Earle of Essex that if he would not declare his griefes openly yet that then hee would impart them priuately and then they doubted not to giue him or procure him satisfaction Vpon this there arose a great clamor among the multitude Away my Lord they abuse you they betray you they vndoe you you lose time Whereupon my L. Keeper put on his hat and said with a louder voyce then before My Lord let vs speake with you priuately and vnderstand your griefes and I doe commaund you all vpon your allegiance to lay downe your weapons and to depart Vppon which wordes the Earle of Essex and all the rest as disdaining commandement put on their hats and Essex somewhat abruptly went from him into the house and the Counsellors followed him thinking hee would haue priuate conference with them as was required And as they passed through the seuerall roomes they might heare many of the disordered companie crie Kill them kill them and others crying Nay but shoppe them vp keepe them as pledges cast the great Seale out at the windowe and other such audacious and traiterous speeches But Essex tooke holde of the occasion and aduantage to keepe in deed such pledges if he were distressed and to haue the countenance to leade them with him to the Court especially the two great Magistrates of Iustice and the great Seale of England if he preuailed and to depriue her Maiestie of the vse of their counsell in such a strait and to ingage his followers in the very beginning by such a capitall act as the imprisonment of Counsellors carying her Maiesties royall commaundement for the suppressing of a rebellious force And after that they were come vp into his booke chamber hee gaue order they should bee kept fast giuing the charge of their custodie principally to Sir Iohn Dauis but adioyned vnto him a warder one Owen Salisburie one of the most sedicious and wicked persons of the number hauing beene a notorious robber and one that serued the enemie vnder Sir William Stanley and that bare a speciall spleene vnto my Lord Chiefe Iustice who garded these honourable persons with Muskets charged and Matches ready fiered at the chamber doore This done the Earle notwithstanding my Lord Keeper still required to speake with him left the charge of his house with Sir Gilly Mericke and vsing these words to my Lord Keeper Haue patience for a while I will goe take order with the Maior and Sherifes for the Citie and be with you againe within halfe an houre issued with his troupe into London to the number of two hundreth besides those that remained in the house choise men for hardinesse and valour vnto whom some Gentlemen and one Noble man did after ioyne themselues But from the time he went forth it seemes God did strike him with the spirit of Amazement and brought him round againe to the place whence he first moued For after he had once by Ludgate entred into the Citie he neuer had as much as the heart or assurance to speake any set or confident speech to the people but repeated onely ouer and ouer his tale as he passed by That he should haue bene murthered nor to doe any act of foresight or courage but he that had vowed hee would neuer bee cooped vp more cooped himselfe first within the wals of the Citie and after within the wals of an house as arrested by Gods Iustice as an example of disloyaltie For passing through Cheapeside and so towards Smiths house and finding though some came about him yet none ioyned or armed with him he prouoked them by speeches as he passed to arme telling them They did him hurt and no good to come about him with no weapons But there was not in so populous a Citie where he thought himselfe held so deare one man from the chiefest Citizen to the meanest Artificer or Prentise that armed with him so as being extremely appalled as diuers that happened to see him then might visibly perceiue in his face and countenance and almost moulten with sweate though without any cause of bodily labour but only by the perplexitie and horror of his minde hee came to Smiths house the Sherife where he refreshed himselfe a little and shifted him But the meane while it pleased God that her Maiesties directions at Court though in a case so strange and sudden were iudiciall and sound For first there was commaundement in the morning giuen vnto the Citie that euery man should be in a readinesse both in person and armor but yet to keepe within his owne doore and to expect commandement vpon a reasonable politique consideration that had they armed suddenly in the streetes if there were any ill disposed persons they might arme on the one side and turn on the other or at least if armed men had bene seene to and fro it would haue bred a greater tumult and more bloodshed and the nakednesse of Essex troupe would not haue so well appeared And soone after direction was giuen that the Lord Burghley taking with him the King of Heralds should proclaime him Traitour in the principall parts of the Citie which was perfourmed with good expedition and resolution and the losse and hurt of some of his Companie Besides that the Earle of Cumberland and Sir Thomas Gerrard Knight Marshall rode into the Citie and declared and notified to the people that hee was a Traitour from which time diuers of his troupe withdrawing from him and none other comming in to him there was nothing but despaire For hauing stayed a while as is sayd at Shirife Smiths house and there changing his pretext of a priuate quarell and publishing That the Realme should haue bene solde to the Infanta the better to spurre on the people to rise and called and giuen commandement to haue brought armes and weapons of all sorts and being soone after aduertised of the Proclamation he came forth in a hurry So hauing made some stay in Gracious street and being dismaid vpon knowledge giuen to him that forces were comming forwards against him vnder the conduct of the L. Admirall the Lieutenant of her Maiesties forces and not knowing what course to take he determined in the end to goe backe towards his own house aswel in hope to haue found the Counsellers there and by them to haue serued someturne as vpon trust that towardes night his friends in the City would gather their spirits together and rescue him as himselfe declared after to M. Lieutenant of the Tower But for the Counsellers it had pleased God to make one of the principall offenders his instrument for their deliuery who seeing my Lords case desperate contriuing how to redeeme his fault and saue himselfe came to sir Iohn Dauis and sir Gillie Mericke as sent from my Lord and so procured them to be released But the Earle of Essex with his companie that was left thinking to recouer his house made on by land towards Ludgate where being resisted by a company of
Pikemen and other forces gathered together by the wise and diligent care of the Bishop of London and commanded by sir Iohn Luson and yet attempting to cleere the passage he was with no great difficultie repulsed At which encounter sir Christopher Blunt was fore wounded and yong Tracie slaine on his part and one Waits on the Queenes part and some other Vpon which repulse he went backe and fled towards the Waterside tooke boat at Queene hiue and so was receiued into Essex house at the Watergate which he fortified and baricado'd but instantly the Lord Lieutenant so disposed his Companies as all passage and issue foorth was cut off from him both by land and by water and all succours that hee might hope for were discouraged and leauing the Earle of Cumberland the Earle of Lincolne the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Gray the Lord Burghley and the Lord Compton Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Thomas Gerrard with diuers others before the house to landward my Lord Lieutenant himselfe thought good taking with him the Lord of Effingham Lord Cobham Sir Iohn Stanhope Sir Robert Sidney M. Foulk Greuill with diuers others to assaile the Garden and Banketting house on the Water side and presently forced the Garden and woon to the wals of the house and was ready to haue assailed the house but out of a Christian and honorable consideration vnderstanding that there were in the house the Countesse of Essex and the Ladie Rich with their Gentlewomen let the Earle of Essex know by Sir Robert Sidney that hee was content to suffer the Ladies and gentlewomen to come forth Whereupon Essex returning the Lord Lieutenant thanks for the compassion and care he had of the Ladies desired onely to haue an houres respit to make way for their going out and an houre after to barricado the place againe Which because it could make no alteration to the hinderance of the seruice the L. Lieutenant thought good to grant But Essex hauing had some talke within of a sallie and despairing of the successe and thinking better to yeeld himselfe sent word that vpon some conditions he would yeeld But the L. Lieutenant vtterly refusing to heare of capitulations Essex desired to speake with my Lord who thereupon went vp close to the house and the late Earles of Essex and Southampton with diuers other Lords and Gentlemen their partakers presented themselues vpon the leades and Essex sayd hee would not capitulate but intreat and made three petitions The first That they might be ciuilly vsed Whereof the Lord Lieutenant assured them The second That they might haue an honourable triall Whereof the Lord Lieutenant answered they needed not to doubt The third That he might haue Ashton a Preacher with him in prison for the comfort of his soule Which the Lord Lieutenant said he would mooue to her Maiesty not doubting of the matter of his request though he could not absolutely promise him that person Whereupon they all with the ceremony amongst marshall men accustomed came downe submitted themselues and yeelded vp their swords which was about ten of the clocke at night there hauing beene slaine in holding of the house by musket shot Owen Salisburie and some few more on the part of my Lord and some fewe likewise slaine and hurt on the Queenes part and presently aswell the Lordes as the rest of their confederates of quality were seuerally taken into the charge of diuers particular Lords and Gentlemen and by them conueyed to the Tower and other prisons So as this action so dangerous in respect of the person of the Leader the maner of the combination and the intent of the plot brake forth and ended within the compasse of twelue houres and with the losse of little blood and in such sort as the next day all Courts of Iustice were open and did sit in their accustomed maner giuing good Subiects and all reasonable men iust cause to thinke not the lesse of the offenders treason but the more of her Maiesties princely magnanimitie and prudent foresight in so great a perill and chiefly of Gods goodnesse that hath blessed her Maiesty in this as in many things else with so rare and diuine felicitie THE EFFECT OF the Euidence giuen at the seuerall Arraignments of the late Earls of Essex and Southampton before the L. STEVVARD And of Sir Christopher Blunt and Sir Charles Dauers and others before great and Honourable Commissioners of Dyer and Determiner And of the Answeres and Defenses which the said Offendors made for themselues And the Replies made vpon such their Defenses With some other Circumstances of the proceedings as well at the same Arraignments as after THE two late Earles of Essex and Southampton were brought to their triall the nineteenth of Februarie eleuen dayes after the Rebellion At which trial there passed vpon them 25. Peeres a greater number then hath bene called in any former president Amongst whom her Maiestie did not forbeare to vse many that were of neere alliance and blood to the Earle of Essex and some others that had their sonnes and heires apparant that were of his Company and followed him in the open Action of Rebellion The Lord Steward then in Commission according to the solemnitie in such Trials receiued was the Lord Buckhurst L. high Treasurer who with grauity and temperance directed the Euidence and moderated and gaue the Iudgement There was also an Assistance of eight Iudges the three chiefe fiue others The hearing was with great patience and libertie the ordinary course not being held to silence the Prisoners till the whole state of the Euidence was giuen in but they being suffered to answere articulatly to euery branch of the Euidence and sometimes to euery particular deposition whensoeuer they offered to speake And not so onely but they were often spared to bee interrupte'd euen in their digressions and speeches not much pertinent to their cause And alwayes when any doubt in Law was moued or when it was required either by the Prisoners or the Peeres the Lord Steward required the Iudges to deliuer the Law who gaue their opinions seuerally not barely yea or no but at large with their reasons In the Endictment were not layed or charged the treasons of Ireland because the greatest matter which was the desseigne to bring ouer the Army of Ireland being then not cōfessed nor knowen it was not thought conuenient to stuffe the Enditement with matters which might haue bene conceiued to be chiefly gathered by curious inquisition grounded vpon report or presumptiō when there was other matter so notorious And besides it was not vnlikely that in his case to whom many were so partiall some who would not consider how things came to light by degrees might haue reported that hee was twife called in Question about one offence And therefore the late Treasons of his Rebellion and conspiracie were onely comprehended in the Enditement with the vsuall clauses and consequents in Lawe of compassing the Queenes death destruction and depriuation
receiued ouernight and so concluding that Allarme was taken at Court hee thought it to bee in vaine to thinke of the enterprise of the Court by way of surprize but that nowe his onely way was to come thither in strength and to that ende first to attempt the Citie Wherein hee did but fall backe to his owne former opinion which hee had in no sort neglected but had formerly made some ouertures to prepare the Citie to take his part relying himselfe besides his generall conceipt that himselfe was the darling and mynion of the people and specially of the Citie more particularly vpon assurance giuen of Thomas Smith then Shiriffe of London a man well beloued amongst the Citizens and one that had some particular command of some of the trayned forces of the Citie to ioyne with him Hauing therefore concluded vpon this determination now was the time to execute in fact all that he had before in purpose digested First therefore hee concluded of a pretext which was euer part of the plot and which hee had meditated vpon and studied long before For finding himselfe thankes bee to God to seeke in her Maiesties gouernement of any iust pretext in matter of state either of innouation oppression or any vnworthinesse As in all his former discontentments hee had gone the beaten path of Traytours turning their imputation vpon Counsellours and persons of credit with their Soueraigne so nowe hee was forced to descend to the pretext of a priuate quarrell giuing out this speach howe that euening when hee should haue bene called before the Lordes of the Councell there was an Ambuscado of Musketers placed vpon the water by the deuise of my Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Raleigh to haue murdered him by the way as hee passed A matter of no probability those persons hauing no such desperate estates or mindes as to ruine themselues and their posteritie by committing so odious a crime But contrariwise certaine it is Sir Ferdinando Gorge accused Blunt to haue perswaded him to kill or at least apprehend Sir Walter Raleigh the latter whereof Blunt denieth not and asked Sir Walter Raleigh forgiuenesse at the time of his death But this pretext being the best hee had was taken and then did messages and warnings fly thicke vp and downe to euery particular Nobleman and gentleman both that euening and the next morning to draw them together in the forenoone to Essex house dispersing the foresaid fable That hee should haue bene murdered saue that it was somtime on the water somtime in his bed varying according to the nature of a lye Hee sent likewise the same night certaine of his instruments as namely one William Temple his Secretary into the Citie to disperse the same tale hauing increased it some fewe daies before by an addition That he should haue bene likewise murdered by some Iesuits to the number of foure and to fortifie this pretext and to make the more buzze of the danger hee stood in hee caused that night a watch to bee kept all night long towards the street in his house the next morning which was Sunday they came vnto him of all handes according to his messages and warnings Of the Nobilitie the Earles of Rutland Southampton and the Lord Sands and Sir Henry Parker commonly called the Lord Mountegle besides diuers Knights and principall Gentlemen and their followers to the number of some three hundreth And also it being Sunday and the houre when hee had vsed to haue a Sermon at his house it gaue cause to some and colour to others to come vpon that occasion As they came my Lord saluted and imbraced and to the generalitie of them gaue to vnderstand in as plausible termes as hee could That his life had bene sought and that hee meant to goe to the Court and declare his griefes to the Queene because his enemies were mightie and vsed her Maiesties name and commaundement and desired their helpe to take his part But vnto the more speciall persons hee spake high and in other termes telling them That hee was sure of the Citie and would put himselfe into that strength that her Maiestie shoulde not bee able to stand against him and that he would take reuenge of his enemies All the while after eight of the clocke in the morning the gates to the Streete and water were strongly guarded and men taken in and let foorth by discretion of those that helde the charge but with speciall caution of receiuing in such as came from Court but not suffering them to goe backe without my Lords speciall direction to the end no particularitie of that which passed there might be knowen to her Maiestie About 10. of the clocke her Maiestie hauing vnderstanding of this strange and tumultuous assembly at Essex house yet in her Princely wisedome and moderation thought to cast water vpon this fire before it brake forth to further inconuenience and therefore vsing authoritie before she would vse force sent vnto him foure persons of great Honour and place and such as hee euer pretended to reuerence and loue to offer him iustice for any griefs of his but yet to lay her Royal commandement vpon him to disperse his company and vpon them to withdraw themselues These foure Honourable persons being the Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England the Earle of Worcester the Controller of her Maiesties houshold and the Lord chiefe Iustice of England came to the house and found the gates shut vpon them But after a little stay they were let in at the wicket and assoone as they were within the wicket was shut and all their seruants kept out except the Bearer of the Seale In the court they found the Earles with the rest of the company the court in a maner full and vpon their comming towards Essex they all flocked and thronged about them whereupon the Lord Keeper in an audible voice deliuered to the Earle the Queenes message That they were sent by her Maiestie to vnderstand the cause of this their assembly and to let them knowe that if they had any particular cause of griefes against any persons whatsoeuer they should haue hearing and iustice Whereupon the Earle of Essex in a very lowd and furious voyce declared That his life was sought And that hee should haue bene murdered in his bed And that he had bene perfidiously dealt withall and other speeches to the like effect To which the Lord Chiefe Iustice saide If any such matter were attempted or intended against him it was fit for him to declare it assuring him both a faithfull relation on their part and that they coulde not faile of a princely indifferencie and iustice on her Maiesties part To which the Earle of Southampton tooke occasion to obiect the assault made vpon him by the Lord Gray which my Lord Chiefe Iustice returned vpon him and saide That in that case iustice had bene done and the partie was in prison for it Then the Lord Keeper required the
should be sent against him And being asked what against the Queenes forces he answered that must haue beene iudged afterwards But being further asked whether he did aduise to come vnto the Court ouer night He saith no. For Sir Ferdinando Gorge did assure that the Alarum was taken of it at the Court and the Guards doubled Being asked whether hee thought any Prince could haue endured to haue any Subiect make the Citie his Mediator or to gather force to speake for him He saith he is not read in stories of former times but he doth not know but that in former times Subiectes haue vsed force for their mediation Being asked what should haue bene done by any of the persons that should haue beene remoued from the Queene He answered that he neuer found my Lord disposed to shed blood but that any that should haue bene found should haue had indifferent triall Being asked vpon his conscience whether the Earle of Essex did not giue him comfort that if he came to authoritie there should bee a toleration for Religion He confesseth he should haue bene to blame to haue denied it Chr. Blunt This was read vnto Sir Christopher Blunt and afterwards signed by him in the presence of vs who are vnder written Io. Herbert Nicho. Kemp. VVil. VVaimarke VVil. Martin Robert Andrewes Iohn Treuor Th. Thorney ¶ The second Confession of Sir Christopher Blunt the same day viz. the 18. of February taken before M. Iohn Herbert second Secretarie of Estate and subscribed by him in the presence of Nicholas Kemp Counsellor at Law Thomas Thorney his Surgeon and William Martin Robert Andrewes and Randolph Bull Citizens SIr Christopher Blunt after the signing of this confession being told that he did not deale plainly excused himselfe by his former weakenesse putting vs in minde that hee said once before that when he was able to speake he would tel all trueth doth now confesse That foure or fiue dayes before the Earle of Essex did rise hee did set downe certaine Articles to bee considered on which hee sawe not vntil afterward he was made acquainted with them when they had amongst themselues disputed which were these One of them was Whether the Tower of London should be taken Another Whether they should not possesse the Court and so secure my Lord and other men to come to the Queene For the first concerning the Tower he did not like it concluding that he that had the power of the Queene should haue that He confesseth that vpon Saturday night when M. Secretary Herbert had bene with the Earle and that hee saw some suspicion was taken hee thought it in vaine to attempt the Court and perswaded him rather to saue himselfe by flight then to ingage himselfe further and all his company And so the resolution of the Earle grewe to go into the Citie in hope as he saide before to finde many friends there Hee doeth also say that the Earle did vsually speake of his purpose to alter the gouernement Chr. Blunt Exam per. Io. Herbert Subscribed in presence of Nico. Kempe Tho. Thorney Rob. Andrewes VV. Martin Randolph Bull. ¶ The Declaration of the Lord Keeper the Earle of Worcester and the L. Chiefe Iustice of England VPon Sunday being the eight of February last past about ten of the clocke in the forenoone the Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Earle of VVorcester Sir VVilliam Knollis Comptroller of her Maiesties Householde and the Lord Chiefe Iustice of England being commaunded by direction from the QVEENES MAIESTIE did repaire to the late earle of Essex his house and finding the gate shut against them after a little stay they were let in at the wicket And assoone as they were within the gate the wicket was shutte vpon them and all their seruants kept out At their comming thither they found the court full of men assembled together in verie tumultuous sort The Earles of Essex Rutland and Southampton and the Lord Sandys Master Parker commonly called Lord Mountegle Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Charles Dauers and manie other Knights and Gentlemen and other persons vnknowen which flocked together about the Lorde Keeper c. And thereupon the Lorde Keeper tolde the Earle of Essex that they were sent from her MAIESTIE to vnderstand the cause of this their assembly and to let them know That if they had any particular cause of griefe against any persons whatsoeuer it should be heard and they should haue iustice Hereupon the Earle of Essex with a very lowd voice declared That his life vvas sought and that hee should haue beene murthered in his bed that he had beene perfidiously dealt vvith that his hand had beene counterfaited and Letters vvritten in his name and that therefore they vvere assembled there together to defend their liues with much other speech to like effect Hereupon the Lord Chiefe Iustice sayd vnto the Earle That if they had any such matter of griefe or if any such matter vvere attempted or purposed against him he vvilled the Earle to declare it assuring him that it should be truely related to her MAIESTIE and that it should be indifferently heard and iustice should be done vvhomsoeuer it concerned To this the Earle of Southampton obiected the assault made vpon him by the Lord Gray Whereunto the Lord Chiefe Iustice sayd That in his case iustice had beene done and the partie imprisoned for it And hereupon the Lord Keeper did eftsoones vvill the Earle of Essex that vvhatsoeuer priuate matter or offence hee had against any person vvhatsoeuer if hee vvould deliuer it vnto them they vvould faithfully and honestly deliuer it to the QVEENES MAIESTY and doubted not to procure him honourable and equall iustice whomsoeuer it concerned requiring him that if hee would not declare it openly that hee woulde impart it vnto them priuatelie and doubted not but they would satisfie him in it Vpon this there was a great clamour raised amongst the multitude crying Away my Lorde They abuse you They betray you They vndoe you You lose time Whereupon the Lord Keeper put on his Hat said with a loud voice My Lord let vs speake with you priuately and vnderstand your griefes And I command you all vpon your allegiance to lay downe your vveapons and to depart vvhich you ought all to doe being thus commanded if you be good Subiects and owe that duetie to the QVEENES MAIESTY which you professe Whereupon they all brake out into an exceeding loud shout and cry crying All all all And whilest the Lord Keeper was speaking and commanding them vpon their allegiance as is before declared the Earle of Essex and the most part of that Company did put on their hats and so the Earle of Essex went into the house and the Lord Keeper c. followed him thinking that his purpose had beene to speake with them priuately as they had required And as they were going some of that disordered Companie cried Kill them And as they were going into the great Chamber some cried Cast the
Rutland and others that he cried out to the citizens That they did him hurt and no good to come without weapons and prouoked them to arme and finding they would not be mooued to arme with him sought to arme his owne troupes This point by point was the effect of the Reply Vpon all which Euidence both the Earles were found guiltie of Treason by all the seuerall voyces of euery one of the Peeres and so receiued iudgement The names of the Peeres that passed vpon the triall of the two Earles  EARLES  BARONS The Earle of Oxford Shrewesburie Durbie Cumberland VVorcester Sussex Hartford Lincolne Notingham The Lord De la VVare Morley Cobham Stafford Gray Lumley VVindsore Rich. Darcy de Chichey Chandoys Hunsdon S. Iohn de Bletso Compton Burghley Howard of VValder Vicount Bindon The names of the Iudges that assisted the Court. The Lord chiefe Iustice. The L. chiefe Iustice of the Common Plees The Lord chiefe Baron Iustice Gawdie Iustice Fenner Iustice VValmesley Baron Clerke Iustice Kingsmill SOME PARTICVLARITIES of that which passed after the arreignment of the late Earles and at the time of the suffering of the Earle of Essex BVt the Earle of Essex finding that the consultation at Drurie house and the secret plots of his premeditated and prepenced treasons were come to light contrary to his expectation was touched euen at his parting from the Barre with a kinde of remorse especially because he had caried the maner of his answere rather in a spirit of ostentation and glory then with humilitie and penitence and brake out in the Hall while the Lords were in conference into these wordes That seeing things were thus caried he would ere it be long say more then yet was knowen Which good motion of his minde being after his comming backe to the Tower first cherished by M. D. of Norwich but after wrought on by the religious and effectuall perswasions and exhortations of M. Abdie Ashton his Chaplaine the man whom he made sute by name to haue with him for his soules health as one that of late time he had bene most vsed vnto and found most comfort of comparing it when he made the request to the case of a Patient that in his extremity would be desirous to haue that Physician that was best acquainted with his body He sent word the next day to desire to speake with some of the principall Councellours with whom he desired also that particularly M. Secretary might come for one Vpon which his request first the L. Admirall and M. Secretary and afterward at two seuerall times the Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Lord high Treasurer the L. high Admirall and Master Secretary repaired vnto him before whom after he had asked the Lord Keeper forgiuenesse for restraining him in his house and M. Secretary for hauing wronged him at the Barre concerning the matter of the Infanta with signification of his earnest desire to be reconciled to them which was accepted with all Christian charitie and humanitie he proceeded to accuse heauily most of his confederates for carying malicious mindes to the State and vehemently charged Cuffe his man to his own face to haue bene a principall instigator of him in his Treasons and then disclosed how farre sir Henry Neuill her Maiesties late Ambassador was priuy to all the Conspiracie of whose name till then there had bene not so much as any suspition And further at the Lords first comming to him not sticking to confesse that hee knewe her Maiestie could not be safe while he liued did very earnestly desire this fauour of the Queene that he might die as priuately as might be And the Morning before his execution there being sent vnto him for his better preparation Master Doctor Mountford and Master Doctor Barlowe to ioyne with Master Abdie Ashton his Chapleine he did in many words thanke God that hee had giuen him a deeper insight into his offence being sorie he had so stood vpon his iustification at his Arraignement since which time he sayd he was become a new man and heartily thanked God also that his Course was by Gods prouidence preuented For if his proiect had taken effect God knoweth sayd he what harme it had wrought in the Realme He did also humbly thanke her Maiestie that he should die in so priuate maner for hee suffered in the Towre yard and not vpon the Hill by his owne special sute lest the acclamation of the people for those were his own words might be a temptation to him adding That al popularitie trust in man was vaine the experience whereof himselfe had felt and acknowledged further vnto them that he was iustly and worthily spewed out for that was also his owne word of the Realme and that the nature of his offence was like a leprosie that had infected farre and neere And so likewise at the publique place of his suffering he did vse vehement detestation of his offence desiring God to forgiue him his great his bloody his crying and his infectious sinne and so died very penitently but yet with great conflict as it should seeme for his sins For hee neuer mentioned nor remembred there wife children or friend nor tooke particular leaue of any that were present but wholy abstracted and sequestred himselfe to the state of his conscience and prayer THE EFFECT OF THAT which passed at the Arraignements of Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Charles Dauers Sir Iohn Dauies Sir Gillie Mericke and Henry Cuffe THE 5. of March by a very honorable Commission of Oier and Determiner directed to the Lord high Admiral the Lord Chamberlaine Master Secretary the Lord chiefe Iustice of England Master Chancellour of the Exchequer Master Secretary Herbert with diuers of the Iudges the Commissioners sitting in the Court of the Queenes Bench there were arraigned and tried by a Iury both of Aldermen of London and other Gentlemen of good credit and sort Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Charles Dauers Sir Iohn Dauies Sir Gillie Mericke Henry Cuffe The three first whereof before they pleaded asked this question of the Iudges Whether they might not confesse the Inditemēt in part plead Not guilty to it in the other part But being resolued by the Iudges that their pleading must be generall they pleaded Not guilty as did likewise the other two without any such question asked The reason of that question was as they confessed in respect of the clause laid in the Inditement That they intended and compassed the death and destruction of the Queenes Maiestie vnto whose person although they confessed at the barre as they had done in their examinations that their meaning was to come to her in such strength as they should not be resisted and to require of her diuers conditions and alterations of gouernment such as in their confessions are expressed neuerthelesse they protested they intended no personall harme to hirselfe Whereupon as at the arraignment of the two Earles so then againe the Iudges deliuered the rule of the Law