and Carlisle vast consumers especially Carlisle of what they got ibid. 6 Montgomery for a time a Favourite p. 56. Vpon whose wane after a contention between the English and Scots out of whether Nation the next Favourite should come Câ—r arose a Favourite p. 57 How tended and tendred by the King when in a Tilting with the Lord Dingwel he had broke his leg p. 58 Sir Tho. Overbury taken into great favor by Car. p. 59 Salisbury and Suffolk in favour of this new Favourite regardfull of his Creature Overbury are both used by him yet through his insolency both neglected p. 60 Northamptons plot upon Overbury for his scorn of him ib Overbury a tart reprover of Somerset concerning Suffolks daughter Essex's wife p. 62 He is therefore plotted against to be removed out of the way on an Embassy to France or upon refusal c. p. 64 Being committed to the Tower he was there pâ—ysoned See the foulenesse of that businesse p. 65. c. After that Somerset marrys the Lady in which mâ—tter was seen the high corruption of the then times p. 70 c In this Favourites time came over the Palsgrave and married the Kings daughter the La. Elizabeth p. 76 Shortly after Prince Henry dyed ib. His death foretold by Bruce banished therefore by Salisbury who died in May the Prince in November following p. 78 Ingram and Cranfield Projectors made use of in Court but like Projectors as they were kept under by Somerset which were more highly regarded by the after Favourite p. 80 81. which was 8 Favourite Mr. Mr. George Villers p. 82 Zouch Goring Finit and Millicent the Court fooles as well as Archee with whose jollity this Favourite was ushered in p. 84 85. Winwood brought in Secretary of State by Somerset and by him unworthily used ruined him by discovering the poysoning of Overbury p. 86 c. It being made publickly known unto the King See his seeming serious charge upon the Judges for their impartiall sifting out and punishing the Complotters thereof in p. 92 The Kings dissimulation to Somerset p. 95 Who by a device of Sir George Moores after Elways Lieutenant of the Tower was tamely led from the Tower to his Arraignment p. 108 c. Mrs Turner Weston Franklin and Sir Gervase Elwayes executed for that businesse p. 113 This Favourite displaceth the wel-deserving Admirall the E. of Nott. and gets that place to himself p. 114 The next great Office his power reacheth at to dispose is Egertons Lord Chancellorship to whom he sends Bacon for the Seal p. 115. To whom Buckingham the Favourite sends a message p. 116. Whereto see his Answer p. 117 Buckinghams course to raise and maintain his kindred p. 119 Bacons proud carriage so soon as made Lord Chancellor the King being soon after gone to Scotland p. 121 After him degraded for his bribery by a Parliament comes Williams Dean of Westminster Bishop of Lincolne p. 127 Who was in bribery inferior to none p. 130 The Lord Treasurer Suffolk being turned out one of the afore named Projectors Cranfield was brought in by Buckingham p. 131. His censure in the House of Peers p. 132 He and the Prince go into Spaine disguised and under the names of Jack and Tom Smith p. 133 Taking their way by France the Prince eyed there that Lady whom he after married ib. Through Buckinghams miscarriages in Spaine and his spleen against Bristoll the Match with Spain was dissolved 133 c. The King now hates Buckingham p. 139 Buckingham hates the King p. 144 Which proved the Kings suggested cause true p. 149 After which his darke dealing with the King See a passage from one of the Kings Servants to the Duke p. 161 162 In the Court of King Charles beginning p. 176. the observations are AS his Fathers reigne began with a great Plague His with a greater p. 176 He was not crowned with the wonted solemnity nor took he the usuall Oath p. 177 With him arose also his Fathers favourite ib. The first Parliament he called gave him two intire Subsidies c. p. 179 Buckingham being questioned about the former Kings death dissolved that Parliament ib. Which was ill relished by the people p. 180 Williams the Lord Keeper turned out of his place and Coventry put in p. 181 Buckingham sent into France for that Lady the King had seen there ib. Through his instigation the King prepares for a war against Spaine and France p. 182 Wimbletons unsuccesfull expedition in Spaine ib. Denbigh is sent to aide Rochel ib. Buckinghams losse of many brave Gentlemen in the Isle of Rees expedition p. 183. where comes in a large supplement which the former Edition of this Book had not For these unjust Quarrels management the King pawned his Plate to Amsterdam p. 184 Cottington sent to beg a peace with Spaine ib. Rochels reliefe not really performed ib. Buckinghams ambition after higher Titles and Offices p. 186. Weston after Cranfield made Lord Treasurer by Buckinghams procurement p. 188 Shifts to raise monies p. 191 Noy made the Kings Attorney p. 195 By whom many Projects were put in practise p. 196 Buckingham intending some great secret Designe abroad was slaine by Felton p. 199 Amongst whom the managing of Affaires then was p. 201 After his death no bettering in the State but worse p. 202 Weston if not ballanced by Laud had been worse in Tyrannizing then Buckingham p. 203 Councell Table c. scourges to the people ib. Coventry a very corrupt man whose time reached to this very Parliament yet not questioned for it p. 206 Finch made chiefe Judge of the Common Pleas ib. Fees in all Courts taken excessively p. 207 The Bishops and other Court Clergy preacht away the peoples liberties and proprieties ib. Their turne now to loose both p. 208 Strafford the ablest States-man since Salisburie p. 209 First brought in by Weston ib. He failed in his ignorance of the peoples temper and of the Kings disability and faithfulnesse in weighty matters and great Agents p. 211 212 He was the greatest Subject not being a Favourite that ever was ibid. Observations upon this K. from his childhood p. 215 Certain observations before Q Eliz. death p. 223 FINIS Q. E. death K. Iames proclaimed King Sir Roger Aston K. James his Barber After made gentleman of the Bed-chamber c Sir Georgâ— Hewme a kind of Favouritâ— Sir Robert Cicill a favourite Mr. Iames Hay a Favourite His rise His sumptuous feast His accomplishment A great Plague A narration of the Treason charged on Rawleigh Mr. Carre his rise Mr. Carre Knighted Northamptons plot upon him The plot against Overbury S. W. B. Pr. Henry and Salisbury's death Ingram and Cranfield Projectors Mr. George Villiers a Favourite K. James his parting with Somerset * S. H. M. Somersets Tryall Buckinghams Message to Bacon Bacons Answer Buckinghams course to raise his kindred He is scorned The Prince goes into Spaine Cranfield accused in parliament
Alliance with so many great Princes put on him aspiring thoughts and so ambitious was he as not to content himselfe with his hereditary Patrimony of one of the greatest Princes in Germany but must aspire to a Kingdome beleeving that his great allyance would carry him through any enterprise or bring him off with honour in both which he failed being cast out of his owne Country with shame and he and his ever after living upon the devotion of other Princes but had his Father in Law spent halfe the mony in Swords he did in words for which he was but scorned it had kept him in his owne inheritance and saved much Christian blood since shed but whiles hee being wholly addicted to peace spent much treasure in sending costly Embassadours to treat his Enemies which he esteemed friends might have sent Armies with a lesse charge to conquer so that it may be concluded that this then thought the most happy Match in Christendome was the greatest unhappines to Christendome themselves and Posterity And as if to fore-tell the sad event presently after the Gallantry and triumphing of that Marriage the Kingdome was clad all in mourning for the sad obsequies of that most hopefull Prince Henry who dyed not without vehement suspicion of Poyson and I wish I could say but suspicion only but our future discourse will tell you otherwise He was only shewed to this Nation as the Land of Canaan was to Moses to look on not to enjoy wee did indeed joy in that happinesse we expected in him but God found us so unthankfull and tooke so lightly the death of that ever famous Queen Elizabeth as hee intended to make us an example of scorne now that were formerly of all glory His death was fore-told by one Bruce a most famous Astrologer of the Scottish Nation for which the Earle of Salisbury a great Statesman caused him to be banished who left this fare-well with the Earl that it should be too too true yet his Lordship should not live to see it the Earle dying in May the Prince in November following to the infinite griefe of all the Kingdome but the Earle of Somerset and Family of Howards who by his death thought themselves secured from all future dangers for he being a Prince of an open heart hating all basenesse would often say If ever he were King he would not leave one of that Family to pisse against a wall This brave Prince being dead Somerset and that Faction bare all downe before them disposing of all offices yet Somerset never turned any out as did the succeeding favourite but places being voyd he disposed of them and who would give most was the word yet not by Somerset himselfe but by his Lady and her Family for he was naturally of a noble disposition and it may be justly said of him that never could be said of any before or ever will be of any after him He never got suite for himselfe or friends that was burthensome to the Common-wealth no Monopolies no Impositions yet in his time and by his favour though not for his use were brought into the Court two meane fellowes grand Projectors the one Ingram an ordinary Waiter of the Customes the other Cranfield an Apprentice who had served three broken Citizens and it is probable by his wit and honesty he might thrive by them all and lay that for his first a foundation of his future projecting the one a creature of Northamptons the other of the house of Suffolke and these like ill birds defiled their owne nests and discovered the secrets of the Custom house yet their projects seemed for the Kings profit only though much water ran by his Mill and Suffolke did very well licke his owne fingers for Salisbury being dead Suffolke was Treasurer the proper place for Customs and his Son in Law Chamberlaine and Favourite and then what could not they two doe Yet Somerset ever kept them but like Projectors which after Favourites raised to the degrees of Nobility only Suffolke by Somersets power made Ingram a Cofferer of the Kings House which was the first apparent step to Somersets downfall for however the King made faire semblance to maintaine that Act yet made he the Earle of Kelly his instrument to set the Officers of his houshold to petition him against it and ever from the Kings owne directions to take their instructions in which one of the Principal given was not to seeke to Somerset upon any tearmes nay to deny to accept his favour though offered to disannul his owne act but to carry it with an high hand against Somerset by which assurance was given of prevailing Here was pretty jugling the Court being then but an Academy of Juglers Somerset did often Court the Officers to make him that Achilles his Weapon that could wound and heale againe but was entertained with sâ—orne yet ambition so dazled his eyes hee could not see the precipice on which he stood ready for his downfall for surely no Astrologers could have given him truer notions of his ruine then this Cranfield the other Projector soared higher though not in Somersets time could he have his feathers imped but Buckingham after did so impe them that Cranfield endeavoured to pull out his and gave him the first affront by this you may observe how the times altered from better to worse and so fittest for worthlesse men For now began to appeare a glimering of a new Favourite one Mr. George Villiers a younger Son by a second Venter of an ancient Knight in Leicestershire as I take it his Father of an ancient Family his Mother but of a meane and a waiting Gentle-woman whom the old man fell in love with and married by whom he had three sons all raised to the Nobility by meanes of their brother-Favourite this Gentleman was come also but newly from Travell and at that time did beleeve it a great fortune to marry a Daughter of Sir Roger Astons and in truth it was the heighth of his ambition and for that only end was an hanger on upon the Court the Gentlewoman loved him so well as could all his friends have made her for her great fortune but an hundred Markes Joynture she had married him presently in despight of all her friends and no question would have had him without any Joynture at all But as the Fates would have it before the closing up of this Match the King cast a glancing eye towards him which was easily perceived by such as observed their Princes humour and then the Match was laid aside some assuring him a greater Fortune was comming towards him Then one gave him his place of Cup-bearer that he might be in the Kings eye another sent to his Mercer and Taylor to put good Cloathes on him a third to his Sempster for curious Linnen and all as prefacive insinuations to obtaine Offices upon his future Rise then others tooke upon them to be his Bravoes to undertake his quarrels upon affronts
Mars Puer Alecto Virgo VULPES LEO Nullus THE Court and Character OF King James Whereunto is now added THE Court of King CHARLES CONTINUED Unto the beginning of these Unhappy TIMES With some Observations upon Him in stead of a Character Collected and perfected by Sir A. W. Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare Published by Authority Printed at London by R. I. and are to be sold by J. Collins in Little Brittaine 1651. To my most Honoured and truly Noble Lady the Lady Elizabeth Sidley of South fleet Madam I Here present you with an Epitomee of some secret Passages in the whole reign of one King part of anothers Of which my self have been either an Eare or Eye-witnesse or from the testimony of such as have been Authours or Actors therefore unquestionable Truths It is the Conception and Birth of four daies with the help of some scattered Papers as a Midwife to bring them into the world Being therefore but an Embryon you cannot expect any perfect shape But what it wants in that you shall finde in the most perfect form of undeniable Truths The honourable esteem I have ever had of you and your brave Parts is my first motive of presenting it to your view That it comes from no ordinary Author this being the first and for ought I know the last a second That it was written in a Melancholly humour therefore fittest for your Melancholly Temper the last I dare no more trust any other hand to write this than willingly any but your selfe or some such good friends to read it Which is the reason it appeares no fairer to your view And it treads too near the heeles of truth and these Times to appear in publick If you shal please to accept of it as worthy to cast a glance upon at your idle or melancholly hours I have my full desires If cast from you it hath just Deserts Mine ambition only is that so Noble a Lady shal be the God mother of the first and only heir that ever shall come of this quality from Your Ladiships most humble Servant A. W. Upon the Authors Discourse and Observations concerning the whole Reigne of King James and part of King Charles's REader here view a Picture of our Times Drawn to the life the foulest secret Crimes Discover'd with their Authors Tricks of State To create guilty soules the Peoples hate The Prince's feares Favourites Rise and Fall Greatnesse debauched Gentry slighted all To please those Favourites whose highest ends Were to exhaust the State to please their friends View the Isles first Monarch dead the Seconds breath Prerogatives sole life the Kingdomes death THE Court of King James OR A generall Discourse of some secret passages in State since the death of that ever glorious Queene Elizabeth untill this present By the Authors owne observation who was either an eye or eare witnesse or from such as were actors in them from their owne Relation VPon the Twenty fourth of March 1602. did set the most glorious Sun that ever shined in our Firmament of England the never to be forgotten Queen Elizabeth of happy memory about three in the morning at her Mannour of Richmond not only to the unspeakable griefe of her Servants in particular but of all her Subjects in generall And although many of her Courtiers adored that rising Sun appearing in the North yet since not without regret of their monstrous ingratitude to her that Sun now set and in peace For no sooner was that Sun set but Sir Robert Carew Her neare Kinsman and whose Family and himself she had raised from the degree of a meane Gentleman to high Honour in title and place most ingratefully did catch at Her last breath to carry it to the rising Sun then in Scotland notwithstanding a strict Charge laid to keep fast all the Gates yet his Father being Lord Chamberlaine he by that meanes found favour to get out to carry the first newes which although it obtained for him the Governourship of the Duke of York yet hath set so wide a mark of ingratitude on him that it will remaine to Posterity a greater blot then the honour hee obtained afterward will ever wipe out About nine in the morning of that day was proclaimed King Iames of blessed memory by the name of James the first and now nothing on all hands but preparations for accommodating him in his journey for England many posting into Scotland for preferment either by indearing themselves by some merit of their owne to the King or by purchasing friends with their purses Gold and Silver being a precious commodity in that Climate and would procure any thing and did procure Suits Honours and Offices to any that first came of all which the King afterward extended his bounty in so large and ample a manner as procured his owne impoverishment to the pressure of his Subjects so farre as set some distance between him and them which his wisdome and King-craft could easily at all times reconcile The first that came from the King to the Lords in England to give order for all things necessary for the expediting his journey toward England was Sir Roger Aston an English-man borne but had his breeding wholly in Scotland and had served the King many yeares as his Barber an honest and free-hearted man and of an ancient Family in Cheshire but of no breeding answerable to his birth yet he was the only man ever employed as a Messenger from the King to Queen Elizabeth as a Letter carrier only which expressed their owne intentions without any helpe from him besides the delivery but even in that capacity was in very good esteeme with her Majesty and received very royall rewards which did inrich him and gave him a better Revenue then most Gentlemen in Scotland for the Queene did finde him as faithfull to Her as to his Master in which he shewed much wisdome though of no breeding In this his employment I must not passe over one pretty passage I have heard himselfe relate That he did never come to deliver any Letters from his Master but ever he was placed in the Lobby the Hangings being turned him where he might see the Queen dancing to a little Fiddle which was to no other end then that he should tell his Master by her youthfull disposition how likely he was to come to the possession of the Crowne hee so much thirsted after for you must understand the wisest in that Kingdome did beleeve the King should never injoy this Crowne as long as there was an old Wife in England which they did beleeve we ever set up as the other was dead Sir Roger Aston presenting himselfe before the Councell being but a plaine untutored man being asked how he did and courted by all the Lords lighted upon this happy reply Even my Lords like a poore man wandring above forty yeares in a Wildernesse and barren Soyle am now arrived at the Land of Promise This man was afterward made
too ranke and appeared too poore and plaine a tricke of State and Salisbury in this had a double benefit First in ridding himselfe of such as he feared would have been thornes in his sides Secondly by endearing himselfe to the King by shewing his diligence and vigilancy for his safety so that it might be said of him as of Caesar in another case Inveniam aut saciam I will either finde out a Treason or make one and this had been a pretty trick had it been only to disgrace without taking away life but how this peece of policy may stand with Religion I feare by this time he too well understands and this plot as neare as I can tell you and I dare say my intelligence gave me as neare a guesse as ever any man had was that all these in a discontented humour had by Watson and Clarke being Confessors dealt with Count Aremberge the Arch Dukes Embassadour to negotiate with the Arch Duke to raise an Army and invade England and they would raise another of Papists and Male-contents to joyne for you must understand the King was beleeved an errand Puritan Cujus contrarium verum est how likely this Plot was let the world judge that the King of Spaine who had bought peace at so deare a rate and found it so advantageous to him by the lamentable experience he had formerly in the Wars with this formidable State should seek to breake it so soone and had it been a reall Treason the State had been bound to have rewarded these Traytors as the best peece of service done in England all that Kings reigne it was indeed those that made the Peace not those that endeavoured the breaking of it were the Traytors and are to be cursed by all Posterity yet this foolish Plot served well enough to take some blocks out of the way that might afterward have made some of them stumble to the breaking of their owne necks They were all Arraigned of Treason at Winchester whither the King having sent some secretly to observe all passages upon whose true and faithfull relations of the innocencies of the Persons Arraigned and the sleight proofes upon which they were condemned he would not be drawne to signe any Warrant for the execution of Rawleigh Cobham and Grey very hardly for any of the rest the two Priests excepted For Rawleighs defence it was so brave and just as had he not wilfully cast himselfe out of very wearinesse as unwilling to detaine the company longer no Jury could ever have cast him all the Evidence brought against him was Cobhams Accusation which he only desired might appeare viva voce and he would yeeld without further defence but that they knew ful well Cobham would not nor could not accuse him having been tampered with by Wade then Lieutenant of the Tower and Salisburies great Creature Wade desired it under his hand that also he refused at last Wade got a trick by his cunning to surprize Cobhams weaknesse to get him write his name to a Blank to which Wade no question wrote the accusation as will appeare hereafter for Salisbury urging Rawleigh often if Cobham had accused him under his hand would he then yeeld Rawleigh replyed He knew Cobham weake of judgement and did not know how that weaknesse might be wrought upon but was confident he would not to his face accuse him and therefore would not put his life fortune and all on that at which fence he stood til nine at night at last his fate carried him against his reason and he yeelded upon the producing his hand which was instantly pulled out and was in truth his hand but not his act or deed so at that present was George Brooke Watson and Clarke executed Parham acquitted and Sir Walter Rawleigh executed many yeares after for the same treason as much against all justice as beyond all reason or any president yea after he had been a Generall by the Kings Commission and had by that power of the Lives of many others utterly against the Civill Law which saith He that hath power of the Lives of others ought to be Master of his owne But the Spaniard was so powerfull at that time in Court as that Faction could command the life of any man that might prove dangerous to his designes Grey and Cobham dyed in their restraint the one much pittied the other scorned and his death as base for hee dyed lousie for want of Apparrell and Linnen and had starved had not a Trencher-scraper sometime his Servant in Court releived him with scraps in whose house he dyed being so poore a house as he was forced to creep up a Ladder into a little hole to his Chamber which was a strange judgement and unpresidented that a man of seven thousand pounds per annum and of a personall estate of thirty thousand pounds of all which the King was so cheated of what should have Escheated to him that he could not give him any maintenance as in all cases the King doth unlesse out of his owne Revenue of the Crown which was the occasion of this Lords want his Wife being very rich would not give him the crums that fell from her Table and this was a just judgement of God on him And now because it will be pertinent in this place to let you understand that Rawleigh had his life surrepticiously taken away I shall give you a true story Queen Anne that brave Princesse was in a desperate and some beleeved an incurable Disease whereof the Phisitians were at the furthest end of their studies to finde the cause at a Non-plus for the Cure Sir Walter Rawleigh being by his long studies an admirable Chymist undertooke and performed the Cure for which he would receive no other reward but that her Majesty would procure that certaine Lords might be sent to examine Cobham whether he had accused Sir Walter Rawleigh of Treason at any time under his hand the King at the Queens request and in Justice could doe no lesse sends six Lords which I take were the Duke of Leonox Salisbury Worcester Suffolke Sir George Carew and Sir Julius Caesar to demand of Cobham whether he had not under his hand accused Sir Walter Rawleigh at Winchester upon that Treason he was Arraigned for Cobham did protest never nor could he but said he That Villaine Wade did often solicite me and not prevailing that way got me by a trick to write my name upon a peece of white Paper which I thinking nothing did so that if any Charge came under my hand it was forged by that Villaine Wade by writing something above my hand without my consent or knowledge These six returning to the King the rest made Salisbury their Spokes-man who said Sir my Lord Cobham hath made good all that ever hee wrote or said Where it is to be noted that this was but an equivocating tricke in Salisbury for it was true that Cobham had made good whatever hee had writ that being but in truth to
cast into his Privy they destaining the very Dishes This continued long the Earle often sending to visit Overbury assuring him he did not forget his release which would not be long deferred wherein most men did verily beleeve he meant both nobly and truly though others conjectured his meaning was a dissolution At last the Countesse sent for Weston reviling him and calling him Treacherous Villaine for had he given those things sent Overbury had not been now alive vowing she would be revenged on him upon the very fear whereof he then gave those poysons after sent without acquainting the Lieutenant yet for all this schooling of Weston and his assurance given of his future fidelity to the Countesse she would not trust him single any more but put another Co-adjutor to him one Franklin a verier Villain then Weston and truly they themselves may be deemed very ill that could seek out such wicked instruments These two Villains out of a desire to see the successe of their hellish imployment comming shortly after it into Overburyes chamber found him in infinite torment with contention between the strength of Nature and the working of the Poyson and it being very like Nature had gotten the better in that contention by the thrusting out of boyls botches and blains they fearing it might come to light upon the judgement of Phisitians that foul play had been offered him consented to stifle him with the Bed-cloathes which accordingly was performed and so ended he his miserable life with the assurance of the Conspirators that he dyed by poyson none thinking much lesse knowing otherwise but these two Murtherers Now was all as they beleeved quiet and in the depth of security and the Earl and Countesse began to carry their loves more openly and impudently But they understanding that the world did talke very loudly and broadly of this adulterous meeting it must from that ground proceed to an adulterous Marriage as well to the wronging a young Noble man as to the dishonour and shame of themselves But they must needs goe whom the Devill drives yet know they not how and somely to effect this but by making the King a Party in this bawdy businesse which was no hard matter to effect for the Kings eye began to wander after a new Favourite being satiated with the old therefore for the bringing this bawdery to a marriage the Bishops must be principall actors as I know not in what bad action they would not be lookerson and the Bishop of Winchester an excellent Civilian and a very great Scholler must be the principal for which his Son was Knighted and will never lose that by-title of Sir Nullity Bilson For by a nullity of the first Marriage must the second take place For the canvasing whereof there were many meetings of the Bishops and the prime Civillians in which there wanted no bribes from the Lord Lady and their Friends to have this nullity brought to passe wherein the discourse would have better befitted the mouths of Bawds and Ruffians then the grave Divines among them Bishop Neal then Bishop of Rochester a Creature and Favourite of the house of Suffolke took up a learned discourse in the Science of Bawdery how many degrees in that Science must produce a Nullity wherein were so many beastly expressions as for modesty sake I will not recite them being offensive to my very thoughts and memory Aristotles Problemes was a modest discourse to his and he appeared to be better studied in that then in Divinity and to wind up his learned Discourse concluded all those met in this Lord meaning Essex and this Lady The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Abbot to his everlasting fame mainly opposed all the proceedings and protested against them for which he ever after lived in disgrace excluded from the Councell Table and dyed in the disgrace of the King on Earth though in favour with the King of Kings Yet forsooth to make up the ful measure of Bawdery and to justifie Neales Discourse that all things in the former Marriage conduced to a nullity a search must be made to finde whether there had been a penetration and a Jury of grave Matrons were found fit for that purpose with their Spectacles ground to lessen not to make the letter larger who after their inspection gave their false verdict that she was intacta virgo which was thought very strange for the World tooke notice that her way was very neare beaten so plaine as by regia via and in truth so it was and a way more common than that before Somerset did ever travell that way besides the World tooke notice they two had long lived in Adultery yet had this old Kettle a trick for that also The Lady of Essex for modesty sake makes humble suit to the reverend bawdy Bishops who were also plotters in this stratagem that she might not appeare bare-faced for blushing but desired to come vailed with a Taffity over her face this by all meanes was thought so reasonable for a pretty modest Lady that the bawdy Bishops and pur-blinde Ladies which had forgotten modesty themselves could not thinke it worthy the deniall one Mistris Fines neare Kinswoman to old Kettle was dressed up in the Countesses Cloathes at that time too young to bee other then virgo intacta though within two yeares after had the old Ladyes made their inspection the orifice would not have appeared so small to have delivered such a verdict as they did and a just one upon their views though upon some of their knowledges it was not that Lady they were to give verdict upon if any make doubt of the truth of this Story the Author delivers upon the reputation of a Gentleman he had it verbatim from a Knight otherwise of much Honour though the very dependency on that Family may question it which did usher the Lady into the place of inspection and hath told it often to his friends in mirth Now is the Nullity pronounced and the Marriage with Somerset with speed solemnized for which they and the whole Family of Suffolke paid deare in after time and had sowre sauce to that sweet meat of their great Son in Law And surely he was the most unfortunate man in that marriage being as generally beloved for himselfe and disposition as hated afterwards for his linking himselfe in that Family for in all the time of this mans favour before this Marriage he did nothing obnoxious to the State or any base thing for his private gaine but whether it was his owne nature that curbed him or that there was then a brave Prince living and a noble Queene that did awe him we cannot so easily judge because after this Marriage and their death he did many very ill things In this Favourites flourishing time came over the Palsgrave to marry our Kings Daughter which for the present gave much content and with the generall applause yet it proved a most unfortunate Match to him and his Posterity and all Christendome for his
put on him by Somersets Faction so all hands helped to the piecing up this new Favourite Then begun the King to eate abroad who formerly used to eate in his Bed-chamber or if by chance supped in his Bed-chamber after supper would come forth to see pastimes and fooleries in which Sir Ed. Zouch Sir George Goring and Sir Iohn Finit were the chiefe and Master Fools and surely this Fooling got them more then any others wisdome farre above them in desert Zouch his part it was to sing bawdy songs and tell bawdy tales Finits to compose these Songs then was a set of Fidlers brought to Court on purpose for this Fooling and Goring was Master of the game for Fooleries sometimes presenting David Droman and Archee Armstrong the Kings Foole on the back of the other fools to tilt one at another till they fell together by the eares sometimes the property was presented by them in Antick Dances But Sir John Millicent who was never known before was commended for notable fooling and so was he indeed the best extemporary foole of them all with this jollity was this Favourite ushered in This made the house of Suffolke fret and Somerset carried himselfe now more proudly and his Bravado's ever quarrelling with the others which by his Office of Lord Chamberlaine for a while carried it But Somerset using of Sir Ralph Wynwood whom himselfe brought in for a Secretary of State in so scornfull a manner he having but only the title the Earle himselfe keeping the Seales and doing the businesse made Wynwood endeavour to ruine him who soone got an opportunity thereto by frequenting the Countesse of Shrewsbury then Prisoner in the Tower who told Wynwood on a time that Overbury was poysoned which she had so understood from Sir Gervase Elwaies who did labour by her meanes to deale with her two sons in Law Arundell and Pembrooke Wynwood also being great-with that faction that when it came into question he might save his owne stake who truly was no otherwise guilty but that he did not discover it at Westons first disclosing it hee being Keeper of the prison so by inference his not disclosing it was Overburies death and had he revealed it then I dare say he had beene brought into the Star-chamber for it and undone for yet was not the time fit for discovery Wynwood it was thought acquainted the King with it knowing how willingly he would have been rid of Somerset yet the King durst not bring it in question nor any question ever would have been had not Somerset sought to crosse him in his passion of love to his new Favourite in which the King was more impatient then any woman to enjoy her love Not long after Thrumball Agent at Bruxels had by an Apothecaries boy one Reeve after an Apothecary himselfe in London and dyed very lately gotten hold of this poysoning businesse for Reeve having under his Master made some of those desperate Medicines either run away or else his Master sent him out of the way and fell in company of Thrumbals servants at Bruxels to whom he reveal'd it they to their Master who examining the boy discovered the truth Thrumball presently wrote to Secretary Wynwood he had businesse of consequence to discover but would not send it therefore desired licence to come over The King would not yeeld to his returne but willed him to send an Expresse That Thrumball utterly refused and very wisely for had any thing appeared under his hand the boy might have dyed or run away and then had he made himselfe the Author of that which the courtesie of another must have justified The King being of a longing disposition rather then he would not know admitted Thrumbals returne and now they had good testimony by the Apothecary who revealed Weston Mrs. Turner and Franklyn to be principall Agents yet this being neare the time of progresse was not stirred in till about Michaelmas following yet Wynwood did now carry himselfe in a braving way of contestation against Somerset struck in with the Faction of Villiers now on progresse The King he went westward where he was feasted at Cranborne by a Sonne in Law of that Family at Lulworth and Bindon by the Lord Walden at Charlton by Sir Thomas Howard and every where nothing but one Faction braving the other then was the King feasted at Purbeck by the Lord Hatton who was of the contrary Faction and at a Joynture house of Sir George Villiers mother called Gotly where he was magnificently entertained After all this feasting homeward came the King who desired by all meanes to reconcile this clashing between his declining and rising Favourite to which end at Lulworth the King imployed Sir Humphrey May a great servant to Somerset and a wise servant to Villiers but with such instructions as if it came from himselfe and Villiers had order presently after Sir Humphrey Mayes returne to present himselfe and service to Somerset My Lord said he Sir George Villers will come to you to offer his service and desire to be your creature and therefore refuse him not embrace him and your Lordship shall still stand a great man though not the sole Favourite My Lord seemed averse Sir Humphrey then told him in plaine tearmes that he was sent by the King to advise it and that Villiers would come to him to cast himself into his protection to take his rise under the shadow of his wings Sir Humphrey May was not parted from my Lord halfe an houre but in comes Sir George Villiers and used these very words My Lord I desire to be your servant and your creature and shall desire to take my Court-preferment under your favour and your Lordship shall finde me as faithfull a servant unto you as ever did serve you My Lord returned this quick and short answer I will none of your service nor shall you have any of my favour I will if I can break your necke and of that be confident This was but a harsh Complement and savoured more of spirit then wisdome and since that time breaking each others necks was their aimes and it s verily beleeved had Somerset complyed with Villiers Overburyes death had stil lain raked up in his own ashes but God who will never suffer murther to go unpunished will have what he will maugre all the wisdome of the World To Windsor doth the King return to end His Progresse from thence to Hampton-Court then to White-Hall and shortly after to Royston to begin His Winter-Iourney And now begins the game to bee plaid in which Somerset must be the loser the Cards being shuffled cut and dealt between the King and Sir Edward Cooke Cheife Iustice whose Daughter Turbeck Villers his Brother had married or was to marry and therefore a fit instrument to ruine Somerset and Secretary Winwood these all playd The stake Somersets life and his Ladyes and their Fortunes and the Family of Suffolke some of them played booty and in truth the Game was not plaid above-board
this Musicke would Mrs. Turner the young Ladies and some of that Ging dance ever after Supper the old Lady who loved that Musicke as well as her Daughters would sit and laugh shee could scarce sit for laughing and it was beleeved that some of them danced after that Pipe without the Tabor his Master comming to heare of it turned him away who was infinitly importuned to take him again but would not however he could not have wanted a service elsewhere but he never durst use his pipe amongst them for their dancing recreation however he might for any other And now poor Mrs. Turner Weston and Franklin began the Tragedy Mrs. Turners day of mourning being better then the day of her birth for she dyed very penitently and shewed much modesty in her last act which is to be hoped was accepted with God after that dyed Weston and then was Franklin arraigned who confessed that Overbury was smothered to death not poysoned to death though he had poyson given him Here was Cooke glad how to cast about to bring both ends together Mrs. Turner and Weston being already hanged for killing Overbury with poyson but he being the very quintessence of Law presently informes the Jury that if a man be done to death with Pistols Poniards swords Halter Poyson c. so he be done to death the Indictment is good if but indicted for any of those wayes but the good Lawyers of those times were not of that opinion but did beleeve that Mrs. Turner was directly murthered by my Lord Cookes Law as Overbury was without any Law In the next place comes the Countesse to her Tryall at whose Arraignment as also at Mrs. Turners before were shewed many Pictures Puppits c. with some Exorcismes and Magick spels which made them appear more odious as being known to converse with Witches and Wizards and amongst those tricks Formans book was shewed This Forman was a fellow dwelt in Lambeth a very silly fellow yet had wit enough to cheate Ladyes and other women by pretending skill in telling their Fortunes as whether they should bury their Husbands and what second Husbands they should have and whether they should injoy their Loves or whether Maids should get Husbands or injoy their servants to themselves without Corrivals but before he would tell any thing they must write their names to his Alphabeticall booke with their own hand writing by this trick he kept them in awe if they should complaine of his abusing them as in truth hee did nothing else Besides it was beleeved some meetings were at his house wherein the art of a Bawd was more beneficiall to him then that of a Conjurer and that hee was a better Artist in the one then other and that you may know his skil hee was himselfe a Cuckold having a very pretty wench to his Wife which would say she did it to try his skill but it fared with him as with Astrologers that cannot foresee their owne destiny I well remember there was much mirth made in the Court upon the shewing this booke for it was reported the first leafe my Lord Cook lighted on he found his owne wives name The next that came on the stage was Sir Thomas Monson but the night before he was to come to his Tryall the King being at the game of Maw said To morrow comes Tom Monson to his Tryall yea said the Kings * Card-holder where if he doe not play his Master-prize your Majesty shall never trust me this so run in the Kings minde as the next game he said he was sleepy and would play out that Set next night the Gentleman departed to his lodging but was no sooner gone but the King sent for him what communication they had I know not yet it may be can more easily guesse then any other but it is most certaine next under God that Gentleman saved his life for the King sent a Post presently to London to let the Lord chiefe Iustice know he would see Monsons examination and confession to see if it were worthy to touch his life for so small a matter Monson was too wise to set any thing but faire in his confession what he would have stab'd with should have been viva voce at his Arraignment The King sent word he saw nothing worthy of death or of bonds in his Accusation or Examination Cook was so mad he could not have his will of Monson that hee said Take him away we have other matters against him of an higher nature with which words out issues about a dozen Warders of the Tower and tooke him from the Barre and Cooks malice was such against him as though it rained extreamly and Monson not well he made him goe a foot from the Guild-Hall to the Tower which almost cost him his life there he lay a close prisoner above three months to the end to get a Recorders place that Cranfield desired every man thinking him in some Treason would not lend him any Money and if so much money had not been paid by such a time his place had been forfeited And in this let me commend the part of a true friend in Sir Humphrey May who in 24 hours after Sir Thomas his deep sensiblenesse of all other his friends deserting him in that great exigency made his Brother Herick take up 2000. l. and pay it to save his Office without so much as any security from Sir Thomas Monson for he was close prisoner or from any friend of his and that you may know it was for his office only this hard measure was shewed him the Money was no sooner paid but his friends might come unto him and I must not let passe the skill of the Lord Loriskeine a Scotch-man who long before by his physiognomy told Sir George Marshall that Sir Thomas Monson would escape hanging nearer then ever any man did which was true for he was twice brought to his triall put himselfe both times upon his Country yet was only indicted never tryed and yet he had harder measure then ever any man had for he lost his Office being but indicted and not condemned which is without any president And now for the last act enters Somerset himselfe on the Stage who being told as the manner is by the Lieutenant that he must provide to goe next day to his triall did absolutely refuse it and said they should carry him in his Bed that the King had assured him he should not come to any triall neither durst the King bring him to tryall this was in an high straine and in a language not well under stood by Sir George Moore then Lieutenant in Elwaies his roome that made Moore quiver and shake and however he was accounted a wise man yet he was neare at his wits end Yet away goes Moore to Greenewich as late as it was being 12. at night bounseth at the back-staires as if mad to whom came Jo. Leveston one of the Groomes out of his Bed enquires the reason of that
distemper at so late a season Moore tells him he must speake with the King Leveston replyes he is quiet which in the Scottish dialect is fast asleep Moore sayes you must awake him Moore was called in the Chamber left to the King and Moore he tels the King those passages and desired to be directed by the King for he was gone beyond his owne reason to heare such bold and undutifull expressions from a faulty Subject against a just Soveraigne The King falls into a passion of teares On my soule Moore I wot not what to doe thou art a wise man helpe me in this great straight and thou shalt finde thou dost it for a thankfull Master with other sad expressions Moore leaves the King in that passion but assures him he will prove the utmost of his wit to serve his Majesty and was really rewarded with a suit worth to him 1500. l. although Annandale his great friend did cheat him of one halfe so was there falshood in friendship Sir George Moore returnes to Somerset about three next morning of that day he was to come to triall enters Somersets chamber tels him he had been with the King found him a most affectionate Master unto him and full of grace in his intentions towards him but said he to satisfie Iustice you must appeare although returne instantly againe without any further proceedings only you shall know your enemies and their malice though they shall have no power over you With this tricke of wit he allayed his fury and got him quietly about eight in the morning to the Hall yet feared his former bold language might revert againe and being brought by this trick into the toile might have more inraged him to fly out into some strange discovery for prevention whereof he had two servants placed on each side of him with a Cloak on their armes giving them withall a peremptory order if that Somerset did any way fly out on the King they should instantly hoodwink him with that Cloak take him violently from the Bar and carry him away for which he would secure them from any danger and they should not want also a bountifull reward But the Earle finding himselfe over-reached re-collected a better temper and went on calmly in his Tryall where he held the company untill 7. at night But who had seene the Kings restlesse motion all that day sending to every Boat he saw landing at the Bridge cursing all that came without tydings would have easily judged all was not right and there had been some grounds for his feares of Somersets boldnesse but at last one bringing him word he was condemned and the passages All was quiet This is the very relation from Moores owne mouth and this he told verbatim in Wanstead Parke to two Gentlemen of which the Author was one who were both left by him to their own freedome without engaging them even in those times of high distemperatures unto a faithfull secresie in concealing it yet though he failed in his wisdome they failed not in that worth inherent in every Noble spirit never speaking of it till after the Kings death And there were other strong inducements to beleeve Somerset knew that by the King he desired none other in the world should be partaker of and that all was not peace within in the Peace-maker himselfe for he ever courted Somerset to his dying day and gave him 4000. l. per annum for Fee-farme Rents after he was condemned which he took in his servants names not his owne as then being condemned not capable of and he then resolved never to have a pardon I have heard it credibly reported he was told by a Wizzard that could he but come to see the Kings face againe he should be re-invested in his former dearnesse with him this had been no hard experiment but belike he had too much Religion to trust to Wizzards or else some friends of his had trusted them and been deceived by them that he had little reason to put confidence in them Many beleeved him guilty of Overburies death but the most thought him guilty only of the breach of friendship and that in a high point by suffering his imprisonment which was the high-way to his murther and this conjecture I take to be of the soundest opinion for by keeping him out of the action if it were discovered his greatnesse fortified with innocency would carry their nocencies through all dangers For the Gentleman himselfe he had misfortune enough to marry such a woman in such a Family which first undermined his Honour afterwards his life at least to be dead in Law nor did any thing reflect upon him in all his time of Favourite but in and by that Family first in his adulterous marriage then in so hated a Family and the bringing in Cranfield and Ingram as Projectors all by his Wives and friends meanes otherwise had he been the bravest Favourite of our time full of Majesty imploying his time like a Statesman and the King kept correspondency with him by Letters almost weekly to his dying day And here have we brought this great mans glory to its period with his fatal Countesse who some years after it dyed miserably at Chiswick Mris. Turner Weston Franklin and Elwayes dyed in the Tower Weston ever saying it never troubled him to dye for the Blue Ribbons sake and so was concluded that grand businesse the grosse production of a then foul State and Court wherein Pride Revenge and Luxury abounded Yet and it s verily beleeved when the King made those terrible Imprecations on himselfe and Deprecations of the Iudges it was intended the Law should run in its proper channell but was stopt and put out of course by the folly of that great Clerke though no wise man Sir Edward Cooke who in a vaine-glorious speech to shew his vigilancy enters into a rapture as he then sat on the Bench saying God knows what became of that sweet Babe Prince Henry but I know somewhat surely in searching the Cabinets he lighted on some Papers that spake plain in that which was ever whispered which had he gon on in a gentle way would have falne in of themselves not to have been prevented but this folly of his tongue stopt the breath of that discovery of that so foule a murder which I fear cryes still for vengeance And now begins the new Favourite to reign without any concurrent now hee rises in honour as well as swells with pride breaking out of those modest bounds which formerly had impaled him to the high-way of pride and scorne turning out and putting in all he pleased First he must aspire to the Admiralls Office himselfe and would not let the old Gentleman so well deserving in that place dye with that Title but the King must put himselfe to a great charge to put out the better and take in the worse yet for all his immense greatnesse would he never let him be Admiral untill he had first setled Sir Robert
hereafter you shall understand it was so and that the King durst not avow his own act brought him off from that Parliament but Buckingham hated the King ever afterwards The reason the King so hated Buckingham besides his being weary of him for his now stalenesse was his marriage after which the Kings edge was ever taken off from all Favourites as well as him yet this had so much the over awing power of him that hee durst not make shew to affect any other there was one Inniossa a Spanish Embassador extraordinary here beingan old Soldier and a gallant fellow who thought that Buckingham did not give that respect to him was due to his own person or to the person of so great a King whose person he represented Inniossa therefore did as much scorn and slight Buckingham the Prince whom he sound wholly governed by Buckingham for now Buckingham had found by many passages the Kings desire to be rid of him he made Court to the Prince and so wrought himself into his affection that Damon and Pythias were not more dear each to other which by no means could the old King away with nor in truth did any other like or approve of the Prince his poor spirit fearing it foretold his future inclination that could ever indure any familiarity with such an one as had put such foul scorns and affronts on him in his time of greatnes with the Father especially such as called to minde the bravery of his brother who hated the whole Family for their generall basenesse although none of them had ever offended him in particular as this man had done the Prince at two severall times once before an infinite concourse by bidding him in plaine termes kisse his Arse a second time offering to strike him saying in most undutiful terms By God it shall not bee so nor you shall not have it lifting up his hand over his head with a Ballon-Bracer that the Prince said What my Lord I thinke you intend to strike me The first of these audacious affronts was at Royston the second at Greenwich before about 400. people Neither of which were to bee indured by a private person but by a Prince from a private person surely it shewed a much lesse spirit then should have been inherent to a Prince and after this to bee so deare with him as to be governed by him all his life time more then his Father was in the prime of his affection I can give it no title meane enough it had been worthy the Noble minde of a Prince to have forgotten such injuries as never to have revenged them when he had been King but never to have suffered him to have come neare his Court to upbraid him with the sight of so much scorn and that publickly offered him before But at that time I well remember some Critticks in Court did not stick to read his future destiny This Inniossa being a brave daring Gentleman used some speeches in the derogation of the Prince and Buckingham as if they were dangerous to the old King nay Inniossa sent one Padro Macestria a Spanish Jesuite and a great States-man to King James to let him know that he under confession had found the King was by Buckingham or by his procurement to be killed but whether by poyson Pistoll Dagger c. that he could not tell The King after the hearing of this was extream melancholly and in that passion was found by Buckingham at his returne to him The King as soon as ever he espied him said Ah Stenny Stenny for so he ever called him in familiarity wilt thou kill me at which Buckingham started and said who Sir hath so abused you at which the King sat silent out went Buckingham sretting and fuming asked who had been with the King in his absence It was told him Padro Macestria then who brought him to the King it was replyed the Earl of Kelly then flew Buckingham on him to know how he durst bring any one in to the King in his absence or without his licence Kelly stood up close to him for you must know Kelly was the truest alarum to give warning of the downefall of a Favourite of any in the Court and knew his power could doe him no hurt with the King in present although it utterly cast him out of all favor from the King in future Then Buckingham questioned Padro Macestria but that quarrel was interposed and undertook by Inniossa who told him he would maintaine him a Traytor and that were his Masters person off him he was a Chivalier and better borne then himselfe and would make it good on him with his Sword Which high comparison though I beleeve true enough together with his generous Charge and Challenge Buckingham for that time swallowed and only thought of this shift to vindicate himselfe on Inniossa which was to cause the Prince to write a Letter of complaint to the King of Spaine for abusing him and Buckingham but the King of Spaine returned the Letter in a kind of scorne to Inniossa not as blaming him but rather commending him and Inniossa in scorne sent it to the Prince as if he should say there is your Letter to wipe which is all it is fit for Now have you heard what made the King hate Buckingham you shal also hear the reason of Buckinghams extreame hatred to the King which was beleived the cause of his so speedy death Yelverton a very faithful servant to the King and his Atturney General and no lesse affectionate to Somerset being formerly raised by him without any seeking of his or so much as within his thought insomuch as to expresse his love to Somerset he desired to lay downe that great place rather then aggravate as his place required against him This man as well out of his faithfulnesse to the King as affection to Somerset was made choyce of to worke the downefall of Buckingham in which he apparently shewed himselfe But Buckingham as I told you before out of the Kings feare that durst not maintaine his owne designe but left his Instruments to the mercy of Buckinghams tyranny being once gotten out of the toile like a chased Boare foamed and bit at all came neare him and amongst them first fastned on Yelverton put him out of his place and committed him close Prisoner to the Tower Yelverton having shewed himselfe so faithfull to his Master and he againe so unfaithfull to him to leave him to undergo the whole burden of Buckinghams fury did fly out in some passion before Sir Allen Appesly then Lieutenant of the Tower and Buckinghams great creature Appesly telling the Duke of some passages in his passion the Duke one night about 12. a clock came in a a disguise and with the Lieutenant only entred Yelvertons longing Yelverton at first sight started verily beleeving he came in that manner to murther him yet at last recollected himselfe and said My Lord have you the Kings Warrant for this the Duke said no
then said Yelverton how dare you enter a close prisoners lodging it is as much as your life is worth And assure your selfe Master Lieutenant the King shall know of this and you must answer it My Lord said I come to you as a friend though formerly I confesse upon just cause your mortall enemy only to aske you but two questions which if you will resolve me I vow to be a greater friend now then ever an enemy and can and will restore you foure-fold Yelverton told him if they were such as he might hee would The first he asked was What wrong he had ever done him that he so greedily thirsted after his blood Yelverton replyed never any but I was set on by a power that I could not withstand to doe what I did he asked him by whom by the King your Master said he who hates you more then any man living which you might well understand when in his Speech to the Parliament he said he would not spare any no not any that were dearest to him or lay in his bosome by which he pointed them to you Wel said Buckingham I see you have dealt like a Friend with me by many other concurrences as well as by this give me your hand henceforth you are my friend and I am yours and I will raise you highet then I have cast you downe which he had made good had Yelverton lived to have injoyed it for he was instantly released and the next preferment he gratified him with was a Judges place and he had been Lord Keeper had not death prevented it And if there were no other reason but his change from a mortall enemy to so firme a friend this were sufficient to confirme the truth of this story But the Authour had this from Yelvertons owne relation and cannot commend Yelverton because it is verily beleeved this hastened the Kings death Now have you heard the true causes of Buckinghams hatred to the King and the Kings to Buckingham the King having the more power to revenge had the lesse courage Buckingham lesse power but more courage sharpened with revenge And however the World did beleeve the Kings inclination was out of a religious ground that he might not revenge yet it was no other but a cowardly disposition that dust not adventure But although the King lost his opportunity on Buckingham yet the black plaister and powder did shew Buckingham lost not his on the King and that it was no fiction but a reallity that Padro Macestria had formerly told the King And now to returne from this digression which is not impertinent besides a great secret the Prince returnes from Spaine contrary to expectation in which the wisdome and gravity of the Spaniard failed him especially if they did beleeve Padro Macestria besides nature could not long support the old King and then the Spaniard might have made no little advantage by injoying such a pledge But they have confessed their errour yet doe palliate it with having the Prince his faith and his proxie left with Digby and got thence with the very same tricke Sir Francis Michell said he got out of the Inquisition at Rome Now is all the fault laid on Digbyes false play and unfaithfulnesse to his Master and combining with the Spaniard and by this peece of service expressing his hatred to the Spaniard for his owne ends the Subjects of England having ever naturally hated them Buckingham the most hated man then living from an accused man in the former Parliament came to be the very darling of this Parliament and a favourite to the whole Kingdome which after King James his death he as soone lost againe so inconstant are the multitude In the Banquetting-house before both Houses of Parliament is Buckingham to give an account of this voyage which he did at large and to every full point as a further attestation he saith how say you Sir to which the Prince answered I yea or yes and through all his discourse laboured to make Bristoll as hatefull to this Parliament as himselfe had been to the former which had these things delivered by him and attested by the Prince been truths he had justly deserved death the accusations were foule and little lesse then treason without any legislative power Digby had some friends who instantly sent this Declaration into Spaine Digby acquaints that King takes his leave of him for England that King sets his danger before him offers if he will stay with him seeing it is for his sake he is like to suffer he would make him much greater in Honour and fortune then his Master can doe Digby gives him thankes but sayes he served so just a Master that would not condemne him unheard and should he yet he had much rather suffer under innocency then lye under the imputation of a false accusation of a fugitive and Traytor for the highest preferment in the World Away therefore comes he puts himselfe into a desperate passage least the Parliament should have been dissolved before his comming and so no place or meanes left him for his defence but must lye under those false calumnies and was here as the Prince came into Spaine sooner then either looked for or welcome Into the Parliament comes he with his Hat full of papers where he puts himselfe upon this point that if there were one syllable true that Buckingham had delivered if this holding up a Paper in his hand be a true copy I will yeeld my selfe guilty of all treasons can be laid to my charge and said these papers pointing to his Hat shall make it manifest Besides some of them shall make Buckingham appeare a very monster in his lascivious carriages too too unchaste for the eares of this Honourable Assembly Bristoll was instantly committed close prisoner to the Tower for a contempt the next day hee was riding through Cheap-side in his Coach by which it appeares Buckinghams power was in the wane with his old Master his relation and accusation being scandalous and false nor ever durst hee bring Bristol to any further tryall Whether this wound was deeper given by Bristol to Buckingham or the Prince I will leave to the reader to judge and will not my selfe determine And how Bristol hath since stood in favour with the Prince since he was King may give a conjecture that he tooke it as a wound to himselfe I am sure it was an ill omen and hath since given him lesse credit with his Subjects And in this Parliament doth Buckingham by his under-hand Ministers and Agents accuse Cranfield the Lord Treasurer in which the Prince also shewes himselfe Cranfield was so hated a fellow for his insolency that a small accusation would serve the turne as this truly was had his care of expending the Kings Treasure been out of a true zeale for it should seeme that the Prince sending for monies Cranfield restrained his Expresse using some words that the journey it selfe was foolishly undertaken and now must be maintained by
prodigality in which the Revenue of the Kingdom would not satisfie their vast expences if this had been spoken out of a Noble minde or out of that feeling he had of the Kingdomes misery as being Treasurer he ought to have done had he fallen it had been with honour and a generall compassion but being spoken out of the pride and insolency of his owne heart whose minde was ever so base as never to discerne what Honour was nor ever had he any other inherent Honour then what in his Apprentiship he raked out of the Kennel besides it was knowne to be out of hatred that he was not of councell in the undertaking he then looking at himselfe as the only States-man of all the Councell He fell without pitty and with much scorne as I formerly set downe yet left in a higher estate and better condition then so worthlesse a fellow and base Projector deserved yet afterwards hee was againe questioned upon his accounts But all this was nothing himselfe and his Posterity being left Peeres of the Realme In this case was the Prince a principall actour and did duly keep the earliest houres to sit in that Parliament where then he discerned so much juggling even to serve his owne ends on Cranfield that it was not much to be wondred at being come to be King he did not affect them And it was not well that a Prince should shew so much spleen though Cranfield deserved any ill could be cast on him and who knowes whether God doth now punish by Tallion Law to call his owne sin to remembrance and to repent In this place I hold it not unfit to shew the Reader how the King hath ever been abused and would be abused by over-much credulity in the treaty of Spaine for marriages as well as in all other Negotiations You shall now perceive how the King was abused in this treaty which was an error inexcusable in himselfe and whole Councell The Italians having a Proverbe He that deceives me once it s his fault but if twice it s my fault this second time therefore could not but be the only fault of the King and Councell In Prince Henry his life time the King had a little man but a very great and wise Counsellour his Secretary of State little Salisbury that great States-man who did inherit all his Fathers wisdome as well as his Offices and the sonne came little short of the father who was held the greatest States-man in the world of his time It is true that one State may abuse another but not to finde out the abuse is an unpardonable fault in any Statesman There was a treaty in the like case for Prince Henry Salisbury instantly discovered the juggling before any other did thinke of any for although it went forward currently yet did Salisbury so put the Duke of Lerma unto it that either it must be so or they must confesse their juggling The Duke of Lerma denyed that ever there had been any treaty or any intention from that State Salisbury sent for the Embassadour to a full Councell told him how hee had abused the King State about a treaty for Marriage which he had no Commission for that therefore he was lyable to the Lawes of our Kingdome for where any Embassadour doth abuse a State by their Mrs. Commission then the servant was freed but without Commission was culpable and lyable to be punished by the Lawes of that State as being disavowed to be servant to the King his Master The Embassadour answered gravely he did not understand the cause of his comming therefore was then unprepared to give any answer but on Monday he would againe come this being Saturday and give his answer On Monday he comes begins with these words My soule is my Gods my life my Masters my reputation my owne I will not forfeit the first and last to preserve the second Then layes downe his Commission and Letters of instruction under the Duke of Lerma's owne hand he acquitted himselfe honestly to this State yet lost his owne being instantly sent for home where he lived and dyed in disgrace Here was Legatus vir bonus peregrè missus sed non ad mentiendum reipublicae causa And had we had as honest and good Statesmen in after times as Salisbury was and so demonstrated himselfe in this weighty Affaire this State could not have been so abused in all Treaties By this you see the advantage and benefit of one wise Counsellour in a whole State and although Solomon say By the multitude of Counsellors doth a kingdome flourish yet surely he intended they should be wise men that are Counsellours for we had such a multitude of Counsellours that a longer table and a larger Counsell-chamber was provided yet our State was so far from flourishing that it had been almost utterly destroyed this was the last Statesman worthy of that name and now are the ancient stock of Statesmen decayed and with them all our honour and glory I shall now bring my Story to an end as I shall this Kings life although I have made some digressions yet all pertinent to the discourse of this Kings reigne He now goes to his last Hunting journey I meane the last of the yeare as wel as of his life which he ever ended in Lent and was seized on by an ordinary and moderate Tertian Ague which at that season according to the Proverb was Physick for a King but it proved not so to him and poore King what was but Physick to any other was made mortall to him yet not the Ague as himselfe confessed to a servant of his now living who cryed courage Sir this is but a small fit the next will be none at all at which he most earnestly looked and said Ah it is not the Ague afflicteth me but the black plaister and powder given me and laid to my stomack and in truth the plaister so tormented him that he was glad to have it pulled off with it the skin also nor was it faire dealing if he had faire play which himselfe suspected often saying to Montgomery whom he trusted above all men in his sicknesse for Gods sake looke I have faire play to bring in an Emprick to apply any Medicines whilst those Physitians appointed to attend him were at dinner nor could any but Buckingham answer it with lesse then his life at that present as he had the next Parliament had it not been dissolved upon the very questioning him for the Kings death and all those that prosecuted him utterly disgraced and banished the Court Buckingham comming into the Kings Chamber even when he was at the point of death and an honest servant of the Kings crying Ah my Lord you have undone us all his poore servants although you are so well provided you need not care At which Buckingham kickt at him who caught his foot and made his head first come to ground where Buckingham presently rising run to the dying Kings bed side and
purpose one Noy a very famous Lawyer as ever this Kingdome bred and formerly a great Patriot and the only searcher of Presidents for the Parliaments by which he grew so cunning as he understood all the shifts which former Kings had used to get monies with This man the King sends for tels him he wil make him his Attorney Noy like a true Cynick as he was for that time went away not returning to the King so much as the civility of a Thankes nor indeed was it worth his thankes I am sure he was not worthy of ours For after the Court sollicitings had bewitched him to become the Kings he grew the most hatefull man that ever lived And it s to me a wonder that this Parliament of Wonders doth not enact a Law that his very name should never more be in this Kingdome he having been as great a Deluge to this Realme as the Flood was to the whole World for he swept away all our Priviledges and in truth hath been the cause of all these miseries this kingdome hath since been ingulphed whether you consider our Religion he being a great Papist if not an Atheist and the protector of all Papists and the raiser of them up unto that boldnesse they were now growne unto who formerly had some moderation or if you consider our Estates and Liberties they were impoverished and enthralled by multitudes of projects and illegall wayes this Monster was the sole Author of all But first now because there must be some great man as a Captaine Projector to lead some on and hearten others to follow Sir George Goring leads up the March and Dance with the Monopolie of Tobacco and Licensing of Tavernes setting some up where and as many as he pleased and this done by a Seale appendicular to an Office erected by him for that purpose as if authorised by a Law besides all this hee hath Pensions out of the pretermitted Customs insomuch as I have heard it most credibly reported that his Revenue was 9000. l. per annum all of these kindes and for this peece of good service he was made a Lord and Privy Councellour to countenance his traine of Projectors the better Then did Weston enhance the Customes and laid new and heavyer impositions on all things exported or imported with such unconscionable rates upon Tobacco that millions of pounds of it lay rotting in the Custome-house the Merchants refusing to pay the Custome besides losse of all other charges for the Tobacco it selfe In short there was not any thing almost that any man did eate drinke or weare or had in his house from forraigne parts or scarce any domesticke commodities exempted but he paid as it were an Excise for it yea at last even Cards and Dice escaped not but they were monopolized by a great Councellour the Lord Cottington yea to keep their hands in ure they got Patents for the very Rags Marrow-bones Guts and such like Excrements as were thought of no use but to be cast on the Dunghils and he was held the bravest Common-wealths man that could bring in the most money yet the Kings private Purse or publick Treasury little or nothing bettered but to impoverish and vex the Subject and to no other end for which he was ordinarily rewarded with honour This good service the quite contrary way did Weston and Noy doe for the King and I beleeve you shall see God reward them and their posterity for the one like a Jonas Gourd sprang up suddenly from a beggerly estate to much Honour and great Fortunes will shortly wither the other his Son and Heire was killed in France presently after his death and when both are dead let their names and memory rot and be extinct from the face of the earth Now doth Buckingham provide for another forraigne Enterprise but carried so close I could never learne what it was nor did any wise men much inquire after it assuring themselves that such counsells could produce no better effects than those former In the beginning yea even at the very entrance thereunto he did so stinke in the Nostrils of God and Man that God made one Felton his Instrument to take such a Monster as he was indeed from his longer domineering amongst men by a blow as fearefull as strange after which he had not time to say Lord have mercy on him a just judgement on him that forsooke God to seeke to the Devill by Witches and Sorcerers in his life one whereof was Doctor Lamb who was his great defensitive preserver as he thought him whose fate it was to be brained by a Shoo-makers Last when he least look'd for it the other was stabb'd the next morning after that night he had caused a Fellow to be hanged not suffering him to have that nights respite after his sentence and offence what ere it was to repent him of his sins with this vow he would neither eate nor drinke untill he see him dye God in requitall of his mercilesse cruelty would neither suffer him to eate nor drinke before he dyed by that dismall stroake of a poore tenpenny knife of the said Feltons setting home Thus neare alike in time and manner were these two hellish Agents Catastrophees And now is set that great Sun or rather portendous Comet from whose influences all the Officers and Ministers had by reflexion their life and heat After his death the very name of a Favourite dyed with him none singly engrossing the Kings eare and favour but a regular motion was set to all Officers as appertained to their severall places as to the Arch-Bishop the mannagement and chiefe super-intendency of the Church to the Lord Treasurer the Exchequer and the Customs to the Lords Keepers of the Great and Privie Seales what belonged to equity to the Judges what belonged to Law so that one would have thought all things now went so just and equall and in their proper Channell as none but might now expect from that new and better government halcyon dayes But it far'd farre otherwise God being angry at the Nations sins the generall juggling of the State was one and a great one all those procedures being but in appearance righteous nothing really so but like the Apples of Sodome faire in shew rotten and corrupt within For now instead of the late but one Favourite every great Officer and Lord of the Councell proved a very Tyrant and it appeared that not their vertues but the former Favourites power only did restraine them from being so for that falling together with himselfe as you have heard and they left to their owne Arbitrary power you would verily have beleeved that Hell had been broke loose And to make good that Metaphor one of the Councell being told by a Gentleman that the country was much troubled at a certaine great grievance replyed Doth that trouble them by God there are seaven worse Devills to be shortly let out amongst them And in sober sadnesse they all might truly have undergone the name of
Legion for they were all many Devills and like true Devills tooke pleasure in tormenting So that hereby may be perceived the Kingdome in generall had no benefit though some particular men as Weston Treasurer Coventry Lord Keeper and all such as paid his beggerly kindred Pensions which now were ceased by this mans death whose purpose 't was to have turn'd out of place both Coventry and Weston before his last intended voyage But now did Weston begin to be more cruell in Pride and Tyranny than Buckingham had been before him and had not the Arch-Bishop Laud ballanced him he would have been more insufferable He cheated the King in the sale of Timber and of Land and in the letting of his Customs the Arch-Bishop notwithstanding truly informing the King thereof Weston was so mad at the thought of it he would often say to his friends in private That little Priest would Monopolize the Kings eare for he was ever whispering to the King And now begin the Councel Table the Star-Chamber and High Commission to bee Scourges and Tortures of the Commonwealth by Imprisonments and Mutilations of Members and were made some of them by sinings the greatest incomes to the Exchequer and in truth did now put down the Common Laws deciding of Meum and Tuum And if any desiring to appeal from them refused to stand there to their censures they were committed untill they would submit thereunto If men sent unto by them for money refused it they would imprison them till they would give or lend and if any were summoned thither they had a mind to quarrell with in whom they could not find a fault they would make one by saying the Gentleman laughs at us Or the Gentleman saith thus and thus it may be that hee had not in his thought and yet there should not want a false witnesse for some Lords that sat with their backs towards them or so farre off that they could not heare yet would testifie either the words or actions or for want of this a Clerk of the Councell should bee called to witnesse who for his profit must swear what any Lord said If they hit not upon that trick then sometimes they would contrive to put a Gentleman into passion by calling him some disgracefull name or by scoffing at him so that indeed the Councell Table was growne more like a Pasquil then a grave Senate But if the spirit of the man wer such that he could not take those indignities without some regret it was well for him if he escaped with imprisonment and not called Ore tenus to the Star-Chamber and fined as many were to his undoing for to that point were now the Fines of that Court risen As for the High Commission-Court that was a very Spanish-like Inquisition in which all pollings and tyrannizings over our Estates and Consciences were practised as were in the other over our Estates and Bodyes Then were the Judges so much their Servants or rather Slaves that what ere they illegally put in execution they found Law to maintaine But that which is a wonder above all wonders is that Coventry who formerly had gained the opinion of a just and honest man was a principall in all these miscarriages yet dyed he unquestioned when had his actions been scanned by a Parliament in that they were not you may see what opinion is which in the multitude blindeth the understanding he had been found as foul a man as ever lived Finch a fellow of an excellent tongue but not of one dram of Law made for all that Cheife Justice of the Common-Pleas the onely Court most learned in the Law yet he brought all the learned Judges except two only Hutton and Crook to be of his illegall opinion for shipmony This surely must be a punishment from God on them and us for our sins otherwise it had been impossible so many grave Iudges should have been over-ruled by such a slight and triviall fellow Now also all Officers in all places took what Fees they pleased as if in a Iubilee Amongst the rest those of the Star-Chamber the Councell Table and the High Commission were very Grandees Yea the very Messengers to them were countenanced in their abuse and insultings over the Gentry when in their clutches and to such a strange passe were disorders come unto that every Lacquey of those great Lords might give a Check-Mate to any Gentleman yea to any Country Nobleman that was not in the Court favour And to fill full the measure of the times abounding iniquity the Court Chaplines and others elsewhere with the Reverend Bishops themselves did preach away our liberties and proprieties yet kept they Divinity enough for their owne interests for they concluded all was either Gods or the Kings their part belonged to God in which the King had no propriety Our part belonged wholly to the King in which we had propriety no longer when the King were disposed to call for them so that betwixt the Law and the Gospel we were ejected out of Lands Liberties and Lives at pleasure And now is Gods time come to visit with his Iustice and behold it For the pit they digged for others they themselves are fallen into for all their Honours Lands and Liberties are a gasping and the Iudges are but in very little better case for the Parliament will doe that to them by the Law which they would have done to us by wresting the Gospel But what needed all that joy for the death of Buckingham Sith the times succeeding him have been so infinitely beyond him in all oppression as they are like to bring all manner of miseries both upon King people So that in truth his Hydra's head being struck downe an hundred more instead thereof appeared which never durst in his life time And as he got much by Suites so did Weston much by cheating yet all came out of the Subjects purses and Coventry that so generally a reputed honest man got such an estate by Bribery and In-justice that he is said to have left a Family worth a Million Which may commend his Wisdome but in no wise his Honesty And now also dies Weston after he had first brought in as you may remember I told you himselfe was by Cranfield Sir Thomas Wentworth after Earle of Strafford the active manager of the State and sole Governour of the King This Strafford without doubt was the ablest Minister that this Kingdome had since Salisburies time and to speak uprightly there was not any but himselfe worthy of that name amongst all the Kings Councell yet I am confident by the weaknesse of that Boord his abilities in State affaires were judged more then they were and besides that very word of States-man was now grown a stranger to our Nation Nor was he as Salisbury or our ancient Heroes a generall States-man nor was it possible he should be he not having that breeding himselfe Nor kept he any upon his charge in forraigne parts for intelligence Nor had
he such a Tutor as the other had of his Father who was the most absolute States-man in the world whose very Papers which were left to this Salisbury and served as so many rich Presidents and Instructors to him were able if wanting in abilities of his own to make him an able States-man But I held Straffords abilities to be more on this side then beyond the Seas yet might he challenge the title of a good Patriot And so indeed he was before he turned a Courtier After that he converted his studies and endeavours to make the King an absolute Arbitrary Monarch by screwing up the Regall Prerogative to so high a strain as hath made it crack and by raising his Revenues so high that he made them fal in which also his owne interest was concerned For he did neither serve God nor the King for nought Nor would Straffords abilities have been so transparent had any such Concurrents as Buckhurst Walsingham or Hatton been now living or such an one as the Earle of Essex who was Salisburies Antagonist But this man had onely the Arch-Bishop whose proper Element too was but the Church and they drew both in one line And here I shal give you one note of Straffords failing in his Master-piece that he was no such absolute wise man that could not find the just Medium of the peoples Temper but by striving to make the King all and on a sudden he made the King lesse and himselfe lesse then nothing And had he beene wise he could not but find the Kings spirit was not to undergoe nor to goe through with great actions but would faile under them and crush the owners Which he to his lamentable experience hath found and felt too true Besides I much doubt Straffords owne spirit that seeing his wisdom was too short to protect him his spirit was so low to faile him that hee did not like Sampson pull downe the house upon others heads but fall like a tame foole himselfe alone caught in a gin and lay still without any fluttering When surely some others of the Cabinet Councell were as deep as himselfe in any designe You have here now seene a great Subject yea the greatest that ever our eyes beheld that was no Favourite and greater in his fortunes then many Favourites You have also seen a King the greatest that our Nation ever had both in Prerogative Power and Revenues and the most absolute over his Subjects The one fallen below the earth the other so low upon earth that I wish I could but see him in the same state his peaceable Father left him who kept his Prerogative to the height without cracking it because hee had able Ministers and Councellors left who were of Queen Elizabeths stocke but this Kings Ministers straine all so high that the very ligaments and nerves of Sovereignty are quite broken in sunder I wish them well sothered again But because if I write further I must tune to a much lower key I will here end with my prayers That God would give the King a wise Councell and an understanding heart to bee able to give himselfe Councell what will be best for himselfe his Posterity and the people committed to his Charge And that hee may discern such as councell him for their own private ends and interest not for his Honour and Safety And here do I draw a Curtaine betwixt the time past and that to come in this Kings Reign desiring it may never be remembred to Posterity Observations instead of a Character upon this King from his Childe-hood IT being improper to write the Character of Kings before their Deaths I wish this were not much nearer the period of his happinesse than his death give me therefore leave to present unto your view some remarkable observations of this unfortunate King In his very infancy he was so subject to that wilfull humour still possessing him that if any thing crossed him he could hardly be stilled which then they were forced to give way unto by reason of that extreame weaknesse which disabled him as the like did his Father untill the 7th yeare of his Age to goe or scarce to stand alone crawling when of himselfe he would be in motion upon all foure in a most unseemly manner For the recovery whereof he was beholding to the skill of one Master Stutavile an excellent Artist for strengthening Limbs and straitning crooked Bodies but for the rectifying his wayward disposition to the tender care of the Lady Carey afterward Countesse of Monmouth This humour of his principally he tooke from his Mother who notwithstanding was a gallant Lady nor was he free from it by the Fathers side though his timorous nature gave it an allay His Mother who loved him so dearly that she said she loved him as she did her Soul yet was wont to say that she must with griefe of heart confesse He was a foole and wilfull which would hereafter endanger him the losse of his Crowne A sad Censure yet it should seeme Propheticall But it were a lesson fit for all Parents learning rather to leave their Children to Gods Providence than to pry into his office of fore knowledge He ever exprest an ill nature by taking delight to doe ill offices to his Fathers servants as well as to his owne witnesse that instance concerning Master Murrey his Tutor and Doctor Hackwell placed about him to instruct him in the principles of Religion who rightly judging it co-incident to that his employment did therefore upon the Treaty for the Spanish Match deliver him a small Treatise in Manuscript therein intimating his advice and judgement to informe his Conscience aright against coupling himselfe with a Papist saying to him Sir I beseech you make use of this by reading it your selfe but if you shew it to your Father I shall be undone for my good will The Prince returned him many thankes and assured him it should never goe farther then the cabinet of his owne breast but withall he asked him to whom he had shewed it Hackwell replyed the Arch-Bishop Abbot hath read it who returning him it said to him Well done thou good and faithfull servant Besides him he told the Prince he had only shewed it to Mr. Murrey the Tutor who belike being better acquainted with his Masters perfidious disposition then the other did then dis-swade him from delivering it to the Prince for saith he he will betray you And it so fell out for within lesse then two houres after his said engagement to the Doctor he presents it to his Father upon which he or any through whose hands and cognizance it had passed before were all under a disgrace and banished the Court only Murrey was afterwards Provost of Eaton Here was an Embleme of his breach of Oathes and protestations in future and of his untrustinesse which in a subject would have been called treachery Such a one too he shewed himselfe in the businesse of Rochell which after his faire promises and deep
imprecations for their reliefe and assistance wherein they put some confidence was meerly betrayed by him insomuch that when the Rochel Agents found themselves abused through their whole yeares attendance they left this bitter jeere upon him that now they could rightly call England the Land of Promise He seldome loved any but to serve his turne and would himselfe serve a turne to doe any mischiefe as was to be seene by his saying Amen to every full point of Buckinghams Accusation in the face of the Parliament against Bristol for his miscarriage in Spaine when it appeared by Bristols defence in Publick before the face of that same Parliament that there was not scarce one syllable had any truth in it who also freely put himself upon the Test that if there were any truth in that combined Accusation against him he would yeeld himselfe guilty of it all He was of a very poore spirit which may be conceived amongst other things by his making Buckingham his Privado after he came to the Crown otherwise would he never have forgotten those unsufferable insolencies offered him being Prince what they were you have already heard His Predecessor Henry the fifth and so his brother Henry would have instructed him otherwise for although its true noble mindes should forget injuries so as not to revenge them yet so as not to countenance the doers of them especially to take them into so much nearnesse and dearnesse as he did him after those two proud affronts which argued in him as I said before a poore and ignoble spirit He had all his Kingdomes left in peace and tranquility by his Father which he soone after made a shift to distemper by a foolish Warre upon France and Spaine and by a more foolish conduct of either ignorant unexperienced or cowardly Commanders And in truth if you will give credit to Vox populi the Booke so called written by one Scot they were suitable to the grounds of such Quarrels being no fairer than the satisfying the beastly appetite of his Favourite who must be reveng'd forsooth upon those States In which I admire Gods Justice that he who unjustly made War upon unwarrantable grounds should have Warre thus brought home unto him so that now God hath given him the same measure he hath met to others even full pressed down and running over I wish I may have a time to give him a fairer Character when he is dead then are my observations in his life but I may rather wish then hope in that course he yet continues Certaine observations before Queene Elizabeths death I Cannot but admire Gods Providence in bringing Peace when nothing was thought of but War and now bringing a cruell Warre when nothing could be expected but peace Peace with all forraigne Estates peace at Home Not long before the death of Queene Elizabeth all the discourse was in a secret whispering on whom the Succession would fall some said the Lady Arabella some the King of Scotland and reason given pro and con on both sides they who were for her saying the Lady Arabella was a Native and a Maid and that this Kingdome never flourished more then under a Maidens Reigne Others for the Scot said that the King of Scots was more neare to the Crowne by descent farther off say others as being a Stranger and that Nation ever in Hostility against us Nor did the King himselfe beleeve he should have come in with a sheathed Sword which appeared by that Letter he produced of the Earle of Northumberlands that if he made any doubt hereof he would bring him forty thousand Catholicks should conduct him into England But the Queene dyed the King comes in peaceably even to the admiration of all Forraigne Princes and to the gnashing of their teeth but the reason was they had lived in obedience under a just Sovereigne who was wont ever to say when any great man had opprest a poore Gentleman that Petitioned her for redresse against such oppression when all the great Lords and Officers would hold together to support the Suppressor and trample upon the oppressed My Lords quoth she content you I am Queene of the Valleys as well as of the Hills and I must not suffer the Hills to ore-top nor yet to over-shade the Valleys A worthy saying which if it had been imitated by her Successors these our miseries had never happened but I say and this is it I now drive at her Justice made her Subjects to beleeve there could be no injustice in Monarchy and that was it did facilitate the Kings peaceable entrance In that tranquility did the Kingdome continue all his dayes and about fifteen yeares of his Sons Reign when behold there was nothing but jollity in the Court as if saying to themselves Who dares molest us the King having now a plentifull Issue for let me tell you the Kings Issue made Him and his Courtiers the more to trample on the country Gentry But behold when nothing but peace peace sudden destruction came on them and us unawares and God sends such a War as no man could dreame of Now the corollary of all is this the high injustice of Church and State was the cause of this Warre And O may not the continuing of that in any other Government prove the continuance of this war there being a farre greater appearance of the continuance thereof then ever there was of the beginning But Gods will be done The Contents QVeene Elizabeth died at Richmond house on March 24 1602. page 1 2â— The first that carryed newes thereof into Scotland was Sir Rob. Carew who was afterward made Governor of the Kings then second Son Charles Duke of York p. 2 3â— The first man imployed from Scotland to the English Nobility for preparations of the Kings comming into England was Sir Roger Aston p. 4â— He was afterwards made from the Kings Barbar 〈◊〉 gentleman of his Bed-Chamber p. 6â— The Kings Favourites 1 Sir George Hewme a kind of Favourite for having been of some secret councels with the King whilsâ— in Scotland the cheife of which was that of Gourieâ— Conspiracy p. 7 8â— 2 Sir Robert Cicill a Favourite p. 9â— His il offices he did this Nation p. 1â— His Herodian disease and end p. 1â— 3 4. Hen Howard Tho. Howard Favorites p. 1â— The principall managers of the State affaires in Englanâ— then were Salisbury Suffolke c. p. 1â— 5 Mr. James Hay an high Favourite c. See his riâ— c. p. 17 18 1â— Passages concerning Sir Walter Rawleigh p. 27 â— A notable discovery made by Sir Rob. Mansel of a Spaniards stealing plate which cleared the false imputation laid by them on the English p. 40. c. The King easily perswaâ—ed to retire himselfe by those Managers of the State of which Salisbury was the cheif p. 46 47 48 Secretary Lake p. 49 c. Salisbury Suffolk Northampton great getters more then the whole bunch of the Scots Dunbar excepted p. 54 Kelly Annandale