A COMPLEAT HISTORY OF The LIVES and REIGNS OF MARY Queen of SCOTLAND And of Her Son and Successor JAMES The Sixth KING of SCOTLAND And After Queen Elizabeth King of GREAT BRITAIN FRANCE and IRELAND The First Of ever Blessed Memory Reconciling several Opinions In Testimony of Her and Confuting others in Vindication of Him against two scandalous Authors 1. The Court and Character of King James 2. The History of Great Britain Herein is expressed The particular Affairs of Church and State The Reformation of the One The Policies and Passages of the Other The frequent Disturbances of Both By Wars Conspiracies Tumults and Treasons with the contemporary actions of Neighbor Nations in reference to this whole Island Faithfully performed By WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq London Printed for Humphrey Moseley Richard Tomlins and George Sawbridge and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at Py-Corner and on Lud-Gate-Hill MDCLVI THE PROEME TO THE First Part. TO be in print without a Preface is not the Mode now and though it intends to let in the Reader as the Porch to a Palace yet it seems to be built up after the Book For uâ—ually it discovers the weakness of the Work by an ingenuous Confession of more faults than some other man may find out and so craves favour I prefix this really before I write more of the matter And therefore to pretend excuse for what shall follow amiss might seem a presumptuous sin as if I meant to offend Not but that Offences will come and may be found out hereafter more properly then to be summ'd up in the end of all and added to the Escapes of the Presse and so to plead the Generall Pardon Our Design is History commonly divided into 3. Kinds 1. Memorials A naked Narrative without contexrure of Things and Actions 2. Antiquity The Shipwrack of History somewhat saved from the Deluge of Distruction and so subject to question as that excellent History of the World done by Sir Walter Raleigh with exact diligence which yet indures the examination of his Errours by One who in truth took much pains to worst it the more that Master-peice by the Epitomy which besides the injury to the Work it self becomes unprofitable to the Readers expectation With these two kinds we mean not to meddle 3. But with Perfect History being in truth that which comprehends a Chronocled Time representing the life of a Prince with the Narrative of actions relative therefore with little favour of different opinions may be accounted the most compleat for Estimation Profit and Use in the magnitude of Affairs Men and Matter And of this nature Our Histories of England are said to be defective in the Main And for that of Scotland too too partial as done by different affections and interest in matters Ecclesiastical and Civil Therefore it hath been accounted worthy the labour to mold them both into one Body joined to these times from their first conjunction in Union of the Roses to the uniting of the Kingdomes The latter hath been in some sort set out single to our hand by a Compendium of the 5. King Iames's immediately succeeding each other and lately done by William Drummond After whom we intend to take up the Remain Beginning where he leaves with the birth of Mary instantly succeeding the Death of her Father Iames the fifth with the contemporary actions of neighbour Princes And so to her Son and Successor Iames the sixth and after the death of Queen Elizabeth of Great Brittain France and Ireland the first and last King compleat in right of issue descended from Margaret eldest Daughter unto Henry the seventh of England and Iames the fourth of Scotland with Re-union in that antient Title of Brittain But in brief The first Union of Marriage begat a present Peace between Henry the seventh of England and Iames the fourth of Scotland And at that instant Scotland brought forth a Prodigious Monster of Man under the waste like other men the Members both for use and comliness were two and standing it was indifferent to which of the two Bulks the Legs belonged This Bifrons had different passions and divers wills chiding each other and quarreling until by over-wrangling they unwillingly agreed and was cherished by the King taught languages and lived eighteen years A Monstrous Omen to the Union This Iames was young and active for twenty five years of his Reign having occasion to cope with two Henries the Seventh and Eighth of England Father and Son successively The first took his Entry here by Arms and Establishment by marriage Yet the times proved to him like strong Tides full of Swellings but well mannaged by the wisdome of an able Pylot through all storms being of himself the most sufficient Sovereign of any his Predecessours Between Him and Iames the fourth there had been distempers ever espousing the French Quarrels And therefore their times produced sundry great mutations treacherous false and deceiving the events belying the Beginnings Princes mostly inconsiderate before they imbarque whether their Wars be just or necessary and may serve Examples of great mens frailty After the death of Henry the seventh succeeded his Son Henry the eight young and wealthy whose actions had more of Gallantry than Honour though he meddled with the mixed Affairs for ballancing the Western Monarchy amongst the Pretenders Germany Spain and France with the change of Religion to reformed And so soon as ingaged against Louis of France Iames interposed as to divert him Enters upon Ireland invades the English Borders and after comes to handy blowes in Northumberland The English six and twenty thousann the Scots many more and at Flowden Field 1513. a wondrous slaughter on both sides and Iames in the Fight was lost as in a Fog for ever though he acted so well his affected Popularity that his loss became more disconsolate to his People than any his Predecessors His Son succeeds a cradle King seventeen Moneths old under Tutelage of his Mother who implores Henry her Brother for compassion upon a Widow-Sister and an Orphan-Nephew not to wage War but to defend them He answers like himself With the mild he was meek and with the froward he could fight But she too weak for her wild Subjects marries with the Earl of Angus and being disdained for matching so meanly the Duke of Albany of Scots race begotten in Exile is sent for out of France to govern them at home The success may soon be imagined for the Scots heretofore had killed Iames the first covenanted with Iames the second overthrown Iames the third and some say mislaied Iames the fourth and now hardly submit to a Stranger The Queen and Angus fly to England and here she is brought to Bed of Margaret Grand-Mother to King Iames the sixth Conspiracies increase in Scotland fomented from Henry the eighth till horrid Rapines wearied each party into a Peace at home and England also And thus freed from War for a time the Governour Duke executes Justice upon such
Savile Derb. William Kneveton Esq Norf. Philip Woodhouse Oxon. William Pope Rutl. Iames Harington Staff Richard Fleetwood Esq Oxon. Thomas Spencer Esq Lanc. Io Tufton Camb. Samuel Peyton Norf. Ch Morrison Kanc. Henry Baker Essex Roger Aplâ—ton Esq Kanc. William Sedley Kanc. William Twisden Kanc. Edward Hales Kanc. William Moynes Essex Thomas Mildmay Esq Essex William Maynard Buck. Henry Lea Esq Wilt. Edward Gorges Essex Harbottle Grimston War Thomas Holt. Som. Io Porâ—man Linc. Io Wray Berk. William Essex Ebor. Marmaduke Wivill Wilt. Fr Englefield Staff Io Pessel Esq Essex William Aloff Wor. Edward Devereux Dev. Thomas Ridgeway Cornw. Renald Mohune Essex Paul Baning 68 Knights 22 Esquires 90 These afterwards Doneld Thomas Blaxton Esq Chester Rowland Egerton Esq Norf. Roger Townsend Esq It is well known that Queen Elizabeth left her Coffers empty and her Revenue not ample for in Treasurer Burghley's times the profit of the Kingdom besides Wards and Dutchy of Lancaster was one hundred eighty eight thousand one hundred ninety and seven pounds per annum and the Payments one hundred ten thousand six hundred and twelve pounds per annum In which Payments these were constant per annum The Houshold forty thousand pounds Ordinary and now increased necessarily almost treble The Privy Parse two thousand pounds The Admiralty thirty thousand pounds 1. For support this King was to proportion his issues with his Revenues both certain and casual 2. By abating or reforming the excess of his Houshold 3. By raising moneys and improving the Crown Revenues For the first he could not well tell how to begin that Lesson for coming in hither with an increment of expence Himself Wife and Children and a large Train of old Servants to be new rewarded the Marriage of his Daughter very lately which expence in that amounted unto near an hundred thousand pounds and her Atd-money came but to twenty thousand and five hundred pounds And that we may see the Charge and Expence of this Marriage in particular I shall set it down  lib. For the Palsgraves Diet at his standing house 6000 For his Diet at his Instalment of the Garter 4000 For Diet at his Marriage 2000 For Lodgings for his Servants 830 To the Wardrobe for Apparel for the Princess Eliz. 6252 For furnishing her Chamber 3023 Apparel and Necessaries for her to my L. Harington 1829 Jewels and Apparel for her Servants 3914 To divers Merchants for Silks c. 995 The Lords Mask at her Marriage 400 For the Naval Fight of Fire-works on the Thames at her Marriage 4800 More Fire-works on the Thames at her Marriage 2880 To Sir Edward Cecil as Treasurer for her Journey from hence to Heidelbergh and for her Purse 2000 For setling her Iointure and charges to some of the Gentry to go thither and to take the Assurance 800 For her Transport to Flushing 5555 Totale 53294 Paid over to the Palsgraves Agent for her Portion 40000 The Total is ninety three thousand two hundred ninety and four pounds These Expences put the King to consider of the best means of Recovery so that several ways were proposed to make his Disbursments answerable to his In-comes and the way was the first work of Ordinary good Husbandry and might well be expected from a Paterfamilias yet it would not for the present Rebus sic stantibus become this King whose fame and honour as all other Sovereignties so his in particular stood more upon Reputation than profit and therefore he according to the magnificence of Royalty left that consideration and he had done reasonable well if not too much for satisfying his Train His second way was to consider of his great expence of Houshold now enlarged into several Courts King Queen Prince and Nursery and these being lookt into he was forced contrary to the royal and largest heart of any his Progenitors to come to Retrenchment and truly in this he was advised to use the means of mean people and others subordinate Ingram and others And first he removed by Proclamation a number of useless persons of his own Nation that unnecessarily depended upon the bounty of his Court and returned them home again Then he proportioned to each Court their expence particularly rated for personal Diet and Dependance Livery and Wages Charge and Salary And this was done without publick complaint of any pressure upon the people as hath been usual heretofore to Parliaments and by them redressed but prudently considered and so referred to the Council-table In ancient time the Houshold was regulated by Book-order and continued so to Henry 8. when Cardinal Wolsey for more honour to that Christmass King of immoderate expence settled it and so remained a ground-work to this present time being now so corrupt as that new ways were proposed in effect to put down Tables and to allow Attendance-money as France does or else by setting up the Hall again to the best first and most magnificent Order that so being spent in publick to the Kings honour the secret waste of Chamber-diet and purloining prevented for out at the Court back-doors most of the meaner houses at Westminster were maintained with food and firing the stealth of under-chamberers We all know what excess was usual in our ancient Retinue and Servants with blue coats and badges especially respecting the Garter of St George who were now ordered to lessen their number and afterwards to fifty Gentlemen and no more to each Knight of that Order heretofore an excessive number to vie it out who should bring most And to reform himself from the excess of his royal heart in gifts and rewards he published Orders and Articles in print in what manner his pleasure restrained his bounty and what natures he was willing to grant Having been liberal to the Scots whom he brought with him men of the greatest eminency at home thereby to binde them here with Free-hold Lands as also with English Tithes for what held the great Gascoign Iean de Foix firm to the Crown of England but his Earldom of Kendall here A neglect in Queen Elizabeth to draw the chief Nobles 〈◊〉 into England by exchange or gift of Lands to have 〈◊〉 them Free-holders here she might then have spared two 〈◊〉 her Wars 〈◊〉 indeed the Kings gifts in Land to the Scots unthankfully 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ttingly they sold conveying that Treasure into Scotland 〈◊〉 his great Design of uniting them here became frustrate 〈◊〉 we finde how many of them not so engaged have turned 〈◊〉 ersaries to his Posterity And I remember well not a penny given then freely to the Scots but gave alarm to every part of Englands Discourse Notes Copies of all privy Seals for money given and so shewed then in Parliaments Yet no noise of what the English had though ten times more But his free hand having stretcht his purse-strings there was a free Benevolence considered of from such good Subjects as in hearty affection to their Sovereign were willing to
whose former fewds had made but suspitious and so he wearied with doing evil returns into France to settle their Solemn League He gone Henry the eight sends home the Queen and Angus and having this while composed his French Quarrels with a Defensitive Amity against all Tourney rendred to the French and Overtures of a Match between the Dolphin and Henries Sister and not a word for the poor Scots that had lost their King in the French Dispute only interceding for a Cessation of Arms with the English and so accepted for Henries conveniency of Princely Interview with Louis The while supporting Angus and his Faction their own Civil Dissentions sufficient to busie themselves and to keep matters in much disorder the policy of England and France both to weaken the Scots power for eithers prey which being suspected by Albany now in France and the violent Fewds beginning fresh at home after five years absence he gets loose of the English Ships that lay wait in his way and Lands in Scotland The Governour come he sets things strait again which by his absence were made awry forces Angus into France many suffer besides others more factious fly into England and pretend the Dukes sudden return was to ingage that Nation against Henry who in rage sends to the Governour to be gone to his French Friends or to expect blowes and was answered as peremptorily That in case of War he knew better to defend than the other to fight King Henry in fury sets fines on some Scots here and after banishes all and presently pursues with invasions upon their Nation by Sea and Land And over to England comes the Emperour instigating the King to fall out with France the like Empirick Balm the French apply to cure the wounds of the Scots Commonwealth which prevailed so far that both Armies meet but the Scots would not fight the English fire all before them and the Governour not affected with the Scots falshood returns back to France for ever Angus gets home again countenanced by Henry assumes the person of the King now thirteen years old concludes a lasting Peace with England and proposes a Marriage between the young King and the Princess Mary which Henry in heart desired untill he heard of the French King Prisoner at Pavia by the Emperour so the match was put off upon pretence for the Emperours consent her neerest Kinsman The Queen displeased with her Husbands Supremacy over her Self and Son and both agreed to dislike each others Bed for it was fatal to her as to her Brother Henry to love change in And forthwith followed Divisions of Religion in Scotland also with Disputes and Arguments for Toleration excellently urged in â—avour of the Reformed but the Catholique Clergy prevailed and the Inquisition erected to force the other with Fire and Fagot The first that suffered in suspition of those attempts were the Hameltons of Kin to the Crown which wrought factions to such height as that King Henry takes heart begins by Incursions where the English were soundly beaten And then in Revenge Howard stiled the Old Earl of Norfolk is sent with formidable Forces 40000. to 30000. if the sums are not mistaken either party so numerous as to eat up all and starve themselves But upon some distrust of success the Earl retreats The Scots pursue this advantage And the next Spring mutiny among themselves and at Salloway Moss the English gave them a mighty defeat which so astonished King Iames that with wondrous regret he forced death over hastily to seize him at the instant when his Queen was delivered of a Daughter the only issue remaining to succeed him in his Throne And with he begins our History The Life and Death of his Daughter Mary Queen of Scotland taking up the Remain of Henry the eighth who lived not long after leaving his three children succeeding Sovereigns yet thought him not worthy memory by any Monument Edward the sixth whose short raign and youth supported by a wise Council held up what was left him by Succession Untill the Soveraignty fell to his Sister with alteration of all and hazard of all she being imbarqued in body and business to a Strangers Supremacy but not lasting long time Was left to a Virgin to recover desperate dangers Ecclesiashick and Civil with various Designs Impressions and Operations upon her Neighbour States imbroyled with her jealousies to infamy of destruction in the blood of Q. Mary of Scotland her neerest kinswoman and pretended Competitor in the Crown untill at last in Gods due time the Sovereignty fell to a Foreiner King Iames with re-union of the antient Title of Britain Elizabeth indeed succeeded in the Inheritance begotten by H. 8. upon Ann Bullen after his divorce from Katharine his Brothers widow by whom he had Q. Mary and that mariage dispensed with by the Pope Hence did arise a question Whether the Divorce was legal or Elizabeth legitimate when Adam was created Eve was taken out of him and made Woman a fit Instrument for prolification and Society And both married in Paradice God the Father being the Priest and the Angels Witnesses for which cause A man shall leave Father and Mother and cleave to his Wife They begat Sons and Daughters which were Brothers and Sisters and married one the other without contradiction untill the Flood nay after the Flood untill Moses writ And these Marriages were not against the Moral Law written in their hearts which being much obliterated in the faculties of the Soul by reason of Adams transgression when Moses writ the Law of Nature or Law of Reason it was therefore twice written in Tables of Stone that by reading those Precepts which were much defaced within man might repair in some measure those Laws almost blotted out by sin And so by reading get them into his Understanding Will and Memory Mans Knowledge comming most naturally by Sense Moses did not onely write this Morall Law in Stone but gave many positive Laws for the Pedagogie of the Iews untill Christ as the Ceremonial and Iudicial The Iudicial Lawes amongst other things did forbid Marriages in cases of blood and affinity and these continued until Christs time and no longer unless there were a Moral Equity in them which Morality is onely inter Ascendentes descendentes where there is a kind of Paternity and Fiâ—â—ation for Filius non portabit iniquitatem Patris and for that sin Iacob cursed Reuben for ascending his Fathers bed This ground being truly laid it was conceived there is no Law of God in force but that which is between Ascendents and Descendents It is true every Church hath made Laws to bind people in their Churches but it was insisted upon only in this That the Moral Law doth not forbid and the Ceremonial and Iudicial Laws are now abrogated In Sir Giles Allingtons case not long since who married his Sisters Daughter there was a sin against the Moral Law and so they were divorced But it was said in that case that
their aim drew out into Glasgow-moor supposing the Enemy that way but seeing them on the South-side of the River Clide crossed the Bridge and Foords and got there before them who being prevented marched the way of Rothrington which leads to Dunbarton but the Regent more wary galloped his Horse-men and mounted Langside-hill and his foot hasten after Two advantages made for Murray Arguiles sickness a sudden Apoplexie the Army halting he chose the ground The other was the Queens too hardy confidence in her own number which seemed less than they were ever marching over Hills and Dales without perfect view These retired to another Hill opposâ—te to Langside drew up in Order Arguile was her Lieutenant and led the Reer and with him the Earls Cassiles Eglinton and Rothesse the Lords Seaton Sommervail Yeston Borthick Sanwhere Boyd and Ross. The Vaâ— committed to Claud Hamilton of Pasley Son to the Duke and Sir Iames Hamilton indeed consisting most of Hamiltons Iames Stuart commanded the Musketeers 300 men The Lord Harris the Horse most of them Borderers and Servants The Regent devides in two Battalia's The Van by Morton with whom were the Lords Hume and Simple Himself the Reer and with him Mar Glencâ—rn Monteith the Lords Ruthen Uchiltry and Kinkart the Sons of Lennox and the Citizens of Glasgow the Horse commanded by William Dowglas Alexander Hume and Ioh. Corinchell Upon encounter these Horse retire and fell back to their Foot indeed the other over-powred them but these were driven back by a flight of Arrowes that gawled the Horse The two Vans join Battel The Regents shot secretly placed in Yards Gardens and Orchards of the Village Langside neer the Lane where they shot at pleasure upon Arguiles who being freed from this hazard were fresh assaulted by Mortons Pikes and Speares and other long weapons which being broken they join pell mell within Swords length and neerer with daggers stones and fists In midst of fight the Regents High-landers fled first out of the Rancks of his own Companies or out of the Wings as otherâ— say the Lord Lindsey at hand cryed Let them gang I le supply their place and â—â—epping forward charged Arguile afresh whose weapons broken before and overcharged with new impression turned backs and fled disorderly The Regent seeing the victoâ—y followed the chase wherein more suffered than in the fight The High-landers as yet taking heart made good their first faults and slew without mercy and had done more but that the Regent sent horse to save the Enemy Many were taken of Note Seatons Râ—sses Hamiltons the Sheriffs of Air and Lithburn with others On the Victors side were slain saies my Author but one of Note he means and for his Epitaph only we shall name him unfortunate yet he was called Iohn Ballony of Preston Mortons man and not many hurt The poor Queen stood a mile off upon a Hill saw all lost and then fled with the Lord Harris and his Horse towards England Some say the Contention between Iohn Stuart and Arthur Hamilton two Captains of the Queens Musketeers strove for precedency and she adjudged it to Stuart for his Name and once of her Guard Hamilton took it ill but nobly challenged the other to the Career who followed as hastily and were both seconded as inconsiderately by the rashness of another Hamilton of Pasley the Just occasion of the Loss of all The Regent convenes the Estates which the Queens faction opposed not willing that he should fix himself with greater Friendship whilest yet their future hopes depended and therfore caused a rumour of some fresh assistance out of France for the Queen under conduct of Mortige of Lâ—xemburgh and in a readiness he was but staied to assist the French King in his Civil Wars Arguile therefore comes to Glasgow with 600. horse and conferred with Hamiltons but to no effect Huntley also with 1000. men was hindred by Ruthen and returned Yet these procured letters froâ— the Queen of England to forbear convening till she were acquainted with their proceedings and justness of their cause why they took arms against the Queen her Cosin of whose wrongs she is sensible and expects a speedy account However the Convention continues and divers are punished 5000. Horse and 1000. Musketeers are levied for suppressing the incursions of the Nedisdale Annandale and Galloway men seize certain Houses and Holds of severall late Lords in Arms some oppose but many are made soon to submit The Queen in miserable distress sends away Beaton unto Queen Elizabeth with that same Ring an ezcellent Adaâ—ant a token of Friendship received from her before to tell her that she intends to come in person and crave her aid which was promised And so by Sea in a small Barge she followes Beaton and lands at Werkington with 16. men and 4. Watermen in Cumberland 17. May 1568. writes to Queen Elizabeth the State of her Affairs in Scotland most pittifully expressed You are not ignorant most Excellent Sister how some of my Subjects advanced by me to the height of honour conspired to oppress and imprison me and my Husband and yet by your intercession I received them into Fâ—vour â—hen they were by force of Arms driven to 〈…〉 Queen Elizabeth could not but commisserate her case but was jealous of her Person and Cause she was told of her eloqâ—â—nt tongue to move credence and her condition considerable with the Caâ—â—â—lique Princes to draw Parties to protect her to quicken the Guises her Cosins to her former Clame to this Crown and the Innovation of others And so to settle her advantages under Protection whilest she may provide to convay her self beyond Seas at her own pleasure And many more likely fears not uâ—â—eigned caused Queen Elizabeth for more safety of the Kingdom to detain her Prisoner â—o Bolton Caâ—â—le in Tuition of the Lord Scroop and Sir Ralph Sadler Mâ—rray thus at liberty holds a Parliament attains many of the Queens â—â—â—ends notwithstanding Queen Elizabeths displeasure who requires him to come or send Commissioners to reason with her the misusage of their Queen otherwise she threatens to restore and protect her Murray obeys and not knowing who to trust comes himself on the errand to Berwick with Morton Bishop Adams Lindsey Liddington and others his Confidents And to boot also comes that Monster of Ingratitude Buchanan my Author stiles him so the greatest Creature of Murray Queen Elizabeth sends Howard the fourth Duke of Norfolk created Barons by Edward the 4. 1461. and by Richard the third Dukes of Norfolk 1483. the Earl of Sussex and Sir Richard Sadler And â—or the imprisoned Queen comes Lesley Bishop of Ross Levinston Boyd and Others Lethington first advised with them the danger of calling to question so great a Princess of Crimes before English men their Enemies and how France would resent it at which they were all mute And the Queen of Scots Commissioners to whom the first place was yielded before they took Oath
Princes not being so ready in these days to embrace other mens Quarrels but where they are extraordinarily interessed in their own fortunes Wherefore I doubt not but it will be seen by men of judgment not transported with passion or led away with private respects that it should be every way the onely best course for your Sovereign by a good and kinde usage of Her Majesty and by shewing that Princely moderation as well in this grievous Accident of his Mothers death as his whole proceeding with this Realm which his Highness excellent Education seems to promise to seek to win the hearty good wills of this Nation as the chief and principal assurance he can in any sort obtain For to trust and depend either upon the French King or the K. of Spain as if by their assistance he might attain to the present possession of this Crown they being indeed the only two Potentates whom he must have recourse unto if he reject the amity of England whosoever shall so counsel your Sovereign as things now stand shall in the judgment of men of the best understanding be blamed either of fidelity or want of wisdom drawing his Majesty unto so untoward and desperate a course For it is no way safe for any Prince to repose his trust and strength upon their favour and assistance to whose desires and designs his greatness may yield any impeachment or hindrance so it were clearly against common reason to expect other support and assistance from them than might stand with their own commodities and pretensions in respect whereof neither of the two foresaid Kings can simply and roundly joyn with his Sovereign to his good First his Religion being odious to them both and likely to prove most prejudicial to the Catholick Cause he growing so great as he should be made by the union of the two Crowns the consideration whereof caused his Mothers affairs to stick a long time and made now in the end to leave him quite out of the reckoning ordaining the King of Spain her Heir if her Son became not Catholick Next it is meerly repugnant to the policy of France were it but in respect of the ancient claim which England maketh to that Crown to suffer the uniting of this Island under one Prince They have been content in former times when England had footing in France to serve themselves of your Nation therewith to annoy this Realm by the means of diverting or dividing the Forces thereof and so perhaps the Politicks of France can be content to wish at this day by your Sovereigns Quarrel or any such like to be eased of the burthen and miseries of the present War wherewith they are plagued by transporting the same into this Island But as this Realm hath good means to prevent the miâ—chief if it were intended so were your Sovereign to look when all were done but to be made an Instrument as his Predecessors have been of the effusion of much Scotish bloud for French Quarrels and the desolation of that Realm And as things stand presently in France it is not to be thought that you shall finde the King ready to hearken unto any Enterprise of this Land He being most desirous to live in peace both with his Neighbours abroad and with his Subjects at home but that he hath been forced full sore against his will by the practice of them of the House of Guise to countenance with his authority the Civil War raised in that Realm which maketh him what ever shew he hath to shadow out the contrary to hate them in his heart Neither would it be held sound counsel to be given him by any that depends upon his fortune to further the advancement of a King of Scots so nearly allied to that Family which he hath discovered and greatly feareth to level at his own Crown with any intention to depose him which by the greatness of a King of Scots they should be so much the sooner and better able to effect The King of Spain's assistance being now in War with this Realm were more likely to be obtained but far more dangerous to be used in respect of his most insatiable ambition deep practices and power accompanied in this case with a colour of Right wherein how far he would seek to prevail any opportunity or advantage being offered it may be justly doubted by the experience that sundry States have had which upon slender grounds of Title have been extorted and wrung from the true Inheritors and annexed to his own Kingdom as Navar Portugal and all that he possesseth in Italy hath been It is believed that the King of Spain considering his years and unsettled Estate every way would willingly incline to peace if it were offered with reasonable conditions and not over readily at this present imbarque himself in any new Enterprise But otherwise it is well known as he had fancied to Himself the Empire of all this part of Europe so he had an eye to this Realm ever since he was King in Right of his Wife The Conquest was intended under colour of Religion as it was discovered by some that were of his Privy Council at that time his pretension to be Heir of the House of Lancaster and since the late Queen of Scots Death the first Catholick Prince of the Bloud Royal of England as also the Donation of this Crown made to him by the Queen of Scots in her Letters with a promise to confirm it by Testament things blazed abroad by the Spanish Ambassadour at Paris ought to breed jealousies and suspitions in your Sovereigns head and give him true cause to think how he should be used at such an Assistants hand Auxiliary Forces have ever been reputed dangerous if they either in number or policy were superior to them that called them in The Assistance therefore of Spain and France being of this nature as your Sovereign hath need of neither so he shall do well to forbear them both and so shall it be well for his ease It may be some will pretend by change of his Religion your Sovereign shall better his condition in regard of these forein Princes besides a great party within this Realm that thereby shall be drawn wholly to depend upon his fortune but the poor distressed estate of Don Antonio being a Catholick Prince spoiled by a Catholick and receiving so little succour at Catholick Princes hands shall be a sufficient bar to all that can be said in that behalf As for the Catholick party in England in his Mothers life it was never so united as they drew all in one line much less will they be brought suddenly to rely upon him if he should alter his Religion as God defend which would be his utter discredit and overthrow both with the one and the other party neither having cause to repose confidence in him the Protestants because he had renounced the Religion wherein he was with great care brought up The Papists because they could not be
ordinary custome lately entertained boldly to dispute the high points of his prerogative in a popular and unlawful way of Argument not heretofore usual Making them senceable how weak and impertinent the pretence of their Oath was in a case of this nature as if the Founders of their Oath His Predcessors were so intent in their zeal to be uncharitable to make a weapon to wound their Successors being an ordinary course to put off Hearings and Determinings amongst private persons Termly And commands them peremptorily not to proceed further in that Plea till his return to London there to receive his further pleasure by himself Your Oath being only for avoiding importunites to the Prince of Suiters in their own particular The King come to London convenes them all to the Council Table and himself takes in sunder the parts of the Iudges Letter and their Errours in proceeding both in matter and manner In matter by way of omission as commission When the Counseller shall presume to argue his Supremacy at the Bar and they not reprove his Insolency Himself observing since his comming to this Grown the popular Sort of Lawyers most affrontingly in all Parliaments have troden upon his Preâ—ogative though neither Law nor Lawyer can be respected if the King be not reverenced And therefore it became the Iudges to bridle their impudencies in their several Benches especially the Courts of Common-Law who had incroached upon all other Courts High Commission Councils in Wales and at York and Courts of Requests For the Commission in Matter whereas their Letter excepted against his Majesties command to be against the Law and their Oath He tells them deferring upon just and necessary cause is not denying or delaying of Instice but rather wisdom and maturity Nothing more proper than to cousult with the King where it concerns the Crown As for the Manner The Kings absence before the Argument and yet his resolved return speedily and the case though lately argued could not receive Iudgement till Easter Term after as the Iudges confessed And for them to say that the case was private interest of party and party One of the Parties is a Bishop that pleads for the Commendam onely by vertue of his Majesties Prerogative And that they could not prove any Solicitation of either Parties for expedition And for the form of the Letter it was undecent besides to proceed and to return a bare Certificate without giving reasons therefore Upon this all the Iudges fell down on their knees acknowledging their Errour and craving Pardon But for the Matter the Chief Iustice Cook entered into a Defence That the stay by his Majesty was a delay of Iustice and therefore against Law and their Oath that as they meant to handle the Pleading it should not concern the King's Prerogative To which the King told him That for them to discern the concernment of his Prerogative without consult with him was preposterous And for those of Law and Oath he had said sufficient before Therefore he required the Lord Chancellour's opinion herein whether against Law and their Oath The Chancellour excused himself as to that of Law referring it to the opinion of the King's Council whereupon the Atturney General Bacon said That to put off the Day was no Delay of Justice nor endangered their Oath for the King's Reasons were onely that it concerned his Prerogative and required therefore a stay for a small time and advised the Judges whether this refusal of their did not rather endanger their Oath which was To counsel the King when they are called but to counsel after the matter is past was a simple refusal to give him Counsel at all And all the rest of the Council concluded with him The Chief Justice Cook excepted That the King's Council should plead against the Iudges being their duties to plead before them not against them Whereunto the Attourney replied That the King's Council were by Oath and Office not onely to plead proceed and declare against the greatest Subject but also against any body of Subjects or persons nay were they Iudges or Courts or House of Commons in Parliament and concluded That the Iudges challenge was a wrong to their Places and appealed to the King who was firm for them The Chief Justice replied He would not dispute it with his Majesty The King replied Nor with my Council So then whether you do well or ill it may not be disputed The Chancellour gave his opinion with the King and his Council Hereupon the positive Question was put by all the Lords Whether in a Case depending which the King might conceive himself concerned in power or profit and requiring to consult with them they ought not to stay proceedings All the Judges submitted thereto onely the Chief Justice excepted saying When that Case should be then he would do his duty But the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas said For his part He would always trust the justice of the King's command But the Day drawing nigh the next Saturday for arguing the Commendams the King desired the Judges to express Whether they would then argue upon the Kings general power of granting Commendams yea or no. They all concluded Not to draw into doubt his power but to insist upon the point of Lapse which they conceived to be of a form different from former Commendams and concluded to correct the insolencies of bold arguing the Prerogative Judge Doderidge concluded for the King That the Church was void and in his gift and might give a Commendam to a Bishop either before or after Consecration during Life or years The Judges being gone the privy Council resolved that the Kings desire was not against the Judges Oath nor against the Common Law to require and all of them subscribed to the same This Dispute was publiquely scanned and censured in favour of the Judges and on the contrary for the King but the truth I have really extracted out of the Records of the Council Table That you may thereby see the true scope of those times The State of Spain having little to do in Martial affairs K. Philip the third now in peace thought to spend some time in Treatiâ—s wherin he seldom failed of advantage The late French King Henry the fourth had 3. daughters the one maried to the Duke of Savoy which the Spaniard misliking to have those Neighbours lately so great Enemies now to be linkt in love without his Interest conceived it good policy to indeer the young King Lewis of France in a cross Match to his Daughter Infanta Anna and to marry his son Philip to the Princess Elizabeth the second daughter of Henry the fourth And thus those cross Nuptials might seem to cement the affections of the three States lately so imbroyled in War which no doubt either of them had good cause to accept though it was said S. P. Q. R. Spain Pope Queen-Regent had the chief hand to undo the young King For the Father Henry the fourth had made
indured with horrid reluctancy even of their Tormentors with great constancy and therefore they had a form of Iustice and were executed with the Halter and so was the man of Straw the Admiralls Image hanged with them for a ridiculous example first murthered and then by a mute arraignment sentenced and executed Such as fled from slaughter or were hidden in the woods were by fair words in a Proclamation promised mercy but returning home were sure of the slaughter And so throughout the whole Realm of France for thirty dayes together were so many thousands massacred that besides the unmaried there remained above an hundred thousand widâ—â—s and children well born begging their bread When all was done and wearied with slaughter The Edicts came out that the former Treaties of Pacification should cease And a form of abjuration for such as were terrified by others sufferings to renounce thâ— Religion and none to be suffered to profess other than the Romish faith Whilst these sparks of former feud lay raked up in embers by pacification at home in Scotland Bishop Ross in England and but imprisoned in the Tower as you have heard though a man full of plots and policies yet his privileges of Ambassador affording him protection for his life It being too much suspicious to send him under hand to his grave and legally they could not He was therefore released after 2 years imprisonment and packt away over seas into France in whose time of imployment here as a faithfull servant to his Queen many Co-actors were put to death others detected and imprisoned yet even with his parting he left not unattempting and was for many years following beyond seas with all the Catholick Princes in Christendome a most pestilent disturber of Queen Elizabeths quiet for not long after he delt with Henry 3. of France to turn Morton out of his Regencie and to steal the young King thither whose faction in Scotland might weaken thereby and as he grew in years with the French Tutorage his affections might decay towards the English the ancient league with the French strengthned and with England dissolved In this small time of cessation from War the Scots without cause to implore England for any ayd or relief The Governours of each Borders assign a meeting to compose differences for eithers quiet against the usuall rapines of Robbers where disputes began and quarrells followed the English were worsted and taking the neerer way fled from the fury into Scotland and so for justice to Morton whose censure being much too partiall not onely in not doing right to punish his countrey men but dismisses the English with much adoâ— by Subscription and Pledges This behaviour of the Scots soon incensed the Queen who being presently upon the posture of a Bordering War Morton prudently layes blame on the Scots Commanders beseechetâ— her Majesty not to raise a War with them whose maintenance must be with much blood the common cause necessarily begging defence of peace betwixt the two Kingdoms and if civil War should follow upon Scotland it might introduce a necessity in them to call in the French whom she in her Princely affection and great wisdome had but lately afforded them the means to ridd away And that before time should grow elder his endeavours should be with such good offices and service for her Majesty as might countervail the inconveniences already happened And for questioning of the Governour he remembred a president under Henry 7. for expiation of Sir Robert Carrs death then Governour of the middle borders which was then referred to a meeting in Scotland to enquire This gray-hair-instance incensed her the more untill the Scots Governour Carmichell was sent to answer it in England and then indeed his Present of Hawkes to the Courtiers became a saying He gave them live Hauks for dead Herons Two Brothers of that Name Herons killed in the fray This petty disturbance gave time and leasure for the Praecisians now so stiled not to forget their ministerial ragings who evermore upon such occasions put in a spoke for themselves because their stipend was not redressed And herein were so presumptuous as to utter their fancies and to act what ere they thought best for their advantage But herein the Regent stopt them in their Career remembring them of the Treaty of Lieth which forbad all Innovation in Religion during the Kings Minority This year took away James Hamilton Earl of Arran and Duke of Castle-herauld at Poictures a Province in France He was Grandchild to James 2. And after the death of James the 5. In the vigour of youth and Mary his daughter succeeding in the Crown she had this Hamilton a while for her Protector and then declared her Heir apparent A mild man and tractable he was though her birth and quality drew on turbulent spirits to bring him on the stage and sent him into France with her where he was caressed for their party and created Duke and Captain of a troop of Horse Somewhat he medled in state after his return home but soon retired into privacie for which the mad-headed Ministers and Buchanan blamed him of sloth From him proceeds 4. branches James Earl of Arran John Claud and David three of them infected with the Mothers disease became frantick or rather bewitched At this time was Iohn Ormston commonly called black Ormston because of his Iron colour apprehended and had his tryal and executed for being guilty of the late Kings Murther Likely enough to have discovered more particulars than he did confess being Intimate with Bothwell who communicated the purpose to him and shewed him the subscriptions of the Earls of Argaile Huntly Secretary Lethington and Balfore testifying their consents to that horrid Act. Nevertheless the Regent permitted Balfore to enjoy the benefit of the Pacification passing an Act thereof in counsel to the regret of many for though it was doubted whether the subscription of Arguile and Huntly were not counterfeit but of the other the hate to their persons made the sensure of their guilt easie of beliefe to all but Arguile dying soon after his office of Chancellor was conferd on the Lord Glams Adam Heriot Minister of Aberdeeâ— dyed this year and of their Church is accompted worthy Record he had been a Fryer of the order of St. Austin living in the Abbey of St. Andrews learned and eloquent in the Pulpit subtile also in school divinity The Queen Mother heretofore hearing him preach was so affected to his wit and judgment and integrity that in reasoning with some Lords upon the Article of Real presence she offered to be concluded by Heriots opinion who was required to preach thereupon before her and a numerous Auditory But there he flaggd so prevaricate as most men were unsatisâ—ied of which being sharply censured by some his worthy friends he fell into sadness and regret of soul till he did openly recant and renounce Popery and forthwith joyned
Day should pay for all they meant the Day when she should die that it would be a bloudy Day by the uncertainty of the next Heir our Countrey is in the most dreadfull and desperate case in the greatest misery and most dangerous times that ever it was since or before the Conquest and far worse than any Countrey in Christendom by the certainty of the most bloudy civil and forein Wars all our wealth and felicity whatsoever depending upon a few uncertain days of Queen Elizabeths life Clouds of bloud says another hang in the Air which at the death of Queen Elizabeth will dissolve and rain down upon England which then is expected as a Prey to Neighbour Nations These false Prophets spake this sense for the Sun set and no night followed Mira cano Sol occubuit Nox nulla secuta The same mercifull hand at the same time crowned Queen Elizabeth with immortal glory and set the Earthly Crown of this Kingdom upon King Iames his head without shedding so much as one drop of bloud Sic transit gloria mundi Queen Elizabeth was a Princess excellent in all Tongues she translated the Prayers of Queen Katharine into Latine French and Italian she wrote a Century of Sentences and dedicated them to her Father and translated Salustius she made several Orations in Latine in both the Universities and entertained Ambassadours always in their own Languages many of her excellent Speeches in Parliament are in print Queen Mary of Scotland wrote a Book of Verses in French of the Institution of a Prince all with her own hand wrought the Cover with her Needle which the King Kept as a Relick of her Memory as I have seen The End of the first Part. REX FIDEI DEFENSOR POTENTISS IACOBUS D. G. MAGNAE BRITANNIAE GALLIAE ET HIBERNIAE FIDEI DEFENSOR Behold Greate Britaines France and Irelands Kinge About whose Browes Clusters of Crownes doe springe Whose faith him Champion of the FAITH en-stiles Vpon whose head fortune and Honnor smiles The Rod of vice and Vertues Recompence Longe liue Kinge IAMES in all Magnificence Printed and sould by P. Stout THE REIGN AND DEATH OF King JAMES OF Great BRITTAIN FRANCE and IRELAND the First c. The Second Part. LONDON Printed by Henry Hills 1655. Introduction WE reade in Stories how perplexed several Princes have been in some dependent policies at their first acquisition to their Governments especially such Sovereigns as come to their Crowns by accidents mixt with Succession I finde not any amongst many more difficult to decide than that which befell King Iames and followed the death of Queen Elizabeth The horrid remembrance of the late execution of his Mother Queen Mary famed by all forein Nations for a Lady that had born the Illustrious Diadems of two glorious Scepters the one by lawfull Succession of former Kings even from her Cradle the the other by powerfull Conquest of a mighty Prince with her incomparable merit beauty of her body and more of her minde living long time to see her Son a King renowned for wisdom and thereby apt to apprehend and powerfull of himself and so fitted for Revenge The splendour of Imperial Crowns are eclipsed by suffering such ignominy the sacred character of Church and State defaced the magnificence of the most secured Thrones destroyed and Sovereignty would cease to be the image of God But for him to ascend that Throne steeming with his Mothers innocent bloud wrought amazement to himself no doubt and wonder to the world what he would do in this Dilemma Best of beauties may be discoloured and so the complexion alters Christian policies are good rules for Sovereignty we may examine his Resolution by the happy effects of his Actions Besides he was bound to acknowledge Truths Her Adoption of Him to his inheritance sweetned Him into the peoples candid Acceptation And though by that solemn Action on Her death-bed she gave Him but his Own Yet she might have rendered Her self and former Cruelty less disputable by objecting against Him his Mothers Religion averse to the reformed in England strangers they were both and He Her son whom in Iustice she had destroyed For though her fathers will setled the succession Her power with the people might have allowed it she might have Married or Created another and so made a favorite Or indeed the sure of all she might have setled this Nation in the people to succeed Her as heirs to all The times and Relations then more likely than â—ver since as now it is Thus she might have done see what she did Seing She could not repair Her cruel Error Yet by those means She manifested Her resentment of what She had done amiss by recompensing that Evil with this Good And ill humour of Malice is not easily purged It reacheth to the Person hated and to all near Relations Children and Friends And no doubt some secret Maxime or Policie of Stâ—te might be taken up sufficient to have accused Queen Mary of Crime and so to have put a fixed Resolution to that Action which otherwise in it self seems Savage Her Adoption of Him was of equal Ballance with His Birth-right and usually as Venerably received as Inheritance from Parents T' is true They give the Birth but leave us to Succession Free Election as the Gift is most admirable for its merits so ought it to be the more Acceptable for the Miracle The One Natural even to Brutes in their Ordinary Inclinations But Adoption operates with affection and choice not from Sense but from Reason and examines the Object ere it settles the possession And so thus considered she merits Pardon He Excuses Another Relation falls upon Her Counsellors then the most honourable birth admirable in wisdom and Eminent in Power for the King to confide in These or They in Him Those that found an Executioner for Her might in time bring forth a Regicide for Him See how his wisdom Expiates all Those hands that hurt Her healed Him who sealed to Her death signed to His Reception Nor could any private malice of theirs be directed towards Her Person but Her Power Necessity of State made Them submit to sentence Her which otherwise they perhaps would have spared in Reverence to Her and Honor to Him And as their Persons were Eminent so was it hazardous for Him to question a Crime that He had not power to punish Acts they are so different in Them as make up the wonder in Him How to revenge the One and not reward the Other Acts of Oblivion alwaies more Noble than Revenge Caesars erection of Pompeys Statue secured his own Acts of Honor to others memory reflect in effect upon the person present And therefore He rather chose to Court Her Counsellors with the favour of Clemencie than to correct Them with the Rod of Iustice. Rigour hath much of Majesty but Mercy hath more of Glory The One may be more safe the other more secure And though Machivael makes Fear and Love
so honest and worthily deserving a Servant and so praiing God to bless this mie cure I bid you heartilie farewell Febr. 9. 1616. New-market James Rex Hereupon there was some appearance of his amendment which the Prince congratulates under his own hand My Lord Chancelour As I was verie sorrie having understood of your dangerous sickness so I do much rejoice of the good appearance of your recovery which Thomas Murrey hath declared unto me and of the affection and caee you have of my person and of mie Estate for which you and yours shall ever find me most willing to give testimonie to the World how much I respect those who are truly affected towards me I hope bie Gods grace to give you particular bie mie self and that God shall give you health and strength of bodie and mind that the King Queen and I with this whole Kingdom may long enjoie the fruit of your long wise and religious experience which wishing from my heart I end New-market Febr. 18. 1616. Yours Charles Pr. These being the last Letters and thus assured of the acknowledgement of his Masters favour toward his merit he takes leave of this Life the fifteenth of March following 14. of Iac. 1616. The Common-pleas or Comunia Placita is the Kings Court or Bancus Communis Anno 2. Edw. 3. cap. II. so called Quia Communia Placita inter subditos or controversies between common persons it was now held in Westminster Hall But in antient times moveable as appears by Magna Charta cap. II. And that upon grant of that Charter the Court of common-pleas was erected and settled and one place certain viz. at Westminster wheresoever the King lay and that after that time all the Writs ran Quod sit coram Iusticiariis meis apud Westmonast Whereas before the party was commanded by them to appear Coram me vel Iustitiaris meis simply without addition of place see Glanvile and Bracton the one writing in Henrie the seconds time before this Court was erected the other in Henrie the thirds time who erected this Court. All Civil causes real and personal are or were in former times in this Court according to the strickt Law of this Realm And by Fortescue cap. 50. it seemeth to have been the only Court for real causes The chief Judge thereof is called Lord Chief Iustice of the Common-pleas accompanied with three or four Assistants or Associates who are created by Letters pattents from the King and are installed as it were upon the Bench by the Lord Chancelour and Lord Chief Iustice of that Court. See Fortescue ca. 51. who sets down all the Circumstances of their admission The rest of the Officers are these the Custos Brevium three Proto-Notaries or principal Notaries called also Pregnotaries Chirographer Filazers in number fourteen Exigenters four Clerk of the Warrants Clerk of the Iuries or Iurata Writs Clerk of the Treasury Clerk of the Kings Silver Clerk of the Essoines Clerk of the Out-laws The Common Law is so antient we know not the commencement Lex Angliae peculiar onely to this Land Of long time following the Conquest ever more quarrelled for enjoyment of antient Liberties until Henrie the third allowed English men English Laws add in his ninth year granted the great Charter which himself infringed and thereupon followed fourty years Barons Warrs as Histories stile them until in his fifty two year that Charter was again reviewed and compiled and solemnly sworn unto by succeeding Sovereigns The ground of which binds the King per Legem terrae and what is this Lexterrae Leges Anglicanae fuerunt approbatae consensu utentium Sacramento Regum confirmatae Lex facit Regem attribuat igitur Rex legi quod Lex attribuit ei viz. dominationem potestatem ubi non Lex ibi non Rex So then Lex fecit Regem Not so neither Kings in England before Lawes but indeed Communis Consuetudo Regni fuit Lex terrae This being the Law without commencement as the Genius to all and Parliaments Statutes Prerogatives of Princes Customes of Counties Cities Burroughs Mannors are but the species of it For general Customs made the Law authorities Parliaments Limits Prerogatives and Customes consonant or disonant to Reason so much for Communis Lex But in practice say some the Chancery is above Law and yet duely examined that also is allowed per Legen terrae as a species of that The reason thus The Common Law grounded upon general Maxims they might be too severe or too relax and therefore necessarily requiring Equity Secundum aequum bonum sanam consâ—ientiam And this Chancelour notwithstanding limitted by Law and erected by Law although it seems above Law For No Judge hath Jurisdiction without some grant or commission out of that Court under the Great Seal which is intrusted to the Chancelor No Judge can hold plea without an Original Writ framed in Chancerie and by his appointment returnable before the Judges and yet all these considered the King the Law the Chancery agree together The Chancerie then must needs be erected subsequent by the common Law to relieve and supply the Law in some cases where the simple subject was cosened by craft ignorance also may offend without malice Moses Law in divers cases Political and Ceremonial he could not decide uncleanness by touching the dead but referred it to God The name of this Officer is Dominus Cancelarius Angliae a a Cancelour do but then quere what he might cancel Some say it is Cancelare Iniquom legem commâ—nnem Iudicare secundum conscientiam but this is an errour will the Law give power to deface her self that made it The Chancelour cannot stay the course of Law but onely injunct the person not to follow the Law not to cancel the Law for notwithstanding this injunction if the party will sit out contempt and proceed at common Law the Judges cannot deny him Indeed rhis Officer hath his name of canceling the Kings Letters pattents so much of honour to the Law as the other way had been dishonourable The nature of Letters pattents bind the King and his Successors and all Subjects though unfit or unjust the Judges of Law are co judge it void but cannot deface it nor the Seal but the Chancelour as a Judge of Law may but not by his absolute authority by his ordinary power and course of common Law is to judge of it and to hold plea of it and to call the party interessed by process of Law and so to repeal it by Judgement and then cancel it which no person can do but And this was done Transversa linea circumducere vel conscindere aliquod Edictum decretum contra Principem aut jus Reipublicae impetrari which cancelling is made with Lines drawn across like Latices and it is said that Judgement seats were of old compassed with Latices or Barrs cross waies to defend the Judges and Officers from the prease of people and yet not to hinder
that apostate writes to the Universities in that Councils commendations The Synod of Trent saies he the older it waxeth the more it will flourish good God what variety of Nations what choice of Bishops of the whole world what splendour of Kings and Common-wealths what marrow of Theologues what sanctity what weepings what Academical â—lowers what Languages what subtilties what infinite readings what riches of virtues and studies did fill up that Majestical sacred place And so they amuzed the after age with counterfeit value of that Council until that an Italian compiled a work of the particular ordinary Acts of that Council wherein their practices to maintain the power of the Court of Rome and to hinder the Reformation of their Eripus is plainly expressed An excellent work written in the time of King Iames and translated then into English 1618. if there were no deceit in the Writer as I have heard it pretended as that under hand he was a Protestant and so partial Having now of late 1652. with admiration beheld the horrid broyls and civil Tumults these thirteen years last past in these Western Nations of Europe how barbarously Protestants oppose and massacre each other whilest the Iesuit Projects hiss at us by the ears The Empire also having gotten but a woefull booty by her more than thirty years wars heretofore weakned her self with loss of six millions of Souldiers besides others men women and children numberless We in Great Britain having gained no better by our Civil Wars The sins of Subjects hastening untimely fate the Church delacerated our own Nations disjointed and dismembred in every part These considerations might move us to cry to Heaven for an end of such Tragedies The mysteries whereof by sundry writers take rise from the fearful blazing Star which appeared this year 1618. Longamontanus and Doctor Bambridge say That this Comet appeared but twenty eight daies for it was not observed in Denmark nor in London before the eighteenth or one and twentieth days of November But Puteanus observed it the eleventh day and so appeared thirty seven daies foreshewing that first the more Northern parts of Europe then Great Britain afterwards should feel the smart for thirty seven years even from 1618. until 1656. And not onely these Nations but the effects were to end upon all Europe and why mary because they neglect the downfal of Antichrist ruin of Rome destruction of the Order of Iesuits and State of Papistry to make way for I know not whose fifth Monarchy the Lion of the North. The matter of these Comets is variously described being some say composed of wind and lightning hot and dry exhaled by the Sun into the highest Region and there bordering the Element of fire is inflamed partly by it and the whirling motion of the Heavens And this matter whilst imprisoned in the Earth produceth Earthquakes If it ascend to the Middle Region and be from thence beaten back it turns to wind if entring that Region and being environed with thick Clouds it flashes into Lightning and if it passes to the upper Region it becomes a Comet And the common opinion promotes them as Signs and Causes prognosticating some dreadful mischiefs to the World whereof Brightman foreshewed who from Joseph Scaliger of Leyden got some Notes of Grebneer concerning those prophetical numbers in the twelve chapters of Ezekiel the three last of Revelation and the last chapter of Daniel with some passages of Hosea and Zachary But that excellent Manuscript of Johannes Bandensis de vita Grebnerii declares all In which that learned Astrologer brings reasons Divine and humane why Europe for the space of thirty seaven years following this fearful Comet should feel the Mutations of flourishing States as siuce it hath lately hapned in Portugal Swedland Bohemia Denmark Great Britain and Ireland However foretold I am sure they and we feel the sad effects and so have we mixed predictions both Astrologicall and Divine Since the spiritual Sword was sheathed in England which had lopt off the Serpentine heads of Heresie and Schism It is more then wonder how all these Sects in the whole world have with their prophecies like devouring weeds overgrown or choaked the seed of Gods word The Millenaries dream of a Personall Reign of Christ upon Earth How he shall descend 1666. and destroy all the Works of Darkâ—ess that he shall keep quarter Sessions and Goal delivery in his own person upon Mount Olivet That in anno 1700. shall be the day of Iudgement and that Iudgement last other 1700. years and a thousand other such like Fancies made familiar to us by sundry mad-headed Millenaries lately printed in 1642. 44. and 45. In anno 1650. comes another Opiniator and tells us that this year saies he all Europe being in civil Wars which shall not cease till they have mustered an Army to destroy Rome anno 1666. Then that the Western Iews shall come into the Faith of Christ and shall in anno 1683. convert the Eastern Iews being the ten Tribes hidden invisibly in Tartaria and India and these two Brethren shall ruin the Mahometan in anno 1698. aud so presently to be restored to Jerusalem and then follows the dissolution of all things and not before For my part says one in anno 1650 I am a zealous adorer of Parliaments nor desire to censure the actions of our Representative yet will not promise the term of an age to our Novel Government as hs terms it but thinks verily a change toward the old Model is neer at hand A pestilent Prophet if such should come to pass and the whole effects of Grebneer follow after And further this figure-flinger hath collected by way of Chronology upon the principal passages in Ezekiel and Revelations Grebneers and Bandensis prophecies where he observes out of the fourth Viol poured out to be in anno 1605. when the Protestant Champions Pareus Polanus Whitakers Perkins Andrews and K. James did power light upon the Sun of the Gospel against Bellarmine Stapleton Campian and other Papists Revelations 16. 8 9. The fifth Viol saies he began powring out from anno 1630. by the Swedes in Germany 1632. then the English in England 1640. and combine against Papists 1648. and shall end in Romes ruine 1666. and hath Scripture for that too Revel 16. 10 21. and so goes on to the year 1830. where he leaves the faithful to expect Dooms-day There are other Writers strongly encounter these poisonous prophecies That there is no certain predictions that Comets do not alwaiâ—s fore-run such events nor do Events follow Comets and instance wonderful fruitful blessings after such signs Peucer a Germain prognosticated upon the Comet in anno 1583 and contrariwise followed a most calm Summer no Prince dyed no war and the Plague in Lombardy then ceased Gemma Frisius spâ—aks of as many good as bad effects And the Comet in Qu. Elizabeths time in Cassiopea she being diswaded to look out of the Window upon it she went
resolve not to proceed to any business in the house but muttering there was though they durst not speak out The King understanding the silent humour of their Action and being yet desirous to have the time better husbanded Christmasse being at hand commands his Secretary Calvert to deliver this message to them in Speech and afterwards in Writing His Majesty remembring that this House was desirous to have a Session between this and Christmass it pleased him thereupon to signifie unto us that we should have contentment herein and that there should be a Session if we our Selves were not in fault taking now notice that we forbear to proceed with any Bills until the return of the Messengers lately sent to his Majesty hath warned me to command the House in his name not to lose time in their proceedings for preparing good Laws in the mean while and in consideration of the neer approach of Christmasse And that his Majestie hopes We will not take upon us to make a Recess in effect though not in shew without his warrant But some captious pates take exceptions as tending to breach of privilege by commanding them to proceed with Bills and so spun out the time and did nothing till the return of their Messengers whom the King receives not with overmuch kindness knowing the effect of their former petitions and observing the Contents of the later and both reflecting on his Person and Government which causeless aspersions and therefore returns them with this answer to all The Kings Answer to their Petition VVE must here begin in the same fashion that We would have done if your first Petition had come to our hands before we had made a stay thereof which is to repeat the first words of the late Queen Elizabeth of famous memory used by her in answer to an insolent Proposition which a Polonian Ambassadour made that is Legatum expitamus Heraldum accipimus For we had great reason to expect that the first message from your house should have been a message of thanksgiving for our continued gratious behaviour towards our people since your last Recess Not only by Our Proclamation of Grace wherein were contained six or seven and thirty Articles all of several points of Grace to the People but also by the labour we took for the satisfaction of both Houses in those three Articles recommended unto us in both their Names by the right Reverend Father in God the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and likewise for the good Government of Ireland we are now in hand with at your Request But not only have we heard no news of all this but contrary great complaints of the danger of Religion within this Kingdom tacitly implying Our ill Government in this point And we leave you to judge whether it be your duties that are the Representative Body of our People so to distaste them with our Government whereas by the â—pntrary it is your duty with all your endeavour to kindle more and more in duty for our gratious Government Now whereas in the very beginning of this your Apology you tax us in fair terms of trusting uncertain Reports and partial informations against your proceedings We wish you to remember that We are an old and experienced King needing no such Lessons being in Our Conscience freest of any King a live from hearing or trusting idle Repotts Which so many of your House that are neerest Us can bear witness unto you if you would give as good ear unto them as unto some Tribunitial Orators amongst you And for proof in this particular We have made your own messengers confer your other Petitions sent by you with the copy thereof which was sent us before between which there is no difference at all but that since the receiving the first Copy you added a Conclusion unto it which could not come to our hands till it was done by you and your messengers sent which was all at one time And if we had had no Copy of it before-hand we must have received your first Petition to our great Dishonour before we had known what it contained which would have inforced us to return unto you a far worse Answer then now we do For then your Messingers had returnd with nothing but that we have judged your Petition unlawful unworthy of an Answer for as to your Conclusion therof it is nothing but Protestatio contraria facto for in the body of your Petition you usurp upon our Prerogative Royal and meddle with things far above your reach and then in the Conclusion you protest the contrary as if a Robber would take a mans purse and then protest he meant not to rob him For first you presume to give us your advice concerning the Match of Our deerest Son with some Protestant we cannot say Princess for we know none of these fit for him and disswade Us from his Match with Spain urging Us to a present War with that King and yet in the Conclusion forsooth you professe you intend not to press upon our most undoubted and Regal Prerogative as if the petitioning of Us in matters that your selves confess you ought not to meddle with were not a meddling with them And wheras you pretend that you were invited to this course by the Speeches of three honourable Lords yet by so much as your selves repeat of the Speeches nothing can be concluded but that we were resolved by War to regain the Palatinate if otherwise we could not attain unto it And ye were invited to advise forthwith upon a Supply for keeping the forces in the Palatinate from disbanding and to foresee the means for the raising and maintaining of the Body of any Army for that War against the Spring Now what inference can be made upon this that presently we must denounce War against the King of Spain break our dearest Sons Match and match him to one of our Religion let the World judge The Difference is no greater than if we would tell a Merchant that we had great need to borrow money from him for raising an Army that thereupon it should follow that we are bound to follow his advice in the Directions of the War and all things depending thereupon But yet not contenting your selves with this excuse of yours which indeed cannot hold water ye come after to a direct contradiction to the Conclusion of your former Petition saying that the Honour and safety of Us and our Posterity and the Patrimony of our children invaded and possessed by their Enemies the welfare of Religion and State of our Kingdome are matters at any time not unfit your deepest consideration in Parliament To this generality we answer with the Logicians That where all things are contained nothing is omitted So as this Plenipotencie of yours invests you upon all power upon Earth lacking nothing but the l'opes to have the Keys also both of Heaven and Purgatory And to this vast generality of yours we can give no other answer for it would trouble all
is met in your Majesty a rare conjunction as well of Divine and Sacred Literature as of Prophane and Humane So as your Majesty stands invested of that Triplicity which in great Veneration was ascribed to the antient Hermes The power and fortune of a King the knowledge and illumiâ—ation of a Priest and the Learning and Universality of a Philosopher This propriety inherent and individual Attribute in your Majesty deserveth to be expressed not only in the fame and admiration of the present time nor in the History or Tradition of the Ages succeeding but also in some solid work fixed memorial and immortal Monument bearing a Character or Signature both of the power of a King and the difference and persection of such a King So he Memoria Iusti cum laudibus Et Impiorum Nomen putrescit An EPITAPH ON King Iames the sixth THose that have Eyes awake and weep For He whose waking wrought Our sleep Is fallen asleep and never Shall awake till wak'd for Ever Death's Iron hand hath clos'd those Eyes Which were at once Three Kingdomes Spyes Both to foresee and to prevent Dangers so soon as they were meant That Head whose working Brain alone Wrought all mens quiet But His own Now lies at Rest. Oh let Him have The Peace He purchasd in His Grave If that no Naboth all His Reign Was for his fruitful Vineyard slain If no Uriah lost his Life For having had so fair a Wife Then let no Shemei's curses wound His Honour or profane His Ground Let no Black-Mouth no Rank-breath Cur Peaceful James His Ashes stir Kings are as Gods O! do not then Rake in Their Graves to prove Them Men. For His daies toyl and Night watches For His craz'd sleep stol'n by Snatches For Two fair Kingdomes join'd in One For all He did or meant t' have done Do this for Him write on His Dust King IAMES the Peaceful and the Just. Sit Gloria DEO FINIS The Conclusion HItherto having pursued the Descent following the Union of the two Roses by Marriage of Henry 7. of England and the re-union of both Kingdoms Sovereignty by succesfull inheritance of King James and then left to a son and Heir and also to the numerous issue of a Daughter and her Descendents and suddenly into the present possession of King Charls of Great Britain France and Ireland the first who though affianced forthwith in Marriage with the Princess Maria Sister to the French King Louis the 13. Blessed also afterward with a numerous Issue Sons and Daughters as a full Period in shew of all former Mutation and change through them and their posterity perpetual So indeed it appeared to a State-observer but not seemed good to the Eye of Providence whose powerfull Hand hath ordered it otherwise for He is taken away in the strength of his years and perfections and none of his in possibility of Reason to succeed to any part or portion of his Inheritance But to proceed in the continuation of this History to these Times and to branch into such particulars as to draw down to discover Truth to after-Ages may seem to some very difficult the common Excuse of such as cannot or will not undertake it and therefore preâ—end that by following the heels of Truth too near a man may endanger his Teeth A defect of Reason so to conceive when an even and unbiassed Narrative of Men and Matters may well become the judicious Historian For first that King Charls was lawfully possessed and crowned Monarch of his Fathers Inheritance his Peers and People obediently submitting to his Scepter That He being necessarily imbroiled into some forrein Ingagements against Spain and France was enforced to summon the assistance of several succeeding Parliaments unsuccesfull and by too hasty Regulation of Ecclesiastick Discipline upon the Scots Kirk moved them to an unnatural Insurrection which caused Expeditions against their Armies already descended into the heart of England which enforced him to assemble another long-lasting Parliament wherein he lost himself and his Life also What were the true and different Reasons Grounds and Manâ—agements of the late Differences between Him and Them the Proâ—ocations on either side to the first entrance into the miserable War Their several Battels Sieges Policies and different Successes of that so long uncivil-civil Dissension His nâ—â—â—ssities enforcing Him to leave his own Party and to resign up himself unto his natural Countreymen unfaithfull Scots Their Sale of his Person back again to his English subjects Their several Passages Declarations Narratives Treaties Overtures and Disputes between Them both before and during his Restraint in order to a firm and lasting Agreement with his Parliament and People for Reconciling Important Affairs of Church and State with the Presbyâ—erian future destruction of the Hierarâ—hy of Ecclesiaâ—tick Discipline Their Policies thereupon to be rid of the Bishops Deans and Chapters The Dismission of the Lords House in Parliament and Impeachment and Execution of Ecclesiastick and Lay persons Bishops and Beers And after all they brought his Head to the Block a sacrifice for the sins of the whole Nations The different Disâ—ositions in their eleven years long domination of a pretended Triennial Parliament necessitates another Power to purge them with several Doses and afterwards to put them down Sundry Expedients to prove them by a fresh Assembly Representatiues of the People Their time and debates wasted to no good purpose they are broken up and in fine dissipated And then the last little Assembly rise of themselves leaving all in Anarchy and desperate confusion Untill it pleased the Almighty to raise a Power which resumed the Peoples protection in monstrous danger of utter destruction The necessity of the national Affairs introducing were put under the power of single Sovereignty How that power hath managed the Government against divers desperate Designs Forrein and Domestick The prosperous effects and issue now settled into an assurance of the Nations future subsistance And all these in reference to our neighbour States War with some Amity with others All these particulars faithfully put together without captious and presâ—mptuous opinions of partial observers not to descant private conceits upon the necessity of State But barely to represent the Narrative and to leave the 〈◊〉 the Readers sentence And this way God willing is thus intended and in part pursued the matter and manner of this monarchical succession and final conclusion to be faithfully performed unto these Times our last Days By W. SANDERSON Nec magna desiderantur Henry 7. James 4. James 5. Of King Iames parents to his Birth Their descent H. 8. turns Lutheran And makes war with Scotland And defeats them K. of Scots dies And his Daughter Mary born His Burial And Character Q. Maries entrance into heâ— Crown and Troubles By Factions of Hamilton and Lenox Earl of Arran Her Guide Her breeding in Fran. And there married the Dolphin And as heirs to England quarter the Arms. Which offended Qu. Elizabeth The French King and Dolphin die