Defense of the Watch-Word Against the Ward-Word, Part 8
Resistance to the eight Encounter, touching the Spanish Nation, and the King.
CHrist Iesus our supreame Soueraigne and Lord, that hath the Key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth, shutteth and no man openeth, hath made the Ward of his truth so strong, as neither papisticall nor satanicall force can preuaile against it; so that your counterfaite Ward is too weake to keepe in safetie, and strength your Romish Babell or the Bishops thereof, being not onelyonly shaken by the wisedome of our watchman, who keeping our Israel, doth neither slumber nor sleepe, but beaten downe by the power of his might: Therefore you vaunt before the conquest, and triumph before the victorie. As for the bickering you begin now about your Spanish King (placed as your second great Monarch before spoken of) it consisteth rather of the ordinary blowes of your biting and rayling tongue, then of anie sound matter of defence for your Kings clearing, which your foule mouthed Rhetoricke I hauehave spared hitherto to encounter, and so will I still, carrying the same mind that Cato senior did, who being abused by one of a like intemperate spirit with slaunderous and reprochful tearmes, made this answer: Impar mihi tecū est certandi cōditio, nam vt malè audire, & malè dicere tibi facillimū simul & promptissimū est; sic & mihi malè dicere & insuaue est, & insuetum: i. My encountring with you is not on euen ground, for as to you it is verie facile and prompt both to be euill spoken of, and to speake euill: so to me to speake euill, is both vnpleasing and vnusuall.
This second Monarch of yours I acknowledge of farre more regarde in his place then your former without comparison,The cause of libertie of speech vsed against Spaine. and of such persons bearing the iust titles of Monarches, I desire in mine owne disposition, to speake and write with all reuerence; but when I found how Rome had incited this Monarch to take holde of Ambition, and vponupon this humour to seeke the ruine of our Soueraigne and Countrie, and that he bent himselfe accordinglie to giuegive his attempts daily to that end, both by fraude and force: and when I saw how dangerouslie their practises and platformes had preuailed in the hearts of many simple superstitious Subiects, I thought it high time to possesse my Countriemen with a true taste of her Maiesties worthie parts, of the many blessings we had from God by her, and of the infinite wrongs done to her, both in person, profession, and gouernment; as also to collect somewhat for their warning, of the nature of the Spanish Nation, whensoeuer and wheresoeuer they attained the Soueraigntie to commaund; that both the profession, person, and gouernment of our liege Ladie, might be imbraced, honoured, and obeyed; and the peoples hearts might be held free from forsaking their loyaltie to a lawfull Queene, and betraying the libertie of their natiue Countrie to the making way for an vsurping stranger, and the bringing of this our noble nation into perpetuall thraldome. And if by this occasion I hauehave been drawne to lay this Monarches parts more plainelie and sharplie open, then is either your desire to heare, or my delight to vtter: yet my hope is, that the wisdome of eueryevery true English heart, will either wholie cleere me, or else censure my fault veniall and pardonable; seeing the iust defence of my Soueraigne did perforce draw me to taxe this potent enemie with vniust dealing towards her, and the tender care of my Countries good, enforced me to put our men in minde of the Spaniards humours, that they might be armed against the plots and perswasions of Iesuites sent to seduce them, which being hearkened vntounto and obeyed, might leade them to expose themselues to a most certaine and irrecouerable miserie. It is not vnknowne that the Iesuites generally are agents for the King of Spaine, and their arrants commonly tend to the raising of sedition and treason, (as their practises hauehave shewed many waies amongst vsus) to the hazard of our Prince and daunger of our state; and to this end hath hee called into his Seminaries too many of our English youthes qualified with fine naturall wits, to their lamentable downefall.
Notwithstanding this iust and important occasion drew mee to set downe that short admonition or cautele of the Spaniards nature, and Spanish Kings intention: this Encounterer (whom all men may see to carrie a Spanish heart in an English bodie) not onlie seeketh to holde the Spaniards credite vpright,The Encounterers iniurious rayling. among the simpler sort of our Country men, (whose further fetch therein, the godlie, wise, and politike of our Land will I doubt not more easilie find out then I can conceiue,) but belcheth out against mee from his malignant stomacke, all manner of spitefull and iniurious opprobries, thinking thereby to lay a blot of disgrace vponupon mee. But welfare the Poet whose olde verse is verified in this new Rayler.
Non semper feriet quodcunque minabitur arcus.
The marke forsooth whereat your ayming is,
You hit not still, but shoote full oft and misse.
And therefore whereas the wiser sort of our nation hauehave learned by the lawes of morall ciuilitie, that a man must speake moderatelie of his enemie (a lesson which Papists hauehave not learned, no though it be their naturall Prince whome they account their enemie) yet he that speaketh truly, speaketh moderately, especially where the enemies carriage is so immoderate and outragious, as if a man had an hundreth tongues, hee were neuer able sufficiently to set it sorth. That this moderation I hauehave kept in speaking truly that I hauehave said, and saying farre lesse then the enemie deserued, I will shew with all conuenient breuitie: first in the Spanish Nation generally; then particularly in the Spanish King himselfe.
It needeth not to be so strange to you, to hauehave your Spanish nation noted to be proude,Of the Spanish Nation. ambitious, bloudie, tyrannicall, rauening, and voluptuouslie giuen, all which properties are imputed to them by sundrie imprinted bookes: and yet that concerneth not eueryevery particular person in that nation,Not all Spaniards charged. to bee infected withall and eueryevery of those faultes, (as you absurdlie collect) for in it (I rest assured) God hath his remnant reserued to himselfe, as in other nations; but that these humours are in the generalitie of them: France, Italie, Germanie, the Low-Countries, Portugale, England, and the very Indiaes are by experience witnes; and of this many proofes might be yeelded, but for a taste (so as it may not offend your taste) take these fewe.
Experiments of the Spaniards pride, crueltie, &c.You shall finde in a Catholike Frenchman intituled the Anti-Spaniard, that the pride of these Spaniards was great, when they durst presume to take a prisoner violentlie from the Parliament Sergeant of Paris, who was conuicted and condemned of murder, making him to passe through the chiefe Chamber of that high and honorable Court: adde vntounto that a villanous attempt offered by them (recorded in the same booke) to rauish a young damosell left worth an hundreth thousand crownes, the stopping whereof (some thinke) did hasten the Countes Edmond and Horne to their deaths, who would not indure such a villanie to be committed. Read you also the estate of English Fugitiues, and there you shall finde how kinde (or rather how cruell) they are to those, that hauehave aduentured their liues (and more then their liues) with them and for them: for when they had discontented Rowland Yor…e, (who betrayed the Sconce of Zutphen to them) by putting him besides the gouernment of Deuenter, doubting what might ensue thereof, by reason of his great stomacke, they found the meanes at a dinner to requite him for all his seruices with a Spanish figge, killed his Lieutenant, and ransacked all that they had: when the poore Souldiours had their Captaine and Lieutenant murdered, and had no meanes of reliefe, they made an humble suite to Verdugo and humblie besought his helpe, who for a gentle rewarde charitablie cashiered them all, not giuing them one peny. You shal also reade there, that when there had been a great slaughter of the English at Rosendale without pittie, or merciemercy (which was more then enough) they did deale most barbarouslie with the English that were prisoners to the Italians and Burgognians, who being led quietly by those that had taken them, towards their quarter, the Spaniardes spying them cried kill, kill, and drawing their Rapiers, ranne furiously vponupon these naked poore soules, and killed them euerie man. Further it is worth the noting that which is written of the west Indian people (though not without remorse, and griefe) who by the fawning and flattering of the Spaniard were drawne to accept his gouernment, and for a time (the poore soules) did honour them like Gods, but when they had tasted of their insolent customes, humors, and cruelties, they did so deepely and despairefully detest them, as men might see the poore wretches goe by companies together vp to the rockes, and throwe themselues downe into the sea.
Now (Sir) I pray you tell me, whether this will not satisfie you for sufficient instances to proue your Spaniards proud, ambitious, bloudie, tyrannicall, rauening, and voluptuous? if not, then call to mind one example more of their barbarous crueltie executed by Don Iohn, after the battell of Ieblours, where hauing taken neere 2000. Wallons, he caused them to be tied by two and two, and to be tumbled headlong ouer the bridge of Namures into the riuer of Mewse. If neither this doe suffice you, (for to a partie so partiall what proofe can seeme sufficient) for the satisfying of the indifferent Reader, I will onelyonly adde the testimonie of Paulus Iouius both a Papist, and there, fore one that will not slaunder them, especially when he compareth them with Protestants, & who was an eie witnes of the thing he writeth, and therfore could not be deceiued through other mens information. He writing of the taking of Rome, by the armie of Charles the 5. (consisting of Spaniards and Italians, Papistes, and the Germane Protestants) saith, that the Germanes after the slaughter of their armed enemies at the first Encounter, laid aside their swordes, with so calme a carriage, that they set their prisoners at libertie for a verie small ransom: their rage they turned against the Churches and Images, defacing them because they were Protestantes; and did deride the Popes lawes: then speaking of the Spaniards he addeth; Hispani autem astuta & implacabili crudelitate acerbiores, vt abdita arcaná que familiarium eruerent, tormentis atque supplicijs in nobilissima corpor a graffabantur, tanta auri cupiditate vt Iulij Pontificis Cadauer, multa exesum carie, eruere, & anulo spoliare non dubitarent: But the Spaniardes being more bitter with a subtile and implacable crueltie, did assaile the bodies of honourable personages with tortures and tormentes, to get their secret and hidden treasures, though they had beene before that, their familiars, with so great desire of gold, that they doubted not to dig vp the bodie of Pope Iulius almost consumed with rottennes, and to spoile it of his ring. Is this the dealing of Spaniardes with men of their owne Religion? and that in the seat of the holy father himselfe, whom they professe so highlie to reuerence? Then (Sir) though you wash them with nitre, and take to you much soape, yet their crueltie is marked, and their bloudie staine will not be done away.
But, what a bad bird is this that so defileth his own nest where he was hatched and bred?N.D. maliciously slaundereth his natiue countrie: a few wordes, and such as all the world knoweth to be true, spoken of the Spaniardes, euen then when they seeke the conquest of our land, doe mightily offend him, and driue him into marueilous passions: but what slaunder doth not he heape vp on his owne countrie? The English (saith he) did abuse themselues intollerablit in offering most inhumane and barbarous iniuries to the Spaniardes, whiles they were here in Queene Maries time, villanous words were ordinarie Salutations both in streets and Churches, our victuals we solde to them at a double price; their water they did drinke, we did not onelyonly make them buy, but diuers wels we poysoned of malice to destroy the Spaniardes: that our men sent their wiues and daughters of purpose to allure them by that meanes to spoile them of their money; and a number of such other heroicall actes and honourable histories, which (he saith) Spaniards and others doe recount of our ciuility, &c. If the Spaniardes speake so euill of our Nation,No cause to except against our free speech of Spaniards. as it would make modest Englishmen ashamed, and their eares to burne, in respect of the dishonour of our countrie, (as this good fellow reporteth) why should this fellow be so enraged? or can anie Spaniard be in reason offended, that we vse the like libertie of speech concerning them? Lex talionis lex aequa, and like shall hauehave like, why should they complaine, if the measure they hauehave mett to others, the same be remeasured to them againe? And yet it is not altogether the same measure: they speake of our land vntrulie, and wee of them report nothing but knowne truth. And if affection to Spaine preuailed not more with you then truth, you might remember and report, that manie outrages were by the Spaniardes at that time committed against our countriemen; as namely, that great tumult at Westminster betwixt our men and the Spaniards, whereof great mischiefe was like to hauehave ensued. What was the ground of it? in whom was the fault? was it not about two harlots? and was not the fault wholie in the Spaniardes? for whiles some Spaniardes committed wickednes with those strumpets, others with dags and other weapons kept the entrie of the cloistures; some of the Deanes men came in the meane space into the cloyster, at whom the Spaniardes discharged their dagges and hurt some of them, whereof great busines was like to follow: But you shew your selfe worse then one of the broode of Cham, who was cursed for vncouering his fathers shame, for you seeke to lay shame vponupon your mother England before she deserue it, to please a forreiner, and a sworne enemie to her. Now let all men of conscience, yea of common reason iudge, whether of vsus two hath the malignant spirit by you named, I in discouering the daungerous humours of the Spaniardes for my countries good, or you in not onelyonly concealing them, but seeking to cleare them, for your countries harme, and hazard of ruine, yea in labouring in your censure to lay so odious a blot of disgrace vponupon your natiue countrie?
Concerning their late King, and that before alleaged and proued by me in my former booke against him out of the letter of discouery which I cited, this Encounterer promiseth himselfe great aduantage against me, the vanitie of whose conceite shall appeare by that which followeth for all his great paines taken, and his leauing no stone vnmoued whereby he might discredite either me in cyting such a letter, or the discouerer in writing it, or both. Sometimes hee seemeth to doubt whether there were any such letter of discouerie sent, or whether the tale bee not wholy forged by my selfe; nay he perswadeth himselfe to discouer both treacherous cogging, and shameles forgery in my heart and hand. Concerning which obiection of forgerie, I doubt not but to all men indifferent it might bee sufficient for me to answere, as one AEmilius Scaurus did, who being by one Varius accused of treason, made this short and plaine answer, Varius dicit, Scaurus negat; vtri creditis? Varius saith it, Scaurus denieth it, whether doe you beleeue? In like sorte if I should answere concerning this odious crime of forging and inuenting this letter, N.D. a Iesuiticall scholler and sworne Spanish obiecteth it, Francis Hostings a Christian and true hearted Englishman denieth it; whether doe you credite? The iudgements of as many as were not more then halfe Spanish would acquite mee. But yet for further euidence I adde, that this discouerie was written in nature of a letter from a true hearted Englishman, dwelling at that time with a great man in Spaine, the name of the writer was one Iohn Bradford (not Bradford whom Boner put to death, but Bradford a Papist;) the Nobles to whom this letter was directed, were the Earles of Arundel, Shrewsbury, Pembroke with other Nobles, and these named I trust you will cleare them from being infected with the humour you imagine to be fed by him.
Hauing little hope to perswade the indifferent reader that I forged this letter of mine owne head, hee proceedeth to seeke to discredite the certificate in it selfe. For short answere whereto, there be two things materiall of which I must say somewhat, the marriage it selfe of this King to Queene Marie, with the conditions thereof insisted vponupon by this English Spaniard, and made a speciall colour to crush the credite of Bradfords aduertisement, and the secret intent of the King by this letter discouered. By the first, viz. the conditions of the marriage together with the Kings vsage, towards the English for a space, hee would ouerthrow the second, namely the certificate of the Kings secret meaning. But (Sir) your inference hereupon is very feeble and weake, in taking vponupon you hereby to controule the aduertisement of Iohn Bradford to be false. The world hath not found it strange for some politike men to make semblance of louelove when they meane nothing lesse; I will not hunt far for proofe touching the argument in hand, or for disproofe of this Encounterers wrongfull exception against me: Let the Anti-Spaniard and Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus both Papists, and Emanuel Lewis a Portugal, in his open confession at the Guild-hall, and sundrie others suffice for my clearing, not to hauehave written that I did without ground of proofe in my former booke. It were not amisse to remember and consider, what moued your Popish Prelates and others to bee so busie in hand to hauehave Ladie Elizabeth, now our most worthie and happie Queene, married to some Spaniard, and to bee posted ouer with her portion much about the time, that it was said, Queen Marie was with childe, and when your Catholike King was concluded to bee Protector and gouernour to the issue hoped for. I dare not say (for offending your Worship) that I feare it should hauehave been the best of our sweet Queenes fortune, (if that match had gone forward) to hauehave liued with her husband in Spaine, whilest your King Catholike enioyed by vsurpation the possession and gouernment of her Kingdome in England, to the killing of all true English hearts: but I dare boldlie say that many thousands in England doe praise God from their hearts, that she so happelie escaped so daungerous and base a match, and that we so happelie enioy so worthie and blessed a Queene.
The conditions of the Marriage and vsage of the King for a space being too weake an inference to disproue the certificate concerning his secret meaning,The person of the discouerer considered. let vsus in few words consider somewhat both of the person of the Discouerer, and the substance of the discouerie: I pray you (Sir) what should moue Bradford to write this; but that an honest true Englishmans heart incited him thereunto? he was by profession a Papist, by habitation a Spaniard, for his Master on whom he attended was one, and being amongst them his perill was great in writing this; for if he had been discouered, his life must hauehave paide for it: he did it not then for hatred to Poperie, as you would surmise, nor for malice to his Master with whom it appeared he was in good account, nor for any hope of rewarde being farre enough off from receiuing any, but neere vntounto daunger it is plaine he was, only when he heard of such a perilous plot to the vtter rooting out of his Countrey men, and ouerthrow of his flourishing Countrey, hee was forced out of the remorse of a true English mans heart to expose himselfe to the hazard of his life, by his setting downe, and sending this aduertisement to these Lords.
But to fill vp the discredite you desire to lay vponupon Bradford for this his aduertisement so honestlie giuen to the Nobles of England, you aske How he could in Spaine discouer so great a secret that lay in the Kings breast in England? For answere I must tell you, that I hope it is not vnknowne that there was some intermission of time betweene the Kings marrying of Queene Mary and her death; besides that, when the King was in England I trust he had not all his Nobles and Counsellors with him: if this were consulted on, and concluded before the marriage, he might then get notice of it; if it were concluded on after the marriage, why might not this be brought to his Master and others into Spaine, by letters from some of the Nobles that were with the King here? So that this is but a poore shift to discredite Bradfords aduertisement, and the circumstances considered that I did set downe before of his being a Papist in profession, in dwelling a Spaniard, and in place not to write this without perill, I doubt not but to eueryevery one in whom reason ruleth and not passion, it will proue probable enough that there might bee a iust cause of such an aduertisement.
When Lewis the French King his sonne was by our nobles called into England, and set vp for their King against King Iohn, the Vicount Melun (falling deadly sicke) vponupon remorse of conscience, secretly confessed to diuers of the Barons, what was the purpose of Lewis to doe when he had once obtained the Crowne, namely that Lewis with sixteene of his Counsellors (whereof this Vicount was one,) had compacted after possession of the Crowne obtained to depriue our chiefe Nobles of their lands and possessions, and driue them into perpetuall exile. And so farther proceeding, and with many teares pittying the extreame miserie this land was like to come vntounto, he brake out into these words: My friendes, I counsaile you earnestly to looke to your selues, and to prouide the remedie in time, least it come vponupon you vnwares; your King for a season hath kept you vnderunder, but if Lodowicke preuaile he will put you from all. &c. Had Lodowicke so treacherous an intent when our Nobles so highly fauoured him, and shal it seeme strange that King Philip should hauehave such a secret meaning? did a Frenchman and an enemie vponupon very remorse of conscience bewray this secret? and might not Bradford an Englishman (though a Papist) hazzard his life to discouer King Philips daungerous plot against his countrie? Or may our Chronicles recorde this purpose of Lodowicke and publish it to posteritie? and may it not be lawfull for me to set downe the discouerie of your Catholike Kings secret determination, to admonish my countrie men, to take heed how they lend aide to bring in a forraine ruler into the Realme, least perhaps it follow that they be displaced themselues, and be made straungers in their owne land?The Taxes. But the taxes set downe by me as intended to be brought vponupon this land you call childish toyes, such as one would not imagine that a man of Sir Francis name, house, and calling, would euer publish: But such childish toies they are, as euerie sound & true Englishmā, hearing of the seruile gonernment of Spaine, and feeling the freedome we liue withall in England, will from his heart praise God for the blessed freedome we liue vnderunder, and pray to God for euer to deliuer vsus from Spaines bondage, and this doe many other Nations besides vsus, wherof some hauehave been so miserably taxed, that they hauehave been forced (as one doth crediblie report) to sell their beds they lie vponupon to pay taxations imposed vponupon them.
In the cloze of this, when I set downe what you say of your kings determination concerning the Ladie Elizabeth, as well as the rest after, you hauehave referred vsus to that you hauehave set downe before of his kindnes to her, when she was prisoner (to which I hauehave made you alreadie a full answere:) you runne into your common place of railing againe, and adde; That no modest man can cease to wonder how so infamous a libell could be suffered to passe to the print, especially containing diuers personall, reprochful, contēptuous calumniations against so great & potent a Prince. &c. I like you wel (sir) you are fast to your friends, I wish I could find you as faithfull to your Soueraigne; then should I find you as hot (if not more hot) in raging against those of your side that hauehave most wretchedlie railed against her Maiestie your rightful Soueraigne,Papists the only contemners of princes (if you proue worthie to be her Subiect) wherin they hauehave sought to impugne her right, to defame her faith, to discredit her gouernment, to touch her honour, to violate and abate the Maiestie of her place, &c. But as Athalia fled into the Temple and cried out, treason, treason, whereas her selfe indeed was the traitour, and Hercules furens in the tragedie raged, and threatned to be reuenged of those that had slaine his children, himselfe indeed hauing slaine them, in his mad moode: so these good fellowes crie out against those that vtter opprobrious speeches against Princes, whereas themselues are the peerles and matchles men of all Christendome, in whom the saying of Saint Iude is verified: Which despise gouernment and speake euill of them which are in authoritie. I protest I am abashed and my pen trembleth to set down those intolerable calumniations that not onelyonly forreiners, but home-borne Papistes hauehave vttered against her Maiestie. I know not how to compare them herein, but to the diuell the father of all slaunder and calumniation, for as it is written in the Reuelation,Reuel. 52. That the Serpent did cast out of his mouth water against the women like a floud, that he might cause her to be carried away of the floud: so hauehave these hell hounds spued forth whole flouds of reprochfull and calumnious slaunders, thereby to darken and drown the honour of her Maiestie if they could possiblie. Remember (Sir) in what sort Bartholomaeus de miranda master of the Popes Pallace, behaueth himselfe towards your Soueraigne, and with how villanous reproches he doth load her in his admonition set before the Epistle of Osorius directed to her. Remember how he raileth at her that wrote the cononization of Didacus, who being a Spaniard, was of speciall purpose sainted by the Pope to further the King of Spaine in his intended conquest of England. And though the wiser sorte of our Nation hauehave learned euen by the lawes of morall ciuilitie (as your selfe confesse) that a man must speake moderately also of his enemie, yet the learned'st of our English Papistes hauehave not learned to speake moderatelie of their Soueraign, whom they ought not to reckon their enemy: you know how immoderatly & immodestly Station, Saunders, and Rishton (to omit others) doe raile against her, as against the Turke himselfe they could not doe worse. Now (Sir) how should that which vponupon vrgent occasion (if to inuade, and seeke to conquer the land, and to make way thereunto by seeking the shortning of my Soueraignes life through treasons may be reckoned an vrgent occasion) I say how should that I hauehave set downe against your Catholike King, anger you, if so manie opprobrious and contumelious reproaches (as you know) vttered against your Soueraigne; and that not alone by forrainers, but by such as should be subiects, doe not moue you? I write against a straunger, truly; these against their Soueraign, falsely: I, to confirme subiects hearts, in loyaltie and obedience to their lawfull Soueraigne; they, to corrupt Subiectes heartes, and to make them disloyall and disobedient to their Soueraigne: I, to free my countrie from all vsurpers, they, to fill their countrie with forraine gouernment: I, to preserue vntounto vsus the sincere truth of Gods Gospell; they, to thrust vponupon vsus a false worship by Poperie and superstition. And this shall suffice to shield and deliuer me from being harmed, or grieued by your slaunders, and for all your malice to me, I am sorie you should carrie so vilde and villanous a mind, as not to be vexed to see your Soueraign so dispitefully and disloyally dealt withall. But I hauehave now so good cause to guesse the vnsoundnes of your heart to my Soueraigne, by this your wrangling, and wicked Ward-word, as I cannot expect or hope for anie good fruit of a loyall heart towardes her Maiestie from you.
And to confirme me and all true Subiectes in this opinion,About Lopus. you close vp this your last Encounter with a doubt, whether Lopus euer ment to kill our deare Soraigne; and why you should doubt I see not, but because it was not done, and with a deniall that your Catholike King should be priuie thereunto, (and yet all the Agents in it doe plainely confesse so) by the first whereof, you lewdlie labour to taxe the seat of our Soueraignes Iustice; and by the second you abuse her Maiestie and her people: and by both you offer to discredit the honourable testimonie in print, of the proofes and proceedings, by examinations before the Lords of her Maiesties Councell. In which you may finde, how Lopus was first solicited by Andrada from Mendoza the King of Spaines Embassadour in France, to poyson her Maiestie: Secondly, by the same Andrada, he was solicited by a token from Christophero de Moro (one of the Kings priuie Councell,) Thirdly by one Roderoquo Marques a Portugale, vntounto whom Lopus did vndertake to doe the abominable fact, for which he was profered and promised fiftie thousands crownes (which I hope cannot be taken to be the gift of anie Subiect:) fourthly for this purpose, Lopus sent Andrada ouer to Callis to conferre with Counte Fuentes about this practise; and caused Stephano Ferrera de Gomo another Portugale to write letters to Stephano Iberra the Kings Secretary at Bruxels, to assure him & Fuentes, that the detestable fact should be performed if the 50000. crownes were paid, which letter Lopus himselfe sent by one Gomes Dauila a Portugale. But Andrada not being thought fit to follow so great a cause, Ferrera was chosen to manage it, by whom the Doctor did againe assure the performance of this villanie; and then there were bils of exchaunge for the mony deliuered by the Counte Fuentes, the one from Gonzalo Gomez to Pedro de Carreras, the other from Gomez to Iohn Pallacios: And if (through the merciful prouidence of almightie God) these had not been lingered, and that in the meane time by the diligence and carefulnes of one of the Lords of her Maiesties priuie Councell the matter had not been discouered, the villanie had been attempted and acted, and so brought out of doubt (as this Espaniolized champiō seemeth to hauehave wished) to the vnauoydable hazard of ruine in mans iudgement to our Countrie and State. So hauehave you here vponupon honorable credence plainely proued, that Lopus should hauehave been the Actor of this villanie, that Andrada, Ferrera Gomez Dauila, and Manuell Lewes (all Portugales) were Agents and Messengers to him about it; that Mendoza your Kings Embassador in France, Christofero de Moro, Count Fuentes, and Secretarie Iberra (all Councellors to your King) were Directors to these Agents and Messengers, and how farre your King himselfe did direct herein, let the booke tell you: And therefore hauehave you no cause to doubt of Lopus his bloudie meaning in this bloudie busines.
To returne to your selfe (Sir) I make no doubt but you desire to be beleeued in all that you hauehave scattered in your Libell, and not least in this last part; for if you could creepe into the secret bosomes of our English Nation, and winne credit to be beleeued, that all that you say is Gospell, you might then hope of some likelihood to preuaile in your shameles sute for toleration,His sute to the Lords. or alteration in Religion tendered to the Lords in your Remission immediatly following. But as it is well knowne to them all, that we hauehave been much blessed of God by her Maiesties gouernment (although you inuert all out of your popish and traiterous affection into cursings) so I doubt not, but they all see and will acknowledge, that the true worship of God erected and established amongst vsus by her Maiestie, is the verie assured and principall ground-worke of all our blessings: Religion and pietie must be our safetie, and so long as wee keepe God by imbracing his truth without halting; so long shall God keepe this land safe from all malice of all our enemies whatsoeuer. Therefore farre shall it be from them, so much as to lend an eare to so impudent and euill affected a Sutor, as you shew your selfe to be, in daring with shameles face to slaunder and scorne our Religion, to depraue our seat of Iustice, to harten disobedience, to excuse traitors, to darken and sometimes to defend ye malice of your two Monarches of Rome and Spaine against our Soueraigne & Queene; contrariwise when her iust commendation was set out, for being God his good instrument of many great blessings brought vntounto vsus, you maliciouslie turne them (as I said before) into cursings: when to the praise of almightie God mention is made of her wonderfull and happy deliuerances, both in the time of Queene Marie, and in her owne time, you doe in derision call the first a miracle of Milne-wheeles, and the second you shameleslie seeme to perswade, they were things rather feared by vsus, then intended to her. When I vrge Stories traiterous and bloudie words against her, you cunningly seeke to turne his meaning to other persons and purposes. When I condemne Cardinall Allin and Bishop Gardiners proude and pernitious dealing towards her, you fall into extraordinarie high commendations of them, as if the trumpet of their praises for so dealing had been worthie to bee blowne ouer all the world: when I say, that we should keepe these three things safe in our breast; first our Conscience to God; secondly, our LoueLove to our Countrey; thirdly, our Loyaltie to our Prince, you earnestlie labour to proue that wee are not bound alwaies to louelove our Countrey, and to beare Loyaltie to our Prince, but that for Religions sake, wee must hate them and warre against them: and when I lay downe the many, and manifold wrongs most vnchristianlie and vnkindly offered to her Maiestie by Rome and Spaine, you bend your whole force to couer all, and to proue wrongs offered by her Maiestie and our Nation to them, such is your speciall louelove to these your two Monarches, and to all treasons, and Traytors plotted and encouraged by them; and so little and key-colde is your louelove and dutie to her Maiestie, to whom you owe all louelove and obedience. But this is the fruite of Pius Quintus his Bull, the perill of which curse you will not incurre; and such is the force of your Catholike Religion and Spanish Crownes, as you will rather worship Dagon, then serue the liuing God, and giuegive your faith to an vsurping stranger, then keepe yours giuen, and due to your lawfull Soueraigne. Yet for all this you doubt not to tender a remission of your whole answere to the iudgement of the Lords of her Maiesties Councell, by which your answere, and remission (if it bee well scanned in matter and manner) you will bee found iustlie to deserue all the titles contained in this one verse,
Vafer, detractor, mendax, elatus, iniquus.
A subtile, railing, lying, proud, & treacherous man.
And thus much hauehave I aduentured to offer to the view of my Christian Countrymen in defence of my former Watch-word, collected by me out of my Christian affection to them for their benefite, that they may know I stand still constant, and confident to defend the truth of my God, against Poperie and all other heresies, to performe my Loialtie to my Soueraigne against all Popish Espaniolized Traytours, and treason, and to stand for the libertie of my Countrie against Rome and Spaine, and all forraine Potentates whatsoeuer; as also that my silence should not cause them to conceiue, that this masked Champions rayling tongue hath any way distempered me, or his threatning brauadoes any whit dismaied me, the first whereof I passe ouer, with little regard, according to the Counsell of wise Salomon: It is the glorie of a man to passe by offences: the second I scorne, being sent out by a cowardlie Companion that speakes big, and dares not shew his face.
To conclude,The conclusion. I delight not in warre and hostilitie betweene Princes, I wish peace in all States and Common-wealths, from my heart, so farre forth as may stand with the glorie of almightie God, who is the supreame author of all authoritie and gouernment, and is onelyonly to bee serued both by Prince and people, as his word prescribeth. For I confesse, Dulce est nomen pacis; res verò ipsa, tum iucunda, tum salutaris. And yet can I not subscribe to this blinde Peace-makers desire, that longeth for a Peace to the dishonour of God, and laboureth by a Peace to bring in his Idoll worship againe amongst vsus: but I heartelie pray to my God, to preserue vsus from such a Peace, and with Erasmus I affirme, Melior est talis pugna, quae Deo proximum facit, quàm pux illa quae à Deo separat. But if such a Peace may be had, as may not preiudice a good Conscience in the truth of Religion we now holde, nor impeach the safetie of our deare Queene, nor hazard bondage to our Countrie, by the gouernment of forrainers and strangers; blessed bee that Peace-maker, and God almightie graunt vsus such a Peace all our daies. And this hauehave I presumed to say in answere to this Champions Peace prayed for in the Conclusion of these his Encounters, with a minde rather to raise vp the power and pride of Rome and Spaine, then for any good minde or meaning he hath to our Queene Elizabeth or England.
And now to knit vp this my Resistance to eueryevery of your rayling Encounters, (Sir N.D.) I assure my selfe you shall finde all the Protestants and Professors of Gods truth in England, as also many of those that are infected with the Romish Religion, so well resolued from your owne pen of your want of ciuilitie in rayling beyond measure, and your want of a found heart to your Soueraigne and Countrie, in so highly extolling your two greatest Monarches of Rome and Spaine, to the preiudice and touch both of Queene and Countrie (so farre forth as the power of your wicked wit and words can deuise, and perswade) as your glosing shall gaine little credite to worke my condemnation in any of their iudgements, either for any thing that was in my former booke, or for any thing contained in this latter: For I meane none other in all that is said, but a desire of confirmation to the one in a holy profession, and a reformation to the other of their being any longer seduced, and misled by Romes inchantments, and a care in both to stand firmelie and faithfullie to defend their Soueraigne and Countrey, against forraine malice and home Treason; whereunto if way should bee giuen, God should be dishonoured, our Queene endaungered, our Countrie depriued of it auncient and most comfortable liberties, and then what can either one or other looke for but miserie, and desolation. For what befell both to Guelphes and Gibellines when the Gibellines brought in a friend of theirs called Facinus Canis, who was to hauehave the goods of the Guelphes for his paie? He was no sooner gotten in, but that without sparing of either, both sides were spoyled; whereof when the Gibellines complained, saying that their goods were spoyled contrarie to agreement, this their friend by them brought in answered, That themselues were Gibellines, and they should bee safe; but their goods were Guelphes and they must pay for it: Your selues can make the application; and so to your wisdomes I leaue it, beseeching God to continue his wonted merciemercy towards our Queene and land, and to giuegive to this my aduersarie and all of his faction a better minde, if it stand with his good will and pleasure. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Francis Hastings, Defense of the Watch-Word Against the Ward-Word (1600)