to raise of these Natures the true values and to receive equal benefit with the rest of the Subjects if the Book had bin since observed which he caused in print And for the Copy-holders of Inheritance who by many Records prove their fines certain they did hereupon offer for their freedome 20.30.40 and 50. years purchase where they could shew probable Records without sine to free themselves The Wastes and Commons were tender Titles Wastes Commons full of murmering and Commotion which truly he never durst offer to inclose Nor to urge the Tenants to become Suitors themselves with whom Commissioners were to be appointed to compound for a part and so he made a good President for the rest The Casual fines Casual fines due to the King out of the private possessions as other Lords have by their Courts of Leets Court Barons and such like and out of publique offences as the King was Parent of the Common-Wealth unto whom belong'd praemium poena These being natures left for the King's bounty he commended them also to Commissioners for a better Revenue to be raised being till his time utterly neglected and almost lost As for the extended Lands where the Officers became indebted to the Crown and made it an Art to have their Lands extended at easy rates He caused the most of these to be surveyed commended the Improvement to Commissioners and commanded the Tenants to appear before them The Improvements of the Customes he advanced from 86000. l. to 120000. l. and from that to 135000. l. by the year He bargained for the River-water to be brought to London River water and so to the driest parts which brought a great yearly value He alwaies incouraged all Industry of Manufactures Manufactures Such Inventions as the Statutes admit and countenance As home-making of Allome Salt by the Sunne Busses for fishing Salt upon Salt by new fires and Inventions Copper and Coperas of Iron and of Steele That the Subjects at home might be set on work and the small Treasure of the Nation kept within It concerned him as Secretary to have Intelligence from all parts of the World Intelligence and Correspondence with all Em bassadours and Forreigne States not to be neglected at any hand which he did at his own cost So did all parts grow confident of such a Councelour And so he kept Rules with the united Provinces whose Friendships he would say much concerned this State I may not forget his Christian care Ireland improved for poor Ireland Plantations there and transplantations of the Natives to advance the Customes there and to abate the charges of the Garisons And he did endeavour and in manner did effect an universall course of Law and Justice in the most barbarous and remote parts of that Nation And now concerning the Court of Wards and Liveries Wards Liveries By constitution of this State all the lands of this Nation are holden by two Tenures By Soccage or by Knights Service By the Plough to feed us or by the Sword to defend us And who so died leaving an Heir within age unable to do this service his Heir and Lands fell both to the Protection of the Soveraign And this in antient time was promiscuously carryed in the Court of Chancery until the middle time of Hon. the 8. when this Court of Wards was first erected Since which time the Masters thereof by favour of the Soveraign did accustome as a bounty of State to grant unto Noble Men the King's Servants and their owne followers both the marriag of the body and the lease of the Lands for a third peny of their true worth But in all humility his Lordship finding the estate in a Retrograde Consumption did with all obedience present his Patent at the Kings feet and so the whole benefit became the profit of the Crown Thus he wrought in the Mine of the State-affaires and wasted his Carkasse with desire to have done better Service in these his offices of Treasurer Secretary and Master of the Wards And yet these were sufficient just and true merits Without Friends Wit or Wealth to raise him so much in his Master's esteem Or without ill offices done by him to this Nation as our Pamphlet will make us believe in many absurd particulars And truly Pam. 11.12 his studious labours in the State brought him the sooner to sicknesse a Consumption of the Lungs wherein he wasted some years and at last by advise for cure at the Bath he took leave of the King who came to visit him at Salisbury-House and with tears at his parting protested to the Lords attending his great losse of the wisest Councelour and best Servant that any Prince in Christendome could Paralel Of whom one saies Tu Pater Patriae Princeps Prudentia cujus Extulit immensum Reges Populósque Britannos His time at the Bath was short being spent to extreamity ere he came thither and returning back by the way he was taken out of his Litter and put himself in his Coach and died afterwards at St. Margarets in the House of that worthy Gentleman Mr. Daniel in May 1612. My Lord Viscount Cramborne now Earle of Salisbury and the Lord Clifford Sir Robert Manton and many more Gentlemen of quality then present whom I saw there He was Imbalmed and after Intomb'd at his Princely Mannor of Hartfield Pamp. 14. A fairer Corps then any brasen face that belies his disease His death was extreame sadnesse to the King and to all his friends and others of worth and honour For in spite of the Pamphleter Pamp. 14. he will be valued as he does confesse Never came a Better The next we meet with is Henry Earle of Northampton Henry Howard Earle of Northampton The Antient and Illustrous family of the Howards were here more Eminent then any other that ushered the King to his Additionall Crownes This Henry Howard was Brother unto Thomas Duke of Norfolke who suffered for his attempt of marriage with the Queen of Scots whilst she was Prisoner here in England Which might be some Motive to induce the King to consider the advance of that family though they were indued with large possessions from their Ancestors The Duke left two Sons Philip Earl of Arundell Thomas Howard Earle of Suffolk afterwards Lord Treasurer Henry Howard their Uncle Pamp. 15 was more wedded to his Book then to the Bed for he died a Bacheler and so had the lesse occasion to advance his fortune by Court-flattery or State-Imployment nor indeed was he ever any Suitor for either He was accounted both wise and learned and therefore out of the Kings great affection to Letters especially when they are met in a Noble Person he was advanced in his Creation of Baron of Marnhill and Earle of Southampton then Pryvy Councelor Lord Privy Seale and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Knight of the Garter He had very plentifull for his single life
forewarning of the Duke of Florence by expresse Message of Sir Henry Wootton to King James a year before his comming to these Kingdomes against Her beloved and undoubted Heir and in Them to destroy the Protestant Religion The most remarkeable was Gowries Conspiracie that of Gowries Conspiracy in Scotland And I never read or hear'd till our Pamphlet That Sir George Hewms his gravity and Wisdome ushered him into the Secrets of the KING therefore and chiefly to make good that story Pamph. 8. The first passage of the Preface Remarkable For of that Nation both the wisest and most honest gave great Credit thereto And the commemoration was advisedly settled by Acts of their Parliament which Anathematize upon Gowries House and Name And Solemnized there and here with Narratives in print of each particular Circumstance and the ground the cause inviting that Treason And truely the Anniversary feast-day in August was usually solemnized to God's Glory by the most Reverend Preachers witnesse those rare Divine Sermons of our Bishop Andrew's and others whose Consciences no doubt were not so large to cozen God Almighty with a fained tale Indeed there might have been more additionall truths annexed to the relation which I have heard to make it more apprehensive to our Pamphleter whose Speculations in this as in other his stories of Court and State took Information belike but in his Office Below-staires And which makes his faith drawe downe the effects of those Sermons for the Father Pamp. 10. as a Cause of the sad Events and sufferings of the Son and us all to this present The Name of Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious until Anno 1568 when Ruthen amongst others confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured much for the Imprisoning Queene Mary Mother to King James In 1582. his sonne William was created Earle Gowry in the time of that King's minority Though the father bore deadly hatred to the King's prosperity And in 1584. himselfe was in actuall Rebellion in which he suffered at Dondee His eldest son John then in travell in Italy returns home to inherit his lands and honours But not one jot changed in disposition from the traiterous wayes of his Predecessors For not long after he falls into this Conspiracy Which is not so antient but that many then and now living can relate and my self have often heard the repetition The House of Gowry were all of them much addicted to Chimistry And these more to the Practise often publishing as such professors usually do more rare experiments then ever could be performed wherein the King a general scholar had little faith But to infuse more credit to the practise Alexander Ruthen the second Brother takes this occasion and withall conspires with Gowry to assassinate the King and taking opportunity in his hunting not far from his house St. Johnstone invites the King to be an eye-witnesse of his productions In their way Sir Thomas Erskin after Lord Kelly overtakes them and others Demanding of the Duke of Lenox then present why Alexander had ingrossed the King's eare to carry him from his sports Peace man said the Duke Wee's all be turned into gold Not far they rid but that the Earle Gowry made good by protestation his Brother's story And thus was the King brought to Guest Neere the end of Dinner at his fruit and the Lords and Waiters gone to eate Alexander begs of the King at this opportunity to withdraw and to be partaker of his Production to the view of that which yet he could not beleeve And up he leades the King into by-lodgings locking each door behind them till they came into a back-Roome Where no sooner entered but that Alexander claps on his Bonnet and with sterne Countenance faces the King and saies Now Sir you must know I had a father whose bloud calls for revenge shed for your sake The King amazed deales gently with his fury excuses the guilt of his death by his then Infancy Advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his Anointed Soveraigne Especially in a cause of his Innocency Pleading the laws of God and Man which so much wrought upon him that he said well I will speak with my Brother And so put the King into a Lobby Room next the Chamber where no sooner entered but that there appeared a fellow weaponed ready for execution to whose custody the King is committed till his return Alexander gone downe the fellow trembles with Reverence puts down his sword and craves pardon which gave the King occasion to worke upon that passion and to aske him whether he resolved to murther him Being assured to the contrary the King gets leave to open a window that looked into a back Court When presently Alexander returnes and tells the King that he must dy But much affrighted at the fellowes countenance with his sword offers violence to the King Which the fellow seemingly opposes and betweene them began a scuffle which gave advantage to the King to cry Treason at the Window which looked into a back Court where Sir Thomas Erskin and one Herries were come In pursuite of the King who was rumored to be gone out the back way to his hunting At the cry of Treason and known to be the King's voice they both hastened up a back staire called the Turnepike being directed by a servant of the house who saw Alexander ascend that way And so forcing some doores they found them above panting with the fray And up comes also at heeles of them John Ramsey after Earle of Holdernesse by them Alexander was soon dispatched Not long after came the Earle Gowry by his double key the first way with a case of Rapiers his usuall weapons and ready drawn To whom Erskin said as to divert his purpose what do you meane my Lord the King is killed for the King was shadowed having cast himselfe upon a Bed from his sight and his cloak was thrown upon the Body of Alexander bleeding on the ground At which Gowry stops sincking the points of his weapons when suddainly Herries strickes at him with a hunting fawchion And Ramsey having his Hawke on his fist casts her off and steps into Gowry and stabs him to the heart and forthwith more Company came up And the truth very notorious then to every eye and eare-witnesse not a few There remained but one younger sonne of that House who though a childe was from that time Imprisoned by Act of their Parliament And so continued afterwards here in the Tower of London until that King's death and the grace of the late King Charles restored him to liberty with a small pension which kept him like a Gentleman to these times But now failing he walks the streets poore but well experienced also in Chimicall Physick and in other parts of Learning Not long after this Conspiracy Herries dies well rewarded John Ramsey hath the Honor of Knighthood with an additional bearing to his Cote of Armes A Hand holding
forth a Dagger reversed proper piercing a bloudy heart The point crowned Empcriall with this Distick Haec Dextra Vindex Principis Patriae Afterward he was created Lord Haddington and Earle of Holdernesse And our Pamphlet bestowes on him this Character A very good Gentleman by nature but in this Story a Lier by practise Pamp. 9. for which all these favours were too little Reward Sir Thomas Erskin was after wards created Earl of Kelly Knight of the Garter Captain of the King's Guard and Groome of the Stoole And the Fellow designed for the Murtherer had a large Pension confirm'd by Act of their Parliament And all these men but Herries were living with other witnesses at King JAME'S journy when he went from hence to visit Scotland and met together by direction at the same House with Ceremony and all of them with a number of Courtiers ascended into the same Roome the bloud yet remaining where the King related the Story and confirmed by them And afterwards kneeling down with tears of Contrition for his Sinnes to God and thankfulnesse for this Mercy using many pious Ejaculations embraced all these Actors in the former Tragedy when the poor fellow also kist the King's hand These circumstances gave occasion then that this whole story was freshly revived to the common Satisfaction of the whole Countrey and our English Courtiers And in especiall unto the very Reverend Bishop and Nobly borne James Mountegue then present to whom the King addressed himself in this Relation and from whose Mouth I received these particulars at his return into England And thus much we have by word of mouth somewhat I shall add out of writings for more satisfaction This Treason was attempted the 4. of August 1600. And though there followed sundry Suspitions and Examination of several other Persons supposed Abbetters Contrivers yet it lay undiscovered tanquamè postliminio untill 8. years after by the circumspection principally of the Earle of Dunbar a man of as great wisdome as those times and that Kingdome could boast of Upon the person of one George Sprot Notary-publick of Ayemouth in Scotland From some words which at first he sparingly or unawares expressed and also by some papers which were found in his House whereof being examin'd with a little adoe he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh the 12. of Aug. 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman Sir William Hart then Lord Justice of Scotland and Principall in all the Acts of Judicature herein And first George Sprot confesseth That he knew perfectly that Robert Logane late of Restalrig was privy and upon foreknowledge of John late Earl of Gowrie's Treasonable Conspiracy That he knew there were divers Letters interchanged betwixt them anent their Treasonable put pose July 1600. which Letters James Bour called Laird Bour Servitor to Restalrig imployed betwixt them and privy to all that arrand had in keeping and shewed the same to Sprot in Fast-Castle That Sprot was present when Bour after 5. daies absence returned with â—nswers by letter from Gowry and staid all night with Restalrig at his house Gunuesgreen rode the next morne to Lothiane where he staid six daies then to Fast-Castle where he abode a short space That he saw and heard Restalrig read these letters which Bour brought back from Gowry and all their Conference there anent And that Bour said Sir if you think to get Commodity by this dealing lay your hand on your heart and that Restalrig answered though he should lose all in the world yet he would passe through with Gowry for that matter would as well content him as the Kingdome To whom Bour said you may do as you please Sir but it is not my Councell that you should be so suddain in that other matter But for the Condition of Darlton I would like very well of it To this Restalrig answered content your self I am not at my wits end That Sprot himself entered into conference with Bour demanding what was to be done between the Earle and the Laird Bour answered that he beleeved that the Laird would get Darlton without gold or silver but he fear'd it would be deerer to him That Sprot inquiring further how that should be done Bour said they have another pie in hand then buying and selling of land But prayed Sprot for God's sake that he would let be and not be troubled with the Lairds business for he fear'd that within few daies the Laird would be landlesse and livelesse And Sprot being demanded afterwards if all these Confessions were true as he would answer upon the salvation of his soul seeing his death was neer approaching Sprot said That he had no desire to live and had care only of cleering his Conscience in the truth And that all the former points and circumstances were true with the depositions made by him the 5. of July last and the whole confession made by him since as he hoped to be saved and which he would seale with his bloud And further being deposed where was now the letter of Restalrig to Gowry He answered That he had this letter amongst other of Restalrig's papers which Bour had in keeping and which Sprot copied out and that he left the principall letter in his Chest amongst his writings when he was taken and brought away and that it is closed and folded in a sheet of paper These depositions made by George Sprot the to of August 1608. and others before being all included in his Indictment following to which for brevity I shall remit the Reader and written by James â—rimrose Clerk of the King's Councell and subscribed Georgè Sprot Present Earl of Dunbar Earl Lothiane Bishop of Rosse Lord Schone Lord Hallo-rod-house Lord Blautire Sir William Hart Lord Justice Mr. John Hall Mr. Patrick Gahoway Mr. Peter Hewet Ministers of Edenburgh and subscribed with all their hands The next day 11. of August Sprot was re-examined and to him declared the assurance of his death and was advis'd not to abuse his Conscience to witnesse untruths and upon the Innocency of the dead or living To which he deposeth That being resolved to die and as he wishes to be participant of Heaven upon the salvation or damnation of his Soul that all that he had deposed were true in every point and circumstance and no untruth in them The next day being the 12. of August 1608. Sprot was presented in Judgement upon Pannell within the Talboth of Edenburgh before Sir William Hart Knight Lord Justice of Scotland assisted with these Persons viz. Alexander Earle of Dunferling Lord Chancelour George Earle of Dunbar Lord Treasurer John Arch-bishop of Glascoe David Bishop of Rosse Gawen Bishop of Galloway Andrew Bishop of Brechine David Earl of Crawford Mark Earl of Lotharine James Lord Abernethie of Saltonne James Lord of Balmerinoth Senitapie Walter Lord Blautire John Lord Burley Sir Richard Coburn Knight Master John Preston Collector Generall
Proclametion That Essex and Southampton were Traitors all those that followed their faction Many dropping from the Crowd there was little defence by his party though some were killed and himselfe forsaken of the wisest He retires back to Queenhithe and so to Essex-house by water where finding the Birds flowen the Councellors released by their Keeper who in hope of pardon accompained them to the Queenes presence discovering so much as he knew concerning his Lord who finding himselfe too weake to withstand the force of a peece of Cannon mounted upon the Church to batter his House He and Southampton yeelded themselves Prisoners to the Tower Arraigned and executed where being arraigned and condemned Southamton had repreeve and after pardon But Essex the reward of his merits and Executed in March 1601. upon the Inner Hill in the Tower to the regret of None either wise or honest Leaving behind him one onely Son the last of his Line William Cecill Cecils Pamp. 10. illustrate from the family of Cecils who suffered persecution in the times of Henry 8. Edward 6. and Queen Mary he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth so soone as she was setled in her Crowne then Secretary and Councellor of State Afterwards created Baron of Burligh Then made Lord Treasurer of England and Knight of the Garter and died Chauncellor of the Vniversity of Cambridge Anno 1598. Intomb'd at Westminster leaving two Sons The elder Thomas was then Lord President of the North And afterwards created Earle of Exeter by King James and privy Councellor of State He died Anno discreet and honourable whom the world could never tax with any taint The other son Robert Sr. Robert Cecill was the second But a true Inheriter of his Fathers wisdome and by him trained up to future perfections of a Judicious States-man after his Knighthood the first imployment from Court for he was not at all bred out of it sent him Assistant with the Earle of Darby Embassadour to the French King At his returne the Queen took him second Secretary with Sir Fr. Walsingham after whose decease he continued Paincipal and so kept it to his death Not relinquishing any Preferment for the Addition of a Creater A remarkeable Note which few men of the Gowne can boast of His Father liv'd to see him setled in these preferments and after Master of the Wards and Liveries These he held to the Queenes death Being in all Her time used amongst the Men of weight as having great sufficiencies from his Instruction who begat him Those offices here in public with perpetual Correspondence by Emissaries of his own into Scotland might no doubt make him capable of Reception with King James who was to be advised by him how to be received here of his people Without any necessity then to make use of Sir George Hewmes or his Initiatiation afterwards with any juggling trickes Pamp 13. his merrits certainly appeared to the King who not onely not diminished his forformer preferments But often added to them even to the day of his death As first Baron of Essenden then Viscount Cranborne after Earle of Salisbury and Knight of the Garter and lastly Lord Treasurer of England He was a Councellor of singular merit A very great discoverer of the late Queens enemies abroad and of private Assinations at home For which She valued him and the Papists hated him which they published by several Manuscripts which I have seen and printed Libels and that most pestilent against his birth and honour threatning to kill him which himselfe answered wisely learnedly and religiously Extant in English and Latine Adversus Perduelles Indeed It behoved the King to bestow upon him the waight of the Treasurers Staffe The Cofers then in some want which the King was not likely soon to Recover but rather to increase in debt having the addition of wife and children to boot And being now come with common opinion into the Capacity by his additional Crownes to reward his old servants and to appear obliging unto new Ones The world wondering at the worth of this great Councellor I know not upon what score our Pamphleter should endeavour to scandal his memory Which he rancks into Numbers of ill Offices to his Nation Pamp. 12. as the burning of a whole cart-load of Parliaments Presidents which no man can be so sottish as to beleeve that knowes the strict concerving of those Records by sworne Officers As for the Baronets Baronets It was the earnest suite of two hundred prime Gentlemen of Birth and estates to my knowledge for I copied the list before ever it came this Lord. And as true it is That this Lord's Reception thereto was in the same words which our Pamphlet puts upon the King That it would discontent the Gentry to which themselves replyed Nay my Lord It will rather satisfie them in advance of Dignity before others who now come behind those Meaner Men whom the King was forced to Knight for his own honor and some merits of theirs having no other Reward or money to spare and therein not much to blame to oblige them that way As for that supposed jugling Pamp. 13. which the Duke of Bullion should discover As it was never known to wiser men So we may take it a devise of his who in these as in other such like of his own may truly merit that Character which he bestowes before On the good Gentleman Pamp. 9. I desire pardon if I speake much and truth in the memory of this Noble Lord being somewhat concerned to speak my owne knowledge I know that this Earle of Salesbury declining his health with continuall labour for the good of this Nation both in the former and in this his Soveraign's Service And am willing to give some light thereof to such as are pleased to read these particulars being an Account of his concernments For first Salisbury his service to the State Mannors Lands he found the King's Mannors and fairest possessions most unsurveyed and uncertain rather by report then by Measure Not more known then by ancient Rents the Estate granted rather by chance then upon knowledge The Custody-Lands Custody-hands antiently termed Crown-Lands much charged upon the Sheriffs yearly discharged by annual pensions A Revenue which seemed decayed by descent of times and worne out of all remembrance these he evermore revived by Commissioners of Asserts The Woods Woods were more uncertain then the rest No man knew the Copices Number of acres growth or value nor of Timber-Trees either Number or worth So as truly he might well find himself in a Wood indeed The Trees wasted without controwle because no Record kept thereof These he caused to be numbred marked and valued easily to be questioned when thereafter missing The Copy-hold Lands Copy-holds where the arbitrary sines ceased by the discretion of the Stewards and did seldome yeeld the Parsons part and that also vanish'd in fees and charges The State was then after like
Aulicus Coquinariae OR A VINDICATION IN ANSWER TO A PAMPHLET ENTITVLED The Court and Character of KING JAMES Pretended to be penned by Sir A. W. and published since his death 1650. Auribus oculisque recepta Nemesis à tergo London Printed for Henry Seile over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1650. ERRATA PAge 5. line 20. which read with p. 7. l. 24. Chimstry r. Chimistry p. 11. l. 15. Turnpike p. 36. l. 24. sore p. 39. l. 10. Tercera's p. 45. l. 1. deserve p. 52. l. 14. Assassinations p. 54. l. 5. to p. 54. l. 7. Exception p. 67. l. 15. the. p. 82. l. 2. leave p. 97. l. 6. of p. 105. l. 24 was p. 120. l. 11. her Preface THere are some Men so delight in sinne who rather than be idle from doing evil will take much pains to scandall the Dead My fear to offend hath withheld my hand a convenient time lest I should fall into the like error with Him that published the Pamphlet Entituled The Court Character of King James and Father 's the Brat upon Sir A. VV And if common fame mistake not the meaning His Parent took rise from Q. Elizabeths Kitchin and left it a Legacy for preferment of his Issue This Man went the same way and by grace of the Court got up to the Green-cloth Jn which place attending King James into Scotland he practised there to libell that Nation which at his return home was found wrapt up in a Record of that Board and by the hand being known to be his he was deservedly removed out as unworthy to eat of his bread whose Birth-right he had so vilely defamed Yet by favour of the King with a piece of money in his Purse and a pension to boot to preserve him loyall during his life though as a bad creditor he took this course to repay him to the purpose And I have heard that in his life he discovered a part of this Peece to his fellow Courtier who earnestly diswaded him not to publish so defective and false a scandall which as it seems in Conscience he so declin'd And therefore my Exception willingly falls upon the practice of the Publisher who by his Additions may abuse us with this false Story which he discovers to the Reader in 5 Remarkable Passages and gives me the occasion to spare my censure on the deceased person but to bestow my unkindness which necessarily intervenes in this Vindication on him who yet lives to make out his bad act with a Reply if he please more Pestilent upon Me. THE CONTENTS QUeen Elizabeth pag. 1 1. Remark Gowryes Conspiracy of the name Ruthens and Family the manner of the Treason and effects afâ—erwards 5 George Sprott Confederate with Gowry his confessions arraignment execution and testimony hereof 16 E. of Essex his Character undertakings Treason and execution 36 Caecils Sir Rob. Caecil his services sicknesse and death 49 Hen. Howard E. of Northampton his character and death 64 James L. Hay E. Carlisle his character Embassies and Interest 67 2. Remark Sir Walter Raleigh his character treason tryall and reprieve observations upon him and his former voyage to Guiana sentence and execution 74 Sir Tho. Lake his character rising ruine with his Wife and Daughter 98 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury and Sir Rob. Carr 110 The Nullity of Essex Marriage with Suffolk's daughter with the Legall proceedings 113 Of Archbishop Abbot 130 Sir Rob. Carr E. of Somerset his Marriage with Essex's Relict 133 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury his imprisonment and poysoned 135 Somerset and his Wifes tryall and Sir Thomas Monson 138 4. Remark Pr. Henry his character sickness disease and death not by poyson 143 Sir Arthur Ingram his condition 158 Sir Lionel Cranfield E. of Middlesex his birth breeding and advance 160 George Villiers his discent and advance a Favorite and Duke of Buckingham occasioning severall narrations c. 164 E. of Nottingham Admirall 169 Egerton Lord Chancellor 171 Bacon Lord Chancellor 171 Buckinghams Kinred 174 Williams Lord Keeper 178 5. Remark Spanish Match the Princes journey into Spaine and return 179 Bristolls concern'd 180 Inicossa Spanish Ambassador 182 Yelverton Attorney Generall 186 King James sicknesse the playster and death not by poyson 192 Conclusion 197 The Character 200 Aulicus Coquinariae OR THE CHARECTER Of Him who SATARIZ'D KING JAMES AND HIS COURT QUeen Elizabeth died Queen Elizabeth Anno Domini 1602. having bin long sick and indeed desperate which gave this State time enough to conclude for his reception the undoubted Heir to these Crownes JAMES then King of Scotland She hath been highly valued since Her death the best of any former Soveraigne over us She was fitted for fortunes Darling but with some Imprisonment the better to mould Her for the Rule and Soveraignty of a Kingdome and for the custody of a Scepter She shewed Her Justice and Piety as a President to posterity She was a Princesse learned even then when Letters had estimation and began them into fashion which brought forth many rare and excellent Men both of the Gowne and of the Sword Some say She had many Favorites but in truth She had none They were neer and dear to Her and to Her affaires as Partners of her care not Minions of phansey And yet such as they were she ever mastered by her own Rules not they Her by their own Wills And she wanted not many of them at need or pleasure She was Magnificent comparativè with other Princes which yet she disposed frugally Having alwaies much to do with little money for truly those either Wise or Gallant Men were never cloied with her Bounty more then in her Grace which with her Mannage passed for good payment The Irish affaires was to her Maligne which drew her Treasure almost dry the only cause of distemper in the State and ended not but with her life At which time she left her Cofers empty and yet her Enemies potent Pamp. 34. And therefore it could be no Treason in them that afterwards councelled the Peace but rather in such who indeavoured then and after the re-establishing a New War Amongst Her Favourites of the Sword none could boast more of her Bounty and Grace Essex Pamp. 10. then the Earle of Essex whose ingrate disposition blown beyond the Compasse of his steere by too much Popularity and Pride cosened him into that absolute Treason against his Soveraigne that notwithstanding many forewarnings of his neerest friends and unwilling Resentments of his deerest Mistresse his open Rebellion at last brought him to publique tryall condemned and executed as the most ingrate that former times could produce Of which we shall take occasion hereafter in some particular Wherein Sir Robert Cecill acted no more then a dutiful Subject Councelour and Judge ought to have done against him and such like of her time evermore attempting by Assassination or Poyson to take away her life As were also the like attempts by others in Scotland witnesse the
you saw And in token of further recompence he gave you twelve pounds of Silver Neverthelesse albeit you know perfectly the whole practise and progresse of all the said Treason from the beginning to the end as also by your Conference with Bour and Logane during all the daies of their lives who lived till the year 1606. or therabouts and so by the space of 6. years you concealed the same and so you was and is art and part of the said Treason and of the concealing and so you ought to suffer under the pain of High Treason To the token that you have not only by your depositions subscribed by you and solemnly made in presence of many of the Lords of his Majestie 's Privy Councell and the Ministers of the Borough of Edenburgh of the dates of the 5.15 and 16. daies of July last past and 10. and 11. of August instant confessed every head point and article of the Indictment abovesaid but also by divers other depositions subscribed by you you have ratifyed the same and sworn constantly to abide thereat and to seal the same with your bloud Which Indictment being read openly before Sprot was put to the knowledge of Inquest he confess'd the same and every point to be true And therefore the Indictment was put to the Inquest of the honest famous and discreet Persons that is to say William Trumball of Ardre William Fisher Merchant and Burgesse of Edenburgh Rob. Short there Ed. Johnstone Merchant Burgess there Harb Maxwel of Cavens Ja. Tennent of Linchouse Wil. Trumbill Burg of Edenburgh Geor. Brown in Gorgy Mill Joh. Hucheson and John Lewes Merch. Burg. of Edenburgh Ja. Somervill Wil. Swinton of the same John Crunison of Dirlton Th. Smith John Cowtis Burg. of Edenburgh Which Persons of Inquest sworn and admitted and reading over the same Indictment again in his and their presence the said George Sprot confessed the same to be true Whereupon the said Sir Thomas Hamilton his Majesties Advocate asked act and Instrument and therefore the Inquest removed to the Inquest-House and elected Harbert Maxwell to be their Chancelour or Foreman And after mature deliberation they all re-entred againe in Court where the said Foreman declared the said George Sprot to be guilty filed and convict of Art and Part of the said Treason for which cause the said Justice by the mouth of the Demster of Court by sentence and Doom ordained the said George Sprot to be taken to the Market Crosse of Edenburgh and there to be hanged upon a Gibbet till he be dead and thereafter his head to be stricken off and his body to be quartered and demeaned as a Traytor and his head to be set up upon a prick of Iron upon the highest part of the Talboth of Edenburgh where the Traytor Gowrie and other Conspiratours heads stand and his lands and goods forfeited and escheat to our Soveraign Lord the King's use Extractum de Libro Actorum Adjornalis S. D. N. Regis per me D. Johannem Coburne de Ormeston Milifem Clericum Institiarii ejusdem generalem Sub meis signo subscriptione manualibus And so was George Sprot conveyed to a private house remaining at his Meditations and afterwards conferred with the Ministers confessing all aforesaid with extreame humiliation and prayer Afterwards ganging up the ladder with his hands loose and untyed he was again put in mind of the truth of his Confessions He for the greater assurance thereof perform'd an act marvelous promising by God's assistance to give them an evident Token before the yielding up of his Spirit which was when he had hung a very good while he left up both his hands a good height and clapped them together three severall times to the wonder of thousand Spectators and so dyed For more Confirmation of the afore Narration there was present George Abbot then Doctor in Divinity and Dean of Winchester after Arch-Rishop of Canterbury who was present both at his Examination Execution hath made the same writing and observance even almost verbatim as all the afore specified Relation intends which I can produce also And more one Dr. of Divinity present also saies as much which no doubt is sufficient satisfaction to all reasonable Men that there was such a Conspiracy and not fained Earle of Essex his Treason And now we come to remember the Earl of Essex the universal Love of whose memory was but of such whom he formerly caught by his affected Popularity or of others that followed his Treasonable practises which were grosse enough to be sore apprehended by every faithful Subject especially being prosecuted against the Person of that glorious Sunne his obliging Mistresse Pamp. 10 whom a little before our Pamphlet commemorates with much Passion till now that he comes to Ireason a small fault belike and pardonable in Essex For he saith that King James hated Sir Robert Cecill it seemes for but prosecuting amongst other Councelours and Peers a Traytor 's death Intimating no doubt the King 's impatient desire to inherit these Crownes by any Treason But he spares no Invectives against any of worth or honor that comes in his way This Earle was eldest Sonne to Walter Devoreux Robert E. of Essex of a Norman family Viscount Hereford and Bowrchier Lord Eerrers of Chartley and by Queen Elizabeth created Earle of Essex and Ewe Anno 1572. and Knight of the Garter He was sent into Ireland Lord Marshall against the Rebells and as if but sent of an arrand he presently falls sick and dies at Dublin 1576. His body brought over and intomb'd at Carmarthen in Wales This Robert succeeded his Father's Honours and was looked upon in Court by all with pitty through the Sacrifice of his Father But by the Queen with great affection whome she advanced his fortunes being lowe with many gifts of grace and bounty At his Arraignment accounted to the Lord Treasurer Dorset to be 300000. l. sterling in pure gift for his only use besides the fees of his offices and the disposition of the treasurein his Armies Of all which he soon became a bold ingrosser both of fame and favour And first in Anno 1585. he receaves Knighthood In 1588. Knight of the Garter In 1589. he had command in chief in an Expedition into Portingal against Lisbone In 1595. sworn Councelour of State In 1596. he was sent with a Navy to the Isle Cadiz in Spain and presently after made Lord Marshall of England In 1597. he commanded in another Fleet to the Islands Sercera's his Contemporaries who stood in Competition with him for fame were Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Earle of of Devonshire and Generall Norris Blunt late E. of Dev. his neer friends and yet whom he envied the last to his ruine Men of greater merit and truer value And after the destruction of Norris He takes upon him the Expedition into Ireland the place of Exercise for the best of the Militia And who durst oppose him Though the Queen