'An Answer to a Pamphlet Slandering Queen Elizabeth (1600?)'

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An Ans[we]r to a Pamplet Slandering Q[ueen] Eliz[abeth]

There is an idle Pamphlett suffered w[i]th as little discre[cio]n to be put in prynt vnder the name of an Englishman, inventing more spitefully against the {rem} Netherlandees then w[i]th any sence of reason, and so basely barking at the name of a glorious Queene as therein a malicious hvmo[u]r mij appeare/ And the Workeman you maij Marke hym bij so vild a Worke Indeed of a Corrupt stomacke that belcheth for the vnsavorij stuffe not fearing the blasting of the displeasvre of the highest.

This maketh me to Call to mind a mischeivous pamphlett long sithence sett forth in the French tonge, after the Massacre in france Where to make svch a peece of Worke more svtable bij the entitled Avtho[u]r it bare in the Fore front the name of [th]e English Catholique Insynuateing therbij that a Revolted Englishman is a fitt Instrument for anij evill matter.

As there is nothing more Comelij then the visage of a man in health & in good plight, So there is no shape more deformed then the face of a man disfigured So surelij a true Englishman will borne bredd and retayneing his true faith and naturall allegance is a worthij Creature, But fallen from his originall integritij into Treason or sovn {vnn} aturall Recusance is indeed a a base & unwrthy person, as vglij to be Consi dre{dr}ed in himselfe as vnmeete to teach others and whij: their preaching is of Cvrseing and lyes That great Emp[er]or Father to king Philip the Second would saij he liked the Treson well to make vse of it but never Could awaij w[i]th the p[er]son44v p[er]son of a Traitor Neither did either of them boeth greatlij respect anij Fugitives but onlij to serve there owne tvrne. /

For the belchinges in his Pamphlett breathed out against the Netherlandes thovgth there is nothing but frothe and Fome I will not doe that nac[i]on wrong to forestall the Answeareinge the same bij them that will doe it w[i]th the penn and knowledge as they have defended there Cuntreij w[i]th ther swords & great Cvrrage Left margin: Courage But where so lavish tongues attempt malisiouslij to touch the sacred Left margin: sacred name of that glorious Queene whose memorij & fame doth more & more increase & never will be forgotten. Trulij there hardlij Can bee found anij but this Counterfeit English, that durst adventure to Cast vp such foule aspersions against her Cleere renowne: And I doe thinke theire heartes trembled w[i]thin them that handled that blurring penn, vnto whome when shee was alive theij did bend dissembling knees w[i]th great {ease}, they Cannot assuredlij unspeake of her nowe shee is dead w[i]thout a guiltij Conscience But as theij did bij a Contynuall trayve of mischeivous plotts seeke to take awaij her deare life, whose blood was precious in the sight of the most highest, and to vexe and disquiet her w[i]th p[er]nicious Iterated practises, to disturbe & trouble the quiet Calm[m]e of her estate, that for manij yeares she stood vpon her Centynell & Contynuall watche 45r haveing her trust in the tender mercye of God for ever. Wherein the lord that Careth for his Chosen did hyde her precious life in his presence from the provoking of all men. God was her refuge and defence in the dutijaij of trouble & sett her on a Rocke too high for them. Hee was her help hope and a strong Tower against the Enemye. So their malice being the more inflamed the lesse it did prevaile After he descease Left margin: decease theij still p[er]secute her fame and good name, w[i]th vyld & dailij new devi sed slanders. Their practises Could not tuch her princlij life, nor their slaunders shall be able to taijnt her glorious name. /

Some soyle and dust maij bee Cast on the cleerest Christall but quickelij shaked off & wiped off the pristinate Left margin: pristinate beautij will appeare. / This is the Ancient Enmitij and deadlij fewde which the feynd hath taken vp even at the Creac[i]on of Adam The trace is followed bij his hellhoundes, houndes of blvd, that hunt after the sweet scent of the memorable fame of Gods Chosen. But like madd enraged Cvrres after barking snarleing and hauling, Choller boyling w[i]thin them, theij Cast up their lothsome stomacke and sluring over it, theij licke it vp againe w[i]th ther slavering tongues. /

Lett them bee confounded o lord, Lett the lying lippes bee pvt to Confvsion, wich which Crvelly disdaynefullij and despightfullij speake against the Righteous. The Lord shall keepe his Chosen secretlij in his Tabernackelle from the strife of tovggnes.

Yea happij are they when men revyle them and p[er]secvte them and saij all manner of evill against them for his sake, falsly 45v Theij taxe her w[i]th a pvrpose to leave her Realme in vncertaintij, so to fall into Confusion. That indeed is the point that such Companions did hope after & long for, and this is their greife, that the sacred Ma[jes]ty of o[u]r most Noble king was so generallij acknowledged w[i]th svch fvll and vniforme applavse. As afterwardes theirs theis and their like had resort to wicked Tresons the like befor whereof weare never heard in former tyme And I shall never hold them for more Left margin: Herbert Croftes then svspect that weare so well thought of bij the Powder Traito[u]rs howe to bee spared, and theij to bee warned not to bee at the Parlyament hovse when the blowe was to bee given. and at that tyme held their peace. Of whome some are nowe in choseLeft margin: choyse partes. Thovgh a wortheij noble p[er]son started at svch suddaine and Clowdye warning & theire by Gods p[ro]vidence and to his ever worthy praise Intymac[i]on was taken and well followed euen by the inspired wisedome of o[u]r most prvdent King to the fvll discou[er]y of this vncouth Treason. /

Concerning that Asserc[i]on of the Qveenes Irresoluc[i]on I showld doe that worthy Ladye great wrong to bee silent in that slaunder, my selfe w[i]th many other being able to saij the Contrary, that shee in tended the svccession whereof right it did descend, Which a worthij and most Noble Earle yet alive the Auncientest Counsellor in Christendome is able to affirme, And a great Counsellor sonne of a great and worthy Covnsello[u]r decesed, hath trvly confirmed But whether theis and their like had a squint Eye to looke ascue on a fayned title, theire bookes extant This is the Ancent Enmity & deadly fewde w[i]thich the feynd hath taken vp even at the Creac[i]on of Adam. The trace is followed by his hellhoundes, houndes of bloud that hunt after [th]e sweet sent of the46r Doe shewe and some of their secrett letters are yet to bee seene For the manner of her death. Her sicknes was a kind of sleepynes, relaxac[i]on and stillnes of the sences But what shee saiid of the succession of the Crowne was evident. None should weare her crowne but her that bore a crowne. And how Left margin: when the Archbishop of Canterbury Doctor Whitgift praying bij her Left margin: {an}d she holding {hi}m by the hand {sh}e lifted vp {h}er eyes w[i]th g w[i]th great Contynuall and settled devoc[i]on and wovld not let his hand goe by any meanes So leaving the world in great peace & sueetly yeilding up w[i]thovt any disquietnes her{}e last breath, and her soule to God, shee Changed this life for a better. For a good life hath her dayes numbred but a good name endvreth for ever. /

For that other Engli slaunder (against soe great & gracious a Qveene) of this English Observer as hee termeth himselfe borne p[er]haps in this land, but Cast out as the foameLeft margin: foame out of Cleere water: Hee had p[er]haps read the saying of the Luwis {Castrocany} that governed that Cittye and territorye w[i]th Tyrany and vsed such desp[er]ate wordes when he dyed Her body was buried in peace and her name Liueth for euermore The Aspersion that is layd ont that Qveene in this libel for staing of the monaij sent bij sea into the Lowe Countries so manij yeares sithence. Left margin: pertaynedItt is most apparent that the monaij p[er]teyned to some Merchantes of Ornaa and the Qveene being advertised of the same by the Cardynall Chatillion and afterwardes w[i]th more Certainty, shee tooke that Discreete Covrse which anij Prynce may lawfvlly doe and shee vndrst had great reason to doe it, vnderstanding that the same was partly destinated to bee employed against her in the Rebelion of the North, broken forth a litle before & indede before the appointed tyme,

Whereby the Cheifest svpply was broken likewise for the assistance of the Rebells. Which wisely that Queene did not forbeare to tell vnto Chiapin Vitelle Marynes of Cetona. when hee was sent to the Qveene from the dvke of Alua. Hee having some infermitij in his feete vsed a staffe to staij him.

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The Qveene told hym hee came to her as a Captaine and leader of men w[i]th his Trvncheon, not as an Embassador For that indeed was the part hee was appointed to play in the Rebellion.

Many yet alive have seene the gent[leman] of Genoa Left margin: Genoa that was sent vnto her Ma[jes]ty at the house of Benedict Spinola in Favchurch streete, who was expressely sent hyther to demand that moneij & to take order w[i]th her Ma[jes]ty for the repayment of the same to the Contentment of the Owners. And it is most Certaine had not the providence of that Qveene taken order for the safetye of that Messe of money, it was in apparent danger to haue fallen into the handes of those that wovld haue kept it from the Duke of Alua, & p[er]haps kept him good game w[i]th it. By the meanes of the Qveene, the money was saved from intercepting & noe wrong done or Cavse of Complaint to any but to those that had hope to have gotten the same to have employed it even against the Duke of Alua. For it is Most Certayne that S[i]r William Winter did rescue one of [th]e shipps out of the handes of the French Pirattes that were redij to boord her & Carry her away, So as the Genowaies weare beholding to her Ma[jes]ty princely Care.

Where in this treatise large menc[i]on is made of the favor the king of Spaine king Philipp did shewe to her then the ladij Elizabeth in the tyme of Qveene Marie. This gratefull Qveene never did Conceale the same, Yea, I mij selfe have heard her make ample acknowledgement thereof And I may adde that which in the historie of her life is sett downe that the affecc[i]on of that king was soe great towardes her, as hee desired after the disease of her sister to marrye her. But that the king stood so stifflij for the redeliu[er]ye of Calice the Case is mvch mistaken. For no man knewe the passages better then the lord Burleigh Secretary to her Ma[jes]ty at that time who ever Constantly Devyed the same. And it was given in the Instrucc[i]on & in a declaration to a servant of hers she 47r sent vnto the king of Spaine, amongst other his vnfrendlij dealinges to put him in mynd howe vnkyndlij hee had Carryed hymselfe in that treatye. The Declarac[i]on which was warranted w[i]th her owne hand is extant amongst other things passed in her Raigen in those Monumentes kept nowe in Whitehall in theis very wordes.

First wee may Call to mind that peace very well knowne which was made by his Catholique Left margin: {M}a[jes]tie w[i]th the {F}rench king not {l}ong after the decease of his &c Decease of his Royall Spose Queene Marie & her Royall Ma[jes]tys sister. Which peace was greatly advantagious to hym in the Recou[er]eing of many townes: But to her Ma[jes]ty and the Crowne of England of exceeding damage and losse, for neglecting the Restituc[i]on of Calice. Which hee ought to have regarded for the late Remembrance of the benifitt bij the Auxiliary forces which hee had receved from her Ma[jes]ty sister And that not only at his intreaty & motion the Crowne of England was engaged in the French warre. Wherevpon ensved the taking away of that towne out of the handes of the English after the most famous king of England had heald the same in great honnor for the space of many yeares.

It may bee likewise bee added that when the Crowne of England had Contynued in great tranquilyty & peace w[i]th her neighbor Nac[i]on & indeed w[i]th all the Prynces of Christendome. Neu[er]theles for the Catholiques kings sake only shee fell at varyance w[i]th the French king &c where by that warre was kyndled which presently ensved w[i]th the French & o[u]r Neighbor Nac[i]on, The Realme of England at one and the same tyme svsteyning the envasions of bothe Which notw[i]thstanding being so besett on eu[er]y side for his only Cavse, the Catholique king was so farre from asisting vs, as Contrariewise hee embraced peace w[i]th ovr Adversaries &c.

The Catholique king likewise refused to renewe the treatij betweene the hovse of Burgundie & England, Wonderfull thinges might be declared that the Realme of England hath well deserved of the Catholique king as wee incurred the 47v ill will both of the French and Scottes, then vnder the French by reson of the intermarringe betweene the French & them. By those warres shee had brovght her selfe into those trobles. And then to bee forsaken What was it? but to testfie a plaijne deserc[i]on & determenation to embrace freindship w[i]th others. Further to shewe his adverse mann[er] both to the Que[en] and the Realme, hee sent backe to her Ma[jes]ty the Order of the Garter.

In the same declarac[i]on afterward is handled at large the Iustifieing of her Ma[jes]ty touching the taking into her handes the money of the Genowaies There are sundry other declarac[i]on sett forth at those tymes that doe fully answeare all the obiecc[i]on nowe raked out of the ashes after so many yeares past by theis Observers, Who as it seemes would spend all there breath to blowe the Coales to rayse a newe fier out of those Cynders if they may bee able to doe it.

But to Cleeare this poynt, true it is the king of Spaine stood stiffly at the first vpon the restituc[i]on of Calice but for an other end & purpose. The French did shewe in that treaty they made svch accompt of that towne as they Condisended sooner to the kinges demavnds to yeild vp aboue 100 townes rather then to forgoe Calice.

The king that made the demavnd of Calice to make his bargaine, soe to gett the possession by that means of the places hee desired, when the French Condisiended to that hee Cheiflij fovght, hee easilij left of to insist vpon the restituc[i]on of Calice, & made his peace w[i]th the French king Which the Frinch do remember to bee the most dishonorable & vnproffitable peace that euer France did make. And therefore [th]e Queene had great reason to make menc[i]on to the king of Spaine amongst other vnkyndnesses of the losse of this Towne in the tyme of the intermarriage w[i]th her sister, who was drawne into opne warres w[i]th the French king 48r for his quarrell, and by whose ayd and healpe of her people he gott St Quintins Wherefore in honnor hee showld have endeavoured effectually the restituc[i]on there of, and not to leave svch a blott vpon his name, that Calice being of many yeares kept in o[u]r possession from the tyme of Edward the Third shovld bee lost in the Raigne of that Potent king.

Trve it is indeed when the Qveene did discover that the king vsed this pretence to another endend and to make thereby his one advantage; p[er]ceiving the Frinch to drive hym from that demand, would yeild to what els hee Could wishe, hee had his desier, & shee treated for her selfe as an absolvte Prynce that would not march vnder his banner. For this treaty was begunne in the tyme of her sister at Cambray. And some svch proposic[i]ons weare made as in a Pryncly mind shee had reason to neglect, saying shee would not buy a Fishertowne w[i]th svch a baite.

To what end is it heere sett downe that Queene Elizabeth went ordynaryly to Masse in her sister Queene Maries tyme, & had Masse in her Chappell after shee Came to the Crowne, and that the same was vsed in the Realme a long season, when many living vntell this day Cane averre the Contrarie. But what was left out and what was read in English, and what rust was wyshed wyped away, either he listeth not to mention or is not quoted in his Observac[i]on. To more pvrpose it weare to tell hym that all o[u]r Papistes for manij yeares went duely to heare divine service in her Ma[jes]ty tyme in the English tongve vntill of late yeares. But hee hath no mynd to sett downe howe Queene Marie did in her stile which is to be seene vnder the great seale of England tearme her selfe Supreame Head of the Church in England and Ireland, which the Queen neuer did48v Neither will hee acknowledge that the pope did offer to Queene Elizabeth to allowe the Leturgie wee had in English if shee would acknowledge his Supremacy But for the word Supremacy, shee neuer assumed it nor did like it to bee applyed to her title Where most impudently it is set downe in the Pamphlett, that the troubles of the Lady Elizabeth weare for sundry offences against Queene Marie her sister, which being found to be svch might p[er]haps have Cost her her life if they had Come to publique tryall of Iustice, I may say as he saith of that industrious p[er]son Mr Fox, If any such had beene you should have seene them sett downe in Capitall letters. And soe farre is it from truthe as this Libell Author or Authors Could not tell what to in vent, wherein is made true in themselues that saing. That such as dispence with there allegence make withall shipwracke of all consciene. Theis men turne Good into {s}oyll and where no spott Left margin: spott is fynd defectes.

But such was the Innocencye of that ladye as shee wrote in the wyndowes of her lodgeing in the tower yet to bee seene and other places w[i]th a dyamond Many thinges haue {beea} beine obiected against mee, but nothing proued can bee. So shee gave for her devyse a Sive For shee had beene sifted and fanned w[i]th all Curious devyses but no Chaffe found. Her Posie was Semper eadem. w[i]th that severity weare those of the Conspiracye of Wiatt exa[m]y[n]ed. some of her servantes imprisoned and 49r racked but nothing found to touch her. Howe vnrespec tiuely did Benefeild the lietenant of the Tower behave hy[m]selfe before her and towards her to blow whome after shee Came to the Crowne shee only sayd. Wen shee had any that weare to bee straytly kept shee would appoint hym to haue the Charge of them.

Indeede there weare some of the Clergye at that tyme who did vehemently pushe at the desracc[i]on of this Innocent Ladie. But the Lord God did manifestly shewe his favor and power both to her the Realme, and for the Good of all Christendome in her deliu[er]ye They weare inflamed w[i]th rage like Blood suckers so as they pressed heresye or Conspiracye, whereinto neither the king nor the lordes thovght it fitt to offend the world, a young ladie, nor their consciences so farre. Blessed bee the lord God that hath pleasvre in the prosperity of his seruant, hee remayneth a victorious king for ever.

The great respect king Edward the Sixth did beare to the ladie Marie was in another manner very gratious, as is to bee seene by those thinges which are yet extant of that tyme sent by Messages and Letters vnto her, and her Carriage and answeares very stout Left margin: stout and to say truthe shewing a great and Princely mynd. Neverthe les it Canot bee denyed but shee yeilded furder in king Edwardes tyme, then ever the Queene did in her tyme.

But these kind of men whose heartes are in ther mouthes shewing in theire writinges svch spightfull spirittes towardes her that was theire Sou[er] aigne, soe many yeares, after her decease, discouer their hollowe hearttes towardes them alive and soe shewe what race they are of, and 49v howe such p[er]sons may bee accounted of. Some of them desended from those that weare highly bound to her Ma[jes]ty and euen themselues to his Royall Ma[jes]ty

What showld I say of them tell them The wordes of ther mouth are full of deceat. their inward partes burne altogether w[i]th mischeife. They ioij therein they goe beyond all modestye in their vyld Invenc[i]ons And as on of them said long sithence, being by Another of their society told that hee had sett downe so vnlikely an vntruthe that might have beene forborne, Itt is all the better so long as svch Ingredyentes haue op[er]ac[i]on and wyll worke. {q[ue] he}. Men that are accustomed to opprobrious wordes and vse the trade of lyeing and slaundering, thougth none doe beleeue them, yet they take such a habite therein by Custome as they beleeue theire owne invenc[i]ons.

Breifly at the same Posterne where due allegeance goeth forth rusheth in a pestilent Corrupc[i]on that infecteth all the spirittes. Treasons & false Accusac[i]ons are their Familiars True Englishmen keepe yo[u]r naturall tincture. Itt is an hon[ora]ble marke and repentac[i]on, a noble Character, to bee a loyall Subiect, a True Englishman.

Bee Resident vpon that stay and be not like vagrant p[er]sons to alter & Waver in the reght course of true obedience and native fidelity, as theis landleppers who, Cum esto {mutare} animum as an old English Poet saijeth. 50r As {Renyed} Caitiffes wretchles runne about, and thincke they proffitt not vnles they Chainge both their faith and fidelity.

Thes are the first fruites they must yeild of ther Conversion, Indeed easily learned when the other is cast off. to slander boldly Machiauell is nowe quite put downe since theis newe schoolemen haue sett vp shop For {witt} policy is no more in request that dare not looke vp to heaven, wher they bend themselues to followe their badd purposes: Men are nowe tought by the Rules and Rudymentes of are theis new Fathers, to be Confirmed in theis horrible Prynciples, and that by ReigionLeft margin: religion to: Never has theire Impiety so impious that durst prophane holy sacred Religion, to mayntaine theis p[er]nicious and prophane posic[i]ons, to thinke to doe service to God, and to merritt by abandoneing faith and fidelity, by Comitting treacherye & Treason, They are a renewed Generation of AssassinesthoughtLeft margin: taught in this prophane Alcoran. And first as Children beginne to learne to speakk, so they must mispeake misreport and slander, and the more boldlij impudently and scandalously they doe it, they are the better schollers, and lickely to proue p[ro]fessed Maisters. Ile goe no further. but let not the sereine of a blazing tongue terrify you. Shall Rayling and despightfull speeches daunt or dull the edge of any well affected mynd. Assure you there is a reward for the Righteous, doubtles ther is a God that Iudgeth the earth.

Thus theis Observaciones passe to the offer that as was made to her Ma[jes]ty of the lowe Countries.

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Att that season it is Certayne there weare many yooung and hott sperittes in the Court that did vse large and liberall discourse in that Case That the Qveene showld doe well to thake the offer and opportunity Which Came to the Queenes eare and even at that tyme I heard her say that shee was not ignorant of the speeches which weare vsed, that if king Henry the Eight had beene then aliue, hee would not have lett psse that oppertunity, but have taken hold thereof to assure his estate and augment his dominions. But that her sexe was not fitt for those Acc[i]ons nor for such Courses. I thancke god said shee I shall neuer want the Royall spiritt of my father to defend my honnor & State, and such pusillanimity shall neuer harbor in my brest, but that mynd a Royall King Queene ought to beare.

What king Henry my Father would have done in this Case is an imp[er]tynent reasoning. For my owne part I will doe that which I may answeare to all the world and before God, that my conscience and a good Conscience shall warrant mee, which in all these great Cases shall overway w[i]th mee. But this Pamphlett discour esesLeft margin: discourses indeed Came out of a shallowe brayne. For those thinges therein so sillilij handeled haue beene better hammered then their Capacity is able to reache vnto, or wthin the compasse of their knowledge. And though they knowe little yet as the Proverbe sayth ther is Craft in daubing The daubing is very rougth.

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and the Craft more malicious then workemanlike or trewly done Right margin: truely don

For looke into the passages of that tyme theij will shewe them, howe when the French weare purposed to accept the like offer, the Queene sent word to the French king, that if hee did embrace that offer shee would ioyne w[i]th the king of Spaine against hym, and diverted hym quite from giving eare to those proposic[i]ons. Readread in the History of the lowe Countries the treating of that Negociac[i]on Observe I say those occurrentes it will bee mayntayned that the Queene preserved those countries for the king of Spaine if the vnsupportable Cariage of his Governor had not made the breach to loose them quite. But theis thinges were handeled so at large as it is to litle purpose to revive [th]e same, the king of Spaine having treated w[i]th them in those termes hee hath done, and the direcc[i]ons given to her Ma[jes]ty Embassador, his treating accordingly w[i]th the French king at larg are yet all extant and to bee seene, and the occasions of sending Mr Wilkes at that thym tyme vnto Spaine Therefore if this pretended English fewe ar more bee able to doe the king of Spaine no better service w[i]th ther sword then w[i]th their penn and observac[i]ons, they doe this wayes begge thainkes undeservedly and hee will {Conne} them but small {mercedes}./

Where he taxeth that worthy Queene of laying more taxac[i]ons on her Subiectes, then her Auncestors since the Conquest, they are not so Conversant in histories of this Realme, as they Left margin: or hee might have beene,

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if thay had applijed themselves to read only the life of Edward the Third, who raysed more to atcheive his Conquestes, then euer the Queene did for the defence of her Relmes. Neither will they bee a knowne when shee had not those vrgent occasions, shee remitted a Subsidy granted bij Parliament saying, Itt was as ready in the handes of her Subiectes as her Coffers, who might in the meane season make vse of it to their proffitt and shee when there showld bee necessary employment for the good of the Realme But by her provident Care God bee thancked that great masse of money was stayd within the Realme which in former tymes was Carryed to Rome to farre greater som[m]es euen for trashe & trump[er]ye and to mayntayne their pryde and pompe & division and warres amongst Christian Prynces.

Here the Observator make a Note out of a former libell of that vild Parson of leavying and sending soe many seuldiers forth of the Realme to assist other Nac[i]ons which was Fathered vpon the lord Cheife Baron Manwood, who being there w[i]thall Charged before the lordes of her Ma[jes]ty Counsell by her Ma[jes]ty expresse dyrecc[i]on, vtterly denyed the matter and that opnion.

This Observer setteth downe the Iniuries done by the Netherlanders to the subiectes of this Realme not for any Good that may appeare is wished to vs by this treatise, wherein hee doth so unworthily deprave that worthy ladije Left margin: Lady sometymes their Sou[er]aigne but to followe his purpose, to make them seeme an vnworthy people, in shewing their provoking cariages towards vs.

Wherein hee doth also doe his endeavoures to defame the late Earle of Leister, a Noble man of better worth then this Wryter will acknowledge who did seruice to the king of Spaine at the seige of St Quintins.

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The Earle of Leister was a gente of that temp[er]ate dyett in his youth and vsed all Comendable exercise for a Nobleman w[i]th as great grace and comelynes as any of his tyme. And surely Envy did labor more to obscure his fame & reputac[i]on then any other misdemeanor. Towards the later end of his yeares hee had learned att great feastes in the loue Countries to feed more largly especially of fishe at supper & to drinke variety of wynes, And yet when he was abroade did Contynue to ryse so early, as he gave not that tyme to rest and sleepe as his stomacke might make disgestion (by reason where of he fell into a great surfett and thervpon dyed But what private grudge some of them have to that Noble p[er]son is not vnknowne.

The Observer likewise noeth the end of the Prynce of Orange and others who in what sortt he was slayne is elsewhere sett downe.

For the Countes Egmont and Horne, they had deserved well of the king of Spaine at the said seige of St. Quintins. Those heads of Salmons the kings great Warrier sayd weare more worth then may Frye.

That Act deserved not neither then nor in the sequell the erecting of his tryumphall Statue in {Br[us]} a module whereof is to bee seene in print, and might well have beene for borne by them to have beene menc[i]oned.

From the Earle of Leister hee skipps w[i]th a great stride to taxe S[i]r Frances Drake a brave seaman of that worthe as the Duke of Florence placed him in his Gallery amongst the Princes of that tyme. Indeed hee did so beestirre hym as hee frighted manij in his passages on the sea Coast.

Insomuch as the Women when their Children Crijed, to still them thay wovld say. howld yo[u]r peace Drake comes Drake comes. Non bene tibi deuisa sunt tempora. But hee followeth Drake no furder being too great a Circuit round about the whole world, 52v neither doth hee menc[i]on or note it in his observac[i]ons that the Queene did knight hym at this day as a memorable monument of his veiages and travells, w[i]th the sword of the French Ambassador.

Then as it weare in an Almond leape hee falleth Then as it weare vpon S[i]r Raphe Winwood for the redeliu[er]y of Flushing and Brill. What offence hee had geiven to those Observers I knowe not. Neither doe they shewe what the excepc[i]on be that they Cane iustly take against hym in that treatye he being at that tyme his Ma[jes]t[ies]and done w[i]th that Ambassador w[i]th the States of the vnyted Provinces.

And the acc[i]ons of his royall Ma[jes]ty are done w[i]th that Iudgement, that no excepc[i]ons Can be taken against them by any whosoeuer much lesse by Fugitives and his Disloyall Subiectes. Neither tis that hee speakes of to any pvrpose wherein hee doth as Blyndman Buffe strik at them hee first meetes w[i]thall thougth p[er]haps newly Come into the feild to looke on These bee strange Left margin: strange rakeing vp of sundry peeces made by such observac[i]ons as theis men collect to patch vp their dformed peece of worke, and make themselues bugges theirby to terrifye and fright such as may assist the Lowe Countrymen that there is intended mischeife against them. There is no doubt of there mischeivous driftes, and this warning is enough to make vs & them more vigilant, and to Remember that the Righteous lord will have Left margin: haue the snares of [th]e ungodly in peices. And allthough theis reportes of the manner of the deceases of this greate p[er]sons menc[i]oned a litle before is most vntrue and slaunderous, yet [th]e argument inferred therevpon is no Consequent either {} amongst Divines or humanistes, and I amsware 53r Condemned by o[u]r Savior Jesus Crist, Where hee said. Suppose you that those Caldeans weare greater synners whose bloud Pilates had myngled w[i]th there owne sacrifices then all the other Galileans, or thinke you that those Eighteene vpon whome the Tower of Siloam fell & slewe them weare siners aboue all men that dwell at Ierusalem, I tell you may &c Itt is an odious Course to lay slander on any Nac[i]on as this lybell most irreligiously doth one the Netherlandes, In which Country there are as many Goodly Citties, faire rich Townes, Wniversities Gent, Noblemen of great Antiquity and Revenues, and liue in as good sort as in any Country of Europe. The booke sayeth theij weare once Sea, then the Elementes agrreed amongst themselues in this Surely their Industry hath beene worthy of Comendac[i]ons that have thus beinfeedLeft margin: beautified this peice of grownd, and their Courage remarkeable, that haue so valyantly defended their Countrij and Estates euen w[i]th admirac[i]on. And it may bee sayd in all thinges the lord hath glorified his people & hath not denyed to asst assiste them. His owne hee brought againe as he did from the deepe of the Sea.

Potent indeed they are by sea the lyon Comeing out of the sea waves extendes their iourneys to farre Countries. And surely the ages to Come will admire at the wisedome Courage and Industry of this Nac[i]on. I doubt not but theis Observers haue read of this man that Came forth of the sea Itt maij bee by the troubles they haue so long endured they haue so long endured they are growne into debtes. yet it Cannot bee sayd of them that they weare driven by their necessities to have recourse to the authority of anij Pope, to obtayne p[ar]don of hym to abate the greate som[m]e of their debtes. Cut off the Interest and retrench a great part of the Principall. A shift not knowne in former tymes. Indeed their beleefe reacheth not so farre to acknowledge any such omnipotency in the Pope, nor is their Conscience large to haue recourse to such extraordynary meanes. 53v The Invectiue in his different varyety of observac[i]ons doth find a great fault in the loue Country men in that they Cannot abyde to heare of the inquisic[i]on & leaveth to speake of the Counsell of Trent the bringing in of which two Twynnes as two great state poyntes haue Cost much blood. /

I doubt not but that hee or they doe see or have heard. what hath beene vngaynesayable sett downe of the Counsell of Trent to give satisfacc[i]on to all the world, And therefore w[i]th good discrec[i]on was omytted to be spoken of in this Observac[i]on. For the inquisic[i]on it doth best agree w[i]th the ayre of that Clymate where it was first hatcht. And if more vse weare not made of that stratageme in state, then for Religion. it would never haue beene so vehemently vrged.

Then this Pamphlett in this Rapsodye doth taxe them w[i]th diversity of Religions tollerated amongst them.

Itt Tth is a hard Case they are in by the Infinite troubles they have beene plunged into that this Inconvenyence hath taken hold amongst them And yet this discovrse doth not recken a dangerous sect sprung forth from Loalla, which god bee thancked have not yet entry amongst them. The Repetic[i]on made of the wronges offred vnto o[u]r Nac[i]on by the Lowe Country men so much and so vehementlij vrged is not heare brought in in the reckoning for any good as I said meant to vs. but to make vp the matter, as nothing Cometh puerely from such a Corrupt puddle but stinking water. So as I have touched they may knowe that o[u]r Noble king as hee is of great wisedome Iudgement & royall vnderstanding so hee is as sensible of wronges. 54r Can rightly weigh the same, and knowes the tyme and meanes to make the world understand, that none Cane Iudge so well of this Iniuryes as the hart of a Royall king. In Cuntryes bordering one neare the other and that have vicinity oftentymes may happen occasion Iarres and Amendes made. and that satisfacc[i]on acknowledgement & reconsiliac[i]on as shalbee convenyent But the drift of this discourse is to another end as I saijd. And I feare mee when theis Owles fly abroad, they haue hope some darke Cloudes are neare and may soone followe. Thus by broken Iumpes the discorser falleth into a Rugged feild diuers opinions heald in Religion to propound to the Reader as on a Table sundry sawces to tast of that may best like his Appetite to shewe that in his travell hee hath beene Curiou[s] in that which is not so Comendable and to which of theis they rest vpon I leave to themselues. Neither will I deale w[i]th their Religion being Left margin: being p[er]haps as little as their Allegeance But I am sure they haue bene greatly bound both to the late Queene and to his excellent Ma[jes]ty Neither doe I mislike of being where they are and for mij owne part I Could wishe all for of their myndes weare w[i]th them in p[er]son where they are. Wee acknowledge and euen in all humble acknowledgment of the gracious mercy of God, the service of God vsed in this Realme of England to bee most agerable to the word of God, of decent order & religious Reverence aboue any vsed in Christendome, and I may truly say as great a number of learned Reuerend greate graue worthy Clergie & excellent Preachers as eure any tyme age age or Country weare blest w[i]thall.

54v

And hearein the discoursist maketh all them Puritans that have more th true zeale to Religion & fidelity to their Prynce then themselues euer seened to haue ha{}d, For the needles Quotac[i]ons of sundry opinions and poyntes in Religon I leaue them to learned deuines. and those bookes which haue beene sett forth in those controversies wherein surely there are of great some of great larning published & prynted in this Realme. Neither will I enter into a Confused Chaos of strange opinions & newe posic[i]ons propounded by diuers of theire late Schoolemen, well Collected by some heare. and sett forth to the Infamie of the Wryters of such vpstart opinions. Their Equivocac[i]ons mentall reservac[i]ons such evasions and divellish posic[i]ons indeed odious to bee menc[i]oned derogateing from the authority of Sou[er]aigne Kinges & that supreame power giuen them by God, as the Prynces that will endure the same soe to bee defaced deserve not to havne the sword boren beefore them, And which none of those schismatickes they menc[i]on are so desperate to mayntayne.

Neither Can they taxe any of those fewe amongst vs that haue beene fooleshly misledd to mislike of the excellent decent and religious establisht order and goverment of o[u]r Church, that they are fallen in such sort from their allegence & so desperately miscarryed as the 55r Cheifest Idolls amongst them whose wrkes & and fragmentes sett out by them in print will to all posterities beway and beray them and their wicked devises and practises as Parsons Dolman and other their not so much Machiavellion as Atheisticall posic[i]ons. Those Bulles which that Arch traitor Garnet had against o[u]r dread & royall Sou[er]aigne which any true Christion any true Subiect, or any that hath the feare of God doth abhorre to thincke of, yet is their facc[i]on growne to that Impudencye as they make hym a Saynte.

What opinion haue they of true Martirs and holy Sayntes, when they range detestable Traitor[s] into their membor and Societye. Theis Observacioners p[er]haps haue seene the Indulgences granted by Gregorye the Thirteenth to Certayne hallowed graynes or beades for the Earle of Westmerland that was in the Northerne Rebellion the 3d of July 1582 in this manner.

What p[er]son soeuer shall Carry about hym one of theis graynes or beades Confessing hymselfe and recerving the Sacrvment at the first opportunity and praing for the health of the Pope and for the tranquility of the Church, or for the pros perous successe of King Philip against heretiques or other his Rebells, or for the Conversion of England Scotland or Ireland &c shall purchase plenary Indulgence. 55v Then followeth saying in the Article of death, Jesus on his heart being nott able to speake it w[i]th his mouth hee shall gayne plenary Indulgence &c And if by mischance hee should loose one of theis graynes or should bee broken hee may put in their place two others which shall haue the like Indulgence as an old Author sayth.

If might of miracle hym faile I find not this pardon might lechen a man.

Theis p[er]sons though not so nobly descended as the Earle of Westmerland yet p[er]haps haueing as highly offended as hee and being aswell qualifyed haue hope by by theis their Observac[i]ons to attayne to the lyke Indulgence. I doe loothe to stepp furder into so filthy puddles & ame loth to giue the Reader so loathsome distastes in greiving his eyes to see such Impieties I may say surly they haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe as an old poet sayeth and grace of guile.

Breifely to Conclude I may say w[i]th the Psalmist of theis dispightfull shameles wrijters Left margin: against whom king dauid did pray [th]e lord to deliuer his soule his soule from tyinge lippes & undeceitfull tongue.

They have gone so fare to whet ther tounges like a swoard and to shoote out their arrowes {}56r bitter words, but knowe not that which foloweth.

God shall strike them w[i]th a swift Arrowe They streitch forth their mouth vnto the heaven and their toung goeeth thorugh the world.

The poison of Aspes is vnder their towngs the wordes of their mouth ar vnrightiounes and full of deceict

They th say o[u]r tounge is oure owne who shall let vs.

Their mouth is full of Cursing and bitter nes

Neither knowe they that verse i will vp saieth the lord.

They shall vp doe well to Consedder those cursise heaped vpon them in an other place wheare of afterwards the reason is givne Beecase his delight was in Cvrsing and lying it shall happen vnto him hee loued not blessing their {fore} it shall farre from hym./

finis