CONFESSION OF THE EARL OF ESSEX. 399 



The earl of Essex his confession to three ministers, 

 whose names are underwritten, the 25th of Feb 

 ruary, 1600. 



THE late earl of Essex thanked God most heartily, 

 That he had given him a deeper insight into his of 

 fence, being sorry he had so stood upon his justifica 

 tion at his arraignment, for he was since that become 

 another man. 



He thanked God that his course was so prevented ; 

 for if his project had taken effect, God knows, said 

 he, what harm it had wrought in the realm. 



He humbly thanked her majesty, that he should 

 die in so private a manner, lest the acclamation of 

 the people might have been a temptation unto him. 

 To which he added, that all popularity and trust in 

 man was vain : the experience whereof himself had 

 felt. 



He acknowledged with thankfulness to God, that 

 he was thus justly spewed out of the realm. 



He publicly in his prayer and protestation, as also 

 privately, aggravated the detestation of his offence ; 

 and especially in the hearing of them that were pre 

 sent at the execution, he exaggerated it with four 

 epithets, desiring God to forgive him his great, his 

 bloody, his crying, and his infectious sin : which word 

 &quot; infectious&quot; he privately had explained to us, that it 

 was a leprosy that had infected far and near. 

 THOMAS MONFORD, 

 WILLIAM BARLOW, 

 ABDY ASHTON, his chaplain. 



