CONFESSION OF SIR CHRISTOPHER BLUNT. 391 



Sir CHRISTOPHER BLUNT, knight, at the time of his 

 arraignment, did openly at the bar desire to 

 speak with the lord Admiral and Mr. Secretary ; 

 before whom he made this confession following : 

 which the earl of SOUTHAMPTON confirmed after 

 wards, and he himself likewise at his death. 



HE confesseth, that at the castle of Dublin, in 

 that lodging which was once the earl of Southamp 

 ton s, the earl of Essex purposing his return into 

 England, advised with the earl of Southampton and 

 himself, of his best manner of going into England for 

 his security, seeing to go he was resolved. 



At that time he propounded his going with a 

 competent number of soldiers, to the number of two 

 or three thousand, to have made good his first 

 landing with that force, until he could have drawn 

 unto himself a sufficient strength to have proceeded 

 farther. 



From this purpose this examinate did use all 

 forcible persuasions, alleging not only his own ruin, 

 which should follow thereof, and all those which 

 should adhere to him in that action ; but urging it 

 to him as a matter most foul, because he was not 

 only held a patron of his country, which by this 

 means he should have destroyed ; but also should 

 have laid upon himself an irrevocable blot, having 

 been so deeply bound to her majesty. To which 

 dissuasion the earl of Southampton also inclined. 



This design being thus dissuaded by them, then 



