vigilant an eye to the lateral line of K. Edvvard the fourth by his brother of Clarence as they thought it necessarie not onlie to preuent al euident daungers that might ensue that vvaye but euen the possibilities of al peril as may vvel appeare by the execution of Edvvard Earle of VVarvvike before named sonne and heire to the said Duke of Clarence and of Margaret his sister Countesse of Salisburie vvith the Lord Henrie Montague her sonne by vvhos daughter the Earle Persons executed of the house of Clarēce of Huntington novv claimeth Al vvhich vvere executed for auoiding of inconueniences and that at such tymes vvhen no imminent daunger could be much doubted by that Line especialie by the later And yet novv vvhen one of the same house and line of more habilitie and ambition then euer anie of his auncestors vvere maketh open title and claime to the Crovvn vvith plotes packes and preparations to moste manifest vsurpation against al order al lavv and al rightful succession against a special statute prouided in that behalf yet is he permitted borne out fauored and friended therin and no man so hardie as in defence of her Ma. and Realm to controle him for the same It may be that her Ma. is brought into the same opinion of my L. of Huntingtons fidelitie as Iulius The example of Iulius Caesars destruction Caesar vvas of Marcus Brutus his dearest obliged friend of vvhos ambitious practises and aspiring vvhē Caesar vvas aduertised by his careful friēdes he ansvvered that he vvel knevv Brutus to be ambitious but I am sure quoth he that my Brutus vvil neuer attēpt anie thing for the Empire vvhile Caesar lyueth and after my death let him shift for the same among others as he can But vvhat ensued Surelie I am loth to tel the euent for ominations sake but yet al the vvorld knovveth that ere manie monethes passed this moste Noble and Clement Emperoure vvas pitifulie murdered by the same Brutus and his parteners in the publique Senate vvhen least of al he expected such treason So daungerous a thing it is to be secure in a matter of so great sequele or to trust them vvyth a mans lyfe vvho may pretend preferment or interest by his death VVherfore vvould God her Ma. in this case might be induced to haue such due care regarde of her ovvn estate Royal person as the vveighty moment of the matter requireth vvhich cōteineth the blisse and calamitie of so Noble and vvorthie a kingdom as this is I knovv right vvel that moste excellent natures To much cōfidence very perilous in a Prince are alvvayes furdest of from diffidence in such people as profes loue and are moste bounden by devvtie and so it is euident in her Ma. But yet surelie this confidence so commendable in other men is scarse alovvable often tymes in the person of a Prince for that it goeth accompanied vvyth so great peril as is ineuitable to him that vvil not suspect principallie vvhen daungers are fortolde or presaged as commonlie by Gods appointment they are for the speciall hand he holdeth ouer Princes affaires or vvhen ther is probable coniecture or iust surmise of the same VVe knovv that the forenamed Emperour Caesar had not onlie the vvatning giuen him of the inclination and intent of Brutus to vsurpation but euen the verie day vvhen he vvas going tovvardes the place of his appointed destinie ther vvas giuen vp into his handes a detection of the vvhole treason vvyth request to read the same presentlie vvhich he vpon confidence omitted to do VVe read also of Alexander the great hovv he vvas not The example of Alexāder the great hovv he vvas for tolde his daunger onelie forbidden by a learned man to enter into Babylō vvhether he vvas then going for that ther vvas treason meant agaīst him in the place but also that he vvas foretolde of Antipaters mischieuous meaning against him in particular But the yong Prince hauing so vvel deserued of Antipater could not be brought to mistrust the man that vvas so deare vnto him by that means vvas poisoned in a bāquet by three sōnes of Antipater vvhich vvere of moste credit cōfidence in the kinges Chāber SCHOL Here truelie my hart did somevvhat tremble vvyth feare horrour and detestation of such euentes And I said vnto the Gentleman I beseech you Syr to talke no more of thes matters for I cannot vvel abide to heare them named hoping in the Lord that ther is no cause nor euer shal be to doubt the like in Endland specialie from thes men vvho are so much bounden to her Ma. and Late execution◠so forvvard in seeking out and pursueing al such as may be thought to be daungerous to her Ma. person as by the sundrie late executions vve haue seene and by the punishmentes euerie vvaye of Papistes vve may perceyue GENTL Trueth it is quoth the Gentleman that iustice hath bene done vpō diuers of late vvhich cōtenteth me greatlie for the terrour and restreint of others of vvhat sect or religion so euer they be And it is moste necessarie doubtles for the compressing of parties that great vigilance be vsed in that behalf But vvhen I consider that onlie one kinde of men are touched herein and that al speech regarde doubt distrust and vvatche is of them alone vvythout reflexion of eye vpon anie other mens doinges or designementes vvhen I see the double diligence vehemencie of certaine instrumentes vvhich I like not bent vvholie to rayse vvounder and admiration of the people feare terrour and attention to the doeinges sayinges and meaninges Fraude to be feared in putsueing one parte o◠faction onlie of one parte or faction alone and of that namlie and onlie vvhich thes cōspiratours esteme for most daungerous and opposite to them selues I am belieue me often tempted to suspect fraude and false measure and that thes men deale as vvolues by nature in other countries are vvount to doe VVhich going together in great numbers to assaile a flock of shepe by night do set some one or tvvo of their cōpanie vpō the vvinde side of the folde a far of vvho partly by their sent other bruteling vvhich of purpose they make may dravv the doggs and shepheardes to pursue them alone vvhiles the The comparison of vvolues Rebels other do enter and slea the vvhole flock Or as rebelles that meaning to surprise a tovvn to turn avvay the inhabitantes from consideration of the daunger from defence of that place vvhere they intend to enter do set on fire some other partes of the tovvn furder of and do sound a false al'arme at some gate vvher is ment least daunger VVhich arte vvas vsed cunninglie by Richard Rychard Duke of York Duke of York in the tyme of K. Henrie the sixt vvhen he to couer his ovvn intent brought al the Realm in doubt of the doinges of Edmond Duke of Sometset his enimie But Iohn of Northumberland father to my
daughters to vvit the daughters of Frauncis and Elenor if that they had any to any such condition Thirdlie ther may be diuers causes and argumentes The third reason The presupposed vvil is not Authentical aleaged in lavve vvhy this pretēded vvil is not authentical if othervvise it vvere certaine that king Henrie had meant it First for that it is not agreable to the minde and meaning of the Parliament vvhich intended onlie to giue authoritie for declaration and explication of the true title not for donation or intricating of the same to the ruin of the Realm Secōdly for that ther is no lavvful Authentical Copie extant therof but onlie a bare inrolment in the Chauncerie vvhich is not sufficient in so vveightie an affaire no vvitnes of the Priuie Councel or of Nobilitie to the same vvhich had bene conuenient in so great a case for the best of the vvitnesses therin named is Sir Iohn Gates vvhos miserable death is vvel knovvē no publike Notarie no Probation of the vvil before anye Bishop or anie lavvful Court for that purpose no examination of the vvitnesses or other thing orderlie done for lavvful authorizing of the matter The disprouing of the vvil by vvitnesses The Lord Pagett But of al other thinges this is moste of importaunce that the king neuer set his ovvn hande to the foresaid vvil but his stamp vvas put therunto by others either after his death or vvhen he vvas paste remembrance as the late L. Paget in the beginning of Quene Maries dayes being of the priuy Councel first of al other discouered the same of his ovvn accorde and vpō mere motion of consciēce confessing before the vvhole Councel and aftervvard also before the vvhole parliament hovv that him self vvas priuie therunto and partlie also culpable being dravven therunto by the instigation and forcible authoritie of others but yet aftervvard vpon other more godlie motions detested the deuice and so of his ovvn free vvil verie honorablie vvent and offered the discouerie therof to Sir Edvv. Mōtague the Councel As also did Sir Edvvard Montague Lord chiefe iustice that had bene priuie and presēt VVillm Clarcke at the said doinges and one VVillm Clark that vvas the man vvho put the stamp vnto the paper and is ascribed among the other pretensed vvitnesses confessed the vvhole premisses to be true purchased his pardō for his offence therin VVher vpon Q. Marie and her Councel caused presentlie the said inrolment lying in the Chauncerie to be canceled defaced and abolished And sithence that tyme in her Ma. dayes that novv liueth about the 11. or 12. yeare of her reign if I compt not amisse by occasion of a certen litle boke spred abrode at that tyme verie secretlie for aduauncing of the house of Suffolk by pretence of A meting together about this matter of the nobility this testament I remember vvel the place vvhere the late Duke of Norfolke the Marques of VVinchester vvhich then vvas Treasurer the olde Earls of Arundell and Penbrooke that novv are dead vvyth my L. of Penbrooke that yet liueth as also my L. of Leicester hīself if I be not deceyued vvith diuers others met together vpō this matter after long conferēce about the foresaid pretēsed vvil manie proffes reasons layd dovvn vvhy it could not betrue or authētical the olde Earle of Pēbrook protesting that he vvas vvyth the K. in his Chābet frō the first day of his sicknes vnto his last houre therby could vvel assure the falsificatiō therof at length it vvas moued that from that place they should go vvyth the rest of the nobilitie and proclaime the Q of Scotland heire aparent in Cheapside My L. of Leycester agayne playeth double VVherin my L. of Leycester as I tak it vvas thē as forvvard as anie man els hovv be it novv for his profit he bee turned aside and vvould turne back againe to morovv next for a greater commoditie And albeit for some causes to them selues best knovvē they proceeded not in the opē publishīg of their determination at that time yet my Lord of Penbrook novv liuing can beare vvitnes that thus much is true and that his father the olde Earle The olde Earle of Pēbroks admonition to the Earle his sonne yet liuīg at that tyme tolde him openlie before the other noble men that he had brought him to that assemblie and place to instruct him in that trueth and to charge him to vvitnes the same and to defende it also vvyth his svvorde if need required after his death And I knovve that his Lordship is of that honour and nobilitie as he can not leaue of easilie the remembraunce or due regarde of so vvorthie an admonition And this shal suffice for the second impediment imagined to proceed of this supposed testament of king Henrie the eight As for the third impediment of religion it is not The third impediment of Religiō general to al for that onlie one person if I be not deceyued of al the Competitours in K. Hērys line can be touched vvyth suspition of different religiō from the present state of England VVhich person notvvythstanding as is vvel knovven vvhile she vvas in gouernmēt in her ovvn Realm of Scotlād permitted al libertie of conscience free excercise of religion to thos of the contrarie profession and opiniō vvythout restreynt And yf she had not yet do I not see either by prescript of lavv or practize of thes our times that diuersitie of religiō may stay iust inheritours from enioying their due possessiōs in anie state or degre of priuate men and much lesse in the clayme of a kingdom vvhich alvvayes in this behalf as hath bene said before is preferred in priuilege This vve see by experience in diuers countries Princes of Germanye and partes of the vvorld at this daye as in Germanie vvhere among so manie Princes and so de in religiō as they be yet euerie one succedeth to the state vvherto he hath right vvythout resistaunce for his religion The examples also of her Ma. that novv is and of her sister before is euidēt Q Mary Q Elizabeth vvho being knovven to be of tvvo different inclinations in religion and the vvhole Realm deuided in opinion for the same cause yet both of them at their seueral tymes vvyth general consent of al vvere admitted to their lavvful inheritaunce excepting onlie a fevv * The Dudleys Mōsieur traytours against the former vvho vvythstood her right as also in her the right of her Ma. that is present that not for religion as appeared by their ovvn confession after but for ambition and desire of reigne Monsieur the kings brother and heire of Fraunce as all the vvorld knovveth is vvel accepted fauored and admitted for successoure of that Crovvne by al the protestantes at this day of that Countrie not vvythstanding his opinion in religion knovven to be diffeferent And I doubt not but the king of Nauarre or Prince
resist nor saue from his violence if they shevv dislike or vvil not yeeld their cōsent to his doinges And if I should discouer in particular hovv manie good husbandes he had plagued in this nature and for suche delites it vvere intollerable for his concupiscence violence doe runne iointlie together as in furious beastes vve see they are accustomed Neither holdeth he anie rule in his lust besides onlie the motiō suggestion of his ovvn sensualitie Kinred affinitie or anie other band of consanguinitie religion honour or honestie taketh no place in his outragious appetit VVhat he best liketh that he taketh as lavvful for the tyme. So that kinsvvoman allie friendes vvyfe or daughter or vvhat soeuer female sorte besides doth please his eye I leaue out of purpose and for honour sake tearmes of kinred more neare that must yeeld to his desire The keeping of the mother vvyth tvvo or three of her daughters at once or successiuelie is no more vvyth him then the eating of an henne and her chicken together Ther are not by reporte tvvo noble vvomen about her Ma. I speake vpon some accompt of them that knovv much vvhom he hath not solicited by potent vvayes Neither contented vvyth this place of honour he hath descended to seek pasture among the vvayting Gentlevvomen of her Ma. great Chamber offering more for their allurement then I thinke Lais did commonlie take in Corinthe if three hundreth poundes for a night vvill make vp the summe or Money VVell spent if not yet vvill he make it vp othervvise hauing reported him self so litle shame he hath that he offred to an other of higher place an hundreth pound landes by the yeare vvith as manie Ievvells Anne Vauiser as moste vvomen vnder her Ma. vsed in England vvhich vvas no meane baite to one that vsed trafique in such marchandize she being but the leauinges of an other mā before him vvherof my L. is nothing squemish for satisfying of his lust but can be content as they say to gather vp crōmes vvhen he is Hungrie euen in the verie Laundrie it self or other place of baser qualitie And albeit the Lord of his great mercie to do him good no doubt if he vvere reuokeable hath The punishmēts of God vpō Leicester to do hym good laid his hand vpon him in some chasticement in this vvorld by giuing him a brokē bellie on both sides of his bovvels vvherby miserie putrifactiō is threatned to hym dayly to his yōgsōne by the vvidovv of Essex being Filius Peecati such a straūge calamitie of the falling sicknes in his infancie * The children of adulterors shal be consumed and the seede of a vvicked bedd shal be roted out saith god Sap. 3. as vvel maye be a vvitnes of the parētes sinne vvickednes and of both their vvasted natures in iniquitie yet is this man nothing amended therby but according to the custom of al olde adulterers is more libidinous at this day then euer before more giuen to procure loue in others by Cōiuring Sorcerie and other such meanes And albeyt for him self bothe age and nature spent do somvvhat tame him from the acte yet vvanteth he not vvil as apeareth by the Italian oyntment procured not manie yeares paste by his Surgyan or Mountybank of that countrie vvherby as they say he is Leicester oyntmēt able to moue his flesh at al tymes for keeping of his credit hovvsoeuer his inhabilitie be othervvise Leicester bottel for performance as also one of his Phisitians reported to an Erle of this land that his Lordship had a bottel for his bedehead of ten Pounds the Pinte to the same effect But my masters vvhether are vve fallen vnaduised I am ashamed to haue made mētion of so base filthynes SCHOL Not vvythout good cause quoth I but that vve are here alone and no man heareth vs. VVherfore I pray you let vs return vvheras vve lefte and vvhē you named my L. of Leycesters daughter borne of the Ladie Shefield in Dudley Castle ther came into my head a pretie storie concerning that affaire vvhich novv I vvill recompt though somevvhat out of order therby to dravv you from the further stirring of this vnsauerie pudle fovvle dunghill vvhereunto vve are slipped by folovving my Lord somvvhat to far in his pathes actions VVherfore to tell you the tale as it fell out I grevv acquainted thes monethes paste vvyth a certaine Minister that novv is dead vvas the same man that vvas vsed at Dudley Castle for complemēt of some Sacred ceremonies at the birth of my Lord of Ley. daughter in that place the mater vvas so ordeyned A pretie deuise by the vvylie vvit of him that had sovved the seed that for the better couerīg of the haruest secret deliuerie of the Ladie Scheffielde the good vvyfe of the Castle also vvherby Ley. appointed gossippes might vvythout other suspition haue accesse to the place should feigne her self to be vvyth childe after long sore trauail god vvote to be deliuered of a qvvyshē as she vvas indeed a litle after a faire Coffin vvas buried vvyth a bundell of cloutes in shevv of a childe the Minister caused to vse al accoustomed prayers and ceremonies for An acte of Atheisme the solēne interring therof for vvhich thing aftervvard before his death he had great grief remors of cōsciēce vvyth no small detestatiō of the moste irreligious deuise of my L. of Ley. in such a case LAVV. Here the Lavv. began to laugh a pace both at the deuise at the Minister said novv truely if my L. contractes hold no better but hath so manie infirmities vvyth subtilties and by places besides I vvould be lothe that he vvere married to my daughter as meane as she is GENT. But yet quoth the Gentleman I had rather of the tvvoe be his vvyfe for the tyme then his gest especialie yf the Italiā Surgiā or Phisitiō be at hand LAVV. True it is said the lavvyer for he doth not poyson his vvyues vvherof I somvvhat maruaile especialie his first vvyfe I muse vvhy he chose rather to make her avvaye by open violence then by some Italian Confortiue GENT. Hereof said the Gentleman may be diuers The First reason vvhy Ley. slevv his vvyfe by violence ratherthē by poysō reasons alleged First that he vvas not at that tyme so skilful in those Italian vvares nor had about him so fit Phisitiās Surgians for the purpose nor yet in trueth do I thinke that his minde vvas so setled then in mischeefe as it hath bene sithence For you knovv that men are not desperat the first daye but doe enter into vvickednes by degrees and vvyth some doubt or staggering of conscience at the beginning And so he at that tyme might be desirous to haue his vvyfe made avvay for that she letted him in his designemētes but yet not so stonie harted as to appoint out the particular maner of her death
designementes as also of some secret discontentment vvhich he hath tovvardes her Ma. and the state present for certaine harde †speaches and ingrate recompences as he pretendeth but indeed for that he is knovven to be of nature fyrie and impatient of staye from seeing that common vvealth on foote vvhich the next competitours for their gayne haue paynted out to him and such others more pleasaunte then the Terrestrial Paradise it self This theÌ„ is the Hector this is the Aiax appoiÌ„ted for the enterprise vvhen the tyme shal come This must be forsooth an other Richard of VVarâ—vik to gaine the Crovvn for HeÌ„rie the ninth of the house of York as the other Richard did put dovvn HeÌ„rie the sixt of the house of LaÌ„caster placed Edvvard the fourth from vvhom Huntington deriueth his title therfore this man is necessarilie to be enterteyned from tyme to tyme as vve see novv he is in some charge and martial action to the end his experience povver and credit may grovv the more and he be able at the tyme to haue souldiours at his commaundement And for the former charge vvhich helde of late in Ireland as this man had not bene called avvay but for execution of some other secret purpose * In ScotlaÌ„d or els vvhere a gaynst the next iÌ„heritors or preseÌ„t possessor for aduancement of their designemeÌ„ts so be vvel assured that for the tyme to come it is to be furnished agayne vvyth a sure and fast friend to Leycester and to that faction Sir Ihon Parotte In the I le of VVyght I graunt that Leycester hath lost a great friend and a trustie seruaunt by the death of Captaine Horsey but yet the mater is supplyed Sir Edvv. Horsey Sir Georg Carevv by the succession of an other no lesse assured vnto him then the former or rather more through the baÌ„de of affinitie by his vvife The tvvo Ilands of Gersey and Gernsey are in the possession of tvvoe Sir Amias Paulet Sir Thomas Layton frieÌ„ds most obliged depeÌ„deÌ„tes The one by reasoÌ„ he is excedingly addicted to the Puritane procediÌ„gs the other as novv being ioyned vnto him by the mariage of Mistres Besse his vviues sister both daughters to Sir Frauncis or at least to my Ladie Knooles and so become a riuale companion and brother vvho vvas before thoughe trustie yet but his seruaunt And thes are the chiefe Keyes Forteesses and Bulvvarkes vvythin vvithout about the realm vvhich my Lord of Leyces possessing as he doth he may be assured of the bodie vvythin vvher notvvythstanding as hath bene shevved he vvanteth no due preparation for strength hauing at his disposition besides al aydes and other helpes specified Her Ma. Stable Her Armour Munitition and Artilerye The Tovver before her Ma. horse and stables by interest of his ovvn office her Armour Artilerie and MunitioÌ„ by the office of his brother the Erle of VVarvvick The Tovver of London and treasure therin by the dependence of Sir Ovvyne Hopton his svvorne seruauntâ— as redie to receyue and furnish him vvyth thâ— vvhole yf occasion serued as one of his predecessors vvas to receyue his father in K. Edvvardes dayes for the lyke effect against her Ma. and her sister And in the Citie of London it self vvhat this London Sir Rovvâ—and Heivvard Madd Fleet vvoâ— man at a pinche could doe by the help of some of the principal meÌ„ chief leaders as it vvere commaunders of the commons ther and by the bestirring of Fleetvvoode his madde Recorder and other such his instrumentes as also in al other Tovvnes Portes and Cities of importaunce by such of his ovvn setting vp as he hath placed ther to serue his designementes and iustices of peace vvith other that in most Shyres do vvere his liuerey and are at his appoyntement the simplest man vvhithin the Realm doth consider VVherunto yf you adde novv his ovvn forces and furniture vvhich he hath in Killingvvorth Castle and other places as also the forces of Huntington in particular vvith their friendes folovvers allies and Compartenours you shal finde that they are not behind in their preparations SCHOL For my Lord of Huntingtons forvvardnes in the cause said I ther is no man I think vvhich maketh doubt marie for his priuate forces albeit they may be verie good for anie thing I do knovve to the coÌ„trary especiallie at his house vvythin 25. miles of My L. of HuÌ„tingtons preparation at Ashby Killingvvorth vvhere one tolde me some yeares paste that he had furniture redie for fiue thovvsand men yet do I not think but that they are far inferior to my L. of Leycest vvho is takeÌ„ to haue excessiue store that in diuers place And as for the Castle laste mentioned by you ther are men of Killingvvorth Castle good intelligence and of no smal iudgement vvho report that in the same he hath vvel to furnish ten thovvsand good souldiars of al thinges necessarie both for horse man besides al other munition armour artillerie vvherof great store vvas brought thither vnder pretence of tryumphe vvheÌ„ her Ma. vvas ther neuer as yet carried back again besides the great abundaÌ„ce of redie Coyne ther laide vp as is said sufficient for anie great exploit to be done vvythin the Realme And I knovve that the estimation of this place vvas such amonge diuers many years ago as vvheÌ„ at a tyme her Ma. laye daungerouslie syck and lyke â—lphe â—ane to die at Hampton Court a certaine gentleman of the Court came vnto my L. of Huntington told him that for so much as he toke his L. to be next in succession after her Ma. he vvoulde offer hyma meane of great help for coÌ„passing of his purpose after the discease of her Ma. vvhich vvas the possessioÌ„ of KilliÌ„gvvorth Castle for at that time thes tvvo The offer acceptation of Killingvvorth Castle Earles vvere not yet verie friendes nor confederate together that being had he shevved to the Earle the great furniture and vvealthe vvhich therby he should possesse for pursute of his purpose The proposition vvas vvel liked the mater esteemed of great importaunce and consequentlie receyued vvyth manie thankes But yet aftervvard her Ma. by the good prouidence of God recoueriÌ„g againe letted the executioÌ„ of the bargaine and my L. of Huntington hauing occasion to ioyne amitie vvyth Leycester had more respect to his ovvn coÌ„moditie theÌ„ to his friendes securitie as commonly in such persons cases it falleth out so discouered the vvhole deuice vnto him vvho forgat not after from tyme to tyme to plague the deuiser by secret meanes vntil he hath brought him to that poor estate as al the vvorld seeth though manie meÌ„ be not acquainted vvyth the true cause of this his disgrace and bare fortune LAVV. To this ansvvered the Lavvyer In good faith Gentlemen you open great misteries vnto me vvhich either I knevv not or coÌ„sidered not so particularlie before and no maruaile for that my
ovvn nation And therin and othervvise onelie about the same quarrel vvere slaine murdered made avvay about 9. or 10. kinges kinges sonnes besides aboue fortie Earles Marquesses Dukes of name but manie mo Lordes knights and great Gentlemen and Captaines and of the common people vvithout nūber and by particular cōiecture verie neare tvvo hundreth thousand The battaile by Tadcaster on palme Sō daye An. 1460. For that in one battaile foughten by K. Edvvard the fourth ther are recorded to be slaine on both partes fiue thirtie thousand seuen hundreth and eleuen persons besides other vvounded and taker prisoners to be put to death aftervvard at the pleasure of the Conquerour at diuers battails after ten thousand slaine at a battaile As in thos of Barner Tukesbury foughten both in one yeare This suffred our afflicted countrie in thos dayes by this infortunat and deadlie contention vvhich could neuer be ended but by the happy cōiunction of thos tvvo houses to gether in Henry the seuēth neither yet so as appeareth by Chronicle vntil as I haue said the state had cut of the issue male of the Duke of Clarēce vvho vvas cause of diuers perils to K. Henrie the seuenth though he vvere in prison By vvhos sister the faction of Huntington at this day doth seeke to raise vp the same contention againe vvith far greater daunger both to the Realm and to her Ma. that novv reigneth then euer before And for the Realm it is euident by that it giueth The daūger of Hūtingtons claime to the Realm to hir Ma roome to straūgers Competitours of the house of Lancaster better able to mainteine their ovvn title by svvorde then euer vvas any of that linage before them And for her Ma. perril present it is nothing hard to cōiecture seing the same title in the forsaid Erle of VVarvvik vvas so daūgerous and troublesome to her graundfather by vvhō she holdeth as he vvas faine tvvice to take armes in defence of his right against the said title vvhich vvas in thos dayes preferred aduaunced by the friēdes of Clarence before that of Hērie as also this of Huntington is at this daye by his faction before that of her Ma. though neuer so vniustlie LAVV. Touching Huntingtons title before her Ma. quoth the Lavver I vvil say nothing be cause in reasō I se not by vvhat pretēce in the vvorld he may thrust him self so far foorth seing her Ma. is descēded not onelie of the house of Lancaster but also before him moste apparentlie from the house of Hovv Hūtington maketh his title before her Maiestie York it self as from the eldest daughter of king Edvvard the fourth being the eldest brother of that house VVheras Huntington claimeth onelie by the daughter of George Duke of Clarence the yonger brother Marie yet I must cōfesse that if the Earle of VVarvviks title vvere better then that of K. Henrie the seuēth vvhich is moste false though manie attempted to defend the same by svvord then hath Huntington some vvronge at this daye by her Ma. Albeit in verie trueth the †The moste of Hūtingtōs ancetours by vvhō he maketh title attainted of treason attaintes of so manie of his auncestors by vvhom he clameth vvould ansvvere him also sufficientlie in that behalf if his title vvere othervvise allovvable But I knovv besides this they haue an other fetch Th◠in famous deuice of K. Rich. the third allovved by Huntington of K. Richard the thirde vvherby he vvould nedes proue his elder brother kīg Edvvard to be a Bastard cōsequētlie his vvhole line asvvel male as female to be void VVhich deuise though it be ridiculous and vvas at the tyme vvhen it vvas first inuented yet as Richard foūd at that tyme a Doctor Shavve that shamed not to publish and defend the same at Paules Crosse in a Sermon and Iohn of Northumberland Anno. 1. Mariae my L. of Leycesters father founde out diuers preachers in his tyme to set vp the title of Suffolk and to debase the right of king Henries daughter both in London Cambridge Oxeforde and other places moste apparentlie against al lavve and reason so I dout not but thes mē vvould finde out also both Shavves Sandes and others to set out the title of Clarēce before the vvhole interest of K. Henrie the seuēth his posteritie if occasion serued VVhich is a point of importance to be considered A point to be noted by her Ma. by her Ma. albeit for my parte I meane not novv to stād thervpon but onlie vpon that other of the house of Lancaster as I haue said For as that moste honorable lavvful and happie coniunction of the tvvo aduetsarie houses in king Henrie the seuenth and his vvife made an end of the shedding of English blood vvithin it The ioyninge of bothe hovvses self brought vs rhat moste desired peace vvhich euer sithence vve haue enioied by the reigne of their tvvo moste noble issue so the plot that novv is in hand for the cutting of the residue of that issue and for recalling backe of the vvhole title to the onelie house of Yorke againe is like to plunge vs deeper then euer in ciuile discorde and to make vs the bayte of al forreine Princes seing ther be among them at this daye some of no small The Line of Portugalle povver as I haue said vvho pretend to be the next heires by the house of Lancaster and consequentlie are not like to giue ouer or abandone their ovvn right if once the doore be opened to contention for the same by disanulling the Line of K. Henrie the seuenth vvherin onelie the keies of al concord remaine knit together And albeit I knovv vvel that such as be of my Lord of Huntingtons partie vvil make small accompte of the title of Lancaster as lesse rightfull a great deale then that of Yorke and I for my parte meane not greatlie to auovve the same as novv it is placed being my selfe no fauourer of forreine titles yet indifferent men haue to consider hovv it vvas taken in tymes paste and hovv it may againe in tyme to come if contention should arise hovv manie Noble personnages The olde estimation of the house of Lancaster of our Realm did offer them selues to die in defence therof hovv manie othes lavves vvere giuen receiued throughout the Realm for maītenaunce of the same against the other house of York for euer hovv manie vvorthy kinges vvere Crovvned reigned of that house race to vvit the fovver moste noble Hēries one after an other the fourth the fift the sixt and the seuenth vvho both in nūber Gouernment Sanctitie Courage and feares of armes vvere nothing inferior yf not superior to thos of the other house and lyne of Yorke after the diuision betvvene the families It is to be considered also as a special signe of the fauour and affectiō of oure vvhole natiō vnto that familie that Henrie Earle of Richmond though
Charles Brandon by the Quene of Fraunce vvas married to the Marques of Dorset vvho after Charles Brandons death vvas made Duke of Suffolk in right of his vvife and vvas beheaded in Q Maries time for his conspiracie vvvth my L of Leycesters father And she had by this man three daughters that is Iane The issue of FrauÌ„cis eldest daughter to Charls BrandoÌ„ Duke of Suffolk that vvas married to my L. of Leycesters brother proclaimed Queene after king Edvvards death for vvhych both shee and her husbande vvere executed Katherine the second daughter vvho had tvvoe sonnes yet lyuyng by the Earle of Hartford Marie the third daughter vvhich left no children The other daughter of Charles Brandon by the Q. of FrauÌ„ce caled Elenor vvas married to George Clifford Earle of CumberlaÌ„d vvho left a daughter The issue of â—lenor seconde daughter to Charls BrandoÌ„ by her named Margaret married to the Earle of Darbye vvhich yet liueth hath issue And this is the title of al the house of Suffolk descended froÌ„ the second daughter of K. Henrie the seueÌ„th married as hath bene shevved to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk And by this you see also hovv manie their be vvhoe do thinck ther titles to be far before that of my Lord of Huntingtons if either right Lavv reason or consideration of home affaires may take place in our Realm or yf not yet you cannot but imagine hovv manie great Princes and potentates abrode are like to ioyne and buckle vvyth Huntingtons Line for the preeminence if once the matter fal againe to coÌ„tention by excluding the Line of K. Henry the 7. vvhich God forbid SCHOL Trulie Sir quoth I I vvel perceyue that my Lords turne is not so nighe as I had thought vvhether he exclude the Line of king Henrie or HuÌ„tiÌ„gâ—oÌ„ behinde manie other titles no. For if he exclude that then must he enter the Cumbat vvith forraine titlers of the house of Lancaster and if he exclude it not then in al apparence of reason in Lavve to as you haue said the succession of the tvvoe daughters of king Henrie the seuenth vvhich you distingvvishe by the tvvoe names of Scotland and Suffolke muste needes be as clearlie before him and his Line that descendeth onlie from Edvvard the fourth his brother as the Q. title that novv raigneth is before him For that both Scotland Suffolk and her Ma. do hold al by one foundation vvhich is the vnion of both houses and titles together in K. Henry the seuenth her Ma. Graundfather GENTL That is true quoth the Gentleman and euident enough in euery mans eye and therfore no doubt but that as much is meant against her Maiestie yf occasion serue as against the rest that holde by the same title Albeit her Maiesties state the Lorde be praysed be such at this tyme as it is not safitie to pretend so much against her as against the reste vvhat soeuer be meant And that in trueth more should be meante gainst her highnes then against all the rest ther is this reason for that her Maiestie by her present possession letteth more their desires then al the rest together vvyth ther future pretences But as I haue said it is not The pollicie of the Conspirators for the deceyuing of her Maiesty safitie for them nor yet good policie to declare openlie vvhat they meane against her maiestie It is the best vvay for the present to hevve dovvn the rest and to leaue her Maiestie for the laste blovve and vpshoote to their game For vvhich cause they vvill seeme to make great difference at this daye betvvene her Maiesties title and the rest that descende in likevvise from king Henrie the seuenth auovving the one and disalovving the other Albeit my Lord of Leycesters father preferred that of Suffolk vvhen tyme vvas before this of her Ma. and compelled the vvhole Realm to svveare therunto Such is the variable pollicy of men that serue the tyme or rather that serue them selues of al tymes for their purposes SCHOL I remember quoth I that tyme of the Duke vvas present my self at some of his proclamatioÌ„s for that purpose VVherin my L. his sonne that novv liueth being theÌ„ a doer as I can tel he vvas I meruaile hovv he can deale so contrarie novv Leycester variabilitie preferring not onlie her Ma. title before that of Suffolk vvherof I vvonder lesse because it is more gainful to him but also an other much furder of But you haue signified the cause in that the tymes are chauÌ„ged other bargaines are in haÌ„d of more importaunce for him VVherfore leauing this to be considered by others vvhoÌ„ it coÌ„cerneth I beseech you Sir for that I knovv your vvorship hath bene much conuersant amonge their friendes and fauourers to tel me vvhat are the barres and lettes vvhich they do aleadge vvhy the house of ScotlaÌ„d and Suffolk descending of K. Henrie the seueÌ„th his daughters should not succed in the Crovvn of England after her Ma. vvho endeth the Line of the same K. by his sonne for in my sight the matter appeareth verie plaine GENTL They vvant not pretences of barres and lettes against them al quoth the Gentleman vvhich I vvil lay dovvn in order as I haue heard theÌ„ aleaged Barres preteÌ„ded gainst the claime of Scotland Suffolk First in the Line of Scotland theire are thre persoÌ„s as you knovv that may pretende right that is the Quene and her sonne by the first mariage of Margaret and Arbella by the second And against the first mariage I heare nothing affirmed but against the tvvoe personnes proceeding therof I heare them aleage three stops one for that they are strauÌ„gers Against the Queene of Scotland her sonne borne out of the land and consequentlie incapable of inheritaunce vvythin the same an other for that by a special testament of K. HeÌ„rie the eight authorized by tvvoe seueral Parliamentes they are excluded the third for that they are enimies to the religion novv receiued amonge vs therfore to be debarred Against the seconde mariage of Margaret Against Arbella vvyth Archibalde Douglas vvherof Arbella is descended they aleage that the said Archibalde had a former vvyfe at the tyme of that mariage vvhich liued loÌ„g after and so neither that marage lavvful nor the issue therof legitimate The same barre they haue against al the house and Line of Suffolk for first they say that Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk had a knovven vvyfe a liue vvhen he married Marie Queene of Fraunce coÌ„sequentlie that neither the Ladie Fraunces nor Elenore borne of that mariage can be lavvfulie borne And thes is al I can heare them say against the succession Against Darbye of the CouÌ„tesse of Darby descended of Elenore But against my Lord of Hartfords children that come from FrauÌ„ces the eldest daughter I heare them aleage tvvo or three bastardies more besides Against the children of Harâ—ford this of the first mariage
Lei stroÌ„g onlie by her Ma. fauour you no vntrueth for that I knovv vvhat I speake herein and am priuie to the state of my Lord in this behalf and of mens opinions and affections tovvardes him vvithin the Realm Moste certaine it is that he is strong by the present fauour of the Prince as hath bene shevved before in respect vvherof he is admitted also as chiefe patron of the Huntington faction though neither loued nor greatlie trusted of the same but let her Maiestie once turne her countenaunce a side from him in good earnest and speake but the vvord onlie that iustice shal take place against him and I vvil vndertake vvith gadging of both my life and litle landes that God hath giueÌ„ me that vvithout sturre or trouble or anie daunger in the vvorld the Beare An offer made for taking tyeig the Beare shal be taken to her Maiesties hand fast chained to a stake vvith mouzele cord collar ring and al other thinges necessarie so that her Maiestie shal bate him at her pleasure vvithout al daunger of bytyng breaking loose or anie other inconuenience vvhat soeuer For Syrs you must not think that this man holdeth anie thing abrode in the Realme but by violence and that onlie vpon her Maiesties fauour and countenaunce tovvardes him He hath not anie thing of his ovvn either from his ancestoures or of him self to staye vpon in mens hartes or conceiptes hâ— hath not auncient nobilitie as other of our Realme haue vvherby mens affections are Lei. vvhat he recey ueth fâ—oÌ„ his ancestours greatlie moued His father Iohn Dudley vvas the first noble of his line vvho raysed and made him selfe bygge by supplanting of other and by setting debate amonge the nobilitie as also his Grandfather Edmond a moste vvicked promotor and vvretched petifogar enriched him self by other mens ruynes both of them condemned traytours though differeÌ„t in qualitie the one being a Cousiner and the other a Tyraunt both of their vices conioyned colected and comprised vvith manie more additions in this man or beaste rather vvhich is Robert the third of their kinne kinde So that from his ancestours this Lord receyueth neither honour nor honestie but onlie succession of treason and infamie And yet in him self hath he much lesse of good vvhervvith to procure him self loue or credit among men then thes ancestoures of his had he being a man vvholie abandonned of humane vertue and deuoted to vvickednes vvhich maketh men odible both to God and man In his father no doubt ther vvere to be seene manie excellent good partes if they had bene ioined vvith faith honesty The compary son of Leices vvyth his father moderatioÌ„ loyalty For al the vvorld knovveth that he vvas verie vvyse valyant magnammous liberal and assured friendlie vvher he once promised of al vvhich vertues my Lord his sonne hath neither shevv nor shadovv but onlie a certaine false representation of the first being craftie and subtile to deceiue ingenious to vvickednes For as for valâ—ur he hath as much as hath a mouse his magnanimity is base sordiditiâ— his liberality rapine his friendship plaine fraude holding onlie for his gaine and no othervvise though it vvere bound vvith a thovvsand othes of vvhich he maketh as great accoÌ„pt as hennes do of cackling but onlie for his commoditie vsing them specialie and in greatest number vvhen moste he meaneth to deceiue Namelie if he svveare solemnlie by his George or by the eternal God then be sure it is a false lye for thes are obseruations in the Court some tymes in his ovvn lodging in like case his maner is to take vp and svveare by the Bible vvherby a GeÌ„tleman of good accompt one that seemeth to folovv him as manie do that like him but a litle protested to me of his knovvledge that in a verie short space he obserued him vvittingly vvillingly to be forsvvorne sixtiene tymes The vveaknes of Ley. yf her Ma. â—urne but her countenaunce from him This man therfore so contemptible by his auncestours so odible of him self so plunged ouervvhelmed and defamed in al vice so enuied in the Court so detested in the countrie and not trusted of his ovvn and dearest friendes nay vvhich I am priuie to so misliked and hated of his ovvn seruauntes about him for his beastlie lyfe nigardye and Atheisme beyng neuer sene yet to say one priuate prayer vvythin his chamber in his lyfe as they desire nothing in this vvorld so much as his ruyn and that they may be the first to lay handes vpon him for reuenge This man I say so broken both vvythin and vvythout is it possible that her Ma. and her vvyse Councell should feare I can neuer belieue it or yf it be so it is Gods peâ—â—ission vvythout al cause for punishment of our sinnes for that this man yf he once perceyue indeed that they feare him vvil handle them accordingly and playe the Beare indeed vvhych inconuenience I hope they vvil haue care to preuent and so I leaue it to God and them crauing pardon of my Lord of Leycester for my boldnes yf I haue bene to plaine vvyth him And so I pray you let vs go to supper for I see my seruaunt expecting yonder at the Gallerie doore to cal vs dovvn LAVV. To that said the lavvyer I am content vvith The end departure from the Gallerie al my harte and I vvould it had bene sooner for that I am a feard lest anie by chaunce haue ouer-heard vs here since night For my ovvn parte I must say that I haue not bene at such a conference this seuen yeares nor meane to be hereafter yf I may escape vvel vvyth this vvherof I am sure I shal dreame this foruthnight and think oftener of my Lord of Leycester then euer I had entended God amend him and me both But yf euer I heare at other handes of thes matters hereafter I shal surelie be quake-britch and think euerie bushe a thyefe And vvyth that came vp the Mystres of the house ro fetch vs dovvn to supper and so al vvas vvhusht sauing that at supper a Gentlemanor tvvo beganne againe to speake of my Lord and that so conformable to some of our former speech as indeed it is the common talke at tables euerie vvhere that the olde Lavvyer began to shrink and be appaled and to cast drye lookes vpon the Gentleman oure friende doubting least somthing had bene discouered of our conference But in deed it vvas not so FINIS PIA ET VTILIS MEDITATIO DEsumpta ex libro Iobi CAP. 20. HOC scio a principio ex quo positus est homo super terram quòd laus impiorum breuis sit ex gaudiuÌ„ hipocritae ad instar puÌ„cti Si asceÌ„derit vsque ad coeluÌ„ superbta eius caput cius nubes tetigerit quasi sterquiliniuÌ„ in fine perdetur qui euÌ„ videraÌ„t diceÌ„t vbi est velut somniuÌ„ auolaÌ„s noÌ„ inuentetur traÌ„siet sicut