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
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
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
Aulicus Coquinariae OR A VINDICATION IN ANSWER TO A PAMPHLET ENTITVLED The Court and Character of KING JAMES Pretended to be penned by Sir A. W. and published since his death 1650. Auribus oculisque recepta Nemesis à tergo London Printed for Henry Seile over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1650. ERRATA PAge 5. line 20. which read with p. 7. l. 24. Chimstry r. Chimistry p. 11. l. 15. Turnpike p. 36. l. 24. sore p. 39. l. 10. Tercera's p. 45. l. 1. deserve p. 52. l. 14. Assassinations p. 54. l. 5. to p. 54. l. 7. Exception p. 67. l. 15. the. p. 82. l. 2. leave p. 97. l. 6. of p. 105. l. 24 was p. 120. l. 11. her Preface THere are some Men so delight in sinne who rather than be idle from doing evil will take much pains to scandall the Dead My fear to offend hath withheld my hand a convenient time lest I should fall into the like error with Him that published the Pamphlet Entituled The Court Character of King James and Father 's the Brat upon Sir A. VV And if common fame mistake not the meaning His Parent took rise from Q. Elizabeths Kitchin and left it a Legacy for preferment of his Issue This Man went the same way and by grace of the Court got up to the Green-cloth Jn which place attending King James into Scotland he practised there to libell that Nation which at his return home was found wrapt up in a Record of that Board and by the hand being known to be his he was deservedly removed out as unworthy to eat of his bread whose Birth-right he had so vilely defamed Yet by favour of the King with a piece of money in his Purse and a pension to boot to preserve him loyall during his life though as a bad creditor he took this course to repay him to the purpose And I have heard that in his life he discovered a part of this Peece to his fellow Courtier who earnestly diswaded him not to publish so defective and false a scandall which as it seems in Conscience he so declin'd And therefore my Exception willingly falls upon the practice of the Publisher who by his Additions may abuse us with this false Story which he discovers to the Reader in 5 Remarkable Passages and gives me the occasion to spare my censure on the deceased person but to bestow my unkindness which necessarily intervenes in this Vindication on him who yet lives to make out his bad act with a Reply if he please more Pestilent upon Me. THE CONTENTS QUeen Elizabeth pag. 1 1. Remark Gowryes Conspiracy of the name Ruthens and Family the manner of the Treason and effects afâ—erwards 5 George Sprott Confederate with Gowry his confessions arraignment execution and testimony hereof 16 E. of Essex his Character undertakings Treason and execution 36 Caecils Sir Rob. Caecil his services sicknesse and death 49 Hen. Howard E. of Northampton his character and death 64 James L. Hay E. Carlisle his character Embassies and Interest 67 2. Remark Sir Walter Raleigh his character treason tryall and reprieve observations upon him and his former voyage to Guiana sentence and execution 74 Sir Tho. Lake his character rising ruine with his Wife and Daughter 98 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury and Sir Rob. Carr 110 The Nullity of Essex Marriage with Suffolk's daughter with the Legall proceedings 113 Of Archbishop Abbot 130 Sir Rob. Carr E. of Somerset his Marriage with Essex's Relict 133 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury his imprisonment and poysoned 135 Somerset and his Wifes tryall and Sir Thomas Monson 138 4. Remark Pr. Henry his character sickness disease and death not by poyson 143 Sir Arthur Ingram his condition 158 Sir Lionel Cranfield E. of Middlesex his birth breeding and advance 160 George Villiers his discent and advance a Favorite and Duke of Buckingham occasioning severall narrations c. 164 E. of Nottingham Admirall 169 Egerton Lord Chancellor 171 Bacon Lord Chancellor 171 Buckinghams Kinred 174 Williams Lord Keeper 178 5. Remark Spanish Match the Princes journey into Spaine and return 179 Bristolls concern'd 180 Inicossa Spanish Ambassador 182 Yelverton Attorney Generall 186 King James sicknesse the playster and death not by poyson 192 Conclusion 197 The Character 200 Aulicus Coquinariae OR THE CHARECTER Of Him who SATARIZ'D KING JAMES AND HIS COURT QUeen Elizabeth died Queen Elizabeth Anno Domini 1602. having bin long sick and indeed desperate which gave this State time enough to conclude for his reception the undoubted Heir to these Crownes JAMES then King of Scotland She hath been highly valued since Her death the best of any former Soveraigne over us She was fitted for fortunes Darling but with some Imprisonment the better to mould Her for the Rule and Soveraignty of a Kingdome and for the custody of a Scepter She shewed Her Justice and Piety as a President to posterity She was a Princesse learned even then when Letters had estimation and began them into fashion which brought forth many rare and excellent Men both of the Gowne and of the Sword Some say She had many Favorites but in truth She had none They were neer and dear to Her and to Her affaires as Partners of her care not Minions of phansey And yet such as they were she ever mastered by her own Rules not they Her by their own Wills And she wanted not many of them at need or pleasure She was Magnificent comparativè with other Princes which yet she disposed frugally Having alwaies much to do with little money for truly those either Wise or Gallant Men were never cloied with her Bounty more then in her Grace which with her Mannage passed for good payment The Irish affaires was to her Maligne which drew her Treasure almost dry the only cause of distemper in the State and ended not but with her life At which time she left her Cofers empty and yet her Enemies potent Pamp. 34. And therefore it could be no Treason in them that afterwards councelled the Peace but rather in such who indeavoured then and after the re-establishing a New War Amongst Her Favourites of the Sword none could boast more of her Bounty and Grace Essex Pamp. 10. then the Earle of Essex whose ingrate disposition blown beyond the Compasse of his steere by too much Popularity and Pride cosened him into that absolute Treason against his Soveraigne that notwithstanding many forewarnings of his neerest friends and unwilling Resentments of his deerest Mistresse his open Rebellion at last brought him to publique tryall condemned and executed as the most ingrate that former times could produce Of which we shall take occasion hereafter in some particular Wherein Sir Robert Cecill acted no more then a dutiful Subject Councelour and Judge ought to have done against him and such like of her time evermore attempting by Assassination or Poyson to take away her life As were also the like attempts by others in Scotland witnesse the
forewarning of the Duke of Florence by expresse Message of Sir Henry Wootton to King James a year before his comming to these Kingdomes against Her beloved and undoubted Heir and in Them to destroy the Protestant Religion The most remarkeable was Gowries Conspiracie that of Gowries Conspiracy in Scotland And I never read or hear'd till our Pamphlet That Sir George Hewms his gravity and Wisdome ushered him into the Secrets of the KING therefore and chiefly to make good that story Pamph. 8. The first passage of the Preface Remarkable For of that Nation both the wisest and most honest gave great Credit thereto And the commemoration was advisedly settled by Acts of their Parliament which Anathematize upon Gowries House and Name And Solemnized there and here with Narratives in print of each particular Circumstance and the ground the cause inviting that Treason And truely the Anniversary feast-day in August was usually solemnized to God's Glory by the most Reverend Preachers witnesse those rare Divine Sermons of our Bishop Andrew's and others whose Consciences no doubt were not so large to cozen God Almighty with a fained tale Indeed there might have been more additionall truths annexed to the relation which I have heard to make it more apprehensive to our Pamphleter whose Speculations in this as in other his stories of Court and State took Information belike but in his Office Below-staires And which makes his faith drawe downe the effects of those Sermons for the Father Pamp. 10. as a Cause of the sad Events and sufferings of the Son and us all to this present The Name of Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious until Anno 1568 when Ruthen amongst others confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured much for the Imprisoning Queene Mary Mother to King James In 1582. his sonne William was created Earle Gowry in the time of that King's minority Though the father bore deadly hatred to the King's prosperity And in 1584. himselfe was in actuall Rebellion in which he suffered at Dondee His eldest son John then in travell in Italy returns home to inherit his lands and honours But not one jot changed in disposition from the traiterous wayes of his Predecessors For not long after he falls into this Conspiracy Which is not so antient but that many then and now living can relate and my self have often heard the repetition The House of Gowry were all of them much addicted to Chimistry And these more to the Practise often publishing as such professors usually do more rare experiments then ever could be performed wherein the King a general scholar had little faith But to infuse more credit to the practise Alexander Ruthen the second Brother takes this occasion and withall conspires with Gowry to assassinate the King and taking opportunity in his hunting not far from his house St. Johnstone invites the King to be an eye-witnesse of his productions In their way Sir Thomas Erskin after Lord Kelly overtakes them and others Demanding of the Duke of Lenox then present why Alexander had ingrossed the King's eare to carry him from his sports Peace man said the Duke Wee's all be turned into gold Not far they rid but that the Earle Gowry made good by protestation his Brother's story And thus was the King brought to Guest Neere the end of Dinner at his fruit and the Lords and Waiters gone to eate Alexander begs of the King at this opportunity to withdraw and to be partaker of his Production to the view of that which yet he could not beleeve And up he leades the King into by-lodgings locking each door behind them till they came into a back-Roome Where no sooner entered but that Alexander claps on his Bonnet and with sterne Countenance faces the King and saies Now Sir you must know I had a father whose bloud calls for revenge shed for your sake The King amazed deales gently with his fury excuses the guilt of his death by his then Infancy Advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his Anointed Soveraigne Especially in a cause of his Innocency Pleading the laws of God and Man which so much wrought upon him that he said well I will speak with my Brother And so put the King into a Lobby Room next the Chamber where no sooner entered but that there appeared a fellow weaponed ready for execution to whose custody the King is committed till his return Alexander gone downe the fellow trembles with Reverence puts down his sword and craves pardon which gave the King occasion to worke upon that passion and to aske him whether he resolved to murther him Being assured to the contrary the King gets leave to open a window that looked into a back Court When presently Alexander returnes and tells the King that he must dy But much affrighted at the fellowes countenance with his sword offers violence to the King Which the fellow seemingly opposes and betweene them began a scuffle which gave advantage to the King to cry Treason at the Window which looked into a back Court where Sir Thomas Erskin and one Herries were come In pursuite of the King who was rumored to be gone out the back way to his hunting At the cry of Treason and known to be the King's voice they both hastened up a back staire called the Turnepike being directed by a servant of the house who saw Alexander ascend that way And so forcing some doores they found them above panting with the fray And up comes also at heeles of them John Ramsey after Earle of Holdernesse by them Alexander was soon dispatched Not long after came the Earle Gowry by his double key the first way with a case of Rapiers his usuall weapons and ready drawn To whom Erskin said as to divert his purpose what do you meane my Lord the King is killed for the King was shadowed having cast himselfe upon a Bed from his sight and his cloak was thrown upon the Body of Alexander bleeding on the ground At which Gowry stops sincking the points of his weapons when suddainly Herries strickes at him with a hunting fawchion And Ramsey having his Hawke on his fist casts her off and steps into Gowry and stabs him to the heart and forthwith more Company came up And the truth very notorious then to every eye and eare-witnesse not a few There remained but one younger sonne of that House who though a childe was from that time Imprisoned by Act of their Parliament And so continued afterwards here in the Tower of London until that King's death and the grace of the late King Charles restored him to liberty with a small pension which kept him like a Gentleman to these times But now failing he walks the streets poore but well experienced also in Chimicall Physick and in other parts of Learning Not long after this Conspiracy Herries dies well rewarded John Ramsey hath the Honor of Knighthood with an additional bearing to his Cote of Armes A Hand holding
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
Proclametion That Essex and Southampton were Traitors all those that followed their faction Many dropping from the Crowd there was little defence by his party though some were killed and himselfe forsaken of the wisest He retires back to Queenhithe and so to Essex-house by water where finding the Birds flowen the Councellors released by their Keeper who in hope of pardon accompained them to the Queenes presence discovering so much as he knew concerning his Lord who finding himselfe too weake to withstand the force of a peece of Cannon mounted upon the Church to batter his House He and Southampton yeelded themselves Prisoners to the Tower Arraigned and executed where being arraigned and condemned Southamton had repreeve and after pardon But Essex the reward of his merits and Executed in March 1601. upon the Inner Hill in the Tower to the regret of None either wise or honest Leaving behind him one onely Son the last of his Line William Cecill Cecils Pamp. 10. illustrate from the family of Cecils who suffered persecution in the times of Henry 8. Edward 6. and Queen Mary he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth so soone as she was setled in her Crowne then Secretary and Councellor of State Afterwards created Baron of Burligh Then made Lord Treasurer of England and Knight of the Garter and died Chauncellor of the Vniversity of Cambridge Anno 1598. Intomb'd at Westminster leaving two Sons The elder Thomas was then Lord President of the North And afterwards created Earle of Exeter by King James and privy Councellor of State He died Anno discreet and honourable whom the world could never tax with any taint The other son Robert Sr. Robert Cecill was the second But a true Inheriter of his Fathers wisdome and by him trained up to future perfections of a Judicious States-man after his Knighthood the first imployment from Court for he was not at all bred out of it sent him Assistant with the Earle of Darby Embassadour to the French King At his returne the Queen took him second Secretary with Sir Fr. Walsingham after whose decease he continued Paincipal and so kept it to his death Not relinquishing any Preferment for the Addition of a Creater A remarkeable Note which few men of the Gowne can boast of His Father liv'd to see him setled in these preferments and after Master of the Wards and Liveries These he held to the Queenes death Being in all Her time used amongst the Men of weight as having great sufficiencies from his Instruction who begat him Those offices here in public with perpetual Correspondence by Emissaries of his own into Scotland might no doubt make him capable of Reception with King James who was to be advised by him how to be received here of his people Without any necessity then to make use of Sir George Hewmes or his Initiatiation afterwards with any juggling trickes Pamp 13. his merrits certainly appeared to the King who not onely not diminished his forformer preferments But often added to them even to the day of his death As first Baron of Essenden then Viscount Cranborne after Earle of Salisbury and Knight of the Garter and lastly Lord Treasurer of England He was a Councellor of singular merit A very great discoverer of the late Queens enemies abroad and of private Assinations at home For which She valued him and the Papists hated him which they published by several Manuscripts which I have seen and printed Libels and that most pestilent against his birth and honour threatning to kill him which himselfe answered wisely learnedly and religiously Extant in English and Latine Adversus Perduelles Indeed It behoved the King to bestow upon him the waight of the Treasurers Staffe The Cofers then in some want which the King was not likely soon to Recover but rather to increase in debt having the addition of wife and children to boot And being now come with common opinion into the Capacity by his additional Crownes to reward his old servants and to appear obliging unto new Ones The world wondering at the worth of this great Councellor I know not upon what score our Pamphleter should endeavour to scandal his memory Which he rancks into Numbers of ill Offices to his Nation Pamp. 12. as the burning of a whole cart-load of Parliaments Presidents which no man can be so sottish as to beleeve that knowes the strict concerving of those Records by sworne Officers As for the Baronets Baronets It was the earnest suite of two hundred prime Gentlemen of Birth and estates to my knowledge for I copied the list before ever it came this Lord. And as true it is That this Lord's Reception thereto was in the same words which our Pamphlet puts upon the King That it would discontent the Gentry to which themselves replyed Nay my Lord It will rather satisfie them in advance of Dignity before others who now come behind those Meaner Men whom the King was forced to Knight for his own honor and some merits of theirs having no other Reward or money to spare and therein not much to blame to oblige them that way As for that supposed jugling Pamp. 13. which the Duke of Bullion should discover As it was never known to wiser men So we may take it a devise of his who in these as in other such like of his own may truly merit that Character which he bestowes before On the good Gentleman Pamp. 9. I desire pardon if I speake much and truth in the memory of this Noble Lord being somewhat concerned to speak my owne knowledge I know that this Earle of Salesbury declining his health with continuall labour for the good of this Nation both in the former and in this his Soveraign's Service And am willing to give some light thereof to such as are pleased to read these particulars being an Account of his concernments For first Salisbury his service to the State Mannors Lands he found the King's Mannors and fairest possessions most unsurveyed and uncertain rather by report then by Measure Not more known then by ancient Rents the Estate granted rather by chance then upon knowledge The Custody-Lands Custody-hands antiently termed Crown-Lands much charged upon the Sheriffs yearly discharged by annual pensions A Revenue which seemed decayed by descent of times and worne out of all remembrance these he evermore revived by Commissioners of Asserts The Woods Woods were more uncertain then the rest No man knew the Copices Number of acres growth or value nor of Timber-Trees either Number or worth So as truly he might well find himself in a Wood indeed The Trees wasted without controwle because no Record kept thereof These he caused to be numbred marked and valued easily to be questioned when thereafter missing The Copy-hold Lands Copy-holds where the arbitrary sines ceased by the discretion of the Stewards and did seldome yeeld the Parsons part and that also vanish'd in fees and charges The State was then after like
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
was the Instrument of messages and letters betweene Ralegh and Cobham often to protest in my hearing That in truth he was threatned with the Rack which was shewed to him but had he tasted therof he said that he should have bin inforced to tell an odd tale meaning of discovery Sr. Walter was admitted a chair pen Inck and paper for his memory And truly he rather tyâ—ed the Court and Jury Repreeâ— ed. with Impertinences And thus was Sr. Walter Ralegh reprieved to the Tower and many years of Imprisonment in that liberty till his future merits and fame of learning begat many to pitty his sufferings So that at last by meanes of the French Embassadour with others of our own Lords he had freedome to repair for his health to his House at Saint James and after a year or two he procured a Commission to make a Voyage to Gueana in the West-Indies for the return of Gold Oare or Mine But was expresly limitted not to trench upon the Spaniard to the breach of Peace His landing was at St. Tomaz a Town of the Spaniards upon the opening of the Great River Orenoque in America Where he killed many of them and there lost his eldest son Walter under the Walls Then sends he Captain Kemish his old Servant upon whose confidence it appears this voyage was resolved up this River to the foot of a Mountain where heretofore and also during Ralegh's Imprisonment he had been sent and returned with wonderfull Remarks of a rich Mine or rather Madre-del-Ore But now comes from thence And all the account came to no more but that the Mountain was fled away he could not find it Upon this the whole sleet 4. or 5. saile mutiny forces him home again as a Prisoner in the return Kemish kills himself in his own Cabin so no tales could be told Ralegh's ships were first cast upon the south of Ireland then they land in the West of England where warrants were ready to apprehend him Prisoner to the Tower In the West he is discovered to deal with a French Master of a ship to steal away into France Then in his journy to London he combines with a French Mountebanck who assisted him with Ingredients which he desired that would without danger of life bring him to breake forth into Blanes Purposely done by this meanes to get longer time to work opportunities to save his life which he knew he had so deeply forfeited Then being delivered into the hands of Sir John Stukely Lieutenant of the Tower he deales with him for a sum of Money part in hand being paid to join with him in Escapeboth of them into France Stukely yields to all and accompanies him by water in the way to Gravesend where by designe of Stukelie's treachery in that and so it prospered with him being hang'd afterwards for clipping of Gold they were seized and brought back to the Tower From whence very speedily Ralegh was commanded to the King's-Bench-bar at Westminster before the Lord chief Justice Mountegue where the Records of his former Sentence only were read hedemanded why Execution should not be done Sir Walter acknowledged that Sentence and the King's Mercy for his life thus long And that he hoped seeing he had bin imployed by Commission with power of life and death over the King's Lie ge People it did make void that former sentence He was told to the contrary and that his time of Execution was the next morning and so the Sheriff of Middlesex took him into custody to the Gate-House and to Execution the next day in the old Palace yard at Westminster where he had the favor of the Ax. which he said smilingly touching it was a sharp Medioine but a true Physitian to cure all diseases and so it proved to him at this very time in his Ague sit At his death himselfe endeavoured to cleere some points which it seemes our Pamphleter knew not of otherwise he would have done it for him To have had often plots with France which he denied but confessed that he had bin solicited thence and indeavoured to escape thither at twice That the French Agent came oft to him with Commission from that King to him But he returned the Commission That he should speake disloyally of the King his accuser he said was a base runagate Frenchman and perfideous whom he trusted being sworne to secrecie which he betrayed much he said in these particulars which he did not deny but traversed So then there were other businesse of charge to which he was liable to a new Tryall But the prudence of the King would not hazard further proceedings having a sufficient upon the old score Pamp. 38. And now for that additional tale of the Pamphleter concerning Sir Walters recovery of Queen Anne for which he begg'd the boone viz. for the Examination of the Lord Cobham by 4. Earles and 2. Councelors I never heard nor read thereof before nor can beleeve it For this I know by severall relations of those great Ladies of her Bedchamber and of her Chirurgians and Physitians now living That She was never cured of her disease but by death that ends all Maladies It followes in the Pamphlet That after he hath ranted his Stories of Mansell and Monson and of the peace ratifyed and sworne He makes Cecill the chief Ringleader of the King by the Nose But to say truth The King was alwaies brought up to his ease though the fore-part of his Raigne in Scotland proved troublesome enough to his Councell And therefore now he was to follow his affaires in peace and his own Inclination in a Sportfull life The rather He being much Subject to unwildines or weaknes in his Limbs and which because of his extream dis-affection to Physick he was advised to the best Aire most agreable to the Nature of Scotland fresh and bleak and for that end he chose Roystan and Newmarket Without that Scandalous Intimation of leaving his Queen without any love or liking We are forced to fall upon One Lake Sir Tho. Lake Pamp. 54. whom we find to be that learned Gentleman Sir Thomas Lake apted in his youth with rudiments of the Book to attend Sir Francis Walsingham that subtile Secretary of State to Queen Elizebeth as Amanuensis to him And after good experience of his desarts he was recommended to the Queen and read to her French and Latine In which tongues she would say that he surpassed her Secretaries and was so imployed to her death for he was reading to her when the COUNTESSE of WARWICK told him that the Queen was departed But not long before merits she received him Clarke of her Signet And he was chosen by this State in that place to attend the King from BARWICK And so sufficient he was that the King made use of his present service in some French affaires after he came into England Which indeed Secretary Cecil had reason to resent as too much trenching on his Office And therefore
craved leave of the King that he might not attend beyond his Moneth to prejudice the other Clarks Which was excused and he kept still at Court These Sufficiencies of his enabled him in those times of gaining with much repute and direct honesty to purchase large possessions After Ccils death the Place of Secretary as secretary was joyned in two Principals And not long after he was one of them so continued with Honourably esteem of all men until that Malice and Revenge two violent passions over-ruling the Weaker Sexe concerning his wife and daughter involved him into their quarrel the chiefe and onely cause of his ruine He had by his Wife His Ingagement with his wife and daughter sons and daughters His eldest married unto the Lord Baron Rosse in right of a Grand-mother the son of Thomas Earle of Exeter by a former venter And upon the credit of Sir Thomas Lake he was sent Embassadour Extraordinary into Spaine in a very gallant Equipage with some hopes of his own to continue Leiger to save charges of transmitting any other In his absence there fell out an extreame deadly fewd t is no matter for what betweene the Lady Lake and the Countesse of Exeter Against the Countesse of Exeter A youthful widow she had bin and vertuous and so became Bedfellow to this aged gowty diseased but noble Earle And that preferment had made her subject to Envy and Malice Home comes the Lord Rosse from his Embassy when being fallen into some neglect of his wife and his kindred I conceive upon refusal of an increase of allowance to her settlement of joynture which was promised to be compleated at his returne Not long he staies in England but away he gets into Italy turnes a professed Romane Catholick being cousened into that Religion by his publick confident Gondamore In this his last absence never to returne the Mother and daughter the accusation accuse the Countesse of former Incontinencie with the Lord Rosse whilst he was here and that therefore upon his wives discovery he was fled from hence and from her Marriage Bed with other devised Calumnies by several designes and contrivements to have poisoned the Mother and daughter This quarrel was soone blazon'd at Court to the King's eare who as privately as could be singly examines each party The Countesse with teares and Imprecations professeth her Innocency which to oppose the Mother Lake and her daughter counterfeit her hand to a whole sheet of paper wherein they make the Countesse with much contrition to acknowledge her selfe guilty craves pardon for attempting to poisonthem desires friendslsip with them all The King gets sight of this as in favour to them and demands the place time and occasion when this should be writ They tell him that all the parties met in a visit at Wimbleton the house of the Lord of Exeter where in dispute of their differences she confesses her guilt of attempting their poison And being desirous of absolution and friendship being required thereto consents to set down all Circumstances therein under her own hand which presently she writ at the Window in the upper end of the great Chamber at Whimbleton in presence of the Mother and Daughter the Lord Rosse and one Diego a Spaniard his confiding Servant But now they being gone at Rome the King forthwith sends Mr. Dendy one of his Serjeants at Armes sometime a domestick of the Earl of Exeters an honest and worthy Gentleman post to Rome who speedily returnes with Rosse and Diego's hand and other testimonialls confirming That all the said accusation and confession Suspitions and papers concerning the Countesse were notorious false and Scandalous and confirmes it by receiving the Hoast in assurance of her Honour and his Innocency The King well satisfyed sends to the Countesse friends and trusties for her Jointure and Estate who comparing many of her letters with this writing do conclude it counterfeit Then He tells the Mother and Daughter that this writing being denied by her and their testimonies being parties would not prevaile with any belief But any other Additionall Witnesse would give it sufficient credit To which they assure him That one Sarah Swarton their Chamberesse stood behind the hanging at the entrance of the Room and heard the Countesse reade over what she had writ and her also they procure to swear unto this before the King To make further tryal the King in a hunting journy at New Park neer Wimbleton gallops thither viewes the Room observing the great distance of the Window from the lower end of the Room and placing himself behind the hanging and so other Lords in turn they could not hear one speak a loud from the window Then the House-Keeper was call'd who protested those hangings had constantly furnisht that room for 20. years which the King observed to be two foot short of the ground and might discover the woman if hidden behind them I may present also the King saying Oaths cannot confound my sight Besides all this the Mother and Daughter counterfeit another writing a Confession of one Luke Hutton acknowledging for 40. l. annuity the Countesse hired him to poison them which Man with wonderful providence was found out privately and denies it to the King And thus prepared the King sends for Sr. Thomas Lake whom in truth he very much valued tells him the danger to imbark himself in this quarrel advising him to leave them to the law being now ready for the Star-chamber He humbly thanked his Majestie but could not refuse to be a Father and a Husband and so puts his Name with theirs comes to Hearing in Stur chamber in a crosse Bill Which at the hearing took up 5. several daies the King sitting in Judgement But the former testimonies and some private confessions of the Lady Rosse and Sarah Wharton which the King kept in private from publick proceedings made the cause for some of the daies of triall appeared doubtful to the Court untill the King's discovery which concluded the Sentence and was pronounced upon severall Censures Sr. Thomas Lake and his Lady fined 10000. l. to the King five thousand pounds to the Countesse 50. l. to Hutton Sara Wharton to be whipt at a Carts taile about the streets and to do penance at Saint Martin's Church The Lady Rosse for confessing the truth and plot in the midst of the triall was pardoned by the Major Voices from penall Sentence and sentenced The King I remember compared their crimes to the first plot of the first sin in Paradise the Lady Lake to the Serpent her daughter unto Eve Sir Thomas to poor Adam whom he thought in his conscience that his love to his wife had beguiled him I am sure he paid for all which as he told me cost him thirty thousand pounds and the losse of his Masters favour and offices of gaine and honour but truly with much pitty and compassion of the Court. Our Pamphleter Pamp. 57. concerning the
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