better to satisfy all those whom it might concern in the reasons of her taking arms upon this occasion, but she gives a more particular account of it to the King of Spain, whom she considered as the chief patron of the Guisian League. And, knowing how unsafe it was for her to appear alone in a cause of that nature and importance, she deals by Knollis and other of her Agents with the Princes of Germany to give their timely assistance to the Prince of Conde, in maintenance of that religion which themselves professed. But howsoever, not expecting the success of those counsels, she proceeds to the supplying of the said Prince and his party with all things necessary for the war, and sends over a sufficient strength of ships, arms, and men, as well to scour the seas as secure the land. The men, amounting to 6000, were divided into two equal parts, of which the one was destined to the defence of Rowen and Diep, then being in the hands of the confederates; the other to take possession of the town of Newhaven, which by the townsmen and inhabitants was joyfully surrendered into the hands of the English1. The town commodiously seated at the mouth of the Seine, and having the command of a spacious bay, in former times not much observed or esteemed; but, being more carefully considered of by King Francis the First, he caused the bay to be enlarged, the passages into it cleared, and the entrances of it to be strongly fortified; which, falling into the hands of any enemy, might have destroyed the trade of Rowen and Paris, being both built upon the river. Called for this reason Franciscopolis by our Latin writers, Newhaven by the English merchant, and Haver d'Grace (by reason of the beauty of it), amongst the French, it hath been looked on ever since as a place of consequence. For her Commander-in-Chief, she sends over the Lord Ambrose Dudley, the eldest son then living of the late Duke of Northumberland, whom on the 26th of December2, she had created Lord Lisle, 52 and Earl of Warwick. And he accordingly, preparing for his 24 passage over, took shipping at Portsmouth on the 17th of October, but was so hindered by cross winds, that he could not reach the town till the 29th, where he was solemnly received with a peal of ordnance. On the morrow after he received into the town a troop of light-horsemen, all Scots, and of the 1 Camd. 76; Dav. 72. Stow, 648, 2 AN.REG. 4, 1562. 1562. AN. REG. 4, regiment of Count Montgomery, which were sent to him from the port of Diep, and the next day took the oath of his principal officers, on whose fidelity and courage the safety of the place seemed most to depend. On the fourth of November, a bark belonging to the town brought in four merchants ships of Bretaigne, fraughted for the most part with Gascoin wines, as afterwards two more with the like commodity, which proved a great refreshment to the soldiers in it. And on the sixth the Reingrave shewed himself upon the top of the hills with two thousand foot, betwixt whom and the garrison soldiers of Hareflew on the one side, and those of Newhaven on the other, the remainder of the year was taken up in continual skirmishes'. Queen Mary 11. Cross we next over into Scotland, that we may see in what condition our affairs stood there. The death of the late French King had made that kingdom so uncomfortable to the Queen of Scots, that she desired to hasten back into her own. And thereunto she was much animated by the heads of either faction, but on different ends :-her presence earnestly solicited by the Popish party, in hope by her authority to suppress their opposites, and by the Protestants2 on some strong presumptions that they could deal better with her when they had her there, than when she was protected by the power of France, and governed by the counsels of the Guisian faction. Before her leaving of that kingdom, she had been pressed by Throgmorton, the English resident, to ratify the pacification made at Edenborough; to which she would by no means yield, till she had advised with the nobility, and other of her subjects of the realm of Scotland. This makes the Queen of England doubtful that she should be deserted by the Scots of the Congregation, to whom she had done so many good offices in the time of their troubles. But, having dealt with some of the chief amongst them, she found a resolution in them for adhering to her; which so assured her on that side, that she 1 Stow, 651. 2 The statement as to the Protestants is a mistake. They professed, indeed, to desire the Queen's return; but they were at the same time intriguing, in conjunction with Elizabeth, to prevent it. Mary applied to the English Queen for a passport, which was refused. "This proceeding," writes Cecil," will like the Scots well." Tytler, vi. 230. 3 Spottisw. 177. Camden, 64-7. 1562. feared but little danger from the Queen and her party, when- AN.REG. 4, soever she came. Which notwithstanding, it was held to be the safer course to intercept her, if they could, in her passage thither. And to that end a squadron of ships was sent to sea, but under colour of suppressing some pirates, by whom the trade of merchandise was given out to be hindered1. But the taking of one of the Scottish ships, with the Earl of Eglington, and other passengers of that nation that were making homewards, declared sufficiently that they looked for a far richer prize3. But for the Queen of Scots herself, by reason of a thick fog which hung over the seas, she passed by the English unperceived, and landed at the port of Lieth on the 20th of August, anno 1561. From thence she sends Lethington the younger with letters to the Queen of England, tending especially to express that great love and kindness which she bare to her, as to her dearest friend and sister, and the desire she had to continue in true and sincere friendship with her. At what time she received letters also to the same effect from some of the nobility of that kingdom; in which they signified withal, "That the surest way to continue amity and friendship betwixt them two, were to declare the Queen of Scots to be her next and lawful heir to the kingdom of England." 12. But this demand, as it was unlooked for, so was it of too high a nature to be hastily answered; so that the Laird of Lethington could prevail no further at that time, than to gain a promise from the Queen, that she would do nothing to the prejudice of the title of her cousin of Scotland5. The rest was left to be considered of in a personal conference, appointed to be held at York in the end of June. Which motion first proceeded from the Queen of Scots, who was thought to have been earnest and real in it, partly for making a firm peace with her sister of England, and partly to make herself known to 153 the principal subjects of that country. Neither was the 325 meeting disliked of the better sort, as thinking it would serve, besides the preservation of the common peace, to bring her to 1 See Tytler, vi. 230. 2 "that" not in Edd. 1, 2. 3 1562. AN. REG.4, saying that of such interviews there was never seen any good effect; and that it would not be safe for the Queen of Scots to put herself into the power of her to whose kingdom she had made a claim. But notwithstanding these unprofitable deliberations, the interview was agreed upon, and the numbers on either side determined, and all things provided for the journey, when suddenly the Queen of England by her letters excused herself, desiring that it might be respited till the year next following. Which the Scots Queen was not sorry to hear upon further thoughts, considering how much the French King and her uncles of the House of Guise, might have been dissatisfied on the news of that inter-parleance1. Neither did Queen Elizabeth want her reasons to decline the meeting, which some believe was never really intended by her, but that she hoped the fail would have been on the other side, which would have given her the same cause of quarrel against the daughter, which King Henry took against the father, on the like disappointment. Others conceived that she might fear a growing less by it in the eyes of her people, the Queen of Scots having so many advantages above her both in youth and beauty. But it was generally concluded to be against all reason of State to give her rival opportunity of growing gracious with the nobility and gentry of England, and laying the foundation of a faction in the Court itself. Troubles in Merton College, Oxford. 13. But the Queen had deeper matters to take up her thoughts than any such feminine jealousies and emulations, though these perhaps might also have their place amongst them. A spirit of sedition had begun to shew itself in the year last past, upon the bare noise of the coming of the Nuncio hither. Not much diminished-(if it were not much increased)-by the sitting of the Council of Trent, in which it was believed that some proceedings would be had against her. Which seeds, being sown, began first to shew themselves in a petit rebellion in Merton College in Oxon;-sufficiently discovered by those small beginnings that some design of greater consequence was in agitation. The Wardenship of that house being void by the death of Gervase, one Man is chosen to the place. But his election being questioned, and his admission thereupon opposed by a contrary faction, the government of the College Spottisw. 185. Camd. 75. 1 2 Sup. i. 22. 1562 devolved of course upon one Hall, a Senior Fellow, sufficiently AN. Reg. 4, known to be of Popish inclinations, though for the saving of his place he had conformed, as others did, to the present time. No sooner was he in this power, but he retrieves some old superstitious hymns which formerly had been sung on several festivals in the times of Popery, prohibiting the use of such as had been introduced by Gervase, the late Warden there. This gave encouragement and opportunity to the Popish party to insult over the rest, especially over all those of the younger sort, who had not been trained up in their Popish principles; so that it seemed a penal matter to be thought a Protestant. Notice whereof being given to Archbishop Parker, (the ordinary Visitor of that College, in the right of his see) he summoneth Hall on the 20th of May to appear before him, and caused the citation to be fastened to the gate of the College. But his authority in that case was so little regarded that the seal of the citation was torn off by some of that party. Hereupon followed a solemn visitation of the College by the said Archbishop. The result whereof was briefly this, that all were generally examined; Man confirmed Warden, Hall justly expelled, his party publicly admonished; the young scholars relieved, the Papists curbed and suppressed, and Protestants countenanced and encouraged in the whole University'. 14. But this was only the essay of those greater commo- AConspiracy tions which were to have ensued upon it; though withal it proved a prognostic of their ill success, which constantly attended the designs of the Romish faction. For presently on 54 the neck of this a far more dangerous conspiracy declared itself 26 in some chief leaders of that party. The present sitting of the Council, the practices of some foreign Ministers, and the Queen's countenancing the French Hugonots, then being in arms against their King, might serve both as encouragements and exasperations to put that party upon dangerous and destructive projects and it is possible enough that somewhat might be aimed at by them in favour of the title of the Queen of Scots, or of some other of the race of King Henry the Seventh, by Margaret his eldest daughter, married to James the Fourth of Scotland; which may the rather be supposed, because I find the Lady 1 Fuller, iv. 314-5. Wood's Hist. and Antiq. of Oxf. ed. Gutch, iv. 149-151. Strype's Parker, b. ii. c. 11. |