

NOTE 4 C. 



halfe of her majesty, he fully satisfied the auditors. Master Secretary gave the 

 earle his right alwaies, and shewed more curtesie than any ; yet, saied he, the 

 earle in all his iourney did nothing else but make (as it were) circles of errours, 

 which were all bound up in the unhappy knot of his disobedient returne. Also 

 he gave the earle free liberty to interrupt him at any time in his speech. But 

 the earle being; contented with the opinion of loyalty so cleerely reserved unto 

 him, was most willing to beare the whole burthen of all the rest of jthe accusa 

 tion, and therefore never used any further reply ; onely by reason of a question 

 or two, that were moved by my Lord of Canterbury and my Lord Admirall : 

 some little speech there was to and fro. My Lord of Canterburies question 

 was concerning the conditions of yeelding unto Tyrone in tolleration of religion ; 

 the earle heartily thanked him for moving that doubt, and then protested, that it 

 was a thing mentioned in deed, but never yeelded unto by him, nor yet stood 

 upon by the traitor, to whom the earl had said plainely, Hang thee up, thou 

 carest for religion as much as my horse. Master Secretary also cleered the earle 

 in that respect, that he never yeelded to Tyrone in that foule condition, though 

 by reason of Tyrones vaunting afterwards, it might have some shew of proba 

 bility. By reason of my Lord Admirals question, the earle spake somewhat of 

 his returne, that he did it upon a false ground of hope, that her majesty might 

 pardon him, as shee did the Earle of Leicester in the like case, who returned out 

 of the Low Countries, contrary to her majesties expresse letter. This I thought 

 with myselfe (quoth the earle) if Leicester were pardoned, whose end was onely 

 to saue himselfe, why might not Essex be pardoned, whose end was to save a 

 kingdome. But Master Secretary replied, that upon his knowledge there never 

 passed any letter from her majesty, to forbid the Earle of Leicester s returne. 



Judge Walmesley his speech was more blunt then bitter : Prisoners at our 

 barres (saith he) are more gracelesse, they will not confesse their faults. 

 Againe, he compared my lord his comming home, and leaving the army there, 

 to a shepheard that left his flocke to the keeping of his dogge. 



In conclusion, the earle protested, that all he sought for was the opinion of a 

 true and a loyall subject, which might appeare by the speech wherewith he 

 hedged in all his answeres, namely, that he intended onely to shew those false 

 guides which misled him, whether they were his owne errours, or the errours of 

 his counsillors, whom he followed, that he yeelded himselfe wholly to her 

 maiesties mercy and favour, and was ready to offer up his poor carkasse unto 

 her, he would not say to doe (for alasse he had no faculties), but to suffer what 

 soever her majesty should inflict upon him, and so requested them all to make 

 a just, honourable, and fauourable report of his disordered speeches, which had 

 fallen from him in such sort, as his aking head and body weakened with sick- 

 nesse, would give him leave. This done, they proceeded to the censure. 



My Lord Keeper beganne with a good, powerfull, and eloquent speech. That 

 by justice and clemency the throne is established ; as for mercy, her majesty 

 had reserved it to herselfe ; but for the satisfying of her justice, shee had 

 appointed them to enquire into the cause. That they were to enquire onely of 

 those faults of contempts and disobedience laid unto the earle, and to censure 

 him accordingly, and for her mercy they had nothing to do with it ; onely God 

 was to worke it in her princely breast. In examining the carles faults, he laid 

 these for his grounds : that the two grounds and foundations of the princes 

 scepter and estate, are the reputation of a diligent and carefull providence for 

 the preservation of her estate and countries, and the obedience of her subiects ; 

 and he that should take either of these from her, should take from her the crowne 

 and scepter. For the first, he notably shewed at large, how her maiesty had 

 deserved it in the whole course of the Irish warres ; for obedience, he shewed the 

 nature of it, consisting in precisely following the streight line of the princes 

 commandement, and upon that straine he amplified to the uttermost all the 

 carles contempts and disobediences, that her maiesties great mercy might appeare 

 the more cleerly. Among the rest, (for he went through them all in order) he 

 answered thus to the pretence of Leicesters president for excuse of the carles 

 returne. In good things the example is better then the imitation of another ; 

 he that doth wel of his owne head, doth best, and he that doth wel by imitation, 



VOL. xv. 9 



