Lord Admiral [Nottingham] : I desire, for the better satisfaction of myself and fellow peers, that Gorges might unfold openly what other secrets have passed between himself and my lord of Essex, touching the State.

Essex: Ah, my Lord Admiral, assure yourself in faith, no treason. But yet, I pray thee, good Sir Ferdinando, speak openly, whatsoever thou dost remember, and with all my heart I desire thee to speak freely.

Gorges: All that I can remember, I have delivered in my examination, and further I cannot say.

Essex: Yes, Ferdinand. If ever you knew any other matter which contained any thought of treason or disloyalty, speak it

Southampton: Good Sir Ferdinando, satisfy the Court what was intended among all our conferences and talk of our enemies and discontentments and consultations, [and] what was our best course against them.

Gorges: Some delivered their minds one way, some another. But by the oath I have taken, I did never know or hear any thought or purpose of hurt or disloyalty intended to her Majesty’s person by my Lord of Essex.

Lord Admiral: I desire to know, for the better satisfaction of my conscience, whether my lord of Essex did at any time deliver out any articles in writing under his hand, therein laying open the projects of his purpose for surprising the Court and the Tower.

Southampton: It was a foolish action, I must needs confess, the going through the town, and that was suddenly passed over. But my lord’s purpose to have men planted at the Court was in regard he feared hindrance by private enemies that would have stopped his passage to the Queen, which I protest he intended to no other end but to prostrate himself at her Majesty’s feet, and submit to her mercy, as ye have formerly heard.

Cobham: My Lord of Essex (quoth the Lord Cobham, standing up) Let me know, I entreat you, why you lay such imputations upon me as you have delivered.

Essex: My Lord, I have forgiven all the world, and therefore you shall not need to insist upon these circumstances; for I lay not my cause upon aught that shall do your Lordship any harm for my sake. For I protest, my heart bears you no malice, but what I spake was freely, and in God’s presence, hoping her Majesty would have heard us and our complaints, being but true. And I do further assure your Lordship that I never spake it out of fear of death or desire of life.