A discourse touching the pretended match betwene the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scottes

A discourse touching the pretended match betwene the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scottes

Table of contents

¶ A discourse touching the pretended match betwene the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scottes.

A consideration of the Q. of Scots person.

The consideration of the Dukes person.

Consideratiō of the match.

A consideration of the present state.

A discourse vpon the foresayd considerations.

Now let vs see what doubt groweth by this match of the abuse of the said qualities.

A comparison betwene the home match and the foreine.

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¶ A discourse touching the pretended match betwene the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scottes.

FOr as muche as of late it hath bene geuen out, that the continuance of the Gospell here amonge vs, and the safetie of our Soueraigne, shoulde depende vpon a matche to bee had betweene the Duke of Norf. and the Q. of Scots: for that otherwise she marying a foreine Prince, might grow to that strength, as our Soueraignes forces should not be able to counteruaile the same (a thing verye daungerous, considering hur asspiring minde) wherby both this present state and religion should be in hazard. And further, that the vniting of these two realmes by this match might make vs equall in strength to our neighbours that border about vs, I thought good by consideration of hur parson and of his person, of the match to be had betwene them, and of the present state of this realme, to see whether there should not be lesse daunger in common reason to haue hur matched rather abroad, then at home, though it seme a very straunge Proposition to be proponed by any subiecte of this land, whether it be better to haue hur maried abroad, then at [Page] home, she remaining vnder our Soueraignes gouernment, to dispose of hur mariage or not marying, as shall seme to make most for her safetie. What is it els but to call in question whether her Maiesty may gouerne or not gouerne in her own Realme?

A consideration of the Q. of Scots person.

IN Religion she is either a Papist, whilke is euill, or els an Atheist, whilke is werse, and in league ioyned with the confederate enemies of the Gospell, by the name of the holy league, to roote out all such Princes and Magistrates as are professours of the same. A thing wel knowen, though not generally.

Of Nation she is a Scot, of whilke nation I forbeare to say what may be sayd, in a reuerent respect of a few godly of that nation.

Of inclinatiō how she is geuen, let her own horrible actes publikely knowen to the whole worlde witnesse, though now of late certaine seduced by practise, seeke to cloke and hide the same.

Of aliances of the mother side how she is descended of a race that is both enemie to God, and the common quiet to Europe, euerye man knoweth, but alas to many haue felt.

In good wyll toward our Soueraigne, shee [Page] hath shewed her selfe sundrie waies euil affectes whose ambition hath drawen her by bearing the Armes of England, to discipher hur selfe to be a Competitour of this crowne. A thing publikely knowen. I leaue to touch other particular practises that hath discouered her aspiring minde.

The consideration of the Dukes person.

TOuching his religion how he is affected, I leaue to God & his own conscience, but that he should not be setled in religion, it shall appeare by sundrie reasons to the contrarie.

First, his education of his sonne vnder the gouernment of a Papist doth shew.

Secondly, the corruption of his house, his chief men of trust being Papistes.

Thirdly, the confidence and reposed trust hee has in the chiefest Papistes in the realme.

Fourthly, his last mariage with a Papist.

And lastly, this pretended match.

Touching his calling, he is in state the seconde person of this Realme.

Touching hys credite wyth the Nobilitie and Commons, it is well knowen to be great, with the one in respect of his alliance, with the other in respecte of a kinde of familiaritie is vsed towardes them in publike sporte, as in shooting and [Page] [...]eckefightes, a thing not to be discommended, if this match of his did not discouer it to sauor of an ambitious and aspiring intent.

Consideratiō of the match.

All matches in mariages whilke promise good successe and continuance of concord, are ioyned in the feare of God, and coupled by sincere loue, the true & onely knot of good agreemēt, whilke loue is engendred by the eye and by the eare, & cannot be perfect, vnlesse both senses be satisfied in either partie: whilke eye liking in them cannot be, for that neither of them hath seene the other. Now let vs way, whether sinceritie of loue be the maker of this match.

First for degrees sake let vs begin with the Queene. Is it likely that the Q. of Scots, that could not like of Derley, should like well of the Duke, such as know them both do thinke very vnlikely.

Now to the Duke. Is it likely that any man that professeth true religion▪ or resp [...]cteth worldly honour, or regardeth his owne safetie, woulde match with one detected of so horrible crimes, in respect of loue, surely none that is either honest, or religious can thinke so. Then must it needes follow, that neither the eye in hur, if the Painter hath discharged his dutie, for other eye lyking [Page] hath not passed betwene thē, nor the eare in him is contēted, but that some other respect should be the knitter of the knot: whilke respect carieth in it selfe manifest presumption of euident daūger.

A consideration of the present state.

Touching religion for lacke of doctrine, it is thought that the realme deuided into three partes, two of them bee inclined so Papistrie and Atheisme.

Touching gouernment such hath bene the lenitie of our Soueraigne, a thing very cōmendable in a prince, if our corruptiō abused not the same, as men for the most part are growen so remisse in dutie toward her maiesty, as they both contemne lawes, & inferior magistrates. I leaue to descend into some other perticularities in this behalfe.

A discourse vpon the foresayd considerations.

NOw let vs see vpon the consideration had of either of the persons, and of the match, and of the present state, what likelyhoode there is of continuance of Religion, and safetie to our Soueraigne. And first let vs resort to the consideration had of her person, & begin with religion.

[Page]Is it likely that the Gospe [...] shall all haue continuance by her, who is enemie to the Gospell, and ioyned in league and confederacie with the coniured repugners of the same?

It may be said, that in Religion by perswasion she may be altered. It may well be answered that it is onelye Gods office to incline hartes to true religion, and that otherwise to thinke proceedeth of vaine presumption. Surely, if we way her inclination by the experiēce had of the frutes of her behauiour, we shall see small cause to hope that sincere religion can dwell in so corruptible a vessell: Then in reason consider further how vnlikely it is that vpon consideration of the present state, she finding two partes of this Realme inclining to her religion, where shee thinketh to haue a great partie, will alter the same, to ioyne with the fewer in number.

Now as touching our Soueraignes safetie, is it like that our Soueraignes safety should be groū ded and depended vpon her, who hath disciphred her selfe to be our competitor of this Realme? I speake of things publikely knowen. I leaue other secret prastises tending to the same end.

It may be said, that so that the Q. can be brought to like of the match, and to restore her to her kingdome, and stablish her in the succession, she will by othe and subscription confirme any thing that may tend to the Queenes safety. [Page] If she falsifie her faith, no pleading will serue, the sword must be the remedie.

But how like is it, that one ambitious, a borne Scot, a defamed person, who hath made shipwracke of all honour and reputation, & lastly a braunch of the house of Guise, whose professiō is to kepe none Edict neuer so solemnly promised, will kepe faith? I leaue it to the consideration of those that iudge without affection.

Now hauing shewed how vnlikely it is that any safetie to our Soueraigne, or continuance in religion can grow by her person in this match, let vs see whether the desertes in her are likely to be supplied by the consideration of his person. And first wil we come to the weighing of his religion▪ which hauing shewed to bee vnsetled by sandrye reasons of good moment, let vs now see, whether by this match there is not like to ensue an euident and vndoubted daunger of his reuolt. And for proofe hereof, let the onelye example of Salomon teache vs so to thinke. Did not he by matching with an idolatresse Aegyptian, become an idolater, wherby ensued to him Gods high displeasure, to the great plague of his kin and posteritie?

If wisedome might haue stayed hym, hee was likest to haue bene stayed, for he was of all that euer was the wisest. But when wysedome passeth the bondes of Gods commaundementes, it turneth to folly. That lawe which forbad Salomon [Page] to marry with the Aegyptian idolatresse, standeth in force stil, & forbiddeth the Duke to mary with the Scottish idolatresse, least that punishment which fell vpon Salomons kinne, teach the Duke to beware of like punishment. But let vs go further in applying.

Salomon maried one meaner witted then him selfe: but the Duke woulde marry one equall in wit, and in subtiltie superior. To conclude, if Salomon marying one in degree his inferior, and in wit meaner, became an idolater: what shall we then looke for of him, that in degree is inferior, and in wit rather meaner then equall with hur, whom he seeketh to mary? But well, suppose he will continue constant: is all the daunger gone? No: For if either she mislike him, which is likely, for that she can hardly loue him, hauyng to delicate an eye: or if that she ouerrule him, for that he is her inferior, whilke is not vnlikely, considering her courage: or if he die, a thing to bee thought of, for that hee is mortall: or if his lyfe be taken from him by indirect meanes, a practise wherwith she is right well acquainted, and by a Pope may be dispenced withall: what shall then become of the continuance in Religion?

Now let vs see further what safety may grow to our Soueraigne by his matching with her. Before in the consideration of his person, I shewed how that by calling in birth hee was honorable, [Page] and of credite great, with both Nobility & commons, which two qualities as they are good gifts of God, and such as being well emplode by hym whom God hath indued withall, yelde no small benefite to the common wealth and Prince wher he liueth, so on the other side, beyng abused thorow ambition, they brede to the Prince daunger▪ and to the common wealth disquietnes.

Now let vs see what doubt groweth by this match of the abuse of the said qualities.

FIrst, the match it selfe not grounded in the feare of God, nor vpon due respect, as afore was shewed, can neuer yelde good fruites, but must needes taste of ambition, of all other the most daungerous fruite.

Secondly, the partie her selfe whom he is to match withall, hauyng shewed her selfe once a Competitor of this Crowne, is like to drawe hym from the due consideration of his allegiances by her cunning perswasions wherin she excelleth. To abuse the sayde qualities in attempting the sayde crowne for the thirst of a kingdome, can neuer be quenched, vntill it hath hazarded the vttermost triall.

It may be obiected that by diuers capitulations that mischiefe may be well preuented.

[Page]It may be well aunswered, that such as with simple eye weigh her fauorers in respecte of religion, his friendes in respect of calling, alliance, and popular familiaritie, and therewith the eging of foraine practises, maye well see no bond sufficient to bridle so incorrigible an humor as ambition is.

These thinges well wayed with the consideration of this present state, how litle awe raigneth commonly, through the lenitie of our Soueraigne, in the hartes of the subiectes, whereby they may the more easilye be seduced by practises, be drawen from the consideration of their dutie, it must needes appeare that the home match carieth in it selfe most euidnt daunger.

I leaue to Lawyers to define of what quantie this presumptiō is, for a subiect to seeke to match with a Competor of this Crowne, without making his Soueraigne first priuie thereof.

A comparison betwene the home match and the foreine.

HAuing shewed the daūger of this home match let vs now consider with the forein match, & see whilke of them yeldeth most daunger.

If she marry a foreine Prince, her partie here within the Realme will not bee great, for [Page] hardlye is an Englishman brought to like of a Straunger or a foraine gouernour, then must her meanes to annoy vs, consiste in foreine ayde, whilke though it be daungerous, yet doth it not yelde like daunger to the home enemie. For one enemie within a Citie besieged, is more daungerous, then a hundreth abroad.

If she mary a foreine Prince, as for example with Fraunce, then will Spaine be ielous, for it wer contrary to the Spanish policie to see Fraūce and England vnited vnder one gouernor. And therefore England might looke for any Spanishe aide, to keepe Fraunce from this purpose.

But if she mary at home, whereby the ielosie of these two Princes may be taken away, then they both in respect of that league wherein she is ioyned with them, and the desire they haue to disquiet this estate, will ioyne together in ayding of her. And so besides her home helpe, she should lacke no foreine ayde. By this short comparison, euidentlye you maye see the home matche more daungerous, then the foreine, as well in respect of the continuance of Religion, as of the safetie of our Soueraigne.

God be thanked that hath so prouided for the continuance of our Religion, as he hath geuen vs a Prince that fauoureth Religion, & that we nede not seeke no further stay at her handes, who is enemie to Religion.

[Page]God also be thanked, that hath so prouided for her Maiesties safetie, as she hath no neede of this new found remedie.

Touching the other respect of this home match, which is the vniting of England and Scotland, if we looke well vpō the vniters with a single eye, that leaueth the continuance of Gods glory, and the safetie of our Soueraigne, and the quietnes of this state, wee shall see more profite in diuision, then in vnion.

Notwithstandyng, it hath pleased God in this behalfe so fauourablye to deale wyth our Queeene, as he hath raysed vp in Scotlande a Gouernour during the noneage of the yong king, so faithfullye inclining to her Maiestie, as of no subiecte in this Realme shee maye dispose more of them, then of him: whereby during his Gouernment she may assure her selfe of most perfect vnion God graunt that she may make that accompt of him, that he deserueth.

Thus ye see the Queene in safetie, the two Realmes vnited, and this remedy nedeles.

God graunt her Maiestie maye seeke the aduauncement of Gods glory in simple sinceritie, execute her lawes with conuenient seueritie, and then no doubt of it, he will blesse her with long and assured safetie.

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Information about this book

Title statement

A discourse touching the pretended match betwene the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scottes

Edition statement

1569

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Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A03749

ID [STC]

STC 13869

ID [STC]

ESTC S104247

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99839986

ID [PROQUEST]

99839986

ID [VID]

4452

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A03749)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 4452)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 513:08)

Source

— A discourse touching the pretended match betwene the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scottes, Norton, Thomas, 1532-1584, attributed name., Sampson, Thomas, 1517?-1589, attributed name., Walsingham, Francis, Sir, 1530?-1590, attributed name..

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[12] p.

Printed by John Day?,. [London :: 1569?]. (Sometimes attributed to Thomas Norton, to Thomas Sampson, or to Sir Francis Walsingham.) (Caption title.) (Imprint from STC.) (Signatures: A (-A1,8).) (In this edition the text begins "For as muche" in italic.) (Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

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