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The Lord Darley goeth into Scotland. | The Queene of Scots falleth in love with him. | She craveth Queene Elizabeths assent to her marriage .| A consultation about these matters. | Throckmorton sent to hinder the marriage. | The Queene of Scots answer. | Lenox and Darly called home out of Scotland. | They make their excuse. | The Queene of Scots marrieth the Lord Darly. | Murray and others fret at it. | The Queene of England beareth it moderately. | Some of the Scots take Armes. | They are put to flight. | And harboured in England. | Queene Elizabeth perswaded to marry. | The Emperour commendeth his brother. | Hence grow quarels in the Court. | Which Queene Elizabeth compoundeth. | The English Ambassadour neglected in Scotland. | Cecily of Swetheland commeth into England. | The creation of the Earle of Glencarne. | Irish matters. | Lieutenants and Justicers of Ireland. | Discord betwixt the Earles of Desmond and Ormond. | The first President of Munster. | The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner.
HE 
Lord Darly in the meanetime, by the earnest and humble intercession
of his mother to Queene Elizabeth, with much adoe obtained leave to
goe into Scotland and there to stay three moneths, making his
pretence that he might be partener of his fathers restitution. And in
that most sharp Winter, when the Thames was frozen over that men
might goe upon it, he came to Edenburgh in the moneth of February, a
young Gentleman of a beauty most worthy of a Crowne, of very goodly
personage, a most milde disposition, and sweetest manners.
The Queene of Scots no sooner saw him but
presently shee fell in love with him; and to conceale her love shee
conferreth ever and anon with Randolph the English Ambassadour in
Scotland of her marriage with Leicester; and withall sueth for a
dispensation from Rome, for that the Lord Darley and she were so
neere of kinne that by the Canon Law there must needes be a
dispensation. When these things came to light,
she
sent Lidington to Queene Elizabeth, that her marriage with the Lord
Darley might be contracted with her consent, and that she might no
longer be kept from marriage in vaine expectation.
2.
Queene Elizabeth propoundeth the matter to her inwardest Councellours,
who through
the secret suggestions of Murray easily
beleeved that the Queene of Scots designe by this marriage tended to
strengthen her right and Title to the Crowne of England,and to lay
claime to it againe, and withall to rebring backe the Romish
Religion; and that some would adhere unto her for the certainty of
succession by her children by this marriage, and others out of their
affection to the Romish Religion, forasmuch as they knew for certaine
that the farre greater part of the Justicers of peace throughout
England were devoted to the Romish Religion. For the preventing of
these matters they thought it most necessary, first, to make suite to
the Queene to marry some man out of hand, that the welfare and hope
of the English might depend upon the certainety of succession by her
and her issue, and not upon any other. (For they feared lest if the
Queene of Scots should marry first and have issue, more would incline
towards her for the certainty and assurance of succession.) Secondly,
that the profession of the Romish Religion should be infringed as
much as might be thorowout all England, and the profession of the
reformed Religion carefully advanced and established; this later
[latter],
by dealing more moderately with some over-hot Protestants about
indifferent things;
that other, by the new
commitment of the Popish Bishops to custody, that had beene
displaced, and were dispersed abroad in the Couintry during the heate
of the pestilence, by graunting unto the Bishops more ample authority
to exercise the Ecclesiasticall Lawes against that Scare-crow of the Praemunire
which
the Lawyers cast in their way, by suppressing of bookes sent out of the
Netherlands
into England by Harding and
other fugitive Divines, by removing certaine Scottish Priests that
lurked in England, by depriving the English fugitives of their
Ecclesiasticall beneficies which hiterto they enjoyed, and by
compelling the Judges of the Land (which were almost all of them
Papists) to acknowledge the Queenes Supremacy by oath. But for the
breaking off of the marriage with the Lord Darly, it was thought good
that for a terror Souldiers should be be leavied all over the borders
towards Scotland, and that Barwicke should be manned with a stronger
Garrison; that the Countesse of Lenox the Lord Darly’s mother
and her sonne Charle, should be committed to custody; that the Earle
of Lenox and his sonne the Lord Darly should be called home out of
Scotland into England 
upon paine of losse of goods and lands, before such time as any
confederacy should be made with the French King or the Spaniard; that
the Scots which opposed the marriage should be supported; and that
the Lady Catharine Grey with the Earle of Hertford should be received
into some grace, of whom alone the Queene of Scots was thought to
stand in carefull feare, as a competitour in the succession of the
Crowne. And there was not any one thing which in their judgement
could more delay and hinder the said marriage.
3. Hereupon was sent unto the Queene of Scots Sir Nicholas
Throckmorton to put her in mind that it was long time to be
deliberated of, which was but once to be resolved on; that an
hasty marriage was ever-more attended with repentance; and to commend
againe and againe
the marriage with Leicester; that the other match with her aunts
sonne was flatly repugnant to the Popes lawes. For Queene Elizabeth
much desired that by her some man of the English blood might succeed
in both Kingdomes; although there wanted not some which thought it
would make for the safety of Religion and of both Kingdomes if she
might dye without issue. She answered that the
matter could not now bee recalled; neither was there cause why Queene
Elizabeth should be offended, considering by her advice she had
chosen, not a forrainer, but an Englishman, and one that was
descended of the blood Royall of both Kingdomes, and the Noblest man
of all Britaine. Lidington, all this while being in England, at
sundry times colourably propounded to Leicester the marriage of the
Queene of Scots; and also to the Duke of Norfolke, as one farre more
worthy of that Royall match, who at that time put it off with a
modest refusall.
4. The Queene of England, that she might interpose some impediment to
this hasted marriage, recalleth home Lenox and the Lord Darly his
sonne, as her subjects, according to the forme of the licence
graunted. The father most modestly excuseth
himselfe by Letters; the sonne beseecheth her that she will not be
against his honour, signifieth that it may be he may be of use to
England his most deare Country, and openly professeth himselfe to be
a most devoted lover and honourer of the Queene of Scots above all
others. Who, to requite his love, soone after honoured him with the
dignity of Knighthood, and with the Titles of Baron of Ardmanock,
Earle of Rosse, and Duke of Rothsey; and the
fifth moneth after he was come into Scotland, tooke him to her
husband, with the assent of very many of the Nobility, and proclaimed
him King; while Murray, who plotted a part
to serve his owne ambition, and under the glorious pretext of
Religion had drawne to his party the Duke of Chastel-herault, a very
good man, fretted at it, and others rose in commotion, disputing
these questions: Whether a Papist might be admitted to be King?
Whether the Queene of Scotland might choose her a husband at her owne
pleasure? Whether the States of the Realme might impose one upon her
by their owne authority?
5.
The Queene of England, who had knowne the most milde nature and
disposition of
the Lord Darly, and the honest and open heart of his
father, pittying the young man her kinsman, and the young Queene (who
had to doe with most turbulent men, which having been loosed now
above twenty yeeres from the command of a King, knew not know to
brooke Kings), tooke the matter more quietly. And now she feared
nothing from them, when she saw that the power of the Queene her
emulator was nothing augumented by so meane a match, and the Lord
Darly’s mother in her owne power, and foresaw that commotions
would arise hereby in Scotland; which were not long before they were
raised. For some of the Noblemen of Scotland,
especially Hamilton and Murray, disdaining this marriage, Murray for
that it was contracted without the consent of the Queene of England,
and Hamilton in emulation of the house of Lenox, but both of them
under colour of preserving Religion, advanced their Ensignes to
breake off the marriage; insomuch as the Queen was faine to leavy
Forces to celebrate her marriage securely. And so
sharply she prosecuted the Rebels by the King her husband, that she
chased them into England before the English Companies promised them
could come to their succour. And the Queene of
England graunted to Murray by way of connivence a lurking place in
England, being a man most addicted to the English, and secretly
supplied him with money by the hands of the Earle of Bedford, till he
returned into Scotland the next day after David Rizo was slaine,
as in due place we will declare. The
causes why shee admitted Murray and the Scotish rebels into England
were these: for that the Queene of Scots had received into her
protection Yaxley, Standon, and Walsh, English fugitives, into
Scotland, and O-Neal an Irishman, and had plotted with the Pope
against the English, and had not done Justice upon the Rank-riders
and Pirates.
6. This marriage being consummated, nothing seemed better to those
which principally sought the advancement of the Protestants Religion
and the safety of England then that, to weaken the Queene of Scots
hope of the Kingdome of England, Queene Elizabeth should now
seriously apply her minde to marriage. And
very oportunely at that time did the Emperour Maximilian the second
propound honorable conditions of marriage with his brother Charles,
by Adam Smircorite his Ambassadour. At which time
(for what causes I know not, unlesse it were for this marriage),
there arose very grievous quarrels in the Court betweene the Earle of
Sussex which highly favoured the marriage, and Leicester, who in
respect of his owne hopes privily opposed it. (Certainly very great
and shamefull hopes doe they foster, which have already attained
things beyond hope.) And surely Sussex injuriously contemned him as a
new upstart, who (as he was wont to say in detracting him) could
produce no more but two ancestors, namely, his father and his
grand-father, and those both of them enemies and Traitors to their
Country. Hereupon the whole Court was divided into factions and
part-taking, and the Earles, if at any time they went abroad, carryed
with them great traines of followers with Swords and Bucklers, having
iron pikes pointing out at the bosses (which were then in use), as if
it were to try their uttermost. But after a few
dayes the Queene reconciled them, and buryed their malice rather then
tooke it away. For the dissentions of the Nobility, and that common
by-word Divide et impera, that is, Set at odds, and
command, inculcated by some, she condemned, judging that the
force of command consisted in the consent of obeyers; yet now and
then shee tooke pleasure (and not unprofitably) in the emulation and
privy grudges of her women.
7. In the meane time she, being not unmindefull of Scottish matters,
within a moneth or two after the solemnizing of the marriage in
Scotland, sent Tamworth a Gentleman of her Privy Chamber to the
Queene of Scots, to put her in minde of not breaking the peace, to
expostulate her hasty marriage with a native subject of England
without her consent, and withall to require Lenox and the Lord Darly
his sonne to be sent backe into England, according to the forme of
the confederacy, and Murray to be received into grace.
She having secret inkling of the matter,
admitted not the man to her presence, but by Articles put in writing,
promised in the word of a Prince, that neither shee nor her
husband would attempt any thing which should be prejudiciall to the
Queene of England, or to the lawfull children of her body, or to the
tranquillity of the Realme, either by receiving of fugitives, or
making of League with forrainers, or by any other meanes; yea that
they would most gladly contract such a League with the Queene and
Kingdome of England as might be beneficiall and honourable to both
Kingdomes, and would innovate nothing in the Religion, Lawes, and
liberties of England, if ever they should enjoy the Kingdome of
England. Howbeit with this condition, that the Queene of England
would in like sort fully performe the same things her and her
husband, and would by Act of Parliament establish the succession of
the Crowne of England in her person and her lawfull issue, and in
default thereof, in Margaret Countesse of Lenox, her husbands mother,
and her lawfull children. As for other matters, she had advertised
the Queene of marriage with the Lord Darly, as soone as she was
certainely resolved to marry him; but she received no answer. That
she had satisfied the Queenes demands, forasmuch as she had not
married a forrainer, but an Englishman, then whom she knew not any of
more noble blood, nor more worthy of her in all Britaine. But it
seemed strange to her that she should not keepe the Lord Darly with
her, whom she had joyned unto her in holy wedlocke; or should not
stay Lenox in Scotland, who was a native Earle of Scotland. As for
Murray, whom she had found her most mortall enemy, she lovingly
intreateth her to leave her subjects to her owne judgement, for shee
intermeddled not in causes of the subjects of England. With this
answer Tamworth returned having received intertainement smally to his
worth, as he thought; for, being a man of a busie tongue, he had
blotted the Queene of Scots reputation with I know not what obloquie,
and vouchsafed not her husband the Title of King.
8.
At this time these things following fell out for the increase of Queene
Elizabeths
honour, that by meanes of the consenting voyce and
report of all men touching her vertue, Cecily the sister of Erric
King of Swethland [Sweden], and wife of Christopher Marquesse
of Baden, being now great with childe, came a long journey from the
farthermost parts of the North thorow Germany to see her; whom with
her husband she honourably intertained, assigning unto her a yeerly
pension, and Christening her sonne, whom she named Edwardus
Fortunatus; and Donald Mac-Carty More, a great
and mighty Lord of Ireland, upon his knees delivered into her very
hands large territories, that receiving them backe againe from her,
he might hold them in fee ot him and his heires male lawfully
begotten. And for default of such heires, hee granted them to the
Crown of England. She of her courtesie most graciously embracing him
(as shee was a Prince born to winne the love of men) did in her
wisedome invest him solemnly with the Title of Earle of Glencarne,
and his sonne Teg with the Title of Baron of Valentia, gave them
gifts, and bore the charges of their journey, that she might have
them instruments against Desmond, who was now suspected to practice
some innovation.
9. This yeere Sir Nicholas Arnold of Glocestershire, Knight, governed
Ireland with the Title of Lord Justicer, and had not above 1590 men
in Garrisons; but he being soone called home, delivered up his charge
to Sir Henry Sidney, who in the Raigne of Queene Mary had beene for a
while Justicer and Treasurer of Ireland, and was now President of
Wales. The first Presidents of Ireland, whom now
we
call in Latin Pro-reges, that is, Vice-royes, or Deputies,
were (that I may note it by the way) from the first entrance of the
English under Henry the second till King Edward the third’s
dayes called Justicers of Ireland, and Justicers and Keepers of the
Land of Ireland; then Lieutenants, and their Vice-regent Deputies.
Afterward, they were at the Prince his pleasure tearmed sometimes
Deputies, sometimes Justicers, and sometimes Lieutenants (which is a
little more honour), but for the most part with one and the same
authority. And without doubt those first Justicers of Ireland (as the
Justicer of England, who in that age was also for brevity called
Justice) were ordained for keeping of the peace, and ministring of
Justice to all and every person; as were the Propraetors and
Proconsuls in old time among the Romanes, which were sent into a
Providence with highest command.
10. Sidney having taken the charge upon him, found Munster the South
part of Ireland most confused, Girald Earle of Desmond, who had
religiously promised all duties of a faithfull subject, and Thomas
Earle of Ormond, and others, being in hot combustion amongst
themselves, and breaking forth into Civill warres. Insomuch as the
Queen, to take away the strife, sent for Desmond into England, and
ordained a President to minister Justice thorowout that Province,
with an Assistant, two Lawyers, and a Clerke. And
for first President she names Sir Warham Saint-Leger, a man of long
practice and experience in Irish matters.
11.
In the midst of October this yeere, Sir Thomas Chaloner rendered his
soule to
God, being lately returned from his Embassie in Spaine,
a man very famous, borne in London, and brought up in Cambridge, who
had devoted himselfe as well to the Muses as to Mars. Being a young
man, he served under Charles the fifth in the expedition of Algier,
where being shipwrack’t, after he had swumme till his strength
and his armes failed him, at the length catching hold of a cable with
his teeth he escaped, not without the losse of some of this teeth. In
the Raigne of Edward the sixth at Musselborough field, he fought so
manfully that the Duke of Somerset Knighted him. Under Queene
Elizabeth he went on an honourable Embassie to the Emperour
Ferdinand, and was ordinary Ambassadour in Spaine almost foure
yeeres, where in a pure and learned verse he compose five bookes De
Republica Anglorum Instauranda, whilest (as he said) hee
lieved, Hieme in furno, aestate in horreo, that is, In
Winter in a stoove, in Summer in a barne. He was buryed in Pauls
Church in London, with a sumptuous funerall according to his worth,
whereat was present as chiefe mourner Cecyl, for that his sonne
Thomas, who was afterward Governour to Henry Prince of Wales, was not
then growne up.
Norfolke and Leicester made Knights of the French Order. | Graine provided. | Arundell travaileth. | And Englishmen into Hungary. | James the sixth King of the Scots borne. | Queene Elizabeth congratulateth. | She visiteth the University of Oxford. | A Parliament. | The Estates urge the Queene to marriage or a Successor.| The Lords moderately. | The Commons most sharpely. | The Queene taketh it hardly. | Dangers by a successor designed. | And to the designed also. | With gentle words she appeaseth them. | She remitteth part of the Subsidy. | She nippeth the Estates in an Oration. | She openly favoureth the Queene of Scots in the Title of the succession. | The ordination of Bishops confirmed. | Promoters. | The Earle of Bedford. | The Prince of Scotland commended to the Queene of Englands protection. | The death of Mason and Sackville.
N
the beginning of the yeere, Charles the ninth King of France sent
Ramboullet into England to the Queen with the ensignes of the
Cockle-shelled Order of Saint Michael, that she might bestow them on
two Noble men of England at her choise. She chose the Duke of
Norfolke and the Earle of Leicester, Leicester as most deare unto
her, Norfolke as most Noble. Whom Ramboullet solemnly invested in the
Queenes Court at Westminster, after he had beene himselfe honorably
placed for the King his master among the Knights of St. George at
Windsore. Which French Order she then held for a great honour,
remembering that no Englishman had beene chosen into that Order but
her father King Henry the eighth, her brother King Edward the sixth,
and Charled Brandon Duke of Suffolke. Which she, being most observant
of all things which pertaine to honour, grieved to see afterwards
growne vile and base, when she perceived it to be prostituted as it
were to every man without difference. Neither did
she onely regard matters of honour, but above all things most
carefull she was of the safety and welfare of her subjects. For
whereas, through the unseasonablenesse of the ayre, such as were
skilfull feared a dearth of graine, she not onely prohibited the
transportation of graine out of England, but providently also
procured great plenty to be brought in.
2. In the meane time Henry Earle of Arundell, the powerfullest Lord
amongst the Nobility of the Land, after he had in a vaine hope of
marriage with the Queene consumed great wealth, and his hope was
quite dashed (Leicester being now in greatest power with the Queene,
and his friends in Court sayling to his trust), obtained leave under
colour of recovering his health, but indeed to mitigate his griefe,
and voluntarily departed the Land. But others of
the English Nation, who according to their innated fortitude, thought
themselves borne to Armes, not to idlenesse, when Gentlemen out of
all parts of Europe <which> were excited upon the fame of the
warre against the Turkes, went into Hungary. Amongst whom, those of
the better note were Sir John Smith cousan german to King Edward the
sixth, being sonne to Jane Seimors sister, the Kings mother, Henry
Champernoun, Philip Bushide, Richard Grenvill, William Gorges, Thomas
Cotton, and others.
3. In June following was the Queene of Scots, to the perpetuall
felicity of Britaine, happily brought to bed of her sonne James, who
lately was Monarch of Britaine; which she shortly after signified to
Queene Elizabeth by James Melvin. The Queene,
though shee inwardly grieved that she was prevented by her emulator
of the honour of being a mother, yet sent she forthwith Sir Henry
Killegrew to congratulate her delivery and the birth of her sonne,
and to put her in minde no more to favour Shan O-Neal who then
rebelled in Ireland, or to harbour Christopher Rokesbey, a fugitive
out of England, and also to punish certaine Rank-riders upon the
borders.
4. Queene Elizabeth now making her Progresse into the Country to
recreate her minde, that she might shew her selfe no lesse gracious
to the Muses at Oxford then at Cambridge, which gently envyed one
another, went to the University of Oxford, where, being magnificently
intertained, she stayed seven dayes, being much delighted with the
pleasantnesse of the place, the beautifulnesse of the Colleges, and
the wits and most exquisite learning of the Students, who spent a
great part of the night in Comedies and Tragedies, and the dayes in
learned disputations, for which shee gave them large thankes in a
Latin Oration with singular sweetnesse of speech, and so most
graciously bade them farewell.
5. As soone as she returned to London, the Estates of the Realme
assembled themselves in great number the first of November, being the
day appointed by summons; and after they had
passed a bill or two, they began to dispute sharply about the
succession, for that the Queen as it were vowed to virginity, did now
in full 8 yeeres think nothing seriously of a husband, and on the one
side the Papists propounded unto themselves the Queene of Scots,
which had newly brought forth a sonne, and on the other wise the
Protestants with different affections propounded to themselves, some
one man, and some another, and every of them having respect to his
owne security and Religion presaged the stormes of a most fearfull
time, if she should dye without a certaine successor. And so farre
brake forth their sharpe and hot spirits that they taxed the Queene,
as if she neglected her Country and posterity, defamed Cecil with
slaunders and scandalous books, as a corrupt Counsellour in this
matter, and cursed Huic the Queenes Phisition, as a disswader of her
marriage for I wot not what womanish impotency. The Earles also of
Pembroke and Leicester and others openly, and the Duke of Norfolke
more closely, thought that an husband was to be imposed upon the
Queene, or a successor to bee publickly designed by an Act
of Parliament, even against the Queenes will. Whereupon they were
excluded out of the Presence Chamber, and prohibited accesse to the
Queene. But they soone submitted themselves to the Queene, and
obtained pardon.
6.
Yet they and the rest of the higher House, being carefull for a
successor, besought
the Queene with all earnestnesse by the mouth of
Bacon Lord Keeper their Speaker, according to the duty which they owe
to God, their Alleageance to their Prince, and love to their Country,
that forasmuch as by her they now quietly enjoyed all the benefites
of Peace, Justice, and Clemency, both they and their posterity might
securely and alwayes enjoy the same by her. But (say they) they
cannot enjoy the same, unlesse she marry, and withall designe a
Successor. Above all things therefore they doe wish and pray her that
she will joyne her selfe in the sacred bond of marriage to
whomsoever, wheresoever, and how soone soever it may please her, to
the end she may have children to bee Pillars of the Realme; and
withall that she will with the Estates of the Realme constitute and
appoint a Successor, if shee or her children (which God forbid)
should dye without issue. That they should so earnestly begge this,
which is so mainely necessary, there are (say they) many causes, to
wit, the fresh feare which invaded all men, when very lately her
health was indangered; the opportunity of the time, when the Estates
of the Realme were now assembled, who would maturely deliberate of so
weighty matters; the terror which she should strike into her
adversaries; and the immortall joy wherewith shee should replenish
all her subjects. They commend the example of her Ancestours, which
in such cases have prudently provided for the security of their
posterity, condemning that spech of Pyrrhus, who said hee would leave
the Kingdome to him which had the sharpest sword. Moreover they
propound how great a storme of calamities would hang over England if
she should put off her mortality, designing no certain Successour;
that seditions and Civill warres would breake forth, wherein the
victory itselfe were most miserable; that Religion would be
abolished, Justice smothered, the Lawes trodden under feet, when
there would be no certaine Prince, which is the soule of the Lawe,
and that the Kingdome would fall as a prey to forrainers. And other
calamities of that sort they reckon up and exaggerate, wherein all
men would be involved if she should dye without issue. Out of the
sacred Scriptures also they modestly joyne hereunto precepts,
counsels, and examples.
7. But in the lower House, some there were which handled these things
more tumultuously, namely, Bell and Monson great Lawyers, Dutton,
Paul Wentworth, and others, which rent the authority of the Queenes
Majesty too much, and amongst other things imputed that Kings are
bound to designe a Successour, that the love of the subjects is the
strongest, yea the impregnable Fort of Princes, and their onely prop
and pillar. But this love Princes cannot get, unlesse they cause that
it may goe well with their subjects, not onely while they live
themselves, but after their deaths also. And this can by no meanes be
effected, unlesse there be a Successor certainely knowne. That the
Queene by not designing a Successor, doth both provoke the wrath of
God and alienate the hearts of her people. But, that she may have God
favorable to her, and her people most loving and fast tyed unto her,
and that she may erect Statues for her selfe in mens mindes never to
decay, let her designe a Successour. If not, she may be spoken of as
a nurse, not as a mother of her Country, but as a step-mother, nay,
as a parricide of her Country, which had rather that England which
now breathed with her breath, should together with her expire, then
survive her.That no Prince but cowards, and such as are hated of
their owne people, and timorous women, have ever stood in feare of
their Successours, and the dangers of a designed Successour are not
to be feared of that Prince which is fortified with the love of his
people.
8. All this Queen Elizabeth heard with much discontentment, yet for a
while she either contemned it, or concealed it within her brest. For
she knew, being taught by experience, how
great danger would threaten her by having a Successour designed,
forasmuch as in the Raigne of Queen Mary many of the Nobility and
people had cast their eyes and minds upon her, because she was to
succeede her; whatsoever was said or done in the Queenes private
Chamber, or Privy Councell, they presently revealed unto her; and
Wyat and others, not content with their estate, and greedy of
innovation, had conspired against Queene Mary, to place her in the
Throne, when she full little thought of it. She knew that the hopes
of competitours would be better kept in, and themselves contained in
their duty, while shee held them every one in suspence and
expectance, and proclaimed none. She knew that children, out of an
over-hasty desire to raigne, had taken armes against their owne
Parents; neither could there any greater kindnesse be expected from
kinred. She had observed in reading, and discoursing now and then she
called to remembrance, that successours in a collaterall line had
seldome been proclaimed, that Lewis of Orleance, Successor to Charles
the eighth, and Francis of Angolesme, Successour to Lewis in the
Kingdome of France, were never declared, yet succeeded they without
any stirre. That the designation also in
England had ever beene the undoing of them that had been designed.
For Roger Mortimer Earle of March, designed heire to the Crowne by
King Richard the second, was in short time extinct; his sonne Edmund
was for no other cause shut up in prison in Ireland full twenty
yeeres, and there languished to death. John De-la-Poole Earle of
Lincolne, designed Successour by Richard the third when his sonne was
dead, was alwaies suspected by Henry the seventh, and in the end,
attempting new matters, was slaine in the field; and his brother
Edmund beheaded under Henry the eighth. But these things may seeme
beside the purpose.
9. But whereas there were some which ceased not with vehemency of
minde and sharpe inforcement, daily more and more to urge and
exclaime these things which I have said, and more biting speeches
then these also, she caused thirty of the highest House, and as many
of the Lower, to be picked out, and to come before her, whom with
gentle reprehension she appeased, and with her Majesty, wherein was
very much authority, diverted them from their purpose, promising
largely not onely the care of a Prince, but also the affection of a
mother. And whereas the Estates had offered farre
greater subsidies then they were wont, upon condition that she would
designe a certaine Successour, she flatly refused that extraordinary
offer, accepted an ordinary summe, commending their affection, and
freely remitted the fourth payment of the subsidy that was granted,
saying that money in her subjects cofers was as well as in her
owne.
10. The last day of this Parliament shee made a short speech to the
Estates to this effect, which I will more shortly abridge. Whereas
Princes words doe enter more deepely into mens eares and mindes, take
these things from our mouth. I that am a lover of the simple Truth,
have ever thought you likewise to be ingenuous lovers of the same.
But I have been deceived. For I have found that in this Parliament
Dissimulation hath walked up and downe, masked under the vizard of
Liberty and Succession. Of your number some there are which have
thought that Liberty to dispute of the Succession, and to establish
the same, is forthwith either to be granted or denyed. If we had
granted it, these men had had their desire, and had triumphed over
us. And if we had denyed it, they thought to have moved the hatred of
our people against us, which our mortallest enemies could never yet
doe. But their wisdome was unseasonable, and their counsels
over-hasty, neither did they foresee the event. Yet hereby we have
easily perceived who incline towards us, and who are adverse unto us.
And wee see that your whole house may be devided into foure sorts.
For some have been plotters and authours, some actors, which with
smooth words have perswaded, some which have consented being seduced
with smooth words, and some which have beene silent, admiring such
boldnesse; and these certainely are the more excusable. Doe ye thinke
that we neglect your safety and security by the Succession? Or that
we have a will to infringe your Liberty? Be it farre from us. We
never thought it. But indeed we thought good to call you backe when
ye were running into the pit. Every thing hath his fit season. Ye may
peradventure after us have a wiser Prince; but a more loving towards
you, ye shall never have. For our part, whether we may see such a
Parliament againe, wee know not. But for you, take heed, lest ye
provoke your Princes patience. Neverthelesse, of this be assured,
that we thinke very well of most of you, and doe imbrace every one of
you with our former kindenesse, even from our heart.
11. Thus by a womans wisdome she suppressed these commotions, which
Time so qualified, shining ever cleerer and cleerer, that very few,
but such as were seditious or timorous, were troubled with care about
a Successour. And certainely the most sort of men, whatsoever they
pretend, have no more feeling in publicke matters then concerneth
their owne private. Neverthelesse, that the
Successour might be the more certainely knowne, whom shee, according
to the most undoubted right intended, she cast Thornton into the
Tower, being at this time Reader of Law in Lincolnes Inne in London;
of whom the Queene of Scots complained, that in his reading he had
called her Title in question.
12.
In this Assembly of the Estates (besides other things for the benefit
of the Common-wealth), a declaration was made by joynt consent of all
men, That the election, consecration, confirmation, and
investiture of the Archbishops and Bishops of England (which some
had by way of calumniation called in question) were lawfull, and
that the said Bishops were elected and consecrate rightely, and
according to the Actes and Statutes of the Realme. And it was
also enacted, That both they, and those which were from
thenceforth in like manner to be consecrated, were and should be
rightly and duly consecrate, any Law and Canon to the contrary
whatsoever notwithstanding. For the Papists depraved them as
false and counterfeite Bishops, peradventure for that the Unction,
the Ring, the Crosier-staffe, with the Benediction were not used; and
as if they were not ritely ordinated by three Bishops, which might by
an ascending line referre their ordination to the Apostolike
authority received from Christ. Which notwithstanding (as by the
Registers appeareth), they might most truely have done, being
consecrated with devout prayers, godly invocation of the holy Spirit,
the imposition of three such Bishops hands, a Sermon preached, and
the celebration of the Lords Supper.
13. About this time was restrained by wholesome severity the
insolents of certaine bad people, which here and there offered
violence, beat, and openly in the streetes cryed out against those
Informers whom the vulgar sort call Promoters. About the same time
also approached the day appointed for the baptizaing of the Prince of
Scotland; at whose Christening the Queene of England being requested
to be Godmother, sent the Earle of Bedford with a Font of gold for a
present, and commanded expressly that neither he, nor the Englishmen
that were in his company, should
give the Lord Darly the Title of
King.
14.
The solemnity being finished, the Earle of Bedford, according to his
instructions,
dealt with the Queene of Scots, that the
domesticall jarrings betwixt her and her husband might be compounded
(for certaine ill-willers, sworne enemies to them both, had cunningly
taken away that most sweet society of life and love betwixt them),
and that the Treaty of Edenborough might be confirmed. This latter
she flatly denyed, alleaging that there was somewhat in the Treaty
which might be prejudiciall to her and her childrens Title to the
Crowne of England. Yet shee promised to send Commissioners to England
to treate of the confirming thereof, some things being altered, to
wit, that she should abstaine from the Title and Armes of England, as
long as Queene Elizabeth and those which should bee borne of her
should live, as if it were conceived in the Treaty that she should
abstaine from them altogether. Which Commissioners should also
informe her how fouly shee was wrong’d through the bad practices
of those that too much abused the ingenuous credulity of her
husband. And now being sicke and weake, she
commended by her Letters her young sonne to the trust and protection
of Queene Elizabeth, wherein though shee knew (I use the
very
words of her Letter) that shee was undoubted heire of England
after the Queene, and that many men forged much matter against her
Title, she promised that she would no longer urge any declaration
of her Title, but with all affection assist, and alwayes adhere unto
her against all men.
15. This yeere and the same day dyed two of the Privy Councell, John
Mason Treasurer of the Queenes Chamber, a grave and learned man, a
great intruder into Ecclesiasticall livings; and Sir Richard Sackvill
Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer, a provident wise man, and the
Queenes kinsman by his mother, which was a Bolen. In this Sackvils
place was substituted Sir Walter Mildmay, an upright and most advised
man; and in the roome of the other succeeded Sir Francis Knolles, who
had married Catherine Cary, the Queenes cousin german by Mary
Bolen.