and leuying warre and the like The Euidence consisted of two parts The plot of surprising her MAIESTIES Person in Court and The open Rebellion in the Citie The plot was opened according to the former narration and proued by the seuerall confessions of foure witnesses fully and directly concurring in the point Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Charles Dauers Sir Iohn Dauies and Sir Ferdinando Gorge Of which number though Sir Christopher Blunt were not at the Councell helde at Drury house no more then Essex himselfe was yet hee was priuie to that which passed Sir Ferdinando Gorge being prisoner in the Gatehouse neere the place of triall was at the request of the Earle of Essex brought thither and auouched Viua voce his confession in all things And these foure prooued all particularities of surprizing the Court and the maner of putting the same in execution and the distributing and naming of the principall persons and actors to their seuerall charges and the calling of my Lords pretended enemies to trial for their liues and the fummoning of a Parliament and the altering of the gouernement And Sir Christopher Blunt and Sir Iohn Dauies from Sir Christopher Blunt did speake to the point of bringing in a toleration of the Catholike religion For the ouert Rebellion in the Citie it selfe it was likewise opened according to the former narration and diuided it selfe naturally into 3. parts First the imprisonment of the Counsellours bringing her Maiesties Royall commaundement to them vpon their allegeance to disperse their Forces Secondly the entring the Citie and the stirring of the people to rise as well by prouoking them to arme as by giuing forth the slanders that the Realme was solde to the Spaniard and the assailing of the QVEENES Forces at Ludgate And thirdly the resistance and keeping of the house against her MAIESTIES Forces vnder the charge and conduct of the Lord Lieutenant And albeit these parts were matters notorious and within almost euery mans viewe and knowledge yet for the better satisfaction of the Peeres they were fully prooued by the oath of the Lord Chiefe Iustice of England being there present Viua voce and the Declaration of the Earle of Worcester being one of the Peeres likewise Viua voce touching so much as passed about the imprisonment of themselues and the rest and by the confessions of the Earle of Rutland the Lorde Sands the Lord Cromwell and others The defence of the late Earle of Essex touching the plot consultation at Drury house was That it was not proued that he was at it And that they could shew nothing prouing his cōsent or priuity vnder his hād Touching the action in the Citie hee iustified the pretext of the danger of his life to be a trueth He said that his speech that the Realme should haue bene sold to the Infanta of Spaine was grounded vpō a report he had heard that Sir Robert Cecill should say priuately That the Infantaes title to the Crowne after her Maiestie was as good as any other He excused the imprisonment of the Counsellors to haue bene against his mind forced vpon him by his vnruly company He protested he neuer intended in his heart any hurt to her Maiesties person That he did desire to secure his accesse to her for which purpose he thought to pray the helpe of the Citie and that he did not arme his men in warlike sort nor strooke vp no Drumme nor the like The defence of the late Earle of Southampton to his part in the plot and consultation at Drury house was That it was a matter debated but not resolued nor concluded and that the action which was executed was not the action which was consulted vpon And for the open action in the citie hee concurred with Essex with protestation of the cleerenesse of his minde for any hurt to the Queenes person And that it was but his affection to my Lord of Essex that had drawen him into the cause This was the substance best of both their defences Vnto which the Reply was DEFENCE To the point that the late Earle of Essex was not at the consultation at Drury-house REPLY It was replied that it was proued by all the witnesses that that consultation was held by his speciall appointment and direction and that both the list of the names and the principall Articles were of his owne hand writing And whereas he saide they could not be shewed extant vnder his hand it was prooued by the confession of my Lorde of Rutland and the Lord Sands that he had prouided for that himselfe For after he returned out of the Citie to his owne house he burned diuers papers which he had in a Cabanet because as himselfe said they should tell no tales DEFENCE To the point which Southampton alleaged That the Consultation at Drury house vpon the list and articles in writing was not executed REPLY It was replied that both that Consultation in that manner held if none other act had followed was treason And that the Rebellion following in the citie was not a desisting from the other plot but an inducement and pursuance of it their meaning being plaine on all parts that after they had gotten the aide of the citie they would haue gone and possessed the Court. DEFENCE To the point that it was a truth that Essex should haue bene assailed by his priuate enemies REPLY First he was required to deliuer who it was that gaue him the aduertisement of it because otherwise it must light vpon himselfe be thought his owne inuention whereunto he sayd that hee would name no man that day Then it was shewed how improbable it was considering that my Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Raleigh were men whose estates were better setled and established then to ouerthrow their fortunes by such a crime Besides it was shewed howe the tale did not hang together but varied in it selfe as the tale of the two Iudges did when one said Vnder the Mulbery-tree and another said Vnder the Figge-tree So sometimes it was That he should haue beene murdered in his bed and sometimes vpon the water and sometimes it should haue bene performed by Iesuits some dayes before Thirdly it was asked what reference the going into the citie for succour against any his priuate enemies had to the imprisoning of the L. Keeper and the L. Chiefe Iustice persons that he pretended to loue and respect and the Earle of Worcester his kinsman and Master Controller his Vncle and the publishing to the people that the Realme should haue bene solde to the Spaniard And lastly it was sayd that these were the ancient footsteps of former Traitours to make their quarrell as against their priuate enemies because God vnto lawful kings did euer impart such beams of his owne glory as Traytours could not looke straight vpon them but euer turned their pretences against some about them And that this Action of his resembled the Action of Pisistratus of Athens that proceeded so farre in this kinde of fiction
he did not acquaint him with any particulars of my Lords deseignes till a good while after But my Lorde hauing spent the ende of the Summer being a priuate time when euery body was out of towne and dispersed in digesting his owne thoughts with the helpe and conference of Master Cuffe they had soone set downe betweene them the ancient principle of Traitors and Conspirators which was To prepare many and to acquaint few and after the maner of Mynes to make ready their powder and place it and then giue fire but in the instant Therefore the first consideration was of such persons as my Lord thought fit to draw to be of his party singling out both of Nobilitie and Martiall men and others such as were discontented or turbulent and such as were weake of iudgement and easie to be abused or such as were wholy dependants and followers for meanes or countenance of himselfe Southampton or some other of his greatest associates And knowing there were no such strong and drawing cordes of popularitie as religion he had not neglected both at this time and long before in a profane pollicy to serue his turne for his own greatnesse of both sorts factions both of Catholicks and Puritanes as they terme them turning his out side to the one and his inside to the other and making himselfe pleasing and gracious to the one sort by professing zeale and frequenting sermons and making much of Preachers and secretly vnder hand giuing assurance to Blunt Dauies and diuers others that if hee might preuaile in his desired greatnesse hee would bring in a toleration of the Catholike religion Then hauing passed the whole Michaelmas Terme in making himselfe plausible and in drawing concourse about him and in affecting alluring men by kinde prouocations and vsage wherein because his libertie was qualified hee neither forgot exercise of minde nor body neither Sermon nor Tenis Court to giue the occasion and freedome of accesse and concourse vnto him and much other practise and deuise About the end of that terme towards Christmas hee grew to a more framed resolution of the time and maner when and how hee would put his purpose in execution And first about the ende of Michaelmas Terme it passed as a kind of cipher and watchword amongst his friends and followers That'my Lord would stand vpon his guard which might receiue construction in a good sense as well guard of circumspection as guard of force but to the more priuate and trusty persons hee was content it should be expounded that he would be couped vp no more nor hazard any more restraints or commandements But the next care was how to bring such persons as he thought fit for his purpose into Towne together without vent of suspicion to be ready at the time when he should put his deseigne in execution which he had concluded should be some time in Hillarie Terme wherein hee found many deuices to draw them vp some for sutes in Lawe and some for sutes in Court some for assurance of land and one friend to draw vp another it not being perceiued that all mooued from one head And it may be truely noted that in the Catalogue of those persons that were the eight of February in the action of open Rebellion a man may finde almost out of euery County of England some which could not be by chance or constellation and in the particularity of Examinations too long to be rehearsed it was easie to trace in what sort many of them were brought vp to Towne held in Town vpon seueral pretences But in Candlemas Terme when the time drew neere then was hee content consultation should be had by certaine choise persons vpon the whole matter and course which he should hold And because hee thought himselfe and his own house more obserued it was thought fit that the meeting and conference should bee at Drury house where S. Charles Dauers lodged There mette at this Councell the Earle of Southampton with whom in former times hee had bene at some emulations and differences in Court But after Southampton hauing married his kinswoman and plunged himselfe wholly into his fortune and being his continuall Associat in Ireland hee accounted of him as most assured vnto him and had long agoe in Ireland acquainted him with his purpose as was declared before Sir Charles Dauers one exceedingly deuoted to the Earle of Southampton vpon affection begun first vpon the deseruing of the same Earle towards him when he was in trouble about the murther of one Long. Sir Ferdinando Gorge one that the Earle of Essex had of purpose sent for vp from his gouernment at Plymmouth by his letter with particular assignation to be here before the 2. of February Sir Iohn Dauies one that had bene his seruant and raised by him and that bare Office in the Tower being Surueyour of the Ordinance one that he greatly trusted and Iohn Littleton one they respected for his wit and valour The consultation and conference rested vpon three parts The perusall of a list of those persons whom they tooke to be of their party The cōsideration of the Action it selfe which they should set a foot and how they should proceed in it And the distribution of the persons according to the Action concluded on to their seuerall imploiments The list contained the number of sixe score persons Noblemen and Knights and principall Gentlemen and was for the more credits sake of the Earle of Essex owne hand writing For the Action it selfe there was proposition made of two principall Articles The one of possessing the Tower of London the other of surprising her Maiesties person and the Court in which also deliberation was had what course to hold with the Citie either towards the effecting of the surprize or after it was effected For the Tower was alleadged the giuing a reputation to the Action by getting into their hand the principall Fort of the Realme with the stores and prouisions thereunto appertaining the bridling of the Citie by that piece and commoditie of entrance in and possessing it by the meanes of Sir Iohn Dauis But this was by opinion of all reiected as that which would distract their attempt from the more principall which was the Court and as that which they made a iudgement would follow incidently if the Court were once possessed But the later which was the ancient plot as was well knowen to Southampton was in the ende by the generall opinion of them all insisted and rested vpon And the maner howe it should bee ordered and disposed was this That certaine selected persons of their number such as were well knowen in Court and might haue accesse without checke or suspicion into the seuerall roumes in Court according to the seuerall qualities of the persons and the differences of the roumes should distribute themselues into the Presence the Guard-chamber the Hall and the vtter Court and gate and some one principall man vndertaking euery
great Seale out of the window Some other cried there Kill them and some other sayd Nay let vs shop them vp The Lorde Keeper did often call to the Earle of Essex to speake with them priuately thinking still that his meaning had beene so vntill the Earle brought them into his backe Chamber and there gaue order to haue the further doore of that Chamber shut fast And at his going foorth out of that Chamber the Lorde Keeper pressing againe to haue spoken with the Earle of Essex the Earle sayd My Lords be patient a while and stay heere and I will goe into London and take order with the Maior and Shiriffes for the Citie and will be heere againe within this halfe houre And so departed from the Lord Keeper c. leauing the Lord Keeper c and diuers of the Gentlemen Pensioners in that Chamber guarded by Sir Iohn Dauis Francis Tresham and Owen Salisburie with musquet shot where they continued vntill Sir Ferdinando Gorges came and deliuered them about foure of the clocke in the afternoone In the meane time wee did often require Sir Iohn Dauis and Francis Tresham to suffer vs to depart or at the least to suffer some one of vs to go to the QVEENES MAIESTY to informe her vvhere and in what sort we were kept But they answered That my Lord meaning the Earle of Essex had commanded that we should not depart before his returne which they said would be very shortly Thomas Egerton C. S. Edward Worcester Iohn Popham ¶ The examination of Roger Earle of Rutland the 12. of February 1600. taken before Sir Thomas Egerton L. Keeper of the great Seale the L. Buckhurst L. high Treasurer the Earle of Notingham L. high Admirall Sir Robert Cecill Principall Secretary and Sir Io. Popham L. chiefe Iustice of England HE saith that at his comming to Essex house on Sunday morning last he found there with the Earle of Essex the Lord Sandys and the L. Chandos and diuers Knights and gentlemen And the Earle of Essex tolde this Examinate That his life was practised to bee taken away by the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Raleigh when he was sent for to the Counsell And the Earle said That now he meant by the helpe of his friends to defend himselfe And saith that the deteining of the Lord Keeper and the other Lords sent to the Earle from the Queene was a stratageme of warre And saith That the Earle of Essex told him that London stood for him and that Sherife Smith had giuen him intelligence that hee would make as many men to assist him as he could And further the Earle of Essex said That he meant to possesse himselfe of the Citie the better to enable himselfe to reuenge him on his enemies the Lord Cobham Sir Robert Cecil and sir Walter Raleigh And this Examinate confesseth that he resolued to liue and die with the Earle of Essex and that the Earle of Essex did intend to make his forces so strong that her Maiestie should not be able to resist him in the reuenge of his enemies And saith that the Earle of Essex was most inward with the Earle of Southampton Sir Christopher Blunt and others who haue of long time shewed themselues discontented and haue aduised the Earle of Essex to take other courses and to stand vpon his guard And saith that when the Earle of Essex was talking with the L. Keeper and other the Lords sent from her Maiestie diuers sayd My Lord they meane to abuse you you loose time And when the Earle came to Sherife Smiths hee desired him to send for the Lord Maior that hee might speake with him And as the Earle went in the streetes of London this Examinate sayd to diuers of the Citizens that if they would needes come that it was better for their safetie to come with weapons in their hands And saith that the Earle of Essex at the end of the streete where Sherife Smith dwelt cried out to the Citizens That they did him harme for that they came naked and willed them to get them weapons And the Earle of Essex also cried out to the Citizens That the Crowne of England was offred to be solde to the Infanta And saith that the Earle burned diuers papers that were in a little Casket whereof one was as the Earle sayd An historie of his troubles And sayth that when they were assaulted in Essex house after their returne they first resolued to haue made a sallie out And the Earle sayd that he was determined to die and yet in the end they changed their opinion and yeelded And sayth that the Earle of Southampton sir Christopher Blunt and sir Iohn Dauies aduised the Earle of Essex that the Lord Keeper and his company should be deteined And this Examinate sayth that he heard diuers there present cry out Kill them kill them And sayth that he thinketh the Earle of Essex intended that after he had possessed himselfe of the Citie hee would intreat the Lord Keeper and his company to accompany him to the Court Hee sayth hee heard Sir Christopher Blunt say openly in the presence of the Earle of Essex and others how fearefull and in what seuerall humors they should finde them at the Court when they came thither Rutland Exam. per Th. Egerton C. S. T. Buckhurst Notingham Ro Cecill Io. Popham ¶ The Confession of William Lord Sandys of the parish of Sherborne Cowdry in the Countie of Southampton taken this 16. of February 1600. before Sir Iohn Popham L. chiefe Iustice Roger Wilbraham Master of the Requests and Edw. Coke her Maiesties Atturney Generall HE saith that hee neuer vnderstood that the Earle did meane to stand vpon his strength till Sunday in the morning being the eight of this instant Februarie And saith that in the morning of that day this Examinat was sent for by the Earle of Essex about sixe or seuen of the clocke and the Earle sent for him by his seruant Warberton who was married to a widowe in Hampshire And at his comming to the Earle there were sixe or seuen Gentlemen with him but remembreth not what they were and next after of a Noble man came my Lord Chandos and after him came the Earle of Southampton and presently after the Earle of Rutland and after him Master Parker commonly called the Lord Mountegle And sayeth that at his comming to the Earle of Essex he complained That it was practised by Sir Walter Raleigh to haue murdered him as hee should haue gone to the Lord Treasurers house with Master Secretary Herbert And saith that he was present in the Court-yard of Essex house when the Lord Keeper the Earle of Worcester Sir William Knollis and the Lorde Chiefe Iustice came from the QVEENES MAIESTIE to the Earle of Essex And the Lord Chiefe Iustice required the Earle of Essex to haue some priuate conference with him and that if any priuate wrongs were offered vnto him that they would make true report thereof to her MAIESTIE who no
Earle of Essex that if he would not declare his griefes openly yet that then hee would impart them priuately and then they doubted not to giue him or procure him satisfaction Vpon this there arose a great clamor among the multitude Away my Lord they abuse you they betray you they vndoe you you lose time Whereupon my L. Keeper put on his hat and said with a louder voyce then before My Lord let vs speake with you priuately and vnderstand your griefes and I doe commaund you all vpon your allegiance to lay downe your weapons and to depart Vppon which wordes the Earle of Essex and all the rest as disdaining commandement put on their hats and Essex somewhat abruptly went from him into the house and the Counsellors followed him thinking hee would haue priuate conference with them as was required And as they passed through the seuerall roomes they might heare many of the disordered companie crie Kill them kill them and others crying Nay but shoppe them vp keepe them as pledges cast the great Seale out at the windowe and other such audacious and traiterous speeches But Essex tooke holde of the occasion and aduantage to keepe in deed such pledges if he were distressed and to haue the countenance to leade them with him to the Court especially the two great Magistrates of Iustice and the great Seale of England if he preuailed and to depriue her Maiestie of the vse of their counsell in such a strait and to ingage his followers in the very beginning by such a capitall act as the imprisonment of Counsellors carying her Maiesties royall commaundement for the suppressing of a rebellious force And after that they were come vp into his booke chamber hee gaue order they should bee kept fast giuing the charge of their custodie principally to Sir Iohn Dauis but adioyned vnto him a warder one Owen Salisburie one of the most sedicious and wicked persons of the number hauing beene a notorious robber and one that serued the enemie vnder Sir William Stanley and that bare a speciall spleene vnto my Lord Chiefe Iustice who garded these honourable persons with Muskets charged and Matches ready fiered at the chamber doore This done the Earle notwithstanding my Lord Keeper still required to speake with him left the charge of his house with Sir Gilly Mericke and vsing these words to my Lord Keeper Haue patience for a while I will goe take order with the Maior and Sherifes for the Citie and be with you againe within halfe an houre issued with his troupe into London to the number of two hundreth besides those that remained in the house choise men for hardinesse and valour vnto whom some Gentlemen and one Noble man did after ioyne themselues But from the time he went forth it seemes God did strike him with the spirit of Amazement and brought him round againe to the place whence he first moued For after he had once by Ludgate entred into the Citie he neuer had as much as the heart or assurance to speake any set or confident speech to the people but repeated onely ouer and ouer his tale as he passed by That he should haue bene murthered nor to doe any act of foresight or courage but he that had vowed hee would neuer bee cooped vp more cooped himselfe first within the wals of the Citie and after within the wals of an house as arrested by Gods Iustice as an example of disloyaltie For passing through Cheapeside and so towards Smiths house and finding though some came about him yet none ioyned or armed with him he prouoked them by speeches as he passed to arme telling them They did him hurt and no good to come about him with no weapons But there was not in so populous a Citie where he thought himselfe held so deare one man from the chiefest Citizen to the meanest Artificer or Prentise that armed with him so as being extremely appalled as diuers that happened to see him then might visibly perceiue in his face and countenance and almost moulten with sweate though without any cause of bodily labour but only by the perplexitie and horror of his minde hee came to Smiths house the Sherife where he refreshed himselfe a little and shifted him But the meane while it pleased God that her Maiesties directions at Court though in a case so strange and sudden were iudiciall and sound For first there was commaundement in the morning giuen vnto the Citie that euery man should be in a readinesse both in person and armor but yet to keepe within his owne doore and to expect commandement vpon a reasonable politique consideration that had they armed suddenly in the streetes if there were any ill disposed persons they might arme on the one side and turn on the other or at least if armed men had bene seene to and fro it would haue bred a greater tumult and more bloodshed and the nakednesse of Essex troupe would not haue so well appeared And soone after direction was giuen that the Lord Burghley taking with him the King of Heralds should proclaime him Traitour in the principall parts of the Citie which was perfourmed with good expedition and resolution and the losse and hurt of some of his Companie Besides that the Earle of Cumberland and Sir Thomas Gerrard Knight Marshall rode into the Citie and declared and notified to the people that hee was a Traitour from which time diuers of his troupe withdrawing from him and none other comming in to him there was nothing but despaire For hauing stayed a while as is sayd at Shirife Smiths house and there changing his pretext of a priuate quarell and publishing That the Realme should haue bene solde to the Infanta the better to spurre on the people to rise and called and giuen commandement to haue brought armes and weapons of all sorts and being soone after aduertised of the Proclamation he came forth in a hurry So hauing made some stay in Gracious street and being dismaid vpon knowledge giuen to him that forces were comming forwards against him vnder the conduct of the L. Admirall the Lieutenant of her Maiesties forces and not knowing what course to take he determined in the end to goe backe towards his own house aswel in hope to haue found the Counsellers there and by them to haue serued someturne as vpon trust that towardes night his friends in the City would gather their spirits together and rescue him as himselfe declared after to M. Lieutenant of the Tower But for the Counsellers it had pleased God to make one of the principall offenders his instrument for their deliuery who seeing my Lords case desperate contriuing how to redeeme his fault and saue himselfe came to sir Iohn Dauis and sir Gillie Mericke as sent from my Lord and so procured them to be released But the Earle of Essex with his companie that was left thinking to recouer his house made on by land towards Ludgate where being resisted by a company of