Charles Brandon by the Quene of Fraunce vvas married to the Marques of Dorset vvho after Charles Brandons death vvas made Duke of Suffolk in right of his vvife and vvas beheaded in Q Maries time for his conspiracie vvvth my L of Leycesters father And she had by this man three daughters that is Iane The issue of FrauÌ„cis eldest daughter to Charls BrandoÌ„ Duke of Suffolk that vvas married to my L. of Leycesters brother proclaimed Queene after king Edvvards death for vvhych both shee and her husbande vvere executed Katherine the second daughter vvho had tvvoe sonnes yet lyuyng by the Earle of Hartford Marie the third daughter vvhich left no children The other daughter of Charles Brandon by the Q. of FrauÌ„ce caled Elenor vvas married to George Clifford Earle of CumberlaÌ„d vvho left a daughter The issue of â—lenor seconde daughter to Charls BrandoÌ„ by her named Margaret married to the Earle of Darbye vvhich yet liueth hath issue And this is the title of al the house of Suffolk descended froÌ„ the second daughter of K. Henrie the seueÌ„th married as hath bene shevved to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk And by this you see also hovv manie their be vvhoe do thinck ther titles to be far before that of my Lord of Huntingtons if either right Lavv reason or consideration of home affaires may take place in our Realm or yf not yet you cannot but imagine hovv manie great Princes and potentates abrode are like to ioyne and buckle vvyth Huntingtons Line for the preeminence if once the matter fal againe to coÌ„tention by excluding the Line of K. Henry the 7. vvhich God forbid SCHOL Trulie Sir quoth I I vvel perceyue that my Lords turne is not so nighe as I had thought vvhether he exclude the Line of king Henrie or HuÌ„tiÌ„gâ—oÌ„ behinde manie other titles no. For if he exclude that then must he enter the Cumbat vvith forraine titlers of the house of Lancaster and if he exclude it not then in al apparence of reason in Lavve to as you haue said the succession of the tvvoe daughters of king Henrie the seuenth vvhich you distingvvishe by the tvvoe names of Scotland and Suffolke muste needes be as clearlie before him and his Line that descendeth onlie from Edvvard the fourth his brother as the Q. title that novv raigneth is before him For that both Scotland Suffolk and her Ma. do hold al by one foundation vvhich is the vnion of both houses and titles together in K. Henry the seuenth her Ma. Graundfather GENTL That is true quoth the Gentleman and euident enough in euery mans eye and therfore no doubt but that as much is meant against her Maiestie yf occasion serue as against the rest that holde by the same title Albeit her Maiesties state the Lorde be praysed be such at this tyme as it is not safitie to pretend so much against her as against the reste vvhat soeuer be meant And that in trueth more should be meante gainst her highnes then against all the rest ther is this reason for that her Maiestie by her present possession letteth more their desires then al the rest together vvyth ther future pretences But as I haue said it is not The pollicie of the Conspirators for the deceyuing of her Maiesty safitie for them nor yet good policie to declare openlie vvhat they meane against her maiestie It is the best vvay for the present to hevve dovvn the rest and to leaue her Maiestie for the laste blovve and vpshoote to their game For vvhich cause they vvill seeme to make great difference at this daye betvvene her Maiesties title and the rest that descende in likevvise from king Henrie the seuenth auovving the one and disalovving the other Albeit my Lord of Leycesters father preferred that of Suffolk vvhen tyme vvas before this of her Ma. and compelled the vvhole Realm to svveare therunto Such is the variable pollicy of men that serue the tyme or rather that serue them selues of al tymes for their purposes SCHOL I remember quoth I that tyme of the Duke vvas present my self at some of his proclamatioÌ„s for that purpose VVherin my L. his sonne that novv liueth being theÌ„ a doer as I can tel he vvas I meruaile hovv he can deale so contrarie novv Leycester variabilitie preferring not onlie her Ma. title before that of Suffolk vvherof I vvonder lesse because it is more gainful to him but also an other much furder of But you haue signified the cause in that the tymes are chauÌ„ged other bargaines are in haÌ„d of more importaunce for him VVherfore leauing this to be considered by others vvhoÌ„ it coÌ„cerneth I beseech you Sir for that I knovv your vvorship hath bene much conuersant amonge their friendes and fauourers to tel me vvhat are the barres and lettes vvhich they do aleadge vvhy the house of ScotlaÌ„d and Suffolk descending of K. Henrie the seueÌ„th his daughters should not succed in the Crovvn of England after her Ma. vvho endeth the Line of the same K. by his sonne for in my sight the matter appeareth verie plaine GENTL They vvant not pretences of barres and lettes against them al quoth the Gentleman vvhich I vvil lay dovvn in order as I haue heard theÌ„ aleaged Barres preteÌ„ded gainst the claime of Scotland Suffolk First in the Line of Scotland theire are thre persoÌ„s as you knovv that may pretende right that is the Quene and her sonne by the first mariage of Margaret and Arbella by the second And against the first mariage I heare nothing affirmed but against the tvvoe personnes proceeding therof I heare them aleage three stops one for that they are strauÌ„gers Against the Queene of Scotland her sonne borne out of the land and consequentlie incapable of inheritaunce vvythin the same an other for that by a special testament of K. HeÌ„rie the eight authorized by tvvoe seueral Parliamentes they are excluded the third for that they are enimies to the religion novv receiued amonge vs therfore to be debarred Against the seconde mariage of Margaret Against Arbella vvyth Archibalde Douglas vvherof Arbella is descended they aleage that the said Archibalde had a former vvyfe at the tyme of that mariage vvhich liued loÌ„g after and so neither that marage lavvful nor the issue therof legitimate The same barre they haue against al the house and Line of Suffolk for first they say that Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk had a knovven vvyfe a liue vvhen he married Marie Queene of Fraunce coÌ„sequentlie that neither the Ladie Fraunces nor Elenore borne of that mariage can be lavvfulie borne And thes is al I can heare them say against the succession Against Darbye of the CouÌ„tesse of Darby descended of Elenore But against my Lord of Hartfords children that come from FrauÌ„ces the eldest daughter I heare them aleage tvvo or three bastardies more besides Against the children of Harâ—ford this of the first mariage
ovvn nation And therin and othervvise onelie about the same quarrel vvere slaine murdered made avvay about 9. or 10. kinges kinges sonnes besides aboue fortie Earles Marquesses Dukes of name but manie mo Lordes knights and great Gentlemen and Captaines and of the common people vvithout nūber and by particular cōiecture verie neare tvvo hundreth thousand The battaile by Tadcaster on palme Sō daye An. 1460. For that in one battaile foughten by K. Edvvard the fourth ther are recorded to be slaine on both partes fiue thirtie thousand seuen hundreth and eleuen persons besides other vvounded and taker prisoners to be put to death aftervvard at the pleasure of the Conquerour at diuers battails after ten thousand slaine at a battaile As in thos of Barner Tukesbury foughten both in one yeare This suffred our afflicted countrie in thos dayes by this infortunat and deadlie contention vvhich could neuer be ended but by the happy cōiunction of thos tvvo houses to gether in Henry the seuēth neither yet so as appeareth by Chronicle vntil as I haue said the state had cut of the issue male of the Duke of Clarēce vvho vvas cause of diuers perils to K. Henrie the seuenth though he vvere in prison By vvhos sister the faction of Huntington at this day doth seeke to raise vp the same contention againe vvith far greater daunger both to the Realm and to her Ma. that novv reigneth then euer before And for the Realm it is euident by that it giueth The daūger of Hūtingtons claime to the Realm to hir Ma roome to straūgers Competitours of the house of Lancaster better able to mainteine their ovvn title by svvorde then euer vvas any of that linage before them And for her Ma. perril present it is nothing hard to cōiecture seing the same title in the forsaid Erle of VVarvvik vvas so daūgerous and troublesome to her graundfather by vvhō she holdeth as he vvas faine tvvice to take armes in defence of his right against the said title vvhich vvas in thos dayes preferred aduaunced by the friēdes of Clarence before that of Hērie as also this of Huntington is at this daye by his faction before that of her Ma. though neuer so vniustlie LAVV. Touching Huntingtons title before her Ma. quoth the Lavver I vvil say nothing be cause in reasō I se not by vvhat pretēce in the vvorld he may thrust him self so far foorth seing her Ma. is descēded not onelie of the house of Lancaster but also before him moste apparentlie from the house of Hovv Hūtington maketh his title before her Maiestie York it self as from the eldest daughter of king Edvvard the fourth being the eldest brother of that house VVheras Huntington claimeth onelie by the daughter of George Duke of Clarence the yonger brother Marie yet I must cōfesse that if the Earle of VVarvviks title vvere better then that of K. Henrie the seuēth vvhich is moste false though manie attempted to defend the same by svvord then hath Huntington some vvronge at this daye by her Ma. Albeit in verie trueth the †The moste of Hūtingtōs ancetours by vvhō he maketh title attainted of treason attaintes of so manie of his auncestors by vvhom he clameth vvould ansvvere him also sufficientlie in that behalf if his title vvere othervvise allovvable But I knovv besides this they haue an other fetch Th◠in famous deuice of K. Rich. the third allovved by Huntington of K. Richard the thirde vvherby he vvould nedes proue his elder brother kīg Edvvard to be a Bastard cōsequētlie his vvhole line asvvel male as female to be void VVhich deuise though it be ridiculous and vvas at the tyme vvhen it vvas first inuented yet as Richard foūd at that tyme a Doctor Shavve that shamed not to publish and defend the same at Paules Crosse in a Sermon and Iohn of Northumberland Anno. 1. Mariae my L. of Leycesters father founde out diuers preachers in his tyme to set vp the title of Suffolk and to debase the right of king Henries daughter both in London Cambridge Oxeforde and other places moste apparentlie against al lavve and reason so I dout not but thes mē vvould finde out also both Shavves Sandes and others to set out the title of Clarēce before the vvhole interest of K. Henrie the seuēth his posteritie if occasion serued VVhich is a point of importance to be considered A point to be noted by her Ma. by her Ma. albeit for my parte I meane not novv to stād thervpon but onlie vpon that other of the house of Lancaster as I haue said For as that moste honorable lavvful and happie coniunction of the tvvo aduetsarie houses in king Henrie the seuenth and his vvife made an end of the shedding of English blood vvithin it The ioyninge of bothe hovvses self brought vs rhat moste desired peace vvhich euer sithence vve haue enioied by the reigne of their tvvo moste noble issue so the plot that novv is in hand for the cutting of the residue of that issue and for recalling backe of the vvhole title to the onelie house of Yorke againe is like to plunge vs deeper then euer in ciuile discorde and to make vs the bayte of al forreine Princes seing ther be among them at this daye some of no small The Line of Portugalle povver as I haue said vvho pretend to be the next heires by the house of Lancaster and consequentlie are not like to giue ouer or abandone their ovvn right if once the doore be opened to contention for the same by disanulling the Line of K. Henrie the seuenth vvherin onelie the keies of al concord remaine knit together And albeit I knovv vvel that such as be of my Lord of Huntingtons partie vvil make small accompte of the title of Lancaster as lesse rightfull a great deale then that of Yorke and I for my parte meane not greatlie to auovve the same as novv it is placed being my selfe no fauourer of forreine titles yet indifferent men haue to consider hovv it vvas taken in tymes paste and hovv it may againe in tyme to come if contention should arise hovv manie Noble personnages The olde estimation of the house of Lancaster of our Realm did offer them selues to die in defence therof hovv manie othes lavves vvere giuen receiued throughout the Realm for maītenaunce of the same against the other house of York for euer hovv manie vvorthy kinges vvere Crovvned reigned of that house race to vvit the fovver moste noble Hēries one after an other the fourth the fift the sixt and the seuenth vvho both in nūber Gouernment Sanctitie Courage and feares of armes vvere nothing inferior yf not superior to thos of the other house and lyne of Yorke after the diuision betvvene the families It is to be considered also as a special signe of the fauour and affectiō of oure vvhole natiō vnto that familie that Henrie Earle of Richmond though
Henrie Earle of RichmoÌ„d discending but of the last sonne and third vvyfe of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of LaÌ„caster vvas so respected for that onelie by the vniuersal Realm as they inclyned vvholie to cal him from banishment to make him king vvith the deposition of Richard vvhich then ruled of the house of York vpon condition onlie that the said Henrie should take to vvyfe a daughter of the contrarie familie so great vvas in thos dayes the affection of English hartes tovvards the line of Lancaster for the great vvorthynes of such kinges as had reigned of that race hovv good or bad so euer their title vvere vvhich I stand not heare at this tyme to discus but onlie to insinuate vvhat partie the same found in our Realm in tymes past and consequentlie hovv extreame daungerous the contention for the same may be herafter especialie seing that at this day The line of Portugal the remander of that title is pretended to rest vvholie in a straunger vvhos povver is verie great VVhich vve Lavvyers are vvount to esteme as a point of no smal importaunce for iustifying of anie mans title to a kingedom SCHOL You Lavvyers vvant not reason in that Sir quoth I hovv so euer you vvant right for if you vvil examine the succession of gouernmentes from the begnining of the vvorld vnto this daye either among Gentile Ievve or Christian people you shal find that the svvord hath bene alvvayes better The svvord of greate force to iustifie the title of a kingdom then half the title to get establishe or mainteyne a kingdom vvhich maketh me the more apalled to heare you dicourse in such sorte of nevv coÌ„tentioÌ„s and forraine titles accoÌ„pained vvyth such povver and strength of the titlers VVhich cannot be but infinitelie daungerous and fatal to our Realm yf once it come to action both for the diuision that is like to be at home and the varietie of parties from abrode For as the Prince vvhom you signifie vvil nor faile by al likeliehood to pursue his title vvyth al forces that he can make if occasion vvere offered so reason of state and pollicie vvil enforce other Princes adioyniÌ„g to let hinder him therin Greate dangers vvhat they can and so by this meanes shal vve become Iuda Israel among our selues one killing and vexing the other vvyth the svvord and to forraine Princes vve shal be as the Iland of Salamina vvas in olde tyme to the Athenians and Megarians and as the Iland of Cicilia vvas aftervvard to the Grecians Carthaginians and Romans and as in our dayes the kingdom of Naples hath bene to the Spaniards Frenchemen Germans and Venetians That is a bayte to feed vpon and a game to fight for VVherfore I beseech the Lord to auerte from vs all occasions of such miseries And I pray you Sir for that vve are fallen into the meÌ„tion of thes matters to take so much paines as to open vnto me the grovvnd of thes controuersies so long novv quiet betvven York and Lancaster seing they are novv like to be raised againe For albeit in general I haue heard much therof yet in particular I either conceaue not or remember not the foundation of the same and much lesse the state of theire seueral titles at this daye for that it is a studie not properlie perteyning vnto my profession LAVV. The controuersie betvvene the houses of York and Lancaster quoth the Lavvyer tooke his actual beginning in the issue of K. Edvvard the third The beginning of the coÌ„trouersie betvvixt York and LaÌ„caster vvho died somevvhat more then tvvo hundreth yeares gone but the occasion pretence or cause of that quarrel began in the children of K. Henrie the third vvho died an hundreth yeares before that and left tvvo sonnes Edvvard vvho vvas king after him by the name of Edvvard the first and vvas Graundfather to Edvvard the third and Edmond for his deformitie called Crookback Earle of Lancaster and beginner of that house vvhos inheritaunce aftervvard in the fovverth discent fel vpon a daughter named Blanche vvho vvas married to the fourth sonne of king Edvvard the third named Iohn of Gaunt for that he vvas Edmond Crooke-back begiâ—ner of the house of LaÌ„caster borne in the Citye of Gaunt in Flaunders and so by this his first vvyfe he became Duke of Lancaster and heire of that house And for that his sonne Henrie of Bolingbrook aftervvarde called K. Henrie the fourth pretended among other thinges that Edmond Crookback great graundfather to Blanche his mother vvas the elder Blanche sonne of K. Henrie the third and iniustelie put by the inheritaunce of the Crovvn for that Iohn of Gaunt he vvas Crookebacked and deformed he toke by force the kingdom from Richard the second Hovv the kingdom vvas first broght to the house of Lancaster nephevv to king Edvvard the third by his first sonne placed the same in the house of LaÌ„caster vvhere it remained for three vvhole disceÌ„tes vntil aftervvarde Edvvard Duke of York descended of Iohn of Gauntes yonger brother making clayme to the Crovvn by title of his graundmother that vvas heire to Lionel Duke of Clarence Iohn of Gauntes elder brother toke the same by force from Henrie the sixt of the house of Lancaster and brought it backe againe to the house of Yoâ—â— vvher it contineued vvith much trouble in tvvo kinges onlie vntil bothe houses vvere ioyned together in king Henrie the seuenth and his noble issue Hereby vve see hovv the issue of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth sonne to K. Edvvard the third pretended right to the Crovvn by Edmond Crookbacke before the issue of al the other thre sonnes of Edvvard the third albeit they vvere the elder brothers vvherof vve vvil speake The issue of Iohn of Gaunt more hereafter Novv Iohn of Gaunt though he had manie children yet had he fovver onlie of vvhom issue remaine tvvo sonnes and tvvo daughters The first sonne vvas Henrie of Bolingbrooke Duke of Lancaster vvho toke the Crovvn from K. Richard the second his vnkles sonne as hath bene said and first of al planted the same in the house of Lancaster vvhere it remayned in tvvo discentes after him that is in his sonne Henrie the first and in his nephevv Henrie the sixt vvho vvas aftervvard destroyed together vvith Henry Prince of VVales his only sonne heire and consequelie al that Line of Henrie Bolingbrok extinguished by Edvvard the fourth of the house of York The other soÌ„ne of Iohn of GauÌ„t vvas Iohn Duke of Somerset by Katherin S Finsford his third vvife The pedegree of K Henrie the 7. vvhich Iohn had issue an other Iohn and he Margaret his daughter heire vvho being married to Edmond Tyder Earle of Richmond had issue Henrie Earle of Richmond vvho after vvas named K. Henrie the seuenth vvhos Line yet endureth The tvvoe daughters of Iohn of Gaunt vvere married to Portugal and Castile that is Philippe The tvvo daughteâ—s
maried to Portugal Castile borne of Blanche heire to Edmond Crookback as hath bene said vvas married to Iohn king of Portugal of vvhom is descended the king that novv possesseth Portugal and the other Princes vvhich haue or may make title to the same and Katherin borne of Constance heire of Castile vvas married back againe to Hentie king of Castile in Spaine of vvhom king Philip is also descended So that by this vve see vvhere the remainder of the house of Lancaster resteth yf the Line of K. Henrie the seuenth vvere extinguished vvhat pretext forreine Forrayne titles Princes may haue to subdue vs yf my L. of Huntington either novv or after her Ma. dayes vvil open to them the doore by shuting out the rest of K. HeÌ„ries Line by dravving back the title to the onlie house of York againe vvhich he pretendeth to do vpon this that I vvil novv declare King Edvvard the third albeit he had manie children yet fiue onlie vvil vve speak of at this tyme. The issue of king Edvvard the third VVherof thre vvere elder then Iohn of Gaunt and one yonger The first of the elder vvas named Edvvard the Black Prince vvho died before his father leauing one onlie sonne named Richard vvho aftervvard being king and named Richard the second vvas deposed vvythout issue and put to death by his Cosin germain named Henrie Bolingbrook Duke of Lancaster sonne to Iohn of Gaunt as hath bene said and so there ended the Line of K. Edvvardes first sonne King Edvvardes second sonne vvas VVilliam of Hatfield that died vvythout issue His thirde sonne vvas Leonell Duke of Clacence vvhos onlie daughter heire called Philippe vvas married to Edmond Mortymer Earle of Marche and after that Anne the daughter and heire of Mortymer vvas married to Richard Plantaginet Tvvoe EdmuÌ„des the tvvoe begiÌ„ners of the tvvoe houses of Lancaster York Duke of York sonne and heire to Edmund of Langley the first Duke of York vvhich Edmund vvas the fift sonne of K. Edvvard the third and yonger brother to Iohn of Gaunt And this Edmund of Langley may be called the first beginner of the house of York euen as Edmund Croocbacke the beginner of the house Lancaster This Edmund Langley then hauing a sonne named Richard that married An 〈…〉 â—ortymer sole heire to Leonel Duke of ClareÌ„ce ioined tvvo Lines and tvvoe titles in one I meane the Line of Leonel and of Edmund Langley vvho vvere as hath bene said the third and the fift sonnes to K. Edvvard the third And for this cause the childe that vvas borne of this marriage named after his father Richard Plantaginet Duke of York seing him self strong and the first line of K. Edvvard the thirds eldest sonne to be extinguished in the death of K. Richard the second and seing VVilliam of Hatfield the secoÌ„d soÌ„ne dead likevvise vvythout issue made demaund of the Crovvn for the house of York by The claime title of York the title of Leonel the third sonne of K. Edvvard And albeit he could not obteine the same in his daies for that he vvas slaine in a bataille against K. Henrie the 6. at VVakefield yet his sonne Edvvard got the same vvas called by the name of king Edvvard the fovverth This king at his death lefte diuers children as namlie tvvoe sonnes Edvvard the fift and his brother The issue of king Edvvard the 4. vvho after vvere both murdered in the Tovver as shal be shevved also fiue daughters to vvit Elyzabeth Cicilie Anne Katherine and Briget VVherof the first vvas maried to HeÌ„ry the 7. The last became a NuÌ„ne the other thre vvere bestovved vpon diuers other husbandes He had also tvvo brothers the first vvas called George Duke of Clarence vvho aftervvard vpon his desertes as is to be supposed vvas put to death in Callys by commandement of the king his attaynder The Duk of Clarence attaynted by parlament allovved by parlament And this man left behind him a sonne named Edvvard Erle of VVarvvik put to death aftervvard vvythout issue by king Henrie the seuenth and a daughter named Margaret Countesse of Salisburie vvho vvas married to a meane GentlemaÌ„ named Richard Poole by vvhom she had issue Cardinal Poole that died vvythout Mariage HeÌ„rie Poole that vvas attainted execuded in K. Henrie the 8. his tyme as also her self vvas this HeÌ„ry Poole left a daughter married HuntiÌ„gtons title by the Duke of ClareÌ„ce aftervvard to the Earle of HuntingtoÌ„ by vvho this Earle that novv is maketh title to the Crovvn And this is the effect of my L. of HuntingtoÌ„s title The second brother of king Edvvard the fourth vvas Richard Duke of Glocester vvho after the K. K. Rich. the third death caused his tvvo sonnes to be murdered in the Tovver and toke the kingedom to him self And aftervvard he being slaine by king Henry the 7. at Bosvvorth fielde left no issue behind him VVherfore king Henry the 7. descending as hath bene shevved of the house of Lancaster by Ihon of The happie coÌ„iuÌ„ctioÌ„ of the tvvoe houses Gaunts last sonne third vvife taking to vvyfe ladie Elizabeth eldest daughter of K. Edvvard the fourth of the house of York ioyned most happely the tvvo famylies together and made an end of al controuersies about the title Novv K. Henrie the 7. had issue three children The issue of king HeÌ„ry the seuenth of vvhom remayneth posterity First Henry the 8. of vvhom is descended our soueraine her Ma. that novv happilie raigneth and is the last that remaineth a liue of that first Line SecoÌ„dlie he had tvvo daughters vvherof the first named Margaret vvas married tvvice first to Iames king of Scotland froÌ„ The Line and title of Scotland by Margar. eldeste daughter to king HeÌ„ry the seuenth vvhome are directlie discended the Q. of Scotland that novv liueth and her sonne K. Iames being dead Margaret vvas married againe to Archybalde Douglas Earle of Anguishe by vvhom she had a daughter named Margaret vvhich vvas married aftervvard to Mathevv Stevvard Earle of Lenox vvhos sonne Charles Stevvard vvas married to Elizabeth CaÌ„dishe daughter to the preseÌ„t CouÌ„tesse of of Shrevvsburie by her hath left his onlie heire Arbella a litle daughter named Arbella of vvhom you haue heard some speech before And this is tovvching the Line of Scotland descending from the first eldest daughter of K. Henrie the seuenth The second daughter of K. Henrie the seuenth The Lyne title of Suffolke by Marie seconde daughter to king Henry 7. called Marie vvas tvvice maried also first to the kig of Frannce bâ— vvhom she had no issue and after his death to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk by vvhom she had tvvo daughters that is FrauÌ„cis of vvhich the childreÌ„ of my L. of Hartford doe make their clayme Elenore by vvhom the issue of the Earle of Darbie preteÌ„deth right as shal be declared For that FrauÌ„cis the first daughter of
nature and said that he alvvayes mistrusted the same considering hovv much his Lordship vvas in debt to him and he made pryuie to his Lordship fovvle secretes vvhich secrets he vvould ther presentely haue vttered in the face of all the vvorld but that he feared tormeÌ„tes or speedie death vvith some extraordinarie crueltie if he should so haue donne and therefore he disclosed the same onely to a Gentleman of vvorshippe vvhom he trusted speciallie vvhose name I may not vtter for some causes but it beginneth vvith H. I am in hope ere it be long by means of a frieÌ„d of myne to haue a sight of that discourse reporte of Gates vvhich hytherto I haue not sene nor euer spake I vvith the GeÌ„tleman that keepeth it though I be vvel assured that the vvhole mater passed insubstance as I haue here recounted it SCHOL VVherunto I ansvvered that in good faith it vvere pittye that this relation should be lost for that it is very lyke that many rare thinges be declared This relation of Gates may serue hereafter for an addition in the secoÌ„d editioÌ„ of this boke therin seing it is donne by a man so priuie to the affayres them selfes vvherin also he had bene vsed an instrument I vvill haue it quoth the Gentleman or els my friendes shal fayle me hovvbeit not so soone as I vvould for that he is in the vvest countrie that should procure it for me vvill not returne for certaine monethes but after I stall see him agayne I vvill not leaue him vnril he procure it fot me as he hath promissed vvell quoth I but vvhat is become of that euidence founde in Ireland vnder my Lords hand vvhich no man dare pursue auouche or behold GENTL Treulie said the Gentilman I am informed that it lyeth safelie reserued in good custodie to be brought furth and auovvched vvhen so ouer it shal please God so to dispose of her Ma. hart as to lend an indifferent eare asvvell to his accusers as to him self in iudgement Neither must you think that this is straunge nor that the thinges are fevv vvhich are in such sorte reserued in deck for the tyme to come euen amoÌ„g The deck reserued for Leycester great personages and of high calling for seing the present state of his povver to be such and the tempest of his tyrannie to be so strong and boisterous as no man may stand in the rage therof vvithout peril for that euen from her Ma. her self in the lenitie of her Princelie nature he extorteth vvhat he designeth either by fraud flattery false informatioÌ„ Leycester puyssant vyolence vvith the Prince her self request pretence or violent importunitie to the ouer-bearing of al vvhom he meaneth to oppresse No maruaile then though manie euen of the best and faythfullest subiectes of the land do yeeld to the present tyme and do keep silence in some matters that othervvise they vvould take it for duetie to vtter And in this kinde it is not long sithence a vvorshipful and vvise friende of myne tolde me a testimonie in secret from the mouth of as noble and graue a Councellor as England hath enioyed thes The Erle of Sussex his speech of the Erl of Leices manie hundreth yeares I meane the late L. Chamberlayne vvith vvhom my said friend being alone at his house in London not tvventie daies before hsi death conferred somvvhat familiarlie about thes and like maters as vvith a true father of his countrie and common vvealth and after manie complaintes in the behalf of diuers vvho had opened their griefes vnto Councellors and savve that no notice vvould be taken therof the said noble man turning him self somvvhat about from the vvater for he satte neare his pond syde vvher he beheld the taking of a pike or carpe said to my friend It is no maruaile Sir for vvho dareth intermedle him self in my Lords affaires I vvil tel yovv quoth he in confidence betvven you and me ther is as vvyse a man and as graue and as faythful a Councellor as England breedeth meaning therby The L. Bâ—rghlei the L. Treasurer vvho hath asmuch in his keping of Leycesters ovvn hand vvriting as is sufficient to hang him if either he durst present the same to her Ma. or her Ma. do iustice vvhen it should be presented But indeed quoth he the time permitteth neither of them both therfore it is in vaine for anie man to struggle vvith him Thes vvere that noble mans vvordes vvherby you may consider vvhether my L. of Leicester be strong this daye in Councell or no and vvhether his fortification be sufficient in that place But novv if out of the Councell vve vvil turne Leycester povver in the country abrod but our eye in the countrie abrode vve shal finde as good fortification also ther as vve haue pervsed alredie in Court and Councell and shal vvel perceiue that this mans plot is no fond or indiscrete plot but excellent vvel grounded and such as in al proportions hath his due correspondence Consider then the chiefe and principal partes of this land for martial affaires for vse and commoditie of armoure for strength for opportunitie for libertie of the people as dvvelling farthest of from the presence and aspect of their Prince such partes I saye as are fittest for sudden entreprises vvithout daunger of interception as are the Northe the VVest the countries of VVales the Ilandes round about the land and sundry other places vvythin the same Are they not al at this day at his disposition are they not all by his procurement in the onelie handes of his friendes and allies or of such as by other matches haue the same complot and purpose vvith him Yorke Erle of Huntington In York is president the man that of al other is fittest for that place that is his nearest in affinitie his dearest in friendship the head of his faction open competitor of the Scepter In Barvvik is Captaine Barvvick The L. HunsdeÌ„ his vvyues vncle moste assured to him self HuntinghtoÌ„ as one vvho at conuenient tyme may as much aduaunce their designementes as anie one man in England In VVales the chiefe authoritie from the Prince VVales Siâ— HeÌ„rie Sidney The Er. of PeÌ„brook The vvest Earle of Bedford is in his ovvn brother in lavv buâ— among the people of natural affectioÌ„ is in the Earle of Penbrook vvho both by Mariage of his sisters daughter is made his allie and by dependence is knovven to be vvholie at his dispositioÌ„ The vvest parte of EnglaÌ„d is vnder Bedford a man vvholie deuoted to his the Puritanes faction In IrelaÌ„d vvas gouernour of The L. Grey †Her Ma. as he saith for stricking of M. Fortescue called him lame vvretch that gryeued hâ—m so for that he vvas hurt in her seruice at Lyeth as he said he vvould liue to be reuenged late the principall instrument appointed for their purposes both in respect of his heat and affection tovvard their
For first they affirme that Hērie Marques Dorset vvhen he married the Ladie Fraunces had to vvife the olde Earle of Arundels sister vvho liued both then and manie years after and had a prouision out of his liuing to her dying day vvherby that mariage could no vvay be good Secondlie that the Ladie Katherin daughter to the said Lady Fraunces by the Marques by vvhom the Earle of Hartford had his children vvas lavvfulie maried to the Earle of Penbrook that novv liueth and consequentlie could haue no lavvful issue by anie other during his life Thirdlie that the said Katherin vvas neuer lavvfulie maried to the said Earle of Hartford but bare him thos childrē as his Concubine VVhich as they say is defined and regestred in the Archbisshop or Cāturburies Court vpon due examination taken by order of her Ma. that novv reigneth and this is in effect so much as I haue heard them aleage about thes affaires SCHOL It is much quoth I that you haue said if it may be al proued Marie yet by the vvay I cannot but smile to heare my Lord of Leycester alovve of so manie bastardies novv vppon the issue of Ladie Fraunces vvhom in tyme paste vvhen lane her Leicester dealing vvith the house of Suffolk eldest daughter vvas married to his brother he aduaunced in legitimation before both the daughters of K. Henrie the eight But to the purpose I vvould gladie knovv vvhat groundes of veritie thes alegations haue and hovv far in trueth they may stoppe from inheritance for indeed I neuer heard them so distinctlie aleaged before GENTL VVherto ansvvered the Gentleman that our friend the Lavvier could best resolue that if it pleased him to speak vvythout his fee though in some points aleaged euerie other man quoth he that knovveth the state and common gouernment of England may easily giue his iudgement also As in the case of Bastardie if the matter may be proued Bastardy ther is no difficultie but that no right to inheritaunce can iustlie be pretended as also perhaps Forreyne byrth in the case of forreine birth though in this I am not so cunning but yet I see by experience that forreiners borne in other landes can hardlie come and claime inheritaunce in England albeit to the contrarie I haue heard great and long disputes but such as indeed passed my capacitie And if it might please our friēd here present to expound the thing vnto vs more clearly I for my parte vvould gladlie bestovv the hearing and that vvith attention LAVV. To this ansvvered the Lavvyer I vvil gladie Sir tel you my mind in anie thīg that it shal please you demaund much more in this matter vvherin by occasiō of oftē cōference I am somevvhat perfect The impedimētes vvhich thes men aleage against the succession of K. Henrie the 8. his sisters are of tvvo kindes as you see The one knovven and alovved in our lavv as you haue vvel said if it may be proued and that is bastardie vvherby they seck Bastardies lauful stops to disable al the vvhole Line and race of Suffolk as also Arbella of the second and later house of Scotlād VVherof it is to smal purpose to speak any thing here seing the vvhole controuersie stādeth vpon a matter of fact onlie to be proued or improued by recordes and vvitnesses Onlie this I vvil say that some of thes bastardies before named are rife in manie mens mouthes auovved by diuers that yet liue but let other men loke to this vvho haue moste interest therin and may be moste damnified by them if they fal out true The impedimentes agaīst Scotland three in number The other impedimentes vvhich are aleaged onlie against the Q of Scottes and her sonne are in number three as you recite them that is forreine birth K Henries Testamēt and religion vvherof I am contente to say somevvhat seing you desire it albeit ther be so much published alredy in bokes of diuers languages beyond the sea as I am enformed concerning this matter as more cannot be said But yet so much as I haue heard passe among Lavvyers my betters in conference of thes affaires I vvil not let to recite vnto you vvith this Prouiso A protestation and protestation alvvayes that vvhat I speake I speak by vvay of recital of other mens opinions not meaning my self to incurre the statute of affirming or auovving any persons title to the Crovvn vvhatsoeuer First then touching forreine birth ther be some Touchīg the first impediment of f 〈…〉 yue by 〈…〉 men in the vvorld that vvil say that it is a common and general rule of our lavv that no straunger at al may inherit anie thing by anie meanes vvithin the lād vvhich in trueth I take to be spoken vvithout ground in that general sense For I could neuer yet come to the sight of anie such common or vniuersal rule and I knovv that diuers examples may be alleaged in sundrie cases to the contrarie and by that vvhich is expreslie set dovvne in the seuenth and ninthe yeares of K. Edvvard the fouerth and in the eleuenth and fouertienth of Henrie the fourth it appeareth plainlie that a An Alien may purchasse straunger may purchase landes in England as also inherite by his vvife if he marrie an inheritrix VVherfore this common rule is to be restreined from that generalitie vnto proper inheritaunce onlie in vvhiche sense I doe easilie graunte The true Maxima against Aliens that our common lavv hathe bene of auncient and is at this day that no person borne out of the aleagiaunce of the kinge of England vvhos father and mother vvere not of the same aleagiaunce at the tyme of his birthe shal be able to haue or demaunde anie heretage vvithin the The statute of K. Edvvard vvhence the Maxima is gathered same aleagiaunce as heire to anie person And this rule of our common lavve is gathered in thes selfe same vvordes of a statute made in the 25. yeare of K. Edvvarde the thirde vvhiche in deede is the only place of effecte that can be aleaged out of our lavve against the inheritaunce of straungers in suche sense and cases as vve novv treate of Reasons vvhy the Scottish title is not leted by the Maxima Against Aliens And albeit novv the cōmon lavv of our countrie do runne thus in general yet vvil the friends of the Scottishe clayme affirme that hereby that title is nothing let or hindered at al tovvards the Crovvn and that for diuers manifest and vveighty reasons vvherof the principal are thes vvhich ensue First it is common and a general rule of our The first reason English lavves that no rule Axiome or Maxima of lavv be it neuer so general can touche or binde the Crovvn except expresse mētion be made therof in the same for that the king and Crovvn haue great preuiledge and prerogatiue aboue the state and affayres of subiectes and great differences alovved in pointes of lavv As for example
it is a general and common The rule of thirds rule of lavv that the vvyfe after the decease of her husband shal enioy the thyrd of his landes but yet the Queene shal not enioye the third parte of the Crovvn after the kings death as vvel appeareth by experience and is to be seene by lavv Anno. 5. 21. of Edvvard the third and Tennant by courtisie Anno. 9. 28. of Henrie the sixte Also it is a common rule that the husband shal hold his vvyues lands after her death as tennaunt by courtisie duringe his life but yet it holdeth not in a kingdom In like maner it is a general and common rule Diuision among daughters that if a man die seased of lād in fee simple hauing daughters and no sonne his landes shal be deuided by equal portions among his daughters vvhich holdeth not in the Crovvn but rather the eldest daughter inheriteth the vvhole as if she vvere the issue male So also it is a common rule of our lavv Executours that the executour shal haue al the goodes and chattels of the testatour but yet not in the Crovvn And so in manie other cases vvhich might be recited it is euident that the Crovvn hath priuiledge aboue others and can be subiect to no rule be it neuer so general except expresse mention be made therof in the same lavv as it is not in the former place and a statute alleaged but rather to the contrarie as after shal be shevved ther is expresse exception for the prerogatiue of such as descend of Royal blood Their second reason is for that the demaund or The secōd reason title of a Crovvn cannot in true sense be comprehended vnder the vvordes of the former statute forbidding Aliens to demaund heritage vvithin The Crovvn no such inheritaunce as is meant in the statute the alegiaunce of England and that for tvvoe respectes The one for that the Crovvn it self cannot be called an heritage of alegiaunce or vvithin alegiaunce for that it is holden of no superior vpon earth but immediatelie from God him self the seconde for that this statute treateth onlie and meaneth of inheritaunce by discēt as heire to the same for I haue shevved before that Aliens may holde lādes by pourchase vvithin our dominion then say they the Crovvn is a thing incorporat descēdeth not according to the cōmon course of other priuate inheritaunces but goeth by succession as other incorporations do In signe vvherof it is euident The Crovvn a corporation that albeit the king be more fauoured in al his doinges then anie common person shal be yet cannot he auoide by lavv his grauntes and letters patentes by reason of his nonage as other infantes common heires vnder age may do but alvvayes be said to be of ful age in respecte of his Crovvn euen as a Prior Person Vicare Deane or other person incorporat shal be vvhiche cannot by anie meanes in lavv be said to be vvithin age in respect of their incorporations VVhich thing maketh an euident difference in our case frō the meaning of the former statute for that a Prior Deane or Person being aliens and no denizens might alvvayes in tyme of peace demaund landes in England in respect of their corporations notvvythstanding the sayd statute or common lavv against aliens as apeateth by manie boke cases yet extant as also by the statute made in the tyme of K. Richard the secōd vvhich vvas after the foresaid statute of king Edvvard the third The third reason is for that in the former statute The third reason it selfe of K. Edvvard ther are excepted expreslie frō this general rule INFANTES DV ROY that is the The Kīgs issue excepted by name kings ofspring or issue as the vvord INFANT doth signifie bothe in Fraunce Portugale Spaine and other countries as the latin vvord liberi vvhich ansvvereth the same is taken commonlie in the L. liberorum F. de verb sign Ciuil lavv Neither may vve restreine the french vvordes of that statute INFANTES DV ROY to the kings childrē onlie of the first degre as some do for that the barraynnes of our lāguage doth yeld vs no other vvorde for the same but rather that therby are vnderstood as vvel the nephevves and other discendantes of the king or blood Royal as his immediate children For it vvere both vnreasonable and ridiculous to imagine that K. Edvvar◠by this statute vvould goe about to disinherit hi◠ovvn nephevves yf he shoulde haue any borne ou◠of his ovvn aleagiaunce as easilie he myght a◠that tyme his sonnes being much abrode from England and the blacke Prince his eldest sonne hauing tvvoe children borne beyonde the seas and consequentlie it is apparent that this rule o◠Maxima set dovvn against Aliens is no vvay to be stretched against the descendantes of the king or of the blood Royal. Their fourth reason is that the meaning of king The fovvrth reason The kīgs meaning Edvvard and his children liuing at such tyme as this statute vvas made could not be that anie of their linage or issue might be excluded in lavv from inheritaunce of their right to the Crovvn by their forreine byrth vvhersoeuer For othervvise it is not credible that they vvould so much haue dispersed their ovvn bloode in other countries as they did by giuing their daughters to straungers and other meanes As Leonel the The matches of England vvyth forreyners kinges third sonne vvas married in Millan and Iohn of Gaunte the fourth sonne gaue his tvvoe daughters Phylippe and Katherine to Portugal Castile and his neipce Ioan to the king of Scottes as Thomas of VVoodstock also the yongest brother married his tvvoe davvghters the one to the king of Spain and the other to the Duke of Brytane VVhich no doubt they being vvyse Princes and so neere of the bloode Royal vvould neuer haue done yf they had imagined that herebie their issue should haue lost al clayme and title to the Crovvn of England and therfore it is moste euident that no such barre vvas then extante or imagined Their fift reasō is that diuers persons borne out The fifte reason Exāples of forreiners admitted of al English dominion and aleagiaunce both before the conquest and sithence haue bene admitted to the succession of oure Crovvne as lavvful inheritours vvythoute anie exception againste them for theyr forreyne byrthe As before the conquest is euident in yong Edgar Etheling borne in Hungarie and thence called home to inherit the Crovvn by his great vncle king Edvvard the Confessor vvith ful consent of the vvhole Realm the Bishop of VVorcester being sent as Ambassador to Flores hist An. 1066. fetch him home vvith his father named Edvvard the ovvtlavve And since the conquest it appeareth plainlie in kinge Stephen and kinge Henrie the seconde bothe of them borne out of English dominions and of Parentes that at their birth vvere not of the English alleagiaunce and yet vvere they both
admitted to the Crovvn Yonge Arthure also Duke of Bretaigne by his mother Constance that matched vvith Geffray K. Henrie the secondes sonne vvas declared by K. Richard his Pol. lib. 15 Flor. hist 1208. vncle at his departure tovvardes Ierusalem and by the vvhole Realm for lavvfull heire apparent to the Crovvne of England though he vvere borne in Bretaigne out of English alleagiaunce and so he vvas taken and adiudged by all the vvorlde at that day albeit after king Richards death his Kinge Iohâ— a Tyraunt other vncle Iohn moste Tyrannouslie toke both his kingdome and his lyfe from him For vvhich notable iniustice he vvas detested of all men both abrode at home and most apparentlie scourged by God vvith grieuous and manifolde plagues both vppon him selfe and vppon the Realme vvhich yeelded to his vsurpation So that by this also it appeareth vvhat the practize of our countrie hath bene from tyme to tyme in this case of forreine birth vvhich practize is the best interpretor of our common English lavv vvhich dependeth especialie and moste of al vpon custome nor can the aduersarie aleage anie one example to the contrarie Their sixt is of the iudgement and sentence of K. The sixt reason The iudgement and sentence of K Henry the seuenth Henrie the seueÌ„th and of his Councell vvho being together in consulation at a certaine tyme about the mariage of Margaret his eldest daughter into Scotland some of his Councell moued this doubt vvhat should ensue if by chaunce the kinges issue male should faile and so the succession deuolue to the heires of the said Margaret as novv it doth VVherunto that vvise and moste prudent Prince made ansvvere that if anie such euent should be it could not be preiudicial to England being the bigger parte but rather beneficial for that it should dravve Scotland to EnglaÌ„d that is the lesser to the more euen as in tymes paste it hapened in Nor mandie Aquitane and some other Prouinces VVhich ansvvere apeased all doubtes and gaue singular contention to thes of his Councell as Polidore vvriteth that liued at that tyme and vvrote the special matters of that reigne by the kinges ovvn instruction So that hereby vve see no question made of K. Henrie or his Councellours tovvching forreine birth to let the succession of Ladie Margarets issue vvhich no doubt vvould neuer haue bene omitted in that learned assemblie if anie lavv at that tyme had bene estemed or imagined to barre the same And thes are sixe of their principalest reasons to proue that neither by the vvordes nor meaning of our common lavves nor yet by custom or practize of our Realm an Alien may be debarred froÌ„ claime of his interest to the Crovvn vvhen it falleth to him by rightful discent in blood and successioÌ„ But in the particular case of the Q. of Scottes and her The seuenth reason The Q of Scot. and her sonne no Aliens sonne they do ad another reason or tvvo therby to proue theÌ„ in verie deed to be no Aliens Not only in respect of their often coÌ„tinual mixture vvith English blood froÌ„ the beginning and especialie of late the Q GrauÌ„dmother husbaÌ„d being English so her sonne begoten of an English father but also for tvvo other causes reasoÌ„s vvhich seme in trueth of verie good importaunce The first is for that Scotland by al Englishe men hovv so euer the Scottes denie the same is taken holdeÌ„ as subiect to EnglaÌ„d by vvay of Homage vvhich manie of their kinges at diuers tymes haue acknovvledged coÌ„sequeÌ„tlie the Q. and her sonne being borne in Scotland are not borne out of the aleagiaunce of England and so no forreyners The second cause or reason is for that the forenamed statute of forreyners in the fyue and tvventie yeare of K. Edvvard the third is intituled of those that are borne beyond the seas And in the bodie of the same statute the doubt is moued of children borne out of English aleagiaunce beyond the seas vvherby cannot be vnderstood ScotlaÌ„d for that it is a peece of the coÌ„tinent land vvithin the seas And al our olde recordes in England that talke of seruice to be done vvithin thes tvvo countries haue vsualy thes latin vvordes infra quatuor Maria or in frensh deins lez quatre mers that is vvithin the foure seas vvherby must needes be vnderstood as vvel Scotland as England and that perhapes for the reason before mentioned of the subiectioÌ„ of Scotland by vvay of Homage to the Crovvn of England In respect vvherof it may be that it vvas accompted of olde but one dominion or aleagiaunce And consequently no man borne therin can be accompted an Alien to England And this shal suffice for the first point touching forreine Natiuitie For the secoÌ„d impedimeÌ„t obiected vvhich is the The second impediment against the Q. of Scot. and her sonne vvhich is K. HeÌ„rie the eight his Testament TestameÌ„t of K. HeÌ„rie the eight authorized by parliameÌ„t vvherby they affirme the successioÌ„ of Scotland to be excluded it is not precisely true that they are excluded but only that they are put back behiÌ„d the succession of the house of Suffolk For in that pretended TestameÌ„t vvhich after shal be proued to be none indeed king Henrie so disposeth that after his ovvn children if they should chaunce to die vvithout issue the Crovvn shal passe to the heirs of Fraunces and of Elenore his neipces by his yonger sister Marie Q. of Fraunce and after them deceasing also vvithout issue â—he succession to returne to the next heires againe VVherby it is euideÌ„t that the successioÌ„ of Margaret Q. of ScotlaÌ„d his eldest sister is not excluded but thrust back only froÌ„ their due place and order to expect the remainder vvhich may in tyme be left by the yonger VVherof in mine opinion do ensue some considerations Forreine birth no impediment in the iudgment of K. Henry the eight against the present pretenders them selues First that in K. Henries iudgement the former pretended rule of forreine birth vvas no sufficient impedimeÌ„t against ScotlaÌ„d for if it had bene no doubt but that he vvould haue named the same in his aleaged Testament and therby haue vtterlie excluded that succession But there is no such thing in the Testament Secondlie yf they admit this Testament vvhich The succession of Scotland nexte by the iudgment of the coÌ„petitours alloteth the Crovvn to ScotlaÌ„d next after Suffolk then seing that al the house of Suffolk by thes mens assertion is cexcluded by Bastardie it must needes folovv that Scotland by their ovvn iudgement is next and so this testament vvil make against them as indeed it doth in al pointes moste apparentlie but onelie that it preferreth the house of Suffolk before that of Scotland And therfore I think Sir that you mistake somvvhat about their opinion in aleaging this Testament For I suppose that no man of my Lord of Huntingtons faction vvil aleage or vrge the testimonie of
vigilant an eye to the lateral line of K. Edvvard the fourth by his brother of Clarence as they thought it necessarie not onlie to preuent al euident daungers that might ensue that vvaye but euen the possibilities of al peril as may vvel appeare by the execution of Edvvard Earle of VVarvvike before named sonne and heire to the said Duke of Clarence and of Margaret his sister Countesse of Salisburie vvith the Lord Henrie Montague her sonne by vvhos daughter the Earle Persons executed of the house of Clarēce of Huntington novv claimeth Al vvhich vvere executed for auoiding of inconueniences and that at such tymes vvhen no imminent daunger could be much doubted by that Line especialie by the later And yet novv vvhen one of the same house and line of more habilitie and ambition then euer anie of his auncestors vvere maketh open title and claime to the Crovvn vvith plotes packes and preparations to moste manifest vsurpation against al order al lavv and al rightful succession against a special statute prouided in that behalf yet is he permitted borne out fauored and friended therin and no man so hardie as in defence of her Ma. and Realm to controle him for the same It may be that her Ma. is brought into the same opinion of my L. of Huntingtons fidelitie as Iulius The example of Iulius Caesars destruction Caesar vvas of Marcus Brutus his dearest obliged friend of vvhos ambitious practises and aspiring vvhē Caesar vvas aduertised by his careful friēdes he ansvvered that he vvel knevv Brutus to be ambitious but I am sure quoth he that my Brutus vvil neuer attēpt anie thing for the Empire vvhile Caesar lyueth and after my death let him shift for the same among others as he can But vvhat ensued Surelie I am loth to tel the euent for ominations sake but yet al the vvorld knovveth that ere manie monethes passed this moste Noble and Clement Emperoure vvas pitifulie murdered by the same Brutus and his parteners in the publique Senate vvhen least of al he expected such treason So daungerous a thing it is to be secure in a matter of so great sequele or to trust them vvyth a mans lyfe vvho may pretend preferment or interest by his death VVherfore vvould God her Ma. in this case might be induced to haue such due care regarde of her ovvn estate Royal person as the vveighty moment of the matter requireth vvhich cōteineth the blisse and calamitie of so Noble and vvorthie a kingdom as this is I knovv right vvel that moste excellent natures To much cōfidence very perilous in a Prince are alvvayes furdest of from diffidence in such people as profes loue and are moste bounden by devvtie and so it is euident in her Ma. But yet surelie this confidence so commendable in other men is scarse alovvable often tymes in the person of a Prince for that it goeth accompanied vvyth so great peril as is ineuitable to him that vvil not suspect principallie vvhen daungers are fortolde or presaged as commonlie by Gods appointment they are for the speciall hand he holdeth ouer Princes affaires or vvhen ther is probable coniecture or iust surmise of the same VVe knovv that the forenamed Emperour Caesar had not onlie the vvatning giuen him of the inclination and intent of Brutus to vsurpation but euen the verie day vvhen he vvas going tovvardes the place of his appointed destinie ther vvas giuen vp into his handes a detection of the vvhole treason vvyth request to read the same presentlie vvhich he vpon confidence omitted to do VVe read also of Alexander the great hovv he vvas not The example of Alexāder the great hovv he vvas for tolde his daunger onelie forbidden by a learned man to enter into Babylō vvhether he vvas then going for that ther vvas treason meant agaīst him in the place but also that he vvas foretolde of Antipaters mischieuous meaning against him in particular But the yong Prince hauing so vvel deserued of Antipater could not be brought to mistrust the man that vvas so deare vnto him by that means vvas poisoned in a bāquet by three sōnes of Antipater vvhich vvere of moste credit cōfidence in the kinges Chāber SCHOL Here truelie my hart did somevvhat tremble vvyth feare horrour and detestation of such euentes And I said vnto the Gentleman I beseech you Syr to talke no more of thes matters for I cannot vvel abide to heare them named hoping in the Lord that ther is no cause nor euer shal be to doubt the like in Endland specialie from thes men vvho are so much bounden to her Ma. and Late execution◠so forvvard in seeking out and pursueing al such as may be thought to be daungerous to her Ma. person as by the sundrie late executions vve haue seene and by the punishmentes euerie vvaye of Papistes vve may perceyue GENTL Trueth it is quoth the Gentleman that iustice hath bene done vpō diuers of late vvhich cōtenteth me greatlie for the terrour and restreint of others of vvhat sect or religion so euer they be And it is moste necessarie doubtles for the compressing of parties that great vigilance be vsed in that behalf But vvhen I consider that onlie one kinde of men are touched herein and that al speech regarde doubt distrust and vvatche is of them alone vvythout reflexion of eye vpon anie other mens doinges or designementes vvhen I see the double diligence vehemencie of certaine instrumentes vvhich I like not bent vvholie to rayse vvounder and admiration of the people feare terrour and attention to the doeinges sayinges and meaninges Fraude to be feared in putsueing one parte o◠faction onlie of one parte or faction alone and of that namlie and onlie vvhich thes cōspiratours esteme for most daungerous and opposite to them selues I am belieue me often tempted to suspect fraude and false measure and that thes men deale as vvolues by nature in other countries are vvount to doe VVhich going together in great numbers to assaile a flock of shepe by night do set some one or tvvo of their cōpanie vpō the vvinde side of the folde a far of vvho partly by their sent other bruteling vvhich of purpose they make may dravv the doggs and shepheardes to pursue them alone vvhiles the The comparison of vvolues Rebels other do enter and slea the vvhole flock Or as rebelles that meaning to surprise a tovvn to turn avvay the inhabitantes from consideration of the daunger from defence of that place vvhere they intend to enter do set on fire some other partes of the tovvn furder of and do sound a false al'arme at some gate vvher is ment least daunger VVhich arte vvas vsed cunninglie by Richard Rychard Duke of York Duke of York in the tyme of K. Henrie the sixt vvhen he to couer his ovvn intent brought al the Realm in doubt of the doinges of Edmond Duke of Sometset his enimie But Iohn of Northumberland father to my