Gods Three Arrows, Section 93
§. 93. Of Englands Deliverances, ſince Queene Elizabeth began her Raigne.
1. GOD preſerved Queene Elizabeth from death in the time of her ſiſter Queene Mary. For, being charged with conſpiracy in the caſe of Sr. Thomas Wyats riſing, but moſt unjuſtly, was ſent as a priſoner to the Tower An. Dom. 1553. 1. Mar.of London. Her death was in thoſe dayes many wayes plotted, but by the divine Providence all thoſe plots were diſappointed.
2. When by the death of Queene Mary the Crowne and Kingdome by juſt and unqueſtionable title deſcended on her, the whole Land profeſſed a religion contrary to the Religion 17. Nov. 1558.which ſhe profeſſed, and the Peeres and Commons were then aſſembled in Parliament, and that with purpoſe to ſettle Popery (as it is likely) more firmly in this land; yet did the Lord move their hearts then and there to acknowledge her title, and that by the mouth of Doctor Heath, then Arch-Biſhop of Yorke, and Lord Chancellour of England, ſo as ſhe was forth with openly proclaimed Queen of England, and anſwerably with as great joy and rejoycing as ever Prince was, received by her Subjects.
3. Being crowned, ſhe found a potent Prince, namely, Henry the ſecond then the French King, to endeavour to ſet An Dom. 1559. Reg. 2.up another title of Mary then Queene of Scots, who was maried to Francis his ſonne. To them they gave this title, Francis and Mary by the grace of God, of Scotland, England, Franciſcus & Maria Dei gratia Scotiae, Angliaeo & Hiberniae Rex & Regina.and Ireland King and Queene. Anſwerably they quartered the Armes of England with the Armes of Scotland. To ſettle the ſaid Mary in the roome of Queene Elizabeth, an army was ſent out of France into Scotland, to joyne with the Scots, and to invade England: and the Pope was dealt withall to declare Elizabeth to be an heretique and illegitimate, and Mary to be the true Queene of England. But by the Divine Providence all this vaniſhed as ſmoke into the aire. For, the Scots refuſed to joyne with the French againſt England. Yea, they deſired and obtained aid of Queene Elizabeth to thruſt the French out of Scotland.
4. Philip King of Spaine earneſtly deſired mariage with An. Dom. 1559 Reg. 2.Queene Elizabeth, notwithſtanding his late mariage with Queene Mary ſiſter to Queene Elizabeth. Now becauſe Gods Word expreſly forbiddeth one man to mary two ſiſters, he pretended to get a diſpenſation from the Pope. But all his endeavours about ſo impious a matter, nought prevailed with ſo pious a Prince. Wherefore he endeavoured to make a mariage betwixt Queene Elizabeth, and Charles, ſon of Ferdinand then Emperour, and uncle to the ſaid Philip. All was to bring the Kingdome of England to his owne linage and family. But neither could this attempt take effect. Whereupon Philip King of Spaine became an utter enemy to that royall Queene, which enmity (thorow the divine providence) turned to Queene Elizabeths glory.
5. Arthur Poole of the race of George Duke of Clarence, An. Dom. 1562 Reg. 4.of the houſe of Yorke, with ſundry of his kindred and alliance conſpired to ſet againe on foot the title of Mary Queene of Scots, and to bring an army out of France into Wales, to make their challenge good; but they were before the execution of their plot diſcovered, and themſelves condemned.
6. After the fore-mentioned emulation, yea, and enmity betwixt King Philip of Spaine, and Queene Elizabeth, one Pope after another was much ſolicited by Spaniſh and other Papiſts to excommunicate that pious Prince, upon pretence of hereſie. But till ſhe was made able to ſtand out againſt all her enemies, God kept away thoſe thunderbolts under Pope An. Dom. 1569 Reg. 11. The forme of this excommunication is in the very words thereof recorded in Camden. Annal. rerum Anglic. & Hibern. Reg. Elizab. part. 2. MDLXX.Paulus 4. and Pius 4.
7. Pope Pius 5. a man of a fierce and fiery diſpoſition, was ſo farre wrought upon, as in the moſt ſolemne manner that he could, excommunicated, and anathematized bleſſed Queene Elizabeth, and cauſed a briefe thereof with his leaden bull annexed thereto, to be faſtned to the gate of the Biſhop of Londons pallace neare Pauls Church, by one Iohn Felton, who being apprehended, confeſſed the fact, and received condigne puniſhment on a gibbet before the ſaid gate. This excommunication cauſed many troubles on mans part: but withall as many preſervations and deliverances on Gods part.
8. The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland, thorow An. Dom. 1570 Reg. 12.promiſes of aid from the Pope and Spaniard, raiſed up a rebellion againſt Queene and State in the North-parts: but were ſoone diſcomfited. The Earle of Northumberland was taken and beheaded. The other Earle fled beyond ſea, and ended his daies in a poore and meane eſtate.
9. Iohn Story Doctor of Law, a ſpie to the Duke of Alva, An Dom. 1570. Reg. 12.conſpired with one Preſtol, a man much addicted to magick, and a ſubject to the King of Spaine, againſt the life of Queene Elizabeth. He ſent advertiſement to the Duke of Alva, how he might invade England, and make Ireland revolt. God bringing this treaſon to light, both Story and Prestol were by a Parliament adjudged guilty of high treaſon. Thereupon they received their juſt demerit.
10. The Biſhop of Roſſe practiced with ſundry Engliſh An. Dom. 1571. Reg. 13.men to intercept Queene Elizabeth, and to trouble the Parliament then ſitting, that ſo another Queene might be ſet up inſtead of Elizabeth. But there fell out ſuch mutuall miſtruſt among the Conſpirators, as their plots turned to their owne damage.
11. Iohn Duke of Auſtria, ambitiouſly affecting the kingdomes of England and Scotland, dealt with the Pope and An. Dom. 1576. Reg 18.King of Spaine for aid againſt England. For a pretence of title thereto, he ſought mariage with the next heire. But in the middeſt of his ambitious projects he ſuddenly died.
12. Thomas Stukely an Engliſh fugitive plotted with two Popes, Pius 5. and Gregorius 13. to lead forces into Ireland, An. Dom. 1578. Reg 20.there to joyne with the Rebells, and to conquer it for Pope Gregories baſtard ſonne. For this purpoſe he was made Generall of 8000 Italian ſouldiers. But by the perſwaſion of Sebaſtian King of Portugal he went with his troupes into Mauritania and was there ſlaine.
13. Nicolas Sanders an Engliſh Prieſt went further, for he with a banner conſecrated by the Pope, and an army of An. Dom. 1580. Reg 22.Spaniards entred into Ireland, joyned with the Rebels, cauſed a great inſurrection, but to the overthrow of himſelfe and all that tooke part with him.
14. Robert Parſons, Edmund Campion, and other Seminaries An. Dom. 1581. Reg. 23.and Incendiaries were ſent by the Pope from Rome into England, to draw the Queenes ſubjects from their allegiance, to prepare them to a change, and to take part with forraigne powers when they ſhould be ſent into England. Campion, Sherwin, Kirly, and Briant were convicted and condemned of high treaſon, and anſwerably executed. But their diveliſh attempts turned to a greater reſtraint of Papiſts in England, and a greater ſecurity of the Queenes Majeſty, and her State.
15. Iohn Somervill was apprehended as he was comming An. Dom. 1583. Reg. 26.in a deſperate manner to kill the Queene, being moved thereto (as he himſelfe confeſſed) by reading certaine popiſh bookes written againſt the Queene by Seminaries. Being condemned, in New gate he ſtrangled himſelfe.
16. William Parry Doctor of Law, made promiſe and An. Dom. 1585 Reg. 27.vow to kill the Queenes Majeſty, and for that end obtained of the Pope, an abſolution for the fact before it was committed. But God ſtrucke his heart with ſuch terrour, as though he had opportunity, yet he put it off ſo long, as at length his purpoſe was diſcovered, and he received the juſt reward of a traitor.
17. Iohn Ballard a Romiſh Priest, ſtirred up the fiery ſpirits An. Dom. 1586 Reg. 27.of certaine Popiſh Gentlemen to undertake to kill the Queene, as ſhe ſhould go abroad to take the aire: which though they had vowed to do, yet was their unnaturall treaſon diſcovered before they had the opportunity to do it. At their arraignment they were found guilty of high treaſon againſt the Queenes perſon, of ſtirring civill warres in the Realme, and of practicing to bring in forraigne power. Foureteene of them were as traitors executed.
17. William Stafford a young Gentleman, and one Moody An. Dom. 1587. Reg. 29.a deſperate man, were by a forraigne Ambaſſadour lying in England, perſwaded to kill the Queene. But the plot was diſcovered before it was effected.
19. The inveterate hatred of Philip King of Spaine An. Dom. 1588. Reg. 30.againſt Queene Elizabeth, and his unſatiable ambition and deſire of enjoying England as his owne; was at length openly manifeſted by an huge navy, ſuppoſed, and thereupon intituled invincible, ſet to ſea againſt England. But the Lord of ſea and land ſoone diſappointed their hopes. The navy was diſſipated on the ſea, and England ſecured.
20. Rodericke Lopez a Iew, Phyſitian in ordinary to her An. Dom. 1593. Reg. 35.Majeſty, upon promiſe of 50000 crownes to be ſent him out of Spaine, undertooke to poyſon the Queene. But before the hire came, the treaſon was diſcovered, and the traitor executed.
21. Patrick Cullin an Iriſh Fencer, was hired by Engliſh An. Dom. 1594. Reg. 36.runagates in the Low Countries to kill the Queene: and with that purpoſe came over: but intelligence being given thereof, he was apprehended and executed.
22. Edmond York and Richard Williams hired in like An. eodem.manner to the like, namely to kill her Majeſty, and to ſet on fire her navy with balls of wild-fire, were prevented and executed.
23. Edward Squire being in a ſhip on ſea, taken by the An. Dom. 1598. Reg. 40.Spaniards, and brought into Spaine, was there ſuborned and directed by Richard Walpoole an Engliſh fugitive and a Ieſuite to poiſon the Queene, by laying a ſtrong poiſon (which the Ieſuite there gave him) on the pommell of the ſaddle whereon the Queene ſhould ride: that ſhe laying her hand thereon, might cary the ſent thereof to her noſe, and thereby receive it into her body: which if ſhe had done, it had beene her death. Never any treaſon came ſo neare to the execution as this. For the traitor Squire obſerved his direction, did the deed, and that, immediately before the Queene rid forth. But the divine providence kept her from touching the pommell with her hand. Yet the treaſon was diſcovered, and the traitor received condigne puniſhment.
24. The Earle of Tyrone, an Iriſh man, having beene ſome while in Spaine, returned from thence An. Dom. 1599 Reg. 41.with a rebellious mind, and raiſed by the aſſiſtance of the Spaniard and popiſh faction in Ireland a rebellion. More damage accrued to Queene and State by this rebellion, then any other way all her dayes. Yet thorow the conſtant providence of God this rebell alſo was brought under, and that land ſecured.
25. There was a plot for removing ſome of the Queenes An. Dom. 1600 Reg. 42.chief Officers and Counſellors from her: which (if it had not beene prevented) might have proved dangerous to her Perſon and State: and ſo much the rather becauſe there were Papists which had a great hand in that conſpiracy. Therein therefore was the divine Providence manifeſted by preſerving her Majesty in ſafety.
26. Henry Garnet Superiour of the Ieſuites in England, Robert Treſmond Ieſuite, Robert Catesby, Francis Treſham, An. Dom. 1602 Reg. 44, 45.and others, in the name of all the Romiſh Catholiques in England, imploy Thomas Winter into Spaine, to obtaine an army from Spaine to joyne with the forces of Papiſts in England, to change the government, and religion thereof. There being then hoſtility betweene Spaine and England, the motion was readily embraced by the Spaniard; and 100000 crownes promiſed to helpe forward the buſineſſe. But before any thing could be effected, Queene Elizabeth, full of Queene Elizabeth was borne at Greenwich, 7. Sept. 1533. and died at Richmond, 24. Mar 1602. She began her raigne 17. Nov 1558 and ended her raigne with her life 24. Mar. 1602.yeares, in peace, on her bed, ended her dayes: being 69 yeares, 6 moneths, and 17 dayes old: a greater age then any other King or Queene of England from the Conqueſt attained to. She was about the age of David King of Iſrael when he died: who lived the longeſt of all the Kings of Iſrael and Iudah. She raigned 44 yeares, 4 moneths, and 7 daies.
Doubtleſſe many more treaſons were intended and plotted againſt her, then are recorded: but ſhe was kept ſo ſure and ſecure under the wings of the Almighty, whoſe truth ſhe conſtantly maintained (herein eſpecially ſhewing her ſelfe to be SEMPER EADEM, alwaies the ſame) as no open hoſtility, no privy conſpiracy ever prevailed againſt her. Her preſervation much made to our ſecurity. The remembrance therefore thereof ought ever to be freſh among us, that ſo long as the benefit thereof continueth, which will be ſo long as true Religion continueth among us, due praiſes may be yeelded to her and our Protectour.