withal told him that if any there of his followers would go over, he would not hinder them.

For that which was projected for my Lord of Essex escape out of my Lord Keeper's house, I protest before God I always dissuaded from it; and the same evening before, not three hours before it should have been attempted, I protested against it under my hand and so brake it, incurring much imputation amongst them for want of affection to my Lord, and slackness to do him good.

This have I set down all truly as I can remember it, without either wronging any or favouring myself; and will only conclude with this, that I protest before the Almighty God I never set any of these things on foot, or being projected did instigate any to follow them, nor never bare disloyal or unreverent heart to her Majesty, but was drawn into them merely by my affection to my Lord of Essex, whom I thought honest to her and to her state; and, had I not been invited when I was in the Low Countries to this last work, for which I was directly sent by my Lord of Essex, the world should have witnessed with me the duty I had borne to her Majesty, and I did not then doubt but with my honest endeavours in her service in few years to have deserved forgiveness of my former offensive thoughts, which I am now by my accursed fortune cut off from. I do therefore now prostrate myself at her Majesty's princely feet, with a true penitent soul for my faults past, with horror in my conscience for my offences, and detestation of mine own life if it be displeasing unto her. I do with all humility crave her pardon. The shedding of my blood can no way avail her; my life, if it please her to grant, shall ever be ready to be lost in her service; and let my soul have no place in Heaven if ever I harbour thought in my heart which I shall think may be any way offensive unto her, but remain to the end of my days as honest and faithful a subject unto her as is in the world; and I do on the knees of my heart beseech her Majesty not to imagine that these are the words of a condemned man, who, fearing death, would promise anything, and afterward, being free, would as soon forget it. O no! world will witness with me that in her service I have given sufficient testimony more than once that I fear neither death nor danger, but they are protestations that proceed from the honest heart of a penitent offender. O, the King of Heaven hath pro

The

mised forgiveness of their sins that with sorrow and faith ask pardon, and I that do know her Majesty to be gracious, and do with so grieved a mind beg forgiveness, cannot despair, but hope that the God of Mercy, who doth never shut his ears to the afflicted that cry unto him, howsoever they have offended, nor is ever weary of being compassionate to those which unfeignedly repent and call to him for grace, and hath promised forgiveness of sins to those that forgive in this world, will move her Majesty to pity me, that I may live to make the world know her great merit and serve her; for whom I will ever pray and live and die her humble, loyal, and faithful vassal.

[Unsigned.]

There be two things which I have forgotten to set in their right places, your Lordship must be therefore pleased to take them in this postscript. One is, that not long before the day of our misfortune my Lord of Essex told me that Sir Henry Nevill, that was to go ambassador into France, was a man wholly at his devotion, and desired to run the same fortune with him, and therefore he told me that he would appoint him to come to my lodging in Drury House, and I should make him acquainted with his purpose of going to the Court, which I did accordingly, after this manner: I told him I had understood by Cuff (who had likewise made me know his disposition) that he had devoted himself to my Lord of Essex, and that he desired to engage himself in anything whereby his fortune mought be re-established. If it were so, I had somewhat to say to him from my Lord of Essex, and therefore wished him to let me know his mind. He answered me, that what Mr. Cuff had said he would perform, therefore desired me to say on. So I delivered unto him what my Lord of Essex intended, which he allowed of, and concluded that when he should be appointed, he would be at the Court before, to give him furtherance with himself and his people. The other is, that not long ago my Lord of Essex wrote to the King of Scots which he showed me, of three sides of paper and more, the effect of which as I remember was to discredit the faction (as he termed it) contrary unto him, and to entreat him to send hither the Earl of Marre with commandment to follow those directions which he should give, and withal in what words he should give him notice if he would perform it; which he received, and that was it he

ware in the black purse about his neck. He drew also, as he told me, instructions for him against his coming, but I never saw them. Thus have you, I protest before God, all that I remember or do know, wherein I once again beseech your Lordship to mark that I have never been mover nor instigator of any of these things, but drawn into them by my best friends.

XI.

With respect to the measures taken by Essex to prepare the citizens for some action in his behalf, a letter addressed by one Dr. Fletcher to the Council on the 3rd of March, 1600-1, affords some additional evidence. The original is in the State Paper Office: entitled "Dr. Fletcher's Confession." It is all in his own handwriting, and appears to be a very sincere and direct letter.

It states that on the Thursday or Friday before Essex's insurrection, Mr. Temple told him that there were certain Jesuits or seminary priests who had vowed to kill the Earl, and cast abroad libels to make him odious.

That on Saturday night Mr. Temple came again when he was in bed, and was so urgent to speak with him that he was shown into his room, and told him how the Earl had been sent for to the Council, and how he had received notice from a friend in Court that the way was laid for him by Sir Walter Raleigh and his company, and that if he went he should surely be murdered.

That on Sunday Mr. Temple told him how Sir W. Raleigh and his company had set upon the Earl in his own house, to have murdered him in his bed, etc.

That Mr. Temple said nothing to him about the Earl's coming into London in that manner, neither did the Earl: "knowing well that I would not endure to hear such things and not reveal them."

"The greatest matter," he proceeds, "I could suspect out of these reports (which I now see to be very fables and devised matters) was that some great quarrel and open fray was like to break out betwixt the Earl and Sir Walter Raleigh.

"And as touching Mr. Temple, in the reporting of these devices I do yet think (not knowing the contrary) that, having been ever accounted an honest man, he was deceived and abused by the Earl that he might deceive and abuse others."

The rest is about the feelings of the Aldermen, etc.

The "Mr. Temple" alluded to was I suppose Edward Temple, the writer of the following letter; the original of which is still in the State Paper Office, docketed

"ED. TEMPLE, his Letter to one WESTWOOD."

Mr. Westwood,

About three days since my Lord of Essex was informed that there were lying here in the city Jesuits who had conspired his Lordship's death. And yesternight late his Lordship received intelligence from the Court that if his Lordship did once stir out of Essex House he should be murdered. But that I have order to go with these advertisements to divers of my Lord's friends, I would have signified this to you by word of mouth.

[Addressed,]

So I rest your true and loving friend,

ED. TEMPLE.

To his loving friend Mr. Ed. Westwood, Goldsmith, at sign of the Hare in Cheapside, give this.

There was another Temple (William) in Essex's service at this time, who was also called in question; and who in a letter to Cecil (Add. MSS. Br. Mu. 4160, No. 78) protests his innocency touching the late fact that "he was never admitted to any conference; had no hand in the contriving of any plots; was never made acquainted with them; never wrote, sent, or carried any letters for the furtherance thereof; never delivered speech or message with intent to stir the citizens: assisted not the action either publicly in the City or privately in the House."

XII.

DR. TIMOTHY WILLIS to SECRETARY CECIL.

Yesterday at night being the 9th day of this present February I supped at the house of a merchant called Edward, which dwelt at Elbing at my being there. He hath in his house a kinsman of his wife's named Tho. Lewis, who was present in Grace Church Street in London when Sir Richard Martin the Alderman persuaded the said Earl of Essex to submit himself to her Majesty's authority (or to that purpose) and to dismiss his company. To which the Earl answered, that now or never is the time for you to pursue your liberties, which if at this time you forsake you are

1 "Of St. John's, Oxford, B.A. 10 April, 1582, made Dr. of Laws by Queen's Diploma and sent ambassador into Muscovy."-Note by Dr. Birch. Addl. MSS. Brit. Mus. 4160, No. 68.

sure to endure bondage: for you are sold for slaves to the Infanta of Spain. After which speeches the Earl walked through most places in the City, and at last turning towards the Three Cranes in the Vintry, found there some few assembled, to which he gave place and took water at the next place. All this was done within the view and by the attendance of the Lord Mayor, and where he had ready power sufficient to have surprised a far greater power.

MR. RICHARD LOVELACE's Declaration.1

At my coming with the Council into Essex House, being commanded so to do by Sir John Skidmore, there came to me the Lord Monteagle, requiring me to go with him and take such fortunes as they did. Then Sir Charles Davers used persuasions, saying unto me they had assurance of the City and the country, and all would join with them. Afterwards Sir John Davies came to me with great confidence, saying such order was taken on their sides both in the City and country, that there would be no resistance against them. Words did they use to this effect. Notwithstanding I refused to go with them, and was prisoner there with the Council and returned with them to the Court.

1 Add. MSS. 4160, No. 69.