Elizabeth partly to requite his warlike exploits for shee imployd him in sundry Sea-seruices to his immortall honour and commendation made him Knight of the Garter Charles Earle of Notingham Baron of Effingham Anno 1597 The 23. of Octob. the Lord Charles Howard for his Princely desert and illustrious birth was created by Q. Elizabeth Earle of Nothingham Likewise for his worthy seruices done to his Prince and Countrie in generously repelling Spaines inuincible Nauy of 88 being Lord High Admirall As also for his Martiall valiancy in the sacking of Cadiz with the Earle of Essex her Maiestie honour'd him with the Gartet the noblest order of Knighthood Iohn Baron of Elsemere Viscont Brackley Earle of Bridge-water This Noble Earles Father Sir Thomas Egerton Viscont Brackley Baron of Elsemere Lord high Chancellour of England was a Noble man of admirable parts excellency well seene in the Lawes of England industrious in State affaires which mou'd Q. Elizabeth to choose him her Maiestie Solicitor Anno 1583. And for his other deserts Anno 1593 she Knighted him Next she made him Master of the Rolls and finally Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England Anno 1594. William Earle of Salisbury c. And William Earle of Excester c. Sir William Cecil for his graue wisedome and excellent vertues was by Q. Elizabeth created Baron of Burghley he was also one of her Maiesties Priuy Councell Lord High Treasurer and Chancellor of Cambridge's Vniuersitie He was these two Noble Earles graâ—â— father both issued of two of his Sonnes William Baron of Compton Earle of Northampton This noble Earles grandfather Sir William Compton waâ— for his worthinesse created Baron Compton by Queene Elizabeth To the no lesse Illustrious than Noble Henry Lord Cary Baron of Hunsdon Viscont Rochford AND The Noble Lady Elizabeth Barkeley now married to Sir Thomas Chamberlaine HENRY CARY Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth His cousin for he was the sonne of William Carie Esquire to the body of King Henry the eight by the Lady Mary Bullen his wife sister to Queene Anne Bullen the mother of Qâ—eene Elizabeth this Henry was by Queene Elizabeth created Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Also by her Maiestie made Knight of the Garter one of the Lords of her Priuie Councell and gouernour of Barwicke To this Noble Lord Henry Viscont Rochford hee was Grandfather and this Illustrious Lady Barkley was his only daughter and heire Rob. Lord Willoughby of Eresby Baron of Perke AND Henry West Baron de la Warre Peregrinâ— the Father to this generous Lo Willoughby was restored in his ancestors Honors by Qu. Elizabeth who created him Baron Willoughby of Eresâ—y the 14. of her raâ—gn 1582. before thee sent him with the Garter to the King of Denmarke being the son of the Duchesse of Suffolke sole daughter and heire to the Lo Willoughby of Eresby Also Sir William West This Lord de la Warr's grand Sire was created Baron de la Warre by Queene Elizabeth being Nephew to Thomas West Lord de la Warre and knight of the Garter in King Henry the eight's daies who died without issue Anno 1570. IOHN POVLET Lord Saint Iohn Baron of Basing heire apparant to the Lord Marquesse of Winchester c. Anno 1594. WILLIAM POVLET this Noble Lord's Grandfather was in the time of his Father IOHN Lord Marquesse of Winchester by Queene ELIZABETH made a Petre of England and sate in that High Court of Parliament among the Barons and Peeres of the Realme as Baron Saint Iohn of Basing He died the first day of Ianuary 1598. and was sumptuously buried by his predecessours at Basing The truly Pious Lady Frances Wray Countesse dowager of Warwicke AND The Lady Elizabeth daughter and sole heire to Francis Lord Norice late Earle of Barkshire Viscount Thame and Baron of Ricot wife to the right Noble worthy Edward Wray Esqu Sir Christopher Wray for his great deserts the noble family from whence hee was deriued was by Qu Elizabeth Knighted and for his rare wisedome being expert in the Law was aduanced to his great Praise and immortall fame to diuers Honourable dignities in this Kingdome First he was made Lord Chiefe Iustice of England and then Lord Keeper of the Priuy Seale He was one of her Maiesties most prudent Counsellours and Father to this Religious Countesse Dowager of Warwick Also Grandfather to these Noble Brothers Sir Iohn Wray Knight Edward Wray and Nathanaell Wray Esquires Anno 1572. Sir Henry Norrice was for his Noble worth created by Queene Elizabeth Baron Norrice of Ricot He was this Noble Ladie ELIZABETH WRAY her Grandfather DVDLEY Lord North Baron of Kirtling AND To the vertuous Lady his only Sister the Lady Mary Conningsby Anno 1594. Roger Lord North Baron of the ancient Baronry of Kirtling for his Vertues and Prudency was in gracious fauour neare Q. Elizabeth who respecting him much made vse of his faithfull seruices in diuers honourable affaires of importance Anno 1574. he was by her Maiestie sent Ambassadour Extraordinary into France to giue King Henry the third good Counsell and to condole with his Maiestie after the death of K. Charles the ninth And although this Noble-man was not created Baron by Q. Elizabeth yet I haue erected these lines to his noble and immortall memory for his Vertues sake and for the duty and humble seruice which I must euer owe to his illustrious Grand-Children The Lord North Sir Iohn North Captaine Roger North Gilbert North and the noble Lady Conningsby To the Honour of the right Worshipfull Sir Arthur Capell his noble Sons AND The Nobly desceÌ„ded Ralph Sadleir Esquire of Standen in Hertfordshire This worthy Knight was the last which her Maiesty Knighted Also this noble Esquires Father Sir Thomas Sadleir son to Sir Ralph Sadleir was the last knight banneret of England Chancellour of the Duchy of Lancaster and Priuy Counsellor to King Henry the eight Edward the sixt Queen Mary and Queene Elizabeth A PREPARATION AND INTRODVCTION TO THE HISTORY THE All-glorious All-vertuous incomparable inuict and matchlesse Patterne of Princes the Glory Honour and mirror of Woman kind the Admiration of our Age ELIZABETH Queene of England was by the Fathers side truely Royall being Daughter to HENRY the Eighth Grand-child to HENRY the Seuenth and great Grand child to EDVVARD the Fourth of the Mothers side indeed vnequall yet nobly descended and had many great Alliances spred through England and Ireland Her great-Grandfather was Iefferay of Bolene descended from the famous House of Norfolke who in the yeere 1457. was Maior of London and was then graced with the Dignitie of Knighthood a man of much integrity and of such reputation that Thomas Baron of Hoo and Hastings Knight of the Order of S. George gaue him his daughter and heire to wife he was of so great meanes that he married his Daughters into the famous houses of the Chenies Heidons and Fortescues he left a great Patrimonie to his sonnes and by Will gaue a thousand pounds sterling
for the restitution of Calais Fol. 95. Attempt to flye away ibid. Peace made in France ibid. Warre proclaymed betweene France and England ibid. The Queene offers to giue Haure de grace for Calais Fol. 96. The English Souldiers are afflicted with the plague ibid. Haure de grace beleagred by the French Fol. 97. Articles for Haure de grace's Restitution Fol. 99. The Souldiers comming ouer infect London and other places in England with the plague ibid. Another marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland Fol. 100. Queene ELIZABETH recommends Robert Dudley vnto her for a Husband ibid. The French diuert the Queene from it Fol. 101. The Baron of Gray dyes and the Bishop of Aquila ibid. The Spaniards against the English Fol. 102. The Lord William Paget dyes ibid. The supreame dignities of honour in England Fol. 103. The death of Henry Manners Earle of Rutland ibid. And also of the Lady Frances Brandon Duchesse of Suffolke ibid. Anno M.D.LXIIII THe Articles of peace concluded betweene France and England Fol. 106. The French King enstalled in the Order of the Garter Fol. 107. The English and Hollanders ill vsed in Spaine ibid. A Mart established by the English in Edenborough Fol. 108. Robert Dudley created Baron of Denbigh and Earle of Leicester who accused Sir Nicholas Bacon Fol. 110. Cambridge honoured with Queene ELIZABETHS presence ibid. Diuers opinions about Englands succession Fol. 111. Lenox sent for by the Queene of Scotland ibid. The true discent and extraction of the Dukes of Lenox ibid. Leicesters treatie of a match with Scotlands Queene Fol. 114. Anno M.D.LXV THe Lord Darley's iourney into Scotland where hee is beloued of the Queene Fol. 116. Queene ELIZABETHS consent required about that marriage Fol. 117. Throckmorton sent to hinder it Fol. 118. Lenox and Darley re-called out of Scotland who excuse themselues and the Queene marries with the Lord Darley Fol. 119. Queene ELIZABETH endures it with moderation but some Scots take distaste about that marriage Fol. 120. The Emperour is a sutor for his Brother to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 121. As the Queene of Sheba came to see Salomon so the rare vertues of Queene ELIZABETH brought Cecilia Queene of Sueden bigge with Childe from the furthest part of the North to see so compleat a Maiestie ibid. Creation of the Earle of Glencarne ibid. Nicholas Arnold sent Deputie into Ireland Fol. 124. The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Fol. 125. Anno M.D.LXVI THomas Duke of Norfolke and Robert Earle of Leicecester are honoured with the chiefe order of Knighthood of France Fol. 126. The Earle of Arundell in voluntary exile Fol. 127. The English carry both their armes and courage to the Hungarian warre Fol. 127. The happy birth of King IAMES ibid. Queene ELIZABETH reioyceth much thereby visits Oxenford and holds a Parliament Fol. 128. The States sollicite her to marry and declare her Successor Fol. 129. The Great-Ones modestly and the popular sort eagerly Fol. 130. Queene ELIZABETH is thereby angred Fol. 131. The Queene of Scotlands right to England apparant Fol. 134. Bishops Ordinations confirmed ibid. Bedfords Earle Ambassadour from Queene ELIZABETH to the christning of King IAMES in Scotland Fol. 135. The death of Iohn Masson and Sir Edward Sackuille Fol. 136. Anno M.D.LXVII THe murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Queene of Scots Fol. 137. Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland Fol. 138. Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes the Queenes bastard-Brother discontented for want of greater aduancement returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland whereof being frustrate hee opposeth against the Queene and makes his ambition openly and euidently knowne Fol. 139. Hee is created Earle of Murray he persecutes the great men of Scotland and disswades the Queene from marriage Fol. 140. He takes armes against her after shee was married and flyes into England Hee seekes to sow discord betweene the Queene and her Husband the Lord Darley Fol. 141. The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Fol. 142. Murray is repealed Fol. 142. Earle Morton flyes into England Fol. 143. Dissention betweene the King and the Queene Fol. 144. Earle Bothwell and others murder the Queenes Husband ibid. Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene for her Husband ibid. Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Fol. 145. Earle Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King Fol. 147. Hee marries the Queene ibid. They conspire both against him and the Queene ibid. Earle Murray retyres into France Fol. 148. Earle Bothwell is expelled ibid. The Queene is imprisoned ibid. Queene ELIZABETH by Throckmorton complaynes thereof to the Confederates ibid. They consult what is to be done with the Queene-prisoner Fol. 149. Throckmorton defends the Queenes cause ibid. The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons Fol. 150. They extort from their Queene a resignation of the gouernement Fol. 151. IAMES the Sixth consecrated and inaugurated King Fol. 152. Earle Murray returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Fol. 153. Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy ibid. Some of the Murderers of the King are put to death ibid. They acquit the Queene of all suspition Fol. 154. The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Fol. 154. Queene ELIZABETH demands the restitution of Calais ibid. The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Fol. 155. Sir Thomas Smith's answer to the French Fol. 157. Anno M.D.LXVII THe Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Fol. 160. The Earle of Leicester hinders it representing to the Queen all the discommodities that might happen if shee married a stranger ibid. Articles of the marriage propounded Fol. 162. Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouia Fol. 163. The English open the way to goe to Russia by sea Fol. 164. The Company of Muscouy Merchants instituted ibid. A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouie Fol. 165. The death of Nicholas Wotton and of the Duchesse of Norfolke ibid. Shan O-Neale raiseth troubles and rebelleth Fol. 166. Sir Henry Sidney armes against him and discomfits him Fol. 167. Shan re-assumes courage he vseth cruelty to his men Fol. 168. Hee meanes to yeeld ibid. Hee is slaine Fol. 169. Turlogh-Leinich proclaimed O-Neale by the Queens permission ibid. Hugon Nephew to Shan who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon receiued to grace for an opposite to Turlogh ibid. Troubles in Munster Fol. 170. Anno M.D.LXVIII THe Papists absolue many Fol. 171. The innouators shew themselues and procure vnto themselues thereby the odious style of Puritans Fol. 172. The second ciuill warre in France ibid. The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene ELIZABETH for a Husband Fol. 173. The English Ambassadour vsed disgracefully in Spaine ibid. Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniardâ— in America ibid. The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison Fol. 174. Shee is vanquished ibid. Her Letter to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 175. Shee writes againe Fol. 177. Queene ELIZABETH
thought to haue excited the hatred of mine own which my greatest enemies hitherto could neuer doe But their wisdome was out of season their designes too farre aduanced and they haue not regarded the euent And I haue easily discouered by these things who haue beene iust on my behalfe and who haue not and doe see well that all your Assembly is composed of foure sorts of persons For some haue beene Architects and Authors others Actors who with sweet words haue perswaded who being perswaded haue accorded to that which was propounded others who haue maruelled at this audacitie kept silence and those in truth are the more excusable Thinke you that I contemne your good and safetie that you ground vpon a Successor or that I will infringe your libertie So farre am I from that that I haue not so much as thought of it For I haue considered that it behooued you to retyre from the pit into which you runne head-long Euery thing hath his season Peraduenture you shall haue after me a wiser Prince but not that loues you more than I doe I know not if I shall liue to see such Assemblies once more but take heede of offending the patience of your Prince and notwithstanding take it for a certaine truth that I haue a good opinion of the most part of you and that I loue you all with all my heart as heretofore Thus the wisdome of a Woman quieted these stirres the time which became clearer caused such a calme that beside the seditious and timorous few were since found to storme for a Successour And certainely all men what face soeuer they set vpon it doe not penetrate more deepely into publique affaires than they finde it necessary for their owne particular Yet that the Successour should more plainely appeare which shee thought could not be doubted of she imprisoned Thornton Reader of the Law at Lincolnes Inne in London because the Queene of Scotland had complained that he called her right in question In these Assemblies of the States besides other things which were for the good of the Common-wealth it was declared with the generall consent of all THat the election consecration and instalment of Arch-bishops and Bishops of England which many by calumniating them had called in question was lawfull and well and duely consecrated according to the Acts and Statutes of the Realme And ordained that all these and those which for the time to come should be consecrated as they had beene were and should be holden well and duely consecrated notwithstanding any Law or Canon For the Papists had detracted them as false Bishops peraduenture because the Vnction the Ring and the Crozier were not vsed with the Benedictions and as if they had not beene solemnely instituted to this Order by three Bishops which could bring their ordination rising from the Apostolique authority receiued from Christ although they most truely could as appeares by the Registers hauing beene consecrated with godly prayers deuout inuocation of the holy Ghost the imposition of hands of such Bishops the preaching of the Word and celebration of the Lords Supper About that time after they had restrained the insolency of some Ruffians who violated these delators which the vulgar call Promoters pursued them through the streetes with cryes and clamours and killed them came the day appointed for the baptizing of the Prince of Scotland The Queene hauing beene intreated to receiue him at the sacred Font sent the Earle of Bedford with the Lauor made of massie Gold for a Present of State and commanded him expresly all the English which accompany him to take heed that they honour Darley with the Title of KING The ceremony being ended the Earle according as he had beene commanded treated with the Queene of Scotland to haue the Treaty of Edenborrough ratified and to accord the domesticke discords which were betweene her and her Husband For some ill-willers both to the one and the other had by craft ruined this agreeable societie of life and loue which was betweene them Shee refused to make this ratification alledging this reason That there was in that Treaty some Articles that did derogate the right which shee and her Children had to England neuerthelesse promised to send Commissioners into England which should treat about it for the altering of some things to wit that she should leaue off the Title and armes of England as long as Queene ELIZABETH or any of hers should liue as if the Treaty had imported that she should giue it ouer altogether and they they should let her see what iniuries shee had receiued by the wicked practices of those which too much abused the ingenious credulitie of her Husband And finding her selfe vnhealthfull shee recommended her Sonne to the trust and Gardianship of Queene ELIZABETH by Letters bearing That although shee knew well I vse her owne termes shee was by right the vndoubted Heire of England after the Queene and that many at their pleasure forged many things against this right She promised neuerthelesse she would not presse her any more to a declaration of it but that shee would assist and adhere to her alwaies and against all with all her affection In the yeere 1566. there dyed two of the Lords of her Maiesties most honourable Priuy Councell both in one day I. Mason Treasurer of Queene ELIZABETHS houshold a most learned iudicious and graue personage most diligent and carefull to the preseruation of benefits In his place and office was preferred Sir Francis Knolles who had married the Lady Katherine Cousin-Germane to her Maiesty by the Lady Mary of Bulleine Richard Sackuile also Cousin to her Maiesty by the Lady Anne Bulleine her Mother Sir Walter Mildmay an vncorrupt and considerate man succeeded in his place THE TENTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1567. A Little before the Commissioners from the Queene of Scotland were arriued a moneth or two after the christening of the Prince of Scotland the King at the age of one and twenty yeers was strangled in his bed in the dead time of the night a dreadfull and horrible wickednesse which was detested of all honest men afterwards throwne into his Garden the House being blowne vp with Gun-powder The report of it being spread through both the Kingdomes the crime was cast vpon Morton Murray and their Confederates who insulting ouer the weaker Sex laide it vpon the Queene Which by bookes as also a Libell written by Buchanan which was imprinted none can be ignorant of But being of the party and carryed away by Murray's bountie the bookes were condemned to be false by the Councell and State of Scotland to which more credit is to be giuen and as I haue heard he himself to the King whose Schoolemaster he was reprehended himselfe for it that hee had vsed so poysonous a penne against the Queene and being ready to dye he wished but to liue so long that hee might take away the staine which he
their owne hands which they sent to the Queene of England BEcause Earle Murray and others to couer their owne Rebellion against the Queene whose authoritie they vsurped openly imputed her as culpable and guiltie of her Husbands death wee publikely protest and testifie this which ensues In the Moneth of December 1556. the Queene being at Cragmill the Earles of Murray and Lidington acknowledged in our presence that Morton Lyndsay and Rauen murdered Dauy Rice to no other end but to preserue the Earle of Murray who the same day was to be proscrib'd Wherefore that they might shun the note of ingratitude their desire was that Morton and others banished by reason of this murder might be repealed But withall they implyed that this could not be done except the Queene by a Diuorce were separated from her Husband and they promised to doe it if wee would yeeld our consents After that Earle Murray promised to me of Huntley that I should re-enter the inheritances of my Ancestors and haue the perpetuall loue and affection of the banished if I did but further and procure this Diuorce Then they went likewise to Earle Bothwell to draw also from him his consent and liking and lastly they went to the Queene whom Lidington in the name of all the rest instantly requested to release Morton Lindsay and Rauen of their banishment in very outragious termes he exaggerated the Kings faults and the offences hee had committed against the Queene and the Realme prouing how the Queene and the State were deepely interessed in procuring speedily this Diuorce because the King and Queene could not liue securely together in Scotland Her Maiestie made answer That she had rather for a time returne into France while her Husband did more truely discend into the errours and vnstaidnesse of his youth not willing any thing should be done to her Sonnes preiudice or her owne dishonour Whereunto Lidington replyed Wee of your Councell will looke to this well-enough But in any wise said Shee I prohibite you to performe any thing that may in the least manner blemish my honour or burthen my conscience Let things stand as they doe till God from aboue vouchsafe some fitter remedie I much feare lest that you iudge requisite for my good may redound to my hurt A few dayes after when the King was murdered after a most execrable manner wee are assured out of the inward touch and testimony of our Consciences that the E. Murray and Lidington were the Authors Proiectors and Plotters of this abominable Parricide whosoeuer the other were that put it in execution This is that which they affirmed in writing The Confederates aymed then at nothing else but how to free Bothwell of this Parricide Wherefore a Session of Parliament was ordained for this onely cause and apprehension of their bodies enioyned of whom the least suspition was conceiued and the Earle of Lenox accusing Bothwell and feruently vrging that he might come to a triall before the States were assembled it was granted and so command imposed vpon the Earle to appeare within twenty dayes But within the compasse of this time hauing receiued no instructions nor aduertisements from the Queenes Maiestie of England and in that hee could not liue without danger of his life in a place replenished with his enemies Earle Bothwell made his appearance and hauing Morton for his Aduocate preuayled in the cause and so was sent away absolu'd by the Sentence of all the Iudges This businesse being thus contriued the other Complices so wrought that diuers of the Nobility consented to the marriage whereof they made a Draft in Writing subscribed and sealed for feare that if it should euer be broken Bothwell might haue accused them to be the Authors of all that villany This marriage thus solemnized with Earle Bothwell who was created Duke of the Orcades caused euery one to surmize that the Queene was guiltie of this murder and the Conspirators strengthened the same opinion by Letters sent into all parts as likewise they held assemblies at Dundagh where they conspired to depose the Queene and destroy Earle Bothwell Although Murray because he would not appeare to be one of this Combination obtained leaue of the Queene to goe into France and for the remouing of all distrust hee re-commended to her Royall care and Bothwell's fidelitie all his proceedings and occasions whatsoeuer in Scotland He was scarcely arriued in France but they who absolued Bothwell of that crime and gaue consent to this marriage tooke vp armes as if they would haue seyzed on his person But in effect vnder-hand they priuily admonished him speedily to with-draw himselfe for feare lest being taken he might haue reuealed the whole Complot and that from his flight they might draw argument and subiect whereof to accuse the Queene for the murder of the King they seyzed on her person and entreated her so ignominiously and disgracefully that although shee had nothing on but a very homely night-Gowne yet they so clapt her vp in prison at Lake-Leuin vnder the custody of Earle Murray's Mother who was Iames the 5. his Concubine who further persecuted her with most shamelesse malice during her restraint boasting how shee was lawfull Wife to Iames the 5. and her Sonne lawfully descended from him So soone as Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of all these proceedings detesting in her heart this vnbrideled insolency of Subiects towards a Princesse who was her Sister and Neighbour terming them perfidious rebellious ingratefull and cruell Shee sent into Scotland Nicho. Throgmorton to complaine hereof vnto the Confederates and to consult of some meanes how to restore the Queene to her former liberty and authority for the punishments of the Kings murderers and that the yong Prince might bee sent into England rather than into France for his more secure preseruation and safety For that which passed successiuely while Throgmorton lay in Scotland I will deliuer it faithfully euen as I collected it out of his owne Letters which questionlesse are very sincere and well approued of Many in Scotland were very much incens'd against the Queene insomuch as they absolutely refus'd to behold her as likewise Villeroy and De Croc Ambassadours for France Yet the Conspirators could not agree among themselues how to dispose of her The Lord of Lidington and some others were of opinion to haue her re-established in her authority vpon these conditions That the Murderers of the KING should be punished according to the Lawes and the young Prince his safety procured That Bothwell should be separated from her by a firme Diuorce and Religion established Others perswaded a perpetuall banishment of her eyther into France or England so the Queene of England or King of France would be content to be Cautions and Pledges that shee should transferre all the Regall authority to her Sonne and some other great and eminent persons of the Kingdome Againe some would haue cited her to a peremptory triall haue had her
whom Queene ELIZABETH made knowne that shee could not yet discharge the Subiects of Scotland of the offence they had committed against their Princesse but notwithstanding that shee would request her in their behalfe and also heare them if they could alledge any thing for their iust excuse Earle Murray who presently followed them absolutely refused to insist by Accusation against his Sister but vpon the conditions hee had mentioned at Yorke The Commissioners were presently called home and their authority disanulled whereof the Duke who alwayes fauoured the Queene of Scots was very glad and thought he had nothing more then to effect but only to brand her with an eternall infamy to exclude her with her young Sonne from all right of succession to the Crowne of England and that hee had auoided two dangers for in giuing sentence against her he feared to ruine her and violate his owne conscience and denouncing Iudgement on her side to vndergoe the vnplacable wrath of his owne Queene and of all those who for Religions sake and any other consideration were opposite to the Queene of Scots But when Earle Murray saw that the friends shee retained in Scotland disturbed all affaires and that his presence was requisite he framed his Accusation in the presence of the Queene Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Earle of Leicester Clynton Lord Admirall Cecill and Sadler who by new letters were constituted new Commissioners and to proue the Queen of Scots culpable of her Husbands murder hee produced some probable and coniecturall Articles the Depositions of some Witnesses the Acts digested in the Assemblies of the States but aboue all certaine Loue-Letters and verses written as hee affirmed with the Queenes own hand as also he brought foorth Buchanan's Booke entituled The Discouery to be openly read but the greater number of the Commissioners gaue not much credit thereunto it proceeding from a partiall man and one that had made sale of his fidelity As for the Verses and Letters because they had no names subscriptions nor dates and so many Impostors there be who can counterfait others hands so naturally as the one can hardly be discerned from the other Queene ELIZABETH would in no wise affoord them beliefe or credit though shee were much instigated out of feminine emulation wherewith that Sex is many times violently transported remaining satisfied that these Accusations had imposed vpon the Queene of Scots some reprochfull Aspersions Her Deputies hearing that shee was dayly accused by Murray presented themselues to make answere but shee had now reuoked their authority which was but Delegatorie as shee had beene secretly informed by certaine English Ciuilians and this shee might doe by Law seeing that of the Duke and others had beene so formerly reuoked Afterwards shee peremptorily refused the new Commissioners two of whom shee suspected except the Ambassadours of France and Spaine were ioyned in commission with them that shee might be admitted to defend her own innocency openly in the presence of the Queen of England and them except Murray were restrained called to a Triall auerring how she could conuince him and proue that he was the author of the Lord Darleys murder The Duke of Norfolke the Earles of Arundel Sussex Leicester and Lincolne esteeming this to be but iust and equall Qu. ELIZABETH grew into wonderfull choller and told them openly that the Queen of Scots could neuer want an Aduocate till the Duke of Norfolke came short of his life and shee was contented to impart those crimes whereof Murray imputed her to euery one of her priuy Councell and to the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Shrewsbury Worcester Huntington and Warwicke whom shee conuocated to this end vnder an oath of silence exhibited not to damnifie either of the parties And because Murray was called backe into Scotland and 't was commonly bruted abroad that Boyd attempted to release the Queen of Scots of her imprisonment this Proceeding was deferr'd to some other time Queene ELIZABETH so farre as seem'd probable sharply reprehending the insolency of the Scottish-men in deposing their Queene At that time Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut came out of France sent vnder-hand by the Guizes to oppose Murray in the gouernment and administrations of the Kingdome during the yong King's minority and maintayned before Queene ELIZABETH that beeing neerest of blood to the King he should be preferred before Murray who was but a Bastard Contrariwise Murray and the Kings Ambassadors alleadged that the gouernment of the Kingdome was not to bee assigned alwaies to those neerest of blood but to such who by a generall consent of the States were elected and chosen as most sufficient and capable of that Charge That it were a most vniust course to put the King who was young into his hands who by proximity of blood aspiring to the Kingdome might easily be tempted to violate right out of a desire to rule and reigne And how this was greatly to be feared especially of the Hamiltons who had practised many enmities against the Earles of Lenox the Kings Grandfathers wickedly slaine his great Grandfather by the Fathers side expell'd Mathew his Grandfather out of Scotland after he had reduced him to low pouerty and also of himselfe who made this motion who with bitter and implacable hatred wonderfully molested Henry the Kings Father and the more easily to enioy the Kingdome he married his Maiesties Mother with the King of France The which when Queen ELIZABETH vnderstood shee made knowne to Hamilton how his demand was most vniust and forbade him to depart out of England till Earle Murray were returned into Scotland Murray a little before his departure was so subtill as that secretly by his man Meluin he offered the Duke of Norfolk to marry with the Queene of Scots and her he promised to re-establish in her Kingdome as presently we will declare Notwithstanding to conceale it from Queene ELIZABETH he caus'd a rumor to be spred that shee had made ouer her claime of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and how this alienation was confirmed at Rome he shewed certaine Letters shee had written to those of her partie wherein shee blamed Queene ELIZABETH for fayling of her promise and vaunted that shee expected succours otherwise then from her Whether these reports were true or fained I am not able to say But certainely Queene ELIZABETH was much moued herewith who could not imagine from whom she should attend these new reliefes because ciuill warre was so hotly kindled in France as the Bishop of Rhemes sent by the King entreated her that she would not haue any hand in those affaires and the Duke of Alua who was come the yeere before into the Low-Countries to supplant the Protestant Religion staid still there by reason of the troubles But as afterward it proou'd apparant and as H. Catene writ to Cardinall Alexandrine Pope Pius 5. not daring to send an open Nuncio had suborn'd R. Ridolpho a
appertayneth to her tending to the hurt death and destruction of the royall person of our soueraigne La the Q. that is to say that since the first of Iune Ann. 27. and before the date of this Commission the said Mary pretending as aforesaid practised and conceiued against this Realm many things tending to the hurt death and destruction of the royall person of our said Lady Q. Elizabeth against the forme of the Statute specified in the said Commission This sentence bred diuers doubtfull opinions amongst men because it was grounded onely vpon the credite of the Secretaries and they were neuer brought face to face as was required by the first Statute Anno 13. of Elizab. some thinking them men of credite and some not I saw Nauue's Apology which he wrote to the Kings Maiesty in Scotland 1605. wherein he greatly laboureth to excuse him selfe protesting that he was neyther author nor perswader to this matter nor yet the first discouerer And that he had neither by negligence nor ignorance fayled in his devoire but stoutly at his death defended the contrary to all the accusations brought against the Queene his Mistresse notwithstanding there are publicke Acts thereof to be seene Now the same day the Commissioners and Iudges of the Realme declared That this sentence did derogate nothing from the right or honour of Iames King of Scotland but that he remained and was in the same ranke estate and right as if it had neuer beene A few dayes after the Parliament sate at Westminster commenced by certaine authoritie granted by Qu. Elizabeth to the Archb. of Canterbury the L. Treasurer and the Earle of Derby as her Lieutenants and that not without example wherein was confirmed a Proscription that the goods possessions of the L. Paget C. Paget Sir F. Englefield E. Iones Chediock Tichburne C. Tilney other traytors were adiudged confiscate The States of the Realme also after they had by generall suffragie and consent approued and confirmed the sentence pronounced against the queene of Scotland all with one accord by the Lo. Chancellor presented a petition to the queene wherein they desired that for the preseruation of the true Religion of Christ the tranquillitie of the land the securitie of her person the good of them all and their posteritie the Sentence against Mary Q. of Scotland might be publickly pronounced according to the tenour of the Law alleaging reasons drawne from the dangers stirred and practised against Religion her own person and the Realme by her who was a mother-nourse of the Romane Religion and had sworn an inviolable accord to extirpate the Religion now established and had long since laid claime to the Crowne Q. Elizabeth yet liuing esteeming that seeing she was excommunicated it was lawfull to conspire against her and meritorious to take away her life She had ruinated some noble houses of the land and had kindled the fire of rebellion in England That to pardon her were to destroy the people who much repined at her impunitie and that she could not be freed from the oath conspiracie otherwise than by punishment and lastly they recited the example of the horrible vengeance of God against K. Saul for not putting Agag and Benadad to death And this is that which was presented by the States of the Parliament Queene Elizabeth with a most graue countenance and â—â—â—â—sticall speech answered to this effect THe benefites which God hath bestowed vpon me are so great that I doe not only acknowledge them with humilitie but call them to minde with admiration wanting wordes sufficiently to expresse them And although there be no mortall aliue more bound to the Almighty who hath so often and so miraculously deliuered me from eminent dangers yet am I most of all for this that after hauing gouerned this kingdome now the space of 28 yeares I doe finde in my subiects the same if not farre greater affection than when I came first to the Crowne the which entire loue if I should finde to fayle I might well perhaps perceiue my selfe to breathe but not to liue And now my life hath bin attempted to be taken away it grieueth mee most that it was by such a person as was of mine owne sex estate and ranke to whom I was so farre from bearing ill will that on the contrary after she had complotted diuerse matters against me I wrote to her in priuate that if in any writing secretly she would acknowledge them I would bury them all in obliuion Neyther would I haue done this to entrap or circumuent her for I knew already all she could confesse and although the matter was at that passe yet if she had but shewed her selfe truely penitent none should haue taken her cause against me in hand Neuerthelesse if only it had concerned mine owne life and not the safegard of my people without ostentation be it spoken I would willingly haue pardoned her If England by my death might flourish the more or gaine a better Prince I could bee well content to lay downe my life for I desire to liue onely for your good and the peoples Neyther is there any cause I haue so ledde my life why I should desire life or feare death I am not ignorant of the common state of life I haue obeyed I haue commanded I haue had both good bad neighbours I haue found treason in trust I haue bestowed some benefites ill and where I haue done good I haue beene badly requited When I ponder these things in minde I see what the condition of the present time is and I foresee the future thinking them the happiest that soonest depart hence But against these and such like I haue put on a warlike resolution that whatsoeuer shall happen death shall not surprise me vnprouided As touching these late treasons I will not so much preiudice neither my selfe nor the ancient lawes of my countrey in such fashion as not to thinke this arch-treason to be subiect thereto although this new had neuer bin made the which although some fauourers of her haue suspected so was not made against her but was so far from entangling her that rather it was an aduertisement or preadmonition to her not to come within the danger of it neuerthelesse seeing she hath now incurred the lawe it is thought good to proceede against her by vertue thereof But you captious Lawyers you are so precise so curious in the quercks and quidities of law to follow the formalitie of it in stead of interpreting the true sense that forsooth according to the form of proceeding she should be called to iudgment within the countie of Staffordshire there to appeare holding vp her hand at the Barre to stand to the verdict of twelue men vpon her fact And is this a braue fashion of proceeding against a Princesse But I haue thought good rather auoyding such absurdities that it was more conuenient to referre a matter of such importance to the Peeres and Iudges of the Realme
these things They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea The death of Francis L. Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Booke 1. 1560. A Treaty of peace in Barwicke Martigues comes and brings French-men into Scotland D'Elbeuf driuen by a Tempest The Spaniard counsels to Peace The Spaniards detaine from the English their munition The French doe endeuour to call the English backe from Scotland The French protest againg the English that they are meerely cause that the peace is broken An Answer to them The Guizes are sworne and professed enemies to Queene Elizabeth The French offer to render vp Calis Her Maiesties Answer to them She sends the Lord Vicount Montaigue into Spaine Who makes known to the Spaniard the cause of the Wars of Scotland he also excused the Scots Confederates Arthur Gray son heire to the Lord Gray is wounded Lieth is besieged The English repulsed Croft is accused The Queene Regent of Scotland dyes The treaty of Edenborrough A peace is published Queene Elizabeth is sought in marriage by Charles Arch-Duke of Austria by Iames Earle of Arran and by Erric King of Sueden Adolphe Duke of Holsatia Sir W. Pickering The Earle of Arundel Robert Dudley Whom shee fauoured Vicount Montaigu Ambassador to the King of Spaine He fauoured notwithstanding Elizabeth against the French He re-deliuered the order of the Garter He disdained to be refused in things of small importance The Count Ferie whets his indignation He incenses the Pope against the Queene The Pope writes to Elizabeth The Pope Pius the fourth of that name his Letter sent vnto Queene Elizabeth by his Nuncio Vincent Parpalia The King and Queene of France refuse to confirme the Treatie for Edenborrough The reasons Francis the second dyeth The Edict of Qu. Elizabeth against the Anabaptists Her Maiesties Edict against sacreligious persons The Colledge of Westminster founded The Coine brought to full value This was corrupted by King Henry the Eighth His lauish expence The Earle of Huntington dyeth Shan O-Neale stirs vp sedition in Ireland Booke 1. 1561. The Queene of Scotland puts off the confirmation of the Treatie The Queene of England denieth passage to the Queene of Scotland She complained to Throgmorton Ambassadour from England Throgmorton's answer to the Qu. Mary of Scotland Contestation betweene the Queene of Scotland and Throgmorton Queene Elizabeths Ambassador into France The Queene endeuours to content Qu. Elizabeth But in vaine She returnes into Scotland Elizabeth answers him Qu. Elizabeth presseth the confirmation of the Treatie Receiues the Guizes courteously The Guizes vse the English ill That the right to assemble a Councell belongs not to the Pope Carne dyes How far an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Qu. Elizabeth prepares things necessary for Warre Qu. Elizabeths husbandrie S. Pauls Steeple burnt The death of Earle Bathon Booke 1. 1562. Pole had vnder examination Katherine Gray imprisoned He is fined He is fined The Guizes practice against Elizabeth H. Sidney is sent into France After into Scotland They deliberate the inter-view of the Queene of Scotland Which puts her in doubt Vnlesse it were vpon certaine conditions The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queen of Scotland Queene Elizabeth endeuoureth to diuert her from it Giues her reasons Shee excuses the French fugitiues The death of the Earle of Oxford Defends his cause Booke 1. 1563. Fifteenths Tenths Subsidies The Prence of Condé taken in the Battell of Dreux The Kings answer Hostages giuen for the restitution of Calais attempt to fly away Peace made in France War proclaimed between the French and the English The Qu. Maiestie offers to surrender Haure de grace for Calais The English Soldiers molested with the Pestilēce Haure de grace beleagred and assailed by the French Articles for the restitution of Haure de grace France reioyceth for recouery of Haure de grace The English Soldiers bring the Plague into London and other parts of England Marriage againe propounded to the Queene of Scots The Queene of England recommends Dudley for her husband The French diuert her They insult ouer their Queene The Baron of Gray dyes And the Bishop of Aquila The Spaniard against the English Lord Paget dyeth The supreme dignities of honour in England Death of the Earle of Rutland Duchesse of Suffolke Booke 1. 1564. Articles of peace accorded on betweene the English and the French The King of France enstalled in the Order of the Garter The English ill entreated in Spaine And in the Low-countries The mutuall complaints of the English and Flemmish English Merchants prohibited in the Low-Countries The English constitute a Faire or Mart at Embden Guzman labors to atone this difference Queenè Elizabeth visits the Vniuersity of Cambridge Robert Dudley raised to honors Dudley accuseth Bacon Diuers opinions about the point of Succession The Queene of Scots cal◠home the Earle of Lenox into Scotland The discent of the Earle of Lenox Causes of the Repeale of the Earle of Lenox The Queene of England endeuours to preuent the Qu. of Scots proiect Another commendation of the Earle of Leicester A Treaty of Marriage betweene the Queene of Scots and the Earle of Leicester Booke 1. 1565. Darley goes into Scotland He is beloued of the Queene of Scotland Asketh Qu. Elizabeths consent Deliberation vpon it Throgmorton is sent to hinder He is answered Lenox and Darley are re-called out of Scotland They excuse themselues The Queene of Scotland marries the Lord Darley The Earle of Murray and others murmure The Queene of England indures it with moderation Some Scots take distaste about the marriage They are put to flight They are maintained in England They counsell the Qu. of England to marry The Emperour recommendeth his Brother It causeth hatred to grow in the Court. The Queene reconcileth them Tamworth not admitted They answere by writing Cecillia Queene of Sueden comes into England Creation of the Earle of Glencar Vice-Royes and Iustices of Ireland Affaires of Ireland Discord betweene the Earles of Desmond and Ormond Chiefe President of Mounster The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Booke 1. 1566. The Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Leicester Knights of the Order of France Prouision of Corne. The Earle of Arundel goes out of the Kingdome The English carry their Armes and their courages to the Hungarian Warre The birth of King Iames the sixth of Scotland The Queene of England reioyceth Visits the Vniuersity of Oxford Holds a Parliament The States sollicite her to marry and to declare her Successor The modestie of the great Ones The popular sort eagerly The Queene is angry She sweetens the moued spirits Giues backe part of the Subsidie Chides the States Maketh it plainely to appeare that the Queene of Scotland had the right of Succession The ordination of Bishops is confirmed Promoters supprest The Earle of Bedford sent Ambassrdour to the Queene of Scotland for the baptizing of her Sonne The death of I. Mason and Sir R. Sackuile Booke 1.
1567. The murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Qu. of Scots Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland A digression from Scottish affaires Iames Prior of Saint Andrews Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland Being frustrated of it vnder-hand opposes himselfe against the Queene Makes his ambition to be openly and euidently knowne He is created Earle of Murray He persecutes the great men of Scotland Hee disswades the Queen from marrying He takes armes against her after shee was married He flies into England He seekes to sow discord betweene the Husband and the Wife The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Murray is repealed Earle Morton flies into England Dissention set betweene the King and the Queene Lord Darley the Queenes Husband murdered Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene to marry him Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King He marries the Queene They conspire both against him and the Queene Earle Murray retyres into France Earle Bothwell is expelled The Queene emprisoned Queene Elizabeth complaines They consult what is to be done with the Queene prisoner Throgmorton defends the Queenes cause The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons They extort from their Queene a Resignation of the Gouernement Iames the 6. consecrated and inaugurated King Murray returnes into Scotland Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy Some of the murderers of the King are put to death They acquit the Queene of all suspition The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Queene Elizabeth demands the restitution of Calais The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Sir Thomas Smith's answere The Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Leicester hinders it Representing to her all the discommodities that might happē if she married a stranger Articles of the marriage propounded Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouie The English opened the way to goe to Russia by Sea The Company of Muscouie Marchants A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouy The death of N. Wotton And the Duchesse of Norfolke Shan O-neale raiseth troubles He rebels Sir Henry Sidney armes against him He is discomfited Shan re-assumes courage He vseth cruelty to his men He meanes to yeeld He is slaine Hugon who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon Troubles in Munster Booke 1. 1568. The Papists absolue many The Jnnouators shew themselues Puritans Second ciuill warre in France The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene Elizabeth for an Husband The English Ambassador disgracefully vsed in Spaine Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniards in America The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison She is vanquished She writes to Qu. Elizab. She writes againe Queene Elizabeth pitties her The priuy Counsell consult of it The Councell resolues she should be retained in England The Countesse of Lenox complaines of her The Baron of Heris interceds for her Earle Murray is commanded to yeeld a reason of the Queenes deposition Deputies for the King of Scots For the Qu. of Scots Lidingtons declaration to the Scots The protestation of the Queene of Scots Deputies A declaration for the Queene The anwer of the Kings Deputies The Queens Reply Murray refuseth to yeeld an account of the Queenes deposition Authoritie of the Commissioners reuokt The Duke of Norfolke glad New Commissioners granted The Queene of Scots wil not submit her cause to their hearing But vpon certaine conditions The Proceedings dissolued Debate about the Gouernment of Scotland Murray offers to marry the Duke of Norfolke to the Qu. of Scots He disperseth rumors against her The Duke of Norfolke suspected The third Ciuill-war in France Who did good to England The beginning of the Wars in the Low countries The Duke of Alua. Moneys sent into the low-Countries detained in England The English mens goods detained and seized vpon in the Low-Countries The like done to the Flemmings in England The death of Roger Askham Booke 1. 1569. A Proclamation touching goods detained Another declaration against the former Proclamation Practices against Cecil The money detayned in England is demanded Free traffique established at Hamborrough for the English Doctor Story taken The Duke of Alua enraged against the English Men of war called in Traffique of Russia hindred Liberties of the English in Russia Their traffique into Russia And into Persia by the Caspian Sea A Russian Ambassador in England Alliance of Russia The Emperour of Muscouia and of Russia is irritated and inflamed against the English Murray appeased the friends of the Queene of Scotland Rumors spred through-out Scotland against Murray Queene Elizabeth is diligent and endeuours to quench such false rumors She deales by Letters concerning her restoring The first mention of of this marriage Murray's proposition to the Duke of Norfolke Throgmortons counsell Propositions of the match made by Leicester to the Duke The Articles of marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland She agreed them in some manner A dessigne to free the Qu. of Scotland Notice is giuen thereof to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Leicester reueales the whole busines to the Queen at Tichfield She rebukes the Duke of Norfolke The Duke parts from the Court without leaue Cecill findes out the matter The Duke of Norfolke goes into Norfolke Feare caused in the Court through Norfolke He returnes to the Court. Murray discouers the businesse The Duke is imprisoned And others Their Complices craue pardon Libels against this marriage Chapin Vitelli comes into England and why Rebellion in the North. Pretext of the Rebels They runne violently into a Rebellion Their declaration They write to the Papists They rent and tread vnder-foot the Bible Their Colours Their number They returne They take Bernard Castle They fly Some are put to death The rest are banisht A new Rebellion The Rebells are defeated Qu. Elizabeth lends succours to the reformed Churches in France * This Noble Family was honoured with the dignity of Lord Howard of Walden by Queene Eliz. * Their most ancient House was honoured with the title of Baron of Bleso by Qu. Eliz. As also this noble Countesses Husbands Predecessor was also graced with the Earledome of Bath by her MAIESTIE * This Noble Lord is most highly borne from a most Honourable bloud being by his Father-side descended from the illustrious Lord William Berkeley Earle of Nottingham Vicount Berkeley of Berkeley-Castell and also Lord Marquis of Berkeley Earle Marshall of England * An illustrious Branch of the Noble House of the Caries created Baron of Honsdon by Qu Elizabeth * Descended fro◠Charles Blunt Earle of Deuonshire Lord Deputy and Lieutenant of Ireland a braue valiant Nobleman who expulsed the Spaniards there and compelled the Irish Rebells to submission he was created Baron of Mount-ioy by Queene Elizabeth * Knighted by Queeene Elizabeth at Killingworth There is great differency and diuersity tending to the manner of describing Stories First there is
and Scottish Iesuits do suggest diuers things to the Queene of Scots The French labour to hinder the League The King of Scots propoundeth conditions He is not deterred by the French King Iames's answer to them The League of fast friendship A conspiracie against Queene Elizabeth How discouered Ballard returneth into France Ballard sent backe into England Meeteth with Babington He instructs him in the stratagem Babington receiueth Letters from the Queene of Scots He writeth back to her She answereth him His associates in the conspiracie Babington giueth to euery one his taske They confer together Their vanity Babington in care to bring in the forraigne aides sends Ballard to worke for him Insinuateth with Walsingham Deceit by deceit deceiued Giffard discouereth all the conspiracy Sendeth the Letters he receiued to Walsingham Ballard vpon his departure is taken Babington soliciteth for Ballards libertie Falleth into the same net Getteth himselfe out Lyeth in a wood Harrow-Hill They are found And all the rest of the conspirators All discouered The Q. of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seruants Her Cofers with Letters sent to the Queene Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably The Traytors come to Iudgement Are punished The Queen of Scots her Secretaries examined The King of France is aduertised Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Scottish Queene By what Law shee should be iudged Commissioners appointed to heare the cause A Commission granted to that end Booke 6. * William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Edward de Vere Earle of Oxford Lo high Chamberlâ—ine of England George Talbot Earle of Shrewâ—bury Earl Marshall Henry Grâ—y Earle of Kent Henry Stâ—â—â—â—y Earle of Derby William Somerset Earle of Worcester Edward Manners E. of Rutland Ambrose Duâ—ley E. of Warwick Master of our Ordnance Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Robert Dudley E. of Leicester Master of our horse Henry E. of Lincoln Charles L. Howard high Admiral of England Anthony Viscount Montagu Henry Cary BaroÌ„ of Hunsdon Lo. Chamberlaine of our houshold Henry Neuill Baron of Abergaueny Edward Lord Zouch Edward Parker L. Morley Will. L. Cobham Lord Warden of the cinque Ports Edward L. Stafford Arthur Lord Gray of Wâ—lton Iohn L. Lumley Iohn L. Stuâ—ton William L. Sands Henry L. Wâ—ntworth Lodowick L. Mordant Iohn L. Saint Iohn of Bletso Tâ—â—mas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst Henry L. Compten Henry Lo. Cheney Sir Francis Knolls knight Treasurer Sir Iacob Crofts knight CoÌ„troller Sir Christ Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine Sir Francis Walsingham our Secretary of State William Dauâ—son Esq our second Secretary Sir Ralph Sadler knight Chancellor of our Dutchy of Lancaster Sir Walter Mildmay knight 〈◊〉 Aymâ— Poulet knight gouernor of our Island of sarsey all our trâ—sty beloued priuy Counsellor and Sir Christopher Wâ—ay knight L. chiefe Iustice of the Common plees Iohn Wâ—â—sey esq our Secretary for the Latin Sir Edmund Anderson knight L. chiefe Iust of our Bench Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of our Exchequer Sir Thomas Gawdy and Sir William Pickering Commissioners come to her She answereth the letters vpon the sudden Booke 3. Addeth the next day to her answer She refuseth her tryall Exception against the new-made Law Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare Her tergiuersation Shee yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer The maner of the sitting The Lord Chancellor speaketh to her Her protestation Recorded Proceeding She denieth the former allegation Copies of letters shewed Extracts out of Babbingtons confession She denieth them They vrge her with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard She blames Walsingham Walsingham maketh his Apologie Charles Pagets letters are produced and Babingtons and the testimonies of her Secretaries She obiecteth against their credites Arguing about transferring the kingdome She excuseth her selfe for hauing giuen Morgan an annuall pension by pensions giuen to the Scottishmen She offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges for her libertie The Lord Burghley answereth She interrupteth him He proceedeth Letters shewed again She interrupteth their reading Affirmeth her Secretaries were not to be credited She is accused againe for transporting the Kingdome She condemnes her Secretaries as periured Sir Thomas Egertons the Q Sollicitors demonstratioÌ„ She crauest a hearing iâ— open Parliament Sentence pronounced against her Some suspect the credite of the Secretaries Or duety Declaration that the sentence against the Q. of Scotts did nothing preiudice her sonne A Parliament held The banishing of traytors confirmed The States approue confirme the sentence and desire the publication therof The Queen answereth She desireth them to find out some other remedie Their Answer to her Her reply to them The Q. of Scotland is certified of her iudgment The Ambassador of France slayeth the publishing of the Sentence Notwithstanding it is published The Queen of Scotland carrieth herself with a resolute courage She moues a request to Queen Elizabeth Opinions of the Q. of Scotl. cause In her behalfe Against her The Q. of Scotland's sonne intercedeth for her Some Scots against her The K. by letters and messages And propoundeth some things considerable As the K. of France did by his Ambassadors Bellieures reasons for the Qu. of Scotland Answers to his Reasons The Ambassadour of France attempteth Queene Elizabeths life Stafford discouereth the enterprise to the CouÌ„cell The Ambassadour denieth it The Ambassadour mildly rebuked Whether an Ambassador be to discouer the attempts if he know any to be committed against the Prince to whom he is sent But Gray the Scot more She weigheth these businesses The Courtiers perswade her By reasons And by examples She is notwithstanding suspensiue perplexed with doubtfull feares She commandeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution Her Councell send secretly The Q. of Scotl. prepares herself for death Shee is brought to the scaffold Her speeches to Meluine her Steward To the Earles Her last words The Epitaph The prouidence of God plainly seen in her death Elizabeth is sorry therefore and grieueth thereat Is angry with her Councell They vrge him vpon his owne confession The Queen Sergeants reproue him The Iudges opinion vpon his fact The L. Gray defendeth him Sentence giuen against him He maketh request to the Commissioners Dauison his particular Apologie The indignation of the Nation of Scotland Suggestions vsed to the King Qu. Elizabeth indeuoureth to appease them By what reasons Sir Francis Drake is sent into Spaine to preuent the comming of the Jnuincible Nauy for the inuasion of England His expeditions The great Carraque Saint Philip is taken The profit which the English receiued thereby The East Indies Companie Thomas Cauendish circuits the Earth Stanley and Yorke Traitors New kinde of Duels brought into England With what successe The States of the vnited Prouinces doe blame the Earle of Leicester The States send for Leicester again to raise the siege before Sluce Leicester is molested Leicester goes about to make himselfe Lord ouer their Cities He is called home againe The Title of his Excellency Leicester distributes Medailles coyned en memory of his person to those of his faction The Estates doe put in Leicester place Prince Maurice of Nassau Leicesters faction in the Low-Countries Russell suspected Leicester auoids his aduersaries accusation The death of the Lord Neuill Baron of Abergauenny And the Duchesse of Somerset being very aged And Sir Ralph Sadler Also Sir Thomas Bromley The Earle of Rutland dyes And Sir Christopher Hatton is made Lord High Chancellor William Fitz-Williams Lord Deputie of Ireland for the same time The reason why it is a difficult thing to war against Jreland Booke 3. 1588. A wonderfull and admirable Yeere Great preparations are in hand in Spaine to assault and inuade England By what counsell The reason why They consult about the meanes how to assault and subdue England Preparation in Flanders Traytors hated The Popes assistance Preparation in England By Sea And Land Consultation for defence And concerning the Papists at home The King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniards Booke 3· Conference of peace in the meane time Commissioners sent to that end into Flanders Propositions of the English answered Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma The conference breakes vp The Spanish Armada 28. Maij. Sets forth and is dispersed Sets out againe The English Nauy sets out The first fight The ability of the English Flees * Cantabrica Peter Valdes taken The Ship of Oquenda taken The English Admirals prouidence The third fight Knights created for their valours by the Right Honourable Charles Howard Earle of Notingham Lord High-Admirall Diuers Noble-men and Knights of England ioyne themselues with the English Fleet before Calais The Spanish Fleet lyes at anchor and rests betwixt Calais and Douer The Duke of Parma is sent for againe by the Spaniards He is vnprepared The good seruice of the Hollanders who hindred Parma from ioyning his Forces with the Spanish Nauy The Spaniards amazed fly confusedly Hugh Moncada slaine The fourth combate The Spaniards resolue to returne home by the North-Sea The Queene visits her Campe. Conditions offered vnto the King of Scots Money coyned in memory of this famous victory Tout ainsi coÌ„me l'on dit de Caesar IL EST VENV IL A VEV IL A VINCY on peu dire de mesme de L'espagnol auss que IL EST VENV IL A VEV mais qui pis est IL â—'EN EST ENFVY aulieu que Caesar estoit victorieux Misery of the Spaniards in Jreland Causes of the defeat The Spaniard takes patiently this ouerthrow Queene Elizabeth caused a generall thankes-giuing to God for it and publique reioycing in England Praysed those who were of the English Nauy The publike ioy is increased by the good newes which came out of Scotland The death of Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester His dignities and titles His disposition and manners Leicesters goods are sold Berghen ap Zoom besieged by the Duke of Parma Who raiseth the siege Innouations in England Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous Bookes Beginning of a great Rebellion in Jreland Ambassadour in Denmarke The Emperour of Russia most fauourable to the English
Aimé Stuart Lord Aubigny into Scotland 393. Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Thomas Bromley Sir Thomas Gresham dye one after another 396. Dauile murdered in his bed 398. The death of the Lord Druty Deputie 401. Anno M.D.LXXX ARthur Lord Gray made Deputie of Ireland 405. The Spaniards and Italians land in Ireland 406. They are all slaine and the subiects hanged 407. The taking of Malines And of an Earth-quake 409. The beginning of the English Seminaries 410. Persons and Campian Iesuites came into England 413. Sir Francis Drake returnes into England 417. Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America 419. Drakes voyage and warlike exploits 424. The Spaniards demand his riches 428. The death of Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell 430. The Earle of Lenox enuyed by the Scots is accused by them to Queene ELIZABETH 432. Alexander Earle of Homes Baron of Dunglas is sent from King IAMES to excuse it 434. Regent Morton is cast into prison 435. The end of the Contents of the Second Booke THE CONTENTS Of this royall and famous HISTORY THE THIRD BOOKE RANDOLPHS intercession for Morton against Lenox Folio 1. The King of Scotts answer 2 Norris his victories in Freezland 4 Albanois 5 Drunkennesse brought out of the Low-countries ibid. By what right the King of Spaine possesseth Portugall ibid. The Qu. of France her title to Portugall reiected 6 Antonio banisht Portugall 7 Couenants of marriage betweene the Duke of Anjou and Q. Elizabeth concluded on 8 The K. of France vrgeth the marriage and the Q. of Engl. deferreth 10 Qu. Elizabeth giueth the Duke of Anjou a Ring 12 The queene much disquieted 13 Reasons disswading her from marriage and a booke set out against it 14 The Queens declaration against this pernicious libell 15 Champian the Iesuite and other Priests put to death 17 New lawes against Papists 18 The Duke of Anjou sayleth into Flanders 19 A Comet 21 Qu. Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke 21 The treaty concerning the queene of Scotts is deferred 22 Gowry and others tumult in Scotland 23 The Duke of Lenox driuen out of Scotland ibid. An Ambassie from the French K. for the deliuery of the king of Scots 24 The qu. of Scotland's letter to queen Elizâ—beth 25 The Duke of Lenox returnes thorough England 33 Consultations about the deliuery of the queene of Scotland 34 The K. of Scotland seekes the loue of the queene of England 36 The King of Scotland sets himselfe at liberty 37 Walsingham is sent into Scotland from queene Elizabeth ibid. The king of Scots answers him freely 38 Walsinghams remonstrations to his sacred Maiesty ibid. The King answereth them 39 His Maiesty reestablâ—shed the reputation and honour of the Duke of Lenox causing likewâ—se his children to returne into Scotland 39 The Ministers of Scotland are against their Kings authority 40 A peace obtained for the King of Sweden ibid. The Emperour desires alliance with England and is a suiter to her Maiesty to graunt him an English Lady for his wife ibid. The Emperours death 41 A Polonian Nobleman commeth into England to see queene Elizabeth 42 A wonderfull earth-quake in Dorset-shire ibid. The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Essex 43 Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned by shipwrack 44 The death of E. Grindall Archbish of Canterbury ibid. Iohn Whitgift preferred to bee Archbishop of Canterbury 45 The English betray Alost and do deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard 48 A miserable end of traytors ibid. The Earle of Desmond is slaine ibid. Nicholas Sanders an English Seminary Priest famisht himselfe 49 Viscount of Baltinglasse fled out of Ireland 50 Labouring men sent into Ireland 51 The gestures and behauiour of Sir Iohn Perrot Viceroy of Ireland ibid. Troubles in Scotland 52 The Earle of Gowry is taken the conspirators are dâ—spersed queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them the king demandeth them by the league but in vaine 53 Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiue Hunsdon against them 54 The power of a Secretary argued ibid. The arraignement of Gowry ibid. He is beheaded 55 The treason of Fr. Throkmorton 56 The Lo Paget retyreth into France ibid. The queenes clemency towards Papists 57 The Priests are banished 58 Spanish Ambassadour sent out of England 59 Thokmortons confession 61 A new treaty with the qu. of Scots 63 She answereth propositions made vnto her 64 She demandeth to be associated to the kingdome with her sonne 65 The queene of Scotts maketh new propositions 66 The Scotts of the English faction oppose them 67 The insolency of the Scottish Ministers 68 Buchanans writings reproued ibid. The Scottish and English make incursions one vpon another 69 Patrick Grayes Ambassage ib. The queen of Scotts committed to new guardians 72 Councell holden amongst the Papists 73 The death of the Earle of Westmerland ibid. The death of Plowden ib. Alancon dyeth and the Prince of Orenge is slaine 74 The French king inuested with the Order of the Garter 75 Is accused of treason 76 His confession 77 He consulteth with the Iesuites about the murdering of the queene ibid. He discloseth the matter to the queen 78 Alans booke addeth fresh courage to him 79 Neuill offereth him his helpe ibid. Parry is arraigned and executed 80 Lawes demanded in Parliament against Bishops and against Non-residents 81 Lawes against Iesuites and Priests 82 The Earle of Arundell resolueth to flye out of England 83 The Earle of Northumberland is found dead ibid. The causes of his imprisonment manifest 85 Lamentation for the Earle of Northumberland 87 Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Princes of Germany ibid. The like with the king of Scotts 88 Arâ—atâ—on of the death of Russell and the manner thereof ibid. The death of Thomas Carre 90 The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England back into Scotland ibid. They are reconciled vnto the King 92 The rebellion of the Bourkes in Ireland 93 The Sccots of Hebrides called into Ireland 94 The Gouernour laboureth for a peace but in vaine 95 He pursueth the Scotts and defeateth them 96 The States of the Netherlands consult of a Protector 97 They are refâ—sed of the French and the English consult about it 98 The Dutch offer themselues to the queene 100 Antwerpe is yeelded vp the queene deliberateth with her selfe and takes vpon her the protection 101 Vnder what conditions 102 Queene Elizabeth publisheth the causes and sends to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard 103 Iames town taken from the Spaniard 104 Hispaniola or S. Dominick surprised ibid. Spaniards motto Auarice and Couetousnesse 105 Carthagena assaulted ibid. Saint Anthony and S. Helena fired by the English 106 Booty of the English voyage and expedition 107 A search made for a discouery of a way to the East Indies ibid. An Edict against Woad 108 Death of the Earle of Lâ—ncolne and of the Earle of Bedford 109 Earle of Leister sent into Holland ibid. His instruction 110 Absolute authority giuen to the Earle of Leyster by the States 111 Queen Elizabeth offended thereat
she expostulateth the matter 112 The States excuse themselues 113 Leister sendeth succour to the city of Graue it is yeelded and the Spaniard expelled 114 An aduentrous enterprise ibid. Venolo is lost 115 Axell is taken ibid. Graueline attempted ibid. Ausborough beleagred ibid. Sir Philip Sidney slaine 116 States of Holland complaine to Leyster 117 He returneth into England 118 Earle of Arundell questioned and answereth for himselfe ibid. King of Denmarke intercedeth for a peace with the queene of England ibid. Queene Elizabeth answereth 119 She furnisheth Henry king of Nauarr with money 120 Shee desireth a league with Scotland ibid. Iesuites and Popish Priests suggest diuerse things to the queene of Scots ibid. King of Scotland propoundeth conditions and is not a whit deterred by the French 121 King Iames answer to them 122 A conspiracy against queene Elizab. 129 How discouered 130 Ballard returneth into France ibid. Ballard sent back into England meeteth with Babingâ—on ibid. Babington receiueth letters from the queene of Scots 131 He writeth back to her and she answereth him 132 His associates in the conspiracy 133 Babington giueth to euery one his taske 134 They consult together 135 Babington vndertakes to bring in forreine ayde and sends Ballard to worke for him 136 Gifford discouereth all the conspiracy ibid. Sendeth the letters hee receiued to Walsingham 137 Ballard is taken ibid. Babington solliciteth for Ballards liberty and falleth into the same net ibid. Getteth himselfe out lyeth in a wood and is found 138 All the rest of the conspirators are discouered 139 Queene of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seâ—uants ibid. Her coffer with letters sent to the qu. ibid. Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably 140 The traytors come to iudgement ibid. Queene of Scots Secretary examined 143 King of France aduertised ibid. Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Sccottish queene ibid. By what law she should be iudged â—44 Commission granted to that end 〈◊〉 Who met at Fotheringham Castle â—46 Her sudden answer to the letters ibid. She refuseth to be tryed 148 Exception against the new law 149 Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare 150 Her tergiuersation 151 She yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer 152 Manner of the sitting ibid. Lord Chancellors speech 153 Her protestation recorded ibid. Proceeding 154 She denieth the former allegation ib. Copies of letters shewed 155 Extracts out of Babingtons confession ibid. Shee is vrged with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard 156 Walsingham is blamed ibid. Maketh his Apologie 157 Pagets and Babingtons letters produced 158 Secretaries testimonies ibid Their credites questioned ibid. Arguing about transferring the kingdome 159 Giuing of a pension to Morgan excused 160 Queene of Scots offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges 161 Lord Burghley's answer 162 She interrupteth him but hee proceedeth 163 Letters shewed againe 164 She interrupteth their reading ibid. Her Secretaries not to be credited ib. She is accused againe for transferring the kingdome and accuseth her Secretaries of periury 165 Sir Thomas Egertons demonstration ibid. She craueth a hearing in open Parliament ibid Sentence pronounced against her 166 Declaration that the sentence against the queen of Scotl. was not preiudiciall to her sonne 167 The States approue the sentence ibid. Queene Elizabeth's answer 168 Some other remedy desired by the qu. 172 Answer to her ibid Her reply to them 173 Queene of Scotland is certified of her Iudgement 177 French Ambassadour stayeth the publishing of the sentence 178 Courage of the queene of Scots ibid. A request made to queene Elizabeth 179 Opinions of the queene of Scots cause 180 Queen of Scotlands sonne intercedeth for her 18â— Some Scots against her ibid. King of Scots propoundeth some thingâ— considerable 18â— Bellieures reasons for the queene of Scotland 18â— Answers to his reasons 28â— French Ambassador attempteth queen Elizabeth's life 192 Stafford discouereth it 193 French Ambassador rebuked 194 Whether an Ambassador be bound to discouer any attempt against the Prince to whom he is sent ibid. Businesse weighed 196 Courtiers perswade by reasons 197 The queene perplexed with doubtfull feares 199 She causeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution ibid. Her Councell send secretly 200 The queene of Scotland prepares her selfe for death ibid. Her speech 201 She is brought to the scaffold 202 Her speeches to Meluine her steward 203 Also to the Earles ibid. In the behalfe of her owne seruants ibid. Her attendance by officers to the scaffold 204 Her prayers ibid. Her last words ibid. Deane of Petherboroughs speech 205 Her variety of fortunes related 206 Her Epitaph 207 Gods prouidence plainly seene in her death 208 Queene Elizabeth is much grieued at her death ibid. Is angry with her Councell ibid. Her letter to the King of Scotland 209 Dauison brought into the Star-chamber 210 He is obiected against ibid. He answereth for himselfe ibid. He is vrged vpon his owne confession 211 He is reproued by the queenes Sergeants 212 Iudges giue their opinion ibid He is chekt 213 Lord Gray defendeth him ibid. Earles agree with him 214 Sentence giuen against Dauison 215 A request made to the Commissioners ibid. Dauison his particular Apology ibid. Indignation of the Scots 217 Suggestions to the king 218 Drake sent into Spaine 221 Stanley and Yorke traytors 223 Leycester blamed 228 Death of Henry Neuill 234 Baron of Abergauenny 236 Of the Duchesse of Somerset 237 Of Radolph Sadleir 238 Of sir Thomas Bromley 240 Of the Earle of Rutland 241 Of sir Christopher Hatton Lo. Chancellour 242 William Fitz-William Deputy of Ireland 250 Great preparations in Spaine to inuade England and by what counsail 252 The reason 253 Consultation how to assault and subdue England 254 Preparation in Flanders 255 The Pope giues assistance 256 Consultation how to defend the kingdome 257 King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniard 258 Commissioners sent into Flanders to treat of peace 259 Propositions of the English answered 260 Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma 262 Conference of peace breakes 263 The Spanish Armado 264 Sets forth and is dispersed ibid. Sets out againe 266 The English Nauy sets out 267 The first fight 268 Ability of the English Elect. 269 Peter Valdes taken 270 The Ship of Oquenda taken 271 Admirall of Englands prouidence 273 The third fight 275 Knights created for their valour by the Lord Admirall 276 Diuers Noblemen and Knights ioyne with the English Fleet. 277 Spanish Fleet at anchor ibid. Duke of Parma sent for by the Spaniard but he is vnprepared 278 Hollanders good seruice ibid. Spaniards flight 279 Hugh Moncada slaine 280 Fourth combate 281 The Spaniards resolue to return home by the North Sea 282 Queene Eliz. visites her Campe. 283 Conditions offered vnto the King of Scotts 284 Money coyned in memory of this famous victory ibid. Misery of the Spaniards in Ireland 285 Causes of the defeat ibid Patience of the Spaniard in this ouerthrow 286 A generall thankesgiuing and publick reioycing in England ibid.
Christian Princes to let them vnderstand Queen MARY's decease She therefore appointed and sent with all speed to the Emperour Ferdinando Sir Thomas Chaloner with letters of her owne hand-writing by which shee gaue him notice of her Sisters death and that first by Gods speciall grace next by her hereditary right and through the generall loue and consent of all her Subiects she succeeded these her Crownes and dignities And that now she desired nothing more than to maintaine the loue and to encrease the ancient amitie which of long time had beene betweene the Houses of England and Austria To the King of Spaine who at that time was in the Low-Countries she also sent Ambassador the Lord Brook Baron of Cobham with the like Embassage and Commission by which shee of new imployed and delegated the Earle of Arundell Turlbey Bishop of Ely and L. Wotton who before had beene delegated and appointed by Queene MARY for the treatie of peace in the Citie of Cambray and adioyned to them W. Howard Baron of Effingham She also secretly sent Sir Henry Killigrew Ambassadour to the Princes of Germany to inflame them in the zeale of Gods pure Religion To the King of Denmarke D. B. was sent Ambassador and to the Duke of Holsatia also Armigild Waade Philip King of Spaine hearing of the death of Queen MARY fearing one way to lose the title of King of England and the force of that Realme which were vnto him most vsefull and profitable and likewise that the kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland should be vnited to the Crowne of France by the meanes of the high and mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland hee therefore treats seriously of a match with Queene ELIZABETH with promise to obtaine a speciall dispensation from the Pope And to that effect imployed the Earle of Ferie who had visited her MAIESTIE by the like meanes as he had done Queene MARY in her sicknesse This Sutor puts Queene ELIZABETH into great anxiety and perplexity considering how inconsiderate and ingratefull her Maiestie might seeme to be in refusing a Christian Prince who had already obliged her in other things much but yet more in this as to seeke her to his wife through his owne free desire and motion The French King likewise was in an extasie considering how important and dangerous it was to France if Spaine her enemy should vnite adioyne to his kingdoms the Realmes of England and Ireland therefore hee vseth his best endeuours at Rome by the intermission of the Bishop of Angoulesme to hinder the grant of such dispensation shewing to that end that Queene ELIZABETH was held for Supportresse of the Protestant Religion and rather than faile went about to declare her illegitimate But all this most secretly and closely for feare to irritate England before that his affaires were throughly well settled The Earle of Ferie contrariwise on the other side labours as hard to bring this marriage to passe and to that end giues the English Papists to vnderstand who were dispersed throughout all parts of the Realme that it was the sole and onely way left for them to preserue their Religion and defend their ancient dignities and honours and that if they should contemne it hee could not but deplore the misery and calamity of England as being out of money vnprouided of men trained vp and vnskild in the military discipline void of fortification and lacking munition and garrisons for Warre and her Councellors of State depriued likewise of good aduice And indeed to speake truely Englands affaires were at that time in a most miserable case and lamentable state for England had warre on the one side with Scotland and on the other side with France and was in a manner vndone by those debts that King HENRY the Eighth and King EDWARD the Sixt had run into and her treasury was exhaust and empty and the Town of Callais had beene but newly lost and the whole Countrey of Oyes with all the munition and furniture of warre The people here were diuided into contrarieties through differency of religion and the Queene left without any powerfull friend to assist her hauing no alliance at all abroad with forrain Princes But when as her Maiestie had more seriously agitated her spirit and carefully considered in her minde the proposition of this match shee findes the holy Scripture expressely inioyning that no woman ought to ioyne with him who had beene her sisters Husband no more than it is lawfull for a man to marry his brothers widdow and therefore that such marriages were directly illegitimate and wholly forbidden by Gods Law although the Pope should neuer so much grant a Dispensation And moreouer that if she should contract it by vertue thereof shee should acknowledge and proue her selfe illegitimate sith shee was issued from the match that King HENRY her father had contracted after his diuorcing and putting away Katherine of Spaine for hauing beene his brothers wife which neuerthelesse had beene approued iust and lawfull according to the Diuine Law by all the Academies of Christendome and likewise the Synod of London as well as that of Katherine vniust and vnlawfull Her Maiestie therefore endeuours to stop preuent and hinder by little and little the course of King Philips suite by an honest answer truely modest and well-beseeming the chaste integrity of her constant virginity and chiefly grounded vpon scruple of her conscience But he notwithstanding all this surceased not his suite but persisted therein vrging her with feruent and frequent Letters By which shee obserued the manners and behauiours of so great a King compounded with grace and graue modesty and truely worthy his Maiestie the said Letters being much by her admired in the often publishing of them yea her Maiestie taking pleasure to imitate them vntill some Nobles of her Court began to defame and speake against the matchlesse pride and practices of the Spaniards Also some of the intimate Lords and fauorites of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell fearing lest the tender and young spirit of a Maide often moued might easily condescend to their desires told to her MAIESTIE secretly that both her Maiestie and friends with the whole Realme of England were vndone if in such Dispensations or in any thing else whatsoeuer she should giue any credit or make the least estimation of the Popes authoritie and power since that two of them had declared and published her Mother illegitimate and vnlawfully ioyned in wedlocke with King HENRY the Eighth Also that by vertue of such Declaration the most high and most mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland should pretend right to the Crownes of England c. and that the Pope would neuer retract nor goe from that iudgement and that her Maiestie should not expect nor looke for any thing good or iust from the Popes hand who had beene enemies and shewed themselues vniust both towards her Maiestie and her Mother And that the French King laboured hard vsing his vtmost power and
who was father to the gracious Princesse Frances Dutchesse of Richmond and Lenox now liuing Moreouer her Maiestie created Sir Henry Carie Baron of Hunsdon who was allyed to her Maiesty by the Lady M. Bullen and that Noble Gentleman Oliuer Saint Iohn shee made Baron of Bletso who all were free from the Popish Religion After this her Maiesty is conuayed in pompe and Royall Magnificency from the Tower of London to Westminster thorow the Citie of London with incredible applause and generall acclamations which as her Maiestie was equally venerable in sight and hearing increased meruailously and the next morning her Maiestie was there inaugurated with the right of her Ancestors and anoynted by Owen Oglethorpe Bishop of Carlile when as the Arch-Bishop of Yorke and diuers other Prelates had refused the performance of that duty through a suspicious feare of the Roman Religion conceiued partly because her Maiesty had beene brought vp from the Cradle in the Protestant Religion and partly also that she had a little before forbidden a Bishop at the Diuine Seruice from lifting vp and adoring the Hoste and likewise permitted to haue the Letany Epistles the Gospell in English which they held as execrable Yet Queen ELIZABETH was truely godly pious and zealously deuoted for her Maiestie was not so soone out of her bed but fell vpon her knees in her priuate Closet praying to God deuoutly Certaine houres were by her Maiestie reserued and vowed to the Lord. Moreouer her Maiestie neuer failed any Lords day and holy day to frequent the Chappell neither was euer any Prince conuersant in Diuine Seruice with more deuotion then her sacred Maiestie was Shee zealously heard all the Sermons in Lent beeing attyred in blacke and very diligently gaue attention thereunto according to the ancient vse and custome although shee said repeated oftentimes that which she had read of HENRY the third her Predecessor that her Maiestie had rather in her Prayers speake to God deuoutly then heare others speake of Him eloquently And concerning the Crosse our blessed Lady and the Saints she neuer conceiued irreuerently of them neither spake her selfe nor suffered any others to speake of them without a certaine kinde of Reuerence Within few dayes after there was a Parliament held in which was enacted by a generall consent First that Queen ELIZABETH was and ought to bee both by the Diuine and Ciuill Law and the Statutes of this Realme and as I may vse their proper termes and forme the lawfull vndoubted and direct Queene of England rightly and lawfully descending from the Royall Blood according to the order of succession which was likewise formerly enacted by Parliament in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRIE the Eighth yet neuerthelesse that Law was not abolished by which her Father excluded both her and her Sister MARY from succeeding him in the Crowne And therefore it was thought by some that the Lord Bacon vpon whom her Maiesty relyed as an Oracle of the Law had forgotten himselfe and was destitute in that particular of his wonted Prudencie in not foreseeing the euent and especially because the Duke of Northumberland had obiected the same both against her Sister MARY and her selfe and to that end Queen MARY had abolished it in as much as concerned her selfe At which time there were some that drew against her Maiestie most dangerous inuectiues and conclusions in such manner as if she had not bin lawfull Queene although the Lawes of England many yeeres agoe determined Que la Couronne vnefois prinse ofte toute sorte de defaults That the Crowne once possessed cleareth and purifies all manner of defaults or imperfections But many on the other side commended the wisdome of the Lord Bacon therein as vnwilling in regard of such confusion of the Lawes and Acts to open a wound already clozed vp with the Time For that which made for Queene ELIZABETH seemed to tend to the shame and disgrace of Queene MARY And therefore shee held her selfe to the Law made in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRY the Eighth who restored and vpheld in a certaine manner each of their Honours Afterwards there was in the Parliament likewise propounded that forasmuch as concerned the Crown of England and the ancient iurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall matters should be re-established with the Lawes of King HENRY the Eighth against the Sea of Rome and of EDVVARD the Sixth in the behalfe of the Protestants which Queene MARY had vtterly abolished ordaining That all Iurisdictions Priuiledges and Spirituall Preheminences which heretofore were in vse and appointed by Authority for to correct Errours Heresies Schismes Abuses and other Enormities in Ecclesiasticall Affaires should for euer remaine as vnited to the Crowne of England and that the Queenes Maiestie with her successors should likewise haue full power to appoint Officers by their Letters Patents to execute this Authority neuerthelesse vpon this charge that they should not define any thing to be haereticall but that which had beene declared such long agoe by the holy and Canonicall Scriptures or by the foure first Oecuminike Councels or others according to the true and naturall sense of the holy Scripture or which should afterward in some Synod by the authority of the Parliament and approbation of the Clergie of England be declared That euery Ecclesiasticall Magistrate and such as receiue pension out of the publike Treasure to aduance and promote themselues in the Vniuersities to emancipate Pupils to inuest Domaines or receiue seruants of the Royall House were oblig'd by Oath to acknowledge her Royall Maiestie the sole and soueraigne Gouernour of the Realme for as much as concerneth the Title of Soueraigne Head of the Church of England it pleased her not in all things or causes as well spirituall as temporall all forraigne Princes and Potentates excepted entirely excluded to informe of any causes within the Lands of her obeysance But there were nine Bishops that sare the same day in the vpper House of Parliament and opposed themselues and were wilfully refractary against these Lawes beeing then but foureteene aliue namely the Arch-Bishop of Yorke the Bishops of London of Winchester of Worcester of Landaff of Couentrie of Exceter of Chester and of Carlil with the Abbot of Westminster And amongst the Nobility there were none that gaue aduice that England should bee reduced againe to the vnity of the Romane Church and obedience of the Apostolike Sea except the Earle of Shropshire and Anthony Browne Vicount Montaigue who as I said here before was in Queene MARIES Raigne sent in Ambassage to Rome by the States of the Kingdome with Thurbey Bishop of Ely who by a feruent zeale of Religion insisted sharpely that it were a great shame for England if she should retire so suddenly from the Apostolike Sea vnto which it was but lately reconciled and more danger if by reason of such reuolt it should be exposed by the thunder of an Excommunication to the rage of her enemies That by
Towne next after they make Trenches and raise Mounts from which they battered no lesse the Towne then the Ships The French make many Sallies out with more courage than strength and shewe many proofes of Magnanimity Amongst others vpon the fifteenth day of Aprill they tooke the Trenches nayled three of the greatest Cannons tooke and led away prisoner M. Berclé But I. Croft and C. Vaghan driue them backe as fast into the Towne and it was not done without losse of men Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Baron Gray who had the principall command in the Campe was shot into the shoulder After that they bring the Campe neerer to the Towne because the Battery was so farre off that the Bullets for the most part fell without effect and a short time after part of the Towne and a great quantity of Corne was burned by casuall fire which was much encreased by the English who placed on that side their biggest Cānons and being in the meane time entred into the Ditch tooke the height of the Wall and the sixth of May while the English and the Scots were together of accord hauing placed the Ladders on all sides gaue three powerful alssaults to gaine the Wall but because they were too short and the waters higher then ordinary the Sluces beeing shut they were repulsed with a showre of Bullets that ouerwhelmed them from aboue and there were many slaine yet more wounded This check was imputed to Croft's fault because he had stayed in his Quarter with his Armes foulded as if he had reproued this expedition seeing others doe without putting himselfe in action to assist those who had neede thereof and I cannot tell whether hee did it out of iudgement or for affection which he bore to the French or for hatred to Gray But so it is that Norfolke and Gray accused by Letters which they writ to the Queene to haue had secret consultations with the Queene of the Scots and to haue oppos'd this designe and in hauing sequitiuely bin brought in iustice the gouernment of Barwicke was taken from him and giuen to the Lord Baron Gray But the Queene shewing him fauour conseru'd it for him and for his merit established him afterward Controwler of her Maiesties House This first Mis-hap hauing abated the courage of the English and Scots the Duke of Norfolke rais'd them as quickly vp againe by new Troops which hee brought to strengthen and since that time there were some light combates vntill that the King of France hauing aduice that his men were so blockt vp at Lieth that all the Passages by Sea and Land were shut also considering that they could not send him succour in time requisite for the great distance of places and the seditions which augmented from day to day in his Kingdome gaue power to the Bishop of Valence and De la Roche Faucaud to accord the Affaires with Qu. ELIZABETHS Commissioners esteeming and the Queene of Scotland with them that it were a thing vnworthy their Maiesty to enter into equall dispute with their Subiects And Queen ELIZABETH deputed as speedily into Scotland W. Cecill and N. Wotton Deane of Canterburie and Yorke At the same time the C. of Murray made some propositions But Cecill thought that they ought not to be made by Subiects nor agreed on by Princes During these debatings the decease of Queene Marie of Lorraine mother to the Queen and Regent of the Kingdome of Scotland hapned a pious most prudēt Princesse who was neuerthelesse ignominiously and vnworthily handled by hot-headed Preachers as it may appeare euen by the Ecclesiasticall History of Scotland which Queene ELIZABETH caused to be suppressed vnder the Presse and by the Lords of the Assembly who as being borne Councellors of State had vnder the name of Queene of Scotland and her Husband suspended her from all administration as contrary to the glory of God and the libertie of Scotland The Articles of which the Commissioners after the siege begun agreed vpon are these THe treaty of peace made in the Castle of Cambray betwixt Queene ELIZABETH and Henry the Second the French King shall be renewed and confirmed They shall cease both the one side and the other to make preparation of warre The Fortresse of Aymouth in Scotland shall be demolisht The said King and Queene Mary shall quit the title and armes of England and Ireland The strifes touching the recompence of the iniurie done to Queene ELIZABETH and the assurance of the first Article are remitted to another Assembly which shall be holden at London and if they cannot then be agreed of it shall be referred to the Catholique King The King and the Queene shall reconcile themselues with the Nobles amongst their Subiects of Scotland the Confederates shall be therein comprised and aboue all the Catholique King This Treatie shall be confirmed within sixtie dayes the intertayning of it sworne on both sides This Peace is published as well in the Campe as in the City with a common reioycing of all The English growing weary of the warre seeing their neighbouring Countrey vtterly spoyled The French because they were depriued of all traffique commerce and the Scots for not hauing beene payed their wages And indeed it was holden for the weale good and well-fare of Great Brittaine since Scotland retained his ancient liberty and England kept the dignity and surety which it had gotten And since that time she hath beene really exempt and freed from all subiects of feare from Scotland side The English haue merrily acknowledged that Queene ELIZABETH was the founder of the surety and the Protestants of Scotland Restoresse of the liberty During all that time Queene ELIZABETH for the singular loue which shee bore to the parties was so attentiue to the publique good that shee razed from her heart the loue of powerfull Princes who sought her in marriage to wit CHARLES Arch-duke of Austria second Sonne of Ferdinando the Emperour who made this suit by the Count of Elpheston Of Iames Earle of Arran who was recommended by the Protestants the which propounded to themselues to vnite by his meanes the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which were diuided which was also quickly reiected and neuerthelesse to her Maiesty praise Of Erric King of Sueden who to the same purpose imployed Iohn his Brother Duke of Finland to this end sent into England by Gustaue his Father a little before his death and grounding his hopes vpon this that hee was of the same Religion as Queene ELIZABETH was made himselfe so credulously importunate that hee thought of nothing but England notwithstanding that the King of Denmarke his sworne enemy had resolued to take him in the way thinking that it concerned him greatly if England and Sueden betweene which Denmarke lyes should be ioyned by the meanes of a marriage Queene ELIZABETH acknowledged and praised his singular and Soueraigne loue and made him answer that his comming should be very agreeable
to that but to heare that which you haue to answer touching the confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough But if it please you to heare the cause of this offence hauing quitted the qualitie of an Ambassadour I will tell it you in few words As soone as the Queene my Mistris was sacred and inaugurated you vsurped the name and armes of England although you had not done it before in the reigne of Queene MARY You shall iudge in your owne wisdome if a greater offence can be done to a Prince Surely priuate persons themselues doe not willingly digest these offences much lesse Princes But said She my Husbands Father and my Husband would haue it so commanded it As soone as they were deceased and that I was of my selfe I presently quitted both the Armes and the Title And notwithstanding I know not if this be to defraud the Queene that I who likewise am one and Grand-child to the eldest Sister of HENRY the Eighth carry these Armes seeing that others haue borne them which are further off of kinne than I am Indeed Courtney Marquis of Exceter and the Dutches of Suffolke Neece to HENRY the Eighth by his yonger Sister by a speciall fauour carryed the Armes of England in adding to them the Limbes for a marke of difference The Queene of Scotland not being able by these words to giue Qu. ELIZABETH content who stedfastly beleeued that shee sought but delayes to husband some new hope seeing that at the holding of the States of Scotland who had assembled twice since the death of Queene MARIE shee had not made any proposition which concerned the confirmation of this Treaty as shee was already vpon the way to come for Scotland shee caused Throgmorton a second time to come to her to Ableville and asked him curteously How shee might either by word or deed giue satisfaction to Queene ELIZABETH In ratifying sayes he the Treaty of Edenborrough as I haue often told you Whereupon she said vnto him HEarken then to iudge if this which shee thinkes to be delayes and vaine excuses are not most iust reasons The first Article of this Treaty which concernes the ratification of that which passed in the Castle of Cambray betweene England and France toucheth mee nothing at all The second which concernes that of the Treatie passed in the same place betweene England and Scotland hath beene ratified by my Husband and mee and I cannot ratifie it more amply if it be not concluded in my name alone seeing my Husband is there expresly named The third fourth and fifth Articles are already effected for the preparatiues of Warre haue ceased the French Garrisons are called backe out of Scotland the Fort which was neere Aymouth is razed Since the death of my Husband I haue refrained to carry the Armes and the Title of England and it is not in my power to raze them out of the Vtensils Edifices and the Letters Royall which are dispersed through France no more than I can send backe the Bishop of Valence and of Raadan since they are not my Subiects to contest vpon the sixth Article As to the last I hope that my seditious Subiects will not complaine of my inclemencie But as I see shee which thinkes to hinder my returne will goe about to hinder that they shall not try my clemencie What remaines now in this Treatie which is preiudiciall to your Queene Neuerthelesse to heape her vp with satisfactions I will write to her of it more amply with mine owne hand though shee vouchsafes not to write to mee but by a Secretarie As for you Ambassadour I pray you to doe the duetie of an Ambassadour rather to sweeten businesses than make them sowrer But these Letters did not giue Queen ELIZABETH any contentment who had euer in her heart the iniury which shee had done her in taking the title and armes of England and at that time feared much that shee tooke them yet if by the confirmation of this Treatie and the Religion of the othe shee was not bound to forbeare them In the meane time the Queene of Scotland finding the time fit goes to Calais and gets into Scotland hauing the fauour of Heauen which was cloudy and darke got the winde of the English Ships that some thought had beene sent to Sea in honour to conuoy her others to take Pirates and others to take her they grounding it vpon this that Iames her bastard-brother a little before returning from France and passing through England had counselled Queene ELIZABETH to doe it if shee would prouide for Religion and her owne safetie The which Lidington being ioyfull that Doysell was retayned in England perswaded as his Letters make mention Lest being returned shee should stirre vp Tragedies take away the commerce of letters and messages with the English ruine the faction which was at their deuotion and exercise crueltie vpon the Protestants of Scotland not vnder colour of disloyaltie but of heresie euen as MARIE Queene of England had lately done Howbeit her Maiestie being returned into Scotland shewed all gentlenesse to her Subiects shee changed nothing in Religion although tumultuously brought in and begun to temper the Common-wealth by excellent Lawes and good Ordinances Her Maiestie sent Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH with Letters from her selfe and from the Peeres of Scotland by which shee referred to her all the care to make and intertaine the peace betweene England and Scotland prayed her to seeke some good dispatch thereof and gaue for her aduice that shee did not thinke of a better and more certaine remedie than that Queene ELIZABETH dying without issue should declare her Heire to succeed her in the Kingdome of England c. by authority of Parliament This seemed strange to Queene ELIZABETH who expected to receiue the Confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough promised both by word and writing Notwithstanding she answers him THat for concerning the matter of Succession shee hoped that the Queene of Scotland would not violently take the Scepter from her nor from her Children if shee should haue any Promiseth not to derogate in any manner from the right which she had to the Kingdome of England howsoeuer by the precipitate and ouer-hasted ambition of others shee had attributed to her selfe the Title and the Armes of the same for which it were iust and requisit shee should make some satisfaction And said shee feared that the Designation of a Successour would disioyne their friendship rather than re-vnite it by reason that those which rule haue alwayes those in suspition which ought to succeed them That the inconstant people vexing themselues at the present state of things turne away the eyes from the Sunne-setting and looke toward the Sunne-rising and that those which are once designed Successors cannot containe themselues within the limits of equitie nor can keepe vnder the ill desires of their owne and of others insomuch that if she did confirme and assure the succession she should depriue her selfe of all
had spread vpon the Queene or to cleanse it with his bloud vnlesse as he said himselfe his slanders might be accounted vaine by reason of his doting age Giue me leaue that the other side may be heard by diuers that writ thereof and at that time publisht it in print but such writings were soone call'd in both in fauor of the Earle of Murray and in hatred of the Queene and likewise by Ambassadours Letters worthy to bee beleeued In the yeere 1558. at the marriage of Francis the Dolphin of France and Mary Queene of Scotland Iames the Queenes Bastard-Brother commonly called the Prior of Saint Andrewes Metropolitan of the Order of Saint Andrewes despising that title was ambitious after a more splendid one but when the Queene by the aduice of the Guizes refused it him hee returned into Scotland discontented wherein vnder a faire pretext of reforming Religion and to establish the liberty of Scotland hee begun to trouble the State and effected it and so brought it to passe without the knowledge of the Queene in a Conuenticle of Confederates Religion was changed and by the calling in of ayde from England the French were driuen out of Scotland Francis King of France being dead he presently went to his Sister into France and hauing put away all suspition tending to her preiudice or dis-reputation for the affaires of Scotland swore vnto her calling GOD to witnesse to performe all dueties that a Sister could expect from a Brother and vpon the hope which he had that shee being brought vp from her tender age in the delicacies of France would not returne into Scotland workes with the Guizes to appoint some Noble-man of Scotland to be Regent there and almost poynted at himselfe to be the fittest man of all But hee being sent backe into Scotland without any authority but Letters of Commission by which the Queene gaue power to the States to assemble and consult for the good of the Kingdome and seeing himselfe deiected from his hope returned much vexed and passing thorow England made it there knowne that if they wished well to Religion in Scotland to the peace of England and the security of Queene ELIZABETH they ought by all meanes to hinder the Queene of Scotland to passe into Scotland Shee neuerthelesse being safely arriued in Scotland the English Ships being disappointed by obscure weather and being there embraced her Brother with all signes of fauour and good-will and in a kinde of manner committed vnto him the generall administration of affaires Notwithstanding all this the branches of his ambition are not cut off which grew daily and appeared both in words and deedes For hee could not containe himselfe but often among his friends deplored that the warlike Scottish Nation was no lesse subiect to the command of a Woman than the English was and by the instruction of Knox whom he esteemed as a Patriarke often debates that Kingdomes were due to merit and not to linage and that Women should be excluded from succeeding and that their gouernement were monstrous He treated likewise with the Queen by his friends that she should substitute foure of the Royall House of the Stewards who if she dyed without issue should succeed to the Crowne one after another without regarding who were legitimate or no thinking he should be one seeing he was the Kings Sonne though vnlawfully begotten But the Queene wisely considering that such a substitution was contrary to the Lawes of the Kingdome to defraud the right Heires a most pernicious example dangerous for her Subiects and would be an hinderance to her selfe for her second marriage she mildely answered That she would more aduisedly deliberate with the States of the Kingdome about a matter of such weight consequence and to testifie her fauour and bounty towards her Brother shee honoured him with the title of Earle of Mar afterwards with the Earledome of Murray for the dignity of Mar was then in controuersie being ignorant all this while that he aymed at the Kingdome and affirmed himselfe to be the lawfull Sonne of Iames the Fifth To make the easier way hereunto by meanes of the extraordinary fauour the Queene shewed to him he supprest the most noble Family of the Gordons powerfull in vassalage and command whom he both feared in respect of themselues as also by reason of the reformed Religion which adhered vnto him he expelled Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut out of the Court who was reputed next Heire to the Crowne imprisoned the Earle of Arraine his Sonne banished Count Bothwell into England dismissed all opposites of their honourable offices and places and retained the Queene vnder his power and suruey as a Gardian might doe his Ward aboue all other things being carefull that Shee might not negotiate nor intend any marriage And when he saw that of the one side the Emperour sollicited her for his Brother and the Spaniard on the other part for his Sonne he absolutely disswaded her both from the one and the other alledging vnto her how the ancient immunities of Scotland would not permit nor indure a strange Prince and whensoeuer the Scepter fell into the hands of Women they neuer made choyce of an Husband but within their owne Countrey of Scotland But in conclusion he perceiuing that all the Scots generally affected her marrying and discerning that by the perswasion and inducement of the Countesse of Lenox she desired to marry with the Lord Darley hee himselfe likewise then commended him vnto her for an Husband hoping in respect of his youth and for that he was of a tractable nature and disposition he would be euer at his direction and dispose Neuerthelesse when hee saw how dearely the Queene loued him himselfe to fall by little and little out of her fauour and grace hee repented of the counsell and aduice he had giuen and admonished Queene ELIZABETH to crosse this marriage by all the meanes possible that she could Presently after the Nuptials were accomplished and the Lord Darley proclaimed KING the King then presently reuoked such gifts as during his minority the Queene had conferred both vpon him and others whereupon being nigh associated with them he tooke vp armes against the King and the Queene pretending that this new King was dis-affected to the Protestant Religion and how she contracted this marriage without the consent of the Queene of England But hauing scarcely made any triall of the fortunes of warre he fled as I said into England where despayring of all succour he laboured by Letters to Morton a man of great subtilty and another like himselfe to effect that seeing the marriage could not be broken off yet that the affection and loue of the married couple might be abated by some secret practices and a fit occasion offered it selfe for after some domesticall and priuate grudgings to quaile the courage of this young King which boyled a little too hot and to preserue entyre her owne Royall prerogatiues in
all publique acts shee began to set her Husbands Name after her owne and altogether to leaue out and omit it in Moneyes and Stampes Earle Morton who was a notable Make-bate by his flatteries easily perswaded this young King to set the Crowne of Scotland vpon his owne head yea though the Queene wold not giue her consent therunto to shake off the domination and controll of a Woman because women were borne to obey and men to command he hoping that by meanes of this counsell he should make the King not onely to lose the Queenes affection but further the loue of all the great Men of the Kingdome and the people To make him lose the Queenes heart first he instigated him by diuers calumniations to kill Dauid Rice a Pie-mountaine and by doing this to preuent the crossing of their designes by his reaching and subtile spirit By profession he was a Musician and came the yeere before into Scotland with the Ambassadour Moret and then grew to be admitted into the Queenes House and fauour in that hee was industrious and obseruant and in the Secretaries absence he assisted and dispatched Letters into France and managed secret consultations Then the more to exasperate this businesse he brought him to be present in person at this Murder in company with Rauen and the other murderers who entring with himselfe into the Queenes Chambers their swords naked drawne as she was sitting at the Table with the Countesse of Arguile and this man standing by a Buffet-stoole was eating somwhat taken off from the Table as ordinarily Wayters of the Dining-chamber will doe bending also a Pistoll against the Queenes brest who was then with Childe so as vpon the sudden affrightment shee thought to haue miscarried in the place they layde hold of him in her presence and drawing him into an outward Chamber most cruelly they murthered him and shut vp likewise the Queene within the same Chamber This Murder was cōmitted the day before that the Earle of Murray was assigned to make his appearance before the Assembly and in hearing of the States there to answere an Accusation of Rebellion which was informed and put in against him Hee appeared the day following and no body sate neither came any witnesses against him by reason of these great garboyles and troubles in the State that as it might seeme this murder was purposely vndertaken for Murrayes security and safety Notwithstanding the Queene at the Kings intreaty receiued him into fauour and was confident in his brotherly loue But when the King had more deliberately waighed the quality of his offence and the Queene began to take it deepely to heart he repented himselfe much of this rage and fury and with many teares and sighes humbly on his knee craued her pardon confessing freely that he was excited to so bloudy a crime by Murray and Morton from which time euer after hee conceiued so mortall an hatred against Murray that he thought on nothing else but how to be rid of him Earle Morton and the other Homicides by reason of this Murder being fled into England with Letters of recommendation which Murray had written in their behalfe to the Earle of Bedford But the passionate affection of his youth not being able to reserue his most secret thoughts and his high respect to the Queene curbing all boldnesse for the executing of him at last hee was satisfied to let her vnderstand thus much that for publique good and the security of her owne house shee must remoue him The Queene in all sort detesting this course disswaded him there-from yea euen with threates for hauing moued this vnto her and putting him in hope to make a perfect reconciliation betweene them And yet notwithstanding in that shee could not but with great spleene digest the authority this Bastard vsurped ouer her transported with wonderfull impatience shee opened this designe to others which comming to Murrayes vnderstanding to preuent her hee laid many secret ambushes in waite for her vnder colour of shewing himselfe to be very officious and diligent vsing herein Earle Mortons counsell and aduice though he were then absent Their Resolution ioyntly was that the Queene must be cleane alienated from the loue and affection she bare to the King while this affection was not yet well knit and reioynted Then to draw into their society Earle Bothwell who not long before had beene reconciled to Murray vpon promises that he should be diuorc'd from his owne Wife and be married to the Queene when she were a Widow For effectuall performance whereof and to warrant and defend him against all others they bound themselues in writing subscribed and sealed perswading themselues that at one blow they could cut off the King depraue the reputation and good opinion which the Nobility and people held of her suppresse afterwards Bothwell and so be possest themselues of the whole and absolute Administration of all affaires Earle Bothwell who was of himselfe a wicked man and blinded with Ambition which made him bold and daring readily intertained these hopes propounded to him and most trecherously performed this bloudy Assassinate hauing hardly fifteene houres warning to prouide a sufficient number of Complices if need had beene for Earle Murray was gone farre off to prosecute his owne businesse and to lay the whole suspition and imputation vpon the Queen When hee was returned to the Court both hee and all those of the Conspiracy commended Earle Bothwell to the Queene and to perswade her to make choyce of him for her Husband they intimated by all meanes vnto her how hee was most worthy and deseruing of her loue both in respect of the eminency of his Family his valiant Attempts against the English and the many infallible proofes and trials of his fidelity Moreouer they layd open vnto her that being alone and without any helpe or assistance she was not able to pacifie those troubles and tumults that were then raised to discouer the plots that might be proiected against her and to discharge the administration and gouernement of the Kingdome And therefore she should doe very well to admit to the societie of her bed counsell such an one as had both will power and courage to oppose them So as they wrought thus farre with her that she yeelded her consent trembling for feare and danted with horror for hauing beheld such direful occisions calling to minde what fidelitie Bothwell had euer shewed both to her and her Mother and not knowing whither to haue recourse but to her Brothers faith and loyaltie But neuerthelesse with speciall prouiso carefully to intend the safety of her young and tender Sonne that Bothwell should first cleare himselfe of the murder of the King and be diuorc'd from his former Wife I am desirous here to set downe what the Earle of Huntley and Arguile who are the principall of all the great Nobility of Scotland testified hereof as I coppied it out of a Writing seal'd and subscribed with
to a guard while they could finde out and execute Bothwell But shee weary of reigning with so infinite many disturbances had willingly resigned and transferred ouer the Kingdome to her Sonne constituting the Earle of Murray for Vice-Roy That hereupon her Sonne was solemnely consecrated and crowned King all confirmed and ratified in Parliament by the States of the Kingdome That by reason of Iustice which was equally ministred the Scottish Common-wealth had recouered some vigour and strength while some particulars who could not endure the publique repose had contrary to their oath cautelously released the Queene out of safe custodie and taken vp Armes violating herein the fidelitie they owe to their King and though thankes be to GOD they obtayned victory ouer them yet notwithstanding with an hostile and disloyall heart they presumptuously enterprized against their Countrey and Prince and therefore the Royall Authoritie must needes conformably haue beene supprest by such tumultuous and mutinous Subiects After a reiteration of the former protest the Queene of Scots Deputies replyed in these words THat what Earle Murray and his Complices alledged for hauing taken vp Armes against the Queene in that Bothwell whom they accused of killing the KING was in great grace and authoritie about her could not iustly brand them with the marke of disloyall Subiects seeing there was no euident proofe of his murdering the King but contrariwise by sentence of the Peeres hee was cleared thereof and this absolution confirmed by Act of Parliament with their very approbation and consent who at this time accuse him and that then perswaded the Queene to take him for her Husband as beeing more sufficient than all others to sway and gouerne the Kingdome they obliged vnto him their fidelitie in Writing and not so much as in words disallowed of this marriage while they had drawne to their partie the Captaine or Gouernour of the Castle and the Maior of Edenborrough For then in the night which was a very vnfit season in hostile manner they assayled the Castle of Bothwick where the Queene was and shee retyring her selfe by the fauour of the night they presently raysing an Armie vnder pretext of her defence went themselues into the field way-layde her as shee went to Edenborrough and aduertized her by Grange whom they sent to her that shee should shake off Bothwell while hee had appeared in iudgement and cleared himselfe all which shee willingly did to auoid effusion of bloud But Grange vnder-hand admonished Bothwell to with-draw himselfe promising him with oath that no bodie should pursue him so as hee made away with their owne consent and beeing minded they might easily haue taken him afterwards But when they had once gotten the Queene into their hands for the mannaging of their ambitious designes they made no great reckoning of him and it is no great wonder when they beeing the Queenes Subiects and hauing vowed fidelity to her shee bitterly rebuked them hauing so basely and vnworthily entreated her Royall Maiesty Shee freely referred the matter to the whole Estates of the Kingdome and made a declaration thereof vnto them by Lidington her Secretary But they would not so much as giue any eare vnto it but conueyed her away secretly by night and emprisoned her at Lake-Leuin In saying that wearied with her Reigne shee resigned and gaue ouer the Kingdome is a most palpable inuention because shee is neither too-much broken with yeeres nor of such a feeble and weake constitution but equally vigorous both in bodie and minde to mannage weightie and great affaires but most certaine it is that the Earles of Athol Tubardine and Lidington who were also of her Councell aduized her to seale the drafts of Resignation to auoyd death where-with shee was daily threatned and this was not done with any preiudice eyther to her selfe or her Heires because shee was then a prisoner and imprisonment is a iust feare for according to the opinion of Ciuilians a promise made by a prisoner is of no worth Hereunto also she was perswaded by Throgmorton who presented vnto her a draft written with his owne hand whom shee entreated to informe the Queene of England that shee did it constrained and contrary to her will That when Lindsay presented to her the Patents for her to subscribe vnto hee terrified her with feare and horrour of death and so by this meanes enforced her to seale with weeping eyes not hauing so much as read the Contents That the Lord of the Castle of Lake-Leuin vnderstanding and seeing apparantly that shee had subscribed and sealed against her will hee would not set to his hand as also this Resignation was most vniust because shee had nothing hereby assigned her for her owne behoofe and entertainement neither grant of libertie nor assurance of life That whosoeuer will but equally ballance things hee cannot but iudge this to be a weake infringement of Royall Authoritie because when the Queene was at libertie in the presence of many Nobles of the Kingdome shee declared how shee had done it out of meere constraint And what they boast to haue effected by Act of Parliament can no wayes preiudice her Royall prerogatiue because in this tumultuarie Parliament there were present but foure Earles one Bishop two Abbots and sixe Barons though aboue an hundred betweene Earles Bishops and Barons haue a voyce in the Parliament of Scotland and yet of so small a number some protested that what was done should not redound to the preiudice of the Queene or her Successours because shee was a prisoner That the Ambassadours of France and England could neuer be certified from her though they had many times instantly vrged it whether she voluntarily resigned ouer the Kingdome or no. And so farre the Common-wealth hath beene from beeing iustly gouerned vnder the vsurping Vice-Roy that on the contrary all manner of impieties neuer bare a greater sway for hee hath beene seene to demolish sacred buildings to ruine illustrious Families and to afflict and grinde the faces of the miserable poore And therefore they humbly entreated the Queens Maiestie of England to be assisting with her best fauour counsell and ayde to the Queene her neere Kinsewoman so lamentably opprest Thus farre I copied out of the proper Writings of the Commissioners These matters thus heard the Commissioners enioyning Murray to produce and proue with more solid reasons the occasion of so strange a rigour vs'd to an absolute Queene because all formerly alledged had no pregnant testimonies but only ambiguous and improbable Letters and Lidington hauing priuily made known that he himself had often counterfaited the Qu. hand Murray would no further prosecute before strangers the accusation he had framed against his Sister except the Queene of England promised of her part to take vpon her the Protection of the Infant King and wholly abandon the Queene of Scots But the Deputies by vertue of their Delegation hauing no authoritie to promise any such matter two on both parts were sent vp to London to
of London for intertaining clandestine conferences with the Earle of Southampton a most deuoted man to the Romish Religion In the meane time Sussex accompanied with the Lord Scroope with Companies of Souldiers being gone againe into Scotland burn'd the Villages in the Valley of Annandale ruined the Castle of Annandale which belonged to Heris and the Castle of Caer-Laueroc belonging to Maxwell who had made some pillaging incursioÌ„s into England and brought them to such distresse who continued on the Queene of Scotlands side that the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley and Argathell send them a promise in writing sealed vnder their hands obliging themselues thereby no longer to maintaine warres and to abandon the English Rebels This being done hee forthwith returned and for their valour Knighted Hastings Russell Browne Hilton Stapleton and Musgraue and himselfe afterwards for his approued wisdome and vertue was admitted to be of the Queenes Priuy Councell ELIZABETH hauing her thoughts full of doubts with various suspitions by reason of this Bull and Norfolkes conspiracy sent vnto the Queene of Scotland being then at Chettesworth in the Countie of Darbie Cecil and Walteâ—â— Mildmay who in regard the waters were risen aboue measure it being in the Moneth of October came thither with much difficultie to consult with her about the most conuenient meanes how to compound the variance in Scotland for the restoring of her to her former estate to secure ELIZABETH and prouide for the safetie of her young Sonne Shee could say nothing but deplore her afflicted condition and complayned of the fraudulent deuices of Count Murray iustified the Duke of Norfolke and reposed all her hope on the courtesie of ELIZABETH vnderstanding that shee had the generall gouernement of the affaires of Scotland as well as of England They propounded vnto her that to conclude a certaine peace betweene the two Kingdomes she ought to oblige her selfe to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and disclaime the title and right which shee pretended to England so long as ELIZABETH or any issue of her body should liue Not to renew or entertaine any alliance with any Prince whatsoeuer against England Not to admit any forreine troupes into Scotland nor hold any Councell with the English or Irish without notice first giuen to ELIZABETH To send backe the English Fugitiues and Rebels to satisfie the dammages done vpon the Frontiers To make search according to the Law of the Murder aswell of Darley her Husband as of Murray and deliuer her Sonne into England for a pledge Not to contract her selfe in marriage with any English man without acquainting the Queene of England nor with any other contrary to the Ordinances of Scotland That the Scots might not goe for Ireland without leaue of the Queene of England That for the performance of these things the Queene and the Commissioners appointed for the same shall thereto set their hands and Seales Six Hostages whom the Queene of England would nominate should be sent into England That if the Queene of Scotland or any other by her procurement attempted any thing against her she should in that reâ—pect alone be cut off from all right which shee might claime in England That the Castles of Hume and Fast-Castle were held from the English for three yeeres space That shee should deliuer into their hands certaine Forts in the Countrey of Galloway or Cantire to the end that the Borderers on that coast might not inuade Ireland And lastly that the State of Scotland should confirme al these things by Act of Parliament To these things her selfe suddenly with great dexteritie and wisdome made answere neuerthelesse referred it to be answered more fully by the Bishop of Rosse her Ambassadour in England Alexander Gorden Bishop of Galloway and to the Baron Leuinstone deputed by Her lieutenants of Scotland who afterwards allowing some of these Articles and reiecting others made answer as here followeth THat it was reasonable to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and renounce the title of England during the life of ELIZABETH but as concerning the ancient alliance of France it was to be considered that if they did not intertaine that still the Queene should lose her dowrie the 100. armed Men and the 124. Souldiers of the Scottish Guard being Archers the Merchants Schollers and many who are to haue inheritance their pensions and immunities which they enioy shall be cast out and depriued of them and of the loue and assistance of a most puissant Nation which things if the English did not amply satisfie the Queene of Scotland could in no manner renounce this alliance But that shee would not entertaine any forraigne souldiers vnlesse such rebellion might happen which could not be suppressed by the strength of the Countrey That she would haue no intelligence or keepe correspondancie with any of the English to the preiudice of England prouided that the Q. of England on the other side intertayned none with the Scots to the preiudice of Scotland That if there were any English Rebels and Fugitiues in Scotland they might demand them of the Scottish Rebels who were for the more part neere as they to examine by deputies the dammages which they had receiued and make inquiry according to the Lawes of Scotland of the death of Darley and Murray That shee could not deliuer the King in pledge in regard hee was in their custodie who vnder his name coloured the Rebellion against the Queene That it was a strange innouation that a free Princesse should receiue Lawes from a stranger-Prince or his Subiects for her marriage That the Scots should not passe into Ireland to any preiudice of the Queene of England prouided that the Irish were by a reciprocall Law obliged not to passe into Scotland Agreed for confirmation of the securitie to giue such pledges as the Queene of England should nominate the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley Argathell and of Athole excepted Furthermore it shall be in their power to exclude the Queene of Scots from all right of Succession in England if shee should goe about to doe any thing contrary to the right and authoritie of the Queene of England so that the Queene of England would be bound in the like penaltie if shee should doe any thing against the power and priuiledge of the Queene of Scotland They demand that restitution be made of Castle-Hume and Fast-Castle to the Baron of Hume being the Lord to whom by right they appertaine and the English to hold them no longer To deliuer vp the Forts in Galloway and Cantire were to no other end but to minister a new occasion of warre When these things could in no wise bee agreed vpon neither any Commissioners came from the Vice-Roy of Scotland in the meane while it was divulged all abroad that the Pope the King of France and the Duke D' Alua was importunately sought vnto for ayde to set the Queene of Scotland at libertie and the English Rebels the Earle of
Westmerland and the Countesse of Northumberland and others whom the Pope had supplyed with 12. thousand Crownes by the Bishop of Rosse were come backe out of Scotland It is cleare that this Treaty brought forth nothing but that ELIZABETH euen as one chosen by consent to sit at the Sterne of all Great-Brittaine commands by her owne authority that the Assembly of the States of Scotland should be prorogued and Truce often talked of The Commanders doe grieuously vexe and torment all parts of Scotland Rosse sends the Articles of this Treaty to the Pope to France and to Spaine and certified that the Queene must necessarily consent vnto them vnlesse their succour and counsell came in time to relieue her which he vehemently craued but in vaine For indeed their heads were possessed with other affaires Spaine was preparing to marry Anne of Austria daughter to Maximilian the Emperour his Niece by the sister-side who at the same time departed from Zealand to goe for Spaine To whom ELIZABETH for a chiefe testification of honour and loue to the House of Austria sent Charles Howard with a warlike fleete and choyce Nobilitie to conduct her thither through the English Sea The twelfth yeere of ELIZABETHS reigne beeing now happily finished in which the Papists expected according to the prediction of their Diuines the euent of a golden day as they said all good people were ioyfull and happy and with a delightfull ioy began to celebrate the seuenteenth day of Nouember being the day of her comming to the Crowne with Prayers and Thankes-giuing which were performed in the Churches vowes were multiplied ringing of Bells Carrolls Turneyes and publique solemne ioy euery-where And this hath continued euer sithence she liued in testimony of the loue and obedience that her Subiects did beare her In the middest of these things dyed H. Clifford Earle of Cumberland the Second of the name Henries Sonne whom HENRY the Eighth had raysed to the honour of an Earle in the yeere 1525. being otherwise of a very noble and ancient House and hauing gotten a great increase of honour by marriages which he contracted with the heires of Vesciores and Viponts or Vieux-ponts who had beene anciently hereditary Vicounts of Westmerland who by his first Wife begot Eleanor the second daughter of C. Brandon Duke of Suffolke and of Mary Sister to HENRY the Eighth Margaret who was married to Henrie the Earle of Darbies Son of much hope and with great pompe beeing the onely heire of that House But hauing by his second Wife Anne Dacrey two Sonnes who were successiuely heires to their fathers honour this hope vanished There dyed also N. Throgmorton of whom I haue often spoken the fourth Son of G. Throgmorton the Golden Knight and of Katherine daughter of N. Baron of Vaux a man of great experience of solid iudgement and of a singular dexteritie of spirit who stirring many things vnder the reigne of MARY with great difficultie by his prudence and eloquence saued his life afterwards vnder ELIZABETH hee was imployed in many Ambassies wherein he got much honour vntill for the gaining of the Earle of Leicesters fauour hee opposed Cecill who was his Emulator for thereby hee could attaine but to very small meanes and triuiall preferments as chiefe Butler of England and Treasurer of the Queens Chamber Being at Supper in the Earle of Leicesters House and eating sallads hee was suddenly taken with an inflammation of the Liuer as some haue affirmed or with a Catarre as others say and not without iealousie of being poysoned whereof hee dyed in a good time both for himselfe and his being then in great danger both of losing his life and goods beeing a man of a stirring and working spirit In Ireland Connogher O-Brien Earle of Twomond not able to endure Edward Fitton Gouernour of Connaught who began to gouerne the Prouince something more seuerely and to take away from the great Ones and chiefe of the Countrey all hope of polling the Subiects of Ireland had secretly plotted Rebellion with others but it was preuented by a happy chance For hauing appointed the day to take armes comes in Fitton who knew nothing and courteously aduertised the Earle that he would lodge the morrow following with him with certaine of his friends The Earles conscience accusing him and beeing possest with a strange feare an ill signe in doubtfull things thinking that he was now discouered and that the Gouernour came to him rather like an enemy then a guest retired himselfe forth-with into France leauing them all in doubt what was become of him The Conspirators fearing that he was gone into England to discouer the plot continued in obedience whereof he vnderstanding shewed himselfe wise at last and hauing confest all the busines to Norris then Ambassadour in France imployed him to mediate Queene ELIZABETHS fauour with whom he found such Grace that he was restored againe to his Estate But Stukeley an Englishman a riotous Prodigall and vaine-glorious fellow who after he had consumed all his estate retired into Ireland hauing lost all hope of getting the Marshall-ship of Wexford and perceiuing himselfe to be despised of euery one and being vnable to raise any commotion after belching vp most vnworthy reproches of his Princesse who had done him many fauours slipped ouer into Italie to Pope Pius the fifth and by his flattering tongue insinuated beyond all credit into the fauour of this pernicious old man who breathed out the ruine of Queene ELIZABETH making great blags and promising that with three thousand Italians he would driue all the English out of Ireland and burne the English Fleet which he afterward villainously attempted but to his owne ruine as hereafter we will shew THE FOVRETEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1571. IN the first moneth of the yeere Queene ELIZABETH entring into London in Royall State visited that faire Cloister called the Bourse which T. Gresham Knight a Citizen and a Marchant Royall of London had caused to be built for the vse of Marchants and by the voice of a Cryer and with sound of Trumpets in dedicating thereof named it The Royall Exchange A few dayes after howsoeuer She were very sparing in the disposing of Honours hauing made in twelue yeeres space not aboue foure Barons she solemnly graced William Cecill with the Title of Baron of Burghley hauing on Barons Robes and with these formall words AS well in regard of the long seruice which he hath done in the time of our Progenitors the Kings of England as also for the faithfull and agreeable obedience which he hath alwaies and in diuers waies testified vnto vs from the beginning of our Raigne not ceasing dayly not onely in our great and waighty affaires to afford vs counsell but generally in all dessignes concerning the Kingdome as also in respect of his vigilancy valour prudence dexterity integrity of life fore-knowledge care and fidelity out of our speciall fauour certaine testimony and meere motion
we haue created establisht and raised him to the state dignity and honour of Baron Burghley and haue imposed vpon him and giuen and granted vnto him the name stile and title of Baron of Burghley to haue and to hold the same foreuer to him and the heires males which shall be borne from his body Of whom I haue already freely spoken and will againe make mention as well as of others whom shee hath raised to the state of Barons because it is amongst the most ample degrees of Honour For the Barons of the Parliaments of England are borne Peeres and great Councellors of the Kingdome and enioy diuers immunities and Priuiledges which are not to be mentioned in this place but I haue noted else-where A little after Ridolph a Florentine who had vsed trading for fifteene yeeres space in London deliuered secretly vnto the Queene of Scotland Letters from the Pope importing promises to imploy himselfe for the aduancement of the Catholique Religion and Himselfe willed her to giue credit in all things to Ridolph and to learne from him who was then going for Italy what meanes might be best for the re-establishing of the Catholique Religion and appeasing of the mischiefs in England Ridolph also sollicited the Queene by the seuerall Letters which he wrote vnto her to aduise herevpon with the Duke of Norfolke his friends and to recommend it to them But shee deferred the returne of any answer vntill she might perceiue how the Treaty which was already begun would take effect notwithstanding the Kings of France and Spaine and the Duke of Alua had written to her to the same purpose For the Earle of Morton Petcarne Abbot of Dunfermelin and I. Macgill were come to treat about the affaires of Scotland in the Kings name and hauing receiued command from Queene ELIZABETH more cleerely to vnfold the causes of the Queenes deposing and to proue them to be iust exhibited a prolix Cōmentarie by which with an insolent freedome and vehemencie of words they strained themselues to proue by ancient and moderne examples searcht out of all places that according to the ancient right of Scotland the people of Scotland were vnder the King and that by the authority of Caluin the Magistrates were appointed to bridle their vnrulie appetites and had authority to punish wicked Kings by imprisonment depose them from their Kingdomes and vaine-gloriously boasted to haue shewed the Queen courtesie in permitting her to substitute her Sonne in her place and appoint him Tutors That it was not in respect of her innocency that shee subsisted but out of the mercy of her people with diuers other things which factious spirits are accustomed to alledge against Royall Maiesty Queene ELIZABETH not able with any patience to read this secretly condemned it as iniurious to Kings and as for the Deputies she answered them that she could not yet perceiue any iust cause why they should so vexe and trouble their Queen and therfore wisht that they would rather seeke out some meanes to quench the discord in Scotland In the prosecution whereof it was propounded in the house of Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale to the Bishops of Rosse and Galloway and to Baron Leuiston Deputies for the Queene of Scotland that for the safety of the Kingdome and Queene of England and the Nobles of Scotland who were of the Kings part that the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles of Huntley and Argathell of Hume of Seris and another Baron ought to be giuen in pledge and the Castles of Dunbriton and Hume deliuered for three yeeres vnto the English before the Queene could be set at liberty To which they answered THat it need not be doubted that the Queene of Scotland who had voluntarily put herselfe vnder the Protection and guard of the Queene of England would willingly giue contentment in any thing which might conueniently be done But to deliuer such great persons in pledge with such Forts were nothing lesse then in depriuing a miserable Queene of the helpe of her faithfullest friends and her strongest places of defence to be exposed as a prey vnto her aduersaries But they offered to giue in pledge the two said Earles and two Barons And as for the Forts they said that according to their Couenants with France they could not giue them to the English that they could not grant them also to the French But said Bacon the whole Kingdome of Scotland the Prince the Peeres and the Forts are not sufficient security for the Queene and the most flourishing Kingdome of England and therefore what security soeuer the Scots might propose the Queene of Scotland ought not to be set at liberty Hereupon the Scots forthwith began to coniecture and spake openly that now they fully perceiued that the English had resolued to hold their Queene perpetually in England and by the same meanes interrupt the Treaty sithence they stood so stiffly in demanding such security as Scotland could not any maner of way performe Howsoeuer the other Councellours of England protested to desire nothing more then the freedome of the Queene of Scotland prouided that they gaue good and sufficient security and in this nature they treated hereupon and to haue the King with Morton and his Companions Who plainely answered that they had no power nor authority to treat whether they ought to receiue the Queene into Scotland or deliuer the King But her Deputies reiected such flying off as friuolous iudging that those who were the authors of deposing her had power sufficient to free her without asking the other Conspirators sithence the fault of one equally polluteth all the Confederates As for the Prince who was yet scarce fiue yeeres of age he could giue no power at all And as for the Vice-Roy that he had left all his affaires to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH They prayed them either to bring in the others who were sworne into consultation or to proceed without them vpon equall conditions But Queene ELIZABETH knowing well that they could conclude of nothing for her security or for the King and Queen of Scotland if th' one and th' other consented not thought it reasonable that the States of Scotland who ought forth-with to assemble should make choice of certaine men who might labour the mediation of the peace Whereupon the Bishop of Rosse and his Colleagues openly complayned that certaine Councellors of England had abused the vnderstanding of their Queene and the patience of the Queene of Scotland deceiued the Stranger Princes and soothed the Scots with a preiudiciall hope the Queene of Scotland her selfe being full of indignation and griefe to see such delayes called home the Bishop of Galloway Count Leuiston notwithstanding that Qu. ELIZABETH had commanded the Bishop of Rosse to depart from London she countermanded him to continue still there which was not without ielousie to those who were of her part in Scotland who determined to take vp Armes and giue no more
Castles which were in Scotland the Hostages and the King of Scots to renounce the title to England and the English Rebels But for this matter enough is spoken of this yeere and the particularities of it may be drawne from the Dukes confession and the memoriall sent to the Queen of Scots written by the Bishop of Rosse's own hand At the same time Mathew Earle of Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland and great Grand-father to the King hauing appoynted the assembly of States at Sterlin and thinking to be safe there was surprized by the Lords of the contrary faction which met together by the Queenes authoritie at Edenborrough and hauing yeelded himselfe to Dauid Spencer who laboured very hard to protect him was slaine with him by Bell and Cauder after hauing with much trouble and paines ruled the Kingdome for the King his Nephew the space of foureteene moneths more or lesse at what time France tooke the Queenes side and Queen ELIZABETH the Kings not so much to get their friends the victory as to keepe them from being ouercome Queen ELIZABETH hoped that the young King should haue beene deliuered into her hands and the French thought that Dunbriton and Edenborrough should be giuen them whereupon some Scottish Merchants were very much troubled and traffique in France was denyed them which drew a great partie to the Queenes side in hope thereby to haue freedome of trade there againe In Lenox his place by the common consent of the people Iohn Areskin Earle of Marre was elected Vice-Roy a man of a calme spirit and a great louer of his Countrie who beeing no lesse afflicted with the turbulent counsels of his friends then by the insultings of his aduersaries for very griefe dyed when hee had gouerned thirteene moneths The iniquitie of these times and the loue which the people of England bore to their Queene and Countrey drew the States to Westminster where they made a Law to preuent the plots of the seditious by which it was ordayned by ancient authoritie THat if any did attempt to ruine or hurt the Queene to make warre or excite others to doe it in any part of her dominions or affirme that shee had no right to the Kingdome but that it were more iustly due to another or said that shee was an Heretique a Schismatique or Infidell that shee did vsurpe the right from another that was liuing or that the Lawes and Statutes were not of power to define and tye the right of Succession It should be Crimen laesae Maiestatis If any one during the life of Queene ELIZABETH should expresly affirme either by writing or Booke printed that any one is or ought to bee the Queenes Heire or Successour except the naturall Line which should proceede from her owne body or that should publish print or sell Bookes written vpon this Subiect he and his maintainers for the first time should suffer a whole yeeres imprisonment and lose halfe their goods but returning to the same offence againe they incurred the penaltie of a Praemunire which is losse of all goods and imprisonment during life This seemed grieuous vnto some which thought that the tranquillity of the Kingdome ought to be strengthened by the designation of an Heire but it was beyond beliefe what iests the maliciously-curious made of this clause Naturally begotten of her body because the Ciuill Law calls those Children naturall which are borne out of marriage and that nature onely and not the honesty of wedlocke begot them and the English Law Legitimate those that are lawfully begotten And I remember being then young to haue heard it spoken aloud that this word was prest into this Law by Leicester that some bastard-sonne of his should thrust in as one of neerest kinne to Queene ELIZABETH It was also ordained that those who had by any Bull or writing from the Pope reconciled any to the Church of Rome should vndergoe the punishment of Crimen laesae Maiestatis Those who sustaine the Reconcilers or bringers into England of Agnus Dei's Graines Crucifixes or any other things consecrated by the Pope of Rome should lose all their goods and indure perpetuall imprisonment and those that shall conceale and not detect these Reconcilers were holden guiltie of Misprision of Treason Furthermore those goods and lands which were conuicted for Rebellion in the North beeing in the possession of Iames Pilkinton Bishop of Durham who challenged Regall power betweene the Riuers of Teise and Tyne were adiudged to the Queene and her Successours because she had with great cost deliuered both the Bishop and the Bishopricke from Rebels yet so as that in time to come it shall not be preiudiciall to the Regall rite of that Church of Durham It was also ordained that to meete with the insolencies of such as were deuoted to the Pope and despising the authority of the Lawes and their obedience to their Princesse who day by day with-drew themselues into forraine Countries without the Queenes licence hoping in time with a great number and to innouate something they should returne within a certaine time and make their submissions and that the fraudulent conueyances which they had made should be burnt So much for the Papists On the other side by wholsome Lawes they suppressed as well the couetousnesse of certaine of the Clergie who as if they had beene borne onely to themselues with a notorious malice to their Successours wasted the goods of the Church and let out the Lands for many yeeres as the impudencie of others who with a desire to innouate opposed themselues to Articles of the Synod of London for the abolishing of Schisme in the yeere 1562. It was likewise againe propounded that if the Queene of Scots should againe offend the Lawes of England she might be proceeded against as if she were a Peeres Wife of the Realme of England But the Queene by her authority hindered that from being made a Law In the beginning of Iune the Parliament being ready to be dismissed they sate vpon Iohn Story a Doctor of Law and Spie to the Duke of Alua of whom I haue made mention in the yeere 1569. to know whether Iohn Storie being an English-man should be found guilty Laesae Maiestatis for hauing conferred with a stranger-Prince in Brabant for the inuading of his Countrey and shewing the meanes to doe it The learned'st sort in the Law did affirme that hee might be accused Laesae Maiestatis Whereupon hee was called vnto iudgement for hauing conspired against the life of his Princesse with one Prestoll a man much addicted to magicke and in giuing thankes at the Table alwayes cursed her and the King of Scotland to the fiends of Hell and demonstrated to the Duke of Alua's Secretary the meanes to inuade England to make Ireland reuolt and at the same time to bring the Scots into England He refused to submit himselfe to be iudged by the Lawes of England maintayning that being a sworne Subiect not to Queene ELIZABETH but to the King
businesse more deliberately attempted carried with more courage and constancy of the Confederates nor lasted longer time vndiscouered by any of the coniurate-society That their military Companies might in foure and twentie houres space be put ouer out of Flanders into England the Queene and the City of London suddenly surprized Religion restored and the Queene of Scotland settled and crowned in her steade All which were like to haue the better successe for that Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue was then in readinesse with three thousand men to bring Ireland in subiection to the King of Spaine and with three Ships that were Spies set the English Fleete on fire Thus H. Catene of which much was vnknowne till the yeere 1588. when he published a booke printed at Rome and priuiledged by Sixtus the Sixth Now returne wee to the purpose if we be digrest Scarce ten dayes after the Dukes death were sent to the Queene of Scots then all mournefull and in sorrow Will. Lord de-la-Warre Sir Ralph Sadler Tho. Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Lawes and T. Bromley the Queenes Attourney who were so to expostulate with her as to charge her for vsurping the Title and Armes of England nor that she had renounced them according as it was conditioned at Edenborrough and to assume them more freely had secretly contriued to marry with the Duke of Norfolke which the rather to bring to passe shee had left nothing vnassayed by the ministery of her Agents by force and Armes to set the Duke at liberty had raised Rebellion in the North Countrey had succoured the conuicted Rebels of Scotland and Flanders had by Ridolph the Italian his solliciting implored the aydes of the Pope the King of Spaine and others for inuading the Countrey of England they vrged also that shee had receiued Letters from the Pope who had promised to keepe her as safe vnder his wing as the Hen doth her Chickens calling her and her Complices The true Children of the Church And finally that shee had procured a Bull from the Pope against the Queene and and had suffered herselfe by her friends in forraigne parts to be called The Queene of England To all these with a bold countenance and constant resolution hauing first protested herselfe to be a free Prince and subiect to none she answered THat she had not vsurped the Title or Armes of England but that being yet young and vnder the power of her Husband the King of France necessity imposed them vpon her but since her Husbands death shee neuer bore them wherefore it was not to be imputed to her as any fault of hers neither would she take them to her so long as ELIZABETH liued or any Childe shee should beare That in the matching with the Duke of Norfolke shee had no thought of any ill might happen to the Cōmon-wealth but rather much good and if she should renounce the marriage it was contrary to the matrimoniall Vow she had made and that by dutie thereof she was bound to aduertise the Duke of his dangers and to quit himselfe out of prison That she had neuer raised nor consented to the raising of any tumults but was alwaies ready to discouer what plots shee knew of against the Queene or Countrey if she had pleased by her to bee admonished of or to haue admitted her to her sight or hearing nor at any time had succoured the English Rebels but only by her Letters had recommended the Countesse of Northumberland to the Duke D'Alua Of Ridolph she was to haue necessary vse for her pensionary Annuities and in some money-matters whom shee knew to be a great Fauourite of the Popes but neuer had receiued any Letters from him had neuer dealt with any touching her deliuery but indeed had not refused to giue eare to such as had offered the seruice in that kind and for that cause had passed her priuie Seale to Rowlston and Hall She had sometimes receiued Letters consolatory and full of piety from the Pope wherein was no mention of any such matter nor had shee procured any Bull from Rome onely on a time a copie of one of them was shewed her which after she had read shee cast it into the fire But if any out of forraigne Countries shall write or speake otherwise then they ought they ought to answere it and to suffer the penaltie of their faults She neuer sought or sent either to the Pope or K. of Spaine for the procuring any inuasion vpon England but had implored their helpes for her restoring into her owne Realme but not before her Maiestie had preadmonition thereof But if shee were to be called in question concerning these Letters she requested for that shee was issued from the Bloud Royall of England that she might answere for herselfe in person in open Parliament In the meane time was Scotland all vp in Armes miserably troubled with Ciuill Warres whilest on the one side such as fauoured the Queene relying vpon aide from the French and the other party expecting the like from England had dayly encounters together notwithstanding both English and French shewed themselues most desirous to appease and accord their dissentions by the Ambassages which either countrey sent into Scotland Of which France proposed that their most commodious course would bee to elect amongst them some persons of well-known worth and wisedome to gouerne the Kingdome for a time not taking vpon them supreame authority or the names of King or Queene they were not willing to acknowledge for King the King of Scotland for that they held hee had no right but by his mother and that shee was vniustly deposed of her Subiects and therefore shee was iustly to bee reputed their Queene and the ancient League of Alliance betwixt her and France to continue firme and inuiolable Those likewise from England on the contrary maintained by strong argument that such an Administration or popular gouernment would be an Anarchy and that the Commonwealth was not to admit plurality of Gouernours and that Scotland hauing alwaies beene commanded by Kings was not now to haue an election of such Administrators That the States of the Realme had deposed the Queene and lawfully crowned and inthroned the King and that the ancient recited Alliance was a contract not of persons but of the two Kingdomes of France and Scotland alledging also that by an expresse Law the most Christian King was bound to defend the King of Scots in these termes If there happen at any time controuersie about the Kingdome of Scotland the Kings of France shall support ayde and defend him whom the States of Scotland shall adiudge the Title of the Kingdome to And as touching the causes of the Queenes deposing it should bee enquired of of those Scots who haue deposed her The French notwithstanding openly fauouring the partie of the Queene of Scotland became serious intercessours to her Maiestie for to set her at liberty lest that as his Ambassadour did freely hee might
bee thought not to respect her who had been wife to the King his brother and now the Dowager of France and to neglect the now puissant Family of the Guizes in France or to approoue that pernicious example of deposing of Kings And which was the most capitall point of all that shee finding her selfe abandoned of the French in her aduersity might seeke Patronage from Spaine and that by her meanes the three prepotent Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland might colleague them in amity with Spaine to the no small endamagement of the State of France To these Qu. ELIZABETH with milde alacrity answered THe King of France will be well aduised what or how he shall doe with the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding she was their Queene and now is their Dowager howbeit for the dissoluing of the Duke of Aniou's mariages she hath held secret cōsultation with the Spaniard He will also consider whether that ancient Law of Alliance be violable and whether he be bound therby or no to defend the King in his nonage He will also bethinke him how much France is beholden or obliged to the Family of the Guizes by whose practices the Countrey hath beene afflicted with long and bloody wars the French haue beene forced to lose the loue of Scotland and the poore Queene brought into this calamitable case she is in In very deed the example of deposing Kings I hold a thing most pernicious and well deseruing infernall punishment but for that the Scots are to answere And for mine owne part I call to mind the things which grieue my heart to remember But notwithstanding I know not how the French in old times allowed of Pepin when he supplanted Childeric Hugo Capet Charles of Lorraine depriuing them of their ancient successions descended to them from a long-continued Race of Ancestors to transferre the Scepter to new-erected Families As also Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundie exiled Iaquette from his countries of Hainault Holland or the Danes when they expulst from his Kingdome Christianus the second and his Daughters Or the Spaniards who imprisoned the Queene Vraca after they had put her from the Crowne It is no nouelty for Sonnes to succeed their deposed Mothers So Henry the Second was admitted King of England Alphonsus the yonger Sonne of Vraca King of Castill and of late memory Charles the fifth King of Spaine and Sicily their Mothers then suruiuing The world is full of examples of many Queenes that haue exchanged their Diademes for prisons which France doth testifie at large hauing imprisoned not to say further the wiues of three of their Kings one after another Lewes Hutin Philip the long and Charles the faire For my part I detaine the Queene of Scots vnder a reasonable Guard but I doe it for the preseruation of England and mine owne safety after the example of the French who for their better security of affaires put Chilperic into a Monasterie Charles of Lorraine into a safe and straite prison and Lodowicke Sforza Duke of Mylan into a Dungeon with Iron grates Whereunto as she was very conuersant in the Histories of all Nations shee annexed other examples of the same nature drawne out of the Historie of Spaine and finally concluded that true it was such Presidents carried euer with them some semblance of Iniustice but she required that the King of France would vndertake the defence of the Queene of Scotland euen as he was bound by his Allyance intimating that it would bee an action of greater glory to the French than all those vnhappy enterprizes they assumed in the cause of that infamous woman Iane of Naples But when it was discouered that at the same time the Queene of Scots practised secretly to confirme an alliance with the Spaniard by the negotiations of the Lord Seton who arriuing in Essex disguised in the habit of a Mariner and returning from thence into Scotland through England hee had promised succours in the Duke of Aluaes name to the Scottish partakers with the Queene shee was kept with a straighter Guard and the affection borne to her by the French by little and little waxed cold And certainely as the Duke of Alua omitted nothing wherein he might vent his hatred to Queene ELIZABETH so was shee no lesse cautelous to preuent it and frustrate his dissignes For in the first moneths of this yeere hee complained by the Spanish Ambassadour in England that the Flemmish Rebels bought all their warlike munition there and were receiued into all her Ports and Hauens shee presently by a strict Proclamation commanded that all Flemmings any wayes suspected of sedition should depart out of England and that their ships of warlike equipage should be seysed vpon in her harbours All which returned to the dammage of the Duke of Alua. For Humes Earle of March and other Flemmings reduced as it were to a desperate poynt whether they were terrified by this Proclamation or that they were vnder-hand admonished to retyre but they presently surprised the Breele which is seated vpon the mouth of the Meuse caused Flushing forthwith to reuolt and other Townes which expelled the Spaniards as they were in hand to make cittadels to captiuate their libertie in a short time cut off the Duke of Alua by Sea and through the meanes they had to make it good for themselues had a power to molest and detaine the Spaniard with a long and tedious warre wherein Souldiers haue obserued that hee shewed for his part such palpable carelessenesse and negligence as was not beseeming so great a Generall who for the space of foure whole yeeres grossely ouer-slipt the maritime affaires and expeditions of Flanders At the same time there was a famous generall muster before the Queene at Greenwich with a pleasant trayning in Armes by the Citizens of London and after their returne from thence martiall men who began to rust and corrupt in their owne houses began to flow out of England into Flanders and according as they stood affected betooke themselues some to the Duke of Alua and others the farre greater number to the Prince of Orange who opposed his proiects for the defence of Religion and his Countries libertie Amongst whom Sir Thomas Morgan was the first that brought three hundred men into Flushing vpon the report whereof the Duke who intended the recouery of it forbare and retyred Further hee vsed such expedition and diligence as hee caused greater troupes to come for after himselfe there landed nine Companies more of English conducted by Humfrey Gilbert who being consorted with the French first attempted to surprize Scluse and Bruges then hee set vpon Tergow in Suethebenelant But their scaling-Ladders being too short hollow correspondancie betweene the French and the English and Mondragon comming on with fresh succours for the assieged they retyred to Flushing of which both the one and the other sought to make themselues masters each to themselues But the Prince of Orange made good vse of this
returne backe againe as he came But so soone as her Maiesty heard how Henrie Duke of Aniou his Brother had beene elected King of Poland Also the French King to be grieuously sicke shee sent word to the Duke of Alanzon to take not as yet his iourney for England alledging him these reasons THe Protestants Massacre lately most cruelly acted on the Bloudy Theater of all France and in hatred of their Religion during the solemnizations and recreations of a marriage That hee hauing already heretofore sought her to Wife the Protestants of England partly suspected fatall the Nuptials and the more sith himselfe transported of a courage enemy to the Protestants had gone in person to besiege Rochell and had written of all parts that hee would come to see her Maiestie presently after the taking of the said City insomuch that hee seemed rather to hate the Protestants Religion than to beare affection or loue to the Queenes Maiestie and that this caused the best part of England to suspect that hee would come into their Countrey to marry the Queene with a Sword dyed in the bloud of those poore Christians who professed their owne Religion Therefore her Maiesty friendly counselled him FIrst to procure and mediate a Peace in France to yeeld some worthy proofe and noted testimony of his affection to the Protestants of France to be the better welcome in England and the more graciously receiued according to his desire Since this Peace was re-established in France the exercise of Religion granted in certaine places to the Protestants The King and the Queene desired nothing more than the absence of the Duke of Alanzon because he was of a harsh and seuere nature inclined to trouble their States affaires they did their best and vsed their vttmost endeuoures to effect the match and by like meanes prayed Qu. ELIZABETH to permit to their other sonne the Duke of Aniou if he should goe by sea to Poland Authority to saile vnder publike assurance vpon Great-Brittaines Sea This their request her Maiestie granted not only most willingly but more shee offered him a Fleet of Ships to conuay him in the meane while the Duke of Alanzon fell sicke of the small poxe and the Queene his mother giuing aduice thereof to Queene ELIZABETH by the Earle of Rez excuseth him by reason of his sicknesse for not comming into England Gondy met Queene ELIZABETH at Canterbury where she entertained him with great magnificence and the same time Matthew Parker Arch-bishop of Canterbury celebrating the Queenes birth-day which was the seuenth of September in the Arch-bishops Hall very spacious and by him newly repaired inuited the Queen thither and Gondy and la Motto and feasted them with like number of Nobility that Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth had being feasted in the same Hall in the yeere 1519. In Scotland Iames Dowglasse Earle of Morton beeing elected Vice-Roy of Scotland in Murray's place by the meanes of Queene ELIZABETH and his authority made sure by the Assembly of the States in the name of the King established these Lawes for confirming Religion against Papists and Heretickes and made sure Alexander Areskin Earle of Marre the Kings Gardian by speciall right being as yet in his minority vpon these Conditions THat the Papists and Factious persons should be excluded from hauing accesse to his person an Earle might be admitted to him with two seruants only and a Baron with one all others alone and without weapons In the Interim the French hauing sent Viriack who endeuoured what he could to supplant the Vice-Roy before he should be authorized set to oppose him the Earles of Athole and Huntley promising them a reward Queene ELIZABETH to counter-scarfe these designes let the Scots vnderstand by H. Killigrewe that this cruell Massacre of Paris had bin put in execution by the conspiracy of the Pope and the Kings of France and Spaine to exterminate the Protestants And therefore warned them to take heed lest being corrupted either with Pensions from France or deuided by Factions they open a way to Stranger Forces which were thought should be conducted by Strossie To oppose themselues all vallianty and with equall courage against it for defence of Religion which was the only bond of concord betweene the English and the Scots And to be very carefull to preserue their King or to send him into England to preuent his taking away and carrying into France Neuerthelesse some great Ones partakers with the imprisoned Queene would in no sort acknowledge the Authority either of the King or his Vice-Roy vntill Queene ELIZABETH by interposing her power had by the Agencie of Killigrew brought the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earle of Huntley who were the principals among them to these Conditions which were equall enough THat they should acknowledge the Religion established in Scotland submit themselues to the King and to the Gouernement of the Earle of Morton and his successours and renounce the authority of all others That all those which should enterprize any thing against the Religion the King and the Vice-Roy should be adiudged Traitours by Act of Parliament The sentences giuen against the Hamiltons and the Gordons should be cut off and annihilated except those which concerned the murdering of the Earles of Murrey and Lenox Vice-Royes which should stand according to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH Who neuerthelesse sent this businesse backe to the King and was of opinion that this Clause ought to be added to it Vntill that the King being come to age should take the Gouernement of the Realme according to the Law of the Kingdome And that of all and euery crime committed since the fifteenth of Iune 1567 the Murder of the Earle of Lenox excepted pardon should be granted to all that would aske it Notwithstanding it was thought good for the safety of the King lest hee should bee exposed to murder that the Queene of England should promise by a publike Instrument that neither the Hamiltons nor any other should be adiudged for the murdering of the Vice-Royes or fined without her consent And that was ordered in the Assembly of States for the settling of a publike peace in a turbulent season Howbeit Kirckall Lord of Grange who had beene established Captaine of Edenborrough Castle after he had taken oath in the Kings name and the Baron of Hume Lidington the Bishop of Dunkeld and others thinking that iniustice was done to the Queene of Scotland would by no meanes admit of these Conditions but with vndaunted Courage contemned the authority both of the King and Vice-Roy kept and fortified the Castle in the Queenes name by the counsell of Lidington thinking themselues sure in regard of the strength of the place which is of a most difficult accesse and of the Munition which were in it for there all Munition Royall is kept and of the Succours promised by the Duke D'Alua and the King of France who had vnder-hand sent them some money the greater part whereof
from Rome was cast abroad that serenitie by little and little turned into clouds and tempests and brought vp that Law which was made in the yeere 1571. against them which brought into the Kingdome such Bulls Agnos Dei and Grana Benedicta being tokens of Papall obedience or as we haue said did reconcile any to the Church of Rome Neuerthelesse this Law was not put in execution against any one in sixe yeeres after although it was knowne to haue beene violated by many The first against whom this Law was put in practice was Cuthbert Maine Priest a stubborne defender of the Popes authority against the Queene hee was executed at Saint Stephens commonly called Launston in Cornewall and Trugion a Gentleman that intertained him into his house had all his lands and goods confiscated and he condemned to perpetuall imprisonment Of these and such like things concerning the Church I will but giue a touch in regard of others that vndertake to write the Ecclesiasticall History of those times who I hope although it be scarcely to be hoped for by reason of exasperated mindes in this deuision of Religion will faithfully performe it This yeere the title of Baron of Latimer after it had flourished in honour and riches from the time of Henry the Sixth is now extinct in Iohn Neuill who hauing no Issue male left an ample inheritance to foure Daughters the eldest of which Henrie Earle of Northumberland married the second Thomas Cecill who was afterwards Earle of Exceter the third Sir William Cornwallis and the fourth Sir Iohn Dauers of which came a plentifull ofspring Sir Th. Smith one of the Secretaries of State likewise died of a consumption this being his clymactericall yeere a man memorable for much learning and wisdome approued in many Ambassies He was descended of noble Parents at Saffron Walden in Essex brought vp at Queen Margarets Colledge in Cambridge and beeing come to riper yeeres was chosen to bee sent into Italy vpon the Kings charge vntill our time many of the most hopefull youths were chosen out of both the Vniuersities and trayned vp in strange Countries for the better adorning and inabling of their mindes From thence he returned Doctor of the Ciuill Law he was in fauour with the Duke of Sommerset Protector of EDVVARD the Sixth and made the other Secretary with Cecill and Lord Warden of the Stanneries Deane of Carlile and Prouost of Eaton Queene MARIE comming to the Crowne tooke all these dignities from him assigned him a hundred pound a yeere to liue on with condition not to goe out of the Kingdome As soone as Queene ELIZABETH inioyed the Scepter he was called againe to the seruice of the Common-wealth to be an assistant with the Diuines in correcting the English Liturgy and afterwards as I haue said before hauing with great applause performed his Ambassies hee dyed In the yeere 1571 being made second Secretary to the Queene hauing but one onely Sonne sent him to leade a Colony into the barbarous Pen-insale Ardes in Ireland where hee was vnfortunately slaine Hee tooke speciall care and was the first that procured an order for the dyets of Students in Colledges and by that meanes aduanced learning more than he did by his writings although hee left a worke imperfect de Reipublica Anglorum a singular booke de Linguae Anglicae Orthographia another de Graecae pronunciatione and an exact Commentary de re nummaria most worthy to come to light In his stead to the place of Secretary came Thomas Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Law Master of Saint Katherines neere London who dyed within foure yeeres after In Ireland the O-Mores O-Conores and others whose ancestors the Earle of Sussex Lord Deputie in the reigne of Queene MARY had for wrongs and offences done by them depriued of their inheritance Leisa and Ophalia neither had hee assigned them any other place to liue in broke out into Rebellion vnder the conduct of Rorio Oge that is to say Rodorick the Younger burnt a little Towne called Naasse they assaulted Lachliny and were repulsed by Sir George Crew Gouernour but they tooke Henry Harrington and Alexander Cosbie in a deceitfull parley which they sought of purpose to surprize them whoÌ„ when Captaine Harpole went about to recouer set vpon a little Cottage by night where Rorio was and they two tyed to a post Rorio being awaked with the noyse gaue Harrington and Cosbie many wounds in the darke and with a desperate boldnesse rusheth into the middest of the Souldiers which compassed him round and by the benefit of the night escaped Afterwards hauing layde an Ambuscado for the Baron of Osser was taken and being slaine his neighbours were deliuered from much feare THE ONE AND TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1578. ALthough Spaine approued not of the propositions that Wilkes had made and as I lately saide had dissembled Queene ELIZABETH notwithstanding seriously pittying the Flemmings whose Prouinces were so commodiously and with a mutuall necessity situated to England had for many ages adhered like Husband and Wife and therefore impatient to see the French vnder colour of taking them into protection should become Masters of them sends Wilkes at his returne from Spaine to Don Iohn to aduertize him that the States had called the Duke of Aniou now so but before Duke of Alanzon with an Armie of French and that it would be more safe for him to make a Truce lest he should expose the Prouinces to the present danger But he being of a firie and warlike Spirit and puffed vp with the Battell against the States at Gemblacke answered in a word that he neither thought of any Truce nor feared the French She neuerthelesse for her own behoofe and the Flemmings sends Sir Edward Stafford into France to watch if they should attempt any thing vpon the Frontiers of the Low-Countries and how many Souldiers they had leuied Out of England are past ouer I. North eldest Sonne of Baron North Iohn Norris second Sonne of Baron Norris Henry Cauendish and Thomas Morgan with many voluntaries there to plant their first rudiments of Warre Casimire also Sonne to the Prince Elector Palatine drew a great Armie of Horse and Foot out of Germanie which cost the Queene verie much Don Iohn burning to assault the Armie of the States at Rimenant before all the auxiliarie Forces of the French and Germanes should ioyne with it flyes vpon them sooner then they were aware of and forthwith made the Cauallerie which were set to guard retreate runnes in vpon the Enemie as if he had been sure of the victorie but they resuming their spirits beat backe the Austrians who being turned towards the Hedges and Bushes where the English and Scottish voluntaries were placed stroue to breake through them but by no meanes could they were valiantly entertained by the English and Scots who for the feruent heat had cast off their Cloathes and with their Shirts â—yed betweene their
caried her selfe more difficultly neither would she heare those which would assure the Lady Arbella borne in England to be next to King Charles her Vnkle to the Inheritance in England nor Embassador which would make it appeare by Historie that the Kings of Scotland borne in Scotland had in time past by hereditarie right succeeded in the Countie of Huntington and he instantly besought her that she would not denie a Prince her neerest Kinsman that right of inhabitance which she vouchsafed to vnknowne Strangers But she commanded that the Reuenues should be sequestred in the hands of the Lord Burghley Gardian of the Pupils and warneth the King to satisfie Creditors out of the Earle of Lenox his goods in Scotland She tooke it impatiently that it should be suggested that the King would reuoke the infeoffement of the Earledome of Lenox to the preiudice of the Lady Arbella although by the Regall right of Scotland it alwaies hath beene lawfull to reuoke Donations hurtfull to the Kingdome and done in minoritie The Counsell of England doe not hold it conuenient and fit that the Treatie of Edenborough should be confirmed thinking it yet to stand firme They require that the Embassadour would propound something that might somwhat recompence the fauors and friendship that the Queen had manifested to the King who spared not the Blood of the English in his defence and consolidate a friendship Whereupon he propounds according to his instructions That a League may be made not Offensiue but Defensiue and with mutuall succours against the Pope and his confederates with certaine Lawes against those which should attempt any thing against either Kingdome and Rebels vnder pretence of Religion But besides these the English thinke it Iust that seeing the Queene had not omitted nor would omit any thing for the defence of the King and that for this cause she had incurred the Indignation of many That the States of the Kingdome of Scotland should giue caution that so long as the King is vnder age he should not contract nor renew couenants with any neither to marrie nor be sent out of Scotland without the Queenes aduice But these things being of such moment require to be exactly and circumspectly considered and are put backe to Scotland till another time In the meane time Morton who indeed was of a most eager and sharpe disposition trusting in his long experience and multitude of his vassals thinking nothing wel done but what he did himselfe not being able to endure to be lesse than he had been contemning his Colleagues and reiecting the manner of administration prescribed tooke againe the managing of affaires and detained the King in his power in the Castle of Sterlin admitting and denying entrance to whom he pleased The Peeres prouoked therewith tooke the Earle of Athole to be their Generall and in the Kings name summoned all that were aboue fourteene yeeres of age and vnder sixtie to meete together with Armes and Victuals to deliuer the King and true many came and hauing displaid their Colours marched towards Faukirk where Morton presented himselfe with his men But Sir Robert Bowes the English Embassadour interceding hindered them from comming to blowes Morton being vext to see how matters went presently retires to his House The Earle dyed as quickly and left a suspition that he was poysoned Which thing those that were moued against Morton tooke that aboue all to increase their hatred vntill they brought him to his ruine as we shall say hereafter This yeere nothing of note was done in Ireland But the Spaniard and Pope Gregorie the thirteenth prouiding for their owne profit vnder shadow of restoring Religion held secret counsell how at one time to inuade both Ireland and England and dispossesse Queene ELIZABETH who was the surest defence of the Protestants Religion The Pope he was to conquer Ireland for his Sonne Iames Bon-Compagnon whom he had created Marquis of Vignoles The Spaniard secretly to succour the Irish Rebels as Queen ELIZABETH had done the Hollanders while he entertained Parlies of friendship with her to enioy if he could the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie and then the States her confederates he could easily reduce to a course which he despaired to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Sea and this hee saw could not be done vnlesse hee were first Lord of England And it is not to be doubted but that as he holds Naples Sicilie and Nauarre of the Popes liberalitie so most willingly would he hold England as a Beneficiarie ought to doe Those which know the principall strength of England consists in the Nauie Royall and in Merchants Shippes which are built for Warre thought it were good to fraught the Merchants Shippes for some long voyage by Italians and Flemmish Merchants and whilest they are vpon their voyage this Royall Fleet might be ouer-whelmed by a greater At the same time Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue of whom I haue spoken in the yeere 1570 ioyned to his Forces the Rebels of Ireland by this notable subtiltie and his great ostentation and shew and the promises which he made of the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes base Sonne he had so wonne the fauour of this ambitious old man that he honoured him with the Titles of Marquis of Lemster Earle of Wexford and Caterlaughie Viscount Mourough and Baron of Rosse all of them remarkeable Places in Ireland and made him Generall of eight thousand Italians payd by the King of Spaine for the Warres of Ireland With which Forces hauing weighed Anker from the Ciuita Vecchia in the end he arriued in Portugal at the entry of Tage where a greater power by the Diuine Prouidence puft downe these that threatned England and Ireland For Sebastian King of Portugal to whom the whole expedition was committed because in the heate of his youth and ambition he had promised the Pope to goe against the Turkes and Protestants and employ all his power being drawne into Africa by Mahomet Sonne of Abdalla King of Fesse by great promises treates with Stukeley to goe before with these Italians to Mauritania And Stukeley being easily wonne to that knowing that the Spaniard disdaining that the Sonne of a Pope should be designed King of Ireland had consented to it hoisted saile with Sabastian and by an honest Catastrophe there he ended a dissolute life in a memorable combate Wherein dyed three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdalemelech If this fate of Sebastians had not altered the King of Spaines mind from inuading England in hope of the Kingdome of Portugal England had felt a terrible storme of warre if credit may be giuen to English Fugitiues For they report that the great forces which hee had begun to rayse in Italy to showre vpon England were stayed for the taking of Portugal And being that his minde was wholly bent vpon that hee could not be made to thinke of England although the English Fugitiues earnestly sollicited him and for that businesse the Pope
and worthy a Subiect But howsoeuer I was willing the best I was able to pay this my humble Duty to Her blessed Memory and to your Honorable selues by my poore endeuours to make knowne the desire I haue to intitle my selfe A true denoted to your resplendent vertues ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THAT EVER Most blessed and Glorious Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of happy renowne and matchlesse Fame OR ANNALLS Of all such things of note as hapned during her happy Reigne as well in England France Ireland as Scotland Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke and the foure and twentieth yeere of her Raigne Anno MDLXXXI HEreupon in the beginning of Ianuarie next was Thomas Randolph Captaine of the Light-horse sent into Scotland with cōmand that he should attempt nothing that might any way bee preiudiciall to the present religion or the peace of the two Nations he was also to sollicite in the behalfe of the Lord Morton that Lenox might be sent out of Scotland and such of the Nobility as fauoured the English faction might bee encouraged Randolph the better to effectuate his message for the good of Morton maketh recitall of his many great merits and good services done to his Maiesty the inueterate malice of his aduersaries the high respect and honor they ought to haue of Queene ELIZABETH who expected nothing lesse then to haue her suit now reiected in so honest a cause The King answered that by the duty of his royall charge hee was to execute iudgment and iustice vpon a person so conuicted in matter of Maiesty that he ingeniously acknowledged the Queenes manifold fauours nor would hee act any thing might any way bee iustly offensiue to her Maiestie Then after Randolph being admitted into the Assembly of the States of the Kingdome reckoneth vp the well knowne benefits which both the King and Country had earst receiued from the Queene namely HOW by the blood of the English their Country had beene deliuered from the French and of their King his Kingdome and Religion she had euer been a chiefe supporter but for any way seducing the King although some but most falsly did intimate so much or seeking to hold one foot of ground in Scotland shee neuer entertained such a thought yet were they not ignorant that she wanted not opportunity the King being in his cradle the Queene-mother in Prison and the Nobles in combustion But on the contrary all her royall care was for the conseruation of their King her neere and deare kinsman and allyed to her in a triple bond of neigborhood religion and consanguinity nor had shee euer found him or any of his Regents or Vice-Roies defectiue towards her in their loues before this Aubigny of France came into Scotland but since his ariuall hee wholly vsurped the Regall authority hee had withdrawne all affection from the English to bestow it vpon the French who before his ariuall neuer somuch as acknowledged their King had remoued from his person his most trusty friends brought in strangers had conferred with foraigners by letters which he shew'd for inuading England that he had brought the Scotish Presbytery into contempt with the King as a people altogether turbulent seditious had peruerted the administration of iustice vpon the borders Nor could her Maiesty endure a Prince so vertuous so neerely allyed vnto her to bee thus abused and caried away by such sinister practices Notwithstanding this for the present there was nothing done either for Morton or against Lenox whom the Scots for the most part supposed no way guilty of such aspersions or calumnies as had beene obiected Randolph seeing that thought hee would try another conclusion consorts himselfe with the friends of Morton and Lenox aduersaries bewaileth the miserable estate of Scotland representeth to them the imminent perills which hang ouer the heads of the King the Country and them all complaineth that the Queens message by way of intercessiō hath beene slieghtly respected suggesteth with them secretly to attempt to gaine that by force of Armes which they cannot get by faire meanes promising to further and furnish them out of England with men money and munition This Oratory of his proued so perswasible with them that thereupon the Earles of Argathel Mont-Rosse Angus Mortons Nephew by the brotherside Glencarne Reuthen Lindsey others became all of his side But soone after they fell at discord amongst themselues and seeing the King wholly caried away with the fauour of Lenox nor no whit danted for the English forces which were now vpon the borders and had already encountred theirs generally respecting the kings personall presence with them though a child were not affraid to bend all the powers they could make vpon Lenox and thought it was enough to haue pity on Morton notwithstanding the Earles of Angus and Marre practised couertly and cunningly with Randolph in the behalfe of Morton and against Lenox whereof Whittingham hauing aduertised the King Angus was commanded to retire himselfe beyond the riuer Spea Marre to yeeld vp the Castle of Sterlin into the Kings hands Randolph hauing an apprehension of feare got him priuately into Barwicke and seeing matters proue desperate aduiseth Angus Marre to prouide for themselues either in submitting themselues to the King or to seeke the protection of the Queene of England The English forces were no sooner withdrawne from the borders but Morton conuicted of murthering the King had his head cut off for he had confessed as the report went that Bothwel Archebauld Douglas had imparted their intent of making away the King but in so tumultuous a time as that was hee durst not reueale it Nor could hee deny but that since the Kings death hee had beene very inwardly conuersant and more familiar then before with Douglas the Kings murtherer and had promised by his letters if Bothwel should at any time be accused to defend him the best he might Instantly Douglas and others the friends of Morton fled into England In the Low-Countries against the Graue Van Reneberg who had there valiantly serued the King of Spaine and now laid siege to Stenwicke in Friezland the States sent the English vnder the conduct of their General Norris who with no lesse courage then good successe after he had twice releeued the besieged with victuals caused the Enemy to raise his siege But after that comming to fight with Verdugues the Spaniard hauing the victory in his hands his enemies put to flight suddenly fortune changing he is beaten off the field dangerously wounded and many of his men slaine amongst which not to nominate the rest were these men o◠note Captain Cotton Fitz-Williams and Bishop I know not well whether I should here recite a Combate which was betweene Thomas Chieftaine of the Wallons and Generall Norris but Norris by the Law militarie being not permitted to admit of because he was Generall of the Armie his Lieutenant Roger Fitz-Williams
Councell concerning my affaires and Country for that were extreame indiscretion You know how my Aduersaries triumph in Scotland both ouer mee and my imprisoned son I haue attempted nothing in Scotland to your preiudice but to stablish a solide peace in the Realme hauing by so much the more a greater care then your Councellors by how much my interest there is more then theirs I haue desired to gratifie my son with the title of King to confirme him and to burie all discords Is that to take the Diadem from him But the enemies of me and my family will not haue it confirmed It is that that they dread whilst they carie in their heart a witnesse against themselues finding themselues culpable of euills apprehend they should bee dealt with accordingly Let not these and others my aduersaries so blind your eyes that during your life and in your sight they shall beare downe your nearest kindred and ruinate both the Crownes as to that end they are plotting villanies against me against my son and perhaps against you also Can it be any pleasure or honor to you that I and my son that you and we are by their meanes so long seeluded and kept asunder Resume your naturall goodnesse and meeknesse oblige your selfe to your selfe and seeing you are a Princesse be tender hearted to me a Princesse the nearest of your consanguinity that all things being set in quiet betwixt vs I may passe the more peacefully out of this life and that the sighes and sobbes of my afflicted soule ascend not to God on high To whose diuine power I present my daily prayers that these my iust complaints and sorrowfull laments my take place with you From Sheffield 8. Nouemb. 1582. Vostre tres-desolée plus proche parente affectionnée soeur MARIE R THE SIXE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIII ELIZABETH Queen of England being sundry wayes moued with these Letters after she had giuen permission to the French Ambassador La Mottef together with Dauison her owne Ambassador to goe into Scotland and had chosen out a time wherin he might opportunely meet with the Duke of Lenox vnawares then returning out of Scotland she her selfe kindely receiued Lenox yet gently blaming him for being somwhat slack in the Scottish affaires and forthwith sent Beale Clerke of her Priuie Councell for the dispatch of her Letters being indeed a man very austere and sharpe to the Queene of Scots to manifest the discontent of Queene ELIZABETH at the sight of her complaining Letters and by the same meanes to treat with the Earle of Shrewsbury concerning her enlargement because she oftentimes before with sundry Letters had sollicited for it and intreated that shee might yet at last her security being established to her inioy her libertie and be an associate with her sonne in the administration of Scotland Vpon these things was the Priuy Councell of England assembled where after serious debating and deliberate consultations it was at length agreed that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie vnder these following conditions THat if she and her sonne would promise not to enterprise any thing to the preiudice of Queene ELIZABETH or the Realme of England That shee would confesse that whatsoeuer Francis the second King of France her husband had vndertaken and performed was altogether against her will and liking and that shee would disproue and disanull it as vniust That shee would confirme the Treaty holden at Edenbourgh That shee would freely and ingenuously confesse and discouer all other complots intendments which were since that time forged and would vtterly condemne the same That if shee would enter into obligation not to plot or doe any thing directly or indirectly to the impeachment of the gouernment or administration of the Kingdome of England either in things Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill but to resist and hinder all those that should undertake in what manner so euer any thing to the contrary and to withstand them as enemies That she would not during the life of Queene ELIZABETH claime any Right or Title to the Kingdome of England and after her death to submit and referre the right of succession to the iudgement of the Estates If she also to cut off all equiuocations and mentall reseruations and to forestall all pretended excuses that shee as a Prisoner accorded and condiscended to these conditions or being in a manner constrained would confirme all these by her aoth and the publique authoritie of the States of Scotland If the King likewise would ratifie the self-same conditions both by oath and writing and for the more assurance would deliuer hostages for the performance As concerning the association which the Queene of Scots demanded to haue with her sonne in the gouernment of the Kingdome it was holden expedient by the Councell that the Queene of England should not intermeddle therewith But if they could agree vpon the association between themselues then should the League be ioyntly treated of with them both but if otherwise then apart with either seuerally Thus these things were debated on yet without any successe For the Scots which were of the English faction altogether reiected them crying out aloud that certaine Scots sworne enemies to England by the Councell of the Queene of Scots were recalled out of France and that Holt an English Iesuite was secretly sent into Scotland there to attend a fit opportunitie to inuade England Then there arose strife betweene Monsieur de La Mottef and Monsieur de Maninguill Ambassadors of France of the one part and Bowes and Dauison Ambassadors for England on the other side which of them by insinuating should induce the King to the greater affectation of their Nation or purchase the greater number to their party vntill at length that with oblique designes they ingenuously became Counsellors either to other The King himselfe became as it were Mediator and knowing how to temper things honest with things profitable without prouing any way deficient either to the Church or the Common-wealth hee wisely endeuoured rather to calme the raging stormes of these factions then intermeddle with them But the Ministers of Scotland being by a certaine zeale prouoked against the French vpon the same day that La Mottef was by the Citizens of Edenborough inuited to a Feast appointed a Fast and the whole day vvith taunts and mocks derided and scoffed the King of France the Duke of Guise and the Ambassadors And as the Ministers did this openly so certain of the Scotch Nobilitie parties with the English ceased not to persecute the French Ambassadors secretly in such sort that first La Mottef retired himselfe and after him Maninguil leauing notwithstanding some certaine seeds of discord amongst those who had seaz'd and kept the Kings Person As soone as they were departed the King presented by Colonell Stuart and I. Coluil all affection and seruice to the Queene of England requesting her counsell for the allaying of troubles and also
and Leicester his brother Tho Starkey Gerard Gore and other Merchants of London to recompence their losses which they had sustained in Africa being to all others prohibited to traffique in Mauritania Cesariense for the space of ten yeares Which Mulley Hamet Xerisi receiued into protection In the beginning of this yeare dyed Edward Lord Clinton High Admirall who in the yeare 1572 was by Queene ELIZABETH created Earle of Lincolne He was honorably interred at Windsor Henry his sonne succeeded him in his honours but Charles Howard Lord of Effingham Chamberlaine to the Queene in the Admiralty And to him in his Office succeeded the Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Gouernour of Barwick who a few yeares before supplyed the place of Fra Russell Earle of Bedford the second Earle of that Family a Nobleman true professor of Religion and vertue who hauing ouer-liued three of his sonnes Edward Iohn and Francis and had but one liuing who was Lord Russell Baron of Thornaugh and three daughters all three Countesses one maried to the Earle of Warwicke the second to the Earle of Bathe and the third to the Earle of Cumberland hee dyed of a Gangrene the next day after his sonne Francis was slaine vpon the borders of Scotland as before is related and was interred with Iohn his father at Cheney in Buckingham-shire to him succeeded Edward sonne to Francis his third sonne About the end of this yeare the Earle of Leicester being out of an itching desire of rule and glory easily perswaded by those which studied more to assure their owne fortune and power in the Court then his Honour passed with great pompe and state into the Netherlands with this Title Generall of Her MAIESTIES auxiliary troops Hee had also some command ouer the Nauy-Royall His Lordship was accompanied with the Earle of Essex the Lord Touchet Baron of Audley and the Lord North Baron of Kertling vvith Sir William Russell Sir Tho. Sherley Sir Arthur Basset Sir Walter Waller Sir Gernase Clifton and many other Knights attended on by a chosen company of fiue hundred Gentlemen The Queene at his departure forbade him to entertaine a thought of any thing which vvould bee vnworthy either of her or of the place which he vvas seated in Shee commanded him to learne vvith all possible diligence vvhat Garisons the Estates maintained how and by vvhat means And her Maiestie still being carefull good to the Souldiers charged him to know by vvhat Art they inhaunced put down the value of their money for in that Art they excelled all others lest the Souldiers should receiue that at a higher rate then they could put it off for She admonisht him to cut off all prouision from the enemy and to his power restraine the Dunkerks vvhich much infested the seas Finally shee recommended to his trust the Nobilitie of that Country and aboue all the children of the Prince of Orange THE NINE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXVI DVDLEY Earle of Leicester landing at Flushing was first by his Nephew Sir Philip Sidney Gouernor of that Citie honorably receiued and after by all the townes of Zeland and Holland with all sorts of honours acclamations triumphs deuoted panegyricks Banquettings and such like things And being in the moneth of Iuly come to the Hage the Court of Holland the Estates generall so they are called by Letters Patents gaue to him the soueraigne command and absolute authoritie ouer the Vnited Prouinces with the Title of Gouernor and Captaine Generall of Holland Zeland and the vnited and confederate Prouinces Then being saluted of all with the attribute of His Excellence and tickled with flatteries as if hee had beene seated in the highest and amplest degree of honour he began to assume royall and Kingly thoughts of Maiesty But the Queen being highly offended that the Estates had imposed and receiued him with such exceeding honours with a little letter abated the swelling winde wherewith hee was puffed vp then when he least thought thereof And these were the contents YOu shall vnderstand by this messenger which wee haue expresly sent vnto you with what contempt you haue behaued your selfe against our pleasure Wee had not thought that you a man we haue raised from the dust and fauoured aboue all others would haue violated in so great a matter our command with so great contempt euen in a matter which so much and neerely concerneth vs and our honour But though against your duty you haue made so little respect of our honor yet thinke not that we are so grosly negligent in the repairing thereof that wee can passe ouer so great an iniury with silence and obliuion Therefore we command you that you setting apart all excuses incontinently according to the faith and duty wherein you are bound vnto vs performe all whatsoeuer Heneage our vnder-Chamberlaine shall in our name declare vnto you except you will draw vpon your head a greater danger In other Letters which she sent to the Estates generall she thus reasoned THat they without her aduice or priuity had to her reproach transferd vpon Leicester the absolute rule of the vnited Prouinces notwithstāding she herselfe had refused the same and had manifestly declared to all the world that she had but onely giuen ayde and succours to her afflicted neighbors and not in any wise taken any command vnto her And therefore she aduised them To dispoile Leicester of that absolute authoritie since she had prescribed to him his limits not that she thought their cause was not to be defended but that she might keepe safe her honour which then her life she rather esteemed The Estates answered THat they were much agrieued that in giuing to Leicester without her aduice the absolute rule they had offended her Maiesty and requested her to mitigate the offence by the necessity of matter remonstrating to her that of necessity that authority must haue been transferd vpon one or other for the auoyding of troubles neither was the authority such as that word Absolute did seeme to inferre seeing that principality and seueraigne rule with the dignity of Gouernor still remained intire amongst the people But to reuoke the power which had already been transferd would be a meanes to precipitate the Netherlands into extreame dangers By these letters of the Estates and those of Leicester which hee as one well skil'd how with feigned teares and griefe to re-obtaine the fauour of so gracious and milde a Princesse had written in a sorrowfull stile this offence by little and little vanished into obliuion In the meane space Leicester receiued the contributions of of the Prouinces and established military lawes and whilst he laboured to impose new taxes vpon their commerce hee stirred vp the hate of the people against him Now had Charles Earle of Mansueld by order from the Duke of Parma Gouernor for the Spaniard in Flanders for the space of some few moneths beleagerd Graue a towne in Brabant situated
what a woman shee is for whose well-fare you haue been so circumspect Certainly I doe well and with gratitude of heart call your vigilant care to minde but neuer shall be able to giue you condigne thankes although I should liue as long as euery one of you So soone as I receiued the Scepter being not vnmindfull of God who gaue me his grace I begun my Raigne in his seruice and the Religion wherein I was borne and haue beene brought vp and I hope shall die And although I am not ignorant how many ieopardies haue encompassed Mee at home and how great Princes for changing Religion haue enuied Me abroad yet haue I not beene moued thereat For I know that God whom alone I respect will defend both Mee and My cause From thence haue sprung vp against Me so many attempts and conspiracies that I wonder I liue but God hath alwaies beene my succour and support and sent me aide beyond My expectation Since that to proue My selfe a Proficient in the Art of Raigning I haue of long time bethought Mee what things were fitting for Kings and haue found that nothing is more necessary than to be plentifully furnished with the predominant Vertues of Iustice Temperance Wisedome and Fortitude For the two last which appertaine more properly to men My sexe permits Me not to attribute them to my self but as for the two precedent and the more mild I dare say without glorying I haue with indifferency conioyned the highest with the lowest I haue not preferred any vnworthily Mine eares haue not beene too credulous nor haue I before I heard the cause past my iudgement rashly yet I will not say but many things perhaps haue bin brought by report to me by som too partially affected to the Parties For the good and wary Prince is often sold for that hee cannot heare euery Cause My iudgement the best it could hath euermore inclined to the Truth as he which admonished his Friend to make no answer before he had repeated the Alphabet so haue I done nothing vnaduisedly As concerning therefore your Counsels Consultations I acknowledge them so elaborate prudent and prouident for My conseruation issued from hearts so sincere and so well-affected to My seruice that it is My part to endeuour with all My power not to be vnthankfull to men of so great demerit But as concerning your demand I intreat and charge you to hold you content with an Answer without Answer I commend your Iudgements and apprehend the reasons thereof But excuse Me I pray for that doubtfull perplexitie of thought which troubleth Me. Let the most gracious affection which I beare you be acceptable and pleasing to you and withall this Answer if so be you esteeme it an Answer If I say I will not do your demand perhaps I shall say more than I thinke If that I will I whom you would so gladly preserue shall runne headlong vpon mine owne destruction And I thinke such is your wisdome you would not that if you obserue seriously the times and manners of persons After this the Parliament was prorogued At that time were sent to the Queene of Scotland the Lord Buckhurst and Beal to certifie her that Iudgement was giuen against her and that it was approued most iust by Authoritie of Parliament and that the States had demanded the execution thereof for Iustice Securitie and Necessitie And therefore they perswaded her that after she had acknowledged her offences to God Queen Elizabeth she should satisfie therefore by repentance before she dyed and to shew that if she liued the Religion receiued in England could not stand At which she seemed to triumph with extraordinary cheerefulnesse giuing thankes to God and reioycing that she was held to be a worthy Instrument for the re-establishing of her Religion in this Iland Shee did with great feruour and affection desire a Catholike Priest to direct her Conscience and to administer the Sacraments refusing vpon the first motion the Bishop and the Deane which they recommended to her to that end And she greatly blamed the English Nation saying often The English haue many times murdered their Kings it is no strange thing if they do the like to me who am deriued of their Royall blood L'Aubespine the Ambassadour of France stayed the publishing of this Sentence yet by suite and soliciting of some Courtiers it was published in the Month of December with the sound of a Trumpet thorow the Citie of London in the presence of the Maior the Sherifes and certaine selected Citizens And Queene Elizabeth protested seriously in the Preface of this publication that she had beene drawne to it with great griefe of heart by a certaine necessitie and the earnest request of the States of the Kingdome Notwithstanding there were some that thought it was done by a certaine familiar policie incident to women who seeme to doe by compulsion the thing they most desire The publishing of this Sentence of death being declared to the Q. of Scotland she was so far from fainting in courage or seeming disanimated that with alacritie casting vp her eies hands towards heauen she thanked God for it getting leaue of her keeper Sir Ayme Poulet she wrote to Q. Eliza. That She putteth off all malice of minde towards her giueth thankes to God for this Condemnation seeing it was his good pleasure to adde an end to the irkesome pilgrimage which she had in this life and desired her for that shee could not expect any good from some hot-spirited Nouators which held the chiefest ranke in England that she might be beholden to her alone and no other for the benefits following First that when her Aduersaries were glutted in her innocent blood her Body might be carried from thence by her owne seruants to some sacred and hallowed ground there to be buried and aboue all into France where her Mother lyeth in rest seeing that in Scotland they had offered violence to the dead bodies of her Ancestors profaned or ruinated the Churches and in England she could not hope for any buriall according to the Catholike solemnities amongst the ancient Kings both their Ancestors And so her Body that neuer had rest so long as it liued with her Soule may haue some at last after it is parted from it Secondly for that she feared the close tyrannie of some she may not suffer her punishment vnknowne to the Queene of England in some secret place but in the sight of her seruants and other people which may truly beare witnesse of the Faith which she shewed in Christ of her obedience to the Church and of the end of her life against the false rumors which her Aduersaries may bruit abroad Thirdly that her seruants may be suffered peaceably to depart whither they will and to enioy the goods she had bequeathed them by her Will. Shee beseeched her in the name of Iesus Christ to grant her these things and combined her thereto by their alliance in
yeeres since was gone out of England with three good Ships was sayling the Sea in another Climate of the World and hauing past beyond the Streight of Magellan burnt and ransacked in the entry of Chile Peru and New Spaine many Townes of the Spaniards tooke and pillaged neere Calliforma eighteene rich Ships loaden and a sumptuous Ship-Royall of Spaine with infinite riches returning happily the same yeere into England by Philippinas Molaques the Cape of bona Speranza and the famous I le of Saint Helen with a precious bootie and memorable glory as beeing onely the third who since Magellan circuited the whole Earth As Sir Francis Drake and Master Iohn Cauendish purchased to their perpetuall honors an illustrious glory splendent reputation in doing their Countrey good seruice so at that time two other English men Sir W. Stanley and Rowland Yorke got an ignominious name of Traytors This Yorke borne in London was a man most negligent and lazy but desperately hardy he was in his time most famous among those who respected Fencing hauing been the first that brought into England that wicked and pernicious fashion to fight in the Field in Duels with a Rapier called a Tucke onely for the thrust the English hauing till that very time vsed to fight with Backe-swords slashing and cutting one the other armed with Targets or Bucklers with very broad weapons accounting it not to be a manly action to fight by thrusting and stabbing and chiefly vnder the waste This Yorke hauing receiued some light iniury by the Earle of Leicester in the Low-Countries ran away and liued as a Souldier a certaine time on the Spanish side and lastly being reconciled was made Gouernour of a strong Fort situated neere the Towne of Sutphen But as he was not vsed to pardon wrongs suffer himself to be despised hee hammered in his head how he might be reuenged and he being corrupted with money yeelded vp not onely the said Fort to the Enemy but also many and sundry times hee protested by oath to Sir William Stanley who had formerly borne Armes in the warres of Ireland with a singular fidelity and generous valiancy that he was manifestly accused and conuicted to haue been one of Babingtons conspiracy by the assertion and confession of the Conspirators and that hee looked but for the houre that he should be apprehended and hanged By these or such like perswasions hee drew him to be a consort to his wickednesse and second to his wicked designes causing him to yeeld vp the faire strong and rich Citie of Dauentry to the Spaniard against the oath and faith hee had giuen both to the Earle of Leicester and the States After this perfidious man had committed this deplorable crime hee considered the haynousnesse of his offence and fore-saw that hee should be forthwith exclaimed of and attainted of Treason but hee fortified his affrighted and trembling conscience vpon this that hee had restored a place detained by Rebels to him who was the right Lord and owner thereof and as he was a ranke Papist caused incontinently Papists to flocke to his Regiment which consisted of one thousand and three hundred English and Irish for to instruct them in the Romish Religion vanting hee would make a Seminary of souldiers who would by armes couragiously defend the Romane Church as Seminary Priests by words and writings and to that purpose Allen who shortly after was made a Cardinall sent him suddenly Masse-Priests publishing withall a little Booke by which he commended his treason in the behalfe of Pope Pius the Fifth his Bull against Queene ELIZABETH exhorting and exciting the rest to doe the like trechery as if they had not beene bound to serue and obey a Queene excommunicated by the Pope But behold marke here the end the Spaniard set Yorke and Stanley together by the eares afterward they poysoned Yorke who dyed thereof miserably they pillage his goods and his bodie hauing beene buried in the ground three moneths after the States of Holland caused it to be taken vp and hanged on a Gallows in chains So much for York Now for Stanley they turn'd him and his Regiment out of Dauentry and exposed them to danger leauing them to stray and wander vp and downe at the mercy of their Enemies to their great despise and disgrace so that some perished lamentably with hunger others fled away with much adoe to escape and saue their liues Sir William himselfe went into Spaine hoping to be there questionlesse made much of and well rewarded but neyther was he welcome nor receiued according to his expectation there but abhorred and detested neuerthelesse offered hee his seruice to assist in the inuading of England but the Spaniards who neuer trust a Traytor twice would not put their confidence in him for the Spaniards hold still this for a Maxime That it is lawfull to honour in some sort a Traytor but not to put any trust in him Sir William then thus learned but too late that he had first wronged and betrayed himselfe These Treasons caused the Earle of Leicester to be greatly hated of the Confederate Netherlanders because that these Traytors had beene his Fauourites and likewise Englishmen borne which Nation that people free and too licentious in speech ceased not to offend by iniuries vntill they were reprehended for it and forbidden by the States In the meane while they wrote tedious lines to the Queene by which they greatly condemned the Earle of Leicester blaming him to haue vnaduisedly administrated the Common-wealth in that which concerned their treasure the warre and trading and imputing the dammage and hindrances caused by these Traytors to the restraint which he had made of their power and his credulitie The Queene as euer wise for to examine and accord the businesse also to sound if they would condiscend to a peace with Spaine sends thither to that end the illustrious Lord Thomas Sackuile Baron of Buckhurst whom in Leicesters absence her Maiestie had newly made one of her Priuy-Councell together with Norris and Clarke all which laboured with no lesse care than fidelity about it But the ire and choller of Leicester who was of a minde that the Lord Buckhurst shewed himselfe so officious and diligent to no other purpose but to spye and obserue his actions and the fauour and power which he had about the Queene were so great that the Lord Buckhurst at his returne was confined to his House the space of many moneths Afterwards the States called backe Leicester from England for to succour their City of Sluce which the Duke of Parma had then beleaguered with seuenteene thousand men battering it so suriously that hee made a great breach but Sir Roger Williams Sir Francis Vere and Sir N. Baskeruile with both the Wallownes and English Forces of that Garrison defended it along time couragiously with great praise and applauded valiancy but Leicester which should haue succoured them being retyred by reason of his weake force they wery