the estate of the affairs themselves, against the prosecution upon Tyrone, but only culpable impediments raised by the journey of Munster.

The earl of
Essex and

the council the lords of the council,

of Ireland to

28th April.

This appeared by a letter from my lord and the council of Ireland to the lords of the council here, dated the 28th of April, whereby they advertise, that the prosecution of Ulster, in regard of lack of grass and forage, and the poorness of cattle at that time of year, and such like difficulties of the season, and not of the matter, will in better time, and with better commodity for the army, be fully executed about the middle of June or beginning of July; and signify, that the earl intended a present prosecution should be set on foot in Lemster; to which letters the lords make answer by theirs of the 8th of May, signifying her Majesty's toleration of the delay.

A DECLARATION

OF THE

PRACTICES AND TREASONS

ATTEMPTED AND COMMITTED BY

ROBERT LATE EARL OF ESSEX AND HIS COMPLICES,

AGAINST HER MAJESTY AND HER KINGDOMS;

AND OF THE proceedinGS AS WELL AT THE ARRAIGNMENTS AND CONVICTIONS OF THE SAID LATE EARL, AND
HIS ADHERENTS, AS AFTER: TOGETHER WITH THE VERY CONFESSIONS, AND OTHER PARTS OF the
EVIDENCES THEMSELVES, WORD FOR WORD, TAKEN OUT OF THE ORIGINALS.

IMPRINTED ANNO 1601.*

THOUGH public justice passed upon capital offend- | lections and relations of the proceedings at the ers, according to the laws, and in course of an honourable and ordinary trial, where the case would have borne and required the severity of martial law to have been speedily used, do in itself carry a sufficient satisfaction towards all men, specially in a merciful government, such as her Majesty's is approved to be yet because there do pass abroad in the hands of many men divers false and corrupt col*Our author has abundantly vouched this DECLARATION &c. to be penned by himself in the following passage of his Apology:

"It is very true also, about that time, her Majesty taking a liking of my pen, upon that which I had formerly done concerning the proceeding at York-House, and likewise upon some other DECLARATIONS, which in former times by her appointment I put in writing, commanded me to pen that book, which was published for the better satisfaction of the world; which I did, but so, as never secretary had more particular and express directions and instructions in every point how to guide my hand in it; and not only so, but after I had made a first draught thereof, and propounded it to certain principal counsellors by her Majesty's appointment, it was perused, weighed, censured, altered, and made almost a new

arraignment of the late earls of Essex and Southampton; and, again, because it is requisite that the world do understand as well the precedent practices and inducements to the treasons, as the open and actual treasons themselves, though in a case of life it was not thought convenient to insist at the trial upon matter of inference or presumption, but chiefly upon matter of plain and direct proofs; therefore it hath writing, according to their lordships' better consideration; wherein their lordships and myself both were as religious and curious of truth, as desirous of satisfaction: and myself indeed gave only words and form of style in pursuing their direction. And after it had passed their allowance, it was again exactly perused by the queen herself, and some alterations made again by her appointment: nay, and after it was set to print, the queen, who, as your lordship knoweth, as she was excellent in great matters, so she was exquisite in small; and noted that I could not forget my ancient respect to my lord of Essex, in terming him ever my lord of Essex, my lord of Essex," almost in every page of the book; which she thought not fit, but would have it made "Essex," or "the late earl of Essex;" whereupon, of force, it was printed de novo, and the first copies suppressed by her peremptory commandment."

66

been thought fit to publish to the world a brief declaration of the practices and treasons attempted and committed by Robert late earl of Essex and his complices against her Majesty and her kingdoms, and of the proceedings at the convictions of the said late earl and his adherents upon the same treasons: and not so only, but therewithal for the better warranting and verifying of the narration, to set down in the end the very confessions and testimonies themselves word for word, taken out of the originals, whereby it will be most manifest that nothing is obscured or disguised, though it do appear by divers most wicked and seditious libels thrown abroad, that the dregs of these treasons which the late earl of Essex himself, a little before his death, did term a leprosy, that had infected far and near, do yet remain in the hearts and tongues of some misaffected persons.

The most partial will not deny, but that Robert late earl of Essex was, by her Majesty's manifold benefits and graces, besides oath and allegiance, as much tied to her Majesty, as the subject could be to the sovereign; her Majesty having heaped upon him both dignities, offices, and gifts, in such measure, as within the circle of twelve years or more, there was scarcely a year of rest, in which he did not obtain at her Majesty's hands some notable addition either of honour or profit.

man took notice and note of, as his affable gestures, open doors, making his table and his bed so popularly places of audience to suitors, denying nothing when he did nothing, feeding many men in their discontentments against the queen and the state, and the like; as they were ever since Absalom's time the forerunners of treasons following, so in him were they either the qualities of a nature disposed to disloyalty, or the beginnings and conceptions of that which afterwards grew to shape and form.

But as it were a vain thing to think to search the roots and first motions of treasons, which are known to none but God that discerns the heart, and the devil that gives the instigation; so it is more than to be presumed, being made apparent by the evidence of all the events following, that he carried into Ireland a heart corrupted in his allegiance, and pregnant of those or the like treasons which afterwards came to light.

For being a man by nature of a high imagination, and a great promiser to himself as well as to others, he was confident that if he were once the first person in a kingdom, and a sea between the queen's seat and his, and Wales the nearest land from Ireland, and that he had got the flower of the English forces into his hands, which he thought so to intermix with his own followers, as the whole body should move by his spirit, and if he might have also absolutely into his own hands, " potestatem vitæ et necis, et arbitrium belli et pacis," over the rebels of Ireland, whereby he might entice and make them his own, first by pardons and conditions, and after by hopes to bring them in place where they should serve for hope of better booties than cows, he should be able to make that place of lieutenancy of Ireland as a rise or step to ascend to his desired greatness England.

But he on the other side making these her Majesty's favours nothing else but wings for his ambition, and looking upon them not as her benefits, but as his advantages, supposing that to be his own metal which was but her mark and impression, was so given over by God, who often punisheth ingratitude by ambition, and ambition by treason, and treason by final ruin, as he had long ago plotted it in his heart to become a dangerous supplanter of that seat whereof he ought to have been a principal sup-in porter; in such sort as now every man of common sense may discern not only his last actual and open treasons, but also his former more secret practices and preparations towards those his treasons, and that without any gloss or interpreter, but himself and his own doings.

For first of all, the world can now expound why it was that he did aspire, and had almost attained unto a greatness, like unto the ancient greatness of the præfectus prætorio under the emperors of Rome, to have all men of war to make their sole and particular dependence upon him; that with such jealousy and watchfulness he sought to discountenance any one that might be a competitor to him in any part of that greatness, that with great violence and bitterness he sought to suppress and keep down all the worthiest martial men, which did not appropriate their respects and acknowledgments only towards himself. All which did manifestly detect and distinguish, that it was not the reputation of a famous leader in the wars which he sought, as it was construed a great while, but only power and greatness to serve his own ends, considering he never loved virtue nor valour in another, but where he thought he should be proprietary and commander of it, as referred to himself.

So likewise those points of popularity which every

And although many of these conceits were windy, yet neither were they the less like to his; neither are they now only probable conjectures or comments upon these his last treasons, but the very preludes of actions almost immediately subsequent, as shall be touched in due place.

But first, it was strange with what appetite and thirst he did affect and compass the government of Ireland, which he did obtain. For although he made some formal shows to put it from him; yet in this, as in most things else, his desires being too strong for his dissimulations, he did so far pass the bounds of decorum, as he did in effect name himself to the queen by such description and such particularities as could not be applied to any other but himself; neither did he so only, but farther, he was still at hand to offer and urge vehemently and peremptorily exceptions to any other that was named.

Then after he once found that there was no man but himself, who had other matters in his head, so far in love with that charge, as to make any competition or opposition to his pursuit, whereby he saw it would fall upon him, and especially after himself was resolved upon; he began to make propositions to her Majesty by way of taxation of the former course held in managing the actions of Ireland, especially upon three points; the first, that the pro

portions of forces which had been there maintained | his own ambition,) all treasons of rebellion did tend

Lee, a man of a seditious and working spirit, and | knowing how unfit it was for him to communicate one that had been privately familiar and entirely with any English, even of those whom he trusted beloved of Tyrone, and one that afterwards, imme- most, and meant to use in other treasons, that he diately upon Essex's open rebellion, was apprehended had an intention to grow to an agreement with Tyfor a desperate attempt of violence against her Ma- rone, to have succours from him for the usurping jesty's person; which he plainly confessed, and for upon the state here; (not because it was more danwhich he suffered. Wherefore judging him to be a gerous than the rest of his treasons, but because it fit instrument, he made some signification to Lee of was more odious, and in a kind monstrous, that he such an employment, which was no sooner signified should conspire with such a rebel, against whom than apprehended by Lee. He gave order also to he was sent; and therefore might adventure to alienSir Christopher Blunt, marshal of his army, to li- ate men's affections from him;) he drave it to this, cense Lee to go to Tyrone, when he should require that there might be, and so there was, under colour of it. But Lee thought good to let slip first unto Ty- treaty, an interview and private conference between rone, which was nevertheless by the marshal's war- Tyrone and himself only, no third person admitted. rant, one James Knowd, a person of wit and suffi- A strange course, considering with whom he dealt, ciency, to sound in what terms and humours Tyrone and especially considering what message Knowd then was. This Knowd returned a had brought, which should have made him rather message from Tyrone to Lee, which call witnesses to him than avoid witnesses. was, "That if the earl of Essex would he being only true to his own ends, easily dispensed follow Tyrone's plot, he would make the earl of Es- with all such considerations. Nay, there was such sex the greatest man that ever was in England: and careful order taken, that no person should overhear farther, that if the earl would have conference with one word that passed between them two, as, because him, Tyrone would deliver his eldest son in pledge the place appointed and used for the parley was for his assurance." This message was delivered by such, as there was the depth of a brook between them, Knowd to Lee, and by Lee was imparted to the which made them speak with some loudness, there earl of Essex, who after this message employed were certain horsemen appointed by order from EsLee himself to Tyrone, and by his negotiating, sex, to keep all men off a great distance from the whatsoever passed else, prepared and disposed Ty- | place. rone to the parley.

The confession of Thomas Lee.

And this employment of Lee was a matter of that guiltiness in my lord, as, being charged with it at my lord keeper's only in this nature, for the mes

In the confession of Blunt at the bar, he did there declare that he had Essex his particular warrant to send Lee, and afterwards was desired by Essex to take it upon himself, and that they both bad pardons.

But

It is true, that the secrecy of that parley, as it gave to him the more liberty of treason, so it may give any man the more liberty of surmise, what was then handled between them, inasmuch as nothing can be known, but by report from one of them two, either Essex or Tyrone.

But although there were no proceedings against Essex upon these treasons, and that it were a needless thing to load more treasons upon him then, whose burden was so great after; yet, for truth's sake, it is fit the world know what is testified touching the speeches, letters, and reports of Tyrone, immediately following this conference, and observe also what ensued likewise in the designs of Essex himself.

sage of Knowd was not then known, that when he pretended to assail Tyrone, he had before underhand agreed upon a parley, my lord utterly denied it that he ever employed Lee to Tyrone at all, and turned it upon Blunt, whom he afterwards required to take it upon him, having before sufficiently provided for the security of all parts, for he had granted both to Blunt and Lee pardons of all treasons under the great seal of Ireland, and so, himself disclaiming it, On Tyrone's part it fell out, that the very day and they being pardoned, all was safe. after that Essex came to the court of England, TyBut when that Tyrone was by these means, be- rone having conference with Sir William Warren sides what others, God knows, prepared to demand at Armagh, by way of discourse told him, and bound a parley, now was the time for Essex to acquit him- it with an oath, and iterated it two or three several self of all the queen's commandments, and his own times; That within two or three The relation promises and undertakings for the northern journey; months he should see the greatest alter- of Sir William and not so alone, but to have the glory at the disad-ations and strangest that ever he saw in fied under his vantage of the year, being but 2500 strong of foot, his life, or could imagine: and that he and 300 of horse, after the fresh disaster of Sir Con- the said Tyrone hoped ere long to have yers Clifford, in the height of the rebels' pride, to a good share in England. With this conset forth to assail, and then that the very terror and curred fully the report of Richard Bremreputation of my lord of Essex's person was such as ingham, a gentleman of the pale, havdid daunt him and make him stoop to seek a par- ing made his repair about the same ley; and this was the end he shot at in that Sep- time to Tyrone, to right him in a cause tember journey, being a mere abuse and bravery, of land; saving that Bremingham delivers the like and but inducements only to the treaty, which was speech of Tyrone to himself; but not what Tyrone the only matter he intended. For Essex drawing hoped, but what Tyrone had promised, in these now towards the catastrophe, or last part of that words, That he had promised, it may be thought to tragedy, for which he came upon the stage in Ire- whom, ere long to show his face in England, little land, his treasons grew to a farther ripeness. For to the good of England.

Warren certi

hand from the council of Ire

land to the council here. The report of Bremingham, of estate in

lords of the

Richard

to the council

Ireland.