by the great and admirable applause and affections of all good men from the highest to the lowest of England And declaring his constant resolution for the maintenance of Religion deferred his Coronation till Saint Iames day In the meane time some vnquiet spirits entred into a conspiracy their vaine hopes for aduancing of their Religion failing their designe as is said was to surprize the King and Prince Henry Of forces they presumed meaning to retaine them prisoners in the Tower and with treasures therin to maintaine their intent or to carry them to Douer Castle and there by violence either to obtaine their owne pardons a tolleration of Religion and a remouall of some Counsellors of state or else to put some other proiect in execution To conceale this treason Watson the Priest deuised oathes for secrecie and himselfe with Clark another Priest taught that the act was lawfull being done before the Coronation for that the King was no King before hee was annointed and the Crowne solemnly set vpon his head The other persons inuolued in this practise were Henry Brooke Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Walter Ralegh Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham George Brooke Bartholomew Brookesby and Anthony Coply All which were apprehended and committed The sicknesse being then rife in London the Tearme was kept at Winchester the place designed for their arraignement whether they were conueied vnder strong guard The first brought to triall was George Brooke brother to the Lord Cobham Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham Brooksly Coply Watson and Clark The inditement was that they had conspired first to destroy the King then to raise rebellion to alter Religion to subuert the State to procure forraine inuasion These their intents they had made known to the Lord Gray whom they intended to make Earle Marshall of England Watson Lord Chancelour Georke Brookes Lord Treasurer Markham Secretary that with the King the Lords also should be surprized in their Chambers at Greenwich and the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London should be sent for and so shut vp in the Tower George Brooke answered that he had commission from the King to doe that he did onely to trie faithfull subiects but being required to shew his Commission hee could produce none Sir Griffin Markham excepting onely the imputation of bloud confessed his offence penitently alledging it was through a discontented minde and desired the Lords to bee a meane to the King for mercy Watson and Clark the former of which confessed that he had drawne all those Gentlemen into those plots like true Roman Priests auerred that they held the King for no King vntill hee was crowned and therefore it could not be treason alledging that Saul was no King till hee was chosen in Mispeh though hee had beene annointed in Ramoth by the Prophet Samuel Neither Ieroboam who in the dayes of Salomon had beene confirmed by the Prophet to raigne ouer Israel vntill the people made him King vpon the foolish answere of Rehoboam making no difference betweene the mediate and ordinary succession of lawfull Kings in Common-wealths established and those which God himselfe extraordinarily aduanced to be scourges to an vngratefull land It was tould them that in England the King neuer dieth that there is no interregnum that the Coronation is but a ceremony to shew the King to the people Two dayes after was Sir Walter Ralegh brought to the barre hee was indited for combining with the Lord Cobham his accuser as it was said in the foresaid designes he pleaded not guilty and so stood for his purgation Hee pleaded for himselfe a long time and with some admiration of men who thought that a man of such vnderstanding would hardly bee drawne into a plot so foule and so foolish yet hee was found guilty and had sentence of death The like iudgement a few dayes after passed vpon the Lord Cobham and Gray arraigned on two seuerall dayes The former was indited for combining with Sir Walter Ralegh and George Brooke to procure forces from the King of Spaine and the Arch-Duke for inuasion the other for ioyning with the foresaid Priests Knights and Gentlemen in their conspiracies Sir Edward Parham was only acquitted by the Iury. Of the rest onely three died Watson Clark and George Brooke Watson had before in Print laid open at large the treasonable practises of the Iesuites and at his death left this suspition on them that they in reuenge had cunningly drawne him into this action which brought him to his end After this the Lords Cobham and Gray and Sir Griffin Markham were by a Warrant to be executed the Friday next But the King inclined to mercy sent at the day appointed a Pardon for them the manner whereof was such as gaue vnexpected ioy to them that looked for nothing but death The Pardon was brought to the place where they were to be executed by Master Gibb a Gentleman so secretly that none present vnderstood any thing thereof Sir Griffin Markham was first brought to the Scaffold erected in the Castle Greene and made himselfe ready for the stroke of the Axe When secretly Master Gibb deliuered to the High Shiriffe the Kings warrant to the contrary who vnderstanding his Maiesties intent tooke backe the prisoner as if he were first to confront the two Lords vpon some seruice of the King and brought him vnto the Castle Hall Then was the Lord Gray brought forth who hauing poured out his prayers vnto God at length kneeling downe for the stroke of death the Sheriffe bad stay telling the Lord that some further seruice was expected of him and thereupon led him likewise into the Castle Hall The Lord Cobham was last brought forth who being in preparation and prayers the Lord Gray and Sir Grâ—ffin were brought backe againe All the three prisoners appearing together on the Scaffold the Sheriffe notified his Maiesties warrant for the stay of the execution At which example of Clemency vnexpected both of the prisoners and spectators there arose great shoutes of the people crying God saue the King The condemned wished that they might sacrifice their liues to redeeme their faults and to repurchase so mercifull a Prince his loue This attempt seemed to be a matter of lesse danger because there appeared neither strength to act the businesse intended nor heads to carry it But our thankfulnesse must appeare to God for our least deliuerances It is certaine by their confessions that a great mischiefe was intended howsoâ—uer they might seeme vnable to effect it And this we may obserue that no treason was euer attempted without a Romish Priest The treasons attempted in England haue that proper and peculiar marke to haue a Priest in the practise CHAPTER XVI NOw I enter vpon a Narration which may fully open our aduersaries to the world wherein appeareth the profundity of malice and cruelty and vngodlinesse and whereby all men may vnderstand by what spirit these men are led The Histories of former times containe no example
God shewed to Israel dâ—uers waies and this hath he like wise shewed to the Church of Christians and then especially when the Church hath beene most oppugned And this mercy hath God declared to no Church more then to the Church of England wee haue the Oracles of God among vs and these wee labour to preserue without mixture that no Oracles of men may be ioyned with them in any equality This we professe and for this we suffer This is our glory that wee suffer as the Church of God hath all waies suffered This is our glory that we are persecuted by a people that haue forsaken their God For they that haue forsaken â—he onely preferment by the Oracles of God committed to their trust and haue against that trust thrust in mens Oracles mens traditions to match the Oracles of God in equall authority they who worship not God according to Gods Oracles deliuered to them but according to their owne inuentions these men haue forsaken their God And these bee they that glory so much of the name of the Catholike Church against vs God knoweth his Church for the Lord knoweth who are his But our aduersaries deale not with God to please him but with men to deceiue them If they should deceiue some men with the maske and with the empty title oâ— the Catholike Church what haue they gotten thereby God is not deceiued and God will in his time make it knowne where his Catholike Church is God will not haue his Catholike Church maintained with lyes with wicked and vngratious Practises with treasons and rebellions with conspiracies they who practise such things can neuer proue themselues to bee the Catholike Church but the true Catholike Church is knowne by holding the Oracles of God by worshipping God according to his own Oracles by suffering patiently the practises of wicked men by committing their cause to God by trusting in God and in the power of his might and by miraculous deliuerances out of danger by the onely hand and power of God This holy and heauenly protection of God of the Church of England may plainely proue vnto all the world that the Church of England is a part and true member of that Catholike Church that serueth God in truth and sincerity enioying those priuiledges and fauours which God doth vouchsafe to no people sauing to his owne Church Now let the Pope goe on in his course and fulfill his measure let him honour wretched and wicked rebels the scum of the earth let him send a peacockes taile as he did to Stucley let him send a plume of Phoenix seathers as hee did to Tyrone if they were Phoenix feathers or if the Pope did not collude in one thing as that Fryer did in another thing who vndertooke to shew to the people a feather of the wing of the Angell Gahriell a plume of whose feathers was more befitting the Pope to send if his holinesse hath such command ouer Angels as they say he hath Let them I say proceed in the workes of darkenesse as they haue done and as they continue to doe let vs trust in the Lord who hath manifested to all the world by his great mercifull and manifold deliuerances that hee hath taken the protection of vs. And as he hath done hitherto assuredly he will doe to the end if we faile not for God will not forsake vs if we forsake not him Indeed if we forsake him and fall away from the truth of Religion in the Church and from the execution of iustice in the State and from obedience to the faith then may wee loose our part in God and loose our confidence in his helpe and loose the blessed benefit of his protectâ— on They can neuer preuaâ—le against vs by any other way then by our forsaking of God When Balac the King of Moab had sent for Balaam the false Prophet and by him vnderstood that it was impossible for him to preuaile against Israel though Balaam was sent to curse them At last hee was informed by his false Prophet Balaam that there was no hope to preuaile against Israel vnlesse there were some meanes deuised to draw Israel into sinne against God and so would God be offended with them and then might their aduersaries preuaile against them this aduise was most pernicious against Israel For the women of Moab were sent among the Israelites to intise them both to bodily and spirituall fornication And this indeed prouoked Gods anger and therefore the Lord commanded Israel to vexe the Midiaâ—nites and to smite them for they trouble you with their wiles The King of Spaine hath proued Balaam the false Prophet the Pope of Rome to curse the Church and State of England hee hath beene as greedily bent to curse England as euer Balaam was to curse Israel His curses by Gods goodnesse haue beene turned into blessings vpon vs. The more hee hath cursed the more haue wee receiued blessings from God The Pope perceiuing that his curses cannot preuaile against vs hath entred into the consultation of Balaam the false Prophet to send among vs Priests and Iesuites secretly who as they say are well acquainted both with carnall and spirituall fornication These come among vs and trouble vs with their wiles And if by their wiles we be once drawn away from God then may they preuaile but not otherwise then as the dâ—uell hath sometimes permission to preuaile against Gods people But so long as wee stand the Church of God holding the Oracles of God committed to vs morshipping God according to the rules of the holy doctrine wee may with ioy of hâ—â—rt expect the protection of God as we haue had Of these things what can our aduersaries deny Can they deny that wee haue the Oracles of God among vs onely reuerencing them Can they deny the miraculous proâ—â—ction of God ouer vs from time to time against all their wicked practises let our enemies be iudges herein Can they deny that the Pope hath runne the course of false Balaam against vs Can they deny that their Priests and Iesuites come creeping in among vs to draw vs away from God to bee partakers with them in their superstition and idolatry these things are manifest to the world and to their owne consciences then we leaue them vnto the seruice of their Balaam let them leaue vs to the seruice of our God CHAPTER XV. QVeene Elizabeth after so many bloudy and dangerous practises attempted against her being mightily protected by God ended her dayes in peace and safety The enemy was not permitted to hurt her with all their bloudy and barbarous practises After her succeeded our peaceable Salomon King Iames who laboured to establish peace if it might bee But when hee spake of peace they prepared themselues for warre He was first encountred with such a practise whereof because I know not the truth and bottome I must follow such relations as I finde King Iames ourâ—gracious Soueraigne being called into the right of his owne inheritance
After this they thought fit to send Fawkes to acquaint Sir William Stanly and Master Owen with this matter but so that they might receiue the oath of secrecy The reason why they desired Sir William Stanly should be acquainted herewith was to haue him with them so soone as he could And for Master Owen he might hold good correspondencies after with forraine Princes Master Fawkes departed about Easter for Flanders and returned in the end of August He brought word that Sir William Stanly was not returned from Spaine so as he vttered the matter onely to Owen who seemed well pleased with the businesse but told him that surely Sir William wouâ—d not bee acquainted with any plot as hauing businesse now a foot in the Court of England but he himselfe would be alwaies ready to tell him and send him away so soone as it were done About this time Master Percy and Catesby met at the Bathe Where they agreed that the company being yet but few Catesby should haue the others authority to call in whom hee thought best Whereupon he called in Sir Euerard Digby and after that Master Tresham The first promised fifteene hundreth pounds the second two thousand pounds Master Percy promised all that he could get of the Earle of Northumberlands rents which was about foure thousand pounds and to prouide many galloping horses to the number of ten Meane while Fawkes and Winter bought somenew powder as suspecting the first to bee danke and conueied it into the Cellar and set it in order as they resolued it should stand Then was the Parliament anew prorogued vntill the fifth of Nouember So that all of them went down till some tenne dayes before When Catesby camevp with Fawks to an house by Enfield-chase called White-webs whether Winter came to them Catesby willed Winter to inquire whether the young Prince came to the Parliament Winter told him that hee heard that his Grace thought not to be there Then said Catesby must we haue our horses beyâ—nd the water and prouision of more company to surprise the Prince and eaue the Duke alone All things thus prepared the Saturday of the weeke immediately praeceding the Kings returne which was vpon Thursday being but ten dayes before the Parliament The Lord Monteagle sonne and heire to the Lord Morley being in his owne lodging ready to goe to supper at seauen of the clocke at night one of his footmen whom hee had sent of an errand ouer the street was met by an vnknowne man of a reasonable tall personage who deliuered him a Letter charging him to put it into my Lord his Masters hands which my Lord no sooner receiued but that hauing broken it vp and perceiuing the same to bee of an vnknowne and somewhat vnlegible hand and without either date or subscription did call one of his men to him for helping him to reade it But no sooner did he conceiue the strange contents thereof although he was somewhat perplexed what construction to make of it as whether of a matter of consequence as indeede it was or whether some foolish deuised Pasquill by some of his enemies to skarre him from his attendance at the Parliament yet did hee as a most dutifull and lâ—iall subiect conclude not to conceale it what euer might come of it Whereupon notwithstanding the latenesse and darkenesse of the night in such a season of the yeare he presently repaired to his Maiesties Pallace at White hall and there deliuered the same to the Earle of Salisbury his Maiesties principall Secretary The Earle hauing read the Letter and heard of the manner of comming of it to his hands did greatly incourage and commend the Lord for his discretion teâ—ling him plainely that whatsoeuer the purpose of the Letter might proue hereafter yet did this accident put him in mind of diuers aduertisements hee had receiued from beyond the seas wherewith he had acquainted as well the King himselfe as diuers of his Priuy Councellours concerning some businesse the Papists were in both at home and abroad making preparation for some combination among them against this Parliament time for inabling them to deliuer at that time to the King some petition for tolleration of Religion which should be deliuered in some such order and so well backed as the King should be loath to refuse their requests like the sturdy-beggars crauing almes with one open hand but carrying a stone in the other in case of refusall And therefore did the Earle of Salisbury conclude with the Lord Monteagle that he would in regard of the Kings absence impart the same Letter to some more of his Maiesties Councell Wheâ—eof the Lord Monteagle liked well onely adding this request by way of protestation that whatsoeuer the euent hereof might proue it should not be imputed to him as proceeding from too light and too sodaine an apprehension that hee deliuered this Letter being onely moued thereto for demonstration of his ready deuotion and care for preseruation of his Maiestie and the State And thus did the Earle of Salisbury presently acquaint the Lord Chamberlaine with the said Letter Whereupon they two in the presence of the Lord Monteagle calling to minde the former intelligence already mentioned which seemed to haue some relation with this Letter the tender care which they euer had to the preseruation of his Maiesties person made them apprehend that some perillous attempt did thereby appeare to be intended against the same which did the more neerely concerne the Lord Chamberlaine to haue care of in regard that it doth belong to the charge of his office to ouersee as well all places of Assembly where his Maiesty is to repaire as his Highnesse owne priuate houses And therefore did the said two Councellors conclude that they should ioyne vnto them three more of the Councell to wit the Lord Admirall the Earles of Worcester and Northampton to be also particularly acquainted with this accident Who hauing all of them concurred together to the re-examination of the contents of the said Letter they did conclude that how slight a matter it might at the first appeare to be yet was it not absolutely to be contemned in respect of the care which it behoued them to haue of the preseruation of his Maiesties person But yet resolued for two reasons first to acquaint the King himselfe with the same before they proceeded to any further inquisition in the matter as well for the expectation and experience they had of his Maiesties fortunate iudgement in clearing and soluing of obscure riddles and doubtfull mysteries as also because the more time would in the meane while bee giuen for the practise to ripen if any was wherby the discouery might be the more cleare and euident and the ground of proceeding thereupon more safe iust and easie And so according to their determination did the Earle of Salisbury repaire to the King in his gallery vpon Friday being Alhallow day in the afternoon which was the day after his Maiesties arriuall and none but himselfe
Gunnes to be cast of Brasse and Iron And Gods providence and favour appeared in her protectioâ— For new Mines of Brasse were found at Keswike that had long beene neglected From Whence there was not onely sufficient matter to supply her wants but abundance thereof to be transported to other Countries The stone called Lapis Calaminaris whose vse is needfull for working in Brasse was also at the same time first found in England There was provision made at home also for the making of Gunne-powder Which was done first here by her Commandement For before it was bought and imported Berwick before her time was weake and had but fiue hundred Souldiers She fortified the Towne made the new inner Wall and increased the number of Souldiers and their stipends that provision might be made for the training vp of experienced Souldiers and martiall men She provided a Navie the best furnished that euer England sawe Neither needed she to doe as her Father and Ancestours were wont to doe when they wanted Shippes to send for Shippes and hire them from Hamburg Lubeck Dantisk Genua and Veniâ—e for she had them ready at home to serue her Yea all the good Townes vpon the Sea-coast beholding this incredible alacritie and forwardnes in their Prince strived also to imitate the same and therefore with great chearfulnesse and readinesse built Shippes for Warre So that in a short time the Queenes Shippes and those of the Subiects ioyned together rose to such a number that they were able to imploy twentie thousand men in Sea-fight at once The Noble-men the Gentlemen and Yeomen did all striue to answer so noble a resolution of their Prince And therefore great store of Armour and Weapons were every where provided And braue spirits were bred and inabled to service whereby they became an helpe and ornament to their Countrey So that Queene Elizabeth was quickly growne so strong that all her adversaries were not able to hurt her And was not this a great worke of God That so weake a Woman should be able to defend her selfe against so many so potent enemies Yea and not onely to match them but to master them This was Gods doing Behold what it is to trust in God and not in an arme of Flesh. God will haue his great Workes to be had in remembrance that all men especially Princes may be taught to know that their safetie is not in worldly policie but in God which never forsaketh them that trust in him Here then we haue a Worke for which we are bound to glorifie God Elizabeth a Prince at the beginning weake destitute of friends vnfurnished of treasure vnprepared of all things had in no other accompt of her great neighbours round about her but as one left as a prey to the strongest that would inuade her and her kingdome yet preparing her heart to God giuing God the glory establishing his truth in her Land trusting in him She was in a few yeares made strong against her enemies they feared her more then she feared them This is an example can hardly be paralleled It was a worke oâ— God in defence of his Church here and we yeeld all glory and prayse vnto God for his mercies shewed herein From this example Princes may take a worthy instruction to rest vpon God and to seeke his glory and know assuredly that when they are at the weakest state if they giue their hearts to God and their service to his true Religion God will raise them to greatnes who hath promised to honor them that honor him and threatned that they that dishonor him shall be despised Before I leaue this example of Gods protectioÌ„ of this noble Queene in her first entrance Let this be remembred that as all the great Princes adioyning with the Pope and all were her great enemies so there were no friends able to helpe her for they that were friends and would haue helped if they could stood all need of her help The Scots were sore troubled with the French Armies procured by the Guysians but shee helped them and protected the King in his minoritie and freed that State from the tyranny of the French governement The Low-Countries were tyrannised by the Duke D' Alva who changed their governement and inhibited their meetings in councell For to speake somewhat of the ancient governement of that people to stop the common imputations cast vpon them by such as are not well affected to them Their governement was by a generall assembly of the States Their governours were such as were borne within the 17. Provinces no strangers These were anciently the Clergie the Nobility and the Deputies of the Provinces and of good Townes meeting together in their generall Assemblies These so meeting made lawes and orders whereby that State was governed The Deputies were sent to the generall Assemblies by the Suffrages of the people and vpon cause they were recalled by the people and other sent in their roomes This manner of governement some of the Dukes of Burgundy and some others disliked as giving too much power to the people and to little to their Dukes and therefore laboured to change it but could not Charles the fift Emperour would gladly haue changed their governement but when he saw that it could not be done without the commotion of the whole State he left it vndone Philip 2. Anno 1549. Iuly 8. tooke his oath which he made and renued againe Annoâ—555 â—555 to keepe maintaine and preserue these Countries in their ancient rights priviledges and customes without breaking them or suffering them to be broken in any sort or manner But when the Duke D' Alva was governour there vnder the King he practised the contrary and professed that the King was not to governe them as his ancient inheritance but as vpon a new conquest making what lawes he would and setting what governement best pleased him Whereupon his whole drift and practise was for a newe conquest of all the Provinces and Townes The pretence of religion was sought but it was resolved by the Counsell of Spaine to change the whole governement and to erect a new This appeared aswell by the Dukes open profession as by those designes which he practised vpon the persons of some of the Nobility and vpon the good Townes For when the Earles of Egmont and Horne were apprehended and putto death mistrusting nothing because they knew no cause to mistrust they that did this could not pretend religion because these Earles were of the Popish religion they could not pretend any disloyalty against them for their firme loyalty and their great services to the King made them so confident onely it was thought that these Noble men would neuer yeeld to the change of the government of that State therefore they were cut off The like appeared in the strange surprises and cruelty practised against many Townes which were of the popish religion For divers townes that were firme to the Spaniard in the point of religion and in obedience to the
Castles by sleight and trechery and wrote to Spaine that the best course is to take Zealand before the more inner Provinces And being prone to beleeue that which he desired he wrote that England might be had with greater ease then Zealand and he laboured by Escouedus to perswade the Spanish King But the Queene seeing all tend to warre in the Netherlands entred a league with the States for mutuall helpe and sent Thomas Wilkes into Spaine to complaine of the headdy courses of the Duke of Austria And in the meane time prepared for warre But behold when Don Iohn was in the height of his pride and ambition in the flower of his age in the middest of busines and preparations he died on a suddain as some thought of the Plague Some thought that vpon griefe that he was not so respected of the King his brother he ended his foolish ambition with his life afterthat he had embraced in his ambitious desire the Kingdome of Tunis wherevpon Guleta was lost in Africa and after that the Kingdome of England and had confirmed a league with the Guysians without the knowledge of the French and Spanish Kings for defence of both Crownes Thus was the enemy disappointed the Queene the Land the Church preserved And haue we not cause to remember these Workes of God and to giue God the glory of his own worke that is of delivering his Church England was as a Stage wherevpon diverse entred to play their parts one after another The part that they played was alwayes treason some was kept farther off by Gods providence to doe lesse harme some brought the danger nearer home But GOD taking the protection of his Church in England none prevailed And could any other power but the power and protection of God preserue a Land from so many so deadly dangers Let all mouthes be stopped and let this continuall course of deliverance be acknowledged the worke of God CHAPTER IIII. THE next man that came vpon this Stage was Thomas Stucley but the malice that he and the Pope by his employment intended against England was turned cleane another way by GODS providence Thomas Stucley an English-man borne when he had spent his estate in ryot prodigality and base meanes went into Ireland An 1570. And gaping for the Stewardship of Wexford and missing the same began to vtter contumelâ—ous words against the best deserving Prince but he was contemned as one that could doe no hurt From Ireland he went into Italy to Pius V. Pope It is a thing incredible what favour he got with the old Pope that breathed nothing but the destruction of Elizabeth Stucley with magnificent ostentation as he was a man singular in ostentation made the Pope beleeue that with three thousand Italians he would driue the English out of Ireland and bâ—rne the Queenes Navy And indeed these things he most wickedly attempted afterward but to his owne destruction Pius V. having procured all the troubles that possibly he could against Queene Elizabeth seemed to die for spite that he could not hurt her After him suceeded Gregory 13. This Pope had secret consultations with the King of Spaine for the invading of Ireland and England both together Meaning vnder the maske of Religion to serue their owne ambitious endes The Popes end was to make his sonne Iames Boncampagno whom he had lately made Marquesse of Vineola now King of Ireland The Spanyardes end was secretly to helpe the Rebells of Ireland as Elizabeth did the Dutch and in faire words intertaine a shew of friendship on both sides The King of Spaine had a farther reach even to get the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie that from thence he might with â—â—ore ease tamâ— the Dutch that were confederate against him This he found hard for him to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Seas which he saw he could not be vnlesse he had England And there was no doubt but as he owed the Kingdomes of Naples Sicily Navarre to the beneficence of the Pope so with all his heart he would haue held England by the like fauour They knowing that the greatest strength of England stood in the navy of the Queenes shippes and Merchants shippes which were also built and framed for the vse of warre thought that the best way to lessen the Naviâ— was to set on the Merchants of Italy and Netherlands to hire many of the Merchants shippes seeking diverse seuerall pretenses and hauing hired them to send them vnto the farthest Navigations that whilst these are absent the Queenes Navy might be overthrowne with a greater Navy And then at the same instant Thomas Stucley the English fugitiue might ioyne his forces with the rebels of Ireland Stucley a bare-worne deceiver did no lesse cousin this next succeeding Pope then he had done his predecessor with admirable bragges He promised the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes bastard sonne and got such favour with the old ambitious Pope that he honored him with the titles of Marquesse of Lagen Earle of Wexford and Caterloghe Vicount of Morough and Baron of Ross. These be famous places in Ireland And made him generall of DCCC Italian Souldiers the King of Spaine paying their stipends and so sent him into the Irish warre Stucley came with these to Portingale to the mouth of Tagus purposing to subdue Ireland But the purpose of God was otherwise And that which the Pope and Spanyard had with such deliberation proiected was by the councell of God dissipated and brought to nothing For Sebaâ—tian King of Portugall to whom the chiefe conduct of the forces against England was committed for this Prince puffed vp with a heat of youth and ambition had long before offred all his power to the Pope to be imployed against Mahumetanes and Proteâ—tants was then intised and drawne by many great promises of Mahomet sonne of Abdalla King of â—ess vnto the African warre Sebastian being thus drawne from the English Warres another way dealt with Stucley that first of all he would carry his Italian souldiers into Mauritania Stucley finding the Spanish King not against this proiect for the Spanyard disdeined that the Popes Bastard should be King of Ireland went with Sebastian into Mauritania and was killed in that memorable battell wherein three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdall-Melech were all slaine And so Stucley had too honorable an end of a dishonorable life By the death of Sebastian the Spanyard was cleane drawn away from thinking of the English invasion for a time and set all his forces vpon the invasion of Portugall If this occasion had not drawne away the Spanyard a great tempest of Warre should haue fallen vpon England if any credit may be given to the English fugitiues for they declared that those hug Armies which the Spanyard had provided against England out of Italy were now all to be imployed vpon the subduing of Portugaâ—l neither would he be by any meanes peâ—swaded then to thinke of the English invasion albeit the
acknowledge that they who are thus punished â—or their mad tricks may not be accompted Martyrs but yet they will say that these things ought not to belong to the Emperour to punish Iust as the Papists say the punishment of their Clergie belongeth not to the Magistrate I demand then sayth Augustin Whether they thinke that the superior powers ought not to haue care of Religion of punishing false religion The Apostle saith The works of the flesh are manifest which are adaltery fornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witch-craft hatred debate emulation wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennesse gluttony and such like What reason can these men render why it should be justice for the Empeperours to punish Idolaters Murtherers and such and not by the same reason to be like justice in them to punish heretiques When as they are accompted in the same fruits of iniquitie Someruill was found strangled in the prison For feare belike that he might haue discovered moe Ardern being condemned was hanged the next day This is the common end that Priests bring such Gentlemen vnto who are willing to heare them and be perswaded by them The next yeare after for seldome did any yeare passe without some treason some English Gentlemen began to practise the deliverance of the Queene of Scots Francis Throgmorton fell first into suspition by certaine Letters intercepted written to the Queene of Scots As soone as he was committed to prison and beganne to confesse something presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly fled the land and went into France These men meeting with other devoted to the Roman Religion did much complaine recounting their sorrowes among themselues that the Queene was estranged from them without their fault by the cunning of Leicester and Walsingham that them selues were exposed to vnworthy contumelies ignominies that singular tricks were found out and secret snares laid so cunningly that improvident men will they nill they must needs be intangled in such snares that to remaine at home there could be no safety for them It was thought at this time that some cunning was practised to feele mens affections and that counterfeit Letters were written vnder the name of the Scots Queene and of some fugitiues knowne traytors to the State which Letters might be left in the houses of Recusans and that spies were sent abroad to gather rumors and to catch suspitions Diverse were drawne into snares Among others Henry Earle of Northumberland and his sonne Philip Earle of Arundell was commanded to keepe his house his wife was committed to Sr Thomas Shirly to be kept and Henry Howard the Dukes brother was often examined of Letters sent from the Scots Queene from Charles Paget and from one Mope then vnknowne Some blamed the narrow searching of things and the manner of drawing men into danger Others thought that all the means that might be vsed to prevent the Queenes danger and to saue her life was but necessary And indeed the outragious maliciousnes of the Papists against the Queene brake out daily for by Bookes imprinted they exhorted the Queenes maides and Ladies of honor to doe the same against the Queene which Iudith did against Holofernes The Author of that Booke was not found Gregory Martin was suspected a man learned in the Greeke and Latin tongues and chosen by the Duke to be the bringer vp of his children Carter the Stationer that caused the Books to be Printed was punished for it The Queene that was much traduced for crueltie knowing her owne mildnes and desirous to leaue a good remembrance of her name behinde her was much offended with the Iudges of the Papists apprehended if they passed any cruell sentences against them which might be iniurious to her honor Insomuch that they were forced to excuse themselues by publike writings wherein they protested that the Priests were much more mildly vsed then they deserved that no question of Religion was moued to them but onely of such pernicious machinations against their Country against their Prince whereof they were either found guiltie or by the discovery of others suspected That Campian was never so racked but that presently he was able to walke or to subscribe to his confessions But for Briant who stubbornly denied to vtter by speech or by writing who was the man that wrote these secret things which were found about him to this man meat was denied vntill by writing he would aske it For all this the Queene was not satisfied and therefore she commanded the Examiners to abstaine from tormenting men and the Iudges from punishing And short after she commanded seventie Priests to be sent out of England whereof some were condemned to die all of them were intangled within the danger of the lawes The chiefe of these were Gasper Haywod the sonne of Haywod the Epigrammatist who of all the Iesuites first entred England Iames Bosgraue which was also a Iesuit Iohn Hart the most learned among them with whom Doct Reinolds had conference and Edward Rishton a wicked and vngrateful man who wrote a Booke presently after shewing forth the poyson of a cankred heart against the Queene to whom he owed his life The Lord Paget and Arundell who went into France were narrowly observed there by Edward Stafford the Ambassadour Leiger there for Queene Elizabeth but he could not find out what they practised yet he dealt with the French King that they Morgan and some other English fugitiues who were knowne to be practisers against their Prince and their Country might be thrust out of France But it was answered that if they practised any thing in France the King would by law punish them but if they had practised any thing in England that of such things the King could take no notice nor by law punish them that all Kingdomes were free for fugitiues that it behooued Kings to maintaine their owne liberties That Elizabeth not long before had admitted into her Kingdome Montgomery the Prince of Condie and others of the French Nation and that Segneres Ambassadour of the King of Navarre was in England practising of some things that concerned the French state In the meane time Bernardinus Mendoza the King of Spaine his Ambassadour for England stole fecretly into France fretting and fuming that he was thrust out of England by a violation of the right of an Ambassadour When as indeed he was a man of a troublesome spirit and had abused the reuerend right of Ambassadours by the practises of treason against this State wherein he was He was commanded to depart out of the realme whereas many thought fit that he should haue beene with some severity censured for violating the office of an Ambassadour For he had practised with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers into England to invade the land and to remoue the Queene And being gently reprooued for these things he was so far from offering to excuse these things with a modest answer that he began to accuse the
much laâ—our and singular skill he ioyned them together againe and found that they contained new practises of the Pope the Spanyard the Guises resolution to invade England Whereupon and because many other rumors of dangers were increased to the end that the wicked and treasonable practises might be in time prevented and the Queenes life and safetie might be procured vpon whose safety both the estate of the Kingdome and of Religion depended A great number throughout all England of all sorts of men out of common charity whilst they shewed their loue and care of the Queene bound themselues by an association as then it was called by their mutuall promises subscriptions of their hands and seales to prosecute all such by all their force even to death whosoever should attempt any thing against the life of the Queene the Earle of Leicester was supposed to be the author of this association Surely it was vsefull and held many in order The Queene of Scots tooke this as devised to bring her into danger and was so continually set on by seditious spirits that if they may haue accesse are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what hath beene their practise but to bring great personages and great houses to ruine Lamentable experience sheweth openly the fruit of their malice and wicked plots for treason which they call religion The Scots Queene led on by her blind guids dealt somwhat rashly but with importunity to the Pope and Spanyard by Sr Francis Inglefeld that by all meanes they would with speed vndertake their intended busines There were some also that laboured to draw Queene Elizabeths affections altogether from the Scots Queene They told her that Cardinall Alan for the English Catholikes ecclesiasticall Inglefeld for the Laiks and for the Queene of Scots the Bishop of Ross had vndertaken were among themselues agreed and with the consent also of the Pope and Spanyard had fully resolved vpon these points That Queene Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdome the King of Scots as a manifest favourer of heresie should vtterly be disinherited of the Kingdome of England that the Scots Queene shall marry some noble-man of England which is a Catholike that this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England that the choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope that the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queene must be declared successours in the Kingdome All these things were confirmed to be true by testimony of Hart the Priest Who was this noble English man that should marry the Scots Queene was now much inquired after Sir Francis Walâ—ingham sought it out with all diligence yet found it not out There was suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth vnmarried and a favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them These things that were discovered by Throgmorton by Creightons papers and other mens were matters which bred suspitions and feares though they were never so effected as they were intended But we find by these things that France and Spaine and the strength of the Pope were here all combined against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for no other cause but for their religion because both Queene Elizabeth and King Iames had established the same religion Against which religion all the great powers of the world were combined and were therefore ready with their vtmost indevours to root out these two Princes from England and Scotland If a man shall consider the Councels the Pollicies the strength of these great powers which were set against these two Princes it is a matter to be wondred at how they should stand against so deepe and desperate dangers Here I wish that a Papist of any vnderstanding would take this matter into his consideration And looke but a little further to the end and event of things What man purposed What God wrought What became of these two Princes Queene Elizabeth King Iames against whom the world thus conspired Queene Elizabeth after so many malicious proiects against her by open warres by secret conspiracies yet lived to see all the malicious practises against her defeated and overthrowne the practisers themselues ruinated her people and Kingdome defended Gods truth maintained her service for the truth rewarded and after all dyed quietly in her bed and hath left a blessed memory behinde her King IAMES that was in the same cause with her in the same manner threatned for his Religion to be made incapable of the inheritance of England and then neither could he haue holden Scotland for he must either haue all his right or loose all for there is no middle-way in the inheritance of Kings yet after all these threatned dangers by the great powers of the world after a number of dangerous and devilish practises against him at home he hath not onely quietly possessed that which he had but is in the peaceable possession of England with such loue such gladnesse of heart and common reioycing that the like hath not beene knowne in former times And which was never done by any before though much wished and attempted he hath in his royall person knit England and Scotland together he hath not onely maintained the truth of Religion by his authoritie as all Christian Princes are bound to do but also by his wisedome by his learning confirmed the truth drawne many to the knowledge of it by his learned Labours Wherein he hath not onely farre exceeded all his progenitours in this Kingdome but hath left all the Kings and Emperours in the world farre behind him in this honour so that since the beginning of the time of grace to this day the world never saw a King so furnished and inabled to maintaine the truth and to discover the blindnesse and superstition of false Religion And therefore hath God blessed him with extraordinary blessings the loue of his subiects the peaceable estate of Ireland which before his time was never governed in peace especially the fruit of Religion and the reward of Religion maintained is the greatest blessing that Kings can looke for This hath beene and is the state of these religious Provinces so that men shall say Doubtlâ—sse there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that iudgeth the earth And because my purpose in writing this Booke is to declare the great Workes of God in the defence of this Church of England since Religion planted here by Queene Elizabeth and to giue God all the glory both of the planting and maintaining thereof We therefore remember these things with great gladnesse and ioy of heart to Gods glory giving thankes to his holy name for the favours that he hath exhibited to his Church here by the faithfull service of these two royall servants of God in whom is truely verified that which the Prophet Esay foretold speaking of Gods favour to his Church Kings shall be thy nurcing Fathers and Queenes
privatly proposed some Articles For which afterward by Leicesters motion he was imprisoned albeit those articles proposed by him were in the iudgement of the other commissioners not to be disallowed But Delegates haue their limits circumscribed which they are not to passe At last when the English could not obtain an abstinence from armes could by no meanes see the Charter by which the Duke of Parma had this authority granted to treat of peace they proposed these things that the ancient leagues betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundy might be renued and confirmed that all the Dutch might fully inioy their own priviledges that with freedome of coÌ„science they might serue God that the Spanish and forrain souldiers might be put out of Dutchland that neither the Dutch nor their neighbouring Nations might feare them If these things might be granted the Queene would come to equall conditions concerning the Townes which now she held that all might know that she tooke vp armes not for her own gain but for the necessary defence both of the Dutch and of her selfe so that the money which is owing therefore be repayed They answered that for renuing the old leagues there should be no difficulty when they might haue a friendly conference of that thing That concerning the priviledges of the Dutch there was no cause why forrain Princes should take care which priviledges were most favourably granted not onely to Provinces and Townes reconciled but even to such as by force of armes are brought into subiection That forrain souldiers were held vpon vrgent necessity when as Holland England and France were all in armes Touching those Townes taken from the King of Spaine and the repaying of the money they answered that the Spaniard might demand so many myriads of crowns to be from the Queene repayed him as the Belgick warre hath cost him since the time that she hath favoured and protected the Dutch against him At this time D. Dale by the Queenes command going to the Duke of Parma did gently expostulate with him touching a Booke Printed there set out lately by Cardinall Allen wherin he exhorteth the Nobles and people of England Ireland to ioyne themselues to the King of Spaines forces vnder the conduct of the Prince of Parma for the execution of the sentence of Sixtus V Pope against the Queene declared by his bull In which she is declared an heretick illegitimate cruel against Mary the Scots Queene her subiects were commanded to helpe Parma against her for at that time a great number of those bulls bookes were printed at Antwerp to be dispersed through England The Duke denied that he had seene such a bull or booke neither would he doe any thing by the Popes authoritie as for his owne King him he must obey Yet he said that he so observed the Queene for her Princely vertues that after the King of Spaine he offred all service to her That he had perswaded the King of Spaine to yeeld to this treaty of peace which is more profitable for English then Spanish For if they should be overcome they would easily repaire their losse But if you be overcome the kingdome is lost To whom Dale replied that our Queene was sufficiently furnished with forces to defend the Kingdom That a Kingdome will not easily be gotten by the fortune of one battell seeing the King of Spaine in so long a warre is not yet able to recover his anciant patrimony in the Netherlands Well quoth the Duke be it so These things are in Gods hands After this the Delegates contended among themselues by mutuall replications weauing and vnweauing the same webb The English were earnest in this a toleration of Religion might be granted at least for two yeares to the confederate Provinces They answered that as the King of Spaine had not intreated that for English Catholicks so they hoped that the Queene in her wisedome would not intreat any thing of the King of Spaine which might stand against his honor his oath his conscience When they demanded the money due from the States of Brabant it was answered that the money was lent without the Kings authoritie or privitie But let the accompt be taken how much that money was and how much the King hath spent in these Warres and then it may appeare who should looke for repayment By such answers they driue off the English of purpose vntill the Spanish fleet was come neare the English shore the noise of guns were heard from sea Then had they leaue to depart were by the Delegates honorably brought to the borders neare to Calis The Duke of Parma had in the meane time brought all his forces to the sea shore Thus this conference came to nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wiser then thought to avert the Spanish fleet continued by the Spaniard that he might oppress the Queen being as he supposed vnprovided and not expecting the danger So both of them tried to sow the Fox-skin to the Lyons CHAPTER XII THE Spanish fleet the best furnished with men munition engines and all warlike preparation that was ever seen vpon the Ocean and by that arrogant Title called invincible did consist of 130 shippes wherein there were 19 thousand two hundreth ninety mariners 8350 chainâ—d rowers 11080. great ordnance 11630. The chiefe commander was Perâ—zius Gusmannus Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian and Marquess of S. Crosse to whom the chiefe governmeÌ„t was allotted died whilst things were preparing And vnder him Iohannes Martinus Recaldus a man of great experience in sea affaires The 30 of May they loosed out of the â—iver Tagus and purposing to hold their course to the â—râ—in in Gâ—llitia they were beaten and scattered by a tempest three gallies by the helpe of Daâ—d Câ—in an English servant and by the perfidiousnesse of the Turks which rowed were carried away into France The Fleet with much adoe after some dayes came to the Groin and other harbours neare adioyning The report was that the Fleet was so shaken with this tempest that the Queene was perswaded that she was not to expect that Fleet this yeare And Sir Francis Walsiâ—gham Secretary wrote to the Lord Admirall that he might send back foure of the greatest shippes as if the Warre had beene ended But he did not easily giue credit to that report but with a gentle answer intreated him to beleiue nothing hastily in so important a matter that he might keep those ships with him though it were vpon his owne charges And finding a favourable winde turned sailes toward Spaine to surprise the enemies shaken shippes in their harbours When he was not farre from the shore of Spaine the winde turned he being charged to defend the English shore fearing that the enemies vnseene might by the same winde be driveÌ„ to England he returned to Plimmouth With the same winde the 12 of Iuly the Duke of Medina with his fleet departed from the Groin And
being present with his Highnesse at that time Where without any other speech or iudgement giuen of the Letter but onely relating simply the forme of the deliuery thereof he presented it to his Maiesty the contents of the Letter are as followeth My Lord out of the loue I beare to some of your friends I haue a care of your preseruation Therefore I would aduise you as you tender your life to deuise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and man haue concurred to punish the wickednesse of this time And thinke not slightly of this aduertisement but retire your selfe into your Country where you may expect the euent in safety for though there be no appearance of any stirre yet I say they shall receiue a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no harme for the danger is past as soone as you shall haue burned this Letter And I hope God will giue you the grace to make good vse of it To whose holy protection I commend you The King no sooner read the letter but after a little pause and then reading it ouer again he deliuered his iudgement of it in such sort as he thought it was not to bee contemned For that the stile of it seemed to be more quicke and pithy then is vsuall to be in a pasquill or libell the superfluities of idle braines But the Earle of Salisbury perceiuing the King to apprehend it deeplier then he looked for knowing his nature told him that he thought by one sentence in it that it was like to be written by some fool or mad man reading to him this sentence in it for the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter which he said was like to be the saying of a foole For if the danger was past so soone as the Letter was burnt then the warning behooued to be of little auaile when the burning of the Letter might make the danger to bee eschewed But the King by the contrary considering the former sentence in the Letter That they should receiue a terrible blow at this Parliament and yet should not see who hurt them ioyning it to the sentence immediately following already alleadged did thereupon coniecture that the danger mentioned should bee some sudden danger by blowing vp of powder for no other insurrection rebellion or whatsoeuer other priuate or desperate attempt could be committed or attempted in time of Parliament and the authors thereof vâ—seene except it were onely by a blowing vp of powder which might be performed by one base knaue in a darke corner Whereupon he was moued to interpret and construe the latter sentence in the Letter alleadged by the Earle of Salisbury against all ordinary sense and construction in Grammer as if by these words for the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter should be closely vnderstood the sudden and quicknesse of the danger which should be as quickly performed and at an end as that paper should be of bleasing vp in the fire turning that word as soone to that sense of as quickly And therefore wished that before his going to Parliament the vnder-roomes of the Parliament house might be well and narrowly searched It must be confessed that God put this vnderstanding in the Kings heart For albeit now vpon the euent made knowne a man may easily see that no other construction can bee made of the Letter then that which the King made yet before the euent was knowne the wisest did not apprehend that vnderstanding And therefore we must acknowledge that God would haue it knowne and brought to knowledge by the King himselfe that all the body of the Kingdome might rest most vnder God beholding to the King their head for the generall deliuerance The Earle of Salisbury wondring at his Maiesties commentary which hee knew to be farre contrary to his ordinary and naturall disposition who did rather euer sinne vpon the other side in not apprehending nor trusting due aduertisments of practises and perils when hee was duely informed of them whereby hee had many times drawne himselfe into many desperate dangers and interpreting rightly this extraordinary caution at this time to proceed from the vigilant care he had of the whole state more then of his owne person which could not but haue all perished together if this designement had succeeded he thought good to dissemble still vnto the King that there had beene any iust cause of such apprehension And ending the purpose with some merry ieast vpon this subiect as his custome is tooke his leaue for that time But though hee seemed so to neglect it to his Maiestie yet his customable and watchfull care of the King and the State still boyling within him and hauing with the blessed Virgin Mary laid vp in his heart the Kings so strange iudgement and construction of it he could not bee at rest till hee acquainted the foresaid Lords what had passed betweene the King and him in priuate Whereupon they were all so earnest to renew againe the memory of the same purpose to his Maiestie as it was agreed that he should the next day being Saturday repaire to his Highnesse Which hee did in the same priuy Gallery and renewed the memory thereof the Lord Chamberlaine then being present with the King At which time it was determined that the said Lord Chamberlaine should according to his custome and office view all the Parliament houses both aboue and below and consider what likelihood or appearance of any such danger might possibly be gathered by the sight of them But yet as well for staying of idle rumors as for being the more able to discerne any mystery the nearer that things were in readinesse his iourney thither was ordained to be deferred till the afternoone before the sitting downe of the Parliament which was vpon the Munday following At what time he according to his conclusion went to the Parliament house accompanied with the Lord Monteagle being in zeale to the Kings seruice earnest and curious to see the euent of that accident whereof he had the fortune to be the first discouerer Where hauing viewed all the lower roomes he found in the vault vnder the vpper house great store of prouision of Billets Faggots Coales And inquiring of Whinyard keeper of the Wardrop to what vse hee had put those lower roomes and cellars he told him that Thomas Percy had hired both the House and part of the Cellar or Vault vnder the same And that the wood and coale therein was the said Gentlemans owne prouision Whereupon the Lord Chamberlaine casting his eye aside perceiued a fellow standing in a corner there calling himselfe the said Percy his man and keeper of that house for him which was Guido Fawkes the instrument which should haue acted that monstrous tragedy The Lord Chamberlaine looking vpon all things with
an heedfull eye yet in outward appearance with but a carelesse and racklesse countenance he presently addressed himselfe to the King in the said priuy Gallery where in the presence of the Lord Treasurer the Lord Admirall the Earles of Worcester Northampton and Salisbury he made his report what he had seene and obserued there Noting that Monteagle had told him that hee no sooner heard Thomas Percy named to be the possessour of that house but considering both his backwardnesse in Religion and the old dearenesse in friendship betweene himselfe and the said Percy he did greatly suspect the matter and that the Letter should come from him The Lord Chamberlaine also told that he did not wonder a little at the extraordinary great prouision of wood and coale in that house where Thomas Percy had so seldome occasion to remaine as likewise it gaue him in his minde that his man looked like a very tall and desperate fellow This could not but increase the Kings former apprehension and iealousie Whereupon he insisted as before that the house was narrowly to bee searched and that those Billets and Coales would bee searched to the bottome it being most suspitious that they were laid there onely for couering of the powder Of this same minde also were all the Councellors then present But vpon the fashion of making the search was it long debated For on the one side they were all so iealous of the Kings safety that they all agreed that there could not be too much caution vsed for preuenting the danger And yet on the other part they were all extreame loath and dainty that in case this Letter should proue to be nothing but the euaporation of an idle braine then a curious search being made and nothing found should not onely turne to the generall scandall of the King and the State as being so suspâ—tious of euery light and friuolous toy but likewise lay an ill-fauoured imputation vpon the Earle of Northumberland one of his Maiesties greatest Subiects and Councellors this Thomas Percy being his kinseman and most confident familiar And the rather were they curious vpon this point knowing how farre the King detested to be thought suspitious or iealous of any of his good subiects though of the meanest degree And therefore though they all agreed vpon the maine ground which was to prouide for the security of the Kings person yet did they much differ in circumstances by which this action might bee best carried with leaâ—t dinne and occasion of slander But the King himselfe still persisting that there were diuers shrewd appearances and that a narrow search of those places could preiudice no man that was innocent he at last plainely resolued them that either must all the parts of those roomes be narrowly searched and no possibility of danger left vnexamined or else hee and they all must resolue not to meddle in it at all but plainely to goe the next day to the Parliament and leaue the successe to fortune which he beleeued they would be loath to take vpon their consciences for in such a case as this an halfe-doing was worse then no doing at all Whereupon it was at last concluded that nothing should be left vnsearched in those houses And yet for the better colour and stay of rumor in case nothing were found it was thought meet that vpon a pretence of Whinyards missing some of the Kings stuffe or hangings which he had in keeping all those roomes should bee narrowly ripped for them And to this purpose was Sir Thomas Kneuet a Gentleman of his Maiesties priuie Chamber imployed being a Iustice of Peace in Westminster and one of whose ancient fidelity both the late Queene and our now Soueraigne haue had large proofe Who according to the trust committed vnto him went about the midnight next after to the Parliament house accompanâ—ed with such a small number as was fit for that â—rrand But before his entry into the house finding Thomas Percyes alleadged man standing without the doores his Cloathes and Bootes on at so dead a time of night he resolued to apprehend him as he did and theâ—eafter went forward to the searching of the house Where after hee had caused to be ouerturned some of the Billets and Coales he first found one of the small Barrels of powder and after all the rest to the number of thirty sixe barrels great and small And thereafter searching the fellow whom he had taken found three matches and all other instruments fit for blowing vp the powder ready vpon him which made him instantly confesse his owne guiltinesse declaring also vnto him that if hee had happened to be within the house when he tooke him as he was immediately before at the ending of his woâ—ke hee would not haue failed to haue blowne him vp house and all Thus after Sir Thomas had caused the wretch to be surely bound and well guarded by the company he had brought with him he himselfe returned back to the Kings Pallace and gaue warning of his successe to the Lord Chamberlaine and Earle of Salisbury who immediately warning the rest of the Councell that lay in the house as soone as they could get themselues ready came with their fellow Councellors to the Kings Bed-chamber being at that time neere foure of the clocke in the morning And at the first entry of the Kings Chamber doore the Lord Chamberlaine being not any longer able to conceale his ioy for the preuenting of so great a danger told the King in a confused hast that all was found and discouered and the traitor in hands and fast bound Then order being first taken for sending for the rest of the Councell that lay in the toâ—ne the prisoner himselfe was brought into the house Where in respect of the strangenesse of the accident no man was staied from the sight in speaking with him and within a while after the Counceâ—â— did examine him Who seeming to put on a Roman-resolution did both to the Councell and to euery other person that spake to him that day appeare so constant and setâ—ed in his grounds as they all thought they had found a new Mutius Scaeuola borne in England For notwithstanding the horrour of the fact the guilt of his conscience his sudden surprising the terrour which should haue strucken him by comming into the presence of so graue a Councell and the restlesse and confused questions that euery man all that day did vexe him with â—et was his countenance so farre from being deiected as hee often smiled in scornefull manner not onely auowing the fact but repenting onely with the said Scaeuola his failing in the execution thereof whereof hee said the diuell and not God was the discouerer answering quickly to euery mans obiections scoffing at any idle questions which were propounded to him and iesting with such as he thought had no authority to examine him All that day could the Councell get nothing out of him touching his complices refusing to answer to any such questions which he thought
the sacred canonicall Scriptures that this onely rule of faith was held in the Church till the Councell of Trâ—nt it is euidently proued by the full consent of the ancient Fathers and moreouer by the confession of all Writers in the Church of Rome before the Councell of Trent such as were Bernard Peter Lumbard Thomas Aquinâ—s Iohannâ—s Scotus Durandus Clemens 1. Pope Cardinalis Cameracensis Iohn Gerson Câ—nradus Clingius Ios. Acosta Alfonsus de castre and many others To repeat the testimâ—nâ—es of alâ— would bee tedious Let it suffice to repeate one testimonie of Aquinas wherein all the rest agree Aquinas in the first place cited saith Prophetarum Apostolorum doctrâ—na dicitur canonica quia est regula intellectus nostri ideo nullus aliter debet docere that is the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles is called canonicall because it is the rule of our vnderstanding and therefore no man ought to teach otherwise And in the second place cited he saith Innititur fides nostra reuelationi Apostolis Prophetis factae that is our faith resteth vpon the reuelation made to the Aposâ—les and Prophets Then traditions was neuer accounted the rule of our vnderstanding or that whereupon our faith must rest though the same be more fully prâ—ued out of the Scriptures themselues and from a full consent of the ancient Fathers as is otherwhere manifested yet this I thought here might suffice to declare the opinions of them that liued in the Church of Rome next before the Councell of Trent as many of these did which I haue before named So that this is euident the rule of faith was neuer altered in the Church of Rome before the Councell of Trent Then did they alter this rule by putting traditions of their Church into the rule of faith and Lucifer-like matching equalizing and mating the wisedome of God with their owne follies Then all is changed when the manners of the Church the doctrines of the Church and the very rule of faith is changed What greater change may be looked for hereafter in the Church of Antichrist I know not but this is sufficient to moue vs to forsake them as the congregation of the impious the Church of the malignant And because they haue forsaken God and his truth therefore by the iust iudgement of God are they permitted to runne into so many foule errors and such wicked and execrable practises that neither Christians nor heathen guided onely by the light of nature could euer approue If they say that we also haue our faults and sinnes I answere that when wâ— turne our selues to consider our sinnes against God wee all finde our selues guilty and not able to answere one of a thousand that he maâ— iustly charge vs withall Our vnthankefulnesse to him is so great for his manifold blessings and wonderfull protection our sinnes we conceale not from him wee acknowledge vnto God that if he lay his rod vpon vs as we haue deserued if he should cast our lâ—nd baâ—ke againe into that former blindnesse wherein it lay in popery God is iust wee haue dâ—serued great punishments But if wee turne our selues vnto another consideration comparing our religion with theirs our practises with theirs then I say though we cannot iustifie our selues before God yet are we able to iustifie our selues in respect of them Let our enemies be our iudges When euill is committed among vs it is punished and therein we reioyce that euill is punished It was neuer found that execrable practises were approued by vs for that were to forsake religion but the most wicked practises that haue beene heard of are not onely committed by them but approued yea and commended as the killing of Henry 3. of France was practised by a Fryer and commended by the Pope These bee the sinnes that doe ripen them for Gods iudgements For the time will come when great Babylon shall come in remembrance before the Lord to giue vnto her the cup of Wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath and againe therefore shall her plagues come at one day death and sorrow and famine and she shall bee burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God which will condemne her In the meane time we wait vpon God and we doe in humblenesse of heart offer vp to God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing that it pleased him of his goodnesse and vnsearchable mercies towards vs to call vs out of Babylon to giue vs hearts to obey his calling to make choise of this Church which himselfe hath planted in Great Britaine to inable it to stand against all the furious rage and wicked practises of the Pope and his adherents The Conclusion Some Considerations proposed to such as are not well affected to Religion 1 KIngs and States when they are miraculously protected by the hand of God and deliuered from great dangers may vnderstand what blessing they haue by a Church planted in their State The Church bringeth the blessing to the State because God regardeth them that are faithfull to him and for their fakes blesseth the whole 2 This Church that bringeth such a blessing to States is much questioned now where it is and how to finde it for diuers striue for it and the true Church is but One. 3 That is tâ—e true Church that hath hâ—â—d the ruâ—e of Faâ—th from the Apostles time That is the false Church that haâ—h changed that ruâ—e 4 Who hold this rule and who nâ—t may be knowne by the holy Doctrines contained in the Scripture ex consanguinitate doctrinae 5 Learniâ—g is necâ—ssary to inable a man to iudge aright of these thâ—â—gs but Learning may be also in men that are corrupt and vngâ—dly And therefore a man can neuer be weâ—l â—nabled to iudge of these things without the Spirit of God directing his Learning 6 Thâ— true Church is ruled by the Spirit of God and preserued from errours and heresies against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile 7 A lay man that hath the Spirit of God is better able to iudge of the Church and of the members thereof then a man in Ecclesiasticall function that hath not the Spirit of God 8 They that are contentious seditious cruelâ— mâ—licious vncleâ—ne adulterers idolaters murtâ—erâ—rs or such like haue not the Spirit of God The reason is euident because these and such like are the frâ—its of the flesh contrary to the fruits of the spirit 9 From these principles if the Princes that are of the Romish religion wouâ—d be pleased to exâ—mâ—ne Themselues their Religion their best learned and religious men their Doctrines their Prâ—ctisâ—s â—hey might bâ— a â—enerous search easily finde wâ—ere is Gods Church and where is Gods Spirit 10 Withall they may be pleased to consider the Workes of God his protection and miraculous defence of his Church which miraculous defence hath appeared here ouer the Church of England as also elsewhere but more conspicuous here more