gets hastily a company of men and makes towards the Isle Most of Barklays men were otherwise imploy'd dreaming of no such thing and himself not thinking that his plot was known did not take Knox his men though he saw them coming for enemies thus careless Knox lands and encounters him on the very shore upon which Barklay resolved not to be taken runs into the Sea and drowns himself and so there is an end of him and the Popish troubles in Scotland for this time CHAP. IV. The troubles in Ireland against Queen Elizabeth TO run through all the Rebellions of Ireland would be troublesome both to my self and Reader their whole stories and life being but an heap or chain of Troubles Riots Misdemeanors Murthers Treasons and suchlike enormities whereby they have not onely vext and molested their Governours but in the end brought ruine to the disturbers and such undertakers of disobedience Nor could any thing else be expected from the ancient Irish to whom civility and discretion were strangers but the Robbery of Cambden Britan pag. 790 791 792. others held a piece of Devotion insomuch that they never undertook such mischief without first sending up their prayers and after to give God thanks for such a good booty Though they profest themselves good Catholicks yet they supposed no small holiness to remain in Horses Hoofes and that the Lords prayer mumbled into the right ear of a sick beast was cure enough for its distemper and any man was held past living in this world if he desired to receive the Sacrament Nor need we look for many cures amongst them when to a Ric. Stanihuâ—st de â—ebus Hibeâ—n lib. 1. pag. 44. beat Eggs together to squeeze out with ones fingers the juyce of shred herbs to probe and finde out a wound were signes of an able Physitian and thus qualified he may go for an Hippocrates And no doubt but others of them were much of the discreet hardiness of b Id pag. 42. him who having received four desperate wounds and seeing his sword not hurâ— gave thanks to God that these wounds were given to his body and not to his sword And what else might be expected from those of former times when even within these few years they c Sir John Temples Hist of Iâ—ish Rebeâ—lion the Prefaâ—e ld pag. 84 threatned to burn and ruine Dublin to destroy all Records and Monuments of English Government make Laws against speaking English and have all English names changed Nay to put their thoughts into practice they endeavour'd to destroy all the goodly breed of English Cattle by killing many thousand Sheep and Cows meerly because they were of English breed and so to leave them lye stinking in the Fields and as others testifie to destroy the very Corn ' cause sown by English men And yet 't is known they had not only Government Civility and what else is praise worthy spred amongst them by the English but stately Buildings and other Ornaments of the Country whereas Dublin it self could not afford a place sit for King Henry II to lye in so that he was there forced to set up a long house composed of d Id pag. 4. Wattles after the manner of the Country therein to keep his f Riâ—h Stanibuâ—st lib 3. pag. 129. splendid Christmas But these glories and advantages some of them may think a discredit if not a ruine to their Nation and may fancie it as good to have their Kings as a Speeds Theater of Great Britain in Ireland in Vlster § 6. formerly to lap up their Coronation-sustenance without the assistance of Spoons or Hands and to sit in state naked within the bottom of a â—aldron at his Inauguration as to have Decencie and Manners Thrones or Magnificence amongst them However that which they supposed to ruine all you may guess at by this their complaint as old at least as King Edward the Thirds time as b Discovery of Ireland pag. 184. Sir John Davies supposeth c M S. F. 99 Laud p. 332. in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. ex albo libro scaccarii Dublin By granting Charters of peace To falce Englishe withouten lesse This land shall be much undoe But d Gossipred a custom amongst them of trusting too much to God-fathers as they thought their Nurces and Forster-Children akin to them as Mother and Sister Gosipride and alterage And leesing of our Language Have mickley holpe thereto The truth is above all people they hated the English being willing that French Spaniard or any body else should rule them but those who do But of their Combinations and Overtures I shall go no higher then Queen Elizabeth though this following note by the way will not be amiss a M S. F. 99. fol. 185. Land in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. Jehan du Tillet Recuil des Guerres Traitez d'entâ—e les Roys de France d' Angleterre fol. 157. Articles agreed upon between Francis I. King of France and James Fitzjohn Earl of Desmond Extracted by Tillet out of the Records in Paris Anno 1523. Francis I. King of France in a Treaty with James Fitzjohn Earl of b The French Copy calls him Jaques Conte de Cymonie Prince â—n Hybernie Desmond wherein he is stiled a Prince in Ireland It was accorded That as soon as the Kings Ships should land in Ireland the said Earl in person and at his own charge should take Armes against his Soveraign King Henry VIII not onely to conquer that part of the Kingdom wherein he lived which should be to the proper use and benefit of the said Earl except onely one Port which should be reserved for the French King for ever for to harbour his Ships in and that Port to be left at the Election of the King out of one of these three viz. d The French Copy reads thus Quinquesalle Core ou Drudal Kinsale Cork or Yoghal but also for to e As if he ever had it but no such matter restore the Duke of Suffolk to the Crown of England from whence he was banished and at the present living in France The Earl of Desmond for this War was to raise 400 Horse and 10000 Foot and if need required to increase them into 15000 or more The King Covenanted to entertain them at the rate of two Angels â—e peece for every man armed with Corsselets and Mayle for three months and for every man furnished onely with Swords and Halberts at one Angel le peece for the like time That for the draught of the Artillery which should be sent into that land by the King and the Duke of Suffolk the Earl should provide horses sufficient That after the War was begun the French King should not at any time make Truce or peace with the King of England without comprehending therein the said Earl and Turloghe O Brian with his Nephews That if King Henry VIII should after a Truce or Peace accorded make War upon the said Earl the French King
Magistrates THe Queens Majestie hath the chief Power in this Realm of England Articles of Religion anno 1562. Art 37. and other her Dominions unto whom the Chief Government of all Estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in all Cases doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any Forraign Jurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majestie the Chief Government by which Titles we understand the mindes of some dangerous folke to be offended We give not our Princes the Ministring either of Gods Word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie But that onely Prerogative which we see to have been given always to all Godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should Rule all Estates and Degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the Civil Sword the stubborn and evil Doers The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men Taken out of King Edward VI. his Articles anno 1552. § of Civil Magistrates with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawful for Christian men at the Commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the Wars And with these agree the Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops in a Anno 1615. § 57 58 59 60 61 62. Convocation at Dublin for the Kingdom of Ireland And because at the present I cannot remember any Historian to have taken notice of it I shall assure the Reader of one Passage concerning a Convocation of Divines In King James his time the Romanists on the one hand were so busie and zealous to advance the Popedom over all Principalities and Powers that the Crown it self must be disposed according to the pleasure of that Myter And on the other hand the Presbyterian Hâ—t-spurs were so rigoroâ—sly malepart that they would advance their seditious and blockish Assemblies or rather Conventicles above all Law Reason Loyalty Royalty and Divinity it self as appears by their coâ—tinual countenancing of Rebellion and Schism against their Kings and Bishops The first kept a great deal of clutter with St. Peter and is Sâ—ccessors the latter despis'd both him and all Biâ—hops â—he first would prove out of the Prophet b Jer. 1. 10. Exâ—rav Com. c. unam sanctam Gâ—â—g de â—ajor obed c solita Jerâ—my that the Pope was set Over the Nations and over the Kingdoms to root out and to pull down to destroy and to throw down to build and to plant The latter affirm'd that they were c Psal 149. 8. Tâ—â—â—nde â—hâ—r Kings with chains and their Nobles with jeâ—lers of I on The first would tell us that the Pope d Extra 16. had two swords â—hat all must be obedient to him upon pain of damnation 〈◊〉 he excels a King as much as the Sun doth the Moon or e Dist 96. c. du sunt Gold doth Lead That f Exâ—â—â— Joh. XXII T it 5 dist 22 â— omnes Gloss God hath delivered to him the Power and â—ule not onely of Earth but of Heaven too Nay that g Concil Ediâ— Regâ—a Paris Tom. 34. pag. 440. he wâ—s above all Power both of Heaven and Earth The latter despâ—â—ed all these Rodomontado's as coming from the Whore of Babylon and the Horned Beast but would fright the poor People out of their little wits by bauling out a Curse ye Meroz curse ye bitterly the Inhabitant thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the Mâ—ghty And with this they would Judg. 5. 23. carry on their Cause and Presbytery Regal Authority being thus designed to be nois'd and push'd down it wanted not many famous and Learned Champions as well here as beyond Seas Nor would King James himself be onely a Spectator in this Pen-Combat but he also falls to work and slighting the railing Rabble and inferiour Pickeerers he assaults and vindicates his Right against their greatest Cardinal who at first durst not incounter his Royal Aversary in his own shape but under the disguise of Tortus In the mean time a Synod being held in the time of that vigilant and industrious Prelate Archbishop Bancroft to the Reverend Divines there met was presented a large Tract containing M S. XXXVI Chapters to prove the Soveraignty of Kings and Chief Civil Governours above the High-Priests from the Creation to the end of the Jewish State which being read in the Convocation was wholly approved of by joynt consent And then being sent down to York it also past the Convocation there as appears by the Subscriptions to the said Treatise of Constitutions in vindication of Regal Supremacie 'T is said that there was a second part of it to prove the same Authority and Supremacie from Christ to these times but whether there was any such second part or whether it past the said Convocation I shall leave to others inquiry And by the way the Reader if he pleaseth for variety sake may take our XXXVII Article as it with the rest was turn'd into Latine Verse neer threescore years ago by one Mr. John Glanvil of the University of Oxford Obtinet Imperium Majestas Regia summum Angliacis ejus sinibus atque aliis Cujus in omnimodis sacrata potentia causis Omnibus ut par est imperat Ordinibus Sive Sacerdotes sint seu Civilia tractent Munia nec peregri est subjicienda foro Nos ubi Principibus primas damus inde sinistris Mentibus ansa sui Schismatis esse solet Non tamen aeternum datur illis copia verbum Sive ministrandi Pignora sacra Dei. Legibus hoc patuit quas Elizabetha beati Nominis auspicio condidit ante suo Tale sed Imperium nostris concedimus olim Quale pâ—is tribuit Regibus ipse Deus Nempe gradus hominum soli dominentur in omnes Quos Dominus proprio subdidit Imperio Quos vel publica res capit aut Ecclesia cunctos Civilique queant ense donare malos Non habet Imperium Romanus Episcopus ullum Finibus O felix terra Britanne tuis Jura Potestatem Civilia gentis in omnes Impia patrantes Crimina mortis habent Ferre Magistratus si jusserit arma vel ipsis Christicolis etiam bella ciere licet To which the Poet afterwards subjoyns these following Verses Subditus in proprium miser ut ferat arma Monarcham Quem feriet bruto fulmine Papa jubet Non ita a Mat. 12. 17. Caesareas abrupit Christus b Mart. 17 27. habenas Papa tamen Christi gestit habere vices Falso nam pedibus tenebrarum c Ephes 6. 21. Principis instat d Luc. 4. 6. Omnia qui mendax se dare Regna refert India magniloquo dives sic cessit e Ex donatione Alexandâ—i VI.
That the King of Navarre with the other Princes of Bourbon his Adherents should be declared to have forfeited their Right and Title to the Crown That a Form of Government should be made which the King should not have power to alter That such of the Kings Favourites should be banish'd the Court and turn'd out of all Offices and Places That War should be made against the Huguenots and the absolute Command of it committed unto him That the King should have no extraordinary Guards about his Person and so dismiss his Guard 45 Gentlemen That the Dukes of Aumale Elboeuf and Nemours should have the Government of Picardy Normandy and Lyons and that the Leaguers should have six other Towns as they should name That the Duke of Mayenne should be Admiral and his Creature De la Chastre be Mareschal instead of Byrâ—n That Brissac an active Leaguer should be Governour of Paris And at last concluded That he was resolved either to lose his life or secure Religion and the Estate of his Family The Queen-mother returneth and the King finding no mâ—ans by staying there to escape his snarâ—s of the Enemies who were now forming 13 May. a Siege against him resâ—lved to withdraw himself so stealing through the * So calâ—'d from the 〈…〉 of Tâ—les theâ—e formâ—rly Tuilleries the Gardens by the Louvre he took horse with a dozen Gentlemen posted to Trapes and the next day to Chartres where he was receiv'd with great demonstrations of joy 'T is said that the people were so bewitch'd with this Solemn League and Covenant that seeing him thus fly for his safety they * Jo. de â—â—â—ssieres tol 4. l. 21. p. 259. shot at him cross the River calling him all the Contumelious names that malice could invent And that the King was so troubled at these Villanies and Indignities that having got a little from Paris he turn'd him about uttering some threats and menaces against that ingrateful City The Courtiers hasted after the King with what speed they coâ—ld make most trudging afoot for in this burly-burly happy was he that could procure an horse though never so bad many Persons of Quality being content to make use of their own legs â—â— preserve themselves and amongst those who fled to the King was Niâ—â—las Poulain not daring to stay in Paris suspecting himself discover'd and well was it for him that he so escaped for the Leaguers were so mad against him for his Loyalty that they imprison'd his Wife threatned his Children rifled his house and as for himself he got to Chartres and the King without ever a Peny of mony nor do I hear of any reward excepting Promises that he received for his faithful service in so often saving the Kings life it being the custom for such good-natur'd or negligent Princes not to understand worth and vertue and so to be Misers in rewarding of such but Prodigals in heaping Riches and Honours upon their phantastical and flattering Minions or Favourites and it may be Poulain was too grave and serious for such a wanton and frolicksom Court as Henry III's was And here the Skill or Policy of Guise hath been much call'd in question for not speedily following his blow having all the advantages that possibly could be expected his great neglect being his letting the King escape the seizing of whose Person might have compleated his Triumphs and by his Enemies so wanting an Head might have brought France to submit to his pleasure all which might with ease have been accomplish'd had he but forthwith begirt the Louvre by which he might have taken the King but this nelect he remembred too late and afterwards repented of so grand an oversight Though here he had fail'd yet he resolveth to secure himself to which purpose having gain'd all the strong places in Paris put out and imprison'd the * Like the Lord Maâ—or of London Prevost des Marchands and others whom he suspected to favour the King and settled his own Creatures in their Places he surpriseth all the Neighbouring places and presently Orleans Bourges Amiens Abbeville Montrovil Rouen Rheims Chaalons and above twenty other considerable places submitted to him the mad people every-where crying out Long live Guise long live the Protector of the Faith And his Sister the Dutchess Dowager of Montpensier was so zealous against the King and Peace that she would brag how the King should be * Jo. de Buss vol. 4. p. 261. shorn for a Monk and shew the Scisars which should do the feat And for a good encouragement the Spaniard sendeth 600000 Crowns supposing that the League would make rare work for him And thus D'A bigne tom 3 l. 1. ch 23. Guise commanding all the King can find no safety for himself but by Peace though upon never so bad Conditions and that which was no small argument of his Compliance was the approach of the Spanish Armado by them call'd the Invincible and the vast Preparations of the Duke of Parma in Flanders which though in the main design'd against England yet he understood not what if Conquerours as most suppos'd they would they might act against him and France knowing full well the Catholik King to have all along assisted the Covenanters In short The King thus forc'd to shackle himself lest the Mischief and Rebellion should run too far he submits to Guise granting him and his Faction all the Proposals they desir'd and so by a Decree call'd the Edict of Union or July a Peace is hudled up between them The Edict it self being somewhat long take here the Heads of it HENRY by the Grace of God King of France and Poland c. We ordain and decree these following Articles as an unalterable and fundamental Law in our Kingdom We swear and renew the Oath made by us at our Coronation to live and die in the Roman Religion We ordain and would have all our Subjects to swear as we do and to joyn themselves with us in the extirpation of Hereticks We swear that we shall never favour or advance them and command all our Subjects to swear never to admit of an Heretical King or one that favoureth Heresie to reign over them We promise never to promote or imploy any but of the Roman Religion and expresly forbid any to be receiv'd into any Place or Imployment but who have proved themselves of the said Religion We swear and promise to protect and use our Subjects who joyn with us in these our undertakings as becometh a good King We would have our said united Subjects to swear to assist one another against the Hereticks And that our said Subjects swear to live and die in their Allegeance to us And that they swear to depart from all Practices and Leagues contrary to the said Union our Person and Authority We declare all to be Rebells who will not sign this said Union and all Towns who will not admit it shall be deprived of all their Privileges and Franchises And to
est mortale Permissum est etiam Catholicis Haereticae Reginae id genus obsequii praestare quod Catholicam Religionem non oppugnat Non fuit unquam nec potuit esse Pontificis mens ea Obsequia circa Reginam eis permittere quae aperte cum fine scopo ipsius Pont. de promovenda in Hibernia Catholica fide ac Religione pugnant Hanc autem ejus esse mentem scopum Literae ipsae apertissime declarant Ex quibus omnibus satis manifestum relinquitur illustrissimum Principem Hugonem O-Nellum alios Catholicos Hiberniae bellum gerentes adversus Reginam Haereticam Orthodoxam Fidem oppugnantem nullo modo Rebelles esse neque debitam Obedientiam negare aut Terras Reginae injuste usurpare quin potius illos justissimo bello se terramque suam ab iniqua impia Tyrannide vindicare sacramque Orthodoxam fidem ut Christianos Catholicos decet pro viribus tueri atque defendere Quae omnia singula nos infra-scripti ut certissima ac verissima judicamus approbamus Datum Salamantic VII die Martii An. D. 1602. Sic ego Johannez de Seguensa Professor Theologiae in Collegio Societatis Jesu hujus Almae Salmanticensis censeo Idem Censeo ego Emanuel de Royas Professor Theologiae in eodem Collegio Societatis Jesu Horum Patrum Sententiae tanquam omnino certae assentior et ego Gaspar de Mena Theologiae S. Scripturae in eodem Coll. Professor In eadem sum prorsum cum Praedidictis Pp. Sententia Petrus Osorio in eodem Coll. Societatis Jesu pro Sacris Canonibus In the Name of God Amen THE most Renowned Prince Hugh O Neil doth make warr for the defence of the Catholique Faith with the Queen of England and the English people viz. That it may be lawful for him and the Irish freely to profess the Catholique Religion which liberty the Queen of England doth endeavour to take from them by force and arms There are two matters now in question aâ—â—ut this Warr. I. The one is Whether it be lawful for the Irish Catholiques to favour the foresaid Prince Hugh with Arms and all other means in this Warr II. The other is Whether it be lawful for the same Catholiques to fight against the foresaid Prince without deadly sin and to favour the English in this Warr by Arms or by any other means whatsoever Especially when the case so stands that if they deny this kind of help unto the English they expose themselves to a manifest danger of their lives or the losing of their Temporal goods And furthermore since it is permitted by the Pope that they may obey the foresaid Queen of England and acknowledg her as their lawful Queen by paying Tribute unto her for it seemeth that that may be performed what belongeth unto Subjects to do viz. To fight against the Queen's Rebels who deny their due obedience to her and seem to usurp the Land which is subject to her dominion That both these Questions may be decided we must hold as for certain That the Pope hath power to bridle and suppress those who forsake the Faith and those who fight against the Catholick Faith when by no other means so great a mischief can be hindred And furthermore it must be positively concluded That the Queen of England doth oppugn the Catholique Religion and doth hinder the Irish from the publick enjoyment of the Catholique Faith And that for this cause the foresaid Prince O-Neal and others before him mentioned in the Apostolical Letters of Clement VIII undertook the Warr against her These things thus laid down the first Question is easily resolved For without doubt any Catholick whatsoever may favour the said Prince Hugh O-Neil in the foresaid warr and this with great merit and certain hopes of an Eternal Reward For seeing that the said Prince doth make Warr by the Pope's Authority for the defence of Catholique Religion and that the Pope doth exhort all the faithful by his Letters thereunto as is manifest by his Letters and that he will extend his graces upon the favourers of the Prince in that Warr in as ample manner as if they make warr against the Turks No man in justice can doubt but that the present Warr is lawful and also that to fight for the Catholique Religion which is the greatest good of all others is a matter of great merit And concerning the second question it is most certain that all those Catholiques do sin mortally that take part with the English against the foresaid Prince O-Neil Neither can they obtain Eternal Salvation nor be absolved from their sins by any Priest unless they first repent and forsake the English Army And the same is to be censured of those who in this War favour the English either by Arms or any other means or shall give them any thing of like Condition besides those accustomed Tributes which is lawful for them by virtue of the Pope's Indulgence and Permission to pay unto the Kings of England or their Officers the Catholick Religion flourishing and being amongst them This Assertion is confirm'd by this most manifest Reason Because it is sufficiently proved by the Pope's Letters That the Queen of England and her Forces make unjust Warr against the said Prince O-Neal and those who favour him For seeing that the Pope doth declare That the English do fight against the Catholique Religion and that therefore the said English should be resisted as much as if they were Turks and that he doth bestow the same Graces and Blessings upon those who resist the said English as he doth upon those who fight against the Turks Who doubteth but that the Warr waged by the English against the Catholique Army is altogether unjust But it is not lawful for any to favour an unjust Warr or to be present thereat under the pain of Eternal Damnation Those Catholiques do therefore most grievously offend who bear Arms with the Hereticks against the foresaid Prince in a Warr so apparently impious and unjust And so do all those who assist them in the said Warr with Arms Victuals or by any other means which of themselves do further the proceedings of the Warr and cannot give account of their indifferent obedience Neither doth it any thing avail them to scandal the Apostolical Letters of Surreption or of some underhand procuring For Surreption cannot happen where no Petition of them is declared in whose favour they were dispatched But the Pope doth plainly declare in those Letters that he and his Predecessors had voluntarily exhorted the Irish Princes and all others of the Faithful to undertake this Warr. And the better to incite them to it doth enrich them with great Favours Blessings and Indulgences How can it then be supposed that these Letters were surreptitious which only contain an Exhortation strengthned with many Favours for such as did fulfil them Neither therefore can the Catholiques who assist the English defend themselves by the Reasons alledged in the second
execution of your enterprises here which they may do more easily then they that are known to be Catholicks whose actions are ever suspitious to the Hereticks for their Religion whereof these two Earls have not yet made outward profession but in that as in the rest they submit themselves to our will and to what we think most expedient The said Fathers of that company do profit very much in Scotland and so soon as any Lord or other person of Quality is converted by them they forthwith dispose and incline their affections to the service of the King of Spain and your Highness as a thing inseparably conjoyn'd with the advancement of the true Religion in this Country If I had commandment from your Highness I would give them some little Alms in your name to help them and eight others whereof four are also Jesuites and the other four are Seminary Priests of Pont a Mousson in Lorrain which are all the Ecclesiasticks that produceth so great spiritual fruit in Scotland and acquires to you here such augmentations of your friends and servants After the parting of Colonel Sempill from hence the Lords sent Letters with the foresaid Father Creichton and other Gentlemâ—n after the Army of Spain to cause it land in this Country but it had taken the way to Spain few days before their arrival at the a a The 〈…〉 where â—â—â—iâ—hten thought to meet the Fleet Islands where it had refreshed it self so that it was not possible for them to attend on it They of this Countrie who are of the Faction of England were in a marvellous fear during the uncertainty of the landing of the said Armie and confess'd plainlte that if it had landed here they had been utterly overcome The Earl Bothwell who is Admiral of Scotland and as gallant a Lord as any is in the Countrie although he make profession of the new Religion yet is he extremelie desirous to assist you against England having waged and entertain'd all this Summer under pretence to order the Isles some Troops of men of War which together with his ordinarie Forces should have joyned with yours if they had come hither He suffers himself to be peaceablie guided by me notwithstanding the diversitie of our Religion and hath often times said that if the Catholicks would give him suretie to possess after the restitution of the Catholick Religion two b b Viz. the Abbeys of Coldingham aâ—d of â—else Abbies which he hath that he would even presentlie be altogether one of yours He intends to send Colonel Halkerstoun to accompanie certain Captains and Gentlemen to Spain and almost four hundred Souldiers all safe from the shipwrack in our Isles And because they are in great necessitie he is purposed to furnish them with Ships Fictuals and other things necessarie to testifie thereby to the King of Spain the affection he hath to do him most humble and affectionate service And if we think it good hath offer'd himself to go to your Highness in the Low-Countries and by your advice afterward do the like to his Catholick Majestie of Spain But hereupon we will advise what is most expedient If we may always be assured of him he will be as profitable for the good of our Cause as any Lord in Scotland for he hath great dependance about this Town which is the principal of Scotland as also upon the Frontiers of England He hath offered to maintain and defend me against all that would attempt any thing against me We have chosen for every Catholick Lord a Gentleman of the wisest and faithfullest Catholicks and best beloved of their friends to serve them in Council and to meet at all occasions to resolve upon the most expedient courses that may concern the good of our Cause according to the will and intention of their Lords who have obliged themselves to approve and execute their resolutions and in no wise to contradict the same and by that means we hope to proceed with greater securitie and effect then we have done heretofore They shall never know any thing of our Intelligences there nor our final intentions but according to the exigence of the affairs which shall be in hand and that superficiously and without discovering our selves too much Your Highness shall understand by the particular Letters of the Lords what remaineth to be said to you by these presents by reason whereof I will make an end most humblie kissing your Highness hands and praying God to give you all the good hope and felicity you desire Your Highness most humble and most affectionate Servant Robert Bruce From Edinbrough this XXIV of January M D LXXX X. At the same time with this some of the Nobility in name of all the rest as this Letter also testifieth writ to Philip II King of Spain which take as followeth SIR WE cannot sufficiently express by speech the great grief we have conceived being frustrate of the hope we have so long had to see the last year the desired effects which we hoped of your Majesties preparations And our displeasures have been so much the greater that your Naval Armies should have passed by so near us without calling upon us who expected the same with sufficient Forces for the peaceable receipt and assistance thereof against all enemies in such sort that it should have had no resistance in this Countrie and with our support should have given England work enough At least if it had come in to refresh it it had preserved a number of Vessels and Men which we know have perished near our Isles and upon the Coasts of Ireland and had discovered an incredible numâ—er of friends in full readiness to have run the same fortune with it in such sort as we dare well affirm it should not have found half so many in England for all that is spoken by the English Catholicks a a Refugit thair saith the Scotch Copy fled into Spain who by emulation or rather by an unchristian envie too much lessen our power of aiding you thereby to magnifie their own onely and make themselves to be able to do all so to advance themselves in credit with your Majestie and such as are about you but the experience of this their passage hath sufficiently testified that they have not shewn themselves in such numâ—â—r to assist your forces as we have done And therefore your Majestie as most wise as you are should if it please you make such account of the one as not to neglect the other and so serve your self with both to the designe you aim at without hazarding your Forces for the particular of the one or the other We refer even to the judgement of some of your own subjects who have been here the Commodities and Landing in these parts where the expence bestowed upon the Equipage of one Galiasse shall bring more fruit to your service then you may have of ten upon the Sea And we may assure your Majestie that having once six thousand here of
his own Queen as appears by his slaunders against her and his respect to Philip both which these following Letters will testifie To the most Mighty Monarch of World the Great King M S. F. 97. Laud. in Bibl. Bâ—dl â—xon fol. 180. of Spain give this at his Princely Palace of Madril Most Mighty Monarch I Humbly salute your Imperial Majesty giving your Highness to understand of our great misery and violent order wherewith we are of long time opprest by the English Nation Their Government is such as Pharaoh himself never used the like for they content not themselves with all Temporal Superiority but by cruelty desire our bloud and perpetual destruction to blot out the whole remembrance of our Posterity as also our old Catholick Religion and to swear that the Queen of England is Supreme of the Cburch I refer the consideration thereof to your Mâ—jesties high judgement the rather for that Nero in his time was far inferiour to this Queen in cruelty Wherefore and for the respects thereof Right Mighty Potentate my self with my followers and retainers and being also requested by the Bishops Prelates and Religious men of my Country have drawn my Sword and proclaimed Wars against them for the recovery first of Christs Catholick Religion and next for the maintenance of my own Right which of long time hath been wrongfully detained from me and my Father who by right succession was lawful heir to the Earldom of Desmond for he was eldest son to James my Grandfather also Earl of Desmond and for that my Vncle Gerald being the younger Brother took part with the wicked proceedings of the Queen of England to farther the unlawful claim of Supremacy usurped the name of Earl of Desmond in my Fathers true Title yet notwithstanding he had not long enjoyed his name of Earl when the wicked English annoyed him and prosecuted Wars that he with the most part of those that held of his side was slain and his Country thereby planted with Englishmen And now by the just judgement and providence of God I have utterly rooted these Malepart a a Boughs bowse out of the Orchard of my Country and have profited so much in my proceedings that my dâ—sterly Enemies dare not shew their faces in any part of my Country but having taken my Towns and Cities for their refuge and strength where they do remain as it were Prisoner for want of means to assail them as Cannon and Powder which my Country cannot yeild Having these wants most noble Potentate I have presumed with all humility to address these my Letters to your High Majesty craving the same of your gracious clemency and goodness to assist me in this godly enterprise with some help of such necessaries for the Wars as your Majesty shall think requisite and after the quiet of my Country satisfaction shall be truely made for the sâ—me and my self in person with all my forces shall be ready to serve your Highness in any Country your Majesty shall command me And if your Majesty will vouchsafe to send me a competent number of Souldiers I will place them in some of my Towns and Cities to remain in your gracious disposition till such time as my ability shall make good what your Majesty shall lend me in money and Munition and also your Majesties high Commission under the Broad Seal for leading and conducting these Souldiers according to the Prescript Order and Articles of martial discipline as your Majestie shall appoint me and as the service of this Land shall require I praise the Almighty God I have done by his goodness more then all my Predecessors for I have reclaim'd all the Nobility of this part of Ireland under the dutiful obedience of Christs Church and mine own Authority and accordingly have taken Pledges and Corporal Oaths never to swerve from the same and would have sent them to your Majestie by this Bearer but that the Ship was not of sufficiencie nor strength to carrie so Noble Personages and will send them whensoever your Highness please So there resteth nothing to quiet this part of the World but your Majesties assistance which I daily expect Thus most Mighty Monarch I humbly take my leave and do kiss your Royal hands beseeching the Almighty of your Majesties health and happiness Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV of March MD XCIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat per Tho. White Mayor of Waterford Another Letter of the same date To the most mighty Monarch of the World the Great King of Spain give these at his most Princely Palace at Madrid YOur Majesty shall understand that the Bearer hereof Captain M S. F 97. fol. 188. Andrew Roche hath been always in the service of the Queen of England and hath performed her manifold services at Sea whereby he had great preferment and credit and being of late time conversant with Catholicks and â—eachers of Divine Instructions that were sorry for his lewd life made known unto him the danger wherein his soul was So that by their godly perswasions he was at that time reclaimed and converted to be a good Catholick and to spend the residue of his life in the defence and service of the Church Since which time of reconcilement he was to repair to your Majesty with his Ship and Goods as 't is well known to your Highness Council who consiscated that Ship to your Majesties use himself being at that time strucken with extream sickness that he was not able to proceed in the Voyage and when his company return'd into Ireland they reported that the a a Adelantado or the Spanish Admiral Lantado wished rather his Person then his Ship which made him fearful ever since to repair thâ—ther till he should deserve his freedom by some worthy service to your Majesty The b b Let some Romanist tell us the meaning of this for none was Hâ—â—buâ— King 〈◊〉 Vâ— of 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 England Heir Apparent to the Crown of England had been carryed â—y him to your Highness but that he was bewrayed by some of his own men and thereby was intercepted and himself taken prisoner where he remain'd so long till by the providence of God and the help of good friends he was convey'd into Ireland to me in a small boat â—â—d having thâ—se occasions to your Majesty and being assured of his trust faith and confidence towards me have committed this charge into his hands the rather for that I understand your Royal Fleet is directed for England this year to the end he may be a Leader and Condâ—ctor to them in the Coast of England and Ireland being very expert in the knowledge thereof and in the whole Art of Navigation And thus with all humility I commit your Highness to the Almighty Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV or March MD LXXXXIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat
goeth to Greenwich where the Court then was watcheth opportunity and being informed that the Queen was to ride abroad goeth to her Horse holds him according to his place and cunningly puts strong poyson upon the Pummel of the Saddle yet saying with a loud voice as she mounted God save the Queen But such was the providence that her Majesty neither in getting up riding or getting down once touch'd the Pummel yet he doubted not but that in time it would work the intended ruine fully perswaded the Queen had laid her hands on it Presently after this the Earl of Essex set sail for the Island-voyage against the Spaniard And in this Fleet Squire ventured once more as a Souldier with which he return'd into England and lived for some time securely not thinking that he should ever be discover'd But see the luck on 't of this poyson being great expectation amongst some and seeing no signes of any such effect they became incensed against Squire thinking that he had left them and the Cause in the lurch and meerly deluded them Thus jealous and inraged a revenge is resolved on and Squire cunningly accused of some designe against the Queen Squire upon the noise is examined and wondring how any thing should be known against him yet suspecting Walpoole his Confessor and believing year 1598 all was fully discover'd freely confesseth all as abovesaid so as a Traytor is condemn'd and executed Of these late bloudy Treasons Watson and Bluet two Priests thus in Print declare to the world Father Holt the Jesuit and others with him perswaded an See Bels Anatomy p. 22 23. Irishman one Patrick Collen as himself confessed to attempt the laying of his violent and villanous hands upon her Majesty Shortly after 1593 that notable stratagem was plotted for Dr. Lopez the Queens Physitian to have poysoned her This wicked designation being thus prevented by Gods providence the Traiterous Jesuit Holt and others did allure and animate one York and Williams to have accomplish'd that with their bloudy hands that the other purposed to have done with his poyson we mean her Majesties destruction Hereunto we may add the late villanous attempt 1599 of Edward Squire animated and drawn thereunto as he confessed by Walpoole that pernitious Jesuit These words are set down in their Important Considerations pag. 33. And yet Father a Answer to the fiâ—th part of Sir Edw. Cokes Reports Epist Dedicat. v. 2. Parsons doubts whether Squire for all this committed Treason or no such was the loyalty and honesty of this Jesuit Thus in part have we seen the great dangers Queen Elizabeth run through her life being continually sought after both by her own subjects and Forreigners nor did they want incouragements to oppose their own Queen and Country Pope Gregory XIII allowed them a b See the Bull tom 2. p. 319. Colledge at Rome the Guisians in France another aâ— c Sixtus V by Bull desires all to assist it ib. p. 411. Rhemes the Spaniard gave them one at d Clement VIII confirmed this vid Sand. de Schism lib. 4. sive Appendix p. 104. Valladolid in Castile and allowed them e See Thomas Fuller's Church-Hist lib. 9. Cambden anno 1595. others in other places besides allowed the chiefest of them Pensions and maintain'd many hundred English in his Wars though his pay and Pensions were but badly paid to them yet more and better then such Trayterous Fugitives deserved And for all these Pensions private fees for Treason and vast Treasure spent in his attempts against the Queen what did the Spanish King expect for a recompence but the Crown and Kingdom of England for the obtaining of which the nearest that he came was once viz. July 1595. when Diego Brocher with four Callies got very early in a morning unperceived upon the Coâ—sts of Cornwal struck into Mounts Bay by St. Michaels Mount fired Pauls Church standing alone in the Fields Mouseholes Meulin and Pensâ—ns three poor fisher-Towns and presently stole home again without killing one man This beggerly enterprize was all the reward and recompence of his vast Treasure and toyl spent against England And let them never prosper otherwise who attempt any mischief against it and so unworthily foment and maintain Traytors against their respective legal Soveraigns But better had it been for Philip and Spain if he had followed the advice of his Grand-father Charles V that famous Emperour who used often to lay down this for a certain Rule insomuch that it was one of his Proverbs Con todo el mundo guerra Y puse con Inglatierra With all the world make War But with England do not Jar. Whilst these Murtherers were according to their engagements consulting the death of the Queen we must not think the Spanish interest altogether Idle but they had also their other Instruments and preparations on foot the better to secure this Kingdom to them upon her fall As for the Jesuits how active they were for the disturbance of England a Romanist himself shall tell you his words are these We have also certain intelligence that the Jesuits have devised a A. â— Reply to a notorious Libel p. 81 82. means to have had the Tower of London seized into their hands and how they would have it held until the Spaniard came to rescue them Divers of their Letters have been shewed to divers prisoners for proof against them when they have answered in defence of the Jesuits that they thought them free from such stratagems and amongst the rest there is one of the XX of June 1596 wherein there are these words It may be if the Kings faintness and pusillanimity hinder us not as heretofore it hath the Armado will be with you about August or September This is one good help Ireland will be onely for us The Earl of Tyrone and Odonnel would gladly have help from hence and they are well contented to let the Spaniards have certain Holds and Forts for their uses This will greatly pleasure to trouble and disquiet England and in the mean time serve for Harbour for their Ships that shall pass that way c. It were necessary you should make it known aforehand that no Catholick man or woman shall take harm either in body or goods Let every man be quiet till the Spaniards be landed then shall there presently Proclamation be made of all security Of these Proclamations there were two hundred printed in Spain Amongst other contrivances to bring this Kingdom into confusion was the designe of Anthony Rolston an English Fugitive Cambden an 1598. who was sent over into England by the Spanish Agitators and Father Creswell under pretence of procuring a Peace but the truth was as Rolston himself confessed to discover what provisions there were for war to incourage the Romanists and by Bribes and fair promises to corrupt some great Lords about the Queen amongst the rest Essex as the said Earl confess'd himself And the better to make cock-sure and carry
or other having Mem. de lâ—i Ligue vâ—l 3. p 557. drawn up a short Paper containing the reasons of taking up Arms against the King and it concluding XIII How one Bodille being no more then a Gentleman yet because Childeric See backwâ—rdâ— l. 3. c. 4. § 2. II. had caused him publickly to be whipped the said Bodille took thence occasion to kill that King for which he is commended by Historians and therefore may not the Injury done to a better then Bodille viz. to a brave Prince Guise be also revenged So zealous I say were the Doctors of Sorbonne that having red over this Tract they approved it affirming nothing was in it contrary to the Roman Church Jâ—lieâ— de Moranne 17 May 1589. Nor is this all for the people being obliged to pray for their King by the Canon of the Missale some of the City of Beauvois in la France about mid-way betwixt Paris and Amiens upon this made a scruple whether they were not thereby obliged to pray for Henry de Valois seeing they used to pray for Our King Henry Whereupon it was concluded by the Sorbonne that in any prayer 5 Apr. 1589. whatever the word Henry should not be express'd that he should not be pray'd for and that it should be dash'd out of all Prayers or Collects and further if any of their Faculty of Paris agree not to this they shall also be held culpable and guilty of Excommunication depriv'd of the Prayers and Privileges of the said Faculty And it was also concluded that instead of these words For our King some prayers shall be drawn up for the Catholick or Leaguing Princes which accordingly was done In the mean time many places joyning with the Leaguers amongst the rest those of Lyons drew up a long and tedeous Declaration wherein they say That Lyons hath formerly been one of the most Loyal Cities in 2 March 1589. France That Obedience may be wrong'd by being too much or too little That therefore for the future they will consider all the Kings commands whether they are for the better or worse and accordingly obey or oppose That Kings being appointed by God for two ends to preserve Religion and keep the people from oppression that therefore they will and ought to oppose all commands contrary to these two ends That seeing he hath violated the Edict of Union kill'd and imprison'd the good Romanists countenanced the Hereticks favoured Espernon and his creatures therefore they have entered into the Holy Union taken up Arms resolving to take the King from his bâ—d Council which if they had not done they had been worse then Jews That to say Kings ought not to be resisted upon any occasion is false Doctrine seeing they are onely to be obey'd conditionally viz. in that which is not prejudicial to Religion Gods Service and the good of the State Doubt not but God will bless their good Undertakings And so after the telling of some stories conclude This done they draw up a Form of an Oath whereby they swear to 12 March these Articles To continue in the Roman Religion To defend their City of Lyons To preserve the Forein Merchants in their Privileges To act in defence and behalf of those of Paris To obey no Command whatever that is prejudicial to their Union To observe exactly the Edict of Union To obey the Duke of Nemours their Governour To stick close one to another And desire all good people to joyn with them And for their further encouragement those of Paris send a Letter to these Hotspurs of Lyons wherein they mind them Of the Killing and Imprisonments at Bloys That the Assassinates had no other design in it but to ruine Religion bring in Heresie maintain their Tyrannies and to bring all good people into slavery So being Frenchmen and Catholiques we are bound to defend our Religion and Estate against any he who it will and by all Obligations of Religion Law Nature and Interest we must not leave the Kingdom to the mercy of this prodigal perjur'd cruel and murdering Prince That the two Henries are agreed Heresie allow'd of the Catholicks persecuted and all things seem to go as in England Therefore rowse up and take courage against these oppressions and send some of yours to consult with us and afford us your assistance SENAULT Paris 25 May. Nay so confident were they in their courses that they sent a Letter Mem. dâ— M. de Nevers vol. 2. p. 205. hors d'icelle il â—'y a point de salut soit au Ciel ou en la Terre to the Citizens of Nevers exhorting them to stick close to this Cause assuring them that without so doing There was no hopes for their salvation either in Heaven or Earth Whilest these things were doing the Swordmen and their Counsellours were not idle for the Duke of Mayenne no sooner hears of his brother Guise's death but he consults his own security secureth many strong places to his Interest and at last gets to Paris where he was received with all demonstrations of joy and honour and here he falleth to work how to carry on the war and such a vogue with the multitude had this Holy League that strong places and Cities daily submitted themselves to its Authority nay a Company of Bumkin Tatterdemallians in Normandy to the number of Sixteen thousand having rose on their own heads and for their own Interest resolving to defend themselves and goods against any whatsoeveâ— be he Royalist or Leaguer that should come into their Country were at last by the persuasion of some Priests and Jesuits wheel'd over to fide with the Covenanters but having no experience and but poorly armed were quickly routed by the Duke of Montpensier These Clubmen were afterwards call'd the Gautiers from the little Town la Chapelle Gautier in higher Normandy where they first began their Insurrections or Rendezvouz'd The King in the mean time had writ friendly Letters to the Duke of Mayenne giving him reasons for the death of his brother persuading him to live quietly but Madam de Montpensier his zealous sister and other thoughts would not let him hearken to the Kings desires so at Paris he is made Head of the Covenanters and declared Lieutenant General of the Crown of France the Sixteen and others would have had him to take upon him the Title of * Perefixe Hist Hen. le Grand King but this he refused however he had all the Power They broke the Kings Great Seal making another in its stead on one side of which was the Arms of France with this Inscription THE SEAL OF THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE On the other side was an empty Throne about which was this CHARLES DUKE OF MAYENNE Lieutenant of the Estate and Crown of FRANCE Mayenne thus entered as it were into the Throne appointed a Council consisting of * Their Names may be seen in Jan de Serres l'Inventaire XL of the chiefest Covenanters and this was call'd The General
Beast and thereupon our * * Viz. That mentioned before which was ruined and lost Army is to go into Munster and with the will of God we consent unto you and will that you believe not any word from us for ever before we write again unto you For you shall see * * I believe he relates to the Earl of Essex his business in which he was also concern'd trouble enough in England by English-men it self so as there shall be easiness of suffering their warrs by May next in respect of that it is now And since this Cause of Munster was left to you next under God let no weakness or imbecillity be found in you and the time of help is near you and all the rest From Dungannon the vith of February 1601. O NEALE Rumors being spread abroad of divers Informations brought in of Insurrections and Spanish Invasions Her Majesties Governours thought it was their duty to look about them So Sir George Carew gets James Fitz-Thomas the Titular Earl of Desmond to be surprised as he lurked in a filthy Cave and also secured Florence Mac Cartie who for all his under-hand Treasons and Conspiracies outwardly yet carried a shew of Loyalty Both which were sent into England and clapt up in the Tower of London and some others also were seised on and kept in hold Whilst they were thus busie in consulting the safety of the Kingdom the Spaniards of which Invasion the Bishops of Clonford and Killaloe Archer the Jesuit and others were great Instigators landed with a great Fleet at Kingsale in the County of Cork in Munster which Town they began to fortifie and sent notice of their abode to Tyrone and O Donnel desiâ—ing them to haste to them with all their Powers The Lord Deputy informed of the Spanish arrival sets out a Proclamation at Cork forbidding any to assist them declaring also upon what unjust grounds the Pope and King of Spain had undertook that Invasion and commanding all people to live in obedience to their true Soveraign Queen Elizabeth In answer to which Don Juan de Aquila General of the Spanish Forces sets out this following Declaration which is pat to our business and worth the perusal the better to discover the true Roman-Catholique Doctrine DON Juan de Aquila General of the Warr and the Catholique King This is in Latin MS. F. 97 Cant. in Bib. Bodl. Oxon. thus in English in Pacata Hibernia p. 200 201 202. of Spain ' s Chief Commander in Gods Warr which is made in Ireland for the defence of the Faith To all the Irish Catholiques living in Kingsale the City of Cork and in all other Villages Cities and Castles wisheth health in Him who is the true Happiness There is come unto our ears a Proclamation or certain Libel made in the City of Cork in the Name of the Deputy which because it containeth many untruths and such things as offend the ears of honest men lest they may lead and seduce the minds of simple men into errors and turn them from the truth I am compell'd to shew their falshood to lay open the truth and in few words to signifie the pretence and intention of our most Excellent King Philip in this Warr which is with the Apostolique Authority to be administred by us And to speak the truth I could very easily retort upon them those reproaches which they object to us and make them lose the pleasure which they have taken in ill-speaking by hearing the like Notwithstanding we will not like unto weak and unarmed women go to reproachings but setting these things aside answer to those that are objected with sound truth and Christian modesty First of all Ye fain that we would lead away the pretended Subjects of the Queen of England from their obedience to bring them under Our yoak which is a very untruth for we endeavour not to perswade any body that he should deny due obedience according to the Word of God to his Prince But ye know well that for many years since Elizabeth was deprived of her Kingdom and all her Subjects absolved from their fidelity by the Pope unto whom he that reigneth in the Heavens the King of Kings hath committed all power that he should Root up Destroy Plant and Build in such sort that he may punish temporal Kings if it should be good for the spiritual Building even to their deposing which thing hath been done in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland by many Popes viz. by Pope Pius Quinâ—us Gregory the Thirteenth and now by Clement the eighth as it is well known whose Bulls are extant amongst us I speak to Catholicks not to froward Hereticks who have fallen from the faith of the Roman Church seeing they are blind leaders of the blind and such as know not the grounds of the truth it is no marvel that they do also disagree from us in this thing But our Brethren the Catholiques walking in the pureness of the faith and yeelding to the Catholique Church which is the very Pillar of the Truth will easily understand all those things Therefore it remaineth that the Irish which adhere to us do work with us nothing that is against Gods Laws or their due obedience nay that which they do is according to Gods word and the obedience which they owe the Pope Secondly Ye affirm That we Spaniards go about to win the Irish with allurements and feigned flatteries which is a thing far from our natures and that we do it but for a while that after we have drawn the minds of simple men unto us we might afterwards exercising our Cruelty towards them shew our bloody nature O the Immortal God! Who doth not wonder at your bitter and unexpressible cruelty and your boldness shewed in these words For Who is he that doth not know the great Cruelty which you English have exercised and cease not to exercise towards the miserable Irish You I say go about to take from their souls the Catholique Faith which their Fathers held in which consists eternal life Truly you are far more cruel than Bears and Lions which take away the temporal life for you would deprive them of the eternal and spiritual life Who is it that hath demolished all the Temporalities of this most flourishing Kingdom except the English Look upon this and be ashamed Whereas on the other side We commiserating the condition of the Catholiques here have left our most sweet and happy Countrey Spain that is replenished with all good things and being stirr'd with their Cries which pierce the Heavens having reached the ears of the Pope and our King Philip They have being moved with pity at last resolved to send unto you Soldiers Silver Gold and Arms with a most liberal hand not to the end they might according as they feign exercise Cruelty towards you O Irish Catholiques but that you may be happily reduced being snatched out of the Jaws of the Devil and free from their Tyranny unto
your own pristine Ingenuity and that you may freely profess the Catholique Faith Therefore my most beloved seeing that which you have so many years before desired and begged for with prayers and tears and that now even now the Pope Christ's Vicar on Earth doth command you to take Arms for the defence of your Faith I admonish exhort and beseech you all all I say unto whom these Letters shall come That as soon as possibly you can you come to us with your Friends and Weapons Whosoever shall do this shall find us prepared and we will communicate unto them those things which we possess and whosoever shall despising our wholsome Counsel do otherwise and remain in the obedience of the English we will prosecute him as an Heretick and a hateful Enemy of the Church even unto Death Don Juan de Aguila The Lord Deputy laid siege to Kingsale which continued long in which time both he received supplies from England and Don Juan from Spain both parties standing sufficiently in need of such As for the Irish many of them who had formerly promised obedience to the Queen now revolted delivering themselves and Castles up to the protection of the Dons Amongst the rest Donnel Osulevan Beare freely gave up to the Spaniard his strong Castle of Dunboy which cost the English much cost and time in re-taking Of which he writ this Letter to the King of Spain IT hath been ever most Mighty and Renowned Prince and most Gracious and Catholick King from time to time manifestly proved by daily experience among us Irish That there is nothing worketh more forcibly in our hearts to win and to draw our love and affection than natural inclination to our Progeny and Off-spring and the memorial of the Friendship which sticketh still in our minds chiefly the same renewed cherished and kept in use by mutual affection and by shewing like friendship to us also We the meer Irish long sithence deriving our Root and Original from the famous and most noble Race of the Spaniards viz. from Milecius son to Bile son to Breogwin and from Lwighe son to Lythy son to Breogwin by the Testimony of our old ancient Books of Antiquities our Pedigrees our Histories and our Chronicles Though there were no other matter we came not as natural branches of the famous Tree whereof we grew but bear an hearty love and a natural affection and intire inclination of our hearts and minds to our ancient most loving Kinsfolks and the most noble Race whereof we descended Besides this my Soveraign such is the abundance of your goodness and the bounty or greatness of your liberality now every way undeserved of our parts as tokens of love and affection by your Majesty shewed unto us that it is not fit nor seemly for us but to bestow cur persons our men and our goods in the service of a Prince that dealeth so graciously with us that sendeth Forces of men great Treasure Victuals and Munition for our aid against our Enemies that seek to overwhelm and extinguish the Catholique Faith diabolically put to death our Chieftains tyrannously coveting our Lands and Livings unlawfully For the aforesaid Considerations and for many other commendable causes me moving I bequeath and offer in humbleness of mind and with all my heart my own person with all my forces perpetually to serve your Majesty not only in Ireland but in any other place where it shall please your Highness I commit also my Wife my Children my Mannors Towns Countrey and Lands and my Haven of Dunboy called Biara Haven next under God to the protection keeping and defence or Commerick of your Majesty to be and remain in your hands and at your disposition Also at your pleasure be it my Liege Lord to send defence and strong keeping of the Haven of Dunboy first for your self my Soveraign to receive your Ships and for me also as your loving Servant so that the Queen of England's Ships may not possess the same before you while I follow the Warrs in your Highness behalf I pray Almighty God to give your Majesty a long life and health of Body and Soul with encrease of Grace and Prosperity So I betake you to the keeping of God From the Camp near Kingsale the xxixth of December 1601. Stylo Novo Your most dutiful loving Servant Donnel Osulevan Beare With an intent to raise the Siege Tyrone O Donnel Mac Guire Mac Maghon Burk Tirrell the best Soldier amongst the Rebels and other Irish hasted towards Kingsale and in their March joined with Alonso de O Campo and his Spanish recruits newly landed all which joined together made up towards VII Thousand The Lord Deputy for all this continueth the siege Tir-Oen and the rest of his Relief approach come within two miles of the Town but is fought and beat his followers quite dispersed Tyrone runs into his hiding-holes in Vlster O-Donnell and others escape into Spain and the rest where they thought most convenient And this Battel may be said to confirm the Queen in Ireland and to secure the Protestants there who had been * Dr. Nic. Bernards life 〈◊〉 Aâ—ch-bishop Vsher pag. 30. slaughter'd by the Irish had the Spaniards here prevailed Don Juan de Aguila seeing the Irish thus routed and his own Forces much impaired both in health and number fell to a Capitulation upon which he yeelded the Town He and his Spaniards were to be sent home and what other places they had in the Kingdom under their protection were likewise to be delivered up to the English and amongst the rest was Dunboy Which place being naturally strong and pretty well fortified Osulevan Beare a man given over to Mischief and Rebellion was resolved year 1602 not to part with it so Whereupon one night he surpriseth it but let the Spaniards return to their own Countrey only the Cannoniers he detain'd the better to serve him in the defence of the place against the English and his Queen concerning which he writes this Letter to the King of Spain My Lord and my King OVT of his love to your Kingly Greatness your humble stedfast Servant Donnel O Sulevan Beare enforced through peril and constraint doth make bold to inform unto your Greatness That upon the landing in Castle-Haven in the West of Ireland your General Pedro Zubiar and Pedro Lopez de Soto with a Fleet and Men from your Greatness according to the inward conceit of mind I always held which I manifested in my young years and would have still followed unless disability had constrained me to the contrary finding a happy and good Opportunity as I imagined I came to their presence tendring my Obeysance to them in the Name of your Highness and being with 400 men at my own cost towards your service I yeelded out of my meer love and good will without compulsion or composition into their hands in the Name of your Majesty not only my Castle and Haven called Beer Haven but also my Wife my Children my Countrey
in Sevil for an example of their fact and forwardness which he required them to imitate that it would be well taken that they all did thus shew themselves desirous of the Lady Infanta for their Queen 'T is known well enough that there hath been an old Saying or Prophecy the English People doting most on such whimsies running thus There shall be seen upon a day Between the Baugh and the May The black Fleet of Norway When that is come and gone England build Houses of Lime and Stone For after Warrs shall you have none And this as the Lord * Essayes Ess 35. of Prophecies Bacon saith was commonly understood of the Spanish Invasion in 1588 the King of Spain's Sirname being as they say Norway But Dr. * Challenge chap. 6. pag 177 178. Sutclyff the Dean of Exeter tells us That Parsons made another Interpretation of it to wit some after-Invasion yet by the Spaniards though the words of the Prophesies do somewhat differ yet of these Toys are we told that Parsons made use of to instigate the King of Spain to another Invasion in which his Majesty need not doubt of Success and a Conquest as he said seeing his Majesties Name was Philip Norway of whom the English had an old Prophecy Between Bostons Bay And the Pile of Foudray Shall be seen the black Navy of Norway And that nothing might be left undone to advantage the Spanish Cause and Title the chiefest about the Queen were sollicited to assist that Interest Watson the Priest telling us * Quodlibets pag. 150. 189. 51. 126. 132. That Father Parsons sent a Jesuit-Priest to the Earl of Essex to have had him to take a Pension of the King of Spain privately for the advancement of his designments and with others also they were not wanting And of this the Learned * Eliz. An. 8598. Cambden will give us some farther light telling us That the Earl of Essex affirmed that Anthony Rolston an English Fugitive was by the Spanish Agitators sent into England Creswell the Jesuit assisting in it as if the business were only to get a peace betwixt the two Crowns but in truth as Rolston himself confessed to discover what preparations the English had for warr to animate and confirm the Romanists and by bribes and large promises to corrupt some great Lords about the Queen in particular the Earl of Essex Neither was Parsons less active and zealous when he saw that ill success had render'd the Spaniard more cold in the business for the Pope's Designs upon England whether it were for the Duke of Parma or his younger Brother Cardinal Fernese as the wise Cardinal D' Ossat doth in several places discover and for which Pasquin at Rome gave him a rub for proof of this we need go no further than his own Countrey-man John Colleton born in Somersetshire of Lincoln Colledg in Oxford and as Pits thinks once Fellow of it a great Romanist for which for some years he under-went imprisonment was one of the greatest esteem amongst them having been not only an Assistant to two of their Arch-Priests but in the vacancy supplied the place it self and by them called Arch-Deacon of London This man of such credit and repute tells us thus of Father Parsons * Just Defence pag. 240 241. The Magistrates have in their hands and de facto have shewed to some Prisoners at the time of their Examinations for proof and to exaggerate the Disloyalties and Treasons objected one or more Letters which they affirm to be Father Parsons wherein his concurrence and furtherance to an Invasion were expressed Then the man's restless tampering in State-matters being reported to have proffered and re-proffered the Crown of our Countrey to several Princes now to one now to another as the meeting of matters and opportunities could most recommend and credit his words and entertain the Personage with hopes thereof c. Neither is Father Parsons holden only of our Magistrates for a Statist or Merchandizer of the Crown and Diadem though this were enough to estrange and divorce us from having any connexion or partaking in ought with him but his Travels and Negotiations this way are become so notoriously known that even Pasquine in Rome as Intelligence is sent us speaketh in this manner of him If there be any man that will buy the Kingdom of England let him repair to a Merchant in a black square Cap in the City and he shall have a very good Penniworth thereof That this is the true Copy word for word I cannot say but rather the substance of it or else only a Translation the Original of it being either in Italian or Latin because hung upon Pasquin's Buttock in the night time by a Roman Gentleman as * A. C. a Letter to his dis-Jesuited Kinsman pag. 43. one telleth us who giveth us another rendring of it thus If there be any Citizen here in Rome that is minded to purchase the Realm of England let him repair to the Rector of the English Colledg here within the City and he in Jesus Name will afford him a good Penniworth Which of these two is the truest Translation I cannot tell 't is certain the sense is the same and it cannot be denied but that he was the most active man in carrying on the designs against England for which he was in great repute and authority both with Pope and Spaniard whereupon there were some thoughts of a Cardinal's Cap for him To which purpose they tell us that his Friends Holt the Jesuit and Quodlibets p. 120 121. The Discovery pag. 61. A Copy of certain Discourses p. 127 Dr. Thomas Worthington who also became a Jesuit drew up a formal Letter supplicative in the Name of the people of England to the King of Spain humbly beseeching his Majesty that for the good of England he would earnestly deal with the Pope that Father Parsons might be a Cardinal affirming that to be the only means to unite the English hearts to his Majesties Service and Interest A little after 1597 Parsons gets from Spain to Rome where he is no sooner arrived but Cardinal Baronius and another Spanish Cardinal visit him and it is talked about that Parsons is to be a Cardinal too Of which they tell one story how he being advised by his Physicians to keep his stomach warm sent his Brother George for some Scarlet intending to make it a Stomacher his Brother's head being possest with Robert's advancement went to the Merchants and had carried into the Colledg a great deal of divers pieces of Scarlet for the making of his Brothers Cardinals Robes for so he gave out to all his acquaintants he met Father Parsons wondring at the reason of so much Scarlet but understanding the mistake was not a little vext and troubled knowing what sport would be made with it so the better to conceal it he dismist the Merchants secretly out at a Back-door Many more Stories might be told of Father Parsons