OF ROBERT EARL OF ESSEX. 343 



made for themselves ; and the replies made upon 

 such their defences : with some other circum 

 stances of the proceedings, as well at the same 

 arraignments as after. 



THE two late earls of Essex and Southampton 

 were brought to their trial the nineteenth of Febru 

 ary, eleven days after the rebellion. At which trial 

 there passed upon them twenty-five peers, a greater 

 number than hath been called in any former prece 

 dent. Amongst whom her majesty did not forbear 

 to use many that were of near alliance and blood 

 to the earl of Essex, and some others, that had 

 their sons and heirs apparent that were of his com 

 pany, and followed him in the open action of rebel 

 lion. The lord Steward then in commission, accord 

 ing to the solemnity in such trials received, was the 

 lord Buckhurst, lord high treasurer, who with gra 

 vity and temperance directed the evidence, and mo 

 derated, and gave the judgment. There was also 

 an assistance of eight judges, the three chief, and 

 five others. The hearing was with great patience 

 and liberty : the ordinary course not being held, to 

 silence the prisoners till the whole state of the evi 

 dence was given in ; but they being suffered to 

 answer articulately to every branch of the evidence, 

 and sometimes to every particular deposition, when 

 soever they offered to speak : and not so only, but 

 they were often spared to be interrupted, even in 

 their digressions and speeches not much pertinent to 

 their cause. And always when any doubt in law 



