The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

370 DECLARATION OF THE TREASON OF ROBERT, EARL OF ESSEX.
putting us in mind that he said once before, that any particular cause of grief against any person
when he was able to speak, he would tell all whatsoever, it should be heard, and they should
truth, doth now confess; That four or five days have justice.
before the Earl of Essex did rise, he did set down Hereupon the Earl of Essex with a very loud,:ertain articles to be considered on, which he voice declared, That his life was sought, and that
saw not, until afterwards he was made acquainted he should have been murdered in his bed; that he
with them, when they had among themselves had been perfidiously dealt with; that his hand
disputed: which were these. has been counterfeited, and letters written in his
One of them was, whether the Tower of Lon- name; and that, therefore, they were assembled
don should be taken 1 there together to defend their lives; with much
Another, whether they should not possess the other speech to like effect. Hereupon the lord
court, and so secure my lord, and other men, to chief justice said unto the earl, That if they had
come to the queen! any such matter of grief, or if any such matter
For the first concerning the Tower, he did not were attempted or purposed against him, he
like it; concluding, that he that had the power willed the earl to declare it, assuring him that it
of the queen, should have that. should be truly related to her majesty, and that it
He confesseth that upon Saturday night, when should be indifferently heard, and justice should
Mr. Secretary Herbert had been with the earl, and be done whomsoever it concerned.
that he saw some suspicion was taken, he thought To this the Earl of Southampton objected the
it in vain to attempt the court, and persuaded him assault made upon him by the Lord Gray. Whererather to save himself by flight, than to engage unto the lord chief justice said, That in his
himself farther, and all his company. And so case justice had been done, and the party imnprithe resolution of the earl grew to go into the city, soned for it. And hereupon the lord keeper did
in hope, as he said before, to find many friends eftsoons will the Earl of Essex, that whatsoever
there. private matter or offence he had against any person
H-Re doth also say, that the earl did usually whatsoever, if he would deliver it unto them, they
speak of his purpose to alter the government. would faithfully and honestly deliver it to the
CHRISTOPHER BLUNT. queen's majesty, and doubted not to procure him
Exam. per Jo. HERBERT. honourable and equal justice, whomsoever it conSubscribed in the presence of cerned; requiring him, that if he would not declare
NIC. KEMPE, W. MARTIN, it openly, that he would impart it unto them priTHo. THORNEY, RANDOLPH BULL. vately, and doubted not but they would satisfy
RoR. ANDREWS. him in it.
Upon this there was a great clamour raised
VTe declaration of the Lord Keeper, the Earl of amongst the multitude, crying, " Away, my lord,
WVORCESTER, and the Lord Chief Jutstice of Eng- they abuse you, they betray you, they undo you,
land. you lose time." Whereupon the lord keeper
Upon Sunday, being the 8th of February last put on his hat, and said with a loud voice, "6 My
past, about ten of the clock in the forenoon, the lord, let us speak with you privately, and underLord Keeper of the Great Seal, the Earl of Wor- stand your griefs; and I command you all upon
cester, Sir William Knolles, comptroller of her your allegiance, to lay down your weapons, and
majesty's household, and the Lord Chief Justice to depart, which you ought all to do, being thus
of England, being commanded by direction from commanded, if you be good subjects, and owe
the queen's majesty, did repair to the late Earl of that duty to the queen's majesty which you proEssex his house, and finding the gate shut against fess." Whereupon they all brake out into an
them, after a little stay they were let in at the exceeding loud shout and cry, crying, "All! all!
wicket: and as soon as they were within the all!"
gate, the wicket was shut upon them, and all And whilst the lord keeper was speaking, and
their servants kept out. commanding them upon their allegiance, as is
At their coming thither they found the court before declared, the Earl of Essex, and the most
full of men assembled together in very tumultu- part of that company did put on their hats, and so
ous sort; the Earls of Essex, Rutland, and South- the Earl of Essex went into the house, and the
ampton, and the Lord Sandys, Mr. Parker, com- lord keeper, &c., followed him, thinking that his
monly called Lord Montegle, Sir Christopher purpose had been to speak with them privately,
Blunt, Sir Charles Davers, and many other as they had required. And, as they were going,
knights and gentlemen, and other persons un- some of that disordered company cried, 6" Kill
known, which flocked together about the lord them." And as they were going into the great
keeper, &c. And thereupon the lord keeper chamber, some cried, 6" Cast the great seal out at
told the Earl of Essex, that they were sent from the window." Some other cried there, "' Kill
her majesty to understand the cause of this their them;" and some other said, 6 Nay, let us shop
assembly, and to let them know, that if they had them up."