300 DECLARATION OF THE TREASONS 



tion of the practices and treasons attempted and 

 committed by Robert late earl of Essex and his 

 complices against her majesty and her kingdoms, 

 and of the proceedings at the convictions of the said 

 late earl and his adherents upon the same treasons : 

 and not so only, but therewithal, for the better war 

 ranting and verifying of the narration, to set down 

 in the end the very confessions and testimonies them 

 selves word for word, taken out of the originals, 

 whereby it will be most manifest that nothing is 

 obscured or disguised, though it do appear by divers 

 most wicked and seditious libels thrown abroad, that 

 the dregs of these treasons which the late earl of 

 Essex himself, a little before his death, did term a 

 leprosy, that had infected far and near, do yet 

 remain in the hearts and tongues of some mis- 

 affected persons. 



The most partial will not deny, but that Robert 

 late earl of Essex was, by her majesty s manifold 

 benefits and graces, besides oath and allegiance, as 

 much tied to her majesty, as the subject could be to 

 the sovereign ; her majesty having heaped upon him 

 both dignities, offices, and gifts, in such measure, as 

 within the circle of twelve years, or more, there was 

 scarcely a year of rest, in which he did not obtain at 

 her majesty s hands some notable addition either of 

 honour or profit. 



But he on the other side making these her ma 

 jesty s favours nothing else but wings for his ambi 

 tion, and looking upon them not as her benefits, but 

 as his advantages, supposing that to be his own metal 

 which was but her mark and impression, was so 



