Mafter Attorney his Charge.

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reason to excuse himself by the law of nature, seeing the Majefty of a Prince is not to be violated for a private revenge."

Then did he number up the benefits my Lord had gotten. Then to the acts complained of he objecteth unto Effex his affociating with Blount, Danvers, Davies; men addicted to Popery. Anon a fair compliment, rounded for her Majesty's ear. Presently a fine peroration; being an historical narration of the whole matter, fo wonderfully enlarged few knew or could divine of whom or of what he fpake. But fuddenly he cometh to this sharp conclufion, "It were to be wished that this Robert might be the last of this name Earl of Effex, who affected to be Robert the First of that name, King of England!"

To all which things, with a cheerful voice and countenance, and with great confidence of mind, my Lord answered; traverfing the charges. He was ftiff in it that he had no other purpose but to prostrate himself at the Queen's feet; to lay down his most just complaints; and to declare unto her Majesty the dangers that were threatening his country. He touched these points feverally, and right wifely.

Anon, the Judges Affiftant being afked by the Peers

whether the confultation at Drury-houfe were treason, feeing it was not brought to effect, with one voice affirmed it was. And that the rebellion in the City was the profecution of that confultation.

Francis Bacon, one of the Queen's Counsel at law, endeavoured by a polished and elegant speech to wipe away the colour laid upon a plot of my Lord's enemies to excuse his rebellion; affirming that Cobham, Cecyl, and Ralegh were fuch fincere honest men, having fuch rich estates, that they would never hazard their hopes by committing fo foul a fact He said that these fictions of a plot came to nothing even by the variety of them; forafmuch as Effex, wavering in his tales, cried first, that he was to be stabbed in his bed, then slain in a boat, and lastly, by the Jefuits and alfo by the variety thereof, seeing he exclaimed that the kingdom of England was fet to fale to the Spaniard. He added with a sneer, that it was a familiar thing to traitors to strike Princes not directly-for there was, as the Poet faid, a certain divinity hedging the Sovereign-but through the fides of their Minifters. He then taxed Effex with deep diffimulation, as if he had put on the mask of piety; likening him to Pisistratus of Athens,

who gafhed his own body, and fo, being wounded, fhewed it to the people as done by his adverfaries. Thus, having gotten a guard of foldiers, he oppreffed the Commonwealth.

Now it had, by the teftimony of many, been proved that the heads of the confultation holden at Drury-house were written with Effex his own hand; and that he caft fome papers into the fire, left, as he himself faid, they should tell tales. There was, you fee, ever fome one to tell of my Lord's doings.

Thus the cafe ftood. Effex had writ thofe heads which at Drury-house the confpirators adopted. The riot in the City was ruled to be part and parcel of the other act-" For," as the Judges Affiftant faid, " if they had gotten together an armed power in the City, then would they presently have invaded the Court," of which, being Treafon, there can be no doubt.

The Juftices Affistant being asked their opinions concerning the iterated proteftations of the Earls, that they intended no harm against the Queen, pronounced, "That, if a man shall attempt to make himself fo ftrong that the King shall not be able to refift him, he is guilty of rebel

lion. In like manner, the law interpreteth that on every rebellion there is a machination against the life of the King, and his depofing."

The Earl of Effex now answered more mildly, that he intended nothing but to repel force by force; neither would he have entered fo inconfiderately into the City, had he not foreseen that he was in danger of his life— "If I had meant," quoth he-" if I had meant any other thing than mine own defence against my private adverfaries, I would not have gone forth with fo fmall a company, and so slightly armed." That was a good plea -eh?

To this replied Master Bacon, "This was cunningly done of you, who fixed all your hope in the citizens' arms; that they would arm both you and yours, and take arms for you, too'; imitating herein the Duke of Guife, who, not long fince, entering Paris with a small company, excited the citizens to arms in fuch fort, that he drave the King himself out of the city." Go to, Francis !

Shortly after the Earls were, by the Lord Steward's commandment, removed aside, the guard attending them; when the Peers, rifing up and going apart, conferred

together, and, having maturely confidered of the matter, returned within an hour to their feats.

Being again fummoned to the Barre, the Earls were guardedly brought in, as before.

Solemnly the Peers stood up; every one of them, placing his right hand upon his left breaft, with this word uttered aloud, "Guilty, upon mine honour!"

According to the form, the Clerk of the Crown afketh feverally, why sentence should not be pronounced against them.

Effex befought the Peers that they would make interceffion to the Queen for Southampton, who might deserve well of his country; and of this he presently gat some affurance.

Then was his heart unburdened, his generous spirit rejoicing. "For mine own life," said he, triumphing, "I care not! I defire nothing more than that I may lay down my life with fincere faith towards God, and loyalty to my prince; whatsoever the interpretation of the law fhall be against me!" After a pause, and in a fofter vein"Yet would I not that any man fhould give the Queen to understand that I contemn her mercy; which, notwithstanding, I believe I shall not fawningly beg. And I be