forth a Dagger reversed proper piercing a bloudy heart The point crowned Empcriall with this Distick Haec Dextra Vindex Principis Patriae Afterward he was created Lord Haddington and Earle of Holdernesse And our Pamphlet bestowes on him this Character A very good Gentleman by nature but in this Story a Lier by practise Pamp. 9. for which all these favours were too little Reward Sir Thomas Erskin was after wards created Earl of Kelly Knight of the Garter Captain of the King's Guard and Groome of the Stoole And the Fellow designed for the Murtherer had a large Pension confirm'd by Act of their Parliament And all these men but Herries were living with other witnesses at King JAME'S journy when he went from hence to visit Scotland and met together by direction at the same House with Ceremony and all of them with a number of Courtiers ascended into the same Roome the bloud yet remaining where the King related the Story and confirmed by them And afterwards kneeling down with tears of Contrition for his Sinnes to God and thankfulnesse for this Mercy using many pious Ejaculations embraced all these Actors in the former Tragedy when the poor fellow also kist the King's hand These circumstances gave occasion then that this whole story was freshly revived to the common Satisfaction of the whole Countrey and our English Courtiers And in especiall unto the very Reverend Bishop and Nobly borne James Mountegue then present to whom the King addressed himself in this Relation and from whose Mouth I received these particulars at his return into England And thus much we have by word of mouth somewhat I shall add out of writings for more satisfaction This Treason was attempted the 4. of August 1600. And though there followed sundry Suspitions and Examination of several other Persons supposed Abbetters Contrivers yet it lay undiscovered tanquamè postliminio untill 8. years after by the circumspection principally of the Earle of Dunbar a man of as great wisdome as those times and that Kingdome could boast of Upon the person of one George Sprot Notary-publick of Ayemouth in Scotland From some words which at first he sparingly or unawares expressed and also by some papers which were found in his House whereof being examin'd with a little adoe he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh the 12. of Aug. 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman Sir William Hart then Lord Justice of Scotland and Principall in all the Acts of Judicature herein And first George Sprot confesseth That he knew perfectly that Robert Logane late of Restalrig was privy and upon foreknowledge of John late Earl of Gowrie's Treasonable Conspiracy That he knew there were divers Letters interchanged betwixt them anent their Treasonable put pose July 1600. which Letters James Bour called Laird Bour Servitor to Restalrig imployed betwixt them and privy to all that arrand had in keeping and shewed the same to Sprot in Fast-Castle That Sprot was present when Bour after 5. daies absence returned with â—nswers by letter from Gowry and staid all night with Restalrig at his house Gunuesgreen rode the next morne to Lothiane where he staid six daies then to Fast-Castle where he abode a short space That he saw and heard Restalrig read these letters which Bour brought back from Gowry and all their Conference there anent And that Bour said Sir if you think to get Commodity by this dealing lay your hand on your heart and that Restalrig answered though he should lose all in the world yet he would passe through with Gowry for that matter would as well content him as the Kingdome To whom Bour said you may do as you please Sir but it is not my Councell that you should be so suddain in that other matter But for the Condition of Darlton I would like very well of it To this Restalrig answered content your self I am not at my wits end That Sprot himself entered into conference with Bour demanding what was to be done between the Earle and the Laird Bour answered that he beleeved that the Laird would get Darlton without gold or silver but he fear'd it would be deerer to him That Sprot inquiring further how that should be done Bour said they have another pie in hand then buying and selling of land But prayed Sprot for God's sake that he would let be and not be troubled with the Lairds business for he fear'd that within few daies the Laird would be landlesse and livelesse And Sprot being demanded afterwards if all these Confessions were true as he would answer upon the salvation of his soul seeing his death was neer approaching Sprot said That he had no desire to live and had care only of cleering his Conscience in the truth And that all the former points and circumstances were true with the depositions made by him the 5. of July last and the whole confession made by him since as he hoped to be saved and which he would seale with his bloud And further being deposed where was now the letter of Restalrig to Gowry He answered That he had this letter amongst other of Restalrig's papers which Bour had in keeping and which Sprot copied out and that he left the principall letter in his Chest amongst his writings when he was taken and brought away and that it is closed and folded in a sheet of paper These depositions made by George Sprot the to of August 1608. and others before being all included in his Indictment following to which for brevity I shall remit the Reader and written by James â—rimrose Clerk of the King's Councell and subscribed Georgè Sprot Present Earl of Dunbar Earl Lothiane Bishop of Rosse Lord Schone Lord Hallo-rod-house Lord Blautire Sir William Hart Lord Justice Mr. John Hall Mr. Patrick Gahoway Mr. Peter Hewet Ministers of Edenburgh and subscribed with all their hands The next day 11. of August Sprot was re-examined and to him declared the assurance of his death and was advis'd not to abuse his Conscience to witnesse untruths and upon the Innocency of the dead or living To which he deposeth That being resolved to die and as he wishes to be participant of Heaven upon the salvation or damnation of his Soul that all that he had deposed were true in every point and circumstance and no untruth in them The next day being the 12. of August 1608. Sprot was presented in Judgement upon Pannell within the Talboth of Edenburgh before Sir William Hart Knight Lord Justice of Scotland assisted with these Persons viz. Alexander Earle of Dunferling Lord Chancelour George Earle of Dunbar Lord Treasurer John Arch-bishop of Glascoe David Bishop of Rosse Gawen Bishop of Galloway Andrew Bishop of Brechine David Earl of Crawford Mark Earl of Lotharine James Lord Abernethie of Saltonne James Lord of Balmerinoth Senitapie Walter Lord Blautire John Lord Burley Sir Richard Coburn Knight Master John Preston Collector Generall
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
to raise of these Natures the true values and to receive equal benefit with the rest of the Subjects if the Book had bin since observed which he caused in print And for the Copy-holders of Inheritance who by many Records prove their fines certain they did hereupon offer for their freedome 20.30.40 and 50. years purchase where they could shew probable Records without sine to free themselves The Wastes and Commons were tender Titles Wastes Commons full of murmering and Commotion which truly he never durst offer to inclose Nor to urge the Tenants to become Suitors themselves with whom Commissioners were to be appointed to compound for a part and so he made a good President for the rest The Casual fines Casual fines due to the King out of the private possessions as other Lords have by their Courts of Leets Court Barons and such like and out of publique offences as the King was Parent of the Common-Wealth unto whom belong'd praemium poena These being natures left for the King's bounty he commended them also to Commissioners for a better Revenue to be raised being till his time utterly neglected and almost lost As for the extended Lands where the Officers became indebted to the Crown and made it an Art to have their Lands extended at easy rates He caused the most of these to be surveyed commended the Improvement to Commissioners and commanded the Tenants to appear before them The Improvements of the Customes he advanced from 86000. l. to 120000. l. and from that to 135000. l. by the year He bargained for the River-water to be brought to London River water and so to the driest parts which brought a great yearly value He alwaies incouraged all Industry of Manufactures Manufactures Such Inventions as the Statutes admit and countenance As home-making of Allome Salt by the Sunne Busses for fishing Salt upon Salt by new fires and Inventions Copper and Coperas of Iron and of Steele That the Subjects at home might be set on work and the small Treasure of the Nation kept within It concerned him as Secretary to have Intelligence from all parts of the World Intelligence and Correspondence with all Em bassadours and Forreigne States not to be neglected at any hand which he did at his own cost So did all parts grow confident of such a Councelour And so he kept Rules with the united Provinces whose Friendships he would say much concerned this State I may not forget his Christian care Ireland improved for poor Ireland Plantations there and transplantations of the Natives to advance the Customes there and to abate the charges of the Garisons And he did endeavour and in manner did effect an universall course of Law and Justice in the most barbarous and remote parts of that Nation And now concerning the Court of Wards and Liveries Wards Liveries By constitution of this State all the lands of this Nation are holden by two Tenures By Soccage or by Knights Service By the Plough to feed us or by the Sword to defend us And who so died leaving an Heir within age unable to do this service his Heir and Lands fell both to the Protection of the Soveraign And this in antient time was promiscuously carryed in the Court of Chancery until the middle time of Hon. the 8. when this Court of Wards was first erected Since which time the Masters thereof by favour of the Soveraign did accustome as a bounty of State to grant unto Noble Men the King's Servants and their owne followers both the marriag of the body and the lease of the Lands for a third peny of their true worth But in all humility his Lordship finding the estate in a Retrograde Consumption did with all obedience present his Patent at the Kings feet and so the whole benefit became the profit of the Crown Thus he wrought in the Mine of the State-affaires and wasted his Carkasse with desire to have done better Service in these his offices of Treasurer Secretary and Master of the Wards And yet these were sufficient just and true merits Without Friends Wit or Wealth to raise him so much in his Master's esteem Or without ill offices done by him to this Nation as our Pamphlet will make us believe in many absurd particulars And truly Pam. 11.12 his studious labours in the State brought him the sooner to sicknesse a Consumption of the Lungs wherein he wasted some years and at last by advise for cure at the Bath he took leave of the King who came to visit him at Salisbury-House and with tears at his parting protested to the Lords attending his great losse of the wisest Councelour and best Servant that any Prince in Christendome could Paralel Of whom one saies Tu Pater Patriae Princeps Prudentia cujus Extulit immensum Reges Populósque Britannos His time at the Bath was short being spent to extreamity ere he came thither and returning back by the way he was taken out of his Litter and put himself in his Coach and died afterwards at St. Margarets in the House of that worthy Gentleman Mr. Daniel in May 1612. My Lord Viscount Cramborne now Earle of Salisbury and the Lord Clifford Sir Robert Manton and many more Gentlemen of quality then present whom I saw there He was Imbalmed and after Intomb'd at his Princely Mannor of Hartfield Pamp. 14. A fairer Corps then any brasen face that belies his disease His death was extreame sadnesse to the King and to all his friends and others of worth and honour For in spite of the Pamphleter Pamp. 14. he will be valued as he does confesse Never came a Better The next we meet with is Henry Earle of Northampton Henry Howard Earle of Northampton The Antient and Illustrous family of the Howards were here more Eminent then any other that ushered the King to his Additionall Crownes This Henry Howard was Brother unto Thomas Duke of Norfolke who suffered for his attempt of marriage with the Queen of Scots whilst she was Prisoner here in England Which might be some Motive to induce the King to consider the advance of that family though they were indued with large possessions from their Ancestors The Duke left two Sons Philip Earl of Arundell Thomas Howard Earle of Suffolk afterwards Lord Treasurer Henry Howard their Uncle Pamp. 15 was more wedded to his Book then to the Bed for he died a Bacheler and so had the lesse occasion to advance his fortune by Court-flattery or State-Imployment nor indeed was he ever any Suitor for either He was accounted both wise and learned and therefore out of the Kings great affection to Letters especially when they are met in a Noble Person he was advanced in his Creation of Baron of Marnhill and Earle of Southampton then Pryvy Councelor Lord Privy Seale and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Knight of the Garter He had very plentifull for his single life
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
Sir John Skewe Knight Register And he was declared accused and pursued by Sir Thomas Hamilton Knight Advocate to the King for his Highnesse entries of the Crimes contained in his Indictment whereof the tenure follows viz. George Sprot Notary in Aye-mouth You are indicted and accused forasmuch as John sometime Earle of Gowry having most cruelly detestably and treasonably conspired in the moneth of July the year of God 1600. to murther our deere and most gracious Soveraigne the King 's most excellent Majesty And having imparted that divelish purpose to Robert Logaine of Restalrig who allowed of the same and most willingly and readily undertook to be partaker thereof The same comming to your knowledge at the times and in the manner particularly after specified You most unnaturally maliciously and treasonably concealed the same and was art and part thereof in manner following And first In the said moneth of July 1600. after you had perceived and known that divers letters messages had past betwixt the said John somtimes Earl of Gowry and the said Robert Logane of Restalrig you being in the house of Fast-Castle you saw and read a letter written by the said Restalrig with his own hand to the said Earle of Gowry viz. My Lord c. At the receipt of your letter I am so confuted that I can neither utter my joy nor find my selfe sufficiently able to requite your Lordship with due thanks And perswade your Lordship in that matter I shall be as forward for your honour as if it were my own cause And I think there is no Christian that would not be content to revenge that Machiavilian Massacring of our deer Friends yea howbeit it should be to venture and hazard life lands and all things else My heart can bind me to take part in that matter as your Lordship shall find proof thereof But one thing would be done namely that your Lordship should be circumspect and earnest with your Brother that he be not rash in any speeches touching the purpose of Padua And a certain space after the execution of the aforesaid Treason the said Robert Logane having desired the Laird of Bour to deliver to him the said letter or else to burn it and Bour having given to you all tickets and letters which he then had either concerning Restalrig or others to see the same because he could not reade himself you abstracted the above-written letter and retained the same in your own hands and divers times read it containing further to wit My Lord you may easily understand that such a purpose as your Lordship intendeth can not be done rashly but with deliberation And I think for my self that it were most meet to have the men your Lordship spake of ready in a bote or bark and addresse them as if they were taking pastime on the Sea in such faire Summer-time And if your Lordship could think good either your self to come to my house Fast-castle by sea or to send your Brother I should have the house very quiet and well provided after your Lordships advertisement And no others shall have accesse to haunt the place during your being here And if your Lordship doubt of safe landing I shall provide all such necessaries as may serve for your arrival within a flight-shot of the house And perswade your Lordship you shall be as sure and quiet here while we have setled our Plot as if you were in your own Chamber For I trust and am assured we shall have word within few daies from them your Lordship knowes of For I have care to see what ships come home by Your Lordship knows I have kept the Lord Bothwell quietly in this house in his greatest extremity in spite of King and Councell I hope if all things come to pass as I trust they shall to have both your Lordship his Lordship at a good Dinner ere I dy Haec jocose To animate your Lordship I doubt not but all things will be well and I am resolved thereof your Lordship shall not doubt of any thing on my part Peril of life lands honor and goods yea the hazard of hell shall not affray me from that yea though the Scaffold were already set up The sooner the Matter were done it were the better For the King 's Buck-hunting will be shortly and I hope it will prepare some daintier cheer for us to live the next year I remember well my Lord that merry sport which your Lordship's Brother told me of a Noble-Man at Padua for I think that a Parasceve to this purpose My Lord think nothing that I commit the secret hereof to this bearer for I dare not onely venture my life lands honour and all I have else on his credit but I durst hazard my soule in his keeping I am so perswaded of his fidelity And I trow as your Lordship may ask him if it be true he would go to Hell-gates for me and he is not beguiled of my part to him And therefore I doubt not but this will perswade your Lordship to give him trust in this matter as to my self But I pray you direct him home again with all speed possible and give him strait command that he take not a winck sleep till he see me again after he comes from you And as your Lordship desireth in your letter to me either rive or burn this letter or send it back again with the bearer for so is the fashion I grant Restalrig Which letter writ every word with the said Robert Logane's own hand was also so subscribed with this word Restalrig And albeit by the contents of the aforesaid letter you know perfectly the truth of the said most treasonable conspiracy and the said Logane his foreknowledge allowance and guilt thereof like as you were assured of the same by his receiving divers letters sent by Gowry to him and by his returning letters to Gowry for the same purpose and by sundry conferences ferences betwixt Logane and Bour in your presence and hearing concerning the said Treason as well in July preceding the attempt thereof as at divers other times shortly thereafter as likewise by Bour his revealing thereof to you who was upon the knowledge and devise of the Treason and was imployed as ordinary Messenger by Logane to Gowry whereby your knowledge concealing and guilt of the same was undeniable Yeâ— for further manifestation thereof about July 1602. the said Logane shewed unto you that Bour had told him that he had been somewhat rash to let you see a letter which came from Gowry to Logane who then urged you to tell what you understood by the same To whom you answered That you took the meaning thereof to be that he had been upon the councell and purpose of Gowrie's Conspiracy And that he answered you what e're he had done the worst was his own But if you would swear to him that you should never reveale any thing of that matter to any person it should be the best sight that ever
had an eye of favour upon Blunt often saying That She presaged him the Man to end Her cares in that Kingdome And She was a true Prophetesse though not in Her time but in Her Successor King James This Blunt was a Gallant Gentleman and learned on whom She bestowed a Jewell for his behaviour at a Tilting which he wore after tackt with a Scarlet Riband upon his Arme and for no other cause Essex must needs fight with him and was runne through the Arme for his labour But Essex got Imployments from them all offering the Service evermore at lesse charge of Men and Money then others his Competitors And over he goes Deputy of Ireland and Generall Deputy of Ireland and Generall of all the forces there with Commission strickt enough to imbound his Popularity with the Souldiery and his own family which followed him in Troops either to devour or undo him No sooner landed but ere he drew sword on the Enemy he dubbs Knighthood upon seven Gentlemen Volunteers which honour he had very lavishly bestowed at Cadiz and was therefore soundly chidden by the Queen And now restrained by his Commission with much a do unlesse to Men of known Merit and those after Battaile For this first Act the Queene swore he began his Rant Of which he had present Intelligence from his deerest Friend and Uncle Sir Francis Knowls a Councelor of State Sr. Francis Knowles his Correspondent and Controwler of Her Houshold and after Earl of Banbury Who spared not his advise and Councel at all times And between them there passed Intelligence with every dispatch whose letters and papers Principall from Essex and Copies to him I have seen by which there appears even from the beginning of that Imployment a very plaine and Intentional resolution in Essex to make himself Master of his own Ambition and by this way and meanes to effect it grounding all his discontents and dislikes that the Queens eare was open to his Enemies at Court. And therefore it behooved him to guard himself which he resolv'd to do by help of his Friends and fate And indeed having fallen into remarkeable offences together with the Treaties with Tyrone the Arch-Rebell without Order from England and without acquainting his Councell of Warre with whose advise he was limitted to act 'T is true Treats with Tyrone he advanced against the Enemy and soon accepts an Invitation to a Treaty accompanied with his Councell of Warre But comming to the brinck of a River the place assigned he plunges his Horse to the Midde stream alone and there meets him Tyrone on Horseback where their private discourse gave sufficient Caution to all that looked on a-loof-off that Essex meant no fair play for his Mistresse For which fact and no blow stroock in all this time Men and Money wasted He was soundly blamed by the Councell at home and no more letters from the Queens own hand which he usually received afore In great choler Returns home as to Dispute or Revenge and without leave from hence he leaves his Command to a Lieutenant and comes over with a hundred Gentlemen his best Confidents hastens to Court ere it was known to any but to his deer Vncle to whom he writes Deer Vncle Receiving your last at my entring on Ship-board Ireturn the accounts thereof at my Landing being resolved with all speed and your Silence to appear in the face of my Enemies not trusting afarre off to my own Innocency or to the Queens favour with whom they have got so much power c. At sight of him with amaze to the Queen She swore God's death my Lord what do you here Your presence is most unwelcome without Tyrone's head in your Portmantle But he falling more to a Dispute then any Excuse She in disdaine to be taught but what She pleased to do Bid him begone his bootes stunck And so was he presently commanded is committed censured and committed to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to Lambeth where not long after he was convented before a Committee of the Councel and Correctionem not ad destructionem The Queen very gracious hoping his offences might discerne favour for according to his Examinations then and the merit of his cause I have seen his Vncles papers breviates who was one of his Judges intended as his Censure to condemnation and so fitted for further Tryall But the day before they had other direction from the Queen saying he was young enough to mend and make amends for all And so their Censures shew'd him his Errors and left him to Her grace and mercy only restraining him to his own House against Saint Clements Not without dayly letters from Knowles with advice to be rid of his ranting followers Captaines and Sword-men of the Town flocking and Incouraging him to a Revenge on his Enemies It was not long that he could contain Saying His rebellious rising he was engaged to go on And on a Sunday morning the Councell sat which was usuall untill the late Arch-Bishop Lawd in honour of the Morning Sacrifice altered that course to the Afternoon Then the first flame brake out To him Imprisons the Clerk of the Councell they sent their Clerke of the Councell to know the reason from his Lordship of the meeting of so many weaponed Men at his house But the Messenger not returning being kept Prisoner the chiefest Councelours commanded by the Queen came to him and no sooner entered Essex house but the Gates were clapp'd too all their Train kept out the Court-yard full of Gallants Some cryed kill them Imprison them and the Lords of the Councell To the Court seise the Queen and be our own Carvers Essex comes down with all reverence ushers them up resolving to detain them Prisoners and pledges for his Successe Indeed in this hurly burly of advice he took the worst For leaving them in safety with Sir Ferdinando Gorges He with the Earle of Southampton in one boat and some others in other boats took water at his Garden staires and landing neer the Bridge went on foot up the streets with such stragling company as came in their way To whom he protested that the Queen should have been murthered and his and other good Councellors lives in perill by enemies of the State that forced a power from the Queene to the emiment destruction of the Kingdome These speeches with their swords drawne took little effect with the people who came running out of the Churches being Sermon-time without weapons or any offensable assistance contrary to his expectation But on he goes to Sir Thomas Smith's where he kept his Shreevealty neere Fan-church his confiding friend by whose countenance he hoped to worke with the Multitude He being absent at Paul's Crosse Sermon Essex staid no longer then to shift his shirt and so passed through Cheape-side to Paul's west-end where he found his first opposition by some forces got together by the Bishop of London and the trained band And after
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
had intercepted and kept all the considerable Libells against the late Queen and this King But though Justifiable in them as Councelours of State yet it was a crime in Ralegh who never was any And this Book as I remember was of one Bragg or Stagg a Jesuite But Sir Walter excused it That there was nothing acted thereby to the Kings prejudice for the Book was burnt But to insist hereupon Cobham had confessed That Rale g had agreed That Cobham should treate with Aremburgh for 600. thousand Crownes to the intent to advance the title of the Lady Arabella to this Crown That Cobham under pretence of travelling should prosecute this designe in the Lowe-countries France and Spaine and to carry 3. letters from her to the Arch-Duke Duke of Savoy and to the King of Spaine and to promise toleration of Religion and her Marriage to be disposed of by them That at his returne he should meete Ralegh at Jersey the place of his command and there agree to dispose the money to discontents And Ralegh should have 7. thousand crownes from Arenberge for himselfe And further confessed that Ralegh had Instigated him to all these Treasons And that Ralegh should say that he thought the best way to trouble England was to cause division in Scotland To this onely of Scotland he answered confessed the words and that he had so thought these 20. yeares It seemes by the sequell since he was not in staken Lawrencie confessed that he and Cobham and Ralegh being together he delivered a letter to Cobhane from Arembergh and presently Ralegh went with Cobham in private to conferre thereof To all these confessions Ralegh craved that Cobham might appeare to accuse him face to face I may not omit one passage acted heretofore which comes in properly here to be considered When the confederates had suffered under some Examinations and were restrained to their several houses And Ralegh knew well that Lawreney was then suspected but not examined then did Ralegh discover in a letter to Sir Robert Cecil where Cobham was with Lawrency and that then was the time to apprehend Lawrency and so to intercept their Intelligence ere matters were ripe What Ralegh's designe was herein I must confesse my conceipt is very blunt But this use was made of it to Raleghs ruine For after that Cobham had denied much of the former stuffe upon his first Examinations this letter was shewed him under Ralegh's hand upon mature often deliberation to be assured that it was his hand Then Cobham in an Extasie calling Ralegh Villain Traitor delivered his positive Accusation of Ralegh as aforesaid and added That Ralegh after his first Examinations before the Lords had writ to Cobham that although he had bin examined of many things yet that he had cleered Cobham of all when as the Lords protested he had not at all been examined concerning Cobham And thereby this was inferred by the Councell to confirm Cobham to deny all when he should be examined Sir Walter said That Cobham had not signed his accusation and that he was at the worst but singularis Testis To which my Lord Chief Justice gave it for law that it was not necessary to signe nor to have more then One witnesse after much pleading herein and Ralegh alledging law and Scripture for not admitting a single witnesse to condemn one yet the Court was satisfyed therein by the Judges to the contrary Ralegh said Then prove it by One witnesse face to face and I will confesse my self guilty but the Judges were of opinion that it was not to be permitted by law yet Ralegh insisted hereupon with many stories which took up much time Then being asked if he would be concluded thereby if Cobham would now justify his accusation under his hand To this it may be observed that Ralegh made no answer at all but consented that the Jury should go together Then was produced Cobham's letter to the Lords writ but the day before in effect thus That Sir Walter had writ a letter to him wrapt in an apple and cast in at his window ten daies since in the Tower to intreate him for God's sake to write to him under his own hand that he had wronged him in his accusatious and odvised him to be constant in denialls rather then to appeale to the King And now writes Cobham It is no time to dissemble and therefore protested before God and his Angells that all and every part of his accusation of Sir Walter Ralegh was substvntially true And added That Ralegh had dealt with him since the King 's comming to procure him a pension from Spain for Intelligence c. Then Ralegh rayling against Cobham confessed this letter was in an Apple to which Cobham returned an answer which Ralegh produced and desired that it might be read But the Atturney opposed Sir Robert Cecil's consent thereto To whom Cecil replied Sir you are more preremptory then honest come you hither to direct us And so read it Which in effect was a confession that he had wronged Sir Walter and that he was Innocent This bore date 10. dayes before And here Ralegh confessed That Cobham had offered to him a Pension from Spain to the effect before confessed And that he had concealed it as loath to ruine Cobham Then the Jury went out and returned in halfe an houre with their Verdict Guilty So was Sentence as in Case of Treason And he was returned to the Tower of London and there lay upon Reprieve 2. yeares and 3. years after was executed in October 1618. Observations upon this Tryall And because this Second Remarke in the Pamphleter and this Prefacer stickes in their stomacks with which they indeavour to choke the Readers I have theresore bin the more prolix Pam p. 35. that thereby the whole world may judge with the Jury of his guilt or Innocency Vide page 35. Ralegh's rise of preferment was occasioned upon a contest with the Lord Grey in the Queenes time which they were to plead face to face Where indeed but not in truth Sir Walter had the better by the tongue telling his tale to advantage which tooke the Queen who tooke him from that instant into favour as before remembred Belike he expected the same providence at this time when so oft he desired to plead face to face Pamp. 35. with Cobham How could Wade the Lieutenant of the Tower as is surmized tamper with Cobham to write his name to a blanck to which Wade framed the accusation against Ralegh When it appeares Cobham never signed at all to his Examinations which therefore was so much insisted upon at his tryall for his advantage But in truth besides the confession of Cobham the fatal evidence was Cobham's own voluntary last letter of accusation or confession over night writ every whit with his own hand The King commanded as the COURT was assured at the triall that upon any examination there should none be rackt which made Captaine Kemish who
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
The Gall Bladder Gall. void of any humour full of wind The Spleen on the top Spleen and in the lower end blackish fill'd with black heavy blood The Kidnies without any blemish Kidnies The Midrise under the Filme or Membraine Midriffe containing the Heart wherein a little moysture spotted with black leadish colour by reason of the brusing Heart The Lungs the greatest part black Lungs the rest all spotted with black imbrewed and full of adust blood with a corrupt and thick Serocity which by a vent made in the Lungs came out foming in great abundance In which doing and cutting a small Skin which invironeth the Heart to shew the same the Chirurgian by chance cutting the Trunck of the great Veine the most part of the blood issued out into the Chest leaving the lower Veins empty upon sight whereof they concluded an extream heat and fullnesse the same more appeared that the windpipe with the Throat Tongue Throat were covered with thick blacknesse The Tongue cleft and dry in many places Tongue The hinder Veins called Piamater Piamater in the Inmost Filme of the Braine swolne abundance of blood more than naturall The Substance of the Braine Braine faire and clcere but the ventricks thereof full of cleere water in great abundance which was engendred by reason of the Feaver Maligne divers humors being gathered together of a long time before He not being subject to any dangerous Sicknesse by Birth The other part Without poyson by reason of the Convulsions resoundings and benummings and of the fullnesse choaking the naturall hear and destroying the vitalls by their Malignity have convayed Him to the Grave without any teken or accident of Poyson His admirable patience in all his sicknesse might deceive the Physicians never dreaming danger The Urines shewd none And the unknown state of His greatest griefe lay closely rooted in His head which in the opening was discovered But the Picture of Death by a strange extraordinary Countenance from the beginning And vainly surmised possessing him hath been the cause that some vainely rumored that He was Poysoned But no Symptome appearing By sent it is surmised that He might be Poysoned by a Sent. But indeed He died in the Rage of a Malicious Extraordinary Burning Fever The seventh of December He was Interred at Westminster 1612. His Motto's Fax mentis Honestae Gloria Juvat ire per Altum He was comely tall Description five Foot eight Inches high Strong and well made somewhat broad Shoulders a small Waste Amiable with Majesty and His Haire Aborn colour Long Faced and broad For-head a pearcing grave Eye a gracious Smile but with a Frowne danting Courteous and affable Character naturall Shamefast and modest Patient and slow to Anger Mercifull and judicious in punishing offendors Quick to conceive yet not rash Very constant in resolves Wonderfull secret of any trust even from his Youth His Corage Prince-like fearless noble undaunted saying that there should be nothing impossible to Him that had bin done by another Most Religious and Christian Protesting His great desire to compose differences in Religion In a word He was never heard by any body living to swear an Oath And it was remembred at his Funerall Sermon by the Archbishop that He being commended by one for not replying with passion in Rlay or swearing to the truth He should answer That He knew no Game or Value to be won or lost that could be worth an Oath To say no more Such and so many were His Virtues that they covered Sin We are told by our Pamphlet that his death was foretold by Bruce Pamph. 85 who was therefore banished And if so he deserved rather to be hanged But in truth He was not banished at all but wisely removed himself into Germany where his Profession of Prophesying gained most profit And from whence all Christendome are fill'd with such lying foretellings But in this particular he needed not much Art or Devills help to say That Salisburies crazy body should yeeld to Nature before Prince Henry's And this true story of Prince Henry Pamph. 86 may answer the fourth Remarke in the Preface that he came not to untimely death Sir Arthur Ingram Sir Arthur Ingram Sir Lionell Cranfield and Sir Lionell Cranfield our Pamphlet couples upon the score of Merchants though the latter being of merit and was rank'd with the Peers Ingram was bred a Merchant and for his wit and wealth imployed as a Customer and afterwards came to that esteem as to be preferred Cofferer in the Kings house and with much Reason and Policy so to be For the vast expence of the State kept the Treasury dry Especially the needfull disbursements of the Court divided into Severalls of King Queen Prince Princess and Palsgrave and Duke And at this time also of the Marriage and who more proper to assist the Revenue failing but such able men as these who could and honestly might discover the cunning craft of the cosening Merchant And it was high time so to doe or the Customers had Ingros'd all the wealth of the Commonweal Though our Pamphlet bestowes on them the Characters of evill Birds desiling their own Nests what is our Anthor then Pamph. 87 who desil'd the Court that gave him breeding defamed the King that gave him hread And this I know That the King most prudent put this course in practice at Court somewhat differing I confess in the Line of Ascent to the Houshold preferment which rises by Order and Succession This Man Sir Arthur Ingram a stranger in Court stept in to discover the concealments of the Green Cloâ—h also and when this Tyde had its Ebb it returned again to its wonted Chanell And 't is true that the King shifted the fault upon his Favorit An ordinary fate which of ten follows them to beare the burthen of their Masters mistakes Which yet was but an Experiment proper enough for the Lord Chamberlain to put in practice He being layd aside Sir Lionell Cranfield Sir Lionell Craufield came into publick upon such like Design but in a nobler way I find him of an antient Family in Glocestershire as by their bearing of Arms in the Heralds office appears This Gentleman a Brother unto Sir Randall Cranfield who inherited his fathers possessions there and in other Counties of good value And in Kent Neighbouring Our Authors habitation He was bred a Merchant Adventurer in London and by his extraordinary qualities and the blessing of God upon his indeavours in that most commendable way of Adventure besides his great understanding in the affairs of the Customes became usefull to the State And first had the honour of Knighthood then the Custody of the Kings Wardrobes afterwards Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries and lastly succeeded Suffolke in the place of Treasurer of England and in that time created Earle of Middlesex In all which Offices of Trust
I never knew then nor can find sithence any suspicion unlesse in that of the Treasury The ground whereof is hinted unto us by our Author Pamph. 166. But in truth in this He hath but Scumm'd the Pot to cleere the Broth. For indeed who more fit for the reasons I have shewed than this man of experience in Stating the Accompts for the Revenues of the State which I know he improved and not unlikely thereby purchased Envy for his Eminency And to say truth according to his Place He did indeavor to Husband the same to piece out with the expence which the Princes Iourney into Spain had wonderfully and unnecessarily exhausted as by the Printed accompt thereof lately divulged by Parliament doth manifestly appeare Then which no better Evidence can be produced to acquit the Treasurer together with what the Pamphletter publishes as a supposed crime Pamph. 166. His refusall to supply that journey and Buckinghams folly and prodigality and this He did deny as the duty of his Office required and which He well understood as being of Counsell and acted as a Counsellour in that undertaking to My knowledg and as indeed being then the Statesman at the Counsell Table But his refusall of supplying Buckingham upon that Score only wrought him no doubt at his returne home the Treasurers great enemy And whom He opposed a small accusation might serve the turne to turne any Man out of all as He did Him And yet to the Honour of his Memory though they raked into all his actions and racked all mens discoveries to the height of Information the power of Buckingham could never produce any Crime though mightely attempted against his exact accompts in that boundlesse trust of the tempting Treasury And in spite of Malice though they divested him of that Office yet He lived long after in Peace Wealth and Houour And died since these times of inquiry leaving to his Heire his Honors untaint with a plentifull Estate to all his Children enabling them to beare up the worthy Character of their Fathers meritts And thus having digressed in our matter beyond our time we returne to the first appearance of our new Favorite George Villiers 89 His discent George Villiers who was of an Ancient Family in Leicestershire His Father Sir Edward Villiers begat him upon a second Wife Mary Beomont of Noble birth whom for Her beauty and goodnesse He Married He had by Her three Sonnes Iohn Viscount Purbeck George Duke of Buckingham and Christopher Earle of Anglesey and one Daughter Susan Countesse of Denbigh Our Pamphlet tells us Page 90. That He came over by chance from his French Travells and sought his preferment in Mariage with any body but mist of his match for want of a hundred Marks Ioynture And so pieces him for the Court like in the Story of Dametas Caparisons borrowing of every one piecemeal to put him forward for the Kings Favourite The truth is thus His Mother a Widdow was lately Married unto Sir Thomas Compton second Brother to the Lord Compton who by chance falling upon a wonderfull match for matchless wealth with Alderman Sir John Spencers Daughter and Heir And his Father then lately dead this Lord was Master of all which was of more than credible and so might be enabled bountifully to set up a Kinsman without help or alms of the Parish And it was plotted long before and Villiers sent for to the same purpose And this indeed was done by practice of some English Lords And I can tell him the time and place There was a great but private Entertainment at Supper at Baynards Castle by the Family of Herberts Hartford and Bedford and some others By the way in Fleetstreet hung out Somersets picture at a Painters Stall which one of the Lords envying bad his Footman sling dirt in the face which he did and gave me occasion thereby to ask my Companion upon what score that was done He told me That this meeting would discover And truly I waited neer and opportune and so was acquainted with the Design to bring in Villiers And thus backt Our new Favourite needed not to borrow nor to seek out many Bravo'es to second his Quarrels which at first I confess he met with For having bought the place of Cup bearer to the King his right was to have the upper end of the Table at the reversion of the Kings Diet only during his monethly wayting But he not so perfect a Courtier in the Orders of the House set himself first out of his month when it was not his due and was told of it and so removed which was not done with over much kindnesse for indeed the Other was Somersets Creature But not long after this party by chance rather than by designe spilt upon Villiers cloaths as he carried meat to the Kings Table and returning to Dinner Villiers gave him a box on the Eare For which the Custome of the Court was to have his hand cut off and which belonged to Somerset as Chamberlain to prosecute the Execution Favorite as he did And here the Kings mercifull pardon without any satisfaction to the party made him appear a Budding Favorite And now we are fallen upon a story of fooling and fidling sometime used for Courtlike recreations I confesse Pamph. 91. but alwayes with so much wit as might well become the Exercise of an Academy Not Gerbiers which our Author misconstrues and calls a Brothelry to usher in the New Favorite and to out the Old One whose Misfortunes with his Lady brake out even now as we have told of before And now indeed Pamph. 124. all the browse boughs cut downe or removed to plain the Stemm our Favorite appears like a proper Palm His first step into honourable Office was in the Admiralty Admiralls to succeed a good and gallant Old Lord of Nottingham who being almost Bed ridd made sute to the King That himself might dispose his place as a Legacy in his life time upon Villiers which was so done and who to my knowledge went in Person to acknowledg the Kindnesse and presented his Young Lady with a very noble and valuable reward which my Lord Compton paid for and besides a Pension therefore during his life And all this was done with so much love and liking that I have often observed Villiers his great Civility to him ever after at each meeting to call him Father and bend his knee without the least regret of the Lord that gained more than he lost by the bargain and did not cost the King a penny And because Sir Robert Mansell a dependant of Nottingham had the place of Vice-Admirall at pleasure only Villiers for his Lords sake continued him by Patent during life For which Courtesie the good Old man came himself to give thanks as I remember the last Complement his age gave him leave to offer And thus was this Office of Honor and Safety to the Kingdom Ordered from the Command
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