the GeÌ„tleman I am of opinion that my Lord of Leycester vvyl vse both this practize and manie moe for bringing the scepter finalie to his ovvn head that he vvil The sleightes of Leâ— for bâ—inging al to him self not onlie imploy Huntington to defeat Scotland and Arbella to defeaâ— Huntington but also vvould vse the mariage of the Q. imprisoned to defeat them both yf she vvere in his hand and anie one of al three to dispossesse her Ma. that novv is as also the authoritie of al fovver to bring it to him self vvyth mainie other fetches flinges friscoes besides vvhich simple men as yet do not conceiue And hovv so euer thes tvvo conioyned Earles ScaÌ„bling betvven Ley. and Huntington at the vpshot do seeme for the tyme to dravv together and to playe bootie yet am I of opinion that th' one vvill beguile th' other at the vpshopt And HastiÌ„gs for ought I see vvhen he commeth to the scambling is like to haue no better luck by the Beare then his auncestor had once by the Boare VVho vsing his help first in murdering the sonne heire of K. Henrie the sixt and after in destroying the Richard of Glocester An 1. Edvv. 5. faithful friendes and kinsmen of K. Edvvatd the fift for his easier vvay to vsurpation made an ende of him also in the Tovver at the verie same day houre that the other vvere by his couÌ„sail destroied in Pontfract Castle So that vvhere the Goale and price of the game is a kingdom ther is neither faith neither good fellovvship nor faire playe amoÌ„g the Gamesters And this shal be enough for the first point viz. vvhat good my L. of Leycester meaneth to him self in respect of Huntington Tovvching the second vvhether the attempt be 2. That the conpirators meane in her Ma. dayes purposed in her Ma. dayes or no the matter is much lesse doubtful to him that knovveth or can imagine vvhat a tormeÌ„t the delaye of a kingdome is to such a one as suffreth hungar therof and feareth that euerie houre may breed some alteration to the preiudice of his conceyued hope VVe see often tymes that the chylde is impatient in this matter to expect the natural ende of his parentes lyfe VVhom notvvythstanding by nature he is enforced to loue and vvho also by nature is like long to leaue this vvorlde before him and after Fovver considerations vvhos discease he is assured to obteine his desire but most certaine of daÌ„gerous euent yf he attempt to get it vvhile yet his pareÌ„t liueth VVhich fovver considerations are no doubt of great force to conteine a childe in duetie and bridle his desire albeit some tymes not sufficient to vvhythstand the greedie appetit of reigning But vvhat shal vve think vvhere none of thes fovver coÌ„sideratioÌ„s do restreine vvhere the present possessor is no parent VVher she is like by nature to out-liue the expector vvhos death must needes bring infinit difficulties to the enterprise and in vvhos lyfe tyme the matter is moste easie to be atchiued vnder coulour and authoritie of the present possessor shal vve think that in such a case the ambitious maÌ„ vvil ouerrule his ovvn passion and leese his commoditie As for that vvhich is alleaged before for my L. in the reason of his defenders that his present state is so prosperous as he cannot expect better in the next chaunge vvhat soeuer should be is of small moment in the conceipt of an ambitious head A thing vvorthye to be noted in ambitious men vvhos eye and hart is alvvayes vpon that vvhich he hopeth for and enioyeth not and not vpon that vvhich alredie he possesseth be it neuer so good Especialie in matters of honour and authoritie it is an infalible rule that one degre desired not obteyned afflicteth more then fiue degrees alredie possessed can giue consolation the storie of Duke Aman confirmeth this euidenly vvho being the greatest subiect in the vvorld vnder kinge Assuerus Hest 5. after he had reconed vp all his poÌ„pe riches glory felicity to his frieÌ„des yet he sayed that al this vvas nothing vnto hiÌ„ vntil he could obteine the reuenge vvhich he desyred vpon Mardoâ—haeus his enimy hereby it coÌ„meth ordinarily to passe that amoÌ„ge highest in authoritie are fouÌ„d the greatest store of Mal-Contents that most doe endanger ther Prince and countrie VVhen the Percies toke parte vvyth Henrie The â—â—rcies of Bolingbrook against K. Richard the seconde their lavvful soueraign it vvas not for lack of preferment for they vvere excedinglie aduaunced by the said king and possessed the three Earleâ—omes of Northumberland VVorcester and Stafâ—rd together besides manie other offices and diâ—â—ies of honour 〈…〉 ke sort vvhen the tvvo Neuiles toke vpon The Neuiles 〈…〉 yne vvyth Richard of York to put 〈◊〉 moste benigne Prince king Henrie the sixt and after againe in the other side to put dovvn king Edvvard the fourth it vvas not vppon vvant of aduauncement they being Earles both of Salisburie and VVarvvick and Lordes of manie notable places besides But it vvas vpon a vaine imagination of future fortune vvherby such men are commonlie led and yet had not they anie smell in their nostrells of gettinge the kingdoÌ„ fot theÌ„selues as this maÌ„ hath to prick hiÌ„ forvvard Yf you say that thes men hated their soueraign and that therby they vvere led to procure his destruction Leycester hatred to â—er Ma. the same I may ansvvere of my L. lyuinge though of al men he hath least cause so to do But yet such is the nature of vvicked ingratitude that vvhere it ovveth most disdeigneth to be bound The euill nature of ingratitude ther vpon euerie litle discontentement it turneth double obligation into triple hatred This he shevved euidentlie in the tyme of his litle disgrace vvherin he not onelie did diminish vilipend and debase among his friendes the inestimable benefites he hath receyued from her Ma. Leycester speeches of his Ma. in the tyme of his disgrace but also vsed to exprobrate his ovvn good seruices merites to touch her highnes vvyth ingrat consideration and recompence of the same vvhich behauiour together vvyth his hastie preparation to rebellion and assault of her Ma. Royal person dignitie vpon so smal a cause giuen did vvel shevv vvhat minde invvardlie he beareth to his soueraign and vvhat her Ma. may expect if by offending him she should once fal vvythin the copasse of his surious pavves seing such a smoke of disdaine could not proceed but from a fyâ—â—e furnace of hatred vvythin And sure he it is a vvouÌ„derful matter to consider vvhat a litle check or rather the bare imagination of a smal ouerth vvart may vvorke in a proude and disdeignful Stomack The remembraunce of his The causes of hatred in Leycester tovvards her Ma. mariage missed that he so much pretended and desired vvyth her Ma. doth stick deeplie in his breast and stirreth him daylie to
tyme. But novve yf in England vve should lyue in peace and vnytye of the state as they do in Germanie notvvithstanding their differences of religion and that the one should not praye vpon the other then should the great Favvcons for the field I mean the fauorites of the time faile vvheron to feed vvhich vvere an incoÌ„uenience as you knovv GENTL Truelie Sir said the gentleman I think you roue nearer the mark then you vveene for if I be not deceiued the verie ground of much of thes broiles vvherof vve talke is but a verie praye not in the mindes of the Prince or state vvhose intentions no doubt be moste iust and holie but in the greedie imagination and subtile conceipt of him vvho at this present in respect of our sinnes is petmitted by God to tyrannize both Prince and state The Tyraunt of englishe state and being him self of no religion feedeth notvvithstanding vpon our differences in religion to the fatting of him self ruine of the realm For vvheras by the common distinction novv receiued in speech there are thre notable differeÌ„ces of religion in the land the tvvo extreames vvherof are the Papist and the puritan and the religious Protestant Three differences of relâ—gion in EnglaÌ„d obteining the mean this felovv being of neither maketh his gaine of al as he seeketh a kingdom by the one extreeme and spoile by the other so he vseth the authoritie of the third to compas the first tvvo the countermine of eche one to the ouerthrovv of al three SCHOL To this I ansvvered In good sooth Sir I see novv vvher you are you are falen into the coÌ„mon place of al our ordinarie talke coÌ„ference in the vniuersitie The Erle of Leycester for I knovv that you mean my L. of Leicester vvho is the subiect of al pleasaunt discourses at this day throughout the realme GENTL Not so pleaseaunt as pitiful ansvvered the gentleman yf al maters and circumstances vvere vvel considered except anie man take pleasure to â—east at our ovvn miseries vvihch are like to be greater by his iniquitie yf God auert it not then by al the vvickednes of England besides he being the man that by al probabilitie is like to be the bane and fatal destynie of our state vvyth the euersion of true religion vvherof by indirect meanes he is thâ— greatest enimie that the land doth nourishe LAVV. Novv verilie quoth the lavvyer yf you saye thus much for the protestantes opinion of him vvhat shal I say for his merites tovvardes the Papistes vvho for as much as I can perceyue doe take them selues litle beholding vnto him albeit for his gaine he vvas some yeares their secret frieÌ„d against you vntil by his friendes he vvas persvvaded and chiefly by the L. North by vvaye of pollicie as the said L. The L. Norths pollicie bosteth in hope of greater gaine to step ouer to the puritanes against vs both vvhom notvvythstanding it is probable that he loueth as much as he doth the rest GENTL You knovv the Beares loue said the gentleman vvhich is al for his ovvn paunche and so this Bear-vvhelp turneth al to his ovvn commoditie and for greedines therof vvil ouerturne al yf he be not stopped or mouzeled in tyme. And surelie vnto me it is a straunge speculation vvherof I cannot pick out the reason out onlie that I do atribute it to Gods punishment for our sinnes A strange speculation that in so vvise vigilant a state as ours is and in a counrrie so vvel acquainted and beaten vvyth such daungers a man of such a spirit as he is knovven to be of so extreme ambition pride falshood and trecherie so borne so bred vp so nooseled in treason from his infancie descended of a tribe of traytors and fleshed in conspiracie against the Royal blood of K. Henries children in his tender years and exercised euer since in driftes against the same by the blood and ruyn of diuers others a man so vvel knovven to beare secret malice against her Ma. for causes irrecoÌ„cileable and moste deâ—dlie raÌ„cour against the best and vvisest Councellors of her highnes that such a one I say so hateful to God and man and so markeable to the simplest subiect of this land by thee publique ensygnes of his tyrannous purpose should be suffred so manie yeares vvythout check to aspire to tyrannie by moste manifest vvayes and to possesse him self as novv he hath done of Court Councell and countrie vvythout controlement so that nothing vvaÌ„teth to him but onlie his pleasure and the day alredie conceyued in his minde to dispose as he list both of Prince Crovvn Realm and religion SCHOL It is much truelie quoth I that you saye and it ministreth not a lytle maruail vnto manie vvherof your vvorship is not the first nor yet the tenth person of accompt vvhich I haue hearde discourse and complaine But vvhat shal vve say hereunto ther is no man that ascribeth not this vnto the singular The Q. Ma most excellent good nature benignitie and moste bountiful good nature of her Ma. vvho measuring other men by her ovvn Heroycal and Princelie sinceritie cannot easilie suspect a man so much bounden to her grace as he is nor remoue her confidence from the place vvher she hath heaped so infinite benefites GENTL No doubt said the gentleman but this gracious and svveet disposition of her Ma. is the true original cause therof vvhich Princelie disposition as in her highnes it deserueth al rare commendation so lyeth the same opeÌ„ to manie daungers often tymes vvhen so benigne a nature meeteth vvyth ingrate and ambitious persons vvhich obseruation perhapes caused her Ma moste noble GrauÌ„dfather and father tvvo renoumed vvise princes to vvithdravv somtyme vpon the sudden their great fauour from certaine subiectes of high estate And her Ma. may easilie vse her ovvn excellent vvisdom and memorie to recal to minde the manyfold examples of perilous happes fallen to diuers Princes by to much confideÌ„ce in obliged proditours vvith vvhom the name of a kingdom and one houers Feares that subiectes haue of my L of Leycester reigne vveyeth more then al the duetie obligation honestie or nature in the vvorld VVould God her Ma. could see the continual feares that be in her faythful subiectes hartes vvhiles that man is about her noble person so vvel able and likelie if the Lord auert it not to be the calamitie of her Princelie blood and name The talke vvil neuer out of manie mouâ—hes and mindes that diuers auncient men of this Realm Sir Fran-VValsing ham and once a vvise gentleman novv a Councellor had vvyth a certaine friend of his concerning the presage and deep impression vvhich her Ma. father had of the house of Sir Iohn Dudley to be the ruin K Hâ—n presage of the house of Dudleâ— in tyme of his Ma. Royal house and blood vvhich thing vvas like to haue bene fulfilled soone after as â—1 the vvorld knovveth vpon the
but rather to leaue that to the discretion of the murderer Secondlie it is not also vnliklie that he prescribed The second reason vnto Sir Rich. Varney at his going thither that he should first attempt to kil her by poyson yf that toke not place then by anie other vvay to dispatch her hovv soeuer This I proue by the report of olde Doctor Baylye vvho then liued in Oxeforde an Doctor Baylye the elder other maner of man then he vvho novv lyueth about my Lord of the same name vvas professor of the Phisick Lecture in the same vniuersitie This learned graue man reported for moste certaine that ther vvas a practize in Cumner among the conspiratours to haue poysoned the poore Ladie a litle before she vvas killed vvhich vvas attempted in this order They seing the good Ladie sad and heauy as one that vvel knevv by her other handling that her death vvas not far of began to persvvade her that her disease vvas abundance of Melancholie and other humours therfore vvoulde needes counsaile her to take some potion vvhich she absolutlie refusing to do as suspecting stil the vvorst they A practise for poysoning the la Dudlei sent one daye vnavvares to her for Doctor Baylie and desired him to petsvvade her to take some litle Potion at his handes and they vvould send to fetch the same at Oxeforde vpon his prescription meaning to haue added also somvvhat of their ovvn for her comfort as the Doctor vpon iuste causes suspected seeing their great importunitie and the smal need vvhich the good Ladie had of Phisike therfor he flatlie denied their request misdoubting as he after reported least yf they had poisoned her vnder the name of his Potion he might after haue bene hanged for a couer of their sinne Marie the said Doctor remayned vvel assured that this vvay taking no place she should not long escape violence as after ensued And the thing vvas so beaten into the heades of the principal mē of the vniuersitie of Oxeford by thes and other meanes as for that she vvas found murdered as al men said by the Crovvners inquest and for that she being hastelie and obscurelie buried at Cumner vvhich vvas condemned aboue as not aduisedlie done my good Lord to make plane to the vvorld the great loue he bare to her in her lyfe and vvhat a gryef the losse of so vertuous a Lady vvas to his tēder hart vvould needes haue her taken vp againe and reburied in the vniuersitie church at Oxeford vvyth great Pomp and solemnitie That Doctor Babington my L. chaplaine making the publique Doctor Babingtō funeral Sermon at her second buryall tript once or tvvice in his speach by recommending to ther memories that vertuous Ladie so pittefullie murdered in stead of so pittifullie slaine A third cause of this maner of the Ladies death A Third reason may be the dispositiō of my Lordes nature vvhich is bold and violent vvher it feareth no resistaunce as all covvardly natures are by kinde and vvhere anie difficultie or daunger apeareth ther more redie to attempt al by arte subtiltie treason and trecherie And so for that he doubted no great resistaūce in the poore Ladie to vvythstand the handes of them vvhich should offer to breake her necke he durst the bolder attempt the same openlie But in the men vvhom he poysoned for that they vvere such valiaunt knightes the moste parte of them as he durst as soone haue eaten his scabard as dravve his svvorde in publique against them he vvas inforced as al vvretched ireful and dastardlie creatures are to supplant them by fraud and by other mens handes As also at other tymes he hath sought to do vnto diuers other noble and valiaunt personages vvhen he vvas a feard to meet them in the field as a knight should haue done His treacheries tovvardes the noble late Earle of Sussex in their manie breaches is notorious to al England As also the bloodie practizes against diuers others But as among manie none vvere more odious misliked of all men then those against Monsieur Simiers a straunger Ambassador vvhom first he practised to haue poysoned as hath bene touched The intēded murder of Mōsieur Simiers by sundrye meanes before vvhen that deuise toke not place thē he appointed that Robin Tider his man as after vpon his ale bench he confessed should haue slaine him at the blacke friars at Grenevvich as he vvent furth at the garden gate but missing also of that purpose for that he found the Gentleman better prouided and guarded then he expected he delt vvyth certaine Flusshyners and other Pyrates to sinke him at sea vvyth the Englishe Gentlemen his fauourers that accompanied him at his returne into Fraunce And though they missed of this practize also as not daring to set vpon him for feare of some of her Ma. shippes vvho to break of this designement attended by special commaundement to vvafte him ouer in safitie yet the foresaid English Gentlemen vvere holden fovver hovvers in chace at their comming backe as M. Ravvley vvel knovveth being then present and tvvo of the Chacers named Clark and Hatris confessed aftervvard the vvhole designement The Earle of Ormond in like vvyse hath often declared and vvill auovvch it to my Lord The intēded murder of the Earle of Ormond of Leycesters face vvhen so euer he shal be called to the same that at such tyme as this man had a quarell vvyth him and therby vvas likelie to be enforcede to the fielde vvhiche he trembled to thinke of he first soughte by all meanes to get him made avvay by secret murder offeringe fiue hundreth poundes for the doing therof and secondlie vvhen that deuise toke no place he appointed vvyth him the fielde but Secretlie suborning his seruaunte VVyllm Killegre VVyllm Killegre to lye in the vvaye vvhere Ormonde shoulde passe and so to massaker him vvyth a Calliuer before he came to the place appointed VVhich murder thoughe it toke no effecte for that the matter vvas taken vp before the day of meetinge yet vvas Killigre placed aftervvarde in her Ma. Priuie Chamber by Leycester for shevving his redie minde to do for his master so faythful a seruice SCHOL So faithfull a seruice quoth I truelie in my opinion it vvas but an vnfit preferment for so facinorous a facte And as I vvoulde be lothe that manie of his Italians or other of that arte shoulde come nighe aboute her Ma. kitchen so muche lesse vvould I that manie suche his bloodie Champions shoulde be placed by him in her highnesse chamber Albeit for this Gentleman in particulare it may be that vvyth chaunge of his place in seruice he hath chaunged also his minde and affection and receyued better instruction in the feare of the Lorde But yet in generall I muste needes say that it cannot be but preiudicial exceeding daungerous vnto our noble Prince and Realm that anie one mā vvhatsoeuer especialie such a one as the
designementes as also of some secret discontentment vvhich he hath tovvardes her Ma. and the state present for certaine harde †speaches and ingrate recompences as he pretendeth but indeed for that he is knovven to be of nature fyrie and impatient of staye from seeing that common vvealth on foote vvhich the next competitours for their gayne haue paynted out to him and such others more pleasaunte then the Terrestrial Paradise it self This theÌ„ is the Hector this is the Aiax appoiÌ„ted for the enterprise vvhen the tyme shal come This must be forsooth an other Richard of VVarâ—vik to gaine the Crovvn for HeÌ„rie the ninth of the house of York as the other Richard did put dovvn HeÌ„rie the sixt of the house of LaÌ„caster placed Edvvard the fourth from vvhom Huntington deriueth his title therfore this man is necessarilie to be enterteyned from tyme to tyme as vve see novv he is in some charge and martial action to the end his experience povver and credit may grovv the more and he be able at the tyme to haue souldiours at his commaundement And for the former charge vvhich helde of late in Ireland as this man had not bene called avvay but for execution of some other secret purpose * In ScotlaÌ„d or els vvhere a gaynst the next iÌ„heritors or preseÌ„t possessor for aduancement of their designemeÌ„ts so be vvel assured that for the tyme to come it is to be furnished agayne vvyth a sure and fast friend to Leycester and to that faction Sir Ihon Parotte In the I le of VVyght I graunt that Leycester hath lost a great friend and a trustie seruaunt by the death of Captaine Horsey but yet the mater is supplyed Sir Edvv. Horsey Sir Georg Carevv by the succession of an other no lesse assured vnto him then the former or rather more through the baÌ„de of affinitie by his vvife The tvvo Ilands of Gersey and Gernsey are in the possession of tvvoe Sir Amias Paulet Sir Thomas Layton frieÌ„ds most obliged depeÌ„deÌ„tes The one by reasoÌ„ he is excedingly addicted to the Puritane procediÌ„gs the other as novv being ioyned vnto him by the mariage of Mistres Besse his vviues sister both daughters to Sir Frauncis or at least to my Ladie Knooles and so become a riuale companion and brother vvho vvas before thoughe trustie yet but his seruaunt And thes are the chiefe Keyes Forteesses and Bulvvarkes vvythin vvithout about the realm vvhich my Lord of Leyces possessing as he doth he may be assured of the bodie vvythin vvher notvvythstanding as hath bene shevved he vvanteth no due preparation for strength hauing at his disposition besides al aydes and other helpes specified Her Ma. Stable Her Armour Munitition and Artilerye The Tovver before her Ma. horse and stables by interest of his ovvn office her Armour Artilerie and MunitioÌ„ by the office of his brother the Erle of VVarvvick The Tovver of London and treasure therin by the dependence of Sir Ovvyne Hopton his svvorne seruauntâ— as redie to receyue and furnish him vvyth thâ— vvhole yf occasion serued as one of his predecessors vvas to receyue his father in K. Edvvardes dayes for the lyke effect against her Ma. and her sister And in the Citie of London it self vvhat this London Sir Rovvâ—and Heivvard Madd Fleet vvoâ— man at a pinche could doe by the help of some of the principal meÌ„ chief leaders as it vvere commaunders of the commons ther and by the bestirring of Fleetvvoode his madde Recorder and other such his instrumentes as also in al other Tovvnes Portes and Cities of importaunce by such of his ovvn setting vp as he hath placed ther to serue his designementes and iustices of peace vvith other that in most Shyres do vvere his liuerey and are at his appoyntement the simplest man vvhithin the Realm doth consider VVherunto yf you adde novv his ovvn forces and furniture vvhich he hath in Killingvvorth Castle and other places as also the forces of Huntington in particular vvith their friendes folovvers allies and Compartenours you shal finde that they are not behind in their preparations SCHOL For my Lord of Huntingtons forvvardnes in the cause said I ther is no man I think vvhich maketh doubt marie for his priuate forces albeit they may be verie good for anie thing I do knovve to the coÌ„trary especiallie at his house vvythin 25. miles of My L. of HuÌ„tingtons preparation at Ashby Killingvvorth vvhere one tolde me some yeares paste that he had furniture redie for fiue thovvsand men yet do I not think but that they are far inferior to my L. of Leycest vvho is takeÌ„ to haue excessiue store that in diuers place And as for the Castle laste mentioned by you ther are men of Killingvvorth Castle good intelligence and of no smal iudgement vvho report that in the same he hath vvel to furnish ten thovvsand good souldiars of al thinges necessarie both for horse man besides al other munition armour artillerie vvherof great store vvas brought thither vnder pretence of tryumphe vvheÌ„ her Ma. vvas ther neuer as yet carried back again besides the great abundaÌ„ce of redie Coyne ther laide vp as is said sufficient for anie great exploit to be done vvythin the Realme And I knovve that the estimation of this place vvas such amonge diuers many years ago as vvheÌ„ at a tyme her Ma. laye daungerouslie syck and lyke â—lphe â—ane to die at Hampton Court a certaine gentleman of the Court came vnto my L. of Huntington told him that for so much as he toke his L. to be next in succession after her Ma. he vvoulde offer hyma meane of great help for coÌ„passing of his purpose after the discease of her Ma. vvhich vvas the possessioÌ„ of KilliÌ„gvvorth Castle for at that time thes tvvo The offer acceptation of Killingvvorth Castle Earles vvere not yet verie friendes nor confederate together that being had he shevved to the Earle the great furniture and vvealthe vvhich therby he should possesse for pursute of his purpose The proposition vvas vvel liked the mater esteemed of great importaunce and consequentlie receyued vvyth manie thankes But yet aftervvard her Ma. by the good prouidence of God recoueriÌ„g againe letted the executioÌ„ of the bargaine and my L. of Huntington hauing occasion to ioyne amitie vvyth Leycester had more respect to his ovvn coÌ„moditie theÌ„ to his friendes securitie as commonly in such persons cases it falleth out so discouered the vvhole deuice vnto him vvho forgat not after from tyme to tyme to plague the deuiser by secret meanes vntil he hath brought him to that poor estate as al the vvorld seeth though manie meÌ„ be not acquainted vvyth the true cause of this his disgrace and bare fortune LAVV. To this ansvvered the Lavvyer In good faith Gentlemen you open great misteries vnto me vvhich either I knevv not or coÌ„sidered not so particularlie before and no maruaile for that my
this our natiue countrie if God should take frō vs her moste excellent Ma. as once he vvil and so leaue vs destitute vppon the sudden vvhat should become of our liues of our states and of our vvhole Realm or gouernement can anie man promisse him self one Great inconueniences daye longer of rest peace possession lyfe or libertie vvithin the land then God shal lend vs her Ma. to reigne ouer vs VVhich albeit vve do are bound to vvish that it may be long yet reason telleth vs that by course of Nature it cannot be of anie great continuance and by a thovvsand accidentes it may be much shorter And shal then our moste noble common vvealth and kingdome vvhich is of perpetuitie and must continevv to our selues and our posteritie hang onelie vpon the life of her highnes alone vvel strocken in years and of no great good health or robustious and strong complexion I vvas vvithin hearing some six or seuen yeares Sir Christopher Hattons oration ago vvhen Sir Christopher Hatton in a verie great assemblie made an eloquent oratiō vvhich after I vvene vvas put in print at the pardoning and deliuerie of him from the gallouse that by errour as vvas thought had discharged his peece vpon her Ma. Barge and hurte certain persons in her hignes presence And in that oration he declared and described verie effectualie vvhat inestimable dāmage had ensued to the Realm yf her Ma. by that or anie other meanes should haue bene takē from vs. He set foorth moste liuelie before the eyes of al men vvhat dyuysion vvhat dissension vvhat bloodshed had ensued and vvhat fatal daungers vvere moste certaine to fal vpon vs vvhen so euer that doleful day should happen vvherin no man should be sure of his lyfe of his goods of his vvife of his childrē no mā certaine vvhether to flie vvhō to folovv or vvhere to seek repose and protection And as all the hearers ther present did easilie graunt that he therin said trouth and far lesse then might haue bene said in that behalf thinges standing as they do so manie one I trovve that hearde thes vvordes proceed from a Councellor that had good cause to knovv the state of his ovvn coūtrie entered into this cogitation vvhat punishmēt they might deserue then at the vvhole state common vvealths hādes vvho first by letting her Ma. from Intollerable treasons mariage thē by procuring this statute of dissembling the next inheritour had brought their Realm into so euidēt ineuitable daūgers for euerie one vvel cōsidered vveighed vvith him self that the thing vvhich yet onely letted thes daūgers miseries set dovvn by Sir Christopher must necessarilie one day faile vs al that is the lyfe of her Ma. novv present And then say vve hovv falleth it out that so general a calamitie as must needes ouertake vs ere it be long may for anie thing vve knovv to morovv next is not puided for asvvel as foresene Is ther no remedie but that vve must vvillinglie vvyttingly rūne into our ovvn ruin and for the fauour or feare of some fevv aspirours betraye our countrie the blood of so many thovvsand innocentes as liue vvythin the land For tel me good Sirs I pray you yf her Ma. should die to morovv next vvhos lyfe God long preserue and blesse but yf she should be taken The miseries to follovve vpon her Maiest death from vs as by condition of nature and humane frailtie she may vvhat vvould yovv doe vvhich vvay vvould you looke or vvhat head or parte knevv anie good subiect in the Realm to folovv I speake not of the cōspiratours for I knovve they vvilbe redie and resolued vvhom to folovv but I speake of the plaine simple and vvel meaning subiect vvho folovving novv the vtter letter of this fraudulent statute fraudulēt I meane in the secret conceipt of the cunning aspirours shal be takē at that day vpō the sudden being put in a maze by the vnexpected cōtentiō about the Crovvn shal be brought into a thousand daungers both of bodie goodes vvhich novv are not thought vpon by them vvho are moste in daunger of the same And this is for the common vvealth and countrie But vnto her Ma. for vvhos good and safitie the statute is onely pretēded to be made no doubt but that it bringeth far greater daungers then anie The daūger to her Ma. by this statute deuise that they haue vsed besides For hereby vnder coulour of restrayning the claymes titles of true successours vvhos endeuours notvvythstanding are commonlie more calme and moderate then of vsurpers they make vnto them selues a meane to forster and set forvvard their ovvn conspiracie vvythout controlment seing no man of might may oppose hīself against thē but vvyth suspition that he meaneth to clayme for him self And so they being armed on the one side vvyth their autoritie and force of present fortune defended on the other side by the pretence of the statute they may securelie vvork and plot at their pleasure as you haue vvel proued before that they do And vvhen soeuer their groundes and foundatiōs shal be redie it can not be denied but that her Ma. lyfe lyeth much at their discretiō to take it or vse it to their best cōmoditie ther is no doubt but they vvil as such men are vvount to do in such affaires Marie one thing standeth not in their povvers so absolutelie and that is to prolong her Ma. dayes or fauoure tovvardes them selues at theyr pleasures vvherof it is not vnlike but they vvil haue due consideration least perhappes vppon anie sudden accident they mighte be found vnredie GENTL They haue good care therof I can assure you quoth the gentleman mean not to be preuēted by anie accident or other mishappe vvhat soeuer they vvilbe redie for al euentes and for that cause they hasten so much their preparations at this day The hastnyng of the conspirators more then euer before by sending out theyr spies and solicitours euerie-vvhere to proue and confirme their friendes by deliuering their common vvatch-vvord by cōplainīg on al hādes of our protestāt Bishoppes Cleargy of al the presēt state of our irreformed religiō as thei cal it by amplyfiyng only the daunger of Papists Scottishe factiō by giuīg out opēly that novv her Ma. is past hope of childbirh cōsequently seing god hath giuē no better succes that vvay in tvvo vvomē one after the other it vvere not conuenient say they that an other of that sexe should ensue vvyth highe commendation of the Lavv Salick in Fraunce vvherby vvomen are forbidden to succede VVhich speech though in shevv it be deliuered against the Q. of Scottes and other of K. Henrie the 7. his line that discend of sisters yet al men see that it tovvcheth as vvel the disabling of her Ma. that is present as others to come and so tendeth directlie to Maturatiō of the principal purpose vvhich I haue declared before
of Condie in the contrarie parte vvould King of Nauarre Prince of Condye think them selues greatlie iniuried by the state of Fraunce vvhich is different from them in religion at this day if after the death of the king that novv is his brother vvithout issue yf God so dispose they should be barred froÌ„ inheriting the Crovvn vnder pretence onlie of their religion My Lord of HuntingtoÌ„ him self also is he not knovveÌ„ to be of My L. of Huntingtons religion a different religioÌ„ from the present state of EnglaÌ„d and that yf he vvere king to morovve next he vvould alter the vvhole gouernment order condition state of religion novv vsed estblished vvythin the Realm But as I said in the beginning yf one of a vvhole familie or of diuers families be culpable or to be The title of thos vvhiche ensevve the Q. of Scottes touched herein vvhat haue the rest offeÌ„ded therby vvil you exclude al for the mislike of one And to descend in order yf the first in K. Henries line after her Ma. may be touched in this point yet vvhy should the rest be damnified therby The king of Scotland her sonne that next ensueth to speake in equitie vvhie should he be shut out for his religion And are not al the other in like maner protestantes vvhos discent is consequent by nature order and degre SCHOL For the yong king of Scotland quoth I the trueth is that alvvayes for mine ovvn parte I haue had great hope and expectation of him not onlie The yoÌ„g kâ—ng of Scotland for the conceipt vvhich commonlie men haue of such Orient youthes borne to kingdomes but especialie for that I vnderstod froÌ„ tyme to time that his educatioÌ„ vvas in allearning priÌ„celie exercises instruction of true religioÌ„ vnder rare and vertuous men for that purpose VVherby I conceyued hope that he might not onelie become in tyme an honorable and profitable neighbour vnto vs for assurance of the ghospel in thes partes of the vvorld but also yf God should depriue vs of her Maiesty vvhithout issue might be a meane by his sucâ—ssion to vnite in Concord and Gouernment the tvvoe Realmes together vvhich heretofore hath bene sought by the price of manie a thousand mens blood and not obteyned Marie yet novv of late I knovv not by vvhat meanes ther is begon in mens hartes a certaine mislike or grudge against him for that it is giuen ouâ— euerie vvhere that he is inclyned to be a Papist an enimie to her Ma. proceedinges VVhich argueth him verelie of singular ingratitude if it be true considering the great helpes and protection vvhich he hath receyued from her highnes euer sithence he vvas borne GENTL And are you so simple quoth the Genleman as to beleeue euerie report that you heare of this matter knovv you not that it is expedient for my L. of Leycester and his factioÌ„ that this youth aboue al other be held in perpetual disgrace vvyth her Ma. and vvyth this Realm You knovv that Richard The deuice to set out her Ma vvith the yong king of ScotlaÌ„d of Glocester had neuer bene able to haue vsurped as he did if he had not first persvvaded kiÌ„g Edvvard the fovverth to hate his ovvn brother the Duke of Clarence vvhich Duke stood in the vvaye betvvene Richard and the thing vvhich he moste of al thinges coueted That is the possibility to the Crovvn and so in this case is ther the lyke deuice to be obserued For truelie for the yong king of Scotlands religion it is euident to as manie as haue reason that it caÌ„ be no other of it self but inclined to the best both in respect of his education instruction coÌ„uersation vvith thos of true religion as also by hiâ— former Actions Edictes Gouernment and priuatâ— behauiour he hath declared Marie thes men vvhos profit is nothing lesse then that he or any other of that race should do vvel do not cease daylie by al secrete vvayes driftes and molestations possible to driue him either to mislke of our religion or els to incur the suspitioÌ„ therof vvith such of our Realm as othervvise vvould be his best friendes or if not this yet for verie need feare of his ovvn lyfe to make recourse to such other Princes abrode as may most offend or mislik this state And for this cause they suborne certaine busie felovves of their ovvn crevv and faction perteyning to the ministerie of Scotland but vnvvorthy of so vvorthie a caliÌ„g to vse such insoleÌ„cy tovvards The intolerable procedinges of certayne Ministers in ScotlaÌ„d agaiÌ„st theyâ— kig by sâ—bornation of â—ys â—â—ymyes in England their king and Prince as is not onlie vndecent but intollerable For he may do no thing but they vvil examin and discusse the same in pulpit If he go but on hunting vvhen it pleaseth them to cal him to their preaching if he make but a dinner or supper vvhen or vvhere or vvyth vvhom they like not if he receiue but a coople of horses or other preseÌ„t froÌ„ his friendes or kinsmen beyond the seas yf he salute or vse courteouslie anie maÌ„ or messiger vvhich coÌ„meth from them as you knovv Princes of their nobilitie courtesie are accustomed though they come froÌ„ their enimies as often hath bene seene highlie commended in her Ma. of England yf he deale familiarlie vvyth anie Ambassadour vvhich liketh not them or finalie if he do say or signifie any one thing vvhatsoeuer that pleaseth not their humour they vvil presentlie as seditious tribunes of the people exclame in publique and stepping to the pulpit vvher the vvord of the Lord only ought to be preached vvil excite the commonaltie to discontentation inveying against their souerain vvith such bitternes of speech vnreuerend tearmes and insoleÌ„t controlmentes as is not to be spokeÌ„ Novv imagine vvhat her Ma. her graue couÌ„cell vvould do in England if such procedinges should be vsed by the cleargie against them STHOL No doubt quoth I but that suche vnquiet spirites should be punished in our Realm And so I said of late to their moste Reuerend and vvorthie Prelat Primat the Archbisshop of S. Andrevves vvith vvhom it vvas my Luck to come acquainted Sir Patrik Adamson Archbishop of S. Andrevves in London vvhether he vvas come by his kings apointment as he said to treate certaine affaires vvith our Quene and Councell And talking vvith him of this disorder of his Ministerie he confessed the same vvith much greife of minde tolde me that he had preached therof before the king him self detesting and accusing diuers heades therof for vvhich cause he vvas become verie odious to them and other of their faction both in Scotland EnglaÌ„d But he said that as he had giuen the reasons of his doinges vnto our Quene so meaneth he shortlie to do the same vnto Monsieur Beza and to the vvhole church of Geneua by sending thither the articles of his and their doinges Protesting vnto me that the procedinges
vigilant an eye to the lateral line of K. Edvvard the fourth by his brother of Clarence as they thought it necessarie not onlie to preuent al euident daungers that might ensue that vvaye but euen the possibilities of al peril as may vvel appeare by the execution of Edvvard Earle of VVarvvike before named sonne and heire to the said Duke of Clarence and of Margaret his sister Countesse of Salisburie vvith the Lord Henrie Montague her sonne by vvhos daughter the Earle Persons executed of the house of Clarēce of Huntington novv claimeth Al vvhich vvere executed for auoiding of inconueniences and that at such tymes vvhen no imminent daunger could be much doubted by that Line especialie by the later And yet novv vvhen one of the same house and line of more habilitie and ambition then euer anie of his auncestors vvere maketh open title and claime to the Crovvn vvith plotes packes and preparations to moste manifest vsurpation against al order al lavv and al rightful succession against a special statute prouided in that behalf yet is he permitted borne out fauored and friended therin and no man so hardie as in defence of her Ma. and Realm to controle him for the same It may be that her Ma. is brought into the same opinion of my L. of Huntingtons fidelitie as Iulius The example of Iulius Caesars destruction Caesar vvas of Marcus Brutus his dearest obliged friend of vvhos ambitious practises and aspiring vvhē Caesar vvas aduertised by his careful friēdes he ansvvered that he vvel knevv Brutus to be ambitious but I am sure quoth he that my Brutus vvil neuer attēpt anie thing for the Empire vvhile Caesar lyueth and after my death let him shift for the same among others as he can But vvhat ensued Surelie I am loth to tel the euent for ominations sake but yet al the vvorld knovveth that ere manie monethes passed this moste Noble and Clement Emperoure vvas pitifulie murdered by the same Brutus and his parteners in the publique Senate vvhen least of al he expected such treason So daungerous a thing it is to be secure in a matter of so great sequele or to trust them vvyth a mans lyfe vvho may pretend preferment or interest by his death VVherfore vvould God her Ma. in this case might be induced to haue such due care regarde of her ovvn estate Royal person as the vveighty moment of the matter requireth vvhich cōteineth the blisse and calamitie of so Noble and vvorthie a kingdom as this is I knovv right vvel that moste excellent natures To much cōfidence very perilous in a Prince are alvvayes furdest of from diffidence in such people as profes loue and are moste bounden by devvtie and so it is euident in her Ma. But yet surelie this confidence so commendable in other men is scarse alovvable often tymes in the person of a Prince for that it goeth accompanied vvyth so great peril as is ineuitable to him that vvil not suspect principallie vvhen daungers are fortolde or presaged as commonlie by Gods appointment they are for the speciall hand he holdeth ouer Princes affaires or vvhen ther is probable coniecture or iust surmise of the same VVe knovv that the forenamed Emperour Caesar had not onlie the vvatning giuen him of the inclination and intent of Brutus to vsurpation but euen the verie day vvhen he vvas going tovvardes the place of his appointed destinie ther vvas giuen vp into his handes a detection of the vvhole treason vvyth request to read the same presentlie vvhich he vpon confidence omitted to do VVe read also of Alexander the great hovv he vvas not The example of Alexāder the great hovv he vvas for tolde his daunger onelie forbidden by a learned man to enter into Babylō vvhether he vvas then going for that ther vvas treason meant agaīst him in the place but also that he vvas foretolde of Antipaters mischieuous meaning against him in particular But the yong Prince hauing so vvel deserued of Antipater could not be brought to mistrust the man that vvas so deare vnto him by that means vvas poisoned in a bāquet by three sōnes of Antipater vvhich vvere of moste credit cōfidence in the kinges Chāber SCHOL Here truelie my hart did somevvhat tremble vvyth feare horrour and detestation of such euentes And I said vnto the Gentleman I beseech you Syr to talke no more of thes matters for I cannot vvel abide to heare them named hoping in the Lord that ther is no cause nor euer shal be to doubt the like in Endland specialie from thes men vvho are so much bounden to her Ma. and Late execution◠so forvvard in seeking out and pursueing al such as may be thought to be daungerous to her Ma. person as by the sundrie late executions vve haue seene and by the punishmentes euerie vvaye of Papistes vve may perceyue GENTL Trueth it is quoth the Gentleman that iustice hath bene done vpō diuers of late vvhich cōtenteth me greatlie for the terrour and restreint of others of vvhat sect or religion so euer they be And it is moste necessarie doubtles for the compressing of parties that great vigilance be vsed in that behalf But vvhen I consider that onlie one kinde of men are touched herein and that al speech regarde doubt distrust and vvatche is of them alone vvythout reflexion of eye vpon anie other mens doinges or designementes vvhen I see the double diligence vehemencie of certaine instrumentes vvhich I like not bent vvholie to rayse vvounder and admiration of the people feare terrour and attention to the doeinges sayinges and meaninges Fraude to be feared in putsueing one parte o◠faction onlie of one parte or faction alone and of that namlie and onlie vvhich thes cōspiratours esteme for most daungerous and opposite to them selues I am belieue me often tempted to suspect fraude and false measure and that thes men deale as vvolues by nature in other countries are vvount to doe VVhich going together in great numbers to assaile a flock of shepe by night do set some one or tvvo of their cōpanie vpō the vvinde side of the folde a far of vvho partly by their sent other bruteling vvhich of purpose they make may dravv the doggs and shepheardes to pursue them alone vvhiles the The comparison of vvolues Rebels other do enter and slea the vvhole flock Or as rebelles that meaning to surprise a tovvn to turn avvay the inhabitantes from consideration of the daunger from defence of that place vvhere they intend to enter do set on fire some other partes of the tovvn furder of and do sound a false al'arme at some gate vvher is ment least daunger VVhich arte vvas vsed cunninglie by Richard Rychard Duke of York Duke of York in the tyme of K. Henrie the sixt vvhen he to couer his ovvn intent brought al the Realm in doubt of the doinges of Edmond Duke of Sometset his enimie But Iohn of Northumberland father to my