present, but that there be post after post sent hither, as well from France as Flanders, of the peace concluded: and they say here for truth, that there be two ambassadors in a journey hitherwards, one from the French king, and the other from the king of Spain, which be looked for here daily, sent, as men say here, to treat with the pope touching certain matters, agreed between the said kings concerning religion. Also I am informed here that, upon the coming of the said ambassadors hither, the pope mindeth to send two legates, one to the French king, and the other to the king of Spain, for reformation of religion. The advice be here also, that the king of Spain goeth to Paris, to marry the French king's daughter, and therehence goeth straight to Spain; and, the mean season, that the Dauphin shall lie in Brabant, for hostage, till the king of Spain pass through France. Also the dispensation that the French king sent for hither, for the marriage of his sister with the duke of Savoy, is sent hence in post to France already. Other occurrents here be none that I can hear of at this present: and thus I beseech Almighty God to conserve your most excellent majesty in long and most prosperous life. From Rome, the eighteenth of April, 1559.

"Your majesty's most humble subject,
"EDWARD CARNE."

Before I conclude this notice, I may, perhaps, be expected to say a few words in reference to the present volume. Of the private circumstances, which have contributed to retard its appearance, it is the less necessary to speak, as there is sufficient in its contents to account, in a great measure, for any delay which may seem to have occurred. Of those contents more than three-fourths will be found to consist of new matter. These relate to incidents of no trifling importance in the history of the catholic body, and, in some instances, to events, of which little has hitherto been known. In the composition of the narrative, I have spared no pains to render my statements accurate; and, in the extent and variety of the docu

ments which I have been enabled to collect, the reader will, I trust, see that I have not been wholly unsuccessful.

Flattering myself that the present volume will meet with the same favourable reception which has been extended to its predecessors, I shall cheerfully proceed in the laborious, but not ungrateful, task, which I originally allotted to myself.

Arundel, August 28, 1841.

CHURCH HISTORY

OF

ENGLAND.

PART V.-JAMES I.

ARTICLE I.

PREHENDED- -“ THE MAIN"

COBHAM, RALEIGH, AND OTHERS, CHARGED WITH PLOTTING.-ACCESSION OF JAMES-PARTIES DISAPPOINTED-RALEIGH-BROOKE “THE BYE"-INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED IN IT-PLANS OF THE CONSPIRATORS-THEY ARE AP-ARREST OF COBHAM AND RALEIGH-TRIALS OF THE PRISONERS-EXECUTION OF CLARKE, WATSON, AND BROOKE-NEGOTIATIONS OF WINTER AND WRIGHT-THEY FAIL-PROCLAMATION FOR THE BANISHMENT OF ALL JESUITS AND SEMINARY PRIESTS-MISSION Of Dr. GIFFORD JAMES'S SENTIMENTS IN REGARD TO CATHOLICS-HIS SPEECH TO HIS FIRST PARLIAMENT.

If we observe the methods of Divine Providence in disposing of kingdoms, we find them very often so unfavourable to human projects, that neither armies nor counsels are able to obtain those ends, which politicians promise to themselves. The history of our nation affords us several instances of this kind: but that of the present reign is most especially to be taken notice. of. It was the grand design of king Henry VIII., and afterwards the principal aim of those that laboured in the reformation, to defeat the Scottish succession and this they endeavoured to effect by stratagems neither just nor honourable. Providence had ordained that he should step into the throne, who, by the laws of inheritance, and ancient custom, had the nearest pretensions. Now, as alterations of any kind are attended with some inconveniences, so it happened upon the present occasion. The generality of the people appeared content with the succession; yet this did not hinder

VOL. IV.

B

some murmurings among a disappointed party, who were apprehensive it would prove prejudicial to England, in regard both of civil and religious matters. They suspected that a foreign prince would introduce too many of his countrymen into the administration of affairs, and that his calvinistical education would be of great disservice to the church by law established. These jealous thoughts had taken such hold of them, that they could not refrain themselves from uttering their minds improperly, till, at last, they fell under

JULY

prosecution. The date of their misbehaviour was 1603 between the death of queen Elizabeth, and the king's coronation; when several persons of distinction, of different characters and religions, were seized upon account of a conspiracy. The particulars of their indictment were, killing the king, raising a rebellion, altering religion, subverting the government, and procuring an invasion. This was to be done by the assistance of some foreign prince, and lady Arabella Stuart was to be placed upon the throne. The persons impeached of this grand design, were Henry Brooke lord Cobham, George Brooke his brother, Thomas lord Grey of Wilton, sir Walter Raleigh, sir Griffith Markham, sir Edward Parham, Anthony Copley, Bartholomew Brookesby, gentlemen, and two priests missioners, William Watson, and William Clarke. Lord Cobham's confession was the chief, and almost the only, direct proof of a conspiracy; and though all were condemned to die,' yet only three suffered, viz. Mr. Brooke and the two priests. After all, our historians have not been able to give any regular account of the matter; the whole appearing mysterious, and full of inconsistencies. For, whereas "most treasons are composed of men of one particular faction, in this there were persons of all sorts; priests and laymen, catholics and protestants, noblemen, knights, and gentlemen. So that several would have thought it to have been a deep-laid conspiracy; but it proved so shallow, that it could

Nov.

[This is a mistake. Sir Edward Parham, having shown that his motive for joining the conspirators was not treasonable, was acquitted. Loseley MSS. 375.-T.]

scarce be observed, what the authors of it designed, or what they would have effected." Nay, "some have thought this whole conspiracy, as well as that of the Gowries in Scotland, to have been only a state trick."

A politic brain might suggest two motives for a stratagem, very useful upon the present juncture: first, to terrify the party that seemed discontented with the Scottish succession; and again, to bring an odium upon the catholics upon the same motive. These, with some improvement, might be the foundation of a tolerable good plot; especially if we take in several serviceable circumstances capable of adding to its reputation. Sir Walter Raleigh was a great politician, and a very popular person; a great admirer of his late mistress, and no friend to the Scots; and besides, had been disgusted by his majesty, by his being removed from the honourable and beneficial post of being captain of the guards, to make way for a Scottishman.2 The like oc

casion of discontent was given to Mr. George Brooke; one Mr. James Hudson, a Scottishman, being preferred to him in the mastership of St. Cross's Hospital. As

1

Echard, i. 909, 911. The account we have of Gowry's plot was this:-In the year 1599, king James was invited by Ruthven, earl of Gowry, to his seat, where he and his brother Alexander attempted to murder him, but were both killed by the king's attendants. That which pushed them upon this desperate attempt, was their resentment for the loss of their father, who was tried and executed in the year 1584 (Collier ii. 663). But a party in Scotland endeavoured to persuade the people, it was the king's own contrivance to extinguish that family, which he was an enemy to. [For an account of this conspiracy see the Somers' Tracts, i. 508, et seq. and compare it with that in the State Trials, vii. 34.-T.]

2

[Besides the post of captain of the guard, which was given to Sir Thomas Erskine, Raleigh lost also his patent for licensing the sale of wine; and was, moreover, induced or compelled to resign the more lucrative office of warden of the stanneries (Caley, i. 394, 432). He was still, however, permitted to retain the government of Jersey: and, by way of compensation for his other losses, James remitted to him the rent of £300 per annum, payable out of the revenue of the island, together with a large amount of arrears already due to the crown. Cecil's Letter to sir Thomas Parry, apud Caley, i. 364; and Ellis's Original Letters, first series, iii. 82.-T.]

3

[Hudson had been James's agent in England during the latter years of Elizabeth. On the vacancy of the office in question, caused by the elevation of Dr. Robert Bennet, the late master, to the see of Hereford, in February, 1603, the queen had promised the appointment to Brooke. Before it was filled up, however, Elizabeth was dead: and James, to reward the services of his agent, gave it, on his accession, to Hudson. Birch, i. 128.-T.]