CHAPTER VII. CONDUCT OF KING JAMES IN THE PROCEEDINGS RELATIVE TO THE GREAT OYER OF POISONING. In order to form a correct judgment concerning King James's conduct with regard to the Great Oyer of Poisoning, it is necessary to advert to several circumstances that have not yet been mentioned, and which occurred some before and some after the conviction of the Earl of Somerset. There is a passage in Weldon's history which places the King's alarm about some revelation being made by Somerset in a more striking point of view even than that presented in Sir F. Bacon's letters. Sir A. Weldon writes as follows: And now for the last act enters Somerset himselfe on the stage, who (being told, as the manner is, by the lieutenant, that he must provyde to goe next day to his tryal) did absolutely refuse it, and said, they should carry him. in his bed; that the king had assured him he should not come to any tryal, neither durst the king bring him to tryal. This was in an high strain, and in a language not well understood by Sir George Moore, (then lieutenant in Elwaies his room,) that made Moore quiver and shake; and however he was accounted a wise man, yet he was neare at his wits end. Yet away goes Moore to Greenewich, as late as it was (being twelve at night;) bounseth at the back stayres as if mad, to whome came Jo. Loveston, one of the grooms, out of his bed, enquires the reason of that distemper at so late a season. Moore tells him he must speak with the king. Loveston replyes, "He is quiet," (which, in the Scottish dialect, is fast asleep.) Moore says, "You must awake him." Moore was called in, (the chamber left to the king and Moore.) He tells the king those passages, and desired to be directed by the king, for he was gone beyond his owne reason, to heare such bold and undutiful expressions from a faulty subject against a just soveraigne. The king falls into a passion of tears: "On my soule, Moore, I wot not what to do! thou art a wise man, help me in this great straight, and thou shalt finde thou dost it for a thankful master," with other sad expressions. Moore leaves the king in that passion, but assures him he will prove the utmost of his wit to serve his majesty ; and was really rewarded with a suit worth to him 15007., (although Annandale, his great friend, did cheat him of one half; so was there falsehood in friendship.) Sir George Moore returns to Somerset about three next morning, of that day he was to come to triall, enters Somersets chamber, tells him he had been with the king, found him a most affectionate master unto him, and full of grace in his intentions towards him: "But, (said he,) to satisfie justice, you must appeare, although returne instantly againe, without any further proceedings, only you shall know your enemies and their malice, though they shall have no power over you." With this trick of wit he allayed his fury, and got him quietly, about eight in the morning, to the hall; yet feared his former bold language might revert againe, and being brought by this trick into the toile, might have more inraged him to fly out into some strange discovery; for prevention whereof he had two servants placed on each side of him, with a cloak on their arms, giving them withall a peremptory order, if that Somerset did any way fly out on the king, they should instantly hood-wink him with that cloak, take him violently from the bar, and carry him away; for which he would secure them from any danger, and they should not want also a bountiful reward. But the earle, finding himselfe over-reached, recollected a better temper, and went on calmly in his tryall, where he held the company untill seven at night. But who had seen the kings restlesse motion all that day, sending to every boat he saw landing at the bridge, cursing all that came without tidings, would have easily judged all was not right, and there had been some grounds for his feares of Somersets boldnesse; but at last one bringing him word he was condemned, and the passages, all was quiet. This is the very relation from Moores owne mouth, and this told verbatim, in Wanstead Parke, to two gentlemen (of which the author was one) who were both left by him to their own freedome, without engaging them, even in those times of high distemperatures, unto a faithful secresie in concealing it; yet, though he failed in his wisdome, they failed not in that worth inherent in every noble spirit, never speaking of it till after the kings death. They A remarkable confirmation of the truth of this relation, as far as it concerns the secret communications between the King and More, is to be found in the Losely Papers. These papers consist of letters in King James's handwriting, which the King wrote to Sir George More who succeeded Helwysse as Lieutenant of the Tower. were first published in the year 1835 by A. I. Kemp, Esq., and the original letters are stated by him to have been then in the possession of James More Molyneux, Esq., of Losely, Surrey. They have been preserved by Sir G. More's family, and were found carefully enclosed in an envelope, on which, in the handwriting of the early part of the seventeenth century, is the following memorandum. These four letters were all in King James his own handwriting, sent to Sir George More, Lieut. of the Tower (being put into that place by his own appointment, without the privity of any man), concerning Mylord Somerset, who being in the Tower and hearing that he should come to his arraignment, began to speak big words touching on the King's reputation and honor. The King therefore desired, as much as he could, to make him confess the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, and so not to come to his arraignt, but to cast himself on his mercy. But being a Courtier and beaten to these courses, would not; fully imagining, that the King durst not or would not bring him to his trial. The Gentleman the king sent in one of the letters to Mylord, was Walter James, some time Mylord's Secretary. But the King, although he was the wisest to work his own ends that ever was before him, for all that could not work on Somerset. But that he ever stood on his innocency, and would never be brought to confess that he had any hand with his wife in the poisoning of Overbury, knew not of it, nor consented unto it. And I have often talked with Mr. James, his chief servant, about it, who ever was of opinion that Mylord was clear, and his Lady only guilty, for one time Mrs. Turner told him, that little did Mylord know what she had adventured for his Lady: but the truth is, King James was weary of him; Buckingham had supplied his place. In another part of the envelope were added these words: Sir George More's, my Father-in-law's, legacy, who in his life-time made much account of these letters, being every word King James his own writing. King James's Letters are as follow: KING JAMEs to Sir George More. Good Sir George, 1616, May 9. As the only confidence I had in your honesty made me, without the knowledge of any, put you in that place of trust, which you now possess, so must I now use your trust and secrecy in a thing greatly concerning my honor and service. You know Somerset's day of trial is at hand, and you know also what fair means I have used to move him by confessing the truth, to honor God and me, and leave some place for my mercy to work upon. I have now at last sent the bearer hereof, an honest Gentleman, and who once followed him, with such directions unto him, as, if there be a sponke of grace left in him, I hope they shall work a good effect. My only desire is, that you would make his convoy unto him in such secrecy, as none living may know of it, and that, after his speaking with him in private, he may be returned back again as secretly. So, reposing myself upon your faithful and secret handling of this business, I bid you heartily farewell. (Indorsed in Sir G. More's hand.) JAMES R. 9th of May, about one of the clock in the afternoon, 1616. KING JAMES I. TO SIR G. MORE. Good Sir George, 1616. May 13. Although I fear that the last message I sent to your unfortunate Prisoner shall not take the effect that I wish it should, yet, I cannot leave off to use all means possible to move him to do that which is both most honorable for me, and his own best. You shall therefore give him assurance in my name, that if he will yet before his trial confess clearly unto the Commissioners his guiltiness of this fact, I will not only perform what I promised by my last Mes |