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Essex: Thou swearest it, but it is not on a Book; that man thou sayest I procured to do it, his name is John Daniel, an arrant thief, one that broke a standard [banner] of mine and stole a casket of my wife’s, and many other things. It is very probably that I should trust him so far, that had before betrayed me, is it not? But it is well known who set him at work to attempt against me so much as he hath done to procure my hand to be counterfeited. And yet this man by your judgement must be a practicer of such matters by my own consent. Well, Mr. Attorney, I thank God you are not my judge this day, you are so uncharitable

Attorn. Gen.: Well, my Lord, we shall prove anon what you are, which your pride of heart and aspiring mind hath brought you unto.

Essex: Ah! Mr. Attorney, lay your hand upon your heart and pray to God to forgive us both.

Sir Walter Raleigh Raleigh: Sir Ferdinando Gorges told me upon the water that my lord of Essex had put himself [on guard] at Essex House, and this is like to be the bloodiest day’s work that ever was, wishing him to go to Court with speed for prevention thereof. Then Sir Walter wished Sir Ferdinando Gorges to refuse their company, else he would be undone. To this Sir Walter was sworn. [This passage is muddled: Apparently someone is reading Raleigh’s account, and narrating as well. --mps. ]

Essex: Whatsoever Sir Walter Raleigh hath said differeth altogether from that which Sir Ferdinando Gorges told us at Essex House upon his return from the water.

Attorn. Gen. Well, my Lord, what can you devise to say for Sir John Davies, another of your adherents, that Papist? For he hath confessed that he is a Papist and a Catholic, and drawn in by Sir Christopher Blount, one of your chiefest council, and that he called for a seminary priest upon his conscience to absolve him.

Essex: If Sir John Davies were such a man it cannot be but strange to me to hear it. Although I cannot search into the secrets of his heart to accuse him inwardly, yet I have seen him dutifully come to prayers, and to the service of God in mine own house with me, and behaved him very godlily, and of this I can be witness.

And as for Blount, God is my witness I have been so far from Popery as to have so earnestly dealt with him to reform himself, in so much that he hath told me I have been very passionate.

But you say we have committed Treason, first prove that true.

Sergeant Yelverton: Why my lord—if you deny the raising the power—why should so many men come to your house that day?

Southampton: By your favour, Mr. Sergeant Yelverton, a word I hope. For my coming thither, it was not strange news, and when I came that same morning to Essex House, I protest I had not above ten or twelve men attending me, which was but my usual company, therefore far from purporting to raise a tumult.

Attorn. Gen.: Why, the reason of that was for that you thought all London would have risen with you. But good my Lord, I beseech your Grace to hear the oath of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, whose evidence was read, and himself there in person did justify the same.




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1 May 1999 pkm