The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

220 REPORT OF LOPEZ'S TREASON.
by Ferrera's letter: and for the provision of amber confessions appear expressed in their own natural
and musk, it was meant that the count looked language, testified and subscribed with their own
shortly for a resolution from the King of Spain hands; and in open assembly, at the arraignment
concerning a matter of importance, which was of Lopez in the Guildhall, were by them confor burning of the Queen's ships; and another firmeed and avouched to Lopez his face; and
point tending to the satisfactionof their vindictive therewithal are extant, undefaced, the original
humour. letters from Count de Fuentes, Secretary Juarra,
But while the sense of this former letter rested and the rest.
ambiguous, and that no direct particular was con- And Lopez himself, at his first apprehension
fessed by Ferrera, nor sufficient light given to and examination, did indeed deny, and deny with
ground any rigorous examination of him, cometh deep and terrible oaths and execrations, the very
over Manuel Louis with the resolution from conferences and treaties with Ferrera, or Andrada,
Spain; who first understanding of Ferrera's re- about the empoisonment. And being demanded,
straint, and therefore doubting how far things if they were proved against him what he would
were discovered, to shadow the matter, like a say? he answered, That he would yield himself
cunning companion, gave advertisement of an guilty of the fact intended. Nevertheless, being
intent he had to do service, and hereupon obtained afterwards confronted by Ferrera, who constantly
a passport: but after his coming in, he made no maintained to him all that he had said, reducing
haste to reveal any thing, but thought to dally him to the times and places of the said conferand abuse in some other sort. And while the ences, he confessed the matter, as by his confeslight was thus in the clouds, there was also inter- sion in writing, signed with his own hand,
cepted a little ticket which Ferrera in prison had appeareth. But then he fell to that slender evafound means to write, in care to conceal Lopez, sion, as his last refuge, that he meant only to
and to keep him out of danger, to give a caveat of cozen the King of Spain of the money: and in
staying all farther answers and advertisements in that he continued at his arraignment, when, notthese causes. Whereupon, Lopez was first called withstanding, at the first he did retract his own
in question. confession: and yet being asked, whether he was
But, in conclusion, this matter being with all drawn, either by means of torture, or promise of
assiduity and policy more and more pierced and life, to make the same confession. he did openly
mined into, first, there was won from Manuel testify that no such means were used towards him.
Louis his letters from the Count de Fuentes and But the falsehood of this excuse, being an alleSecretary Juarra to Ferrera, in both which mention gation that any traitor may use and provide for
is made of the queen's death; in that of the himself, is convicted by three notable proofs.
count's, under the term of a commission; and in The first, that he never opened this matter, neither
that of the secretary's, under the term of the great unto her majesty, unto whom he had ordinary
service, whereof should arise a universal benefit access, nor to any counsellor of state, to have
to the whole world. Also, the letters of credit permission to toll on, and inveigle these parties
written by Gonsalo Gomez, one to Pedro de Car- with whom he did treat, if it had been thought so
rera, and the other to Juan Pallacio, to take up a convenient; wherein, percase, he had opportunity
sum of money by Manuel Louis, by the foresaid to have done some good service, for the farther
false name of Fr. de Thores; letters so large, and discovery of their secret machinations against her
in a manner without limitation, as any sum by majesty's life. The second, that he came too
virtue thereof might be taken up: which letters late to this shift; having first bewrayed his guilty
were delivered to Louis by the Count de Fuentes's conscience, in denying those treaties and conferown hands, with directions to show them to ences till they were evidently and manifestly
Lopez for his assurance; a matter of God's secret proved to his face. The third, that in conferring
working in staying the same, for thereupon rested with Ferrera about the manner of his assurance,
only the execution of the fact of Lopez. Upon he thought it better to have the money in the
so narrow a point consisted the safety of her ma- hands of such merchants as he should name in
jesty's life, already sold by avarice to malice and Antwerp, than to have it brought into England;
ambition, but extraordinarily preserved by that declaring his purpose to be, after the fact done,
watchman which never slumbereth. This same speedily to fly to Antwerp, and there to tarry
Manuel Louis, and Stephen Ferrera also, whereof some time, and so to convey himself to Constanthe one managed the matter abroad, and the other tinople; where it is affirmed, that Don Salomon,
resided here to give correspondence, never meet- a Jew in good credit, is Lopez his near kinsman,
ing after Manuel had returned, severally examined and that he is greatly favoured by the said Don
without torture or threatening, did in the end Salomon: whereby it is evident that Lopez had
toluntarily and clearly confess the matters above- cast his reckonings upon the supposition of the
mentioned, and in their confessions fully consent fact done.
and concur, not only in substance, but in all Thus may appear, both how justly this Lopezl:
},)ints, particularities, and circumstances; which * Lopez was executed 7th June, 15941.