398 CONFESSION OF THE EARL OF ESSEX. 



majesty would be pleased, out of her grace and 

 favour, to suffer him to die privately in the Tower ; 

 he did marvellous earnestly desire, that we would 

 suffer him to speak unto Cuffe his secretary : against 

 whom he vehemently complained unto us, to have 

 been a principal instigator to these violent courses 

 which he had undertaken. Wherein he protested, 

 that he chiefly desired that he might make it appear 

 that he was not the only persuader of those great 

 offences which they had committed ; but that Blunt, 

 Cuffe, Temple, besides those other persons who were 

 at the private conspiracy at Drury-house, to which, 

 though these three were not called, yet they were 

 privy, had most malicious and bloody purposes to 

 subvert the state and government : which could not 

 have been prevented, if his project had gone forward. 

 This request being granted him, and Cuffe 

 brought before him, he there directly and vehemently 

 charged him ; and among other speeches used these 

 words : &quot; Henry Cuffe, call to God for mercy, and 

 to the queen, and deserve it by declaring truth. 

 For I, that must now prepare for another world, 

 have resolved to deal clearly with God and the 

 world : and must needs say this to you ; You have 

 been one of the chiefest instigators of me to all 

 these my disloyal courses into which I have fallen.&quot; 



Testified by THO. EGERTON, C. S. 

 THO. BUCKHURST, 

 NOTTINGHAM, 

 Ro. CECIL. 



