XXIII. conjecture of the world's end drawing near, and an inter- CHAP. pretation to that purpose of Daniel and the Apocalypse. A period of the preacher's sermon ran in this tenor: "If thou Anno 1584. "see the sun so low, that darkness is upon the hills, thou "wilt say, doubtless, that it is night: right so, if thou see "first in the seculars, and the lewd Christen men, begin"neth darkness of sins, and to have mystery, it is token "that the world endeth. But when thou seest in priests, "that be put on the highest top of spiritual dignities, which "shoulden be aboven the common people in perfect learn"ing, that darkness of sin hath taken them, who doubteth "that the world is at the end?" CHAP. XXIV. The queen moved to assist the Netherlanders. Saravia's letter. The earl of Leicester goes over. Orders to the vice-admirals of the queen's fleet with respect to the king of Spain seizing English ships: for reprisals. A parliament. They enter into an association for the queen's safety. Laws made against seminaries and papists. The speaker's speech to the queen. A book of petitions from the papists. Shelly the presenter of it: his examination. The parliament consult concerning the Scots queen: her case propounded. The queen's concern at the yielding up of Antwerp. She takes the protection of the Netherlands hereupon. Her instructions to her ambassador. 288 Matters Two main political points were upon the wheel-this year, Anno 1585. 1585. One was concerning assistance of the Low Countries, now in conoppressed by the king of Spain, and his officers placed sultation. there. The other concerning Mary the Scots queen; there being apprehensions and new fears arising of no safety for England while she lived; and therefore to put her to death; which howsoever queen Elizabeth could not be brought to. Delibera Concerning the former of these, there was a serious de- tion about liberation about assisting them; as a people grievously per assisting 1. BOOK secuted for their religion; and also their privileges (being a free people) violated. Great application had been made to Anno 1585. the queen, to afford them aid on both accounts; and for her own interest and safety of her kingdom likewise. This was urged by a notable letter from Adrian Saravia, writ from Leyden in Holland to the lord treasurer, brought by some ambassadors then coming to the queen: exhorting, from the danger of England, to stand by the Hollanders; and using arguments to persuade the queen to take the government of that people. The letter was dated June the 9th, 1585. Saravia's letter to the trea surer. 66 66 "That he was now the more moved to write to him, "since he always had a compassion for the affliction of that "people, which then suffered for the cause of religion. And "at that time was more need of his [that lord's] favour, "since the queen's safety and life, and the security of this "kingdom of England, seemed to be joined with their dan66 ger. That their enemies were no friends to us. That the "counsels of the common enemies were daily more and "more manifest; and that we might see whither they "tended: and from what they were about we ought to 'judge what we were to expect; for the misfortune of 289" those provinces would draw with it the ruin of England. "We must not expect and wait till they were lost. That if we save them, we should confirm our own peace and safety. And therefore that it was necessary to enter into "a society with all who professed the gospel of Christ, un"less we would resolve certainly to perish. And as those pro"vinces were nearer to us, so to be the straiter joined with "us: which might be done two ways; either by receiving "them into a most strict league of society, or of rule and "dominion. The latter whereof would be safest and most "profitable to both. And then he went on to prove what " he had propounded." All this, and the rest of this wellpenned Latin epistle, is worth preserving; and (as I transcribed it from the original) may be read in the Appendix. During this negociation, that it might take the desired the queen effect, in behalf of these foreigners, there was great advanof monies in prospect to the queen, as well as gratifica No. L. A great sum offered if she would assist the States. tage XXIV. tions to one, if not more, of her counsellors: and what it CHAP. was is more fully explained in a letter from an unknown friend to the lord treasurer, and in that lord's answer, dated Anno 1585. June 24: "That whereas it was moved, how the court 66 66 might be tempted by allowing a device to gain her majesty 10,000l. monthly, and himself [viz. the lord treasurer] "one other thousand pound, so as her majesty would help "the States: that he knew the matter very well, having "heard thereof seven months past; and had within a few “days seen and read the project: but what thereof to think, he could not but pronounce doubtfully, until he "should speak with the party that offered it." Adding these words, shewing how well affected he was to that cause, for the public good, in his judgment. "That in his opi- The trea"nion, if the matter might appear feasible, (which he must judgment “doubt of,) and reasonable, as being feasible, he thought it for aiding "[worthy accepting; and with] correction of some points, "he should be to blame, if he should not consent to her 66 majesty's profit thereby, to enter into the defence of the "Low Countries: since, as he subjoined, he was persuaded, " and did maintain it, that her majesty, for her own safety, "ought to charge herself with the defence of them against "the common enemy. Without which attempt her majesty "should not be able, with expense of thousands, to defend "herself, that now she might, with God's assistance, do with "hundreds. "But for any offer to himself, (shewing how he con"temned any thing that looked like bribery,) he did utterly "refuse either such or any less sum: thinking it more 66 charity to yield his own to the common cause, than to re "ceive a penny." surer's them. declaration When the queen, after a long and serious consideration, The queen's resolved to give aid to these provinces of the Netherlands, for assisting to justify her doings, she set forth A declaration of the them. causes moving her to give aid to the defence of the people oppressed in the Low Countries. It began; "Although "kings and princes sovereign," &c. I shall not repeat it, I. BOOK but refer the reader to Holinshed's Chronicle; where, under the year 1585, it is set down at length: and I believe it Anno 1585. drawn up by the head and pen of the lord treasurer. A delibera and forces 290 I find another paper relating to this important affair, tion about framed, as by the writing it seems to be, by the warthe charge like earl of Leicester; and who was soon after sent the to be sent. queen's general lieutenant there. It is a deliberation, "What forces and charges it would cost to enter into this "business. As, what support was needful for those Low "Countries. What her majesty of herself, and by her The earl of Leicester goes over. his expenses. 66 people, was able to contribute towards them. What secu"rity might be convenient for her majesty to ask of them. "What forces England might spare to help them, and leave "itself supplied. What forces on both sides must be kept, "by sea as well as by land. Whether it be probable that "her majesty might be able by herself and people, to give "sufficient assistance to those countries, or no. If not, then "with what princes it were most fit for her majesty to join "withal." When the queen was now engaged with the States, she had sent in October Mr. Davison (who was clerk of her council) in quality of her ambassador to them. The earl of Leicester was now gone her general thither: by whose going the queen's expenses were enhanced; as the lord treasurer wrote in his letter to the said Davison, how the The queen's queen began already to grudge at the charges. "That they grudges at "saw her charges daily to increase beyond her majesty's good allowance; specially by the coming of my lord of "Leicester, with a great company of gentlemen, but not yet experimented in the wars: although they were such "as, having good hearts and reputation, would prove men "quickly able to serve." And then he acquainteth Davison with the gentlemen whom the queen had appointed to govern two towns granted her by the States; viz. "That "she had determined sir Philip Sidney her governor of Flushing, and his own son, Tho. Cecil, the Brill. And "praying him, if he should tarry until his son should come 66 XXIV. ordinances the earl of over, to give him his advice how to use himself: and CHAP. "also his [Davison] letters to the townsmen of Brill, to use "him with the favour that he should reasonably require." Anno 1585. But the earl of Leicester, as became a wise and careful Laws and captain-general, for the better discipline, good order, and for the regard of him and his commands, upon his entrance into his army under government, set forth divers good laws and ordinances to Leicester. be observed by his army, under penalties of loss of wages, of imprisonment, nay, and life, according to the quality of the crimes. What they were is too large to be set down here. For them therefore I refer the reader to the Appendix. [No. L.] vindicated ing them swer to Printed There is a remark made by Bedel, an Irish bishop, in his The Neanswer to James Waddesworth, a Jesuit, concerning this therlanders assistance of the queen given to the Netherlanders against in defendthe king of Spain: upon occasion of a great blame laid by selves. the said Jesuit against the protestants upon this account, concerning subjects defending themselves against the tyranny of their princes. "Do you think," said he, "subjects Bishop Be"are bound to give their throats to be cut by their fellow-del's an"subjects, [set over them by their prince,] or by their Wadsworth. "princes, at their mere will, against their own laws and 1685. "edicts? You would know quo jure the protestants' wars, "and France and Holland, are justified. First, The law of 291 “nature; which not only alloweth, but inclineth and en"forceth every living thing to defend itself from violence. "Secondly, That of nations; which permitteth those that "are in the protection of others, to whom they owe no "more but an honourable acknowledgment, in case they "go about to make themselves absolute sovereigns, and "usurp their liberty, to resist and stand for the same: "and if any lawful prince, (which is not yet lord of his sub"jects' lives and goods,) in this attempt to spoil them of "the same, under colour of reducing them to his own reli"gion, after all humble remonstrances, they may stand upon their own guard; and being assailed, repel force "with force. As did the Maccabees under Antiochus. In "which case, notwithstanding, the person of the prince him 66 |