Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 12 · Part 62 – Part 63
The Earle of Northumberland.
HEe had a hand in the rebellion in the North, as well as his brother, and behaued himselfe diligently in the managing of those treasons, yet the Quéen was content to remit all, and accept him againe, both in honour and fauour, yet he after entred into a new plot for the inuading of the Realme, and ouerthrow of the gouernment of religion, and to endanger her Maiesties person, and put her from her Kingdome, being a conspirator in Throgmortons treasons: it was concluded by the Pope that the state of Christendome stood vponupon the stoute assayling of England, and that it should be inuaded with twenty thousand men, at the charge of the Pope and other Princes, and that her Maiestie should be deposed, and some English Catholike elected King, and that many Priests should come into the Realme to win a number vntounto the Catholike faith to ioyne, if opportunity serued, either with forrain inuasion, or with tumults at home.
The head Preacher at Narbon in Prouence, told an English-man that England should be inuaded by a forrain King, and the Popish Religion restored, and that Priests dispersed themselues in England for the better strengthening of the parties.
One Paine executed for treason, confessed that this Realme could not continue in the State wherein it was, because the Pope had a speciall care therof, and would in short time, eyther by forren Princes, or by some other meanes, worke a change of things here.
The Duke of Guise two yeares did solicite the Pope and other Princes, to supply him with forces to inuade this Realme.
There was found about a Iesuite that was taken vponupon the Sea, a discourse that the Earle of Northumberland, and all the Catholike Lords and Gentlemen in the North parts will assuredly ioyne with forren forces, and therein it is also affirmed that the Priests, dispersed within the Realme, can dispose of the Catholikes of the Realme, as they shall be ordered, and that the Popes excommunication should be renued and pronounced against her Maiesty, and all those which shall take her part, and that all such should be holden as traytors which did not ioyne with the Army by a day.
It was proued that the Earle had conference with the foresaid Charles Pager, comming ouer about the practise and prosecuting of the said enterprise, and that the …arle secretly receiued him into the Gallery at Petworth, where the Earle conferred with him an houre, from whence Paget was conueyed backe into the towne, where he lodged all night, and the next night he was conueyed secretly vntounto a Lodge in the …arls Park at Pe…worth, where he was kept with all secrecie eight dayes, and the seruant which conueyed him was enioyned by the Earle in no wise to discouer him, and Charles Paget returning from Petworth, took shipping again to goe beyond Sea.
Paget tolde William Shelley of Michelgroue in Essex▪ Esquire, that forreigne Princes would seeke reuenge against her Maiestie, of wrongs by her done against them, and would take such opportunitie as might … serue them, and that the Duke of Guise would be a dealer herein, and that the Earle of Northumberland would be an assistant vntounto them, willing Shelley whatsoeuer should happe…, to follow the Earle of Northumberland, and that the Duke of Guise had forces in readinesse for the altering of religion here in England, and that the Catholikes would all ioyne for so good a purpose, for that it would be a meanes to reform religion: he said the stirre would be in the North parts▪ because Sussex was not conuenient in regard there was no safe landing there▪ and that it was so … Lond…n, and that when any stirre should be the Earle of Northumberland would goe into the North parts, and when the Earle perceiued that all this was come to light, he killed himselfe in the Tower, with a Pistoll charged with thrée Bullets.
Anthony Babington, with thirteene young Gentlemen more.
THese conspired the death of Quéene Elizabeth: they swore they would set the Pope in h…s former state in England, or else die the death, and they combined and confederated themselues by vow and oath, in a most horrible enterprise, by murther to take away the life of her Maiesty, wherefore they were iustly condemned, and executed.