The Copie of a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earle of LEYCESTER, Lieutenant Generall of all her MAJESTY's Forces in the United Provinces of the Lowe Countries, written before, but delivered at his Returne from thence.

With a Report of certeine Petitions and Declarations made to the QUEENES Majeftie at two feverall Times, from all the Lordes and Commons lately affembled in Parliament. And her Majesties Anfweres thereunto by her felfe delivered, though not expreffed by the Reporter with fuch Grace and Life, as the fame were uttered. by her MAJESTIE. 1586.

A

To the Right Honourable the Earl of Leicester, &c.

Lbeit the earneft Defire of my Hart (Right Honourable my very good Lord) hath alwayes endeavoured to do your Lordship fome acceptable Service, for the Honour you firft vouchfafed me from beyond my Cradel, and after confirmed with the favourable Opinion wherewith you have alwayes countenanced me ever fince, even thus farre onward on my Daies, which alfo together with my Yeres hath increased fafter then mine Abilitie to performe, being croffed in nothing more deepely, then when I was letted by the overmuch tendring of me by my Parents, to attend your Lordship in your late Voyage and honourable Expedition into the Lowe Countries: yet have I bene ever fince moft ftudious to obferve and apprehende fome good Occafion, or fitte Oportunitie, to testifie the dutifull Reverence I beare to your Lordship: wherein if hitherto I have beene flacke in Performance during your Abfence, it hath proceeded of the Care I had not to entertaine your Lordship with Matter either frivolous or vulgar: though Thinges of that Nature might beft become my Condition, and well agree with my Understanding..

In which Cogitation it came to my Minde, that the Report of the Speaches delivered by the Queenes moft excellent Majeftie in a late and weightie Caufe dealt in this Parliament, in Anfwere to the Petitions prefented to hir Majeftiethe 12. and 24. of November at Richmond. by the Lord Chauncelour and Speaker, refpectively, in the Name and Behalfe of both Eftates, accompanied with divers of either Sort, would doubtleffe bee a Thing to your L. moit gratefull, as one ever pleafed juftly to admire the rare Perfections of her Mind, and approoved Judgement, wherewith, according to your Eftate and Place, defervedly, your L. hath beene ufually acquainted: as alfo worthie of eternal Monument and everlasting Memorie, for as much as on the fodaine. they were delivered by her felfe, for Anfwere of a Matter propounded, de

bated,

bated, refolved, and digefted, with great Labour and Premeditation, of the greatest, gravest, wifeft, and most choife Perfons of the whole Realme. Whereof although I have but flenderly purtraied the Lineaments, without expreffing to Life the external Ornaments of her Royall Speach, accompanied with all princely and gracefull Accomplementes: yet doubt I not but your Lordship will eafily finde her inward Vertues, whereof it is impoffible for mee to make the leaft Adumbration,

And because in the dayly Expectation of your Lordships Returne, I rested uncertaine how these might come fafely to your Lordships Hands: I did therefore advise to have this my Letter with the included Copies to be ready to attend your first Arrivall, in Gratulation of the Safetie thereof, which hath bene long defired. Wherein, as I ftrive to performe a particular Duetie to your Lordship, fo truft I you will have that honourable Confideration, that in the Communication thereof with others, there growe not any Prejudice to me for my Presumption, in adventuring to be a Reporter of that, which in the Deliverie wrought fo great Astonishment to all the Hearers, as it exceeded the Fulnes of every Mans Expectation: and therefore, without fome favourable Construction of mine Attempt, I might incurre great Blame by my flender Maner of Report, fo to have blemished the Excellencie of her Majefties Speaches, whereof I humbly befeech your Lordship to have favourable Regard. Thus referring them to your Lordships Difpofition, and my felfe to your favourable Protection, I humbly take my Leave. 25. Novemb. 1586. Your Lordships most humbly

In all Duetie to commaund.

R. C.

The Briefe of the Lord Chancellers firft Speach, at the Time when he delivered her most excellent MAJESTIE a Petition in Writing, for, and in the Name of the Lordes and Commons.

Which Speaches were of more length then here are by me collected: but fure I am, the Subftaunce thereof is here truely expreffed.

THA

HAT the Lordes and Commons having of long Time to their intollerable Griefe, found, by bowe many Pratifes the Scottish Queene bad compassed the Deftruction of her Highnes most Royall Perfon (in whofe Safetie next under God they acknowledged their chiefe Felicity to confift) thereby not onely to bereave them of the fincere and true Religion in this Realme profeffed and efiablished, but to bring backe againe this noble Realme into the Thraldome of Romish Tyrannie, and to overthrowe the happie Eftate thereof: wherein, although her Highnesse of her abundant gratious naturall Clemencie and Princely Magnanimitie, bath either lightly paffed them over, or with no fmall Indulgence tolerated, notwithstanding the often and earnest Inftances of her Nobilitie and Commons in fundry Parliaments heretofore: and further bath protected her from the violent Purfuite of her owne People: fhe yet, as a Perfon obdurate in Malice

(as

(as it appeares) continued her former Practifes, as bad bene lately manifefted by certaine wicked Conspiracies plotted by one Anthonie Babington, and divers deSperate Perfons, that had combined and confederated themselves by Vowe and Oth in a most borrible Enterprise, by Murther, to take away the Life of her Majaftie: wherein the Scottish Queene did not only advise them, but also direct, comfort, and abbette them, with Perfwafion, Counsel, Promife of Reward, and earnest Obteftation. Whereupon her Majeftie, at the earnest Request of fuch as tendered the Safetie of ber Royall Perfon and the Quiet of the Realme, did direct Commiffion under the great Seale to fundrie Lords and others of her Majesties privie Counsel, and a great Nomber of Lordes of Parliament, of the greatest and most ancient Degree, affifted with some of the principall Judges of the Realme, to beare, examine and determine the fame, according to a Statute in that Bebalfe made in the xxviij. Veere of her Reigne. Who, to the Nomber of 36. having attended the Execution of the faid Commiffion, and divers Daies and Times beard the Allegations against the faid Scottish Queene in her owne Prefence and Hearing, (Shee being permitted to fay what fhee woulde in her owne Excufe) did with one Affent, finde her culpable both in Privitie and Confent to the faide Crimes objected, and alfo in compaffing the Queenes Majefties Death. Which Sentence, by ber owne Directions upon the bearing of the Prooves and Proceffe in Parliament, was judged to have beene most honourable and just, and thereupon they all befeech bir Majefty, that forafmuch as the said Queene of Scots, was the very ground and onely fubject, whereupon fuch daungerous Practifes and Complots bad bene founded, against bir Majesties moft Royall Perfon and the Eftate of this Realme for thefe many Yeeres, to the Overthrowe of fundrie of the Nobilitie of the Land, and Danger of Chriftian Religion, and that they could fee no Hope of her defifting, and ber Adherents, but that fill her Majefties Safetie must be hazarded, and ftand to the Event of the like miraculous Difcoveries.

Therefore, as most humble and inftant Suppliants, they did upon their Knees at her most gratious Feete, befeech and request in most earnest Maner, that afwell for the Continuance of Gods Religion, the Quiet of this Kingdom, Prefervation of her Perfon, and Defence of them and their Pofterities, it woulde please bir Higbeneffe to take Order, that the faide Sentence might be published, and fuch further Direction given, as was requifite in this fo weightie a Caufe, according to the Purport and Intent of the faid Statute. Wherin, if ber Majestie (purfuing her wonted Clemencie) should nowe be remisse, befides the imminent Danger to bir Perfon, he might by the Stay thereof, procure the heavie Displeasure of Almightie God, as by fundry fevere Examples of his Justice in the facred Scriptures, doth appeare. And fo be delivered, to her Majesties owne Handes, the Petition in Writing, which be faid, had bene with great Deliberation afsented unio, by all the whole Parliament..

A fhort

A short Extract of fuch Reasons, as were delivered in Speach by Master Sergeant Puckering, Speaker of the Lower House, before the Queenes moft excellent Majestie in her Prefence Chamber at Richmond, the xii. of November 1586. in the xxviii. Yeere of her Reigne, containing divers apparant and imminent Dangers, that may grow to her Majefties most Royal Perfon, and to her Realme, from the Scottish Queene and her Adherents, if Remedie be not provided.

1.

B

¶ First, touching the Danger of her Majesties Perfon.

OTH this Scottish Queene and her Favourers, doe thinke her to have Right, not to fucceed but to enjoy your Crowne in Poffeffion: and therefore as fbee is a most impatient Competitor, fo will fhee not spare any Meanes whatsoever, that may bereave us of your Majeftie, the onely Impediment that he enjoyeth not her Defire.

2. Shee is obdurate in Malice against your royall Person, notwithstanding you have fhewed her all Favour and Mercie, as well in preserving her Kingdome, as faving her Life, and falving her Honour. And therefore there is no Place for Mercie, fince there is no Hope that fee will defift from most wicked Attempts: the rather for that her Malice appeareth fuch, that shee maketh (as it were) ber Teftament of the fame, to be executed after her Death, and appoynteth her Executors to performe it.

3. Shee boldly and openly professed it lawfull for her to moove Invafion upon you. And therefore, as of Invafion Victorie may enfue, and of Vittorie, the Death of the vanquished: fo did fhee thereby not obfcurely bewraie, that fbee thought it lawfull for her to deftroie your facred Perfon.

4. Shee thinkes it not onely lawfull, but Honourable alfo and Meritorious to take your Life from you, as being alreadie deprived of your Crowne by the Excommunication of the bolie Father. And therefore it is like fbee will (as hitherto fe bath done) continually feeke it by whatfoever Meanes.

5. That fee is greedie of your Majefties Death, and preferreth it before her owne Life and Safetie: for in her Direction to one of her late Complices, fhe advised (under covert Termes) that whatsoever should become of her, that tragicall Execution fhould be performed upon you.

The Danger of the overthrow of the true Religion.

1. It is moft perillous to fpare ber, that continually bath fought the Overthrow and Suppreffion of true Religion, infected with Poperie from her tender Youth, and being after that a Confederate in that Holy League when she came to Age, and ever fince a professed Enemie against the Trueth.

2. She refleth wholly upon Popish Hopes to deliver and advance her, and is thereby fo devoted to that Profeffion, that afwell for Satisfaction of others, as for feeding of her owne Humor, fhe will fupplant the Gospell, where, and when fo ever she may: which Evill is fo much the greater, and the more to be avoyded,

as

as that it layeth the very Soule, and will spread it felfe not onely over England and Scotland, but also into thofe Partes beyond the Seas, where the Gospel of God is mainteined, the which cannot but be exceedingly weakened, by the Dofection of this noble Ilande.

The Perill of the State of the Realme.

1. As the Lydians faide, Unum Regem agnofcunt Lydi, duos autem tolerare non poffunt: So wee fay, Unicam Reginam Elizabetham agnofcunt Angli, duas autem tolerare non poffunt.

2. As fhe bath already by her Allurements brought to Destruction moe Noble Men and their Houfes, together with a greater Multitude of the Commons of this Realme, during her being here, then she should have bin able to doe, if she had bene in Poffeffion of her owne Crowne, and armed in the Fielde against us: fo will fhe fill be continuall Caufe of the like Spoyle, to the greater Loffe and Perill of this Eftate: And therefore this Realme neither can, nor may endure her.

3. Againe, he is the onely Hope of all difcontented Subjects, he is the Foundation whereon all the evill difpofed do builde, fhe is the Roote from whence all Rebellions and Trecheries do spring; And therefore whileft this Hope lafteth, this Foundation ftandeth, and this Roote liveth, they will reteine Heart, and fet on Foote whatsoever their Devifes against the Realme, which otherwife will fall away, die and come to nothing.

4. Mercie now in this Cafe towards her, woulde in the Ende prove Crueltie against us all, Nam eft quædam crudelis mifericordia, and therefore to spare ber, is to fpill us.

5. Befides this, it will exceedingly grieve and in a Maner deadly wound the Hearts of all the good Subjects of your Land, if they fhall fee a Confpiracie fo borrible not condingly punished.

6. Thousands of your Majesties most liege and loving Subjectes, of all Sorts and Degrees, that in a tender Zeale of your Majefties Safetie, bave most willingly both by open Subscription and folemne Vowe, entred into a firme and loyall Affociation, and have thereby protefted to pursue unto the Death, by all forcible and poffible Meanes, fuch as she is by just Sentence nowe found to be: can neither difcharge their Love, nor well fave their Othes, if your Majestie fhall keepe ber alive: of which Burden your Majefties Subjects are most defirous to bee relieved, as the fame may be, if Justice be done.

7. Lafly, your Maiefties most loving and dutiful Commons doubt not, but that as your Majestie is duely exercifed in reading the Booke of God, so it will please you to call to your Princely Remembrance, how fearefull the Examples of Gods Vengeance bee, that are there to be found against King Saul for Sparing King Agag, and against King Achab for faving the Life of Benadad: both which were by the just fudgement of God deprived of their Kingdoms, for sparing those wicked Princes, whome God had delivered into their Handes, of Purpose to be flaine by them, as by the Minifters of his eternal and divine Juftice: wherein full wifely Salomon proceeded to Punishment, when bee tooke the Life of his owne naturall and elder Brother Adonias, for the only Intention of a Marriage, that gave Sufpition of Treafon against him.

VOL. I.

K

Herein