CHARGE AGAINST WILLIAM TALBOT. 455 



Henry IV. a prince that the French do surname the 

 Great, one that had been a saviour and redeemer of 

 his country from infinite calamities, and a restorer 

 of that monarchy to the ancient state and splendor, 

 and prince almost heroical, except it be in the 

 point of revolt from religion, at a time when he 

 was as it were to mount on horseback for the com 

 manding of the greatest forces that of long time had 

 been levied in France, this king likewise stilettoed 

 by a rascal votary, which had been enchanted and 

 conjured for the purpose. 



In England, queen Elizabeth, of blessed me 

 mory, a queen comparable and to be ranked with 

 the greatest kings, oftentimes attempted by like 

 votaries, Sommervile, Parry, Savage, and others, 

 but still protected by the watchman that slumbereth 

 not. Again, our excellent sovereign king James, 

 the sweetness and clemency of whose nature were 

 enough to quench and mortify all malignity, and a 

 king shielded and supported by posterity ; yet this 

 king in the chair of Majesty, his vine and olive 

 branches about him, attended by his nobles and third 

 estate in parliament ; ready in the twinkling of an 

 eye, as if it had been a particular dooms-day, to have 

 been brought to ashes, dispersed to the four winds. 

 I noted the last day, my lord chief justice, when he 

 spake of this powder treason, he laboured for words ; 

 though they came from him with great efficacy, yet 

 he truly confessed, and so must all men, that that 

 treason is above the charge and report of any words 

 whatsoever. 



