A thankfull remembrance of Gods mercy In an historicall collection of the great and mercifull deliverances of the Church and state of England, since the Gospell began here to flourish, from the beginning of Queene Elizabeth. Collected by Geo: Carleton, Doctor of Divinitie, and Bishop of Chichester.

CHAPTER II. (Book 2)

THE first poysoned fruit of this excom∣munication was rotten before it could ripen. There was an intention of a great and terrible Rebellion. The Duke of Norfolke was excited to stirre what Forces he could, and to ioyne with the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland: at the same time an Armie was to come out of Ireland, and another Armie to be sent from Duke Dalva in the Low-Countries. If all these had ioyned toge∣ther, as the intention was, God knoweth what

might haue in••ued. But there is no counsell can prevaile against God. All the plot was broken in peeces without any other trouble, saving that which fell vpon the plotters themselues, & their instruments. The King of Spaine, who watched all opportunities to doe mischiefe, wrote one Letter to the Duke of Norfolke, exciting him to raise a power within England, and wrote another to the Earle of Ormond, to raise a tumult in Ire∣land. But both the Duke and the Earle shewed the Letters to the Queene, declaring thereby a purpose to be loyall. The Duke suffred himselfe to be wrought vpon too much by pernicious in∣struments. The instruments were the Bishop of Ross, who lay in London vnder pretence of being Ambassadour for the Queene of Scots, and one Robert Rido••f, a Noble-man of Florence, who lay in London, in the habit and pretence of a Factor. These pestif••rous instruments laboured to per∣swade the Duke to marry the Queene of Scots, who being next heire to the Crowne of England, would bring great hopes with her and by subtill and pernicious counsell drew the Duke so farre, that against his promise made to the Queene, he began to thinke of that marriage, and the hopes that might follow the same, and entred in••o a se∣cret course of writing and receiving Letters from the Queene of Scots, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Characters. All which together with a Commentary sent to him by the Scots Queene, the Duke commanded his Secretary Higfo••d to burne. But he laid them vn∣der the Matt in the Dukes Chamber. And being

apprehended, declared where they were. At the Dukes arraig••ment a Letter was produced writ∣ten to him from the Scots Queene, signifying her griefe for that the Earles of Westmerland and Nor∣thumberland were vp in Armes before the Duke had raised his powers. For Queene Elizabeth, finding wherevnto things tended, apprehended the Duke, & sent for the Earles to come to Court, but because they had once excused their absence, she sent peremptorily for them, all excuse laid a∣side, vpon their alleagance to come vp. Suppo∣sing that if they were innocent, they would come, but if guiltie, then should their purpose sooner breake out into open sight. As it fell out. For they supposing by this, the plot to be be∣trayed, brake out into open rebellion, before the helpe which they looked for from other parts could come to them. This rebellion was plotted by the Pope, Pius V. and by the King of Spaine, and was so cunningly handled, and carried with such secresie, that it was well knowne to stran∣gers before it was knowne to vs whom most the matter concerned. And no marvaile, seeing strangers were the devisers and first authors of it. I will therefore declare it in the words of a stran∣ger, who set it forth in Print at Rome, before it was well knowne in England. Hieronymus Caten•• in the life of Pius V. w••iteth thus.

When Pius V. was inflamed with a zeale to re∣store the Romane Religion in England, and to displace Queene Elizabeth out of that King∣dome; and yet could not haue his Nuntio A∣postolicall,

nor any other publique person fit to effect this thing: he ordered the matter so, that Robert Ridolf, a Gentleman of Florence (who ••tayed in England vnder colour of merchandise) should stirre vp the mindes of men vpon the de∣struction of Elizabeth. Which thing he diligent∣ly executed, not onely among the Catholikes, but also among some Protestants, who conspi∣red together herein; some out of private hatred against them that aspired to the Kingdome, others out of a desire of a change. Whilst these things were secretly carried, a contention rose betweene the Spaniard and Elizabeth, vpon the occasion of a sum of money going to the Duke Dalva, but intercepted by Elizabeth.

This occasion the Pope apprehended to per∣swade the Spaniard, that he would helpe the conspiratours in England against Elizabeth, that so he might haue his affaires in the Netherlands in greater securitie, and the Romane Religion might be restored in B••itaigne. The Pope also perswaded the French, shewing him that this he ought to the Scots Queene, affianced to him, and worthily to the Scots, who by their incur∣sions had withdrawne the forces of England, that they could do lesse helpe to the Protestants of France, neither did the noble conspiratours of England deserue lesse favour of him, who by their cunning haue hindered the Queene of England, to giue any helpe openly to the Prote∣stants of France. In this respect the French King promised them ayd for the deliverance of the

Scots Queene, but failed of performance of any thing. In the meane time, Ridolphus effected thus much, that the conspiratours should draw the Duke of Norfolke into their societie, and make him chiefe therein, to whom they pro∣mised marriage with the Scots Queene, whereto she consented. The Pope to set these things for∣ward, by his Bull published, deposed Elizabeth from her Kingdome, and absolued her subiects from all oath and alleagance, sending the prin∣ted Coppies to Ridolphus, which might be dis∣persed ouer England. Whereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland, tooke Armes against their Prince, who presently, money and meanes failing, withdrew themselues into Scotland. The Duke of Norfolke, with others, were committed to prison. Among them was Ridolphus, whom the Pope had appointed to helpe the conspiratours with an hundreth and fiftie thousand Crownes, which thing he could not doe being clapt vp in prison. But when the Queene could not pierce into the secrets of the conspiracy, he was sent out of prison with o∣thers, and then he distributed those Crownes to the conspirators. Who sent him to the Pope to informe him that all things were prepared in a readines, and ordered against Elizabeth: and to intreat the Spanish King, to ioyne his Forces from the Netherlands as soone as may be: the Pope commended the enterprise, albeit, the Duke Dalva did not like it, as being full of dif∣ficulties, when as Ridolphus in his iourney told

him the matter. The Pope sent Ridolfe to the Spaniard, vnder another pretence, and to the King of Portugall with ins••ructions; and at the same time writing to the Duke of Norfolk, pro∣mised him ayde. He did much vrge the Spani∣ard to helpe the conspiratours, and to the end he might the more vehemently stirre him vp, he promised if need were himselfe would goe for to helpe them, and would ingage all the goods of the Sea Apostolike, Chalices, Crosses, and holy Vestments. Declaring that there was no difficultie in it, if he would send Chapinus Vitellius with an Army into England from the Low-Countries. Which thing the King of Spaine commanded to be done with great alacritie. And the Pope provided money in the Nether∣lands. These things were not pleasing to the Duke Dalva, both because he enuied Vitellius this glory, wherein he rather wished his owne sonne to be imployed, and because he feared some hostile invasion out of France, and propo∣sed it to be considered, whether England being overcome would fall to the Spaniard, whether the French would not resist that proiect, and whether the Pope were able to bring helpe e∣nough to effect so great a matter. Notwithstan∣ding the Spanish King expressely commanded him to set vpon England. Ridolf was sent backe with money to the Netherlands. But see how God would haue it: All the matter was opened to Elizabeth by a stranger without the King∣dome. The Duke of Norfolke was apprehended

and put to death. Which thing the Pope tooke heavily, the Spaniard condoled, who before the Cardinall of Alexandria, the Popes Nephew, sayd, that never any conspiracy was more ad∣visedly begun, nor concealed with more con∣stancy and consent of minds, which in all that time was not opened by any of the conspira∣tours: that an Army might easily be sent out of the Low-Countries in the space of 24. houres, which might suddenly haue taken the Queene and the Citie of London vnprovided, restored Religion, and set the Scots Queene in the Throne. Especially when as Stukley an English fugitiue had vndertaken at the same time with the helpe of 3000. Spaniards to reduce all Ire∣land vnto the obedience of the King of Spaine, and with one or two shippes to burne all the English Navy.

Thus farre Catena writeth of these things, opening some things that before were not knowne to the English. The Booke was Printed at Rome An: Dom: 1588. by the privi∣ledge of Pope Pius V.

This is the Narration of a Papist, published at Rome, by the authoritie of the Pope. It may seeme strange to men that haue any feeling of the feare of God, that a Pope should so boldly pub∣lish his owne shame to all the world. The Pope doth practise treason against States, sets his in∣struments to raise rebellions, stirreth vp Princes against Princes, one Kingdome against another, and when he doth this, he will not vnderstand that he is, in this doing, the instrument and ser∣vant

of the Devill, to disorder the world. If any would excuse this, as being done against an Heretike: that excuse will not serue here; for I speake not of excommunicating supposed Here∣tikes, but of raising rebellions against Princes, to set the subiects to murther the Prince, or to stirre vp one Prince to murther another, these things be wicked and vngracious practises, but the Pa∣pists are growne to such an o••duration in these sinnes, that they iudge these no sinnes, to mur∣ther, or secretly to poyson, or by any horrible mischiefe to compasse their owne endes. The things that are by the Lawes of God, of Nature, of Nations, wicked and abominable, against the ordinances which God hath set in the world, must forsooth change their nature, if the Pope command them, nay, if any of their superiours command such things, their doctrine of blind o∣bedience, sets them vpon any mischiefe, and so they doe not onely teach for doctrines mens tradi∣tions, but make doctrines for mens destructions. If the Popes presume that they haue such a pri∣viledge, that the things which are horrible sinnes in other men are no sinnes in them: this were in effect as much as for the Pope to proclaime him∣selfe the Man of sinne, that runneth into all sin∣full courses with greedinesse, with an open pro∣fession of the same. For what can any man of sin doe more, then to command sinne, to warrant sin, to commit sin, to glory in sin; If all this be done by the Pope, who can iustly deny him this title of the Man of sinne?

But blessed be the name of God, that alwayes delivered his Church here from such wicked practises, and hath brought the mischiefe that these wicked men haue deuised, vpon their owne head. Now let all vnderstanding men iudge where God is, where godlinesse is, where Religi∣on and the feare o•• God is. Whether with them that by bloudy, vniust, vnlawfull practises seeke their owne endes, or with them that are persecu∣ted by this bloudy Nation, and in patience suf∣fer all their mischievous and cruell practises, committing the matter to God the revenger of bloud, and trufting in God, reioyce vnder his ho∣ly protection, being kept in safety by him that commandeth all the world? For what power could be able to keepe his Church from being swallowed vp by such cruell adversaries, but onely the hand and holy protection of our God? Must not we then glorifi•• his name that hath done so great things for vs? And for our adver∣saries they haue their power limited, and they haue their time limited, and set forth vnto them, beyond which they cannot passe. But the soules of them that rest vnder the Altar, whose bloud hath beene shed on euery side, by this bloudy generation, for the testimony of Christ; these cry out with a lowd voyce,* 1.1 Vsquequo Domine? How long Lord, holy and true? Doest thou not iudge and revenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth? Yet so blind are these bloud-suckers, that they labour still to increase this cry; but GOD will giue patience to his Saints, and in his time

cut off this wicked Nation.* 1.2 Be not merciful O Lord to them that sin of malicious wickednesse.

Thus then this rebellion that was so ••••rongly plotted, so secretly carried, was by the hand of God disappointed, and broken into peices. We haue cause to blesse the name of God therefore: Praysed be the Lord,* 1.3 that hath not given vs as a prey to their teeth. Thus can we comfort our selues in God. but can our adversaries comfort themselues in their owne mischeifes? The issue was, the Pope and the Spanyard were disappointed, the World wondered how this State was so soone quieted.* 1.4 The Earles Northumberland and West∣merland seduced by a Priest that the Pope had sent, one Nicolas Morton, came to Durham where they had the Masse set vp. From thence they marched to Clifford Moore not far from Wether∣bie, where hearing that the Scots Queene (for whose deliverance they tooke armes) was car∣ried from T••tbery to Coventry, vnder the custo∣die of the Earles of Shewsbury and Huntingdon, and that the Earle of Sussex on the one side had gathered a strong army against them, that Sir George Bowes was behind them, having fortefied Bernard Castle, that the Lord Scroop and the Earle of Cumberland had fortified Carliell, & gathered an armie there in readines: that the Souldiers of Berwick with the power of Northumberland were in New-castle, they turned backe againe and be∣sieged Bernard Castle. Sir George Bowes and his brother Mr. Robert, being driven by an hard siege, and wanting provision yeelded the Castle▪

and they and the souldiers were dismissed, carry∣ing their armes with them as it was covenanted, vpon the first newes of the feares, which the Earle of Sussex brought against them, the Earles fled to Hexham, from thence seeking by-wayes to Naworth Castle. Whence the two Earles fl••d into Scotland, the Earle of Northumberland hid himselfe in the house of Hector of Harlaw an Armstrang, having confidence in him that he would be true to him, who notwithstanding for money betrayed him to the Regent of Scotland. It was observed, that Hector being before a rich man, fell poore of a sudden, and so hated gene∣rally that he never durst goe abroad, in so much, that the Proverb to take Hectors cloake, is continu∣ed to this day among them, when they would expresse a man that betrayeth his friend who trusted him: The Earle was afterward delivered into England, and condemned of high treason and beheaded. Westmerland found meanes to hide him a while with Fernihurst and Bucklough, and escaped into the Low-Countries, where being susteined by a poore pension of the King of Spain, he liued a poore life all his time.

This is the fruit of Popery. It bringeth Noble houses to destruction. It pittied their hearts, a∣gainst whom the rebellion was raised, to see such Noble persons brought to such a destruction. But the Pope is without pitty and mercy, the Priests and Iesuites that bring such noble men in∣to such snares, haue no pitty nor mercy, therefore it behooveth all noble persons to be wise, and to

avoyd pestiferous waies, that is, to shut their eares against Priests and Iesuites. These be pernicious instruments, that secretly convey themselues in∣to great mens favour, to bring them to ruine, they tell them of the Religion of their Fathers, but true Religion bringeth a blessing, and Reli∣gion that bringeth alwayes a curse is to be sus∣pected. And to say truth the Religion of Rome as now, is not the Religion of our Fathers. For Religion was changed in the T••ent Councell, and therefore they cannot say they haue now that Religion which their Fathers had. And that Re∣ligion was changed in the Trent Synod, is by lear∣ned men sufficiently proued; and we are readie to maintaine it: for where the rule of faith is chan∣ged, there must needs follow a change of Religi∣on, and a change of the Church. But in the Trent Councell the rule of faith is changed. And there∣fore men may obserue a great difference between these men that are now called Papists, and their forefathers. God blessed their Fathers, because they serued God in sinceritie, according to that measure of knowledge which was reuealed to them; for he that serueth God truely, according to that measure of knowledge which he hath, and holdeth the rule of faith: is without doubt accepted of God, and God doth blesse such. But after that God hath reuealed a greater mea∣sure of knowledge, by the spreading of the sa∣vour of his Gospell, they who then forsake the truth offred, are followed with great curses. And therefore we may plainly obserue the curses of

God vpon them that forsake God and his truth; Where the Pope curseth, we see that God doth blesse, and no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 followeth: where God doth cur••e, we see destruction followeth.

This rebellion was scarce extinguished, when another little flame rose from this greater com∣bustion. Leonard Dacres the second sonne of Wil∣liam Lord Dacres of Gillestand (whose eldest bro∣thers sonne was killed with a Valting horse) was much grieued to see so great a patrimony to goe from him to the daughters of the Baro•• whom the Duke of Norfolk their Father in law had ioy∣ned in marriage with his sonnes. This so trou∣bled Leonard Dacres, that having no other way to revenge himselfe, he tooke the course of impati∣ent and discontented men,* 1.5 to revenge all vpon himselfe, and ioyning himselfe to the rebells, striued but in vaine, to deliver the Scots Queene. When they were in armes then was Leonard Da∣cres at Court, and offred the Queene all his helpe against them, and for that service was sent home. But (as it came to light afterward) in his iourney by messengers with the rebels he had communi∣cation, and incouraging them, vndertooke to kill the Lord Scroop, and the Bishop of Carliell. Which when he could not effect, he tooke Gras∣tocke Castle, and other houses of the Lord Dacres, and fortified Naworth Castle, holding it as in his owne right, and gathered souldiers about him. Against him came the Lord H••nsdon, with the trained souldiers of Berwick. Leonard not trusting to his fortified places, came to meet the Lord

Hunsdon, and meeting him when he passed the Riuer Gelt, after a sharpe battell, finding himselfe put to the worse, his men killed, he fled into Scotland. And so went into the Low-Countries, and in a poore estate died at Louaine. The Queene by Proclamation pardoned the multitude which he had drawne to take his part.

This man run a strange course. When he might haue beene out of danger, he run into a quarrell which he might evidently see to be lost before he came to it. But he was drunke with the cup of Rome; for who would run such courses but drunken men? It may teach others to beware of those that bring such poysoned and intoxicating cuppes from Rome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apoc. 6. 10.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 59. 5.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 124. 6.
• * 1.4

  An. Dō. 1569.
• * 1.5

  An. Dō. 1569.