living to lead a better life and make a Godly end Amen 'T is no new matter to tell us Pamph. 143. Spanish Match Fift Remark That the Spanish Iesuit is more than our Match in the intricate way of Treaty being enabled to Out-wit us and all the world besides Of which we made tryall upon trust of our Emissaries and now the King was minded to put it to the touch And so resolved That the Prince with Buckingham and Cottington and a domestick of the Dukes should hazard a Iourney into Spain Being invited thither by secret Intimation of Sir Walter Aston Ambassador Extraordinary with the Earl of Bristow Leiger Which was to put period to that business of a Marriage that had lasted long enough in Design to weary both Parties Nor was it held such a Ranting journey by wise Men that knew more perhaps than our Author would make us beleeve he did For the great busines Inclusive with the Match was to get Render of the Palatinate which this way or none was to be expected And it appeared afterwards That though the Spaniard did pretend it yet he had other Overtures with the House of Austria as a double bow-string All which we suspected before and therefore it was a Prince-like boldnesse to bring it to issue by himself or to break the Bonds asunder Which at his being there he soon discovered and so returned Wherein Bristoll a suspected Pensioner to that State did not so timely unmask the Spanish Counsells to the Princes advantage as he might and ought to have done For which neglect it had like to have cost him his life when he came home to the true Examination But evermore we must expect a bawdy tale in our Authors stories Pamp. 146. Which to all Men that know the retired custome of the Spanish Wives much more of the Grandees Ladies from conversing or sight of their owne either kindred or friends much more of strangers must needs discredit this Tale of Buckingham with Olyvares Countess as absurd and feigned Nor hath our Author either Courtship or Civill breeding otherwise to understand what the Princes behaviour should have been towards so great a Person as the Infanta of Spain but to allow him his cap cap on his head and prevacy in her Cabinet But above all the strains of impudency Give me leave to marke out the Insamy which he endeavours oh horrid to cast on King James as of many other which he asperts him so this Sans-parell intimating thus much That not glutted with the blood of his dear Pamph. 149. and eldest Sen that most incomparable Prince Honry for whose death he should cunningly dissemble with a feigned sorrow So now to adde to that and for hatred to Buckingham whom the world know he could have blasted with his breath He should think it no ill bargain to lose this Prince his only Son and Successor to all his Crowns And to illustrate the Kings wearinesse of Buckingam Pamph. 150. he tells us a Tale of the Lieger Spanish Ambassador Marquesa d'Innocossa and a Spanish Confessor Padre Maiestre which he sayes was sent to reveal to the King what he had received under seal of Confession and on pain of damnation never to utter which was That the King should be Murthered by Buckingham or some body else or no body at all Then The Kings passion hereupon without any other proceeding to secure his own life that was so fearfull to lose it And then That the Duke being challenged with the truth durst not fight in his own defence which certainly had he bin so wicked to designe the Devil might have assisted him with courage to have countenanced it Indeed Pamph. 155 there was a Letter of Complaint sent to Spain by advice of the whole Councell here to demand of that King how far he had Commissioned his Ambassdor in an affair of Consequence which Letter was inclosed and returned to him with peremptory command to give satisfaction to the Prince and Duke or to be subject to worse Construction Which to my knowledge the Ambassador did recant for I copyed the transactions and with much adoe begg'd favour of the Prince to be reconciled upon sulmission which the Prince in Honor was pleased to accept or it might have cost Innocossa his head at his comming home The former story is interlaced Pamph. 151 with Observation How Bucking hamshifted from trusting the King as knowing his desire to be rid of him And so the Duke wrought himself into the Princes poor spirit with much regret of the old King and every body else Especially when he should rather have call'd to mind the bravery of his brother who hated the whole Family although he sayes none of them had ever offended him Certainly Euckingham was not in beeing when Prince Henry died And if he were he was more brave indeed than to hate the Family that never did him hurt But sure our Author meant Somersets Ladies Family Howards For he tells us before That Prince Henry would not leave one of them to pisse against the wall the Male ones he means And taking occasion before to smell out something of suspition of Poyson in Prince Henries death we are promised in his page 84. Pamph. 84 that his discourse following will tell you the truth thereof and yet he never speaks word of him no more nor otherwise than in this place Our Author proceeds and says Pamph. 156 Now that we have heard what made the King hate Buckingham wee shall know the reason of Buckinghams extreme hatred to the King which is believed to be the cause of his so speedy death More poyson yet But first we proceed to the story of Yelverton Sir H. Pamph. 156 Yelverton was Attorney Generall Sir H. Yelverton Attorney Gener all and by his place of Imployment it was his duty to manage the charge of Impeachment against Somerset or any Subject whatsoever without dispute which he refused as receiving that place by his Favour and this contempt to the Kings service not without suspition of concealment of some passages concerning Overburies death He was for those Reasons and deservedly by the whole councell committed to the Tower close Prisoner Where we are to be perswaded the Lieutenant Balfore admits the Dake to treat with him in privaâ—e and then to peece out a Peace between them Certainly Yelverton had Law to teach him or any other Prisoner of Reason that this was treason in Balfore and in the Duke to attempt And therefore to cleer it Balfore himself hath vowed to a Prisoner sometime under his Guard that there was never any such act done by the Duke or by his permission to any body else But afterwards upon Yelvertons humble submission for his former fault and his Innocency cleared in the other suspitions he was set at liberty And in truth according to the merit of the Man other wayes he was afterwards trusted with the Judgement Seat And what was this secret information which we are
Aulicus Coquinariae OR A VINDICATION IN ANSWER TO A PAMPHLET ENTITVLED The Court and Character of KING JAMES Pretended to be penned by Sir A. W. and published since his death 1650. Auribus oculisque recepta Nemesis à tergo London Printed for Henry Seile over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1650. ERRATA PAge 5. line 20. which read with p. 7. l. 24. Chimstry r. Chimistry p. 11. l. 15. Turnpike p. 36. l. 24. sore p. 39. l. 10. Tercera's p. 45. l. 1. deserve p. 52. l. 14. Assassinations p. 54. l. 5. to p. 54. l. 7. Exception p. 67. l. 15. the. p. 82. l. 2. leave p. 97. l. 6. of p. 105. l. 24 was p. 120. l. 11. her Preface THere are some Men so delight in sinne who rather than be idle from doing evil will take much pains to scandall the Dead My fear to offend hath withheld my hand a convenient time lest I should fall into the like error with Him that published the Pamphlet Entituled The Court Character of King James and Father 's the Brat upon Sir A. VV And if common fame mistake not the meaning His Parent took rise from Q. Elizabeths Kitchin and left it a Legacy for preferment of his Issue This Man went the same way and by grace of the Court got up to the Green-cloth Jn which place attending King James into Scotland he practised there to libell that Nation which at his return home was found wrapt up in a Record of that Board and by the hand being known to be his he was deservedly removed out as unworthy to eat of his bread whose Birth-right he had so vilely defamed Yet by favour of the King with a piece of money in his Purse and a pension to boot to preserve him loyall during his life though as a bad creditor he took this course to repay him to the purpose And I have heard that in his life he discovered a part of this Peece to his fellow Courtier who earnestly diswaded him not to publish so defective and false a scandall which as it seems in Conscience he so declin'd And therefore my Exception willingly falls upon the practice of the Publisher who by his Additions may abuse us with this false Story which he discovers to the Reader in 5 Remarkable Passages and gives me the occasion to spare my censure on the deceased person but to bestow my unkindness which necessarily intervenes in this Vindication on him who yet lives to make out his bad act with a Reply if he please more Pestilent upon Me. THE CONTENTS QUeen Elizabeth pag. 1 1. Remark Gowryes Conspiracy of the name Ruthens and Family the manner of the Treason and effects afâ—erwards 5 George Sprott Confederate with Gowry his confessions arraignment execution and testimony hereof 16 E. of Essex his Character undertakings Treason and execution 36 Caecils Sir Rob. Caecil his services sicknesse and death 49 Hen. Howard E. of Northampton his character and death 64 James L. Hay E. Carlisle his character Embassies and Interest 67 2. Remark Sir Walter Raleigh his character treason tryall and reprieve observations upon him and his former voyage to Guiana sentence and execution 74 Sir Tho. Lake his character rising ruine with his Wife and Daughter 98 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury and Sir Rob. Carr 110 The Nullity of Essex Marriage with Suffolk's daughter with the Legall proceedings 113 Of Archbishop Abbot 130 Sir Rob. Carr E. of Somerset his Marriage with Essex's Relict 133 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury his imprisonment and poysoned 135 Somerset and his Wifes tryall and Sir Thomas Monson 138 4. Remark Pr. Henry his character sickness disease and death not by poyson 143 Sir Arthur Ingram his condition 158 Sir Lionel Cranfield E. of Middlesex his birth breeding and advance 160 George Villiers his discent and advance a Favorite and Duke of Buckingham occasioning severall narrations c. 164 E. of Nottingham Admirall 169 Egerton Lord Chancellor 171 Bacon Lord Chancellor 171 Buckinghams Kinred 174 Williams Lord Keeper 178 5. Remark Spanish Match the Princes journey into Spaine and return 179 Bristolls concern'd 180 Inicossa Spanish Ambassador 182 Yelverton Attorney Generall 186 King James sicknesse the playster and death not by poyson 192 Conclusion 197 The Character 200 Aulicus Coquinariae OR THE CHARECTER Of Him who SATARIZ'D KING JAMES AND HIS COURT QUeen Elizabeth died Queen Elizabeth Anno Domini 1602. having bin long sick and indeed desperate which gave this State time enough to conclude for his reception the undoubted Heir to these Crownes JAMES then King of Scotland She hath been highly valued since Her death the best of any former Soveraigne over us She was fitted for fortunes Darling but with some Imprisonment the better to mould Her for the Rule and Soveraignty of a Kingdome and for the custody of a Scepter She shewed Her Justice and Piety as a President to posterity She was a Princesse learned even then when Letters had estimation and began them into fashion which brought forth many rare and excellent Men both of the Gowne and of the Sword Some say She had many Favorites but in truth She had none They were neer and dear to Her and to Her affaires as Partners of her care not Minions of phansey And yet such as they were she ever mastered by her own Rules not they Her by their own Wills And she wanted not many of them at need or pleasure She was Magnificent comparativè with other Princes which yet she disposed frugally Having alwaies much to do with little money for truly those either Wise or Gallant Men were never cloied with her Bounty more then in her Grace which with her Mannage passed for good payment The Irish affaires was to her Maligne which drew her Treasure almost dry the only cause of distemper in the State and ended not but with her life At which time she left her Cofers empty and yet her Enemies potent Pamp. 34. And therefore it could be no Treason in them that afterwards councelled the Peace but rather in such who indeavoured then and after the re-establishing a New War Amongst Her Favourites of the Sword none could boast more of her Bounty and Grace Essex Pamp. 10. then the Earle of Essex whose ingrate disposition blown beyond the Compasse of his steere by too much Popularity and Pride cosened him into that absolute Treason against his Soveraigne that notwithstanding many forewarnings of his neerest friends and unwilling Resentments of his deerest Mistresse his open Rebellion at last brought him to publique tryall condemned and executed as the most ingrate that former times could produce Of which we shall take occasion hereafter in some particular Wherein Sir Robert Cecill acted no more then a dutiful Subject Councelour and Judge ought to have done against him and such like of her time evermore attempting by Assassination or Poyson to take away her life As were also the like attempts by others in Scotland witnesse the
you saw And in token of further recompence he gave you twelve pounds of Silver Neverthelesse albeit you know perfectly the whole practise and progresse of all the said Treason from the beginning to the end as also by your Conference with Bour and Logane during all the daies of their lives who lived till the year 1606. or therabouts and so by the space of 6. years you concealed the same and so you was and is art and part of the said Treason and of the concealing and so you ought to suffer under the pain of High Treason To the token that you have not only by your depositions subscribed by you and solemnly made in presence of many of the Lords of his Majestie 's Privy Councell and the Ministers of the Borough of Edenburgh of the dates of the 5.15 and 16. daies of July last past and 10. and 11. of August instant confessed every head point and article of the Indictment abovesaid but also by divers other depositions subscribed by you you have ratifyed the same and sworn constantly to abide thereat and to seal the same with your bloud Which Indictment being read openly before Sprot was put to the knowledge of Inquest he confess'd the same and every point to be true And therefore the Indictment was put to the Inquest of the honest famous and discreet Persons that is to say William Trumball of Ardre William Fisher Merchant and Burgesse of Edenburgh Rob. Short there Ed. Johnstone Merchant Burgess there Harb Maxwel of Cavens Ja. Tennent of Linchouse Wil. Trumbill Burg of Edenburgh Geor. Brown in Gorgy Mill Joh. Hucheson and John Lewes Merch. Burg. of Edenburgh Ja. Somervill Wil. Swinton of the same John Crunison of Dirlton Th. Smith John Cowtis Burg. of Edenburgh Which Persons of Inquest sworn and admitted and reading over the same Indictment again in his and their presence the said George Sprot confessed the same to be true Whereupon the said Sir Thomas Hamilton his Majesties Advocate asked act and Instrument and therefore the Inquest removed to the Inquest-House and elected Harbert Maxwell to be their Chancelour or Foreman And after mature deliberation they all re-entred againe in Court where the said Foreman declared the said George Sprot to be guilty filed and convict of Art and Part of the said Treason for which cause the said Justice by the mouth of the Demster of Court by sentence and Doom ordained the said George Sprot to be taken to the Market Crosse of Edenburgh and there to be hanged upon a Gibbet till he be dead and thereafter his head to be stricken off and his body to be quartered and demeaned as a Traytor and his head to be set up upon a prick of Iron upon the highest part of the Talboth of Edenburgh where the Traytor Gowrie and other Conspiratours heads stand and his lands and goods forfeited and escheat to our Soveraign Lord the King's use Extractum de Libro Actorum Adjornalis S. D. N. Regis per me D. Johannem Coburne de Ormeston Milifem Clericum Institiarii ejusdem generalem Sub meis signo subscriptione manualibus And so was George Sprot conveyed to a private house remaining at his Meditations and afterwards conferred with the Ministers confessing all aforesaid with extreame humiliation and prayer Afterwards ganging up the ladder with his hands loose and untyed he was again put in mind of the truth of his Confessions He for the greater assurance thereof perform'd an act marvelous promising by God's assistance to give them an evident Token before the yielding up of his Spirit which was when he had hung a very good while he left up both his hands a good height and clapped them together three severall times to the wonder of thousand Spectators and so dyed For more Confirmation of the afore Narration there was present George Abbot then Doctor in Divinity and Dean of Winchester after Arch-Rishop of Canterbury who was present both at his Examination Execution hath made the same writing and observance even almost verbatim as all the afore specified Relation intends which I can produce also And more one Dr. of Divinity present also saies as much which no doubt is sufficient satisfaction to all reasonable Men that there was such a Conspiracy and not fained Earle of Essex his Treason And now we come to remember the Earl of Essex the universal Love of whose memory was but of such whom he formerly caught by his affected Popularity or of others that followed his Treasonable practises which were grosse enough to be sore apprehended by every faithful Subject especially being prosecuted against the Person of that glorious Sunne his obliging Mistresse Pamp. 10 whom a little before our Pamphlet commemorates with much Passion till now that he comes to Ireason a small fault belike and pardonable in Essex For he saith that King James hated Sir Robert Cecill it seemes for but prosecuting amongst other Councelours and Peers a Traytor 's death Intimating no doubt the King 's impatient desire to inherit these Crownes by any Treason But he spares no Invectives against any of worth or honor that comes in his way This Earle was eldest Sonne to Walter Devoreux Robert E. of Essex of a Norman family Viscount Hereford and Bowrchier Lord Eerrers of Chartley and by Queen Elizabeth created Earle of Essex and Ewe Anno 1572. and Knight of the Garter He was sent into Ireland Lord Marshall against the Rebells and as if but sent of an arrand he presently falls sick and dies at Dublin 1576. His body brought over and intomb'd at Carmarthen in Wales This Robert succeeded his Father's Honours and was looked upon in Court by all with pitty through the Sacrifice of his Father But by the Queen with great affection whome she advanced his fortunes being lowe with many gifts of grace and bounty At his Arraignment accounted to the Lord Treasurer Dorset to be 300000. l. sterling in pure gift for his only use besides the fees of his offices and the disposition of the treasurein his Armies Of all which he soon became a bold ingrosser both of fame and favour And first in Anno 1585. he receaves Knighthood In 1588. Knight of the Garter In 1589. he had command in chief in an Expedition into Portingal against Lisbone In 1595. sworn Councelour of State In 1596. he was sent with a Navy to the Isle Cadiz in Spain and presently after made Lord Marshall of England In 1597. he commanded in another Fleet to the Islands Sercera's his Contemporaries who stood in Competition with him for fame were Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Earle of of Devonshire and Generall Norris Blunt late E. of Dev. his neer friends and yet whom he envied the last to his ruine Men of greater merit and truer value And after the destruction of Norris He takes upon him the Expedition into Ireland the place of Exercise for the best of the Militia And who durst oppose him Though the Queen
forewarning of the Duke of Florence by expresse Message of Sir Henry Wootton to King James a year before his comming to these Kingdomes against Her beloved and undoubted Heir and in Them to destroy the Protestant Religion The most remarkeable was Gowries Conspiracie that of Gowries Conspiracy in Scotland And I never read or hear'd till our Pamphlet That Sir George Hewms his gravity and Wisdome ushered him into the Secrets of the KING therefore and chiefly to make good that story Pamph. 8. The first passage of the Preface Remarkable For of that Nation both the wisest and most honest gave great Credit thereto And the commemoration was advisedly settled by Acts of their Parliament which Anathematize upon Gowries House and Name And Solemnized there and here with Narratives in print of each particular Circumstance and the ground the cause inviting that Treason And truely the Anniversary feast-day in August was usually solemnized to God's Glory by the most Reverend Preachers witnesse those rare Divine Sermons of our Bishop Andrew's and others whose Consciences no doubt were not so large to cozen God Almighty with a fained tale Indeed there might have been more additionall truths annexed to the relation which I have heard to make it more apprehensive to our Pamphleter whose Speculations in this as in other his stories of Court and State took Information belike but in his Office Below-staires And which makes his faith drawe downe the effects of those Sermons for the Father Pamp. 10. as a Cause of the sad Events and sufferings of the Son and us all to this present The Name of Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious until Anno 1568 when Ruthen amongst others confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured much for the Imprisoning Queene Mary Mother to King James In 1582. his sonne William was created Earle Gowry in the time of that King's minority Though the father bore deadly hatred to the King's prosperity And in 1584. himselfe was in actuall Rebellion in which he suffered at Dondee His eldest son John then in travell in Italy returns home to inherit his lands and honours But not one jot changed in disposition from the traiterous wayes of his Predecessors For not long after he falls into this Conspiracy Which is not so antient but that many then and now living can relate and my self have often heard the repetition The House of Gowry were all of them much addicted to Chimistry And these more to the Practise often publishing as such professors usually do more rare experiments then ever could be performed wherein the King a general scholar had little faith But to infuse more credit to the practise Alexander Ruthen the second Brother takes this occasion and withall conspires with Gowry to assassinate the King and taking opportunity in his hunting not far from his house St. Johnstone invites the King to be an eye-witnesse of his productions In their way Sir Thomas Erskin after Lord Kelly overtakes them and others Demanding of the Duke of Lenox then present why Alexander had ingrossed the King's eare to carry him from his sports Peace man said the Duke Wee's all be turned into gold Not far they rid but that the Earle Gowry made good by protestation his Brother's story And thus was the King brought to Guest Neere the end of Dinner at his fruit and the Lords and Waiters gone to eate Alexander begs of the King at this opportunity to withdraw and to be partaker of his Production to the view of that which yet he could not beleeve And up he leades the King into by-lodgings locking each door behind them till they came into a back-Roome Where no sooner entered but that Alexander claps on his Bonnet and with sterne Countenance faces the King and saies Now Sir you must know I had a father whose bloud calls for revenge shed for your sake The King amazed deales gently with his fury excuses the guilt of his death by his then Infancy Advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his Anointed Soveraigne Especially in a cause of his Innocency Pleading the laws of God and Man which so much wrought upon him that he said well I will speak with my Brother And so put the King into a Lobby Room next the Chamber where no sooner entered but that there appeared a fellow weaponed ready for execution to whose custody the King is committed till his return Alexander gone downe the fellow trembles with Reverence puts down his sword and craves pardon which gave the King occasion to worke upon that passion and to aske him whether he resolved to murther him Being assured to the contrary the King gets leave to open a window that looked into a back Court When presently Alexander returnes and tells the King that he must dy But much affrighted at the fellowes countenance with his sword offers violence to the King Which the fellow seemingly opposes and betweene them began a scuffle which gave advantage to the King to cry Treason at the Window which looked into a back Court where Sir Thomas Erskin and one Herries were come In pursuite of the King who was rumored to be gone out the back way to his hunting At the cry of Treason and known to be the King's voice they both hastened up a back staire called the Turnepike being directed by a servant of the house who saw Alexander ascend that way And so forcing some doores they found them above panting with the fray And up comes also at heeles of them John Ramsey after Earle of Holdernesse by them Alexander was soon dispatched Not long after came the Earle Gowry by his double key the first way with a case of Rapiers his usuall weapons and ready drawn To whom Erskin said as to divert his purpose what do you meane my Lord the King is killed for the King was shadowed having cast himselfe upon a Bed from his sight and his cloak was thrown upon the Body of Alexander bleeding on the ground At which Gowry stops sincking the points of his weapons when suddainly Herries strickes at him with a hunting fawchion And Ramsey having his Hawke on his fist casts her off and steps into Gowry and stabs him to the heart and forthwith more Company came up And the truth very notorious then to every eye and eare-witnesse not a few There remained but one younger sonne of that House who though a childe was from that time Imprisoned by Act of their Parliament And so continued afterwards here in the Tower of London until that King's death and the grace of the late King Charles restored him to liberty with a small pension which kept him like a Gentleman to these times But now failing he walks the streets poore but well experienced also in Chimicall Physick and in other parts of Learning Not long after this Conspiracy Herries dies well rewarded John Ramsey hath the Honor of Knighthood with an additional bearing to his Cote of Armes A Hand holding
Proclametion That Essex and Southampton were Traitors all those that followed their faction Many dropping from the Crowd there was little defence by his party though some were killed and himselfe forsaken of the wisest He retires back to Queenhithe and so to Essex-house by water where finding the Birds flowen the Councellors released by their Keeper who in hope of pardon accompained them to the Queenes presence discovering so much as he knew concerning his Lord who finding himselfe too weake to withstand the force of a peece of Cannon mounted upon the Church to batter his House He and Southampton yeelded themselves Prisoners to the Tower Arraigned and executed where being arraigned and condemned Southamton had repreeve and after pardon But Essex the reward of his merits and Executed in March 1601. upon the Inner Hill in the Tower to the regret of None either wise or honest Leaving behind him one onely Son the last of his Line William Cecill Cecils Pamp. 10. illustrate from the family of Cecils who suffered persecution in the times of Henry 8. Edward 6. and Queen Mary he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth so soone as she was setled in her Crowne then Secretary and Councellor of State Afterwards created Baron of Burligh Then made Lord Treasurer of England and Knight of the Garter and died Chauncellor of the Vniversity of Cambridge Anno 1598. Intomb'd at Westminster leaving two Sons The elder Thomas was then Lord President of the North And afterwards created Earle of Exeter by King James and privy Councellor of State He died Anno discreet and honourable whom the world could never tax with any taint The other son Robert Sr. Robert Cecill was the second But a true Inheriter of his Fathers wisdome and by him trained up to future perfections of a Judicious States-man after his Knighthood the first imployment from Court for he was not at all bred out of it sent him Assistant with the Earle of Darby Embassadour to the French King At his returne the Queen took him second Secretary with Sir Fr. Walsingham after whose decease he continued Paincipal and so kept it to his death Not relinquishing any Preferment for the Addition of a Creater A remarkeable Note which few men of the Gowne can boast of His Father liv'd to see him setled in these preferments and after Master of the Wards and Liveries These he held to the Queenes death Being in all Her time used amongst the Men of weight as having great sufficiencies from his Instruction who begat him Those offices here in public with perpetual Correspondence by Emissaries of his own into Scotland might no doubt make him capable of Reception with King James who was to be advised by him how to be received here of his people Without any necessity then to make use of Sir George Hewmes or his Initiatiation afterwards with any juggling trickes Pamp 13. his merrits certainly appeared to the King who not onely not diminished his forformer preferments But often added to them even to the day of his death As first Baron of Essenden then Viscount Cranborne after Earle of Salisbury and Knight of the Garter and lastly Lord Treasurer of England He was a Councellor of singular merit A very great discoverer of the late Queens enemies abroad and of private Assinations at home For which She valued him and the Papists hated him which they published by several Manuscripts which I have seen and printed Libels and that most pestilent against his birth and honour threatning to kill him which himselfe answered wisely learnedly and religiously Extant in English and Latine Adversus Perduelles Indeed It behoved the King to bestow upon him the waight of the Treasurers Staffe The Cofers then in some want which the King was not likely soon to Recover but rather to increase in debt having the addition of wife and children to boot And being now come with common opinion into the Capacity by his additional Crownes to reward his old servants and to appear obliging unto new Ones The world wondering at the worth of this great Councellor I know not upon what score our Pamphleter should endeavour to scandal his memory Which he rancks into Numbers of ill Offices to his Nation Pamp. 12. as the burning of a whole cart-load of Parliaments Presidents which no man can be so sottish as to beleeve that knowes the strict concerving of those Records by sworne Officers As for the Baronets Baronets It was the earnest suite of two hundred prime Gentlemen of Birth and estates to my knowledge for I copied the list before ever it came this Lord. And as true it is That this Lord's Reception thereto was in the same words which our Pamphlet puts upon the King That it would discontent the Gentry to which themselves replyed Nay my Lord It will rather satisfie them in advance of Dignity before others who now come behind those Meaner Men whom the King was forced to Knight for his own honor and some merits of theirs having no other Reward or money to spare and therein not much to blame to oblige them that way As for that supposed jugling Pamp. 13. which the Duke of Bullion should discover As it was never known to wiser men So we may take it a devise of his who in these as in other such like of his own may truly merit that Character which he bestowes before On the good Gentleman Pamp. 9. I desire pardon if I speake much and truth in the memory of this Noble Lord being somewhat concerned to speak my owne knowledge I know that this Earle of Salesbury declining his health with continuall labour for the good of this Nation both in the former and in this his Soveraign's Service And am willing to give some light thereof to such as are pleased to read these particulars being an Account of his concernments For first Salisbury his service to the State Mannors Lands he found the King's Mannors and fairest possessions most unsurveyed and uncertain rather by report then by Measure Not more known then by ancient Rents the Estate granted rather by chance then upon knowledge The Custody-Lands Custody-hands antiently termed Crown-Lands much charged upon the Sheriffs yearly discharged by annual pensions A Revenue which seemed decayed by descent of times and worne out of all remembrance these he evermore revived by Commissioners of Asserts The Woods Woods were more uncertain then the rest No man knew the Copices Number of acres growth or value nor of Timber-Trees either Number or worth So as truly he might well find himself in a Wood indeed The Trees wasted without controwle because no Record kept thereof These he caused to be numbred marked and valued easily to be questioned when thereafter missing The Copy-hold Lands Copy-holds where the arbitrary sines ceased by the discretion of the Stewards and did seldome yeeld the Parsons part and that also vanish'd in fees and charges The State was then after like
of State and Cecil the Imenire facias thereof Sir Walter Ralegh was a Gentleman of good alliance Sr. Walter Ralegh in the west of England and very well descended He began his Improvements by the Vniversity and Inns of Court the latter was alwaies the place of esteem with the Queen which she said fitted youth for the future But he staid not there And as his fate would have him of the Sword first so his destinie drew him on to have a mixt reputation with the Gown For he was often called to Councell but never sworn He was twice in Expeditions of Land-service into Ireland under Generall Norris and Grey a Volunteer in either as also in the Low-Countries and a voiage at Sea ere he was known at Court And such waies as these were his Introductions the best hopes of his rising some Naturall parts he had a good wit and judgement but his best weapon was his tongue which gave him repute to be learned then but after he improved to a great value in his future troubles the best School to a wise man He had a quarrel with Grey in Ireland which being referred to a Councell of Warre it had like to cost him his life But by reference came afterwards to repetition at home before the Lords Grey had the better cause but Ralegh the advantage in pleading who so took them especially Lester that the Queen was told the tale and somewhat more of him And no sooner he came to be known to Her but She took him to grace In whom as in other of the like form their alwaies meet oposites Enemies of greater ranck and they kept him under sometimes in sometimes out which when it fell out to be so he would wisely decline himselfe out of the Court-rode And then you found him not but by fame In voyages to the West Indies Gueana New Plantations Virginia or in some Expeditions against the Spaniard Against whom his and other the like successe of Drake Candish Forlisher Hawkins with other Island-voyages neer home confirm'd Ralegh a grand Opposer of the generall peace which King James brought in with him and that brought Ralegh to his ruin And for all these his good parts he rose to no more then Governor of Jersey Lord Warden of the Stannaries in the West and Captain of the Guard to the Queens person which last place brought him to esteem in the Court but not in the State at all Yet busie he had been heretofore to speak his mind of the Generall affaires and therein he pleased his late Mistresse For then his inclination went with the humour of those times of War But now his Councell came out of season For at the entrance of the King He was presented by Ralegh with a Manuscript of his own against the peace with Spain It was alwaies his table talk to beget the more esteem which took accordingly And the way to make him the contrary was the work of the Spanish faction Either to buy him out of that humour or to abuse him into a worse condition which was thus effected And indeed to mould this Treason His Treason there was a medly of divers conditions but the contrivers were two Priests Watson and Clarke and count Arembergh Embassedor Extraordinary for the Arch-Duke who brought in the Lord Cobham and he his brother George Brooke and he Parham and these the Lord Grey of Wilton Then came in Sir Walter Ralegh the wisest of them all who dallied like the flie with the flame till it consumed him Willing he was it seemes to know it and thought by his wit to over-reach the confederates whom he knew well enough though none but Cobham for a good while dealt with him And with him Ralegh plaid fast and loose till himselfe was caught in the Gin. There was one Mathew De Lawrencie here at London a Merchant of Antwerpe with whom Cobham held Intelligence for many years before for some reasons of State connived at by the late Queen and her Councel This Man was the property whom Arenbergh made use of to Cobham who now was much discontented These 3. made the first step to the contrivement And it hath bin my jealousie that Lawrency betrayed it to this State for I never could be assured how it was discovered though I have bin often present with Sir Walter in his Imprisonment when he privately discoursed hereof But being ripe they were severally examined resirained first to their owne homes not without watchful eyes on either of them then to Imprisonment and lastly to their Tryals at Winchester whither the Terme removed out of this evermore Pestilentiall City And on the 17. November 1602. His arraignment the day of Arraignment for Ralegh and the Jury called to the Bar. Against whose Persons he did not except nor could for they were the most able sufficient in Middlesex where the fact had its scene I shall name them Sir Ralphe Conisby Sir Thomas Fowler Sir Edward Peacock Sir William Roe Knights Henry Godwin Bobert Wood Thomas Walker Thomas Whitley Thomas Highgate Robert Kempton John Chalke and Robert Bromley Esquries The Indictment was managed by the King's Atturney Sir Edward Cook Serjeant Heal and Ser. Philips and drawne from the 9. Iun. 1603. The accusation was double against the King and the State The personall had 2. parts first against his life Secondly to disable his title to this Crowne To the first was read Brookes confession That his Brother Cobham used these speeches That it would never be well till the King and his cubs were taken away and said that he thought it proceeded from Ralegh To this Ralegh answered That Brookes was his enemy It was replyed but Cobham was ever your friend and it would seeme a strange malice in Brooks to ruin his brother to undo you To the second part there was produced a Booke which I have read a defence of the Queens proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots which Cobham confessed Ralegh had delivered to him and he to Brookes and Brookes to Gray upon Cobhams discontent Ralegh acknowledged that it contained matter of scandal to the Kings title And that he had leave of Sir Robert Ceill after his Fathers death to search his study for Cosmographicall Manuscripts of the Wests-Indies and so lighted on this Book Sir Robert Cecill then present upon the Bench acknowledged this lease and said He would then as really have trusted him as any man Sir Robert Cecils words though since for some Infirmities of Sir Walter the bonds of affection were crackt and yet reserving his duty to the King which may not be dispensed withall in this his Masters service he swore by God he loved him and had a great conflict in himself that so compleat a member was fallen from this State And this passage needs no soothing to excuse Cecill either for the Father or the Son For I have heard Sir Robert Cecil when he was Salisbury say publickly at his own table That he
was the Instrument of messages and letters betweene Ralegh and Cobham often to protest in my hearing That in truth he was threatned with the Rack which was shewed to him but had he tasted therof he said that he should have bin inforced to tell an odd tale meaning of discovery Sr. Walter was admitted a chair pen Inck and paper for his memory And truly he rather tyâ—ed the Court and Jury Repreeâ— ed. with Impertinences And thus was Sr. Walter Ralegh reprieved to the Tower and many years of Imprisonment in that liberty till his future merits and fame of learning begat many to pitty his sufferings So that at last by meanes of the French Embassadour with others of our own Lords he had freedome to repair for his health to his House at Saint James and after a year or two he procured a Commission to make a Voyage to Gueana in the West-Indies for the return of Gold Oare or Mine But was expresly limitted not to trench upon the Spaniard to the breach of Peace His landing was at St. Tomaz a Town of the Spaniards upon the opening of the Great River Orenoque in America Where he killed many of them and there lost his eldest son Walter under the Walls Then sends he Captain Kemish his old Servant upon whose confidence it appears this voyage was resolved up this River to the foot of a Mountain where heretofore and also during Ralegh's Imprisonment he had been sent and returned with wonderfull Remarks of a rich Mine or rather Madre-del-Ore But now comes from thence And all the account came to no more but that the Mountain was fled away he could not find it Upon this the whole sleet 4. or 5. saile mutiny forces him home again as a Prisoner in the return Kemish kills himself in his own Cabin so no tales could be told Ralegh's ships were first cast upon the south of Ireland then they land in the West of England where warrants were ready to apprehend him Prisoner to the Tower In the West he is discovered to deal with a French Master of a ship to steal away into France Then in his journy to London he combines with a French Mountebanck who assisted him with Ingredients which he desired that would without danger of life bring him to breake forth into Blanes Purposely done by this meanes to get longer time to work opportunities to save his life which he knew he had so deeply forfeited Then being delivered into the hands of Sir John Stukely Lieutenant of the Tower he deales with him for a sum of Money part in hand being paid to join with him in Escapeboth of them into France Stukely yields to all and accompanies him by water in the way to Gravesend where by designe of Stukelie's treachery in that and so it prospered with him being hang'd afterwards for clipping of Gold they were seized and brought back to the Tower From whence very speedily Ralegh was commanded to the King's-Bench-bar at Westminster before the Lord chief Justice Mountegue where the Records of his former Sentence only were read hedemanded why Execution should not be done Sir Walter acknowledged that Sentence and the King's Mercy for his life thus long And that he hoped seeing he had bin imployed by Commission with power of life and death over the King's Lie ge People it did make void that former sentence He was told to the contrary and that his time of Execution was the next morning and so the Sheriff of Middlesex took him into custody to the Gate-House and to Execution the next day in the old Palace yard at Westminster where he had the favor of the Ax. which he said smilingly touching it was a sharp Medioine but a true Physitian to cure all diseases and so it proved to him at this very time in his Ague sit At his death himselfe endeavoured to cleere some points which it seemes our Pamphleter knew not of otherwise he would have done it for him To have had often plots with France which he denied but confessed that he had bin solicited thence and indeavoured to escape thither at twice That the French Agent came oft to him with Commission from that King to him But he returned the Commission That he should speake disloyally of the King his accuser he said was a base runagate Frenchman and perfideous whom he trusted being sworne to secrecie which he betrayed much he said in these particulars which he did not deny but traversed So then there were other businesse of charge to which he was liable to a new Tryall But the prudence of the King would not hazard further proceedings having a sufficient upon the old score Pamp. 38. And now for that additional tale of the Pamphleter concerning Sir Walters recovery of Queen Anne for which he begg'd the boone viz. for the Examination of the Lord Cobham by 4. Earles and 2. Councelors I never heard nor read thereof before nor can beleeve it For this I know by severall relations of those great Ladies of her Bedchamber and of her Chirurgians and Physitians now living That She was never cured of her disease but by death that ends all Maladies It followes in the Pamphlet That after he hath ranted his Stories of Mansell and Monson and of the peace ratifyed and sworne He makes Cecill the chief Ringleader of the King by the Nose But to say truth The King was alwaies brought up to his ease though the fore-part of his Raigne in Scotland proved troublesome enough to his Councell And therefore now he was to follow his affaires in peace and his own Inclination in a Sportfull life The rather He being much Subject to unwildines or weaknes in his Limbs and which because of his extream dis-affection to Physick he was advised to the best Aire most agreable to the Nature of Scotland fresh and bleak and for that end he chose Roystan and Newmarket Without that Scandalous Intimation of leaving his Queen without any love or liking We are forced to fall upon One Lake Sir Tho. Lake Pamp. 54. whom we find to be that learned Gentleman Sir Thomas Lake apted in his youth with rudiments of the Book to attend Sir Francis Walsingham that subtile Secretary of State to Queen Elizebeth as Amanuensis to him And after good experience of his desarts he was recommended to the Queen and read to her French and Latine In which tongues she would say that he surpassed her Secretaries and was so imployed to her death for he was reading to her when the COUNTESSE of WARWICK told him that the Queen was departed But not long before merits she received him Clarke of her Signet And he was chosen by this State in that place to attend the King from BARWICK And so sufficient he was that the King made use of his present service in some French affaires after he came into England Which indeed Secretary Cecil had reason to resent as too much trenching on his Office And therefore
craved leave of the King that he might not attend beyond his Moneth to prejudice the other Clarks Which was excused and he kept still at Court These Sufficiencies of his enabled him in those times of gaining with much repute and direct honesty to purchase large possessions After Ccils death the Place of Secretary as secretary was joyned in two Principals And not long after he was one of them so continued with Honourably esteem of all men until that Malice and Revenge two violent passions over-ruling the Weaker Sexe concerning his wife and daughter involved him into their quarrel the chiefe and onely cause of his ruine He had by his Wife His Ingagement with his wife and daughter sons and daughters His eldest married unto the Lord Baron Rosse in right of a Grand-mother the son of Thomas Earle of Exeter by a former venter And upon the credit of Sir Thomas Lake he was sent Embassadour Extraordinary into Spaine in a very gallant Equipage with some hopes of his own to continue Leiger to save charges of transmitting any other In his absence there fell out an extreame deadly fewd t is no matter for what betweene the Lady Lake and the Countesse of Exeter Against the Countesse of Exeter A youthful widow she had bin and vertuous and so became Bedfellow to this aged gowty diseased but noble Earle And that preferment had made her subject to Envy and Malice Home comes the Lord Rosse from his Embassy when being fallen into some neglect of his wife and his kindred I conceive upon refusal of an increase of allowance to her settlement of joynture which was promised to be compleated at his returne Not long he staies in England but away he gets into Italy turnes a professed Romane Catholick being cousened into that Religion by his publick confident Gondamore In this his last absence never to returne the Mother and daughter the accusation accuse the Countesse of former Incontinencie with the Lord Rosse whilst he was here and that therefore upon his wives discovery he was fled from hence and from her Marriage Bed with other devised Calumnies by several designes and contrivements to have poisoned the Mother and daughter This quarrel was soone blazon'd at Court to the King's eare who as privately as could be singly examines each party The Countesse with teares and Imprecations professeth her Innocency which to oppose the Mother Lake and her daughter counterfeit her hand to a whole sheet of paper wherein they make the Countesse with much contrition to acknowledge her selfe guilty craves pardon for attempting to poisonthem desires friendslsip with them all The King gets sight of this as in favour to them and demands the place time and occasion when this should be writ They tell him that all the parties met in a visit at Wimbleton the house of the Lord of Exeter where in dispute of their differences she confesses her guilt of attempting their poison And being desirous of absolution and friendship being required thereto consents to set down all Circumstances therein under her own hand which presently she writ at the Window in the upper end of the great Chamber at Whimbleton in presence of the Mother and Daughter the Lord Rosse and one Diego a Spaniard his confiding Servant But now they being gone at Rome the King forthwith sends Mr. Dendy one of his Serjeants at Armes sometime a domestick of the Earl of Exeters an honest and worthy Gentleman post to Rome who speedily returnes with Rosse and Diego's hand and other testimonialls confirming That all the said accusation and confession Suspitions and papers concerning the Countesse were notorious false and Scandalous and confirmes it by receiving the Hoast in assurance of her Honour and his Innocency The King well satisfyed sends to the Countesse friends and trusties for her Jointure and Estate who comparing many of her letters with this writing do conclude it counterfeit Then He tells the Mother and Daughter that this writing being denied by her and their testimonies being parties would not prevaile with any belief But any other Additionall Witnesse would give it sufficient credit To which they assure him That one Sarah Swarton their Chamberesse stood behind the hanging at the entrance of the Room and heard the Countesse reade over what she had writ and her also they procure to swear unto this before the King To make further tryal the King in a hunting journy at New Park neer Wimbleton gallops thither viewes the Room observing the great distance of the Window from the lower end of the Room and placing himself behind the hanging and so other Lords in turn they could not hear one speak a loud from the window Then the House-Keeper was call'd who protested those hangings had constantly furnisht that room for 20. years which the King observed to be two foot short of the ground and might discover the woman if hidden behind them I may present also the King saying Oaths cannot confound my sight Besides all this the Mother and Daughter counterfeit another writing a Confession of one Luke Hutton acknowledging for 40. l. annuity the Countesse hired him to poison them which Man with wonderful providence was found out privately and denies it to the King And thus prepared the King sends for Sr. Thomas Lake whom in truth he very much valued tells him the danger to imbark himself in this quarrel advising him to leave them to the law being now ready for the Star-chamber He humbly thanked his Majestie but could not refuse to be a Father and a Husband and so puts his Name with theirs comes to Hearing in Stur chamber in a crosse Bill Which at the hearing took up 5. several daies the King sitting in Judgement But the former testimonies and some private confessions of the Lady Rosse and Sarah Wharton which the King kept in private from publick proceedings made the cause for some of the daies of triall appeared doubtful to the Court untill the King's discovery which concluded the Sentence and was pronounced upon severall Censures Sr. Thomas Lake and his Lady fined 10000. l. to the King five thousand pounds to the Countesse 50. l. to Hutton Sara Wharton to be whipt at a Carts taile about the streets and to do penance at Saint Martin's Church The Lady Rosse for confessing the truth and plot in the midst of the triall was pardoned by the Major Voices from penall Sentence and sentenced The King I remember compared their crimes to the first plot of the first sin in Paradise the Lady Lake to the Serpent her daughter unto Eve Sir Thomas to poor Adam whom he thought in his conscience that his love to his wife had beguiled him I am sure he paid for all which as he told me cost him thirty thousand pounds and the losse of his Masters favour and offices of gaine and honour but truly with much pitty and compassion of the Court. Our Pamphleter Pamp. 57. concerning the
with much honour and magnificence Sir Themas Overbury And Sr. Thomas Overbury congratulating the Ceremony with as publique profession as others in Court expressed And it concerned this great Favourite to look upon Him with respect of preferment and as he failed not the meanest so it became Him to advance his Confident Overbury most eminent Pamph. 65. Whose Character Our Pamphletter hath more deservedly hit upon than any other And therefore it was his own seeking as best fitting his excellent parts to present the Kings Person in Embassie to France which to my knowledge he accepted and seemingly prepared to advance Conceiting perhaps that the power which he usurped over Somerset and the Interests of eithers affection which Overbury knew best how to Master could not endure absence without much regret which accordingly had for some time the true effects as Overbury intended But when Somerset had wisely considered that there would be no great loss of so loose a friend Then Overbury would not goe no though I know his Instructions were drawn and Additionalls thereto by his own consent And this was a just and true ground for the King and Councell to punish so great Insolency with Imprisonment in the Tower which Somerset heartily endeavoured in due time to release But Overbury to shadow his own demerits devised the reason and cause from his disaffection of the former Marriage and which he published with much dishonor though not the tythe which is studied in our Pamphleters Libell For which the Malice of Women as it often meets sought Revenge by Poyson to punish him to the death And for which Fact they were arraigned and some suffered death In prosecution of which it behoved the Kings Piety and Iustice to be severe and serious without any King-craft And therefore needed not such an additionall falsehood as to kneel down to the Iudges when then as usuall he gave them their Charge upon their Itinerate Circuits For then the truth of Overburies poysoning was but suspected And therefore it was not unnaturall nor wonderous for the King to take his leave of his Favorite and friend with expressions of great kindness who yet in Iustice he exposed to Persecution And truly in this much forced story of our Author take him at his own dimension an ingenious good Nature may find out much strugling in the King to make Iustice and Mercy kiss each other I was present at their Arraignments and the Pictures Puppets for Magick spells were no other but severall French Babies some Naked others Clothed which were usuall then and so are now a dayes to teach us the fashions for dresse of Ladies tyring and apparrell And indeed Foremans Book was brought forth wherein the Mountebanck had formerly for his own advantage and credit sawcily inserted the Countesses name so of many others that came to seek Fortunes which she cleared by her own Protestation and Foremans confession that she was never with him Sir Thomas Monson was brought to the Bar Sir Thomas Monson and began his Tryall but was remitted to the Tower with as much Civility as is usuall to other Prisoners And Sir Geo. More then Lieutenant of the Tower took him from the Bar and both together were carried in his Coach to the Tower I say the truth for I saw it But I cannot pick out the meaning why so much pains is taken to tell out Monsons tale was he Guilty or No By the story he had hard measure So perhaps had some of the others for He was a Creature of that Family And yet for some no doubt private respects of our Author for he was his Companion He is in and out and out and in and in and out again And now comes Somerset Pamph. 115. who he sayes being warned to his tryal absolutely refused and was assured by the King never to come to any when was this assurance For he tells us At their parting at Royston they never met after but we must conceive it by Message And why for this must More a wise man be at his wits end The warrant for Tryall came over night late and it is so usual as it never failes that the Lieutenant of the Tower hath freedome of accesse to waken his Soveraign at any hour The importance of his Place and Trust having that consequence annexed And in speciall to give Knowledge of Warrants either of Tryalls or of Execution of Prisoners And this of Course he did When the King in tears is told a tale in his Eares that none knew but he that was furthest off A trick of wit brings him to the Barre and a desperate plot by two men placed at his Elbow with Clokes to clap over him made him calm at his Tryall And thus it was that the Lieutenant on his right and the Gentleman Iaylor on his left hand with Clokes on their backs but not on their armes might colour our Authors conceipt It had appeared a mad President when a Prisoner at his tryall upon Life and Death hath Freedome to speak for himself in publique Course of Justice to be snatch'd from the Bar and from the power of the Iudge at the pleasure of a Iaylor But to make out this Monument the King rewards him with 1500 l. Pamph. 119. And for a truth More tells all this to the Author of whom himselfe confesses he had no assurance of his honesty nor I beseeve any body else The Conclusion of all is That due execution was done upon Sir Iervice Ellowayes Mrs. Turner Weston and Franklyn Moâ—son cleared the Countesse and Earl reprieved our Author and most men cleer him of the Poyson and condemn him only in the high point of friendship for suffering his imprisonment which he could not release And the Countesse only guilty of connivance And now comes this Our Prefacers 3. Remarke to the Iudgment Seat for sentence Let him pick out a greater President in any History more Remarke than this of the King to make good this His former Protestation wherein by the way He may take leave to be allowed His owne even Conscience for Iustice and Mercy both Which no doubt hath found acceptance at Gods Tribunall in behalfe of Him and His His own death being Ordinary not forced by any Poyson And His posterity in due time by our Saviours merits shall be gathered up in the mystery of everlasting salvation But by the way how smoothly we are told a Story of the Pittifull Palsgrave how He Married a Kings Daughter with much joy Pamph. 82 Palsgrave and great misfortune to all the Princes of Christendom but fayling of that and all the rest how He was cast out He and His to beg their bread But had His Father-in-law been half so wise with our Authors good Counsell to boot and had He bought swords with a quarter expence of words He had bin What As his Sonne that succeeds him Palsgrave But we hasten Prince Henry having much matter to meddle with confusedly put together
of a decrepid old Man to a proper young Lord and strengthned with the abilities of an experienced Assistant Pamph. 124. without deserving the least quarrelling Item of our Carping Pamphleter The next in our way Chancellor Egerton is that of the Lord Egerton He was Chancellor of England a man very aged and now with sicknesse fallen on his aeath-bed Pamph. 125. The Term come and the Scal to be disposed In order thereunto the King sent Secretary Winwood not Bacon for the Seal with this Message That himself would be his under keeper and not to dispose it whilst he lived to bear the name of Chancellor Nor did any receive the Seale out of the Kings sight till Egerton was dead which followed soon after Sir Francis Bacon succeeded him in the Chancery Chancellor Bacon He was Attorney Generall and as others by that Place and the usuall way of preferment time without memory come to high Office of Iudicature either in Chancery or to the other Benches so did he rise He was a man of Excellent parts of all other learning as of that of the Law and as proper for that place as any man of the Gown His merits made him so then which in after time his vices blemished and he justly removed to his private Studies which render him to the world full of worth and with the small Charity of our Author might merit the Bayes before any Man of that age And so we shall spare our labor to observe his entrance into that Honor by the idle Message from Buckingham Pamph. 127. made up only by our Authors mouth Who tells us of his growings heighth and pride Particularly intimated afterwards to the King in Scotland Pamph. 131. by Letters from Winwood which the King read unto our Author At which he sayes they were very merry Good God! The King opens his bosome to him at that instant not usuall to any of the Green-cloth when this Man so vilely studied and plotted his Soveraigns and that Kingdoms dishonor Vide Preface for which he was turned out of the Court. Was the King so gracious to him he so graceless then and since in the Pamphlet to defame him and his Posterity He that eats of his bread lifts up his hand to destroy him And afterwards we are told his downfall which he says at last humbled him to a Horse boy He did as became him to do to the House of Peers prostrate himself and sins which ingeniously he acknowledged craving pardon of God and Them promising with Gods mercy to amend his life which he made good to the worlds Eye Those excellent works contrived in his Retirements d ee manifest And let me give this light to His better Character from an observation of the late King then Prince returning from hunting He espied a Coach attended with a goodly Troop of Horsemen who it seems were gathered together to wait upon the Chancellour to his House at Gorembury at the time of his declension At which the Prince smiled Well! do we what we can said He This Man scornes to go out like a Snuffe Commending his undaunted Spirit and excellent parts not without some regrett that such a Man should be falling off And all this much differing from Our Authors Character of Him Those times are complained of Pamph. 129. What base courses our Favourite took to raise moneys for advance of his beggerly Kindred Heretofore we are told that the Great Men mastered all now the affairs are Managed with beggerly fellows concludes against himselfe that Riches make Men Cowards and Poverty Valiant T is true Plenty makes Men Proude and Industry brings a Man to Honour Had our Author lived to these our dayes and observed as much now as he pried into then He must have spoke other Language unlesse as likely He could hold with the Hare and run with the Hounds We all know the Duke of Buckingham had many Kindred for his Family were Antient. And dispersed by time into severall Matches with the Gentry who no doubt did addresse to the Favourite for preferment And what strange or new device was it in Him to raise them that were neere in Blood by Noble and worthy wayes as he did and if our Author had liked to lick after the Kitchen-maid had it been handsome for a Kinsman to have kickt at his kindnesse Pamph. 129 130. Good God what a Summary Bead-roll of Pensioners are listed in our Authors Account Sure He became Register to the Revenue of that Rabble Chancellour Attorney Deans Bishops Treasurers Rich and Poore raking upon the rates of Offices Bishopricks Deaneries with Fines and Pensions Otherwise he sayes It had been impossible that three Kingdomes could have Maintained His Beggerly Kindred Oh Pamph. 7. but He must tell us He made them all Lords w ch got him much haued He did so and he did well He made his two Brothers Peers his Mother and Sister Countesses the rest of his kindred by his Countenance got means to live like their Birth-rights being a Race Handsome and Beautifull And yet let me tell him I have been often present when it hath been urged as a Crime to this great Man the neglect of his owne when the discourse hath been prest for preferment of his Freinds And this I know for I acted therein The Late King in honour of Buckinghams Memory supplied the necessities of his Kindred which his untimely death left without support As for the base Observations through and through the Pamphlet though I liv'd in the shadow of the Court reasonable years to see many turns of State Yet I confesse my time other wayes diverted than to rake after so much Ribaldry and beastly bawdery as now to question this his peeping pimping into each Petticoat Placket and for his sufficienency therein he might have been made Master of the Game In Bacons place Pamph. 139. Doctor Williams Lord Keeper comes to preferment Doctor Williams by the title of Keeper of the Seal during pleasure which the Chancellor hath for life He was also Dean of Westminster and Eishop of Lincolne brought in sayes he to serve turns to do that which no Layman was sound bad enough to undertake Former Ages held it more consonant to Reason to trust the Conscience of the Clergy with the Case of the Layman they best knowing a Case of Conscience And antiently the Civill Law was allwayes judged by the Ministers of the Church and the Chancery and Courts of Equity in charge of a Divine Minister So ran that Channell till Bacons Father had it from a Bishop and now a Bishop has it again And had King Iames lived to have effected his desires the Clergy had fixed firm footing in Courts of Iudicature out of the rode of the Common Law And this was the true Cause of Williams Initiation thither How he fell from that and other his wayes since from worse to worst of all we leave him if he be
told he should tell the Duke Forsooth That which the King spake in Parliament not to spare any that was dearest or lay in his bosome by which he pointed to you meaning the Duke And must Buckingham adventure his and the Lieutenants head to learn this News which no doubt the Duke heard before being then at the KING's Elbow Pamph. 161 After this impertinent digression or great secret he discovers which none ever dream'd of a wonderfull failing of the Spaniards both wisdom and gravity And why gravity forsooth That which had bin against all Humanity Comerce and Custome of Nations the Spaniard mist of the advantage to imprison the Prince a sure pledge no doubt for the Spaniard to have gotten the Heir-dome of England And this he tells us for truth out of their own confessions But they were caught with a trick having the Princes faith and his Proxy to boot remaining with Digby which might cosen them into this kindnes to let him come home again Where at a Conference of both houses of Parlament Bristoll is blam'd and it being truth the Prince owns it and Bristoll is sent for by authority otherwise it had bin petty Treason in him to return home from his Commission Pamph. 163 The King of Spain he sayes disswades Bristolls return as doubting the successe as well he might knowing him to be his Pensioner who for his sake is like to suffer But he being come and convented before the Parliament endeavors to cleer himself with a single Copy of a Paper and a bawdy tale to boot against Buckingham but forbore to tell it out for offending their chast Ears In this Pamph. 165 the Author is so ingenious as to be judged by the Reader what a horrible wound Bristoll gave the Prince or Buckinham and yet by his Confelsion the wisdome of the House committed Bristoll to the Tower but some dayes after not the next day he was set at liberty nor durst any bring him to further tryall He was committed for his contempt and might have lain there longer Prisoner But the Duke made means for his Release lest it should move a jealousie that it was his designe thereby to delay the Tryall Which to my knowledg was earnestly pursued by the Duke and had that Parliament lasted might have been a dear bargain for Bristoll In this Parliament Pamph. 168 our Author observes the Princes early hours to act by where he says he discerned so much juggling to serve his own ends that being afterwards come to be King he could not affect them A notable Note he calls that Parliament Iugglers and gives it a reason why the late King must needs disaffect all other Parliaments that succeeded Then have we a discovery of our Authors owne making Pamph. 169 which is intended he says as a caution to all States men with a singular Commendation of the wisdome of the late Earl of Salisbury whom before throughout his Pamphlet he loads with singular disgraces He tels us of a Treaty heretofore with Spain for a Match with Prince Henry where the jugling was discovered that there was no such intention And that the Duke of Lerma the Favorite of Spain leavs the Spanish Ambassador here in the lurch to answer for all who in a great snuff against those that sent him hither prostrates his Commission and letters of Credit under the King his Masters hand and seale at the foot of our Councell Table and so returnes home and yet was not hanged for his labour but liv'd and died bonus Legatus And thus our author having hunted the King hitherto blowes his death at parting Pam. 171. King James's Sickness which he sayes began with a Fever but ended by a poysoned Plaister applyed by Buckingham For which being questiond the very next Parliament it was hastily dissolved for his sake only to save his life In the entrance of the Spring the King was seized with a Tertian Ague which to another Constitution might not prove Pestilentiall But all Men then knew his Impatience in any pain and alwayes utter Enmity to any Physick So that nothing was administred to give him ease in his sits Which at length grew violent and in those Maladies every one is apt to offer advice with such Prescriptions as have been helpfull unto others and in truth those as various as the disease is Common So it was remembred by a Noble vertuous The Playster and untaint Lady for Honour and Honesty yet living of a present ease by a Plaister approved upon severall Persons which because the Ingredients were harmless and ordinary it was forthwith compounded andready for application not without serious resolution to present it to the Physicians consent But the King fallen into slumber about Noone the Physicians took opportunity to retire having watch'd all Night till that Time When in the interim of their absence the King wakes and falls from a change of his Fit to timelier effect than heretofore it usually happened which to allay this Playster was offered and put to his Stomach But it wrought no mitigation and therefore it was removed by the Doctors Who being come were much offended that any One durst assume this boldness without their consents But by Examination they were assured of the Composition and a peece therof eaten downe by the Countesse that made it and the Playster it selfe then in being for further tryall of any suspition of poyson Which if not satisfactory it must and ought to lodge upon their score Sir Mathew Lister Doctor Chambers and others who were afterwards examined herein with very great satisfaction to clear that calumny and are yet living to evince each ones suspition It was indeed remembred the next Parliament following and whereof the Duke was accused as a Boldness unpardonable But in the Charge which as I remember Littleton Managed at a Conference in the Painted Chamber it was not urg'd as poysonous but only criminous But ere the King dyed Pamph. 174. it is told us That Buckingham was accused to his face by an honest servant of the Kings name him if you can who valiantly tript up the Dukes heels that his pate rung Noone for which he call'd upon the gasping King no body being by for Justice And though speechlesse we are told what he would have said viz. Not wrongfully accused And here observe Pamph. 175. he makes Archbishop Abott the Kings Confessor at his death who before he sayes pag. 78. lived in disgrace and excluded the Counsell Table And dyed in disgrace of this King on Earth 175. but in favour of the King of Kings Bishop Williams then Lord Keeper was the other Confessor and in the mouths of two Witnesses consists the Truth What regrett and jealousie remaines then in our Authors heart that some Mischief should lye hid in the secrets of the Sacrament of Confession which he could not learn to out-live the Honour and Fame of his Sacred Soveraign How hath our Author patch'd up a Pamphlet of State Notions