Charles Brandon by the Quene of Fraunce vvas married to the Marques of Dorset vvho after Charles Brandons death vvas made Duke of Suffolk in right of his vvife and vvas beheaded in Q Maries time for his conspiracie vvvth my L of Leycesters father And she had by this man three daughters that is Iane The issue of FrauÌ„cis eldest daughter to Charls BrandoÌ„ Duke of Suffolk that vvas married to my L. of Leycesters brother proclaimed Queene after king Edvvards death for vvhych both shee and her husbande vvere executed Katherine the second daughter vvho had tvvoe sonnes yet lyuyng by the Earle of Hartford Marie the third daughter vvhich left no children The other daughter of Charles Brandon by the Q. of FrauÌ„ce caled Elenor vvas married to George Clifford Earle of CumberlaÌ„d vvho left a daughter The issue of â—lenor seconde daughter to Charls BrandoÌ„ by her named Margaret married to the Earle of Darbye vvhich yet liueth hath issue And this is the title of al the house of Suffolk descended froÌ„ the second daughter of K. Henrie the seueÌ„th married as hath bene shevved to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk And by this you see also hovv manie their be vvhoe do thinck ther titles to be far before that of my Lord of Huntingtons if either right Lavv reason or consideration of home affaires may take place in our Realm or yf not yet you cannot but imagine hovv manie great Princes and potentates abrode are like to ioyne and buckle vvyth Huntingtons Line for the preeminence if once the matter fal againe to coÌ„tention by excluding the Line of K. Henry the 7. vvhich God forbid SCHOL Trulie Sir quoth I I vvel perceyue that my Lords turne is not so nighe as I had thought vvhether he exclude the Line of king Henrie or HuÌ„tiÌ„gâ—oÌ„ behinde manie other titles no. For if he exclude that then must he enter the Cumbat vvith forraine titlers of the house of Lancaster and if he exclude it not then in al apparence of reason in Lavve to as you haue said the succession of the tvvoe daughters of king Henrie the seuenth vvhich you distingvvishe by the tvvoe names of Scotland and Suffolke muste needes be as clearlie before him and his Line that descendeth onlie from Edvvard the fourth his brother as the Q. title that novv raigneth is before him For that both Scotland Suffolk and her Ma. do hold al by one foundation vvhich is the vnion of both houses and titles together in K. Henry the seuenth her Ma. Graundfather GENTL That is true quoth the Gentleman and euident enough in euery mans eye and therfore no doubt but that as much is meant against her Maiestie yf occasion serue as against the rest that holde by the same title Albeit her Maiesties state the Lorde be praysed be such at this tyme as it is not safitie to pretend so much against her as against the reste vvhat soeuer be meant And that in trueth more should be meante gainst her highnes then against all the rest ther is this reason for that her Maiestie by her present possession letteth more their desires then al the rest together vvyth ther future pretences But as I haue said it is not The pollicie of the Conspirators for the deceyuing of her Maiesty safitie for them nor yet good policie to declare openlie vvhat they meane against her maiestie It is the best vvay for the present to hevve dovvn the rest and to leaue her Maiestie for the laste blovve and vpshoote to their game For vvhich cause they vvill seeme to make great difference at this daye betvvene her Maiesties title and the rest that descende in likevvise from king Henrie the seuenth auovving the one and disalovving the other Albeit my Lord of Leycesters father preferred that of Suffolk vvhen tyme vvas before this of her Ma. and compelled the vvhole Realm to svveare therunto Such is the variable pollicy of men that serue the tyme or rather that serue them selues of al tymes for their purposes SCHOL I remember quoth I that tyme of the Duke vvas present my self at some of his proclamatioÌ„s for that purpose VVherin my L. his sonne that novv liueth being theÌ„ a doer as I can tel he vvas I meruaile hovv he can deale so contrarie novv Leycester variabilitie preferring not onlie her Ma. title before that of Suffolk vvherof I vvonder lesse because it is more gainful to him but also an other much furder of But you haue signified the cause in that the tymes are chauÌ„ged other bargaines are in haÌ„d of more importaunce for him VVherfore leauing this to be considered by others vvhoÌ„ it coÌ„cerneth I beseech you Sir for that I knovv your vvorship hath bene much conuersant amonge their friendes and fauourers to tel me vvhat are the barres and lettes vvhich they do aleadge vvhy the house of ScotlaÌ„d and Suffolk descending of K. Henrie the seueÌ„th his daughters should not succed in the Crovvn of England after her Ma. vvho endeth the Line of the same K. by his sonne for in my sight the matter appeareth verie plaine GENTL They vvant not pretences of barres and lettes against them al quoth the Gentleman vvhich I vvil lay dovvn in order as I haue heard theÌ„ aleaged Barres preteÌ„ded gainst the claime of Scotland Suffolk First in the Line of Scotland theire are thre persoÌ„s as you knovv that may pretende right that is the Quene and her sonne by the first mariage of Margaret and Arbella by the second And against the first mariage I heare nothing affirmed but against the tvvoe personnes proceeding therof I heare them aleage three stops one for that they are strauÌ„gers Against the Queene of Scotland her sonne borne out of the land and consequentlie incapable of inheritaunce vvythin the same an other for that by a special testament of K. HeÌ„rie the eight authorized by tvvoe seueral Parliamentes they are excluded the third for that they are enimies to the religion novv receiued amonge vs therfore to be debarred Against the seconde mariage of Margaret Against Arbella vvyth Archibalde Douglas vvherof Arbella is descended they aleage that the said Archibalde had a former vvyfe at the tyme of that mariage vvhich liued loÌ„g after and so neither that marage lavvful nor the issue therof legitimate The same barre they haue against al the house and Line of Suffolk for first they say that Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk had a knovven vvyfe a liue vvhen he married Marie Queene of Fraunce coÌ„sequentlie that neither the Ladie Fraunces nor Elenore borne of that mariage can be lavvfulie borne And thes is al I can heare them say against the succession Against Darbye of the CouÌ„tesse of Darby descended of Elenore But against my Lord of Hartfords children that come from FrauÌ„ces the eldest daughter I heare them aleage tvvo or three bastardies more besides Against the children of Harâ—ford this of the first mariage
death of K. Edvvard by â—he said Dudley this mans father vvho at one blovv procured to dispatâ—h from al possession of the Crovvn al three children of the said noble king And yet in the middest of those bloodie practizes against her Ma. that novv is and her sister vvherin also this felovvs hand vvas so far as for his age he could thrust the same vvythin sixetiene dayes before K. Edvvardes death he knovving belike that the king should die vvrote moste flatering Deep dissimulatioÌ„ letters to the Ladie Marie as I haue heard by them vvho then vvere vvyth her promissing al loyaltie and true seruice to her after the discease of her brother vvyth no lesse painted vvordes then this man novv doth vse to Q Elizabeth So delt he then vvyth the moste deare children of his good king master by vvhom he had bene no lesse exalted and trusted then this man is by her Ma. And so deeplie dissembled he then vvhen he had in hand the plot to destroye them both And vvhat then alas may not vve feare and doubt of this his sonne vvho in outragious ambition and desire of reigne is not inferiour to his father or to anie other aspiring spirit in the vvorld but far more insolent cruel vindicatiue expert potent subtile fine and fox-like then euer he vvas I like vvel the good Sir Fran. VValsing ham motion propounded by the foresaid gentleman to his friend at the same tyme and do assure my self it vvould be moste pleasaunt to the Realm and profitable to her Ma. to vvyt that this mans actions might be called publiquelie to tryal and libertie giuen to good subiectes to say vvhat they knevv Edmund Dudley against the same as it vvas permitted in the first yeare of K. Henrie the eight against his Graundfather and in the first of Q. Marie against his father Ihoâ— Dudley and then I vvould not doubt but yf thes tvvo his auncestors vvere found vvorthie to leese their Robert Dudley heades for treason this man vvould not be found vnvvorthie to make the third in kinred vvhose trecheries doe far surpasse them both LAVV. After the Gentleman had said this the Lavvyer stood stil somevvhat smyling to him self and looking round about him as though he had bene half afeard and then said My masters do you read ouer or studie the statutes that come foorth haue you not heard of the PROVISO made in the last Parliament for punishmeÌ„t of those vvho speak so broad of such men as my L. of Leycester is GENTL Yes said the gentleman I haue heard hovv that my L. of Leycester vvas verie careful and diligent at that tyme to haue such a lavv to passe against talkers hoping belike that his L. vnder that generall The lavv agaynst talking restreint might lye the more quyetlye in harbrough from the tempest of mens tongues vvhich tatled busilie at that tyme of diuers his Lordships actions affaires vvhich perhaps him self vvould haue vvished to passe vvith more secretsie As of his discontentemeÌ„t preparation to rebellion vpon Monsieurs first comming into the land of his disgrace and checks receyued in court of the fresh death of the noble Erle of Essex and of this mans hastie snatching vp of the vvidovv vvhom he sent ActioÌ„s of Leicester vvherof hevvould haue no speech vp and dovvn the countrie from house to house by priuie vvayes therby to auoid the sight knovvledg of the Q. Ma. And albeit he had not onlie vsed her at his good liking before for satisfying of his ovvn lust but also married and remarried her for contentation of her friendes yet denyed he the same by solemne othe to her Ma. and receiued the holie coÌ„munion thervpon so good a coÌ„science he hath and consequentlie threatned moste sharp reuenge tovvards al subiectes vvhich should dare to speak therof so for the concealing both of this and other his doinges vvhich he desired not to haue publik no maruaile though his Lordship vvere so diligent a procurer of that lavv for silence SCHOL In deed said I it is verie probable that his Lordship vvas in great distres about that tyme vvhen Monsieurs maters vvere in hand and that he did manie thinges and purposed more vvherof he desired lesse speeche among the people especialie aftervvardes vvhen his said designmentes toke not place I vvas my self that yeare not far from VVarvvike vvhen he came thither from the Coutt a ful Mal-Content vvhen it vvvas thought moste certainlie throughout the Realm that he vvould haue taken armes soone after yf the mariage of her Ma. vvyth Monsieur had gone forvvard The thing in CaÌ„bridge in al the coÌ„trie as I rode vvas in euerie maÌ„s mouth it vvas a vvounder to see not onelie the contenaunces but also the behauior to heare the bold speeches of al such as vvere of his faction My Lord him self had giuen out a litle before at Killing vvorth that the mater vvoulde coste manie Leicester Preparatiues to rebellion vpoÌ„ MoÌ„sieurs mariage broken heades before Michelmasse daye next and my Lord of VVarvvik had said openly at his table in Green vviche Sir Thomas Hennige being by if I be not deceyued that it vvas not to be suffred I meane the mariage vvhich vvordes of his once comming abrode albeit misliked by his ovvn Ladie theÌ„ also present euerie Seruing-man common compaignion toke then vp in defence of his Lordships part agaist the Q. Ma. Such tunning ther vvas such sending posting about the Realm such amplification of the povvers forces of Cassimere other Princes redie as vvas affirmed to present them selues vnto his aide for defence of the Realm religioÌ„ against straungers for that vvas holdeÌ„ to be his cause such numbring of parties complices vvythin the Realm vvherof him self shevved the To Sir Th Layton Catalogue to some of his frieÌ„des for their comfort such debasing of them that fauoured the mariage especialie tvvoe or three Councellors by name L. Treasurer L. Chamber layne M CoÌ„ptroler vvho vvere said to be the cause of al and for that vvere appointed out to be sharplie punished to the terrour of al others such letters vvere vvriten and intercepted of purpose importing great povvers to be redie so manie other thiÌ„ges done designed tending al to manifest open vvarre as I began hartelie to be afeard and vvished my self back at CaÌ„bridge againe hoping that being ther my scholars govvne should excuse me from necessitie of fighting or if not I vvas resolued by my Lordes good leaue to folovv Aristotle vvho preferreth alvvay the Lyon before the Beare assuring my self vvythal that his Lordship should haue no better successe in this if it came to tryal theÌ„ his father had in as bad a cause so much the more for that Ivvas priuie to the mindes of some of his friendes vvho meant to haue deceyued him if the matter had broken out And amongest other ther vvas a certeine VicepresideÌ„t in the vvorld vvho
shevv the mans good fortune in seeing them dead vvhom for causes he vvould not haue to liue And for his arte of poysoning it is such novv and reacheth so far as he holdeth al his foes in EnglaÌ„d and els vvher as also a good manie of his friendes in feare therof and if it vvere knovven hovv manie he hath dispatched or assaulted that vvaye it vvould be meruailous to the The Lord Chamber layne posteritie The late Earle of Sussex vvanted not a scruple for manie yeares before his death of some dramme receyued that made him incurable And vnto that noble gentleman MoÌ„sieur Simiers Monsieur Symiers is vvas disconuered by great prouideÌ„ce of God that his lyfe vvas to be attempted by that arte and that not taking place as it did not through his ovvne good circumspection it vvas concluded that the same should be assaulted by violeÌ„ce vvherof I shal haue occasion to saye more herafter It hath byn told me also by some of the seruaunts of the late Ladie Lenox vvho vvas also of the blood Royall by ScotlaÌ„d as all men knovv coÌ„sequentlie The poisoning of the Ladie Lenox lytle lyked by Lecester that a lytle before her death or syknes my L. toke the paynes to come and visit her vvith extraordinarie kyndenes at her house at Hackeny bestovviÌ„g loÌ„ge discourses vvith her in priuate but as soone as he vvas departed the good Ladie fell into such a Flux as by no meanes could be staied so long as she had liffe in her bodie vvhervpon both she her selff and all such as vvere neare about her and savv her disease and ending daye vvere fullie of opinion that my Lorde had procured her dispatche at his being ther. VVherof let the vvomen that serued her be examined as also Fovvler that then had the chiefe doinges in her affayres and synce hath byne enterteined by my L. of Lecester Mallet also a straunger borne that then vvas about her a sober and zelous man in religion and othervvise vvell qualified can say somevvhat in this poynt as I think if he vvere demauÌ„ded So that this arte and exercise of poysoning is much more perfect vvith my Lord then praying and he seemeth to take more pleasure therin Novv for the second point vvhich I named touching mariages and contractes vvyth vvomen you must not meruayle though his Lordship be somvvhat diuers variable and inconstant vvyth him Leycester moste variable dealing vvyth vvemeÌ„ in coÌ„tractes mariages self for that according to his profit or his pleasure and as his lust and lyking shal varie vvherin by the iudgement of all men he surpasseth not onlie Sardanapalus and Nero but euen Heliogabalus him self so his Lordship also chaungeth vviues and Minions by killing the one denying the other vsing the third for a tyme and the favvning vpon the fourth And for this cause he hath his tearmes pretences I vvarrant you of Contractes Precontractes Postcontractes Protractes and Retractes as for example after he had killed his first vvyfe and so broken that contract then forsooth coÌ„tractes vvould he needes make him self husband to the Q. Ma. and so defeat al other Princes by vertue of his precontract But after this his lust compelling him Preconts actes Postcontractes to an other place he vvould needes make a postcoÌ„tract vvyth the Ladie Scheffield and so he did begetting tvvo children vpon her the one a boye called Robin Sheffield novv lyuing some tyme brought vp at Nevvington and the other a daughter borne as is knovven at Dudley Castle But yet after his concupiscence chaunging agayne as it neuer stayeth he resolued to make a retracte Retract of this postcoÌ„tract though it vvere as surelie done as I haue said as Bed and Bible could make the same to make a certaine nevv protract vvhich Protract is a contynuation of vsing her for a tyme vvyth the vvidovv of Essex But yet to stop the mouthes Leycester tvvo TestameÌ„ts of-out-cryars and to burie the Synagogue vvyth some honour for thes tvvo vvyues of Leycester vvere merrilie vvittilie called his olde and nevv Testamentes by a person of great excelleÌ„cie vvithin the Realm he vvas content to assigne to the former a thovvsand povvndes in money vvyth other petie considerations the pitifullest abused that euer vvas poore Ladie and so betake his lymmes to the later vvhich later notvvythstanding he so vseth as vve see novv confessing novv forsvvearing novv dissembling the mariage as he vvyll alvvayes yet kepe a voyde place for a nevv surcontract vvyth anie other vvhen occasion shall require SCHOL Novv by my truth Sir quoth I I neuer heard nor red the like to this in my lyfe yet haue I red much in my tyme of the carnalitie and lycentiousnes of diuers outragious persons in this kind of sinne as namlie these vvhom you haue mentioned before especialie the Emperour Heliogabalus vvho passed all other and vvas called Varius of the varietie of filth vvhich he vsed in this kinde of carnalitie varius Heliogabalus his moste in famous death or carnall beastlines VVhose death vvas that being at length odious to al men and so slaine by his ovvn souldiours vvas dravven through the Citie vpoÌ„ the ground like a dogge caste into the coÌ„mon priuie vvyth this Epitaphe Hic proiectus An Epitaphe est indomitae rabide libidinis catulus Here is throvven in the VVhelp of vnâ—evvlie and raging luste vvhich epitaphe may also one day chance to serue my L. of Lecester vvhom you cal the Beare-vvhelp yf he go forvvarde as he hath begonne and die as he deserueth But good Sir vvhat a commpassion is this that amonge vs christians and namlie in so vvel gouerned A pitteful permissioÌ„ and religious a common vvealth as ours is such a riot should be permitted vpon mens vviues in a subiect vvheras vve read that among the verie heatheÌ„s lesse offences then these in the same kinde vvere extremelie punished in Princes them selues and that not onlie in the person delmquent alone but also by extirpatioÌ„ of the vvhole familie for his The extirpation of the Tarquinians sake as apeareth in the example of the Tarquinians amonge the Romans And here also in our ovvn Realm vve haue regestred in Chronicle hovv that one king Edvvin aboue six huÌ„dreth years past vvas An. Do 959. depriued of his kingdom for much lesse scandalous factes then thes GENTL I remeÌ„ber vvel the storie quoth the gentleman ther by do easilie make coÌ„iecture vvhat differeÌ„ce ther is betvvyxt those tymes of olde our dayes novv seing theÌ„ a Crovvned Prince could not passe vnpunished vvyth one or tvvo ontragious actes vvheras novv a subiect raysed vp but yesterday froÌ„ the meaner sorte rangeth at his pleasure in al licentiousnes The into lerable licentiousnes of Lei. carnalitie and that vvith secuâ—itie void of feare both of God and man No mans vvife can be free from him vvhom his firie lust liketh to abuse nor their husbaÌ„des able to
resist nor saue from his violence if they shevv dislike or vvil not yeeld their cōsent to his doinges And if I should discouer in particular hovv manie good husbandes he had plagued in this nature and for suche delites it vvere intollerable for his concupiscence violence doe runne iointlie together as in furious beastes vve see they are accustomed Neither holdeth he anie rule in his lust besides onlie the motiō suggestion of his ovvn sensualitie Kinred affinitie or anie other band of consanguinitie religion honour or honestie taketh no place in his outragious appetit VVhat he best liketh that he taketh as lavvful for the tyme. So that kinsvvoman allie friendes vvyfe or daughter or vvhat soeuer female sorte besides doth please his eye I leaue out of purpose and for honour sake tearmes of kinred more neare that must yeeld to his desire The keeping of the mother vvyth tvvo or three of her daughters at once or successiuelie is no more vvyth him then the eating of an henne and her chicken together Ther are not by reporte tvvo noble vvomen about her Ma. I speake vpon some accompt of them that knovv much vvhom he hath not solicited by potent vvayes Neither contented vvyth this place of honour he hath descended to seek pasture among the vvayting Gentlevvomen of her Ma. great Chamber offering more for their allurement then I thinke Lais did commonlie take in Corinthe if three hundreth poundes for a night vvill make vp the summe or Money VVell spent if not yet vvill he make it vp othervvise hauing reported him self so litle shame he hath that he offred to an other of higher place an hundreth pound landes by the yeare vvith as manie Ievvells Anne Vauiser as moste vvomen vnder her Ma. vsed in England vvhich vvas no meane baite to one that vsed trafique in such marchandize she being but the leauinges of an other mā before him vvherof my L. is nothing squemish for satisfying of his lust but can be content as they say to gather vp crōmes vvhen he is Hungrie euen in the verie Laundrie it self or other place of baser qualitie And albeit the Lord of his great mercie to do him good no doubt if he vvere reuokeable hath The punishmēts of God vpō Leicester to do hym good laid his hand vpon him in some chasticement in this vvorld by giuing him a brokē bellie on both sides of his bovvels vvherby miserie putrifactiō is threatned to hym dayly to his yōgsōne by the vvidovv of Essex being Filius Peecati such a straūge calamitie of the falling sicknes in his infancie * The children of adulterors shal be consumed and the seede of a vvicked bedd shal be roted out saith god Sap. 3. as vvel maye be a vvitnes of the parētes sinne vvickednes and of both their vvasted natures in iniquitie yet is this man nothing amended therby but according to the custom of al olde adulterers is more libidinous at this day then euer before more giuen to procure loue in others by Cōiuring Sorcerie and other such meanes And albeyt for him self bothe age and nature spent do somvvhat tame him from the acte yet vvanteth he not vvil as apeareth by the Italian oyntment procured not manie yeares paste by his Surgyan or Mountybank of that countrie vvherby as they say he is Leicester oyntmēt able to moue his flesh at al tymes for keeping of his credit hovvsoeuer his inhabilitie be othervvise Leicester bottel for performance as also one of his Phisitians reported to an Erle of this land that his Lordship had a bottel for his bedehead of ten Pounds the Pinte to the same effect But my masters vvhether are vve fallen vnaduised I am ashamed to haue made mētion of so base filthynes SCHOL Not vvythout good cause quoth I but that vve are here alone and no man heareth vs. VVherfore I pray you let vs return vvheras vve lefte and vvhē you named my L. of Leycesters daughter borne of the Ladie Shefield in Dudley Castle ther came into my head a pretie storie concerning that affaire vvhich novv I vvill recompt though somevvhat out of order therby to dravv you from the further stirring of this vnsauerie pudle fovvle dunghill vvhereunto vve are slipped by folovving my Lord somvvhat to far in his pathes actions VVherfore to tell you the tale as it fell out I grevv acquainted thes monethes paste vvyth a certaine Minister that novv is dead vvas the same man that vvas vsed at Dudley Castle for complemēt of some Sacred ceremonies at the birth of my Lord of Ley. daughter in that place the mater vvas so ordeyned A pretie deuise by the vvylie vvit of him that had sovved the seed that for the better couerīg of the haruest secret deliuerie of the Ladie Scheffielde the good vvyfe of the Castle also vvherby Ley. appointed gossippes might vvythout other suspition haue accesse to the place should feigne her self to be vvyth childe after long sore trauail god vvote to be deliuered of a qvvyshē as she vvas indeed a litle after a faire Coffin vvas buried vvyth a bundell of cloutes in shevv of a childe the Minister caused to vse al accoustomed prayers and ceremonies for An acte of Atheisme the solēne interring therof for vvhich thing aftervvard before his death he had great grief remors of cōsciēce vvyth no small detestatiō of the moste irreligious deuise of my L. of Ley. in such a case LAVV. Here the Lavv. began to laugh a pace both at the deuise at the Minister said novv truely if my L. contractes hold no better but hath so manie infirmities vvyth subtilties and by places besides I vvould be lothe that he vvere married to my daughter as meane as she is GENT. But yet quoth the Gentleman I had rather of the tvvoe be his vvyfe for the tyme then his gest especialie yf the Italiā Surgiā or Phisitiō be at hand LAVV. True it is said the lavvyer for he doth not poyson his vvyues vvherof I somvvhat maruaile especialie his first vvyfe I muse vvhy he chose rather to make her avvaye by open violence then by some Italian Confortiue GENT. Hereof said the Gentleman may be diuers The First reason vvhy Ley. slevv his vvyfe by violence ratherthē by poysō reasons alleged First that he vvas not at that tyme so skilful in those Italian vvares nor had about him so fit Phisitiās Surgians for the purpose nor yet in trueth do I thinke that his minde vvas so setled then in mischeefe as it hath bene sithence For you knovv that men are not desperat the first daye but doe enter into vvickednes by degrees and vvyth some doubt or staggering of conscience at the beginning And so he at that tyme might be desirous to haue his vvyfe made avvay for that she letted him in his designemētes but yet not so stonie harted as to appoint out the particular maner of her death
but rather to leaue that to the discretion of the murderer Secondlie it is not also vnliklie that he prescribed The second reason vnto Sir Rich. Varney at his going thither that he should first attempt to kil her by poyson yf that toke not place then by anie other vvay to dispatch her hovv soeuer This I proue by the report of olde Doctor Baylye vvho then liued in Oxeforde an Doctor Baylye the elder other maner of man then he vvho novv lyueth about my Lord of the same name vvas professor of the Phisick Lecture in the same vniuersitie This learned graue man reported for moste certaine that ther vvas a practize in Cumner among the conspiratours to haue poysoned the poore Ladie a litle before she vvas killed vvhich vvas attempted in this order They seing the good Ladie sad and heauy as one that vvel knevv by her other handling that her death vvas not far of began to persvvade her that her disease vvas abundance of Melancholie and other humours therfore vvoulde needes counsaile her to take some potion vvhich she absolutlie refusing to do as suspecting stil the vvorst they A practise for poysoning the la Dudlei sent one daye vnavvares to her for Doctor Baylie and desired him to petsvvade her to take some litle Potion at his handes and they vvould send to fetch the same at Oxeforde vpon his prescription meaning to haue added also somvvhat of their ovvn for her comfort as the Doctor vpon iuste causes suspected seeing their great importunitie and the smal need vvhich the good Ladie had of Phisike therfor he flatlie denied their request misdoubting as he after reported least yf they had poisoned her vnder the name of his Potion he might after haue bene hanged for a couer of their sinne Marie the said Doctor remayned vvel assured that this vvay taking no place she should not long escape violence as after ensued And the thing vvas so beaten into the heades of the principal mē of the vniuersitie of Oxeford by thes and other meanes as for that she vvas found murdered as al men said by the Crovvners inquest and for that she being hastelie and obscurelie buried at Cumner vvhich vvas condemned aboue as not aduisedlie done my good Lord to make plane to the vvorld the great loue he bare to her in her lyfe and vvhat a gryef the losse of so vertuous a Lady vvas to his tēder hart vvould needes haue her taken vp againe and reburied in the vniuersitie church at Oxeford vvyth great Pomp and solemnitie That Doctor Babington my L. chaplaine making the publique Doctor Babingtō funeral Sermon at her second buryall tript once or tvvice in his speach by recommending to ther memories that vertuous Ladie so pittefullie murdered in stead of so pittifullie slaine A third cause of this maner of the Ladies death A Third reason may be the dispositiō of my Lordes nature vvhich is bold and violent vvher it feareth no resistaunce as all covvardly natures are by kinde and vvhere anie difficultie or daunger apeareth ther more redie to attempt al by arte subtiltie treason and trecherie And so for that he doubted no great resistaūce in the poore Ladie to vvythstand the handes of them vvhich should offer to breake her necke he durst the bolder attempt the same openlie But in the men vvhom he poysoned for that they vvere such valiaunt knightes the moste parte of them as he durst as soone haue eaten his scabard as dravve his svvorde in publique against them he vvas inforced as al vvretched ireful and dastardlie creatures are to supplant them by fraud and by other mens handes As also at other tymes he hath sought to do vnto diuers other noble and valiaunt personages vvhen he vvas a feard to meet them in the field as a knight should haue done His treacheries tovvardes the noble late Earle of Sussex in their manie breaches is notorious to al England As also the bloodie practizes against diuers others But as among manie none vvere more odious misliked of all men then those against Monsieur Simiers a straunger Ambassador vvhom first he practised to haue poysoned as hath bene touched The intēded murder of Mōsieur Simiers by sundrye meanes before vvhen that deuise toke not place thē he appointed that Robin Tider his man as after vpon his ale bench he confessed should haue slaine him at the blacke friars at Grenevvich as he vvent furth at the garden gate but missing also of that purpose for that he found the Gentleman better prouided and guarded then he expected he delt vvyth certaine Flusshyners and other Pyrates to sinke him at sea vvyth the Englishe Gentlemen his fauourers that accompanied him at his returne into Fraunce And though they missed of this practize also as not daring to set vpon him for feare of some of her Ma. shippes vvho to break of this designement attended by special commaundement to vvafte him ouer in safitie yet the foresaid English Gentlemen vvere holden fovver hovvers in chace at their comming backe as M. Ravvley vvel knovveth being then present and tvvo of the Chacers named Clark and Hatris confessed aftervvard the vvhole designement The Earle of Ormond in like vvyse hath often declared and vvill auovvch it to my Lord The intēded murder of the Earle of Ormond of Leycesters face vvhen so euer he shal be called to the same that at such tyme as this man had a quarell vvyth him and therby vvas likelie to be enforcede to the fielde vvhiche he trembled to thinke of he first soughte by all meanes to get him made avvay by secret murder offeringe fiue hundreth poundes for the doing therof and secondlie vvhen that deuise toke no place he appointed vvyth him the fielde but Secretlie suborning his seruaunte VVyllm Killegre VVyllm Killegre to lye in the vvaye vvhere Ormonde shoulde passe and so to massaker him vvyth a Calliuer before he came to the place appointed VVhich murder thoughe it toke no effecte for that the matter vvas taken vp before the day of meetinge yet vvas Killigre placed aftervvarde in her Ma. Priuie Chamber by Leycester for shevving his redie minde to do for his master so faythful a seruice SCHOL So faithfull a seruice quoth I truelie in my opinion it vvas but an vnfit preferment for so facinorous a facte And as I vvoulde be lothe that manie of his Italians or other of that arte shoulde come nighe aboute her Ma. kitchen so muche lesse vvould I that manie suche his bloodie Champions shoulde be placed by him in her highnesse chamber Albeit for this Gentleman in particulare it may be that vvyth chaunge of his place in seruice he hath chaunged also his minde and affection and receyued better instruction in the feare of the Lorde But yet in generall I muste needes say that it cannot be but preiudicial exceeding daungerous vnto our noble Prince and Realm that anie one mā vvhatsoeuer especialie such a one as the
vvorld taketh this man to be should grovv to so absolute authoritie and commaundrie in the Court as to place about the Princesse person the head the Preocupation of her Ma. person hart the lyf of the land vvhat so euer people liketh him best that not vpon their desertes tovvardes the Prince but tovvardes him self vvhose fidelitie being more obliged to their aduauÌ„cer then to their soueraign do serue for vvatchmen about the same for the ê“fit of him by vvhos apointmeÌ„t they vvere placed VVho by their meanes casting indeed but Nettes Chaynes iÌ„uisible baÌ„des about that person vvhoÌ„ moste of al he preteÌ„deth to serue he shutteth vp his Prince in a prison moste sure though svveet and senselesse An ordinarie vvaye of aspiring by preocupation of the Princes person Neither is this arte of aspiring nevv or straunge vnto anie man that is experienced in affaires of former tyme for that it hath bene from the beginning of al gouernment a troden path of al aspirers In the stories both Sacred and Prophane forrein and domestical of al natioÌ„s kingdomes countries and states you shal reade that such as meant to mount aboue other and to gouern al at their ovvn discretion did laye this for the first grounde and principle of their purpose to possesse them selues A Comparison of al such as vvere in place about the principal eueÌ„ as he vvho intending to holde a great Citie at his ovvn disposition nor dareth make open vvarre against the same getteth secretlie into his handes or at his deuotion al the Tovvnes Villages Castles Fortresses Bulvvarkes Rampires vvaters vvayes Portes and passages about the same and so vvyth out dravving anie svvord against the said Citie he bringeth the same into bondage to abide his vvil pleasure This did all these in the Romane Empire vvho rose from subiectes to be great Princes and to put dovvne Emperours This did al those in Fraunce and other kingdomes vvho at sundrie tymes haue tyraÌ„nized their Princes And in our ovvn countrie the examples are manifest of Vortiger Harolde Henrye of Lancaster Rycharde of VVarvvyk Richard of Glocester Iohn of Nortumberland and diuers others vvho by this meane specialie haue pulled dovvn their Lavvful soueraignes And to speake onlie a vvord or tvvo of the last for that he vvas this mans father doth not al England knovv that he first ouerthrevv the good The vvay of aspiriÌ„g in Duke Dudley Duke of Sommerset by dravving to his deuotion the verie seruauntes and friendes of the said Duke And aftervvard did not he possesse him self of the kinges ovvn person and brought him to the end vvhich is knovveÌ„ before that to the moste shaÌ„ful disheriting of his ovvn Royal Sisters al this by possessing first the principall meÌ„ that vvere in authoritie about him VVherfore Sir yf my Lord of Leycester haue the same plot in his head as most men think and that he meaneth one daye to giue the same pushe at the Crovvn by the house of Huntington against al the race and line of king Henrie the seuenth in general vvhich his father gaue bef … him by pretence of the house of Suffolk against the children of king Henrie the eight in particular he vvanteth not reason to folovv the same meanes platform of planting special persoÌ„s for his purpose about the Prince for surelie his fathers plot lacked no vvittie deuice or preparation but onlie that God ouerthrevv it at the instant as happelie he may doe this mans also notvvithstanding any diligence that humane vvisdom can vse to the contrarie GENTL To this said the Gentleman that my Lord of Leicester hath a purpose to shoot one day at the Diademe by the title of Huntington is not a thing obscure in it self and it shal be more plainelie proued heerafter But novv vvâ—l I shâ—vv vâ—to you for your instruction hovv vvel â—his man hath folovved his fathers platform or rather passed the same in possessing him self of al her Ma. seruaunts friendes and forces to serue his turne at that tyme for execution and in the meane space for preparation First in the Priuie chamber next vnto her Ma. Leycester povver in the priâ—y chamber person the moste parte are his ovvn creatures as he calleth them that is such as acknovvledg their being in that place from him and the rest he so ouer-ruleth either by flatterie or feare as none may dare but to serue his turn And his reigne is so absolute in this place as also in al other partes of the Court as nothing can passe but by his admission nothiÌ„g can be said done or signified vvherof he is not particularly aduertised no bill no supplicatioÌ„ no complainte no sute no speach can passe from anie man to the Princesse except it be from one of the Councell but by his good lyking or if ther do he being admonished therof as presently he shal the partie delinqueÌ„t is sure after to abide the smart therof VVherby he holdeth as it vvere a lock vpoÌ„ the eares of his Prince and the tongues of al her Ma. seruauntes so surelie chained to his girdle as no man dareth to speake anie one thing that may offend him though it be neuer so true or behouefull for hir Ma. to knovve Leycester married at vvaensteade vvhen her Ma. vvas at M. Stoners hous Doctor Culpeper Phisitian Minister As vvel apeared in his late mariage vvith Dame Essex vvhich albeit it vvas celebrated tvvise first at Killingvvorth and secondlie at VVaensteade in the presence of the Erle of vvarvvick L. North Sir Fran. Knooles others and this exactly knovven to the vvhole Court vvith the verie daye the place the vvitnesses and the Minister that married them together yet no man durst open his mouth to make her Ma. priuiâ— therunto vntil Monsieur Simiers disclosed the same and therby incurred his high displeasure nor yet in manie dayes after for feare of Leycester VVhich is a subiection most dishonorable daungerous to anie Prince liuing to stand at the deuotion of his subiect vvhat to heare or not to heare of thinges that passe vvithin his ovvne Realme And hereof it folovveth that no sute can preuaile No suâ—e can passâ— but by Leycester Reade in Court be it neuer so meane except he first be made acquainted thervvith and receiue not onlie the thankes but also be admitted vnto a great part of the gaine commoditie therof VVhich as it is Polidore in the 7. yeare of K Rich â— and yovv shal finde this procedâ—ng of certaine abouâ—e that K to be put as a great cause of his oueâ—throvv a great iniurie to the suter so is it a far more greater to the bouÌ„tie honour security of the Prince by vvhose liberalitie this man feedeth onlie for tifieth him self depriuing his soueraign of al grace thanks good vvil for the same For vvhich cause also he giueth out oâ—dinarilie to euery suter that her Ma. is nigh parsimonious of her self very difficile to
the kinges handes by his ovvn submissioÌ„ dimissed again vvheÌ„ for his deserts he should haue suffred prouided after that the king should neuer be able to ouer-reache him the secoÌ„d tyme or haue him in his povver to doe hym hurt but made him Anno Regni 31. self strong enough to pul dovvn the other vvyth extirpation of his familie And this of the Court housholde and Chamber of her Ma. But novv if vve shal passe from Court to Councel vve shal finde him no lesse fortyfied but Ley puissance in the priuie Coucell rather more for albeit the prouidence of God hath bene such that in this moste honorable assemblie ther hath not vvanted some tvvoe or three of the vvisest grauest and moste experienced in our state that haue seene and marked this maÌ„s perilous proceedinges from the beginning vvherof notvvythstanding tvvo are novv disceased and their places L. Keeper L. Chamberlaine supplied to Leycesters good liking yet alas the vvisdom of thes vvorthie meÌ„ hath discouered alvvayes more then their authorities vvere able to redresse the others great povver and violence considered and for the residue of that benche and table though I doubt not but there be diuers vvho do in hart detest his doinges as ther vvere also no doubt among the Councellors of king Edvvard vvho misliked this mans fathers attemptes though not so hardie as to contraâ—ie the same yet for moste parte of the Councell present they are knovven to be so affected in particular the one for that he is to him a brother the other a father the other a kinsmaÌ„ the other an allie the other a fast obliged friend the other a fellovv or folovver in faction as none vvil stand in the breach against him none dare resist or encounter his designements but euerie man yeelding rather to the force of his flovve permitteth him to pearce passe at his pleasure in vvhat soeuer his vvil is once setled to obteine And hereof vvere I not stayed for respect of some vvhom I may not name I could alledge straunge examples not so much in affaires belonging to subiectes and to priuate men as vvere the cases Maters vvherin the CouÌ„cel are inforced to vvink at Leycester of Snovvden forrest Denbigh of Killingvvorth of his faire Pastures fovvlie procured by Southam of the Archbishop of CaÌ„turburie of the L. Barkley of Sir Iohn ThrogmartoÌ„ of M. Robinson and the like vvherin those of the Councell that disliked his doinges least dared to oppose them selues to the same but also in thinges that appertaine directly to the Crovvn dignitie to the state and commoÌ„ vveale and to the safitie and continuance therof It is not secure for anie one CouÌ„cellor or other of authoritie to take notice of my Lordes errors or misdeedes but vvyth extreme peril of ther ovvn ruin As for example in the beginning of the rebellion in Ireland vvhen my Lord of Leycester vvas in some disgrace and consequentlie as he imagined Leycester intelligeÌ„ce vvyth the rebellioÌ„ in Irelande but in fraile state at home he thought it not vnexpedient for his better assurance to hold some intelligence also that vvaye for al euentes and so he did vvherof ther vvas so good euidence and testimony found vpon one of the first of accompt that vvas there slaine as honorable personages of they re knovvledge haue assured me as vvoulde haue bene sufficient to touch the lyfe of aine subiect in the land or in anie state Christian but onelie my Lord of Leycester vvho is a subiect vvythout subiection For vvhat think you durst anie man take notice hereof or auo vvche that he had seene thus muche durst he that tooke it in Ireland deliuer the same vvher especialy he should haue done or they vvho receyued it in EnglaÌ„d for it came to great handes vse it to the benefit of their Princesse and countrie No surelie for yf it had bene but onelie suspected that they had seene such a thing it vvould haue bene as daungerous vnto them as it vvas to Acteon to haue sene Diana her maydens naked vvhose Acteons case novv come in England case is so common novv in England as nothing more so do the examples of diuers vvell declare vvhose vnfortunate knovvlege of to many secrets brought them quicklie to vnfortunate endes For vve heare of one Saluatore a straunger long Saluatore Slaine in his bed vsed in great Mysteries of base affaires and dishonest actions vvho aftervvard vppon vvhat demerite I knovv not susteined a hard fortune for being late vvith my Lord in his studie vvell neare vntill midinght yf I be rightelie informed vvent home to his chambre and the next morning vvas founde slayne in his bed VVe heare also of one Doughtie haÌ„ged in hast by Captaine Drake vpon Doughty haÌ„ged by Drake the sea and that by order as is thought before his departure out of England for that he vvas ouer pryuie to the Secretes of this good Erle Ther vvas also this last sommer past one Gates The story of Gates haÌ„ged at Tiborne hanged at Tiborne amonge others for robbing of Carriars vvhich Gates had bene latelie clark of my Lords kitchinge and had layed out much mony of his ovvne as he said for my L. prouision being also othervvise in so greate fauour and grace vvith his L. as no man lyuing vvas thought to be more priuy of his secrets theÌ„ this maÌ„ vvher vpoÌ„ also it is to be thought that he presumed the rather to commit this robberie for to such thinges doth my Lordes good fauour most extende and being appreheÌ„ded in daunger for the same he made his recourse to his honour for protestioÌ„ as the fashon is and that he might be borne out as diuers of lesse merite had bene by his Lordship in more heynous causes before him The good Erle ansvvered his seruant and deare Priuado curteouslie and assured him for his lyffe hovv so euer for vtter shevv or complement the forme of lavv might passe against him But Gates seing him self coÌ„demned nothing novv betvven his heade and the halter but the vvorde of the Magistrate vvhich might come in an instante vvhen it vvould be to late to send to his Lorde remembring also the smal assurance of his said Lords vvord by his former dealinges tovvardes other men vvherof this man vvas to much pryuie he thought good to sollicit his case also by some other of his frindes thoughe not so puisant as his L. and master vvho dealinge in deed both diligentlie and effectuallie in his affaire founde the mater more difficult a great deal then ether he or they had imagined for that my Lord of Leycester vvas not onely not his fauorer but a great hastener of his death vnder haÌ„d and that vvith such care diligence vehemencie and irresistable meanes hauing the lavv also on his syde that ther vvas no hope at all of escaping vvhich thing vvhen Gates heard of he easelie belieued for the experience he had of his Masters good
the GeÌ„tleman I am of opinion that my Lord of Leycester vvyl vse both this practize and manie moe for bringing the scepter finalie to his ovvn head that he vvil The sleightes of Leâ— for bâ—inging al to him self not onlie imploy Huntington to defeat Scotland and Arbella to defeaâ— Huntington but also vvould vse the mariage of the Q. imprisoned to defeat them both yf she vvere in his hand and anie one of al three to dispossesse her Ma. that novv is as also the authoritie of al fovver to bring it to him self vvyth mainie other fetches flinges friscoes besides vvhich simple men as yet do not conceiue And hovv so euer thes tvvo conioyned Earles ScaÌ„bling betvven Ley. and Huntington at the vpshot do seeme for the tyme to dravv together and to playe bootie yet am I of opinion that th' one vvill beguile th' other at the vpshopt And HastiÌ„gs for ought I see vvhen he commeth to the scambling is like to haue no better luck by the Beare then his auncestor had once by the Boare VVho vsing his help first in murdering the sonne heire of K. Henrie the sixt and after in destroying the Richard of Glocester An 1. Edvv. 5. faithful friendes and kinsmen of K. Edvvatd the fift for his easier vvay to vsurpation made an ende of him also in the Tovver at the verie same day houre that the other vvere by his couÌ„sail destroied in Pontfract Castle So that vvhere the Goale and price of the game is a kingdom ther is neither faith neither good fellovvship nor faire playe amoÌ„g the Gamesters And this shal be enough for the first point viz. vvhat good my L. of Leycester meaneth to him self in respect of Huntington Tovvching the second vvhether the attempt be 2. That the conpirators meane in her Ma. dayes purposed in her Ma. dayes or no the matter is much lesse doubtful to him that knovveth or can imagine vvhat a tormeÌ„t the delaye of a kingdome is to such a one as suffreth hungar therof and feareth that euerie houre may breed some alteration to the preiudice of his conceyued hope VVe see often tymes that the chylde is impatient in this matter to expect the natural ende of his parentes lyfe VVhom notvvythstanding by nature he is enforced to loue and vvho also by nature is like long to leaue this vvorlde before him and after Fovver considerations vvhos discease he is assured to obteine his desire but most certaine of daÌ„gerous euent yf he attempt to get it vvhile yet his pareÌ„t liueth VVhich fovver considerations are no doubt of great force to conteine a childe in duetie and bridle his desire albeit some tymes not sufficient to vvhythstand the greedie appetit of reigning But vvhat shal vve think vvhere none of thes fovver coÌ„sideratioÌ„s do restreine vvhere the present possessor is no parent VVher she is like by nature to out-liue the expector vvhos death must needes bring infinit difficulties to the enterprise and in vvhos lyfe tyme the matter is moste easie to be atchiued vnder coulour and authoritie of the present possessor shal vve think that in such a case the ambitious maÌ„ vvil ouerrule his ovvn passion and leese his commoditie As for that vvhich is alleaged before for my L. in the reason of his defenders that his present state is so prosperous as he cannot expect better in the next chaunge vvhat soeuer should be is of small moment in the conceipt of an ambitious head A thing vvorthye to be noted in ambitious men vvhos eye and hart is alvvayes vpon that vvhich he hopeth for and enioyeth not and not vpon that vvhich alredie he possesseth be it neuer so good Especialie in matters of honour and authoritie it is an infalible rule that one degre desired not obteyned afflicteth more then fiue degrees alredie possessed can giue consolation the storie of Duke Aman confirmeth this euidenly vvho being the greatest subiect in the vvorld vnder kinge Assuerus Hest 5. after he had reconed vp all his poÌ„pe riches glory felicity to his frieÌ„des yet he sayed that al this vvas nothing vnto hiÌ„ vntil he could obteine the reuenge vvhich he desyred vpon Mardoâ—haeus his enimy hereby it coÌ„meth ordinarily to passe that amoÌ„ge highest in authoritie are fouÌ„d the greatest store of Mal-Contents that most doe endanger ther Prince and countrie VVhen the Percies toke parte vvyth Henrie The â—â—rcies of Bolingbrook against K. Richard the seconde their lavvful soueraign it vvas not for lack of preferment for they vvere excedinglie aduaunced by the said king and possessed the three Earleâ—omes of Northumberland VVorcester and Stafâ—rd together besides manie other offices and diâ—â—ies of honour 〈…〉 ke sort vvhen the tvvo Neuiles toke vpon The Neuiles 〈…〉 yne vvyth Richard of York to put 〈◊〉 moste benigne Prince king Henrie the sixt and after againe in the other side to put dovvn king Edvvard the fourth it vvas not vppon vvant of aduauncement they being Earles both of Salisburie and VVarvvick and Lordes of manie notable places besides But it vvas vpon a vaine imagination of future fortune vvherby such men are commonlie led and yet had not they anie smell in their nostrells of gettinge the kingdoÌ„ fot theÌ„selues as this maÌ„ hath to prick hiÌ„ forvvard Yf you say that thes men hated their soueraign and that therby they vvere led to procure his destruction Leycester hatred to â—er Ma. the same I may ansvvere of my L. lyuinge though of al men he hath least cause so to do But yet such is the nature of vvicked ingratitude that vvhere it ovveth most disdeigneth to be bound The euill nature of ingratitude ther vpon euerie litle discontentement it turneth double obligation into triple hatred This he shevved euidentlie in the tyme of his litle disgrace vvherin he not onelie did diminish vilipend and debase among his friendes the inestimable benefites he hath receyued from her Ma. Leycester speeches of his Ma. in the tyme of his disgrace but also vsed to exprobrate his ovvn good seruices merites to touch her highnes vvyth ingrat consideration and recompence of the same vvhich behauiour together vvyth his hastie preparation to rebellion and assault of her Ma. Royal person dignitie vpon so smal a cause giuen did vvel shevv vvhat minde invvardlie he beareth to his soueraign and vvhat her Ma. may expect if by offending him she should once fal vvythin the copasse of his surious pavves seing such a smoke of disdaine could not proceed but from a fyâ—â—e furnace of hatred vvythin And sure he it is a vvouÌ„derful matter to consider vvhat a litle check or rather the bare imagination of a smal ouerth vvart may vvorke in a proude and disdeignful Stomack The remembraunce of his The causes of hatred in Leycester tovvards her Ma. mariage missed that he so much pretended and desired vvyth her Ma. doth stick deeplie in his breast and stirreth him daylie to
reuenge As also doth the disdeigne of certaine checkes disgraces receyued at some tymes especialie that of his last mariage vvhich irketh him so much the more by hovv much greater feare and daunger it brought him into at that tyme and did put his vvidovve in such open phrensie as she raged manie monethes after against her Ma. and is not cold yet but remayneth as it vvere a svvorne enimie for that iniurie and standeth like a fiend or furie at the elbovve of her Amadis to stirre him forvvard vvheÌ„ occasion shal serue And vvhat effect such female suggestioÌ„s may The force of female suggestions vvorke vvhen they finde an humour proude and pliable to their purpose you may remember by the example of the Duches of Somerset vvho inforced her husbaÌ„de to cut of the head of his onely deare brother to his ovvn euident destruction for her contentation VVherfore to conclude this matter vvythout An euident CoÌ„clusion that the executioÌ„ is meatâ— tyme of her Ma. further dispute or reasoÌ„ seyng ther is so much discouered in the case as ther is so great desire of reigne so great impatience of delay so great hope and habilitie of succes if it be attempted vnder the good fortune and present authoritie of the competitors seing the plattes be so vvel layde the preparation so forvvarde the fauorers so furnished the tyme so propitious and so manie other causes conuiting together seing that by differring al may be hazarded and by hastening litle can be indaungered the state and condition of thinges vvel vveyed finding also the bandes of duetie so broken alredie in the conspiratours the causes of mislike and hatred so manifest and the solicitours to execution so potent and diligent as vvomen malice and ambition are vvount to be it is more then probable that they vvil not leese their present commoditie especialie seing they haue learned by their Architype or Protoplote vvhich they folovv I meane the conspiracie of Nortumberland and Suffolk in An error of the father novv to be corrected by the sonne king Edvvards dayes that herein ther vvas some error committed at that tyme vvhich ouerthrevv the vvhole land that vvas the differring of some thinges vntil after the kinges death vvhich should haue bene put in execution before For yf in the tyme of their plotting vvhen as yet theyr desygnementes vvere not publyshed to the vvorld they had vnder the countenance of the kinge as vvel they might haue done gotten into their handes the tvvo sisters and dispatched some other fevv affaires before they had caused the yong Prince to die no doubt but in mans reason the vvhole designement had taken place and consequentlie it is to be presupposed that thes men being no fooles in their ovvn affaires vvil take heed of falling into the like errour by delay but rather vvil make al sure by striking vvhile the iron is hoat as our prouerbe vvarneth them LAVV It can not be denied in reason quoth the Lavvier but that they haue manie helpes of doing vvhat they list n 〈…〉 vnder the present fauour countenauÌ„ce authoritie of her Ma. vvhich they should not haue after her highnes discease vvhen ech man shal remain more at libertie for his supreame obedience by reason of the statute ptouided for vncertentie of the next successor and therfore I for my parte vvould rather counsail them to make much of her Ma. lyfe for after that they litle knovv vvhat may ensue ot befal their designementes GENTL They vvyl make the most therof quoth the GeÌ„tleman for their ovvn aduantage but after that vvhat is like to folovv the examples of Edvvard Richard the secoÌ„d as also of Henrie Edvvard the sixt doe sufficientlie for vvarne vs vvhos liues vvere prolonged vntil their deathes vvere thought more profitable to the conspirators not longer Her Ma. lyfe and â—eath to serue the conspirators turn And for the statute you speak of procured by them selues for establishing the incertaintie of the next true sucessor vvheras al our former statutes vvere vvount to be made for the declaration certentie of the same it is vvyth PROVISO as you knovv that it shal not endure longer then the lyfe of her Ma. that novv reigneth that is indeed no longer then vntil them selues be redie to place an other A proclamation vvyth halters For then no doubt but vve shal see a faire proclamation that my L. of Huntington is the onelie next heire vvith a bundle of halters to haÌ„g al such as shal dare once open their mouth for deniall of the same LAVV. At thes vvordes the olde Lavvyer stepped back as some vvhat astonied and began to make crosses Papistical â—lessing in the ayer after theyr fashyon vvherat vve laughed and then he said truelie my masters I had thought that no man had conceyued so euil imagination of this statute as my self but novv I perceiue The statute of coÌ„cealiÌ„g the heire apparent that I alone am not malitious For my ovvn parte I must confesse vnto you that as often as I reade ouer this statute or think of the same as by diuers occasions manie tymes I do I feele my self much greeued and afflicted in minde vpon feares vvhich I conceyue vvhat may be the end of this statute to our countrie and vvhat priuie meaning the chiefe procurers therof might haue for their ovvn driftes against the Realm and lyfe of her Ma. that novv reigneth And so much more it maketh me to doubt for Richard going tovvards HierusaleÌ„ begaÌ„ the custome by parlement as Polydore noteth Anno 10. of Rich. 2. to declare the next heire that in al our recordes of lavv you shal not finde to my remembraunce anie one example of such a deuise for concealing of the true inheritour but rather in all ages states and tymes especiallie from Richard the first dovvnevvard you shal finde statutes ordinaunces and prouisions for declaration and manifestation of the same as you haue vvel obserued and tovvched before And therfore this straunge nevv deuise must needes haue some straunge and vnaccustomed meaning God of his mercie graunt that it haue not some straunge and vnexpected euent In sight of al men this is alredie euident that The daunger of our countrie by coÌ„cealing the next heire neuer countrie in the vvorld vvas brought into more apparent daunger of vtter ruin then ours is at this daye by pretence of this statute For vvher as ther is no Gentleman so meane in the Realm that cannot giue a gesse more or lesse vvho shal be his next heire and his tennauntes soone coniecture vvhat manner of person shal be theyr next Lord in the title of our noble Crovvn vvherof al the rest dependeth nether is her Ma. permitted to knovv or saye vvho shal be her next successor nor her subiectes allovved to vnderstand or imagine vvho in right may be their future soueraigne An intollerable iniurie in a matter of so singular importaunce For alas vvhat should become of
this our natiue countrie if God should take frō vs her moste excellent Ma. as once he vvil and so leaue vs destitute vppon the sudden vvhat should become of our liues of our states and of our vvhole Realm or gouernement can anie man promisse him self one Great inconueniences daye longer of rest peace possession lyfe or libertie vvithin the land then God shal lend vs her Ma. to reigne ouer vs VVhich albeit vve do are bound to vvish that it may be long yet reason telleth vs that by course of Nature it cannot be of anie great continuance and by a thovvsand accidentes it may be much shorter And shal then our moste noble common vvealth and kingdome vvhich is of perpetuitie and must continevv to our selues and our posteritie hang onelie vpon the life of her highnes alone vvel strocken in years and of no great good health or robustious and strong complexion I vvas vvithin hearing some six or seuen yeares Sir Christopher Hattons oration ago vvhen Sir Christopher Hatton in a verie great assemblie made an eloquent oratiō vvhich after I vvene vvas put in print at the pardoning and deliuerie of him from the gallouse that by errour as vvas thought had discharged his peece vpon her Ma. Barge and hurte certain persons in her hignes presence And in that oration he declared and described verie effectualie vvhat inestimable dāmage had ensued to the Realm yf her Ma. by that or anie other meanes should haue bene takē from vs. He set foorth moste liuelie before the eyes of al men vvhat dyuysion vvhat dissension vvhat bloodshed had ensued and vvhat fatal daungers vvere moste certaine to fal vpon vs vvhen so euer that doleful day should happen vvherin no man should be sure of his lyfe of his goods of his vvife of his childrē no mā certaine vvhether to flie vvhō to folovv or vvhere to seek repose and protection And as all the hearers ther present did easilie graunt that he therin said trouth and far lesse then might haue bene said in that behalf thinges standing as they do so manie one I trovve that hearde thes vvordes proceed from a Councellor that had good cause to knovv the state of his ovvn coūtrie entered into this cogitation vvhat punishmēt they might deserue then at the vvhole state common vvealths hādes vvho first by letting her Ma. from Intollerable treasons mariage thē by procuring this statute of dissembling the next inheritour had brought their Realm into so euidēt ineuitable daūgers for euerie one vvel cōsidered vveighed vvith him self that the thing vvhich yet onely letted thes daūgers miseries set dovvn by Sir Christopher must necessarilie one day faile vs al that is the lyfe of her Ma. novv present And then say vve hovv falleth it out that so general a calamitie as must needes ouertake vs ere it be long may for anie thing vve knovv to morovv next is not puided for asvvel as foresene Is ther no remedie but that vve must vvillinglie vvyttingly rūne into our ovvn ruin and for the fauour or feare of some fevv aspirours betraye our countrie the blood of so many thovvsand innocentes as liue vvythin the land For tel me good Sirs I pray you yf her Ma. should die to morovv next vvhos lyfe God long preserue and blesse but yf she should be taken The miseries to follovve vpon her Maiest death from vs as by condition of nature and humane frailtie she may vvhat vvould yovv doe vvhich vvay vvould you looke or vvhat head or parte knevv anie good subiect in the Realm to folovv I speake not of the cōspiratours for I knovve they vvilbe redie and resolued vvhom to folovv but I speake of the plaine simple and vvel meaning subiect vvho folovving novv the vtter letter of this fraudulent statute fraudulēt I meane in the secret conceipt of the cunning aspirours shal be takē at that day vpō the sudden being put in a maze by the vnexpected cōtentiō about the Crovvn shal be brought into a thousand daungers both of bodie goodes vvhich novv are not thought vpon by them vvho are moste in daunger of the same And this is for the common vvealth and countrie But vnto her Ma. for vvhos good and safitie the statute is onely pretēded to be made no doubt but that it bringeth far greater daungers then anie The daūger to her Ma. by this statute deuise that they haue vsed besides For hereby vnder coulour of restrayning the claymes titles of true successours vvhos endeuours notvvythstanding are commonlie more calme and moderate then of vsurpers they make vnto them selues a meane to forster and set forvvard their ovvn conspiracie vvythout controlment seing no man of might may oppose hīself against thē but vvyth suspition that he meaneth to clayme for him self And so they being armed on the one side vvyth their autoritie and force of present fortune defended on the other side by the pretence of the statute they may securelie vvork and plot at their pleasure as you haue vvel proued before that they do And vvhen soeuer their groundes and foundatiōs shal be redie it can not be denied but that her Ma. lyfe lyeth much at their discretiō to take it or vse it to their best cōmoditie ther is no doubt but they vvil as such men are vvount to do in such affaires Marie one thing standeth not in their povvers so absolutelie and that is to prolong her Ma. dayes or fauoure tovvardes them selues at theyr pleasures vvherof it is not vnlike but they vvil haue due consideration least perhappes vppon anie sudden accident they mighte be found vnredie GENTL They haue good care therof I can assure you quoth the gentleman mean not to be preuēted by anie accident or other mishappe vvhat soeuer they vvilbe redie for al euentes and for that cause they hasten so much their preparations at this day The hastnyng of the conspirators more then euer before by sending out theyr spies and solicitours euerie-vvhere to proue and confirme their friendes by deliuering their common vvatch-vvord by cōplainīg on al hādes of our protestāt Bishoppes Cleargy of al the presēt state of our irreformed religiō as thei cal it by amplyfiyng only the daunger of Papists Scottishe factiō by giuīg out opēly that novv her Ma. is past hope of childbirh cōsequently seing god hath giuē no better succes that vvay in tvvo vvomē one after the other it vvere not conuenient say they that an other of that sexe should ensue vvyth highe commendation of the Lavv Salick in Fraunce vvherby vvomen are forbidden to succede VVhich speech though in shevv it be deliuered against the Q. of Scottes and other of K. Henrie the 7. his line that discend of sisters yet al men see that it tovvcheth as vvel the disabling of her Ma. that is present as others to come and so tendeth directlie to Maturatiō of the principal purpose vvhich I haue declared before
daughters to vvit the daughters of Frauncis and Elenor if that they had any to any such condition Thirdlie ther may be diuers causes and argumentes The third reason The presupposed vvil is not Authentical aleaged in lavve vvhy this pretēded vvil is not authentical if othervvise it vvere certaine that king Henrie had meant it First for that it is not agreable to the minde and meaning of the Parliament vvhich intended onlie to giue authoritie for declaration and explication of the true title not for donation or intricating of the same to the ruin of the Realm Secōdly for that ther is no lavvful Authentical Copie extant therof but onlie a bare inrolment in the Chauncerie vvhich is not sufficient in so vveightie an affaire no vvitnes of the Priuie Councel or of Nobilitie to the same vvhich had bene conuenient in so great a case for the best of the vvitnesses therin named is Sir Iohn Gates vvhos miserable death is vvel knovvē no publike Notarie no Probation of the vvil before anye Bishop or anie lavvful Court for that purpose no examination of the vvitnesses or other thing orderlie done for lavvful authorizing of the matter The disprouing of the vvil by vvitnesses The Lord Pagett But of al other thinges this is moste of importaunce that the king neuer set his ovvn hande to the foresaid vvil but his stamp vvas put therunto by others either after his death or vvhen he vvas paste remembrance as the late L. Paget in the beginning of Quene Maries dayes being of the priuy Councel first of al other discouered the same of his ovvn accorde and vpō mere motion of consciēce confessing before the vvhole Councel and aftervvard also before the vvhole parliament hovv that him self vvas priuie therunto and partlie also culpable being dravven therunto by the instigation and forcible authoritie of others but yet aftervvard vpon other more godlie motions detested the deuice and so of his ovvn free vvil verie honorablie vvent and offered the discouerie therof to Sir Edvv. Mōtague the Councel As also did Sir Edvvard Montague Lord chiefe iustice that had bene priuie and presēt VVillm Clarcke at the said doinges and one VVillm Clark that vvas the man vvho put the stamp vnto the paper and is ascribed among the other pretensed vvitnesses confessed the vvhole premisses to be true purchased his pardō for his offence therin VVher vpon Q. Marie and her Councel caused presentlie the said inrolment lying in the Chauncerie to be canceled defaced and abolished And sithence that tyme in her Ma. dayes that novv liueth about the 11. or 12. yeare of her reign if I compt not amisse by occasion of a certen litle boke spred abrode at that tyme verie secretlie for aduauncing of the house of Suffolk by pretence of A meting together about this matter of the nobility this testament I remember vvel the place vvhere the late Duke of Norfolke the Marques of VVinchester vvhich then vvas Treasurer the olde Earls of Arundell and Penbrooke that novv are dead vvyth my L. of Penbrooke that yet liueth as also my L. of Leicester hīself if I be not deceyued vvith diuers others met together vpō this matter after long conferēce about the foresaid pretēsed vvil manie proffes reasons layd dovvn vvhy it could not betrue or authētical the olde Earle of Pēbrook protesting that he vvas vvyth the K. in his Chābet frō the first day of his sicknes vnto his last houre therby could vvel assure the falsificatiō therof at length it vvas moued that from that place they should go vvyth the rest of the nobilitie and proclaime the Q of Scotland heire aparent in Cheapside My L. of Leycester agayne playeth double VVherin my L. of Leycester as I tak it vvas thē as forvvard as anie man els hovv be it novv for his profit he bee turned aside and vvould turne back againe to morovv next for a greater commoditie And albeit for some causes to them selues best knovvē they proceeded not in the opē publishīg of their determination at that time yet my Lord of Penbrook novv liuing can beare vvitnes that thus much is true and that his father the olde Earle The olde Earle of Pēbroks admonition to the Earle his sonne yet liuīg at that tyme tolde him openlie before the other noble men that he had brought him to that assemblie and place to instruct him in that trueth and to charge him to vvitnes the same and to defende it also vvyth his svvorde if need required after his death And I knovve that his Lordship is of that honour and nobilitie as he can not leaue of easilie the remembraunce or due regarde of so vvorthie an admonition And this shal suffice for the second impediment imagined to proceed of this supposed testament of king Henrie the eight As for the third impediment of religion it is not The third impediment of Religiō general to al for that onlie one person if I be not deceyued of al the Competitours in K. Hērys line can be touched vvyth suspition of different religiō from the present state of England VVhich person notvvythstanding as is vvel knovven vvhile she vvas in gouernmēt in her ovvn Realm of Scotlād permitted al libertie of conscience free excercise of religion to thos of the contrarie profession and opiniō vvythout restreynt And yf she had not yet do I not see either by prescript of lavv or practize of thes our times that diuersitie of religiō may stay iust inheritours from enioying their due possessiōs in anie state or degre of priuate men and much lesse in the clayme of a kingdom vvhich alvvayes in this behalf as hath bene said before is preferred in priuilege This vve see by experience in diuers countries Princes of Germanye and partes of the vvorld at this daye as in Germanie vvhere among so manie Princes and so de in religiō as they be yet euerie one succedeth to the state vvherto he hath right vvythout resistaunce for his religion The examples also of her Ma. that novv is and of her sister before is euidēt Q Mary Q Elizabeth vvho being knovven to be of tvvo different inclinations in religion and the vvhole Realm deuided in opinion for the same cause yet both of them at their seueral tymes vvyth general consent of al vvere admitted to their lavvful inheritaunce excepting onlie a fevv * The Dudleys Mōsieur traytours against the former vvho vvythstood her right as also in her the right of her Ma. that is present that not for religion as appeared by their ovvn confession after but for ambition and desire of reigne Monsieur the kings brother and heire of Fraunce as all the vvorld knovveth is vvel accepted fauored and admitted for successoure of that Crovvne by al the protestantes at this day of that Countrie not vvythstanding his opinion in religion knovven to be diffeferent And I doubt not but the king of Nauarre or Prince
Ma. reigne vvherof your Ladie of the Court discoursed before can vvel be a vvitnesse of the same VVherin the commiseration and lenitie that vvas vsed tovvards thos of the vveaker sorte vvyth a certaine svvet diligence for their gaining by good meanes vvas the cause of much peace cōtentation and other benefit to the vvhole bodie VVe see in Fraunce that by ouer much pressing The breach revnion againe in Fraunce of one parte onlie a fyre vvas in kindled not manie yeares since like to haue consumed and destroyed the vvhole had not a necessarie mollification bene thought vpon by the vvisest of that kinges Councell full contrarie to the vvil inclination of some great personnages vvho meant perhapes to haue gained more by the other And since that tyme vve see vvhat peace vvealth and revniō hath insued in that countrie that vvas so broken disseuered vvasted before And al this by yeeldīg a litle in that thing vvhich no force can master but exculcerat rather and make vvorse I mean the conscience and iudgement of men in matters of religion The like also I could name you in Flaūders vvher Flaūders after al thes broyles and miseries of so manie yeares vvarres caused principaly by to much streyning in such affaires at the beginning albeit the king be neuer so strycte-laced in yeelding to publyque lybertye and free exercyse on both partes yet is he descended to this at length and that vpon force of reason to absteine from the pursute and searche of mens consciences not onlie in the tovvnes vvhich vpō cōpositiō he receiueth but also vvhere he hath recouered by force as in Tornay other places vvher I am informed that no mā is searched demaunded or molested for his opinion or conscience nor anie acte of Papistry or contrarie religion required at their handes but are permitted to liue quietlie to God them selues at home in their ovvn houses so they performe othervvise their outvvard obedience dueties to their Prince country VVhich onlie qualification tollerance moderatiō in our Realm yf I be not deceyued vvyth manie more that be of my opinion vvould cōtent al diuisions factiōs parties amōg vs for their continuance in peace be they Papistes Puritanes Familians or of vvhat soeuer nyce difference or section besides and vvould be sufficient to reteyne al parties vvythin a temperat obedience to the magistrat and gouernment for conseruatiō of their countrie vvhich vvere of no smal importāce to the contētation of her Ma. and vveale publique of the vvhole kingdom But vvhat shoulde I talke of this thing vvhich Moderation impugned bythe cōspirators Cicero Cateline is so contrarie to the desires and designementes of our puisant cōspiratours VVhat should Cicero the Senatour vse persuasions to Captaine Cateline his crevv that quietnes and order vvere better thē hurleburlies Is it possible that our aspirours vvil euer permit anie such thing cause or matter to be treated in our state as may tend to the stabilitie of her Ma. present gouernment No surelie it standeth nothing vvyth their vvisdō or pollicie especialie at this instant vvhen they haue such oportunitie of folovving their ovvn actions in her Maiesties name vnder the vizarde and pretext of her defence The conspirarors oportunytie and safitie hauing sovved in euerie mans head so manie imaginations of the daungers present both abrode and at home from Scotland Flaunders Spaine Irelāde so manie conspiracies so manie intended murders others so manie cōtriued or conceyued mishyeues as my L. of Leycester assureth him self that the troubled vvater cānot be cleared againe in short space not his baites and lines layde therin easilie espied but rather that hereby ere long he vvil catche the fishe he gapeth so gredilie after and in the meane tyme for the pursute of thes crymes and other that daylie he vvil finde out him self must remaine perpetual dictator But vvhat meaneth this so much inculcating of troubles treasons murders and inuasions I like not surelie thes omnious speeches And as I am out of doubt that Leycester the caster of thes shadovves doth loke to play his parte first in thes troublesome affaires so do I hartelie feare that onles the tyrannie of this Leycestriane furie be spedilie stopped that such miserie to Prince people vvhich the Lord for his mercies sake turne from vs as neuer greater fel before to oure miserable coūtrie is far nearer hād then is expected or suspected And therfore for preuention of thes calamities to tell you plainlie mine opinion good Sirs and thervvyth to dravv to an end of this our conferēce for it vvaxeth late I vvould think it the most necessary point of al for her Ma. to cal his Lordship to accompt among other and to see vvhat other Leycester to be called to accompt men could say against him at lēgthe after so manie yeares of his sole accusing and pursueing of others I knovv am verie vvel assured that no one acte vvhich her Ma. hath done since her cōming to the Crovvn as she hath done ryght manie moste highlie to be cōmended nor anie that lightlie her Ma. may do her after can be of more vtilitie to her self and to the Realm or more grateful vnto her faithful zelous subiectes then this noble acte of iustyce vvould be for tryal of thys mans desertes tovvardes his countrie I say it vvould be profitable to her Ma. and to the Realm not onlie in respect of the manie daungers before mētioned hereby to be auoided vvhich are like to ensue most certenlie if his courses be stil permitted but also for that her Maiestie shal by this deliuer her self from that general grudge and griefe of minde vvith great dislike vvhich manie subiectes othervvise moste faythful haue cōceiued against the excessiue fauour shevved to this man so manie yeares vvithout desert or reason VVhich fauour he hauing vsed to the hurt annoyance and oppression both of infinit seueral persons and the vvhole cōmon vvealth as hath bene said the griefe resentimēt therof doth redound commonlie in such cases not onlie vpon the person delinquent alone but also vpon the soueraine by vvhos fauour authoritie he offereth such iniuries though neuer so much against the others intent vvil desire or meaning And hereof vve haue examples of sundrie Princes in al ages and countries vvhos exorbitant fauour to some vvicked subiect that abused the same hath bene the cause of great daunger and ruyn the sinnes of the fauorit being returned and reuenged vpon the fauourer As in the historie of the Grecians is declared by occasion of the pitiful The death of K. Philip of Macedonie cause therof murder of that vvise and victorious Prince Philip of Macedonie vvho albeit that he vvere vvel assured to haue giuen no offence of him self to anie of his subiectes and consequentlie feared nothing but conuersed openlie and confidentlie among them yet for that he had fauoured to much one Duke Attalus a proude and insolent Courtyer
Gentleman for to that end vvere Princes first elected vpon that consideration do subiectes paye them both tribute and obedience to be defended by them The causes vvhie Princes vvere chosen do receyue obedieÌ„ce from iniuries and oppressions and to see lavves executed iustice excercised vpon and tovvardes al men vvyth indifferencie And as for our particular case of my Lord of Leycester I do not see in right and equitie hovv her Ma. may denie this lavvful desire and petition of her people For yf her highnes do permit and commauÌ„d the lavves daylie to passe vpon thieues and murderers vvythout exception and that for one facte onlie as by experience vve see hovv then can it be denied in this man vvho in both kindes hath committed more enormous actes then may be vvel recompted As in the first of theft not onlie by spoyling Leycest Theftes and oppressing almoste infinit priuate men but also vvhole tovvnes villages corporations and countries by robbing the Realme vvyth inordinate licences by deceyuing the Crovvn vvyth racking changing and imbezeling the landes by abusing his Prince and soueraine in selling his fauour both at home and abrode vvyth taking bribes for matter of iustice grace request supplication or vvhat soeuer sute els may depend vpon the Court or of the Princes authoritie vvyth setting at saile and making open market of vvhat soeuer her Ma. can giue do or procure be it spiritual or temporal In vvhich sorte of trafique he committeth more thefte often tymes in one day then al the vvayekeepers cutpurses cousiners pirates burglares or other of that arte in a vvhole yeare vvythin the Realm And as for the seconde vvhich is murder you Leycest murders haue hearde before somevvhat saide and prooued but yet nothing to that vvhich is thought to haue bene in secret committed vpon diuers occasions at diuers tymes in sundrie persons of different calling in both sexes by most variable meanes of killing poysoning charming inchaunting coniuring and the like according to the diuersitie of men places opportunities and instrumentes for the same By al vvhich meanes I think he hath more blood lying vpon his heade at this daye crying vengeance against him at Godes handes and her Ma. then euer had priuate man in our countrie before vvere he neuer so vvicked VVherto novv yf vve ad his other good behauiour A heape of Leices enormities that vvould be redie at the daye of his trial as his intollerable licenciousnes in al filthie kinde and maner of carnalitie vvyth al sorte of vviues friendes and kinsvvomen yf vve ad his iniuries and dis honours done hereby to infinit yf vve ad his treasons treacheries and conspiracies about the Crovvn his disloyal behauiour and hatred against her Ma. his ordinarie lying and common periuring him self in al matters for his gaine both great and smal his rapes and moste violent extorsions vpon the poore his abusing of the Parliament and other places of iustyce vvyth the Nobylytie and vvhole communaltie besides yf vve ad also his open iniuries vvhich he offereth daylie to religion and the Ministers therof by tything them and turning all to his ovvn gaine together vvyth his manifest and knovven tyrannie practized tovvardes al estates abrode throughout al Shires of the kingdom his dispoylinge of both the vniuersities and discouraging of infinit notable vvittes ther from seeking perfection of knovvledge and learning vvhich othervvise vvere like to become notable especialy in Gods vvord vvhich giueth life vnto the soule by defrauding them of the price and revvarde proposed for their trauaile in that kinde through his insatiable Simoniacal contractes yf I say vve should lay together al thes enormities before her Maiestie and thovvsandes more in particular vvhich might and vvoulde be gathered yf his day of tryal vvere but in hope to be graunted I dâ— not see in equitie and reason hovv her highnes sitting in throne and at the Royal Sterne as she doth could denie her subiectes this moste lavvful request considering that euerie one of thes crymes aparte requireth iustice of his ovvn nature and much more al together ought to obteine the same at the handes of anie good and godlie Magistrate in the vvorld SCHOL No doubt quoth I but that thes considerations must needes vveigh much vvyth anie zelous Prince and much more vvyth her moste excellent Maiestie vvhos tender hatt tovvardes her Her Ma. teÌ„der hart tovvardes the Realm Realm subiectes is verie vvel knovven of al meÌ„ It is not to be thought also but that her highnes hath intelligence of diuers of thes matters aleaged though not perhaps of al. But vvhat vvould you haue her Ma. to do perhaps the consultation of this affayre is not vvhat vvere conuenient but vvhat is expedyent not vvhat ought to be done in iustice but vvhat may be done in safetie You haue described my Lord before to be a great man stronglie furnished and fortyfyed for al euentes VVhat yf it be not secure to barck at the Beare that is so vvel I brytched I speake vnto you but that vvhich I heare in Cambrige and other places vvher I haue passed vvhere euerie mans opinion is that her Maiestie standeth not in free choyse to doe vvhat her self best lyketh in that case at this daye GENTL I knovv said the Gentleman that Leycesters friends giue it out euerie vvhere that her Ma. novv is their good Lords prisoner and that she either vvil or must be directed by him for the tyme to Lei. desire that men should think her Ma. to stand in feare of him come except she vvil do vvorse VVhich thing his Lordship is vvel conteÌ„ted should be spred abrode and belieued for tvvo causes the one to hold the people therby more in avve of him self then of their soueraine and secondlie to dravv her Ma. in deed by degrees to feare him For considering vvith him self vvhat he hath done and that it is impossible in trueth that euer her Maiestie should loue him againe or trust him after so manie treacheries as he vvel knovveth are come to her highnes vnderstanding he thinketh that he hath no vvay of sure standing but by terrour and opinion of his puissaunt greatnes vvherby he vvould hold her Maiestie and the Realm in thraldom as his father did in his tyme before him And then for that he vvel remembreth the true saing Malus custos Cicero in Officio diuturnitatis metus he must prouyde shortlie that thos vvhich feare him be not able to hurt him and consequentlie you knovv vvhat A rule of Machiuel obserued by the Dudleys must folovv by the example of K. Edvvard vvho feared Duke Dudley extremelie for that he had cut of his tvvo vncles heades and the Duke toke order that he should neuer liue to reuenge the same For it is a setled rule of Machiuel vvhich the Dudleys do obserue That vvhere you haue once done a great iniurie ther mâ—st you neuer forgiue But I vvil tel you my friendes and I vvil tel
Lei stroÌ„g onlie by her Ma. fauour you no vntrueth for that I knovv vvhat I speake herein and am priuie to the state of my Lord in this behalf and of mens opinions and affections tovvardes him vvithin the Realm Moste certaine it is that he is strong by the present fauour of the Prince as hath bene shevved before in respect vvherof he is admitted also as chiefe patron of the Huntington faction though neither loued nor greatlie trusted of the same but let her Maiestie once turne her countenaunce a side from him in good earnest and speake but the vvord onlie that iustice shal take place against him and I vvil vndertake vvith gadging of both my life and litle landes that God hath giueÌ„ me that vvithout sturre or trouble or anie daunger in the vvorld the Beare An offer made for taking tyeig the Beare shal be taken to her Maiesties hand fast chained to a stake vvith mouzele cord collar ring and al other thinges necessarie so that her Maiestie shal bate him at her pleasure vvithout al daunger of bytyng breaking loose or anie other inconuenience vvhat soeuer For Syrs you must not think that this man holdeth anie thing abrode in the Realme but by violence and that onlie vpon her Maiesties fauour and countenaunce tovvardes him He hath not anie thing of his ovvn either from his ancestoures or of him self to staye vpon in mens hartes or conceiptes hâ— hath not auncient nobilitie as other of our Realme haue vvherby mens affections are Lei. vvhat he recey ueth fâ—oÌ„ his ancestours greatlie moued His father Iohn Dudley vvas the first noble of his line vvho raysed and made him selfe bygge by supplanting of other and by setting debate amonge the nobilitie as also his Grandfather Edmond a moste vvicked promotor and vvretched petifogar enriched him self by other mens ruynes both of them condemned traytours though differeÌ„t in qualitie the one being a Cousiner and the other a Tyraunt both of their vices conioyned colected and comprised vvith manie more additions in this man or beaste rather vvhich is Robert the third of their kinne kinde So that from his ancestours this Lord receyueth neither honour nor honestie but onlie succession of treason and infamie And yet in him self hath he much lesse of good vvhervvith to procure him self loue or credit among men then thes ancestoures of his had he being a man vvholie abandonned of humane vertue and deuoted to vvickednes vvhich maketh men odible both to God and man In his father no doubt ther vvere to be seene manie excellent good partes if they had bene ioined vvith faith honesty The compary son of Leices vvyth his father moderatioÌ„ loyalty For al the vvorld knovveth that he vvas verie vvyse valyant magnammous liberal and assured friendlie vvher he once promised of al vvhich vertues my Lord his sonne hath neither shevv nor shadovv but onlie a certaine false representation of the first being craftie and subtile to deceiue ingenious to vvickednes For as for valâ—ur he hath as much as hath a mouse his magnanimity is base sordiditiâ— his liberality rapine his friendship plaine fraude holding onlie for his gaine and no othervvise though it vvere bound vvith a thovvsand othes of vvhich he maketh as great accoÌ„pt as hennes do of cackling but onlie for his commoditie vsing them specialie and in greatest number vvhen moste he meaneth to deceiue Namelie if he svveare solemnlie by his George or by the eternal God then be sure it is a false lye for thes are obseruations in the Court some tymes in his ovvn lodging in like case his maner is to take vp and svveare by the Bible vvherby a GeÌ„tleman of good accompt one that seemeth to folovv him as manie do that like him but a litle protested to me of his knovvledge that in a verie short space he obserued him vvittingly vvillingly to be forsvvorne sixtiene tymes The vveaknes of Ley. yf her Ma. â—urne but her countenaunce from him This man therfore so contemptible by his auncestours so odible of him self so plunged ouervvhelmed and defamed in al vice so enuied in the Court so detested in the countrie and not trusted of his ovvn and dearest friendes nay vvhich I am priuie to so misliked and hated of his ovvn seruauntes about him for his beastlie lyfe nigardye and Atheisme beyng neuer sene yet to say one priuate prayer vvythin his chamber in his lyfe as they desire nothing in this vvorld so much as his ruyn and that they may be the first to lay handes vpon him for reuenge This man I say so broken both vvythin and vvythout is it possible that her Ma. and her vvyse Councell should feare I can neuer belieue it or yf it be so it is Gods peâ—â—ission vvythout al cause for punishment of our sinnes for that this man yf he once perceyue indeed that they feare him vvil handle them accordingly and playe the Beare indeed vvhych inconuenience I hope they vvil haue care to preuent and so I leaue it to God and them crauing pardon of my Lord of Leycester for my boldnes yf I haue bene to plaine vvyth him And so I pray you let vs go to supper for I see my seruaunt expecting yonder at the Gallerie doore to cal vs dovvn LAVV. To that said the lavvyer I am content vvith The end departure from the Gallerie al my harte and I vvould it had bene sooner for that I am a feard lest anie by chaunce haue ouer-heard vs here since night For my ovvn parte I must say that I haue not bene at such a conference this seuen yeares nor meane to be hereafter yf I may escape vvel vvyth this vvherof I am sure I shal dreame this foruthnight and think oftener of my Lord of Leycester then euer I had entended God amend him and me both But yf euer I heare at other handes of thes matters hereafter I shal surelie be quake-britch and think euerie bushe a thyefe And vvyth that came vp the Mystres of the house ro fetch vs dovvn to supper and so al vvas vvhusht sauing that at supper a Gentlemanor tvvo beganne againe to speake of my Lord and that so conformable to some of our former speech as indeed it is the common talke at tables euerie vvhere that the olde Lavvyer began to shrink and be appaled and to cast drye lookes vpon the Gentleman oure friende doubting least somthing had bene discouered of our conference But in deed it vvas not so FINIS PIA ET VTILIS MEDITATIO DEsumpta ex libro Iobi CAP. 20. HOC scio a principio ex quo positus est homo super terram quòd laus impiorum breuis sit ex gaudiuÌ„ hipocritae ad instar puÌ„cti Si asceÌ„derit vsque ad coeluÌ„ superbta eius caput cius nubes tetigerit quasi sterquiliniuÌ„ in fine perdetur qui euÌ„ videraÌ„t diceÌ„t vbi est velut somniuÌ„ auolaÌ„s noÌ„ inuentetur traÌ„siet sicut