the House of Yorke before the union of the two great Houses raiseth up againe the old contention betweene the Families of Yoâke and Lancaster wherein so much English bloud was spilt in times past and much more like to bee powred out now if the same contention should bee set on foot againe Seeing that to the controversie of Titles would bee added also the controversie of Religion which of all other differences is most dangerous Sir quoth the Gentleman now you touch a matter of consequence indeed and such as the very naming thereof maketh my heart to shake and tremble I remember well what Philip Cominus setteth downe in his History of our Countries calamity by that contention of those two Houses distinguished by the Red Rose and the White but yet both in their Armes might justly have borne the colour of Red with a fierie sword in a black field to signifie the abundance of bloud and mortality which ensued in our Countrey by that most wofull and cruell contention I will not stand here to set downe the particulars observed gathered by the foresaid author though a stranger which for the most part he saw himselfe while hee lived about the Duke of Burgundy and King Lewes of France of that time namely the pittifull description of divers right Noble men of our Realme who besides all other miseries were driven to begge openly in forraine Countries and the like Mine owne observation in reading over our Country affaires is sufficient to make me abhorre the memory of that time and to dread all occasion that may âead us to the like in time to come seeing that in my judgement neither the Civill warres of Marius and Silla or of Pompey and Caesar among the Romanes nor yet the Guelphians and Gibilines among the Italians did ever worke so much woe as this did to our poore Countrey Wherein by reason of the contention of Yorke and Lancaster were foughten sixteene or seventeen pitched fields in lesse then an hundred yeares That is from the eleventh or twelfth yeare of King Richard the second his raigne when this controversie first began to bud up unto the thirteenth yeare of K. Henry the seventh At what time by cutting off the chiefe titler of Huntingtons house to wit yong Edward Plantaginet Earle of Warwick Son and Heire to George Duke of Clarence the contention most happily was quenched and ended wherein so many fields as I have said were foughten between Brethren and Inhabitants of our owne Nation And therein and otherwise onely about the same quarrel were slaââ murdered and made away about nine or ten Kings and Kings Sonnes besides above forty Earles Marquesses and Dukes of name but many more Lords Knights and great Gentlemen and Captaines and of the Common people without number and by particular conjecture very neare two hundred thousand For that in one Battell fought by King Edward the fourth there are recorded to be slaine on both parts five and thirty thousand seven hundred and eleven persons besides others wounded and taken prisoners to be put to death afterward at the pleasure of the Conquerour at divers Battels after ten thousand slaine at a Battell And in those of Barnet and Tukesbury fought both in one yeare This suffered our afflicted Country in those dayes by this unfortunate and deadly contention which could never be ended but by the happy conjunction of those two Houses tâgether in Henry the seventh neither yet so as appeareth by Chronicle untill as I have said the state had cut off the issue male oâ the Duke of Clarence who was cause of divers perilâ to King Henry the sevenâh though he were in prison By whose Sister the faction of Huntinâton at thiâ day doth seeke to raise up the same contention againe with farre greater danger both to the Reaâmâ and to her Majesty that now raigneth then ever before And for the Realme it is evident by that it givetâ roome to strangers Competitours of the House oâ Lancaster better able to maintaine their owne titlâ by sword then ever was any of that linage before tâem And for her Majesties perill present it is nothing hard to conjecturâ seeing the same title in thâ fore-said Earle of Warwick was so dangerous anâ troublesome to her Grandfather by whom she holdeth as hee was faine twiââ to take armâs in defence of his right against the said title which was in those dayes preferred and advanced by the friendâ of Clarence before that of Henry as also this of Huntington is at this day by his faction before that of her Majesty though never so unjustly Touching Huntingtons title before her Majesty quoth the Lawyer I will say nothing because in reason I see not by what pretence in the World he may thrust himselfe so farre forth seeing her Majesty is descendâd not onely of the House of Lancaste but also before him most apparentây from the House of Yorke it selfe as from the eldest Daughter of Kâng Edwârd the fourth being the eldest Brother of that House Whereas Huntington claimeth onely by the Daughter of George Duke of Clarence the younger Broâher Marry yet I must confesse that if the Earle of Warwicks title were better then that of King Henry the seventh which is most false though many attempted to defend the same by sword then hath Huntângton some wrong at this day by her Majesty Albeit in very truth the atâaints of so many of his Ancestours by whom he claâmâth would answer him also sufficiently in that behalfe if his title were otherwise allowable But I know besides this they have another fetch of King Richard the third whereby he would needs prove hâs elder Brother King Edwaâd to bee a Bastard and consequently his whole line aswell male as female to be void Which devise though it be ridiculous and was at that time when it was first invented yet as Richard found at that time a Doctor Shaw that shamed not to publish and defend the same at Pauls Crosse in a Sermon and John of Northumberland my Lord of Lâyceââers Father found out divers Preachers in his time to set up the title of Suffolke to debase the right of K. Henries daughter both in London Cambridge Oxford and other places most apparently against all Law and reason so I doubt not but these men would finde out also both Shawes Sands and others to set out the title of Clareâce before the whole interest of King Henry the seventh and his posterity if occasion served Which is a point of importance to bee considered by her Majesty albeit for my part I meane not not now to stand thereupon but onely upon that other of the House of Lancaster as I have said For as that most honourable lawfull and happy conjunction of the two adversary Houses in King Henry the seventh and his Wife made an end of the shedding of English bloud within it selfe and brought us that most
House of Yorke where it continued with much trouble in two Kings onely untill both Houses were joyned together in King Henry the seventh and his noble issue Hereby wee see how the issue of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth Son to King Edward the third pretended right to the Crowne by Edmond Crookebacke before the issue of all the other three Sonnes of Edward the third albeit they were the elder Brothers whereof wee will speake more hereafter Now Iohn of Gaunt though hee had many children yet had he foure onely of whom issue remaine two Sonnes and two Daughters The first Son was Henry of Bolingbrooke Duke of Lancaster who tooke the Crowne from King Richard the second his Unkles Sonne as hath beene said and first of all planted the same in the House of Lancaster where it remained in two discents after him that is in his Son Henry the fift and in his Nephew Henry the sixt who was afterward destroyed together with Henry Prince of Wales his onely Sonne and Heire and consequently all that Line of Henry Bolingbâooke extinguished by Edward the fourth of the House of Yorke The other Son of Iohn of Gaunt was Iohn Duke of Somersât by Katherine Sfinsford his third wife which Iohn had issue another Iohn and he Margaret his Daughter and Heire who being married to Edmond Tyder Earle of Richmond had issue Henry Earle of Richmond who after was named King Henry the seventh whose Line yet endureth The two Daughters of John of Gaunt were married to Portugall and Castile that is Philip borne of Blanch Heire to Edmond Crookeback as hath beene said was married to Iohn King of Portugall of whom is descended the King that now possesseth Portugall and the other Princes which have or may make title to the same and Katherin borne of Constanâe Heire of Castile was married back againe to Henry King of Castile in Spaine of whom King Philip is also descended So that by this wee see where the remainder of the House of Lancaster resteth if the Line of King Henry the seventh were extinguished and what pretext forraine Princes may have to subdue us if my Lord of Huntington either now or after hâr Majesties dayes will open to them the doore by shutting out the rest of King Henries Line and by drawing backe the title to the onely House of Yorke againe which he pretendeth to doe upon this that I will now declare King Edward the third albeit he had many children yet five onely will we speake of at this time Whereof three were elder then Jâhn of Gaunt and one yonger The first of the elder was named Edward the blacke Prince who died before his Father leaving one onely Sonne named Richard who afterward being King and named Richard the second was deposed without issue and put to death by his Cosin germain named Henry Bolingbrooke Duke of Lancaster Son to John of Gaunt as hath beene said and so there ended the Line of King Edwards first Sonne King Edwards second Sonne was William of Hatfââld that died without issue His third Sonne was Leonell Duke of Clarence whose onely Daughter and Heire called Phââip was married to Edmond Mortimer Earle oâ Marcâ and after that Anneâhe âhe Daughter and Heire of Mortimer was married to Richard Plantagiâet Duke of Yorke Son and Heire to Edmond of Langâây the first Duke of Yorkâ which Edmond was the fift Son of King Edward the third and younger Brother to John of Gaunt And this Edmond of Lanâley may bee called the first beginner of the Hâuse of Yorke even as Edmond Crookback the beginner of the House of Lancaster This Edmond Langley then having a Sonne named Richard that married Anne Mortimer sole Heire to Leonell Duke of Clarence joyned two Lines and two Titles in one I meane the Line of Leonell and of Edmond Langley who were as hath bin said the third and the fift Sonnes to King Edward the third And for this cause the childe that was borne of this marriage named after his Father Richard Plantaginet Duke of Yorke seeing himselfe strong and the first Line of King Edward the thirds eldest Son to be extinguished in the death of King Richard the second and seeing William of Hatfield the second Sonne dead likewise without issâe made demand of the Crowne for the House of Yorke by the title of Leonell the third Sonne of King Edward And albeit hee could not obtaine the same in his dayes for that hee was slaine in a Battell against King Henry the sixt at Wakefield yet his Sonne Edward got the same and was called by the name of King Edward the fourth This King at his death left divers children as namely two Sonnes Edward the fift and his Brother who after were both murdered in the Tower as shall be shewed and also five Daughters to wit Elizabeth Cicily Anne Katherine and Briget Whereof the first was married to Henry the seventh The last became a Nunne and the other three were bestowed upon divers other husbands Hee had alâo two Brothers the first was called George Duke of âlarence who afterward upon his deserts as is to be supposed was put to death in Callis by commandement of the King and his attainder allowed by Parliamânt And this man left behinde him a Sonne named Edward Earle of Warwick put to death afterward without issue by King Henry the seventh and a Daughter named Margaret Countessâ of âalisâury who was married to a meane Gentleman named Richarâ Poole by whom she had issue Cardinall Poole that died without marriage and Henry Poole that was attainted and executed ân King Henry the eight his time as also her selfe was and this Henry Poole left a Daughter married afterward to the Earle of Huntington by whom this Earle that now is maketh title to the Crowne And this is the effect of my Lord of Huntingtons title The second Brother of King Edward the fourth was Richard Duke of Gâocester who after the Kings death caused his two Sonnes to be murdered in the Tower and tooke the Kingdome to himselfe And afterward he being slaine by King Henry the seventh at Bosââorth-field left no issue behind him Wherefore King Henry the seventh descending as hath bin shewed of the House of Lancaster by John of Gaunts last Sonne and third Wife and taking to Wife Lady âlizabeth eldest daughter of King Edward the fourth of the House of Yorke joyned most happily the two Families together and made an end of all controversies about the title Now King Henry the seventh had issue three Children of whom remaineth posterity First Henry the eighth of whom is descended our Soveraigne her Majesty that now happily raigneth and is the last that remaineth alive of that first Line Secondly he had two Daughters whereof the first named Margaret was married twice first to James King of Scotland from whom are directly discended the Queene of Scotland that now liveth and her Sonne and
Majesty bââhis statute Gentleman The hastning of the Conspiratours Schollar The Watch-word or the Conspiratours Lawyer Schollar Are you âatled A great mistery Lawyer Assemblies at Communions Strangers within the Land The perill of our Countrey if Huntingtons claime take place Gentleman The Red Rose âhe White The misery of England by the contention betweene Yorke and Lanâaster Guelphians and Gibilâneâ Edward Plantaginet Earle of Warwick The Battell by Taâââster on Pâlme Sunday An. 1460. The danger of Huntingtons claime to the Reâlme and to her Majesty Lawyer How Huntington maketh hiâ titâe before hâr Majesty * The most of Huâtingtons Ancestââs by whoâ hee makeâh âiâle aâtainâed of Treason The fâmous device âf king Richard the third ââlowed by Huâtington Anno 1. Mariae A point to be noâed by her Majesty The joyning of both houses The Line of Portugâll The old estimation of the House of Lancaster Henry Earle of Richmond The Line of Portugall Scholar The sword of greaâ fârce âo juâtifie the title of a kingdome Great dangers The beginning of the controveâsie betwixt York and Lancaster Edmond Crook-back beginner of the House of Lancaster Blanch. Iohn of Gaunt How the Kingdome was first brought to the House of Lancaster The issue of Iohn of Gaunt The pedegree of king Henry the seventh The two Daughters married to Portugall and Castile Forraine titles The issue of king Edwarâ thâ 3. Two Edmonds the two beginnerâ of the two Houses of Lancasteâ and Yorke The claime and title of Yorke The issue of king Edâard the fourth The Duke of Clarence attainted by Parliament Huntingtonâ title by the Duke of Clarence King Richard the third The happy conjunction of the two Houses The issue of King Henry the seventh The Line and Title of Scotland by Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henryâhe âhe 7. Arbââââ The Line and Title of Suffolke by Mary second daughter to King âenry the 7. The issue of Francis eldest Daughter to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke The issue of Francis eldest daughter to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk The issue of Elenor second daughter to Charles Brandon Scholar Huntington bebehind many other titles Gentleman The policy of the conspiratours for the deceiving of her Maiesty Scholar Leycesters variability Gentleman Barres pretended against the claâm of Scotland and Suffolke Against the Queen of Scotland and her sonne Against Arbella Against Darby Against the children of Hartford Scholar Leycesters dealing with the house of Suffolk Gentleman Bastardy Forraine biâth Lawyeâ Bastardie laâââl stops The impediments against Scotland three in number A protestation Touching the first impediment of foâraine birth An Alien may purchase The true Maxima against Alienâ The statute of King Edward whence the Maxima is gathered Reasons why the Scottish title is not letted by the Maxima against Aliens The first reason The rule of thirds Tenant by courtesie Division among daughters Executorâ The 2 reason The Crowne no such inherâtance as is meant in the statute The Crowne a corporation The â reason The Kings issue excepted by name Liberorum F. de verb. sign The fourth reason The Kings meaning The matches of England with foraigners The fift reason Examples of forainers admited Flores hist. Anno 1066. Pol. lib. 15. Flor. hist. 1208. K. Iohn a tyrant The 6. reason The iudgement and sentence of K. Henry the seventh The 7. reason The Queene of Scots and her son no Aliens The second impediment against the Q of Scots her son which is K. Henry the â his testament Forain birth no impediment in the âudgement of K. Henry the â The succession of Scotland next by the iudgement of the competitors Gentleman Lawyer The Duke of Northumberlandâ drift Gentleman The mutable dealing of the house of Dudley Lawyer The authority and occasion of King Henries testament The Kingâ Testament forged The first reason Injustice and improprobabilitâ The example of France The second reason Incongruities and indignities Adrian Stokes The third reason The presupposed Will is not authenticall The disproving of the Wil by witnesses The Loâd Paget Sir Edw. Montague William Claâke A meeting together about this matter of the Nobility Mâ Lord of Lâââest againe plâyââ double The old Earle of Penbrooks admonition to the Earl his son yet living The thiâd impediment of religion Princes of Germany Qu. Mary Queen Elizabeth * The Dudleis Monsieur King of Navarre Prince of Condy. My Lord of Huntingtons reâigion The title of those that ensue the Queene of Scots Schollar The yong King of Scotland Gentl. The device to set out her Majesty with the young King of Scotland The intolerable prâceedings of cârtâiââinistârs in Sâotlând aâainst tâeir âiâg â subornation of his enemies in Englaââ Schollar Sir Patriâk Adâm on Archbish. of St. Andrewes Gentl. Treasons plotted against the King of Scots Leycesters cunning device for overthrowing the D. of Norf. The impudency of Iudas Tâe speeches of Leycester âo the Duke of Norf. Leycest cousenâge of tâe Queene The Duke of Norf. flying into Norfolke Machivilian slights Leycesters devices for the overthrow of Sir Christopher Hatton Leycesters devices against the Earle of Shrewsbury Leycesteâs contâmpt of the ancient Nobility of England Lawyer New men most contemptuous D. Dudlies jest at the Earle of Arundell Gentl. The oft abiect behaâiour of Duke Dudley in adverse fortunes Schollar Leycesters base behaviour in adversitie Leycâsteâs deceiving of Sir Chrâstopher Hatton A pretie shift of my Lord of Leycester Her Maiesties speech of Leycestâr to the Tâeâsuâeâ Gentl. The danger of her Majesty by oppression of the favourers of the Scottish title A Similie true Earle of Leycester Earle of Huntington The old Countesse of Huntingtons speech of hâr sonne Lawyer Neaâenesse in competitors doth incite thâm to adventure Henr. Bullingbâook after King H. the 4 Richard Duke of Gloucester after King Richard the third The great wiâedome of her Majesty in conserving the next heires of Scotland The K. of Scotlands dâstruction of more importance to the conspirators then his mothers The Earle of Salisbury disâracâd by the competitors Gentl. Tâe vigilant eye that her Maiesties ãâã hâd to the âolatârall liâe Persons executed of the hâuse of ClaâeÌce The example of Iulius Caesaâs destruction Too much confidence verie perillous in a Prince The example of Alexander the gâeat bow hee was foretold his danger Schollar Lâte executions Gentl. Fraud to be feared in pursuing one part or faction only The comparison of Wolves and Rebels Richard Duke of Yorke D. Dudly A good rule of policy The speech of a certain Lady of the Court. More moderation wished in matters of faction The speech of a Courtier The perill of divisions factions in a Commonwealth The dangerous sequel of dissention in our Realme Gentl. Examples of tolleration in matters of religion Germany The breach reunion again in France Flanders Moderation impugned by the conspira Cicero Cateline The Conspirators opportunitie Leycester to be called to account The death K Philip of Macedonie and cause there of Pausââias Kings of England oveâtârâwn by too much favouring of some particular men K. Edw. 2 K Râch 2. K. Henr. 6. Pol. lib. 23 hist. Angl. Lawyer The punishment of William Duke of Suffolk The punishment of Edmond Dudley Gentl. The causes why Princes are chosen and do receive obedience Leycesters Thefts Leycesters murthers A heap of Leycesters enormities that would be ready at the day of his triall Schollar Her Maiesties tender heart towards the âealme Gentl. Lâycestârs dâsire that men should thnike âer Maiesty to stand in fâare of him Cicero in Officio A rule of Machivell observed by the Dudlies Leycester strong onely by her Maiesties favour An offer made for taking and tying the Beare Leicester what hee receiveth from his ancestors The comparison of Leycester with his father The weaknesse ãâã Leycesââr if âer Majâsty turne but her counteââce from him Lawyer The end and departure from the Gallerie The wicked mans pomp His joy His pride His fall His children His old age His bread His restitution His punishment His wickednesse His griefe His affliction His damnation His posterity
his first wâfe and so broken that contract then forsooth would he needs make himselfe Husband to the Queenes Majesty and so defeat all other Princes by vertue of his precontract But after thâs his lust compâlling to another place he would needs make a postcontract with the Lady Sheffiâld and so he did begetting two children upon her the one a boy called Robin Sheffiâld now living some time brought up at Newington and the other a daughter borne as is knowne at Dudley Castle But yet after his concupiscence changed againe as it never stayeth he resolved to make a retract of this postconârâct thâugh ât were as surely done as I have said as bed and Bible could make the same and to make a certaine new protract which is a continuation of using her for a time with the widow of Essex but yet to stop the mouâhes of out-criars and to bury the Synagogue with some honour for these two wives of Leicester were merrily and wittily called his old and new Testaments by a person of great excellency within the Realme he was content to assigne to the former a thousand pounds in money with other petty consideratioâs the pittifullest abused that âver was poore Lady and so betake his lims to the latter which latter notwithstanding he so useth as we see now confessing now forswearing now dissembling the marriage as he will alwayes yet keâpâ a void place for a new surcontract with any other when occasion shall require Now by my truth sir quoth I I never heard nor read the like to this in my life yet have I read much in my time of the carnalâty and licenciousnesse of divers outragious persons in this kinde of sin as namely these whom you have mentioned before especially the Emperour Heliogabaluâ who passed all other and was called Varius of the varity of filth which he used in this kinde of carnality or carnall beastlinesse whose death was that being at length odious to all men and so slain by his own Souldiers was drawn through the City upon the ground lâke a dog and cast into the common privy with this Epitaph Hic projectus est indomitae rabide libidinis catulus Here is thrown in the Whelpe of unruly and raging lust which Epitaph may also one day chance to serve my Lord of Leicester whom you call the Beare-whelp if he go forward as he hath begun and dye as he deserveth But good sir what a compassion is this that among us Christians namely in so wel governed and religious a Common-wealth as ours is such a riot should be permitted upon mens wives in a subject whereas we read that among the very Heathens lesse offences then these in the same kinde were extreamly punâshed in Princes themselves and that not onely in the person delinquent alone but also by extirpation of the whole family for his sake as appeareth in the example of the Tarquinians among the Romans And here also in our owne Realme we have registred in Chronicle how that one King Edwin above six hundred yeeres past was deprived of his Kingdome for much lesse scandalous facts then these I remember well the story quoth the Gentleman thereby doe easily make conjecture what difference there is betwixt those times of old and our dayes now seeing then a crowned Prince could not passe unpunished with one or two outragious acts whereas now a subject raised up but yesterday from the meaner sort rangeth at his pleasure in all licenciousnesse and that with security void of fear both of God and man No mans wife can be free from him whom his fiery lust liketh to abuse nor their husbands able to resist nor save from his violence if they shew dislike or will not yeeld their consent to his doings And if I should discover in particular how many good husbands he had plagued in this nature and for such delights it were intolerable for his concupiscence and violence do run joyntly together as in furious beasts we see they are accustomed Neither holdeth he any rule in his lust besides onely the motion and suggestion of his own sensuality kindred affinity or any other bând of consanguinity religion honour or honesty taketh no place in his outragious appetite what he best liketh that he taketh as lawfull for the time So that kinswoman allie friends wife or daughter or whatsoever female sort besides doth please his eye I leave out of purpose and for honour sake tearmes of kinred more neere that must yeeld to his desire The keeping of the Mother with two or three of her daughters at once or successively is no more with him then the eating of an Hen her chicken together There are not by report two noble women about her Majesty I speake upon some accompt of them âhat know much whom he hath not solicited by potent wayes neither contented with this place of honour he hath descended to seeke pasture among the waitiâg Gentlewomen of her Majâsties great chamber offering more for their allurement then I thinke Lais did commonly takâ in Corinth if three hundreth pounds for a night will make up the sum or if not yet will he make it up otherwise having reported himselfe so little shame he hath that he offered to another of higher place an 100 pound lands by the yeere with as many jewels as most women under her Majesty used in England which was no mean bait to one that used traffick in such merchandize she being but the leavings of anothâr man before him wherof my Lord is nothing squemish for satisfying of his lust but can be content as they sây to gather up crums when he is hungry even in the very Landry it selfe or other place of baser quality And albeit the Lord of his great mercy to doe him good no doubt if he were revokeable hath laid his hand upon him in some chastisement in this world by giving him a broken belly on both sides of his bowels whereby misery and putrifaction is threatned to him daily and to his yong Sonne by the widow of Essex being Filius peccati such a strange calamity of the falling sicknesse in his infancy as well may be a witnesse of the Parents sinne and wickednesse and of both their wasted natures in iniquity yet is this man nothing amended thereby but according to the custome of all old adulterers is more libidinous at this day then ever before more given to procure love in others by conjuring sorcery and other such meanes And albeit for himselfe both age and nature spent doe somewhat tame him from the act yet wanteth he not will as appeareth by the Italian ointment procured not many yeers pâst by his Chyrurgion or Mountibanke of that Countrey whereby as they say he is able to move his flesh at all times for keeking of his credit howsoever his inability be otherwise for performance as also one of his
whiles themselves in the meane space went about under hand to establish their owne ambushment Well quoth the Lawyer for the pretence of my Lord of Huntington to the Crowne I will not stand with you for thât it is a matter sufficâently known and seen throughout the Realme As also that my Lord of Leycesteâ is at this day a principall favourer and patron of that cause albeit some yeers past he were an earnest adversary and enemy to the same But yet I have heard some friânds of his in reasoning of these matters deây stoutly a point or two which you have touched here and doe seeme to beleeve the same And that is first that howsoever my Lord of Leicester do meane to helpe his friend when time shall serve yet pretendeth he nothing to the Crowne himselfe The second is that whatsoever may be meant for the title or compassing the Crowne after her Mâjesties death yet nothing is intended during her raigne And of both these points thây alledge reasons As for the first that my Lord of Leycester is very well knowne to have no title to the Crowne himselfe either by discent in blood alliance or otherwâyes For the second that his Lord. hath no cause to be a Mâlecontent in the present government nor hâpe for more preferment if my Lord of Huntington were King to morrow next then he receiveth now at her Majâsties hands having all the Realme as hath bin shewed at his owne disposition For the first quoth âe Gentleman whether he meane the Crowne for himsâlfâ or for his friend it importeth not much seeing both wayes iâ is âvident that he meaneâh to hâve all at his owne disposition And albeit now for the avoyding of envy he give it out as a crafty Fox that he meaneth not but to run wiâh other men and to hunt wâth Huntington and oâhââ hounds in the sâme chase yet is it not unlike but that he will plây the Beare when he coâeth to divâding of the pray and will snatch the best pârt to himselfe Yea and these sâlf same peâsons of his traine anââaction whom you call his friend though in publâque to excuse his doings and to cover the wholâ plot they will and must deny the matters to be so meant yet otherwise they both thinke hope and know the contrary and will not stick in secret to speâk it and among thâmselves it is their talke of consolation The words of his speciall Councellour the Lord North are known which he uttered to his trusty Pooly upon the receit of a letter from Court of her Majesties displeasure towards him for his being a witnesse at Leycesters second marriage with Dâme Lettice although I know he was not ignorant of the first at Wanstead of which displeasure this Lord making fâr lesse accompt then in reason he should of the just offence of his soveraigne said that for his owne part he was resolved to sinke or swimme with my Lord of Leycester who said he if once the Cards may come to shaffling I wâll use but his very own words I make no doubt but he alone shall beare away the Bucklers The words also of Sir Thomas Layton to Sir Henry Nevile walking upon the Taâresse at Windsor are known who told him after long discourse of their happy conceived Kingdome that hee doubted not but to see him one day hold the same office in Windsor of my Lord of Leycester which âow my Lord did hold of the Queene Meaning thereby the goodly office of Constableship wiâh all Royâlties and honours belonging to the same which now the said Sir Henry exerciseth onâly as Deputy to the Earle Which was plainely to signifie that he doubted not but to see my Lord of Leycester one day King or els his other hope could never possibly taââ effect or come to passe To the same point âended the words of Mistressâ Anne West Daâe Lettice sister unto the Lady Anne Askew in the great Chamber upon a day when her brothâr Robert Kâowles had danced disgratiously and scornfully before the Queen in pâesence of the French Which thing for that her Majesty tooke to proceed of wisâin him âs for dislâke of the strangers in presence and for the quarrell of his sister Essex it pleased her Majesty to check him for the same with additioâ of a reproachfull word or two full well deserved as though done for despite of the forced abseâce from that place of honour of the good old Gentlewoman I mitigate the worâs his sister Which words the other young twig receiving in deepe dudgen brake forth in great choler to her forenamed companion and said Thât she nothing doubted but that one day shee should see her sister upon whom the Queene railed now so much for so it pleased her to tearme her Majesties sharpe speech to sit in her place and throne being much worthier of the same for her qualities and rare vertues then was the other Which undutâfull speech albeit it were over-heard and condemned of divers that sate about them yet none durst ever report the same to her Majesty as I hâve heard sundry Courtiers affirme in respect of the revenge which the reporters should abide at my Lord of Leycesters hands whensoever the mâtâer should come to light And this is now concerning the opinion and secret speeches of my Lords owne friends who cannot but utter their conceit and judgement in time and place convenient whatsoever they are wâlled to give out publikely to the contrary for deceiving of such as will beleeve faire painted words against evident and manifest demonstration of reason I say reason for that if none of these signes and tokens were none of these preparations nor any of these speeches and detections by his friends that know his heart yet in force of plain reason I could alleadge unto you three arguments onely which to any man of intelligence wâuld easily perswade and give satisfactâon that my Lord of Leycester meaneth best and first for himsâlfe in this suât Whiâh three arguments for that you seeme to be attent I will not stick to run over in all brevity And the first is the very nature and quality of ambition it self which is such as you know that it never stayeth but passeth from degree to degree and the more it obtaineth the more it covereth and the more esteemeth it selfe both worthy and able to obtaine And in our matter that now we handle even as in wooing he âhât suâth to a Lady for another and obtaineth her good will entereth easily into conceit of his owne woâthinesse thereby and so commonly into hope of speedinâ himselfe while he speaketh for his friend so much more in Kingdomes he that sâeth himself of power to put the Crowne of another mans head will qâckly step to the next degree which is to set it of his owne seeâng that alwayâs the charity of such good men is wont to be so orderly as according to âhe precepâ it bâginneth
King James being dead Margaret was married againe to Archihald Douglas Earle of Anguish by whom shee had a Daughter named Margaret which was married afterward to Mathew Steward Earle of Lenâx whose Sonne Charles Steward was married to Elizabâth Candish Daughter to the present Countesse of Shrewsbury and by her hath left his onely Heire a little Daughter named Arbella of whom you have heard some speech before And this is touching the Line of Scotland descending from the first and eldest Daughter of King Henry the seventh The second Daughter of King Henry the seventh called Mary was twice married also first to the King of France by whom she had no issue and after his death to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke by whom she had two Daughters that is Francis of which the Children of my Lord of Hartford do make their claime and Elenor by whom the issue of the Earle of Darby pretendeth right as shall be declared For that Francis the first Daughter of Charles Brando4 by the Queene of France was married to the Marquesse of Dorset who after Charles Brandons death was made Duke of Suffolke in right of his Wâfe and was beheaded in Queene Maries time for his conspiracy with my Lord of Leycesters Father And she had by this man three Daughters that is Jane that was married to my Lord of Leycesters Brother and proclaimed Queene after King Edwards death for which both shee and her husband were executed Katherine the second Dâughter who had two Sonnes yet living by the Earle of Hartford and Mâry the third Dâugter which left no Children The other Daughter of Chaâlâs Brandon by the Queene of France called Elenor was married to Georgâ Cliffârd Earle of Cumberland who left a Daughter by her named Maâgâreâ married to the Earle of Darby which yet liveth and hath issue And this is the title of the Hâuse of Suffolke descended from the second Daughter of K. Henry the seventh married as hath been shewed to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke And by this you may see also how many there be who do thinke their titles to be far before that of my Lord of Huntingtonâ if either râght lâw reason or coâsideration of home affaires may take place in our Realm or if not yet you cannot but imagine how many great Princes and Potentatâs abroad are like to joyne and buckle with Huntingâons Line for the preeminence âf once the matter fall againe to contention by excluding the Line of King Henry the seventh which God forbid Truly Sir quoth I I well perceive that my Lords turne is not so nigh as I had thought whether he exclude the Line of King Henry or noâ for if he exclude thât then must he enter the Combat with forraine titlers of the House of Lancaster and if he âxclude it not then in all apparance of reason and in Law to as you have said the succession of the two Dâughters of King Henây the seventh whiâh you distânguâsh by the two names of Scotland and Suffolke must needs bee as clearely before him and his Lâne that decended only from Edward the fourth his Brother as the Queenes title that new reigneth is before him For thâââoth Scotland Suffolke and her Majesty do hold all by one foundâtion which is the union of both Houses and Titles together in King Henry the seventh her Majesties Grandfather That is true quoth the Gentleman and evidenâ enough in every mans eye and therefore no doubt but as âhat much is meant âgâinst hâr Majesty if oc4âsion serve âs against thâ rest thât hold by the same âitle Albeit her Mâiesti4s state the Lord be praised be such at thiâ ãâã as it is not safây to pretend so much against hâr as against the rest whatsoever be meant And that in âruth more should be ment agâinst her hâghnes theâ agâinst all âhe rest there is this reaâon for tâat her Majesty by hâr present possession letteth more their desires then all the rest âogether with their future pretences But as I have said it is not safety for them nor yet good pâlâcy to declare openly what they meane aâainst her Majesty It is the best way for the pâesent to âhew downe the rest and to leave her Majesty for the last âlow and upshot to their gâme For which câuse they will âeeme to make great difference at this day betweene her Majesties title and the rest that descend in likewise from King Henrâ the seventh avowing the one and disallowâng the other Albeit my Lord of Leicesters Father preferred that of Suffolke when ãâã was before this of her Mâjâsty and coâpelleâ the whâle Realme to sweare thereunto Such is thâ variable policy of men that serve the time or rather that serve themselves of all times for their purposes I remember quoth I that time of âhe Duke and was present my selfe at some of his Proclamations for that purpose wherein my Lord his Sonne that now liveth âeing then a doer as I can tell he was I marvile how he can deale so contrary now preferring not onely her Majesties title bâfore that of Suffolk whereof I wonder lessâ because it is more gainfull to him but also another much further of Buâ you have signified the cause in that the times are changeâ and other bargaines are in hand of more importance for him Wherefoâe leaving this to be considered by others whom it concerneth I beseech you Sir for that I know your worship hath beeene much conversant among their frienâs and favourers to tell me what are the barres and lets which they doe alledge why the house of Scoâland and Suffolk descendâd of king Henry the seventh his daughters should not succeed in the Crowne of England after her Majesty who ended the line of the same king by his son for in my sight the matter appeareth vâry plaine They want not pretences of barres and lets against them all quoth the Gentleman which I will lây downe in order as I have heard them alledged First in the line of Scotland there are three persons as you know that may pretend right that is the Queen and her son by the first marriage of Margaret and Arbella by the second And against the first marriage I heare nothing affirmed but against the two persons proceeding thereof I heare them alledge three stops one for that they are strangers born out of the land consâquently incapâble of inheritance within the same another for that by a speciâl testament of king H. 8. authorised by 2. severall pârliam thây are excluded 3 for that they are enemies to the religion now among us therefore to be debarred Against the second marriage of Maâgâret with Aâchibald Douglas whââeof Aâbella is descended they alledge that the said Archibald had a former wife at the time of that marriage which lived long after and so neither that marriage lawfull nor the issue therof legitimate The same barre they have