'to be used towards such as were sent from her Majesty ; ' and thereupon he went to the Earl of Essex and told him 'what violent courses were intended to be taken towards 'such as were sent unto him from her Majesty. And ' others coming by, and hearing this Examinate's speeches ' unto the Earl of Essex, swore that it was no time then 'to make orations, but said, "Let us make an end of 'them, and then we have the fewer to deal withal." 'Whereupon the Earl of Essex answered nothing, but went away from this Examinate. After which this ⚫ Examinate going down amongst the company perceived amongst them that order was given, that if any violence was offered to the house, or that the Earl of Essex miscarried in London, that then the Lord Keeper and the Lord Chief Justice should be presently killed. And this Examinate and his uncle being carried in the press, and following the press into London, with purpose to withdraw the Earl of Bedford from that company, (this Examinate being his near kinsman and his said uncle the said Earl of Bedford's servant,) as soon as they could get any fit opportunity, without danger to 'the Earl or themselves, they got him away from that company and carried him away by water.'

Essex. I will not (I protest to God) speak to save my life; for those that prosecute it against me, shall do me a good turn to rid me of much misery, and themselves of fear. As for Mr. Widdrington, he doth much discredit himself in saying what he hath deposed; for he shewed as good a liking and affection to our actions when he was with us, as any other that was there at that time. Mr. Widdrington came voluntarily to my house, unsent for, and in the forenoon did go in our company, and took to heart as much as we did whatever we went about; and after all, these are but reports, for the witness is not here, being of purpose sent into the country upon employments from the Queen. If it had been a secret to which he alone was privy, then Mr. Widdrington being called, had been a sufficient witness; but being so openly spoken, as you say by a hundred persons, more might have testified it, yet none have spoken to it besides Widdrington. And as for locking up the Lords sent from the Council, it was done in charity and without

disloyalty, and intended only to safeguard them, lest they should have taken hurt; for when the people in the streets shouted with a great and sudden outcry, they said, "We shall all be slain." At which time I and my friends thought our enemies had been come to beset the house; but my intent respecting the Lords was no otherwise than loyal to her Majesty and them. I protest to God, upon my salvation, I never heard such words as "kill them, kill them."

Then the Attorney-General desired that the Lord Chief Justice Popham might declare whether he had heard those words," kill them, kill them," or not?

Lord Chief Justice Popham. I did hear them spoken at my back; but I cannot say directly whether my Lord of Essex did hear them, or not.

Then the Lord Chief Justice was desired to declare his knowledge of that which passed at Essex-house, on the Sunday morning; whereupon he was sworn and gave his Evidence to this effect:

Upon Sunday, the 8th February last, about ten of the clock in the forenoon, the Lord Keeper, the Earl of Worcester, Sir William Knollys, and myself, being commanded by the Queen's Majesty, did repair to the Earl ' of Essex's house; and finding the gate shut against us, after a little stay we were let in at the wicket, and as soon as we were within the gate, the wicket was shut upon us, and all our servants kept out. The Court was full of men assembled together in a very tumultuous sort. The Earls of Essex, Rutland, and Southampton, and the Lord Sandys, Master Parker, commonly called Lord Mounteagle, Sir Christopher Blunt, Sir Charles Danvers, and many other knights and gentlemen, and other persons unknown, flocked together about us. And thereupon the Lord Keeper told the Earl of Essex "that we were sent from her Majesty, to understand the cause of this their assembly, and to let them know that if they had any particular cause of grief against any persons whatsoever, it should be heard, and they should have justice." Hereupon the Earl of Essex, with a very loud voice, declared, "that his life was sought, and that he should have been • murdered in his bed; that he had been perfidiously

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dealt with; that his hand had been counterfeited, and letters written in his name; and that, therefore, they were assembled there together to defend their lives," 'with much other speech to the like effect. Hereupon 'I willed the Earl, that if they had any such matter of 'grief, or if any such matter were attempted or purposed against him, he should declare it; assuring him that it ⚫ should be truly related to her Majesty, and that it should be indifferently heard, and justice should be done. To this the Earl of Southampton objected the assault 'made upon him by the Lord Grey. Whereunto I said that in his case justice had been done, and the party imprisoned for it. And hereupon the Lord Keeper did again will the Earl of Essex, that whatsoever private matter or offence he had against any person whatsoever, if he would deliver it unto us, we would faithfully ' and honestly deliver it to the Queen's Majesty, and ' doubted not to procure him honourable and equal justice, whomsoever it concerned; requiring him, that if he 'would not declare it openly, that he would impart it unto us privately, and doubted not but we should satisfy him in it. Upon this there was a great clamour raised among ⚫ the multitude, crying, "Away, my Lord, they abuse you, they betray you, they undo you, you lose time." Where· upon the Lord Keeper put on his hat, and said with a loud voice, "My Lord, let us speak with you privately, and ' understand your griefs;" and then he said to the company, "I command you all, upon your allegiance, to lay 'down your weapons and to depart, which you ought all to do, being thus commanded, if you be good subjects and owe that duty to the Queen's Majesty which you profess." Whereupon they all broke out into an exceeding loud shout, crying, "All, all, all." And whilst the Lord Keeper was speaking, the Earl of Essex and most of the company put on their hats. Then the Earl of 'Essex went into the house, and we followed him, thinking that his purpose had been to speak with us privately as we had required; and at that instant one at my ⚫ back cried, Kill them, Kill them!" I know him not, if I should see him again, but he had on a white satin doublet. And as we were going into the great chamber some cried, "Cast the Great Seal out of the window;"

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some others cried there, “Kill them," and some others said, "Nay, let us shut them up." The Lord Keeper did often call to the Earl of Essex to speak with us privately, thinking still that his meaning had been so, until the Earl brought us into his back chamber and 'there gave order to have the farther door of that chamber shut fast. And at his going forth out of that chamber, the Lord Keeper pressing again to have spoken with the • Earl of Essex, the Earl said, "My Lords, be patient ' awhile, and stay here, and I will go into London and take order with the Mayor and Sheriffs for the City, and will be here again within this half hour." And so he departed, leaving us prisoners in that chamber, guarded by Sir John Davis, Francis Tresham*, and Owen Salisbury, with musketeers, and none was suffered to go out from us to report what plight we were in; ' and so we continued, until Sir Ferdinando Gorge came ' and delivered us, about four of the clock in the afternoon. • While we were imprisoned in the chamber, we did often require Sir John Davis and Francis Tresham to suffer us to depart; or, at least, to suffer some one of us to go to the Queen, to inform her Majesty where and in what 'sort we were kept; but they answered "That my Lord ⚫ of Essex said that we should not depart before his return, which would be very shortly. During this time, Francis Tresham told the Lord Keeper that "he had stayed two years for a motion in the Chancery, and hoped his Lordship was now at good leisure to hear him."

All this the Lord Chief Justice Popham and the Earl of Worcester attested, viva voce.

Essex. My Lords, I was far from any dangerous thoughts towards their Lordships, whom I have always esteemed as my especial good friends. My Lord of Worcester is of mine own blood, and entirely beloved of me; Mr. Comptroller also is mine uncle; and my Lord Keeper and my Lord Chief Justice were ever my best friends. But having had certain advertisement on Saturday at night that my private enemies were in arms against me, and the same news being seconded on

* This was the same individual who, a few years afterwards, played a distinguished part in the Gunpowder Plot,

Sunday morning by persons worthy the believing, I resolved to stand upon my guard; and we thought it the securest way for the Lords of the Council, who came to my house, to keep them there, not knowing what mischief might ensue. But I meant no more harm to any of their persons than I meant to my own soul; and if Sir John Davis and Tresham, during my absence abused themselves to their Lordships, it is not to be imputed to me. And for any intent of Treason to her Majesty or to the State I am clear, and can say as much for all the rest there present.

Attorney-General. But, my Lord, you had three hundred men in arms in your house; why did you not dissolve them, being commanded upon your allegiance from the Queen to do it?

Essex. The hearing rumours of men put in arms about my house, drove them into such a fear and extacy that it was not in my power suddenly to dissolve them, or to quench their passions. They stood amazed and knew not what to do. But, my Lord High Steward, and the rest of your Lordships, I would that you should not mistake my meaning in these speeches, as if I went about thereby to save my life; no, I despise it, and am at peace with God. I have forgiven the world and am far more desirous to die than live. That which I speak is in justification of this Nobleman that stands by me and the rest who were engaged with me; whose hearts are truly affected, and whose bodies are able to serve their Sovereign and Country. And for confirmation of the doubt I had of being surprised in my house, Sir Ferdinando Gorge told me that meeting with his kinsman, Sir Walter Raleigh, he gave him counsel to leave us or else he was lost, and told him to come out of a sinking ship. And, my Lords, the intelligence that came to me on Saturday night and Sunday morning came not from light and vain report, but from an honourable advertise

ment.

Attorney-General. My Lord, your Grace sees that this is without colour or question; for my Lord Chief Justice has proved it plainly that they would not dissolve their company that was in arms, being charged upon their allegiance to do it.