owne passion and leese his commodity As for that which is alleadged before for my Lord in the reason of his Defenders that his present state is so prosperous as hee cannot expect better in the next change whatsoever should be is of small moment in the conceipt of an ambitious head whose eye and heart is alwayes upon that which he hopeth for and enjoyeth not and not upon that which already hee possesseth be it never so good Especially in matters of honour and authority it is an infallible rule that one degree desired and not obtained afflicteth more then five degrees already possessed can give consolation the story of Duke Hamân confirmeth this evidently who being the greatest subject in the World under King Assuerus after he had reckoned up all his pompe riches glory and felicity to his friends yet hee said that all this was nothing unto him untill he could obtaine the revenge which hee desired upon Maâdâchaeus his enemy and hereby it commeth ordinarily to passe that among highest in authority are found the greatest store of Male-contents that most doe endanger their Prince and Countrey When the Percies took part with Henry of Bolingbrooke against King Richard the second their lawfull Soveraigne it was not for lack of preferment for they were exceedingly advanced by the said King and possessed the three Earledomes of Northumberland Worâester and Stafford together besides many other offices and dignities of honour In like sort when the two Neviles tooke upon them to joyne with Richard of Yorke to put downe their most benigne Prince King Henry the sixt and after again in the other side to put downe King Edward the fourth it was not upon want of advancement they being Earles both of Salisbury and Warwick and Lords of many notable places besides But it was upon a vaine imagination of future fortune whereby such men are commonly led and yet had not they any smell in their nostrils of getting the Kingdome for themselves as this man hath to prick him forward If you say that these men hated their Soveraigne and that thereby they were led to procure his destruction the same I may answer of my Lord living though of all men he hath least cause so to do But yet such is the nature of wicked ingratitude that where it oweth most and disdaineth to be bound there upon every little discontentment it turneth double obligation into triple hatred This he shewed evidently in the time of his little disgrace wherein hee noâ onely did diminish vilipend and debase among his friends the inestimable benefits hee hath received from her Majestie but also used to exprobrate his owne good services and merits and to touch her highnesse with ingrate consideration and recompence of the same which behaviour together with his hasty preparation to rebellion and assault of her Majesties Royall person and dignity upon so small a cause given did well shew what minde inwardly he beareth to his Soveraigne and what her Majesty may expect if by offending him shee should once fall within the compasse of his furious pawes seeing such a smoke of disdainâ could not proceed but from a fierie fornace of hatred within And surely it is a wonderfull matter to consider what a little check or rather the bare imagination of a small overthwart may worke in a proud and disdainfull stomâcke The remembrance of his marriagâ missâd that hee so much pretended and desired with her Majestie doth sticke deeply in his breâst and stirreth him daily to revenge As also doth the disdaine of certaine checks and disgraces received aâ sometimes especially that of his last marriage which irketh him so much the more by how much greater feare and danger it brought him into at that time and did put his Widow in such open phrensie as shee raged many moneths after against her Majestie and is not cold yet but remaineth as it were a sworne enemy for that injury and standeth like a fiend or fury at the elbow of her Amadis to stirre him forward when occasion shall serve And what effect such female suggestions may worke when they finde an humour proud and pliable to their purpose you may remember by the example of the Duchesse of Somerset who inforced her Husband to cut off the head of his onely deare Brother to his owne evident destruction for her contentation Wherefore to conclude this matter without further dispute or reason saying there is so much discovered in the case as there is so great desire of raigne so great impatience of delay so great hope and hability of successe if it be attempted under the good fortune and present authority of the competitours seeing the plots be so well laid the preparation so forward the favourers so furnished the time so propitious and so many other causes conviting together seeing that by differing all may be hazarded and by hastening little can be indangered the state and condition of things well weyed finding also the bands of duty so broken already in the conspiratours the causes of mislike and hatred so manifest and the solicitours to exâcution so potent and diligent as women malice and ambition are wont to bee it is more then probable that they will not leese their present commodity especially seeing they have learned by their Archi-tipe or Proto-plot which they follow I meane the conspiracy of Northumberland and Suffolke in King Edwards dayes that herein there was some errour committed at that time which overthrew the whole and that was the deferring of some things untill after the Kings death which should have beene put in execution before For if in the time of their plotting when as yet their designements were not published to the world they had under the countenance of the King as well they might have done gotten into their hands the two Sisters and dispatched some other few affaires before they had caused the young Prince to die no dobut but in mans reason the whole designement had taken place and consequently it is to be presupposed that these men being no fooles in their owne affaires will take heed of falling into the like errour by delay but rather will make all sure by striking while the iron is hot as our proverbe warneth them It cannot bee denied in reason quoth the Lawyer but that they have many helpes of doing what they list now under the present a favour countenance and authority of her Majesty which they should not have after her Highnesse decease when each man shall remaine more at liberty for his supreame obedience by reason of the statute provided for the uncertainty of the next successor and therefore I for my part would rather counsell them to make much of her Majesties life for after that they little know what may ensue or befall their designements They will make the most thereof quoth the Gentleman for their owne advantage but after that what is like to follow the examples
ruine of âhe Râalm For whereas ây the common dâstiâctâon now râceived in speech thâre are three noââble differences of religion in the Lând âhe two extreams whereof are the Papâst and âhe Paritan and the religious Protâstant oâtaining the meane this fellow being neither maketh his gaine of all and as he sâekââh a Kingdome by the one extreame and spâile by the otherâ so he useth the authority of the third to compâsse the fiâst two and the couâter-mine of eaâh one to the overthrow of all thrâe To this I answered In good sooth Sir I see now where you are you are fallen into the common place of all our ordinâry taâke and confeâânce in the Universiây for I know that you meane my Lord of Leâââster who is the subjâct of all pleasânt discourses at this dây âhroughouâ the Rââlme Not so pleasant as pittifull answered the Gentlâmân if all mâttârs and circumsâanâes were wel consiâered excâpt any man tâke pleasure to jest at oâr owne miseries whiâh are like to be greater by his inâquâây âf God aveât ât not then by al the âiâkednâssââf England bâsides he being the man that by all probâbiliây is like to be the bâne and fâtall dâstiny of oâr âtatâ with the eversion of ârue râlâgâon whereof by indirâct meanes he ãâ¦ã thââ the Lanâ dââh nourâsh Now ãâã qââth thâ Lâwyââ if you say thâ ãâã for âhe Proâestants opinion of him whât shâll I ãâã for his mârits towards the Papâstâ who for as mââh âs I cân perceive doe ãâã theâsâlââs lââtle bâholding unâo hâm albeââ fâr hâs âaine he was some yeere their secret friânâ agâiâât you untill by his friends he was pârswaâed and chiefly by thâ Lârd North by way of poliây as the said Lord bosâeth in hope of gââater gâââe tâ step ovâr to the Puritans agaânst us both whom notwithstanding it is probâble that he loveth as much as he doth the rest You know the Bearâs love said the Gentleman which is all for his own panch and so this Bear-whelp turneth all to his own commodity and for greedinâsse thereof will overturn all if he be not stopped or muzlâd in time And suâely uâto me it is a strange speculation whereof I cannot pick out the reason but onely that I do attribute it to Gods punishment for our sinnes that in so wise and vigilant a State as ours is and in a Countrey âo well acquâinâed and beaten with suâh dangeâs a man of such a Spirit aâ he is knowne to be of so extrâme ambition prâde falshââd and tââchâry so borne so bâed up so nâzled in treason fâom his infancy descended of a tribe of traytours and flâshâd in conspiracy agaânst the Royâll blood of King Henries children in his tândâr yâerâs and exârcâsâd âver since in drifts againsâ the same by the blooâ and ruâne of diâârs others a man so well knowne to beare sâârât in ãâã aâainst hâr Majâsty for causes irreconcilâable and most dradly rancour against the beât and wâsâst Coâncâllours of her Hâghnâsse thât suâh a oâe I say so hâââfull to God and man anâ so markââble to the simplest Subjâct oâ thiâ Land by the puâlique ânsignes of hiââyrannous purpose shâuld bâ ãâã so many yeâres wâthout chââkâ to aspire to tyranny by most manifest wâyes and to pââssâsse himâeâfâ as now hâ hath doââ ãâã Courâ Couâcâll and Couâârây wââhout ãâã so that noâhing wantââh to him but onâly hâs pleasâre and the dây already conâeived in his minde to dispose as hâ liât boâh of Prince Crown Realm anâ Râligiân It âs much truly quoth I that you sây and it ministrââh not a little mârvaile unto mâây wherof your Worship is noâ the first nor yât the ãâã person of accompt which I have heard discourse and complaine But what shall I say hereunto there is no man that ascribeth not this unto the siâgular benignity and most bountifull good nature of her Majesty who measuring other men by her owne Heroicall and Princely sincerity cannot easily suspect a man so much bounden to her grace as he is nor remove her coâfidence from the place where she hath heaped so infinite benefits No doubt said the Gentleman but this gracious and sweet disposition of her Majesty is the true originall câuse thereof which Princely disposition as in her highnesse it deserveth all rare commendation so lyeth the same open to many dangers oftentimes when so benâgne a nature meeteth with ingrate and ambâtiâus persons which observation perhaps câusâd her Mâjesties most noble Grandfather and Father two renowned wâse Princâs to withdraw sometime upon the sudden their great favour from certaine Sâbjects of high estate And her Majesty mây eâsily use her owne excellent wisdome and memory to recâll to minde the manifold examples of perilous haps fallen tâ divers Princes by too muâh confidence in obliged proditours with whom the name of a Kingdome and one houres reigâe weyeth more then all the duty obligation honesty or nature in the world Would God her Mâjâsty could see the continuall feares that be in heâ faithfull Subjâcts hearts whiles that man is abouâ her noble person so well able and lâkâly âf thâ Lord avert it not to be the calamity of her Priâely blood and name The talke wâll never out of many mouthes anâ minds that diverâ ancient mân of this Reâlme and once a wise Gentleman now a Councâllour had with a certaine friend of his concerning the presage and deep impression which her Mâjesties Father had of the house of Sir Iohn Duââey to be the raine in time of his Majâsties royall house and blood which thing was ââke to have been fulfilled soon after as all the world knoweth upon the death of King Edward by the said Dudley this mans Faâher who at one blow procured to dispâtch from a possession from the Crown all three children of the said noble King And yet in the middest of thâse bloody practices against her Majesty that now is and her sister wherein also this fellowes hand was so far as for his age he could thrust the same within sixteen dayes before King Edwards death he knowing belike that the King should dye wrote most flattering letters to the Lady Mary as I have heard by them who then were with her promâsing all loyalty and true service to her after the decease of her brother with no lâsse paânted words then this man now doth use to Queene Elizabeth So dealâ he âhen with the most deare châldren of his good King and Master by whom he had bâene no lâsse exalted and trusted then this man is by her Mâjâsty And so deâply dâssembled he then when he had in hând the plot to dâstroy âhem boâh And whât then alas mây not we feare and doubt of thiâ his son who in outragious ambition and dâsire of reigne is not infâriour to his Fathâr or to any oâhâr aspiring spirit in the world buâ far more iâsâlent câuâll vindiâative âxpert poteât
Sunday before the Earles deaâh ensuing the Friday after and when she wâs dead hâr body was swolne unto a monstrous bignesse and deformity whereof the good Earle hearing the day following lamented the case greatly and said in the presence of his Servants Ah poore Alice the cup was not prepared for thee albeit it were thy hard destiny to taste thereof Yong Honnies also whose father is Master of the châldren of her Mâjesties chappell being at that time Page to the said Earle and accustomed to take the taste of his drinke though since entertâined also among other by my Lord of Leicester for better covering of matter by his taste that he then tooke of the compound cup though in very small-quantity as you know the fashion is yet was he like to have lost his life but escaped in the end being yong with the losse onely of his haire which the Earle perceiving and taking compassion of the youth called for a cup of drinke a little before his death and drunke to Honnies saying I drinke to thee my Robin and be not afraid for thiâ is a better cup of drinke then that whereof thou tookest the taste when we were both poysoned and whereby thou hast lost thy haire and I must lose my life This hath yong Honnies reported openly in divers places and before divers Gentlemen of worship siâhence his coming into England and the foresaid Lea Iâishman at his passage this way towards France after he had been present at the forenamed Mistris Draykâts death with some other of the Eaâles servants have and doe most constantly report the same where they may do it without the terrour of my Lord of Leicesters revenge Whârefore in this matter there is no doubt at all though most extreame vile and intollerable indignity that such a man should be so openly murdered without punishment What Noble-man within the Realme may be safe if this be suffered or what worthy personage will adventure his life in her Majesties service if this shall be his reward But Sir I pray you pardon me for I am somewhat perhaps too vehement in the case of this my Patron and noble Peere of our Realme And therefore I beseech you to goe forward in your talke whereas you left I was recounting unto you others said the Gentleman made away by my Lord of Leicâster with like art and the next in order I think was Sir Nicelas Throgmarton who was a man whom my Lord of Leicester used a great while as all the World knoweth to overthwart and crosse the doings of my Lord Treasurer then Sir William Cicill a man specially misliked alwayes of Leicester both in respect of his old Master the Duke of Somerset as also for that his great wisdome zeale and singular fidelity to the Realme was like to hinder much this mans designments wherefore understanding after a certaine time that these two Knights were secretly made friends and that Sir Nicholas was lâke to detect his doings as he imagined which might turne to some prejudice of his purposes having conceived also a sâcret grudge and griefe against him for that he had written to her Majesty at his being Embassadour in France that he heard reported at Duke Memorances table that the Queene of England had a meaning to marry her Horsâkeeper he invited the said Sir Nicholas to a supper at his house in London and at supper time departed to the Court being called for as he said upon the sudden by her Mâjesty and so perforce would needs have Sir Nicholas to sit and occupie his Lordships place and therein to be served as he was and soone after by a surfeit there taken he died of a strange and incurable vomit But tâe day before his death he declared to a deare friend of his all the circumstance and cause of his disease which he affirmed plainly to be of poison given him in a Salet at supper inveying most earnestly against the Earles cruâlty and bloody disposition affirming him to be the wickedest most perilous and peâfidious man under heaven But what availed this when he had now received the bait This then is to shew the mans good fortune in seeing them dead whom for causes he would not have to live And for his art of poisoning it is such now and teaâheth so far as he holdeth all his foes in England and elsewhere as also a good many of his friends in fear therof and if it were knowne how many he hâth dispatched or assaulted that way it would be marvailous to the posterity The late Eale of Sussex wanted not a scruple for many yeers before his death of some dram received that made him incurable And unto that noble Gentleman Monsieur Simiers it was discovered by great providence of God that his life was to be attempted by that art and that not taking place as it did not through his owne good circumspection it was concluded that the same should be assâulted by violence whereof I shall have occasion to say more hereafter It haâh beene told me also by some of the servaâts of the late Lady Lenox who was also of the blood Royall by Scotland as all men know and consequently lâttle liked by Leicester that a little before her death or siâknesse my Lord tooke the paines to come and visit her with extraordinary kindnesse at her house at Hackney bestowing long discourses with her in private but as soone as he was departed the good Lady fell into such a flâx as by no meanes could be slayed so long as she had life in her body whereupon both she her selfe and all such as were neere about her saw her disease and ending day were fully of opinion that my Lord had procured her dispatch at his being there Whereof let the women that served hâr be examined as also Fowler that then had the chiefe doings in her affâiâes and since hath beene entertained by my Lord of Leicester Maâet also a stranger borne tbat then was about her a sober and zealous man in religion and otherwise well qualified can say somewhat in this point as I thinke if he were demanded So that this art and exercise of poisoning is much more perfect with my Lord then praying and he seemeth to take more pleasure therein Now for the second point which I named touching marriages and contracts with Women you must not marvaile though his Lordship be somewhat divers variable and inconstant with himselfe for that according to his profit or pleasure and as his lust and liking shall vary wherein by the judgement of all men he surpasseth not onely Sardânapaâus and Nero âut even Heliogâbatus himselfe so his Lordshâp also changeth Wâves and Minions by killing the one denying the other using the third for a time and he fawning upon the fourth And for this câuse he hath his tearmes and pretences I warrant you of Contracts Precontracts Postcontracts Protracts and Retracts as for example after he had killed
kitching and had layd out much money of his owne as he said for my Lords provision being also otherwise in so great favour and grace with my Lord as no man living was thought to bee more privy of his secrets then this man whereupon also it is to be thought that hee presumed the rather to commit this robbery for to such things doth my Lords good favour most extend and being apprehended and in danger for the same he made his recourse to his Honour for protection as the fashion is and that hee might hee borne out as divers of lesse merit had beene by his Lordship in more haynous causes before him The good Earle answered his servant and deare Privado courteously and assured him for his life howsoever for outer shew and complement the forme of Law might passe against him But Gates seeing himselfe condemned and nothing now betweene his head and the halter but the word of the Magistrate which might come in an instant when it would bee too late to send to his Lord remembring also the small assurance of his said Lords word by his former dealings towards other men whereof this man was too much privy he thought good to sollicite his case also by some other of his friends though not so puissant as his Lord and Mâster who dealing indeed both diligently and effectually in his affaire found the matter more difficult a great deale then either he or they had imagined for that my Lord of Leycester was not onely not his favourer but a great hastener of his death under hand and that with such care diligence vehemency and irresistable meanes having the Law also on his side that there was no hope at all of escaping which thing when Gates heard of he easily beleeved for the experience he had of his masters good nature and said that he alwayes mistrusted the same considering how much his Lordship was in debt to him and hee made privy to his Lordships foule secrets which secrets hee would there presently have uttered in the face of all the world but that he feared torments or speedy death with some extraordinary cruelty if hee should so have done and therefore hee disclosed the same onely to a Gentleman of worship whom hee trusted specially whose name I may not utter for some causes but it beginneth with H. and I am in hope ere it be long by meanes of a friend of mine to have a fight of that discourse and report of Gates which hitherto I have not seene nor ever spake I with the Gentleman that keepeth it though I be well assured that the whole matter passed in substance as I have here recounted it Whereunto I answered that in good faith it were pitty that this relation should be lost for that it is very like that many rare things bee declared therein seeing it is done by a man so privie to âhe affaires themselves wherein also hee had beene used an instrument I will have it quoth the Gentleman or else my friends shall faile me howbeit nor so soone as I would for that he is in the West Countrey that should procure it for me and will not returne for certaine months but after I shall see him againe I will not leave him untill he procure it for me as hee hath promised well quoth I but what is become of that evidence found in Ireland under my Lords hand which no man dare pursue avouch or behold Truly said the Gentleman I am informed that it lyeth safely reserved in good custody to be brought forth and avouched whensoever it shall please God so to dispose of her Majesties heart as to lend an indifferent eare as well to his accusers as to himselfe in judgement Neither must you thinke that this is strange nor that the things are few which are in such sort reserved in decke for the time to come even among great personages and of high calling for seeing the present state of his power to bee such and the tempest of his tyranny to be so strong and boysterous as no man may stand in the rage thereof without perill for that even from her Majesty her selfe in the lenity of her Princely nature hee extorteth what hee designeth either by fraud flattery false information request pretence or violent importunity to the over-bearing of all whom hee meaneth to oppresse No marvaile then though many even of the best and faithfullest Subjects of the Land doe yeeld to the present time and doe keepe silence in some matters that otherwise they would take it for dutie to utter And in this kind it is not long sithence a worshipfull and wise friend of mine told mee a testimony in secret from âhe mouth of as noble and grave a Councellour as England hath enjoyed these many hundred yeares I meane the late Lord Chamberlaine with whom my said friend being alone at his house in London not twenty dayes before his death coâfârred somewhat familiarly about these and like matters as with a true father of his Countrey and Common-wealth and after many complaints in the behalf of divers who had opened their griefs unto Councellours and saw that no notice would be taken thereof the said Nobleman turning himselfe somewhat about from the water for hee sate neare his pond side where hâe beheld the taking of a Pike or Carpe said to my friend It is no marvell sir for who dareth intermeddle himselfe in my Lords affaires I will tell you quoth he in confidence betweene you and me âhere is aâ wise a man and as grave and as faithfull a Councellour as England breedeth meaning thereby the Lord Treasurer who hath as much of hâs keeping of Leycesters owne hand-writing as is sufficient to hang him if eithâr he durst present ââe same to her Majesty or her Majesty doe juââice when it should be presented But indeed quoth he the time permitteth neither of them both and therefore it is in vaine for any man to struggle with him These were that Noblemans words whereby you may consider whether my Lord of Lâycester be strong this day in Councell or no and whether his fortification be sufficient in that place But now if out of the Councell we will turne but our eye in the Countrey abroad we shall finde as good fortification also there as we have perused already in Court and Councell and shall well perceive that this mans plot is no fond or indiscreet plot but excellent well grounded and such as in all proportions hath his due correspondence Consider then the chiefe and principall parts of this land for martiall affaires for use and commodity of armour for strength for opportunity for liberty of the people as dwelling farthest off from the presence and aspect of their Prince such parts I say as are fittest for sudden enterprises without danger of interception as are the North the West the Countries of Wales the Islands round about the land and sundry other places within the same are
the House of Yorke before the union of the two great Houses raiseth up againe the old contention betweene the Families of Yoâke and Lancaster wherein so much English bloud was spilt in times past and much more like to bee powred out now if the same contention should bee set on foot againe Seeing that to the controversie of Titles would bee added also the controversie of Religion which of all other differences is most dangerous Sir quoth the Gentleman now you touch a matter of consequence indeed and such as the very naming thereof maketh my heart to shake and tremble I remember well what Philip Cominus setteth downe in his History of our Countries calamity by that contention of those two Houses distinguished by the Red Rose and the White but yet both in their Armes might justly have borne the colour of Red with a fierie sword in a black field to signifie the abundance of bloud and mortality which ensued in our Countrey by that most wofull and cruell contention I will not stand here to set downe the particulars observed gathered by the foresaid author though a stranger which for the most part he saw himselfe while hee lived about the Duke of Burgundy and King Lewes of France of that time namely the pittifull description of divers right Noble men of our Realme who besides all other miseries were driven to begge openly in forraine Countries and the like Mine owne observation in reading over our Country affaires is sufficient to make me abhorre the memory of that time and to dread all occasion that may âead us to the like in time to come seeing that in my judgement neither the Civill warres of Marius and Silla or of Pompey and Caesar among the Romanes nor yet the Guelphians and Gibilines among the Italians did ever worke so much woe as this did to our poore Countrey Wherein by reason of the contention of Yorke and Lancaster were foughten sixteene or seventeen pitched fields in lesse then an hundred yeares That is from the eleventh or twelfth yeare of King Richard the second his raigne when this controversie first began to bud up unto the thirteenth yeare of K. Henry the seventh At what time by cutting off the chiefe titler of Huntingtons house to wit yong Edward Plantaginet Earle of Warwick Son and Heire to George Duke of Clarence the contention most happily was quenched and ended wherein so many fields as I have said were foughten between Brethren and Inhabitants of our owne Nation And therein and otherwise onely about the same quarrel were slaââ murdered and made away about nine or ten Kings and Kings Sonnes besides above forty Earles Marquesses and Dukes of name but many more Lords Knights and great Gentlemen and Captaines and of the Common people without number and by particular conjecture very neare two hundred thousand For that in one Battell fought by King Edward the fourth there are recorded to be slaine on both parts five and thirty thousand seven hundred and eleven persons besides others wounded and taken prisoners to be put to death afterward at the pleasure of the Conquerour at divers Battels after ten thousand slaine at a Battell And in those of Barnet and Tukesbury fought both in one yeare This suffered our afflicted Country in those dayes by this unfortunate and deadly contention which could never be ended but by the happy conjunction of those two Houses tâgether in Henry the seventh neither yet so as appeareth by Chronicle untill as I have said the state had cut off the issue male oâ the Duke of Clarence who was cause of divers perilâ to King Henry the sevenâh though he were in prison By whose Sister the faction of Huntinâton at thiâ day doth seeke to raise up the same contention againe with farre greater danger both to the Reaâmâ and to her Majesty that now raigneth then ever before And for the Realme it is evident by that it givetâ roome to strangers Competitours of the House oâ Lancaster better able to maintaine their owne titlâ by sword then ever was any of that linage before tâem And for her Majesties perill present it is nothing hard to conjecturâ seeing the same title in thâ fore-said Earle of Warwick was so dangerous anâ troublesome to her Grandfather by whom she holdeth as hee was faine twiââ to take armâs in defence of his right against the said title which was in those dayes preferred and advanced by the friendâ of Clarence before that of Henry as also this of Huntington is at this day by his faction before that of her Majesty though never so unjustly Touching Huntingtons title before her Majesty quoth the Lawyer I will say nothing because in reason I see not by what pretence in the World he may thrust himselfe so farre forth seeing her Majesty is descendâd not onely of the House of Lancaste but also before him most apparentây from the House of Yorke it selfe as from the eldest Daughter of Kâng Edwârd the fourth being the eldest Brother of that House Whereas Huntington claimeth onely by the Daughter of George Duke of Clarence the younger Broâher Marry yet I must confesse that if the Earle of Warwicks title were better then that of King Henry the seventh which is most false though many attempted to defend the same by sword then hath Huntângton some wrong at this day by her Majesty Albeit in very truth the atâaints of so many of his Ancestours by whom he claâmâth would answer him also sufficiently in that behalfe if his title were otherwise allowable But I know besides this they have another fetch of King Richard the third whereby he would needs prove hâs elder Brother King Edwaâd to bee a Bastard and consequently his whole line aswell male as female to be void Which devise though it be ridiculous and was at that time when it was first invented yet as Richard found at that time a Doctor Shaw that shamed not to publish and defend the same at Pauls Crosse in a Sermon and John of Northumberland my Lord of Lâyceââers Father found out divers Preachers in his time to set up the title of Suffolke to debase the right of K. Henries daughter both in London Cambridge Oxford and other places most apparently against all Law and reason so I doubt not but these men would finde out also both Shawes Sands and others to set out the title of Clareâce before the whole interest of King Henry the seventh and his posterity if occasion served Which is a point of importance to bee considered by her Majesty albeit for my part I meane not not now to stand thereupon but onely upon that other of the House of Lancaster as I have said For as that most honourable lawfull and happy conjunction of the two adversary Houses in King Henry the seventh and his Wife made an end of the shedding of English bloud within it selfe and brought us that most
House of Yorke where it continued with much trouble in two Kings onely untill both Houses were joyned together in King Henry the seventh and his noble issue Hereby wee see how the issue of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth Son to King Edward the third pretended right to the Crowne by Edmond Crookebacke before the issue of all the other three Sonnes of Edward the third albeit they were the elder Brothers whereof wee will speake more hereafter Now Iohn of Gaunt though hee had many children yet had he foure onely of whom issue remaine two Sonnes and two Daughters The first Son was Henry of Bolingbrooke Duke of Lancaster who tooke the Crowne from King Richard the second his Unkles Sonne as hath beene said and first of all planted the same in the House of Lancaster where it remained in two discents after him that is in his Son Henry the fift and in his Nephew Henry the sixt who was afterward destroyed together with Henry Prince of Wales his onely Sonne and Heire and consequently all that Line of Henry Bolingbâooke extinguished by Edward the fourth of the House of Yorke The other Son of Iohn of Gaunt was Iohn Duke of Somersât by Katherine Sfinsford his third wife which Iohn had issue another Iohn and he Margaret his Daughter and Heire who being married to Edmond Tyder Earle of Richmond had issue Henry Earle of Richmond who after was named King Henry the seventh whose Line yet endureth The two Daughters of John of Gaunt were married to Portugall and Castile that is Philip borne of Blanch Heire to Edmond Crookeback as hath beene said was married to Iohn King of Portugall of whom is descended the King that now possesseth Portugall and the other Princes which have or may make title to the same and Katherin borne of Constanâe Heire of Castile was married back againe to Henry King of Castile in Spaine of whom King Philip is also descended So that by this wee see where the remainder of the House of Lancaster resteth if the Line of King Henry the seventh were extinguished and what pretext forraine Princes may have to subdue us if my Lord of Huntington either now or after hâr Majesties dayes will open to them the doore by shutting out the rest of King Henries Line and by drawing backe the title to the onely House of Yorke againe which he pretendeth to doe upon this that I will now declare King Edward the third albeit he had many children yet five onely will we speake of at this time Whereof three were elder then Jâhn of Gaunt and one yonger The first of the elder was named Edward the blacke Prince who died before his Father leaving one onely Sonne named Richard who afterward being King and named Richard the second was deposed without issue and put to death by his Cosin germain named Henry Bolingbrooke Duke of Lancaster Son to John of Gaunt as hath beene said and so there ended the Line of King Edwards first Sonne King Edwards second Sonne was William of Hatfââld that died without issue His third Sonne was Leonell Duke of Clarence whose onely Daughter and Heire called Phââip was married to Edmond Mortimer Earle oâ Marcâ and after that Anneâhe âhe Daughter and Heire of Mortimer was married to Richard Plantagiâet Duke of Yorke Son and Heire to Edmond of Langâây the first Duke of Yorkâ which Edmond was the fift Son of King Edward the third and younger Brother to John of Gaunt And this Edmond of Lanâley may bee called the first beginner of the Hâuse of Yorke even as Edmond Crookback the beginner of the House of Lancaster This Edmond Langley then having a Sonne named Richard that married Anne Mortimer sole Heire to Leonell Duke of Clarence joyned two Lines and two Titles in one I meane the Line of Leonell and of Edmond Langley who were as hath bin said the third and the fift Sonnes to King Edward the third And for this cause the childe that was borne of this marriage named after his Father Richard Plantaginet Duke of Yorke seeing himselfe strong and the first Line of King Edward the thirds eldest Son to be extinguished in the death of King Richard the second and seeing William of Hatfield the second Sonne dead likewise without issâe made demand of the Crowne for the House of Yorke by the title of Leonell the third Sonne of King Edward And albeit hee could not obtaine the same in his dayes for that hee was slaine in a Battell against King Henry the sixt at Wakefield yet his Sonne Edward got the same and was called by the name of King Edward the fourth This King at his death left divers children as namely two Sonnes Edward the fift and his Brother who after were both murdered in the Tower as shall be shewed and also five Daughters to wit Elizabeth Cicily Anne Katherine and Briget Whereof the first was married to Henry the seventh The last became a Nunne and the other three were bestowed upon divers other husbands Hee had alâo two Brothers the first was called George Duke of âlarence who afterward upon his deserts as is to be supposed was put to death in Callis by commandement of the King and his attainder allowed by Parliamânt And this man left behinde him a Sonne named Edward Earle of Warwick put to death afterward without issue by King Henry the seventh and a Daughter named Margaret Countessâ of âalisâury who was married to a meane Gentleman named Richarâ Poole by whom she had issue Cardinall Poole that died without marriage and Henry Poole that was attainted and executed ân King Henry the eight his time as also her selfe was and this Henry Poole left a Daughter married afterward to the Earle of Huntington by whom this Earle that now is maketh title to the Crowne And this is the effect of my Lord of Huntingtons title The second Brother of King Edward the fourth was Richard Duke of Gâocester who after the Kings death caused his two Sonnes to be murdered in the Tower and tooke the Kingdome to himselfe And afterward he being slaine by King Henry the seventh at Bosââorth-field left no issue behind him Wherefore King Henry the seventh descending as hath bin shewed of the House of Lancaster by John of Gaunts last Sonne and third Wife and taking to Wife Lady âlizabeth eldest daughter of King Edward the fourth of the House of Yorke joyned most happily the two Families together and made an end of all controversies about the title Now King Henry the seventh had issue three Children of whom remaineth posterity First Henry the eighth of whom is descended our Soveraigne her Majesty that now happily raigneth and is the last that remaineth alive of that first Line Secondly he had two Daughters whereof the first named Margaret was married twice first to James King of Scotland from whom are directly discended the Queene of Scotland that now liveth and her Sonne and
he were borne in Britaine out of English allegiance and so he was taken and judged by all the world at that day albeit after king Richards death his other uncle Iohn most tyrannously took both his kingdome and his life from him For which notable injustice he was detâsted of all men both abroad and at home most apparently scourged by God with grievous and manifold plagues both upon himself and the Realm which yeelded to his usurpation So that by this also it appeareth what the practice of our Countrey hath beene from time to time in this case of forraine birth which practice is the best intârpreâer of our common English law which dependeth especially and most of all upon custome nor can âhe adversary alledge any one example to the contrary Their sixt is of the judgement and sentence of King Henry the seventh and of his Councell who being together in consultation at a certaine time about the marriage of Margaret his eldest daughâer into Scotland some of his Councell moved this doubt what should ensue if by chance the kings issue male should faile and so the succession devolve to the heyres of the said Margaret as now it doth Whâreunto that wâse and most prudent Prince made answer thât if any such event should be it could not be prejudicialâ to Englând being the bigger part but rather beneficiall for that it should draw Scotland to England that is the lesser to the more even as in times past it happened in Normandy Aquitaine ând some other Provinces Which answer appeased all doubts and gave singular content to those of his Councell as Polidore writeth that lived at that time and wrote the speciall matters of that reigne by the kings owne instruction So that hereby wee see no question made of king Henry or his Councellors touching forraine birth to let the succession of Lady Margarets issue which no doubt would never have beene omitted in that learned assembly if any law at that time had beene esteemed or imagined to beare the same And these are six of their principallest reasons to prove that neither by the words nor meaning of our common lawes nor yet by custome or practice of our Realme an Alien may bee debarred fâom claim of his interest to the Crowne when it falleth to him by righfull descent in blood and succâssion But in the particular case of the Queen of Scots and âerson they doe adde another reason or âwo thâreby to prove them in very deed to be no Aliens Not only in respect of their often and continuall mixture with English blood from the beginning and especially of late the Queens Grandmother and husband being English and so her sonne bâgoâten of an English father but also for two other causes and reasons which seeme in truth of very good importance The first is for that Scotland by all Englishmen howsoever the Scots deny the same is tâken and holden as subject to England by way of Homage which many of their kings at divers times have acknowledged and consequently thâ Queene and her son being borne in Scotland are not borne out of the allegiance of England and so no forrainers The second cause or reason is for that the forenamed statute of forrainers in the 25 yeare of King Edward the third is intitled of those that are borne beyond the seas And in the body of the said statute the doubt is moved of children borne out of English allegiance beyond the seas whereby cannot bee understood Scotland for that it is a piece of the continent land within the seas And all our old Records in England that talke of service to bee done within these two countries have usually these Latin words Infraquatuor mâria or in French deins lâzquâtre mers that is within the foure Seas whereby must needs be understood as well Sâotland as England and that perhaps for the reason before mentioned of the subjection of Scotland by way of Homage to the Crowne of England In respect whereof it may be that it was accounted of old but one dominion or allegiance And consequently no man borne therein can bee accounted an alieâ to Englaââ And this shal suffice for the first point touching foragine Nativity For the second impediment objected whâch is the testament of King Henry the eight authorized by Parliament wherby they affirm the succession of Scotland to be excluded it is not precisely true that they are excluded but onely that they âre put back behinde the succession of the hous of Suffolk For in that pretended Testament which after shâll be proved to be none indeed King Henry so disposeth that after his own children âf they shold chance to dye without issue the Crowne shall passe to the heires of Frances of Elenor his neeces by his yonger sister Mary Queene of France and after them deceasiâg also without issue the succession to returne to the next heire againe Whârby it is evident that the succession of Margarât Queene of Scotland his eldest sister is not excluded but thrust back onely from their due place and order to expect the remainder which may in time be left by the yonger Whereof in mine opinion doe ensue some considerations against the present pretenders themselves First âhat in King Henries judgement the former pretended rule of foraine birth was no sufficient impediment agaiâst Scotland for if it had bin no doubt but that he would have named the same in his alleaged testament and thereby have utterly excluded that successioÌ But there is no such thing in the testament Secondly if they admit this testament which alotteth the Crown to Scotland next after Suffolk then seeing that all the house of Suffolk by these mens assertions is excluded by bastardy it must needs follow that Scotland by their own judgement is next so this testament wil make against them âs indeed it doth in all points most apparantly but only that it preferreth the house of Suââolk before that of Scotland And therefore I think sir that you mistake somewhat about their opinion in alleaging this testament For I suppose that no man of my Lord of Huntingtons faction will alleage or urge the testimony of this testament but rather some friend of the house of Sâffâlk in whose favour I take it that it was first of âll fârged It may be quâth the Gentleman nor will I stand obstinatly in the contrary for that it is hard sometime to judge of what faction each one is who discoursâth of these affâirâs But yet I marvel âf it were as you say wây Lâycesters Father âfâer K. Edwardâ death made no mention therof in the favor of Suffolk in the other testament which then he proclaimed as made by K. Edward deceased for preferment of Suffolk before his own sisters The cause of this is âvident quoth the Lawyer for that it made not sâffiâiently for his purpose which was to disinherit âhe two dâughters of King Henry himselfe and advance the
and such a port As did the pompe of Martimer exceed Who as in th' English Chronicles we read When second Edward lost his Kingly rights Was waited on at once with nine-score Knights That Earle of March and Roger Mortimer Rul'd the young King queene mother and the Peeres I Robert Dulley Earle of Leicester Did sway in court and all the English steeres His rule was short mine flourisht many yeares He did his life with ignominy loose I lived and triumpht o're my proudest foes As the Image of great Alexander dead Made king Cassander tremble at the sight Spying the figure of his Royall head Whose presence sometime did the world affright Or like as Caesârs Monarchising spright Pursued false Brutus at Philippâs field Till he that slew his Liege himselfe wâs kild So view yee petty Lords my Princely ghost I speake to you whose hearts be full of gall I whilst I liued was honour'd of the most And either fear'd for love of great and small Or lov'd for feare of such as wisht my fall Behold my shadow representing state Whose person sometime did your pride abate Weigh what I was knights gentlemen and Peeres WheÌ my death threatning frowns did make you quake As yet they have not passed many yeares Since I your plumes pluckt iofty crest's did shake Then tell me Sirs for old acquaintance sake Wax yee not pale to heare of Leisters name Or to backebite me blush ye not for shame You say in dealings that I was unjust As if true Iustice ballance yee could guide Had I dealt justly I had turnd to dust Long before this your corps swolne vp with pride Which now surviving doe my acts deride My fame yet liues though death abridgd my daies Some of you di'd that over-liu'd your prayse Are there not some among you Parasites Time-servers and observers of no measure Prince-pleasers people-pleasers hypocrites Dambd Machiavilians giuen to lust and pleasure Church-robbers beggers of the Princes treasure Truce-breakers Pirats Athiests Sicophants Can equity dwell heere where conscience wants And yet you thinke none justly deales but you Divine Astrea vp to heauen is fled And turnd to Libra there looke up and view Her ballance in the zodiacke figured Iust Aristides once was banished Where liues his match whom enuy did pursue Because men thought he was to just and true Yee say ambition harbourd in my braine I say ambition is no heynous sinne To men of state do stately thoughts pertaine By baser thoughts what honour can he win Who ever did a great exploit begin Before ambition moved him to the deed And hope of honour urg'd him to proceed Themistocles had never put to flight Zerxzes huge host nor tam'd the Persians pride Nor sad King Tarsus got by martiall fight The Romane spoyles with conquest on his side If first ambition had not beene their guide Had not this humor their stout hearts allure To high attempts their fame had beene obscure The Eagle doth disdaine to catch poore flyes The Lyon with the Ape doth scorne to play The Dolphin doth the whirlpoole low dispise Thus if Birds Beasts and Fishes beare such sway If they would teach vnderlings to obey Much more should men whom reason doth adorne Be noble minded and base fortunes scorne Admit I could dissemble wittily This is no grievous sinne in men of state Dâssembling is a point of policie Plaine dealing now growes stale and out of date Wherefore I oft conceal'd my private hate Till I might find fit time though long I stay'd To wreake the wrath that in my heart I layd Th' old Proverbe is plaine dealing is a jewell And he that useth it a Begger dyes The world is now adayes become so cruell That Courtiers doe plaine Câuntry-men despise Quicke wits and cunning heads doe quickly rise And to be plaine yee must not plainly deale That office seeke in Court or Common-weale Now Aristippus is in more request That knew the way to please a Monarchs mind Then that poore cynicke swad that us'd to jest At every idle knave that he could find To unkind friends yee must not be too kind This is a maxime which to you I give Men must dissemble or they cannot live Yee say I was a coward in the field I say it fits not such a noble wight To whom his Countrey doth the title yeeld Of Lord-Lieutenant with full power and might To venture his owne person in the fight Let others dye which as our vassailes serve While heaven for better haps our hopes preserve How soone did Englands joy in France diminish When th' Earle of Salisbury at Orleance By Gun-shot stroke his honour'd life did finish When Talbât that did oftentimes advance The English ensignes in disgrace of France Was at the last invironed and slaine Whose name the French-mens terror doth remaine And what a fatall wound did Rome receive By Crassus death whom faithlesse Parthians slew How did the Senate for Flamânius grieve And for Aemilius death and his stout crew Whom Haniball at Cannes dâd subdue Cut oft an arme yet life the heart may cherish Cut of the head and every part will perish Ipâcrates th' Athenian us'd to say Vaunt-currers are like hands to bauell prest The men of armes are feet whereon to stay The footmen as the stomach and the bâest The captaine as the head above the rest The head once crasâd troubleth all the parts The Generall slaine doâh kill ten thousand hearts Therefore a Lârd Lieutenant should take care That he in safety doe himselfe repose And should not hazard life at every dare But watch and waâd so Fâbius tir'd his foes When rash Minâtâus did the conquest loââ If such in open danger will intrude It is fond rashnesse and not fortitude Yee say I was lascivious in my love And that I tempted many a gallant Dame Not so content but I did also prove To winne their handmaids if I lik'd the game Whâ siââ yee know love kindlâs such a flame As if we may believe what Poets pen It doth inchant the hearts of Gods and men Iove lov'd the daughter of a jealous siâe Danae a maid immured within a tower Yet to accomplish th' end of his desire He metamorphiz'd to a golden shower Fell in the lap of his faire Paramour And being tearm'd a god did not disdaine To turne to man to beast aâd showre of raine Deere Lords when Cupid throwes his fiery darâs Doth none of them your tender bodies hit Doth Citherea never charme your hearts Nor beauty try your quintessentiall wit Perhaps you will say no fie 't is unfit Now by my Garter and my Geoâge to âoot The blind God surely hits if he doth shoote Whereas ye doe object my Magick charmes I sought to winne faire dames to my desire 'T is better so then strive by force of Armes For forced love will quickly backe retire If faire meanes cannot winne what we requiâe Some secret tricks and sleights must be devised That love may even from Hell be exercised To you dull
wit it seemes impossible By drinkes or charmes this worke to passe to bring Know then that Giges were invisible By turning the sigill of his Ring Toward his palme and thereby slew the King Lay with his wife of any man unseene Lastly did raigne by marrying with the queene King Salomon for Magick naturall Was held a cunning man by some Divines He wrote a booke of Science naturall To bind ill Spirits in their darke confines He had great store of wives and Concubines Yet was a Sacred King this I inferre The wisest man that now doth live may erre Also yee say that when I waxed old When age and time mispent had made me dry For ancient held in carnall Lust is cold Natures defect with Art I did supply And that did helpe this imbecility I us'd strong drinks and Oyntments of great price Whose taste or touch might make dead flesh arise To this I answer that those fine extractions Drams and electuaries finely made Serv'd not so much to helpe veneriall actions As for to comfort nature that 's decaid Which being with indifferent judgment weigh'd In noble men may be allowed I trust As tending to their health not to their lust What if I drinke nothing but liquid gold Lactrina christal pearle resolv'd in wine Such as th' Egyptians full cups did hold When Cleopatra with her Lord did dine A trifle care not for the cost was mine What if I gave Hippomenes to drinke To some fair Dames at smal faults you must wink Ye say I was a traytor to the Queene And thât when Monsieur was in greatest grace I being out of favour mov'd with spleene To see a Frenchman frolique in the place Forth toward Barwick then did post apace Minding to raise up a rebellious rout To take my part in what I went about That I was then a traytor I deny But I confesse that I was Monsieurs foe And sought to breake the league of amity Which then betwixt my Prince and him did grow Doubting Religion might be changed so Or that our Lawes and customes were in danger To be corrupt or altered by a stranger Therefore I did a faction strong maintaine Agâinst the Earle of Sussâx a stout Lord On Monsieurs side and then Lord Chamberlain Who sought to make that nuptiall accord Which none may breake witnesse the sacred Wordâ But thus it chânced that he striv'd in vaine To knit that kâot which heaven did not ordaine Thus did ye mis-interpret my conceiâs That for disloyalty my deâds did blame Yet many men have laid their secret baits T' intrap me in such snares to work my shame Whom I in time sufficiently did tame And by my Soveraignes favour bore them downe Proving my selfe true Liegeman to the Crowne Thinke yee I could forget my Soveraigne Lady Thât was to me so gracious and so kinde How many triumphs for her glory made I O I could never blot out of my minde What Characters of grace in her have shin'd But some of you which were by her pâefer'd Have with her bones almoââ her name inter'd When she was gone which of you all did weep What mournfull song did Pâilomela sing Alâs when she in deaths cold bed did sleep Which of you all her dolefull knell did ring How long wâll yee now love your crowned King If you so soon forget your old Queen dead Which foure and fourty yeares hath governed Yee say I sought by murder to aspire And by strong poyson many men to slay Which as ye thought might crosse my high desire And âloud my long expected golden day Perhaps I laid some blocks out of my way Which hindred me from comming to the Bower Whâre Cynthia shin'd like lamps in Pharohs tower Alas I came not of a Tygers kinde My hands with bloud I hated to defile But when by good experience I did finde How some with fained love did me beguile Perchance all pitty then I did exile And as it were against my will was prest To seek their deaths that did my life detest Lo then attend to heare a dolefull tale Of those whose death yâe doe suppose I wrought Yet wish I that the world beleeve not all That hath of me by envious men been wrought But when I for a Kingly fortune sought O pardon me my sâlfe I might forget And cast downe sâme my state aloft to set My first wife fell downe from a paire of staires And brake her neck and so at Comner dy'd Whilst her true servants led with small affaires Unto a Fure at Abingdon did ride This dismall hap did to my wife betide Whether yee call it chance or destiny Too true it is shâ dâd untimely dye O had I now a showrâ of teares to shed Lockt in the empty circles of my âyes All could I shed in mourning for the dead That lost a spouse so young so faire so wise So faire a corps so foule a coarse nâw lies My hope t' have married with a famous Queene Drave pitty back and kept my teares unseene What man so fond that would not lose a Pearle To finde a Diamond leave brasse for gold Or who would not forsake a gallant gitle To win a Qâeen great men in awe to hold âo rule âhe âtate and of none be control'd O but the stâps that lead unto a âhrone Aâe dângerous for men to tread upon Tâe Cardinall Chatillion was my foe Whose death peradventure did compact Because he let Queen Elizâbeth to know My false report given of a former act How I with her had made a precontract And the great Princes hope I bar'd thereby That sâught to marry with her Majesty The Prelate had bin better held his tongue And kist his holy Fathers feet in Rome A Masse the sooner for his soule was sung But he might thanke me had he staid at home Or late or never he to heaven had come Therefore I sent him nimbly from the coasts Perhaps to supper with the Lord of hosts When death by hap my first wives neck had crackt And that my suit unto the Queene âll sped It chaâced that I made a post contract And did in sort the Lâdy Sheffââld wed Of whom I had two goodly children bred For the Lord Sheffeild died as I was sure Of a Catarie which physicke could not cure Some thinke thâ rhume was artificiall Which this good Lord befoââ his end did take Tush what I gave to her was naturâll My plighted troth yet some amends did make Though her at length unkinde I did forsâke She must not blame me for a higher reach Made my sure promise finde a sudden breach The valiant Earle whom absent I did wrong In breaking Hymeneus holy band In Ireland did protract the time too long Whilst some in ângland ingled under hand And at his coming homeward to this land He dyed with poyson as they say infected Not without cause for veâgeance I suspâcted Because this fact notorious scandall bred And âor I did his gallant wife abuse To salve âhis sore