A Declaration of the Causes, which mooved the chiefe Commanders of the Nauie of her most excellent | Page 7

wherewith these Hanse men haue charged her among strangers, hath yeelded to them no lesse a benefit of free negotiation, then to her owne subiects, without any other restraint but this, that in liewe and memorie of so singular a fauour, they also on their parts should graunt the like freedome in their portes, and cities to her subiects, and marchantes: and yet like vnkinde people, and without respect to this fauour, they returne to their olde byas, & cease not to attempt thinges dangerous to her Maiestie, and by the opinions of all princes in no case to bee suffered.
These Hanse men were at the like controuersie sometimes with the kings of Denmarke & Swethen, by reason of certaine like priuileges in the kingdomes of Norway and Swethland, and the matter grew so hot that it brake out to an open warre: but with what fruite or gaine to the state of the Haunse men? This was the issue: they were forced to accept such conditions of priuiledges, not as they challenged but as the foresaid kings thought iust, & equal. By which president they might learne if they were wise, not to accept only, but most gladly & thankefully to accept the conditions offered by her Maiestie, as proceeding from such a kind of liberalitie, that may make them in this case superiours to all other Strangers, equall and alike with her owne Subiects. But if they continue in this their stubbernesse and ingratitude, let them take heede least they plucke vpon themselues that most iust reward of their most peruerse behauiours, whereof they haue felt the smart before this, both in Swethlande, Norway and Liuonia also.
Seeing then these Hanse men haue receiued from her Maiestie many great benefits, but no ill deserts at any time, shee desireth the Emperours Maiestie, and the rest of the Princes and States of the Empire, to giue no credite to the rumours spread abroad by them, or by the friendes of the Romish Church, or by such as are corrupted with Spanish pensions, men suborned of purpose to scatter these false surmises, to the ende that we being drawen to a mutual dislike and hatred, they in the meane time may the sooner and the more easily bring vs, and the Religion which we professe (if it were possible) vnderfoote.
[Sidenote: The desire of the Queenes Maiestie for a peace through Christendome.]
And further her Maiestie intreateth, that this heauie warre entred into with the Spaniard, for the mainteinance whereof no small but huge summes are of necessitie required, and wherein the quarrell is not in her owne behalfe onely, but for the safetie of all the Kings, Kingdoms, and Dominions of Europe that professe the sinceritie of true Religion, and for that cause are as much hated of this Spanish enemie and his Romish Confederats, as her Maiestie is, may at the least in this one thing seeme more tollerable, and lesse difficult and labourious to bee continued, in not suffering the foresaid Hanse men, to transport to the forenamed common enemie, out of their Kingdomes, Dukedomes, Ports and Straights, any victuals or instruments of warre, by ordeyning seuere corrections vpon the rebellious and disobedient, and such as shall dare to attempt the contrary, and to thinke of her Maiestie and her actions, as of a Prince most careful, both of the vniuersall peace of Religion, and of the safetie of all and singular Princes her Confederats, & that they would by ioyning their Counsels & forces in one, vse all their power and abilitie to extinguish the practises of the Romish priesthod, that so a sincere, holy, and largely extending peace, free from treacheries, may be entred, concluded and established throughout all Christianitie, to the honour of Almightie God, and the tranquilitie of all Kings, Princes and Estates, with all increase of happines. In which cogitation, her Maiestie most sincerely and constantly abideth, and will not cease (God blessing her) to remooue all impediments for her part, to procure this good effect according to her honourable desire.
[Sidenote: The Bishop of Romes inuasion of England by his Iesuites.]
But nowe hauing hitherto spoken of the open violence of the Spanish King, and the Bishop of Rome, giue vs leaue to vse a fewe wordes also of another matter not lesse odious then the former, consisting in the subtiltie of the litle foxe: which is a thing so much the more diligently to be lookt vnto, by how much the more close and secret it is, and a thing that creepes farre without many mens knowledge. It is that same priuie legation and sending as it were in corners of certaine falsly termed Iesuites and Seminaries into this kingdome, to withdrawe the mindes of the simple and ignorant people, from their duetifull obedience to