DECLARATION OF THE LORD KEEPER. 383 



perfidiously dealt with ; that his hand had been coun 

 terfeited, and letters written in his name; and that 

 therefore they were assembled there together to de 

 fend their lives ; with much other speech to like effect. 

 Hereupon the lord Chief Justice said unto the earl, 

 That if they had any such matter of grief, or if any 

 such matter were attempted or purposed against him, 

 he willed the earl to declare it, assuring him that it 

 should be truly related to her majesty, and that it 

 should be indifferently heard, and justice should be 

 done whomsoever it concerned. 



To this the earl of Southampton objected the as 

 sault mad^ upon him by the lord Gray. Whereunto 

 the lord Chief Justice said, That in his case justice 

 had been done, and the party imprisoned for it. And 

 hereupon the lord Keeper did eftsoons will the earl of 

 Essex, that whatsoever private matter or offence he 

 had against any person whatsoever, if he would deliver 

 it unto them, they would faithfully and honestly de 

 liver it to the queen s majesty, and doubted not to 

 procure him honourable and equal justice, whomsoever 

 it concerned ; requiring him, that if he would not de 

 clare it openly, that he would impart it unto them 

 privately, and doubted not but they would satisfy him 

 in it. 



Upon this there was a great clamour raised 

 amongst the multitude, crying, &quot; Away, my lord, 

 they abuse you, they betray you, they undo you, 

 you lose time.&quot; Whereupon the lord Keeper put 

 on his hat, and said with a loud voice, &quot; My lord, let 

 us speak with you privately, and understand your 



