OF ROBERT EARL OF ESSEX. 315 



make good his first descent on shore, purposing to 

 land them at Milford- Haven in Wales, or there 

 abouts : not doubting, but that his army would so 

 increase within a small time, by such as would come 

 in to him, as he should be able to march with his 

 power to London, and make his own conditions as 

 he thought good. But both Southampton and Blunt 

 dissuaded him from this enterprise ; Blunt alleging 

 the hazard of it, and that it would make him odious : 

 and Southampton utterly disliking of that course, 

 upon the same and many other reasons. Howbeit, 

 thereupon Blunt advised him rather to another 

 course, which was to draw forth of the army some 

 200 resolute gentlemen, and with those to come 

 over, and so to make sure of the court, and so to 

 make his own conditions. Which confessions it is 

 not amiss to deliver, by what a good providence 

 of God they came to light : for they could not be 

 used at Essex s arraignment to charge him, because 

 they were uttered after his death. 



But Sir Christopher Blunt at his arraignment, 

 being charged that the earl of Essex had set it down 

 under his hand, that he had been a principal insti 

 gator of him to his treasons, in passion brake forth 

 into these speeches : That then he must be forced 

 to disclose what farther matters he had held my lord 

 from, and desired for that purpose, because the pre 

 sent proceeding should not be interrupted, to speak 

 with the lord Admiral and Mr. Secretary after his 

 arraignment, and so fell most naturally and most vo- 



