The history of Romish treasons & usurpations together with a particular account of many gross corruptions and impostures in the Church of Rome, highly dishonourable and injurious to Christian religion : to which is prefixt a large preface to the Romanists / carefully collected out of a great number of their own approved authors by Henry Foulis.

Sect. 1. Babington, &c.'s Treasons against the Queen.

THe former Treason was scarce ended, when another begun; which was briefly thus:

In the English Seminary at Rheimes in France, there were some who pin'd their faith so much upon the Popes sleeve, that they thought his Authority could do any thing; and that the Deposing Bull of Pius V against Queen Elizabeth was dictated by the Holy Ghost: thus wickedly perswaded, they thought it meritorious to take away her life; and to dye in the attempt, would be a glorious Martyrdom.

Amongst the rest, Dr. William Gifford, Rector of the Students there, and the finisher of the Book call'd Calvino-Turcismus (William Reinolds, of whom formerly, was its first Author.) He and one Gilbert Gifford, and one Hodgson Priests, so inculcated this treasonable Doctrine into one John Savage (said to be a Bastard) that he willingly and solemnly vowed to kill the Queen.

To make the day more sure, John Ballard, an English Priest of Rheimes, plyeth it about England and Scotland, to carry on the Cause, and to prepare his Disciples; then goeth into France to treat with Don Bernardin de Mendoza the Spanish Ambassa∣dor there, and some others, about the invading of England. Ha∣ving done his errand, he returns to England; to forward the de∣signe, gets to London, where in a Souldiers habit, under the false name of Captain Foscue, he agitates his plots.

At London he opens the business to one Mr. Anthony Babing∣ton of Dethick in Derbyshire, a young Gentleman, rich, well bred, and somewhat learned; he had a little before gone to France, (without License) and faln in acquaintance with the Archbishop of Glascow Ambassador for the Queen of Scots, and Thomas Morgan an English Fugitive, but a great stickler for her.

Babington is against an Invasion, as fearing it would not take effect as long as the Queen lived. Ballard tells him that that need not trouble him, because Savage had sworn to kill her. Babington likes the murther, but moves that five other resolute Gentlemen might be joyned to Savage. This agreed on, they carry on the designe for the Invasion. In the mean time Babing∣ton giveth notice to the Queen of Scots of the designed Murther, and desires her that—The Heroical Actors in this business might be rewarded, or else their Posterities, if they perisht in the attempt; for so he worded it. And in this conspiracie, several Gentlemen of Quality were assistants.

Sir Francis Walsingham, that saithful and cunning Secretary, by his Spies discovers all, and informs the Queen: and in this, Gil∣bert Gifford, Pri••st (who lurk'd in England under the name of Luson, to minde Savage of his Oath) was somewhat assistant to Walsingham, who had such a liberal hand to intelligence, that though he left himself poor, yet so trusty he was to his Sove∣raign, that there was scarce a plot against her, but some of his Spies were intimate and Actors with the chiefest of them.

This Plot having run on for some time, the Queen thought it dangerous to go too far: so Ballard is apprehended. Babington jealous of a discovery, he with some of the Confederates hide themselves in St. Johns Wood near the City. Notice being given of their withdrawing, they are proclaimed Traytors; at last are found and seized on, and the rest of their Fellow-rebels. Four∣teen of whom were a executed in St. Giles's Fields, where they used to meet and consult about the Murther and In∣vasion.

Notes

• Cambd. An∣nals, an. 1586.
• a

  September, 1586.