little before his death in his deuotions being all Masse haue vowed to be reuenged on England though hee sold all those Candlestickes vpon the Altar before him Secondly that all Treaties with Spaine an idolatrous and irreligious Nation were both vnsafe and dangerous I proued by vn-answerable arguments in my Apology page 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. And how injurious the zealous peace-makers of those times were to the State I proued page 35 36. How necessary gainfull and honorable it was for the State of England to haue Warres with Spaine I proued page 36 37. and so to the end of my Apology But some of you haply will how say That now The Times are changed and with the time the Spaniards mind is altered Indeede I remember the old Poet sayd Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis But that is quite contrary in the Spaniard For although old King Phillip be dead yet there is a young Iesuited Phillip sprung from his loynes It is an old and homely Proverbe That which is bred in the bone will neuer out of the flesh But it is a true and obseruable saying Apol. page 19. and in that House aboue all others For as I told you in my Apology wheneuer old King Phillip should die his sonnes blood would be as hot and hotter than his Fathers and his humour of ambition like to be greater as hauing beene bred in Domo regnatrice and his mind swolne vetere insita Austriacae familiae suberbia So as in the Spaniards seeming peaceable proffers there is no hope c. Nay if it chance there be Infancy or Idiotisme found in any Heire or Offspring of that Race the state of Spaine are politique enough as being sworne thereunto though by neuer so dishonorable and degenerous meanes and machinations to promote the enlargement of his Westerne Monarchy And certes he hauing of late yeares since the death of my Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth gotten such footing in Christendome by dispossessing off and encroaching vpon some Princes and States their ancient and lawfull Inheritance Princedomes and Territories by which meanes hee hath as it were beguirt France with his Garrisons Is I say his ambition thereby lessened Surely no but as his Conquests are inlarged so his Ambition and Malice are aboundantly increased towards other Christian Princes and States Witnesse his late cruell and bloody attempts and perpetuall designes to his Vniuersall Monarchy and the progresse of his Conquests with the helpe of his Confederates of the terrestriall omnipotent Austrian House in Italy the Grizons Country Suitzerland Bohemia Germany and I say the Frontiers of flourishing France since the Death of Henry the Fourth the French King of famous memory And in all these places he and the Emperour his Confederate and Cousin do labour to extirpate the Gospell and persecute the professours thereof euen vnto the Death It would be knowne what King Iames sayth to all this who is Defender of the Faith and Head of all the Vnited Kings and Princes of the Religion in Christendome There is here in Heauen secret intelligence that He not contenting himselfe with making that League with Spaine hath also entertained a Treaty of Marriage for the Prince his onely Sonne with the Daughter of Spaine And certes the very Angells haue blushed at this newes that your King who is of so profound judgement learning and knowledge in Diuine matters should euer assent to Treat of Matching his onely Sonne with a wife of a contrary Religion Especially with an Impe sprung from such an incestuous Generation as is that of Austria and Spaine or Spaine and Austria chuse you whither which is vnanswerably proued by one of your most accute and ingenious Sandy's Relation of the West parts pag 26 27 Writers Without doubt King Iames cannot but know in his conscience that it is directly against the reuealed Will of God in Holy Writ for Christian Princes and people that professe the Gospell to match with Romane-Catholickes which made himselfe match with Denmarkes Daughter a Protestant Princesse and afterwards hee matched his only Daughter with the Count Palatine a Protestant Prince witnesse also his Maiesties owne Pen in his Basilicon Doron How comes it then to passe that hee is so misled as not onely to entertaine of this Treaty with Spaine but suffer himselfe to be so baffled and abused as that about the sayd Treaty hee hath wasted the Treasure of the Kingdome in a farre greater measure then his Royall Predecessour Queene Elizabeth my gracious Soueraigne did to maintaine Warres against Spaine and all his his Adherents I feare I feare you of his Nobility and Councell vnto whom it belongs are not so faithfull true hearted and stout as religiously to aduise and Counsell your King as you ought not to suffer himselfe to be so abused his Kingdome to be wel-nigh ruined and his subiects impouerished Oh the flourishing State of your Faery-Land in the dayes of yore whiles I liued on earth vnder the Gouernment of that glorious Queene of etermemory The Christian World did admire her Gouernment and your flourishing State Nay the very Mahumetane * Speed in Hist pag. 852 853. Monarchs did admire and acknowledge the same But now the case is altered and I can hardly forbeare to weepe to see what a piteous Petition that glorious Queene my now fellow Saint Elizabeth lately receiued from you the Commons of England But thereof I say no more considering she according to her Commission from the highest Power answered that your Petition Let me now admonish you all of the Nobility Gentry and Communalty First seriously and yet submissiuely to dehort and disswade your King to leaue off and absolutely dissolue all Treaties of Matches or whatsoeuer else with that perfidious and daungerous Spanish Nation and in lieu of the Spanish Match to promote the English March What though his Maiesties Treasure be drawne deepe into the poore Country-man by these late hard yeares be impouerished the Merchandize and trading of your Kingdome much decayed c. Yet if your sumptuous Buildings your surfetting Diets your Prodigality in Garments your infinite Plate and costly furniture in your Houses and the pride of your Wiues especially be considered England cannot be though so poore Can you exceede all Nations in Christendome in wastfull vanities And can you not arme your selues against one Nation which you haue euer beaten for your necessary defence Was Rome so braue a State as that the very Ladies to supply the Common Treasure and to maintaine the Warres despoyled themselues of their costly Iewels and rich Ornaments And is England become so base a State as that the people therein will not bestow some part of their superfluous expences to keepe themselues from Conquest and Slauery The onely end of all Spaines Treaties Witnesse their Treaty of peace in 88. when as euen at the instant their mighty Nauy came to inuade Vs Did the godly Kings and Religious people which you may
ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX HIS GHOST Sent from ELIZIAN TO THE NOBILITY GENTRY AND COMMVNALTIE OF ENGLAND Virtutum Comes Jnvidia Printed in PARADISE 1624. TO THE NOBILITY GENTRY AND Communalty of England Nobles Gentlemen Commons ALthough in this most holy and glorious Assembly of Angels and Saints in the most High Starre Chamber Court of Heauen where Almighty God and his Sonne Christ Iesus are King and Prince wee the Saints do neither participate nor sympathize of the good or euill condition of yee Mortals on earth Yet seeing it is a part of that glory that God affoordeth vs in Heauen to haue a measure of knowledge of your condition on earth and I particularly taking knowledge of the miserable and distracted present estate of the whilome flourishing Realme of England in the dayes of my then dread Soueraigne now fellow Saint Queene Elizabeth of blessed and immortall memory on Earth and in Heauen could doe no lesse then giue you this my Sacred Declaration and Admonishment which I send you by this my Blessed Genius written with a pen made of an Angels Pinion and agreeing with my Apology which I left behind me on Earth in mine owne defence and for the good of my Country after my discease The lawfull succession of your now King when I was amongst you on earth I neuer questioned but maintayned and was euer ready to maintayne with dint of my Sword if neede had bin his Title against whomsoeuer offered to question the same as was and is well knowne to his Maiesty That he was a prudent learned and religious educated Prince I also neuer doubted But that such a prudent learned and religious Prince should bee so farre misled by some false hearted Counsellours at home and fawning Forraine Embassadors from the enemies of God and his Gospell prosessed in England to the detriment of the Kingdome That I say makes me not a little to maruaile and mourne I should for my Natiue Country but that here in Heauen we are not subiect to passion Vpon my certaine knowledge notwithstanding all the faire shewe of league and amity betwixt Iames King of Scots and Philip King of Spaine the Crowne of Scotland was no longer safe on King Iames his head then whiles my Soueraigne Lady and Mistresse Queene Elizabeth by her valiant men of Action curbed King Phillip and kept him in awe For had his ambitious wicked and deuilish designe of Englands inuasion in 88. taken effect Is there any so childish to thinke that his inuasion would haue had any Period at Barwick Sure I am King Iames had wisedome enough to know that his Crowne and Kingdome lay then at the Stake in the second place next vnto England For K. Iames then of Scotland made a sweete Sonet as a Monument and Commemoration of his and our deliuerance from that Forraine and godlesse Fleete as he then termed It Which Sonet as I then receiued it I here present vnto your view and consideration The Nations banded ' gainst the Lord of might Prepar'd a Force and set them to the way Mars drest himselfe in sicke and awfull plight The like whereof was neuer seene they say They forward came in monstrous aray Both Sea and Land be set vs euery where Brags threatned vs a ruinous decay What came of that the ishue did declare The Winds began to tosse them here and there The Seas began in foaming waues to swell The number that escap'd it fell them faire The rest were swallow'd vp in gulfes of Hell But how were all these things miraculous done God lookes at them out of his Heauenly Throne The same Sonet is extant in Latine by Metellanus L. Chancellor of Scotland Matters so standing the maruaile is That vpon the mature shutting in of the euening of your long Summers day of Queene Elizabeths Reigne King Iames lawfully and peaceably succeeding to the Crownes of England and Ireland he so suddainly concludes as it were an inviolable league with that ambitious King Philip of Spaine that neuer made league with any King Prince or State but for his owne end and aduantage If I were on earth I know some of you would answer me King Iames was a peaceable Prince and so loued to be at peace and in amity with other Christian Princes Yea and it seemes your King himselfe is much affected with the very name of PEACE alleadging that he hath beene a peaceable King from his Cradle That BEATI PACIFICI is his happy destined Motto and with such like selfe-pleasing songs hath a long time sung a Requiem to himselfe c. I must confesse it is a happy thing for Christian and Religious Kings Princes and States to be at peace in vnity and amity one with an other But on the other side it is as vnhappy and daungerous a thing to haue league or amity with Romane-Catholique Kings and Princes who are I say sworne and profest enemies to God and his Gospell as was and is this great Catholique King Philip and his Austrian-Castillian family When I was a seruant to my Prince and Country on earth my affection in nature was indifferent Tam Marti quam Mercurio and I was more enflamed with the loue of knowledge then the loue of Fame which some of your * Henry Earle of Southamton c. Men of State and great place yet liuing that knew my heart can beare me witnesse But my Noble and Religious * He died Earle Marshall of Ireland An. 1576. Father Walter Earle of Essex vpon his Death-bed he gaue me in precept three maine and weighty matters viz. First To serue God according to his Ordinances in his Word Secondly To obey my Prince Thirdly To loue and serue my Country vnto which he added To beware of and to hate all Popish superstition and Idolatry All which he religiously enlarged and pressed vnto me the more in regard of my tender youthfull and vnripe yeares Which Swan-like Song of my deare Parent tooke so deepe an impression in me that I being called by my Soueraigne the Queene and being but a youth she was pleased to call me her Boy to serue her Maiesty and my Country did the willinger yeeld and obey my Prince her Command and entred into Action First in the yeare of our Lord 1585 and xix of my Pupill-age I went with the Earle of Leicester my Father in law into the Netherlands where I had the Honorable charge of Generall of the Horse in a faire Army Where I aduentured my life and subiected my selfe to many kinds of wants disagreeing with my education and yeeres c. Which I did for the Honor of my Prince and Country Secondly in the yeare 1589. I enterprized my voyage into Portugall with a poore distrested and exiled King Don Antonio whom I many times with pitty heard repeate with teares the story of his oppressions by Phillip King of Spaine who by force and tyranny had vsurped his Crowne of Portugall Also considering the enemy against whom I went an insolent cruell
read of in the old Testament to maintaine the Warres against the enemies of God sell the Ornaments of the Temple and things consecrated to holy Vses And will yee that haue as Holy and as warrantable a Cause of Warre spare those things that you haue Dedicated to your idle and sensuall pleasures Could your Nation in those former Ages when the Country was farre poorer then now it is leauy Armies maintaine Warres atchieue great Conquests in France and make their powerfull Armes knowne as farre as the Holy Land And is this so degenerate an Age as you will not be able to defend your owne Land No no I hope there is yet left some seede of that auncient vertue Remember with what spirit and alacrity the Gentlemen of England did contribute and put themselues voluntarily into Action in my time on earth And doubtlesse there will euer be found some VALERII who so the State may stand and flourish will not care thogh they leaue not where with to bury themselues though other some bury their money not caring in what estate they leaue the State You had a Queene in my time on earth who was euer open handed to men of desert yet neuer wastfull in her priuate expences but maintained Armies and Garrisons not a few a well-rigged Nauy assisted and lent money to her Neighbouring States And why will yee doubt but with your seasonable Counsell in a Parliamentary-course the auncient and laudable Course of England your King will rather sell his Plate and Iewels in the Tower which in my time were of inestimable valew if yet they be not sold nor giuen away rather then his people shall be vndefended And yee his people I hope will turne your golden and siluer Coates into Coates of Male or iron Iacks and your siluer Plate into Iron Corslets of Plate rather then your Soueraigne and Country shall bee vnserued But what neede all this A free and cheerefull contribution to the Warres according to your abilities will serue the turne And so oh Noble Prince and Valiant People agree to go on the one to send forth the other to lead on Gods Armies to fight his Battailes against his and your enemies lest they suddainly surprize you vnawares by some new Inuasion and remember that the Almighty as he is a God of Peace in the consciences of his Elect so is he a man of War to his enemies euen so his Maiesty hath expressed himselfe in holy Writ Againe in any wise beware of disuniting your selues from the vnited States of the Netherlands for it will be to your infinite disaduantage so to do But rather assist cherish and hearten them They are the best Confederates you haue Remember in what steed they stood you in that memorable yeare 88. And they being firmely knit vnto you are of more vse vnto you then all the Friends you haue or can haue in Christendome In my time on earth they were able vpon my certaine knowledge to find 60. or 80. Thousand fighting Souldiers 300 Shippes of Warre besides an infinite number of transporting Vessells and commodious Ports that are but a daies sayling from the very heart of England Since my time on earth they are increased in men in munition in Shipping and in wealth and which should make the knot of vnity more strong and fast with you they were and are of the same true Religion which you professe And moreouer now which should not be of least consideration with your King and you They are of late yeares Harbourers of of the exiled Princes his Maiesties Children who are beaten out of their lawfull inheritance by Spaine and Austria And verily were it not that my condition here I say were free from all passions my very heart would bleede to thinke on the deplorable State of Christendome how drunke those two Houses of Spaine and Austria haue made themselues in the blood of Christians professours of Christs Gospell and the very Angels do wonder to see how they are suffered to go on in their inveterate malice and furious rage against Gods Church and that other Christian Princes do not stoppe the currant of their fury Especially that your King who is a Professor of the Gospell and Faiths great Defender on earth is so backward in the businesse Which considered it is your parts especially that are of his Maiesties Councell and Nobility with faithfull hearts to perswade and stirre him vp not to let the Lyon in his Princely Breast any longer to sleepe and slumber but to awake and rouze vp himselfe and to go forth against the Romish wolues and Spanish Foxes who haue deuoured so many of Christs Sheepe and layd his Vineyard so wast Yea the blood of the Saints doth continually cry at Heauen gates for Vengeance To draw to an end I wil not ceasse to intercede to the Almighty my euer glorious God that he neuer denounce the curse against your King or yee his Nobles which he once in his word denounced against Meros c. My Conclusion still is and shall be Iustissimum ijs Bellum quibus necessarium et pia Arma quibus nullum nisi in armis spes est And for an vltimum Vale as in my Apology I aduised to Remember how Bernardine Mendoza the then Ambassadour of Spaine spent his time here in England So I now aduise you Remember how your late Spanish Embassadors haue spent their times and behaued themselues here in England c. The Peace of God which passeth all earthly vnderstanding be with you and dwell in your hearts My Declaration's ended I must no longer stay Because Heau'ns Cornets summon me away The Blessed Quire of Heauen I do heare Tuning their Voyces to th' Almighties eare HALâ•ŒLEâ•ŒLVâ•ŒjAH HALâ•ŒLEâ•ŒLVâ•ŒjAH Haâ•Œleâ•Œluâ•Œjah A POST-SCRIPT OR A SECOND PART OF ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX HIS GHOST To the Nobility Gentry and Communalty of ENGLAND Printed in PARADISE 1624. TO THE NOBILITIE Gentry and Communalty of ENGLAND THrice Beloued Mortals I being still Studious of your welfares and hauing obtained leaue of the Almighty I am now to giue vnto you and commend vnto your consideration a Catalogue and Commemoration of such cruell Plots as were practized in my time on Earth by the King and State of Spaine against the Queene and State of England Wherein I will not meddle with Practises and Cruelties to other Nations and therefore I omit to tell you how farre their Cruelties extended to the poore naked Indians in America though I remember whiles I was on Earth I haue seene a Booke as well in English as in Spanish and Latine intituled The Cruelties and Tyrannies of the Spanish Coloni perpetrated in the West-Indies commonly called the New-found World written in the Castilian Tongue by the Reuerend Bartholomew De las Casas a Frier of the Order of St. Dominick and Bishop of the Royall Towne called Chiapa seruing as a warning to the twelue Vnited Prouinces of the Low-Countries Translated into English and Printed as I take it in the 25 yeare of the
and vsurping Prince that disturbed the Common peace was a generall enemy to the liberty of all Christendome and in particular aspired the Conquest of my Country and the cause I went was to the deliuer the oppressed out of the hands of the Oppressour and by giuing the Castillian his handfull at home to free both mine owne Country and our Confederates from the feare and danger of his attempts And lastly a time in which I went when as mine eyes full of disdaine had so lately seene his falsly called Invincible Armado sayle by our shore when all the braue hearts in England boyled till they saw that insolent enemy taught both to know himselfe and valew Vs. And had the Portugals risen and assisted me I should haue gone nigh to haue pluckt Portugals Crowne off the Vsurpers head and placed it on the lawfull Kings head but they for feare of Philip were faithlesse to Antonio Yet in that my Voyage what I attempted to ayde the wronged and banished King and for Honor of my Prince and Countrey if you know it not let your Chronicles resolue you Thirdly in the yeare 1591. I conducted and was Generall of her Maiesty my Soueraignes succours to Henry the French King a Prince who for his admirable valour and often fighting with his owne hands against his enemies was not onely the most famous but the most renowmed and redoubted Captaine of Christendome And the end of that my seruice was to free the maritine parts of Normandy from the hands of the league and power of the Spaniard that thereby he our enemy should find lesse succour or fauour in those Seas c. This also was done for Honor of my Prince and Countrey Fourthly in the yeare 1596. I vndertooke my Spanish Voyage to Cadiz where not only I soone seized on sacked and burnnt the Towne and enriched my Followers and Souldiers but we burnt his best Shipping and brought away his Ordinance and some Ships destroying his Sea Prouisions Yea put him to such charge and losse as he shortly after played Bankerupt with all his Creditors c. And this likewise I did for Honor of my Prince and Country Fiftly in the yeare 1597. my Spanish Voyage towards the Tercera's was intended with her Maiesties leaue and by her command for Fayall to assaile the Adelantado there and thither I shaped my course and had it beene prosperous and fortunate I had made my Soueraigne such an absolute Queene of the Ocean and disarmed and disabled the enemy at Sea as that she might eyther haue enforced him to any conditions of Peace or made War on him to her infinite Aduantage and his vtter Ruine But that my designe was fatally frustrated by violent and long Tempests which tooke vs in the heigth of 46. Which scattered our Fleete disabled and almost drowned most of our principall Ships and when we could no longer beare it vp against the Wind draue vs backe vpon our owne Coast and to what a desperate case my owne Ship was brought there witnesses were enow My attempts and endeauours were neuerthelesse my dangers and endurance of hardnesse the more c And all for honour of my Prince and Country When Philip King of Spaine that mortall enemy of my Prince and Country had made many attempts and assaults vpon Vs fayled and was frustrated in all then he begged of the Pope my Soueraignes Kingdome of Ireland and sent his Bastard brother Don Iohn D'Aquila to take possession of it But this Messinger a Vice-roy in his conceit was soone sent backe with an English-Flea in his Spanish eare that made such a buzzing in his head that eyther with that or else by a Spanish-figge the good Don discontentedly departed this life in short time after his returne into Spaine At length and it was my last Voyage by command of my Soueraigne I was made and sent Lord Generall into Ireland of all her Maiesties Forces And there when I had begun to subjugate those head-strong Rebels and brought their Ring-leader that notable Rebell Tyr-oen vpon his knees I was forced abruptly to returne back into England and my Commission was conferred vpon an other Noble * Charles L. Mountjoy my inferiour who was sent ouer to wade against those Rebels after I had broken the Ice aforehand and hee had the Honor happily to performe what I had carefully and painefully projected and intended In the interim the fatall threed of my mortall life was almost spun and my glasse nigh through run My enemies laying many heynous crimes vnto my charge and therewith abusing my Soueraignes eares and incensing her sacred Maiesty against me But beloued Mortals it is not my meaning neither would I haue you expect it to touch the injury of the times in that my latter Time nor the State-faction of men in place my then enemies I forbeare to touch also how by the machinations of men my gracious Soueraigne was forced to signe the hastning of my Death For before my head was seuered from my Shoulders with which stroake my immortall soule was seperated from my mortall body I forgaue them all and left my cause to God to whom vengeance is due And certes my God hath beene throughly avenged of them all my enemies to their dishonor and disgrace on earth yea before Men and Angels And all was but like an impetuous storme to hasten my arriuing in the Harbour of Heauen Here where there is no roome for reuenge nor ought else but holy loue which hath moued me to send you of my quondam Country this my declaration or discourse call it what you will Wherein I list not neither to meddle with the Arcana imperij of your King and State further then shall beseeme a zealous Patriot that tendreth still and wisheth the wel-fare and flourishing State of his once deare and natiue Country And now well beloued Englishmen in the premisses I haue giuen you a briefe accompt of my life and as it were an Epitome of my time-spending on earth In which imployments I empayred my hereditary estate lost my deare and onely * Mr Walter Devreux slaine at the siege of Rouen 1591. brother the halfe Arch of my House and buried also many of my neerest and dearest friends subjected my selfe to the rage of the Seas violence generall plagues famine and all kind of wants discontentments of vndisciplined and vnruly multitudes and receptation of all euents and all for the Honor and renowme of my gracious Prince and deare Country keeping in minde my fathes Charge Sit tota Britannia Testis Now beloued Mortalls let me come more neerely to Counsell and aduise with yon First that the Spanish Kings reuengefull humour was insatiable appeared when in my time Anno 1597. when he came newly out of a Trance which was thought would haue beene his last swoune he asked the first word that hee spake whether the Adelantado were gone for England and if remorse of conscience would haue quenched his thirst of reuenge he would not a
happy Reigne of that Virgin Empresse Queene Elizabeth my gracious Soueraigne The lamentable Relation whereof if you would particularly know I wish you haue recourse vnto the sayd Booke And of their cruelties and Tyrannies exercised by their Arch-Tyrannous Generall Duke D' Alva towards the Netherlanders if you know them not looke but into their Chronicles And for their plots and practises towards England before my time looke but into your owne Chronicles But before I come to my Catalogue I must commend vnto your consideration When I was but an Infant there came a certaine Bull from Pius Quintus that impious Pope of Rome against Queene Elizabeth The Copy of which Bull is also to be seene in your Chronicles But the Copy of her Sacred Maiesties Answere vnto the sayd Bull because you haue not elsewhere seene it as most Worthy your reading and obseruation I here insert it The Lord that Reignes on high in Heauens Throne Doth Kingdomes rule below 't is He alone That Earth doth gouerne with high thundring might And moderates the staffe of Kingdomes right 'T is H◠that guides with his Almighty Name The wheele of all this Vniversall frame 'T is He that Kings annointed and Elect And sacred Captaines strongly will protect Why should this Bull-head Bishop therefore full Of rage against me roare with Basan Bull To plucke me from my Sacred Seate and Throne T' out root the Plant which Christ himselfe hath sowne Why doth this Pius seeke with impious guilt To pull downe that which God himselfe hath built Christ me annointed and annoint I hope Will keepe me from the jawes of this proud Pope His powerfull Hand hath kept me yet from harme Nor will the Lord make short his out-stretcht Arme. If God be on my side why doth this Popish wonder Seeke to affright me with his beastly Thunder Why doth this new-borne Gyant seeke to ride Aboue the Clouds with his prodigious pride Gainst Heauen why doth this Nimrod make new warrs And with Iehovah breed these impious jarrs Pius this Anchor of thy Peters bote Is broake thy hope and faith doth floate Yee An Exhortation to other Princes in whose hands the Almighty God ordaines To put the peoples and the Kingdomes reines Do not your selues and people bring Vnder the yoake of this vile borbarous King Away with him that doth for Scepter fight And royall Crowne that is not Bishops right What must the Pope so many States deuoure It s not Priests part to vse the Carnall powre To make these madding Buls fits not their names And set on fire these hote rebellious flames Their Sword the Word should be the words interpretation Their Key should be this is the foundation Whereon Christs Saints do fight such men Christs sword do weare Such do his holy keyes and Standard beare Oh Kings the fathers blessed sonne then kisse Psalme 2. The King of Kings the Head of Heads he is Who serues not him not reignes a shadow vaine And Cyphar is learne this all by my Reigne He 'le neuer faile you whom a woman bore Psalme 24. Away with Popes to them set ope the doore Set wide the Gate shut forth these new made Kings Let in the Lord which with him Iustice brings Deere England mine owne Bowels Daughter Mother Feare not this bulling Pious or such other What haue I done that Thou shouldst angry be Oh England cause th' art happy hatest thou me Cause God by me so many gifts hath giuen And I these gifts on earth God loath'd in Heauen Why do my English loue the Egyptian Pot Why lookes on Sodome backe the wife of Lot Whiles that my Sister was at Romish call There was a Stage and Scoene most Tragicall Religion was corrupted all your Rite Diuine was stain'd Faith wrapt in errors night Home jarrs and strange my Muse now shall not show Euen I my selfe dranke cupps of Gall with you Now Manna raines from Heauen Heauenly food Now floweth Peace and Ioy and euery Good Hee that feedes Rauens makes my Lillyes flourish Haires of my Head and Diadem doth nourish Iuda's strong Lyon keepes our Lyons nest The Romish Leo's but a fearefull Breast Feare yee the Ensignes of a Mitred Priest Can we with Sword Keys Club be ere opprest Rather thanke Christ pray him that he all euill He would resist all Ambushes of th'Deuill Double your prayers to Christ that he would deigne T' assure your good and let no Rhombus reigne Double your prayers for Church purest Faith Powre forth your prayers for Queene Elizabeth I haue inserted this answere of Queene Elizabeth not onely for the worth of it though I hold it worthy to be written in Letters of Gold nor will I say that Philip King of Spaine was an instigastour of Pius Pope of Rome to send that cursed Bull But it was plaine and more then probable that that Bull was the ground which set on fire the hearts of her Popish Romish-Subjects to rise in Rebellion against her and sure I am that Spaine soone backed them and subborned them in their Rebellion and cruell practises against her Sacred Person and flourishing State Witnesse the Bead-roll of their cruell Practises here following In the yeare of our Blessed Sauiour 1583. and 25. of Queene Elizabeth her Reigne Francis Throkmorton being sollicited by Bernardine Mendoza the then Spanish Embassador Lieger lying in Londō vndertook a most dangerous designe against his Dread Soueraigne and Natiue Country which was to bring in a Forraine Spanish Army and to alter Religion with alienation of the Crowne and State And for the charges of which attempt the sayd Mendoza promised that the King his Maister would beare halfe the charge of the Enterprize In the next yeare viz. 1584. William Parry as he named himselfe being instigated by Benedicto Palmio Christofero de Salazar Secretary to the Catholicke King Philip vndertooke to murther her Sacred Maiesty and one Haniball Codreto a Spanish Priest approued the same Diabolicall Designe In the yeare 1586. Babington and Ballard and their fellowes complotted with the aforesayd Mendoza to betray the Land to a Spanish Invasion Which being discouered they enter into a new resolution to kill the Queene Whereof they were preuented But Phillip of Spaine seeing that all former attempts fayled In the yeare 1588. hee set forwards his long premeditated Invasion of England sending a mighty Armado which hee tearmed the Invinsible Nauy meaning then as it were to deuoure England at a Bit But hee found so many bones in the Bit that in attempting to swallow it they stucke so fast in his throate that he was the worse for it euery day of his life after This great noble and invincible Army as Pope Sixtus termed it and Terrour of Europe as the Papals both terme it and tooke it to be consisting of 134. Sayle of lofty Towring Ships besides Gallies Galliasses and Gallions threatning as it were the Heauens and spreading in the Wind their Flaggs Streamers and Ensignes seemed to darken euen the
Sun and were furnished with this provision following Bullets for great shot 22000. Powder 40200. Kintalls euery kintall an hundred weight Lead for Bullets 1000. kintals Match 10200. kintalls Muskets and Calieuers 7000. Partizans and Halbert 1000. besides murdering peeces double Cannons and Field-peeces for Campe and store of Mules Horses and Asses so as they were sufficiently provided by Sea and for Land Bread and Bisket was baked and Wine layd aboord for sixe Moneths provision Bacon 60500. kintalls Cheese 3000. besides other flesh Rice Beanes Peas Oyle and Vinegre with 12000. Pipes of fresh water store they had of Torches Lanthornes and Lamps Canuas Hides and Lead to stoppe leakes butcherly kniues iron ghiues shackles wirewhipps whips with spurre-rowels and other torturing instruments intended to torment vs old and young all such I meane as would not suddainly submit to the Spanish yoake This mighty Nauy thus prepared as you haue heard loosed Anchor from Lisbone 19. Maij 88. and made to the Groine in Galizia it being the neerest Haven to England whence I say hoysing sailes with great hope and no lesse pride bent their course hitherward But suddainly the Heauens hating such hostile actions powred downe reuenge by a sore and vnexpected Tempest which draue the Duke of Medina the chiefe Generall backe againe into the Groine and diuers others were dispersed and driuen vpon the Coast of Bayon in France and there perished Not long after their Nauy neuerthelesse appeared in the Narrow-Seas twixt England and France in manner of an halfe moone the Arch-enemy of Christ his Ensigne where our English Fleete gaue them such an encounter the God of the maine Ocean fighting for vs in the Narrow-Seas that we soone defeated and dispersed that Invincible Nauy and made it Vincible Now because the Subject I am vpon is a Catalogue of Spanish cruelties I would faine know whether there was euer inuented a greater Cruelty towards and against a famous and flourishing State and Kingdome Surely in my judgement which did concurre with the judgement of the Christian World there was neuer such and so great a cruelty hatched vnder Heauen as that Spanish Invasion 88. our Deliuerance from the which hath made the yeare euer sithens famous and memorable vpon my knowledge when I was on earth there was a Day set a part and commanded by my Soueraigne to be kept Holy for that our great and miraculous Deliuerance from the Iawes of the Spaniard and I wish that your vnthankfulnesse in the neglect of Celebrating that Day holy be not required at some of your hands And certes those reuerend Divines that doe neuer cease in their publicke Prayers to giue God thankes for that your great Deliuerance do shew their zeale not a little and deserue double Commendation Yea and let my Posterity no longer liue and prosper than so long as they haue thankefull hearts to God for that generall Deliuerance and let the posterity of all Religious People say Amen For all men and women that would not haue bowed the knee to Spanish Ball had then doubtlesse beene put to the sword their children now haply living men and women had beene tossed at the Pikes ends or else their braines dashed out by some ill-fac'd Donns or other Strangers haue not beene wanting to commemorate that Time of Englands Deliuerance and amongst others I remember Reuerend and Religious Theodore Beza of pious memory wrote a sweet and patheticall poeme gratulatory of the aforesayd Tragy-Comedy in Latine inscribed to the Queene my Soueraigne and sent vnto me to deliuer vnto her Royall hands the which is thus excellently rendred in English Spaines King with Nauies huge the sea 's bestrewd T augment with English Crowne his Spanish sway Aske yee what caus'd this proud attempt 'tas lewd Ambition droue and Avarice led the way It 's well Ambitions windy puff lies drown'd By Winds and swelling hearts by swelling waues It 's well the Spaniards who the worlds vast round Deuour'd deuouring Sea most justly craues But Thou ô Queene for whom Winds seas do warre Oh Thou sole glory of the Worlds wide Masse So reigne to God still from Ambition farre So stil with bounteous Aids the Good embrace That Thou England long long may England Thee enjoy Thou Terrour of all Bad Thou Good mens Ioy. Oh let the Remembrance of that Time haue an eternall being in the Mindes and Mouthes of Men. I haue beene somewhat long in the commemoration of this part of my Catalogue of Cruelties I now proceede to the Residue as followeth In the yeare 1594. Rodericke Lopez Doctor of Physicke a Portugall by birth and entertained Physician in Ordinary to Queene Elizabeth being instigated by Christofero de Moro a speciall Counsellour of King Philips couenanted to take away the life of her Sacred Maiesty by a poysoned Potion for performance of which deede of darknesse the said de Moro promised him 50000. Crownes and hee had earnest giuen him a Iewell of Gold with a Dimond and Ruby of rich valew but that plot was detected by Gods providence and Lopez receiued condigne punishment In the yeare 1595. Edmund Yorke and Richard Williams being set on worke by one Stefano Ibarra King Phillips Secretarie at Bruxelles who promised them the reward of 4000. Crownes vndertooke to kill the Queene by some meanes or other but that also was detected by the vigilant eye of the English State and they receiued the reward of their deserts When King Phillip saw all his practises still frustrated he as audacious as ambitious began to tamper with my Selfe and by his Instruments sought out me as a fit man to betray both my sacred Soueraigne and deere Countrey I forb … to trouble your eares with the latitude of his large bumbasted Promises of reward vnto me to effect the same but in lieu of accepting his cursed Proposition and offer I vowed a further reuenge of him and with my Soueraignes leaue and Gods assistance I had performed what I vowed and intended c. The last publicke Attempter in my time which in no wise I must forget was one Edward Squire who being taken Prisoner in Spaine was set on worke by Walpoole the Iesuite and other officers of King Phillip to murther her sacred Maiestie and my Selfe which he vndertook and brought ouer a new invented Castillian Confection first to poyson the Pommels of her Maiesties saddle and then the Pommels of a chayre wherein I vsually sate at sea both which he fayled not to attempt But by Gods goodnesse his cruell and treasonable attempts proued also successelesse and this proper Squire had the reward of his Diuellish practises Of all these cruell Spanish practises I was more than an ordinary witnesse And these premisses considered what Treason was euer attempted against her Maiesties sacred Person or flourishing State but the Spaniard was at one end or other of it Nay since my time on Earth and the death of her Maiestie That horrid Gun Powder Plot hatched in Hell was it not consulted on and approued of in the Spanish Kings Court Looke well to the confessions of the Traytors Speed in Hist pag. 1246. And did not King Phillip promise 100. thousand Crownes towards the expedition of that damnable deed of darknesse Looke into your owne Chronicles Now all the Premisses wel weighed and considered Certes the Turke ought not to be more hated and abhorred by Christendom than the Spaniard deserueth to be detested by England c. Discite ô Mortales Iterum in Christo Valete