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resolve together what was fittest to be done for both their goods. Mr. Cuffe was returned to me to Oxford with my Lord's request that notwithstanding my Lord of Southampton's departure I would proceed in my journey, and communicate the projects with my Lord Montjoy, and procure his letter. I was still of opinion that my Lord should first expect the return of my Lord of Southampton. I would notwithstanding, to satisfy my Lord, go on, if by the return of my footman, whom I then sent to London, I should find my Lord's resolution continue.

My footman brought me the continuance of my Lord's desire, whereupon I went on. I communicated my Lord's requests and projects with my Lord Montjoy, whose answer was, that he did not approve the projects. He desired my Lord to have patience, to recover again by ordinary means the Queen's ordinary favour; that though he had it not in such measure as he had had heretofore, he should content himself. That at his coming home he would do for him like a friend. That he hoped my Lord would do nothing but that which should be justifiable in honour and honesty. In that confidence, if he sent for a letter, he would send him such a one as he might justify. After my coming back I imparted to my Lord of Essex my Lord Montjoy's requests, according as I promised my Lord Montjoy I would do, in very effectual sort. I imparted likewise that it was my brother's opinion, and I said as much to my Lord of Southampton. And for some time I did not find that my Lord did resolve of this or any other project, but hoped at the Parliament to be restored in some measure to his fortunes. And not long before Christmas, when it was feared by some of his friends that he should be committed, in respect of the resort unto his sermons, there was more thought of flying than of enterprising in this sort. But from a little before Christthere was more thought of flying than enterprising anything. But a little before Christmas the resolution was taken by his direction to his friends at Drury House."

Here the MS. ends, which I have seen (Adv. Lib. A. i. 34) and compared with Birch's copy. It is dated February 22nd; appears to be in a Scotch hand of the time; and is probably a copy of a confession taken down from the speaker's mouth by some one who could not write fast enough to keep pace with him. If the original should be recovered, I should expect to find interlineations in it and unfinished sentences, which the copyist has not understood, and of which the traces have been thereby lost. But I do not doubt that the date is correct. After Cuffe's answer to the articles proposed to him on Saturday (probably the 21st of February), Sir Charles Davers would naturally be examined without delay: what he said would of course be taken down at the time; but he might wish, or might be desired, to revise the report and, after further consideration, to draw up a complete declaration under his own hand.

mas or thereabouts, the resolution was taken as in my former confession is declared.

Your Lordships' most humbly to command,

[Indorsed.]

1 Martii, 1600. Sir Charles

Danvers' declaration.

V.

C. DANVERS.

The Examination of HENRY CUFFE, this 2 of March, 1600.1

He confesseth that the matter concerning the Earl of Essex writing to Scotland was debated about Christmas last by the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Southampton, Sir Charles Davers, and this examinate, and that the minute of the letter was agreed on between them, and that John Littleton was acquainted with this counsel. And that this examinate was employed to meet Sir Charles Davers this last summer at Oxford, to whom he carried a letter from the Earl, where they two conferred at the Cross Inn, and agreed that Sir Charles Davers should go into Ireland and deal with the Lord Montjoy, that if the Lord Montjoy could not come over himself that he would write a letter to the Earl of Essex which he might show to the Queen, concurring in finding fault with the present government, but with this condition that it should not be showed to the Queen until the Earl of Essex were come to her presence; for which purpose he should send over divers captains and men of quality such as he could spare, presuming that those captains and men of quality being at Court beforehand, my Lord and his company coming to the Court might not be resisted either by the captain of the guard, or the guard, or any other. And saith that the Earl expected that when he came to the Court he should come in such peace as a dog should not wag his tongue against him. And saith, that after Sir Walter Raleigh had been removed, the Earl of Essex made a project that Sir William Russell should be Captain of the Guard; and after Sir Robert Cecil should be removed, Sir Henry Nevill or Mr. Bodley should be Secretary [but Mr. Bodley was not holden so fit]; and that further it was agreed between 1 S. P. O. Original: in Coke's hand.

2 Interlined in MS.

Sir Charles Davers and this examinate that Sir Charles should send John Littleton to London to the Earl of Essex, to be sent over into the Low Countries for the Earl of Southampton, who then was newly come out of Ireland. And further saith, that he first heard it from Sir Gilly Mericke [long before this]1 that the Lord Montjoy had sent to the King of Scots by Henry Lea; which he told upon this accident, in excusing the Lord Montjoy not to have dealt coldly with the Earl of Essex, for that then he had some other thing to do for him. He confesseth that Norton the bookseller carried the Earl of Essex letter to the Scottish King, which Norton received at the hands of the Lord Willoughby at Barwick, and that one part of the letter was to persuade the coming up of the Earl of Mar to London by the first of February. And that the Earl of Essex had under his own hand written instructions to the Earl of Mar,2 which the Earl of Essex burnt.

And this examinate was acquainted that the King of Scots should return his answer in disguised words of three books, which the King did accordingly. And that was it which the Earl carried about him in a black purse. He hath often heard that Anthony Bacon [conveyed divers letters from the Earl to the King of Scots] was an agent between the Earl and the King of Scots, and so he was accounted.

Exd before us,

T. EGERTON, C. S.

F. BUCKHURST.

NOTINGHAM.

RO. CECYLL.

HENRY CUFFE.

VI.

SIR HENRY NEVILLE'S Declaration. 2 March, 1600. Right Honourable, my duty and conscience binding me, besides your Honour's commandment, to declare whatsoever hath come to my knowledge touching the designs and the enterprises of the late Earl of Essex, I have faithfully set it down in this evil couched narration following; and not only that, but whatsoever else hath passed between me and him or any of his com2 For the particulars of which see No. VIII. 4 From the original in S. P. O.

1 Interlined in MS.

3 So written first, and struck out.

plices since my coming out of France, that your Lordships seeing all the circumstances that concern me laid open before you, may make the clearer judgment of my intention.

It may please your Honours to understand that at my arrival at London from Bulloigne, which was, as I remember, the sixth of August last, I met with a message which Mr. Cuffe (with whom I had had long acquaintance) left at my lodging the day before to this effect; that I had had evil offices done me, as my Lord of Essex was informed by his friends in Court, and that some great blame was like to be cast upon me for the breach at Bulloigne, as if I had by some particular evil carriage of mine given the occasion of it; which my Lord in good will was desirous I should know, that I might be prepared to answer it. Mr. Cuffe himself was then gone out of town to Oxford, as I remember it was said, but returned upon the Monday after, being the 10th or 11th of the month, and came presently unto me and renewed the same advertisement. But I had been in the meantime at the Court and found no such matter, but rather altogether the contrary, and so I answered him. But he said howsoever things were turned now, there was such an intention; and my Lord had received it from so good hand, as there could not be but some truth in it; and that my Lord in good will would have me know it, being one that he esteemed very much and was sorry to see so wronged. I answered that I did acknowledge myself very much bound to my Lord in it and did take it for a great argument of his good will and favour, which I would deserve with any service I could do him. Not long after this he brought me a letter from my Lord full of all kindness towards me, testifying his good conceit of me and his affection towards me, and that he desired my love and would hold it as a great treasure. I returned an answer with the best compliments I could, with such phrases and offers of service as are usual unto such persons and upon such kind provocations. Soon after my Lord went into the country, and myself likewise for a time; where although I remained within ten miles of him, and rode twice in the week by the park pale where he lay, I protest I never saw him, nor sent to him either to present or visit him, although I understood that most gentlemen in those parts did both.

But Cuffe came from thence once to my house, and brought me very kind commendations from my Lord, and purposed as it

seemed to have stayed two or three days with me, but that the next day I had occasion to ride into the vale, and so we parted at Netlebed. After this I saw him not till my coming to London, which was not till after the middle of October; where I had not been long but he came to see me, and moved me to come to see my Lord, saying that now he was at liberty and that all the world that would now came at him. I said I would find a time to come see him ereit were long; but yet upon some occasion of business I had, I put it off for four or five days. But at length he named me a time, saying that he had told my Lord I would come, and that he expected it and would marvel if I came not. He said that time would be very fit, and that he would desire my Lord to go to supper so much the sooner. He told me also he would appoint one to meet me and bring me in to my Lord's study. I came accordingly in the evening about eight o'clock as I guess, and was met by Glascocke my Lord's man, who conducted me, as Mr. Cuffe (he said) had directed. After some half-hour's stay or more my Lord came up, and received me very kindly, and entertained me with many questions of foreign matters; and some hopes of his own about the sweet wines, and otherwise to be restored to her Majesty's presence and favour ere it were long, and at length dismissed me with very kind offers, and brought me down himself to the back gate. But in all his talk I protest I did not hear him use any undutiful speech of the Queen or the state. After this visitation I protest I never spake with him, nor received any letter from him, nor he from me. Cuffe would come sometimes unto me. And when I asked him how his Lord's matters stood in Court, he would sometimes give show of hope and sometimes of despair. And at those times when he seemed to despair he would break out into words of heat and impatience : as namely once I remember he repeated this verse-Arma tenenti omnia dat qui justa negat. Whereunto I answered in French tout beau, he spake very big. And either at that time or another upon like occasion he said it made no matter, it would give my Lord cause to think the sooner of some other courses. About Christmas last, but whether before or after I do not well remember, he told me they were informed that there was a purpose to take some pretext to lay up my Lord of Southampton; and that they took it as a preface to the laying up of my Lord of Essex himself; but that he thought my Lord was resolved they

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