BOOK Bay of Biscay should give the signal for their uniting advance.50 II. Elizabeth was neither insensible of the perilous crisis, nor inactive to meet it with intelligence and courage. It was a disquieting point to know how her Catholic subjects would behave. The friends of Mary had assured their queen, after a reconnoitring inquiry two years before, that the greatest part of these in many countries were ready and desirous to take arms and to co-operate with the invading foe;" but this was manifestly on the principle, that this foreign 50 Camden, 359-60. The dispatch of Charles Paget to the queen of Scots, from Paris, on 26 May 1586, presents us with an important picture of the state and intentions of the Catholic mind and wishes in England at that time; and a specimen of the objects and dealings of the exploring priests. 'Since the writing of my last to your majesty, there came here out of England, a priest called Ballard, one that is very honest and discreet, and is intirely acquainted with all the best Catholics in England. He told me, how he was sent hither to declare the minds and readiness that THE MOST PART of Catholics and schismatics were in, TO TAKE ARMS, SO that they might be assured of foreign help. I brought him to the Spanish ambassador, and made him signify his knowlege therein. And so he declared in general, how many of the PRINCIPAL NOBLEMEN AND KNIGHTS in the north parts in Lancashire, the west country, and divers other shires besides, were willing TO TAKE ARMS; what number they would make, armed and unarmed; and that many of them had given their promise by oath, and RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT, of performance; and that now, the earl of Leicester, having all the best of the Protestant captains and soldiers with him, the time was now very fit and proper. The Spanish ambassador heard him very well, and made him set down, in number, how many in every shire would be contented to take arms, and what number of men, armed and unarmed, they could provide; tho he said he might not name the persons, because he had engaged the contrary upon his priesthood; and likewise, he gave him information of the ports, with many other things fit to be known. The Spanish ambassador hath given him further instructions, in what sort he would have him to proceed in, more particular, and with secrecy enough; and doth assure him, that his master, the king of Spain, will be brought to give them reasonable speedy relief. The aid which should be given, shall be by the prince of Parma, with such expedition, and so much besides the expectation of the queen of England, that it will wonderfully vex her, for she will never so much as dream of that course, but think whatsoever is intended will be performed from Spain.' Murd. 518. XXXV. force would be the subordinate auxiliary, and not the CHAP. paramount conqueror; that it would advance their head and object, and not become itself their master. If Philip had at that time invaded, and for the benefit of Mary, this might have been the melancholy fact; till the rebellious had found, when too late to be rescued, that their ally would be their lord and ruler. But her death, altho it irritated and disappointed them, yet had placed new points of dearest interest to their view, and pressed them upon their consideration. It was not now, a scheme of combining with an invader, to enthrone the native sovereign they preferred; but, having irretrievably lost her, and possessing no other Catholic countryman of the royal blood to exalt, they had no other alternative left, but to support their native sovereign that was reigning, or to make a foreign enemy their king, who would come as a conqueror, and rule as a despot. What such a military sovereign would be, they had the full picture before them in the history of William the first. In his reign, they could read what became of the Anglo-Saxon nobility and gentry who had assented to his coronation. Norman barons soon took the honors and estates of the English eorles, ealdermen, thægns and franklins; and those who resisted, were driven to become rebels, and soon hunted down as such. Similar scenes of an analogous drama would inevitably follow, if Philip should win the crown, with no other difference, than that the present actors and their new masters would be Spanish dukes, counts and dons, instead of Norman knights, barons, and military prelates. They had also a specimen how they would be considered, in BOOK II. the treatment exhibited to their Catholic countrymen in Flanders, who had eagerly joined the prince of Parma's army, but joined it to meet only depreciation and contempt.52 Hence every human motive that worldly hopes and comfort and distinctions could suggest, called upon them to be content with Elizabeth, as the minor evil; and therefore to assist her in expelling the common adversary of every class and faith in the English nation: especially as there was also the additional certainty, that the pope, if his Spanish sword could lay the island prostrate at his feet, would rigorously exact the restoration of all the church and abbey lands and property, with a retroactive accountability for the last half century's possession of it. Of this great booty, a considerable portion of the chief Catholic nobility and gentry had participated; and were now enjoying its pecuniary advantages, as a settled portion of their hereditary estates. This great difference in the position and safety of the government and country, between what they had been during Mary's life, and what they had become since her death, evinces the political importance and efficacy of that legal execution, which she had wilfully incurred, altho compassionating humanity compels us to regret it. Yet that there were some Englishmen, whose recreant spirits could allow their bigotry to overcome their hereditary patriotism and personal honor, we have one instance from his own letter which has come down 52 Camden remarks, that among the prince of Parma's army, 'were 700 English fugitives, who of all others were held in the greatest contempt; but for their impiety to their country, were barred from all access, and as most inauspicious conductors, were worthily, with detestation, rejected.' p. 360. XXXV. to us; and as he wrote to some congenial heart, with СНАР. an expressed expectation that there would be many like himself, it is probable that those who had the least to lose by a violent change, might be more disposed than others, to take a desperate and base possibility of profiting by their country's affliction and degradation.53 In May 1588, this man found Spanish devotion in full activity to implore success. on their ambitious hopes; and the prospect raised his belief that popery would again be the religion of England." The prince of Parma had then sent pilots from Flanders, to conduct the navigation of the grand armament. But we also learn that the Turkish and African powers had shewn some disposition to take advantage of its voyage, to indulge their predatory incursions; which the Spanish cavalry, that could not be transported, were appointed to watch and repress. 56 This however was rather the anticipation of a possible attempt, than an evil actually experienced. The great conflict was too. 53 Mr. Ellis has printed the letter of B. C. dated Madrid, 28 May 1588. He was no spy writing to his government. Its contents obviously shew that it was addressed to some one, who, like himself, hoped the armada would succeed. 'Heretofore I was in the number of the incredulous; yet, now being in the place, where I may hear and see, I confess to be in the wrong; for now I am out of doubt that they will in very deed [go] that way. The thunder and the lightning clap will be both in a moment.' v. 3. p. 134. 54Here in this town [Madrid] and country are great prayers, processions, fastings, and alms, for the happy success of this armada, in this cause of God, now more than ever in hand. I hope you there will join with us here, in heart and spirit, in such sort, that once we may meet at home, with the sure enjoying of the true Catholic religion in our country. He indulges even the supposition, that Elizabeth had been frightened into a conversion, whereof we may now the better hope, seeing [that] our queen is said here to have sent Batson, the Jesuit, to Rome, about overtures with his holiness to be reconciled, which God grant, and always preserve you.' Ellis, ib. 137. 56 Ib. p. 135. 55 Letter, Ellis, p. 135. BOOK II. rapidly decided, for the slow-moving forces of the Ottomans to avail themselves of the interval of its duration. The English government appealed to its reflective people; and an ardent and general loyalty responded from every bosom. One spirit of loyal patriotism and active magnanimity pervaded the kingdom. The city of London set a generous example. When the state council inquired what it would do for its country and its prince, the chief magistrate desired the cabinet to mention what they thought requisite. The ministers desired from it five thousand men and fifteen ships. The lord mayor craved two days for deliberation, and then, in the name of the metropolis, desired their sovereign to accept of ten thousand soldiers, and of thirty able vessels."7 The whole kingdom emulated this wise exertion and noble liberality. Every city, county, town, and village, displayed a consenting ardor, and an enthusiastic loyalty.58 57 Stow, 744. Of these, 6,000 were immediately trained, and divided into four regiments, each of ten companies; and the other 4,000 were armed, but not trained, yet put in readiness in four regiments of ten companies each. The 6,000 had these arms: 1,000 muskets, 2,000 pikes, 2,400 calivers, and 600 bills.' Murdin, 606. Ten thousand more were reported to be able men.' ib. So that London would have furnished 20,000 men, if so many had been wanted. 58 Stow, ib. It was about this time that the ARTILLERY COMPANY was formed in London. About three years before, certain gallant, active and forward citizens, having had experience both abroad and at home, voluntarily exercised themselves and trained others, for the ready use of war; so that in two years there was almost 300 merchants, and others of the like quality, very sufficient and skilful to train and teach common soldiers the managing of their pieces, pikes, and halberds, and to march, countermarch, and ring. These merchants, for their own perfection in military affairs, met every Tuesday in the year, to practise all points of war. Every man, by turn, bore orderly office, from the corporal to the captain. Some of them, this year, had charge of men in the great camp, and were generally called captains of the ARTILLERY Garden.' Stow, 744. |