Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	duke_n	earl_n	norfolk_n	14,633	5	11.9644	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B12208	The copie of a leter, vvryten by a Master of Arte of Cambrige, to his friend in London concerning some talke past of late betvven tvvo vvorshipful and graue men, about the present state, and some procedinges of the Erle of Leycester and his friendes in England. Conceyued, spoken and publyshed, vvyth most earnest protestation of al duetyful good vvyl and affection, tovvardes her most excellent Ma. and the realm, for vvhose good onely it is made common to many.	Morgan, Thomas, 1543-1606, attributed name.; Parsons, Robert, 1546-1610, attributed name.	1584 (1584)	STC 5742.9; ESTC S108682	125,586	206

and attemptes of thos factious and corrupt men vvas moste scandalous seditious and perilous both to the kinges person and to the Realm being sufficient indeed to alienate vvholie the yong Prince from al affection to our religion vvhen he shal see the chiefe professours therof to behaue them selues so vnduetifulie tovvards him GENTL That is the thing vvhich thes men his competitours moste desire quoth the Gentleman hoping therby to procure him moste euil vvil daunger Treasons Plotted Against the K. of Scottes both at home frō Englād For vvhich cause also they haue practized so manie plotes treacheries vvith his ovvn subiectes against him hoping by that meanes to bring the one in distrust and hatred of the other and consequentlie the king in daunger of destruction by his ovvn And in this machination they haue behaued them selues so dexterouslie so couertlie vsed the manage and cōtriuing herof and so cunninglye conueied the execution of many thinges as it might indeed seme aparent vnto the yong king that the vvhole plot of treasons against his Realm person doth come from England therby to driue him into ielousie of our state our state of him and al this for their ovvn profit Neither is this anie nevv deuice of my Lord of Leycester to dravv men for his ovvn gaine into daunger hatred vvith the state vnder other pretences For I could tel you diuers stories and stratagemes of his cunning in this kinde and the one far different from the other in deuice but yet al to one end I haue a friend yet liuing that vvas tovvardes the olde Earle of Arundel in good credit and by that meanes had occasion to deal vvith the late Duke of Norfolke in his chiefest affaires before his troubles This mā is vvount to report straunge thinges from the Dukes ovvn mouth of my Lord Leycester cunning deuice for ouerthrovvīg the Duke of Norforke of Leycesters moste treacherous dealing tovvardes him for gayning of his blood as after apeared albeit the Duke vvhen he reported the same mistrusted not so much my Lordes malice therin But the summe of al is this in effect that Leycester hauing a secret desire to pul dovvn the said Duke to the end that he might haue no man aboue him selfe to hinder him in that vvhich he moste desireth by a thovvsand cūning deuises drevv in the Duke to the cogitation of that mariage vvyth the Q. of Scotland vvhich aftervvard vvas the cause or occasion of his ruine And he behaued him self so dexterouslie in this drift by setting on the Duke on the The impudencie of Iudas one side and intrapping him on the other as Iudas him self neuer played his parte more cunninglie vvhen he supped vvyth his master and set him self so nere as he dipped his spoone in the same dishe durst before others aske vvho should betraye him meaning that night to do it him self as he shevved soone after supper vvhē he came as a Captaine vvyth a band of conspiratours and vvyth a courteous kisse deliuered his person into the hādes of thē vvhō he vvel knevv to thirst after his blood The very like did the Erle of Leycester vvyth the Duke of Norfolk for the arte of treason though in the parties betrayed ther vvere great difference of innocēcie Namely at one time vvhen her Ma. vvas at Basing in Hampshire the Duke attēded their lo haue audience vvyth great indifferencie in him self to folovv or leaue of his sute for mariage for The speaches of Leices to the D. of Norfolk that novv he began to suspect her Ma. liked not greatlie therof my Lord of Leicester came to him and counsayled him in anie case to perseuere not to relent assuring him vvyth manie othes and protestations that her Ma. must should be brought to alovv therof vvhether she vvould or no and that him self vvould scale that purpose vvyth his blood Neither vvas it to be suffred that her Ma. should haue her vvil herein vvyth manie other like speaches to this purpose vvhich the Duke repeated againe then presentlie to my said friend vvyth often laying his hand vpon his bosome and saing I haue here vvhich assureth me sufficientlie of the fidelitie of my L. of Leycester meaning not onlie the foresaid speeches but also diuers letters vvhich he had vvriten to the Duke of that effect Ley. cousynage of the Quene as likevvise he had done to some other person of more importaunce in the Realm vvhich matter comming aftervvard to light he cousyned most notablie her Ma. by shevving her a reformed copie of the said letter for the letter it self But novv hovv vvel he performed his promis in dealing vvyth her Ma. for the Duke or against the Duke in this matter her highnes can best tel and the euent it self shevved For the Duke being admitted soone after to her Ma. speech at an other place and receyuing a far other ansvvere then he had in hope conceyued vpon Leycester promisses retired him self to London vvhere the same night folovving he receyued letters both from Leycester The Duke of Norfolks flyīg into Norfolk and Syr Nicholas Throgmarton vpon Leycesters instigation for they vvere at that tyme both friēdes and of a faction that he should presentlie flee into Norfolk as he did vvhich vvas the last and final complement of al Leycesters former deuices vvherby to plunge his friende ouer the eares in suspition and disgrace in such sorte as he should neuer be able to dravv him self out of the ditch againe as indeed he vvas not but died in the same And herein you see also the same subbtile Machauilian Machauellian Sleyghtes sleight vvhich Imentioned before of driuing men to attēpt somevvhat vvherby they may incur daunger or remaine in perpetual suspition or disgrace And this practize he hath long vsed and doth daylie against such as he hath vvil to destroye As for example VVhat say you to the Leycester deuises for the overthrovv of Syr Christopher Hatton deuice he had of late to intrap his vvel deseruing friende Sir Christopher Hatton in the matter of Hall his Priest vvhom he vvould haue had Sir Christopher to send avvay hide being touched and detected in the case of Ardent therby to haue dravven in Sir Christopher him self as Sir Charles Candis he can vvel declare yf it please him being accessarie to this plot for the ouerthrovv of Sir Christopher To vvhich intent moste diuelishe drift perteyned I doubt not yf the matter vvere duelie examined the late interception of letters in Paris from one Aldred of Lyons then in Rome to Henrie Vmpton seruaunt to Sir Christopher in vvhich letters Sir Christopher is reported to be of such credit and special fauour in Rome as if he vvere the greatest Papist in England VVhat meaneth also thes pernitious late dealīges Leycester deuises against the Earle of Shrevvsburie against the Earle of Shrevvsburie a man of the moste auncient and vvorthiest nobilitie of our Realm vvhat

ovvn nation And therin and othervvise onelie about the same quarrel vvere slaine murdered made avvay about 9. or 10. kinges kinges sonnes besides aboue fortie Earles Marquesses Dukes of name but manie mo Lordes knights and great Gentlemen and Captaines and of the common people vvithout nūber and by particular cōiecture verie neare tvvo hundreth thousand The battaile by Tadcaster on palme Sō daye An. 1460. For that in one battaile foughten by K. Edvvard the fourth ther are recorded to be slaine on both partes fiue thirtie thousand seuen hundreth and eleuen persons besides other vvounded and taker prisoners to be put to death aftervvard at the pleasure of the Conquerour at diuers battails after ten thousand slaine at a battaile As in thos of Barner Tukesbury foughten both in one yeare This suffred our afflicted countrie in thos dayes by this infortunat and deadlie contention vvhich could neuer be ended but by the happy cōiunction of thos tvvo houses to gether in Henry the seuēth neither yet so as appeareth by Chronicle vntil as I haue said the state had cut of the issue male of the Duke of Clarēce vvho vvas cause of diuers perils to K. Henrie the seuenth though he vvere in prison By vvhos sister the faction of Huntington at this day doth seeke to raise vp the same contention againe vvith far greater daunger both to the Realm and to her Ma. that novv reigneth then euer before And for the Realm it is euident by that it giueth The daūger of Hūtingtons claime to the Realm to hir Ma roome to straūgers Competitours of the house of Lancaster better able to mainteine their ovvn title by svvorde then euer vvas any of that linage before them And for her Ma. perril present it is nothing hard to cōiecture seing the same title in the forsaid Erle of VVarvvik vvas so daūgerous and troublesome to her graundfather by vvhō she holdeth as he vvas faine tvvice to take armes in defence of his right against the said title vvhich vvas in thos dayes preferred aduaunced by the friēdes of Clarence before that of Hērie as also this of Huntington is at this daye by his faction before that of her Ma. though neuer so vniustlie LAVV. Touching Huntingtons title before her Ma. quoth the Lavver I vvil say nothing be cause in reasō I se not by vvhat pretēce in the vvorld he may thrust him self so far foorth seing her Ma. is descēded not onelie of the house of Lancaster but also before him moste apparentlie from the house of Hovv Hūtington maketh his title before her Maiestie York it self as from the eldest daughter of king Edvvard the fourth being the eldest brother of that house VVheras Huntington claimeth onelie by the daughter of George Duke of Clarence the yonger brother Marie yet I must cōfesse that if the Earle of VVarvviks title vvere better then that of K. Henrie the seuēth vvhich is moste false though manie attempted to defend the same by svvord then hath Huntington some vvronge at this daye by her Ma. Albeit in verie trueth the † The moste of Hūtingtōs ancetours by vvhō he maketh title attainted of treason attaintes of so manie of his auncestors by vvhom he clameth vvould ansvvere him also sufficientlie in that behalf if his title vvere othervvise allovvable But I knovv besides this they haue an other fetch Th● in famous deuice of K. Rich. the third allovved by Huntington of K. Richard the thirde vvherby he vvould nedes proue his elder brother kīg Edvvard to be a Bastard cōsequētlie his vvhole line asvvel male as female to be void VVhich deuise though it be ridiculous and vvas at the tyme vvhen it vvas first inuented yet as Richard foūd at that tyme a Doctor Shavve that shamed not to publish and defend the same at Paules Crosse in a Sermon and Iohn of Northumberland Anno. 1. Mariae my L. of Leycesters father founde out diuers preachers in his tyme to set vp the title of Suffolk and to debase the right of king Henries daughter both in London Cambridge Oxeforde and other places moste apparentlie against al lavve and reason so I dout not but thes mē vvould finde out also both Shavves Sandes and others to set out the title of Clarēce before the vvhole interest of K. Henrie the seuēth his posteritie if occasion serued VVhich is a point of importance to be considered A point to be noted by her Ma. by her Ma. albeit for my parte I meane not novv to stād thervpon but onlie vpon that other of the house of Lancaster as I haue said For as that moste honorable lavvful and happie coniunction of the tvvo aduetsarie houses in king Henrie the seuenth and his vvife made an end of the shedding of English blood vvithin it The ioyninge of bothe hovvses self brought vs rhat moste desired peace vvhich euer sithence vve haue enioied by the reigne of their tvvo moste noble issue so the plot that novv is in hand for the cutting of the residue of that issue and for recalling backe of the vvhole title to the onelie house of Yorke againe is like to plunge vs deeper then euer in ciuile discorde and to make vs the bayte of al forreine Princes seing ther be among them at this daye some of no small The Line of Portugalle povver as I haue said vvho pretend to be the next heires by the house of Lancaster and consequentlie are not like to giue ouer or abandone their ovvn right if once the doore be opened to contention for the same by disanulling the Line of K. Henrie the seuenth vvherin onelie the keies of al concord remaine knit together And albeit I knovv vvel that such as be of my Lord of Huntingtons partie vvil make small accompte of the title of Lancaster as lesse rightfull a great deale then that of Yorke and I for my parte meane not greatlie to auovve the same as novv it is placed being my selfe no fauourer of forreine titles yet indifferent men haue to consider hovv it vvas taken in tymes paste and hovv it may againe in tyme to come if contention should arise hovv manie Noble personnages The olde estimation of the house of Lancaster of our Realm did offer them selues to die in defence therof hovv manie othes lavves vvere giuen receiued throughout the Realm for maītenaunce of the same against the other house of York for euer hovv manie vvorthy kinges vvere Crovvned reigned of that house race to vvit the fovver moste noble Hēries one after an other the fourth the fift the sixt and the seuenth vvho both in nūber Gouernment Sanctitie Courage and feares of armes vvere nothing inferior yf not superior to thos of the other house and lyne of Yorke after the diuision betvvene the families It is to be considered also as a special signe of the fauour and affectiō of oure vvhole natiō vnto that familie that Henrie Earle of Richmond though

meane the practizes vvyth his nearest both in bed and blood against him vvhat meane thes moste false and slaunderous rumours cast abrode of late of his disloyal demeanure tovvardes her Ma. and his countrie vvyth the great prisoner commited to his charge Is al this to anie other end but onlie to driue him to some impatience and therby to cōmit or say some thing vvhich may open the gate vnto his ruyn Diuers other thinges could I recite of his behauiour tovvardes other noble men of the Realm vvho liue abrode in their countries much iniuried malcontented by his insolencie albeit in respect of his present povver they dare not complaine And surelie it is straunge to see hovv litle accompt he maketh Ley contempt of the anciēt Nobility of Englād of al the auncient nobilitie of our Realm hovv he contemneth derideth debaseth them vvhich is the fashion of al such as meane to vsurp to the end they may haue none vvho shal not acknovvledge their first begīning aduancemēt from thē selues LAVV. Not onlie vsurpers quoth the Lavvier but al others vvho rise and moūte aloft frō base lynage be ordinarilie moste cōtemptuous contumelious and insolēt against others of more antiquitie And this vvas euident in this mans father vvho being a Nevv mē most cōtēptuous Buck of the first head as you knovv vvas intolerable in contempt of others as appeareth by thos vvhom he trode dovvn of the nobility in his tyme as also by his ordinarie ieastes against the Duke of Somerset and others But among other tymes sitting one daye at his ovvn table as a Councellor told me that vvas present he toke occasion to talke of the Earle of Arundel vvhom he then had D. Dudleys ieste at the Erl. of Arūdel not onlie remoued from the Councell but also put into the Tovver of London being as is vvel knovven the first and chiefest Earle of the Realm And for that the said Earle shevved him self somevvhat sad and afflicted vvith his present state as I maruaile not seing him self in prison and vvythin the compas of so fearce a Bears pavves it pleased this goodlie Duke to vaunt vpon this Earls miserie at his ovvn table as I haue said and asked the noble men and Gentlemen ther present vvhat Creste or Cognizaūce my Lord of Arundel did giue and vvhen euerie one ansvvered that he gaue the vvhite horse I thought so quoth the Duke and not vvythout great cause for as the vvhite Paulfrey vvhen he standeth in the stable is vvel prouendred is proud and fearce and redie to leape vpon euery other horses back stil neying and praunsing and troubling al that stande about him but vvhen he is once out of his hoat stable and depriued a litle of his ease and fat feeding euerie boye may ryde and master him at his pleasure so is it quoth he vvith my Lord of Arundel VVherat manie maruailed that vvere present to heare so insolent speech passe from a man of iudgment against a Peere of the Realm cast into calamitie GENTL But you vvould more haue maruailed quoth the Gentleman if you had sene that vvhich I did aftervvard vvhich vvas the moste base and abiect behauiour of the same Duke to the same Earle of The most abiecte behauior of Duke Dudley in aduerse fortune Arundel at Cambrige and vpon the vvay tovvards London vvhen this Earle vvas sent to apprehend and bring him vp as prisoner Yf I should tel you hovv he fel dovvn on his knees hovv he vvept hovv he besought the said Earle to be good Lord vnto him vvhom a litle before he had so much contemned and reproched you vvould haue said that him self might as vvel be compared to this his vvhite Paulfrey as the other Albeit in this I vvil excuse neither of them both neither almoste anie other of thes great men vvho are so proude and insolent in their prosperous fortune as they are easily led to contemne anie man albeit them selues be moste contemptible of al others vvhen soeuer their fortune begīneth to chaunge so vvil my L. of Leycester be also no doubt at that daye though novv in his vvealth he triumphe ouer al careth not vvhom or hovv manie he offend and iniurie STHOL Sir therin I belieue you quoth I for vve haue had sufficient trial alredie of my Lords fortitude in aduersitie His base and abiect behauiour in Leycester base behauiour in aduersitie his last disgrace about his mariage vvel declared vvhat he vvould do in a matter of more importaunce His favvning flattering of them vvhom he hated most his seruile speeches his feigned dissembled teares are al verie vvel knovven Then Sir Christopher Hatton must needes be inforced to receiue at his handes the honorable and great office of Chamberlanship of Chester for that he Leycester deceyuīg of Syr Christopher Hatton vvould by anie meanes resigne the same vnto him vvhether he vvoulde or no and made him prouide not vvithout his charge to receyue the same though his Lordship neuer meant it as after vvel appeared For that the presente pangue being past it liked my Lord to fulfil the Italian prouerbe of such as in daungers make vovves to sainctes Scampato il pericolo gabbato il Santo the daunger escaped the sainct is deceyued Then and in that necessitie no men of the Realm vvere so much honoured commended and serued by him as the noble Chamberlane deceased and the good L. Treasurer yet liuing to vvhō at a certaine tyme he vvrote a letter in al fraude and base dissimulation and caused the same to be deliuered A pretie shifte of my Lorde of Leyc vvith great cūning in the sight of her Ma. yet so as to shevv a purpose that it should not be seene to the end her highnes might the rather take occasion to cal for the same and reade it as she did For Mistres Fraunces Havvard to vvhō the stratageme vvas cōmitted playing her parte dexterouslie offered to deliuer the same to the L. Treasurer nere the dore of the vvithdravving chāber he thē cumming from her Ma. And to dravv the eye and attentiō of her highnes the more vnto it she let fal the paper before it touched the Treasurers hand and by that occasion brought her Maiestie to cal for the same VVhich after she had red and considered the stile together vvyth the metal and constitution of him that vvrote it to vvhō it vvas sent her highnes could not but break for●h in laughter vvy●h detestation of such absurd and abiect dissimulation saying vnto my L. Treasurer ther present my L. belieue Her Ma speech of Leyce to the Treasurer hī not for if he had you in like case he vvould plaie the Beare vvyth you though at this presēt he favvne vpon you neuer so fast But novv Sir I pray you go forvvard in your speech of Scotland for ther I remember you lefte of vvhen by occasion vve fel into thes digressions VVel then quoth

vigilant an eye to the lateral line of K. Edvvard the fourth by his brother of Clarence as they thought it necessarie not onlie to preuent al euident daungers that might ensue that vvaye but euen the possibilities of al peril as may vvel appeare by the execution of Edvvard Earle of VVarvvike before named sonne and heire to the said Duke of Clarence and of Margaret his sister Countesse of Salisburie vvith the Lord Henrie Montague her sonne by vvhos daughter the Earle Persons executed of the house of Clarēce of Huntington novv claimeth Al vvhich vvere executed for auoiding of inconueniences and that at such tymes vvhen no imminent daunger could be much doubted by that Line especialie by the later And yet novv vvhen one of the same house and line of more habilitie and ambition then euer anie of his auncestors vvere maketh open title and claime to the Crovvn vvith plotes packes and preparations to moste manifest vsurpation against al order al lavv and al rightful succession against a special statute prouided in that behalf yet is he permitted borne out fauored and friended therin and no man so hardie as in defence of her Ma. and Realm to controle him for the same It may be that her Ma. is brought into the same opinion of my L. of Huntingtons fidelitie as Iulius The example of Iulius Caesars destruction Caesar vvas of Marcus Brutus his dearest obliged friend of vvhos ambitious practises and aspiring vvhē Caesar vvas aduertised by his careful friēdes he ansvvered that he vvel knevv Brutus to be ambitious but I am sure quoth he that my Brutus vvil neuer attēpt anie thing for the Empire vvhile Caesar lyueth and after my death let him shift for the same among others as he can But vvhat ensued Surelie I am loth to tel the euent for ominations sake but yet al the vvorld knovveth that ere manie monethes passed this moste Noble and Clement Emperoure vvas pitifulie murdered by the same Brutus and his parteners in the publique Senate vvhen least of al he expected such treason So daungerous a thing it is to be secure in a matter of so great sequele or to trust them vvyth a mans lyfe vvho may pretend preferment or interest by his death VVherfore vvould God her Ma. in this case might be induced to haue such due care regarde of her ovvn estate Royal person as the vveighty moment of the matter requireth vvhich cōteineth the blisse and calamitie of so Noble and vvorthie a kingdom as this is I knovv right vvel that moste excellent natures To much cōfidence very perilous in a Prince are alvvayes furdest of from diffidence in such people as profes loue and are moste bounden by devvtie and so it is euident in her Ma. But yet surelie this confidence so commendable in other men is scarse alovvable often tymes in the person of a Prince for that it goeth accompanied vvyth so great peril as is ineuitable to him that vvil not suspect principallie vvhen daungers are fortolde or presaged as commonlie by Gods appointment they are for the speciall hand he holdeth ouer Princes affaires or vvhen ther is probable coniecture or iust surmise of the same VVe knovv that the forenamed Emperour Caesar had not onlie the vvatning giuen him of the inclination and intent of Brutus to vsurpation but euen the verie day vvhen he vvas going tovvardes the place of his appointed destinie ther vvas giuen vp into his handes a detection of the vvhole treason vvyth request to read the same presentlie vvhich he vpon confidence omitted to do VVe read also of Alexander the great hovv he vvas not The example of Alexāder the great hovv he vvas for tolde his daunger onelie forbidden by a learned man to enter into Babylō vvhether he vvas then going for that ther vvas treason meant agaīst him in the place but also that he vvas foretolde of Antipaters mischieuous meaning against him in particular But the yong Prince hauing so vvel deserued of Antipater could not be brought to mistrust the man that vvas so deare vnto him by that means vvas poisoned in a bāquet by three sōnes of Antipater vvhich vvere of moste credit cōfidence in the kinges Chāber SCHOL Here truelie my hart did somevvhat tremble vvyth feare horrour and detestation of such euentes And I said vnto the Gentleman I beseech you Syr to talke no more of thes matters for I cannot vvel abide to heare them named hoping in the Lord that ther is no cause nor euer shal be to doubt the like in Endland specialie from thes men vvho are so much bounden to her Ma. and Late execution● so forvvard in seeking out and pursueing al such as may be thought to be daungerous to her Ma. person as by the sundrie late executions vve haue seene and by the punishmentes euerie vvaye of Papistes vve may perceyue GENTL Trueth it is quoth the Gentleman that iustice hath bene done vpō diuers of late vvhich cōtenteth me greatlie for the terrour and restreint of others of vvhat sect or religion so euer they be And it is moste necessarie doubtles for the compressing of parties that great vigilance be vsed in that behalf But vvhen I consider that onlie one kinde of men are touched herein and that al speech regarde doubt distrust and vvatche is of them alone vvythout reflexion of eye vpon anie other mens doinges or designementes vvhen I see the double diligence vehemencie of certaine instrumentes vvhich I like not bent vvholie to rayse vvounder and admiration of the people feare terrour and attention to the doeinges sayinges and meaninges Fraude to be feared in putsueing one parte o● faction onlie of one parte or faction alone and of that namlie and onlie vvhich thes cōspiratours esteme for most daungerous and opposite to them selues I am belieue me often tempted to suspect fraude and false measure and that thes men deale as vvolues by nature in other countries are vvount to doe VVhich going together in great numbers to assaile a flock of shepe by night do set some one or tvvo of their cōpanie vpō the vvinde side of the folde a far of vvho partly by their sent other bruteling vvhich of purpose they make may dravv the doggs and shepheardes to pursue them alone vvhiles the The comparison of vvolues Rebels other do enter and slea the vvhole flock Or as rebelles that meaning to surprise a tovvn to turn avvay the inhabitantes from consideration of the daunger from defence of that place vvhere they intend to enter do set on fire some other partes of the tovvn furder of and do sound a false al'arme at some gate vvher is ment least daunger VVhich arte vvas vsed cunninglie by Richard Rychard Duke of York Duke of York in the tyme of K. Henrie the sixt vvhen he to couer his ovvn intent brought al the Realm in doubt of the doinges of Edmond Duke of Sometset his enimie But Iohn of Northumberland father to my

Charles Brandon by the Quene of Fraunce vvas married to the Marques of Dorset vvho after Charles Brandons death vvas made Duke of Suffolk in right of his vvife and vvas beheaded in Q Maries time for his conspiracie vvvth my L of Leycesters father And she had by this man three daughters that is Iane The issue of Fraūcis eldest daughter to Charls Brandō Duke of Suffolk that vvas married to my L. of Leycesters brother proclaimed Queene after king Edvvards death for vvhych both shee and her husbande vvere executed Katherine the second daughter vvho had tvvoe sonnes yet lyuyng by the Earle of Hartford Marie the third daughter vvhich left no children The other daughter of Charles Brandon by the Q. of Fraūce caled Elenor vvas married to George Clifford Earle of Cumberlād vvho left a daughter The issue of ●lenor seconde daughter to Charls Brandō by her named Margaret married to the Earle of Darbye vvhich yet liueth hath issue And this is the title of al the house of Suffolk descended frō the second daughter of K. Henrie the seuēth married as hath bene shevved to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk And by this you see also hovv manie their be vvhoe do thinck ther titles to be far before that of my Lord of Huntingtons if either right Lavv reason or consideration of home affaires may take place in our Realm or yf not yet you cannot but imagine hovv manie great Princes and potentates abrode are like to ioyne and buckle vvyth Huntingtons Line for the preeminence if once the matter fal againe to cōtention by excluding the Line of K. Henry the 7. vvhich God forbid SCHOL Trulie Sir quoth I I vvel perceyue that my Lords turne is not so nighe as I had thought vvhether he exclude the Line of king Henrie or Hūtīg●ō behinde manie other titles no. For if he exclude that then must he enter the Cumbat vvith forraine titlers of the house of Lancaster and if he exclude it not then in al apparence of reason in Lavve to as you haue said the succession of the tvvoe daughters of king Henrie the seuenth vvhich you distingvvishe by the tvvoe names of Scotland and Suffolke muste needes be as clearlie before him and his Line that descendeth onlie from Edvvard the fourth his brother as the Q. title that novv raigneth is before him For that both Scotland Suffolk and her Ma. do hold al by one foundation vvhich is the vnion of both houses and titles together in K. Henry the seuenth her Ma. Graundfather GENTL That is true quoth the Gentleman and euident enough in euery mans eye and therfore no doubt but that as much is meant against her Maiestie yf occasion serue as against the rest that holde by the same title Albeit her Maiesties state the Lorde be praysed be such at this tyme as it is not safitie to pretend so much against her as against the reste vvhat soeuer be meant And that in trueth more should be meante gainst her highnes then against all the rest ther is this reason for that her Maiestie by her present possession letteth more their desires then al the rest together vvyth ther future pretences But as I haue said it is not The pollicie of the Conspirators for the deceyuing of her Maiesty safitie for them nor yet good policie to declare openlie vvhat they meane against her maiestie It is the best vvay for the present to hevve dovvn the rest and to leaue her Maiestie for the laste blovve and vpshoote to their game For vvhich cause they vvill seeme to make great difference at this daye betvvene her Maiesties title and the rest that descende in likevvise from king Henrie the seuenth auovving the one and disalovving the other Albeit my Lord of Leycesters father preferred that of Suffolk vvhen tyme vvas before this of her Ma. and compelled the vvhole Realm to svveare therunto Such is the variable pollicy of men that serue the tyme or rather that serue them selues of al tymes for their purposes SCHOL I remember quoth I that tyme of the Duke vvas present my self at some of his proclamatiōs for that purpose VVherin my L. his sonne that novv liueth being thē a doer as I can tel he vvas I meruaile hovv he can deale so contrarie novv Leycester variabilitie preferring not onlie her Ma. title before that of Suffolk vvherof I vvonder lesse because it is more gainful to him but also an other much furder of But you haue signified the cause in that the tymes are chaūged other bargaines are in hād of more importaunce for him VVherfore leauing this to be considered by others vvhō it cōcerneth I beseech you Sir for that I knovv your vvorship hath bene much conuersant amonge their friendes and fauourers to tel me vvhat are the barres and lettes vvhich they do aleadge vvhy the house of Scotlād and Suffolk descending of K. Henrie the seuēth his daughters should not succed in the Crovvn of England after her Ma. vvho endeth the Line of the same K. by his sonne for in my sight the matter appeareth verie plaine GENTL They vvant not pretences of barres and lettes against them al quoth the Gentleman vvhich I vvil lay dovvn in order as I haue heard thē aleaged Barres pretēded gainst the claime of Scotland Suffolk First in the Line of Scotland theire are thre persōs as you knovv that may pretende right that is the Quene and her sonne by the first mariage of Margaret and Arbella by the second And against the first mariage I heare nothing affirmed but against the tvvoe personnes proceeding therof I heare them aleage three stops one for that they are straūgers Against the Queene of Scotland her sonne borne out of the land and consequentlie incapable of inheritaunce vvythin the same an other for that by a special testament of K. Hērie the eight authorized by tvvoe seueral Parliamentes they are excluded the third for that they are enimies to the religion novv receiued amonge vs therfore to be debarred Against the seconde mariage of Margaret Against Arbella vvyth Archibalde Douglas vvherof Arbella is descended they aleage that the said Archibalde had a former vvyfe at the tyme of that mariage vvhich liued lōg after and so neither that marage lavvful nor the issue therof legitimate The same barre they haue against al the house and Line of Suffolk for first they say that Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk had a knovven vvyfe a liue vvhen he married Marie Queene of Fraunce cōsequentlie that neither the Ladie Fraunces nor Elenore borne of that mariage can be lavvfulie borne And thes is al I can heare them say against the succession Against Darbye of the Coūtesse of Darby descended of Elenore But against my Lord of Hartfords children that come from Fraūces the eldest daughter I heare them aleage tvvo or three bastardies more besides Against the children of Har●ford this of the first mariage

Lord of Leycester vsed the same Duke Dudley arte much more skilfulie vvhen he put al England in a maze and musing of the Protector and of his friēdes as though nothing could be safe about the yong king vntil they vvere suppressed and consequentlie al brought into his ovvn authoritie vvythout obstacle I speak not this to excuse Papistes or to vvyshe them anie vvaye spared vvherin they offend but onlie to signifie that in a countrie A good rule of policie vvher so potent factions be it is not safe to suffer the one to make it selfe so puissant by pursute of the other as aftervvards the Prince must remaine at the deuotion of the stronger but rather as in a bodie molested and troubled vvyth contrarie humours yf al cannot be purged the best Phisick is vvythout al doubt to reduce and holde them at such an equalitie as destruction may not be feared of the predominante LAVV. To this sayd the Lavvyer laughing yea Marie Sir I vvould to God your opinion might preuaile in this matter for then should vve be in other tearmes then novv vve are I vvas not long since in companie of a certaine honorable Ladie of the Court vvho after some speech passed by Gentlemen that vvere present of some aprehended and some executed and such like affaires brak into a great complaint of the present tyme and thervvyth I assure you moued al the hearers to griefe as vvomen you knovv are potēt in styrring of affections and caused them al to vvyshe that her Maiestie had bene nigh to haue heard her vvordes I do vvel remember quoth she the first douzen The spech of a certayne Ladie of the Court. yeares of her highnes reign hovv happie pleasant and quiet they vvere vvith al maner of comfort and consolation Ther vvas no mention then of factions in religion neither vvas anie man much noted or reiected for that cause so other vvyse his conuersation vvere ciuile and courteous No suspition of treason no talke of bloodshed no cōplaint of troubles miseries or vexations Al vvas peace al vvas loue al vvas ioye al vvas delight Her Ma. I am sure toke more recreation at that tyme in one day then she doth novv in a vvhole vveek and vve that serued her highnes enioyed more contentation in a vveek then vve can novv in diuers yeares For novv ther are so manie suspitions euery vvhere for this thing and for that as vve cannot tel vvhom to trust So manie melancholique in the Court that seme malcontented so manie complayning or sueing for their friendes that are in trouble other slip ouer the sea or retire them selues vpon the sudden so manie tales brought vs of this or that daunger of this man suspected of that man sent for vp and such like vnpleasant and vnsauerie stuffe as vve can neuer almoste be merry one vvhole day together VVherfore quoth this Ladie vve that are of her Ma. trayne and special seruice and do not onlie feel thes thinges in our selues but much more in the griefe of her moste excellent Ma. vvhom vve see daylie molested herevvith being one of the best natures I am sure that euer noble Princesse vvas indued vvith al vve cannot but mone to beholde More moderation vvisshed in matters of factiō contentions aduaunced so far foorth as they are and vve could vvish most hartilie that for the time to come thes matters might passe vvith such peace friendship tranquility as they do in other countries vvher difference in religion breaketh not the bande of good felovvship or fidelitie And vvith this in a similing maner she brake of asking pardon of the cōpanie if she had spoken her opinion ouer boldlie like a vvoman To vvhom ansvvered a Courtier that sat next The speache of a Courtier her Madame your Ladiship hath said nothing in this behalf that is not dailie debated among vs in our common speech in Court as you knovv Your desire also herein is a publique desire if it might be brought to passe for ther is no man so simple that seeth not hovv perilous thes cōtentions and deuisions among vs may be in the end And I haue heard diuers Gētlemen that be learned discourse at large vpon this argument aleaging olde examples of the Athenians Lacedemonians Carthagenians and Romans vvho receyued notable dammages and destruction also in the end by their diuisions and factions among them selues and specialie frō thē of their ovvn Cities and Countries vvho vpō The peril of diuisions factions in a common vvealth factiōs liued abroode vvyth forreyners and therby vvere alvvayes as fire-brandes to carrie home the flambe of vvarre vpon their countrie The like they also shevved by the long experiēce of al the great Cities and states of Italie vvhich by their factious and foruscites vvere in cōtinual garboile bloodshed and miserie VVherof our ovvn countrie hath tasted also her parte by the odious contention betvvene the houses of Lancaster and York vvherin it is merueilous to consider vvhat trouble a fevv men often tymes departing out of the Realm vvere able to vvork by the parte of their factiō remaining at home vvhich commōlie encreaseth tovvardes them that are absent by the redines of forreine Princes to receiue alvvaies and comfort such as are discontented in an other state to the ende that by their meanes they might holde an ore in their neighbours bote VVhich Princes that are nigh borderers do alvvayes aboue al other thinges most couet and desire This vvas that courtyers speech reasō vvherby I perceyued that as vvel among them in Court as among vs in the Realm and countrie abrode the The daūgerous sequel of dissentiō in oure Realme present inconueniēce daungerous sequel of this our home dissention is espyed and consequentlie most English hartes inclined to vvishe the remedy or preuention therof by some reasonable moderation or revnion among our selues For that the prosecution of thes differences to extremitie can not but after manie vvoūdes exulceratiōs bring matters finalie to rage furie and most deadlie desperation VVheras on the other side if any svveet qualification or small tolleration among vs vvere admitted ther is no doubt but ●hat affayres vvould passe in our Realm vvyth more quietnes safitie publique vveale of the same then it is like it vvil do long and men vvould easilie be brought that haue English bovvells to ioyne in the preseruation of their countrie from ruing bloodshed and forreine oppression vvhich desperation of factions is vvoūt to procure GENTL I am of your opinion quoth the Gentleman in that for I haue sene the experience therof and al the vvorld beholdeth the same at this day in al the Exāples of tolleration in matters of Reliligion countries of Germanie Polonia Boemland and Hungarie vvher a litle bearing of th' one vvyth th' other hath vvrought them much ease continued them a peace vvherof al Europe besides hath admiration and enuie The first douzen yeares Germany also of her