Giffordes Gifforde and other for Throgmartons sake for that is also his L. disposition for one mans cause vvhom he brooketh not to plague a vvhole generation that anie vvaye perteyneth or is allied to the same his endlesse persecuting of Sir Drevve Drevvrie and Sir Drevv Drevvry manie other Courtyers both men and vvomen Al thes I say and manie others vvho daylie suffer iniuries rapines oppressions at his hādes throughout the Realm vvhat should it auaile to name thē in this place seing neither his L. careth anie thing for the same neither the parties agrieued are like to attaine anie least release of affliction therby but rather double oppressyon for theyr complayninge VVherfore to returne againe vvheras vve began The present state of my L. of Leices you see by this litle vvho and hovv great vvhat maner of man my L. of Leycester is this day in the state of England You see and may gather in some parte by that vvhich hath bene spokē his vvealth his strength his cūning his dispositiō His VVealth is excessiue in all kinde of riches for a priuate man Leycester VVealth and must needes be much more then anie bodie lightlie can imagine for the infinit vvayes he hath had of gaine so many years to gether His Strēgth Leycester Strength and povver is absolute and irresistable as hath bene shevved both in Chamber Court Councell and Countrie His Cunning in plotting and fortyfying Leycester Cūning the same both by Force and Fraud by Mines and Contermines by Trenches Bulvvarkes Flankers and Rampiers by Friēdes Enimies Allies Seruātes Creatures and Dependētes or anie other that may serue his turne is verie rare and singular His Disposition Leycester disposition to Cruelty Murder Treason and Tyrāny and by all these to Supreame Soueraignetie ouer other is moste euydent and cleare And then iudge you vvhether her Ma. that novv raigneth vvhose lyfe and prosperitie the Lord in mercie long preserue haue not iuste cause to feare in respect of these thinges onlie yf ther vvere no other particulars to proue his aspiring intent besides LAVV. No doubt quoth the lavvyer but these are great maters in the questiō of such a cause as is a Crovvn And vve haue seene by example that the least of these fovver vvhich you haue here named or rather some litle braunshe conteyned in anie of thē Causes of iust feare for her Maiesty hath bene sufficient to found iust suspition distrust or iealousie in the heades of most vvise Princes tovvardes the proceedinges of more assured subiectes thē my L. of Leycester in reason may be presumed to be For that the safitie of a state Prince standeth not onelie in the redines and habilitie of resisting open attemptes vvhen they shal fal out but also that much more as Statistes vvrite in a certaine prouident vvatchfulnes of preuenting al possibilities and likelihoodes of daunger or surpression for that no Prince commonlie vvil put him self to the courtesie of an other man be he neuer so obliged vvhether he shal retayne his Crovvn or no seing the cause of a Kingdom acknovvledgeth neither kinred duety fairh friendship not societie I knovv not vvhether I do expound and declare my self vvel or no but my meaning is that vvheras euerie Prince hath tvvo pointes of assurance from his subiect the one in that he is faithful lacketh vvill to annoie his souueraigne the other for that he is vveake and vvanteth habylytye to do the A point of necessarie policie for a Prince same the fyrst is alvvayes of more importance then the second and consequentlie more to be eyed and obserued in policie for that oure vvill may be chaunged at oure pleasure but not oure habilitie Considering then vpon that vvhich hath bene said and specified before hovv that my Lorde of Leycester hath possessed him self of al the strength povvers and sinovves of the Realm hath dravven al to his ovvn directiō and hath made his patty so strong as it seemeth not resistable you haue great reason to say that her Ma. maye iustlie conceyue some doubt for that yf his vvil vvere according to his povver most assured it is that her Ma. vvere not in safitie SCHOL Say not so good Sir quoth I for in such a case truelie I vvould repose litle vpō his vvil vvhich is so manye vvayes apparant to be moste insatiable of ambition Rather vvoulde I thinke that as yet his habilitie serueth not either for Tyme Place Force or some other circumstaunce then that anie parte of good vvil should vvante in him seing that not onelie his desire of soueraigntie but also his intent and attempt to aspire to the same is sufficientlie declared in my conceit by the verye particulars of his povver and plottes alredy set dovvn VVhich yf you please to haue the patience to heare a Scholars argument I vvil proue by a Principle of our Philosophie For if it be true vvhich Aristotle sayeth ther is no agent so simple in the vvorld vvhich vvorketh A Philosophicall argumēt to proue Ley intēt of soueraigntie not for some final end as the birde buildeth not her nest but to dvvel and hatche her yong ones therin not only this but also that the same agent doth alvvayes frame his vvorke according to the proportion of his entended end as vvhen the Fox or Badger maketh a vvide earth or denne it is a signe that he meaneth to dravve thither great store of pray then must vve also in reason think that so vvyse and polityke an agent as is my L. of Leycester for him self vvanteth not his end in these plottinges and preparations of his I meane an end proportionable in greatnes to his preparatiōs VVhich end cā be no lesse nor meaner then Supreame Soueraigntie seing his prouisiō furniture doe tend that vvay are in euerie point fullie correspondent to the same VVhat meaneth his so diligent beseeging of the The preparatiōs of Leyc declare his intēded ende Princesse person his taking vp the vvayes and passages about her his insolencie in Court his singularitie in the Councel his violent preparation of strength abrode his enriching of his Complices the banding of his faction vvyth the abundance of friendes euerie vvhere vvhat do thes thinges signifie I say and so manie other as you haue vvel noted and mentioned before but onelie his intent and purpose of Supreamacie VVhat did the same thinges protend in tymes past in his father but euen that vvhich novv they protend in the sōne or hovv should vve think that the sonne hathe an other meaning in the verie same actions then had his father before him vvhose steppes he folovveth I remember I haue heard often tymes of diuers Hovv the Duke of Northū dissēbled his end auncient and graue men in Cambrige hovv that in K. Edvvards dayes the Duke of Northumberland this mans father vvas generaly suspected of al men to mean indeed as aftervvard he shevved especialie vvhen he had once
kynge and could haue bene content by the help of vs in England to haue put hym dovvn and placed an other of theyr ovvn religion yet vvhen they savve vs once seazed of Nevvhauen and so like to proced to the recouerie of some parte of our states â—unce on that side the sea they quicklie ioined vvith ther ovvn Catholiques againe to expell vs. In Flaunders likevvise though MoÌ„sieur vvere called Flaunders thither by the protestantes especialie for defence of their religion against the Spaniard yet vve see hovv daintie diuers chief protestaÌ„tes of Antvvarpe Gaunt and Bruges vvere in admitting him hovv quick in expelling so soone as he put them in the least feare of subiection to the french And as for Portugal Portugall I haue heard some of the chiefest Catholiques among them say in this late contention about their kingdom that rather then they vvould suffer the Castilian to come in vpon them they vvould be coÌ„tent to admyt vvhatsoeuer aides of a contrarie religion to them selues to aduenture vvhatsoeuer alteration in religion or other incoÌ„uenience might befal them by that meanes rather then endaunger their subiection to their ambitious neighbour The like is reported in diuers histories of the The old harred of east Grecians tovvardes the vvest Latins GreciaÌ„s at this day vvho do hate so much the name and dominion of the Latines as they had rather to endure al the miseries vvhich dailie they suffer vnder the Turk for their religion and othervvise then by calling for aid froÌ„ the vvest to hazard their subiection to the said Latines So that by thes examples you see that feare horrour of external subiection may stay men in al states and consequentlie also both Papistes and Puritanes in the state of England from passing to the second kinde or degree of treason albeit they vvere neuer so deep in the first and had both abilitie time vvil and oportunitie for the other SCHOL Here I presumed to interrupt their speech said that this seemed to me most cleare and that novv I vnderstood vvhat the Lavvier meant before vvhen he affirmed that albeit the moste parte of Papistes in general might be said to deal against the state of England at this day in that they deal so earnestlie for the maintenaunce encrease of their religion and so to incurre some kinde of treason yet perhaps not so farfurth nor in so deep a degre of proper treason as in this boke is presumed or inforced though for my parte said I I do not se that the boke Not all Papistes properly traytors presumeth or inforceth al Papistes in general to be properlie traitors but onlie such as in particular are therin named or that are by lavv attainted coÌ„dempned or executed and vvhat vvil you say quoth I to those in particular LAVV. Surelie quoth he I must say of thes much after the maner vvhich I spak before that some here named in this boke are openlie knovven to haue bene in the second degre or kinde of treason as VVestmerland Norton Saunders and the like But diuers The Priestes and Seminaries that vvere executed others namelie the Priestes and Seminaries that of late haue suffred by so much as I could see deliuered and pleaded at their arraignments or heard protested by them at their deathes or gathered by reason and discourse of my self for that no forrain Prince or vvise councellor vvould euer commit so great maters of state to such instrumentes I cannot I say but think that to the vvise of our state that had the doing of this busines the first degree of treason vvherin no doubt they vvere vvas sufficient to dispatch and make them avvay especialie in such suspitious times as thes are to the end that being hanged for the first they should neuer be in daunger to fal into the second nor yet to dravv other men to the same vvhich perhaps vvas moste of al misdoubted After the lavvyer had spoken this I held my peace to heare vvhat the geÌ„tlemaÌ„ vvoulde ansvvere vvho vvalked vp and dovvn tvvo vvhole turnes in the gallerie vvythout yeelding anie vvorde againe and then staying vpon the sudden cast his eyes sadlie vpon vs both and said GENTL My masters hovv so euer this be vvhich in dede apperteineth not to vs to iudge or discusse but rather to persvvade our selues that the state hath reason to do as it doeth and that it must often times asvvel preuent inconueniences as remedie the same vvhen they are happened yet for my ovvn parte I must confesse vnto you that vpon some considerations vvhich vse to come vnto my mynd I take no smal grief of these differences among vs vvhich you terme of diuers different religions for vvhich vve are driuen of necessitie to vse discipline tovvards diuers vvho possiblie othervvise vvould be no great malefactours I knovv the cause of this difference VVise coÌ„sideratioÌ„s is grounded vpoÌ„ a principle not easie to cure vvhich is the iudgemeÌ„t conscience of a man vvhervnto obeyeth at length his vvil and affection vvhat soeuer for a tyme he may othervvise dissemble outvvardlie I remember your speech before of the doubtful and daungerous inclination of such as lyue discontented in a state of a different religion especialie vvhen either indeed or in their ovvn conceipt they are hardlie dealt vvythal and vvher euerie mans particular punishment is taken to reach to the cause of the vvhole I am not ignorant hovv that misery procureth amitie and the opinion of calamitie moueth affection of mercie and compassion euen tovvardes the Miserie moueth mercie vvicked the better fortune alvvaies is subiect to enuie and he that suffereth is thought to haue the better cause my experience of the diuers raignes and procedinges of king Edvvard Q. Marie and of this our moste gratious soueraigne hath taught me not a litle touching the sequele of thes affaires And finalie my good friendes I must tel you plaine A good vvishe quoth he and this he spake vvyth great asseueration that I could vvysh vvyth al my hart that either thes differences vvere not amonge vs at al or els that they vvere so temperatlie on al partes pursued as the common state of our countrie the blessed raigne of her Ma. and the common cause of true religion vvere not endaungered therby But novv and ther he brak of and turned aside LAVV. The lavvier seing him holde his peace departe he stepped after him and taking him by the govvne said merylie Syr al men are not of your complexion some are of quicker and more stirring spirites and do loue to fishe in vvater that is troubled for that they do participate the Black moors humour that dvvel in Guinea vvherof I suppose you haue heard and seene also some in this land vvose excercise The nature and practize of the Guineans at home is as some vvrite the one to hunt catche and sell the other and alvvayes the stronger to make money of the vveaker for the
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
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
meane the practizes vvyth his nearest both in bed and blood against him vvhat meane thes moste false and slaunderous rumours cast abrode of late of his disloyal demeanure tovvardes her Ma. and his countrie vvyth the great prisoner commited to his charge Is al this to anie other end but onlie to driue him to some impatience and therby to coÌ„mit or say some thing vvhich may open the gate vnto his ruyn Diuers other thinges could I recite of his behauiour tovvardes other noble men of the Realm vvho liue abrode in their countries much iniuried malcontented by his insolencie albeit in respect of his present povver they dare not complaine And surelie it is straunge to see hovv litle accompt he maketh Ley contempt of the ancieÌ„t Nobility of EnglaÌ„d of al the auncient nobilitie of our Realm hovv he contemneth derideth debaseth them vvhich is the fashion of al such as meane to vsurp to the end they may haue none vvho shal not acknovvledge their first begiÌ„ning aduancemeÌ„t from theÌ„ selues LAVV. Not onlie vsurpers quoth the Lavvier but al others vvho rise and mouÌ„te aloft froÌ„ base lynage be ordinarilie moste coÌ„temptuous contumelious and insoleÌ„t against others of more antiquitie And this vvas euident in this mans father vvho being a Nevv meÌ„ most coÌ„teÌ„ptuous Buck of the first head as you knovv vvas intolerable in contempt of others as appeareth by thos vvhom he trode dovvn of the nobility in his tyme as also by his ordinarie ieastes against the Duke of Somerset and others But among other tymes sitting one daye at his ovvn table as a Councellor told me that vvas present he toke occasion to talke of the Earle of Arundel vvhom he then had D. Dudleys ieste at the Erl. of AruÌ„del not onlie remoued from the Councell but also put into the Tovver of London being as is vvel knovven the first and chiefest Earle of the Realm And for that the said Earle shevved him self somevvhat sad and afflicted vvith his present state as I maruaile not seing him self in prison and vvythin the compas of so fearce a Bears pavves it pleased this goodlie Duke to vaunt vpon this Earls miserie at his ovvn table as I haue said and asked the noble men and Gentlemen ther present vvhat Creste or CognizauÌ„ce my Lord of Arundel did giue and vvhen euerie one ansvvered that he gaue the vvhite horse I thought so quoth the Duke and not vvythout great cause for as the vvhite Paulfrey vvhen he standeth in the stable is vvel prouendred is proud and fearce and redie to leape vpon euery other horses back stil neying and praunsing and troubling al that stande about him but vvhen he is once out of his hoat stable and depriued a litle of his ease and fat feeding euerie boye may ryde and master him at his pleasure so is it quoth he vvith my Lord of Arundel VVherat manie maruailed that vvere present to heare so insolent speech passe from a man of iudgment against a Peere of the Realm cast into calamitie GENTL But you vvould more haue maruailed quoth the Gentleman if you had sene that vvhich I did aftervvard vvhich vvas the moste base and abiect behauiour of the same Duke to the same Earle of The most abiecte behauior of Duke Dudley in aduerse fortune Arundel at Cambrige and vpon the vvay tovvards London vvhen this Earle vvas sent to apprehend and bring him vp as prisoner Yf I should tel you hovv he fel dovvn on his knees hovv he vvept hovv he besought the said Earle to be good Lord vnto him vvhom a litle before he had so much contemned and reproched you vvould haue said that him self might as vvel be compared to this his vvhite Paulfrey as the other Albeit in this I vvil excuse neither of them both neither almoste anie other of thes great men vvho are so proude and insolent in their prosperous fortune as they are easily led to contemne anie man albeit them selues be moste contemptible of al others vvhen soeuer their fortune begiÌ„neth to chaunge so vvil my L. of Leycester be also no doubt at that daye though novv in his vvealth he triumphe ouer al careth not vvhom or hovv manie he offend and iniurie STHOL Sir therin I belieue you quoth I for vve haue had sufficient trial alredie of my Lords fortitude in aduersitie His base and abiect behauiour in Leycester base behauiour in aduersitie his last disgrace about his mariage vvel declared vvhat he vvould do in a matter of more importaunce His favvning flattering of them vvhom he hated most his seruile speeches his feigned dissembled teares are al verie vvel knovven Then Sir Christopher Hatton must needes be inforced to receiue at his handes the honorable and great office of Chamberlanship of Chester for that he Leycester deceyuiÌ„g of Syr Christopher Hatton vvould by anie meanes resigne the same vnto him vvhether he vvoulde or no and made him prouide not vvithout his charge to receyue the same though his Lordship neuer meant it as after vvel appeared For that the presente pangue being past it liked my Lord to fulfil the Italian prouerbe of such as in daungers make vovves to sainctes Scampato il pericolo gabbato il Santo the daunger escaped the sainct is deceyued Then and in that necessitie no men of the Realm vvere so much honoured commended and serued by him as the noble Chamberlane deceased and the good L. Treasurer yet liuing to vvhoÌ„ at a certaine tyme he vvrote a letter in al fraude and base dissimulation and caused the same to be deliuered A pretie shifte of my Lorde of Leyc vvith great cuÌ„ning in the sight of her Ma. yet so as to shevv a purpose that it should not be seene to the end her highnes might the rather take occasion to cal for the same and reade it as she did For Mistres Fraunces Havvard to vvhoÌ„ the stratageme vvas coÌ„mitted playing her parte dexterouslie offered to deliuer the same to the L. Treasurer nere the dore of the vvithdravving chaÌ„ber he theÌ„ cumming from her Ma. And to dravv the eye and attentioÌ„ of her highnes the more vnto it she let fal the paper before it touched the Treasurers hand and by that occasion brought her Maiestie to cal for the same VVhich after she had red and considered the stile together vvyth the metal and constitution of him that vvrote it to vvhoÌ„ it vvas sent her highnes could not but break forâ—h in laughter vvyâ—h detestation of such absurd and abiect dissimulation saying vnto my L. Treasurer ther present my L. belieue Her Ma speech of Leyce to the Treasurer hiÌ„ not for if he had you in like case he vvould plaie the Beare vvyth you though at this preseÌ„t he favvne vpon you neuer so fast But novv Sir I pray you go forvvard in your speech of Scotland for ther I remember you lefte of vvhen by occasion vve fel into thes digressions VVel then quoth
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
religion for thes are not al said he do coÌ„sequentlie vvishe and labour some chaunge in the state but yet vvhether so far furth in so deep a degre of proper treason as here in this boke both in general and patticular is presumed and inforced that quoth he is somvvhat hard I vvene for you or me in respect of some other differeÌ„ce betvvene vs to iudge or discerne vvith indifferencie GENTLEMAN Nay truelie said the gentleman for my parte I think not so for that reason is reason in vvhat religion so euer And for my self I may protest that I beare the honest Papist if ther be anie no malice for his deceiued coÌ„science vvherof among others your self can be a vvitnes mary his Practizes against The Papistes practizes against the state the state I cannot in anie vvise disgiest and much lesse may the coÌ„mon vvealth beare the same vvher of vve al depend beyng a sinne of al other the most heinous and least perdonable And therfore seing in this you graunt the Papist both in general abrode at home and in particular such as are condempned executed and named in this boke to be guiltie hovv can you insinuate as you do that ther is more presumed or enforced vpon them by this boke then ther is iust cause so to do LAVVYER Good Sir said the other I stand not here to examine the doinges of my superiours or to defend the guiltie but vvish hartely rather their punishment that haue deserued the same Onlie this I say for explication of my former speech that men of a different religion from the state vvherin they liue may Tvvoe sâ—â—tes of dealinge against the state be said to deale against the same state in tvvo sortes the one by dealing for the encrease of their said different religion vvhich is alvvaies either directlie or indirectlie against the state Directly vvhen the said religion conteineth anie point or article directlie Directly impugning the said state as perhappes you vvill saie that the Romane Religion doth against the present state of England in the point of Supremacie and Indirectlie for that euerie different Indiâ—lye religion deuideth in a sorte and dravveth from the state in that ther is no man vvho in his hart vvould not vvish to haue the chiefe Gouernour and state to be of his religion if he could and consequentlie mislâ—keth the other in respect of that and in this kinde not onelie those vvhoÌ„ you cal busie Papistes in England but also those vvhom vve cal hote Puritanes among you vvhose difference from the state especialie in maters of gouernment is verie vvel knovven may be called al traitors in mine opinioÌ„ for that euery one of thes in deed do labour iÌ„directlie if not more against the state in hovv much soeuer ech one eÌ„deuoreth to encrease his parte or factioÌ„ that desireth a gouernour of his ovvn religion And in this case also are the protestantes in Fraunce Flaunders vnder Catholique Princes the Caluinists as they are called vnder the Duke of Saxonie vvho is a Lutherane the Lutherans vnder Cassimere The state of al subiectes in a state of different religion that fauoureth Caluinistes the Grecians and other Christians vnder the Emperour of Constantinople vnder the Sophie vnder the Great Chame of Tartarie and vnder other Princes that agree not vvith them in religion Al vvhich subiectes do vvish no doubt in their hartes that they had a Prince and state of their ovvn religion in stead of that vvhich novv gouerneth them and coÌ„sequentlie in this first sense they may be called altraitors euerie act they do for aduauncement of their said different religion deuiding betvven the state and them tendeth to treason vvhich their Princes supposing do sometimes make diuers of their actes tresonable or punishable for treason But yet so long as they break not forth vnto the second kinde of treason vvhich coÌ„teyneth some actual atteÌ„pt The seconde kinde of treason or treatie against the life of the Prince or state by rebellion or othervvise vve do not properlie condemne theÌ„ for traytors though they do some actes of their religion made treason by the Prince his lavves vvho is of a different fayth And so to applie this to my purpose I think Sir in The application of the former example good sooth that in the first kinde of treason asvvel the zealous Papist as also the Puritanes in England may vvel be called and proued traytors but in the second sorte vvherof vve speake properlye at this tyme it can not bee so precyslye ansvvered for that ther may be both guiltie guiltles in eche religion And as I cannot excuse al Puritanes in this point so you cannot condemne al Papistes as long as you take me and some other to be as vve are GENTL I graunt your distinction of treasons to be true said the gentleman as also your application therof to the Papistes and Puritans as you cal them not to vvant reason if ther be anie of them that mislike the present state as perhaps ther be albeit for my parte I think thes tvvo kindes of treasons vvhich you haue put dovvn be rather diuers degrees then diuers kindes vvherin I vvil refer me to the iudgement of our Cambridge friend here present vvhose skil is more in logical distinctioÌ„s But yet my reason is this that indeed the one is but a step or degree to the other not differing in nature but raâ—her in tyme abilitie or oportunitie For if as in your former examples you haue shevved the Grecians vnder the Turk and other Christians vnder other Princes of a different religion and as also the Papistes and Puritanes as you terme them in England for novv this vvord shal passe betvven vs for distinction sake haue such alienation of minde from their present regiment and do couet so much a gouuernour and state of their ovvn religion Tvvo degrees of treason then no doubt but they are also resolued to imploye their forces for accomplisshing and bringing to passe their desires if they had oportunitie and so being novv in the first degree or kinde of treason do vvant but occasion or abilitie to break into the second LAVV. True Sir said the lavvier if ther be no other cause or circumstance that may vvythholde them GENTL And vvhat cause or circumstance may staye them I pray you said the gentleman vvhen they shal haue abilitie and oportunitie to do a thing vvhich they so much desire LAVV. Diuers causes quoth the lavvyer but especialie and aboue al other if it be at home in their ovvn countrie the feare of seruitude vnder forreyn nations may restrayne them from such attemptes As vve see in Germanie that both Catholiques and protestantes vvould ioyne together against anie straunger that should offer daunger to their libertie And so they did against Charles the fift And in Fraunce not long agoe albeit the protestants Feare of forrayne opâ—ressioÌ„ maketh frieÌ„dship at home vvere vp in armes agaynst their
being left in Sir Iho. Hibboâ— the roome absence of an other to ê“cure frynds said in a place secretlie not far from Ludlovv that if the matter came to blovvs he vvould folovv his Mistres leaue his Master in the briars GENTL Marie Sir quoth the gentleman I trovv manâ—e more vvould haue folovved that example For albeit I knovv that the Papists vvere moste named and misdoubted of his parte in that cause for their open inclination tovvardes Monsieur and consequentlie for greater discredit of the thing it self it vvas giuen out euerie vvhere by this Champion of religion that her Ma. cause vvas the Papistes cause euen as his father had done in the like enterprise before him though al vpon dissimulation as apeared Leicester Father a trayteious Papist at his death vvhere he professed him self an earnest Papist yet vvas ther no man so simple in the Realm vvhich discried nor this Vizard at the first neither yet anie good subiect as I suppose vvho seing her Ma. on the one parte vvould not haue taken against the other parte vvhat so euer he had bene And much more the thing it self in controuersie I meane the mariage of her Royal Ma. vvyâ—h the brother and heire apparant of Fraunce being taken and iudged by the best vvysest and faythfulest protestantes of the realm to be both honorable The honour and commodities by the mariage vvith Fraunce conuenient profitable and needful VVherby onlie as by a moste soueraign and present remedie al our maladies both abrode and at home had at once bene cured al forreine enimies and domestical conspirators al differences al daungers al feares had ceased together Fraunce had bene ours moste assured Spaine vvould not a litle haue trembled Scotland had bene quiet our competitors in England vvould haue quaked and for the Pope he might haue put vp his pipes Our differences in religion at home had been either lesse or no greater then novv they are for that Monsieur being but a moderate Papist and nothing vehement in his opinions vvas content vvyth verie resonable conditions fot him self and his straungers onlie in vse of their conscience not vnliklie truelie but that in tyme he might by Gods grace and by the great Ethelbert Kinge of Kent coÌ„uerted An. Do. 603. vvysdom vertue of her Ma. haue bene brought also to embrace the gospell as king Ethelbert an heathen vvas by noble Q. Bertha his vvyfe the first Christian of our English Princes Vnto all vvhich felicitie if the Lord in mercie should haue added also some issue of ther royall bodies as vvas not impossible vvhen first this noble matche vvas mouued vve then doubtles had bene the moste fortunate people vnder heauen and might haue bene perhaps the meane to haue restored the Gospell throughout all Europe besides as our brethren of Fraunce vvel coÌ„sidered hoped Of al vvhich singular benefits both present to come both in RE and in SPE this Tyraunt for his ovvn priuate lucre fearing leste heerby his ambition might be restrayned his trecherie reueyled hath bereaued the realm done vvhat in him lieth besides to alienate for euer make our mortal enimie this great Prince vvho sought the loue of her Ma. vvyth so much honour confidence as neuer Prince the like putting tvvice his ovvn person to ieopardie of the sea to the peril of his malitious enuiours here in England for her Ma sake LAVV. VVhen you speake of MoÌ„sieur said the lavvyer I cannot but greatlie be mouued both for these considerations vvel touched by you as also for some other especialie one vvherin perhaps you vvill think me partiall but truelie I am not for that I speak it onlie in respect of the quiet good of my countrie and that is that by MoÌ„sieurs matche vvyth our noble Princesse besides the hope of issue vvhich vvas the principal ther vvanted not also probabilitie that some vnion or litle tolleration in religion betvvene you and vs might haue bene procured in this state as vve see that in some other countries is admitted to their great good VVhich thing no doubt vvould haue cut of quite Toleration in Religion vvyth vnion in defence of our countrie al daungers and dealinges from forreine Princes and vvould haue stopped manie deuises and plotes vvythin the Realm vvheras novv by this breach vvyth FrauÌ„ce vve staÌ„d alone as me seemeth vvythout anie great vnition or friendship abrode and our differences at home grovve more vehement and sharp then euer before Vpon vvhich tvvoe heades as also vpon infinit other causes purposes driftes and pretences ther do ensue daylie more deep daungerous and desperat practizes euerie man vsing either the commoditie or necessitie of the tyme and state for his ovvn purpose Especialie novv vvhen all men presume that her Ma. by the contynual thvvartinges vvhich haue bene vsed against al her mariages is not like to leaue vnto the realm that pretious Ievvell so much and long desired of al English hartes I mean the Royall heires of her ovvn bodie GENTL Thvvartinges cal you the defeating of all her Ma. moste honorable offers of mariage said the other trulie in my opinion you should haue vsed an other vvorde to expresse the nature of so vviked a facte vvherby alone if theit vvere no other this vnfortunat man hath done more hurt to his common vvealth theÌ„ if he had murdered manie thovvsandes of her subiectes or betrayed vvhole armies to the professed enimie I can remeÌ„ber vvâ—l my self fovver treatises to this purpose vndermined by his Diuers mariages of her Ma. defeated meanes The first vvyth the Svveâ—hen king the secoÌ„d vvith the Archduke of Austria the third vvith Henrie K. of Fraunce that novv reigneth and the fourth vvyth the brother heire of the said kingdoÌ„ For I let passe manie other secret motions made by great Potentats to her Ma. for the same purpose but thes fovver are openlie knovven therfore I name them VVhich fovver are as vvel knovven to haue bene al disturbed by this DAVVS as they vvere earnestly pursued by the other Leicester de 〈…〉 to d 〈…〉 avvay all 〈◊〉 her Ma. And for the first thre Suters he droue theÌ„ avvaye by protesting and svvearing that him self vvas coÌ„tracted vnto her Ma. vvherof her highnesse vvas fufficieÌ„tlie aduertised by Cardinal Chatâ—lian in the first treatie for fraunce the Cardinal soone after punished as is thoughâ— by this maÌ„ vvyth poyson But yet this speech he gaue out then euerie vvhere among his frieÌ„des both strâ—ungers other that he forsooth vvas assured to her Ma. consequeÌ„tlie that al other Princes must giue ouer their sutes for him VVherunto notvvythstaÌ„ding vvheÌ„ the Svvâ—â— then vvould hardlie giue eare this man conferred vvyth his Priuado to make a moste vnseemelie disloyal proofe therof for the others satisfaction vvhich thing I am enforced by duetie to passe ouer vvyth silence for honour to the parttes vvho are touched therin as also I am to coÌ„ceale his said
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
nature and said that he alvvayes mistrusted the same considering hovv much his Lordship vvas in debt to him and he made pryuie to his Lordship fovvle secretes vvhich secrets he vvould ther presentely haue vttered in the face of all the vvorld but that he feared tormeÌ„tes or speedie death vvith some extraordinarie crueltie if he should so haue donne and therefore he disclosed the same onely to a Gentleman of vvorshippe vvhom he trusted speciallie vvhose name I may not vtter for some causes but it beginneth vvith H. I am in hope ere it be long by means of a frieÌ„d of myne to haue a sight of that discourse reporte of Gates vvhich hytherto I haue not sene nor euer spake I vvith the GeÌ„tleman that keepeth it though I be vvel assured that the vvhole mater passed insubstance as I haue here recounted it SCHOL VVherunto I ansvvered that in good faith it vvere pittye that this relation should be lost for that it is very lyke that many rare thinges be declared This relation of Gates may serue hereafter for an addition in the secoÌ„d editioÌ„ of this boke therin seing it is donne by a man so priuie to the affayres them selfes vvherin also he had bene vsed an instrument I vvill haue it quoth the Gentleman or els my friendes shal fayle me hovvbeit not so soone as I vvould for that he is in the vvest countrie that should procure it for me vvill not returne for certaine monethes but after I stall see him agayne I vvill not leaue him vnril he procure it fot me as he hath promissed vvell quoth I but vvhat is become of that euidence founde in Ireland vnder my Lords hand vvhich no man dare pursue auouche or behold GENTL Treulie said the Gentilman I am informed that it lyeth safelie reserued in good custodie to be brought furth and auovvched vvhen so ouer it shal please God so to dispose of her Ma. hart as to lend an indifferent eare asvvell to his accusers as to him self in iudgement Neither must you think that this is straunge nor that the thinges are fevv vvhich are in such sorte reserued in deck for the tyme to come euen amoÌ„g The deck reserued for Leycester great personages and of high calling for seing the present state of his povver to be such and the tempest of his tyrannie to be so strong and boisterous as no man may stand in the rage therof vvithout peril for that euen from her Ma. her self in the lenitie of her Princelie nature he extorteth vvhat he designeth either by fraud flattery false informatioÌ„ Leycester puyssant vyolence vvith the Prince her self request pretence or violent importunitie to the ouer-bearing of al vvhom he meaneth to oppresse No maruaile then though manie euen of the best and faythfullest subiectes of the land do yeeld to the present tyme and do keep silence in some matters that othervvise they vvould take it for duetie to vtter And in this kinde it is not long sithence a vvorshipful and vvise friende of myne tolde me a testimonie in secret from the mouth of as noble and graue a Councellor as England hath enioyed thes The Erle of Sussex his speech of the Erl of Leices manie hundreth yeares I meane the late L. Chamberlayne vvith vvhom my said friend being alone at his house in London not tvventie daies before hsi death conferred somvvhat familiarlie about thes and like maters as vvith a true father of his countrie and common vvealth and after manie complaintes in the behalf of diuers vvho had opened their griefes vnto Councellors and savve that no notice vvould be taken therof the said noble man turning him self somvvhat about from the vvater for he satte neare his pond syde vvher he beheld the taking of a pike or carpe said to my friend It is no maruaile Sir for vvho dareth intermedle him self in my Lords affaires I vvil tel yovv quoth he in confidence betvven you and me ther is as vvyse a man and as graue and as faythful a Councellor as England breedeth meaning therby The L. Bâ—rghlei the L. Treasurer vvho hath asmuch in his keping of Leycesters ovvn hand vvriting as is sufficient to hang him if either he durst present the same to her Ma. or her Ma. do iustice vvhen it should be presented But indeed quoth he the time permitteth neither of them both therfore it is in vaine for anie man to struggle vvith him Thes vvere that noble mans vvordes vvherby you may consider vvhether my L. of Leicester be strong this daye in Councell or no and vvhether his fortification be sufficient in that place But novv if out of the Councell vve vvil turne Leycester povver in the country abrod but our eye in the countrie abrode vve shal finde as good fortification also ther as vve haue pervsed alredie in Court and Councell and shal vvel perceiue that this mans plot is no fond or indiscrete plot but excellent vvel grounded and such as in al proportions hath his due correspondence Consider then the chiefe and principal partes of this land for martial affaires for vse and commoditie of armoure for strength for opportunitie for libertie of the people as dvvelling farthest of from the presence and aspect of their Prince such partes I saye as are fittest for sudden entreprises vvithout daunger of interception as are the Northe the VVest the countries of VVales the Ilandes round about the land and sundry other places vvythin the same Are they not al at this day at his disposition are they not all by his procurement in the onelie handes of his friendes and allies or of such as by other matches haue the same complot and purpose vvith him Yorke Erle of Huntington In York is president the man that of al other is fittest for that place that is his nearest in affinitie his dearest in friendship the head of his faction open competitor of the Scepter In Barvvik is Captaine Barvvick The L. HunsdeÌ„ his vvyues vncle moste assured to him self HuntinghtoÌ„ as one vvho at conuenient tyme may as much aduaunce their designementes as anie one man in England In VVales the chiefe authoritie from the Prince VVales Siâ— HeÌ„rie Sidney The Er. of PeÌ„brook The vvest Earle of Bedford is in his ovvn brother in lavv buâ— among the people of natural affectioÌ„ is in the Earle of Penbrook vvho both by Mariage of his sisters daughter is made his allie and by dependence is knovven to be vvholie at his dispositioÌ„ The vvest parte of EnglaÌ„d is vnder Bedford a man vvholie deuoted to his the Puritanes faction In IrelaÌ„d vvas gouernour of The L. Grey †Her Ma. as he saith for stricking of M. Fortescue called him lame vvretch that gryeued hâ—m so for that he vvas hurt in her seruice at Lyeth as he said he vvould liue to be reuenged late the principall instrument appointed for their purposes both in respect of his heat and affection tovvard their
and end as he list he that selleth his fauour vvith the Prince both abrode in forreine countries and at home and setteth the price therof vvhat him self vvil demaund he that hath doth al this besids Presentes this hath infinit presents dailie brought vnto him of great valevv both in Ievvels Plate al kinde of Furniture redie Coyne this man I say may easelie beare his ovvn expeÌ„ces yet lay vp sufficientlie also to vverie his Prince vvheÌ„ needes shal require LAVV. You haue said much Sir quoth the Lavvyer and such mater as toucheth neerlie both her Ma. the coÌ„mon vvealth and yet in my conscience if I vvere to plead at the barre for my Lord I could not tel vvhich of al these members to denie But for that Leycester home-gaine by her Ma. fauour vvhich you meÌ„tion in the last parte of his gaining by her Ma. fauour both at home abrode Tovvching his home gaine it is euident seing al that he hath is goteÌ„ onlie by the opinioÌ„ of her Ma. fauour tovvardes him and many meÌ„ do repaire vnto him vvith fatte presentes rather for that they suppose he may by his fauour do them hurt if he feele not their revvarde then for that they hope he vvil labour anie thing in their affaires You remeÌ„ber I doubt not the storie of him that A pretye story offred his Prince a great yearelie rent to haue but this fauour only that he myght come euerie day in open audience and say in his eare God saue your Ma. assuring him self that by the opinion of confidence and secret fauour vvhich hereby the people vvould coÌ„ceiue to be in the Prince tovvardes him he should easilie get vp his rent againe double told VVherfore my L. of Leycester receiuing dailie from her Ma. greater tokens of grace and fauour then this and him self being no euil marchaunt to make his ovvn bargain for the best of his commodities cannot but gaine excedinglie at home by his fauour And for his Lucre abroode vpon the same cause Leycester forraine gayne by her Ma. fauour I leaue to other men to conceiue vvhat it may be sithence the beginning of her Ma. raigne the times vvherof and condition of al Christendom hath bene such as al the Princes and Potentates round about vs haue bene constreyned at one tyme or other to sue to her highnesse for ayde grace or fauour in al vvhich sutes men vse not to forget as yovv knovve the parties moste able by their credit to furder or let the same In particular onlye this I caÌ„ say that I haue heard of sundrie frenche men that at such tyme as the treatie vvas betvvene Fraunce and England for the redeliuerie of Callis vnto vs againe in the first yeare of her Ma. raigne that novv is vvheÌ„ the freÌ„ch meÌ„ vvere in great distresse misery K. Philippe refused absolutelie to make peace vvith them except Callis vvere restored to England vvhether for that purpose he had novv deliuered the french hostages Leycester bribe for betrayiÌ„g of Callis the french men do reporte I say that my L. of Leycester stoode them in great steade at that necessitie for his revvard vvhich you may vvel imagine vvas not smal for a thing of such importaÌ„ce becaÌ„ a suter that peace might be coÌ„cluded vvith the release of Callis to the freÌ„che vvhich vvas one of the most impious factes to saye the trueth that euer could be deuised against his coÌ„mon vvealth GENTL A smal mater in him said the Gentleman for in this he did no more but as Christ said of the Ievves that they filled vp the measure of their fathers sinnes And so if you reade the storie of K. Edvvardes tyme you shal finde it moste euident that this maÌ„s father before him solde Bullogne to the french by Leycester father solde Bullogne like trecherie For it vvas deliuered vp vpon coÌ„position vvith out necessity or reason the. 25. of April in the fourth yeare of K. Edvvard the sixt vvheÌ„ he I mean duke Dudley had novv put in the Tovver the L. Protector thrust out of the Councel vvhoÌ„ Erles of Arundel and SouchamptoÌ„ put out of the Councell by D. Dudley he listed as namly the Erles of Arundel SouthaÌ„pton so inuaded the vvhole gouernmeÌ„t him self to sel spoile dispose at his pleasur VVherfore this is but natural to my L. of Leycester by discent to make marchandize of the state for his GraÌ„dfather Edmund also vvas such a kinde of Copesman LAVV. An euil rase of marchauntes for the common vvealth quoth the Lavvyer but yet Sir I pray you said he expouÌ„d vnto me somvvhat more at large the nature of these licences vvhiche you named as also the chaunging of landes vvyth her Ma. yf you can set it dovvn anie playner for they seeme to be thinges of excessiue gaine especialie his vvay of gayning by offending her Ma. or by her hyghenes offence tovvardes him for it seemeth to be a deuice aboue all skill or reason Not so Leycester gayne by fallinge out vvith her Ma. quoth the Gentleman for you knovv that euery falling out must haue an attonement againe vvherof he being sure by the many puisaunt meanes of his fryendes in Court as I haue shevved before vvho shall not gyue her Ma. rest vntil it be donne then for this attonement and in perfect reconciliation on her Ma. parte she must graunte my Lorde some sute or other vvhich he vvil haue alvvayes redie prouided for that purpose and this sute shal be vvell able to revvarde his friendes that laboured for his recoÌ„cilement and leaue also a good remaynder for him selfe And this is novv so ordinarie a practize vvith him as all the Realm obserueth the same and disdaigneth that her Ma. should be so vnvvorthelie abused For yf her hyghnesse fall not out vvith him as often as he desireth to gayne this vvaye then he picketh some quarrell or other to shevv him selfe discontended vvith her so that one vvaye or other this gaynful reconciliation must be made and that often for his commoditie The like arte he excerciseth in inuiting her Ma. to his baÌ„quettes and to his houses vvher if she come she must graunt him in sutes ten tymes so much as the charges of al amount vnto so that Robin plaieth the broker iÌ„ al his affaires maketh the vttermost peÌ„ny of her Ma. euery vvay GENTL Novv for his chaunge of landes I think I haue bene reasonable plaine before yet for your fuller satisfactioÌ„ you shal vnderstand his further dealing therin to be in this sorte Besides the good landes of auncient possession to the Crovvn procured at her Ma. hand and vsed as before vvas declared he vseth the same trick for his vvurst landes that he possesseth any vvaie vvhether they come to him by extort meanes plaine oppressioÌ„ or through maiÌ„tenaunce broken tiltes or by cosinage of simple Leycester frauduleÌ„t chaunge of landes vvith her Maieâ—tâ—e vvherby he
Chauncelor besides of the same Vniuersitie vvher he hath store as you knovve of manie fine vvittes good Leycester master of arte and a cunning Logitioner Logitioners at his coÌ„mandmeÌ„t and vvher he learneth not onelie the rules and arte of cunning gathering but also the verie practize as I haue touched before seyng there is no one College or other thing of commoditie vvythin that place vvherhence he hath not pulled vvhat so euer vvas possiblye to be gathered eyther by arte or violence SCHOL Touching Oxeford said I for that I am an Vniuersitie man my self and haue both experience of Cambrige and good aequaintaunce vvith diuers studentes of the other Vniuersitie I can tel you â—ey abusing and spoyliâ—g of Oxford enough but in fyne al tendeth to this conclusion that by his Chauncelorship is cancelled almost al hope of good in that Vniuersitie and by his protection it is like soone to come to destruction And surelie if ther vvere no other thing to declare the oddes and difference betvvixt him and our Chauncelor vvhom he caÌ„not beare for that euery The L. treasurer vvay he seeth him to passe him in al honour and vertue it vvere sufficient to behold the present state of the tvvo Vniuersities vvherof they are heades and gouernours For our ovvn I vvil not say much lest I might perhaps CaÌ„brige seme partial but let the thing speak for it self CoÌ„sider the fruit of the garden therby you may iudge of the gardiners diligence Looke vpon the Bisshoprickes pastorshippes and pulpits of England and see vvhence principalie they haue receiued their furniture for aduauncemeÌ„t of the Gospel And on the contrarie side looke vpon the Seminaries of Papistrie at Rome and Rhems vpon the Colleges of Iesuists and other compagnies of Papystes Beyond the seas and see vvher-hence they are especiallie fraught The Priestes and Iesuists here executed vvythin the land and other that remaine either in prison or abrode in corners are they not al in a maner of that Vniuersitie I speake not to the disgrace of anie good that remaine ther or that haue issued out thence into the Lords vyneyard but for the moste parte ther of this our tyme haue they not either gone beyond the seas or lefte their places for discontentment in Religion or ells become seruing meÌ„ or follovved the bare name of lavve or Phisick vvythout profiting greatlie therin or furdering the seruice of Gods Church or their common vvealth And vvhethence I pray you ensueth al this bur by reason that the chiefe Gouernour therof is an Atheist him self and vseth the place onlie for gayne and spoile for herehence it commeth that The disorders of Oreforde by the vvickednes of their ChaÌ„cellour al good order and discipline is dissolued in that place the feruour of studie extinguished the publique lectures abandoned I meane of the more parte the Tauernes and ordinarie tables frequented the apparel of studentes grovven monstruous and the statutes and good ordinaunce both of the Vniuersity of euerie College and hall in priuate broken and infringed at my Lordes good pleasure vvythout respect either of othe custome or reason to the contrarie The heades and officers are put in out at his onlie discretion the scholars places either solde or disposed by his letters or by these of his seruauntes and folovvers nothing can be had there novv vvythout present money it is as common buying and selling of places in that Vniuersitie as of horses in Smithfeild vvherby the good vertuous are kept out and compagnions thrust in fit to serue his L. aftervvard in al affaires that shal occure And as for Leases of farmes VVoodes Pastutes Leases Personages Benefices or the like vvhich belong anie vvay to anie parte of the Vniuersitie to let or bestovv these his L. and his seruauntes haue so fleesed shorne and scraped alredie that there remayneth litle to feed vpon hearafter albeit he vvant not stil his spies and intelligencers in the place to aduertise him from tyme to tyme vvhen anie litle nevv morsel is offred And the Principal Leycester instruments instrumentes vvhich for this purpose he hath had there before this haue bene tvvo Phisitians Baylye and Culpeper both knovveÌ„ Papistes a litle vvhile ago but novv iuste of Galens religion and so much the fitter for my Lords humour for his Lordship doth alvvayes couet to be furnished vvyth certaine chosen men about him for diuers affaires as these tvvo Galenistes for agentes in the Vniuersitie Dee Allen tvvo Atheistes for Figuring and Coniuring Iulio the Italian Lopas the Ievve for Poysoning for the arte of destroying children in vvomens bellies Verneys for Murderynge Digbyes for * At Digbys house in vvarvvik shire Dame Lettice laye and some other such peeces of pleasure Bavvdes and the like in other occupations vvhich his Lordship exercyseth VVherfore to returne to the speach vvhere vve began moste cleare it is that my Lord of Leycester hath meanes to gaine and gather also by the Vniuersitie as vvel as by the couÌ„trie abrod VVherin as I am tolde he beareth him self so absolute a Lord as yf he vvere their king and not their Chauncelor Nay far more then yf he vvere the general and particular founder of al the Colledges and other houses of the Vniuersitie no man daring to contrarie or interrupt the least vvorde or signification of his vvil but vvyth his extreame daunger vvhich is a proceding more fit for Phalaris the Tyraunt or some Gouernour in Tartarie then for a Chauncelor of a learned Vniuersitie LAVV. To this ansvvered the Lavvyer for my Lords vvrath tovvardes such as vvil not stande to his iudgement and opinion I can my self be a sufficient vvitnes vvho hauing had often occasion to deale for coÌ„position of matters betvvixt his Lordship and others haue seene by experience that alvvaies they haue sped best vvho stood lest in coÌ„tention vvyth him vvhat soeuer their cause vvere For as a great violeÌ„t riuer the more it is stopped or coÌ„traried the more it riseth and svvelleth bigge and in the end deiecteth vvith more force the thing that made resistaunce so his Lordship being the great and mightie Potentate of this Realm The perill of staÌ„ding vvith Leicester in anything and accustomed novv to haue his vvyll in all thinges can not beare to be crossed or resisted by anie man though it vvere in his ovvn necessarie defence Hereof I haue seene examples in the causes of Snovvden forest in VVales of Denbighe of Killingvvorth of Drayton and others vvhere the parties that had interest or thought them selues vvrounged had bene happie yf they had yeelded at the first to his Lordships pleasure vvythoutfurther question for then had they escaped much trouble charges displeasure and vexation vvhich by resistauÌ„ce they incurred to ther great ruine and * Poore men resistiÌ„g VVarvvikes inclosure at North hal vvere hanged for his pleasure by Leicesters authoritie losse of lyfe to some and in the end
her to tearme her Ma sharp speech to sit in her place and throne being much vvorthier of the same for her qualities and rare vertues theÌ„ vvas the other VVhich vnduetiful speech albeit it vvere ouer heard and coÌ„demned of diuers that sat about them yet none durst euer reporte the same to her Ma. as I haue heard sundrie courtiers affirme in respect of the reuenge vvhich the reporters should abid at my L. of Leycesters handes vvheÌ„ so euer the matter should come to light And this is novv concerning the opinion and secret speech of my Lordes ovvn friendes vvho cannot but vtter their conceipt and iudgement in tyme and place conuenient vvhat so euer they are vvilled to giue out publicklie to the contrarie for deceiuing of such as vvil belieue faire paiÌ„ted vvordes against euident and manifest demonstration of reason I say reason for that if none of thes signes and Three argumeÌ„ces of Leycesters meaning for him self before HuÌ„tington tokens vvere none of thes preparations nor anâ— of thes speeches detections by his friendes thâ— knovv his hart yet in force of plaine reason â— could aleadge vnto you three argumentes onelie vvhich to anie man of intelligence vvould easilie persvvade and giue satisfaction that my L. of Leycester meaneth best first for him self in this sure VVhich three argumentes for that you seme to be attent I vvil not stick to runne ouer in al breuitie And the first is the verie nature and qualitie of The first argumeÌ„t the Nature of ambition ambition it self vvhich is such as you knovv that it neuer stayeth but passeth from degre to degre and the more it obteyneth the more it coueteth and the more esteemeth it self both vvorthie and able to obteyne And in our matter that novv vve handle euen as in vvovvyng he that sueth to a Ladie for an other and obteineth her good vvil entereth easilie into conceipt of his ovvn vvorthines therby and so commonlie into hope of speeding him self vvhile he speaketh for his friend so much more in kingdomes he that seeth hiÌ„ self of povver to put the Crovvne of an other maÌ„s head vvil quicklie step to the next degre vvhich is to set it of his ovvn seing that alvvaies the charitie of such good men is vvount to be so orderlie as according to the precept it beginneth vvith it self first Adde to this that ambitioÌ„ is Ielious suspitious and feareful of it self especialie vvhen it is ioyned vvith a conscience loaden vvith the guilt of manie crymes vvherof he vvould be loth to be called to accompt or be subiect to anie man that might by authoritie take reuevv of his life and actions vvheÌ„ it should please him In vvhich kinde seing my L. of Leycester hath so much to encrease his feare as before hath bene shevved by his vvicked dealinges it is not like that euer he vvil put him self to an others maÌ„s courtesie for passing his Audicte in particular reckoninges vvhich he can no vvay ansvver or satisfie but rather vvil stand vpon the grosse Summe and general Quietus est by making him self chiefe Auditour and Master of al accomptes for his ovvn parre in this life hovv so euer he do in the next vvherof such humours haue litle regarde And this is for the nature of ambition in it self The second argument may be taken from my L. The second argument Leycester particular disposition particulars disposition vvhich is such as may giue much light also to the matter in question Being a disposition so vvel liking inclined to a kingedoÌ„ as it hath bene tampering about the same from the first day that he came in fauour First by seeking openlie to marrie vvith the Q. Ma. her self and so Leycester disposition to â—aÌ„pâ—â— for a kingdoÌ„ to dravv he Crovvn vpon his ovvn head and to his posteritie Secondlie vvhen that attempt tooke not place then he gaue it out as hath bene shevved before hovv that he vvas priuilie contracted to her Maiestie vvherin as I tolde you his dealing I meane the noble olde Erle of Peâ—brooke before for satisfaction of a straunger so let him vvyth shame and dishonour remember novv also the spectacle he secretlie made for the persvvading of a subiect and Councellor of great honour in the same cause to the end that if her highnes should by anie vvay haue miscarryed then he might haue entituled anie one of his ovvn broode vvherof he hath store in manie places as is knovven to the lavvful succession of the Crovvn vnder coulour of that priuie and secret mariage pretending the same to be by her Maiestie vvherin he vvil vvant no vvitnesses to depose vvhat he vvil Thirdlie vvhen The vnduetifull deuise of Naturall issue in â—he statuâ—â— of sucâ—â—ssion he savve also that this deuise vvas subiect to daunger for that his priuie contract might be denied more easilie then he able iustlie to proue the same after her Maiesties discease he had a nevv fetch to strengthen the matter and that vvas to cause thes vvordes of NATVRAL ISSVE to be put into the statute of succession for the Crovvn against all order and custome of our Realm and against the knovven common stile of lavv accustomed to be vsed in statutes of such matter vvherby he might be able after the deathe of her Ma. to make legitimate to the Crovvn anie one bastard of his ovvn by anie of so manie hakneis as he keepeth affirmiÌ„g it to be the Naturall issue of her Maiestie by him self For no other reason can be imagined vvhy the auncient vsual vvordes of LAVVFVL ISSVE should so cunninglie be chaunged into NATVRAL ISSVE Therby not onelie to indaunger our vvhole Realme vvith nevv quarels of succession but also to touch as far as in him lieth the Royall honour of his soueraigne vvho hath bene to him but to bounteful a Princesse Fourthlie vvhen after a tyme thes fetches and deuises began to be discouered he chaunged streight his course and turned to the Papistes and Scottish faction pretending the mariage of the Q. in prison But yet after this againe finding therin not such successe as coÌ„tented him throughlie and hauing in the meane space a nevv occasion offred of baite he betook him self fiftlie to the partie of Huntington hauing therin no doubt as good meaning to him self as his father had by ioyning vvith Suffolk Marie yet of late he hath The marriage of Arbella cast a nevv about once againe for him self in secret by treating the mariage of yong Arbella vvith his sonne intitled the Lord Denbighe So that by this vve see the disposition of this man bent vvholie to a scepter And albeit in right title and discent of blood as you say he can iustlie clayme neither kingdome nor Cotage considering either the basenesse or disloyaltie of his auncestors yf in respect of his present state povver of his naturall pride ambitioÌ„ crafty conueyance receyued froÌ„ his father he hath learned hovv to put him self first in possession
of châ—ef rule vnder other pretences and after to deuise vpoÌ„ the title at his leysure But novv to come to the third argument I saie The 3. argument The nature of the cause it self more and aboue al this that the nature and staâ—e of the matter it self permitteth not that my L. of Leycester should meane sincerelie the Crovvn for Huntington especialie seing ther hath passed betvven them so many yeares of dislike and enimity vvhich albeit for the time present commodity be couered and pressed dovvn yet by reason and experience vve knovv that aftervvard vvhen they shal deale together againe in matters of importaunce and vvhen ielousie shal be ioyned to other circumstaunces of their actioÌ„s it is impossible that the former mislike should not breake out in far higher degre then euer before As vve savve in the examples of the reconciliation The nature of olde reconciled enimyty made betvvixt this mans father and Edvvard Duke of Somerset bearing rule vnder king Edvv. the sixt and betvven Richard of York Edmund Duke of Somerset bearing rule in the time of king Henry the 6. Both vvhich Dukes of Somerset after reconciliatioÌ„ vvyth their olde craftie ambitious enimies vvere brought by the same to their destruction soone after VVherof I doubt not but my L. of Leycester vvil take good heed in ioyning by reconciliation vvyth Huntington after so long a breach and vvil not be so improuident as to make him his soueraign vvho novv is but his dependeÌ„t He remembreth to vvel the successe of the L. StaÌ„ley vvho helped K. HeÌ„rie the 7. to the Crovvn of the Duke of Buckingham vvho did â—he same for Richard the 3. of the Earle of VVarvvick vvho set vp K. Edvvard the 4. and of â—he three Percies vvho aduauÌ„ced to the Scepter K. Henry â—he 4. Al vvhich noble men vpon occasions that after fel out vvere revvarded vvyth death by the self same Princes vvhom they had preferred And that not vvythout reason as Siegnior Machauel The reason of Machauel my L. Councellor affirmeth For that such Princes aftervvard can neuer giue sufficient satisfaction to such friendes for so great a benefit receiued And consequentlie least vpon discontentmeÌ„t they may â—haunce do as much for others against them as they haue done for them against others the surest vvay is to recompence them vvyth such a revvarde as they shal neuer after be able to complaine of VVherfore I can neuer think that my L. of Leycester vvil put him self in daunger of the Like successe at Huntingtons haÌ„des but rather vvil folovv The meaninge of the Duke of Nortâ—umber vvyth Suffolk the plot of his ovvn father vvyth â—he Duke of Suffolk vvhom no doubt but he meant onelie to vse for a pretext and help vvherby to place him self in supreame dignitie and aftervvardes vvhat so euer had befallen of the state the others head could neuer haue come to other end theÌ„ it enioyed For yf Q. Marie had not cut it of K. Iohn of NorthuÌ„berland vvould haue done the same in tyme and so al men do vvel knovv that vvere priuie to anie of his cunning dealinges And vvhat Huntingtons secret opinion of Leycester is notvvythstanding this ovvtvvarde shevv of depeÌ„dence â—t vvas my chauÌ„ce to learne from the South hovvse mouth of a special man of that Hastie king vvhoe vvas his ledger or agent in London and at a tyme faling in talke of his masters title declared that he had heard him diuers tymes in secret complaine to his Ladie Leycesters sister as greatlie fearing that in the end he vvould offer him vvrong and pretend some title for him selfe LAVV. VVel quoth the Lavvyer it seemeth by this last point that thes tvvo Lords are cunning practisioners in the arte of dissimulation but for the former vvherof you spake in truth I haue hearde men of good dicourse affyrme that the Duke of The meaniâ—g of the D. of Noâ—thuÌ„ tovvards the D of Suffolk Northumberland had straunge deuises in his head for deceauing of Suffolk vvho vvas nothing so fine as him self and for bringing the Crovvn to his ovvn familie And among other deuises it is thought that he had most certaine intention to marrie the Ladie Marie him self after once he had brought her into his ovvn handes and to haue bestovved her Ma. that novv is vpon some one of his children yf it should haue bene thought best to giue her lyfe so coÌ„sequentlie to haue shaken of Suffolk and his pedegre vvyth condigne punishment for his bolde behauiour in that behalf SCHOL Verilie quoth I this had bene an excellent Stratageme yf it had taken place But I pray you Sir hovv could him self haue taken the Ladie Matie to vvyfe seing he vvas at that tyme married to an other GENTL Oh quoth the Gentlemen you question like a Scholar As though my L. of Leycester had not a vvyfe a liue vvhen he first began to pretend mariahe to the Q. Ma. Doe not you remember the storie of K Richard the third vvho at such tyme as he thought best for the establishing of his title The practise of K. Richard for dispatching his vvyfe to marrie his ovvn nepce that aftervvard vvas married to king Henrie the seueÌ„th hovv he caused secretlie to be giuen abroode that his ovvn vvyfe vvas dead vvhom al the vvorld knevv to be then a liue and in good health but yet soone aftervvard she vvas sene dead indeed Thes great personages in matters of such vveight as is a kingdom haue priuileges to dispose of vvomens bodies mariages liues and deathes as shal be thought for the tyme moste conuenient And vvhat do you think I pray you of this nevv A nevv Triumuirate betvveÌ„ Ley. Talbot the CouÌ„tesse of Shreâ—sbury TRIVMVIRAT so latelie concluded about Arbella for so I must cal the same though one of the three persons be no Vir but Virago I meane of the mariage betvvene yong DeÌ„bigh the litle daughter of Lenox vvherby the father in lavve the Grandmother the vncle of the nevv designed Queene haue conceyued to them selues a singular tryumphant reigne But vvhat doe you think may ensue hereof is ther nothing of the olde plot of duke Iohn of Northumberland in this LAVV. Marie Sir quoth the Lavvyer yf this be so I dare assure you ther is sequele enough pretended hereby And first no doubt but ther goeth a deep drift by the vvife and sonne against olde Abraham the husband and father vvith the vvel lyned large poutch And secondlie a far deeper by trustie Robert against his best Mistres but dâ—â—pest of â—l by the vvhole Cravv against the designememes of the Hastie Earle vvho thirsteth a kingdome Huntington vvith great intemperaunce and seemeth yf there vvere plaine dealing to hope by thes good people to quenshe shortlie his drought But either parte in truth seeketh to deceyue other and therfore it his hard to saye vvher the game in fine vvil reste GENTL VVel hovv so euer that be quoth
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
ovvn nation And therin and othervvise onelie about the same quarrel vvere slaine murdered made avvay about 9. or 10. kinges kinges sonnes besides aboue fortie Earles Marquesses Dukes of name but manie mo Lordes knights and great Gentlemen and Captaines and of the common people vvithout nūber and by particular cōiecture verie neare tvvo hundreth thousand The battaile by Tadcaster on palme Sō daye An. 1460. For that in one battaile foughten by K. Edvvard the fourth ther are recorded to be slaine on both partes fiue thirtie thousand seuen hundreth and eleuen persons besides other vvounded and taker prisoners to be put to death aftervvard at the pleasure of the Conquerour at diuers battails after ten thousand slaine at a battaile As in thos of Barner Tukesbury foughten both in one yeare This suffred our afflicted countrie in thos dayes by this infortunat and deadlie contention vvhich could neuer be ended but by the happy cōiunction of thos tvvo houses to gether in Henry the seuēth neither yet so as appeareth by Chronicle vntil as I haue said the state had cut of the issue male of the Duke of Clarēce vvho vvas cause of diuers perils to K. Henrie the seuenth though he vvere in prison By vvhos sister the faction of Huntington at this day doth seeke to raise vp the same contention againe vvith far greater daunger both to the Realm and to her Ma. that novv reigneth then euer before And for the Realm it is euident by that it giueth The daūger of Hūtingtons claime to the Realm to hir Ma roome to straūgers Competitours of the house of Lancaster better able to mainteine their ovvn title by svvorde then euer vvas any of that linage before them And for her Ma. perril present it is nothing hard to cōiecture seing the same title in the forsaid Erle of VVarvvik vvas so daūgerous and troublesome to her graundfather by vvhō she holdeth as he vvas faine tvvice to take armes in defence of his right against the said title vvhich vvas in thos dayes preferred aduaunced by the friēdes of Clarence before that of Hērie as also this of Huntington is at this daye by his faction before that of her Ma. though neuer so vniustlie LAVV. Touching Huntingtons title before her Ma. quoth the Lavver I vvil say nothing be cause in reasō I se not by vvhat pretēce in the vvorld he may thrust him self so far foorth seing her Ma. is descēded not onelie of the house of Lancaster but also before him moste apparentlie from the house of Hovv Hūtington maketh his title before her Maiestie York it self as from the eldest daughter of king Edvvard the fourth being the eldest brother of that house VVheras Huntington claimeth onelie by the daughter of George Duke of Clarence the yonger brother Marie yet I must cōfesse that if the Earle of VVarvviks title vvere better then that of K. Henrie the seuēth vvhich is moste false though manie attempted to defend the same by svvord then hath Huntington some vvronge at this daye by her Ma. Albeit in verie trueth the †The moste of Hūtingtōs ancetours by vvhō he maketh title attainted of treason attaintes of so manie of his auncestors by vvhom he clameth vvould ansvvere him also sufficientlie in that behalf if his title vvere othervvise allovvable But I knovv besides this they haue an other fetch Th◠in famous deuice of K. Rich. the third allovved by Huntington of K. Richard the thirde vvherby he vvould nedes proue his elder brother kīg Edvvard to be a Bastard cōsequētlie his vvhole line asvvel male as female to be void VVhich deuise though it be ridiculous and vvas at the tyme vvhen it vvas first inuented yet as Richard foūd at that tyme a Doctor Shavve that shamed not to publish and defend the same at Paules Crosse in a Sermon and Iohn of Northumberland Anno. 1. Mariae my L. of Leycesters father founde out diuers preachers in his tyme to set vp the title of Suffolk and to debase the right of king Henries daughter both in London Cambridge Oxeforde and other places moste apparentlie against al lavve and reason so I dout not but thes mē vvould finde out also both Shavves Sandes and others to set out the title of Clarēce before the vvhole interest of K. Henrie the seuēth his posteritie if occasion serued VVhich is a point of importance to be considered A point to be noted by her Ma. by her Ma. albeit for my parte I meane not novv to stād thervpon but onlie vpon that other of the house of Lancaster as I haue said For as that moste honorable lavvful and happie coniunction of the tvvo aduetsarie houses in king Henrie the seuenth and his vvife made an end of the shedding of English blood vvithin it The ioyninge of bothe hovvses self brought vs rhat moste desired peace vvhich euer sithence vve haue enioied by the reigne of their tvvo moste noble issue so the plot that novv is in hand for the cutting of the residue of that issue and for recalling backe of the vvhole title to the onelie house of Yorke againe is like to plunge vs deeper then euer in ciuile discorde and to make vs the bayte of al forreine Princes seing ther be among them at this daye some of no small The Line of Portugalle povver as I haue said vvho pretend to be the next heires by the house of Lancaster and consequentlie are not like to giue ouer or abandone their ovvn right if once the doore be opened to contention for the same by disanulling the Line of K. Henrie the seuenth vvherin onelie the keies of al concord remaine knit together And albeit I knovv vvel that such as be of my Lord of Huntingtons partie vvil make small accompte of the title of Lancaster as lesse rightfull a great deale then that of Yorke and I for my parte meane not greatlie to auovve the same as novv it is placed being my selfe no fauourer of forreine titles yet indifferent men haue to consider hovv it vvas taken in tymes paste and hovv it may againe in tyme to come if contention should arise hovv manie Noble personnages The olde estimation of the house of Lancaster of our Realm did offer them selues to die in defence therof hovv manie othes lavves vvere giuen receiued throughout the Realm for maītenaunce of the same against the other house of York for euer hovv manie vvorthy kinges vvere Crovvned reigned of that house race to vvit the fovver moste noble Hēries one after an other the fourth the fift the sixt and the seuenth vvho both in nūber Gouernment Sanctitie Courage and feares of armes vvere nothing inferior yf not superior to thos of the other house and lyne of Yorke after the diuision betvvene the families It is to be considered also as a special signe of the fauour and affectiō of oure vvhole natiō vnto that familie that Henrie Earle of Richmond though
maried to Portugal Castile borne of Blanche heire to Edmond Crookback as hath bene said vvas married to Iohn king of Portugal of vvhom is descended the king that novv possesseth Portugal and the other Princes vvhich haue or may make title to the same and Katherin borne of Constance heire of Castile vvas married back againe to Hentie king of Castile in Spaine of vvhom king Philip is also descended So that by this vve see vvhere the remainder of the house of Lancaster resteth yf the Line of K. Henrie the seuenth vvere extinguished vvhat pretext forreine Forrayne titles Princes may haue to subdue vs yf my L. of Huntington either novv or after her Ma. dayes vvil open to them the doore by shuting out the rest of K. HeÌ„ries Line by dravving back the title to the onlie house of York againe vvhich he pretendeth to do vpon this that I vvil novv declare King Edvvard the third albeit he had manie children yet fiue onlie vvil vve speak of at this tyme. The issue of king Edvvard the third VVherof thre vvere elder then Iohn of Gaunt and one yonger The first of the elder vvas named Edvvard the Black Prince vvho died before his father leauing one onlie sonne named Richard vvho aftervvard being king and named Richard the second vvas deposed vvythout issue and put to death by his Cosin germain named Henrie Bolingbrook Duke of Lancaster sonne to Iohn of Gaunt as hath bene said and so there ended the Line of K. Edvvardes first sonne King Edvvardes second sonne vvas VVilliam of Hatfield that died vvythout issue His thirde sonne vvas Leonell Duke of Clacence vvhos onlie daughter heire called Philippe vvas married to Edmond Mortymer Earle of Marche and after that Anne the daughter and heire of Mortymer vvas married to Richard Plantaginet Tvvoe EdmuÌ„des the tvvoe begiÌ„ners of the tvvoe houses of Lancaster York Duke of York sonne and heire to Edmund of Langley the first Duke of York vvhich Edmund vvas the fift sonne of K. Edvvard the third and yonger brother to Iohn of Gaunt And this Edmund of Langley may be called the first beginner of the house of York euen as Edmund Croocbacke the beginner of the house Lancaster This Edmund Langley then hauing a sonne named Richard that married An 〈…〉 â—ortymer sole heire to Leonel Duke of ClareÌ„ce ioined tvvo Lines and tvvoe titles in one I meane the Line of Leonel and of Edmund Langley vvho vvere as hath bene said the third and the fift sonnes to K. Edvvard the third And for this cause the childe that vvas borne of this marriage named after his father Richard Plantaginet Duke of York seing him self strong and the first line of K. Edvvard the thirds eldest sonne to be extinguished in the death of K. Richard the second and seing VVilliam of Hatfield the secoÌ„d soÌ„ne dead likevvise vvythout issue made demaund of the Crovvn for the house of York by The claime title of York the title of Leonel the third sonne of K. Edvvard And albeit he could not obteine the same in his daies for that he vvas slaine in a bataille against K. Henrie the 6. at VVakefield yet his sonne Edvvard got the same vvas called by the name of king Edvvard the fovverth This king at his death lefte diuers children as namlie tvvoe sonnes Edvvard the fift and his brother The issue of king Edvvard the 4. vvho after vvere both murdered in the Tovver as shal be shevved also fiue daughters to vvit Elyzabeth Cicilie Anne Katherine and Briget VVherof the first vvas maried to HeÌ„ry the 7. The last became a NuÌ„ne the other thre vvere bestovved vpon diuers other husbandes He had also tvvo brothers the first vvas called George Duke of Clarence vvho aftervvard vpon his desertes as is to be supposed vvas put to death in Callys by commandement of the king his attaynder The Duk of Clarence attaynted by parlament allovved by parlament And this man left behind him a sonne named Edvvard Erle of VVarvvik put to death aftervvard vvythout issue by king Henrie the seuenth and a daughter named Margaret Countesse of Salisburie vvho vvas married to a meane GentlemaÌ„ named Richard Poole by vvhom she had issue Cardinal Poole that died vvythout Mariage HeÌ„rie Poole that vvas attainted execuded in K. Henrie the 8. his tyme as also her self vvas this HeÌ„ry Poole left a daughter married HuntiÌ„gtons title by the Duke of ClareÌ„ce aftervvard to the Earle of HuntingtoÌ„ by vvho this Earle that novv is maketh title to the Crovvn And this is the effect of my L. of HuntingtoÌ„s title The second brother of king Edvvard the fourth vvas Richard Duke of Glocester vvho after the K. K. Rich. the third death caused his tvvo sonnes to be murdered in the Tovver and toke the kingedom to him self And aftervvard he being slaine by king Henry the 7. at Bosvvorth fielde left no issue behind him VVherfore king Henry the 7. descending as hath bene shevved of the house of Lancaster by Ihon of The happie coÌ„iuÌ„ctioÌ„ of the tvvoe houses Gaunts last sonne third vvife taking to vvyfe ladie Elizabeth eldest daughter of K. Edvvard the fourth of the house of York ioyned most happely the tvvo famylies together and made an end of al controuersies about the title Novv K. Henrie the 7. had issue three children The issue of king HeÌ„ry the seuenth of vvhom remayneth posterity First Henry the 8. of vvhom is descended our soueraine her Ma. that novv happilie raigneth and is the last that remaineth a liue of that first Line SecoÌ„dlie he had tvvo daughters vvherof the first named Margaret vvas married tvvice first to Iames king of Scotland froÌ„ The Line and title of Scotland by Margar. eldeste daughter to king HeÌ„ry the seuenth vvhome are directlie discended the Q. of Scotland that novv liueth and her sonne K. Iames being dead Margaret vvas married againe to Archybalde Douglas Earle of Anguishe by vvhom she had a daughter named Margaret vvhich vvas married aftervvard to Mathevv Stevvard Earle of Lenox vvhos sonne Charles Stevvard vvas married to Elizabeth CaÌ„dishe daughter to the preseÌ„t CouÌ„tesse of of Shrevvsburie by her hath left his onlie heire Arbella a litle daughter named Arbella of vvhom you haue heard some speech before And this is tovvching the Line of Scotland descending from the first eldest daughter of K. Henrie the seuenth The second daughter of K. Henrie the seuenth The Lyne title of Suffolke by Marie seconde daughter to king Henry 7. called Marie vvas tvvice maried also first to the kig of Frannce bâ— vvhom she had no issue and after his death to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk by vvhom she had tvvo daughters that is FrauÌ„cis of vvhich the childreÌ„ of my L. of Hartford doe make their clayme Elenore by vvhom the issue of the Earle of Darbie preteÌ„deth right as shal be declared For that FrauÌ„cis the first daughter of
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
the Gentleman to return againe to Scotland as you moue froÌ„ vvhence vve haue digressed moste certaine and euident it is to al the vvorld that al the broyles troubles dauÌ„gers The dauÌ„ger of her Ma by oppressioÌ„ of the fauourers of the Scottishe title procured to the Prince in that countrie as also the vexations of them vvho anie vvay are thought to fauoure that title in our ovvn Realm do proceed from the drift and complot of thes conspirarours VVhich besides the great daungers mentioned before both domestical and forreine temporal and of religion must needes infer great ieopardie also to her Ma. person and present reigne that novv gouerneth through the hope and heat of the aspirors ambitioÌ„ inflamed and increased so much the more by the nearnes of their desired pray For as souldiars entred into hope of a riche and vvel furnished Citie are more fearce furious A Similitude vvhen they haue goten and beaten dovvn the Bulvvarks round about and as the greedie Burglarer that hathe pearsed and broken dâ—vvn many vvales to come to a treasure is lesse patient of staye stop and delaye vvhen he cummeth in sight of that vvhich he desireth or perceyueth onlie some partition of vvaneskot or the like betvvixt his fingers and the cofers or monie bagges so thes men vvheÌ„ they shal see the succession of Scotland extinguished together vvyth al friendes and fauourers therof vvhich novv are to her Maiestie as Bulvvarkes and VVales and great obstacles to the aspirours and vvhen they shal see onlie her Ma. life and person to stand betvvixt them and their firie desires for they make litle accompt of al other coÌ„peritours by K. HeÌ„ries line no doubt but it vvilbe to them a great prick spurre to dispatch her Ma also the nature of both Earles being vvel considered vvherof the one killed his ovvn vvyfe as hathe bene shevved before onlie vpoÌ„ a litle vayne Earle of Leicester hope of mariage vvyth a Quene the other being so far blinded and borne avvay vvith the same furious Earle of HuÌ„tingt fume and most impotent itching humour of ambition as his ovvn mother vvhen shee vvas a liue seemed greatlie to feare his fingers yf once the matter should come so neare as her life had onlie stood in his vvaye For vvhich cause the good olde CouÌ„tesse vvas vvouÌ„t to pray god as I haue heard The olde CouÌ„tesse of Huntingtons speach of her soÌ„ne diuers saye that she might die before her Maiestie vvhich hapilie vvas graunted vnto her to the end that by standing in her sonnes vvay vvhoÌ„ she savve to her griefe furiously bent to vveare a Crovvn their might not some dauÌ„gerous extremitie grovv to her by that nearnes And if his ovvn mother feared this mischaunce vvhat may her Ma. doubt at his and his companyons handes vvhen she only shal be the obstacle of al their vnbrydled and impatient desires LAVV. Cleare it is quoth the Lavvyer that the nearnes of aspirours to the Crovvn endaungereth greatly the present possessors as you haue vvel prooued Nearnes in coÌ„petitors doth incite theÌ„ to adueÌ„ture by reason I could shevv by diuers examples yf it vvere need For vvhen HeÌ„rie Bollingbrook Duke of Lancaster savve not onlie Richard the second to be vvythout issue but also Roger Mortymer Earle of Marche that should haue succeded in the Crovvn to be slaine in Ireland though before as is Henrye Bolingbrooke after K. HeÌ„ry the fourth thought he meant not to vsurp yet seing the possibilitie and nere cut that he had vvas inuited thervvyth to lay handes of his soueraines blood dignitie as he did The like is thought of Richard Duke of Glocester that he neuer meaÌ„t the murder Richard Duke of Glocest after K. Richard the third of his nephevves vntil he savve their father dead them selues in his ovvn handes his brother also Duke of ClareÌ„ce dispatched his onlie sonne heire Earle of VVarvvick vvythiÌ„ his ovvn povver VVherfore seing it hath not pleased almighty God for causes to him self best knovven to leaue vnto this noble Realm any issue by her moste excellent The great vvisdom of her Ma. in coÌ„seruiÌ„g the next heirs of Scotland Ma. it hath bene a point of great vvisdom in mine opinion and of great safitie to her highnes person state and dignitie to preserue hitherto the line of the next inheritours by the house of Scolad I meane both the mother and the sonne vvhos deathes hath bene so diligeÌ„gly sought by the other competitours and had bene long ere this atchiued if her Ma. ovvn vvisdom and Royal clemencie as is thought had not placed special eye vppon the conseruation therof from tyme to tyme. VVhich Princelie prouideÌ„ce so long as it shal endure must needes be a great safitie and fortresse to her Ma. not onlie against the claimes aydes or annoiaunce of forrâ—ine Princes vvho vvil not be so forvvard to aduaunce straunge titles vvhile so manifest heires remaine at home nor yet so vvilling in respect of policie to help that line to possessioÌ„ of the vvhole Iland but also against ptactises of domestical aspirours as you haue shevved in vvhos affaires no doubte but thes tvvo braunshes of Scotland are great blockes as also special Bulvvarkes to her Ma. life and person seing as you saye thes comparteners make so litle accompt of al the other of that Line vvho should insue by order of succession The K. of Scotlands destruction of more importance to the coÌ„spirators then his mothers Marie yet of the tvvo I thiÌ„k the youth of ScotlaÌ„d be of much more importaunce for their purpose to be made avvay both for that he may haue issue and is like in tyme to be of more abilitie for defence of his ovvn inheritaunce as also for that he being once dispatched his mother should soone ensue by one sleight or other vvhich they vvould deuise vnvvitting to her Ma. albeit I must needes confesse that her highnes hath vsed most singular prudence for preuention therof in placing her restreint The Erle of Shreusburie disgraced by the coÌ„petitoures vvith so Noble stroung and vvorthie a Peere of our Realm as the Earle of Shrevvsburie is vvhos fidelitie and coÌ„stancy being nothing pliable to the others factioÌ„ giueth theÌ„ litle coÌ„tentatioÌ„ And for that cause the vvorld seeth hovv manie sundrie and diuers deuises they haue vsed and do vse dailie to slaunder and disgrace him and therby to pull from him his charge commited To this the Gentleman ansvvered nothing at al but stood stil musing vvith him self as though he had conceiued some deep matter in his head and after a litle pause he began to saye as folovveth GENTL I cannot truelie but much maruaile vvhen I do coÌ„pare some thinges of this tyme gouernment vvith the doinges of former Princes progenitours The vigilant eye that her Ma. ancestours had to the collaterallyne to her Ma. Namelie of HeÌ„rie the seuenth Henry the eight vvho had so
and had borne him out in certaine of his vvickednes or at least not punished the same after it vvas detected and complained vpon the parties grieued accompting the crime more proper and hainous on the parte of him vvho by office should do iustice and protect other then of the perpetrator vvho folovveth but his ovvn passion and sensualitie let passe Attalus and made their reuenge vpon the blood and life of the king him self by one Pausanias Pausanias suborned for that purpose in the mariage day of the kings ovvn daughter Great store of like examples might be repeated out of the stories of other countries nothing being more vsual or frequēt amōg al nations then the afflictions of Realmes and kingedomes and the ouerthrovv of Princes and great potentates them selues by their to much affection tovvardes some vnvvorthie particular persons a thing inded so common and ordinarie as it may vvel seme to be the specialest rock of al other vvherat kinges and Princes do make their shipvvrackes For if vve loke into the states and Monarchies of al Christendom and consider the ruines that haue bene of anie Prince or ruler vvithin the same vve shal finde this point to haue bene a great and principal parte of the cause therof and in our ovvn state coūtry the matter is toto euidēt For vvheras Kinges of Englād ouer throvven by to much fauoring of some particular men since the conquest vve number principalie thre iust and lavvful kinges to haue come to cōfusion by alienation of their subiectes that is Edvvard the second Richard the second and Henry the sixt this onlie point of to much fauour tovvardes vvicked persons vvas the chiefest cause of destruction in al thre As in the first the excessiue fauour tovvardes Peter Gauesten and tvvo of the Spencers In the second the like extraordinarie and indiscrete affection K. Edvvard 2. tovvardes Robert Vere Earle of Oxeford and Marques of Dubline and Thomas Movvbray tvvo K. Richard 2. moste turbulent and vvicked men that set the kinge againste his ovvne vncles and the nobilitie In the third being a simple and holie man albeit no great exorbitant affection vvas sene tovvards K. Henrie 6. any yet his vvife Quene Margarets to much fauour and credit by him not controled tovvards the Marques of Suffolke that after vvas made Duke by vvhos instinct and vvicked Counsail she made avvay first the noble Duke of Glocester and aftervvard committed other thinges in great preiudice of the Realm and suffred the said moste impious sinful Duke to range make hauock of al sorte of subiectes at his pleasure much after the fashion of the Earle of Leycester novv though yet not in so high and extreme a degre this I say vvas the principal and original cause both before God and man as Polidore vvel noteth of al the Pol. lib. 23. hist Angl. calamitie and extreme desolation vvhich after ensued both to the kinge Queene and theyr onelie child vvith the vtter extirpation of theyr familie And so likevvyse novv to speak in our particular case if ther be anie grudge or griefe at this day anie mislike repining complaint or murmure against her Ma. gouernment in the hartes of her true and faithful subiectes vvho vvish amendmēt of that vvhich is amisse and not the ouerthrovv of that vvhich is vvel as I trovv it vvere no vvisdom to imagine ther vvere none at al I dare auouch vpon conscience that either al or the greatest parte therof procedeth from this man vvho by the fauour of her Ma. so afflicteth her people as neuer did before him either Gauestō or Spēcer or Vere or Movvbray or anie other mischieuous Tyraunt that abused moste his Princes fauour vvithin our Realm of England VVherby it is euident hovv profitable a thing it should be to the vvhole Realme hovv honorable to her Ma. and hovv grateful to al her subiectes if this man at length might be called to his accompt LAVV. Sir quoth the Lavvyer you aleage great reason and verilie I am of opinion that if her Ma. knevv but the tenth parte of this vvhich you haue here spoken as also her good subiectes desires and complaint in this behalfe she vvould vvel shevv that her highnes feareth not to permit iustice to passe vpon Leycester or anie other vvithin her Realm for satisfaction of her people vvhat soeuer some men may think and report to the contrarie or hovv soeuer othervvise of her ovvne mylde disposition or good affection tovvardes the person she haue borne vvith him hitherto For so vve see that vvise Princes can do at tymes conuenient for peace tranquilitie and publique vveale though contrarie to their ovvn particular and peculiar inclination As to goe no furder then to the last example named and aleaged by your self before though Queene Margaret the vvife of K. Henrie the sixt The punishemēt of VVilliā Duke of Suffolke had fauoured moste vnfortunatlie manie yeares together VVillm Duke of Suffolke as hath bene said vvherby he committed manifold outrages afflicted the Realm by sundrie meanes yet she being a vvoman of great prudence vvhen she savv the vvhole communaltie demaund iustice vppon him for his demerites albeit she liked and loued the man still yet for satisfaction of the people vpon so general a complaint she vvas content An. 30. of King◠Hērie 6. first to commit him to prison and aftervvard to banish him the Realm but the prouidence of God vvould not permit him so to escape for that he being incountred and taken vpon the sea in his passage he vvas beheaded in the ship and so receyued some parte of condigne punishment for his most vvicked loose and licentious life And to seeke no more examples in this case vve knovv into vvhat fauour and special grace Sir Edmond Dudley my Lord of Leycesters good Graundfather vvas crept vvith king Henrie the seuenth in the later end of his reigne and vvhat intollerable vvickednes mischiefe he vvrought againste the vvhole Realme and againste infinit particular persons of the same by the poolinges oppressions vvhich he practised vvherby though the king receyued great temporal commoditie at that tyme as her Ma. doth nothing at al by the present extorsions of his nephevv yet for iustice sake for meere compassion tovvardes The punishmēt of Edmond Dudley his afflicted subiectes that complained greuouslie of this iniquitie that moste vertuous and vvise Prince K. Henrie vvas content to put from him this levvde instrument and deuillishe suggestour of nevv exactions vvhom his sonne Henrie that insued in the Crovvn caused presentlie before al other busines to be called publiquelie to accompt and for his desertes to leese his head So as vvhere the interest of a vvhole Realm or cōmon cause of manie taketh place the priuate fauour of anie one cannot stay a vvise and godlie Prince such as al the vvorld knovveth her Ma. to be frō permitting iustice to haue her free passage GENTL Truelie it should not quoth the