BOOK fond ceremonies. And now, before God and you all, I ut1. terly renounce the pope, and all popedome. Which thing I have always don, and will do to my life's end. And to that which is the chiefest point of our belief, I believe and trust to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ only, and by none other means. For if I did, I should be greatly deceived at this instant. Lastly, I do crave pardon most humbly of the queen's majesty for all mine offences; whose gentle clemency I have abundantly tasted, as well in forgiving me my faults, as also granting me so long a time of repentance of my bypast life. And furthermore, I thank her gracious majesty, that it hath pleased her to promise to be good and gracious lady to my poor and orphant children; which was my only request. And I beseech Almighty God to grant her a long, prosperous, and quiet reign over you. I could use a similitude, although the place and state of the speakers are far unlike; yet not unmeet for this time and place. I did once hear in king Edward's time, Mr. Latymer, a good old and blessed martyr, preach, that he feared great plagues were to come upon the people for their exactions, and contentions, and disobedience. But contrary, I hope verily, that this realm shall be blessed, and the state of it most prosperous, by reason of your dutiful obedience to your prince and her laws. Which by my death I pray God you may take example to do. Most earnestly, I be 29 seech you to continue true, good, and faithful subjects to your prince. And before all things beware of factions, conspiracies, and disobedience, as whereof men cannot be good, as daily experience doth teach us. And I fear me divers of you, if you might have your wishes, full little do you know in what safety you should live afterwards. Wherefore, for God's sake, beware of it. Thus I beseech God to grant the queen's majesty long life, to reign over you in peace: and, if it be God's plesure, even to the end of the world, the which I think is not long thither. And thus I desire you all to pray for me. Then turning about, he kneeled down, and read with a I. loud voice the lth Psalm, with two other Psalms, [whereof BOOK one was that, beginning, O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, &c.] And happening upon a sentence, wherein was contained forgiveness of sins, suddenly he started up, saying, Masters, I had forgotten one thing, which is, to ask forgiveness generally. Wherefore I now forgive all the world from the bottom of my heart. Then kneeling down again, he made an end of his prayers. That don, he took his leave of all the gentlemen that were there upon the scaffold, using some words in secret to sir Henry Lee. And then he put off his gown and doublet. And stretched himself upwards, looking towards heaven: and withal cast his arms abroad; and with singular signes of loving affection embraced Mr. Nowel, bowing his body even to the ground with great humility. And with him also he used secret talk. Then he demanded for to se the axe: and it was shewed unto him. Then the executioner did ask him forgiveness, which he willingly did, and gave him forgiveness. The executioner offered him a linnin cloth to wind before his eyes. He said, My fellow, I will not move; for I do not fear death: for I hope to go singing into heaven. Then, without declaring any exterior sign of inward passion or grief, by alteration of his countenance, he meekly offered his head upon the block to the executioner, and his soul to the mercy of Almighty God. [Number XIII.] Mr. Dering and Mr. Hansby, the duke of Norfolk's chaplains; their epistle to him concerning a book of prayers, that they had composed by his command, for the use of his children. Illustrissimo duci, ac dno. ipsis colendissimo Thomæ duci Norfolciensi, salutem in Christo sempiternam precantur Edwardus Deringe et Edwardus Hansbie. QUÆ dederas ad nos mandata (Domine nobis multis no- MSS. Foxii. minibus colendissime) de precibus tuis liberis conscribendis, I. BOOK ea qua potuimus fide persecuti sumus, atque confecimus. Quod vero reliqui officii nostri putamus esse, Deum omnis gratiæ, omnisque misericordiæ patrem, rogamus et quæsumus, ut quæ tibi prima consilia dederit, verissima inviolatæ pietatis auguria, ea ita conservet, foveat, enutriat, ut quæ agunt in te radices sanctissimas immortalitatis, ea fructus maturos aliquando afferant, quæ tibi propagentur et crescant in vitam æternam. Nos vero (quod debemus, quoniam sumus tibi et tuis meritis, et sancta servitutis religione devinctissimi) non dubitamus te et rogare et hortari, ut quoties tibi subeunt hujusmodi sacratissimi profecto motus animi, eos multa commentatione et cura sic intus verses, ut nisi in sensus reconditos atque intimos, eos aliquando reposueris, nihil unquam, ne ad punctum quidem temporis de acerrima atque attentissima cogitatione remiseris. Nos profecto ut te huc invitemus, servitutis nostræ nomine, in id potissimum incumbimus. Tu, si obsequare, illum fructum capies, quem tuæ Celsitudini speramus a nobis fore amplissimum. Qui quantus futurus est, si integris atque valentibus oculis nondum potes providere. Avoca paulisper mentem a consuetudine istorum sensuum, et paucis commonebimus, quam sint in hoc positæ 30 omnes fælicitates tuæ. Non potes non meminisse, quibus Dei Opt. Max. beneficiis ornatus es; quo in loco te posuerit, quibus meritis auxerit; quanta animi gratia, quanta benevolentia armaverit. Omnia fere habes supra ætatem, supra consuetudinem, omnia innumerabilia beneficia, quomodo tandem sustinebis? Quam gratiam tuus animus capiet? Quam frustra remunerationem meditaberis? Annon pro tam immortalibus beneficiis te totum, ac tuam vitam debes Deo? Et quomodo exolves fidem? Aut quid retribues Domino pro omnibus quæ retribuit tibi? Hoc illud est (Princeps illustrissime) quod te ante monuimus. Hic fructus cogitationum tuarum, quem diximus uberrimum. Quoties tibi venit in mentem Dei; quoties precationis, pietatis, virtutis, religionis, mortalitatis tuæ, sancti studii, sanctæque industriæ, vide, ut accuratius ea mediteris et cogites. Nec ante te sinas ab eo abduci, quam te cognoveris meliorem. Ita I. demum erga Deum, authorem salutis tuæ, tam optimè de BOOK te meritum, quamvis non reipsa (est enim hoc ádúvaтov,) at animo certe et voluntate, quam gratissimus fuisse indicaveris. Et erunt hæ tibi cogitationes, non honoris hujus seculi, id est, unius diei ludibria, sed sempiterna illius fælicitatis certissima testimonia, quibus et nunc frueris, in isto domicilio, ad magnam et incredibilem animi tranquillitatem ; et post hæc, cum hinc emigraveris, eadem sacrosancta olim consignatura est immortalitas. O! te multo fæliciorem, ac infinito amplius, quam illo verbo veteri rgis xal Teτgáxis, si ad istas fortunas tuas, quas habes, amplissimas, etiam illas adjunxeris, quas immensa illa et infinita beavit æternitas. Deus omnis gratiæ, qui vocavit te ad æternam ejus gloriam in Jesu Christo, parumper afflictum, is te confirmet, roboret, stabiliat, ut fide ista vivas in æternum. Vale feliciter in Christo Jesu. Cantabrigiæ, 13io. Septembris, 1569. Tuæ dignitati oi. obsequio deditissimi, Siquid in his precibus volueris immutari, ut aut longiores sint, aut breviores, plures etiam aut pauciores, postquam rescierimus, pro nostra in Christo facultate, expediemus omnia. Number XIV. Five causes shewed against the queen of Scots, anno 1572. lius, F. 6. I. THE first, Claim to the crown of England in posses-Cott. Lision; with refusal and delay to remoue the same. Giving brary, Juthe armes of England without difference, in escutcheons, coat-armes, plate, altar-cloaths: which were openly seen at the triumph. Writing of the stile of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, in letters patents, during her coverture. And of her pedegree, conveying her three ways to the crown, viz. as descending from the eldest daughter of king Henry VII. Another way, from the duke of Somerset. The third from a daughter of Edmond before the conquest. BOOK I. II. The second, Seeking a mariage with the duke of Norfolk: to advance that title and possession. For part of the matters whereof the duke of Norfolk was indicted, arraigned, and condemned. For which was alledged, in proof sufficient, her advice to perform the mariage by force. III. The procurement of the late rebellion in the north. By messages continually to and from the earl of Northumberland, sent by Thomas Busshop, and his son, and by Hamlin, Oswould Wilkinson, toward the Spanish ambassador: and brought to him by the bishop of Rosse, her ambassador, (to whom he was directed,) to procure aid of men and mony for the rebellion. The fear she had and sorrow, when she heard the earl of Northumberland was taken by the 31 earl of Sussex, for cumbring of friends; as she wrot to the duke of Norfolk. IV. The relieving the rebells after they fled. She procured 12000 crownes from the pope: whereof 6000 by her order were distributed. Viz. To the earl of Westmerland, 2000. The countess of Northumberland, 2000. And the lord Dacres, Norton, Markenfield, and the rest, 2000. The receiving and entertaining of the rebells in Scotland, at their first flying, by her friends onely. V. The practising of an invasion by strangers into England and Ireland; and of rebellion in both the realms. Her long letter in cipher to the bishop of Rosse: wherein she discourseth her estate: and shewing many causes, not to trust upon England, Scotland, nor France, resteth at the last upon Spain. Her opinion to send an express messenger to solicit the pope and king of Spain. Her choice of Radolphi, the popes secret agent in England. The going of Radolphi accordingly, first to the duke of Alva: then to the pope: and after to Spain with instructions. Whereunto were privy the duke of Norfolk, the Spanish ambassador, and the bishop of Rosse. The sum of his message was to procure 10000 men to arrive in England: and to joyn with the duke and his friends. The port was Harwich in Essex, for neerness to Norfolk. Randolpho returned answer of his message to John duke of Alva. Who did accept the re |