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
in them lay to be in hatred within the Kingdome and accused him to Qu. ELIZABETH to be sent by the Guizes to ouerthrow Religion to procure the liberty of the captiue Queene and to disunite the amitie which was between the Kingdomes of England and Scotland They are easily beleeued and notwithstanding that he purged himselfe by Letters to the Queene and made profession of the Protestants Religion serious deliberation is hereupon taken in England The Councell of England was afraid that he would oppresse those Scots that stood best affected to the English and fauour the incursions which were made vpon the Borders and allure the King to marry in France or else-where vnknowne to the English and that the King now in his youth would molest the affaires of England and beeing come to more maturitie of age would assume the title of King of England as his Mother had done Which if he did the danger would fall more heauily from him than from his Mother in regard his birth gaue him an assured hope of two Kingdomes and gaine more friends to fauour his cause and that the Scots trayned vp in the ciuill warres and the warres of the Low-Countries were more expert to learne warlike offices Therefore from hence it is thought good by some meanes or other to infringe the fauour and authoritie that Lenox had with the King or to driue him out of Scotland and that without delay because rumours were giuen out that Balfour was sent for out of France who had found I know not what Writing of his owne hand to conuince him of the Murder of the Kings Father to ruine Morton and that he had for no other end obtained the gouernement of the Castle of Dunbriton but to set in stranger-forces into Britaine or to transport the King into France It was likewise said that he had perswaded the King to resigne the Kingdome to his Mother who had beene vniustly and by a most wicked example deposed by her Subiects after hauing taken her faithfull promise to resigne it by and by after vnto him againe by a lawfull resignation which would be a solid confirmation to him and a meanes to extinguish all factions and make him knowne to all to be lawfull King After this Sir Robert Bowes Treasurer of Barwicke is sent into Scotland to accuse Lenox of these things before the King and his Councell and to aduertise the King of the eminent dangers thereof As soone as hee had beene admitted hee demanded that Lenox might for a while be remoued from that place but the Councell would not agree vnto it as being a thing new and vnheard of to cause one of the Kings Councell to be put out from the Councell without shewing cause Also they made a doubt whether or no the Queene had giuen him that in charge expresly and therefore willed him to shew his instructions which he refused to doe saue to the King and to one or two others And seeing that he could not be heard hee was presently called backe and tooke leaue of the King when it was little thought on complayning that the wholesome admonitions of a well-deseruing Queene were reiected Shortly after Alexander Hume is sent from Scotland to excuse these matters hee had not admittance to the Queene but was sent to the Lord Burghley Treasurer who grauely and succinctly gaue him to vnderstand THat it was not any contempt of his person that was cause why the Queene would not permit him to see her knowing very well by experience that he was well affected to Religion to his Prince and Countrie and most studious for the peace of both the Kingdomes but out of a iust sence and sorrow for the contempt which was shewed towards her Maiestie and of the trust of her Ambassadour who had contained himselfe within the prescribed bounds of his Legation Layes all the blame vpon the new and ill-aduised Councellors excuseth the King as not being of age to haue much experience and wished him to lend an eare to the holy and wholesome counsels of the Queene who truely bare him a maternall affection and not to make lesse account of them than of those from a French kinsman the King of France his subiect who laboured to marry him to a French woman of the Romish Religion and peraduenture goes about now the Hamiltons exulting to be designed the Kings Lieutenant Let the King saith he remember that no passion is more feruent than ambition and let the Scots remember what troubles the French had caused in ScotlaÌ„d if the Queen by her wisdome and power had not preuented it So Hume was sent backe into Scotland and all of purpose to strike terrour into the King and to make him beleeue that the Earle of Lenox had some pernicious designe against him and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse within a while after Morton who was most addicted to the English was accused by Arran Laesa Maiestatis and cast into prison The end of the second Booke of the Annals and History of that mightie Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and blessed memory THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST HIGH MIGHTY AND Euer-glorious Empresse ELIZABETH Inuincible Queene of England Ireland c. True Defendresse of the Faith of immortall Renowne and neuer-dying Fame and Memory OR ANNALLES OF ALL SVCH REMARKable things as happened during her blest Raigne ouer her Kingdomes of England and Ireland as also such Acts as past betwixt her MAIESTY and Scotland France Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke Fâ—â—thfully translated out of the French and â—â—â—â—isht in English with the KINGS leaue and Authority granted by his most Excellent Maiestie to ABRAHAM DARCIE To the euery way Noble and accomplished with all vertues Sir EDVVARD CONVVAY the Kings Secretary of State Sir WILLIAM HARVEY Lord HARVEY Baron of Rosse Sir ORACE VERE Sir ARTHVR THROCKMORTON Sir ROBERT MAVNCELL Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Sir WILLIAM MOVNSON Sir RICHARD WESTON The Right vertuous generous Sir THOMAS HATTON AND CHRISTOPHER HATTON Sir CARIE RAVVLEIGH EDVVARD WRAY Esquire I Here presume to consecrate to your perpetuall Honour this Booke which vnder the Honourable Shield of your Noble protections I haue sought to shelter knowing the Fame of this Heroicke Empresse to be no lesse deare vnto you then your Illustrious Persons are carefull to propagate to all Posterities your cleere and vntainted Names which by your pious liues and religious conuersations you haue engrauen in the Temple of Eternity your vertues cannot but cherish this History which containes the life of so matchlesse a Queene whose Diuine perfection the whole world admired as one who was the perfect Patterne of Princesses and the true Mirour Honour of Virgin-kinde I confesse many far better able then I a Stranger could haue discharged this Enterprise with far more skill and both in smoother and more elegant termes if they had beene willing to honour their Labours and Industries with so rare
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
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
great Princesse manifestly appeared as some haue obserued the prouidence of God For the things which Elizabeth and Mary wished from the beginning and were resolued vpon in all their designes were hereby effected and consummate Queene Mary as her selfe confest at her death desired nothing more feruently than that the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which were diuided might be vnited and ioyned in one in her dearest Sonne Nor Elizabeth but that the true Religion together with the good and safety of the People in England might be continued and maintained And England now with vnspeakable ioy and gladnesse acknowledgeth that God Almighty hath granted both their desires to her vnexpected and euerlasting felicitie So soone as report the messenger of this death had brought the newes thereof to Queene Elizabeth who not so much as thought of any such matter she tooke it most impatiently her speech and countenance at once failed her through the extremitie of her grieuous discontent shee became quite comfortlesse and disconsolate and attired her selfe in mourning weedes bitterly lamenting and sheading many brinish teares from the compassionate riuers of her eyes Shee sharply rebuked her Councell and chased them out of her sight commanding they should be questioned And as for William Dauison he was brought into the Starre-Chamber to be tryed And so soone as her passionate anguish and excesse of sorrow suffered her to write shee suddenly addrest by sir Robert Carey to the King of Scotland this Letter following of her owne hand-writing Queene ELIZABETH's Letter to King IAMES MOST DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER Would to God you did know but not feele with what incomparable sorrow my sad-afflicted heart is troubled by the late lamentable euent which hapned contrary to my minde and meaning but because my Penne abhorreth the recitall thereof you shall vnderstand it by this my Kinsman I beseech you that as God and many good men are witnesses with me of my innocencie you also would belieue that if I had once commanded it I would neuer haue denyed the same I am not so base-minded nor of such a degenerate or ignoble spirit as that â—ither I am affraid to doe the thing that is iust or to disclaime it being done But as it is most dishonourable in Princes to couer or colour the conceptions of their hearts in disguised words So will I neuer dissemble any action of mine but let it appeare in its owne liuely colours Know this for certainty that as I am sure it hapned not by any fault of mine so if I had euer intended such a deed I would not haue imputed it to others Nor can I assume that to my selfe which I neuer thought The rest the Deliuerer of these lines will impart vnto you For my part I would haue you belieue that there is none more intirely louing you nor more studiously carefull for the good of you and yours than my selfe If any haue suggested to you the contrary be you perswaded that such a one beareth more affection to others than to you God keepe you long safe and sound Whilest Sir Robert Carey was on the way with these letters William Dauison was brought into the Starr-Chamber before certain Commissioners to wit Sir Christopher Wray Lo chiefe Iustice of the K. Bench who for that time was likewise made Lord Keeper of the Priuy Seale the Arch Bishops of Canterbury and Yorke the Earles of Worcester Cumberland and Lincolne the Lords Gray and Lumley Sir Iames Crofts Comptroller of the Queens house Sir Walter Mildmay Chancellour of the Exchequer Sir Gilbert Gerard Master of the Rolls Edm. Anderson chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas and Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of the Exchequer In the presence of these Sir Francis Popham the Qu. Atturney generall accused William Dauison of contempt against her Maiestie of the breach of his allegeance the neglect and omission of his dutie for that the queene of England out of her royall clemency being vnwilling that the queene of Scotland although shee stood condemned should be put to death for certaine causes best knowne to her selfe such as were not to bee sounded into by any others nor could be drawne from her eyther by the importunate vrging of the States of the land or by her Councell notwithstanding shee had commanded the Warrant for her execution to be drawne for the preuenting of some eminent perils the which she committed to the said William Dauisons trust and taciturnitie he being a sworne Secretary forgetfull of his faith and obedience contemning her Maiesties command had imparted the same â—o the Councell and brought her to execution without the knowledge or priâ—itie of her Maiestie William Dauison such was his singular modesty answered temperatly and yet with audacitie That he was very sory that he should be thus troublesome to Commissioners concerning the Q. of Scotland and the iudgement giuen against her most grieuous if it were to the impeachment of his credite if not to the finall losse therof which to him was all in all But this most grieued him to be taxed of contempt against her Maiestie to whoÌ„ for her Princely fauours he was so obliged that his offence must thereby be the more intolerable That hee confessed himselfe guilty of the crimes obiected against him That he had made shipwrack of his credite which hee reckoned equiualent with his life If in making his Apologie he should contest with the Queen he should do that which were most vnbeseeming the obedience of a subiect the respect of a seruant and the fidelity and reputation of a Secretary He protested before God and the Commissioners That he had done nothing therein wittingly and willingly but what he was perswaded was the Queenes will and pleasure wherein if by ignorance or negligence he had done any thing preiudiciall he could not but for that be sory and submit himselfe to the censure of the Commissioners Now as touching the particulars Whereas the Queene blamed him for hauing beene ouer-hasty in setting the great seale to the Mandate he auouched That she had darkely signified but not expressely commanded that he should keepe it by him Neyther as hee thought had hee trespassed in matter of secrecie for that he had not imparted it to any but the Councell As touching that that he did not reuoke the Warrant after the Queene had giuen him to vnderstand that shee had altered her minde he affirmed That it was agreed vpon by the generall consent of the Councell that forthwith it should be sent away and the Queene of Scotland executed for feare the Queene or State might be indangered or damnified Vpon this confession Sir Thomas Egerton the Queenes Sollicitor hauing read some part of it began to presse him But he desired him to reade it all thorow and not selected parcels here and there though he had rather it should not be read at all because in it were contayned some secrets not fit to be reuealed oftentimes interposing these words That as he was