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
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
Sir John Skewe Knight Register And he was declared accused and pursued by Sir Thomas Hamilton Knight Advocate to the King for his Highnesse entries of the Crimes contained in his Indictment whereof the tenure follows viz. George Sprot Notary in Aye-mouth You are indicted and accused forasmuch as John sometime Earle of Gowry having most cruelly detestably and treasonably conspired in the moneth of July the year of God 1600. to murther our deere and most gracious Soveraigne the King 's most excellent Majesty And having imparted that divelish purpose to Robert Logaine of Restalrig who allowed of the same and most willingly and readily undertook to be partaker thereof The same comming to your knowledge at the times and in the manner particularly after specified You most unnaturally maliciously and treasonably concealed the same and was art and part thereof in manner following And first In the said moneth of July 1600. after you had perceived and known that divers letters messages had past betwixt the said John somtimes Earl of Gowry and the said Robert Logane of Restalrig you being in the house of Fast-Castle you saw and read a letter written by the said Restalrig with his own hand to the said Earle of Gowry viz. My Lord c. At the receipt of your letter I am so confuted that I can neither utter my joy nor find my selfe sufficiently able to requite your Lordship with due thanks And perswade your Lordship in that matter I shall be as forward for your honour as if it were my own cause And I think there is no Christian that would not be content to revenge that Machiavilian Massacring of our deer Friends yea howbeit it should be to venture and hazard life lands and all things else My heart can bind me to take part in that matter as your Lordship shall find proof thereof But one thing would be done namely that your Lordship should be circumspect and earnest with your Brother that he be not rash in any speeches touching the purpose of Padua And a certain space after the execution of the aforesaid Treason the said Robert Logane having desired the Laird of Bour to deliver to him the said letter or else to burn it and Bour having given to you all tickets and letters which he then had either concerning Restalrig or others to see the same because he could not reade himself you abstracted the above-written letter and retained the same in your own hands and divers times read it containing further to wit My Lord you may easily understand that such a purpose as your Lordship intendeth can not be done rashly but with deliberation And I think for my self that it were most meet to have the men your Lordship spake of ready in a bote or bark and addresse them as if they were taking pastime on the Sea in such faire Summer-time And if your Lordship could think good either your self to come to my house Fast-castle by sea or to send your Brother I should have the house very quiet and well provided after your Lordships advertisement And no others shall have accesse to haunt the place during your being here And if your Lordship doubt of safe landing I shall provide all such necessaries as may serve for your arrival within a flight-shot of the house And perswade your Lordship you shall be as sure and quiet here while we have setled our Plot as if you were in your own Chamber For I trust and am assured we shall have word within few daies from them your Lordship knowes of For I have care to see what ships come home by Your Lordship knows I have kept the Lord Bothwell quietly in this house in his greatest extremity in spite of King and Councell I hope if all things come to pass as I trust they shall to have both your Lordship his Lordship at a good Dinner ere I dy Haec jocose To animate your Lordship I doubt not but all things will be well and I am resolved thereof your Lordship shall not doubt of any thing on my part Peril of life lands honor and goods yea the hazard of hell shall not affray me from that yea though the Scaffold were already set up The sooner the Matter were done it were the better For the King 's Buck-hunting will be shortly and I hope it will prepare some daintier cheer for us to live the next year I remember well my Lord that merry sport which your Lordship's Brother told me of a Noble-Man at Padua for I think that a Parasceve to this purpose My Lord think nothing that I commit the secret hereof to this bearer for I dare not onely venture my life lands honour and all I have else on his credit but I durst hazard my soule in his keeping I am so perswaded of his fidelity And I trow as your Lordship may ask him if it be true he would go to Hell-gates for me and he is not beguiled of my part to him And therefore I doubt not but this will perswade your Lordship to give him trust in this matter as to my self But I pray you direct him home again with all speed possible and give him strait command that he take not a winck sleep till he see me again after he comes from you And as your Lordship desireth in your letter to me either rive or burn this letter or send it back again with the bearer for so is the fashion I grant Restalrig Which letter writ every word with the said Robert Logane's own hand was also so subscribed with this word Restalrig And albeit by the contents of the aforesaid letter you know perfectly the truth of the said most treasonable conspiracy and the said Logane his foreknowledge allowance and guilt thereof like as you were assured of the same by his receiving divers letters sent by Gowry to him and by his returning letters to Gowry for the same purpose and by sundry conferences ferences betwixt Logane and Bour in your presence and hearing concerning the said Treason as well in July preceding the attempt thereof as at divers other times shortly thereafter as likewise by Bour his revealing thereof to you who was upon the knowledge and devise of the Treason and was imployed as ordinary Messenger by Logane to Gowry whereby your knowledge concealing and guilt of the same was undeniable Yeâ— for further manifestation thereof about July 1602. the said Logane shewed unto you that Bour had told him that he had been somewhat rash to let you see a letter which came from Gowry to Logane who then urged you to tell what you understood by the same To whom you answered That you took the meaning thereof to be that he had been upon the councell and purpose of Gowrie's Conspiracy And that he answered you what e're he had done the worst was his own But if you would swear to him that you should never reveale any thing of that matter to any person it should be the best sight that ever
craved leave of the King that he might not attend beyond his Moneth to prejudice the other Clarks Which was excused and he kept still at Court These Sufficiencies of his enabled him in those times of gaining with much repute and direct honesty to purchase large possessions After Ccils death the Place of Secretary as secretary was joyned in two Principals And not long after he was one of them so continued with Honourably esteem of all men until that Malice and Revenge two violent passions over-ruling the Weaker Sexe concerning his wife and daughter involved him into their quarrel the chiefe and onely cause of his ruine He had by his Wife His Ingagement with his wife and daughter sons and daughters His eldest married unto the Lord Baron Rosse in right of a Grand-mother the son of Thomas Earle of Exeter by a former venter And upon the credit of Sir Thomas Lake he was sent Embassadour Extraordinary into Spaine in a very gallant Equipage with some hopes of his own to continue Leiger to save charges of transmitting any other In his absence there fell out an extreame deadly fewd t is no matter for what betweene the Lady Lake and the Countesse of Exeter Against the Countesse of Exeter A youthful widow she had bin and vertuous and so became Bedfellow to this aged gowty diseased but noble Earle And that preferment had made her subject to Envy and Malice Home comes the Lord Rosse from his Embassy when being fallen into some neglect of his wife and his kindred I conceive upon refusal of an increase of allowance to her settlement of joynture which was promised to be compleated at his returne Not long he staies in England but away he gets into Italy turnes a professed Romane Catholick being cousened into that Religion by his publick confident Gondamore In this his last absence never to returne the Mother and daughter the accusation accuse the Countesse of former Incontinencie with the Lord Rosse whilst he was here and that therefore upon his wives discovery he was fled from hence and from her Marriage Bed with other devised Calumnies by several designes and contrivements to have poisoned the Mother and daughter This quarrel was soone blazon'd at Court to the King's eare who as privately as could be singly examines each party The Countesse with teares and Imprecations professeth her Innocency which to oppose the Mother Lake and her daughter counterfeit her hand to a whole sheet of paper wherein they make the Countesse with much contrition to acknowledge her selfe guilty craves pardon for attempting to poisonthem desires friendslsip with them all The King gets sight of this as in favour to them and demands the place time and occasion when this should be writ They tell him that all the parties met in a visit at Wimbleton the house of the Lord of Exeter where in dispute of their differences she confesses her guilt of attempting their poison And being desirous of absolution and friendship being required thereto consents to set down all Circumstances therein under her own hand which presently she writ at the Window in the upper end of the great Chamber at Whimbleton in presence of the Mother and Daughter the Lord Rosse and one Diego a Spaniard his confiding Servant But now they being gone at Rome the King forthwith sends Mr. Dendy one of his Serjeants at Armes sometime a domestick of the Earl of Exeters an honest and worthy Gentleman post to Rome who speedily returnes with Rosse and Diego's hand and other testimonialls confirming That all the said accusation and confession Suspitions and papers concerning the Countesse were notorious false and Scandalous and confirmes it by receiving the Hoast in assurance of her Honour and his Innocency The King well satisfyed sends to the Countesse friends and trusties for her Jointure and Estate who comparing many of her letters with this writing do conclude it counterfeit Then He tells the Mother and Daughter that this writing being denied by her and their testimonies being parties would not prevaile with any belief But any other Additionall Witnesse would give it sufficient credit To which they assure him That one Sarah Swarton their Chamberesse stood behind the hanging at the entrance of the Room and heard the Countesse reade over what she had writ and her also they procure to swear unto this before the King To make further tryal the King in a hunting journy at New Park neer Wimbleton gallops thither viewes the Room observing the great distance of the Window from the lower end of the Room and placing himself behind the hanging and so other Lords in turn they could not hear one speak a loud from the window Then the House-Keeper was call'd who protested those hangings had constantly furnisht that room for 20. years which the King observed to be two foot short of the ground and might discover the woman if hidden behind them I may present also the King saying Oaths cannot confound my sight Besides all this the Mother and Daughter counterfeit another writing a Confession of one Luke Hutton acknowledging for 40. l. annuity the Countesse hired him to poison them which Man with wonderful providence was found out privately and denies it to the King And thus prepared the King sends for Sr. Thomas Lake whom in truth he very much valued tells him the danger to imbark himself in this quarrel advising him to leave them to the law being now ready for the Star-chamber He humbly thanked his Majestie but could not refuse to be a Father and a Husband and so puts his Name with theirs comes to Hearing in Stur chamber in a crosse Bill Which at the hearing took up 5. several daies the King sitting in Judgement But the former testimonies and some private confessions of the Lady Rosse and Sarah Wharton which the King kept in private from publick proceedings made the cause for some of the daies of triall appeared doubtful to the Court untill the King's discovery which concluded the Sentence and was pronounced upon severall Censures Sr. Thomas Lake and his Lady fined 10000. l. to the King five thousand pounds to the Countesse 50. l. to Hutton Sara Wharton to be whipt at a Carts taile about the streets and to do penance at Saint Martin's Church The Lady Rosse for confessing the truth and plot in the midst of the triall was pardoned by the Major Voices from penall Sentence and sentenced The King I remember compared their crimes to the first plot of the first sin in Paradise the Lady Lake to the Serpent her daughter unto Eve Sir Thomas to poor Adam whom he thought in his conscience that his love to his wife had beguiled him I am sure he paid for all which as he told me cost him thirty thousand pounds and the losse of his Masters favour and offices of gaine and honour but truly with much pitty and compassion of the Court. Our Pamphleter Pamp. 57. concerning the
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
of State and Cecil the Imenire facias thereof Sir Walter Ralegh was a Gentleman of good alliance Sr. Walter Ralegh in the west of England and very well descended He began his Improvements by the Vniversity and Inns of Court the latter was alwaies the place of esteem with the Queen which she said fitted youth for the future But he staid not there And as his fate would have him of the Sword first so his destinie drew him on to have a mixt reputation with the Gown For he was often called to Councell but never sworn He was twice in Expeditions of Land-service into Ireland under Generall Norris and Grey a Volunteer in either as also in the Low-Countries and a voiage at Sea ere he was known at Court And such waies as these were his Introductions the best hopes of his rising some Naturall parts he had a good wit and judgement but his best weapon was his tongue which gave him repute to be learned then but after he improved to a great value in his future troubles the best School to a wise man He had a quarrel with Grey in Ireland which being referred to a Councell of Warre it had like to cost him his life But by reference came afterwards to repetition at home before the Lords Grey had the better cause but Ralegh the advantage in pleading who so took them especially Lester that the Queen was told the tale and somewhat more of him And no sooner he came to be known to Her but She took him to grace In whom as in other of the like form their alwaies meet oposites Enemies of greater ranck and they kept him under sometimes in sometimes out which when it fell out to be so he would wisely decline himselfe out of the Court-rode And then you found him not but by fame In voyages to the West Indies Gueana New Plantations Virginia or in some Expeditions against the Spaniard Against whom his and other the like successe of Drake Candish Forlisher Hawkins with other Island-voyages neer home confirm'd Ralegh a grand Opposer of the generall peace which King James brought in with him and that brought Ralegh to his ruin And for all these his good parts he rose to no more then Governor of Jersey Lord Warden of the Stannaries in the West and Captain of the Guard to the Queens person which last place brought him to esteem in the Court but not in the State at all Yet busie he had been heretofore to speak his mind of the Generall affaires and therein he pleased his late Mistresse For then his inclination went with the humour of those times of War But now his Councell came out of season For at the entrance of the King He was presented by Ralegh with a Manuscript of his own against the peace with Spain It was alwaies his table talk to beget the more esteem which took accordingly And the way to make him the contrary was the work of the Spanish faction Either to buy him out of that humour or to abuse him into a worse condition which was thus effected And indeed to mould this Treason His Treason there was a medly of divers conditions but the contrivers were two Priests Watson and Clarke and count Arembergh Embassedor Extraordinary for the Arch-Duke who brought in the Lord Cobham and he his brother George Brooke and he Parham and these the Lord Grey of Wilton Then came in Sir Walter Ralegh the wisest of them all who dallied like the flie with the flame till it consumed him Willing he was it seemes to know it and thought by his wit to over-reach the confederates whom he knew well enough though none but Cobham for a good while dealt with him And with him Ralegh plaid fast and loose till himselfe was caught in the Gin. There was one Mathew De Lawrencie here at London a Merchant of Antwerpe with whom Cobham held Intelligence for many years before for some reasons of State connived at by the late Queen and her Councel This Man was the property whom Arenbergh made use of to Cobham who now was much discontented These 3. made the first step to the contrivement And it hath bin my jealousie that Lawrency betrayed it to this State for I never could be assured how it was discovered though I have bin often present with Sir Walter in his Imprisonment when he privately discoursed hereof But being ripe they were severally examined resirained first to their owne homes not without watchful eyes on either of them then to Imprisonment and lastly to their Tryals at Winchester whither the Terme removed out of this evermore Pestilentiall City And on the 17. November 1602. His arraignment the day of Arraignment for Ralegh and the Jury called to the Bar. Against whose Persons he did not except nor could for they were the most able sufficient in Middlesex where the fact had its scene I shall name them Sir Ralphe Conisby Sir Thomas Fowler Sir Edward Peacock Sir William Roe Knights Henry Godwin Bobert Wood Thomas Walker Thomas Whitley Thomas Highgate Robert Kempton John Chalke and Robert Bromley Esquries The Indictment was managed by the King's Atturney Sir Edward Cook Serjeant Heal and Ser. Philips and drawne from the 9. Iun. 1603. The accusation was double against the King and the State The personall had 2. parts first against his life Secondly to disable his title to this Crowne To the first was read Brookes confession That his Brother Cobham used these speeches That it would never be well till the King and his cubs were taken away and said that he thought it proceeded from Ralegh To this Ralegh answered That Brookes was his enemy It was replyed but Cobham was ever your friend and it would seeme a strange malice in Brooks to ruin his brother to undo you To the second part there was produced a Booke which I have read a defence of the Queens proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots which Cobham confessed Ralegh had delivered to him and he to Brookes and Brookes to Gray upon Cobhams discontent Ralegh acknowledged that it contained matter of scandal to the Kings title And that he had leave of Sir Robert Ceill after his Fathers death to search his study for Cosmographicall Manuscripts of the Wests-Indies and so lighted on this Book Sir Robert Cecill then present upon the Bench acknowledged this lease and said He would then as really have trusted him as any man Sir Robert Cecils words though since for some Infirmities of Sir Walter the bonds of affection were crackt and yet reserving his duty to the King which may not be dispensed withall in this his Masters service he swore by God he loved him and had a great conflict in himself that so compleat a member was fallen from this State And this passage needs no soothing to excuse Cecill either for the Father or the Son For I have heard Sir Robert Cecil when he was Salisbury say publickly at his own table That he