kynge and could haue bene content by the help of vs in England to haue put hym dovvn and placed an other of theyr ovvn religion yet vvhen they savve vs once seazed of Nevvhauen and so like to proced to the recouerie of some parte of our states â—unce on that side the sea they quicklie ioined vvith ther ovvn Catholiques againe to expell vs. In Flaunders likevvise though MoÌ„sieur vvere called Flaunders thither by the protestantes especialie for defence of their religion against the Spaniard yet vve see hovv daintie diuers chief protestaÌ„tes of Antvvarpe Gaunt and Bruges vvere in admitting him hovv quick in expelling so soone as he put them in the least feare of subiection to the french And as for Portugal Portugall I haue heard some of the chiefest Catholiques among them say in this late contention about their kingdom that rather then they vvould suffer the Castilian to come in vpon them they vvould be coÌ„tent to admyt vvhatsoeuer aides of a contrarie religion to them selues to aduenture vvhatsoeuer alteration in religion or other incoÌ„uenience might befal them by that meanes rather then endaunger their subiection to their ambitious neighbour The like is reported in diuers histories of the The old harred of east Grecians tovvardes the vvest Latins GreciaÌ„s at this day vvho do hate so much the name and dominion of the Latines as they had rather to endure al the miseries vvhich dailie they suffer vnder the Turk for their religion and othervvise then by calling for aid froÌ„ the vvest to hazard their subiection to the said Latines So that by thes examples you see that feare horrour of external subiection may stay men in al states and consequentlie also both Papistes and Puritanes in the state of England from passing to the second kinde or degree of treason albeit they vvere neuer so deep in the first and had both abilitie time vvil and oportunitie for the other SCHOL Here I presumed to interrupt their speech said that this seemed to me most cleare and that novv I vnderstood vvhat the Lavvier meant before vvhen he affirmed that albeit the moste parte of Papistes in general might be said to deal against the state of England at this day in that they deal so earnestlie for the maintenaunce encrease of their religion and so to incurre some kinde of treason yet perhaps not so farfurth nor in so deep a degre of proper treason as in this boke is presumed or inforced though for my parte said I I do not se that the boke Not all Papistes properly traytors presumeth or inforceth al Papistes in general to be properlie traitors but onlie such as in particular are therin named or that are by lavv attainted coÌ„dempned or executed and vvhat vvil you say quoth I to those in particular LAVV. Surelie quoth he I must say of thes much after the maner vvhich I spak before that some here named in this boke are openlie knovven to haue bene in the second degre or kinde of treason as VVestmerland Norton Saunders and the like But diuers The Priestes and Seminaries that vvere executed others namelie the Priestes and Seminaries that of late haue suffred by so much as I could see deliuered and pleaded at their arraignments or heard protested by them at their deathes or gathered by reason and discourse of my self for that no forrain Prince or vvise councellor vvould euer commit so great maters of state to such instrumentes I cannot I say but think that to the vvise of our state that had the doing of this busines the first degree of treason vvherin no doubt they vvere vvas sufficient to dispatch and make them avvay especialie in such suspitious times as thes are to the end that being hanged for the first they should neuer be in daunger to fal into the second nor yet to dravv other men to the same vvhich perhaps vvas moste of al misdoubted After the lavvyer had spoken this I held my peace to heare vvhat the geÌ„tlemaÌ„ vvoulde ansvvere vvho vvalked vp and dovvn tvvo vvhole turnes in the gallerie vvythout yeelding anie vvorde againe and then staying vpon the sudden cast his eyes sadlie vpon vs both and said GENTL My masters hovv so euer this be vvhich in dede apperteineth not to vs to iudge or discusse but rather to persvvade our selues that the state hath reason to do as it doeth and that it must often times asvvel preuent inconueniences as remedie the same vvhen they are happened yet for my ovvn parte I must confesse vnto you that vpon some considerations vvhich vse to come vnto my mynd I take no smal grief of these differences among vs vvhich you terme of diuers different religions for vvhich vve are driuen of necessitie to vse discipline tovvards diuers vvho possiblie othervvise vvould be no great malefactours I knovv the cause of this difference VVise coÌ„sideratioÌ„s is grounded vpoÌ„ a principle not easie to cure vvhich is the iudgemeÌ„t conscience of a man vvhervnto obeyeth at length his vvil and affection vvhat soeuer for a tyme he may othervvise dissemble outvvardlie I remember your speech before of the doubtful and daungerous inclination of such as lyue discontented in a state of a different religion especialie vvhen either indeed or in their ovvn conceipt they are hardlie dealt vvythal and vvher euerie mans particular punishment is taken to reach to the cause of the vvhole I am not ignorant hovv that misery procureth amitie and the opinion of calamitie moueth affection of mercie and compassion euen tovvardes the Miserie moueth mercie vvicked the better fortune alvvaies is subiect to enuie and he that suffereth is thought to haue the better cause my experience of the diuers raignes and procedinges of king Edvvard Q. Marie and of this our moste gratious soueraigne hath taught me not a litle touching the sequele of thes affaires And finalie my good friendes I must tel you plaine A good vvishe quoth he and this he spake vvyth great asseueration that I could vvysh vvyth al my hart that either thes differences vvere not amonge vs at al or els that they vvere so temperatlie on al partes pursued as the common state of our countrie the blessed raigne of her Ma. and the common cause of true religion vvere not endaungered therby But novv and ther he brak of and turned aside LAVV. The lavvier seing him holde his peace departe he stepped after him and taking him by the govvne said merylie Syr al men are not of your complexion some are of quicker and more stirring spirites and do loue to fishe in vvater that is troubled for that they do participate the Black moors humour that dvvel in Guinea vvherof I suppose you haue heard and seene also some in this land vvose excercise The nature and practize of the Guineans at home is as some vvrite the one to hunt catche and sell the other and alvvayes the stronger to make money of the vveaker for the
yonger adding also to thes the couÌ„saile of his Doctor Baylie a man also not a litle studied as he seemeth in this arte For I heard him once my self in a publique acte in Oxeford and that in preseÌ„ce of my Lord of Leycester if I be not deceyued maintein that poyson might so be tempered and giuen as it should not apeare presentlie and yet should kill the partie aftervvard at vvhat time should be appoiâ—tâ—d VVhich argument belike pleased vvel his Lordship and therfore vvas chosen to be discussed in his audience yf I be not deceyued of his being that daye present So though one dye of a Flux an other of a Catarre yet this importeth litle to the mater but shevveth rather the great cunning and skill of the Artificer So Cardinal Chatilian as I haue said before hauing Death of Cardinal ChatiliaÌ„ accused my L. of Leycester to the Q. Ma. and after that passing from London tovvardes Fraunce about the mariage died by the vvay at Canturburie of a burning Feuer so proued D. Bailies assertion true that poyson may be giuen to kill at a day SCHOL At this the Lavvyer cast vp his eyes to heauen I stood somvvhat musing thinking of that vvhich had bene spokeÌ„ of the Erle of Essex vvhose case indeed moued me more then al the rest for that he vvas a very noble Gentleman a great aduauncer of true religion a Patron to many preachers and studentes and tovvardes me and some of my friendes in particular he had bene in some thinges very beneficial therfore I said that it grieued me extremlie to heare or thinck of so vnvvorthie a death coÌ„triued by such meanes to so vvorthie a Peere And so much the more for that it vvas my chaunce to come to the vnderstanding of diuers particulars coÌ„cerning that thing both from one Lea an Iris he-man Robyn Honnies and other that vvere present Lea. Honnies at Penteneis the marchants house in Deueling vpon the kay vvher the murder vvas committed The mater vvas vvrought especialie by Crompton yeomaÌ„ of the bottels by the procuremeÌ„t of L Loyde as you haue noted before and ther vvas poysoned at the same tyme and vvithe the same cuppe as gyuen of curtesie by the Earle one Misteris Ales Draykot a goodlie GeÌ„tlevvoman vvhom the Erle affectioned much vvho departing theÌ„ce tovvardes Mesteris Draykot poisoned vvith the Earle of Essex her ovvn house vvhich vvas 18. miles of the forsaid Lea accompagning her and vvayting vpon her she began to fall syck very grieuouslie vpon the vvaye coÌ„tinevved vvyth increase of paynes excessiue tormeÌ„tes by vomiting vntill she dyed vvhich vvas the Sunday before the Erles death ensevvinge the fryday after vvhen she vvas dead her body vvas svvolen vnto a monstrous bygnes and deformitie vvherof the good Erle hearing the day folovvinge lamented the case greatly said in the presence of his seruants Ah poore Ales the cuppe vvas not prepared for the albeit it vvere thy hard destinie to taste therof Yong HoÌ„nies also vvhose father is Master of the children of her Ma. Chappel being at that tyme Page to the said Erle and accustomed to take the taste of his drink thoughe synce enterteyned also among other by my L. of Leycester for better couering of matter by his taste that he then toke of the compovvnde cuppe thoughe in verie smal quaÌ„titie as you knovv the fashion is yet vvas he like to haue lost his lyfe but escaped in the ende being yong vvyth the losse only of his heare vvhich the Erle perceyuing and taking coÌ„passion of the youth called for a cuppe of drynk a lytle before his death and dronk to Honnies saying I drynk to the my Robin and be not a feard for this The Erle of Essex speech to his Page Robyn Honnies is a better cuppe of drynk then that vvherof thovv tokest the taste vvhen vve vvere both poysoned vvherby thou haste lost thy heare I must leese my lyfe This hath yong Honnies reported openlie in diuers places and before diuers GeÌ„tlemen of vvorship sythence his comming into England the forsaid Lea Irisheman at his passage this vvaye tovvardes Fraunce after he had bene present at the fornamed Misteris Draykots death vvyth some other of the Erles seruaunts haue do most constantlie reporte the same vvhere they maye do it vvithout the terrour of my L. of Leycesters reuenge VVherfore in this matter ther is no doubt at all thoughe most extreme vile and intollerable indignitie that such a man should be so openlie murdered vvithout punishment VVhat noble man vvithin the Realm may be safe if this be suffered or vvhat vvorthie personage vvil aduenture his life in her Ma. seruice if this shal be his revvarde But Sir I. pray you pardon me for I am somevvhat perhaps to vehement in the case of this my Patron and noble peere of our Realm And therfore I beseeche you to goe forvvarde in your talk vvheras you lefe GENTL I vvas recounting vnto you others said the Gentleman made avvay by my L. of Leicester vvyth lyke arte and the next in order I think vvas Sir Nicolas Death of Siâ— Nicholas Throgmarton Throgmarton vvho vvas a man vvhom my L. of Leycester vsed a great vvhile as all the vvorld knovveth to ouer-thvvart and crosse the doinges of my L. Treasurer then Sir VVill. Cicill a maÌ„ specialie misliked alvvayes of Leycester both in respect Sir VVil. Cycyll novv L. Treasurer of his olde master the Duke of Somerset as also for that his great vvisdom zeale and singular fidelitie to the Realm vvas like to hinder much this mans designemeÌ„tes vvherfore vnderstanding after a certaine tyme that thes tvvoe knightes vvere secretlie made friendes and that Sir Nicholas vvas like to detect his doinges as he imagined vvhich might turn to some preiudice of his purposes hauing conceiued also a secret grudge grief against hym for that he had vvriteÌ„ to her Ma. at his being Embassador in Fraunce that he heard reported at Duke MemoraÌ„ces table that the Q. of EnglaÌ„d had a meaning to marrye her hors keeper he inuiâ—ed the said Sir Nicholas to a supper at his house in LoÌ„don and at supper tyme departed to the Court being called for as he said vpon the sudden by her Ma. and so perforce vvould needes haue Sir Nicolas to sit and occupie his Lordships place and therin to be serued as he vvas and soone after by a surfeit their taken he died of a sttaunge and incurable vomit But the day before his death he declared to a The poysoning of Sir Nicholas iâ— a Salaâ—e deare friend of his al the circumstance cause of his disease vvhich he affirmed plainlie to be of poyson giuen him in a Salate at supper inueyhing moste earnestlie against the Erles crueltie blood die dispositioÌ„ affirming him to be the vvickedest moste perilous and perfidious man vnder heauen But vvhat auailed this vvhen he had novv receyued the bayte This then is to
shevv the mans good fortune in seeing them dead vvhom for causes he vvould not haue to liue And for his arte of poysoning it is such novv and reacheth so far as he holdeth al his foes in EnglaÌ„d and els vvher as also a good manie of his friendes in feare therof and if it vvere knovven hovv manie he hath dispatched or assaulted that vvaye it vvould be meruailous to the The Lord Chamber layne posteritie The late Earle of Sussex vvanted not a scruple for manie yeares before his death of some dramme receyued that made him incurable And vnto that noble gentleman MoÌ„sieur Simiers Monsieur Symiers is vvas disconuered by great prouideÌ„ce of God that his lyfe vvas to be attempted by that arte and that not taking place as it did not through his ovvne good circumspection it vvas concluded that the same should be assaulted by violeÌ„ce vvherof I shal haue occasion to saye more herafter It hath byn told me also by some of the seruaunts of the late Ladie Lenox vvho vvas also of the blood Royall by ScotlaÌ„d as all men knovv coÌ„sequentlie The poisoning of the Ladie Lenox lytle lyked by Lecester that a lytle before her death or syknes my L. toke the paynes to come and visit her vvith extraordinarie kyndenes at her house at Hackeny bestovviÌ„g loÌ„ge discourses vvith her in priuate but as soone as he vvas departed the good Ladie fell into such a Flux as by no meanes could be staied so long as she had liffe in her bodie vvhervpon both she her selff and all such as vvere neare about her and savv her disease and ending daye vvere fullie of opinion that my Lorde had procured her dispatche at his being ther. VVherof let the vvomen that serued her be examined as also Fovvler that then had the chiefe doinges in her affayres and synce hath byne enterteined by my L. of Lecester Mallet also a straunger borne that then vvas about her a sober and zelous man in religion and othervvise vvell qualified can say somevvhat in this poynt as I think if he vvere demauÌ„ded So that this arte and exercise of poysoning is much more perfect vvith my Lord then praying and he seemeth to take more pleasure therin Novv for the second point vvhich I named touching mariages and contractes vvyth vvomen you must not meruayle though his Lordship be somvvhat diuers variable and inconstant vvyth him Leycester moste variable dealing vvyth vvemeÌ„ in coÌ„tractes mariages self for that according to his profit or his pleasure and as his lust and lyking shal varie vvherin by the iudgement of all men he surpasseth not onlie Sardanapalus and Nero but euen Heliogabalus him self so his Lordship also chaungeth vviues and Minions by killing the one denying the other vsing the third for a tyme and the favvning vpon the fourth And for this cause he hath his tearmes pretences I vvarrant you of Contractes Precontractes Postcontractes Protractes and Retractes as for example after he had killed his first vvyfe and so broken that contract then forsooth coÌ„tractes vvould he needes make him self husband to the Q. Ma. and so defeat al other Princes by vertue of his precontract But after this his lust compelling him Preconts actes Postcontractes to an other place he vvould needes make a postcoÌ„tract vvyth the Ladie Scheffield and so he did begetting tvvo children vpon her the one a boye called Robin Sheffield novv lyuing some tyme brought vp at Nevvington and the other a daughter borne as is knovven at Dudley Castle But yet after his concupiscence chaunging agayne as it neuer stayeth he resolued to make a retracte Retract of this postcoÌ„tract though it vvere as surelie done as I haue said as Bed and Bible could make the same to make a certaine nevv protract vvhich Protract is a contynuation of vsing her for a tyme vvyth the vvidovv of Essex But yet to stop the mouthes Leycester tvvo TestameÌ„ts of-out-cryars and to burie the Synagogue vvyth some honour for thes tvvo vvyues of Leycester vvere merrilie vvittilie called his olde and nevv Testamentes by a person of great excelleÌ„cie vvithin the Realm he vvas content to assigne to the former a thovvsand povvndes in money vvyth other petie considerations the pitifullest abused that euer vvas poore Ladie and so betake his lymmes to the later vvhich later notvvythstanding he so vseth as vve see novv confessing novv forsvvearing novv dissembling the mariage as he vvyll alvvayes yet kepe a voyde place for a nevv surcontract vvyth anie other vvhen occasion shall require SCHOL Novv by my truth Sir quoth I I neuer heard nor red the like to this in my lyfe yet haue I red much in my tyme of the carnalitie and lycentiousnes of diuers outragious persons in this kind of sinne as namlie these vvhom you haue mentioned before especialie the Emperour Heliogabalus vvho passed all other and vvas called Varius of the varietie of filth vvhich he vsed in this kinde of carnalitie varius Heliogabalus his moste in famous death or carnall beastlines VVhose death vvas that being at length odious to al men and so slaine by his ovvn souldiours vvas dravven through the Citie vpoÌ„ the ground like a dogge caste into the coÌ„mon priuie vvyth this Epitaphe Hic proiectus An Epitaphe est indomitae rabide libidinis catulus Here is throvven in the VVhelp of vnâ—evvlie and raging luste vvhich epitaphe may also one day chance to serue my L. of Lecester vvhom you cal the Beare-vvhelp yf he go forvvarde as he hath begonne and die as he deserueth But good Sir vvhat a commpassion is this that amonge vs christians and namlie in so vvel gouerned A pitteful permissioÌ„ and religious a common vvealth as ours is such a riot should be permitted vpon mens vviues in a subiect vvheras vve read that among the verie heatheÌ„s lesse offences then these in the same kinde vvere extremelie punished in Princes them selues and that not onlie in the person delmquent alone but also by extirpatioÌ„ of the vvhole familie for his The extirpation of the Tarquinians sake as apeareth in the example of the Tarquinians amonge the Romans And here also in our ovvn Realm vve haue regestred in Chronicle hovv that one king Edvvin aboue six huÌ„dreth years past vvas An. Do 959. depriued of his kingdom for much lesse scandalous factes then thes GENTL I remeÌ„ber vvel the storie quoth the gentleman ther by do easilie make coÌ„iecture vvhat differeÌ„ce ther is betvvyxt those tymes of olde our dayes novv seing theÌ„ a Crovvned Prince could not passe vnpunished vvyth one or tvvo ontragious actes vvheras novv a subiect raysed vp but yesterday froÌ„ the meaner sorte rangeth at his pleasure in al licentiousnes The into lerable licentiousnes of Lei. carnalitie and that vvith secuâ—itie void of feare both of God and man No mans vvife can be free from him vvhom his firie lust liketh to abuse nor their husbaÌ„des able to
death of K. Edvvard by â—he said Dudley this mans father vvho at one blovv procured to dispatâ—h from al possession of the Crovvn al three children of the said noble king And yet in the middest of those bloodie practizes against her Ma. that novv is and her sister vvherin also this felovvs hand vvas so far as for his age he could thrust the same vvythin sixetiene dayes before K. Edvvardes death he knovving belike that the king should die vvrote moste flatering Deep dissimulatioÌ„ letters to the Ladie Marie as I haue heard by them vvho then vvere vvyth her promissing al loyaltie and true seruice to her after the discease of her brother vvyth no lesse painted vvordes then this man novv doth vse to Q Elizabeth So delt he then vvyth the moste deare children of his good king master by vvhom he had bene no lesse exalted and trusted then this man is by her Ma. And so deeplie dissembled he then vvhen he had in hand the plot to destroye them both And vvhat then alas may not vve feare and doubt of this his sonne vvho in outragious ambition and desire of reigne is not inferiour to his father or to anie other aspiring spirit in the vvorld but far more insolent cruel vindicatiue expert potent subtile fine and fox-like then euer he vvas I like vvel the good Sir Fran. VValsing ham motion propounded by the foresaid gentleman to his friend at the same tyme and do assure my self it vvould be moste pleasaunt to the Realm and profitable to her Ma. to vvyt that this mans actions might be called publiquelie to tryal and libertie giuen to good subiectes to say vvhat they knevv Edmund Dudley against the same as it vvas permitted in the first yeare of K. Henrie the eight against his Graundfather and in the first of Q. Marie against his father Ihoâ— Dudley and then I vvould not doubt but yf thes tvvo his auncestors vvere found vvorthie to leese their Robert Dudley heades for treason this man vvould not be found vnvvorthie to make the third in kinred vvhose trecheries doe far surpasse them both LAVV. After the Gentleman had said this the Lavvyer stood stil somevvhat smyling to him self and looking round about him as though he had bene half afeard and then said My masters do you read ouer or studie the statutes that come foorth haue you not heard of the PROVISO made in the last Parliament for punishmeÌ„t of those vvho speak so broad of such men as my L. of Leycester is GENTL Yes said the gentleman I haue heard hovv that my L. of Leycester vvas verie careful and diligent at that tyme to haue such a lavv to passe against talkers hoping belike that his L. vnder that generall The lavv agaynst talking restreint might lye the more quyetlye in harbrough from the tempest of mens tongues vvhich tatled busilie at that tyme of diuers his Lordships actions affaires vvhich perhaps him self vvould haue vvished to passe vvith more secretsie As of his discontentemeÌ„t preparation to rebellion vpon Monsieurs first comming into the land of his disgrace and checks receyued in court of the fresh death of the noble Erle of Essex and of this mans hastie snatching vp of the vvidovv vvhom he sent ActioÌ„s of Leicester vvherof hevvould haue no speech vp and dovvn the countrie from house to house by priuie vvayes therby to auoid the sight knovvledg of the Q. Ma. And albeit he had not onlie vsed her at his good liking before for satisfying of his ovvn lust but also married and remarried her for contentation of her friendes yet denyed he the same by solemne othe to her Ma. and receiued the holie coÌ„munion thervpon so good a coÌ„science he hath and consequentlie threatned moste sharp reuenge tovvards al subiectes vvhich should dare to speak therof so for the concealing both of this and other his doinges vvhich he desired not to haue publik no maruaile though his Lordship vvere so diligent a procurer of that lavv for silence SCHOL In deed said I it is verie probable that his Lordship vvas in great distres about that tyme vvhen Monsieurs maters vvere in hand and that he did manie thinges and purposed more vvherof he desired lesse speeche among the people especialie aftervvardes vvhen his said designmentes toke not place I vvas my self that yeare not far from VVarvvike vvhen he came thither from the Coutt a ful Mal-Content vvhen it vvvas thought moste certainlie throughout the Realm that he vvould haue taken armes soone after yf the mariage of her Ma. vvyth Monsieur had gone forvvard The thing in CaÌ„bridge in al the coÌ„trie as I rode vvas in euerie maÌ„s mouth it vvas a vvounder to see not onelie the contenaunces but also the behauior to heare the bold speeches of al such as vvere of his faction My Lord him self had giuen out a litle before at Killing vvorth that the mater vvoulde coste manie Leicester Preparatiues to rebellion vpoÌ„ MoÌ„sieurs mariage broken heades before Michelmasse daye next and my Lord of VVarvvik had said openly at his table in Green vviche Sir Thomas Hennige being by if I be not deceyued that it vvas not to be suffred I meane the mariage vvhich vvordes of his once comming abrode albeit misliked by his ovvn Ladie theÌ„ also present euerie Seruing-man common compaignion toke then vp in defence of his Lordships part agaist the Q. Ma. Such tunning ther vvas such sending posting about the Realm such amplification of the povvers forces of Cassimere other Princes redie as vvas affirmed to present them selues vnto his aide for defence of the Realm religioÌ„ against straungers for that vvas holdeÌ„ to be his cause such numbring of parties complices vvythin the Realm vvherof him self shevved the To Sir Th Layton Catalogue to some of his frieÌ„des for their comfort such debasing of them that fauoured the mariage especialie tvvoe or three Councellors by name L. Treasurer L. Chamber layne M CoÌ„ptroler vvho vvere said to be the cause of al and for that vvere appointed out to be sharplie punished to the terrour of al others such letters vvere vvriten and intercepted of purpose importing great povvers to be redie so manie other thiÌ„ges done designed tending al to manifest open vvarre as I began hartelie to be afeard and vvished my self back at CaÌ„bridge againe hoping that being ther my scholars govvne should excuse me from necessitie of fighting or if not I vvas resolued by my Lordes good leaue to folovv Aristotle vvho preferreth alvvay the Lyon before the Beare assuring my self vvythal that his Lordship should haue no better successe in this if it came to tryal theÌ„ his father had in as bad a cause so much the more for that Ivvas priuie to the mindes of some of his friendes vvho meant to haue deceyued him if the matter had broken out And amongest other ther vvas a certeine VicepresideÌ„t in the vvorld vvho
resist nor saue from his violence if they shevv dislike or vvil not yeeld their cōsent to his doinges And if I should discouer in particular hovv manie good husbandes he had plagued in this nature and for suche delites it vvere intollerable for his concupiscence violence doe runne iointlie together as in furious beastes vve see they are accustomed Neither holdeth he anie rule in his lust besides onlie the motiō suggestion of his ovvn sensualitie Kinred affinitie or anie other band of consanguinitie religion honour or honestie taketh no place in his outragious appetit VVhat he best liketh that he taketh as lavvful for the tyme. So that kinsvvoman allie friendes vvyfe or daughter or vvhat soeuer female sorte besides doth please his eye I leaue out of purpose and for honour sake tearmes of kinred more neare that must yeeld to his desire The keeping of the mother vvyth tvvo or three of her daughters at once or successiuelie is no more vvyth him then the eating of an henne and her chicken together Ther are not by reporte tvvo noble vvomen about her Ma. I speake vpon some accompt of them that knovv much vvhom he hath not solicited by potent vvayes Neither contented vvyth this place of honour he hath descended to seek pasture among the vvayting Gentlevvomen of her Ma. great Chamber offering more for their allurement then I thinke Lais did commonlie take in Corinthe if three hundreth poundes for a night vvill make vp the summe or Money VVell spent if not yet vvill he make it vp othervvise hauing reported him self so litle shame he hath that he offred to an other of higher place an hundreth pound landes by the yeare vvith as manie Ievvells Anne Vauiser as moste vvomen vnder her Ma. vsed in England vvhich vvas no meane baite to one that vsed trafique in such marchandize she being but the leauinges of an other mā before him vvherof my L. is nothing squemish for satisfying of his lust but can be content as they say to gather vp crōmes vvhen he is Hungrie euen in the verie Laundrie it self or other place of baser qualitie And albeit the Lord of his great mercie to do him good no doubt if he vvere reuokeable hath The punishmēts of God vpō Leicester to do hym good laid his hand vpon him in some chasticement in this vvorld by giuing him a brokē bellie on both sides of his bovvels vvherby miserie putrifactiō is threatned to hym dayly to his yōgsōne by the vvidovv of Essex being Filius Peecati such a straūge calamitie of the falling sicknes in his infancie * The children of adulterors shal be consumed and the seede of a vvicked bedd shal be roted out saith god Sap. 3. as vvel maye be a vvitnes of the parētes sinne vvickednes and of both their vvasted natures in iniquitie yet is this man nothing amended therby but according to the custom of al olde adulterers is more libidinous at this day then euer before more giuen to procure loue in others by Cōiuring Sorcerie and other such meanes And albeyt for him self bothe age and nature spent do somvvhat tame him from the acte yet vvanteth he not vvil as apeareth by the Italian oyntment procured not manie yeares paste by his Surgyan or Mountybank of that countrie vvherby as they say he is Leicester oyntmēt able to moue his flesh at al tymes for keeping of his credit hovvsoeuer his inhabilitie be othervvise Leicester bottel for performance as also one of his Phisitians reported to an Erle of this land that his Lordship had a bottel for his bedehead of ten Pounds the Pinte to the same effect But my masters vvhether are vve fallen vnaduised I am ashamed to haue made mētion of so base filthynes SCHOL Not vvythout good cause quoth I but that vve are here alone and no man heareth vs. VVherfore I pray you let vs return vvheras vve lefte and vvhē you named my L. of Leycesters daughter borne of the Ladie Shefield in Dudley Castle ther came into my head a pretie storie concerning that affaire vvhich novv I vvill recompt though somevvhat out of order therby to dravv you from the further stirring of this vnsauerie pudle fovvle dunghill vvhereunto vve are slipped by folovving my Lord somvvhat to far in his pathes actions VVherfore to tell you the tale as it fell out I grevv acquainted thes monethes paste vvyth a certaine Minister that novv is dead vvas the same man that vvas vsed at Dudley Castle for complemēt of some Sacred ceremonies at the birth of my Lord of Ley. daughter in that place the mater vvas so ordeyned A pretie deuise by the vvylie vvit of him that had sovved the seed that for the better couerīg of the haruest secret deliuerie of the Ladie Scheffielde the good vvyfe of the Castle also vvherby Ley. appointed gossippes might vvythout other suspition haue accesse to the place should feigne her self to be vvyth childe after long sore trauail god vvote to be deliuered of a qvvyshē as she vvas indeed a litle after a faire Coffin vvas buried vvyth a bundell of cloutes in shevv of a childe the Minister caused to vse al accoustomed prayers and ceremonies for An acte of Atheisme the solēne interring therof for vvhich thing aftervvard before his death he had great grief remors of cōsciēce vvyth no small detestatiō of the moste irreligious deuise of my L. of Ley. in such a case LAVV. Here the Lavv. began to laugh a pace both at the deuise at the Minister said novv truely if my L. contractes hold no better but hath so manie infirmities vvyth subtilties and by places besides I vvould be lothe that he vvere married to my daughter as meane as she is GENT. But yet quoth the Gentleman I had rather of the tvvoe be his vvyfe for the tyme then his gest especialie yf the Italiā Surgiā or Phisitiō be at hand LAVV. True it is said the lavvyer for he doth not poyson his vvyues vvherof I somvvhat maruaile especialie his first vvyfe I muse vvhy he chose rather to make her avvaye by open violence then by some Italian Confortiue GENT. Hereof said the Gentleman may be diuers The First reason vvhy Ley. slevv his vvyfe by violence ratherthē by poysō reasons alleged First that he vvas not at that tyme so skilful in those Italian vvares nor had about him so fit Phisitiās Surgians for the purpose nor yet in trueth do I thinke that his minde vvas so setled then in mischeefe as it hath bene sithence For you knovv that men are not desperat the first daye but doe enter into vvickednes by degrees and vvyth some doubt or staggering of conscience at the beginning And so he at that tyme might be desirous to haue his vvyfe made avvay for that she letted him in his designemētes but yet not so stonie harted as to appoint out the particular maner of her death
of châ—ef rule vnder other pretences and after to deuise vpoÌ„ the title at his leysure But novv to come to the third argument I saie The 3. argument The nature of the cause it self more and aboue al this that the nature and staâ—e of the matter it self permitteth not that my L. of Leycester should meane sincerelie the Crovvn for Huntington especialie seing ther hath passed betvven them so many yeares of dislike and enimity vvhich albeit for the time present commodity be couered and pressed dovvn yet by reason and experience vve knovv that aftervvard vvhen they shal deale together againe in matters of importaunce and vvhen ielousie shal be ioyned to other circumstaunces of their actioÌ„s it is impossible that the former mislike should not breake out in far higher degre then euer before As vve savve in the examples of the reconciliation The nature of olde reconciled enimyty made betvvixt this mans father and Edvvard Duke of Somerset bearing rule vnder king Edvv. the sixt and betvven Richard of York Edmund Duke of Somerset bearing rule in the time of king Henry the 6. Both vvhich Dukes of Somerset after reconciliatioÌ„ vvyth their olde craftie ambitious enimies vvere brought by the same to their destruction soone after VVherof I doubt not but my L. of Leycester vvil take good heed in ioyning by reconciliation vvyth Huntington after so long a breach and vvil not be so improuident as to make him his soueraign vvho novv is but his dependeÌ„t He remembreth to vvel the successe of the L. StaÌ„ley vvho helped K. HeÌ„rie the 7. to the Crovvn of the Duke of Buckingham vvho did â—he same for Richard the 3. of the Earle of VVarvvick vvho set vp K. Edvvard the 4. and of â—he three Percies vvho aduauÌ„ced to the Scepter K. Henry â—he 4. Al vvhich noble men vpon occasions that after fel out vvere revvarded vvyth death by the self same Princes vvhom they had preferred And that not vvythout reason as Siegnior Machauel The reason of Machauel my L. Councellor affirmeth For that such Princes aftervvard can neuer giue sufficient satisfaction to such friendes for so great a benefit receiued And consequentlie least vpon discontentmeÌ„t they may â—haunce do as much for others against them as they haue done for them against others the surest vvay is to recompence them vvyth such a revvarde as they shal neuer after be able to complaine of VVherfore I can neuer think that my L. of Leycester vvil put him self in daunger of the Like successe at Huntingtons haÌ„des but rather vvil folovv The meaninge of the Duke of Nortâ—umber vvyth Suffolk the plot of his ovvn father vvyth â—he Duke of Suffolk vvhom no doubt but he meant onelie to vse for a pretext and help vvherby to place him self in supreame dignitie and aftervvardes vvhat so euer had befallen of the state the others head could neuer haue come to other end theÌ„ it enioyed For yf Q. Marie had not cut it of K. Iohn of NorthuÌ„berland vvould haue done the same in tyme and so al men do vvel knovv that vvere priuie to anie of his cunning dealinges And vvhat Huntingtons secret opinion of Leycester is notvvythstanding this ovvtvvarde shevv of depeÌ„dence â—t vvas my chauÌ„ce to learne from the South hovvse mouth of a special man of that Hastie king vvhoe vvas his ledger or agent in London and at a tyme faling in talke of his masters title declared that he had heard him diuers tymes in secret complaine to his Ladie Leycesters sister as greatlie fearing that in the end he vvould offer him vvrong and pretend some title for him selfe LAVV. VVel quoth the Lavvyer it seemeth by this last point that thes tvvo Lords are cunning practisioners in the arte of dissimulation but for the former vvherof you spake in truth I haue hearde men of good dicourse affyrme that the Duke of The meaniâ—g of the D. of Noâ—thuÌ„ tovvards the D of Suffolk Northumberland had straunge deuises in his head for deceauing of Suffolk vvho vvas nothing so fine as him self and for bringing the Crovvn to his ovvn familie And among other deuises it is thought that he had most certaine intention to marrie the Ladie Marie him self after once he had brought her into his ovvn handes and to haue bestovved her Ma. that novv is vpon some one of his children yf it should haue bene thought best to giue her lyfe so coÌ„sequentlie to haue shaken of Suffolk and his pedegre vvyth condigne punishment for his bolde behauiour in that behalf SCHOL Verilie quoth I this had bene an excellent Stratageme yf it had taken place But I pray you Sir hovv could him self haue taken the Ladie Matie to vvyfe seing he vvas at that tyme married to an other GENTL Oh quoth the Gentlemen you question like a Scholar As though my L. of Leycester had not a vvyfe a liue vvhen he first began to pretend mariahe to the Q. Ma. Doe not you remember the storie of K Richard the third vvho at such tyme as he thought best for the establishing of his title The practise of K. Richard for dispatching his vvyfe to marrie his ovvn nepce that aftervvard vvas married to king Henrie the seueÌ„th hovv he caused secretlie to be giuen abroode that his ovvn vvyfe vvas dead vvhom al the vvorld knevv to be then a liue and in good health but yet soone aftervvard she vvas sene dead indeed Thes great personages in matters of such vveight as is a kingdom haue priuileges to dispose of vvomens bodies mariages liues and deathes as shal be thought for the tyme moste conuenient And vvhat do you think I pray you of this nevv A nevv Triumuirate betvveÌ„ Ley. Talbot the CouÌ„tesse of Shreâ—sbury TRIVMVIRAT so latelie concluded about Arbella for so I must cal the same though one of the three persons be no Vir but Virago I meane of the mariage betvvene yong DeÌ„bigh the litle daughter of Lenox vvherby the father in lavve the Grandmother the vncle of the nevv designed Queene haue conceyued to them selues a singular tryumphant reigne But vvhat doe you think may ensue hereof is ther nothing of the olde plot of duke Iohn of Northumberland in this LAVV. Marie Sir quoth the Lavvyer yf this be so I dare assure you ther is sequele enough pretended hereby And first no doubt but ther goeth a deep drift by the vvife and sonne against olde Abraham the husband and father vvith the vvel lyned large poutch And secondlie a far deeper by trustie Robert against his best Mistres but dâ—â—pest of â—l by the vvhole Cravv against the designememes of the Hastie Earle vvho thirsteth a kingdome Huntington vvith great intemperaunce and seemeth yf there vvere plaine dealing to hope by thes good people to quenshe shortlie his drought But either parte in truth seeketh to deceyue other and therfore it his hard to saye vvher the game in fine vvil reste GENTL VVel hovv so euer that be quoth
maried to Portugal Castile borne of Blanche heire to Edmond Crookback as hath bene said vvas married to Iohn king of Portugal of vvhom is descended the king that novv possesseth Portugal and the other Princes vvhich haue or may make title to the same and Katherin borne of Constance heire of Castile vvas married back againe to Hentie king of Castile in Spaine of vvhom king Philip is also descended So that by this vve see vvhere the remainder of the house of Lancaster resteth yf the Line of K. Henrie the seuenth vvere extinguished vvhat pretext forreine Forrayne titles Princes may haue to subdue vs yf my L. of Huntington either novv or after her Ma. dayes vvil open to them the doore by shuting out the rest of K. HeÌ„ries Line by dravving back the title to the onlie house of York againe vvhich he pretendeth to do vpon this that I vvil novv declare King Edvvard the third albeit he had manie children yet fiue onlie vvil vve speak of at this tyme. The issue of king Edvvard the third VVherof thre vvere elder then Iohn of Gaunt and one yonger The first of the elder vvas named Edvvard the Black Prince vvho died before his father leauing one onlie sonne named Richard vvho aftervvard being king and named Richard the second vvas deposed vvythout issue and put to death by his Cosin germain named Henrie Bolingbrook Duke of Lancaster sonne to Iohn of Gaunt as hath bene said and so there ended the Line of K. Edvvardes first sonne King Edvvardes second sonne vvas VVilliam of Hatfield that died vvythout issue His thirde sonne vvas Leonell Duke of Clacence vvhos onlie daughter heire called Philippe vvas married to Edmond Mortymer Earle of Marche and after that Anne the daughter and heire of Mortymer vvas married to Richard Plantaginet Tvvoe EdmuÌ„des the tvvoe begiÌ„ners of the tvvoe houses of Lancaster York Duke of York sonne and heire to Edmund of Langley the first Duke of York vvhich Edmund vvas the fift sonne of K. Edvvard the third and yonger brother to Iohn of Gaunt And this Edmund of Langley may be called the first beginner of the house of York euen as Edmund Croocbacke the beginner of the house Lancaster This Edmund Langley then hauing a sonne named Richard that married An 〈…〉 â—ortymer sole heire to Leonel Duke of ClareÌ„ce ioined tvvo Lines and tvvoe titles in one I meane the Line of Leonel and of Edmund Langley vvho vvere as hath bene said the third and the fift sonnes to K. Edvvard the third And for this cause the childe that vvas borne of this marriage named after his father Richard Plantaginet Duke of York seing him self strong and the first line of K. Edvvard the thirds eldest sonne to be extinguished in the death of K. Richard the second and seing VVilliam of Hatfield the secoÌ„d soÌ„ne dead likevvise vvythout issue made demaund of the Crovvn for the house of York by The claime title of York the title of Leonel the third sonne of K. Edvvard And albeit he could not obteine the same in his daies for that he vvas slaine in a bataille against K. Henrie the 6. at VVakefield yet his sonne Edvvard got the same vvas called by the name of king Edvvard the fovverth This king at his death lefte diuers children as namlie tvvoe sonnes Edvvard the fift and his brother The issue of king Edvvard the 4. vvho after vvere both murdered in the Tovver as shal be shevved also fiue daughters to vvit Elyzabeth Cicilie Anne Katherine and Briget VVherof the first vvas maried to HeÌ„ry the 7. The last became a NuÌ„ne the other thre vvere bestovved vpon diuers other husbandes He had also tvvo brothers the first vvas called George Duke of Clarence vvho aftervvard vpon his desertes as is to be supposed vvas put to death in Callys by commandement of the king his attaynder The Duk of Clarence attaynted by parlament allovved by parlament And this man left behind him a sonne named Edvvard Erle of VVarvvik put to death aftervvard vvythout issue by king Henrie the seuenth and a daughter named Margaret Countesse of Salisburie vvho vvas married to a meane GentlemaÌ„ named Richard Poole by vvhom she had issue Cardinal Poole that died vvythout Mariage HeÌ„rie Poole that vvas attainted execuded in K. Henrie the 8. his tyme as also her self vvas this HeÌ„ry Poole left a daughter married HuntiÌ„gtons title by the Duke of ClareÌ„ce aftervvard to the Earle of HuntingtoÌ„ by vvho this Earle that novv is maketh title to the Crovvn And this is the effect of my L. of HuntingtoÌ„s title The second brother of king Edvvard the fourth vvas Richard Duke of Glocester vvho after the K. K. Rich. the third death caused his tvvo sonnes to be murdered in the Tovver and toke the kingedom to him self And aftervvard he being slaine by king Henry the 7. at Bosvvorth fielde left no issue behind him VVherfore king Henry the 7. descending as hath bene shevved of the house of Lancaster by Ihon of The happie coÌ„iuÌ„ctioÌ„ of the tvvoe houses Gaunts last sonne third vvife taking to vvyfe ladie Elizabeth eldest daughter of K. Edvvard the fourth of the house of York ioyned most happely the tvvo famylies together and made an end of al controuersies about the title Novv K. Henrie the 7. had issue three children The issue of king HeÌ„ry the seuenth of vvhom remayneth posterity First Henry the 8. of vvhom is descended our soueraine her Ma. that novv happilie raigneth and is the last that remaineth a liue of that first Line SecoÌ„dlie he had tvvo daughters vvherof the first named Margaret vvas married tvvice first to Iames king of Scotland froÌ„ The Line and title of Scotland by Margar. eldeste daughter to king HeÌ„ry the seuenth vvhome are directlie discended the Q. of Scotland that novv liueth and her sonne K. Iames being dead Margaret vvas married againe to Archybalde Douglas Earle of Anguishe by vvhom she had a daughter named Margaret vvhich vvas married aftervvard to Mathevv Stevvard Earle of Lenox vvhos sonne Charles Stevvard vvas married to Elizabeth CaÌ„dishe daughter to the preseÌ„t CouÌ„tesse of of Shrevvsburie by her hath left his onlie heire Arbella a litle daughter named Arbella of vvhom you haue heard some speech before And this is tovvching the Line of Scotland descending from the first eldest daughter of K. Henrie the seuenth The second daughter of K. Henrie the seuenth The Lyne title of Suffolke by Marie seconde daughter to king Henry 7. called Marie vvas tvvice maried also first to the kig of Frannce bâ— vvhom she had no issue and after his death to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk by vvhom she had tvvo daughters that is FrauÌ„cis of vvhich the childreÌ„ of my L. of Hartford doe make their clayme Elenore by vvhom the issue of the Earle of Darbie preteÌ„deth right as shal be declared For that FrauÌ„cis the first daughter of