Pikemen and other forces gathered together by the wise and diligent care of the Bishop of London and commanded by sir Iohn Luson and yet attempting to cleere the passage he was with no great difficultie repulsed At which encounter sir Christopher Blunt was fore wounded and yong Tracie slaine on his part and one Waits on the Queenes part and some other Vpon which repulse he went backe and fled towards the Waterside tooke boat at Queene hiue and so was receiued into Essex house at the Watergate which he fortified and baricado'd but instantly the Lord Lieutenant so disposed his Companies as all passage and issue foorth was cut off from him both by land and by water and all succours that hee might hope for were discouraged and leauing the Earle of Cumberland the Earle of Lincolne the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Gray the Lord Burghley and the Lord Compton Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Thomas Gerrard with diuers others before the house to landward my Lord Lieutenant himselfe thought good taking with him the Lord of Effingham Lord Cobham Sir Iohn Stanhope Sir Robert Sidney M. Foulk Greuill with diuers others to assaile the Garden and Banketting house on the Water side and presently forced the Garden and woon to the wals of the house and was ready to haue assailed the house but out of a Christian and honorable consideration vnderstanding that there were in the house the Countesse of Essex and the Ladie Rich with their Gentlewomen let the Earle of Essex know by Sir Robert Sidney that hee was content to suffer the Ladies and gentlewomen to come forth Whereupon Essex returning the Lord Lieutenant thanks for the compassion and care he had of the Ladies desired onely to haue an houres respit to make way for their going out and an houre after to barricado the place againe Which because it could make no alteration to the hinderance of the seruice the L. Lieutenant thought good to grant But Essex hauing had some talke within of a sallie and despairing of the successe and thinking better to yeeld himselfe sent word that vpon some conditions he would yeeld But the L. Lieutenant vtterly refusing to heare of capitulations Essex desired to speake with my Lord who thereupon went vp close to the house and the late Earles of Essex and Southampton with diuers other Lords and Gentlemen their partakers presented themselues vpon the leades and Essex sayd hee would not capitulate but intreat and made three petitions The first That they might be ciuilly vsed Whereof the Lord Lieutenant assured them The second That they might haue an honourable triall Whereof the Lord Lieutenant answered they needed not to doubt The third That he might haue Ashton a Preacher with him in prison for the comfort of his soule Which the Lord Lieutenant said he would mooue to her Maiesty not doubting of the matter of his request though he could not absolutely promise him that person Whereupon they all with the ceremony amongst marshall men accustomed came downe submitted themselues and yeelded vp their swords which was about ten of the clocke at night there hauing beene slaine in holding of the house by musket shot Owen Salisburie and some few more on the part of my Lord and some fewe likewise slaine and hurt on the Queenes part and presently aswell the Lordes as the rest of their confederates of quality were seuerally taken into the charge of diuers particular Lords and Gentlemen and by them conueyed to the Tower and other prisons So as this action so dangerous in respect of the person of the Leader the maner of the combination and the intent of the plot brake forth and ended within the compasse of twelue houres and with the losse of little blood and in such sort as the next day all Courts of Iustice were open and did sit in their accustomed maner giuing good Subiects and all reasonable men iust cause to thinke not the lesse of the offenders treason but the more of her Maiesties princely magnanimitie and prudent foresight in so great a perill and chiefly of Gods goodnesse that hath blessed her Maiesty in this as in many things else with so rare and diuine felicitie THE EFFECT OF the Euidence giuen at the seuerall Arraignments of the late Earls of Essex and Southampton before the L. STEVVARD And of Sir Christopher Blunt and Sir Charles Dauers and others before great and Honourable Commissioners of Dyer and Determiner And of the Answeres and Defenses which the said Offendors made for themselues And the Replies made vpon such their Defenses With some other Circumstances of the proceedings as well at the same Arraignments as after THE two late Earles of Essex and Southampton were brought to their triall the nineteenth of Februarie eleuen dayes after the Rebellion At which trial there passed vpon them 25. Peeres a greater number then hath bene called in any former president Amongst whom her Maiestie did not forbeare to vse many that were of neere alliance and blood to the Earle of Essex and some others that had their sonnes and heires apparant that were of his Company and followed him in the open Action of Rebellion The Lord Steward then in Commission according to the solemnitie in such Trials receiued was the Lord Buckhurst L. high Treasurer who with grauity and temperance directed the Euidence and moderated and gaue the Iudgement There was also an Assistance of eight Iudges the three chiefe fiue others The hearing was with great patience and libertie the ordinary course not being held to silence the Prisoners till the whole state of the Euidence was giuen in but they being suffered to answere articulatly to euery branch of the Euidence and sometimes to euery particular deposition whensoeuer they offered to speake And not so onely but they were often spared to bee interrupte'd euen in their digressions and speeches not much pertinent to their cause And alwayes when any doubt in Law was moued or when it was required either by the Prisoners or the Peeres the Lord Steward required the Iudges to deliuer the Law who gaue their opinions seuerally not barely yea or no but at large with their reasons In the Endictment were not layed or charged the treasons of Ireland because the greatest matter which was the desseigne to bring ouer the Army of Ireland being then not cōfessed nor knowen it was not thought conuenient to stuffe the Enditement with matters which might haue bene conceiued to be chiefly gathered by curious inquisition grounded vpon report or presumptiō when there was other matter so notorious And besides it was not vnlikely that in his case to whom many were so partiall some who would not consider how things came to light by degrees might haue reported that hee was twife called in Question about one offence And therefore the late Treasons of his Rebellion and conspiracie were onely comprehended in the Enditement with the vsuall clauses and consequents in Lawe of compassing the Queenes death destruction and depriuation
should be sent against him And being asked what against the Queenes forces he answered that must haue beene iudged afterwards But being further asked whether he did aduise to come vnto the Court ouer night He saith no. For Sir Ferdinando Gorge did assure that the Alarum was taken of it at the Court and the Guards doubled Being asked whether hee thought any Prince could haue endured to haue any Subiect make the Citie his Mediator or to gather force to speake for him He saith he is not read in stories of former times but he doth not know but that in former times Subiectes haue vsed force for their mediation Being asked what should haue bene done by any of the persons that should haue beene remoued from the Queene He answered that he neuer found my Lord disposed to shed blood but that any that should haue bene found should haue had indifferent triall Being asked vpon his conscience whether the Earle of Essex did not giue him comfort that if he came to authoritie there should bee a toleration for Religion He confesseth he should haue bene to blame to haue denied it Chr. Blunt This was read vnto Sir Christopher Blunt and afterwards signed by him in the presence of vs who are vnder written Io. Herbert Nicho. Kemp. VVil. VVaimarke VVil. Martin Robert Andrewes Iohn Treuor Th. Thorney ¶ The second Confession of Sir Christopher Blunt the same day viz. the 18. of February taken before M. Iohn Herbert second Secretarie of Estate and subscribed by him in the presence of Nicholas Kemp Counsellor at Law Thomas Thorney his Surgeon and William Martin Robert Andrewes and Randolph Bull Citizens SIr Christopher Blunt after the signing of this confession being told that he did not deale plainly excused himselfe by his former weakenesse putting vs in minde that hee said once before that when he was able to speake he would tel all trueth doth now confesse That foure or fiue dayes before the Earle of Essex did rise hee did set downe certaine Articles to bee considered on which hee sawe not vntil afterward he was made acquainted with them when they had amongst themselues disputed which were these One of them was Whether the Tower of London should be taken Another Whether they should not possesse the Court and so secure my Lord and other men to come to the Queene For the first concerning the Tower he did not like it concluding that he that had the power of the Queene should haue that He confesseth that vpon Saturday night when M. Secretary Herbert had bene with the Earle and that hee saw some suspicion was taken hee thought it in vaine to attempt the Court and perswaded him rather to saue himselfe by flight then to ingage himselfe further and all his company And so the resolution of the Earle grewe to go into the Citie in hope as he saide before to finde many friends there Hee doeth also say that the Earle did vsually speake of his purpose to alter the gouernement Chr. Blunt Exam per. Io. Herbert Subscribed in presence of Nico. Kempe Tho. Thorney Rob. Andrewes VV. Martin Randolph Bull. ¶ The Declaration of the Lord Keeper the Earle of Worcester and the L. Chiefe Iustice of England VPon Sunday being the eight of February last past about ten of the clocke in the forenoone the Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Earle of VVorcester Sir VVilliam Knollis Comptroller of her Maiesties Householde and the Lord Chiefe Iustice of England being commaunded by direction from the QVEENES MAIESTIE did repaire to the late earle of Essex his house and finding the gate shut against them after a little stay they were let in at the wicket And assoone as they were within the gate the wicket was shutte vpon them and all their seruants kept out At their comming thither they found the court full of men assembled together in verie tumultuous sort The Earles of Essex Rutland and Southampton and the Lord Sandys Master Parker commonly called Lord Mountegle Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Charles Dauers and manie other Knights and Gentlemen and other persons vnknowen which flocked together about the Lorde Keeper c. And thereupon the Lorde Keeper tolde the Earle of Essex that they were sent from her MAIESTIE to vnderstand the cause of this their assembly and to let them know That if they had any particular cause of griefe against any persons whatsoeuer it should be heard and they should haue iustice Hereupon the Earle of Essex with a very lowd voice declared That his life vvas sought and that hee should haue beene murthered in his bed that he had beene perfidiously dealt vvith that his hand had beene counterfaited and Letters vvritten in his name and that therefore they vvere assembled there together to defend their liues with much other speech to like effect Hereupon the Lord Chiefe Iustice sayd vnto the Earle That if they had any such matter of griefe or if any such matter vvere attempted or purposed against him he vvilled the Earle to declare it assuring him that it should be truely related to her MAIESTIE and that it should be indifferently heard and iustice should be done vvhomsoeuer it concerned To this the Earle of Southampton obiected the assault made vpon him by the Lord Gray Whereunto the Lord Chiefe Iustice sayd That in his case iustice had beene done and the partie imprisoned for it And hereupon the Lord Keeper did eftsoones vvill the Earle of Essex that vvhatsoeuer priuate matter or offence hee had against any person vvhatsoeuer if hee vvould deliuer it vnto them they vvould faithfully and honestly deliuer it to the QVEENES MAIESTY and doubted not to procure him honourable and equall iustice whomsoeuer it concerned requiring him that if hee would not declare it openly that hee woulde impart it vnto them priuatelie and doubted not but they would satisfie him in it Vpon this there was a great clamour raised amongst the multitude crying Away my Lorde They abuse you They betray you They vndoe you You lose time Whereupon the Lord Keeper put on his Hat said with a loud voice My Lord let vs speake with you priuately and vnderstand your griefes And I command you all vpon your allegiance to lay downe your vveapons and to depart vvhich you ought all to doe being thus commanded if you be good Subiects and owe that duetie to the QVEENES MAIESTY which you professe Whereupon they all brake out into an exceeding loud shout and cry crying All all all And whilest the Lord Keeper was speaking and commanding them vpon their allegiance as is before declared the Earle of Essex and the most part of that Company did put on their hats and so the Earle of Essex went into the house and the Lord Keeper c. followed him thinking that his purpose had beene to speake with them priuately as they had required And as they were going some of that disordered Companie cried Kill them And as they were going into the great Chamber some cried Cast the
great Seale out of the window Some other cried there Kill them and some other sayd Nay let vs shop them vp The Lorde Keeper did often call to the Earle of Essex to speake with them priuately thinking still that his meaning had beene so vntill the Earle brought them into his backe Chamber and there gaue order to haue the further doore of that Chamber shut fast And at his going foorth out of that Chamber the Lorde Keeper pressing againe to haue spoken with the Earle of Essex the Earle sayd My Lords be patient a while and stay heere and I will goe into London and take order with the Maior and Shiriffes for the Citie and will be heere againe within this halfe houre And so departed from the Lord Keeper c. leauing the Lord Keeper c and diuers of the Gentlemen Pensioners in that Chamber guarded by Sir Iohn Dauis Francis Tresham and Owen Salisburie with musquet shot where they continued vntill Sir Ferdinando Gorges came and deliuered them about foure of the clocke in the afternoone In the meane time wee did often require Sir Iohn Dauis and Francis Tresham to suffer vs to depart or at the least to suffer some one of vs to go to the QVEENES MAIESTY to informe her vvhere and in what sort we were kept But they answered That my Lord meaning the Earle of Essex had commanded that we should not depart before his returne which they said would be very shortly Thomas Egerton C. S. Edward Worcester Iohn Popham ¶ The examination of Roger Earle of Rutland the 12. of February 1600. taken before Sir Thomas Egerton L. Keeper of the great Seale the L. Buckhurst L. high Treasurer the Earle of Notingham L. high Admirall Sir Robert Cecill Principall Secretary and Sir Io. Popham L. chiefe Iustice of England HE saith that at his comming to Essex house on Sunday morning last he found there with the Earle of Essex the Lord Sandys and the L. Chandos and diuers Knights and gentlemen And the Earle of Essex tolde this Examinate That his life was practised to bee taken away by the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Raleigh when he was sent for to the Counsell And the Earle said That now he meant by the helpe of his friends to defend himselfe And saith that the deteining of the Lord Keeper and the other Lords sent to the Earle from the Queene was a stratageme of warre And saith That the Earle of Essex told him that London stood for him and that Sherife Smith had giuen him intelligence that hee would make as many men to assist him as he could And further the Earle of Essex said That he meant to possesse himselfe of the Citie the better to enable himselfe to reuenge him on his enemies the Lord Cobham Sir Robert Cecil and sir Walter Raleigh And this Examinate confesseth that he resolued to liue and die with the Earle of Essex and that the Earle of Essex did intend to make his forces so strong that her Maiestie should not be able to resist him in the reuenge of his enemies And saith that the Earle of Essex was most inward with the Earle of Southampton Sir Christopher Blunt and others who haue of long time shewed themselues discontented and haue aduised the Earle of Essex to take other courses and to stand vpon his guard And saith that when the Earle of Essex was talking with the L. Keeper and other the Lords sent from her Maiestie diuers sayd My Lord they meane to abuse you you loose time And when the Earle came to Sherife Smiths hee desired him to send for the Lord Maior that hee might speake with him And as the Earle went in the streetes of London this Examinate sayd to diuers of the Citizens that if they would needes come that it was better for their safetie to come with weapons in their hands And saith that the Earle of Essex at the end of the streete where Sherife Smith dwelt cried out to the Citizens That they did him harme for that they came naked and willed them to get them weapons And the Earle of Essex also cried out to the Citizens That the Crowne of England was offred to be solde to the Infanta And saith that the Earle burned diuers papers that were in a little Casket whereof one was as the Earle sayd An historie of his troubles And sayth that when they were assaulted in Essex house after their returne they first resolued to haue made a sallie out And the Earle sayd that he was determined to die and yet in the end they changed their opinion and yeelded And sayth that the Earle of Southampton sir Christopher Blunt and sir Iohn Dauies aduised the Earle of Essex that the Lord Keeper and his company should be deteined And this Examinate sayth that he heard diuers there present cry out Kill them kill them And sayth that he thinketh the Earle of Essex intended that after he had possessed himselfe of the Citie hee would intreat the Lord Keeper and his company to accompany him to the Court Hee sayth hee heard Sir Christopher Blunt say openly in the presence of the Earle of Essex and others how fearefull and in what seuerall humors they should finde them at the Court when they came thither Rutland Exam. per Th. Egerton C. S. T. Buckhurst Notingham Ro Cecill Io. Popham ¶ The Confession of William Lord Sandys of the parish of Sherborne Cowdry in the Countie of Southampton taken this 16. of February 1600. before Sir Iohn Popham L. chiefe Iustice Roger Wilbraham Master of the Requests and Edw. Coke her Maiesties Atturney Generall HE saith that hee neuer vnderstood that the Earle did meane to stand vpon his strength till Sunday in the morning being the eight of this instant Februarie And saith that in the morning of that day this Examinat was sent for by the Earle of Essex about sixe or seuen of the clocke and the Earle sent for him by his seruant Warberton who was married to a widowe in Hampshire And at his comming to the Earle there were sixe or seuen Gentlemen with him but remembreth not what they were and next after of a Noble man came my Lord Chandos and after him came the Earle of Southampton and presently after the Earle of Rutland and after him Master Parker commonly called the Lord Mountegle And sayeth that at his comming to the Earle of Essex he complained That it was practised by Sir Walter Raleigh to haue murdered him as hee should haue gone to the Lord Treasurers house with Master Secretary Herbert And saith that he was present in the Court-yard of Essex house when the Lord Keeper the Earle of Worcester Sir William Knollis and the Lorde Chiefe Iustice came from the QVEENES MAIESTIE to the Earle of Essex And the Lord Chiefe Iustice required the Earle of Essex to haue some priuate conference with him and that if any priuate wrongs were offered vnto him that they would make true report thereof to her MAIESTIE who no
doubt would reforme the same And sayeth that this Examinat went with the Earle and the rest of his company to London to Sherife Smithes but went not into the house with him but stayed in the streete a while and being sent for by the Earle of Essex went into the house and from thence came with him till hee came to Ludgate which place being guarded and resistance being made and perceiued by the Earle of Essex he said vnto his company Charge And thereupon sir Christopher Blunt and others of his company gaue the Charge and being repulsed and this Examinat hurt in the legge the Earle retired with this Examinat and others to his house called Essex house And on his retire the Earle said to this Examinat That if Sherife Smith did not his part that his part was as farre foorth as the Earles owne which mooued him to thinke that he trusted to the Citie And when the Earle was after his retire in Essex house he tooke an yron Casket and broke it open and burnt diuerse papers in it Whereof there was a booke as he taketh it and said as he was burning of them That they should tell no tales to hurt his friends And saith that the Earle saide That he had a blacke bagge about his necke that should tell no tales William Sandys Exam. per Ioh. Popham Roger VVilbraham Edw. Coke ¶ The Examination of the Lord Cromwell taken the 7. of March 1600. by Sir I. Popham L. chiefe Iustice Christ. Yeluerton her Maiesties Sergeant and Fr. Bacon of her Maiesties learned Councell AT the Sherifs house this Examinate pressed in with the rest and found the Earls shifting themselues in an inner chamber where he heard my L. of Essex certifie the Company that he had bene aduertised out of Ireland which hee would not nowe hide from them that the Realme should be deliuered ouer to the handes of the Infanta of Spaine and that he was wished to looke to it Further that he was to seeke redresse for iniuries and that he had left at his house for pledges the Lord Keeper the Earle of Worcester Sir William Knollis and the Lord chiefe Iustice. Edw. Cromwell Exam. per Io Popham Chr. Yeluerton Fr. Bacon ¶ Sir Christopher Blunt knight at the time of his arraignement did openly at the Barre desire to speake with the L. Admiral and M. Secretary before whom he made this Confession folowing Which the Earle of Southampton confirmed afterwards and he himselfe likewise at his death HE confesseth that at the Castle of Dublin in that lodging which was once the Earle of Southamptons the Earle of Essex purposing his returne into England aduised with the Earle of Southampton and himselfe of his best maner of going into England for his securitie seeing to goe hee was resolued At that time he propounded his going with a competent number of souldiers to the number of two or three thousand to haue made good his first landing with that Force vntill hee coulde haue drawen vnto himselfe a sufficient strength to haue proceeded further From this purpose this Examinate did vse all forcible perswasions alledging not only his owne ruine which should follow thereof and all those which should adhere to him in that action but vrging it to him as a matter most foule because hee was not onely helde a Patron of his Countrey which by this meanes hee should haue destroyed but also should haue layed vpon himselfe an irreuocable blot hauing bene so deeply bound to her MAIESTIE To which disswasion the Earle of Southampton also inclined This desseigne being thus disswaded by them then they fell to a second consideration And therein this Examinate confesseth that hee rather aduised him if needes hee would goe to take with him some competent number of choise men He did not name vnto him any particular power that would haue come to him at his landing but assured himselfe that his Armie would haue bene quickly increased by all sorts of discontented people He did confesse before his going that hee was assured that many of the Rebels would be aduised by him but named none in particular ¶ The Examination of the Earle of Southampton after his Arraignement taken before the Earle of Notingham Lord high Admirall Sir Robert Cecill principall Secretarie and M. Iohn Herbert second Secretary of Estate SIr Christopher Blunt being hurt and lying in the Castle of Dublin in a chamber which had bene mine the Earle of Essex one day tooke me thither with him where being none but we three he told vs he found it necessarie for him to goe into England and thought it fit to carie with him as much of the Armie as he could conueniently transport to goe on shore with him to Wales and there to make good his landing with those till hee could send for more Not doubting but his Army would so increase in a small time that hee should bee able to march to London and make his conditions as he desired To which proiect I answered that I held it altogether vnfit aswell in respect of his conscience to God and his loue to his countrey as his duetie to his Souereigne of which he of all men ought to haue greatest regard seeing her Maiesties fauours to him had bene so extraordinarie Wherefore I could neuer giue any consent vnto it Sir Christopher Blunt ioyned with me in this opinion Exam. per Notingham Ro. Cecil Io. Herbert ¶ The speaches of Sir Chr. Blunt at the time of his death as neere as they could be remembred March 18. 1600. MY Lords and you that be present Although I must confesse that it were better fitting the little time I haue to breath to bestow the same in asking God forgiuenes for my manifold and abominable sinnes then to vse any other discourse especially hauing both an imperfection of speech and God knowes a weake memorie by reason of my late grieuous wound Yet to satisfie all those that are present what course hath bene held by me in this late enterprise because I was sayd to be an Instigator and setter on of the late Earle I will truely and vpon the perill of my soule speake the trueth It is true that the first time that euer I vnderstoode of any dangerous discontentment in my L. of Essex was about three yeeres agoe at Wansted vpon his comming one day from Greenwich At that time he spake many things vnto mee but descended into no particulars but in generall termes After which time he neuer brake with me in any matter tending to the alteration of the State I protest before God vntill he came into Ireland other then I might conceiue that he was of an ambitious and discontented mind But when I lay at the Castle of Thomas Lee called Reban in Ireland grieuously hurt and doubted of my life hee came to visit mee and then began to acquaint me with his intent As hee thus spake the Sheriffe began to interrupt him and told him the houre was past But my
Rutland and others that he cried out to the citizens That they did him hurt and no good to come without weapons and prouoked them to arme and finding they would not be mooued to arme with him sought to arme his owne troupes This point by point was the effect of the Reply Vpon all which Euidence both the Earles were found guiltie of Treason by all the seuerall voyces of euery one of the Peeres and so receiued iudgement The names of the Peeres that passed vpon the triall of the two Earles  EARLES  BARONS The Earle of Oxford Shrewesburie Durbie Cumberland VVorcester Sussex Hartford Lincolne Notingham The Lord De la VVare Morley Cobham Stafford Gray Lumley VVindsore Rich. Darcy de Chichey Chandoys Hunsdon S. Iohn de Bletso Compton Burghley Howard of VValder Vicount Bindon The names of the Iudges that assisted the Court. The Lord chiefe Iustice. The L. chiefe Iustice of the Common Plees The Lord chiefe Baron Iustice Gawdie Iustice Fenner Iustice VValmesley Baron Clerke Iustice Kingsmill SOME PARTICVLARITIES of that which passed after the arreignment of the late Earles and at the time of the suffering of the Earle of Essex BVt the Earle of Essex finding that the consultation at Drurie house and the secret plots of his premeditated and prepenced treasons were come to light contrary to his expectation was touched euen at his parting from the Barre with a kinde of remorse especially because he had caried the maner of his answere rather in a spirit of ostentation and glory then with humilitie and penitence and brake out in the Hall while the Lords were in conference into these wordes That seeing things were thus caried he would ere it be long say more then yet was knowen Which good motion of his minde being after his comming backe to the Tower first cherished by M. D. of Norwich but after wrought on by the religious and effectuall perswasions and exhortations of M. Abdie Ashton his Chaplaine the man whom he made sute by name to haue with him for his soules health as one that of late time he had bene most vsed vnto and found most comfort of comparing it when he made the request to the case of a Patient that in his extremity would be desirous to haue that Physician that was best acquainted with his body He sent word the next day to desire to speake with some of the principall Councellours with whom he desired also that particularly M. Secretary might come for one Vpon which his request first the L. Admirall and M. Secretary and afterward at two seuerall times the Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Lord high Treasurer the L. high Admirall and Master Secretary repaired vnto him before whom after he had asked the Lord Keeper forgiuenesse for restraining him in his house and M. Secretary for hauing wronged him at the Barre concerning the matter of the Infanta with signification of his earnest desire to be reconciled to them which was accepted with all Christian charitie and humanitie he proceeded to accuse heauily most of his confederates for carying malicious mindes to the State and vehemently charged Cuffe his man to his own face to haue bene a principall instigator of him in his Treasons and then disclosed how farre sir Henry Neuill her Maiesties late Ambassador was priuy to all the Conspiracie of whose name till then there had bene not so much as any suspition And further at the Lords first comming to him not sticking to confesse that hee knewe her Maiestie could not be safe while he liued did very earnestly desire this fauour of the Queene that he might die as priuately as might be And the Morning before his execution there being sent vnto him for his better preparation Master Doctor Mountford and Master Doctor Barlowe to ioyne with Master Abdie Ashton his Chapleine he did in many words thanke God that hee had giuen him a deeper insight into his offence being sorie he had so stood vpon his iustification at his Arraignement since which time he sayd he was become a new man and heartily thanked God also that his Course was by Gods prouidence preuented For if his proiect had taken effect God knoweth sayd he what harme it had wrought in the Realme He did also humbly thanke her Maiestie that he should die in so priuate maner for hee suffered in the Towre yard and not vpon the Hill by his owne special sute lest the acclamation of the people for those were his own words might be a temptation to him adding That al popularitie trust in man was vaine the experience whereof himselfe had felt and acknowledged further vnto them that he was iustly and worthily spewed out for that was also his owne word of the Realme and that the nature of his offence was like a leprosie that had infected farre and neere And so likewise at the publique place of his suffering he did vse vehement detestation of his offence desiring God to forgiue him his great his bloody his crying and his infectious sinne and so died very penitently but yet with great conflict as it should seeme for his sins For hee neuer mentioned nor remembred there wife children or friend nor tooke particular leaue of any that were present but wholy abstracted and sequestred himselfe to the state of his conscience and prayer THE EFFECT OF THAT which passed at the Arraignements of Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Charles Dauers Sir Iohn Dauies Sir Gillie Mericke and Henry Cuffe THE 5. of March by a very honorable Commission of Oier and Determiner directed to the Lord high Admiral the Lord Chamberlaine Master Secretary the Lord chiefe Iustice of England Master Chancellour of the Exchequer Master Secretary Herbert with diuers of the Iudges the Commissioners sitting in the Court of the Queenes Bench there were arraigned and tried by a Iury both of Aldermen of London and other Gentlemen of good credit and sort Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Charles Dauers Sir Iohn Dauies Sir Gillie Mericke Henry Cuffe The three first whereof before they pleaded asked this question of the Iudges Whether they might not confesse the Inditemēt in part plead Not guilty to it in the other part But being resolued by the Iudges that their pleading must be generall they pleaded Not guilty as did likewise the other two without any such question asked The reason of that question was as they confessed in respect of the clause laid in the Inditement That they intended and compassed the death and destruction of the Queenes Maiestie vnto whose person although they confessed at the barre as they had done in their examinations that their meaning was to come to her in such strength as they should not be resisted and to require of her diuers conditions and alterations of gouernment such as in their confessions are expressed neuerthelesse they protested they intended no personall harme to hirselfe Whereupon as at the arraignment of the two Earles so then againe the Iudges deliuered the rule of the Law