariages as haue bin betweene the two royall Lines of England and Spaine and some other passages betwixt the two Nations from the time of the Conquest vntill this present the subiect appropriating to that which is now most autentick on Englands faire stage of the greatest consequence that hath been there these many years therefore the greater is both my aduenture and presumption for that the same and such great affaires of State are not to be meddled withall or talked of but with great caution and reuerence or rather indeed not at all vpon the former and accustomed courses of restriction of the vulgar in that particular hauing bin a long time in councel consulted of now someway publike These my endeauours being but meerely collectiōs out of our English Chronicles as history which is said to be the witnes of time the light of truth the memoriall of life report of antiquitie with some other obseruations concerning those affaires and in the countrie too much expostulated of I hope I shall giue no cause of offence taxe nor exception hauing no affectation to talke or busie my selfe in State affaires nor minister more but rather lesse occasion for others so to doe But that I should presume to write in a businesse of so great a consequence and of this nature and the rather comming now so late and not in so good a season as formerly it would haue done I may be subiect both to reproofe and taxe Onely I shall desire the Iudiciall and best affected prima facie not to iudge me what followes comes from a Protestant pen from one that wisheth all may bee well liueth in the countrie farre out of sight and almost out of hearing from the helme where the affaires of State are steared therefore more then by obseruation and what the countrie affoords is beyond my knowledge neither sent nor set on to write or speake hauing neither thought aime nor expectation of preferment not assuming to my selfe thereof any waies worthy should thinke my selfe happy if I might as a Moderator some way quallifie passion that the Countrie people might not so much expostulate of our Princes Royall Match and the affaires of State as now they doe For that purpose it is only to them sent meant and intended hauing only treated of the passages of former times concerning that affaire or others of State for the present or future I neither haue nor will meddle withall as indeed not fitting for the common people so to doe As they are farre from their knowledges and apprehensions so should they bee likewise from their discourses and expostulations not to looke where Lyons wake or sleepe The actions of Princes not to be pryed into but by such as are in authoritie Peraduenture some will say that in this my Discourse I haue beene squint-eyde as not looking or bending my course any waies direct those who haue beene auerse and vnwilling for our Princes Royall Match will taxe me for a temporizer J conceaue J haue not magnified the Spaniards aboue measure more or otherwise then our owne authors and other Writers affirme so could J wish they should not out of passion and inuention be detracted beyond merrit and with those that haue so much desired our Princes Match my selfe with them I shall not any waies ingratiate I hope my honest plaine meaning and intentions shall indicially iustifie me against either Will as a good subiect ought wishing all the Countrie people would doe the like only desire God may be truly honoured praying to him to direct all things for the best his Maiestie obeyed in all his Commands on earth haue compleat content and comfort and liue long to see his holy intentions take effect for the good of Christendome and not with any farther expostulations to trouble our selues but rely on Gods prouidence the King and Princes wisdomes and integrities letting them and those that are in authoritie alone in the businesse neither feare nor doubt that any thing will be done which shall any waies impaire the honour of Religion or generall good of the kingdome The farther particulars this my Epistle Dedicatory by way of anticipation shall not relate but the work it selfe shal make particuler demonstration therof What I haue here begun some of better abilitie if it please them may supplie that wherein I haue beene defectiue these my poore endeauours I humbly leaue to your considerations my selfe to your fauourable censures resting Yours E. G. ENGLAND AND SPAINES INTERMARRIAGES with a briefe tract of
pounds The ioyncture and aduancement assured by the King of Scotland was two thousand pounds a yeare after King Iames his death one thousand pounds a yeare in present for the Ladies maintenance This to be set forth in lands of the best and most certaine Reuenue The King as it is reported A question proposed by the Lords of the Counsell before this Match was concluded proposed it to his Councell and amongst them it was debated some of the Table in the Freedome of Councellours the King being present did put the case that if God should take away the Kings two Sonnes without issue that then the kingdome of England would fall vnto the King of Scotland The. Kings Reply which might preiudise the Monarchie of England whereunto the King himselfe replyed that if that should be Scotland would be but an accession to England and not England to Scotland for that the greater would draw the lesse and that it was a safer Vnion for England then that of France This passed as an Oracle and silenced those that moued the question This was a kinde of diuine and propheticall proposition made by the Lords of the Councell and so accordingly answered by the King so that the said Iames the fourth King of Scotland had issue by the Lady Margaret Iames the Fift The Kings Discent and he had issue Queene Mary she had issue our now Soueraigne so that he is great Grandchilde of Margaret eldest Daughter to Henry the Seauenth Now seeing I haue gone thus farre in matters of Mariage contrary to my intent as not to haue medled with any but those of Spaine I will now goe through by way of touch rather then by ample discourse of the mariage of the last and indeed of all the Daughters and children of King Henry the Seauenth Henry the Seauenth contracteth Mary his youngest Daughter to the Emperor and the rather for that it was the last act that concluded his temporall felicitie which was the conclusion of a glorious match betweene his Daughter Mary and Charles Princes of Castyle afterwards the great Emperour both being of tender yeares which treatie was perfected by Bishop Foxe Henry the Seauenth dying the Mariage tooke not effect and others his Commissioners at Calice But by reason the King about some yeare after died that mariage did not take effect Mary King Henryes youngest Daughter married to the King of France Afterwards to the Duke of Suffolke she was afterwards maried to the King of France who being aged shortly after died had no issue by her King Henry the Eight her brother sent ouer into France Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke to fetch her from thence who maried her and by him she had issue the farther particulars in those affaires I leaue the readers to the perusall of the workes of many Writers Stowe Holland Speede. that haue written the same at large For Henry the Seauenth I will conclude being he himselfe by the generall concluder of all was concluded Only this he had the fotune of a true Christian aswell as of a great King â—ote in liuing exercised and dying repentant his happinesse was much the more as when he left the world was in great felicitie being as it were at the top of all worldly blisse in regard of the high mariages of his Children his great renowne throughout Europe his great Riches and the perpetuall constancie of his prosperous successes all which were some way a shadow and vaile that it did not so euidently appeare as otherwise it would in what obloquie of the people he notwithstanding liued So that death to him was wonderfull opportune to withdrawe and preserue him from any future blow of Fortune which in all likelyhood would haue fallen vpon him in regard of the great hatred of his people and the Title of his Sonne being then come to eighteene yeares of age and being a bold Prince and liberall gained vpon the people by his very aspect and presence The King according to the contract made by his Father King Henry the 8. married the Lady Katherine his brothers widdow married his Brother Prince Arthurs Widow The secret prouidence of God ordaining that Mariage to be the cause of great euents and changes our Writers doe not lay it to the Ladies charge that she in her particuler ministered any occasion thereof The storie of the Kings life more or otherwise then it shall concerne the diuorce the Ladies life and conuersation I will not here meddle many haue written of him at large but the lesse is the more for his commendation Queene Katherine liued twenty years with the King When this Lady had liued aboue twenty yeares with the King as a vertuous and loyall Wife Cardinall Wolsey we finde had a great part in this play whose discent Pollidor Vigill relateth Parentem habuit virum probum at lanium had an honest man to his Father but a Butcher then for the particular story of his life more then shall concerne this affaire I leaue the Readers to many other Authors that haue written the same at large but in briefe he was intollerable wicked pompous and magnificent and according to the fate commonly of such men his end was infamous and infortunate vpon some priuate grudge he bore to Queene Katherine partly to be reuenged thereby vpon her Nephew the Emperour because he would not make him Pope as secretly he had requested him and partly because often-times in a most secret louing and gentle fashion she had admonished and warned him of his couetousnesse tyranny of his extortions oppressions of his pride and licentious course of life such men when they are told of those things being eminent and powerfull vsually will extend it to the highest to execute their malice which Wolsey so did towards the Queene as it afterwards fell out to bee apparant that to the King in priuate hee had cast some scruples with some subtle disputations concerning the lawfulnesse and nullitie of the Kings mariage who hauing as it seemed a desire to change as by his hauing so many Wiues afterwards it was somewhat probable made a great shew and expressure to the world that he began to be tender ouer his conscience and prouident to establish the true succession of the kingdome in a lawfull heire strucke so great an impression into him and so busied his cogitations and thoughts that a religious sorrow began to seaze vpon him and to auoide the continuance in that incestuous sinne vntill by a iudiciall sentence the doubts were cleered he refrained from the Queenes bed and the Cardinall to make himselfe more great then he was procured a Commission from the Pope to be directed to him and to his ancient brother Cardinall Campeius that before them as supreme Iudges that question by legall processe and proceedings might be heard debated on and censured according to the lawes of God These two Legates hauing receiued their Commission informeth the Queene of their authoritie and
by the Archbishop of Canterbury and she was euer after to be called the Queene Dowager few or none but are either so farre read in our English Chronicles or may obserue what afterwards became of the Popes vsurped Heptarchie in England and what further followed So here you haue heard the relation of the Story of this great Queene Katherine though infortunate was indeed a mirrour and example of wisedome integritie sincerity and all Royall and Princely vertues Yet it is vnlike but that before her comming ouet into this kingdome she might be detractiuely expostulated of and had not she beene as she is here discribed as the times afterwards were she would assuredly haue had her part of detraction from our Writers as they haue beene some way sparing of her due commendation After her separation and diuorce from the King there is little newes of her but that within some three yeares after at Kimbleton in the County of Huntington Queene Katherine deceased she there religiously liued and dyed and lyeth interred in the Cathedrall Church of Peterborough The next mariage betwixt England and Spaine King Philip the second came ouer into England and married Queene Mary Daughter to Henry the Eight which he had by Queene Katherine of Spaine That Mariage is yet so fresh in memory and amongst the countrie people is indeed a great occasion of producing those feares and doubts they seeme to apprehend these things I must acknowledge are too great a consequence of State for me to meddle withall yet vnder fauour as a Moderator I would willingly the country people should truly know and take it into their considerations that for those persecutions in Queene Maryes time it was thought she was much the more thereunto drawne by her two Bishops that were such bloud-hounds Gardener and Bonner King Phillip was both a mediator and Moderator what he could to stay them the which with the story of the mariage and other passages concerning the same I will here as our owne Writers haue affirmed briefly and truely relate Queene Mary her intent to marry with King Phillip she caused to be published Stephen Gardener then Lord Chancellour made a speech to the Nobilitie in the Chamber of presence setting forth the honour the riches and augmentation of Titles to the Crowne of England yet was it distastefull to many great feares and doubts instantly conceaued would follow as well the Church reformed as for the pollitique and State affaires of the kingdome The first beginners of commotion were Henry Duke of Suffolke and Sir Thomas Wyat making Proclaimations for the abandoning of strangers and to withstand the Queenes mariage with King Philip the reasons they further alleaged and published their proceedings and infortunate ends I leaue the reader to the perusall of their Stories by diuers Written at large The Queene remoued to the Tower The Queens mariage confirmed by Parliament Anno. 2. Ca. 2. Some of the Nobility and Commons much discontented The Queene sent Letters to giue them some content summons a Parliament wherein by Statute the mariage was confirmed to the great contentment comfort and ioy of the then time obseruers But some of the Nobilitie and the Commons for the most part were much grieued and discontented thereat These distastiue stomacks Queene Mary well perceauing therefore to giue them the more content she sent Letters signed with her owne hand into Wales charging the Lord President the Bishop of Oxford and Salisburie to intimate the benefit therof to the whole land as much as might be and especially London whose Lord Maior and Commons were sent for to whom the Lord Chancellour made a Speech told them how by the match all the Realme would be much intiched The Londoners became instantly for the mariage but especially London by their Trade and Traffique with Spaine that was enough not only to alter and reduce but to set them an edge beyond or at least equiuolent with all other respects or considerations whatsoeuer The Earle of Bedford and the Lord Fitzwaters King Phillip sent for were sent into Spaine to conduct King Phillip into England the Lord Admirall with twenty eight ships securing the seas the space of three moneths before All things thus ordered and Phillip in readinesse tooke shipping at Carone in Gallezia and with a Nauie of an hundred and fiftie sailed directed his course for the Queene vpon Friday the twenty day of Iuly he arriued at Southampton King Phillip landed in England and was the first man of the Fleete that set soote on the shore which no sooner done but he drew his Sword and bare it naked in his hand as he went The Earle of Arundle Steward of the Queenes house presented to his Highnesse the George and Garter and the Maior of the Towne of Southaempton the keyes of the Towne thither was sent the Lord Chancellour from the Queene and he againe of his Nobles sent to her who was on the way to Winchester to welcome himselfe Towards which City vpon Munday following he set forth being accompanied with the Marquesse of Winchester the Earles of Arundle Darby Worcester Bedford Rutland Penbroke and Surry the Lords Clynton Cobham Willoughbie Darcy Matreuers Talbot Strange Fitz-warren and North. The Spanish Nobles The Spanish traine were the Dukes of Aluer and Medina Cellina the Admirall of Castilla the Marquesse of Bergnes Piscara Sarra Valli Anguilar the Earles of Egmonde Horne Peria Chinchon Oliuares Saldana Medela Euente Sallida Landriano Castellar the Bishop of Cuenca and others so that more honourable Attendants had sildome beene seene Then there were Articles agreed on which were branched out into tenne propositions whereunto King Philip subscribed they were very honourable for England the perticulars of them I leaue the Reader to Mr. Speede his excellent compendious worke where the whole passages of this affaire and these Articles are at large related Then with the consent of all parties The matriage of King Philip and Queene Mary Anno 1554. the marriage with great state was solemnized at Winchester vpon Wednesday being the 25. of Iuly on Saint Iames day where the Emperours Ambassadours presently pronounced that in consideration of this marriage their Maister had giuen vnto his sonne Philip the Kingdomes of Naples and Ierusalem whereupon their titles by Garter King at Armes was solemnly proclaimed with these stiles as followeth Philip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queene of England Fraunce Naples Ierusalem and Ireland defender of the Faith Princes of Spaine and Cicill Archdukes of Austritch Dukes of Millane Burgundy and Brabant Counties of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyroll In Nouember following the marriage the Queene was reported to haue bene conceiued with Childe for ioy whereof Te Deum was commaunded solemnly to be sung and Processions and Prayers made for her safe deliuerance The Queene tooke her Chamber the Court was full of Midwiues and Gentlewomen Attendants Rockers were prouided the Cradle prepared and all made so certaine that some
were punished for publishing doubts thereof to the contrary in so much as it passed in Parliament that if God should take away Queene Mary their supposed young Master comming into the world So called by Sir Richard Southwell Knight of the house should finde himselfe prouided for It was by Act of Parliament ordayned that King Philip should be Protector of her issue and Gouernour of the Realmes vntill their Prince or Princesses should come of able yeares Anno 2. and 2. Philip Mary Enacted that King Philip should bee Protector of his supposed issue King Philip apprehended continuall feares and doubts of the English in regard of the maligners of his marriage for at his first entrance the dore of his great Hall of his Court for the most part kept shut or straightly guarded not any suffered to enter vnlesse his businesse was first made knowne Acts and Menuments pag. 1643. 6. King Philip fearefull of the English Those Lords that were against the mariage commaunded to send their weapons to the Tower The Lords some of them hauing formerly shewed themselues to haue been much against the marriage hauing leaue to depart London had straight commaundement to send all their Harnesse and Artillary to the Tower which was done The King was as well doubtfull of those that beare a faire shew conceiuing it vpon this ground For that a Noble man in consultation had giuen his counsell to cut off Lady Elizabeths head whereby he assured himselfe that those so bad minded towards their owne naturall Princesse could not be better to him a stranger hee was graciously courteous to the English and endeuoured all wayes and meanes to gaine their loues and affections For which he layd a good foundation became an earnest mediator King Philip a great friend to the Lady Elizabeth and solicited the Queene for the liberty of that innocent Princesse her sister the Lady Elizabeth who still remained a solitary prisoner in Woodstock about Wyats conspiracy though no proofes could be brought against her for any offence King Philip at length obtained his suite that the Lady Elizabeth was brought to Hampton Court and for 14. dayes there locked vp and laid at by Gardiner to submit her selfe hauing not seene her sister in two yeares before shee was sent for into the Queenes Chamber about tenne of the clocke in the night which she no sooner had entered but falling vpon her knees shee prayed to God to preserue her Soueraigne Maiestie protesting her loyalty and truth to her person whatsoeuer had beene spoken or instigated to the contrary At which time there was betweene them long and much debate the Lady Elizabeth made good her innocency Queene Mary replied in Spanish God knowes and so went away King Philip standing behinde the Arras all the time About some weeke after Princesse Elizabeth released of her imprisonment the Princesse Elizabeth was discharged of Bening field whom she termed her laylor and leaue of liberty yet so that Sir Thomas Pope a priuie Councellour and Master Gage the Queenes Gentleman Vsher were still her Attendants all Queene Maries time But the death of Gardiner immediatly followed those stormes grew more calmer and the Lady Elizabeth euery day more affectionately respected King Philip by this his honourable and worthy act gayned him the loue of many the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdome and did thereby so indeare and ingratiate himselfe into the affections of the Commons Nota. that they turned their hate and distaste vpon those that had beene the chiefe opponents and maligners of the marriage So that they are indeede like a streame of water though turned out of the current yet will runne Hee euery day gayned more and more vpon the loues of the English King Philip gayned the loue of the English in his affection gracing and countenancing them and his owne Country men he carried himselfe wonderous euenly which kept good correspondencie betweene the two Nations though his marriage with Queene Mary made him Master of all here in England yet in his honest and iust disposition those Articles which he had formerly agreed vnto alwayes maistered his affections obsequiously and exactly performing them which is not alwayes seene in Princes he had the two chiefe ornaments belonging to a King that is to say mercy and Iustice for the one he was both a moderator and mediator King Philip his good disposition and inclination to Iustice what hee could to restraine those seuere and cruell persecutions committed in Queene Maries time then for Iustice he had a Princely inclination to haue it duly administered Amongst many there is one peece of Iustice noted in him an Englishman at London in single fight being killed by a Spaniard he was executed though by the Strangers two hundred Duckets were offered for the Spaniard his repriue which could not stay the hand of Iustice For that there will be further occasion hereafter in my intended course for the pursuing of this my relation I will write here no more of him in his particular as being not to be doubted he was no lesse worthy and graciously disposed a Prince then hee is here briefly discribed or at least howsoeuer if his vertues had not exceeded his imperfections which is a great happinesse to a State where such a King is by some of our Writers that haue written of those times we should haue heard of him at large King Philip frustrate of his hope for his heire vpon the fourth of September 1555. tooke shipping and went to visite his Father the Emperour and to take possession of the Low Countries where he stayed a yeare and a halfe to the great griefe of Queene Mary his wife But returning came to Douer hee was by the Queene met on the way and brought through London accompanied with many Peeres of the Realme as in triumph against a Coronation In the Kings absence many conspiracies had beene attempted but they were like vapours that are drawne vp by the Sunne and falls againe so those actors as commonly incident to such men were drawne vp with hemp by the hand of Iustice before they did any hurt Hollinsh Grafton the persons and perticular passages I also leaue to those Authors before mentioned The Emperour ouer-worne with the affaires of the world Grimston in his French History and wearied with the troubles of turmoyling warres or rather touched with remorse of conscience for the infinite miseries brought by him vpon Florence Naples Scicilie Tuscane Elbe and Calabria perswaded that those mournefull iarres of Christian Princes Nota. had giuen to the Turke aduantage vpon diuers parts of Europe Iarres of Christian Princes giueth aduantage to the Turke he called his sonne King Philip of England vnto Bruxels as is said where by authentick Letters resigned all his Realmes vnto him commanding all his Estates and Subiects to acknowledge and hold him their lawfull King and among many other instructions and most wise exhortations gaue him charge chiefly
to hold amity with the French least otherwise the warres of those puisant Nations might oppresse all Christendome Charles the Emperour as he hath beene discribed by those that haue written his life hee was an excellent wise Prince which is shewed both in that his sage and graue obseruation as also for his like Councell giuen to his sonne Philip. The consideration of both are fitting Nota. and sutable for these our now times as first the infinite miserable calamities that those Countries of Germany haue endured and may be brought vnto by the late Warres there and may giue much aduantage for the Turke against Christendome The other in likelihood it may be a great happinesse for a State to be in league and amity with a neighbour Nation that is opulent and powerfull and to haue it confirmed and fastened by marriage Nota. which commonly is then inuiolable There might be much written vpon this Subiect but I will leaue it to those of better ability to doe it onely as I passed by I haue called King Philip was much enclined to peace and Queene Mary his wife at that time much more both to hold him with her at home and to support the Religion which shee had againe raised by restoring the Clergie to their wonted possessions The Nobility would not part with the lands they had belonging to the Clergie The Queene by Parliament all such like lands she had whereof much was then held in the Noble mens hands from whose hard hold hardly could any thing be wrested But those in her owne shee freely resigned by Parliament with this most Christian resolution Princely saying that shee set more by the saluation of her owne soule then she did by the reuenewes of all the Kingdomes of the world and so committed the restoration and dispose thereof vnto the Pope and Cardinall poole his Legate to the great enritching of the Church and impouerishing of the Crowne King Philip following his Fathers aduice made peace with Fraunce which was to continue for fiue yeares The Pope besieged confined within the walls of Rome John Slcidon which no sooner was made then againe was broken one principall occasion was ministred by Pope Paul the fourth then an Enemy to the Spaniard whom Duke Alua had besieged and confined him within the walls of Rome hee sent to Henry the French king for ayde and withall sent him a tryumphant Hat with a stately Sword and thereupon had succour by the Guise who remoued the siege and set the Pope at liberty But the French decreasing for want of pay and the Spaniard still raising their Trophees of victory the Pope thought it the surest to hold with the strongest The Pope tooke the surest side reconciled himselfe to the Spaniard fell off from the amity of the French King and was reconciled to the Spaniard so that by this occasion there grew a strong party against the King of Fraunce For by King Philip and Queene Mary his wife he had both England and Spain against him and the Pope no lesse powerfull there then he was within the walls of Rome The occasion that Queene Mary tooke for the breach of the peace was more vpon pretences Iohn Stowes Annalls surmises and pickt quarrels then any iust cause ministred by the French King Queene Mary sent him a defiance and instantly proclaymed warres against Fraunce And King Philip her husband went in person for the prosecuting thereof The Queene immediatly sent after the King her husband the Earle of Pembroke Generall Viscount Mountacute with diuers Earles and Barons with a great Army who came to King Philip and ioyned with him whilst the Duke of Sauâ—y Brunswike the Earles of Egmonde Horne and Mansfield inuaded the French confines and planted a strong siege against Saint Quintens which shortly after by the English St. Quintens wonne by the English was nobly and victoriously wonne to the great losse and discomfort of the French Monsieur Mountomorancie Constable of Frunce and Generall was taken prisoner Queene Mary contrary to her promise and agreement made vpon her marriage with King Philip entangled her Subiects with the quarrels of the Spaniards The greatioy conceiued for the victory was shortly after dashed with as much sorrow for the losse of Galice The English after they had so gotten Saint Quintens they afforded to themselues either little list or leasure more or otherwise but betooke themselues to their delights disorders and pleasures and onely to keepe and make good what they had newly gotten grew negligent and carelesse of the Towne of Calice that the Forts thereabouts for defence being vnrespectiuely regarded wonne by that victorious Prince Edward the third and that by no lesse then eleuen moneths siege were in the compasse of eight dayes besieged surprized and wonne in the depth of Winter to the worldes wonder and not without great suspition of treachery which happened the the 12. day of lanuary and in the second moneth were surrendred the strong Fort of Guies and Hames whereby all the English sooting was lost in the continent of Fraunce So here you may see that our owne Writers affirme that the breach of the peace with the French King was not any wayes by the occasion of King Philip nor the losse of Calice by his default After his great victory at Saint Quintens he would admit no peace at all with the French but with restoring Calice vntill the English themselues without him made their peace and renownced Calice to the French for euer These Iosses were greeuous to the English Nobility and most of all to Queene Mary her selfe After she had abolished the Gospell restored the Popes Supremacie whatsoeuer she tooke in hand was no wayes prosperous but in all things infortunate her conceptions failing extreame dearthes rayning hurt done by thunders from heauen and Fire in the Royall Nauy Forraigne losses Calice surrendred which could neuer be recouered vpon any composition and King Philip alwayes in troubles and turmoyling warres occasioned his keeping from court so that Queene Mary her life during her raignet was little pleasurable or that she scance â—â—ioyed any delights or at lease little contentment as all which so much augmented hor melancholly which grew to a burning Feauer when she had raigned fiue yeares Queene Mary with griefe died she ended her life at her Mannour of St. Iames and lyeth interred amongst her Auncestors in the Abby of Westminster Now next in course doth follow the relation of the passages betweene England and Spaine after King Philip his returne thither which was immediatly after Queene Maries death and during the time of the raigne of the late Queene Elizabeth where then I come to the Spring head from whence the auersenesse and vnwillingnesse of the Commons doe rise for our Princes Royall match with Spaine the remembrance of the late Hostile warrs with other the passages which plebian like they haue by tradition as the Brittaines had the story of their times
deliuered them by their Druides These things being they concerne the breach of the league betweene England and Spaine may be thought too deepe and of too great a consequence of State to be medled withall I hope I shall minister no cause of offence nor innouation but rather giue satisfaction and occasion moderation For here I obserue in the Country the Papists in their discourses magnifying the Royall proceedings of King Philip and the Spaniards in generall lay some taxe and aspersion vpon the late Queene Elizabeth which is very harsh and much displeasing to the Protestants And then on the other side they vrge and agrauate against the Spaniards with much bitternesse and thereupon they fall into expostulation Pro Gon of the Princes match neither vnderstanding nor taking into their considerations more or farther then to make good their owne part conceit which breedeth difference amongst our selues maketh and maintaineth a partition wall betwixt the English and the Spaniards in such loue as should be betwixt Subiects whose Soueraignes are in league amity That the Commons might not so disobediently in their affections muteny against that which the King hath so laboured and doth so much desire to bring to passe as also for their so much expostulation thereof the scope of my endeuours onely end and ayme of my ambition is that these my labours might occasion some moderation therein For the better accomplishing thereof and giuing the better satisfaction in those particulars I will here relate some obseruations which the Papists haue formerly collected and vsually in their discourses will vrge them the vsage and carriage of the Spaniards towards the English and other Nations and the English towards them with some other former passages betweene the two Nations I could wish the Commons would beleeue these things so farre forth as their owne knowledge or true informations doe not extend the contrary and the Papists to doe the like for that which is here alleaged either concerning the late Queene Elizabeth or the King of Spaine neither part to be transported with passion but of those things to make a fauourable and the best construction and mutually to take them into a charitable and reconciliable consideration The particulars are as followeth The Papists alleage The Papists collections that King Phillip had a great desire to continue in league and amity with England and that after he returned into Spaine constantly maintained the same for thirty yeares together would neuer hearken to giue assistance to any the discontented English Nobility that would haue rebelled and in the yeare 1568. absolutely denyed aide to the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland and the Lord Dacres when they rose vp in rebellion in the North parts of England how the King afterwards to wit in the yeare 1575 for contenting her Maiesty at the Perswasion of some of his own Officers but namely the Cōmendador Maior that forthe present gouerned Flaunders was content to yeeld to the banishment of all English Papists out of his estate in Flaunders for the space of two years though he paid them alwaies their pensions to liue on as before And for the same consideration of friendship with the Queene and for keeping his league he denied diuers yeares help to the Irish that desired the same as namely in the yeare 1578. to Sir Iames Fitz-Morris and Sir Thomas Stukely Siukley slaine and to the later of them when afterwards he with some 5. or 600. men that he brought from Italy the King would not grant so much as a port in Spain to enter into wherby he was forced to passe to Lisborne where finding the King of Poxtugall ready to goe with his Army to Barbarie he could not refuse to goe with him was there slaine Sir Iames Fitz-Morris returning againe the next yeare to aske succours for the Irish to haue from Spaine some forces to carie for Ireland denied the same againe vntill at the last at the carnest suite of the Pope for that Doctor Saunders vpon his extreame zeale had aduentured to goe thither before in person to comfort the Irish not hauing with him aboue 50. men the King was contented to winke at and say nothing whiles Sega the Bishop of Placentia the Popes Nuncio vnder certaine of the Italian Captaines did send thither some fiue hundred Souldiers taken vpon the Sea coasts of Italy which were those that were slaine by the Lord Gray in Ireland Then doe the Papists farther vrge the Queenes taking of Flushing Brill and Oste-end and other Townes in Flaunders and likewise the assisting and countenancing of Duke Mathias at his first comming and after Monsicur Duke of Alenson and likewise the setting vp the title of Don Antonio King of Portugale and sending him into his Country with an Army The intercepting the King of Spaine his money first in the Duke of Alua his time and many times afterwards the sending of Hawkins Frobrisher Drake and Candish and others to the Indies and some of them euen to Spaine it selfe For which there were speciall Commissions graunted that whatsoeuer could be taken from the Spaniards to be held as lawfull reprisalls and those Commissions to be specified in Stowe his Chronicles Then they alleadge The breach of the peace between England Spaine that the King of Spaine did thereupon make arrests of the English ships then instantly grew enmity and oepn warres and afterwards viz. in the yeare 1588. the King of Spaine with his great Fleete attempted the inuasion of England which yet with many the English is too fresh in memory The Papists farther vrge and haue collected that in Nouember 1591. Queene Elizabeth published a strict Proclamation for searching out apprehending and punishing of Seminaries and Iesuites and such as receiued and fauoured them in England sharpe seuere lawes made and executed vpon them and further both to put feares and doubts into the heads of the Commons as also to exasperate them against the Spaniards Farther vrging that the King of Spaine his great power forces and wealth were dangerous to England possessing more Crownes Kingdomes and countries then euer any Christian Prince had before and yet ambitiously seeketh more endeauouring to make himselfe absolute Monarch of the world and that his cariage towards other Princes and their subiects was tyrannous and those nations which he subdued were cruelly dealt withall and kept in great slauery The Papists for all these particulars hane collected appologicall defences which in their arguments and discourses they will much insist vpon to the high commendations of the Kings of Spaine their royall and gratious proceedings with other Princes and towards their subiects as also with their owne which are as followeth First they propose and recommend it to consideration For the conceaued opinion amongst the English that the Kings of Spaine their gouernment is strict or rather indeed somewhat cruell the maine occasion thereof is The countries dominions and territories are very large and spacious many of them atchieued by
victorious but Apostolicall in the gaining of new Prouinces to the Christian Faith and the rather for that this victory and conquest is obtained without much effusion of bloud whereby it is to bohoped that there shall be gained not onely new territories but infinite soules to the Church of Christ whom the Almighty as it seemes would haue to be conuerted Herewithall he did relate some of the most memorable particulers of the warre and victorie and after his speech ended the whole assembly went solemnly in procession and Te Deum was sung Then for the other particuler obseruation I collected and cited was in the raigne of Philip the second King of Spaine here formerly treated of And about the 14. yeare of the late Queene Elizabeth the Turke hauing conquered many Ilands and Cities bordering vpon the Seas and in the yeare 1571. knowing deuision among diuers Christian Princes as well for matters of Religion as affaires of State vpon hope of which aduantage he assembled a great Army of Gallies presuming thereby to make himselfe Master of the Sea and Lord of the Land they were encountred by the Christians The battell of Lepanto For the which Don Iohn de Austria a braue Commaunder was sent by the King of Spaine with a great Fleete of Ships Gallies and Galliasses so that at one instant there were sunke and taken 230. of the Turkish Gallies and 30000. Mahamotists slaine besides many taken prisoners There were 12000. Christians redeemed from Turkish slauery and 8000. slaine with the losse of leauen or eight Gallies Our Writers affirme Stowe that the Spanish Fleete was a mayne occasion of that memorable victory and that the Galliasses did admirable seruice in that expedition Loe here you see the King of Spaine his commendation by the Papists extended to the height with some taxe of the late Queene Elizabeth wherein I haue beene sparing in my relation to that they will speake in some bitternesse they doe therein but as men that throwe dust against the winde Her Royall worth is left behinde recorded farre more durable then in Letters of Br4asse a Princesse of blessed fame and euerlasting memory to write of her commendation any thing neere in proportion to her deseruing it is a worke for excellent Writers They may in that faculty excell but vpon that subiect neuer exceede therefore for my particuler I will begin and conclude both together she had euery way as many vertues as could liue and more then could dye I doe not here reuine nor make repetition of these things to giue farther occasion of faction but rather for the present moderate and in the end some way reconcile and reclaime the disaffections of the common people presuming they will produce no other effects as when the Country people especially those affected to Papistry shall vnderstand and take into their considerations former passages and then being not so peremptory and confident as now they are to crosse greeue and agrauate against those that in respect of religion in their affections haue beene somewhat vnwilling for our Princes Royall match I presume it cannot but rather farther moderation and community then otherwise The Papists did not obserue or at least doe not desire it should that though the King of Spame did often denie to afford succours to the Irish Rebels yet at the last as by their owne collections appeare did winke and say nothing when Doctor Saunders and Sega the one going ouer into Ireland in person the other sending forces thither so that Queene Elizabeth her succouring those in Flaunders which the King of Spaine held Rebels she did no more then he did but onely the difference was she wont roundly and resolutely on and the King of Spaine somewhat reserued and priuately And the monies taken from Duke Alua and other rich prizes brought in by Hawkins Frobisher Drake and Cauendish they were onely to pay the Souldiers Queene Elizabeth was of such a gracious Royall disposition she could not endure but to haue her Souldiers payde the money should haue payde Duke Alua his Souldiers but it payde them that fought against him so that it was but misimployed The king of Spaine doubtlesse was desirous to haue continued his league with England whereof he made many good demonstrations therefore I could wish hee should not loose his due commendation in that particular But it seemed hee presumed on Queene Elizabeths patience that for suffering as it were but a handfull of Souldiers of his Subiects to goe for Ireland to assist the Rebels there thought so small an occasion would not haue broken the league But it seemes peace long before was laide vp that it became a dry commodity so that it soone tooke fire Then for the Proclamation vrged against Queene Elizabeth published in Nouember 1591. with the seuere lawes then made and executed against the Papists they were alwayes plotting conspiring and attempting the taking away her life those lawes were but like a good and skilfull Phisician that drew some bloud to preserue much more the life of our Soueraigne and indeede the life and light of the Gospell Tyrants shed bloud for pleasure Princes for necessity Let the proceedings of her predecessor be put into the other balance there will bee found great difference Wherefore it is best for all parties either wayes affected to let these things alone vnreuiued neither weighed nor farther discoursed of I will here vnder sauour presume to adde some obseruations which may some way moderate the disaffections of the common people towards the Spaniards concerning those particular passages before mentioned The Pope you see was Author though hee made the King of Spaine Actor for the breach of the peace as being too much led by the Pope which was no extraordinary thing Let vs but reade our English Chronicles wee shall there finde that many of our most puissant and victorious Kings here in England their powers and prerogatiues haue beene captiuated by the Pope and some by them brought to vntimely ends alwayes working vpon them and the indisposition of the times where they saw either a weake Prince a factious Nobility or a mutinous Commons by their directions their Legates and Clergie would be alwayes working to make the Pope and themselues maisters both of the King and Kingdome If they would teach Kings truly the wayes of righteousnesse let God alone with his prouidence Princes with their inheritances not to deuise and direct stratagems nor be so violent wheresoeuer they get dominion to suppresse the Protestant Religion and aduance the Romane Catholique it would bhee a most blessed happinesse to all Christendome Then lastly the King of Spaine his attempt in 88. was by the Popes instigation had no doubt his benediction for assurance of good successe therein but it had a contrary effect brought a malediction and an infausting vpon him and his King dome as an ill Prognostick which in the euent proued true The Spaniards haue no cause to ioy at the remembrance thereof
seditious practises some distracted with factions some transported with dissentions some carried headlong with furie others to saue themselues from some punishment they haue formerly deserued or else hauing intangled or rather prodigally consumed then inheritance Novandis quam gerendis rebus aptiores rather desiring factions and disorders then to haue affaires of State settled as knowing they can receiue no benefit by the well settling and composure thereof as the sicke disrelisheth all meates whatsoeuer so distempered dispositions doe all passages of State be they neuer so good and are indeed a kinde of wilde beasts that sometimes brings themselues into the toyle occasioning the vertues and loyalties of some good men to be suspected his Maiestie highly discontented and the subiect thereby infinitely preiudiced Both of the Protestants and Papists in England to many of them doe perticipate of those imperfections such indeed as are drawne from the Lees of each Religion First for the Papists some of them are growne so impetuous vnbounden and vnlimmited both in their carriage and discourses proposing and maintaining dangerous and fearefull positions insolently intimating what a golden time they now shall haue these things doe much grieue and produce great feares to many that are truly religious and zealosly affected let vs not doubt but that by Gods grace the Kings wisedome and integrity they shall freely enioy that happinesse to haue quietnesse and contentment in their courses of life and consciences vntill their liues end when many of those Papists who in respect of their former exploits and practises haue beene found very dangerous shall haue a straighter hand carried ouer them then otherwise Then there are of those which only in seeming are somewhat more then Protestants their farther discription would aske a long discourse which I will omit More then this they thinke they haue much knowledge when indeed it is meere ignorance and that engenders vehemency and vehemency produceth passion then with true sincere and regular discipline there is no co-operation His Maiesty hath beene pleased to denote them long since in a speech he made in his higher house of Parliament as saying they were a people that were euer discontented with the present gouernment and impatient to suffer any superioritie which maketh their sectvnable to be suffered in any well gouerned Common-wealth many of them thinke they cannot misse the way to heauen if they be opposite to the Pope and yet in another way will meet the Papist in superstition they haue so much talked expostulated of our Princes Royall match and in their dispositions and discourses mutening so much against it occasioning many to doe the like forecasting and seeming to foreknow future euents preiudicating dangers both for religion and state polliticke of the kingdome so that they thereby and that sort of Papists before mentioned with their insolencie and boldnesse haue much preiudiced the Common-wealth amuzeth the countrie people making them stand as it were at a gaze so spending their time buying selling all dealings in the countrie more then for victuals and clothes are much out of vse great scarcitie of money euery where complained of they finde by wofull experience that royall Trading and commerce are much decayed and our money which was wont to be imployed therein is now conuerted into the basterd and barren imployment of Vsury Lands and Rents fallen and cloathing failed so that the poore in that course neither scarce in any haue beene set a worke whereby they haue endured the extremity of hunger of all extremities the extreamest The affaires and passages amongst men doe not runne so smooth as they were wont to doe all cry out want of money some that haue it sits as it were abrood thereon they will not vent nor aduenture it as saying they will first see what will become of the world which is now a common phrase some now and then speaking as they would haue it as saying the world will mend the reply that follows is Nay it will be worse Yet it hath pleased God out of his infinite goodnesse and mercy so to deale with vs God giue vs grace to be thankfull that for our enioying the fruits of the earth the times haue beene very seasonable and we haue and are like to enioy them in great plenty Yet the state and condition we doe and are like to liue in onely preiudicated and chiefly by our selues occasioned will rather be miserable then happy We are falling into the latter dayes ignorance and heresie striues to get the vpper hand It is said that God aboue all men doth inspire Kings and then it is like he doth and will inspire great Councellours of State aboue ordinary men therefore let vs pray vnto God they may consult and debate of the reasons worke and effect the remedies I am now come neere the end of my stage though some man of better ability which had beene farre more fitter to haue vndertaken this work I am consident against all those good Wiues formerly mentioned to haue come from Spaine and all the reasons that either hath or can be alleaged that in all likelyhood and probability the match may be happy and successefull for England the obiection will be Exempla illustrant sed non probant in those former times there was a vniformity of Religion so that now the difference therein is the onely stone of offence and the maine occasion conceaued of the feares and doubts of dangers may ensue as well to the Church reformed as to the polliticke and state affaires of the kingdome I must ingenuously confesse my home-bred imaginations did fly with the flocke I am no Courtier of whom there be too many that vpon the shift of euery King or Princes mariage doe please themselues with some probable proiect of preferment before all other respects or considerations whatsoeuer I doe not yet much ioy at the match nor should sorrow if it should not be onely in point of religion I will pray vnto God and hope we may haue cause to ioy thereat hereafter in the meane time I will not further trouble my selfe as being not the dutie of subiects to intermeddle or busie themselues with the actions of their King neither in their dispositions and discourses to mutiny against the match if his Maiestie and our hopefull Prince shall be pleased to proceed therein all that we haue to do is only to obey and pray to God to direct all things for the best relying on his prouidence the Kings wisdome and integrity and without our further expostulations to let his Maiestie and his Councell alone in the businesse Certainly God will be glorified and whatsoeuer man doth or shall determine he will dispose It is said by him Kings raigne and Princes decree Iustice Pro. 8.15 I haue to my selfe both grounded and collected some particular considerations which giues me confidence and reall satisfaction that there is no such cause of doubts and dangers for the Protestant religion or state polliticke of the
kingdome as is generally feared Which collections I will here in my conclusion relate onely inuiting vnto them my countrie neighbours and friends and doe therein according to the fashion of Feasters wish their cheere better for their satisfaction Though the eyes of humane prouidence cannot see beyond that Horizon as directly to discerne future contingents yet can they onely iudge what seemes fit to be done by probabilitie grounded vpon mature consideration and profound iudgement therefore let vs not feare nor doubt but that by Gods infinite goodnesse and mercy the Kings great prouidence iudgement and integrity for religion there will be a gracious royall prouision and preseruation made Amongst the countrie people there is much feare and doubt conceiued the Pope in his power and prerogatiue being so predominant bth in Spaine and with other forraine Princes by them as Stales we may be drawne into that net The King that doth so much insist vpon his prerogatiue here in his owne kingdome that will not admit any dyminution therein that he should now giue way to haue it subiected to such a dangerous sorraine power there is no manner of likelyhood There haue beene many of our Kings of England Roman Catholik Princes that haue beene at difference with the Pope that were Roman Catholiques and other Forraine Princes yea and Spaine it selfe which I will here make bold to tell them wearied and tyred out with the insupportable pressures of the Pope haue beene at great difference with him at mortall enmity and open warre as namely Henry the fift the Emperour haning by the Popes instigation banded against his father Henry the fourth who associated him in the Empire and held him prisoner in that distresse that he died touched after with remorse of this act Note and reproach of the State for abandoning the rightes of the Empire leuies sixtie thousand foote and thirty thousand horse for Italy constrained the Pope and his Colledge to acknowledge the rights of the Empire in that forme as Leo the fourth had done to Otho the second and before that Adrian to Charlamaine according to the decree of the Councell of Rome and made him take his oath of fidelity betweene his hands as to the true and lawfull Emperour The Pope so soone as Henry was departed home assembles a Councell nullifies his acknowledgement as done by force and shortly after died The Emperour to make himselfe the stronger against his successors Note enters into aliance with the King of England takes to wise Maude the daughter to Henry the first being but fiue yeares of age Calixti the next succeeding Pope at a Councell held at Remes by ecclesiasticall sentence caused Henry the Emperour to be declared an enemy to the Church and degraded him of his Imperiall dignity The King of England seeing this Councell was held in France composed chiefly of the Gallicane Church desirous to ouer-master Louis the King of France incenses his sonne in Law the Emperour to set vpon him as the Popes chiefe piller on one side and he would assaile him on the other The Emperour easily wrought to such a businesse prepares all his best forces the King of England doth the like The King of France seeing this storme comming so impetuously vpon him wrought so with the princes of Germante as they taking into their consideration the future mischiefe of a warre rashly and vnaduisedly taken with the importance of a kinde neighbourhood aduised the Emperour not to enter thereinto till he had signified to the King of France the causes of his discontent Whereupon Embassadours were dispatched to the King of France who answers that he grieued much to see the two greatest pillers of the Church thus shaken with those dissentions which might hazzard the ruine of the whole Frame that he was a friend to them both and would labour and endeauour all he could to mediate an attonement rather then adde fewell to a fire too fierce already which he desired to extinguish for the good and quiet of Christendome This Ambassage and answer so tooke that the Emperour was diuerted from his former resolution and was glad to haue Louis a mediator of the accord betweene the Pope and him which shortly after was concluded at Wormes for the Popes aduantage to whom the Emperour yeelds vp the right of the inuestitures of Bishops and other benefices The King of England expecting great matters to haue risen by this businesse was highly displeased being so disappointed of the Emperours assistance proceedes notwithstanding in his intentions against Louis Betweene them there were many great conflicts with the expence of much bloud and charges which is the onely fruit warre affordeth but in the end both wearied and tyred out a peace was concluded Then of late yeares as it hath beene here formerly related in the raigne of King Philip the second there was enmity and open warres betweene Pope Paul and the Spaniard The Pope besieged and confined within the walls of Rome by Duke Alua relieued by the French King yet fell from him and reconciled himselfe to the Spaniard as to the stronger side That the Pope cannot erre in matter of faith his power to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdomes are two mayne positions the Papists holde both which I humbly leaue to our Diuines to deale with them therein But for those two particulars here now mentioned and many other former passages of the Pope the vulgar may iudge In the time of Queene Elizabeth did familiarly and freely giue Bishopricks in Ireland but those that had them so giuen could neuer gaine possession Then farther there can be no such feares doubts for the alteration of Religion as is apprehended if we take into consideration these particulars following First we hauing a well ordered and well gouerned Kingdome where Religion is established Rites and Ceremonies ordained and by a long vse and custome receiued and confirmed the many apparent probabilities of the Kings integrity the many rare and worthy learned men that are in the Kingdome considered The King though Prince-like for his recreations and that his affections haue beene caried with some delights and pleasures yet hath he been so studious that he is learned beyond expectation and custome of great Princes and for his integrity it is of fifty seauen yeares growth hath made thereof many religious worthy expressions both by his learned works and words and indeede hath shot such arrowes which will hang in the sides of the Romish Religion in after ages as he is Defender of the Faith by title he will so continue in truth The first that had the Title was Henry the eight giuen him by Pope Leo the tenth for writing against Luther After his conuersion and suppression of Popery yet retayned he that stile and afterwards during the raignes of Edward the sixth the late famous Queene Elizabeth and our now Soueraigne it hath beene continued and doubtlesse by him will be maintained Amongst many his worthy expressions of himselfe therein
in one of his workes he thus declareth that it is one of the principall parts of the duty which appertaines to a Christian King to protect his true Church within his owne Dominions to extirpate heresies is a maxime without all controuersies In which respect those honourable titles of Custos Vindex vtriusque tabulae keeper and reuenger of both tables of the law and Nutricius Ecclesiae nursing Father of the Church doe rightly belong to euery Emperour King and Christian Monarch so that there is no question or imagination that he will suffer the Religion now professed to come vnder the Egiptian seruitude of the Pope But rather will be like a goodly Caedar tree of full growth irremoueable not to be otherwise or other where set or planted vnder whom his Subiects shall sit safe and protected Our hopefull Prince a branch thereof will be of the like kinde affording the same fruit who doubtlesse will now be the more precious in that kinde in respect of his late trauell and triall longed for the sweet comfort and preaching of the Gospell according to the saying of the Psalmist euen as the thirsty Hart did for the watry Brook Though he hath bin amongst the Sirens his eares would admit no audience a sound was alwayes in them as if hee heard his religeous Father King Iames speaking vnto him 1. Chro. 28.9 as sometimes holy Dauid spake vnto his sonne Salomon And thou Charles my sonne know thou the God of thy Father serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all the hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seeke him he will be found of thee if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for euer all which serued onely but as addition Our Prince his integrity is such so firmely settled in the true Religion now professed that there was no possibility of his alteration For which we are infinitely bound vnto God and an incomprehensible happinesse it is to the Kingdome that his disposition all his courses and carriages affording all Royall and Princely vertues as indeede meerely composed thereof his patience farre exceeding his passion which bringeth peace to himselfe and victory ouer others free from all imperfections that Princes many times are subiect vnto the more hauing no strict nor disciplinated education but rather soothed and flattered in all they say or doe What an exceeding great comfort and ioy may we take to see his willing heart and ready hand to receiue the Petitions and complaints of the poore distressed Subiects and his gracious disposition to see them relieued which doubtlesse will occasion the whole progression of his life to bee much the more happy and prosperous gaine him blessed fame and euerlasting memory and a Crowne of glory in a better Kingdome Positiuely our King and Prince the one for paternall affection the other for filial obedience for after ages may be worthy patternes That by the Spanish Lady her comming ouer the Protestant Religion should be any wayes endangered or subiect to alteration there is not so much likelihood as probability she may come to be a Protestant for these reasons following the effects of true loue are great and the rather she being a young tender Princesse and farre from her owne Country and friends amongst whom she hath bin bred and now come to haue others new and liuing in their companies she may of her owne accord by degrees haue her affections incorporated amongst them borne and bred amidst the pleasures and delights of the Court accustomed to Royall Courtship may much farther it Townes before they yeeld doe vsually parle That the Lady neither can nor will auoyde and then hauing so pleasing an obiect to the eye and so Royall an affailant in such a person as our hopefull Prince is These things may goe neere the point to doe it Then her Ladies and Maydes of Honour which of like at the first will be the Cabinets of her Councell and other her followers though Sermons they will not heare yet when in daily discourses they shall haue such siege and battery laide to their Romish Religion by an Army of reuerend Bishops Doctors and many famous learned Preachers in that kinde the whole forces of our Kingdomes assuredly it will rather loose ground then gaine any the proper nature of Religion is farre sooner to be perswaded by reason then forced by constraint Those are the two things that Religion stands on the world cannot create a new creature be it neuer so little So no law of man nor compulsion can make a good Christian in heart without inward grace wherein the Minister is to perswade and leaue the successe to God More famous learned and worthier men no age euer afforded who will be a glory to the age The King and they as the Sunne and Moone and some others of the Clergie as lesser Starres will make perfection of light though they contribute somewhat lesse will make the light of the Gospell in the course and manner as it is now professed shine so bright that it shall dimme all Romish superstition and Idolatry as the blessed Sunne doth a burning Taper and there shall be no such Curtaine drawne to keepe out the light but that it shall shine ouer the whole face of the earth that wee shall see their good workes and bee taught by them to glorifie our heauenly Father The two famous Vniuersities the Spheares from whence learning and so consequently the true knowledge of Religion hath his motion they will not be ecclipsed Let vs be confident that our Iosuah and his Clergie being of his house will professe whatsoeuer other Nations doe hee and they will serue the Lord. If any of the Clergie when they shall come to the touch proue not right as peraduenture some of them may not it will be said of them Yee children of Ierusalem weepe and lament that for want of courage you betray your Master So in conclusion wishing the countrie people from henceforth in their resolutions would be satisfied and not to trouble themselues as now they doe in their expostulations of our Princes royall match nor take vpon them to foreknow and preiudicate that dangers may ensue either for matters of religion or gouernment but abandon all doubts and dispaire of those things and rather take it to their comforts hopes or rather indeed assurances that all those things formerly related will rather so come to passe then otherwise and that there will be no more such rubbes in the passages of State affaires as late haue beene but will runne smoothe as formerly they haue done and all dealings and passages betweene man and man will come againe into their course and current and the Iron age we haue lately liued in will haue an end which may be the beginning of a golden world so soone as it shall please God our Princes royall match be once setled For his safe returne and the assurance wee haue of his integritie with vnanimous hearts let vs giue God hearty thankes and pray that his mariage may bring with it glory to him on high peace and good will to those on earth and all happinesse and ioy to his Highnesse to the compleat comfort contentment and good of the King and kingdome and to Reigne many yeares honouring the age wee now liue in with the merits of their wisedomes and integrities and finally that their selicities in this world may ouertake that in the next and make them weare perpetuall Crownes of Gods glory and their owne and that successiuely their Royall Progenies may sit vpon the thrones of their kingdomes euen to the worlds end FJNJS