Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 12 · Part 60 – Part 61
William Parry his treasons against Queene ELIZABETH.
HEe had committed a great outrage against a Gentlem…n, one M. Hare of the Inner Temple, meaning to hauehave murdered him in his owne chamber, for which he was iustly conuicted; wherefore he went beyond Sea, and subiected himselfe vntounto the Pope, and vponupon conference with certaine Iesuits, he conceiued his detestable treason to kill the Quéene, which he vowed himselfe by promise, letters, and vowes to performe it, and so returned vntounto England in Ianuary 1583. and put in practise diuers times to execute his diuellish purpose.
Pretending that he had matter of great importance to reueale vntounto the Quéen, he obtained secret accesse vntounto her Maiestie, she hauing then but one Councellor with her, who was so farre distant as he could not heare his spéech: he shewed her Maiestie his procéedings with the …esuits, and one Thomas Morgan a fugitiue at Parris, who perswaded him to kill her Maiestie, saying that his only intent of procéeding so farre with …hem was but only to this end, to discouer the dangerous practises deuised and attempted against her Maiestie, by her di…loyal subiects, and other malicious persons in forren parts; but afterward it appeared most manifestly by his owne confession, and by his dealing with one Edmund Neuill Esquire, that his intent in discouering the same in such sort as he did, was but to make the way the easier vntounto his most diuellish purpose.
The Quéen suffred him diuers times to hauehave priuate conference with her, …& offered him a most liberal pension, yet notwithstanding he did vehemently importunat the said Neuill to be an associate vntounto his wicked enterprise, as to an action lawfull and meritorious: but the Almighty God that was protector of her Maiesty, euen from her cradle, so wrought in Neuils heart, as he was moued to reueale the same vntounto her Maiesty, whereupon the examination of the matter was committed vntounto the Earle of Leicester, and Sir Christopher Hatton; vponupon the examination whereof, when Parrie saw the said Neuill so to declare the truth, and so constantly affirme the same, he confessed all, saying: that comming vntounto the chamber of Thomas Morgan aforesaid, one greatly beloued and trusted in the Papists side; he broke with me that I should vndertake to kill the Quéen, I told him it would be easily done if it were lawfully done and warranted in the opinion of som learned Deuines: then I was resolued by Deuines, and I went so farre by Letters and conferences in Italie, that I could not goe backe, but promised faithfully to performe the enterprise, if his holinesse would allow it, and grant me remission of my sinnes: then I confessed my selfe vntounto a Iesuite, and tooke his aduice in the matter, who most louingly imbraced and commended me: then I wrote a Letter vntounto the Pope to require of him absolution of my sinnes, in consideration of so great an enterprise vndertaken, without promise or reward: then I went vntounto the Popes Nuntio, and read the letter vntounto him, and inclosed and sealed it, he promised me to procure answer from the Pope, and louingly imbraced me, wished me good spéede, and promised me that I should be remembred at the Altar. Then he said he comming to England, hee got accesse vntounto the Quéene, as before: then came Letters into England vntounto me from Cardinall Como, whereby I found the enterprise commended and allowed, and my selfe absolued in the Popes name of all my sinnes, and willed to go forward in the name of God. That Letter I shewed vntounto some in Court, who imparted it to the Quéene, notwithstanding it confirmed my resolution to kill her, and made it cleere in my conscience that it was lawfull and meritorious. When I looked vponupon her Maiestie, and remembred her many excellencies, I was greatly troubled, yet I saw no remedie, for my vowes were in heauen, and my letters and promises in earth: after Doctor Collens book was sent me out of France, it redoubled my former conceits; eueryevery word in it was a warrant to a prepared minde: it taught that Kings may he excommunicated, depriued, and violently handled: it proueth that all wars, ciuill or forren, vndertaken for religion, are honourable, whereupon hee was condemned of treason, and drawne vponupon a Hurdle from the Tower vntounto the Pallace of Westminster, where he was executed.
Francis Throgmorton.
HIs confession was to this effect: When I was at Spaw in the Countrey of Liege, I entred into conference with one Ienney a notorious traytor, touching the altering of the State of the Realme here, and how the same might be attempted by forreign inuasion, and to the like effect I had sundry conferences with Sir Francis Englefield in the Low Countries, who daily solicited the K. of Spaine to inuade the Realme, and I continued practising against her Maiestie and the State by letters betw…ene Sir Francis Englefield and my selfe, and I acquainted Sir Iohn Throgmorton my father with my trayterous practises, who disswaded me from any further medling with these practises, but by my fathers aduice I made a Catalogue of all the Noblemen and Gentlemen that were Catholiks, and did discribe the hauens of this Realme for landing of forces.
He confessed that he was acquainted by his brother Thomas Throgmorton with a resolute determination for inuading of the Realme, and that the Duke of Guise should be the principall executor of that inuasion, to the intent to prepare by force the Quéens tolleration in religion for the Catholiks; and if her Maiesty should refuse so to doe, to remoue her from her crowne and state, and that the Duke of Guise had prepared the forces, but there wanted money and assistance of the Catholiques in England, to ioyne with forreigne forces: for money messengers were sent, both to Rome and Spaine, and the Spanish Ambassadour gaue out that the King his Master would not only make some notable attempt against England, but would beare halfe the charge thereof; and an especiall messenger was sent into England, vnderunder a counterfeit name from the confederats in France, to signifie here the plot and preparation that was there, whereupon I tooke vponupon me to be a follower and meanes for the effecting thereof amongst the confederats in England, with the helpe of the Spanish Ambassador, knowing that he being a publique person might deale therein without perill, and that the Duke of Guise made speciall choice to land in Sussex, about Arundell, for the néere cut from Fraunce, and for the assured persons to giuegive assistance, and I shewed the whole plot of the hauens for landing to the Spanish Ambassadour, who did incourage me therein: also there was sent ouer from the confederates beyond Sea, into …ussex, Charles Pager, vnderunder the name of Mope, alias Spring, and that the Spanish Ambassador was made priuie vntounto his comming, and it was to view the hauens and countrey for landing such forreigne forces about Arundell, and to conferre with certain principal persons for assistance, and he confessed that there was a deuice betwéene the Spanish Ambassador and him, how such principall Recusants within the Realme as were in Commission for the peace in sundry countries, might vponupon the bruit of landing the forreigne forces, vnderunder colour of defence of her Maiestie, leuie m…n to ioyne vntounto the forren forces; whereupon he was iustly condemned.