abroad that the Spaniard had drawne out a Navie of Ships of an hundred Saile but to what purpose no man knew many suspected for England because they were come so farre upon those Coasts others said for the use of the Marriners to accustome them to Sea but most of all were of opinion that these were but shadows and that the Spaniard was to have taken advantage of the time Howsoever upon this there followed a Proclamation against Spanish money that their money should not go currant in England which caused many to suspect worse then the worst some said one thing some another upon the neck of that comes wars in the Low-countries some say against the Palsgrave some against the State The Scots begin to flie out in Rebellion and are supprest The wild Irish in Ireland begin to stirre sometimes thirtie sometimes fortie sometimes three hundred flie out and stand upon their guard These things minister occasion of wonder to the ignorant and many of them who knew the truth of things knew not what to say to it Priests come into the Kingdom by tens fifteenes twentie at a time and have free accesse so that my Lord of Northampton being Warden of the Cinque Ports begins to be called into question Some say he hath a hand in those things others say he lets Priests have their free accesse and that in Bloomesberie amongst his owne buildings they have free harbour others say that through his countenance thither any man might go to publique Masse besides many other Intelligences being brought from beyond the Seas drawes him further into suspition and the King begins to withdraw his favour from him wherefore he exhibits his Bill against such as defamed him into the Star-chamber some are for this cause committed to the Tower others to Newgate others to the Fleete till they come to their Answer And in the end openly in the Star-chamber he is accused for suffering Priests to have free accesse into Yorkshire under pretence of his Office for countenancing them for sending Letters to and againe to encourage men in their opinions and many other such like things And when the Lords should come to passe their voyces my Lord of Canterburie amongst the rest made a speech to this effect That although many have beene the rumours and reports that had passed in these times some of them shut up for uncertaine truths and flying fables then entertained for approved truths yet neverthelesse such things are grounded upon reason and for which men of upright consciences have some occasion to speak to have such either lightly valued or punished was rather injustice then any way beseeming the equity of that Court But in truth these whereof wee now speak are grounded upon some cause and my Lords owne Letters make evident that he hath done some things both against his owne conscience and meaning meerly to attaine unto honour and soveraigntie and to please the King And with that he pulls out a Letter written from my Lord to Cardinall Bellarmine to this effect THat howsoever the condition of the times compelled him and His Majesty urged him to turne Protestant yet neverthelesse his heart stood with the Papists and that he would be ready to further them in any attempt This and much more being read to some purpose he proceeded and shewed how that those things were not meerly uncertaine but even the actions that followed them did justifie them to be true For there was never knowne to be so many Priests to come over into this Kingdome in so short a time as of late there had done neither could he assure himselfe that my Lord was true hearted unto the State Also he harboured such about him as would undertake to write in defence of the Gunpowder Treason This and much more being said about the latter end of Easter Terme in the yeare 1614. my Lord being hereat much discouraged after the Court brake â—ooke his Barge went to Greenewich there made his Will wherein he published himselfe to dye in the Faith he was Baptized made some of his Servants his Executors others he bestowed gifts upon his faire house he disposed to my Lord Chamberlaine his Lands to my Lord Theophilus Howard retired back to his house at London and before Midsommer Terme following was dead Many were the rumours that were raised of this man after his death That he was a Traytor to the State and that he was not dead but carryed beyond Sea to blind the world and the reason was because he would be buryed at Dover and not at London Others say that if he had lived he would have beene the author of much stirre many dislike him and as was reported even the King himselfe towards his latter end which made him to fall into these courses but truly he was a notable polititian and carryed things more commodiously for the Papists then ever any before him His Funerall was kept privately at Rochester where he desired to be buryed because it was the chiefe Port Towne of his Office without any state to outward appearance My Lord Treasurer that now is succeeded him in his Treasurership My Lord of Somerset made Chancellor of Cambridge My Lord Zouch Warden of the Cinque Ports My Lord of Worcester some short time after Lord privie Seale These succeeded him in his Offices The Cloth-workers obtaine their Petition The old Charter of the Merchant adventurers is seized into the Kings hands The Dutch grow discontented at it The doubtfulnesse of Somerset's mind He sues for his pardon obtaines it My Lord Chancellor refuseth to seale it Falls into suspition Begins to be neglected THe Cloth-workers still persisting in their suit and having such strong friends to stand for them and Alderman Cocking a rich Merchant to back them they at length obtained what they desired and Proclamation goes forth that no more white Cloth shall goe over undied undrest and for this purpose the old Charter of the Merchants Adâ—enturers is seized into the Kings hands so that the Company fall to decay Now the Dutchmen they begin to murmur agâ—inst the English and make Proclamation there that no man shall buy any such Cloths as come over so drest and dyed whâ—reupon the English make a new Proclamation that no man shall trâ—nsport Wooles out of the Kingdome These things fed some with hope of some further troubles yet neverthelesse it is so ordered by the Councell that all things are pacified and some quantity amounting to a certaine number of white Cloths are suffered to be transported aswell to give content to the Hollander as satisfaction and imployment to some yong Merchants that had entred into this Trade by which meanes these clamors are a little stayed yet neverthelesse great impression of envie is betweene these two Countries Now one of the greatest friends that Somerset had being dead and himselfe still jealous of his safety he begins to cast about how he might avoid the danger of the Law for his intelligencers gave him notice of many
THE FIVE YEARES OF KING IAMES OR The Condition of the State of England and the Relation it had to other PROVINCES Written by Sr FOULK GREVILL late Lord Brook LONDON Printed for W. R. in the yeare 1643. The five yeares of King Iames or the Condition of the State of ENGLAND and the Relation it had to other Provinces HOwsoever every Kingdome and Common-wealth may be both well and uprightly governed and that good men may be the meanes to support it yet there can be no such Common-wealth but amongst the good there will be even some evill persons these whether by nature induced or through envie and ambition to the intent to satisfie their appetites perswaded doe oftentimes enter into actions repugnant unto the felicity of good Government and Common-wealths and by evill causers and perverse deeds doe secretly and underhand seeke to hasten and set forward the ruine and decay of the same These things because they happen contrary and beyond expectation are so much the more remarkable by how much they are suddaine and unexpected And from hence it cometh that no state of government can be said to be permanent but that oftentimes those are said to be good are by little and little converted unto those that be evill and oftentimes changed from worse to worse till they come to utter desolation Neither is this alone proper to our Common-wealth but to all nor to forraigne Kingdomes but to our owne for although His Majesty at His coming to the Crowne found us vexed with many defensive warres as that in Ireland that in the Low-countries and almost publique against Spaine auxiliarie in France and continually in millitarie imployments although he found it lacerate and torne with divers factions of Protestants Papists and others from amongst whom sprung some evill men that endeavoured to set into combustion the whole State yet neverthelesse he established a peace both honourable and profitable with all neighbour Princes and by relation through all Europe so that neither our friends nor our enemies might be either feared or suspected After this generall peace was concluded and the working heads of divers dangerous Papists were confin'd to a certaine course of life that is peace they now petition for â—olleration for releases of vexation to have liberty of conscience and forsooth because they cannot have these things amongst them they contrive a most horrible and devillish plot by gun-powder to blow up the Parliament even the whole State and command of this Kingdome and so at one puffe to conclude all this peace and by that meanes to procure an unruly and unseemly avarice of this setled government and this not so much to establish their owne Religion for which purpose they pretended it but to establish their owne power and preheminence and to raise some private Families to greatnesse and dignitie that so faction being nourished and that jurisdiction established they might with great facility suppresse whom they please and support their owne State Thus may wee see that setled governments doe cherish in themselves their owne destructions and their own subjects are oftentimes cause of their owne ruine unlesse God of his mercy prevent it Of the domestick affaires and of the lascivious course of such on whom the King had bestowed the honour of Knighthood THis evill being discovered by the Lord Mounteagle and overpassed divers discontents happened some betweene the Civilians and Common Lawyers concerning Prohibitions And for that there was one Doctor Cowell stood stifly against the Lord Cooke divers discontents were nourished betweene the Gentry and Commonaltie concerning Inclosure and it grew out into a petty Rebellion which by the same was conjectured not to happen so much for the thing it selfe as for to find how the people stood affected to the present State whereby divers private quarrells and secret combustions were dayly breaking out private families one sided against another and of these Protestants against Papists they thereby endavouring to get a head and from small beginnings to raise greater Rebellions and discontents shewed themselves heady and speakes publickly what durst not heretofore have beene spoken in corners in outward appearance Papists were favoured Masses almost publickly administred Protestants discountenanced dishonest men honoured those that were little lesse then Sorcerers and Witches preferred private quarrells nourished but especially betweene the Scottish and the English Duells in every secret maintained divers sects of vitious persons of particular Titles passe unpunished or unregarded as the sect of Roaring-boyes Boneventors Bravadors Guarterers and such like being persons prodigall and of great expence who having run themselves in debt were constrained to run into faction to defend them from danger of the Law these received maintenance from divers of the Nobility and not a little as was suspected from the Earle of Northampton which persons though of themselves they were not able to attempt any enterprize yet faith honesty and other good Arts being now little set by and Citizens through lasciviousnesse consuming their estates it was likely their number would rather increase then diminish And under these pretences they entered into many desperate enterprises and scarce any durst walke the streets with safety after nine at night So to conclude in outward shew there appeared no certaine affection no certaine obedience no certaine government amongst us Such persons on whom the King had bestowed particular honours either through pride of that or their owne prodigality lived at high rates and with their greatnesse brought in excesse of riot both in clothes and dyet So our ancient customes were abandoned and that strictnesse and severity that had wont to be amongst us the English scorned and contemned every one applauding strange or new things though never so costly and for the attaining oâ— them neither sparing purse nor credit that prices of all sorts of commodities are raysed and those ancient Gentlemen who had left their Inheritance whole and well furnished with goods and chattells having thereof kept good houses unto their sonnes lived to see part consumed in ryot and excesse and the rest in possibilitie to be utterly lost The holy estate of Matrimony most perfidiously broken and amongst many made but a may-game by which meanes divers private families hath beene subverted brothell-houses in abundance tollerated and even great persons prostituting their bodies to the intent to satisfie their appetites and consume their substance repairing to the City and to the intent to consume their virtues also lived dissolute lives And many of their Ladies and Daughters to the intent to maintaine themselves according to their dignities prostitute their bodies in shamefull manner ale-houses dyâ—ing-houses taverns and places of vice and iniquity beyond measure abounding in many places there being as much extortion for sinne as there is racking for Rents and as many wayes to spend money as are windings and turnings in townes and streets so that to outward appearance the evill seeme to over top the good and evill intentions and councells rather
envy towards her husband even untill this time makes her repaire unto Mistris Turner a Gentlewoman that from her youth had been given over to a loose kind of life being of a low stature faire visage for outward behaviour comely but in prodigality and excesse most riotous by which course of life shee had consumed the greatest part of her husbands meanes and her owne so that now wanting wherewith to fulfill her expectations and extreme pride falls into evill courses as to the prostitution of her body to common lust to practise sorcery and inchantments and to many little lesse then a flat Bawd her husband dying left her in a desperate estate because of her wants by which meanes shee is made apt to enter into any evill accord and to entertaine any evill motion bee it never so facinerous A Doctors wife who was during his life her Physitian and in that time shee having entertained into her company his said wife by that meanes procured further acquaintance being neere of the said disposition and temperature as Pares cum paribus facile congregantur from thence it happened that shee was suspected even by her meanes and procurement before this to have lived a loose life for who can touch pitch and not be defiled I say having some familiarity with this woman and now taking some discontent at her husband more than heretofore by reason of her falling out with him and his sharpe answers as he conceives to her repaires to her house and there amongst other discourses disgorges her selfe against her husband whereby the cause of her griefe might easily be perceived Mistris Turner as feeling part of her paine pities her and in hope of profit being now in necessity and want is easily drawne to effect any thing that shee requires whereupon by the report of some it was concluded at this time betweene them to administer poison to the Earle but not taking effect according to their expectation the Countesse writes unto her to this purpose Sweet Turner as thou hast been hitherto so art thou all my hopes of good in this world My Lord is as lusty as ever he was and hath complained to my brother Howard that hee hath not layne with mee nor used mee as his wife This makes mee mad since of all men I loath him because he is the onely obstacle and hinderance that I shall never enjoy him whom I love The Earle having overpast this evill and continuing still in his prestine estate procured not any affection but more hatred and loathsomnesse so that it burst forth daily to my Lords great discontent and drawes her headlong into her owne distraction Sir Robert Carre made Viscount Rochester the acquaintance betweene my Lord of Northampton and him the new affection of the Countesse THe King taking great liking to this young Gentleman to the intent that he might be no lesse eminent in honour then hee was powerfull in wealth and substance adornes him with the title of Viscount Rochester bestowes the Secretariship of State upon him so that his honour and his wealth makes him famous to forraign Nations These things comming to my Lord of Northamptons ears having been a long time Favorite in Court and now growne into yeares and by reason thereof knowing the favour of the King to depend upon many incertainties and although at this time he was the greater actor in State affaires yet if this young man continued his height of glory all his dignity would either be abated or overshadowed and that he had not that free accesse to the Kings eares which he had wont to have endevoureth as much as in him lyeth to make this Courtier either to be wholly his or dependent upon his favour that so having relation to him hee might make use of his greatnesse And for this purpose he begins to applaud the wisdom and government of the Viscount his vertues outward Courtship comely carriage and to conclude holding him a man of no lesse worth and desert then any about the King neither were these things spoken to private or particular persons alone but even in the eares of the King to the intent to confirme the Kings favour towards him These things coming to this gentlemans eares takes it as a great favour from so great a personage and therefore so much the more admires his owne worth raising his carriage above his wonted course and in hope of better things applauding every action is performed by the Earle by which meanes there growes a kind of community betweeme them and there wants nothing but entercourse of speech for confirmance of acquaintance and procuring further relation either to other Time offers opportunity the Earle and he meets each changeth acquaintance with acquaintance of greater familiarity so that many times letters passed betweene them in their absence and courtly discourses being present by which meanes on all hands a confident amity is concluded In these times the Countesse of Essex being a spectator of those and perceiving this Viscount to be still raised up unto honours dayly in hope of greater is the more fired with a lustfull desire and the greater is her indeavours by the instigation of some of her friends to accomplish what shee determined for greatnesse doth not quallifie but set an edge upon lustfull appetites and where the most meanes are to maintaine it there the greater affections are cherished The course shee takes to procure affection shee combines with Doctor Forman they conclude to bewitch the Viscount IN these furious fits shee makes her repaire to Mistris Turner and begins a new complaint whereby shee makes manifest an extraordinary affection towards this yong gentleman so that shee could not rest without his company neither knew shee any means to attaine her ends there being no relation nor acquaintance betweene them whereupon Mistris Turner being still her second and ready to put any evill attempt into execution concludes with the Countesse to inchant the Viscount to affect her And for this purpose they fall acquainted with one Doctor Forman that dwelt at Lambeth being an ancient Gentleman and thought to have skill in the Magick Art This man by rewards and gifts was won to joyne with Mistris Turner who now to the intent to prey upon the Countesse endeavour the best they may to enchant the Viscounts affection towards her Much time is spent many words of witchcraft great cost in making Pictures of wax crosses of silver little babies for that use yet all to small purpose At length they continuing in their Sorcery advised her to live at Court where shee had free accesse without controule though of small acquaintance with him whom shee most respected neverthelesse shewing an affâ—ble countenance towards him hoping in processe of time to attaine that shee required Time offers opportunity and amongst other at length these two fall into league the Countesse being joyfull of her prey admires him uses all kindnesse that may be to intrap him He whether by these inchantments or by
intent to incense the people the more against them and to make the matter the more hainous and grievous to the world At this time the Lady Arbella died a matter more remarkable then was observed and gave some occasion of speech to many but yet neverthelesse past over in silence These Hurly-burlies being growne somewhat calme and the minds of men a little setled the Countesse and others authorised for that purpose to be examined and my Lord Coke was the man that prest the Evidence against them which as it was thought procured some great enemies two and twenty Articles were objected against them Somerset pleaded Ignorance and that these Objections were meere tricks to intrap him and set the King against him The same answer was in the Countesse and that it might rather seeme to proceed out of envie then for any just cause They cause it to be given out that their accusations were wrongâ—ull and none were accused but such as were the greatest Favourites to the King so that there was much ado to little purpose At last when they heard that Weston Turner Francklin and Yeluis were all hanged and that they had confest the matter the Countesse being brought before the Councell confest the whole truth but Somerset stood to it still that he was not agent in it and that these accusations did nothing touch him and therefore ought to be excused Neverthelesse his lands and goods were committed to custodie part to my Lord Treasurer and part to others to the Kings use The Money Plate and Jewels which he had heaped up together amounted by report unto 200000. pounds his lands 19000. pounds per annum and the King bestowed many of them upon the Prince There was little speech of this in respect that both person and matter wherein hee was agent were both envied and facinerous neiâ—her was there any that pitied him but most said that hoe had but his just deserts for the injuries and wrongs that he offered unto Essex The Arraignment was put off and in the meane time Sir Walter Rawleigh was set at liberty This man had continued in the Tower now almost ten yeares a condemned person for a plot intended against his Majesty at his first comming in he bore a great envie against Somerset because he had begged his lands of the King and got it into possession giving him many quips and taunts during the time that he was in the Tower These two accidents happening beyond expectation that the one being the speciall favourite of the King the other a condemned man the one imprisoned the other set at liberty gave great occasion of speech and rumour and so much the more wonder and admiration because of Rawleighes wit and policie And this yeare also the Countesse of Shrewsbury who was committed for being privie to the escape of the Lady Arbella was set at liberty and the Earle her husband dyed leaving the greatest part of his land unto his daughters during all this time that is from Michaelmas Terme unto the short vacation betweene Easter and Trinity Terme the Arraignment was put off some attributed the cause to be for because the Countesse was with child and in the meane time was delivered of a daughter some that further proofes of incertainties might be brought in others to give them longer time to consider on the matter and that it was a great favour I say these rumours being published amongst the people at length the King authorised my Lord Chancellor to be High Steward of England for the time being and joyned eight of his Judges with him for his assistance viz. The foure Judges of the Kings Bench my Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas Justice Niccols my Lord Chiefe Barron and others of the Barrons with power to call Somerset and the Countesse before them to shew cause why they should not have sentence of death passed upon them for this offence committed both against the Laws of the Land and against the King his Crowne and Dignity So upon the foure and twentieth of May in this yeare 1616. There being a Seat Royall placed at the upper end of Westminster-hall a little short of the Kings Bench and seats made round about it for the rest of the Justices and Peeres to sit on and a little cabbin built close by the Common Pleas for the Prisoners when they came from the Tower to be put to rest them in They proceed to the triall after this manner As soone as my Lord High Steward with great State came into Westminster-hall with his assistants the Judges divers Lords and Gentlemen attending and foure Serjants at Armes before him ascending a little gallery made of purpose to keep off the croud he takes his seat and the rest of the Assistants and Peeres according to their places This being done after silence proclaimed one of the Harrolds at Armes reaches the High Steward his Patent and delivers it to the Clerke of the Crown to reade it After Sir Ralph Conisâ—y reaches him his staffe and iâ— there present according to his place to give attendance After the Patent read and proclamation for silence and that the accusers should come in the Prisoners were sent for by the Clerke of the Checker whose office it was to attend the Prisoners This being done and the Prisoners placed at the Barre Sir Henry Fanshaw reades the Indictment to which the Countesse pleaded guilty and confessed the fact But Somerset pleaded not guilty and had time from ten of the clock at night to cleare himselfe much was said but to little purpose At last the Peeres having conferred of the matter returne their verdict laying their hands upon their brests and swearing by their Honours for they doe not mâ—ke an Oath as ordinary Jurors do that he was guilty of the murther and poysoning of Sir Thomas Overbury whereupon my Lord High Steward pronounced sentence of death agâ—inst him and so he was had back to the Tower where hee remaineth at the mercy of the King This man may justly say as Pope Barbaressa said when hee was put from the Popedome Qui modo summus eram laetatus nomine praecel Tristis abjectus nunc mea fata gemo Excelsus solio nuper versaâ—ar in alto Cunctaque gens pedibus oscula prona dabant Nunc ego poenarum sundo devulvor in imo Vultum deformem pallidaque ore gero Omnibus e terris aurum mihi sponte ferebant Sed nec gaesa juvet nec quis amicus adest Sic varians fortuna vices adversa secundis Suâ—dit ambiguis nomine ludit atrâ— Cedit in exemplum cunctis quos gloria tollit Vertice de summo mox ego Papa cado Loe here I am that sometime tooke delight in name of Pope Now being sad and abject doe bewaile my fate and hope Of late preferr'd I did converse with stately pompe and grace And every Nation to my feet their ready kisses place But now in dungeon deepe am throwne of paines
commoâ— report of the vulgâ—r and he should find them to be so many evils â—o attend her subâ—ersion and overthrow It is not the nature of a wise man to make her his wife whom he hath made his whore Lastly willed him to expect no better requitall at her hands then which she had shewed to her former huâ—bâ—nd and withall to weigh the present condition that he was in and to compare it with the future now hee hâ—d as it were but an inclination unto such a thing neithâ—r were those things made evident that after ages would lay open neverthelesse that hee â—as taxed with incivility levity and indeed effeminatenesse that by the opinion of the wise he was adjudged altogether unworthy of that honour that was bestowed upon him But when these surmises should come by this his marriâ—ge to be mâ—de evident what evils before were but suspected should then be enlarged and laid to his charge Honour is not attended with volupâ—uousnesse nor are the ruines of a rotten branch to be cherished upon a new planted tree but if that he meant to be made famous and to continue that with him that now hee freely enjoyed his opinion was that hee should uttâ—rly leave and forsake her company and to hold her was both hurtfull and hatefull These speeches drew on others and the Viscount being a little netled in his affection growes somewhat harsh And Sir Thomas having been heretofore excepted at with these kind of contentions growes so much the more carelesse answers word for word so that from faâ—â—â— and friendly speeches they grew to words of anger and either to crosse other In conclusion Overbury requires his portion due unto him and so wills Rochester to leave him to his owne fortunes for that he could not endure these inordinate jangles which he had accustomed towards him of late and that if there had beene any thing said that was either offensive to him or to the disparagement of the Countesse it was by his owne procurement and by reason of the good will and affection that he bore to him with these and many such words they parted Rochester and the Countesse meet They conclude the death of Overbury That Northampton had a hand in it causes why THe Countesse having ere this borne a deadly hate towards Overbury because he had oftentimes before diswaded the Viscount to abstaine from her company yet now having disclosed unto her this speech shee becomes much more revengefull especially because he had taxed her with the name of a Whore for truth is hatefull to the evill and what before shee concealed now breakes forth with furie For concealing anger is much worse then open violence perswading Rochester that it was not possible that ever shee should endure these injuries or hope for any prosperity as long he lived he being the onely man that withstood his purposes with many other perswasions that he onely of all men began to grow eminent and who was the man so likely to step up after him as Overbury Insomuch as these perswasions together with his owne conceived evill procures the Viscount to give a liking to her determination and to put his hand into the fire where he needed not making himselfe accessary to that which he had no occasion to put in practise at all There were some that charged Northampton to have had a hand in these businesses and to have uttered these and the like words That he wondered how the Viscount could be so much affected to this man Overbury that without him he could doe nothing as it were making him his right hand seeing he being newly growne into the Kings favour and wholly depending upon his greatnesse must expect to come to ruine when that man rose to preferment Also he condemned Overbuâ—y for his boldnesse and peremptory saucinesse that checkt and corrected the Viscount for the love that past betwixt the Viscount and him and opposed many of his designes and purposes whereupon he concluded that unlesse he did eiâ—her curbe his greatnesse or abate his pride he in time would be equâ—ll with him both in poâ—er and greatnesse whether this proceeded out of fearâ— of himâ—elfe or envie towards Overbury or to collogue with his Neece and Rochesâ—er or to prevent the plagues of Sr Tho who altogether distasted these nigling courses It cannot be conceived but these are the last words that he spake of this subject That for his owne part he knew himselfe cleare in all offences against the State and their familie was so eminent in the Common-wealth that he could not hurt him But for Rochester being made privie to all his designes growing peremptory and no whit tractable to his disposition besides likely to come to eminency and honour in the Common-wealth he finds it both necessâ—ry and fitting â—or his safety that he should be a meanes to dispatch him whereupon the Viscount being led by the nose as he thought for the best gives consent and endeavours to put in practise what they have determined Now of all hands they cast about how this might be effected and passe unregarded so that they might sustaine no losse or disparagement by the attempt Sir William Wade removed from the Lieutenancie of the Tower Sir Jarvice Yeluis preferred For this purpose alone it was thought that a quarrell was picked by Sir William Wade who was now Lieutenant of the Tower and had continued a great while but there were other causes objected And first he was thought too severe against the Lady Arabella and gave some other Prisoners too much libertie Another was that â—e being now growne rich began to grow carelesse and neglected his office But the very truth of the businesse was thought to be this Sir Iervace Yeluis being a Lincolnshire gentleman having beene brought up a publique life from his youth trained in the study of the publique Lawes at Lincolns Inne and ambitious of preferment offered a summe of money for that honour and place For howsoever Sir William Wade might be one way taxed for his too much desire of wealth which thing might be tollerable in him being prest with a great charge yet he was wise honest and discreet in his place and discharged it with much more sufficiencie then he that succeeded him but according to the saâ—ing of the Poet Quisquis haâ—et nummos secura navigat aura Fortunaque suo temporet arbitrio These men that store of money have With prosperous wind shall saile And fortune plaies unto their wish To speed they cannot fayle By this meanes he is got into the Lieutenancie and for this cause Sir William Wade is put out Things ordered after this sort never proceed without envie unlesse the persons that enjoy such places be very considerate it is likely they will have a suddaine fall but what care men of power for such things he being established in his office must recollect his money pay'd by using some kind of extortion and to beare out this be observant to such as preferred
neverthelesse many and more then were dreamt on of those Letters came to my Lord of Canterburies hand and my Lord Cokeâ— so that those courses makes him rather more suspected then any whit at all eases his griefe At home in his Office using extraordinary covetousnesse and parcimony hee thereby heaped up to himselfe great store of mony and would not undertake any enterprise without he was well rewarded for his paiâ—es every new occasion and occurrence that came to his hands brought him in also a fleece of mony Offices in Court that lay in his gift nor bestowed without mony the Kings letters not purchased without mony no Pardon without mony so that he was as great a Bribe-taker as his Mother the Countesse of Suffolk and many Rumours and hard Reports were spread on him for the same yet neverthelesse he still continued his favour in despight as a man may say of his opposites even unto the greatest dignity which caused him to be as proud as covetous and to commit as many Insolencies as he had received sesecret Bribes thought it no matter to leane on the Cushion in publique â—o check some of the Nobility and amongst the rest to make a flat breach with my Lord of Canterbury a grave and reverend Gentleman one of the Pillars of this Kingdome and that could discerne the follies of this young man Thus admiring of his owne worth he works his own subversion and by these insolencies plucking more evils upon his head and daily adding more enemies to those that before he had deserved These things laying him open to the envie of the greatest and Sir George Villers seeing his exceeding covetousnesse having now the eares of the King would oftentimes crosse his expectations as it is credibly reported and deceive him of many a bribe which hee hoped for doing those things voluntarily and for a thanke which my Lord would not have spoken of without much money These courses laid him open to the contempt of the vulgar also And now all men according to their custome began to exclaime of his great extortion Thus may we see him falling Overburies death called into question Weston sent â—or and by my Lord Coke examined stands out Upon my Lord of Londons perswasion confesseth all The Earle and Countesse attached they deny the deed Sir Thomas Monson committed to the Tower Sir Walter Rawleigh and the Countesse of Shrewsbury set at liberty The death of the Lady Arbella The conviction of the Earle and Counâ—esse The manner of their Arraignment and the many rumours that were spread upon these things THe death of Overbury having now lyen consealed about two yeares and the Earles insolencie growing every day greater then other procures him many more enemies as is said yet there was no man that was so hardy for feare of the Kings displeasure hee carrying a very good affection still towards him to make him acquainted with it or bring it to the triall of the Law At last for divers are the rumours how it was discovered one was that Sir Thomas Overburies man petitioned to my Lord Coke and the substance of the petition was to let his Lordship understand that whereas his Master had been committed to the Tower by the consent of Northampton and Somerset and there languishing to death unnaturally that if it pleased his Lordship to call one Weston before him he might gather that out of him that might discover the whole plot and practise Others say that my Lord of Canterbury having conceived as is said some dislike against Somerset and willing to make himselfe gracious with the King possessed Sir Ralph Wimrood with the businesse one that was preferred to be Secretary under my Lord of Somerset and to assist him and lets him understand the whole matter as hath been related and that many Letters came unto his hands and presumptious therein that it should be true And there remained a Truncke in such a place wherein many writings were contained that would make evident the truth Sir Ralph being willing likewise to become more emiâ—ent with the King possest him with the businesse and proceeding upon a confident ground Warrant was sent to my Lord Coke to prosecute the matter Others say that by the losse of a Letter it was disclosed And divers opinions there were how it should come to light it having been kept close so long For things of this nature when they are so long concealed bring more wonder but howsoever it was made knowne my Lord Coke by vertue of his warrant sent for Wesâ—on to come before him and examined him upon divers articles concerning this subject and perswaded him entreated him and threatned him to tell the truth Weston stood out and would not thus he persisted some weeke or fortnight many men urged him to it Accusers were brought before him and deposed upon their oathes that whatsoever was objected against him was true this little prevailed At last my Lord of London went to him and by his perswasions tels all how Mistris Turner and the Countesse came acquainted what relation shâ—e had to Witches Sorcerers Conjurers that Northampton Somerset Francklin the Monsons and Yeluis had their hands in that buâ—inesse whereupon they were all apprehended some sent tâ— the Toâ—er others to Newgate having thus conâ—eâ—â— this eâ—ill bâ—â—â—g convicted according to the course of Law he was had to Tiburne to be hanged and there Sir Hiâ—les and others imâ—gining this to be but a â—able and that he was hired to accuse those pâ—râ—â—â—s for who almost would have beleeved it examines him at the Gallowes and upon his examination hee justified what he had doneâ— to the great wonder of all thoâ—e that stood by and heard it After him Mistris Tuâ—ner after her Fâ—anâ—klin then Sir Iervaâ—â— Yeluis upon their Arraignments of the Factâ— were found guiltie and hanged all very penitent and sorrowfull for what was done To write tâ—e particulars of their arraignments confessions and the manner of their deaths is needlesse being common Now the Countesse and the Earle are attached and committed to protection one to the Deane of Westminster the other to the Sheriffe of London and according to the course of such caseâ— there are great reports raised watch and ward kept more then ordinary and the guard more observant This makes the King stand at a maze and to imagine there is no truth in men growes more jealous of himselfe then heretofore because his onely favourite and that as it were in his bosome should be intrapt in such an evill And the â—ongues of the vulgar began to walke some say that Northampton and Somerset had combined with the Spaniard for a summe of money to deliver them up the Navie and that Sir William Monson Vice-Admiral should have done it the next Spring That the King and the whole State should have been poysoned at the Câ—â—istniâ—g of the Countesse child for shee was then with child and mâ—ny more the like rumours were spread not worth the speaking to the
taken by another so that men dye other mens deaths Concidit infelix alieno vulnere and it is as the Psalmist calleth it Sagitta noâ—â—e volans The arrow that flyeth by night that hath no ayme nor certainty and therefore if any man shall say to himself here is great talke of impoysonment but I am sure I am safe for I have no enemies neither have I any thing another man should long for why that is all one hee may sit next him at the table that is meant to be impoisoned and pledge him of his cup As we may see in the example of 21. H. 8. that where the purpose was to poyson one man there was poyson put into barme or yeast and with that barme pottage or grewell was made whereby sixteene of the Bishop of Rochesters servants were poysoned nay it went into the alms-basket likewise and the poore at the gate were poysoned And therefore with great judgement did the Statute made that year touching this accident made impoisonment high Treason because it tends to the dissolving of humane societie for whatsoever offence doth so is in the nature thereof high Treason Now for the third degree of this particular offence which is that it is committed upon the Kings prisoner who was out of his owne defence and meerely in the Kings protection and for whom the King and the State were a kind of respondent it is a thing that aggravates the fault much for certainly my Lord of Somerset let me tell you this that Sir Thomas Overbury is the first man that was murthered in the Tower of London save the murther of the two young Princes by the appointment of Richard the third Thus much of the offence now to the proofes For the nature of proofes you may consider that imprisonment of all offences is the most secret even so secret as that if in all cases of imprisonment you should require testimony you should as good proclaime impunity Who could have impeached Livia by testimony for the poysoning of the sigges upon the tree which her husband was wont to gather with his owne hands who could have impeached Parasetis for the poysoning of the one side of the knife shee carried with her and keeping the other side cleane so that her selfe did eat of the same peece of meat that they did whom shee did impoyson These cases are infinit and need not to be spoken of the secresie of impoysonment but wise men must take upon them in these secret cases Salomons spirit that when there could be no witnesses collected the act by the affection But yet we are not at our cause for that which your Lordships is to trie is not the act of impoysonment for that is done to your hands all the world by Law is concluded to say that Overbury was poysoned by Weston but the question before you is of the procurement onely and as the Law termeth it as accessary before the fact which abetting is no more but to doe or use any act or meanes which may aide or conduce to the impoisonment So that it is not the buying nor the making of the poyson nor the preparing nor confecting nor commixing of it or the giving or sending or laying of the poyson that are the only acts that doe amount unto the abetment but if there be any other act or meanes done or used to give opportunity of impoysonment or to facilitate the execution of it or to stop or divert any impediments that might hinder it and that it be with an intention to accomplish and atchieve the impoysonment all these are abetments and accessaries beâ—ore the fact As for example if there be a conspiracie to murther a man as he journeyeth on the way and it be one mans part to draw him forth to that journey by invitation or by colour of some businesse and another taketh upon him to disswade some friend of his company that he be not strong enough to make his defence and another hath a part to hold him in talke till the first blow be given all these my Lords without scruple are accessaries to the murther although none of them give the blow nor assist to give the blow My Lords he is not the hunter alone that lets slip the dog upon the Deere but he that lodgeth him and hunts him out or sets a traine or trap for him that he cannot escape or the like But this my Lords little needeth in this case for such a chaine of acts of impoisonment as this I thinke were never heard nor seene And thus much of the nature of the Proofes To descend to the Proofes themselves I shall keep this course First I will make a narration of the fact it selfe Secondly I will breake and distribute the proofes as they concerne the Prisoner And thirdly according to the distribution I will produce them or reade them to use them So that there is nothing that I shall say but your Lordships shall have three thoughts or cogitations to answer it First when I open it you may take your ayme Secondly when I distribute it you may prepare your answers without confusion And lastly when I produce the witnesses or the examinations themselves you may againe ruminate and readvise to make your defence And this I do because your memory and understanding may not be oppressed or overladed with length of evidence or with confusion of order nay more when your Lordships shall make your answer in your time I will put you in mind where cause shall be of your omission First therefore Sir Thomas Overbury for a time was knowne to have great interest and streight friendship with my L. of Somerset both in his meaner fortunes and after in so much that he was a kind of oracle of direction unto him and if you will beleeve his owne vaunts being indeed of an insolent and thrasenicall disposition he tooke upon him that the fortunes reputation and understanding of this Gentleman who is well knowne to have an able teacher proceedeâ— fâ—om his company and counsell and this friendship rested not only in conversation and businesse at Court but likewise in communication of secrets of Estate for my Lord of Somerset exercising at that time by his Majesties speciall favour and trust the Office of Secretary provisicually did not â—orbeare to acquaint Overbury with the Kings Packets and dispatches from all pâ—â—ts of Spaine France and the Low-countries and this not by glimses or now and then rounding in the eare for a favour but in a setled manner Packets were sent sometimes opened by my Lord sometimes unbâ—oken unto Overbury who perused them copied them registred them made tableâ—talke of them as they thought good So I will undertake the time was when Overbury knew more of the Secrets of Estate then the Councell Table did nay they were growne to such inwardnesse as they made a play of all the world besides themselves so as they had Cyphers and Jurgons for the King and Queene and great men of
the Realme things seldome used but either by Princes or their Confederates or at the least by such as practise and worke against or at the least upon Princes But understand mee my Lord I shall not charge you with disloyaltie this day and I lay this for a foundation that there was great Communication of Secrets betweene you and Sir Thomas Overbury and that it had relation to matter of State and the great causes of this Kingdome But my Lords as it is a principle in Nature that the best things are in their corruption the worst and the sweetest wine maketh the sowrest vinegre so fell it out with them that this excesse as I may say of friendship ended in mortall hatred on my Lord of Somersets part I have heard my Lord Steward say sometimes in the Chancâ—ry that Frost and Fraud ends soule and I may adde a third and that is the Friendship of ill men which is truly said to be conspiracie and not friendship For it fell out some twelve moneths or more before Overbury his imprisonment in the Tower that the Lord of Somerset sell into an unlawfull love towards that unfortunate Ladie the Countesse of Essex and to proceed to a Marriage with Somerset This Marriage and purpose did Overbury mainly impugne under pretence to doe the true part of a friend for that hee accompted her an unworthy woman But the truth was Overbury who to speake plainly had little that was sollide for Religion or morall vertue but was wholly possest with ambition and vain-glory was loath to have any partners in the favour of my Lord of Somerset and especially not any of the House of the Howards against whom he had alwayes professed hatred and opposition And my Lords that this is no sinister construction will appeare to you when you shall heare that Overbury made his brags to my Lord of Somerset that he had won him the love of the Lady by his Letters and industrie so far was he from cases of conscience in this point And certainely my Lords howsoever the tragicall misery of this poore Gentleman Overbury might somewhat obliterate his faults yet because wee are not upon points of civilitie but to discover the face of Truth before the face of Justice for that it is materiall to the true understanding of the state of this cause Overbury was naught and corrupt the ballads must be mended for that point But to proceed when Overbury saw that hee was like to be possessour of my Lords Grace which hee had possessed so long and by whose greatnesse he had promised himselfe to doe wonders and being a man of an unbounded and impudent spirit hee began not onely to disswade but to deterre him from the love of that Lady and finding him fixed thought to find a strong remedie supposing that hee had my Lords head under his girdle in respect of communication of Secrets of State as he calls them himselfe secrets of Nature and therefore dealt violently with him to make him desist with menaces of discovery and the like Hereupon grew two streames of hatred upon Overâ—ury the one from the Ladie in respâ—ct that hee crossed her love and abused her name which are â—uries in women the other of a more deepe nature from my Lord of Somerset himselfe who was affraid of Overburies Nature and that if he did breake from him and fly out hee would winde into him and trouble his whole fortunes I might adde a third sâ—reame of the Earle of Northamptons Ambition who desires to be first in favour with my Lord of Somerset and knowing Oveâ—â—uries malice to himselfe and to his House thought thâ—t man must be removed and cut off so as certainely it was resolved and decreed that Overbury must dye Hereupon they had variâ—ty of devices to send him beyond the Seas upâ—n occasion of imployment That was too weake and they were so far from giving way to it as they crossed it there rested but two wayes of quarrell assault and poyson For that of assault after some proposition and attempt they passed from it was a thing too open and subject to more varietie of shame that of poyson likewise was an hazardous thing and subject to many prevenâ—ions and caution especially to such a working and jealous braine as Overbury had except he was first fast in their hands therefore the way was first to get him into a trap and lay him up and then they could not misse the marke and therefore in execution of this plot it was denyed that hee should be designed to some honourable imployment in forraigne parts and should underhand by my Lord of Somerset be incouraged to refuse it and so upon contempt he should be laid prisoner in the Tower and then they thought he should be close enough and death should be his Bayle yet were they not at their end for they considered that if there were not a fit Lieutenant of the Tower â—or their purpose and likewise a fit Underkeeper of Oâ—â—râ—ury First they should meet with many impediments in the giving and the exhibiting of the poyson Secondly they should be exposed to note an observation that might discover them And thirdly Overbury in the meane time might write clamorous and â—urious Letters to his friends and so all might bee disappointed And therefore the next linck of the chaine was to displace the then Lieutenaâ—â—Wade and to place Yeluis a principall abettor in the impoysonment to displace Cary that was Underkeeper in Wadesâ—ime and to place Weston that was the Actor in the impoysonment And this was done in such a while that it may appeâ—re to be done as it were in a breath Then when they had this poore Gentleman in the Tower close pâ—isoner where he could not scape nor stir where hee could not feed but by their hands where he could not speake or write but thorow their truncks then was the time to act the last day of his tragedy Then must Francklin the purveyour of the Poyson procure five six seven severall Poysons to be sure to hit his complexion Then must Mistris Turner the Lay Mistris of the Poysons advise what workes at present and what at distance Then must Weston bee the tormentour and chase him with Poyson after Poyson Poyson in salt meats Poyson in sweet meats Poyson in medicines and vomits untill at last his bodie was almost come by use of Poyson to the state of Mithridates bodie by the use of Treacle and preservatives that the force of the Poysons was blunted upon him Weston confessing when hee was chid for not dispatching him that hee had given him enough to poyson twentie men And lastly because all this asked time courses were taken by Somerset both to divert all the true meanes of Overburies delivery and to entertaine him with continuall Letters partly with hopes and protestations for his delivery and partly with other fables and negotiations somewhat like some kind of persons which keepe in a tale of fortune telling when they have a