334 DECLARATION OF THE TREASONS 



therefore using authority before she would use force, 

 sent unto him four persons of great honour and 

 place, and such as he ever pretended to reverence 

 and love, to offer him justice for any griefs of his, 

 but yet to lay her royal commandment upon him to 

 disperse his company, and upon them to withdraw 

 themselves. 



These four honourable persons, being the lord 

 Keeper of the great seal of England, the earl of 

 Worcester, the Comptroller of her majesty s house 

 hold, and the lord Chief Justice of England, came 

 to the house, and found the gates shut upon them. 

 But after a little stay, they were let in at the 

 wicket ; and as soon as they were within, the wicket 

 was shut, and all their servants kept out, except the 

 bearer of the seal. In the court they found the earls 

 with the rest of the company, the court in a manner 

 full, and upon their coming towards Essex, they all 

 flocked and thronged about them ; whereupon the 

 lord Keeper in an audible voice delivered to the 

 earl the queen s message, That they were sent by 

 her majesty to understand the cause of this their 

 assembly, and to let them know that if they had any 

 particular cause of griefs against any persons what- 

 sover, they should have hearing and justice. 



Whereupon the earl of Essex in a very loud and 

 furious voice declared, That his life was sought, and 

 that he should have been murdered in his bed, and 

 that he had been perfidiously dealt withal ; and 

 other speeches to the like effect. To which the 

 lord Chief Justice said, If any such matter were 



