forewarning of the Duke of Florence by expresse Message of Sir Henry Wootton to King James a year before his comming to these Kingdomes against Her beloved and undoubted Heir and in Them to destroy the Protestant Religion The most remarkeable was Gowries Conspiracie that of Gowries Conspiracy in Scotland And I never read or hear'd till our Pamphlet That Sir George Hewms his gravity and Wisdome ushered him into the Secrets of the KING therefore and chiefly to make good that story Pamph. 8. The first passage of the Preface Remarkable For of that Nation both the wisest and most honest gave great Credit thereto And the commemoration was advisedly settled by Acts of their Parliament which Anathematize upon Gowries House and Name And Solemnized there and here with Narratives in print of each particular Circumstance and the ground the cause inviting that Treason And truely the Anniversary feast-day in August was usually solemnized to God's Glory by the most Reverend Preachers witnesse those rare Divine Sermons of our Bishop Andrew's and others whose Consciences no doubt were not so large to cozen God Almighty with a fained tale Indeed there might have been more additionall truths annexed to the relation which I have heard to make it more apprehensive to our Pamphleter whose Speculations in this as in other his stories of Court and State took Information belike but in his Office Below-staires And which makes his faith drawe downe the effects of those Sermons for the Father Pamp. 10. as a Cause of the sad Events and sufferings of the Son and us all to this present The Name of Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious until Anno 1568 when Ruthen amongst others confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured much for the Imprisoning Queene Mary Mother to King James In 1582. his sonne William was created Earle Gowry in the time of that King's minority Though the father bore deadly hatred to the King's prosperity And in 1584. himselfe was in actuall Rebellion in which he suffered at Dondee His eldest son John then in travell in Italy returns home to inherit his lands and honours But not one jot changed in disposition from the traiterous wayes of his Predecessors For not long after he falls into this Conspiracy Which is not so antient but that many then and now living can relate and my self have often heard the repetition The House of Gowry were all of them much addicted to Chimistry And these more to the Practise often publishing as such professors usually do more rare experiments then ever could be performed wherein the King a general scholar had little faith But to infuse more credit to the practise Alexander Ruthen the second Brother takes this occasion and withall conspires with Gowry to assassinate the King and taking opportunity in his hunting not far from his house St. Johnstone invites the King to be an eye-witnesse of his productions In their way Sir Thomas Erskin after Lord Kelly overtakes them and others Demanding of the Duke of Lenox then present why Alexander had ingrossed the King's eare to carry him from his sports Peace man said the Duke Wee's all be turned into gold Not far they rid but that the Earle Gowry made good by protestation his Brother's story And thus was the King brought to Guest Neere the end of Dinner at his fruit and the Lords and Waiters gone to eate Alexander begs of the King at this opportunity to withdraw and to be partaker of his Production to the view of that which yet he could not beleeve And up he leades the King into by-lodgings locking each door behind them till they came into a back-Roome Where no sooner entered but that Alexander claps on his Bonnet and with sterne Countenance faces the King and saies Now Sir you must know I had a father whose bloud calls for revenge shed for your sake The King amazed deales gently with his fury excuses the guilt of his death by his then Infancy Advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his Anointed Soveraigne Especially in a cause of his Innocency Pleading the laws of God and Man which so much wrought upon him that he said well I will speak with my Brother And so put the King into a Lobby Room next the Chamber where no sooner entered but that there appeared a fellow weaponed ready for execution to whose custody the King is committed till his return Alexander gone downe the fellow trembles with Reverence puts down his sword and craves pardon which gave the King occasion to worke upon that passion and to aske him whether he resolved to murther him Being assured to the contrary the King gets leave to open a window that looked into a back Court When presently Alexander returnes and tells the King that he must dy But much affrighted at the fellowes countenance with his sword offers violence to the King Which the fellow seemingly opposes and betweene them began a scuffle which gave advantage to the King to cry Treason at the Window which looked into a back Court where Sir Thomas Erskin and one Herries were come In pursuite of the King who was rumored to be gone out the back way to his hunting At the cry of Treason and known to be the King's voice they both hastened up a back staire called the Turnepike being directed by a servant of the house who saw Alexander ascend that way And so forcing some doores they found them above panting with the fray And up comes also at heeles of them John Ramsey after Earle of Holdernesse by them Alexander was soon dispatched Not long after came the Earle Gowry by his double key the first way with a case of Rapiers his usuall weapons and ready drawn To whom Erskin said as to divert his purpose what do you meane my Lord the King is killed for the King was shadowed having cast himselfe upon a Bed from his sight and his cloak was thrown upon the Body of Alexander bleeding on the ground At which Gowry stops sincking the points of his weapons when suddainly Herries strickes at him with a hunting fawchion And Ramsey having his Hawke on his fist casts her off and steps into Gowry and stabs him to the heart and forthwith more Company came up And the truth very notorious then to every eye and eare-witnesse not a few There remained but one younger sonne of that House who though a childe was from that time Imprisoned by Act of their Parliament And so continued afterwards here in the Tower of London until that King's death and the grace of the late King Charles restored him to liberty with a small pension which kept him like a Gentleman to these times But now failing he walks the streets poore but well experienced also in Chimicall Physick and in other parts of Learning Not long after this Conspiracy Herries dies well rewarded John Ramsey hath the Honor of Knighthood with an additional bearing to his Cote of Armes A Hand holding
Proclametion That Essex and Southampton were Traitors all those that followed their faction Many dropping from the Crowd there was little defence by his party though some were killed and himselfe forsaken of the wisest He retires back to Queenhithe and so to Essex-house by water where finding the Birds flowen the Councellors released by their Keeper who in hope of pardon accompained them to the Queenes presence discovering so much as he knew concerning his Lord who finding himselfe too weake to withstand the force of a peece of Cannon mounted upon the Church to batter his House He and Southampton yeelded themselves Prisoners to the Tower Arraigned and executed where being arraigned and condemned Southamton had repreeve and after pardon But Essex the reward of his merits and Executed in March 1601. upon the Inner Hill in the Tower to the regret of None either wise or honest Leaving behind him one onely Son the last of his Line William Cecill Cecils Pamp. 10. illustrate from the family of Cecils who suffered persecution in the times of Henry 8. Edward 6. and Queen Mary he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth so soone as she was setled in her Crowne then Secretary and Councellor of State Afterwards created Baron of Burligh Then made Lord Treasurer of England and Knight of the Garter and died Chauncellor of the Vniversity of Cambridge Anno 1598. Intomb'd at Westminster leaving two Sons The elder Thomas was then Lord President of the North And afterwards created Earle of Exeter by King James and privy Councellor of State He died Anno discreet and honourable whom the world could never tax with any taint The other son Robert Sr. Robert Cecill was the second But a true Inheriter of his Fathers wisdome and by him trained up to future perfections of a Judicious States-man after his Knighthood the first imployment from Court for he was not at all bred out of it sent him Assistant with the Earle of Darby Embassadour to the French King At his returne the Queen took him second Secretary with Sir Fr. Walsingham after whose decease he continued Paincipal and so kept it to his death Not relinquishing any Preferment for the Addition of a Creater A remarkeable Note which few men of the Gowne can boast of His Father liv'd to see him setled in these preferments and after Master of the Wards and Liveries These he held to the Queenes death Being in all Her time used amongst the Men of weight as having great sufficiencies from his Instruction who begat him Those offices here in public with perpetual Correspondence by Emissaries of his own into Scotland might no doubt make him capable of Reception with King James who was to be advised by him how to be received here of his people Without any necessity then to make use of Sir George Hewmes or his Initiatiation afterwards with any juggling trickes Pamp 13. his merrits certainly appeared to the King who not onely not diminished his forformer preferments But often added to them even to the day of his death As first Baron of Essenden then Viscount Cranborne after Earle of Salisbury and Knight of the Garter and lastly Lord Treasurer of England He was a Councellor of singular merit A very great discoverer of the late Queens enemies abroad and of private Assinations at home For which She valued him and the Papists hated him which they published by several Manuscripts which I have seen and printed Libels and that most pestilent against his birth and honour threatning to kill him which himselfe answered wisely learnedly and religiously Extant in English and Latine Adversus Perduelles Indeed It behoved the King to bestow upon him the waight of the Treasurers Staffe The Cofers then in some want which the King was not likely soon to Recover but rather to increase in debt having the addition of wife and children to boot And being now come with common opinion into the Capacity by his additional Crownes to reward his old servants and to appear obliging unto new Ones The world wondering at the worth of this great Councellor I know not upon what score our Pamphleter should endeavour to scandal his memory Which he rancks into Numbers of ill Offices to his Nation Pamp. 12. as the burning of a whole cart-load of Parliaments Presidents which no man can be so sottish as to beleeve that knowes the strict concerving of those Records by sworne Officers As for the Baronets Baronets It was the earnest suite of two hundred prime Gentlemen of Birth and estates to my knowledge for I copied the list before ever it came this Lord. And as true it is That this Lord's Reception thereto was in the same words which our Pamphlet puts upon the King That it would discontent the Gentry to which themselves replyed Nay my Lord It will rather satisfie them in advance of Dignity before others who now come behind those Meaner Men whom the King was forced to Knight for his own honor and some merits of theirs having no other Reward or money to spare and therein not much to blame to oblige them that way As for that supposed jugling Pamp. 13. which the Duke of Bullion should discover As it was never known to wiser men So we may take it a devise of his who in these as in other such like of his own may truly merit that Character which he bestowes before On the good Gentleman Pamp. 9. I desire pardon if I speake much and truth in the memory of this Noble Lord being somewhat concerned to speak my owne knowledge I know that this Earle of Salesbury declining his health with continuall labour for the good of this Nation both in the former and in this his Soveraign's Service And am willing to give some light thereof to such as are pleased to read these particulars being an Account of his concernments For first Salisbury his service to the State Mannors Lands he found the King's Mannors and fairest possessions most unsurveyed and uncertain rather by report then by Measure Not more known then by ancient Rents the Estate granted rather by chance then upon knowledge The Custody-Lands Custody-hands antiently termed Crown-Lands much charged upon the Sheriffs yearly discharged by annual pensions A Revenue which seemed decayed by descent of times and worne out of all remembrance these he evermore revived by Commissioners of Asserts The Woods Woods were more uncertain then the rest No man knew the Copices Number of acres growth or value nor of Timber-Trees either Number or worth So as truly he might well find himself in a Wood indeed The Trees wasted without controwle because no Record kept thereof These he caused to be numbred marked and valued easily to be questioned when thereafter missing The Copy-hold Lands Copy-holds where the arbitrary sines ceased by the discretion of the Stewards and did seldome yeeld the Parsons part and that also vanish'd in fees and charges The State was then after like
Aulicus Coquinariae OR A VINDICATION IN ANSWER TO A PAMPHLET ENTITVLED The Court and Character of KING JAMES Pretended to be penned by Sir A. W. and published since his death 1650. Auribus oculisque recepta Nemesis à tergo London Printed for Henry Seile over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1650. ERRATA PAge 5. line 20. which read with p. 7. l. 24. Chimstry r. Chimistry p. 11. l. 15. Turnpike p. 36. l. 24. sore p. 39. l. 10. Tercera's p. 45. l. 1. deserve p. 52. l. 14. Assassinations p. 54. l. 5. to p. 54. l. 7. Exception p. 67. l. 15. the. p. 82. l. 2. leave p. 97. l. 6. of p. 105. l. 24 was p. 120. l. 11. her Preface THere are some Men so delight in sinne who rather than be idle from doing evil will take much pains to scandall the Dead My fear to offend hath withheld my hand a convenient time lest I should fall into the like error with Him that published the Pamphlet Entituled The Court Character of King James and Father 's the Brat upon Sir A. VV And if common fame mistake not the meaning His Parent took rise from Q. Elizabeths Kitchin and left it a Legacy for preferment of his Issue This Man went the same way and by grace of the Court got up to the Green-cloth Jn which place attending King James into Scotland he practised there to libell that Nation which at his return home was found wrapt up in a Record of that Board and by the hand being known to be his he was deservedly removed out as unworthy to eat of his bread whose Birth-right he had so vilely defamed Yet by favour of the King with a piece of money in his Purse and a pension to boot to preserve him loyall during his life though as a bad creditor he took this course to repay him to the purpose And I have heard that in his life he discovered a part of this Peece to his fellow Courtier who earnestly diswaded him not to publish so defective and false a scandall which as it seems in Conscience he so declin'd And therefore my Exception willingly falls upon the practice of the Publisher who by his Additions may abuse us with this false Story which he discovers to the Reader in 5 Remarkable Passages and gives me the occasion to spare my censure on the deceased person but to bestow my unkindness which necessarily intervenes in this Vindication on him who yet lives to make out his bad act with a Reply if he please more Pestilent upon Me. THE CONTENTS QUeen Elizabeth pag. 1 1. Remark Gowryes Conspiracy of the name Ruthens and Family the manner of the Treason and effects afâ—erwards 5 George Sprott Confederate with Gowry his confessions arraignment execution and testimony hereof 16 E. of Essex his Character undertakings Treason and execution 36 Caecils Sir Rob. Caecil his services sicknesse and death 49 Hen. Howard E. of Northampton his character and death 64 James L. Hay E. Carlisle his character Embassies and Interest 67 2. Remark Sir Walter Raleigh his character treason tryall and reprieve observations upon him and his former voyage to Guiana sentence and execution 74 Sir Tho. Lake his character rising ruine with his Wife and Daughter 98 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury and Sir Rob. Carr 110 The Nullity of Essex Marriage with Suffolk's daughter with the Legall proceedings 113 Of Archbishop Abbot 130 Sir Rob. Carr E. of Somerset his Marriage with Essex's Relict 133 3. Remark Sir Tho. Overbury his imprisonment and poysoned 135 Somerset and his Wifes tryall and Sir Thomas Monson 138 4. Remark Pr. Henry his character sickness disease and death not by poyson 143 Sir Arthur Ingram his condition 158 Sir Lionel Cranfield E. of Middlesex his birth breeding and advance 160 George Villiers his discent and advance a Favorite and Duke of Buckingham occasioning severall narrations c. 164 E. of Nottingham Admirall 169 Egerton Lord Chancellor 171 Bacon Lord Chancellor 171 Buckinghams Kinred 174 Williams Lord Keeper 178 5. Remark Spanish Match the Princes journey into Spaine and return 179 Bristolls concern'd 180 Inicossa Spanish Ambassador 182 Yelverton Attorney Generall 186 King James sicknesse the playster and death not by poyson 192 Conclusion 197 The Character 200 Aulicus Coquinariae OR THE CHARECTER Of Him who SATARIZ'D KING JAMES AND HIS COURT QUeen Elizabeth died Queen Elizabeth Anno Domini 1602. having bin long sick and indeed desperate which gave this State time enough to conclude for his reception the undoubted Heir to these Crownes JAMES then King of Scotland She hath been highly valued since Her death the best of any former Soveraigne over us She was fitted for fortunes Darling but with some Imprisonment the better to mould Her for the Rule and Soveraignty of a Kingdome and for the custody of a Scepter She shewed Her Justice and Piety as a President to posterity She was a Princesse learned even then when Letters had estimation and began them into fashion which brought forth many rare and excellent Men both of the Gowne and of the Sword Some say She had many Favorites but in truth She had none They were neer and dear to Her and to Her affaires as Partners of her care not Minions of phansey And yet such as they were she ever mastered by her own Rules not they Her by their own Wills And she wanted not many of them at need or pleasure She was Magnificent comparativè with other Princes which yet she disposed frugally Having alwaies much to do with little money for truly those either Wise or Gallant Men were never cloied with her Bounty more then in her Grace which with her Mannage passed for good payment The Irish affaires was to her Maligne which drew her Treasure almost dry the only cause of distemper in the State and ended not but with her life At which time she left her Cofers empty and yet her Enemies potent Pamp. 34. And therefore it could be no Treason in them that afterwards councelled the Peace but rather in such who indeavoured then and after the re-establishing a New War Amongst Her Favourites of the Sword none could boast more of her Bounty and Grace Essex Pamp. 10. then the Earle of Essex whose ingrate disposition blown beyond the Compasse of his steere by too much Popularity and Pride cosened him into that absolute Treason against his Soveraigne that notwithstanding many forewarnings of his neerest friends and unwilling Resentments of his deerest Mistresse his open Rebellion at last brought him to publique tryall condemned and executed as the most ingrate that former times could produce Of which we shall take occasion hereafter in some particular Wherein Sir Robert Cecill acted no more then a dutiful Subject Councelour and Judge ought to have done against him and such like of her time evermore attempting by Assassination or Poyson to take away her life As were also the like attempts by others in Scotland witnesse the
Sir John Skewe Knight Register And he was declared accused and pursued by Sir Thomas Hamilton Knight Advocate to the King for his Highnesse entries of the Crimes contained in his Indictment whereof the tenure follows viz. George Sprot Notary in Aye-mouth You are indicted and accused forasmuch as John sometime Earle of Gowry having most cruelly detestably and treasonably conspired in the moneth of July the year of God 1600. to murther our deere and most gracious Soveraigne the King 's most excellent Majesty And having imparted that divelish purpose to Robert Logaine of Restalrig who allowed of the same and most willingly and readily undertook to be partaker thereof The same comming to your knowledge at the times and in the manner particularly after specified You most unnaturally maliciously and treasonably concealed the same and was art and part thereof in manner following And first In the said moneth of July 1600. after you had perceived and known that divers letters messages had past betwixt the said John somtimes Earl of Gowry and the said Robert Logane of Restalrig you being in the house of Fast-Castle you saw and read a letter written by the said Restalrig with his own hand to the said Earle of Gowry viz. My Lord c. At the receipt of your letter I am so confuted that I can neither utter my joy nor find my selfe sufficiently able to requite your Lordship with due thanks And perswade your Lordship in that matter I shall be as forward for your honour as if it were my own cause And I think there is no Christian that would not be content to revenge that Machiavilian Massacring of our deer Friends yea howbeit it should be to venture and hazard life lands and all things else My heart can bind me to take part in that matter as your Lordship shall find proof thereof But one thing would be done namely that your Lordship should be circumspect and earnest with your Brother that he be not rash in any speeches touching the purpose of Padua And a certain space after the execution of the aforesaid Treason the said Robert Logane having desired the Laird of Bour to deliver to him the said letter or else to burn it and Bour having given to you all tickets and letters which he then had either concerning Restalrig or others to see the same because he could not reade himself you abstracted the above-written letter and retained the same in your own hands and divers times read it containing further to wit My Lord you may easily understand that such a purpose as your Lordship intendeth can not be done rashly but with deliberation And I think for my self that it were most meet to have the men your Lordship spake of ready in a bote or bark and addresse them as if they were taking pastime on the Sea in such faire Summer-time And if your Lordship could think good either your self to come to my house Fast-castle by sea or to send your Brother I should have the house very quiet and well provided after your Lordships advertisement And no others shall have accesse to haunt the place during your being here And if your Lordship doubt of safe landing I shall provide all such necessaries as may serve for your arrival within a flight-shot of the house And perswade your Lordship you shall be as sure and quiet here while we have setled our Plot as if you were in your own Chamber For I trust and am assured we shall have word within few daies from them your Lordship knowes of For I have care to see what ships come home by Your Lordship knows I have kept the Lord Bothwell quietly in this house in his greatest extremity in spite of King and Councell I hope if all things come to pass as I trust they shall to have both your Lordship his Lordship at a good Dinner ere I dy Haec jocose To animate your Lordship I doubt not but all things will be well and I am resolved thereof your Lordship shall not doubt of any thing on my part Peril of life lands honor and goods yea the hazard of hell shall not affray me from that yea though the Scaffold were already set up The sooner the Matter were done it were the better For the King 's Buck-hunting will be shortly and I hope it will prepare some daintier cheer for us to live the next year I remember well my Lord that merry sport which your Lordship's Brother told me of a Noble-Man at Padua for I think that a Parasceve to this purpose My Lord think nothing that I commit the secret hereof to this bearer for I dare not onely venture my life lands honour and all I have else on his credit but I durst hazard my soule in his keeping I am so perswaded of his fidelity And I trow as your Lordship may ask him if it be true he would go to Hell-gates for me and he is not beguiled of my part to him And therefore I doubt not but this will perswade your Lordship to give him trust in this matter as to my self But I pray you direct him home again with all speed possible and give him strait command that he take not a winck sleep till he see me again after he comes from you And as your Lordship desireth in your letter to me either rive or burn this letter or send it back again with the bearer for so is the fashion I grant Restalrig Which letter writ every word with the said Robert Logane's own hand was also so subscribed with this word Restalrig And albeit by the contents of the aforesaid letter you know perfectly the truth of the said most treasonable conspiracy and the said Logane his foreknowledge allowance and guilt thereof like as you were assured of the same by his receiving divers letters sent by Gowry to him and by his returning letters to Gowry for the same purpose and by sundry conferences ferences betwixt Logane and Bour in your presence and hearing concerning the said Treason as well in July preceding the attempt thereof as at divers other times shortly thereafter as likewise by Bour his revealing thereof to you who was upon the knowledge and devise of the Treason and was imployed as ordinary Messenger by Logane to Gowry whereby your knowledge concealing and guilt of the same was undeniable Yeâ— for further manifestation thereof about July 1602. the said Logane shewed unto you that Bour had told him that he had been somewhat rash to let you see a letter which came from Gowry to Logane who then urged you to tell what you understood by the same To whom you answered That you took the meaning thereof to be that he had been upon the councell and purpose of Gowrie's Conspiracy And that he answered you what e're he had done the worst was his own But if you would swear to him that you should never reveale any thing of that matter to any person it should be the best sight that ever
to raise of these Natures the true values and to receive equal benefit with the rest of the Subjects if the Book had bin since observed which he caused in print And for the Copy-holders of Inheritance who by many Records prove their fines certain they did hereupon offer for their freedome 20.30.40 and 50. years purchase where they could shew probable Records without sine to free themselves The Wastes and Commons were tender Titles Wastes Commons full of murmering and Commotion which truly he never durst offer to inclose Nor to urge the Tenants to become Suitors themselves with whom Commissioners were to be appointed to compound for a part and so he made a good President for the rest The Casual fines Casual fines due to the King out of the private possessions as other Lords have by their Courts of Leets Court Barons and such like and out of publique offences as the King was Parent of the Common-Wealth unto whom belong'd praemium poena These being natures left for the King's bounty he commended them also to Commissioners for a better Revenue to be raised being till his time utterly neglected and almost lost As for the extended Lands where the Officers became indebted to the Crown and made it an Art to have their Lands extended at easy rates He caused the most of these to be surveyed commended the Improvement to Commissioners and commanded the Tenants to appear before them The Improvements of the Customes he advanced from 86000. l. to 120000. l. and from that to 135000. l. by the year He bargained for the River-water to be brought to London River water and so to the driest parts which brought a great yearly value He alwaies incouraged all Industry of Manufactures Manufactures Such Inventions as the Statutes admit and countenance As home-making of Allome Salt by the Sunne Busses for fishing Salt upon Salt by new fires and Inventions Copper and Coperas of Iron and of Steele That the Subjects at home might be set on work and the small Treasure of the Nation kept within It concerned him as Secretary to have Intelligence from all parts of the World Intelligence and Correspondence with all Em bassadours and Forreigne States not to be neglected at any hand which he did at his own cost So did all parts grow confident of such a Councelour And so he kept Rules with the united Provinces whose Friendships he would say much concerned this State I may not forget his Christian care Ireland improved for poor Ireland Plantations there and transplantations of the Natives to advance the Customes there and to abate the charges of the Garisons And he did endeavour and in manner did effect an universall course of Law and Justice in the most barbarous and remote parts of that Nation And now concerning the Court of Wards and Liveries Wards Liveries By constitution of this State all the lands of this Nation are holden by two Tenures By Soccage or by Knights Service By the Plough to feed us or by the Sword to defend us And who so died leaving an Heir within age unable to do this service his Heir and Lands fell both to the Protection of the Soveraign And this in antient time was promiscuously carryed in the Court of Chancery until the middle time of Hon. the 8. when this Court of Wards was first erected Since which time the Masters thereof by favour of the Soveraign did accustome as a bounty of State to grant unto Noble Men the King's Servants and their owne followers both the marriag of the body and the lease of the Lands for a third peny of their true worth But in all humility his Lordship finding the estate in a Retrograde Consumption did with all obedience present his Patent at the Kings feet and so the whole benefit became the profit of the Crown Thus he wrought in the Mine of the State-affaires and wasted his Carkasse with desire to have done better Service in these his offices of Treasurer Secretary and Master of the Wards And yet these were sufficient just and true merits Without Friends Wit or Wealth to raise him so much in his Master's esteem Or without ill offices done by him to this Nation as our Pamphlet will make us believe in many absurd particulars And truly Pam. 11.12 his studious labours in the State brought him the sooner to sicknesse a Consumption of the Lungs wherein he wasted some years and at last by advise for cure at the Bath he took leave of the King who came to visit him at Salisbury-House and with tears at his parting protested to the Lords attending his great losse of the wisest Councelour and best Servant that any Prince in Christendome could Paralel Of whom one saies Tu Pater Patriae Princeps Prudentia cujus Extulit immensum Reges Populósque Britannos His time at the Bath was short being spent to extreamity ere he came thither and returning back by the way he was taken out of his Litter and put himself in his Coach and died afterwards at St. Margarets in the House of that worthy Gentleman Mr. Daniel in May 1612. My Lord Viscount Cramborne now Earle of Salisbury and the Lord Clifford Sir Robert Manton and many more Gentlemen of quality then present whom I saw there He was Imbalmed and after Intomb'd at his Princely Mannor of Hartfield Pamp. 14. A fairer Corps then any brasen face that belies his disease His death was extreame sadnesse to the King and to all his friends and others of worth and honour For in spite of the Pamphleter Pamp. 14. he will be valued as he does confesse Never came a Better The next we meet with is Henry Earle of Northampton Henry Howard Earle of Northampton The Antient and Illustrous family of the Howards were here more Eminent then any other that ushered the King to his Additionall Crownes This Henry Howard was Brother unto Thomas Duke of Norfolke who suffered for his attempt of marriage with the Queen of Scots whilst she was Prisoner here in England Which might be some Motive to induce the King to consider the advance of that family though they were indued with large possessions from their Ancestors The Duke left two Sons Philip Earl of Arundell Thomas Howard Earle of Suffolk afterwards Lord Treasurer Henry Howard their Uncle Pamp. 15 was more wedded to his Book then to the Bed for he died a Bacheler and so had the lesse occasion to advance his fortune by Court-flattery or State-Imployment nor indeed was he ever any Suitor for either He was accounted both wise and learned and therefore out of the Kings great affection to Letters especially when they are met in a Noble Person he was advanced in his Creation of Baron of Marnhill and Earle of Southampton then Pryvy Councelor Lord Privy Seale and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Knight of the Garter He had very plentifull for his single life
and to spare for his friends In his expence not over frugal maintaining his Port the most remarkeable like the Ancient NOBLE MAN in his family and Dependants of any other Lord then or since his time He assisted his Nephew the Earl of Suffolk by his designing and large contribution to that excellent Fabrick Awdley-end He built the Noble structure at Charing-Crosse from the Ground Northampton House and presented it a New-years-gift to the Lord Walden Suffolkes eldest Sonne and now called Suffolk-House and yet left his other Nephew the Earl of Arundell the rest of his estate so to appear to the world his equall distribution to such even kinred He was Religious and gave good testimony thereof in his life built that handsome Covent at Greenwich and indued it with Revenue for ever for maintenance of decaied Gentlemen a sufficient number and for women also considerable He died in Anno 1613. full of years and Honourable fame though Our Pamphleter wil not know so much Pamp. 16. and yet no doubt must needs be Iutimate with his Person for he tells us his thoughts That he had assuredly promised to himself the Treasurers staff Although we can produce this Lord's Letters and other testimonies imploying all his own and his Friends Interest for that preferment upon his Nephew Suffolke and excusing himself of the burthen and weight of that Office by his known Infirmity of Stone of the which he died Indeed James Hay Earle of Carlile Pamp. 18. It is no matter upon what Score that the King gave his affection to this Favorite James Hay The Scots were never very eminent with Neighbour-Princes what credit they had came by the French to keep ballance with England and them The beginning might then be hoped when their Vnion with these Crownes should afford the meanes to set them forth And it was prudentiall in the King to pick out one of his own to splendour that Nation in our way of peace and Court-ship Especially when all was done at the Master's cost For Hay was poor unlesse what he got by his first Match with the Lord Dennis heir for by his last he had nothing the great spirit of Pearcy Earle of Northumberland disdaining the Marriage and refused to afford a Groat to a beggerly Scot as he call'd him And now this Lord for so was he soon made Lord Hay His vaine 〈◊〉 spences then Viscount Doncaster and Earl of Carlile did most vainely prodigallize what he often begg'd And in truth he had it granted for no other purpose to put down the Englâ—sh Courtier at that vanity And which both abroad and at home was often paid for by the King 's Privy Purse As that feast at Essex-House Pamp. 19. and many his Masqueradoes at Court for he medled not with the Tilt-staff as being no Sword-man but in the other and such like he never escaped to act One part And these expences fam'd him with little credit how erche appears to our Pamphleters Judgement who cries up Pamp. 21. the bounty of his Mind beyond the Moon at least who in truth was never good to Man or beast His Embassies His Embassies to Germany were not so weighty when he posted so long through Germany to find out the Emperor who afforded him the Wild-Goose-Chase as knowing his Arrand before he came at him Which in truth was purposely so designed by the King only to spend time and to amuse mens expectations who were wild after a Warre to beget a Treaty concerning the lost Palatine The effects wherof as the King wisely prophesyed would produce distemper through all Christendome if not destructive to his Son in law He went into France Extraordinary France it was to treate with that King in favour of the Hugenots the Religion as they account it being risen to a Civill Warre by management of the Duke d'Rohau Count Sobeeze and others to a dangerous consequence in severall places almost over France which to allay that King had raised a great Army resolving with countenance of his own Person to give end thereto But King James being invited by several troublesome Commissioners their Agents to implore for their cause and take upon him their protection which he a wise Prince in that declined yet not to neglect them and the rather to satisfy some of our People of the like Gang medled thus farre to mediate by Embassy of Hay who as in that of Germany did nothing with effect but went up to Montaban and so come home again 'T is true he went into Spain Spaine with a message to our Prince with no more matter then others that came after to waite on him in that Courtship For there as in other Kingdomes his Scots vanity must also be blazon'd And for his last Embassy in France about Our Match with that Daughter and our Queen Again into France he came not into Commission till the Treaty was confirmed and the Marriage concluded by Embassy only of the Earle of Holland and Carlile put in afterwards to dance out the Measures His name being used in the Proxie for that Ceremony and at this time the Earl of Holland Earle of Holland had some colour for his expence which he lavished without reason to the weakening of his unsettled fortunes being forced to follow the other then in all his fashions And which Infection by after-Custome became his disease also and almost if not over-mastering yet over-shadowing his Natural eminent parts with which his inside was habited and perspicuous to such as knew him But I am not delighted to urge out this story of the Earl of Carlile as not willing to speak ill of any unlike our Pamphlet that spares none but Him For I should know that vertue and vice are Inherent in Man And as it becomes us to tell truth when we speak their vertue yet with modesty and compassion to discover their vices either being Examples for the future that to imitate this to shun And I cannot but with Compunction remind That the monstrous excesse of the belly and the back by his first President became then the Mode of those times for great Persons the most part to follow and for the Common People to this hour to practise And truly a wise and a good Man ought justly to have hated his condition in this without suspition of malice or envy Pamp. 21. as it is said Northampton did who yet as may be remembred took leave of this life ere Hay was setled on horsback And that other marke of Reproach also may without partiallity be taken oft the Score from that Noble Northampton who on my conscience for I knew him well disdained the Guilt in that frivolous story of Sir Robert Mansell Nor is it material to credit the rest of that Rant in his Vice-Admirall voyage The Second Remark of the Preface Second Remarke Pamp. 30. falls upon the Treason of Sir Walter Ralegh which the Pamphlet calls an arrant trick
Scots enters upon the Scots pa. 57. and would cousen us to credit their Story where he begins a division between the English and them at Court goes smoothly on to the middle of these last times Pamp. 58. when it seemes he writ this And as he saies saw all our happinesse derivative from their favours by their own valour and bravery of spirit Good Man He beleeves what he thought he saw But wanting the eye of faith to forsee this great Alteration which he lived not to find but We now to feele Our late gude Presbyterian Brethren turne false Loones and become the traiterous Rebells to that reformation which not long ago they professed he others beleeved and so disunited the union of all our quiet and happines Pamp. 60. Scandal upon E. of Salisbury He tells us of a trick that the Earle of Salisbury had to compound with the Scots Courtiers for their Books of Fee-farmes which they bought at 100. l. per annum for a thousand pound Then would he fill up these bookes with prime land worth 20. thousand pounds A pretty trick indeed to make himselfe Lord Para-Mount of the best lands in England but it had bin a gainful trade of our Author to have turn'd Informer to the State in the particulars of these Tricks and so the return of these lands so deceitfully got would prove now as hard a bargain to his son as the Lord-like purchasers of Debenturs have done latly to his son that may succeed him We are come to the consideration of the third Remark in the Preface Remar 3. Pamp. 61. Robert Carre and Sir Tho. Overbury and so we fall into the History of Rob. Car after E. of Summerset and intermixed with that of Sir Thomas Overbury Ro. Car was a Scottishman of no eminent birth but a Gent. and had bin a Page of honor to the King in Scotland And in truth he became the first Favorite that we find that is one whom the Ki. fancied meerly for his fashion upon no other score nor plot of design His Confident was one Sr. Tho. Overbury a man of good parts whom our Author hath well characterized and his policy was to please the English by intertaining them his Domestiques There was amongst other persons of honor quality in Court a young L. of great birth and beauty Fra. the daughter of Tho. Howard then E. of Suffolk L. Treasurer of Eng. married in under age unto the late and last E. of Essex Of him coÌ„mon fame had an opinion grounded upon his own suspition of his insufficiency to content a wife And the effects of this Narration with the sequell of his life and conversation with his second wife is so notorious as might spare me and the Reader our sever all labours for any other convincing arguments But with his first when both were of years to expect the event and blessing of their Marriage-bed He was alwaies observed to avoid the company of Ladies and so much to neglect his own that to wish a Maid into a Mischief was to commend her to my Lord of Essex Which increased the jealousie of such Men whose interests were to observe him That he preferred the occasion himself to a separation And which indeed from publique fame begat private disputation amongst Civilians of the legality thereof wherein those Lawyers are boundlesse This Case followed the heeles of a former Nullity fresh in memory between the L. Rich and his fair Lady by mutual consent But because the E. of Dev. married her whilst her Husband lived the King was so much displeased thereat as it broke the E. heart for his Majesty told him That he had purchased a fair woman with a black soul And this is a known truth That before Viscount Rochford for so was Carre lately created had made any addresse to this Lady her own friends in Justice and honor to her birth exposed her to the plaint of her HusbaÌ„d to the severest triall in a Course of judicature And 't is as true that the King knew hereof our Pamphlet saies A party in this â—â—udy businesse for what was legall for the meanest Subject Pamp. 77. could not in justice be denied unto Her Which in fine sentenced them both by Divine and Civil Canon loose from their Matrimoniall bands And because the Nullity gave freedome to either and so the means to the Countesses after Mariage with the sad occasions of all the sequell mishaps and suspected scandalls so untruly expressed by the Pamphlet I have with some diligence laboured out the truth precisely and punctually as it was acted and proceeded by Commission Delegative not easily now otherwayes to be brought to light Upon Petition of the Earl of Suffolke and his Daughter Francis to the King Proceedings of Nullity That Whereas his Daughter Francis Countesse of Essex had been Married many years unto Robert Earle of Essex in hope of comfortable effects to them which contrarywise by reason of certaine latent and secretemperfections and impediments of the said Earl disabling him in the rights of Marriage and most unwillingly discovered to him by his daughter which longer by him to conceale without remedy of Law and the practice of all Christian policy in like cases might prove very prejudiciall And therefore pray the King To commit this cause of Nullity of Matrimony which she is forced to prosecute against the said Earl to some grave and worthy persons by Commission under the great Seal of England as is usuall c. Which accordingly was granted unto foure Bishops two Privy Counsellers learned in the Law and to foure other Civill Lawyers with Clause to proceed Cum omni qua poterint celeritate expeditione Summarie ac de plano sine strepitu ac figura Judicii sola rei facti veritate inspecta mera aequitate attenta And with this Clause also Quorum vos praefat ReverendissimuÌ„ patrem Cant. Archiepiscopum Reverendissmum patrem Lond. Episcop Iul. Caesar Mil. Aut duos vestrorum in ferenda sententia interesse volumus But for some exceptions concerning the Quorum by the Commissioners in the words sententia esse not interesse A second Commission was granted and adjoyned two Bishops more with this Quorum Quorum ex vobis praefat Re. Pa. Georg. Cant. Archiepis Ioh. Lond. Episc Tho. Winton Episc Launcelot Eliens Episc Richard Covent Lichs Episc Ioh. Ross Episc Iulio Caesare Tho. Parry Mil. in ferenda sententia tres esse volumus Upon this the Lady procures Processe against the Earl to Answer her in a cause of Nullity of Matrimony The Ladies Libell The Earle appears before the Commissioners by his Proctor And She gives in her Libell viz. That the Earl and the Lady six years since in Ianuary Anno Dom. 1606. were Married her age then thirteen and his fourteen and now she is 22. and he 23 years old That for three years since the Marriage and he 18. years old they both
what they beleeved as to the Ladies deposition they did all depose that they believed the same to be true 1 And in particular That post plenam pubertatem utriusque they both endeavoured Copulation 2 That notwithstanding this Cohabitation and ability on his part per Inspectatrices she remained a Virgin incorrupted 3 That the Earl had Judicially sworne that he never had nor could nor should ever know her carnally And this the Law being That Impotentia coeundi in viro howsoever whether by naturall defect or accidentall means and whether absolute towards all or respective to his wife alone If it precede Matrimony and be perpetuall as by Law is presumed when by 3 yeares continuance after the Mans age of 18 years there having been nil ad copulam the Marriage not consummated the Law allowing the said proofs c. was abundantly sufficient to convince the said Earle of Impotency Because Canonum Statuta custodiri debent ab omnibus nemo in actionibus vel judiciis Ecclesiasticis suo sensu sed eorum authoritate duci debet The said Reverend and grave Judges Delegates gave this sentence unanimously as followeth Idcirco nos Episcopi c. in dicta causa Iudices Delegati Commissarii Christi Nomine primitùs invocato ipsum selum Deum oculis nostris praeponentes et habentes deque et cum consilio Iurisperitor cum quibus in hac parte communicavimus maturéq deliberavimus praefatum Domi. num Comitem Essex dictam dominam Franciscam ob aliq uod latens incurabile impedimentum perpetuum praedictum contractum solemnizationem praecedens citra solemnizationem et contractum praedictum nunquam carnaliter cognovisse aut carnaliter eandem cognoscere potuisse aut posse et eundem dominum Comitem quâ—ad carnale copulam cum cadem domina Francisca exercend omnino inhabilem et impotentem fuisse et esse Pronunciamus decernimus et declaramus praefatum praetensum Matrimonium sic inter praedictum virum Robertum Devoreaux Comitem Essex Et praedictam praenobitem faeminam Franciscam Howard de facto contractum et solemnizatum Omniaque exinde sequentia ratione praemissorum omnino invalidum ac nullum nulla fuisse et esse viribusque juris caruisse et carere debere atque nullo et aullis et invalido et invalidis ad omnem Iuris effectum ettamque pronunciamus decernimus et declaramus dictum matrimoniumpraetensum omniaque ex inde sequentia cassamus anullamus irritamus Memoratamque Dominam Franciscam Howard ab aliquo vinculo huiusmodi praetensi Matrimonii inter Eam dictum dominum Robertum Comitem ut praefatur de facto contracti solemnizati liberam solutam fuisse esse Et sic tam liberam solutam insuper pronunciamus decernimus declaramus Eademque dominam Franciscam ab eodem domino Comite Essex quoad vinculum Matrimonii praetensi praedicti omniaque ex inde sequentia liberandam divortiandam fore debere pronunciamus sic liberamus divortiamus eosdem quo ad transitum ad alias nuptias conscientiis suis in domino relinquere per hanc nostram sententiam desinitam sive hoc nostrum finale decretum quam si ve quod secimus promulgamus in his scriptis And these Records extant doe mention the proceedings you see modest and legall parallell with any former of the like kind though our Pamphleter with his baudy tale pleaseth himself to defame those Reverend Bishops whose dignities gave them place of Judges acting no more or otherwayes than the Ecclesiasticall Canons in such cases prescribe Nemine contradicente Yes sayes He Archishop Abbot Pamph. 78. who was therefore excluded the Councell Table and so dyed in disgrace of that King though in favour with the King of Kings The truth is otherwise For the Archbishop providence permitting ayming with a Crossebow to strike a Deere kill'd his Game keeper for which Act having His hand in blood by the Canons of the Church he cannot be admitted to officiate at the Altar and so He not being admitted to the full use of his spiritual calling Himself forbore the Councell Table as He told me in these words Since they will have it so that I am uncapable of the one I shall spare my self the trouble of the other But he enjoyed the benefit of that See whilst he lived and retyred in that time most constant to his Palace at Lambeth Much displeased he was as I well remember with the Court and Clergy and upon that Score And forsooth to justifie that his Function was not weakned by his Mischance quarrelling with the Canons he fell upon down-right Puritan Tenents which gave occasion to many Discontents of our Church and State to visit him so frequent that they called themselves Nicodemites and his Disciples And I observed very often perhaps therefore for I could not meet with a better reason that the Archbishop constantly with Candell light in his Chamber and Study made it Midnight at Noon day And here he began to be the first Man of Eminency in Our Church a Ringleader of that Faction for I can name those then his private Disciples which lately appear desperate Proselites And thus He lived Pamph. 1â—5 but died not in displeasure of King James for the Phamphlet perswades us afterwards to believe him to be the Kings confessor living long after in the late Kings time from whom no evill Resentment could passe in relation to this former Story it being buried in Oblivion to Him and all good Men till that Our Pamphletter rakes in the Embers to light His owne Candel And thus after all the former proceedings and the Nullity pronounced a Marriage was solemnized with Viscount Rochford then Earl of Somerset And truly here I should be unwilling to prosecute this Story but our Pamphletters foule mouth leads me back to Master Copinger Pamph. 6â— Mr. Coppinger whose birth breeding and behaviour deserves no lesse of fame than to leave him quiet in the silent Grave But He knew Him otherwise deserving I am sure many men now living know that Our Author may give himselfe Copingers Character faces about and in truth you have Him to a haires bredth Master Copinger had been heretofore Master of a larger fortune which yet fell not so low as to turne Baud for want of better maintenance Indeed he was entertained a Dependent on Rochford a favourite and Lord Chamberlaine and so no dishonour for Him or other Men of better Ranke and Birth than Our Authors family to be near attending so great a Person as Gentleman of his Bed Chamber and thereby the more proper to be trusted with the Secrets and Civilities of his Masters lawfull Affection and addresse to so great a Lady which might then well become Him or any other honest Man to advance and I may believe he afforded the conveniency of His own house for their meeting and consent of Marriage which was not long after solemnized
in our Pamphlet The 4th Remarke in the Preface which wee must take leave to separate for each single story and Re-mind back the death of that Heroick Prince HENRY in the midst of Somerset's Greatnes Who had he liv'd to have bin King would no doubt with our Authors leave have been so gracious as to leave alive Pamph. 85 one HOWARD to pisse against the Wall When as with reverence to His Memory it was a notorious truth that He made Court to the Countesse of Essex before any other Lady then living But He is dead and poysoned too as we shall have it in his following discourse and yet speaks not one word more of Him afterwards Prince Henry was borne in Scotland at Striveling Castle in February 1594. the first sonne unto King JAMES and Queene ANNE His breeding apted his excellent Inclination to all Exercises of Honor and Arts of Knowledge which gave him fame the most exquisite hopefull Prince in Christendome In the nineteenth yeare of his Age His Sicknesse appeared the first Symptome of change from a full round face and pleasant disposition to be paler and sharpe more sad and retired often complaining of a giddy heavinesse in his for-head Which was somewhat eased by bleeding at the Nose and that suddenly stopping was the first of his distemper and brought him to extraordinary qualms which his Physicians recovered with Strong waters About this time severall Ambassadors Extraordinary being dispatched home He retired to his House at Richmond pleasantly seated by the Thames River which invited him to learn to swim in the Evenings after a ful supper the first immediate pernicious cause of stopping that gentle flux of blood which thereby putrifying might ingender that fatall Feaver that accompanied Him to his Grave His active Body used violent Exercises for at this time being to meet the King at Bever in Nottinghamshire he rode it in two dayes neer a hundred miles in the extremity of heat in Summer For he set out early and came to Sir Oliver Cromwells neer Huntingdeâ— by ten a clock before Noon neer 60 Miles and the next day bet mes to Bever 40 Miles There and at other places all that Progress He accustomed to Feasting Hunting and other sports of Balloon and Tennis with too much violence And now returned to Richmond in the Fall of the Leaf He complained afresh of His pain in the Head with increase of a meager complexion inclining to Feverish And then for the rareness thereof called the New disease Which increasing Takes His Chamber the 10th of Octob. He took His Camber and began Councel with His Physician Doctor Hammond an honest and worthily learned Man Three dayes after He fell into a loosness by cold 15 times a day Then removes to London to St. Iame's contrary to all advise And with a spirit above his Indisposition gives leave to His Physician to go to his own home And so allowes Himselfe too much liberty in accompanying the Palsgrave and Count Henry of Nassaw who was come hither upon Fame to see him in a great Match at Tennis in His Shirt that winter season his looks then presaging sickness And on Sunday the 25 of Octob. He heard a Sermon The text in Iob Man that is born of a Woman is of short continuance and is full of trouble After that He presently went to White-Hall and heard another Sermon before the King and after dinner being ill craves leave to retire to his own Court where instantly he fell into sudden sicknes faintings and after that a shaking with great heat and Headâ—ach that left Him not And His Bed whilst He had Life Instantly He takes His Bed continuing all that night in great drought and little rest The next day Head ache increasing his Body costive pulse high His water thyn and whitish Doctor Mayern prescribes Him a Glister After which he rose playd at Cards that and the next day But looked pale spake hollow dead sunk eyes with great drought And therefore Mr. Nasmith should have let him blood by Mayerns Counsell But the other Physicians disagreeing it was deferr'd yet He rose all this day had His fit first cold then a dry greatheat On his 4th day comes Doctor Butler that famous Man of Cambridge who approved what had bin ministred gave hopes of revery and allowed of what should be given Him Mayern Hammond and Butler desired the assistance of more Doctors but the Prince would not to avoid confusion in Counsell His Head-ache drought and other accidents increased This Evening there appeared 2. hours after Sun set A Lunar Rainbow directly cross over the House very ominous The 6.7 increasing His disease The 8th His Physicians bleed the Median of his right arm 8. ounces thin and putride After which He found ease with great hopes and was visited by King Queen Duke Palsgrave and Sister The 9th worse than before His disease and therefore Doctor Atkins assisted their opinions That his Disease was a corrupt putrid Feaver seated under the Liver in the first passage The Malignity by reason of the Putrefaction in the highest degree was venemous The 10th increasing Convulsions greater ravings and Feaver violent And therefore Mayern advised more bleeding But the rest would not but applyed Pigeons and Cupping glasses to draw away the pain The 11th small hopes All accidents violently increasing no applications giving ease His Chaplains continuing their daily Devotions by His Bed side The Archbishop of Canterbury and Doctor Melborn Dean of Rochester and others with whom He daily prayed The 12. No hope The King with excessive grief removes to Kensington House There were added Doctor Palmer and Doctor Guifford all imaginable helps Cordialls Dia. phoretick and Quintessentiall spirits a water from Sir Walter Raleigh Prisoner in the Tower all these were by Consent administred withâ—ut any effect And so He died at 8 a Clock at night Friday the 6. His death of November 1612. The Corps laid upon a Table Corps laid out the fairest cleerest and best proportioned without any spot or blemish The next day was solemnly appointed for imbowelling the Corps in the presence of some of the Counsell all the Physicians Chirurgions Apothecaries and the Palsgraves Physician And this is the true Copy of their view And viewed by Certisicate under their hands as followeth The Skin as of others Blackish Skin but no way spotted with Blacknesse or Pale marks much lesse purpled like Flea bites could shew any Contagion â—r Pestilenticall Venome About the place of His Kidnies Kidnies Hipps and behind His Thighs full of rednesse and because of his continuall lying upon his back his belly somewhat swollen and stretched out The Stomach whose handsom Stomach within and without having never in all his sicknesse been troubled with vomiting lothing or yelping or any other accidents which could shew any taint The Liver marked with small spots above Liver and in the Lower parts with small lines
of a decrepid old Man to a proper young Lord and strengthned with the abilities of an experienced Assistant Pamph. 124. without deserving the least quarrelling Item of our Carping Pamphleter The next in our way Chancellor Egerton is that of the Lord Egerton He was Chancellor of England a man very aged and now with sicknesse fallen on his aeath-bed Pamph. 125. The Term come and the Scal to be disposed In order thereunto the King sent Secretary Winwood not Bacon for the Seal with this Message That himself would be his under keeper and not to dispose it whilst he lived to bear the name of Chancellor Nor did any receive the Seale out of the Kings sight till Egerton was dead which followed soon after Sir Francis Bacon succeeded him in the Chancery Chancellor Bacon He was Attorney Generall and as others by that Place and the usuall way of preferment time without memory come to high Office of Iudicature either in Chancery or to the other Benches so did he rise He was a man of Excellent parts of all other learning as of that of the Law and as proper for that place as any man of the Gown His merits made him so then which in after time his vices blemished and he justly removed to his private Studies which render him to the world full of worth and with the small Charity of our Author might merit the Bayes before any Man of that age And so we shall spare our labor to observe his entrance into that Honor by the idle Message from Buckingham Pamph. 127. made up only by our Authors mouth Who tells us of his growings heighth and pride Particularly intimated afterwards to the King in Scotland Pamph. 131. by Letters from Winwood which the King read unto our Author At which he sayes they were very merry Good God! The King opens his bosome to him at that instant not usuall to any of the Green-cloth when this Man so vilely studied and plotted his Soveraigns and that Kingdoms dishonor Vide Preface for which he was turned out of the Court. Was the King so gracious to him he so graceless then and since in the Pamphlet to defame him and his Posterity He that eats of his bread lifts up his hand to destroy him And afterwards we are told his downfall which he says at last humbled him to a Horse boy He did as became him to do to the House of Peers prostrate himself and sins which ingeniously he acknowledged craving pardon of God and Them promising with Gods mercy to amend his life which he made good to the worlds Eye Those excellent works contrived in his Retirements d ee manifest And let me give this light to His better Character from an observation of the late King then Prince returning from hunting He espied a Coach attended with a goodly Troop of Horsemen who it seems were gathered together to wait upon the Chancellour to his House at Gorembury at the time of his declension At which the Prince smiled Well! do we what we can said He This Man scornes to go out like a Snuffe Commending his undaunted Spirit and excellent parts not without some regrett that such a Man should be falling off And all this much differing from Our Authors Character of Him Those times are complained of Pamph. 129. What base courses our Favourite took to raise moneys for advance of his beggerly Kindred Heretofore we are told that the Great Men mastered all now the affairs are Managed with beggerly fellows concludes against himselfe that Riches make Men Cowards and Poverty Valiant T is true Plenty makes Men Proude and Industry brings a Man to Honour Had our Author lived to these our dayes and observed as much now as he pried into then He must have spoke other Language unlesse as likely He could hold with the Hare and run with the Hounds We all know the Duke of Buckingham had many Kindred for his Family were Antient. And dispersed by time into severall Matches with the Gentry who no doubt did addresse to the Favourite for preferment And what strange or new device was it in Him to raise them that were neere in Blood by Noble and worthy wayes as he did and if our Author had liked to lick after the Kitchen-maid had it been handsome for a Kinsman to have kickt at his kindnesse Pamph. 129 130. Good God what a Summary Bead-roll of Pensioners are listed in our Authors Account Sure He became Register to the Revenue of that Rabble Chancellour Attorney Deans Bishops Treasurers Rich and Poore raking upon the rates of Offices Bishopricks Deaneries with Fines and Pensions Otherwise he sayes It had been impossible that three Kingdomes could have Maintained His Beggerly Kindred Oh Pamph. 7. but He must tell us He made them all Lords w ch got him much haued He did so and he did well He made his two Brothers Peers his Mother and Sister Countesses the rest of his kindred by his Countenance got means to live like their Birth-rights being a Race Handsome and Beautifull And yet let me tell him I have been often present when it hath been urged as a Crime to this great Man the neglect of his owne when the discourse hath been prest for preferment of his Freinds And this I know for I acted therein The Late King in honour of Buckinghams Memory supplied the necessities of his Kindred which his untimely death left without support As for the base Observations through and through the Pamphlet though I liv'd in the shadow of the Court reasonable years to see many turns of State Yet I confesse my time other wayes diverted than to rake after so much Ribaldry and beastly bawdery as now to question this his peeping pimping into each Petticoat Placket and for his sufficienency therein he might have been made Master of the Game In Bacons place Pamph. 139. Doctor Williams Lord Keeper comes to preferment Doctor Williams by the title of Keeper of the Seal during pleasure which the Chancellor hath for life He was also Dean of Westminster and Eishop of Lincolne brought in sayes he to serve turns to do that which no Layman was sound bad enough to undertake Former Ages held it more consonant to Reason to trust the Conscience of the Clergy with the Case of the Layman they best knowing a Case of Conscience And antiently the Civill Law was allwayes judged by the Ministers of the Church and the Chancery and Courts of Equity in charge of a Divine Minister So ran that Channell till Bacons Father had it from a Bishop and now a Bishop has it again And had King Iames lived to have effected his desires the Clergy had fixed firm footing in Courts of Iudicature out of the rode of the Common Law And this was the true Cause of Williams Initiation thither How he fell from that and other his wayes since from worse to worst of all we leave him if he be
told he should tell the Duke Forsooth That which the King spake in Parliament not to spare any that was dearest or lay in his bosome by which he pointed to you meaning the Duke And must Buckingham adventure his and the Lieutenants head to learn this News which no doubt the Duke heard before being then at the KING's Elbow Pamph. 161 After this impertinent digression or great secret he discovers which none ever dream'd of a wonderfull failing of the Spaniards both wisdom and gravity And why gravity forsooth That which had bin against all Humanity Comerce and Custome of Nations the Spaniard mist of the advantage to imprison the Prince a sure pledge no doubt for the Spaniard to have gotten the Heir-dome of England And this he tells us for truth out of their own confessions But they were caught with a trick having the Princes faith and his Proxy to boot remaining with Digby which might cosen them into this kindnes to let him come home again Where at a Conference of both houses of Parlament Bristoll is blam'd and it being truth the Prince owns it and Bristoll is sent for by authority otherwise it had bin petty Treason in him to return home from his Commission Pamph. 163 The King of Spain he sayes disswades Bristolls return as doubting the successe as well he might knowing him to be his Pensioner who for his sake is like to suffer But he being come and convented before the Parliament endeavors to cleer himself with a single Copy of a Paper and a bawdy tale to boot against Buckingham but forbore to tell it out for offending their chast Ears In this Pamph. 165 the Author is so ingenious as to be judged by the Reader what a horrible wound Bristoll gave the Prince or Buckinham and yet by his Confelsion the wisdome of the House committed Bristoll to the Tower but some dayes after not the next day he was set at liberty nor durst any bring him to further tryall He was committed for his contempt and might have lain there longer Prisoner But the Duke made means for his Release lest it should move a jealousie that it was his designe thereby to delay the Tryall Which to my knowledg was earnestly pursued by the Duke and had that Parliament lasted might have been a dear bargain for Bristoll In this Parliament Pamph. 168 our Author observes the Princes early hours to act by where he says he discerned so much juggling to serve his own ends that being afterwards come to be King he could not affect them A notable Note he calls that Parliament Iugglers and gives it a reason why the late King must needs disaffect all other Parliaments that succeeded Then have we a discovery of our Authors owne making Pamph. 169 which is intended he says as a caution to all States men with a singular Commendation of the wisdome of the late Earl of Salisbury whom before throughout his Pamphlet he loads with singular disgraces He tels us of a Treaty heretofore with Spain for a Match with Prince Henry where the jugling was discovered that there was no such intention And that the Duke of Lerma the Favorite of Spain leavs the Spanish Ambassador here in the lurch to answer for all who in a great snuff against those that sent him hither prostrates his Commission and letters of Credit under the King his Masters hand and seale at the foot of our Councell Table and so returnes home and yet was not hanged for his labour but liv'd and died bonus Legatus And thus our author having hunted the King hitherto blowes his death at parting Pam. 171. King James's Sickness which he sayes began with a Fever but ended by a poysoned Plaister applyed by Buckingham For which being questiond the very next Parliament it was hastily dissolved for his sake only to save his life In the entrance of the Spring the King was seized with a Tertian Ague which to another Constitution might not prove Pestilentiall But all Men then knew his Impatience in any pain and alwayes utter Enmity to any Physick So that nothing was administred to give him ease in his sits Which at length grew violent and in those Maladies every one is apt to offer advice with such Prescriptions as have been helpfull unto others and in truth those as various as the disease is Common So it was remembred by a Noble vertuous The Playster and untaint Lady for Honour and Honesty yet living of a present ease by a Plaister approved upon severall Persons which because the Ingredients were harmless and ordinary it was forthwith compounded andready for application not without serious resolution to present it to the Physicians consent But the King fallen into slumber about Noone the Physicians took opportunity to retire having watch'd all Night till that Time When in the interim of their absence the King wakes and falls from a change of his Fit to timelier effect than heretofore it usually happened which to allay this Playster was offered and put to his Stomach But it wrought no mitigation and therefore it was removed by the Doctors Who being come were much offended that any One durst assume this boldness without their consents But by Examination they were assured of the Composition and a peece therof eaten downe by the Countesse that made it and the Playster it selfe then in being for further tryall of any suspition of poyson Which if not satisfactory it must and ought to lodge upon their score Sir Mathew Lister Doctor Chambers and others who were afterwards examined herein with very great satisfaction to clear that calumny and are yet living to evince each ones suspition It was indeed remembred the next Parliament following and whereof the Duke was accused as a Boldness unpardonable But in the Charge which as I remember Littleton Managed at a Conference in the Painted Chamber it was not urg'd as poysonous but only criminous But ere the King dyed Pamph. 174. it is told us That Buckingham was accused to his face by an honest servant of the Kings name him if you can who valiantly tript up the Dukes heels that his pate rung Noone for which he call'd upon the gasping King no body being by for Justice And though speechlesse we are told what he would have said viz. Not wrongfully accused And here observe Pamph. 175. he makes Archbishop Abott the Kings Confessor at his death who before he sayes pag. 78. lived in disgrace and excluded the Counsell Table And dyed in disgrace of this King on Earth 175. but in favour of the King of Kings Bishop Williams then Lord Keeper was the other Confessor and in the mouths of two Witnesses consists the Truth What regrett and jealousie remaines then in our Authors heart that some Mischief should lye hid in the secrets of the Sacrament of Confession which he could not learn to out-live the Honour and Fame of his Sacred Soveraign How hath our Author patch'd up a Pamphlet of State Notions