whom adjoyn the Clanchattons and Dunbars Huntley advertised that Murray and Athol were to confederate with those Glamis in Forres intends to dissolve that knot ere it were hard bound but before he came they fever themselves and Murray returns to Huntley's way lay by the House and some of his men braving thereabout they within discharge some Shot which killed Gordon and for which Huntley invades the other with Forces and Murray assisted by Arroll his Cosin prepare to defend These tidings came to the King whose command separates each one to his own home which served the turn for a time but brake out in disorder after Another of the same nature an antient emulation of the Kers the one of Cesfords Family the other of Farnherst for the Wardenry of the Middle Marches and the Provostry of Iedbury which the Heir of Farnherst William Ker a young Spark maintains to the death and in a Trial of Theft before the Council for English Goods stollen it was taken as done in spleen and derogate to the honour of Sir Robert Ker of Cesford the Fellow being his follower The lady Cesford of an haughty heart never ceased peuling until her Son had basely murthered the other These were men of good repute wise and of great courage and of much loss to the Borders the one dead the other undone who fled for his life until he made a large satisfaction for maintenance of the fatherless children and by Marriage with the Chancellours Niece came again to his Family and into favour We have hinted heretofore of the Northern Nations much inclining to Witchcraft and in Scotland those of great Families this Winter produced many Examinations Agnes Simson the wife of Kieth a Matron of a grave and settled behaviour she declared that her Familiar appeared in a visible form and resolved her doubts concerning the Life or Death of any she used to call him Holla Master Ho la in Spanish Who is there as he directed her and confessed that Bothwell bid her inquire of the Kings Reign Life and Death whom the Devil undertook to destroy but failing confessed to her not to be in his power speaking words in French which she understood not but could repeat them Il est homme de Dieu Another one Richard Graham confessed the like against Bothwell which was the cause of his Commitment out of which he escapes by corrupting his Keeper and so far guilty hath his Doom of Forfeiture and is denounced Traitor the Proclamation speaks That he being tender in bloud to the King and further advanced in Honors and Offices above his Birth having heretofore in an unnatural humor committed Slaughters raised Arms against his Majesty and practised with strangers against the Religion and whereof his Conviction in May 1589. was superseded in hope of amendment but since heaping Treasons he concluded with the consult of Witches against the Kings Life as by confession of sundry persons appears and for all being committed he hath broken Prison and thereby taken these Crimes upon him which concludes him a Traitor But he enters band with the Lord Hume and others and being forsaken flies into England his secret Harbours till next year The Archbishop of St. Andrews lies Bed-rid and fallen into some wants by mis-government the Presbyters like Crows about Carrion the common way of the Romish Catholicks to procure Proselytes labour him to leave some Lines under hand his opinion of matters of Discipline they form his words That he did not trouble himself then with thoughts of that nature and had never allowed of any other Bishop of the Church but St. Paul ' s Bishop to which he would sign And so Articles were drawn framed to their Design which he subscribed but whether in truth he did so or some for him or that their charity seldom upon better terms wrought upon his necessity or weakness of his spirits the Recantation came forth in publick of which injury he complained and committing his cause to Gods justice died the end of this year and accounted a man of some scale in Learning as they seldom want to account of themselves one commending another if he dies a Proselyte to them But presently that Church falls into Schism several Assemblies to compose Dissentions set up several Superintendents in one Presbytery or Popedom the Lay Parishioners siding with each Faction and coming to the question most Voyces pretended best interest but the other had gotten a new Paradox Quod suffragia essent ponder anda non numeranda and yet to end strife they part stakes and divide the Presbytery the one to sit at Cowper the other at St. Andrews I mention this for a Note That of all men none could worse endure parity and loved more to command than these which introduced it into the Church We have had to do with Secretary Walsingham of England and may not forget to take our leave of him also that lived not out this year He was industrious wise and religious a searcher in the secrets and mysteries of all States he had an art in past imitation to dive into mens dispositions and something for polite service screw simple Proselytes beyond common danger his Preferment no higher than Secretary and Chancellour of the Duchy of Lancaster and with Honour of the Garter his profuse expence for Intelligence abroad and at home kept him under compass during life and dying so poor that they buried him by dark in Paul's Quier Another of the same Sir Thomas Randolph so near in time that Death might do it with one Dart He was bred a Civilian and taken from Pembroke College in Oxford to Court from thence his Imployments were forein Embassies thrice to the Peers in Scotland and thrice to the Queen seven times to King James and thrice to Basilides Emperour of Russia once to Charls the Ninth of France and again to Henry the Third he was advanced to the Office of Chamberlain in the Exchequer and to be Master of the Ports the first formerly of great profit the later not so till these last times of ours which we make of immense gain but he was rich of children and therefore in my Lord Bacons opinion poor in Purse he had leave to retire some time before his Death to which his advice to Walsingham to leave the Tricks of a Secretary as himself would the deceis of an Ambassadour Sir Henry Wootton afterwards observed as much who could example with the most Hoc tandem didici says he animas sapientiores â—ieri quiescendo To accompany these of the Gown died that gallant man at Arms George Talbot created Earls by Henry the Sixth and he the sixth Earl of Shrewsbury who in Queen Maries Reign with three thousand Foot in the Scotish Wars rescued the Earl of Northumberland at Lowick he was of the appointed Guard of that Queen whilest here in Prison and succeeded the Duke of Norfolk and Marshal of England and in much honour
A COMPLEAT HISTORY OF The LIVES and REIGNS OF MARY Queen of SCOTLAND And of Her Son and Successor JAMES The Sixth KING of SCOTLAND And After Queen Elizabeth King of GREAT BRITAIN FRANCE and IRELAND The First Of ever Blessed Memory Reconciling several Opinions In Testimony of Her and Confuting others in Vindication of Him against two scandalous Authors 1. The Court and Character of King James 2. The History of Great Britain Herein is expressed The particular Affairs of Church and State The Reformation of the One The Policies and Passages of the Other The frequent Disturbances of Both By Wars Conspiracies Tumults and Treasons with the contemporary actions of Neighbor Nations in reference to this whole Island Faithfully performed By WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq London Printed for Humphrey Moseley Richard Tomlins and George Sawbridge and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at Py-Corner and on Lud-Gate-Hill MDCLVI THE PROEME TO THE First Part. TO be in print without a Preface is not the Mode now and though it intends to let in the Reader as the Porch to a Palace yet it seems to be built up after the Book For uâ—ually it discovers the weakness of the Work by an ingenuous Confession of more faults than some other man may find out and so craves favour I prefix this really before I write more of the matter And therefore to pretend excuse for what shall follow amiss might seem a presumptuous sin as if I meant to offend Not but that Offences will come and may be found out hereafter more properly then to be summ'd up in the end of all and added to the Escapes of the Presse and so to plead the Generall Pardon Our Design is History commonly divided into 3. Kinds 1. Memorials A naked Narrative without contexrure of Things and Actions 2. Antiquity The Shipwrack of History somewhat saved from the Deluge of Distruction and so subject to question as that excellent History of the World done by Sir Walter Raleigh with exact diligence which yet indures the examination of his Errours by One who in truth took much pains to worst it the more that Master-peice by the Epitomy which besides the injury to the Work it self becomes unprofitable to the Readers expectation With these two kinds we mean not to meddle 3. But with Perfect History being in truth that which comprehends a Chronocled Time representing the life of a Prince with the Narrative of actions relative therefore with little favour of different opinions may be accounted the most compleat for Estimation Profit and Use in the magnitude of Affairs Men and Matter And of this nature Our Histories of England are said to be defective in the Main And for that of Scotland too too partial as done by different affections and interest in matters Ecclesiastical and Civil Therefore it hath been accounted worthy the labour to mold them both into one Body joined to these times from their first conjunction in Union of the Roses to the uniting of the Kingdomes The latter hath been in some sort set out single to our hand by a Compendium of the 5. King Iames's immediately succeeding each other and lately done by William Drummond After whom we intend to take up the Remain Beginning where he leaves with the birth of Mary instantly succeeding the Death of her Father Iames the fifth with the contemporary actions of neighbour Princes And so to her Son and Successor Iames the sixth and after the death of Queen Elizabeth of Great Brittain France and Ireland the first and last King compleat in right of issue descended from Margaret eldest Daughter unto Henry the seventh of England and Iames the fourth of Scotland with Re-union in that antient Title of Brittain But in brief The first Union of Marriage begat a present Peace between Henry the seventh of England and Iames the fourth of Scotland And at that instant Scotland brought forth a Prodigious Monster of Man under the waste like other men the Members both for use and comliness were two and standing it was indifferent to which of the two Bulks the Legs belonged This Bifrons had different passions and divers wills chiding each other and quarreling until by over-wrangling they unwillingly agreed and was cherished by the King taught languages and lived eighteen years A Monstrous Omen to the Union This Iames was young and active for twenty five years of his Reign having occasion to cope with two Henries the Seventh and Eighth of England Father and Son successively The first took his Entry here by Arms and Establishment by marriage Yet the times proved to him like strong Tides full of Swellings but well mannaged by the wisdome of an able Pylot through all storms being of himself the most sufficient Sovereign of any his Predecessours Between Him and Iames the fourth there had been distempers ever espousing the French Quarrels And therefore their times produced sundry great mutations treacherous false and deceiving the events belying the Beginnings Princes mostly inconsiderate before they imbarque whether their Wars be just or necessary and may serve Examples of great mens frailty After the death of Henry the seventh succeeded his Son Henry the eight young and wealthy whose actions had more of Gallantry than Honour though he meddled with the mixed Affairs for ballancing the Western Monarchy amongst the Pretenders Germany Spain and France with the change of Religion to reformed And so soon as ingaged against Louis of France Iames interposed as to divert him Enters upon Ireland invades the English Borders and after comes to handy blowes in Northumberland The English six and twenty thousann the Scots many more and at Flowden Field 1513. a wondrous slaughter on both sides and Iames in the Fight was lost as in a Fog for ever though he acted so well his affected Popularity that his loss became more disconsolate to his People than any his Predecessors His Son succeeds a cradle King seventeen Moneths old under Tutelage of his Mother who implores Henry her Brother for compassion upon a Widow-Sister and an Orphan-Nephew not to wage War but to defend them He answers like himself With the mild he was meek and with the froward he could fight But she too weak for her wild Subjects marries with the Earl of Angus and being disdained for matching so meanly the Duke of Albany of Scots race begotten in Exile is sent for out of France to govern them at home The success may soon be imagined for the Scots heretofore had killed Iames the first covenanted with Iames the second overthrown Iames the third and some say mislaied Iames the fourth and now hardly submit to a Stranger The Queen and Angus fly to England and here she is brought to Bed of Margaret Grand-Mother to King Iames the sixth Conspiracies increase in Scotland fomented from Henry the eighth till horrid Rapines wearied each party into a Peace at home and England also And thus freed from War for a time the Governour Duke executes Justice upon such
UNion of both Nations intended 320 argued and the Kings answer 338 Vorstius and Arminius their Heresies and story 370 Villiers a favourite his story 455 Master of the Horse and Marquess 489 Earl and Duke 547 goes with the Prince into Spain 542 quarrels with Olivares 551 returns to the Ships 552 his Declaration to the Parliament 559 W. WAr the consequence 281 Whitgift Arch-Bishop dies 307 Waldenses vindicated 376 Sir Henry Wootton his Embassies to the Emperour and Princes in Germany 485 Dr. Williams Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Lincoln and Lord Keeper 504 his character 507 Y. SIr Henry Yelverton Prisoner and why 499 his Letters to the Duke of Buckingham 500 THE PROEME TO THE Seeond Part. WE now enter on the second part the Accession of a Crown rightly descended to King James by Succession from the Union of Marriage long since to this re-union of Kingdoms now as a period in shew of all Trepidation and Motions in him and his Posterity but the eye of all-seeing Wisdom hath with his powerful hand of Providence dissipated those designs and aims of perpetuity and hath not left any one of his in present possession of any part of his inheritance And though the prevailing Party minds no other Iustification than Success yet some men more busie than useful take upon them by deformed writings and Pasquilles to conclude this Fabrick from such Foundation as they please to contribute their Counterfeit Materials with their Prophecies Policies Directories Narratives and such like stuff the general blauch upon former Soveraigns Each one professing Truth to countenance their affectiions and Passions which alter too with the subsequence of Time and State And thereby comes to be published sundry Rapsodies Petit-Pamphlets and Papers But yet if you deny their Tenents you are forthwith to be taken for a State Heretique Non servata unitas nisi in credendo omnia 〈…〉 For though there may be granted great Antipathy between the former and this State in Civil Policy yet no such matter from thence for our disobedience now What ever may be pretended by Others I conceive the People no meet Iudge or Arbitrator For my part I am witness to my self as that no contradiction shall supplant in me the Reverence I ow to Authority Neither shall any Adveâ—saries by Calumny embase my Opinion and high Esteem of K. Iâ—â—es his just Merits and Royal Memory The Indisposition of these later times having pierced with Accusations very many Men of excellent Virtues Mala dicta ingenere concinnatis calumniis They leave all reveâ—end compassion tâ—wardâ— evâ—â—s or religious indignation towards faults turn all into a Satyr search and rip up wounds with smiling impudence and strain their counterfeit zeal to the publick with untruths abominable Et magnis Mendacii Credulitas Welcome whisperings are quickly heard where potent malice is Promoter They tragitally aggravate infirmities and slips unworthily upbraiding adverse Fortunes and that their belief herein must necessarily be the more perfect which is most degrees removed from the last Actors and so becomes Postumi erroris filii Non tam in odium boni Quam amorem Mali Proclives sumus As one saith These Kingdomes in King James time grown aged in happinesseâ— that as men used to say of the spiced air of the Sabaeans Summus quidem Odor sed voluptas Minor The very excess seemed to abate the pleasure Or as the hot sent of Musk to some Savors seem to stink Repetions of our Blessings then did not so much affect our Nations as dull them Peace made us wanton Plenty 〈◊〉 Mâ—â—ies secure Our Benefits then became our Weapons to rebell against his fame now The whole Land being sowred by the Peoples Sins too much felicity introdâ—â—ed Luxury and Correllaries of Vices Pride Ambition Contempt of things Divine and â—umane This Nation in short time sick of a surfeit of Health afterwards broke with two much wealth and now it comes to amendment Ryot begins to grow thirsty made so to go plain Gluttons to fast Wantonness starved into Soberness But we may already be affraid of Relapse Bedrid Exorbitancies fowlâ—r for purging Need is there none to number up the Graces and Blessings by this King in competition with Her his Predecessor It may be Her virtues then are now become Torches in the dark which appear greatest afar off as His Vices made so by some writers do neer at hand I shall endeavour to recover the truth of his time least slanderous Tongues run mad with railing they presuming to be got out of distanâ—â— of time and reach of Confutationâ— So that Maiesty which dies not may yet be discouloured As in particular a Writer indeed a few years since holds forth he saies The History of Great Brittain but speaks not a word of Scotland or Ireland and so this Vindication serves the turn to answer All. But to give this Man therein his due we may find truth and falsehood finely put together if it be his own for it is my hap to meet with Post-nati both these Books born from the dead and were Aborâ—â—ves but like Bear-whelps licked over by laborious Pen-men The one a Manuscript of Sir A. W. which with some regret of what he had malitiously writ intended to the fire and dyed Repentant though since stoln to the Press out of a Ladies Closet This Other designed an Epistle for honourable Patronage who disdained the owning And so comes out bare Collections of Old I knew of them and their Parent Presbyter put together by the Poet And shaped out by the Doctor and Wilsons Name set to the Sale My aym is in these times of Distraction to present to the pâ—blique the former fruits of Peace and Plenty planted by Providence and ripened to Maturity by Divine Influence throughout His Daies If any failings so much searched for and to be found at last are then to be attributed to his age not Him In declention of years not many Princes end in much splendor when vigour fails so does their fortune For my self having lived long time in Court and employed till my gray hairs more in Businesses than Books far unworthy I humbly confesse to have any hand to the Helm yee I cabin'd neer the Steerage and so might the more readily Run the compass of the Ships-Way And truly I traversed aboard too though not in Counsel with Masters or Mates observing also the Heights and Declinations of the Sun and Stars the better able to evidence their Actions and Influence upon our World Add herein to be read in few howers what have been reaped in many years These undeniable Truths which I have seen and heard Will. Sanderson The LIVES and DEATHS of MARIE Queen of SCOTLAND And of Her Son and Successor JAMES The Sixt of that name King of SCOTLAND And of Great BRITAIN FRANCE and IRELAND the First Introduction KINGS are Gods upon Earth God himself hath said so Intituling Them to this Dignity with power over their People But they shall die like Men
he acted little and yet to his power he defended this Queen through all Her future Calamity But dyed some years before She suffered leaving Her then not in despair of deliverance The Documents of France met with such an incomparable genuity and excellent understanding in this Princess a Person compleat also for beauty that She became the most admired which moved the French King to marry Her to Francis the Dolphin Anno 1558. Being both the undoubted Heirs to the Crown of England after the death of Mary then Queen of England presently following and Elizabeth her Sister And therefore these new maried couple took upon them to quarter the Arms of England which in truth by Law they might not do None may bear the Coat of a Family not being both a certain Heir of the same Nor was it in truth the right of others who did the like as Courtney Marquess of Exeter and the Dutchess of Suffolk Neece to Henry the Eighth by His younger Sister and yet were allowed though of further Descent and therein t is true the less jealousie but to Her that was so neer the cheef cause of Queen Elizabeths perpetual hatred and fear that She might prove too hasty an Usurper of these Kingdomes and it was the ground of all the miseries that accompanied Her to the untimely grave For Queen Elizabeth now come to this Crown well knowing Her own power and interest with those of the Reformed Religion here at home and in Scotland opposed it Which was construed then that She might as well question Maries Intereâ—â— of Succession In this interim the French King Henry and Francis His Son depart this life and the Queen of Scots left unhappy in his losâ— Being become a Queen Dowager in France where Factions inincreased too hot for Her to abide there Her Uncle Guise Her Curator managing the most part in which he sacrificed himself Queen Mary therefore having a desire to return home knew She had been too bold with Queen Elizabeth to get much favour yet she begged leave from Her of safe conduct into Scotland which was refused disputing former unkindnesses whilest in a mist She got by the English Ships that lay in Her way and landed in Scotland 1561. Where She found Her State mightâ—ly distempered under Protection of the Bastard Iames and Mâ—rraies Government To recover which She used Her Subjects with all curtesie and changed not those of the Reformed Religion which was mightily increased by Her absence and brought in by tumult of the wild Presbytery And first She warily requested a certain form of Peace and amity with England and to make it the more certain She proposed by way of Counsel to Queen Elizabeth if She should have no Issue to be declared next Heir to Succession This advice with the former bold bearing of the Title and Arms caused more than suspition That otherwise She meant by violence to take the Crown having claimed it through too hasty ambition And indeed it was a great means to dissever their friendships For alwaies unto established Governments Successors are soon suspected The People most usually upon dislike of present things look up after the rising Sun and forsake the setting Nor is it customary with Successors designed to keep their own hopes and other mens lewd desires within the compass of justice and truth and thereby also to cut off the likelyhood of future security by hanging before their own eies their winding sheet and to solemnize their own funeral Feast alive and see the same Hereby it was evident Queen Mary prepared to stand upon Her Guard well waying the watchfull eye of Queen Elizabeth upon all Her Actions The Queen of Scots was young and handsome and in respect of Succession thought upon nothing more than to settle Her self again by Allyance and Marriage which Queen Elizabeth meant to propose to divert Her Choice in France mostly aimed at and therefore by pretence of great policy to both She offered Husbands to Her of the English blood which the other had most reason to refuse and to strengthen her self by the amity of the French Preferring that as most certain from whence her Birth proceeded rather than to trust too much to the English or to the policy of Queen Elizabeth who was likely to govern the design as She pleased to Her own advantage And therefore She accepted several overtures of Mariage with others And first with Arch-Duke Charles Son to Ferdinand the Emperor but Queen Elizabeth soon threatned Her out of that match and in plain terms commended Robert Dudley a new fallen Widower of his own making for this design and other great conveniencies to mary Her But that was retorted with much scorn by Her Kindred in France the Guises as unequal and unworthy they being then in Treaty for Her with the Emperors Son and others of France the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Ferrara and so was Queen Elizabeths design narrowly examined by them and suggested that this proposed mariage was but to colour Her own resolves to mary Dudley Her self which gave the more suspition he being suddenly made Masterof Her Horse created Baron Denbigh and the next day E. of Leicester and for the more credit his Brother was made Baron Lisle and Earl of Warwick But Leicester by Proxie made Court to Queen Mary and in time Commissioners were appointed from either Kingdomes to treat thereof at Barwick Though indeed he had some false hopes from the common bruit to mary Q. Eliz. and therefore privately authorized his confident Commissioner the Earl of Bedford to hinder the Treaty and to further the Q. of Scots mariage with Henry Darly Son to the Earl of Lenox who were both of them called home by their Queen after their twenty years banishment here in England And no sooner She saw Darly but presently designs Her self to him From which Mariage proceeded Her disquiet and future unhappiness This Darly was highly descended his Father Matthew Stuart Earl of Lenox born of the Royal stock of the Stuarts was allwaies acknowledged next Heir to the Queen of Scots in Her infancy And this his Son a person of incomparable mixtures of mind and body might well excuse the Queens choice and her disjointed Councils concerning her Husband And when she found it came to light she desired Q. Elizabeths consent but Murray most ambitious and unwilling to leave his power and interest in the sway of Government together with Hamilton sought under hand all indefatigable waies and means in England to prevent it though Queen Elizabeth had no need to be taught designs and devices if possible to divide this intended Match Which indeed caused Queen Mary the sooner to hasten and having knighted Darly and created him Lord Armanoch Earl Rosse and Duke of Rothsay at the five Moneths end of hir beginning She took him her King and Husband 1565. And now Murray
yours Knox craved the Opinion and sentence of the Assembly for his behaviour formerly and present to which some said It was not for them to justifie rash Iudgments of men who speak their own pleasure not the publick profit Nothing intervend but the Ministers continual railing until the next general Assembly in Iune 1564. whereto the Lords adjoined but withdrew into the Inner Council-house and required to confer there with the Super-Intendents and chief Ministers answer was returned That as they were members of the Church so they ought to propose in publick and be assisted by the whole body inferring some foul play to draw the Ministers singly to the faction of the Court. Which the Lords in answer endeavored to cleer assuring that no conclusion should be of this discourse without consent of the Assembly And so they were permitted a choice number among whom we may be assured Knox was not wanting and to watch the Scribes pen. The Lords began to remonstrate the grace of the Queen for liberty in Religion though not of her own profession which should deserve good Offices from that Church to maintain her advancement and to procure obedience of her people with their unanimous and uniform Prayer for her Majesty especially Mr. Knox to be moderate in obedience to her person and State for others by the evil example may imitate the like liberty albeit not perhaps with the same discretion and fore-sight Knox answered The Queens grace is not the grace of God Idolatry is maintained by her own person and for her Sins the Land must lament So was Juda and Jerusalem for Manasses and though not all the people some followed and some consented by act and deed by suffering and permission as the Q. and you Lords They told him of his prayer which was To illuminate her heart if thy good pleasure so be with condition he answered We must ask according to his will thy will be done and so the Master of the Prophets and Apostles taught him to pray They said it gave a doubt in the people of her conversion No said Knox In her obstinate Rebellion not to hear true preaching but will use the Mass and Peter prayed That if it were possible the thoughts of Simon Magus may be forgiven him and the same doubt toucheth me of the Queen After long disputation of the duty of subjects in general which Knox disallow'd in each particular Lethington desired the Lords to decide these questions and whether the Q. should have Mass but Knox opposed sentence but in the Assembly yet they fell to voting and dissented without concluding In Iuly the Q. in progress there past many letters of kindness between the two Queens with costly presents and tokens In October the E. of Lenox returns from England and for his sake the sooner to restor him to his lands after 22. years exile a Parliament is called at Edenburgh in Decemb. and then arrives his Son Henry Stuart Lord Darly out of England and E. Bothwell out of France against whom Murray complains concerning the Conspiracy alleged by the Earl of Arran and for breaking Prison The Q. taking great affection to Darly she posts away Lethington to Queen Elizabeth that she meant to mary him the rather he being of Kin to both Queens for his Mother was their Cosin German and of the same name Stuart by his Father King Iames the fifth having lost his two Sons declared his Resolution for the Earl of Lenox to be his Heir but the Kings death and his Daughter born prevented that Design Then comes the Earl out of France with intention to mary that Kings Widow and that failing he maries Margarite Dowglas and his Son maries the Kings daughter Mary and so the effect of the Kings desire continues the Crown in the Name and Family Q. Eliz. not pleased to suffer such Contracts with Subjects prejudicial to the Crown seeing her great affection pretends to declare her Heir to the Crown of England if she might advise her Mariage and commands Lenox and Darly to return to England but underhand well satisfied she promoted the Mariage as good security to the succession of the Crown of England he being second heir to the Q. of Scots Nor cared Q. Eliz. to have her meanly maried who she thought of her self was too proud The Court affairs hindred not the business of the Church who receive several Letters from the brethren of the West to them at Edenburgh Dundee Fife and Angus to mind them of the Mass which stuck in their stomacks till it were vomitted out of the Kingdom They feared the Papists Pasche and so made supplication to the Q. by the Super-intendent of Lothian for effecting their desires which the Secretary received and procured the Q. letters to several Bishops of St. Andrews Aberdeen and other places to forbear Mass. The Communion was administred in Edenburgh Apr. 1565. and neer Easter the Bayliffs imprisoned a Priest one Carvet after Mass and others with him revesting him with his Robes and so Priest-like mounted him on the Market Cross with his Chalice bound to his hand and his body to the Cross for 2 hours whilest the Boyes sweetned him with rotten Easter Eggs. The next day he and his Companions were accused and convinced by Assize and sparing his life he was again tied to the Cross for 3 hours the hang-man beside him to keep off the Malignity of the people and after imprisoned whom the Q. shortly after released and well rewarded him and his Assistants Low and Kennedy with livings In May convened at Edenburgh the E. Murray with his Confidents to keep the Law-day against Bothwell who durst not appear but fled into Frace not without suspition of favor and maintenance of the Q. though she was innocent This convention of colour concerning Bothwell being Murray Arguile Glencarn Morton and others Lords and Barons sat upon business of the Church for enlarging some Articles to be ready for the next general Assembly The Queen as far as Sterlin soon had knowledge of the Assembly and jealous of all Conventions without her presence commanded their appearance before her with the Super-Intendents and others This served her turn another way to give presence to her investing the Lord Darly with titles of Honour before Mariage and procured them to sign the Ratification of the Contract though Murray refused and excused until the whole or principal Nobility should be present At this instant arrives at Stâ—rlin Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Ambassadour from England being teturned with â—ethington who declared that his Queen was highly displeased with this precipitate Mariage and the meaness of the Man and desired that the Earl of Lenox and his Son Darly might be dismissed back to England To this the Queen gave fair words and would satisfy her Sister by Embassy of her own And so was the Mariage propounded in Council and granted by all with Murrays consent upon these terms to
some time resented with tears threatning revenge which to avoid they fly to England where Ruthen dies The Noise hereof in the Town caused the Provost to ring the Common Bell or sonner le Tocsen as the French speak assembling 500. and come up to the Court but the King told them all was well The King to strengthen himself after this Action inclined to the Religion and subscribed to a Proclamation that all Bishops Abbats and other Papists should avoid the Town which they did and commands the Provost and those of Lieth and Conogate to be in arms with advice also to other Lords to hasten to him with force And now comes Murray and other banished Lords being sent for as the Covenant against Rizio was subscribed convoyed by Hume with 1000. horse The Earls Cathness Athole Sutherland with all the Bishops being departed the Town In comes the other new faction of Lords and in Council advise the Queen to be satisfied with Rizio's death and take it as good service the Queen dissembling her passion got the remove of all the men in Arms out of the Court and so with some domestiques in the night drew the easy King to fly with her to Dunbar sending for all the Lords to attend in five daies The Religion by these factions ever-more get advantage which otherwise this Parliament now sitting might have lessned being most Papists for a dozen wooden Altars were prepared to be set up in St. Giles Church The Queen now assisted with Bothwell Huntley and others with Proclamation before them march with a thousand back to Edenburgh from whence the united Lords but divided in opinions depart and disperse and Knox we easily believe was not left behind And much troubled were he and his that the King by his Proclamation now excused himself from the Murther of Rizio who offended all men their own words the fact being done for his Honour if he had wisdome to see it and so lost his Credit and Friends by his Inconstancy and trâ—ly it was rumoured and some writ so that Knox had a hand in it Divers Lords were put to the Horn their Lands escheated and many of them executed but Arguile and Murray received into favour and both factions somewhat pieced and reconciled The King and his Father neglected and Bothwell preferred very highly The Ministers Supplicate for their Stipends complaining very humbly not usual of the Officers and Collectors and for redress desire Mandatory Letters for Restitution and to stop it in the Queens Exchequer till farther Order In all she promised very gratious relief The 19. of Iune 1566. the Queen at Edenburgh was delivered of a Son with exceeding joy and great happiness to all the Kingdome and the several assemblies followed assisted by Murray and Arguile wherein Paul Messans formerly excommunicate about his Bastard as aforesaid and now returned out of England was to be received into the Church again Knox invited him home and presuming of his free pardon and forgiveness sent his Apostolique Letters to accompany him to the Assembly and tells them in the words of St. Paul concerning the excommunicate incestuous person It is sufficient that he was rebuked of many c. For this cause I write that I might know your obedience in all things and to whom you forgive I forgive also c. But notwithstanding this Apostolick Command his Repentance is prescribed much like a Penance Presenting himself in Sackcloth bare of Bonnet and bare of Shoon for an hour at the Entry of Saint Giles Church in Edenburgh at seven hours in the Morn till Prayers psalm and Text and then upon the Stool all Sermon and so for three several Church-daies and confesses his Repentance And in this manner also in Iedwart and Dundee which after all performed and received a Repentant He complaining of this rigour and shame without taking leave of any retires back again into England The Bishop of Galloway the Earl of Huntleys Brother being called to Council could not brook his former title of Super-Intendent as he was stiled and thereof formerly well pleased but must be called Bishop of Galloway In August one Harris that had been of the Queens Chapel but lately of the reformed Religion and got into E. Ruthens service having acted in the Murther of Rizio was thereof convict hanged and quartered The King condemned of all and neglected of the Queen wrote to the Pope and to Spain complaining of the Queens ill Government of the Catholiques which she intercepted and resented to his ruin For Bothwel to bring on his Design aimed to be Principal and to effect his Greatness thought good to procure Morton to be called home but not to Court where he might look on and not be seen free from fear and danger and though a Kins-man to the King yet his Power was lessened to nothing Most writers complain of these times and some of them like Noahs blessed Sons overspread with the Mantle of silence the nakedness of these unnatural actions of such as we ought to ow duty and piety unto pittying the Errors of Princes Their excellent endowments of Nature and Morality not to be exampled and yet Shipwrackt in mis-governing I cannot search into all the Causes which drew on these lamentable events Secret Lothings in Wedlock which who knows but the Actors dislike hatred freedom revenge seconded with false shews of Reason and Colour of Law and Justice what will it not do Her Husband had dragged Rizio from her affection and favour to death He was not crowned but made publique by Her Proclamation not acknowledged by Parliament and in law but a Private Man and her Subject and so lyable to judgment But his powerful kindred and Friends prevent that attempt Secret Justice is Justice formalities are for common Causes and the Princes power may dispence with forms in case of necessity or convenience and so he became an object of wicked mens malice And now had Knox procured though heretofore he cunningly refused as fearing prevention or false play when now not overlooked he to his purpose got the Churches of Geneva Bern and Basil with others reformed in Germany and France to send to the Kirk of Scotland the sum of their several Confessions of faith he alleging the dissonant opinions of Scotland which occasioned an Assembly of Knox and his Confidents who having a confused irregulation without any positive Articles concluded as the most cunning way to assent to all without exceptions and so returned answer as if in Spirit to jump in faith and discipline who never could agree amongst themselves in either At this time the Kirks saies so Bothwell was wounded in chace of the Theeves at Liddisdale whom the Queen visited and thereof in grief took sickness in extremity but say they by binding Cords about her shacle bones knees and great Toes a pretty cure for our Mountebanks It seems an od fit of the Mother she revived prayed in English and commends the
them all The deposing Mort on exalted the Presbyterian hopes to erect the Geneve Discipline by Pastors Deans and Super-intendents and now to bring it about they call a Synod wherein all factions to the prejudice of the King were more cherished than Divine Worship intended for they decree The Ecclesiastical Regency to the Super-Intendents and left the Bishops only to one Church and exempt from Iurisdiction to relinguish Episcopacy and to omit Dispensation of Divine duties The King withstood this decree and revokes the business to his own brest and therein the Bishop of St. Andrews was the greatest Stickler The adverse party had Andrew Melvin a Man singular with them but not with the learned His tenents were To vindicate equality in the Ministry arrogantly endeavouring to suppress the Churches ancient authority and to erect to themselves a Statue of honour from the ruins of the Bishops disgrace Sick and ill disposed was the estate of Episcopacy the Praecisians prevalent in number The Nobles for Episcopacy joined with the Kings inclination To take protection of the fainting Ecclesiastick Discipline into his Care commanding the other to infuse fidelity into the people to abstain from innovation to reverence Bishops and follow peace Mortons 〈◊〉 gave him time and means to meditate Revenge and 〈◊〉 with the youthful inclination of the young E. of Mar 〈◊〉 quarrel with his Uncle Erskin for assuming the chiefty of that family and the usurpation of the Kings Tutâ—lage It took fire with the Gallant who secretly with his Train possesses Sterlin Castle his Uncle Erskin and the King and puts by Arguile one of the three Assistants The noyse hereof brings the Lords into Arms and their care of the Peace of the Kingdom assign Commissioners herein who decree all Erskins former interest upon Mar. The Queen of England sends Randolph whose often Legations had made him exquisite to congratulate the King whose rare and various Ornaments of Wit and Learning eminent in such an age as no Prince could ever parallel assures the Queens great affection and perswades the Lords to peace which was patcht up for the present But Morton grows insolent abolishing the Triumvirate rule and usurps all to himself of which Arguile Athol and Montross remonstrate to the King who refers it to the next Parliament in Iuly at Edenburgh where secretly some Lords covenant whom Morton undermines by fraction and advises for the meeting at Sterlin as more wholsom for the King and Nobles but indeed fitted for his faction of men of Arms and so it was to be there in the Court of the Castle and not as usual in the Common-Hall against which the other Edenburgh Lords protested as invalid and would not meet But the Parliament sate and the King this first time adorned with Majesterial Ornaments Robes and Scepter told them That it was not material where they met so his safety were included that his Court entertained all excluded none However this place should be no Prescript for posterity that he intended no innovation against his Predecessors Institutions that the opinions of a few should not dictate to the whole and so approves the Act by Proclamation Montross a Commissioner for the Lords remaining at Edenburgh posts thither with this news they take Arms ten thousand men and yet declare for the King Angus Mar and Morton do the like at Sterlin whâ—re both sides incamp but fought not at the earnest endeavour 〈◊〉 the English Ambassadour Sir Iohn Bowes and all disband And to piece this Discord the King proposes Moderators Lindsey Harris Ogleby Innerness for Arguile and Rothess Bucan Ruthen and Boyd for Morton but not prevailing Morton retires to his Palace at Dalkieth In whose absence the Delegates accord and he and Arguile and Athol meet and feast at Lieth which so pleased the King that he congratulates those whose endeavours had acted so much good and they again discuss what can be commodious for his Princely Dignity Magnificence and Profit And it began to be time so to do the Kings wants the Council supply by over value of Coyn which the Citizens withstood as over bitter for their digest Experience having taught this truth That the value of Silver alters the price of victual and all vendables the King as the great Rent Master or Land-lord bearing the greatest Loss for the future though not discernable for the present to his raw young Counsellors and this trick was put upon Morton and worse happened to his destruction The Earl Athole Lord Chancellour by the extremity of his disease yielded to nature or rather a delaying consuming poison forced him hence the suspition fell sadly upon his Corrival Morton and the revenge fell into the Power of Arguile who was chosen Chancellour in his Place This occasion no doubt the very Devil put into Mortons head to work himself mischief for in pure Conscience he intimates to the King the story of his death and so instigates his anger against the Hamiltons remembring also the slaughter of his Grandfather Lenox and of Murray late Regents and for these other crimes aforesaid 1573. and so begins their persecution with fire and Sword assisted with Mar and Angus The Hamiltons within their Castle and other places besieged were forced to yield to the Mercy of the King who executed the Actors of the Paracide and pardoned the rest Iohn and Claud the Sons of the late Duke of Castle-herauld in great distress what to do adventured to fly into England whom the Queen vouchsafed harbouring and sent Master Erington to intercede with the King The next Parliament was in October at Edenburgh where the King shewes himself to his People his years advanced with his Princely understanding to extraordinary Fame requiring his person more publike than at Sterling Solemnities and Ceremonies of Princes being the formal entertainments of reverence and respects And so he rode in all possible State the first day of sitting A great novelty to many to find Majesty in Man that had but seen the shadow for mâ—â—y years in Queens or Counterfeits but now attracted from the peoples hearts and hands venerations and blessings He tells the Houses the benefit of peace and this blessed opportunity to confer with them for the good of the Kingdome which his non-age had denyed them administring rather occasion of Commotion than the remedy of publick grievance which now he resolves to redress alwayes reposing confidence in their wise Counsels and calls God to witness his part aimed at the Preservation of Religion Subjects safety and Kingdoms security And first he enacted The form of Confession agreed in anno 1567. To the Prescript administration of the Sacraments in Act and Will That the present Religion embraced was to be esteemed Orthodoxal in doctrine and discipline And to be imposed upon all that went beyond seas by Oath and Subscription The Bible commanded in Scotch to each family The Power of Ministers regulated and
their Church For his excellent wit and incomparable learning Born near the Highlands After his first commitment 1539. for his versifying against the Fryers he escaped to France Returning 1560. he professed Philosophy at Saint Andrews and became the Kings Tutor He is concluded by all moderate and faithful Recordes That he penned his Scotish History with eloquence and with such Judgement as that he is justly blamed by most men for joining with all factions of the time and evermore to justifie any base and scandalous proceeding against Queen Mary and falsly and fowly he endeavoured to depress the Royal authority of Princes siding with the Treasonable tenents of rebellious Subjects which afterwards he expressed with bitter unmanerly sauciness of his Soveraign Queen then deceased This is the joint opinion of some with whom we may be convinced to incline This next Summer the King got free from his Attenders for being in Faulkland he desired to visit his Uncle the Earl of March then at Saint Andrews where he took a view of the Castle and being entered the Captain of the Guard Colonel Stuart acquainted with the Design clapt to the Gates and shut out the Company and the next morning came the Kings friends the Earls of Arguile Marshall Montross and Rothess And of his former Jaylers none but the Earl Gowry was admitted by the Collonels means who had been his Servant and upon his humble submission for his Fact at Ruthen was received to mercy and all these Lords elected his Counsellors with Inhibition that none should presume to come to Court with more attendants than fifteen with an Earl or Bishop ten with a Lord or Abbot or Priour and six with a Baron And now declares in publique That however his Majesty did with patience perforce indure his restraint at Ruthen and all those former passages of Treasonable disloyalty yet willing to be an Example of Clemency to others he in favour pardoned all admonishing the Lords to do so too amongst themselves Yet their consciences accusing left not to convene in tumult and therefore for more security to the King they were confined to several Places by Proclamation which they disobeying were denounced Rebells except Angus who submitted and now was Iohn Metallan admitted Counsellor and hereafter became Chancelor of State These affaires took up the summer and at the fall of the leaf comes secretary Walsingham from Queen Elizabeth expostulating the Kings receiving of Arran and casting of his nobles who though thus mutenous as you have heard were yet justified by her to be defenders of his Crown The King told him He was not to be taught to rule in his own affaires being as free as his Princess and that his promise against Arran was made under his restraint but now being at liberty himself he doth him but the like justice Expecting his so much friendship from his Sister the Queen not to countenance his subjects in Rebellion The Ambassadour replyed that his Mistress medlâ—d not but for his good and complains that one Holt an English Iesuite and plotter in Throgmortons treason should be imprisoned by the King and yet permitted to escape by means of the French and not rather sent to the Queen he was answered that Archibald Dowglas guilty of his fathers murther and in England was not rendered to him as was desired Though in truth Holt got loose without leave And so the discourse ended in peace And in November Lodawick eldest sonn to the late Duke of Lenox from France at 14 years of age the King having sent for his Brethren before Investing him with his fathers honnors and lands and the Earl Montross to be his Trustee Some years after came over his sisters Henrieta married to the Earl of Huntley Mary to the Earl of Mar the third avowed her self a Virgin to the Cloister A younger sonne remained in France untill the King came into England where he was advanced to great honors Thus did a gracious King for a distressed family The former Declaration against the mutenous Lords could not deter them from conventions pretending the time too short which was limitted for their submission unto confinement And therefore in an Assembly of the Peers the King renews his offer of pardon to such as would confesse their foule act at Ruthen and submit to conforme themselves accordingly The Earl Rothess protests his subscription to that fact was forced upon him and repents to mercy from whose example the rest followed and the faction to fall asunder They had pardon and leave to depart some into Ireland others to France Amongst whom was Gowry who yet delayed his journey whilst he fell into new practises which brought him to his death No wonder to finde the Ministery much concerned in their Sermons to justifie one or other of these Revolters and the fact of Ruthen necessary and lawful Andrew Melvil affirming to the Council That the Presbytery only had power and authority to judge and censure the Pulpit and not the King nor his Council In primâ instantià to meddle therewith though they should be treasonable Telling the King to his face That he perverted the laws of God and man Upon which he was charged to enter his person in Blackness forthwith but he turn'd back fled to Barwick that night and alwaies after the Ministery complaining That the light of of the Countrey for learning and the only man to resist the enemies of Religion was exiled and compell'd for his life to quit the Kingdome And though the King descended to satisfie the people by Proclamation therein yet it caused a murmuring and encouraged Gowry to expect Mars and Glammins returne out of Ireland to joyne in Armes for Reformation of abuses in Church and State for preservation of the King and Kingdome The wonted old pretence of all Rebells Gowry to colour his intended treason from suspition comes to Dundee and there presseth a ship for his voyage But the King quickly advised sent Collonel Stewart Captain of the Guard to seize him who with others made some resistance but the Town concurring with the Captain he was taken and conveyed to Edenburgh under costody of Arran Within two daies after Angus and Mar surprise the Castle of Sterlin but hearing of the Kings march with formidable forces they fly into England Gowries confession under his hand sets down their practises thus That himself perceaving the Kings favour declining and his estate aimed at by power of his enemies he was forced to seek his own relief by concurring with other Nobles in the like Case by the means of James Erskin who travelled therein and assured me of their Return to Sterlin where we concluded That at home it was expected that all those who subscribed the bond in the first alteration would join with us and besides them the Earls Marshal and Bothwel the Lord Lindsey and others of the West From England we expected supply and that the Queen would intercede for restitution
others But then let me tell them who were the other worser learned men as he will have them that fled Queen Maries persecution to Franckford Zurick and Basill declining Geneva those were Scory Barlow Cox Beacon Bale Parkhurst Grindall Sands Nowell Wisdom and Iewell and very many more that maintained the Reformation of King Edwards time and therefore Knox said That the English at Geneva were separated from that superstitious company at Franckford Notwithstanding these quarrellers heretofore at the first yet in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths dayes they pretended to agree in Harmonical Confessions though in several disciplines till Cartwright and Travers in his Disciplina Ecclesiastica makes their own tenents so positive as that If every hair of their heads were a life they would lose them all to defend their Discipline Then came in to their Gang Udall and Penry and call that discipline onely pure perfect righteous full of goodness peace and honor ordained for the joy and happiness of all Nations Therein followed them Martin and his two sons and Gilbie and so like very apt scholars in evil they out-went their masters to the Devil for joyning with Copinger Hackett and others they fell into a desperare designe of Treason for which Hacket was hanged At last increasing in very bold wayes and desperate tenents dispersed in Pamphlets Rithmes and Ballads It was thought fit to open their eyes and understandings by some grave and learned declaration for setling their mad brains which was effected by that most reverend and learned Divine Hooker in his Ecclesiast Policie which for a long time during the time of times silenced all their Railings and so satisfied the wiser sort that the Church of God got quiet from such disturbers till of late daies But to return to our History In Iune was compleated the League with England hammered out for defence of both Nations against the Holy League as the Papists would have it the Commissioners meeting at Barwick concluded these Aritcles upon the former reasons 1. To joyn and unite in a more strict League than ever had been before 2. To draw other Princes Reformed into their society 3. To be offensive and defensive against any Contractors with their enemies 4. Not to assist any Invader of either Kingdom 5. That the Scots to assist England against any Invasion with two thousand horse and five thousand foot at the Queens charge from the borders The Queen the like to Scotland but with three thousand horse and six thousand foot 6. If the North of England there the Scots to assist with all their force for thirty dayes the usual time of attending their own King 7. The King not to suffer Scots to be transported into Ireland but by leave of the Queen 8. Not to countenance either Rebels or Revolters 9. That all the controversies of the Borderers be civilly reconciled 10. Neither Princes to enter League with any other without the consent of both 11. All by-gone Treaties of either with other Princes shall stand in full force the cause of Religion excepted 12. These Articles to be confirmed by Oath and Hands and Seals 13. Lastly That the King at twenty five yeers old shall confirm these by the States of Scotland as the Queen will then do by her Parliament of England This was the begining of Q. Eliz. design which she presumed would in time be considerable with other reformed States confederate though in earnest the whole intention of the Papists had reference to the Church of England the absolute orthodox Conserver of the true ancient Apostolick faith though by observation of succeeding times in some relations it appears of late wonderfully indangered But besides that of Religion and strengthening her affairs in policie with other Princes upon that score she had a further aâ—m to confirm amity with the King whom she was assured forthwith mightily to offend and to endanger her safety and honour with all the Christian world For now with leave of the Reader having been led somewhat too long in the Church affairs let us remind the poor Captive Queen Mary upon whom all the former suspitions reflected and so hâ—stened to her ruin for Queen Elizabeth casting about to make things safer than fast resolved upon the way most desperate which if it took not well was yet the onely way by taking Mary out of the way and so give end to Elizabeths jealousies to secure her Person from Treasons to joynt her power now divided and to settle her people from imbroiles and diviâ—â—ons But soft and fair the wily wits of Walsingham and Burleigh must be busied about it For now she is removed from her fifteen yeers custody under the good Earl of Shrewsbury unto Sir Amias Pawlet and Sir Drew Drury on purpose to put her upon extremity of redress against their extream imprisoning And so she endeavors and deals with the Pope and Spain by Englefeild to hasten their designs however which designs indeed is so peeced and patcht together by those that writ of them as if each mans fancy in reference to the publick must needs take effect of Rebellious interpretation And what ere was whispered in that sence was sure to be put upon the poor Queens account by which she smarted for in this Parliament of England the former Association of the Lords was confirmed by both Houses and strict Acts against Catholicks and abetters in Treason which occasioned Philip Howard Earl of Arundel eldest son of the late Duke of Norfolk three yeers since restored in blood to complain of his enemies pursuing him to the death as others had done to his Great Grandfather condemned and never came to tryal his Grandfather beheaded for trifles and his father likewise for concernments of lesser moment Himself thus afflicted endeavoring to retire out of the Kingdom but was taken and sent to the Tower where he found Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland as accessory to Thorgmortons design who Pistolled himself some dayes after but Arundel was onely fined in Star-Chamber The Catholicks desparate to do something were animated thereto by Ballard a Priest who from hence goes into France and there layes his designs with the Old Plotters Pope Guises the Spaniard and Parma to invade England and free Queen Mary and returning home confederates with Babington and six more principal gentlemen to kill Queen Elizabeth All which their plottings were daily discovered to Secretary Walsingham by one Pooley their companion and so confident were they of success that Babington had his own picture and those about him all to the life with this verse circumscribed Hi mihi sunt comites quos ipsa pericula ducunt But this verse too plain they inserted in the place Quorsum haec aliò properantibus The Queen being shewed these faces knew â—one but Barnwell Babington to hasten this design resolves to go over himself And by Pooley's means insinuates with Walsingham and ingages to discover
son the King in the remove of her Corps from thence to Westminster where she lies intombed amongst the Glories of her Royal Ancestors And thus she died Mary Queen of Scotland great grand-daughter to Henry the Seventh of England by the eldest Daughter Margaret six and fourty years of age and in the eighteenth year of her Captivity Anno 1586. Let us give her to the World in this brevity She was designed by Henry the Eighth to his Son Edward the Sixth and by Henry the Second King of France for Francis the Dolphin at five years of age she was conveyed in to France at fifteen married to the Dolphin who was after King of France She was sole Sovereign Queen of France one year and four moneths Her Husband being dead she returned into Scotland and married the Lord Darly by whom she had King Iames. Near to her Tomb in Peterborough Church was this Epitaph fixed in Latine but soon pulled down Maria Scotorum c. Thus Englished Mary Queen of Scots a Kings Daughter the French Kings Widow near Kinswoman to the Queen of England and next Heir to the Crown adorned with royal virtues and a kingly minde often but in vain demanding the Privilege of a Prince by barbarous and tyrannical Cruelties the Ornament of our Age and a right Princely Light is extinguished and by one and the same infamous Iudgment both Mary Queen of Scots to a natural Death and all surviving Kings being made common persons are doomed to a Civil Death a strange and uncouth Grave wherein the Living are shut up with the Dead Cum sacris enim divae Mariae cineribus omnium Regum atque Principum violatam atque prostratam Majestatem hic jacere scito quia tacitum regale satis superque Reges sui Officii monet plura non addo Viator Indeed so much was said and censured that the Queen and State began to double she in a monstrous sadness and tears denying Address of the Counsellours and her self excuseth her Death to the King of Scots by Sir Robert Cary. MY dear Brother I would to God you knew though not to feel how my minde with imcomparable grief is disquiet in regard of this lamentable Event against my meaning and intent which because my Pen trembles to utter by this my Cosin you shall understand it I am not so poor of spirit to be afraid to do what is just or to deny it I intreat you that God above and many on earth may be witnesses of my innocency therein and that you would credit had I commanded I would also now not deny it being done nor appertaineth it to a Prince to shadow the meaning with ambiguous words nor will I dissemble my Actions out of their own colour Perswade your self to the truth As I know this is deservedly come to pass so if I had meant it I would never have laid blame on others nor will I impute to my self what I never dreamed The rest he shall impart by whom you receive these as for me I would have you credit that there is none more truly affected towards you or more studious for you and your affairs if any shall otherwise suggest believe them not God keep you long in safety and prosperity And Cary on his Journey poor Davison her Secretary to make good the Errand is called to trial in the Star-chamber before Delegates assigned a man of singular modesty and mildness answered much for his innocency as being unwilling to contest with the Queen yet could he not endure his modesty should wrong the Truth and his own Integrity and so suffered himself to be be guilty and censured a thousand pounds Fine and Imprisonment which he endured a long time and never could procure the Queens favour though he was relieved by her charity in his great necessity which after followed The Qu. saith he upon the Departure of the French and Scotish Ambassadours from Her of her own accord commanded me to prepare the Commission for executing the Sentence against the Queen of Scots and when it was exhibited she willingly signed it with her own Hand and after gave order for it to be made ready under the Great Seal of England and merrily said Signifie thus much to Walsingham who is sick though I fear greatly it will make him die with grief She added also Reasons why she had deferred it so long to wit That she might not seem to be drawn unto it forcibly or maliciously though she were not ignorant all the while how necessary it was She blamed Paulet and Drury that they had not freed Her from that care and wished that Walsingham would try them therein The next Day the Great Seal was to it she sent Injunction by Killegrew that it should not be done And when I shewed to Her that it was done she reproved my haste intimating that some other couse by some wise Persons might be taken I made Answer That that was always the best way which was the justest But fearing that she might lay the fault on me as she had done the Duke of Norfolks punishment on the Lord Burghley I imparted the whole matter to Hatton protesting not to engage any further in so great an Affair He strait way did communicate to Burghley and he to the rest of the Counsellours who all consented to have it hastened and severally vowed that they would bear the blame and they sent down Beal with the Commission and Letters Three Days after perceiving her minde doubtfull by reason of a Dream which she told of the Queen of Scots Death I asked if her minde were altered No said she but some other course might have been thought upon And with all demanded if Paulet had returned any Answer Whose Letters when I shewed to her wherein he plainly refused to undertake it as being neither honorable nor just She in anger accused him and others which had tied themselves in Association of Perjury and their Vow violated who had promised great matters for their Princes safety but would perform nothing yet there were amongst them she said that would do as much in their own cause But I shewed how infamous and unjust a thing that were and withall into what Dangers she should cast Paulet and Drury for if she allowed the Fact she must draw upon her self Danger and Disgrace besides a note of Injustice but if she disallowed it she must ruine well-deserving men and their posterity Afterward the same Day that she was put to Death she gave me a Check that the Sentence was not all this while put in execution as thinking it not done Hereby appears foul play intended by another no doubt wicked way which Paulet and Drury boggled at to perform and yet we see what daubing there was on all sides to cast the blame and after-shame on any to keep the stain and blot from the eminent Actors And the cunning of Walsingham who having the greatest hand in the contrivance towards
Earl who commanded him to go up to Alexander and immediately the Earl followed bidding this Deponent do what ere Alexander bade him who forthwith lockt him within the Round in the Chamber telling him he must stay there till he returned who shortly after came with the King and opening the Door both of them entred and instantly Alexander clapping on his Hat pulled out this Deponents Dagger and held it to the Kings breast saying Remember ye of my Fathers murther You shall now die for it And minting to his Higness heart with the Dagger this Deponent tript the same out of his hand and believes that if Alexander had retained the Dagger so long as one might go six steps he had killed the King therewith But wanting the Dagger the King gave him gentle language excusing himself of Gowries death Alexander says Well if you keep quiet nothing shall aâ—l you if you will do as my Brother will have of you The King asked What would you have He answered I will bring my Brother And having taken Oath of the King not to cry out nor ope the Window till his return he lockt them both together The King asked the Deponent what he was who answered A Servant of my Lords The King said Will your Lord kill me The Deponent said with an Oath He shall die first Alexander enters and says Sir there is no remedy by God you must die And having a loose Garter strove to binde the Kings hands who said Nay sall you not I se die a free man And this Deponent pulled the Garter from him Then Alexander clapt his hand upon the Kings mouth to stop his crying and held his head under his arm But this Deponent pulled his hand from the Kings mouth and opened the Window and the King cried out thereat Whereupon the Kings Servant came running in at the Gate and the Deponent ran and opened the Turn-Pike head whereat Iohn Ramsey entred and this Deponent saw him give Alexander the blow and then this Deponent gat away It is remembred by the Archbishop of St. Andrews in his History pag. 460. that he three days after meeting Mr. William Cooper who had been Tutor to Alexander told him that not many days before that Action visiting the Earl at his own house he found him reading a Book intituled de conjurationibus adversus Principes shewing him That it was a Collection of the Conspiracies made against Princes which he said were foolishly contrived by all of them and faulty either in one point or other for he that goeth about such a business said he should not put any man on his counsel But the Ministers refuse to give God thanks for the Kings delivery excusing themselves as not being acquainted with the particulars nor how those things had fallen out It was answered That the Kings escape was evident They replied that nothing ought to be delivered in the Pulpit but that whereof the truth was known and that all spoken there should be in faith And so it was done onely by a narrative Relation of Bishop Ross at the Market Cross to the singular joy of the people And afterwards the King and Councel with all the Nobiliâ—y solemnized the Deliverance with Thanksgiving and Prayer with great satisfaction to the multitude Who as Domitian said seldom give credit to the Conspiracy unless the Prince be slain Those Ministers that refused werâ— silenced from Preaching under pain of Death and well they deserved it untill afterwards that they declared They were resolved of the truth of Gowries Conspiracy and submit for their former fault And so were ordered to publish the same in sundry Churches One of them had his reservation He would reverence the Report but was not perswaded of the truth And therefore was banished into France The Bodies of the two Brothers were sentenced by the Parliament hanged on a Gibbet dismembred and their Heads set upon the Prison-house and then ordained the fifth day of August in all Ages to come should be solemnly kept for Publick Prayers The assasination of Princes the more common the more close and as they were mightily performed on the persons of his Predâ—cessors in Scotland so not seldom practised on Queen Elizabeth in England whilest she was increasing in years but being declined through age near her end the leâ—uit Catholick considered it to be lost labour upon her then her death gave being to another Phâ—nix as the onely Defender of the Faith Upon him therefore they intend the like which being known unto Ferdinando Grand Duke of Tusâ—any out of the singular fame of the Kings princely virtues he sent to him an Express an English Gentleman Sir Henry Wotton a Traveller in Italy with a Dispatch â—nd Packet of Letters intercepted by the Duke in them a Design of certain men sent secretly to Scotland to impoyson the King Wotton was well rewarded and returned with many princely expressions of the Dukes timely intimation and the Kings infinite obligation and bad him say to the Duke as from the King That to him it was less considerable to die than to fear And whilest he was here 26. of February 1600. was born the Kings third son the second son Robert died young and Christened Charls at Dunferling a sickly weak Infant but recovered beyond expectation and proved all his life exceeding healthy and by his constitution might have lived a great age had not untimely accidents bereaved us of him To give end to this year we recommend to memory the Life and Death of Mr. Iohn Cragg he had been Minister to the King they will not stile themselves Chaplains of good fame and scale of learning without faction which I note as a rarity in them and therefore his reputation His Parent kill'd at Flouden-field his means no more than poverty affords put him into extremities to work out a livelihood To England first an ordinary Pedagogue to a private family then he returns and necessity enforcing he becomes a Dominican and iâ—â—prisoned for four Tenents of Heresie got out and went back to England Then to France and thence to Rome where Cardinal Pool prefers him to instruct Novices of the Cloister in Bononia and imployed their Envoy in affairs through Italy and in Commission to the Isle Chios in the Ionick sea to redress disorders there Afterwards returning he became Rector and so access to the Library of the Inquisition where he happened on Calvins Institutions and by them and the Instructions his own Tale of an old man in the Monastery he was confirm'd a Proselyte to his Discipline and not able to keep counsel was carried to Rome and by the Inquisition condemned to be burnt an Heretick That night Pope Paul the fourth dies the people hating his person in huge tumult tumbled down his Statue of Marble dragging it about the streets for three days and then drowned it in Tiber and increasing villany and power discharged the Prisons and amongst the rest Cragg gat loose
Prince did upon some weightier occasion no doubt than a Ladies Garter erect this Order Anno 1350. The Emblems are a Blue Garter to be worn daily buckled on the left Leg set with Gold or Pearl in these words Honi soit qui mal y pense Shame take him that evil thinketh This Order is inferiour to none in the World consisting of six and twenty Martial and Heroical Nobles the King of England the chief the rest are either Nobles of this Nation or Princes of other Countreys Friends and Confederates Emperours and Kings have desired and received that Honour Theâ—e are depending this Order six and twenty poor Knights with sufficient maintenance The Officers were the Prelate of the Garter which is inherent to the Bishop of Winchester for the time being the Chancellour the Register always the Dean of Windsor the principal King at Arms called Garter and the Usher called the Black Rod The site of this College is the Castle of Windsor with the Chapel of St George erected by Edward the third and the Chapter-house there also The Protector-Saint olim tam nobilis is St George whose Picture on horse-back killing the Dragon doth always hang at a Blue Silk Ribband about each Knights neck And the outward Vestment or Cloak hath a Star embroidered in Silver encompassing a Shield bearing the Red Cross of England with the Garter about it This I mention lest it be forgotten to after ages Amongst sundry men of valour in antient days was George born at Coventry in England his Mother with childe of him dreamed that she conceived with a Dragon which should be the cause of her death but the Wizards Witches assured her to die in childe-bed of a Son whose life and fortune shall be a mirrour to posterity and therefore he was brought up with a Person of Honour with great observance which made him capable of mighty deeds in Arms and being famous for several Adventures travelled to a place infested with wilde beasts chiefly a ravenous Dragon whom the Sorcerers pretended so far to inchant as to be for ever satisfied with a virgin Salve fastened to a Rock and fitted for Sacrifice In whose defence George fights on horse-back with his Lance and Sword and by his skill and force kills him this service done he missed not the Merit of his Reward Mariage with the Maid instructed her in Christianity with whom he lived honourably and died sainted for his virtues and valiant acts and by the Kings of England assumed for many Ages in warlike Atchivements of Honour to be their Patron This story not difficult for the Moral which served those times to instruct the ignorant with such Tales to be told to posterity that the Christian Souldier in the warfare of the World meets with Satans temptations which by the grace of God sanctifying are overcome and in particular â—escues his own soul bound under the chains of sin to be devoured of the Devil and which being redeemed by the merits of Christ is maried to Him in faith and becomes an eternal Saint in Heaven Whether this Saint and his story with others were invented to cousen men these Tales wrought much with valiant men at Arms Valour swels when set out by Examples of Extremes and oft times goes beyond her self in her atchivements conceit sometimes does things above conceit especially when the imagination apprehends them founded in Religion It is said by Matthew Paris in Gulielmo secundo pag. 57. that St George appeared in the air with an Army of white Horses fighting for the English at Antioch against the Turk But to say there was no such Saint and to change all literal sense into an Allegory of Christ and his Church yet it may seem more improbable that our English Nation amongst so many Saints that were would chuse one to be their Patron that was not at all especially seeing the World in that Age had rather a glut than a famine of Saints The intent of those times was pious to gain credit and to convert to Christianity but then so to prosecute it as the Papists still continue to do must be condemned thinking to grace the Gospel by such absurdities for Heaven has a Pillory to punish fraus pia her self and indeed better to leave Religion to her native plainness than to deck her with counterfeit dress And there were created at Windsor these Earls Thomas Howard Earl of Suffolk Montjoy Earl of Devonshire and of Barons Egerton Baron Elsmore Russel Baron Thornhall Danvers Lord Danvers Grey Baron Grooby Peters Baron Writtle Harington Baron Eaton which so troubles an Historian as a wonderfull weakness in a King and concludes against his own Argument Nothing more destruction says he to Monarchy than lessening the Nobility But he means increase of number lessens their value and hath not enlarged his reading by knowledg of their condition in other Monarchies Spain France and yet poor enough in those places where Anarchy as yet is not come in Originally within this Kingdom Earldoms of Countreys in the antient English-Saxon Government were Dignities of Honour and Offices of Justice they had Officers under them as Vice-comes or Sheriffs The Earls therefore received Sallary the third penny of the profits of the County of long time after the Conquest and were inserted in their Patents of Creation which afterwards were turned into Pensions Of the single Earls not Palatine there were two kindes subdivided into several Branches either take name of a place or without place those of a place are of two kindes either of a County as the Earl of Devonshire Cornwall Kent c. or else of some place not being a County as of a Town Castle Honour c. of which later sort as antient as the Conquest those of Richmond in Yorkshire Clarence in Suffolk Arundel in Sussex Earldoms without any place are likewise of two kindes either in respect of Office as Earl Marshal of England or by Birth and so are all the Kings Sons and therefore it is a mistake to say They are born but Gentlemen Earls are adorned with a Cap of Honour and a Coronet and the Body with a Robe in resemblance of Counsellours and are girt with a Sword to defend their King and Countrey Cook 17. Part. And are called by the King his Cosins and his Title is afterwards become parcel of his Name and so they sign T. Suffolk Not to speak of Barons by Prescription or Tenure These Barons were made by Patent as others are by Writ to Parliament and these by Writ were devised not before 49. Henry 3. for want of Peers the most of them slain in the Barons Wars Those Barons by Patent began by Richard 2. John Beauchamp being the first and is now limited in descent according to the Habendum for Life or for term of others as Estates in Tail They being thus entered into Nobility have large Privileges as Peers of the Realm Note that there be Lords in Reputation onely by
Brethren in Scotland that they should be enforced also to conform to the utter destruction of their Sion there To qualifie this News another Proclamation comes out in September after against such calumnious surmises That the King will not alter that Form of Government proper for their constitution without Counsel there and so refers mens â—xpectation to the general Assembly to meet at Dundee in Scotland in July after It was usual with the Presbyters in Scotland to have a general Assembly once a year and oftner pro re nata upon any urgent occasion The last was a little before the Kings coming hither 1602. And the next this appointed at Aberdene this year and therefore then adjourns that Meeting unto which he especially had an eye as mistrusting their ill humors to this Summer 1604. And now also prorogues it to a longer day by Proclamation in Scotland Notwithstanding thirteen of them convene at Aberdene and in spite of the Council Authority they formallized their Judicature by constituting a Moderator a Clerk and other essential Members The Privy Council there send a Messenger accompanied with a Herald of Arms to discharge and dissolve their Meeting These holy Fathers in this Sanhedrim protested They would not nor could give way to the Kings sacrilegious power usurped which properly belonged to the Church virtual the Assembly and so sat still till they pleased and after appointed a day for the next Assembly The King hears of this and commands them to be cited and punished These men undanted appear with a Protestation a Declination from the Kings Council and appeal to their own next General Assembly as the sole and competent Judg and were therefore pursued criminally before their Lord Iustice General upon the Act of Parliament 1584. for Treason Some of them acknowledged their fault the rest Zelots were convict ad terrorem and banished and after upon submission were restored to better Benefices The excellent Acts and Laws in this Session prorogâ—ed to the fifth of November I finde our voluminous Historian passes over excepting against their number too tedious for his brevity being unwilling to mention any thing of so much honour to the King though he can waste time and paper to tell you that the blessing of his Initiation Peace and Plenty brought idle people to Luxury Roaring-boys Bravadoes Roisters and makes it a fault in the King that he breeds his People no better The Parliament began the 19. of March 1603. and continued untill the 7. of Iuly 1604. and then prorogued unto the 7. of February In this Parliament they made a Recognition of the lawfull descending of the Crown to the King his Progeny and Posterity Commissioners of England and Scotland for to treat of the Union That no Bishop should assure Lands to the King Former Statutes against Recusants to be executed Divers other Statutes concerning the City and several Towns Corporate as also other Statutes for the good of the Land And conclude with a Subsidy of Tunnage and Poundage of Wools c. The Kings second Son Charls heretofore in Scotland created Duke of Albany Marquess of Ormond Count Ross and Lord of Ardmannoth is now this year created Duke of York by the girding of the Sword Cap and Circlet of Gold put upon his Head and golden Verge into his Hand to him and his Heirs males for ever with the Fee of fourty pounds per annum out of the issue and profits of that County He is made by Patent and witnessed by all the Lords of the Privy Council and other Peers of the Realm at Westminster the 6. of Ianuary 2. Iac. 1604. K. Edw. 3. by his Charter created Edward his eldest Son the black Prince Duke of Cornwall cum feodo to him and his Heirs the first begotten Sons and Dukes of the same place so that he that is hereditable Duke of Cornwall is Dux natus non creatus and the first day of his birth is in Law presumed to be of full age and may sue out his Livery as at one and twenty years and this was the first Duke in England the reason may be because the Norman Kings themselves were Dukes of Normandy for a long time they adorned none with this Honour of Duke The Papists had very evil success in all their Designs heretofore against Queen Elizabeth and her Religion and were somewhat quieted in hopes that the Kings reception hither might prove troublesom and so proper for them to work in such waters but the Kings late Speech was desperately understood for they being denied Toleration plot his and the whole States destruction by blowing up all in the House of Parliament A story so horrid and therefore so necessary to be communicated to the memorial of our Childrens Children The Parliament having been twice prorogued already in regard of the Seasons of the year and the Terms The time drawing near their Sitting upon Saturday ten days before about seven of the clock at night a Letter sealed was delivered by an unknown Fellow unto a Foot-man of the Lord Mounteagle Son and Heir to the Lord Morley charging him to give it to his Lords own hands who opening the same found it without Date or Subscription and in Letters not easily legible and the matter to him less intelligible but as God would have it he in this doubt repairs herewith to the Earl of Salisbury principal Secretary of State who also in some doubt of the construction the King being absent in his return from Roiston they acquainted the Lord Chamberlain the Earl of Suâ—folk herewith and after consultation they joyned the Lord Admiral the Earls of Worcester and Northampton but stayed all manner of proceeding untill the Kings coming Thursday night next after Salisbury shews it him The Letter was MY Lord out of the love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some Excuse to shift off your attendance this Parliament for God and Man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this Time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Countrey where you may expect the event in safety for though there be no appearance of any sâ—ir yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it to whose holy protection I commend you The King conceived the Letter not to be contemned the stile quick and pithy not usual with Libells and judged the words terrible Blow this Parliament and not see who hurts them to be meant by Gun-pouder joyning thereto the other words For the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter
trust with your Lordship in this matter as to my self But I pray you hasten him home with all speed and charge him not to take a wink of sleep till he see me again after he returns from you And as your Lordship desireth in your Letters to me so say I to you either rive or burn this Letter or return it back again to me with the Bearer for so is the fashion I grant Restalrig And albeit by the Letter all his own hand you knew the truth of the said treasonable Conspiracy and Logain's foreknowledg and guilt thereof like as you were assured of divers Letters received by him from Gowry and by his Answers to the same purpose and by sundry Conferences betwixt Logain and Bour in your presence and hearing concerning the said Treason as well in Iuly preceding the Attempt thereof as at divers other times shortly after as likewise by Bour revealing the same to you who was imployed ordinary Messenger by Logain to Gowry whereby your knowledg and concealment and guilt was undeniable Yet for further manifestation thereof about Iuly 1602. Logain shewed unto you that Bour had told him that he had been somewhat rash to let you see a Letter which came from Gowry to Logain who then urged you to tell him what you understood by the same You answered that you took the meaning thereof to be that he had been upon the counsel and purpose of Gowry's Conspiracy and that he answered you the worst he had done was his own but if you would swear to him never to reveal any thing of that matter to any person it should be the best sight that ever you saw and in token of further recompence he gave you twelve pounds of Silver Nevertheless albeit you knew perfectly the whole practice and progress of all the said Treason from the beginning to the end as also by your conference with Bour and Logain who lived untill the year 1606. or thereabout and so by the space of six years you concealed the same and so was in art and part thereof and ought to suffer under pain of high Treason To the Token that you have not onely by your depositions subscribed by you and solemnly made in presence of divers Lords of his Majesties Privy Council and the Ministers of the Borough of Edenburgh of the Dates of the fifth fifteenth and sixteenth days of Iuly last past and tenth and thirteenth of August instant confessed every Point Head and Article of the Indictment abovesaid but also by divers other Depositions subscribed by you you have ratified the same and to seal the same with your bloud Which Indictment being read openly before Sprot was put to the knowledg of the Inquest he confessed the same in every point to be true and therefore the Indictment was put to the Inquest of the honest famous and discreet persons viz. William Trumball of Ardre William Fisher Merchant and Burgess of Edenburgh Robert Short there Edmund Iohnston Merchant and Burgess there Harb Maxwell of Cavons Ia. Terment of Lint-house William Trumbill Burgess of Edenburgh George Brown in Gorgy Mill Io. Huchinson and Io. Lewes Merchants and Burgesses of Edenburgh Ia. Somervil and William Swinton there Io. Cruneson of Darlton Thomas Smith and Io. Cowtis Burgesses of Edenburgh Which persons of Inquest sworn and admitted and reading over the same Indictment again in his and their presence the said George Sprot confessed the same to be true Whereupon the said Sir Thomas Hamilton Advocate asked Act and Instrument And therefore the Inquest removed to the Inquest-house and elected Herbert Maxwell to be their Chancellour or fore-man And after mature deliberation they all re-entered again in Court where the said Fore-man declared the said George Sprot to be guilty filed and convict of Art and part of the said Treason for which the said Iustice by the mouth of the Deâ—ster of Court by Sentence and Doom ordained the said George Sprot to be taken to the Market-Cross of Edenburgh and there to be hanged upon a Gibbet till he be dead and thereafter his head to be stricken off and his body to be quartered and demeaned as a Traitor and his head to be set up upon a prick of Iron upon the highest part of the Tolboth of Edenburgh where the Traitor Gowry and other Conspirators heads stand and his Lands and Goods forfeited and escheated to our Sovereign Lord the Kings use Extractum de Libro Actorum Adjornalis S. D. N. Regis per me D. Iohannem Coburn de Ormeston Mil. Clericum Iusticiarii ejusdem generalem sub meis signo subscriptione Manualibus And so was Sprot conveyed to a private house remaining at his meditations and afterwards conferred with the Ministers confessing all aforesaid with extreme humiliation and prayer Afterwards ganging up the Ladder with his hands loose and untied he was again put in minde of his Confessions and for the greater assurance thereof performed an act marvellous promising by Gods assistance to give them an evident token before the yielding up of his spirit which was when he had hung a very good while he lift up both his hands a good height and clapped them together three several times to the wonder of thousands Spectators And for the more confirmation George Abbot Doctor in Divinity and Dean of Winchester after Arch-bishop of Canterbury was present both at his Examination and Execution and hath publisht in print the same Writings observation and particulars verbâ—tim as aforesaid which I can produce also I was obliged in honor of the truth to be thus particular to take off the horrid crime with which our Adversaries load the memory of King Iames and if as yet not satisfactory I may conclude with Saint Iohn's Apocalyps Qui sordescit sordescat adhuc And yet I am enforced to complain against a late Historian who says Sprot's Depositions seem a very fiction a meer invention of his own brain And why Because says he Sprot did not shew the Letter How came it then to be recorded as aforesaid And concludes against himself However says he Sprot remained constant in his Confession and at his dying when he was to be cast off the Ladder promised to give the beholders a sign for confirming them in the truth of what he had spoken which also he performed by clapping his hands three several times after he was cast off by the Executioner What can be more to convince for the truth that he was guilty In this fourth Session the King intends the Creation of his sonne Henry Prince of Wales and for that and other occasions craves supply of his wants proceeding from his great disbursments discounting with them his receipts of three hundred and fifty thousand pounds subsidies due to his Predecessor with his redeeming the Crown lands morgaged in the year 1598. by her to the City of London for sixty thousand pounds His expence also of nineteen thousand pounds
the Time and to discharge all Modification advance of stipends to any Minister for a year unless onely to such as have submitted to the Articles and in affection to the Kings service The Ministers thus curbed and the Northern men being come up to Edenburgh for their stipends complain of their Brethren their pride and insolency supplicate the Bishops to intercede and mitigate his Majesties displeasure and so they did and procured Letters from the King for allowance of their stipends And Mr. Simson was now released professing his hearty reluctancy for opposing his Majesty setting his hand to a Supplication which himself framed with all submission But his Brethren not liking any submission but to their Assemblies or Synods his being to the Council he sets out an Apologetick glossing upon each word of his Confession and concludes That whatever frailty or weakness had befallen him heretofore he hoped now to be like Peter Qui ore negavit corde confessus est and never to betray the Lords cause with Judas The Iesuits do even so fast and loose neither tongue hearts nor hands can binde them against their mental secret purposes And yet there being some hope that matters might amend for the Church and their frequent Synods preparing for their better obedience the Bishops procured the Kings consent to another General Assembly to be at Perth in August the next year This royal Progress of pleasure into Scotland and back again gave leasure to the King and advantage to all Attendants for preferment of their persons or other satisfaction for their services by the freedom of their Masters bounty both to Scots and English Especially to our new Favourite now of two years growth in the Kings affection This man George Villiers of an ancient Family in Leicestershire and bears 〈◊〉 on a cross Gu. five Escalops Or. His father Sir George Villiers begat him 1592. upon a second venter Mary Beaumont of noble extraction whom for her beauty and goodness he married By his first he had but one Son rising no higher in honour than Knight and Baronet his disposition not court-like and therefore injoying perhaps the greater greatness self-fruition yet in time he had preferment to the Government of Ulster Province in Ireland The other Sons were three and in order of Birth but not in Preferment Iohn was Viscount Purbech George Duke of Buckingham and Christopher Earl of Anglesey and one Daughter Susan Countess of Denbigh We are told that he came over by chance from his French Travels and sought his Preferment in Marriage with any body but mist of a Match for want of an hundred Marks and so pieces him for the Court like the story of Demetas Caparisons borrowing of each one by piece-meal to put him forward for the Kings Favourite But the truth is thus His Mother a Widow was afterwards married unto Sir Thomas Compton whose Brother the Lord Compton by chance falling upon a wonderfull Match for matchless wealth with the Daughter and Heir of Sir Iohn Spencer Alderman of London and her Father then lately dead this Lord was Master of all which was of more than credible and so might be enabled bountifully to set up a Kinsman without other help or Alms of the Parish It was plotted long before and Villiers sent for to the same purpose by practice of some English Lords to ballance with the Scots who by the help of the last Favourite Somerset and others of great affection with the King had the better of the poor English There had been a private Intertainment of a Supper at Baynards Castle by the family of Herbert Hertford and Bedford and some others by the way in Fleet street hung out Somersets picture at a Painters stall which one of the Lords envying bad his foot-boy fling dirt on the face which he did and gave me occasion to ask my companion upon what score that was done He told me this meeting would discover And truly I waited neer and opportune and so was acquainted with the Design to bring in Villiers who was entred before He had need to be well backed against enough that envyed his neerness and aimed by any affront to discountenance him until he made them know that his courage over mastered his sweetness For having bought the place of Cup-bearer to the King and taking the upper end of the Board at dinner before some other Waiter which not his due was told of it and so removed nor was it done with overmuch kindness for indeed the other was Somersets creature who urging a second incivility Villiers gave him a Box on the Ear. For which the custome of Court condemned him to have his hand cut off And which Somerset as then Chamberlain ought to prosecute the Execution which he did And here the Kings pardon without any satisfaction to the other party made him suspected a budding Favourite Who was indeed raised with or by Somersets ruine so drew envy from him as his competitor and from others his Friends compartners in his fall being then as one cast out of the passions of the King We shall find him come up degrees and to stand firm in favour to the death of this King and his second Master till his assassination The King minding to shew his own power to raise him from nothing and his will to advance him for nothing the others study therefore was the Kings inclination and so to leave on him whose affection was sufficient to hold up his head He waited hard and close his first years rising but having removed all the whole Line of Somersets lincks his Wives interests the Howards being boldly fixed in his Masters favor he would adventure to take leave but not too long to be absent And so by degrees inured the King from his custome of overtyring his Favourites and at last fortifies himself by raising out-works if in case of assault His own mariage with an heir the daughter of the Earl of Rutland rich and Honourable twisting himself and his issue by intermariages with the best and most noble For indeed the brouse boughs cut down or removed to plain the stem Our favorite appears like a proper Palm besides the discerning spirit of the King who first cherished him through his innate virtue that surprized all men Henceforth preserments came thick upon him for the next Saint Georges day after his initiation brought him Knight Bachelour and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber At new-years time Master of the Horse and Knight of the Garter and that Summer in August 1616. Baron of Whaddon and Viscount Villiers the beginning of next year Earl of Buckingham and privy Counsellor and this Summer in Scotland sworn there also Counsellour of that State At Christmass after that favours might be recorded Acts of time and of affection too he was created Marquess Buckingham and Admiral of England chief Justice in Eyre Master of the Kings Bench Office and Steward of Westminster places of profit and Constable of Windsor Castle
resolve not to proceed to any business in the house but muttering there was though they durst not speak out The King understanding the silent humour of their Action and being yet desirous to have the time better husbanded Christmasse being at hand commands his Secretary Calvert to deliver this message to them in Speech and afterwards in Writing His Majesty remembring that this House was desirous to have a Session between this and Christmass it pleased him thereupon to signifie unto us that we should have contentment herein and that there should be a Session if we our Selves were not in fault taking now notice that we forbear to proceed with any Bills until the return of the Messengers lately sent to his Majesty hath warned me to command the House in his name not to lose time in their proceedings for preparing good Laws in the mean while and in consideration of the neer approach of Christmasse And that his Majestie hopes We will not take upon us to make a Recess in effect though not in shew without his warrant But some captious pates take exceptions as tending to breach of privilege by commanding them to proceed with Bills and so spun out the time and did nothing till the return of their Messengers whom the King receives not with overmuch kindness knowing the effect of their former petitions and observing the Contents of the later and both reflecting on his Person and Government which causeless aspersions and therefore returns them with this answer to all The Kings Answer to their Petition VVE must here begin in the same fashion that We would have done if your first Petition had come to our hands before we had made a stay thereof which is to repeat the first words of the late Queen Elizabeth of famous memory used by her in answer to an insolent Proposition which a Polonian Ambassadour made that is Legatum expitamus Heraldum accipimus For we had great reason to expect that the first message from your house should have been a message of thanksgiving for our continued gratious behaviour towards our people since your last Recess Not only by Our Proclamation of Grace wherein were contained six or seven and thirty Articles all of several points of Grace to the People but also by the labour we took for the satisfaction of both Houses in those three Articles recommended unto us in both their Names by the right Reverend Father in God the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and likewise for the good Government of Ireland we are now in hand with at your Request But not only have we heard no news of all this but contrary great complaints of the danger of Religion within this Kingdom tacitly implying Our ill Government in this point And we leave you to judge whether it be your duties that are the Representative Body of our People so to distaste them with our Government whereas by the â—pntrary it is your duty with all your endeavour to kindle more and more in duty for our gratious Government Now whereas in the very beginning of this your Apology you tax us in fair terms of trusting uncertain Reports and partial informations against your proceedings We wish you to remember that We are an old and experienced King needing no such Lessons being in Our Conscience freest of any King a live from hearing or trusting idle Repotts Which so many of your House that are neerest Us can bear witness unto you if you would give as good ear unto them as unto some Tribunitial Orators amongst you And for proof in this particular We have made your own messengers confer your other Petitions sent by you with the copy thereof which was sent us before between which there is no difference at all but that since the receiving the first Copy you added a Conclusion unto it which could not come to our hands till it was done by you and your messengers sent which was all at one time And if we had had no Copy of it before-hand we must have received your first Petition to our great Dishonour before we had known what it contained which would have inforced us to return unto you a far worse Answer then now we do For then your Messingers had returnd with nothing but that we have judged your Petition unlawful unworthy of an Answer for as to your Conclusion therof it is nothing but Protestatio contraria facto for in the body of your Petition you usurp upon our Prerogative Royal and meddle with things far above your reach and then in the Conclusion you protest the contrary as if a Robber would take a mans purse and then protest he meant not to rob him For first you presume to give us your advice concerning the Match of Our deerest Son with some Protestant we cannot say Princess for we know none of these fit for him and disswade Us from his Match with Spain urging Us to a present War with that King and yet in the Conclusion forsooth you professe you intend not to press upon our most undoubted and Regal Prerogative as if the petitioning of Us in matters that your selves confess you ought not to meddle with were not a meddling with them And wheras you pretend that you were invited to this course by the Speeches of three honourable Lords yet by so much as your selves repeat of the Speeches nothing can be concluded but that we were resolved by War to regain the Palatinate if otherwise we could not attain unto it And ye were invited to advise forthwith upon a Supply for keeping the forces in the Palatinate from disbanding and to foresee the means for the raising and maintaining of the Body of any Army for that War against the Spring Now what inference can be made upon this that presently we must denounce War against the King of Spain break our dearest Sons Match and match him to one of our Religion let the World judge The Difference is no greater than if we would tell a Merchant that we had great need to borrow money from him for raising an Army that thereupon it should follow that we are bound to follow his advice in the Directions of the War and all things depending thereupon But yet not contenting your selves with this excuse of yours which indeed cannot hold water ye come after to a direct contradiction to the Conclusion of your former Petition saying that the Honour and safety of Us and our Posterity and the Patrimony of our children invaded and possessed by their Enemies the welfare of Religion and State of our Kingdome are matters at any time not unfit your deepest consideration in Parliament To this generality we answer with the Logicians That where all things are contained nothing is omitted So as this Plenipotencie of yours invests you upon all power upon Earth lacking nothing but the l'opes to have the Keys also both of Heaven and Purgatory And to this vast generality of yours we can give no other answer for it would trouble all
Estate which we find in the Treaty of Mariage between Spain and England and being well assured how the ministers understand it who treated in the time of Philip the third that is that their meaning then was never to effect it but only by enlarging the Treaties and points of Mariage thereby to make use of the Friendship of the King of Great Brittain as well in matters of Germany as those in Flanders And suspecting that your Majesty is of the same opinion although the Demonstrations do not confirm it and that the Infanta Donna Maria is resolved to put her self into the Descalcas when she shall be pressed thereto I have therefore thought fit to present to your Majesty what my zeal hath afforded me the time most necessary for your Majesty with your Ministers to resolve what is fit The King of Great Brittain finds himself equally ingaged in two businesses to this Marriage moved thereto by conveniencies of your Majesties Friendship in making an Agreement with such Catholiques that he thinks are secretly in his Kingdom and so to be assured of them as likewise the honour in Mariage with one of the House of Austria and the best born Lady in the World The other is the Restitution of the Palatinate in which he is yet more engaged for besides that his Reputation is at stake there is added the love and interests of his Grand-children Sons of his only Daughter which in nature and reason of State are to be preferred what soever conveniencies might follow by dissembling what they suffer I dispute not That that Kings concernments herein are to be Governed with Art and Friendship He hath used both but as precisely not necessary I omit it But as a Maxim I hold these two Engagements to him are inseparable And for us though we make the Marriage we must fail in the other most necessary the restitution of the Palatinate Thus much supposed Having made the Marriage in the form as it is treated your Majesty and England will be ingaged in a War against the Emperour and the Catholick League and so to declare with your Arms. Or declaring for the Emperour and the League as certainly you will you will be forced to a War against England and yet your Sister married to his Son with the which all conveniencies whatsoever that were formerly thought upon will cease If your Majesty shall shew your self Newtral the first will appear very scandalous and with just Reason since in matters of less opposition than of Catholiques against Heretiques the Arms of this Crown hath taken part with the Godly against the convenient party And though at this time the French have taken the part of the Hollanders against us your pitty is such to send your Arms againsâ— the Rebels of that Crown of France leaving all the great considerations of State only because these men are enemies to the faith of the Church It will oblige your Majesty to give good occasion to those of the League to make use of France and other Catholick Princes ill-affected to this Crown as necessary for them so to do and these men against their own Religion will sement and assist the Heretiques for hatred to us and follow the contrary party only to leave your Majesty with that blemish that never hath befaln any of your Predecessours Besides the King of England will remain offended and disobliged seeing neither interests nor helpers do follow the allyance of this Crown is likewise the pretext of particular resentment for having suffered his Daughter and Grandchildren to be ruined in respect hereof For the Emperour though he be well affected and obliged to us in making the Translation at this time as business now stands the Duke of Bavaria being possesed of all the Dominions and though he would dispose all to our conveniencyes it will not be in his power to do it as your Majesty may see by the Memorial the Emperours Ambassadour gave you yesterday who make it certain Since in that List of the Souldiers that every one of the League is to pay Bavaria alone will pay more all than the rest joined together Which shews his power and intention not to accommodate matters but to keep to himself the superiority of all in this broken time the Emperour is now in the Dyet and the Translation is to be made in it I propose then for this Estate to conserve the means for a Conference with your Majesties Ministers for the Difficulty will be to find a Way to make the present Distracted Affairs straight again which with Lingring both the Power and the Time will be lost The Emperour as your Majesty knows by his Ambassadours desires to marry his Daughter with the King of Englands Son and I doubt not but he will be likewise glad to marry his second daughter with the Palatines Son Then I propound that these two Matches be made and set on foot presently giving the King of England full satisfaction in all his propositions for the more strict Union and Correspondence that he may agree to it And so all the conveniencies of allyance with us will be as full in this for it accommodates the matter of the Palatinate and the Succession of his Grand-children with his honour without blood or treasure together with the interest of the Emperour the conveniencies of England and the Palatinate and to reduce the Prince Elector that was an enemy to the obedience of the Church by breeding his Sonnes in the Emperours Court in the Catholique doctrine To conclude the business is great the difficulties greater than perchance have been in any other Case I am obliged thus to represent it to your Majesty and shall further shew what I think fit foe disposing of the things to the great Ministers of State if your Majesty please being helped with the good zeal of Count Gondamore and God his blessing therein so much for his Honour and your Majesties service Madrid Novem. 8. 1622. Olivares A wonder to some why this Bird was not hatcht in our Historians nest for it was fledged with the rest and writ you see but three daies after for Answer and might have been nestled in Mr. Prinns â—abal if either of them had been so honest as to preserve a truth Some reasons besides which animated King Iames to proceed having wasted much time of Tryal by his Ambassadours in Spain and with theirs here Gondamore a Man of subtile wit yet prevailed more with us by the advantage of time and our own distempers than by the virtue of any worth in him who having done here as you have heard was called home the last year and Don Iuan de Mendoza Marquess Inojosa with Don Carlos de Colonna sent hither Extraordinary with whom here passed more narrow overtures in the Match besides what was acted beyond Seas with such effects as are before remembred And being a mixed business of Love and State and yet in them the common good and quiet of Christendom involved standing upon
is met in your Majesty a rare conjunction as well of Divine and Sacred Literature as of Prophane and Humane So as your Majesty stands invested of that Triplicity which in great Veneration was ascribed to the antient Hermes The power and fortune of a King the knowledge and illumiâ—ation of a Priest and the Learning and Universality of a Philosopher This propriety inherent and individual Attribute in your Majesty deserveth to be expressed not only in the fame and admiration of the present time nor in the History or Tradition of the Ages succeeding but also in some solid work fixed memorial and immortal Monument bearing a Character or Signature both of the power of a King and the difference and persection of such a King So he Memoria Iusti cum laudibus Et Impiorum Nomen putrescit An EPITAPH ON King Iames the sixth THose that have Eyes awake and weep For He whose waking wrought Our sleep Is fallen asleep and never Shall awake till wak'd for Ever Death's Iron hand hath clos'd those Eyes Which were at once Three Kingdomes Spyes Both to foresee and to prevent Dangers so soon as they were meant That Head whose working Brain alone Wrought all mens quiet But His own Now lies at Rest. Oh let Him have The Peace He purchasd in His Grave If that no Naboth all His Reign Was for his fruitful Vineyard slain If no Uriah lost his Life For having had so fair a Wife Then let no Shemei's curses wound His Honour or profane His Ground Let no Black-Mouth no Rank-breath Cur Peaceful James His Ashes stir Kings are as Gods O! do not then Rake in Their Graves to prove Them Men. For His daies toyl and Night watches For His craz'd sleep stol'n by Snatches For Two fair Kingdomes join'd in One For all He did or meant t' have done Do this for Him write on His Dust King IAMES the Peaceful and the Just. Sit Gloria DEO FINIS The Conclusion HItherto having pursued the Descent following the Union of the two Roses by Marriage of Henry 7. of England and the re-union of both Kingdoms Sovereignty by succesfull inheritance of King James and then left to a son and Heir and also to the numerous issue of a Daughter and her Descendents and suddenly into the present possession of King Charls of Great Britain France and Ireland the first who though affianced forthwith in Marriage with the Princess Maria Sister to the French King Louis the 13. Blessed also afterward with a numerous Issue Sons and Daughters as a full Period in shew of all former Mutation and change through them and their posterity perpetual So indeed it appeared to a State-observer but not seemed good to the Eye of Providence whose powerfull Hand hath ordered it otherwise for He is taken away in the strength of his years and perfections and none of his in possibility of Reason to succeed to any part or portion of his Inheritance But to proceed in the continuation of this History to these Times and to branch into such particulars as to draw down to discover Truth to after-Ages may seem to some very difficult the common Excuse of such as cannot or will not undertake it and therefore preâ—end that by following the heels of Truth too near a man may endanger his Teeth A defect of Reason so to conceive when an even and unbiassed Narrative of Men and Matters may well become the judicious Historian For first that King Charls was lawfully possessed and crowned Monarch of his Fathers Inheritance his Peers and People obediently submitting to his Scepter That He being necessarily imbroiled into some forrein Ingagements against Spain and France was enforced to summon the assistance of several succeeding Parliaments unsuccesfull and by too hasty Regulation of Ecclesiastick Discipline upon the Scots Kirk moved them to an unnatural Insurrection which caused Expeditions against their Armies already descended into the heart of England which enforced him to assemble another long-lasting Parliament wherein he lost himself and his Life also What were the true and different Reasons Grounds and Manâ—agements of the late Differences between Him and Them the Proâ—ocations on either side to the first entrance into the miserable War Their several Battels Sieges Policies and different Successes of that so long uncivil-civil Dissension His nâ—â—â—ssities enforcing Him to leave his own Party and to resign up himself unto his natural Countreymen unfaithfull Scots Their Sale of his Person back again to his English subjects Their several Passages Declarations Narratives Treaties Overtures and Disputes between Them both before and during his Restraint in order to a firm and lasting Agreement with his Parliament and People for Reconciling Important Affairs of Church and State with the Presbyâ—erian future destruction of the Hierarâ—hy of Ecclesiaâ—tick Discipline Their Policies thereupon to be rid of the Bishops Deans and Chapters The Dismission of the Lords House in Parliament and Impeachment and Execution of Ecclesiastick and Lay persons Bishops and Beers And after all they brought his Head to the Block a sacrifice for the sins of the whole Nations The different Disâ—ositions in their eleven years long domination of a pretended Triennial Parliament necessitates another Power to purge them with several Doses and afterwards to put them down Sundry Expedients to prove them by a fresh Assembly Representatiues of the People Their time and debates wasted to no good purpose they are broken up and in fine dissipated And then the last little Assembly rise of themselves leaving all in Anarchy and desperate confusion Untill it pleased the Almighty to raise a Power which resumed the Peoples protection in monstrous danger of utter destruction The necessity of the national Affairs introducing were put under the power of single Sovereignty How that power hath managed the Government against divers desperate Designs Forrein and Domestick The prosperous effects and issue now settled into an assurance of the Nations future subsistance And all these in reference to our neighbour States War with some Amity with others All these particulars faithfully put together without captious and presâ—mptuous opinions of partial observers not to descant private conceits upon the necessity of State But barely to represent the Narrative and to leave the 〈◊〉 the Readers sentence And this way God willing is thus intended and in part pursued the matter and manner of this monarchical succession and final conclusion to be faithfully performed unto these Times our last Days By W. SANDERSON Nec magna desiderantur Henry 7. James 4. James 5. Of King Iames parents to his Birth Their descent H. 8. turns Lutheran And makes war with Scotland And defeats them K. of Scots dies And his Daughter Mary born His Burial And Character Q. Maries entrance into heâ— Crown and Troubles By Factions of Hamilton and Lenox Earl of Arran Her Guide Her breeding in Fran. And there married the Dolphin And as heirs to England quarter the Arms. Which offended Qu. Elizabeth The French King and Dolphin die