OF ROBERT EARL OF ESSEX. 349 



the lord Chief Justice, persons that he pretended to 

 love and respect ; and the earl of Worcester his kins 

 man, and Master Comptroller his uncle, and the 

 publishing to the people, that the realm should have 

 been sold to the Spaniard. 



And lastly, it was said, that these were the an 

 cient footsteps of former traitors, to make their quar 

 rel as against their private enemies, because God 

 unto lawful kings did ever impart such beams of his 

 own glory, as traitors could not look straight upon 

 them, but ever turned their pretences against some 

 about them ; and that this action of his resembled 

 the action of Pisistratus of Athens, that proceeded so 

 far in this kind of fiction and dissimulation, as he 

 lanced his own body, and came hurt and wounded 

 before the people, as having been assailed by his pri 

 vate enemies ; and by colour thereof obtained a 

 guard about his person, by help of whom he after 

 usurped upon the state. 



Defence. To the point, that he heard it reported 

 Mr. Secretary should say, That the Infantas title to 

 the crown, after her majesty, was as good as any other : 



Reply. Upon this his allegation, Mr. Secretary 

 standing out of sight in a private place, only to hear, 

 being much moved with so false and foul an accusa 

 tion, came suddenly forth, and made humble request 

 to the lord Steward, that he might have the favour 

 to answer for himself. Which being granted him, 

 in respect of the place he carried, after a bitter con 

 testation on his part with the earl, and a serious 



