Annales the true and royall history of the famous empresse Elizabeth Queene of England France and Ireland &c. True faith's defendresse of diuine renowne and happy memory. Wherein all such memorable things as happened during hir blessed raigne ... are exactly described.

THE SEVENTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE.* 1.1 Anno Domini, 1564.

FRance then reioyced for the peace shee en∣ioyed, which in some manner was main∣tayned with the Queene of England, as being established, to shut vp all entry to the English, who began to flye out, in calling to mind the cruell slaughters made by them in former ages, when the Duke of Burgundie cal∣led them in, for reuenge of his peculiar rancours and ha∣treds. But this peace hauing rather slaked the feruent heat of warre, than fastned any true concord or amity betweene the English and the French; and the Queenes Maiesty per∣ceiuing how the Protestants neglected and contemned her, ingratefully returning those pleasures and fauours shee had done them, resolued to trouble her selfe no more in others

behalfe, to the preiudice and hinderance of her owne pro∣ceedings. Wherefore, she bent all her care and thoughts to her owne occasions, deliberated to make peace, com∣mended the ouerture thereof to Sir Thomas Smith, a wise and learned man; and the French, lending a ready eare to the same, gaue him Throgmorton for his Assistant, who was then in France a prisoner at large, to the end they might both together negotiate and procure the same. The French King for his part, assigned a Commission to Mor∣uillier, Bishop of Orleance, and to Iohn Bourdin, one of his Secretaries. You may hereunder see the Articles where∣upon they came to an accord, in the moneth of Aprill, within the Towne of Troyes in Champaigne.

* 1.2 THat one should not violently assaile the other, neither yeeld succours to any other that made assault either vpon the one or other, particu∣lars onely should be lyable to their peculiar insults and offences. No Traytors nor Rebels of eyther side were to be receiued. All former iniuries were to be buri∣ed in obliuion. Excepted all rights, actions, suites, and pretensions, which eyther they haue, or pretend to haue respectiuely one against another, shall remaine for∣cible and entire, and so likewise all exceptions and pro∣hibitions to the contrary.

These Articles concluded vpon, the day following they annexed these Couenants separately, and apart: That a certaine summe of money should be payd to the Queene of Eng∣land, at daies constituted and appointed: The Hostages in Eng∣land were to be deliuered after the satisfaction of fiue hundred crownes. And so this Treaty being ratified and confir∣med, Throgmorton might freely returne into his Country. The King of France made Bone-fires of ioy, according to the custome, and after the Queene of England had ratified

the same by oath in the presence of Gunor, and Foix, him∣selfe likewise within a very small time confirmed it, in the presence of the Lord of Hunsdon, who, hauing at the same instant admitted his Maiesty to the Order of S. George,* 1.3 he solemnely invested him with the Garter, the Robe of honour, a Collar of Esses, whereat hung the picture of Saint George, and other ornaments belonging to that Order.

In those dayes, there arriued in England, clad in the ha∣bit and grauity of a Priest, to appeare more venerable, Diego or Drilaco, Guzman de la Forresta, a Canon of To∣ledo, sent in stead of the Bishop of Aquilar, deceased some moneths before, during which internall, Roderic Gomez de la Forresta, out of an hatred to Religion, had bin the procu∣rer of some rude entreaties of the English in Spaine, who notwithstanding was much qualified by the Duke of Alua,* 1.4 no man being able truely to say, whether hee did it out of any loue he bare to the English, or hatred to Gomez. The like ill entreaty they also found in the Prouinces of the Low-Countries, that liued vnder the Spanish gouernement,* 1.5 at the instigation of the Cardinal of Granuella, who, to sow dissention betweene them and the Flemmings, who held friendly and neighbourly commerce together, in hatred to the said Religion, he so brought it to passe, that the yeere before the Flemmings complayned by Assonuil, that the customes of England were enhaunst, (though this was per∣formed during the reigne of Philip and MARY) and that by Act of Parliament, many of their handy-workes were there interdicted. The English on the other side,* 1.6 they ex∣hibited also Bills of complaint, how for small and trifling occasions, their goods were confiscated in Flanders, by vertue of new Edicts, which also prohibited the bringing in of certaine merchandizes, or to goe into Italie, and Germanie, by way of Flanders, with horse, Salt-Peter, and Powder. That they iniuriously exacted of them greater

Imposts than euer were so much as mentioned in former times, and all this against that Treaty of Commerce here∣tofore concluded on, which was called the Grand Inter∣course.

* 1.7 In the meane while, the Princesse of Parma, Regent of the Low Countries, caused publique prohibitions to be diuulged: first, that no forbidden merchandize should be transported into England, and then presently after, for the importing of any English clothes into Flanders, co∣louring it with the pretext of the plague, which not long before had spred it selfe all England ouer. But the naked truth is, all these things were managed, by the cautelous counsels and stratagems of Cardinall Granuelle, to cause the Clothiers, and other workemen depending on them, to rise, when they saw no clothes to be transported: and yet the traffique of Clothes was established in Flanders,* 1.8 to the preiudice of the English, who prouoked hereat, con∣stituted a Faire of English cloth and merchandizes at Emb∣den in East Frizeland, as if they feared the Spanish Inqui∣sition, which now was entred into the Low-Countries, and fore-saw that troubles would presently ensue.

Against all this, the Regent published an Edict, impor∣ting an expresse prohibition of all men, vpon paine of con∣fiscation, to entertaine any traffique with the English at Embden, or any where else, or to transport into the Low-Countries, any Merchandizes bought of them.

* 1.9 Guzman blam'd these proceedings, as beeing too strict and rigorous, dammageable both to the one and other part: For this wise man conceiued truely, what wealth dayly came into Flanders, by meanes of the English Taffique, euer since Lewis Malan, Earle of Flanders, about the yeere 1338. by a Grant of great immunities, had drawne the English, to settle a Mart, or Staple of English Wools at Bru∣ges: for euer since that time, in a manner all Nations floc∣king into Flanders, to buy Clothes, and other English Mer∣chandizes,

as also to sell their owne there, it is incredible, what Traffiques, Commerces, Nauigations, and Fishings, haue euer since flourisht among the Flemmings. So as this wooll was vnto them a true Golden Fleece: and that No∣ble Order of the Golden Fleece, forcheth from hence its o∣riginall, and the Dukes of Burgundy, their great wealth and Treasure. And questionlesse, in these very dayes wherein wee liue, (I speake according to the papers of Account) the Commerce that is betweene the English and the Flem∣mings, hath amounted to aboue twelue Millions of gold each yeere: And the Clothes transported euery yeere to Antwerpe, (omitting to speake of Lead, Tinne, and other things) is estimated at fiue Millions of gold. Wherefore, vpon these considerations, Guzman employing all meanes possible, to atone this difference, at last hee obtained, that the Commerce lately broken off betweene the two Nati∣ons, might be resettled in its former state, and that what∣soeuer had beene ordained and decreed, from the first day of the first yeeres raigne of Queene ELIZABETH, both of the one side and on the other, should surcease, till,: by Deputies both for the one and the other partie, more am∣ple prouision could be made. But the yeere following, when my Lord Mountaigue, Nicholas Watton, and William Haddon, Master of the Requests, Delegates for the English, Montigny, Assonuil, and Io. Egidius, for the Flemmings, had begunne twice to treate of these matters in the Towne of Bruges, the Flemmings falling into their precedent tumules, interrupted this Treatie, after an Agreement made, that this Commerce and Traffique should be free, while one of the Princes made an opposite denountiation to the other, the Marchants of both parties being aduertised forty dayes be∣fore, to prouide and take some order for their liuing com∣modities.

These things beeing thus ordain'd out of the King∣dome, the Queenes Maiesty betooke her selfe to the plea∣sure

and recreations of the Countrey; and to this end shee visited the Vniuersity of Cambridge, which is one of the two resplendent Lampes of England, where beeing enter∣tained of the Schollers,* 1.10 with all manner of honours, and taken contentment in beholding their Comedies, Trage∣dies, and exercises of Armes, she personally visited all the Colledges, and in a Latine Oration, gaue them great thanks for their singular loue and affection, highly commen∣ded their profound and diuers E••uditions, exhorting them to apply their hearts to the studies of piety and learning, and for their vertuous stimulation, promising alwaies to fauour and cherish them.

* 1.11 When shee returned, the more to honour Robert Dudley, Sarlatan, a speciall Fauourite of hers, whō, with a secret de∣signe, she made choice of for an husband to the Q. of Scots, she created him Baron of Denbigh, giuing him the Castle of Denbigh in property, with all the appurtenances of soyle, and Demeanes; and the day after, Earle of Leicester, to himselfe, and the heires males of his body lawfully begot∣ten: hauing likewise before, for his sake, confer'd vpon Ambrose, his elder Brother, the dignities of Baron of Lisle, and Earle of Warwicke, to him, and his lawfull heires males, for euer. The Lord Dudley, exalted by all these su∣pereminent honours, and to currey fauour with the Queen of Scots, whom he affected, and studied by all manner of Offices to deserue well of; presently, before Queene ELI∣ZABETH,* 1.12 he accused Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the great Seale, of discussing the point of Succession, a∣gainst the Queene of Scots, and that he was priuy to a Li∣bell, wherein that same Hales, of whom before I spake, la∣boured to intimate, that if the Queenes Maiesty of England, then liuing, dyed without Issue, the right of the Crowne came to the House of Suffolke. For which cause, he was committed prisoner; and as for Sir Nicholas Bacon, though he absolutely denyed it, my Lord Cecill resoluing to con∣ceale

what hee thought, vntill the Queene (whose Maiestie hee was assured, would neuer in this case impose on him a∣ny demand) should command him to speake his minde: had much adoe to recouer him her fauour, and long time he was a compassing it;* 1.13 for nothing could be more distast∣full to her, then to heare any debatements about this Title of Succession. But so the wiser and wealthier sort were more carefull and studious of nothing then of this, they ob∣seruing how by reason of the contrariety of Religion, the Protestants, transported with an ardent zeale, held opinion, that the Queene of Scots, being of an opposite Religion, (though otherwise her right was neuer so much as called in question) ought neuerthelesse, by the subtill construction of the Lawes, to bee reiected from succession: Some Pa∣pists againe, and those who had reference to that which was iust and equall, maintain'd how she was to be receiued as the true, right, and vndoubted Inheritrix. Others there were, who prefer'd before her, MARGARET, her Aunt by the Mothers side, and Wife to Mathew Stuart Earle of Lenox, and her Children, of whom they conceiued good hopes, because they were borne in England. All this lay not hid from the Queene of Scots; who, to preuent it so farre as was possible, by the Countesse of Lenox, her Aunt, sent for Mathew, Earle of Lenox, to come into Scotland,* 1.14 vnder pretext to re-establish and settle him in the Inheri∣tance of his Predecessors. But this was to consult further with him, who, by his Wiues meanes, obtained leaue, and Letters from Q. ELIZABETH, after he had bin banisht out of his natiue Countrey, for the space of 20. yeeres.

This Earle of Lenox (to the end that relating the same from the essentiall extraction of his eminent Nobility,* 1.15 I may giue the better light & lustre to things) was descended from the very same race of the Stuarts, as the Royall Pro∣geny of the Scots came from; and moreouer lately by the Hamiltons, of the bloud-Royall: For Marie, daughter to

Iames 2. King of Scotland, had by Iames Hamilton, Iames, who was the first Earle of Arraine, & Mary, who was wife to Matt. Stuart, first Earle of Lenox of that name. Iames, Earle of Arraine, being diuorced from his first Wife, tooke in her place the Lady Ienet Beton, Aunt by the Mothers side, to the Cardinall Beton, by whom hee had Issue, Iames Hamilton Duke of Chastel-Heraut. Marie, Sister to the Earle of Arraine, bore to Mathew, Iohn, Earle of Lenox, who being slaine by the Hamiltons, when hee attemp∣ted to set King IAMES the fourth at liberty, left this Mathew, Earle of Lenox, whom King Iames the Fifth loued most dearly in respect of his Father.

When the King was dead, and the Hamiltons in full authority, Mathew went secretly into France; from whence, being sent backe, by the French King Henry the second, into Scotland, to preuent all detriment to the Scot∣tish Common-wealth, through the practices of the Re∣gent Hamilton, hee valiantly carried himselfe in this em∣ployment. But being of an honest milde nature, and very open-hearted, permitting himselfe to bee out∣reached by Hamilton, and the Cardinall Beton, in a small time hee lost the amity of the French, and when hee could neither tarry in Scotland, nor returne into France, he went into England, and committed himselfe in trust to King Henry the Eighth, who very graciously entertained him, as one that was powerfull & well beloued in the We∣sterne parts of Scotland: Whervpon, he acknowledged him for next Heire to the Crowne of Scotland, after Queene MARY, who was then exceeding yong, (though neuerthe∣lesse the Hamiltons condemned him, and confiscated all his Lands) gaue him to Wife the Lady Margaret Douglasse, his Neece by the elder Sisters side, with demeanes in England, which amounted in an annuall reuennew, to the summe of 1700. Marks, after hee had made promise to surrender into his hands, the Castle of Dunbritton, and the Ile of Buthe,

with the Castle of Rothsay, which is in England. The which hee vndertooke with courage, but fayled in the successe.

The Queene of Scots, beeing a wise and prudent Lady,* 1.16 all whose drifts aymed at England, shee gaue him her safe conduct, and restored vnto him his Fathers goods, both that hee might oppose the designes of Iames, his bastard brother, whom shee had honoured with the Earledome of Murray, as also to cut off the hopes of others, by the meanes of Darley her Sonne, which they might any wayes foster and nourish, of succession to the Diadem of England. For shee feared, that be∣ing of the Blood Royall, borne in England, and very well beloued of the English▪ if hee were ioyned with a∣ny puissant Family in England, relying on the English power and forces, hee might happely one day disturbe her right of succession to the Kingdome of England; ma∣ny men reputing him for the second Heire apparant af∣ter her: and shee affected nothing more feruently, then by his meanes, to bring the Kingdomes of England and Scotland, to fall into some Scottish Race, and Name, and so by him to propagate them to posteritie, in the name of the Stewards, his Ancestors.

Queene ELIZABETH well discerned all this,* 1.17 and to preuent it, gaue the Queene of Scots to vnderstand by Ran∣dolph, that this Marriage was so distastfull to all the English, as against the consent of her Councell, she was enforst to prorogue the conuentions of Parliament, to some o∣ther fitter time, for feare, lest the States of the Kingdome therewith prouoked, should enact somewhat, to the pre∣iudice of her right to the succession. And therefore, to cut off all occasions of this Issue hereafter, and to satisfie the English, she aduised her to thinke of some other mar∣riage; and so by this meanes, shee once againe, and with great affection, commended vnto her the Earle of Leicester,

for an Husband, who, for this speciall reason, she had exal∣ted to the Dignity of an Earle.

* 1.18 For prosecution of this, the Earles of Bedford, of Ran∣dolph, and of Lidington, were deputed to treat of this mar∣riage at Barwicke, in the Moneth of Nouember. The English promised vnto her, a firme and constant Amity, a perpetuall Peace, and that vndoubtedly shee should succeed to the Crowne of England, if she married with the Earle of Leicester. The Scots on the other side con∣tested; alleadging, That their Queenes Dignitie, who had beene sued vnto, by Charles, Sonne to the Empe∣rour Ferdinand, the King of France, the Prince of Con∣dé, and the Duke of Ferrara, could not permit her, so farre to embase and vnder-valew her selfe, as to match with a new-made Earle, a Subiect of England, and who propounded nothing but bare hopes, without any certaine Dowrie: neither stood it with the honour of the Queene of England, to commend such a man for an Husband to so great a Princesse, her neere Kinswo∣man; but rather, shee should giue an infallible testimo∣nie of her great loue and affection towards her, to giue her absolute libertie to make choice of such an husband, as might entertaine perpetuall peace with England, to as∣signe her a yeerely Pension, and with the authority of the Parliament, confirme the right which shee had to suc∣ceede. In all this busines, the extreme desire of Queene ELIZABETH was (although she made discreete haste) to assure, by such a marriage, the succession of the King∣dome in an English Race. The Queene of Scotland seeing that this businesse had beene prolonged full two yeeres, and making account to marry Darley, doubted whether she was proceeded withall in good earnest, or no; and that Queene ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage, but to make a pre-election of the most worthy for herselfe, or to marry the more excusable with Leicester, She beeing

absolute Queene, after she should haue really consented to marry him. But the Commissioners of Scotland, weighing these reasons, to maintaine their power with the Queene, had resolued to hinder, by all meanes, all kinde of marri∣ages. Queene ELIZABETH admonisheth them to hin∣der that with Darley; Leicester himselfe full of hope to en∣ioy Queene ELIZABETH, by secret Letters, priuily warnes the Earle of Bedford, not to presse the thing, and with this hope, it is credibly thought, that hee secretly fauoured Darley.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Booke 1. 1564.
• * 1.2

  Articles of peace accor∣ded on be∣tweene the English and the French.
• * 1.3

  The King of France en∣stalled in the Order of the Garter.
• * 1.4

  The English ill entreated in Spaine,
• * 1.5

  And in the Low-countries.
• * 1.6

  The mutuall complaints of the Eng∣lish and Flemmish.
• * 1.7

  English Merchants prohibited in the Low-Countries.
• * 1.8

  The English constitute a Faire or Mart at Embden.
• * 1.9

  Guzman la∣bors to atone this diffe∣rence.
• * 1.10

  Queenè Eli∣zabeth visits the Vniuersi∣ty of Cam∣bridge.
• * 1.11

  Robert Dudley rai∣sed to honors.
• * 1.12

  Dudley ac∣cuseth Ba∣con.
• * 1.13

  Diuers opi∣nions about the point of Succession.
• * 1.14

  The Queene of Scots cal•• home the Earle of Le∣nox into Scotland.
• * 1.15

  The discent of the Earle of Lenox.
• * 1.16

  Causes of the Repeale of the Earle of Lenox.
• * 1.17

  The Queene of England endeuours to preuent the Qu. of Scots proiect.
• * 1.18

  Another commendati∣on of the Earle of Leicester. A Treaty of Marriage betweene the Queene of Scots and the Earle of Leicester.