of Bristol between two of the eldest Counsellours of State and a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber Sir Walter Aston following them in like manner accompanied The rest of the Council of State and Bed-chamber next after Then that goodly Guard de los Archeros bravely clad in gallant manner then numbers of gallant youth followed being of the glory of that Court and Kingdome The windows decked you may believe with the painted beauties of tâ—e most famous Donna's the Houses outwardly furnished with hangings of Arras and Pictures the Streets scaffolded and here and there in more eminency were raised Temporary buildings whereon the several bodies of the Councills sate to see and do reverence and by the way several Pageants Representations of the rare Comedians and Dancers and all to give content to that Royal Pair as thâ—y passed by untill they came to the Court-Gate The Queen and Infanta were Spectators but soon retired to the Pallace to receive the visit the King and Prince embracing passed up to the Queens Quarter whom She received at her Chamber Door and conducted him to and under the Cloath of State they sat on three equal Chairs the Queen in the midst the Prince on the Right hand the King on the Left The Room richly furnished but more by those excellent beauties the living Tapistry of Ladies Noble Mens Children called Menines Madam said the Prince the Honour of this Dayes Solemnity is due to your Majesty which conveys Me hither to kiss your Princely hand And so stooped to her Knee Sir said she It is to your Highness and in such manner as to the Royalty of Spain due and done to your excellent merit And so passing half an hours complement in French which is natural to her she brought them back to Her Chamber-Door The King conducting the Prince to his Lodgings a quarter of the Court prepared for him with all magnificence At the entrance stood the Infantes his two Brothers and so all three conducted the Prince into His Bed chamber And then the K. tâ—ok the right hand Because said he your Highness is now at home and so left him to his peculâ—ar attendants and other Officers of honour especially Grandees mixt amongst them to wait the Princes pleasure And within an hour comes the Conde de Benavente as Maior Dorro to the Queen with a present A Fair Bason of Massy Gold born by two Men A Cuâ—â—ous imbroidered Night Gown laid double in it Two great Trâ—nks bound with bands of pure Gold studded very thick with nails of Gold and Locks and Keys of the same The Coverings and Linings were of Amber Leather filled with several Delicacies curious Linnen rich Perfumes A rich fair Desk full of rarities in each Drawer And Buckingham was remembred by a Present from the Countess Olivares Fire works were made and Torch Triumphs in all Houses and Windows for three Nights together by Proclamation with wonderfull acclamations night and day crying Vive el Principe de Galles Vive el Principe c. And thus settled at his home attended with all the like Officers as the King and of the same ranck and quality with the one half of his Guard with golden Keyes of the Court to dispose to such English as the Prince was pleased to intrust Great Triumphs in preparation and the principal Nobility in Aragon sent for to honour the Court and for the glory and lustre of the same the Edict for restraint of all excess in point of apparel was suspended Some daies after invited to run at the Ring in presence of his Mistress he took it at the first course with acclamations of joy and honour The glory of which challenged fate to finish his desires with good success in the Infanta's favour And although some daies had passed with utmost extremities of gaâ—lantry yet saw he not his Mistress but at those distanceâ—â— which was excused by Olivares That the custome of the Natiâ—â— in Princely Overtures with Infanta's was not to take view of neerer affections till the Dispensation from Rome should come to admit them Lovers Yet as a Prince he had access often in presence of the King for privacy is not admitted between Brother and Sister of Royal descent yet the Prince at these interviews spake to her by Bristol his Interpreter By this time the Court of Spain was changed into English Lords and Buckingham created Duke by Patent carried over by Viscount Doncaster lately made Earl of Carlile and every day brought thither the affluence of fresh Gallants of English Nobility the Earl of Denbigh Viscount Rochford the Lord Kensington Caecils Herberts Howards not a Noble Family that failed to tell posterity what he had seen in Spain There is one who will have the Prince soundly beset for fair hopes to turn Papist a scandal not worthy the confutation for I have heard it discoursed oftimes afterward when the Duke Kensington after Earl of Holland and Denbigh with others avow to the world thar there were never any proposals or designs to alter the Princes Religion for indeed it was so unlikely that in it self it might be sufficient reason to hazard his succession Though I may be easily drawn to believe and do know some particulars that the Arts and Engines at Rome were set on work and vainly whetted for that advantage and that the outward acts of State in that Negotiation might mix secret workings with circumstance and respects to the Romish Religion and might thereafter through that Expedition amongst free Wits and French Gazets under divers censures since not proper for me in these our last daies so to dive into as to convince the malice of Libellers These our Authors Mr. Prinn and the French Mercury and other such stuff T is true too that the Dispensation moulded at Rome induced the Pope Gregory to write to the Prince not improper so to do and as handsome for his Highness to afford an Answer both are in Print and common such as they are and of custome may be somwhat corrupted in the truth of what was writ and by the answer we may understand the other The Princes Answer to the Popes Letter Most Holy Father I Received the Dispatch with content and as the respect and care wherewith Your Holiness writes doth require Being unspeakable the Delight I had to read the generous Exploits of my Noble Predicessors to whose memory Posterity have not sufficiently given due Elogies of Honour I believe your Holiness sets their Examples before me for my imitation and the courage which they had to exalt the Cross hath not been more than the care which I have that the peace of the Church might be bounded in true Concord and as the glory of God requires our endeavours to unite I do not esteem it greater honour to be descended from such Princes than to imitate them in true zeal of Piety in which it assures me much to have known the Mind and Will of Our Thrice
the manner It hath been conceived over-long saith he to defer my Mariage being alone without Father Mother Brother or Sister and yet a King of this Realm and heir to another which nakedness made him weak and his Enemies strong For one is no number and where no succession contempt follows And my delay thus long may beget a suspition of impotency nor am â— over rash or passionate without reason to direct me but the treaty made perfect I resolved of a Bridegrooms honor to make it possible on my part which was not on hers to perform to me For the manner I first intended the voyage to the Admiral Bothwell which miscarried upon his Miscarriage Then I commended it to the Chancellour who in truth and prudence made some difficulty for the State to furnish a Fleet seeing the Queen was there provided but zealous of my service offered his duty and obedience which I made publick reserving my resolution only to my self not that I varied from his Counsel as in my weightier affairs heretofore I valued but to cleer him from advising me this way with hazard of my person and which indeed had not become any Counsellor to have done And because his wisdom enabled me in my youth to what I did it might still reflect also on my weakness to be wanting to my self and suffer him to act all to the Malice and envy of others and so in pitty to heap no more slanders on him I made this work my own without injury to any Besides what I have said the short passage and safety from Seas and Sands without Peril of Pyrates for other enemies I have uone conclude that it is my pleasure that all conform to my directions in my absence God willing not twenty daies Farewel Iames Rex This Declaration was the next day after he was shipt presented by Hay Clerk of Register to the Council together with the directions hereafter Seeing it hath pleased God to bring Us to the age of Manhood and that nothing hath been more earnestly desired by our good subjects than to have Us honourably matched that the Crown might descend to our Suâ—cession after so many worthy Progenitours And so setting down the course of his Treaties with Frederick King of Denmark lately deceased and contracted by Proxie with his Daughter who in her voyage to Scotland was by storms driven to Norway willing rather to winter there than to return back This hazard so far adventured it becomes him in Kingly honour and affection to relieve so great a Princess from so long time of sadness and to associate her Consortship with his presence and God willing to return back in twenty daies We hope no man will seem to regret upon our pleasure and purpose seeing the Kingdom hath wanted a Governour longer than we now intend by our absence from the Death of our Grand-mother the Queen Regent unto the arrival of our Dearest Mother out of France fourteen Moneths and the State in that time more happy in Peace and Quietness than before or since and yet we have and do Ordain That our Council remain at Edenburgh and the Duke of Lenox our Nephew Preâ—ident thereof assisted by our Cosin Francis Earl of Bothwel together with our Treasurer Controwler Master of Requests Privy Seal the Captain of the Castle of Edenburgh Advocate and Clark Register or five at the least of them Then he ordains several Noblemen in their Courses to attend at Edenburgh for fifteen daies Anguss Athol Fleming and Innerness to begin The next course to be by the Earl Mar and Morton Seaton and Yester the Barons of Lothian Fiâ—e Shrivelingshire and Strathern The South to be commanded by the Lord Hamilton Lieutenant General to be assisted by the Lords Maxwel Boyd Herris Hume Cesford and to reside at Dunfres or Jedbrough Finally he recommended the Church to peace and quietness and to discharge all Conventions and other Assemblies till his return and not to fail to remember him in their dayly prayers for his safety and happy return And thus having settled affairs at home he imbarks with Maitland the Chancelour Ballendine Iustice Clark Dowglas and the Gentlemen of his Bed-chamber and honshold Servants and Lindsey his Minister and â—rrived neer Upsto in Norway within five daies after The Sunday following he did solemnize the Mariage and the ceremony was performed by Lindsey in French and because of the Winter season he was invited by Ambassadours to visit the Queen Mother and her Son Christern King of Denmark elect The King Queen and Train set forward the two and twenty December from Upsto and came to Bahouse a Castle bordering Norway and Sweden the 1. of Ianuary where he staied seven daies for a Convoy from that King then at Stockholm and was met with a Troop of four hundred horse upon the Frozen River and so to Denmark the next day to Westbury five daies thence to Falhenburgh Holmstade Cowhalm Elsingburgh and the 21. of Ianuary received by Queen Mother at Crownenburgh the young King the Duke of Holstat his Brother and the four Regents of the Realm with all possible magnificence There he remained till the end of February and being to give honour to the Nuptials of his Queens eldest Sister with Duke Brunswick to be in April next he advertiseth his Council the reason of his stay and sends for shipping to return which were six arriving at Elsenore in the middle of April and landed the King Queen and Company at Lieth the twentieth day of May. Not without the general opinion that the Witches in the blind Light of the Gospel usually trading for Devilish Money had his help to hinder the meeting before which now notwithstanding prospered well by the Kings presence so it was ascribed It being confirmed also afterwards That Bothwell had inquired of them the Kings fortune which by Law was made Treason Queen Elizabeth congratulates the Nuptials by her Emissary Edward Seymor Earl of Worcester with the honor of the Garter as she had done to the French King In whose absence a wonder to all that no insurrection or feud had been in publique or private unless two petty Riots by Wachop and Clangregore nay Bothwell so reclaimed that in true sense of his former debaucheries does voluntary penance and confession in the publique Church But this resolution lasted not long for he returns to the vomit to his utter undoing hereafter The Bishops absent Bruce performs the Ceremony of the Queens Coronation a Iewish rite sayes the Ministers abolished at Christs comming and introduced by the Pope and not to be used Certainly that ceremony had not been used by the Jews only and being mentioned in Iudges by Parable shews it was a custome in creating Kings and frequent with other Nations Hasael of Aram was annointed by Elias and Esay calls Cyrus of Persia Gods annointed Nor was every rite if introduced by Papists to be rejected Seeing therefore all free Monarchs use the same their
annexed to the Imperial Crown of the Realm Thus oblig'd to their duty they chuse a Speaker whom they accompany to the King whose Election they desire him to ratifie whom the King usually is pleased with which done the Speaker in his own and the House of Commons name gives thanks and beseeches That the Lower House may use their Privileges and freedom of debating That if any therein shall happen to be more earnest in his own opinion his Majesty will vouchsafe not to take it ill nor be angry and that they may have access to the Kings Majesty or Higher House as oft as matters require which leave being granted they are dismissed Both Houses have free liberty to debate of matters propounded by the King or touching making or abrogating Laws and to determine to commit to writing what is to be transmitted to each other by Messenger whereto if upon debate had there ensue an assent by Votes the consent is noted upon the top of the Bill in this form amongst the Lords Les Seigneurs ont assentes among the Commons Les Communes ont assentes but if they differ both Houses not seldom meet or else principal persons chosen out of them to confer together in a commodious place for their meeting in the Painted Chamber there the Commons standing and uncovered with great observance receive the Lords covered and sitting and there they confer if they discord that business comes to nothing but if they agree they present it to the King which if he allows he writes Le Roy le veult and so as by a Soul infused into a Body it receives life and becomes an effectual Law forthwith to be promulgated to the People but when the King refuses to approve it he writes on the top of the Leaf Le Roy s' avisera sometimes he denies it in terminis and thereupon are reputed dasht The sacred matters the King permits not to be handled by Parliaments but Synods unless it may be for the force of Laws from Parliamentary Authority which they cannot so fully obtain from their divine verity The Deans Arch-Deacons Procuratours for the Chapters as also for every Arch-Deaconry the former being delegated by the Suffrages of the Prebendaries these of the Ministers meet in a place assigned to debate touching them where having first chosen a Prolocutor in the name of the Clergy they determine concerning Heads of Religion Ceremonies and other matters belonging to the Church as also granting of Subsidies to the King whose Results notwithstanding are not obtruded on the Seculars to be observed with the Authority of Laws untill as above-said they be allowed by assent of King and both Houses being provided That Civil hands should not intermeddle in these affairs Our Chronicles tell us That Queen Elizabeth expostulates with the Parliament for that they had appointed a Fast without her advice and were not restored to her favour but upon obtaining of Pardon Both Houses have respectively their peculiar Privileges To the higher House not onely to give counsels and to assist in making Laws but likewise to exercise the power of Iudicature and so of imposing Oaths in the more weighty causes as corruption of Iudges and Magistrates and in last Appeals which yet to bring back to examen without the Kings permission and Patent the Lawyers say is praeter-legal nor do they so unless the Judges of Law sitting by The House of Commons have Privileges of supplicating and craving Right or else the Accusers part never challenged to it self the Office of Judg save within their own Walls and on their proper Members and that extended no farther than penalty of Imprisonment or Mulct never having any right of pressing an Oath and therefore in a Statute the House of Commons say That seeing Parliamentary Iudicature belongs to the King and Lords and not to the Commons that they might not be obliged contrary to Custom to give Iudgment If any doubt touching the Election of their Members it was heretofore determined by the Lords House or by the Judg of the Kings Chancery If any of them had departed from the Houses without the Kings leave and both Houses also he was convened before the Kings Council-table or Kings Bench to undergo the penalty and was not punished at the discretion of his own House of Commons But they have Privilege first to debate and determine of levying money among the People This was the temperament of King Parliament and People in proper parts not harming each other for the Kings supreme Authority and Sword is as a sufficient power to vindicate the Laws from the Factions of the Grands and popular Tumults whilest in the mean time the Lords with that chief Authority wherewith they are vested of Iudicature and Legislation put a curb on one hand to the Kings Tyranny if he extravagate on the other to the tumultuating populace and in semblable manner the People by that their power of accusing whom they please and of granting or denying moneys are in a sufficient capacity to retrench the licentiousness of the Nobility and of the Kings Counsellours and break the Kings impetuous incroching on the publick The Laws have exceedingly provided That the freedom of voting and debating be not hindered through fear of insolent persons therefore none may come into either of their Houses with a Sword or armed The Members and their Servants not to be arrested for Debt or offences though of a mean alloy and if any so attached he may not be free but by a Writ out of the Chancery Seldom and that upon weighty cause would Kings create offence to so venerable an Assembly however it hath so faln out that excellent Princes upon too great provocations have reprehended the Senate and punisht some Offenders convening them before the Judges of the Kingdom imprisoned fined and put to death sometimes Thus by past stood the state of Parliaments when the King came in and calls one in March the King Queen and Prince some days before rode from the Tower to his Palace of White-hall in such Triumph as the several Pageants at each convenient place with excellent Oratory assured them the affections and duty of his Subjects as they did some days afterwards when the like occasion presented them in state to this Parliament And as usual with all Sovereigns his Predecessours themselves or Chancellour sweetens the Members with some Rhetorical Oration to the purpose of calling that Assembly and this the King undertakes now as best able of any Prince his Predecessours or any other Assistant for wit or wisdom to compare with him and therein he lays open his heart to both Houses in a very long Speech But because it is in print and bound with the Volume of his Works I shall adventure to abreviate here for some light to the Reader in this History which follows But then in this as in other his most eloquent and gracefull Speeches hereafter where you meet with any of his
themselves to search for mischiefs and being found to scandallize the State with them How these were nourished and afterwards fomented the revolution of time hath made obvious to all men and saves me the labour to set down the particulars It was no novelty then to applaud the former times and to vilifie the present for indeed her fame carried it current in a long continuance to have lived and dyed Royally and Victoriously without the disquiet of the peoples affections and being but a Sojourner in the World in respect of her Maiden-hood might be and was a blessing to her own times the impression of her good Goverment besides her happy memory is not without some effect which doth survive her But this K blessed already with Royal issue and whose fruitful Bed promised increase It was more proper and agreeable with him to be studious not onely in the Transitory part of good Government but in those Acts which are in their nature permanent and perpetual to his posterity rather to increase than diminish the Advantages of Soveraignty which he aimed at and for his part and time did perform but t is a tender subject to discuss I have done Yet I may add a truth That all the force and power of his Progenitours and all their merits and policies to boot for more then an age before her could never borrow so much credit upon their Privy Seals as she did during her time and left them all for this King to discharge great and vast sums Which shews that Necessities put her upon that piece of State when neither her Exchequer could afford relief nor the urgency of her affairs indure the delaies of Parliaments assistance For in truth she had strained likewise from her people in that way of Subsidies more then ever any Prince I will not say many that were before her She had the way to do it by complaisance of a Princess and he a King not affecting that Course failed of such effects For he was by nature more reserved than popular and had his virtues fitter for estimation then Love and did like a King his soul being planted higher overshot such matter as lay level to anothers eye And so as I have said some of these ways to get mony was set a foot this year 1614. and upon several occasions in his reign after proposed but not effected In those times of Trade the Merchant-Adventurer usually transported Our English Cloths white undress'd and undy'd and the Dutch had gotten the Art by the end fitted and stretcht them by their Knavery and so returned them to us at high rates of this the Cloth-worker of London complains which was soon remedied by Proclamation forbidding the transport and to countenance that Corporation the King was feasted in their Hall and made free of their Company the rather because their Cote Arms the Thistle is the Scots Embleme And over went our Cloaths accordingly dyed and drest which the Hollanders forbid to be bought by them and therefore dealt with our Fell-mongers and got over Our Woolls and the Mystery of making Cloth Hereupon we proclame and forbid the transport of our wools The Quarrel between those two Corporations and their respective gain is by the Merchant Adventurers complained of and for mittigation of their Mischief several warrants for some thousands of Cloths were sparingly licensed by wisdome of State to be sent over and so evenly moderating the mystery of Merchants that cozen each other and at their great Feast likewise the Prince was made free The King of Denmark makes a second visit to his Sister the Queen for fourteen daies upon no business of State onely his affections to her and jollity to himself with a Train of no more than half a hundred persons of honour and Noblesse of his own breeding to the Dutch Diet and Drink to which he was too much inclined and oft-times had his load for we were not wanting of our boon-Companions that waited on him for that purpose The Earl of Suffolk succeeding Salisbury in the Treasurership yielded his Office of Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold to his Son in Law Somerset as aforesaid and he the Place of Secretary unto Sir Ralph Winwood lately returned from the Netherlands where he had been Ambassadour Lieger of a long time The Summers Progress returns the King to London where had been some muttering of Overbury's death in the Tower discovered beyond the Seas by the Apothecary's Boy that impoysoned the Glyster and having his Reward was sent out of the way to Flushing where he told the Tale to Trimball the Kings Agent there by whom it came to Winwood's knowledg and so to the King and by degrees to particular Examinations Confessions and Executions of all these Weston an Apothecary Mistris Turner a Doctor of Physick's widow Sir Iervis Yelvis Lieutenant of the Tower and Franklin all accessaries But Weston being the principal actor it was therefore his turn first to come to the Bar at the Hinstons Court in Guild-hall where beyond Judg Cook 's expectation the man stood mute notwithstanding all allurements and threats that could be used and so was returned to Prison Cook informs the King that unless the principal be convict the accessaries could not be tried but by continual cunning and some fair promises of pardon Weston put himself upon his Countrey and was cast condemned and hanged Cook not content with that gets knowledg under-hand that Serjeant Yelverton an obliged Servant to the House of Howards had advised this Counsel for Weston not to betray any parties And this Tale was told by Sir Robert Cook from his fathers confession After all comes Somerset and his Countess and both condemned some that were then at their Trial and not partial conceived in conscience he might have been spared that Sentence and as himself says to the King That he fell rather for want of well defending than by force of proofs for I so far says he for sook my self and my cause as that I might be more condemned for that than for the matter And because it was a story of evil fame near and far off I shall put it to the test in a brief Narratory being pleaded before the Lord Elsmore Chancellour and High Steward for the Day and most of the Peers at Westminster Hall May 1616. in this manner A Peer of the Land hath this Privilege upon Treason or Felony indicted to be tried by his Peers the King by Letters Patents assigns some sage Lord of the Parliament to be High Steward of England for that Day of his Arreignment who before that time makes Precept to his Serjeant at Arms to warn to appear before him a certain number of Lords of the Parliament twelve at the least upon that Day at Westminster At which time the High Steward shall sit under the Cloath of State and causeth his Commission to be read the same Serjeant returns his Precept and calls the Lords who appearing by
if the Aunt had married the Nephew it had been a greater sin because the Auâ—t being in loco Parent is to the Nephew he by such marriage being Husband to the Aunt became by that Relation Superiour to his Parent which did aggravate the offence So then that which is to be insisted upon is the law Moral which is the constant and permanent will of God both in the Church Triumphant and Militant So that Adam could never marry any if he had lived until this time being the common Parent of Mankind in the Old World and Noah in the New And thus much concerning the Divorce and Elizabeths Title But to conclude it comes to be our Task to enter upon this work of Mother and Son and to enliven their Memories with their â—ives and Actions not singly neither but contemporary too with such Affairs of State as intermixes with others of Europe As also the State Militant of the Scots Kirk in Persecution Motion and at Peace in relation to the Arks upon the Water in the Wilderness and in the Temple The Materials of All need no Ornament but adjustment Bona fama propria possessio Defunctorum And if ever to any of old stiles and additions were allowed properly and truly they may challenge Piae Memoriae Bonae Memoriae Felices Memoriae as due to them I dare not appropriate to my self abilitâ— in these as to a Compile I rather wish it compleat in another endeavouring onely to set down such particular Actions Memorative as may hereafter enlighten abler pens to consummate Those Collections hereby commended to posterity for that purpose To raise a better Structure out of this imperfect Rubish Index of the first Part to the entrance of King JAMES to the Crown of England THe Introduction of K. James 5. and his Wife and of their Daughter Queen Mary their story in brief to the Birth of King James 6. from page 1. to 8. A. Acts concerning Episcopacy 110 Ambassadours privilege discussed 74 abused 97 Ambassadours about Marriage with Denmark 137 Ambassadours sent by the King to forrein Princes concerning succession to the Crown of England 219 Angus and other fugitives in England their insolence 105 dies bewitched 135 Queen Ann's design to seize the Prince 183 Army of the English and Scots slain 13 Armies of the Queen against the Lords 38 Armstrong a prisoner in England set free by force of Arms with a trick 191 difference hereupon 192 Arch-bishop of St Andrews dies and is abused by the Ministery 160 Earl of Arran's plot 27 dies his character and issue 84 Earl of Arran his power in state 105 Earl of Arundel arreigned 154 Six Articles of the Church 36 Ministers assemble at pleasure 26 Assembly petition and are answered 158 Assembly make work 194 Blake his mutiny and story 196 the Assembly assist him 199 dangerous tumult 202 Qu Elizabeth interposes her Letter to the King 204 Lord Aubigny in favour with King James 93 displeases Queen Elizabeth ib. B. BAbington's treason 114 Basilicon Doâ—on the occasion of it in publick 223 Beaton Cardinal murthered 11 Beza and Calvin at Geneva 16 Bishops restored 104 Bishopricks the state thereof in Scotland 224 Blake his mutiny and story 196 turn'd out of all 213 Blunt sent into Ireland 242 Borders of Scotland how bounded 44 Borderers confer and quarrel 83 Borderers in feud 137 Bothwel flies into France 35 advanced in favour of the Queen 42 visited of the Queen 44 is divorced 47 marrieth the Queen 49 desires the single combat and flies with the Queen 50 flies into Denmark 59 Bothwel accused of Witchcraft 159 is committed and escapes 160 Bothwel's treason to seize the King 164 Bothwel's attempts at Faulkland defeated 167 Bothwel steals into Scotland and surprizes the King 171 inforces Articles 172 Bothwel arms and is defeated 177 Bothwel and Popish Lords rebell 180 are defeated 181 Bothwel flies and dies at Naples 182 Burleigh's Speech to the Scots Ambassadours 94 Lord Burrough Ambassadour to the King 170 C. CAles Voyage 210 Articles at Calice 19 Calvin and Beza their Discipline at Geneva 16 that Confession 44 Catholick Lords of Scotland dismayed plot rebell 145 146 their designs 147 Cecil's Letter to Knox 22 Cecil writes to King James and his Answer 258 Chancellour of Scotland dies his character 184 Chatelet executed 39 Colvil Ambassadour to England complains of Zouch 177 Of single Combats and Duels 53 Câ—mmissioners treat about 〈◊〉 Scots Queen 63 and again 78 Commissioners meet to treat of Peace with France and Spain dispute about Precedency 143 Conspiratours executed 104 Coin over-valued 91 Crag a Minister his Life and Death 132 D. LOrd Darley returns out of banishment 34 marries the Queen 37 is debarred bearing of Royal Arms 40 turns Protestant 41 is discontented 43 and murthered 46 his character 47 Davison's Letter to the Ministers 251 Designs in England for Queen Mary 103 Discipline framed 25 and subscribed 26 Duke of Tuscany fore-warns King James of Poyson 231 E. EDenburgh Castle besiâ—â—ed and won 80 Queen Elizabeth expostulates the Rebellion of Scots Lords moderates the Scots differences 76 Qu Elicabeth aids Navar 156 and the Dutch ib. raises her Custom 157 Queen Elizabeth strikes Essex 221 Queen Elizabeth dies 261 Lady Elizabeth born 194 Christned 199 English confederate with Scots reformed and how 22 English expedition to Portugal 154 English take Cales 210 Acts concerning Episcopacy 110 Essex his expedition into France 162 his Voyage to the Azores 215 Essex and Cecil's intelligence with King James 2â—4 Essex his Treason 233 F. FActions and Feuds 168 The first Fast general of the Kirks 40 Forrein Titles their precedency at home disputed 21 French aid the Scots 13 quarter the Arms of Englandâ—9 â—9 King of France killed at a Tilting 20 King Francis of France dies 25 French break the League with England 25 French King relieved by Queen Elizabeth turns Papist 169 France hath aid of England against Spain 220 Frâ—â—â—h Ambassadour and Cecil discourse about the Kings succesion 258 G. OF Geneva their Government Church and State 15 the promulgation of that Discipline 18 Geneva besieged 225 Earl Gowry created 95 surpriâ—es the King at Ruthen 96 his Imprisonment Arreignment and Execution 100 Gowry's conspiracy â—â—â— Lord Gray's design to kill 〈◊〉 he is banished H. HAcket's horrible Tenets Disciples Blasphemy Execution 162 163 Prince Henry born 176 his Baptism 179 Huntley rescues Colonel Semple 141 writes to Parma and the King of Spain 146 rebells 147 committed and adjudged guilty 149 150 Huntley and Murray quarrel 159 Huntley cause of Murray's death 165 166 I. KIng James born 42 baptized 45 King James and his Mother in faction and feud 80 is crowned 90 his appearance in Parliament his Speech 92 King James surprized 96 makes a Feast and the Kirk makes a Fast 98 frees himself 98 Proclamation against Iesuits 148 Iesuits their Seminaries confirmed by the Pope 164 Interests of Faâ—â—ions discussed 68 Iâ—ish Rebells 161 209 Don Juan de Austria his design against
England blasted 87 K. KIng's design to meet his Bride in Norway disposes his Government 150 marries the Queen and goes into Denmark 152 his Queen arrives in Scotâ—and and is crowned 153 Kirk have what they desire manner of their Excommunication 45 ingratefull prescribe behaviour to the Church of England 46 stiled Precisians 84 Kirk stirs the State being troubled 166 Kirkmen in Scotland mutiny 137 138 John Knox Minister the prime Incondiary of Reformation 12 his Travels and Faction accused of Treason 15 arrives in Scotland and begins Troubles 20 insolency towards Morton and conâ—ers with the Queen 31 his Breves to his Brethren he is questioned 33 his insolency 34 preaches against Government 38 L. ANtient League between the Scots and French 12 Holy League 106 Holy Leaguers 155 League offensive and defensive between England and Scotland 112 Lenox and Darly return from banishment 34 Lenox elected Regent 69 is slain 77 his old Countess dies her Descent and Issve 87 Lewis Isle reduced in the North and the effect 256 Lords take Arms and are defeated fly into England and get aid and submit 39 banished and return 42 Lords conspire declare seize the King at Sterlin and treat 107 Love-trick of a Woman 168 M. MArriage proposed between England and Scotland 10 Marriage of King James with a Sister of Denmark propounded 107 Ambassadours about that Marriage 137 Earl of Mar Regent 77 dies 78 Northern Martyrs 9 Queen Mary sent into France 14 returns out of France 25 Queen Mary affects the Lord Darly 34 and proposes to marry him 36 she answers the six Articles of the Kirk and marries Darly 37 takes Arms against the Lord 38 is brought to bed of King James 42 Summary of the Lord Darley's murther and of the Queens hasty Marriage 48 Queen Mary resigns the Government to her Son King James 52 is defeated flies into England and writes to Queen Elizabeth 62 Queen Mary imprisoned her Commissioners treat in England 63 Queen Mary designed to dy 86 writes to Queen Elizabeth 95 Queen Maries story returned to 113 Queen Mary comes to her Trial 115 the manner thereof ib. her Sentence of Death 116 the sequel 117 King James perplexed sends to Queen Elizabeth Letters Ambassadours who reason with her 118 120 false Tales Scotland in disorder the Kirk refuseth to pray for Queen Mary ib. Mandate for her Execution the manner thereof 121 her Epitaph 126 Queen Elizabeths Letter to King James 126 Davison sentenced about Qu Maries Death his Apology to Walsingham 127 Walsingham's Letters to the King and the Lord Thirlstan 128 the Kings Deportment on his Mothers Death 134 is caressed by Queen Elizabeth 134 Designs of several Nations to revenge her Death 135 Massacre of Protestants 〈◊〉 France 83 Mass opposed 26 Melvil a Disciplinarian his railings 82 a fiery spirit 85 his evil manners 100 Insolency against the Mass 32 Maxwel arms against Johnstone 106 rebells and is taken Prisoner 138 Messam the Minister hath a Bastard 29 his penance 42 Ministers assemble at pleasure 26 allowed maintenance by Modificators 27 vote themselves exempt 〈◊〉 justice 28 Ministers denounced Rebells fly into England 102 Ordinance of Parliament against them and for what reasons 102 their impudent Reply sharply answered 103 Ministers and their insolence 109 cause of good Acts ib. Ministers in tumult 174 Blake a Minister his mutiny and story 196 Welch a Minister his preaching 202 Ministers refuse to give God thanks for the Kings Deliverance and are silenced ib. Earl Morton Regent 78 basely betrays the Earl of Northumberland 80 besieges Edenburgh 80 his Coin 82 Misgoverns the Lords conspire against him 88 offers to resign 89 Morton deposed plots revenge 90 imprisons the Chancellour 92 is charged with murthering the Lord Darly is executed his Character 95 Mowbray's intent to kill the King 257 Muâ—â—ay made Protector 59 takes Arms 60 posts to Queen Elizabeth 67 is slain 68 Murray slain 166 the cause lamented ib. Murther of the Guises and Henry 3. of France 153 N. NArration of the Spanish Navy 141 number of the Ships Men and Ammunition 142 defeated by Fire-ships 145 Queen Elizabeths message thereof 141 Rumours of the Spanish Navy in 88. 140 the Kings Speech thereupon the Chancellours opinion Bothwel on the contrary Colonel Semple's false Designs ib. is rescued by Huntley who is banished the Court 141 Netherlands called to account 209 〈◊〉 of Norfolk committed his story 68 arreigned and executed 78 Norris sent over to Ireland 209 Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland fly into Scotland 68 betrayed by Morton and executed 80 Earl of Northumberland pistols himself 114 Northumberland writes to King James and his Answer 259 O. ORmston executed about the murther of the Lord Darly 84 P. THe Kirks justice against Papists 30 Papists Plots 169 Papists banished â—â—8 Papists Plots devising 〈◊〉 Titles of Pretendeâ—â— to the Crown of England 188 Parliament surprised 77 Parliament Royal 91 Parliament wherein the Kings Supremacy is conâ—irmed and divers Laws against 〈◊〉 enacted 104 Duke of Parma dies 170 Paulet Lord Treasurer dies his childrens children 〈◊〉 76 Antonio de Perez 86 Perez his character 189 Popish Lords return from banishment 194 Presbyters fly into England and why 104 their equivocation ib. Proceedings against Popish Lords by the Ministers 173 Propositions for Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 67 R. RAndolph Ambassadour 91 abuses his privilege 94 dies 161 Rebells defeated 29 Rebells submit and are committed 149 Reformed rebell 20 covenant and call in Aid French and English 21 covenant to expell the French 24 Articles of their Faith France their Presbytery 24 Reformation in the University 213 Religion The Scots how Christians 8 Remonstrance of the Assembly against Papists and the remedy 178 179 Riâ—t comâ—ittâ—d by the Lords 27 Rizzio thâ— French Secretary 39 Bishop of Rosse Ambassadour for the Scots Queen examined 73 is relâ—â—ed imprisonment 83 his Death and character 208 S. SIiege of Ostâ—nd 252 Earl of Shrewsbury dies 161 Spanish Forces land in Ireland and are defeated 254 Squire impoysons the Queens Saddle 221 T. TItles forrein their precedency at home dispuâ—ed 211 Treaty at Cambray 19 at â—denburgh 24 U. UNiversity reformed 213 W. WAde sent into Spain returns unheard 103 Walsingham dies his character 160 War in Scotland and France by the English 10 assist several Factions 21 Welch a Minister his preaching 202 Witches See Bothwel Witches discovered 2â—3 Wotton sent Ambassadâ—â— to Scotland 206 Wotton plots with the câ—â—spiring Lords and posts home 107 Z. LOrd Zouch Ambassadour from Englandâ—â—mentâ— â—â—mentâ— the send against the King 176 Narrative Passages of the first Part and stories to be read single by themselves 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 of Geneva 15 Queen Maries Marriage with the Lord Darly 36 〈…〉 〈…〉 and story 42 Darly the Queens Husband murthered 48 Narrative of Darly's murther c. 52 Digression of Combates and 〈◊〉 53 Queen Maries escape out of Prison in Scotland her Encounter with her Rebells she is discomfited and flies into England 60 Digression
began his Rants applying all his Wit and Cunning of either he had sufficient to his own private discontent and ambition and under the goodly pretence of Religion had raked together such a rabble of the mad-headed Ministery countenanced also by the Duke Castle-herault that the whole Kingdom feared the disquiet The Queen of England might well as she did take compassion hereat two young couples her kindred and Successors having much to do to qualifie the twenty years custome of a turbulent people not to have a King till now and willing indeed to have none at all For Hamilton and Murray presuming of favour from England take arms but were so hotly persued by the King that they fled into England and were there covertly protected but might have been more openly by the same rule that some English fugitives had been received in Scotland as Taxley Standen and Welch besides Oneal out of Ireland All this was disputed by Ambassie from England of one Tanworth a Courtier to whom the Queen of Scots did not vouchsafe her presence her refusing to call her Husband King Thus stood the State of the Affairs in Scotland whilst the Queen conceived with Child and as if blessed in the peace of this Issue what she could never enjoy in her life she afterwards brought forth her only Son Iames the sixth a Peace-maker to all Our World in Iune 1566. But because the Religion as they call it is much concerned in all the troubles of that Kingdom as a defensive faction taken up at all times to mannage other Designs and Interests Give me leave to tell you their Story intermixing the affairs of State and other concernments of their contemporaries Wherein you shall find their pretended sanction from a Rule of Conscience to be an Instrumental of State from a pretence of Knowledge to be a very practice of Ambition Nor will it I hope repent the Reader the tedious Story for though Truth appears in Ordine Doctrinae yet never more fully than when we search the Original Veins thereof by the Increase Depravations and Decaies in Ordine Temporum And so we proceed to the History of their Church and State and the Contemporary Actions intervening with England and France and other Neighbour Nations The Life and Death of MARY Queen of SCOTLAND KIng Iames the fifth dying of discontent more than disease the 13. of December 1542. in the 33. year of his age and 32. of his reign left his Crown to an only Daughter Mary at six daies old as she did afterwards to her Son born a King Fatal sufferings to a people to be Subjects to young Soveraigns And this Succession was put into a Will patcht up by the Cardinal David Beaton and clapt into the Kings hand to sign The Government of the Kingdom for the present was intrusted unto the Queen Mother a wise and virtuous Princess of the House of Lorain And though she might as yet be ignorant of the Actions of State in this short time of her experience in Scotland but 4. years yet the Nobles dissenting factions agreed the rather herein to accept of her Each party presuming to work their ends the better out of her Ignorance The people were religiously divided in Opinions Romish and Reformed which had put the late King upon extremity of Iustice against the Separatists as they then were stil'd indeed Dissenting among themselves but afterwards Congregating and Covenanting gave them other Names But in their several Professions sundry persons suffered Imprisonment Life or loss of all The Scots derive their Christanity from the disciples of S. Iohn their Patronage of St. Andrew and the propagation thereof not from Rome I dare say noâ— indeed they will have it from their own Plantations in Germany where increasing Christianity the persecution of Domitian drove them home again into Scotland And so they utterly refuse to have any thing to do with Rome by means of Victor that held that See as others will have it But they confess That Celestine Bishop of Rome sent learned Palladius to convince the Heresie of Pelagius a welchman born and bred up in the Monastery of Banghor then overspreading that Nation And after his good success therein brought in say they Prelate Bishops having had by their favour Priests and Moncks long before and thereafter all kind of Romish Orders Nay Boniface the eighth making use of the complaint of the Scoâ—ish Clergy against King Edward of England cruelly afflicting them and also of the resignation of the people to the See of Rome The Pope thereby claims right to that Crown writes to Edward and malapertly Bids him not meddle with his Vassalls and Subjects But after too much lording of the Romish Clâ—rgy and the great Schism at Rome Pope against Pope three at one time Some men began openly to discover them to the world As Wickliff in England Iohn Hus and Ierome in Bohemia the Scots will have of theirs too Iames Resby and Paul Craw who indeed were but their Pupils that quarrell'd with their Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews and so began their fray So that the Scots reckon themselves happy without Bishops till Palladius from him to Malcolm from him to Patrick Graham their first Arch-Bishop who came in with that title to the dislike of all the Bishops The inferiour Clergy could not brook the strict authority of him and so by them and the Courâ—iers too boot Graham lost that Title And one Blacater traces his Steps and procures himself Archbishop also then followed Beaton and he brought in the Cardinals Cap and all these in opposition each of other which gave occasion to sundry men to publish these discontents together with some Corruptions of the Church not unlikely to make a rent And therefore the Pope sent unto Iames the fourth a Sword and Title Protector of the Faith and not long after his gifts were cheap unto Henry the eighth of England a Sword and Title Defender of the Faith I find the Scots had some Martyrs who begun their Reformation with private opinions Resby suffered anno 1422. Paul Craw 1431. In 1494. about 30. persons men and women called Lollards from one Lollard a Schismatick indeed not as the Fryer discanteth Quasi Lolium in area Domini And these put their Articles 34 in writing The first Protestation that we read of amongst them being in the year 1527. then suffered Patrick Hamilton of the Antient Family and so forwards many more The Northern Martyrs had repute of constancy in sufferings beyond others Which gives occasion to discuss the reason for it was observed That the people of this Isle exceed in zeal of profession and are called in Italian Pichia Pelli or Knock-breasts Hypocrites So are they naturally better qualified with courage in extremities of sufferings and therefore accounted most valiant in respect of the Climate the Heart furnished with plenty of Blood to sustain sodain defects is not so soon
Strength draws out all the Men and Ammunition fires the Town and returns to Berwick not meeting any one to oppose him And this was the last expedition from King Edward though the French remained with most of their bands and some Galleys and so was poor Scotland massacred by two stranger Armies as a prey to both Nations But now began to have a breathing being free from Strangers till the 2 year of Q. Elizabâ—th During this time of trouble Iohn Knox having been imprisoned by the State for tumults and disorder in behalf of Reformation escapes and was now got into England preaching at Berwick then to New-Castle then to London and so to the South of England untill Queen Maries daies of Martyrs But afterwards too hot for him to hold out he passes over to Geneva from thence unto Franckford which very unwillingly he did being counselled thereto much against his mind by Iohn Calvin a Frenchman of Aquitain and bred a Civilian who indeed could not brook such another Spirit as was his own to meddle in that Government At Franckford he was accused of Treason against the Emperor and Queen Mary of England whom in his Treatise of Admonition to England he called the One little inferior to Nero the Other more cruel than Jezabel for which he was forced to fly back to Geneva but could settle no where and so returned to Deep in France and thereafter into Scotland in anno 1555. and again after some weeks from thence he fled back to Geneva Nor there could he have footing but returns to Deep in anno 1557. From thence he conveys sundry Letters to his factious Lords Lairds and Laâ—cks tells them of true honor to stick by the Kirk and his Counsel for that cause are they called Princes of the People not by descent of Birth and Progeny but by their duty to vindicate the oppressed Kirk Hereupon his Letters and other missives so prevailed that the faction came into a Common Band 1558. and then Knox comes home when Q. Mary of England dies and Q. Elizabeth succeeds And thus lincked began their Geneva Congregation into the face of Kirk Elders appointed and called the Privy Kirk and at Dundee it was first erected by the scatteâ—ed notions of Knox pickt up at Geneva which profession there hath since spread into many the Reformed Churches of Christendome I shall take the boldness to digress into that Story In Anno 1124. The Bishop of Geneva was the Prince of it and the Territory thereof and contending with Aymo a lay Earl de Imperio Civitatis the Emperour Frederick the first gave leave to the Bishop Ut ille solus Genevae principatum obtineret Regali jure Yet some contentions followed betwixâ— the Bishops the Earls and the Dukes of Savoy and therefore the Citizens for Defence of themselves entered League with the Helvetians Berne and Frebergh the Neighbour free Cities and so were powerful to shew their Teeth against both factions and occasion was soon offered to bite For by the preaching of Farellus sometime Scholar unto Stupulensis and Viretus they began to dislike their Bishops Person and his Popery Beginning to reform as other the said Neighbour Cities had done Novandae Religionis studium ac Reipub. commutandae oblatam occasionem arripuerunt And yet they would have been content with Him and his Episcopacy but not with His Popery The Bishop in possession and having as Calvin after confesses Ius gladii alias civilis Iurisdictionis partes Farellus then exclaims against that Civil Authority in Bishops as unlawful From which Doctrine it was no marvel if the Citizens took upon them that the Soveraignty of the City was in Themselves and so the Bishop and his crew gat away Quo ejecto Genevates Monarchiam in popularem statum comutarunt And by such advise as pleased them they ordain a new Form of popular Government jura Magistratus The Bishop joined with the Duke of Savoy quarrels his right assault the City anno 1536. and were beaten back and the City ever since rule themselves For Calvin was now come to them a Frenchman and may be called their Founder the wisest man that ever the French Church could boast off A Civilian bred and got his Divinity not by learning it but by teaching others And this was their first Principle in Divinity to cast off their Rulers at Pleasure The Gospel to wrest the Sword Thus altered the Soveraignty and thereafter the Government of the Church Some of their own say it was mirabiliter Indeed much like the other as The One was thrust out so the Other was abolished Dealing therein as men do with rotten houses overthrow all the whole frame of Ecclesiastical building at once into a rude heap out of which they may the better make choise and take of that old stuff as they please to build a new and yet in that way they are as inconstant But hereupon they advise of a Church Government respective to some Neighbour Cities and in this hurly burley they confesse they could fall upon no better and yet they soon change this Model A principal Stickler therein was this Iohn Calvin He began Ecclesiam componere anno 1536. It being before as himself saies tanquam dissoluta Scopa and makes them swear to his Discipline paucis capitibus comprehensum which lasted not nine Moneths wonder and he and his Comrades bold Farellus and eloquent Viretus banished and why Tyranni esse voluerunt In liberam Civitateâ— voluerunt novum pontificatum revocare In their absence the City disagrees Farellâ—s and Viretus being better provided Calvin lying at the Lurch sometimes at Tigurum Basil Strasburgh returns again 1541. and with much cunning devises as there was a Civil Senaâ—e so he would have an Ecclesiastical Assembly of twelve simple Citizens and observe his modesty but six Ministers The odds made it more colourable for Calvin in Number but not in Value Union in a prepared Conspiracy prevailing more than Number for himself cunningly commands all to the great regret of the Comminalty whom at his pleasure and with his power in the Consistory he suspended from the Communion which is indeed the very Scepter of their pretended Sion The City displeased with their Conâ—istory advise with their Neighbour Cities on that point and therein Calvin in outward shew the most busie and therefore is admitted to pen their missive Letters but underhand directs his own Letters to their Minister Bullenger and others presuming that their Ministers would confer with them and therefore thus he prepares them with lamentable Complaints against the Geneve Senates blindness unhospitable to Strangers abusive to Farellâ—s Defenders of Hereticks and Devils incarnate Implores consideration upon himself and his Associatâ— being impugned by the wicked for bringing them from under the yoke of sin to see the Sun of Righteousness Ascribes much to their Ministers the verâ—â—upport
of Gods Church Nâ—nc saith he extremus actus agitur nisi istinct afferatur remedium And unless the Devil be now unsaddled by them habenas ei laxatum iri he would get the Bit in his Teeth and run riot at pleasure And for his own part he meant not to stay by it but run away too Nec morositate nostra â—iet ut loco potius cedamus quam sententia And for what can a Man imagine all these good words why truly he tells Mr. Bullinger Brevis summa est that your Noble Senate would say that his Discipline is Consentanea verbo Dei By no means they would not but they were content to say it did accedere ad praescriptum verbi Dei and withall returned back with their Letters a Form of their Government but not to prescribe any of it to them for that their own at Geneva might be more convenient Hereupon 1537. Calvin foreknowing the effect of their Letters hastens the City to resolve who with much ado assemble and put their own discipline to the Vote which came to this upshot as Calvin saies himself In illa promiscâ—a calluvie Suffragiis fuimus superiores for when stomach strives with wit the match is unequal And let these his own Words be recorded in perpetuam rei memoriam by how many reverend Fathers and famous Persons with what Wisdome and Deliberation this Form of pretended holy Discipline was revived and entertained if a disordered multitude by most voices laid this plat-form for all posterity to imitate Major voice helpt him well upon which advantage he would practice And therefore crouds in fifty French his Countreymen at a clap free Denizons who had Ius Iubendae legis and his Inter est was no doubt more to force in Ministers For when the Magistrates would have but preferred a Genevian born to be one Calvin storms at him Trollietus saies he quidnam quod natione sit Genevensis no other cause nisi quod Simiae amant suos Catulos And indeed the Emperour Charls V. intending wars upon France gave good leasure and leave to the Reformers to increase the Pope to be displeased which occasioned Calvin to compile his Book De necesitate reformandae Ecclesiae And so have we from whence It came whither It would who devised It when and how and where planted in Geneva Anno 1554. and Calvin continued there to his death 1561. aged 52. years And yet to spread it abroad for all Calvins wit he was glad it seems to get it into favour with the assistance of Reverend Beza being alike bred up with the profession of several Reformers who together gave value to the progress of this beginning and truly of a good Man grew much in admiration of Calvins wit which induced him thereto and became at length very bold in his Prescriptions to some in England to intermeddle here and in Scotland for the like Reformation witness his Epistles to Lawson and Knox His discourse of three kind of Bishops of God of Man and of the Devil to the exceeding censure of him In France it had no repute being termed Thalmud Sabaudiacum To England it came upon occasion of some Male-contents in reference to Geneva for in Queen Maries Martyring time those being fled to Franckford they were afresh assaulted with the Orders of Geneve and Knox and Whittington collect the particulars of Edward the sixth's Common-Prayer Book and send it to Calvin who very censoriously is pleased to say Multas video fuisse tolerabiles ineptias However Franckford inclined to the English and chuse Dr. Horn their Superintendent at which Calvin storms and by great entertainments of other English as Whittington Gilby Goodman and others invited their Persons to Geneve and so stole their hearts to his humonr also And they thereafter spread it in England the second year of Queen Elizabeth About which time Knox came also and carried it into Scotland And this is the true story of the Geneve discipline briefly and impartially put together This year a Treaty was held at Cambray by Delegates of England France and Spain for settling the various differences of State but especially between England and France for restoring Calice which had been lost to them by Queen Mary but by no means would be rendered back Yet at last a Truce was concluded upon these Articles Neither Prince shall invade each Other nor assist Eithers Enemies The Ships of either Nation shall give Caution at their seâ—ting out to Sea not to molest each Other Free Commerce and Trading to be increased The French Fortification at Armoth in Scotland to be demolished Eight years the French shall enjoy Calice with the Appurtenances and sixteen Pieces of Ordinance and presently after shall restore it to Queen Elizabeth Eight sufficient Merchants not French Subjects shall be bound in 500000 Crowns for performance hereof and the Right of the Town to remain in the Queen And if any Attempt or Innovation be by any English during that time against the French or the Queen of Scots then the other shall be free And on the contrary If any prejudice shall be attempted or done by the French King the Queen of Scots or the Dolphine against England then Calice shall be instantly from thenceforth rendred to Q. Elizabeth A Peace at the same time and place was concluded between the Queen of England and Francis and Mary King and Queen of Scotland and certain Aâ—RTICLES of Agreements were referred to Commissioners to regulate abuses of each Borderers And accordingly this Peace was proclamed in England and Frauce but soon broken for the French King aiming at England for his Son and the Queen of Scots would not withdraw his French Garrisons out of Scotland as was agreed but privily sent over fresh Supplies and openly challenges Interest in England for his Son and Daughter-in-law and in all writings used this Title Francis and Mary King and Queen of Scotland England and Ireland Bearing and quartering the Arms of England and upon their Heralds Coats Of which Throgmorton the English Ambassadour Lieger complained without redress Levied forces openly and sent them to Scotland to border all places of England And being an utter Enemie to the Protestaints was under hand abetted by the Pope the Emperour and Spain holding Her an Heretique and Illegitimate But those his Designs were soon cut off by an untimely accident upon him for tilting at the Nuptials of his Daughter with Spain and his Sister with Savoy and being run in at the eye with a Lance the Bur sticking in his brains he died immediately Some hopes Queen Elizabeth had now of lessening her fears and therefore to strike in with his Son and Successor She kept his Fathers Obsequies with magnificent solemnity in Pauls Church And sent Howard the Lord Effinghams Son to Condole the Kings Death and to Congratulate the new Successor with desire to continue Friendship and League as with his Father But the
Guisians Party that now were like to govern all counselled the young K. to increase the quarrel and not to leave off the Arms of England Throgmorton was told That they might as well bear those of England as Queen Elizabeth did theirs of France It was so questioned at Cambray but Doctor Wootton answered That twelve Kings of England on a Row had born them with so much authority that no Treaty ever disputed But at last France finding the Queens jealousie to kindle into flame they forbore with this bravado That indeed it was undone upon better consideration no addition of Terms or Titles could give Honour but rather Diminution to the Most Christian King of Frâ—nce and that former Kings challenging and prosecuting their undoubted rights to Naples and Millan in Italy yet used them not additional to France We return again to our Scots Knox came to his Party being arrived out of France May 1559. hastens to Saint Iohnstons preaching them into practice And first they chuse an Orator the Laird of Caldor with Petitions and Supplications to the Queen Regent of their Demands for having before got leave to read the Bible now they desire to convene in Prayer to interprete the Scripture to baptize their own to receive in both kinds and ever at the end of all to have the Priests Reformed To all these She gave a reasonable answer but not so satisfactory as they required They protest in Parliament to stand to their Tenents and If Distraction or Destruction follow the blood they bring home to the score of bad Government For which they were summoned to appear at Serlin and they to strengthen themselves against any force congregate all their parties from Dundee Montross Saint Iohnston Angus and Mernes and so came forward towards the Queen at Sterlin whom she caused in prudence with fair promises to be staied and now they call themselves the Congregation and keeping still in a body the necessity of State inforced her to put them to the Horn Inhibiting all upon pain of Rebellion not to side with them Whereupon they fall to action Robbing and Plundering the Gray and Black-Fryers a building of wonderous cost and greatness which in three daies they wholy destroyed But the French Forces and other power of the Kingdom soon made them to yield the Town upon Treaty which was secured by the French until several Congregations had inveigled some of the Discontented Nobles and siding with them send a Trumpet to redemand the Town which being denied by force take it And with Knox their chief destroyed Scone took Sterlin and so marched to Edenburgh from whence the Queen was fled ro Dunbar and there in the Name of Francis and Mary King and Queen of Scotland Dolphin and Dolphiness of Viennois now in France and lately maried commands them to separate and depart home upon pain of Treason This begat a consent to treat at Preston to little purpose there but was somewhat pieced afterwards at Edenburgh Then they make a New Covenant at Sterlin resolve to call assistance of the Neighbour Princes and send into England to Q. Elizabeth newly come to the Crown The Queen Regent a most modest and virtuous Matron was as busie and accordingly came over 1000. French in August the rest in September and so each party prepare for Warr. The Congregators had got to their side these Noblemen the Duke of Castle-herault the Earls of Arran Arguile Glencarn and Montieth the Lords Ruthen Uchiltry Boyd and divers other Lords and Lairds The Queen proclaims them Traytors They reply with a Declaration against it She thereupon by Lion her Herald denounceth Treason against them all Upon which they convene draw up Articles against her Government and to depose her from Regency and for Her and the French to depart Edenburgh in 24. hours and the next day storm it but with loss and fled The Earl of Bothwell having much interest in the State sends for more forces to the Duke of Guise in France who governed all there and sent them some which suffered Shipwrack upon the Coast of Holland Robert Melâ—in in behalf of the Congregators returns from Q. Elizabeth with Articles to be answered which afterwards came to a Contract And having got England in a different Policy to friend their Cause they wisely decline their Title of Congregators and call themselves Protestants as in England from whom now they have great Support rather to ballance with the French than bowlster their proceedings but it was long first being often â—olicited by huâ—ble Letters from the Protestant Lords and particularly to apologize for a pestilent Pamphlet written by Knox against the Government of Women which he also excused in several long-winded Letters to Queen Eliz. her self and to Sir W. Caecil Secretary of State To whom Caecil replies in brief Mr. Knox Mr. Knox Non est Masculus neque faemina Omnes enim ut ait Paulus unum sumus in Christo Iesu Benedictus vir qui confidit in domino et erit Dominus fiducia ejus I need to wish you no more prudence than Gods grace whereof God send you plenty Oxford July 28. 1559. W. CAECIL But their Messenger was Secretary William Maitland of Lidington and others who in a doleful tone complains that since Queen Maries mariage in France the Scots Government was quite altered with favour to the French who flock thither for preferment and trust of Offices of Honour and Places of Strength their Coin corrupted and so in time to Master all and make them French Caecil Lord Burghley a wise and subtle States-man deals with Sir Henry Peircey afterward Earl of Northumberland so far their Neighbour to pick out of the Congregators what they aimed at for they were then budding into a profession which the wisest of the World knew not what to make of And that if they succeed by this assistance upon what conditions they would piece with England and so to find their temper being supposed State Revolters They with eyes heaved up to Heaven answer For no other Aim or Intention but the glory of Iesus Christ and the sincere word of God truly preached against all Abominations and Superstitions to restrain the Fury of Persecution and conserve their Liberty The mutual Love of both Kingdomes was the Sum of all their desires to which end they vow their Lives and Faith It was but slowly considered upon these grounds That the Scots were poor bare of Money and Munition unfaithful to themselves and not to be trusted abroad but warily to go to work with them They were advised to stand upon their Guard and not enter rashly into Arms. But when the English found the French so forward as to be on foot with Warlike forces under command of Marquess â— Albeuf Uncle to the Queen of Scots levied by the Reingrave in Germany with Ammunition and Ordinance ready to be â—hipped It appeared
to be rather for Conquest than Countenance and so was it time for the English to strike in for a share if not to prevent such Neighbour-hood upon that Rule Let the French be thy Friend but not thy Neighbour and indeed were afraid of an invasion as was threatned upon several Pretences And first the English Counsellors wisely considered not to provoke nor to give bad Examples for Princes to lend Protection to rebellious Subjects For so all Potentates esteemed the Scots against their Sovereign And on the other side it might be accounted little Piety to forsake a Protestant Party for so the Religion would have them But concluded it reasonable to be in Arms and to expect occasions It being alwaies the English fore-sight to prevent invasion at home On the sudden it was hastened to send forces to Scotland upon pretence however to assist Religion and so drive out the French from thence ere they should take firm footing there This Result might be grounded on former Examples by the English neglect lost Ambleteul and the Fortifications neer Bologn taken suddenly which necessitated the loss of Bologn it self presently after And the same carelessness rendered Calice to the French Upon which score lest Berwick and the Borders should be surprized forces are sent by Land thither and by Sea into Edenburgh Fryth with a Fleet that suddenly set upon the French Ships riding neer the Shore and their Garrisons in the Isle of Inchketh The Duke of Norfolk comes to Berwick with forces assisted with Commissioners Sir William Caecil Secretary and Doctor Wootton a Civilian And who must come to kiss their hands but the Prior of St. Andrews Iames the Bastard Son of Iames the fifth the Lord Ruthen and others Commissioned from Hamilton Duke of Castle-herault and the Confederates and there enter league with England In May 1560. For preservation of the Kingdom of Scotland against the French during their Mariage with the French King and a year after and for expelling the French provided that they preserve obedience to the Queen of Scotland The Governours of that State Who had imped their Wings with Eagles Feathers liked no game now but what was raked out of the ashes of Monarchy making head against Soveraignty And to make it the better called in to their aid the English Forces inviting their antient Enemy the English against the French and by that means turned her own Sword into her own bowells to the funeral of her own Liberty and so it was no wonder Scotland at that tiuse to pass under Foreign Servitude Evermore crying Liberty which they most avoided as they came neerer to the End and Event And hereupon an English Army of 10000. was sent under Command of the Lord Gray and were received by the Duke Arguile Ruthen and Others the Queen Regent with her faction took security in the Castle of Edenburgh The French inclosed within the Town issued out upon the Besiegers and put them to flight But rallying again forced the French into the Town and stormed it with great loss And now the Ministers make the fourth and last Covenant To expulse the French out of the Kingdome when in Iune 1560. the Queen Regent dies and forthwith came Commissioners Randan with a Bishop Deputies from the King and Queen in France Sir William Caecil and Doctor Whitton from England treat and conclude a Peace at Edenburgh in Iuly That the English and French should depart the Kingdom and 24. elect shall govern whereof the King and Queen in France shall nominate seven and the States five as one Council and six of those to be of the Quorum And Deputies of the Congregation to be sent into France by Petition to the King and Queen for granting privileges concerning the Reformed Ministers and their Religion Which Treaty Queen Elizabeth endeavored evermore hereafter to press Queen Mary to ratifie which she alwaies refused or excused And thus being rid of two devowring Armies some hopes remained to recover that poor Nation into reasonable quiet But the Strangets gone the Ministers pulpit their Design prescribing certain Diocesses to several Men. We shall use their Names hereafter Knox to Edenburgh Goodman to Saint Andrews Heriot to Aberdeen Row to Saint Iohnstons Meossen to Iedbrough Christoson to Dundee Forgeson to Dumfermling Lindsey to Lieth Afterwards they had their Super-Intendents Spotswood for Lothian Woram for Fife Willock for Glasco Canswell for Arguile and the Isles Dun for Angus and Mearors And then the next Parliament they supplicate for Liberty of Conscience with Invectives against Papistry but not Episcopacy as yet And presented 25. Articles of the Confession of their Faith ratified by the three Estates called Lords of the Articles viz. eight Lords eight Church-men eight Commons these are first to consider Articles and Heads and then to present them to the Parlament to pass and are called in the Latine Authores Apolecti And two Acts were published against the Mass the Popes Supremacy and Jurisdiction which were sent to the King and Queen in France for ratification but by them refused however Knox Winram Spotswood Willock Dowglas and Row devised a Policy of Church-Government which they called Discipline And fearing the future they send Commissioners into England to supplicate Queen Elizabeths assistance and support against fresh Forces out of France when in December 1560. Francis King of France and Scotland dies and therefore to his Queen Widow was sent the Lord Iames afterwards E. of Murray as her Counsel In this Interim the Ministers bethink of some Orderly Form in the Kirk The Manner of electing Super-Intendents was to summon the Churches about Edenburgh by publick Edict Iohn Knox presented Iohn Spotswood Super-Intendent of Lothian whom the multitude accepted and promise obedience as to their Pastor He by questions professes and answers That he accepts of this office without any respect of worldly Commodity Riches or Glory but since these daies of pluralties they leave out this Article without answering concluding to be subject and obedient to the late Discipline of their Kirk And thus he becomes a Minister of the Multitudes making which with the blessing of some one of them he is dismissed At this time comes over an Ambassadour from France to restore Bishops and Church-men He was answered Negative and so departed And presently after they fall to pulling down Abbies and Monuments of the Church And now begins Jealousies between the two Queens of England and Scotland For the Scots had sent into England for the Queens ratification of the Treaty at Edenburgh which she signed but the Queen of Scotland in France refused it with excuse until she comes home and consult with her Council which the other took ill Although she had endeavoured with reasonable Arguments to satisfie her Ambassadour Throgmorton therein But the Widow Queen arrived in Scotland out of France in August 1561. in most tempestuous weather Triste
et lugubre Caelum And no sooner come but hath Mass in her Chapel and breeding disquiet she proclaims it death to oppose it against which the Earl of Arran protests by Proclamation and Knox by preaching with whom the Queen vouchsafes conference concerning the Mass which she wisely sought to maintain and rebuked him for his insolent Book against Government by Women and Knox gave it for his opinion of Her That she had a proud mind a crafty Wit and indurate heart And the sooner to put Her to it the Provost and Bayliffs upon their Election at Edenburgh customarily proclaim the general Ordinances and Orders of the Town In which they inserted against the Mass and for which they were punished and proclamation for freedome of Papists The Ministers oppose and in private Conventicles dispute Obedience to Soveraigns in that case and conclude to be absolved whereat the Council were offended and Knox and Row urge it the more and resolve to put the question forsooth to the Church of Geneva which Knox undertakes to mannage The Queen being thus busied to quiet her own discontents Queen Elizabeth sends Sir Peter Mewtes to require the Ratification of the Peace at Edenburgh as upon all Scotish distractions she evermore urged who was answered as heretofore that She would advise The General Assembly of the Kirk was now wherein the Ministers could not be ruled with any reason but rashly offered their Book of Discipline which the Lords even of their own Congregation wisely thought fit not so suddenly to prescribe till the affairs of the Estate were settled and the Ministers as madly would have it now drawing with all their â—unning the Gentry to their side and to assemble without the Lords so that it was visible to wisemen Excessit medicina modum or rather excessit medicina malum It was now conceived opportune for the Queen and the peace of all that this assembling at the Will of the Ministery should be questioned and if possible to make them void unless by publick allowance of the Prince for under colour of rectifying some disorders in the Ministery or other petty occasions they took opportunity by this means to convene and so to plot and vent all their devices against Government and this being expresly conceived dangerous and mutinous as they managed the matter it was stopt Then they propose the ratification of their Discipline Book subsigned with hands enough of their Nobles when it was devised they durst then do no other for fear of the Multitude which the Queen refused protesting merâ—ily she was well assured The Lords that subscribed never ment to submit being tâ—â— severe for their wilde tempers to obey who under Writ as children are baptized fide Parentum Then they supplicate for maintenance being as yet only at the Will of the people To begin their work a reasonable pittance was sufficient contribution which afterwards they inordinately sought means to increase And therefore for the present to please them the Council Ordered That the Bishops should have two parts of their Livings and the other two parts should be gathered by appointment for uses of the Ministers and the common affairs of State The Queen being served the Ministery should have the Remainder Which Knox interpreted in his Pulpit to be Two parts to the Devil The third between God and the Devil And the fourth for his Dam. And by compute of their own Lords of the Congregation a hundred Marks a year was then sufficient for a single Minister viz. five Old Pieces and three hundred Marks to the highest with Wife and Children the Super-Intendents excepted The Lords fearing the Pride of the Ministers appointed Modificators as they stiled themselvs left they should be over wanton which truly with this pittance could not be much feared But indeed for what they had as the Queen observed they never prayed for any blessing upon Her to which Knox replied That she had no more interest in that Revenue than the Souldiers had to divide Christs Garments Nay she not so good title as they for they parted not them untill Christ was crucified But she shares whilst Christ is preaching These words were accounted insolent which he boasted of That thus Truth will triumph At this time a Riot was committed by the Marquess D' Albuef the Earl Bothwell and some others upon the House of one Ramsey for his Daughter-in-law Allisson Grage in malice against the Earl of Arran who bore affection to her The Ministers were great Sticklers herein evermore siding in all quarrels as might make for themselves and supplicate the Queen for publick Justice She execused her Uncle D' Albuef being a Stranger to the Customes of the Country but she would order his obedience and civility for the future This not sufficient the Duke and Hamilton fomented by Knox take Arms against Bothwell to appease them the Queen sent Murray lately made an Earl Huntley to command Peace But Bothwell having private conference with Knox gained unto them the E. of Arran Not many daies after Arran discovers to Knox and others but falsely that Bothwell should conspire to take the Queen and deliver her to him that Murray and Lethingâ—n the Secretary should be murthered and so he and Bothwell to govern all which he resolved to discover to the Queen and did immediately tetyring to his Father the Duke of Castle-Herault at Kennel who it seems suspected his false Design and restrained him But he getting loose meets his Brother the Earl of Murray who brought him to the Queen at Faulkland Upon his Accusation Hamilton and Bothwell were secured not without some appearance that Arrans tale was disjointed and therefore he was thereupon cunningly advised by Knox to pretend a little whimsey of distraction in the brain to colour their Knavery However the Queen commits them all to Saint Andrews Castle and takes from the Duke his Command of the Castle Dunbarton She returns to Edenburgh where according to the season some Court pastimes were exercised by the Queen her self against which Knox openly preached and which begat a conference with him the Lord Iames Morton and Lethington being present accusing him to have irreverently and dishonestly spoken of her Majesty endeavoring to draw the peoples affections from their duty much besides his Text but upon his better behaviour there might be hope of the Queens Grace and Pardon which was as yet deferred But she no sooner progressed to the North her absence giving occasion as at all such times for the Ministers to assemble and evermore to whisper some dangerous designs against them on purpose the better to linck themselves in power for any plot and to busie themselves in all State-affairs which now began to be in difference amongst the Lords especially Huntleys party against Murrays power and the family of the Gourdons and which gave occasion to Knox and his Party to preach fears and jealousies and to
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
protested that although their Queen was content her innocence should be shewed yet being a free Princess she did not acknowledge her self Subject unto any The English urged likewise That they did not admit that protestation in prejudice of that right which the Kings of England alwaies claimed as Superior of the Kingdom of Scotland Queen Maries Commissioners declare by writing how Morton Mar and others had levied Arms misused their Queen and extorting her Resignation in Prison that Murray had usurped the Regency and inforced her to fly for succour into England Murray and the Commissioners for the King Infant answer and relate the manner of the late Kings murther by Bothwel for which the Noble-men called him in question whom the Queen protected that she voluntarily resigned and the Parliament had confirmed it and all this was evidenced by Letters Her Commissioâ—ers reply and deny all telling the Truth of these Stories in such particular as is before herein declared and therefore crave aid of England to assist Her The English Commissioners require better proofs than by Letters for Lethington had counterfeited her hand and was suspected might do â—o by these Murray refuses other proofs than such Letters as he shewed with much modest regret forsooth To be put to it to accuse his Sister at all unless the Queen of England would undertake to protect the King and to relinquish the Queen But the English told them all though there appeared not as yet sufficient for the present to be dilated upon yet Murray is required to leave some of his Company here to answer Exceptions which their Queens Ambassadors should propose hereafter and so they departed Much pleasing to the Duke of Norfolk so to break off having alwaies favoured Q. Maries Cause and from this time had a Mind to mary her But Murray to make things more safe poâ—â—s to the Queen of England and to her produces Articles and other 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Book called the Dâ—tection which had 〈◊〉 credit with her though â—illing she was that reproach â—ight lâ—dge â—pon the Queen of Scots Indeed many Engliâ—h Lords inclined to 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 at which Queen Eliâ—â—beth swore She 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 so long as Norfolâ— lives of whom hencâ—forward she was jâ—alous Duke Hamilton was returned out of Frâ—â—ce whither he had fled and besought that Murray might relinquish the Reâ—â—â—â—â— to him being as he 〈◊〉 his due as next heir to the Crown 〈◊〉 the Queen found his pulse beat too higâ— and least he should proceed in that Claim she commanded him not to depart without her Licence The Regent and his Company having leave to depart in Feâ—â—â—â— the Duke Hamilton made means to follow and being Lieutenant for his Queen and got home sends forth his Proclamations and sheweâ— his Authority which none obeys For Murray was comming to nip the Bird in the Head and comes to Glasgoâ— with an Army to whom Haâ—â—â—ton 〈◊〉 and prefixes a day for Hamilton with pledges to subsâ—ribe to his power at Edenbâ—rgh and there likewise he 〈◊〉 it off till his Queen sends her consent Hereupon he and Herris are committed 〈◊〉 and Huntley were the next to be reduced Both of them had been buâ—ie in the Regents absence but were now suppreâ—â—eâ— and so all 〈◊〉 to Perth to hold a Convention of â—tates Thither came two Packets from both Queens Elizabeth made three Propositions 1. That the Kings Mother might be restored to her 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 2. That her Name might be joined with her Sons in all writs and the Government continue in the Râ—gâ—â—â— 3. And if none of thesâ— then that 〈…〉 with all 〈◊〉 and honâ—â—â— without preâ—â—diâ—◠〈◊〉 the King This last was accepted the other rejected These Queens had several Designs in their Demands Elizabeth was wiâ—â—â—ng to be rid of the other rather than she should mary with Norfolk for she feared her great Friends here and beyond Seas And Mary was therefore more earnest to satisfy the Duke who meant not to adventure the Treaty upon uncertainties And Murray for these respects kept Bothwels title in being for from England he was assured by his Friends there that Norfolks plot and Queen Maries was so cunningly conveyed that no wit nor power was able to countermine Yet he remained stedfast and sent one of his Domestiques to Queen Elizabeth with Queen Maries Petition and their answer but She not satisfied with such an Ordinary Messenger the Abbat Pitcarn was sent Express from the Convention at Sterlin held only for that purpose About the same time of his last arrival at London the Duke of Norfolk was committed to the Tower October 11. and the Conspiracy discovered which was thus Murray with much cunning before his late departure out of England proposed some hopes to Norfolk of mariage with the Queen of Scots and secretly induced a belief of her present restoring and spread these Rumours to prejudice her and to increase jealousies with many other suspitious which surrounded Queen Elizabeth Of Rebellions at home and Plots abroad by the Papists And as many more Tales that Q. Elizabeth and Murray had compacted against the young King To wipe off these an Apology was printed in Queen Elizabeths defence In truth she was much perplexed with fears out of Emulation of the other Yet with some compassion for her Imprisonment and in both these distempers there wanted not Instruments to rub the wound Mary often solicited Queen Elizabeth with humble yet Princely Letters with such compassionate Eloquence that though the Queen had a Wolf by the Ears yet with tears had oft resolution to return her Home and dealt with Murray by Messengers herein but he was settled in malice and would not incline Then was rumoured the Mariage of the Duke of Norfolk with Queen Mary as advantagious to both Realms and security of the Kings person who must be brought also into England and so under Queen Elizabeths power and she so to be secured of fears And that for finishing so good a work the Dukes Daughter should be contracted to the King And these Designs many the chiefest Earls in England had contrived Murray himself at his being here intimated no less to the Duke for that She having maried her self to a Boy then to a rash young Man and last to a Mad-brain might now recover her honor to wed him a Man of discretion Nay more secretly by Melvin offered to the Queen of Scots his Service to effect it And the Secretary Throgmorton with the chiefest Lords Arundel Northumberland Westmerland Sussex Pembroke and Southampton and Leicester also his Rival were all of the Plot and he broke it very seriously to Norfolk Upon which the Duke not faint-hearted courted the Queen by Letters and all consenting Articles were propounded 1. For security of Queen Elizabeths person and issue 2. To Covenant a League between both Kingdomes 3. To establish Protestant Religion 4. To receive into favour with pardon all the Scots 5. To Revoke her assignation of the Kingdom of England
and to mary Norfolk They promise to procure Queen Elizabeths consent and the other to be restored to all which she in Prison easily yielded and who could blame her in the case she was But ere they had so done Queen Elizabeth had suspition and therefore it was more than time to break it themselves so from one to the other it was neglected till Leicester did it She asked the Duke thereof and charged him to decline it least he hop't headless and it was good warning sufficient to him to look ere he leap't and so he stole away in time of Progress back to London Caecil wisely took care of the State and learned so much of the Matter that the Duke began to fear restless in any place withdrew to Norfolk where some Commotion was purposely set on foot and he suspected To prevent the worst he returns back towards the Court but at Saint Albans was taken to guard and secured for by this time Treacherous Murray had out of Scotland discovered what he knew and upon which the Duke was sent to the Tower Bishop Ross and others committed and Pembroke examined not well remembring what he had said or should say for he could not read a word Northumberland and Westmerland take Arms but fearing greater opposition fled into the North. But ere all this was known in Scotland Secretary Metallan increased faction for Queen Mary and sided with Hume and Grange Captain of Edenburgh Castle and before it was ripe he is sent for to Sterlin accompanied with the Earl Athole to intercede if need were and need there was for he is accused as Accessary to the late Kings murther and committed close Prisoner Sir Iames Balfore in the same Condition were both of them sentenced by the Convention of States for by them Murray did all his work as in cases of Treason but with much ado Balfore had pardon and Metallan reprived to Edenburgh Castle and Murray posted up and down to reduce the Norfolk faction and the Queens who were increased and returns to the Life Tryal of Metallan at Edenburgh where finding his Party too strong being of Hamilton Huntley Arguile and others he warily adjourned the arraignment for though by this time News came of the Dukes Commitment in England yet his Faction increased very powerful and his Plot went on in Scotland The Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland in favour of the Queen of Scots and right Rebels to Religion with 6000. Foot and 2000. Horse mastered Durham burnt the Bible and Service Books heard Mass in Darnton and took Bernard Castle but being pursued by the Earl of Warwick with twelve thousand men and Sussex with another army of seven thousand they were forced to fly into Scotland in December and lurked among the Borderes and Robbers until Morton betrayed Northumberland to the Regent who sent him prisoner to Lochleven being an Enemy to all sides but the Queen of Scots This service Queen Elizabeth took well and gave audience to Pitcarn his Ambassadour to whom she promised to desist the restoring of Queen Mary and assured all friendship to the Regent when he should crave her aid The effect was soon published in Scotland to the fear and lessening of Maries party and they not able to Master his Power took the bold way of base treachery be one Iames Hamilton whose life Murray had saved and he undertakes to kill him His opportunity he takes at Lithgow in secret where he placed himself in a House as the Regent passed by shot him with an Harquebuss out at a Window the bullet passed thorow his Body and killed the Horse under George Dowglass 21. Ianuary 1569. He dyed that night Hamilton had his horse ready and scaped beyond Seas where he dyed not long after Murray was base Son to King Iames the fift and took up Religion for the gain of the Spoil of Papists He was a Man full of Ambition injurious and ungrateful to the Queen and likely not to have spared her Son when time had wrought him power to effect it He was much assisted in his Regency by Mortons perpetual concurrency and may be coupled as Parmenio and Alexander Nihil Murray absque Morton Multa Morton absque Murray It comes to be the question whether for Interest or Friendship Morton was so fixt certainly Murray aimed at all the Queen in durance and his labour so to continue her or rather to have her in his Custody and so to have ordered her and her Son for his own purpose To ballance him the Queens faction were Hamiltons Arguile Athole Huntley and almost all the petty Princes as the Scots call themselves Earls of Crawfoord Rothess Eglinton Cassiles the Lords Harris Maxwells Iohnston Seaton Boyd Grey Mettallan the Secretary and Politicquer and Grange the active Captain of the Castle of Edenburgh and most of the strong Castles and Forts the French did assist them and Spain favored them and so did all Catholiques In England the faction of Norfolk and Papists and all Male-contents or Treacheries took up Queen Maries cause to mutiny She had her Rents in France duly paid and her Jewels and much under-hand support to countenance her Amâ—assadours abroad and private Emissaries and a working brain for her own ends All the English banished Lords Dacres Westmerland and all the Popish at home The other party which we call the Kings but indeed they were of all sides partial to their own Iuterests Pride and Ambition and took up factions accordingly were Morton Mar Lenox Glencarn Lindsey and Glams Simple Methvain Ruthen no Castles but Sterlin and Tantallon and the Commons and from England Queen Elizabeth knew well how to feed them on all sides with a bit and a bob for in this time she had sent three several Armys against the Borderers under that colour which most horridly burnt all in their way with incredible mischief to that miserable Nation The Murther of Murray was lookt upon as more publique than to be acted by one and a Resolution of his Friends to question it by force or Justice In the mean time the Estates appoint a day and this put off was counselled by Metallan who was got out of Prison in this hurrey of affairs and suspected the Plotter of Murrays death The Lords meet and stand upon their guard but agree in nothing for the common safety the Queens Party elect three Lieutenants Arran Arguile and Huntley and appoint a Parliament in August after In this while Queen Elizabeth sends Sir William Drury with three hundred Horse and a thousand foot into Scotland to pursue her Rebells as was pretended but sided with Morton and did some mischief to the Queens Faction and so returned Home The 13. of Iâ—ly in a Convention at Sterlin Lenox the Kings Grandfather is chosen Regent and Hamilton refused Queen Elizabeth declining her direction in that Election but well pleased since she had his wife in her hands He marches with Forces of 5000. men to Linlithgow and prevents
by the King sacredly to observe Which so incouraged the Orange party as to bring all their Sea prizes into Rochel and this Contract drew in Eliz. Queen of England and all these overtures committed by the King to the Admirals prosecution Notwithstanding these publique Conditions therein the Pope sent Cardinal Alexandrine from Rome with Instructions to perswade the French King to enter societâ— with the League of Trent to make war upon the Heretiques and had satisfactory answer from the King and Queen-Mother and on the Contrary all possible tokens of favor to the Admiral and his Complices in restoring their losses with a sum of one â—undred thousand pound Sterling out of his Treasure not leaving the least action undon to amuse the Admiral into firm assurance of the Kings faithful intentions And to confirm belief purposed to affiance his Sister Margaret to Prince Henry Son to the Queen of Navar who had defended the Cause of the Religion in the late Wars and this to be celebrated according to the Reformed Religion The League between Charls the King and the Prince of Orange and Articles concluded The Mariage appointed in Paris and the Queen of Navar of the Religion repaired thither for the Solemnity The Admiral also sent for by the King to go before to Paris promising himself to follow and the Spire-Cross-Steeple called Gastignes Cross erected in the rage of the Civil War in Triumph and reproach of the Religion a Monument of Civil Dissention was by the Admirals request overthrown Great Assistance of Men and Ammunition sent to the Army of the Prince of Orange into Germany And order to the Treasurer to deliver moneys to the Admirall for the Publick Service without accompt In this Interim the Queen of Navar was impoisoned at Paris by a pair of perfumed Gloves by one Renat a cunning Apothecary and so the Kingdome descended to Prince Henry her Son who was to be affianced to the Kings Sister and the Mariage solemnized with respect to eithers Religion And five daies after the Admirall solicited the Council in behalf of the Religion and returning home with divers Noblemen he was shot by a Harquehuss out of a Window through both his Arms by one not certainly named but the Abetters were Guisets The King visits the Admiral in some danger of Death from whom he receives advice and Counsel in his private affairs and with great affection and thanks the King commanded a Guard for security of the Admirals person by Cossin Captain of the Kings Guard an utter Enemy to the Admirall and all his Friends advised to draw into the Admirals quarters to be neer to him Thus all things prepared for the purpose of a Massacre the Queen Mother summons all the Confederates with advice to spare the King of Navars life and the Prince of Conde and the Execution to be the next night early by Order of the Duke of Guise who summoned the Diziners and told them the Kings design to destroy all the Rebels of the late Wars at the sound of the Tocksein or Bell and the Mark of difference a while Cross in their hats and a handkercher about the arm The Duke of Guise with the Kings Guard and the Bastard Son of King Henry assisted by Cossins beset the Admirals house who nothing moved in respect of the Kings several sacred Oaths to peace the league with the Queen of England Articles of Treaty with Orange Faith to the Princes of Germany some Towns taken in the Low-Countries by the Kings Command the Mariage of the Kings Sister solemnized but six daies before Ingagement of Forein States shame and dishonor to the Law of Nations all was by him argued as security Cossin with others enters the house and slew all in his way the Admiral comanded his Servants about him to fly and shift for themselvs being ready himself to dy for the Church â—he Villains enter his Chamber Benuese a German thrust the Admiral into the Body and Attin a Picard shot him into the Heart with a Pistol and threw his body out of the Window down into the Court where the Duke de Guise and the Bastard and other staied to view it and so marching out cryed that this was the Kings pleasure for that the Conspirators had resolved to kill the King The Admirals head was sent to Rome his body dragged through the Streets and after hanged up on the City Gallowes with a rope by the feet and so all that day murthering and killing all of the Religion Men Women and Children The King of Navar and Prince of Conde in the Louvre were sent for to the Kings presence their Servants being all slain and so preserved all the Noblemen and Gentlemen their friends slain and the next day a fresh murthering ranged through all the Cities and all the Offices and Places of the dead presented to the Murtherers and by this Example Post news commanded all the other Places of Reformation to be so butchered throughout France â—s in Orleance Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxerre c. The King fearing the Dishonor of this base Treachery and perjury posted Letters to all his Governours of Provinces and speedy Messengers to England Germany and Switzerland of this great Commotion in France raised by the Duke of Guise and his Complices upon the Guard and person of the Admiral and his Friends with the Death of many and hazard therein of the Kings person his Mother and Brethren by the safety of his Castle the Louvre this dissimulation he was forced unto for the present and yet within two daies after declared in open Parliament that the Admirall and his Confederates had conspired his death with his Mothers Brethren and King of Navar which was prevented by the others death And this was published in print to this day and from thenceforth all publique meetings of the Religion were forbidden Some Reluctancies there were of several persons that conclude this horrid fact surpassing the memory of all former ages Others compare it with the monstrous murthers of King Mithridates who with one Messenger and one Letter caused an hundred and fifty thousand Romans to be slain some said it was like the murthers of Peter of Aragon upon eight thousand French in Sicily The difference was their cruelty was executed on Strangers this on the Kings own Subjects and Countreymen These Discourses put the King to consider how to blanch this monstrous act with some colour of Iustice. And therefore they framed a Body stuffed with bottles of Hay for the Admiralls dragged again about the Streâ—ts his Arms and Ensigns of Honour to be broken his memory by a form of â—riting condemned his Castles and Houses razed his children infamous and his Trees and Woods to be hewn down from the height of six foot One Cavaignes and Briquemaul men of excellent merit the last being seventy years of age were imprisoned and tormented for to subscribe That they were of counsel with the Admiral to kill the King and his kindred which they
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
limitted And the Discipline erected by the Bishops and Super-intendents which had suffered some Diminution but no Synodical act for abolition should be confirmed And so with prosperous effects the Parliament ended and the King returns to his Sports at Sterlin The Presbyters now took up some colourable fears upon landing of one Amys or Amatus Stuart Lord Aubigny so called from Aubigny a Village in Aquitain a French-man born but of Scots family and kinsman to the King A notorious Guisit and Papist as they would have him The Town Aubigny was by Charles the seventh of France given to Iohn Stuart of the family of Lenox who commanded the Scots there and worsted the English which Town and Title depend ever since on the younger Sons and so on this Man He was sent over by the Guises or rather sent for over by Montross and Arguile to subvert Morton or to break the Truce twixt England and Scotland And no sooner landed but received with all honor and advanced in trust created Earl of Lenox and after created Duke a privy Counsellor of the Bed-chamber and Governour of Dunbarton Castle He was soon accused for engrossing so suddenly so much favour and since it hath been taken up for advantage who ever was like to please the King was thereupon cryed down by the Church for a Papist and so he was presented to Queen Elizabeth a dangerous Man and what mischief an evil favourite might suggest to the Kings maturity fitted to act evil impressions his Mothers Designs troublesome to both Realms more easy and proper for him to execute These in England and somewhat at home both together to wrest him from the King and Bowes is sent from Berwick to charge it home before the King and his Council The Queen of England not liking any so neer the King so much of the French Faction as he and one Monbirneau an Actor in the Massacre of France Bowes ere he entered into his errand required to have Lenox and him dismist the Board which was refused before the cause or crime were charged and bidden to produce his Commission for his peremptory demand which he could not and so was forthwith called home Yet to prevent the prejudice of his anger Alexander Hume is sent after to excuse it to the Queen so to learn the truth of her mistrust She as in such Cases to Messengers so all Princes take as Affronts to themselves and so did She and remits him to Burleigh disdaining to see him her self Burleigh Wisely assured him the Queens affections to his own person as a Protestant and his merits to his Master which she would own in any of his Ministers besides she knew him a good Counsellor for her Kinsman the King but denies you her presence who lookes not upon any Ambassadour from another where her own have been unheard and his Commission demanded without President But these are the fruits said he of your young Kings new Counsellors whose first principles are to discredit your best friends and interess their factions such as the Cosin Guises and a Frenchman or two of theirs sent over for that purpose to hazard ruin to the State if they be let to run on unless the Queens prudence and power prevent And so he parted Morton full of malice retires in discontent to Dalkieth disliking the state and manner of Court Miners for in doubt of some danger to his own person he came not neer the King but as commanded to counsel This distance gave his Enemies cause to fear and to prevent his hatred hasten their resolution to ruin him by the accusation of Iames Stuart sonne to the Lord Ucheltrie a bold-faced young man and had his arrand to charge him home which he did of murthering the late King and thus accused to his face and confined to his lodging he might expect no better than the last act of fate to take away his life and though a Pensioner to England this was done without dread of any But this ill news coming to Queen Elizabeth she Posts away Randolph now Post master of England to remove Lenox and to plead for Morton And in their great Assembly he recounts the Queens favours in freeing the Scots of the French with expence of English blood and treasure when her power could have seized all for her self the King then in his cradle his Regents successively owning these kindnesses till Aubigny and that other came in to ruine Religion and rule the King as their ward producing letters to some purpose which most men thought to be counterfeit and so effected nothing When nothing would serve his turn to turn out favorities Randolph takes upon him to set them by the ears and deals with both factions Lenox and Mortons underhand working jealousies to free themselves by force from eithers fewd which grew high and daingerous offering ayd from England to set things square which he made round These being marched to the Borders and the Scots as for the King prepared to receive them the English faction withdrew then and being discovered many were senâ— to prison and Randolph thus far besides his Commission durst not indure the power of his privilege but slipt away leaving his Nephew and Angus and Mar chief incendiaries to shift after and Morton to his just reward who was forthwith arraigned convict and beheaded for the murther of the Kings father and so confest by him before he dyed with this excuse that in those times of distraction he durst not but to do so The fatall Axe called the maiden himself had Patterned from that at Hallifax in Yorkshire which he had seen and liked the fashion for falling down between two posts executed him sure and sodain His Honour and Title was conferred on Iohn Maxwell He was an able man in what he undertook so that we may say as of Cato In hoc viro tanta vis animi ingeniique fuit ut quocunque loco natus est fortunam sibi ipse facturus fuisse videretur nulla ars neque privatae neque publicae rei gerendae ei defuit urbanas rusticasque res pariter callebat He was slow of speech with a natural composed gravity his countenance Majesticall his actions Princely had not that guilt of too much gathering and griping degraded those excellencies and left him naked to deserve nothing He desired to have a thing which dyed with him the Scots lawes reduced into Methode and it was urged as useless A great question with them to have Order in any thing that had none to serve God their opinion then hath since infected us His great wealth got together was scattered by unfaithful hands and hearts Livor post fata quiescit Discite mortales mortalia temnere illa Quaerere quae miseris non rapit aura levis About this time Ruthen lately created E. Gowry the son of William Ruthen Queen Maries deadly Enemy with other conspirators under pretence of
conserving the peace of Religion to which they were urged by the factious Ministery and which to secure they endeavour to remove Lenox and Arran from the King that was their colour but in their absence they invite the King to Ruthen Castle and their seize him Prisoner with threats of death untill he consented to the imprisoning of Arran banishing of Lenox into France and the return of the fugitive Angus out of England Of this the distressed Queen of Scots Prisoner at Sheffield writes to Queen Elizabeth a long letter full of miserable sadness Exquisitely expressing all her sufferings from the first of her subjects very oft Rebellion against her from which persecution being invited by her Majesty to rest secure upon her Princely succour and defence she is now by length of time drawn on to dispair of release from that hand which lodes her with lingring of a lothed life plainly and justly demonstrates her to be active and passive consenting to all her Mishaps She calls God to witness her Impartial affection to her Person and her innocency from prejudice of her affairs and State Desires justice of God and her and implores the mitigation of her misery and some more freedome though with Imprisonment of her Person Layes all particular differences home to the Conscience of the Queen and signs to her Letter Vostre tres desolei plus proche parente affectionate Seure Mary Reg. Indeed these were sharp and peircing which so much disquieted Queen Elizabeths Conscience that she consults to release her jointly to govern with the King And eight Articles were drawn up even such as they were the world knew she would never refuse for her extremity enforced her to yield to most unreasonable but this was but to spin time till the State could find some other expedients or some exceptions which dayly happened by Examinations Confessions or Suspitions grounded upon slender yet continual attempts of private persons and publique Designes of Forein States for the poor Queens interests which failing for her good she was though innocent sure to smart But because the manner of the Kings restraint in Ruthen is diversly related and which the Kirk justified for their own ends I shall adventure upon the Truth in these particulars hereafter Some of the Lords combining mischief to the King under colour of Religion and Liberty of the Kingdom took occasion and advantage of the Duke of Arrans absence from the Court and detained the King at Ruthen These Conspirators were Iohn Earl of Mar William Earl Gowry Lords Lindsey Boyd Clames and Oliphant Some Abbots and Lairds and stopt the King going to hunting who not being answered to the reason and cause grew in passion which concluded in tears to be thus vilified But it was reproached That better bairns should weep than bearded men This news hastens the Earl of Arran to Court where he was soon secured and bid be patient with safety of his life for his brother William Stuart was wounded by the way and kept Prisoner The like course they take with some Noblemen sent by the Duke of Lenox to enquire of the King Who cried out to them that he was a Captive and desired his good subjects to release him The conspirators excused themselves that their surprize only restrained the King from Arran and from Lenox whose banishment they threatned into France And forcing the King to pacifie the people with a Proclamation That for removing some differences His Majesty interposed himself Mediator and resolved to reside at Perth being his own free and voluntary choice and commanding such as were in Arms upon pretext of his restraint to dissolve within six houres on pain of death The Duke raises Forces but was countermanded by the Kings Letter to depart the Realm within twenty daies yet he retires to Dunbarton where the Noble-men and others flock to defend his Cause These uprores were posted to Queen Elizabeth who sends Sir Henry Cary and Sir Robert Bowes to advise the King to be counselled by the Lords against the Duke and Arran and to restore the Earl of Angus exiled in England since Mortons execution This last was obtained and soon after he was accepted into favour but much ado to incline the King to part with Lenox The Lords carry the King to Edenburgh where the Ministry justifie their act joyfully singing in Procession the 124. Psalm New Israel may say c. And the Assembly then convened ratifie the attempt on the Kings person at Ruthen and published it in all the Churches of the Realm to the regret and grief of all good men to see a bad cause thus coloured over and defended by the Church which made much for their Popedom that by these means of distraction the Lords gave themselves up to be governed by the Others Judgements Many there were that sided herein the most honest refused to subscribe But Arran was detained prisoner till the Duke was gon over Seas to France who fell sick at Sea and had leave to land at Blackness and so to pass by Queen Elizabeths favour though England where his sickness contracted into a Disease of which he died in Paris next year after and confessed the faith of the Church of Scotland which he alwaies maintained though in the Kirks policy he was accounted a Court Papist Two Ambassadors come from France Menvel and la Matt through England with whom was sent Davidson from Qu. Eliz. to undermine their Message being To work the Kings Liberty to confirm him to the French and renew the purpose of Association which was That the Queen of Scots should communicate the Crown with her son and administration of Iustice so that he may be acknowledged a lawful King by all Christian Princes and thereby all domestique factions suppressed This Embassy was voted in the Kirks Assembly to be a special grievance a wicked practice declaming in their Pulpits against la Matt who being a Knight of the Order of St. Esprit wore the badge of the White-Cross upon his Shoulder which they called The badge of Antichrist and him The Ambassadour of the bloody Murtherer meaning the Duke of Guise who sent him thither The King not able to do it otherwaies desired the Magistrates of Edenburgh not to demit them without a Feast at parting which was concluded on the Monday after And all cost prepared in Order thereto When on Sunday the very day before the Kirk proclame in their Pulpits the next day to be kept fast and in malice to the Kings honour therein appointed three Preachers the one succeeding the other to weary the poor peoples attention from Morning till night Thundering Curses Anathema's and Excommunication against all Nobles Magistrates and Others that attended the Ambassadors The good King sees these insolencies but lodges them up in silence till he got power to remedy these wrongs About this time dies Buchanan whose Character is chronicled by the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews in his History of
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
papers of Creighton a Scotish Jesuite intercepted and discovering fresh plots of invasion by the Pope Spain and the Guisâ—s the State of England began more narrowly to look about and to begin with the Queen of Scots miserable Tragedy herein Leicester and other Lords associate by oath to persecute to the death the obstacles of Queen Elizabeths peace and safety Mary fearing the effects made the most humble and satisfactory propositions and concessions to what Queen Elizabeth could possibly urge and to which she indeed inclined but the Scots opposed especially to hear of her return home And to assist the hight of evils the Presbyters in Scotland are alwaies at hand railing at her and the King in the Pulpits and being summoned to answer their contempts absolutely refuse saying That Ecclesiastick persons were exempt the Kings authority Althought to suppresse their insolencie very lately even this year and last Assembly of States it was enacted The Kings authority over all persons Ecclesiastick and Layick and confirmed for ever Their Assemblies as well general as particular were condemned as arrogating boundlesse authority when they list to meet and to prescribe lawes even to the King and Kingdome And here the popular equality of Ministers were abrogate and the dignity of Bishops restored whose vocations the Presbyters had condemned as Antichristian The scandalous books of Buchanans Chronicles and his Dialogue De jure regni apud Scotos and other such were condemned So you see in this Parliament the King had Royally and Religiously confirmed the Articles of true Religion and had united to his Crown the supream Authority Ecclesiastick and Civil heretofore usurped by Papists and lately by Prebyters Hereupon they declare the King inclin'd to Popery and nothing to be left of ancient from but the shadow and not being suffered to vent their spleen they fly into England under pretence of persecution Yet the King delt with them by hopes and fear Appoints their appearance in November from all parts And were then pressed to subscribe obedience to their ordinary To obey and acknowledge Bish. according to the Word of God which words they construed to be a restriction or limitation for say they The Word of God commands no obedience Thus either deceived or deceiving to redeem their ease with yeilding cover it with equivocation some subscribed others refused preaching against them And evermore Praying for the banished rebellious Lords as the best Subjects who fled from â—yranny Amongst sundry of such men that suffered trial and others executed Daglith the chief Minister of St. Cuthberts upon that score and for corresponding by letters with Walter Balcanqual he was sentenced for Treason but upon his humble supplication was pardoned David Hume and his brother executed and indeed divers grand designes of Treason put the State to necessary jealousies and fears Robert Hamilton accuses Douglas of Mains and Iohn Cunningham of Drumhosel for conspiring to intercept the King at hunting and to detain him till the banished should return and receive him Upon which they were found guilty and executed at Edenburgh And indeed Angus and others lay lurking at Barwick who were removed therefore further into England to New Castle lest the Lord Hunsdon Governour of Barwick should suffer suspition in their designes against all reason of State which now in England seems to side with King Iames And at New Castle they lodge Iohn and Claud Hamilton retire and take up by the way to settle all here The Scots Ministers wanderers were all found out and called to the Juncto Lowson Carmichel Erskin And Mr. Iohn Colvil sent away to Secretary Walsingham at Court Who led them with hopes that the Queens fleet usual rigging was intentional for their interest this encouraged them and gave occasion to the Scots Ambassadour to draw up Criminations against them and so they were removed to Norwich and after to London and lodge at Long ditch beyond Tuttle street against the Park-wall to whom all their Ministers resort a petty corporation preach pray keep fasting more than private and were so bold as to expect leave to be allotted a Church of their own as French Italian Dutch and other strangers but the conformity of language with us and the deformity in discipline made their request insolent of which they complain in their preachings and therefore are all silenced which they say brake the heart of Lawson their Malapert minister or rather the letter from Edenburgh aforesaid renouncing him their Pastor who deserting his cure upon pretence of conscience not to subscribe yet takes part the Rebells against his Soveraign But the particular manner and occasion in Scotland was as followeth In civill affairs the Earl Arran comanded all keeper of the Castle of Sterlin Edenburgh and Provost there lately made Chancelor upon the death of the Eaâ—l Arguile The office of secretary he conferred upon Iohn Metallan Lethingtons son having banished the Abott of Dumferlin who possessed that place and made himself Lieutenant of Scotland which greatness procured private envy of others at Court ploting his ruine To conserve him self he endeavoured to gain Queen Elizabeth to be his friend and after he had privately conferred with the Lord Hunsdon Governour of Barwick several legations were sent to England by the Arch-bishop of St. Andrews to confirm the Kings constancy in Religion much suspected by the cunning informations of the banished abroad and Kirkmen at home And after him the Master of Gray came to remand the fugitive Rebells and Lewis Ballandine Justice Clark was sent to accuse them as guilty of the conspiracy of Mains and Drumhosell but indeed Ballendines interest conniving his accusations were so slenderly urged that the very ground was laid to work their restitution and Arrans destruction the Queen and her counsel under hand giving ayme to all Arran abused with hopes of the Queens friendship continues his greatness into terms of Tyranny against Athol Hume and Casils With frivolous arbitrary justice It fell more particular upon the Lord Maxwell for refusing exchange of Lands the Barrony of Kinnell fallen by attainder with the Barrony of Mernis and other Lands of Maxwell Heath And to work out the mischief the Lord Iohnston is made Provost thereby being warden of the West Marches might curb the power of Maxwell whose right it was to the Provostry and therefore rayses forces of his friends and apposed Iohnston for which and other Insolencies he is denounced Rebell and commission to Iohnston with power to pursue him Maxwell sends his two brothers to intercept Lamby and Cranston ere they should joyn head in the fray the first is killed the other made prisoner which encouraged Iohnston to incurse upon Maxwells lands by fire and sword with great spoyl booty the same were answered upon return of the like against Iohnston who is taken prisoner and the regret therof gâ—eived him to his grave shortly after The Quarel now engages the
States who convene and a subsedy granted of twenty thousand punds or pounds levied also to pursue him but the great plague raging at Edenburgh that expedition for the present was put off till next year In this interim Queen Elizabeths favour declines from Arran the occasion being a Tumult arising between the Governours of the middle Marches Sr. Francis Russell son to the Earl of Bedford was killed neer the Borders the deed done by instigation of Arran and Farneyhast the slayer was denied to be rendred to the Queens justice yet not much insisted upon at that time but rather to contract former friendship by Ambassy of Sr. Edward Wotton offensive and defensive with the King in cause of Rebellion for then came on the Roman holy League so stiled with the Pope Spain and Guisits in France and others in Germany to exterpate the reformed Religion in all Christendome though principally aimed against Q. Elizabeth who courts Leagues with other Princes reformed Sr. Thomas Bodly treats therein with the King of Denmark Wotton with Scotland and at a Parliament in Iuly was by Act confirmed for ever supposed sufficient to return Wotton the sooner home But he had private comands countermines for the fugitive Lords restitution lately concluded before in England by the late Ambassadors with whom now he keeps private meetings gaining time by the occasion of certain Ambassadors from Denmark who under pretence of remand to the Isles of Orknay and Shethland upon the Northern coast of Scotland alienated of old from that Crown But in truth they propounded reasons of State For a Mariage with the King and a Sister of Denmark happily effected 4 years after These Ambassadours taking leave the rumour grew high of the banished Lords Conspiracy which causes a Proclamation for a general Convention of all good Subjects to meet the King at the Castle of Crawford in October to repell the Rebels which the English Ambassadours craftily prevent whilest the Lords march apace and come to rendezvous at Linton in Tweeddale and there Covenant by Oath not to separate till they should seize the King and remove Arran and thither comes Maxwell with a thousand Horse and foot that served heretofore against Iohnston all the rest making up but so many more and to be even with the King they proclaim also the old and new Rebels rule Defence of the truth the deliverance of the King from evil Counsellors and add the Amity with England Interlacing each line with Odiums against Arran amongst other charges That he claimed descent from Duke Mordach beheaded by King Iames the first upon that title which Arran now takes up to be Heir to the Crown by the name of Iames seventh And indeed this was now enforced and a scandal which all men â—nderstood for whether he had feigned such a pretence the last year or others for him had formed it he was forced to purge himself then in Parliament by serious Protestation which truly in pride of heart he did rather to deceive the World with that folly Thus far Wootton plotted with the Revolters agents at Court and being almost discovered by Arran he departs hastily without leave towards Berwick and after him posts an Express who overtook him at Anwick expostulating Whether His Mistress directed him this mannerly departure He acknowledged to the Messenger that he could not grant that he came away Insalutato hospite seeing he performed that Office with Heart and Hand and would ever endeavour by all possible means that his suddain departure should rather help to maintain than to dissolve the amity betwixt his Soveraign and the King By the word Hand he referred to a Letter which he left for the King in which he so far complained that the cause lodged upon Arrans discredit who he said governed all By which Arran suspected somewhat amiâ—s and accused the Master Gray for hastening Wotton away The Lords Revolters that had intelligence of all march with speed to Sterlin and were let in by a back-way at Mid-night And whilest Arran was busie with the watch at the other end the Town was taken and rifled Arran and others escaped The King inclosed within the Castle sends out two Counsellors to tell them That humble Petitions better became the duly of Subjects Complaints and private address more fit than to force their Soveraign which violent forms they would find 〈◊〉 that should be extorted by force or fear and he never to want men and means hereafter to undo They not as yet let in were not to learn the art of dissembling excusing their actions by their miserable conditions reduced to this necessity to seek relief rather for the King than themselves His honour and safety highly endangered by evil Counsellors excepting them that were sent and labouring these with arguments to intercede for his Majesties grace and favour and to admit their address to his person The King knew their meaning and intending to say no more than willingly they should hear of For my self said the King I never liked the mans arrogancy meaning Arran but I must secure my Servants about me the quarrels betwixt Crawford and Glammis Angus and Montross and Col. Stuart as ill beloved for serving me No sooner said But they vow Not to arm for private quarrells of their own or any others not minding to mix particulars with the publique Upon which they get in fall down on their knees to the King and the Lord Hamilton being the best in blood was their spokesman who only craved mercy To whom My Lord said the King I never knew you till now and I am sorry to see your face in this fault you have been faithfull to my Mother in my Minority and I fear may suffer more than these As for you angerly browing upon Bothwell Francis what ailed thee that never could be injured But To you all that mean me no mischief I am pleased to hold out my hand and my heart carying your selves from henceforth as dutiful Subjects It was no time to do other and the next day in Council to confirm by Act their Pardon and their Assistants and so proclaimed Crawford and Montross delivered up to Hamilton and Col. Stuart permitted to depart Arran was gone before fled to Coil deprived of all honors lived from thenceforth privately And now new Lords and Laws share old offices The Guard was given to Glammis the Castle Dunbritton to Hamilton Sterlin restored to the Earl Mar and the Castle of Edenburgh delivered to Sir Iames Hume This relation the most certain though I know it is otherwise reported And no wonder to find designs in policy how to cleer these Lords of former accusations and confessions the very Examinants and Deponents must now voluntarily offer new Oaths to purge them from all Treasonable Attempts Amongst whom Duntraith now confessed to be suborned to accuse Mains out of fear to save himself Besides these powers that overmastered the Kings party the want of supply
from Edenburgh lost the Court the raging Plague swept away twenty thousand persons and that City quite forsaken He is forced now to yield to their Domination this Success imboldens the disloyal Ministers to return home also from all parts insupportable insolent One of them Gibson to the Kings face terms him Ieroboam a Persecutor threatens him That if he went on in the former way he should be the last of his race And before the King and Council he and Watson such another impudently maintain the same and more to their teeth which no Catiline could have done more treasonable Then their Synod being assisted by a number of the Laicks convene the Bishops Saint Andrews was compeered before them upon accusation of Andrew Melvil in malice and private revenge but his pretence was that the Bishop devised and penned former Acts against the Presbytery the Bishop protests against their Judicature and disputes his Innocency from any evil therein and to avoid their censures appeals to the King and Estates and they therefore in fear what to do a young Fellow Andrew Hunter professes to be armed by the Spirit and so usurping the Chair he pronounced Sentence against him Cunningham the Bishops man did the like the next day against Melvil These and other such disorders involves the King and Estates what to do with them when the Secretary of State perceiving their vexations advises the King to leave the Ministery to their own courses That in a short time he should see them so intollerable as the people would chase them out of the Nation True said the King if I werâ— careless to undo the Church and Religion it were the best Counsel but to preserve both I must suppress disorders lest Religion be despised And therefore as these insolencies gave the King occasion wisely to foresee the dangerous events if not nipt in the Bud So ex malis Moribus bonae leges nascuntur for the State publish these Articles That all Preachers should obey the King Not to pretend privilege in their allegiance Not to meddle in State matters Not to revile his Majesty Not to draw the people from obedience And being questioned not to allege inspiration of the Spirit Nor to serve themselves with colour of conscience c. It is strange to observe both before and then and sithence even to these our last daies as were by Wisemen alwaies foretold from the beginning how this Gangreen spread and that we are now wearied as well as the Reader with these relations Let me onely observe further the Scots Acts and Ordinances concerning their Episcopacy and let any Historian tell me when and how they started into such a sincere Reformation as to have no Bishops at all as many would pretend For first reforming from Popery in 1567. That no Bishop nor other Prelate should use any Iurisdiction in time comming by the Bishop of Romes authority but it appears by all subsequent Acts That Arch-Bishops and Bishops were not only allowed in their Kirk but also had Iurisdiction and authority to govern the same That Arch-Bishops and Bishops have the Authority and are ordained to convene and deprive all Ministers inferiour who shall not subscribe the Articles of Religion and recognoscing of the King and his Authority That Arch-Bishops and Bishops have authority to assign Ministers Glebes That they shall nominate and appoint Visitations c. and persons in every Parochin for settling Taxation for upholding Kirks c. That they shall direct charges how the Minister of the Parochin shall proceed to excommunications That they shall try the rent of Hospitals and call for the foundations thereof The Iurisdiction of the Kirk is declared to stand in preaching the Word of Iesus Christ correction of manners and administration of Sacraments And no other Authority allowed but Arch-Bishops and Bishops intended to continue in Authority as is cleer by these Acts following First All persons returning from forein Travails are within twenty daies to pass to the Bishop Super-intendent Commissioner of the Kirk to give a Confession of their faith That none presume to impugn the Dignity and Authority of the three Estates or to seek or procure the innovation or diminution of their power and authority or any of them in time coming under pain of Treason That Bishops are to try and judge Ministers guilty of crimes meriting deprivation That no Ministers exercise any other Office beside their Calling and to be adjudged by their Ordinaries of Bishops All Acts whatever heretofore anent the Kirk of God and Religion now professed are ratified That the three Estates especially considering the persons exercising the offices titles and dignities of Prelates which persons have ever represented one of the Estates c. Therefore declare that the Kirk in Scotland is the true and holy Kirk and that such Ministers as the King shall provide to the Dignity of a Bishop shall have vote in Parliament as any Ecclesiastical Prelate ever had by-gon And null all manner of Acts made in prejudice of Bishops Honours Dignities c. competitent to them or their estate since the reformation of Religion The same revived Ordains Arch-bishops and Bishops to be elected by their Chapters and consecrate by the Order accustomed And yet we must confess they were oftentimes striking at the root and branch of Bishops as others of them did against the Power and Majesty of Princes for Buchanan terms the phraises of Majesty Highness Excellency Solaecismos et Barbarismos aulicos Jeering at the outward State of Princes comparing them to childrens Puppets garishly attired That a good Prince should be defended with innocency Non superbo speculatorum et caetu sericatisque nebulonibus stipatus Another of theirs Davison his Pamphlet printed in those times forced through with base invectives both against the Government of Scotland and England with most dangerous insinuations to Rebellion The Genevian Ministers and their Tenents also were dispersed in England wholly into such Arguments Out of two more pestilent sundry seditious positions may be collected Goodman and another Author stiled True Obedience or rather perfect rebellion It may be true t is no Treason to resist the Soveraign for defence of Religion nor no treasonable assertion That a lawful Prince may be deposed in case of revolt from God and these are the proposition of all Christian Professors but these Men following their own deceiptful wiles and irregular opinions adjudged that to be errour or idolatry which perhaps may not be so and may traduce goodness and virtue by the rule of their own strained conceit and so differ in the manner and matter as reason and conscience differ from fury and frenzy And yet these their Doctrines Whittingham afterwards unworthy Dean of Durham in his preface to Goodmans book saith that they were approved by the best learned meaning Calvin and the rest of the Genevians Gilby Coverdale Whitehead and
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
Fugitives if he might be trusted with the Queens License which was promised to him but delayed whilst all was discovered to Walsingham by one Gifford a Priest whom he recommended unto Amias Pawlet to suffer his servants to be corrupted by him and so to intrap the Queen his Prisoner but though Pawlet refused to conspire with his servants yet he permitted one that depended on the necessary service of his Family a Baker to be bribed and at a hole in the wall to give out and take in letters between the Queen and all the confederates which were as sure to be opened and read by Walsingham who got the Keys of the Ciphers and had answeâ—s counterfeited to involve whom he pleased to suspect in the Plot. At last the time being ripe for Execution they were proclaimed Traytors and at several places seized examined and confessing to every particular they were executed as Traytors seven of them most cruelly the other seven with more mercy The Queen of Scots was so narrowly watched that she knew nothing of the discovery no not when Mr. Gorge was sent to her to expostulate these plots She being then on horseback a hunting was not suffered to return but in shew of honour was led to several Gentlemens houses in the mean time that her servants and her Secretaries are severed from Communication her Cabinet and Desks and Copies of Letters with sixty several Ciphers discovering all were seized and sent to the Councel Now is Gifford sent by Walsingham into France and given out as banished who leaves a Paper indented with the French Ambassadour In charge not to deliver any letters from the Queen of Scots or from the fugitives that came to his hands and to be sent into France but to such onely that brought the counterpain of the Indented Paper which he secretly sent to Walsingham And so depâ—â—ted into France where soon he died for having done the main work ere he went over was for his reward discovered to be a counterâ—eit even by slight of hand and Walsinghams contrivement and so had â—auce to his knavish face that pined him away by inches In this condition was the poor imprisoned Queen at Fotherringhan Castle in Northampton-shire when the Councel were as busie what to do with her At last they concluded to proceed upon the Act of 27. Eliz. made the last yeer against Plotters or contrivers of the Queens death as before said To which purpose a Commission under the great seal issued out impowring twenty four Noblemen and others therein who came to the Castle the 11 of October to try and censure her Against which she excepted As being her self a free Princess and not liable to tryall for life Her ignorance of the Laws of England and without Council Her papers and writings seized and so utterly refuses to be tryed Yet being over-born and convinced with many strong arguments of Law and Reason she submits The manner of her Tryal was thus A chair of Estate was set as for the Q. of England under a canopy at the upper end of the Presence Chamber Bâ—neath against it was placed a Chair for the Queen of Scots close to the Walls on both sides of the Cloth of Estate Seats were made for the Lords Chancellour Treasurer the Earls of Oxford Kent Derby Worcester Rutland Cumberland Warwick Pembroke Lincoln and Viscount Mountacute On the other side the Lords Abergavenny Zouch Morley Stafford Grey Lumley Sturton Sands Wentworth Mordant Saint John Compton Chenos Next to these the Knights Privy Counsellours Sir James Croft Sir Christopher Hatton Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Walter Mildmay and Sir Amias Paulet Forward before the Earls sate the two Chief Iustices the Chief Baron of the Exchequer And on the other side the other two Iustices Delt and Ford Doctors of the Civil Law At a Table in the midst Popham Attourney General Egerton Solicitor Gawdy Serjeant at Law the Clerk of the Crown and two Notaries The Prisoner being set Bromley Lord Chancellour turning to her said The most illustrious Queen of England being certified to her great grief that you plotted hers and the Kingdom of Englands ruine and the overthrow of Religion established Out of duty to God her Self and People and no malice or ill meaning hath authorized these Commissioners to hear what can be laid to your charge and your Answer to defend your own innocency She rising up said She came into England to implore aid and was promised it but ever since kept Prisoner That she is not the Queens subject but a free and absolutâ—â—rincess and cannot be compelled to appear before Delegates or any other Iudg for any cause whatsoever but before God alone the supreme Iudge of all which otherwise were derâ—gatory to her own Princely Majesty to her Son the King of Scots her Successors and all other absolute Princes Nevertheless she did present her self to refute all Crimes that could be charged upon her The Chancellour replied that her Protestation was vain for whosoever offends the â—aws of England in England must be subject to the same examined and judged and therefore not to be admitted Yet the Delegates commanded her Protestation and his Answer to be registred The Patent and late newest Statute made a Law was read and opened to which she answered that it was purposely made to entrap her Gawdy averred that she had transgressed every part and parcel of that Law with a Narration of Babingtons Treason to which she was accused as conspiring abetting assenting to effect it She denies all never to have received Letters from him nor written to him she knew him not and requires Proofs of her Hand by any Subscriptions or Letters nay she never heard tell of any such Treason Ballard she knew not onely she understood that the Catholicks were grievously used and therefore she writ to the Queen for some pity upon them She confessed those Letters produced from many whom she knew not that profered their endeavours for her enlargement but she excited none to any wicked Design and being a Prisoner she could not hinder their Attempts Then was Babingtons Letters read his Confessions and Correspondencies with her wherein the whole Conspiracy was expressed She answered that Babington might write them but prove any receipt of them if Babington or any other affirm so much I say plainly They lie A Packet of Letters detained a whole year came to my hand but I know not who sent â—t But Babingtons confession accused her therein She blamed Sir Trancis Walsingham for his cunning plottings to entrap her with counterfeiting Letters and Cyphers which he lamely excused and put all upon policy of State This held out the Fore-noon After Dinner was produced Charls Pagets Letter and Curls one of her Servants confession that she received it touching conference with Ballard and Mendoza for invading England and setting her free She acknowledged that a Priest told her that
but where her Servants and Friends could give good testimony thereof K. Iames her Son in sad perplexity for his Mother sends William Keith of his Bed-chamber with Letters to Q. Elizabeth though it seemed strange to him that the Nobility and Counsellours of England should take upon them to sentence a Queen of Scotland and one descended of the Royal Bloud of England yet he would think it monstrous justice for her Virgin Majesty to stain her hands with the Bloud and Death of his dear Mother a Lady of in comparable excellency in the worlds opinion and of the same Royal condition and Sex with her Self So if it should be resolved desires her to consider how his Honour stood engaged that was her Son and a King to suffer his Mother an absolute Princess to be put to an infamous Death Keith after some time of delay urges for an Answer but finding no hope he receives other Letters commanding him to shew the Queen how unjust the Proceedings had been against his Mother the Laws of God and Nations for an absolute Prince to be sentenced by Subjects and she the first Example of profaning Sovereign Diadems Himself concern'd in Nature and Honour to revenge such indignity and wills him to labour the delay of her Execution till he could send Ambassadours of his own into England for by Letters from Archibald Dowglas his Lieger in England he found him evil disposed to the business and therefore resolved to send one more honorable and of greater trust in his place But Keith doing his duty shewed the Queen his Masters direction enforcing her into some passion till Leicester and others calmed her and then she told him She would give no Answer in anger but consider till morning when she told him that no haste should be used if any other should come from the King in reasonable time â—roceedings should be staid and be glad to receive overtures to save the Queens life and assure her own The King certified of her passion posts other Letters more calm since his other were construed as threats to her Estates and therefore he courts her into kindness protesting that the Rumours spread amongst his Subjects moved them into disquiets and mutiny at the forms of Proceedings again their Queen That for his part he could well distinguish any pressure by the peril of her own life and so not blaming her directly prays her to put a kindness upon Him Her real Friend desires time till his Overtures be heard hastily coming by the Master of Gray and Sir Robert Melvil who were to set out on Saturday after and came to London in eight days Queen Elizabeth was better satisfied with these being frightned before into fear of breach of the late League and War with her Neighbours and so gave them speedy Audience She told them how sorry she was no means could be found to save their Kings Mother and secure her own life They answer Their Sovereign to save her life will interpose his credit his Nobility as â—ledges that no Plot or practice should be contrived by her against your Majesty or otherwise to set her aâ— liberty and send her into Scotland and so the better to secure the Queen Asking the reason What should move any man to attempt against her Majesty for Queen Maries sake Because said she they think Her to succeed me and she a Papist Then say they these means being taken away the Danger apparently ceases for if her Right in Succession to England shall be made over in our Sovereigns Person Papists will have no more hope and this we are sure his Mother will resign to him But replied the Queen she hath no Right being declared incapable of Succession If so that she hath no Right said they the Papists pretences cease and so no fear of them to enterprize for her But said she the Papists allow not our Declaration Then let it sink said they in our Sovereign by her Resignation Leicester being by objected that She being a Prisoner could not 〈◊〉 They answered It being made to her Son with advice of all her Friends in Europe in case Queen Elizabeth should miscarry none would partake with the Mother against her Son all the Princes her Friends standing engaged for her Resignation that it should be valid and essential for her Son The Queen mis-understanding was told the Ambassadours meaning that the King should be in his Mother place Is it so says she Gods Death that were to cut mine own throat He shall never come to that place and be party with me She was told that coming in his Mothers place through her Death he would be more party Well says the Queen tell your King what I have done for him to keep the Crown on his Head since he was born and for my part I shall keep the League betwixt us which if he break shall be a double fault and in passion got away Melvil made after requesting respite of execution for eight days Not an hour said she The King by this Conference expects extremity and therefore writes to Gray Think not to reserve your self any longer nothing doing good if her life be lost adieâ— dealing with that State As you affect my favour spare no pains nor plainness Reade what I writ to Keith and accordingly conform and in this your industry let me reap the fruit of your great Credit there and Duty here either now or never Farewell Leicester took some pains in a tedious Letter to satisfie the Kings importunity by telling him the common jealousie of all Princes for their own security especially by such persons as being within a Kingdom and claiming Title to that Crown should conspiâ—e with Traitors to kill the Queen comforting the King as well as he could how more dangerous Queen Elizabeths Death would be than his Mothers liberty would advantage concluding with grave advice not to quarrel the breach of amity and their last League of firm friendship And to boot Walsingham writes to the Secretary of Scotland the Lord Thirlstan with whom he kept private intelligence as a wonder the Kings earnest desire to save his Mother seeing all the Papists in Europe affecting the change of Religion in both Realms built their hopes altogether upon Her who in passion to Papistry had transferr'd her Right to both Crowns unto the King of Spain in case the King her Son should persist in his Profession And true it was that such tricks were rumored to divert the King from constancy in Religion but never so done by her if you will credit her Declaration at her Death though I know for I have seen it a Popish Abbot in the life of Cardinal Laurence at that time Protector of the Scots Nation affirmeth the said Translation of these Realms to be in his hands and delivered to him by Court Olivarez the Spanish Ambassadour at Rome but such forged Tales and Titles might have served the turn if the
Enterprize of Eighty Eight had taken effect against England Thus the King leaving no means possible unattempted for a prudent and pious King but to to none effect the State of Scotland then in a miserable distraction made so partly in policy from England and the most powerfull Faction solliciting Queen Elizabeth for their Queens Execution insomuch that it was objected as Pilate said shall I kill your Queen And therefore now the King commanded the Ministers and Kirk in Scotland to commend her cause to God in their publick Prayers which by no means their charity could afford but absolutely refused then he appoints a solemn Day of Fasting and Prayer with Supplications to God for Her commanding the Bishop of Saint Andrews to pray and preach against whom the Ministers opposed and in presence of the King put up in the Pulpit a young Fellow Iohn Cooper not entered into the Function to whom the King cried out Master Iohn that place was designed for another yet since you are there Do your Duty and obey the Charge to pray for my Mother He replied To do no otherwise than as the Spirit should direct him Whereupon the Captain of the Kings Guard pulled him down and the Bishop performed the Office most grave and learned For this insolency Cooper was called to accompt accompanied with Balcanquall and Watson who were discharged their Ministery and Cooper committed prisoner to Blackness Then he concludes his last Messenger with letters Advising the Queen to conserve her fame and renown by her clemency as yet unspotted from any stain of cruelty not to be now defied and polluted with the blood of his Mother the wound reflecting to his smart which he should never leave unconsidered to the tyranny of them that thirsted his destruction long since as they do his Mothers now Beseeches the Queens mercy and compassion to them both In a word It was a business that till that time had no President and Queen Elizabeth to say truth as much perplexed what to conclude brought her minde the more into confusion At length she signed a Warrant for a Mandate fitted for the great Seal and her Execution and trusted it with Davison one of her Secretaries to be in readiness in case of danger But he too hastily had it made up under the Seal which some say she would afterwards have recalled but was prevented by the earnest prosecution of Beale Clerk of the Councel Queen Maries enemie Him the Councel sends to the Earls of Shrewsbury Kent Derby and Cumberland for her Execution unknowing to Queen Elizabeth for it is said at that instant She told Davison that she was resolved of another way than by death Indeed she was in distraction what to do but whilst she doubted the Councel did it for her And so had her head taken off by the Axe at Fothringham Castle in Northampton-shire But because her high birth and Exellencies deserve particular Memorial I may not forget her behaviour in the last Act of Life and Death The Earls comming thither Pawlet and Drewry being there before were added Commissioners to see her Execution And gave her warning on Monday the sixth of February 1586. to prepare agaiâ—st Wednesday next the eighth day following At which she smiled it being very sudain short and unexpected But said that her death was welcome seeing her Majesty meaning Queen Elizabeth was so resolved And that that soul was unworthy of Glory and the joyes of Heaven whose body can not indure one blow from the Hangman A good while she was silent then weeping bitterly retyred into her Chamber where she spent her time in devotion and setling her Will The eighth day brought her forth to a sad execution She was of Stature tall and Corpulent thick shouldered fat-fac'd and broad double chinn'd hazell eyes Her borrowed hair somewhat appearing was Aburnd and her attire thus On her head a dress of Laun edged with Bone-lace a chain of Pomander and an Agnus Dei about her neck a pair of Beads at her Girdle with a golden Cross at the end of them a Veil of Laun fastned to her Call bowed out with Wyar and edged with Bone-lace Her Gown of Black Sattin printed with a train and long sleeves to the ground set with Acorn-buttons of Gett trimed with pearl her short sleeves Black Sattin cut which opened upon purple Velvet sleeves under them Her Kirtle whole of figured Black Sattin her Petticote and upper bodies of Crimson Sattin unlaced in the back and the skirts of Crimson Velvet her shoos Spanish leather the inside outward a pair of green Silk Garters watchet Silk Stockings clock't and edged on the top with Silver and under them a pair of white Jersey-hose Thus set out and not hastened she willingly leaves her Chamber and paces towards the Scaffold gently supported with two Gentlemen Pawlets servants Thomas Andrews high Sheriff of North going before The Commissionersâ—â—tended â—â—tended her coming into the Anti-Chamber with divers Knights and Gentlemen of that Country And amongst them her servant Melvin designed by her to go to Scotland Ah Madam said he what unhappy wretch am I the Messenger of my gracious Queen and Mistress and of her death The Queen not till then weeping My good servant said she mourn no more thou shalt see Mary Stewarts troubles ended in an instant The world is all but vain Say thus much from me That I dye true to My Religion faithful to the Interest of Scotland and France God forgive them that thus long have sought nay thirsted for my blood as the Hart does for Water-brooks O God Thou the Author of Truth the searcher of the secret Chamber of my heart knowst that I was ever willing to the Union of Scotland and England But well Gods will be done Commend Me to my Son Tell him that I have done nothing prejudicial to the State and Kingdome of Scotland nor to mine own Honor. And so resolving her self into Tears bids Melvin farewell and kissing his cheek said Once again Good and faithful servant farewell pray for thy Queen and Mistress And turning to the Commissioners she made some requests to them That certain monies in Pawlets hands might be paid to one Curl her servant which was promised Next That her servants might enjoy what she had given them by Will and to have conveyance into their several Countries and this my good Lord of Shrewsbury I conjure upon you Then That her poor servants might be witnesses to the world of her patient suffering and that she died a constant Romane Catholick To this she was refused and Kent humbly told her It might interrupt her quiet in their passions and behaviour as is usual said he in dipping their linnin and skarfs in blood My Lord said she smiling I will give my word though but in death they shall not deserve blame Ah las poor souls they desire to bid me adiew I hope your
continuas sese certissimum hoc periculum adiisse in vitâ Quinti pag. 180. But Marian a Spanish Jesuit says Clement had often premeditated with himself and imparted it to â—ome Divines who concluded it lawfull for any man to kill a King that is a Tyrant Mar. Lib. de rege et Regis Institutione cap. 6. pag. 53. though the Council of Constance possitively forbids it The Leaguers banish Navar from the Crown and Kingdom and differ about election of a King for though divers were in dispute they with some Justice in Rebellion elect Cardinal Bourbon a degree neerer to the Crown than Navar and released him out of Priâ—on to the Throne And the Duke de Maine a pretender is pleased to be Lieutenant General of France who instantly intends to surprize Navar proclaimed likewise King of France at Diep or drive him out of all Navar implores Q. Elizabeth profers league with her offensive and defensive â—he in reverence to Religion and pitty of his distreâ—s sends him twenty thousand pounds in Gold by which he kept his Stipendâ—aries Germans and Swisse from revolt some ammunition and four thousand men conducted by the Lord Willoughby with four Collonels Wilford Burroughs Drury and Baskervile The â—ame of the Queen interessed and these mens valour discomfited the Enemy the day before their landing who fled with bag and baggage to Paris and are pursued by the English and French who take divers pieces in Normandy and return home The King of Spain this while lay gaping after these distempers fomented by Mendoza his Ambassadour and Cardinall Cajetan the Popes Nâ—ncio not without their insolent proposition to nominate Spain Protector of the French Catholiques with such Prerogatives to boot as he enjoyes over Naples and Sicily of bestowing all Offices Ecclestiastical and Civil By which the French themselves foresaw his ambition to promote their Religion with loss of their Reason Thus stood the State of France distracted Navar unsettled war increasing which hindred the Queens design to promote a Match between the King of Scotland and Katherine Navars Sister as defensive interests in Religion to counter with the Catholiques and therefore she had advised the King to mary himself to his â—â—king for Katherines years was with the most and her means with the least which she understood was settled a year since on Ann the Daughter of Frederick the second King of Denmark But Navar she protects with great sums of money she had lenâ— him not three years â—ince a hundred and one thousand five hundred and sixty French Crowns wherewith he levyed his German Souldiers And the last year seventy and one thousand one hundred sixty five more It cost her twenty thousand Willoughbyes expedition And now this year she lends him thirty three thousand 〈◊〉 hundred thirty three more to muster an Army in Germany and as much more she spent for sudden service Thus much for France Every two moneths she paid to the Garrisons of Flushing and Brill one hundred and five and twenty thousand â—â—orins And two hundred and threescore thousand more to 3000 horse and foot in service with the Low Countreâ—â— Besides other Sums of mass expence at home and her own expeditions by Sea and in Ireland by Land Whether these moneys are mistaken by Historians figures the addition of a Cipher multiplying the same otherwise they are incredible but indeed this was the way to dy poor for she was much in debt But she was not nice in Husbanding her expence to good purpose or in providing for the main by extraordinary waies for she was sometime put to shifts then as well as her Successor since and by the Customer Carmardines intimation of the value of Commodities she raised her Farmer Sir Thomas Smith from the rent of her Customs of fourteen thousand pounds sterling annually to two and forty thousand and after to fifty thousand This gain was not put up to his own purse no doubt for the Lord Treasurer and Leicester and Walsingham opposed Carmardine whether of intercepting their Bribes therin or disparagement of their judgment and care not to finde it out themselves By her bounty to France she kept off the Spaniard from hence her own judgment that the end of France its ruine would be the Evening to England contrary to others opinion that now the cantoning of France by the Spaniard Leaguers and particular Pretenders she might put in for her share Picardy Normandy or Brittain but she kept them off from others For the Duke of Parma for his Catholick Majesty had run through Picardy called in by the Leaguers to relief of the Rebellion at Paris and Io de Aquila of Spain invited into Brittain to settle of pretension of the Duke Mercoeur to that Dutchy Queen Elizabeth looks upon this dangerous Neighbourhood and speedily she resolves of three thousand men into Picardy and Brittain and it was time to prevent the growing power of Spain admitted now into Paris who vouchsaâ—ed their lawfull Sovereign no other Title but King of Bern but the Spaniard as their Lord and King the Pope also lent some Switz to the aid of the Leaguers against whom the Queen proclames it Treason to assist them by any Traffick This Assembly of the Church now in Iune petitioned the King 1. For establishing the Churches Iurisdiction and abolishing all Acts to the contrary 2. For purging the Realm of Iesuits and Papistry 3. For providing Maintenance of Ministers out of the Tyths and the Remain to the Support of Schools and the Poor and Repair of Churches For the first the entrance into the Acts of Parliament always provide for the Church For the second he had already done it in part and would willingly perfect that Work And the last was committed to Commissioners of their own and others But to conclude the King advised them their duty as Peace-makers on earth by Preaching and Practice to remove the barbarous differences which the feuds of the Nation dayly foment and which by their former encouragements for private ends had been taken up so customarily as became national that their godly care for reconciling such variances might amend that Crime grown to that height as was abominable to all strangers I shall do my part said he and if you apply your pains my work will be the more easie and the success effectual And truly thence-forward such a course was taken that in future all those damnable feuds were quite abolished by this King Though for the present it prevailed not between the Earls Huntley and Murray in the North Iohn Gordon married to Widow Grant one of his Servants in private quarrel was killed by another of hers whom Gordon pursues and for not appearing is pronounced Rebell and Commission to Huntley to apprehend him in a house of the Grants he takes it by force but findes not the Fellow This was ill taken by that Family who fly to the protection of the Earl Murray with
in Ireland There was publick Reports of the Spaniards mighty preparations by sea more then in 88 pretended against Britaign in France which the King of Scotland feared might fall upon him or England or both And therefore musters all his people and secures the Borders from pryvate quarrells of each other or to infringe the peace and Covenant of both Nations so firmly united by Alliance and Religion Language and manners that of late they seemed one But to divert Spains purposes Queen Elizabeth joyns with France who denounces warr against him and is hotly pursued in Luxemburgh and Picardy Where he hath the better Castelet Dorleans and Cambray taken and the French crave more ayd from England or to be forst to make peace with Spain whicâ— indeed she suspected He being already received conditionally into the blessing of the Pope and conclave These successes hightned the Spaniards to adventure over into England from Bretaign in four Gallyes under Command of Dudrack Brocher and landed betimes in the morning burntâ— poor fisher Towns in Cornwall and without losse of any one Englishman stole home again These being the first and last Spaniards that ever in Enmity durst set foot on English ground And this their poor attempt incensed the English to seek him at home that they might feel the different effects of English designs Sir Walter Ralegh Captain of the Queens Guard made an Expedition upon his Territories in America commonly called the Guiana voyage within 8 degrees south of the Aequater He burns some Towns and Cottages and so returns Sir Amias Preston and Sir Georg Summers also sack and burn the Towns of the Isle of Puerto santâ— neer Maedera and Coche neer Margereta Coro and the City Iago de Lion but took money to spare Cumena Hawkins Drake Baskervile with 6 of the Queens ships and 20 other Men of warr fire some Towns in the Isle Dominica in the West Indies and others upon the continent But the event of that voyage Hawkins and Drake died of sicknesse and home came the Company poor enough for any Pillage so we return to our Scots story This new year some time sets variance between both Realms The Lord Scroop for the West Marches of England and the Laird of Backlugh for the charge of Liddesdale design a Day of Truce to treat of disorders and the meeting even at the Brook that divides both nations Mr. Salcallk was Deputy for Scroop and Robert Scot for Backlugh and having met friendly and composed some differences they parted At their meeting was Armstrong nick-named Will of Kinmouth a notorious Thief for the Scots he returning home was set upon by some English and after four miles chase brought him Prisoner to Salcallk and so to the Castle of Carlile The Truce was broken being accounted evermore from the hour of Treaty till next day Sun-rise and the Prisoner is demanded But Scroop refused unless by order from the Queen and Council The man being a notorious Malefactor and Backlugh was modest not to make many words ere he procured Bowes the English Resident to write to Scroop for his inlargement which not taking effect the King writes to the Queen nor that neither Backlugh engaged in honour to the King and his own right of Trust Plots the Prisoners Release this Way The Castle of Carlisle was surprizable and in particular at the Postern-Gate the measure of the height he had and there he meant to scale or break through the weakness of the Wall by Engines and so to force the Gates Thus resolved he drew up two hundred horse to Mortons Tower ten miles from Carlisle neer Sun-set he forded the River Esâ— and two hours before day he passed Eden beneath Carlileâ—bridge â—bridge and so came to Sarcery a plain under the Castle And making halt under Cadage Bourn he dismounted fourscore of his company but his Ladders too short his men fell to mining and himself retiring to the rest to secure those which might enter against any eruption from the Town In fine the Breach opened entrance to single men who brake through the Postern-Gate for the rest The watch awaked and made some resistance but were soon seized into Guard and afterwards the Prisoner freed The sign being forthwith given by sound of a Trumpet a signal to the Souldiers without that the enterprize was effected within My Lord Scroop and Salcalk were in the Castle to whom the Scots gave the good night and so parted This Surprize was handsomely mannaged having order from Backlugh to break open no door but the Prisoners Ward nor did they do any more prejudice though the Governour and Castle became under their power Being got out their Prisoners were returned The Town took the allarm and all in posture of war but Baâ—klugh came back as he went to his own quarters two hours before Sun-set the thirteenth of April 1596. a quick and resolute design performed with civillity and honour which troubled the English to be out-done nobly in any Attempts For a Prisoner to be forced out of a strong Castle of Defence so far within England and so handsomely troubled the whole State of England And Bowes the Ambassadour had post order to aggravate the fact as a breach of peace unless Backlugh were delivered to the Queens pleasure Backlugh having done this gallant work maintained his defence as discretly That he marched not with design against any the Queens holds or in wrong to any of her Subjects but to relieve a Prisoner unlawfully surprized and illegally detained being seized in the day of Truce nor did he aâ—tempt his Relief until redress was refused And the sober 〈◊〉 civil prosecution he was confident would be justified according to the antient Treaties of both Realms when mutual injuries were referred to Commissioners as both their Majesties should appoint to whom most humbly he doth submit This not satisfactory the Queens displeasure took some time to consider until a moneth after it was remitted to Commissioners The King stood upon Justice and the rather against the Lord Scroop for the injury committed by his Deputy And in truth and reason it was less courtesie to take a Prisoner than to relieve him unlawfully taken Yet all would not serve the Borderers make inroades upon each other the English worsted in all till King Iames out of complement to his Kinswoman grown old and peevâ—sh 〈◊〉 content to moderate her passion by yielding unto the imprisonment of Backlugh to Saint Andrews and then conveyed to England more for form than guilt of punishment and so sent home again The Isles were up a petty Rebellion naked cold and hunger soon suppressed themselves yet in fear of Spanish Invasion or a Receptacle â—or Revolters a thousand men were levyed under Col. Stuart for fourty daies the custome to assist the King upon which the chiefs submit and give caution to compeer before the King And as there was too frequent cause by these
insurrections for this hurried nation often to assemble so in truth little effects followed as at this time for the Ministers to colour their intentions would seem to enact against Self-Interest and begin with themselves and fast pray and preach daies of Humiliation that was all that they would do as to their reforming But then there was sure to followcomplaint of the corruption of Courtiers in the Kings Palace and justice Seats and fear of the banished Lords and left not till the faults were found such as are common even to the best Estates Then would they ravel into Counsel of the Remedies to which the King usually would afford consent but by experience finding out their aim and danger of them to be too severe and earnest which they called zeal the King wisely chekt the bit Telling them That unless there were any evident proofs that the Popish Lords since their departure beyond Seas had conspired with Strangers to the prejudice of the Realm in Religion or State their cautions cannot in honor or justice be convict nor would he change the course of charity and conditions to their wives and children And indeed in prudence the King held himself unsafe whilst such potent Lords were abroad for much mischief they might do underhand unheard and unseen And reasoning one day with Mr. Robert Bruce a leading Minister How much it concerned him to have them recalled That Queen Elizabeth grown old if deâ—th should seize her he might need assistance of his own Interest of State and honour would ballance these Lords even against Catholique or Spanish Titles or other Designs and by such interest may be sooner drawn to the reformed Religion than by compulsory extremity Mr. Bruce yielded to the Reasons to call home Angus and Arroll but not Huntley being so much hated The Kings opinion seemed further to oversway Because Huntley saies he hath maried my Cosin one that I esteem a man of Power to do good or evil and so to be made accordingly In the end Bruce was so bold as to tell the King in plain terms I see Sir said he your affection to Huntley whom I must oppose and you either loose him or me for both you cannot keep This insolency lost him the King This for one example of many which their own Historians record of their Ministers good behaviours and certainly this mans ambition and popularity out-vied the Kings who espying his Trayn that conducted him by the Court into Edenburgh By my Sal said the King Bruce puts me down in his Attendants The exiled Lords of themselves resolved to return but withall possible submission and to avoid the least suspition of jealousie they separate Arroll through Holland Huntley came before and out of the North sends Supplication to the King and Convention at Faulkland in August to reside where his Majesty would appoint upon caution of good behaviour The King concluded aright Either to ruin them and their race or to receive them all into favour and hope of reforming into Religion The first course saith he hath its own difficulties and trouble for me if I could effect it The other is more consonant to my humour and mine honor I desire not destruction errors of conscience are not of matters of the mind I like not to receive conditions from Huntley rather to advise of commands to them all with clemency and favour which was submitted unto And the publick joy of the Queens second Birth of a Daughter made up the common reception of these Lords to community and fellowship with the Congregations She was born in August the 16. day 1596. and to be baptized in November But now the Ministry make work their Commissioners assembling at Edenburgh send Post to all their Presbyteries the State of affairs for so is the Commission That the forfeited Earls were come home without Warrant are like to be received to mercy without submission for their offences of Treason or reconcilement to the Church and conditions confirmed unto them The Preachers Pulpit these tidings to their flocks publick and private to provoke into Tumult and to be in readiness to resist the dangers of Church and State The first Sunday of December held forth for Humiliation and then the power in the Minister to tell all to the people and to inlarge as the zeal of the Spirit shall promp them They assume power to call to account all manner of men Entertainers Receivers or communicate with them to be canvased with the censures of the Church Una citatione quia periclitatur salus Ecclesiae Reipublica And with such busteling with several Commissioners from all parts of the Nation to make Residence at Edenburgh and daily to convene to receive intelligence from all parts and return Edicts and Ordinances to prevent if possible the eminent ruin to Gods People And this daily Convention being a New Modell so must it be stiled The Council of the Church And instantly they find oâ— make work the Lord Seaâ—on President of the Session was 〈◊〉 to account by the Synod of Lothian Not that he was guilty but that their power and pride might strike terror in the people for as they had no proof at all and so as by President of the Popes inquisition his Oath purges himself assures him to their Conclave and so gets home again This monstrous manner of muteny makes the Men of State to foresee mischief and not being powerful to remedie nor was it politick to publish their errors to the people or scorn upon the face of the Church The President Secretary Advocate and Laird of Colluthrie were commanded by the King to confer with as many of theirs To whom they move the question whether if these Lords satisfie the Church otherwise his Majesty desires not that then they might be pardoned and restored to their Estates But receive a Court Answer They came only to hear Prepositions and to remit them to their Brethren And so they did with Apostolick Conclusion Their acceptance of the Kings behaviour and respect to the Church not to resolve of any favour to them Rebells till the Church were satisfied But their censure by Gods Law condemned them to death and being also sentenced to lose their estates they cannot be legally pardoned nor restored or if the King or his Council should take upon them to do otherwise they were to answer it to God and the Country themselves make protestation to be free before God and man I shall not comment upon this Text. The Popish Sanadrin does so An Historian of theirs calls it Passionate zeal under which all impudence may be maintained should they be ignorant of the tender bosome of the Mother Church parent to Babes and to repentant sinners Mark their distinction The Church hath power to do as she pleaseth but the King must not he must do justice The King is wroth against them all common resentment private and publick And wise men advise the
contrary to what they did to him by form of law not by violence and that the estates should meet in the same place where the dishonor was done to him for their tryal and punishment The day before the convention The keys of the Town submitted to the Kings officer a guard of the Kings forces ranged the streets and the Citizens disarmed are commanded to keep within doors the charge of the Town given to the Earl Marre Lord Seaton and Uchiltry Thus prepared the King enters with a train of Nobles alights at the Talbooth where the Estates did meet The Provost Sir Alexander Hume with the Baliffs and numbers of the City fall down on their knees and to pacifie the King most humbly propose To purge themselves of the Tumult by oath before the Council having made diligent search for the Authors aâ—d would proceed to inquire or to aâ—sist any other officers therein They promise never to admit of those Ministers pronounced Rebells without his Majesties command nor ever to receive any hereafter but at the Kings pleasure and not to elect annual Majestrates without the Kings approbation and to accept others whom the King would present And in all or any other manner to submit as his Majesty shall ordain under protest that they take not upon them the crime of the Tumult See the effects of Rebellion in general if they succeed not advance the Soveraign so did this The insurrection proceeding from the Ministers their Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction submits alwaies after to the Kings authority In these stories of Bruce before and Blake now the grand Incendiaries of their Riot it appears how patiently the King proceeded if possibly to have confirmed them and to have secured his Prerogative with their priviledges which he could never procure from them without this oversight of their own Besides how submiss are the Lay subjects now and how high grows the King and his Counsellors Advice is offered to raze the Town and erect a Pillar of repentance a Monument of their misery caused by their insolencie and this their punishment Others were lesse mild but all for condign marks of revenge to teach others their duties for the time to come Nay Bowes the English Ambassadour was out and in and in and out with his policies he liked well to imbroile the State but not to allow advantage to the King for by the faction of the Brethren all the designs of England were managed and reciprocall assistance from them to ballance their quarrels at home and therefore Queen Elizabeth writes to the King her advice fearing belike too much pressing upon the Ministry according to their merrit My Dear Brother If a rare accident and ill welcomed News had not broken my long silence I had not used Pen-speech as being carefull of your quiet and mindfull of your safety To omit the expressing of both by letting you know how untimely I take this new begun phrenzie that may urge you to take such a course as may bring into opinion the veryfying of such a scandal as you avowed to me to be farr from your thoughts In this sort I mean it some members of the Church with their Companies have over-audatiously imboldned themselves to redress some injurious acts that they feared might overthrow their profession which I grant no King for the manner ought to bear with yet at the instant when the new banisht Lords returned and they seem to be wincked at without restraint and the spring time going on when promised succor is neer hand together with many letters from Rome elswhere which tel the names of men authorised by you they say though I hope falsely to assure your conformity as time may serve you to establish the dangerous party and fail your own I wail in unfeigned sort that any just cause should be given you to call in doubt so disguised acts and hope that you will so try this cause as that it harm you not though it ruine them Of this you may be sure that if you make your strength of so sanday a foundation as to call to your aid such as be not of your flock when as the one side be foolish rash head-strong and brain-sick yet such as may defend you having no sure anchorage for themselves if you fail them and the others who have other props to sustain them though they lack you yea such as though your private love to their persons may invegle your eyes not to pierce the depth of their treason yet it is well known that their many petitions for foraign aâ—d might have tended to your perril and Countries wrack for seldome comes a stranger to a weaker soil that thralleth not the possessor or indangereth him at least I trust you think no less or else they must justifie themselves to condemn you for without your displeasure not feared for such a fact no answer can shield them from blame Now to aver my folly in seeming buysie in anothers affairs I suppose you will not mislike since the source of all is the care of your good to desire that nought be done that may imbolden the Enemie decrease your love and indanger your securety This is in summe the line whereto I tend and God I beseech to direct your heart in such sort as you please not your worst Subjects but make all know in a measure what is fit for them and make difference between error and malice So God bless you with a true thought of her that means you best Your most affectionate SISTER Elizabeth Reg. The Queen suspected that the King would have given extream punishment according to the fact and so highten their adverse enemy the Papists whose cause she urgeth as more guilty to ballance them both with mercy not malice This moderate Council it appears by the Kings former proceedings he intended rather a mind to paliate than to urge the occasion of greater diferences And accordingly no farther prosecution was made only to pursue the Town criminally and to appear at Perth February next And the Octavians not agreeing amongst themselves gave over their Commission of Exchequer into his Majesties hand fearing belike in this time of examination and purging defection they might come to a troublesome accompt though generally they gained repute of faithfull Stewards of the Kings treasure The King finding the Church affairs fall into his own hands rectifies the abuses crep in sates one amongst their articles of discipline I cannot say so they were so framed and formed from the first every day proceeding absurdities not disputed how resonable or religious but as they made for their advantage so were they ordained and obeyed And therefore a National Assembly is appointed at Perth must regulate all to treat and determine the bounds and excercise of the spiritual Jurisdiction Articles being drawn up and printed for to enter upon consideration with this Preface of the King He takes God the searcher of all hearts to record That his intentions are not
with the Confederates and Allies of either and in the close follow that course which was most likely for his benefit And at their return December 24. Queen Ann was brought to bed of the second Daughter and Christened Margaret The Earl of Montross made Chancellour with the Lord Hamilton and Earl Huntley were God-fathers and these two created Marquesses And to minde men of Gods providence in their Declinations as well as Creations we may not forget to historize the Deaths as we have done the Lives of worthy men Iohn Lindsey Secretary of State of a Noble Family exquisitely learned held worthy of his Judicature in the Senate wise and virtuous he pined away with the grief of the Stone David Carnegy of Colluthy peaceable and sober of good credit with the King and his Counsellour for his excellent knowledg in Civil affairs Thomas Buchanan sometimes a Schoolmaster I name him with distinction from that other his Kinsman whose Life and Death we have heretofore mentioned this man died Provost of Kirkheneh learned and prudent though a strong stickler for the Kirks rights and died of good age David Fergusus of Dunferling a good Preacher a sanguine pleasant condition and thereby the more regarded of the Court and Countrey But Robert Rollock most of all beloved and the more now lamented because his conscience could not conceal from his brethren of what their conscience was so much guilty and therefore as a dying man besought them to carry themselves more dutifull to the King lamenting to be so ill used by most of their Members His learned Works scattered into Pamphlets the more pity so dispersed and not in Volume preserve him learned to all posterity France was persecuted by the Spaniards in Picardy who take the strong Town of Amiens and therefore were sent over out of England four thousand Souldiers to his succour and so retakes it again But the fate of War interchangeable to either with loss to both inclines them to Peace by intercession of the Pope interessing also the Queen who sends over Secretary Cecil and Wilks Master of Requests and the Netherlands send Nassaw and Barnevelt for all were included but the States gaining by Trade whilest their Neighbours fight dehorted the Queen under-hand against any Peace Much altercation there was by the French to introduce England into the accord for Spain now involved with the French being but quit there intended revenge on England and be able to do it and so their Delegates meet at Vervin where the French dispute place with Spain The French state their Precedency from the Sentence of Pope Pius quartus the Spanish deny that and urge besides a point of civility that now they were Guests invited into a Town of France and so the French yielded out of respect to that and to the Popes Legates but after much travel therein the Legate extraordinary for the Pope sits at the upper end the Nuncio the Popes Lieger is placed on the right hand the choice was given to the French either to have the right hand next the Nuncio or the left next the Legate the French accepted the left hand and the Spaniard was content with the right though the second man Indeed the King of Spain had delegated his Authority over to the Arch-Duke whose Ambassadour in truth was here on purpose to avoid the issue of contention which rather than to submit was worse to him than a War and thus was the Charters of Delegation drawn up onely between them so advantagious to France in the sequel that he became stiled Henry 4. le grand And the Queen and Estates having offers of Treaty with Spain she consults thereon and it became work it self for History the disputes pro con The wise States-men of the Gown were for Peace Essex for War Burleigh reacht him Davids Psalms and had so stretched the opening of the Book that ten to one he should light on this Verse Bloud-thirsty men shall not live out half their days Upon this there happened contention between the Queen and Essex and about sending one in chief for the affairs of Ireland in the presence of some of the Council and Cecil she named William Knowls the Earls Uncle He in scorn bid her take Carew indeed expecting his own mighty merits must needs be intreated and in contempt turns his tail to her she in disdain gave him a box on the ear bid him be gone with a vengeance He in passion claps his hands on his Hilt and vows not to put it up and in chafe gets out of the Court and being admonished of his duty by the Lord Keeper who was present he answers very boldly by Letters and more unadvised and unhandsom gives them to his Captains to dâ—vulge They contained thus much That a weak Prince rageth like the Tempest He knows his observance as a Subject but withall what to do as an Earl and Lord Marshal and can distinguish Service and Slavery It is a Wound that smarts and it were a sin to serve after such Disgrace Cannot Princes err injure Subjects Is their Power infinite For my own part I am rent in pieces with Injuries and have long enough endured the bitterâ—ess thereof This was enough to set out his inside which the Queen observed and lodged it for hereafter having for the present some use of his followers who indeed egged him forward to his future ruine But after this digression we minde the occasion and though no peace with Spain the Queen makes sure with the Netherlands in a new League and agreements of addition to the former See before Anno 1585. viz. to pay her in all eight hundred thousand pounds sterling if the War lasted so long thirty thousand pound yearly till they had paid four hundred thousand pounds but if the Peace should conclude by the Queen and Spaniard then to pay twenty thousand pounds yearly till they had paid eight hundred thousand pounds with other covenants But the death of Philip 2. King of Spain gave breath to them both for he left his Netherlands in Dowry with his Daughter Isabel married at this time to Albert Cardinal of Austria who returns his Cap to the Pope and receives his consecrated Sword to conquer wherever he comes and so hasts into Spain There was a fellow one Squire taken at sea and carried Prisoner into Spain and by extremity of the Inquisition turns Papist and for trial of his new Profession Walpool a Iesuite teaches him to compound a Poyson with which if but anointing the Queens Saddle-pummel and she touch it she should be infected and for this villany he should be sure of salvation He came now and put his Poyson in practice which she touched but took not effect so did he to the Chairs of Essex which proved alike Walpool in Spain wondring at Squires neglect as he thought in very vengeance sends over one that accused Squire who confessed and was hanged These and many other
interests in one design of envy Queen Elizabeth was ever shy of her Successor and these two families were equal in power and affection in Court enjoying Her present favour but looking to the future in the Queens declension And in several held correspondence with some of the principal in Scotland if not with the King which had she known might have cost their heads Secretary Caecil had the safer conveyance in disposing all publick addreâ—â—es of State and was in hazard to have forfeited his honesty if not his head but his ready wit served the turn The Queen taking ayre upon Greenwich-heath a post came thither to Caecil from Scotland she hastily commanded the Packet which he with much diligence to obey sâ—ept neer her person telling her it smelt and looked il-favouredly coming out of a filthy Budget and that it were fit to be ayred She being averse from ill sents bid him do so and so he gained time to sever what he would not have her to see The Earls accident of the same Nature had more cost and difficulty in the redress He entertained a domestick Master Anthony Bacon of a quick wit by whom the Scotish intelligence was managed which dangerous secret he acted for reward And upon that score had private invitation to amend his fortune with Caecil Of which he makes use and as a mercenary man revealed it to his Master who knew well enough it behoved him to out-bid Caecil and sodainly gave him Essex house which was disingaged for 2500l besides another sum before of 1500l so in all we may guess it costly counsel About this time There was a treasonable Assassination acted upon the King by Iohn Ruthen Earl of Gowry and commonly called Gowries conspiracie The principal Actors The Earl and his brother Alexander Ruthen Andrew Henderson and Iohn Cranstone The conspirators were Robert Logain Laird of Restalrigge the Laird of Bour and Georg Sprot the last were discovered afterwards and Sprot executed eight years after And because Gowry had insinuated himself into the faction of the ministery presuming on their wonted way of countenancing all mutinous designes These men in malice to their Sovereign who kept them under with Bitt and Bridle began to quarrel at the publick declarations herein till the Conspiracie was examined and witnessed by their worships Their but infection hath impoysoned others who wilfully and maliciously have now very lately spit their venome in print as if the world had been more than these half hundred years last past abused with a false and feigned story We therefore In perpetuam rei memoriam have endeavoured the truth From such information and printed Narratives as we may with confidence satisfie the most suspicious The name Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious till Anno 1568 when the chief of that familie amongst other confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured the imprisoning the Kings Mother Queen Mary In 1582 his son William was created Earl Gowry in the Kiugs minority and two years after fel into actual Rebellion at Dundee for which he suffered at Sterlin anno 1584. His eldest son Iohn not long after was restored in blood and had leave to travel beyond seas I have a Manuscript which saies that in Padoua amongst other impressa's in a fencing school he caused a hand and sword aiming at a Crown for his device And the Earl of Arguile this mans father 1552 told the King that in a house at Orleans in France where Gowry had been lodged he found a prophecie That he should with too much love fall into melancholy have great power and rule and die by the sword And thereafter his return home he was extraordinary ambitious proud and haughty His answer shew'd no less unto Collonal Stuart a man of high esteem who humbly desiring to be reconciled for acting as a minister of justice in apprehending his father He scornfully answered Aquila non capit Muscas Himself too big in his own thoughts to be comprehended with Court observance retired to his familie accompanied with such of his Creatures that could descend to observe him only his brother Alexander was designed to play the Courtier to take off the suspition being of the Kings Bedchamber And although divers overtures were conceived between the Earl and Robert Logain of Restalrig which took not effect But at last it was resolved in this manner The Earl sends his Brother Alexander from Saint Iohnstons his house to the King at Faulkland to intice him thither with as much privacie as could be And overnight the 4. day of August 1600. commands one of his servants Andrew Henderson to ride with his brother Alexander and one Andrew Ruthen to Faulkland to the Court the next morning by 7. a clock The King putting his foot in the stirrop to hunt Alexander tels him That he had apprehended one lately come from beyond seas with much gold coyn and sundry suspicious letters to Popish Lords advising his Majesty to receive the mony and letters and to examine the person being in safety with his Brother at Saint Iohnstons but 10. miles and this to be done speedily and privately which was concluded at Noon whilst his train and attendants should be at dinner Alexander Immediately commands Henderson to speed to his Brother finding him in his Chamber where they had communication and that the King would be there by Noon and that the business took well with the King for he clipt him about the neck that he was accompanied with a slender Train the Duke of Lenox Sir Thomas Erskin and about a dozen persons Well saies the Earl get on your plate sleeves for I must take an highland robber The King staying longer in his sport of hunting than was expected the Earl at middle of dinner Andrew Ruthen came in hast and signified the King to be nerer at hand presently after came Alexander and William Bloire and withdrew themselves to consult sending Henderson for the Earls Gantlet and steel Bonnet at the instant the King comes in is received by the Earl and retires to dinner Alexander bids Henderson to fetch the keys of the Chambers from one William Rynde and presently after Cranston requires Henderson to come to the Earl who commanded him to attend his brother Alexander and to doe what ere he bid him which was to be locked up within the round Chamber and to stay in silence till his return Neer the end of dinner the King at his fruit and the Lords and wayters gone to eat Alexander beggs of his Majesty in this opportunity to withdraw and to dispatch the business And up he leads Him through four or five roomes locking each dore behind them til they came into the round Chamber where Henderson stood armed No sooner entered but Alexander pulls out Hendersons dagger held it to the Kings brest claps on his Bonnet and with stern countenance faces the King and saies Now Sir you must know I
upon two foundations one must fail and distract the other therefore the more certain To surprize the Queen the rest would follow The manner thus Certain select persons well known at Court for access should distribute themselves into the Present Guard-Chamber Hall and utter Court and Gate And in each of these places one principal person to guide the assistants Their distribution Sir Iohn Davers to the Presence and Guard-Chamber to seize the Halberds of the Guard Davis to the Hall Blunt to the Gate These in readiness by a signall Essex should remove from his house and well attended or to meet him should with correspondence of the setters and some tumult and confusion effect their design Thus the plot-form the second act to their Tragedy that Essex should prostrate him self at the Queens feet desire removall of evil Counselors who possessed her Majesty and State Then to summon a Parliament alter Government and confirm conditions to themselves In this consult Essex inclined most for possessing London as a surer ground to that of the Court also Being wedded to his false overweening opinion of the people and Citizens and their number Suspecting belike the instinct loyalty of many of his Train when the fury should be over and he perhaps left in the lurch with the fewest of his friends The true Nature of usurping Rebells to â—rust more to the main of Multitude than of qualitie especially Essex who had gotten I know not how nor by what merit the specious Mark of a Patriot proper to infuse and mint jealousies into the heads of the more unworthy and less prudent and these he could easily stirr up by Emissaries who lye at watch to bo utefeux it and inflame mens minds to disperse abroad unshrowded sparks of discord and that way to convert a Kingdom into a flame But this Counsel was afterwards refined by Essex Cuffe and Blunt To assemble a Troop to come sodainly from the Mews in scattered Numbers and unite in a moment at the Court Gate And as good Common-wealths men lest their new contrivements should want Ministers they would supply in a readiness of their own for Counselors and Servants to the Queen in place of such evil ones the beaten path of Traytors as they thought fit to remove which should be their plausible pretext to their own practices and a general ground to the common people The day drawing nigh but not assigned being left to my Lord the Curse of the Psalmist interposed like the untimely fruit of the woman brought forth before it came to perfection For many that knew of the plot diligent with too much resort at Essex house brought forth mutterings of somewhat which states soon discover The afternoon 7. February before the next day of Rebellion was sent to Essex house Secretary Herbert to summon him before the Council sitting at Salisbury Court at the Lord Treasurer Buckhursts which he excused not to do under colour of being ill And suspecting the discovery of his Trains and doubting delays resolved upon his enterprize the next day Sunday But then upon advertizement of doubling the Court Guards and allarum there he determined on his former conceipt of being the peoples darling and the Minion of London upon confidence of Sir Thomas Smith the City Sheriff Giving out that Evening that he was sent for to Counsel to be betrayde by an Ambuscado of Musketeers upon the water by the devise of the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Ralegh to murther him by the way This mean design the best he had took fire like a squib the Messages and warning to his chief confidents all that night and next morning And his servant Temple took up his Tale and told it to the City And to colour it the more watch and ward was up all night to open his gates to all comers in so that the morning hastens Mannors Earl of Rutland Southampton Lord Sands Sir Henry Parker called Lord Mounteagle with some Number of Knights and Gentlemen and being Sunday it gave occasion to others to come to his Sermon whom he carressed with his Cap in his hand telling them his former tale But to his more confidents That he was sure of the City and that strength which the Queen could not oppose nor his Enemies withstand his revenge Alwaies with this caution to his Gate-Keepers to suffer none to return out to tel News Sunday at 10. a clock the Queen had intelligence and yet was willing to cast water on this fire ere it should flame to a Rebellion her authority before her force she sent the Lord Keeper Earl of Worcester the Controuler of hir Houshold the Lord chief Justice who finding the Gates shut after some stay were let in by the wicket but all their servants kept out except the bearer of the Seal the Court full of Company with Essex and his Lords to whom the Lord Keeper said That the Queen sent them to understand the reason of their Assembly that if they had cause of griefs against any persons whatsoever they should have hearing and justice Essex told them aloud That his life was sought to be murthered in his bed and had been perfidiously dealt withall The Chief Justice answered If any such matter were attempted or intended it were fit for him to declare it and to be assured of their faithfull relation and so He should not fail of her Majesties Princely Indifferency and Iustice. Southampton objected the assault upon him by the Lord Gray to which the Chief Justice said that justice had been done and the party in prison The Keeper required Essex to impart his griefs if not openly yet privately and promised satisfaction Upon this arose a high clamour of the multitude Away my Lord they abuse you they destroy you they undoe you you lose time The Lord Keeper putting on his hat commanded them all upon their Allegiance to lay down their weapons and depart When Essex and all the rest clapt on their Caps and going into the House the Lords followed him as to have private conference and fearing the Multitude who â—ryed out kill them shop them up keep them pledges â—â—st the great seal out at window And accordingly he gave them in custody principally to Sir Iohn Davis and one Owen Salisbury a seditious notorious robber guarding them with Muskets fired and cockt and left the charge of his house to Sir Gilly Merrick bidding the Lord Keeper to have patience whilst he would take order with the Maior and Sheriffs for the City and be with them again within an hour So goes forth with his Number 200. men entered Ludgate and with a fearfull timorous discomposed tale repeated That he should have been murthered and so passing through Cheap-side unto Sir Thomas Smiths house in Philpot-lane who was at Church where he shifts into a dry shirt the passion of fear firing him into a hot sweat The people flocking and gazing as he went To whom
he said they did him hurt and no good without weapons The Queen and Court somewhat frighted commanded the City to be in readiness but to keep within doors The Lord Burghley with Garter King of Heraulds proclamed him Traytor in the principal parts of London which was done with expedition and resolution though with loss of some of his Train and hurt of many Clifford Earl of Cumberland with Sir Thomas Gerrard Knight Marshal rode up and down proclaming them Traytors And so divers withdrawing he altered his former pretext and said That Kingdom should have been sold to the Infanta Then making stay in Grace-street and dismaid at the tidings that forces were aproaching under conduct of the Lord Admiral Lieutenant for the Queen resolved to return by water and make good his own person by the pledges of the Lords which a good fellow over-hearing and not well assured of his part there being as deep in the design as death hasted before by land told Davis and Merick that by any means they should release the Council and so got his own pardon and this was Sir Ferdinando Gorges But Essex ignorant as yet goes on by land to Ludgate there at the West end of Pauls he was resisted by the forces of the Bishop of London commanded by Sir Iohn Luson At which Incounter Blunt was wounded young Tracie slain and others on his part Wyat slain and some hurt on the Queens part But upon this small repulse He slips from his Train turns down to Queen-hith and by a pair of oares was received into his Water-gate at home which he fortified and baricadoed And as instantly was he besieged on land by the Earls of Cumberland and Lincoln Lords Thomas Howard Gray Burghly and Compton Sir Walter Ralegh and Sir Thomas Gerrard And by water by the Lord Admiral the Lord Essingham Lord Cobham Sir Iohn Stanhop Sir Robert Sidney and Master Foulk Gervil and this way forcing the walls wonne the Garden And being offered parly and time to remove his Countess and Sister Rich with other Gentlewomen before they would storm the Hourse But Essex with his Lords upon the Leads would not capitulate but intreat That they might be used Civilly To have an honourable Tryal To have Ashton his Preacher with him in Prison And so by ten a clock at night they submitted themselves Prisoners to the Tower This monstrous Treason of this mighty man thus weakly managed was began and ended in twelve hours and the next day as calm as if no Motion or Billowes had been before For which he and Southampton eleven dayes after were arraigned and condmned this one had his reprieve but Essex the reward of his merits and executed the 25. February upon the Inner Hill in the Tower Several dayes before Sir Charls Blunt suffered by the Axe and Cuff by the halter Essex before his and at several times so not surprized betrayed most of his confederates and discovered Sir Henry Nevil late Ambassadour in France as privie to all his conspiracies of whom til then there had been no suspition which was construed in him an Act more of temerity and hope of pardon than in Grace and good Conscience of a Repentant Offender And this being his Tragedy It is no wonder though our Adversarie Authors the one The History of Great Britain the other The Court and Character of King James should so slightly pass over his Treasons With them we shall have some dispute as we meet them Contemporaries in our farther proceedings in the second Part. Let me add the Opinion that a writer had of Essex and published in these verses Quod Regina scelus scelus est quod Virgo petatur quod pia Virgo scelus quod tibi grata scelus Cum Virgo Regina Pia et tibi grata petatur Proh scelus et superat quod scelus omne scelus It 's Treason that a Queen should ruin'd be That a Maid ill That she was Good yet worse that good to Thee More wicked still But when a Queen a Maid Good and thy Friend Thou wouldst dispatch The Treason that thy black heart doth intend Dares Hell to match England thus long sick of the disease of Irish affairs the expence whereof had brought the State into a Consumption which put the Queen to seek money of her Subjects besides her way of sweetning them with good words Tyrone grew so Insolent asto act Soveraignty where ere he came disposing Honours Estates Privileges Freedomes And therefore Charles Blunt Lord Montjoy is sent over Deputy and though others as fit as the former the Queen who seldome chose amiss pickt out him to command for his readiness to obey a fault in Essex proud and stubborn uncounsellable and unconstant The Rebells put him to it salute him by Allarm in the very Suburbs of Dublin which the Deputy with his selected Veteranes meant to requite soon after in a Massy-body and fight him which the Enemy sought for and had been worsted of which some underhand Counsellors at the Queen elbow warned him to prevent by turning a to-side But with several light Brigadoes he was so hotly pursued asput him to his holes again Sir Warham Saint-Leger meets Mac-guire a graceless wretch and with their Launces full Career run each other thorough and dye Romes friendship to those Rebells much encouraged by his Indulgence the aboundance of the Churches Treasure was pleased to spare them pardon of their sinnes for the good service of shedding so much blood of their Sâ—veraigns Subjects and for fighting in the faith of his beloved sonne Hugh Prince O-neal and Earl of Ter-Oen Captain General of the Catholick forces in Ireland Whom His Holiness accompanies with all his spirritual graces and those that follow him or favour him by pains counsel arms provision or any other means a plenary pardon of all their sinnes the very same pardon sayes he that was wont to be granted to those that warre against the Turk or for the Holy land However the deputy sends Docwray into Ulster Garrisons himself with 4000. foot and 300. horse put the Enemie to his lurking with new supplies in Angust out of England he breaks through many difficulties into Ulster Erects Mont-Norris fort in memory of that gallant Iohn Lord Norris under whom he first exercised arms Docwray likewise being assaulted by Ter-oen with treacherie perjurie and cunning deceit and wounded yet gets out of all dangers and takes Dunalong a lesser Castle On the other side the Deputy in winter forces several Rebells to Obedience passes victoriously in compass so farr as Ulster in his first years Regency George Carew no less fortunate in Munster The Southern parts burthened by the Titâ—lar Earl Desmond of Ter-Oens making he surprizes but was again rescued Takes seven Castles drives him out of that province reduces many Rebells to obedience quiets the County and comes home at Christmass And this was done there In England they
them from the jaws of the Devil Carew forthwith drives them out of the Castle by the Haven when 150. more got in and the Haven blockt up by Levison the English vice-Admiral This news brings Ter-Oen with all the chief Rebells to joyn with some Spanish got out of the Town and all together make up an Army of 6000. foot and 500. horse assured of victory And the English wearied with winter sieges spent with poverty and hunger yet ply the siege not suffering the Enemy without to recruit the Town or Spaniards to re-enter but they adventure and are repulsed and retreat but are hotly pursued by the Deputy whilst Carew keeps the Spaniards from breaking out of the Town and forced to make a stand and fight with great loss and then to fly Don Alphonso O'campo taken prâ—soner with three of his Captains and fix Alpherez Ensignes Nine Colours whereof six Spaniards and 1200. slain with very little loss to the English And within six daies after Don Iohn designes a parly And to yield up to the Deputy what they possest and to depart with life and goods but brave Don to be the last Man left behind Their departure so sodain troubled the Irish who are worsted every where many of the chief Surprized and taken And now the old English Adage When knaves fall out truth comes to light The Ecclesiastick Papists in England go by the Ears The Jesuite against Secular Priests No blowes but Bookes and pens for Pot-guns the general thus One Blackwel sometime fellow of Trinity in Oxon was made Arch-priest for the Seculars and he too much a friend to Garnet their Jesuites general they decline him with scorn Hereupon they are degraded and appeal to Rome and therefore are Booked for Schismaticks and Hereticks but they got the censure of the University at Paris to approve the same and meaning to prevail in the Queens favour They shew that in her first eleven years reign not one suffered for his Conscience Nor for ten years after that Pius Quintus Bull against the Queen there were executed but twelve Priests most of them convicted Traytors And that then about the year 1580. crept in the Iesuite whose mischievous practices against the State had disturbed all and accasioned the severe Lawes against Catholicks And yet they say in ten years following but fifty Priests were executed the Queens mercy bâ—â—ishing fifty five more justly deserving death From that time say they Parsons in Spain an English Iesuiâ—e entertains all Vagabond English into their seminaries there and from thence came hither turbulent Priests That he incites the Spaniard now to invade Ireland again and consirms the Infanta's Title to this Crown which all the seminary Students maintained by oath That Holt the Iesuite suborned Hesket to rebellion Cullin York and Williams to kill the Queen Walpole and Squire to impoyson her They set out Parsons for a Bastard a seditious Sicophant and condemn the Iesuite libels to be full of falsities and trayterous to God and Her And conclude with advise to the English not to hazard their Children into their seminaries where with the Elements of Learning they infuse Tenents poysonous Treasons The Jesuites thus set out they retort on the other and it was best wisdom for the State to banish them both and but time for Winter and Tesmond a Jesuite were sent for into Spain to consult the destruction of the Queen and by other plots to exclude King Iames Inheritor The like Conspiracie in the Low-Countrey against the Arch-Duke and in France against the King and so against most Princes The Planets then in Conjunction Malevolent to great men and foretold by most Astrologers In which he escaped hapily Byrones Treason who was beheaded and accuses Bouillon confederate who fled into Germany and was complained of to Queen Elizabeth whose Counsel he craves in these his difficulties dangerous to his safety and the hazard of the Monarchy somewhat drooping which in police she endeavoured to support and did with Counsel and Arms in much affection also to him and reformed Religion which faith she defended alwaies in every place And now the Town and signiory of Geneve is assaulted by the Duke of Savoy much pittyed by their Pupils here in Scotland and England having their Nourishment from that seminary then of seditious reformers who by their preaching to the people procured great sums of money to be gathered by the bevolence of most Churches in this Island The Common-people well minded were often cacht in that time and oportunity of Devotion liberally to contribute especially if it please the Preacher to set it forth with Rhetorical Sanâ—tion as the Presbyters use to do for the dear Brethren of Geneve Germany and Scotland c. One for another as they for us when in truth these other were the most of them rank Revolters and it was then a great suspition that much of monies drapt short of their receiving we return to Scotland The King minding to take leave of his Native-Countrey in peace and so to settle the continuance after his remove to his second inheritance now at length very near He resolved to reduce the High-land Inhabitants of the Northern Isles into the Main to civilize them and to plant Low-land men in their habitations Some forward Gentlemen were undertakers Guided by the affection and Prayers of the Abbot of Lenders who went with them The Gallants were Colonel William Stuart Captain William Murray Lermouth of Balcolmy Iames Spence of Wormston Sir Iames Amstrader and Iames Forret of Fingasker These well furnished fell first upon the Isle Lewis and within four daies voyage landed there It was Commanded for Government these had none by Mordoch Macklond base son to old Macklond tirannously lording over the poor people Being surprized he made bad resistance his base usage of the Natives made him more fearfull of their revenge than of an Enemies Conquest and therefore hnmbling himself to Conditions even in the Treaty his heart distrusting quarter who never gave any he stole away and fled to Sea leaving the Inhabitants soon to Obedience The Laird of Balcolmy returning back with this good news to the King and not many Leagues lanched from Land but Macklond with a Number of Birlings little vessels boarded Balcolmy killed all his men and kept him alive for advance of a Ransome which was procured out of the Kings Cofers and he conveyed into Orkney where he died The other Conquerors interessed in this injurie conjure Neill Macklond brother to Mordoch to betray him for a piece of money and hopes of preferment He did so by Ambuscado surprizes him and twelve Men more Murthers these in could blood but to keep his word delivers Mordoch to the undertakers who sent him to Saint Andrews where he was executed The New Planters began to settle and share out Lands to themselves and tenure it out to the poor Natives drudges and sworn Subjects whilst
in this seeming security Norman Macklond Natural son to old Macklond with a Regiment of Rogues raised from all the Neighbour Isles fell upon them unawares and forced them to these Conditions To procure Him and His remission of all offences and pardon To resign to him all their right to the Isle Lewis That Sir James Spence and his son in Law should be Pledges to him til these were performed by Patent from the King The case thus altered Sir Iames Armstroder with his company came home many being killed obtained them remission and security of the Isle and sent to Norman by Iames Lermouth the Pledges released and this Enterprise defeated but was again attempted three years after 1605. in this manner The first Undertakers weary of thier Design by excessive expence made over their Right to Lumsdale of Ardie and Hay who with the treachery of Mackey Mackerzy and Donold Gorum forced the Indabitants out of the Isle and having done this work sends to the South-land for Artizans and Laborers and beginning to build and plant but wanting means to pay the Work-men went away the Natives abroad associate with a number of Islanders invade the Planters with often Incursions and so wearied them out of all for a piece of money to boot to Mackerzy There being no remedy left for Robert Bruce exiled into France yet upon intercession of some friends and submission to the King he had leave to return and so appearing before the King and Commissioners of the Church acknowledged his Error concerning Gowries guilt as you have heard and further to recant it in his next Sermon which Protestation he subscribes witnessed by eleven Commissioners and so had leave to preach but did not pretending That his ministery would be discredited if he should preach by injunction and was therefore discharged his Ministery by the General Assembly who enacted That in memory of his Majesties Deliverance from Gowries Attempt Sermons Prayer and Thanksgiving should be solemnied in all the Burghs every Tuesday the fifth of August for ever as the Parliament had prescribed in all Churches of the Kingdom The Iesuits as in England so in Scotland having no hopes of Toleration but much urged in both Kingdoms and that their pitifull Pamphlets for the petence of the Infanta's title to England not prevailing with the people nor their Treaty of Marriage of the Lady Arabella with the Prince of Savoy nor with her and the Earl of Hertfords Grand-childe they went the old way to work by Murder and Francis Mowbray son to the Laird of Barruâ—hoâ—g all by the Infanta'â— Court at Bruxels undertook to kill the King and in his journey home through England was discovered at London and accused by one Daniel an Italian which the other denied and were both sent secure to Scotland and there by more severe Examinations Mowbray was committed to Edenburgh castle where forcing the Grate Irons of his Window intended to let himself down by his Bed-sheets which proving too short he fell from the precipice and dasht out his brains upon the Rocks his body was ordered into quarters as the manner of Traitors though his kindred well born pretended that he was strangled in Prison and his body flung out of the Window to amuze the world with his own death and guilt Queen Elizabeths increasing towards her decreasing she was now left of all without recovery which occasioned the French King to send his Ambassadour into Scotland and another into England under pretence of impeaching the policies of Spain but rather to observe the motions and disposition of either people in reference to the Queens death accompanied with Letters to certain Lords of either Nation To Secretary Cecil with extreme affection it being high time to caress such men of interest in State when in a visit the Ambassadour to sound him fell into heart-burning for the miserable calamity that would befall the poor Nation in the death of the Queen and in particular Cecil's exchange of a gracious Mistress for a stranger King of Scotland if he should succeed a Prince no doubt subtile said he enough as yet to seem fair untill the future occasion give him power and means to revenge his Mothers death as upon others so in particulars on you for your fathers fault then and your counsels since The Secretary suspecting his drist answered That it was the usual reward of unspotted duty when Ministers of State chiefly respect the service of their Sovereign without regard to their own safety himself ready to suffer with comfort for so just a cause the credit thereof being the best security to an even conscience esteeming that Maries Martyrdom the highest honour but he supposed that matters past would not be challenged to memory if it should be so and his own case desperate he might be minded to flee into another City and take the benefit of his Majesties royal offer The Ambassadour made fair retreat and said That in case the King of Scots should carry himself with respect which was due to a King of France his Master was not purposed to impeach his interest Cecil replied The King was wise and shewed it in that resolution The Secretary sets down this passage to King Iames taking occasion thereby to assure him his faithfull service Though he does not as others had done needlesly hazard his fortune before fit time The King returns him this Answer As I do heartily thank you says he for your plain and honest offer so may you assure your self that it would do me no pleasure for you to hazard Fortune or Reputation since the loss of either would make you less valuable to me No I love not to feed on such fantastical humours though I cannot hinder busie-bodies their own idle imaginations but I hold it the Office of a King as sitting on the Throne of God to imitate the Primum Mobile and by his steady and â—ver constant course to govern all other changeable and uncertain motions of the inferiour Planets And I protest in Gods presence that for your constant and honest carriage in your Sovereigns service I loved your virtues long before I could be certain that you would deserve at my hands the love of your person Wherefore go on and serve her truly that reigneth as you have done for he that is false to the present will never be true to the future To give your judgment of the Kings wisdom and piety see the difference in his answer to the Earl of Northumberland who certified him of the Queens weakness and advised him to make sure of his Title by apprehending the necessity of hasty possession whilest time was offered To him he professeth That man can neither be religious nor just that deals not by his Neighbour as himself would be dealt withall and in a Person of quality it can be no wisdom to â—eap Hedg and Ditch and adventure his neck for gathering forbidden fruit before it be ripe
hapily in the nick of time confederates with the Italian Princes with the French and with Henry the eighth as Caput foederis and so Charles is forc'd to descend and at a Treaty at Cambray obliged to render some Pieces to the French and so to sit still from open violence The General safety of Christian Princes necessarily being involved in the danger But He begins again and contracts to assist Henry the eighth for his Title to France who no sooner entered into war and recovered Bullen but the Emperour concludes a perpetual peace with France and joynt confederation for restoring the Catholick Religion which was much declined of its lustre by the protestation of Luther and others in Germanie and soon after spread into all parts of Christendom Henry the eighth wearied with other mens designes with vast expence of blood treasure dies and leaves all the glory of his good actions to this son Edward the sixth who succeeds with no advantage by these and with less money in his purse whose wise Counsel meddles the less with Spain or France but contracts onely Union with the German Princes and other Allyes in confederation of Religion that could best ballance the Emperours ambition His successor Mary Imbarks her body in mariage with Philip of Spain and her Estate in war with France and lost Calice into the bargain 1558. Queen Elizabeth comes to the Crown and at the Treaty of Cambray King Philip pretends to assist her in recovery of Calais but his own turn served he leaves her in the lurch to work out her own safety but under a feigned pretence of Mariage wrought a stay of the Popes declaration against the Queen grounding this favour no doubt from his own fears lest that a Union of France with Scotland in the person of Mary the Mother of this King Iames should Unite these three Kingdomes against him How equall soever Queen Elizabeth had been for peace or war in her own nature and her people humble to follow her will in either yet her course more ambitious in ballancing Neighbour Princes from overgrowing than apt to conquer others carried her all her life in defensive actions at home and abroad and so to impoverish her Enemies but not to inrich her self for by those courses King Iames found her Treasure exhausted and the Estate of the House of Austria in this Condition when he came hither As for the French King his Crown-demain exhausted which he endeavours to recover by Impositions the people light enough the Nobility prone to dismember upon every occasion and so not easie to be governed for the Sovereigns Designs or Interest the Kingdom thereby the likelier to be cantonized by self-division than to conquer others yet their native wealth and variety of Objects preserve both King and people to live secure from their mighty Enemy the Spaniards even by the providence of chance I speak as it was when King Iames came here He saw Germany upon an immoveable centre of self-greatness governed with Bit and Bridle by the Emperour to do as he list with all the Princes or they by love or by fear obeying And however the Danish King was so much of Kin as to stick to his Brother King Iames's friendship the benefit of his Sound and unexhausting profit able to second with Ships and Money and active undertaking yet no doubt if to be trusted unto with all these helps the King might find him wary lest by strengthening a Neighbour himself become overmastered And indeed too wise in common actions to intangle his Estate being also in those daies not so absolute to do of Himself without leave of his people what he hath done very lately against this State in favour of the Dutch he feels the smart I need not repeat it The Swede incompassed with dangers and Enemies the Pole pretending Title to that Kingdom and in Arms they were for the wager and defended barely enough by the distance of Sea and Land between them Be fi des the Dane upon his back in all Advantages to quicken the quarrel though Providence since hath done wonders The Cantons swoln big with pride and equality divide themselves between two Monarches France and Spain that for each others ends they are supported by them both as their hired servants Italy distinguished into Principalities yet bundled together by common caution restrained of their freedoms by force of French and Spanish Multiply profit by strangers and spare the pains to do it themselves So by this narrow kind of wisdom become all Merchants and abused by the Conclave and Spain as never to be Monarchal The Muscovite from a Duke grown big with a Timpanie of Titles was kept under by the more huge and vast Enemy the Tartar making Inrodes of barbarous Murther upon each other without any Interest of Christian Princes unless sometime the Pole at leasure quarrels for the skirt of his Empire as he did very lately and prevailed Now whilst these Potentates lived thus fettered within the narrowness of their Estates or Humours Spain managing the Popedom by his power in the Conclave and pensions to the Cardinals seemed to give law to the Western part of the Christian world His Mines of gold effectual not only to carry on any design with Fleets and Armies where he had will or interest But also to make way where he list by corrupting the Counsels and Actions of any King with temptation and underminings either by his purse or the pates of Iesuits So that in a word he was now grown hard to be pleased and dangerous to be offended Through all these Considerations King Iames comes in to choose his Game and through all these distempers abroad he was to secure himself and his new Inheritance His safest way to take breath for the present was to make peace with Spain first of all and after with the rest which indeed were done together presuming that being in his power so to do then it should depend on his pleasure to break off after or to conserve it to his death which he did And being a wise and wary Prince rather solid than formal having been well seasoned at home with practice and broken to affairs abroad therefore now freed from former Distempers he began to search into the ground of his preceding miseries in Scotland and well assured where the Sword bears sway Virtue and Fortune the Guiders of the best of humane Action do not always endure the lasting no not of the memory of the Actors Here therefore He began to consider what advance ambitious Princes lust after for the present when hazardous success hurls upon them miserable events He was not ignorant of the interests of Christian Estates one with the other as is said and how it concerned them to caress him for his amity Amongst them all whom to trust he was not assured and how to depend upon his new Inheritance without confederacy
might be the best Counsel but the most difficult He therefore to avoid difference with any made Peace with all And as a wise King lead them the way to do so each with other being the surest Maxime to himself and to the foundation of greatness upon popular love to his Subjects to afford them ease and justice This Peace ever after attended his Age and Hearse to which he always intended to fashion his Son and Successour but in future fate followed the change not without our over-hasty exception to the Fathers settlement mistaking it to be the consequence of evil event in the Sons succession But we ought to know that Events are always seated in the inaccessible Light of Gods high Providence and cannot be concluded but by supernatural Arguments which must decide the miscarriages of pious Designs careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notâ—nda putet We may learn his will by the effect of his works but not in the consequence of his proceedings we may discern the hand-writing of his Decree to be his Character but not thereby his Sense yet this we presume to run and reade The Providence of God is often most violent to Reason when yet in truth it runs in its proper chanel of equity to all His way is in the Sea not to be always traced by steps What confused conceits carry us on when a prevailing party succeeds in opposition to truth and justice But he that looks thus asquint hath an imperfect sight not the eye of faith The Scales of Gods Providence are never at rest always moving now up now down to humble and to exalt to which we must submit because we cannot comprehend And it is a Rule derivative from hence That where Religion is looâ—est men sacrifise their best Reason to visible Success and private fortune becomes their publick Profession not remembring what Isay says In the path of Gods judgment we should patiently expect We do not so by our daily censure David was in this storm driven to the strongest Anchor of Hope in the contemplation of the wicked he was much trouble to see them prosper and the godly persecuted untill he entered into the Sanctuary of Gods universal providence the chain whereof meets in the centre of all Reade but the story of some Centuries of our Christian world abreviated in the Preface of Sir Ralegh's History How long was it that wickedness had leave to lord it With what strength of policy the Tyrants of each time sold themselves to settle the work of sin And though in the period of that portion of time compared with everlasting and of our neighbour-affairs with the succeeds of the vast Universe In these I say he religiously observes perchance in some the most notorious impieties punished and revenged yet he could not live to finde the effects of Gods justice in so perfect an Audit summ'd up but that he and we and others hereafter shall still remain perplext And here in order and time we come to consider the tempers of the Court Statists those in favour with their former Sovereign had a new game to play with this King and such as were kept under heretofore began now to raise their hopes and endeavours for fresh preferment Amongst many of sundry conditions we fall upon the Conspiracy of a few Discontents and it is generally named Sir Ralegh's Treason so shadowed out to posterity by some late Relators and huddled up in obscurity as not many men in these days believe it for truth to undeceive them I shall give the world that story Sir Walter Ralegh was a Gentleman of good Alliance in the West of England and very well descended he began his Improvements by the University and Inns of Court the later was always the place of esteem with Queen Elizabeth which she would say fitted youth for the future But he staid not there and as his fate would have him of the Sword first so destiny drew him on to have a mixt Reputation with the Gown for he was often called to counsel in her time but never sworn He was twice in Expeditions of Land-service in Ireland under General Norris and Grey as also in the Low Countreys and a Voyage at Sea ere he was known at Court And such ways as these were his introductions the best hopes of his Risings Some natural parts he had a good wit and judgment but his best Weapon was his Tongue which gave him repute to be learned then but after he improved to more value in his future troubles the best School to a wise man His quarrel with Grey in Ireland was there complain'd to a Council of War but by Reference came over to England to the Council-Table Grey had the better cause but Ralegh the advantage in pleading which so took them especially Leicester that the Queen was told the Tale and more of him which begot esteem from her and envy from others however he held up being accounted a cunning Courtier in that ticklish Trade whereof he that once breaks seldom sets up again but he got by those losses and thriv'd best after such compounding Indeed being still under-wood cut and yet growing he became Silva caedua quae succisa renascitur and so flourished oft times after without absolute impute to his Princes pleasure His Enemies of greater Rank kept him in and out which made him then to decline himself out of the Court-rode in Voyages to the West Indies Guiana New Plantations Virginia or else in some Expeditions against the Spaniard which confirm'd him a grand Opposer of the general Peace which King Iames brought in and that brought Ralegh to his ruine He rose no higher than Governour of Iersey Lord Warden of the Stanneries of the West and Captain of the Queens Guard which last Place brought him to esteem at Court but not in the State at all and therefore most men of parts that want of their pride of Preferment are tired with lingring expectation of change from the settled way of Sovereignty which in every shift of Princes gives fair hopes to many neither so mean nor modest but to please themselves with Objects of Advance So this man ambitious of his conceited merits put himself forward a little too soon Busie he had been heretofore to speak his minde of the general affairs and therein he pleased his late Mistress for then his inclination went with the humour of those times of War but now his counsel came out of season For at the entrance of the King he was presented by Ralegh with a Manuscript of his own making against the Peace with Spain it was his Table-talk to beget more esteem which took accordingly and the way to unbend him was the work of the Spanish Faction either to buy him out of that humour or to abuse him into worse condition which was effected by this way To mould him into Treason there was a medley of
divers conditions but the Contrivers were two Priests Watson and Clark and Count Arembergh Ambassadour Extraordinary for the Arch Duke who brought in the Lord Cobham and he his Brother and the Parham and others and they the Lord Grey of Wilton Then came in Sir Walter Ralegh the wisest of them all who dallied like the Fly with the flame till it consumed him Willing he was it seems to know it and thought by his wit to over-reach the Confederates whom he knew well enough though none but Cobham for a good while dealt with him and with him Ralegh play'd fast and loose till himself was caught in the Gin. There was one Matthew de Laurencie here at London but a Merchant of Antwerp with whom Cobham held intelligence for many years before and for some Reasons of State connived at by the late Queen and her Council This man was the property which Arembergh used to Cobham who was now much discontented These three made the first step to the Contrivements and it hath been my jealousie for I laboured the truth that Laurencie betray'd it I being often present with Sir Walter Ralegh in his Imprisonment when he privately discoursed hereof But such Designs like wounds if they take air corrupt their Project could not be covertly carried consisting after wards of several persons of different tempers and unsuiting souls and so through the rifts and chinks of their several aims and ends which could not be close jointed the vigilancy of Cecil perhaps or other Counsellours of State stole a glympse of their Design apprehensive enough to light a Candle from the sparks of Arembergh's Discourse And being ripe they were severally examined and restrained noâ— without watchfull eyes on either then to Imprisonment and last to their Trials before the Lord High Steward and the Peers at Winchester whither the Term removed out of this evermore Pestilential City And on the seventeenth of November the Day of Arreignment for Ralegh the Iury called to the Bar against whose Persons he did not except nor could for they were his Pares the most able sufficient of Middlesex were the Fact had its Scene The Indictment was managed by the Attourney General Sir Edward Cook Serjeant Heal and Serjeant Philips drawn from the ninth of Iune 1603. The Accusation double against the King and against the State the personal had two parts against his life and to disable his Title to the Crown To the first was read Brooks Confession that his Brother Cobham used these Speeches That it would never be well till the King and his Cubs were taken away and said That he thought it proceeded from Ralegh Ralegh answered That Brooks was his Enemy it was replied That Cobham was ever your Friend and it would seem a strange malice in Brooks to ruine his Brother to undo you To the second part there was produced a Book which I have read A Defence of the Queens Proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots The Title could defend it self but the matter therein meddled too much in a dangerous consequence to the Kings Succession and treasonable enough Cobham had confessed That Ralegh delivered to him that Book and he to Brooks and Brooks to Grey upon Cobham's discontent Ralegh acknowledged that it contained matter of scandal to the Kings Title and that he had leave of Sir Robert Cecil after his Fathers death to look into his Study for Cosmographical Manuscripts of the West Indies and so lighted on this Book Cecil then present upon the Bench acknowledged this leave and said He would then as really have trusted him as any man though since for some infirmities of Sir Walter the bonds of affection were crakt and yet preserving his duty to the King which may not be dispenced withall he swore By God he loved him and had a great conflict in himself that so compleat a member had fallen from the State And this passage needs no soothing to excuse Cecil either Father or Son for I have heard Sir Robert Cecil when he was Salisbury to say publickly at his own Table that he had intercepted and kept all the considerable Libells against the late Queen and this King but though justifiable in them as Counsellours of State yet was it a crime in Ralegh who never was any And this Book as I remember was of one Brag or Crag a Iesuit But Sir Walter excused all That there was nothing acted thereby to the Kings prejudice for that Book was burnt and others are in print But to insist hereupon Cobham had confessed that Ralegh had agreed that he should treat with Arembergh for six hundred thousand Crowns to advance the Title of the Lady Arabella to this Crown that Cobham under pretence of travelling should prosecute this Design in the Low Countreys Flanders France and Spain and to carry three Letters from Her to the Arch Duke Duke of Savoy and King of Spain and to promise Toleration of Religion and Her to be disposed of in Marriage that at his Return he should meet Ralegh at Jersey the place of his command and there to agree how to dispose the money to Discontents and Ralegh should have seven thousand Crowns from Arembergh to himself And further confessed That Ralegh had instigated him to all these Treasons And that Ralegh should say That the best way to trouble England was to cause Division in Scotland To this onely of Scotland Ralegh answered and confessed the words and that he had so thought these twenty years It seems by the sequel since in these our days that he was not much mistaken Laurencie confessed To have delivered Leters from Arembergh to Ralegh who presently with Cobham conferred thereof in private To all these Ralegh craved That Cobham might appear to accuse him face to face I may not omit this passage that when the Confederates had suffered under some Examination and restrained to their several Houses and Ralegh well knowing that Laurencie was suspected but not examined then did Ralegh discover in a Letter to Sir Robert Cecil where Laurencie was in secret with Cobham and to advise to apprehend him and so to intercept their intelligence whilest matters were ripe What Ralegh's Design was herein is not imagined but this use was made of it to Ralegh's ruine for after that Cobham had denied much of the former stuff upon his first Examinations this Letter was shewed to him under Ralegh's hand then Cobham in an extasie railing against Ralegh delivered his positive Accusation of him as is before mentioned and added that after Ralegh's first Examination before the Lords he writ to Cobham That although he had been examined of many matters he had cleared Cobham of all when as the Lords protested he had not been at all examined concerning Cobham and thereby this was inferred by the Council to confirm Cobham to deny all when he should be examined Sir Walter said That Cobham had not signed his Accusation and
is going to call up the Earl of Northumberland at Essex house where they both finde one Lepton got on hors-back at Essex gate which was conceived to seek out Piercy but Winter going to White-hall findes the Gates shut and the way to Westminster guarded and being told that a Treason was discovered to blow up the Parliament he hasts to his Horse and gallops down to Catesby to Dunschurch the place of Rendezvouz On Thursday they meet there seize Arms at the Lord Windsors and that night to Master Littleton's house one of their number when news came that Catesby was burnt by accident of drying their Pouder Littleton advises Winter to fly he would not till he might see his Friends Catesby's body and bury it but finding him reasonable well with Piercy Wright Rockwood and Grant they all resolved to keep together to fight and die when the Countrey came in both the Wrights killed Catesby and Piercy with one Bullet and Winter wounded and taken This was his Confession and true but the whole story was thus interwoven The News spread abroad of this Accident being on Tuesday morning the fifth of November and the first day of Parliament Winter and the two brothers Wrights hasten out of Town for Catesby and Piercy were gone the morning before and all of them towards their Rendezvouz in Warwickshire towards Coventre where the very next day about the hour that Fauks was taken at Westminster Iohn Grant with others his companions all Papists broke open Benock's Stable a Rider of great Horses in that County and carried away all being eight of them and so both this company as also those which fled out of London met at Dunchurch Sir Digby's house on Tuesday night having appointed a Match of Hunting the next morning according to their former plotting But finding their treachery prevented and not prevailing by a private villany they now resolve to practise publick Rebellion to make up their wickedness any way And first grounded their cause Religion with some provisions of Ammunition Army Pouder and Horses they roved up and down to gather company by whose example it was possible some other such like in other Counties might joyn Forces considerable to raise a Rebellion of themselves never in number above eighty Serving-men and Hors-boys who were watcht hourly for fear of quitting their Masters quarrel and so wandring through these Counties of Warwick and Worcester were by the Sheriff of Worcester taken killed or disperst about Littleton's house Strange were the Accidents which brought the Countrey upon them for as yet the Kings Proclamations had not reacht thither nor was their Treason discovered to them But the Riot of Grant forcing the House for the Horses was an insolency pursued with Hue and Cry among the Commons that the Countrey rise to know the reason Sir Fulk Grevil the elder was then Lieutenant of Warwickshire whose wisdom soon apprehended the danger to be the Indices of Rebellion instantly seizes Ammunition and Arms of all about him either absent from home or doubtfull and with such further directions that a poor Smith got hold on Winter who was rescued by his company and sixteen taken by the Towns-men and by the Sheriff Sir Richard Verney sent Prisoners to London Sir Richard Walsh of Worcestershire pursues them to Littleton's house as aforesaid and there makes a stand sends a Trumpet to command obedience to him as his Majesties Minister and Sheriff and not knowing more of their Treason than was visible by the Tumult promises to intercede with the King to spare their punishment of Death They as best witnesses to their own consciences and high demerit return him in scorn That he must get more help ere he be able to defend himself And whilest thus at parley without the principal of them within drying two pound of Pouder far enough from the Chimney yet a Spark flew out and fell amongst it blew up another Bag-full but not fired and so maimed and disabled Catesby himself Rockwoâ—d Grant and others of greatest account thereby made unable of forceable defence and wonderfully amazed with horror of conscience thus to be met with by mischief of their own Mineral In quo peccamus in eodem plectimur as forthwith falling down on their knees prayed to God for pardon of their sins opened the Gates and desperately seeking their own destruction Catesby and Piercy back to back were killed with one shot and both the Brothers Wrights and others slain Winter Tresham and the rest taken alive were sent to the next Gaol and so up to London and were met with by such a concourse of people out of the City as the like were never seen wise and weak women and children wondring at these Monsters Tresham in the Tower died of a Strangury the two Winters Grant Rockwood Digby Fauks Keys and Bates were each of them at several times and places arreigned condemned and executed as in case of Treason To disjoyn them in their Designs These labored in the Mine These were afterwards engaged to them Esquires Robert Catesby Robert Winter Gentlemen Thomas Piercy Thomas Winter Iohn Wright Christop Wright Guido Fauks Thomas Bates Catesby 's Man Knight Sir Everard Digby Esquires Ambrose Rockwood Francis Tresham Gentleman Iohn Grant Robert Keys The second Session of this Parliament prorogued till the 5. of November and being on the fourth day met again they enlarged other excellent Laws against Papists wisely discerning how that creeping Monarchy of Rome by her Arch-Instruments the Jesuits had already planted five Schools as fit bates in divers reformed states intending so to tempt those well-believing people with that old forbidden Tree of knowledg as they might sinne desperately against their Sovereign before they knew it But the Parliament enacted the Anniversary Commemoration of this day to be observed for ever with thanksgiving to God for this delivery of which a Man may hardly assure any long continuance Are we bound more to obey it than the statutes of God Almighty for solemnity of several Festivals which all Christians observe and we onely neglect And asscribing the discovery of this Powder-plot to the divine spirit of the King by his Interpreting the dark phrases of the Letter to Mounteagle They gave to the King three intire subsidies and six fifteens together with four subsidies of four shillings in the pound granted by the Clergie amounting in all to four hundred fifty and three thousand pounds And Caecil for his good service was Created Earl of Salisbury The Acts in this Session were these Certain Persons attainted of the Gun-Powder Treason and their Estates Confiscate An Act to prevent and avoid dangers of Papists Recusants To avoid the City and Court unless Inhabitants here disabled from Offices nor to practise Law nor Physick Penalty one hundred pounds wonderfull strickt Act for free Trade of all Merchants to Spain Portingal and France as well as others that have Incorporate Charters Against Misdemeanors of Attornies and Solicitors of the
Law Act for a New-River-water to be cut from Chadwell and Amwell springs in Hartfordshire to London And the King grants the People a General Pardon with the usual Exceptions And now also was framed a form of Oath called an Oath of Alleageance for distinction of good Subjects in General from unfaithfull Traytors but especially to make separation of the Popishly affected yet with Natural duty unto Sovereignty And the Oath was thus in effect That King James is lawfull King of this Realm That the Pope may not depose him or dispose of his Nor authorise any other Prince to invade him or to discharge any of his Subjects their Alleageance or to beare Arms against him And that notwithstanding any Act by the Pope or other authority he will bear faith and alleageance to his Majesty and will disclose all Treasons and Conspiracies against him and doth abhor as impious that any Prince deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered That the Pope nor any other hath power to absolve this Oath and renounces all pardon to the contrary without any equivocation or mental reservation whatsoever so help him God c. And accordingly sundry both Priests and Laiks did freely take the same when suddenly comes over a Breve from Pope Paulus quintus Inhibiting utterly all Papists from taking the same rather to endure all Torments nay death it self Rome October 1606. And the next year another Breve confirming this September 1607. And accompanied with a Letter of Cardinal Bellarmine unto George Blackwell the Arch-Priest of the English being then in some bonds whom therefore the Cardinal suspected would take the same as he did To all these the King most learnedly gives answer and in six days compiles and publishes in print an Apologie for that Oath and in a week sets out a Monitory Preface to that Apologie and solemnly presents it by Ambassy to the Emperour and to every King and State in Christendom as a peculiar concernment to all and each of them in the due temporal Obedience of their Subjects And herein the King instances Examples of several Emperours requiring Obedience from Popes Creation of Popes ordaining their Seat and Dignities and of all Bishops with Anathema against all such as disobeyed their Sentence as also deposing of Popes Hereupon the Venetians maintained that doctrine in their writings and put it in Execution The Sorbons did the like in France And those writers of their own that opposed it were so over-lashed as that they were corrected and castigated by Men of their Religion Becanus his book corrected by the Cardinals of Rome Bellarmines book burnt at Paris Suares his answer burnt also in France Certainly by this his Majesties premonition Kings and Princes had a more perfect discovery into the injury offered to them by the Pope in the points of their temporal power and it followed to be throughly disputed in Christendom by this occasion of the King This the King did for the present But there was a swarm of busie-heads that measured the mysteries of State by the rule of their own conceited wisdomes gave Arguments to suppress the Popish practises by Executing all their Priests The reasons may be gleaned out of their rash opinions That a dead Man bites not that mercies offered for a desperate Malefactor do but enlarge his adventures against King and Countrey That a hard hand suddainly remitted is seldom by the rude people interpreted to the best sence No hope of reformation where there 's no confession of the fault and to banish them may be supposed a meer shift to rid the Prisons of those whom Conscience could not condemn of Crime whilst Justice seems to sleep the time serves to raise factions for fearfull Spirits by sufferance grow insolent and cruel And to the Exceptions of their small Number it was argued that Union in a prepared conspiracie prevailes more than Number If that the Oath of Supremacie heretofore choked not their presumptuous imagination nor now can the temporal power of the King contained in the Oath of Alleageance preserve us or deter them A Popish Priest his Character is a disloyal Renegado Delinquents in lesser degrees may challenge easier punishments and so be incouraged The penalty to be executed on them they scandall by pretending the conversion from the Kings Exchequer to Our private purse That being restrained will prove like Bonner and Gardner in the time of Queen Mary seeing most men write good turns in Sand and bad in the Marble That the Jesuits divide the English into four Sects Themselves first and assume a full fourth part to their property and of that part they subdivide into two portions viz. The rigid non-Conformists and the Church-Papists The Second they allot to the Protestants who detain say they some of their Relicks The third and largest was left to the Puritans The last to the Politician senza diâ— senza anima The first then being assuredly theirs the last we will afford them also and therefore the safest way to prevent Combination is to make them hop headless The Presbyter indeed would hang them all but this Counsel most unchristian To answer them it was urged That although death be the end of Temporal misery it is not the grave of memory Justice may execute the person but his opinion made publick it is not subject to the sword where poyson is diffused through the veins of good and bad blood Evacuation is better than Incision Clemencie is divine and works supernaturall effects though they merit by suffering and though Bellarmine Parsons provoke them to thrust their finger into the fire by refusing the Oath of Alleageance yet the wisest of them had rather see others act then themselves feel the smart That Garnet lamented that he should not be inrolled as a Martyr because no matter of Religion was objected yet he would gladly have survived that Glory if any such hopes had remained The English exceed the Romans in zeal of Papistry and are naturally better fortifyed to indure death If so that terror prevails not Religion and Conscience less Visne muliebre Consilium said Livia to Augustus let severity sleep and try what the pardoning of Cinna will produce That death of Priests assures more to their Sect then ever their words could perswade and though such are but counterfeit Martyrs yet will they be otherwise so reputed by those that lay their Soules in pawn unto their doctrine with whom multitude of voices cry down our contraries for the Gate of their Church is wide and many enter therein And as uncharitable are these that would imprison them perpetually and that the means to catch them was to have good Intelligence beyond Sea and at home Sir Francis Walsingham had of his so active that an English Seminary could not stir out of Rome Spain or Flanders their several Nurseries without his privity and so forewarn'd they may be catcht at our ports and removed to prisons and
abused in the Execution and he not informed but by them He advises them not to meddle with the main points of Governments his craft Tractent fabrilia fabri He being an old King six and thirty years in Scotland and seven years in England and therefore there needs not too many Phormio's to teach Hannibal he will not be taught his Office nor are they to meddle with his ancient Rights received from his Predecessors More majorum All Novelties are dangerous Lastly not to call that Grievance which is establisht by a settled Law and to which to press the King is misduty in the Subject knowing before hand he will refuse them If not convenient amend it by Parliament but term it not a Grievance To be grieved at the Law is to be grieved with the King the Patron of the Law and he allows them to distinguish between a fault of the Person and the Things For Example The High Commission is complained of Try the abuse and spare not but do not destroy the Court of Commission that were to abridg the Kings power And plainly he resolves seeing that Court is of so high a nature to restrain it onely to the two Arch-Bishops heretofore common to more Nor shall any man be to him more Puritan to complain as well out as in Parliament of defects therein onely grieve ye not at the Commission it self He desires them that their Grievances savour not of particular mens thoughts but rather rising out of the peoples mindes not of the humour of the Propounder that mans passion will easily discover him Petitions also though they be general are so to be distinguished The third general Cause concerns himself which he always leaves hindmost and had left it to his Treasurer being distrustfull naturally less eloquent in his own concernment That this Officer had already accounted to them of the Kings Havings and his Expendings which he hopes they acknowledg as a favour to be particularly acquainted with his State His Predecessor seldom afforded the like Duty he clames of them one of the branches being to supply their Sovereign but the quantity and time proceeds from their loves and therefore disputes not a Kings power but what with their good wills and wishes them as he to avoid extremes for if they fail in the one Supply or in the manner of Levy both he and the Countrey shall have cause to blame them And as the secular Nobility are hereditary Lords of Parliament and the Bishops live neuter Barons of the same and give but their own but the lower House being the Representative of the Commons give for themselves and others and so may be the more liberal yet if too much they abuse the King and hurt the People which he will never accept their true love being the greatest security to any wise or just Prince So they need not the fear of that Item by one of their Members In giving too much to endanger your Throats-cutting when ye came home He loves freedom of Gift with discretion He never laboured for their Voices to that end detesting to hunt for Emendicata suffragia But then as not to give him a Purse with a Knife So not to excuse and cloak their particular humours by alleging the Poverty of the People To such persons though he will not be less just yet not in reason to gratifie them when it may come in their way to want him He heard that it was propounded whether the Kings wants ought to be relieved or not Certainly though it may seem his particular yet being Parens Patriae and tells them his wants nay Patria ipsa by him speaks to them for if the King wants the State wants and therefore the strengthning of the King is the standing of the State and wo be to him that divides the weal of the one from the other And as a rich King is but miserable over a poor People so a potent People cannot subsist if their Kings means maintains not his State being the sinews of War and Peace and it grieves him to crave of others that was born to be begged of And if he desires more of them than ever any King did so hath he juster reason than any King had And in particular the accession of more Crowns in him so the more honour to Subjects and the more charge His fruitfull Issue which God gives him for their use of great expence and yet Queen Elizabeth notwithstanding her Orbity had more given her than ever any of her Predecessors The Creation of his Son draws near for whom he says no more the sight of himself speaks to you That he hath spent much but yet not to be spared the late Queens Funeral the solemnity of his and his Wives entry in this Kingdom the Triumph through the City and his Coronation Visus of Princes in person and the Ambassadors of most Potentates of Christendom could he in honor of the Kingdom do less than bid them welcome But if they will imbound his Supplies to the case onely of War so upon the point notwithstanding his intern Peace he is to send supply of Forces to Cleves both in respect of State and cause of Religion his Pensions the late Queens old Commanders of Berwick besides his pretty Seminary of Souldiers in the Forts of this Kingdom and also the cautionary Towns of Flushing and Brill beyond Seas his uncertain charges in Ireland the last years Rebellion brake forth there of extraordinary charge and a constant Army which he dares not diminish till this Plantation take effect the great Mote no doubt in the Rebells eys His expence in Liberality objected hath been given amongst them and so what comes from them returns amongst them 'T is true had I not been liberal to my old Servants Scotish-men you might suspect me ingrate to you my new subjects and yet assures them his bounty hath been twice more to English So then to his shame be it of your house that said Your Silver and Gold abounded at Edenburgh but I wish him no worse than to be bound to live only upon the interest thereof and but few of you that I look in the face but have been Suitors for Honour and Profit That vastness is past Christmass and open-tide is ended with him He had made Knights by hundreds and Barons by scores he does not so now will do so no more They need not now to reminde him the sight of his children as a Natural Man bids him be wary of expence As for himself he challenges any one far meaner to be less inclinable to prodigal humours of unnecessary things What he hath said may move each member to spare him so much as they would spend on a supper cast away at Dice in a Night or bestow on a horse for fancy that may break a Leg or Arm next morning Conclusion freeness in giving graceth the gift Bis dat qui citò dat his debts increase till
Du Bartas saies of the destruction of Sodom De peur qu'en Offensant des saincts l'oreille tendre Ie ne les semble plus enseigner que reprendre For fear of offending good peoples Eare I rather teach then with them forbear Then the King falls upon his Bookes especially His modest Christian answer and first in his Preface it is observed how in love he is with himself and his Nick-Name Purus putus Evangelicus a mainly pure Gospeller and indeed the ancient Hereticks called themselves Catharoi and another Sect the Anabaptists Puritans from whence all our Prâ—cifians in these latter times who fancying to refuse conformity with the orders of our Church borrow that Name and Gospeller is assumed by many yet more usual in Hungary and Boheâ—e where are infinites of Sects agreeing onely in Unity against the Pope As for this Book His Arguments are either sophistical or frivolous abusing the fathers and he extracts divers questions thereout thirteen in Number with his resolve on them Wherein the King notes the others cunning to maintain them and how he easily proves Quidlibet è quolibet as the old Hereticks Arius and Samosatenus usually did and so leaves all to Gods will and the States discretion as they will answer it before God And though Vorstius died not long after his tenents increased to a high distemper in that State But what the King desired to suppress in this Man gave example for him to punish in others under his own power and therefore in this year came to the Stake a Couple the most damnable Hereticks Edward Whithman burned at Lichfield and Bartholoâ—ew Legat in Smithfield London somewhat applying to the Ranters of these our times 1654. Legat held these opinions That the Creeds Nicene and Athanasius do not contain the true Christain faith That Christ is begotten and made That there are no Persons in the God-head That Christ was not God from everlasting but began to be God when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary That the World was not made by Christ. That the Apostles teach Christ to be man onely That there is no generation of God but of Creatures That this Assertion God to be made Man is contrary to the rule of faith and monstrous Blasphemy That Christ was not before the fullness of Time except by promise That Christ was not God otherwise then an Annointed God That Christ was not in the form of God equall with God that is in substance of God but in righteousnes and giving salvation That Christ is not to be prayed unto Whitemans Opinions were in effect these come of Ebionites Cerinthians Valentinians Arians Macedonians Simon Magus Manes Manichee Photinus and Anabaptists and of other Heretical Execrable and unheard of opinions That there is not the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Deity That Christ is not the true Natural sonne of God perfect God of the same substance Eternity and Majesty with the Father in respect of his God-head That Christ is onely Man and a meer creature and not God and Man in one Person That Christ took not humane flesh of the substance of the Virgin That that promise the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head was not fulfilled in Christ c. And that God had ordained him the said Whiteman to perform his part in thâ— work of the salvation of the world These and the rest were written subscribed and by him delivered to the King 9. Martii 1611. Thus in those times Hereticks took some pains to preferre themselves to the Divel But now a days we sport our souls away Amongst many strange Ones I wonder most at this meriment of the Adamites Picardus was the first that possest silly people with the perfect State of Adam placed them in an Iland for that purpose which he called Paradise caused them to walk nâ—ked and called them Adamites Horrible sins were committed by them under that pretence promiscous whoredoms and Incest at their Service and when their Saint-Minister pronounceth the word Crescite et Multiplicamini et replete terram the â—ights are suddenly extinct and without any respect to Alliance or kindred they mingle like brute beasts and their wickedness we â—ied the lights are tinded and they returned to their service But now with more Infamy their Innocencie will be liâ—hted they spâ—re not openly to act in the face of Heaven at Noon-day I know Our Adversaries the Romanists lodge this device upon the ancient Waldenses poor harmless souls havocked by the Armies of the Military mercyless Papists Adamites says One that went naked an affront to Nature Indeed poor men rather Nudati than Nudi forced thereto by the Popes Legate who at taking of Cariassone in France whither these people swarmed granted them Life on condition that the Males and Females should pass by his Army stark naked I may be censured by some how unusefull it might be to imprint to the publick these damnable opinions but in that I may be justified by Examples of the Fathers mentioning such Heresies and of Councils and Declarations from time to time against such Tenents The next Favorite a new-come young Man was Robert Carr a Scotish-man of no Eminencie But a Gentleman by his bearing Gules on a Cheviron Arg 3. Mullets Sable in the dexter point of the Escocheon a Lion passant gardant Or. And yet himself remembred the King in his Letters hereafter his fall of his Ancestors merit of which truly I have not read This Man had been Page of honour to the King in Scotland and so may be the first and last original Actor on the Theatre of his family The beginner as an excellent workman in bringing his Tooles and making his Materials but his own Ruine by basely degenerating from what his Master had made him in short time giving end to the structure In truth he became the first Favorite That is one whom the King fancied meerly for his fashion upon no other score and it was enough for the present his Master sufficiencies needed no other instructions onely to choose him apt for impressive Marks of honour better becomes the Sovereigns Creation than to be made so to his hand And therefore after Knighthood he was soon Baron of Brandspeeck Viscount Rochester and had the Garter to boot And we are told the King took much pains to teach him Latine as a most needfull Improvement unto a capability of his affections but this his opinion sents more of a Poet than a Courtier And so mounted by the wings of Love more than merit he says the Earl of Salisbury Treasurer casts many Mists to damp his passage and tells the old wives tale of 1000l a gift to the Viscount which was spread upon a Table in Silver and the King invited thither which Mass of money so amazed his Majesty that the half thereof was concluded too much for any Man Amongst these passages of fancie in the King he forgot not
Feaver And was Interred at Westminster 1612. His Motto's Pax mentis Honestae gloria Iuvat Ire per altum Hee was comely tall five foot eight Inches high strong and well made broad shouldred a small wast amiable with Majesty Aborn Hair long faced broad forehead a peircing grave Eye a gracious smile but with a frown daunting Courteous and affable naturally shamefast and modest patient and slow to anger mercifull and judicious secret of any trust even from his youth His courage Princelike fearless noble and undaunted Saying that nothing should be impossible to him which had been done by another Religious and Christian He was never heard to swear an Oath and it was remembred at his funeral Sermon by the Arch-bishop that he being commended by one for not replying with passion in play or swearing to the truth he should answer that he knew no game or value to be wonne or lost could be worth an Oath To say no more such and so many were his virtues that they covered the semblance of sin But think what we will one that sucks venome says he was anatomized to amuse the world and to clear the impoyson as a Court trick to dawb it over We are like to have much truth from such a prejudicate Pen-Man The Prince Palatine and Maurice Prince of Orange by a Deputy were installed Knights of the Garter this Christmass And in February following the Marriage with the Princess Elizabeth was solemnized with all pomp and glory together with the peoples hearty affections expressed in their Ayd-mony Contribution he calls it for her Marriage which is a due debt or ancient Custome and no absolute thing whether or no that the obedience of the subject had been ripe or rotten thereto and it came to twenty thousand and five hundred pounds And in Aprill after he returnes with his Bride through the Netherlands to his own principall City Heidelbergh in the Palatinate from whence his finite miserable banishment took begining in Anno 1613. A Scotish Baron one Sanquair having wasted his own pieced up his Patrimony by mariage with another an heir in England and having worn out hers also with the death of his Lady He seekes to save the poor remain by sparing it abroad a Custome of Gallants taken up to salve their credit which they say Parsimony disparages unless from home in forein soil and ere he went over His fate was to try mastery with Turner a Master of defence in his own Art wherein Sanquair had much of knowledg but more of opinion Turner was the most of skill in that Profession whom the Baron challenges at three hits and inforced upon him the first of three with over-much conceipt and clamour of his Scots companions to over-Master the best in England and him in his own Schoole too in the face of some Schollars an affront to all The man sensible of his credit more than conscience in Malice to do mischief opened his Body to the advantage of his Adversary who too neer pressing it home Turner takes it on his Brest being sure thereby to pop Sanquire in the eye so deadly that he dasht it out The Baron guessed at this evil hap by his own Intention to have done worse himself But by Turners regret of this mischance they parted patience perforce At Paris the King pittyed his loss a great defect to a handsome gallant and asked him why the man dyed not that did it This Item the Divell so drove into his fancie that hastily brings him home again where he hired two of his own kindred Grey and Carliel to kill him which they did basely by a brace of Bullets in his own House White-Fryers And all three got time to fly The one taken in Scotland the other on Ship-board and the Barons head praysed at a thousand pounds he fearing thereby to be forced into Justice thought it safer to throw himself into the hands of Mercy by presenting it and so represented by the Bishop of Canterbury he might appear an obiect of pitty But the wound was universall and the blood-shed not to be wiped off but by his death ignoble as his Act the Halter equall guilt had even punnishment all the three Gallows Some difficulty there was how to proceed with the Baron who first came in for Carlile and Grey being Principals and not as yet convict the Law could not proceed to the Tryall of Sanquair being but Accessary But then the other two flying they were out-lawed and so attainted of felony and then the Accessary was tryed for there are but three kinds of Attainder by Outlary Verdict or Confession See after in the case of Weston for impoysoning of Overbury who stood Mute sometime that while the Accessaries could not be convict Anno 1615. The next Moneth brings to the Grave that excellent States-Man Treasurer Cecil Earl of Salisbury He was descended from the Sitsâ—lts in Hartfordshire Vorstegan saâ—es from Cecilii the Romanes they suffered some persecutions in the time of Henry the eight and Queen Mary His father William came into favour by Edward the sixth who gave him Knighthood and took him to his Counsell and in the Office of Secretary of State but in some obscurity afterwards under his Sister Mary was restored again by Queen Elizabeth in the same trust so soon as she was setled in her Crown and by degrees increases him to honour First Baron of Burleigh Then Lord Treasurer and Knight of the Garter he died Chancelor of the University of Cambridge Anno 1598. and was intombed at Stanford Leaving two sonnes The Elder Thomas then Lord President of the North and by King Iames created Earl of Excester and privy Counsellor of State He died some years after discreet and honourable whom the world could never tax with any taint This other sonne Robert was a true inheritor of his fathers wisdome and by him trained up to the future perfections of a judicious States-man After his Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth the first imployment from Court for he was not at all bred out of it sent him Assistant with the Earl of Derby Ambassadour to the French King At his return she took him second Secretary with Sir Francis Walsingham after whose disease he continued principal and so kept it to his death Not relâ—nquishing any preferment for the addition of a greater A remarkable note which few men of the Gown could boast off His father liv'd to see him thus far setled in these preferments and afterwards Master of the Wards and Liveries These he held to the Queens death being in all her time used amongst the men of weight as having great sufficiencies from his father who begat them also Those offices here in publick with perpetual Correspondence by Emissaries of his own made him capable of reception with King Iames who was advised by him how to be received of his people His merits certainly appeared to his Master that added to
his former preferments even to the day of his death as first Baron Essenden Viscount Cranburn and after Earl of Salisbury Knight of the Garter and Lord Treasurer of England It behooved the King to bestow on him the weight of that staff the Coffer then in some want which was not likely soon to recover but to increase debt by the charge of a treble Court of King Queen and Children and therefore many ways were devised to advance the Revenue particularly in that of honor for Knights Baronets which was not this Earls onely design as some will have it Nor of Somerset hereafter as another saies But it was began a little before this Lords death as will follow hereafter I know what some have surmized to prejudice his Memory if it were possible who with little pains may be sufficiently vindicated and his Merits amply related being of somewhat concernment to me to speak my own knowledg again to enlighten the dark shadows that always wait on shining merit But all his care and pains not able to fill the Coffers so much exhausted and the Estate in a Retrograde consumption He did before his death not usual with Courtiers present his Patent of Master of Wards at the Kings feet and so the whole benefit became the profit of the Crown By former constitutions of this Realm all the Lands of this Nation held by two Tenures by soccage or by Knights service by the Plough to free us or by the sword to defend us and who so died leaving an Heir within age unable to do this Service his Heir and Lands fell both to the protection of the Sovereign And this in antient time was promiscuously carried in the Court of Chancery untill the middle of Henry 8. when this Court of Wards was first erected Since which time the Masters thereof by favour of the Sovereign did accustome as a bounty of State to grant unto Noblemen the Kings Servants and their own followers both the marriage of the body and the Lease of the Lands for a third penny of their true value which also in several relations by frequent Orders and Declarations of that Court in print have been altered and changed till now of late the whole Court and quality thereof is absolutely dissolved as a grievance too burthensome for a free State and people anno 1648. He indured some time of sickness and died in his return from the Bath at Saint Margarets at Master Daniels house in May 1612. and was entombed at his Mannour of Hatfield a princely seat in Hertfordshire His death opened the doors for the King to dispose his Place of profit the Treasurership upon the E. of Suffolk whose office of Lord Chamberlain fell to the Favourite Viscount Rochester the Wards to Sir Walter Cope who lived not long to enjoy it being of weak constitution carefull and painfull in his duty of great experience in the affairs of Court and State bred up first under Burlegh and at his death delivered up to his son Sir Robert Ceâ—il with whom he continued the most exact Confident and counsellour to the end of his days And the Favorite also was made Seâ—retary of State belike for some suddain improvement of his Latine Tongue which his Master is said to teach him His Confident was one Thomas Overbury a man of good parts a Student of Lincolns Inn lately returned from Travell besides it was Carr's first principle and no mean one to please the English by entertaining them his Domesticks for having not many Kindred or Friends to lean upon he might be forced to stand upon his own strength and the kindness of strangers This Overbury had most strickt friendships with Carr lately created Viscount Rochester and therefore soon knighted and if we may credit his own vaunt being indeed insolent he would brag that the Viscounts advance in business of Court and Secrecies of State proceeded from him which he managed and made common And the knowledg of this coming to the King he tenderly blamed his Favourite for such freedom in his Masters affairs This advice made him less communicable in those Mysteries which Overbury took ill and with scornfull resentment told Rochester that indeed he deserved to be better imployed than to attend as his Tutor And therfore he desired to have the Honour and Preferment of an Ambassy Leiger then intended abroad as best fitting his good parts and greater pride of which he had sufficient to present the Kings person conceiting perhaps that the power which he usurped in the Viscoâ—nts affection would work some regret upon him which Overbury knew how to master for a better advantage But when Rochester had wisely considered that there would be no great loss of so loose a Friend and that Overbury though an Osier of his own planting would not be wrought in any purpose but to his own self-pride hastily put the Design forward drew up his Instructions with some Additionals of Overburies for I copied them and this being in earnest then Overbury would not go for which high Contempt the King and Council sent him to the Tower 'T is true some Moneths before Rochester made Court to the Countess of Essex who did not that loved a Lady which Overbury misliked upon no score of Religion or Virtue but to ballance with his ambition and vanity and to obtrude any Copartnership in his friends affection especially of the House of Howards whom mortally he hated upon private malice for to some mens knowledg he would scornfully report not long before that she was won by Letters of his inditing which I have read and by that means endeavoured to bring them to Bawdery the beginning of all their future ruines as you shall hear the next year The Kings expence brings him to account with his Exchequer where his Exits increasing the In-comes he intends better husbandry to piece out his Expences and having taken into his Houshold Sir Arthur Ingram a Merchant bred who by his wit and wealth came to be his Cofferer the vast expence of the state keeping the Treasury dry his abilities discover the cunning craft of the Merchant for the Customers had cozened the King engrossing by that means the wealth of Trading which was therefore raised to an higher Farm The same use was made at Court which he taught the Green-cloath by Retrench and he is called by Sir A. W. therefore an evil Bird that defiles his Nest what is he then who defiled the Court that gave him breeding defam'd the King that gave him bread The King put this course in practice at Court somewhat differing I confess in the Line of Ascent to the Houshold preferment which rises by order succession and this man a stranger in Court stept in to discover the concealments of the Green-cloath also and when this Tide had its Ebb it returned again to his wonted channel and 't is true the King shifted the fault upon his Favourite
name and set the Lieutenant of the Tower is called and brings his Prisoner into the Court to the Bar the High Steward then declares to the People the cause why the King hath assembled those Lords and the Prisoner and perswades him to answer without fear freely and commands the Clerk of the Crown to reade the Indictment unto him and to ask him if he be guilty or not to which he usually answers Not guilty and to be tried by God and his Peers Then the Kings Attorney and Serjeants at Law give Evidence against him whereto when he hath given answer the Lieutenant of the Tower is commanded to return with the Prisoner from the Bar whilest the Lords do secretly confer in the Court together and then the Lords rise out of their places and consult among themselves and what they affirm shall be done upon their Honour without Oath And being so agreed or the greatest number they return and take their places again in Court and the High Steward demands of the youngest Lord first if he that is arreigned be guilty or not and so the next in order and the rest each one answering I or No. Then the Prisoner is sent for to the Bar to whom the High Steward recites the Verdict of the Peers and doth give Iudgment accordingly Stanford Pleas del Coronae lib. 3. Poult 188. The antiquity of this kinde of Trial by their opinion is grounded from Magna Charta but others take it to be more ancient though there inserted Henry 3. but was brought in by the Conquerour being answerable to the Norman and French Laws and agreeable with the Customes Feudal where almost all controversies arising between the Sovereign and his Vassals are tried per judicium parvum suorum And if a Peer upon his Arreignment of Treason do stand mute Iudgment shall be given upon his Indictment and yet shall not be pressed to death but saves the forfeiture of his Lands Statut. Westm. Edw. 4. Dier 205. But if upon Indictment of Felony he may be mute The reason of Magna Charta aforesaid is there expressed where he is indicted at the Kings Suit of Treason or Felony the words being Nec super eum ibimus we will not pass or sit in judgment upon him but by his Peers but if an Appeal of Murther or other Felony be sued by any common person against a Peer he shall be tried by common persons and not by Peers Stan. Pleas lib. 3. Brook Trial 142. But yet this Privilege hath some restraint For an Arch-bishop or Bishop though Lords of Parliament in such cases shall be tried by a Iury of Knights and other substantial persons upon their Oaths because Ecclesiasticks cannot pass in like cases upon Trial of other Peers for they are forbidden by the Common and Ecclesiastick Laws to be Iudges of Life and Death You see the great regard the Law hath to the word of a Peer heretofore upon his honour and yet how many ordinarily break their Oaths in common And thus premised we come to the case of Somerset and his Countess First therefore Sir Thomas Overbury for a time was known to have great interest and strait friendship with the Earl of Somerset both in his meaner fortunes and after in so much that he was in a kinde of oracle of direction unto him and if you will believe his own vaunt being indeed of an insolent and Thrasonical disposition he took upon him that the fortunes reputation and understanding of this Gentleman who is well known to have an able Teacher proceeded from his company and counsel and this friendship rested not onely in conversation and business at Court but likewise in communication of business of State for my Lord of Somerset exercising at that time by his Majesties special favour and trust the Office of Secretary did not forbear to acquaint Overbury with the Kings Packets and Dispatches from all parts of Spain France and the Low-countreys and this not by glympses or now and then rounding in the ear for a favour but in a settled manner Packets were sent sometimes opened by my Lord sometimes unbrokened unto Overbury who perused them copied them registred them made Table-talk of them as he thought good so the time was when Overbury knew more of the secrets of State than the Council-table did nay they were grown to such inwardness as they made a play of all the world besides themselves so as they had cyphers and Iurgons for the King and Queen and great men of the Realm things seldom used but either by Princes or their confederates or at the Court or at the least by such as practice and work against or at least upon Princes But as it is a Principle in Nature that the best things are in their corruption the worst and the sweetest Wine makes the sowrest Vineger so it fell out with them that this excess as I may say of friendship ended in mortal hatred on my Lord of Somerset's part It hath been said that Frost and Fraud ends foul and I may add a third and that is the frienâ—ship of ill men which is truly said to be conspiracy and not friendship for it happened that the Earl of Somerset fell into an unlawfull love towards that unfortunate Lady the Countess of Essex and to proceed to a Marriage with her this Marriage and purpose did Overbury mainly impugn under pretence to do the true part of a Friend for that he accounted her an unworthy woman but the truth is Overbury who to speak plainly had little that was solid for Religion or moral virtue but was wholly possest with ambition and vain-glory was loath to have any partners in the favour of my Lord of Somerset and especially not any of the House of Howards against whom he had professed hatred and opposition And that this is no sinister construction will appear when you shall hear that Overbury made his brags that he had won him the love of the Lady by his Letters and industry so far was he from cases of conscience in this point And certainly howsoever the tragical misery of that poor Gentleman Overbury might somewhat obliterate his faults yet because we are not upon point of civility but to discover the face of Truth for that it is material to the true understanding of the state of this cause Overbury was naught and corrupt in his commendation the Ballads must be mended for that point which paint him out other and partiality must be blamed which now a days favour him in malice to the memory of the ministers of these Times But to proceed when Overbury saw that he was like to be dispossessed of my Lords grace which he had possessed so long and by whose greatness he had promised himself to do wonders and being a man of an unbounded and impudent spirit he began not onely to disswade but to deter him from the love of that Lady and finding him fixed thought to finde a strong Remedy and supposing that
such as will not be themselves but their wives and families shall be and they shall appear at Church sometimes inforced by Law or for fashion these are formal to the Law and false to God The second sort are Recusants whose consciences are misled and therefore refuse the Church otherwise peaceable subjects The third are practising Recusants they will force all persons under their power and infect others to be as they are Recusants these are men of Pride and Presumption His opinion can bear with the person of a Papist so born and bred but an apostate Papist hâ— hates such deserve severe punishment He is loth to hang a Priest for Religion and saying Mass but if he refuse the Oath of Allegiance which is meerly Civil he leaves them to the Law against whom it is no persecution but Iustice and the like against those Priests that return from banishment such also as break Prison they can be no Martyrs that refuse to suffer for their conscience Saint Paul would not go forth when the doors were open and Saint Peter came not out till led by the Angell of God Then he concludes with the Ordinary charge against the numbers of Alâ—-houses too frequent buildings in and about London and also the extreme resort of the Gentry to the City bids them countenance the religious Clergy against all Papists and Puritans and God and the King will reward their service Let us remind Scotland It was eight years since the Marquess of Hunâ—lâ—y had been excommunicate upon hopes from time to time of his conformity and reconcilement but increasing insolencies was lately committed and as soon inlarged by the Chancelour underhand favouring too much the Papists The Church complain hereof to the King the Marquess posts to England to palliate his displeasure but a Messenger meets him at Huntington with command to return him home to Justice Yet here he staies until he receives new authority to appear at Court where he humbly submits and offers to communicate But being contrary to the Canons before absolution a great debate followed how to hazard him to the Church of Scotland lest by the way he should recant and indeed the King evermore endeavouring to rectifie his conscience and to recover him to be a Proselyte The adventure was thus pieced the Bishop of Catnes now at Court must consent in the name of the Scots Kirk for the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to absolve him and the Form new devised so to do in respect of the correspondency of that Church with England The Scotish Church hears of this and interprets that Act as an usurpation upon their Rites which the King is fain to excuse in a long Letter to satisfie that curiosity and lest he should seem to take upon him to palliate so great a presumption of himself onely The Arch-bishop also gave his Reasons in writing without intrenching upon the independencies of so free absolute and intire Authority of Scâ—tland And withall Huntley come home must supplicate that Assembly now convened at Aberdene for their confirmation and his submission which was solemnly performed And because it was about the end of the General Assembly we shall shut it up with inserting such Articles as may enlighten the Reader to the knowledg of the Kings elaborate care and wisdom in reducing perverse Jurisdiction to this moderate issue in conformity to the Discipline of the Church of England by which we may conclude the evident signs and hopes of a full recovery in time from their peevish Hierarchy which had been prosecuted in some measure from the very time that this King took Government to himself and brought it before his death to a semblable conformity with England and might so have prospered to perfection had not their and our sins since set a period to us both 1. That for more reverence of the holy Communion the same should be celebrated Kneeling which always had been standing 2. Not to be denied the Patient desperate sick in his Bed with three or four of religious conversation to communicate with him 3. The Sacrament of Baptism not to be longer deferred than the next Sunday after the Birth and in necessity in a private house by the Minister and publication thereof the next Sunday in the Church 4. That the inestimable benefits received from God by our Lord Jesus Christ his Birth Passion Resurrection Ascension and Sending down the Holy Ghost having been commendably remembred at certain days and times by the whole Church of the world every Minister upon these days should therefore commemorate the said benefits upon those set days and to make choice of several pertinent Texts of Scripture to frame his Doctrine and Exhortations thereto And because Confirmation after Baptism stuck in their stomachs and indeed the King was unsatisfied therein terming it a meer Hotch-potch and not clear to his apprehension But yet thus much was concluded That seeing the Act of Confirmation of Children is for their good Education most necessary being reduced to the primitive integrity the Minister shall catechize them after eight years old to rehearse the Lords Prayer the Belief and ten Commandments with Answers to Questions in the small Catechism used in the Church And that the Bishop in their Visitations shall bless them with Prayer for their increase of Grace and continuance of Gods heavenly gifts with them So much was done indeed and presented humbly to his Majesty with some Reasons why the same being novel to them were not as yet inserted with the Canons which the King did not then otherwise press as resolving to effect his desire at his coming personally into that Kingdom when his presence should satisfie with Reasons all scrupulous aversion About this time happened that difference in the Family of Sir Thomas Lake one of the Secretaries of State between his Wife and Daughter and the Countess of Exeter which involved him and his into ruine This Lake was a learned Gentleman brought up under Sir Fr Walsingham that subtil Secretary of State as Amanuensis to him And after good experience of his deserts was recommended to Queen Elizabeth and read to her French and Latine in which Tongues she would say that he surpassed her Secretaries and was so imployed all her time for he was reading as to quiet her spirits when the Countess of Warwick told him that the Queen was departed But not long before she received him Clerk of her Signet And he was chosen by this State in that Place to attend King Iames from Berwick And so sufficient he was that the King made use of his present service in some French dispatches by the way that he came hither which indeed Secretary Cecil had reason to resent as too much trenching on his Office And therefore craveed leave of the King that he might not attend beyond his Moneth to prejudice the other Clerks which was excused and he kept still at Court These sufficiencies of his enabled him in these times of gaining with much repute and
be imagined And therefore Ne sutor ultra crepidam And besides the intermeddling in Parliament with matter of Peace or War and mariage of our dearest Son would be such a Diminution tâ— us and to our Crown in Foreign Coâ—ntreys as would make any Prince neglect to treat with us either in matters of Peace or Marriage except they might be assured by the assent of Parliament And so it proved long ago with a King of France who upon a trick procuring his States to dissenâ— from some Treaty which before he had made was afterwards refused Treating with any other Princes to his great reproach unless he would first procure Assent of his States to their Proposition And will you cast your eyes upoâ— the late times you shall find that the late Queen of famous memory was humbly petitioned by a Parliament to be pleased to marry but her answer was that she liked their Petition well because it was simple not limitting her to any place or person as not befitting her liking to their fancies and if they had done otherwise she should have thought it a high presumption in them Judge then what we may do in such a case having made our publick Declaration already as we said before directly contrary to that which you have now petitioned Now to the point in your Petition whereof you desire an answer as properly belonging to the Parliament The first and greatest point is that Religion concerning which at this time we can give you no other answer then in the General which is that you may rest secure that we will never be weary to do all we can for propagation of our Religion and repressing Popery But the manner and form ye must remit to our care and providence who can best consider of times and Seasons not by undertaking a publicb War of Religion through all the World at once which how hard and dangerous a Task it may prove ye may judge But this puts Us in mind how all the World complained the last year of plenty of Corn and God hath sent us a cooling card this year for that heat And so we pray God that this desire amongst you of kindling war shewing your weariness of peace and plenty may not makâ— God permit us to fall into the Miseries of both But as we already said our care of Religion must be such as on the one part we must not by the hot persecution of Our Recusants at home irritate Foreign Princes of contrary Religion and teach them the way to plague Protestants in their Dominions with whom we dayly intercede and at this time principally to ease them of our profession that live under them Yet upon the other part we never mean to spare from due and severe punishing of any Papist that will grow insolent for living under our so mild Government And ye may also be assured we will leave no care untaken as well for the good Education of the youth at home especially the children of Papists as also for preserving at all times hereafter the youth that are or shall be abroad from being bred in dangerous places and so poisoned in Popish Seminaries And as in this point concerning the good education of Popish youth at home we have already given some good proofs both in this Kingdome and Ireland so will we be well pleased to pass any good laws that shall be made either now or any time hereafter to that purpose And as to your request of making this a Session and granting a general Pardon it shall be in your defaults if we make not this a Session before Christmass But for the Pardon you crave such particulars in it as we must be well advised upon least otherwise we give you back the double or treble we are to receive by your entire Subsidie without Fifteens But the ordinary course we hold fittest to be used still in this case is that we should of our Free Grace send you down a Pardon from the Higher House containing such points as we shall think fittest wherein we hope you shall receive good satisfaction But we cannot omit to shew you how strange we think it that you should make so bad and unjust a Commentary upon some words of our former Letter as if we meant to restrain you thereby of your antient Liberties and Privileges in Parliament Truly a Scholar would be ashamed so to mistake and misjudge any Sentences in another mans book For whereas in the end of our former Letter we discharge you to meddle in matters of Government and Mysteâ—ies of State namely matters of War or Peace or our dearest Sons match with Spain by which particular denominations we interprete and restrain our former Words And then after we forbid you to meddle with such things that have their ordinary course in Courts of Iustice yet couple together these two sentences and plainly leave out these words of Mysteries of State so as ye erre a bene divisis ad male conjuncta for of the former part concerning Mysteries of State we plainly restrain our meaning to the particulars that were after mentioned and in the later we confess we meant it by Sir Edward Cooks foolish business And therefore it had well becomed him especially being our Servant and one of Our Council to have complained unto us which he never did though he was ordinarily at Court since and never had access refused unto him And although we cannot allow of the stile calling it your antient and undoubted Right and Inheritance but could rather have wished that ye had said That your privileges were derived from the Grace and permission of Our Ancesters and Us for most of them grow from Presidents which shews rather a Toleration than Inheritance yet we are pleased to give you Our Royal assurance that as long as you shall contain your selves within the Limits of your duty we will be as careful to maintain and preserve your lawful Liberties and Privileges as ever any of our Predecessours were nay as to preserve our own Royall Prerogative So your House had only need to beware to trench upon the Prerogative of the Crown which inforce Us or any just King to retrench them of their Privileges that would pare his Prerogative and flowers of the Crown But of this we hope there shall be never cause given New-Market 11. December 1621. Iames Rex This Answer on Tuesday returned to the House on Fryday following raises a storm amongst them all to talk freely their privileges now violated denied infringed and therefore committed the particulars to examinatiod So that the more moderate amongst them in some doubt and discontent how to mannage it for reconcilement which caused an Explanation from the King directed to his Secretary Calvert from Royston in his return homewards To Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellour Sir George Calvert one of our principal Secretaries Right Trusty c. VVE are sorry that our reiterated Messages to our House of Commons to go on they
desperane terms had the more need of desperate Cures It was therefore resolved here to intrust it wholy and secretly to the Suitor himself the Prince with his Confident the then Marquess of Buckingham for a journey to Spain And the seventeenth of Febr. 1622. disguised with their single Attendants Endimion Portor of his Highness Bed-chamber and Richard Graham Master of the Marquess Horse meeting Sir Francis Cottington the Princes Secretary at Dover These only hazard a journey by the way of France land at â—oloign post to Paris and had â—ight of a Mask there and the first view of the Princess Henrietta Maria his after Queen and Consort in anno 1625. From thence in haste and some difficulty to Bourdeaux and after to Bayon the Confines of France and from thence no sooner gone but that the Governour Count Graimont had notice by the Currier who carryed the advice from hence to the King of Spain that the Prince of Wales was gone thither Where he arrived at Madrid fryday the 7. of March at eight a clock at Night in thirteen daies from Paris seven hundred fifty miles and alighted at Bristols house the Extraordinary Ambassadour and Sir Walter Aston Lieger intrusted underhand to overlook the others actions in this particular being hitherto suspected of the Prince to be too much Catholique there So that this sudden arrival startled Bristol that was a stranger to the Journey which met with such success afterwards as the measure of his Malice did meet out Together with Gondamores regret on the Spanish party who with all his wisdome more by estimation then merit was abused also at home to credit what was commanded to him who thought nothing more sure then now to be effected The next morning the Arrival of Buckingham was willingly discovered to Gondamore and so to the Conde Olivares the Spanish Favorite and by him to the young King Philip who gave him leave to visit the Marquess and Order to be brought to the King in private to whom he delivered King Iames his Letters and discovered that the Prince was come and therefore with the Ambassadours was returned Olivares with the Kings salutations of honor and welcom Where it was observed that Olivares would not be covered though the first Grandee of Spain who are not bare to their own King The next Sunday afternoon though in Lent upon Design 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desire to take view of his Mistress The King Queen 〈◊〉 Infanta and the Infantes Don Carlos and Don Ferdinanâ—o his two Brothers with a great Train of Coaches took air upon the Prado a publick place of Recreation where the Prince likewise disguised in the Duke of Ceas Coach with his English Train made divers turns and so had sight of the Infanta not refraining though to salute each other with seemly congies The King desired to visit and imbrace the Prince at the Earl of Bristols House But to avoid that disadvantage the Prince would not be denyed to pass to the King who therefore appointed half way where he stayed and there they met The King got out of his Coach first and imbracing the Prince with wonderful Kindness made incomparable professions of love and honour In the strict Obligations which the King his Father and His Highness Himself had cast upon him by that singular act of Confidence and Favour To which the Prince replyed That he was Royally recompenced by the honor he receives to be his own Advocate in this His High Design to visit His Majesty and His Princely Sister And taking Coach together He forced the Prince therein first on the right hand Bristol interpreting between them for the Kings of Spain do not descend to give honour to the French tongue and return home by Torch-light On Munday the Prince was visited by Olivares to let him know the Kings Publique Devotion unto the Monastery La Merced attended on Horse-back with a glorious Train of which the Prince had sight and so passed that day in Recreation abroad The next day the King sent two Dukes to visit the Prince with this Complement That seeing the good service of the Conde Gondamore had imprinted such a singular Character in the K. of Great Brittains affection to trust so excellent a terasure into Spain as his Highness therefore he could not suffer any Subject of His unadvanceâ— who had been so graciously accepted in Engâ—â—â—â— For which cause he was resolved to make him a Counsellour of State though he accompted him indeed as an Englishman Nay rather for that respect that they might be the more confident of his proceedings and Privy to the Inmost actions and the Prince was impowred to establish him therein For which Gondamore falls down at His Feet and being by His Highness addressed to the Court was instantly sworn Not long after was proclaimed a General Pardon Of all Offences and all Prisoners within the Continent of Spain released and all English Slaves for Pyracy or Mortal Crimes were set at liberty and manifested to be done in contemplation of the Prince The 16. of March appointed for the Princes Triumphal Entry through Madrid The day before were presented two Barb-Gennets of excellent value for the Prince to choose and the other for the King The Morning come four Counsellours of State were sent to attend and to conduct him to the Monastery St. Ieronimo neer Madrid from whence the Kings of Spain make their solemn Entries of Coronation where he was feasted privately at Dinner by the Kings appointment After Noon was â—ent by the Prince in giving Audience to the Inquisitor General and to all the several bodies of Counsels which continually reside in the Court at Madrid except only the Council of State which never makes visit in Corps the rest did being of Castile Arragon Portugal Italy Militia Indies Treasury and Exchequer c. The Corrigidor and Regidores of Madrid the Governours had audience likewise About four a Clock in the even comes the King whom the Prince receives at the â—ate and all things in Order they dispose to be going They came in Coaches but now all Mount on Horse-back in Magnificent manner and riding to the entry of the Liberties of Madrid there attended twenty four of the Regidores with a large Canopy of Tyssue rich imbossed being their office to bear it were apparelled in rich Cloath of Tyssue lined with Crimson Cloath of Gold They both came under the Canopy the Prince alwaies on the right hand Before them the Courts and Ministers of Justice Then the Grandies and all the principal Noblemen in excellent Bravery attended by their Followers in rich Equipage and Liveries a custom in that Kingdom wherein they have excess Next after the Canopy followed the Marquess Buckingham and the Conde Olivares as Masters of the Horse to them both with eithers cloath of State which Canopy was presented to Buckingham as a Fee to Him in that Office and serving for the Prince in whose honor that daies action was performed Then the Earl
by the Prince to see the Spanish Train safe at home and to bring back that good News to England This complement had more of business for he carried commands under the Princes hand to Bristol not to deliver the Procuration left in his charge till further Order from England upon the extremest peril to his person It seems the Prince was not then over-earnest in the Match Bristol bounded with this Restriction by which he foresaw the fraction having by agrement ten daies limitted after the Dispensation should come and so time to consider what to do for Clark having no order to return with any answer Bristols actions were by him narrowly observed and advice thereof sent home to the Prince by whose intelligence the jealousie upon Bristol was heightned to crimes almost to his after destruction The fifth of October lands the Prince at Portsmouth and the next day posts to London with unspeakable Love in the Peoples welcome and therefore expressed in feasting and Bonefires with little refreshment he hasteth to Royston the Kings usual abode for the air in Autumn who receiving the particular and just accompt of the Devices of Spain and communicated to the Council it was concluded to acquaint a Parliament with all the proceedings which was resolved with speed February following Then Letters were sent to the Earl of Bristol intimating the true sense in the King and his Council of the Spanish Forms and delaies which the Wisdom of the Prince by his own presence and conversation discovered most abusive But to meet in the jusling and yet to bring theirs to maturity He was to suspend the Proxie till Christmass though the Dispensation should come the power mentioned in the Procuration being no longer of force the Execution after that time would prove invalid and because the honour of England shall be preserved throughout he was to review his former Instructions concerning the Restitution of the Palatinate and his Son-in-Laws Electoral Dignity and to presse them as inherent with the Marriage But all these Items he was to reserve to himself without discovery untill the Dispensation should set those Demands on foot Bristol bound up by this Express durst not break out the least limits to discover his own dislike to his Overlookers Aston and Clark but in publick set out the Preparations of England in more expensive proportion than those Provisions of Spain for accomplishing so glorious a Marriage which put the Spaniard into a firm opinion how powerfully he had captivated the English credulity That the Ambassadour for Poland then at Madrid Seeing the Corrival of his Masters Son had got assurance of his Mistress took leave of his woing and went home with the Willow Garland For now the Dispensation come Bone-fires and Bells-jangling were signals through Spain of the mutual joy of Prince and people And few daies after the Marriage was prefixt with all possible preparations of State and Solemnity both for the present dependance and future reference even to the Ordering of her voyage to England in March after When in the interim fresh commands confirming the former by several Expresses for failing Bristol opens to King Philip his Masters resolutions That having with vast expence and inâ—inite patience expected the effects of his just desires with hazard of the Prince his Person to consummate his part in the Treaty that nothing might lodge upon the King of Englands honour so highly preserved with all Potâ—ntates of Europe and therefore unless the Restitution of the Palaâ—inate and the Electoral Dignity were included the Treaty of Mariage was 〈◊〉 to take end The King troubled to be over-reached and to see it without remedy fairly answered That those Demands were not in his power to effect the one unâ—â—â— the command of the Emperour the other in possession of the Duke of Bavaria and if those could not be reduced with reason he would with Arms asist the Kings part against them or others in that behalf And not long after the Spaniard taking it in earnest and Bristol having no motion to any further address had order in honour to the King of Spain to expect no more audience nor to send conveyance of any more Letters to the Infanta and by publick command none should call her hereafter Princess of England as in honor to the Match they had usually stiled her and Bristol prepared to return home The twelfth of February the Duke of Richmond dyed that morning being found dead by his Dutchess whom she left slumbering as she thought somewhat early when she arose and therefore forbore his disquiet until the late hour seemed necessary to call him up to the Parliament but gently withdrawing the Curtains he was found dead without the least Symptomes of any warning to shew distemper in his body This sudden amazement to all caused the King instantly to adjourn the meeting till the 19. day after Various conceipts were rumoured of his hasty end which according to the peoples fancies suffered several conjectures some attributing his death to an Apoplexie to a Surfeit to Poyson which served saies one as a forerunner to the King for he will have him impoisoned also The Parliament meet at the day assigned and the King greets them In effect thus That to justify himself and willingness with frequency to advise with his people He urges it by way of Parable in Christ and his Church so he saies as Husband to them his Spouse the effects of communion with Man and Wife is often visiting each other There being two waies of Love in a King and his people ordinary and particular administration of Iustice and by communicating with his Parliament For the first that his Government hath been without errour he cannot say but does truly avouch it before God and his Angels that never King governed with more pure sincere and uncorrupt heart from intention and meaning of Error or imperfection in his Reign The other part he imparts as a secret importance to his estate and children These waies as they procure love of his People and of them he acknowledges the effect whom the Parliament represents so he desires That they would effectually present the Peoples Loves to him as a true Mirrour not as a false Glass otherwise than it should be In a word he falls upon the Matter The match of his Sonne wherein they cannot but know his time spent his cost His Reasons Advancement of his Estate and Children and peace of Christendome depending too much upon fair hopes and promises with the necessary hazard of his Son to prosecute his desires in Spain and with him Buckingham to wait his Commands who are returned not with such effect as was desired nor altogether without profit For it took forth a point of Wisdome Qui versatur in universalibus c. is easily deceived the Generals affording others ways to evade and means to avoid effects The particulars too many for him to relate he refers them to the Prince
the pulse of that State Sir Henry Rich Lord Kensington was sent over singly and at his own time and discretion to mannage the discovery of the French affections and then to present himself with his credence He arrived in no publique splendour at Paris on Sunday after Noon and was informed that the King intended the next morning a journey for five or six daies to Shantelie a House of Momorancies and therefore in private Kensington gave visit to the Duke of Chevereux who with his Lady were appareling for instant Actors in the Queens Mask and within an hower came the Queen Regent and Madame and in an hours view might have this chataâ—ter The Sweetest Creature in France her growth as her age little her Discourse discreet and quick and had the report of Wisdom beyond her years and for additions of grace she was said to dance and sing most sweetly I am fure she lookt so My Lord had reason to suspect the Queens reserve towards him she being Spanish and so not well pleased with the breach of her Sisters match But she was changed so much French as to grace him with her hand The King was told of Kensington and because of his journey next Morning purposed to receive him an Ambassadour as some had suggested to him untill Chevereux assured him the contrary his comming meerly to kiss his Majestyes hand and see the glory of his Court this Christmass and so was taken to the Masque danced by sixteen the greatest Princesses of France with whom the King and his Masquers the last Tuesday were now by lot to dance with these Ladies and all these and the Court besides so infinitely rich in Iewels golden and silver dressing being there forbidden as their apparel almost all â—mbroidered and thick with Diamonds and Pearl as usually with purl I doubt not but some counterâ—eit or else you might have suspected the wealth of that nation on their backs The presence of a Stranger somewhat publique presented to each persons caress made most men acquainted with State to judge the plot of his Journey was rather to set an edge upon Spain to cut off delayes than to cut the throat of that business The Kings weakness or indisposition to affairs gave leave and time to Queen Mother to mannage all who receiving an humble visit by Kensington to kiss her hands she entered discourse of the Spanish Allyance The Treaty said he had suffered many Delaies and was annulled Though the Spanish Ambassadour there had given it out to be concluded on purpose to prevent conjunction with France which he suspected and his design got credit with some persons of power seeing Kensington had no Credentials positive to speak to the purpose Yet from others and not the meanest he apprehended the affections of that State generally prepared to receive offers of Amity and Allyance when the dissolution of the other shall be declared Indeed the Savoy Embassadour there said That the intention of the King of Spain was for a Cross Match with France for himself But the late abuse upon the English in that way made the French wary and hastily to bite at that bate Yet the reasons of State were not unequal Our Design was double both Marriage and League against Spain And if the French should match with Spain and so hold us to hard conditions they have the safer ground for they may expect restitution of the Valtoline as we do demand the Palatinate these two being the open quarrels on both parts to ground And these doubts were suspected to draw on a tedious Treaty and therefore it was thought fit by the English to insist upon the Match and bring on the League necessarily to follow and to have reasonable conditions concerning Catholiques in England Indeed the necessity of the French Affairs least Spain that hath begirt them should in time swallow them up was like to make this Match easie enough for the English the alarm being fresh in Court from the Spaniards raising a fort upon the ruin to command the Town of Liege Queen Mother suspecting that Kensingtons errand was in earnest by degrees gave him incouragement to speak plain though it was his part to plead and wo too without any signal The Duke of Chevereux and Le Grand of credit and power both were the men this Design most affected Kensington bore the Princes Picture tackt to his Breast limm'd in little in a Case of set Diamonds which the Queen would offer to open as to shew the Ladies which they would as often desire to please her Majesty who me thought did love to look on it She wishing that some good occasion might make them meet and she might see him like himself But because Madam could not in modesty or honor get a glance of his shadow she in private delt with a Madamoselle that had some interest in one of the Lords Family to borrow the Picture and so in secret to gaze her fill where in much hast she opened the Picture and discovered her passions her blushes not concealing her inward affections to his person which she prized by praising his Picture in presence of him that saw her Two mouths calmed the way unto the Mother she and Le Grand advised to move the King if this business were fitted to the full But Kensington declined as not to deliver the King his Masters inclination unless he might receive the return answerable to a due respect and value of the Proposition Of which being assured he took his opportunity to withdraw the K. towards the window and told him That his journey to France was singly his own inclination to honour and serve him and therein to discover how the Prince of Wales would be free and disingaged from the Spanish Treaty not finding them to his expectation in such particulars as principally should invite a Conjunction And therefore the Duke of Buckingham had exercised his interest with the King and Prince to convert those thoughts towards his Majesty from whom it was perswaded nothing but truth and honour would be returned as an advantage to both Nations And believed that if the King would shew a disposition inclineable the effects would soon confirm the end of his comming free from other Designs than what he now expressed The King often uncovered said He had not heard that the Match with Spain was as yet broke the just cause for him to be reserved But assured him in general That any propositions from the King of Great Brittain should be heartily received This was short for his Imperfection of extream stammering by nature made him usually speak very little whose affection if one might Guess by his courtesy would have said more as most of the Ministers of that State did And that nothing to them was more equal than Amity and Allyance with England This entrance encouraged Kensington to discover himself and letters of Credence to the King and so was quallified to treat fuâ—ther And to increase more than
his Masters commands he must of necessity pass unto But he had no answer On the sudden at Sprang the Dutch Quarters we heard three several volleys of shot great and small from Breda but the English strangers to the design were told that it was the Holyday Triumph the Anniversary fourth day of March of the surprize of Breda from the Spaniard by the Turfeboat 1590. which was now done saies Herman Hugo this year very solemn more like the funeral than the birth as being their last day When yet though lost a little while after it was regained by the Dutch in anno and remains to the States this day 1654. The next Moneth gives up the Audit of Prince Maurice who died at the Hague full of years and honourable fame in April 1625. and his Brother Prince Henry gon thither to solemnize his Obsequies returns back with ample powers as the other enjoyed over the whole Army Generalissimo King Iames lately dead the Earl of Oxford being sent for into England moved Prince Henry the new General to have the honour of an Attempt to break into Spinola's quarters The design was by the Causey that leads from Guitrudenbergh to Treheida which was fortified with two dry ditches a Redoubt a breast work and a large Fort. His forces were six hundred foot choice English assisted with the person of his Uncle that tryed excellent Souldier Sir Horatio Vere with fifteen hundred more English the Vantguard and some Germane and French following in all four thousand In the Rear the Artillery and some Troops of Horse The Enemy got warning and prepared to receive us that way but where to fall he knew not But whilst we gave them of Spinola's Camp false alarms we immediately fell upon the Italian quarter Carlo Roma and surprised a foot Centinel per du and so got to the Redoubt which we forced with fire Balls and drove them to retire and placing our men about the Redout in dry Ditches with undaunted courage we won the half Moon before the Fort labouring with hands and feet to scale the Rampire upon which Oxfords Ensign fixt his colours and with therest leaped into the Fort where the Italians fought well ere they were beaten out Those also of the other causey which leads to Sevenbergh adjoining quit their Trenches and fled The English saies our Enemy maintained their Fight with that fury and resolution as if no other occasion could make proof of their worth and valour The Enemy thus engaged began to disorder and fly into the face of a fresh company of Foot sent to their Relief and so mixing routed the rest to a plain retiring proving a means to make their danger greater than before untill Carlo himself with his Sword and Target forced them back and getting before led them on again with such Fury on either part as till then had not been seen since the first of this siege and so overpowred by fresh men wrought the English out again who indeed could not mount the second Fort so soon but with wondrous difficulty the Waggons not able to march with our scaling Ladders the Canon playing continually upon us in the windings and turnings of the causey with great disadvantage to the English and so narrow that the Rere could not advance timely to our Succour Oxford in the head of all gave excellent testimony of his valour and in mishaps impossible to be releived he retteated as punctual and orderly as his onset each Souldier observing his rank not stepping one foot a side as if duty and obedience could oppose the Canon which had advantage on us all with certain execution to the loss of some hundreds on all sides And this though daringly done as was possible for men proved not successful and the last Attempt on this wondrous Siege The Earl and his Uncle untouched returned with much honour and Oxford two daies after in the heat of the day took leave of the Army riding hard upon a great Horse to several Quarters himself very corpulent came home to the Hague but with heat and cold got an Ague and died there in a Fortnight after And the Winter before dyed the Lord Wriothsey Son to the Earl of Southampton at Rosendale and the Father at Bergen-op-zome This was the ill success of the Last Attempt whereof the Prince acquaints the Governour of Breda by a Spy who proved false And that the Town should not delay too long to hazard all by too much obstinacy That if he received these letters then to give a sign by shooting off three pieces of Canon which he did at Midnight after and by shewing as many lights upon their Tower as they had yet daies to feed upon provision which was eleven And this letter was brought by the Spy to Spinola as many others had been before by this fellow which were all copyed and sent in for Answers and evermore returned to Spinola being deciphered by one Michael Rowter Secretary to Spinola Upon which a Trumpet is sent by the Enemy to the Governor and the doubt of all deciphered by which he was assured his secrets were made publick and having honourable conditions the Town was surrendred the second of Iune 1625. The Infanta made her entrance into Breda at Haughe Port upon which was fixed this Programma PhILIppVs HIspanIae ReX gVbernante IsabeLLa CLara eVgenIa obsIDente SpInoLa HostIbVs frVstra In sVppetIas ConIVrantIbVs BreDa VICtor potItVr This which followes alluding to the year was placed in the Church AMbrosI SpInoLa VIgILantIa BreDa eXpVgnata And Concluded with this Chronographicum ReX BreDaM CepIt qVInta IVnII And seeing we are in discourse of War and Death it will not be much different or disagreeing to remember the decease or violent death of the Marquess Hamilton a gallant Noble Person but a man intemperate which hastened his sudden death by his high feeding very late at Nights and at all times most diseasonable Which Physicians did forewarn as impossible for his constitution enclining to humours long to continue insomuch as feasted late at the Lady Udalls a place of too much good fellowship he was coached home sleepy and so put to bed And though he awaked yet slumbering without any account of himself after and dyed before Noon the next day not without Symptomes very unusual unless of distempered Bodies But why impoisoned because Doctor Eglesham a Scotch man was something bitter against the Duke whose Neece had lately married the Marquesses Son for the Marquess was averse to the Marriage A very stout reason Certainly had the Duke been but at Breda all our English Lords had been impoisoned there too and so might have saved that Authors labour to story their several diseases But I can tell him as the Town talk then that a new Frenchmode Cook with his Quelque choze and Mushrom Salads at that Supper surfeited the Marquess to the death and for the Ladies sake the tumourous discourses were then cast upon
released out of the Tower and banished The Borderers conâ—er and quarrel Morâ—ons wiâ—e submission Anno 1574. The Ministers stiled Praecisians Duke Castle-herauld dies His Character and Issue Oâ—mston executed for the Kings murder Heriots death Characterâ— Anno 1575. Inovation in Church by Melvil agaiâ—st Episcopal â—unction The Regent misgoverns Q. of Scoâ—s designed to dy Anâ—oâ— d'Peres in Englan Anno 1576. Don Johnâ— design blâ—sted in thâ— bud Maâ—gariâ—e old Countess Lenox dies Her Royal descent and Issue Anno 1577. Conâ—pâ—rators against the Regent Arguile and Athol at variance Forerunner of the Regents fall Complaintâ— agâ—inst Morton which the Miniâ—â—ry increase Regent offers to resign Is deposed The King 12. years old is Crowned A sactioâ— Geneve Synod Melvin Morton plots reâ—enge by the Eâ—rl of Mar. Anno 1578. Randolph Ambassadour Parliament Royal disagree and are made Friends Coyn overvalued The Chancellor impoisoned by Morton Parliament the Kings royal appearance His Speech Actâ—â—or Religion Aubigny Stuart in great favour But disliked there and in England Qu. Eliz. Messengeâ— neglected Anno 1580. Burleighs speech to the Scots Ambassadour Morton disconten tretires Charged with the late Kings Murther Randolph rides post from Q Eliz. abuses his privilege of an Ambassadour Anno 1581. Morâ—on beheaded with his own Ax. His character Ruthen created â—arl of Gowry Q. Mary writes to Q. Eliz. Anno 1582. Which troubles her conscience Surprize of the King at Ruthen Removed to Edenburgh and are confirmed by the Clergy Ambassadours ill used The King Orders to feast them but the Kirk command a fast Buchanans deaâ—h and Character The King freeth himself Anno 1583. Ambassadour from England pleaâ—s for the Rebels The late D of Lenox children prefeâ—'d factious Lords submit The Ministers meddle Melvils ill manners Gowry imprisoned His confession Anno 1584. Petition Arraignment His excepâ—â—ons Condâ—mâ—ed and executed His Character Some Ministers for medling fled to England Declarations and Acts of State They reply with Letters to Edenburgh Aâ—d are sharply 〈◊〉 Designâ— in England for Queen Mary Wade an Envoy to Spain Anno 1585. Mary proposeâ— conditionâ— The Kirk disquiet A Parliament The Kings sâ—premacy and other Lawes confirmed Ministers fly into England Presbyters equivocation Divers executed for Conspiracies Anguâ— and other Fugiâ—ives in Engl. Insolâ—nt Arran made Chancellour his great pâ—â—r in State Maxwel misused takes arms against the L. Johnston Arran declines in Qâ—een Elâ—zabeths favoâ— Holy League Wootton sent Ambassâ—dour to Scotland Propositions of a Mariage with Denmark The Lords conspire and declare Wotton ploâ—s with them and posts home The Lords seize the King at Sâ—erlin treat 1567. Parl. cap. 2 1572. Acts 46. 48. 54. 1573. Acts 55. 1578. Acts 63. 1579. Acts 69. Acts 71. 1584. Acts 130. 132. 133. 1587. Acts 23. Anno 1586. 1597. Acts 231. 1606. Act. 2. 6. 1617. Act. 1. Buchanan See his de juâ—egni Pag. 50 usque 57. Davison The 〈◊〉 trulâ— stated Genevians Whittingham Goodman Gilby Whitehead Coverdale Orthodox men Scory Barlow Cox Beacon Bale Parkhoâ—st Grindal Sands Nowel Wisdom Jewel Udal Penry Martin Gilby and others See after anno 1591. Learned Hooker Cartwrights and others League offensive and defensive England and Scotland Against the holy League of Papists Return to Quâ—â—â—aries story Remoâ—â—â—â— inâ—o custody â—o Pawlet â—rdundel 〈◊〉 Northumberland pistols himself Babingtons Treason Pooley Beâ—â—ayed by Gifford a Priest Gifford a false Priest Traytors all execuâ—ed Gifford sent â—nto France and there impoisoned Qâ— of Sâ—ots câ—mes to her Tryal The manner L. Chancelloâ—rs Speech Her Answer Chancellouâ—s Reply Gawdy Queen Queen Queâ—n Treasurer Queen Queen Queen Sentence against the Qu. of Scots Opinions of her Sentence A dâ—legate Parliamâ—nt require Execution Q. Elizabethâ— cunning reply Sentence proclamed King Jameâ— perplexed â—ends Keith to Qâ— Eliz With several directions The Queens Answer Oâ—her Lâ—tters more câ—lm and Ambassâ—doâ—â—s Ambassadoâ—rs reason with the Queen The King writeâ— to Gray â—nd Leicester to the King So does Walsingham to the Lord Thirlstan False Taleâ— Scotland in disorder The Ministers refuse to pray for their Qu. Cooper a saucy Minister Is committed More letters from the K. A Mandate for execution Davison Beâ—le The manner of her Execution Her featurâ—â— Her apparelled Comes forth of her chamber Commissioners receive her who speaks with Melvin her maâ— And to the Commissioners Who denie heâ— some requests At which she weepâ— And they yield and she comeâ— to the Scaffold Sits down Bealeâ— speech Dr. Fleâ—cher Dean of Peterboroughs exhortation She interrupts him He prayed for her Her demeanor in Prayers Executioners and servants disrobe her Her servants sorrowful She kneels at the Block And is executed 46. yeers old 18. yeers prisoner Observable her Dogs dâ—meaner Her Corps buried in the Cathedral of Peterborough Magnificently removed by K. James to Westminster 1612. Her Epitaphs Q. Elizabeths Letter to the K. of Scots Davison sentenced in Star-chamber His apology unto Walsing Foul play on all hands Walsinghams Letter to pacifie the K. Walsinghams Letter to the L. Thirlstan The Kingâ— deportment upon his Mothers death Whom Queen Elizabeth caressed Anno 1587. Designs upon the King to revenge Designs in Scotlaand Earl Aâ—gus dies bewitcht His Character Civil broylâ— in Scotland to kill the Lord Thirslton by Gray accused of Treason also He was banished A Parliament the King reconciles the Lords And endeavours to do so by â—he Kirkmen who refuse mediation Borderers in â—â—wd Hunsdon Ambassador to Scotlaâ—â— Ambassadours about the mariage with Denmark Jesuitâ— arrive in Scotland Kirk-men insolent Anno 1588. and in mutiny for Gibson Gibsons abâ—se of the King He flies into England to the Schismaticks Puritans of England Martin f. 780. Maxwell in Rebellion is pursued by the King Maxwell fliâ—â— Caâ—tles rendered Taken Prisoner Rumouâ— of the Spanish Navy The Kings Speech The Chancellors opinion Bothwell perswades to invade England Col. Semples false designs is rescued by Huntley who is dismissed the Court. Q. Elizabeths message The narration of the Spanish Navy The number of particulars Officers Their Design with Parma The first approach Anno 1589. Defeated by a Sâ—ratagem of fire ships Several Shipwracks Great Losses prophecies Scots Catholiques disâ—ayed Huntly writes to Parma So doth Arrol And so do Huntley Crawford and Maxwell Catholique Lords Rebell Design how to meet Queen Elizabeth writes to the King Proclamations against Jesuits who join with the Rebels The King incourages his forces Commission ers sent to â—etch the K. Bride from Denmark Rebells submit and are committed Ministers make work The Kingâ— design to meet his Queen in Norway The cause and maner therof with further directionâ— What Lords shall govern and how He maries the Queen And goes forward to Denmark Anno 1590. And returns to Scotland The Queens Coronation by a Minister E. of Arundel arraigned in England Popes Bull. Condemned pardoned English expedition to Portugal land at the Groyne Colâ—mella Plâ—niâ— Navars title to France Holy Leaguâ—rs Guiâ—es â—â—râ—hred Henry 3. murâ—hered Justified by the Pope Q. Elizabeth