he said that he bare reuerent honor and respect and to discusse their seueral pretentions rightes interestes and titles to the crowne he said that his meaning was to offēd hunt or preiudice none nor to determyne any thing 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 or hinderance of any of their pretences or claymes of what side family faction religion or other party soeuer he or she were but rather playnly and indifferently without hatred or partial affection to or against any to lay downe sincerly what he had hard or reade or of himselfe conceaued that might iustly be alleaged in fauour or disfauour of euery tytler And so much the rather he said that he would do this for that in very truth the Ciuiltans speech had put him in a great indifferēcy concerning matter of successiō had takē out of his head many scrupulosites about nyse points of neernes in blood by the many examples reasons that he had alleaged of the proceeding of Christian cōmon wealthes in this affayre preferring oftentymes him that was further of in blood vppon other cōsideratiōs of more waight importance which point seemed to him to haue bin so euidently proued as no man can deny it much lesse cōdēne the same without the incōueniēces before alleaged mētioned of calling al in doubt that now is established in the world considering that not only foraine countries but Inglād also it selfe so often hath vsed the same putting back the next in bloode VVherfore he said that for as much as common wealthes and the consent wil and desire of each realme was proued to haue high and soueraine authority in this affayre and that as on the one side nerenes of blood was to be respected so on the other ther wāted not sundry considerations circumstāces of as great moment as this or rather greater for that oftentymes these considerations had bin preferred before neernes of blood as hath byn declared I do not know quoth he who of the pretenders may next obteyne the garland what soeuer his right by propinquity be so he haue some as I thinke al haue that do pretend and therfore I meane not to stand vppon the iustification or impugning of any one title but rather to leaue la to God and to them that must one day try iudge the same in Inglād to whome I suppose this speech of myne can not be but grateful commodious for the better vnderstanding discerning of those matters wherof of necessity er it be longe they must be iudges vmpires when God shal appoint and consequently for them to be ignorant or vnaquainted with the same as men say that commonly most in Ingland at this day are cannot be but very inconuenient and dangerous In this manner he spake and after this he began his discourse setting downe first of al the sundry bookes and treatises which he vnderstood had bin made or written hitherto of this affaire OF THE DIVERS BOOKES AND TREATISES THAT HAVE BIN VVRITTEN heretofore about the titles of such as pretend to the crowne of Ingland and what they do conteyne in fauour or disfauour of sundry pretendors CAP. I. ACCORDING to the variety of mens iudgments and affections in this behalfe so said the lawyer that diuers had written diuersly in sundry bookes treatises that had come to light went among men frō hand to hand though al were not printed And first of al he said that not long after her maiesties comming to the crowne ther appeered a certayne booke vvritten in the fauour of the house of Suffolke and especially of the children of the Earle of Hartford by the Lady Catherin Gray vvhich booke offended highly the Queene and nobles of Ingland and vvas aftervvards found to be written by one Hales surnamed of the clubb foote vvho was clarke of the hamper Sir Nicholas Bacon then Lord keeper was presumed also to haue had a principal part in the same for vvhich he vvas like to haue lost his office if Sir Antony Browne that had bin cheef iudge of the comon pleas in Queene Maries tyme vvould haue accepted therof vvhen her Maiestie offred the same vnto him and my Lord of Lecester earnestly exhorted him to take it but he refused it for that he was of differēt religion from the state and so Sir Nicholas Bacō remayned vvith the same at the great instance of Sir William Cecill now Lord Treasorer who though he vvere thought to be priuy also to the said booke yet vvas the matter so vvisely laid vppon Hales and Bacon as Sir William was kept free therby to haue the more authority and grace to procure the others pardon as he did The bent and butt of this book vvas as I haue said to preferr the title of the Lady Catherin Gray daughter of the Lady frauncis Duches of Suffolk which Frauncis was daughter to Mary the yonger daughter of King Henry the seuenth before the title of the Queene of Scotts then liuing of her sonne which were discended of Lady Margeret eldest daughter of the said king Hēry And the reasons which this book did alleage for the same were principally two the first that the lawes of Ingland did not admitt any sttainger or allien to inherit in Ingland to vvit any such as were borne out of the alleageance of our realme for so are the wordes of the law and for that the Queene of Scotts and her sonne are knowne to be so borne therfore they could not succeed and consequently that the house of Suffolck descended of the second daughter must enter in ther place The second reason is for that ther is giuen authority to king Hēry the eight by two seueral acts of parlament in the 28. and 36. yeare of his reigne to dispose of the succession by his last will testament as he should think best among those of his kinred that did pretend after his children and that the said king according to his commission did ordeyne that if his owne children did dye vvithout issue then the of-spring of his yonger sister Mary that vvere borne in Ingland should be preferred before the issue of the elder that vvas Margaret marryed into Scotland and this was the effect of this first book Against this booke were vvryten two other soone after the first by one Morgan a diuine if I remember vvel some-tymes fellow of Oriel College in Oxford a man of good accompt for learninge amonge those that knew hym he vvas thought be haue written the saide book by the aduise and assistance of the forsaide Iudge Browne which thinge is made the more credible by the many authorites of our cōmon law vvhich therin are alleaged and the partes of this booke if I forget not vvere three or rather they were three bookes of one treatise the first wherof dyd take vppon it to cleare the saide Queene of Scottes for the murder of the lord Darly her husband which by many vvas layde against her And the seconde dyd
solemnities and feastes that were celebrated at ther seueral natiuities so as it seemeth ther can be no ertor in this matter The 2. reason is for that we read that this Lord Edmond was a goodly vvise and discreet prince notwithstanding that some authors cal him crokback and that he vvas highly in the fauour both of his father king Henry as also of his brother king Edward and employed by them in many great warres and other affayres of state both in France other where vvhich argueth that ther was no such great defect in him as should moue his father and the realme to depriue him of his succession Thirdly vve reade that king Henry procured by diuers waies and meanes the aduancement of this L. Edmond as giuing him the earldomes of Lecester Darby besides that of Lancaster as also procuring by al meanes possible with exceding great charges to haue him made king of Naples Sicilie by pope Innocentius which had bin no pollicy to haue done if he had bin put back from his inheritance in Ingland for that it had bin to haue armed him against his brother the king Fourthly we see that at the death of his father king Henry the third this Lord Edmond vvas principally left in charge with the realme his elder brother prince Edward being scarsly returned frō the warr of Asia at what tyme he had good occasion to chalēg his owne right to the crowne if he had had any seing he wanted no power therūto hauing three goodly sonnes at that tyme aliue borne of his wife Queene Blanch dowager of Nauarre vvho had bin marryed before to Henry king of Nauarre and contie of Champaine to whom she had borne only one daughter that vvas marryed to Phillip le bel king of France But vve shal neuer reade that either he or any of his children made any such clayme but that they liued in very good agreement high grace vvith king Edward the first as his children did also vvith king Edward the second vntil he began to be mis-led in gouerment and then the two sonnes of this Lord Edmond I meane both Thomas and Henry that successiuely vvere earles of Lancaster made vvarr vppon the said Edward the second and vvere the principal doers in his deposition in setting vp of his sonne Edward the third in his place at vvhat tyme it is euidēt that they might haue put in also for themselues if there title had bin such as this report maketh it A fift reason is for that if this had bin so that Edmond earle of Lancaster had bin the elder brother then had the controuersie betweene the two houses of York and Lancaster bin most cleare and vvithout al doubt at al for then had the house of Yorke had no pretence of right in the vvorlde and then vvere it euident that the heyres general of Blanch duchesse of Lancaster vvife of Iohn of Gaunt to wit the discendentes of lady Phillip her daughter that vvas marryed into Portugal these I say and none other were apparent and true heyres to the crowne of Ingland at this day and al the other of the house of Yorke vsurpers as wel king Henry the 7. as al his posterity ofspring for that none of them haue 〈◊〉 of the said Blanch as is manifest And therfore lastly the matter standeth no doubt as Polidor holdeth in the later ende of the life of king Henry the third vvhere hauing mētioned these two sonnes Edward Edmōd he addeth these wordes Ther wanted not certayne men long tyme after this that affirmed this Edmond to be the elder sonne to king Henry the third and to haue bin depriued of his inheritance for that he was deformed in body but these thinges were feyned to the end that king Henry the fourth that came by his mothers side of this Edmond might seeme to haue come to the kingdome by right whereas in decd he gat it by force Thus saith Polidor in this place but aftervvard in the begining of the life of the said K. Henry the 4. he sayeth that some vvould haue had king Henry to haue pretended this title among other reasons but that the more part accompting it but a meare fable it vvas omitted Novv then it being cleere that of these two sonnes of king Henry the third prince Edward vvas the elder and lawful heyre it remayneth only that vve set downe their seueral discents vnto the tymes of king Edward the third and his children in whose dayes the dissention controuersie betweene these royal houses of Yorke and Lancaster began to break fourth And for the issue of Edward that vvas king after his father by the name of king Edward the first it is euident that albeit by two seueral vviues he had a dosen children male and femal yet only his fourth sonne by his first vvife called also Edward vvho vvas king after him by the name of king Edward the second left issue that remayned which Edward the second being afterward for his euel gouerment deposed left issue Edward the third vvho vvas made king by election of the people in his place and after a long and prosperous reigne left diuers sonnes vvherof after vve shal speak and among them his third sonne named Iohn of Gaunt married lady Blanch daughter and heyre of the house of lancaster and of the fornamed Lord Edmond Crouchback by vvhich Blanch Iohn of Gant became duke of lancaster so as the lines of these tvvo bretheren Edward and Edmond did meete and ioyne againe in the fourth discent as novv shall appeare by declaration of the issue of the foresaid L. Edmond Edmond then the second sonne of K. Henry the third being made county palatine of Lancaster as also earle of Lecester and of Darby by his father king Henry as hath bin said had issue three sonnes to vvit Thomas Henry and Iohn among vvhom he deuided his three states making Thomas his eldest sonne county palatine of Lancaster Henry earle of Lecester Iohn earle of Darby But Thomas the eldest Iohn the yongest dying vvithout issue al three states fel againe vppon Henry the second sonne vvhich Henry had issue one fonne and three daughters his sonne vvas named Henry the second of that name earle of Lancaster and made duke of Lancaster by king Edward the third and he had one only daughter heyre named Blanch vvho vvas marryed vnto Iohn of Gant as before hath bin said But Duke Henries three sisters named Ioan Mary and Elenor vvere al marryed to diuers principal men of the realme for that Ioan vvas marryed to Iohn L. Maubery of vvhom are descended the Howards of the house of Norfolk at this day and Mary vvas marryed to Henry lord Pearcy from vvhom cometh the house of the Earles of Northumberland and Elenor vvas married to Richard earle of Arundel vvhence is issued also by his mothers side the Earle of Arundel that novv is so as of this
and she neece once remoued he preuailed in like manner and thus farr Gerrard historiographes of France And no doubt but if we consider examples that fell out euen in this very age only concerning this controuersie betweene the vncle and nephew we shal finde store of them for in Spaine not long before this tyme to wit in the yeare of Christ 1276. vvas that great and famous determination made by Don Alonso the wise eleuenth king of that name and of al his realme and nobility in their couites or parlament of Segouia mentioned before by the Ciuilian wherin they disinherited the children of the prince Don Alonso de la Cerda that dyed as our prince Edward did before his father and made heyre apparent Don Sancho brauo yonger brother to the said Don Alonso and vncle to his children the two yong Cerdas Which sentēce standeth euen vnto this day and king Phillip enioyeth the crowne of Spaine therby and the dukes of Medina Celi and their race that are discendentes of the said two Cerdas vvhich vvere put backe are subiects by that sentence and not soueraines as al the world knoweth The like controuersie fel out but very litle after to vvit in the tyme of king Edward the third in frāce though not about the kingdome but about the earldome of Artoys but yet it was decided by a solemne sentence of two kings of France and of the whole parlament of Paris in fauour of the aunte against her nephew which albeit it cost great troubles yet vvas it defended and king Phillip of Spaine holdeth the county of Artoys by it at this day Polidor reporteth the story in this manner Robert earle of Artoys a man famous for his chiualry had two children Phillip a sonne and Maude a daughter this maude vvas marryed to Otho earle of Burgundy and Phillip dying before his father left a sonne named Robert the second vvhose father Robert the first being dead the question was vvho should succede ether maude the daughter or Robert the nephew and the matter being remitted vnto Phillip le Bel king of France as chiefe Lord at that tyme of that state he adiuged it to Maude as to the next in blood but vvhen Robert repyned at this sentence the matter vvas referred to the parlament of Paris vvhich confirmed the sentence of king Phillip wher vppon Robert making his way with Phillip de Valoys that soone after came to be king of France he assisted the said Phillip earnestly to bring him to the crowne against king Edward of Ingland that opposed himselfe therunto and by this hoped that king Phillip would haue reuoked the same sentence but he being once established in the crowne answered that a sentence of such importance and so maturely giuen could not be reuoked Wheruppon the said Robert fled to the king of Inglands part against france thus far Polidor The very like sentence recounteth the same author to haue bin giuē in Ingland at the same tyme and in the same controuersie of the vncle against the nephew for the succession to the dukedome of Britany as before I haue related wherin Iohn Breno earle of Montford vvas preferred before the daughter and heyre of his elder brother Guy though he vvere but of the halfe blood to the last duke and she of the whole For that Iohn the third duke of Britanny had two brothers first Guy of the vvhole blood by father and mother and then Iohn Breno his yonger brother by the fathers side only Guy dying left a daughter and heyre named Iane married to the earle of Bloys nephew to the king of France vvho after the death of duke Iohn pretended in the right of his wife as daughter and heyre to Guye the elder brother but king Edward the third with the state of Ingland gaue sentence for Iohn Breno earle of Montford her vncle as for him that vvas next in consanguinity to the dead duke and with their armes the state of Ingland did put him in possession vvho flew the earle of Bloys as before hath bin declared and ther-by gat possession of that realme and held it euer after and so do his heyres at this day And not long before this againe the like resolution preuayled in Scotland betweene the house of Balliol and Bruse who were competitors to that crowne by this occasion that now I wil declare VVilliam king of Scots had issue tvvo sonnes Alexander that succeded in the crowne and Dauid earle of Huntington Alexander had issue an other Alexander and a daughter marryed to the king of Norway al which issue and lyne ended about the yeare 1290. Dauid yonger brother to king William had issue two daughters Margaret and Isabel Margaret vvas married to Alaine earle of Galloway and had issue by him a daughter that married Iohn Balliol Lord of Harcourt in Normādie vvho had issue by her this Iohn Balliol founder of Balliol College in Oxford that now pretended the crowne as discended from the eldest daughter of Dauid in the third discent Isabel the second daughter of Dauid vvas married to Robert Bruse Earle of Cleueland in Ingland vvho had issue by her this Robert Bruse earle of Carick the other competitor Now then the question betweene these two cōpetitors was vvhich of them should succeede ether Iohn Balliol that was nephew to the elder daughter or Robert Bruse that vvas sonne to the yonger daughter so one degree more neere to the stock or stemme then the other And albeit king Edward the first of Ingland whose power vvas dreadful at that day in Scotland hauing the matter referred to his arbitrement gaue sentence for Iohn Bailliol and Robert Bruse obeyed for the tyme in respect partly of feare and partly of his oth that he had made to stand to that iudgment yet vvas that sentence held to be vniust in Scotland and so vvas the crowne restored afterward to Robert Bruse his sonne and his posterity doth hold it vnto this day In Ingland also it selfe they alleage the examples of king Henry the first preferred before his nephew William sonne and heyre to his elder brother Robert as also the example of king Iohn preferred before his nephew Arthur duke of Britany for that king Henry the second had fower sonnes Henry Richard Geffrey and Iohn Henry dyed before his father vvithout issue Richard reygned after him and dyed also vvithout issue Geffrey also dyed before his father but left a sonne named Arthur duke of Britanie by right of his mother But after the death of king Richard the question vvas vvho should succeede to vvit either Arthur the nephew or Iohn the vncle but the matter in Ingland vvas soone decided for that Iohn the vncle was preferred before the nephew Arthur by reason he vvas more neere to his brother dead by a degree then vvas Arthur And albeit the king of Frāce and some other princes abroad opposed themselues for stomack against this succession of king Iohn yet say these
To the last pointe of religion they answer that this impediment is not vniuersal not admitted in the iudgment of al men but only of those Inglish that be of different religion from her But to some others and those many as these men do vveene her religion vvil rather be a motiue to fauour her title then to hinder the same so that on this ground no certaintie can be buylded and this is as much as I haue to say at this tyme of these two families of Clatence and Britanie OF THE HOVSE OF PORTVGAL VVHICH CONTEYNETH THE CLAYMES AS VVEL OF the king and prince of Spayne to the succession of Ingland as also of the dukes of Parma and Bragansa by the house of Lancaster CAP. VIII IT hath bin oftentymes spoken before vppon occasions offred that the princes of the house of Portugal at this day do persuade thēselues that the only remaynder of the house of Lancaster resteth among them as the only true heyres of the lady Blanch duchesse and heyre of Lancaster first wife of Iohn of Gaunt which pointe of these princes descents from the said duchesse of Lancaster though it be declared sufficiently before in the third and fourth chapters yet wil I briefly here also set downe and repeat agayne the reasons therof vvhich are these that follow Iohn of Gaunt vvas duke of Lancaster by the right of his first vvife lady Blanch and had by her only one sonne as also one daughter of vvhom vve neede heere to speake for that the other hath left no issue now liuing The sonne vvas king Henry the fourth vvho had issue king Henry the fift and he agayne Henry the sixt in vvhom vvas extinguished al the succession of this sonne Henry The daughter of Iohn of Gaunt by lady Blanch vvas called Phillip vvho vvas married to Iohn the first king of that name of Portugal vvho had issue by him king Edward and he agayne had issue king Alfonsus the fift king of Portugal and he and his ofspringe had issue agayne the one after the other vntil our tymes and so by this marriage of lady Phillip to their first king Iohn these princes of the house of Portugal that liue at this day do pretende that the inheritance of Lancaster is only in them by this lady Phillip for that the succession of her elder brother king Henry the fourth is expired long ago This is effect is their pretence but now vve vvil passe on to see vvhat others say that do pretend also to be of the house of Lancaster by a latter marriage Iohn of Gaunt after the death of his first vvife lady Blanch dyd marrye againe the lady Constance daughter of king Peter surnamed the cruel of Castile and had by her one daughter only named Catherin vvhom he married afterward back to Castile againe giuing her to vvife to king Henry the third of that name by vvhom she had issue king Iohn and he others so as lineally king Philippe king of Spayne is descēded from her vvhich king Phillip being at this day king also of Portugal and the cheife titler of that house vnto Ingland he ioyneth the inheritance of both the two daughters of Iohn of Gaunt in one so we shal not neede to talk of these two daughters hearafter distinctly but only as of one seing that both their discents do end in this one man The only difficultie and dissention is then about the issue of the third marriage vvhich vvas of Iohn of Gaunt vvith lady Catherin Swinford whom he first kept as a Concubine in the tyme of his second wife lady Constance as before hath bin shewed in the third chapter and begat of her fower children and after that his wife lady Constance vvas dead he tooke her to vvife for the loue he bare to his children a litle before his death and caused the said children to be legitimated by authority of parlament and for that none of these fower children of his haue left issue but only one that vvas Iohn earle of Somerset we shal speake only of him ommitting al the rest This Iohn then earle of Somerset had issue an other Iohn which was made duke of Somerset by king Henry the sixt who vvith his three sonnes vvere slayne by the princes of the house of Yorke in the quarrel of Lancaster so left only one daughter named Margaret who by her husbād Edmond Tydder earle of Richmond vvas Countesse of Richmond had by him a sonne named Henry earle of Richmond that was after king by the name of king Henry the senenth and from him al his discendents both of the house of Scotland and Suffolke do pretend also to be of the house of Lancaster which yet can be no otherwise then now hath bin declared to wit not from Blanch first wife heyre of the duchy of Lancastee but frō Catherin Swinford his third wife vvherin riseth the question vvhether those men I meane king Henry the seuēth his discendents may properlie be said to be of the true house of Lancaster or no wherunto some do answere vvith a distinctiō to wit that to the duchy of Lācaster wherof the first wife lady Blāch was heire these of the third marriage cannot be heyres but only the remaynder of the issue of the said lady Blanch that resteth in the princes of the house of Portugal But yet to the title of the crowne of Inglande which came by Iohn of Gaūt himselfe in that he vvas third sonne of K. Edward the third and eldest of al his children that liued vvhen the said king Edward dyed by vvhich is pretended also that he should haue succeded immediatly after him before king Richard the secōd as before in the fourth chapter hath bin declared to this right I saie to this interest of the crowne which came by Iohn of Gaunt himselfe not by lady Blāch or by any other of his wiues the discendents of king Henry the seuenth do say that they may and ought to succede for that Iohn earle of Somerset eldest sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by lady Catherin Swinford though he vvere begotten out of matrimony yet being afterward made legitimate he vvas to inherite this right of Iohn of Gaunt his father before the lady Phillip his sister for that so vve see that king Edvvard the sixt though yonger and but halfe brother vnto the lady Mary and Elizabeth his sisters yet he inherited the crowne before them and in like manner is lord Phillippe prince of Spaine at this daye to inherite al the states of that crowne before his two sisters that be elder then he so likewise saye these men ought Iohn of Somerset to haue donne before Phillippe his eldest sister if he had bin aliue at that tyme vvhen king Henry the sixt vvas put downe and dyed and consequently his posterity vvhich are the discendents of king Henry the seuenth ought to enioye the same before the princes
noted in the puritan and made them far more egar in defence of their cause according to the saying nitimur in vetitum semper and as a litle brook or ryuer though it be but shalow and tunne neuer so quiet of it selfe yet if many barres and stoppes be made therin it swelleth and riseth to a greater force euen so it seemeth that it hath happened heere wher also the sight remembrāce of so many of their Seminary preistes put to death for their religion as they accompt it hath wrought great impression in their hartes as also the notice they haue receaued of so many colleges and Inglish Seminaries remayning yet and set vp of new both in Flanders France Italie and Spayne for making of other preistes in place of the executed doth greatly animate them holdeth them in hope of continuing still their cause and this at home As for abroade it is easie to consider vvhat their party and confidence is or may be not only by the Inglish that liue in exile and haue their frends and kynred at home but also principally by the affection of forrayne Princes states to fauour their religion whose portes townes and prouinces lye neere vppon Ingland rounde about for such a tyme and purpose could not want commoditie to giue succor vvhich being vveighed together vvith the knowne inclination that way of Ireland and the late declaration made by so many of the Scotish nobility and gentlemen also to fauour that cause all these poyntes I saye put together must needes persuade vs that this body is also great and stronge and like to beare no smale sway in the decyding of this controuersie for the crowne when tyme shal offer it selfe for the same And so much the more for that it is not yet knowne that these are determined vppon any one person whom they vvill follow in that action nor as it semeth are they much inclined to any one of the pretenders in particuler wherin it is thought that the other two partyes either are or may be deuided among themselues and each parte also within it selfe for that so different persons of those religions do stand for it but rather it is thought that these other of the Roman religion do remayne very indifferent to follow any one that shal be set vp for their religion and is lykest to restore and mayntayne the same be he strainger or domestical which determination and vnion in general among themselues if they hold it still and the earle of Darby haue the difference of titles that before hath bin seene and each one his particuler reasons why he ought to be preferred before the other and for their other abilities and possibilities they are also different but yet in one thing both Lords seeme to be like that being both of the blood royal they are thought to haue abased themselues much by their marriages with the two knightes daughters S. Richard Rogers and S. Iohin Spenfer though otherwise both of them very vvorship ful but not their matches in respect of their kinred with the crowne yet doth the alliance of S. Iohn Spenser seeme to bringe many more frends with it then that of S. Richard Rogers by reason of the other daughters of S. Iohn vvel married also to persons of importance as namely the one to S. Georg Catey gouernour of the he of Wight vvho bringeth in also the Lord Hunsdon his father Captaine of Barwick tvvo of the most important peeces that Ingland hath And for that the said Lord Hunsdon and the Lady knowles disceased were brother and sister and both of them children to the Lady Mary Bullen elder sister to Queene Anne here of it cometh that this alliance with S. George Carey may draw after it also the said house of knowles who are many and of much importance as also it may do the husbandes of the other daughters of S. Iohn Spencer with their ahd erents and followers which are nether few nor feeble al which wanteth in the marriage of the Lord Beacham An other difference also in the ability of these two Lords is that the house of Seymers in state and title of nobility is much yonger then the house of Stanleys for that Edward Seymer late earle of Hartford and after duke of Somerset was the first beginner therof who being cut of together with his brother the Admiral so soone as they were could not so setle the saide house especially in the alliance with the residue of the nobilitie as otherwise they would and might haue done But now as it remayneth I do not remember any allyance of that house of any great moment except it be the childrē of S. Hēry Seimer of Hamshire and of S. Edward Seymer of Bery Pomery in Deuonshite if he haue any and of S. Iohn Smith of Essex whose mother vvas sister to the late duke of Somerset or finally the alliance that the late marriage of the earle of Hartford with the Lady Francis Haward may bring with it which cannot be much for so great a purpose as we talke of But the earle of Darby on the other side is very strōgly honorably allied both by father and mother for by his father not to speake of the Stanleys which are many and of good power and one of them matched in the house of Northumberland his said father the old earle had three sisters al wel married and al haue left children and heyres of the houses wherin they were married for the elder vvas married first to the Lord Sturton and after to S. Iohn Arundel and of both houses hath left heyres male The seconde sister vvas married to the Lord Morley by whom she hath left the Lord that now is vvho in lyke manner hath mached vvith the heyre of the Lord Montegle vvho is likevvise a Stanley And finally the third sister vvas married to S. Nicholas Poynes of Glocestershire and by him had a sonne and heyre that yet liueth And this by his fathers side but no lesse alliance hath this earle also by the side of his mother vvho being daughter of George Cliford earle of Cumberland by Lady Eleanor neece of king Henry the seuenth the said Lord George had afterward by a second wife that was daughter of the Lord Dacres of the North both the earle of Cumberland that now is and the Lady wharton who hereby are brother and sister of the halfe blood to the said Countesse of Darby and the Dacres are their Vncles Besides al this the states and posfessions of the two forsaide Lordes are far different for the purposse pretended for that the state of the earle of Hartford is far inferior both for greatnes situation wealth multitude of subiects the like for of that of the Stanleys doth depend the most part of the shires of Lancaster and Chester and a good parte of the North of Wales at least wise by way of obseruance and affection as also the I le of man is
to king Richard The title of Yorke is by a VVomā Stovv in vit Henrici 5 au 3. regni The earle of Cambrige executed for conspiracy An obiection for Yorke that Edmond Mortymer vvas declared heyre apparent Polydor l. 20. Stovv in vit Rich. 〈◊〉 an 1385 Hollings-head in vit Rich. 2. pag. 1088. Stovv an 1382. Polydor li. 20. an 1394. The cause of hatred be rvveeue king Richard and the house of Lancaster Iohn frosard in histo Polydor. Hollings Stovv in vita 〈◊〉 2 Tho vvassing in vit Richardi 2. pag. 341. 344. Iohn Fros sard in vit Hēri VVhy Ro ger Mortimer vvas declared heyre apparent Hollings in vit Richard 3. pag. 1406. in vit Edvvard 6. pa. 1715 The declaration of king Edvvard 6. in fauour of the Lady Iane Gray Girard de Haillan l. 15. his Fran. initio VVhether vncles or nephevves to be preferred in Succession Barthol in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 C. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And example of the vncle before the nephevv in spayne Garibay li. 13 cap. 14 and 1276. An other example in France and Flanders Polidor l. 25. in vit 〈◊〉 3. An other example of Britanny Supra c. 2 An other example in Scotland The conuentiō of the houses of Balliol Bruse in Scotland 8. Examples in Inglād 〈◊〉 head in vit Regis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 142. Hovv Arthur duke of Britanny vvas declared 〈◊〉 apparent 〈◊〉 1. 14 〈◊〉 in vit Richar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 420. 2. 3. Hollingli in vit Richar 〈◊〉 pag. 496. 499. 4. Hollingshead pag. 540. VValsing in ypodig Neustriss Opinions of lavvyers for the nephevv vncle Benedict Cap. Ranutius verb in eodem testam Baldus in lib. vt in test cap. de suis leg hered per. li. vnicam pro 20. sui autē nouissimo Touching the common lavv of Ingland Different rules in successiō of the crovvne and of other inheritances The common lavv grounded in custome Ancient lavvyers that defended the house of Lancaster Holling 〈◊〉 vit Hēric 6. pag. 〈◊〉 00. The summe of this controuersie repeated 1. 2. 3. Other arguments of Lancaster Stovv in vita Henrici 5. pag. 587. The princes of Yorke often attained Stovv in vita Henrici 6. 2. Yorke entred by violence Stovv in fine vit 〈◊〉 6. 3. The house of Yorke put dovvne a holy king 4. Long pos sessions of the house of Lancaster 5. The difference of kings of both houses 6. The princes of Yorke cruel one to the other Polydor virg hist. Anglie lib. 24. Great vnion faythfulnes of the princes of Lancaster Polyd. lib. 23. Diffentions in the house of Yorke King Edvvard 4. King Richard 3. King Hēry 3. hovv many he put to death of his ovvne kynred The de la pooles The house of Buckingam The house of Courtneis The house of Salisbury Seymers put to death Queene of Scots 7. No old noble house standing in Inglād but such as tooke parte vvith Lācaster Siue ancient noble hovvses Arondel Oxford Northum berland VVestmerland Shrevvsbury Houses that fauo red York deftroyed The Mon braies The de la Pooles The house of Salesbury VVarvvicke King 〈◊〉 the 7. crovvned in the fild in respect of the house of Lancaster only thoughe his tytle that vvay vvas not great A diuisiō of the families that do precend Of the house of Scotland Arbella In fauour of the king of Scots 1. 2. 3. Argumēt against the king of Scots 1. The king of Scots not of the house of Lancaster 2. The king of Scots foraine botne The controuersie about somayne 〈◊〉 Movv strāgers may inherite Reasons vvhy the statute toucheth not our case The crovvne not holdē by allegeance The king of Scots excluded by the starute of association Other cōsideratiōs against the King of Scots Ioyning of Inglād and Scotland together 1. Polydor. lib. 17. in vit Edvvardi primi 3. Inconueniences of bringing strāgers into Ingland A consideration of importance Polydot hist. Ang. l. s. 9. Example of Spaine Garibay l. 20 c 42. An Dn̄i 1207. Example out of Portugal Garibay l. 34. c. 38. An. Dn̄i 1383. Stovv pa. 54. 59. 95. 76. Of the religion of Scotland Of the title of lady Arbella 1. 2. An Inglish vvoman Against Arbella 1. Not of the house of Lancaster 2. The testa ment of king Hēry 3. The coun tesse of darby neerer by a degree Illegitimation by bastardye The testimonie of the lord Vvillian hovvard Other reasons of state against Arbella Gouerment if vvomen Bolyd l. 12 Garibay li. 〈◊〉 c. 41 The issue of Charles Brandon Issue of lady Fran cis Stovv an 7. Edon 6 The issue of the L. Catherin The issue of L. Eleanor Allegations of the houses of Darby hartford the one against the other Charles Brandon had a vvyse a lyue First bastardie against the issue of hartford Stovv in vita Edvvard An. 〈◊〉 2. Bastardie 3. Bastardie The fourth be 〈◊〉 cōmon to both famines of Suffolk The ansvvere of those of hartford to the foresaid bastardies Of the marriage betvveen the earle of hartford and the L. Catherin Gray Concil Trid. Sess. 24. cap. 1. Hovv the second sonne of the earie of hart ford mav be legitimate Allegations of the house of Darby VVhy the earle of Huntingtōs house is said to be of the house of Clarence Issue of the house of Clarence Issue of S. Geffrey Poole The interest pretēce of the earle of Huntington Obiectiōns against the earle of Huntington 1. 2. Attainders in the house of Huntington Restitution may be in blood vvithout restitutiō of dignitie The pretence of the Pooles against Huntington Obiectiō of Religion The house of Britanie The course of inheritan ce in the crovvne of Frāce First pretence of the Infan ta to Ingland 1. 2. Polydor. in vita Guliel Rufi 3. Second pretence of the Infanta of Spaine 3. Pretence by Arthur duke of Britanie Belforest I. 3. cap. 71 hist. Fran. Electiō of Levvys the 8. to be King of Inglād Polydor. l. 15. hist. Angl. Holling Stovv in vita Ioannis Belfor li. 〈◊〉 cap. 67. Girard li. histor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 france Pretence by dissent from Hēry the third Admissiō by composition Obiectiōs against the Infan tas pretence The princes of Portugal are of the house of Lācaster The issue of lady Phillip Queene of Portugal Issue of Iohn of Gaunt by his later vviues Sce the arbor in the end of this booke The point of difficultie Issue of Catherin Svvinford The principal question Ansvver Duchie of Lācaster The crovvne An exam ple of Edvvard the sixth of the prince of spaine Replies of the house of Portugal The duke dome of Lācaster The legitimation of Catherin Svvinfords children not lavvful Stovv in vit Richardi 2. Garibay his Portugal l. 33 cap. 4. Note this example Stovv in vit Henrici 8. Iohn of Gauntes marriage vvith Catherin Svvinford helpeth not the legitimation The question betvveene lord Phillip and Iohn of Somerset The question betvveene the
nephevves The case of succession to Portugal The proper interest of K. Henry the 4. cānot discend to king Hēry the 7. Issue of K. Iohn the 3. of Portugal L. Levves father of Don Antonio King Hen ry Cardinal The pretence of the Queene mother in France to Portugal Fiue pretenders of the Grovvne of Portugal The contention about the succession of Portugal Atturneyes sent to Portugal sentēce of illegitimation against Don Antonio VVriters of this cō trouerfie 1. The 〈◊〉 vvhy don Antonio vvas pronounced illegitimate 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Don Antonio his pretēce to Ingland Three principall pretenderes of Por tugal Pretence of the duke of Parma K. Phillippes pre tence to Portugal Diuers allegations for king Phillip Hieron Fraki lo Pet. VipeIanus The case of pretece of the hovvle of Portugal to Ingland An obiection vvith the ansvver Obiections against the pretenders of Portugal Ansvvers Note this By vvhat title king Hēry the 7. did enter About forrayne povver in Ingland About forrayne gouerment The occa sion of the next chapter about foraine gouerment Reasons against forraine gouerment Polit. Arist. Demosthenis Philipicae in AEfhines Attēptes to deliuer realmes from strāgers Quint. Curt. li 5. 6. de gest Alex. Vespere Sicilianae an 1265. Leand. in descript Siciliae Polyd. li. 〈◊〉 Hollings in vit Camiti The rage of the french against Inglish The conclusion against 〈◊〉 Authority of scripture against strangers Deus 15. The ansvvere in defence of fortaine gouerment The effect of go uerments to be con sidered not the gouernours An example Lytle importeth the subiect of vvhat country his go uernour is so he be good 〈◊〉 Reg. 12 Not the country but the good gouerment importeth Note these examples VVho are properly straingers Diuers manners of being vnder strangers To be vnder Strangers by Coquest Hovv Cōquerors doe proceede tovvards the Conquered Polydor Virg. lib. 8 histot 〈◊〉 Clemēcie of the Romans Lib. 5. Mechab cap. 8. Strangers most fauoured to vvise gouerments Gascoynes Britons Candians States of Italie The condition of Irish vnder the Inglish Of the states of Flanders Girard du Hailan lib. 18. an 1381. Prosperity of Flanders vnder the hovvse of Austria Io. Guicciard nella descrittione delli pasi bassi The anthority of the Fleminges at home The indulgence vsed to offenders in Flanders The Spaniard punis heth lesse in Italie thē 〈◊〉 home Viceryes do giue accompt of ther gouerment Much slaughter of nobility in Ingland Executiō of nobility by Hēry the eight Vnder King Edvvard and Queene Mary States gouerned happely by torrayne Princes Old afflictions of Naples Millan VVhether a great or little Prince be better An exam ple to shevv the former diffetēce Pedro Mexia en vit de Antonino Pio. The felicity of the Romā gouermēt The seeōd vvaye of being vnder a forraine Prince A fortayne Prince vvithout forces not preiudicial Note this vtilitie 〈◊〉 a forayne king The māner of forayne Prince more cōmodious for the present A third vvay of being vnder forraine gouerment Dangers of domes tical gouerment Inconueniences of this go uerment Strang gouer nours desired in some Realines The ansvver to 〈◊〉 against forrayne gouermēt Ansvver to the Grecian Philosophers aud orators Demosthenes The trooblesome state of the Grecian cittyes Arist. l. 2. polit c 1. 〈◊〉 2. Ansvver to the obiectiō out of Deutronomye Deut. 15. Secōdary Lines Ambiguite of preuailinge Tvvo groundes of probabilitie of speeding Three religions in Ingland The greate importance of religion in this actions The Cleargie The Coūcell and nobilitic Persons designed or fauoured by the protestant partie Foraayne frends of the protestants Of the party Putitan Persons affected by the Puritans External frends 〈◊〉 The Puritan at home Those of the Romā Religion The Roman partye great vvhy 1. Reg. 234 Effects of pressing an religiō Frends allies abroade The Lordes Beacham the earle of Darby Alliance of the earle of Darby Alliance of the Seymers Alliance of the Stanleys Alliāce of the old countesse of Darby The states of the Lord Beacham and the earle of Darby Religion of these Lords The earle of Huntington Alliāce of the earle of Huntington The povver of London Polydor. 24. Hollingshod in vita Henrici 6. The houses of Britaine and Portugal Infanta of Spayne Duke of Parma The duke of Bragansa Povver of forrayne pretēders The 1. Cōiecture that their vvilbe vvarre vvhye 1. 2. 3. 4. Sup. c. 4. 5. 6. A consideration to be marked The secōd cōiecture no mayn battayle probable 2. The third coniecture vvho is lykest to preuaile For the Infanta of Spayne For the earle of Hartfords seconde sonne 1. Sup. c. 〈◊〉 2. 3. For the children of the Coūtesse of Darbie 1. Garibay l. a5 c. 36. Polydor in rit Steph. 3.