how much value the Courage and Conduct of a Prince is yet before he died by the contrivance of the Queen Mother Roger Mortimer and their Adherents such a dishonourable Peace is made with the Scots as exceedingly displeased the whole Kingdom and in the end proved fatal to the principal actor Mortimer For at this Treaty the King then in his Minority Sealed Charters to the Scots at Northampton contrived by the Queen her Favourite and Sir James Dowglas without the knowledge or consent of the Peers of England whereby that famous Charter called Ragmans Roll was surrendred to them with several Jewels and among them one of an extraordinary value called the Black Cross of Scotland all which were taken from the Scots by the Victorious King Edward I. The Scots Kings were likewise freed and discharged for ever from doing homage and fealty to the Kings of England or from acknowledging them to have any Right or Superiority over that Kingdom And that all Englishmen should forfeit their Lands in Scotland unless they went and resided there and swore Allegiance to that King Moreover under pretence of making reparation for damages King Robert was obliged to pay the King of England Thirty Thousand Marks Sterling which Money was given to Mortimer as a reward for his procuring this destructive and mischievous Treaty And to conclude all David Bruce Prince of Scotland a Child of Seven or Eight Years Old and Heir to K. Robert Married Jane Sister to K. Edward at Berwick whom the Scots in derision both of the Peace and Marriage scornfully nicknamed Jane Make Peace Lastly The Queen and Mortimer being sensible that some of the Principal Nobility disliked their proceedings and hindred their absolute Government they resolved to contrive some means for removing them out of the way and among others Edward Earl of Kent the King's Unckle To effect this it is said Mortimer caused a report to be spread abroad that K. Edward II. was still alive at Corf-Castle but not to be seen in the day time and to countenance the deceit for many Nights together there were Lights set up in all the Windows of the Castle and an appearance made of Masquing Dancing and other Royal Solemnities as if for the King's diversion This being observed by the Countrey People they confirmed the rumour of the late King 's being there which was soon dispersed throughout England The Earl of Kent hearing the news sent a Preaching Frier to the Castle to find out the truth of it who by giving Money to the Porter was admitted into the Castle lying very privately in his Lodg all day at night the Porter causing him to put off his own Priestly Robes and put on his the Frier was brought into the Hall where he saw as he imagined King Edward II. sitting in Royal Majesty at supper The Frier returning to the Earl assured him of the reality of what he had seen whereupon the Earl being discontented swore that he would endeavour by all ways possible to deliver his Brother out of Prison and restore him to his Throne To which purpose he ingaged several other Noblemen in the design with the Provincial of the White and Carmelite Friers the Bishop of London and others This Conspiracy being discovered though it were only a Lye and fancy the Frier being imposed upon only by a King made of Clouts Yet the Earl of Kent by his words and some Letters that were found about him was condemned as a Traytor for conspiring to set a dead Man at liberty But so generally was this Noble Lord beloved and honoured that he stood upon a Scaffold at the Castle-Gates at Winchester from Noon till five a Clock at Night for want of an Executioner none being to be found that would behead him till at length Mortimer sent for a poor wretched Fellow out of the Jayl who with much ado and many blows hack'd his Head from his Body The Malice and Ambition of Mortimer and his Associates in making so little conscience of shedding Royal Blood with the many other Male-administrations aforementioned raised inveterate discontents throughout the Kingdom against the Insolent Authors of them But in the mean time they who resolved to support their Grandeur in despight of Peers and People summoned a Parliament at Nottingham where Roger Mortimer appeared in the utmost splendor and glory being Created Earl of March and having greater attendance and stronger Guards than the King himself whom he would suffer to rise up to him and with whom he walked as his Companion yea went before him with his Officers He likewise very scornfully and insolently rebuked Henry Earl of Lancaster the King's Cousin that without his leave he had taken up Lodgings in the Town so near the Queen and obliged him with the Earl of Hereford and Effex to remove their Lodgings a Mile from Nottingham This notorious affront caused great murmuring among the Noblemen who said publickly That Roger Mortimer the Queens Gallant and the Kings's Master sought by all means possible to destroy all the Royal Blood thereby to Usurp the Crown and Government which some of the King's Friends being mightily concerned at endeavoured to make him sensible of his danger swearing that if he would espouse their Cause they would faithfully assist him and secure his Person The Young King began already to put on serious thoughts and acted the Man much beyond his years so that the Lords soon prevailed upon him to join with them in asserting his own Authority which he himself saw so much lessened by Mortimer's 〈◊〉 grown Power He was likewise informed that 〈◊〉 was commonly reported the Queen was with Child by Mortimer to the great dishonour both of his Mother and himself and to the grief of all his Loyal Subjects Hereupon he resolutely ingaged with the Peers to bring this Miscreant and his Abettors to punishment In order to which Robert Holland who had been long Governour of Nottingham-Castle and knew all the secret passages and conveyances therein was taken into the design Now there was in the Castle a private Passage cut through the Rock upon which it is built which was divided into two ways one opening toward the River of Trent which runs under it and the other went a great deal farther under the adjoining Meadows and was after called Mortimer's Hole The King lying one Night without the Castle was conducted by Torch-light through this Passage himself and his Valiant Attendants being all well Armed and their Swords drawn till he came to the door of the Queens Bed-Chamber which the secure and careless Lords had left wide open Some of the foremost entred the Room desiring the King to retire a little that the Queen might not see him and slew Sir Hugh Turpington who opposed them from whom they went towards the Queen Mother with whom they found Mortimer both just ready to go into Bed and seizing him they led him out into the Hall whom the Queen followed crying out Bel silz bel filz ayes pitie
end in reciprocal ruin And thus it happened with King Richard and the Duke of Buckingham his intimate Favourite who had been Confederates in the Death of many which now dissolves in the destruction of them both What the cause of the first breach was could not be known Whether the Duke did not think he was sufficiently rewarded for his Services Or that King Richard did not judg himself safe whilest he that set him on the Throne remained so Great Or that the Duke being Ambitious and Aspiring grew envious at his own ast in advancing him The last of which conjectures he seemed to confirm by pretending sickness to avoid being present at the Coronation Which King Richard was jealous of and therefore obliged him to come by sending word That if he did not he would ferch him Whereupon the Duke came with so ill a will that ever after there was no good understanding between them retiring presently after to his Castle at Brecknock And here the inscrutable depth of Divine Providence is very remarkable which the greatest Polititians cannot Fathom For the King had committed the Bishop of Ely to the Duke's custody as one that would secure him from doing any hurt and therefore designed it for the Bishop's punishment Whereas this very thing occasioned the Bishop's liberty and advancement and was a means of King Richard's destruction For the Duke retiring home seemed to be much disturbed and discontented in his mind and wanting rest would be sometimes talking with the Bishop who being a Man of great Wit and Judgment the Duke became at length extreamly pleased with his company and opened himself more freely to him whereby the Bishop perceived that the chief cause of his trouble was his envy to King Richard and thereupon he took an opportunity to discourse him to this purpose My Lord ' You know that formerly I took part with King Henry VI. and could have wished his Son had enjoyed the Crown but after God had ordained King Edward IV. to Reign I was never so mad to contend for a dead Prince against a living one and so I was a faithful Chaplain to King Edward and would have been glad his Child had succeeded him but since by the secret judgment of God it hath happened otherwise I will not strive to set up that which God hath pluck'd down And as for the Lord Protector and now King Here the Bishop made a sudden pause saying He had already medled too much in the World and would for the future be concerned with nothing but his Books and his Beads Because he ended with King the Duke was impatient to have him proceed saithfully promising no hurt should come from it but it may be much good assuring him that the reason why he desired the King to put him under his custody was that he might secretly ask his councel and advise My Lord Said the Bishop I humbly thank your Grace but I confess I do not much care to talk of Princes since it may often prove dangerous though nothing be ill meant But a Man's words may be interpreted not as he intended them but as the Prince pleases to construe them which puts me in mind of one of Aesop's Fables The Lyon had published a Proclamation That upon pain of death no Horned Beast should continue in an adjoining Wood now a certain Beast that had a bunch in his forehead flying away in great haste was met by a Fox who ask'd him whither he ran so fast Fast quoth he I think it is time to run if I intend to save my life Why Brother Reynard han't you heard of the Proclamation against Horned Beasts What then you Fool quoth the Fox That does not concern you for I am sure you have no Horns on your Head Ay marry quoth the Beast that I know well enough but what if the Lyon should call my bunch a horn where were I then Brother Reynard The Duke laughed at the story and said My Lord I warrant you neither the Lyon nor the Boar shall pick any matter out of any thing that has been spoken for it shall never come near their Ears In good faith Sir says the Bishop What we have said if taken as we meant it could only deserve thanks but being wrested as some would do might be of ill consequence to us both The Duke intreated him to go on in his former discourse My Lord said the Bishop As for the late Protector since he is now King in possession I shall not dispute his Title but for the good of the Kingdom I could wish he had in him those excellent Virtues wherewith God Almighty has qualified your Grace Here he stopt again My Lord said the Duke I much wonder at these sudden pauses which so interrupt your discourse that I can neither comprehend your thoughts of the King nor your affection to my self I therefore beg of you not to conceal your thoughts any longer but freely to discover your sentiments and upon my Honour I will be as secret as the Deaf and Dumb person is to the Singer or the Tree to the Hunter The Bishop upon the assurance of the Dukes thus followed his discourse My Lord ' I plainly perceive that this Realm is in great danger of being brought to confusion and desolation under the present Government but I have still some hope remaining by the dayly observation of your Noble Personage your Justice your ardent love to your Countrey and likewise the great love the People have toward you and should think the Kingdom fortunate which had a Prince so fit and apt to be their Governour as your self whose Person and actions contain in them all that is truly great just and honourable He then reproached the King for his many Murders Cruelties and Oppressions adding ' And now my Lord If you love God your posterity or your Native Country you must your self take upon you the Imperial Crown and Diadem of this Realm But if you refuse the same I then adjure you by the Faith you owe to God and the regard you ought to have for your Native Land in your Princely Wisdom to contrive some means whereby the Kingdom may be setled in Peace Liberty and safety under a Legal Government and if you think fit to advance again the House of Lancaster or to Marry the Eldest Daughter of King Edward IV. to some powerful Prince the new Crowned King may be quickly removed from his Usurp'd Throne and thereby Peace and Plenty and Tranquility will again be restored to the Nation The Bishop having ended his Speech the Duke remained silent for some time only breathing forth many deep sighs which much startled the Bishop and made his colour change The Duke perceiving it Be not afraid my Lord said he All promises shall be kept and so for that time they parted Next day the Duke sent for the Bishop and having repeated their former discourse he proceeded ' My Lord of Ely Because I discern you have a real
justly as a Man may take his Wife who is run away from him thither by the Arm and lead her out of St. Peter's Church without any offence to St. Peter For if none must be taken out of Sanctuary that have a mind to continue there then if a Child will run thither to prevent his going to School his Master must let him alone and as mean as this instance is yet there is less reason in our case than in that for that Child has some fear imaginary or real but this Young Gentleman has none at all To conclude I have often heard of Sanctuary Men but never before of Sanctuary Children Let those Men that desire and need it have the benefit of it but he can be no Sanctuary Man that hath not understanding to desire it nor malice to deserve it whose Life nor Liberty can by no Legal process be in Jeopardy and he that taketh one out of Sanctuary for his own advantage and benefit can never be challenged for a Sanctuary breaker The Duke having ended his long Harangue all the Temporal and most part of Spiritual Lords not having the least suspition of any Treachery were of opinion that if the Young Duke were not delivered he ought to be taken away from his Mother yet to avoid clamour they concluded that the Archbishop of York should be sent to persuade her the Protector and Council resolving to Sit in the Star-Chamber till his return Thereupon the Archbishop with divers other Lords accompanying him went to the Queen in Sanctuary both out of respect to her and to shew by their number that the Council were unanimous in the Message that was sent her And some were of opinion that the Protector had several of his Creatures among them to whom he had given private Instructions to seize him by force and bring him away if his Mother should persist in her denial and thereby prevent her from conveying him to a place of more security When they came into the Queens presence the Archbishop acquainted her that the Protector and all the Council had upon mature deliberation concluded that the detaining the King's Brother in Sanctuary was a thing that might occasion strange surmises of them among the People and seemed scandalous to them as well as grievous to the King 's Royal Majesty to whom the presence of his Dear Brother must needs be as pleasant and delightful as the keeping them apart was dishonourable to her and her Kindred as though one Brother were in danger of another That the Council had therefore sent him and the rest to require her delivery of him out of that place so that he might at full liberty and freedom visit and continue with the King his Brother and be respected and attended according to his High Birth and Quality the doing whereof would tend to the quiet of the Realm be very pleasing to the Council and advantagious to her self as well as to her Friends that were now in trouble And above all quoth the Archbishop and what I suppose you desire beyond all it will not only be comfortable and honourable to the King but to the Young Duke himself whose singular happiness it will be to be with his Brother and to partake in those Princely Sports and Recreations which are suitable to their Dignity and which they cannot so properly partake of in the company of any other For the Protector esteems it no such slight matter as it may be thought that the minds of the Young Princes should for their Healths be sometimes refresh'd with those diversions which may be both pleasant and proper for their Age and Quality My Lord replied the Queen I will not deny but it may be very convenient that this young Gentleman you require of me were in the Company of the King his Brother and in truth I think it might be as necessary that for a while yet they were both in the Custody and Company of their Mother their tender age considered but especially the younger who besides his Childhood hath been lately visited with a severe sickness and is yet only amended but not recovered so that it is very fit he should be carefully attended and that charge I will commit to no Person upon Earth but resolve to make it my own business considering that the Phisitians tell us a relapse is more dangerous than the first Sickness for nature being before weakned is less able to endure a second Combate and though it may be others might use their best skill and diligence about him yet none knows so well how to order him as my self who have so long been with him nor can any be so tender of him as his own Mother that bore him None can deny quoth the Archbishop but that your Grace is of all Persons the most proper about your Children and the Council would be very glad that you would take care of them if you please to do it in such a place as might be convenient and honourable but if you design to continue here they then think it more proper that the Duke of York should be with the King at liberty and in honour to the comfort of them both than to live here as a Sanctuary man to their high dishonour and disgrace Since it is not always necessary that the Child should be with his Mother but on the contrary that they be separated from each other And of this there is a late instance that when your dearest Son the Prince and now King did for his honour and the security of the Country reside at Ludlow in Wales far distant from your Grace yet you seemed very well contented therewith Not so well contented neither said the Queen but the case is not now the same for that Son was then in health and this is now sick and therefore I much wonder that my Lord Protector should be so desirous to have him in his company since if the Child should happen to miscarry he will be suspected of having a hand in his death and to have used foul play toward him Neither can I but admire that the Council should think it so dishonourable for him to be here when none can doubt but he will be in safety while I am with him and where by the Grace of God I intend to continue and not to bring my self into the danger that my Kindred are in whom I rather wish to be here with me in security Why Madam said one of the Lords do you know that your Kindred are in danger No verily Sir said she nor why they are wrongfully Imprisoned but I shall not marvel if those who have thus illegally confined them without reason should proceed to destroy them without Cause The Archbishop bid him forbear such discourse and told her that he did not doubt but the Lords in Custody would be quickly at liberty if nothing could be proved against them And that her own Person could not be in any peril The Queen replied What reason
their hands at this ridiculous sight crying Behold the Cardinal 's Rich Treasure The Muliteers were much ashamed at this discovery however quietly gathering up these hungry relicks they peaceably marched on Cardinal Campeius was conducted through the City to St. Pauls where having bestowed his blessing upon the People he was then brought to Cardinal Woolsey's Palace where he lodged having his Golden Crosses Pillars Guilt Axe and Mace carried before him And now as Cardinal Woolsey had the Power so he maintained the Port and Grandeur of a Prince of which we have this account He had in his Hall three long Tables to which belonged three several Officers a Steward who was always a Priest a Treasurer a Knight and a Comptroller an Esq He had also in the Hall a Confessor a Doctor three Marshalls three Ushers two Almoners and two Grooms In the Hall Kitchin two Clarks a Comptroller a Surveyor over the Dresser a Clerk of the Spicery two Cooks twelve Labourers and Children In the Kitchin a Master Cook Clothed in Velvet or Sattin with a Gold Chain two Under Cooks six Labourers four Scullery-men two Yeomen of the Pastry and two Past-layers under him In the Larder a Yeoman and a Groom In the Buttery two Yeomen and two Grooms In the Eury as many In the Cellar three Yeomen three Pages In the Chandery two Yeomen In the Wayfary two Yeomen In the Wardrobe of the Beds the Master and twenty Persons besides In the Landrey a Yeoman a Groom and thirteen Pages two Yeomen Purveyors and a Groom Purveyor In the Bake-house two Yeomen two Grooms In the Woodyard a Yeoman and a Groom In the Barn a Yeoman Two Yeomen and two Grooms Porters at the Gate A Yeoman of his Bing A Master of his Horse A Clerk and Yeomen of the Stables A Farrier and Yeoman of the Stirrup A Malter and sixteen Grooms every one keeping four Geldings His Chappel was furnished with a vast number of costly Ornaments and Rich Jewels Forty four Copes gloriously imbroidered with Gold and Silver Silver Candlesticks and other necessary Utensils In which were the following Officers a Dean a Sub-Dean a Repeater of the Quire a Gospellor an Epistoler of the Singing Priests a Master of the Children In the Vestry a Yeoman and two Grooms beside other Retainers that appeared at principal Feasts He had likewise two Cross-bearers and two Pillar-bearers in the Great Chamber and in his Privy-Chamber the Chief Chamberlain Vice Chamberlain Gentleman Usher twelve Waiters six Gentlemen Waiters Also nine or ten Lords who had two or three Men to wait on them and the Earl of Darby five Then he had Gentlemen Cup-bearers Carvers and forty Sewers of the Great and Privy Chamber six Yeomen Ushers eight Grooms twelve Doctors and Chaplains daily Guests besides his own a Clerk of his Closet two Secretaries two Clerks of his Signet four Councellours Learned in the Law As he was Lord Chancellour of England he had a Riding Clerk a Clerk of the Crown of the Hamper of the Check four Footmen with gallant Liveries a Herald at Arms a Serjeant at Arms a Phisician an Apothecary four Minstrels a Keeper of his Tents when upon a Journey and an Armourer Also in his House a Surveyor of York a Clark of the Green Cloth All these attended daily At Dinner he had every day eight Tables furnisht for his Chamberlains and Gentlemen Officers half of whom were young Lords who had two or three Persons to wait on them and all the rest had one These were all his inrolled Servants besides Retainers and other Persons that came about business who daily Dined in his Hall which according to the List amounted to eight hundred Persons So that he was as bountiful an House-keeper as any in that Age and much superior to any since When he went to Westminster Hall to hear Causes as Lord Chancellor his Magnificence was as conspicuous as in other Offices He was clothed in red like a Cardinal his upper Garment all of Scarlet or else fine Crimson Taffety or Crimson Satrin in Grain A black Tippet of Sables about his Neck and an Orange in his hand the Meat taken out and filled with Confections to prevent the ill scents from the Crouds of People Being mounted his two Cross bearers and his two Pillar bearers all in fine Scarlet upon tall Horses rid before him then one with the Purse and Great Seal of England Another with his Cardinals Cap then a train of Gentlemen with every one a Pole-ax next the Cardinal himself attended on each side by four Footmen In the same State he used to go every Sunday to the Court at Greenwich in a very rich Barge and furnisht with Yeomen all round where when he arrived he was attended by the Lord Treasurer Comptroller and other principal Officers of the King's House who conveyed him in State into the King's Chamber In this grandeur he continued for fourteen or fifteen years managing all affairs of State to whom all foreign Ambassadors made their application and all Addresses and Petitions were offered And to secure this Soveraign Power which he had gained over the King's affections he contrived all kind of pleasures and divertisements suitable to his juvenile temper as Masking Dancing Banquetting Young Ladies and variety of other Pastimes I saw the King saith my Author come one time suddenly to the Cardinals Palace at Westminster now White-Hall which he had newly built with a dozen Masquers attired like Shepherds in cloth of Gold and Silver imbroidered with six Flambeux And others in Vizors clothed all in Sattin The King came thither privately by Water and arriving at the Stairs several great Guns were discharged which much surprized the Noblemen Gentlemen and Ladys a great number of whom the Cardinal at that time was treating at a sumptuous Supper he himself sitting at the upper end of the Table under a Cloth of State a Gentleman and Lady being placed together through all the Tables The Cardinal at the great noise as if ignorant of the matter desired the Lord Chamberlain to inquire the meaning thereof Who looking out of the Window into the Thames returned again and told him that he believed there were some Noblemen and Strangers coming to the Landing â—tairs My Lord said the Cardinal I intreat you who can speak French to go and receive them and conduct them to our Banquet desiring them to sit down and be merry with us The Lord Chamberlain went into the Hall And with twenty Torches and a great number of Drums and Trumpets brought them into the Dining Room who by two together went up to the Cardinal's Chair and saluted him To whom the Lord Chamberlain said My Lord Cardinal these Gentlemen being Strangers and not speaking English desire me to inform your Grace that they hearing of your Triumphant and Magnificent Banquet this Night and of such a number of handsome Ladies as were assembled thereto they presumed upon your Graces goodness to intrude into your Palace to take a
by the Bearward who shewed it to a Priest he presently perceived it was a Refutation of the six Articles and told the Bearward that the Author would certainly be hanged The Secretary coming to demand his Book which he said was the Archbishops and offering him a Crown to Drink for saving it The Fellow being an obstinate Papist replied he would not part with it for five hundred Crowns The Secretary acquainting Cromwell with the matter he sent for the Bearward who guessing at the business brought the Book with intent to have delivered it to Stephen Gardiner or Sir Anthony Brown both inveterate Enemies to Protestancy Cromwell seeing him snatcht the Book from him and giving it to the Secretary Here says he I know this is your hand take it with you and Sirrah says he to the Fellow you deserve to be punisht for detaining a Privy Counsellor's Book when demanded you being fitter to meddle with Bears than matters of State And so Cranmer was preserved from the danger of Fire which at this time threatned him by Water The blow at Cromwel was suddenly given and being in disgrace he had the common Lot of discarded Favourites to be forsaken by his Friends and insulted over by his Enemies of whom Gardiner was the most implacable only Cranmer stuck to him and in a Letter to the King on his behalf he assured him He had always found that the Lord Cromwel ever loved his Majesty above all things and that he had served him with such Fidelity and Success that he was of the Opinion no King of England had ever a more faithful Minister wishing the King might find a Councellor who was as willing and able to do him Service as he was But the King being freed from his Marriage and having made Katherine Howard his Queen in a few Weeks after the Duke of Norfolk had now an opportunity to be revenged on him she being Daughter to the Lord Edmund Howard Brother to the Duke So that from henceforth the King looked discontentedly upon his former intimate Favourite and inward Counsellor as being told that he was the cause of all his late Troubles Those who had long desired his Downfal soon perceiving this Alteration drew up a long Bill of Attainder against him in the House of Lords which was read twice in one day and sent to the Commons who after ten days debate passed it whereby he was condemned for High Treason and Heresie by that unjust way of Attainder without coming to an Answer wherein it was set forth That though the King had raised him from a low Estate to high Dignities yet it appeared by many Witnesses that were Persons of Honour that he was the most corrupt Traytor that ever was known That joining with the last Queen Ann he had favoured the Lutherans above measure and so strongly supported them against the Catholick Prelates and Priests of this Kingdom that when he was told by some of the Clergy that they doubted not but the King would shortly curb their Boldness and Presumption the said Lord Cromwel did reply That he was sure of the King and that about two Years before he had said the Preaching of Barnes and other Hereticks was good and that he would not turn though the King did turn but if the King turned he would fight in Person against him and all that turned and drawing out his Dagger he wisht he might be pierced to the Heart with it if he did not do it And that if he lived a Year or two longer it should not be in the King's Power to hinder it That he had set many at liberty who were condemned or suspected of Misprision of Treason That he had given Licenses for Transporting out of the Kingdom things prohibited by Proclamation had granted Pasports without searching and had dispersed many erroneous Books contrary to the belief of the Sacrament And had said that every man might administer it as well as the Priest That he had Licensed several Preachers suspected of Heresie and had discharged many that were committed on that account That he had many Hereticks about him and had discouraged Informers He was likewise charged with Bribery and Oppression and that when he heard some Lords were consulting about him he threatned that he would raise great disturbances in England Many of these things were charged upon him in general but no particulars produced And the words about the King being sworn to have been spoken two years before it was strange that they should be so long concealed considering the powerful Adversaries which he had As to the Licenses it was thought he had the King's Order for what he did in it Bribery and Oppression seem to be added only to render him odious who always appeared of a quite contrary temper And therefore Authors think that the chief cause of the King's Indignation was that having discovered his affection for the Lady Katherine Howard to him Cromwell used some words in defence of Queen Ann of Cleve and in dislike of the Lady Katherine which so much displeased the King that he thereupon delivered him up into the hands of his Enemies who thirsted for his Blood and fearing that he would clear himself from all their Calumnies by a Legal Trial they Tried Judged and Condemned him by a way which seems both against Nature and Reason and Justice not being suffered to appear or speak a word in his own defence When he was Prisoner in the Tower several Commissioners were sent thither to examine him who found him in a very composed sedate frame bearing his affliction with a Patient and Christian Constancy of Mind not at all ruffled with the suddenness of his Fall for he foresaw the Tempest before it came and prepared for the same And being sensible of the vigilance power and malice of his adversaries he called his Servants before him and told them that he found himself upon a very uncertain foundation and that a storm was approaching and therefore charged them that they should manage all their affairs with Uprightness and Justice that so he might not be blamed or suffer by any misdemeanors of theirs He entertained the Commissioners with much gravity and freedom and answered all their Interrogatories with great moderation and discretion being as well informed in all matters Ecclesiastical or Civil as themselves He once desired one of these Commissioners supposed to be Stephen Gardiner his most implacable Enemy to carry a Letter from him to the King who replied That he would carry no Letter to the King from a Traytor Then said the Lord Cromwell Pray deliver a Message to him by word of Mouth This he consented to provided it were not against his Allegiance ' Well my Lords said he to the rest pray be witnesses of what this Lord hath promised Pray then present my duty to the King and tell him That when he hath tried and proved you so throughly as I have done he will find you the falsest man that ever he had
whom one of his Attendants offered to kill to prevent him from doing further mischief but the Earl declaring his abhorrence of such wickedness hastned to Court and fell upon â—is Knees before the Queen who had not the least notice of his arrival She entertained him with a short Speech but not with her wonted kindness commanding him to go to his Chamber till he heard farther and afterward she committed him to the Custody of the Lord Keeper The Earl endeavoured to vindicate himself from all the aspersions charged upon him and among other expressions ' Can I says he be suspected to have any ill design upon mine Enemies who only came with six to Court but I abhor revenge knowing who hath said Vengeance is mine and I will repay it Shall my return be suspected who have worn out my body wasted my Fortunes and lain a suppliant at my Princes feet Shall I be suspected who have lost my Father and my Brother in the service of my Country who for thirteen years have served the Queen and for seven have been of her Privy Council Who for her saite have been hated by all that are Enemies to her or her Religion Who out of Duty to her have so exposed my self to their malice that no Country but this nor no Person but her self can secure me from falling by their bloody Machinations However his Enemies proceeded to Arraign his ill management of affairs in Ireland in which Cecil inlarged himself with much elocution while The Earl in custody of the Lord Keeper seemed wholly devoted to pious meditations and to have renounced all Worldly concernments with a religious contempt in several Letters to his Friends And likewise sent such humble and submissive Letters to the Queen that after six months Confinement under the Lord Keeper she admitted him to continue at his own Hâ—use under the inspection of Richard Berkley protesting that she did not design his ruin but amendment But the Common People who entirely loved him thinking he had received much wrong the Queen thought it necessary that he should have his Cause heard before four Earls two Lords and four Judges who having charged him with several misdemeanors and hearing his defence they at length sentenced him To be degraded from being a Privy Councellor suspended from his Offices of Earl Marshal and Master of the Ordinance and to remain in Custody during the Queens pleasure But still the People had hopes of his Liberty and Restoration because of the extream favour the Queen had for him who expresly commanded the Commissioners not to deprive him of being Master of the Horse as if she intended again to use his Service The Earl still exprest great humility of mind declaring both by Words and Letters That he had taken leave of the World that he had washt away with his tears the heat of Ambition which was formerly in his Heart and that he desired nothing more but that her Majesty would let her Servant depart in Peace The Queen was so delighted to hear of these expressions that she instantly discharged him from all confinement sending him word That he was now his own man and admonishing him to make his own discretion his Keeper but not to come near her Person or Court The Earl returned answer ' That he humbly kist the hand and rod of the Queen which only corrected but not overthrew him But that he was sure he should never live a happy day til he saw those blessed Eyes of hers which had hitherto been his Stars whereby he had fail'd on happily and had kept on in a direct course That now he resolved to repent in earnest and to say with Nebuchadnezzar My habitation shall be amongst the wild Beasts of the Field that I may eat Hay like an Oâ—e and be watered with the Dew of Heaven till such time as it shall please the Queen to restore me to my senses again The Queen was extream glad when she was told of it and said ' I wish his deeds and words would agree together He hath long tried my Patience and I have pretty well tried his humility Sure I am my Father would never have born with his perversness but I will not look back least like Lot's Wife I be turned into a Pillar of Salt All is not Gold that Glisters And so it happened for the Earl had so far regained her favour as to presume to beg the gainful Farm of the sweet Wines but the Queen would not give it him saying That she would first know what it was worth and that such kindnesses are not to be bestowed blindfold That they who intend to tame a Wild Horse must keep him without food That the more a corrupted and diseased body is fed the more hurt it does The Earl extreamly discontented at her answer and denial and that she had bestowed the Farm upon others began to hearken to the insinuations of one Henry Cuffe Sir Christopher Blount and Merrick his Steward who charged him with Pusillanimity and Cowardice for making such mean submissions telling him that the Queen the Council and his cruel Enemies had conspired to make him a Beggar so that he must hereafter live on the Alms-basket and the crums that fell from their Tables That so being poor neglected of the Queen and forsaken of his Friends he might become a scorn to his triumphant adversaries So they advised him that the only remedy against all these disasters was to make his own way to the Queen he having many of the Nobility Gentry and Common People that would stand by him and his Cause These suggestions pierced his Soul daily so that at length he gave himself up wholly to their directions and entertained great numbers of Souldiers and other discontented and indigent People keeping open House to which there was extraordinary resort Of which the Queen having notice sent the Lord Keeper and others to know the meaning of it who coming thither found the Earls of Essex Rutland and Southampton among a confused number of People in the Yard The Lord Keeper told the Earls That the Queen desired to know the design of this concourse promising that if any injury had been done him he should be righted both in Law and Equity The Earl answered aloud That wait had been laid for his Life and that some had been hired to Murther him in his bed That he had been Traiterously dealt with and that his Letters had been Counterfeited both with his Hand and Seal That they were therefore met together to defend themselves and to preserve their Lives since neither his Patience nor his Miseries would appease the Malice of his Adversaries unless they drank his blood also The Lord Keeper then desired him to give an account of his particular grievances but the multitude cried out ' Let us be gone come they abuse your patience they betray you my Lord kill them kill them away with the great Seal Come away make haste The Lord Keeper and the other Lords of