all Oponents the matter is as I do humbly conceive so far detected as Circumstantial Evidence is almost capable of and those that will not be convinced of the Truth of a Murder unless positively attested demand such Proof for their Conviction as no Law requires Now that the God of Wisdom Righteousness and Truth may direct and prosper your Lordships in this and all other Vndertakings is the Humble Prayer of My Lords Your Lordships most Humble and Obedient Servant P. V. The CONTENTS p. for Page c. for Colume THE Introduction Pag. 1. Col. 1. False Reports to prejudice the Discovery p. 2. Two Orders of the Lords p. 3. c. 1. How this Case first came before the Lords p. 3. c. 2. My Lord of Essex's Commitment to the Tower p. 4. c. 2. Bomeny 's Information before the Coroner printed p. 5. c. 2. Russel and the two Chirurgeons Informations before the Coroner p. 6. c. 1 2. The Substance of what was sworn before the Coroner to prove the Self-murder p. 6. c. 2. What Monday declareth p. 6. c. 2. What Major Hawley declareth p. 7. c. 1. Bomeny Monday Russel and Lloyd denied the letting in any Men to my Lord that morning my Lord died p. 7. c. 1. The Order into which the Evidence is divided p. 7. c. 2. Do. Smith 's Evidence to prove the Papists Resolution nine days before my Lord's Death to cut my Lord's Throat p. 8 9. An Objection against this Evidence p. 9. c. 2. An Answer to this Objection p. 9. c. 2. D. Smith 's Evidence no new made Story but long since revealed p. 10 11 12. Farther Objections against D. Smith 's Evidence and these Objections answered p. 12. c. 2. p. 13 to 22. Many Reports in several Parts of England before my Lord's Death that the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat in the Tower p. 22 23. All Reports agree in the Manner how and Place where p. 23. c. 2. An Objection against the Reports p. 24. c. 1 2. An Answer thereunto p. 24. c. 1 2. F Evidence proves that the Report before my Lord's Death sets forth not only the Manner how and the Place where my Lord died but likewise the pretended Reason wherefore my Lord cut his Throat p. 22 24. An Objection against F Evidence p. 24. c. 2. p. 25. c. 1. An Answer to this Objection p. 25. c. 1 2. How the Earl's Death became so generally reported in so many Places and particularly as to Manner Place and pretended Reason before he was dead p. 26. c. 1 2. A short Inference from these Reports p. 27. c. 1. What passed the day my Lord died p. 27. c. 1. The letting in the Ruffians to my Lord just before his Death p. 27. c. 2. p. 28 29. An Objection against this Evidence p. 30. c. 1. An Answer to this Objection p. 30. c. 2. M. B. proves a great bustling between three or four Men in my Lord's Room just before my Lord's Death and one in this bustle crying out very loud and very dolefully Murder Murder Murder p. 31. c. 1. This Evidence of B. not now made but revealed by B. just after my Lord's Death p. 31. c. 1 2. The Reason that M. B. refused to depose what she knew in this Case p. 31 c. 2. p. 32. B 's Testimony confirms Loyd 's Confession p. 33. c. 1. An Objection against B 's Evidence p. 33. c. 1. An Answer thereunto Eodem The Sentinel a Confederate p. 33. c. 1 2. The D. of Y. sends the Ruffians to murder my Lord p. 33. c. 2. p. 34. c. 1. An Objection against this p. 33. c. 2. An Answer to this Objection p. 33. c. 1 2. Further Evidence of the Duke's sending the Men to my Lord's Chamber to murder my Lord p. 35. c. 1. An Objection against such Evidence p. 35. c. 1. An Answer to this Objection p. 35. c. 1. Further Evidence of these Ruffians being sent by the Duke to the Earl's Lodgings p. 35. c. 2. A further Answer to an Objection against what R. and M. declared the day my Lord died p. 36. c. 1. Major Hawley suspected to let in the Ruffians into my Lord's Lodgings p. 36. c. 2. An Objection against this p. 36. c. 2. An Answer to this Objection p. 36. c. 2. p. 37. c. 1. Sir C. sent to the Old-Baily to give notice of my Lord's Death but forgets who brought Orders from his then Majesty for his going p. 37. c. 2. p. 38. c. 1 2. Bomeny and Russel suffered to hear each others Examination before the Coroner p. 38. c. 2. Bomeny 's first Information taken by the Coroner p. 38. c. 2. p. 39. c. 1. Bomeny suffered to go from the Jury into the next Room and there to write his second Information p. 39. c. 1. Bomeny 's Information which he so wrote p. 39. c. 2. p. 40. c. 1. Bomeny 's Information which was printed by Authority is different from that which he swore to p. 40. c. 1. The Reason Bomeny 's Information was printed contradictory to what he had deposed before the Coroner p. 40. c. 2. Monday declared the day before my Lord died and confirmed it afterwards that he saw my Lord of Essex with the Razor in his Hand as soon as the Gentleman-Goaler had opened my Lord's Chamber-Door and this above two hours before my Lord's Death and long before Russel stood Warder at my Lord's Chamber Door p. 41. c. 1 2. No Razor delivered to my Lord appears by the Contradictions between Bomeny Monday and Russel p. 42 43. c. 1. An Answer to those Contradictions p. 43. c. 1. This Answer insufficient Eodem Bomeny Monday and Russel swore or declared that my Lord pared his Nails with the Razor that morning my Lord died p. 43. c. 2. This appears false p. 43. c. 2. The Closet-Door not locked upon my Lord as Bomeny Monday and Russel have sworn or declared p. 43. c. 2. p. 44. c. 1. For what Reason Bomeny Monday and Russel have sworn and declared that my Lord's Closet Door was locked upon the Body p. 44. c. 2. p. 45. c. 1. Further Evidence against the Closet Door being locked p. 45. c. 1. No Razor lying by my Lord in the Closet when my Lord was first discovered p. 45. c. 1 2. W E proves a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window before my Lord's Death was known p. 45. c. 2. An Objection against W E Testimony p. 45. c. 2. An Answer to this Objection p. 46 47. J. L. proves this bloody Razor being thrown out as before p. 48. c. 1. An Objection against J. L 's Evidence p. 48. c. 2. An Answer to this Objection Eodem Further Evidence of the bloody Razor 's being as before thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window p. 49 50 51. What might occasion the throwing out of the Razor before my Lord's Death was known p. 51. c. 1. Alice Carter supposed to take up this Razor and first to discover my Lord's Death Her Defence false
declares That the Earl of Essex being Prisoner in the Tower the King and Duke came into the Tower to see the Tower of which the Earl having notice he was immediately afraid the King would have come up into his Chamber and seen him c. Now I would willingly know who besides the most intimately knowing in this matter could give information two days viz. the Wednesday Morning at Andover before my Lord's death that the Earl of Essex would cut his Throat in the Tower when the King and Duke were there because the King should not see him the King and Duke's being there was unexpected and a surprize to all but to the Men of Secrecy in this Murther because their being there together was so very rare that it happened but once in twenty five years But of this I have already spoken and also how this so particular a Report as to the Manner Place and Reason became thus reported in the Countrey so long before my Lord's Death L. Was you ever credibly told that his Lordship said he was resolved to destroy himself T. No I never heard that credibly reported L. Or which is more plain and particular Did his Lordship before his Imprisonment say that he was resolved to cut his Throat in the Tower when the King and Duke should come into the Tower to see him which his guilt and shame could not bear the thoughts of G. Certainly my Lord could neither foresee nor expect that the King and Duke should come into the Tower whilst he was Prisoner there L. But you find it depos'd That before my Lord's Death viz. the Wednesday at Andover As to his Death The manner how the place where and the reason wherefore are assigned Now had my Lord so particularly declared his Resolution in which by the way as to the King and Duke's being in the Tower he must have prophesied what could not be expected then it had been possible that this and those several Reports proved by eight Witnesses more far distant from and altogether strangers to each other all centering in the same manner how and the place where might have arisen from this Resolution of his Lordship so particularly declared T. It may be my Lord having heard the Papists had resolved to cut his Throat was afraid they would the more to torment him not do it like themselves but botchingly as they cut Mr. Arnold's and therefore that it might be done at a jerk and all perfectly finish'd at a stroak he was resolved to do it himself and did it effectually for though the Blade of the Razor without the Hand was not two Inches and a half he made a Wound about three Inches and half deep and therein did what by others was Mathematically impossible to be done and whereas before that Accident it was the Opinion of Doctors and Chyrurgeons that none could cut through both Jugular Arteries to the Neck-bone on both sides the Neck his Lordship was resolved to give the World demonstration of their mistake and after all his Lordship stopt the Orifice from giving issue to such a quantity of Blood and Spirits as would naturally have instantly killed him and out of malice to the living that others might be charged with his Death threw the Razor out of the Window and then sent the Maid down for it which having received from her he retired to his Closet lockt himself in and quietly laid himself down and the Razor by him and then gave free passage to that Blood and those Spirits which he thus miraculously kept so long in G. But to be serious for this is a Case of grave yea very doleful Consideration did you ever hear all those Reasons the Bishop then gave T. No but I could wish I had only this further Reason I think was given viz. what the Steward said concerning my Lord's desiring him to sit down and drink a glass of Wine with him the Night before his Death L. That I do totally disbelieve for the Reasons before mention'd T. But whereas you say Mr. H. did second my Lord Bishop I do assure you I did hear that Ingenious Gentleman declare the contrary and as a Gentleman told me desired one to vindicate him from that Report which he did totally deny G. What was then said by the Lords of the Committe after my Lord Bishop had given the Countess's Reasons of her Silence T. I have been told how true it is I cannot say that the Right Honourable the Earl of D. spake to the Countess to this effect Madam The belief or disbelief of a fact neither destroys the Existence nor alters the Nature of the Fact and we who are to proceed not according to private Opinion but legal Evidence have taken the Depositions of many Witnesses in this Case and unless many of these be villanously perjur'd which as yet we have no reason to believe my Lord must have been most barberously murthered G. Had the Countess or the Bishop before this seen what was sworn T. I suppose neither of these had either seen or been informed what was depos'd to prove this Murther neither could they then have heard what hath in this Case been depos'd because many Depositions have been since taken before the Lords and since their Lordships Committee was dissolved before several Justices of the Peace G. I cannot but believe that if the Countess once knew what you have now at large related her Opinion would soon be changed and her Zeal in this prosecution would be as great as could be expected from a Lady of her Honour and Quality and as for my Lord Bishop I am sure none would be more easily convinced upon such grounds as these neither would any more zealously ingage in this Prosecution T. Of this I doubt not for no Man can have a greater veneration for this Reverend Father in God than my self and I think this happy Revolution is under God and His Majesty not a little indebted to the Ingenuous and Indefatigable Pen of this Judicious and Learned Bishop The next Discouragement I shall mention was the strict Injunction with Threats laid upon many of the Soldiers to be secret in this matter J. B. and his Wife further declare That the very next day after my Lord of Essex 's Death the aforesaid R. M. told these Informants how that very morning their Officer called several Soldiers together and under very severe penalties enjoined them not to speak one word of what they had either seen or heard with relation to the Death of the Earl of Essex and therefore the said M. desired these Informants not to speak one word of what he had informed them with relation thereunto the day before lest it being discovered he should be severely punished for speaking any thing of this matter L. With what a degree of Impudence was this treacherous Cruelty stifled T. R. the Soldier before-mentioned that very day my Lord was murthered declawith very great earnestness That the Duke of York had so
believe their Relations true so neither can I comprehend to what end they should invent this Story of the Closet's Door being lock'd upon my Lord seeing my Lord might as well have been said to have cut his Throat without locking the Closet What Service could they propose by this part of their Story of the Closet-door's being locked upon the Body T. The use they afterwards made of this was the end they proposed by this their Invention they strongly argued to the Truth of my Lord's self-Murder from this very Circumstance for they say Can it be thought possible that my Lord should be murdered by others when it was impossible that any should do it in the Closet and come out of it leaving the Body so close against the Door which opened inward and there was no other way but the Door out of which they could come Had this Relation therefore been true it would have been as strong an Argument of my Lord 's being a Self-Murderer as the contrary appearing by the many and gross Contradictions before observed is of his being treacherously murdered by others But as a further Argument of the Closet-door's not being locked I desire you to observe the Closet and how the Body was first seen by such as were some of the * Before â—y that 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 King â—…w the â—…dy first that went up into my Lord's Chamber after my Lord's Death was known At the beginning of this Book is the Room and Closet drawn and how the Body was first found By this you may perceive how my Lord's Legs were lying on the Threshold of the Closet-door and you find the Closet-door could not whilst the Body lay thus and it was not then pretended â—or be moved be locked this appears by what William Turner and Samuel Peck declare as they have deposed before the Lords William Turner and Samuel Peck declare that these two Informants were Servants to the late Earl of Essex at the time of his Death and bringing in some Provisions into the Tower just upon the first Discovery of my Lord's Death of which as soon as they heard these Informants ran up stairs and found my Lord's Legs lying upon the Threshold of the Closet-door G. I am now satisfied how they proposed to argue from it on their own side but the Edg of the Argument through their Disagreement and Contradictions in their Evidence hath been turned against them and wounded them to the quick T. In the third and last place I shall disprove that part of these three Mens Relations which saith that the Razor was locked into my Lord's Closet when he was first found dead Those three have all deposed or often declared That the Razor was found by my Lord's Body locked into the Closet and all three denied that there was any bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window just before my Lord's Death was first discovered to those out of the House L. If the bloody Razor was thrown out of the Window before my Lord's Death was discovered then it 's most certain it could not be found lock'd in with the Body in the Closet upon the first Discovery as by these Treacherous Varlets is deposed Pray read these Papers G. William Edwards aged about Eighteen Years declareth That being in the Tower that Morning the late Earl of Essex died and just before the Discovery of his Death viz. about Nine of the Clock the same Morning as this Informant was standing almost over against the Earl of Essex his Chamber-Window he saw a bloody Razor thrown out of the said Earl's Chamber-Window and fell just without the Pales that stood before the Door which this Informant was going to take up but just as this Informant came to take up the Razor which this Informant found very bloody there came a Maid out of Major Hawley's House and took up the Razor and then ran in with it into Major Hawley's House immediately after discovering my Lord's Death Thomas Edwards Father to the said William Edwards Sarah Edwards and Ann Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards all declare and are ready to depose That the said William Edwards the very Morning of my Lord's Death when he came home did give the same Account in substance to these Informants G. Was not this William Edwards sworn at Mr. Braddon's Trial T. Yes G. If I mistake not he did there upon Oath deny it T. 'T is very true G. How then can there be any Credit given to what one swears in Contradiction to what he hath before deposed When upon Oath he declared he saw no such Razor but it was a Story that he invented to excuse his Truanting T. I desire that you will consider when this Story was first told by the Boy viz. about ten of the Clock that morning my Lord died ☞ Now it was not then known it would be sworn that this Razor lay by my Lord's Body locked into the Closet when the Body was first found as did appear the Monday after when the Coroner's Inquisition and Bomeny's Deposition were printed and therefore there could not be any use made of this Story when first told against the Truth of my Lord's pretended Self-murder for that was possible to be true ☞ what was suggested in answer to this by a certain Gentleman who as soon as he saw what Edwards declared asked What use could be made of it and how this did appear to argue that my Lord was murdered for he further said That it might be when Bomeny came and found that Razor which he had before delivered to my Lord proved the Instrument of his Death he took it up and with great indignation threw the Razor out of the Window as we many times throw away what we have hurt our selves with To this it was answered It appeared sworn before the Coroner That as soon as Bomeny saw my Lord and part of the Razor thro' a Chink of the Closet-Door he called out to Russel that my Lord was fallen down Sick so that there was a Noise of this in the Room before ever the Closet Door was opened and consequently before Bomeny could have any opportunity to take up the Razor Whereas it here appeared by what Edwards said that all things were very quiet in the House till the Maid had taken up the Razor and the Maid first discovered my Lord's Death Upon this the Gentleman urged this no further but what he herein declared was so ready at hand as tho' he had before heard of the Razor 's being thrown out and thought this the best Salve for it As for the pretence that this Lie was invented to excuse his truanting this is very ridiculous this Boy in very great earnestness as soon as he returned from the Tower told his Mother and Sisters that the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat and thrown the Razor out of the Window this argued his simplicity Now the material part of the Story was then generally believed to be true viz. That the
Earl had cut his Throat and that he should add the throwing out of the Razor when as before observed there could be no use thereof made towards the proof of my Lord's Murder is such a Suggestion as can't be supposed But as a clearer Answer to this I will now tell you how the Boy came first to deny that he saw the Razor thrown out and secondly what made him forswear it As for the first What occasioned the Boy 's first denial When Mr. Braddon went first to Mr. Edward's House which was Tuesday morning next after the Earl's Death he asked Mr. Edwards Whether his Son had seen a Bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window just before the discovery of my Lord's Death Mr. Edwards at first was surprised with the Question and wept saying He was undone if he should be turned out of his Place in the Custom-House but being pressed to speak according to the Truth he did declare what you have before heard the like did the Mother and two of the Sisters Upon this Mr. Braddon desired to see the Boy for before this Mr. Braddon never saw Mr. Edwards or his Son or any of his Family to his knowledg the Father answered He was gone to School but if Mr. Braddon would come in the Afternoon the Boy should be kept at Home and he might then discourse him which Mr. Braddon promised to do And accordingly about two of the Clock in the Afternoon went. When he came to Mr. Edwards he was told by the Mother and Sisters that the Boy had denied he ever saw any Razor thrown out Upon which Mr. Braddon inquired Whether the Boy had ever deny'd it before he the said Mr. Braddon had been there that morning To which it was answered He had not Whereupon Mr. Braddon did further enquire Whether the Boy voluntarily deni'd it or what made him do it Upon which the Mother delared That his Eldest Sister being afraid of the Consequence of this Story as soon as the Boy that day came from the School ran to him in great fury and in a threatning manner told him That several People would be hanged for what he had said and that he himself might be hang'd likewise Upon which the Child came running to her and cried out The King would hang him and immediately thereupon denied what he had before declared and so often repeated without any the least Contradiction Hereupon Mr. Braddon desired the Boy might come into the Parlour where before his Relations and others present he might discourse the Boy At first the Child could not be perswaded being afraid but at last came into the Room where Mr. Braddon before six or seven then present none of which before that day he had to his knowledg ever seen before ever he did ask the Boy whether what he had as before declared were true or false spoke to the Child to this Effect viz. Mr. Braddon Can you read William Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon Did you ever read the 5th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles William Edwards Yes Don't you there find that there were two struck dead upon the Place for telling a Lie. W. Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon God is still the same God of Truth and a God of the same Power likewise and he knowing all things knows better than you your self whether what you declared were True or False Wherefore if it be indeed a Lie notwithstanding you have so often declared it to be true now deny it and never more own it lest for your saying that which is false God execute the same Judgment upon you and immediately strike you dead But if it be true be neither afraid or ashamed to own it Immediately hereupon the Boy confessed it was true and then declared as before related Being asked what made him deny it he answered His Eldest Sister threatned him and said the King would hang him which the Sister then likewise confessed You have here a large Account how this Boy came first to deny it and what was the Reason thereof and likewise upon what Arguments he retracted his Denial and stood to his first Confession all which will be fully proved by many Witnesses when the Matter comes under a Judicial Determination G. I am herein satisfied But how came it to pass that the Boy forswore it at Mr. Braddon's Trial T. That is the second thing to be answered This Boy was subpoena'd on the behalf of the King as well as by Mr. Braddon And as William Edwards was going into Westminster-Hall that morning Mr. Braddon was tried and before he was sworn Major Hawley at whose House my Lord died meets him and in a threatning manner told him That if he had the management of him he would have him whip'd once a Fortnight on Monday morning for seven Years together for what he had said This Child not being then above 13 Years of Age was extreamly frighted with this Threat and being so very young was more sensible of the Pain of such a Punishment than of the Sacred Obligation of an Oath and deni'd what was true to avoid what he feared he might otherwise have suffered L. It 's very natural to suppose a Child of his Age might be frighted into a false Oath being of such Years as he can't well be supposed to have that Notion of an Oath which People of riper Years may and ought to have But this argues Major Hawley to be a very ill Man thus to threaten the Boy out of his Evidence G. I have heard that this Major Hawley is a very honest Man sure he was ever heretofore esteemed very Loyal T. I have reason to believe that his old Loyalty and somewhat else hath run him into such Service as argues him not of that Character some would have him thought and of my Opinion you will be when you have heard what is said against him in this Case But as a farther Argument of this Razor 's being thrown out of my Lord's Chamber Window Pray read this Information G. J. L. aged about 18 Years declareth That as she was standing upon the high Ground almost over against the Earl of Essex's Lodgings that Morning the Earl died and a little before the Discovery of his Death she saw a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber Window and just before the Razor was thrown out she heard two Shreeks T. That this Girl discovered this to her Aunt the very Morning my Lord died proved by Mrs. G. and others are ready to attest the same At Mr. Braddon's Trial the Girl 's Aunt and one Mr. G. then a Lodger in her Aunt 's House deposed the same L. You have here three Witnesses sworn that this Child related this Story to her Aunt as soon as she came from the Tower. Do you doubt the Truth of what these three Persons have sworn G. I am very well satisfied these three depose the Truth but it may be this Boy might tell the Girl what he saw and so it is
for the Magistracy and the Murder of a Person of so great Quality a State-Prisoner in the State-Prison by virtue of a Secretary of State 's Warrant is proper for a Secretary of State to inquire into especially considering the Relation that this Murder might be supposed to bear towards Persons not of the least Quality nor Matters of the meanest Consideration T. This holds good in the General but there is never a General Rule but hath an Exception and this fell as an Exception under the General Rule for the Quality of the Guilty made this Exception when otherwise there had been none and therefore that Reason which you gave for the Secretary's Inquiry viz. the relation of this Murder to Quality and Matter of Consequence was the only Argument that balked the Inquiry L. Arguments curs'd be such Arguments as are thus grounded upon nothing but Devilish Policy and are altogether inconsistent with and repugnant to that Moral and Common Justice which ought to rule over all Quality and all Matters whatsoever Recommend me to that Minister of State which ever rejects such Arguments and with Courage and Integrity inviolably observes that brave Moral Maxim Fiat Justitia ruat Coelum T. May we be ever blessed with such a Soveraign and such Ministers of State and Judges under him L. Did my Lord Sunderland think it proper to take those Depositions next morning T. You will soon hear how they were taken The next morning Mr. Braddon carri'd the young Edwards and his Sister who could testify the same with the Mother then sick in Bed to my Lord Sunderland's Office. His Lordship being then in Council Mr. Mountstephens gave his Lordship notice of Mr. Braddon's coming immediately upon which Mr. Atterbury the Messenger was sent to take Mr. Braddon into Custody L. This I suppose was after the Boy and his Sister had been examined T. No before either of these had been seen by my Lord or examined by any G. What colour of Commitment was there when nothing had been sworn or so much as declared against this Gentleman L. He was Committed because the matter all Circumstances considered declared almost ex Rei Natura against one who in this respect was troubled with a Nolo me tangere which this Gentleman would have had searched and lanc'd a thing by no means to be indured Pray Proceed T. Mr. Braddon was called in before the Council before either the Boy or his Sister and in some heat asked What made him stir in that Business L. I never before thought the Discovery of a Murder had been the Disinterest of the Crown in whose behalf all Criminals are prosecuted T. As there hath been heretofore a great Difference between the Church of Rome and the Court of Rome so have we lately seen the day when the Crown and the Crowned Head have been Diametrically opposite The Crown the legal Prerogative I mean could do no wrong but the Head that wore it hath done a World of mischief The Judges did not obey the Crown the Rightful Sovereignty when they illegally destroyed Charters nor were those vile Varlets that suborned Witnesses truly Loyal or those Mercenary Judges Council and Jury who in contradiction to their own Consciences seemed to believe those State-hired-Hackney-thorough-paced-perjured-Caitifs who judicially murdered Men 'T was not the Crown but he who possessed it that dispenced with all Law by an unjust usurp'd Prerogative the Peoples Rights being ravished from them and sold to James the Second by the Corruption of that Bench who as an Honourable Brave English-Liberty-Property-Martyr truly said had before been Scandals to the Bar. It was not the Crown but the Crowned Head that by an Illegal Arbitrary Power and not Authority sent those worthy brave true English Spirits the most Reverend his Grace and the Right Reverend the other Six Bishops to the Tower for humbly offering their Reasons for their Non-compliance with what in Consequence would have levelled all Fences to Property Liberty and Life neither of which had that power in its largest Extent been compli'd with could we have possessed but by such a precarious Right as a Royal Arbitrary Ipse Dixit at all times would have bar'd and had not the Crown the uncorrupt Regal Authority as truly stated by those Learned Councils in this Eminent Tryal acquitted these ever-to-be remembered Pillars from any Violation of Reflection upon its Just Rights the Head that wore it would soon Gradatim have rob'd those Noble Couragious Church and State Confessors of their high Characters Liberties Priviledges and Immunities whether Ecclesiastical or Civil for I believe an Imprisoned Bishop under Conviction and Judgment and no Bishop is no farther distant than a King's Prison and Grave and therein ingratefully ruined the Chief of that Church which through their too great Charity for his Person had not only secured the Crown to him in Succession when others whose Charity blinded not their Judgments would have prudently foreclosed his Title but likewise in 1685. fixed and settled it when threatned with that storn which none but such thus ungratefully requited could have diverted In this the common Proverb was verified Periet quod facies Ingrato Or Save a c. L. What other Reason did Mr. Braddon give for his stirring than his being imployed by the Family T. That was one reason that he proceeded but it was not the reason which first engaged him and therefore in answer to this Mr. Braddon told that Honourable Board That he was altogether unrelated to and unobliged by that Honourable Family so that there lay no more personal engagement in him first to move than upon any Man whatsoever who might meet with the same Information He declared it was his love to Truth and Justice that therein first moved him and as he was a Christian he thought himself bound in duty to do what he had done and through the Grace of God his Duty therein he would do though Death stared him in the Face every step he made L. May the like Principle still continue in him T. Mr. Braddon then pulled out of his Pocket the Coroner's Inquest and the Information of Paul Bomeny and Russel which you have before heard and told that Honourable Board That there were such Incoherencies and indeed Contradictions Sworn before the Coroner by these two which endeavoured to prove the Self-murder they being attending on my Lord at his Death that they seemed in such their Contradictions to confirm what the Boys Relation argued for and thereupon made his Observations upon some of those Incoherencies you have before at large heard related G. What was said in answer to this T. As soon as Mr. Braddon had made these Observations His Royal Highness called for the Informations which were accordingly delivered him and Mr. Braddon expected His Highness would have said somewhat in answer to what was so observed L. Truly I think His Highness might be the least Stranger to what these men had Sworn for from what I have heard I
Foot distant from the Closet-door where the Body lay and no noise of my Lord's Death till after the Maid carried up the Razor which Maid thereupon first discovered my Lord's Death And as yet other Arguments of the Perjury of these perfidious Villains add the Mathematical Impossibility of the Wound seeing not above two Inches of the Razor must be without my Lord's Hand had he done it himself and yet the Wound above three Inches deep Moreover by many Eminent Doctors and Chyrurgions the Wound is thought to be naturally Impossible to have been done by my Lord himself because upon cutting the first Jugular Artery such an Effusion of Blood and Spirit would have immediately thereupon followed that Nature would not have been strong enough for to cut through the other Jugular Artery to the Neck-bone on the other side much less to make so many and so large Notches in the Razor against the Neck-bone as an old Foolish or K Chyrurgion suggested to the Coroncis Jury Wherefore by what is before observed as to the many Contradictions it plainly appears that these three as it is said in the History of Susanna Verse 61. are convicted of false Relations by their own Mouths and those other Arguments before observed are further Detections of these three Men's Perjuries It then remains as at first viz. That here is a Body found Dead by violent Hands and the manner of the Death not discovered for it can't be according to these three Mens Relations for the Reasons before observed The Conclusion that the Law makes in such Cases in this therefore holds good viz. That this Honourable Lord was Murdered by the violent and cruel Hands of barbarous and bloody minded Men. Secondly For the Proof of the Murder In this I shall first consider what is most material which passed before my Lord's Death Secondly The day of his Death And then Thirdly and Lastly After the day of his Death The First Before my Lord's Death I shall consider First The previous Resolutions by Papists to cut my Lord's Throat And then Secondly The many previous Reports before my Lord's Death that his Lordship had cut his Throat in the Tower. For the first of these D. S. declares That about nine Days before the Death of the late Earl of Essex she heard several Papists consulting together concerning the said Earl And this Informant heard them say the Earl of Essex was to be taken off and that they had been with His Highness and His Highness was first for Poysoning the Earl but that manner of Death being objected against it was then said one did propose to His Highness Stabbing the Earl but this way His Highness did not like at length His Highness concluded and ordered his Throat to be cut and His Highness had promised to be there when it was done Some few days after some of the aforesaid Persons declared It was resolved the Earl's Throat should be cut but they would give it out that he had done it himself and if any should deny it they would take them and punish them for it Secondly For the previous Reports before my Lord's Death It 's proved by eight several Witnesses That before the Earl's Death or before it could be known it was Reported That the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat in the Tower amongst the rest it was at Froome which is about an hundred Miles from London the Wednesday Morning and at the same time at Andover about Sixty Miles from London tho at neither of these Places especially the former could it then be known that the Earl was a Prisoner in the Tower his Lordship being not committed to the Tower till the Tuesday in the Afternoon All these Reports agreed in the manner How viz. cutting his Throat and the place Where viz. the Tower and which is further at Andover the Wednesday Morning before my Lord's Death it was reported not only in the manner How and place Where but likewise the pretendded Reason Wherefore was given for it was then and there said That the Earl of Essex being a Prisoner in the Tower and understanding that the K. and Duke were come into the Tower his Lordship was afraid the K. would have come up into his Chamber and seen him of which his Lordship's Guilt and Shame would not bear the thoughts and therefore he did cut his Throat to avoid it This being declared two days before my Lord's Death when it could not have been in the least fore-thought that the King and Duke would have come together into the Tower where they had not been above twice together since the Restoration I say This previous Report which so particularly cloathed this Action with the how where and wherefore clearly proves That all things were so resolved upon to be done or otherwise it is impossible it should have been reported under these three Essential Qualifications as to Manner Place and Reason before it was indeed done especially at Andover where it could not then be supposed to be known that my Lord was so much as a Prisoner in the Tower this Reason the Papists themselves gave out just after my Lord's Death Secondly What passed the day my Lord died These then attending on my Lord viz. Russel and Monday the Warders Bomeny the Servant and Lloyd the Centinel at the Door did all deny that day my Lord died that there were 〈◊〉 any Men let into my Lord's Lodgings that Morning before my Lord's Death But it now appears That there were some Ruffians a little before my Lords Death sent into his Lodgings to Murder him which they did accordingly R. M. a Soldier in the Tower that Morning my Lord of Essex was Murdered about one of the Clock that very day nigh Aldgate told B. and his Wife That the Earl of Essex did not cut his own Throat but was barbarously Murdered by his Royal Highness's Order For the said Meake declared That just before the Earl's Murder His Highness sent two Men to the Earl's Lodgings to Murder him which after they had done they threw the Razor out of the Window Likewise a Soldier that Morning in the Tower about Eleven of the Clock that very Morning my Lord died in Baldwins Gardens informed G. and H. That the Earl of Essex did not cut his own Throat but was barbarously Murdered by his Royal Highness's own Order For the said R. then declared That a little before the Earls Murder his Royal Highness parted a little way from His Majesty and then two Men were sent into the Earls Lodgings to Murder my Lord which when they had done they did again return to his Highness Mr. E. declares That he saw his Royal Highness just before the Earl's Death part a little from his Majesty and then beckoned to two Gentlemen to come to him who came accordingly His Highness thereupon sent them towards the Earl of Essex 's Lodgings and about a quarter of an hour after this Informant saw these very two Men return to His Highness