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 66 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."] He proceeded thus: "That he could wish, that they and The lord "others had more regard to religion, and the godly policy censures of "established in both realms, as he thought, chiefly by the some of this 66 means of the queen, his sovereign, next under God, than "desire to seek revenge for particular quarrels. Which, 66 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 66 other, to malice Morton, more than to regard their king or their country; or to think one Domberry [D'Aubigny] and his counsels better, than of the advices and 66 requests of his sovereign the queen, he thought no man "of judgment doubted." faction. And so concludeth with these words: "Well, to end; "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 66 BOOK "the heavenly Father. At Newcastle, 25th of Febru II. 66 ary, 1580. Anno 1580, "Your loving friend, Rebellion in Desmond. land by R. Cox, p. 367. 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 favoured the other side. Of these earl Kildare and his son-inlaw, 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 thoughts of the lord treasurer thereupon. Which lord thus expressed his concern about it, and the committing of the earl of Kildare and the baron of Delvyn : "Sorry I am that they should give cause: but more sorry, "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 de"formity 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 "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 66 66 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 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. BOOK II. Anno 1580. A search in papists' houses. Sir William Tresham in Hoggesdon. Priests taken: their confession. Popish cases found in sir James Hargrave's study. Petition in Now for the state of religion. A reformation of several parliament tion of abuses in D'Ewes' for reforma- abuses in the church was moved again in a sessions of parliament this year, (as it had been in a former, anno 1575,) the church. by a petition then to the queen for that purpose. Many abuses were specified therein: as, the great number of unlearned and unable ministers; the great abuse for excommunication for matters of small moment; the commutation of penance; the multitude of dispensations and pluralities, and other hurtful things to the church. And some of the members were appointed, in the name of the whole house, to move the lords of the clergy to continue unto her majesty the prosecution of the purposes of the reformation: which the vice-chamberlain, and the secretaries, and chancellor of the exchequer had, as of themselves, moved unto those lords; and should impart unto their lordships the earnest desire of the house for redress of other griefs, contained likewise in the same petition, as to their good wisdoms should seem meet. 301,302. Some mem bers wait upon the that purpose. addressed to. Her answer. Some days after they waited upon the bishops with the same message; and in the name of the house desired them bishops for to join with them in the said petition to her majesty. Who found some of the said lords not only ready to confess and grant the said defects and abuses, and wished a redress thereof; but were very willing to join with the said comThe queen mittees in moving her majesty in that behalf. And accordby them. ingly afterwards they joined in humble suit unto her highness; and received her majesty's gracious answer. Which was, that as she had, the last sessions of parliament, of her own good consideration, (and before any petition made,) committed the charge and consideration thereof unto some of her clergy, who had not performed the same according as she had commanded; so she would commit the same unto such others of them, as with all convenient speed should see the same accomplished. And that it should be neither delayed nor left undone. 628 XXI. The house made ac with it. For this they all rendered unto her majesty their humble CHAP. thanks. This was reported back to the house. And withal master chancellor of the exchequer declared, that the only Anno 1580. cause why no due reformation had been already made, was by reason of the slackness and negligence of some others; quainted and not of her majesty nor of the house: alleging, that some of the bishops had done something in those matters, delivered by her majesty to their charge; as, in a more advised care of making and ordaining ministers, &c.: and so in conclusion moving the house to rest satisfied with her most gracious answer; and to resolve upon some form of yielding thanks unto her highness for her gracious acceptation of their petition, and putting her in remembrance of the execution thereof. The queen had been displeased of late with some in the parliament, that had attempted reforming matters in the church without her allowance: but now, upon their petition to her, all was made up again. For she insisted upon her supremacy in things ecclesiastical as well as civil, and required application to be made to her, before she would suffer any to meddle with any alteration or regulations of them; and then her orders and directions to be given to her clergy by herself. upon re abuses. What came further of this doth not appear in this ses- The convosion of parliament, by any thing set down in the journal of cation sets parliaments. But, I suppose, the queen upon this ordered forming her privy-council to send that order, as above-mentioned, to the convocation. Which was now ready to regulate, redress, and amend all such matters as might require the same. Which was the way which the queen required reformation in matters of religion to be done: as their proper business of meeting together. This convocation took cognizance of A letter the new heresy of the family of love; and concerning those privy-counthat refused to conform themselves to the religion received cil to the in this kingdom: a letter of these two things having been archbishop. sent to the archbishop of Canterbury from the privy-Bishop council, he accordingly sent to the convocation. For what was done in this convocation, I refer to another book. from the Grindal's Life, book ii. chap. 11. |