XX. deavours to persuade the king and his council to hearken CHAP. unto the terms for accommodating the disturbances in that kingdom; and his putting them in mind of the many good Anno 1580. turns done them by the queen; and his advice to take her counsel for the indifferent trial of earl Morton, [who was in the English interest, formerly regent and governor to the king, now made a prisoner by Arran,] and for the removing of count D'Aubigny [now made earl of Lenox] from the king; who, he said, was a man utterly averse from true religion, and that opposed a good understanding between the two nations. But notwithstanding the great pains he [the ambassador] had taken for the effecting these matters, all proved to little purpose. Nay, so hated, that he was fain to get out of Scotland as fast as he could, for fear of his life; having libels set up against him, and a gun once shot in at his chamber window. power ton hated by the fac That as for earl Morton, now in prison, he was rich, and Earl Morhad both lands and friends. These, and the doubt of his in his prosperity, procured him many enemies; and tion. many of them formerly his friends: insomuch that there was little hope of his life; divers of them and of his servants now proving his accusers. Some charging him to be guilty of the present king's father's murder; others, that he was consenting to the poisoning of the earl Athol; others, that he had an intent to take the king, and to have killed several of the great earls. But whether these accusations were grounded upon truth, or upon malice, was doubtful. But to read all this news more particularly, I refer the reader to Mr. Randolph's own letter, which he Number shall find faithfully exemplified in the Appendix. XXVI. favours him. It must be observed here concerning earl Morton, that The queen such an esteem the queen and the English court had for him, that this summer she had writ to him very graciously, offering to do all that he should think meet: and upon whose answer a resolution of the queen's was like to follow. These are the words of secretary Wylson in his correspondence with the earl of Sussex; and therefore it is probable he was not so profligate a man as those Scots of D'Au II. BOOK bigny's party would make him. Otherwise it is not credible the queen would have so espoused his cause, though they Anno 1580. afterwards brought him to his death. professeth D'Aubigny But now the news came, that monsieur D'Aubigny prohimself a fessed himself of the reformed religion. And so the earl of protestant. Shrewsbury's steward, Bawdewyn, wrote to him from court The earl of Scots' deal in July, that it was certainly given out, that he had professed himself one of the reformed religion in Scotland, and had renounced all papistry. But whether sincerely, or in policy, may be questioned. Yet after all, Lenox was removed; and went back into France. 66 Let me add what one of the great peers of England's ton's judg- thoughts were of this treatment of the queen by the Scots; ment of the viz. the earl of Huntington, at this time lord president of ing with the the north; who had received some letters from Randolph, queen. with a packet from sir John Foster upon the borders. 625 And from the intelligence sent by them concerning the interest of Lenox [i. e. D'Aubigny] in the Scotch court, which prevailed beyond that of the queen, that earl gave his judgment in these words: "That if they reckoned their "cards well, it would not be good for them to lose our sovereign [meaning the queen] for such a new friend as "Lenox, neither for any other, as he thought; for the "amity of England was more fit for them than the favour "of any other could be, their own king excepted. And "that against him her majesty did never desire the good"will of any of those subjects: but in all her actions had "shewed herself desirous to preserve him and that state; as "he knew, and they must grant."Then the earl prayed Randolph to advise the lord Sefford, [a Scotch nobleman,] (of whom that ambassador conceived a great opinion, and of his house, and such of his name and friends,) to continue true and faithful to their sovereign. Which, he said, they might do, and yet continue willing to enter and maintain all good offices and friendship between the two coun Lord Sea tries. By one party or other this lord's house had been fired; ford's house and hard speeches had been given out about it: as though fired. XX. it had been done by the treachery of some English. On CHAP. which occasion the said lord president added, "That it was 66 more than he knew to be intended. Neither did he like Anno 1580. "of such speaking. But for their satisfaction [who mis“doubted it was done by the English; and so a matter proper for the lord president of the north to inquire into] " he said, that it was plain to them [of that nation] and all "others, by that which Mr. Randolph did in the court with "the king and nobility, for and in the name of our sove"reign, [the queen,] that her majesty's good-will to the state "continued: and that if any thing fell out otherwise than "well, the fault was likely to be in them, and not in us, [the "English."] censures of He proceeded thus: "That he could wish, that they and The lord “others had more regard to religion, and the godly policy president's "established in both realms, as he thought, chiefly by the some of this "means of the queen, his sovereign, next under God, than faction. "desire to seek revenge for particular quarrels: Which, as they handled the matter, might breed no little evil to "both states. And of this surname, he could wish the "abbot of Newbottle especially to be drawn to accept of "good and sound advice. That there were others also that " he could name unto him, [Mr Randolph,] but the time "would not suffer him. And he hoped, he knew them "well enough: and how unfit it was for them, or any "other, to malice Morton, more than to regard their king "or their country; or to think one Domberry [D'Au 66 bigny] and his counsels better, than of the advices and requests of his sovereign the queen, he thought no man "of judgment doubted." And so concludeth with these words: "Well, to end; 66 for my part, he and all others of that nation shall find me "inclinable to do all good offices towards them, so long and "so far as I see them to love the religion, and to be well "devoted to the queen, my sovereign, with a due regard of "duty to their king and country. And thus with my very 626 "hearty commendations, I commit you to the protection of BOOK "the heavenly Father. At Newcastle, 25th of Febru66 ary, 1580. II. Anno 1580. "Your loving friend, Desmond. Rebellion in The news at court was, that king Philip of Spain preIreland by pared mightily against Portugal: although merchants' letters came daily, that the pope and he prepared against Ireland. And that land indeed was now oppressed with the popish nobility and gentry there: who had raised a rebellion against the queen; headed by the earl of Desmond, lord Baltinglas, with an invasion of Italians and Spaniards, accompanied with the pope's blessing, as was shewed before. Hist. of Ire-Some also of the queen's party were unfaithful; and faland by R. voured the other side. Of these earl Kildare and his son-inCox, p. 367. law, lord Delvin, were suspected. The lord deputy appointed that earl, with archbishop Loftus, to be governors of the pale during his intended progress: who going to parley with the lord Baltinglas, which was to no purpose, the earl unadvisedly returned to Dublin. The enemy taking the advantage of his return, did mischief in burning places. The earl was imprisoned upon this occasion; and the news sent to the lord treasurer in England, by sir Nicolas White, master of the rolls there, (with whom a constant correspondence was held.) The the lord 66 Which lord thus expressed his concern about it, and the thoughts of committing of the earl of Kildare and the baron of Delvyn : treasurer Sorry I am that they should give cause: but more sorry, thereupon. that it should happen in so unseasonable a time; when "the whole body of that realm is so far out of temper, as "the dislocation of such members must needs work a deformity to the body. The will of God be done, to the "maintenance of his glory, and the preservation of that "crown upon her head: where it ought by justice only to "stand." [As the pope was minded now to place it upon that of the king of Spain.] This he wrote January 3: These confusions and rebellions still continued more and XX. more in Ireland the next year; and these were that good CHAP. lord's contemplations thereupon, in a letter to the master of the rolls: "I do heartily lament the lamentable state of Anno 1580. "that country. And the more I am therewith grieved, in "that I see the calamity to continue, or not to diminish. "And yet I see no way how to remedy it: neither in so "doubtful opinions as there are both there and here for the "remedy, dare I lay hold of any of them. And yet I do 66 66 66 not think the remedy is desperate, if good and wise men, "addicted to public state, were therein employed. And "thus uncomfortably I end; referring the success to God's mercy, to be extended both to you and us; whose sins I am assured do provoke him to chasten that nation so sharply. I think a late direction from her majesty, to re"duce her army to a convenient number, will mislike many "there, that otherwise are not provided to live in their "lusts, but by wars and spoils." 66 CHAP. XXI. A reformation endeavoured of certain abuses in the church. The parliament's address to the queen for that purpose. Her answer. Church holydays: much sin committed then. The disaffected to the church busy. Appoint fasts. A fast appointed at Stamford: the lord Burghley's letter forbidding it. Beza's book concerning bishops, translated into English. His letter to Scotland. A popish school set up at Doway; and another in Scotland. Dr. Allen's book. The pope sends over priests into England. Intelligence from Switzerland of the pope's preparations against England. Commissions for search after papists in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The archbishop of York's letter concerning them. Countess of Cumberland: lady Wharton. Children of northern gentlemen sent to Caius college, Cambridge; Dr. Legg, a papist, master. Intelligence from the bishop of Winton, concerning papists in the county of Southampton. 627. |