imprecations for their reliefe and assistance wherein they put some confidence was meerly betrayed by him insomuch that when the Rochel Agents found themselves abused through their whole yeares attendance they left this bitter jeere upon him that now they could rightly call England the Land of Promise He seldome loved any but to serve his turne and would himselfe serve a turne to doe any mischiefe as was to be seene by his saying Amen to every full point of Buckinghams Accusation in the face of the Parliament against Bristol for his miscarriage in Spaine when it appeared by Bristols defence in Publick before the face of that same Parliament that there was not scarce one syllable had any truth in it who also freely put himself upon the Test that if there were any truth in that combined Accusation against him he would yeeld himselfe guilty of it all He was of a very poore spirit which may be conceived amongst other things by his making Buckingham his Privado after he came to the Crown otherwise would he never have forgotten those unsufferable insolencies offered him being Prince what they were you have already heard His Predecessor Henry the fifth and so his brother Henry would have instructed him otherwise for although its true noble mindes should forget injuries so as not to revenge them yet so as not to countenance the doers of them especially to take them into so much nearnesse and dearnesse as he did him after those two proud affronts which argued in him as I said before a poore and ignoble spirit He had all his Kingdomes left in peace and tranquility by his Father which he soone after made a shift to distemper by a foolish Warre upon France and Spaine and by a more foolish conduct of either ignorant unexperienced or cowardly Commanders And in truth if you will give credit to Vox populi the Booke so called written by one Scot they were suitable to the grounds of such Quarrels being no fairer than the satisfying the beastly appetite of his Favourite who must be reveng'd forsooth upon those States In which I admire Gods Justice that he who unjustly made War upon unwarrantable grounds should have Warre thus brought home unto him so that now God hath given him the same measure he hath met to others even full pressed down and running over I wish I may have a time to give him a fairer Character when he is dead then are my observations in his life but I may rather wish then hope in that course he yet continues Certaine observations before Queene Elizabeths death I Cannot but admire Gods Providence in bringing Peace when nothing was thought of but War and now bringing a cruell Warre when nothing could be expected but peace Peace with all forraigne Estates peace at Home Not long before the death of Queene Elizabeth all the discourse was in a secret whispering on whom the Succession would fall some said the Lady Arabella some the King of Scotland and reason given pro and con on both sides they who were for her saying the Lady Arabella was a Native and a Maid and that this Kingdome never flourished more then under a Maidens Reigne Others for the Scot said that the King of Scots was more neare to the Crowne by descent farther off say others as being a Stranger and that Nation ever in Hostility against us Nor did the King himselfe beleeve he should have come in with a sheathed Sword which appeared by that Letter he produced of the Earle of Northumberlands that if he made any doubt hereof he would bring him forty thousand Catholicks should conduct him into England But the Queene dyed the King comes in peaceably even to the admiration of all Forraigne Princes and to the gnashing of their teeth but the reason was they had lived in obedience under a just Sovereigne who was wont ever to say when any great man had opprest a poore Gentleman that Petitioned her for redresse against such oppression when all the great Lords and Officers would hold together to support the Suppressor and trample upon the oppressed My Lords quoth she content you I am Queene of the Valleys as well as of the Hills and I must not suffer the Hills to ore-top nor yet to over-shade the Valleys A worthy saying which if it had been imitated by her Successors these our miseries had never happened but I say and this is it I now drive at her Justice made her Subjects to beleeve there could be no injustice in Monarchy and that was it did facilitate the Kings peaceable entrance In that tranquility did the Kingdome continue all his dayes and about fifteen yeares of his Sons Reign when behold there was nothing but jollity in the Court as if saying to themselves Who dares molest us the King having now a plentifull Issue for let me tell you the Kings Issue made Him and his Courtiers the more to trample on the country Gentry But behold when nothing but peace peace sudden destruction came on them and us unawares and God sends such a War as no man could dreame of Now the corollary of all is this the high injustice of Church and State was the cause of this Warre And O may not the continuing of that in any other Government prove the continuance of this war there being a farre greater appearance of the continuance thereof then ever there was of the beginning But Gods will be done The Contents QVeene Elizabeth died at Richmond house on March 24 1602. page 1 2â— The first that carryed newes thereof into Scotland was Sir Rob. Carew who was afterward made Governor of the Kings then second Son Charles Duke of York p. 2 3â— The first man imployed from Scotland to the English Nobility for preparations of the Kings comming into England was Sir Roger Aston p. 4â— He was afterwards made from the Kings Barbar 〈◊〉 gentleman of his Bed-Chamber p. 6â— The Kings Favourites 1 Sir George Hewme a kind of Favourite for having been of some secret councels with the King whilsâ— in Scotland the cheife of which was that of Gourieâ— Conspiracy p. 7 8â— 2 Sir Robert Cicill a Favourite p. 9â— His il offices he did this Nation p. 1â— His Herodian disease and end p. 1â— 3 4. Hen Howard Tho. Howard Favorites p. 1â— The principall managers of the State affaires in Englanâ— then were Salisbury Suffolke c. p. 1â— 5 Mr. James Hay an high Favourite c. See his riâ— c. p. 17 18 1â— Passages concerning Sir Walter Rawleigh p. 27 â— A notable discovery made by Sir Rob. Mansel of a Spaniards stealing plate which cleared the false imputation laid by them on the English p. 40. c. The King easily perswaâ—ed to retire himselfe by those Managers of the State of which Salisbury was the cheif p. 46 47 48 Secretary Lake p. 49 c. Salisbury Suffolk Northampton great getters more then the whole bunch of the Scots Dunbar excepted p. 54 Kelly Annandale
Gentleman of the Bed-chamber Master of the Wardrobe and invested with such Honours and Offices as he was capable of and that inabled him to live in a noble way during his life and to leave his Daughters great Fortunes but had you seene how the Lords did vye courtesies to this poore Gentleman striving who should ingrosse that Commodity by the largest bounty you could not but have condemned them of much basenesse especially seeing when at this time Offices and great places of Honour will not be accepted from that Sonne that the very Barber of whose Father was so much courted but to speake a good word in their behalfes Surely the times are much altered And now all preparation was made to meet the King in York that he might in that Northerne Metropolis appear like a King of England and take that State on him there which was not known in Scotland There met him all the Lords of the Councell and there did they all make Court to the Scotch-men that were most in favour with the King and there did the Scotch Courtiers lay the first foundation of their English Fortunes the chiefe of them was Sir George Hewme a kinde of Favourite but not such as after appeared with young Faces and smooth Chins but one that for his wisdome and gravity had beene in some secret Councels with his Master which created that dearnesse between them and the chiefe of those secrets was that of Gowries Conspiracy though that Nation gave little credit to the Story but would speak both sleightly and despitefully of it and those of the wisest of that Nation yet there was a weekly commemoration by the Tuesday Sermon and an anniversary Feast as great as it was possible for the Kings preservation ever on the fifth of August upon which day as Sir John Ramsey after E. of Holdernesse for his good service in that preservation was the principall guest so did the King grant him any Boone he would aske that day but had such limitations set to his asking as made his suit as unprofitable unto him as that he asked it for was unserviceable to the King and indeed did make the English beleeve as little the truth of that story as the Scots themselves did and yet on my conscience the good Gentleman did in that as a Lyer often doth by telling a Lye often beleeveth it to be a very truth but the truth was although he was not a man capable of much himselfe yet had it been true there was too little done for him being not true too much for being an Earle he was in very little esteeme either with his Master or with the better sort of Courtiers And I pray God that the effects of those Sermons in the Fathers time for that service cause no ill effects or be not one cause of Gods anger towards us in the Sons reigne This Sir George Hewme being the only man that was the Guider of the King and his affaires all the wiser sort of English made their addresses unto him amongst those Sir Robert Cicill a very wise man but much hated in England by reason of the fresh bleeding of that universally beloved Earle of Essex and for that was clouded also in the Kings favour he came to Yorke but lay close unseen or scarce knowne to be in the City untill he knew what entertainment he should receive from the King for he was in his owne and all mens opinions so under the Hatches as not ever to appeare above board againe nor did any of the Countre-faction to Essex besides himselfe ever attaine to the Kings favour but those friends raised by his wit and purse did so co-operate of which Sir Roger Aston that plaine man was principall for which he lost not his labour that Sir George Hewme and Sir Robert Cicill had many secret meetings and did so comply that Sir Robert Cicill to the admiration of all did appeare and come out of his Chamber like a Giant to run his race for Honour and Fortune and who in such dearnesse and privacy with the King as Sir Robert Cicill as if he had been his faithfull Servant many yeares before yet did not either his Friends wit or wealth raise him so much as some beleeve as the ill offices done by him to this Nation in discovering the nature of the people and shewing the King the way how to enhance his Prerogative so above the Lawes that he might inslave the Nation which though it took well then yet it hath been of sad and dangerous consequence in after times For first He caused a whole Cart-load of Parliament Presidents that spake the Subjects Liberty to be burnt Next raising two hundred thousand pound for making two hundred Baronets telling the King he should finde his English Subjects like Asses on whom he might lay any burthen and should need neither Bit nor Bridle but their Asses eares And when the King said It would discontent the generality of the Gentry He replyed Tush Sir you want the money that will doe you good the Honour will doe them very little And by these courses he raised himselfe friends and family to Offices Honours and great Possessions Yet as a punishment he lived long enough to have lost all had not Death prevented him between the Bath and London For the Duke of Bullion being then here about the overture of that unfortunate Match betweene the Palsgrave and the Lady Elizabeth had so done his errand and discovered his juggling It is most certaine he had been stript of all at his returne which he well understanding from his Friends at Court did expedite his end but he dyed opportunely to save his honour and his estate for his posterity though to leave a marke of ignominy on himselfe by that Herodian disease and that for all his great Honours and Possessions and stately Houses he found no place but the top of a Mole-hill neare Marleborough to end his miserable life so that it may be said of him and truly he dyed of a most loathsome disease and remarkable without house without pitty without the favour of that Master that had raised him to so high an estate and yet must he have this right done him which is also a note of the misfortune of our times there hath not been any since his time that equalled him to fulfill the Proverbe Seldome comes a better he had great parts was very wise full of honour and bounty a great lover and rewarder of Virtue and able parts in others so they did not appeare too high in place or looke too narrowly into his actions The next that came on the publick Theatre in favour was Henry Howard a younger Son of the Duke of Norfolke and Lord Thomas Howard the one after Earle of Northampton the other Earle of Suffolk Lord Chamberlaine and after Lord Treasurer who by Salisburies greatnesse with that Family rather then by any merit or wisdome in themselves raised many great Families of his Children
Northampton though a great Clerke yet not a wise man but the grossest Flatterer of the World and as Salisbury by his Wit so this by his Flattery raised himselfe yet one great motive to the raising all of that Name of Howards was the Duke of Norfolke suffering for the Queene of Scots the Kings Mother yet did Suffolke so farre get the start of Northampton that Northampton never after loved him but from the teeth outwards only had so much discretion as not to fall to actuall enmity to the over-throw of both and the weakning that faction Suffolk also using him with all submissive respect not for any love but hope of gaining his great estate and sharing it amongst his Children but Northamptons distaste was such by his losse of the Treasurers place which he had with such assurance promised to himselfe in his thoughts that except what he gave to Master Henry Howard the rest he gave to the Earl of Arundell who by his observance but more especially by giving Northampton all his Estate if he never returned from travell had wrought himselfe so far into his affections that he doted on him And now the principall managers of the English affaires were Salisbury Suffolke Northampton Buckhurst Egerton Lord Keeper Worcester and the Old Admirall For the Scots Sir George Hewme now Earle of Dunbar Secretary Elfeston after Earle of Balmerino and as wise a man as was in England or Scotland the Lord of Kinlosse a very honest but weak man You are now to observe that Salisbury had shaken off all that were great with him and of his Faction in Queene Elizabeths dayes as Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir George Carew the Lord Grey the Lord Cobham the three first very able men as the world had the last but one degree from a foole yet served their turnes better then a wiser man by his greatnesse with the Queen for they would put him on any thing and make him tell any Lye with as great confidence as a truth Three of these were utterly ruined as you shall heare in the following Discourse the fourth being a very wise man contented himselfe with a meane place that was worthy of a much greater and although very active formerly called to minde this saying Foelix quem faciunt c. and medled with no State businesse his wisdome fore-telling his Fate if he had done otherwise for he did see one better head-peece then his owne sit tottering at that time and fell off afterwards which made him think it was good sleeping in a whole skin The King no sooner came to London but notice was taken of a rising Favourite the first Meteor of that nature appearing in our climate as the King cast his eye upon him for affection so did all the Courtiers to adore him his name was Mr. James Hay a Gentleman that lived long in France and some say of the Scottish Guard to that King this Gentleman comming over to meet the King and share with him in his new Conquest according to the Scots phrase it should seeme had some former acquaintance with the then Leiger Embassadour in Scotland for the French King who comming with his Majesty into England presented this Gentleman as a well accomplished Gentleman to the King in such an high commendation as engendered a liking that produced a favourite in thankfull acknowledgement whereof he did him many faire offices for the present and comming afterwards an extraordinary Embassadour to our King made him the most sumptuous Feast at Essex house that ever was seene before never equalled since in which was such plenty and Fish of that immensity brought out of Muscovia that Dishes were made to containe them no Dishes in all England before could neare hold them and after that a costly Voydee and after that a Maske of choyse Noble-men and Gentlemen and after that a most costly and magnificent Banquet the King Lords and all the prime Gentlemen then about London being invited thither Truly he was a most compleat and well accomplished Gentleman modest and Court-like and of so faire a demeanour as made him be generally beloved and for his wisdome I shall give you but one character for all Hee was ever great with all the Favourites of his time and although the King did often change yet he was semper idem with the King and Favourites and got by both for although Favourites had that exorbitant power over the King to make him grace and disgrace whom they pleased yet he was out of their power and the only exception to that generall rule and for his gettings it was more then almost all the Favourites of his time which appeared in those vast expences of all sorts and had not the bounty of his minde exceeded his gettings he might have left the greatest estate that ever our age or climate had heard of he was indeed made for a Courtier who wholly studied his Master and understood him better then any other He was imployed in very many of the most weighty Affaires and sent with the most stately Embassies of our times which he performed with that wisdome and magnificence that he seemed an honour to his King and Country For his carriage in State-affaires he was termed by some Princes the Kings Juggler He married the Daughter and Heire of the Lord Denny after the Earl of Northumberlands daughter and was hated of none that ever I heard of but the Earle of Northampton who had no patience to see him being himselfe of so venemous and cankred a disposition that indeed he hated all men of noble parts nor loved any but Flatterers like himselfe yet it was a great question whether he hated the Earl of Carlisle or Sir Robert Mansell most by whom he hath been heard to say Body of God I will be content to be damned perpetually in Hell to be revenged of that proud Welshman and did so hate him that he kept an Inquisition on him seven yeares to prove that he had cousened the King of fourteen thousand pounds which at the seven yeares end at an hearing before the King the Lords the Queen and all the Ladies being present with all the gallantry of the Court ended in one paire of silke Stockins given by one for a New-yeares Gift to Master Wels Sir Robert Mansells Servant at which the King stood up and sware very deeply Doe you beleeve I will take a paire of silke Stockins for my fourteen thousand pounds give me that give me that is this all the fruit of seven yeares Commission at which words Sir Robert Mansell kneeled downe and said I will now Sir take all the faults they can charge my servant with upon my selfe at which the King was very angry that so noble a Gentleman who had so wel acquitted himselfe and Honour should intrust it in the keeping of a Servant at the end of all the Earle of Salisbury kneeled down and said Sir if you will suffer malice so farre to prevaile as to have your
Mars Puer Alecto Virgo VULPES LEO Nullus THE Court and Character OF King James Whereunto is now added THE Court of King CHARLES CONTINUED Unto the beginning of these Unhappy TIMES With some Observations upon Him in stead of a Character Collected and perfected by Sir A. W. Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare Published by Authority Printed at London by R. I. and are to be sold by J. Collins in Little Brittaine 1651. To my most Honoured and truly Noble Lady the Lady Elizabeth Sidley of South fleet Madam I Here present you with an Epitomee of some secret Passages in the whole reign of one King part of anothers Of which my self have been either an Eare or Eye-witnesse or from the testimony of such as have been Authours or Actors therefore unquestionable Truths It is the Conception and Birth of four daies with the help of some scattered Papers as a Midwife to bring them into the world Being therefore but an Embryon you cannot expect any perfect shape But what it wants in that you shall finde in the most perfect form of undeniable Truths The honourable esteem I have ever had of you and your brave Parts is my first motive of presenting it to your view That it comes from no ordinary Author this being the first and for ought I know the last a second That it was written in a Melancholly humour therefore fittest for your Melancholly Temper the last I dare no more trust any other hand to write this than willingly any but your selfe or some such good friends to read it Which is the reason it appeares no fairer to your view And it treads too near the heeles of truth and these Times to appear in publick If you shal please to accept of it as worthy to cast a glance upon at your idle or melancholly hours I have my full desires If cast from you it hath just Deserts Mine ambition only is that so Noble a Lady shal be the God mother of the first and only heir that ever shall come of this quality from Your Ladiships most humble Servant A. W. Upon the Authors Discourse and Observations concerning the whole Reigne of King James and part of King Charles's REader here view a Picture of our Times Drawn to the life the foulest secret Crimes Discover'd with their Authors Tricks of State To create guilty soules the Peoples hate The Prince's feares Favourites Rise and Fall Greatnesse debauched Gentry slighted all To please those Favourites whose highest ends Were to exhaust the State to please their friends View the Isles first Monarch dead the Seconds breath Prerogatives sole life the Kingdomes death THE Court of King James OR A generall Discourse of some secret passages in State since the death of that ever glorious Queene Elizabeth untill this present By the Authors owne observation who was either an eye or eare witnesse or from such as were actors in them from their owne Relation VPon the Twenty fourth of March 1602. did set the most glorious Sun that ever shined in our Firmament of England the never to be forgotten Queen Elizabeth of happy memory about three in the morning at her Mannour of Richmond not only to the unspeakable griefe of her Servants in particular but of all her Subjects in generall And although many of her Courtiers adored that rising Sun appearing in the North yet since not without regret of their monstrous ingratitude to her that Sun now set and in peace For no sooner was that Sun set but Sir Robert Carew Her neare Kinsman and whose Family and himself she had raised from the degree of a meane Gentleman to high Honour in title and place most ingratefully did catch at Her last breath to carry it to the rising Sun then in Scotland notwithstanding a strict Charge laid to keep fast all the Gates yet his Father being Lord Chamberlaine he by that meanes found favour to get out to carry the first newes which although it obtained for him the Governourship of the Duke of York yet hath set so wide a mark of ingratitude on him that it will remaine to Posterity a greater blot then the honour hee obtained afterward will ever wipe out About nine in the morning of that day was proclaimed King Iames of blessed memory by the name of James the first and now nothing on all hands but preparations for accommodating him in his journey for England many posting into Scotland for preferment either by indearing themselves by some merit of their owne to the King or by purchasing friends with their purses Gold and Silver being a precious commodity in that Climate and would procure any thing and did procure Suits Honours and Offices to any that first came of all which the King afterward extended his bounty in so large and ample a manner as procured his owne impoverishment to the pressure of his Subjects so farre as set some distance between him and them which his wisdome and King-craft could easily at all times reconcile The first that came from the King to the Lords in England to give order for all things necessary for the expediting his journey toward England was Sir Roger Aston an English-man borne but had his breeding wholly in Scotland and had served the King many yeares as his Barber an honest and free-hearted man and of an ancient Family in Cheshire but of no breeding answerable to his birth yet he was the only man ever employed as a Messenger from the King to Queen Elizabeth as a Letter carrier only which expressed their owne intentions without any helpe from him besides the delivery but even in that capacity was in very good esteeme with her Majesty and received very royall rewards which did inrich him and gave him a better Revenue then most Gentlemen in Scotland for the Queene did finde him as faithfull to Her as to his Master in which he shewed much wisdome though of no breeding In this his employment I must not passe over one pretty passage I have heard himselfe relate That he did never come to deliver any Letters from his Master but ever he was placed in the Lobby the Hangings being turned him where he might see the Queen dancing to a little Fiddle which was to no other end then that he should tell his Master by her youthfull disposition how likely he was to come to the possession of the Crowne hee so much thirsted after for you must understand the wisest in that Kingdome did beleeve the King should never injoy this Crowne as long as there was an old Wife in England which they did beleeve we ever set up as the other was dead Sir Roger Aston presenting himselfe before the Councell being but a plaine untutored man being asked how he did and courted by all the Lords lighted upon this happy reply Even my Lords like a poore man wandring above forty yeares in a Wildernesse and barren Soyle am now arrived at the Land of Promise This man was afterward made
then said Yelverton how dare you enter a close prisoners lodging it is as much as your life is worth And assure your selfe Master Lieutenant the King shall know of this and you must answer it My Lord said I come to you as a friend though formerly I confesse upon just cause your mortall enemy only to aske you but two questions which if you will resolve me I vow to be a greater friend now then ever an enemy and can and will restore you foure-fold Yelverton told him if they were such as he might hee would The first he asked was What wrong he had ever done him that he so greedily thirsted after his blood Yelverton replyed never any but I was set on by a power that I could not withstand to doe what I did he asked him by whom by the King your Master said he who hates you more then any man living which you might well understand when in his Speech to the Parliament he said he would not spare any no not any that were dearest to him or lay in his bosome by which he pointed them to you Wel said Buckingham I see you have dealt like a Friend with me by many other concurrences as well as by this give me your hand henceforth you are my friend and I am yours and I will raise you highet then I have cast you downe which he had made good had Yelverton lived to have injoyed it for he was instantly released and the next preferment he gratified him with was a Judges place and he had been Lord Keeper had not death prevented it And if there were no other reason but his change from a mortall enemy to so firme a friend this were sufficient to confirme the truth of this story But the Authour had this from Yelvertons owne relation and cannot commend Yelverton because it is verily beleeved this hastened the Kings death Now have you heard the true causes of Buckinghams hatred to the King and the Kings to Buckingham the King having the more power to revenge had the lesse courage Buckingham lesse power but more courage sharpened with revenge And however the World did beleeve the Kings inclination was out of a religious ground that he might not revenge yet it was no other but a cowardly disposition that dust not adventure But although the King lost his opportunity on Buckingham yet the black plaister and powder did shew Buckingham lost not his on the King and that it was no fiction but a reallity that Padro Macestria had formerly told the King And now to returne from this digression which is not impertinent besides a great secret the Prince returnes from Spaine contrary to expectation in which the wisdome and gravity of the Spaniard failed him especially if they did beleeve Padro Macestria besides nature could not long support the old King and then the Spaniard might have made no little advantage by injoying such a pledge But they have confessed their errour yet doe palliate it with having the Prince his faith and his proxie left with Digby and got thence with the very same tricke Sir Francis Michell said he got out of the Inquisition at Rome Now is all the fault laid on Digbyes false play and unfaithfulnesse to his Master and combining with the Spaniard and by this peece of service expressing his hatred to the Spaniard for his owne ends the Subjects of England having ever naturally hated them Buckingham the most hated man then living from an accused man in the former Parliament came to be the very darling of this Parliament and a favourite to the whole Kingdome which after King James his death he as soone lost againe so inconstant are the multitude In the Banquetting-house before both Houses of Parliament is Buckingham to give an account of this voyage which he did at large and to every full point as a further attestation he saith how say you Sir to which the Prince answered I yea or yes and through all his discourse laboured to make Bristoll as hatefull to this Parliament as himselfe had been to the former which had these things delivered by him and attested by the Prince been truths he had justly deserved death the accusations were foule and little lesse then treason without any legislative power Digby had some friends who instantly sent this Declaration into Spaine Digby acquaints that King takes his leave of him for England that King sets his danger before him offers if he will stay with him seeing it is for his sake he is like to suffer he would make him much greater in Honour and fortune then his Master can doe Digby gives him thankes but sayes he served so just a Master that would not condemne him unheard and should he yet he had much rather suffer under innocency then lye under the imputation of a false accusation of a fugitive and Traytor for the highest preferment in the World Away therefore comes he puts himselfe into a desperate passage least the Parliament should have been dissolved before his comming and so no place or meanes left him for his defence but must lye under those false calumnies and was here as the Prince came into Spaine sooner then either looked for or welcome Into the Parliament comes he with his Hat full of papers where he puts himselfe upon this point that if there were one syllable true that Buckingham had delivered if this holding up a Paper in his hand be a true copy I will yeeld my selfe guilty of all treasons can be laid to my charge and said these papers pointing to his Hat shall make it manifest Besides some of them shall make Buckingham appeare a very monster in his lascivious carriages too too unchaste for the eares of this Honourable Assembly Bristoll was instantly committed close prisoner to the Tower for a contempt the next day hee was riding through Cheap-side in his Coach by which it appeares Buckinghams power was in the wane with his old Master his relation and accusation being scandalous and false nor ever durst hee bring Bristol to any further tryall Whether this wound was deeper given by Bristol to Buckingham or the Prince I will leave to the reader to judge and will not my selfe determine And how Bristol hath since stood in favour with the Prince since he was King may give a conjecture that he tooke it as a wound to himselfe I am sure it was an ill omen and hath since given him lesse credit with his Subjects And in this Parliament doth Buckingham by his under-hand Ministers and Agents accuse Cranfield the Lord Treasurer in which the Prince also shewes himselfe Cranfield was so hated a fellow for his insolency that a small accusation would serve the turne as this truly was had his care of expending the Kings Treasure been out of a true zeale for it should seeme that the Prince sending for monies Cranfield restrained his Expresse using some words that the journey it selfe was foolishly undertaken and now must be maintained by
good Lawes therefore it is but Gods justice to repay them with Talion Lawes to have their Priviledges broken seeing they first chalked out the way The King in requitall of this great love of theirs did instantly dissolve the Parliament which hath bred such ill blood in the veines of the Subjects to their Sovereign and in the Sovereign to the Subject that it is like to produce an epidemicall infection But the occasion taken to dissolve it was worst of all for Buckingham by his insolent behaviour had not onely lost that love his hatred to Spaine had procured him but was now growne into such an hatred that they fell on him for the death of his old Master which had been of a long time before but whispered but now the Examinations bred such confessions that it looked with an ugly deformed poysonous countenance and nothing but the dissolution of that Parliament could have saved his dissolution and that with a brand of shame and infamy as well as of ingratitude I remember I heard a noble Gentleman an old Parliament man of that Committee for Examinations say at first he derided the very thought of it but after the first dayes Examination it proved so foule as that he both hated and scorned the name and memory of Buckingham and though man would not punish it God would which proved an unhappy prediction This dissolving the Parliament was ill relished by the people and that which to them did seeme the cause worse and to make the case yet fouler and that it must needs be the evident cause Buckinghams Counsels were so stupid and himself so insolent that he did thinke it a glory to disgrace all those that followed that businesse in that Parliament or that seemed inquisitive thereafter and caused many old Servants of the Kings he formerly favoured very much to be banished from Court never to returne more nor did they ever as Clare Crofts Sir Fra. Stewart c. nay Dr. Cragg his Phisitian who from his very childhood had the generall repute of a very honest man for expressing himselfe like an honest man in the Kings presence was instantly dismissed never could recover his place or favour more Now also is Williams Lord Keeper turned out of his place and Coventry the Kings Atturney put in who had Buckingham lived had as soon followed in the same steps Then goes Buckingham into France on a stately Embassie for that Lady the King had seen and set an affection on in his passage to Spaine which was obtained with small intreaty Now doth Buckingham soare so high both in his Masters favours and in the pride of his own heart as he alters all great Officers makes war against Spaine and France the quarrel only his voiced to be on strange grounds the successe accordingly Navies Armies and nothing but war appeares as if we intended in shew to conquer all that opposed Lord Wimbleton the General from whom as little could be expected as he performed carrying a powerfull Army to Cales after an infinite expence and drinking much Spanish Wines and beating out the heads of what they could not drinke as if they intended to overthrow that yeares trade of Spanish Wine returned as like a valiant Commander as he ever was reputed whereas had he brought home those wasted Wines it may be they would have defrayed the charge of that expedition After the returne of that wise Pageantisme Denbigh is sent into France to aide Rochell who managed it better then his great Kinsman Buckingham who would afterwards needs goe to doe great exploits for he brought his ships and men safe againe the other left his men in powdering tubs as if he meant to have them kept sweet against his next comming thither In short this unhappy voyage lost all the honour our glorious ancestors had ever gotten over that Nation there being so many brave gentlemen wilfully lost as if that voyage had been on purpose plotted to disable our Nation by taking away so many gallant brave young spirits so many of our Colours lost as Trophies of their Victory and of our shame hung up in Nostredame Church that the brave Talbot and Salisbury with many other our valiant Ancestors will rise up in Judgement against him for that every way inglorious Act. Nay to how low an ebbe of honour was this our poore despicable Kingdome brought that even in Queene Elizabeths time the glory of the World a great Nobleman being taken prisoner was freely released with this farewell given with him that they desired but two English Mastieffes for his Ransome But the King by that unnecessary and dishonourable War was driven to that exigency for want of money that he was forced to pawn his rich Cupboard of Plate to Amsterdam and to send Cottington into Spain in a manner to beg a peace which having obtained it was thought so great a service of him that it raised him to all his Honor and Fortunes Yet all the while Rochell in sharpe distresse was left unrelieved although otherwise intended or but pretended rather For the Courting betwixt the Duke and the Governour of the Isle of Ree in sending complements and Presents to each other shewed rather an intimate dearnesse then any hostility to be meant between them And sure I am the successe made it apparent that their purpose was no better than to carry so many goodly Gentlemen to the Slaughter-house and Powdering-Tub as even now I instanced Yet was the King so content to be abused as publickly at his Dinner he delivered it for a miracle that having such ill successe there were so few men lost for that as many came home as went forth as appeared by the Chequer-Rol within five hundred At which a Gentleman whose faithfull Valour prompted him to speake a truth in season though theirs did not them to fight standing at the back of the Kings chair said yea Sir as you hear that hear very little of Truth But if you please to inquire of such as can and dare informe you truly you shall find many thousands fewer came home then went forth For which relation this honest Tell-troth was commanded presently from his Court-Attendance which doom he never could get reverst wherein you may behold the Power of Buckingham with the King whose Word stood for a Law Which Power of his grew now so exorbitant he aspires to get higher Titles both in Honour and Place as Prince of Tipperary a place so called in Ireland and Lord High Constable of England an Office aimed at by that Monster and Machivillian Leicester in Queen Elizabeths time but he therein was crossed and contradicted by the then Lord Chancellour Hatton now affected by Buckingham who herein wrote after Leicesters ambitious example but he crossed too by President with Coventry now Lord Keeper and no question but upon those just grounds his Predecessor did For you must understand this Office hath an Authority annexed unto it to call any Subject in question for his life by trying
distemper at so late a season Moore tells him he must speake with the King Leveston replyes he is quiet which in the Scottish dialect is fast asleep Moore sayes you must awake him Moore was called in the Chamber left to the King and Moore he tels the King those passages and desired to be directed by the King for he was gone beyond his owne reason to heare such bold and undutifull expressions from a faulty Subject against a just Soveraigne The King falls into a passion of teares On my soule Moore I wot not what to doe thou art a wise man helpe me in this great straight and thou shalt finde thou dost it for a thankfull Master with other sad expressions Moore leaves the King in that passion but assures him he will prove the utmost of his wit to serve his Majesty and was really rewarded with a suit worth to him 1500. l. although Annandale his great friend did cheat him of one halfe so was there falshood in friendship Sir George Moore returnes to Somerset about three next morning of that day he was to come to triall enters Somersets chamber tels him he had been with the King found him a most affectionate Master unto him and full of grace in his intentions towards him but said he to satisfie Iustice you must appeare although returne instantly againe without any further proceedings only you shall know your enemies and their malice though they shall have no power over you With this tricke of wit he allayed his fury and got him quietly about eight in the morning to the Hall yet feared his former bold language might revert againe and being brought by this trick into the toile might have more inraged him to fly out into some strange discovery for prevention whereof he had two servants placed on each side of him with a Cloak on their armes giving them withall a peremptory order if that Somerset did any way fly out on the King they should instantly hoodwink him with that Cloak take him violently from the Bar and carry him away for which he would secure them from any danger and they should not want also a bountifull reward But the Earle finding himselfe over-reached re-collected a better temper and went on calmly in his Tryall where he held the company untill 7. at night But who had seene the Kings restlesse motion all that day sending to every Boat he saw landing at the Bridge cursing all that came without tydings would have easily judged all was not right and there had been some grounds for his feares of Somersets boldnesse but at last one bringing him word he was condemned and the passages All was quiet This is the very relation from Moores owne mouth and this he told verbatim in Wanstead Parke to two Gentlemen of which the Author was one who were both left by him to their own freedome without engaging them even in those times of high distemperatures unto a faithfull secresie in concealing it yet though he failed in his wisdome they failed not in that worth inherent in every Noble spirit never speaking of it till after the Kings death And there were other strong inducements to beleeve Somerset knew that by the King he desired none other in the world should be partaker of and that all was not peace within in the Peace-maker himselfe for he ever courted Somerset to his dying day and gave him 4000. l. per annum for Fee-farme Rents after he was condemned which he took in his servants names not his owne as then being condemned not capable of and he then resolved never to have a pardon I have heard it credibly reported he was told by a Wizzard that could he but come to see the Kings face againe he should be re-invested in his former dearnesse with him this had been no hard experiment but belike he had too much Religion to trust to Wizzards or else some friends of his had trusted them and been deceived by them that he had little reason to put confidence in them Many beleeved him guilty of Overburies death but the most thought him guilty only of the breach of friendship and that in a high point by suffering his imprisonment which was the high-way to his murther and this conjecture I take to be of the soundest opinion for by keeping him out of the action if it were discovered his greatnesse fortified with innocency would carry their nocencies through all dangers For the Gentleman himselfe he had misfortune enough to marry such a woman in such a Family which first undermined his Honour afterwards his life at least to be dead in Law nor did any thing reflect upon him in all his time of Favourite but in and by that Family first in his adulterous marriage then in so hated a Family and the bringing in Cranfield and Ingram as Projectors all by his Wives and friends meanes otherwise had he been the bravest Favourite of our time full of Majesty imploying his time like a Statesman and the King kept correspondency with him by Letters almost weekly to his dying day And here have we brought this great mans glory to its period with his fatal Countesse who some years after it dyed miserably at Chiswick Mris. Turner Weston Franklin and Elwayes dyed in the Tower Weston ever saying it never troubled him to dye for the Blue Ribbons sake and so was concluded that grand businesse the grosse production of a then foul State and Court wherein Pride Revenge and Luxury abounded Yet and it s verily beleeved when the King made those terrible Imprecations on himselfe and Deprecations of the Iudges it was intended the Law should run in its proper channell but was stopt and put out of course by the folly of that great Clerke though no wise man Sir Edward Cooke who in a vaine-glorious speech to shew his vigilancy enters into a rapture as he then sat on the Bench saying God knows what became of that sweet Babe Prince Henry but I know somewhat surely in searching the Cabinets he lighted on some Papers that spake plain in that which was ever whispered which had he gon on in a gentle way would have falne in of themselves not to have been prevented but this folly of his tongue stopt the breath of that discovery of that so foule a murder which I fear cryes still for vengeance And now begins the new Favourite to reign without any concurrent now hee rises in honour as well as swells with pride breaking out of those modest bounds which formerly had impaled him to the high-way of pride and scorne turning out and putting in all he pleased First he must aspire to the Admiralls Office himselfe and would not let the old Gentleman so well deserving in that place dye with that Title but the King must put himselfe to a great charge to put out the better and take in the worse yet for all his immense greatnesse would he never let him be Admiral untill he had first setled Sir Robert
Mansell Vice-Admirall of England during his life by Patent in which he not onely manifested his love to his Noble friend though sometime his servant but his care to the State that his experience and abilities might support the others inabilities wel knowing that the Honour and safety of the Kingdome consisted in the wel-ordering and strength of the Navy Next Egerton had displeased him by not giving way to his exorbitant desires he must out and would not let him seale up his dying eyes with the seals which he had so long carryed and so well discharged and to despite him the more and to vex his very soule in the last Agony he sent Bacon one he hated yet to be his Successor for the Seales which the old mansspirit could not brook but sent them by his owne servant to the King and shortly after yeelded his soul to his Maker And to the end you may know what men were made choyce of to serve turnes I shall set you downe a true story This great Favourite sent a Noble Gentleman and of much worth to Bacon with this Message that he knew him to be a man of excellent parts and as the times were sit to serve his Master in the Keepers place but hee also knew him of a base and ingratefull dispotion and an arrant Knave apt in his prosperity to ruine any that had raised him from adversity yet for all this hee did so much study his Masters service knowing how fit an instrument he might be for him that he had obtained the Seales for him but with this assurance should he ever requite him as he had done some others to whom he had been more bound he would cast him downe as much below scorne as he had now raised him high above any Honour he could ever have expected Bacon was at that time Attorney Generall who patiently hearing this Message replyed I am glad my noble Lord deales so friendly and freely with me and hath made that choyce of so discreet and Noble a friend that hath delivered his Message in so plaine language but saith he can my Lord know these abilities in me and can hee thinke when I have attained the highest preferment my profession is capable of I shall so much faile in my judgement and understanding as to lose these abilities and by my miscarriage to so noble a Patron cast my selfe headlong from the top of that honour to the very bottome of contempt and scorne Surely my Lord cannot thinke so meanly of me The Gentleman replyed I deliver you nothing from my selfe but the words are put into my mouth by his Lordship to which I neither adde nor diminish for had it been left to my discretion surely though I might have given you the substance yet should I have apparelled it in a more moddest attire but as I have faithfully delivered my Lords to you so will I as faithfully returne yours to his Lordship You must understand the reason of this Message was his ungratefulnesse to Essex which every one could remember for the Earle saved him from starving and he requited him so as his Apology must witnesse were there not a great fault there needed no Apology nor could any age but a worthlesse and corrupt in men and manners have thought him worthy such a place of honour Well Lord Keeper he was for which he paid nothing nor was hee able for now was there a new trick to put in dishonest and necessitous men to serve such turnes as men of plentifull fortunes and fair reputations would not accept of and this filled the Church and Common-wealth full of beggerly fellowes such daring to venture on any thing having nothing to lose for it is riches makes men cowards Poverty daring and valiant to adventure at any thing to get something yet did not Buckingham doe things gratis but what their purses could not stretch unto they paid in pensions out of their places all which went to maintaine his numerous beggerly kindred Bacon paid a Pension Heath Atturney paid a Pension Bargrave Deane paid a Pension with many others Nor was this any certaine rule for present portions must be raised for the Marriage of a poore Kitchin Maid to be made a great Count esse so Fotherby made Bishop of Sarum paid 3500. l. and some also worthy men were preferred gratis to blow up their Fames and Trumpet forth their Noblenesse as Tolson a worthy man paid nothing in Fine or Pension after him Davenant in the same Bishoprick but these were but as Musick before every sceane nor were fines or pensions certaine but where men were rich there Fines without reservation of rent where poore and such as would serve turnes there Pensions no Fines so Weston and many others There were books of rates on all the Offices Bishopricks Deaneries in England that could tell you what Fines what Pensions otherwise it had been impossible such a numerous kindred could have been maintained with the three Kingdomes Revenue Now was Bacon invested in his Office and within ten dayes after the King goes to Scotland Bacon instantly begins to believe himselfe King lyes in the Kings Lodgings gives audience in the great Banqueting House makes all other Councellors attend his motions with the same state the King used to come out to give audience to Embassadours when any other Councellour sate with him about the Kings affaires would if they sate neare him bid them know their distance upon which Secretary Wynwood rose went away and would never sit more under his encroached State but instantly dispatcht one to the King to desire him to make haste back for even his very Seat was already usurped At which I remember the King reading it unto us both the King and we were very merry and if Buckingham had sent him any Letters would not vouchsafe the opening or reading them in publique though it was said requiring speedy dispatch nor would vouchsafe him any answer In this posture he lived untill he heard the King was returning and began to beleeve the Play was almost at an end he might personate a Kings part no longer and therefore did againe re-invest himselfe with his old rags of basenesse which were so tattered and poore at the Kings comming to Windsor he attended two dayes at Buckinghams Chamber being not admitted to any better place then the roome where Trencher-scrapers and Lacquies attended there sitting upon an old wooden chest amongst such as for his basenesse were only fit companions although the Honour of his place did merit farre more respect with his Purse and Seale lying by him on that chest My selfe told a servant of my Lord of Buckinghams it was a shame to see the Purse and Seale of so little value or esteeme in his Chamber though the Carryer without it merited nothing but scorne being worst among the basest He told me they had command it must be so after two dayes he had admittance at first entrance he fell downe flat on his