rone, and the marshal, Sir Christopher Blunt, were The confession of JAMES KNOWD, taken the 16th all one, and held all one course. THOMAS LEE. Exam. per JOHN PEYTON, ROGER WILBRAHAM, ANTHONY SAINTleger, THOMAS FLEMING. The declaration of Sir WILLIAM WARREN, 3 Octobris, 1599. The said Sir William came to Armagh the last Friday, being the twenty-eight of September: from thence he sent a messenger in the night to Tyrone to Dungannon, signifying his coming to Armagh, as aforesaid, and that the next morning he would meet Tyrone at the fort of Blackwater: where accordingly the said Tyrone met with him; and after other speeches, by farther discourse the said Tyrone told the said Sir William, and delivered it with an oath, that within these two months he should see the greatest alteration, and the strangest, that he the said Sir William could imagine, or ever saw in his life: and said, that he hoped, before it was long, that he the said Tyrone should have a good share in England: which speeches of the alteration Tyrone reiterated two or three several times. WILLIAM WARREN. Certified from the council of Ireland to the lords of the council here. The declaration of THOMAS WOOD, 20 Januarii, 1599, taken before the Lord BUCKHURST, Lord High Treasurer; the Earl of NOTTINGHAM, Lord High Admiral; Sir ROBERT CECIL, principal Secretary; and Sir J. FORTESCUE, Chancellor of the Exchequer. The said Wood said, that happening to be with the Lord Fitzmorris, Baron of Licksnaw, at his house at Licksnaw, between Michaelmas and Alhallowtide last, the said baron walking abroad with the said Wood, asked of him what force the Earl of Essex was of in England; he answered, he could not tell, but said he was well beloved of the commonalty. Then said the baron, that the earl was gone for England, and had discharged many of the companies of Ireland, and that it was agreed that he should be King of England, and Onele to be Viceroy of Ireland; and whensoever he should have occasion, and would send for them, Onele should send him eight thousand men out of Ireland. The said Wood asked the baron, how he knew that? He answered, that the Earl of Desmond had written to him so much. THOMAS WOOD. Confessed in the presence of THOMAS BUCKHURST, NOTTINGHAM, ROBERT CECIL, JOHN FORTEscue. of February, 1600, before Sir ANTHONY SAINTLEGER, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and ROGER WILBRAHAM, Master of the Requests. Owney Mac Rory having secret intelligence of the friendship between the Earl of Essex and Tyrone, wrote to Tyrone, desiring him to certify him thereof, whereby he might frame his course accordingly, and not do any thing contrary to their agreement: which letter myself did write by Owney's appointment, for then I was in credit with him; in which letter he also desired Tyrone to send him some munition. The letter, with instructions to that effect, was in my presence delivered to one Turlagh Mac Davy O'Kelly, a man of secrecy, sufficiency, and trust with Owney; and he carried it to Tyrone: before whose return Owney grew suspicious of me, because I sometimes belonged to Mr. Bowen, and therefore they would not trust me, so as I could not see the answer: but yet I heard by many of their secret council, that the effect thereof was, That the Earl of Essex should be King of England, and Tyrone of Ireland. Afterwards I met with Turlagh Mac Davy, the messenger aforesaid, and asked him whether he brought an answer of the letter from Tyrone. He said he did, and delivered it to Owney. And then I asked him what he thought of the wars. He told me he had good hope the last year, and had none this year; his reason was, as he said, that the Earl of Essex was to take their part, and they should aid him towards the conquest of England; and now they were hindered thereof by means of his apprehension. I, dwelling with the tanist of the country, my mother's cousin german, heard him speak sundry times, that now the Earl of Essex had gotten one of the swords, he would never forego his government until he became King of England, which was near at hand. I saw a letter which the Earl of Essex writ to Owney, to this effect; That if Owney came to him, he would speak with him about that, which if he would follow, should be happy for him and Bowen, provost marshal of Lemster, who told him, that the said James Occurren meeting lately with a principal follower of Owney Mac Rory, chief of the Moores, Owney's man asked him what news he heard of the Earl of Essex? To which James Occurren answered, that he was gone for England: whereunto he said, Nay, if you can tell me no news, I can tell you some; the Earl of Essex is now in trouble for us, for that he would do no service upon us; which he never meant to do, for he is ours, and we are his. DAVID HETHRINGTON. Confessed in the presence of THO. BUCKHUrst, RO. CECIL, Jo. FORTESCUE. He saith, the Earl of Essex wrote a letter to him in January, complaining of his misfortune: that he desired his company, and desired his repair up to him by the second of February; that he came to town on Saturday seven-night before the earl's insurrection, and that the same night late he visited the earl: who, after compliments, told him that he stood on his guard, and resolved not to hazard any more commandments or restraints; that he desired him to rest him that night, and to repair unto him again, but in such sort as it might not be noted. That he had been with the earl two or three times that week; and on Saturday, being the seventh of February, the earl told him that he had been sent for by the lords, and refused to come; delivering farther, that he resolved to defend himself from any more restraint. He farther saith, that it was in question the same Saturday night, to have stirred in the night, and to have attempted the court. But being demanded, whether the earl could have had sufficient company to have done any thing in the night: he answered, that all the earl's company were ready at one hour's warning, and had been so before, in respect that he had meant long before to stand upon his guard. That it was resolved to have the court first attempted; that the earl had three hundred gentlemen to do it; but that he, the said Ferdinando Gorge, was a violent dissuader of him from that purpose, and the earl most confident in the party of London, which he meant, upon a later dispute, first to assure; and that he was also assured of a party in Wales, but meant not to use them, until he had been possessed of the court. That the earl and Sir Christopher Blunt understanding that Sir Walter Raleigh had sent to speak with him in the morning, the said Sir Christopher Blunt persuaded him, either to surprise Sir Walter Raleigh, or to kill him. Which when he utterly refused, Sir Christopher Blunt sent four shot after him in a boat. That at the going out of Essex House gate, many cried out, To the court, to the court. But my Lord of Essex turned him about towards London. That he meant, after possession of the court, to call a parliament, and therein to proceed as cause should require. At that time of the consultation on Saturday night, my lord was demanded, what assurance he had of those he made account to be his friends in the city? Whereunto he replied, that there was no question to be made of that, for one, amongst the rest, that was presently in one of the greatest commands amongst them, held himself to be interested in the cause, for so he phrased it, and was colonel of a thousand men, which were ready at all times; besides others that he held himself as assured of, as of him, and able to make as great numbers. Some of them had at that instant, as he reported to us, sent unto him, taking notice of as much as he made us to know of the purpose intended to have entrapped him, and made request to know his pleasure. On Tuesday before the insurrection, as I remember, I was sent unto by my Lord of Essex, praying me to meet my Lord of Southampton, Sir Charles Davers, Sir John Davis, and other his friends at Drury House; where I should see a schedule of his friends' names, and projects to be disputed upon. Whither I came accordingly, and found the foresaid earl, Sir Charles Davers, Sir John Davis, and one Mr. Littleton. The names were showed and numbered to be six score; earls, barons, knights, and gentlemen. The projects were these, whether to attempt the court, or the Tower, or to stir his friends in London first, or whether both the court and Tower at an instant? I disliked that counsel. My reasons were, that I alleged to them, first, to attempt both with those numbers, was not to be thought on, | watchword, should have come out of the presence because that was not sufficient; and therefore into the guard-chamber; and then some out of the advised them to think of something else. Then hall to have met him, and so have stepped between they would needs resolve to attempt the court, the guard and their halberds; of which guard and withal desired mine opinion. But I prayed they hoped to have found but a dozen, or some them first to set down the manner how it might such small number. be done. Then Sir John Davis took ink and paper, and assigned to divers principal men their several places; some to keep the gate, some to be in the hall, some to be in the presence, some in the lobby, some in the guard-chamber, others to come in with my lord himself, who should have had the passage given him to the privychamber, where he was to have presented himself to her majesty. Knowledged in the presence of THO. BUCKHURST, Ro. CECIL. FERD. GORGE. The confession of Sir JOHN DAVIS, taken the 18th of February, 1600, before the Earl of NOTTINGHAM, Lord High Admiral; Sir ROBERT CECIL, principal Secretary; and JOHN HERBERT, second Secretary of State. Sir John Davis being demanded, how long before my Lord Essex's tumult he knew of such his purpose? He answers, that he knew not directly of any meaning my lord had, until the Sunday sevennight before, or thereabout. Being asked, whether he heard that such as my lord misliked should have received any violence? He saith, that my lord avowed the contrary, and that my lord said, he would call them to an honourable trial, and not use the sword. Being demanded, whether my lord thought his enemies to be Spanish, "bona fide," or no? He saith, that he never heard any such speech; and if my lord used any such, it came into his head on the sudden. Being demanded, what party my lord had in London? He saith, that the sheriff Smith was his hope, as he thinketh. Being demanded, whether my lord promised The first confession of Sir CHARLES DAVERS, taken the 18th of February, anno 1600, before Sir THOMAS EGERTON, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal; the Lord BUCKHURST, Lord High Treasurer; the Earl of NOTTINGHAM, the Lord High Admiral; Lord HUNSDON, Lord Chamberlain; and Sir ROBERT CECIL, principal Secretary. He confesseth, that before Christmas the Earl of Essex had bethought himself, how he might secure his access unto the queen in such sort as he might not be resisted; but no resolution determinately taken, until the coming up of this examinate a little after Christmas. Being demanded, what he knew? Then he answered, that my lord consulted to possess himself of the court, at such convenient time when he might find least opposition. For executing of which enterprises, and of other affairs, he appointed my Lord of Southampton, Sir Charles Davers, Sir Ferdinando Gorge, and himself, to meet at Drury House, and there to consider of the same, and such other projects as his lordship delivered them: and, principally, for surprising of the court, and for the taking of the Tower of London. About which business they had two meetings, which were five or six days before the in-earl's own hand. To which consultation, being surrection. He farther saith, that Sir Christopher Blunt was not at this consultation, but that he stayed and advised with my lord himself about other things to him unknown: for that my lord trusted several men in several businesses, and not all together. Being demanded, what was resolved in the opinions of these four before named? He saith, that Sir Charles Davers was appointed to the presence-chamber, and himself to the hall: and that my lord was to determine himself, who should have guarded the court-gate and the water-gate. And that Sir Charles Davers, upon a signal or a And then he doth confess, that the resolution was taken to possess himself of the court; which resolution was taken agreeable to certain articles, which the Earl of Essex did send to the Earl of Southampton, this examinate, Sir Ferdinando Gorge, and Sir John Davis, written with the held at Drury House, some four or five days before Sunday, that was the eighth of February, Littleton came in towards the end. The points which the Earl of Essex projected under his hand were these: First, whether it were fit to take the Tower of London. The reason whereof was this: that after the court was possessed, it was necessary to give reputation to the action, by having such a place to bridle the city, if there should be any mislike of their possessing the court. To the possessing of the court, these circumstances were considered: First, the Earl of Essex should have assembled all the noblemen and gentlemen of quality on his party; out of which number he should have chosen so many as should have possessed all the places of the court, where there might have been any likelihood of resistance: which being done, the Earl of Essex, with divers noblemen, should have presented himself to the queen. The manner how it should have been executed, was in this sort: Sir Christopher Blunt should have had charge of the outer gate, as he thinketh. Sir Charles Davers, this examinate, with his company, should have made good the presence, and should have seized upon the halberds of the guard. Sir John Davis should have taken charge of the hall. All this being set, upon a signal given, the earl should have come into the court with his company. Being asked, what they would have done after? he saith, They would have sent to have satisfied the city, and have called a parliament. These were the resolutions set down by the Earl of Essex of his own hand, after divers consultations. He saith, Cuffe was ever of opinion, that the Earl of Essex should come in this sort to the CHARLES DAVERS. court. Exam. per THо. EGERTON, C. S. THO. BUCKHURST, NOTTINGHAM, G. HUNSDON, RO. CECIL. The second confession of Sir CHARLES DAVERS, taken the same day, and set down upon farther calling himself to remembrance, under his own hand, before Sir THO. EGERTON, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal; Lord BUCKHURST, Lord High Treasurer; the Earl of NOTTINGHAM, Lord High Admiral; Sir ROBERT CECIL, principal Secretary. Some points of the articles which my Lord of Essex sent unto Drury House, as near as I can remember, were these; whether both the court and the Tower should be both attempted at one time? if both, what numbers should be thought requisite for either? if the court alone, what places should be first possessed? by what persons? And for those which were not to come into the court beforehand, where and in what sort they might assemble themselves, with least suspicion, to come in with my lord? Whether it were not fit for my lord, and some of the principal persons, to be armed with privy coats? CHARLES DAVERS. Knowledged in the presence of THO. BUCKHUrst, ROBERT CECIL. The first confession of Sir CHRISTOPHER BLUNT, examined the 18th of February, 1600, before Jo. HERBERT, second Secretary of Estate, and in the VOL. II.-47 presence of Nic. KEMPE, counsellor at law, W11LIAM WAIMARKE, WILLIAM MARTIN, ROBERT ANDREWS, citizens, John Trevor, surveyor of the navy, and THOMAS THORNEY, his surgeon. He confesseth that the Earl of Essex sent Wiseman, about the 20th of January, to visit his wife, with letters of compliment, and to require him to come up unto him to London, to settle his estate according as he had written unto him before some few days. Being demanded, to what end they went to the city, to join with such strength as they hoped for there? he confesseth it was to secure the Earl of Essex his life, against such forces as should be sent against him. And being asked, What, against the queen's forces? he answered, That must have been judged afterwards. But being farther asked, Whether he did advise to come unto the court over night? He saith, No; for Sir Ferdinando Gorge did assure, that the alarm was taken of it at the court, and the guards doubled. Being asked, whether he thought any prince could have endured to have any subject make the city his mediator? or gather force to speak for him? He saith, he is not read in stories of former times; but he doth not know but that in former times subjects have used force for their mediation. Being asked, what should have been done by any of the persons that should have been removed from the queen? He answered, that he never found my lord disposed to shed blood; but that any that should have been found, should have had indifferent trial. Being asked upon his conscience, whether the Earl of Essex did not give him comfort, that if he came to authority, there should be a toleration for religion? He confesseth, he should have been to blame to have denied it. putting us in mind that he said once before, that when he was able to speak, he would tell all truth, doth now confess; That four or five days before the Earl of Essex did rise, he did set down certain articles to be considered on, which he saw not, until afterwards he was made acquainted with them, when they had among themselves disputed which were these. any particular cause of grief against any person 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 dealt with; that his hand has been counterfeited, and letters written in his One of them was, whether the Tower of Lon- name; and that, therefore, they were assembled don should be taken ? Another, whether they should not possess the court, and so secure my lord, and other men, to come to the queen? For the first concerning the Tower, he did not like it; concluding, that he that had the power of the queen, should have that. He confesseth that upon Saturday night, when Mr. Secretary Herbert had been with the earl, and that he saw some suspicion was taken, he thought it in vain to attempt the court, and persuaded him rather to save himself by flight, than to engage himself farther, and all his company. And so the resolution of the earl grew to go into the city, in hope, as he said before, to find many friends there. He doth also say, that the earl did usually speak of his purpose to alter the government. CHRISTOPHER BLUNT. Exam. per Jo. HERBERT. Subscribed in the presence of The declaration of the Lord Keeper, the Earl of WORCESTER, and the Lord Chief Justice of England. Upon Sunday, being the 8th of February last past, about ten of the clock in the forenoon, the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, the Earl of Worcester, Sir William Knolles, comptroller of her majesty's household, and the Lord Chief Justice of England, being commanded by direction from the queen's majesty, did repair to the late Earl of Essex his house, and finding the gate shut against them, after a little stay they were let in at the wicket and as soon as they were within the gate, the wicket was shut upon them, and all their servants kept out. At their coming thither they found the court full of men assembled together in very tumultuous sort; the Earls of Essex, Rutland, and Southampton, and the Lord Sandys, Mr. Parker, commonly called Lord Montegle, Sir Christopher Blunt, Sir Charles Davers, and many other knights and gentlemen, and other persons unknown, which flocked together about the lord keeper, &c. And thereupon the lord keeper told the Earl of Essex, that they were sent from her majesty to understand the cause of this their assembly, and to let them know, that if they had there together to defend their lives; with much other speech to like effect. Hereupon the lord chief justice said unto the earl, That if they had any such matter of grief, or if any such matter were attempted or purposed against him, he willed the earl to 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 whomsoever it concerned. To this the Earl of Southampton objected the assault made upon him by the Lord Gray. Whereunto the lord chief justice said, That in his case justice had been done, and the party imprisoned for it. And hereupon the lord keeper did eftsoons will the Earl of Essex, that whatsoever private matter or offence he had against any person whatsoever, if he would deliver it unto them, they 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 them privately, and doubted not but they would satisfy him in it. Upon this there was a great clamour raised amongst the multitude, crying, "Away, my lord, they abuse you, they betray you, they undo you, you lose time." Whereupon 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 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 brake out into an exceeding loud shout and cry, crying, “All! all! all!" And whilst the lord keeper was speaking, and commanding them upon their allegiance, as is before declared, the Earl of Essex, and the most part of that company did put on their hats, and so the Earl of Essex went into the house, and the lord keeper, &c., followed him, thinking that his purpose had been to speak with them privately, as they had required. And, as they were going, some of that disordered company cried, “Kill them." And as they were going into the great chamber, some cried, "Cast the great seal out at the window." Some other cried there, “Kill them;" and some other said," Nay, let us shop them up." |