House of Yorke where it continued with much trouble in two Kings onely untill both Houses were joyned together in King Henry the seventh and his noble issue Hereby wee see how the issue of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth Son to King Edward the third pretended right to the Crowne by Edmond Crookebacke before the issue of all the other three Sonnes of Edward the third albeit they were the elder Brothers whereof wee will speake more hereafter Now Iohn of Gaunt though hee had many children yet had he foure onely of whom issue remaine two Sonnes and two Daughters The first Son was Henry of Bolingbrooke Duke of Lancaster who tooke the Crowne from King Richard the second his Unkles Sonne as hath beene said and first of all planted the same in the House of Lancaster where it remained in two discents after him that is in his Son Henry the fift and in his Nephew Henry the sixt who was afterward destroyed together with Henry Prince of Wales his onely Sonne and Heire and consequently all that Line of Henry Bolingbâooke extinguished by Edward the fourth of the House of Yorke The other Son of Iohn of Gaunt was Iohn Duke of Somersât by Katherine Sfinsford his third wife which Iohn had issue another Iohn and he Margaret his Daughter and Heire who being married to Edmond Tyder Earle of Richmond had issue Henry Earle of Richmond who after was named King Henry the seventh whose Line yet endureth The two Daughters of John of Gaunt were married to Portugall and Castile that is Philip borne of Blanch Heire to Edmond Crookeback as hath beene said was married to Iohn King of Portugall of whom is descended the King that now possesseth Portugall and the other Princes which have or may make title to the same and Katherin borne of Constanâe Heire of Castile was married back againe to Henry King of Castile in Spaine of whom King Philip is also descended So that by this wee see where the remainder of the House of Lancaster resteth if the Line of King Henry the seventh were extinguished and what pretext forraine Princes may have to subdue us if my Lord of Huntington either now or after hâr Majesties dayes will open to them the doore by shutting out the rest of King Henries Line and by drawing backe the title to the onely House of Yorke againe which he pretendeth to doe upon this that I will now declare King Edward the third albeit he had many children yet five onely will we speake of at this time Whereof three were elder then Jâhn of Gaunt and one yonger The first of the elder was named Edward the blacke Prince who died before his Father leaving one onely Sonne named Richard who afterward being King and named Richard the second was deposed without issue and put to death by his Cosin germain named Henry Bolingbrooke Duke of Lancaster Son to John of Gaunt as hath beene said and so there ended the Line of King Edwards first Sonne King Edwards second Sonne was William of Hatfââld that died without issue His third Sonne was Leonell Duke of Clarence whose onely Daughter and Heire called Phââip was married to Edmond Mortimer Earle oâ Marcâ and after that Anneâhe âhe Daughter and Heire of Mortimer was married to Richard Plantagiâet Duke of Yorke Son and Heire to Edmond of Langâây the first Duke of Yorkâ which Edmond was the fift Son of King Edward the third and younger Brother to John of Gaunt And this Edmond of Lanâley may bee called the first beginner of the Hâuse of Yorke even as Edmond Crookback the beginner of the House of Lancaster This Edmond Langley then having a Sonne named Richard that married Anne Mortimer sole Heire to Leonell Duke of Clarence joyned two Lines and two Titles in one I meane the Line of Leonell and of Edmond Langley who were as hath bin said the third and the fift Sonnes to King Edward the third And for this cause the childe that was borne of this marriage named after his Father Richard Plantaginet Duke of Yorke seeing himselfe strong and the first Line of King Edward the thirds eldest Son to be extinguished in the death of King Richard the second and seeing William of Hatfield the second Sonne dead likewise without issâe made demand of the Crowne for the House of Yorke by the title of Leonell the third Sonne of King Edward And albeit hee could not obtaine the same in his dayes for that hee was slaine in a Battell against King Henry the sixt at Wakefield yet his Sonne Edward got the same and was called by the name of King Edward the fourth This King at his death left divers children as namely two Sonnes Edward the fift and his Brother who after were both murdered in the Tower as shall be shewed and also five Daughters to wit Elizabeth Cicily Anne Katherine and Briget Whereof the first was married to Henry the seventh The last became a Nunne and the other three were bestowed upon divers other husbands Hee had alâo two Brothers the first was called George Duke of âlarence who afterward upon his deserts as is to be supposed was put to death in Callis by commandement of the King and his attainder allowed by Parliamânt And this man left behinde him a Sonne named Edward Earle of Warwick put to death afterward without issue by King Henry the seventh and a Daughter named Margaret Countessâ of âalisâury who was married to a meane Gentleman named Richarâ Poole by whom she had issue Cardinall Poole that died without marriage and Henry Poole that was attainted and executed ân King Henry the eight his time as also her selfe was and this Henry Poole left a Daughter married afterward to the Earle of Huntington by whom this Earle that now is maketh title to the Crowne And this is the effect of my Lord of Huntingtons title The second Brother of King Edward the fourth was Richard Duke of Gâocester who after the Kings death caused his two Sonnes to be murdered in the Tower and tooke the Kingdome to himselfe And afterward he being slaine by King Henry the seventh at Bosââorth-field left no issue behind him Wherefore King Henry the seventh descending as hath bin shewed of the House of Lancaster by John of Gaunts last Sonne and third Wife and taking to Wife Lady âlizabeth eldest daughter of King Edward the fourth of the House of Yorke joyned most happily the two Families together and made an end of all controversies about the title Now King Henry the seventh had issue three Children of whom remaineth posterity First Henry the eighth of whom is descended our Soveraigne her Majesty that now happily raigneth and is the last that remaineth alive of that first Line Secondly he had two Daughters whereof the first named Margaret was married twice first to James King of Scotland from whom are directly discended the Queene of Scotland that now liveth and her Sonne and
King James being dead Margaret was married againe to Archihald Douglas Earle of Anguish by whom shee had a Daughter named Margaret which was married afterward to Mathew Steward Earle of Lenâx whose Sonne Charles Steward was married to Elizabâth Candish Daughter to the present Countesse of Shrewsbury and by her hath left his onely Heire a little Daughter named Arbella of whom you have heard some speech before And this is touching the Line of Scotland descending from the first and eldest Daughter of King Henry the seventh The second Daughter of King Henry the seventh called Mary was twice married also first to the King of France by whom she had no issue and after his death to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke by whom she had two Daughters that is Francis of which the Children of my Lord of Hartford do make their claime and Elenor by whom the issue of the Earle of Darby pretendeth right as shall be declared For that Francis the first Daughter of Charles Brando4 by the Queene of France was married to the Marquesse of Dorset who after Charles Brandons death was made Duke of Suffolke in right of his Wâfe and was beheaded in Queene Maries time for his conspiracy with my Lord of Leycesters Father And she had by this man three Daughters that is Jane that was married to my Lord of Leycesters Brother and proclaimed Queene after King Edwards death for which both shee and her husband were executed Katherine the second Dâughter who had two Sonnes yet living by the Earle of Hartford and Mâry the third Dâugter which left no Children The other Daughter of Chaâlâs Brandon by the Queene of France called Elenor was married to Georgâ Cliffârd Earle of Cumberland who left a Daughter by her named Maâgâreâ married to the Earle of Darby which yet liveth and hath issue And this is the title of the Hâuse of Suffolke descended from the second Daughter of K. Henry the seventh married as hath been shewed to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke And by this you may see also how many there be who do thinke their titles to be far before that of my Lord of Huntingtonâ if either râght lâw reason or coâsideration of home affaires may take place in our Realm or if not yet you cannot but imagine how many great Princes and Potentatâs abroad are like to joyne and buckle with Huntingâons Line for the preeminence âf once the matter fall againe to contention by excluding the Line of King Henry the seventh which God forbid Truly Sir quoth I I well perceive that my Lords turne is not so nigh as I had thought whether he exclude the Line of King Henry or noâ for if he exclude thât then must he enter the Combat with forraine titlers of the House of Lancaster and if he âxclude it not then in all apparance of reason and in Law to as you have said the succession of the two Dâughters of King Henây the seventh whiâh you distânguâsh by the two names of Scotland and Suffolke must needs bee as clearely before him and his Lâne that decended only from Edward the fourth his Brother as the Queenes title that new reigneth is before him For thâââoth Scotland Suffolke and her Majesty do hold all by one foundâtion which is the union of both Houses and Titles together in King Henry the seventh her Majesties Grandfather That is true quoth the Gentleman and evidenâ enough in every mans eye and therefore no doubt but as âhat much is meant âgâinst hâr Majesty if oc4âsion serve âs against thâ rest thât hold by the same âitle Albeit her Mâiesti4s state the Lord be praised be such at thiâ ãâã as it is not safây to pretend so much against hâr as against the rest whatsoever be meant And that in âruth more should be ment agâinst her hâghnes theâ agâinst all âhe rest there is this reaâon for tâat her Majesty by hâr present possession letteth more their desires then all the rest âogether with their future pretences But as I have said it is not safety for them nor yet good pâlâcy to declare openly what they meane aâainst her Majesty It is the best way for the pâesent to âhew downe the rest and to leave her Majesty for the last âlow and upshot to their gâme For which câuse they will âeeme to make great difference at this day betweene her Majesties title and the rest that descend in likewise from King Henrâ the seventh avowing the one and disallowâng the other Albeit my Lord of Leicesters Father preferred that of Suffolke when ãâã was before this of her Mâjâsty and coâpelleâ the whâle Realme to sweare thereunto Such is thâ variable policy of men that serve the time or rather that serve themselves of all times for their purposes I remember quoth I that time of âhe Duke and was present my selfe at some of his Proclamations for that purpose wherein my Lord his Sonne that now liveth âeing then a doer as I can tell he was I marvile how he can deale so contrary now preferring not onely her Majesties title bâfore that of Suffolk whereof I wonder lessâ because it is more gainfull to him but also another much further of Buâ you have signified the cause in that the times are changeâ and other bargaines are in hand of more importance for him Wherefoâe leaving this to be considered by others whom it concerneth I beseech you Sir for that I know your worship hath beeene much conversant among their frienâs and favourers to tell me what are the barres and lets which they doe alledge why the house of Scoâland and Suffolk descendâd of king Henry the seventh his daughters should not succeed in the Crowne of England after her Majesty who ended the line of the same king by his son for in my sight the matter appeareth vâry plaine They want not pretences of barres and lets against them all quoth the Gentleman which I will lây downe in order as I have heard them alledged First in the line of Scotland there are three persons as you know that may pretend right that is the Queen and her son by the first marriage of Margaret and Arbella by the second And against the first marriage I heare nothing affirmed but against the two persons proceeding thereof I heare them alledge three stops one for that they are strangers born out of the land consâquently incapâble of inheritance within the same another for that by a speciâl testament of king H. 8. authorised by 2. severall pârliam thây are excluded 3 for that they are enemies to the religion now among us therefore to be debarred Against the second marriage of Maâgâret with Aâchibald Douglas whââeof Aâbella is descended they alledge that the said Archibald had a former wife at the time of that marriage which lived long after and so neither that marriage lawfull nor the issue therof legitimate The same barre they have
or so I leave it to bâ tried hereafter between my yong Lord of âenbighe and Master Philip Sidney whom the same most concerneth for that it is likâ to deprive him of a goodly inheritance if it take place as some will say that in no reason it can not only in râspect of the precedent adultery and murder betweene the parties but also for that my Lord was contracted at least to another Lady before that yet lâveth whereof Master Edwââd Diaâ and Mâster Edmond Tiney both Courtâers can be witnesses and consumated the same contract by generation of children But thâs as I said must be left to be tried hereafter by them who shâll have most interest in the case Onely for the present I must advertise you that you may not take hold so exactly of all my L. doings in wâmens affaires neither touching their marriages neither yet thâir hâsbands For first his Lordship hath a speciall fortuâe that when he dâsireth any womans favour then whât person so evâr standeth in his way hath the luâk to dye quickly for the finishing of his desire As for âxample when his Lordship was in full hope to marry hâr Majâsty and his owne wife stood in his light as he supposed he did but send her aside to the house of his servant Forster of Cumner by Oxford where shortly after she had the chance to fall fâom a paire of stâires and so to breake her neck but yet wiâhout hurting of her hood that stood upon her head But Sir Riâhard Varney who by commandement remaâned with her that day alone with one man onâly and hâd sent away perforâe all her Sârvants from hâr to a Market two miles of hâ I sây wiâh his man can tâll how she died whiâh man being taken afterward for a fellony in the marâhes of Wales and offering to publish the manner of the said murder was made away privily in the prâson and Sâr Richarâ himsâlf dying abâut the same time in London cried pitioâsly ând bâaâphemed God and said to a Gentleman of worship of mine acquâintance not long before his death that all the divels in hell did teare him in pieces The wife also of Balâ Buttleâ kinsman to my Lord gâve out the whole fact a littâe bâfoâe her death Bât to return unto my purpose this was my Lords good fortun to have his wife dye at that time when it was like to turne most to his profit Long after this he fâll in love with the Lady Sheffiâld whom I signified bâfore and then also had he the same fortune to have her husband dye quickly with an extreame rheume in his head as it was given out but as others sây of an artificiall caâârre that stopped his breath The like good chance had he in the death of my Lord of Essex as I have said before and that ât a time most fortunate for hiâ purpose for when he was coming home from Ireland with intent to revenge himselfe upon my Lord of Leycester for begetting his wife with âhilde in his absânce the childe was a dauâhter and brought up by the Lady Shandoies W. Knooles his wifâ my Lord of Ley hearing therof wantâd not a friend or two to accompâny the Dâputy as among other a couple of the Earles owne servants Crompton if I misse not his name yeoman of his bottles and Llâiâhis âhis Secretary entertained afterwârd by my Lord of Leiâester and so he dyed in the way of an extreame flux caused by an Italian Rââipe as all his friends are well assured the mâker wheââof was a Chyâurgeon as is belâeved that thân was newly come to my Lord from Italy a cunning man and sâre in operation with whom if the gâod Lady had beene sooner acquainted and âsed his helpe shâ should not have needed to sitten so pensive at home and fearefull of her husbands former returne out of the same Countrây but might have spared the yong childe in her bâlly which she was enforced to make away cruelly and unnaturally for clearing the house against the good mans arrivall Neithâr must you mârvaile though all these died dâvers manners of outward diseases for this is the excellenây of the Iââlian art for which this Chyruâgian and Doctor Iulio wâre entertained so carefully who can makâ a mân dye in what manâer oâ shâw of siâknessâ you wâll by wâose instructâons âo doubt but hâs Lorâship is now cunning espâcially âdding also to âhese âhe counsell of his Doctor Bayây a man also noâ a little studied as he seemeth in his art for I heard him once my selfe in publique Act in Oxford and thât in presence of my Lord of Leicâster if I be not deceived maintain that poyson might so be tempâred and given as iâ should not appeâre presently and yet should kill thâ pârty afâerward at what time should be appointed Which aâgument belike pleased well his Loâdship and thââefore was chosen to be discussed in his audience if I be not deceived of hâs being that dây present So though one dye of a flux and aâoâher of a catarrâ yât âhis impârâeth ââttle to thâ matter but shewâth rathâr the great cunning and skill of the Arâificâr So Cardinall Chatilian aâ I hâve saiâ before having accused my Lârd of Leicester to thâ Qâeens Majesty and after thât pâssiâg from Lonâon towards France about the marriage died by the way at Canterbury of a burning fever and so proved Doctor Bayâieâ asserâion ârue that poyson may be given to kill at a day At this the Lawyer cast up his eyes to heaven and I stood somewhat musing and thinking of that which had beene spoken of the Earle of Essex whose case indeed moved me more then all the rest for that he was â very noble Gentleman a great advancer of true Religion a Pâtron to many Preachers anâ Students and towards me and some of my friends in pârâicular he had bâene in some things very benâficiall and therefore I said that it grieved me extreamly to heare or thinke of so unworthy a death contrived by such meanes to so worthy a Peere And so much the more for that it was my chance to come to the understanding of divers particulars concerning that thing both from one Lea an Irish-man Robin âonnies and others that were present at Pentereis the Merchants house in Dublin upon the Key where the murder was committed The matter was wrought especially by Crompton yeoman of the bottels by the procurement of Lloyd as you haue noted before and there was poysoned at the same time and with the same cup aâ given of curtesie by the Earle one Mistresse Alâs Draykot a goodly Gentlewoman whom the Earle affectioned much who departing thence towards her owne house which was 18. miles off the foresaid Lea accompanying her and waiting upon her she began to fall sick very grievously upon the way and continued with increase of paineâ and excessive torments by vomiting untill she died which was the
they not all at this day at his disposition are they not all by his procurement in the onely hands of his friends and allyes or of such as by other matches have the same complot and purpose with him In Yorke is president the man that of all other is fittest for that place that is his nearest in affinity his dearest in friendship the head of his faction and open competitor of the Scepter In Barwicke is a Captaine his wives uncle most assured to himselfe and Huntington as one who at convenient time may as much advance their designements as any one man in England In Wales the chiefe authority from the Prince is in his owne brother iâ law but among the people of naturall affection is in the Earle of Pembrooke who both by marriage of his sisters daughter is made his ally and by dependance is knowne to be wholly at his disposition The West part of England is under Bedford a man wholly devoted to his and the Puritans faction In Ireland was governour of late the principal instrument appointed for their purposes both in respect of his heat and affection toward their designements as also of some secret discontentment which he hath towards her Majesty and the state present for certaine harâ speeches and ingrate recompences as he pretendeth but indeed for that he is knowne to bee of nature fyrie and impatient of stay from seeing that Commonwealth on foot which the next competitours for their gaine have painted out to him and such others more pleasant then the Terrestriall Paradise it selfe This then is the Hector this is the Ajax appointed for the enterprise when the time shall come This must be forsooth another Râcâard of Warwicke to gaine the Crowne for Henry the ninth of the House of Yorke as the other Richard did put downe Henry the sixt of the House of Lancaster and placed Edward the fourth from whom Huntington deriveth his title therefore this man is necessarily to be entertained from time to time as we see now he is in some charge and martiall action to the end his experience power and credit may grow the more and he be able at the time to have souldiers at his commandment And for the former charge which held of late in Ireland as this man had not beene called away but for execution of some other secret purpose for advancement of their designements so bee well assured that for the time to come it is to bee furnished againe with a sure and fast friend to Lâycester and to that faction In the I le of Wight I grant that Leycester hath lost a great friend and a trusty servant ây the death of Captaine Hârsây but yeâ the matter is supplied by the succession of another no lesse assured unto him then the former or rather more through the band of affinity by his wife The two Ilands of Gersey and Gernsey are in the possession of two friends and most obliged dependents The one by reason he is exceedingly addicted to the Puritan proceedings the other as now being joyned unto him by the marriage of mistris Bâsse his wives sister both daughters to Sir Francis or at least to my Lady Knooles and so become a rivall companion and brother who was before though trusty yet but his servant And these are the chiefe Keyes Fortresses and Bulwarkes within without and about the Realm which my Lord of Leycester possessing as hee doth hee may be assured of the body within where notwithstanding as hath beene shewed he wanteth no due preparation for strength having at his disposition besides all aydes and other helpes specified before her Majesties horse and stables by interest of his owne office her Armour Artillery and Munition by the office of his brother the Earle of Warwicke The Tower of London and treasure therein by the dependence of Sir Owin Hopton his sworne servant as ready to rescue and furnish him with the whole if occasion served as one of his predecessours was to receive his Father in King Edwards dayâs for the like effect against her Majesty and her Sister And in the City of London it selfe what this man at a pinch could doe by the helpe of some of the principall men and chiefe Leaders and as it were Commanders of âhe Commons there and by the bestirring of Fleeâwood his madde Recorder and other such his instruments as also in all other Townes Ports and Cities of importance by such of his owne setting up as hee hath placed there to serve his designements and Justices of peace with other that in most Shires doe weare his livery and are at his appointment the simplest man within the Realme doth consider Whereunto if you ãâã now his owne forces and furniture which hee hâth in Killingworth Castle and oâheâ places as also the forces of Huntington in particular wâth their friends followers allies and compartenârs you shall finde that they are not behiâde in their preparations For my Lord of Huntingâons forwardnesse in the cause said I there is no man I thinke which maketh doubt mârây for âis private forces albeit they may be very gooâ for any thiâg I âoe know to the contrary especially at his house within five and twenty miles of Killingworth where one told mee somâ yeares past thaâ he had furniture ready for five thousand men yât do â not think but they are farââââfâriour to my Lord of Leycester who is tâken to have excâssive store and that in divers placâs And as for thâ Castle last mentioned by you there are men of good intelligence and of no small judgement who âeport that in the same he hath to furnish ten thousand good souldiers of all things necâssaây both for horse and man besides all other muâition armour and artillery whereof great store was brought thither under pretence of triumph wâen her Mâjesty was there and never as yet carried backe againe and besides the great abundânce of ready coyne there as is said sufficient for any gâeat exploit to bee done within the Realme And I know thât the estimation of this place was such among divers many yeares agoe as when at a time her Mâjesty lây dangerously sick and like to dye at Hampton Court a certaine Gentleman of the Court came unto my Lord of Huntington and told him that for so much as he tooke his Lord to be next in succession after her Mâjesty hee would offer him a meane of great helpe for compassing of his purpose after the decease of her Majeâây which was the possession of Killingworth Castle for at that time these two Earles were not yet very friends nor confederate together and that being had he shewed to the Earle the great furniture and wealth which theâeby he should possesse for pursuit of his purpose The propâsiâion was well liked and the matter esteemed of great importance and consequently received wiâh many thankes But yet afterward her Majesty by
whiles themselves in the meane space went about under hand to establish their owne ambushment Well quoth the Lawyer for the pretence of my Lord of Huntington to the Crowne I will not stand with you for thât it is a matter sufficâently known and seen throughout the Realme As also that my Lord of Leycesteâ is at this day a principall favourer and patron of that cause albeit some yeers past he were an earnest adversary and enemy to the same But yet I have heard some friânds of his in reasoning of these matters deây stoutly a point or two which you have touched here and doe seeme to beleeve the same And that is first that howsoever my Lord of Leicester do meane to helpe his friend when time shall serve yet pretendeth he nothing to the Crowne himselfe The second is that whatsoever may be meant for the title or compassing the Crowne after her Mâjesties death yet nothing is intended during her raigne And of both these points thây alledge reasons As for the first that my Lord of Leycester is very well knowne to have no title to the Crowne himselfe either by discent in blood alliance or otherwâyes For the second that his Lord. hath no cause to be a Mâlecontent in the present government nor hâpe for more preferment if my Lord of Huntington were King to morrow next then he receiveth now at her Majâsties hands having all the Realme as hath bin shewed at his owne disposition For the first quoth âe Gentleman whether he meane the Crowne for himsâlfâ or for his friend it importeth not much seeing both wayes iâ is âvident that he meaneâh to hâve all at his owne disposition And albeit now for the avoyding of envy he give it out as a crafty Fox that he meaneth not but to run wiâh other men and to hunt wâth Huntington and oâhââ hounds in the sâme chase yet is it not unlike but that he will plây the Beare when he coâeth to divâding of the pray and will snatch the best pârt to himselfe Yea and these sâlf same peâsons of his traine anââaction whom you call his friend though in publâque to excuse his doings and to cover the wholâ plot they will and must deny the matters to be so meant yet otherwise they both thinke hope and know the contrary and will not stick in secret to speâk it and among thâmselves it is their talke of consolation The words of his speciall Councellour the Lord North are known which he uttered to his trusty Pooly upon the receit of a letter from Court of her Majesties displeasure towards him for his being a witnesse at Leycesters second marriage with Dâme Lettice although I know he was not ignorant of the first at Wanstead of which displeasure this Lord making fâr lesse accompt then in reason he should of the just offence of his soveraigne said that for his owne part he was resolved to sinke or swimme with my Lord of Leycester who said he if once the Cards may come to shaffling I wâll use but his very own words I make no doubt but he alone shall beare away the Bucklers The words also of Sir Thomas Layton to Sir Henry Nevile walking upon the Taâresse at Windsor are known who told him after long discourse of their happy conceived Kingdome that hee doubted not but to see him one day hold the same office in Windsor of my Lord of Leycester which âow my Lord did hold of the Queene Meaning thereby the goodly office of Constableship wiâh all Royâlties and honours belonging to the same which now the said Sir Henry exerciseth onâly as Deputy to the Earle Which was plainely to signifie that he doubted not but to see my Lord of Leycester one day King or els his other hope could never possibly taââ effect or come to passe To the same point âended the words of Mistressâ Anne West Daâe Lettice sister unto the Lady Anne Askew in the great Chamber upon a day when her brothâr Robert Kâowles had danced disgratiously and scornfully before the Queen in pâesence of the French Which thing for that her Majesty tooke to proceed of wisâin him âs for dislâke of the strangers in presence and for the quarrell of his sister Essex it pleased her Majesty to check him for the same with additioâ of a reproachfull word or two full well deserved as though done for despite of the forced abseâce from that place of honour of the good old Gentlewoman I mitigate the worâs his sister Which words the other young twig receiving in deepe dudgen brake forth in great choler to her forenamed companion and said Thât she nothing doubted but that one day shee should see her sister upon whom the Queene railed now so much for so it pleased her to tearme her Majesties sharpe speech to sit in her place and throne being much worthier of the same for her qualities and rare vertues then was the other Which undutâfull speech albeit it were over-heard and condemned of divers that sate about them yet none durst ever report the same to her Majesty as I hâve heard sundry Courtiers affirme in respect of the revenge which the reporters should abide at my Lord of Leycesters hands whensoever the mâtâer should come to light And this is now concerning the opinion and secret speeches of my Lords owne friends who cannot but utter their conceit and judgement in time and place convenient whatsoever they are wâlled to give out publikely to the contrary for deceiving of such as will beleeve faire painted words against evident and manifest demonstration of reason I say reason for that if none of these signes and tokens were none of these preparations nor any of these speeches and detections by his friends that know his heart yet in force of plain reason I could alleadge unto you three arguments onely which to any man of intelligence wâuld easily perswade and give satisfactâon that my Lord of Leycester meaneth best and first for himsâlfe in this suât Whiâh three arguments for that you seeme to be attent I will not stick to run over in all brevity And the first is the very nature and quality of ambition it self which is such as you know that it never stayeth but passeth from degree to degree and the more it obtaineth the more it covereth and the more esteemeth it selfe both worthy and able to obtaine And in our matter that now we handle even as in wooing he âhât suâth to a Lady for another and obtaineth her good will entereth easily into conceit of his owne woâthinesse thereby and so commonly into hope of speedinâ himselfe while he speaketh for his friend so much more in Kingdomes he that sâeth himself of power to put the Crowne of another mans head will qâckly step to the next degree which is to set it of his owne seeâng that alwayâs the charity of such good men is wont to be so orderly as according to âhe precepâ it bâginneth
Scots captived Queen to wife I âgg'd him on to follow his intent That by this meanes I might abridge his life And she a crowned Queen to stint all strife First finding Scotland lost to England fled Where she in hope of succour lost head O blessed Spirits live yee evermore Iâ heavenly Sion where your maker reignes And give me leave my fortunes to deplore That am fast fetterd with sins iron chaines Mans most sweet joys are mixt with some foul pains And doâh he live of high or low degree In life or death that can from woe be free Ah now my tongue growes weary to recite Such mâssaâres as have been here exprest Whose sad remembrance doth afflict my spright Me thinkes I see legions of soules to rest In Abrahams bosome and my selfe opprest The burden of my sinnes doe weigh me downe At me the fiends doe laugh and Angels frowne My crimes I grant were geat and manifold Yet not so heynous as men make report But flattering Parasites are growne so bold That they of Princes matters make a sport To please the humors of the vulgar sort And that poore peevish giddiheaded crue Are prone to credit any tale untrue Let those that live endeavour to live well Left after death like mine their guilt remaine Let no man thinke there is no Heaven or Hell Or with the impious Sadduces maintaine That after death no flesh shall rise againe Let no man trust on Fortunes fickle wheele The guerdon due for ââne I partly feele Know that the Prince of heavenly Saraphins When he 'gainst his Creator did rebell Was tumbled downe for his presumptuous sinne Sathan that once was blest like lightning fell From the highest heaven to the deepest hell And all those Angells that his part did take Have now their portion in the burning lake Of mighty heapes of treasure I could vant For I reapt profit out of every thing I could the Prince and peoples hearts inchant With my faire words and smooth fac'd flâttering And out of drosse pure gold I oft did wring For though the meanes to win be oft unmeet The smell of lucre ever smelleth sweet So I somtimes had very much good hap Great suites of my dread Soveraigne to obtaine Prodigall fortune powr'd down from hâr lap Angels of gold as thick as drops in raine Such was my luck to finde the golden veine Likewise with me it seemed nothing strange Both tents and lands oft with my Prince to change I had another way t' inrich my selfe By geting licences for me alone For Wine Oyle Velvet Cloath and such like pelfe By licences to alienation By raising rents and by oppression By claiming Forrests Pastures Commons Woods And forfeiture of lands of life and goods By this strong course also I greatly thrived Jn falling out with my deere Soveraigne For I the Plot so cunningly contrived That reconcilement soone was made againe And by this meanes great gifts I did obtaine For that I might my bags the better fill I beg'd great suites as pledge of new goodwill Besides somtimes I did encrease my store By benefit that I from Oxford tooke Electing heads of houses heretofore I lov'd their money and they lov'd their booke Some poorer though more learned I forsooke For in those daies your charity was cold Little was done for love but much for gold Doubtlesse my Father was a valiant Peere In Edwaâd the sixt daies when he was sent Gainst Rebells that did rise in Norfolke shire And after that when he to Scotland went Under the Lord Protectors Regiment By notable exploits against the Sâot Eternall glory to himselfe he got Truly ambition was his greatest fault Which commonly in noble hearts is bred He thought the never could his slate exalt Till the good Dâke of Sumerset was dead Who by my Fathers meanes did lose his head So ill the race of Dudlies could endure The Seymors lives which did their fame obscure When once King Edward ãâã the butt had shot My Father sayd your Grace shoots neere the mark Thâ King repli'd but not so neere I wot As when you shot my Vncles head off quite The duke my Father knew the King said right And that he ment this matter to debate If ere hee liv'd to come to mans estate It seemes my Father in times past had been A skillfull Archer though no learned clerke So straâge a chance as this is seldome seen I doe suppose hâ shot not in the dark That could so quickly hit so faire a mark Nor have I mâst my aime nor worse have sped When I shot off the Duke of Norfolks head Now when the Duke of Somerset was dead My Father to the French did Bulloigne sell As pleâsâd him the King he governed And from the privy counsell did depell Th'earles of Southampton and of Arundell Thus whilst he ruled and controuled all The wise young King extreamly sick did fall Who having languisht long of lâfe deprived Not wâthout poison as it was suspected The counsell through my Fathers meanes conârived That Suffolks Daugther should be Queen elected Thâ Sisters of King Edward were rejected My brother Guiâforâ to Iane Gray was wedded Too high preferr'd that was so soone beheaded This Lâdy Iane that once was tearmed Queeen Greatâr in fame then fortune was put downe Had not King Henries Dâughters living been Mâght for her vertues have deserv'd a ârowne Fortune at once on her did smile and frowne Her wedding garment for a Princes meet Was quickly changed for a winding sheet For I was iump of Julââus ââsars minde That could ãâã one supârioâ Lord endure Nay I to guide my Sâveraigne was inclin'd And bring the common people to my lure Accounting that my fortune was obscure And that I lived in a wofull plight If any one eclipst my glorious light The love to reigne makes many men respect Neither their friend their kindâed nor their vow The love to reigne makes many men neglect The duty which to God and man they ow From out this fountaine many mischeifes flow Hâreof examples many may be read In Chronicles of th' English Princes dead This humor made King Hârâold break his oath Made unto William Duke of Normandy This made King Rufus and young Beauclaâk both Their elder Brother Robert to defie And Stephen to forget his loialty To Mawa the Empresse and to hold in scorne The faithfull oath which he to her had sworne This made young Henry crowned by his sire Against his Father Warfare to maintaine This made King Iohn the kingdome to aspire Which to his Nephew Arthur did pertaine And him in pâison hardly to retaine And this made Buâingbrook t' usurp the Crowne Putting his lawfull Soveraigne Richard downe This made Edward the fourth at his returne From Burgundy when he to Yorke was come To break the oath which he had lately sworne And rule the Realme in good King Henries roome This made the Tyrant Richard eke to doome His Nephewes death and rid away his wife And so in bloud to end
and banishment Caligula the scourge of fâmous Rome Wishâ all the Romanes had onely one head That when he list to give their fatall doome He might with one great blow strâke all them dead So should he never need thâir hâte to dread Even sâch a mischiefe I wâsht to my foes That many men might pârish with fâw blowes But unto those that doe your favour seeke And by your helpe hope their low states to raise You must be courâeous bountifull and meeke Caesar by clemency won greatest praise And was esteem'd the mirrour of hâs dâyes For it belongs to men of great estate To spare the poore and rich mens mindes abate It 's ill to be a rub upon that ground Whereas the Prince the alley meanes to sweep Their owne conceits they fondly doe confound That into high attempts doe boldly creep And with their shallow pares âoe wade to deep To hinder what their Soveraigne doth intend Or to controule what they cannot âmend Calisthenes much torment did sustaine Because great Alexanders pride he checkt Grave Seneca choosing his death wâs slâine By Nero's doome whosâ faults he did correct Use not too shârpe rebukeâ but have respect Unto the persons when great men doe evill The vengeance leave to God or to the devill Be not too haughty pride ârocureth hate And meane mens hate may turne to your disgrace Nor too familiar be in high estate For that will breed contempt among the base Observe a meane whiâh winneth man much grace Speake well to all trust none use well your foes For this may purchase love where hatred growes And if that you doe feâre your friând should chance To mount too highly in the Princes grace Hiâ praise to heaven then stick not to advance Say that the charge he beareth is too base And that his worth deserves farre better place So may you by this praise rid him away And so supply his place another day Sây he will prove a terror in the field This private life doth much obscure his fame More fit to beare great Ajax sevenfold shield Then like Sardanapalus court a dame He idlely lives at home it is a shâme His very presence may his foes appall Let him be sent Lieutenant Generall Now if he chance to perish in some fight Iâ was not your worke but the chance of warres Or thus you may excuse your selves by fleight Bââming âhe influence of the angry starres Thââ thus by death his future fortune barres Aââ sighing we are sory you may say That this brave man would cast himselfe away But if in feats of armes he have no skill If he be learned wise and eloquent By praising him thus may you have your will Procure him in ambassage to be sent Far off lest he returne incontinent As to the mighty Châm or Prestor Iohn And triumph in his roome when he is gone Let no man think I exerciâ'd the ghost Of this great Peere that sleepeth in the dust Or conjur'd up his spirit to this coâst To presse him with despaire or praise unjust I am not partiall but gâve him his due And to his soule I wish eternall health Ne doe I think all written tales are true That are inserted in his Commonwealth What others wrote before I do survive But am not like to those incenst with hate And as I plainly write so doe I strive To write the truth not wronging his estate Of whom it may be said and censur'd well He both in vice and vertue did excell Iamque opus exegi Deus dedit his quoque finem FINIS Scholar The occâsiân oâ hâs ãâã and âeâtâng The persons and place of this conference A temperate Paâist The booke of Iustâce Lawâer Gentleman The Papists practices against the state Lawyer Two sorts of dealing against the sâate Directly Indirectly The state of all Subiects is a state of different religion The second kind of treason The application of the former example Gentleman Two degrees of treason Lawyer Gentleman Lawyer France Flanders Portugal The old hatred of East Grecians towards the West Latins Scholar Not all Papists propeâly traytors Lawyer The Priests and Seminaries that were executed Gentleman The considerations Misery moveth mercy A good wâsh Lawyer The nature and practice of the Guânâans Gentleman The Târant of Englâsh staâe Three ãâ¦ã in Eâgâand ãâã The âule of âeâceâteâ Gentlâman Lawyââ ãâã Lord Nââths pâââcy Gentleman A strange speculation Sâhâlâr The Queens Maiesties most excellent good nature Gentleman Fears that subiect have of my Lord of Leicester Sir Francis Walâingham Deepe disâimulâtion ãâ¦ã Edmund Dudley Robert Dudley Lawyer Gentleman The Law against talking Actâons of Leicester whereof he would have no speecâ Shâlaâ ãâ¦ã upon ãâã marriage To Sir Thomas Layton L. Treasurer L. Chambeâlaine M. Controler Sir Thomas Hibbot Gentleman Leicesters Father a traiterous Papist The honour and comâodities by the marriage with France Ethelbert King of Kent converted An. Dom. 603 Lawyer Tolleration in Religion with union in defence of our Country Gentleman Dâvers marriages of her Madeseaâed Leicesters devices to drive away all Sutors from her Maiesty Leicester convinced himselfe of impudency Lawyer The basenesse of Leâcesters ancestors Anno 1. R. Mary Gentleman Doctor Dale Doctor Iulio The Archbishops oâerâhâow for not allowing two wives to Leicester his Physician The Lady Sheffield now Embassadresse in France The death of Leicesters fiâst Lady and wife Sir Richard Varney Bald Baâtler The suspitious death of the Lord Sheffield The poisoning of the Earle of Essex The shâfâing of a châlde in dame Lettice belly The diverâ operation of Roylor Doctor Bayly the yonger Death of Cardinall Chatilian Schâlâr Lea. Honnieâ Mistris Draykot poisoned with the Earl of Essâx The Earle of Essex speech to his Page Robin Honnieâ Genâleman Death of Sir Nicholas Throgmarton Sir William Cicill now Lord Treasurer The poisoning of Sir Nicholas in a salet The Lord Chamberlin Monsieur Simiers The poisoning of thâ Lady Lenox Leicesters most variable dealing with women in contractâ and marriages Contracts Precontracts Postcontracts Retract Protract Leicesters two testaments Scholar Varius Heliogabalus and his most infamous death An Epitaph A pittifull permission The exâerpation of the Tarquinions Anno Dom. 959. Gentleman The intollerable lâcenciousnes of Leicesters carnality Mony well spent Anne Vauisour The punishments of God upon Leicester to do him good * The children of adulterers shall be consumed and the seed of a wicked bed shall be rooted out saith God Sap. 3. Leicesters oyntment Leicesters bottle Scholar A pretty device An act of atheism Lawyer Gentleman Lawyer Gentleman The first reason why Leicester slew his wife by violence rather then by poyson The second reason Doctor Bayly the elder A practice for poisoning the Lady Dudley Doct. Babington A third reason The intended murder of Monsieur Simiers by sundry meanes The intended murder of the Earle of Ormond William Killegre Scholar Preoccupation of her Maiesties person An ordinary way of aspiring by preoccupation of the Princes person A comparison The
way of aspiring in Duke Dudley Gentleman Leycesters power in the privy Chamber Leycester married at Waenstead when her Maiesty was at M. Stoners Houf Doctor Culpeper Physition Minister No sute can passe but by Leycester Read Polidore in the 7. yeare of King Richard 1. and you shall find this proceeding of certaine about that K. to be put as a great cause of his overthrow No preferments but by Leycester to Leycestâians Leycesters anger and insolency Leycesters peremptory dealing Breaking of order in her Maiesties houshold Leycesters violatâng of all order in the Country abroad Lawyer A Leycestrian Commonwealth Gentleman Leycester called the heart and life of the Couât A demonstration of Leycesteâs tyranny in the Court. Leycester provideth never to come in the Qâeânes danger againe Anno Regni 3â Leyâesters puissance in the privy Councell L Keeper L. Chamberlain Matters wherin the Councell are inforced to wink at Leycester Leycesters intelligence with the rebellion in Ireland Acteons case now come in England Salvatour slaine in his bed Doughty hanged by Drake The story of Gates hanged at Tiborne Scholar This relation of Gates may serve hereafter for an addition in the second ediââon of this booke Gentleman The deck reserved for Leycester Leycesters puissanâ violence with the Prince her sâlfe The Earle of Sussex his speech of the Earle of Leycester The Lord Burghley Leycesterâ power in the countrey abroad Yorke Earle of Huntington Barwick The Lord Hunâden Wales Sir Henây Sidney The Earle of Pembrooke The West Earle of Bedford The Lord Grey â Her Maiesty âs he saith for striking of Master Fortesene calling him lame wretch that grieved him so for that he was hurt in her service at Lieth as he said he would live to be revenged * In Scotland or elswhere against the next inheritors or presenâ possessor Sir Iohn Parott Sir Edward Horsey Sir George Carew Sir Amias Paulet Sir Thomas Layton Her Maiesties stable her armour munition and artillery The Tower London Sir Rowland Heyward c. Mad Fleetwood Gentleman Scholar My Lord of Huntingtons preparation at Ashby Killingworth Castle Ralph Lane The offer and acceptation of Killingworth Castle Lawyer The prerogative of my Lord of Leycester Leycester the Star directory to Lâwyers in their claents affaires Leycesters furniture in money The saying of a Knight of the Shire touching Leycesters mony Gentleman The infinit waies of gaining that Leycester hath Sures Lands Licences Falling out with her Maiesty Offices Clergy Beneficeâ Vniveâsity Oppressions Rapines Princes favour Presents Lawyeâ Leycesters home gaine by heâ Maâesties faâour A pretty story Leycesters forraine gaine by her Maiesties favour Leycesters bribe for betraying of Callis Gentleman Leycesters father sold Bulloâgne Earles of Arundel and South-hampton pât out of the Councell by D. Dudley Lawyer Leycesters gaine by falling out with her Maiesty Gentleman Leycesters fraudulent chaâge of lands wiâh her Maiesty whereby he hath notably endammaged the Crowne Leycesters licenses Sâlkes and Velvetâ The Tyrannicall licence of alienation Gentleman Edmund Dudley Edmund Dudleis booke written in the Tower Gentleman The supplanting of the race of Henry the 7. The inserting of Huntington Edmund Dâdleies brood more cunning then himselfe Northumberland and Leycester with their Prince will not be roled Lawyer Gentlâman Leycester Master of Art and a cunning Logitioner Scholar Leycesters abusing and spoiling of Oxford The Lord Treasârer Caâbridge The disorders of Oxford by the wickednesse of their Chancellor Leases Leycesters instrumenâs * At Diââies house in Warwick shiâe dame Lettice ãâã and some othââ such pieces of pleasure Lawyeâ The perill of standing with Leycester in any thing * Poore men resisting Warwicks inclosure at North hall weâe hanged for hâ pleasure by Leycesters auâhority Gentleâân Great Tyranny Lawyer The Lordship of Denbigh and âeicesters oppression used therein The Manor of Killingworth and Leycesters oppression there The cause of Snowden forest most pitifull An old tyrannicall Commission A rediculouâ demonstration of excessive avaries A singular oppression Leycester extreamly hated in Wales Gentleman The end of tyrants Nero Vitellius A most terrible revenge taken upon a tyrant Leycesters oppression of particular men Master Robinson Master Harcourt M. Richrâd Lee. Ludowick Grâvel George Witney âord Barkley Archbâshop of Caâterbury Sir Iohn Throgmatton Lane Gifford Sir Drew Drewry The presentstate of my Lord of Leycester Leicesters wealth Leycest strength Leycest cunning Leycesters disposition Lawyer Causes of iust feare for her Maiesty A point of necessary policy for a Prince Scholar A philosophicall argument to prove Leycesters intent of soveraignty The preparationâ of Leycestâr declare his intended end How the Duke of Northumberland dissembled his end Gentleman The boldnesse of the titlers of Clarence Lawyer Gentleman The abuse of âhe Statute for silence in the true succession Lawyer Two excuses alleadged by Leycesters friends Gentlemen Whether Leycester meane the Crown siâceâely for Huntângton or for himselfe The words of thâ Lord North to Master Pooly Pooly told this to Sir Robert Iermine The words of Sir Thomas Layton brother in law to my Lord. The words of Mistris Anne West sister unto this holy Countesse Three arguments of Leycesters meaning for himselfe before Huntington The first arguâent the Nature of ambâtion The second argument Leycesters particular disposition Leycesters disposition to tamper for a Kingdome I meane the noble old Earle of Pembrooke The undutifull devise of Naturall issue in the Statutâ of succession The marriage of Arbella The third argument The nature of the cause it selfe The nâture of old reconciled enmity The reason of Machavell The meaning of the Duke of Northumberland with Suffolke South-house Lawyer The meaning of the D. of Northumberland towards the D. of Suffolke Scholar Gentleman The practise of King Richard for dispatching hâs Wife A new Triumvirââââtween ââtween Leycester Talbot and âhâ Coântesse of Shrâveâbury Lawyer Huntington Gentleman The sleights of Leycester for bringing all to himselfe Scambling between Leâcester Huntington at the upshot Richard of Glocester Aât 1. Edw. 5. 2. That the conspiratorâ meane in her Majesties dayes âoure considerations A thing worthy to be noted in ambitious men Hâstor 5. The Peâcies The two Neviles Leycesteâs hatred to her Majesty The evill nature of ingratitude Lâycesters speeches of her Majesty in the time of his disgrace The causes of hatred in Leycester towards her Majesty The force of female suggestions An evident conclusion that the execution is meant in time of her Majesty An errour of the Father now to bee corrected by the Sonne Lawyer Gentleman Her Majestâes life and death to serve the conspiratours turne A Proclamation with halters Lawyer Papisticall blessing The statute of concealing the heire apparant Richard going towards Hierusalem began the custome by Parliament as Polidore noteth Anno 10. of Richard the second to declare the next heire The danger of our Countrey by concealing the next heire Great inconveniences Sir Christopher Hattons Oration Intollerable Treasons The miseries to follow upon her Majesties death The danger to her