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
had intercepted and kept all the considerable Libells against the late Queen and this King But though Justifiable in them as Councelours of State yet it was a crime in Ralegh who never was any And this Book as I remember was of one Bragg or Stagg a Jesuite But Sir Walter excused it That there was nothing acted thereby to the Kings prejudice for the Book was burnt But to insist hereupon Cobham had confessed That Rale g had agreed That Cobham should treate with Aremburgh for 600. thousand Crownes to the intent to advance the title of the Lady Arabella to this Crown That Cobham under pretence of travelling should prosecute this designe in the Lowe-countries France and Spaine and to carry 3. letters from her to the Arch-Duke Duke of Savoy and to the King of Spaine and to promise toleration of Religion and her Marriage to be disposed of by them That at his returne he should meete Ralegh at Jersey the place of his command and there agree to dispose the money to discontents And Ralegh should have 7. thousand crownes from Arenberge for himselfe And further confessed that Ralegh had Instigated him to all these Treasons And that Ralegh should say that he thought the best way to trouble England was to cause division in Scotland To this onely of Scotland he answered confessed the words and that he had so thought these 20. yeares It seemes by the sequell since he was not in staken Lawrencie confessed that he and Cobham and Ralegh being together he delivered a letter to Cobhane from Arembergh and presently Ralegh went with Cobham in private to conferre thereof To all these confessions Ralegh craved that Cobham might appeare to accuse him face to face I may not omit one passage acted heretofore which comes in properly here to be considered When the confederates had suffered under some Examinations and were restrained to their several houses And Ralegh knew well that Lawreney was then suspected but not examined then did Ralegh discover in a letter to Sir Robert Cecil where Cobham was with Lawrency and that then was the time to apprehend Lawrency and so to intercept their Intelligence ere matters were ripe What Ralegh's designe was herein I must confesse my conceipt is very blunt But this use was made of it to Raleghs ruine For after that Cobham had denied much of the former stuffe upon his first Examinations this letter was shewed him under Ralegh's hand upon mature often deliberation to be assured that it was his hand Then Cobham in an Extasie calling Ralegh Villain Traitor delivered his positive Accusation of Ralegh as aforesaid and added That Ralegh after his first Examinations before the Lords had writ to Cobham that although he had bin examined of many things yet that he had cleered Cobham of all when as the Lords protested he had not at all been examined concerning Cobham And thereby this was inferred by the Councell to confirm Cobham to deny all when he should be examined Sir Walter said That Cobham had not signed his accusation and that he was at the worst but singularis Testis To which my Lord Chief Justice gave it for law that it was not necessary to signe nor to have more then One witnesse after much pleading herein and Ralegh alledging law and Scripture for not admitting a single witnesse to condemn one yet the Court was satisfyed therein by the Judges to the contrary Ralegh said Then prove it by One witnesse face to face and I will confesse my self guilty but the Judges were of opinion that it was not to be permitted by law yet Ralegh insisted hereupon with many stories which took up much time Then being asked if he would be concluded thereby if Cobham would now justify his accusation under his hand To this it may be observed that Ralegh made no answer at all but consented that the Jury should go together Then was produced Cobham's letter to the Lords writ but the day before in effect thus That Sir Walter had writ a letter to him wrapt in an apple and cast in at his window ten daies since in the Tower to intreate him for God's sake to write to him under his own hand that he had wronged him in his accusatious and odvised him to be constant in denialls rather then to appeale to the King And now writes Cobham It is no time to dissemble and therefore protested before God and his Angells that all and every part of his accusation of Sir Walter Ralegh was substvntially true And added That Ralegh had dealt with him since the King 's comming to procure him a pension from Spain for Intelligence c. Then Ralegh rayling against Cobham confessed this letter was in an Apple to which Cobham returned an answer which Ralegh produced and desired that it might be read But the Atturney opposed Sir Robert Cecil's consent thereto To whom Cecil replied Sir you are more preremptory then honest come you hither to direct us And so read it Which in effect was a confession that he had wronged Sir Walter and that he was Innocent This bore date 10. dayes before And here Ralegh confessed That Cobham had offered to him a Pension from Spain to the effect before confessed And that he had concealed it as loath to ruine Cobham Then the Jury went out and returned in halfe an houre with their Verdict Guilty So was Sentence as in Case of Treason And he was returned to the Tower of London and there lay upon Reprieve 2. yeares and 3. years after was executed in October 1618. Observations upon this Tryall And because this Second Remarke in the Pamphleter and this Prefacer stickes in their stomacks with which they indeavour to choke the Readers I have theresore bin the more prolix Pam p. 35. that thereby the whole world may judge with the Jury of his guilt or Innocency Vide page 35. Ralegh's rise of preferment was occasioned upon a contest with the Lord Grey in the Queenes time which they were to plead face to face Where indeed but not in truth Sir Walter had the better by the tongue telling his tale to advantage which tooke the Queen who tooke him from that instant into favour as before remembred Belike he expected the same providence at this time when so oft he desired to plead face to face Pamp. 35. with Cobham How could Wade the Lieutenant of the Tower as is surmized tamper with Cobham to write his name to a blanck to which Wade framed the accusation against Ralegh When it appeares Cobham never signed at all to his Examinations which therefore was so much insisted upon at his tryall for his advantage But in truth besides the confession of Cobham the fatal evidence was Cobham's own voluntary last letter of accusation or confession over night writ every whit with his own hand The King commanded as the COURT was assured at the triall that upon any examination there should none be rackt which made Captaine Kemish who
was the Instrument of messages and letters betweene Ralegh and Cobham often to protest in my hearing That in truth he was threatned with the Rack which was shewed to him but had he tasted therof he said that he should have bin inforced to tell an odd tale meaning of discovery Sr. Walter was admitted a chair pen Inck and paper for his memory And truly he rather tyâ—ed the Court and Jury Repreeâ— ed. with Impertinences And thus was Sr. Walter Ralegh reprieved to the Tower and many years of Imprisonment in that liberty till his future merits and fame of learning begat many to pitty his sufferings So that at last by meanes of the French Embassadour with others of our own Lords he had freedome to repair for his health to his House at Saint James and after a year or two he procured a Commission to make a Voyage to Gueana in the West-Indies for the return of Gold Oare or Mine But was expresly limitted not to trench upon the Spaniard to the breach of Peace His landing was at St. Tomaz a Town of the Spaniards upon the opening of the Great River Orenoque in America Where he killed many of them and there lost his eldest son Walter under the Walls Then sends he Captain Kemish his old Servant upon whose confidence it appears this voyage was resolved up this River to the foot of a Mountain where heretofore and also during Ralegh's Imprisonment he had been sent and returned with wonderfull Remarks of a rich Mine or rather Madre-del-Ore But now comes from thence And all the account came to no more but that the Mountain was fled away he could not find it Upon this the whole sleet 4. or 5. saile mutiny forces him home again as a Prisoner in the return Kemish kills himself in his own Cabin so no tales could be told Ralegh's ships were first cast upon the south of Ireland then they land in the West of England where warrants were ready to apprehend him Prisoner to the Tower In the West he is discovered to deal with a French Master of a ship to steal away into France Then in his journy to London he combines with a French Mountebanck who assisted him with Ingredients which he desired that would without danger of life bring him to breake forth into Blanes Purposely done by this meanes to get longer time to work opportunities to save his life which he knew he had so deeply forfeited Then being delivered into the hands of Sir John Stukely Lieutenant of the Tower he deales with him for a sum of Money part in hand being paid to join with him in Escapeboth of them into France Stukely yields to all and accompanies him by water in the way to Gravesend where by designe of Stukelie's treachery in that and so it prospered with him being hang'd afterwards for clipping of Gold they were seized and brought back to the Tower From whence very speedily Ralegh was commanded to the King's-Bench-bar at Westminster before the Lord chief Justice Mountegue where the Records of his former Sentence only were read hedemanded why Execution should not be done Sir Walter acknowledged that Sentence and the King's Mercy for his life thus long And that he hoped seeing he had bin imployed by Commission with power of life and death over the King's Lie ge People it did make void that former sentence He was told to the contrary and that his time of Execution was the next morning and so the Sheriff of Middlesex took him into custody to the Gate-House and to Execution the next day in the old Palace yard at Westminster where he had the favor of the Ax. which he said smilingly touching it was a sharp Medioine but a true Physitian to cure all diseases and so it proved to him at this very time in his Ague sit At his death himselfe endeavoured to cleere some points which it seemes our Pamphleter knew not of otherwise he would have done it for him To have had often plots with France which he denied but confessed that he had bin solicited thence and indeavoured to escape thither at twice That the French Agent came oft to him with Commission from that King to him But he returned the Commission That he should speake disloyally of the King his accuser he said was a base runagate Frenchman and perfideous whom he trusted being sworne to secrecie which he betrayed much he said in these particulars which he did not deny but traversed So then there were other businesse of charge to which he was liable to a new Tryall But the prudence of the King would not hazard further proceedings having a sufficient upon the old score Pamp. 38. And now for that additional tale of the Pamphleter concerning Sir Walters recovery of Queen Anne for which he begg'd the boone viz. for the Examination of the Lord Cobham by 4. Earles and 2. Councelors I never heard nor read thereof before nor can beleeve it For this I know by severall relations of those great Ladies of her Bedchamber and of her Chirurgians and Physitians now living That She was never cured of her disease but by death that ends all Maladies It followes in the Pamphlet That after he hath ranted his Stories of Mansell and Monson and of the peace ratifyed and sworne He makes Cecill the chief Ringleader of the King by the Nose But to say truth The King was alwaies brought up to his ease though the fore-part of his Raigne in Scotland proved troublesome enough to his Councell And therefore now he was to follow his affaires in peace and his own Inclination in a Sportfull life The rather He being much Subject to unwildines or weaknes in his Limbs and which because of his extream dis-affection to Physick he was advised to the best Aire most agreable to the Nature of Scotland fresh and bleak and for that end he chose Roystan and Newmarket Without that Scandalous Intimation of leaving his Queen without any love or liking We are forced to fall upon One Lake Sir Tho. Lake Pamp. 54. whom we find to be that learned Gentleman Sir Thomas Lake apted in his youth with rudiments of the Book to attend Sir Francis Walsingham that subtile Secretary of State to Queen Elizebeth as Amanuensis to him And after good experience of his desarts he was recommended to the Queen and read to her French and Latine In which tongues she would say that he surpassed her Secretaries and was so imployed to her death for he was reading to her when the COUNTESSE of WARWICK told him that the Queen was departed But not long before merits she received him Clarke of her Signet And he was chosen by this State in that place to attend the King from BARWICK And so sufficient he was that the King made use of his present service in some French affaires after he came into England Which indeed Secretary Cecil had reason to resent as too much trenching on his Office And therefore
I never knew then nor can find sithence any suspicion unlesse in that of the Treasury The ground whereof is hinted unto us by our Author Pamph. 166. But in truth in this He hath but Scumm'd the Pot to cleere the Broth. For indeed who more fit for the reasons I have shewed than this man of experience in Stating the Accompts for the Revenues of the State which I know he improved and not unlikely thereby purchased Envy for his Eminency And to say truth according to his Place He did indeavor to Husband the same to piece out with the expence which the Princes Iourney into Spain had wonderfully and unnecessarily exhausted as by the Printed accompt thereof lately divulged by Parliament doth manifestly appeare Then which no better Evidence can be produced to acquit the Treasurer together with what the Pamphletter publishes as a supposed crime Pamph. 166. His refusall to supply that journey and Buckinghams folly and prodigality and this He did deny as the duty of his Office required and which He well understood as being of Counsell and acted as a Counsellour in that undertaking to My knowledg and as indeed being then the Statesman at the Counsell Table But his refusall of supplying Buckingham upon that Score only wrought him no doubt at his returne home the Treasurers great enemy And whom He opposed a small accusation might serve the turne to turne any Man out of all as He did Him And yet to the Honour of his Memory though they raked into all his actions and racked all mens discoveries to the height of Information the power of Buckingham could never produce any Crime though mightely attempted against his exact accompts in that boundlesse trust of the tempting Treasury And in spite of Malice though they divested him of that Office yet He lived long after in Peace Wealth and Houour And died since these times of inquiry leaving to his Heire his Honors untaint with a plentifull Estate to all his Children enabling them to beare up the worthy Character of their Fathers meritts And thus having digressed in our matter beyond our time we returne to the first appearance of our new Favorite George Villiers 89 His discent George Villiers who was of an Ancient Family in Leicestershire His Father Sir Edward Villiers begat him upon a second Wife Mary Beomont of Noble birth whom for Her beauty and goodnesse He Married He had by Her three Sonnes Iohn Viscount Purbeck George Duke of Buckingham and Christopher Earle of Anglesey and one Daughter Susan Countesse of Denbigh Our Pamphlet tells us Page 90. That He came over by chance from his French Travells and sought his preferment in Mariage with any body but mist of his match for want of a hundred Marks Ioynture And so pieces him for the Court like in the Story of Dametas Caparisons borrowing of every one piecemeal to put him forward for the Kings Favourite The truth is thus His Mother a Widdow was lately Married unto Sir Thomas Compton second Brother to the Lord Compton who by chance falling upon a wonderfull match for matchless wealth with Alderman Sir John Spencers Daughter and Heir And his Father then lately dead this Lord was Master of all which was of more than credible and so might be enabled bountifully to set up a Kinsman without help or alms of the Parish And it was plotted long before and Villiers sent for to the same purpose And this indeed was done by practice of some English Lords And I can tell him the time and place There was a great but private Entertainment at Supper at Baynards Castle by the Family of Herberts Hartford and Bedford and some others By the way in Fleetstreet hung out Somersets picture at a Painters Stall which one of the Lords envying bad his Footman sling dirt in the face which he did and gave me occasion thereby to ask my Companion upon what score that was done He told me That this meeting would discover And truly I waited neer and opportune and so was acquainted with the Design to bring in Villiers And thus backt Our new Favourite needed not to borrow nor to seek out many Bravo'es to second his Quarrels which at first I confess he met with For having bought the place of Cup bearer to the King his right was to have the upper end of the Table at the reversion of the Kings Diet only during his monethly wayting But he not so perfect a Courtier in the Orders of the House set himself first out of his month when it was not his due and was told of it and so removed which was not done with over much kindnesse for indeed the Other was Somersets Creature But not long after this party by chance rather than by designe spilt upon Villiers cloaths as he carried meat to the Kings Table and returning to Dinner Villiers gave him a box on the Eare For which the Custome of the Court was to have his hand cut off and which belonged to Somerset as Chamberlain to prosecute the Execution Favorite as he did And here the Kings mercifull pardon without any satisfaction to the party made him appear a Budding Favorite And now we are fallen upon a story of fooling and fidling sometime used for Courtlike recreations I confesse Pamph. 91. but alwayes with so much wit as might well become the Exercise of an Academy Not Gerbiers which our Author misconstrues and calls a Brothelry to usher in the New Favorite and to out the Old One whose Misfortunes with his Lady brake out even now as we have told of before And now indeed Pamph. 124. all the browse boughs cut downe or removed to plain the Stemm our Favorite appears like a proper Palm His first step into honourable Office was in the Admiralty Admiralls to succeed a good and gallant Old Lord of Nottingham who being almost Bed ridd made sute to the King That himself might dispose his place as a Legacy in his life time upon Villiers which was so done and who to my knowledge went in Person to acknowledg the Kindnesse and presented his Young Lady with a very noble and valuable reward which my Lord Compton paid for and besides a Pension therefore during his life And all this was done with so much love and liking that I have often observed Villiers his great Civility to him ever after at each meeting to call him Father and bend his knee without the least regret of the Lord that gained more than he lost by the bargain and did not cost the King a penny And because Sir Robert Mansell a dependant of Nottingham had the place of Vice-Admirall at pleasure only Villiers for his Lords sake continued him by Patent during life For which Courtesie the good Old man came himself to give thanks as I remember the last Complement his age gave him leave to offer And thus was this Office of Honor and Safety to the Kingdom Ordered from the Command
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
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