A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 16 (3 of 5)

A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government · Regnal history 16 (3 of 5)

p. 46At this time Sir Henry Sidney (who had been Deputy of Ireland at severall times eleven yeers) delivered up his Deputy-ship to Sir William Drury, President of Munster: Such a Deputy, for good Government, that if any have equalled him, none have exceed him.

It was now the yeer 1579, and the two and twentieth yeer of Queen Elizabeths Raign; when Iohn Casimire, son of Frederick the third, Count Pala…ine of the Rhyne, came into England; where, after he had been entertained with Tiltings and Justs, made Knight of the Garter (the Queen tying the Garter about his leg) and rewarded with a yeerly Pension, he returned. And now was Alexander …rnise, Prince of Parma, made Governour of the Netherlands by the King of Spain: and Queen Elizabeth supplied the States with a great Sum of money; for which William Davyson brought into E…gland the ancient precious Habilliments of the Family of Burgundy, and their costly Vessells, laid to pawn by Matthew of Austria and the States.

Si…ier in the mean time herein England, cea…eth not by all amorous devices to perswade the Queen to marry Alanson; wherein he drew her so far, that the Earl of Leicester gave ou…, He crept into the Queens affection by p. 47love Potions and unlawfull Arts: and Simier on the other side endeavoured by all means to cast down Leicester, discovering his mariage with the Earl of Essex widdow, whereat the Queen grew so angry, that she consined him to the Castle at Greenwich, and had meant to have him Committed to the Tower, but that the Earl of Sussex (though his greatest Adversarie) disswaded her: telling her that none ought to be molested for contracting lawfull Matrimonie. But Leicester notwithstanding was so provoked for his confining, that he was bent to revenge it, and if it be true, as some said… he had suborned on Teud…r a Yeoman of the Guard to murder Simier, sure it is the Queen by Proclamation commanded that no person should offer injury to the Embassadour or any of his servants. At which time it fell out that as the Queen, together with Simier, the Earle of Lincolne, and Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine were rowed in a barge to Greenwich, a young man shooting off a Harquebus out of a boate, shot one of the rowers in the Queenes Barge thorough the arme with a bullet, who was presently taken and ledde to the Gallowes, but upon solemne Protestation, that he did it unwillingly, and out of no malicious Intent, he was let go and Pardoned. Some would have perswaded the Queen that was purposely suborned to shoote either her or the French Embassadour: but she was so far from suspecting her Subjects; that she would often say, She would not believe any thing against them which a mother would not believe against her children.

After a few dayes Alanson himself came privately into England with only on or two attendants, and came to the Queen at Greenwich, at a time when she thought not of it; they had secret conference together, all parties being sent away, after which, being seen of very few, he returned home; but within a monethmonth or two after the Queen enjoyned the Lord Burleigh treasurer, the Earle of Sussex, Leicester, Hatton and Walsingham, seriously to weigh both the dangers, and the Commodities likely to arise from the marriage with him, and to consult with Simier concerning the marriage Covenants.

As in England there was some feare of this Frenchman: So in Scotland at this time of another Frenchman, called Esme Steward, Lord of Aubigny, who came now into Scotland to visit the King his cosen. He was the sonne of Iohn Steward brother to Matthew Steward Earle of Lenox the Kings grandfather, and had denomination from Aubigny in France, which title Charles the seaventh King of France had antiently conferred upon Iohn Steward of the Familie of Lenox, who being constable of the Scottish Army in France, vanquished the English in one battile, and was slain by them in another: and from that time the title belonged to the younger descent of that house. This Esme Steward, the King embraced with exceeding great love, made him Lord Chamberlaine of Scotland, and Captain of the Castle of Dumbriton, and created him first Earle and then Duke of Lenox. The feare from this man was; because he was deuoted to the Guises and the Popish religion, and that which encreased the feare from this man; because he applied himselfe to Mortons adversaries, and mediated to have Thomas Carre Lord of Fernishurst called home, who of all men was most addicted to the Queen of Scots.

About this time Queen Elizabeth, at the request of William Harbou…ne an Englishman, procured a grant from the Turkish Emperour for the English merchants to exercise free traffick in all places of his dominions, as well as Venetians, Polanders, and other neighbouring Nations; whereupon they set up first the Companie of Turkie Merchants, managing a most gainfull Trade at Constantinople, Alexandoria; Egypt, Aleppo, Cyprus, and other parts of Asia, bringing home Spices, Perfumes, unwrought Silks, Tapistry, Indico, Corrants, and the like.

This yeer died Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal; but who, by vertue of an Act of Parliament, alwayes exercised the Jurisdiction of p. 48Lord Chancellor; a very fat man, but singularly wise, and a chief prop of the Queens Privy Councell: In whose place succeeded Sir Thomas Bromley, the Queens Solicitor, with the Title of Lord Chancellor of England.

In Ireland at this time, in the Province of Munster, Iames Fitz Morris kindled a new fire of Rebellion; for after his former submission upon his knees, vowing all Obedience to the Queen, he stole away into France, and promised the French King, if he would lend him assistance, to make him King of Ireland. But being by him slighted, he went into Spain, and made the like offer to the King there. The King of Spain sent him to the Pope, from whom (by means of Nicholas Sanders, an English Priest, and Alan an Irishman, both Doctors of Divinity) he obtained a little money, a Legats Authority for Sanders, a consecrated Banner, and Letters of Commendation to the Catholike King. And returning from Spain with those Divines, three Ships, and a few men, he landed at Smerwick Kerry, a Demy Island in the West part of Ireland, about the first day of Iuly, where (the place being first of all consecrated by the Priests) he built a Fort, and brought the Ships close under it; but these were presently set upon and carryed away, by Thomas Courtney, and thereby the Spaniards deprived of their opportunity of coming thither by Sea. But now Iohn and Iames, brothers to the Earl of Desmond, gathering together a small number of Irish, joyn themselves presently with their kinsman Fitz Morris. Yet the Spaniards seeing that but a very few Irish, and those unarmed, came unto them, they began to distrust the estate they were in, and to cry out, That they were undone; whom Fitz Morris heartened the best he could, telling them that Supplyes were presently to come. And going himself to get more company, he passed thorow the Land of his Cosin William a Burgh, who though he had been a Rebell before, yet was now grown loyall, so as there fell out a Skirmish between them; in which Fitz Morris being strucken thorow with a Pike, and shot into the head with a Leaden Bullet, died in the place, and most of his Company with him; but withall, two of William Burghs sons were in that Skirmish slain also; when the Queen, to comfort him for the losse of his sons, adorned him with the Dignity of Baron of Castle Conell, and rewarded him with a yeerly Pension besides: which favours so overwhelmed him with joy, that he lived but a short while after. And now Sir William Drury the Deputy growing very sick, appointed Sir Nicholas Malby then Governour of Connaght, to be President of Munster, and Generall of the Army; at which time, the Earl of Desmond, who had all this while made a shew of Loyalty, breaks openly ou… into Rebellion; when now Drury the Deputy dying at Waterford, and by his death Malbyes Authority ceasing, Sir William Pelham is by the Counsell chosen Justice of Ireland, with Authority of Vice-Roy, untill such time as a Deputy were appointed, and the Earl of Ormond is made President of Munster. Pelham goeth into Munster, and sendeth for the Earl of Desmond, who refusing to come, is thereupon proclaymed Traytor, and an enemy to the State; and this being published, the Justice committed the following the War to the Earl of Ormond, who slaying most of the Spaniards, and adherents to Desmond, compelleth him to send his wife to the Justice, to beg his pardon.

The Lord Justice Pelham now certified, that Arthur Lord Grey was landed with authority to be Deputy of Ireland, at Munster delivereth the Army to George Bour…hier, the son of Iohn, second Earl of Bathe, of that name, and himself returneth to Dublin, to deliver up the Province to his Successor. The Lord Grey at his landing, before he received the Sword, hearing where the Rebells had their Randevouz, marcheth towards them, who presently betake themselves to Glandilough, a grassie Valley, and beset thick with p. 49Trees, where they who dwell neer, scarce know the winding out; yet the Deputy (taking one C…sbie an old man, well acquainted with the place, to be is leader) entred into it, where he lost divers of his men; namely, Peter Carew the younger, George Moore, Audeley, and Cosbie himself th…t was his Leader.

A short time after, there landed at Smerwick in Kerry, under the command of San Ioseph an Italian, about seven hundred Italian souldiers, who fortifie the place, and name it Fort del Or. Whereupon the Deputy sent a Trumpetter to the Fort to demand who they were, what they had to do in Ireland, and who sent them; withall commanding them to depart immediately. But they replyed, That some of them were sent from his Holinesse, other from the Catholike King, upon whom the Pope had bestowed the Kingdome of Ireland, for that Queen Elizabeth (by reason of heresie) hath forfeited the Right unto her; and therefore what they had gotten, they would maintain. Upon this the Deputy prepares for Battery, lets flie his Ordnance four dayes together; in which time the Spaniards once or twice make sallyes out, to their own losse much, but not an English-man slain, but onelyonly Iohn Cheek, a couragious young Gentleman, son to Sir Iohn Cheek, a learned Knight. And now San Ioseph, who commanded the Fort, a white-liver'd souldier, terrified with the continuall Battery, and having no hope of relief, either from the King of Spain, or Desmond (contrary to the will of all his souldiers) he set up a White Flagge, and desired Parlee, but Parlee was denyed, because he had combined with Rebells, with whom it is not lawfull to hold Parlee. Then he demanded that his Company might passe away with their Baggage, but neither would this be granted. Then he required …hat some of the chiefer sort might have leave to depart; but neither could this be obtained. At last, when they could prevail in nothing, they hanged out the white Flagge again, and submitted themselves absolutely, without any condition, to the Deputies mercy, who presently consulteth how to deal with them, and this was the Case; Their number was well neer as great as the English; there was present fear of danger from the Rebells; and the English were so destitute of meat and apparell, that they were ready to mutiny, unlesse they might have the spoyl granted them; and besides, there were no ships neither to send them away if they were spared: For these Reasons it was concluded (the Deputy gain-saying, and letting tears fall) That onelyonly the Leaders should be saved, the rest all slain, and all the Irish hanged up; which was presently put in execution; to the great disliking of the Queen, who detested the slaughter of such as yeelded themselves, and would accept of any excuses or allegations.

And yet more cruelty then this was at that time committed in the Netherlands; for Iohn Norris, and Oliver Temple, English Commanders, together with some Companies of Dutch, setting out early one morning, took Mechlyn a wealthy Town of Brabant, at an assault with ladders, where they promiscuously murthered both Citizens and Religious Persons, offering violence even upon the dead, taking away Grave-stones, which were sent into England to be sold.

About this time certain English Priests, who were fled into the Netherlands, in the yeer 1568, by the procurement of William Allen, an Oxford Schollar, joyned themselves to study at Doway, where they entred into a Collegiate Form of Government; to whom the Pope allowed a yeerly Pension. But tumults arising in the Low-Countries, and the English Fugitives being commanded by the King of Spains Deputy to depart from thence, other the like Colledges, for the trayning up of the English youth, were erected, one at Rheims by the Guises, and another p. 50at Rome by Pope Gregory the thirteenth, which alwayes afforded new …upplyes of Priests for England, when the old fayled, who should spread abroad the seeds of the Romish Religion here amongst us; from whence, those Colledges had the name of Seminaries, and they called Seminary-Priests who were trayned up in them. In these Seminaries, amongst other Disputations, it was concluded, That the Pope hath such fulnesse of Power, by Divine Right, over the whole Christian world, both in Ecclesiasticall and Secular matters, that by vertue thereof, it is lawfull for him to excommunicate Kings, absolve their subjects from their Oath of Allegiance, and deprive them of their Kingdoms. From these Seminaries at this time, there came two into England, Robert Parsons, and Edmund Campian, both of them English-men, and Jesuites. Parsons was born in Somerset-shire, a fierce and rough conditioned fellow; Campian was a Londoner, of a milder disposition. They had been both brought up in Oxford; Campian a Fellow of St. Iohn's Colledge, and had been Proctor in the yeer 1569; and when he was made Deacon, counterfeited himself to be a Protestant, till such time as he slipped out of England. Parsons was of Baylioll Colledge, where he made open profession of the Protestant Religion, till for dishonest carriage, he was expelled the House, and then fled to the Popish Party. Both these came privily into England, in the disguise one while of Souldiers, another while of Noble-men; sometimes like English Ministers, and sometimes in the habit of Apparitors. Parsons, who was made the Superiour, brake forth into such open words amongst the Papists, about deposing the Queen, that some of themselves had a purpose to complain of him to the Magistrates. Campian, though something more moderate, yet in a Writing provoked the English Ministers to a dispu…e; and published in Latine an Elegant Book of his ten Reasons, in maintenance of the Doctrine of the Romish Church; as Parsons in like manner, set forth another violent Pamphlet against Clark, who had written modestly against Campians Provoca…ion. But Doctor Whitaker soundly confuted Campian, who being after a yeer apprehended, and put upon the Rack, was afterward brought out to a Disputation; where he scarcely made good the great fame that went of him.

In this yeer was the return of Captain Drake from his incredible Voyage round about the World (which Magellan had before attempted, but died in the Voyage) whereof to rela…e all particular accidents, would require a large Volume: It may suffice in this place, to deliver some speciall Passages. He was born of mean Parentage in Devon-shire, yet had a great man (Francis Russell, after Earl of Bedford) to be his God-father. His father, in K. Henry the eighth's time, being persecuted for a Protestant, changed his Soyl, and lived close in Kent. K. Henry being dead, he got a place amongst the Marriners of the Queens Navy, to reade Prayers, and afterward bound his son Fran…is to a Ship-Master, who in a Ship which went to and fro upon the Coast with Commodities, one while to Zealand, another while to France, trayning him up to pains and skill at Sea; who afterward dying, took such a liking to him, that he bequeathed his Barque to him by his Will: This Barque Drake sold, and then in the yeer 1567, went with Sir Iohn Hawkins into America; in which Voyage, he unfortunately lost all he had. Five yeers after, having gotten again a good sum of Money by Trading and Pyracy, (which the Preacher of his Ship told him was lawfull) he bought a Ship of Warre, and two small Vessells, with which he set Sayl again for America, where his first Prize was great store of Gold and Silver, carryed over the Mountains upon Mules; whereof the Gold he brought to his Ships, but left the Silver, hiding it under ground: After this, he fired a great place of Traffique, called, The Crosse, at the River Chiruge, when roaming to and fro upon the Mountains, he espyed the South Sea; p. 51where falling upon his knees, he craved assistance of Almighty God, to finde out that passage, which he reserveth for another Voyage; and for the present, having gotten much riches, he returned home. Afterwards, in the yee… 1577, the thirte…th day of November, with five Ships, and Sea-men, to the number of 163, he set Sayl from Plimmo…th, for the Southern Sea, and within five and twenty dayes, came to Cantyne, a Cap… in Ba…b…ry, and then sayled along by the Isl… of F…g…, which sends forth …emes of Sulphur; and being now un…e… the Line, he let every one in his Ships blood. The sixteenth of Ap…l, entring into the mouth of the Plate… they espyed a world of Sea-Calves; in which place Iohn-…oughty, the next to Drake in Authority, was called in question for raising Sedition in the Navy, w…o being found guilty, was beheaded. Some report, That Drake had charge given him from the Earl of Leicester; to make away Doughty upon some pre…ence or other, for that he had said, that the Earl of Essex was craftily made away by Leicester … The twentyeth of August, two of his Ships he turneth off, and with the other three came to the Sea, which they call… The Straight of Magell…n. The sixth of September, entring into the wide Southern Ocean, which they call… The Pacifique Sea, he found it out of measure troublous, so that his Ships were here by Tempests dispersed; in one of which, Iohn Winter was Master, who returned back into England; Drake himself, with onelyonly one Ship, coasted along the Sho…e, till he came to the Isle Mo…cha, from whence loosing, he lighted upon a fellow fishing in a little Boat, who shewed him where a Spanish Ship laden with Treasure …ay; Drake making towards it; the Spaniards thought him to be their owne Country man, and thereupon invited him to come on; but he getting aboord presently shut the Spaniards (being not above eight persons) under …atches, and took the Ship, in which was four hundred pound weight of gold. At Taurapasa, going again on shoar, he found a Spaniard …leeping by the Seaside… who had lying by him twenty bars of mass…e Silver, to the value of four thousand Duckats, which he bid his follower… take amongst them, the Spaniard still sleeping. After this, going into the Port of Africa, he found there three Vessels without any Marriners in them; wherein, besides other wares, were seven and fifty silver bricks, each of which weighed twenty pound; From hence, Tyding it to Lime, he found twelve Ships in one Road, and in them great store of Silks, and a Chest full of money coined, but not so much as a Ship-boy aboord; (such security there was in that Coast:) Then putting to Sea with those Ships, he followed the rich Ship called Cacofoga … and by the way met with a small Ship, without Ordnance or other Arms, out of which he took fourscore pound weight of gold, a golden Crucifix, and some Em…aulds of a fingers length. The first day of March, he overtook the Cacofoga, set upon her, and took her… and in her, besides jewels, fourescore pound weigh… of gold, thirteen Chests of silver ready coyned, and as much silver as would ballast a Ship. And now thinking he had gained wealth enough, he resolved to return home… and so on the third of November 1580. he landed at Plimmouth, having sayled round about the World, in the space of three years; to the great admiration of all that know what compasse the World is of.

The Queen welcomed him home, but made a sequestration of the goods, that they might be ready if the King of Spain required them; and commanded the ship to be drawn on shoar neer Detford for a monument (where the carkasse of it is ye… to be seen) and her selfe feasted in it, at which time She Knighted Captaine Dr…ke. But Bernardine M…ndoz…, the KING of Spaines Embassadour in ENGLAND began to rage; and earnestly demanded Restitution of the Goods, and complained, that the ENGLISH sayled upon the INDIAN Sea. To whom it was p. 52answered, That the goods were sequestred, and ready to make the King of Spain satisfaction, although the Queen had expended against the Rebells, whom the Spaniard had excited in England and Ireland, more money then that which Dr…ke brought home. And as for sayling on the Indian Sea… that it was as lawfull for the Queens subjects as his, seeing the Sea and the Ayr are common for all to use. Notwithstanding, to Pedro S…a, the K…ng of Spain's Agent in this businesse, a great sum of money was re-paid… which was not …estored to them …o whom it belonged, but employed to the Spaniards Wars in the Low-Co…ries, as was known after… when it was too late.

But at this time, when Iackman and Pett, two skilfull Pilots, were sent forth with two Ships by the Londoners, to finde out … shorter cut to the East Indies, by the North-West Passage; they had not the like successe; for a few Leagues beyond the Isles of …aygat…, they met with such uncertain Tydes, so many Shallows, and such Mountains of Ice, that …hey could go no further, and had much …do to return home.

About this time, Henry Fitz Allen, Earl of Arundel died, in whom the Sirname of a most Noble Family ended, which had flourished in this Honour for above three hundred yeers, from Richard Fitz Alan; who being descended from the Al…anets (ancient Earls of Arundel and Sussex, in the Raign of King Edward the first) obtained the Title of Earl, by re…so… of the possession of Arundel Castle, without Creation. He had …hree daughters by his wife Katherine, daughter to Thomas Grey, Marquesse of Dorset, all whom he out-lived; H…nry, a young man of great hope, who died at Brussells; Ioan, wife to the Lord Lumley; and Mary, who being marryed to Thomas Howard, Duke of N…folke, brought forth Philip, in her Right, Earl of Arundel.

In Ireland, Arthur Lord Grey the Deputy, going against the O Conors, who …aised stirs in Ophalie, putteth to death Hugh O Moley, quieteth all that Quarter, even the Families of the Mog…hig…ns, and O Charles, and in the very beginning suppresseth a conspiracy which was breaking forth, by putting to death the Lord N…g…n… … who being confident in his own innocency, when the Deputy promised to save his ilfe, if he would but confesse himself guilty, chose rather to die and be held guiltlesse, then to live in infamy, by betraying his own Innocency. With whose death the Queen was extremely displeased, as by which she was made a Patronesse of cruelty, to her great dishonour. But the Deputy knew with what kinde of people he dealt, and by this example of severity, brought Turl…gh Leymigh to accept conditions of Peace; and the O B…i…s, and Cavenaghs (rebellious Families in Leinster) humbly to crave Peac… also, and to offer Hostages.

In Scotland at this time, great jealousie was …ad of Lenox, Lord of Obig…y, lest, being in so great favour with the King, he should allure him to marry into France, and bring into Scotland the Popish Religion. Whereupon (although he purged himself by Letters to Queen Elizabeth, and proferred himself to be a Protestant) yet many courses were taken to sequester him from the King… but so far from taking effect, That on the contrary, the Earl of Morton (who among all other was most addicted to the English) was soon after accused of Treason by the Earl of Arran, and cast into prison… and not long after (notwithstanding all the means the Queen could use to save him) was beheaded, as convicted to be accessary to the murder of the Kings Father. Whereupon the Earl of Angus, and other, who laboured for M…rt…, fled straightwayes into England.

In the Low-Countries about this time, the Count Rheinberg proceeded victoriously for the King of Spain, and beleaguer'd St…nwick in Freezland; against whom the States sent Norris Generall of the Field, who put the …einburghs Company to the worst… and raised the Siege: but afterward p. 53… with Verdugo the Spaniard at N…rthone, even when the Vi… gotten (Roger Williams having put the enemies to flight) … of the War turned, Norris is vanquished, wounded, and a great … his men slain; amongst whom were Cotton, Fitz… Williams, and … Commanders. Here it must not be omitted… That the English … the dwellers in the Northern parts of the World, were hither… Drinkers, and deserved praise for their sob…iety) in these Dutch … to be Drunkards; and brought the vice so far to over-spread … …ome, that Laws were fain to be enacted for repressing it.

… whilst the States and the King of Spain con…end about a few … the Low-Countries, he seizeth upon the whole Kingdom of Por… … For the last yeer, Henry, King of P…tingall dying, many Compe…allenge the Kingdom; as the Duke of Savoy; the Prince of Par… Natharine Bracant, and the Queen of France. But Philip King of … son of Henries eldest sister, putting the case to his Divines and … and adjuring them to pronounce to whom of Right it belonged, …, For him: whereupon he sent Duke D'Alva, who put to … …tonio, whom the people had elected King, and within seventy dayes … all Portingall. The Queen of France angry hereat, and enviously be… the King of Spain's Dominions thus enlarged (being now Master … gall, the East Indies, and many Islands besides) adviseth, amongst … P…ces, Queen Elizabeth, to bethink themselves in time, of restrayn… …o excessive Dominions. Whereupon the Queen received Don …, and l…vingly relieved him, which she thought might be done without … breath of the League with Spain, seeing Don Antonio was descended of … Blood, and of the House of Lancaster; and that no Cau…ion was … …eague; That the Portuger should … be admitted into England.

And now the Queen-Mother of Frano…, and the King her son, mo…e … then ever, pursue the Ma…ch with Alanson, now Duke of A…gio… ; … transacting whereof, they sent in Ambassage into England… Francis …, Prince of Daulphine; Arthur C…sse … Marshall of France, and many … Hono…rable Personages, who were entertained with great respect (a … being purposely built at Westminster for that use, Royally furnished; …tings and Justs proclaimed, by Philip Earl of Arundel, Frederick Baron … Windsor, Sir Philip Sidney, and Sir Fulk Grevill, against all come…s… The …gates that were to confer with the French concerning the Marriage, … Sir William Cecill Lord Treasurer; Edward, Earl of Lincoln, Lord Ad…ll; Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; Sir Christopher Hatton, and Sir … Walsingham, Secretary… by whom, Covenants of Marriage were at …th agreed on; First, That the Duke of Angio…, and the Queen of Eng…, within six weeks after the ratification of the Articles, should contract …trimony… and the rest, most of them such as were before agreed on, in the …arriage between Queen Mary and King Philip, chiefly consisting in confer…ng Honour upon the Duke, but Power upon the Queen. It was also ar…ed, That all pa…ticulars should be ratified within two Months… by the …thfull Promise and Oath of the French King, for him and his Heirs, and …eservation also was added apart, with the Hands and Seals of every … … Delegates, That Queen Elizabeth is not bound to finish the Marriage, …till she and the Duke have given each other satisfaction in some …, and have certified the French King of the same within six we…ks… Be…ore those six weeks were expired, Simier, Secretary to the Cou…ll, is … into France, to require the King of France his Confirmation… The … will not hear him, but presseth to have the Marriage accomplished, … was contracted, and that nothing else was to be done. …i…ier on the … side, sheweth by the Articles, That a League offen…e and defensive … first be concluded: This the French King disclayme…h: Whereupon p. 54W…lsinghams is presently sent …o compose this differan…e, who joyntly with Henry C…bham, the Embass…our in ordina… and Simier, alleadgeth to the French King these Partic…l…s, That Queen Elizabeth for no other reason was willing to marry, but for the …atisfaction of he… people; and seeing many Impediments were come in the way since the first Treaty, namely the Civill Warre in Franc… and the Dukes engagement in a war with Spain, w… makes the wi…est of her subjects to be now against the Ma…ch. This hath made her to deferre the accomplishment of it, although her affection be still constant toward the Duke… For this cause the Queen would have no further Treaty to be held… till the French Duke be freed from the Spanish warre, and a Leauge of mutuall offe… and defence be agreed on. The French King willingly accepted of …e L…agu… defensive; but of the offensive he would heare no speech, till th… marriage were finished.

No… long aft…r… the French D…k… himself came into England, having with good successe raised the Si…ge of C…bray; he was here received with as great humanity as he cou… w…sh, and nothing omitted… where by he might judge himsel… to be truly welcome. Insomuch th… in November, when the Anniversari… of the Qu…s Inauguration came to be solemnized, the Q. (while they were in Love conference) drew a Ring off from her finger, and put it upon his, upon some private conditions. The standers by imagined, that by this Ceremonie the Marriag… was confirmed between them; and Aldeg…nd Governour of Antwerp being there, presently dispatched messengers into the Low-Countries… to give notice of it; and thereupon Bonfires were made, and all shewes of Rejoycing… But the Earl of Leicester (who priv…ly plotted to crosse the Ma…ch) H…ton the Vice-Chamberlain, and Secretary Walsingham, fr… and are enraged, as if the Kingdom, the Queen and Religon, were now utterly ov…throwne. The Maids of Honour, and Ladi…s that were familiar wi… th… Queen, made grievous lamentation, and so … and daunted her, that she could take no rest that night. The nex… day… she calleth to her the French Duke, and causing all companie to go aside, they privately …n…er…ain a long discourse. At length the Duke returning to his lodging, cast the Ring away from him, and after a while takes it up again, terribly exclayming against the Levity and inconstancie of Women.

The Queen at this time was much troubled at a Book lately put forth, with this Title, The Gulph wherein England will be swallowed, by the French Marriage: whereof, conceiving that some Puritan was the Author, it made her highly displeased with the Puritans: whereupon within a few dayes, Iohn Stubbes of Lincolnes-Inne, a Zealous Professour, and the Author of this booke, (w…ose sister, Thomas Cartwright, the father of the Puritants, had married) William Page that dispersed the copies, and Singleto… the Printer, were apprehended… against whom Sentence was pronounced, That their Right hand should be cut off… by vertue of a Law made in the Raigne of Phillip and Ma…ie, against the A…thors and dispersers of Seditious Writings; (though the cheife Lawyers and Judges of the Kingdom could not agree concerning the f…ce of that S…a…ue:) Hereupon Stub…s and Page were brought to the Scaff…ld, made of purpose, in the Market place at Westminster, and their right hands, with a Butchers knife and a malle…, cut off by the wrest; the Printer was p…doned… At that time, Stubbs when his right hand was cut off, uncovered his head with the left, and cried out, God save the Queen, to the great amazement of all the beholders.

At this time the Queene, upon importunate suite of her Counsell, gave way, …hat Edmund Campian, Ralph Sherwin, and Alexa…der Bryant, Priests, should be called to the …arre, who being accused by vertue of a Law made in the five and twentieth yeare of King Edward the Third, to have plotted the ruine of the Queene and Kingdome; to be adhering to the Pope, the p. 55Queens enemy, and coming into England, to raise Forces against the State, were then condemned of High-treason, and accordingly executed. Campian after he was convicted, being demanded; First, whether Queen Elizabeth w…re a lawfull Queen? would make no answer; afterward, Whether he …ould stand for the Queen, or for the Pope, if he should send an Army against the Queen; he plainly professed, That he would be of the Popes side, …nd witnessed so much under his hand. After this, some other Papists upon the like occasion were also put to death, which the Queen rather necessa…ily, than willingly assented to, as being unwilling to force the conscience of any. These, and the like exorbitancies of Papists, were cause, that new …d strict Laws were enacted against them the Parliament following, which began the next Ianuary.

The French Duke after three moneths abode in England, took his journey in February, into the Low-Countries, whom the Queen her self brought on his way as far as Canterbury … and then commanded the Earl of Leicester, the Lord Charles Howard, Hunsdon, Willoughby, Windsor, Sheffield, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Francis Russell, Sir George Bourchier, and some other prime knights, to accompany him to Antwerpe, where he is made Duke of Brabant, Limb…rg, and Lorraine; for the Dutch had long before removed the King of Spains Government, and quitted the people from their oath of Allegiance, that it might be in their power to choose any other Prince. He…e the Duke of Anjou gave free leave to exercise the Roman Religion, to as many as would swear Fealty to him, and abjure the King of Spains authority: but …fter all, having spent a great masse of money, with which he was supplied from England; and observi…g, that only vain and empty titles were conferred upon him, while the States held all the Dominion in their own hands, he rashly enterprized an assault upon Antwerpe, and some other Towns, and shortly departed without any great matter performed.

At this time Queen Elizabeth, as well to get her some friends, as she had procured her selfe many enemies; received into the Order of t…e Garter, Fredericke the Second King of Denmarke; to whom she employed Sir Peregrine Bertye (whom she had lately made Lord Willoughby of Eresby) to Invest him.

But now to prevent the Duke of Guyses designe in Scotland, which was to make use of the Duke of Lenox favour with the King, to withdraw his affection from the English: William Reuthen, whom the King had lately made Earle of Gowry, endeavoured with others, by all means to remove Lenox, and the Earl of Arran from the King; and so, while Lenox was gone from Ferth (where the King at that time was) to Edinburgh, and Arran was also absent on a journey: The Earls Gowry, Marre, Lindsey, and other, taking the opportunity, invited the King to the Castle of Reuthen, and there detained him, not permitting him to walk abroad: All his trusty servants they removed from about him, Arran they cast in prison, enforced the King to call home the Earl of Angus, and to send away Lenox into France, who being a man of a soft and gentle disposition, for the Kings safety readily consented; and not content with all this, they compelled the King by his Letters to Queen Elizabeth, to approve and allow of this his thraldome. The Queen of Scots in the mean while, bewailing her own hard fortune, and the distresse of the King her Son, layeth open the same in a large letter, written to the Queen in French: With which letter, Queen Elizabeth being somewhat affected, sent unto her Robert Beale Clerk of the Councell, to expostulate with her concerning the querulous writing, and joyntly with the Earle of Shrewsbury, to treat of the setting her at liberty. And indeed, serious consultation was held at the Councell Table about it, and the most were of opinion… that upon certain conditions she should have her liberty; but the Scottish of the English faction opposing it, nothing was effected.

p. 56Soone after this, the King sent Colonell William Steward, and Iohn Colvill to Queen Eliz…beth, profering all manner of respect and observance, and requesting her advice for quieting the tumults in Scotland, and also for his contracting of marriage. At which time, news was brough…, that the Duke of L…nox was dead in France, who departing this life …t Paris, even at the very point of death, as oftentimes before, made open profession of the Pro…stant Religion; thereby confuting those who had maliciously traduced him for a Papist. After whose death, when the surprizers of the King were lift up in their own conceits, as thinking they had him safe enough. He on a sudden (though scarce eighteen yeers of age) with some few others, conveyed himselfe to the Castle of St. Andrews, to whom the Nobility presently repaired, bringing Armed Bands with them, as fearing some danger might befall him. Afterwards, in fair words, he advised some of his surprizers to go from the Court, for avoyding of tumults, and promised them pardon, if they wo…ld crave it. But Gowry only asked pardon, and submitted himselfe, using this distinction, That he had not offended in matter, bu… in forme onelyonly; and then the King sent for the Earle of Arran to the Court, and respected him as his intimate friend, imploying him to compose the differen…es amongst the Nobility, and to purge the kingdome and his own Court from civill dissensions.

Whiles he is sedulous in these cares, comes Sir Francis Walsingham from Queen Elizabeth, to advise him not to be led away by evill Councellours, to the destruction of both kingdoms. He findeth the King accompanied with the flowr of the nobility, and beholdeth another maner of Majesty than he looked for in Scotland: Pla…ing Audience given him, he put the King in minde, of what the Queen out of Isocrates, in private Letters had formerly admonished him: That a Prince must be such a lover of Truth; that more credit may be given to his bare word, than to anothers oath; and in many words advised him, to beware now in his youth of evill Councellours, and alwayes to be like himselfe. The King answered, That he was an absolute Prince, and would not that others should appoint him Councellors whom he liked not; but that he had long since devoted the first-fruits of his amitie to the Queen of England, his deer Sister, and doth now willingly make profer of the same. Walsingham now dealt with him farther; not to lay to the Queens charge what broyls had lately fallen out in Scotland; sheweth, how beneficiall to him, and to both kingdoms Amity had been hitherto, and would be in time to come also, so it were not neglected; and that the same might the better be confirmed, if the variance between the Nobility were layd asleep, by a Law of oblivion Enacted in Parliament, The Peers which now were removed from the Court called back again, Religion looked into, and a firm League concluded between both kingdoms. The King made answer, that he gladly embraced Amity with England, and that he would constantly defend the Religion already established: Afterward he lovingly dismissed Walsingham, though he held him no good friend to him and his Mother; and carefully looking to matters, with undestanding, even above his yeers, proposed and profered reconciliation to those that had surprized him, if within a limited time they asked Pardon; which they were so far from doing, that the entred into new consultations to surprize him again; whereupon they are commanded within a set time to leave the kingdom, of which number, Marre, Glames, Paslet and some other, betook themselves into Ireland; Boyde, Zester, Weeme, Lochlevin, into the Low-Countries; Dumfermilin into France, the Earle of Angus is confined to his Earldome, Gowry onelyonly to his owne ruine stayeth behinde after the limited time, hatching new devises.

About this time happened a difference, and thereupon a Warre, between the Emperors of Muscovia, and the King of Sweden; when Iohn King of p. 57Sweden, doubting himself to be no fit Match for the Emperour, sent a Roy…l Ambassage to Queen Elizabeth, requesting her to intercede for him to …e Emperour; which she did without delay, and by her Ambassadour drew the Muscovian to a Peace upon reasonable Conditions. B…t the Muscovian …ortly after dying, and Theodorus his Successor, granting free Traffique to …rchants of all Nations that would come thither; the Queen importuned him to admit of none but English Merchants, requiring him to confirm the Priviledges which his Father had granted them: Whereto, by way of Answer, he demanded Free Trading for all the English, saying, It was not fit that a small Company should exercise a Monopoly, and all other be …estrayned: But as for Customes, he promised to take lesse by one half of that Company, then of any other, because they first opened the way thither.

The next Summer, Albertus Alasco, a Palatine of Poland, of a comely personage, and great learning, came into England to see the Queen, who was nobly entertained, both by her, and the Nobility, as also by the Scholl…rs of Oxford, with learned Orations, and other Recreations: but having …rryed here four Months, and run i…to much debt, he secretly withdrew himself and departed. This man I saw my self afterward in Crakow, very bare, though it was reported of him, That he had in a Dowry with a wife, fif…y Castles of great value: but what Myne can bear the charges of prodigality?

This yeer proved fatall to divers great men; for there died this yeer, …st, Thomas Ratcliffe, the third E…rl of Sussex of this Family; a man of grea… spirit, and great faithfulnesse to his Countrey. There died also Henry Wriothsley Earl of Southampton; one exceedingly devoted to the Romish Religion, and a great favourer of the Queen of Scots, which cost him Queen Elizabeths displeasure, and imprisonment besides. There died also Sir Humphrey Gilbert, who was cast away at Sea, in his return from the North p…rt of America, whither he lately sayled with five Ships, having sold his Patrimony, in hope to plant a Colony t…ere. There died also Edmund Grindall, Arch-…ishop of Canterbury, being blinde through age, a gra…e and pious P…elate, who stood highly in the Queens favour for a long time, till he lost … last, by favouring (as was said) the Puritans Conventicles; but the …ue cause indeed was, for disallowing the Marriage of Iuli… an Italian Physitian, with another mans wife, against the Earl of Leicester's pleasure. Grind…ll dying, Iohn Whiteguyft succeeded in the See of Canterbury, being transla…ed thither from the See of Worcester.

At this time, certain popish Books written against the Queen, and Princes Excommunicate, withdrew divers from their Allegiance, and particularly, so intoxicated one Somervile, an English Gentleman, that he went privately …o the Court, and breathing out nothing but blood and death against all Protestants, set upon one or two by the way, with his drawn Sword. Being apprehended, he stuck not to say, That he would murder the Queen with his own hands. Hereupon he, and upon his intimation, Edw…rd Arden …is father in Law (a man of an ancient House in Warwick-shire) Ardens wife, their daughter; Somerviles wife, and Hall a Priest, were brought to the Bar, and all condemned; Somervile as principall, the rest as accessaries. Th…ee dayes after, Somervile was found strangled in the prison; Arden was …cuted and quartered; the women and the Priest were spared. Many pi…ied the old Gentleman Arden, as misled by the Priest, and (as it was gen…rally believed) brought to his end through the envy of Leicester, whom he used to call Whore-master, Upstart, and many such opprobrious …mes.

In the Netherlands, the English Garrison at Alost in Flanders being neglected, the Governour Pigot, and the other Captains, for want of pay, upon p. 52Composition, yeelded up the Town to the Spaniard, and then fearing disgrace at home, joyned themselves to the Prince of Parma; at whose hands finding themselves slighted, by degrees they stole all away, and came all to unlucky ends.

In Ireland the famous Rebell, Gyrald-Fitz Gyrald, the eleventh Earl of Desmond of this Family, having a long time in lurking places escaped the English, was now by a common Souldier found out in a poor Cottage, and slain. His head was sent into England, and set upon London-Bridge. This end had this great Lord, descended from Ma…rice, the son of Gyrald of W…ndsore, an English-man, famous amongst those who first set upon Ireland, in the yeer 1170. He possessed whole Countries, together with the County Palatine of Kerry, and had of his own Name and Race, at least five hundred Gentlemen at his command. All whom, and his own life also, he lost within the space of three yeers, very few of his House being left alive. And this disaster he fell into, by proving Trayterous to his Prince, at the instigation of certain Popish Priests. Of whom, the chief was one Nicholas Sanders an English-man, who at the same time died miserably of Famine, being starved to death, when as being forsaken, and running mad upon his ill successe, he roamed up and down the Mountains and Groves, finding nothing to sustain him. In his Scrip were found certain Orations and Letters, written to hearten the Rebells, and promising large rewards from the Pope and King of Spain. Upon the Rebells ill successe, Iames Fitz Eustace, Viscount Baltinglas, fled into Spain, where he pined away with grief. He out of zeal to the Romane Religion, a little before he had taken up Arms with the Rebells, and exhorting the Earl of Ormond his neighbour to do the like, (who drew his Linage from St. Thomas of Canterbury) he used these w…rds to perswade him, That if Saint Thomas of Canterbury had not dyed for the Church of ROME, thou hadst never been Earl of Ormond, for King HENRY the second, to expiate the murther of THOMAS B…CKET, gave large Lands in Ormond to his Predecessors.

The beginning of the next Spring, certain Scots, together with Gowry, plotted again to surprize the King, pretending onelyonly a care of Religion, and to remove ill Councellors from him: but the King having intelligence of their practise, used means by Colonell Steward, to have G…ry taken and cast into prison: whereupon Marre, Glames, Angus, and other of the confederates, flie into England, and beseech the Queen to commiserate their estate, who had incurred the Kings displeasure, to do her and the Kingdom of England service. The King on the other side, accuseth them to the Queen of haynous crimes, and requires to have them delivered up into his hands. But Secretary Walsingham, who bore great good will to these men, sent Letters with a Command, That they should be safely admitted into Linds Ferme, otherwise called, The holy Island; where Hu…sdon being Governou… there, and great addicted to the King of Scots, resisted Walsinghams Command, alleadging he could not satisfie the Secretary in this point, unlesse the Queen gave expresse Command. Hereupon grew a Dispute, Whether a Secretary of State might not transact a businesse of State, without speciall Commission from the Prince. How this Case was determined, is uncertain; but sure it is, the Scots came not thither, though some favour they had shewed them here in England. In the mean time, Gowry was tryed by his Peers, at S…eclyn; where, being accused of many Treasons, though he gave colourable answers to them all, yet was found guilty, condemed, and beheaded; whose head his servants sewing to his body, committed to the Grave.

p. 59About this time were practises plotted against Queen Elizabeth, in behalf … the Queen of Scots, chiefly by Francis Throgmorton, eldest son of Iohn …gmorton, Justice of Chester, who came to be suspected, by reason of …etters sent to the Queen of Scots which were intercepted. Upon his ap…hension, Thomas Lord Paget, and Charles Arundel, privately stole away … France, grievously complaining against Leicester and Walsingham, for …ienating the Queen from them, and using such wiles, that scarce any m…n was able to live in safety. Henry Earl of Northumberland, and Philip Earl of Arundel, were confined to their houses, his wife committed to the …stody of Sir Thomas Shirley; William Howard, the Earls brother, and He…y Howard their Unkle, brother to the Duke of Norfolk, were examined about Letters from the Queen of Scots; and many Statagems were set on foot, dangerous to some particular persons, but necessary (as should …) for the Queens security. Certain it is, That now the malice of the Papists against the Queen, brake forth more violently than ever before; for in printed Books they stirred up the Queens own servants to …ttempt the like upon her, that Iudith did on Olephernes. The Author of these Books could not be found, but the suspition lay upon one G…egory Martin, sometime of Oxford; and Carter a Statio…er, who printed the Books, suffered for it. And whereas the Papists every where …aduced the Queen for cruelty, she desirous alwayes to leave a blessed …membrance behinde her, grew extremely offended with the Commissioners for Popish causes, taxing them of too much cruelty, insomuch that they were fain, in a printed Declaration, to cleer themselves, protesting; That they questioned no man for his Religion, but onelyonly for dangerous attempts against the Queen and State… and that C…pian himself was never so Racked, but that he could presently walk up and down. But all this gave not the Queen satisfaction, but she commanded the Commissioners to forbear tortures, and the Judges other …u…ishments; and not long after, when seventy Priests were taken, and some of them condemned, and the rest in danger of the Law, she caused them all to be Shipped away, and sent out of England: The chief of whom: were Gaspar Heywood, the great Epigrammatist's son, the first …esuite that ever set foot in England; Iames B…sgrave, Iohn Hart, and Ed…d Rishton.

At this time Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour, was thrust out of England, for joyning with Throgmorton, in his Treason against the Queen; whereupon Sir William Waad was sent to the King of Spain, to satisfie him how ill Mendoza had discharged the Office of an Ambassadour here in England; who, when the King admitted him not to his Presence, but in a slighting manner, putting him off to his Councellors; Waad taking it in great disdain, boldly said, That it was a declared Custome among Princes (though in heat of War) to give Ambassadours audience, and thereupon stou…ly refused to …clare his Ambassage, and so returned into England unheard. The greatest matters laid to Mendoza's charge, were gott…n out of Throgmorton's Confession; for when he was in danger to be apprehended, he sent to Mendoza a box of Writings; and when his Ch…sts were searched, there were found two Scrowls, one with the names of the Ports of England, and in the other the names of the Nobility and Gentry in England that favoured the Romish Religion. These, when Th…ogmorton saw brought forth, he said they were counterfeited, and …tood to it upon the very Rack; but being brought to the Rack the second time… he then confessed all, That Morgan by Letters out of France, had given him information, that the Catholike Princes had decreed to invade England, and with the help of the Duke of Guise, to free the Q. of Scots; and that nothing was now wanting, but mony & ayd in England: and that for procuring of this, Charls Pa…e…, p. 60under the counterfeit name of Mope, was sent into Sussex, where the Duke of Guise intended to land; and that he had imported all this matter to Mendoza, and intimated the names of the Ports, and of the Noble-men that should assist. But being arraigned at the Guild-hall, he denyed all this again, saying, He had spoken so, because he would not be Racked again. Yet being condemned to die, he flying to the Queens mercy, confessed in a manner all he had before related… and then at the Gallows went about to deny it again. So false to it self is the minde of man when it is divided between hope and fear, and lies under the burden of a guilty conscience.

Sir William Wade being returned from Spain, was employed to the Queen of Scots, about a Treaty begun two years before: To whom, the distressed Queen sincerely professed, That she devoted her service and her selfe to the Queen of England; and made solemne promise, That if the former Treaty might go on, she would mediate with the King her Son, to receive into favour the Earl of Angus, and the other Scottish Lords, and would charge the Bishops of Rosse and Glasco, her Agents in France, to have no further to do with the English Fugitives. These things Q…een Elizabeth heard gladly, and thereupon sent Beale to the Queen of Scots, who joyntly with the Earl of Shrewsbery should signifie unto her, That if she continued still in the same minde, as she had delivered to Waad; Sir Walter Mildmay should come out of hand …o her, and Treat concerning her liberty: but withall she commanded Mildmay and Beale to dive into her as well as they could, to know what practises the Duke of Guyse had on foot. To that which she had spoken to sir William Waad, the Queen of Scots made a wary answer; but to that concerning the Duke of Guyse, she plainly confesseth; That being sickly he… selfe, and weak of body, she had committed her selfe and her Son, to the Protection of the Duke of Guyse, her dear Cosen, of whose intendments she knoweth nothing; nor if she did, would she disclose them, unlesse she might be sure of her own liberty. Lastly, she requesteth, That being a free and an absolute Prince, she may not be worse handled, than Queen Elizabeth her selfe was, when she was a subject, and kept in prison by her Sister. These things had a hearing, but no feeling, and the rather by a strange accident; for Creighton a Scottish Jesuit, sayling from the L…w-Countries, and taken by Dutch Pirats, had certain papers which he tore and thre… away, which thrown over-boord, and by the winde blown back into the ship, miraculously (as Creighton himselfe sayd) they were brought to sir William Waad, who patching them together with much labour and cunning, discovered by them some new intendments of the Pope, the King of Spain … and the Guyse, about the Invading of England: Whereupon, and upo… divers other rumors, the better to provide for the safety of the Queen, a number of her Subjects (the Earl of Leicester being the foremost) men of all ranks and conditions, bound themselves mutually to each other, by their oaths and subscriptions, to persecute all those to the very death, that should attempt any thing against the Queen; which league of theirs, they called the Association.

The Queen of Sco…s who presently apprehended, that this Association was entred into for her destruction; maketh this proposition by Nave her Secretary, to the Queen and the Councell… That if she might have her liberty granted, and be assured of the Q…een… …ove, she would enter a strict league and …mity with her, and passing by all matters of offence, esteem and honor …er, above all the Princes of the Christian World; yea, and (saving the ancient League betwixt Fra…ce, and Sc…la…d) she would her selfe be comprehended in t…e Association, and a League defensiv…, against all that should go about to injure the Queen. Herewith Queen Eli…abeth was wonderfully pleased, and at that time cer…nly had an inclination to grant her freedom. B…t see what malice can do; for many in England … but specially the Sco…s of p. 61… …dverse party, endeavoured by all means to hinder it; exclaiming, That … Queen could be no longer in safety, if the Queen of Scots were set at liberty, That both Kingdoms were utterly undone, if she were admitted into … …oynt Government of the Kingdom of Scotland, and that the reformed …gion lay a bleeding, if Papists were admitted within the Court walls; … was this all, but the Scottish Ministers in their Pulpits, loaded the … of Scots with all manner of contumelies, slandred the King himselfe, and … Councell in most bitter manner; and being cited to appear before him, …, saying, That the Pulpits were exempted from all Regall Authority, and that Ecclesiasticall persons, were not to be censured by the Prince, but … their own Consistory (directly against the Laws made the year before in Pa…liament) whereby the Kings Authority over all persons, whether Eccle…s…icall, or Secular, was confirmed; and namely, That the King and his Councell, were Supream Judges in all Causes; and that whosoever refused … b… tryed by them, should be holden guilty of High-treason; all Presby…s and Lay-conventicles forbidden, Parity of the Clergy taken away, … the authority of Bishops restored, whose Calling the Presbyteries had condemned as wicked and Antichristian: And lastly, all scurrilous Libels …inst the King and his mother, prohibited, namely, the Scottish History of George Buchanan, and his Dialogue, De Iure Regni apud Scotos.

At this time, upon her adversaries suggestion, the Queen of Scots is taken from the Earl of Shrewsbery, and committed to the custody of sir Amis Pawlet …nd sir Drue Drury, and that on set purpose (as some were perswaded) to drive her into abrupt and desperate attempts; and indeed upon this, she grew more importunate with the Pope and King of Spain, to hasten their in…ndment, whatsoever became of her, as ill indeed was like to become of her, if it be true (as some sayd) that Leicester sent out assasinats to make her …way, but that Drury detested the villany, and would grant them no …cesse.

And how to alienate Queen Elizabeth utterly from her; it is suggested to …, That Allen for the Catholicks of the Clergy, Inglefield for the Layity, …nd the Bishop of R…sse for the Queen of Scots, with consent of the Pope and the King of Spain, had joyntly combined to depose her, and to bar the King of Scotland from his hereditary Right to the Crown of England, and to marry the Queen of Scots to an English Noble-man of the Romish Religion, and him the English Catholikes should chuse King of England, and the Pope confirm the Election; and all this upon the credit of Hart the Priest: but who this English Noble-man should be that should marry the Queen of Scots, could not be found, though Walsingham were very busie to seacrh i… out: the fame went upon Henry Howard, the Duke of Norfolks brother, …ho was a single man, a great Papist, and of high estimation amongst the Catholikes.

This yeer died in Exile and misery, Charles N…vill, who was in the Rebellion of the North, the last Earl of Westmerland of this Family; a House from whence descended many Noble Personages, six Earls of Westmerland, …wo Earls of Sali…y and War…i…k, an Earl of Kent, a Ma…quesse Mount…cut…, … Duke of Bedford, Baron Ferrers of …, the Lord Latymer, the Lord of …, one Queen, and five Dutchesses (to let passe Counte…es and Baronne…ses) an Arch-bishop of York, and a numerous company of other Lords. In E…gl…nd died none of …eckoning this yeer, but onelyonly Pl…den the famous Lawyer; but in France, …he Duke of Angi… died of grief… a…d in Holland, William Prince of Orange, shot into the body with …hree Bullets, by one B…lth…s…r Gerard, a Burgundian.

It was now the yeer 1585, and the eight and twentieth of Queen Eliza… Raign, when, to ti… the French King more neerly to her, whom the … …fore she had received into the number of the Knights of the …arter, p. 62she sent the Earl of Derby into France, to invest him with the Robes and Ornaments, according to the due Solemnity; which he kindely accepted, and at Evening Prayer was invested with them.

At this time a Parliament was assembled at Westminster, wherein William Parrie a Welsh-man, a Doctor of the Laws, when in the Lower House a Bill was read against the Jesuites, he alone stood up, and exclaimed that it was a cruell and bloody Law: and being asked his reason, he stoutly refused, unlesse he were required by the Lords of the Councell. Hereupon he was sent to the Gate-house, but upon submission, was received into the House again. Soon after, he was accused by Edward Nevill, for holding secret consultations about making the Queen away; Who thereupon apprehended, upon his examination, confessed in effect thus much, That out of discontent he went beyond the Sea, where, by the encouragement of Campegio the Popes Nuntio at Venice, and grant of a plenary Indulgence from the Pope, he undertook to kill the Queen; but coming into England to that intent, he altered his minde, and disclosed to the Queen the whole matter. After this, he received a Letter from the Cardinall of Com…, perswading him to go forward with the Enterprise; and this Letter also he shewed the Queen. After this, he chanced to see a Book of Doctor Allens, written contra Iustitiam Britannicam, wherein was declared, That Princes who were for heresie excommunicate, might lawfully be deprived of their life and Kingdom. This book wonderfully confirmed him, and he read it to Nevill; who, though he took an oath of secrecy, yet now upon a hope of the Earldom of Westmerland … betrayed him. This was his confession, before Baron Hunsdon, Sir Christopher Hatt…n, and Sir Francis Walsingham: as likewise in his Letters to the Queen, to the Lord Burleigh, and the Earl of Leicester, acknowledging his fault, and craving mercy. A few dayes after, he was called to the Bar in Westminster-Hall, where he confessed himself guilty, and thereupon was condemned. After the Sentence of death pronounced, he furiously cited the Queen to Gods Tribunall: five dayes after he was laid upon a Hurdle, and dragged thorow the City to Westminster, where at the Gibbet he made a vain-glorious boasting of his faithfulnesse to the Queen, but not so much as in a word commended himself to God; and in the great Palace at Westminster was executed as a Traytor, the Nobility and Commons sitting then in Parliament.

In this Parliament, the Association before spoken of, was universally approved, and enacted in this Form; That four and twenty, or more, of the Queens Privy Councell, and Peers of the Realm, should be selected and authorized, under the Great Seal of England, To make enquiry of all such persons as shall attempt to … the Kingdom, or raise Rebellion, or shall attempt any evill against the Queens Person; f…r whomsoeve…, and by whomsoever, that layeth any claim to the Crown of England; and that person for whom, or by whom they shall …ttempt …ny such thing, shall be altogether uncapable of the Crown; and more to this purpose. Laws also for the Queens safety, were enacted against Jesuites and Popis… Priests, and against all that shall receive or relieve them. These Laws ter…ified many, and particularly out of fear of them, Philip Ea…l of Arundel; the Duke of Norf…lks eldest son, purposed with himself to travell beyond Seas… for having been once or twice cited before the Lords of the Councell, and confined to his house, and after six months set at liberty, he …hereupon wrot… a Letter to the Queen, That for the Service of God, and hi… souls health, he purposed to leave his Countrey, but not his loyall …ffection towards her… but as he was taking Shipping, by his own servants treachery he was discovered, apprehended, and laid in the Tow…r.

At the same time lay in the Tower, Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland … a man of a lofty spirit, being suspected by rea…on of secret consultation p. 63… Throgmorton, the Lord Paget, and the Guises, about the invading of Eng… … and freeing of the Queen of Scots (whose cause he ever highly favou…d) but in the m…neth of Iune, he was found dead in his bed, shot into the body with three bullets, under his right pappe, and the door bolted on the …de: The Corroners Inquest examining the matter, found and pronoun…d, that he had killed himselfe. Three dayes after, the Lords meeting in …he Star-chamber, Bromeley Lord Chancellor, declared this fact of the Earls, …nd then commanded the Atturney Generall to shew the causes of his im…sonment, and the manner of his death; whereupon, Popham first, and then Egerton the Queens Solicitor, in long Orations, lay open all his Treasons, and how for feare of the Law, he had layd violent hands upon himselfe.

And now the Queen knowing that the seeds of these Treasons proceeded from the Duke of Guise, and his adherents, she sought for the strengthning of her selfe, to enter into League with the Princes of Germany; and to this end, she sent Sir Thomas B…dley to the King of Denmarke, to the Count Elector Palatine of the Rhine, to the Duke of Saxony, Wittenberg, Brunswicke, L…ceburg; the Marquesse of Brandenburg, and the Lant grave of Hessia; and into Scotland, she sent Sir Edward Wootton, to let the King understand how sincerely she was affected towards him, and withall to draw the King (if he could) into a League of mutuall defence and offence, and to commend to him the Match of the King of Denmarks Daughter. The King was very inclinable to the matter of the League, but for the present the businesse was interrupted, by the death of Francis Russell, Son to the Earl of Bedford, slain at a meeting to compound a difference between the Borderers, by a sudden tumult of the Scots, but who it was that slew him, was not known. The English layd it upon the Earl of Arran, and the Lord Fernihurst Governour of the middle Borders; whereupon, at the Queenes complaint, the Earl of Arran was confined, and Fernihurst committed to prison at Dundee, where he dyed; a man of great valour and resolution, and one that was alwayes f…rm for the Queen of Scots. But Queen Elizabeth not thus satisfied, gave leave by way of connivance to the Scottish Lords that were fled into England, namely, the Earl of Angus, the Hamiltons, Iohn and Cladius, the Earl of M…rre, Glames, and other, that they should steal away into Scotland (she sup…lying them with money) there to master and subdue the Earl of Arran. For Maxwell, who was lately made Earl of Bothwell, Baron Humes, Coldingkn…lls and other in Scotland, had already promised them their assistance, even …n the very Court. Sir Patrick Grey (Arrans great Rivall for the Kings favour) Belenden, and Secretary Maitland (by Woottons craft) were made against Arran. These men, upon their first entry into Scotland, command all persons in the Kings name, to ayd them for conserving the truth of the Gospell, for freeing the King from corrupt Councellors, and for maintaining of Amity with the English, so as there presently joyned with them …bout eight thousand men. The Earle of Arran hearing hereof, makes haste to the King, and accuseth Patricke Grey as author of this commotion: but whiles Arran was making provision for defence of the Town, the enemies were ready to scale the Walls: whereupon, Arran being advised, that only his life was sought, gets secretly away with only one servant, the rest betook themselves to the King in the Castle. Then the Rebels get into the Market-place, and display their Banners against the Castle: the King sends Grey to know the reason of their comming; they answer, to submit themselves, and in humble manner to kisse the Kings hands: the King offereth restitution of all their goods, if they would depart; They desire to be admitted to his Pre…ence, which upon these conditions the King granted. That they should not attempt any thing against his li…e, or those whom he should nominate, nor make any innovation in the Government. They p. 64protest, They are ready to sacrifice their lives for the Kings safety, and of any Innovation they had not so much as a thought; onelyonly they request to have their adversaries, and the Fortifications of Scotland delivered up into their hands. Hereupon after a dayes Consultation, they are admitted into the Kings Presence and forthwith the Earls of Mount Rosse, Crawford, and Rothsay; Colonell Steward, Downs, Arran's brothers, and others, were delivered to them: The Earl of Arran, who was fled into the Western Islands, is called home; the assaulters were pardoned, and pronounced good subjects. Hamilton is set over Dumbriton Castle; Goldingknolls over Edinburgh; the Earl of Angus over Tantallon; the Earl of Marre over Stelyn; and Glames is made Captain of the Guard. Upon this, all Proscriptions and Outlaries whatsoever against all persons, since the Kings Inauguration) sa…ing some few proscribed for the murder of the Kings Father) are called in, and with an unanimous consent of all parties, the Treaty of a League with the Queen of England is agreed upon, and Delegates nominated to that purpose.

In Ireland likewise was a Combustion this yeer; first the Burkes (descended of the ancient Family of the Burroughs in England) provoked by the severe Government of Richard Bingham, Governour of Conn…ght, raise Rebellion; but this was soon suppressed, for Thomas Burk dyed fighting; M…yler, and Theobald Burke, were taken and hanged. After this, the Clan-Gibbons, Clan-Donells, and Ioyes, combined together in great numbers, and say plainly, They will have a Mac-William of their own, one of the Burks to rule over them, or some other Lord out of Spain; they will admit of no Sheriff into their Countrey, nor appear before the English Courts of Justice; and thereupon harryed all the Countrey with Fire and Sword, and neither by the perswasions of the Arch-bishop Tuan, nor by the intreaties of the Earl of Clan-ricard (the chief of the House of the Burks) would be quieted, till Iohn Bingham the Presidents brother, following them into the Woods, drave away five thousand Head of their Cattell, so as after forty dayes, half starved, they came forth and submitted themselves. But this was not yet an end; for now the President understood, That two thousand Scottish Islanders were landed, and ready to break into Connaght; whereupon he Musters his men to give them Battell; but they flying to Bogs and Woods, he retires back as though in fear, thereby to draw them from the Bogs to firm ground, and then with his whole Forces set upon them, slew three thousand of them (indeed all but fourscore) amongst whom were Donell Garmy, and Alexander Garmy, the sons of Iames Mac-Conell, who had long disquieted this part, and those Burkes who were the first authors of this Rebellion. This was a famous Victory, for the good of the present and future times; for hereby the name of the Mac-Williams in Connaght was utterly extinct, and the insolent attempts of the Scottish Islanders absolutely crushed.

In the Low-Countries at this time the States were very hard beset, so as they held a Consultation, Whether to flie for protection, either to the French King, or to the Queen of England. Monsieur Prunie the French Ambassadour shewed many advantages, and gave many reasons why they should flie rather to the French King; the English on the other side, alleadged many reasons why they should flie rather to the Queen of England: but in conclusion, they have first recourse to the King of France, and afterward being by him neglected, to the Queen of England. But then in England it was consulted, Whether it were meet to protect them; wherein the Councell was divided; some were of opinion, That it were good to receive and aid them, lest the Spaniard first conquering them, might have the better way to annoy England; other again thought, They were to be held no better then Rebells to their lawfull Soveraign, and therefore unworthy of assistance. After long deb…ing the matter, the Queen refuseth to take into p. 65protection, much lesse to exercise Soveraignty over them. Neverthe…esse, to raise the Siege of Antwerp, which was then beleaguer'd by the Prince of Parma, she was content to supply them with four thousand Souldiers, so as the Town of Sluce, and the Ordnance belonging to it, were given up into their hands: but while this matter was discussing… the Town of Antwerp was fain to yeeld it self.

But the Queen better bethinking herself, partly, as fearing the growth of the King of Spain's power, and partly, as commiserating the afflicted of her own Religion, at last resolves to undertake their protection, upon condition of her part, to supply them with five thousand Foot, and a thousand Horse, under a sufficient Generall, paying them during the War; And afterward the expences to be payed back, upon condition on their part, by way of Pledge, to deliver Flushing, and the Fort of Ramekyn, the Town of Brill, with the two neighbouring Forts: and for the justifying of this her action, …he set forth a large Declaration. And knowing that herein she incensed the King of Spain, she thought best to turn his anger further from home, and thereupon sent out Sir Francis Drake, and Christopher Carlile, with a Navy of one and twenty Ships (wherein were two thousand Voluntaries and Marriners) toward the West Indies; who first surprized the Town of St. …ago, afterwards St. Dominick (where five and twenty thousand Crowns were given them, to spare the Town from burning) afterward Cartagena, which they held seven weeks, till the Spaniards redeemed it for a hundred and ten thousand Crowns. After this, the Calenture waxing hot, and diminishing their Forces, they returned homewards, passing by Virginia, a Colony which Sir Walter Raleigh had there planted; from whence Drake brings hom… with him Ralph Lane, who was the first that brought Tobacco into England, which the Indians take against crudities of the Stomack. At this Expedition were lost about seven hundred men, who for the most part died of Calentures: their Booty amounted to the value of threescore thous…nd pounds Sterling, besides two hundred and forty Brasse and Iron Pieces. These things were done under the Torrid Zone in America; when in the mean while, Captain Iohn Davis, with two Ships (at the charges of William Sanderson, and other Citizens of London) found out away to the East-Indies, …y the higher part of America, under the Frigid Zone.

At the end of this yeere, the Earle of Leicester is sent Generall of the Queenes Forces into Holland, accompanied with the Earle of Essex, the Lords Audley, and North, Sir William Russell, Sir Thomas Shirley, Sir Arthur Basset, Sir Walter Waller, Sir Gervase Clifton, and divers other Knights, besides five hundred Gentlemen. Landing at Flushing, he was first by Sir Philip Sidney the Governour his Nephew and after by the Townes of Zeland and Holland, entertained in most magnificent manner, …nd comming to the Hague in Ianuary; the States by Patent committed to him the command and absolute authority over the united Provinces, with the Titles of Governour and Captain Generall of Holland, Zeland; and the Confederate Provinces: So as being now saluted with the Title of his Excellency, he began to assume unto him Princely spirits. But the Queene tooke him soone off from further aspiring, Writing to him in most peremptory manner; That she wondred how a man whom …he had raised out of the dust, could so contemptuously violate her commands, and therefore charged him upon his Allegiance, to put in …xecution the Injunctions she sent him by HENNAGE her VICE-CHAMBERLAINE; Withall, in Letters apart, She expostulateth with the States, that to her great disparagement, they had cast upon the …arle of Leicester her Subject, the absolute command over the united PROVINCES without her privity, which she her selfe had utterly refused; and therfore willeth them to Devest him of that absolute authority, to p. 66whom she had set bounds, which he should not passe. The States returne Answer, That they are heartily sorry they should incurre her displeasure by conferring upon the Earle that absolute Authority, not having first made her acquainted, but they beseeched her to consider the necessity of it; seeing, that for avoyding of confusion, that Authority must needs be cast upon some one or other; Neither, was there any great matter in the word Absolute, seeing the Rule and Dominion resided still in the people. By these Letters, and Leicesters own submissive writing, the Queen was soon satisfied; Leicester all this while receiveth Contributions and Rewards from all Provinces, maketh Martiall Laws, and endeavouring likewise to raise new Customs upon Merchandizes, incurred great dislike amongst the common people. His first service was to relieve Grave, a Town in Brabant, which the Prince of Parma, by Count Mansfield had besieged: Hither he sent the Count Hohenlo a German, and Norris Generall of the English Foot; but notwithstanding all the great service they did there, the Town in the end was taken; but Hemart the Governor, for his cowardly yeelding it up, lost his head. From hence the Prince of Parma marched into Gelderland, and pitched his Tents before Venlow, where Skenkic a Friezlander, and Roger Williams a Welshman performed great service, yet that Town in a short time was taken also. But in the mean while, the Lord Willoughby Governor of Bergen ap Zome, cut off the enemies Convoyes, and took away their victualls; and Sir Philip Sidney, and Maurice the Prince of Oranges Son, upon a sudden on-set, took Axale a Town in Flanders. From Venl… the Prince of Parma goes to Berke, where there were twelve thousand English, under the command of Colonell Morgan; he notwithstanding layd Siege to the Town, which the Earl of Leicester came to raise, but finding his Forces to weak to raise it, he seeks to divert it, by Beleaguering Duisbourgh; which before the Prince of Parma could come to relieve, he tooke. And now the Prince of Parma, fearing least Zutphin should come in danger, commandeth victualls to be carried thither, which the Spaniards carrying along in a fogge, the English by chance lighted on them, vanquished a Troop of their Horse, slew Hannibal Gonzaga, and divers other, bat then on the English side was one slain, more worth than all the English and Spaniards put together; Sir Philip Sidney, who having his horse slain under him, and getting upon another, was shot into the thigh, and 25 dayes after, in the …loure of his age, dyed: A man of so many excellent parts of Art and Nature, of Valour and Learning, of Wit and Magnanimity; that as he had equalled all those of former Ages, so future Ages wil hardly be able to equal him. His Funeralls were in sumptuous manner solemnized at St. Pauls Church in London. Iames King of Scotland made his Epitaph, and both Universities celebrated his death with Funerall Verses.