King with some of his Friends Ormston Carmichel and others who mistrusting encompassed the Chancellor and so he got forth The suspition and danger of some design intimated to the King Huntley is sent for examined and committed to the Castle which occasioned the company with Crawford and Arroll to dissolve and their design discovered And for not appearing before the Council Arroll and Bothwell are denowned Rebells Montross and Crawford submit and Huntley left alone does so too and is permitted to go to his North Government By the way he meets with Montross and Crawford belay the way to surprize the Treasurer and gave him chase to Brikel where he was received and they fire the House and so forced to yield himself Prisoner for some Weeks But thus prepared for the cause they take arms again close and undiscovered till several Messengers bring newes to the King a Hunting That Bothwell Huntley and others were marching The King gathers such Forces as he could for the present Bothwell ever inconstant retires to places of strength and is left of his Men. Huntley goes on surprizes Glams his Enemy and Captain of the Guard But at the Kings neerer approach quits all and lurks at home amongst the Rocks at Strathbolgie but not safe from himself his rebellious heart suspects the issue and so submits to mercy which was no worse than a Prison for the present and afterwards he and his pardoned upon Petition Whilst these disorders were at home their former Letters sent to the King of Spain and to Parma and some others also from Bruce were intercepted by Q. Elizabeth which laid open all the practices of the Lords And therefore she writes to the King Complaining of his remissness in punishing these Treacheries and of his kindness to such of the Spaniards that fled into Scotland after their wreck at Sea she besought him not to delay opportunity to punish the Offenders and to rid the Realm of such Strangers Hereupon they were shipped over towards West Flanders and by the way were met a league from that Coast by some Hollanders set out to intercept them who boarded one ship putting all the Spaniards to the sword the rest ran their ships a ground and most of the Men pittifully drowned A Proclamation issued out against all Iesuits remaining and Hay Creighton Bruce and Graham expressly commanded to depart upon pain of death but they inticing Huntley Crawford and Arroll take arms together came to Aberdeen in April and declare That the King is kept Captive requiring all good Subjects to join for relief and freedom of the people They depended on Bothwell and his Forces in the South whom the King proclaimed Rebels And for the present marches against the Earls as far as Cowry neer Aberdeen where he was told that the enemy was three thousand strong and hastning to meet the King The King put to the straight cheers up his Company That they had the better cause and himself in person to suffer with them against such whose conditions could never be wrought upon by benefits or good deeds to make them loyal assist me therefore as you shall find me forward rather for you than for my self Thus resolved Hamilton and Angus differ for the honour of the Vant-guard Angus claiming the place by privilege heretofore granted to his Predecessors Hamilton argued his neerness to the Blood Royall who carried it by the Kings favour But the next Morning discovers the Enemy dispersed for fear or favor to the Kings person to which respect Crawford condescended but Arroll earnest to fight and they refusing he parted from them at d ee Bridge and the King returns to Edenburgh And there in some assurance he disposes his affairs for consumating his mariage with Denmark and to bring his Bride into Scotland The Earl Marshall had the Commission assisted in Company with the Lord Dingwell Sir Iames Seringeour Mr. Iohn Sheen Advocate and Mr. Young Arch-deacon of St. Andrews And for the more honorable defraying the expence a subsidy of a hundred thousand pounds punds I conceive was granted by the Council by a former Warrant of Parliament 1587. and sudden payment was made by the well-willing Subjects earnestly desiring a Mariage for the issue of Royal Succession in his Race Against this time of publique joy the Rebels humbly submit to Justice and were impannell'd before the Earls of Hamilton Angus Morton Athol Mar and Marshall four Lords and four Lairds 1. They were charged for practising with Jesuits and others against the Religion receiving money from Spain and therewith raising forces 2. That they had confederacy with Arroll Montross and others and treasonably surprized Perth 3. That they conspired to imprison the King to murder Maitland and Thirlstan Counsellors of State 4. For besieging the house of Kirkhill firing that house and imprisoning the Lord Treasurer Glams 5. And convocated by Proclamation the Kings liege people against his Majesty 6. They opposed the Kings forces and his Person at Dee 7. They seized the Kings Herauld and rifled his Letters 8. And the last concerned only Bothwell for entertaining Strangers and others at Dalkieth forcing the Town of Lieth They were adjudged guilty but the sentence suspended Crawford committed to Blackness Bothwel to Tantallon and Huntley to Edenburgh Castle We may wonder why the Ministers are missing in all these broyls and now the Assembly convened at Edenburgh the King desired them to afford him Patrick Galloway to attend his Court They now acknowledge his Majesties Power to command and his grace and favour to acquaint them with his pleasure A good beginning of their duty and obedience not long lasting For the King having given his Kinswoman The Duke of Lennox Sister the last year in mariage to Huntley and the Bishop of Saint Andrews celebrating the same was then censured by the Acts of their Church the Bishop not acknowledging their power against his Majesties command they pronounce and deprive him of all function in the Church and ratifie the judgement to be proclaimed in publick This troubles the King and in fear of more disquiet was fain to suffer their Sentence and to make peace with all and remits the imprisoned Lords to liberty for now he hears that the Mariage is accomplished by Proxie and the Queen at Sea when lo an unlookt-for message that the Navy of her Conduct was driven by Tempest into Norway where she should stay till the Spring But his affection over-mastering all difficulties he resolves to hasten a Scotish fleet and fetch her home himself And to shadow his purpose from any home distempers he pretends to send the Chancellour and Iustice Clark in Commission to her But the ships fitted he in private sets sail in October leaving a direction to the Council for Government of his Kingdom under his own hand-writing thus To satisfy some concerning himself and to take off suspition of blame upon others he shews them the Causes and the reason of
And so it was in his Mothers time and without consent of Parliament else it would seem a League of the People And in his time when it came to be Ratifyed least it should appear In odium Tertii it was by Him left out in respect of his Title to England 3. Who is so ignorant as can not see the profit and commodity to England by this Union is there not Gain by Wales is not Scotland greater Lands Seas and Persons added to Greatness certainly Two made One makes them Greater and Stronger He desires Union for the Empire of England and for their security to condescend to reasonable Restrictions And he will never say what he will not promise nor promise what he will not swear nor swear what he will not perform And so dismisses them But although the Parliament could not be drawn to it presently yet not long after it wrought upon the Judges of this Kingdom that the chief Justice Coke confirmed the Post-Nati in Calvins Case and Title And adjudged for him also by that reverend States-man Chancelor Elsmere and all the Iudges likewise in the Exchequer Chamber whose opinions do much confound our Adversary bewailing the Cause That of such stuffe Judges are made who can modell their Presidents to any shape And yet all that this Session could be drawn to do was to repeal the Laws of Hostility between both Nations and so confirmed in Scotland from the fourth of Henry 5. of England and from 1 Iames 1. of Scotland Some excellent Acts were concluded this Session which I refer to the statutes in print But because the Judges in that time are complained of as too partiall for the Kings commands Let me aeternize the memory of Judge Nichols of the common pleas His Predecessor in his Circuite Assize for the County of Northampton had reprieved a Felon indicted before him and found guilty by the Jury and condemned but reprieved by him upon some observation of the weakness of the Evidence This Iudge dying Nichols appointed for that Circuite continues the Prisoners reprieve And the complaint came to the King who urgeth the Judg by letters for Execution which yet he refused His just excuse was That if his Predecessor who heard the Evidence thought good in Iustice to grant his reprieve It became not his Conscience now to condemn him seeing he never heard the Evidence at all And that it was part of his Oath to do right notwithstanding the Kings letters 18. Edward 3. This man therefore the King owned to be a wise learned and just Judge for though he might perhaps have given just Iudgment it could not be true Iustice. Licet aequum statuerit hand aequum fuerit Heretofore Proclamations had been by Queen Elizabeth and King Iames against the excessive repair of persons of quality out of the Country to London by neglecting their duties at home in their respective service to the Common weal the decay of Hospitable Neighborhood and relief of the poor Besides the more room made for them crowded the Mechanick and Trades-men into narrow habitations and dear rents pestering most houses with Inmates Infections and sickness the Country Towns and Burroughs unpeopled trade decayed But these commands not obeyed The wisdom of State was assured that the cause taken away the effects would follow The restraint of New-buildings might necessitate the Gentry to keep to the Country for want of lodgings at easie rates in London And such as should be were prescribed heretofore a form of Brick upright to save Timber so much wanting and to beautifie the streets incroached upon with bay windows and eaves hanging over that even joyned with the opposite Neighbour upon old or new foundations a Custome of freedom in after times of loose liberty which destroys the beauty of buildings And now necessity enforcing a farther Obedience this proclamation hath these Limitations No new buildings in London or two miles about but upon old foundations And such as have been erected within five years last past contrary to former Proclamations which were to be pulled down shall nevertheless be disposed by Officers appointed for tenements to the poor or for their benefit and hereafter offending to be pull'd down No House to be divided hereafter into several Tenements nor any Inmates received to make another family These prohibitions were referred to the Aldermen and Iustices of Peace and this was in October 1607. When the plague ceased and the fresh gang of the Countrey came huddling to keep Christmass at London Our Caluminator that swells his Book with malitious observations and false quotations refers this to 7. Iac. 1609. and belyes the restriction to be pulled down though says he not taken notice of in seven years after for this Proclamation commands the Aldermen and Iustices in their diligent view perambulation and inquiry to certifie the Kings Council every Term or their neglect to be censured punished and removed from the Peace as unworthy Whereby says he many not heeding the Proclamation laid out their whole Estates upon little Hovels and building fair houses upon new foundations must either purchase them anew or pull them down and both to their ruine Name me one that was repurchased Indeed such as offended in this last were to be fined or pulled down And truly the commands were so necessary so wholesome so beautifull and so exemplarily publick that very few offended and such as did deserved due punishment yet this is scored upon the King as a Crime in State which he foresaw would come to pass as now in these days we finde the effects to be pitied the very ruine of this City and Suburbs The Lord Treasurer Dorset died suddenly at the Council-table his Disease an Apoplexy which gave way to Cecil Earl of Salisbury to succeed him Treasurer this Dorset was Thomas Sackvile Son and Heir of Sir Richard Sackvile of Buckhurst who came from the Temple a Barrester and was created Baron Buckhurst by Queen Elizabeth and by King Iames Earl of Dorset 1605. and Knight of the Garter About this time a further discovery was made in Scotland concerning the truth of Gowry's Treason by Attainder of another of the Conspiratours The Treason was attempted the fourth of August 1600. as before remembered and though there followed sundry Suspitions and Examinations of several persons supposed Abettors and Contrivers then yet it lay undiscovered tanquam e post liminio untill this time eight years after by the circumspection principally of the Earl of Dunbar a man of as great wisdom as those times and that Nation could boast of upon the person of one George Sprot Notary publick at Aymouth in Scotland from some words of his sparingly and unawares expressed and some Papers found in his house whereof being examined with little ado he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh 12. August 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman
Feaver And was Interred at Westminster 1612. His Motto's Pax mentis Honestae gloria Iuvat Ire per altum Hee was comely tall five foot eight Inches high strong and well made broad shouldred a small wast amiable with Majesty Aborn Hair long faced broad forehead a peircing grave Eye a gracious smile but with a frown daunting Courteous and affable naturally shamefast and modest patient and slow to anger mercifull and judicious secret of any trust even from his youth His courage Princelike fearless noble and undaunted Saying that nothing should be impossible to him which had been done by another Religious and Christian He was never heard to swear an Oath and it was remembred at his funeral Sermon by the Arch-bishop that he being commended by one for not replying with passion in play or swearing to the truth he should answer that he knew no game or value to be wonne or lost could be worth an Oath To say no more such and so many were his virtues that they covered the semblance of sin But think what we will one that sucks venome says he was anatomized to amuse the world and to clear the impoyson as a Court trick to dawb it over We are like to have much truth from such a prejudicate Pen-Man The Prince Palatine and Maurice Prince of Orange by a Deputy were installed Knights of the Garter this Christmass And in February following the Marriage with the Princess Elizabeth was solemnized with all pomp and glory together with the peoples hearty affections expressed in their Ayd-mony Contribution he calls it for her Marriage which is a due debt or ancient Custome and no absolute thing whether or no that the obedience of the subject had been ripe or rotten thereto and it came to twenty thousand and five hundred pounds And in Aprill after he returnes with his Bride through the Netherlands to his own principall City Heidelbergh in the Palatinate from whence his finite miserable banishment took begining in Anno 1613. A Scotish Baron one Sanquair having wasted his own pieced up his Patrimony by mariage with another an heir in England and having worn out hers also with the death of his Lady He seekes to save the poor remain by sparing it abroad a Custome of Gallants taken up to salve their credit which they say Parsimony disparages unless from home in forein soil and ere he went over His fate was to try mastery with Turner a Master of defence in his own Art wherein Sanquair had much of knowledg but more of opinion Turner was the most of skill in that Profession whom the Baron challenges at three hits and inforced upon him the first of three with over-much conceipt and clamour of his Scots companions to over-Master the best in England and him in his own Schoole too in the face of some Schollars an affront to all The man sensible of his credit more than conscience in Malice to do mischief opened his Body to the advantage of his Adversary who too neer pressing it home Turner takes it on his Brest being sure thereby to pop Sanquire in the eye so deadly that he dasht it out The Baron guessed at this evil hap by his own Intention to have done worse himself But by Turners regret of this mischance they parted patience perforce At Paris the King pittyed his loss a great defect to a handsome gallant and asked him why the man dyed not that did it This Item the Divell so drove into his fancie that hastily brings him home again where he hired two of his own kindred Grey and Carliel to kill him which they did basely by a brace of Bullets in his own House White-Fryers And all three got time to fly The one taken in Scotland the other on Ship-board and the Barons head praysed at a thousand pounds he fearing thereby to be forced into Justice thought it safer to throw himself into the hands of Mercy by presenting it and so represented by the Bishop of Canterbury he might appear an obiect of pitty But the wound was universall and the blood-shed not to be wiped off but by his death ignoble as his Act the Halter equall guilt had even punnishment all the three Gallows Some difficulty there was how to proceed with the Baron who first came in for Carlile and Grey being Principals and not as yet convict the Law could not proceed to the Tryall of Sanquair being but Accessary But then the other two flying they were out-lawed and so attainted of felony and then the Accessary was tryed for there are but three kinds of Attainder by Outlary Verdict or Confession See after in the case of Weston for impoysoning of Overbury who stood Mute sometime that while the Accessaries could not be convict Anno 1615. The next Moneth brings to the Grave that excellent States-Man Treasurer Cecil Earl of Salisbury He was descended from the Sitsâ—lts in Hartfordshire Vorstegan saâ—es from Cecilii the Romanes they suffered some persecutions in the time of Henry the eight and Queen Mary His father William came into favour by Edward the sixth who gave him Knighthood and took him to his Counsell and in the Office of Secretary of State but in some obscurity afterwards under his Sister Mary was restored again by Queen Elizabeth in the same trust so soon as she was setled in her Crown and by degrees increases him to honour First Baron of Burleigh Then Lord Treasurer and Knight of the Garter he died Chancelor of the University of Cambridge Anno 1598. and was intombed at Stanford Leaving two sonnes The Elder Thomas then Lord President of the North and by King Iames created Earl of Excester and privy Counsellor of State He died some years after discreet and honourable whom the world could never tax with any taint This other sonne Robert was a true inheritor of his fathers wisdome and by him trained up to the future perfections of a judicious States-man After his Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth the first imployment from Court for he was not at all bred out of it sent him Assistant with the Earl of Derby Ambassadour to the French King At his return she took him second Secretary with Sir Francis Walsingham after whose disease he continued principal and so kept it to his death Not relâ—nquishing any preferment for the addition of a greater A remarkable note which few men of the Gown could boast off His father liv'd to see him thus far setled in these preferments and afterwards Master of the Wards and Liveries These he held to the Queens death being in all her time used amongst the men of weight as having great sufficiencies from his father who begat them also Those offices here in publick with perpetual Correspondence by Emissaries of his own made him capable of reception with King Iames who was advised by him how to be received of his people His merits certainly appeared to his Master that added to
against all the world with ringing of Bells and making Bonfires in London so soon as it shall be certain of the Coronation I am satisfyed in my conscience the cause is just having rejected that proud and bloody man making that Kingdom not elective and when God hath set up the Prince a Mark of honour to all Christendom to propagate the Gospell and protect the distressed I dare do not other but to follow where God leads It is a great honour to our King to have such a son to be made a K. and me thinks I do in this and that of Hungary foresee the work of God that by piece and piece the Kings of the Earth that give their power to the Beast shall now leave the whore to Desolation as St. John saies Our striking in will comfort the Bohemians honour the Palsgrave strengthen the Union bring on the Dutch stir up Denmark and move his two Uncles Prince of Orange and Duke of Buillon together with Tremvile a rich Prince in France to cast in their shares and Hungary I hope will run the same fortune and for mony and means to support the War Providebit Deus This from my Bed and when I can stand I hope to do better service Geo. Cant. Sept. 12. 1619. Some regret there was in the Palsgrave as well might be to act without the consent of the King of Great Britain and whilst his Ambassadours were treating a Peace but by perswasion of the Prince of Anholt the Earl of Holloch and Baron Done with other their intimates he was at length intreated to accept of that golden Bait a Crown which was given to him freely not without some regret though by Others such a Bit would be swallowed with damnation it self And this was hastened upon him in August 1619. and his entrance into Prague the last of October and his Coronation four daies after But instantly posts the Baron to King Iames in excuse of all either of too hasty acceptance and neglect of his fatherly advice King Iames ever averse from such undue Precipitations for affections of the people to be ingaged at their pleasures and to be a President to dispose of Soveraignty already established utterly refuses Done's Address for a time but dispatches Ambassadours to the Emperour and to the States of the League and Covenant not meddling with his Son in Law to advise or neglect him Of this errand two are sent in joint Commission to Boheme Sir Richard Weston after Lord Treasurer and Sir Edward Conway not long after Secretary of State Ferdinand upon the News of his New Rival in the Kingdom hastens this Proscription against the Palsgrave We Ferdinando c. To all Electors Princes c. But especially to the subjects of Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhene Elector c. That Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhene hath made himself head of that perfidious and rebellious crue of our Kingdome of Boheme wherefore we proclame him guilty of High Treason and Iterate Proscription and of all the penalties which by Law and Custome are depending thereon We conclude him out of Our and the Imperial peace and are firmly resolved to execute the said penalties upon him as against one pubâ—ickly proscribed an Enemy and Adversary to us and the Empire Commanding you under pain of Life not to give him aid succour assistance mony provision munition openly or covertly And whoever is in pay his Complices or Helpers to forsake his service and that the States dependant alliances subject and his Vassals shall not yield to him Obedience nor partake to him of his crime but to forsake him and assist us to reduce him the Rebellious Frederick to obedience And we absolve ye his Vassals from his protection and from your Oath into our grace and favour and whoever disobeys this our command we declare him and them guilty of high Treason and iterate Proscription so well as himself Given at Our City Vienna c. 1626. And now each Party take the field The Duke of Saxony for the Imperial Ban with twenty five thousand Men reduced Lusatia The Prince of Anholt General and Holloch Lieutenant General for Boheme and with these evenly powred the war went on in that Kingdom And to make it famous through the Western World Spinola forms an Army in Flanders under Spains interest but for that purpose which King Iames suspected and to be assured sent to Sir Thomas Edmonds his Ambassadour at Bruxels to inquire for the truce of Spain and the Netherlands continued but Spinola's Commission was sealed up by the Spanish subtilty not to open till the March of the Army of twenty thousand foot and five thousand horse which proved fatal to the Palatinate The Spirits of the English began to bustle Sir Horace Vere being here and somewhat rusty since the peace with Spain associating his Nephew the Earl of Oxford and Essex young and daring Spirits saies one indeed so young they apprehend no danger and so ignorant they knew not how to avoid it Oxford the eighteenth Earl and Lord High Chamberlain without intermission from Awbry de Vere high Chamberlain to Henry the first Portgrave of London and Lord Chief Justice of England Discended from the Earls of Guisure the surname from Vere a Town in Zealand his Son Awbry created Earl of Oxford by Henry 2. and High Chamberlain The eighth Earl after him was by Richard 2. created Duke of Ireland during life and bore for that honour quarterly before his own cote three Crowns or a border Argent his own being quarterly Gu. and Or upon the first a Mulletary This man now was lately returned home from Travel in hope to recover his former debaucheries but how improved implicite credit was to expect the Tryal As for Essex then he onely boid up by the people upon his Fathers score which we have told before But made they were made by Our younger Brothers to fight and a Regiment onely was raised not I believe imagined for any goodly effects but to bandy with the Kings Wisdom who though not forward in this unjustifiable quarrel yet not without coâ—nsel to act for the future How madly some men urged the Kings interest seeming so hasty as to do the work at their own charge but being connived at to try their intent the good Earl of Essex had fifty brave fellows pinn'd upon him to pay them their pensions besides his compleat number of his own company These two brave Captains with the rest raw-souldiers adventured without fear under indeed the fame and fortune of that Right valourous and truly expert man of Arms Sir Horace Vere their Colonell who must needs indure with patience the toil he had to make them good Souldiers Spinola had got the start yet the English got over ere he took leave of the Arch-Duke but they followed at a distance somewhat in danger to go too near and in August both forces were marching the English had passage over
that the world may speak well of their mutual agreeing Thus much in effect the King told them and which prepared their wild resolutions to strike at Prerogative now to undermine it only by quâ—rrelling with the Kings best Ministers and whilest these bandy in the Lower House the King proceeds in his Publick course concerning Germany and forthwith sends the Lord Digâ—y extraordinary to the Emperour for a posiâ—ive answer for rendition of the Palatinate by force or friendship These businesses abroad and expence at home brings him to accompt with his Exchequer where he finds his Exits increased the Incomes and intending the best Husbandry to piece out the expence He changes his Treasurer Mountague for other preferments of honour and profit and puts in Sir Lionel Cranfield upon no other merit saies one but for marrying the Marquesses Kin such Another saies more But I find him of an antient family in Gloucester-shire and being bred a Merchant Adventurer of London and other his extraordinary qualities in that and other Commendable wayes became useful to the State also And first had the honour of Knight-hood then the custody of the Kings Wardrobes afterwards Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries and now Lord Treasurer and created Earl of Middlesex Some busie Barons had gotten together a gang of Discontents of several Titles and framed a petition and their hands to it with this General Title The humble Petition of the Nobility of ENGLAND SHEWETH THat whereas your Majesty by importunity of some natural subjects of England hath conferred upon them Honours Titles and Dignities peculiar to other your Majesties Dominions by which the Nobility of this Realm find themselvs prejudiced Our humble desire is that with your allowance we may challenge and preserve our Birth-rights withont any notice of those Titulars to our Prejudice and to be excused to deny them the respect or place as to Noble men Strangers Seeing that these being our Countrymen born and abide here have yet procured their Translation into foreign names onely to our injury But in this address we meddle not to limit or interprete the power of your Soveraignty being the root whence all Honor receives Sap under what title soever to collate what you please upon whom and how you please The Subsigners were Oxford Essex Warwick Abergaveny Dacres Darcy Sheffield Crâ—mwel Scroop Sturton St. Iohn Paget Dudley Spencer Say The Barons indeed came behind but few Earls had cause so to complain And it was Say I remember well the Ring-leader of all though the last in Ranck and least in prejudice But his prejudice and subtilty steered the way to the rest who having a loose Brother amongst them perhaps many more stole the Copy to the King and betrayed their intentions before it was well-moulded The King wisely sent for them a sunder and roughly told them their Petition was sawcy but ended humbly concluding themselves not to expostulate his power or pleasure which if any of them sought to question they should soon find the effects but the first Man declined it as brought in by the buy and so did the second and third the rest took pattern from their submission and here was an end of that ranting Petition for our Author would enforce belief That the King pulled up his Spirits when he told Essex He feared him not with his fourty thousand men But the Proverb alludes in scorn to the folly of the French Oh the King of France and fourty thousand men and then with more disdam on Essex Hereupon the Commons take example and Petitions are framed as from the people but indicted by the Parliament A custom which the Commons house in those times took up to make business rather than be idle And first they fall upon Patents for Inns Ale-houses Gold and Silver Thread counterfeit pretious matter to spend time being now to quarrel with the Empire The last of them Our Historian saies was of sophisticate materials engrossing all the Trade of that Ages vanity onely in Gold and Silver Lace and so poisonous were the Druggs of the Composition that rotted hands and arms with lameness upon the very work-folks loss of their Eyes and Lives by venome of the vapors that came from it ah abominable un truth The Patron of this Patent was an honourable Lord though led aside by Instruments whom he trusted Indeed a Pragmatick Lawyer whose weakness in that Profession came behind the ordinary Practisers and therefore he got a Privilege and Prerogative to be first heard at the Bar and was nick-named Prerogative Pleader until a witty Judge told him he should have the first Motion but not to be granted at all Sir Giles Mompeson the Patentee for Inns. Sir Francis Michel for Ale-houses two corrupt Justices of the Peace It were wished that they might have been the last of that race But these Patents taking up more time in the Disquisition than their serious business should permit the King rouses the Lords to their Sentence of them with this Speech MY LORDS THE last time I inform'd you the Verity of my Proceedings aâ—d caution in passing these Patents in question by way of Declaration and now to expresse my desire to have your sentence and execution against Mompesson who though he be fled my Proclamation pursued him and shall be as earnest to see your sentence against him executed And tells them his Reasons 1. That there being a Politique Marriage betwixt Him and his people he is in duty to God tyed to the care of good government And had these things been complained of before he would have redressed them sooner Remembring them what he hath often said That no private person should be respected before the publique good not only of the whole Common-weal but even of a particular Corporation that is but a member of it 2. That he intends not to infringe but to satisfie the House Liberties for never any King did so much for them and will doe more and assures them that the Presidents of former good government shall warrant them to him Acknowledging them the Supream Court of Iustice Himself as present by Representation And to add to their Honour he hath made the Prince a member amongst them Professes the love and respect he hath received from the Lower House in their proceedings And always the like from the Lords especially by relation of his son of them all in general and particular and the like he said by One that sits there Buckingham a proof whereof the Earl of Arundel witnessed in his report to them of the privileges of Nobility how earnest he was therein Acknowledges the free gift of this Parliament of two Subsidies and so accepted by him which he will reâ—ribute by a General Pardon at the end of the Parliament and will do somewhat in ease of the people till then As for the Ale-Houses he refers to the Iustices of Peace For the Gold and Silver Thread he damm's
if the Aunt had married the Nephew it had been a greater sin because the Auâ—t being in loco Parent is to the Nephew he by such marriage being Husband to the Aunt became by that Relation Superiour to his Parent which did aggravate the offence So then that which is to be insisted upon is the law Moral which is the constant and permanent will of God both in the Church Triumphant and Militant So that Adam could never marry any if he had lived until this time being the common Parent of Mankind in the Old World and Noah in the New And thus much concerning the Divorce and Elizabeths Title But to conclude it comes to be our Task to enter upon this work of Mother and Son and to enliven their Memories with their â—ives and Actions not singly neither but contemporary too with such Affairs of State as intermixes with others of Europe As also the State Militant of the Scots Kirk in Persecution Motion and at Peace in relation to the Arks upon the Water in the Wilderness and in the Temple The Materials of All need no Ornament but adjustment Bona fama propria possessio Defunctorum And if ever to any of old stiles and additions were allowed properly and truly they may challenge Piae Memoriae Bonae Memoriae Felices Memoriae as due to them I dare not appropriate to my self abilitâ— in these as to a Compile I rather wish it compleat in another endeavouring onely to set down such particular Actions Memorative as may hereafter enlighten abler pens to consummate Those Collections hereby commended to posterity for that purpose To raise a better Structure out of this imperfect Rubish Index of the first Part to the entrance of King JAMES to the Crown of England THe Introduction of K. James 5. and his Wife and of their Daughter Queen Mary their story in brief to the Birth of King James 6. from page 1. to 8. A. Acts concerning Episcopacy 110 Ambassadours privilege discussed 74 abused 97 Ambassadours about Marriage with Denmark 137 Ambassadours sent by the King to forrein Princes concerning succession to the Crown of England 219 Angus and other fugitives in England their insolence 105 dies bewitched 135 Queen Ann's design to seize the Prince 183 Army of the English and Scots slain 13 Armies of the Queen against the Lords 38 Armstrong a prisoner in England set free by force of Arms with a trick 191 difference hereupon 192 Arch-bishop of St Andrews dies and is abused by the Ministery 160 Earl of Arran's plot 27 dies his character and issue 84 Earl of Arran his power in state 105 Earl of Arundel arreigned 154 Six Articles of the Church 36 Ministers assemble at pleasure 26 Assembly petition and are answered 158 Assembly make work 194 Blake his mutiny and story 196 the Assembly assist him 199 dangerous tumult 202 Qu Elizabeth interposes her Letter to the King 204 Lord Aubigny in favour with King James 93 displeases Queen Elizabeth ib. B. BAbington's treason 114 Basilicon Doâ—on the occasion of it in publick 223 Beaton Cardinal murthered 11 Beza and Calvin at Geneva 16 Bishops restored 104 Bishopricks the state thereof in Scotland 224 Blake his mutiny and story 196 turn'd out of all 213 Blunt sent into Ireland 242 Borders of Scotland how bounded 44 Borderers confer and quarrel 83 Borderers in feud 137 Bothwel flies into France 35 advanced in favour of the Queen 42 visited of the Queen 44 is divorced 47 marrieth the Queen 49 desires the single combat and flies with the Queen 50 flies into Denmark 59 Bothwel accused of Witchcraft 159 is committed and escapes 160 Bothwel's treason to seize the King 164 Bothwel's attempts at Faulkland defeated 167 Bothwel steals into Scotland and surprizes the King 171 inforces Articles 172 Bothwel arms and is defeated 177 Bothwel and Popish Lords rebell 180 are defeated 181 Bothwel flies and dies at Naples 182 Burleigh's Speech to the Scots Ambassadours 94 Lord Burrough Ambassadour to the King 170 C. CAles Voyage 210 Articles at Calice 19 Calvin and Beza their Discipline at Geneva 16 that Confession 44 Catholick Lords of Scotland dismayed plot rebell 145 146 their designs 147 Cecil's Letter to Knox 22 Cecil writes to King James and his Answer 258 Chancellour of Scotland dies his character 184 Chatelet executed 39 Colvil Ambassadour to England complains of Zouch 177 Of single Combats and Duels 53 Câ—mmissioners treat about 〈◊〉 Scots Queen 63 and again 78 Commissioners meet to treat of Peace with France and Spain dispute about Precedency 143 Conspiratours executed 104 Coin over-valued 91 Crag a Minister his Life and Death 132 D. LOrd Darley returns out of banishment 34 marries the Queen 37 is debarred bearing of Royal Arms 40 turns Protestant 41 is discontented 43 and murthered 46 his character 47 Davison's Letter to the Ministers 251 Designs in England for Queen Mary 103 Discipline framed 25 and subscribed 26 Duke of Tuscany fore-warns King James of Poyson 231 E. EDenburgh Castle besiâ—â—ed and won 80 Queen Elizabeth expostulates the Rebellion of Scots Lords moderates the Scots differences 76 Qu Elicabeth aids Navar 156 and the Dutch ib. raises her Custom 157 Queen Elizabeth strikes Essex 221 Queen Elizabeth dies 261 Lady Elizabeth born 194 Christned 199 English confederate with Scots reformed and how 22 English expedition to Portugal 154 English take Cales 210 Acts concerning Episcopacy 110 Essex his expedition into France 162 his Voyage to the Azores 215 Essex and Cecil's intelligence with King James 2â—4 Essex his Treason 233 F. FActions and Feuds 168 The first Fast general of the Kirks 40 Forrein Titles their precedency at home disputed 21 French aid the Scots 13 quarter the Arms of Englandâ—9 â—9 King of France killed at a Tilting 20 King Francis of France dies 25 French break the League with England 25 French King relieved by Queen Elizabeth turns Papist 169 France hath aid of England against Spain 220 Frâ—â—â—h Ambassadour and Cecil discourse about the Kings succesion 258 G. OF Geneva their Government Church and State 15 the promulgation of that Discipline 18 Geneva besieged 225 Earl Gowry created 95 surpriâ—es the King at Ruthen 96 his Imprisonment Arreignment and Execution 100 Gowry's conspiracy â—â—â— Lord Gray's design to kill 〈◊〉 he is banished H. HAcket's horrible Tenets Disciples Blasphemy Execution 162 163 Prince Henry born 176 his Baptism 179 Huntley rescues Colonel Semple 141 writes to Parma and the King of Spain 146 rebells 147 committed and adjudged guilty 149 150 Huntley and Murray quarrel 159 Huntley cause of Murray's death 165 166 I. KIng James born 42 baptized 45 King James and his Mother in faction and feud 80 is crowned 90 his appearance in Parliament his Speech 92 King James surprized 96 makes a Feast and the Kirk makes a Fast 98 frees himself 98 Proclamation against Iesuits 148 Iesuits their Seminaries confirmed by the Pope 164 Interests of Faâ—â—ions discussed 68 Iâ—ish Rebells 161 209 Don Juan de Austria his design against
and some to the Gallies but were only all banished The King of Spain sends the whole Process to Venice and by His Ambassadour Lieger there one Mendoza declares publickly to all the World That in case his Minisâ—ers should so offend He remits them to punishment where they resiâ—e And another Mendoza for abusing our Ministers of Staâ—e here was first restrained and after banished 1586. See Another hereafter in this Kings Reign the Marquess Inojosa for scandâ—lizing the Prince and Duke of Buckingham 1624. And our Bookmen say that a Forein King though admitted here by safe Conduct for without Licence he cannot come may be impleaded for Debt or Trespass and condemned for Treason for iâ— is a general Law of Nations That in what place an offence is committed according to the Law of that place they shall be judged without regard of any Privilege For a King out of his proper Kingdom hath 〈◊〉 merum Imperium but only retains Honoris Titulos Dignitatis and per omnia distringitur etiam quoad personam And the same assuredly is of their Ambassadours Nâ— occasio daretur delinquendi He hath protection of His pâ—rson Like as a Sanctuary will save a Mans life from Manslaughter but not when Manslaughter is committed within the Sanctuary for then he does willfully wave the benefit Indeed their Persons as their Masters are sacred from violation of private men but not from punishment of offences against the publike State See Cook 7. part c. Here are Presidents but it hath been more nicely disputed let others conclude This year gave end of daies to that antient Noble Lord William Pawlet Marquess of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England twenty years having lived 97. years whilst he saw the Children of his Childrens Children to the number of one hundred and three persons 〈…〉 bishop in spite of Adamson a Minister preaching against that Order which he divided in three sorts 1. The Lords Bishop to wit Christ and such was every Pastor 2. My Lord Bishop such who sit and vote in Parliament exercising Iurisdiction over his Brethren 3. The third sort was my Lords Bishop one whom some Lord in Coâ—â—â—substitutes hiâ— Receiver without means or Power Episcopal whom he called a Tulchan Bishop because the Tulchan which is a Calves skin stuffed with straw is set up to make the Cow give down her Milk Mr. Knox he preached more and pronounced Anathema dantâ— anathema accipienti Whilest the Estates were busie at Parliament far off from Edenburgh and thereby secure an attempt was made upon them There was one George Bell in Edenburgh Ensign to a Foot Company born in Sterlin well acquainted with each Corner there and each Lords Lodgings possibly to be surprized in their careless watch He marches from Edenburgh with two hundred Horse and three hundred foot Earl Huntley and others their Leaders thither and undiscovered till they had planted the Market place and set Guards in the Lanes entered the Lords Lodgings and surprize them Prisoners the Regent Glencarn and others Morton only defends himself with his Servants and the Enemy in hast set the House on fire some of his Men slain he yielded to Balclough who had married his Neece Margaret Dowglas The Souldiers careless fall to plunder the Houses whilst Mar and his men in the Castle force the Market place but in vain Then he sends sixteen pieces of Brass called Founds to his own new House a building and so not reguarded for plundering got up to the upper Rooms and shot out at the Windows into the very street when the Enemy was thickest who thus amazed fled without order and Mar pursues them with such other that crept out of their Hidings and make a sufficient number to be again Masters of their own both Prisoners and Spoil Morton and Glencarn seizing their Keepers the Regent was taken by David Spency who to save him at 〈◊〉 from the Souldier lost his own life and His also So both sides were vanguished and both victorious in a few hours Of such advantage is diligence and expedition and mischievous is negligencâ— and security Multum in utramque partem fortuna potest as Caesar saies The Kings Grandfather Lenox thus dead and presently buried there were three listed for Election Arguile Mar and Morton the first but lately reconciled to the Kings part the last was best beloved but Mar had the charge of the Kings person and so caried the vote to be Regent Sept. 1571. Much he could not do in his small time of Government he convend the Country and sate down against Edenburgh but wanting Artillery returns to Liâ—th parts the Kingdom â—â—to quarters and sends for their Divisions by turns Those in Edenburgh issue oâ—t and set fire on Dalkieth with Spoil and Pillage return but were so close beset that wanting victual they pâ—ocure the Ambassadors from France and England to mediate the reconcilemeâ—t And for a Preaâ—ble to future peace the Ambassâ—â—ours obtain a Truce in Iuly beginning the first of August 1572. until Ianuary following The Conditions were that Edenburgh should be free for all the Kings Subjects which was to say that the Enemy could keep it no longer And before the end of this Truce Mar takes leave of this life in a desperate Feavour at Sterlin October 1572. and without dispute Morton was elected to succeed him And now let us to return to England where in November 1572. appeared a blazing star alwaies portending ill fate to great persons It was placed Northwards in the Constellation of Cassiopeia making a Geometrical figure with three chief fixed Stars lozing-wise called Rombus It appeared bigger than Iupiter and less than Venus It never changed place but carried about by motion of the Heavens as other fixed Stars and so continued six moneths The Sphere far above the Moon where no other Comet was ever seen or indeed Natural can appear so strange to Astronomers as since the Creation was never the like and had onely reference to Caelestial or rather super-Câ—lestial consideration And therefore forthwith followed in Ianuary that Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk was arraigned in Westminster Hall before Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury High Steward and 25. Earls and Barons His Commission being read Garter King of Arms delivers to him the White Rod which he receives and delivers to a Serjeant at Arms standing by and holds it up all the time The Duke was brought in between two Knights and the Ax held besides him by the Executioner with the edge from the Duke but after sentence it was immediately turned to him His Tryal lasted till night and all the matters before remembred were urged against him together with his own Letters as also those of the Queen of Scots and Bishop Rosses besides evidence by Witnesses whereof he was condemned as in Case of High Treason and after 4 moneths delay he was executed upon the Tower-Hill where he acknowledged and confessed all Aboâ—t ten daies after Commissioners were sent
supervivor to eight of her children thrice imprisoned for affecting mariages with Thomas Howard son to the Duke of Norfolk then for her sons match with Queen Mary and the last was for her younger son Charles with Elizabeth Candish daughter to the Countess of Shrewsbury and mother to the Lady Arabella She was Nobly intombed at Westminster an elaborate Sepulture and then left living King Iames the sixth and this Arabella who was thus neer to the Crowns And therefore imprisoned hereafter by King Iames for intermariage with Seymor the now Earl of Hartford but she died without issue and so without 〈◊〉 of future interest to these Kingdomes See anno 1616. Amongst other of Mortons plots and processes raysing the Revenues of the Crown one was for recovery of some lands which was given by the Queen to Mary Levingston whilst she was her maid of honour and now maried to Iohn Simple who made his best defence in his sute but fearing the Regents rigour had passionately avowed That if he lost his land the other should lose his life This and other discourse that he was countenanced by Lord Iohn Hamilton and his brother Lord Claud instigating also Adam Whiteford of Milton Nephew to Simple to kill the Regent in the street with an Harquebus Simple upon Torture confessed all and more also his cowardize not affording him courage to hold out Whiteford did better his constancie was not terrified with the wrack and therefore gave suspition that the others confession was extorted by the pain of punishment yet to make out the matter Simple was arraigned condemned and brought to the Scaffold but pardoned the like had the other and both of them the favour of the people to blame the Regent for his rigour whose main intention was thereby to invalue these Lords and their estates to his griping gain One Allester Dow Macallan a notorious thief was apprehended by Earl Athol who was prohibited by the council and charges directed against him for exhibition of the man the fellow being set at liberty by Arguile falls to his old profession and robd Athol who in revenge invades Arguile and so the countrey take uprore thereat until an Herauld discharges those convocations and cites them both before the Council but were reconciled Arguile goes on and arms against Claudonald seizes the Regents Messenger tears his Letters missive and swears him and his Train not to return to tell tales This insolencie fires the Regent to revenge and for the present did no more than proclaim him Rebel But these and other tumults shewed an Ecclipse of Ministerial Government and gave means to private mens discontents to open a way of complaint against the Regent Alexander Arskin attending on the King takes advantage of Arguile and Athols reconcilement plots with them to open their Causes to the King which they must countenance and did but so craftily as that the one Athols counsel was called upon the others complaint And advise to summon the Lords mostly enemies to the Regent to meet at Sterlin Mortons avarice and lust subjects him from his strength and Power that ruled all to become weak in Authority over any His enormities of several natures numberless which brought him sodainly to sinck Besides his fins the Hamiltons were his Enemies made so by his own malice upon that Noble Family as also upon the Earls Athol Montross and Arguile whose kinsmen he proclaimed Traytors for not appearing at his Call Arguile invites these Lords and others to accompany him to the King at Sterlin with remonstrance of such grievances as the State groaned under and were seconded by fit Instruments such as evermore reside at Court He is sent for by the King and Council but delaies time to make Friends their opinions various it was yet concluded as the safest way to piece Friendship with Arguile who refused unless he would also quit the Regency To this he demurs and retires from his Enemies power And this gave good occasion to the boisterous Praecisians whose pursute was after such prey as might innovate Authority which they hated because it was Regal though Mortons interest had been ever to preserve them the Arch-bishops only being lately commanded not to obey the Synods Decretalls against which they complain in the Pulpit and having there the liberty of the tongue for that time they tell all to the people and of more than he could be guilty The Earl of Angus was his Ally in blood and the chief of the Dowglasses who with Carmichel a Commander of War advise him to Arms But Morton rather submitted to a Parliament at Sterlin Thither he sends his Friends but withdrew himself and with them his Papers and Notes expostulatory of his good Services which were not liked because not Petitionary And thus they seemed to signify and first He craves leave of publique Iustice upon his Accusers If otherwise that his Majesty thought fit to oversee their disobedience to authority then to be pleased to disburthen him of his Office and not to suffer his Royall Name and Authority to be despised in the Person of his Servant for as he had oft times made offer to demit his Regency to his Majesty so now the more willing if a Substantial course might be assured for preservation of his Highness person the ordering of his Majesties Houshold and dispensing of the Revenues of the Crown And herewith he recommended the keeping of the peace contracted with England as a security to his Majesties Right and Title to Succession And so recounting his former Services from the Kings birth to this present His assistance at the Kings Coronation His and his Friends hazard at Lanside field the siege 〈◊〉 Brichen His legations undertaken into England the recovery of the Castle of Edenburgh the Pacification of the Realm all on fire a◠his first entrance the redeeming of Iewels and Plate of the Crown and restoring of the Royall Patrimony to some reasonable condition And in regard of all he craved no more than allowance of his expence and a discharge of his Intromissions by the Estates of Parliament These not sufficient to prevail and his friends having littl◠Power and his bad Cause to plead he was voted non-Regent And accordingly into the hands of Angus Claim Ruthen and Harris he delivers the Crown Scepter and other Regalities which were presented by them in a great Convention of Lords and Angus invests them on the King with the univocal acclamation of all He having not yet attained to the years of youth yet in this turbulent time took upon him the Scepter which was celebrated at Edenburgh and the affairs of State rendered to the King now at twelve years old but with assistance of twelve Noblemen three of them by turns alwaies about him and Morton of the number as to bring him to reason not to cast him quite off to ruin whose wit and experience was useful to the State which he soon imployed to master
of the Hamiltons At his comming to Sterlin he writ to the King thus Please your Majesty It is neither diffidence nor despair in your Higness favour and clemency towards me nor any desire I have of life that moves me to require some short audience of your Majesty But there is a purpose of such weighty importance which is needfull to be imparted to your Highness that might have endangered the Lifes and Estates of your Mother and your Self if I had not stayed and impeded the same the relation whereof concerns you more than the lives of 500. such as my self wherein I am assured of your Majesties gratious answer The matter is not the concealing of a Treason but the revealing of a benefit April 1584. His Petition is denyed and the same brought in evidence at his Tryal being in May indicted of four points 1. That in February last David Hume Mars Man came at night to him at Perth communicating the surprizing of Perth and Sterlin and so concealing and consenting to Treason 2. The like he conferred with James Arskin a Trafficker from Mar Angus and others 3. That being in Dundee and charged by his Majesties command to render himself to the Lord Petten Weym Chancellour and Captain of the Kings Guard he did notwithstanding oppose him with Men and Arms convoking aid of the people to assist him in his Treason 4. That being obliged to maintain his Majesties Life Honour and Crown and having Intelligience that concerned the life and estate of the King and the Queen his Mother he treasonably concealed the same He excepts against Sir Iohn Gourdon who sat chief Justice for some enmity betwixt Gartland his Kinsman and him But this exception was soon refelled being only affinitas affinitatis Then that the Noblemeâ— that examined him promised that his confessions to them should not be urged against him But it was answered That their words could not warrant him He stood upon fourty daies time to answer for Treason He was told that the King might arrest at his own pleasure To the last point of Indictment That what he offered to reveal to the King was not of Treason But he was answered that the concealing might tend to the Kings destruction The Indictment was found the Jury were eight Earls and eight Lords and his Sentence as in Treason and so in the evening was only beheaded He had been of good Fame and Honour in Court accounted wise yet he dealt in Witch-craft for revealing the future state of things though for the general misopinion I find of the Presbyters against Judicial Astronomy we may conceive him no otherwise liable to their idle censure therein Nor was he accused thereof in his Tryal nor did repent of it at his death yet is acknowledged to take it with peace and patience in contempt of the World and assurance of Gods mercy His Death shewed the way to Archibald Dowglas and Iohn Forbess executed after him the rest of the Conspiracy had Banishment or Pardon The Ministers had been nibbling at these treasonable Baits and Polwart Galloway and Carmichel not compeering were denounced Rebells and fled into England And in this Parliament in May the Attempt of Ruthen was ratified the Kings authority over all persons confirmed the declining his Majestyes Iudgement and the Councils to be Treason the impugning of the authority of the three Estates or procuring their diminution to be Treason all Iurisdictions and Iudicatures spiritual or Temporal not approved by the three Estates to be discharged And an Ordinance made That none should presume privately 〈◊〉 publickly in Sermons Declarations or Conference to utter Speeches to the reproach of the King his Parents and Progenitors or to meddle with the Affairs of State under grievous 〈◊〉 Now was the Ministers Spirits on fire that they were not first heard and Lindsey was committed Lawson and Balcanqual flyes into England so did Poul who impudently protested against the Parliaments Ordinance and were all accounted Rebells Hereupon the King declares his Reasons to curb the Ministers First their allowance of the Fact at Ruthen Melvils Declining the King and Council The Fast kept when the Ambassadours were to be feasted and other general Fasts through the Realm without the Kings Authority usurping Ecclesiastick Iurisdictions Alterations of the Lawes at their pleasure and a number of such abuses To these they impudently replyed in Pamphlets Libells and 〈◊〉 pens against the Court. And Letters from those Fugitives to the Ministry and Session of the Church and Council of 〈◊〉 Town Excusing their Absence for resisting the wicked Ordinance and not submitting to the Tyrannical Regiment of Bishops whom they stâ—led Libertines Belly-Gods Infamous That after their zealous wrestling with God they had revelation to depart and hoped after destruction of the Antichristian Prelates to return home to their several flocks in Peace But by the Kings direction this insolent Letter was replyed unto by the Session wherein after the just confutation of their abuses on the King and State They discharge themselves of being their flock and of they their Pastors and thank God the Revealer of secrets that made them manifest their own shame and relieved them from such wolves in shew of Pastors and being assured that his Majesty will furnish them with more quietâ—r Ministers they commit the others to Gods mercy and to repent for their former offences This letter subscribed and sent to England was copied out and divulged to their eternal condemnation and out of regret of the guilt thereof afterwards Lawson died with grief at London And at home occasioned others to follow per force many imprisoned some executed for meddling with State-matters Subscriptions and Sermons so treasonable although the Kings mercy endeavoured to reclaim them such were their insolencies that sundry of them suffered for example to others conformity These troubles in Scotland brought disadvantage to the poor distressed Queen Mary for whose relief some practises were set on foot in England by Throgmorton Lord Paget and others the Earls of Northumberland and Arundel the Howards also rather suspected out of their general profession of Papistry and affection to Queen Mary and also by Morgan and others in France and all for her As more particular by Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour in England who being discovered stole away secretly to Paris being charged with Throgmortons Plot to bring in forein Power for which he was hanged And Mendoza as boldly recharged this State with practices against his Master for at this time England countenanced the Netherlands the Duke of Aâ—joy and Don Antonio the Portugall and the Ambassadour of Navarr now in England and all these against Spain But to colour these to excuse this State and to complain of the Ambassadour Wade Clark of the Council posts into Spain whom that King refers to his Council without vouchâ—aâ—ing to see him and not being heard at all returnes home again And by some
her Death craftily got out of the way at the Deed doing and therefore Davison appeals to him telling the truth in his politick absence of a counterfeit cold And Walsingham is put upon it to work his wits how to pacifie King Iames with a tedious Letter to the Lord Thirlstan who had the chiefest interest in the Scotish affairs of State propounding to him important Reasons to keep the King from enmity with England which though very effectual might meet with the like resolution in Him to forbear violence and to take up a more calm consideration But though the Letter be long we may not hinder it the worlds approbation SIR BEing absent from Court when the late Execution of the Queen your Sovereigns Mother happened I did forthwith upon my Return impart to Master Dowglas some things concerning the course was conceived here by your said Sovereigns best Friends fit to be holden in this remediless Accident for continuance of Peace and Amity between the two Crowns as the best for both Nations The rather for that by advertisement out of Scotland I understand that the Queens Death is like to breed a strange Alienation of his Majesties minde towards this Realm tending as is reported wholly to violence and revenge of that which hath been done so necessarily by the whole Body of the same whereof as for my own part I should be sorry so it is generally hoped that his Majesty being of that singular judgment himself by the good help and advice of such as you are in credit and authority about him men of wisdom and experience whom he will hear this mischief will notwithstanding be carefully and prudently prevented considering how every way all things being rightly weighed this course will be found prejudicial as well to your Sovereigns Estate as to his Reputation if he resolve to persist therein For first the Enterprise will undoubtedly be condemned in the sight of all such as shall not be transported with some particular passion for that they shall see that he takes Arms for revenge of an Action besides the necessity wherein it is grounded full of so honourable and just Proceedings as however the effect was contrary to their liking the manner thereof by the late Queens great Favourers could not but be approved and allowed And as on the one side the King your Sovereign oppugning the course of Justice of so unlawfull unjust and desperate a Quarrel cannot be expected any other thing than an unhappy and miserable issue so we being assured that in the defence of Justice the assistance of God his mighty Arm will not fail us whose Judgment this was need not to fear what ever man shall attempt to the contrary against this Realm But not to stand upon the justness of the Quarrels which every man perhaps will not so much regard It would be considered what means your Sovereign shall have to go through with such Enterprise if he take it in hand For the Forces of his own Realm being so far inferiour to these in England no man is so simple but seeth it were no way safe for his Majesty trusting onely thereto to make Head against the power of this Land neither is it thought that any man will be found so unadvised as to wish him so to do But as it may be that a great Number for lack of understanding are carried away with such Discourses as some without solid ground imagine of that might be done in this case by a King of Scotland backed and assisted as they conceive in the air with the French and Spanish aid so it is likely enough there shall not want those that either in satisfaction of their private passions or supply of their necessities or better affectionating of some other their private design would be content to serve themselves of this present publick occasion and oportunity who will propound and promise more to his Majesty of such forein assistance than they know in their consciences can be performed if he would declare himself Enemy to this Realm which that he should though to his own ruine the Enemies of both Nations will do what they can to procure But men of wisdom and understanding laying before their eys as well the accustomed delays and after long â—ollicitation and pursute the simple supplies and support commonly found at these forein Potentates hands as also how doubfull and uncertain the success of War may appear England God be thanked being so prepared and in case to defend it self both otherwiâ—e and also by the conjunction of Holland and Zealands Forces by Sea in respect whereof this Realm need not fear what all the Potentates of Europe being bended against us can do to afford the same Due consideration I say being taken hereof you will easily judg and finde how vain it were for your Sovereign upon so uncertain hopes to embarque himself and Estate in an unnecessary War but much more if you shall consider what a sequel and train of Dangers this War draweth therewith the consequence whereof reacheth to whatsoever your Sovereign possesseth or hopeth for in this life For escaping to be slain in the field if he should happen to be taken Prisoner or be constrained to retire himself out of the Realm things that have often fallen out in experience and then having incensed this whole Realm against him he should be disabled from any Right in the Succession of this Crown as authority is given to do it by the same Statute whereby they proceeded against his Mother for attempting the Invasion of this Land what extremity should he be reduced unto And truly it could not otherwise be the antient enmity between the two Nations now forgotten being by drawing bloud one of another again likely to be in such sort revived that it would be impossible to make them to receive a Prince of that Nation and especially Him who had upon so unjust ground been the Author of so unhappy a Breach Besides that the greatest part of the Nobility by whose judgment the late Queen was condemned and the rest of the principal Gentlemen of the Realm who confirmed the same in Parliament should have just cause to adventure any thing even to the marching over their bellies rather than to yield to his Government who carrying such a vindictive minde they might doubt would not day call their Lives and Honours in question And as for the remedy and relief which he might attend standing on those terms of forein Princes there are many Examples of former Ages and within fresh memory as the King of Navar 's Grandfather by the Mothers side and Christian King of Denmark both being allied to Francis the First and Charls the Fifth two of the mightiest Potentates that reigned of long time and that this present Don Antonio may suâ—fice for Examples to teach all Princes if they can avoid it to beware how they fall into that state whereby they shall be enforced to seek their own by other Potentates means
insurrections for this hurried nation often to assemble so in truth little effects followed as at this time for the Ministers to colour their intentions would seem to enact against Self-Interest and begin with themselves and fast pray and preach daies of Humiliation that was all that they would do as to their reforming But then there was sure to followcomplaint of the corruption of Courtiers in the Kings Palace and justice Seats and fear of the banished Lords and left not till the faults were found such as are common even to the best Estates Then would they ravel into Counsel of the Remedies to which the King usually would afford consent but by experience finding out their aim and danger of them to be too severe and earnest which they called zeal the King wisely chekt the bit Telling them That unless there were any evident proofs that the Popish Lords since their departure beyond Seas had conspired with Strangers to the prejudice of the Realm in Religion or State their cautions cannot in honor or justice be convict nor would he change the course of charity and conditions to their wives and children And indeed in prudence the King held himself unsafe whilst such potent Lords were abroad for much mischief they might do underhand unheard and unseen And reasoning one day with Mr. Robert Bruce a leading Minister How much it concerned him to have them recalled That Queen Elizabeth grown old if deâ—th should seize her he might need assistance of his own Interest of State and honour would ballance these Lords even against Catholique or Spanish Titles or other Designs and by such interest may be sooner drawn to the reformed Religion than by compulsory extremity Mr. Bruce yielded to the Reasons to call home Angus and Arroll but not Huntley being so much hated The Kings opinion seemed further to oversway Because Huntley saies he hath maried my Cosin one that I esteem a man of Power to do good or evil and so to be made accordingly In the end Bruce was so bold as to tell the King in plain terms I see Sir said he your affection to Huntley whom I must oppose and you either loose him or me for both you cannot keep This insolency lost him the King This for one example of many which their own Historians record of their Ministers good behaviours and certainly this mans ambition and popularity out-vied the Kings who espying his Trayn that conducted him by the Court into Edenburgh By my Sal said the King Bruce puts me down in his Attendants The exiled Lords of themselves resolved to return but withall possible submission and to avoid the least suspition of jealousie they separate Arroll through Holland Huntley came before and out of the North sends Supplication to the King and Convention at Faulkland in August to reside where his Majesty would appoint upon caution of good behaviour The King concluded aright Either to ruin them and their race or to receive them all into favour and hope of reforming into Religion The first course saith he hath its own difficulties and trouble for me if I could effect it The other is more consonant to my humour and mine honor I desire not destruction errors of conscience are not of matters of the mind I like not to receive conditions from Huntley rather to advise of commands to them all with clemency and favour which was submitted unto And the publick joy of the Queens second Birth of a Daughter made up the common reception of these Lords to community and fellowship with the Congregations She was born in August the 16. day 1596. and to be baptized in November But now the Ministry make work their Commissioners assembling at Edenburgh send Post to all their Presbyteries the State of affairs for so is the Commission That the forfeited Earls were come home without Warrant are like to be received to mercy without submission for their offences of Treason or reconcilement to the Church and conditions confirmed unto them The Preachers Pulpit these tidings to their flocks publick and private to provoke into Tumult and to be in readiness to resist the dangers of Church and State The first Sunday of December held forth for Humiliation and then the power in the Minister to tell all to the people and to inlarge as the zeal of the Spirit shall promp them They assume power to call to account all manner of men Entertainers Receivers or communicate with them to be canvased with the censures of the Church Una citatione quia periclitatur salus Ecclesiae Reipublica And with such busteling with several Commissioners from all parts of the Nation to make Residence at Edenburgh and daily to convene to receive intelligence from all parts and return Edicts and Ordinances to prevent if possible the eminent ruin to Gods People And this daily Convention being a New Modell so must it be stiled The Council of the Church And instantly they find oâ— make work the Lord Seaâ—on President of the Session was 〈◊〉 to account by the Synod of Lothian Not that he was guilty but that their power and pride might strike terror in the people for as they had no proof at all and so as by President of the Popes inquisition his Oath purges himself assures him to their Conclave and so gets home again This monstrous manner of muteny makes the Men of State to foresee mischief and not being powerful to remedie nor was it politick to publish their errors to the people or scorn upon the face of the Church The President Secretary Advocate and Laird of Colluthrie were commanded by the King to confer with as many of theirs To whom they move the question whether if these Lords satisfie the Church otherwise his Majesty desires not that then they might be pardoned and restored to their Estates But receive a Court Answer They came only to hear Prepositions and to remit them to their Brethren And so they did with Apostolick Conclusion Their acceptance of the Kings behaviour and respect to the Church not to resolve of any favour to them Rebells till the Church were satisfied But their censure by Gods Law condemned them to death and being also sentenced to lose their estates they cannot be legally pardoned nor restored or if the King or his Council should take upon them to do otherwise they were to answer it to God and the Country themselves make protestation to be free before God and man I shall not comment upon this Text. The Popish Sanadrin does so An Historian of theirs calls it Passionate zeal under which all impudence may be maintained should they be ignorant of the tender bosome of the Mother Church parent to Babes and to repentant sinners Mark their distinction The Church hath power to do as she pleaseth but the King must not he must do justice The King is wroth against them all common resentment private and publick And wise men advise the
upon two foundations one must fail and distract the other therefore the more certain To surprize the Queen the rest would follow The manner thus Certain select persons well known at Court for access should distribute themselves into the Present Guard-Chamber Hall and utter Court and Gate And in each of these places one principal person to guide the assistants Their distribution Sir Iohn Davers to the Presence and Guard-Chamber to seize the Halberds of the Guard Davis to the Hall Blunt to the Gate These in readiness by a signall Essex should remove from his house and well attended or to meet him should with correspondence of the setters and some tumult and confusion effect their design Thus the plot-form the second act to their Tragedy that Essex should prostrate him self at the Queens feet desire removall of evil Counselors who possessed her Majesty and State Then to summon a Parliament alter Government and confirm conditions to themselves In this consult Essex inclined most for possessing London as a surer ground to that of the Court also Being wedded to his false overweening opinion of the people and Citizens and their number Suspecting belike the instinct loyalty of many of his Train when the fury should be over and he perhaps left in the lurch with the fewest of his friends The true Nature of usurping Rebells to â—rust more to the main of Multitude than of qualitie especially Essex who had gotten I know not how nor by what merit the specious Mark of a Patriot proper to infuse and mint jealousies into the heads of the more unworthy and less prudent and these he could easily stirr up by Emissaries who lye at watch to bo utefeux it and inflame mens minds to disperse abroad unshrowded sparks of discord and that way to convert a Kingdom into a flame But this Counsel was afterwards refined by Essex Cuffe and Blunt To assemble a Troop to come sodainly from the Mews in scattered Numbers and unite in a moment at the Court Gate And as good Common-wealths men lest their new contrivements should want Ministers they would supply in a readiness of their own for Counselors and Servants to the Queen in place of such evil ones the beaten path of Traytors as they thought fit to remove which should be their plausible pretext to their own practices and a general ground to the common people The day drawing nigh but not assigned being left to my Lord the Curse of the Psalmist interposed like the untimely fruit of the woman brought forth before it came to perfection For many that knew of the plot diligent with too much resort at Essex house brought forth mutterings of somewhat which states soon discover The afternoon 7. February before the next day of Rebellion was sent to Essex house Secretary Herbert to summon him before the Council sitting at Salisbury Court at the Lord Treasurer Buckhursts which he excused not to do under colour of being ill And suspecting the discovery of his Trains and doubting delays resolved upon his enterprize the next day Sunday But then upon advertizement of doubling the Court Guards and allarum there he determined on his former conceipt of being the peoples darling and the Minion of London upon confidence of Sir Thomas Smith the City Sheriff Giving out that Evening that he was sent for to Counsel to be betrayde by an Ambuscado of Musketeers upon the water by the devise of the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Ralegh to murther him by the way This mean design the best he had took fire like a squib the Messages and warning to his chief confidents all that night and next morning And his servant Temple took up his Tale and told it to the City And to colour it the more watch and ward was up all night to open his gates to all comers in so that the morning hastens Mannors Earl of Rutland Southampton Lord Sands Sir Henry Parker called Lord Mounteagle with some Number of Knights and Gentlemen and being Sunday it gave occasion to others to come to his Sermon whom he carressed with his Cap in his hand telling them his former tale But to his more confidents That he was sure of the City and that strength which the Queen could not oppose nor his Enemies withstand his revenge Alwaies with this caution to his Gate-Keepers to suffer none to return out to tel News Sunday at 10. a clock the Queen had intelligence and yet was willing to cast water on this fire ere it should flame to a Rebellion her authority before her force she sent the Lord Keeper Earl of Worcester the Controuler of hir Houshold the Lord chief Justice who finding the Gates shut after some stay were let in by the wicket but all their servants kept out except the bearer of the Seal the Court full of Company with Essex and his Lords to whom the Lord Keeper said That the Queen sent them to understand the reason of their Assembly that if they had cause of griefs against any persons whatsoever they should have hearing and justice Essex told them aloud That his life was sought to be murthered in his bed and had been perfidiously dealt withall The Chief Justice answered If any such matter were attempted or intended it were fit for him to declare it and to be assured of their faithfull relation and so He should not fail of her Majesties Princely Indifferency and Iustice. Southampton objected the assault upon him by the Lord Gray to which the Chief Justice said that justice had been done and the party in prison The Keeper required Essex to impart his griefs if not openly yet privately and promised satisfaction Upon this arose a high clamour of the multitude Away my Lord they abuse you they destroy you they undoe you you lose time The Lord Keeper putting on his hat commanded them all upon their Allegiance to lay down their weapons and depart When Essex and all the rest clapt on their Caps and going into the House the Lords followed him as to have private conference and fearing the Multitude who â—ryed out kill them shop them up keep them pledges â—â—st the great seal out at window And accordingly he gave them in custody principally to Sir Iohn Davis and one Owen Salisbury a seditious notorious robber guarding them with Muskets fired and cockt and left the charge of his house to Sir Gilly Merrick bidding the Lord Keeper to have patience whilst he would take order with the Maior and Sheriffs for the City and be with them again within an hour So goes forth with his Number 200. men entered Ludgate and with a fearfull timorous discomposed tale repeated That he should have been murthered and so passing through Cheap-side unto Sir Thomas Smiths house in Philpot-lane who was at Church where he shifts into a dry shirt the passion of fear firing him into a hot sweat The people flocking and gazing as he went To whom
opposed by any cunning whatsoever if understood by Her he might not so easily have come to this Crown And truly whether his virtue and goodness more remark in Him than usual in Princes guided him in that to depend onely upon the providence of God for his Birth-right or that his policy under hand wrought him any advantage certainly the Success must crown the Work to admiration For though he might not despise honest and honourable advice in such correspondence as was necessary under hand with the Counsellours of Queen Elizabeth to secure himself for the time to come yet we reade not of any that came to light or so much in her days as private suspition The Reign and Death OF KING IAMES OF Great Britain France and Ireland the First c. SO then in a seasonable conjunction of things and time he succeeded Queen Elizabeth who departted this life on Thursday the 24th of March 1602. at her Manour-house of Richmond early in the morning that day being fatal to Henry 8. and to all his Children dying on Thursdays and her Funerals sumptuously solemnized with all speed in April following The same day the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled and having proclamed her Death and the Right and Title of King Iames to succeed her being lineally expressed from Margaret eldest Daughter to Henry 7th and Elizabeth his Wife who was eldest Daughter to Edward 4th and married to James 4th King of Scotland in the year 1503. just a hundred years since who had issue James 5th Father to Mary the First and Mother to this King James the Sixth now 36. years of age and so long King of Scotland Then they poast Letters to the King by the hands of Sir Charls Percy Brother to the Earl of Northumberland and Thomas Somerset Son to the Earl of Worcester signifying the Death of their late Sovereign betwixt two and three of the clock that morning And knowing his Right of Succession they have made Proclamation thereof at Westminster White-hall and Cheapside Cross and seeing they remain a Body without a Head they humbly desire his Mâ—jesty to hasten how soon and in what manner he pleaseth And therein complain as in publick that Sir Robert Cary poasted from hence towards your Majesty contrary to their consent and command thereby as much as in him lay to prevent and anticipate their duty and respect They acquaint the King of a fleet of ten ships royall ready furnished for the Coast of Spain under Command of Sir Richard Lawson whose Commission noâ— ceasing by the Queens death they desire his Majesties pleasure whether they shall guard the Narrow Seas or be câ—lled to the Coast of Scotland as a Convey for the Kings use Dated in London And therefore Robert Leigh Maior Signed first But as in this letter so it goes in Common report that Cary let out by his father Hunsdon Lord Chamberlain came first to the King upon his own score But secretary Cecills secret Packquets went before him or these letters or else he had little credit in his own Commands The King communicates these letters to his Lords and returns them his acknowledgment of their dutifull affections He confirms for the present all Offices Civil Martial as at the Queens death til his farther pleasure Dated the 28. and 31. of March which the Lords heer proclaim the 5. of April after And though the King sets forth his interest of succession commanding both Nations in unity of duty to him and brotherly affection to each other yet did the Scots Borderers make Inrodes into England which was severely punished and all for Example executed to death The King orders his Journey the 5. of April the Queen to follow 20. daâ—es after Prince Henry Duke Charles and Princess Elizabeth at further pleasure Brings with him those of the greatest birth and most interest in the blood royall who though farr enough off to follow after his Numerous issue of a teeming fruitfull Consort yet too neer to be trusted at home And each one of them begat trouble and charge upon him ever after to reward or to raise them up beyond any desert in both he was wisely regarding Those were Lenox Hamelton Arguile Mar Kinloss and Lord Hewm and a couple of Knights Sir George Hewâ— and Sir Iohn Ramsey of neer affection with the King So it became his future security advantage to caress those that ushered him in and had underhand merited somewhat from former very late advise and Intelligence how to correspond with his jealous Predecessor we may conceive those then in being for most of the old Ones out-liv'd not that their policie were the Howards and Percies and Caecils The first of them of high birth and former merit the Linage of the late Duke of Norfolk who suffered under the Axe for his affection to this Kings Mother as aforesaid anno 1569. And his brother Henry Howard with the Lord Cobham were the first of Eminencie that met the King at Barwick The last of great wisdom and experience for the Kings urgent affairs to make proper use of And at York Thomas Cecil Lord Burghley President of the North receives him who comes on with his Train and needed no other Guard than the affections of the People that hurried him forward with Excessive Acclamations soon forgetting as the manner of the Multitude their late Sovereign in the hope of a likelyer change in a King with which for many years this Nation had been really unacquainted And so was He feasted by the way freely at each Residence of his Person where he lodged untill he came unto Godmanchester in the Country of Northampton where they presented him with 70. Teem of Horses fairly traced unto as many new Ploughs in honor of Tillage A Custome very antient when their Sovereigns pass that Town being his Tenants and holding their land by that Tenure The King told them He liked their ayre so well and took their gift so kindly as but for undoing such good people in their bounty to visit them often which afterwards he performed that Custome being but for the first time to the comfort of that Town and County At Broxborn his next Gest there met him the gravity of the greatest Officers Egerton Lord Chancellor Buckhurst Lord Treasurer Howard Lord Admiral with the most of the Council and Nobility At Ware the King came to Wiggen heretofore so base a Cottage as begat a saying If a Man would answer the Asker as in despair That it should be granted when as the King comes to Wiggen And at Theobalds the seat of Sir Robert Cecil Secretary of State he stayes for four dayes Entertainment where were made of his Council these Scotish Lords Lenox Mar Hewâ— Elphington and Kinloss And of English Henry Howard and his Nephew Thomas Howard brother and sonne to the late Duke of Norfolk and 28. Knights-Bachelors dubbed The Name Knight is from
might be the best Counsel but the most difficult He therefore to avoid difference with any made Peace with all And as a wise King lead them the way to do so each with other being the surest Maxime to himself and to the foundation of greatness upon popular love to his Subjects to afford them ease and justice This Peace ever after attended his Age and Hearse to which he always intended to fashion his Son and Successour but in future fate followed the change not without our over-hasty exception to the Fathers settlement mistaking it to be the consequence of evil event in the Sons succession But we ought to know that Events are always seated in the inaccessible Light of Gods high Providence and cannot be concluded but by supernatural Arguments which must decide the miscarriages of pious Designs careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notâ—nda putet We may learn his will by the effect of his works but not in the consequence of his proceedings we may discern the hand-writing of his Decree to be his Character but not thereby his Sense yet this we presume to run and reade The Providence of God is often most violent to Reason when yet in truth it runs in its proper chanel of equity to all His way is in the Sea not to be always traced by steps What confused conceits carry us on when a prevailing party succeeds in opposition to truth and justice But he that looks thus asquint hath an imperfect sight not the eye of faith The Scales of Gods Providence are never at rest always moving now up now down to humble and to exalt to which we must submit because we cannot comprehend And it is a Rule derivative from hence That where Religion is looâ—est men sacrifise their best Reason to visible Success and private fortune becomes their publick Profession not remembring what Isay says In the path of Gods judgment we should patiently expect We do not so by our daily censure David was in this storm driven to the strongest Anchor of Hope in the contemplation of the wicked he was much trouble to see them prosper and the godly persecuted untill he entered into the Sanctuary of Gods universal providence the chain whereof meets in the centre of all Reade but the story of some Centuries of our Christian world abreviated in the Preface of Sir Ralegh's History How long was it that wickedness had leave to lord it With what strength of policy the Tyrants of each time sold themselves to settle the work of sin And though in the period of that portion of time compared with everlasting and of our neighbour-affairs with the succeeds of the vast Universe In these I say he religiously observes perchance in some the most notorious impieties punished and revenged yet he could not live to finde the effects of Gods justice in so perfect an Audit summ'd up but that he and we and others hereafter shall still remain perplext And here in order and time we come to consider the tempers of the Court Statists those in favour with their former Sovereign had a new game to play with this King and such as were kept under heretofore began now to raise their hopes and endeavours for fresh preferment Amongst many of sundry conditions we fall upon the Conspiracy of a few Discontents and it is generally named Sir Ralegh's Treason so shadowed out to posterity by some late Relators and huddled up in obscurity as not many men in these days believe it for truth to undeceive them I shall give the world that story Sir Walter Ralegh was a Gentleman of good Alliance in the West of England and very well descended he began his Improvements by the University and Inns of Court the later was always the place of esteem with Queen Elizabeth which she would say fitted youth for the future But he staid not there and as his fate would have him of the Sword first so destiny drew him on to have a mixt Reputation with the Gown for he was often called to counsel in her time but never sworn He was twice in Expeditions of Land-service in Ireland under General Norris and Grey as also in the Low Countreys and a Voyage at Sea ere he was known at Court And such ways as these were his introductions the best hopes of his Risings Some natural parts he had a good wit and judgment but his best Weapon was his Tongue which gave him repute to be learned then but after he improved to more value in his future troubles the best School to a wise man His quarrel with Grey in Ireland was there complain'd to a Council of War but by Reference came over to England to the Council-Table Grey had the better cause but Ralegh the advantage in pleading which so took them especially Leicester that the Queen was told the Tale and more of him which begot esteem from her and envy from others however he held up being accounted a cunning Courtier in that ticklish Trade whereof he that once breaks seldom sets up again but he got by those losses and thriv'd best after such compounding Indeed being still under-wood cut and yet growing he became Silva caedua quae succisa renascitur and so flourished oft times after without absolute impute to his Princes pleasure His Enemies of greater Rank kept him in and out which made him then to decline himself out of the Court-rode in Voyages to the West Indies Guiana New Plantations Virginia or else in some Expeditions against the Spaniard which confirm'd him a grand Opposer of the general Peace which King Iames brought in and that brought Ralegh to his ruine He rose no higher than Governour of Iersey Lord Warden of the Stanneries of the West and Captain of the Queens Guard which last Place brought him to esteem at Court but not in the State at all and therefore most men of parts that want of their pride of Preferment are tired with lingring expectation of change from the settled way of Sovereignty which in every shift of Princes gives fair hopes to many neither so mean nor modest but to please themselves with Objects of Advance So this man ambitious of his conceited merits put himself forward a little too soon Busie he had been heretofore to speak his minde of the general affairs and therein he pleased his late Mistress for then his inclination went with the humour of those times of War but now his counsel came out of season For at the entrance of the King he was presented by Ralegh with a Manuscript of his own making against the Peace with Spain it was his Table-talk to beget more esteem which took accordingly and the way to unbend him was the work of the Spanish Faction either to buy him out of that humour or to abuse him into worse condition which was effected by this way To mould him into Treason there was a medley of
the States impudently maintaining those former Execrable Blasphemies forewarning them of the corrupt seed of the late Arminius that Enemie of God and of both their Infections dividing their Countrey-men into factions so opposite to Unity as must needs bring them to ruine Remembers them of his forewarnings by the effects since of Arminius his tenents their distractions bred from thence shews themthe impudency of one of his Secretaries Vorstius his Book and Letter If these be not motives he prophesies the rent of their Nation the curse of God and Infamy to our Religion wishes to have Vorstius suffer the fire least his poyson which denies the Eternity and Omnipotencie of God should invenome their youth corrupt their souls and hazard the safety of their State And threatens them if they fail in his Councils he will be forced to protest and separate from the Union of their Churches Westminster 6 October 1611. The States notwithstanding hasten their own resolutions and Vorstius was setled in the Chair of Professor nor did these Letters cool their affections which heightned Sir Ralph Winwood to make this remonstrance viz. My Lords if ever the King of Great Britain his Master hath merited of the states with great favours and royall assistances themselves with all gratitudes have acknowledged surely then in these his letters of zeal piety for establishing that Relion onely within their Provinces which England France Germany have mutually embraced not regarding otherwise the Persons or Profession of Vorstius or Heresies of Arminius but as by them Religion to be sophisticated or dipraved by the schismes of Arminius or the fancie of Vorstius new devised sects of several pieces of all sorts of Heresies ancient and modern and these are they Out of his Annotations That God hath a Body so as we take a Body in the Largest sence They therefore speak not circumspectly enough who say that God is altogether as unchangeable in his will as he is in his Essence We cannot read That the substance of God is simply immense nay quite contrary No Magnitude is actually infinite and therefore God is not That every event of things were precisely set down from eternity there needed not then that continual inspection and procuration which nevertheless is every where attributed to God They who teach That there is in God Universal knowledg in genere answer more fully but so as they likewise confess that there be more causes of Certainty in the visions of things present then in the vision of things future contingent Al things which he hath decreed determined â—no modo actu he doth after such his determination exactly know them But this cannot be confirmed of all and every other thing which are or come to pass being considered severally and â—y themselves because they have their existence not onely successively in time but also contingently and oftâ—times conditionally Out of his Apologie That the Faâ—â—er hath a certain peculiar being or as it were all immitted and â—ounded essence That there are really certain internall accidents in God in the very fore-electing mind and will of God In the sixteenth Chap. He dissents from the received opinions of Divines concerning the Ubiquity of Gods presence In the nineteenth chap. He attributes to God magnitude and quantity These being in part his opinions whom they had chosen in the Chair at Leyden he conjures them to beware Ne quid Respublica detrimenti capiat The disciples of Socinius seek him for their Master He is a bird of their own feather let him go Et dignum sane patella Operculum and your own Students at Leyden 56. of them by their Remonstrance but the last year to the States of Holland besought not to be compelled to receive him who is convinced of his Errors by the Divinity Colleges at Basil and Hâ—ydelburgh by evidence out of his own writings These reasons with the general petitions of all Ministers except of Arminius may no doubt prevail And withall he tells them that his Majesty moves them to set down some certain Reglement in Religion to restrain licentious disputations and absolutely to depress the liberty of prophecying so much recommended by Vorstius in his Epistle to the States of his Anti-Bellarmine so much boasted of And remembring them of their Valiances in defence of their liberties of Consciences for fourty years wars they would not now make their actions Example for the Sect of Arminius to proclame that wicked doctrine of Apostacy of Saints And concludes that Religion is the Soder of Amity between his Majesty and Them wherein if they grow cold their friendships will freeze After six weeks delay though prosecuted for an Answer they tel him How they have deliberated upon all former passages and thank his Majesty for his affection to their Countrey and preservation of the Reformed Religion and did thereupon order That Vorstius should not be admitted nor is but as an Inhabitant and unless he can clear his accusations The States of Holland and West freezeland before February next the time of their meeting would then decide the difference And thus much was all what could be done in respect of inconvenience and distast to the principal Towns of those Provinees This being all and in effect worse then nothing Winwood resolves to Protest and did in their publick Assembly He begins like the Advocates in France with a Latin sentence out of the Scripture Si peccaverit in te frater tuus argue eum inter te si audiverit te c. si non adhibiruum atquae alterum c. si non eos dic Ecclesiae and so recounting the Kings favours to them the whole matter of Vorstius and the proceedings thereupon concludes for those reasons he does in his Majesties Name protest against the receiving and retaining of Vorstius and against the violence offered unto the Alliance betwixt the King and Them founded on the Reformed Religion which they have violated of which his Majesty is so sensible if reparation be not speedily made as his Majesty will further declare to the world in print To this they Answer That however his Maiesty hath not as yet received contentment in the business of Vorstius as he might expect but at the Assembly in February next his Majesty shall receive entire satisfaction The time come and the Assembly continuing their settlement of Vorstius the King imprints a Declaration giving his reasons very learned in many particulars why he engaged In aliena Republica The glory of God The Christian charity to his Neighbours and Allies especially towards the Houshold of faith The impoysoning of their youth Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu and the Apostle Saint Iohn in that respect Ne dicas illi Ave and answers all objections and excuses for Vorstius with this Maxime that even in doubtfull questions Men are naturally inclined co choose the evill and leave the good as
themselves to search for mischiefs and being found to scandallize the State with them How these were nourished and afterwards fomented the revolution of time hath made obvious to all men and saves me the labour to set down the particulars It was no novelty then to applaud the former times and to vilifie the present for indeed her fame carried it current in a long continuance to have lived and dyed Royally and Victoriously without the disquiet of the peoples affections and being but a Sojourner in the World in respect of her Maiden-hood might be and was a blessing to her own times the impression of her good Goverment besides her happy memory is not without some effect which doth survive her But this K blessed already with Royal issue and whose fruitful Bed promised increase It was more proper and agreeable with him to be studious not onely in the Transitory part of good Government but in those Acts which are in their nature permanent and perpetual to his posterity rather to increase than diminish the Advantages of Soveraignty which he aimed at and for his part and time did perform but t is a tender subject to discuss I have done Yet I may add a truth That all the force and power of his Progenitours and all their merits and policies to boot for more then an age before her could never borrow so much credit upon their Privy Seals as she did during her time and left them all for this King to discharge great and vast sums Which shews that Necessities put her upon that piece of State when neither her Exchequer could afford relief nor the urgency of her affairs indure the delaies of Parliaments assistance For in truth she had strained likewise from her people in that way of Subsidies more then ever any Prince I will not say many that were before her She had the way to do it by complaisance of a Princess and he a King not affecting that Course failed of such effects For he was by nature more reserved than popular and had his virtues fitter for estimation then Love and did like a King his soul being planted higher overshot such matter as lay level to anothers eye And so as I have said some of these ways to get mony was set a foot this year 1614. and upon several occasions in his reign after proposed but not effected In those times of Trade the Merchant-Adventurer usually transported Our English Cloths white undress'd and undy'd and the Dutch had gotten the Art by the end fitted and stretcht them by their Knavery and so returned them to us at high rates of this the Cloth-worker of London complains which was soon remedied by Proclamation forbidding the transport and to countenance that Corporation the King was feasted in their Hall and made free of their Company the rather because their Cote Arms the Thistle is the Scots Embleme And over went our Cloaths accordingly dyed and drest which the Hollanders forbid to be bought by them and therefore dealt with our Fell-mongers and got over Our Woolls and the Mystery of making Cloth Hereupon we proclame and forbid the transport of our wools The Quarrel between those two Corporations and their respective gain is by the Merchant Adventurers complained of and for mittigation of their Mischief several warrants for some thousands of Cloths were sparingly licensed by wisdome of State to be sent over and so evenly moderating the mystery of Merchants that cozen each other and at their great Feast likewise the Prince was made free The King of Denmark makes a second visit to his Sister the Queen for fourteen daies upon no business of State onely his affections to her and jollity to himself with a Train of no more than half a hundred persons of honour and Noblesse of his own breeding to the Dutch Diet and Drink to which he was too much inclined and oft-times had his load for we were not wanting of our boon-Companions that waited on him for that purpose The Earl of Suffolk succeeding Salisbury in the Treasurership yielded his Office of Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold to his Son in Law Somerset as aforesaid and he the Place of Secretary unto Sir Ralph Winwood lately returned from the Netherlands where he had been Ambassadour Lieger of a long time The Summers Progress returns the King to London where had been some muttering of Overbury's death in the Tower discovered beyond the Seas by the Apothecary's Boy that impoysoned the Glyster and having his Reward was sent out of the way to Flushing where he told the Tale to Trimball the Kings Agent there by whom it came to Winwood's knowledg and so to the King and by degrees to particular Examinations Confessions and Executions of all these Weston an Apothecary Mistris Turner a Doctor of Physick's widow Sir Iervis Yelvis Lieutenant of the Tower and Franklin all accessaries But Weston being the principal actor it was therefore his turn first to come to the Bar at the Hinstons Court in Guild-hall where beyond Judg Cook 's expectation the man stood mute notwithstanding all allurements and threats that could be used and so was returned to Prison Cook informs the King that unless the principal be convict the accessaries could not be tried but by continual cunning and some fair promises of pardon Weston put himself upon his Countrey and was cast condemned and hanged Cook not content with that gets knowledg under-hand that Serjeant Yelverton an obliged Servant to the House of Howards had advised this Counsel for Weston not to betray any parties And this Tale was told by Sir Robert Cook from his fathers confession After all comes Somerset and his Countess and both condemned some that were then at their Trial and not partial conceived in conscience he might have been spared that Sentence and as himself says to the King That he fell rather for want of well defending than by force of proofs for I so far says he for sook my self and my cause as that I might be more condemned for that than for the matter And because it was a story of evil fame near and far off I shall put it to the test in a brief Narratory being pleaded before the Lord Elsmore Chancellour and High Steward for the Day and most of the Peers at Westminster Hall May 1616. in this manner A Peer of the Land hath this Privilege upon Treason or Felony indicted to be tried by his Peers the King by Letters Patents assigns some sage Lord of the Parliament to be High Steward of England for that Day of his Arreignment who before that time makes Precept to his Serjeant at Arms to warn to appear before him a certain number of Lords of the Parliament twelve at the least upon that Day at Westminster At which time the High Steward shall sit under the Cloath of State and causeth his Commission to be read the same Serjeant returns his Precept and calls the Lords who appearing by
Man deserving to pay for all it being of his designing But the Treasurer was from thenceforth for some time trusted to Commissioners At Midsummer after the King comes to Star-Chamber then intending to settle his homea-ffairs for his resolved journey into Scotland which began the next Spring and therefore now the more to exalt the Seat of Iustice of which this Court was most eminent he discharges his duty to God and his people in a most excellent Discourse the character of his inward inclination to Iustice and Piety His MAIESTIES SPEECH at his first comming to the Star-Chamber He begins with Scripture Give thy Iudgements to the King O God and thy righteousness to the Kings Son the literal sense upon the Prophet David and his Son Solomon godly and wise the mystical sense upon God and Christ his eternal Son just and righteous from which imitation all Governments especially Monarchies have been established Kings are properly Iudges and sit in the Throne of God and thence all Iudgement is derived from the King to his Magistrates not to them Privative but Cumulative So the Council of Jethro to Moses the Iudges were deputed for easier questions the more profound left to Moses So all Christian Kings govern whereby appears the neer Conjunction God and the King upwards the King and his Iudges downward the King to settle the Law of God and his Iudges to interprete the Law of the King Thus a Jove principium he comes to his Errand I. Why he came not to speak here in fourteen years as his Predicessors have done often especially Henry 7. from whom the King is descended doubly to this Crown and so desires to follow him in his best actions 2. Why he comes now For the first Though he had been an old King when he came hither and well practised to Government from twelve years of age yet here he resolved with Pythagoras to keep silence for seven years That Apprenticeship ended the Impediment was the choice of some worthy Cause betwixt King and some Subject or Subject and Subject The one might seem partial as for himself the other oblique in favour of a party But twice seven years his whole Reign here brings him openly to speak now publickly concerning the reformation of Iudicature in Westminster-Hall which heretofore he had in part delivered in private occasions Dividing his Charge 1. To himself 2. To the Judges 3. To the Auditory First He protests that as Confirmation follows Baptism so now he renews his Oath of Coronation in Justice and Law the common Law of the Land He never pressed to alter but as in the union of his person so he eudeavoured it real to conform Scotland to England not this to that anent the prophecy of his Grandfather Henry 7. That the lesser Kingdom by marriage would follow the greater not the greater the less and therefore married his eldest Daughter Margaret to James the fourth the Kings great Grandfather And so blames that nice opinion that the Union of Great Brittain would alter our Laws which he ever declined as a Maxim in matters of State and Policy Innovation and alteration makes it worse that he was sworn to these Laws and to alter them had been perjury in him Iustice may be moderated by him with mercy but in matters of Iustice he will be blind to partiality to hasten Iustice never to delay He distinguishes the Law The Inheritance of King and Subject to be determined by the Common Law set down by our Forefathers and expounded by learned men in their Comments and called Responsa Prudentum or by Statute-Law and this is Law of Inheritance The other Law Gods Law governs all Common and Municipalls as Dependents and he complains of the neglect of Divine Laws and disrespect to the Ministers of the Church which is the most pure and neerest the primitive and Apostolical Church in doctrine and discipline of any in Christendome Next to this is the Civil Law the Law of Nations It satisfies strangers and his own subjects in matters of Pyracy Mariage Wills which Law he divides Civil and Canon and complains of the contempt upon it and concludes his own charge to maintain so to purge it from two corruptions Incertainty and Novelty to cleer it to the people by advice of Iudges and to purge it of Niceties introduced by Iudges themselves And so as the Pastor takes the Sacrament himself and then distributes so he to them least it be said Turpe est Doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum The charge to the Iudges consists of three parts To do Iustice Generally Indifferently Fearfully Generally uprightly as to answer God and the King aud punishment from either Indifferently to all parties King and Subject Subject and Subject without delay partiallity clean and uncorrupt Fearfully Not your own conceits for you are no Law makers but Interpreters Jus dicere not Jus dare For you have no voice in Parliament but to advise And though some Laws are obscure and may be better known to you by Books and Presidents yet their interpretations must be subject to common sense and reason Ratio est anima Legis cleer Law or solid Reason But where the formality hath no place as in Denmark the State is governed by written Law no Advocate or Proctor only the parties plead and the Law is read and so sentence He complains of our curious wits Various conceipts different actions and several examples which breed questions in Law But if plain it speaks it self if otherwise as inventions abound they are to enterprete and draw a good Minor of natural Reason out of a Major of direct Law and so will follow a true Conclusion though common Law be a Mystery and your interpretation be not understood yet by the reason of Logick and common sense it will be false And as they are Iudges and divided into Benches so they must confer debate not single opinions per emendata suffragia and thus in generall to their Office And as to their Limits First Not to incroach upon Prerogatives of the Crown deal not in difficult questions ere you consult with the King and Council otherwise is to wound the King through the sides of a Private person and herein commends some of the Iudges that of late rebuked and blunted the sharp edge and vain popular honour of some Pleaders at the Bar for meddling therein The mystery of the Kings power is not lawful to be disputed which seems to wade into the weakness of Sovereigns diminishes the mystical reverence of them that sit in the Throne of God Secondly One Iudicature not to invade upon others unsit and unlawful and herein he inlarges himself That besides Common-Law there are Courts of Requests Admiralty President and Council of Wales of the North. High Commission and every Bishops Court These shall keep their limits and bounds so the common Law shall not encroach upon them nor they on that In Westminster-Hall four Courts Two Civil Common-Pleas and Exchequer Two
thereof established Civility and Iustice and to his lives end he would never leave to do his best endeavours untill he might say of Scotland as one of the Emperours said of Rome Inveni lateritiam relinquo marmoream Indeed the Countrey affords more of Stone than Tile-shard They come to vote Commissioners upon the Articles of Religion whom the King commends they refuse and evermore Officers of State are suspected partial for the King and therefore they admit but of three the Chancellour Treasurer and Clerk of the Rolls They begin with the chiefest Article That what soever should be concluded by the King and the Bishops in matters of external policy should be an Ecclesiastical Law Not that the King was against the advice and assistance of a competent number of the grave and learned Ministers but to be over-ruled said he as in your former General Assemblies I shall never agree The Bishops must rule the Ministers and the King govern both in matters indifferent and not repugnant to Gods Word and so that Ariicle was formed and passeâ— Hereupon the Ministers mutiny that their Discipline should be formed to all the Ceremonies of England and Struthers in his next Sermon condemning all those Rites prayed God to save Scotland from the same sin And thus set on they frame a Protestation to the King in Parliament First against that Article and therein if remedy be not provided they shall be forced to other effects For freedom of their Church and discharge of their Consciences Their Reasons they reduce into Arguments 1. Their Reformation That the purity in Doctrine Sacraments Discipline and Order thereof hath been acknowledged rather as a Patern to be followed by all Reformed Churches of Europe than now to be put to seek it from such as never attained to it 2. That their General Assemblies formerly established to constitute and make Canons will be utterly overthrown That hitherto their Church nearest the divine and Apostolical Institution and so hath lived long without Schism and rent may now by introducing Novelties be miserably overthrown That his Majesties gracious assurance by his Letters this last Winter against all alteration of Religion and so hath been intimated in Pulpits when Rumours were dispersed of intended conformity with England These they pray may be sufficient to warn the King and Parliament not to oppress their poor Church and give grief to millions of men that otherwise would rejoice at his Majesties presence And so they resolve that rather than submit they are prepared to incur censure and to oppose This Protestation they commit to the most mad-headed man amongst them one Hewet but some of the wiser sort fearing the success desire the Arch-bishop of St Andrews to suppress it He meeting Hewet desires to peruse it and blaming the man keeps the Writing the other seizes the Paper and thus striving in the next Room the King hastily comes out and sternly fronts the Fellow who falls down of his knees and craves pardon for the Protestation professing never more to meddle therein However the King wisely suspecting some others of the same Phrensie for the present commanded that Article of the Kings Crown-prerogative not to be read till the policy of a fitter time the rest of them being read and concluded the King takes his leave and loving farewell But the Bishops had warning to summon some principal Ministers and with them to meet him at St. Andrews 10. of Iuly where the King greets them How great my care hath been for the Church saith he since I had authority and power to perform it your consciences cannot but confess I need not tell you I seek no thanks God knows my heart for true worship of him and decent order in the Church whilest I resolved of this Iourney to visit you I gave you warning to insert some Articles into your Acts of the Church those were anniversary commemorations of Christ's blessings to man as his Nativity Passion Resurrection Ascension and Descent of the Spirit another for private use of both Sacraments a third for reverend administration of the Communion and a fourth for catechising and confirming children by Bishops I was answered that they had not been moved in any of the Churches Assembly and so I was silent And lately desiring but my Prerogative to be declared in making Ecclesiastical Laws ye mutined and protested against me But I pass all amongst many other wrongs frequent from you The Errand I have now is to know your Arguments why the same ought not to be granted Reason shall ever guide me and if my Demands are so just and religious too I will not be refused nor resisted And with that browing upon them with a full eye majestical and stern They all fell down on their knees The King went on It is a power innate a princely special Prerogative which Christian Kings have to order and dispose external things in the outward policy of the Church as We with our Bishops advice shall think â—it And Sirs said he for your approving or disproving deeceive not your selves Me ye shall not I will have my Reason not opposed They were all becom new men humbly besought they might confer and so return an uniform Answer which in two hours space produces a Retition for a General Assembly wherein all his Majesties Articles being proponed they might with common consent be received I says the King but what assurance have I of their consenting They protested that they saw no reason to the contrary But if it be otherwise and your reason now be none of theirs then the Articles refused my difficulty the more and when I shall hereafter put my own Authority in use I shall be pulpited a Tyrant Persecutour Ye were wont so to do All crying out That none durst be so mad Yet experience tells me says he that it hath been so therefore unless I be sure I shall not grant your Assembly They craved the Arch-bishop of St Andrews to answer for them but he refused having been formerly deceived At length they procured leave to assemble in November next at St Andrews Simson that subscribed to the Protestation writes to his Brethren those Articles which he calls Tricas Anglicanas the Letter-carrier was Catherwood who for his insolency to the Kings face was committed and after banished and Simson sent to Edenburgh Castle where he lay till December And so the King returns to England by the West parts and at Dunfres had his farewell Sermon by the Bishop of Galloway which made the hearers heavy at their hearts The King gone home the Assembly met but willingly would have delayed their Conclusion of the five Articles till they might inform their Flocks of the equity of them and so they went away which the King considers as an high contempt and breach of their promise and commands the Bishops of St Andrews and of Glascow precisely in their own persons to keep Christmass day next preaching of Texts according to
would always say Lyes are not long liv'd And indeed more he could not have Examples vary some Ambassadours in like cases have been secured and punished others freed by privilege for in the times of the Scots Affairs with Us and France frequent Presidents have been used by Throgmorton Randolph Tanworth and Bishop Ross according to the power of the Princes where they have been committed as hath been before mentioned The Earl of Bristol this while in Spain received command to take leave of that King and to return and had intelligence from hence in what hazard he should appear after such Complaints in Parliament against him And indeed he delayed it so long that it was suspected he would stay there being so advised by the King of Spain who gave him assurance of all Civility and kindness in his Court for security rather than adventure his head at home But these branglings here feigned there to be high Distraction gave him courage to return where no sooner appeared but was clapt up in the Tower saâ—es one and the next day set at Liberty nor durst any bring him to farther Tryal He was committed by the Lords in Parliament and might have lain there longer a Prisoner but the Duke made means for his release least it should move jealousies that it was his design thereby to delay his Tryal and this to my knowledge for I acted in his release He being earnestly pursued by the Duke and had the Parliament lasted it might have proved his destruction who afterwards humbled himself and gained favour to retire into the Countrey to Shirbone that fatal seat for suceeding Offendors But the Spanish Ambassadours practice failing some Lords set on work a Petition to the King against Papists as intending it necessary to go on with the complyance of the Publick Affair now happâ—ly proceeding or to hazard all and nothing would serve to satisfy these Men but several Conferences of both Houses untill they had with consent framed their Propositions and presented them to the King in two Petitions alike We your Majesties most Humble and Loyal Subjects the Lords and Commons do in all humility offer unto your Majesty These two Petitions THat for the more safety of your Realms and better keeping your subjects in obedience and other important reasons of State your Majesty would be pleased by some such course as you shall think fit to give present Order that all the Laws be put in due execution against Iesuits Seminary Priests and others having taken Orders of the See of Rome and generally against all Popish Recusants and as for disarming that it may be done according to the Laws Acts and Directions of State in that Case And least the Iesuits and Priests here may pretend to be surprissed that a day certain may prefix their departure and neither they nor other to return or come hither upon peril of severest Penalties of the Lawes now in force And that no Subjects receive entertain or conceal them upon penalties c. Seeing we are thus happily delivered from those Treaties and the use which your ill affected subjects made thereof and yet we fore see the like hereafter We therefore are humble Suiters to your Majesty To secure the hearts of your good Subjects by your Royal word That upon no occasion of Marriage or Treaty or such other Request from foreign Prince or State what soever you will slacken the execution of the said Laws against Iesuits Priests and Popish Recusants And humbly pray a gratious Answer The King doubting this double Petition intended as a check to the main business resolved yet to satisfie them That he commends both Houses for their Petition but wonders at their suspition to spur him on to his conscience and duty That his Religion Profession and behaviour his own Books declare nor will swarve from them for he that dissembles with God will be distrasted by Men. That his heart bleeds at the increase of Popery as thorns in his eyes and pricks in his sides He hath alwaies desired to hinder the growth as a Martyr As in the sense of Isaac persecuted by Ismael by mocking words as no King ever suffered more of ill tongues Yet he hath been far from per seeuting believing that rule Sanguis Martyrum est semen Ecclesiae As for the Petition he grants in substance what they ask and adds of his own Their Treaties being annulled their desire is granted and will declare by Proclamation to banish Iesuits and Priests by a day but a Proclamation here extends onely to this Kingdome He will do more command his Iudges in circuit to put the Laws in Execution against Recusants as before the Treaties the Laws being in force and never dispensed with by him but as he told them heretofore as a good Horseman to use sometimes the Reigns not alwaies the spur He promisâ—th by Declaration to disarm them which indeed is done by the Laws Nay will disorder the Papists frequenting to Ambassadours Masses for though he cannot break their privilege yet the Lord Maior and Officers may seize them as they come out And resolves to order the Education of Recusants children as he hath advised therein with his Bishops and Council The second part of the Petition is the best advice in the World being against the Rule of Wisdome that Subjects should transgresse a Law by Intercession of a Foreign Prince and forst in such conditions in such a Treaty which he will avoid in any whatever This his answer so satisfactory as pleased the Parliament Saâ—es Calumny He promised much and performed little See what he did by the sequel Order was forthwith to inroll the chiefest Recusants you see he spares none nor were the Parliament so nice as to leave the best of them out The Earl of Rutland Sir Thomas Compton the Dukes two Fathers in Law the Countess his Mother Earl Castlehaven the Lords Herbert Rivers Peter Morly Windsor Eure Wootton Teinham Scroop and of Knights Courtney Brewdnel Somerset Ireland Stonners Brown Howard Powel Lacon Lewkner Awbery Gage Shelly Carvel Wiseman Gerrard Filpot Russel Bedingfield Wrey Conwey Iones Conyers Lamplow Savage Mosly Beston Riddal Wyral Townsend Norris Knevet Tasborough Selby Tichburn Hall Perkins Penruddock Sands and divers Esquires and Gentlemen either by themselves or their Wives These men were all at Mercy and who ever else the Parliament would pick out with lime and baited Hooks to catch them for the King not minded to interrupt them having done his part withdrew to New Market cold air for his Northern conditions the most healthy The Prince increasing in years and in affection of the People it was most convenient also to speed him a marriage The Treaties with Spain being thus far annulled Some Overtures were hinted from France of their willingness for a Match with Madam the Princess Henriâ—tta Maria the French Kings youngest Sister the two others being preferred to Spain and Savoy And because it was necessary to feel
A COMPLEAT HISTORY OF The LIVES and REIGNS OF MARY Queen of SCOTLAND And of Her Son and Successor JAMES The Sixth KING of SCOTLAND And After Queen Elizabeth King of GREAT BRITAIN FRANCE and IRELAND The First Of ever Blessed Memory Reconciling several Opinions In Testimony of Her and Confuting others in Vindication of Him against two scandalous Authors 1. The Court and Character of King James 2. The History of Great Britain Herein is expressed The particular Affairs of Church and State The Reformation of the One The Policies and Passages of the Other The frequent Disturbances of Both By Wars Conspiracies Tumults and Treasons with the contemporary actions of Neighbor Nations in reference to this whole Island Faithfully performed By WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq London Printed for Humphrey Moseley Richard Tomlins and George Sawbridge and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at Py-Corner and on Lud-Gate-Hill MDCLVI THE PROEME TO THE First Part. TO be in print without a Preface is not the Mode now and though it intends to let in the Reader as the Porch to a Palace yet it seems to be built up after the Book For uâ—ually it discovers the weakness of the Work by an ingenuous Confession of more faults than some other man may find out and so craves favour I prefix this really before I write more of the matter And therefore to pretend excuse for what shall follow amiss might seem a presumptuous sin as if I meant to offend Not but that Offences will come and may be found out hereafter more properly then to be summ'd up in the end of all and added to the Escapes of the Presse and so to plead the Generall Pardon Our Design is History commonly divided into 3. Kinds 1. Memorials A naked Narrative without contexrure of Things and Actions 2. Antiquity The Shipwrack of History somewhat saved from the Deluge of Distruction and so subject to question as that excellent History of the World done by Sir Walter Raleigh with exact diligence which yet indures the examination of his Errours by One who in truth took much pains to worst it the more that Master-peice by the Epitomy which besides the injury to the Work it self becomes unprofitable to the Readers expectation With these two kinds we mean not to meddle 3. But with Perfect History being in truth that which comprehends a Chronocled Time representing the life of a Prince with the Narrative of actions relative therefore with little favour of different opinions may be accounted the most compleat for Estimation Profit and Use in the magnitude of Affairs Men and Matter And of this nature Our Histories of England are said to be defective in the Main And for that of Scotland too too partial as done by different affections and interest in matters Ecclesiastical and Civil Therefore it hath been accounted worthy the labour to mold them both into one Body joined to these times from their first conjunction in Union of the Roses to the uniting of the Kingdomes The latter hath been in some sort set out single to our hand by a Compendium of the 5. King Iames's immediately succeeding each other and lately done by William Drummond After whom we intend to take up the Remain Beginning where he leaves with the birth of Mary instantly succeeding the Death of her Father Iames the fifth with the contemporary actions of neighbour Princes And so to her Son and Successor Iames the sixth and after the death of Queen Elizabeth of Great Brittain France and Ireland the first and last King compleat in right of issue descended from Margaret eldest Daughter unto Henry the seventh of England and Iames the fourth of Scotland with Re-union in that antient Title of Brittain But in brief The first Union of Marriage begat a present Peace between Henry the seventh of England and Iames the fourth of Scotland And at that instant Scotland brought forth a Prodigious Monster of Man under the waste like other men the Members both for use and comliness were two and standing it was indifferent to which of the two Bulks the Legs belonged This Bifrons had different passions and divers wills chiding each other and quarreling until by over-wrangling they unwillingly agreed and was cherished by the King taught languages and lived eighteen years A Monstrous Omen to the Union This Iames was young and active for twenty five years of his Reign having occasion to cope with two Henries the Seventh and Eighth of England Father and Son successively The first took his Entry here by Arms and Establishment by marriage Yet the times proved to him like strong Tides full of Swellings but well mannaged by the wisdome of an able Pylot through all storms being of himself the most sufficient Sovereign of any his Predecessours Between Him and Iames the fourth there had been distempers ever espousing the French Quarrels And therefore their times produced sundry great mutations treacherous false and deceiving the events belying the Beginnings Princes mostly inconsiderate before they imbarque whether their Wars be just or necessary and may serve Examples of great mens frailty After the death of Henry the seventh succeeded his Son Henry the eight young and wealthy whose actions had more of Gallantry than Honour though he meddled with the mixed Affairs for ballancing the Western Monarchy amongst the Pretenders Germany Spain and France with the change of Religion to reformed And so soon as ingaged against Louis of France Iames interposed as to divert him Enters upon Ireland invades the English Borders and after comes to handy blowes in Northumberland The English six and twenty thousann the Scots many more and at Flowden Field 1513. a wondrous slaughter on both sides and Iames in the Fight was lost as in a Fog for ever though he acted so well his affected Popularity that his loss became more disconsolate to his People than any his Predecessors His Son succeeds a cradle King seventeen Moneths old under Tutelage of his Mother who implores Henry her Brother for compassion upon a Widow-Sister and an Orphan-Nephew not to wage War but to defend them He answers like himself With the mild he was meek and with the froward he could fight But she too weak for her wild Subjects marries with the Earl of Angus and being disdained for matching so meanly the Duke of Albany of Scots race begotten in Exile is sent for out of France to govern them at home The success may soon be imagined for the Scots heretofore had killed Iames the first covenanted with Iames the second overthrown Iames the third and some say mislaied Iames the fourth and now hardly submit to a Stranger The Queen and Angus fly to England and here she is brought to Bed of Margaret Grand-Mother to King Iames the sixth Conspiracies increase in Scotland fomented from Henry the eighth till horrid Rapines wearied each party into a Peace at home and England also And thus freed from War for a time the Governour Duke executes Justice upon such
began his Rants applying all his Wit and Cunning of either he had sufficient to his own private discontent and ambition and under the goodly pretence of Religion had raked together such a rabble of the mad-headed Ministery countenanced also by the Duke Castle-herault that the whole Kingdom feared the disquiet The Queen of England might well as she did take compassion hereat two young couples her kindred and Successors having much to do to qualifie the twenty years custome of a turbulent people not to have a King till now and willing indeed to have none at all For Hamilton and Murray presuming of favour from England take arms but were so hotly persued by the King that they fled into England and were there covertly protected but might have been more openly by the same rule that some English fugitives had been received in Scotland as Taxley Standen and Welch besides Oneal out of Ireland All this was disputed by Ambassie from England of one Tanworth a Courtier to whom the Queen of Scots did not vouchsafe her presence her refusing to call her Husband King Thus stood the State of the Affairs in Scotland whilst the Queen conceived with Child and as if blessed in the peace of this Issue what she could never enjoy in her life she afterwards brought forth her only Son Iames the sixth a Peace-maker to all Our World in Iune 1566. But because the Religion as they call it is much concerned in all the troubles of that Kingdom as a defensive faction taken up at all times to mannage other Designs and Interests Give me leave to tell you their Story intermixing the affairs of State and other concernments of their contemporaries Wherein you shall find their pretended sanction from a Rule of Conscience to be an Instrumental of State from a pretence of Knowledge to be a very practice of Ambition Nor will it I hope repent the Reader the tedious Story for though Truth appears in Ordine Doctrinae yet never more fully than when we search the Original Veins thereof by the Increase Depravations and Decaies in Ordine Temporum And so we proceed to the History of their Church and State and the Contemporary Actions intervening with England and France and other Neighbour Nations The Life and Death of MARY Queen of SCOTLAND KIng Iames the fifth dying of discontent more than disease the 13. of December 1542. in the 33. year of his age and 32. of his reign left his Crown to an only Daughter Mary at six daies old as she did afterwards to her Son born a King Fatal sufferings to a people to be Subjects to young Soveraigns And this Succession was put into a Will patcht up by the Cardinal David Beaton and clapt into the Kings hand to sign The Government of the Kingdom for the present was intrusted unto the Queen Mother a wise and virtuous Princess of the House of Lorain And though she might as yet be ignorant of the Actions of State in this short time of her experience in Scotland but 4. years yet the Nobles dissenting factions agreed the rather herein to accept of her Each party presuming to work their ends the better out of her Ignorance The people were religiously divided in Opinions Romish and Reformed which had put the late King upon extremity of Iustice against the Separatists as they then were stil'd indeed Dissenting among themselves but afterwards Congregating and Covenanting gave them other Names But in their several Professions sundry persons suffered Imprisonment Life or loss of all The Scots derive their Christanity from the disciples of S. Iohn their Patronage of St. Andrew and the propagation thereof not from Rome I dare say noâ— indeed they will have it from their own Plantations in Germany where increasing Christianity the persecution of Domitian drove them home again into Scotland And so they utterly refuse to have any thing to do with Rome by means of Victor that held that See as others will have it But they confess That Celestine Bishop of Rome sent learned Palladius to convince the Heresie of Pelagius a welchman born and bred up in the Monastery of Banghor then overspreading that Nation And after his good success therein brought in say they Prelate Bishops having had by their favour Priests and Moncks long before and thereafter all kind of Romish Orders Nay Boniface the eighth making use of the complaint of the Scoâ—ish Clergy against King Edward of England cruelly afflicting them and also of the resignation of the people to the See of Rome The Pope thereby claims right to that Crown writes to Edward and malapertly Bids him not meddle with his Vassalls and Subjects But after too much lording of the Romish Clâ—rgy and the great Schism at Rome Pope against Pope three at one time Some men began openly to discover them to the world As Wickliff in England Iohn Hus and Ierome in Bohemia the Scots will have of theirs too Iames Resby and Paul Craw who indeed were but their Pupils that quarrell'd with their Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews and so began their fray So that the Scots reckon themselves happy without Bishops till Palladius from him to Malcolm from him to Patrick Graham their first Arch-Bishop who came in with that title to the dislike of all the Bishops The inferiour Clergy could not brook the strict authority of him and so by them and the Courâ—iers too boot Graham lost that Title And one Blacater traces his Steps and procures himself Archbishop also then followed Beaton and he brought in the Cardinals Cap and all these in opposition each of other which gave occasion to sundry men to publish these discontents together with some Corruptions of the Church not unlikely to make a rent And therefore the Pope sent unto Iames the fourth a Sword and Title Protector of the Faith and not long after his gifts were cheap unto Henry the eighth of England a Sword and Title Defender of the Faith I find the Scots had some Martyrs who begun their Reformation with private opinions Resby suffered anno 1422. Paul Craw 1431. In 1494. about 30. persons men and women called Lollards from one Lollard a Schismatick indeed not as the Fryer discanteth Quasi Lolium in area Domini And these put their Articles 34 in writing The first Protestation that we read of amongst them being in the year 1527. then suffered Patrick Hamilton of the Antient Family and so forwards many more The Northern Martyrs had repute of constancy in sufferings beyond others Which gives occasion to discuss the reason for it was observed That the people of this Isle exceed in zeal of profession and are called in Italian Pichia Pelli or Knock-breasts Hypocrites So are they naturally better qualified with courage in extremities of sufferings and therefore accounted most valiant in respect of the Climate the Heart furnished with plenty of Blood to sustain sodain defects is not so soon
apprehensive of Death as where the Store-house of blood is less every hazard there raiseth fear paleness and trembling Angli bello intrepidi nec mortis sensu deterrentur witness the bold and cheerful sufferings of the condemned Answerable to our Bodies are our Laws suitable to the Inhabitants of this Soil Not being since William the Conquerour compelled in Criminal Tryals to confession by Torture as in the Civil Law of other Nations whose Innocency would rather yield to be guilty than to endure lingring pain Insulani plerunque fureâ— Death not prevailing to deteâ— men from common offences what constancy then shall that Man have who is martyred for matters of Religion and health of his Soul Britannis quibus nihil interest humine sublimive putrescant non valet Purpuratis Gallis Italis aut Hispanis ista minitare And therefore Pope Clement the eighth impaired his Cause by burning Mr. Marsh at Rome in Campo divi sancta â—iore whose constancy made him a Martyr and many carryed away his ashes as Reliques and that Pope resolved therefore That none of the English Nation should from that time be confirmed with fire The Enemies of true Religion have not gained to themselves by that cruelty Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae The Romans were tender in case of Religion to condemn to death Cato was not of opinion with those that would have sentenced the Bacchanals he alleging That Religion was apt to deceive men into a shew of Divinity and therefore to be wary in punishing the Professors lest the common people should suspect something was done thereby derogating from the Majesty of God Tantum Relligio potuit suadere Malorum And so the occasion of some Martyrs amongst the Scots increased numbers their Ashes being the best Compost to manure the Church And now return home out of England those Persons of Honour Prisoners to Henry 8. at the last fatal Battel with whom he deals so cunningly that by his Noble Usage and some Bribes to boot he returns them his Pensioners especially their utmost endeavour or a Match with Prince Edward and their Queen young Couples He five She but one year old And with this conceit the King might conquer Scotland by mariage to save him expence of money and men by the Sword But the French King Henry not liking this lincking began quarrels with the English embarging their Ships and Merchants goods the like with them in England So that some Forces were from hence speedily sent over which besieged Landersey but the French King in person with a mighty Army made the English to rise for to meet them In the mean time the Town was relieved and the King having done his Work returned in the dark The Scots Prisoners kept their word and prevailed so far at home that their first Parliament concluded the Match and confirmed it by an Instrument under Seals and ratified by Oaths and that their young Queen should be sent to her Husband but these Scots soon byassed by the French practices break faith and refuse This Indignity set Henry on fire for revenge who transports an Army into Scotland in 200. Vessels under command of Viscount Lisle Admiral for the Sea and the Earl of Hartford for the Souldiers and Land at the Fryth marching in three Battalia's towards Lieth And were encountred with skirmishes by six thousand Horse who soon retreated leaving Lieth to be consumed with fire And being besides this Success too powerful to be opposed marched forwards towards Edinburgh and were humbly besought by the Provost and Burgesses to spare their Cities ruin and be pleased with the Souldiers free quarter and Bag and Baggage at parting No this was not sufficient to appease the Enemies fury who being therefore somewhat opposed entered by force with fierce assault took part of the Town which they ransacked and consumed with fire Holy-rood-House and the Palace The Ships returned with large Spoils and the Army marcht on coasting the Countrey homewards ransacked above thirty Towns in their way with no more loss than fourty men Having thus punished them for perjury King Henry design'd as much or more to the French with two Armies the one under Command of the Duke of Norfolk who besieged the strong Town Maittrel but were beaten up with loss and little honour The other had better success by the Duke of Suffolk for embodying both of them encamped about Bulloign with power enough to be masters And therefore for the glory of the gallant King Himself comes over and after a Months Battery takes first the Upper and then the Base Town by Articles to depart with Bag and Baggage the whole number of Souls 4444. and King Henry Mans the Town and so comes home again And it was time so to do for the Scots always aiming at such opportunities fell into the Marches of England rifling and burning all the Towns they came to from whence the English were fled till they met with the Earl of Hartford who was sent with twelve thousand men and doing as the other had done before ruin'd all without opposition of any And thus but by turns King Henry intending to be more cruel with Revenge to that end makes peace with France but dies two years after Which Gave the Scots some time of breathing from abroad never free from quarrels at home the State increasing in Faction the old Council keep up their Inquisition after Heretiques as they termed the Reformers and for Example fell upon one Wischard whose outward zeal and affection to their Cause gave him courage to confirm it by Fire and Fagot And for whose death the Cardinal David Beaton lately come to enjoy his Kinsmans CAP was barbarously murthered in his Castle of Saint Andrews by Norman Lisle Iames Melvin and others and were justified in that barbarous act by Iohn Rough preaching it for sound doctrine who had got into their gang one Iohn Knox the most notorious Ringleader afterwards of all disorder in their Reformation which now began to quarrel with the Crown also and all Regal Government For presently surprizing the Castle He was by the Crowd vocated as they call it to be a Preaching Minister whose Pride enduring no Rival soon turned out Rough that brought him in But Knox finding no firm footing in Scotland fled into England two years after And now began the tumult within and without the Castle the Town taking parts Monsieur d' Osel sent into France for a great Army and as soon as sent for was wafted over in 24. Gallies anno 1547. beginning Siege and Battery to the Castle which was quickly rendered and the Prisoners and Spoil thereof returned back with the Army into France The English were comming to oppose the French but Henry 8. of England dying gave occasion to the French to return Victors The antient League of Scots and French was decreed in the time of Achaius the first Monarch of
to be rather for Conquest than Countenance and so was it time for the English to strike in for a share if not to prevent such Neighbour-hood upon that Rule Let the French be thy Friend but not thy Neighbour and indeed were afraid of an invasion as was threatned upon several Pretences And first the English Counsellors wisely considered not to provoke nor to give bad Examples for Princes to lend Protection to rebellious Subjects For so all Potentates esteemed the Scots against their Sovereign And on the other side it might be accounted little Piety to forsake a Protestant Party for so the Religion would have them But concluded it reasonable to be in Arms and to expect occasions It being alwaies the English fore-sight to prevent invasion at home On the sudden it was hastened to send forces to Scotland upon pretence however to assist Religion and so drive out the French from thence ere they should take firm footing there This Result might be grounded on former Examples by the English neglect lost Ambleteul and the Fortifications neer Bologn taken suddenly which necessitated the loss of Bologn it self presently after And the same carelessness rendered Calice to the French Upon which score lest Berwick and the Borders should be surprized forces are sent by Land thither and by Sea into Edenburgh Fryth with a Fleet that suddenly set upon the French Ships riding neer the Shore and their Garrisons in the Isle of Inchketh The Duke of Norfolk comes to Berwick with forces assisted with Commissioners Sir William Caecil Secretary and Doctor Wootton a Civilian And who must come to kiss their hands but the Prior of St. Andrews Iames the Bastard Son of Iames the fifth the Lord Ruthen and others Commissioned from Hamilton Duke of Castle-herault and the Confederates and there enter league with England In May 1560. For preservation of the Kingdom of Scotland against the French during their Mariage with the French King and a year after and for expelling the French provided that they preserve obedience to the Queen of Scotland The Governours of that State Who had imped their Wings with Eagles Feathers liked no game now but what was raked out of the ashes of Monarchy making head against Soveraignty And to make it the better called in to their aid the English Forces inviting their antient Enemy the English against the French and by that means turned her own Sword into her own bowells to the funeral of her own Liberty and so it was no wonder Scotland at that tiuse to pass under Foreign Servitude Evermore crying Liberty which they most avoided as they came neerer to the End and Event And hereupon an English Army of 10000. was sent under Command of the Lord Gray and were received by the Duke Arguile Ruthen and Others the Queen Regent with her faction took security in the Castle of Edenburgh The French inclosed within the Town issued out upon the Besiegers and put them to flight But rallying again forced the French into the Town and stormed it with great loss And now the Ministers make the fourth and last Covenant To expulse the French out of the Kingdome when in Iune 1560. the Queen Regent dies and forthwith came Commissioners Randan with a Bishop Deputies from the King and Queen in France Sir William Caecil and Doctor Whitton from England treat and conclude a Peace at Edenburgh in Iuly That the English and French should depart the Kingdom and 24. elect shall govern whereof the King and Queen in France shall nominate seven and the States five as one Council and six of those to be of the Quorum And Deputies of the Congregation to be sent into France by Petition to the King and Queen for granting privileges concerning the Reformed Ministers and their Religion Which Treaty Queen Elizabeth endeavored evermore hereafter to press Queen Mary to ratifie which she alwaies refused or excused And thus being rid of two devowring Armies some hopes remained to recover that poor Nation into reasonable quiet But the Strangets gone the Ministers pulpit their Design prescribing certain Diocesses to several Men. We shall use their Names hereafter Knox to Edenburgh Goodman to Saint Andrews Heriot to Aberdeen Row to Saint Iohnstons Meossen to Iedbrough Christoson to Dundee Forgeson to Dumfermling Lindsey to Lieth Afterwards they had their Super-Intendents Spotswood for Lothian Woram for Fife Willock for Glasco Canswell for Arguile and the Isles Dun for Angus and Mearors And then the next Parliament they supplicate for Liberty of Conscience with Invectives against Papistry but not Episcopacy as yet And presented 25. Articles of the Confession of their Faith ratified by the three Estates called Lords of the Articles viz. eight Lords eight Church-men eight Commons these are first to consider Articles and Heads and then to present them to the Parlament to pass and are called in the Latine Authores Apolecti And two Acts were published against the Mass the Popes Supremacy and Jurisdiction which were sent to the King and Queen in France for ratification but by them refused however Knox Winram Spotswood Willock Dowglas and Row devised a Policy of Church-Government which they called Discipline And fearing the future they send Commissioners into England to supplicate Queen Elizabeths assistance and support against fresh Forces out of France when in December 1560. Francis King of France and Scotland dies and therefore to his Queen Widow was sent the Lord Iames afterwards E. of Murray as her Counsel In this Interim the Ministers bethink of some Orderly Form in the Kirk The Manner of electing Super-Intendents was to summon the Churches about Edenburgh by publick Edict Iohn Knox presented Iohn Spotswood Super-Intendent of Lothian whom the multitude accepted and promise obedience as to their Pastor He by questions professes and answers That he accepts of this office without any respect of worldly Commodity Riches or Glory but since these daies of pluralties they leave out this Article without answering concluding to be subject and obedient to the late Discipline of their Kirk And thus he becomes a Minister of the Multitudes making which with the blessing of some one of them he is dismissed At this time comes over an Ambassadour from France to restore Bishops and Church-men He was answered Negative and so departed And presently after they fall to pulling down Abbies and Monuments of the Church And now begins Jealousies between the two Queens of England and Scotland For the Scots had sent into England for the Queens ratification of the Treaty at Edenburgh which she signed but the Queen of Scotland in France refused it with excuse until she comes home and consult with her Council which the other took ill Although she had endeavoured with reasonable Arguments to satisfie her Ambassadour Throgmorton therein But the Widow Queen arrived in Scotland out of France in August 1561. in most tempestuous weather Triste
buried in the Abby This end had Henry Stuart 18. Moneths a King He was a Prince of high extract by Father and Mother His Character sans-parel comely tall ingenious and liberal fitted for all Excellencies of mind and body if time had lent him experience He had a quick wit and writ well and because he was a King Covert-barn and meddled the less he had the more leisure to hunt and hawk and ride great Horses and therein the Mastery His vices were thereafter Greatness and Ease made him feed high and those brought him to Incontinency though the Queen was beautiful and young enough for a Princess Such neglects of his by the Designs of others hastened his ruine who took boldness thereby to work their own ends without the least Guilt of the Queen This is the report of some yet others give as a Story For the Ministers in hate to the Queen who truly it appears did much for them in the case of Policy and their immerits tells us that by Bothwels direction Sir Iames and Gilbert Balfores Chalmers Spency Sebastian Iohn de Bourdeaux and Ioseph brother to Rizio Domestiques of the Queen and Strangers of all Nations were the men that were Actors in the Murther Bothwell being in hope to succeed him in case the Divorce from his Wife should come timely from the Pope which his hast could not stay for and easie enough it was to infuse this into honest Lenox who supplicates the Queen for tryal of Bothwell by Assize before the Earl of Caithness President the Earl Cassiles and other Peers fourteen in all who cleered Bothwel and this was dispatched for satisfaction of the Commissioners of the Christned Prince and their Soveraigns But Bothwell follows the Queen in her visit of the Prince at Sterlin from whence he carries her to Dunbar and for which violence he gets a general pardon and so includes that of the King if it should farther burst out There was no let to the Queens affection but Bothwels Wife from whom he was soon divorced and both content for She made the first hasty second mariage with the Earl of Sunderland and he after the banes publiquely asked by Crage the Minister was married to the Q. May 15. 1567. Mala nubunt Mense Maio by the Bishop of Orkenay And truly compare all those which have writ of this Queen several Authors and in several Languages for all are partial we may yet pick out truth concerning her Husbands and her hasty mariages in their proper stories That Morton and Murray and many others besides plotted the Murther of the late King upon Malice Ambition and Revenge Each of them by several Interests But Bothwell got the best Bone and they their Bones Indeed they also herein murthered the honour of their Mistress for she seemed a Property whirled about with every wind which they sailed by Buchanan speaks much of this matter in a worser way and payes the Queen to the Purpose in his History as also in his Pamphlet The Detection Both which were condemned in Parliament and of them both he repented Wishing that his blood might expiate those his Falsities and Impieties Udal hath more of it in her excuse and if not partial take him who afterwards writ to K. Iames. Or if you please take our relation who write the neerest of truth than can be gathered and thus it was Sir Roger Aston an English-man and preferred in Court by the Earl of Dunbar lodging in the Kings Chamber that night of his Murther Both of them smelt the fire of a Match which caused them hastily to leap out of their Beds and out at a window into the Garden the King had his Sword in his hand and suspecting Treason as also hazard of the young Prince hastily commanded Aston to speed thither and prevent his danger whilst himself single was seized upon by divers and wounded to death and so left in the Garden and to colour it the House was blown up with Gun-powder but the Kings body not scorched by any fire was viewed and found to be slain by such as so ordered the secrecy as not in those daies to be divulged And this Tale was told by Aston himself since he came into England with K. Iames. But that I may unfold the Mistery of these late Murthers and how the Queen was involved into future suspition by her hasty Mariages I shall open Murrays subtilty to be the chief Author and Actor in all The slaughter of Rizio not long ago gave security in that time of distraction at Court for Murray boldly to appear before the Commissioners upon his Indictment of Rebellion the very next day after the Tumult and so no Accusation came against him the Murther being hastned for that purpose The Queen therefore through the Kings intercession receives him her self in such Distraction conceived it the safest way to depend on his Brotherly base Counsel The King very sensible of his own Accessary in Rizio's death and deluded by the Cunning contrivance of Morton and Murray His youth and easiness of belief giving way Now repents of that rashness implores the Queens clemency and ingenuously reveals to her the Villany of them all with resolution to be revenged And seeing the Bastards power and interest in Affairs of State equal if not before His advises with others to remove him farther off Murray hath intelligence of all and under shadow of outward duty thought of nothing more than to ruin him Of which he acquaints Morton by Message into England who was conveyed thither upon Rizio's murder Some difference between the King and Queen gave the advantage for by their former villany they animate him to strain upon the Rights of Soveraignty to his face which covertly they opposed to the Queen and alwaies after he had done a miss to leave him in the lurch And finding the good nature of the King likely to comply into affection with the Queen and to be reconciled together To prevent them Murray draws in Bothwel to the Confederacy with these murtherers who though fled acted in all Councils And so Bothwel must be reconciled to Murray and brought into grace with the Queen Contracting under hands and seals and bound with Oaths That the King being laid aside he advanced the Queen distrusted by the Peers and so the rule of Regency in Murray Upon this Conspiracy the Bastard conveys himself slyly out of the way but twelve hours before the King was murthered and in hurray of affairs returns to Court and altogether they advise nay compel or threaten the Poor Queen to mary Bothwell who they present as nobly born bold and faithful to the State against all assaults of the English to prevent the Tumults of the time and hazard to all If not they would purchase their own security by any otherwaies how prejudicial soever to her safety which at last she was forced to consent unto And this Relation was confirmed under the
and to mary Norfolk They promise to procure Queen Elizabeths consent and the other to be restored to all which she in Prison easily yielded and who could blame her in the case she was But ere they had so done Queen Elizabeth had suspition and therefore it was more than time to break it themselves so from one to the other it was neglected till Leicester did it She asked the Duke thereof and charged him to decline it least he hop't headless and it was good warning sufficient to him to look ere he leap't and so he stole away in time of Progress back to London Caecil wisely took care of the State and learned so much of the Matter that the Duke began to fear restless in any place withdrew to Norfolk where some Commotion was purposely set on foot and he suspected To prevent the worst he returns back towards the Court but at Saint Albans was taken to guard and secured for by this time Treacherous Murray had out of Scotland discovered what he knew and upon which the Duke was sent to the Tower Bishop Ross and others committed and Pembroke examined not well remembring what he had said or should say for he could not read a word Northumberland and Westmerland take Arms but fearing greater opposition fled into the North. But ere all this was known in Scotland Secretary Metallan increased faction for Queen Mary and sided with Hume and Grange Captain of Edenburgh Castle and before it was ripe he is sent for to Sterlin accompanied with the Earl Athole to intercede if need were and need there was for he is accused as Accessary to the late Kings murther and committed close Prisoner Sir Iames Balfore in the same Condition were both of them sentenced by the Convention of States for by them Murray did all his work as in cases of Treason but with much ado Balfore had pardon and Metallan reprived to Edenburgh Castle and Murray posted up and down to reduce the Norfolk faction and the Queens who were increased and returns to the Life Tryal of Metallan at Edenburgh where finding his Party too strong being of Hamilton Huntley Arguile and others he warily adjourned the arraignment for though by this time News came of the Dukes Commitment in England yet his Faction increased very powerful and his Plot went on in Scotland The Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland in favour of the Queen of Scots and right Rebels to Religion with 6000. Foot and 2000. Horse mastered Durham burnt the Bible and Service Books heard Mass in Darnton and took Bernard Castle but being pursued by the Earl of Warwick with twelve thousand men and Sussex with another army of seven thousand they were forced to fly into Scotland in December and lurked among the Borderes and Robbers until Morton betrayed Northumberland to the Regent who sent him prisoner to Lochleven being an Enemy to all sides but the Queen of Scots This service Queen Elizabeth took well and gave audience to Pitcarn his Ambassadour to whom she promised to desist the restoring of Queen Mary and assured all friendship to the Regent when he should crave her aid The effect was soon published in Scotland to the fear and lessening of Maries party and they not able to Master his Power took the bold way of base treachery be one Iames Hamilton whose life Murray had saved and he undertakes to kill him His opportunity he takes at Lithgow in secret where he placed himself in a House as the Regent passed by shot him with an Harquebuss out at a Window the bullet passed thorow his Body and killed the Horse under George Dowglass 21. Ianuary 1569. He dyed that night Hamilton had his horse ready and scaped beyond Seas where he dyed not long after Murray was base Son to King Iames the fift and took up Religion for the gain of the Spoil of Papists He was a Man full of Ambition injurious and ungrateful to the Queen and likely not to have spared her Son when time had wrought him power to effect it He was much assisted in his Regency by Mortons perpetual concurrency and may be coupled as Parmenio and Alexander Nihil Murray absque Morton Multa Morton absque Murray It comes to be the question whether for Interest or Friendship Morton was so fixt certainly Murray aimed at all the Queen in durance and his labour so to continue her or rather to have her in his Custody and so to have ordered her and her Son for his own purpose To ballance him the Queens faction were Hamiltons Arguile Athole Huntley and almost all the petty Princes as the Scots call themselves Earls of Crawfoord Rothess Eglinton Cassiles the Lords Harris Maxwells Iohnston Seaton Boyd Grey Mettallan the Secretary and Politicquer and Grange the active Captain of the Castle of Edenburgh and most of the strong Castles and Forts the French did assist them and Spain favored them and so did all Catholiques In England the faction of Norfolk and Papists and all Male-contents or Treacheries took up Queen Maries cause to mutiny She had her Rents in France duly paid and her Jewels and much under-hand support to countenance her Amâ—assadours abroad and private Emissaries and a working brain for her own ends All the English banished Lords Dacres Westmerland and all the Popish at home The other party which we call the Kings but indeed they were of all sides partial to their own Iuterests Pride and Ambition and took up factions accordingly were Morton Mar Lenox Glencarn Lindsey and Glams Simple Methvain Ruthen no Castles but Sterlin and Tantallon and the Commons and from England Queen Elizabeth knew well how to feed them on all sides with a bit and a bob for in this time she had sent three several Armys against the Borderers under that colour which most horridly burnt all in their way with incredible mischief to that miserable Nation The Murther of Murray was lookt upon as more publique than to be acted by one and a Resolution of his Friends to question it by force or Justice In the mean time the Estates appoint a day and this put off was counselled by Metallan who was got out of Prison in this hurrey of affairs and suspected the Plotter of Murrays death The Lords meet and stand upon their guard but agree in nothing for the common safety the Queens Party elect three Lieutenants Arran Arguile and Huntley and appoint a Parliament in August after In this while Queen Elizabeth sends Sir William Drury with three hundred Horse and a thousand foot into Scotland to pursue her Rebells as was pretended but sided with Morton and did some mischief to the Queens Faction and so returned Home The 13. of Iâ—ly in a Convention at Sterlin Lenox the Kings Grandfather is chosen Regent and Hamilton refused Queen Elizabeth declining her direction in that Election but well pleased since she had his wife in her hands He marches with Forces of 5000. men to Linlithgow and prevents
the Lords Meeting of their Parliament in Augnst after and so with increase of men makes up eight thousand Ranges the Country and spoils his Adversaries with Marshal law hangs them up by Scores and returns to Sterlin The King of Spain not with much affection to the Cause but for his own interest and malice to Queen Elizabeth secretly sends money and ammunition to Huntley in the North. The Duke of Castle-herault and Arguile send Seaton to Duke D' Alva in Flanders for aid and to restore the Captive Queen He promised fair but did nothing having much to do for his Master against Holland Nay the Pope fell to work with his Bulls excommunicates Queen Elizabeth and absolves her Subjects and some fears of a Rebellion in Norfolk to deliver the Duke exceedingly beloved and pitâ—yed And therefore upon his humble petition and penitency abjuring the Mariage was released the Tower and restrained only to his own House but with a Keeper Sir Henry Nevel whether in favour or to beget in him more Guilt for Henry the Eight's Statute of Treason to mary the Blood Royall without leave was repealed by Queen Elizabeth and his Misdemeanours were not yet come up to Felony But she in much trouble and fear of Forein Forces and Domestique Insurrections dayly put in practice in Darby-shire Sent Caecil and Mildmay with 16. Articles to Queen Mary at Chatsworth in Darby-shire not unreasonable unless those concerning the Scots interest with France of antient League and Security which therefore she wittily argued as not in her power without their consent For her Dowry was from thence the Scots Guard of Gens D' arms in France of one hundred Horse and 124. Archers the interest of some Clergy in pension and immunities from their Scots Merchants and Students in France All which except the English would recompence she could not remove their Amity and some Castles also required in Scotland which she could not render and so these Overtures were quite declined The Scots Incendiaries at home fearing that Queen Elizabeths good Inclination or other Forein assistance should release their imprisoned Queen and so revenge would follow Morton with others from Scotland are sent to prevent it and present a tedious insolent memorial the gall of the pen came from Knox and his Kirkmen with authorities of ipse dixit Calvin too hateful for president to others in justification of themselves and against Royalty which the Queen read and disdained as a Libel Yet she ordered Commissioners to treat with Queen Maries Commissioners and them concerning her Release but they excused themselves by a frivolous restraint of their Authority therein But certainly They that came impowred to deprive had powers to restore And indeed what needed Authoritie from others at home when wicked facts had made all equals Facinus quos inquinat aequat and so all return home Herein nothing to the poor captivated Queens Release her Friends in Scotland worsted in all their actions of Arms or Treaties strong places surprized and many executed for being but suspected of her Party Arch-Bishop Hamilton Brother to the Duke Castle-herault hanged as privy to the late Kings Murther without any Arraignment or Tryal and she here deprived of all her Friends and Domestiques but ten persons She then bethinks her self of the last remedy sends secretly to the Duke of Norfolk renues her affection and conjures his Assistance with other Letters to the Pope and King of Spain by Higford the Dukes Secretary a fiery Fellow even such another Creature as might be a President afterwards unto Cuff Secretary to his unfortunate Master the Earl of Essex who besides his Errand insinuates to the Duke fair hopes of Confederacy and assistance from all the Catholique Princes and the Pope also And with this Plot of impossibilities not without suspition of Treachery to his Master for before these letters were burnt he secretly stole the Minutes of all their private missions and lodged them purposely where they soon came to light The poor Duke easy enough to be cosened but not into the villany of Treason detested and disliked his Motions And yet afterwards but for meddling with money in behalf of that Queen to be sent to her Friends which was misconstrued perhaps in the worst sence for Support of Enemies against Queen Elizabeth he fell into this mischief and Treason which Higford confessed and discovered all the former Matters to boot The Duke not dreaming what was acknowledged denyed all at his Examination and so was again committed to the Tower and presently after him the Earls Arundel and Southampton the Lords Lumley and Cobham with others his Friends but these scaped with life and in hope of pardon told all they knew and more than truth And thus was he betrayed not knowing whom to trust where he lodged till he lost his head the next year after Bishop Ross Queen Maries Lieger Ambassadour of long time ago and so now here A witty and well-experienced Man he was in his Craft and up to the ears in all Designs and Plots for her Relief and Advantage through his Letters intercepted and all their confessions produced was sent for and examined the most guilty Crimes of them all either the Contriver or deeply Acceâ—â—ary some he confessed those which concerned others he constantly concealed and cunningly answered unto all There being sufficient evidence to make him guilty he stood upon his Privilege which he wittily defended and yet were qualified from any punishment The Tribunes of the People in Rome were free from question in their Annual Office Particular Mischief submits to the conveniency of the Publique Leges de Jure Gentium inductum est ut eorum Corpora salva sint propter necessitatem Legationis acâ—ne confundant jura comercii inter Principes Let us come to latter Customes of our own kind Henry 2. Restrained the Popes Legat until he swore not to act in prejudicium Regis vel Regni Henry the third did so likewise to another of the Popes Legates Another fled of himself timens pelli sui Edw. 1. Complained to the Pope and had satisfaction ere his Legate was released Henry 8. Restrained the Ambassadour of Charls 5. one Lewis de Prat for but falsely traducing Cardinal Wolsey to his Master Charles the ninth of France did so to Sir Nicholas Throgmorton for Counselling the Prince of Conde against the King In Spain was Doctor Man Ambassadour from England imprisoned for using his own Religion and yet Gusman de Sylva at that instant here in England had Mass with freedom But then the Inquisition mastered that State 1567. We restrained Don Guerman de Aspes in London for Libelling this State to the Duke D'Alva 1568. The French Ambassadour Alpin and Maluset were so used also The Venetian Ambassadour at Madrid protected an Offendor that came into his House the usual Sanctuary who by force was taken out from thence and that State justified that Action condemning the Ambassadors Servants that opposed Some to death
to the Q. of Scots to expostulate criminally with her 1. For usurping the Title and Arms of England and had not released them as was agreed in the Treaty of Edenburgh 2. For the practice of Mariage with the Duke of Norfolk 3. As also all the beforementioned Contrivements particularly urged To all she wisely answered and to the most of them Nâ—gative A League being concluded between England 〈◊〉 France the Ambassadour moved for favour to the Queen who was answered that she deserved none for that she had secret confederacy with the King of Spain by the Lord Seaâ—on which being discovered and true the French were silent The Estates of Scotland took some time to present their Desires to Queen Elizabeth how fit Morton was for the Regency which â—he took well though she knew they intended the power upon him for so she had the honour to say She made him and with whoâ—â— in truth she alwaies kept the most narrow correspondency trusting to his Judgement and diligence to do much for the King with whom he alwaies sided The King was committed to the custody of Alexander Erskin for Erskin the then Earl of Mar was under age whose peculiar right it was to challenge that trust and Buchanan designed his Tutor a man of some fame by the Scale of learning whom Time and Ambition wrought afterwards a dangerous Incendiary to the King and State From this Parliament now sitting were the Papists utterly excluded and laws for advance of Religion enacted to the wonder of all how soon the Papists frighted into fears of loosing their Estates very forwardly subscribed to the Reformed which so heightened the Kirk into swelling Pride against Bishops also that their violence afterwards could never be brought to Moderation Though the Protector conceaved the Prelatical function to be no less necessary in State then warrantable in Reformation And so he regulated them as the Bishops of England Votes in Parliament but abridged their Authority over others And thus stood the power of Synods interposing the moderate Prelates who yielded much in Peace to the publick Ministery and belike conceiving that time and experience might mollifie them to a more convenient Constitution The faction for Papists was of the French and Queen of Scot whose countenance were the Hamiltons Arguile Huntley and Hume ancient Barons Grudging at the Vice-Roy's Government sought to undermine his Establishment and he at home by pleasing the people gained the City and Kirkmen For now was Knox become the Temple incendiary imitating the Vandalls devastatious ruinates the Monuments of Ancestors Piety Church-bells and Bed coverings scape not him nor any other such like sacrilegious ravings himself accknowledged that Mary had and did then blame him for his too great rigor and severity that in his heart he never hated the persons against whom â—e thundred Gods Iudgments hating their Sins and forbore none of what ever condition doing it in Gods fear thus much he said for him selfe and being the words of a dying man I say them over for Christian Charity and Honour to his parts whose Character needs no more than the former History faithfully set down wherein it appears a Beacon he had been apted to fire the Kingdome but his blaze was this year extinguished and he died of good age 67. years whether his History of the Church were his own is suspected of some his name supposed to gain credit to the work which in many parts seems ridiculous Morton in some eminencie and lustre fell into an obloquie of an infamous Act upon the person of Thomas Percey Earl of Northumberland whose desperate case together with Westmerland forced them from home as you have heard to seek for succour in Scotland after some time Westmerland got into Flanders but Northumberland wandred in the woods of Hatles for habitation and was heretofore by his Comrades betrayed to Morton and delivered up by him to the late Regent Murray whose Authority preserved him by the Law of Nations from Queen Elizabeths fury but now Morton powerfull by preferment and plentifull in Estate whom honour had made so aud some meritt valuable yet I know not with what errour of honesty basely sould him for a piece of Money to Hunsdon Governour of Berwick and so became headless by the fatall Ax at York The fruit of this ungratious Act fell upon the Protector himself in the Ultimum of his life by the like fall of the Ax that often cures great men of these wicked maladies 1581 The Kingdome of Scotland heretofore in severall fewds now was devided into two unnaturall factions of Son and Mother the King and captivate Queen in which dissention the Nobility side into severals England and France interpose accord but with sinister respects for the French Ambassadour had his Item and meant nothing less Queen Elizabeth to countermine him sent Killegrew to join with the King and Religion yet a Treaty was perswaded In the interim Kirkaldy Lord of Grange and Governour of Edenburgh Castle being on a high Rock inaccessable fortified by a Feâ— and Lake on one side and a Moss which surrounds it and to his faction being the chief Baron the French gave hope of assistance To whom he sends over his Brother Iames Kircaldy for men and money with which returning he lands at the Castle Blackness the Governour thereof Andrew Stuart though before his Confident was of late bribed to seaze him into fetters whilest he carried the news and 1000. French Crowns of Kirkaldies to the Regent In his absence on this treacherous errand Kircaldy corrupts his Keepers and they the Souldiers and so of a Prisoner he hath the Keys and custody of the Castle In two daies returned Stuart and no sooner entered but is secured into Irons which he studies to revenge and conceived that the best way might be the same and so the less suspected to catch his Adversary in the same Gyn which so lately caught him With feigned tears and a cunning tale he melts the hardned Gaolers into compassion and they the Guard with helps of some bribings some Crowns secretly sowed up in his quilted Wastcoâ—e And as if better than they could design it Kircaldy would needs accompany his Wife in a visit forth of the Castle when as hastily he was shut out and the late Governour set at liberty commands all again During which time the Treaty came on but ended without effect and Grange begins his fury on the City as fuel to his fire Either part implore assistance The Protector from England and soon was sent to him by Land and Sea nine Canons six demi-Canons six Sakers 9. Culverins with all necessaries and 1500. men under Command of the Marshal of Berwick Sir William Drury who joined with 500. hired Scots and so furiously assaulted the Castle that from the twenty fifth of April in thirty three dayes it was rendred to the Mercy of the Queen of England who referred it wholly to the Regent and the Lord
by the King sacredly to observe Which so incouraged the Orange party as to bring all their Sea prizes into Rochel and this Contract drew in Eliz. Queen of England and all these overtures committed by the King to the Admirals prosecution Notwithstanding these publique Conditions therein the Pope sent Cardinal Alexandrine from Rome with Instructions to perswade the French King to enter societâ— with the League of Trent to make war upon the Heretiques and had satisfactory answer from the King and Queen-Mother and on the Contrary all possible tokens of favor to the Admiral and his Complices in restoring their losses with a sum of one â—undred thousand pound Sterling out of his Treasure not leaving the least action undon to amuse the Admiral into firm assurance of the Kings faithful intentions And to confirm belief purposed to affiance his Sister Margaret to Prince Henry Son to the Queen of Navar who had defended the Cause of the Religion in the late Wars and this to be celebrated according to the Reformed Religion The League between Charls the King and the Prince of Orange and Articles concluded The Mariage appointed in Paris and the Queen of Navar of the Religion repaired thither for the Solemnity The Admiral also sent for by the King to go before to Paris promising himself to follow and the Spire-Cross-Steeple called Gastignes Cross erected in the rage of the Civil War in Triumph and reproach of the Religion a Monument of Civil Dissention was by the Admirals request overthrown Great Assistance of Men and Ammunition sent to the Army of the Prince of Orange into Germany And order to the Treasurer to deliver moneys to the Admirall for the Publick Service without accompt In this Interim the Queen of Navar was impoisoned at Paris by a pair of perfumed Gloves by one Renat a cunning Apothecary and so the Kingdome descended to Prince Henry her Son who was to be affianced to the Kings Sister and the Mariage solemnized with respect to eithers Religion And five daies after the Admirall solicited the Council in behalf of the Religion and returning home with divers Noblemen he was shot by a Harquehuss out of a Window through both his Arms by one not certainly named but the Abetters were Guisets The King visits the Admiral in some danger of Death from whom he receives advice and Counsel in his private affairs and with great affection and thanks the King commanded a Guard for security of the Admirals person by Cossin Captain of the Kings Guard an utter Enemy to the Admirall and all his Friends advised to draw into the Admirals quarters to be neer to him Thus all things prepared for the purpose of a Massacre the Queen Mother summons all the Confederates with advice to spare the King of Navars life and the Prince of Conde and the Execution to be the next night early by Order of the Duke of Guise who summoned the Diziners and told them the Kings design to destroy all the Rebels of the late Wars at the sound of the Tocksein or Bell and the Mark of difference a while Cross in their hats and a handkercher about the arm The Duke of Guise with the Kings Guard and the Bastard Son of King Henry assisted by Cossins beset the Admirals house who nothing moved in respect of the Kings several sacred Oaths to peace the league with the Queen of England Articles of Treaty with Orange Faith to the Princes of Germany some Towns taken in the Low-Countries by the Kings Command the Mariage of the Kings Sister solemnized but six daies before Ingagement of Forein States shame and dishonor to the Law of Nations all was by him argued as security Cossin with others enters the house and slew all in his way the Admiral comanded his Servants about him to fly and shift for themselvs being ready himself to dy for the Church â—he Villains enter his Chamber Benuese a German thrust the Admiral into the Body and Attin a Picard shot him into the Heart with a Pistol and threw his body out of the Window down into the Court where the Duke de Guise and the Bastard and other staied to view it and so marching out cryed that this was the Kings pleasure for that the Conspirators had resolved to kill the King The Admirals head was sent to Rome his body dragged through the Streets and after hanged up on the City Gallowes with a rope by the feet and so all that day murthering and killing all of the Religion Men Women and Children The King of Navar and Prince of Conde in the Louvre were sent for to the Kings presence their Servants being all slain and so preserved all the Noblemen and Gentlemen their friends slain and the next day a fresh murthering ranged through all the Cities and all the Offices and Places of the dead presented to the Murtherers and by this Example Post news commanded all the other Places of Reformation to be so butchered throughout France â—s in Orleance Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxerre c. The King fearing the Dishonor of this base Treachery and perjury posted Letters to all his Governours of Provinces and speedy Messengers to England Germany and Switzerland of this great Commotion in France raised by the Duke of Guise and his Complices upon the Guard and person of the Admiral and his Friends with the Death of many and hazard therein of the Kings person his Mother and Brethren by the safety of his Castle the Louvre this dissimulation he was forced unto for the present and yet within two daies after declared in open Parliament that the Admirall and his Confederates had conspired his death with his Mothers Brethren and King of Navar which was prevented by the others death And this was published in print to this day and from thenceforth all publique meetings of the Religion were forbidden Some Reluctancies there were of several persons that conclude this horrid fact surpassing the memory of all former ages Others compare it with the monstrous murthers of King Mithridates who with one Messenger and one Letter caused an hundred and fifty thousand Romans to be slain some said it was like the murthers of Peter of Aragon upon eight thousand French in Sicily The difference was their cruelty was executed on Strangers this on the Kings own Subjects and Countreymen These Discourses put the King to consider how to blanch this monstrous act with some colour of Iustice. And therefore they framed a Body stuffed with bottles of Hay for the Admiralls dragged again about the Streâ—ts his Arms and Ensigns of Honour to be broken his memory by a form of â—riting condemned his Castles and Houses razed his children infamous and his Trees and Woods to be hewn down from the height of six foot One Cavaignes and Briquemaul men of excellent merit the last being seventy years of age were imprisoned and tormented for to subscribe That they were of counsel with the Admiral to kill the King and his kindred which they
them all The deposing Mort on exalted the Presbyterian hopes to erect the Geneve Discipline by Pastors Deans and Super-intendents and now to bring it about they call a Synod wherein all factions to the prejudice of the King were more cherished than Divine Worship intended for they decree The Ecclesiastical Regency to the Super-Intendents and left the Bishops only to one Church and exempt from Iurisdiction to relinguish Episcopacy and to omit Dispensation of Divine duties The King withstood this decree and revokes the business to his own brest and therein the Bishop of St. Andrews was the greatest Stickler The adverse party had Andrew Melvin a Man singular with them but not with the learned His tenents were To vindicate equality in the Ministry arrogantly endeavouring to suppress the Churches ancient authority and to erect to themselves a Statue of honour from the ruins of the Bishops disgrace Sick and ill disposed was the estate of Episcopacy the Praecisians prevalent in number The Nobles for Episcopacy joined with the Kings inclination To take protection of the fainting Ecclesiastick Discipline into his Care commanding the other to infuse fidelity into the people to abstain from innovation to reverence Bishops and follow peace Mortons 〈◊〉 gave him time and means to meditate Revenge and 〈◊〉 with the youthful inclination of the young E. of Mar 〈◊〉 quarrel with his Uncle Erskin for assuming the chiefty of that family and the usurpation of the Kings Tutâ—lage It took fire with the Gallant who secretly with his Train possesses Sterlin Castle his Uncle Erskin and the King and puts by Arguile one of the three Assistants The noyse hereof brings the Lords into Arms and their care of the Peace of the Kingdom assign Commissioners herein who decree all Erskins former interest upon Mar. The Queen of England sends Randolph whose often Legations had made him exquisite to congratulate the King whose rare and various Ornaments of Wit and Learning eminent in such an age as no Prince could ever parallel assures the Queens great affection and perswades the Lords to peace which was patcht up for the present But Morton grows insolent abolishing the Triumvirate rule and usurps all to himself of which Arguile Athol and Montross remonstrate to the King who refers it to the next Parliament in Iuly at Edenburgh where secretly some Lords covenant whom Morton undermines by fraction and advises for the meeting at Sterlin as more wholsom for the King and Nobles but indeed fitted for his faction of men of Arms and so it was to be there in the Court of the Castle and not as usual in the Common-Hall against which the other Edenburgh Lords protested as invalid and would not meet But the Parliament sate and the King this first time adorned with Majesterial Ornaments Robes and Scepter told them That it was not material where they met so his safety were included that his Court entertained all excluded none However this place should be no Prescript for posterity that he intended no innovation against his Predecessors Institutions that the opinions of a few should not dictate to the whole and so approves the Act by Proclamation Montross a Commissioner for the Lords remaining at Edenburgh posts thither with this news they take Arms ten thousand men and yet declare for the King Angus Mar and Morton do the like at Sterlin whâ—re both sides incamp but fought not at the earnest endeavour 〈◊〉 the English Ambassadour Sir Iohn Bowes and all disband And to piece this Discord the King proposes Moderators Lindsey Harris Ogleby Innerness for Arguile and Rothess Bucan Ruthen and Boyd for Morton but not prevailing Morton retires to his Palace at Dalkieth In whose absence the Delegates accord and he and Arguile and Athol meet and feast at Lieth which so pleased the King that he congratulates those whose endeavours had acted so much good and they again discuss what can be commodious for his Princely Dignity Magnificence and Profit And it began to be time so to do the Kings wants the Council supply by over value of Coyn which the Citizens withstood as over bitter for their digest Experience having taught this truth That the value of Silver alters the price of victual and all vendables the King as the great Rent Master or Land-lord bearing the greatest Loss for the future though not discernable for the present to his raw young Counsellors and this trick was put upon Morton and worse happened to his destruction The Earl Athole Lord Chancellour by the extremity of his disease yielded to nature or rather a delaying consuming poison forced him hence the suspition fell sadly upon his Corrival Morton and the revenge fell into the Power of Arguile who was chosen Chancellour in his Place This occasion no doubt the very Devil put into Mortons head to work himself mischief for in pure Conscience he intimates to the King the story of his death and so instigates his anger against the Hamiltons remembring also the slaughter of his Grandfather Lenox and of Murray late Regents and for these other crimes aforesaid 1573. and so begins their persecution with fire and Sword assisted with Mar and Angus The Hamiltons within their Castle and other places besieged were forced to yield to the Mercy of the King who executed the Actors of the Paracide and pardoned the rest Iohn and Claud the Sons of the late Duke of Castle-herauld in great distress what to do adventured to fly into England whom the Queen vouchsafed harbouring and sent Master Erington to intercede with the King The next Parliament was in October at Edenburgh where the King shewes himself to his People his years advanced with his Princely understanding to extraordinary Fame requiring his person more publike than at Sterling Solemnities and Ceremonies of Princes being the formal entertainments of reverence and respects And so he rode in all possible State the first day of sitting A great novelty to many to find Majesty in Man that had but seen the shadow for mâ—â—y years in Queens or Counterfeits but now attracted from the peoples hearts and hands venerations and blessings He tells the Houses the benefit of peace and this blessed opportunity to confer with them for the good of the Kingdome which his non-age had denyed them administring rather occasion of Commotion than the remedy of publick grievance which now he resolves to redress alwayes reposing confidence in their wise Counsels and calls God to witness his part aimed at the Preservation of Religion Subjects safety and Kingdoms security And first he enacted The form of Confession agreed in anno 1567. To the Prescript administration of the Sacraments in Act and Will That the present Religion embraced was to be esteemed Orthodoxal in doctrine and discipline And to be imposed upon all that went beyond seas by Oath and Subscription The Bible commanded in Scotch to each family The Power of Ministers regulated and
limitted And the Discipline erected by the Bishops and Super-intendents which had suffered some Diminution but no Synodical act for abolition should be confirmed And so with prosperous effects the Parliament ended and the King returns to his Sports at Sterlin The Presbyters now took up some colourable fears upon landing of one Amys or Amatus Stuart Lord Aubigny so called from Aubigny a Village in Aquitain a French-man born but of Scots family and kinsman to the King A notorious Guisit and Papist as they would have him The Town Aubigny was by Charles the seventh of France given to Iohn Stuart of the family of Lenox who commanded the Scots there and worsted the English which Town and Title depend ever since on the younger Sons and so on this Man He was sent over by the Guises or rather sent for over by Montross and Arguile to subvert Morton or to break the Truce twixt England and Scotland And no sooner landed but received with all honor and advanced in trust created Earl of Lenox and after created Duke a privy Counsellor of the Bed-chamber and Governour of Dunbarton Castle He was soon accused for engrossing so suddenly so much favour and since it hath been taken up for advantage who ever was like to please the King was thereupon cryed down by the Church for a Papist and so he was presented to Queen Elizabeth a dangerous Man and what mischief an evil favourite might suggest to the Kings maturity fitted to act evil impressions his Mothers Designs troublesome to both Realms more easy and proper for him to execute These in England and somewhat at home both together to wrest him from the King and Bowes is sent from Berwick to charge it home before the King and his Council The Queen of England not liking any so neer the King so much of the French Faction as he and one Monbirneau an Actor in the Massacre of France Bowes ere he entered into his errand required to have Lenox and him dismist the Board which was refused before the cause or crime were charged and bidden to produce his Commission for his peremptory demand which he could not and so was forthwith called home Yet to prevent the prejudice of his anger Alexander Hume is sent after to excuse it to the Queen so to learn the truth of her mistrust She as in such Cases to Messengers so all Princes take as Affronts to themselves and so did She and remits him to Burleigh disdaining to see him her self Burleigh Wisely assured him the Queens affections to his own person as a Protestant and his merits to his Master which she would own in any of his Ministers besides she knew him a good Counsellor for her Kinsman the King but denies you her presence who lookes not upon any Ambassadour from another where her own have been unheard and his Commission demanded without President But these are the fruits said he of your young Kings new Counsellors whose first principles are to discredit your best friends and interess their factions such as the Cosin Guises and a Frenchman or two of theirs sent over for that purpose to hazard ruin to the State if they be let to run on unless the Queens prudence and power prevent And so he parted Morton full of malice retires in discontent to Dalkieth disliking the state and manner of Court Miners for in doubt of some danger to his own person he came not neer the King but as commanded to counsel This distance gave his Enemies cause to fear and to prevent his hatred hasten their resolution to ruin him by the accusation of Iames Stuart sonne to the Lord Ucheltrie a bold-faced young man and had his arrand to charge him home which he did of murthering the late King and thus accused to his face and confined to his lodging he might expect no better than the last act of fate to take away his life and though a Pensioner to England this was done without dread of any But this ill news coming to Queen Elizabeth she Posts away Randolph now Post master of England to remove Lenox and to plead for Morton And in their great Assembly he recounts the Queens favours in freeing the Scots of the French with expence of English blood and treasure when her power could have seized all for her self the King then in his cradle his Regents successively owning these kindnesses till Aubigny and that other came in to ruine Religion and rule the King as their ward producing letters to some purpose which most men thought to be counterfeit and so effected nothing When nothing would serve his turn to turn out favorities Randolph takes upon him to set them by the ears and deals with both factions Lenox and Mortons underhand working jealousies to free themselves by force from eithers fewd which grew high and daingerous offering ayd from England to set things square which he made round These being marched to the Borders and the Scots as for the King prepared to receive them the English faction withdrew then and being discovered many were senâ— to prison and Randolph thus far besides his Commission durst not indure the power of his privilege but slipt away leaving his Nephew and Angus and Mar chief incendiaries to shift after and Morton to his just reward who was forthwith arraigned convict and beheaded for the murther of the Kings father and so confest by him before he dyed with this excuse that in those times of distraction he durst not but to do so The fatall Axe called the maiden himself had Patterned from that at Hallifax in Yorkshire which he had seen and liked the fashion for falling down between two posts executed him sure and sodain His Honour and Title was conferred on Iohn Maxwell He was an able man in what he undertook so that we may say as of Cato In hoc viro tanta vis animi ingeniique fuit ut quocunque loco natus est fortunam sibi ipse facturus fuisse videretur nulla ars neque privatae neque publicae rei gerendae ei defuit urbanas rusticasque res pariter callebat He was slow of speech with a natural composed gravity his countenance Majesticall his actions Princely had not that guilt of too much gathering and griping degraded those excellencies and left him naked to deserve nothing He desired to have a thing which dyed with him the Scots lawes reduced into Methode and it was urged as useless A great question with them to have Order in any thing that had none to serve God their opinion then hath since infected us His great wealth got together was scattered by unfaithful hands and hearts Livor post fata quiescit Discite mortales mortalia temnere illa Quaerere quae miseris non rapit aura levis About this time Ruthen lately created E. Gowry the son of William Ruthen Queen Maries deadly Enemy with other conspirators under pretence of
conserving the peace of Religion to which they were urged by the factious Ministery and which to secure they endeavour to remove Lenox and Arran from the King that was their colour but in their absence they invite the King to Ruthen Castle and their seize him Prisoner with threats of death untill he consented to the imprisoning of Arran banishing of Lenox into France and the return of the fugitive Angus out of England Of this the distressed Queen of Scots Prisoner at Sheffield writes to Queen Elizabeth a long letter full of miserable sadness Exquisitely expressing all her sufferings from the first of her subjects very oft Rebellion against her from which persecution being invited by her Majesty to rest secure upon her Princely succour and defence she is now by length of time drawn on to dispair of release from that hand which lodes her with lingring of a lothed life plainly and justly demonstrates her to be active and passive consenting to all her Mishaps She calls God to witness her Impartial affection to her Person and her innocency from prejudice of her affairs and State Desires justice of God and her and implores the mitigation of her misery and some more freedome though with Imprisonment of her Person Layes all particular differences home to the Conscience of the Queen and signs to her Letter Vostre tres desolei plus proche parente affectionate Seure Mary Reg. Indeed these were sharp and peircing which so much disquieted Queen Elizabeths Conscience that she consults to release her jointly to govern with the King And eight Articles were drawn up even such as they were the world knew she would never refuse for her extremity enforced her to yield to most unreasonable but this was but to spin time till the State could find some other expedients or some exceptions which dayly happened by Examinations Confessions or Suspitions grounded upon slender yet continual attempts of private persons and publique Designes of Forein States for the poor Queens interests which failing for her good she was though innocent sure to smart But because the manner of the Kings restraint in Ruthen is diversly related and which the Kirk justified for their own ends I shall adventure upon the Truth in these particulars hereafter Some of the Lords combining mischief to the King under colour of Religion and Liberty of the Kingdom took occasion and advantage of the Duke of Arrans absence from the Court and detained the King at Ruthen These Conspirators were Iohn Earl of Mar William Earl Gowry Lords Lindsey Boyd Clames and Oliphant Some Abbots and Lairds and stopt the King going to hunting who not being answered to the reason and cause grew in passion which concluded in tears to be thus vilified But it was reproached That better bairns should weep than bearded men This news hastens the Earl of Arran to Court where he was soon secured and bid be patient with safety of his life for his brother William Stuart was wounded by the way and kept Prisoner The like course they take with some Noblemen sent by the Duke of Lenox to enquire of the King Who cried out to them that he was a Captive and desired his good subjects to release him The conspirators excused themselves that their surprize only restrained the King from Arran and from Lenox whose banishment they threatned into France And forcing the King to pacifie the people with a Proclamation That for removing some differences His Majesty interposed himself Mediator and resolved to reside at Perth being his own free and voluntary choice and commanding such as were in Arms upon pretext of his restraint to dissolve within six houres on pain of death The Duke raises Forces but was countermanded by the Kings Letter to depart the Realm within twenty daies yet he retires to Dunbarton where the Noble-men and others flock to defend his Cause These uprores were posted to Queen Elizabeth who sends Sir Henry Cary and Sir Robert Bowes to advise the King to be counselled by the Lords against the Duke and Arran and to restore the Earl of Angus exiled in England since Mortons execution This last was obtained and soon after he was accepted into favour but much ado to incline the King to part with Lenox The Lords carry the King to Edenburgh where the Ministry justifie their act joyfully singing in Procession the 124. Psalm New Israel may say c. And the Assembly then convened ratifie the attempt on the Kings person at Ruthen and published it in all the Churches of the Realm to the regret and grief of all good men to see a bad cause thus coloured over and defended by the Church which made much for their Popedom that by these means of distraction the Lords gave themselves up to be governed by the Others Judgements Many there were that sided herein the most honest refused to subscribe But Arran was detained prisoner till the Duke was gon over Seas to France who fell sick at Sea and had leave to land at Blackness and so to pass by Queen Elizabeths favour though England where his sickness contracted into a Disease of which he died in Paris next year after and confessed the faith of the Church of Scotland which he alwaies maintained though in the Kirks policy he was accounted a Court Papist Two Ambassadors come from France Menvel and la Matt through England with whom was sent Davidson from Qu. Eliz. to undermine their Message being To work the Kings Liberty to confirm him to the French and renew the purpose of Association which was That the Queen of Scots should communicate the Crown with her son and administration of Iustice so that he may be acknowledged a lawful King by all Christian Princes and thereby all domestique factions suppressed This Embassy was voted in the Kirks Assembly to be a special grievance a wicked practice declaming in their Pulpits against la Matt who being a Knight of the Order of St. Esprit wore the badge of the White-Cross upon his Shoulder which they called The badge of Antichrist and him The Ambassadour of the bloody Murtherer meaning the Duke of Guise who sent him thither The King not able to do it otherwaies desired the Magistrates of Edenburgh not to demit them without a Feast at parting which was concluded on the Monday after And all cost prepared in Order thereto When on Sunday the very day before the Kirk proclame in their Pulpits the next day to be kept fast and in malice to the Kings honour therein appointed three Preachers the one succeeding the other to weary the poor peoples attention from Morning till night Thundering Curses Anathema's and Excommunication against all Nobles Magistrates and Others that attended the Ambassadors The good King sees these insolencies but lodges them up in silence till he got power to remedy these wrongs About this time dies Buchanan whose Character is chronicled by the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews in his History of
their Church For his excellent wit and incomparable learning Born near the Highlands After his first commitment 1539. for his versifying against the Fryers he escaped to France Returning 1560. he professed Philosophy at Saint Andrews and became the Kings Tutor He is concluded by all moderate and faithful Recordes That he penned his Scotish History with eloquence and with such Judgement as that he is justly blamed by most men for joining with all factions of the time and evermore to justifie any base and scandalous proceeding against Queen Mary and falsly and fowly he endeavoured to depress the Royal authority of Princes siding with the Treasonable tenents of rebellious Subjects which afterwards he expressed with bitter unmanerly sauciness of his Soveraign Queen then deceased This is the joint opinion of some with whom we may be convinced to incline This next Summer the King got free from his Attenders for being in Faulkland he desired to visit his Uncle the Earl of March then at Saint Andrews where he took a view of the Castle and being entered the Captain of the Guard Colonel Stuart acquainted with the Design clapt to the Gates and shut out the Company and the next morning came the Kings friends the Earls of Arguile Marshall Montross and Rothess And of his former Jaylers none but the Earl Gowry was admitted by the Collonels means who had been his Servant and upon his humble submission for his Fact at Ruthen was received to mercy and all these Lords elected his Counsellors with Inhibition that none should presume to come to Court with more attendants than fifteen with an Earl or Bishop ten with a Lord or Abbot or Priour and six with a Baron And now declares in publique That however his Majesty did with patience perforce indure his restraint at Ruthen and all those former passages of Treasonable disloyalty yet willing to be an Example of Clemency to others he in favour pardoned all admonishing the Lords to do so too amongst themselves Yet their consciences accusing left not to convene in tumult and therefore for more security to the King they were confined to several Places by Proclamation which they disobeying were denounced Rebells except Angus who submitted and now was Iohn Metallan admitted Counsellor and hereafter became Chancelor of State These affaires took up the summer and at the fall of the leaf comes secretary Walsingham from Queen Elizabeth expostulating the Kings receiving of Arran and casting of his nobles who though thus mutenous as you have heard were yet justified by her to be defenders of his Crown The King told him He was not to be taught to rule in his own affaires being as free as his Princess and that his promise against Arran was made under his restraint but now being at liberty himself he doth him but the like justice Expecting his so much friendship from his Sister the Queen not to countenance his subjects in Rebellion The Ambassadour replyed that his Mistress medlâ—d not but for his good and complains that one Holt an English Iesuite and plotter in Throgmortons treason should be imprisoned by the King and yet permitted to escape by means of the French and not rather sent to the Queen he was answered that Archibald Dowglas guilty of his fathers murther and in England was not rendered to him as was desired Though in truth Holt got loose without leave And so the discourse ended in peace And in November Lodawick eldest sonn to the late Duke of Lenox from France at 14 years of age the King having sent for his Brethren before Investing him with his fathers honnors and lands and the Earl Montross to be his Trustee Some years after came over his sisters Henrieta married to the Earl of Huntley Mary to the Earl of Mar the third avowed her self a Virgin to the Cloister A younger sonne remained in France untill the King came into England where he was advanced to great honors Thus did a gracious King for a distressed family The former Declaration against the mutenous Lords could not deter them from conventions pretending the time too short which was limitted for their submission unto confinement And therefore in an Assembly of the Peers the King renews his offer of pardon to such as would confesse their foule act at Ruthen and submit to conforme themselves accordingly The Earl Rothess protests his subscription to that fact was forced upon him and repents to mercy from whose example the rest followed and the faction to fall asunder They had pardon and leave to depart some into Ireland others to France Amongst whom was Gowry who yet delayed his journey whilst he fell into new practises which brought him to his death No wonder to finde the Ministery much concerned in their Sermons to justifie one or other of these Revolters and the fact of Ruthen necessary and lawful Andrew Melvil affirming to the Council That the Presbytery only had power and authority to judge and censure the Pulpit and not the King nor his Council In primâ instantià to meddle therewith though they should be treasonable Telling the King to his face That he perverted the laws of God and man Upon which he was charged to enter his person in Blackness forthwith but he turn'd back fled to Barwick that night and alwaies after the Ministery complaining That the light of of the Countrey for learning and the only man to resist the enemies of Religion was exiled and compell'd for his life to quit the Kingdome And though the King descended to satisfie the people by Proclamation therein yet it caused a murmuring and encouraged Gowry to expect Mars and Glammins returne out of Ireland to joyne in Armes for Reformation of abuses in Church and State for preservation of the King and Kingdome The wonted old pretence of all Rebells Gowry to colour his intended treason from suspition comes to Dundee and there presseth a ship for his voyage But the King quickly advised sent Collonel Stewart Captain of the Guard to seize him who with others made some resistance but the Town concurring with the Captain he was taken and conveyed to Edenburgh under costody of Arran Within two daies after Angus and Mar surprise the Castle of Sterlin but hearing of the Kings march with formidable forces they fly into England Gowries confession under his hand sets down their practises thus That himself perceaving the Kings favour declining and his estate aimed at by power of his enemies he was forced to seek his own relief by concurring with other Nobles in the like Case by the means of James Erskin who travelled therein and assured me of their Return to Sterlin where we concluded That at home it was expected that all those who subscribed the bond in the first alteration would join with us and besides them the Earls Marshal and Bothwel the Lord Lindsey and others of the West From England we expected supply and that the Queen would intercede for restitution
papers of Creighton a Scotish Jesuite intercepted and discovering fresh plots of invasion by the Pope Spain and the Guisâ—s the State of England began more narrowly to look about and to begin with the Queen of Scots miserable Tragedy herein Leicester and other Lords associate by oath to persecute to the death the obstacles of Queen Elizabeths peace and safety Mary fearing the effects made the most humble and satisfactory propositions and concessions to what Queen Elizabeth could possibly urge and to which she indeed inclined but the Scots opposed especially to hear of her return home And to assist the hight of evils the Presbyters in Scotland are alwaies at hand railing at her and the King in the Pulpits and being summoned to answer their contempts absolutely refuse saying That Ecclesiastick persons were exempt the Kings authority Althought to suppresse their insolencie very lately even this year and last Assembly of States it was enacted The Kings authority over all persons Ecclesiastick and Layick and confirmed for ever Their Assemblies as well general as particular were condemned as arrogating boundlesse authority when they list to meet and to prescribe lawes even to the King and Kingdome And here the popular equality of Ministers were abrogate and the dignity of Bishops restored whose vocations the Presbyters had condemned as Antichristian The scandalous books of Buchanans Chronicles and his Dialogue De jure regni apud Scotos and other such were condemned So you see in this Parliament the King had Royally and Religiously confirmed the Articles of true Religion and had united to his Crown the supream Authority Ecclesiastick and Civil heretofore usurped by Papists and lately by Prebyters Hereupon they declare the King inclin'd to Popery and nothing to be left of ancient from but the shadow and not being suffered to vent their spleen they fly into England under pretence of persecution Yet the King delt with them by hopes and fear Appoints their appearance in November from all parts And were then pressed to subscribe obedience to their ordinary To obey and acknowledge Bish. according to the Word of God which words they construed to be a restriction or limitation for say they The Word of God commands no obedience Thus either deceived or deceiving to redeem their ease with yeilding cover it with equivocation some subscribed others refused preaching against them And evermore Praying for the banished rebellious Lords as the best Subjects who fled from â—yranny Amongst sundry of such men that suffered trial and others executed Daglith the chief Minister of St. Cuthberts upon that score and for corresponding by letters with Walter Balcanqual he was sentenced for Treason but upon his humble supplication was pardoned David Hume and his brother executed and indeed divers grand designes of Treason put the State to necessary jealousies and fears Robert Hamilton accuses Douglas of Mains and Iohn Cunningham of Drumhosel for conspiring to intercept the King at hunting and to detain him till the banished should return and receive him Upon which they were found guilty and executed at Edenburgh And indeed Angus and others lay lurking at Barwick who were removed therefore further into England to New Castle lest the Lord Hunsdon Governour of Barwick should suffer suspition in their designes against all reason of State which now in England seems to side with King Iames And at New Castle they lodge Iohn and Claud Hamilton retire and take up by the way to settle all here The Scots Ministers wanderers were all found out and called to the Juncto Lowson Carmichel Erskin And Mr. Iohn Colvil sent away to Secretary Walsingham at Court Who led them with hopes that the Queens fleet usual rigging was intentional for their interest this encouraged them and gave occasion to the Scots Ambassadour to draw up Criminations against them and so they were removed to Norwich and after to London and lodge at Long ditch beyond Tuttle street against the Park-wall to whom all their Ministers resort a petty corporation preach pray keep fasting more than private and were so bold as to expect leave to be allotted a Church of their own as French Italian Dutch and other strangers but the conformity of language with us and the deformity in discipline made their request insolent of which they complain in their preachings and therefore are all silenced which they say brake the heart of Lawson their Malapert minister or rather the letter from Edenburgh aforesaid renouncing him their Pastor who deserting his cure upon pretence of conscience not to subscribe yet takes part the Rebells against his Soveraign But the particular manner and occasion in Scotland was as followeth In civill affairs the Earl Arran comanded all keeper of the Castle of Sterlin Edenburgh and Provost there lately made Chancelor upon the death of the Eaâ—l Arguile The office of secretary he conferred upon Iohn Metallan Lethingtons son having banished the Abott of Dumferlin who possessed that place and made himself Lieutenant of Scotland which greatness procured private envy of others at Court ploting his ruine To conserve him self he endeavoured to gain Queen Elizabeth to be his friend and after he had privately conferred with the Lord Hunsdon Governour of Barwick several legations were sent to England by the Arch-bishop of St. Andrews to confirm the Kings constancy in Religion much suspected by the cunning informations of the banished abroad and Kirkmen at home And after him the Master of Gray came to remand the fugitive Rebells and Lewis Ballandine Justice Clark was sent to accuse them as guilty of the conspiracy of Mains and Drumhosell but indeed Ballendines interest conniving his accusations were so slenderly urged that the very ground was laid to work their restitution and Arrans destruction the Queen and her counsel under hand giving ayme to all Arran abused with hopes of the Queens friendship continues his greatness into terms of Tyranny against Athol Hume and Casils With frivolous arbitrary justice It fell more particular upon the Lord Maxwell for refusing exchange of Lands the Barrony of Kinnell fallen by attainder with the Barrony of Mernis and other Lands of Maxwell Heath And to work out the mischief the Lord Iohnston is made Provost thereby being warden of the West Marches might curb the power of Maxwell whose right it was to the Provostry and therefore rayses forces of his friends and apposed Iohnston for which and other Insolencies he is denounced Rebell and commission to Iohnston with power to pursue him Maxwell sends his two brothers to intercept Lamby and Cranston ere they should joyn head in the fray the first is killed the other made prisoner which encouraged Iohnston to incurse upon Maxwells lands by fire and sword with great spoyl booty the same were answered upon return of the like against Iohnston who is taken prisoner and the regret therof gâ—eived him to his grave shortly after The Quarel now engages the
from Edenburgh lost the Court the raging Plague swept away twenty thousand persons and that City quite forsaken He is forced now to yield to their Domination this Success imboldens the disloyal Ministers to return home also from all parts insupportable insolent One of them Gibson to the Kings face terms him Ieroboam a Persecutor threatens him That if he went on in the former way he should be the last of his race And before the King and Council he and Watson such another impudently maintain the same and more to their teeth which no Catiline could have done more treasonable Then their Synod being assisted by a number of the Laicks convene the Bishops Saint Andrews was compeered before them upon accusation of Andrew Melvil in malice and private revenge but his pretence was that the Bishop devised and penned former Acts against the Presbytery the Bishop protests against their Judicature and disputes his Innocency from any evil therein and to avoid their censures appeals to the King and Estates and they therefore in fear what to do a young Fellow Andrew Hunter professes to be armed by the Spirit and so usurping the Chair he pronounced Sentence against him Cunningham the Bishops man did the like the next day against Melvil These and other such disorders involves the King and Estates what to do with them when the Secretary of State perceiving their vexations advises the King to leave the Ministery to their own courses That in a short time he should see them so intollerable as the people would chase them out of the Nation True said the King if I werâ— careless to undo the Church and Religion it were the best Counsel but to preserve both I must suppress disorders lest Religion be despised And therefore as these insolencies gave the King occasion wisely to foresee the dangerous events if not nipt in the Bud So ex malis Moribus bonae leges nascuntur for the State publish these Articles That all Preachers should obey the King Not to pretend privilege in their allegiance Not to meddle in State matters Not to revile his Majesty Not to draw the people from obedience And being questioned not to allege inspiration of the Spirit Nor to serve themselves with colour of conscience c. It is strange to observe both before and then and sithence even to these our last daies as were by Wisemen alwaies foretold from the beginning how this Gangreen spread and that we are now wearied as well as the Reader with these relations Let me onely observe further the Scots Acts and Ordinances concerning their Episcopacy and let any Historian tell me when and how they started into such a sincere Reformation as to have no Bishops at all as many would pretend For first reforming from Popery in 1567. That no Bishop nor other Prelate should use any Iurisdiction in time comming by the Bishop of Romes authority but it appears by all subsequent Acts That Arch-Bishops and Bishops were not only allowed in their Kirk but also had Iurisdiction and authority to govern the same That Arch-Bishops and Bishops have the Authority and are ordained to convene and deprive all Ministers inferiour who shall not subscribe the Articles of Religion and recognoscing of the King and his Authority That Arch-Bishops and Bishops have authority to assign Ministers Glebes That they shall nominate and appoint Visitations c. and persons in every Parochin for settling Taxation for upholding Kirks c. That they shall direct charges how the Minister of the Parochin shall proceed to excommunications That they shall try the rent of Hospitals and call for the foundations thereof The Iurisdiction of the Kirk is declared to stand in preaching the Word of Iesus Christ correction of manners and administration of Sacraments And no other Authority allowed but Arch-Bishops and Bishops intended to continue in Authority as is cleer by these Acts following First All persons returning from forein Travails are within twenty daies to pass to the Bishop Super-intendent Commissioner of the Kirk to give a Confession of their faith That none presume to impugn the Dignity and Authority of the three Estates or to seek or procure the innovation or diminution of their power and authority or any of them in time coming under pain of Treason That Bishops are to try and judge Ministers guilty of crimes meriting deprivation That no Ministers exercise any other Office beside their Calling and to be adjudged by their Ordinaries of Bishops All Acts whatever heretofore anent the Kirk of God and Religion now professed are ratified That the three Estates especially considering the persons exercising the offices titles and dignities of Prelates which persons have ever represented one of the Estates c. Therefore declare that the Kirk in Scotland is the true and holy Kirk and that such Ministers as the King shall provide to the Dignity of a Bishop shall have vote in Parliament as any Ecclesiastical Prelate ever had by-gon And null all manner of Acts made in prejudice of Bishops Honours Dignities c. competitent to them or their estate since the reformation of Religion The same revived Ordains Arch-bishops and Bishops to be elected by their Chapters and consecrate by the Order accustomed And yet we must confess they were oftentimes striking at the root and branch of Bishops as others of them did against the Power and Majesty of Princes for Buchanan terms the phraises of Majesty Highness Excellency Solaecismos et Barbarismos aulicos Jeering at the outward State of Princes comparing them to childrens Puppets garishly attired That a good Prince should be defended with innocency Non superbo speculatorum et caetu sericatisque nebulonibus stipatus Another of theirs Davison his Pamphlet printed in those times forced through with base invectives both against the Government of Scotland and England with most dangerous insinuations to Rebellion The Genevian Ministers and their Tenents also were dispersed in England wholly into such Arguments Out of two more pestilent sundry seditious positions may be collected Goodman and another Author stiled True Obedience or rather perfect rebellion It may be true t is no Treason to resist the Soveraign for defence of Religion nor no treasonable assertion That a lawful Prince may be deposed in case of revolt from God and these are the proposition of all Christian Professors but these Men following their own deceiptful wiles and irregular opinions adjudged that to be errour or idolatry which perhaps may not be so and may traduce goodness and virtue by the rule of their own strained conceit and so differ in the manner and matter as reason and conscience differ from fury and frenzy And yet these their Doctrines Whittingham afterwards unworthy Dean of Durham in his preface to Goodmans book saith that they were approved by the best learned meaning Calvin and the rest of the Genevians Gilby Coverdale Whitehead and
others But then let me tell them who were the other worser learned men as he will have them that fled Queen Maries persecution to Franckford Zurick and Basill declining Geneva those were Scory Barlow Cox Beacon Bale Parkhurst Grindall Sands Nowell Wisdom and Iewell and very many more that maintained the Reformation of King Edwards time and therefore Knox said That the English at Geneva were separated from that superstitious company at Franckford Notwithstanding these quarrellers heretofore at the first yet in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths dayes they pretended to agree in Harmonical Confessions though in several disciplines till Cartwright and Travers in his Disciplina Ecclesiastica makes their own tenents so positive as that If every hair of their heads were a life they would lose them all to defend their Discipline Then came in to their Gang Udall and Penry and call that discipline onely pure perfect righteous full of goodness peace and honor ordained for the joy and happiness of all Nations Therein followed them Martin and his two sons and Gilbie and so like very apt scholars in evil they out-went their masters to the Devil for joyning with Copinger Hackett and others they fell into a desperare designe of Treason for which Hacket was hanged At last increasing in very bold wayes and desperate tenents dispersed in Pamphlets Rithmes and Ballads It was thought fit to open their eyes and understandings by some grave and learned declaration for setling their mad brains which was effected by that most reverend and learned Divine Hooker in his Ecclesiast Policie which for a long time during the time of times silenced all their Railings and so satisfied the wiser sort that the Church of God got quiet from such disturbers till of late daies But to return to our History In Iune was compleated the League with England hammered out for defence of both Nations against the Holy League as the Papists would have it the Commissioners meeting at Barwick concluded these Aritcles upon the former reasons 1. To joyn and unite in a more strict League than ever had been before 2. To draw other Princes Reformed into their society 3. To be offensive and defensive against any Contractors with their enemies 4. Not to assist any Invader of either Kingdom 5. That the Scots to assist England against any Invasion with two thousand horse and five thousand foot at the Queens charge from the borders The Queen the like to Scotland but with three thousand horse and six thousand foot 6. If the North of England there the Scots to assist with all their force for thirty dayes the usual time of attending their own King 7. The King not to suffer Scots to be transported into Ireland but by leave of the Queen 8. Not to countenance either Rebels or Revolters 9. That all the controversies of the Borderers be civilly reconciled 10. Neither Princes to enter League with any other without the consent of both 11. All by-gone Treaties of either with other Princes shall stand in full force the cause of Religion excepted 12. These Articles to be confirmed by Oath and Hands and Seals 13. Lastly That the King at twenty five yeers old shall confirm these by the States of Scotland as the Queen will then do by her Parliament of England This was the begining of Q. Eliz. design which she presumed would in time be considerable with other reformed States confederate though in earnest the whole intention of the Papists had reference to the Church of England the absolute orthodox Conserver of the true ancient Apostolick faith though by observation of succeeding times in some relations it appears of late wonderfully indangered But besides that of Religion and strengthening her affairs in policie with other Princes upon that score she had a further aâ—m to confirm amity with the King whom she was assured forthwith mightily to offend and to endanger her safety and honour with all the Christian world For now with leave of the Reader having been led somewhat too long in the Church affairs let us remind the poor Captive Queen Mary upon whom all the former suspitions reflected and so hâ—stened to her ruin for Queen Elizabeth casting about to make things safer than fast resolved upon the way most desperate which if it took not well was yet the onely way by taking Mary out of the way and so give end to Elizabeths jealousies to secure her Person from Treasons to joynt her power now divided and to settle her people from imbroiles and diviâ—â—ons But soft and fair the wily wits of Walsingham and Burleigh must be busied about it For now she is removed from her fifteen yeers custody under the good Earl of Shrewsbury unto Sir Amias Pawlet and Sir Drew Drury on purpose to put her upon extremity of redress against their extream imprisoning And so she endeavors and deals with the Pope and Spain by Englefeild to hasten their designs however which designs indeed is so peeced and patcht together by those that writ of them as if each mans fancy in reference to the publick must needs take effect of Rebellious interpretation And what ere was whispered in that sence was sure to be put upon the poor Queens account by which she smarted for in this Parliament of England the former Association of the Lords was confirmed by both Houses and strict Acts against Catholicks and abetters in Treason which occasioned Philip Howard Earl of Arundel eldest son of the late Duke of Norfolk three yeers since restored in blood to complain of his enemies pursuing him to the death as others had done to his Great Grandfather condemned and never came to tryal his Grandfather beheaded for trifles and his father likewise for concernments of lesser moment Himself thus afflicted endeavoring to retire out of the Kingdom but was taken and sent to the Tower where he found Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland as accessory to Thorgmortons design who Pistolled himself some dayes after but Arundel was onely fined in Star-Chamber The Catholicks desparate to do something were animated thereto by Ballard a Priest who from hence goes into France and there layes his designs with the Old Plotters Pope Guises the Spaniard and Parma to invade England and free Queen Mary and returning home confederates with Babington and six more principal gentlemen to kill Queen Elizabeth All which their plottings were daily discovered to Secretary Walsingham by one Pooley their companion and so confident were they of success that Babington had his own picture and those about him all to the life with this verse circumscribed Hi mihi sunt comites quos ipsa pericula ducunt But this verse too plain they inserted in the place Quorsum haec aliò properantibus The Queen being shewed these faces knew â—one but Barnwell Babington to hasten this design resolves to go over himself And by Pooley's means insinuates with Walsingham and ingages to discover
but where her Servants and Friends could give good testimony thereof K. Iames her Son in sad perplexity for his Mother sends William Keith of his Bed-chamber with Letters to Q. Elizabeth though it seemed strange to him that the Nobility and Counsellours of England should take upon them to sentence a Queen of Scotland and one descended of the Royal Bloud of England yet he would think it monstrous justice for her Virgin Majesty to stain her hands with the Bloud and Death of his dear Mother a Lady of in comparable excellency in the worlds opinion and of the same Royal condition and Sex with her Self So if it should be resolved desires her to consider how his Honour stood engaged that was her Son and a King to suffer his Mother an absolute Princess to be put to an infamous Death Keith after some time of delay urges for an Answer but finding no hope he receives other Letters commanding him to shew the Queen how unjust the Proceedings had been against his Mother the Laws of God and Nations for an absolute Prince to be sentenced by Subjects and she the first Example of profaning Sovereign Diadems Himself concern'd in Nature and Honour to revenge such indignity and wills him to labour the delay of her Execution till he could send Ambassadours of his own into England for by Letters from Archibald Dowglas his Lieger in England he found him evil disposed to the business and therefore resolved to send one more honorable and of greater trust in his place But Keith doing his duty shewed the Queen his Masters direction enforcing her into some passion till Leicester and others calmed her and then she told him She would give no Answer in anger but consider till morning when she told him that no haste should be used if any other should come from the King in reasonable time â—roceedings should be staid and be glad to receive overtures to save the Queens life and assure her own The King certified of her passion posts other Letters more calm since his other were construed as threats to her Estates and therefore he courts her into kindness protesting that the Rumours spread amongst his Subjects moved them into disquiets and mutiny at the forms of Proceedings again their Queen That for his part he could well distinguish any pressure by the peril of her own life and so not blaming her directly prays her to put a kindness upon Him Her real Friend desires time till his Overtures be heard hastily coming by the Master of Gray and Sir Robert Melvil who were to set out on Saturday after and came to London in eight days Queen Elizabeth was better satisfied with these being frightned before into fear of breach of the late League and War with her Neighbours and so gave them speedy Audience She told them how sorry she was no means could be found to save their Kings Mother and secure her own life They answer Their Sovereign to save her life will interpose his credit his Nobility as â—ledges that no Plot or practice should be contrived by her against your Majesty or otherwise to set her aâ— liberty and send her into Scotland and so the better to secure the Queen Asking the reason What should move any man to attempt against her Majesty for Queen Maries sake Because said she they think Her to succeed me and she a Papist Then say they these means being taken away the Danger apparently ceases for if her Right in Succession to England shall be made over in our Sovereigns Person Papists will have no more hope and this we are sure his Mother will resign to him But replied the Queen she hath no Right being declared incapable of Succession If so that she hath no Right said they the Papists pretences cease and so no fear of them to enterprize for her But said she the Papists allow not our Declaration Then let it sink said they in our Sovereign by her Resignation Leicester being by objected that She being a Prisoner could not 〈◊〉 They answered It being made to her Son with advice of all her Friends in Europe in case Queen Elizabeth should miscarry none would partake with the Mother against her Son all the Princes her Friends standing engaged for her Resignation that it should be valid and essential for her Son The Queen mis-understanding was told the Ambassadours meaning that the King should be in his Mother place Is it so says she Gods Death that were to cut mine own throat He shall never come to that place and be party with me She was told that coming in his Mothers place through her Death he would be more party Well says the Queen tell your King what I have done for him to keep the Crown on his Head since he was born and for my part I shall keep the League betwixt us which if he break shall be a double fault and in passion got away Melvil made after requesting respite of execution for eight days Not an hour said she The King by this Conference expects extremity and therefore writes to Gray Think not to reserve your self any longer nothing doing good if her life be lost adieâ— dealing with that State As you affect my favour spare no pains nor plainness Reade what I writ to Keith and accordingly conform and in this your industry let me reap the fruit of your great Credit there and Duty here either now or never Farewell Leicester took some pains in a tedious Letter to satisfie the Kings importunity by telling him the common jealousie of all Princes for their own security especially by such persons as being within a Kingdom and claiming Title to that Crown should conspiâ—e with Traitors to kill the Queen comforting the King as well as he could how more dangerous Queen Elizabeths Death would be than his Mothers liberty would advantage concluding with grave advice not to quarrel the breach of amity and their last League of firm friendship And to boot Walsingham writes to the Secretary of Scotland the Lord Thirlstan with whom he kept private intelligence as a wonder the Kings earnest desire to save his Mother seeing all the Papists in Europe affecting the change of Religion in both Realms built their hopes altogether upon Her who in passion to Papistry had transferr'd her Right to both Crowns unto the King of Spain in case the King her Son should persist in his Profession And true it was that such tricks were rumored to divert the King from constancy in Religion but never so done by her if you will credit her Declaration at her Death though I know for I have seen it a Popish Abbot in the life of Cardinal Laurence at that time Protector of the Scots Nation affirmeth the said Translation of these Realms to be in his hands and delivered to him by Court Olivarez the Spanish Ambassadour at Rome but such forged Tales and Titles might have served the turn if the
Enterprize of Eighty Eight had taken effect against England Thus the King leaving no means possible unattempted for a prudent and pious King but to to none effect the State of Scotland then in a miserable distraction made so partly in policy from England and the most powerfull Faction solliciting Queen Elizabeth for their Queens Execution insomuch that it was objected as Pilate said shall I kill your Queen And therefore now the King commanded the Ministers and Kirk in Scotland to commend her cause to God in their publick Prayers which by no means their charity could afford but absolutely refused then he appoints a solemn Day of Fasting and Prayer with Supplications to God for Her commanding the Bishop of Saint Andrews to pray and preach against whom the Ministers opposed and in presence of the King put up in the Pulpit a young Fellow Iohn Cooper not entered into the Function to whom the King cried out Master Iohn that place was designed for another yet since you are there Do your Duty and obey the Charge to pray for my Mother He replied To do no otherwise than as the Spirit should direct him Whereupon the Captain of the Kings Guard pulled him down and the Bishop performed the Office most grave and learned For this insolency Cooper was called to accompt accompanied with Balcanquall and Watson who were discharged their Ministery and Cooper committed prisoner to Blackness Then he concludes his last Messenger with letters Advising the Queen to conserve her fame and renown by her clemency as yet unspotted from any stain of cruelty not to be now defied and polluted with the blood of his Mother the wound reflecting to his smart which he should never leave unconsidered to the tyranny of them that thirsted his destruction long since as they do his Mothers now Beseeches the Queens mercy and compassion to them both In a word It was a business that till that time had no President and Queen Elizabeth to say truth as much perplexed what to conclude brought her minde the more into confusion At length she signed a Warrant for a Mandate fitted for the great Seal and her Execution and trusted it with Davison one of her Secretaries to be in readiness in case of danger But he too hastily had it made up under the Seal which some say she would afterwards have recalled but was prevented by the earnest prosecution of Beale Clerk of the Councel Queen Maries enemie Him the Councel sends to the Earls of Shrewsbury Kent Derby and Cumberland for her Execution unknowing to Queen Elizabeth for it is said at that instant She told Davison that she was resolved of another way than by death Indeed she was in distraction what to do but whilst she doubted the Councel did it for her And so had her head taken off by the Axe at Fothringham Castle in Northampton-shire But because her high birth and Exellencies deserve particular Memorial I may not forget her behaviour in the last Act of Life and Death The Earls comming thither Pawlet and Drewry being there before were added Commissioners to see her Execution And gave her warning on Monday the sixth of February 1586. to prepare agaiâ—st Wednesday next the eighth day following At which she smiled it being very sudain short and unexpected But said that her death was welcome seeing her Majesty meaning Queen Elizabeth was so resolved And that that soul was unworthy of Glory and the joyes of Heaven whose body can not indure one blow from the Hangman A good while she was silent then weeping bitterly retyred into her Chamber where she spent her time in devotion and setling her Will The eighth day brought her forth to a sad execution She was of Stature tall and Corpulent thick shouldered fat-fac'd and broad double chinn'd hazell eyes Her borrowed hair somewhat appearing was Aburnd and her attire thus On her head a dress of Laun edged with Bone-lace a chain of Pomander and an Agnus Dei about her neck a pair of Beads at her Girdle with a golden Cross at the end of them a Veil of Laun fastned to her Call bowed out with Wyar and edged with Bone-lace Her Gown of Black Sattin printed with a train and long sleeves to the ground set with Acorn-buttons of Gett trimed with pearl her short sleeves Black Sattin cut which opened upon purple Velvet sleeves under them Her Kirtle whole of figured Black Sattin her Petticote and upper bodies of Crimson Sattin unlaced in the back and the skirts of Crimson Velvet her shoos Spanish leather the inside outward a pair of green Silk Garters watchet Silk Stockings clock't and edged on the top with Silver and under them a pair of white Jersey-hose Thus set out and not hastened she willingly leaves her Chamber and paces towards the Scaffold gently supported with two Gentlemen Pawlets servants Thomas Andrews high Sheriff of North going before The Commissionersâ—â—tended â—â—tended her coming into the Anti-Chamber with divers Knights and Gentlemen of that Country And amongst them her servant Melvin designed by her to go to Scotland Ah Madam said he what unhappy wretch am I the Messenger of my gracious Queen and Mistress and of her death The Queen not till then weeping My good servant said she mourn no more thou shalt see Mary Stewarts troubles ended in an instant The world is all but vain Say thus much from me That I dye true to My Religion faithful to the Interest of Scotland and France God forgive them that thus long have sought nay thirsted for my blood as the Hart does for Water-brooks O God Thou the Author of Truth the searcher of the secret Chamber of my heart knowst that I was ever willing to the Union of Scotland and England But well Gods will be done Commend Me to my Son Tell him that I have done nothing prejudicial to the State and Kingdome of Scotland nor to mine own Honor. And so resolving her self into Tears bids Melvin farewell and kissing his cheek said Once again Good and faithful servant farewell pray for thy Queen and Mistress And turning to the Commissioners she made some requests to them That certain monies in Pawlets hands might be paid to one Curl her servant which was promised Next That her servants might enjoy what she had given them by Will and to have conveyance into their several Countries and this my good Lord of Shrewsbury I conjure upon you Then That her poor servants might be witnesses to the world of her patient suffering and that she died a constant Romane Catholick To this she was refused and Kent humbly told her It might interrupt her quiet in their passions and behaviour as is usual said he in dipping their linnin and skarfs in blood My Lord said she smiling I will give my word though but in death they shall not deserve blame Ah las poor souls they desire to bid me adiew I hope your
assured in short space that he was truly turned to their faith yea all men should have reason to forsake him who had thus dissembled and forsaken his God And whereas it was given out that divers do insinuate into your Sovereign that his Honor and Reputation is so deeply interessed herein as it must necessarily turn to his perpetual ignominy and reproach if he give not some notable testimomy to the world of the affection and dutifull love he bare to his Mother your King being of that singular judgment that he is thought to have cannot be ignorant how far true honour ought to possess a Christian Prince that is not whither Passion or fury useth to carry men but whither Reason or Wisdom have laid the bounds that is within the compass of Possibility Decency and Iustice. If the late Queen had been innocent Revenge had been necessary just and honourable but being culpable contrary in all reasonable mens judgments he hath sufficiently discharged the duty of a Son in mediating for his Mother so long as she was alive and so far as he was able to prevail they which require more at his Highness hands may be presumed not to regard what beseemeth his Place and Dignity but to seek the satisfaction of their own particular passions and desires And whoever perswadeth his Majesty that the mediation used by him for his Mother contrary to the humble pursute of the whole Parliament hath already given that offence to the Nobility and People of this Land as it behoveth him of force to have recourse to forein supports doth greatly abuse both his Highness and this Realm for as they were not ignorant what Nature might and ought to move his Majesty unto so long as there were any hope of her life so they do not doubt but that reason will induce him to leave sorrowing and thinking of her in due time Thus have I troubled you with a long Discourse whereunto the desire I have of the continuance of amity between the two Crowns hath carried me unawares further than I purposed all which I refer to your consideration not doubting that you will afford most readily and willingly all good offices that shall lie in your power to the end that a happy conclusion may ensue hereof which shall tend to the common good of the whole Island And so I commit you to God From the Court at Greenwich Martii 4. 1686. Your Lordships assured Friend FR WALSINGHAM Here was good Counsel for the King but for the present in great discontent he calls home his Ambassadors out of England the States of Scotland urge him to a revenge to seek aid of forein Princes and a Navy from the King of Denmark whose daughter then was in treaty of Marriage with him The Catholicks suggested rather to joyn with the Pope Spain and France and to desert the Puritans who they said would murther him as his Mother Some willed him to be Neuter to take time to bethink and by that means whilst his distempered condition gave excuse for his Acting he might piece himself to that party where he should be sure of best support Alwaies he resolved to keep peace with England and constancy to his Protestant Religion And thus whilst his wisdom beyond his age twenty two yeers sate still the Queen feared the more not knowing what Counsel might provoke him to her prejudice and so stayed some time till the length thereof might mitigate her sorrow being indeed to big to be cured till it should lye down and rest with its own weight and weariness Therefore knowing how mightily the French wrought in their mine to provoke both Nations to publike defiance she maturely sends several Messengers and afterwards the Lord Hunsdon her Ambassador with studied arguments to take off his adhering to foreign friendships and the danger thereby to both Kingdoms where his interest in succession was most of all concerned being his just right to which his Mothers sufferings could be no prejudice But the next yeer Philip King of Spain sends to the Duke of Parma his Governor in the Low Countries in his Name to promise to King Iames mony and Amunition sufficient to attempt revenge for his mothers death Parma sends over to Scotland Robert Bruce a Scot by birth and noble family with money to quicken his purpose The Pope also Pius Quintus dispatches thither his Bishop of Dublin to promise to the King the Infanta of Spain in marriage if he would turn Romane Catholike but faithfull Metallan the Chancellor frustrates those hopes and returns him home with a flea in his ear But ere he departs he designs on William Creyton a Scot also and sometime Rector of the College of Iesuits in Leyden to stay behind and this man treats with Bruce to murther Metallan Bruce refuses that Assassination and then he is urged to hire with Parmas mony some needy noble man there at a banquet to poyson the King his invited guest and was denyed in that also Then he quarels with him to part with fifteen hundred Crowns to distribute them to three other Lords to effect it but being refused in all these he stayes the time to work out other mischiefs hereafter and Parma dying he accuseth Bruce of Treason for not willing to be a Traytor and for which he indures long imprisonment ere he got liberty The Earl of Angus to make him quiet was sent the Kings Lieutenant on the Borders this was done to rid hm out of the way of disordering the Court where he was ever factious and to his own liking also for he was contented with the condition of those people with whom he spent much of his former time of treachery and trouble But his disease there increasing he dies He was of a swart complexion tall and slender well proportioned and strait of a weak and tender constitution His death was ascribed to witchcraft frequent profession with them by one Barbery Nepair in Edenburgh wiâ—e to Dowglass of Castogle who was condemned but execution deferred she being with child and for the present reprieved and after neglected and so saved from the Gallows Annia Simson also a famous Witch confessed That a picture of wax was brought unto her having the letters A. D. written on it which she was told signified Archiball Davidson and which she execrated after her form but it seems it proved Archiball Dowglass or Davidson for his father was named David He dyed the nineth Earl and the last of his race If it were not natural to the Scots to be contrivers of mischief in their own Bowels yet now it was not policy for England to let them need their helping hands therein and therefore new troubles are stirred up in the Scots Court The Master of Gray conspiring with the Lord Maxwell to kill the Lord Thirlston Sir Iames Hume and Robert Dowglas reveale it to Sir William Stewart who was returned to Court and assure him that Thirlston Gray Blantine
the manner It hath been conceived over-long saith he to defer my Mariage being alone without Father Mother Brother or Sister and yet a King of this Realm and heir to another which nakedness made him weak and his Enemies strong For one is no number and where no succession contempt follows And my delay thus long may beget a suspition of impotency nor am â— over rash or passionate without reason to direct me but the treaty made perfect I resolved of a Bridegrooms honor to make it possible on my part which was not on hers to perform to me For the manner I first intended the voyage to the Admiral Bothwell which miscarried upon his Miscarriage Then I commended it to the Chancellour who in truth and prudence made some difficulty for the State to furnish a Fleet seeing the Queen was there provided but zealous of my service offered his duty and obedience which I made publick reserving my resolution only to my self not that I varied from his Counsel as in my weightier affairs heretofore I valued but to cleer him from advising me this way with hazard of my person and which indeed had not become any Counsellor to have done And because his wisdom enabled me in my youth to what I did it might still reflect also on my weakness to be wanting to my self and suffer him to act all to the Malice and envy of others and so in pitty to heap no more slanders on him I made this work my own without injury to any Besides what I have said the short passage and safety from Seas and Sands without Peril of Pyrates for other enemies I have uone conclude that it is my pleasure that all conform to my directions in my absence God willing not twenty daies Farewel Iames Rex This Declaration was the next day after he was shipt presented by Hay Clerk of Register to the Council together with the directions hereafter Seeing it hath pleased God to bring Us to the age of Manhood and that nothing hath been more earnestly desired by our good subjects than to have Us honourably matched that the Crown might descend to our Suâ—cession after so many worthy Progenitours And so setting down the course of his Treaties with Frederick King of Denmark lately deceased and contracted by Proxie with his Daughter who in her voyage to Scotland was by storms driven to Norway willing rather to winter there than to return back This hazard so far adventured it becomes him in Kingly honour and affection to relieve so great a Princess from so long time of sadness and to associate her Consortship with his presence and God willing to return back in twenty daies We hope no man will seem to regret upon our pleasure and purpose seeing the Kingdom hath wanted a Governour longer than we now intend by our absence from the Death of our Grand-mother the Queen Regent unto the arrival of our Dearest Mother out of France fourteen Moneths and the State in that time more happy in Peace and Quietness than before or since and yet we have and do Ordain That our Council remain at Edenburgh and the Duke of Lenox our Nephew Preâ—ident thereof assisted by our Cosin Francis Earl of Bothwel together with our Treasurer Controwler Master of Requests Privy Seal the Captain of the Castle of Edenburgh Advocate and Clark Register or five at the least of them Then he ordains several Noblemen in their Courses to attend at Edenburgh for fifteen daies Anguss Athol Fleming and Innerness to begin The next course to be by the Earl Mar and Morton Seaton and Yester the Barons of Lothian Fiâ—e Shrivelingshire and Strathern The South to be commanded by the Lord Hamilton Lieutenant General to be assisted by the Lords Maxwel Boyd Herris Hume Cesford and to reside at Dunfres or Jedbrough Finally he recommended the Church to peace and quietness and to discharge all Conventions and other Assemblies till his return and not to fail to remember him in their dayly prayers for his safety and happy return And thus having settled affairs at home he imbarks with Maitland the Chancelour Ballendine Iustice Clark Dowglas and the Gentlemen of his Bed-chamber and honshold Servants and Lindsey his Minister and â—rrived neer Upsto in Norway within five daies after The Sunday following he did solemnize the Mariage and the ceremony was performed by Lindsey in French and because of the Winter season he was invited by Ambassadours to visit the Queen Mother and her Son Christern King of Denmark elect The King Queen and Train set forward the two and twenty December from Upsto and came to Bahouse a Castle bordering Norway and Sweden the 1. of Ianuary where he staied seven daies for a Convoy from that King then at Stockholm and was met with a Troop of four hundred horse upon the Frozen River and so to Denmark the next day to Westbury five daies thence to Falhenburgh Holmstade Cowhalm Elsingburgh and the 21. of Ianuary received by Queen Mother at Crownenburgh the young King the Duke of Holstat his Brother and the four Regents of the Realm with all possible magnificence There he remained till the end of February and being to give honour to the Nuptials of his Queens eldest Sister with Duke Brunswick to be in April next he advertiseth his Council the reason of his stay and sends for shipping to return which were six arriving at Elsenore in the middle of April and landed the King Queen and Company at Lieth the twentieth day of May. Not without the general opinion that the Witches in the blind Light of the Gospel usually trading for Devilish Money had his help to hinder the meeting before which now notwithstanding prospered well by the Kings presence so it was ascribed It being confirmed also afterwards That Bothwell had inquired of them the Kings fortune which by Law was made Treason Queen Elizabeth congratulates the Nuptials by her Emissary Edward Seymor Earl of Worcester with the honor of the Garter as she had done to the French King In whose absence a wonder to all that no insurrection or feud had been in publique or private unless two petty Riots by Wachop and Clangregore nay Bothwell so reclaimed that in true sense of his former debaucheries does voluntary penance and confession in the publique Church But this resolution lasted not long for he returns to the vomit to his utter undoing hereafter The Bishops absent Bruce performs the Ceremony of the Queens Coronation a Iewish rite sayes the Ministers abolished at Christs comming and introduced by the Pope and not to be used Certainly that ceremony had not been used by the Jews only and being mentioned in Iudges by Parable shews it was a custome in creating Kings and frequent with other Nations Hasael of Aram was annointed by Elias and Esay calls Cyrus of Persia Gods annointed Nor was every rite if introduced by Papists to be rejected Seeing therefore all free Monarchs use the same their
annointing was as justifiable as their Crowning with other ceremonies of Sword and Scepter But rather than a Bishop should profane the office and that one of themselvs be the first Minister Presbyter that ever sanctified that ceremony they were content that Bruce should do it on Sunday following at Edenburgh 2 daies after she made her triumphant entry through the Town with Feasts and Banquets Masks and shews for two moneths together These popish proceedings in Scotland makes Queen Elizabeth more serious at home both Kingdomes involved in the like danger which to prevent she falls upon such as gave most suspition and having restrained Philip Howard Earl of Arundell for three years in the Tower to keep him out of the way of doing mischief she now conceives it more safe to take him quite away from further danger He is arraigned therefore at Westminster The Earl of Darby High Steward for the day His accusations were such of which usually the greater Catholiques are guilty and being confirmed by Cardinal Allan before his banishment Parsons and other Jesuits with whom he kept correspondence viz. for reducing Papistry here proved by his Letters and the confessions of several Traytors lately executed Savage Throgmorton Babington Gerrard and Shelles But the Bull of Sixtus Quintus deposing the Queen and so the Legacy of these Realms bequeathed to the Spaniard together with his devotions prayers and Masses for successe of the Armado the last year 88. was the Choak-Pear which could not be relished His tender years thirty three not able to defend innocency in opposition to those excellent Pleaders Popham Egerton Scutleworth men of admiral abilities in the law made him submit to their arguments with some palliation and excuse not sufficient to save him from sentence of guilt which he received with submission saying Fiat Voluntas Dei His request was easâ—e to see his Wife and young Son born since his imprisonment whom he left to the Queens favour which was effected to the Fatheâ— also with pardon of his life though she kept him up from doing harm The loss of the Spanish Fleet and credit last year incourages two gallant Undertakers Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Francis Drake with the convenient assistance of the Queens men of War to an expedition into Portugall with eleven thousand Souldiers and fifteen hundred Mariners It was not amiss to take up the Claim and to take in the person of Don Antonio base born Prior of Craâ—o to the Kingdom of Portugall upon his vain expectation of that nations revolt from Spanish thraldom and assistance of the King of Morocco all which failed They land at the Groyne take and drown it burn the villages thereabout with slaughter of the Spanish forces three miles chace and imbarque again for Portugal where they land and march sixty miles to Lisbone over against the sacred Promontory St. Vincent where they feign there are certain Mares at a set time conceive by the Wind and bring forth Foals who live but three years several Authors say so The Suburbs of this City abandoned they enter and intrench whilst Drake undertakes to pass up the River to the City but he failing upon the shallowness of the Water and danger of the Castles no Natives comming in to their design and the Calanture infecting their Fleet they return with honour upon the enemy but loss of six thousand men by sickness to which the Northern people are subject and by contraries the Southern are rather confirmed in the North. Inward heat being remitted or intended by outward air as by sad experience of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in R. 2. and the Marquess Dorset 1512. and this now We call it the Earl of Essex Expedition who indeed ambitious of common Fame put himself to sea and got aboard the Fleet conceiting that their respect to his birth and quality would receive him their chief but was mistaken in that honour though he carried all the commendations with the comman man as titles get advantage from the merit of others more deserving though I know this comment upon that Lord gains little credit in these our daies With this honour of assisting the distressed Portugall the Q. assumed an interest in others her Allies to ballance her common Enemy the Spaniard and his Catholique cause as it fell out forthwith in France and Navaâ— For the French King Henry the third not likely of issue that Kingdom was to descend to the King of Navar and afterwards to the Prince of Conde both Protestants whereupon the Catholique Peers of France combine a Holy League Not to permit a Reformed Professour to reign no though he renounce it lâ—st he rechange his Religion with his State This design was to exclude Navar and Conde The fortunate Successes of the Duke of Guise the chief of this Villany magnifies him above the King who in jealousie of surprize by the multitude retires from Paris to Bloys where his necessity forces him to consent to the Holy League and ruine of the Religion and Guise to be Generallissimo and all this under Seal and receipt of the Sacrament But repenting of what he had done caused Guise in the Presence Chamber to be run thorow his Brother Cardinal to be strangled and his Son Cardinal Bourbon and others of the League to be committed Hence followed a various Rebellion the people at liberty to do what they list and several Cities affecting several Governments Democracy Aristocracy Oligarchy few or none Monarchy The Leaguers get possessession of the Crown Revenues a new Seal share the strong Holds are joyn'd with some Parliaments and all the Cleagie who cause one of their Monks Iaques Clement to murther the King The first Murther and first occasion of that damnable Docctrine of the Iesuits to murther Kings which the Pope Pius Quintus stiles Rarum inâ—â—gne memorabile non sine Dei particulari providentiâ Spiritus Saâ—cti suggestione designatum longè majus esse quam illud sanctae Judith quâ— Holoâ—ernam è medio suâ—â—uliâ— The Iesuit Francis Verona Constantinus in his Apologie for Iohn Casteelin c. Câ—m eâ— tempore c. that King being become intolerable it was not lawfull de jure or de faâ—to â—o condemn this Act of Clement by reason of King Henries tyranny in Church and State for his horrid Murders at Bloys oppression of Catholicks and favour to Hereticks and so became a private man subject to the Civil and Canon Law Besides says he this act was lawfull being committed upon him from whom all obedience and alleageance of his Subjects were taken away by the Pope Platina another Historian makes it the common opinion Eâ—m Clement à nemine ad hoc factum subordinatum â—ed à â—eipso poâ—tquam duabus aut tribus mensibus in hoc animi conceptu perseverâ—verat ad hoc arduum opus permotum esse instigatum post jejunia longa post orationes ad Deum
Bothwels eager pursuit stumbled his Horse and in the fall bruises him into some perâ—â— that he took the readiest way to Dalkieth for that night and the next morrow dissolves his Troopâ— Arrol has tidings and does so too the Captains at â—ife take ship and faâ—l away And this gave end to his three â—quadrons and leasure to the King by his Ambassadour Lord Colvil to complain to Queen Elizabeth of her Ambassadour Zouch and her harbouring of Bothwel He writes plainly Though she had recommended his Person wise religious and honest yet his â—arriage was more like an Herauld than to be a Messenger in Commission of Peaâ—e between two neighbour Princes and therefore meeting with his pride and wilfulness he chose his own Emissary to carry this Errand whom he prays the Queen to credit He marvelled the more having received her many Princely promises and Letters not to countenance Bothwel nor his Receivers whilest some of her own Palaces had given him harbour being assisted with English Moneys to levy Scots and English in this his another very late treacherous Attempt To challenge her Princely Honour he did not nor could be confident of her priviâ—y therein yet considering her prudence and policies he was troubled to finde the insolency of her Subjects to hazard a breach with her nearest Kinsman and therefore leaving it to her self to resolve those doubts he put her in mind of his delivery of Orork the Irish Rebell to her and prays her not to put him in ballance with such a trayterous counterpoise least he be constrained to speak like the Poet Flectere si nequeo superos c. Thus much the letter said the Ambassadour in private assured her Majesty the particular prosecution against the Popish Lords to proscribe their persons and confiscate their Lands And to go through with the work against them and other Romists he craved a supply of monies The Queen had no excuse but to ballance her favour to Bothwell by the slow pursuit the King made against those Papists Henceforth she would cease and for effecting his purpose against them He should not want what was in her power to afford The first she really perâ—â—â—rmed and speedily proclamed against Bothwell and no assistance to him through her Borders which the King hartily resented And by his Ambassadors invites the Queen to the Baptism of the Prince his Son and others were sent of the same errand To the King of Denmark the Dukes of Brunswick and Megleburgh and to the general Estates Men enough to one Woman The King so far affected with the Queens Publication against Bothwell that the next Parliament the Scotish Papists are banished by plurality of voices Clergy and Commons whom the Nobles would have spared And Arguile is sent with forces against such as would not submit The Assembly of the Church coâ—nvene at Edenburgh and direct Commissioners of their own to represent to his Majesty at Sterlin the dangers of the State and to propound the remedies in eleven Articles They lay the ground from the late design of the Spaniard in eighty eight against the whole Island and his correspondence since with the Popish Lords argues his intention the same still and their continuance in Treasonable attempts ever since doth evidence their obstinacy to prosecute the Conspiracy Then the Church layes open how their counsel from time to time was neglected and the enemy incouraged and none greater favourites in Court than Papists naming principal families infected therewith And reckoâ—s up the Popish Lords neglect and scorn of the Act of Oblivion their disobedience not entring their persons to Ward The arriving of the late Spanish Bark at Montross shews that their Practises continue and their open Conventions assure themselves safety besides their preparations of Arms in the North parts And conclude that the cause not being removed the dangerous effects are like to follow The Remedies they propound in eight conclusions That the Popish Lords be forfeited the next Sessions of Parliament And no Papists elected shall sit That they shall be pursued their rents and lands annexed to the Crown without favour That seizure be made of several notorious persons named That none shall relieve them with any Supply or Intelligence That the people should put themselves into arms as a posture of Defence Somwhat was said against the Lord Hume but he appearing was absolved These remedies were well accepted of the King only misliking Subjects to arm without his Warrant And well he might reminding the last years insurrections at the peoples pleasure The King granting theirs offers some conditions for himself hy his Messinger Melvil That the Assembly should inhibit their Ministers irreverent speeches in Pulpit against his Majesty and Council under pain of deprivation And to censure Iohn Ross for his insolency therein The like against Hunter another of theirsâ— for his open consortship with the late Traytors he being a Minister of Religion against his King of the same faith to the great scandal of the Church The third was to admonâ—sh their Congregations against Bothwell his treasonable attempts or any other such insurrections against his Majesties person This last was enacted but Ross was only admonished to do so no more and Hunter was pretended to be deposed from his function but they juggled him in again The Parliament adjudged the three Earls and Achindown guilty of the Crimes of Treason their estates forfeited their Escocheons torn by the Herauld as their manner of degrading and excellent Statutes passed for the good of Country and Commons And now begins the Solemnity of Baptism for the Prince in August from England the Earl of Sussex the King of Denmark and Duke of Brunswick and Megleburgh with the free Estates of the Provinces had their Ambassadours there present from the French King came none The manner of Ceremony was thus handsom The Infant was brought into the Queens chamber of Presence laid in a Bed of State The Ambassadours came in and were presented with the Prince first from the Arms of the Countess of Mar to the Duke of Lennox who delivered him to the Earl of Sussex having the principal place of Dignity who bore him to the Chappel being followed with a Noble Train of Lords and Ladies Before them all the Lord Hume carried the Ducall Coronet the Lord Levingston bore the Towell the Lord Seaton the Fontall Bason and the Lord Simple the Laver. Over the English Ambassadour â— Rich Majesterial Canopie supported by four Lairds The Childs Train bore up by the Lords Sinclare and Urquart and a Guâ—rd or Lane on each side of the young Noblemen and Gentry of the Nation Being entred the Chappel the King already set and ariâ—â—ing from his Throne receives and salutes the Ambassadours and then the Infant was delivered again to Lenox who reached him to the Nurse and the Estates take their Seats Upon the Kings Right hand a Chair was placed for the French Ambassadour who was not
do and act such and so many particulars in terms and words with such exact particular powers over the rent Gatherers profits and duties of Caves Customs Fishings take them as they are in this order Cole-houses Parks Steadings Fole Coults Orchards of Apples other Fruits Conies Capons Geese Good God what not Then to enterlace these you have the other particulars Money Plate Jewels Mines of Gold Silver Lead Tin Certainly the West-Indie Fleets comes short of such wealth But so the Scots use to accompt of their own And to countenance their pains and care He promiseth verbo Principis not to adjoyn any more and if any did the survivours to give their consent for admition They had authority to revoke disclaim to direct letters of Horning or Outlary Pounding or Caption suertyes and many such like c. These Lords make faith c. to respect his Majesties weal and advance of Revenew without affection or fraud Provided not to be liable to Action for the King seeing they did all without fee. And proclamed at the Market Crosseat Edenburgh Iannuary 1595. The Courtiers were blanck for such must be their reward But they complain as an injury to the Kings honour having little to himself and lesse for the meritt of any Man And to give them more Cause of Complaint They begin to dispose of Places ere they fall â—o the ground David Magill Advocate he is too old and dotes and must admit of one of them till of grief he dies The Master of Glammis somewhat in Arears of his accompts and his deputy Sir Robert Melvil the same must resign their Treasury to the Prior of Blantiere ere they obtain their quieti sunt Richard Cockhorn secretary exchanges it to Lindsey for Privy Seal The collectary Linchclowden given to Elphinston And their President they would Create Chancelor Soft Sirs The King would not These and many more made them Clamored by the Countrey Somewhat they deserved amisse But the fate of favomites and men of Trust they bore the blame of all The Jesuite much troubled to see the State likely to settle into security by the severe proceedings against Papists Whole families Grahams Fentres and others the Lords banished the fewds dissipated and the Ministry in some measure of mildnesse They counsell how to involve both Nations into some design together And to set up A strang medley of Pretenders by protext of several Claims besides the Kings right to the Crown of England For they found by the sad affects to them the birth of the â—rince and likely hood of a numerous issue if Queen Elizabeth failed and the King also it were the same to their successors They devised double wayes Title and Poyson the first was by Title forsooth of the Earl of Essex in England Though no Catholick yet his Ambitious and vain popularity they conceived might quallifie his temper towards Religion being of himself doubtfull in opinion and so his Clemencie would incline to Tolleration if not profession of Catholick They drew his descent from Thomas of Woodstock sonne to Edwarw the 3 And so to be promoted to the people they dedicate a Book to him stiled Dolmans a preist some say written by the Jesuite Persons Cardinall Allâ—â— and Iuglefield discourse of legallity and pollicie inchanging hereditary succession 〈◊〉 England by a new devised way of Election only of â— Roâ—â—â—â— Câ—â—tholick Ravelling into the History of most English Kings 〈◊〉 be either not Legitimate or rightly uncapable The other Title was of the inâ—ant of Spain And therein they use their catholick doctrine to make up with monstrous Lies and many 1. From Constance daughter to the Conquerour married to â—â—â—gat 〈◊〉 of Britagâ—e though all our Chronicles agree that she died without issue 2. From Eliâ—or daughter to Henry the 2 married to Alphonsus of Castile 3. And descends from Blanch his daughter 4. From Beatrice daughter of Henry 3 of England 5. From the Portugall family of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Thus much Persons did then And after the Queens death he excuseth it to the King as taking no effect These were devised in case the King should have no issue then in being Whilst the Jesuite Spaniard practiseth by poyson to hasten the Queens death and no lesse than three in the plot Roderick Lopez of the Jewish sectary Physition to her household and of honest repute till infected by Andrada a Portugall and don de Moro a Counceler of Spain with a rich Jewell in hand and fifty thousand Crowns more to impoyson her and this was certified unto Fueâ—tes and Ibarra secretaries to that King in Flanders by Stephen Ferreira who writ Lopez his letters to them they returned Emanuell Lowise unto Lopez to hasten the plot These circumstances they confessed and were hanged The reason so many Portugalls in a knot shews the time of freedome here for them under some pretence of don Antonio their pretended Prince banisht thence and protected here There followed them to the Gallows Cullen and Irish fencer and York and Williams hired also by Ibarra to kill the Queen Of which she complains to Earnest Arch Duke of Austria Governour in Flanders under the Spaniard that Ibarraâ—is â—is servant hatcht these treacheries to the Kings dishonour if not by him punished and to have the English and chief complotters Owen Throgmorton Holcot a Iesuite Gefferd and Worthington divines delivered up to her We had of his here in England a fugitive his late secretary Don Antonio perez for some mischief he set on foot in Aragon got away to save his head And to the French King first he revealed all his Masters secrets who finding him of a pregnant witâ— and malitious sends him to his Lieger in England to work into some faction or design against Spain And here he was without pention or protection of the Queen for she nor Burgly the Treasurer would not vouchsafe to see him nor did any other give him countenance unlesse the Earl of Essex he did to his cost and used him as an Oracle of Spanish politie sildome from his sight but when it was supplyed with interchange of letters in latine which Essex understood and delighted in his phraze and yet was not glutted with threescore of them whilst he resided here They are extant eztituled Antonii Perâ—â—ii Episâ—olâ— ad Com. Essexiam Magnatem Angliae They discipher him a buysie intermedler fit fuell for the Earls spirit The French King turned papist as we said thereby winning the affections of his people weakned the faction of the Leagues who also came in to the King and so never left till the Spaniard had took leave of them all Onely those in Bretaign called thither by the Duke of Mercoeur strenghten the Sea Coasts and resolve to stay till by the valour of Norris by land and Martin Forbisher by Sea who though wounded with a shot there returnd victor and died at Plimouth And Norris called home to look after Rebellion
Ministers in prudence to make address to his Majesty and to understand his displeasure and also to offer on their parts terms of satisfaction and so modestly and mannerly to lay open the Grievances and to offer means of redress Somewhat they did not as they were advised or ought to have done The King tells them There could be no agreement till bounds of Marches are designed â—or reconcilement till Iurisdictions are distinguished Their preachings censured Councils of State They convocate General Assemblies without him or his Warrant and conclude as they please without his consent They meddle with all matters in their Synods Presbyteries and Sessions and under colour of scandals usurp that Notion to offend in all Besides he could sum up several sorts of their disorders which would take up time their own guilt should study means to amend otherwise things may become remediless neither to agree nor to last long without But to come to their points what could it be to kindle such fires and fears The Kings favour to the Popish Lords at Falkland and confirmed at Dunferlin His countenance to the Countess of Huntley whatâ— that She is invited to the Princess baptism The Education of the Princess to the Lady Levingston a Papist And to smooth all they condescended to say They were sorry for his Majesties displeasure The last he took up first That their abusive Sermons had given him in particular just cause To the Popish Lords what he granted was by General Convention and consent of Estates as needful for peace to the Realm The Lady Huntley was discreet and deserved more and that she is a Papist they are too blame that never taught her the Truth The Princess is intrusted to the Wisdome and Government of the Lord Levingston not to his Lady he to command she to conform Good God! their History of the Kirk stories many and many such Medlings which I forbear to mention By these and the like may be measured out their malice pride vanity and their cunning to colour all with conscience and zeal of Truth But it becomes dangerous Mr. David Blake Minister of St. Andrews rails in his Sermon against the King Council and Session of Estates and called the Queen of England by name an Atheist of no Religion Bowes the Ambassadour complains and Blake is cited before the Council Melvil meets him and makes it the common cause as a preparative against all to bring down the doctrine of Christ under the censure of the King and Councel And so far was it plotted with the Council of the Church that they desert the day of his Diet or appearing That it would be ill taken to question Ministers upon trifling delations When as the Enemies of Iesus Christ were spared and protected Telling the King who was descended to shew them Huntleys condition That both he and the rest should either satisfy the Church in every point or be pursued with Extremity and so no cause to complain of their oversight of Papists And though the Articles were framed and Printed satisfactory to all Yet they Publish That Papists were favoured the Ministers rebuked for siding against sin And that the Scepter of Christ was sought to be overthrown And if Master Blake should submit his doctrine to the triall of the Council the liberties of Church and spirrituall Government of Gods House be quite subverted And by all means a Declinator is designed to protest against such proceedings And in this fire of zeal in opposition to better Councell They answered that the cause of God concern'd them to withstand all future hazards It was trusted to Blake himself to present in presence of the King I know not whether prudentiall in me to suppresse it for fear of evil President But that it is a record Take it in the Breef That howbeit his innocent conscience maintained him sufficient against the Calumnies of whomsoever and that he was able and ready to defend his doctrine uttered in opening the words or application iâ— matter Yet seeing he was convened before the King and his Council to be judged for his doctrine and that his answering might be suspected a submission and so imputed a prejudice to the Churches liberties and to be taken as an acknowledgment of the Kings jurisdiction in matters spirituall He was constrained to decline that judicature First because the Lord Jesus Christ of whom we had the grace of his calling had given him his word for a rule to his Preaching And that he could not fall in reference of any Civill Law but so farr as he should be tryed to pass his instructions Which tryal belonged only to the Prophets and Pastors the spirits of the Prophets being subject to them alone c. Secondly in regard the liberties of the Church and discipline were confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament and the Preachers office bearers thereof peaceably possessed therein perticularly in the indicature of the word He ought to be remitted to the Ecclesiastick Senate as the only compitent Iudges For which and other weighty consideracons inconveniences to Religion the State and Nation and to the King himself by the appearance of destraction and Alienation of his mind from the Ministery and the cause of God in their hands He for himself and in Name of the Commissioners of the generall Assembly who had sâ—bscribed this Declinator Besought that the Church of God might receive no diminution but rather manifest care to maintain the same The diet came and he required to make answer Said That albeit he might object against the Citation it being directed Super Inquirendis contrary to form yet he would take himself to the remedy of Law and to be remitted to his own Ordenary Being asked whom he meant He answered the Presbytery where the doctrine was taught The King told him the matters charged were civill and that the Summons had reference to the particular letter of the English Ambassadour He replyed that speeches in the Pulpit must be judged by the Church in prima instantia Being asked whether the King might not judg of facts of Treason as well as the Church did matters of Heresie That whether speeches in the Pulpit though but pretended Treasonable could not be judged by the King till the Church had remitted thereof But he answered That he was not come thither to resolve questions and so offered his Declinator The King not able to amend what was amiss meant to work it otherwise by remitting of further proceedings to Nov. 30. Mean while the Commissioners send copies of all transactions to the several Presbyteries requiring them for Corroboration to confirm the same by their subscriptions To commend their doing as the cause of God in publick fasts and Humilliation for the sins of the Nation by prayer and preaching The meaning thereby was to tell the stories to the people for maintenance of this their ill manners And which the King interpreted a direction to dangerous Mutenie and future
Rebellion And therefore Proclaims all their particular proceedings with remonstance of their Misdemeanors and to prevent disorder now and confusion to follow by advise of his Councill discharges the commissioners and dissolves their convention illegal in it self and worse unlawfully executed by them Whom he commands by Name to depart home in 24 hours to attend their flocks and duties in their Ministery And no wayes to return to convene either within or without the Burroughs of Edenburgh under the pain of Rebellion But we tire the reader and yet hereby we may discover what they did in such like many more for to the death they will proceed Hereupon they consult that seing they had been convened by the warrant of Christ to take care of hazard to the Church Et ne quid ecclesia detrimenti caperet They should obey God rather than man And notwithstanding any charge to the contrary to continue together and to send to the Octavians those 8 Councellors of State formerly mentioned that seing at the entrance to their places the Church was in quiet and peace and now to be imbroyled the Enemies to truth overpowring and all by their councels and connivance The event of evil must fall upon them the Contrivers or Connivers The President hastily made answer As they began so let them end the Councills advice neither was desired nor given on either part and therefore would not meddle between the King and them but leave it to his Majesty and Nobles This answer taught them fresh advice to remonstrate to the King himself by Messengers of their own and fearing the effects the Kings anger humbly interceed for surcease of Processe against Master Blake Until his Majesty should be pleased to convoke an Assembly for deciding all controversies to the Kings content To which he consented provided they would passe by the Declinator or at least to declare that it was not a Generall but a particular Declinator used in Blakes case only as being a cause of slander and so appertaining to the judgment of the Church This by the wiser was held fit to be received as an end of contention No! Rather to stand to their tacklings Gods cause Against worldly powers Ravelling into former examples of prevailing against Princes Others argued to try Mastery with Majesty may faile of effects as yet the Court stand in some fear of the Church and to keep up their concept let us take the best conditions we can least our weaknesse appear if we have the worst and so the terror of the Church despised or neglected Much will portends little wit and as it is often seen who gripes at all grasp nought but wind and to levy all their wills is to lose all their wits of which God send them more plenty than appears by their proceedings But not prevailing the King proceeds to proclaim their departure and Blakes appearance as afore ordered The next day sunday solemnized the christning of the Princesse Bows Ambassadour gave Her name from his Queen Elizabeth and the Town of Edenburgh by their Majestrates assisted as other witnesses Yet all that day in the Churches were bitter invectives The Commissioners of the Church presented a Petition to the King and Council That seing the decision of intricate questions could work no good and was subtilly urged to ingender discention between his Majesty and the Church he would be pleased to remit the discision to a lawfull Assembly and not to incroch upon the limitts of Christs Kingdom upon any pretence but to bend his actions against the common Enemie of the Church and state the Papists Then they exhort the Noblemen to give his Majesty faithfull Counsel and not to be subject to the guilt of sin by the craft of such as seek the thraldom of the Gospel who intend to exite their honours to be the Executors of their malitious devises With order to those that presented this Petition that if the same was refused to enjoyn them to protest against the preceeding of the Councel The King rejects it as not worthy of Answer commanding to call Blake to his summons First That he affirmed in Pulpit that the Popish Lords were returned with his Majesties knowledg and further assurance wherein he had detected the treachery of his heart Secondly that he called all Kings the Divells barns and that the Divel was in the court and in the Guiders thereof Thirdly That in his prayers for Queen Ann he had used these words we must pray for her in fashion but we have no cause she will never do us good That he called the Queen of England an Atheist That he had discussed a suspention granted by the Lords of Session in Pulpit and called them Miscreants and Bribers That the Nobillity were degenerate godlesse dissemblers and enimies to the Church That the Council were Holliglasses Cormorants and men of no Religion And that he had convocated divers Noblemen and others within Saint Andrews in June 1594. caused them to take arms in troops of Horse and Foot and thereby usurped the power of King and Council After reading of the summons Robert Pont their Minister protested that the processe in hand should not prejudice the Church To which the King answered that he meant not to meddle with matters of doctrine but to censure the treasonable speeches of a Minister which he and his Councel would judg except that by scripture it could be held forth that Ministers were not subject in these cases to judicatures Blake makes answer that the accusations were false calumnies producing testimonies of two which he alleged should be preferred to aâ—y report whatsoever Next he said That to the first six points the Council were not lawfull Iudges of speeches in Pulpit but the Presbytery where the sermon was uttered And so presents a second Declinator But being put to voyces it was sentenced That the crimes and accusations mentioned in the summons were seditious and treasonable and that the King and Council were competent Judges in all matters criminall or civill as well to Ministers as other subjects The Council dissolved the King willing to conserve peace and amity to the Ministers offered terms of reconciliation and to return Blake to his charge and Pastorage Bruce answered That if it concern'd only Master Blake the offer might be accepted but the liberty of Christs Kingdom being wounded by the Proclamation and by usurping spiritual Iurisdiction of greater consequence then Master Blakes life and twenty more and that if those things were not retreated they would oppose during the last aspiration of breath The King the next morning treated with some of theirs Shewing how far he was from impairing spiritual Jurisdiction that he would amplifie and inlarge the same but said he to discourse of State in Pulpits is intollerable I clame to judg in matters of sedition and civil and criminal causes and of speeches that may import such crimes and if the Pulpit should be a place of privilege under
to trouble the Church with thorny questions nor yet to claim to himself any tirany over the same Only to have these doubts solved to prevent debate to him or his Successors and to settle the policie of the Church that so the corruption being removed a pure Harmony might be fixed between him and the Ministers to Gods glory c. The Articles were at first drawn up to fifty five and to be supposed that those questions were never decided but effectually they were in use to the prejudice of the King and people which no man till now durst dispute being left loose for the Ministers mental reservation Many of them were much troubled to submit their discipline to dispute which they had assured the people to be part of the Gospel and therefore mightily endevoured to prevent examining but the business so far forward the King had his party to press it on A note of observation what packing there was of voices for eithers advantage the policie of some the late Generall Counsels of Christendome having taught the way and these are apt 〈◊〉 to learn And therefore the Northern Conscientious Ministers not as yet tainted with the Iesuitical tenents were delt with by a Message from the King to be distinguished from the Mutineers of Edenburgh not esteeming them guilty of reproach with such evil subjects How well the King intended to them in particular and so hopes that their behaviour would evidence their resentment of his Majesties favour and affection They are desired to subscribe to the bond in acknowledgment of the Kings royal power and to accept the E. Huntleys offers to absolve him from excommunication and reasons enow given for these And lastly they receive the Copy of the fiftie five questions and are desired to send Commissioners to the Assembly appointed at Perth They with reverence make answer That as they were ignorant of the Tumult and the Ministers flight so they were silent in their judgment and censure This though in the general The Authors of that insurrection were Traytors and if Ministers to be double punished They had sworn to his Majesties power and regallity when they were admitted Ministers and would never decline it The bond mentioning Master Blakes speeches in Pulpit concerning application of doctrine which his Majesty had pronounced as a question to be decided in the next Assembly they humbly reserved themselves til that time And for the Earl Huntley his repentance should be most acceptable and they were content to conferr with him and use all means for his resolution fearing they should not find him earnest for absolution And least the Ministers should have cause to hank upon jealousies of the Kings favour and affection to the Popish Lords especially to Huntley for whom in truth he had earnestly endeavoured reconciliation He therefore writes to him peremptorily either to make faith and satisfie the Church or be banished for ever The day come the Assembly meet But not to trouble them with all those fifty five Queries formerly printed the King remits them to the future contenting himself for the present with a dozen Articles to be determined possitive 1. That it be lawfull to the Prince or any pastor to move doubts and crave reformation of any points in external policie and discipline of the Church not concerning salvation nor defined in scripture and to be done decenter animo aedeficanti non tentandi 2. That the civil and politick goverment of the Realm belongs properly to the Kings office and his Counsellors and not pertinent to the spiritual Ministry of the word nor to meddle in matters of state nor his Majesties Laws Statutes or Ordinances in the Pulpit 3. That Ministers shall not name particular men in Pulpit except upon notorious crimes as of fugitive or excommunication 4. That in application the Minister have respect to his flock without extravagant discourses impertinent 5. That every Presbytery take diligent accompt of the doctrine of their ministry 6. That Summary excommunication be utterly discharged and the sentence to follow three Citations at eight days distance 7. That no sentence or censure proceed from any Assembled but of those within their bounds 8. That all summons containe speciall cause and crime and not super inquirendis quod est mere tiranicorum 9. That no meeting be without the Kings consent except the ordinary session Presbyteries and Synods 10. That in principal Burghs no Minister be placed without the consent of the King and the flock 11. That seven or eight discreet Ministers be authorized to reason upon the rest of his Majesties Questions till time serve 12. That the Northern Ministers absolve the Earl Huntley fromexcommunication if he satisfie the Church Their answers to each were not received satisfactory and therefore they attend the King and Counsel where his Majesty reasons with them the justness of his desires and after serious consideration they conclude to the Kings liking A commission was granted to some of them to reconcile the Popish Lords to the Church And Articles ordained for Huntley Angus And Arrol to subscribe which they did The Ministers taken into protection and grace and all Papists in general except the Lords to depart the Realm before Iune And all the former offenders and Mutineers remitted to pardon which hapily concluded the end of this year And to shut up all with the time let us take leave of Iohn Lesly Bishop of Ross who took leave of this life at Bruxells in Flanders his constant abode since the execution of his Excellent Princess Queen Mary of Scotland a man memorable with reverence for his faith and constant service to his Sovereign and his extraordinary care and trouble travelling to most Princes in Câ—ristendom to interpose their credit with Queen Elizabeth for her relief induring all hardships for her sake examinations disputes imprisonings and at last banishment out of England as you have heard leaving his Mistriss without hope of redemption from her Captivity And therefore administers his last and best service spiritual consolations which he purposely writ to her in a Treatise printed and published full of piety and learning those no doubt composed his own mind with patience and comfort after her sad and miserable death which he bore off for some time till sorrow seized him into a languishing sickness He composed the Gests of his Native Countrey into Latine from the beginning of that Nation to his last time He was servent in his faith zealous and charitable and died as he alwaies professed a Juditious learned Romish Catholick And so let us see the affairs in England The Queen to divert the growing greatness of the Spaniard had assisted the Netherlands ten years in their rebellion as some stile it against him and now considered that whilst she established their tottering territories her self became poor and they had plenty And therefore by Bodly her Ambassadour she demands to be eased of her charge in her
interests in one design of envy Queen Elizabeth was ever shy of her Successor and these two families were equal in power and affection in Court enjoying Her present favour but looking to the future in the Queens declension And in several held correspondence with some of the principal in Scotland if not with the King which had she known might have cost their heads Secretary Caecil had the safer conveyance in disposing all publick addreâ—â—es of State and was in hazard to have forfeited his honesty if not his head but his ready wit served the turn The Queen taking ayre upon Greenwich-heath a post came thither to Caecil from Scotland she hastily commanded the Packet which he with much diligence to obey sâ—ept neer her person telling her it smelt and looked il-favouredly coming out of a filthy Budget and that it were fit to be ayred She being averse from ill sents bid him do so and so he gained time to sever what he would not have her to see The Earls accident of the same Nature had more cost and difficulty in the redress He entertained a domestick Master Anthony Bacon of a quick wit by whom the Scotish intelligence was managed which dangerous secret he acted for reward And upon that score had private invitation to amend his fortune with Caecil Of which he makes use and as a mercenary man revealed it to his Master who knew well enough it behoved him to out-bid Caecil and sodainly gave him Essex house which was disingaged for 2500l besides another sum before of 1500l so in all we may guess it costly counsel About this time There was a treasonable Assassination acted upon the King by Iohn Ruthen Earl of Gowry and commonly called Gowries conspiracie The principal Actors The Earl and his brother Alexander Ruthen Andrew Henderson and Iohn Cranstone The conspirators were Robert Logain Laird of Restalrigge the Laird of Bour and Georg Sprot the last were discovered afterwards and Sprot executed eight years after And because Gowry had insinuated himself into the faction of the ministery presuming on their wonted way of countenancing all mutinous designes These men in malice to their Sovereign who kept them under with Bitt and Bridle began to quarrel at the publick declarations herein till the Conspiracie was examined and witnessed by their worships Their but infection hath impoysoned others who wilfully and maliciously have now very lately spit their venome in print as if the world had been more than these half hundred years last past abused with a false and feigned story We therefore In perpetuam rei memoriam have endeavoured the truth From such information and printed Narratives as we may with confidence satisfie the most suspicious The name Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious till Anno 1568 when the chief of that familie amongst other confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured the imprisoning the Kings Mother Queen Mary In 1582 his son William was created Earl Gowry in the Kiugs minority and two years after fel into actual Rebellion at Dundee for which he suffered at Sterlin anno 1584. His eldest son Iohn not long after was restored in blood and had leave to travel beyond seas I have a Manuscript which saies that in Padoua amongst other impressa's in a fencing school he caused a hand and sword aiming at a Crown for his device And the Earl of Arguile this mans father 1552 told the King that in a house at Orleans in France where Gowry had been lodged he found a prophecie That he should with too much love fall into melancholy have great power and rule and die by the sword And thereafter his return home he was extraordinary ambitious proud and haughty His answer shew'd no less unto Collonal Stuart a man of high esteem who humbly desiring to be reconciled for acting as a minister of justice in apprehending his father He scornfully answered Aquila non capit Muscas Himself too big in his own thoughts to be comprehended with Court observance retired to his familie accompanied with such of his Creatures that could descend to observe him only his brother Alexander was designed to play the Courtier to take off the suspition being of the Kings Bedchamber And although divers overtures were conceived between the Earl and Robert Logain of Restalrig which took not effect But at last it was resolved in this manner The Earl sends his Brother Alexander from Saint Iohnstons his house to the King at Faulkland to intice him thither with as much privacie as could be And overnight the 4. day of August 1600. commands one of his servants Andrew Henderson to ride with his brother Alexander and one Andrew Ruthen to Faulkland to the Court the next morning by 7. a clock The King putting his foot in the stirrop to hunt Alexander tels him That he had apprehended one lately come from beyond seas with much gold coyn and sundry suspicious letters to Popish Lords advising his Majesty to receive the mony and letters and to examine the person being in safety with his Brother at Saint Iohnstons but 10. miles and this to be done speedily and privately which was concluded at Noon whilst his train and attendants should be at dinner Alexander Immediately commands Henderson to speed to his Brother finding him in his Chamber where they had communication and that the King would be there by Noon and that the business took well with the King for he clipt him about the neck that he was accompanied with a slender Train the Duke of Lenox Sir Thomas Erskin and about a dozen persons Well saies the Earl get on your plate sleeves for I must take an highland robber The King staying longer in his sport of hunting than was expected the Earl at middle of dinner Andrew Ruthen came in hast and signified the King to be nerer at hand presently after came Alexander and William Bloire and withdrew themselves to consult sending Henderson for the Earls Gantlet and steel Bonnet at the instant the King comes in is received by the Earl and retires to dinner Alexander bids Henderson to fetch the keys of the Chambers from one William Rynde and presently after Cranston requires Henderson to come to the Earl who commanded him to attend his brother Alexander and to doe what ere he bid him which was to be locked up within the round Chamber and to stay in silence till his return Neer the end of dinner the King at his fruit and the Lords and wayters gone to eat Alexander beggs of his Majesty in this opportunity to withdraw and to dispatch the business And up he leads Him through four or five roomes locking each dore behind them til they came into the round Chamber where Henderson stood armed No sooner entered but Alexander pulls out Hendersons dagger held it to the Kings brest claps on his Bonnet and with stern countenance faces the King and saies Now Sir you must know I
Captivity Shall we be inveigled with pretences petty Preferment to Parliament Votes and Titles of Prelacy c. Then scoffing at the King But Boniton says he that Thief is executed What 's that to Religion Is there none offends but Boniton But the King is sound if so the danger the less but there is nothing sound in Kirk or King Melius obtabilius est bellâ—m pace impia a Deo distrahente Do what the King could such Libells were licensed for which he was committed Their Church thus settled the King urges for a new Translation of the Bible being miserably lamely done disputing with them the Errors therein as also their Prose and Singing Psalms wherein he shewed the faults of Meeter and Matter with admiration to all that heard him so ready to reason with them their discrepance from the Text by proofs of other Languages which though he could not obtain from them therein yet he had it accomplished where he found obedience to his commands afterwards in England Anno 1603. The King caresses all his Friends and sends Lodowick Duke of Lenox Ambassadour into France with some persons of Honour and two Counsellours of State to caress the King he arrives at Diep and enters Paris with a train of Scots that met him from all parts a custom they ever had to set out themselves the best side outwards especially from home where they are least known but by their own declarations And not long after Audience at St. Iermans the Queen in childe-bed and then took leisure to visit his Mother Madam d' Aubigney whilest the King poasted to Callis upon false intelligence that Queen Elizabeth was desperate ill or that the affairs of Flanders invited him Ostend then besieged No doubt his mouth watered to have found such another faction as might foist in another Bastard of Normandy in gallantry he would say so Upon his return the Duke takes leave and lands in England We may guess what he had done assured the Kings affection to the French and as of ancient amity so craves continuance and support towards his new Inheritance in case of necessity when his time should come to the Crown of England And here he findes the Queen ill disposed and the Parliament set suspected of all to have made his Masters clame to the Right of Succession and many one ready to offer assistance but he declared to them the Kings dislike to breed jealousies by such unkindness his Commission being no other than to salute her with the Kings filial affection to her Majesty and because he found the Irish malady oppressed her most he proffered his Masters aid to serve her there which she took well and he took leave The Mighty States ouâ— of sunken Netherlands will have no delay but to subdue Flanders and to amuze the Arch Duke Maurice Prince of Orange is sent into Gelderland to besiege Reinbergh and had assistance fron England of four thousand men but the Arch Duke was more forward and fell upon Ostend to whose Relief are sent twenty Companies and Sir Francis Vere their General both without and within Ostend from a poor Fisher-town had repulsed the Duke of Parma Maltee and now this Arch Duke with all his seventeen Forts erected round about it For Sir Francis Vere in the fifth moneth of the Siege treats about the Surrender delaying the Delegates till Auxiliaries were raised and then sent them away with a fig for them The Arch Duke was angry batters Ostend with eighteen Cannon drives on two thousand Foot to set upon the old Town the Horse put them on and take two Fortresses and the English Trenches nine Ordnance out of the West Gate with Chain-shot miserably rent the Assailants with mighty loss in other places Sir Francis Vere quits his six moneths Government as it was ordained to Frederick Dork a Dutch-man who with others succeeding him defended it three years and four mouths against Spains fury and the raging sea the more troublesom Enemy and in that time were intomb'd in honour many brave English and others the most warlike Souldiers of all Nations in Christendom contending for a barren piece of sand The French King fearing such an evil Neighbour provides for his own Coast and comes to Callis whom Queen Elizabeth congratulates by her Secretary Edmonds and he returns the Visit to her by Marshal Byron Monsieur Arvern and Sir Aumons and besides they had in charge to wish her happiness in the timely suppression of the late Rising and sudden Execution of Essex and his Complices She said His faults deserved that punishment of which she gave him timely warning foreseeing his ambition edg'd on by others to commit Treason for which yet had he begg'd it she might have given him pardon Byron not long after felt the like destiny for his Plots against the French King though his merits to his Master were far exceeding any pretences of Essex yet all of them and his thirty wounds in the Kings service could not prevail though he begg'd it with too much desire of longer life And indeed they were both equally matches in most things parallel either in vice or virtue Money was scarce in England being transported yearly into Ireland one hundred and sixty thousand pounds sterling and under that colour the Merchants had a common way to convey elsewhere much more and once got to the Rebells it was good barter for all commodities with any forein Nation and by stealth with English the Coin for Ireland was therefore abased with some Brass which would bring over the sterling money back again into England The Arguments against this could not prevail with Treasurer Burkhurst besides the Law of that time Necessity 'T is true the Souldier lost in his pay which they felt but understood not and the Queen was not so nice of her publick repute but to veil to the benefit which lasted not long and the money-masters not then so well experienced to manage the advantage the Spanish policy therein grown cunning might have taught us what they practice for gain With fresh pay the Deputy goes on removes Ter Oen from Black-water Derry Castle Donegal Monastery The tittular Earl of Desmond and Mac Carty are surprized arreigned and condemned of Treason and sent into England by whom and others is discovered the intention of landing Forces from Spain at Cork which was therefore fortified and fresh mann'd with help of two thousand new Souldiers out of England The Spaniards lands in September at the mouth of Kingsale Haven and the Governour there Percie retires 〈◊〉 and the other let in with thirty five Ensignes 〈◊〉 welcomed by the Inhabitants The President Carew bestirrs him drives the County about lodges some forces in places of advantage ready with his Army to expect don Iohn D' Aquila with his title of Master General and Captain of the Catholick King in defending the war of God and maintenance of Religion in Ireland and to deliver
Day should pay for all they meant the Day when she should die that it would be a bloudy Day by the uncertainty of the next Heir our Countrey is in the most dreadfull and desperate case in the greatest misery and most dangerous times that ever it was since or before the Conquest and far worse than any Countrey in Christendom by the certainty of the most bloudy civil and forein Wars all our wealth and felicity whatsoever depending upon a few uncertain days of Queen Elizabeths life Clouds of bloud says another hang in the Air which at the death of Queen Elizabeth will dissolve and rain down upon England which then is expected as a Prey to Neighbour Nations These false Prophets spake this sense for the Sun set and no night followed Mira cano Sol occubuit Nox nulla secuta The same mercifull hand at the same time crowned Queen Elizabeth with immortal glory and set the Earthly Crown of this Kingdom upon King Iames his head without shedding so much as one drop of bloud Sic transit gloria mundi Queen Elizabeth was a Princess excellent in all Tongues she translated the Prayers of Queen Katharine into Latine French and Italian she wrote a Century of Sentences and dedicated them to her Father and translated Salustius she made several Orations in Latine in both the Universities and entertained Ambassadours always in their own Languages many of her excellent Speeches in Parliament are in print Queen Mary of Scotland wrote a Book of Verses in French of the Institution of a Prince all with her own hand wrought the Cover with her Needle which the King Kept as a Relick of her Memory as I have seen The End of the first Part. REX FIDEI DEFENSOR POTENTISS IACOBUS D. G. MAGNAE BRITANNIAE GALLIAE ET HIBERNIAE FIDEI DEFENSOR Behold Greate Britaines France and Irelands Kinge About whose Browes Clusters of Crownes doe springe Whose faith him Champion of the FAITH en-stiles Vpon whose head fortune and Honnor smiles The Rod of vice and Vertues Recompence Longe liue Kinge IAMES in all Magnificence Printed and sould by P. Stout THE REIGN AND DEATH OF King JAMES OF Great BRITTAIN FRANCE and IRELAND the First c. The Second Part. LONDON Printed by Henry Hills 1655. Introduction WE reade in Stories how perplexed several Princes have been in some dependent policies at their first acquisition to their Governments especially such Sovereigns as come to their Crowns by accidents mixt with Succession I finde not any amongst many more difficult to decide than that which befell King Iames and followed the death of Queen Elizabeth The horrid remembrance of the late execution of his Mother Queen Mary famed by all forein Nations for a Lady that had born the Illustrious Diadems of two glorious Scepters the one by lawfull Succession of former Kings even from her Cradle the the other by powerfull Conquest of a mighty Prince with her incomparable merit beauty of her body and more of her minde living long time to see her Son a King renowned for wisdom and thereby apt to apprehend and powerfull of himself and so fitted for Revenge The splendour of Imperial Crowns are eclipsed by suffering such ignominy the sacred character of Church and State defaced the magnificence of the most secured Thrones destroyed and Sovereignty would cease to be the image of God But for him to ascend that Throne steeming with his Mothers innocent bloud wrought amazement to himself no doubt and wonder to the world what he would do in this Dilemma Best of beauties may be discoloured and so the complexion alters Christian policies are good rules for Sovereignty we may examine his Resolution by the happy effects of his Actions Besides he was bound to acknowledge Truths Her Adoption of Him to his inheritance sweetned Him into the peoples candid Acceptation And though by that solemn Action on Her death-bed she gave Him but his Own Yet she might have rendered Her self and former Cruelty less disputable by objecting against Him his Mothers Religion averse to the reformed in England strangers they were both and He Her son whom in Iustice she had destroyed For though her fathers will setled the succession Her power with the people might have allowed it she might have Married or Created another and so made a favorite Or indeed the sure of all she might have setled this Nation in the people to succeed Her as heirs to all The times and Relations then more likely than â—ver since as now it is Thus she might have done see what she did Seing She could not repair Her cruel Error Yet by those means She manifested Her resentment of what She had done amiss by recompensing that Evil with this Good And ill humour of Malice is not easily purged It reacheth to the Person hated and to all near Relations Children and Friends And no doubt some secret Maxime or Policie of Stâ—te might be taken up sufficient to have accused Queen Mary of Crime and so to have put a fixed Resolution to that Action which otherwise in it self seems Savage Her Adoption of Him was of equal Ballance with His Birth-right and usually as Venerably received as Inheritance from Parents T' is true They give the Birth but leave us to Succession Free Election as the Gift is most admirable for its merits so ought it to be the more Acceptable for the Miracle The One Natural even to Brutes in their Ordinary Inclinations But Adoption operates with affection and choice not from Sense but from Reason and examines the Object ere it settles the possession And so thus considered she merits Pardon He Excuses Another Relation falls upon Her Counsellors then the most honourable birth admirable in wisdom and Eminent in Power for the King to confide in These or They in Him Those that found an Executioner for Her might in time bring forth a Regicide for Him See how his wisdom Expiates all Those hands that hurt Her healed Him who sealed to Her death signed to His Reception Nor could any private malice of theirs be directed towards Her Person but Her Power Necessity of State made Them submit to sentence Her which otherwise they perhaps would have spared in Reverence to Her and Honor to Him And as their Persons were Eminent so was it hazardous for Him to question a Crime that He had not power to punish Acts they are so different in Them as make up the wonder in Him How to revenge the One and not reward the Other Acts of Oblivion alwaies more Noble than Revenge Caesars erection of Pompeys Statue secured his own Acts of Honor to others memory reflect in effect upon the person present And therefore He rather chose to Court Her Counsellors with the favour of Clemencie than to correct Them with the Rod of Iustice. Rigour hath much of Majesty but Mercy hath more of Glory The One may be more safe the other more secure And though Machivael makes Fear and Love
curtesie of Speech not de jure nor have privilege as Lords of Parliament and these are the Son and Heir of a Duke called an Earl his eldest Son a Baron but not in Pleadings and so of Daughters stiled Ladies by curtesie onely On Saint Iames his day in Iuly the King and Queen were crowned at Westminster in that fatal Chair of Sovereigns anointing in it remains a large blackish Stone Jacob's Pillow say the Scots in his Ladder Dream of the Messias from his Loins and indeed so ceremonious he was then that he sacrificed thereon naming it Domus Dei and in his Return from Laban forgat not thereon to pay his Vows in which esteem he conveyed it with his Râ—licks in his general remove to Egypt but from thence the Israelites flying in haste and pursued they it seems left thâ—s Monument behinde and one Gathelus wedded to Pharaoh's Daughter though a stranger observant of the Hebrews Rites transported it to Galicia of his name Port-Gathelick thence by his Seed carried into Ireland so by Ferguard sent to Penthland or Scotland crowning their Kings thereon And Edward 3. brought it from thence Even then when grave Bards did sing that ancient Saw Ni fallat fatum Scoti hunc quocunque locatum Inveniunt Lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem The Scots sall bruke that Ream as Naitiff Grund Gif Wierds fail nocht quhair eir this Chair is fund Another very ancient Post Iacobum Iacobus Iacobum Iacobus quoque quintus At sextus Iacobus Regno regnabit utroque After a James sall be a James a third James and a fourth A fifth James also but the sixth sall sway the Scepters both These are no conceits commonly made up ere half-molded for they were read many Ages before he or his abortive Book were born And with his Crown he taketh Oath To keep and maintain the Right and Liberties of the Church and shall keep all the Lands Honours and Dignities righteous and free of the Crown of England and the Rights of the Crown decayed and lost he shall call again to his power into the ancient Estate shall keep the peace of the Church of the Clergy and People and do Equity and Iustice with discretion and mercy shall hold the Laws and Customs of the Realm and the evil Laws put out to establish peace to the People and no Charter to grant but by Oath Abridgment Henry 8. Statutes This Ceremony ended there were 24. Knights of the Bath invested who were received into White-hall in the evening and supped together in one Room sitting by degrees with their Escocheons of their proper Arms placed above their Heads they were lodged upon Pallats on the floor under their Arms after they had been bathed in several Baths provided in Chambers the next morning they were apparelled in Hermits weeds and marshalled into Saint James's Park with loud Musick and the Heralds going before and so about the Courts of White-hall and then into the Chapel with their Reverence before the Altar-table and the Cloath of Estate as at St Georges Feast they take their places in stalls theirs Arms above and hear Service Then each Knight with his two Esquires offered at the Altar Pieces of Gold and so retired in the former manner to their Chambers and then adorned themselves with Robes of Crimson Taffata with Hats and white Feathers and so were conducted to the King into the Presence-chamber under the Cloath of State who girt each of them with a Sword and had gilt Spurs put on their Heels dined together and so to the Even-Song at the Chapel where they offered their Swords The next day in Robes of Purple Sattin with Doctors Hoods on their shoulders Hats with white Feathers and so feasted again and lodged that night as before and the next day departed They are dignified and distinguished from other Knights by a Medall of three Crowns of Gold which is hanging at a Red Ribband which they should wear about their necks during their life These Knights are commonly Youths of the Sons of Noblemen or Nobless So now the King is established with all the Rites of Coâ—firmation in Honour and Love of his People and may be ranked in competition with the most for the Western Monarchy which had been hotly pursued by Henry 8. in opposition to France and Spain about whose time the House of Austria settled into that Design And because we have left the King in joyfull solemnity let us step aside out of the Court jollity and seriously consider the cunning contrivances of neighbour Kings heretofore for Imperial domination It was set on work by union of Mariage in Charles the Grand-Child of Maximilian the Emperour of the House of Austria and of Ferdinand of Spain who being heir to them both inherited also the Netherland Arragon Castile Scicile and the Indies 1503. And because Lewis of France as great in power stood in Competition the other therefore sought to Master it by cunning inter-marriage with Charles and his daughter Claud which was no sooner contracted but as sodainly crackt and He affianced to Mary the Daughter of Henry the seventh of England and to whose sonne Arthur Ferdinand had married Katherin his youngest daughter 1506. This double union with England encourages the other to break with France but Arthurs death and his father soon following and they still afraid of France clap up a fresh match with the widdow Katherin and Henry the eighth and a Bull subdated the Popes death dispensed with it 1510. Henry the eighth left rich by his father young and active is put upon quarrels with France that either Kingdoms might spend themselves in War as they did in wonderfull designes To whose assistance the other interpose with either party and with inconstancy as the necessity of State-Interest intervened But upon Maximilians death the Emperial Crown falls in Competition of France and Spain Charles now put to it seeks to get in with England and acknowledges the fowl Inconstancies of his Predecessors towards Henry the eighth In which he confesses as he was involved so his youth and duty then tyed him more to Obedience than Truth but now grown a Man and Himself the mutual dangers of either would give assurance for his part where otherwise he saith single faith might mistrust Henry the eighth thus cousened into some kindness both by his own power and purse makes Charles Emperour and the French King his Prisoner 1519. And so his turn served a peace is concluded with France and the King of England at whose charge all was effected is left out of any satisfaction And to amuze him from revenge intices Desmond to rebell in Ireland and assisted Iames the fift of Scotland with amunition and mony to buysie England at home 1526. And being in this height of Imagination to have wrought wonders in reducing the Election of the Popes from the Cardinals to the Emperour set others to quarrel with the Pope also who very
hapily in the nick of time confederates with the Italian Princes with the French and with Henry the eighth as Caput foederis and so Charles is forc'd to descend and at a Treaty at Cambray obliged to render some Pieces to the French and so to sit still from open violence The General safety of Christian Princes necessarily being involved in the danger But He begins again and contracts to assist Henry the eighth for his Title to France who no sooner entered into war and recovered Bullen but the Emperour concludes a perpetual peace with France and joynt confederation for restoring the Catholick Religion which was much declined of its lustre by the protestation of Luther and others in Germanie and soon after spread into all parts of Christendom Henry the eighth wearied with other mens designes with vast expence of blood treasure dies and leaves all the glory of his good actions to this son Edward the sixth who succeeds with no advantage by these and with less money in his purse whose wise Counsel meddles the less with Spain or France but contracts onely Union with the German Princes and other Allyes in confederation of Religion that could best ballance the Emperours ambition His successor Mary Imbarks her body in mariage with Philip of Spain and her Estate in war with France and lost Calice into the bargain 1558. Queen Elizabeth comes to the Crown and at the Treaty of Cambray King Philip pretends to assist her in recovery of Calais but his own turn served he leaves her in the lurch to work out her own safety but under a feigned pretence of Mariage wrought a stay of the Popes declaration against the Queen grounding this favour no doubt from his own fears lest that a Union of France with Scotland in the person of Mary the Mother of this King Iames should Unite these three Kingdomes against him How equall soever Queen Elizabeth had been for peace or war in her own nature and her people humble to follow her will in either yet her course more ambitious in ballancing Neighbour Princes from overgrowing than apt to conquer others carried her all her life in defensive actions at home and abroad and so to impoverish her Enemies but not to inrich her self for by those courses King Iames found her Treasure exhausted and the Estate of the House of Austria in this Condition when he came hither As for the French King his Crown-demain exhausted which he endeavours to recover by Impositions the people light enough the Nobility prone to dismember upon every occasion and so not easie to be governed for the Sovereigns Designs or Interest the Kingdom thereby the likelier to be cantonized by self-division than to conquer others yet their native wealth and variety of Objects preserve both King and people to live secure from their mighty Enemy the Spaniards even by the providence of chance I speak as it was when King Iames came here He saw Germany upon an immoveable centre of self-greatness governed with Bit and Bridle by the Emperour to do as he list with all the Princes or they by love or by fear obeying And however the Danish King was so much of Kin as to stick to his Brother King Iames's friendship the benefit of his Sound and unexhausting profit able to second with Ships and Money and active undertaking yet no doubt if to be trusted unto with all these helps the King might find him wary lest by strengthening a Neighbour himself become overmastered And indeed too wise in common actions to intangle his Estate being also in those daies not so absolute to do of Himself without leave of his people what he hath done very lately against this State in favour of the Dutch he feels the smart I need not repeat it The Swede incompassed with dangers and Enemies the Pole pretending Title to that Kingdom and in Arms they were for the wager and defended barely enough by the distance of Sea and Land between them Be fi des the Dane upon his back in all Advantages to quicken the quarrel though Providence since hath done wonders The Cantons swoln big with pride and equality divide themselves between two Monarches France and Spain that for each others ends they are supported by them both as their hired servants Italy distinguished into Principalities yet bundled together by common caution restrained of their freedoms by force of French and Spanish Multiply profit by strangers and spare the pains to do it themselves So by this narrow kind of wisdom become all Merchants and abused by the Conclave and Spain as never to be Monarchal The Muscovite from a Duke grown big with a Timpanie of Titles was kept under by the more huge and vast Enemy the Tartar making Inrodes of barbarous Murther upon each other without any Interest of Christian Princes unless sometime the Pole at leasure quarrels for the skirt of his Empire as he did very lately and prevailed Now whilst these Potentates lived thus fettered within the narrowness of their Estates or Humours Spain managing the Popedom by his power in the Conclave and pensions to the Cardinals seemed to give law to the Western part of the Christian world His Mines of gold effectual not only to carry on any design with Fleets and Armies where he had will or interest But also to make way where he list by corrupting the Counsels and Actions of any King with temptation and underminings either by his purse or the pates of Iesuits So that in a word he was now grown hard to be pleased and dangerous to be offended Through all these Considerations King Iames comes in to choose his Game and through all these distempers abroad he was to secure himself and his new Inheritance His safest way to take breath for the present was to make peace with Spain first of all and after with the rest which indeed were done together presuming that being in his power so to do then it should depend on his pleasure to break off after or to conserve it to his death which he did And being a wise and wary Prince rather solid than formal having been well seasoned at home with practice and broken to affairs abroad therefore now freed from former Distempers he began to search into the ground of his preceding miseries in Scotland and well assured where the Sword bears sway Virtue and Fortune the Guiders of the best of humane Action do not always endure the lasting no not of the memory of the Actors Here therefore He began to consider what advance ambitious Princes lust after for the present when hazardous success hurls upon them miserable events He was not ignorant of the interests of Christian Estates one with the other as is said and how it concerned them to caress him for his amity Amongst them all whom to trust he was not assured and how to depend upon his new Inheritance without confederacy
divers conditions but the Contrivers were two Priests Watson and Clark and Count Arembergh Ambassadour Extraordinary for the Arch Duke who brought in the Lord Cobham and he his Brother and the Parham and others and they the Lord Grey of Wilton Then came in Sir Walter Ralegh the wisest of them all who dallied like the Fly with the flame till it consumed him Willing he was it seems to know it and thought by his wit to over-reach the Confederates whom he knew well enough though none but Cobham for a good while dealt with him and with him Ralegh play'd fast and loose till himself was caught in the Gin. There was one Matthew de Laurencie here at London but a Merchant of Antwerp with whom Cobham held intelligence for many years before and for some Reasons of State connived at by the late Queen and her Council This man was the property which Arembergh used to Cobham who was now much discontented These three made the first step to the Contrivements and it hath been my jealousie for I laboured the truth that Laurencie betray'd it I being often present with Sir Walter Ralegh in his Imprisonment when he privately discoursed hereof But such Designs like wounds if they take air corrupt their Project could not be covertly carried consisting after wards of several persons of different tempers and unsuiting souls and so through the rifts and chinks of their several aims and ends which could not be close jointed the vigilancy of Cecil perhaps or other Counsellours of State stole a glympse of their Design apprehensive enough to light a Candle from the sparks of Arembergh's Discourse And being ripe they were severally examined and restrained noâ— without watchfull eyes on either then to Imprisonment and last to their Trials before the Lord High Steward and the Peers at Winchester whither the Term removed out of this evermore Pestilential City And on the seventeenth of November the Day of Arreignment for Ralegh the Iury called to the Bar against whose Persons he did not except nor could for they were his Pares the most able sufficient of Middlesex were the Fact had its Scene The Indictment was managed by the Attourney General Sir Edward Cook Serjeant Heal and Serjeant Philips drawn from the ninth of Iune 1603. The Accusation double against the King and against the State the personal had two parts against his life and to disable his Title to the Crown To the first was read Brooks Confession that his Brother Cobham used these Speeches That it would never be well till the King and his Cubs were taken away and said That he thought it proceeded from Ralegh Ralegh answered That Brooks was his Enemy it was replied That Cobham was ever your Friend and it would seem a strange malice in Brooks to ruine his Brother to undo you To the second part there was produced a Book which I have read A Defence of the Queens Proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots The Title could defend it self but the matter therein meddled too much in a dangerous consequence to the Kings Succession and treasonable enough Cobham had confessed That Ralegh delivered to him that Book and he to Brooks and Brooks to Grey upon Cobham's discontent Ralegh acknowledged that it contained matter of scandal to the Kings Title and that he had leave of Sir Robert Cecil after his Fathers death to look into his Study for Cosmographical Manuscripts of the West Indies and so lighted on this Book Cecil then present upon the Bench acknowledged this leave and said He would then as really have trusted him as any man though since for some infirmities of Sir Walter the bonds of affection were crakt and yet preserving his duty to the King which may not be dispenced withall he swore By God he loved him and had a great conflict in himself that so compleat a member had fallen from the State And this passage needs no soothing to excuse Cecil either Father or Son for I have heard Sir Robert Cecil when he was Salisbury to say publickly at his own Table that he had intercepted and kept all the considerable Libells against the late Queen and this King but though justifiable in them as Counsellours of State yet was it a crime in Ralegh who never was any And this Book as I remember was of one Brag or Crag a Iesuit But Sir Walter excused all That there was nothing acted thereby to the Kings prejudice for that Book was burnt and others are in print But to insist hereupon Cobham had confessed that Ralegh had agreed that he should treat with Arembergh for six hundred thousand Crowns to advance the Title of the Lady Arabella to this Crown that Cobham under pretence of travelling should prosecute this Design in the Low Countreys Flanders France and Spain and to carry three Letters from Her to the Arch Duke Duke of Savoy and King of Spain and to promise Toleration of Religion and Her to be disposed of in Marriage that at his Return he should meet Ralegh at Jersey the place of his command and there to agree how to dispose the money to Discontents and Ralegh should have seven thousand Crowns from Arembergh to himself And further confessed That Ralegh had instigated him to all these Treasons And that Ralegh should say That the best way to trouble England was to cause Division in Scotland To this onely of Scotland Ralegh answered and confessed the words and that he had so thought these twenty years It seems by the sequel since in these our days that he was not much mistaken Laurencie confessed To have delivered Leters from Arembergh to Ralegh who presently with Cobham conferred thereof in private To all these Ralegh craved That Cobham might appear to accuse him face to face I may not omit this passage that when the Confederates had suffered under some Examination and restrained to their several Houses and Ralegh well knowing that Laurencie was suspected but not examined then did Ralegh discover in a Letter to Sir Robert Cecil where Laurencie was in secret with Cobham and to advise to apprehend him and so to intercept their intelligence whilest matters were ripe What Ralegh's Design was herein is not imagined but this use was made of it to Ralegh's ruine for after that Cobham had denied much of the former stuff upon his first Examinations this Letter was shewed to him under Ralegh's hand then Cobham in an extasie railing against Ralegh delivered his positive Accusation of him as is before mentioned and added that after Ralegh's first Examination before the Lords he writ to Cobham That although he had been examined of many matters he had cleared Cobham of all when as the Lords protested he had not been at all examined concerning Cobham and thereby this was inferred by the Council to confirm Cobham to deny all when he should be examined Sir Walter said That Cobham had not signed his Accusation and
in all our Scotish discourse Yet at this time they renew their former wont as in Scotland and begin to perplex the King at his Entrance To pacifie such He appoints a Conference to be held with the Episcopacie and Them at Hampton Court In the mean time to let them see what they should trust unto he sets forth a Proclamation Against such as seditiously seek Reformation in Church Matters And that the Constitution and doctrine here is agreeable to Gods word and near to the Condition of the primitive Church And forewarnes them of publick invectives gathering of Subscriptions to supplications for Reformation savouring of Tumult sedition and violence Protesting to preserve the Estate Ecclesiasticall as politick in such form as he found it Reforming abuses if they be made apparent 14 Octob. 1603. But in truth these men were too hasty and might well remember the King of such their behaviour in Scotland which to prevent he did for ever after advance the power of Episcopacie there to even that Discipline with this in England and to inlarge their Bishops into some Eminencie heretofore clowded with Envy and Malice It was now time so to do when the Presbyterian Doctrines had amplified into these Heads The Reformation of Religion belongs to the Cominaltie The punishment of such Crimes as touching the Majesty of God doth not appertain to Kings and chief Rulers only but also to the Body of the People Princes for just causes may be deposed If Princes be Tyrants their subjects are freed from their Oath of Obedience Populo jus est ut imperium cui velit deferat Penes populum est ut leges ferat sunt Reges veluti Tabulariorum Custodes The people have the same power over the King as He hath over any Person It were good that rewards were appointed by the people for such as should kill Tyrants The People may arraign their Prince The Minister may excomunicate Him He that by excomunication is cast into Hell is not worthy of Life upon Earth Objections to some of their Doctrines with their Answers Custome is against such dealing with Princes Answ. Nothing more dangerous to be followed than Custome Ob. We must obey Kings be they good or bad Ans. It is blasphemy to say so Ob. Jeremie commanded obedience to Nebuchodonozer Ans. The Example is but singular Ob. God placeth Tyrants sometimes for punishment of the People Ans. So doth he private then sometimes to kill them Ob. The Iewes dealt not so with their Kings Ans. Their Kings were not first elected by the People but Ours have nothing but from the People Ob. Shew an Example out of Scripture Ans. Sundry good laws in divers Countries though no Example in Scriptures Ob. Saint Paul commands us to pray for Princes Tim. 2. Ans. We may punish Thieves and yet we ought to pray for them Ob. Saint Paul commands us to be subject and obedient to Princes Tit. 3. Ans. Paul writ in the Infancie of the Church the Christian not ripe nor rich for such a purpose and if Paul were now alive he would leave Kings to be punished by their Subjects not to be accounted any longer King c. These and many more such not only held by Buchanan and Knox but by their whole Consistorians beyond seas as Calvin Beza Hitamor Ursinius Vindicae contra Tyrannos Eusebius Shiladephus c. And now was their former proceedings in Scotland Examined according to their doctrines for setting up their Coâ—sistorian Discipline The Parliament in Scotland 1560. being disolved and their Book of Discipline compiled by Knox and others which their favourites notwithstanding termed but a devoutâ—Imagination yet they threatned the chiefest Noblemen if they should reject it some refused but at last it was forced upon all They appoint their Assemblies particular and general They exercise Jurisdiction and cart Saunders for Adultry And excommunicate the whole Multitude about a May-pole They burn divers places pretending of superstition Bishops houses Protestants also at Pasley the Bishop hardly escaping life The very calling of Bishops though Protestants became Antichristian and command them by their Authority to leave their Offices and Iurisdiction That they should have no voices in Parliament and desire that such as themselves should send might vote Commanding the King and His Council under pain of Excommunication to appoint no Bishops hereafter because the Brethren had concluded that estate unlawfull Beza their Consistorian Patriarch from Geneva had assured them of well doing and moves them Ne unqnam c. That they would never admit again that Plague Bishops although it might allure them of keeping Unity The Bishops being discharged they agreed of Superintendents but that device was laid aside and afterwards conclude that Ministers of the word should be equal and then began the Presbytery to flourish For then they usurped the whole Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction altering all lawes as they pleased They assembled the Kings Subjects injoyning Ecclesiastical pains unto them make decrees and execute them They Trayterously rail against the King in their Pulpits and being questioned utterly disclaim his Authority as an Incompetent Iudge That the Pulpit matters were exempt from the Judgment or correction of Princes They prescribe lawes to the King and State Appoint Fasts to the whole Kingdom when their faction were to act any enterprize Anno 1582. The King to prevent the dangerous consequence thereof divers of them were silenced and imprisoned but what was the Issue They surprize the King at Ruthen and declare it to be done for resisting the present dangers to Gods true Religion and for removing from the King the chief Authors The King being afterwards released that act was adjudged Crimen laesae Majestatis and some were hanged others fled into England Yet afterwards 1585. They avow the same and excommunicate such as would not subscribe to Them Another treasonable Attempt they had against the King at Sterlin Anno 1583. So that in the Parliament 1584. the Kings lawfull Authority Ecclesiastical was confirmed the Bishops restored and to be Treason for any man to procure diminution of the three Estates The Iudgments Senates and Presbyterian Iurisdiction discharged An Act made for calling in Buchanan's treasonable Book his Chronicle and his Iure Regni apud Scotos That none shall preach declame confer or utter scandalous words or slanders against the King or his Council or to meddle in State-affairs Sub poena c. And because they did advance their Modell as the most agreeable to the best and most Reformed Churches against Episcopacy it was examined the numbers that refuse their Sanedrim besides the Eastern and Western Reformers All in the Dutchy of Saxony Brunswick and Luxemburgh All those Churches in the Countreys of the Marquesites of Brandenburgh and Badu The Churches in the Earldoms of Henebergh Lemings Marisfeilt Stalburgh
Renestern Swatrenburgh Wertenburgh Hannaw Oeting Glick and Leonstime All in the Baronies of Lenefergh Schenburgh and Wildenfield All the Churches of at least thirty free Cities Many of whose Territories are as ample as Geneva and yet none of them have received the Presbyterian Discipline Add to these the remainder of the Albigenses and Waldenses in Piedmont in the parts adjoyning or of the Taborites in Bohemia the Lutheran Churches also in Poland Denmark and Swethland And indeed Calvin and Beza both are sufficient Judges to prove they were no Enemies to moderate Episcopacy but onely against Romish Hierarchy See Calvin de necessitate reformandae Ecclesiae and Beza de grad Minister Evangel 18. Sect. 3. Themselves well knowing that Episcopacy then did direct the guidance of grave and wise Over-seers which otherwise would fall into Schisms and after grow into Heresies These Items and many more such were put together to set them forth in some measure untill the Day advanced for the Conference at Hampton-court in Iaruary Whether was summoned by Letters the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Bishops of London Durham Winton Worcester St Davids Chichester Carlile and Peterborough the Deans of the Chapel Pauls West-Chester Salisbury and Westminster On the other part were these Doctors Reynolds and Sparks Mr Knewstubs and Mr Chaderton Agents for the Millenary Plaintiffs says the Book and these four were the fittest that could be found amongst them all The King sent for the Bishops to come before him in private and entered their Assemblying with a grave and princely Declaration of this his general drift By example of all Christian Princes in commencements of their Reign establishing the Doctrine and policy of the Church Henry 8. did it toward the end of his Reign Edward 6. altered more Queen Mary reversed all and Queen Elizabeth settled it as now it standeth His happiness is to have no cause to alter but to confirm what he findeth and which so affects him that he entered into a gratulation to Almighty God for bringing him into the promised Land where Religion was purely professed and to sit amongst grave learned and reverend men not as before elsewhere a King without State Honour or Order where beardless boys would yet beard him to his face acknowledging now the Government Ecclesiastical to be approved by manifold blessings of God increase of the Gospel and a glorious Peace But as nothing could be so ordered but may have additions and in any State as in the body of man corruptions might insensibly grow either through time or persons of which some complaints have pretended Reformation His purpose therefore was to try the complaints and remove the occasions if scandalous or to cure them if dangerous or if but frivolous to take so much knowledg thereof as to cast a Sop into Cerberus his mouth never to â—ark more to give factious spirits no occasion of boasting and to redress what should appear fitting without any visible alteration And in particular the King signified he called them alone about some points to be satisfied himself concerning the Book of Common Prayer and Service Excommunication in Ecclesiastical Courts Providing of able Ministers for Ireland First in the Book confirming of Baptism as if without it the Sacrament were invalid then were it blasphemous Secondly for the use at first indeed upon occasion that Infants being baptized and answering by their Patrini it was necessary they should be examined at years of discretion and confirmed by the Bishop with a Blessing and Prayer but abhorred it as a Popish Sacrament and courleration of Baptism About Absolution that there being onely two kindes General and Particular all Prayers and Preaching import an Absolution the other is to be applied to special parties after a scandal and repentance are resolved Thirdly Private Baptism if private for peace so did the Primitive Church if for persons none ought but a lawfull Minister and therefore was earnest against Women and Layicks Excommunication To consider the matter whether executed in light causes and too often In the persons why Lay-men Chancellours and Commissioners do it why not the Bishops with the Dean and Chapters or Ministers or Chaplains Ireland This for Ireland was referred to a consultation hereafter Confirmation The Arch Bishop shewed the Antiquity of Confirmation from the Apostles till of late some particular Churches had rejected it he declared the lawfull use thereof and affirmed that the Church of England did not hold Baptism imperfect without it or added any thing to the virtue and strength thereof this he manifested by the Rubricks in the Communion Book before Confirmation The Bishop of London said It did not depend onely upon Antiquity as in Cyprian Ep. 73. and Hierom. adversus Luciferian but was one of the particular points of the Apostles Catechism in express words Heb. 6. 2. and so did Calvin expound that very place which was read and approved That we made it not a Sacrament or Corroboration and yet the King was of opinion it might rather be intituled Examination with a Confirmation Absolution It was cleared from all abuse or superstition the Minister does but pronounce Absolution in general after the Confession that in the Communion Book there was another particular and personal Form of Absolution for the Visitation of the Sick and that the Confessions of Augusta Boheme Saxon which be there cited do retain and allow it and so does Calvin approve such a kinde of Confession and Absolution Private Baptism That the Administration by Women and Layicks was not practised of the Church but inquired of by Bishops in their Visitations and censured and although the words in the Book might seem doubtfull yet the Compilers did not so intend them and yet propounded them ambiguously perhaps that it might thereby pass in Parliament and in case of necessity onely and was so agreeable to the practice of ancient Church as Acts 2. where three thousand were baptized in one day impossible for the Apostles to do themselves or improbable and besides them there were no Bishops or Priests and Tertullian and Saint Ambrose in Ephes. 4. are plain in that point laying open also the impious opinions who think there is no necessity of Baptism not as if without it God could not save the Childe and the case being put as incertain if not baptized but if baptized an evident assurance and so rather to ground upon Christ's promise than by omission upon Gods secret judgments The King replied That the place Acts 2. was an act extraordinary the Church then unsettled and ungrounded now stablished and flourishing that he maintained necessity of Baptism as to the place of Saint John Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua c. was meant of Baptism and that fourteen Moneths ago he did argue in Scotland against his Divines there for ascribing too little to that Sacrament so that said he a pert Minister asked him if it were so necessary that being omitted the
prayer over a Man to be strengthned and confirmed by the holy Ghost or to receive the gifts of the holy Ghost as Saint Ambross saith alluding to Heb. 6. 2 c. Nor saith he is it their opinion Confirmation to be unlawful but rather because they have not the use of this in their own hands every Pastor in his Parish to confirm for then it would be accounted an Apostolical institution And indeed Doctor Reynolds seemed to grant replying that some diocess of a Bishop had 609 Parish-Churches as London it was inconvenient to commit confirmation to him alone as impossible to examine all them It was answered that the Bishop usually appoints his Chaplins or Ministers to examine them and none are otherwise confirmed but by testimony of the Parsons or Curats where they are bred and born and Saint Ierome says that the Execution was indeed restrained to Bishops only ad honorem potius sacerdotii quam ad legis necessitatem Ecclesiae salus in summi Sacerdotis dignitate pendet cui si non Exors quaedam et ab omnibus eminens detur potestas tot in Ecclesiis efficerentur schismata quot sacerdotes It was used anciently partly to examine children whether they had been baptized or no for primitively baptism was administered in divers sorts In Nomine patris et filii c. others In Nomine patris Majoris et filii Minoris as the Arrians did some in nomine patris per filium in Spiritu sancto others not in the name of the Trinity but in the name of Christ c. Whereupon Catholick Bishops were constrained to examine them who were baptized in remotis The King concluded as none should confirm so none to preach without the Bishops License Doctor Reynolds complained that the Catechism in the Common-prayer-Book was too brief and Nowells was too long requested one uniform and none other It was thought reasonable the King saying That in Scotland every one well affected or thought to the sonne of a good man set out a Catechism and what was received in one Congregation was never accepted Orthodoxall in another adding this gromical Canon conclusion First that old intricate questions might be avoyded in the fundamental Instructions of the people Secondly not to be such a departure from the Papists in all things as to be therefore in error because we agree in some Then Doctor Reynolds moved for a new Translation of the Bible the old ones of Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth being corrupt Instanced in Galathians 4. 2â— Psal. 101. 28. They were not obedient For not disobedient Psal. 106. 30 c. The King complained thereof and the worst to be Geneva the Marginal notes thereof were partial untrue seditious and trayterous as Exod. 1. 19. the note alloweth disobedience to Kings And 2. Chron. 15. 16. The note taxeth Asa for deposing the Mother and not killing her That errors in matters of faith may be rectified that matters indifferent might rather be interpreted and a gloss added concluding rather a Church with some faults then an Innovation and surely saies he if these be the greatest matters I needed not your complaints Doctor Reynolds complained against publishing some Books unlawfull instance that De jure Magistratus in subditos published of late by Ficlerus a Papist and applyed against Queen Elizabeth for the Pope Bishop of London said That the Author de Iure was a great disciplinarian whereby it appears what advantage these Sects afforded to the Papists who mutatis personis could apply their own arguments against Protestant Princes That for other Books lately admitted viz Disputes between Secular Priests and Iesuites the King told Doctor Reynolds He was a better Colledg-man than a States-man and willed him and His associates to know they were permitted by order of Counsel Table whereby their schisme and his Majesties title handled and the title of Spain confuted and wherein this State was cleered of putting Papists to death not for Religion but Treason And thus much concerning purity of Doctrine The second generall point Pastors to be Resident and Learned The King had ordered the Bishops to be carefull herein but as subita evacuatio was perâ—culosa so subita Mutatio That there were more sufficient divines than Maintenance which must be first provided young ignorant Ministers to be removed if old death must make void for better Jerusalem could not be built in a day It was conceived that Lay-Patrones presented such as liked their humour and faction the Law admitting any mean Clerk and if the Bishop opposed a quare impedit is sent against him Some moved to settle a praying Ministery another while for there are many excellent duties in the Ministers Absolving the Penitent Praying for and Blessing the People Administring the Sacraments but now it is concluded into one onely duty preaching oft time indiscreetly to the prejudice of divine service being usual rather to walk in the Church-yard than be at the service The King said it was most necessary to plant by preaching but in a Church so long established in faith onely the Hypocrite placed all his Religion in the Ear as an easie passage but Prayer expressed the hearts affections and the true devotions of the mind puts us to over-much trouble There ought to concur in prayer an unpartial consideration of our own estates a due examination to whom we pray an humble confession of our sins hearty sorrow and repentance not severed from faith In the mean time that Homilies might be read every Man that can pronounce well cannot perhaps indite well to which the Adversaries confessed They were told of the Pulpits made by them Pasquils a lude custome to traduce Thrird and fourth general heads mingled together Here indeed Doctor Reynolds skipt over the third point into it urging Subscription as an Impeachment to a learned Ministery and desired not to be exacted their reason The books Apocryphal enjoyned in the Common prayer-book to be read were in part erroneous Instanced Ecclus. 48. 10. That Elias was to come before Christ and so Christ not to be come because saith he Ecclus. useth the very words of Elias in Person which Malachi Chap. 4. doth apply to Elias in resemblance which both an Angell Luke 1. 17. and our Saviour Matth. 11. did interpret to be Iohn Baptist. He was answered with Sir Ieromes distinction Canonici sunt ad informandos mores non ad confirmandam fidem The King desired an even Order Not all Canonical books to be read in the Church unless to be interpreted nor any Apocrypha at all where any error but such as were clear with the scriptures else why printed As the Maccabees excellent to make up the story of the Jews persecution but not to teach a man to sacrifice for the dead or to kill himself But the King finding them to insist so hotly against Ecclesiasticus the place being read he shewed who the Author was then
four I shall answer with a truth and no marvel That some years after when the Roles were examined that were deposed they were found to be but nine and fourty in all England when in Scotland they were reckoned above nine thousand so great a stir could so few make here or else they subscribed to keep their Livings and no wonder they were ever loth to lose all and many of them knew how to turn And orderly afterwards the King put forth two Proclamations the one To satisfie his Subjects for Unifomity in Religion according to the established Laws And Doctor Abbot and others sent in Apostolical Embassie into Scotland to settle the Church and spirits of the Clergy there as he had done here that every spirit led onely with piety and not humour might be therein satisfied The other Proclamation against Iesuits expresseth That a greater contagion to our Religion was eminent by sundry persons common Enemies to them both namely numbers of Priests Seminaries Iesuits abounding here of such as were before and since our coming and with greater liberty than they durst have done upon confidence of innovation in Religion and general Pardon at our Coronation do exercise their Professions and saying Mass and endeavouring to seduce the Subjects from their duty to us and to reconcile them to Rome To prevent infection with Superstition pernicious to the soul and corrupt against Alleageance is to debar the People such Instruments of infection and they are Priests of all sorts ordained in forein parts prohibited here by the Authority of the Laws of this Land And therefore against such they shall before the 19th of March next depart out of this Realm and the Kings Dominions and not to return hereafter upon penalty of the Laws in force to be inflicted without any favour The Reasons and excuses for this seeming severity toward that sort of Subjects is enforced from the peril of his Person by late conspiracy of confusion conceived by persons of that sort onely And this may satisfie forein Princes proceeds from providence to prevent perils otherwise inevitable considering their submission to forein Iurisdiction seems to dispence at pleasure with the power of their own Sovereign or strictest bond of loyalty and love between a King and his People And though it is civilly considered personal respects to the now Bishop of Rome in state and condition of a secular Prince yet observing the course and clame of that See no Prince of our Religion and Profession can be assured of continuance unless by assent of other Christian Princes to a general Council free and lawfull to pluck up those Roots of dangers and jealousies arising about Religion as well between Prince and Prince as between them and their Subjects and also to manifest that no State or Potentate either hath or can challenge power to dispose of earthly Kingdoms or Monarchies or to dispence with Subjects obedience to their natural Sovereigns in which charitable action no Prince shall more readily concur his power not onely out of particular disposition to peace with all States but by such union an amity might be settled to resist the common Enemy Febr. 22. Jacobi I. This did something allay them but not the Presbyters who by pens and preaching saies he strook at the very root of Hierarchy so that it was a hard question which of them were the most odious Truly both of them Neither Barrel better Herring for the Papists wrought in private and these that way also besides their pittyfull preaching And at this time died that learned Arch-Bishop Whitgift a good and pious Man whom Banckroft succeeded no great friend to them but to satisfie their violence he is intrusted with their directory a Manuscript compiled as they gave out to startle the next Parliament which they deliver to the Arch-Bishop but he pretending to have loâ—t it when it was called for and they without any Copy devised another so different from the former as being afterwards compared the Parliament concluded that every new motion would alter their Model ad infinitum so unsetled they were then and are to this day as never to be satisfied with any as to our trouble and late experience hath been evident And which this most reverend Whitgift foretold on his death-bed the miserable effects of their violence Et nunc domine said he exaltata est Anima mea quod in eo tempore succubui quando mallem Episcopatus mei deo reddere rationem quam inter homines exercere But indeed Presbyters had so bitten the King and his Kingdom and now at his coming it behoved him to quiet them for as all knew it lay in his power to be Head of the Protestant Professours so upon this new access to these Crowns it was conceived he might alter all ancient Forms upon a new score who having bit on the Bridle so long at home it would concern him now to keep the Reins free having entailed Precepts upon his posterity to that end Instructions as frontlets and chains real and lasting and bequeathed to them as Legacies to after age forewarning his Son in his Basilicon Doron not to wrest the Word of God to self-appetite So now therefore he resolved to frame his own and his peoples affections to follow that true Rule of Scripture which suffered under several Interpretations he therefore commended it to the choice grave and most learned of this Nation and commanded them as they would answer at Gods Tribunal to be carefull therein painfull and just They did so and we have that blessing amongst us as the most perfect Translation in English of all others not without Exceptions in that also from our Adversaries the Papists and Sectarists The Scripture was writ in parts the most ancient Language was Hebrew the most copious the Greek and Latine the finest but as the Hebrews in their time accounted all Languages but their own Lognasim or barbarous so then that others might come to the waters of life we must as Iacob role the stone from the Well that the Sheep may drink of the waters of life we could not reade the Book for it was sealed And indeed whilest the dew lay on Gideon's fleece all the earth was dry but near before the time of ourâ—blessed Reconciliation by our Saviour CHRIST Not of the Jew onely but of the Greek also then God raised up the heart of a Greek Prince by descent and Language Ptolomy Philadelph King of Egypt to procure the Translation of the Old Testament into Greek out of Hebrew which we call the Seventy Interpreters The Greek Tongue made familiar to most Inhabitants in Asia by reason of their Conquests and also understood in many places of Europe and Africa but yet not so acceptable to some no not of the Iews For not long after Christ Aquila Theodosia Symmachus and others translate it again these with the Seventy made up the Hexapla and all together were compiled by Saint
Moses the Prophet and Servant of God had in all that belonged even to the outward and least parts of the Tabernacle Ark and Sanctuary witnesseth well the inward and most humble zeal born towards God himself The industry used in the framing thereof in every and the least part thereof the curious workmanship thereon bestowed the exceeding charge and expence thereof in provisions the dutifull observance in laying up and preserving the holy Vessels the solemn removing thereof the vigilant attendance thereon and the provident defence of the same which all Ages have in some degree imitated is now so forgotten and cast away by this super-fine Age by those of the Family by Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries as all cost and care bestowed and had of the Church wherein God is to be served and worshipped is accounted a kinde of Popery and as proceeding from an idolatrous disposition insomuch that time would soon bring to pass if it were not â—â—sisted that God would be turn'd out of Churches into Barns and from thence again into Fields and Mountains and under Hedges and the Officers of the Ministery robbed of all dignity and respect be as contemptible as those places all Order Discipline and Church-government left to newness of opinion and mens fancies yea and soon after as many kindes of Religions would spring up in Parish Churches within England every contentious and ignorant person pleasing his fancy with the Spirit of God and his imagination with the gift of Revelation insomuch as when the truth which is but one shall appear to the simple multitude no less variable than contrary to it self the faith of man will soon after die away by degrees and all Religion be held in scorn and contempt Which Distraction gave a great Prince of Germany cause of this Answer to them that perswaded him to become Lutheran Si me adjungo vobis tunc condemnor ab alis si me aliis adjungo a vobis condemnor Quid fugiam video sed quid sequar non habeo The time was come the first Anniversary Celebration in England with religious Rites and sacred Ceremonies of the unfortunately fortunate Nones of August noted in Red Letters in the Calendar to represent the bloud of many thousand Martyrs spilt of that day by Dioclesian in Rome but now to be distinguished with golden Letters in ours in memory of two renowned Kings in these Kingdoms the one receiving life the other escaped death on this day the Nativity of King Oswald who united the Crowns of England and Scotland which were severed afterwards for many Ages and who in the end died a Christian Martyr and sealed it with his bloud the other King Iames miraculously preserved from Gowry's Conspiracy Anno 1600. and who now again unites these Crowns and therefore we may change the old spell of the Martyrs Quintum fuge into Quintum cole if not for the Genesis of that one into life yet for this others Exodus out of the Chamber of death And as this King never failed of the day Tuesday weekly to hear a Sermon so neither of the Annual time unto his death kept holy by him and all his good Subjects and the truth of the Conspiracy sufficiently recorded heretofore and shall be hereafter confirmed Anno 1608. Though our Historian died it seems of a contrary faith in that himself being evenly conform to Gowry's loyalty Affectiones facile faciunt opiniones for he passes it over with this Odiism That Gowry assaulted him or he Gowry About this time a Commotion was stirred up by some Commoners against ingrossing their Ground when the King chanced to be invited in his hunting Journey to dine with Sir Thomas I. of Barkshire and turning short at the corner of a Common happened near to a Countrey-man sitting by the heels in the Stocks who cried Hosanna to his Majesty which invited him to ask the reason of his Restraint Sir Thomas said It was for stealing a Goose from the Common The Fellow replied I beseech your Majesty be Judge Who is the greater Thief I for stealing Geese from the Common or his Worship for robbing the Common from the Geese By my Sale Sir said the King to Sir Thomas I se not dine to day on your Dishes till you restore the Common for the poor to feed their Flocks Which was forthwith granted to them and the witty Fellow set free and care soon taken to quiet Commotions The Plague ceasing which hitherto bounded all mens expectations and persons at a distance the people now flock up to London to take view how the King would settle Laws and Constitutions afresh for the people A Parliament was expected the peoples Idol in those days which the King considered according to the power and interest of Lords and Commons therein and which thus grew up into a Body After the period of the Saxons time in England Herald one of the great men got power and put himself absolute the rest of the Satrapas call in Wiâ—â—iam Duke of Normandy an active and fortunate Prince against the French King the Duke leads over hither many the younger Sons of the best Families of Normany Picardy and Flanders and getting this Kingdom by the Sword he shared out his Purchace retaining to himself a Portion in each County and called Demenia Regnt ancient Demeans Crown-lands He assigns to others his Adventurers suitable portions to their qualities retains to himself dependency of their personal Services and were stiled Barones Regis Free-holders As the King to these so they to their followers subdivided part of their shares into Knights fees and their Tenants were called Barones Comitis The Kings gifts extended to whole Counties or Hundreds at the least the Earl being Lord of the one and a Baron of the inferiour Donations to Lords of Townships or Mannors As the Land was thus divided so was Iudicature each severally from the King to the meanest Lords had their Court-Barons yet perhaps Reddebant Iura by twelve of the Iury called Free-holders Court who with the Thame or chief Lords were Iudges The Hundred was next whence Hundredus or Aldermanus Lord of the Hundred wherewith the chief Lord of each Township judged within their Limits The County or Generale placitum was next Ubi Curiae Dominorumâ—probantur defecisse pertinet ad Vice-comitem Provinciarum The last was Generale placitum apud London universalis Synodus the Parliament of England consisting of King and Barons onely who ruled affairs of State controuling all Inferiours So were there certain Officers of transcendent power for executing not bounding the Kings will those were Steward Constable Marshal heretofore fixed in Fee to Families they as Tribunes grew too bold and their power was lessened after the death of that daring Eaâ—l of Leicester slain at Evesham Henry 3. by hard experience of his Father lessened their power by examining their usurpations over Regality being become Tot homines tot Tyranni Then began the favour of
Kings to the Commons in Parliament and they to joyn with the Peers from whence it became the wisdom of Princes how to mannage this Government and to maintain this Form Lest some of this Body knit under one Head should swell and grow monstrous And Monarchy may sooner groan under the weight of Aristocracy as it often did than under Democracy which till now it never felt nor feared The Actions of which singly are inconsiderable after many Conjunctions grow at last into one great perfecting power or into Destroying Factions like smaller Brooks falling into some Main River The Parliament of England of long time and at this present was come to be a Convention of the Estates of the Kingdom assembled by the King of Bishops Peers and Peoples Commissioners They sat in two Senate-Houses or Chambers named a Higher and a Lower The Higher called also the House of Peers the Bishops and Peers viz. Dukes Marquesses Earls and Barons sit together with whom sit the Judges of the law for their advice not voice The Lower House called also the House of Commons is constituted of Knights of the Shire two Elected of every Shire and of Cities and Incorporations one or more Burgesses The day and place of Assembly is appointed by the King and adjourned removed elsewhere and dissolved at his pleasure The Lords or Peers are called by writs transmitted to them under the Kings hand The Commons by the Kings writ out of Chancery The writ to the Peers runs thus James by the Grace of God c. To the most reverend father in Christ so he stiles the Bishops Cousin if he speaks to the Peers for as much as by the advice of our Council upon some diffident and urgent affairs us and the State and defence of our Kingdom of England and the Church of England concernant We have ordained that our Parliament be held at c. there to consult and Treat with you and the rest of the Prelates Nobles and Heads of our said Kingdom of England We strictly charge and command you on your faith and love if to the Bishops by your fealty and Alleagance if to the Peers wherein you stand bound to us that considering the difficulty of the said affairs and the dangers iminent laying aside whatsoever excuse you be personally present on the said day and place with us and the rest of the Prelates Nobles and Heads to treat and give your advice touching the said affairs and this as you tender us and our Honour and the safety of our said Kingdom and Holy-Church and dispatch of the said affairs may you in no wise omit if he writes to the Bishops to warn the Dean and Chapiter of your Church and the whole Clergie of your Diocess that the same Dean and Arch-Deacons in their proper persons and the said Chapiter by one and the same Clergie by two sufficient substitutes having plenary and sufficient power from the said Chapiter and Clergy be personally present on the said day and place to consent to these things which then and there by the favor of the divine Clemencie shall happen to be ordained by the Common advice of our Kingdom Witness ourselves c. The other writ to the Sheriffs and Mayors of the Cities and Corporations is thus The King to the Sheriff Greeting For as much by the advice and consent of our Council and so goes on as above and there to confer and treat with the Prelates Peers and Heads of our Kingdom We strictly charge and command you that by proclamation made in your Shire upon the receipt of our writ you cause two Knights with swords by their sides the most sufficient and discreet of the Shire and of every City of that County two Citizens and of every Borough two Burgesses of the most discreet and sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by such as shall be present at the Proclamation according to the form of the Statutes on that behalf set forth and provided And the Names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses to be inserted in certain Indentures to be drawn between you and them that shall be present as such Elections whether the persons so chosen be present or absent And then to come at the same day and place so that the said Knights have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Communalty of the said Shire and the said Citizens and Burgesses for themselves and the Communities of the Cities Boroughs respectively from the same to do and consent to such things as then and there shall happen by Gods assistance to be ordained by the commune advice of our Kingdom concerning the affairs offered so that by your neglect therein the said affairs in any case remain not undone Notwithstanding we will not that you or any other Sheriff of our Kingdom be chosen At the day and place they meet at the Church first then at the Parliament-Houses orderly in their Robes with solemn gate such as might increase in the people the authority of their siting Then the King enters the Upper-House and either in his own person or by the mouth of his Chancellor declares the weighty causes of their Assembling in Contemplation whereof he desires their advice to communicate their Counsels in doubtfull matters most certain That himself be present at these consultations needs not but only as oft as he sees good There is no necessity after this unless in the end of the Session to add the strength and force of Laws to their results The Knights Citizens and Burgesses in the Lower-House are Man by Man called forth by their Names by some one delegated by the King and each is made to take the Oath of Alleageance heretofore was this I will keep true faith and Alleageance to James by the grace of God c. King His Heirs and successors Him and them I will defend to my utmost strength and with the hazard of my life and fortunes against all conspiracies and attempts against his Person Crown and Dignity And lest any should dream of a Consortship in Government there was superadded the Oath of Supremacy in these words I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highness is the onely Supreme Governour of this Realm and all other his Highness Dominions and Countreys as well in all Spiritual and Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no forein Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Iurisdiction Power Superiority Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm and therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all forein Iurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise that from henceforth I shall â—ear Faith and true Alleageance to the Kings Highness his Heirs and lawfull Successors and to my power shall assist and defend all Iurisdictions Privileges Preheminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successors or united and
annexed to the Imperial Crown of the Realm Thus oblig'd to their duty they chuse a Speaker whom they accompany to the King whose Election they desire him to ratifie whom the King usually is pleased with which done the Speaker in his own and the House of Commons name gives thanks and beseeches That the Lower House may use their Privileges and freedom of debating That if any therein shall happen to be more earnest in his own opinion his Majesty will vouchsafe not to take it ill nor be angry and that they may have access to the Kings Majesty or Higher House as oft as matters require which leave being granted they are dismissed Both Houses have free liberty to debate of matters propounded by the King or touching making or abrogating Laws and to determine to commit to writing what is to be transmitted to each other by Messenger whereto if upon debate had there ensue an assent by Votes the consent is noted upon the top of the Bill in this form amongst the Lords Les Seigneurs ont assentes among the Commons Les Communes ont assentes but if they differ both Houses not seldom meet or else principal persons chosen out of them to confer together in a commodious place for their meeting in the Painted Chamber there the Commons standing and uncovered with great observance receive the Lords covered and sitting and there they confer if they discord that business comes to nothing but if they agree they present it to the King which if he allows he writes Le Roy le veult and so as by a Soul infused into a Body it receives life and becomes an effectual Law forthwith to be promulgated to the People but when the King refuses to approve it he writes on the top of the Leaf Le Roy s' avisera sometimes he denies it in terminis and thereupon are reputed dasht The sacred matters the King permits not to be handled by Parliaments but Synods unless it may be for the force of Laws from Parliamentary Authority which they cannot so fully obtain from their divine verity The Deans Arch-Deacons Procuratours for the Chapters as also for every Arch-Deaconry the former being delegated by the Suffrages of the Prebendaries these of the Ministers meet in a place assigned to debate touching them where having first chosen a Prolocutor in the name of the Clergy they determine concerning Heads of Religion Ceremonies and other matters belonging to the Church as also granting of Subsidies to the King whose Results notwithstanding are not obtruded on the Seculars to be observed with the Authority of Laws untill as above-said they be allowed by assent of King and both Houses being provided That Civil hands should not intermeddle in these affairs Our Chronicles tell us That Queen Elizabeth expostulates with the Parliament for that they had appointed a Fast without her advice and were not restored to her favour but upon obtaining of Pardon Both Houses have respectively their peculiar Privileges To the higher House not onely to give counsels and to assist in making Laws but likewise to exercise the power of Iudicature and so of imposing Oaths in the more weighty causes as corruption of Iudges and Magistrates and in last Appeals which yet to bring back to examen without the Kings permission and Patent the Lawyers say is praeter-legal nor do they so unless the Judges of Law sitting by The House of Commons have Privileges of supplicating and craving Right or else the Accusers part never challenged to it self the Office of Judg save within their own Walls and on their proper Members and that extended no farther than penalty of Imprisonment or Mulct never having any right of pressing an Oath and therefore in a Statute the House of Commons say That seeing Parliamentary Iudicature belongs to the King and Lords and not to the Commons that they might not be obliged contrary to Custom to give Iudgment If any doubt touching the Election of their Members it was heretofore determined by the Lords House or by the Judg of the Kings Chancery If any of them had departed from the Houses without the Kings leave and both Houses also he was convened before the Kings Council-table or Kings Bench to undergo the penalty and was not punished at the discretion of his own House of Commons But they have Privilege first to debate and determine of levying money among the People This was the temperament of King Parliament and People in proper parts not harming each other for the Kings supreme Authority and Sword is as a sufficient power to vindicate the Laws from the Factions of the Grands and popular Tumults whilest in the mean time the Lords with that chief Authority wherewith they are vested of Iudicature and Legislation put a curb on one hand to the Kings Tyranny if he extravagate on the other to the tumultuating populace and in semblable manner the People by that their power of accusing whom they please and of granting or denying moneys are in a sufficient capacity to retrench the licentiousness of the Nobility and of the Kings Counsellours and break the Kings impetuous incroching on the publick The Laws have exceedingly provided That the freedom of voting and debating be not hindered through fear of insolent persons therefore none may come into either of their Houses with a Sword or armed The Members and their Servants not to be arrested for Debt or offences though of a mean alloy and if any so attached he may not be free but by a Writ out of the Chancery Seldom and that upon weighty cause would Kings create offence to so venerable an Assembly however it hath so faln out that excellent Princes upon too great provocations have reprehended the Senate and punisht some Offenders convening them before the Judges of the Kingdom imprisoned fined and put to death sometimes Thus by past stood the state of Parliaments when the King came in and calls one in March the King Queen and Prince some days before rode from the Tower to his Palace of White-hall in such Triumph as the several Pageants at each convenient place with excellent Oratory assured them the affections and duty of his Subjects as they did some days afterwards when the like occasion presented them in state to this Parliament And as usual with all Sovereigns his Predecessours themselves or Chancellour sweetens the Members with some Rhetorical Oration to the purpose of calling that Assembly and this the King undertakes now as best able of any Prince his Predecessours or any other Assistant for wit or wisdom to compare with him and therein he lays open his heart to both Houses in a very long Speech But because it is in print and bound with the Volume of his Works I shall adventure to abreviate here for some light to the Reader in this History which follows But then in this as in other his most eloquent and gracefull Speeches hereafter where you meet with any of his
Brethren in Scotland that they should be enforced also to conform to the utter destruction of their Sion there To qualifie this News another Proclamation comes out in September after against such calumnious surmises That the King will not alter that Form of Government proper for their constitution without Counsel there and so refers mens â—xpectation to the general Assembly to meet at Dundee in Scotland in July after It was usual with the Presbyters in Scotland to have a general Assembly once a year and oftner pro re nata upon any urgent occasion The last was a little before the Kings coming hither 1602. And the next this appointed at Aberdene this year and therefore then adjourns that Meeting unto which he especially had an eye as mistrusting their ill humors to this Summer 1604. And now also prorogues it to a longer day by Proclamation in Scotland Notwithstanding thirteen of them convene at Aberdene and in spite of the Council Authority they formallized their Judicature by constituting a Moderator a Clerk and other essential Members The Privy Council there send a Messenger accompanied with a Herald of Arms to discharge and dissolve their Meeting These holy Fathers in this Sanhedrim protested They would not nor could give way to the Kings sacrilegious power usurped which properly belonged to the Church virtual the Assembly and so sat still till they pleased and after appointed a day for the next Assembly The King hears of this and commands them to be cited and punished These men undanted appear with a Protestation a Declination from the Kings Council and appeal to their own next General Assembly as the sole and competent Judg and were therefore pursued criminally before their Lord Iustice General upon the Act of Parliament 1584. for Treason Some of them acknowledged their fault the rest Zelots were convict ad terrorem and banished and after upon submission were restored to better Benefices The excellent Acts and Laws in this Session prorogâ—ed to the fifth of November I finde our voluminous Historian passes over excepting against their number too tedious for his brevity being unwilling to mention any thing of so much honour to the King though he can waste time and paper to tell you that the blessing of his Initiation Peace and Plenty brought idle people to Luxury Roaring-boys Bravadoes Roisters and makes it a fault in the King that he breeds his People no better The Parliament began the 19. of March 1603. and continued untill the 7. of Iuly 1604. and then prorogued unto the 7. of February In this Parliament they made a Recognition of the lawfull descending of the Crown to the King his Progeny and Posterity Commissioners of England and Scotland for to treat of the Union That no Bishop should assure Lands to the King Former Statutes against Recusants to be executed Divers other Statutes concerning the City and several Towns Corporate as also other Statutes for the good of the Land And conclude with a Subsidy of Tunnage and Poundage of Wools c. The Kings second Son Charls heretofore in Scotland created Duke of Albany Marquess of Ormond Count Ross and Lord of Ardmannoth is now this year created Duke of York by the girding of the Sword Cap and Circlet of Gold put upon his Head and golden Verge into his Hand to him and his Heirs males for ever with the Fee of fourty pounds per annum out of the issue and profits of that County He is made by Patent and witnessed by all the Lords of the Privy Council and other Peers of the Realm at Westminster the 6. of Ianuary 2. Iac. 1604. K. Edw. 3. by his Charter created Edward his eldest Son the black Prince Duke of Cornwall cum feodo to him and his Heirs the first begotten Sons and Dukes of the same place so that he that is hereditable Duke of Cornwall is Dux natus non creatus and the first day of his birth is in Law presumed to be of full age and may sue out his Livery as at one and twenty years and this was the first Duke in England the reason may be because the Norman Kings themselves were Dukes of Normandy for a long time they adorned none with this Honour of Duke The Papists had very evil success in all their Designs heretofore against Queen Elizabeth and her Religion and were somewhat quieted in hopes that the Kings reception hither might prove troublesom and so proper for them to work in such waters but the Kings late Speech was desperately understood for they being denied Toleration plot his and the whole States destruction by blowing up all in the House of Parliament A story so horrid and therefore so necessary to be communicated to the memorial of our Childrens Children The Parliament having been twice prorogued already in regard of the Seasons of the year and the Terms The time drawing near their Sitting upon Saturday ten days before about seven of the clock at night a Letter sealed was delivered by an unknown Fellow unto a Foot-man of the Lord Mounteagle Son and Heir to the Lord Morley charging him to give it to his Lords own hands who opening the same found it without Date or Subscription and in Letters not easily legible and the matter to him less intelligible but as God would have it he in this doubt repairs herewith to the Earl of Salisbury principal Secretary of State who also in some doubt of the construction the King being absent in his return from Roiston they acquainted the Lord Chamberlain the Earl of Suâ—folk herewith and after consultation they joyned the Lord Admiral the Earls of Worcester and Northampton but stayed all manner of proceeding untill the Kings coming Thursday night next after Salisbury shews it him The Letter was MY Lord out of the love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some Excuse to shift off your attendance this Parliament for God and Man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this Time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Countrey where you may expect the event in safety for though there be no appearance of any sâ—ir yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it to whose holy protection I commend you The King conceived the Letter not to be contemned the stile quick and pithy not usual with Libells and judged the words terrible Blow this Parliament and not see who hurts them to be meant by Gun-pouder joyning thereto the other words For the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter
Law Act for a New-River-water to be cut from Chadwell and Amwell springs in Hartfordshire to London And the King grants the People a General Pardon with the usual Exceptions And now also was framed a form of Oath called an Oath of Alleageance for distinction of good Subjects in General from unfaithfull Traytors but especially to make separation of the Popishly affected yet with Natural duty unto Sovereignty And the Oath was thus in effect That King James is lawfull King of this Realm That the Pope may not depose him or dispose of his Nor authorise any other Prince to invade him or to discharge any of his Subjects their Alleageance or to beare Arms against him And that notwithstanding any Act by the Pope or other authority he will bear faith and alleageance to his Majesty and will disclose all Treasons and Conspiracies against him and doth abhor as impious that any Prince deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered That the Pope nor any other hath power to absolve this Oath and renounces all pardon to the contrary without any equivocation or mental reservation whatsoever so help him God c. And accordingly sundry both Priests and Laiks did freely take the same when suddenly comes over a Breve from Pope Paulus quintus Inhibiting utterly all Papists from taking the same rather to endure all Torments nay death it self Rome October 1606. And the next year another Breve confirming this September 1607. And accompanied with a Letter of Cardinal Bellarmine unto George Blackwell the Arch-Priest of the English being then in some bonds whom therefore the Cardinal suspected would take the same as he did To all these the King most learnedly gives answer and in six days compiles and publishes in print an Apologie for that Oath and in a week sets out a Monitory Preface to that Apologie and solemnly presents it by Ambassy to the Emperour and to every King and State in Christendom as a peculiar concernment to all and each of them in the due temporal Obedience of their Subjects And herein the King instances Examples of several Emperours requiring Obedience from Popes Creation of Popes ordaining their Seat and Dignities and of all Bishops with Anathema against all such as disobeyed their Sentence as also deposing of Popes Hereupon the Venetians maintained that doctrine in their writings and put it in Execution The Sorbons did the like in France And those writers of their own that opposed it were so over-lashed as that they were corrected and castigated by Men of their Religion Becanus his book corrected by the Cardinals of Rome Bellarmines book burnt at Paris Suares his answer burnt also in France Certainly by this his Majesties premonition Kings and Princes had a more perfect discovery into the injury offered to them by the Pope in the points of their temporal power and it followed to be throughly disputed in Christendom by this occasion of the King This the King did for the present But there was a swarm of busie-heads that measured the mysteries of State by the rule of their own conceited wisdomes gave Arguments to suppress the Popish practises by Executing all their Priests The reasons may be gleaned out of their rash opinions That a dead Man bites not that mercies offered for a desperate Malefactor do but enlarge his adventures against King and Countrey That a hard hand suddainly remitted is seldom by the rude people interpreted to the best sence No hope of reformation where there 's no confession of the fault and to banish them may be supposed a meer shift to rid the Prisons of those whom Conscience could not condemn of Crime whilst Justice seems to sleep the time serves to raise factions for fearfull Spirits by sufferance grow insolent and cruel And to the Exceptions of their small Number it was argued that Union in a prepared conspiracie prevailes more than Number If that the Oath of Supremacie heretofore choked not their presumptuous imagination nor now can the temporal power of the King contained in the Oath of Alleageance preserve us or deter them A Popish Priest his Character is a disloyal Renegado Delinquents in lesser degrees may challenge easier punishments and so be incouraged The penalty to be executed on them they scandall by pretending the conversion from the Kings Exchequer to Our private purse That being restrained will prove like Bonner and Gardner in the time of Queen Mary seeing most men write good turns in Sand and bad in the Marble That the Jesuits divide the English into four Sects Themselves first and assume a full fourth part to their property and of that part they subdivide into two portions viz. The rigid non-Conformists and the Church-Papists The Second they allot to the Protestants who detain say they some of their Relicks The third and largest was left to the Puritans The last to the Politician senza diâ— senza anima The first then being assuredly theirs the last we will afford them also and therefore the safest way to prevent Combination is to make them hop headless The Presbyter indeed would hang them all but this Counsel most unchristian To answer them it was urged That although death be the end of Temporal misery it is not the grave of memory Justice may execute the person but his opinion made publick it is not subject to the sword where poyson is diffused through the veins of good and bad blood Evacuation is better than Incision Clemencie is divine and works supernaturall effects though they merit by suffering and though Bellarmine Parsons provoke them to thrust their finger into the fire by refusing the Oath of Alleageance yet the wisest of them had rather see others act then themselves feel the smart That Garnet lamented that he should not be inrolled as a Martyr because no matter of Religion was objected yet he would gladly have survived that Glory if any such hopes had remained The English exceed the Romans in zeal of Papistry and are naturally better fortifyed to indure death If so that terror prevails not Religion and Conscience less Visne muliebre Consilium said Livia to Augustus let severity sleep and try what the pardoning of Cinna will produce That death of Priests assures more to their Sect then ever their words could perswade and though such are but counterfeit Martyrs yet will they be otherwise so reputed by those that lay their Soules in pawn unto their doctrine with whom multitude of voices cry down our contraries for the Gate of their Church is wide and many enter therein And as uncharitable are these that would imprison them perpetually and that the means to catch them was to have good Intelligence beyond Sea and at home Sir Francis Walsingham had of his so active that an English Seminary could not stir out of Rome Spain or Flanders their several Nurseries without his privity and so forewarn'd they may be catcht at our ports and removed to prisons and
the E. of Salisbury 1. Therein they acknowledg the late Design most inhumane and barbarous attempted by undertaking Spirits more fiery and turbulent than zealous and dispassionate to the general stain of the State of their catholick cause in the eye of corrupt judgments not able to farm away the fault of the Professor from the Profession it self which abhors the fact more than any Puritan does 2. They accuse him the Primus Motor to determine the â—ooting out all memory of their Religion by Banishment Massacre Imprisonment or some such insupportable pressures or else the next Parliament to decree more cruel and horrible Laws against them 3. They threaten that there are some good men for continuing their Religion and for saving of many Souls resolve to prevent it though with assured Ruine and admonish him that five have severally undertaken his Death by Vow upon the blessed Sacrament if he continues his daily plotting against them That not any of them know the other for preventing discovery the first shall attempt by shot and the rest follow and all of them glory in their own sacrifice to prevent the general calamities of Catholicks which by his transcendent Authority with the King is more than expected They tell him that for the easier digestion of the Danger two of the Attempters are so weak they cannot live three moneths the other three so distressed for being onely Catholicks that their grief dulls any apprehension of death 4. As for themselves that admonish they know no other means to prevent it he being the Match to give fire to his Majesty to whom the worst they wish is to be as great a Saint in Heaven as he is a King on Earth And conclude Where once true spiritual resolution is the weak may take sufficient revenge of the mighty A. B. C. D. c. His Answer 1. That the Panegyrical Oration of Pope Sixtus Quintus preferred the Murder of Henry 3. of France before the act of Iudith to Holofernes by which Gods people were delivered onely the Papists make ill interpretations where it fails in execution for otherwise Faelix scelus virtus vocatur and many other Authors maintain deposing Kings And wonders that those who imploy such seditious Spirits have not by definitive Sentence wherein the Pope is supposed not to err explained their assumed power over Princes for security as well of those which acknowledg his Superiority as of others which do not approve his Iurisdiction that Subjects may know their distance of fidelity to either As for the former practice by Excommunication it deprives onely from spiritual graces without so gross an usurpation as to destroy their being in nature The Writ it self De Excommunicato capiendo and others such proceed rather from the goodness of such Christian Kings to work better obedience to the Rules of the Church than from the power of Excommunication All Cenâ—ures of the Church having left life untouched Sive Ethnicus sive Publicanus Many Heathens teaching this Rule Bonos Imperatores Voto expetere oportet quoscunque tolerare He marvels at those dark Writings published upon this Accident against such as shall attempt against Princes by private Authority but leaves it a tacit lawfulness by publick Warrant like their gross Equivocation so extolled at Rome though it sunders all humane conversation Saint Austin refuses the Priscilian Hereticks in their Equivocation Corde creditur says he ad Iustitiam ore fit confessio ad salutem c. breaking out into expostulation O fontes lacrymarum How shall we hide our selves from the displeased face of Truth 2. That these Calumniations are like Adam's Fig-leafs unable to cover their shame for as he sought a covering Non quia nudus sed quia lapsus so is it their fault not their fear to cast imputations upon Prince and State Sed pereuntibus mille figurae So Nero set Rome on fire and after laid the blame on Christians The pecedent Reigns of the two late Sisters of different Religions more bloud in five or six years of the first than in five and forty of the second Hath this King shewed any print of bloudy steps rather qualified than added severe Laws And appeals to their own consciences judg and witness whether the fury of this Treason inflaming many against Catholicks the nature of sudden peril hardly admits just distinction hath committed any one act of bloud or cruelty under colour of publick safety Nam crudelit as si a vindicta justitia est si a periculo prudentia Nay the King pronounced in open Parliament after Not to condemn the general for particulars as a Prince of peace and mercy deferring execution which Theodosius wishing Se potuisse potius mortuos a morte revocare As for the imaginary Power of the Lords of the Council and himself of the Quorum he takes it as an honour to receive not onely injury but persecution in so noble a society who know that Counsellours for Kings stand for thousands or hundreds as he pleases to place them Their greatness growing from humble endeavours their merit from gracious acceptance and though they borrow his name as the Boutefeu to make him the Mark of their malice yet such as judg the spirit of the Pasquil will hardly imagine but that this Faction follows onely the body of Authority neither head nor members but also the Church and Common-wealth which like Hippocrates Twins have long wept and laughed together His greatness being onely in the eye of envy of those which ground their faith upon weak principles if they imagine his distinction a matter he says of so small consequence can clear them free from contriving higher practices 3. To the Protestation that the five Assassinators having their feet so near the grave their ghostly Father deserves less thanks to send them thither with Hempen Halters and in bloudy Coffins not the marks of Rome Heathen nor Christian for Victories were scorned which were barbarously gotten Mixt is vene no fontibus And the Arms of the Primitive Church were Tears and Prayers But such Recusants as do discover these pernitious spirits will discern the darkness and danger of that Religion lapped up in implicite obedience the Conscience and Treason growing up as close together as the Husk and Corn in one Ear to eat their God upon bargains of bloud Those that are full of grief as is said for being Râ—cusants Plus tristitiae quam poenitentiae more that their Plot failed than that it was intended Counsellours are Sentinels over the life of Kings and States The Laws which punish the Branches of all Treason are derived from Parliaments of two hundred years in force and so are our Laws made not by a few much less by any one 4. As for himself with whom they condition to leave off his Plotting against Recusants The Husband-man over-curious of Windes and Clouds neither sows nor reaps in season So that Servant that becomes awfull of his Sovereigns Enemies for power or envy deserves not favour
to the Souldiers in Ireland the late Queens funeral charges seventeen thousand four hundred twenty and eight pounds His and his Queens Journy hither 11000l Besides the King of Denmarks reception entertainments of Ambassadors hither and sending others abroad These were reasons just and Noble to work into the hearts of obedient and obliged people but wrought not with them The Secretary of State for Scotland Sir Iames Lethington Lord Bâ—â—merino being now sent hither with letters from that Council was sodainly surprized with some Questions from the King Cardinal Bellarmine had not long before published an answer to the Kings Apologie Charging him with inconstancie and objecting a Letter that he had sent to Pope Clement the eighth from Scotland wherein he recommended to his Holyness the Bishop of Vaison for obtaining the dignity of a Cardinal that so he might be better able to advance his affairs in the Court of Rome The King meeting with this passage in Bellarmines-Book presently apprehended his Secretary somewhat Popish to shuffle such a Letter to the Pope and the King signing it amongst others which he usually sent to the Dukes of Savoy and Florence The Secretary now come and sodaâ—nly demanded if ever he had written any Letter to the Pope he answered he had by his Majesties Command At which the King bending the brow of Anger the Secretary fell down and craved Mercy Professing that his meaning was by that Letter to purchase the Popes favour in advance of his Majesties title to England Then the King remembred the challenge made by Queen Elizabeth 1599. unto the Secretary of such a letter which said he you then denied and procured Sir Edward Drummond who was accused for carrying that Letter to come into Scotland and abjure the same The Secretary in great perplexity made his excuse with his good meaning and craved pardon of God and the King for his and Drummonds perjury He was instantly Committed to his Chamber and so to the Council-Table who urged his Crime as the ground of all conspiracies since the Kings coming into England that of the powder Treason and puritans Combinations The Secretary in great humility answered Curae leves loquuntur Ingentes Stupent My Lords I can not find words to express my sorrow for my offence against my gracious Sovereign when I call to mind his Majesties favours raising me from the dust to a fortune by my Honorable preferment and thus to fail of my duty and fall into such a degree of falsity Ah! peccavi in Coelum terram My offence is insupportable and impardonable Only his Majesties rare Piety singular wisdom and sincerity is sufficient to throw all possible guilt on me without any doubt of the Kings Innocency if nothing but my life and all I am can expiate so great a Crime fiat voluntas Dei Regis I humbly submit and take my death patiently The Chancellor Egerton declared That it was the Kings pleasure to remit his Tryal to the Judges in Scotland and to be conveyed thither a Prisoner The Sheriffs attending him from Shire to Shire In the mean time he did Pronounce him deprived of all places Honors Dignities and every thing else that he possessed in England And thus conveyed to Scotland he is committed to Faulk-land Castle and so to his indictment That in 1598. by instigation of his Cousen Sir Edward Drummond a Papist he had stollen and surreptitiously purchased the Kings hand to a Letter written and sent by Sir Edward and directed to Pope â—lement the eighth in favour of the Bishop of Vaison for his preferment to be a Cardinal shuffling in this letter amongst others that were to be signed filling it up with Stiles and Titles to the Pope and sealed it with his Majesties signet which was intrusted to him as Secretary to the indangering his Majesties Honor Life Crown and Estate and the subversion of true Religion and the whole Professors thereof He acknowledged that his offence admits no defence for however he conceived that the keeping of Intelligence with the Pope might advance his Majesties Succession to the crown of England yet knowing his Majesties resolution never to use any crooked course but to rest upon Gods providence and his own right therefore he intreated all that were present to bear witness of his confession and true remorse for his offenceâ— Only he craved liberty to protest That he never intended an alteration of Religion nor Toleration of the contrary but conceiving some good might have been wrought thereby at that time and to promote his Majesties right Concluding that not to make more trouble to the Judges he had confessed the truth and wished as God should be mercifull to his own soul that the King was most falsely and wrongfully charged with the said Letter c. The Jury were Noblemen his Pares five Earls four Lords and six Knights who gave Verdict of his guilt of Treason and of art and part of the whole treasonable Crimes contained in the Indictment And ready for Execution he was reprieved by intercession of the Queen in England and returned to Faulkland Prison and afterwards licensed to his own house in Balmerinoch where his sickness increased of grief and there he dyed He was accounted a Person of abilities sufficient for his places in Session and Council whose conscience stretched out to his gain and possessing much of the Churches lands was a constant Enemy under hand to the Kings desire of restoring Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to the Bishops And such end befalls false servants However this Man died repentant of his fact and evermore acknowledging the Kings grace and mercy which not only was thus far expressed in favour to him that once had been trusted by the King and who in truth seldom lessened his royal disposition to any of his Creatures without great cause to the contrary so not long after his son was restored in blood and honor with the like grace as formerly to his father And he also afterwards a like ungrateful wretch to his Soveraign King Charles and for an infamous Libel which he framed and dispersed against his Majesty was by his Peers in Scotland condemned to dye as a Traytor To whom this mercifull Prince the inheritor of his fathers glories afforded his Sovereign balm of mercies this Balmerino also not only reprieved but pardoned under the great seal of that Kingdom which he received upon his knees at that Council-Table with the highest magnifying the Kings mercy the humblest acknowledging his and his fathers infinite obligations by which they both stood for ever ingaged to the service of the Crown In so much the Records say the whole Council recommended him as a Person so highly resenting this grace of the King that by his own protestation inducing their Confidence He was become a Mark of the Kings mercy and as new-molded and made fit for the future No doubt an humble Subject for his
Sovereigns choice Service And yet this Man â—ot long after proved the Contriver and the most malicious Prosecutor of such conspiracies as may be said to be the forerunners of that Kings miserable and final destruction I cannot learn whether he be living in this sin and so as yet spared for Gods mercy or unrepentant dead to his Judgments sure and suddain But to our business in Scotland In the next Assembly at Glascow the Bishops took upon them to inlarge their own authority in the Administration of all Church affairs And yet not willing to make any change though by the Kings command without brotherly approbation of the Ministers They assemble together and consent unto Articles of Government and power of the Bishops In which Assembly the Popish Lords supplicate for absolution and to subscribe to the confession of faith Huntley did so and returned to his own County Arroll went about it too but suddainly fell into such confused terror as offering violence upon his own person he was spared by his intercession of tears and prayers not to be forced against the reluctancy of his Conscience who in truth of all that sect shewed evermore much of tender minde to endeavour satisfaction to himself and so received more civility from the Church ever after Angus was most averse and had leave to banish himself into France where he died at Paris some years after There had been a good progress in Scotland for quieting the Clergie and renewing the repute of the prelacie And therefore the Arch-Bishop of Glascow with the Bishops of Brigen and Galloway having audience of the King in relation to the affairs of the Church of Scotland Told them with what care and charge he had repossessed the Bishopricks out of the hands of the Laity and other sacreligious pretenders and settled them upon reverend Men as he hoped worthy of their places But since he could not consecrate them Bishops nor they assume that honor to themselves and that in Scotland there was not a sufficient Number to enter charge by Consecration he had therefore called them into England that being here consecrated themselves they might give ordination at home and so the Presbyters mouths stopped For they had maliciously and falsely reported that the King took upon him to create Bishops and bestow spiritual Offices which he never did always acknowledging that Authority to belong to Christ alone and whom he had authorized with his own power One thing admitted dispute The Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York always pretended Jurisdiction over Scotland and so now this consecration might be taken as a voluntary subjection to this Church But therefore London Ely and Bath performed it to them and they ordained others at home And carried back Directions for a High Commission Court also for ordering of causes Ecclesiastical which were approved by their Clergie and put into obedience From these good Men The King fished out the behaviours of his Council there and therefore to settle them in terms of honor and state at their Table they were to convene twice a week and None to stay in the Room but Counsellors nor any solicitations there But being come instantly to take their places sitting not standing unless they pleaded for themselves and then to rise and stand at the end of the Table for they were wont to quarrel and to cuff cross the board No Counsellor to be absent four days without leave of the rest Each single Counsellor to be Justice of Peace in all the Kingdom to preserve respect to their places they should not trample the streets on foot but in Coach or Horse-back with footcloths This brought some esteem to that Board who before were bearded by every Kirk-Iohn or Lay-Elder And after this posture of Governing Patrick Stewart Earl of the Isles Orkney and Yetland was sent for to humble himself to imprisonment A Custom also which was setled in the Council to command any Malignant to be in Ward by such a day or else to be horned Rebell This great man at home is there humbled before the Bishop of Orkney and is by him examined so soon is the Kings ordinance obeyed His Crimes grew up from his poverty made so by his own riot and prodigality which now he seeks to repair by shifts of Tyranny over the people under his Command and being by the Bishop reported so to the Council he was committed to Prison untill the pleasure of the King deals further in Mercy or Justice But to exercise that Nation by degrees of punishment he was afterwards released and returned home to better behaviour wherein he became for the future so faultie that two years after he was executed We have hinted heretofore the Kings business at home which in truth was his wisdom to wade through To suppress the trayterous designes of the Papists and to settle the fiery dispositions of the Schismaticks for the first their own violent progression in their late Pouder-plot drew upon them publick lawes of chastisement But these Other alas their Motion now not so violent yet perpetual the more warily to be dealt with And because no disputes Arguments nor Policies could reduce them therefore the spiritual High-Commission-Court took some course moderately to regulate their Insolencies Busie this Parliament had been in disputes of the Common and Civil Laws The first strained to such a necessitary power as in short event would mightily qualifie the other to nothing Besides this Session sate long and supplyed not the Kings wants wasting time as ever sithence in seeking Grievances To palliate the Lower-House some Messages had informed his necessary expences and to both Houses the new Treasurer late Earl of Salisbury opened the emptiness of his Office And at last the King speaks for himself at a Meeting at White-Hall He spake well and now prolix which yet I must present thus long Perfect Speâ—ches open the times and truth to posterity against our Carping Adversary I need not quote his pages take his whole History passionately and partially distempered throughout The King forgets not their late loving duties and therefore recompenseth them with a rare present a Chrystall Mirror the heart of their King which though it be in Manu Domini so will he set it in oculis populi The principal things says he agitated in this Parliament were three First Your support to me Secondly My relief to you But the third How I would govern as to former constitutions or by absolute power He begins with the last That Monarchy is the supremest thing upon Earth illustrated by three similitudes First out of Gods word You are Gods Secondly out of Philosophie Parens patriae Thirdly out of Policie the Head of this Microcosm Man For the first The attributes of God Creation Destruction Reparation to judge and not be judged and to have power of Soul and Body so of Kings and can make of Subjects as at Chesse a pawn to take a
Bishop or Knight to cry up and down their Subjects as their coin And as their Soul and Body to God so to the King affections of the Soul and service of the Body And he justified the Bishops late Sermon of the Kings power in Abstracto to be true Divinity But then as to the general so to exhort them how to help such a good King as now they have putting a difference between Power in Divinity and the setled state of this Kingdom For the second fathers of families had Patriam potestatem vitae et Necis for Kings had their original as heirs from them planted in Colonies through the world And all laws allow Parents to dispose of children at pleasure For the last The head judgeth of the Members to cure or cut off But yet these powers are ordained ad correctionem non ad destructionem and as God destroys not but preserves nature so a father to his Children a Head to his Members But then he distinguished the state of Kings in Original and of setled Monarchs For as God in the old Testament spake by Oracles and wrought by Miracles yet after the Church was setled in Christ and a cessation of both he governed by his revealed Will his Words So Kings beginning by Conquest or Election their Wills Lawes and being setled in a civill policie set down their mindes by Statutes and at the desire of the people the King grants them and so he becomes Lex Loquens binding himself by a double Oath Tacitly as King and expresly by his Oath at Coronation a Paction with his People as God with Noah If otherwise he governs them a King turns Tyrant Either govern by Law says the widow to Alexander Aâ—t ne Rex sis There needs no Rebellion against evil Kings for God never leaves them unpunished And concludes That to dispute what God may do is Blasphemy but Quid vult Deus is Divinity so of Kings Sedition in Subjects to dispute a Posse ad Esse He professes Reason for his Actions and Rule for his Laws He dislikes not the Common Law favourable to Kings and extendeth his Prerogative To despise it were to neglect his own Crown The Civil serves more for general learning and most necessary for commerce with Nations as Lex Gentium but though not fit for the general Government of this People yet not to be therefore extinct not to prefer Civil before Common Law but bounded to such Courts and Causes as have been in ancient use as the Courts Ecclesiastical Admiralty of Request reserving Common Law as fundamental Prerogative or Privilege King and Subject or themselves Meum Tunm No Kingdom in the World governed meerly by Civil Law their Municipal Laws always agree with their Customes God governed his People by Laws Ceremonial Moral Iudicial Iudicial onely for a certain people and a certain time Example If Hanging for Theft were turned to treble restitution as in Moses Law What will become of the middle Shires the Irishry and Highlanders If fundamentally be altered Who can discern Meum tuum It would be like the Gregorian Calendar which destroys the old and yet this new troubles all the Debts and Accounts of Traâ—â—ick and Merchandise Nay the King avows by it he knows not his own age for now his birth-day removes ten days nearer him than it was before that change And yet he desires three things to be cleared in the Common Law and by advice of Parliament 1. That it were in English for since it is our Plea against Papists for their language in Gods service an unknown Tongue Moses Law being written in the Fringes of the Priests garments so our Laws that excuse of ignorance may not be for conforming themselves thereunto 2. Our Common Law is unsettled in the text grounded upon Custom or Reports and Cases called Responsa Prudentum Indeed so are all other Laws save in Denmark and Norway where the Letter resolves the circumstances making variations that therefore so many Doctors Comments so many different Opinions the Iudges themselves disclame and recede from the judgment of their Predecessors the Parliament might set down Acts of Confirmation for all times to come and so not to depend on uncertain opinions of Iudges and Reports nay there are contrary Reports and Presidents The same corruption in the Acts of Parliaments which he called Cuffing Statutes and penned in divers senses and some penal which no man can avoid disagreeing from this our time yet no tyrannous or avaritious King would endure 3. For Prohibitions he hath been thought to be an Enemy to them he wishes that each Court might have limits of Iurisdiction certain and then if encroached upon Prohibitions to issue out of the Kings Bench or Chancery and so to keep every River within his proper banks The abuse and over-flowing of Prohibitions brings in most Moulture to their own Mill. The King had taken it in task in two or three several Meetings before and after a large Hearing he told them Ab initio non fuit sic And therefore ordered each Court to contain themselves within their own bounds That the Common Law be sparing of their Prohibitions also and to grant them 1. In a lawfull form but in open Court onely 2. Upon just and mature information of the Cause for as good have no Sentence as not Execution He instanced in a poor Ministers Case thereby enforced to forbear his flock becomes non-resident obtains a Sentence and expecting the fruit is defrauded by Prohibition like CHRIST'S Parable That night shall his soul be taken from him Tortured like Tantalus gaping for the Apple it is pulled away by Prohibition And concludes with the difference of true use and abounding in abuse to be considered The second general Ground Grievances are presented in Parliament as the Representative of the People the highest Court of Iustice but concerns the lower House properly The manner opportune in Parliament or inopportune as private men but then not to be greedily sought for nor taken up in the streets thereby to shew that ye would have a shew made of more abuses than in truth of cause not to multiply them as a noise amongst the People So that at the very beginning of this Session each one multiplied and mustered them as his Spleen pleased He therefore thanks them for that these finding many such Papers stuft up in a Sack rather like Pasquils than Complaints proceeding more from murmuring spirits they made a publick Bone-fire of them all a good effect of an ill cause So to take care to prevent the like lest the lower House become the place for Pasquils and may have such Papers cast in as may contain Treason or Scandal to the King and his Posterity the ancient order was to be openly and avowably presented to the Speaker first He confesses that they are just and faithfull to their Trust to be informed of Grievances and acknowledges that his publick Directions and Commissions may be
abused in the Execution and he not informed but by them He advises them not to meddle with the main points of Governments his craft Tractent fabrilia fabri He being an old King six and thirty years in Scotland and seven years in England and therefore there needs not too many Phormio's to teach Hannibal he will not be taught his Office nor are they to meddle with his ancient Rights received from his Predecessors More majorum All Novelties are dangerous Lastly not to call that Grievance which is establisht by a settled Law and to which to press the King is misduty in the Subject knowing before hand he will refuse them If not convenient amend it by Parliament but term it not a Grievance To be grieved at the Law is to be grieved with the King the Patron of the Law and he allows them to distinguish between a fault of the Person and the Things For Example The High Commission is complained of Try the abuse and spare not but do not destroy the Court of Commission that were to abridg the Kings power And plainly he resolves seeing that Court is of so high a nature to restrain it onely to the two Arch-Bishops heretofore common to more Nor shall any man be to him more Puritan to complain as well out as in Parliament of defects therein onely grieve ye not at the Commission it self He desires them that their Grievances savour not of particular mens thoughts but rather rising out of the peoples mindes not of the humour of the Propounder that mans passion will easily discover him Petitions also though they be general are so to be distinguished The third general Cause concerns himself which he always leaves hindmost and had left it to his Treasurer being distrustfull naturally less eloquent in his own concernment That this Officer had already accounted to them of the Kings Havings and his Expendings which he hopes they acknowledg as a favour to be particularly acquainted with his State His Predecessor seldom afforded the like Duty he clames of them one of the branches being to supply their Sovereign but the quantity and time proceeds from their loves and therefore disputes not a Kings power but what with their good wills and wishes them as he to avoid extremes for if they fail in the one Supply or in the manner of Levy both he and the Countrey shall have cause to blame them And as the secular Nobility are hereditary Lords of Parliament and the Bishops live neuter Barons of the same and give but their own but the lower House being the Representative of the Commons give for themselves and others and so may be the more liberal yet if too much they abuse the King and hurt the People which he will never accept their true love being the greatest security to any wise or just Prince So they need not the fear of that Item by one of their Members In giving too much to endanger your Throats-cutting when ye came home He loves freedom of Gift with discretion He never laboured for their Voices to that end detesting to hunt for Emendicata suffragia But then as not to give him a Purse with a Knife So not to excuse and cloak their particular humours by alleging the Poverty of the People To such persons though he will not be less just yet not in reason to gratifie them when it may come in their way to want him He heard that it was propounded whether the Kings wants ought to be relieved or not Certainly though it may seem his particular yet being Parens Patriae and tells them his wants nay Patria ipsa by him speaks to them for if the King wants the State wants and therefore the strengthning of the King is the standing of the State and wo be to him that divides the weal of the one from the other And as a rich King is but miserable over a poor People so a potent People cannot subsist if their Kings means maintains not his State being the sinews of War and Peace and it grieves him to crave of others that was born to be begged of And if he desires more of them than ever any King did so hath he juster reason than any King had And in particular the accession of more Crowns in him so the more honour to Subjects and the more charge His fruitfull Issue which God gives him for their use of great expence and yet Queen Elizabeth notwithstanding her Orbity had more given her than ever any of her Predecessors The Creation of his Son draws near for whom he says no more the sight of himself speaks to you That he hath spent much but yet not to be spared the late Queens Funeral the solemnity of his and his Wives entry in this Kingdom the Triumph through the City and his Coronation Visus of Princes in person and the Ambassadors of most Potentates of Christendom could he in honor of the Kingdom do less than bid them welcome But if they will imbound his Supplies to the case onely of War so upon the point notwithstanding his intern Peace he is to send supply of Forces to Cleves both in respect of State and cause of Religion his Pensions the late Queens old Commanders of Berwick besides his pretty Seminary of Souldiers in the Forts of this Kingdom and also the cautionary Towns of Flushing and Brill beyond Seas his uncertain charges in Ireland the last years Rebellion brake forth there of extraordinary charge and a constant Army which he dares not diminish till this Plantation take effect the great Mote no doubt in the Rebells eys His expence in Liberality objected hath been given amongst them and so what comes from them returns amongst them 'T is true had I not been liberal to my old Servants Scotish-men you might suspect me ingrate to you my new subjects and yet assures them his bounty hath been twice more to English So then to his shame be it of your house that said Your Silver and Gold abounded at Edenburgh but I wish him no worse than to be bound to live only upon the interest thereof and but few of you that I look in the face but have been Suitors for Honour and Profit That vastness is past Christmass and open-tide is ended with him He had made Knights by hundreds and Barons by scores he does not so now will do so no more They need not now to reminde him the sight of his children as a Natural Man bids him be wary of expence As for himself he challenges any one far meaner to be less inclinable to prodigal humours of unnecessary things What he hath said may move each member to spare him so much as they would spend on a supper cast away at Dice in a Night or bestow on a horse for fancy that may break a Leg or Arm next morning Conclusion freeness in giving graceth the gift Bis dat qui citò dat his debts increase till
multitude of our own people from all parts of our three Kingdoms gave a wonderfull glory to the Court at this time the only Theatre of Majesty Not any way inferiour to the most Magnificent in Christendom Prince and people increasing in honor and wealth And it was prudentiall in state to set it forth with all moderate additions of Feasts Masks Comedies Balls and such like which our squeazie stomacht Historian it seems could never example in any part of his reading and therefore sets his Gloss of reproach upon the King and them but very favourably forsooth as not thereby to provoke himself to stain his innocent paper I shall not trouble the dispute how farr they were politickly used in the Romane Common-wealth and Monarchy how farr tollerable in Christian Kingdoms and States They are necessary Mirrors wherin mens Actions are reflected to their own view Indeed some men privy to the uglyness of their own guilt have been violent not onely to crack but to break in pieces all those Looking-glasses least their own deformities recoyle and become eye-sores to themselves We were wont to call them Theatres representing in little the Entrance Acts and Exits of Man where we may behold Language Manners and Behaviour the best the matter good for Imitation bad to shun to teach virtue reprove vice and amend manners tempering the mind for good impression or defect in most of our youth thrust into devotion without polite manners forceably taught on the Stage where virtue is somewhat more seen to a mortall eye with admiration not to inforce men spight of Humanity to serve God with austerity not Jubilation This Christall fullied by time and malitious reports not without some shadowes of piety and counterfeit dress to amuze the world for a truth hath been cleared up to the view by several Pens though by King Iames at that time little valued for his own content unless as Splendidae Nugae for the dress of Court-like recreations but evermore with so much wit as might well become the exercise of an Academy And thus much of playes But stay It is come to my knowledge that our squeamish Informer was bred up a Poet frequently a Rymer and Composer of playes not without exceeding delight in himself to be so styled though a mean one but indeed since the reformation of them the trade fell to decay and he turned trot any way to get money Such another was A. M. who whilst he kept within the compass of that Dialect did well and commendably but turn'd another professor and ended his daies miserably He went to Bed as I am credibly informed well in health but disguised with drink his usual custome and was found in the morning his head hung over the Bed-side his hand leaning on the boards it seems groveling for breath being choaked with loathsome blood and flegm foaming at his mouth his tongue bleeting out not able to call for succour of such as lodged in the next room so was he drencht in drink and death In this year 1611. was collected a Contribution of well affected Subjects called Loan-money being lent upon Privy Seals an ordinary use and custome of all former Sovereigns in time of necessity of their Prince or state affairs and no New device which now amounted unto One hundred eleven thousand fourty and six pounds which was repayed back to divers especially to such as craved satisfaction by money Defalcation or Composition for other considerations Satisfactory There are sundry ways and means to make men rich and commonly not so concealed but it happens within the Ken of some acquaintance But here we had one Thomas Sutton meanly born and bred but some subsistence by marrying a widdow at Barwick farr short of wealth It is rumoured onelybecause of some probability for other we have none that he bought a Fraight that came thither out of a Dutch Pirate who it seems could not stay to make better market And therein was found concealed Treasure in some Cask his first advance which he so increased by Interest and purchases as having no heir he designed a pious foundation at Hallingbury Bowcher in Essex but afterwards purchased the Charter-house near Smithfield London of the Earl of Suffolk enriched it with divers dependances of lands and Tenements for which he paid in hand 13000 l and procured Letters Patents to erect The Hospital of King James founded in the Charter-house in the County of Middlesex at the proper cost of Thomas Sutton Esquire for maintenance of eighty decayed Gentlemen Souldiers a chamber and dyet and 8. l a piece peâ—sion annually and a cloth-Gown in two years with a free School for Scholars Chamber Diet and Apparell to be governed for the present by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Bishops of London and Ely chief Iustice and Iustice Foster the Attorney general Dean of Pauls and Worcester a Master of the Chancery and four more Gentlemen his familiar friends and Thomas Brown the first elect Master of the Hospital and this for ever and as any Governours die the Major party to Elect another Besides he gave in Legacie so many thousands as it did astonish all men in those daies how he came by so much wealth Since the Kings absence the Papists were for these last three years much increased in the North parts of Scotland and complaints made of the funeral Obsequies of the Lord Oglevy and Gight after the Popish rites And though as before remembred some care had been for reducing the Earls Huntley Angus and Arroll Yet of late Huntley returning from England pretends some commands from the King to mitigate Ecclesiastical proceeding on his behalf which encouraged the others and the rest of their Profession openly contemning the Church Censures The Assembly therefore had sent petitions to the King for further authority to suppress these Inconveniences The Kings answer was That Huntley had no such warrant from him but pretending that he had kept all injunctions prescribed him except that of communicating with the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which the King thought fit for the present to referr to the Council for time of conforming but if he did persist his Majesty would accompt of him as intending the head of a faction and therefore rather to root him out than to nourish his follies by a preposterous Toleration They were therefore confined unto several Cities ten dayes together there to hear Sermons and admit of conference and to forbear Papist-priests companies that the sons of Oglevy and Gight should be committed This prescription too strickt the three Earls revolt and therefore an Assembly was called by the Kings Comand for so of late they were regulated not to convene of themselves and the Names of Papists inrolled were found Numerous and Huntleys faction in the North were of the most He being cited appears not nor sends any excuse and therefore by the Assembly is excommunicated and the sentence pronounced publick and no
absolution to be given by any offers of his whatsoever and the like against Angus Arrol and Semple This was too rigorous and unchristian the Church being open to all Penitents And truly the inconveniences being examined from that time by the Churches too frequent Excommunicating of many persons fugitives for Capital Crimes The Kings Christian consideration herein was signified to them by his Commands That their Sentences of that kinde were far abused from the first pious policie of institution for such persons as have been cited before Ecclesiastical judicatures for capital cases and dare not compeir for fear of Life are yet excommunicated as Persons contumacious when onely their fear may excuse their absence and really cannot be judged Contemners of the Church And in truth the Venetian Padre Paulo in his Treatise did learnedly confute the Popes sentence against him for not appearing in a Cause of Heresie onely upon his just fear he pretended and had his Appeal justified by all good Christians and indifferent men Wee may resemble the Scots Courses therein to the Muscovites manner who if he be offended with any man commands him to send his head in a Charger even so they will the offender to come into Court and be hang'd which no Penitent would do rather to suffer sentence than to hazard themselves into Presbyters handling a second Inquisition and so in truth their Church suffers under scandall and contempt And accordingly their Assemblies were afterwards reduced to conform to Reformation herein The Clergies Arguments somewhat Canonicall if as the Pope they cannot erre That the Churches form may not be changed which terrifies the common Man from their Crimes But then let them be answered from the principall end of such Censures especially Excommunication which was reclaiming not confounding of offenders The principal use having no place that other Secondary Ends ought not to be respected The case of fugitives How could the Censure avail to their reclaiming they being absent from admonition Men in such a Case truly sorrowfull for their sinnee sentenced are in truth bound up by the Church whom God hath loosed But that Church evermore expressed their hot zeal of excommunication by their fire-brand Execution the pretended Sanction of their Sion The lustrous ray and beam of Sovereignty was intrenched upon by the Heir of the Earl of Eglington in Scotland being adopted so from him that had no Successor of birth or kindred This man was Sir Alexander Seaton a Cousin Germain and with this Proviso by will That he and his children should take the Name and use of the Arms of the House of Mountgomery This bold bearing came to the disquisition I remember in our Heralds office of which Garter principall King of Arms informs the King as an ill President for though Noblemen may dispose of their lands they cannot alienate their honors from the Sovereign fountain of all honours in his Kingdomes And so Sir Alexander was unlorded till the Kings grace gave him Creation some years after the honors of Eglington onely The King was had in high esteem to be not onely Rex pacificus in temporal affairs but Nutricius Ecclesiae in spiritual relations to the Church yet very tender to meddle in politicks of Neighbour Princes unless by Envoyes and Ambassies of Brotherly advice But for the state of the Church Reformed he was pleased to take upon him Defensor fidei with tongue pen and sword if need were And thereâ—n he gave his reasons for every Christian King to have an Interest though in Aliena Republica And in his hunting progress having met with two Bookes of Conradus Vorstius who had the degree of Doctor of Divinity at Leyden in Holland the one Tractatus Theologicus Dâ—o dedicated to the Landt-grave of Hessen dated 1610. the other his Exegesis Apologetica dedicated to the States 1611. Upon this latter book He dispatches commands to Sir Ralph Winwood his Ambassador Lieger and Counsellor in the Counsel of State in those Countries in his Name to declare to the States General Not onely his Majesties high resentment of the Monstrous Blasphemies and horrid Atheism therein worthy to be burnt and the Author punished but also his infinite displeasure to have him succeed Arminius such another Monster lately dead Divinity Reader in that University And though he hath recanted his former Atheisticall opinions it was too slender Satisfaction for so foul an Enemie to the Essence of the Deity The States General in answer do most humbly acknowledg his Majesties Princely assistance untill this time for preservation of their bodies rights and liberties against their powerfull Enemie introducing the Inquisition and constraint of their consciences in matters of Religion That the Curators of the University of Leyden by custome of that foundation have the charge to settle that Lecture and did elect and send for Vorstius in Anno 1610. from Steinford a Town of the County of Tecklenburgh the first that cast off the yoke of Papacy in Germany and so continue where he was Professor fifteen years and for Learning much admired by Prince Maurice Landt-grave of Hessen as worthy of preferment in any University in his Countrey And their Message was seconded from his Excellency Prince Maurice and the State of Holland in his behalf who notwithstanding had opposition by some against whom and all others accusers he challenged the dispute but they never appeared The next Moneth six Ministers accused him of false and unsound doctrine and disputed it with him before the Curators and six other Ministers in full Assembly of the States of Holland who all of them adjudged the Election lawfull and the man full of merit The next Moneth after that Certain Articles came over thither and dispersed in printed Pamphlets to which publick declarations were made by the States that Vorstius should be ready to answer the intention of the States being to permit no Professâ—rs but according to the Religion reformed and grounded on Gods word and that if his Majestie were well informed he would in his high wisdom prudence and benignity conceave favourably of their proceedings they being confident that this business is managed with all due reverence to his Majesties serious admonition as becometh them 1 Octob. 1611. In the time of these Transactions Vorstius gives ayme for his Bookes to be brought hither accompanied with an other De Apostasia sanctorum and a Letter of the Author Vorstius to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury avowing the doctrine therein to agree with the Church of England and so that Book intended to fire the next Neighbours with this fuell Non solum paries proximus jam ardebat was by order publickly burnt at Pauls-Cross and both Universities The King continuing the Hunt to Unkenell this Fox writes himself to the States That notwithstanding his Ambassà dors propositions They proceed to provide a place for that Corrupted Person and with Protection and License to print his Apologie dedicated to
Du Bartas saies of the destruction of Sodom De peur qu'en Offensant des saincts l'oreille tendre Ie ne les semble plus enseigner que reprendre For fear of offending good peoples Eare I rather teach then with them forbear Then the King falls upon his Bookes especially His modest Christian answer and first in his Preface it is observed how in love he is with himself and his Nick-Name Purus putus Evangelicus a mainly pure Gospeller and indeed the ancient Hereticks called themselves Catharoi and another Sect the Anabaptists Puritans from whence all our Prâ—cifians in these latter times who fancying to refuse conformity with the orders of our Church borrow that Name and Gospeller is assumed by many yet more usual in Hungary and Boheâ—e where are infinites of Sects agreeing onely in Unity against the Pope As for this Book His Arguments are either sophistical or frivolous abusing the fathers and he extracts divers questions thereout thirteen in Number with his resolve on them Wherein the King notes the others cunning to maintain them and how he easily proves Quidlibet è quolibet as the old Hereticks Arius and Samosatenus usually did and so leaves all to Gods will and the States discretion as they will answer it before God And though Vorstius died not long after his tenents increased to a high distemper in that State But what the King desired to suppress in this Man gave example for him to punish in others under his own power and therefore in this year came to the Stake a Couple the most damnable Hereticks Edward Whithman burned at Lichfield and Bartholoâ—ew Legat in Smithfield London somewhat applying to the Ranters of these our times 1654. Legat held these opinions That the Creeds Nicene and Athanasius do not contain the true Christain faith That Christ is begotten and made That there are no Persons in the God-head That Christ was not God from everlasting but began to be God when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary That the World was not made by Christ. That the Apostles teach Christ to be man onely That there is no generation of God but of Creatures That this Assertion God to be made Man is contrary to the rule of faith and monstrous Blasphemy That Christ was not before the fullness of Time except by promise That Christ was not God otherwise then an Annointed God That Christ was not in the form of God equall with God that is in substance of God but in righteousnes and giving salvation That Christ is not to be prayed unto Whitemans Opinions were in effect these come of Ebionites Cerinthians Valentinians Arians Macedonians Simon Magus Manes Manichee Photinus and Anabaptists and of other Heretical Execrable and unheard of opinions That there is not the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Deity That Christ is not the true Natural sonne of God perfect God of the same substance Eternity and Majesty with the Father in respect of his God-head That Christ is onely Man and a meer creature and not God and Man in one Person That Christ took not humane flesh of the substance of the Virgin That that promise the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head was not fulfilled in Christ c. And that God had ordained him the said Whiteman to perform his part in thâ— work of the salvation of the world These and the rest were written subscribed and by him delivered to the King 9. Martii 1611. Thus in those times Hereticks took some pains to preferre themselves to the Divel But now a days we sport our souls away Amongst many strange Ones I wonder most at this meriment of the Adamites Picardus was the first that possest silly people with the perfect State of Adam placed them in an Iland for that purpose which he called Paradise caused them to walk nâ—ked and called them Adamites Horrible sins were committed by them under that pretence promiscous whoredoms and Incest at their Service and when their Saint-Minister pronounceth the word Crescite et Multiplicamini et replete terram the â—ights are suddenly extinct and without any respect to Alliance or kindred they mingle like brute beasts and their wickedness we â—ied the lights are tinded and they returned to their service But now with more Infamy their Innocencie will be liâ—hted they spâ—re not openly to act in the face of Heaven at Noon-day I know Our Adversaries the Romanists lodge this device upon the ancient Waldenses poor harmless souls havocked by the Armies of the Military mercyless Papists Adamites says One that went naked an affront to Nature Indeed poor men rather Nudati than Nudi forced thereto by the Popes Legate who at taking of Cariassone in France whither these people swarmed granted them Life on condition that the Males and Females should pass by his Army stark naked I may be censured by some how unusefull it might be to imprint to the publick these damnable opinions but in that I may be justified by Examples of the Fathers mentioning such Heresies and of Councils and Declarations from time to time against such Tenents The next Favorite a new-come young Man was Robert Carr a Scotish-man of no Eminencie But a Gentleman by his bearing Gules on a Cheviron Arg 3. Mullets Sable in the dexter point of the Escocheon a Lion passant gardant Or. And yet himself remembred the King in his Letters hereafter his fall of his Ancestors merit of which truly I have not read This Man had been Page of honour to the King in Scotland and so may be the first and last original Actor on the Theatre of his family The beginner as an excellent workman in bringing his Tooles and making his Materials but his own Ruine by basely degenerating from what his Master had made him in short time giving end to the structure In truth he became the first Favorite That is one whom the King fancied meerly for his fashion upon no other score and it was enough for the present his Master sufficiencies needed no other instructions onely to choose him apt for impressive Marks of honour better becomes the Sovereigns Creation than to be made so to his hand And therefore after Knighthood he was soon Baron of Brandspeeck Viscount Rochester and had the Garter to boot And we are told the King took much pains to teach him Latine as a most needfull Improvement unto a capability of his affections but this his opinion sents more of a Poet than a Courtier And so mounted by the wings of Love more than merit he says the Earl of Salisbury Treasurer casts many Mists to damp his passage and tells the old wives tale of 1000l a gift to the Viscount which was spread upon a Table in Silver and the King invited thither which Mass of money so amazed his Majesty that the half thereof was concluded too much for any Man Amongst these passages of fancie in the King he forgot not
juris effectum etiaâ—que pronunciamus decernimus declaramus dictum matrimonium praetensum omniaque exinde sequentia cassamus annullamus irritamus memor atamque dominam Franciscam Howard ab aliquo vinculo hujusmodi praetensi Matrimonii inter eam dictum dominum Robertum comitem ut praefatur de facto contracto solemnizato liberam solutam fuisse esse sic tam liberam solutam insuper pronunciamus decernimus declaramus eandemque dominam Franciscam ab eodem domino comite Essex quoad vinculum matrimonii praetensi praedicti omniaque exinde sequentia liberandam divortiandam fore debere pronunciamus sic liberamus divortiamus eosdem quo ad transitum ad alias nuptias conscientiis suis in domino relinquere per hanc nostram sententiam definitam sive hoc nostrum finale decretum quam sive quod fecimus promulgamus in his scriptis And the Records extant do mention the proceedings you see modest legal parallel with any former of like kinde wherein the Civil Laws are boundless and this strict form and manner had no room for corruption And the Commissioners that agreed to the Sentence were four Bishops Winchester Lichfield and Coventrey Rochester and Ely The Civilians were three Knights Caesar Parry and Dunn And though thus sufficient yet are they noted for private men for the purpose and that Kings will never want such ministers in corrupted times both in Church and State The common people were offended with the Canons and wisht that Essex might have as many Women to aspect him for his sufficiency That he might have justified himself upon others or have had Physicians by art to certifie his natural impediment or whether impedimentum maleficii being accidental praesumatur praecessisse vel potius subsecutum fuisse matrimonium contractum solemnizatum Whether they ought post praeceptum Iudicis to co-habit together saltem per aliquod temporis spatium arbitrio Iudicis moderandum for further trial Indeed the Arch-Bishop Abbot took upon him the quarrel who in truth in the Civil Law was least able his Doubts and Queries were dispersed and got some credit with the Clergy whilest the Civilians with much civility if not fear of his authority amongst them forbore to give him answer till the King himself took the pains to pull him down The Bishops Arguments were six 1. That all controversies concerning the Church are comprehended in the Scripture and Marriage is there accounted sacred 2. What Text doth warrant a Nullity after Marriage Propter maleficium versus hanc The Scripture indeed makes Nullity Propter frigiditatem Matth. 19. 12. Some born chaste some made Eunuchs some made so by grace 3 4. What Councils or Fathers or stories either Greek or Latine have ever mentioned Malesicium versus hanc untill Hircanus Rhemensis Episcopus four hundred years after Christ 5 6. Essex is found defective for whom we are bound to use two Remedies Eternal and Temporal For the first Non ejicietur nisi per orationem jejunium For the second Corporeal Medicines But the Earl hath had none of these The Answer To the first It is a preposterous Puritan Argument without some better distinction or explanation for the Orthodox consider all controversies in points of Faith and Salvation Nullity of Marriage cannot be one and therefore the consequence fails 2. If the Scriptures want a Nullity Propter frigiditatem then all the means which may make him frigidus versus hanc must be comprehended for why doth our Church condemn Marriage of a man with his sisters daughter or of two sisters but ut paritate rationis for none of them are in terminis prohibited in Scripture and so all the other unlawfull matches for ascending or descending in points of Consanguinity quia par est ratio The like is in this case for although Christ spake onely to three sorts of Eunuchs yet Ratio est quia non potest esse copulatio inter Eunuchum mulierem and therefore Saint Paul tells us It is not Conjugium sine copulatione I conclude therefore a paritate rationis that Christ did comprehend under these three sorts all inability which doth perpetually tually hinder copulationem versus hanc whether natural or accidental For what difference is there between the cutting off the hand and being made impotent thereof Amputatio Mutilatio membri being the same in Civil Law It being sufficient unto moderate Christians to believe out of Gods word That mariage is null sine copulatione and those words quos Deus conjunxit are never found in Scripture where et erunt eis doth not proceed viz. And they two shall be made one flesh But however the impediment be whether universal or versus hanc or born so or by violence or by disease or ineptitude that is ever par ratio he is Eunuch versus hanc omnes alias Seeing to him only she was married To the third and fourth There may be something to this purpose or aliquid analogum with a paritate rationis Besides it is an ill argument to say that therefore it is not lawfull because Fathers nor Council do not mention it 5. The same answer to the fifth for till the four hundred years after Christ perhaps that devillish trick was not discovered and we know ex malis moribus bonae leges And this in dispute is only a question of Order and Policy For the essential point of Matrimony cannot be accomplished sine copula 6. The Devils have power over the flesh and to exempt us from the power of Witch-craft was never maintained by any learned man and why not of Protestants as well as of Papists Remedies perhaps have been used by themselves but Non interest Repub. nec Eccles. And so to satisfie his conscience this pains was taken with the Arch-bishop ut cum conversus fuerit confirmet fratres suos In fine both Parties freed to their second choice the Countess the fifth of December marries the Viscount lately made Baron of Brandspick and Earl of Somerset the tenth Earl the first being made by Maud the Empress And Overbury in the Tower hears of this jollity and himself in durance threatens Somerset No saies our Adversary writes to him humbly imploring Another such like pens the Letter thus Right Noble and worthy Sir YOur former accustomed favours and also late promise concerning my present deliverance hath caused me at this time by these lines to solicite your Lordship and to put you in remembrance of the same not doubting that your honour is at all forgetful of me but onely by reason of my imprisonment being possest of divers disâ—â—sesâ— would for my bodies health and safety tast of the felicity of the 〈◊〉 air In which cause if your Lordship please to commiserate my present necessities and procure me my speedy deliverance I shall not only stand much the more obliged to you but also acknowlege you the preserver
contribute and did the Lords and others by which he might have experience how they could serve him that served themselves so well the building up of their own fortunes and factions had been their diligent studies and his service but the exercise of their leisures And this Benevolence came but to fifty two thousand nine hundred and nine pounds out of their purses Which yet madded the ill-minded men Pillars to the Kingdomes Liberties alwaies plotters to the Kingdomes Miseries Who being ashamed to be out-done in honesty and honour they justly drew upon themselves a Mark of Malignancy and so needed not otherwise to be noted by giving in their names as is pretended And yet they would be medling devising poor Arguments to pretend it against Subjects Liberties though accustomed evermore by examples of all former Sovereigns But to tell our Historian how antient the custome of Benevolence hath been ever since the Statute of 20 Henry 8. that united Wales and England together and to send their Members to sit in Our Parliament where a motion being made in the House of Commons for a Benevolence to be freely given to that King an honest Knight for a Welch County made answer Mr. Speaker This word Benevolence is a pretty Word but I understand it not Yet sure it is something His Highness should have If it be so in Gods Name let him have it the sooner the better and so may deserve thanks else it will not Thus it was then but now it is held to be Against Law Reason and Religion and Injustice and Impiety to be accepted And because his whole Reign was necessitous and the want of money for him to be liberal was his disease I think fit to say somewhat here in excuse to all the future ayms and ends which he took to get money which answers the third way of Improvement There was much ado in Council to advance the Crown by several waies of Improvement By grants in Parliament wherein the King made some Tryal so be it examined from former examples whether or no their bounties exceeded his Merits Some advised him to fall upon Acts of Resumption of Lands Offices and Annuities unadvisedly or profusely bestowed by his Predecessors or himself upon undeserving persons which have been usually done by former Presidents of Princes Ubi necessitas Regis cogit But this his Noble heart disdained Indeed it was wicked Counsel to work upon his Necessity thereby to make him odious to his meritorious Servants and good Friends Did he ever do as others Henry 3. to his Subjects of whom one saies Quicquid habuerunt in Esculentis et poculentis Rusticorum erâ—im Equos Bigas vina victualia ad libitum cepit He made tryal of Voluntary Lones or Benevolence by Privy Scal which was neither burdensome nor dishonourable being so petit in the Purses of the ablest Subjects But Compulsion I know of none unless you call the Star-Chamber to the accompt the Mulct and Fines of great Offenders and perhaps adjudged by that Court to some value as the Crime deserved which might be suspected in favour for Support of the Kings occasions Yet you will find when such happened it was in the excess of unparallel'd crimes not in other Courts of Iustice lyable to examination or punishment which as it was in Terrorem populi so now in these our later daies being suppressed in favour and liberty of the Nation the wickedness of sinfull man takes freedome to offend in such horrid waies that nought but some such extraordinary course of Justice can possibly reform Pawning of Iewels and Plate had been frequent by all former Princes and that not in ordinary waies Aurum Iocalia faenetri sancti Edwardi Confessoris Vasa aurâ—a diversa Iocalia Nay Magnam Coronam Angliae Yes and Queen Elizabeth did it and no more need than He but he did not To assign Customes and pawn the next Subsidies to be granted hath been a device to draw on supplies the sooner Which he refused The Privy Seal indeed he made use of but very moderately in comparison of former Presidents if you examine the Records and Rolls of willing Subjects bountiful assistance Compulsory Waies have been Presidents to necessitated Princes exacted from Merchants-Strangers or to be committed to Prison and the English Subject little better favoured What will you say of Henry 8. ten per centum of all Goods Iewells Utensils and Land extremely rated per Sacramentum Suorum In that rank may be remembred a Custome called Liberalitas populi Curialitas ex voluntate nec de jure potest But in the gathering by Commissioners such threats were used as was little better than the violent and was customarily reduced down to Queen Mary indeed Queen Elizabeth had a little better cunning way to cozen them the more returning their bounty back again until they doubled the summ There is a Statute To compell Subjects to attend the Kings Service which was repealed by Queen Mary and that again repealed by Parliament of this King of which truly he made no other advantage than to send half a dozen refractory Puritans that troubled the State of his errand into Ireland and yet paid them good salary for their pains which had been usuall heretofore in the like case at their own cost Trading themselves I could shew Presidents for this also of other Princes engrossing trade of Commodities as one did with all the Wools at a long day and a narrow price and sold them over Seas with great gain The like of Tyn Corn nay bind all men to trade their staple to one certain place and yet themselves to places of more advantage And this was the glory of Queen Elizabeth stoop'd unto and took occasion to trade in when the gain was advantage though but in Strong-Beer Licensing Others also It was so ordinary heretofore to raise monies by licensing Trade non obstante Statutes and customs as that those grew to high Complaints yet necessitated Kings continued these non obstantes non obstante And this King found them in Grants for certain years in being and made no further example of them unless transporting of a quantity of undrest White Cloths to the Earl of Cumberland and some others and that upon good reason of State too Raising rates of Merchandize There will never want will in the Merchant to abuse each other and gain to themselves and therefore as all Princes have occasion and the increase of commodities requiring do raise the Rates and this was done cum consensu Mercatorum but of late the just Prerogative imposed it where the Merchants gain might give way if you could conceive it convenient to their conscience ever to acknowledge any gain sufficient Causa honesta sit ut necessaria ratio facili tempus idoneum Letting Customes to farm He did so some murmured grieving the Subject to pay Custome to the Subject but do they serve the
King for nought infinite gain It was then wished that they should declare their benefit and afterwards become Collectors for the King Queen Elizabeth after she had raised Customer Smith from 140001. per annum to 420001. made him discount what he had got This King did not do so yet he did better borrowed money and never paid it them Besides they were alwaies at hand to be squeazed and what his Successor failed in that way being perhaps surprized by death the next long Parliament did to purpose ruined them all upon old Scores And was it not time for King Iames so to do We all know by the succeed such Contractors lost not by their Farm By which we may be assured how mightily trade increased by the wise Government of this King and no Text more certain to prove it than the Inter and Overloping of Merchants to get in to be Farmers so mighty was their gain and so secret this their trade as but by their Pride profuse and stately comportment since could never otherwise have been imagined Liberties and Penalties there have been Kings that have proclamed Quod omnes Chartae irritae forent nisi posteriori sigillo roborentur Nay Qui suis volebant gaudere innovarent chartas suas de novo and this was done by Commissioners or by quo warranto against all And for penal Laws though I know that many Projectors advised yet former examples of this kind have evermore been fatall to those of the Quorum But this King declined it at all Selling Offices had been done formerly not a King scaped it to sell great Offices of the Crown and State for years for life under the Kings hands and seals They lodge in the Record thus Chancelour Chief Iustice all Keepers of Records Clerks of Assize and Peace Masters of Game and Parks and what else of profit or repute In France it is common not one scapes and in Spain as usual and defended as lawful and there are some that have prescribed them amongst the best Rules of reigning Sovereignty both Ecclesiastical and Temporal It may be that Favorites and Courtiers made bold with their interests in their Master to receive their Rewards But his own hands were ever closed from such corruption Sale of Honours It was the antient Power and that legal to call landed men to Knight-hood or fine which he did by favour and grace which he gave truly I believe he was no niggard in them too But indeed there being no Chivalry or Deeds of Arms in this time of peace to make men merit honours those that had it favourites excepted I rank in desert and so of due reward To others I confess they paid for it and they were those off-hand Lords as were made Earls together that paid eight thousand pound a piece and the pride of their hearts never bogled at the purity of the Project but swallowed down the Corruption without check of Conscience and yet this I can tell Some of them set their Sons to beg again part of it for their private expence The Baronets were created upon a better score and both these without any plot of State as was feigned and the designs upon the Earl of Salisbury for the former and upon Buckingham for the later when in truth Pride and Ambition made the project their own And in Gods name let such pay the price thereof And I know as honest and discret as our later times can boast of molded other such designs for degrees of honor to be hereditary in tail as Under-degrees to those already in use which yet the King for that present declined Coyn and Bullion All men know that Coin and Bullion in any State admit great wisdome in the mannagement and as many overtures were now offered as could stand with Justice or Customary Presidents It was much urged to abate money which was never used by any but as a last shift full of dishonor as in Bankrupts and a certain inconvenience to all Revenues of rents and so to the King in that particular as the greatest land-Lord and so his disadvantage which he declined Moneys being esteemed quantum in Massa not altogether per sculptam and so hold esteem by their true value Queen Elizabeth held it up from abasement which her great potent Enemy Spain could not do Then was advised Cambium Regis an office antient untill of late the Goldsmiths have ingrossed it Some thoughts there were to make the Exitus exceed the introitus in Traffick that the unnecessary nay useless commodities brought in in old time accompted Wines Spices Silks and fine Linnen the Manufactures of out-lands and sold to us to a great value even in Babies and Rattles being the sad occasion then the great want of Bullion not sufficient in Specie to pay the Lender in principal At last it was concluded to get advantage in the Coinage either simple Metal or Mixt by which we see that all Monarchs have are argento auro and so was coined only Farthings least other stamp of more value should clog the Kingdom and a proportion was together coined and do what this State could was in few years counterfeited by our neighbour Hollanders and many Firkins filled by them that the Farthing Office was not able to rechange upon the rebate for silver which yet the King continued till these late times called in Examine the inconvenience of Leaden and Copper Tokens as great a benefit now to Retaylors then formerly to the State but with much more inconvenience to the Nation being only utterable and current to each Retaylor of his own Mint and Mark. He was forced to adventure upon the use of Parliaments and to being with money but not to build long upon their discusses whereby came that saying in common as of no other Design Subsidies granted Parliament ended and therein the disadvantages he found might well distinguish him and their less frequent calling from his Predecessor and her often invitation and indeed discourage any Prince that should next succeed her The Disposition and Spirit of the times considered were not alike with him Her people ingenuous and un-inquisitive wrapped in innocence and humble obedience But in his time their passions and disaffections had gotten loose Reins the snaffle in their teeth contesting and capitulating Reasons of her actings were her own Will for then she having just cause to complain of oppressions as they did they only conveyed them to her notice and left the time and order of redress to her Princely discretion And yet when it was not altogether concerning them she would bid them meddle to amend their own Manners Nor were her Messengers choaked by any reproach that came of such errands In his time so much degenerate from the purity of the former under pretence of reforming and freedom that their very inquiry extended to the privacy of the King himself Nusquam Libert as gratior extat quam sub Rege pio Afflicting
ordinary custome lately entertained boldly to dispute the high points of his prerogative in a popular and unlawful way of Argument not heretofore usual Making them senceable how weak and impertinent the pretence of their Oath was in a case of this nature as if the Founders of their Oath His Predcessors were so intent in their zeal to be uncharitable to make a weapon to wound their Successors being an ordinary course to put off Hearings and Determinings amongst private persons Termly And commands them peremptorily not to proceed further in that Plea till his return to London there to receive his further pleasure by himself Your Oath being only for avoiding importunites to the Prince of Suiters in their own particular The King come to London convenes them all to the Council Table and himself takes in sunder the parts of the Iudges Letter and their Errours in proceeding both in matter and manner In matter by way of omission as commission When the Counseller shall presume to argue his Supremacy at the Bar and they not reprove his Insolency Himself observing since his comming to this Grown the popular Sort of Lawyers most affrontingly in all Parliaments have troden upon his Preâ—ogative though neither Law nor Lawyer can be respected if the King be not reverenced And therefore it became the Iudges to bridle their impudencies in their several Benches especially the Courts of Common-Law who had incroached upon all other Courts High Commission Councils in Wales and at York and Courts of Requests For the Commission in Matter whereas their Letter excepted against his Majesties command to be against the Law and their Oath He tells them deferring upon just and necessary cause is not denying or delaying of Instice but rather wisdom and maturity Nothing more proper than to cousult with the King where it concerns the Crown As for the Manner The Kings absence before the Argument and yet his resolved return speedily and the case though lately argued could not receive Iudgement till Easter Term after as the Iudges confessed And for them to say that the case was private interest of party and party One of the Parties is a Bishop that pleads for the Commendam onely by vertue of his Majesties Prerogative And that they could not prove any Solicitation of either Parties for expedition And for the form of the Letter it was undecent besides to proceed and to return a bare Certificate without giving reasons therefore Upon this all the Iudges fell down on their knees acknowledging their Errour and craving Pardon But for the Matter the Chief Iustice Cook entered into a Defence That the stay by his Majesty was a delay of Iustice and therefore against Law and their Oath that as they meant to handle the Pleading it should not concern the King's Prerogative To which the King told him That for them to discern the concernment of his Prerogative without consult with him was preposterous And for those of Law and Oath he had said sufficient before Therefore he required the Lord Chancellour's opinion herein whether against Law and their Oath The Chancellour excused himself as to that of Law referring it to the opinion of the King's Council whereupon the Atturney General Bacon said That to put off the Day was no Delay of Justice nor endangered their Oath for the King's Reasons were onely that it concerned his Prerogative and required therefore a stay for a small time and advised the Judges whether this refusal of their did not rather endanger their Oath which was To counsel the King when they are called but to counsel after the matter is past was a simple refusal to give him Counsel at all And all the rest of the Council concluded with him The Chief Justice Cook excepted That the King's Council should plead against the Iudges being their duties to plead before them not against them Whereunto the Attourney replied That the King's Council were by Oath and Office not onely to plead proceed and declare against the greatest Subject but also against any body of Subjects or persons nay were they Iudges or Courts or House of Commons in Parliament and concluded That the Iudges challenge was a wrong to their Places and appealed to the King who was firm for them The Chief Justice replied He would not dispute it with his Majesty The King replied Nor with my Council So then whether you do well or ill it may not be disputed The Chancellour gave his opinion with the King and his Council Hereupon the positive Question was put by all the Lords Whether in a Case depending which the King might conceive himself concerned in power or profit and requiring to consult with them they ought not to stay proceedings All the Judges submitted thereto onely the Chief Justice excepted saying When that Case should be then he would do his duty But the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas said For his part He would always trust the justice of the King's command But the Day drawing nigh the next Saturday for arguing the Commendams the King desired the Judges to express Whether they would then argue upon the Kings general power of granting Commendams yea or no. They all concluded Not to draw into doubt his power but to insist upon the point of Lapse which they conceived to be of a form different from former Commendams and concluded to correct the insolencies of bold arguing the Prerogative Judge Doderidge concluded for the King That the Church was void and in his gift and might give a Commendam to a Bishop either before or after Consecration during Life or years The Judges being gone the privy Council resolved that the Kings desire was not against the Judges Oath nor against the Common Law to require and all of them subscribed to the same This Dispute was publiquely scanned and censured in favour of the Judges and on the contrary for the King but the truth I have really extracted out of the Records of the Council Table That you may thereby see the true scope of those times The State of Spain having little to do in Martial affairs K. Philip the third now in peace thought to spend some time in Treatiâ—s wherin he seldom failed of advantage The late French King Henry the fourth had 3. daughters the one maried to the Duke of Savoy which the Spaniard misliking to have those Neighbours lately so great Enemies now to be linkt in love without his Interest conceived it good policy to indeer the young King Lewis of France in a cross Match to his Daughter Infanta Anna and to marry his son Philip to the Princess Elizabeth the second daughter of Henry the fourth And thus those cross Nuptials might seem to cement the affections of the three States lately so imbroyled in War which no doubt either of them had good cause to accept though it was said S. P. Q. R. Spain Pope Queen-Regent had the chief hand to undo the young King For the Father Henry the fourth had made
Wars upon the Duke of Savoy to recover the Marquisate of Saluses and this King of Spain under colour to aid the Duke his Brother in Law sent him Horse and foot of Spaniards But the peace concluded by exchange of Saluses with the Countries of Bresse and Gex the Spanish Auxilliaries being muzled in warm quarters at Carboniers Montemellion Savillau and Pignorell the best places of Savoy and Piedmont would not budge no! though the Duke begg'd of them to be gone but were absolutely commanded the contrary by Count Fuentes Viceroy of Millain and so staid until that valiant Duke in this danger very desperate cut all their throats Spain in policy to revenge pieces with France to disjoyn Savoy upon whom he had afterward many Treacherous Designs as that Plot upon his Castle of Nice the Key of his Counties when his Spanish Gallies lay at Villa Franca to have seized all Savoys Issue And as it was usual with Princes in Peace and Amitie to congratulate Nuptialls The Lord Hay was looked upon as the most proper for this Errand into France In some measure he had the Kings favour his affection not at all For Wise Kings know how to do the One and yet hide the Other so mysticall things are Courts this makes many men misjudge That the Kings friendships made every one a Favourite and by often changing their Persons was therefore held inconstant in his passions This Lord born a Gentleman in Scotland by his bearing of Cote Arms Argent three Escocheons Gules Supported two countrie Swains armed Plough Trails The crest a Dove volant proper His story was that his Ancestors at Plough with those Instruments their Geer slew Malton an High-land Rebel and discomfited his Train for which service had so much Land barren Rocks as a Pigeon cast off the fist flew over till she rested And all this great purchase could not keep him from seeking livelyhood in France where he was bred no other than a Gens d' Arms unto Henrie the fourth but quitted that service in hopes of better preferment of his own Sovereign And over he comes to meet the King at his entrance into England upon recommendation of the French Lieger in Scotland who continued so here and presented Haies upon former knowledge in France This and his other good parts being well accomplished hastened him higher in esteem than others of his Countrey whose neerer attendance had merited more But to boot he sought out a good Heir Gup my Ladie Dorothy sole Daughter to the Lord Dennie and to fit him forward after Knighthood he had honour and was made a Lord for reasonable riches his wife brought with her In grateful acknowledge of his first preferment he feasted the former Embassadour being lately returned extraordinary to this King wherein he exceeded the limits of an Entertainment which for that time was excused as a grateful Ceremony of a large Dinner The Scots were never very eminent with neighbour Nations what credit they had came by the French to keep ballance with Them and England the increase might heretofore be hoped for when the union of these Crowns should afford the means to set them forth And it wat prudential in the King to pick out one of his Own to splendour that Nation in our way of Peace and Courtship especially when all was done at the Masters cost For Haies was ever reasonable poor unless by repute of his first Match which was not much while her Father lived and by his last he had less the great spirit of Peircie Earl of Northumberland though a Prisoner then in the Tower disdaining the Mariage denied her a Groat to a beggerlie Scot as he called him This first Embassie was for no other end than to congratulate for certainly he had no Commission nor Credential to make scrutiny for matching our Prince with the other Sister she being then too young and overtures were then thought on with Spain and so it was advertised from Sir Dudley Charlton Ambassadour at the Hague that there was a fame spread of such as desire to weaken the Kings correspondence with that State That his Majestie was on neer terms of matching our Prince with Spain and by an Adviso out of Spain That this match had been there debated in the Inquisition and judged necessarie And in truth the Lord Ross was sent Ambassadour thither partly for that purpose at this time also upon the like errand to give joy to that King for the counter-match of his Son and had his Instructions to feel the pulse of that Court concerning the same for I waited on him neerer in his affairs than any of his Train and both these Ambassadours sent away at the same time It was remarkable how each of them strove for the prize to out-vy in the vanity of these Voyages the Baron to his utter undoing having no other helps but his own when the other had it from the Kings purse and in truth for this purpose to put down the English as in that great Feast at Essex-House and many his Masqueradoes afterwards at Court for he medled not with the Tilt as being no Swordman but in the other and such like he never scaped to act his part Amongst many others that accompanyed Haies Expedition was Sir Henrie Rich Knight of the Bath and Baron of Kensington afterwards Earl of Holland natural son to the then Earl of Warwick He took his initiation of expence from this journey and continued the practice afterwards to the weakning of his long time unsettled fortunes being forced through custom of the Court to follow the other in all his fashions and which infection by after-custome became his disease also and almost not over-mastering yet over-shadowing his natural eminent parts with which his inside was habited and perspicuous to such as afterwards knew him Thus much I had occasion to say heretofore to which hath been exception as if I undertook him besides the Text in a wanton pleasure of my own pen to blazon his memory with the foyl of his friend Truly it was not so by any unequal disparity to pride out the other For let me here take the freedom to speak more of him who from henceforth being received into publick and comming in by his own endeavours to the place of Cap. of the Band of Yeomen of the Guard to the Kings person a place of honour and profit and increasing with years and experience into some favour now and afterwards in high grace and esteem with the succeeding Sovereign was yet I must confess in the fate of State and Court circumvested now and then with some prejudice And it may be uneasy for a stranger not for me to research with due distinction into the Actions of his whole life succeeding not to enliven him by a line whom envy heretofore and now malice after his decease have endeavoured to blemish more than his own former felicity did or could any way corrupt If we deduce him from his
their view Chancells were so divided from the body of the Church and thereupon so called And the Lord Chancelour and Lord Keeper have one power by Stat. anno 5. Eliz. So then you see how and for what he hath his name And though his Authority be highest yet it is given to him by the Law and proceedeth in course of Law not according to conscience but Law That all Justice runs from the Supreme power so by the Chancelour to all Jurisdiction A man complains of wrong or sues for right in Chancery from which Bill of complaint issues a precept commanding the Defendent to appear at a Day So then a man may not be sued before he have a Writ or Breve from the Chancelour a singular regard to the meanest The very Writs of Chancerie are prescribed by Law and a form registred in Chancery and if not accordingly issued out the Judges will reject them called in Law Abating of the Writ His Authority to judge is of two sorts by common Law or Positive Law Potentia Ordinata Processe pleading judgement Potentia Absoluta by Processe according to the Law of Nature viz. to send for the party to answer upon Oath to examine if he will not answer yet the Chancelour cannot condemn him in the cause for obstinacy Potentia Ordinata mispleading on either part may mar the matter and the judgement must be according to Law however the Equity of the case fall out But if the pleading be by Absolute Power though the party misplead if the matter be good the Iudgement must be by equity and not as the pleading be either formal good or bad or as the law will in the case The Question followes whether that conscience whereby the Chancelour be simpliciter and to be simplex conscientia or Regulata Viz. To be ordered by course of Court former Presidents and if no Presidents whether Reason in codem respectu may take cognisance of the cause viz. A rich Father to suffer an honest son to beg or a rich son contrario the Chancelour cannot Hereupon we may conclude that his Authority judicial both Ordinata and Absoluta Potestas are limitted by the Law of the Land For in the Ordinary he is tyed to the strict rule of Law and by the Absolute he is ruled though not by the course of law yet he is to deal per regulatam conscientiam but in any case not to contradict what Law hath allowed But to conclude his Absoluta Potestas by what means he should find out truth Truly it is without limitation only to be referred to his own Gifts and the grace of God that gives Wisdom Sir Francis Bacon succeeded Elsemere Lord Chancelour though a wonder to some so mean a Man to so much preferment he was then Atturney General and as others by that placc and in the usual way of preferment time beyond memory come to high Office of Indicature either there or to other Benches and so did he But his Mis-deeds afterwards turned him out of all and he dyed poor and private See Anno 1621. And as his Genesis of preferment came to the chair of State so the Exodus of the Treasurer Suffolk in his Office brought him to the Star-Chamber and the Glory of the new Chancelour Chair-man there to sit in censure upon him and so to set out himself in his Matchless Eloquence which he did then by Sentence as the Mouth of the Court as all others had done Their abilities affording them several waies and manners in that Court more particular as their Qualities concern them to distinguish So here also the Chief Iustice Cook newly revived from the sad condition of former disgrace for his too narrow inquisition upon the faults and fall of Somerset He now finding the Fate of Court-policy final in this Lord and his malice at Liberty to speak what he list Parrallels this Lords Crimes with other such corrupt Treasurers raking Presidents of all former Predecessors Even from Randolphus de Britton who was sentenced to lose all lands and goods but was restored to him and fined 3000. 1. for misusing K. H. 3. Treasure Such another was Treasurer of Ireland Petrus de Rivallis and of great command also high Chamberlain of England to Edw. 1. his Offences were Bribes of all men poor and rich Religiosis quam de Laicis fined and ransomed So did the Abbot and Moncks at Westminster took out of that Kings Treasury there ad inestimabile Damnum Regis Regni For which these privileged pretenders could not be exempt from Tryal and the Temporalities of the Abby seized for satisfaction till which time of payment they suffered Imprisonment Nay Walter de Langton Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield scapes not Edw. 2. This Treasurer took bribes then though small but a hundred pound of the Earl of Monteallo ut amicus in agendis negotiis versus dominum Regem lets him escape Prison to do his buâ—inesse and given of free Will and ex curialitate sua yet in those dayes it amounted to Extortion But he had Additionalls having indicted Iohn de Eugam of Tresgass for the Mannor of Fisby to which the King had title and imprisoned him and when another Mannor was conveyed to the Bishop for Courtesies done diversas curialitates Eugam was set at liberty but it seems the Bishops plea would not serve his turn That the King would rather punish by Imprisonment than fine And those good times accounted it Bribery Again the Bayliff of Oxford was committed for arrears of one hundred pound in his accompt and the Mannor of Calcat conveyed to the Bishop for satisfaction yet because he was of pure Devotion discharged by the Bishop these cases all three were condemned of Extortion and Bribery and the Bishop soundly paid for it by his purse and imprisonment In Edw. 3. He imprisoned William Lord Latimer with punishment and fine being in Commission to pay off the Kings debts he compounded for eighty per centum and 30. for 40. by which saies the Record he turned it upon the King to be a Bankrupt Compounder So did the Baron Nevil bought the Kings debts of the Army and though he pleaded that they forgave him the Remainder freely yet was he fined Such like as these were brought Examples to raise the Offence of this Lord Treasurer of himself as of high birth so most Noble and without doubt disdaining to commit base crimes but whether the guilt of Sir Iohn Dingly one of the Tellers in Exchequer an intimate Servant to the Secrecies of Suffolks Countess or some necessity to make bold to borrow such sums as his Fabrick Awdle-End had need of Or the vain and monstrous expence heretofore of that family All that could be besides the necessity of Court-Fate cast in his dish was the imbezeling the monies lately paid by the States of the Netherlands for redemption of the cautionary Towns Flushing and Bril and he fined thirty thousand pounds and Dingly two thousand pounds the
Criminal Kings Bench and Star-Chamber The Common-pleas is a Branch of the Kings Bench being first in one Court and after the Common-pleas being extracted it was so called as Pleas of private men The other the Exchequer for the Kings Revenue the principal institution thereof and their chief study and as other things come orderly thither so to administer justice Keep you within compass give me my right of private Prerogative I shall acquiesce as for the Prerogative of the Crown it is not for a Lawyers tongue nor lawful to be disputed It is Atheism to dispute what God can do his revealed Will ought to content us so is it contempt in a subject to dispute what a King can or cannot do the Law is his revealed Will. The Kings Bench is the principal Court for Criminal causes and in some respects it deals with Civil causes The Chancery a Court of Equity and deals likewise in Civil The Dispenser of the Kings Conscience following the intention of Law and Iustice not altering Law nor e converso It exceeds all Courts mixing Mercy with Iustice. Other Courts are onely for Law and where the strictness of Law might undo a subject there the Chancery tempers it with Equity and preserves men from destruction The Chancery is undependent of any other Court only under the King Teste me ipso from which no appeal yet am I bound so to maintain others as this not to suffer wrong My Chancelour that now is I found him Keeper of the Seal the same in substance with the other stile He is witness my warrant was to him to go on according to Presidents in time of best Kings and most learned Chancellours The duty of Iudges is to punish such as deprave the Kings Courts and therfore it was an inept Speech in Westminster-Hall to say that a Praemunire lay against the Court of Chancery yet it should not be boundless the King is to correct it and none else and therefore the King was abused in that attempt and now commands that none presume to sue a praemunire against it As all inundations are conceived Prodigious by Astrologers so overflowings of the banks of Iurisdiction is inconvenient and Prodigious to the State Let there be a concordance and musical accord amongst you keep to your Presidents authentick not controverted but approved by common usage of best Kings and most learned Iudges The Star-Chamber Court hath been shaken of late and last year had received a blow if not prevented by a few voices He descants on the name Star a glorious creature next in place to the Angels the Court glorious in substance compounded of four sorts of persons The first two Privy Counsellors and Judges wisdâ—m of State learning in Law The other two sorts Peers and Bishops to give Greatness and Honour to the Court the other of Learning in Divinity and the interest of the good Government of the Church So divine and humane Laws Experience and practice in Government are conjoined in the proceedings of this Court No Kingdom without a Court of Equity either by it self as in England or mixed in their Office that are Iudges of the Law as in Scotland and here in England where the Law determines not cleerly there the Chancery does having equity which belongs to no other Court punishing Attempts other Courts only facts and where the Law punishes facts lightly as in Riots or Combates the Star Chamber punishes in a higher degree as in Combinations Practises Conspiracies so being instituted for good give it the more honour Keep your Courts in harmony Iudges are Brethren the Courts Sisters the Muses to differ breeds contempt to either and disputes against each other turns pleas from Court to Court in circular Motion Ixions wheel the reason of Multitudes of Prohibitions causes are scourged from Court to Court like Tantalus fruit neer the Suiters Lip never to his Taste a delay of Iustice makes causes endless He tells them how he hath laboured to gather Articles an Index expurgatorius of Novelties crept into the Law look to Plowdens Cases and the old Responsa Prudentum if you find it not there then ab initio non fuit sic away withit To the Auditory he hath but little to say As he hath confirmed his Resolution to maintain his Oath the Law and Iustice of the Land So he expects their duty in observance of the Law and divides their submission into three parts First In general to give due reverence to the Law This general he devides also into three Not to sue but upon just cause Be content with Iudgement to acquiesce as he will do equal with theâ—â—eanest Subject Do not complain and importune the King against Iudgement It is better to maintain an unjust Dâ—cree than to question every judgement after Sentence as you come gaping for Iustice be satisfyed with the Iudgement but in Bribes complain boldly if not true from you expect Lex Talionis to accuse an upright Iudge deserves double punishment Secondly In your Pleas prâ—sume not against the Kings Prerogative or honour if you do the Iudges will punish you if they do not I will them and you Plead not new Puritanical strains to make all things popular keep the antient limits of pleas Thirdly change not your Courts as if to mistrust the justness of your cause but submit where you begin So he sums up all The charge to his Self Iudges and Auditory his excuse why he came not till now why now And because of his custome to deliver a charge to the Iudges of circuits He tells them now also As they are Iudges with him in that Court so Iudges under him and his Substitutes in circuits Itinerant to his people a laudable custome to go to the people in their Counties as they come up to them at Westminster-Hall That you go to punish as to prevent offences charge the Iustices of peace their duties take an accompt of them and report their Services to the King for the King hath two offices 1. To direct 2. To take an accompt from them to his Chancellour in writing and so to him Of these two parts the Nisi prius is profit for them and the other necessary for him therefore as Christ said Hoc agite yet illud non omittite and commends the office of Iustice of peace of high honour and repute They are of two sorts good and bad the good he will reward and prefer being as capable of his favour as any about him whomsoever the farther off in distance of place the more desert and his providence must reach to the end of his limits the good are industrious the bad idle contemplative Iustices are of no use And for the number as many hands make light work so too many make slight work As to the charge he will but repeat what he hath said heretofore Lectio lecta placet decies repetita placebit anent Recusants and Papists my greef when they increase there are three sorts of Recusants The first
such as will not be themselves but their wives and families shall be and they shall appear at Church sometimes inforced by Law or for fashion these are formal to the Law and false to God The second sort are Recusants whose consciences are misled and therefore refuse the Church otherwise peaceable subjects The third are practising Recusants they will force all persons under their power and infect others to be as they are Recusants these are men of Pride and Presumption His opinion can bear with the person of a Papist so born and bred but an apostate Papist hâ— hates such deserve severe punishment He is loth to hang a Priest for Religion and saying Mass but if he refuse the Oath of Allegiance which is meerly Civil he leaves them to the Law against whom it is no persecution but Iustice and the like against those Priests that return from banishment such also as break Prison they can be no Martyrs that refuse to suffer for their conscience Saint Paul would not go forth when the doors were open and Saint Peter came not out till led by the Angell of God Then he concludes with the Ordinary charge against the numbers of Alâ—-houses too frequent buildings in and about London and also the extreme resort of the Gentry to the City bids them countenance the religious Clergy against all Papists and Puritans and God and the King will reward their service Let us remind Scotland It was eight years since the Marquess of Hunâ—lâ—y had been excommunicate upon hopes from time to time of his conformity and reconcilement but increasing insolencies was lately committed and as soon inlarged by the Chancelour underhand favouring too much the Papists The Church complain hereof to the King the Marquess posts to England to palliate his displeasure but a Messenger meets him at Huntington with command to return him home to Justice Yet here he staies until he receives new authority to appear at Court where he humbly submits and offers to communicate But being contrary to the Canons before absolution a great debate followed how to hazard him to the Church of Scotland lest by the way he should recant and indeed the King evermore endeavouring to rectifie his conscience and to recover him to be a Proselyte The adventure was thus pieced the Bishop of Catnes now at Court must consent in the name of the Scots Kirk for the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to absolve him and the Form new devised so to do in respect of the correspondency of that Church with England The Scotish Church hears of this and interprets that Act as an usurpation upon their Rites which the King is fain to excuse in a long Letter to satisfie that curiosity and lest he should seem to take upon him to palliate so great a presumption of himself onely The Arch-bishop also gave his Reasons in writing without intrenching upon the independencies of so free absolute and intire Authority of Scâ—tland And withall Huntley come home must supplicate that Assembly now convened at Aberdene for their confirmation and his submission which was solemnly performed And because it was about the end of the General Assembly we shall shut it up with inserting such Articles as may enlighten the Reader to the knowledg of the Kings elaborate care and wisdom in reducing perverse Jurisdiction to this moderate issue in conformity to the Discipline of the Church of England by which we may conclude the evident signs and hopes of a full recovery in time from their peevish Hierarchy which had been prosecuted in some measure from the very time that this King took Government to himself and brought it before his death to a semblable conformity with England and might so have prospered to perfection had not their and our sins since set a period to us both 1. That for more reverence of the holy Communion the same should be celebrated Kneeling which always had been standing 2. Not to be denied the Patient desperate sick in his Bed with three or four of religious conversation to communicate with him 3. The Sacrament of Baptism not to be longer deferred than the next Sunday after the Birth and in necessity in a private house by the Minister and publication thereof the next Sunday in the Church 4. That the inestimable benefits received from God by our Lord Jesus Christ his Birth Passion Resurrection Ascension and Sending down the Holy Ghost having been commendably remembred at certain days and times by the whole Church of the world every Minister upon these days should therefore commemorate the said benefits upon those set days and to make choice of several pertinent Texts of Scripture to frame his Doctrine and Exhortations thereto And because Confirmation after Baptism stuck in their stomachs and indeed the King was unsatisfied therein terming it a meer Hotch-potch and not clear to his apprehension But yet thus much was concluded That seeing the Act of Confirmation of Children is for their good Education most necessary being reduced to the primitive integrity the Minister shall catechize them after eight years old to rehearse the Lords Prayer the Belief and ten Commandments with Answers to Questions in the small Catechism used in the Church And that the Bishop in their Visitations shall bless them with Prayer for their increase of Grace and continuance of Gods heavenly gifts with them So much was done indeed and presented humbly to his Majesty with some Reasons why the same being novel to them were not as yet inserted with the Canons which the King did not then otherwise press as resolving to effect his desire at his coming personally into that Kingdom when his presence should satisfie with Reasons all scrupulous aversion About this time happened that difference in the Family of Sir Thomas Lake one of the Secretaries of State between his Wife and Daughter and the Countess of Exeter which involved him and his into ruine This Lake was a learned Gentleman brought up under Sir Fr Walsingham that subtil Secretary of State as Amanuensis to him And after good experience of his deserts was recommended to Queen Elizabeth and read to her French and Latine in which Tongues she would say that he surpassed her Secretaries and was so imployed all her time for he was reading as to quiet her spirits when the Countess of Warwick told him that the Queen was departed But not long before she received him Clerk of her Signet And he was chosen by this State in that Place to attend King Iames from Berwick And so sufficient he was that the King made use of his present service in some French dispatches by the way that he came hither which indeed Secretary Cecil had reason to resent as too much trenching on his Office And therefore craveed leave of the King that he might not attend beyond his Moneth to prejudice the other Clerks which was excused and he kept still at Court These sufficiencies of his enabled him in these times of gaining with much repute and
prefer him to a Deanary of Windsor and for better support with the Mastership of the Savoy This vext Count Gondomore the Spanish Lieger who intending to tempt him as the Devil does his creatures with a bosom sin that which they love had intelligence of his innate disposition to avarice with this he tampers afar off and with leave of his Master invites him to turn again from this so mean allowance and take preferment in the Conclave to be Spain's Pensioner there as almost all are with this assurance of the Cardinal's Cap he was cozened into the Court of Inquisition and so to the Gaol where he ended his days with grief and died a Protestant Professor in malice to the Papist or rather of no Religion The late sudden Murther aforesaid of Henry 4. of France left the Sovereignty to Lewis his Son and his minority to be supported by his Mothers Regency and she in miscarriage through too much affection to her Favourite the Marques D' Ancre a mechanical Florentine her Countreyman occasioned the Princes of the Bloud to seek their freedom by force which lasted not long after their several imprisonments for the quarrel rising high and D' Ancre busied abroad they plotted their business by a bold Captain of the Gens d' Arms De Vitry and effected upon Ancre's person with a single Pistol at the instant when he returned to the Pallace the Loure in Paris and his Corps had no other Balm for their Burial than his own bloud being dragg'd about the City by the Peoples rage till the dis-jointed limbs were left for Ravens King Lewis was young and engaged before in his Mothers quarrel but this accident taking fire as the Princes would have it soon won their weak Sovereign on their party and in policy perforce he owned the Action as the most convenient Iustice for quieting the Differences and so the Government taking hold on this occasion turn'd to the other side and had the better of the Queens Faction she being afterwards led up and down the King's Army under oversight as a Prisoner but shew'd to the People as if reconciled to her Son the chief Mover having paid the account upon the execution of his person This for the present which lasted by fits for some years as her Faction took breath untill that excellent Engeneer of State-policy Cardinal Richelieu had put her into a jealousie of her own safety at home and so opened a Gap whereby as in stealth she might get loose out of the Kingdom but Sovereigns leaving their Subjects are seldom sent for again and after much turmoil and tampering with several States and Italian tricks she ended her days very poor in Germany in the City of Collen And Richelieu succesfull in all his policies settled that Nation to his death in their due submission to Sovereignty which broke out afterwards Anno 1652. into like examples of former miseries The blessings of Peace and Plenty enthroning this King resolved him for a leasurely Expedition into Scotland in the opening of the last Spring which was not performed this Summer season partly to make good his promise when he took leave of his native Countrey to give them a Visit after some time of settlement in his new Inheritance And in some policy it was hastened now to be out of the way of address from the Emissaries of the French that unstable State now in the height of diffension whilest King Iames and his Court were thus refreshed from affairs and business here in as much prudence and splendour as the consideration of this Journey was necessary to the Design which our Historian with his Pasquil observations spends in ridiculous Riot But it was indeed by his presence to warm those cold Countreys with the beams of Majesty and with his precepts to warn that rebellious Nation of their feuds by example of their old French friends fresh miseries to settle the spirits of the factious Presbytery in obedience to Episcopal Hierarchy to pass some Bills and Acts of Parliament to regulate the exacting powers of some Officers in trust to give grace to the humble and content to all And forthwith a Proclamation was advised in Scotland and there published of the Kings Solomon like instinct to visit that Kingdom and therein gave them assurance not to alter the Civil and Ecclesiastical Estate but by reforming abuses in Church and Common-wealth and advised them to all accommodations to bid him and his welcome These directions were accompanied with others of State and amongst them for repairing and orderly adorning his Chapel and Officers sent out of England with necessaries and some Portraits and Pictures of the Apostles carved for the Pews and Stalls but the People exclame at such sights That Images were to be set up The Organs were come before and after comes Mass. The King was angry at their ignorance and sent them word to distinguish betwixt Pictures intended for Ornament and Decoration and Images erected for Worship and Adoration Resembling such men to the Constable of Castile who being to swear the Peace concluded with Spain and to be performed in the Kings Chapel where some Anthems were to be sung desired that Gods Name might not be used therein otherwise he would be content with any thing else So the Scots Kirk can endure Dogs Bears and Bulls nay Devils dressings to be figured in Churches but not the Patriarchs nor Apostles He come to Berwick in May and there it was advised to prorogue the Parliament to Iune 13. which gave the King time to progress through the Countrey making his entry in the special Burghs and Towns after the most magnificent manner and welcomed with all the expressions of cost and glory that ever that poor Nation had been put unto that some effects might seem to make good the Scots Rants of their gude Countrey And because it hath been since surmized that nothing was acted there in order to the service of that Nation we shall trouble the Reader with some particulars The King enters their Parliament with Rules for establishing Religion and Iustice and a regard to the Ministers of both for notwithstanding the many years Profession of Reformation numbers of Churches remained unplanted and those that were wanted maintenance advising that Commissioners might regulate a local stipend to each Minister He remembred them of his continual care and pains heretofore and since for placing Iustices and Constables to preserve the Peace and execute Laws which he said had been neglected by some by the small regard shewed unto them from others of higher rank But as he would have them know such Officers to be of honourable esteem so none could deserve better at his hands than those that countenanced them and those others Enemies to the Crown and quiet of the Kingdom That he had long endeavoured to civilize men from their barbarous customs having made some progress by remove of the persons or by extinct of their Feuds and in place
Son with the same Knife cut his own throat The Wife went up to consult with him where in a most strange manner beholding them both in blood wild and agast with the Instrument at hand readily rips up her own belly till the Guts tumbled out The Daughter doubting the delay of their absence searches for them all whom she found out too soon with the sad sight of this scene and being overcome with horrour and amaze of this Deluge of Destruction she sanck down and dyed the fatal end of that family The truth of which was frequently known and stew to Court in this Guise but the imprinted Relation conceals their Names in favour to some Neighbour of Repute and Kin to that Family The same sense makes me therein silent also We have heretofore observed the Constitution of the Dutch Netherlands in favour of Vorstius and his Heresies preferred at Leyden 1611. where he had a way of Wit and cunning to work into the peoples dullness led on by countenance of sundry the powerful Ministers of the Provincial States that now his Tenents were preached for Orthodox and believed as Gospel being mixed with those of Arminius whose repute following his death Vorstius took up and for the Masters sake were nick-named Arminianism then of a dozen years growth infecting the Reformed Churches almost in each Countrey published in print or fetcht from thence by taint of young Studients King Iames took care to prevent both by burning the One if they came hether and forbidding the Other not to go thether Peace and Plenty with them bred up these Schisms into as many factions the old way to work designs and changes in State both of the Gown and of the Sword The one mightily mastered by the wisdom of Barnevelt the other commanded by the power of the Prince of Orange This Barnevelt was worthily descended and well-bred his travels abroad and Counsels at home which his great age 70 years gave time to ripen for excellent advice in the Magistracy and Council in the Army improved by five Embassies abroad and thirty two Leaguers at home And it is counsel to some whether conscience or ambition over-ruled his last actions but he made himself Head of a Faction which got the name of Arminians a common custom with Opposers to colour their own designs by laying infamy or at least scandal upon their Adversaries and this did the Prince do to destroy Barnevelt for envy and fear The other finding the pulse of the people to beat in a high feaver of that disease was forced for the present to tack on that side where he was sure to have hearts and hands to keep him up in a desperate state otherwise to be overwhelmed in the deluge of Destruction Thus in some condition to balance the Prince with assistance of several the Provincial States of his opinion and jealousie that if the power of the Prince Generalissimo of their Armies were not limitted his greatness would ere long increase without coutroul And therefore by way of Counsel for pretended good of the Common-wealth they did Confederate to leavy new companies far from view or suspition of the Prince whom Barnevelt kept close to business of the publick Council with the States General And so was it not discovered untill Midsomer But then perfectly understood The Prince in secret with his Kinsman Count Ernest and the best of his Confidents leaves the Court at Hague gives Intelligence of his Design to Collonel Ogle Commander of the Garrison at Utrecht the place of the others greatest strength who on the sudden receives them in surprize the Town and that State in close Council And at hand had the Garrisons of Arnhem and others to master that part and so other places of force whom he suspected had favour with Barnevelts faction The snccess of this sudden expedition gave such authority to the Prince that being returned in Martial manner he seized Barnevelt Grotius Hogenbert and other Confederates at Hague and committed them to prison upon pretence of Treason his power with the Army and interest with the States might do this and more Not long after Lydenburgh Governour of Utrecht imprisoned stabs himself to the death with his Trencher-knife being assured that no innocency would prevail against force and malice Yet Hogenbert and Grotius had sentence of miserable mercy in perpetual imprisonment the last of them got loose being conveyed out in a Chest which his beloved wife plotted for his escape Barnevelt had friends with the State and a strong faction with the people and though his Sentence pronounced him to the Scaffold yet it lasted a long Dispute ere they brought him to the Block which was not effected till May the next year His Sentence indeed made his Crimes capital as Author and Accessary of all former distempers in State sum'd up to the height and sufficient to hang a thousand The multitude of Believers begin to murmur to appease them and prevent muteny a National Synod was held at Dort accompanied with sundry able Divines of several Reformed Churches King Iames in principal sent thither Doctor George Carlton Bishop of Landaff Doctor Ioseph Hall then Dean of Worcester Doctor Iohn Davenport Professor Regius in the University of Cambridge and Master of Queens College there Doctor Samuel Ward Regent of Sidney College in Cambridge and Doctor Balcanqual a Scotish man in particular to give honour to that Nation But in truth and in esteem they were all of them and so other Foreign Divines of this Assembly men of incomparable Learning in the Mystery of Religion but where appeared no Opponents the Dispute found the less Difficulty and their Conclusions for the present silenced the Pulpits Yet private men took pains to search the Distinction And as Opinion the rule of Conscience binds every one so from thence and since Arminianism hath its increase The Divines of England not being obliged to their opinions at Dort For first This Synod was Foreign and National and therefore as a Synod could not bind us in England unlesse it had been ratified and imposed by Publique Authority here at Home Secondly It was not an Episcopall Synod neither was any Bishop President of it or actor in it quatenus Episcopus and therfore it was rather an Assembly of ptivate Divines than an Ecclesiastical Synod according to the rules of antient Ecclesiastical Discipline Thirdly Our Divines concur not absolutely in Judgement with the Netherlands in all their Synodical Conclusions For concerning that Article of Redemption they write pag. 204. De mortis Christi pretiocissimo merito it a Statuimus ut nec primitivae c. The reverend Divines of Great Britain in these words deliver four things 1. That they accord with the primitive Church touching the Article of Universal Redemption 2. That the promises of the Gospel ought to be proposed universally to all men 3. That whatsoever is offered or promised in the name of Christ to any person in the Church is
forth to see it saying Jacta est alea The Die is cast in Gods providence not in Signes to be blasted with such beames which had a ground in Nature but no warrant in Scripture to portend Mishap to States and Princes But that which is most observable to me is this The Scripture which relates remarkable things mentioneth not one Comet Blazing Star nor Ecclipse but that miraculous Star at Christs birth though no doubt many such happened in that space of three thousand five hundred years but takes notice of other natural events less considerable and yet from the other we infer changes of Empires nay Church and Religion The Prophets never foretold of any Meteors as not troubling their writings with what could be foreseen by humane or natural means For though Agabus Acts 11. 18. foretold the Universal Famine twelve years after in the time of Claudius Ceasar yet he speaks not of the Ecclipse that fell then for that might be foreseen of a natural cause and was foretold by Astrologers but not the famine which could not be inferred by Eclipse nor by any Comet to presage evil We grant natural virtues which reside in the Stars besides enlightning for they were created four daies after the light to warm and give vigor and life and such good things And indeed those natural signs are rather marks of Gods favour than anger Stars do submission to Man unhappy to none but such as believe them fatal and unlucky Naturale est magis nova quam magna mirari And that Comet at Christs birth was Nero's death Cometes summe bonus aparuit qui praenuntius fuit mortis magni illius Tyranni pestilentissimi hominis saies Tacitus False Predictions prove true to them that fear them that is our superstition The other extreme is Epicurism which admireth not Gods works at all Continual custome without some change in natural things becomes less regardful God scatters intermixtures to force man to admire The sacred Chronology shews Gods admirable measures in the dispensations of time more worthy than in the speculation of Astrologers Nay even in humane History more wise than such Predictions for certainly a good Historian deserves better than a bad Prophet After the appearance of this Comet the same year died Q. Anne A lingring sickness and fulness of humours brought her to a dropsie and for recovery she for some years before frequented the Bath with continual Physick But the disease come to the height she took leave of this life at Hampton Court Her Corps brought from thence to Somerset House part of her Jointure and at her proper charge lately rebuilt and beautifyed to this lustre it appears now and by her desire called Denmark house from the name of that Kingdom whence she had her Birth And not long after with sumptuous obâ—equies she was intombed at Westminster Abby in the chapel of Hen. 7. ordained for Royal Interments A good Lady she was and Sister to the King of Denmark fetcht from thence by King Iames with great affection to her person and being a Stranger to these Kingdoms with Providence designed for her future fortune she medâ—ed the less in Matters of State A matchless pair drawing evenly in all courses of honour and both blessed with fair issue because never loose from eithers Bed abating that blemish basely abusing her excellent virtue for loving my Lord of Pembroke a crime as false as odious in the Author who yet concludes her character a monument of virtue I may not leave the Reader at random in the affairs of the Kirk of Scotland How they boggled with the King when he was lost there and so left them incorrigible never intending to hazard his honour any more by granting General Assemblies But he come home unsatisfyed then and after with their Synods had sharply reproved them by Letters which they excuse till one Assembly more might make tryal of their allegeance The King gratious to be reconciled adventures to grant them another General Assembly to be held at Perth August 25. But enters upon them with this caution That the affront offered his Royal self in the late meeting at Saint Andrews gave him just reason to resolve never to grant any more General Assemblies concerning the Churches policy what he hastily desired and what they did was to do him injury He is yet over intreated by their Bishops to permit a new Convocation who are now convened for the self same business as before Advising the Bishops not to admit the wonted ignorant and unruly multitude to overpower the more judicious He having placed them overseers of the rest in the chiefest Rooms He dislikes not the advice of the whole and the greater the consent the better his content But matters of this nature the Articles may yet be enjoined without them by his own authority as an innate power by his calling from God Perswade them they may to induce them by discretion in their duty to Him wherein he will not be delayed nor satisfied with their shifts from their simple acceptation of those Articles sent unto them the necessity whereof had better becomed them all to beg of him than he to propone the practice upon them What and how many abuses were offered to him by the Ministers before he came to the Crown of England can hardly be forgot nor likes he much to remember sufficient by their disobedience to have separated his affection from them His patience for Gods cause forgiving and forgetting foul faults endeavouring to force from them better effects of his best purposes He wishes that he be no more provoked nor the truth of God which they profess any longer shadowed under the Cloke of some of their seeming Saintlike holiness shaking hands and joining hearts with such persons as by their tenents against Majestracy uphold Popery In sum he craves God to witness on his part and let the World now at last see their dutyful obedience to their dread Soveraign that so his care of their good may meet with zeal and affections in them inferiour to no subjects of any Sovereign and the glory of God and peace to his Church which is his earnest prayer for them all unto whom he now and evermore commends them James Rex July 1618. We say not how much these might deserve from men holy minded nor what tedious and weak Arguments were reasoned which needed such a defence as was fain to be published in answer to a Pamphlet set out against them But truly shame of their trifling and fear to offend produced these effects from which yet in aftertime they fled That seeing the memory of all by-past superstitious and idolatrous worship of the sacraments by Papists is long since abolished Therefore in reverence of God and due regard of so Divine a Mystery and in remembrance of so mystical an Union they think good That the sacrament be celebrated hereafter meekly and reverently upon their knees If any Christian visited
years before had adopted Ferdinand his Uncles Son his Successour but not to meddle with Sovereignty of a King whilest Matthias lived however Ferdinand thus far set forward himself makes way to the Dignity of Boheme and to prevent discovery from the incorporate Confederate Provinces who have Voices in the Election he calls a Parliament forthwith onely of the States of Boheme with express denunciation that in the Assembly nothing should be consulted but the choice of a new King The Electoral Provinces nor their Deputies nor Ambassadours not being present the Assembly was not legal The best of the States of Boheme therefore refuse to appear against whom was denounced such threats as frightened them with hazard of their Heads and so was procured a pretended Election for the present and his Coronation assented by the main party Catholicks The Crowning Kings in the life of another was of late a sure policy to unite those Kingdoms in the Austrian Family contrary to the ancient custom of free Elections which now neithâ—r State durst oppose To this end therefore and to suppress all future free Elections the Paladium of the Kingdom Ferdinand secretly compacts with the King of Spain without consent of the States and before his Election or pretence to any interest That the King of Spain his Posterity and Heirs for want of Issue male of his Fathers Austrian Line should succeed him in that Kingdom contrary to the established Rules of Politicians that no elected King hath power to alienate without consent of the States this succession exposed them to the loss of all and Religion also and enabled him to enfeoff strangers into each Province and into the inheritances of those Royally descended high-born illustrious Families and by which as was then suspected and since came to pass he should easily seize the Dignity of the Crown Imperial and so abolish the foundation of the Golden Bull and Form of Empire This while the aged Emperour keeps Court at Vienna King Ferdinand at Gref in Steria the Government of Boheme continues in such Counsellours as Matthias left there chosen Ministers Catholick who with the Arch-bishop of Prague endeavour to suppress the Protestants The States Protestants assemble themselves to redress these injuries backt with some Forces which they brought with them and were opposed by the Emperour's Faction whom they over-mastered and flung his chief Justice Slabala his Secretary Fabritius and others out of a Window of the Castle down into the Court and being done in choller excused by Apology to the Emperour But on they go raise force and banish the Iesuit and others of that Faction whom they load with Complaints The Emperour as forward commits the command of two Armies unto Count Buquoy and Dampiere The Protestants counter-force with two Bodies severally under the Prince of Anholt and under Count Thorn and Mansfeilt skirmishing with different effects Some Princes King Iames and others interpose Mediations and Ferdinand complains of the Bohemians obstinacy They remonstrate former undue Elections and allege That between a conditional King and his Subjects there are reciprocal obligations the one Obedientia the other Promissa That he received the Scepter of the States with thankfull remuneration and royal grace to all to satisfie the desire of every one and to deserve their love and swears not to meddle with Government whilest Matthias lives Notwithstanding he maintains the Wars of others against the Bohemians Moravians and Silecians and raised Terra Maria against the Bahemians sent for his own Army out of Steria and pronounced the Protestant States of Boheme Traitors and Rebells and declared himself Enemy to them all That he banished the old President Cesal directs all Councils corrects the Decisians and Decrees Imperial disposes the actions of Buquoy as King and Lord of all and dis-inclines all means of Peace with Ambassadours of all Provinces who met at Prague carefully consulting to recover Peace That conditional elective Kings receive their royal Authority upon Oaths their Sovereign power Ex pacto non ex jure from the Subjects by concessions upon Covenant not by succession nor descent as other Kings who are so before they swear to their Subjects and do swear because they are Kings but are not Kings because they swear the one born a Prince without his Subjects the other made and given to be a King The Oath of Elective Kings is Et si quod absit in aliquibus Iuramentum meum violavero Nullam mihi incole Regni omniumque dominiorum unius cujusque gentis obedientiam praestare delebant And the Chancellour usually tells them Quandoquidem viderunt Ordines Majestatem regiam pactis conventis stare nolle non debere ait ipsius Majestatem in malam partem interpetari si Ordines obedientiam ipsius Majestate renuncient These things thus a doing the old Emperour dies and Ferdinand now King of Hungary and Boheme and adopted Heir of the Empire meets at Franckford by Summons with the three Electors Menâ—z Collen and Trevours the other three Silecia Moravia and Lusatia failing in their persons sent their Representatives only and so the Council chose him King of Romans which the State of Bohemia disclaim and of his being Elector as King of Bohemia he never actually possessing the Crown Their disâ—entions could not lessen his Election to the Empire yet they swore never to receive him their King King Iames much troubled at these interruptions of Germany took himself to be much conceâ—ned in the hazard of the Protestant party and the peace and danger of the Reformed Church and therefore sent Hay Viscount Doncaster Ambassadour extraordinary to mediate with the Emperour and Bohemians but to little purpose The Emperour by means avoiding to receive him knowing his errand being to paliate what was grown too high for his Reconciliation and removed his Gests when Doncaster came but neer him so whilest King Iames hunted at New Market his Ambassadour coursed the Hare in Germany but his business through the crudity and raw initiation took not the effect Ferdinand fearing the Success of Ingagements insinuates with the Germain Princes and had possessed the Duke of Bavaria and others The poor Bohemians in this strait and finding K. Iames an Inteâ—cessor thought it policy to bring him into the List for having published their Declarations and Reasons pronounced the Election of Ferdinand to be invalid and nul and the States of that Kingdom and other Provinces Elect by this Title The most Gracious and the most Mighty Prince Lord Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine and King of Bohemia In the mean time King Iames consults with his Council diversly affected to this Design of taking or refusing Amongst them see what our Abbotâ—ends â—ends to Secretary Nauton not being able to come to Council Good master Secretary I have never more desired to be present at any Consultation c. My humble advice is That there is no going back but a countenancing of it
the Rhine by conduct of Prince Henry of Nassaw with two thousand horse and four hundred Musqueteers But ere they came there our raw English droop'd with eating honey and lost not the Nick-name for some years after Ninety four with Tents Truncks and Luggage were left at Bac-rack and they and the Town lost to Spinola by former example of all other that had stood in his way and with no more pains than his sudden summons And had done so to all the English if his Design to snap them had not miscarried by the boisterous stream of the Rhine which wet his Waggons of Ammunition and some of his Field-pieces disordered and so escaped they to Franckford the 24. of September Then to Darmstat a Town of Bohemia and to Hessen where Prince Henry and the Dutch take leave of the English and return home to Holland And here they joyn with fifteen hundred horse of the Princes of the Union and march to Reinshem the nether Town of the Palatinate and the third of October joyn with the Army four thousand Horse and six thousand Foot Spinola at hand frightned them with a charge but night afforded no light to sight the next day to quarters for a Week where the new Wine in the Must grapes and fruits brought crudities upon their weak stomacks till Spinola led them a Dance for Digestion as far as Keysers-Luther and the weather cold the Nights long disposed their necessities to several Garrisons and the Forces of the Reformed Princes cooped up to their several places whilest the Enemy carved to himself of the whole Countrey the good English went thither to fight and so came home again In this mean time the two Generals encounter Anholt for Bohemia had the better and scattered Bucquoys main Body this was in the Spring But in Autumn it fell out otherwise for whiiest Spinola and the Princes were hunting each other on the Hills the Duke of Bavaria joyns with Bucquoy and Tilly. Anholt and Mansfield got between them and Prague but the Enemy breaks through and routs the other into confusion and flight Anholt and Holloch the first that â—led to the King of Bohemia at Prague and the next morning the ninth of November they all fly for succour the King and Queen with both our Ambassadours Weston and Conway as far as Limburgh in their way to the Netherlands and the Ambassadours by safe conduct returned back to Bohemia where the conquering business took up more time than to spend with leasurely disputes and so they came home again The next Spring the Princes of the Union submit to the Emperour so does Anholt who is received into favour and made one of his Generals Mansfield not so capable and being put to his shifts doubles his brave Spirit with the necessity of his Fortune hurrying several Countries with Forces of fourteen thousand men for almost two years after till he constrained them to offer him peace which he accepts Whilest King Iames sends to the Emperour by Ambassy of Sir Henry Wootten a Man fitted for Negotiation by his often imployments to Several States and Princes and thus qualified he hath his Commission passes by the Duke of Lovain in transitu for I find not he had any Credentials to him onely confers the Kings Christian intents as one cumbred with the sad events of the Germane Troubles on this side and the French intents on the other and so not improper for the King to study the passages of both And out of his particular Commission to others he frames general Agruments to him of the Kings innocency in the beginning of the Bohemian business and his impartiality ever since and so rendered his Master the first Mediator therein being tyed in the conscience of a Christian King to prosecute the same and in it peace to all The Duke a cunning and subtile Prince told him that the Princes of the Union would assure him how his affections were in the cause more he could not get out of him His next was to the Arch-Duke Leopold of the Austrian family to him he had Letters and tells him That King Iames was cleer of all foreknowledge or counsells in the business of Bohemia and also of the Pdlsgraves preceding practice till it was laid upon him That his Master continued equal to both parties and was troubled that there should be so great preparations for invading the Nether Palatinate being the Patrimony of the Kings Descendants no way commixt with the affairs of Bohemia Perswades the Arch-Duke as a Personage of power to keep those that were in action from such precipitation as might preclude all mediation of accord He was answered with the Arch-Dukes protestation That he believes the Kings cleernes but of the Palsgrave he much doubts accusing him of practice with the Bohemians at the Emperours Election at Franckford and more foully said he to introduce the Turk into Hungary And conceived the Marquess Spinola might have some aim upon the Lower Palatinate assured the Emperours inclination to accord but never without restitution of the usurped Kingdom a loss not of easy concoction especially by the Palatine his subject And excused the Emperours levies for that there were likewise some English forces designed towards that place out of England which was no fair way if King Iames intended a Treaty It was replyed by Wootton That true it was the Kings people and some of the Nobility had taken Alarm upon a voice of that Invasion and voluntarily meant to sacrifice themselves in that action but without the Kings concurrence of mony or command And being ask he answered he had no particular form of Accord to propose to the Emperour for the King thought it necessary to dispose the affections on both sides and so collect some measure of agreement without spending the honour of the King in vain Treaties Then to the Community of Strasburgh and Ulme who professed themselves in Newtrality for it might be uncivil they said to offer their Counsels where such Kings imploy their Wisdomes and Authority they would only contribute their prayers The Duke of Wittenburgh made large professions towards thâ— King of Bohemia as he called the Palatine of whose cleerness from practice he could vindicate for visiting him presently upon his Election he found him perplexed even to tears for to accept of the Kingdom he was lyable to suspition as to ambition and if he refused he feared the people would call in more then Christian aid to the effusion of much bloud And professed that no Prince of the Empire should exceed his affection to defend the Palatinate with all his power by bond of consederacy and reason of State lest any Stranger should neighbour him He had likewise Commission to the Duke of Bavaria whom he found in actual arms about Lintz in the Upper Austria and the Emperour at Vienna with no success in those Messages Yet still King Iames hoping that time it self and
but Thomas his son was by H. 8. created Earl Marshal of England Afterwards was Seymer by Edward the sixth created Duke of Somerset and Earl Marshal of England And after him came the Grand-child of Thomas Mowbray and was by Q. Mary created Earl Marshal of England Then Robert Devereux Earl of Essex made Marshal of England by Q. Elizabeth And now this Thomas Howard Earl of Arundel and the last Earl Marshall of England But in time this Patent was divided which his greatness intended to swallow up whole And because we have done with the Keeper and his Office we will take our leave of him with this Character which here follows His Acts of Piety to the ragged and ruinous Church of Westminster new clothing warm and dry adorned with the Statues and Structures of the antient English Saints and in truth and merit set up his Master King Iames amongst them And though he sucked not the Milk of Oxford University yet he founded a decent compleat Chappel to Lincoln College there and erected the Library at Westminster as also that Eminent Structure the Library of St. Iohns at Cambridge where he had been Master for many years He had a large heart to men of learning and Arts and though his Stately gait at a blush might present him to appear proud to the common Man yet abating the nature of his Birth-place a Welch man he was not so to conversation for he made himself more familiar at the College School at Westminster than at Court not leaving that society and Mr. Osbastons Company for the consort of Courtiers at Whitehall His bounty like that of Caesar who gave gifts like a King even to mean Beggars witness a hundred pound gratuity to Monsieur du Molin a Minister of France to welcom him hither when in the Judgement of his Chaplain 20 l. had been sufficient His blaze at Court lasted out this King which by quarreling with Lawd the Arch-bishop afterwards retired him to Bugden where he lived the most Episcopal of any Priests his Predecessours how he fell from that and other waies after from worse to worst of all evil example being no rule to a Prelates conscience we leave him dead to his last account the time of Gods grace and mercy 1652. Amongst the factious party of this Parliament were a knot of discontents well mingled for Mutiny highâ—born Ambitious-bold to bear out any complottings which Subtilty suggested and Hypocrisie dissembled and got in also the plain meaning man and altogether to supplant Order of Church and State Other Characters would be counterfeit a Halter take him that would mistake them a fitter line for his long story Indeed to busie these had been junto of them of whose disposition the King was justly sensible and therefore thought fit to separate their contrivings and by proroguing the Parliament the 4. of Iune till Novem. 20. sent them home during his Summers Progress and this he did sudainly to see what they would do which as he suspected came forth in Declaration thus The Commons fair Declaration to assist the King to recover the Palatinate THE Commons assembled in Parliament taking into most serious consideration the present State of the Kings children abroad and generally afflicted estate of the true Professors of the same Christian Religion professed by the Church of England in foreign parts and being truly touched with a true sense and fellow-feeling of their distresses as members of the same body do with an unanimous consent in the name of themselves and the whole Body of the Kingdom whom they represent declare unto his most excellent Majesty and to the whole world their hearty grief and sorrow for the same and do not only join with them in their humble and dâ—vout prayers unto Almighty God to protect his true Church and to avert the dangers now threatned but also with one heart and voice do solemnly protest That if his Majestyes pious endeavours by Treaty to procure their peace and safety shall not take that good effect which is desired in Treaty wherein they humbly beseech his Majesty not to suffer any longer delay that then upon signification of his Majesties pleasure in Parliament they shall be ready to the utmost of their powers both with their Lives and Fortunes to assist him so as that by the Divine help of Almighty God which is never wanting unto those who in his fear shall undertake the Defence of his Cause he may be able to do that with his Sword which by a peaceable course shall not be effected This is well said and the King put them to Tryal sor assistance in money the sinews to help on the Treaty first and for settlement of the future effects by the Sword in case the other failed And sundry overtures and propositions amongst themselves somewhat resolving then again declined and as with the houses the like between the King and them that nothing was concluded in pursuite of their fair promises and specious pretences and so they part home to their Houses and the King to his hunting And in Autumn returns to Hampton Court where meets him Digby come home from his Ambassy with Answers dilatory and doubtful and therefore commands him to declare the particulars to the Parliament which was now set from his last Recess He tells them That his Majesty commanded him to account to them his Negotiations with the Emperour who upon advantage of fortune in the success of Bohemia hath invaded the iâ—heritance of his Son the Palatine That he was directed to treat of Peace which he seemed to incline to but the Dyet in Germany being deferred they both suffered the delay by depending on it and the Princes in the end Restitution was promised of the Palatinate which was only granted by Commission to the Duke of Bavaria until it should be otherwise settled by Peace or War That the Emperours Letters addressed him to the Duke wishing his tractable condescent to terms of peace upon which occasion he urged that he had authority from the Palatine to cause Count Mansfield to desist from War and the like from the King to Sir Horace Vere That the Duke answered He had becalmed Mansfield with money who being at quiet his peace was made To which scornful reply something he saies was answered and so departed to the Infanta at Bruxels who seemed to understand by the Emperours Letters his preparations rather for War than Peace and would give no direct answer till she heard from the King of Spain who he confesses stood at this tâ—me cleerly a Newter yet is he now prepared with five great Armies in motion which will not misbecome the Wisdome of State to fear the worst and therefore for the Kingshonour and his Sons right he presumes they will contribute not only aid to the present support but supply to invest his Son into his Inheritance But this nor what else could be said by others the true Ministers and Patriots of State could work ought out of the
the Lawyers in the House to make a good Commentary upon it For so did the Puritan Ministers in Scotland bring all kind of Causes within compass of their jurisâ—iction saying that it was the Churches Office to judge of slander and there could no crime or fault be committed but there was a slander in it either against God their King or their Neighbour and by that means they looked into themselves the cognizance of all Causes or like Bellarmines Distinction of the Popes power over Kings in ordine ad spiritualia whereby he gives him all Temporall Jurisdiction over them But to give you a direct answer to the matters of War for which you are so earnest We confesse we rather expected you should have given us thanks for the so long maintaining a settled Peace in all our Dominions when as all our Neighbours about are in miserable combustion of War but dulce bellum inexpertis and we indeed find by experience that a number of our Subjects are so pampered with Peace as they are desirous of change though they know not what It is true that we have professed and in that mind with Gods grace we will both live and die that we will labour by all means possible either by Treaty or force to restore our Children to their antient dignity and Inheritance and whatsoever Christian Princes and Potentates will set themselves against it we will not spare any lawful means to bring ouâ— so just and honourable purpose to a good end Neither shall the Match of our Son or any other worldly respects be preferred to this our Resolution For by our credit and intervention with the King of Spain and the Arch-Dutchess and her Husband now with God we preserved the Lower Palatinate one whole year from any further conquering in it which in any eight dayes space in that time might have easily been swallowed up by Spinola's Army without any resistance and in no better case was it now at our Ambassadour the Lord Digby's coming through Heidleburgh if we had not extraordinarily succoured it But because we conceive that ye couple this War of the Palatinate with the cause of Religion we must a little unfold your eyes herein The beginning of this miserable War which hath set all Christendome on fire was not for Religion but only caused by Our Son in law his hasty and rash Resolution following evil Counsel to take to himself the Crown of Bohemia and that this is true himself wrote Letters to Us at that time desiring Us to give assurance both to the French King and to the State of Venice that his accepting of the Crown of Bohemia had no reference to the cause of Religion but only by reason of his right of Election as he called it And we would be sorry that that aspersion should come upon our Religion as to make it a good pretext for disthroning of Kings and usurping their Crowns And we would be loath that our people here should be taught that doctrine No let Us not so far wrong the Jesuits as to rob them of their sweet Positions and practice in this point And upon the other part we assure our selves so far of your charitable thoughts of us that we would never have constantly denyed our Son in Law both the title and assistance in that point if we had been well-perswaded of the justice of his quarrel But to conclude this unjust usurpation of the Crown of Bohemia and Hungaria from the Emperour hath given the Pope and all that party too fair a ground and opened them too wide a Gate for curbing and oppressing of many thousands of our Religion in divers parts of Christendom And whereas you excuse your touching upon the King of Spain upon occasion of the incidents by you repeated in that place and yet affirm it is without any touch to his Honor. We cannot wonder enough that ye are so forgetful both of your words and writs for in your former Petition you plainly affirm that he affects the Temporal Monarchy of the whole Earth then which there can be no more malice uttered against any great King to make all other Princes and Potentates both envy and hate him But if you list it may be easily tryed whether that speech touched him in honour or not if we shall ask him the question Whether he means to assume to himself that Title or no For every King can best judge of his own Honour we omit the particular Ejaculations of some foul-mouthed Oratours in the House against the honour of his Crown and State And touching your excuse of not determining any thing concerning the Match of our dearest Son but only to tell your opinion and lay it down at our feet First we desire to know how you could have presumed to determine in that point without committing of High Treason And next you cannot deny but your talking of his Match after that manner was a direct breach of our Commandment and Declaration out of our own Mouth at the first sitting down of this Parliament where we plainly professed that we were in Treaty of his Match with Spain and wished you to have that confidence in our Religion and Wisdom that we would so mannage it as our Religion should receivt no prejudice by it And the same we now repeat unto you professing that we are so far ingaged in that Match as we cannot in honour go back except the King of Spain perform not such things as we expect at his hands and therefore we are sorry that ye should shew to have so great distrust in us or to conceive that we should be cold in our Religion otherwise we cannot imagine how our former Publick Declaration should not have stopped your Mouths in this point And as to your Request that we would now receive your former Petition We wonder what could make you presume that we would not receive it whereas in our former letter we plainly declared the contrary unto you and therefore we have justly rejected that suit of yours For what have you left un-attempted in the highest points of Sovereignty in that petition of yours except the striking of Coin for it contains the violation of Leagues the particular way how to govern a War and the Mariage of our dearest Son both Negative with Spain nay with any Popish Princess and also Affirmatively as to the matching with one of our Religion which we confess is a strain beyond any Providence or Wisdom God hath given to us as things now stand These are unfit things to be handled in Parliament except your King should require it of you For who can have wisdome to judge of things of that nature but such as are dayly acquainted with the particulars of Treaties and of the variable or fixed connexion of Affairs of State together with the knowledge of the secret ways ends and intentions of Princes in their several Negotiations otherwise a small mistaking in matters of this Nature may produce more effects than can
be imagined And therefore Ne sutor ultra crepidam And besides the intermeddling in Parliament with matter of Peace or War and mariage of our dearest Son would be such a Diminution tâ— us and to our Crown in Foreign Coâ—ntreys as would make any Prince neglect to treat with us either in matters of Peace or Marriage except they might be assured by the assent of Parliament And so it proved long ago with a King of France who upon a trick procuring his States to dissenâ— from some Treaty which before he had made was afterwards refused Treating with any other Princes to his great reproach unless he would first procure Assent of his States to their Proposition And will you cast your eyes upoâ— the late times you shall find that the late Queen of famous memory was humbly petitioned by a Parliament to be pleased to marry but her answer was that she liked their Petition well because it was simple not limitting her to any place or person as not befitting her liking to their fancies and if they had done otherwise she should have thought it a high presumption in them Judge then what we may do in such a case having made our publick Declaration already as we said before directly contrary to that which you have now petitioned Now to the point in your Petition whereof you desire an answer as properly belonging to the Parliament The first and greatest point is that Religion concerning which at this time we can give you no other answer then in the General which is that you may rest secure that we will never be weary to do all we can for propagation of our Religion and repressing Popery But the manner and form ye must remit to our care and providence who can best consider of times and Seasons not by undertaking a publicb War of Religion through all the World at once which how hard and dangerous a Task it may prove ye may judge But this puts Us in mind how all the World complained the last year of plenty of Corn and God hath sent us a cooling card this year for that heat And so we pray God that this desire amongst you of kindling war shewing your weariness of peace and plenty may not makâ— God permit us to fall into the Miseries of both But as we already said our care of Religion must be such as on the one part we must not by the hot persecution of Our Recusants at home irritate Foreign Princes of contrary Religion and teach them the way to plague Protestants in their Dominions with whom we dayly intercede and at this time principally to ease them of our profession that live under them Yet upon the other part we never mean to spare from due and severe punishing of any Papist that will grow insolent for living under our so mild Government And ye may also be assured we will leave no care untaken as well for the good Education of the youth at home especially the children of Papists as also for preserving at all times hereafter the youth that are or shall be abroad from being bred in dangerous places and so poisoned in Popish Seminaries And as in this point concerning the good education of Popish youth at home we have already given some good proofs both in this Kingdome and Ireland so will we be well pleased to pass any good laws that shall be made either now or any time hereafter to that purpose And as to your request of making this a Session and granting a general Pardon it shall be in your defaults if we make not this a Session before Christmass But for the Pardon you crave such particulars in it as we must be well advised upon least otherwise we give you back the double or treble we are to receive by your entire Subsidie without Fifteens But the ordinary course we hold fittest to be used still in this case is that we should of our Free Grace send you down a Pardon from the Higher House containing such points as we shall think fittest wherein we hope you shall receive good satisfaction But we cannot omit to shew you how strange we think it that you should make so bad and unjust a Commentary upon some words of our former Letter as if we meant to restrain you thereby of your antient Liberties and Privileges in Parliament Truly a Scholar would be ashamed so to mistake and misjudge any Sentences in another mans book For whereas in the end of our former Letter we discharge you to meddle in matters of Government and Mysteâ—ies of State namely matters of War or Peace or our dearest Sons match with Spain by which particular denominations we interprete and restrain our former Words And then after we forbid you to meddle with such things that have their ordinary course in Courts of Iustice yet couple together these two sentences and plainly leave out these words of Mysteries of State so as ye erre a bene divisis ad male conjuncta for of the former part concerning Mysteries of State we plainly restrain our meaning to the particulars that were after mentioned and in the later we confess we meant it by Sir Edward Cooks foolish business And therefore it had well becomed him especially being our Servant and one of Our Council to have complained unto us which he never did though he was ordinarily at Court since and never had access refused unto him And although we cannot allow of the stile calling it your antient and undoubted Right and Inheritance but could rather have wished that ye had said That your privileges were derived from the Grace and permission of Our Ancesters and Us for most of them grow from Presidents which shews rather a Toleration than Inheritance yet we are pleased to give you Our Royal assurance that as long as you shall contain your selves within the Limits of your duty we will be as careful to maintain and preserve your lawful Liberties and Privileges as ever any of our Predecessours were nay as to preserve our own Royall Prerogative So your House had only need to beware to trench upon the Prerogative of the Crown which inforce Us or any just King to retrench them of their Privileges that would pare his Prerogative and flowers of the Crown But of this we hope there shall be never cause given New-Market 11. December 1621. Iames Rex This Answer on Tuesday returned to the House on Fryday following raises a storm amongst them all to talk freely their privileges now violated denied infringed and therefore committed the particulars to examinatiod So that the more moderate amongst them in some doubt and discontent how to mannage it for reconcilement which caused an Explanation from the King directed to his Secretary Calvert from Royston in his return homewards To Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellour Sir George Calvert one of our principal Secretaries Right Trusty c. VVE are sorry that our reiterated Messages to our House of Commons to go on they
ensuing we minding not to continue it any longer have thought fit to signifie our Resolutions with these reasons willing and requiring the Prelates Noble men and States as also the Knights Citizens and Burgesses and others c. to forbear to attend on the said day prefixed and that the said Convention of Parliament shall not be esteemed any Session of Parliament And that we shall be glad to take hold of any good occasion which we hope shall not be long to call and assemble a Parliament again Westminster the 6. of Ianuary 1621. 19. Iac. Hereupon the Members become Subjects again and being vexed at their dissolve sought their own excuses with scandall of the King And with that which was prated then and what our Historian devises now base and treasonable abuses The State wisely proclaims warning to any such insolent persons intending to set a watch upon those of quality and amongst them who should fall into the offence but the Earl of Oxford and therefore was committed to the Tower and Southampton to the Dean of Westminster and Sir Edward Hawly a Confident of Oxfords to the Gate-house and all of them close Prisoners their several crimes were bold and dangerous Speeches agaâ—nst the King and Council indeed Treasonable enough if true Their Accusers were the Domestiques of the Widow Lady Grisby a Dame of Pleasure heretofore but now declined that and turned House-keeper to such like as her self had been Her Gay-lant was one Sir Iohn Wentworth a man of a bold Spirit and well born but by ill-Husbandry much decayed in his Estate the fitter to be wrought upon to betray Oxford and Hawly for the most dangerous words were table talk between them They were all close imprisoned and often examined truly their friends were much afraid that either their own guilt or the policy of skilful Examiners of each Prisoner a part might involve them all into destruction Southampton was best trusted in that for he had been versed in questions and answers under the nocency of Essex Treason but therefore more to blame to whisper against his Soveraign now that restored him in blood and raised him to preferment and honour Oxfords faults were accompted frailties rather distempers of his natural condition derivative from his Father both of them debauched and now this Man not in malice to the King but in a wanton way of ranting and only envy to Buckingham Hawly heretofore a Student Templer discontented with the Court upon a mean account a rough West-Countrey-Blade he was and being too bold at a Mask in Court had his Ear-ring torn out in the bussle by a dogged ill-natured Scot Maxwell an Usher in Office there who being challenged for the injury Hawly was in hazard to suffer more by seeking his satisfaction this way and for the present was committed to the Marshalses until it increased muttering amongst the Inns of Court Men who upon the like occasion sided in this quarrel The King that knew how to caresse such Students sent for Hawly and told him that he had considered of the Challenge occasioned from Maxwells duty to his Service and therefore now unwilling to take advantage of his restraint sets him at liberty only upon condition to make good his Challenge and himself would be second to his Man Maxwell and bids defiance to Hawly to go on if he durst or else quoth he in true affection shake hands with him and be all friends and so that quarrel ended but not Hawlyes malice to Maxwell But in this now the King full of mercy made not much of this Treasonable matter but lodged them all too long a time for such Spirits It might be thereby to draw voluntary Confessions or Petitions for pardon but then they all being so neer a kin in the Crime must not dissent in the design which was to be set free In fine it was amongst their best Friends thus ordered A Noble Lady drest directly La Mode d' France passed as a Stranger unsuspected to see the Lions and Wardrobe and such Shews as the Tower affords accompanied with a Gentleman acquaintance of the Gentleman Jaylors daughter To whom he for this occasion made Court and so had freedom of her Fathers lodgings Where after a Collation they might be trusted into the neither end of his long Garden but by no means to advance towards the Chamber window where Oxford lodged who in this time and noise in the Garden looked out upon them and had Items by signs from the Gentleman whom Oxford knew to observe the disguised French Wench and she the liberty to pick Dazies any where and so in a careless guise unsuspected and French Tone she sung as to her self which Oxford observed all the Design what was done against them all Prisoners and what he should do in reference to their liberties Such another trick to Hawly taught them two to be even-tongued and so upon petition were released on hard conditions untill Oxford besought Buckingham That since his Lordship was pleased to mediate with his Majesty for his freedome he would procure it free from rubs and so his obligation the greater which he promises to pay to his Lordship whilst he lives Hen. Oxford And to piece with Buckingham Oxford descended to be under his Vice-Admiral at Sea and Hawly beneath him a warm Summers business sufficient to warn them for hereafter Southampton likewise upon submission withdrew from Court into the Country the wiser way These were thus punished others were more crafty to cover their malice but least they should do mischief by undermining were sent of Errands out of the way into Ireland and other where to regulate disorders there in which they had been so busily affected at home some also ambitious and too much popular were lured in and rewarded with Office or honor Such was Sir Iohn Savile the Knight for Yorkshire made Controwler of the Kings Houshold and Privy Councelour and yet paid for all Active Spirits saies one indeed corrupted humours which by several wayes were thus rewarded These were men of note But we are told that peoples tongues were set a work and takes upon him to chronicle the words so base sordid and trayterous that no Civil Subject would dare to repeat of his Soveraign Nay more he imprints to memory the abusive Pastimes Pasquils and Plaies set out as he saies in Foreign parts by Papists and at home by Puritans if not of his own making I remember well those times wise mens thoughts were somewhat and if amiss fools talked and amended nothing Certainly a Princes fame and repute is to countenance them Alexander could say Regium est bene facere Male aâ—dire And Nero despised that Pasquil Quis neget Aeneae Magna de stirpe Neronem Sustulit hic Matrem sustulit ille Patrem Et quosdam ad Iudicem dilatos ad Senatum affici graviore poena prohibuit Yet Queen Elizabeths cruelty cut off the hands of Stubs and Page upon a bloody
common not mistrusting discovery from any of their own Yet it pleased God in mercy to put it into the Mind of an Indian servant to one Pace to discover it to him overnight who first securing his own Habitation with all possible speed gave waruing to each Plantation by several intelligence and saved the rest but in the fury three hundred fourty seven were slain And since that time the English are more wary to guard their houses And as the best Maxim in policy to separate the conjunct affections of their Indian Kings to make themselves the more secure It was the Spanish policy that got them the two rich Kingdomes of Peru and Mexico in America for the two heirs Brothers Attapalippa and Gasco quarrelling for the Kingdom each striving to gain the Spaniard to friend Francis Pizacro managing their differences for his own ends stripped them both of Peru. So did Fâ—rdinando Cortes vanquish Matezumo and got Mexico by the Neighbour Friendship of the Province of Tascala deadly Enemies for which service that Province is freed from Tax for ever So did the Romans advantage overcome Great Brittain as Tacitus sayes Ita dum singuli pugnant universi vincuntur And Iustin hath the same with the Grecian Cities And hereupon King Iames furnished these Plantations with ammunition and arms out of his own store-house at the Tower at his charge There were likewise shipped unto Summer Islands so named from the first sinder and Planter Sir George Summers alias Burmudoes above a thousand persons and nine Ships to transport them and to trade who have since so increased that they are forced to fly to the Main for elbow-room see before anno 1614. Page 400. The King and Parliament asunder it was resolved with his Councellours to speed Digby into Spain Extraordinary to proceed in the Treaty of the Match Sir Francis Cottington Lieger there form whom Digby had knowledge of that Kings Progresse towards the North of Spain to Lerma a Town in Biscay whether the Duke thereof a sublime Favourite had invited the King to his Princely New Pallace which might save Digby the trouble and discommodity of riding many leagues to Madrid to meet there though it is to be understood by those that know that the Court and Council and State of Spain are said to be alwaies residing in Madrid in New Castile for receiving Ambassadours and making dispatches yet the amity of Digby with that Council hoped now to alter that Custome in favour of this urgent affair and him And therefore lands as the time and weather would afford the neerest Port Saint Andrews in Biscay there he stayes sends his Secretary to Madrid to signify to Cottington his arrival and reason for resting there as yet intimating that if he could surprize the King at Burgos or Lerma so far neerer his return home might there also hasten his dispatch upon that so reasonable consideration The King in complement told Cottington That he hoped the Ambassadours business was of more weight than to be taken up in the road where it became not his Majesty to return him back to his Master without entertainment of the Court of Spain But Digby understood this as State formality and pressing his own conveniency was at last ordered to have audience at Lerma whereupon Digby might say without merit of a scoff That it was the first President of honour to an English Ambassador and to his person a particular favour And so he sest forward to Burgos where Cottington meets him whom he returns back twenty miles to Lerma upon serious affair to prepare some of the Council with such interests as were intrusted besides his sealed Commission resolving himself to follow at the heels with surprize rather than Ceremony Yet the Kings Coaches came to wait on him neer Lerma unto Villa Mansa where he reposed till the Conde de Salazera Maior-Domo one of the Kings Stewards the Conde de Villa Madena Correjo Major or Chief Post-Master and the Viscount Toriza accompanied with several attendants conducted the Ambassadour to Court Thus far and in truth was the passages of Digbyes Reception which our Author abuses with base absurdities Abbot Arch-bishop of Canterbury aiming with a Cross-bow at a Deer in Bramzel park killed his Gamekeeper with the Arrow for which act having his hand in blood he is by Common-Law to forfeit all his estate and by the Cannon-Law irregular ipso facto and to be suspended from all Ecclesiastical function until he be restored This troubled the King what to do Not to add to his affliction and to leave virum Sanguinum Primate and Patriarch of all his Churches â—ounds harsh to the old Councells and Cannons upon either the Papists would descant and therefore it was referred to the Lord Keeper Williams five Bishops the two Chief Iustices and two Civil Lawyers who certifie so much and so he not being received into the full use of the Ministery himself forebore the Council Table as he told me in these words Since they will have it so that I am incapable of the one I shall spare my self the trouble of the other But he enjoyed the benefit of that See whilest he lived Much displeased he was I well remember with the Court and Clergy for Doctor Lawd refused consecration of St. David by his hand being tainted with blood but the Other was quit with him for underhand he caused it to be burited abroad That Lawd was by Puritans reputed a Papist in Oxford And to justifie that his function was not weakned by that Mischance he procured Commission to inquire Whether casual homicide was not excepted in the Cannon In which he was satisfied that it was not and so retired from his Magnificent Structure his Almes-house at Guilford to his Palace at Lambeth where the air of the Court breathing so neer and yet at this little distance he not admitted there he fell upon down right Puritan Tenents which gave occasion to many discontents of our Church and State to visit him then so frequent that they called themselves Nicodemites and his Disciples And I observed very often perhaps therefore that the Arch-bishop constantly with candle-light in his Chamber and Study made it midnight at Noon-day And here he began to be the first Man of Eminency in Our Church a Ring-leader of that Faction for I can name those then his private Disciples which lately appear desperate Proselytes The Tenents of Arminianism which the King feared had infected the Pulpit with so much heat that it inflamed each opponent so that to Suppress the danger of the one and to regulate the disorder of the other both offensive to the State the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had letters to settle their sick brains to this effect The Kings Letter to the Arch-bishop Most Reverend Father in God right trusty and intirely beloved Counsellour we greet you well That the extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been reformed in the Realm by some Act or Council of
the Dispensation and in returns of Queries and Objections But as the King will not be wearied with patience so Digby is warned to be wary and watchful in the Overtures of the Pope as a Postil unto the Articles of Spain which Gage got and gave warning of here And to admit of no more respite then two Moneths and no more at all That so their resolution will be before Christmass Wansted 9. of September 1622. Thus much to Digby But whether Digby pressed these particulars the Palatinate was at the brinck or last cast in Frankendale now blocked up The Popes captious capitulations in reference to the Dispensation obtruding and intruding Novelties never as yet disputed Yet he plainly tells the Spanish Council the old King lately dead If these offers of his Master be not ballanced with the like from theirs without loss of more time he is commanded to take leave and return home But ill news hath wings the loss of the English Men and the Palatines Country came faster to the King then could be supposed by Digby who it seems was loth to leave the imployment in suspence for any other to negotiate or by discovering the Spanish deceipt to give end to any absolute breach for here at home he was somewhat suspected not to deal fairly abroad which as yet the King was loath to see And therefore quickens him again with the particular relations of the losses of the Towns in the Palatinate Heidleburgh forced the Garrison put to the Sword Manheime besieged and the Infanta not commanding Cessation wherein she had absolute authority and that these effects give the King reasons to recal all his Ambassadours Weston now Chancelour of the Exchequer and the Lord Chichester from Bruxels having trusted to Treaties which probably might have secured the remainder of the Palatinate the English Garrisons being rather maintained in honour to keep footing until the General Accomodation more in assurance of Friendship by Treaty then of force by fighting And therefore to put the Spaniard to it he was to demand under hand and seal either the Rendition of the Town and Castle of Heidleburgh seventy daies after audience in condition as when the Palatine had it and the like for Manheim and Franckendale if either be taken whilest this Treaty as also cessation there for the future upon the Articles of Sir Richard Weston The Treaty which the Emperour propounded by Articles in November last to which the King of Spain then condescended if not in all these Then that the King of Spain join with the English for recovery thereof thus lost upon this Trust and to permit English forces to pass the spanish Territories into Germany and in every particular herein Digby is peremptorily enjoined to be assured under hand and Seal within ten daies after Audience or else immediately after to take leave and return October 3. 1622. Thus the King fights and treats not as in love with a match absolute upon any uneven Terms then as our mad World would make us believe them now from whose pens and Pasquils the Kings mind is pretended to be unmaskt as mean and fearful for he being heightned with hopes of powerful assistance from his Parliament and people the King to satisfie in some measure the suspition of the world and well-mindedmen that he withdrew not his affection from his children for fear of any Enemy to cosin himself with a Spanish Cheat never meant him in a Match these proceedings will unmask And why to be charactered Studious of Peace somewhat overmuch truly not so for a Christian King and therefore not to be imputed to Pusillanimity admitting His Son-in-laws extirpation from his Patrimony which himself was justly the cause not the King Nor is it handsome to say to his dishonour confessed That the Austrian Family cojol'd him in delusory chat with specious falasies whilest the Author is pleased to abreviate that tedious Treaty and loss of three Towns and afterwards the whole Palatinate into three lines with this Observation That the moity of the Money spent in Ambassyes would have modelled an to have mastered the Imperious Eagle And so the short Relation with unskilful Surgery to cauterize not truly to characterize the Wisdome of this King in such difficult designs as were intent more against him than against many other Princes his Predecessors But these proceedings I say will unmask all for from outward force he was left in the lurch even by his own people that put him forward and yet having more desperate conditions to work out at home then was urged abroad He in this Dilemma bringing all his possibilities to this exigent and ending sends suddenly after his Pacquet this Item to Digby In Case of Rupture which the King was to mannage with most advantage not instantly to return but privately to advertize hether to the King himself and publickly to give oâ—t the contrary that accordingly he might deal with his Parliament who stood at gaze to entertain the bad effects not to welcome good fruits of this tedious Treaty What ere the King commanded then daies expired and no satisfaction yet Digby created Baron 1618. and now by Patent Earl of Bristol spins on the Treaty willing to accept of any trifles to animate the King whom he fed with certain hopes of real intention in Spain till all was lost indeed And yet the Articles of marriage handed to and fro with such copies as each fancy led him to falsiâ—ie of which one inserts them in print besides sundry others his excellent Authors The fabulous French Mercury and Mr. Prinns Hear-say though his ears were cropt and saies That this onely came from the Neast kept at this time with scarce a Feather amiss and so humbles them to the Readers acceptance onely to tell us what pains was taken to little purpose where no Intention meant performance And this he intends to prove out of the yong King of Spains Letter to the Count Olivares The King of Spains advice to Olivares That the King his Fâ—ther at his death declared his intent never to marry the Infanta with the Prince of Wales which Don Balthasar Uncle to Olivares understood and so treated with intention to delay it Yet being now so far advâ—nced he wishes him to direct the Treaty but in all things to procure the satisfaction of the King of Great Brittain Novem. 5. 1622. It is true that the King writ this Letter to Olivares and likely enough that in the first Motions the State of Spain might heretofore unsettle But now that the Treaty had brought their Negotiations to some concernments therefore Olivares within three daies after so suddenly returns Answer to that King wherein posterity might apprehend the several true Interests of all and more cannot be surmized than that which Olivares himself does herein confess which it seems escaped out of Mr. Prinns hidden works of Darkness and thus it follows Olivares Answer to the King of Spains Letter SIR Concerning the
desperane terms had the more need of desperate Cures It was therefore resolved here to intrust it wholy and secretly to the Suitor himself the Prince with his Confident the then Marquess of Buckingham for a journey to Spain And the seventeenth of Febr. 1622. disguised with their single Attendants Endimion Portor of his Highness Bed-chamber and Richard Graham Master of the Marquess Horse meeting Sir Francis Cottington the Princes Secretary at Dover These only hazard a journey by the way of France land at â—oloign post to Paris and had â—ight of a Mask there and the first view of the Princess Henrietta Maria his after Queen and Consort in anno 1625. From thence in haste and some difficulty to Bourdeaux and after to Bayon the Confines of France and from thence no sooner gone but that the Governour Count Graimont had notice by the Currier who carryed the advice from hence to the King of Spain that the Prince of Wales was gone thither Where he arrived at Madrid fryday the 7. of March at eight a clock at Night in thirteen daies from Paris seven hundred fifty miles and alighted at Bristols house the Extraordinary Ambassadour and Sir Walter Aston Lieger intrusted underhand to overlook the others actions in this particular being hitherto suspected of the Prince to be too much Catholique there So that this sudden arrival startled Bristol that was a stranger to the Journey which met with such success afterwards as the measure of his Malice did meet out Together with Gondamores regret on the Spanish party who with all his wisdome more by estimation then merit was abused also at home to credit what was commanded to him who thought nothing more sure then now to be effected The next morning the Arrival of Buckingham was willingly discovered to Gondamore and so to the Conde Olivares the Spanish Favorite and by him to the young King Philip who gave him leave to visit the Marquess and Order to be brought to the King in private to whom he delivered King Iames his Letters and discovered that the Prince was come and therefore with the Ambassadours was returned Olivares with the Kings salutations of honor and welcom Where it was observed that Olivares would not be covered though the first Grandee of Spain who are not bare to their own King The next Sunday afternoon though in Lent upon Design 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desire to take view of his Mistress The King Queen 〈◊〉 Infanta and the Infantes Don Carlos and Don Ferdinanâ—o his two Brothers with a great Train of Coaches took air upon the Prado a publick place of Recreation where the Prince likewise disguised in the Duke of Ceas Coach with his English Train made divers turns and so had sight of the Infanta not refraining though to salute each other with seemly congies The King desired to visit and imbrace the Prince at the Earl of Bristols House But to avoid that disadvantage the Prince would not be denyed to pass to the King who therefore appointed half way where he stayed and there they met The King got out of his Coach first and imbracing the Prince with wonderful Kindness made incomparable professions of love and honour In the strict Obligations which the King his Father and His Highness Himself had cast upon him by that singular act of Confidence and Favour To which the Prince replyed That he was Royally recompenced by the honor he receives to be his own Advocate in this His High Design to visit His Majesty and His Princely Sister And taking Coach together He forced the Prince therein first on the right hand Bristol interpreting between them for the Kings of Spain do not descend to give honour to the French tongue and return home by Torch-light On Munday the Prince was visited by Olivares to let him know the Kings Publique Devotion unto the Monastery La Merced attended on Horse-back with a glorious Train of which the Prince had sight and so passed that day in Recreation abroad The next day the King sent two Dukes to visit the Prince with this Complement That seeing the good service of the Conde Gondamore had imprinted such a singular Character in the K. of Great Brittains affection to trust so excellent a terasure into Spain as his Highness therefore he could not suffer any Subject of His unadvanceâ— who had been so graciously accepted in Engâ—â—â—â— For which cause he was resolved to make him a Counsellour of State though he accompted him indeed as an Englishman Nay rather for that respect that they might be the more confident of his proceedings and Privy to the Inmost actions and the Prince was impowred to establish him therein For which Gondamore falls down at His Feet and being by His Highness addressed to the Court was instantly sworn Not long after was proclaimed a General Pardon Of all Offences and all Prisoners within the Continent of Spain released and all English Slaves for Pyracy or Mortal Crimes were set at liberty and manifested to be done in contemplation of the Prince The 16. of March appointed for the Princes Triumphal Entry through Madrid The day before were presented two Barb-Gennets of excellent value for the Prince to choose and the other for the King The Morning come four Counsellours of State were sent to attend and to conduct him to the Monastery St. Ieronimo neer Madrid from whence the Kings of Spain make their solemn Entries of Coronation where he was feasted privately at Dinner by the Kings appointment After Noon was â—ent by the Prince in giving Audience to the Inquisitor General and to all the several bodies of Counsels which continually reside in the Court at Madrid except only the Council of State which never makes visit in Corps the rest did being of Castile Arragon Portugal Italy Militia Indies Treasury and Exchequer c. The Corrigidor and Regidores of Madrid the Governours had audience likewise About four a Clock in the even comes the King whom the Prince receives at the â—ate and all things in Order they dispose to be going They came in Coaches but now all Mount on Horse-back in Magnificent manner and riding to the entry of the Liberties of Madrid there attended twenty four of the Regidores with a large Canopy of Tyssue rich imbossed being their office to bear it were apparelled in rich Cloath of Tyssue lined with Crimson Cloath of Gold They both came under the Canopy the Prince alwaies on the right hand Before them the Courts and Ministers of Justice Then the Grandies and all the principal Noblemen in excellent Bravery attended by their Followers in rich Equipage and Liveries a custom in that Kingdom wherein they have excess Next after the Canopy followed the Marquess Buckingham and the Conde Olivares as Masters of the Horse to them both with eithers cloath of State which Canopy was presented to Buckingham as a Fee to Him in that Office and serving for the Prince in whose honor that daies action was performed Then the Earl
of Bristol between two of the eldest Counsellours of State and a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber Sir Walter Aston following them in like manner accompanied The rest of the Council of State and Bed-chamber next after Then that goodly Guard de los Archeros bravely clad in gallant manner then numbers of gallant youth followed being of the glory of that Court and Kingdome The windows decked you may believe with the painted beauties of tâ—e most famous Donna's the Houses outwardly furnished with hangings of Arras and Pictures the Streets scaffolded and here and there in more eminency were raised Temporary buildings whereon the several bodies of the Councills sate to see and do reverence and by the way several Pageants Representations of the rare Comedians and Dancers and all to give content to that Royal Pair as thâ—y passed by untill they came to the Court-Gate The Queen and Infanta were Spectators but soon retired to the Pallace to receive the visit the King and Prince embracing passed up to the Queens Quarter whom She received at her Chamber Door and conducted him to and under the Cloath of State they sat on three equal Chairs the Queen in the midst the Prince on the Right hand the King on the Left The Room richly furnished but more by those excellent beauties the living Tapistry of Ladies Noble Mens Children called Menines Madam said the Prince the Honour of this Dayes Solemnity is due to your Majesty which conveys Me hither to kiss your Princely hand And so stooped to her Knee Sir said she It is to your Highness and in such manner as to the Royalty of Spain due and done to your excellent merit And so passing half an hours complement in French which is natural to her she brought them back to Her Chamber-Door The King conducting the Prince to his Lodgings a quarter of the Court prepared for him with all magnificence At the entrance stood the Infantes his two Brothers and so all three conducted the Prince into His Bed chamber And then the K. tâ—ok the right hand Because said he your Highness is now at home and so left him to his peculâ—ar attendants and other Officers of honour especially Grandees mixt amongst them to wait the Princes pleasure And within an hour comes the Conde de Benavente as Maior Dorro to the Queen with a present A Fair Bason of Massy Gold born by two Men A Cuâ—â—ous imbroidered Night Gown laid double in it Two great Trâ—nks bound with bands of pure Gold studded very thick with nails of Gold and Locks and Keys of the same The Coverings and Linings were of Amber Leather filled with several Delicacies curious Linnen rich Perfumes A rich fair Desk full of rarities in each Drawer And Buckingham was remembred by a Present from the Countess Olivares Fire works were made and Torch Triumphs in all Houses and Windows for three Nights together by Proclamation with wonderfull acclamations night and day crying Vive el Principe de Galles Vive el Principe c. And thus settled at his home attended with all the like Officers as the King and of the same ranck and quality with the one half of his Guard with golden Keyes of the Court to dispose to such English as the Prince was pleased to intrust Great Triumphs in preparation and the principal Nobility in Aragon sent for to honour the Court and for the glory and lustre of the same the Edict for restraint of all excess in point of apparel was suspended Some daies after invited to run at the Ring in presence of his Mistress he took it at the first course with acclamations of joy and honour The glory of which challenged fate to finish his desires with good success in the Infanta's favour And although some daies had passed with utmost extremities of gaâ—lantry yet saw he not his Mistress but at those distanceâ—â— which was excused by Olivares That the custome of the Natiâ—â— in Princely Overtures with Infanta's was not to take view of neerer affections till the Dispensation from Rome should come to admit them Lovers Yet as a Prince he had access often in presence of the King for privacy is not admitted between Brother and Sister of Royal descent yet the Prince at these interviews spake to her by Bristol his Interpreter By this time the Court of Spain was changed into English Lords and Buckingham created Duke by Patent carried over by Viscount Doncaster lately made Earl of Carlile and every day brought thither the affluence of fresh Gallants of English Nobility the Earl of Denbigh Viscount Rochford the Lord Kensington Caecils Herberts Howards not a Noble Family that failed to tell posterity what he had seen in Spain There is one who will have the Prince soundly beset for fair hopes to turn Papist a scandal not worthy the confutation for I have heard it discoursed oftimes afterward when the Duke Kensington after Earl of Holland and Denbigh with others avow to the world thar there were never any proposals or designs to alter the Princes Religion for indeed it was so unlikely that in it self it might be sufficient reason to hazard his succession Though I may be easily drawn to believe and do know some particulars that the Arts and Engines at Rome were set on work and vainly whetted for that advantage and that the outward acts of State in that Negotiation might mix secret workings with circumstance and respects to the Romish Religion and might thereafter through that Expedition amongst free Wits and French Gazets under divers censures since not proper for me in these our last daies so to dive into as to convince the malice of Libellers These our Authors Mr. Prinn and the French Mercury and other such stuff T is true too that the Dispensation moulded at Rome induced the Pope Gregory to write to the Prince not improper so to do and as handsome for his Highness to afford an Answer both are in Print and common such as they are and of custome may be somwhat corrupted in the truth of what was writ and by the answer we may understand the other The Princes Answer to the Popes Letter Most Holy Father I Received the Dispatch with content and as the respect and care wherewith Your Holiness writes doth require Being unspeakable the Delight I had to read the generous Exploits of my Noble Predicessors to whose memory Posterity have not sufficiently given due Elogies of Honour I believe your Holiness sets their Examples before me for my imitation and the courage which they had to exalt the Cross hath not been more than the care which I have that the peace of the Church might be bounded in true Concord and as the glory of God requires our endeavours to unite I do not esteem it greater honour to be descended from such Princes than to imitate them in true zeal of Piety in which it assures me much to have known the Mind and Will of Our Thrice
Honoured Lord and Father to give concurrence to so laudable a design for it doth not a little grieve him to see that great Evil grows from Division of Princes Christian which if this Marriage between the Infanta of Spain and my Self may procure I shall the rather conclude my happiness therein For as I have been far from incouraging Novelties or to be a Partisan in any Factions against the Catholique Religion so shall I seek occasion to take away suspitions that I desire but One Religion and One Faith seeing We all believe in One Iesus Christ Having resolved in my self to spare nothing that I have in the World my Estate and Life for a thing so pleasing unto God whom I implore to give your Holiness health and happiness Charles Stuart A fatal Letter saies one whether this profession of the Prince did not rest upon him at his death was it such a sin in the Prince to wish and endeavour unity of faith and profession in Christ Iesus But thus he carps at every clause and descants on each syllable adding the words Apostolick Roman for Catholique Religion as shews he took time and leasure to leave his Book large and which inforces my Replies to this bigness of a Bulk And now arrives the Dispensation from Rome and thereupon the Articles signed by that King and Our Prince were sent over to England for our King and Council to consider When Abbot Arch-bishop of Canterbury in suspension of his function as you have heard and not comming to the Council Table somewhat factious to foment errours of State Our Author saies had the badge of a puritan clapt upon him and undertakes to join with the jealousie of fools That hereupon a Toleration must needs follow and so as a chief Stickler having no Office nor much esteem to hazard undertakes a long Letter to the King which perhaps was penned to please his Disciples with copies to publish in print after his decease we never heard tidings of it till now our last daies for Abbot Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate of all England was the first Man that signed to the Post-script which attested those Articles of the mariage and so did all the Privy Council If not he than none at all O! but the good old man is excused Being much against his mind and swore with as little zeal to observe it such power saies he have Kings over Mens consciences And I can tell him that there were two other Bishops Iohn Bishop of Lincoln and Lancelot Bishop of Winchester Men of far greater merit and high esteem and evener Conscience that subsigned with him These Articles were concluded with a sumptuous Feast at White-Hall and the Spanish Ambassadours invited that day to Dinner but what to do That after Dinner they might take a private Oath of the King For what Marry in favour of Papists for free exercise of their Religion in all his Dominions and that the Parliament should confirm that Oath T is strange That the Oath never came to light but is it lost Nay for the Author had the Articles in keeping but not the Oath Hereupon he saies followed disputes of Religion frequent Doctor White and Featly against Fisher and Sweet and sets down thirteen points of Popery which they are not able to prove And that presently thereupon a Chamber-floor at Black-Fryers fell down flat with the weight of the Auditory three hundred at a Popish Sermon and a hundred killed out-right besides many maimed as the immediate hand of God a great Iudgement or an unfortunate Mishap through their wilful stupidity Abating his numerous Hearers also there was indeed fifty found dead and dying It was in truth a miserable Spectacle for doctrine and use to all Not as the fall of the Tower of Shilo was apprehended of such as mistook the Justice of God as peculiar only to those that suffered but ought to be example to all to amend their lives also yet see our Hypocrites charity to himself and censure of otheâ—s In this while the Articles signed are sent to Spain and some outward preparations here anent the Infanta's entertainment if she should come A Chappel new built adjoining to Saint Iames the place for her Court In Spain she was wantonly stiled Princess of England and more frequent Meetings afforded Her Suiter In an inâ—tant Pope Gregory dyes so that the dispensation not made use of as yet was invalid and a new License must now refer to Urban that succeeds to the Chair Winter quarter was come the weather foul unfit to travail and might indanger the Princes Return by rough Seas and therefore was invited to stay till after Christmass and so to take his Consort with him The Prince and his Council doubting more delaies sent word to England for the Kings consent to return speedily and had accordingly warrant by the next Expresse to take leave of Spain This news so sudden startled that State to have the Sister of so great a Monarch and the best born in Europe to be left by her Lover with much regret that they had gone thus far forward which Olivares took upon him to quarrel and in heat of discourse hereabout with the Duke urged their sudden resolve of parting to be hastened by him without the Princes intention And Sennor Duca saies he you have not done well with us to represent our affairs to your Master in evil sense Buckingham told him His information came far but wished the Intelligencer there present It cannot be denyed saies Olivares It is false said the Duke The other starts back in mighty passion seeks for the Prince and tells him all And had this Answer He might not believe it without just cause given or otherwise much mistaken The Condies choler not abated he finds out an English Gallant Sir George Goring and in Language of a Challenge complains That did not his own sense of suffering come in competition with his Masters honour the Duke should know the danger of the Ly. But he was told the others temper Whom no threats could ever make afraid and since your Grace seeks me out for the honour I shall do your â—rrand and bring the Dukes Answer Which was That he had the like regret by being a Guest but had rather to suffer under the power of the others Sword than to injure truth withconsent to a contrary sense But the King made them Friends This great Favourite was named Gasper de Gusman a third Brother born in Rome and upon the fall of his Predecessour-Favourite and his Family the Duke of Lerma under Philip the third This Man crept into esteem with the Prince at that Kings death he mannaged all and was in hasty time created Conde-Duke de Olivares an excellent Minister of State with much zeal and passion to agrandize his Master and His Dominions So that the excess became his vice to his loss of the affections of the Princes Nobility and People
be repaired for securing it self and the Coasts That his children abroad eat no bread but by him His customs the best part of his Revenue in effect the substance of all are farmed with conditions if war follow their bargains sease and Subsidies ask time to bring in unless he take them up upon credit and so lose of their value In these cases he would be loath to shew his Teeth and cannot bite And refers the condition of his own Estate to his Treasurer And thus freely he opens his heart for their Hearts and Help let them shew the means and he will do what they direct referring the dispose of monies to their own Deputies and Treasurers and upon the offer of their Means he makes War he will wave the Prerogative of Kings of War and Peace and be advised by them in either for weapons breed peace He desires to be in Love with Parlaments to make good Laws reform abuses and maintain good Government and so blesses their labours to the end Thus far the King Here was plainess He had cause to fear for he foresaw his own hazard to be left in the lurch So that to set him forward without despair they soeak as they should mean and not long after give him this Declaration They first render thanks to his sacred Majesty for accepting their humble advice to assist him in a Parliamentary way with their persons and abilities And whereas his Majesty was pleased to descend to particular propositions for advance of so great a Buâ—iness upon his Majesties Declaration for dissolution and discharge of both Treaties and for defence of the Realm the securing Ireland the assisting the Netherlands and other his Majestyes Friends and Allyes and for the Navy For these they will grant him three intire Subsidies and three fifteens to be paid within a year The money to be in hands of Committes and Commissioners by them to be expended as shall be agreed upon this present Session The King was well pleased and tells them He is willing to dissolve the Treaties their Gift being sufficient to begin a War but when it will end God knowes That he will ingage his Successor his Son for the recovery of the Palatinate and in his old age will assist in Person if need be That as he is pleased the Committes should direct the disposing of the monies so the Design must not be acted by publick councells that is whether two thousanâ— or ten thousand by Sea or Land East or West by Diversion or Invasion upon the Emperour or Bavaria these be hopes must be left to the King Hereupon a Council of War is chosen of some antient Actors in the Militia of Ireland and other Nobility the Meeting at the Savor at the Lord Caries President of that Council who resolve of six thousand to be sent for the present into the Low Countreys to join with their forces against the Spanish under command of Spinola and so have a freer passage into Germany if need were hereafter The Spanish Ambassadour Marquess of Inojosâ— much perplexed at the even proceedings between the King and Parliament resolved to put in practice a Jesuite trick upon Buckingham by that means to distemper the Calm proceedings of this State We are told the Manner That Inojosa sent one Padre Majestre a Spanish Iesuit a great Statesman to King James that he under confession had found the King was by Buckingham or by his procurement to be killed but whether by Poison Pistol Dagger c. he could not tell Then that the King should say to Buckingham ah Stenny Stenny a term of favour wilt thou kill me the Duke in high passion being told that Padre Majestre had been with the King who being questioned by the Duke Inojosa undertook the quarrel and told the Duke he would maintain him the Traytor c. Another saies That the Ambassadour sent one to the King to let him know That the Duke of Buckingham had some dangerous Machination on foot that tended to his Destruction and the best He could expect would be a Conâ—inement to a Country House in some Park during his life the Prince being now ripe for Government c. and the Author concludes That such an attempt could not be done without the Princes privity and yet the King was willing to have the Brat strangled in the Womb though there was cause to suspect that the great intimacy and deerness between the Prince and Duke like the conjunction of two dreadfull Planets could not but portend the production of some dangerous effect to the Old King What horrid infamy is here cast on them both But this was the story and the truth for not a day passed then but that I was present and acquainted with all that transaction to the end It was well known how much it concerned the Ambassadour for his Masters honour to disimprove the value of Buckingham with the King and Parliament and cunningly meant to do it home and to involve the Prince too in one and the same act And therefore aspersed abroad a suspition which really also Inojosa devised to the Kings ear That Buckingham should have plotted this Parliament to over power the King which if resisted then by that authority to conâ—ine the King and to transfer soveraignty upon the Prince And thus Machevils rule lay the scandal high enough no matter to prove it Himself the Brocher to be free from Examination being qualified an Ambassadour A great noise there was I remember well more in the peoples resentment than any way considerable at Court. And yet the Duke was not so dull to neglect the means of satisfying Others Himself and Prince needed not nor truly did it any way interfear as it was devised to startle the King And being generally cryed down as a false scandal the power of all three could not question an Ambassadour though it was scanned at the Council Table and put to vote in the house too how to proceed with him That the Shield of his Ambassy was too weak to defend him from the Sword of Iustice for then he resolves into a private man The Duke not satisfyed had the opinion of a learned Antiquary who with much circumstance advised and directed a tedious Ceremony of State to be used therein Both Speakers to remonstrate to the Ambassadour the crime and if he reveal not the Informers then is he Author Scandali and so the Houses to petition the King to confine him and restrain his person till his Master know his offence and satisfy Iustice. If he does not then is it Transactio Criminis upon himself and draws a denounce of War But the wisdome of the King would have none of this Geer Yet the Prince and Duke complained hereof to Spain and a command returned to Inojosa to crave forgivenesse which he did and the Duke in confidence of his own Innocency suffered it to passe without much more trouble to seek satisfaction in publique for he
the pulse of that State Sir Henry Rich Lord Kensington was sent over singly and at his own time and discretion to mannage the discovery of the French affections and then to present himself with his credence He arrived in no publique splendour at Paris on Sunday after Noon and was informed that the King intended the next morning a journey for five or six daies to Shantelie a House of Momorancies and therefore in private Kensington gave visit to the Duke of Chevereux who with his Lady were appareling for instant Actors in the Queens Mask and within an hower came the Queen Regent and Madame and in an hours view might have this chataâ—ter The Sweetest Creature in France her growth as her age little her Discourse discreet and quick and had the report of Wisdom beyond her years and for additions of grace she was said to dance and sing most sweetly I am fure she lookt so My Lord had reason to suspect the Queens reserve towards him she being Spanish and so not well pleased with the breach of her Sisters match But she was changed so much French as to grace him with her hand The King was told of Kensington and because of his journey next Morning purposed to receive him an Ambassadour as some had suggested to him untill Chevereux assured him the contrary his comming meerly to kiss his Majestyes hand and see the glory of his Court this Christmass and so was taken to the Masque danced by sixteen the greatest Princesses of France with whom the King and his Masquers the last Tuesday were now by lot to dance with these Ladies and all these and the Court besides so infinitely rich in Iewels golden and silver dressing being there forbidden as their apparel almost all â—mbroidered and thick with Diamonds and Pearl as usually with purl I doubt not but some counterâ—eit or else you might have suspected the wealth of that nation on their backs The presence of a Stranger somewhat publique presented to each persons caress made most men acquainted with State to judge the plot of his Journey was rather to set an edge upon Spain to cut off delayes than to cut the throat of that business The Kings weakness or indisposition to affairs gave leave and time to Queen Mother to mannage all who receiving an humble visit by Kensington to kiss her hands she entered discourse of the Spanish Allyance The Treaty said he had suffered many Delaies and was annulled Though the Spanish Ambassadour there had given it out to be concluded on purpose to prevent conjunction with France which he suspected and his design got credit with some persons of power seeing Kensington had no Credentials positive to speak to the purpose Yet from others and not the meanest he apprehended the affections of that State generally prepared to receive offers of Amity and Allyance when the dissolution of the other shall be declared Indeed the Savoy Embassadour there said That the intention of the King of Spain was for a Cross Match with France for himself But the late abuse upon the English in that way made the French wary and hastily to bite at that bate Yet the reasons of State were not unequal Our Design was double both Marriage and League against Spain And if the French should match with Spain and so hold us to hard conditions they have the safer ground for they may expect restitution of the Valtoline as we do demand the Palatinate these two being the open quarrels on both parts to ground And these doubts were suspected to draw on a tedious Treaty and therefore it was thought fit by the English to insist upon the Match and bring on the League necessarily to follow and to have reasonable conditions concerning Catholiques in England Indeed the necessity of the French Affairs least Spain that hath begirt them should in time swallow them up was like to make this Match easie enough for the English the alarm being fresh in Court from the Spaniards raising a fort upon the ruin to command the Town of Liege Queen Mother suspecting that Kensingtons errand was in earnest by degrees gave him incouragement to speak plain though it was his part to plead and wo too without any signal The Duke of Chevereux and Le Grand of credit and power both were the men this Design most affected Kensington bore the Princes Picture tackt to his Breast limm'd in little in a Case of set Diamonds which the Queen would offer to open as to shew the Ladies which they would as often desire to please her Majesty who me thought did love to look on it She wishing that some good occasion might make them meet and she might see him like himself But because Madam could not in modesty or honor get a glance of his shadow she in private delt with a Madamoselle that had some interest in one of the Lords Family to borrow the Picture and so in secret to gaze her fill where in much hast she opened the Picture and discovered her passions her blushes not concealing her inward affections to his person which she prized by praising his Picture in presence of him that saw her Two mouths calmed the way unto the Mother she and Le Grand advised to move the King if this business were fitted to the full But Kensington declined as not to deliver the King his Masters inclination unless he might receive the return answerable to a due respect and value of the Proposition Of which being assured he took his opportunity to withdraw the K. towards the window and told him That his journey to France was singly his own inclination to honour and serve him and therein to discover how the Prince of Wales would be free and disingaged from the Spanish Treaty not finding them to his expectation in such particulars as principally should invite a Conjunction And therefore the Duke of Buckingham had exercised his interest with the King and Prince to convert those thoughts towards his Majesty from whom it was perswaded nothing but truth and honour would be returned as an advantage to both Nations And believed that if the King would shew a disposition inclineable the effects would soon confirm the end of his comming free from other Designs than what he now expressed The King often uncovered said He had not heard that the Match with Spain was as yet broke the just cause for him to be reserved But assured him in general That any propositions from the King of Great Brittain should be heartily received This was short for his Imperfection of extream stammering by nature made him usually speak very little whose affection if one might Guess by his courtesy would have said more as most of the Ministers of that State did And that nothing to them was more equal than Amity and Allyance with England This entrance encouraged Kensington to discover himself and letters of Credence to the King and so was quallified to treat fuâ—ther And to increase more than
I find him of no mean Family in Gloucestershire as by their Cote Arms in the Heraulds Office Or on a pale azure three flower de luces of the first He was brother to Sir Randolph Cranfield who inherited their Fathers possession there and in other Counties of good value This Man was bred a Merchant in London and by his extraordinary qualities and blessings of God upon his endeavours in that laudable way of Adventure besides his understanding in the affairs of the customes became useful to the State And first had the honour of Knighthood Master of the Requests then made Master of the Kings Wardrobe afterwards Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries and Privy Counsellour Baron Cranfield and lastly succeeded Suffolk in the place of Treasurer and in that time created Earl of Middlesex 1622. And in all these Offices of trust I never knew him then nor can find sithence any suspition unless in that of the Treasury the Ground where of is hinted to us by our Pamphlet but in truth in this he hath but scummed the pot to cleer the broth For who more fit for the reasons of a necessitated Excheqâ—er than this man of experience in stating the Accompts for the Revenues of the State which I know he improved and not unlikely thereby purchased envy for his eminency therein And to say truth according to the duty of his place he did endeavour to husband the same to piece out the expence which the necessities of the Kings affairs had heightned As himself told the Parliament and the Princes journey into Spain had wonderfully and unnecessarily exhausted as by the printed accompt thereof lately devulged by Parliament doth appear Then which no better evidence can be produced to acquit the Treasurer together with what the Pamphlet publishes as a supposed crime in him his refusal to supply the Princes expence and Buckinghams folly and prodigality And this he did deny as the duty of his Office required and which he well understood as being of Council and acted as a Counsellor to my knowledge in that undertaking and indeed being then the Statesman at the Council Table But his refusal of supplying Buckingham upon that score only wrought him no doubt at his return home the Treasurers deadly Enemy And whom he opposed A small accusation might serve the turn to turn out of all as he did him and yet to the honour of his Memory though they raked into all his actions and racked all Mens discoveries to the height of information the eminency of his place exposing him unto much observing and opening the way to all kind of complaints as they did examining nothing upon oath as they never do yet that there should be no more matter gleaned And where there are such boltâ—ngs there was expected a great deal more Bran. Yet the power of Buckingham could never produce any crime against his exact Accompts in that boundless trust of the tempting Treasury And in spite of Malice he was envyed also though they divested him of that office yet he lived long after in peace and honour and dyed since these last times of enquiry 1650. leaving to his heir his honour untaint enabling them to bear up the character of their Fathers merit We are told That the Duke got Chelsey house out of him for his part of his fine what shift the Author makes to patch up his Stories with falsities when to my Knowledge that Seat was in treaty to be sold to another and the Duke wanting a House neer hand to retire for a Nursery to his children his Duchess teeming that other party concluded for the bargain and to him the Dnke paid the money valuable to the utmost penny And the like Tale he tells That the Lady Finch corrupted him with Copthall a Noble Seat in Essex to procure her to be Viscountess of Maidstone when the talk of the Town was he had so dear a bargain as occasioned the saying That it was cheap enough to him being bought with the Kings Money there needs much dung to stop a wide mouthed Oven Cranfield indeed was in this Kings life the last of that Office and the meanest of birth lately altered from the Trust of Nobly-born persons The Treasury of antieut Spring-tides was of late sunck into neap-ebbs of Revenue and enforced a necessity of providence in collecting and judgement and practice in disposing Neither of these could be found by experience suitable to our latern Lord like-breeding ignorant and careless Yet in honour to the Office the King raised other Men to Titles for countenance against the outward beseechings of the Mad-headed multitude of Suiters as it happened to his Successor Lee by the rudeness of the Sea men and all to little to support a Treasurer without prejudice of publique esteem even with the best Suiters by unhandsom treaties between their necessities and an empty Exchequer Besides succession inherited the obloquies of former Predicessours which happened frequent in this and other places of Trust not out of inconstancy in the Kings affections to his Ministers the misreport of his wisdom but to make Tryal of the chiefest Mistress of Instruction to meet with the best And in such a change or remove he left them not unrewarded being never well himself till his Servants were wealthy least being cripled in hiâ— life they might want an Hospital after his death A mischief not seldom much like a Lords well-mannaged Horse for his own saddle comes often afterwards to the Hackney-Coach nay and sometimes dyes in drawing a Dung-Cart He knew Men and had them to his Mind or made them so able capacity not bare measure rather with surplusage equal to the business he imployed them Yet he had easy natures neer his person too because more manageable than abler men in such matters where their hands were more useful than their brains But say some the King raised men to preferment of honour and dignity whose birth and Gentry were extinguished by being Apprentices Hence they start their Opinion That it is a kind of Bondage I deny to be either vera Servitus or omnino Servitus the Contract is but Civil Permutatio or Exchange The obligation is mutual Master and Man only Freemen can make contracts and Challenge the benefit The Oath of a Freemans admission is To take no Prentice but freeborn no Bondmans son It were madness to imagine that Jacob served his Uncle Laban seven years in the honourable contract for a Worthy Wife and for an Estate to maintain her to be therefore a Bondman By which example in Scripture it is undeniable That Servire to serve is laudable for good and honest purposes but our Apprentice does but deservire obey and his Master does docere teach him his Trade and of late the Apprentice comes commonly more like a Wife with a large portion to his Master Indeed Erasmus Roterodamus his Etymology makes of our Apprentices to be pares emptitiis as with
the Romans but they differ Servus with them was of Servando saving not of Serviendo of serving Our Apprentice comes of Apprenti the French Word a Raw Souldier or to learn or of the Latine apprehendo So then sir Tho. Smiths Repub. Angl. does them injury terming them Bondslaves Bondmens bodies were vested in the Lord interminable but only by Manumission and that by the Will of the Lord without any condition in behalf of the slave Servus with the Romans Nullum caput habuit and were reputed civiliter mortui servi pro nullis habiti There was a voluntary bondage de jure gentium as by the Romans a Man might sell himself ad participandum pretium And also de jure divino positivo So the Hebrews Bondmen Yet they had not jus in corpus they could not violate her chastity By our Law only two sorts of Bondmen villains in gross and vilains reguardant to Mannor A Master in London hath not despoticum imperium over his Apprentice but only quasi curaturam a Teacher ut Pater non Tyrannus immoderate Correction looses his Apprentice who is by Statute to be free from him 5. Eliz. But of late our City discipline had more need to be reduced to antient severity than to be abduced from it The final Cause of every Ordination quallifies the course and determines the Means and action tending to it though abstracting from that consideration the work wrought in the proper nature be servile as for a Souldier to dig or carry earth to a Rampire a Student to be bare or a Novice to do servile Offices and so an Apprentice to do does not extinguish Gentry and what ever he does as not sui juris yet he does nothing Servile but propter finem nobilem to God Country and Calling But Apprentices are so far from being bondmen that then they begin habere caput to be aliqui and by degrees to be free then of the Livery and by after degrees become Wardens Masters Common Council Aldermens Deputies Aldermen Sheriffs Lord Maiors And by further merit Counsellours to the King and Lord Treasurers of England and so if it be rashness to cast a scorn upon a renowned Corporation unjustly let it be iniquity to lay it upon London which in the Empire of Great Brittain amongst their other Cities Velut inter ignes Luna Minores And though the Schools and Camp are most proper for Honour and Arms yet the antient wisdome and bounty of Sovereigns left the Gates of honour open to City Arts and honest gain as fundamentals to common-wealths by example of rising Rome under her first Dictators and Consuls By which they avoided Tyrannical appropriation of Gentry to some certain old families as in Germany and the Confusion of allowing hereditary Nobleness or Gentry to none at all as in Turky c. And with us Cotes of Arms and Title of Gentlemen being the most familiar part of Honour Our Adversaries would overturn and tax our policies in that point which being once gotten and given by Merit or Favour cannot be lost or extinguished No man in England looseth his right to bearing Arms or Title of Gentleman unless attainted in Law Jura Sanguinum nullo jure civili devinci possunt Not to be aliened to another no more than to pass away any habit or quality of the Mind Virtue or Learning Queen Elizabeth was descended lineally from Sir Godfrey Bullen Lord Maior of London by Queen Anne Bullen her Mother Sir Martin Calthrope her Kinsman also and Lord Maior of London Citizens of London have been called Barons Hen. 3. Londinenses Quos propter Civitatis Dignitatem civium antiquitatem Barones consueuimus appelare London sends Kinghts and Citizens to the Parliament not Burgesses And sundry of our Sovereigns have daigned to be of their Freedome But the opinion of bondage and extinguishing birth-right of Gentry hath filled England with more Vices and sacrificed more bodies to odious ends and more souls to sinful life than perhaps any other uncivil opinion whatsoever Holding it better to rob than to labour though they dayly see that out of Our Apprenticeships rise such Ministers of Iustice as sit upon Malefactors when they a shame and sorrow to their Kindred undergo a fortune too unworthy the basest of Bondmen May not his Sons fall into the same fate by the Fathers prejudicate opinion So much in honour of truth not interest The Hollanders in these times rich and proud at home increased so mighty in power also in the East Indies that by insenseable Incroachments at first they went on to quarrel particular rights and interests in several places there for sole trading from the English And complaint being sent hither by the Governours of our Factories there A Treaty was demanded by the King and accordingly Commissioners appointed to dispute their differences in London 1613. The next Treaty was at the Hague 1615. The last was at London 1619. And by Amnesty then a Solemn Composition of all differences and Orders were concluded for the future between us and them And in regard of their bloodshed and vast expence in reducing the Trade of the Islands Molucca Banda and Amboyna from the Spaniards and Portugals and their buildings and Forts therefore the Hollanders should enjoy two thirds and the English the other third and the charge of the Forts to be levyed by Taxes and Impositions upon the Merchandize and so were settled in those places The Island of Amboyna lies neer Seran about fourty Leagues in compass and hath relation to other Factories the chief Town called also as the Island Amboyna the Rendevouz for the gatheing and buying of Cloves the chief Commodity the smaller Factories are Hâ—â—â—o Larica Loho and Cambello The Hollanders Forts there are four strong and well manned with two hundred Dutch Souldiers and a Company of free Burgers four hundred Mardikers or free Natives so called And here the English lived in the Town and under protection of the Castle in an House of their own During two years the Dutch very cunningly wasted too much upon their Fortifications and Garrisons and yet drew their Account so chargeable to the English that instead of the third part they contributed two thirds and their complaints were examined by the Counsel of Defence of both Nations residing in Jaccatra in the Island Java Major and they disagreeing the differences were to be sent home to be decided herein by both Companies or by the King and their States according to an Article 1619. But disputes breed delay here and increased jealousies there and in February One thousand six hundred and twenty two A Japoner Souldier discoursing with a Dutch Centinel of the Strength of the Castle was suspected and tortured and confessed sundry of his Countrey-men contrivers with him of surprizing the Castle who were also tortured and one Price an Englishman and Prisoner with them who also accused others of the Factories Captain Towerson Tomson Beomont Collins Webber Ramsey Johnson Farde and Brown and these
being sent for from the other factories with horrid Tortures either in truth or for pain of Torment some of them confessed That two Japoners should have gone to each point of the Castle and two to the Governours chamber door and when the Mutiny or Alarum should cause the Governour to come out the two Japoners to kill him for the reward of 1000 Royals a piece Towerson was tortured and confessed That he swore all the English at Amboyna to be secret to his plot with the Japoners to surprize the Castle and to kill the Dutch to this effect divers were accused condemned and suffered Death viz. 10. English 9. Japoners and 1 Portugal The manner of the tortue was thus First they hoised the Examinant up by the hands with a Cord on a large door fastning him upon two Staples of Iron on the Top as wide as the arms could stretch his feet hung to the ground stretched out at length and wideness fastned beneath the Door Then they wrapt a cloath about his Neck and face so close that no water could go by That done powring the water leasurely upon his head and filling the Cloth up to his Mouth and Nostrils that he could not draw breath but must withall suck in the Water and so continued till it forced his inward parts to come out of his Nose Eyes and Ears stifling and choaking him into a Swound or fainting but being taken down they make him vomit out the Water and so somewhat recovered they torture him again four or five times his body Swoln three times bigger his cheeks like Bladders his eyes staring out beyond his browes yet still Colson denyed their accusation then they burn him under his Paps arm-holes elbowes hands and feet till the fat dropt out their Torches lodged him in a Dungeon his flesh putrified Maggots ingendred to an horrid and loathsom condition till at the eight daies end they were executed in March 1623. At which instant a sudden Darkness and tempest two of their Dutch Ships were forced from Anchor in their safe harbour and almost perished One Dunckin their Accuser stumbled at their Grave all buried in a Pit fell stark Mad and dyed so within three Dayes after A sickness followed at Amboyna of 1000 Dutch where 30 dyed not usual in that space And in time the Relation is sent into England by the next return of the Ships which appeared so horrid that a Defence thereof was imprinted and sent hither out of Holland And Sir Dudly Digs undertakes for our East Indie Company to publish the truth and answer that Pamphlet and the Governour of Amboyna leaving his Command was forced by fowl weather upon our Coast his Ships seized on and his person brought to give an accompt hereof before our Admiralty Some Assistants Delegates appointed Iudges but then the Examinations and Confessions under their hands comming hither before any returned on the part of the English viva voce to confute them And though suspected yet for the present set aside till further confirmation In the mean time the Description of the English in their several tortures was lively put in draft and painting so horrid as that the King and Council thought fit to burn it least the monstrous appearance should incense the English to a National Quarrel So great force and resemblance hath that Art with Nature that the effects thereof fell upon Towersons Widow who at sight of the Picture fell down in a Swound with hazard then in that Trance to follow her Husband which the often Relation before did not so much astonish The disparity of a Poâ—tical pen with the powerful art of painting may thereby be distinguished But to return to the Design of the Parliament which went on in their manner for the Recovery of the Palatinate by War and as the King feared to imbroyl him in the businesâ—e with pittiful effects which themselves meant to mannage And now they provide four brave Regiments under commands of the Earls of Oxford Southamption Essex and the Lord Willougby elected by the Parliament who afforded forsooth favour to the King to present them their Officers most Scots But indeed for number of Men fifteen hundred in a Regiment and well armed they were compleat the King hastening these away and with them wished no doubt more of their mind that sent them for these were discontents and transported into Hollvnd to join with the States Army intentionally to divert Spinola who was in arms for the King of Spain The English no sooner landed and quartered into Garrisons hardly drilled to obedience were suddenly called out to Service for Spinola was in the Field fitted for Enterprize lay hovering in Brabant sends Count Iohn Nassaw of the House of Orange but alwaies faithful to his Sovereign with a flying Army towards Cleve and after him Marches the Prince of Orange up the Moze first to Ginnegen to the Rendevouse where his Army mustered twenty five thousand thence to Mastrick in deadly fear of a Siege and so to the Town of Cleve lately taken in by the Count which was now soon rendred to Maurice and he was watch all this way by the other In this time Spinola with freedome to choose his Design began with Spade and Pick ax and fell to digging about Breda the twenty sixth of August 1624. and had earthed suddenly so large and deep as Maurice the craftier Fox that way yet knew not how to unlodge him but returns down the River to Guitrudenburgh and incamped at Mede some houres journey from Breda and there besieges the Besiegers The wonder of which was so famous then as deserves particular Remembrance now This Barony and Town of Breda with eighteen Villages belonged to the Dukes of Brabant and sell to the Family of Nassaw by a Wives Dowry 1404. and so remained for one hundred sixty three years till by revolt of William of Nassaw the Duke d' Alva possest it for the King of Spain 1567. from whom Count Holloch took it for Nassaw 1577. and from them surprized 1581. and then again regained by Stratagem in a Turfbote where lay hid seventy Souldiers like the Graecians in the Trojan horse and wan it for Nassaw 1590. who held it to this Siege It is scituated in the uttermost part of Brabant adjoining Holland pleasant strong and wealthy most convenient for either Nation The territory about by Sea-tides or inundation of waters may be made unaccessable And therefore the Prince about two years before had with some additions and fortifications made it invinceable against all but hunger and with much delight called it his Tempe The Arch Duchesse Isabella Infanta of Spain and dowager of Prince Albert now Governesse in Flanders under the King of Spain gives Commission to Spinola Lieutenant General of the Spanish Forces who in Iuly 1624. departs from Bruxels with an Army of eighteen thousand divided into three parts the more to distract the Dutch who in some doubt re-inforces Breda
had we hearts aright to conceive of Gods extraordinary love and such miraculous Mercies as never Nation enjoyed walk over the World peruse the whole face of the Earth from East to West from North to South from one side of Heaven to another you shall not find such another nlightened Goshen as this Island where besides doth the Gospel shine with such Glory Truth and Peace c. We have lived in a time of Miracles Our posterity will hardly believe the wonders done in Our daies c. Was it not a miraculous mercy to have such a King c. who hath already next under that Almighty God by whom Kings reign continued the Gospel unto us and preserved us from the destroying Sword all his blessed Reign over us and what do you think were so many years Peace worth were it to be bought with the Enjoyment of the Gospel to boot He hath enobled this Kingdome for ever by his excellent Writings in the cause of Religion against Antichrist which would have created a great deal of Honour to a private Man minding nothing else How illustrious then do they make Our King The child unborn will blesse King James For his Premonition to all Princes and free States of Christendome and that Royal Remonstrance against the rotten and pestilent Otation of the French Cardinal to the utter and Triumphant overthrow of it penned in that Stile that none can possibly reach but a learned King his Golden Pen hath given such a blow to that Beast of Rome that he will never be able to stand upon his four Legs again He hath shot out of his Royal Bow such keen Arrowes taken out of the Quâ—ver of Gods Book which will hang in the sides of that Scarlet Whore and make her lame as long as she lives Hath he not most happily and seasonably stopt the hasty torrent of the Arminian Sect and the domineering Rage of bloody Duels c. And was not the discovery and delivery from the Powder plot that great Astonihment of Men and Angels one of the most unparallell'd and merciful Miracles that ever the Church of God tasted c. And to crown all with wonder of greatest Astonishment do not we all that are of the Kings faithfullest Subjects almost fear still left we be in a dream That King Charles the flower of Christendom c. And concludes Away then with all sowr melancholick causeless sinful discontent And praise ye the Lord sing unto the Lord a New song and his praise in the Congregation of the Saints Let Israel rejoice in him that made him Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King for the Lord taketh pleasure in his People he will beautifie the meek with salvation Let the Saints be joyful in Glory Let them sing aloud upon their Beds c. Sir Francis Bacon in honour of K. Iames. WHerefore representing your Majesty many times unto my mind and beholding you not with the eye of presumption to discover that which the Scripture tells me is inscrutable but with the observant eye of duty and admiration leaving aside the other parts of your virtue and fortune I have been touched yea and possessed with an extreame wonder at these your virtues and faculties which the Philosophers call Intellectuals The largeness of your Capacity the faithfulness of your Memory the swiftness of your apprehension the penetration of your Iudgement and the facility and order of your Elocution And I have then thought that of all the persons living that I have known your Majesty were the best instance to make a man of Plato's Opinion That all knowledge is but Remembrance and that the Mind of man by Nature knoweth all things and hath but her own Native and Original Notions which by the strangeness and darkness of the Tabernacle of the Body are sequestred again revived and restored such a Light of Nature I have observed in your Majesty and such a readiness to take flame and blaze from the least occasion presented or the least Spark of anothers knowledge delivered And as the Scripture saith of the Wisest King That his heart was as the Sand of the Sea which though it be one of thr largest Bodies yet it consisteth of the smallest and finest portions So hath God given your Majesty a composition of understanding admirable being able to compass and comprehend the greatest Matters and nevertheless to touch and apprehend the least wherein it should seem an impossibility in Nature for the same Instrument to make it self fit for great and small Works And for your gift of Speech I call to mind what Cornelius Tacitus saith of Augustus Caelar Augusto profluens uâ— quae principem deceret eloquentia fuit For if we mark it well Speech that is uttered with labour and difficulty or Speech that â—avoureth of the affectation of Art and Precepts Or Speech that is framed after the imitation of some pattern of Eloquence though never so excellent All this hath somewhat Servile and holding of the Subject But your Majesties manner of Speech is indeed Princelike flowing as from a Fountain and yet streaming and branching it self into Natures Order full of facility and felicity Imitating none and imitable by any And as in your Civil Estate there appeareth to be an emulation and contention of your Majesties Virtues with your Fortunes a virtuous Disposition with a Fortunate Regiment a virtuous expectation when time was of your greater fortune with a prosperous possession thereof in the due time a virtuous observation of the Laws of Marriage with most blessed and happy fruit of Mariage a virtuous and most Christian desire of Peace with a fortunate inclination in your Neighbour Princes thereunto So likewise in those Intellectual Matters there seemeth to be no less contention between the excellency of your Majesties gifts of nature and the Universality and perfection of your Learning For I am well assured of this that what I shall say is no Amplification at all but a positive and measured Truth which is That there hath not been since Christs time any King or Temporal Monarch which hath been so learned in all Literature and Erudition Divine and Humane For let a Man seriously and diligently revolve and peruse the succession of the Emperours of Rome of which Caesar the Dictatoâ— who lived some years before Christ and Marcus Anâ—onius were the best learned And so descend to the Emperours of Graecia or of the West and then to the lines of France Spain England Scotland and the Rest and he shall find this Judgement truly made For it seemeth much in a King if by the compendious extractions of other Mens Wits and Learning he can take hold of any superficial Ornaments and shews of Learning Or if he countenance and prefer Learning and Learned Men. But to drink indeed of the true Fountain of Learning nay to have such a Fountain of Learning in himself in a King and in a King born is almost a Miracle And the more because there
released out of the Tower and banished The Borderers conâ—er and quarrel Morâ—ons wiâ—e submission Anno 1574. The Ministers stiled Praecisians Duke Castle-herauld dies His Character and Issue Oâ—mston executed for the Kings murder Heriots death Characterâ— Anno 1575. Inovation in Church by Melvil agaiâ—st Episcopal â—unction The Regent misgoverns Q. of Scoâ—s designed to dy Anâ—oâ— d'Peres in Englan Anno 1576. Don Johnâ— design blâ—sted in thâ— bud Maâ—gariâ—e old Countess Lenox dies Her Royal descent and Issue Anno 1577. Conâ—pâ—rators against the Regent Arguile and Athol at variance Forerunner of the Regents fall Complaintâ— agâ—inst Morton which the Miniâ—â—ry increase Regent offers to resign Is deposed The King 12. years old is Crowned A sactioâ— Geneve Synod Melvin Morton plots reâ—enge by the Eâ—rl of Mar. Anno 1578. Randolph Ambassadour Parliament Royal disagree and are made Friends Coyn overvalued The Chancellor impoisoned by Morton Parliament the Kings royal appearance His Speech Actâ—â—or Religion Aubigny Stuart in great favour But disliked there and in England Qu. Eliz. Messengeâ— neglected Anno 1580. Burleighs speech to the Scots Ambassadour Morton disconten tretires Charged with the late Kings Murther Randolph rides post from Q Eliz. abuses his privilege of an Ambassadour Anno 1581. Morâ—on beheaded with his own Ax. His character Ruthen created â—arl of Gowry Q. Mary writes to Q. Eliz. Anno 1582. Which troubles her conscience Surprize of the King at Ruthen Removed to Edenburgh and are confirmed by the Clergy Ambassadours ill used The King Orders to feast them but the Kirk command a fast Buchanans deaâ—h and Character The King freeth himself Anno 1583. Ambassadour from England pleaâ—s for the Rebels The late D of Lenox children prefeâ—'d factious Lords submit The Ministers meddle Melvils ill manners Gowry imprisoned His confession Anno 1584. Petition Arraignment His excepâ—â—ons Condâ—mâ—ed and executed His Character Some Ministers for medling fled to England Declarations and Acts of State They reply with Letters to Edenburgh Aâ—d are sharply 〈◊〉 Designâ— in England for Queen Mary Wade an Envoy to Spain Anno 1585. Mary proposeâ— conditionâ— The Kirk disquiet A Parliament The Kings sâ—premacy and other Lawes confirmed Ministers fly into England Presbyters equivocation Divers executed for Conspiracies Anguâ— and other Fugiâ—ives in Engl. Insolâ—nt Arran made Chancellour his great pâ—â—r in State Maxwel misused takes arms against the L. Johnston Arran declines in Qâ—een Elâ—zabeths favoâ— Holy League Wootton sent Ambassâ—dour to Scotland Propositions of a Mariage with Denmark The Lords conspire and declare Wotton ploâ—s with them and posts home The Lords seize the King at Sâ—erlin treat 1567. Parl. cap. 2 1572. Acts 46. 48. 54. 1573. Acts 55. 1578. Acts 63. 1579. Acts 69. Acts 71. 1584. Acts 130. 132. 133. 1587. Acts 23. Anno 1586. 1597. Acts 231. 1606. Act. 2. 6. 1617. Act. 1. Buchanan See his de juâ—egni Pag. 50 usque 57. Davison The 〈◊〉 trulâ— stated Genevians Whittingham Goodman Gilby Whitehead Coverdale Orthodox men Scory Barlow Cox Beacon Bale Parkhoâ—st Grindal Sands Nowel Wisdom Jewel Udal Penry Martin Gilby and others See after anno 1591. Learned Hooker Cartwrights and others League offensive and defensive England and Scotland Against the holy League of Papists Return to Quâ—â—â—aries story Remoâ—â—â—â— inâ—o custody â—o Pawlet â—rdundel 〈◊〉 Northumberland pistols himself Babingtons Treason Pooley Beâ—â—ayed by Gifford a Priest Gifford a false Priest Traytors all execuâ—ed Gifford sent â—nto France and there impoisoned Qâ— of Sâ—ots câ—mes to her Tryal The manner L. Chancelloâ—rs Speech Her Answer Chancellouâ—s Reply Gawdy Queen Queen Queâ—n Treasurer Queen Queen Queen Sentence against the Qu. of Scots Opinions of her Sentence A dâ—legate Parliamâ—nt require Execution Q. Elizabethâ— cunning reply Sentence proclamed King Jameâ— perplexed â—ends Keith to Qâ— Eliz With several directions The Queens Answer Oâ—her Lâ—tters more câ—lm and Ambassâ—doâ—â—s Ambassadoâ—rs reason with the Queen The King writeâ— to Gray â—nd Leicester to the King So does Walsingham to the Lord Thirlstan False Taleâ— Scotland in disorder The Ministers refuse to pray for their Qu. Cooper a saucy Minister Is committed More letters from the K. A Mandate for execution Davison Beâ—le The manner of her Execution Her featurâ—â— Her apparelled Comes forth of her chamber Commissioners receive her who speaks with Melvin her maâ— And to the Commissioners Who denie heâ— some requests At which she weepâ— And they yield and she comeâ— to the Scaffold Sits down Bealeâ— speech Dr. Fleâ—cher Dean of Peterboroughs exhortation She interrupts him He prayed for her Her demeanor in Prayers Executioners and servants disrobe her Her servants sorrowful She kneels at the Block And is executed 46. yeers old 18. yeers prisoner Observable her Dogs dâ—meaner Her Corps buried in the Cathedral of Peterborough Magnificently removed by K. James to Westminster 1612. Her Epitaphs Q. Elizabeths Letter to the K. of Scots Davison sentenced in Star-chamber His apology unto Walsing Foul play on all hands Walsinghams Letter to pacifie the K. Walsinghams Letter to the L. Thirlstan The Kingâ— deportment upon his Mothers death Whom Queen Elizabeth caressed Anno 1587. Designs upon the King to revenge Designs in Scotlaand Earl Aâ—gus dies bewitcht His Character Civil broylâ— in Scotland to kill the Lord Thirslton by Gray accused of Treason also He was banished A Parliament the King reconciles the Lords And endeavours to do so by â—he Kirkmen who refuse mediation Borderers in â—â—wd Hunsdon Ambassador to Scotlaâ—â— Ambassadours about the mariage with Denmark Jesuitâ— arrive in Scotland Kirk-men insolent Anno 1588. and in mutiny for Gibson Gibsons abâ—se of the King He flies into England to the Schismaticks Puritans of England Martin f. 780. Maxwell in Rebellion is pursued by the King Maxwell fliâ—â— Caâ—tles rendered Taken Prisoner Rumouâ— of the Spanish Navy The Kings Speech The Chancellors opinion Bothwell perswades to invade England Col. Semples false designs is rescued by Huntley who is dismissed the Court. Q. Elizabeths message The narration of the Spanish Navy The number of particulars Officers Their Design with Parma The first approach Anno 1589. Defeated by a Sâ—ratagem of fire ships Several Shipwracks Great Losses prophecies Scots Catholiques disâ—ayed Huntly writes to Parma So doth Arrol And so do Huntley Crawford and Maxwell Catholique Lords Rebell Design how to meet Queen Elizabeth writes to the King Proclamations against Jesuits who join with the Rebels The King incourages his forces Commission ers sent to â—etch the K. Bride from Denmark Rebells submit and are committed Ministers make work The Kingâ— design to meet his Queen in Norway The cause and maner therof with further directionâ— What Lords shall govern and how He maries the Queen And goes forward to Denmark Anno 1590. And returns to Scotland The Queens Coronation by a Minister E. of Arundel arraigned in England Popes Bull. Condemned pardoned English expedition to Portugal land at the Groyne Colâ—mella Plâ—niâ— Navars title to France Holy Leaguâ—rs Guiâ—es â—â—râ—hred Henry 3. murâ—hered Justified by the Pope Q. Elizabeth
aids Navaâ— Spain interessed Asâ—iâ—ts France with more money 101560 071165 020000 033333. 226058. Crowns And the Dutch 125000. 260000. 385000. Florins See after She raises her Custom-Farm She ballancâ—â—h her neighbour interests The Assembly petition the King His Answer and advice to suppress â—eâ—dâ— Huntley and Murray quarrel Another of the Kers Witches accuse Bothwel who is committed to Prison and escapes Archbish. of St. Andrews dieâ— and abused by the Ministery Secretary Walsingham dies his Character And so does Randolph 18. times Embassadour abroad And the â— of Shrewsburyâ—dies An Epitaph Irish Rebells Essex expedition into France with 4000. Hackets horrible Tenents and Treasons Mad-headed Hypocrites Anno 1591. His disciples apprehended his blaspemy and execution puny Jesuits Their Seminaries Confirmed by the Pope Botâ—wels Treason to seize the King and Court The manner theâ—eof Fire the Qâ— lodgingâ— and 〈◊〉 Huntley and Murray fall into the mischief The Sheriff killed Anno 1592. Murray miserably slain The cause of Murrays death put upon others Murry lamented Huntley is at Liberty Uchiltry abused The Chuâ—ch interfeers the State Affairs And Articles agreed Bothwells other attempts at Faulkland is defeated and flies to England Lindsey Lord Spinie is susspected and becomes a companion of Bothwells A love trick of a Woman Faction against the Chancellour Clanhattons against Huntly Angus committed Ker his Comâ—mission to Spain Plots of Papists The French King relieved by Q. Eliz. Turns Papist Duke of Parma dies The Queens message by L. Burroughs The Kings Answer the Ambassadours reply Anno 1593. Church Assembly Munday Market to be altered Bothwel seises the King at Holy rood-house And enforces Articles The King complains of Bothwels insolencies The Lords râ—sent it and send to him Denounced Rebell Proceedings against Popish Lords by the Ministers The King displeased with the Assembly Their farther proceedings in Tumult Commissioners to try the Popish Lords and conclude these Articles Maxwells and Johnstons fewds The Kinds sad condition Popish Lords come not in Pr. Henry born in Feb. Lord Zowch Ambassadour from England and Ministers assist Bothwels attempt and so do Arguile and Arrol Anno 1594. The King pleads to the people after Sermon for assistance Bothwel dissipated Colvil Ambassadour to England complains of Zowch The Queens â—nswer Papists banished Remonstrance of the Assembly against Papists And the Remedies The Solemnities of the Princes Baptism named Henry Fredâ—rick At the Chaple The King sends to England for money Bothwel and the Popish Lords join in Rebellion Arguile and Athol against Huntley and Arrol Arguile discomfited The K. comes to the Good-speed they are banished Bothwel flies into France and dies at Naples some years after Assemblie of the Church in Scotland Answer the K. Articles Anno 1595. Q. Anns Design to seize the Prince The Kings letter to Mar. The Chancelor sick and why The Kings letter to him full of grace Chancellour dies his character The King assigns Commissioners of his Treasury Papists private plots Devising sundry other Titles to both Crowns of E. of Essex Of Spains Pâ—actice to impoyson Q. Eliz. by Loper Cullen York and Willians and other fugitive trayâ—ors Ant Perez infected Essex Spanish deâ—ignes invasion of Scotland or England Spaniards pooâ— successe upon England Sr. W. Raleghs Guiana voyage and other attempts in the weâ—â— Indies Anno 1596. Armstrong taken prisoner in a treaty of the Borderers Backlugh complains to the Lo. Scroop Backlughs designe to take the Castle of Carlile And frees Armstrong Bows the Ambassador complains hereof the Qâ—een offended Backlugh commiâ—â—ed â—â—bellion in the Orcades Assemblies make things worse Policie to call home the Popish Lords Mr. Bruce an enemy to Huntley The Popish Lords return home upon Conditions Princess Elizabeth born August 16. 1596. Ministers make work The Counâ—il of the Church and the Kings Councel confer The King is offended with them Their complaints Which the K. answers The Minister Blake his muteny and story Blakes râ—monstance Blake brought to his Answer The Ministsters factious courses The King by proclamation dissolves their Assembly The Ministers Counterappose the King The Commissioners of the Church petition the K. Is rejected Articles against Blake His answer The King treats witâ— them Both partâ—eâ— bandie A Dangerous tumult The King and Council retire from danger Proclaim Mad preaching Their letter to Lord Hamelton to be Their head Hamelton comes to the King proceedings against those disorders Citizens brought to submit Is rejected And humbly propose Queen Elizabeths letter to the King The Kingâ— mercâ— The Octavians yield up their office The Northern Ministers are Courted Their answer The King writes to Huntley Twelve Articles from the King to the Assembly Submitted unto in effect And all ends in content Bishop 〈◊〉 death and â—haracter The Netherlands called to account 400001 per annum in ten years 4000001 dept Irisâ—â— rebells increasing Norris goes over assistant Callis taken by the Spaniard the English Navy Publick form of prayer for success of the Navy Take Cadiz Called Cales voyage Digression how farr foreign titles preceed at home In England At Rome Genoa Venice and Scots The Popish Lords submit to the Church Proclamation against Gaurdon a Jesuite Barcklayes de sign discovered he drownes himself Blake the Minister 〈◊〉 out of all Excellent reformation in the Vniversity Witches discovered Margaret Atkin 〈◊〉 Digresses concerning witches and witchcraft Maintainers Several Authors in this subject Expedition of Earl of Essex to the Isles of Azores Essex and Ralagh differ Come home and quarel at Court A Parliament at Edenburgh Ministers voice in Parliament Bruce refuseth imposition of hands but at last is so admitted The King sends Ambassadors to the German Princes Their Answer France craves aid of England against Spain and comes to a Treaty France and Spain dispute precedency and make peace Disputes of peace or war with England Queen Elizabeth strikes Essex His angry letters 〈…〉 King of 〈◊〉 dies One Squire impoysons the Queens saddle Tomas falsâ—accusation of K. James to Q. Elizabeth K. James his prudence to suppress false rumours Ashfield surprized Prisoner to Barwick Colvil Recants his treatise against the Kings title The Kings Basilicon doron the occasion of it in publick The new year altered from 25. of March to 18. Ianuary The state of Bishopricks at that time Irish Rebellion with Tirone Essex and Caecils Intelligence with King Iames. Caecil Essex Gowries conspiracie See anno 1608. Court and châ— of King James paâ— 8 Hist Gr Br Pa 12. Vide ante 1568. et 1582. Earl Gowry retires home The manner of the conspiracie 4. of August Hendersons Examination and confession Alexander treats with the King The King takes to Henderson Alexander 〈◊〉 with the King The King cries Treason John Ramsey comes up and Sir Thomas Erskin follows Ramsey wounds Alexander Henderson slips away Earl Gowry comes up to the fray Gowry astonished is killed by Ramsey Others hurt The Lords and company come in Gowries Spels of Enchantment Two other brothers William and Patrick beyond
Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 10. Arch Bishop Whitgift dies The Translation of the Scriptures Gen. 19. Isay 29. Psalm 48. Psalms translated Catechizing commended Hist. of the World pag. 249. Gowries aniversarie day celebrated See 1600. 1608. Hist. gr Br. pa. 12. Comotion of some Commoners Parliaments beginnings Jury were Judges so Lilburn pleaded Parliament of King and Barons onely The Commons taken into Parliament Of the Parliament of England The writ to summon the Peers The writ to summon the Knights and Burgesses Oath of Alleageance Of Supremacy Ecclesiastical matters Lords Privileges Lower House Harmony of all King Queen and Prince ride in triumph First Session of Parliament The Kings speech in Parliament abreviated 2 3. Peace and Unity in Religion and Manners Union with Scotland intended Ambassadours for Peace Co and ch pa. Proclamation to conformity in Church-discipline Assembly of the Church in Scotland in spite of the King Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 27. The Kings second Son Charls created Duke of York Pouder Treason Pouder Treason the story Anno 1605. Fauks his Confâ—ssion of the Design Th. Winter's Confession of the Plot discovery and success The story pâ—t together in brief Second Session of Parliament Three intire subsidies and six fifteens Several Acts. The effect of the Oath of Alleageance Taken by Papists The Popes Bull against the Oath The Kings Apologie and Preface to take the oath Justified by forein Princes Jesuits divide the English into four sects Their opinion refuted See before anno pa. 1542. pa. 9 And Imprisonment as bad Best Counsel to convince them by Preaching Anno 1606. Leptons 〈◊〉 to York 〈◊〉 back King of Dâ—â—mark land◠〈◊〉 Graves-end Princes forâ—â—â—â— their liberties by coming into another Kingdom without leave The Earls of Northumberland and other Lords confederates in the Pouder Treason are committed Of the Star-Chamber beginning and ending The Letter Anno 1607. The union argued The Kings Speech in answer to their Arguments Post-nati confirmed H. G. Bâ— pag 41. Judg Nichols his true justice Gâ—ntry flock to London Proclamation in restraint of new buildings unless of Brick Anno 1608. Hist. Gr. Bâ—it p. 49. L. Treasurer Dorset dies George Spâ—ot a Conspirator with Gowry his story and execution His Coâ—fessions His Trial. Restalrig's Letter to Gowry and after the Treason Other Letters to Gowry as also his 〈…〉 Confesseth the Indictment Jurors names Verdict Sentenced as a Traitor Executed A marvellous sign of guilt Abbot Bishop of Canterbury being present History of the Church of Scotland p. 509. The Kings disbursments already 60000 l. 19000. 17428. 11000. 107428. The Scotish Secretary Balmerino's treacherous Letter to the Pope The occasion 1609. He is sent pâ—isoner to be tryed in Scotland His indictment His confession And sentence Anno 1609. Is reprieved and dies King James a mercifull Prince and restores his son in blood And he a traytor also to King Charles is also pardoned And proves an ungratefull wretch to his blessed Master The Bishops in Scotland inlarged their power Scots Bishops consecrated in England Who ordain others at home Council Table ordered The Earl of Orkney committed High commission-Court The Session seek for grievances Hist Gâ— Bâ— ubique The Kings Speech to both Houses Of his Government Common Law and Civil Prohibitiâ—â—â— 2. Grievancâ—â— how to present them Not to meddle with his Office High Commission 3. The cause of calling the Parliament The quality how to give The quantity His expences Reasons for his liberality Conclusion 1. Religion The Common-wealth Proclâ—mation against â—ncrease of buildings about London Truce between Spain and the Netherlands Siege of Juliers Duke of Guelders and Juliers c. his descent last of the race The Netherlands sometime subjects to Spain Henry the fourth King of France stab'd 60000 l. Parliament dissolved Henry created Prince of Wales their dignities See before Knights Bachelors Anno 1603. Ayd mony H. Gr. Br. pa. 52. False suggestions to be impoysoned Court and ch of King James pa. 84. Hist Gr. Br. pa. 52. Nearer Intention for Prince Henry to match with Spain See after anno 1624. Papists persecuted by Pens Chelsey Coledge founded and why H. Gr. Br. pa. 53. The Kings favorite Mountgomery Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 54. See 1612. Masks and Comedies at Court H. G. Br. pa. 54. Discussed Our Adversary a Poet and play-maker Contribution-money 111046. l Suttons Hospitall founded Absurd Excommunication and unchristian in Scotland The three Earls revolt So was Padie Paulo Popisâ—ly excommunicated Earl of Eglington illegally adopts an Heir to his Honors Arminius Vorstius their Heresies Vorstius his blasphemous Books The Kings message to the States Arminius The States Answer Further accusations And proceedings therein Bookes of Vorstius Heresies The King writes again against them all Vorstius is preferred Professor of Divinity Sir R. Winwoods speech concerning Vorstius His Tenenâ—s Pag. 210 212. 232 237. 308. 441. 271. Pa. 38. 43. Cap. 16. Pa. 999. Conclusion And Protestation States Answer The Kings Declaration against Vorstius See more in the Kings works And against his Bookes Legat and Whithman burnt for Herâ—sie Legats Heresies Whitemans Heresies Adamites Incests Waldâ—nses â—in 〈◊〉 Anno 1612. I may be câ—nsured by some Robert Carr a favorite Hist. Gr. Br. pa. 55. Queen Mary of Scotland her corps inteâ—red at Westminster Anno 1586. Hist Gr. Br. pa. 62. Prince Palatine a suitor to Princess Elizabeth Prince Henryes sickness and death vindicated Hist Gr. Br. pa. 72. Lunary Rainbow His Corps viewed Interred at Westminster His character False suspition of poyson Hist. G. Br. pa. 64. Prince Palatine mâ—ried to Pâ—incâ—ss Elizabeth â—a 65. Sanquair a Scotish Baron hanged for murther Treasurer Salisbury dies His Fatâ—ers descent And preferments Earl of Salisburies preferments His Merits Court and ch King James pa. 12 13. Hist. Gr. Br. pa. .76 Court of Wards how erected and established Court of Wards how erected and established His Offices disposed to others Suffolk Lord Treasurer Rochester Chamberlain Sir W. Cope Master of the Wards and the Favourite made Secretary Sir T. Overbury his story A Friend to Rochester Dâ—sign'd Ambassadour Refuses to go The King wants money Sir Arthur Ingram Court and Ch. pag. 87. E. of Essex and his Countess Car and Overbury their stories intermixt Lady Rich divorced Hist. Gr. Br. pag. 68. Anno 1613 Hist. Gr. Brit. p. 69. â— of Suffolk petitions for his daughters divorce Delegates in commisâ—ion The Countesses Libell against her husband Essex's answer She is to be inspâ—cted by Ladies who repute her a Virgin and so do seven more â—adies Sentence of Nullity Signed by sufficient men Arch-bishop Abbots Arguments against the Nullity Answered The Countess marries Somersct H. Gr. Br. p. 72 Hist. Naâ— ch 28. Overburie designed to be deâ—troyed Earl Northampton dies His preferments to honour Against Duâ—lls Rebellion in Orkney The Earl convicted and executed his descent Oglevy a Jesuit his Examinations Plantations in America Hist. gr Br. p. 75. Cabot Virginia New England Elizabeths Isles Nova Francia Baronets created
come The next to him the Ambassador of Denmark on the left Hand the English Extraordinary and Lieger sat together and then the Ambassadours of Brunswick Megleburgh and the States before each Seat a small Tâ—ble covered with Velvet and officers only about the English to wait his pleasure The Service ending Sussex presented the Prince to David Cunningham Bishop of Aberaeen the action of Baptism administred by David Lindsey Minister of Lieth and in French because of Strangers and naming him Henry Frederick And so returning in former Order And the Prince being laid upon a Bed of Honour Lion Herauld proclaims his Titles Henry Frederick Knight and Baron of Kenfrew Lord of the Isles Earl of Karrick Duke of Rothsay Prince and Stewaâ—d of Scotland Meddals of Gold and Silver cast to the people sundry Knights made with feastings and comedies for a whole moneth The King amidst these Ceremonies of joy minds his serious affairs For the Popish Lords in Rebellion an Ambassadour is sent to Queen Elizabeth to remember her promise to support his levies after many shifts and delayes some small sums were advanced as a loan which in truth were due otherwise upon account and that very unwillingly too for one Lock was now resident at Court the only agent for Bothwells business and Mr. Calvil the Minister his Copes-mate there also And again Bothwell is got up and keeping intelligence with the Popish Lords in the North against whom the King intends an Expedition resolves so to incumber his affairs in the South as to prevent his journey and having received some Gold from his Foreign friends corrupts the Keeper of the Castle Blackness to seize the King into hold till the Conspirators should come and force conditions To this they all are obliged by bond assigned by Huntley Arroll Angus Bothwell and Achindown and in custody of Sir Iames Scot. By which and others papers discovered from Allan Orm Bothwells Man the whole plot came to light and was published to undeceive the Commâ—nalty upon what score of Religion Bothwells Treasons were confirmed And the Jayler and Orm were both executed to assure the visible truth to the people And without more circumstance Commission was given to Arguile Athâ—l and others who besiege the Castle of Ruthen but was beaten back and meets with a Supply of more strength nowadvanced to a thousand horse and foot Huntley hastens to fight ere Arguile get more men And being less in number but made desperate by necessity Arroll leads the Van with three hundred aâ—d Huntley hath the Battel No sooner in sight but Arguile in some misdoubt yet commands Maâ—kâ—an who led his Van to advance Himself lodges in the fast grounds full of Moss and boggs with the main of his men Huntley had some Field pieces which plaid upon Macklans Highlanders and they as their manner was then though since they have appeared stout fellowes and to stand to it fell down on their bellies not willing to look up so long as the Guns did thunder which incouraged Arroll to give the charge but being forced to wheel aside the Fellowes got up on their feet and by that time they incounter showring such a storm of arrows upon Arroll that the first flight a quarter of an hower darkned the day into night and at the fall of their Arrows came in with their darts that killed Achindown and dangerously wounded Arroll many hurt and the most fled Huntley sees this and hastily spurs his Horse into the succour and now encountring for the day continued a cruel fight for two hours which routed Argâ—ile not able to rally them again yet Macklan stood it out with courage and skil till he retired in order and honour with loss of many men of note beâ—ides seven hundred Soldiers and but a dozen on Huntleys part though divers desperately wounded And it s called the Battell of Clenlivat a mile off And so the Lords for the Kings side separate and go home But ere the Conquerors could relish their wellfare the King was got into the North and demolishes Strathbolgy Slains and Newton principal holds of Huntleys and though themselves withdrew to his Aunt the Countess of Sutherland they were so beset by the Duke of Lenox Lieutenant of the North that they capitulate with Sureties to depart the Realm without prejudice abroad to the State at Home nor to return â—ill the Kings pleasure Huntley into France and the rest into several Soâ—ls This condiscention to such notorious Rebells lodged sometime upon the Kings account as in favour to the Romists but if we examine the charge of the War uncertainty of his Nobles faction of other fewds and a ticklish jealousie in the Ministery not to suffer Bothwell to sinck whose pretences till now they alwaies incouraged these exigents may excuse the King Indeed in this publick Rebellion with Papists Colwell his Chaplain refused his devotion forsook his company and came home again yet to make himself welcome betrayed Bothwells Brother Hercules Stewart to publick execution at Edenburgh This frighted the grand Traytor into fears and forsaken or all but his guilty self flies into France and lands at New-haven where in disquise he lodges but tidings of him came to the King who sends a Gentleman to France to demand so reprobate a Rebell The French King professed not to afford him countenance but being come for refuge he could not in honour debar him the free air of France And so wearied with the insupportable weigh of his sinful soul and quarrelling with any man to kill him against the Edict of France He was thereupon banished from thence wanders into Spain and so to Naples in Italy where he lived and died woundrous poor and unpittied of all men about the year 1624. And thus the Hydra's Heads of this Conspiracy removed out of the way the Members came in discovering one another to procure pardon and the very Bond was brought in which did assotiate these Confederates by which the Ministers eyes were opened and by this new light they could see Bothwells guilt which heretofore they could hardly believe And so ended this Rebellion with the last of the year The next Assembly of the Church occasioneth the King then at Montross to send Commissioners to them to urge these Articles That any subjâ—â—t found guilty of Treason should also be excommunicate that so the Swords of Iustice Spiritual and Temporal should make inseparable Union one with another That no Excommunication should be valid by private men without major votes in publick Assemblyes of the Members of other Churches That no Excommunication should fall upon any for slight causes and suspected crimes in Civil cases lest the censure should come into contemâ—â— like the Popes Cursings and when they do to give lawful citation A man would judge of these Articles without difficult Answer Yet they shake their heads at all At the fâ—rst with this clause Legitima cognitione Ecclesiastica preaeunte To
of my life Such stuff as this makes up the matter as they would make us believe but in truth he threatened Somerset with some discovery which was construed to be secrets of Love or State or both Not without monstrous defaming her honour by Message and writing filthy base woman they were best look to stand fast which begat fury in her and subtilty in Somerset least Overburies Malice should break forth to both their sufferings and so trouble their whole fortunes To prevent mischief to the One and continual defame to the other combining with the rest It was resolved by her to destroy him which she first intended by assassination and dealt with one Sir David Wood an ill-looked red-bearded Scot whom Overbury had prevented of a suit valued 2000l But his cowardice not conscience fearing to ingage she and they plotted the impoisoining of him in prison as the story intends to discover in particular This Spring seizes Northampton for death He was brother unto the late Duke of Norfolk who suffered for his Attempts of Marriage with the Queen of Scots as before remembred then a Prisoner here in England which might be some motive for the King to consider the advance of this Man and that Family which he did by preferring the Dukes second Son to be Earl of Suffolk 1603. and by restoring the Dukes Graâ—dchild Thomas Earl of Arundel 1604. as aforesaid and by particular preferments of this Henry who was more wedded to his book than to the Bed for he dyed a Bachelour He was accompted wise and learned a cunning States-man and for all these abilities out of the Kings great affection to Letters especially being concentured in a Noble person at his first accession hether he the rather advanced him in succeeding Creations as Baron of Marnhill Earl of Northampton then Privy Councellour Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Lord Privy Seal and Knight of the Garter and elected Chancelour of the University of Cambridge He had plentiful for his single Life and to spare for his friends In his expence not over frugal maintaining his Port the most remarkable like the antient Nobility in his family and dependents of any Lord then or since his time He assisted his Nephew the Earl of Suffolk by his designning and large contribution to that excellent Fabrick Awdleend He built that Noble Structure at Charing-Cross Northamp House presented it a New years gift to his Cosin German the â— Walden Suffolks eldest Son And yet left his other Cosin the E. of Arundel the rest of his estate so to appear to the World his equal distribution to such even kindred He was pious and gave good testimony thereof in his life built that handsome Covent at Greenwich and indued it with Revenue for ever for maintenance of decayed Gentlemen Bachelours a competent number and for Widdows also considerable He died in April Anno 1614. full of years and honour and suspected more Catholick than some will think reasonable though in the form of a Church Papist as some lately do publish and to be a Setter in the monstrous Murther of Sir Thomas Overbury though the Lieutenant of the Tower Yelvis in his Examinations and Confessions cleered him which suspition is since grounded upon the interpretation of his Familiar Epistles to the Earl of Somerset and indeed but bruited since his death And where no proofs precede we may be sparing to not him so Noble a Person with that or any other Infamy About these times the humours of young Gallants not brooking the peaceable conditions of our Kingdomes and neighbour Nations took upon themselves to quarrel with each other and to fight it out in Duels upon slight occasions and very frequent which induced his Majesty to publish a severe Edict against private Combates and Combatants their Seconds Accomplices and Adherents for prevention of those heavy events whereto worthy familics become obnoxious by the odious and enormous impieties inevitably subsequent thereupon Intending by that time that the most proper Remedies have qualified the distemper of il-disposed minds and that audacious spirits have smarted for incompetent desires the false colours and pretences of erring Custome have both been counterpleaded and corrected by reforming severity By that time I say that Passion hath been put into the right course of submitting to discretion and caution hath wrought it self at leasure into as constant a form and habit of conforming to obedience as self-will took in former times to plant false principles the greater part will easily discern That there is greater reason to reprove those that offer Challenges of madness than to tax those of Cowardice that abstain out of duty And therefore those that should conceive themselves to be behind in the least respect of point of honour should repair to the Marshalls Court who were instructed and prepared as well for the cleansing of all green wounds as the healing of old Ulcers that shall appear to them Hereupon occassion was soon given and taken in a Duel of Priest and Wright for writing and carrying the challenge and an information against them in Star Chamber by a charge of Sir Francis Bacon Atturney General and though the persons were but mean yet they served for example to the great the Dog to be beaten before the Lion the one a Barber Surgeon the other a Butcher This eloquent Oratour divided his charge into four branches 1. The nature and greatness of the Mischief 2. The Causes and Remedies 3. The Iustice of the Law of England which saies he some think defective herein 4. The capacity of this Court where the Remedy is best to be found 1. For the first when Revenge is extorted out of the Magistrates hands into private men presuming to give Laws to themselves It may grow from quarrels to banding so to trooping then to tumult and commotion from private persons to families and alliances and so to national quarrel and subject the State to inflamations and convulsions and herein Offences of presumption are the greatest and this to be done by the aurorae filii sons of the morning young men full of hope and towardness 2. The Causes no doubt a false imagination of honour and credit bewitching Duels Species falsa against Religion Law and virtue That men now adaies had lost the true Notion of fortitude and valor the one Fortitude distinguishing the grounds of quarrels whether they be just and worthy a mans life being to be sacrificed to honourable services good causes and Noble Adventures Expence of blood is as the expence of money not to be profuse in either upon vain occasion For the Remedies Four things may be effectual for repressing the depraved custome of Combates First The State to abolish it for then every particular person thinks himself thereby acquitted his reputation when he sees it an insult against Sovereign power Like unto the Edict of Charls the ninth of France against Duels That the King himself took upon him the honour of all
that were grieved or interessed for not having performed the combate when he shall see the rule of State dis-interest him of a vain and unnecessary hazard Secondly This evil must not be cockered The compounding of quarrels is grown so punctual by private Noblemen and Gentlemen who is before hand and wholly behind hand It countenances Duels as if therein somewhat of right The most prudent and best Remedy may be learned out of the Kings Proclamation The false conceated humour must be punished in the same kind In eo quis rectissime plectitur in quo peâ—cat such men to be banished the Kings presence and excluded the Court for certain years to be cast into that darkness not to behold his Sovereigns face Lastly We see the Root of this offence is stubborn for it despiseth death the utmost of punishments and therefore these men to be executed by Law without all remission The severity of France had been more where by a kind of Marshal Law established by the King the party surviving was instantly hanged their wounds though bleeding least a natural death should prevent the example of Justice Or if not so to do but with greater lenity yet of no less efficacy which is to punish by fines in Star Chamber the middle acts and proceedings which tend to the Duel 3. Now for the Law of England It is excepted against in two points Not to difference between an infidious and foul murther and killing upon fair terms as they term it The other Not providing sufficient punishment for contumely of words as thely and the like These novelties are thus answered The Law of God makes no difference but between Homicide voluntary and involuntary which we term Misadventure and for which there were Cities of Refuge Our Law hath a more subtil distinction The Will inflamed and the Will advised Man-slaughter in heat and Murther upon Malice or cold blood The Romans had restrained this privilege of passion but onely where the Husband took the Adulterer in the manner Yet Cain inticed his Brother into the Field and slew him treacherously but Lamech vaunted of his Murther To kill a young man and if it were but in his hurt So as the difference is between Insidious and Presumptâ—oâ—s Murther these of Cain and Lamech Greece and Rome had not this practice of Duells It is said fas est ab hoste doceri There was a Duel between two eminent persons of the Turks and one slain the Council of Bashaes reprehended the Other How durst you undertake to fight one with the other are there not Christians enow to kill Did you not know that whether of you were slain the loss would be the great Seigniours T is true we find Combates before an Army amongst the Romans which they called Pugna per provocationem between Generals themselves or by their license to others So David asked leave when he fought with Goliah And Ioab when the Armies met gave leave Let the young Men play before us And of this kind was that famous example in the Warres of Naples between the Spaniards and Italians where Italians prevailed The second combate is a Iudicial Tryal of Right introduced by the Gothes and the Northern Nations and more antient in Spain But yet a wise Writer saies Taliter pugnantes videntur tentare Deum quia hoc volunt ut Deus ostendat faciat Miraculum ut justam causam habens Victor efficiatur quod saepe â—ontra accidit Nay the French folly in this kind had it in Toleration never authorized by Law but of late punished with severe rigour As for the supposed defect in our Law for Lies and fillips words of denyal and flea bites to murther a man Solon's Answer satisfies That he had not ordained Punishments for it not imaging the world so phantastical to take it so highly The Civillians say that an action of injury does not ly for it Indeed Francis the first of France gave the ly to the Emperour and in a Solemn Assembly said That he was no honest man that would bear the ly The Laws of England had onely these degrees of injury Slander Battery Maime and Death But as for a fillip Consalvo said A Gentlemans honour should be De tela crassiore of a strong warp Now for the power of this Court to censure Presidents have been in the Minor Whartons case P lt where Acklam Defendant servant to Elleckars was fined for carrying his Masters challenge but by Word of Mouth And it was concluded to prosecute in these cases against such As shall appoint the field though the sight be not acted Send challenge in writing or message Shall deliver either of them To accept or return them To be a second To depart beyond Seas to combat To revive a quarrel by sâ—andalous bruits or Pasquils Counsellers of Quarrellers And that a Man may in those cases be as well fur de se as felo de se if he steal out of the Realm to fight he doth Machinari contro Coronaâ— But let us remember Scotland We have forewarned the Earl of Orkneys mis-behaviour in Scotland which of late so increased as he was again sent for and committed Having rioted most of his Estate the remainder was mortgaged to Sir Iohn Arnots of whom the King purchases his Interest by which means he might the better give relief to the distressed Tenants from oppression The Earl now in Dunbarton Castle with a Noble a Day pension for his Maintenance had information how his Estate with his Castles Kirkwall Birsay and other his Houses and Lands in the Isles were rendered to the Kings Sheriffs He endeavouring first to escape but not effecting sends his base Son to get forces and to expulse the Possessors He does so with some loose people assaults Birsay and takes it wherein he puts a Garrison of thirty men and hastens to Kirkwall seizes that also This Insurrection comes to the Kings knowledge and hastens Commission to the Earl of Caithness Lieutenant of those bounds who with his Canon recovers the Castles in 6 weeks and those within made Prisoners Robert Steward the Earls base son and four more principal Actors were arraigned at Edenburgh convâ—ct and hanged The Earl as Accessary came to Tryal being indicted for causing his base son to surprize Kirkwall and Birsay inciting the people to Rebellion and detaining the Castles treasonably against the Kings forces He was allowed Prolocutours Lawyers of the best esteem who deny the Libel as they call it but the confession of his base Son and Others with his missive Letters written to one Iohn Sharp for detaining those Castles and a charter of certain Lands assigned by him to one Patrick Haloro for assisting the Rebels the Assize of Iury being his Peers Earls and Lords found him guilty of Treason and he presently executed at Edenburgh The end of Patrick Earl of Orkney Son to Robert Stewart one of the base Sons of King Iames the fifth for he had others
the experience of vexation might in some degree mollifie their affections better to digest difficulties he never refused by Ambassies to both sides and to all other the intervenient Princes and States to attempt that high work of Peace first and then afterwards of Restauration of the Palatinate by other waies and means The times when these Negotiations set forward were usuall in the Kings progress or retirements from London to his Sports as was conceived but they were then chosen abroad for better leasure of business even then when Kingdoms were in dispute An art he had thus to cover his weightier Meditations for most of his Dispatches were concluded in his hunting journies Prince Charls now grown man the King had disposed to a Treaty for his Marriage with the Infanta of Spain some while since and Sir Walter Aston sent thither Lieger to fit correspondence and now conceived not improper to induce the restauration of the Palatinate by that means However it may be observed the evil success of all our former medling with that Nation in matters of marriages so malignant and disagreeing with ours Let us ravel back to the memory of the Black Prince a person of the greatest performance that Christendome can parrallel Yet in his voyage to Spain to settle Don Piedro besides their monstrous ingratitude and perfidy to him then caused also that miserable revolt in France by his absence which lost us our Inheritance there and his health ever after his body either corrupted by the air or by their Drugs impoisoned And indeed their matches with the heirs and Princes of this Crown for above six score years having been no where else except the second Marriages of Henry the eight were alwaies unhappy Prince Arthurs sudden death left his Widow to his wicked Brother with whom God was less pleased as the Match was more unlawful and therefore not a Male was left of their race only one Daughter in whose short reign of six years was more bloodshed for the true Religion than for the false in sixty years she adventuring to marry there also this discontented Nation fell into insurrections Treasons Wiats Rebellion and therefore her Husband Phâ—lip suspecting the future effects forsook her who lost Callis to the French in six daies that the English had enjoyed 200. years but altogether broke her heart and she dyed Now to parallel these foreign Matches with those at home to our own Subjects the first being by Edward the fourth and the last with Henry the eight from which two Gods blessing brought forth two Queens Elizabeths such instruments of his Glory Peace in the Land and Religion in the Church as never could produce greater examples of Happiness to England until this of King Iames who brought hither them both with him But for settling affairs at Home for his purpose abroad he resolves of a Parliament which he had thought saies one to lay them by for ever as incroachers upon his prerogative and diminishers of his Majesties glory making Kings less and subjects more than they are Certainly he had good intelligence from the Kings thoughts or else the Man had a Devilish revelation to prophesy the effects for such they proved to be afterwards But in truth the people were grown high fed with plenty and peace and pretending their zeal for regaining the Palatinate were wilde for a War with any body for any thing The King willing to let blood in that vein meant to make it his purpose and to get money to boot Some sheets of paper together is wasted by Our adversary to let in his Reader into that Parliament he saies That for the Spanish faction was Arundel Worcester Digby Calvert Weston and others Popishly affected with Buckingham and all his Train The Duke of Lenox Marquess Hamilton and Earl of Pembroke their Antagonists Such and so few were they not in anger against the King but against his Ministers a plea evermore borrowed by practical people against their Sovereigns Proceedings The Papists flourished by Gondamores power with the Ladies of England their Nieces and Daughters presenting him in their Balconies in Drury-Lane and the Strand long before any were quilt in those places and himself in a Litter but was only accosted by the Lady Jacob with a gaping Yawn telling his servant that came on the Errand to know the meaning that she had a Mouth to be stopt too which Gondamore closed with a present That this Lady was a Bawd to the beauties and poor fortunes of young Gentlewomen whose parents sent them up hither for preferment and saies that for respects to their posterities he will spare to name their persons It seems he was Pimp-Major to them all How does this diâ—â—ecting become his grave Proeme if it be his own where he saies Histories are like Anatomies if ignorance or malice attempt to hack hew or bespatter it it will be most inhumane c. And so dissect and open their own follies c. They must not cauterize and flash with malice c Therefore he that censures others and vents them for truth digs in the bowels of another and wounds himself And yet as he saies though he fly high and may rove he is sure not to light far from the mark So he there in his proeme He goes on in his History and tells us That the Earl of Buckingham now Marquess rules all That the King bought of Worster to make the Marquess Master of the Horse But in truth that antient Earl being Chamberlain also to the Queens Houshold could not attend that service and wait abroad upon the King and it was therefore his own suit and Buckingham paid him for parting with it and so was made Master of the Horse The place of Marquess is the next in honour to a Duke the title came but of late daies the first was by Richard 2. upon Robert de Vere Marquess of Dublin and so it became a Title of honour for before that time they were called Lords Marchers and not Marquesses After the Conquest as in policy they were resident upon the Confines and Borders of the Welch and other places not subdued Men of valour of high blood of the Normans with the name and privileges of Earls of Chester And for the Nort Borders of Wales to be Count Palatines And the Barons of the Middle part of the South-Marches were adorned in a manner with a Palatine Jurisdiction having a Court of Chancery and Writs among themselves pleadable least their attendance abroad might be prejudicial at home And as for the other part of the South-Marches they seemed sufficiently defended with the River Severn and the Sea By these Ascents our Marquess Buckingham climbs to succeed at this time a good and gallant old Earl of Nottingham Admiral who being almost Bedrid made Suit to the King that he might dispose of his place as a Legacy in his life time upon Buckingham which was so done and who to my Knowledge went in person
State with the advice of learned Prelates Insomuch that the very licensing of Preachers had beginning by Order of Star-chamber the eighth of July 19. H. 8. And that at this present divers young Studients by reading of late writers and ungrounded Divines do broach unsound and seditious Doctrines to the Scandal of the Church and disquiet of the State and that humble representations have been to the King of these inconveniences by the Arch-bishop and other Reverend Prelates of the Church besides his Princely zeal for extirpation of Schism and Dissention proceeding from those seeds And for the settling of a Religious and Peaceable Government in Church and Commonwealth does by these charge and command you to use all possible care and diligence that these limitations and cautiono herewith sent you concerning Preachers be duly observed by Each Bishop in their Iurisdictions to be communicated to each Minister in Cathedral and Parish Churches of which we expect strickt account Windsor August 4. 1621. The Directions sent with the Letter in six Articles 1. That no Preacher â—nder the degree of Bishops or Deans fall into any set discourse or Common place which shall not be warranted in Essence Substance and Effect or Natural Inference with some one Article of Religion set forth anno one thousand five hundred sixty two or in some of the Homilies by authority of the Church of England 2. That none shall preach after noon on Sundays or holy days but on some part of the Catechism or of the Creed Decalogue or the Lords prayer and to incourage such Preachers as exercise children in their Catechism which is the most landable custome of teaching in the Church of England 3. That no Preacher under the Degree of a Bishop or Dean do preach the deep points of Predestination Election Reprobation or of the universality efficacy resistibility of GODS GRACE but leave these Theams for godly and learned men and that moderately and modestly by way of use and application rather then of positive Doctrines being fitter for the School then simple Auditories 4. That no Preacher soever shall presume in any Auditory to declare limit or bound out by way of positive doctrine the Power Prerogative Iurisdiction authority or duty of Sovereign Princes or meddle with matters of State and the differences between Princes and the people but rather confine themselves to faith and good life which are all the subject of the antient Sermons and Homilies 5. That no Preacher shall causlesly without invitation from the Text fall into bitter invectives undecent railing Speeches against the persons of Papists or Puritans but rather free both the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England from the aspersing of either Adversary 6. That the Bishops be more wary in the choice and licencing of Preachers And that all the Lecturers throughout the Kingdom a new body severed from the antient Clergy as being neither Parson Vicar nor Curate be licensed henceforth in the Court of faculties but only from a Recommendation of the party from the Bishop of the Diocess under his hand and Seal with a Fiat from the Archbishop of Canterbury a Confirmation under the Great Seal of England I well remember these times the invectives of the Pulpits which truly the wisdom of State thought fit to suppress The Non-conformist nestled himself into a Lecture by that means depending onely upon the devotion of the Parish was that way preferred without the favour of the Bishops And first insinuating into the women Wife Daughter and Maid infusing at their homes such doctrines as might easily catch their weak pallates and thereupon begat the frequent writing of Notes from their preaching in publick as it would astonish the indifferent Reader to meet with their Blasphemies and miserable Nonsense Notes And truly those Lectures wounderfully haunted by such people in after Noon Sermons on working days with such Stuff as savoured nought but railing against the Papist or our Church discipline The looseness of Servants took liberty almost every day in the week to be easied in their Labour and Callings to pretend devotion in this Ordinance of hearing Lectures in some or other Church untill their Masters complained of that Custome These Articles therefore were seasonably published to regulate the Ministery and to order the catechising of children and Servants which Godly and effectuall Way of teaching the King had often hinted heretofore but could never sufficiently reduce the Lecturers to obedience thereto See Anno 1603. Pag. 300. What could the care of the King do more to destroy the seeds of Dissentions Yet herein how captious Our Author observes That these directions were to be observed with Caution peaceable comporâ—ment that is saies he Papist and Puritan's quiet being Equilibero the Papist in the prime scale That the Lecturer is not to be endured unless he pass the Bryars through all Courts to the Broad Seal a pingeant Ordial Trial with his Teste me ipso and so becomes Orthodox So that saies he the Lecturers are implicitely forbidden by the inaccessible charge and trouble to come to it That the Preachers by an Order of Star-chamber in Heaven were licensed Ite predicate before any Henry 's time and so bids them learn least that Spirit from whom they receive the Spirit bind not them up And indeavours to perswade That the Papist did forment the Animosity of the King against Puaitans That Bishop Lawd his Agent though in Religion he had a Mothly form and quotes a Priest in Flanders that told him so was now become Buckinghams Confessor under the Court Livery and assures the Reader that the King once thought him so though now he became the bellowes to blow the fire for the Papist to put the King upon all Projects and Monopolies to sow the seeds of division between Puritan and Protestant for all were Puritans with the high-grown-Arminian-popish party that held the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches And it is somewhat true as he remembers Us That the Courtier Minister or Lay they called Regians who saies he swell up Prerogative even to all that the people had but a bare being which in mercy was left to them poor Republicans That more reverence was done by the Clergy to the King than to God And that the Iudges to inslave the people gave sacred and Oraculous Titles of the K. as of God But saies he the well-affected by writing and discourse sought to warm the Kings cold temper with fresh spirits into his chilled vains in this divided Kingdom So he This stuff smells rank of the Doctor that refined our dead Historians work and put it out in print as we have it Certainly he had heretofore passed the Pikes to be a Preacher and run through this Ordial-Tryal of his Text-ship who in those daies might well deserve a Duns-ship but of late went out Doctor to arm his Republicans if any such men are to be as arrant Rebels as himself in what estate soever they