in one of his workes he thus declareth that it is one of the principall parts of the duty which appertaines to a Christian King to protect his true Church within his owne Dominions to extirpate heresies is a maxime without all controuersies In which respect those honourable titles of Custos Vindex vtriusque tabulae keeper and reuenger of both tables of the law and Nutricius Ecclesiae nursing Father of the Church doe rightly belong to euery Emperour King and Christian Monarch so that there is no question or imagination that he will suffer the Religion now professed to come vnder the Egiptian seruitude of the Pope But rather will be like a goodly Caedar tree of full growth irremoueable not to be otherwise or other where set or planted vnder whom his Subiects shall sit safe and protected Our hopefull Prince a branch thereof will be of the like kinde affording the same fruit who doubtlesse will now be the more precious in that kinde in respect of his late trauell and triall longed for the sweet comfort and preaching of the Gospell according to the saying of the Psalmist euen as the thirsty Hart did for the watry Brook Though he hath bin amongst the Sirens his eares would admit no audience a sound was alwayes in them as if hee heard his religeous Father King Iames speaking vnto him 1. Chro. 28.9 as sometimes holy Dauid spake vnto his sonne Salomon And thou Charles my sonne know thou the God of thy Father serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all the hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seeke him he will be found of thee if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for euer all which serued onely but as addition Our Prince his integrity is such so firmely settled in the true Religion now professed that there was no possibility of his alteration For which we are infinitely bound vnto God and an incomprehensible happinesse it is to the Kingdome that his disposition all his courses and carriages affording all Royall and Princely vertues as indeede meerely composed thereof his patience farre exceeding his passion which bringeth peace to himselfe and victory ouer others free from all imperfections that Princes many times are subiect vnto the more hauing no strict nor disciplinated education but rather soothed and flattered in all they say or doe What an exceeding great comfort and ioy may we take to see his willing heart and ready hand to receiue the Petitions and complaints of the poore distressed Subiects and his gracious disposition to see them relieued which doubtlesse will occasion the whole progression of his life to bee much the more happy and prosperous gaine him blessed fame and euerlasting memory and a Crowne of glory in a better Kingdome Positiuely our King and Prince the one for paternall affection the other for filial obedience for after ages may be worthy patternes That by the Spanish Lady her comming ouer the Protestant Religion should be any wayes endangered or subiect to alteration there is not so much likelihood as probability she may come to be a Protestant for these reasons following the effects of true loue are great and the rather she being a young tender Princesse and farre from her owne Country and friends amongst whom she hath bin bred and now come to haue others new and liuing in their companies she may of her owne accord by degrees haue her affections incorporated amongst them borne and bred amidst the pleasures and delights of the Court accustomed to Royall Courtship may much farther it Townes before they yeeld doe vsually parle That the Lady neither can nor will auoyde and then hauing so pleasing an obiect to the eye and so Royall an affailant in such a person as our hopefull Prince is These things may goe neere the point to doe it Then her Ladies and Maydes of Honour which of like at the first will be the Cabinets of her Councell and other her followers though Sermons they will not heare yet when in daily discourses they shall haue such siege and battery laide to their Romish Religion by an Army of reuerend Bishops Doctors and many famous learned Preachers in that kinde the whole forces of our Kingdomes assuredly it will rather loose ground then gaine any the proper nature of Religion is farre sooner to be perswaded by reason then forced by constraint Those are the two things that Religion stands on the world cannot create a new creature be it neuer so little So no law of man nor compulsion can make a good Christian in heart without inward grace wherein the Minister is to perswade and leaue the successe to God More famous learned and worthier men no age euer afforded who will be a glory to the age The King and they as the Sunne and Moone and some others of the Clergie as lesser Starres will make perfection of light though they contribute somewhat lesse will make the light of the Gospell in the course and manner as it is now professed shine so bright that it shall dimme all Romish superstition and Idolatry as the blessed Sunne doth a burning Taper and there shall be no such Curtaine drawne to keepe out the light but that it shall shine ouer the whole face of the earth that wee shall see their good workes and bee taught by them to glorifie our heauenly Father The two famous Vniuersities the Spheares from whence learning and so consequently the true knowledge of Religion hath his motion they will not be ecclipsed Let vs be confident that our Iosuah and his Clergie being of his house will professe whatsoeuer other Nations doe hee and they will serue the Lord. If any of the Clergie when they shall come to the touch proue not right as peraduenture some of them may not it will be said of them Yee children of Ierusalem weepe and lament that for want of courage you betray your Master So in conclusion wishing the countrie people from henceforth in their resolutions would be satisfied and not to trouble themselues as now they doe in their expostulations of our Princes royall match nor take vpon them to foreknow and preiudicate that dangers may ensue either for matters of religion or gouernment but abandon all doubts and dispaire of those things and rather take it to their comforts hopes or rather indeed assurances that all those things formerly related will rather so come to passe then otherwise and that there will be no more such rubbes in the passages of State affaires as late haue beene but will runne smoothe as formerly they haue done and all dealings and passages betweene man and man will come againe into their course and current and the Iron age we haue lately liued in will haue an end which may be the beginning of a golden world so soone as it shall please God our Princes royall match be once setled For his safe returne and the assurance wee haue of his integritie with vnanimous hearts let vs giue God hearty thankes and pray that his mariage may bring with it glory to him on high peace and good will to those on earth and all happinesse and ioy to his Highnesse to the compleat comfort contentment and good of the King and kingdome and to Reigne many yeares honouring the age wee now liue in with the merits of their wisedomes and integrities and finally that their selicities in this world may ouertake that in the next and make them weare perpetuall Crownes of Gods glory and their owne and that successiuely their Royall Progenies may sit vpon the thrones of their kingdomes euen to the worlds end FJNJS
Royall Sepulture of his Auncestors at Westminster and there in Saint Peters Church it was with all possible Royalty and magnificence honourably interred The King gaue vnto the Abbot there twelue large and rich Lordships charitably to giue Almes and deuoutly to pray for the blessed Queene vntill the worlds end Our owne Writers affirme of this Queene Speede. Walsing Camdens Britania to our Nation she was a louing mother and saith one the Columne and pillar as it were of the whole Realme shee added the vertues of a wife to her sex to them both her immortall fame is a glory and an honour to her Nation King Edward the third 1360. married his daughter Iohanna to Henry the second King of Castile sonne of Alphonsus the 11. Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth sonne of King Edward the third did take to wife Constancia eldest daughter of Peter King of Castile To whom in right of his said wife Constancia the Kingdome of Castile and Leon did discend and they both stiled themselues King and Queene of Castile and Leon which illustrious title is yet to be seene vpon his noble monument in Saint Pauls Church in London Katherine the sole daughter of the said Duke of Lancaster by his aforesaid wife Constancia was married to Henry 1388. the third sonne of king Iohn of Castile and Leon. Edmund Duke of Yorke youngest sonne of king Edward the third 1391. married Isabella youngest daughter of Peter king of Castile King Henry the fourth married Iohanna the daughter of Charles king of Nauarr. 1403. The next intermarriage wee finde betweene England and Spaine was in the time of king Henry the seauenth his owne marriage his sonnes with Spaine and marriages of his daughters are the greatest acts of State our English Annalles doe afford vs first his owne marriage made a Vnion whereupon after the effusion of much bloud to the consumption of the greatest part of the English Nobility there followed and euer since continued a happy peace and then by the marriage of his daughter settled an vndoubted and permanent succession for the Crowne of England the blessed happinesse at this instant wee enioy All which with the patience of the Reader contrary to my intended resolution which was onely for the story of the Spanish matches I will a little digresse and briefly touch hauing one with another dependancy and coherence This king Henry the seauenth for his wisedome was said to be a second Salomon and lay somewhat heauie on his people and was Auncestor to our now Soueraigne who will peraduenture some way both for the mannaging of the State and marriage of his children make him a patterne and precedent But the difference is the more is our happinesse Henry the seauenth his gathering of treasure together was to heape vp in store as appeared being found at Richmond after his decease vnder his owne key and keeping eighteene hundred thousand pounds sterling A huge masse of money for those times Our king hath expressed his Royall and Princely bounty and exposed his treasure vpō important occasions wherevnto his Maiestie hath beene necessitated gathered vp from his Subiects but as showers of raine that falls backe vpon the earth againe But it hath beene of late and it is very like hence-forth it will be imployed to repay support and supply About the ninth yeare of king Henry the seauenth his raigne there was one Peter Hyalus an Ambassador A Spanish Ambassadour sent into England sent from Ferdinando and Isabella king and Queene of Spaine to treate of a marriage betweene Katherine their daughter and Prince Arthur sonne and heire of Henry the seauenth it was obserued this Hyalus was a man of great wisedome that through the present could see farre into the future which king Henry soone perceiued Hyalus instantly became in great fauour and estimation with him brought it so about and yet not seene therein that Hyalus was imployed for him into Scotland both about a treaty of peace as also a marriage for Margaret his eldest daughter with Iames the fourth then king of Scotland it was not king Henry his course to seeke peace at any Prince his hands But it was conceiued hee did it then as not louing the barren warres which hee thought would not bee worth his charge Hyalus so caried himselfe in those Ambassies that it was his master-peece which euer after gaue him the esteeme of an excellent workman which shall bee hereafter more particularly related The warres betweene the king of England and the king of Scots were then at the height when Hyalus was sent but comming as it were from the king and Queene of Spaine as from friends equally well affected to both parties to mediate a peace betweene the two kings of England and Scotland as also about a treaty or ouerture at least of a marriage which perhaps in their owne persons would not haue beene so easily brought about the point of honour might therevnto giue impeachment Hyalus so handled the point of his imployment that immediately after Bishop Foxe was sent as an Ambassadour into Scotland wherevpon followed an honourable truce and shortly afterwards a marriage concluded betweene the king of Scots and Margaret the eldest daughter of Henry the seauenth king of England so that Doctor Morton afterwards Cardinall and this Peter Hyalus the Spanish Ambassadour were two of the happiest instruments that euer were the one for composing and contriuing the marriage betweene king Henry the seauenth and Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Edward the fourth whereby the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster were vnited and Hyalus a fore-runner of good hap was therefore by some called an Elias being the first motiue and speciall meanes of the intermarriage betweene England and Scotland whereby we enioy our now Soueraigne whom God graunt long to raigne ouer vs. The Spaniards are obserued generally to be acute and ingenious and many of them of great wisdome and deepe iudgements some reason thereof conceiued for that they are freer from the dull discease of drinke then other Nations are The great Historians writes in this manner of them The Spaniards are more able Guichardine Biterus then either the French or Germanes to endure the actions of the body and to suffer the passions of the minde Their first founder was a Souldier therefore are they held naturally the more for warre Jgnatius and no Nation hath euer beene therein more exercised They haue a Spanish Prouerbe To haue peace with England doth vs betide warres with all the world beside These our auncient Writers affirme Droder Siculus lib. 6. Strabo lib. 3. Mila lib. 2. that the Spaniard is most patient in want hardnesse hunger thirst heat colde and all other toyle and trouble both of body and minde and most ready and resolute for loue of Country or honour to encounter all dangers whatsoeuer For the last particular wherein the Spaniard hath that height of commendation giuen him it neither can be any detraction or
pounds The ioyncture and aduancement assured by the King of Scotland was two thousand pounds a yeare after King Iames his death one thousand pounds a yeare in present for the Ladies maintenance This to be set forth in lands of the best and most certaine Reuenue The King as it is reported A question proposed by the Lords of the Counsell before this Match was concluded proposed it to his Councell and amongst them it was debated some of the Table in the Freedome of Councellours the King being present did put the case that if God should take away the Kings two Sonnes without issue that then the kingdome of England would fall vnto the King of Scotland The. Kings Reply which might preiudise the Monarchie of England whereunto the King himselfe replyed that if that should be Scotland would be but an accession to England and not England to Scotland for that the greater would draw the lesse and that it was a safer Vnion for England then that of France This passed as an Oracle and silenced those that moued the question This was a kinde of diuine and propheticall proposition made by the Lords of the Councell and so accordingly answered by the King so that the said Iames the fourth King of Scotland had issue by the Lady Margaret Iames the Fift The Kings Discent and he had issue Queene Mary she had issue our now Soueraigne so that he is great Grandchilde of Margaret eldest Daughter to Henry the Seauenth Now seeing I haue gone thus farre in matters of Mariage contrary to my intent as not to haue medled with any but those of Spaine I will now goe through by way of touch rather then by ample discourse of the mariage of the last and indeed of all the Daughters and children of King Henry the Seauenth Henry the Seauenth contracteth Mary his youngest Daughter to the Emperor and the rather for that it was the last act that concluded his temporall felicitie which was the conclusion of a glorious match betweene his Daughter Mary and Charles Princes of Castyle afterwards the great Emperour both being of tender yeares which treatie was perfected by Bishop Foxe Henry the Seauenth dying the Mariage tooke not effect and others his Commissioners at Calice But by reason the King about some yeare after died that mariage did not take effect Mary King Henryes youngest Daughter married to the King of France Afterwards to the Duke of Suffolke she was afterwards maried to the King of France who being aged shortly after died had no issue by her King Henry the Eight her brother sent ouer into France Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke to fetch her from thence who maried her and by him she had issue the farther particulars in those affaires I leaue the readers to the perusall of the workes of many Writers Stowe Holland Speede. that haue written the same at large For Henry the Seauenth I will conclude being he himselfe by the generall concluder of all was concluded Only this he had the fotune of a true Christian aswell as of a great King â—ote in liuing exercised and dying repentant his happinesse was much the more as when he left the world was in great felicitie being as it were at the top of all worldly blisse in regard of the high mariages of his Children his great renowne throughout Europe his great Riches and the perpetuall constancie of his prosperous successes all which were some way a shadow and vaile that it did not so euidently appeare as otherwise it would in what obloquie of the people he notwithstanding liued So that death to him was wonderfull opportune to withdrawe and preserue him from any future blow of Fortune which in all likelyhood would haue fallen vpon him in regard of the great hatred of his people and the Title of his Sonne being then come to eighteene yeares of age and being a bold Prince and liberall gained vpon the people by his very aspect and presence The King according to the contract made by his Father King Henry the 8. married the Lady Katherine his brothers widdow married his Brother Prince Arthurs Widow The secret prouidence of God ordaining that Mariage to be the cause of great euents and changes our Writers doe not lay it to the Ladies charge that she in her particuler ministered any occasion thereof The storie of the Kings life more or otherwise then it shall concerne the diuorce the Ladies life and conuersation I will not here meddle many haue written of him at large but the lesse is the more for his commendation Queene Katherine liued twenty years with the King When this Lady had liued aboue twenty yeares with the King as a vertuous and loyall Wife Cardinall Wolsey we finde had a great part in this play whose discent Pollidor Vigill relateth Parentem habuit virum probum at lanium had an honest man to his Father but a Butcher then for the particular story of his life more then shall concerne this affaire I leaue the Readers to many other Authors that haue written the same at large but in briefe he was intollerable wicked pompous and magnificent and according to the fate commonly of such men his end was infamous and infortunate vpon some priuate grudge he bore to Queene Katherine partly to be reuenged thereby vpon her Nephew the Emperour because he would not make him Pope as secretly he had requested him and partly because often-times in a most secret louing and gentle fashion she had admonished and warned him of his couetousnesse tyranny of his extortions oppressions of his pride and licentious course of life such men when they are told of those things being eminent and powerfull vsually will extend it to the highest to execute their malice which Wolsey so did towards the Queene as it afterwards fell out to bee apparant that to the King in priuate hee had cast some scruples with some subtle disputations concerning the lawfulnesse and nullitie of the Kings mariage who hauing as it seemed a desire to change as by his hauing so many Wiues afterwards it was somewhat probable made a great shew and expressure to the world that he began to be tender ouer his conscience and prouident to establish the true succession of the kingdome in a lawfull heire strucke so great an impression into him and so busied his cogitations and thoughts that a religious sorrow began to seaze vpon him and to auoide the continuance in that incestuous sinne vntill by a iudiciall sentence the doubts were cleered he refrained from the Queenes bed and the Cardinall to make himselfe more great then he was procured a Commission from the Pope to be directed to him and to his ancient brother Cardinall Campeius that before them as supreme Iudges that question by legall processe and proceedings might be heard debated on and censured according to the lawes of God These two Legates hauing receiued their Commission informeth the Queene of their authoritie and
power and she in some passion accused Wolsey as the principall brocher of that doubt and a maintainer of that contention which he denied and excused himselfe The King pretending nothing in this businesse but truth sinceritie and Iustice according to the Lawes of God and man was well contented that the Queene should make choyse of the greatest Clerkes and the best learned men in the kingdome to defend and maintaine her cause which she accordingly did Commissioners chosen by the Queene as namely William Warham then Archbishop of Canterbury and Nicholas West Bishop of Ely Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Henry Standish Bishop of Assoph For the prosecuting of this businesse a stately Court was crected in the great Hall at the Black-Friers where the two Legates sate as Iudges the King and Queene scited in their owne persons or by their Procters to appeare The King by his Procter submitted himselfe to the Apostulation authority and power which by the Pope to the two Legates was giuen But the Queene her selfe accompanied with many Lords Knights Ladies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen and hauing first done great reuerence to the two Legates appealed from them as from Iudges which were not compotent and indifferent to determine betwixt the Queene and King to the Court at Rome This appeale they allowed not but in the same Court they sate weekely and before them many learned and subtill Disputations touching the lawfulnesse and also concerning the insufficiencie of that Mariage were daily made before them The King perceiuing that no quicke dispatch was vsed though oftentimes they deliberately consulted came with the Queene into the said Court where his Maiestie solemnly protested his infinite loue towards her acknowledging her to be the most amiable The Kings protestation and loue to the Queene louing kinde dutious modest and sweetest Wife that he thought was in the world and that therefore he should not take so much ioy and comfort in any thing else whatsoeuer as he should doe in her if by the lawes of God and man she might remaine his Wife and therefore for the determining of that question and for the quieting of his troubled conscience he instantly importuned a quicke dispatch and a finall end Then was the Queene demanded whether shee would sticke to her appeale or no who answered yea yet for all that the Court proceeded weekely though softly as before The Queene presently rose vp and going about the Court to the King fell downe on her knees before his feete and in the hearing of the people spake thus in effect The Queens speech to the King Sir I desire you to take some pitty vpon me and doe me iustice and right I am a poore Woman a stranger borne out of your Dominions hauing here no indifferent counsell and lesse assurance of friendship alas wherein haue I offended or what cause of displeasure haue I giuen that you intend to put me away I take God to my iudge I haue beene to you a true and humble wife euer conformable to your will and pleasure neuer gainsaying any thing wherein you tooke delight without all grudge or discontented countenance I haue loued all them that haue loued you howsoeuer their affections haue beene to me-ward I haue borne you children and beene your wife now this twenty years Of my virginity and mariage bed I make God and your owne conscience the iudge and if it be otherwise proued I am content to be put from you with shame The King your father in his time for his wifedome was knowne to be a second Solomon and Ferdinando of Spaine my Father the wisest amongst their kings could they in this match be so farre ouerseene or are there now wiser and more learned men then at any time were surely it seemeth wonderfull to me that my mariage after twenty yeares should be thus called in question with new inuention against me who neuer intended but honestie Alas Sir I see I am wronged hauing no Councell to speake for me but such as are your subiects and cannot be indifferent on my part therfore I most humbly beseech you in charity stay this course vntill I may haue aduise and counsell from Spaine if not your Graces pleasure be done and therewithall rising and making lowly obeisance to the Court departed thence Queene Katherine departed the Court. leaning vpon the arme of her seruant deceiued each man expecting she had returned to her seate when as she tooke directly out of the place which being perceiued the Cryer againe called her by the name of Queene Katherine to come into the Court Madam quoth her guide you are againe called on said she it maketh no matter this is no indifferent Court for me therefore goe forward The King perceiuing that she was departed The Kings report of the Queene presently spake thus vnto the assembly I will quoth he in her absence declare before you all that she hath beene to me a most true obedient and comfortable wise endued with all vertuous qualities conditions according to her birth and lowlinesse equalls any of the meanest estate The Court sate many times after where many subtle and vebement allegations were vrged for the lawfulnesse and nullity of the Mariage the King eagerly bent to haue an end foresaw he should neuer there haue any whilest the businesse was in debate and handling he priuately imployed diuers Lords and the greatest Diuines within his kingdome to trauaile into all the Vniuersities in the Christian world and there to be resolued of their opinions touching the validitie or nullity of the mariage And when they all returned they brought with them twelue Instruments sealed with the publike Seales of so many of the Vniuersities and also the opinions of sundry great and famous learned men The Kings mariage iudged vnlawfull by all which it appeared that they agreed and consented in one that the Kings mariage with his Brothers wife was vtterly voyde and contrary to the lawes of God and man notwithstanding the dispensation of the Pope The King sent those Instruments vnto the Queene desiring to be satisfied from her whether she would yeeld her consent to the Diuorce or no for the quieting of the Kings conscience to referre it to foure Prelates and foure temporall Lords The Queene thereunto made a long graue noble and patient answer positiuely concluding she would not submit her selfe to any course therein vntill the Court of Rome which was priuie to the beginning had made there a determination and finall end the King hauing seuerall times formerly sent vnto the Pope had beene long delayed seeing no likelihood of an end resolued no longer to wait in his attendance on the Court of Rome went roundly and resolutely on in another course summons a Parliament there shewing the twelue Instruments from the seuerall Vniuersities The Kings Diuorce by act of Parliament an Act passed and his mariage with the Lady Katherine was dissolued and made voide a sentence of Diuorce pronounced
were punished for publishing doubts thereof to the contrary in so much as it passed in Parliament that if God should take away Queene Mary their supposed young Master comming into the world So called by Sir Richard Southwell Knight of the house should finde himselfe prouided for It was by Act of Parliament ordayned that King Philip should be Protector of her issue and Gouernour of the Realmes vntill their Prince or Princesses should come of able yeares Anno 2. and 2. Philip Mary Enacted that King Philip should bee Protector of his supposed issue King Philip apprehended continuall feares and doubts of the English in regard of the maligners of his marriage for at his first entrance the dore of his great Hall of his Court for the most part kept shut or straightly guarded not any suffered to enter vnlesse his businesse was first made knowne Acts and Menuments pag. 1643. 6. King Philip fearefull of the English Those Lords that were against the mariage commaunded to send their weapons to the Tower The Lords some of them hauing formerly shewed themselues to haue been much against the marriage hauing leaue to depart London had straight commaundement to send all their Harnesse and Artillary to the Tower which was done The King was as well doubtfull of those that beare a faire shew conceiuing it vpon this ground For that a Noble man in consultation had giuen his counsell to cut off Lady Elizabeths head whereby he assured himselfe that those so bad minded towards their owne naturall Princesse could not be better to him a stranger hee was graciously courteous to the English and endeuoured all wayes and meanes to gaine their loues and affections For which he layd a good foundation became an earnest mediator King Philip a great friend to the Lady Elizabeth and solicited the Queene for the liberty of that innocent Princesse her sister the Lady Elizabeth who still remained a solitary prisoner in Woodstock about Wyats conspiracy though no proofes could be brought against her for any offence King Philip at length obtained his suite that the Lady Elizabeth was brought to Hampton Court and for 14. dayes there locked vp and laid at by Gardiner to submit her selfe hauing not seene her sister in two yeares before shee was sent for into the Queenes Chamber about tenne of the clocke in the night which she no sooner had entered but falling vpon her knees shee prayed to God to preserue her Soueraigne Maiestie protesting her loyalty and truth to her person whatsoeuer had beene spoken or instigated to the contrary At which time there was betweene them long and much debate the Lady Elizabeth made good her innocency Queene Mary replied in Spanish God knowes and so went away King Philip standing behinde the Arras all the time About some weeke after Princesse Elizabeth released of her imprisonment the Princesse Elizabeth was discharged of Bening field whom she termed her laylor and leaue of liberty yet so that Sir Thomas Pope a priuie Councellour and Master Gage the Queenes Gentleman Vsher were still her Attendants all Queene Maries time But the death of Gardiner immediatly followed those stormes grew more calmer and the Lady Elizabeth euery day more affectionately respected King Philip by this his honourable and worthy act gayned him the loue of many the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdome and did thereby so indeare and ingratiate himselfe into the affections of the Commons Nota. that they turned their hate and distaste vpon those that had beene the chiefe opponents and maligners of the marriage So that they are indeede like a streame of water though turned out of the current yet will runne Hee euery day gayned more and more vpon the loues of the English King Philip gayned the loue of the English in his affection gracing and countenancing them and his owne Country men he carried himselfe wonderous euenly which kept good correspondencie betweene the two Nations though his marriage with Queene Mary made him Master of all here in England yet in his honest and iust disposition those Articles which he had formerly agreed vnto alwayes maistered his affections obsequiously and exactly performing them which is not alwayes seene in Princes he had the two chiefe ornaments belonging to a King that is to say mercy and Iustice for the one he was both a moderator and mediator King Philip his good disposition and inclination to Iustice what hee could to restraine those seuere and cruell persecutions committed in Queene Maries time then for Iustice he had a Princely inclination to haue it duly administered Amongst many there is one peece of Iustice noted in him an Englishman at London in single fight being killed by a Spaniard he was executed though by the Strangers two hundred Duckets were offered for the Spaniard his repriue which could not stay the hand of Iustice For that there will be further occasion hereafter in my intended course for the pursuing of this my relation I will write here no more of him in his particular as being not to be doubted he was no lesse worthy and graciously disposed a Prince then hee is here briefly discribed or at least howsoeuer if his vertues had not exceeded his imperfections which is a great happinesse to a State where such a King is by some of our Writers that haue written of those times we should haue heard of him at large King Philip frustrate of his hope for his heire vpon the fourth of September 1555. tooke shipping and went to visite his Father the Emperour and to take possession of the Low Countries where he stayed a yeare and a halfe to the great griefe of Queene Mary his wife But returning came to Douer hee was by the Queene met on the way and brought through London accompanied with many Peeres of the Realme as in triumph against a Coronation In the Kings absence many conspiracies had beene attempted but they were like vapours that are drawne vp by the Sunne and falls againe so those actors as commonly incident to such men were drawne vp with hemp by the hand of Iustice before they did any hurt Hollinsh Grafton the persons and perticular passages I also leaue to those Authors before mentioned The Emperour ouer-worne with the affaires of the world Grimston in his French History and wearied with the troubles of turmoyling warres or rather touched with remorse of conscience for the infinite miseries brought by him vpon Florence Naples Scicilie Tuscane Elbe and Calabria perswaded that those mournefull iarres of Christian Princes Nota. had giuen to the Turke aduantage vpon diuers parts of Europe Iarres of Christian Princes giueth aduantage to the Turke he called his sonne King Philip of England vnto Bruxels as is said where by authentick Letters resigned all his Realmes vnto him commanding all his Estates and Subiects to acknowledge and hold him their lawfull King and among many other instructions and most wise exhortations gaue him charge chiefly
to hold amity with the French least otherwise the warres of those puisant Nations might oppresse all Christendome Charles the Emperour as he hath beene discribed by those that haue written his life hee was an excellent wise Prince which is shewed both in that his sage and graue obseruation as also for his like Councell giuen to his sonne Philip. The consideration of both are fitting Nota. and sutable for these our now times as first the infinite miserable calamities that those Countries of Germany haue endured and may be brought vnto by the late Warres there and may giue much aduantage for the Turke against Christendome The other in likelihood it may be a great happinesse for a State to be in league and amity with a neighbour Nation that is opulent and powerfull and to haue it confirmed and fastened by marriage Nota. which commonly is then inuiolable There might be much written vpon this Subiect but I will leaue it to those of better ability to doe it onely as I passed by I haue called King Philip was much enclined to peace and Queene Mary his wife at that time much more both to hold him with her at home and to support the Religion which shee had againe raised by restoring the Clergie to their wonted possessions The Nobility would not part with the lands they had belonging to the Clergie The Queene by Parliament all such like lands she had whereof much was then held in the Noble mens hands from whose hard hold hardly could any thing be wrested But those in her owne shee freely resigned by Parliament with this most Christian resolution Princely saying that shee set more by the saluation of her owne soule then she did by the reuenewes of all the Kingdomes of the world and so committed the restoration and dispose thereof vnto the Pope and Cardinall poole his Legate to the great enritching of the Church and impouerishing of the Crowne King Philip following his Fathers aduice made peace with Fraunce which was to continue for fiue yeares The Pope besieged confined within the walls of Rome John Slcidon which no sooner was made then againe was broken one principall occasion was ministred by Pope Paul the fourth then an Enemy to the Spaniard whom Duke Alua had besieged and confined him within the walls of Rome hee sent to Henry the French king for ayde and withall sent him a tryumphant Hat with a stately Sword and thereupon had succour by the Guise who remoued the siege and set the Pope at liberty But the French decreasing for want of pay and the Spaniard still raising their Trophees of victory the Pope thought it the surest to hold with the strongest The Pope tooke the surest side reconciled himselfe to the Spaniard fell off from the amity of the French King and was reconciled to the Spaniard so that by this occasion there grew a strong party against the King of Fraunce For by King Philip and Queene Mary his wife he had both England and Spain against him and the Pope no lesse powerfull there then he was within the walls of Rome The occasion that Queene Mary tooke for the breach of the peace was more vpon pretences Iohn Stowes Annalls surmises and pickt quarrels then any iust cause ministred by the French King Queene Mary sent him a defiance and instantly proclaymed warres against Fraunce And King Philip her husband went in person for the prosecuting thereof The Queene immediatly sent after the King her husband the Earle of Pembroke Generall Viscount Mountacute with diuers Earles and Barons with a great Army who came to King Philip and ioyned with him whilst the Duke of Sauâ—y Brunswike the Earles of Egmonde Horne and Mansfield inuaded the French confines and planted a strong siege against Saint Quintens which shortly after by the English St. Quintens wonne by the English was nobly and victoriously wonne to the great losse and discomfort of the French Monsieur Mountomorancie Constable of Frunce and Generall was taken prisoner Queene Mary contrary to her promise and agreement made vpon her marriage with King Philip entangled her Subiects with the quarrels of the Spaniards The greatioy conceiued for the victory was shortly after dashed with as much sorrow for the losse of Galice The English after they had so gotten Saint Quintens they afforded to themselues either little list or leasure more or otherwise but betooke themselues to their delights disorders and pleasures and onely to keepe and make good what they had newly gotten grew negligent and carelesse of the Towne of Calice that the Forts thereabouts for defence being vnrespectiuely regarded wonne by that victorious Prince Edward the third and that by no lesse then eleuen moneths siege were in the compasse of eight dayes besieged surprized and wonne in the depth of Winter to the worldes wonder and not without great suspition of treachery which happened the the 12. day of lanuary and in the second moneth were surrendred the strong Fort of Guies and Hames whereby all the English sooting was lost in the continent of Fraunce So here you may see that our owne Writers affirme that the breach of the peace with the French King was not any wayes by the occasion of King Philip nor the losse of Calice by his default After his great victory at Saint Quintens he would admit no peace at all with the French but with restoring Calice vntill the English themselues without him made their peace and renownced Calice to the French for euer These Iosses were greeuous to the English Nobility and most of all to Queene Mary her selfe After she had abolished the Gospell restored the Popes Supremacie whatsoeuer she tooke in hand was no wayes prosperous but in all things infortunate her conceptions failing extreame dearthes rayning hurt done by thunders from heauen and Fire in the Royall Nauy Forraigne losses Calice surrendred which could neuer be recouered vpon any composition and King Philip alwayes in troubles and turmoyling warres occasioned his keeping from court so that Queene Mary her life during her raignet was little pleasurable or that she scance â—â—ioyed any delights or at lease little contentment as all which so much augmented hor melancholly which grew to a burning Feauer when she had raigned fiue yeares Queene Mary with griefe died she ended her life at her Mannour of St. Iames and lyeth interred amongst her Auncestors in the Abby of Westminster Now next in course doth follow the relation of the passages betweene England and Spaine after King Philip his returne thither which was immediatly after Queene Maries death and during the time of the raigne of the late Queene Elizabeth where then I come to the Spring head from whence the auersenesse and vnwillingnesse of the Commons doe rise for our Princes Royall match with Spaine the remembrance of the late Hostile warrs with other the passages which plebian like they haue by tradition as the Brittaines had the story of their times
deliuered them by their Druides These things being they concerne the breach of the league betweene England and Spaine may be thought too deepe and of too great a consequence of State to be medled withall I hope I shall minister no cause of offence nor innouation but rather giue satisfaction and occasion moderation For here I obserue in the Country the Papists in their discourses magnifying the Royall proceedings of King Philip and the Spaniards in generall lay some taxe and aspersion vpon the late Queene Elizabeth which is very harsh and much displeasing to the Protestants And then on the other side they vrge and agrauate against the Spaniards with much bitternesse and thereupon they fall into expostulation Pro Gon of the Princes match neither vnderstanding nor taking into their considerations more or farther then to make good their owne part conceit which breedeth difference amongst our selues maketh and maintaineth a partition wall betwixt the English and the Spaniards in such loue as should be betwixt Subiects whose Soueraignes are in league amity That the Commons might not so disobediently in their affections muteny against that which the King hath so laboured and doth so much desire to bring to passe as also for their so much expostulation thereof the scope of my endeuours onely end and ayme of my ambition is that these my labours might occasion some moderation therein For the better accomplishing thereof and giuing the better satisfaction in those particulars I will here relate some obseruations which the Papists haue formerly collected and vsually in their discourses will vrge them the vsage and carriage of the Spaniards towards the English and other Nations and the English towards them with some other former passages betweene the two Nations I could wish the Commons would beleeue these things so farre forth as their owne knowledge or true informations doe not extend the contrary and the Papists to doe the like for that which is here alleaged either concerning the late Queene Elizabeth or the King of Spaine neither part to be transported with passion but of those things to make a fauourable and the best construction and mutually to take them into a charitable and reconciliable consideration The particulars are as followeth The Papists alleage The Papists collections that King Phillip had a great desire to continue in league and amity with England and that after he returned into Spaine constantly maintained the same for thirty yeares together would neuer hearken to giue assistance to any the discontented English Nobility that would haue rebelled and in the yeare 1568. absolutely denyed aide to the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland and the Lord Dacres when they rose vp in rebellion in the North parts of England how the King afterwards to wit in the yeare 1575 for contenting her Maiesty at the Perswasion of some of his own Officers but namely the Cōmendador Maior that forthe present gouerned Flaunders was content to yeeld to the banishment of all English Papists out of his estate in Flaunders for the space of two years though he paid them alwaies their pensions to liue on as before And for the same consideration of friendship with the Queene and for keeping his league he denied diuers yeares help to the Irish that desired the same as namely in the yeare 1578. to Sir Iames Fitz-Morris and Sir Thomas Stukely Siukley slaine and to the later of them when afterwards he with some 5. or 600. men that he brought from Italy the King would not grant so much as a port in Spain to enter into wherby he was forced to passe to Lisborne where finding the King of Poxtugall ready to goe with his Army to Barbarie he could not refuse to goe with him was there slaine Sir Iames Fitz-Morris returning againe the next yeare to aske succours for the Irish to haue from Spaine some forces to carie for Ireland denied the same againe vntill at the last at the carnest suite of the Pope for that Doctor Saunders vpon his extreame zeale had aduentured to goe thither before in person to comfort the Irish not hauing with him aboue 50. men the King was contented to winke at and say nothing whiles Sega the Bishop of Placentia the Popes Nuncio vnder certaine of the Italian Captaines did send thither some fiue hundred Souldiers taken vpon the Sea coasts of Italy which were those that were slaine by the Lord Gray in Ireland Then doe the Papists farther vrge the Queenes taking of Flushing Brill and Oste-end and other Townes in Flaunders and likewise the assisting and countenancing of Duke Mathias at his first comming and after Monsicur Duke of Alenson and likewise the setting vp the title of Don Antonio King of Portugale and sending him into his Country with an Army The intercepting the King of Spaine his money first in the Duke of Alua his time and many times afterwards the sending of Hawkins Frobrisher Drake and Candish and others to the Indies and some of them euen to Spaine it selfe For which there were speciall Commissions graunted that whatsoeuer could be taken from the Spaniards to be held as lawfull reprisalls and those Commissions to be specified in Stowe his Chronicles Then they alleadge The breach of the peace between England Spaine that the King of Spaine did thereupon make arrests of the English ships then instantly grew enmity and oepn warres and afterwards viz. in the yeare 1588. the King of Spaine with his great Fleete attempted the inuasion of England which yet with many the English is too fresh in memory The Papists farther vrge and haue collected that in Nouember 1591. Queene Elizabeth published a strict Proclamation for searching out apprehending and punishing of Seminaries and Iesuites and such as receiued and fauoured them in England sharpe seuere lawes made and executed vpon them and further both to put feares and doubts into the heads of the Commons as also to exasperate them against the Spaniards Farther vrging that the King of Spaine his great power forces and wealth were dangerous to England possessing more Crownes Kingdomes and countries then euer any Christian Prince had before and yet ambitiously seeketh more endeauouring to make himselfe absolute Monarch of the world and that his cariage towards other Princes and their subiects was tyrannous and those nations which he subdued were cruelly dealt withall and kept in great slauery The Papists for all these particulars hane collected appologicall defences which in their arguments and discourses they will much insist vpon to the high commendations of the Kings of Spaine their royall and gratious proceedings with other Princes and towards their subiects as also with their owne which are as followeth First they propose and recommend it to consideration For the conceaued opinion amongst the English that the Kings of Spaine their gouernment is strict or rather indeed somewhat cruell the maine occasion thereof is The countries dominions and territories are very large and spacious many of them atchieued by