United Provinces: so as if wars should mow | foreign forces, than they had in the years 1552 them down never so fast, yet, they may be suddenly supplied, and come up again. For money, no doubt it is the principal part of the greatness of Spain; for by that they maintain their veteran army and Spain is the only state of Europe that is a money grower. But in this part, of all others, is most to be considered, the ticklish and brittle state of the greatness of Spain. Their greatness consisteth in their treasure, their treasure in their Indies, and their Indies, if it be well weighed, are indeed but an accession to such as are masters by sea. So as this axle-tree, whereupon their greatness turneth, is soon cut in two by any that shall be stronger than they by sea. Herein, therefore, I refer myself to the opinions of all men, enemies, or whomsoever, whether that the maritime forces of Great Britain, and the United Provinces, be not able to beat the Spaniard at sea? For, if that be so, the links of that chain whereby they hold their greatness are dissolved. Now, if it be said, that, admit the case of Spain to be such as we have made it, yet, we ought to descend into our own case, which we shall find, perhaps, not to be in state, for treasure, to enter into a war with Spain. To which, I answer, I know no such thing; the mint beateth well; and the pulses of the people's hearts beat well. But there is another point that taketh away quite this objection: for whereas wars are generally causes of poverty or consumption; on the contrary part, the special nature of this war with Spain, if it be made by sea, is like to be a lucrative and restorative war. So that, if we go roundly on at the first, the war in continuance will find itself. And therefore you must make a great difference between Hercules' labours by land, and Jason's voyage by sea for the golden fleece. and 1553. At which time they contracted a league For confederates; I will not take upon me the knowledge, how the princes, states, and councils of Europe, at this day, stand affected towards Spain; for that trencheth into the secret occurrents of the present time, wherewith, in all this treatise, I have forborne to meddle. But to speak of that which lieth open and in view; I see much matter of quarrel and jealousy, but little of amity and trust towards Spain, almost in all other estates. I see France is in competition with them for three noble portions of their monarchy, Navarre, Naples, and Milan; and now freshly in difference with them about the Valtoline. I see once in thirty or forty years cometh a pope, that THE FIRST COPY OF MY DISCOURSE TOUCHING casteth his eye upon the kingdom of Naples, to recover it to the church; as it was in the minds of Julius the Second, Paul the Fourth, and Sixtus the Fifth. As for that great body of Germany, I see they have greater reason to confederate themselves with the Kings of France, and Great Britain, or Denmark, for the liberty of the German nation, and for the expulsion of Spanish and THE SAFETY OF THE QUEEN'S PERSON.* THESE be the principal remedies, I could think of, for extirpating the principal cause of those conspiracies, by the breaking the nest of those fugitive traitors, and the filling them full of terror, despair, jealousy, and revolt. And it is true, I thought of some other remedies, which, because * From the original in the Lambeth Library. in mine own conceit I did not so well allow, I therefore do forbear to express. And so likewise I have thought, and thought again, of the means to stop and divert as well the attempts of violence as poison, in the performance and execution. But not knowing how my travel may be accepted, being the unwarranted wishes of a private man, I leave; humbly praying her majesty's pardon, if in the zeal of my simplicity I have roved at things above my aim. THE FRAGMENTS OF A DISCOURSE, TOUCHING tain, do carefully and sufficiently provide and take order that her majesty receive good intelligence; so yet, under correction, methinks it is not done with that glory and note to the world, which was in Mr. Secretary Walsingham's* time and in this case, as was said, " opinio veritate major." The second remedy I deliver with less assurance, as that which is more removed from the compass of mine understanding: and that is, to treat and negotiate with the King of Spain, or Archduke Ernest, who resides in the place where these conspiracies are most forged, upon the point of the law of nations, upon which kind of points princes' enemies may with honour negotiate, viz., that, contrary to the same law of nations, and the sacred dignity of kings, and the honour of arms, certain of her majesty's subjects, if it be not thought meet to impeach any of his ministers, refuged in his dominions, have conspired and practised assassination against her majesty's person. Who died April 6, 1590. After his death the business of secretary of state appears to be chiefly done by Mr. Robert Cecil, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Theobald's, about the beginning of June, 1591, and in August following sworn of the privy council; but not actually appointed secretary of state till July 5, 1596. BIRCH. THE first remedy, in my poor opinion, is that against which, as I conceive, least exception can be taken, as a thing without controversy, honourable and politic; and that is reputation of good intelligence. I say not only good intelligence, but the reputation and fame thereof. For I see, that where booths are set for watching thievish places, there is no more robbing: and though no doubt the watchmen many times are asleep, or away; yet that is more than the thief knoweth; so as the empty booth is strength and safeguard enough. So, likewise, if there be sown an opinion abroad, that her majesty hath much secret intelli- milian II., and governor of the Low Countries, upon which gence, and that all is full of spies and false breth-government he entered in June, 1591; but held it only a short time, dying February 11/21 following. It was probably in ren; the fugitives will grow into such a mutual pursuance of the advice of Mr. Francis Bacon in this paper, jealousy and suspicion one of another, as they will that Queen Elizabeth sent to the Archduke in 1594, to comnot have the confidence to conspire together, not plain of the designs which had been formed against her life by the Count de Fuentes, and Don Diego de Ibarra, and other knowing whom to trust; and thinking all prac- Spanish ministers concerned in governing the Low Countries tice bootless, as that which is assured to be dis- after the death of Alexander, Duke of Parma, in December, covered. And to this purpose, to speak reverently, signify those facts to the King of Spain, in order that he might 1592, and by the English fugitives there; and to desire him to as becometh me, as I do not doubt but those vindicate his own character, by punishing his ministers, and honourable counsellors, to whom it doth apper- delivering up to her such fugitives as were parties in such designs. Camdeni Annales Eliz. Regina, p. 625. Edit. Lugduni Bat. 1625. BIRCH. * From the original in the Lambeth Library. + Ernest, Archduke of Austria, son of the Emperor Maxi A TRUE REPORT OF THE DETESTABLE TREASON, INTENDED BY DOCTOR RODERIGO LOPEZ, A PHYSICIAN attending upon the pERSON OF THE QUEEN'S MAJESTY, WHOM HIE, FOR A SUM OF MONEY, PROMISED TO BE PAID HIM BY THE KING OF SPAIN, DID UNDERTAKE TO HAVE DESTROYED BY POISON; WITH CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, BOTH OF THE PLOTTING AND DETECTING OF THE SAID TREASON. [PENNED DURING THE QUEEN'S LIFE.] THE King of Spain having found, by the enterprise of 88, the difficulty of an invasion of England, and having also since that time embraced the matters of France, being a design of a more easy nature, and better prepared to his hand, hath of necessity for a time laid aside the prosecution of his attempts against this realm, by open forces, as knowing his means unable to wield both actions at once, as well that of England as that of France; and, therefore, casting at the fairest, hath, in a manner, bent his whole strength upon France, making, in the mean time, only a defensive war upon the Low Countries. But finding again, that the supports and aids which her majesty hath continued to the French king, are a principal impediment and retardation to his prevailing there according to his ends, he hath, now of late, by all means, projected to trouble the waters here, and to cut us out some work at home, that by practice, without diverting and employing any great forces, he might, nevertheless, divert our succours from France. According to which purpose, he first proved to move some innovation in Scotland, not so much in hope to alienate the king from the amity of her majesty, as practising to make a party there against the king himself, whereby he should be compelled to use her majesty's forces for his assistance. Then he solicited a subject within this realm, being a person of great nobility, to rise in arms and levy war against her majesty; which practice was by the same nobleman loyally and prudently revealed. And, lastly, rather, as it is to be thought, by the instigation of our traitorous fugitives in foreign parts, and the corrupter sort of his counsellors and ministers, than of his own nature and inclination, either of himself, or his said counsellors and ministers using his name, have descended to a course against all honour, all society and humanity, odious to God and man, detested by the heathens themselves, which is, to take away the life of her majesty, (which God have in his precious custody!) by violence or poison. A matter which might be proved to be not only against all Christianity and religion, but against nature, the law of nations, the honour of arms, the civil law, the rules of morality and policy; finally, to be the most condemned, barbarous, and ferine act that can be imagined; yea, supposing the quarrels and hostility between the princes to be never so declared and so mortal, yet, were it not that it would be a very reproach unto the age, that the matter should be once disputed or called in question, it could never be defended. And, therefore, I leave it to the censure which Titus Livius giveth in the like case upon Perseus, the last King of the Macedons, afterwards overthrown, taken with his children, and led in triumph by the Romans; "Quem non justum bellum gerere regio animo, sed per omnia clandestina grassari scelera, latrociniorum ac veneficiorum, cernebant." But to proceed: certain it is, that even about this present time there have been suborned and sent into this realm divers persons, some English, some Irish, corrupted by money and promises, and resolved and conjured by priests in confession, to have executed that most wretched and horrible fact; of which number certain have been taken, and some have suffered, and some are spared because they have with great sorrow confessed these attempts, and detested their suborners. And if I should conjecture what the reason is, why this cursed enterprise was at this time so hotly, and with such diligence pursued, I take it to be chiefly because the matters of France were ripe, and the King of Spain made himself ready to unmask himself, and to reap that in France, which he had been long in sowing, in regard that, there being like to be a divulsion in the league by the reconciliation of some of the heads to the king, the more passionate sort, being destituted by their associates, were like to cast themselves wholly into the King of Spain's arms, and to dismember some important piece of that crown; though now upon this fresh accident of receiving the king into Paris, it is to be thought that both the worst world. For some of her majesty's council long affected of the league will submit themselves upon any tolerable conditions to their natural king, thus advanced in strength and reputation; and the King of Spain will take a second advice ere he embark himself too far in any new attempt against France. But, taking the affairs as they then stood before this accident unexpected, especially of the council of Spain, during this his supposed harvest in France, his council had reason to wish that there were no disturbance from hence, where they make account that if her majesty were removed, upon whose person God continue his extraordinary watch and providence! here would be nothing but confusion, which they do not doubt but, with some no great treasure, and forces from without, may be nourished till they can more fully intend the ruin of this state, according to their ancient malice. But howsoever that be, amongst the number of these execrable undertakers, there was none so much built and relied upon by the great ones of the other side, as was this physician, Lopez; nor, indeed, none so dangerous: whether you consider the aptness of the instrument, or the subtlety and secrecy of those that practised with him, or the shift and evasion which he had provided for a colour of his doings, if they should happen to come into question. For, first, whereas others were to find and encounter infinite difficulties, in the very obtaining of an opportunity to execute this horrible act; and, besides, cannot but see present and most assured death before their eyes, and therefore must be, as it were, damnable votaries if they undertake it: this man, in regard of his faculty, and of his private access to her majesty, had both means to perpetrate, and means to conceal, whereby he might reap the fruit of his wicked treason without evident peril. And for his complices that practised with him, being Portuguese, and of the retinue of King Antonio, the King of Spain's mortal enemy, they were men thereby freed and discharged from suspicion, and might send letters and receive letters out of Spain without jealousy; as those which were thought to entertain intelligences there for the good of their master. And, for the evasion and mask that Lopez had prepared for this treason, if it had not been searched and sifted to the bottom, it was, that he did intend but to cozen the King of Spain, without ill meaning; somewhat in the nature of that stratagem which Parry, a most cunning and artificial traitor, had provided for himself. since entered into consideration, that the retinue of King Antonio, I mean some of them, were not unlike to hatch these kinds of treasons, in regard they were needy strangers, entered into despair of their master's fortune, and like enough to aspire to make their peace at home, by some such wicked services as these; and therefore grew to have an extraordinary vigilant eye upon them: which prudent and discreet presumption, or conjecture, joined with some advertisements of espials abroad, and some other industry, was the first cause, next under the great benediction of God, which giveth unto princes zealous counsellors, and giveth to counsellors policy, and discerning thoughts, of the revealing and discovering of these treasons, which were contrived in order and form, as hereafter is set down. This Lopez, of nation a Portuguese, and suspected to be in sect secretly a Jew, though here he conformed himself to the rites of the Christian religion, for a long time professed physic in this land, by occasion whereof, being withal a man very observant and officious, and of a pleasing and appliable behaviour; in that regard, rather than for any great learning in his faculty, he grew known and favoured in court, and was some years since sworn physician of her majesty's household; and by her majesty's bounty, of whom he had received divers gifts of good commodity, was grown to good estate of wealth. This man had insinuated himself greatly, in regard he was of the same nation, with the King Antonio, whose causes he pretended to solicit at the court: especially while he supposed there was any appearance of his fortune; of whom also he had obtained, as one that referred all his doings to gain, an assignation of 50,000 crowns to be levied in Portugal. But being a person wholly of a corrupt and mercenary nature, and finding his hopes cold from that part; he cast his eyes upon a more able paymaster, and secretly made offer long since of his service to the King of Spain: and accordingly gave sundry intelligences of that which passed here, and imported most for the King of Spain to know, having no small means, in regard of his continual attendance at court, nearness and access, to learn many particulars of great weight: which intelligences he maintained with Bernardine Mendoza, Antonio Vega, Roderigo Marquez, and divers others. In the conveyance of which his intelligences, and in the making known of his disposition to do Nevertheless, this matter, by the great good- the King of Spain service, he had, amongst others, ness of God, falling into good hands, of those one Manuel Andrada, a Portuguese, revolted from honourable and sufficient persons which dealt Don Antonio to the King of Spain; one that was therein, was by their great and worthy industry discovered to have practised the death of the said so handled and followed, as this Proteus of a dis- Don Antonio, and to have betrayed him to Berguised and transformed treason did at last appear nardine Mendoza. This man coming hither, was, in his own likeness and colours, which were as for the same, his practice appearing by letters foul and monstrous as have been known in the intercepted, apprehended and committed to prison. VOL. II.-28 T Before which time, also, there had been by good | him about the certainty of his reward. Andrada diligence intercepted other letters, whereby the having received those instructions, and being fursaid Andrada advertised Mendoza, that he had nished with money, by Lopez's procurement, won Dr. Lopez to the king's service: but Lopez from Don Antonio, about whose service his having understanding thereof, and finding means employment was believed to be, went over to to have secret conference with Andrada before his Calais, where he remained to be near unto Engexamination, persuaded with him to take the land and Flanders, having a boy that ordinarily matter upon himself, as if he had invented that passed to and fro between him and Lopez: by advertisement touching Lopez, only to procure whom he did also, the better to colour his employhimself credit with Mendoza; and to make him ment, write to Lopez intelligence, as it was conceive well of his industry and service. And agreed he should between him and Lopez; who to move him hereunto, Lopez set before Andrada, bade him send such news as he should take up in that if he did excuse him, he should have credit the streets. From Calais he writeth to Count de to work his delivery: whereas, if he did impeach Fuentes of Lopez's promise and demands. Upon him, he was not like to find any other means of the receipt of which letters, after some time taken favour. By which subtle persuasion Andrada, to advertise this proposition into Spain, and to when he came to be examined, answered accord- receive direction thereupon, the Count de Fuentes ing to the direction and lessoning which Lopez associated with Stephano Ibarra, secretary of the had given him. And having thus acquitted him- council of the wars in the Low Countries, calleth self of this suspicion, became suitor for Andrada's to him one Manuel Louis Tinoco, a Portuguese, delivery, craftily suggesting, that he was to do who had also followed King Antonio, and of some notable service to Don Antonio; in which whose good devotion he had had experience, in his suit he accordingly prevailed. When Lopez that he had conveyed unto him two several had thus got Andrada out of prison, he was suf- | packets, wherewith he was trusted by the King fered to go out of the realm into Spain; in pretence, as was said, to do some service to Don Antonio; but, in truth, to continue Lopez's negotiation and intelligences with the King of Spain, which he handled so well, as at his return hither, for the comforting of the said Lopez, he brought to him from the king, besides thanks and words of encouragement, and an abrazo, which is the compliment of favour, a very good jewel, garnished with sundry stones of good value. This jewel, when Lopez had accepted, he cunningly cast with himself, that if he should offer it to her majesty first, he was assured she would not take it: next, that thereby he should lay her asleep, and make her secure of him for greater matters, according to the saying, "Fraus sibi fidem in parvis præstruit ut in magnis opprimat;" which accordingly he did, with protestations of his fidelity and her majesty, as a princess of magnanimity, not apt to fear or suspicion, returned it to him with gracious words. After Lopez had thus abused her majesty, and had these trials of the fidelity of Andrada, they fell in conference, the matter being first moved by Andrada, as he that came freshly out of Spain, touching the empoisoning of the queen which Lopez, who saw that matter of intelligence, without some such particular service, would draw no great reward from the King of Spain; such as a man that was not needy, but wealthy as he was, could find any taste in, assented unto. And to that purpose procured again this Andrada to be sent over, as well to advertise and assure this matter to the King of Spain and his ministers, namely, to the Count de Fuentes, assistant to the general of the King of Spain's forces in the Low Countries, as also to capitulate and contract with Antonio for France. Of this Louis the first This Manuel Louis, despatched with these instructions, and with all affectionate commendations from the count to Lopez, and with letters to Ferrera, took his journey first to Calais, where he conferred with Andrada; of whom receiving more ample information, together with a short ticket of credence to Lopez, that he was a person whom he might trust without scruple, came over into England, and first repaired to Ferrera, and acquainted him with the state of the business, who had before that time given some light unto Lopez, that he was not a stranger unto the prac |