upon two foundations one must fail and distract the other therefore the more certain To surprize the Queen the rest would follow The manner thus Certain select persons well known at Court for access should distribute themselves into the Present Guard-Chamber Hall and utter Court and Gate And in each of these places one principal person to guide the assistants Their distribution Sir Iohn Davers to the Presence and Guard-Chamber to seize the Halberds of the Guard Davis to the Hall Blunt to the Gate These in readiness by a signall Essex should remove from his house and well attended or to meet him should with correspondence of the setters and some tumult and confusion effect their design Thus the plot-form the second act to their Tragedy that Essex should prostrate him self at the Queens feet desire removall of evil Counselors who possessed her Majesty and State Then to summon a Parliament alter Government and confirm conditions to themselves In this consult Essex inclined most for possessing London as a surer ground to that of the Court also Being wedded to his false overweening opinion of the people and Citizens and their number Suspecting belike the instinct loyalty of many of his Train when the fury should be over and he perhaps left in the lurch with the fewest of his friends The true Nature of usurping Rebells to â—rust more to the main of Multitude than of qualitie especially Essex who had gotten I know not how nor by what merit the specious Mark of a Patriot proper to infuse and mint jealousies into the heads of the more unworthy and less prudent and these he could easily stirr up by Emissaries who lye at watch to bo utefeux it and inflame mens minds to disperse abroad unshrowded sparks of discord and that way to convert a Kingdom into a flame But this Counsel was afterwards refined by Essex Cuffe and Blunt To assemble a Troop to come sodainly from the Mews in scattered Numbers and unite in a moment at the Court Gate And as good Common-wealths men lest their new contrivements should want Ministers they would supply in a readiness of their own for Counselors and Servants to the Queen in place of such evil ones the beaten path of Traytors as they thought fit to remove which should be their plausible pretext to their own practices and a general ground to the common people The day drawing nigh but not assigned being left to my Lord the Curse of the Psalmist interposed like the untimely fruit of the woman brought forth before it came to perfection For many that knew of the plot diligent with too much resort at Essex house brought forth mutterings of somewhat which states soon discover The afternoon 7. February before the next day of Rebellion was sent to Essex house Secretary Herbert to summon him before the Council sitting at Salisbury Court at the Lord Treasurer Buckhursts which he excused not to do under colour of being ill And suspecting the discovery of his Trains and doubting delays resolved upon his enterprize the next day Sunday But then upon advertizement of doubling the Court Guards and allarum there he determined on his former conceipt of being the peoples darling and the Minion of London upon confidence of Sir Thomas Smith the City Sheriff Giving out that Evening that he was sent for to Counsel to be betrayde by an Ambuscado of Musketeers upon the water by the devise of the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Ralegh to murther him by the way This mean design the best he had took fire like a squib the Messages and warning to his chief confidents all that night and next morning And his servant Temple took up his Tale and told it to the City And to colour it the more watch and ward was up all night to open his gates to all comers in so that the morning hastens Mannors Earl of Rutland Southampton Lord Sands Sir Henry Parker called Lord Mounteagle with some Number of Knights and Gentlemen and being Sunday it gave occasion to others to come to his Sermon whom he carressed with his Cap in his hand telling them his former tale But to his more confidents That he was sure of the City and that strength which the Queen could not oppose nor his Enemies withstand his revenge Alwaies with this caution to his Gate-Keepers to suffer none to return out to tel News Sunday at 10. a clock the Queen had intelligence and yet was willing to cast water on this fire ere it should flame to a Rebellion her authority before her force she sent the Lord Keeper Earl of Worcester the Controuler of hir Houshold the Lord chief Justice who finding the Gates shut after some stay were let in by the wicket but all their servants kept out except the bearer of the Seal the Court full of Company with Essex and his Lords to whom the Lord Keeper said That the Queen sent them to understand the reason of their Assembly that if they had cause of griefs against any persons whatsoever they should have hearing and justice Essex told them aloud That his life was sought to be murthered in his bed and had been perfidiously dealt withall The Chief Justice answered If any such matter were attempted or intended it were fit for him to declare it and to be assured of their faithfull relation and so He should not fail of her Majesties Princely Indifferency and Iustice. Southampton objected the assault upon him by the Lord Gray to which the Chief Justice said that justice had been done and the party in prison The Keeper required Essex to impart his griefs if not openly yet privately and promised satisfaction Upon this arose a high clamour of the multitude Away my Lord they abuse you they destroy you they undoe you you lose time The Lord Keeper putting on his hat commanded them all upon their Allegiance to lay down their weapons and depart When Essex and all the rest clapt on their Caps and going into the House the Lords followed him as to have private conference and fearing the Multitude who â—ryed out kill them shop them up keep them pledges â—â—st the great seal out at window And accordingly he gave them in custody principally to Sir Iohn Davis and one Owen Salisbury a seditious notorious robber guarding them with Muskets fired and cockt and left the charge of his house to Sir Gilly Merrick bidding the Lord Keeper to have patience whilst he would take order with the Maior and Sheriffs for the City and be with them again within an hour So goes forth with his Number 200. men entered Ludgate and with a fearfull timorous discomposed tale repeated That he should have been murthered and so passing through Cheap-side unto Sir Thomas Smiths house in Philpot-lane who was at Church where he shifts into a dry shirt the passion of fear firing him into a hot sweat The people flocking and gazing as he went To whom
he said they did him hurt and no good without weapons The Queen and Court somewhat frighted commanded the City to be in readiness but to keep within doors The Lord Burghley with Garter King of Heraulds proclamed him Traytor in the principal parts of London which was done with expedition and resolution though with loss of some of his Train and hurt of many Clifford Earl of Cumberland with Sir Thomas Gerrard Knight Marshal rode up and down proclaming them Traytors And so divers withdrawing he altered his former pretext and said That Kingdom should have been sold to the Infanta Then making stay in Grace-street and dismaid at the tidings that forces were aproaching under conduct of the Lord Admiral Lieutenant for the Queen resolved to return by water and make good his own person by the pledges of the Lords which a good fellow over-hearing and not well assured of his part there being as deep in the design as death hasted before by land told Davis and Merick that by any means they should release the Council and so got his own pardon and this was Sir Ferdinando Gorges But Essex ignorant as yet goes on by land to Ludgate there at the West end of Pauls he was resisted by the forces of the Bishop of London commanded by Sir Iohn Luson At which Incounter Blunt was wounded young Tracie slain and others on his part Wyat slain and some hurt on the Queens part But upon this small repulse He slips from his Train turns down to Queen-hith and by a pair of oares was received into his Water-gate at home which he fortified and baricadoed And as instantly was he besieged on land by the Earls of Cumberland and Lincoln Lords Thomas Howard Gray Burghly and Compton Sir Walter Ralegh and Sir Thomas Gerrard And by water by the Lord Admiral the Lord Essingham Lord Cobham Sir Iohn Stanhop Sir Robert Sidney and Master Foulk Gervil and this way forcing the walls wonne the Garden And being offered parly and time to remove his Countess and Sister Rich with other Gentlewomen before they would storm the Hourse But Essex with his Lords upon the Leads would not capitulate but intreat That they might be used Civilly To have an honourable Tryal To have Ashton his Preacher with him in Prison And so by ten a clock at night they submitted themselves Prisoners to the Tower This monstrous Treason of this mighty man thus weakly managed was began and ended in twelve hours and the next day as calm as if no Motion or Billowes had been before For which he and Southampton eleven dayes after were arraigned and condmned this one had his reprieve but Essex the reward of his merits and executed the 25. February upon the Inner Hill in the Tower Several dayes before Sir Charls Blunt suffered by the Axe and Cuff by the halter Essex before his and at several times so not surprized betrayed most of his confederates and discovered Sir Henry Nevil late Ambassadour in France as privie to all his conspiracies of whom til then there had been no suspition which was construed in him an Act more of temerity and hope of pardon than in Grace and good Conscience of a Repentant Offender And this being his Tragedy It is no wonder though our Adversarie Authors the one The History of Great Britain the other The Court and Character of King James should so slightly pass over his Treasons With them we shall have some dispute as we meet them Contemporaries in our farther proceedings in the second Part. Let me add the Opinion that a writer had of Essex and published in these verses Quod Regina scelus scelus est quod Virgo petatur quod pia Virgo scelus quod tibi grata scelus Cum Virgo Regina Pia et tibi grata petatur Proh scelus et superat quod scelus omne scelus It 's Treason that a Queen should ruin'd be That a Maid ill That she was Good yet worse that good to Thee More wicked still But when a Queen a Maid Good and thy Friend Thou wouldst dispatch The Treason that thy black heart doth intend Dares Hell to match England thus long sick of the disease of Irish affairs the expence whereof had brought the State into a Consumption which put the Queen to seek money of her Subjects besides her way of sweetning them with good words Tyrone grew so Insolent asto act Soveraignty where ere he came disposing Honours Estates Privileges Freedomes And therefore Charles Blunt Lord Montjoy is sent over Deputy and though others as fit as the former the Queen who seldome chose amiss pickt out him to command for his readiness to obey a fault in Essex proud and stubborn uncounsellable and unconstant The Rebells put him to it salute him by Allarm in the very Suburbs of Dublin which the Deputy with his selected Veteranes meant to requite soon after in a Massy-body and fight him which the Enemy sought for and had been worsted of which some underhand Counsellors at the Queen elbow warned him to prevent by turning a to-side But with several light Brigadoes he was so hotly pursued asput him to his holes again Sir Warham Saint-Leger meets Mac-guire a graceless wretch and with their Launces full Career run each other thorough and dye Romes friendship to those Rebells much encouraged by his Indulgence the aboundance of the Churches Treasure was pleased to spare them pardon of their sinnes for the good service of shedding so much blood of their Sâ—veraigns Subjects and for fighting in the faith of his beloved sonne Hugh Prince O-neal and Earl of Ter-Oen Captain General of the Catholick forces in Ireland Whom His Holiness accompanies with all his spirritual graces and those that follow him or favour him by pains counsel arms provision or any other means a plenary pardon of all their sinnes the very same pardon sayes he that was wont to be granted to those that warre against the Turk or for the Holy land However the deputy sends Docwray into Ulster Garrisons himself with 4000. foot and 300. horse put the Enemie to his lurking with new supplies in Angust out of England he breaks through many difficulties into Ulster Erects Mont-Norris fort in memory of that gallant Iohn Lord Norris under whom he first exercised arms Docwray likewise being assaulted by Ter-oen with treacherie perjurie and cunning deceit and wounded yet gets out of all dangers and takes Dunalong a lesser Castle On the other side the Deputy in winter forces several Rebells to Obedience passes victoriously in compass so farr as Ulster in his first years Regency George Carew no less fortunate in Munster The Southern parts burthened by the Titâ—lar Earl Desmond of Ter-Oens making he surprizes but was again rescued Takes seven Castles drives him out of that province reduces many Rebells to obedience quiets the County and comes home at Christmass And this was done there In England they
And so it was in his Mothers time and without consent of Parliament else it would seem a League of the People And in his time when it came to be Ratifyed least it should appear In odium Tertii it was by Him left out in respect of his Title to England 3. Who is so ignorant as can not see the profit and commodity to England by this Union is there not Gain by Wales is not Scotland greater Lands Seas and Persons added to Greatness certainly Two made One makes them Greater and Stronger He desires Union for the Empire of England and for their security to condescend to reasonable Restrictions And he will never say what he will not promise nor promise what he will not swear nor swear what he will not perform And so dismisses them But although the Parliament could not be drawn to it presently yet not long after it wrought upon the Judges of this Kingdom that the chief Justice Coke confirmed the Post-Nati in Calvins Case and Title And adjudged for him also by that reverend States-man Chancelor Elsmere and all the Iudges likewise in the Exchequer Chamber whose opinions do much confound our Adversary bewailing the Cause That of such stuffe Judges are made who can modell their Presidents to any shape And yet all that this Session could be drawn to do was to repeal the Laws of Hostility between both Nations and so confirmed in Scotland from the fourth of Henry 5. of England and from 1 Iames 1. of Scotland Some excellent Acts were concluded this Session which I refer to the statutes in print But because the Judges in that time are complained of as too partiall for the Kings commands Let me aeternize the memory of Judge Nichols of the common pleas His Predecessor in his Circuite Assize for the County of Northampton had reprieved a Felon indicted before him and found guilty by the Jury and condemned but reprieved by him upon some observation of the weakness of the Evidence This Iudge dying Nichols appointed for that Circuite continues the Prisoners reprieve And the complaint came to the King who urgeth the Judg by letters for Execution which yet he refused His just excuse was That if his Predecessor who heard the Evidence thought good in Iustice to grant his reprieve It became not his Conscience now to condemn him seeing he never heard the Evidence at all And that it was part of his Oath to do right notwithstanding the Kings letters 18. Edward 3. This man therefore the King owned to be a wise learned and just Judge for though he might perhaps have given just Iudgment it could not be true Iustice. Licet aequum statuerit hand aequum fuerit Heretofore Proclamations had been by Queen Elizabeth and King Iames against the excessive repair of persons of quality out of the Country to London by neglecting their duties at home in their respective service to the Common weal the decay of Hospitable Neighborhood and relief of the poor Besides the more room made for them crowded the Mechanick and Trades-men into narrow habitations and dear rents pestering most houses with Inmates Infections and sickness the Country Towns and Burroughs unpeopled trade decayed But these commands not obeyed The wisdom of State was assured that the cause taken away the effects would follow The restraint of New-buildings might necessitate the Gentry to keep to the Country for want of lodgings at easie rates in London And such as should be were prescribed heretofore a form of Brick upright to save Timber so much wanting and to beautifie the streets incroached upon with bay windows and eaves hanging over that even joyned with the opposite Neighbour upon old or new foundations a Custome of freedom in after times of loose liberty which destroys the beauty of buildings And now necessity enforcing a farther Obedience this proclamation hath these Limitations No new buildings in London or two miles about but upon old foundations And such as have been erected within five years last past contrary to former Proclamations which were to be pulled down shall nevertheless be disposed by Officers appointed for tenements to the poor or for their benefit and hereafter offending to be pull'd down No House to be divided hereafter into several Tenements nor any Inmates received to make another family These prohibitions were referred to the Aldermen and Iustices of Peace and this was in October 1607. When the plague ceased and the fresh gang of the Countrey came huddling to keep Christmass at London Our Caluminator that swells his Book with malitious observations and false quotations refers this to 7. Iac. 1609. and belyes the restriction to be pulled down though says he not taken notice of in seven years after for this Proclamation commands the Aldermen and Iustices in their diligent view perambulation and inquiry to certifie the Kings Council every Term or their neglect to be censured punished and removed from the Peace as unworthy Whereby says he many not heeding the Proclamation laid out their whole Estates upon little Hovels and building fair houses upon new foundations must either purchase them anew or pull them down and both to their ruine Name me one that was repurchased Indeed such as offended in this last were to be fined or pulled down And truly the commands were so necessary so wholesome so beautifull and so exemplarily publick that very few offended and such as did deserved due punishment yet this is scored upon the King as a Crime in State which he foresaw would come to pass as now in these days we finde the effects to be pitied the very ruine of this City and Suburbs The Lord Treasurer Dorset died suddenly at the Council-table his Disease an Apoplexy which gave way to Cecil Earl of Salisbury to succeed him Treasurer this Dorset was Thomas Sackvile Son and Heir of Sir Richard Sackvile of Buckhurst who came from the Temple a Barrester and was created Baron Buckhurst by Queen Elizabeth and by King Iames Earl of Dorset 1605. and Knight of the Garter About this time a further discovery was made in Scotland concerning the truth of Gowry's Treason by Attainder of another of the Conspiratours The Treason was attempted the fourth of August 1600. as before remembered and though there followed sundry Suspitions and Examinations of several persons supposed Abettors and Contrivers then yet it lay undiscovered tanquam e post liminio untill this time eight years after by the circumspection principally of the Earl of Dunbar a man of as great wisdom as those times and that Nation could boast of upon the person of one George Sprot Notary publick at Aymouth in Scotland from some words of his sparingly and unawares expressed and some Papers found in his house whereof being examined with little ado he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh 12. August 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman
contrary to what they did to him by form of law not by violence and that the estates should meet in the same place where the dishonor was done to him for their tryal and punishment The day before the convention The keys of the Town submitted to the Kings officer a guard of the Kings forces ranged the streets and the Citizens disarmed are commanded to keep within doors the charge of the Town given to the Earl Marre Lord Seaton and Uchiltry Thus prepared the King enters with a train of Nobles alights at the Talbooth where the Estates did meet The Provost Sir Alexander Hume with the Baliffs and numbers of the City fall down on their knees and to pacifie the King most humbly propose To purge themselves of the Tumult by oath before the Council having made diligent search for the Authors aâ—d would proceed to inquire or to aâ—sist any other officers therein They promise never to admit of those Ministers pronounced Rebells without his Majesties command nor ever to receive any hereafter but at the Kings pleasure and not to elect annual Majestrates without the Kings approbation and to accept others whom the King would present And in all or any other manner to submit as his Majesty shall ordain under protest that they take not upon them the crime of the Tumult See the effects of Rebellion in general if they succeed not advance the Soveraign so did this The insurrection proceeding from the Ministers their Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction submits alwaies after to the Kings authority In these stories of Bruce before and Blake now the grand Incendiaries of their Riot it appears how patiently the King proceeded if possibly to have confirmed them and to have secured his Prerogative with their priviledges which he could never procure from them without this oversight of their own Besides how submiss are the Lay subjects now and how high grows the King and his Counsellors Advice is offered to raze the Town and erect a Pillar of repentance a Monument of their misery caused by their insolencie and this their punishment Others were lesse mild but all for condign marks of revenge to teach others their duties for the time to come Nay Bowes the English Ambassadour was out and in and in and out with his policies he liked well to imbroile the State but not to allow advantage to the King for by the faction of the Brethren all the designs of England were managed and reciprocall assistance from them to ballance their quarrels at home and therefore Queen Elizabeth writes to the King her advice fearing belike too much pressing upon the Ministry according to their merrit My Dear Brother If a rare accident and ill welcomed News had not broken my long silence I had not used Pen-speech as being carefull of your quiet and mindfull of your safety To omit the expressing of both by letting you know how untimely I take this new begun phrenzie that may urge you to take such a course as may bring into opinion the veryfying of such a scandal as you avowed to me to be farr from your thoughts In this sort I mean it some members of the Church with their Companies have over-audatiously imboldned themselves to redress some injurious acts that they feared might overthrow their profession which I grant no King for the manner ought to bear with yet at the instant when the new banisht Lords returned and they seem to be wincked at without restraint and the spring time going on when promised succor is neer hand together with many letters from Rome elswhere which tel the names of men authorised by you they say though I hope falsely to assure your conformity as time may serve you to establish the dangerous party and fail your own I wail in unfeigned sort that any just cause should be given you to call in doubt so disguised acts and hope that you will so try this cause as that it harm you not though it ruine them Of this you may be sure that if you make your strength of so sanday a foundation as to call to your aid such as be not of your flock when as the one side be foolish rash head-strong and brain-sick yet such as may defend you having no sure anchorage for themselves if you fail them and the others who have other props to sustain them though they lack you yea such as though your private love to their persons may invegle your eyes not to pierce the depth of their treason yet it is well known that their many petitions for foraign aâ—d might have tended to your perril and Countries wrack for seldome comes a stranger to a weaker soil that thralleth not the possessor or indangereth him at least I trust you think no less or else they must justifie themselves to condemn you for without your displeasure not feared for such a fact no answer can shield them from blame Now to aver my folly in seeming buysie in anothers affairs I suppose you will not mislike since the source of all is the care of your good to desire that nought be done that may imbolden the Enemie decrease your love and indanger your securety This is in summe the line whereto I tend and God I beseech to direct your heart in such sort as you please not your worst Subjects but make all know in a measure what is fit for them and make difference between error and malice So God bless you with a true thought of her that means you best Your most affectionate SISTER Elizabeth Reg. The Queen suspected that the King would have given extream punishment according to the fact and so highten their adverse enemy the Papists whose cause she urgeth as more guilty to ballance them both with mercy not malice This moderate Council it appears by the Kings former proceedings he intended rather a mind to paliate than to urge the occasion of greater diferences And accordingly no farther prosecution was made only to pursue the Town criminally and to appear at Perth February next And the Octavians not agreeing amongst themselves gave over their Commission of Exchequer into his Majesties hand fearing belike in this time of examination and purging defection they might come to a troublesome accompt though generally they gained repute of faithfull Stewards of the Kings treasure The King finding the Church affairs fall into his own hands rectifies the abuses crep in sates one amongst their articles of discipline I cannot say so they were so framed and formed from the first every day proceeding absurdities not disputed how resonable or religious but as they made for their advantage so were they ordained and obeyed And therefore a National Assembly is appointed at Perth must regulate all to treat and determine the bounds and excercise of the spiritual Jurisdiction Articles being drawn up and printed for to enter upon consideration with this Preface of the King He takes God the searcher of all hearts to record That his intentions are not
That witches can cure or cast on diseases the same reason that proves their power by the Divel of diseases in general their power in special is also proved as weakning the nature of some men towards women In others to abound above nature and so of particular sicknesses But in all he observes the different ends of God in the first cause and the Divel as his instrument in the second cause as Gods Hangman For where the divels intention is to perish in the patient soul or Body or both God by the contrary draws evermore out of that evil glory to himself either by destruction of the wicked or tryal of the patient and amendment of the faithfull being awakened by that rod of correction But who likes to be too curious of all their Practises read but Bodinus Daemonomancie collected with greater diligence than Judgment And further if you would be acquaiuted with the opinions of the Ancients concerning their power It is well described by Hyperius and Hemmingius two Germain Authors Besides many other Neoterick Theologues largely setting down that subject And if curious and inquisitive of the rites of this unnecessary Perilous black-art the Divel may too soon direct any unto Cornelius Agrippa and Wierus afore mentioned I know how it hath been of late urged that King Iames was not of the same mind alwaies and very tender of his Judges â—roceedings ignorantly condemning some innocent Melancholly simple old women whose miserable poverties made them weary of life and easily to confess themselves guilty of they knew not what though in sad condition otherwise liable to Satans suggestions and deceipt And so busied himself with curious perspicuity into tryal examination and discovery of sundry counterfeits pretenders to be possessed by evill spirits But yet to my knowledg he was ever constant to his former opinion of witches and witchcraft in particulars I can evidence The King thus busied to quiet the North Countries some Incursions were made on the Marches of each Nation the out-lodgers of Tindale Riddesdale for the English made in rodes upon the Scots County of Liddesdale The Laird Backlugh commander of those parts does the like into England and apprehending the chief mischief-makers 36 puts them all to the sword and returns with great spoil Against him is Sir William Bowes sent from the Queen to complain and with much adoe reconciled And for the future peace of the Borders the time was assigned for Hostages to be delivered on each side to either But Backlugh fayling to perform his part was feign to satisfie the Queens displeasure by entering himself into England as Hostage where he continued some Moâ—â—ths Queen Elizabeth evermore upon actions of diversion never upon conquest to assist her neighbours French and Netherlands prepares another Navy against Spain of 120 sail under command of Essex and Lord Thomas Howard and Sir Walter Ralegh in three sqadrons they set out of Plymouth but are weather beaten back and put forth again but become distressed ere they get cleer of land and so return And after fresh supply of men and victual they resolve for the Islands of Azores In the voyage by the way cross winds seperate Ralegh who being missed when the others came there Essex overhastily sent intelligence by a Bark into England that Ralegh had on purpose seperated himself from the fleet But he hastily coming in unto them that rash act of complaint was excused by Essex which Ralegh resented ever after And he landing on the Isle of Fiall before Essex came thither takes the Town which being misunderstood as in dispite of Authority they are peiced again They land upon Gratiosa and Flores take the spoil and depaâ—â— unto other Ilands to seek the Spanish India fleet which was then to come home And no sooner departed but within two houres after the whole fleet of 40 sail full of treasure arrives there and meets with some of the English ships But ere Essex came in they were shrowded under the safety and shot of their own Castles Yet Essex lands farther off and takes Villa Franka burns a great Carocque ship But not much done in answer to Essex his ranting intentions they return in some distress by the way home And being come to Court the Repetition of their several incounters moved contention between Essex and Ralegh casting all misfortunes on each other Besides Essex now blown up with ambition was offended that Sir Robert Cacil in his absence was made Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Dutchie of Lancaster emulous of his wisdom and besides he was then Raleghs great friend But more malitious That the Lord Howard Admiral of England was created Earl of Nottingham with some Testimonialls mentioned in his Patent That he had secured England from the Spanish invasion of 88 and that joyntly â—ith Essex he had valiantly taken the Iland and City of Cadiz and that he had there wholly destroyed the Spanish fleet designed for their assault of the Kingdom of England but Essex would have it fancied he did all himself For he that usually ascribed all the glory to himself could indure no Rivalls especially that Nottingham now Earl took place of him and all others of the same degree as being Admiral according to the Statute of Henry the 8. That the high Chamberlain high Constable Marshal Admiral high Steward and Chamberlain should have preheminâ—nce of all others of the same degree of Honor. But to please Essex He is therefore made Marshal of England and so his pride took place of the Admiral This I note in particular to shew by what steps and degrees of distast He took occasion to turn Traytor not long after See Anno 1600 and so we return to Scotland The winter quarter brought the Estates to Edenburgh and the King timely holds a Parliament in some respects for restoring the Popish Lords now called Proselytes to their honors and lands And the Commissioners for the Ministery are suiters for sundry Articles Amongst them this was one That the Ministers representing the Church and third estate of the Kingdom might be admitted voice in Parliament according to several acts here to foâ—â— in favour of the Church and the libertie and freedom The King was earnest therein to please them and had it past But then obtained the manner as for himself thus That such Pastors and Ministers as his Majesty should please to provide to the Place and Dignity of a Bishop Abbot or other Prelate at any time shall have voice in Parliament as freely as any other Ecclesiastical Prelate had at any time by-past And that all Bishopricks then in his Majesties hands and undisponed to any person or which should happen to fall void hereafter should be only disponed to actua Preachers and Ministers in the Church or to such other persons as should be found apt and qualified to use and exercise the Office of a Preacher or Minister and who in their provisions to the said
divers conditions but the Contrivers were two Priests Watson and Clark and Count Arembergh Ambassadour Extraordinary for the Arch Duke who brought in the Lord Cobham and he his Brother and the Parham and others and they the Lord Grey of Wilton Then came in Sir Walter Ralegh the wisest of them all who dallied like the Fly with the flame till it consumed him Willing he was it seems to know it and thought by his wit to over-reach the Confederates whom he knew well enough though none but Cobham for a good while dealt with him and with him Ralegh play'd fast and loose till himself was caught in the Gin. There was one Matthew de Laurencie here at London but a Merchant of Antwerp with whom Cobham held intelligence for many years before and for some Reasons of State connived at by the late Queen and her Council This man was the property which Arembergh used to Cobham who was now much discontented These three made the first step to the Contrivements and it hath been my jealousie for I laboured the truth that Laurencie betray'd it I being often present with Sir Walter Ralegh in his Imprisonment when he privately discoursed hereof But such Designs like wounds if they take air corrupt their Project could not be covertly carried consisting after wards of several persons of different tempers and unsuiting souls and so through the rifts and chinks of their several aims and ends which could not be close jointed the vigilancy of Cecil perhaps or other Counsellours of State stole a glympse of their Design apprehensive enough to light a Candle from the sparks of Arembergh's Discourse And being ripe they were severally examined and restrained noâ— without watchfull eyes on either then to Imprisonment and last to their Trials before the Lord High Steward and the Peers at Winchester whither the Term removed out of this evermore Pestilential City And on the seventeenth of November the Day of Arreignment for Ralegh the Iury called to the Bar against whose Persons he did not except nor could for they were his Pares the most able sufficient of Middlesex were the Fact had its Scene The Indictment was managed by the Attourney General Sir Edward Cook Serjeant Heal and Serjeant Philips drawn from the ninth of Iune 1603. The Accusation double against the King and against the State the personal had two parts against his life and to disable his Title to the Crown To the first was read Brooks Confession that his Brother Cobham used these Speeches That it would never be well till the King and his Cubs were taken away and said That he thought it proceeded from Ralegh Ralegh answered That Brooks was his Enemy it was replied That Cobham was ever your Friend and it would seem a strange malice in Brooks to ruine his Brother to undo you To the second part there was produced a Book which I have read A Defence of the Queens Proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots The Title could defend it self but the matter therein meddled too much in a dangerous consequence to the Kings Succession and treasonable enough Cobham had confessed That Ralegh delivered to him that Book and he to Brooks and Brooks to Grey upon Cobham's discontent Ralegh acknowledged that it contained matter of scandal to the Kings Title and that he had leave of Sir Robert Cecil after his Fathers death to look into his Study for Cosmographical Manuscripts of the West Indies and so lighted on this Book Cecil then present upon the Bench acknowledged this leave and said He would then as really have trusted him as any man though since for some infirmities of Sir Walter the bonds of affection were crakt and yet preserving his duty to the King which may not be dispenced withall he swore By God he loved him and had a great conflict in himself that so compleat a member had fallen from the State And this passage needs no soothing to excuse Cecil either Father or Son for I have heard Sir Robert Cecil when he was Salisbury to say publickly at his own Table that he had intercepted and kept all the considerable Libells against the late Queen and this King but though justifiable in them as Counsellours of State yet was it a crime in Ralegh who never was any And this Book as I remember was of one Brag or Crag a Iesuit But Sir Walter excused all That there was nothing acted thereby to the Kings prejudice for that Book was burnt and others are in print But to insist hereupon Cobham had confessed that Ralegh had agreed that he should treat with Arembergh for six hundred thousand Crowns to advance the Title of the Lady Arabella to this Crown that Cobham under pretence of travelling should prosecute this Design in the Low Countreys Flanders France and Spain and to carry three Letters from Her to the Arch Duke Duke of Savoy and King of Spain and to promise Toleration of Religion and Her to be disposed of in Marriage that at his Return he should meet Ralegh at Jersey the place of his command and there to agree how to dispose the money to Discontents and Ralegh should have seven thousand Crowns from Arembergh to himself And further confessed That Ralegh had instigated him to all these Treasons And that Ralegh should say That the best way to trouble England was to cause Division in Scotland To this onely of Scotland Ralegh answered and confessed the words and that he had so thought these twenty years It seems by the sequel since in these our days that he was not much mistaken Laurencie confessed To have delivered Leters from Arembergh to Ralegh who presently with Cobham conferred thereof in private To all these Ralegh craved That Cobham might appear to accuse him face to face I may not omit this passage that when the Confederates had suffered under some Examination and restrained to their several Houses and Ralegh well knowing that Laurencie was suspected but not examined then did Ralegh discover in a Letter to Sir Robert Cecil where Laurencie was in secret with Cobham and to advise to apprehend him and so to intercept their intelligence whilest matters were ripe What Ralegh's Design was herein is not imagined but this use was made of it to Ralegh's ruine for after that Cobham had denied much of the former stuff upon his first Examinations this Letter was shewed to him under Ralegh's hand then Cobham in an extasie railing against Ralegh delivered his positive Accusation of him as is before mentioned and added that after Ralegh's first Examination before the Lords he writ to Cobham That although he had been examined of many matters he had cleared Cobham of all when as the Lords protested he had not been at all examined concerning Cobham and thereby this was inferred by the Council to confirm Cobham to deny all when he should be examined Sir Walter said That Cobham had not signed his Accusation and
to make up out of Adventurers purses for Gold-Mettal from a Mine in Guiana one of the Countreys of America upon no other ground to win belief but a pound of the Ore which he had from thence by the hands of Capt. Kemish his ancient Servant The King wondering at this man why to hazard his future fortune upon the nice dispute with the King of Spain whose Territory he must invade at his own perill of success but yet gave him leave with his liberty so be that he broke not the Kings bands of Amity which he had strickt rules and order to observe The French Lieger had been very earnest for his inlargement with much affection to his deserts and some design of Policy against Spain wherein they two waded so far as that the discovery came to the Kings ears not without intrenching by the by upon his Majesties honour and several commissions from France presented to him to fit him to that purpose wherein he was warily watcht till it should ripen for further tryal and at the worst back-friends were to be put aboard to bring him back again And having got Commission and thereupon a company of his own Countrymen they imbarque with him in a Voyage thither with a compleat Fleet of twelve sail and landed at St. Tomazo a Town of the Spaniards killed five hundred men sacked and burnt it of five of their Fleet it may be said as of the old saying They went up the River and so came down again for rhe Design being the River Oremque in Guiana to discover the Mine at the foot of a Mountain up in the Countrey they were opposed by the Inhabitants Spaniards and Natives and so returned to their company This expedition was grounded at the first only upon Kemish information the Miscarriages that might happen was alwaies cunningly resolved to light upon him for satisfaction of the Adventurers To answer it to the King his intent was never to return but by his own mannagement and the obedience of his Company over whom he had commission of Life and Death he dreamed of nothing less then of a prosperous journey And now to frighten Kemish Raleigh threatens him with the Kings displeasure which to avoid sayes the Storian The poor man pistols himself and so no tales could be truly told He dead the most minded forced their own and his return home which he intended any where else and so some of their scattered ships with him more like a Prisoner than Commander came safe to Kingsale in Ireland from thence to Plymouth where no sooner on shore but he is taken into custody of Sir Lewis Stukely Vice-Admiral of Devon and conveyed to London and so to the Tower with whom he deals for a sum of money presently delivered to him to escape with him into France Stukely yields to all accompanies him by Water where by the way to Gravesend the Design of Stukelyes treachery in that and so it prospered with him being hanged afterwards for clipping Gold they were seized and he brought into the Tower and not many daies after commanded to the Kings-Bench-bar at Westminster before the Lord Chief Iustice Mountague where he was questioned upon the Records of his former Arraignment at the City of Winchester and in answer to that he was asked what he had to say to his Sentence to dy like a Traytor His short defence was Of being lately intrusted by the Kings commission over the Lives of some of his Liege people was soon replyed unto as insufficient and he had judgement to dy the next day by the favour of the Ax which he said smilingly touching it Was a sharp Medicine but a sound Cure of all diseases as it proved to him then in his Ague sit in the Palace yard at Westminster Octob. 1618. It was indeed common discourse then that Raleigh knew of no Mine nor was Kemish assured that the pretended Mine was of Gold but that the piece of Ore which he presented Raleigh in the Tower was falsifyed by dissolving some Gold therin and he a better Chymist than Kemish for that purpose That both of them designed it so to be thereby cozening the world to get credit and afterwards to deceive the King to purchase his liberty But when Kemish came safe from the supposed Mountain without any Mine whom Raleigh expected should miscarry in the way and none but he could discover the deceit then was he destroyed by death but by whose hand it may be suspected not by himself And truly these reports were more then a false visard to out-face the truth of his merit in that action and thereby to weigh down Raleighs miscarriage At his death he endeavoured to cleer some points which he knew lay on the Deck against him His disloyal words of the K. undutiful language from Subjects of Sovereigns take deeper root than the memory of evil Deeds so did the Marshal Byron which cost him his head Essex once told Queen Elizabeth That her conditions were as crooked as her carcase Manebat alta mento repostum He said his Accuser was a base runagate Frenchman and perfidious being sworn to secrecy yet he betrayed Secondly To have had often plots with France He confessed That he had been often solicited from thence and that he endeavoured to escape thither at twice and the last time being got as far as Woolwich Thirdly That the French Agent came often to him with Commissions from his Master but it was not accepted Much he said of these as to the publick and of more things as to private which he did not deny but traversed So then there were other businesses of a second charge and confederacy which made him lyable to a new Tryal for Treason is so comprehensible as to take in even circumstances and out of them to make such conclusions as the jealousie of State shall interprete either for safety or Revenge But the prudence of the King would not hazard more having sufficient upon the old score and because he could not in Law be judicially called to accompt for his last actions his former Attainder being the highest and the last work of the Law whereby he was Civiliter Mortuus The King was inforced except Attainders should become Privileges for all subsequent offences to execute him upon the former And concerning Sir Walters recovery of Queen Anns infirmity for which he should beg a Boon viz. the re-examination of the Lord Cobham by four Earls and three Counsellors It being urged by an Author in the innocency of his cause and ingratitude of the King I shall answer as to my knowledge by the relation of some Ladies of her Bed-chamber and of her Surgeons and Physicians now living That she was never cured of her disease but by death that ends all Maladies We are told That Sir Walter set out his design to the King who discovered it to the Spanish Lieger Gondamore the Countrey Town Men Ships
the Romans but they differ Servus with them was of Servando saving not of Serviendo of serving Our Apprentice comes of Apprenti the French Word a Raw Souldier or to learn or of the Latine apprehendo So then sir Tho. Smiths Repub. Angl. does them injury terming them Bondslaves Bondmens bodies were vested in the Lord interminable but only by Manumission and that by the Will of the Lord without any condition in behalf of the slave Servus with the Romans Nullum caput habuit and were reputed civiliter mortui servi pro nullis habiti There was a voluntary bondage de jure gentium as by the Romans a Man might sell himself ad participandum pretium And also de jure divino positivo So the Hebrews Bondmen Yet they had not jus in corpus they could not violate her chastity By our Law only two sorts of Bondmen villains in gross and vilains reguardant to Mannor A Master in London hath not despoticum imperium over his Apprentice but only quasi curaturam a Teacher ut Pater non Tyrannus immoderate Correction looses his Apprentice who is by Statute to be free from him 5. Eliz. But of late our City discipline had more need to be reduced to antient severity than to be abduced from it The final Cause of every Ordination quallifies the course and determines the Means and action tending to it though abstracting from that consideration the work wrought in the proper nature be servile as for a Souldier to dig or carry earth to a Rampire a Student to be bare or a Novice to do servile Offices and so an Apprentice to do does not extinguish Gentry and what ever he does as not sui juris yet he does nothing Servile but propter finem nobilem to God Country and Calling But Apprentices are so far from being bondmen that then they begin habere caput to be aliqui and by degrees to be free then of the Livery and by after degrees become Wardens Masters Common Council Aldermens Deputies Aldermen Sheriffs Lord Maiors And by further merit Counsellours to the King and Lord Treasurers of England and so if it be rashness to cast a scorn upon a renowned Corporation unjustly let it be iniquity to lay it upon London which in the Empire of Great Brittain amongst their other Cities Velut inter ignes Luna Minores And though the Schools and Camp are most proper for Honour and Arms yet the antient wisdome and bounty of Sovereigns left the Gates of honour open to City Arts and honest gain as fundamentals to common-wealths by example of rising Rome under her first Dictators and Consuls By which they avoided Tyrannical appropriation of Gentry to some certain old families as in Germany and the Confusion of allowing hereditary Nobleness or Gentry to none at all as in Turky c. And with us Cotes of Arms and Title of Gentlemen being the most familiar part of Honour Our Adversaries would overturn and tax our policies in that point which being once gotten and given by Merit or Favour cannot be lost or extinguished No man in England looseth his right to bearing Arms or Title of Gentleman unless attainted in Law Jura Sanguinum nullo jure civili devinci possunt Not to be aliened to another no more than to pass away any habit or quality of the Mind Virtue or Learning Queen Elizabeth was descended lineally from Sir Godfrey Bullen Lord Maior of London by Queen Anne Bullen her Mother Sir Martin Calthrope her Kinsman also and Lord Maior of London Citizens of London have been called Barons Hen. 3. Londinenses Quos propter Civitatis Dignitatem civium antiquitatem Barones consueuimus appelare London sends Kinghts and Citizens to the Parliament not Burgesses And sundry of our Sovereigns have daigned to be of their Freedome But the opinion of bondage and extinguishing birth-right of Gentry hath filled England with more Vices and sacrificed more bodies to odious ends and more souls to sinful life than perhaps any other uncivil opinion whatsoever Holding it better to rob than to labour though they dayly see that out of Our Apprenticeships rise such Ministers of Iustice as sit upon Malefactors when they a shame and sorrow to their Kindred undergo a fortune too unworthy the basest of Bondmen May not his Sons fall into the same fate by the Fathers prejudicate opinion So much in honour of truth not interest The Hollanders in these times rich and proud at home increased so mighty in power also in the East Indies that by insenseable Incroachments at first they went on to quarrel particular rights and interests in several places there for sole trading from the English And complaint being sent hither by the Governours of our Factories there A Treaty was demanded by the King and accordingly Commissioners appointed to dispute their differences in London 1613. The next Treaty was at the Hague 1615. The last was at London 1619. And by Amnesty then a Solemn Composition of all differences and Orders were concluded for the future between us and them And in regard of their bloodshed and vast expence in reducing the Trade of the Islands Molucca Banda and Amboyna from the Spaniards and Portugals and their buildings and Forts therefore the Hollanders should enjoy two thirds and the English the other third and the charge of the Forts to be levyed by Taxes and Impositions upon the Merchandize and so were settled in those places The Island of Amboyna lies neer Seran about fourty Leagues in compass and hath relation to other Factories the chief Town called also as the Island Amboyna the Rendevouz for the gatheing and buying of Cloves the chief Commodity the smaller Factories are Hâ—â—â—o Larica Loho and Cambello The Hollanders Forts there are four strong and well manned with two hundred Dutch Souldiers and a Company of free Burgers four hundred Mardikers or free Natives so called And here the English lived in the Town and under protection of the Castle in an House of their own During two years the Dutch very cunningly wasted too much upon their Fortifications and Garrisons and yet drew their Account so chargeable to the English that instead of the third part they contributed two thirds and their complaints were examined by the Counsel of Defence of both Nations residing in Jaccatra in the Island Java Major and they disagreeing the differences were to be sent home to be decided herein by both Companies or by the King and their States according to an Article 1619. But disputes breed delay here and increased jealousies there and in February One thousand six hundred and twenty two A Japoner Souldier discoursing with a Dutch Centinel of the Strength of the Castle was suspected and tortured and confessed sundry of his Countrey-men contrivers with him of surprizing the Castle who were also tortured and one Price an Englishman and Prisoner with them who also accused others of the Factories Captain Towerson Tomson Beomont Collins Webber Ramsey Johnson Farde and Brown and these