Savage a barbarous fellow vpon the instigation oâ— Rhemish Priests voweth to kill Queene Elizabeth Babingtons treasonable practise to take away the Queenes life vpon a motion from Ballard the Priest defeated and he with his Complices deservedly punished CHAP. X. The French Ambassadours plot with Stafford to take away the life of the Queene detected by Stafford himselfe The end of Yorke and Stanlâ—y traytors to their Countâ—â—y CHAP. XI The Spanish preparations for the Invincible Navie The Duke of Parma treateth of a peace Delegates sent over about it The conference of the Delegates broke off without fruit CHAP. XII The Invincible Armie described At the first setting out shaken sore with a tempest The gests of each day related particularly and punctually The trusted in their strength we in the name of our God They are fallen and we stand vpright CHAP. XIII Trouble from Ireland by Tyrone lurking in Spaine His many dissembling submissions to the Queene of England A treatie of peace concluded CHAP. XIV Vpon the comming of the Earle of Essex into England from Ireland Tyrone contrary to his promise stirreth and rebelleth afresh and is incouraged by the Pope and ayded by â—he King of Spaine These forces are vanquished by the Lord Deputie Herevpon Don Iohn de Aqâ—ila a Spanish Captaine who was sent to ayâ—â—e the rebells and kept Kinsale capitulates for peace Tyrone forsaken of his followers submits himselfe to the Lord Deputie and is pardoned Plotting a new rebellion when he was called by Processe to answer a suit of the B. of Derry thinking the treason to be discovered by O cane who inforced the Bishop in his suit sted out of Ireland In â—hese troubles and treasons see the Machinations of Satans seed against the seed of the Woman that is the Church and the miraculous deliverances and victories of the Church according to that The Womans seed shall breake the serpents head spoken of Christ appliable to the Church and particularly to our Church of England which that Bâ—laam of Rome seeks now by all meanes to draw from God because he knowes he cannot prevaile against vs till we for sake God CHAP. XV. A great mischiefe intended to the Kings Maiestie at his first entrance into the Kingdome of England before his Coronation Watson and Clark Priests administring oaths of secresie and applauding the proiect It came to nothing by Gods mercie The Kings Maiesties clemency towards the Conspiratours after iudgement paâ—t vpon them No treason in England attempted but had a Romish Priest in the practise CHAP. XVI A horrible treason was a hatching and breeding in the last yeare of Queene Elizabeth By Garnetts meanes and others the King of Spaine is delt withall for an invasion he entertaines the motion but vpon the entrance of King Iames did not proceed to any forcible enterprise The Gun-powder treason takes ground and life from the doctriâ—e of Parsons and the Iesuites It was first propounded by Catesby to Winter The oath of secresâ—e taken by the Conspiratours Provision of Powder and Wood for the mine Their consultation what to doe after the blow was given The letter sent to the Lord Mounteagle scanned by the Earle of Salisbury and other Prâ—vy Councellers but truely interpreted by the King in whose mouth there was a divine sentence at that time so that he did not erre in iudgement The Examination of Fawks The apprehension and confusion of the Powder-traytors God from heaven both by his Word and protection hath manifestly showne our Church to be the true Church and the Popish Church to be the malignant Church and degenerate from the auncient Romane Church both in manners and doctrines Coronis The Conclusion containes diverse Considerations proposed to such as are not well affected to Religion A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY CHAPTER I. HAving a purpose to obserue Gods great and merciful deliueraÌ„ces of the Church of England and Gods holy protectioÌ„ of the same against the manifolde most dangerous most desperate practises of the adversaries that haue with strange malice and crueltie sought the destruction thereof and intending to fetch the beginning of this search from the beginning of the Raigne of Queene ELIZABETH of blessed memory I knew no better way how to enter into this Narration then to begin with the consideration of the State of Queene ELIZABETH at her first entrance for therein will appeare a wonderfull Worke of God and my intention is to obserue the great Workes of God that God may be glorified When this famous Queene first entred shee found the State much afflicted and weakned All the great States about her were enemies Friends none King Philip who offred his loue and kindnesse to her and would haue married her offering to obteine the Popes dispensation for him to marry two Sisters as the like dispensation was obteined by Ferdinand his great Grand-father for hâ—s daughter Katharine to marry two Brothers he offering this kindnesse and being refused and reiected grew first into dislike and discontent afterwardes into hatred and at last brake out into open Warres The French King Henry the 2. with whom she sought peace fell off also into open Warres His sonne Francis having married Mary Queene of Scotland was moved by the Guysians to cause the Armes of England to be ioyned to the Armes of Scotland to professe the Queene of Scots the heire of England and because Elizabeth was accounted by them an Heretike therefore they sought to put her by to set the Queene of Scots in her place so should the French King haue England also For the effecting of this they sent their Armies into Scotland purposing fâ—om thence to haue subdued England In so much that Sebastianus Martignius a young Noble man of the family of Luxenburg who was sent into Scotland with a thousand â—oote and some Companies of horse could hardly be disswaded from entring England presently So that Spaine France and Scotland were enemies The State was then much troubled and oppressed with great debt contracted partly by Henry 8. partly by Edward 6. in his minoritie The treasure was exhausted Calis was lost Nothing seemed to be left to her but a weake and poore State destitute of meanes and friends If shee would haue admitted the Popish Religion then might all these difficulties haue beene removed But establishing the Gospell shee vnderstood well that shee drew all these troubles vpon her owne head Yet she gaue the glory to God and in hope of Gods holy protection she established Gods holy truth And verily she did not serue God in vaine For it is a thing to be wondred at that the Land being then without strength without Forces without Souldiers yea without Armour all things necessary should be so suddenly furnished She had provided Armour at Antwerpe but King Philip caused that to be stayed Yet was she not discouraged but layd out much money vpon Armour though she found the Treasury but poore She procured Armour and weapons out of Germany She caused many great
Castles by sleight and trechery and wrote to Spaine that the best course is to take Zealand before the more inner Provinces And being prone to beleeue that which he desired he wrote that England might be had with greater ease then Zealand and he laboured by Escouedus to perswade the Spanish King But the Queene seeing all tend to warre in the Netherlands entred a league with the States for mutuall helpe and sent Thomas Wilkes into Spaine to complaine of the headdy courses of the Duke of Austria And in the meane time prepared for warre But behold when Don Iohn was in the height of his pride and ambition in the flower of his age in the middest of busines and preparations he died on a suddain as some thought of the Plague Some thought that vpon griefe that he was not so respected of the King his brother he ended his foolish ambition with his life afterthat he had embraced in his ambitious desire the Kingdome of Tunis wherevpon Guleta was lost in Africa and after that the Kingdome of England and had confirmed a league with the Guysians without the knowledge of the French and Spanish Kings for defence of both Crownes Thus was the enemy disappointed the Queene the Land the Church preserved And haue we not cause to remember these Workes of God and to giue God the glory of his own worke that is of delivering his Church England was as a Stage wherevpon diverse entred to play their parts one after another The part that they played was alwayes treason some was kept farther off by Gods providence to doe lesse harme some brought the danger nearer home But GOD taking the protection of his Church in England none prevailed And could any other power but the power and protection of God preserue a Land from so many so deadly dangers Let all mouthes be stopped and let this continuall course of deliverance be acknowledged the worke of God CHAPTER IIII. THE next man that came vpon this Stage was Thomas Stucley but the malice that he and the Pope by his employment intended against England was turned cleane another way by GODS providence Thomas Stucley an English-man borne when he had spent his estate in ryot prodigality and base meanes went into Ireland An 1570. And gaping for the Stewardship of Wexford and missing the same began to vtter contumelâ—ous words against the best deserving Prince but he was contemned as one that could doe no hurt From Ireland he went into Italy to Pius V. Pope It is a thing incredible what favour he got with the old Pope that breathed nothing but the destruction of Elizabeth Stucley with magnificent ostentation as he was a man singular in ostentation made the Pope beleeue that with three thousand Italians he would driue the English out of Ireland and bâ—rne the Queenes Navy And indeed these things he most wickedly attempted afterward but to his owne destruction Pius V. having procured all the troubles that possibly he could against Queene Elizabeth seemed to die for spite that he could not hurt her After him suceeded Gregory 13. This Pope had secret consultations with the King of Spaine for the invading of Ireland and England both together Meaning vnder the maske of Religion to serue their owne ambitious endes The Popes end was to make his sonne Iames Boncampagno whom he had lately made Marquesse of Vineola now King of Ireland The Spanyardes end was secretly to helpe the Rebells of Ireland as Elizabeth did the Dutch and in faire words intertaine a shew of friendship on both sides The King of Spaine had a farther reach even to get the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie that from thence he might with â—â—ore ease tamâ— the Dutch that were confederate against him This he found hard for him to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Seas which he saw he could not be vnlesse he had England And there was no doubt but as he owed the Kingdomes of Naples Sicily Navarre to the beneficence of the Pope so with all his heart he would haue held England by the like fauour They knowing that the greatest strength of England stood in the navy of the Queenes shippes and Merchants shippes which were also built and framed for the vse of warre thought that the best way to lessen the Naviâ— was to set on the Merchants of Italy and Netherlands to hire many of the Merchants shippes seeking diverse seuerall pretenses and hauing hired them to send them vnto the farthest Navigations that whilst these are absent the Queenes Navy might be overthrowne with a greater Navy And then at the same instant Thomas Stucley the English fugitiue might ioyne his forces with the rebels of Ireland Stucley a bare-worne deceiver did no lesse cousin this next succeeding Pope then he had done his predecessor with admirable bragges He promised the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes bastard sonne and got such favour with the old ambitious Pope that he honored him with the titles of Marquesse of Lagen Earle of Wexford and Caterloghe Vicount of Morough and Baron of Ross. These be famous places in Ireland And made him generall of DCCC Italian Souldiers the King of Spaine paying their stipends and so sent him into the Irish warre Stucley came with these to Portingale to the mouth of Tagus purposing to subdue Ireland But the purpose of God was otherwise And that which the Pope and Spanyard had with such deliberation proiected was by the councell of God dissipated and brought to nothing For Sebaâ—tian King of Portugall to whom the chiefe conduct of the forces against England was committed for this Prince puffed vp with a heat of youth and ambition had long before offred all his power to the Pope to be imployed against Mahumetanes and Proteâ—tants was then intised and drawne by many great promises of Mahomet sonne of Abdalla King of â—ess vnto the African warre Sebastian being thus drawne from the English Warres another way dealt with Stucley that first of all he would carry his Italian souldiers into Mauritania Stucley finding the Spanish King not against this proiect for the Spanyard disdeined that the Popes Bastard should be King of Ireland went with Sebastian into Mauritania and was killed in that memorable battell wherein three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdall-Melech were all slaine And so Stucley had too honorable an end of a dishonorable life By the death of Sebastian the Spanyard was cleane drawn away from thinking of the English invasion for a time and set all his forces vpon the invasion of Portugall If this occasion had not drawne away the Spanyard a great tempest of Warre should haue fallen vpon England if any credit may be given to the English fugitiues for they declared that those hug Armies which the Spanyard had provided against England out of Italy were now all to be imployed vpon the subduing of Portugaâ—l neither would he be by any meanes peâ—swaded then to thinke of the English invasion albeit the
Gunnes to be cast of Brasse and Iron And Gods providence and favour appeared in her protectioâ— For new Mines of Brasse were found at Keswike that had long beene neglected From Whence there was not onely sufficient matter to supply her wants but abundance thereof to be transported to other Countries The stone called Lapis Calaminaris whose vse is needfull for working in Brasse was also at the same time first found in England There was provision made at home also for the making of Gunne-powder Which was done first here by her Commandement For before it was bought and imported Berwick before her time was weake and had but fiue hundred Souldiers She fortified the Towne made the new inner Wall and increased the number of Souldiers and their stipends that provision might be made for the training vp of experienced Souldiers and martiall men She provided a Navie the best furnished that euer England sawe Neither needed she to doe as her Father and Ancestours were wont to doe when they wanted Shippes to send for Shippes and hire them from Hamburg Lubeck Dantisk Genua and Veniâ—e for she had them ready at home to serue her Yea all the good Townes vpon the Sea-coast beholding this incredible alacritie and forwardnes in their Prince strived also to imitate the same and therefore with great chearfulnesse and readinesse built Shippes for Warre So that in a short time the Queenes Shippes and those of the Subiects ioyned together rose to such a number that they were able to imploy twentie thousand men in Sea-fight at once The Noble-men the Gentlemen and Yeomen did all striue to answer so noble a resolution of their Prince And therefore great store of Armour and Weapons were every where provided And braue spirits were bred and inabled to service whereby they became an helpe and ornament to their Countrey So that Queene Elizabeth was quickly growne so strong that all her adversaries were not able to hurt her And was not this a great worke of God That so weake a Woman should be able to defend her selfe against so many so potent enemies Yea and not onely to match them but to master them This was Gods doing Behold what it is to trust in God and not in an arme of Flesh. God will haue his great Workes to be had in remembrance that all men especially Princes may be taught to know that their safetie is not in worldly policie but in God which never forsaketh them that trust in him Here then we haue a Worke for which we are bound to glorifie God Elizabeth a Prince at the beginning weake destitute of friends vnfurnished of treasure vnprepared of all things had in no other accompt of her great neighbours round about her but as one left as a prey to the strongest that would inuade her and her kingdome yet preparing her heart to God giuing God the glory establishing his truth in her Land trusting in him She was in a few yeares made strong against her enemies they feared her more then she feared them This is an example can hardly be paralleled It was a worke oâ— God in defence of his Church here and we yeeld all glory and prayse vnto God for his mercies shewed herein From this example Princes may take a worthy instruction to rest vpon God and to seeke his glory and know assuredly that when they are at the weakest state if they giue their hearts to God and their service to his true Religion God will raise them to greatnes who hath promised to honor them that honor him and threatned that they that dishonor him shall be despised Before I leaue this example of Gods protectioÌ„ of this noble Queene in her first entrance Let this be remembred that as all the great Princes adioyning with the Pope and all were her great enemies so there were no friends able to helpe her for they that were friends and would haue helped if they could stood all need of her help The Scots were sore troubled with the French Armies procured by the Guysians but shee helped them and protected the King in his minoritie and freed that State from the tyranny of the French governement The Low-Countries were tyrannised by the Duke D' Alva who changed their governement and inhibited their meetings in councell For to speake somewhat of the ancient governement of that people to stop the common imputations cast vpon them by such as are not well affected to them Their governement was by a generall assembly of the States Their governours were such as were borne within the 17. Provinces no strangers These were anciently the Clergie the Nobility and the Deputies of the Provinces and of good Townes meeting together in their generall Assemblies These so meeting made lawes and orders whereby that State was governed The Deputies were sent to the generall Assemblies by the Suffrages of the people and vpon cause they were recalled by the people and other sent in their roomes This manner of governement some of the Dukes of Burgundy and some others disliked as giving too much power to the people and to little to their Dukes and therefore laboured to change it but could not Charles the fift Emperour would gladly haue changed their governement but when he saw that it could not be done without the commotion of the whole State he left it vndone Philip 2. Anno 1549. Iuly 8. tooke his oath which he made and renued againe Annoâ—555 â—555 to keepe maintaine and preserue these Countries in their ancient rights priviledges and customes without breaking them or suffering them to be broken in any sort or manner But when the Duke D' Alva was governour there vnder the King he practised the contrary and professed that the King was not to governe them as his ancient inheritance but as vpon a new conquest making what lawes he would and setting what governement best pleased him Whereupon his whole drift and practise was for a newe conquest of all the Provinces and Townes The pretence of religion was sought but it was resolved by the Counsell of Spaine to change the whole governement and to erect a new This appeared aswell by the Dukes open profession as by those designes which he practised vpon the persons of some of the Nobility and vpon the good Townes For when the Earles of Egmont and Horne were apprehended and putto death mistrusting nothing because they knew no cause to mistrust they that did this could not pretend religion because these Earles were of the Popish religion they could not pretend any disloyalty against them for their firme loyalty and their great services to the King made them so confident onely it was thought that these Noble men would neuer yeeld to the change of the government of that State therefore they were cut off The like appeared in the strange surprises and cruelty practised against many Townes which were of the popish religion For divers townes that were firme to the Spaniard in the point of religion and in obedience to the
IX AT that time was Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower suspected to be of councell with Throgmorton and the Lord Paget and the Guises to invade England and to free the Scots Queene He was found dead in his bed shot with three Bullets vnder his left pap the chamber doore bolted on the inside The Crowners enquest found a dagge and gun powder in the chamber and examining the man that bought the dagge and him that sold it they found that the Earle had beene the cause of his owne death Three dayes after the Lords met in the Starre-chamber The Lord Chancelour Broumley briefly declared that the Earle had entred into treasonable councels against his Prince and Countrey which now when he perceived that they were come to light troubled in conscience for the thing hath offred force to himselfe And to satisfie the multitude then present he willed the Queenes Atturney generall and the rest of the Queenes Councell plainly to open the causes why he was kept in prison and the manner of his death Wherevpon Popham then Atturney beginning from the rebellion of the North sixteene yeares before he declared that for this rebellion and for a purpose to deliver the Scots Queene that he was called into question acknowledged his fault submitted himselfe to the Queenes mercy was fined fiue thousand markes That the Queene of her clemencie tooke not of that fine so much as a farthing and after his brothers death confirmed him in the honor of the Earledome Notwithstanding all this he had entred into pernicious counsel to deliver the Scots Queene to overthrow the English Queene with the State and Religion that Mendoza the Spaniard had told Throgmorton that Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope had secretly dealt with him in Sussex of these things that the Lord Paget had signified the same to Throgmorton as appeared from Creighton the Scots Iesuites papers And that Charles Paget had shewed the same things to William Shelley when he returned out of France After that Egerton the Queenes Sollicitour inferred the same from circumstances and a care of concealing the matter That when as there was none in England that could accuse the Earle of this crime except the Lord Paget with whom Throgmorton had familiaritie he had provided a shippe for the Lord Paget by Shelley a few dayes after Throgmorton was apprehended So was the Lord Paget sent away into France And when Throgmorton began to confesse some things the Earle departed from London to Petworth and sending for Shelley told him that he was in danger of his life and fortunes he intreated him to keepe counsell and to put away those that knew of the departure of the Lord Paget and of the comming of Charles Paget Which was presently done and himselfe sent far off that servant which he vsed to send to Charles Paget The Sollicitour addeth that when he was in prison he dealt often with Shelley the keepers being corrupted to vnderstand what those things were which he had confessed But when by a poore woman secretly sent betweene them Shelley had signified that he could keepe counsell no longer that there was great differēce between their two conditions that he must come vnder the racke which the Earle in respect of his place and order was freed from and had written to him what he had confessed The Earle therevpon sighed and said as Pantin his Chamberlain hath confessed that Shelley his confession had vndone him After the manner of his death was declared by the testimony of the Enquest and by Pantins testimony Many good men were very sorrowfull that a man of such nobility wisdome and valour was so lost My purpose is in this Narration to obserue the great and manifold deliverances of this Church When I am drawne by the course of the History to open these practises in which noblemen haue beene misled this I confesse I relate with great commiseration for seeing that Noble houses are the honor of the King the ornament of the Kingdome there is no man that loueth the honor of his owne Country that can write or speake of the fall of such men but with griefe and sorrow Of such I will make no other observations but onely the testification of mine owne sorrow But yet here I must obserue one thing for the good and instruction of their posteritie or the like that they may take heed of these pernicious instruments Priests Iesuites and those that are infected yea and poysoned with the infection of them These gracelesse merchants haue vtterly vndone many noble persons which without their restlesse suggestions and councels might and doubtlesse would haue bin great ornaments of their Countries both in peace and warres Was there ever any noble house in these times ruinated without the practise of these wicked miscreants Let all the bloud that hath bin shed in this Land in the Northern rebellion at other times be laid vpon these wicked instruments of bloud And let the world consider the outragious wickednesse of this generation that having in formertimes sucked the bloud of the Saints as greedy instruments of the great Whore that is drunke with the bloud of the Saints now by a iust but strange iudgement of God they are fallen into such practises as shed their owne bloud and the bloud of such as are misled by them God is to be reverenced in all his iudgements and let not men striue against God to maintaine a cause which God will overthrow with all the maintainers thereof And it is not much to be marveiled if these cunning stirrers haue deceiued some of our Nobles for we see that they haue cousened great Kings and Princes For soone after this in the yeare 1586. these pernicious medlers these Iesuites shewed themselues in other colours for when these bloudy instruments that had so long laboured the ruine of England were out of hope to restore the Romish Religion to England either by the Scots Queene which was now more strictly kept or by the King then of Scotland who had plainly professed and established the Gospell in his Kingdome they fell now to a new and a strange practise which might make the world to wonder they began out of their false and lying forgeries to set a foot an imaginary title of the King of Spaine to the right and succession of the English Crowne To this purpose as Pasquirus discovered they sent into England one Shamiers if it be not a counterfeit name a lesuit which might draw the discontented Nobles vnto the Spanish side throw the Scots Queene headlong into dangers and despayre signifying to her that if she should be trouble some to hinder their designes that neither she nor her sonne should raigne here And stirred vp new troubles in France to withdraw her cousens the Guises from hindering their devises by wrapping them in new garboiles against the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condy. In which the King of Spaine had a hand to set France in
troubles that he in the meane time might the better proceed in his intentions for England These desperate courses drew the Scots Queene into more danger At this time a most desperate and pernicious conspiracy brake out which as by the free confessions of the conspirators appeareth was thus Some English Divines of the Rhemish seminary whilst they seemed to admire as men astonished or rather doting an omnipotency in the Pope did labour to perswade themselues that Pius V. his bull against Queene Elizabeth was indâ—ted by the Holy Ghost and that it was a thing meritorious to kill excommunicated Princes yea and that it was martyrdome to loose their liues in that quarrell Giffard a Doctor of Theologie Gilbert Giffard and Hodgeson Priests did so hammer these devises into the corrupt head of Iohn Sauage who they say was a Bastard that he being heady and bloudy a fit instrument for â—esuites made a vow to kill Queene Elizabeth At the same time they set out a Book for no other purpose but with great cunning to draw the Queene and Councell into securitie and to lay their vngracious plots more deeply and so with more ease to come to that mischievous end they shot at In which Booke they admonish the Papists in England that they practise no hurt to the Queene for that they were onely to vse such weapons as are lawfull for Christians to vse that is â—eares spirituall armour daily prayers watchings fastings against their adversaries this was their â—ox craft And withall they spred a false rumour by their whisperers that George Giffard one of the Queenes Gentlemen Pencionaries had sworne to kill the Queene and for that cause had wiped the Guise of a great summe of money At Easter following Iohn Ballard a Priest of the Remish seminary who had assayed the mindes of many Papists to whom he travelled to conferre with through England and Scotland was now returned into England This man had dealt with Bernardin Mendoza now the ordinary Spanish Ambassadour in France and with Charles Paget for an invasion of England Declaring that now was the fittest opportunitie for that service whilst the military men were absent being then imployed in the Low-Countries A fitter time could never be hoped for as much as the Pope the Spanyard the Guise the Duke of Parma had resolved to invade England to turne the Warres from the Netherlands And albeit Paget had made it evident that as long as the Queene liued the invasion of England would be in vaine yet was Ballard sworne and sent into England to procure all the helpe that might be to the conspiratours and the liberty of the Scots Queene At Pentecost following that silken Priest came into England in a Souldiers habit with a feigned name called Captaine Foscue This man had conference in London with Antony Babington a Gentleman of Darbyshire yong rich wittie and learned aboue the expectation of his yeares and being addicted to the Romish Religion had a little before got into France without leaue Where he had familiar conversation with Thomas Morgan and with the Bishop of Glasco the Scots Queenes Ambassadour These men extolling the heroick vertues of the Scots Queene made to him great ostentation of assured hopes of honor by her meanes to be obtained The ambitious yong man was easily drawne to take hold of that faire glistering estate proposed by them And they were as ready cunningly to set him forward and before he had well thought of the matter they commended him by Letters to the Scots Queene For when he was returned into England she saluted him favourably with her Letters from that time Morgan vsed his helpe in sending Letters to her vntill she was committed to the custodie of Amice Paulet For after that the yong man finding the danger ceased With this Babington Ballard had conference of the things aforesaid But he thought assuredly so long as Queene Elizabeth liued that the invasion of England would come to nothing But when Ballard signified to him that Queene Elizabeth would not long be aliue for Sauage who had vowed to kill her was now come into England Babington thought not good that so great a matter should be committâ—d to Sauage onely least he might be stopped from the enterprise But rather to sixe valiant and resolute Gentlemen in which number Sauage should be one that he might not be condemned for not performing his vow Wherevpon Babington tooke a new course for the invasion touching the ports where the strangers might land and the forces that should be ioyned with them and the delivering the Scots Queene and the Tragick slaughter of Queene Elizabeth as he called it Whilst he was fixed in these cogitations he received Letters by an vnknowne boy written from the Queene of Scots in that familiar character which was vsed betweene them She blamed him but mildly for his long silence and willed him to send her the Packet of Letters sent from Morgan and delivered by the French Ambassadors Secretary Which he did accordingly And by the same messenger sent to her a Letter wherein he excused his silence for that he wanted opportunitie of sending since that she was in the custodie of Amice Paulet a puritan a meere Leicestrian and a most bitter enemy of the Catholike faith He declared what he had resolved with Ballard that sixe Gentlemen were chosen to performe the tragicke slaughter and that himselfe with an hundreth other would deliver her He intreated that to these Heroick Actors so he called them rewards might be proposed or to their posteritie if they should faile in the action The twentie-seventh of Iuly answer was made to these Letters Babington his forward desire of promoting the Catholike Religion was commended He was warned that it might be vndertaken considerately and that nothing be moued before they were sure of externall forces that an association among them might be made as if they feared the Puritanes that some trouble might be stirred in Ireland whilst the stroke might be given here at home that Arundell and his brethren and Northumberland should be drawne to the side VVestmerland Paget and others might be secretly called home The way to deliver her was also prescribed either to overturne a Coach in the gate or to set the Stables on fire or to intercept her whilst she rode to take the ayre betweene Chartley and Stafford Last of all Babington was warranted to vndertake for rewards and to pawne his credit to the six Gentlemen and others Now had he gathered about him certaine Gentlemen inflamed with a fiery zeale of the Romish Religion Of whom the chiefe were Edward Windsore brother to the Lord Windsore a yong Gentleman of a soft disposition Thomas Salisbury of a Knights house in Denbigh-shire Charles Tilney an ancient Gentleman the onely hope of the Familie one of the Queenes Pencionaries whom Ballard had reconciled to the Roman Church both proper yong men Chidioc Tychburn of Hampshire Edward Abington whose father was the Queenes Cofferer Robert Gage
These signifie to the French Ambassadour that they sent for him to let him know the cause why they intercepted Trappius his Secretary when he was ready to goe into France and they did open every thing which Stafford Moody and Trappius himselfe had confessed And that they might testifie the same in his presence they commanded them to be called in The Ambassadour who bending his brows heard these things with much impatience rising vp said that himselfe being an Ambassadour would not heare any accusations to wrong his King or in the preiudice of Ambassadours But when they answered that these men should not be produced as accusers but onely that he might be satisfied that these things were not fained nor false then he rested As soone as Stafford was produced and began to speake he presently interrupted him and railing vpon him affirmed that Stafford first proposed the matter to him and that himselfe had threatned to send him bound hand and foot to the Queene if he would not desist from so wicked an enterprise yet that he spared him for the singular affection which he bare to the mother the brother and sister of Stafford Stafford falling vpon his knees protested in many wordes vpon his salvation that the Ambassadour proposed the matter first to him But when the Ambassador seemed to be extraordinarily moued Stafford was commanded to depart and Moody was not produced Herevpon when Burghly had mildly charged the Ambassadour to be guiltie of such a conceived wickednes both from his owne words and out of the confession of Trappius he answered that if he had beene conscious yet being an Ambassadour he ought not to disclose it but to his owne King But Burghlâ—y interposing told him that if that were not the office of an Ambassadour which thing is yet in question to disclose such a mischievous practise which bringeth the life of a Prince in danger yet was it the office of a Christian to represse such notorious iniuries not onely for the safety of a Prince but for the safety of any Christian. But the other stoutly denyed that and withall said that not long since the French Ambassadour being in Spaine and having notice of a conspiracy to take away the Spanish Kings life yet disclosed it not to the Spanish king but to his owne King and was therefore commended of the King and of his Councellers The Lord Burghley gaue him a graue admonition to take heed that hereafter he offended not in such a point of treason against the Prince and not to forget the office of an Ambassadour nor the Prince her clemency who would not wrong good Ambassadours by the punishment of an evill one and though he were not punished yet was he not iustified but did carry with him the guilt though not the punishment of such an offence Though this intended evill came to no effect as all the other bloudy practises haue bin without effect yet may we make good vse of it to blesse Gods name for all his great and manifold deliverances That it was disappointed it was his goodnes for against those Kings that had not given their service to God for the maintenance of true Religion great and bloudy practises haue bin committed by lesse and more contemptible meanes And as we haue iust cause to blesse God for all his deliverances so the adversaries of our peace haue iust cause to feare to examine their owne doings and seriously to consider whether they haue not all this while striven against God in striving so long against those whom God doth so miraculously defend Not long after this followed the ignominious prodition of William Stanly and Rowland York This York was a Londoner a man of loose conversation and actions and desperate He was famous among the Cutters of his time for bringing in a new kind of fight to run the point of a rapier into a mans body this manner of fight he brought first into England with great admiration of his audaciousnes When in England before that time the vse was with little bucklâ—rs and with broad swords to strike and not to thrust and it was accounted vnmanly to strike vnder the girdle This man provoked as he tooke it by some iniury of the Earle of Leicester fled to the Spanyards and for some time after served among the Spanyards Afterward being reconciled was made Captaine of a Sconce neare to Zutphen After all this he was so set vpon revenge that being corrupted with money he did not onely betray the place to the enemy but drew also Stanly with him being a man that had served with great fidelitie and valour in the Irish warres Stanly was not easily perswaded to be false but this desperate fellow never ceased to draw him into the fellowship of wickednesse with him by many asseverations and oaths often repeated telling him that it was certainly knowne in England that he was of Babingtons conspiracy that he was already discovered by their confessions that out of hand he should be sent for to the gallowes Thus he perswaded Stanly to betray the rich and well fenced Towne of Deventer to the Spanyards against his oath given to Leicester and to the States And seeking some pretence of honesty against a fact so dishonest and disloyall he seemed to please himselfe in this that he had restored a place to the true Lord which was held from him by rebells And being extreame Popish he sent for Priests to his company which consisted of 1300 English and Irish to instruct them in the Popish Religion boasting that this should be the seminary legion which should defend the Roman Religion with Armes as the seminary Priests defend it with writings To this purpose Alan who a little after was Cardinall sent Priests presently to him and wrote a Booke also wherein he commended this proditorious act from the authoritie of the Bull of Pius V against Queene Elizabeth and stirred vp others to such perfidiousnes as if they were not bound to serue and obey a Queene excommunicated But looke I pray to the end The Spanyards set York and Stanly together in contention one against the other and soone after they poyson York and take his goods his body after three yeares was digged vp by the commandement of the States and hanged till it rotted They drew Stanly and his companies out of Deventer and tossing them from place to place they make them the obiect of all dangers and so vsed them with all conâ—umelies that some of them died for hunger others secretly fled away Stanly himselfe went into Spaine in hope of reward and offred his helpe to invade Ireland but neither found he entertainment according to his expectation neither could he be trusted for the Spanyards vsed to say that some honor might be given to a traytor but no trust It was now too late for him to learne but yet he learned that he had most of all betrayed himselfe CHAPTER XI WE are now come to that fatall yeare which the
Astrologers called the Marveilous yeare some said it was the Climactericall yeere of the world And they that trust not in the liuing God but in superstitions tooke the opportunitie of this fatall yeare as they supposed now vtterly to overthrow the Church of England and State Which before they could not doe The Pope and Spanyard layd vp all their hopes vpon this yeares destiny The rumors of warre daily increased at last it was certainly coÌ„firmed by the newes on all sides that in Spaine there was an invincible navy preparing against England that the most famous Captaines in military knowledge and the best souldiers were sent for into Spaine from Italy Scicily yea from America For the Pope and some religious Spanyards and English fugitiues now recalled the Spanyard to the cogitation of surprising of England which purpose was interrupted by the Portugall warres They exhorted him earnestly to doe God this service that had done so much for him now that he inioyed Portugall with the west Indies many rich Ilands to adde England to all were an especiall service of God fit for his Catholike Maiestie By this meanes he might adde these flourishing Kingdomes to his Empire so keepe the Low-countries in peace secure the navigatioÌ„ to both Indies That the preparations of Spaine were so great that no power was able to resist it They made him belieue that it was an easier matter to overcome England then to overcome the Dutch-land because the navigation from Spain to England was much shorter then to the Netherlands And by surprising of England the other would easily follow Herevpon the consultation began to be had of the best way and meanes to oppresse England Alvarus Baâ—â—anus the Marquess of S. Crosse who was chiefe commander in the Navy advised first to make sure some part of Holland or Zealand by the land-forces of the Duke of Parma and by sending before some Spanish shippes so to take some place on a suddain where the Spanish navy might haue a receptacle and from whence the invasion might with coÌ„venience begin For in the English Sea which is troublesome the windes oft changing the tydes vnknown the Navy could not be in safety With him agreed Parma who much vrged this expedition Yet others disliked this counsell as a matter of great difficultie and danger of long time of much labor of great expence of vncertaine successe And that neither secretly nor openly it could be performed and easily hindered by the English These thought that with the same labour and expenses England might be wonne and the victory would be sure if a well prepared army from Spaine might with a strong navy be landed on Thames side and of a suddain surprise London the chiefe Citty by an vnexspected assault This seemed a thing most easie to be effected And therefore all agreed vpon it Yet some among them thought good that a denuntiation of the warre should be made by an Herald which they held a politik devise both to remoue suspition out of the minds of neighbour Princes and to force the Queene as they supposed to call to her helpe â—orrain mercenary souldiers concelving that according to the vsuall insolency of mercenaries they would tumult and spoyle the country and so might the Queene be brought into hatred of her owne people that so all things in England would be brought into a confusion which might be helped by the English Catholikes But neither could this advise be heard For they being confident of their owne strength thought it was sufficient to commend the invincible Navy to the prayers of the Pope and of their other Catholikes and to the intercession of Saints and to set out a Booke in Print to the terror of the English in which Booke all the preparation was particularly related Which was so great through Spain Italy and Scicily that the Spanyards themselues were in admiration of their owne forces and therefore named it the Invincible Fleet. The Duke of Parma also in Flanders by the commandement of the Spanyard built ships and a great company of small broad vessels each one able to transport thirty horse with bridges fitted for them severally And hired Mariners from the east part of Germany And provided long peeces of wood sharpned at the end and covered with iron with â—ookes on the side And twentie thousand vessels with an huge number of fagots and placed an Army ready in Flanders of 103 companies of foot and 4000 horsemen Among these were 700 English fugitiues which were had of all other in most contempt Neither was Stanly respected or heard who was set over the English nor Westmerland nor any other who offered their helpe but for their impiety towards their owne Countrey were shut out from all consultations and as men vnominous reiected not without detestation And Pope Sixtus V. that in such a purpose would not be wanting sent Cardinall Alan into Flanders and renâ—ed the bulls declaratory of Pius V. and â—rep XIII He excommunicateth the Queene deposeth her absolveth her subiâ—cts from all alleagance and as if it had beene against the Turks and Infâ—dels he set forth in Print a â—ruceat wherein he bestowed plenary indulgences out of the treasure of the Church vpon all that would ioyn their help against England By which means the Marquess a Burgaw of the house of Austria the Duke of Pastrana Amady Duke of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn Medices and divers other noble men were drawne into these Warres Queene Elizabeth that she might not be surprised at vnawares prepareth as great a Navy as she could and with singular care providence maketh ready all things necessary for warre And she her selfe which was ever most iâ—dicious in discerning of mens wits and aptnes and most happy in making choise when she made it out of her own iudgement and not at the commandement of others designed the best and most serviceable to each severall imployment Over the whole Navy she appointed the Lo Admirall Charles Howard In whom she reposed much trust and sent him to the west parts of England where Captaine Drake whom she made Viceadmirall ioyned with him She commanded Henry Seimor the second sonne to the Duke of Somerset to watch vpon the Belgick shore with 40 English and Dutch shippes that the Duke of Parma might not come out with his forces Albeit some were of opinion that the enemy was to be expected and set vpon by land forces according as it was vpon deliberation resolved in the time of Henry the 8. when the French brought a great Navy vpon the English shore By Land there was placed on the South shores twenty thousand And two Armies besides were mustered of the choisest men for warre The one of these which consisted of a thousand horse twenty-two thousand foot was the Earle of Leicester set over And camped at Tilbury on the side of Thames For the enemy was resolved first to set vpon London The other Army was governed by the Lo Hunsdon consisting of 34 thousand
foot and two thousand horse to guard the Queene The Lord Grey Sr Francis Knolles Sr Iohn Norrice Sr Richard Bingham Sr Roger Williams men famously knowne for Military experience were chosen to confer of the land fight These thought fit that all those places should be fortified with men muâ—ition which were commodious to land in either out of Spaine or out of Flanders as Milford hauen Falmouth Plimmouth Portland the I le of Wight Portsmouth the open side of Kent called the Downs the mouth of Thames Harwich Yarmouth Hull c. That trained souldiers through all the maritim Provinces should meet vpon warning given to defend these places that they should by their best means and power hinder the enemy to take land if he should take land then should they wast the country all about and spoile every thing that might be of any vse to the enemy that so he might find no more vittals then what he brought vpon his shoulders with him And that by continuall Alarums the enemy should finde no rest day or night But they should not try any battell vntill divers Captaines were mett together with their Companies That one Captaine might be named in every Shire which might command At this time divers told the Queene that the Spaniards were not so much to be feared without as the Papists within for the Spaniards durst make no attempt vpon England but vpon confidence of their helpe within And therefore for the securitie of the whole their heads were vpon some pretenses to be cut off Producing for this thing the example of Henry 8. For when the Emperour French King at the Popes instigation were combined and ready to invade England King Henry presently executed the Marquess of Exceter the Lord Montacute Edward Neuil and others whom he suspected to favour the enemies which thing as soone as he had done the intended invasion was stopped and proceeded no further But this advise the Queene vtterly disliked as being cruell she thought it enough to commit some of the Papists to Wisbich Castle in cuâ—tody and casting her eyes and mind on every side she stirred vp her Nobles with Letters often though they were carefull watchfull of themselues She certified Fitz Williams Lord Deputy of Ireland what she would haue done there She sent to the King of Scots to warne him to take good heed of Papists and the Spanish faction But he knowing well what a tempest and desolation was hanging and threatning both alike having already set his heart vpon the maintenance of true religion and resolving to take part with the truth in prosperitie and adversitie which is onely able to saue and deliver her maintainers had a little before refused to heare the Bishop of Dumblan sent thâ—ther from the Pope and had caused a league to be made among the Protestants of Scotland for resistance of the Spanyards and himselfe comming to Anandale with an army besieged Maxwell and tooke him and committed him to prison who was lately returned out of Spaine against his faith and alleagance and came with an intent to favor the Spanish side he declared the Spanyards should be held as enemies and against them caused all with great alacritie to be ready in Armes Among these preparations for warre which were great on both sides the councels of peace were not vtterly cast away Two yeares before the Duke of Parma considering how hard a matter it was to end the Belgick warre so long as it was continually nourished and supported with ayd from the Queene he moued for a treaty of peace by the meanes of Sir Iames Croft one of the privy councell a man desirous of peace Andrew Loe a Dutch man and professed that the Spaniard had delegated authority to him for this purpose But the Queen fearing that there was some cunning in this seeking of peace that the friendship betweene her and the confederate Provinces might be dissolved and that so they might secretly be drawne to the Spanyard she deferred that treaty for some time But now that the Warres on both sides prepared might be turned away she was content to treat of Peace but so as still holding the weapons in her hand For this purpose in February delegates were sent into Flanders the Earle of Derby the Lo Cobham Sr Iames Croft Dr Dale and Dr Rogers These were received with all humanity on the Dukes behalfe they presently sent Dr Dale to him that a place might be appointed for the treating that they might see the authoritie to him delegated from the Spanish King He appointed the place neare to Ostend not in Ostend which then was holden of English against the King his authority delegated he promised then to shew when they were once met together He wished them to make good speed in the businesse least somwhat might fall out in the meane time which might trouble the motions of peace Richardotus spake somewhat more plainly that he knew not what in this interim should be done against England Not long after D. Rogers was sent to the Prince by an express commandement from the Queene to know the truth whether the Spanyard had resolved to invade England which he and Richardotus did seeme to signifie He affirmed that he did not so much as thinke of the invasion of England when he wished that the businesse might proceed with speed And was in a maner offended with Richardotus who denied that such words fell from him The 12 of April the Count Aremberg Champigny Richardotus D. Maeâ—ius Garnier Delegated from the Prince of Parma mett with the English and yeelded to them the honor both in walking and sitting And when they affirmed that the Duke had full authority to treat of Peace the English moued that first a truce might be made Which they denied alledging that that thing must needs be hurtfull to the Spanyard who had for six moneths maintained great Army which might not be dismissed vpon a truce but vpon an absolute peace The English vrged that a truce was promised before they came into Flanders The Spanyard against that held that six moneths since a truce was promised which they granted but was not admitted Neither was it in the Queenes power to vndertake a truce for Holland and Zealand who daily attempted hostility The English mooued instantly that the truce might be generall for all the Queenes territories and for the Kingdome of Scotland but they would haue it but for foure Dutch townes which were in the Queenes hands that is Ostend Flushing Bergen vp zom the Briel and these onely during the treating and twenty dayes after and that in the meane time it might be lawfull for the Queene to invade Spaine or for the Spanyard to invade England either from Spain or Flanders Whilst these delayes were made concerning the truce and place which at last was appointed at Bourburg Crâ—ft vpon an earnest desire to peace went privatly to Bruxells without the knowledge of the other Delegates and
privatly proposed some Articles For which afterward by Leicesters motion he was imprisoned albeit those articles proposed by him were in the iudgement of the other commissioners not to be disallowed But Delegates haue their limits circumscribed which they are not to passe At last when the English could not obtain an abstinence from armes could by no meanes see the Charter by which the Duke of Parma had this authority granted to treat of peace they proposed these things that the ancient leagues betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundy might be renued and confirmed that all the Dutch might fully inioy their own priviledges that with freedome of coÌ„science they might serue God that the Spanish and forrain souldiers might be put out of Dutchland that neither the Dutch nor their neighbouring Nations might feare them If these things might be granted the Queene would come to equall conditions concerning the Townes which now she held that all might know that she tooke vp armes not for her own gain but for the necessary defence both of the Dutch and of her selfe so that the money which is owing therefore be repayed They answered that for renuing the old leagues there should be no difficulty when they might haue a friendly conference of that thing That concerning the priviledges of the Dutch there was no cause why forrain Princes should take care which priviledges were most favourably granted not onely to Provinces and Townes reconciled but even to such as by force of armes are brought into subiection That forrain souldiers were held vpon vrgent necessity when as Holland England and France were all in armes Touching those Townes taken from the King of Spaine and the repaying of the money they answered that the Spaniard might demand so many myriads of crowns to be from the Queene repayed him as the Belgick warre hath cost him since the time that she hath favoured and protected the Dutch against him At this time D. Dale by the Queenes command going to the Duke of Parma did gently expostulate with him touching a Booke Printed there set out lately by Cardinall Allen wherin he exhorteth the Nobles and people of England Ireland to ioyne themselues to the King of Spaines forces vnder the conduct of the Prince of Parma for the execution of the sentence of Sixtus V Pope against the Queene declared by his bull In which she is declared an heretick illegitimate cruel against Mary the Scots Queene her subiects were commanded to helpe Parma against her for at that time a great number of those bulls bookes were printed at Antwerp to be dispersed through England The Duke denied that he had seene such a bull or booke neither would he doe any thing by the Popes authoritie as for his owne King him he must obey Yet he said that he so observed the Queene for her Princely vertues that after the King of Spaine he offred all service to her That he had perswaded the King of Spaine to yeeld to this treaty of peace which is more profitable for English then Spanish For if they should be overcome they would easily repaire their losse But if you be overcome the kingdome is lost To whom Dale replied that our Queene was sufficiently furnished with forces to defend the Kingdom That a Kingdome will not easily be gotten by the fortune of one battell seeing the King of Spaine in so long a warre is not yet able to recover his anciant patrimony in the Netherlands Well quoth the Duke be it so These things are in Gods hands After this the Delegates contended among themselues by mutuall replications weauing and vnweauing the same webb The English were earnest in this a toleration of Religion might be granted at least for two yeares to the confederate Provinces They answered that as the King of Spaine had not intreated that for English Catholicks so they hoped that the Queene in her wisedome would not intreat any thing of the King of Spaine which might stand against his honor his oath his conscience When they demanded the money due from the States of Brabant it was answered that the money was lent without the Kings authoritie or privitie But let the accompt be taken how much that money was and how much the King hath spent in these Warres and then it may appeare who should looke for repayment By such answers they driue off the English of purpose vntill the Spanish fleet was come neare the English shore the noise of guns were heard from sea Then had they leaue to depart were by the Delegates honorably brought to the borders neare to Calis The Duke of Parma had in the meane time brought all his forces to the sea shore Thus this conference came to nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wiser then thought to avert the Spanish fleet continued by the Spaniard that he might oppress the Queen being as he supposed vnprovided and not expecting the danger So both of them tried to sow the Fox-skin to the Lyons CHAPTER XII THE Spanish fleet the best furnished with men munition engines and all warlike preparation that was ever seen vpon the Ocean and by that arrogant Title called invincible did consist of 130 shippes wherein there were 19 thousand two hundreth ninety mariners 8350 chainâ—d rowers 11080. great ordnance 11630. The chiefe commander was Perâ—zius Gusmannus Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian and Marquess of S. Crosse to whom the chiefe governmeÌ„t was allotted died whilst things were preparing And vnder him Iohannes Martinus Recaldus a man of great experience in sea affaires The 30 of May they loosed out of the â—iver Tagus and purposing to hold their course to the â—râ—in in Gâ—llitia they were beaten and scattered by a tempest three gallies by the helpe of Daâ—d Câ—in an English servant and by the perfidiousnesse of the Turks which rowed were carried away into France The Fleet with much adoe after some dayes came to the Groin and other harbours neare adioyning The report was that the Fleet was so shaken with this tempest that the Queene was perswaded that she was not to expect that Fleet this yeare And Sir Francis Walsiâ—gham Secretary wrote to the Lord Admirall that he might send back foure of the greatest shippes as if the Warre had beene ended But he did not easily giue credit to that report but with a gentle answer intreated him to beleiue nothing hastily in so important a matter that he might keep those ships with him though it were vpon his owne charges And finding a favourable winde turned sailes toward Spaine to surprise the enemies shaken shippes in their harbours When he was not farre from the shore of Spaine the winde turned he being charged to defend the English shore fearing that the enemies vnseene might by the same winde be driveÌ„ to England he returned to Plimmouth With the same winde the 12 of Iuly the Duke of Medina with his fleet departed from the Groin And