NOTES 4 C 4 D. 



doth commendably in a lesse degree ; but in bad things the proportion is other- 

 . wise, the example being naught, the imitation is worse : therefore if my Lord of 

 Leicester did evill, in comming over contrary to the Queenes commandement, 

 my Lord of Essex did worse in imitating my Lord of Leicester, and is so much 

 the more to be punished for it. In the end he came to the censure, which was 

 this. If, quoth he, this cause had beene heard in the Starre-chamber, my sen 

 tence must have been so great a fine as ever was set upon any man s head in 

 that court, and perpetuall imprisonment in that place which belongeth to a man 

 of his quality, that is the Tower ; but now that we are in another place, and in 

 a course of favour, my censure is, that he is not to execute the office of a coun 

 sellor, nor to holde himselfe for a counsellor of estate, nor to execute the office 

 of earle marshall of England, nor of the master of the ordinance, and to returne 

 to his owne house, there to continue a prisoner as before, till it shall please her 

 majesty to release both this and all the rest. 



After my Lord Keeper all the rest in order gave their censures (amplifying 

 her majesties clemency and the carles offences), according to the manner in the 

 Starre-chamber ; but all accorded to this censure, (for so they called it, and not 

 a sentence), Master Secretary said, my censure is, that the earle deserveth, &c. 

 The greater part of the day was spent in the lords censures, who were many of 

 them very long, onely the noble men (not counsellors) were short. 



The Earle of Worcester cited these two verses ; 



Scilicet a superis etiam fortuna luenda est, 

 Nee veniant, laeso numine, casus habet. 



Even for our fortune gods may cast us downe, 

 Neither can chance excuse, if a god frowne. 



The Earle of Cumberland said, if he thought that censure should stand, he 

 would crave longer time, for it seemed unto hime somewhat hard and heavy, 

 intimating how easily a generall commander might incurre the like; but (quoth 

 hee) in confidence of her maiesties mercy, I agree with the rest. 



The Lord Zouch would give no other censure, but that which he thought the 

 earle would lay upon himselfe, that was, that he would restraine himselfe from 

 executing his offices, &c. and keepe himselfe in his house, till her majesty shall 

 release all. 



They all seemed by their speeches to conceive a sure hope of her majesties 

 releasing this censure, and the earl was reasonably chearefull, onely his body 

 seemed weake and distempered with sicknesse, and now and then he shewed 

 most manifest tokens of sorrow for his offence to her maiesty, by teares in his 

 eyes (specially in the first part of his owne speech, and when my Lord Keeper 

 spake). 



[Fynes Moryson s Itinerary, fol. Lond. 1617. Part II. Ireland, anno 

 1600. pp. 6874. 



4 D. Life, p. Ixxviii. 



A Letter to the Earl of Essex, in offer of his service when he was first enlarged 

 to Essex House. 



My Lord, No man can expound my doings better than your lordship, which 

 makes me need to say the less ; only I humbly pray you to believe, that I aspire 

 to the conscience and commendation of bonus civis, and bonus vir ; and that 

 though I love some things better, I confess, than I love your lordship, yet I love 

 few persons better ; both for gratitude s sake, and for your virtues, which cannot 

 hurt but by accident, of which my good affection it may please your lordship to 

 assure yourself, and of all the true effect and offices I can yield. For as I was 

 ever sorry your lordship should fly with waxen wings, doubting Icarus s fortune, 

 so for the growing up of your own feathers, be they ostriches or other kind, no 

 man shall be more glad. And this is the axletree whereon I have turned and 

 shall turn. Which having already signified to you by some near mean, having 



