A.D. 

 1588. 



[I. 5950 



A treatte of 

 peace, to the 

 end that Eng- 

 land and the 

 united provin- 

 ces might he 

 secure oj in- 

 vasion. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



vaine buls the English and Dutchmen deriding, sayd that 

 the devill at all passages lay in ambush like a thiefe, no 

 whit regarding such letters of safe conduct. Some there 

 be which affirme that the Pope had bestowed the realme 

 of England with the title of Defensor fidei, upon the 

 king of Spaine, giving him charge to invade it upon this 

 condition, that hee should enjoy the conquered realm, 

 as a vassal and tributarie, in that regard, unto the sea 

 of Rome. To this purpose the said Pope proffered a 

 million of gold, the one halfe thereof to be paied in 

 readie money, and the other halfe when the realme of 

 England or any famous port thereof were subdued. 

 And for the greater furtherance of the whole businesse, 

 he dispatched one D. Allen an English man (whom hee 

 had made Cardinall for the same ende and purpose) into 

 the Low countries, unto whom he committed the ad- 

 ministration of all matters ecclesiasticall throughout 

 England. This Allen being enraged against his owne 

 native countrey, caused the Popes bull to be translated 

 into English, meaning upon the arrival of the Spanish 

 fleete, to have it so published in England. By which 

 Bull the excommunications of the two former Popes 

 were confirmed, and the Queenes most sacred Majestic 

 was by them most unjustly deprived of all princely titles 

 and dignities, her subjects being enjoined to performe 

 obedience unto the duke of Parma, and unto the Popes 

 Legate. 



But that all matters might be performed with greater 

 secrecie, and that the whole expedition might seeme 

 rather to be intended against the Low countries, then 

 against England, and that the English people might be 

 perswaded that all was but bare words & threatnings, 

 and that nought would come to effect, there was a 

 solemne meeting appointed at Borborch in Flanders for 

 a treatie of peace betweene her majestie and the Spanish 



^ing. 



Against which treatie the united provinces making 

 open protestation, used all meanes possible to hinder it, 



206 



