reuenge As also doth the disdeigne of certaine checkes disgraces receyued at some tymes especialie that of his last mariage vvhich irketh him so much the more by hovv much greater feare and daunger it brought him into at that tyme and did put his vvidovve in such open phrensie as she raged manie monethes after against her Ma. and is not cold yet but remayneth as it vvere a svvorne enimie for that iniurie and standeth like a fiend or furie at the elbovve of her Amadis to stirre him forvvard vvheÌ„ occasion shal serue And vvhat effect such female suggestioÌ„s may The force of female suggestions vvorke vvhen they finde an humour proude and pliable to their purpose you may remember by the example of the Duches of Somerset vvho inforced her husbaÌ„de to cut of the head of his onely deare brother to his ovvn euident destruction for her contentation VVherfore to conclude this matter vvythout An euident CoÌ„clusion that the executioÌ„ is meatâ— tyme of her Ma. further dispute or reasoÌ„ seyng ther is so much discouered in the case as ther is so great desire of reigne so great impatience of delay so great hope and habilitie of succes if it be attempted vnder the good fortune and present authoritie of the competitors seing the plattes be so vvel layde the preparation so forvvarde the fauorers so furnished the tyme so propitious and so manie other causes conuiting together seing that by differring al may be hazarded and by hastening litle can be indaungered the state and condition of thinges vvel vveyed finding also the bandes of duetie so broken alredie in the conspiratours the causes of mislike and hatred so manifest and the solicitours to execution so potent and diligent as vvomen malice and ambition are vvount to be it is more then probable that they vvil not leese their present commoditie especialie seing they haue learned by their Architype or Protoplote vvhich they folovv I meane the conspiracie of Nortumberland and Suffolk in An error of the father novv to be corrected by the sonne king Edvvards dayes that herein ther vvas some error committed at that tyme vvhich ouerthrevv the vvhole land that vvas the differring of some thinges vntil after the kinges death vvhich should haue bene put in execution before For yf in the tyme of their plotting vvhen as yet theyr desygnementes vvere not publyshed to the vvorld they had vnder the countenance of the kinge as vvel they might haue done gotten into their handes the tvvo sisters and dispatched some other fevv affaires before they had caused the yong Prince to die no doubt but in mans reason the vvhole designement had taken place and consequentlie it is to be presupposed that thes men being no fooles in their ovvn affaires vvil take heed of falling into the like errour by delay but rather vvil make al sure by striking vvhile the iron is hoat as our prouerbe vvarneth them LAVV It can not be denied in reason quoth the Lavvier but that they haue manie helpes of doing vvhat they list n 〈…〉 vnder the present fauour countenauÌ„ce authoritie of her Ma. vvhich they should not haue after her highnes discease vvhen ech man shal remain more at libertie for his supreame obedience by reason of the statute ptouided for vncertentie of the next successor and therfore I for my parte vvould rather counsail them to make much of her Ma. lyfe for after that they litle knovv vvhat may ensue ot befal their designementes GENTL They vvyl make the most therof quoth the GeÌ„tleman for their ovvn aduantage but after that vvhat is like to folovv the examples of Edvvard Richard the secoÌ„d as also of Henrie Edvvard the sixt doe sufficientlie for vvarne vs vvhos liues vvere prolonged vntil their deathes vvere thought more profitable to the conspirators not longer Her Ma. lyfe and â—eath to serue the conspirators turn And for the statute you speak of procured by them selues for establishing the incertaintie of the next true sucessor vvheras al our former statutes vvere vvount to be made for the declaration certentie of the same it is vvyth PROVISO as you knovv that it shal not endure longer then the lyfe of her Ma. that novv reigneth that is indeed no longer then vntil them selues be redie to place an other A proclamation vvyth halters For then no doubt but vve shal see a faire proclamation that my L. of Huntington is the onelie next heire vvith a bundle of halters to haÌ„g al such as shal dare once open their mouth for deniall of the same LAVV. At thes vvordes the olde Lavvyer stepped back as some vvhat astonied and began to make crosses Papistical â—lessing in the ayer after theyr fashyon vvherat vve laughed and then he said truelie my masters I had thought that no man had conceyued so euil imagination of this statute as my self but novv I perceiue The statute of coÌ„cealiÌ„g the heire apparent that I alone am not malitious For my ovvn parte I must confesse vnto you that as often as I reade ouer this statute or think of the same as by diuers occasions manie tymes I do I feele my self much greeued and afflicted in minde vpon feares vvhich I conceyue vvhat may be the end of this statute to our countrie and vvhat priuie meaning the chiefe procurers therof might haue for their ovvn driftes against the Realm and lyfe of her Ma. that novv reigneth And so much more it maketh me to doubt for Richard going tovvards HierusaleÌ„ begaÌ„ the custome by parlement as Polydore noteth Anno 10. of Rich. 2. to declare the next heire that in al our recordes of lavv you shal not finde to my remembraunce anie one example of such a deuise for concealing of the true inheritour but rather in all ages states and tymes especiallie from Richard the first dovvnevvard you shal finde statutes ordinaunces and prouisions for declaration and manifestation of the same as you haue vvel obserued and tovvched before And therfore this straunge nevv deuise must needes haue some straunge and vnaccustomed meaning God of his mercie graunt that it haue not some straunge and vnexpected euent In sight of al men this is alredie euident that The daunger of our countrie by coÌ„cealing the next heire neuer countrie in the vvorld vvas brought into more apparent daunger of vtter ruin then ours is at this daye by pretence of this statute For vvher as ther is no Gentleman so meane in the Realm that cannot giue a gesse more or lesse vvho shal be his next heire and his tennauntes soone coniecture vvhat manner of person shal be theyr next Lord in the title of our noble Crovvn vvherof al the rest dependeth nether is her Ma. permitted to knovv or saye vvho shal be her next successor nor her subiectes allovved to vnderstand or imagine vvho in right may be their future soueraigne An intollerable iniurie in a matter of so singular importaunce For alas vvhat should become of
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
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
death of K. Edvvard by â—he said Dudley this mans father vvho at one blovv procured to dispatâ—h from al possession of the Crovvn al three children of the said noble king And yet in the middest of those bloodie practizes against her Ma. that novv is and her sister vvherin also this felovvs hand vvas so far as for his age he could thrust the same vvythin sixetiene dayes before K. Edvvardes death he knovving belike that the king should die vvrote moste flatering Deep dissimulatioÌ„ letters to the Ladie Marie as I haue heard by them vvho then vvere vvyth her promissing al loyaltie and true seruice to her after the discease of her brother vvyth no lesse painted vvordes then this man novv doth vse to Q Elizabeth So delt he then vvyth the moste deare children of his good king master by vvhom he had bene no lesse exalted and trusted then this man is by her Ma. And so deeplie dissembled he then vvhen he had in hand the plot to destroye them both And vvhat then alas may not vve feare and doubt of this his sonne vvho in outragious ambition and desire of reigne is not inferiour to his father or to anie other aspiring spirit in the vvorld but far more insolent cruel vindicatiue expert potent subtile fine and fox-like then euer he vvas I like vvel the good Sir Fran. VValsing ham motion propounded by the foresaid gentleman to his friend at the same tyme and do assure my self it vvould be moste pleasaunt to the Realm and profitable to her Ma. to vvyt that this mans actions might be called publiquelie to tryal and libertie giuen to good subiectes to say vvhat they knevv Edmund Dudley against the same as it vvas permitted in the first yeare of K. Henrie the eight against his Graundfather and in the first of Q. Marie against his father Ihoâ— Dudley and then I vvould not doubt but yf thes tvvo his auncestors vvere found vvorthie to leese their Robert Dudley heades for treason this man vvould not be found vnvvorthie to make the third in kinred vvhose trecheries doe far surpasse them both LAVV. After the Gentleman had said this the Lavvyer stood stil somevvhat smyling to him self and looking round about him as though he had bene half afeard and then said My masters do you read ouer or studie the statutes that come foorth haue you not heard of the PROVISO made in the last Parliament for punishmeÌ„t of those vvho speak so broad of such men as my L. of Leycester is GENTL Yes said the gentleman I haue heard hovv that my L. of Leycester vvas verie careful and diligent at that tyme to haue such a lavv to passe against talkers hoping belike that his L. vnder that generall The lavv agaynst talking restreint might lye the more quyetlye in harbrough from the tempest of mens tongues vvhich tatled busilie at that tyme of diuers his Lordships actions affaires vvhich perhaps him self vvould haue vvished to passe vvith more secretsie As of his discontentemeÌ„t preparation to rebellion vpon Monsieurs first comming into the land of his disgrace and checks receyued in court of the fresh death of the noble Erle of Essex and of this mans hastie snatching vp of the vvidovv vvhom he sent ActioÌ„s of Leicester vvherof hevvould haue no speech vp and dovvn the countrie from house to house by priuie vvayes therby to auoid the sight knovvledg of the Q. Ma. And albeit he had not onlie vsed her at his good liking before for satisfying of his ovvn lust but also married and remarried her for contentation of her friendes yet denyed he the same by solemne othe to her Ma. and receiued the holie coÌ„munion thervpon so good a coÌ„science he hath and consequentlie threatned moste sharp reuenge tovvards al subiectes vvhich should dare to speak therof so for the concealing both of this and other his doinges vvhich he desired not to haue publik no maruaile though his Lordship vvere so diligent a procurer of that lavv for silence SCHOL In deed said I it is verie probable that his Lordship vvas in great distres about that tyme vvhen Monsieurs maters vvere in hand and that he did manie thinges and purposed more vvherof he desired lesse speeche among the people especialie aftervvardes vvhen his said designmentes toke not place I vvas my self that yeare not far from VVarvvike vvhen he came thither from the Coutt a ful Mal-Content vvhen it vvvas thought moste certainlie throughout the Realm that he vvould haue taken armes soone after yf the mariage of her Ma. vvyth Monsieur had gone forvvard The thing in CaÌ„bridge in al the coÌ„trie as I rode vvas in euerie maÌ„s mouth it vvas a vvounder to see not onelie the contenaunces but also the behauior to heare the bold speeches of al such as vvere of his faction My Lord him self had giuen out a litle before at Killing vvorth that the mater vvoulde coste manie Leicester Preparatiues to rebellion vpoÌ„ MoÌ„sieurs mariage broken heades before Michelmasse daye next and my Lord of VVarvvik had said openly at his table in Green vviche Sir Thomas Hennige being by if I be not deceyued that it vvas not to be suffred I meane the mariage vvhich vvordes of his once comming abrode albeit misliked by his ovvn Ladie theÌ„ also present euerie Seruing-man common compaignion toke then vp in defence of his Lordships part agaist the Q. Ma. Such tunning ther vvas such sending posting about the Realm such amplification of the povvers forces of Cassimere other Princes redie as vvas affirmed to present them selues vnto his aide for defence of the Realm religioÌ„ against straungers for that vvas holdeÌ„ to be his cause such numbring of parties complices vvythin the Realm vvherof him self shevved the To Sir Th Layton Catalogue to some of his frieÌ„des for their comfort such debasing of them that fauoured the mariage especialie tvvoe or three Councellors by name L. Treasurer L. Chamber layne M CoÌ„ptroler vvho vvere said to be the cause of al and for that vvere appointed out to be sharplie punished to the terrour of al others such letters vvere vvriten and intercepted of purpose importing great povvers to be redie so manie other thiÌ„ges done designed tending al to manifest open vvarre as I began hartelie to be afeard and vvished my self back at CaÌ„bridge againe hoping that being ther my scholars govvne should excuse me from necessitie of fighting or if not I vvas resolued by my Lordes good leaue to folovv Aristotle vvho preferreth alvvay the Lyon before the Beare assuring my self vvythal that his Lordship should haue no better successe in this if it came to tryal theÌ„ his father had in as bad a cause so much the more for that Ivvas priuie to the mindes of some of his friendes vvho meant to haue deceyued him if the matter had broken out And amongest other ther vvas a certeine VicepresideÌ„t in the vvorld vvho
their friendes vvere turned into great fynes of money vvhich they vvere constreined to pay and yet besides to agree A singular oppression also vvith my L. of Leycester for their ovvn landes acknovvledging the same to be his and so to buy it of him againe VVherby not onelie thes priuate Gētlemen but al the vvhole countrie ther about vvas and is in a maner vtterlie vndonne And the participation of this iniury reacheth so far and vvide and is so general in these partes as you shal skarce finde a man that commeth from that coast vvho feeleth not the smart therof being either impouerished beggered or ruinated therby VVherby I assure you that the hatred of al that Leycester extremly hated in VVales countrie is so vniuersal and vehement against my Lord as I think neuer thing Created by God vvas so odious to that Nation as the verie name of my Lord of Leycester is VVhich his Lordship vvel knovving I doubt not but that he vvil take heed hovv he go thither to dvvell or send thither his posteritie GENTL For his posteritie quoth the Gentleman I suppose he hath litle cause to be solicitous for that God him self taketh care commonlie that goodes and honours so gotten and mainteined as his be shal neuer trouble the third heire Marie for him self I confesse the matter standing as you saye that he hath reason to forbeare that countrye and to leaue of his buildyng begonne at Denhighe as I heare saye he hath done For that the vniuersal hatred of The ende of Tyrāts a people is a perilous matter And if I vvere in his Lordships case I should often thinke of the ende of Nero vvho after al hys glorye Nero. vpon furie of the people vvas adiudged to haue his head thrust into a Pillorie and so to be beaten to death vvith roddes and thvvonges Ot rarher I should feare the successe of Vitellius Vitellius the third Emperour after Nero vvho for his vvickednes and oppression of the people vvas taken by them at length vvhen fortune began to fayle him and led out of his Palace naked vvith hookes of Iron fastened in his fleshe and so dravven through the Citie vvith infamie vvhere loden in the streets vvyth filth and ordure cast vpon him and a prick put vnder his Chinne to the end he should not looke dovvn or hide his face vvas brought to the banke of Tyber and ther after manie hundreth vvoundes receiued vvas cast into the riuer So implacable a thing is the furor of a multitude vvhen it is once stirred and hath place of reuenge And so heauie is the hand of God vpon Tyrantes in this vvorld vvhen it pleaseth his diuine Maiestie to take reuenge of the same I haue red in Leander in his description of Italie hovv that in Spoleto if I be not deceiued A most terrible reuenge take vpō a Tyraut the chiefe Citie of the countrie of Vmbria ther vvas a straunge Tyraunt vvho in the tyme of his prosperitie contemned al men and forbare to iniurie no man that came vvithin his clavves esteming him self sure enough for euer being called to render accompt in this lyfe and for the next he cared litle But God vpon the sudden turned vpsidedovvn the vvhele of his felicitie and cast him into the peoples handes vvho tooke him and bound his naked bodie vpon a planke in the marcket place vvith a fyar and iron tonges by him and then made proclamation that seeing this man vvas not othervvise able to make satisfaction for the publique iniuries that he had done euerie priuate person annoied by him should come in order and vvith the hoat burning tonges there redie shoulde take of his flesh so much as vvas correspondent to the iniury receyued as indeed they did vntil the miserable man gaue vp the ghoste after to as this authour vvriteth But to the purpose seing my Lorde careth litle for suche examples and is become so hardie novv as he maketh no accompte to iniurie and oppresse vvhole countries and commonalties together it shal be bootles to speake of his procedinges Leye oppression of particular mē tovvardes particular men vvho haue not so great strength to resist as a multitude hath And yet I can assure you that there are so manie and so pytyful thinges published daylie of his Tyrannie in this kinde as do moue great compassion tovvardes the partie that do suffer and horrour against him vvho shameth not dayly to offer such iniurye As for example vvhose harte vvoulde not bleed to heare the case before mentioned of M. Robinsō of Staffordshire a properyong gentlemā M. Robinson and vvel giuen both in religion ond other vertues VVhose father died at Nevvhauē in her Ma. seruice vnder this mans brother the Earle of VVarvvik recōmended at his death this his eldest sōne to the special protectiō of Leycest his brother vvhose seruaunt also this Robinson hath bene from his youth vpvvard and spent the most of his liuing in his seruice Yet notvvythstanding al this vvhen Robinsons landes vvere intangled vvyth a certaine Londoner vpon interest for his former maītenaunce in their seruice vvhose title my L. of Leycester though craftilie yet not couertlie vnder Ferris his cloke had gotten to him self he ceased not to pursue the poore Gentleman euen to imprisonment arraignement and sentence of death for greedines of the said liuing together vvith the M. Harcourt vexation of his brother in lavve M. Harcourt and al other his friendes vpon pretence for sooth that ther vvas a man slayne by Robinsons partie in defence of his ovvn possession against Leycesters intruders that vvould by violence breake into the same VVhat shal I speake of others vvherof ther vvould be no ende as of his dealing vvith M. Richard Ric. Lee. Lee for his Manor of Hooknorton if I faile Lodouik Greuill not in the name vvith M. Lodourke Griuell by seeking to bereaue him of al his liuing at once if the drifte had taken place vvith George VVitney George VVitney in the behalf of Sir Henrie Leigh for inforcīng him to for-go the Coūtrollership of VVoodstock vvhich he holdeth by patent from K. Henrie the seuenth VVith my L. Barkley vvhom he enforced L. Barkley to yeeld vp his landes to his brother VVarvvike vvhich his auncestors had held quietlie for almost tvvo hundreth yeares to gether VVhat shal I say of his intollerable Tyrānie vpō Archbis of Cātur the last Archbisshop of Canturburie for doctor Iulio his sake and that in so fovvle a matter Vpon Sir Iohn Throgmarton Sir Iohn Throgmarton vvhom he brought pitifullie to his graue before his tyme by cōtinual vexations for a peece of faithful seruice done by him to his countrie and to al the line of K. Henrie against this mās father in K. Edvvard Q. Maries dayes Vpon diuers of the Lanes for one mans sake Lane of that name before mentioned that offred to take Killinvvorth Castle vpon some of the
this Testament but rather some friend of the house of Suffolk in vvhos fauour I take it that it vvas first of al forged GENTL It may be quoth the Gentleman nor vvil I stand obstinatlie in the coÌ„trarie for that it is hard sometyme to iudge of vvhat faction eche one is vvho discourseth of thes affaires But yet I maruail yf it vvere as you say vvhie Leycesters father after king Edvvardes death made no mention therof in the fauour of Suffolk in the other Testament vvhych then he proclaymed as made by K. Edvvard deceased for prefermeÌ„t of Suffolk before his ovvne sisters LAVV. The cause of this is euident quoth the Lavvyer The Duk of Northumbeâ—landes drift for that it made not sufficientlie for his purpose vvhich vvas to disinherit the tvvo daughters of K. Henrie him selfe aduaunce the house of Suffolk before them both GENTL A notable chaunge quoth the Gentleman that a title so much exalted of late by the father aboue al order right rank and degre should novv be so much debased by the sonne as though it vvere not vvorthie to hold anie degre but rather to be trodeÌ„ vnder foote for plaine bastardie And you see by this hovv true it is vvhich I tolde you before The mutable dealig of the house of Dudley that the race of Dudleys are moste cunning Marchantes to make their gaine of al thinges men tymes And as vve haue seene novv tvvo testameÌ„tes aleaged the one of the king father the other of the king sonne both of them in preiudice of the testators true successours so manie good subiectes begin greatlie to feare that vve may chaunce to see shortlie a third testament of her Ma. for the intituling of Huntington and extirpation of K. Henries blood that before her Ma. can think of sicknes vvherin I beseech the Lord I be no Prophet But novv Sir to the forsaid vvil testameÌ„t of K. HeÌ„ry I haue often heard in trueth that the thing vvas counterfeit or at the leaste not able to be proued and that it vvas discouered reiected and defaced in Q. Maries tyme but I vvould gladlie vnderstand vvhat you Lavvyers esteme or iudge therof LAVV. Touching this matter quoth the Lavvyer it cannot be denied but that in the tvventy and eight and thirtie and sixt yeares of king Henries reigne vpon consideration of some doubt irresolution The authoritie and occasion of K. Henries testameÌ„â— vvhych the king him selfe had shevved to haue about the order of succession in his ovvn children as also for taking avvay al occasions of controuersies in thos of the next blood the vvhole parliament gaue authoritie vnto the said king to debate determine thos matters him self together vvyth his learned councell vvho best knevv the lavves of the Realm and titles that anie man might haue therby and that vvhat soeuer succession his Ma. should declare as moste right and lavvful vnder his letters patentes sealed or by his last vvil and testament rightfullie made and signed vvyth his ovvn hand that the same should be receyued for good and lavvful Vppon pretence vvherof soone after K. Henries death ther vvas shevved a vvil vvyth the kings stamp at the same the names of diuers vvytnesses vvherin as hath bene bene said the succession of the Crovvn after the kings ovvn children is assigned to the heires of Fraunces and of Elenore neipces to the king by his yonger sister VVhich assignatioÌ„ of the Crovvn being as it vvere a mere guifte in preiudice of the elder sisters right as also of the right of Fraunces and Elenore them selues vvho vvere omitted in the same assignation their heires intituled onlie vvas esteemed to be against al reason lavv and nature consequentlie not thought to proceed from so vvise and sage a The kiÌ„gs TestameÌ„t forged Prince as K. Henrie vvas knovveÌ„ to be but rather ether the vvhole forged or at Leastvvyse that clause inserted by other and the kinges stampe set vnto it after his death or vvhen his Ma. lay novv past vnderstanding And hereof there vvanteth not diuers moste euident reasons and proofes For first it is not probable or credible that K. The first reason Henrie vvould euer go about against lavv and reason to disinherit the line of his eldest sister vvythout Iniustice improbabilitie anie profit or interest to him self and therby giue moste euident occasion of Ciuil vvarre and discorde vvyrhin the Realm seing that in such a case of manifest and apparent vvrong in so great a matter the authoritie of parliament taketh litle effect against the true lavvful inheritour as vvel apeared in the former tymes conteÌ„tions of Henrie the sixt Edvvard the fourth and Richard the third in vvhose reignes the diuers and contrarie parliamentes made and holden against the next inheritour held no longer vvyth anie man then vntil the other vvas able to make his ovvn partie good So Likevvise in the case of king Edvvard the The example of Fraunce third his succession to Fraunce in the right of his mother though he vvere excluded by the general assemblie and consent of their parliamentes yet he esteemed not his right extinguished therby as neither did other kinges of our countrie that ensued after him And for our present case yf nothing els shoulde haue restreyned king Henrie from such open iniustice tovvardes his eldest sister yet this cogitation atleast vvould haue stayed him that by geuing example of supplanting his elder Sisters Line by vertue of a testament or pretence of parliament some other might take occasion to displace his children by like pretence as vve see that Duke Dudley did soone after by a forged testament of K. Edvvard the sixt So redie Scholars ther are to be found vvhich easilie vvil learne such The secoÌ„d reason IncoÌ„gruities indignities Lessons of iniquitie Secondlye ther be to manye incongruyties and indignities in the sayd pretended VVyll to proceed from suche a Prince and learned Councell as king HeÌ„ries vvas For first vvhat can be more ridiculous then to giue the Crovvn vnto the heires of Fraunces and Elenore and not to anie of them selues or vvhat had they offended that their heires should enioye the Crovvn in their right and not they them selues VVhat yf king Henries children should haue died vvhiles Ladie Fraunces had bene yet a liue vvho should haue possessed the kingdoÌ„ before her seing her Line vvas next and yet by this testament she could not preteÌ„d her self to obteine Adrian Stokes it But rather hauing married Adrain Stokes her horskeper she must haue suffred her sonne by him yf she had anie to enioy the Crovvn and so AdriaÌ„ of a seruing-man and master of horses should haue become the Great Master Protector of EnglaÌ„d Of like absurditie is that other clause also vvherin the king bindeth his ovvn daughters to marrie by coÌ„sent directioÌ„ of his counsell or othervvise to leese the benefit of their succession but yet bindeth not his neipces
being left in Sir Iho. Hibboâ— the roome absence of an other to ê“cure frynds said in a place secretlie not far from Ludlovv that if the matter came to blovvs he vvould folovv his Mistres leaue his Master in the briars GENTL Marie Sir quoth the gentleman I trovv manâ—e more vvould haue folovved that example For albeit I knovv that the Papists vvere moste named and misdoubted of his parte in that cause for their open inclination tovvardes Monsieur and consequentlie for greater discredit of the thing it self it vvas giuen out euerie vvhere by this Champion of religion that her Ma. cause vvas the Papistes cause euen as his father had done in the like enterprise before him though al vpon dissimulation as apeared Leicester Father a trayteious Papist at his death vvhere he professed him self an earnest Papist yet vvas ther no man so simple in the Realm vvhich discried nor this Vizard at the first neither yet anie good subiect as I suppose vvho seing her Ma. on the one parte vvould not haue taken against the other parte vvhat so euer he had bene And much more the thing it self in controuersie I meane the mariage of her Royal Ma. vvyâ—h the brother and heire apparant of Fraunce being taken and iudged by the best vvysest and faythfulest protestantes of the realm to be both honorable The honour and commodities by the mariage vvith Fraunce conuenient profitable and needful VVherby onlie as by a moste soueraign and present remedie al our maladies both abrode and at home had at once bene cured al forreine enimies and domestical conspirators al differences al daungers al feares had ceased together Fraunce had bene ours moste assured Spaine vvould not a litle haue trembled Scotland had bene quiet our competitors in England vvould haue quaked and for the Pope he might haue put vp his pipes Our differences in religion at home had been either lesse or no greater then novv they are for that Monsieur being but a moderate Papist and nothing vehement in his opinions vvas content vvyth verie resonable conditions fot him self and his straungers onlie in vse of their conscience not vnliklie truelie but that in tyme he might by Gods grace and by the great Ethelbert Kinge of Kent coÌ„uerted An. Do. 603. vvysdom vertue of her Ma. haue bene brought also to embrace the gospell as king Ethelbert an heathen vvas by noble Q. Bertha his vvyfe the first Christian of our English Princes Vnto all vvhich felicitie if the Lord in mercie should haue added also some issue of ther royall bodies as vvas not impossible vvhen first this noble matche vvas mouued vve then doubtles had bene the moste fortunate people vnder heauen and might haue bene perhaps the meane to haue restored the Gospell throughout all Europe besides as our brethren of Fraunce vvel coÌ„sidered hoped Of al vvhich singular benefits both present to come both in RE and in SPE this Tyraunt for his ovvn priuate lucre fearing leste heerby his ambition might be restrayned his trecherie reueyled hath bereaued the realm done vvhat in him lieth besides to alienate for euer make our mortal enimie this great Prince vvho sought the loue of her Ma. vvyth so much honour confidence as neuer Prince the like putting tvvice his ovvn person to ieopardie of the sea to the peril of his malitious enuiours here in England for her Ma sake LAVV. VVhen you speake of MoÌ„sieur said the lavvyer I cannot but greatlie be mouued both for these considerations vvel touched by you as also for some other especialie one vvherin perhaps you vvill think me partiall but truelie I am not for that I speak it onlie in respect of the quiet good of my countrie and that is that by MoÌ„sieurs matche vvyth our noble Princesse besides the hope of issue vvhich vvas the principal ther vvanted not also probabilitie that some vnion or litle tolleration in religion betvvene you and vs might haue bene procured in this state as vve see that in some other countries is admitted to their great good VVhich thing no doubt vvould haue cut of quite Toleration in Religion vvyth vnion in defence of our countrie al daungers and dealinges from forreine Princes and vvould haue stopped manie deuises and plotes vvythin the Realm vvheras novv by this breach vvyth FrauÌ„ce vve staÌ„d alone as me seemeth vvythout anie great vnition or friendship abrode and our differences at home grovve more vehement and sharp then euer before Vpon vvhich tvvoe heades as also vpon infinit other causes purposes driftes and pretences ther do ensue daylie more deep daungerous and desperat practizes euerie man vsing either the commoditie or necessitie of the tyme and state for his ovvn purpose Especialie novv vvhen all men presume that her Ma. by the contynual thvvartinges vvhich haue bene vsed against al her mariages is not like to leaue vnto the realm that pretious Ievvell so much and long desired of al English hartes I mean the Royall heires of her ovvn bodie GENTL Thvvartinges cal you the defeating of all her Ma. moste honorable offers of mariage said the other trulie in my opinion you should haue vsed an other vvorde to expresse the nature of so vviked a facte vvherby alone if theit vvere no other this vnfortunat man hath done more hurt to his common vvealth theÌ„ if he had murdered manie thovvsandes of her subiectes or betrayed vvhole armies to the professed enimie I can remeÌ„ber vvâ—l my self fovver treatises to this purpose vndermined by his Diuers mariages of her Ma. defeated meanes The first vvyth the Svveâ—hen king the secoÌ„d vvith the Archduke of Austria the third vvith Henrie K. of Fraunce that novv reigneth and the fourth vvyth the brother heire of the said kingdoÌ„ For I let passe manie other secret motions made by great Potentats to her Ma. for the same purpose but thes fovver are openlie knovven therfore I name them VVhich fovver are as vvel knovven to haue bene al disturbed by this DAVVS as they vvere earnestly pursued by the other Leicester de 〈…〉 to d 〈…〉 avvay all 〈◊〉 her Ma. And for the first thre Suters he droue theÌ„ avvaye by protesting and svvearing that him self vvas coÌ„tracted vnto her Ma. vvherof her highnesse vvas fufficieÌ„tlie aduertised by Cardinal Chatâ—lian in the first treatie for fraunce the Cardinal soone after punished as is thoughâ— by this maÌ„ vvyth poyson But yet this speech he gaue out then euerie vvhere among his frieÌ„des both strâ—ungers other that he forsooth vvas assured to her Ma. consequeÌ„tlie that al other Princes must giue ouer their sutes for him VVherunto notvvythstaÌ„ding vvheÌ„ the Svvâ—â— then vvould hardlie giue eare this man conferred vvyth his Priuado to make a moste vnseemelie disloyal proofe therof for the others satisfaction vvhich thing I am enforced by duetie to passe ouer vvyth silence for honour to the parttes vvho are touched therin as also I am to coÌ„ceale his said
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
tyme. But novve yf in England vve should lyue in peace and vnytye of the state as they do in Germanie notvvithstanding their differences of religion and that the one should not praye vpon the other then should the great Favvcons for the field I mean the fauorites of the time faile vvheron to feed vvhich vvere an incoÌ„uenience as you knovv GENTL Truelie Sir said the gentleman I think you roue nearer the mark then you vveene for if I be not deceiued the verie ground of much of thes broiles vvherof vve talke is but a verie praye not in the mindes of the Prince or state vvhose intentions no doubt be moste iust and holie but in the greedie imagination and subtile conceipt of him vvho at this present in respect of our sinnes is petmitted by God to tyrannize both Prince and state The Tyraunt of englishe state and being him self of no religion feedeth notvvithstanding vpon our differences in religion to the fatting of him self ruine of the realm For vvheras by the common distinction novv receiued in speech there are thre notable differeÌ„ces of religion in the land the tvvo extreames vvherof are the Papist and the puritan and the religious Protestant Three differences of relâ—gion in EnglaÌ„d obteining the mean this felovv being of neither maketh his gaine of al as he seeketh a kingdom by the one extreeme and spoile by the other so he vseth the authoritie of the third to compas the first tvvo the countermine of eche one to the ouerthrovv of al three SCHOL To this I ansvvered In good sooth Sir I see novv vvher you are you are falen into the coÌ„mon place of al our ordinarie talke coÌ„ference in the vniuersitie The Erle of Leycester for I knovv that you mean my L. of Leicester vvho is the subiect of al pleasaunt discourses at this day throughout the realme GENTL Not so pleaseaunt as pitiful ansvvered the gentleman yf al maters and circumstances vvere vvel considered except anie man take pleasure to â—east at our ovvn miseries vvihch are like to be greater by his iniquitie yf God auert it not then by al the vvickednes of England besides he being the man that by al probabilitie is like to be the bane and fatal destynie of our state vvyth the euersion of true religion vvherof by indirect meanes he is thâ— greatest enimie that the land doth nourishe LAVV. Novv verilie quoth the lavvyer yf you saye thus much for the protestantes opinion of him vvhat shal I say for his merites tovvardes the Papistes vvho for as much as I can perceyue doe take them selues litle beholding vnto him albeit for his gaine he vvas some yeares their secret frieÌ„d against you vntil by his friendes he vvas persvvaded and chiefly by the L. North by vvaye of pollicie as the said L. The L. Norths pollicie bosteth in hope of greater gaine to step ouer to the puritanes against vs both vvhom notvvythstanding it is probable that he loueth as much as he doth the rest GENTL You knovv the Beares loue said the gentleman vvhich is al for his ovvn paunche and so this Bear-vvhelp turneth al to his ovvn commoditie and for greedines therof vvil ouerturne al yf he be not stopped or mouzeled in tyme. And surelie vnto me it is a straunge speculation vvherof I cannot pick out the reason out onlie that I do atribute it to Gods punishment for our sinnes A strange speculation that in so vvise vigilant a state as ours is and in a counrrie so vvel acquainted and beaten vvyth such daungers a man of such a spirit as he is knovven to be of so extreme ambition pride falshood and trecherie so borne so bred vp so nooseled in treason from his infancie descended of a tribe of traytors and fleshed in conspiracie against the Royal blood of K. Henries children in his tender years and exercised euer since in driftes against the same by the blood and ruyn of diuers others a man so vvel knovven to beare secret malice against her Ma. for causes irrecoÌ„cileable and moste deâ—dlie raÌ„cour against the best and vvisest Councellors of her highnes that such a one I say so hateful to God and man and so markeable to the simplest subiect of this land by thee publique ensygnes of his tyrannous purpose should be suffred so manie yeares vvythout check to aspire to tyrannie by moste manifest vvayes and to possesse him self as novv he hath done of Court Councell and countrie vvythout controlement so that nothing vvaÌ„teth to him but onlie his pleasure and the day alredie conceyued in his minde to dispose as he list both of Prince Crovvn Realm and religion SCHOL It is much truelie quoth I that you saye and it ministreth not a lytle maruail vnto manie vvherof your vvorship is not the first nor yet the tenth person of accompt vvhich I haue hearde discourse and complaine But vvhat shal vve say hereunto ther is no man that ascribeth not this vnto the singular The Q. Ma most excellent good nature benignitie and moste bountiful good nature of her Ma. vvho measuring other men by her ovvn Heroycal and Princelie sinceritie cannot easilie suspect a man so much bounden to her grace as he is nor remoue her confidence from the place vvher she hath heaped so infinite benefites GENTL No doubt said the gentleman but this gracious and svveet disposition of her Ma. is the true original cause therof vvhich Princelie disposition as in her highnes it deserueth al rare commendation so lyeth the same opeÌ„ to manie daungers often tymes vvhen so benigne a nature meeteth vvyth ingrate and ambitious persons vvhich obseruation perhapes caused her Ma moste noble GrauÌ„dfather and father tvvo renoumed vvise princes to vvithdravv somtyme vpon the sudden their great fauour from certaine subiectes of high estate And her Ma. may easilie vse her ovvn excellent vvisdom and memorie to recal to minde the manyfold examples of perilous happes fallen to diuers Princes by to much confideÌ„ce in obliged proditours vvith vvhom the name of a kingdom and one houers Feares that subiectes haue of my L of Leycester reigne vveyeth more then al the duetie obligation honestie or nature in the vvorld VVould God her Ma. could see the continual feares that be in her faythful subiectes hartes vvhiles that man is about her noble person so vvel able and likelie if the Lord auert it not to be the calamitie of her Princelie blood and name The talke vvil neuer out of manie mouâ—hes and mindes that diuers auncient men of this Realm Sir Fran-VValsing ham and once a vvise gentleman novv a Councellor had vvyth a certaine friend of his concerning the presage and deep impression vvhich her Ma. father had of the house of Sir Iohn Dudley to be the ruin K Hâ—n presage of the house of Dudleâ— in tyme of his Ma. Royal house and blood vvhich thing vvas like to haue bene fulfilled soone after as â—1 the vvorld knovveth vpon the