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
resist nor saue from his violence if they shevv dislike or vvil not yeeld their cōsent to his doinges And if I should discouer in particular hovv manie good husbandes he had plagued in this nature and for suche delites it vvere intollerable for his concupiscence violence doe runne iointlie together as in furious beastes vve see they are accustomed Neither holdeth he anie rule in his lust besides onlie the motiō suggestion of his ovvn sensualitie Kinred affinitie or anie other band of consanguinitie religion honour or honestie taketh no place in his outragious appetit VVhat he best liketh that he taketh as lavvful for the tyme. So that kinsvvoman allie friendes vvyfe or daughter or vvhat soeuer female sorte besides doth please his eye I leaue out of purpose and for honour sake tearmes of kinred more neare that must yeeld to his desire The keeping of the mother vvyth tvvo or three of her daughters at once or successiuelie is no more vvyth him then the eating of an henne and her chicken together Ther are not by reporte tvvo noble vvomen about her Ma. I speake vpon some accompt of them that knovv much vvhom he hath not solicited by potent vvayes Neither contented vvyth this place of honour he hath descended to seek pasture among the vvayting Gentlevvomen of her Ma. great Chamber offering more for their allurement then I thinke Lais did commonlie take in Corinthe if three hundreth poundes for a night vvill make vp the summe or Money VVell spent if not yet vvill he make it vp othervvise hauing reported him self so litle shame he hath that he offred to an other of higher place an hundreth pound landes by the yeare vvith as manie Ievvells Anne Vauiser as moste vvomen vnder her Ma. vsed in England vvhich vvas no meane baite to one that vsed trafique in such marchandize she being but the leauinges of an other mā before him vvherof my L. is nothing squemish for satisfying of his lust but can be content as they say to gather vp crōmes vvhen he is Hungrie euen in the verie Laundrie it self or other place of baser qualitie And albeit the Lord of his great mercie to do him good no doubt if he vvere reuokeable hath The punishmēts of God vpō Leicester to do hym good laid his hand vpon him in some chasticement in this vvorld by giuing him a brokē bellie on both sides of his bovvels vvherby miserie putrifactiō is threatned to hym dayly to his yōgsōne by the vvidovv of Essex being Filius Peecati such a straūge calamitie of the falling sicknes in his infancie * The children of adulterors shal be consumed and the seede of a vvicked bedd shal be roted out saith god Sap. 3. as vvel maye be a vvitnes of the parētes sinne vvickednes and of both their vvasted natures in iniquitie yet is this man nothing amended therby but according to the custom of al olde adulterers is more libidinous at this day then euer before more giuen to procure loue in others by Cōiuring Sorcerie and other such meanes And albeyt for him self bothe age and nature spent do somvvhat tame him from the acte yet vvanteth he not vvil as apeareth by the Italian oyntment procured not manie yeares paste by his Surgyan or Mountybank of that countrie vvherby as they say he is Leicester oyntmēt able to moue his flesh at al tymes for keeping of his credit hovvsoeuer his inhabilitie be othervvise Leicester bottel for performance as also one of his Phisitians reported to an Erle of this land that his Lordship had a bottel for his bedehead of ten Pounds the Pinte to the same effect But my masters vvhether are vve fallen vnaduised I am ashamed to haue made mētion of so base filthynes SCHOL Not vvythout good cause quoth I but that vve are here alone and no man heareth vs. VVherfore I pray you let vs return vvheras vve lefte and vvhē you named my L. of Leycesters daughter borne of the Ladie Shefield in Dudley Castle ther came into my head a pretie storie concerning that affaire vvhich novv I vvill recompt though somevvhat out of order therby to dravv you from the further stirring of this vnsauerie pudle fovvle dunghill vvhereunto vve are slipped by folovving my Lord somvvhat to far in his pathes actions VVherfore to tell you the tale as it fell out I grevv acquainted thes monethes paste vvyth a certaine Minister that novv is dead vvas the same man that vvas vsed at Dudley Castle for complemēt of some Sacred ceremonies at the birth of my Lord of Ley. daughter in that place the mater vvas so ordeyned A pretie deuise by the vvylie vvit of him that had sovved the seed that for the better couerīg of the haruest secret deliuerie of the Ladie Scheffielde the good vvyfe of the Castle also vvherby Ley. appointed gossippes might vvythout other suspition haue accesse to the place should feigne her self to be vvyth childe after long sore trauail god vvote to be deliuered of a qvvyshē as she vvas indeed a litle after a faire Coffin vvas buried vvyth a bundell of cloutes in shevv of a childe the Minister caused to vse al accoustomed prayers and ceremonies for An acte of Atheisme the solēne interring therof for vvhich thing aftervvard before his death he had great grief remors of cōsciēce vvyth no small detestatiō of the moste irreligious deuise of my L. of Ley. in such a case LAVV. Here the Lavv. began to laugh a pace both at the deuise at the Minister said novv truely if my L. contractes hold no better but hath so manie infirmities vvyth subtilties and by places besides I vvould be lothe that he vvere married to my daughter as meane as she is GENT. But yet quoth the Gentleman I had rather of the tvvoe be his vvyfe for the tyme then his gest especialie yf the Italiā Surgiā or Phisitiō be at hand LAVV. True it is said the lavvyer for he doth not poyson his vvyues vvherof I somvvhat maruaile especialie his first vvyfe I muse vvhy he chose rather to make her avvaye by open violence then by some Italian Confortiue GENT. Hereof said the Gentleman may be diuers The First reason vvhy Ley. slevv his vvyfe by violence ratherthē by poysō reasons alleged First that he vvas not at that tyme so skilful in those Italian vvares nor had about him so fit Phisitiās Surgians for the purpose nor yet in trueth do I thinke that his minde vvas so setled then in mischeefe as it hath bene sithence For you knovv that men are not desperat the first daye but doe enter into vvickednes by degrees and vvyth some doubt or staggering of conscience at the beginning And so he at that tyme might be desirous to haue his vvyfe made avvay for that she letted him in his designemētes but yet not so stonie harted as to appoint out the particular maner of her death
the kinges handes by his ovvn submissioÌ„ dimissed again vvheÌ„ for his deserts he should haue suffred prouided after that the king should neuer be able to ouer-reache him the secoÌ„d tyme or haue him in his povver to doe hym hurt but made him Anno Regni 31. self strong enough to pul dovvn the other vvyth extirpation of his familie And this of the Court housholde and Chamber of her Ma. But novv if vve shal passe from Court to Councel vve shal finde him no lesse fortyfied but Ley puissance in the priuie Coucell rather more for albeit the prouidence of God hath bene such that in this moste honorable assemblie ther hath not vvanted some tvvoe or three of the vvisest grauest and moste experienced in our state that haue seene and marked this maÌ„s perilous proceedinges from the beginning vvherof notvvythstanding tvvo are novv disceased and their places L. Keeper L. Chamberlaine supplied to Leycesters good liking yet alas the vvisdom of thes vvorthie meÌ„ hath discouered alvvayes more then their authorities vvere able to redresse the others great povver and violence considered and for the residue of that benche and table though I doubt not but there be diuers vvho do in hart detest his doinges as ther vvere also no doubt among the Councellors of king Edvvard vvho misliked this mans fathers attemptes though not so hardie as to contraâ—ie the same yet for moste parte of the Councell present they are knovven to be so affected in particular the one for that he is to him a brother the other a father the other a kinsmaÌ„ the other an allie the other a fast obliged friend the other a fellovv or folovver in faction as none vvil stand in the breach against him none dare resist or encounter his designements but euerie man yeelding rather to the force of his flovve permitteth him to pearce passe at his pleasure in vvhat soeuer his vvil is once setled to obteine And hereof vvere I not stayed for respect of some vvhom I may not name I could alledge straunge examples not so much in affaires belonging to subiectes and to priuate men as vvere the cases Maters vvherin the CouÌ„cel are inforced to vvink at Leycester of Snovvden forrest Denbigh of Killingvvorth of his faire Pastures fovvlie procured by Southam of the Archbishop of CaÌ„turburie of the L. Barkley of Sir Iohn ThrogmartoÌ„ of M. Robinson and the like vvherin those of the Councell that disliked his doinges least dared to oppose them selues to the same but also in thinges that appertaine directly to the Crovvn dignitie to the state and commoÌ„ vveale and to the safitie and continuance therof It is not secure for anie one CouÌ„cellor or other of authoritie to take notice of my Lordes errors or misdeedes but vvyth extreme peril of ther ovvn ruin As for example in the beginning of the rebellion in Ireland vvhen my Lord of Leycester vvas in some disgrace and consequentlie as he imagined Leycester intelligeÌ„ce vvyth the rebellioÌ„ in Irelande but in fraile state at home he thought it not vnexpedient for his better assurance to hold some intelligence also that vvaye for al euentes and so he did vvherof ther vvas so good euidence and testimony found vpon one of the first of accompt that vvas there slaine as honorable personages of they re knovvledge haue assured me as vvoulde haue bene sufficient to touch the lyfe of aine subiect in the land or in anie state Christian but onelie my Lord of Leycester vvho is a subiect vvythout subiection For vvhat think you durst anie man take notice hereof or auo vvche that he had seene thus muche durst he that tooke it in Ireland deliuer the same vvher especialy he should haue done or they vvho receyued it in EnglaÌ„d for it came to great handes vse it to the benefit of their Princesse and countrie No surelie for yf it had bene but onelie suspected that they had seene such a thing it vvould haue bene as daungerous vnto them as it vvas to Acteon to haue sene Diana her maydens naked vvhose Acteons case novv come in England case is so common novv in England as nothing more so do the examples of diuers vvell declare vvhose vnfortunate knovvlege of to many secrets brought them quicklie to vnfortunate endes For vve heare of one Saluatore a straunger long Saluatore Slaine in his bed vsed in great Mysteries of base affaires and dishonest actions vvho aftervvard vppon vvhat demerite I knovv not susteined a hard fortune for being late vvith my Lord in his studie vvell neare vntill midinght yf I be rightelie informed vvent home to his chambre and the next morning vvas founde slayne in his bed VVe heare also of one Doughtie haÌ„ged in hast by Captaine Drake vpon Doughty haÌ„ged by Drake the sea and that by order as is thought before his departure out of England for that he vvas ouer pryuie to the Secretes of this good Erle Ther vvas also this last sommer past one Gates The story of Gates haÌ„ged at Tiborne hanged at Tiborne amonge others for robbing of Carriars vvhich Gates had bene latelie clark of my Lords kitchinge and had layed out much mony of his ovvne as he said for my L. prouision being also othervvise in so greate fauour and grace vvith his L. as no man lyuing vvas thought to be more priuy of his secrets theÌ„ this maÌ„ vvher vpoÌ„ also it is to be thought that he presumed the rather to commit this robberie for to such thinges doth my Lordes good fauour most extende and being appreheÌ„ded in daunger for the same he made his recourse to his honour for protestioÌ„ as the fashon is and that he might be borne out as diuers of lesse merite had bene by his Lordship in more heynous causes before him The good Erle ansvvered his seruant and deare Priuado curteouslie and assured him for his lyffe hovv so euer for vtter shevv or complement the forme of lavv might passe against him But Gates seing him self coÌ„demned nothing novv betvven his heade and the halter but the vvorde of the Magistrate vvhich might come in an instante vvhen it vvould be to late to send to his Lorde remembring also the smal assurance of his said Lords vvord by his former dealinges tovvardes other men vvherof this man vvas to much pryuie he thought good to sollicit his case also by some other of his frindes thoughe not so puisant as his L. and master vvho dealinge in deed both diligentlie and effectuallie in his affaire founde the mater more difficult a great deal then ether he or they had imagined for that my Lord of Leycester vvas not onely not his fauorer but a great hastener of his death vnder haÌ„d and that vvith such care diligence vehemencie and irresistable meanes hauing the lavv also on his syde that ther vvas no hope at all of escaping vvhich thing vvhen Gates heard of he easelie belieued for the experience he had of his Masters good
and end as he list he that selleth his fauour vvith the Prince both abrode in forreine countries and at home and setteth the price therof vvhat him self vvil demaund he that hath doth al this besids Presentes this hath infinit presents dailie brought vnto him of great valevv both in Ievvels Plate al kinde of Furniture redie Coyne this man I say may easelie beare his ovvn expeÌ„ces yet lay vp sufficientlie also to vverie his Prince vvheÌ„ needes shal require LAVV. You haue said much Sir quoth the Lavvyer and such mater as toucheth neerlie both her Ma. the coÌ„mon vvealth and yet in my conscience if I vvere to plead at the barre for my Lord I could not tel vvhich of al these members to denie But for that Leycester home-gaine by her Ma. fauour vvhich you meÌ„tion in the last parte of his gaining by her Ma. fauour both at home abrode Tovvching his home gaine it is euident seing al that he hath is goteÌ„ onlie by the opinioÌ„ of her Ma. fauour tovvardes him and many meÌ„ do repaire vnto him vvith fatte presentes rather for that they suppose he may by his fauour do them hurt if he feele not their revvarde then for that they hope he vvil labour anie thing in their affaires You remeÌ„ber I doubt not the storie of him that A pretye story offred his Prince a great yearelie rent to haue but this fauour only that he myght come euerie day in open audience and say in his eare God saue your Ma. assuring him self that by the opinion of confidence and secret fauour vvhich hereby the people vvould coÌ„ceiue to be in the Prince tovvardes him he should easilie get vp his rent againe double told VVherfore my L. of Leycester receiuing dailie from her Ma. greater tokens of grace and fauour then this and him self being no euil marchaunt to make his ovvn bargain for the best of his commodities cannot but gaine excedinglie at home by his fauour And for his Lucre abroode vpon the same cause Leycester forraine gayne by her Ma. fauour I leaue to other men to conceiue vvhat it may be sithence the beginning of her Ma. raigne the times vvherof and condition of al Christendom hath bene such as al the Princes and Potentates round about vs haue bene constreyned at one tyme or other to sue to her highnesse for ayde grace or fauour in al vvhich sutes men vse not to forget as yovv knovve the parties moste able by their credit to furder or let the same In particular onlye this I caÌ„ say that I haue heard of sundrie frenche men that at such tyme as the treatie vvas betvvene Fraunce and England for the redeliuerie of Callis vnto vs againe in the first yeare of her Ma. raigne that novv is vvheÌ„ the freÌ„ch meÌ„ vvere in great distresse misery K. Philippe refused absolutelie to make peace vvith them except Callis vvere restored to England vvhether for that purpose he had novv deliuered the french hostages Leycester bribe for betrayiÌ„g of Callis the french men do reporte I say that my L. of Leycester stoode them in great steade at that necessitie for his revvard vvhich you may vvel imagine vvas not smal for a thing of such importaÌ„ce becaÌ„ a suter that peace might be coÌ„cluded vvith the release of Callis to the freÌ„che vvhich vvas one of the most impious factes to saye the trueth that euer could be deuised against his coÌ„mon vvealth GENTL A smal mater in him said the Gentleman for in this he did no more but as Christ said of the Ievves that they filled vp the measure of their fathers sinnes And so if you reade the storie of K. Edvvardes tyme you shal finde it moste euident that this maÌ„s father before him solde Bullogne to the french by Leycester father solde Bullogne like trecherie For it vvas deliuered vp vpon coÌ„position vvith out necessity or reason the. 25. of April in the fourth yeare of K. Edvvard the sixt vvheÌ„ he I mean duke Dudley had novv put in the Tovver the L. Protector thrust out of the Councel vvhoÌ„ Erles of Arundel and SouchamptoÌ„ put out of the Councell by D. Dudley he listed as namly the Erles of Arundel SouthaÌ„pton so inuaded the vvhole gouernmeÌ„t him self to sel spoile dispose at his pleasur VVherfore this is but natural to my L. of Leycester by discent to make marchandize of the state for his GraÌ„dfather Edmund also vvas such a kinde of Copesman LAVV. An euil rase of marchauntes for the common vvealth quoth the Lavvyer but yet Sir I pray you said he expouÌ„d vnto me somvvhat more at large the nature of these licences vvhiche you named as also the chaunging of landes vvyth her Ma. yf you can set it dovvn anie playner for they seeme to be thinges of excessiue gaine especialie his vvay of gayning by offending her Ma. or by her hyghenes offence tovvardes him for it seemeth to be a deuice aboue all skill or reason Not so Leycester gayne by fallinge out vvith her Ma. quoth the Gentleman for you knovv that euery falling out must haue an attonement againe vvherof he being sure by the many puisaunt meanes of his fryendes in Court as I haue shevved before vvho shall not gyue her Ma. rest vntil it be donne then for this attonement and in perfect reconciliation on her Ma. parte she must graunte my Lorde some sute or other vvhich he vvil haue alvvayes redie prouided for that purpose and this sute shal be vvell able to revvarde his friendes that laboured for his recoÌ„cilement and leaue also a good remaynder for him selfe And this is novv so ordinarie a practize vvith him as all the Realm obserueth the same and disdaigneth that her Ma. should be so vnvvorthelie abused For yf her hyghnesse fall not out vvith him as often as he desireth to gayne this vvaye then he picketh some quarrell or other to shevv him selfe discontended vvith her so that one vvaye or other this gaynful reconciliation must be made and that often for his commoditie The like arte he excerciseth in inuiting her Ma. to his baÌ„quettes and to his houses vvher if she come she must graunt him in sutes ten tymes so much as the charges of al amount vnto so that Robin plaieth the broker iÌ„ al his affaires maketh the vttermost peÌ„ny of her Ma. euery vvay GENTL Novv for his chaunge of landes I think I haue bene reasonable plaine before yet for your fuller satisfactioÌ„ you shal vnderstand his further dealing therin to be in this sorte Besides the good landes of auncient possession to the Crovvn procured at her Ma. hand and vsed as before vvas declared he vseth the same trick for his vvurst landes that he possesseth any vvaie vvhether they come to him by extort meanes plaine oppressioÌ„ or through maiÌ„tenaunce broken tiltes or by cosinage of simple Leycester frauduleÌ„t chaunge of landes vvith her Maieâ—tâ—e vvherby he
her to tearme her Ma sharp speech to sit in her place and throne being much vvorthier of the same for her qualities and rare vertues theÌ„ vvas the other VVhich vnduetiful speech albeit it vvere ouer heard and coÌ„demned of diuers that sat about them yet none durst euer reporte the same to her Ma. as I haue heard sundrie courtiers affirme in respect of the reuenge vvhich the reporters should abid at my L. of Leycesters handes vvheÌ„ so euer the matter should come to light And this is novv concerning the opinion and secret speech of my Lordes ovvn friendes vvho cannot but vtter their conceipt and iudgement in tyme and place conuenient vvhat so euer they are vvilled to giue out publicklie to the contrarie for deceiuing of such as vvil belieue faire paiÌ„ted vvordes against euident and manifest demonstration of reason I say reason for that if none of thes signes and Three argumeÌ„ces of Leycesters meaning for him self before HuÌ„tington tokens vvere none of thes preparations nor anâ— of thes speeches detections by his friendes thâ— knovv his hart yet in force of plaine reason â— could aleadge vnto you three argumentes onelie vvhich to anie man of intelligence vvould easilie persvvade and giue satisfaction that my L. of Leycester meaneth best first for him self in this sure VVhich three argumentes for that you seme to be attent I vvil not stick to runne ouer in al breuitie And the first is the verie nature and qualitie of The first argumeÌ„t the Nature of ambition ambition it self vvhich is such as you knovv that it neuer stayeth but passeth from degre to degre and the more it obteyneth the more it coueteth and the more esteemeth it self both vvorthie and able to obteyne And in our matter that novv vve handle euen as in vvovvyng he that sueth to a Ladie for an other and obteineth her good vvil entereth easilie into conceipt of his ovvn vvorthines therby and so commonlie into hope of speeding him self vvhile he speaketh for his friend so much more in kingdomes he that seeth hiÌ„ self of povver to put the Crovvne of an other maÌ„s head vvil quicklie step to the next degre vvhich is to set it of his ovvn seing that alvvaies the charitie of such good men is vvount to be so orderlie as according to the precept it beginneth vvith it self first Adde to this that ambitioÌ„ is Ielious suspitious and feareful of it self especialie vvhen it is ioyned vvith a conscience loaden vvith the guilt of manie crymes vvherof he vvould be loth to be called to accompt or be subiect to anie man that might by authoritie take reuevv of his life and actions vvheÌ„ it should please him In vvhich kinde seing my L. of Leycester hath so much to encrease his feare as before hath bene shevved by his vvicked dealinges it is not like that euer he vvil put him self to an others maÌ„s courtesie for passing his Audicte in particular reckoninges vvhich he can no vvay ansvver or satisfie but rather vvil stand vpon the grosse Summe and general Quietus est by making him self chiefe Auditour and Master of al accomptes for his ovvn parre in this life hovv so euer he do in the next vvherof such humours haue litle regarde And this is for the nature of ambition in it self The second argument may be taken from my L. The second argument Leycester particular disposition particulars disposition vvhich is such as may giue much light also to the matter in question Being a disposition so vvel liking inclined to a kingedoÌ„ as it hath bene tampering about the same from the first day that he came in fauour First by seeking openlie to marrie vvith the Q. Ma. her self and so Leycester disposition to â—aÌ„pâ—â— for a kingdoÌ„ to dravv he Crovvn vpon his ovvn head and to his posteritie Secondlie vvhen that attempt tooke not place then he gaue it out as hath bene shevved before hovv that he vvas priuilie contracted to her Maiestie vvherin as I tolde you his dealing I meane the noble olde Erle of Peâ—brooke before for satisfaction of a straunger so let him vvyth shame and dishonour remember novv also the spectacle he secretlie made for the persvvading of a subiect and Councellor of great honour in the same cause to the end that if her highnes should by anie vvay haue miscarryed then he might haue entituled anie one of his ovvn broode vvherof he hath store in manie places as is knovven to the lavvful succession of the Crovvn vnder coulour of that priuie and secret mariage pretending the same to be by her Maiestie vvherin he vvil vvant no vvitnesses to depose vvhat he vvil Thirdlie vvhen The vnduetifull deuise of Naturall issue in â—he statuâ—â— of sucâ—â—ssion he savve also that this deuise vvas subiect to daunger for that his priuie contract might be denied more easilie then he able iustlie to proue the same after her Maiesties discease he had a nevv fetch to strengthen the matter and that vvas to cause thes vvordes of NATVRAL ISSVE to be put into the statute of succession for the Crovvn against all order and custome of our Realm and against the knovven common stile of lavv accustomed to be vsed in statutes of such matter vvherby he might be able after the deathe of her Ma. to make legitimate to the Crovvn anie one bastard of his ovvn by anie of so manie hakneis as he keepeth affirmiÌ„g it to be the Naturall issue of her Maiestie by him self For no other reason can be imagined vvhy the auncient vsual vvordes of LAVVFVL ISSVE should so cunninglie be chaunged into NATVRAL ISSVE Therby not onelie to indaunger our vvhole Realme vvith nevv quarels of succession but also to touch as far as in him lieth the Royall honour of his soueraigne vvho hath bene to him but to bounteful a Princesse Fourthlie vvhen after a tyme thes fetches and deuises began to be discouered he chaunged streight his course and turned to the Papistes and Scottish faction pretending the mariage of the Q. in prison But yet after this againe finding therin not such successe as coÌ„tented him throughlie and hauing in the meane space a nevv occasion offred of baite he betook him self fiftlie to the partie of Huntington hauing therin no doubt as good meaning to him self as his father had by ioyning vvith Suffolk Marie yet of late he hath The marriage of Arbella cast a nevv about once againe for him self in secret by treating the mariage of yong Arbella vvith his sonne intitled the Lord Denbighe So that by this vve see the disposition of this man bent vvholie to a scepter And albeit in right title and discent of blood as you say he can iustlie clayme neither kingdome nor Cotage considering either the basenesse or disloyaltie of his auncestors yf in respect of his present state povver of his naturall pride ambitioÌ„ crafty conueyance receyued froÌ„ his father he hath learned hovv to put him self first in possession
this our natiue countrie if God should take frō vs her moste excellent Ma. as once he vvil and so leaue vs destitute vppon the sudden vvhat should become of our liues of our states and of our vvhole Realm or gouernement can anie man promisse him self one Great inconueniences daye longer of rest peace possession lyfe or libertie vvithin the land then God shal lend vs her Ma. to reigne ouer vs VVhich albeit vve do are bound to vvish that it may be long yet reason telleth vs that by course of Nature it cannot be of anie great continuance and by a thovvsand accidentes it may be much shorter And shal then our moste noble common vvealth and kingdome vvhich is of perpetuitie and must continevv to our selues and our posteritie hang onelie vpon the life of her highnes alone vvel strocken in years and of no great good health or robustious and strong complexion I vvas vvithin hearing some six or seuen yeares Sir Christopher Hattons oration ago vvhen Sir Christopher Hatton in a verie great assemblie made an eloquent oratiō vvhich after I vvene vvas put in print at the pardoning and deliuerie of him from the gallouse that by errour as vvas thought had discharged his peece vpon her Ma. Barge and hurte certain persons in her hignes presence And in that oration he declared and described verie effectualie vvhat inestimable dāmage had ensued to the Realm yf her Ma. by that or anie other meanes should haue bene takē from vs. He set foorth moste liuelie before the eyes of al men vvhat dyuysion vvhat dissension vvhat bloodshed had ensued and vvhat fatal daungers vvere moste certaine to fal vpon vs vvhen so euer that doleful day should happen vvherin no man should be sure of his lyfe of his goods of his vvife of his childrē no mā certaine vvhether to flie vvhō to folovv or vvhere to seek repose and protection And as all the hearers ther present did easilie graunt that he therin said trouth and far lesse then might haue bene said in that behalf thinges standing as they do so manie one I trovve that hearde thes vvordes proceed from a Councellor that had good cause to knovv the state of his ovvn coūtrie entered into this cogitation vvhat punishmēt they might deserue then at the vvhole state common vvealths hādes vvho first by letting her Ma. from Intollerable treasons mariage thē by procuring this statute of dissembling the next inheritour had brought their Realm into so euidēt ineuitable daūgers for euerie one vvel cōsidered vveighed vvith him self that the thing vvhich yet onely letted thes daūgers miseries set dovvn by Sir Christopher must necessarilie one day faile vs al that is the lyfe of her Ma. novv present And then say vve hovv falleth it out that so general a calamitie as must needes ouertake vs ere it be long may for anie thing vve knovv to morovv next is not puided for asvvel as foresene Is ther no remedie but that vve must vvillinglie vvyttingly rūne into our ovvn ruin and for the fauour or feare of some fevv aspirours betraye our countrie the blood of so many thovvsand innocentes as liue vvythin the land For tel me good Sirs I pray you yf her Ma. should die to morovv next vvhos lyfe God long preserue and blesse but yf she should be taken The miseries to follovve vpon her Maiest death from vs as by condition of nature and humane frailtie she may vvhat vvould yovv doe vvhich vvay vvould you looke or vvhat head or parte knevv anie good subiect in the Realm to folovv I speake not of the cōspiratours for I knovve they vvilbe redie and resolued vvhom to folovv but I speake of the plaine simple and vvel meaning subiect vvho folovving novv the vtter letter of this fraudulent statute fraudulēt I meane in the secret conceipt of the cunning aspirours shal be takē at that day vpō the sudden being put in a maze by the vnexpected cōtentiō about the Crovvn shal be brought into a thousand daungers both of bodie goodes vvhich novv are not thought vpon by them vvho are moste in daunger of the same And this is for the common vvealth and countrie But vnto her Ma. for vvhos good and safitie the statute is onely pretēded to be made no doubt but that it bringeth far greater daungers then anie The daūger to her Ma. by this statute deuise that they haue vsed besides For hereby vnder coulour of restrayning the claymes titles of true successours vvhos endeuours notvvythstanding are commonlie more calme and moderate then of vsurpers they make vnto them selues a meane to forster and set forvvard their ovvn conspiracie vvythout controlment seing no man of might may oppose hīself against thē but vvyth suspition that he meaneth to clayme for him self And so they being armed on the one side vvyth their autoritie and force of present fortune defended on the other side by the pretence of the statute they may securelie vvork and plot at their pleasure as you haue vvel proued before that they do And vvhen soeuer their groundes and foundatiōs shal be redie it can not be denied but that her Ma. lyfe lyeth much at their discretiō to take it or vse it to their best cōmoditie ther is no doubt but they vvil as such men are vvount to do in such affaires Marie one thing standeth not in their povvers so absolutelie and that is to prolong her Ma. dayes or fauoure tovvardes them selues at theyr pleasures vvherof it is not vnlike but they vvil haue due consideration least perhappes vppon anie sudden accident they mighte be found vnredie GENTL They haue good care therof I can assure you quoth the gentleman mean not to be preuēted by anie accident or other mishappe vvhat soeuer they vvilbe redie for al euentes and for that cause they hasten so much their preparations at this day The hastnyng of the conspirators more then euer before by sending out theyr spies and solicitours euerie-vvhere to proue and confirme their friendes by deliuering their common vvatch-vvord by cōplainīg on al hādes of our protestāt Bishoppes Cleargy of al the presēt state of our irreformed religiō as thei cal it by amplyfiyng only the daunger of Papists Scottishe factiō by giuīg out opēly that novv her Ma. is past hope of childbirh cōsequently seing god hath giuē no better succes that vvay in tvvo vvomē one after the other it vvere not conuenient say they that an other of that sexe should ensue vvyth highe commendation of the Lavv Salick in Fraunce vvherby vvomen are forbidden to succede VVhich speech though in shevv it be deliuered against the Q. of Scottes and other of K. Henrie the 7. his line that discend of sisters yet al men see that it tovvcheth as vvel the disabling of her Ma. that is present as others to come and so tendeth directlie to Maturatiō of the principal purpose vvhich I haue declared before
Lei stroÌ„g onlie by her Ma. fauour you no vntrueth for that I knovv vvhat I speake herein and am priuie to the state of my Lord in this behalf and of mens opinions and affections tovvardes him vvithin the Realm Moste certaine it is that he is strong by the present fauour of the Prince as hath bene shevved before in respect vvherof he is admitted also as chiefe patron of the Huntington faction though neither loued nor greatlie trusted of the same but let her Maiestie once turne her countenaunce a side from him in good earnest and speake but the vvord onlie that iustice shal take place against him and I vvil vndertake vvith gadging of both my life and litle landes that God hath giueÌ„ me that vvithout sturre or trouble or anie daunger in the vvorld the Beare An offer made for taking tyeig the Beare shal be taken to her Maiesties hand fast chained to a stake vvith mouzele cord collar ring and al other thinges necessarie so that her Maiestie shal bate him at her pleasure vvithout al daunger of bytyng breaking loose or anie other inconuenience vvhat soeuer For Syrs you must not think that this man holdeth anie thing abrode in the Realme but by violence and that onlie vpon her Maiesties fauour and countenaunce tovvardes him He hath not anie thing of his ovvn either from his ancestoures or of him self to staye vpon in mens hartes or conceiptes hâ— hath not auncient nobilitie as other of our Realme haue vvherby mens affections are Lei. vvhat he recey ueth fâ—oÌ„ his ancestours greatlie moued His father Iohn Dudley vvas the first noble of his line vvho raysed and made him selfe bygge by supplanting of other and by setting debate amonge the nobilitie as also his Grandfather Edmond a moste vvicked promotor and vvretched petifogar enriched him self by other mens ruynes both of them condemned traytours though differeÌ„t in qualitie the one being a Cousiner and the other a Tyraunt both of their vices conioyned colected and comprised vvith manie more additions in this man or beaste rather vvhich is Robert the third of their kinne kinde So that from his ancestours this Lord receyueth neither honour nor honestie but onlie succession of treason and infamie And yet in him self hath he much lesse of good vvhervvith to procure him self loue or credit among men then thes ancestoures of his had he being a man vvholie abandonned of humane vertue and deuoted to vvickednes vvhich maketh men odible both to God and man In his father no doubt ther vvere to be seene manie excellent good partes if they had bene ioined vvith faith honesty The compary son of Leices vvyth his father moderatioÌ„ loyalty For al the vvorld knovveth that he vvas verie vvyse valyant magnammous liberal and assured friendlie vvher he once promised of al vvhich vertues my Lord his sonne hath neither shevv nor shadovv but onlie a certaine false representation of the first being craftie and subtile to deceiue ingenious to vvickednes For as for valâ—ur he hath as much as hath a mouse his magnanimity is base sordiditiâ— his liberality rapine his friendship plaine fraude holding onlie for his gaine and no othervvise though it vvere bound vvith a thovvsand othes of vvhich he maketh as great accoÌ„pt as hennes do of cackling but onlie for his commoditie vsing them specialie and in greatest number vvhen moste he meaneth to deceiue Namelie if he svveare solemnlie by his George or by the eternal God then be sure it is a false lye for thes are obseruations in the Court some tymes in his ovvn lodging in like case his maner is to take vp and svveare by the Bible vvherby a GeÌ„tleman of good accompt one that seemeth to folovv him as manie do that like him but a litle protested to me of his knovvledge that in a verie short space he obserued him vvittingly vvillingly to be forsvvorne sixtiene tymes The vveaknes of Ley. yf her Ma. â—urne but her countenaunce from him This man therfore so contemptible by his auncestours so odible of him self so plunged ouervvhelmed and defamed in al vice so enuied in the Court so detested in the countrie and not trusted of his ovvn and dearest friendes nay vvhich I am priuie to so misliked and hated of his ovvn seruauntes about him for his beastlie lyfe nigardye and Atheisme beyng neuer sene yet to say one priuate prayer vvythin his chamber in his lyfe as they desire nothing in this vvorld so much as his ruyn and that they may be the first to lay handes vpon him for reuenge This man I say so broken both vvythin and vvythout is it possible that her Ma. and her vvyse Councell should feare I can neuer belieue it or yf it be so it is Gods peâ—â—ission vvythout al cause for punishment of our sinnes for that this man yf he once perceyue indeed that they feare him vvil handle them accordingly and playe the Beare indeed vvhych inconuenience I hope they vvil haue care to preuent and so I leaue it to God and them crauing pardon of my Lord of Leycester for my boldnes yf I haue bene to plaine vvyth him And so I pray you let vs go to supper for I see my seruaunt expecting yonder at the Gallerie doore to cal vs dovvn LAVV. To that said the lavvyer I am content vvith The end departure from the Gallerie al my harte and I vvould it had bene sooner for that I am a feard lest anie by chaunce haue ouer-heard vs here since night For my ovvn parte I must say that I haue not bene at such a conference this seuen yeares nor meane to be hereafter yf I may escape vvel vvyth this vvherof I am sure I shal dreame this foruthnight and think oftener of my Lord of Leycester then euer I had entended God amend him and me both But yf euer I heare at other handes of thes matters hereafter I shal surelie be quake-britch and think euerie bushe a thyefe And vvyth that came vp the Mystres of the house ro fetch vs dovvn to supper and so al vvas vvhusht sauing that at supper a Gentlemanor tvvo beganne againe to speake of my Lord and that so conformable to some of our former speech as indeed it is the common talke at tables euerie vvhere that the olde Lavvyer began to shrink and be appaled and to cast drye lookes vpon the Gentleman oure friende doubting least somthing had bene discouered of our conference But in deed it vvas not so FINIS PIA ET VTILIS MEDITATIO DEsumpta ex libro Iobi CAP. 20. HOC scio a principio ex quo positus est homo super terram quòd laus impiorum breuis sit ex gaudiuÌ„ hipocritae ad instar puÌ„cti Si asceÌ„derit vsque ad coeluÌ„ superbta eius caput cius nubes tetigerit quasi sterquiliniuÌ„ in fine perdetur qui euÌ„ videraÌ„t diceÌ„t vbi est velut somniuÌ„ auolaÌ„s noÌ„ inuentetur traÌ„siet sicut
graunt anie sute vvere it not onlie vpon his incessant solicitation VVherby he filleth his ovvn purse the more emptieth the harts of such as receiue benefit from due thankes to their Princesse for the sure obtayned Hereof also ensueth that no man may be preferred in Court be he othervvyse neuer so vvell a deseruing seruaunt to her Ma. except he be one of Leycesters faction or folovvers none can be aduaunced except he be lyked and prefered by him none receyue grace except he stand in his No preferments but by Leycester to Leycestrians good fauour no one may liue in countenaunce or quiet of life except he take it vse it and acknovvledg it from him so as al the fauours graces dignities prefermentes riches and revvardes vvhich her Ma. bestovveth or the Realm can yeeld muste serue to purchase this man priuate friendes and fauourers onlie to aduaunce his partie and to fottifie his factioÌ„ VVhich factioÌ„ if by thes meanes it be great as indeed it is you may not maruaile seing the riches and vvealth of so vvorthie a common vveal do serue him but for a price to buy the same VVhich thing him self vvel knovving frameth his spirit of proceding accordinglie And first vpon Leycester anger insoleÌ„cie confidence therof is become so insolent impotent of his Ire that no man may beare the same hovv iustlie or iniustlie so euer it be conceiued for albeit he begin to hate a man vpon bare surmises onlie as commonlie it falleth out ambition being allvvaies the mother of suspition yet he prosecuteth the same vvyth such implacable crueltie as ther is no long abyding for the partie in that place As might be shâ—vved by the examples of manie vvhom he hath chased from the Court vpon his onlie displeasure vvythout other cause being knovven to be othervvise zealous protestantes As Sir Ierome Bovves M. George Scot and others that vve could name To this insolencie is also ioyned as by nature it folovveth moste absolute and peremptorie dealing in al thinges vvherof it pleaseth him to dispose Leicester peremptorie dealing vvythout respect either of reason order due right subordination custom conueniencie or the like vvherof notvvythstandinge Princes them selues are vvount to haue regarde in disposition of their matters as for example amonge the seruauntes of the Q Ma. houshold it is an auncient and moste commendable order custom that vvhen a place of higher roume falleth voyd he that by succession is next hath made proof of his vvorthynes in an inferior place should rise and possesse the same except it be for some extraordinarie cause to the end that no man vnexperienced or vntried should be placed in the higher roomes the first daye to the preiudice of others and disseruice of the Prince VVhich moste reasonable custom this man contemning Breaking of order in her Maiesté hovvsholde breaking at his pleasure thrusteth into higher roumes anie person vvhatsoeuer so he like his inclination or feele his revvarde albeit he neither be fit for the purpose nor haue bene so much as clark in anie inferior office before The like he vseth out of the Court in all other Leicester violating of al ordre in the countrie abrode places vvher matters should passe by order election or degree as in the vniuersities in election of Scholars and heades of houses in Ecclesiastical persons for dignities of churche in officers Magistrates stevvardes of landes Shiryues and Knightes of the shiers in Burgesses of the parliament in commissioners iudges iustices of the peace vvherof many in euerie shire must vveare his lyuerey and al other the like vvher this mans vvil must stand for reason and his Letters for absolute lavves neither is there anie man magistrat or communer in the Realme vvho dareth not sooner denie ther petition of her Ma. letters vpon iust causes for that her highnesse is content after to be satisfied vvyth reason then to resist the commaundment of this mans letters vvho vvil admit no excuse or satisfaction but onelie the execution of his said commandement be it right or vvrong LAVV. To this ansvvered the lavvyer novv verelie Sir you paynte vnto me a straunge paterne of a perfect Potentate in the Court belike that staunger vvho calleth our state in his prynted booke Leicestrensem rempublicam a Leicestrian coÌ„mon A Leicestryane common vvealthe vvealth or the common vvealth of my Lord of Leycester knovveth much of thes maters But to hold Sir stil vvithin the Court I assure you that by coÌ„siderations vvhich you haue laid dovvn I do begin novv to perceaue that his partie must needs be verie great and stronge vvythin the said Court seing that he hath so many vvayes means to encrease enrich and encourage the same and so strong abilities to treade dovvn his enimies The coÌ„mon spech of many vvaÌ„teth not reasoÌ„ I perceiue vvhich caleth him the hart life of the Court. GENTL They vvhich cal him the hart said the Gentleman vpon a litle occasion more vvould cal him Leycester called the harte and life of the Court. also the head and then I maruaile vvhat should be left for hir Ma. vvhen they take from her both life harte and headship in her ovvn Realm But the trueth is that he hath the Court at this day in almoste the same case as his father had it in king Edvvards dayes by the same deuice the Lord forbid that euer it come fullie to the same state for then vve knovve vvhat ensued to the principal and yf you vvyl haue an euident demonstration of this mans povver and fauour in that place cal you but to minde the tymes vvhen her Ma. vpon moste iust and vrgent occasions did vvyth-dravv but a litle her vvounted fauour and contenaunce tovvardes him did not al the Court as it vvere mutinie presentlie A demoÌ„stratioÌ„ of Leyc Tyrannie in the Court did not euerie man hang the lippe except a fevv vvho aftervvard paid svvetlie for their mirth vvere ther not euery dâ—ye nevv deuises sought out that some should be on their knees to her Ma. some should vvepe put finger in their eyes other should finde out certaine couert maner of threatning other reasons and persvvasions of loue other of profit other of honour other of necessitie al to get him recalled back to fauour againe And had her Ma. anie rest permitted vnto her vntil she had yeelded and graunted to the same Consider then I pray you â—hat yf at that tyme in his disgrace he had his faction so fast assured to him self vvhat hath he novv in his prosperitie after so many years of fortification vvherin by al reason he Leyc prouideth neuer to come in the Q. daunger againe hath not bene negligeÌ„t seing that in policy the first point of good fortificatioÌ„ is to make that fort impregnable vvhich once hath bene in daunger to be lost VVherof you haue an exaÌ„ple in Rich. Duke of York in the tyme of K. Henry the sixt vvho being once in