risco race desiring in that juncture to change their master, for one more Christian, though lesse catholick, and under whom no inquisition was exercised. This made his coming back so soone thought as miraculous as his successe by those that were strangers to his commission, which he exceeded upon the temptation of a present terrour his landing caused in the inhabitants, who, in a confidence of their castles, had removed none of their goods, which rendered the booty so farre considerable as few returned empty handed, and many, by their future living, made demonstration of so great an abundance, that he gained so much love on all sides as his enemies durst not impute to him for a fault, any direction he had transgressed, in being too prodigall in exposing himselfe and the army to danger; though his abusing that article of making knights so apparently, had produced this libel:

A gentleman of Wales,

With a knight at Cales,

And a lord of the north country,

A yeoman of Kent

Upon a rack't rent

Will buy them out all three.

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This happy successe did not only estate him in the affections of the militia and those addicted to the service of Mars, but put a no lesse high esteeme on his counsells and indeavours, then it abated the pride' of his opposers, the most of whom belonged to the side-robe (not seldome at odds in warre, but ever at enmity with souldiers during peace,) who grew jealous that this sparke, worne already in the same place of the queenes affection, from whence Lecester, that terrestriall Lucifer, was cast, for abusing his soveraignes favour to pride and murther, might, through the queenes mediation, or his owne arts, one day gaine the crowne, to the prejudice of their interest, who had already vowed the uttermost of their indeavours to the Scotish title; of whom he had this advantage, that whereas

! Price, in orig.

i. e. Long-robe.

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Lecester was hated by the people for the death of many, and amongst the rest, of the Earle of Essex his father in Ireland, this abounded in their love no lesse then in the favour of his prince, in whose heart his person had made as deep an impression, as his valour and affable nature had wonne upon her subjects.

6. That she fomented divisions abroad I hinted before; and now I must tell you she was not wanting in her indeavours to maintaine factions at home, by which she attained to the knowledge of all things that happened: so as no suite or designe passed the royal assent, before she understood as much of reason as enimies or friends could bring for and against it; hearing the judgments of all, to her very ladies and ordinary servants: nor did this freedome of communication betray her future resolutions to discovery; for, through a seeming uncon

'Walter, Earl of Essex, father of the favourite, was supposed to be poisoned by his own page, at the instigation of Leicester, who married his widow.

stancy, or, as others will have it, one more naturall, she did so often vary, as it was not easy to discover where or when she would conclude her buzzing, and give the blow: by which unsteady carriage, she so befooled the spyes and pensioners of forraine princes, as they were at a losse what to informe their patrons of, or themselves how to resolve: The cause of the Spanish armado in eighty-eight, an attempt held ridiculous by the Flemings, and all acquainted with our seas, and only brought about through the over-confidence his holinesse had in a catholick party, which he assured himselfe would appeare upon the approach of a navy, stiled by him invincible. Here may be noted, that counsels grounded upon forraine advice, or any thing but a visible experience, do rarely succeed; for interest in such as desire a change doth not seldome make them apprehend more advantages then really there are, and cover doubts and dangers they are privy to, out of a feare to dishearten the prince they in

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deavour to imbark in their defence; as it fell out here, where not one man appeared in favour of the Spaniard: the very papists themselves being no lesse unwilling then the rest to see their native country in subjection to the ordinary cruelty found in strangers.

7. But to be sure the former-mentioned art of dissembling with others had stamped such a deepe impression upon the queenes owne nature and passions, as she fixed upon nothing with precipitation. The distrust she had of all sides obliging her to the justice of equall hearings, which few in soveraignty will be at the trouble to afford: And from hence grew the infinite indulgence that appeared so long in favour of

Anthony Brown, Lord Viscount Montague, a zealous catholic, and the only temporal peer who ventured to oppose the act for the queen's supremacy in the first year of her reign, did nevertheless bring to the rendezvous at Tilbury, upon the alarm raised by the Spanish armada, a gallant band of horsemen, commanded by himself, his son, and his grandson: thus periling his whole house in the expected conflict.