A sermon preached at Paules Crosse, on the first Sunday in Lent: Martij 1. 1600 With a short discourse of the late Earle of Essex his confession, and penitence, before and at the time of his death. By William Barllow Doctor of Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed a true copie, in substance, of the behauiour, speache, and prayer of the said Earle at the time of his execution.

A sermon preached at Paules Crosse, on the first Sunday in Lent: Martij 1. 1600 With a short discourse of the late Earle of Essex his confession, and penitence, before and at the time of his death. By William Barllow Doctor of Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed a true copie, in substance, of the behauiour, speache, and prayer of the said Earle at the time of his execution.

Table of contents

Title page

To the Reader.

The answer of our Sauiour Christ vnto the tempting Pharisees.

Certaine obseruations.

The true copy, in substance, of the late Earle of Essex, his behauiour, speach, and prayer, at the time of his execution.

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A Sermon preached at Paules Crosse, on the first Sunday in Lent; Martij 1. 1600.

With a short discourse of the late Earle of Essex his confession, and penitence, before and at the time of his death.

By William Barlow Doctor of Diuinitie.

Whereunto is annexed a true copie, in substance, of the behauiour, speache, and prayer of the said Earle at the time of his execution.

AT LONDON Printed for Mathew Law, dwelling in Paules Church-yard neere Watling-streete, 1601.

To the Reader.

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ALthough Thucidides had neuer spoken it,Lib. 1. yet experience shewes it to be true, [...], that hearing is not liable to any accompt, but [...] whatsoeuer a mā speaketh, it laies open to other mens censure both his person, and his relation; which is eyther good or bad saith Nazianz. not by desert and truth,Apologer. but Secundum praeiudicium allatum, or affectionem innatam sayth Seneca, as the preiudice of his auditors is,Senec. Epist. which they [Page] bring with them, or the disposition of their natures bred within thē: Neither of these hetherunto haue I eyther feared or fled, but, as I neuer made sute to preach any where, so beeing eyther commaunded, or requested, I neuer refused the most publike assemblies, as beeing diffident of that doctrines veritie which should passe from me, or guiltie of any calumniation which might, iustly, touch me. Custome makes some speake ill, but wisdome teacheth euen Philosophers to dispise it, and religion willeth Christians to forgiue it. The rule of Seneca is an oracle for truth, a comfort to a guiltlesse minde, Vt quisque est contemptissimus, Quòd in Sap: non cadit iniuria. ita solutissimae linguae est, the basest sorted, and the lewdest of life, haue the most lauish tongues. Yet, I confesse, [Page] that the addressing my selfe to this sermon (containing in it matter rather of state then diuinitie, and beeing like vnto the preamble of the Pharisees in my text, [...], subiect to offence one way, eyther to them of authoritie if I should renounce this dutie, or the auditorie if I should speake of vncertaintie) was, as the Apostle speaketh,1. Cor. 2. [...] with much feare and trembling: and therefore, as it is well knowne, from the time of this purpose for the Crosse, but three dayes in all, till the Saboth for the Sermon, I was not one day from the Court, still labouring to informe my selfe of euery thing which I doubted, that I might in these calumnious times, keep my selfe, for any thing I would there deliuer; from the [Page] controlment either of ill tongues, or mine owne conscience: to which purpose I both framed a short preface personall, before I entered the discourse, which might essuier and rubbe out all opinion fore stalled; and abstayned from all bitternesse agaynst the person and action of the late Earle, least thereby I should exasperate mindes not resolued; and compared euery speach of his, vttered by me, both with his confession to the Lords, whose witnesse therein I humbly request, appealing thereunto; and with that conference he had with vs, let my associates be iudges, which might satisfie any but euen indifferently affected. Notwithstanding all this my care and paines, the malignitie of the meany is such, that, as if I [Page] had either with Ananias lied vnto the holy Ghost, and had preached mine owne damnation, as it pleased some to blaspheme, it was giuen out that I was stroken, if not with madnesse, yet with a dreadfull sicknesse; or, as if I had spoken treason, that I was, the next day, committed close prisoner to the Tower; or at least, I had highly offended her maiestie, and receiued a great check from the Councell. The two first my body can answere, which hath beene, I thanke God, euer sithence, In latitudine sanitatis et libertatis, both in health, and at libertie: the two last cannot be throughly confuted by me, without some opinion of vanity and selfe glory, vnlesse that be checking,Eurip [...]d. which Euripides calleth [...] honourable words [Page] aboue my desertes. Other, with more virulence, though with lesse violence for penall charge, frame matter of hard iudgement out of the discourse it selfe; first generall, that I haue broken the Canon both of religion and law, in reuealing a penitents confession, which was with remorse, and priuate. The cases wherein a Confessor may publish what he heares, are too many for this short preface, the learned and iudicious knowe them, to the peeueshly affected, it is but lost labour to name them. First, his confession was not auricular, but in the audience of three or foure. Secondly the crimes he confessed were notorious by his conuiction, and vnder his hand by subscription. Thirdly they were repeated and diuulged not [Page] ad scandalum, nec animo damnificandi, as the scholemen speake, to scandalize or annoy him, but to satisfie them who desired resolution, and to glorifie God whose spirite had wrought this conuersion; and, as Doctor Montford knowes, it was promised by me, in both our names, that we would, as occasion serued, giue publike and open testimonie of that his penitence and detestation of his offence. Secondly, in particular, because in one parte of my preface I said, I was not a penny the richer, nor a steppe the higher for him, albeit I celebrated his glory at the crosse, for Caliz victory: therefore hence they conclude that I now spake of the spleane, and preach for rewardes. Malice marres logike and charitie both: this inference hath no coherence [Page] with my wordes, if eyther the precedentes were obserued, which I made in answere to a slanderous obloquy, That I was a time seruer; or the consequents, That I neuer moued him to preferre me, nor yet left to loue him, and honour him one iot the lesse for it. But this makes that speach of Seneca true, Nec deerunt qui te, Senec. de benef. etiam per ornamenta, ferient, there are some so full of rancour who will turne a mans glory into his shame, & reproue him for things he should be commended: did I at that time labour for the place? yea rather as M. Doctor Stanhop knowes, I vsed all the meanes I could to auoide it, alleaging both the shortnesse of the time, but three dayes full; my late beeing in that place, scarce two monethes before: my youth and [Page] vnexperience in those state matters; and such other delayes, till as he knoweth, it was inioyned by a commaundement peremptory: did I, after it, presse the court, solicite the Earle, affect any aduancement by him? God knowes that I lye not, he neuer saw me, till, halfe yeere after his returne from Caliz, he sent for me, about a matter of difference, in some pointes of religion,Wright. betweene a Popish priest & my selfe, to take knowledge of me: at which time he promised me honourably, and, I thinke, if I had vsed his meanes, his promise had beene payment. Now then my argument holdes thus, if I neglected to obserue so great a personage, so fauoured, so able to preferre me, so willing by promise to do it, I was no time seruer nor preacher[Page]for rewardes, And thus agayne it may be enforced, if I was beleeued & by the auditory applauded for my celebration of that victory, the circumstances and substance whereof I could deliuer but onely vpon report and intelligence: much more in this case am I to be credited and approued, hauing so certaine grounds for my relation. But from what spirit these obiections proceede, may soone be gessedat; which, a disposition, eyther at the crosse or in this epistle, bitterly eloquent, knowing what I know, would liuely describe to be that of Babell in the prophet, stand apart come not neare me, for I am holier then thou:Esa. 65.5. but as in my sermon, so here I renounce all tart & soure speach: but it makes me remember that excellent sentence of [Page] Philo, De vita Mos. lib. 3. [...], that the vulgar sorte will growe reproachfully madde agaynst him, who pleaseth not them in their madnesse.

I little expected, yea not suspected, as the Lord knoweth, and many can witnesse, that I should be sent vnto him, but beeing sent, and hearing his confession so ape [...]t and voluntary, and withall knowing the ouer-harried passions of some murmurers, it was my dutie in conscience to reueale it and satisfie all, as my selfe was fully satisfied; whose affection, that setled perswasion I had of his allegiaunce, through that his great semblance of religion, had I not hard & scene what I did, had before ouerswayed frō inclination to any contrarie suspition of him. [Page] An other obiection is, that I, promising to speake nothing vpon reporte, vrged that conference betweene the Deane of Norwich and him: first, the rule in law is, condentis est interpretari, a man is fittest to expound himselfe. By that word nothing, I ment nothing concerning this crime of his, and his confession: secondly, I reade it out of the paper, making it knowne it was but a reporte: thirdly, I vrged nothing of it, but that which agreed with like wordes which he had spoken in my hearing, els where. The other base and grosse vntruthes, that I rayled vpon the Earle; & of my selfe, accused mine owne naturall countrimen the citizens, to be a base people, as some haue giuen out, I referre for their answere vnto the tenor of my sermon, [Page] which here I haue printed, and presented vnto thee, Reader, as neare as I could gesse, and as some of good place which hard it, and since that read it, thinke, euery worde as I spake it; vpon my credite nothing but one is altered to my knowledge, that concerned him, which then I vttered, onely one or two things added which then I forgot. If thou haue in thee the affection of a christian, & a good subiect, read and be satisfied, it is that which was intended, and I indeauoured: but if thou haue Magus his disease,Acts. 8. the gall of bitternesse excrea, disgorge thy spite, know that I esteeme not thy slaunders, nor regarde thy reproaches, and dissemble it neuer so cunningly, I am not the principall thou aymest at, but according to the [Page] prouerbe Faber cadit cum ferias fullonem, it is the state thou greeuest at, not my sermon. And least I seeme to speake this at random, let that be obserued which is giuen out for a truth, & my denial thereof wil scarce be credited: how the late Earle at the time of his execution song eyther the 54. or the 94 Psalme, for vpon the number they cannot agree, there being no such thing mentioned at all: marke the tenor of those Psalmes and then iudge of the reporters spirites, and what they intend I conclude with Samuell & Paul: 1. Sam. 15.21. 2. Cor. 13. Obedience is better then sacrifice, and charitie beleeueth things not iudging amisse. Vale.

Thine in Christ Iesus William Barlow.

The answer of our Sauiour Christ vnto the tempting Pharisees.

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Mat. 21.22.

Giue vnto Caesar the things of Caesar.

VErie fitly haue the ancient fathers resembled the Diuel vnto Nimrod, that mighty hunter before ye Lord. Gen. 10.Gen. 10 who not onely goeth on hunting himselfe compassing the earth,Iob. 1 as Iob. 1. but hath his huntsmen, both with their Hoūd [...] Philip. 3. beware of Dogs.Philip. 3. [...] And also with their toyles and Ne [...]s,2. Tim. 2. [...] 2▪ Tim, 2 with both these he layes for Christ [Page] with his Hounds, Mar. 12. [...] (it is an hunting worde) that they might take him to kill him.Mar▪ 12. In the 15 verse of this Chapter, hee spreeds his Nets, [...] (it is an hūting worde too). that they might intangle him in his talke. In so much that, if you reade this Chapter, and there see the Herodians with the Pharisees, [...] the Saduces after the Herodians, and the lawyers after the Sadducees setting vpon him, you shal see y• verified, which by Prophecie, Dauid spake in his person of him both,Psal. 22.16 Psal. 22, Many Dogs are come about me. And that also,Psal. 140, 5 Psa. 140. The proud haue laid [...] their snares for me. Which snares of the Diuel are of two sorts, the Graecians call them [...] and [...], in Scripture they are named Laqu [...]i quaestuum. 1. Timoth. 6. as honours, wealth,1. Tim. 6. [...] &c. the snares of gaine: and Laquei quaestionum the snares of questions, which Dauid calleth Malum lab [...] orum, the wickednesse of the lippes▪ Psal. 140.Psal. 140.9. The first, Sathan himself [Page] spred to catch him,Luk. 4▪6. Luk. 4. when hee promised him the Kingdomes of the world, and the glorie of them. Heere, his Huntsmen lay the other to intrap him in matters both of Religion, and policie:Ver. 36. of Religion, in that question of the Lawyers, ver. 36. about the greatest commaundement, thereby to inlorappe him in blasphemie, if he had preferred one before the other. And in that case of the resurrection propounded by the Saducees, Ver. 24. ver. 24. to catch him in an heresie: Of policie, in this question of paying tribute. But as in vaine the Net is layd before the eyes of the birdes that haue wings and flye aloft,Prou. 1.17. Pro. 1. so fondly doe they in putting forth questions to take him in a trap, in whom are hid all the treasurs of wisedom & knowledge. Col. 2. By a mā of ordinary strength.Colos. 2. a threefold rope is not easily broken. Eccles. 4.Eccles. 4.1 [...] But a mā of Sampsons pith though it bee seuen fold, will cracke it like a thread of flare,Iud. 16.9. Iudg. 16. So the righteous Lord will break the [Page]snares of the vngodly in peeces, Psa. 129.Psal. 129, 4 Because, though hand ioyned in hand, neuer comes but with damage, and malice ioyned with fraude, hath an vnknowne aduantage: Yet there is neither coūsel, nor vnderstanding, nor wisedom, against the Lord, Prou. 21, 30 Pro. 21. And neuer was that prophesie of Esay verified more then in this Chapter, Gird you, and you shall be brokē in peeces: gather a counsell together, and it shall bee broght to naught, Esay. 8, 9 Esa. 8. The question propounded is very dangerous, S. Basil calles it [...], a question that hath a downefall [...]n both sides, for if hee had answered negatiuely, they wold haue accused him of treason against the Emperour: and so they did not withstanding,Luke. 23. Luk. 23. We haue found this man denying tribute to be paid to Caesar. If his answer had bin affirmatiue, they had accused him of blasphemie against God and their state, they being commanded to be subiect to none but God [Page] himselfe, who had promised to be the [...]r God and King,Deut. 7 Deut. 7. But these daungers our Sauiour preuenteth with this answer, Giue vnto Caesar the things of Caesar, and vnto God the things of Gods. That is, giue vnto Caesar tribute, whose mony it is, giue vnto God your selues, whose people you are. But first Caesar, and then God, for they two haue interchangeably borrowed names: it pleaseth God to bee called a King in heauen,Psal. 20, 9 Psa. 20. and the King is called a God on earth, Psa. 82. therefore hee which denieth his dutie to the visible God, his prince and Soueraign, cannot performe his dutie to the God inuisible. Certainely, a mind inclined to rebellion, was neuer well possessed of religion.

Now to the words, Giue: It is no maruell though Christ do call his yoake Suaue iugum, a sweete yoake, Math. 11. because as Saint Iohn expoundes him, his commaundements are not grieuous, 1. Iohn. 3. for the [Page] whole summe of Christianitie, is contained in one word,Rom. 13. diligite, Rom. 13. and that is suaue verbum, a sweete word: and the whole dutie of a Christian is comprised in one word, Date, and that is facile verbum, an easie word, for what is more easie then to giue?Luk. 6. Giue almes vnto the poore largely, Luc. 6. and obedience vnto your superiour reuerently,Rom, 13.7. Rom. 13. both of them cheerefully: For God loueth a cheerfull giuer, 2 Cor. 9.3. Rom. 12. 2. Cor. 9.3 Grudging marres charitie, Rom. 12. & like the Coloquintida in the potage,2. Reg. 4. 2. Reg. 4. Vertit amorem in amororem, saith Saint Bernard, it turneth loue into bitternes,1. Cor. 9.6. & [...] in [...] saith Saint paul. 2. Cor. 9.6. It makes a blessing of deuotion, to be a wrest of extortion. So muttering marres royaltie,Psal 58. and as thorns vnder a pot, psal. 58. turne a still fire into a crackling flame, so it turnes obedience into rebelling. Wherefore that speech of Lactantius is very proper and effectuall,Lactantius. nothing so much commendeth [Page] the dutie of a man as voluntarium, Aquin. 15. that it be willingly performed: for voluntas est mensura astionū, according to the Schoolemen, the will doth regulate and makes the action good: and God rewardeth the will, not the gift: the facilitie of the giuing, not the wealth of the doner,2. Cor. 8. 2. Cor. 8. And that is it which made Saint Peter to counsel vs to do our duty,1. Pet. 5. [...]. not [...] of necessitie and force, but [...], willingly and readily. And it is the commendation of Seruantes, much more of Subiects, that they obey [...] from their soule,Colo. 3. Eph. 6.5. not to the eye onely Colos. 3. & Eph. 6.7. [...] of good will, not by compulsion: and so much of this word, Giue: the summe whereof,Rom. 13.4. is that of Saint Paul, Rom. 13.4. that wee discharge our dutie to Caesar, to our Soueraigne, of conscience, not of constraint: that it be giuen by vs, not forced from vs vnto Caesar.

The Quéene of Saba pronounced Israel blessed because Salomon was [Page] their king a man borne in their owne countrie,Reg. 10 1. Reg. 10. & Salomon himselfe accompted that kingdome, whatsoeuer, happy, whose king was, as Nazianz. Eccle. 10, 17 reads the place Eccl. 10.7. [...] the sonne of a man frée borne: yea it is the law of God himselfe that his people should choose a king, from among them, one of their brethren.Deut. 17 Nehe. 9, 37 Deut. 17. Notwithstanding, if it please God in his indignation to place ouer a land, a tyrant, qui ditescat ex afflictionibus populi, Nehem. 9.37. Which should make himselfe mightie by his peoples oppressions: as, in this place, Caesar a forrenner and a stranger:Iudg, 9, 7 whether the Oliue trée, or the Bramble bush. Iud. 9.7. The Oliue, a king vnder whose swéet nature and clemencie they liue merily and richly:Esop. or the Bramble, a sharp prince to be as a thorne in their sides to vexe them cruelly: or, as it is in the Apolog, a stocke that lies still, and lets them doe whatsoeuer séeme good in their owne eyes: or a Storcke [Page] that by exactions will picke out their eyes, yet is he Gods ordinaunce and minister,Rom. 13 Rom. 13. And therefore, by Saint Peter his rule, to be obeyed for the Lordes sake.1. Pet. 2, 13 1. Peter, 2. for though he be the Lords enemie, yet is he the Lords annointed,1. Sam. 24 1. Sam. 24. So Dauid called King Saule after God had reiected him.

They therefore who with Shebah, 2. Sam. 20.1.2. Sam. 20, 1 will make a secession from their prince, proclaiming as he did, We haue no part in Dauid, nor inheritance in the son of Isay: or as Ieroboam, who with tenne tribes fell frō Rhehoboam, because he had turned his fathers scourges into Scorpions,1. Reg. 12 1. Reg. 12. they who thinke that they may eyther Occidere, or Excidere, kill their liege, or fall from him, Aut deponere a throno, aut exponere periculo, depose and thrust them out of their seate, or expose them to danger or feare, are guiltie not onely of rebellion but of irreligion. And here I might encounter that trayterous libeller [Page] Parsons, who, as it is thought, vnder the name of one Dolman, makes the crowne of England a tennis ba [...]l, and tosseth it from Papist to Puritan, and from Puritan to Protestant, but the fault or vantage, viz. the whole sway of disposing it, when it is voide (as I hope to God none here shall sée it voide) hee ascribeth to the late Earles power of placing it where it should please him, and to him therefore he dedicates his booke, in my conscience I am perswaded, a principal, if not the originall poyson of the late Earles hart: wherein also he spendeth much labour, and filleth many leaues in proouing, by stories of scripture, tha [...] it is lawfull for the subiect to rise agaynst his soueraigne, yea to depose him, yea to murther him, if he bee misled by other, or misgouerne himselfe, but time cuts me off. My exhortation to you is, beloued, that you wil beléeue Iesus rather then a Iesuite, who willeth his disciples and all christians to possesse their souls in patience,Luk. 10. Lu. 10 [Page] albeit they bee persecuted euen to death by their Princes: and S. Paul, who adiudgeth him to damnation which resisteth the ordinance of God, Ro. 13.Rom. 13, If you desire some stories of scripture, sée Saul an Apostala, reiected by God, not deiected by Samuel, Ieroboā plagued, not dispossessed: Ahab reproued by Elias, not depriued: Nabuchodonosor punished frō heauen, not deposed by his subiects. The law of God is straight in this case, it bridels the mouth that it speake not euill of the King,Exod. 21. Exo. 21. it bindes the hart not to imagine euill against him,Eccle. 10. Eccle. 10. and the ciuill law punisheth with death, euen the verie thought of bringing the prince into any danger or feare: in which poynt Bodi [...] is plentifull and peremtorie. The summe of this part is that of the prophet Dan. 2.21.Dan 2, 21 that the inthronising & deposing of Princes, is Gods onely prerogatiue royall: and the conclusion shalbe an argument, that if obedience bee due vnto Caesar, a tyrant [Page] and a forrenner, much more are we to perform it to our prince, a most gracious louing Quéene, and borne among vs: of whose clement and milde gouernment we may say with▪ the wise man,Prou. 30. Pro. 30. Many daughters haue done excellently, but thou surpassest them all. Of her seueritie in iustice, that of the Poet, Illa dolet, qu [...] ties [...]ogitur esseferox.

The third part followeth, The things of Caesar. God hath created [...] appointed man a gouernour ouer all his works,Psal. 8. Psa. 8. but he hath exalted kings to rule and gouerne men, and to that purpose hath aduaunced them aboue others, as the head aboue the members, as the Cedar among the trées, as the sunne among the starres, and as God himselfe among the Angels. Thrée speciall ensignes of honor he hath giuen them, a crown of gold, Psa. 21.Psal. 21. Psal. 45 for their sublimity, a scepter of righteousnes, Psa. 45. for gouernement,Rom. 13 a sworde of vengeance, Rom. 13. All which they beare not in Pompam [Page] for a shew onely, and not for vse, but the crowne exacteth of vs reuerence: the scepter, obedience: and the sword, feare: so that their maiesty is to be honoured, their authoritie obeyed, their power feared: and sithence these require large maintenance, 1. Reg. 4.1. Reg. 4 their expence must be supplied, and because they lie open to manifold daungers, with our prayers they must be assisted, 1. Tim. 2. so then honor, 1. Tim. 2. obedience, feare, subsidies, prayers, are among many other, the things due from subiects to their Caesar.

To speake of all these fully is impossible, in respect of the short time allo [...]ted mee for meditation, scarse three dayes, and for deliuering vnto you, two houres, whereof one is spent, I will shut them with an vse fitting our presēt purpose. If these, or at least the thrée first, had béen giuen to our most gratious soueraigne, by some of late, neither had her maiestie [...]éene so disquieted, nor the realme thus scandalized, [Page] nor so many in their states and liues ouerthrowne, of which I am now to speake.

BUt first I must craue pardon to premise a short preface, both in respect of my selfe which am to speake, [...] of the late Earle also, of whom I [...] to speake. For my selfe, it is necessary, because, if you bring preiudice to the speaker, be the relation neuer so true, it wil not be beléeued. A preiudice you must needes haue against mee, if it be true, which some ill affected, and foule mouthed haue giuen out, that because we, being commanded by authority, on the Saboth after the insurrection, in our seuerall cures, did describe the nature and vglinesse of the rebellion, are becom time seruers & men pleasers, leauing the great man that is dead, and now cleauing to others, and closing with them for preferments. A sore imputation as may be layd vppon the ministers of Christ, and followed with an heauier iudgement [Page] from God then they are aware of who thus speake. For a curse is laide vpon vs in the prophesie of Ieremie, if in the Lordes worke, in such holie places and exercises as these, wee auoyde not all negligence, and Saint Gregorie addes fraudulenter: fraudulently he dealeth, who either giueth titles, as Iob speaketh, or becomes a seruant to men, which S. Paule abhorreth▪ Now, he is said to giue titles, that either praiseth him that is not to bee praised, or imputeth faultes to men which they haue not committed, or doth rengrege or amoinder, that is, make greater or lesse the faults committed: and if I do thus, saith Iob, My maker will confound me, Iob, 32. a dreadfull iudgement: and so for the other,Iob. 32. If I yet labor to please men, I am not the seruant of Christ, Gala. 1. saith S. Paul, Gala. 1. a fearefull separation. But of all other why shuld this be imputed to me, who about foure yeares sithence, in this place, vppon the like suddayne warning, celebrated to ye glory of both the [Page] generals, the right honourable the Lord Admirall, and the late Earle, the victorie at Caliz: at which time, and long since, he soared in his highest pitch of fauour with her Maiestie, and yet from that day to this, though it were giuen out that he wold [...] me, I am not either a penny the richer or a steppe the higher for him: and intruth I neuer moued him, neither did it moue my affection from him, which I continued as intire vnto him as any follower of his, till his open fall.

My reuerence to their Lordshipe I acknowledge, and will performe what is due, and I am able: but flatterie of great personages, and popularitie with the multitude I euer abhorred as a Parasiticall Simony, & leaue it to them who haue no desert to raise them, but aurum cum aura a smooth tongue, and a bribing purse. Notwithstanding. I am a subiect, and so, nature and scripture binde me to obedience, being therefore by name, appointed by the honourable Lordes [Page] to be present at the late Earle his execution, I thought my selfe bound in conscience, both to God, her Maiestie, and the State, within as shorte time as might bee, to declare vnto you, what my selfe in his case know, and what is fit for you to heare: not onely that you may be satisfied by this my discourse, but also incited to giue God the glory, for your escaping this dangerous intended course: wherein I will deliuer nothing vpon méere information and report, which is sometimes malicious, oft times parciall, at all times vncertaine, but what these eares of mine haue heard from his owne mouth, in that two houres conference with him before his death, and these eyes of mine séene vnder his owne hand, and subscribed wi [...]h his name, which since his death I humbly desired to sée, which was both honourably and easily graunted vnto me, that I might speake nothing whereof I haue not by those two meanes certayne knowledge: for by Gods helpe [Page] neyther man nor Angell, much lesse any hope of title, which is but a pu [...], shall make me to vtter any vntruth, willingly, in such places as this, which may either put my minde into the hell of my conscience in this life, or cast my soule into the hell of Diuelles in the life to come: neither was I mooued to it, but onely to declare what I haue eyther ex occulo, or oraculo, as [...]ern. speaketh, from his owne writing, and confession to vs.

Now for the late Earle: dead he is, and his soule, no doubt, with the saints in heauen: you will say then that dead men bite not, according to the prouerb, nor by reason, or religion should be bitten: that is, their falles and faultes should not be reulcerated nor reuiued after death: for Homer vpbraides the Grecians with that immanitie, for scorning at Hectors bodye dead, and wounding it: vpon whose comparison, blaming their barbaris [...]e, the prouerbe is rife, that Mo [...]tuo Leoni [...] insu [...]tant Lepores, if the Lion be dead, [Page] euery dastardly Hare wil be treading vpon him whose locke they feared while he liued. Yea Salomon notes it as a point of Atheisme to preferre a liuing Dogge before a dead Lion: wherfore Dauid tooke another course, and though Abner had béene his enemie liuing, yet béeing slaine, he both lamented his death, & celebrated his praise. Know ye not (saith he) that a Prince, and a great man is fallen this day in Israell? 2. Sam. 3.38. 2. Sam 3.38. but, beloued, there is a difference in faultes of men, as in diseases some hurtful onely to the parties themselues, some loathsome and infectious to others: the first are to be buried with their bodies, and forgotten, but the other will annoy, & therefore must be remembred after death. In scripture some kings, who were vicious, had their faultes touched euen after their buriall, but no more: yet some are neuer named in scripture, but their sinne is branded vpon their name, as often you may sée of Ieroboam, neuer mentioned, but [Page] presently is added, the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne: and would to God the same earth which couereth the late Earle his body, could also couer the sinne and offence he died for, which himselfe confessed to be a leprousie which had infected farre and neare. Now you know, that though a Lepor auoide the house or die, yet he leaueth behind him both the house, and ayre daungerously contagious: and I pray God though he be deade, that the remainder and contagion of his offence, cause vs not, too often, to call his fault to memorie. But in my conscience I am perswaded, that there is none so inhumane or barbarous, that recordes it as triumphing and insulting at it: but with a double commiseration both of his fall, and of his soule, as then it was. First (giue him his due) who grieues not that a man so noble by birth, so honourable in office, so gratious with his prince, so witty by nature, so learned by conference and study, so religious in profession, so valiant [Page] in warre, so beloued of the commons, so followed and honoured by men of all sortes, should not vse those great fauours of God and his soueraigne to gods glory and his countries good? for could he in any moderation haue carried himselfe, and haue béene contented with his great state, what good might he haue done to this church and realme, to men of state, of religion, of learning, of war? but as fire, if it be well and rightly vsed, burneth in the house to the good and profit of the familie: but if mislayed or abused, burneth the house to the vndoing of the inhabitantes: so had he béene contented to haue béene [...] a certaine great man, great among the rest; and not affected with Magus, Act. 8. to be [...] the onely great man,Act. 8. and none to be great but he; in honour he might still haue liued and preferred others, whereas he is not now fallen alone, but, which is a woefull case, hath ouerthrowne many of all sortes with himselfe: so true is that of diuine Plato, [Page] [...] that great natures scil. men of great mindes & parts, proue either excellently good, or dangerously wicked: it is spoken by Plato, but applyed by Plutarch vnto Coriolanus, a gallant young, but a discontented Romane, who might make a fit paralell for the late Earle, if you read his life: and this was caused, as he oft confessed to vs, by the seducement of vanity. I tolde him it was pride, but his word was vanitie and lewd counsell.

Secondly who doth not commiserate his soule, as then it was? though now I am perswaded his repentance was so harty, that it is in heauen: that, being guilty to himselfe in his conscience (which now appeares by his voluntary confession to vs, and written) of so great an off [...]nce and a bloudy sinne, they are his owne wordes (for if there be any harde word in all my discourse concerning his act and plot, it is his owne) should stand so confidently vpon his insti [...] cation [Page] and clearing himselfe at the Barre [...]: Whose crime loathsome to himselfe in the memory thereof, and Most d [...]ngerous to the Realme, I will not A [...]grauate with any precedent circumstances, which all the worlde knoweth, and himselfe with sighs acknowledged to vs, eyther her Maiesties infinite fauours, his high aduancements by her, her large bountie to him, both in giuing him huge summes of mony, and forgiuing him all his fathers debts, and his owne too, whatsoeuer. Nor will I mention his oft standing out with her if he were thwarted, his disobedience and manifolde contempts, besides the exhausting of her Maiesties treasury in Ireland. Nor her clemencie in his punishment for them, which she said, most graciously, should be ad corr [...]ctionem not ad ruina [...], for his chastisment, not for his ouerthrow: not called to any open barre for answer, not fined by purse, not diuested of any office▪ onely sequestred from some of them,[Page]one place of honor reserued vnto him, not committed to any common p [...] son, but first to the custody of the Lo [...] Kéeper, after that to his owne house with a kéeper; and after that at his libertie, they were the wordes of her Maiestie: I will now leaue him, saith shee, vnder no other guarde, but of his owne discretion

But one thing I cannot omit, which much mooued me against him, (though I honoured him as much as any follower of his, who carieth with him a good subiects hart) which perhaps you knowe not, namely his strange Apologie of himselfe vnto Maister Deane of Norwiche, sent vnto him by the Lordes for his soules good, the nex [...] day after his arraignment, who vr [...]ing him to acknowledge his offences, the late Earle vtterly denied, That in any thing he had done he was guiltie of offending Almighty God. But because I promised to giue you nothing of report, I call to minde the very spéeche he [Page] vttered vnto my Lordes Grace of Canterburie in Lambeth house, the night of his apprehension. Oh, my Lord, saith the Archbishop, I am sorie to sée this day, that you haue so farre forgot your selfe: the Earle replyed smilingly, that the sinceritie of my conscience, and the goodnesse of my cause dooth comfort me: this spéech argues he thought himselfe not guiltie of offending God. As if a good intention, we will suppose it so, dooth make the action good. The Canon Lawyers say, that God loues Aduerbes better then Adiectiues, he cares not how good quâm bonum, but quam benè, how well, and by what good meanes it is done which we intend. The iustifying of an ill execution vpon a good purpose and meaning, is the vtter subuersion of all religion and policie: an opinion forged at the fire of hell, and hammered at the Anuile of the Popes faculties. The same Deane asking him why he refused to come to the Lords, being [Page] sent for by the appointment of her Maiestie, he answered that, by Scripture, and thus reasoneth, Dauid refuseth to come to Saul when he sent for him: Ergo I might lawfully refuse to come to Queene Elizabeth.

Héere a diuine cannot be patient, to sée Gods worde alleadged in despight of Gods ordinance, thus the deuil delt with Christ Math. 4.Math. 4. in quoting a place of Scripture to iustifie the breaking of his neck. And Clement the Frier who killed Henry the third the French king, reasoned thus with himselfe to his bloudy murther out of Gods booke,Iudge. 3. Ehud killed kinge Eglon, therefore I may kill Henry. Eglon was a king, so is Henry. What then? Eglon signifieth a Calue and Henry is a Caluenist, Ergo I may kill him by authoritie of Scripture. It is recorded by Mercurius Gallobelgicus in his first booke.Merc. Gallobel. Let Papists lay these grounds, and make these proofes, I am sory that any, who carries the name of a Protestant, should argue thus. It is [Page] the speach of S [...]lomon, he that wrings his nose, fetcheth out blond, which Gregory fitly applies, that he which wresteth the scripture from the true sence, bringeth foorth either an herisie or a phrensie, it is that which the learned call Glossa [...], when an interpretation like a Uiper, eates out the bowels of the text. For, God be thanked, there is no semblance of this example makes for his refusall Because [...] was reiected by God, but Queene Elizabeth is the chosen and the beloued of God, which from heauen by his prouidence ouer her, as in shielding her from many, so from this Presumptuous attempt, he hath demonstratiuely shewed. Dauid by a Prophet, at Gods appointment, was anoynted king, so was not he. But I vrge this no further, because it is not within his confession verball or written, to which I promised to stand, yet to shew you how farre he was gone that way, the word he vsed to vs of Leprosie, makes that good which he [Page] spake in a passion to the Deane, If you knew how many motions haue beene made to me to do my best to remooue such euills as the common wealth is burthened with, you would greatly wounder. It séemes the contagion is spred. To which the Deane replying, that extraordinary attempts must haue extraordinary warrants, and willed him to shew his authority, his answer was, that He was Earle Marshall of England and needed no other warrant. Yet that was not so, because he was sequestred from it long before. But his conclusion peremptory what should I (saith he) reason with you vpon this point, seeing we holde not one principle, which was, that hee might remooue euils from the land, for that was it which from the beginning to the end he held, as by complaint to vs of some things to be reformed, he insinuated. Indéede the wise man saith Prou. 25. Remooue the wicked from the King, Prou. 25. and his throne shall be established in iudgement: [Page] but who must remooue them, and by what meanes? he there sheweth by similitude, as the drosse must be taken from the [...]luer: The Gold-finer must do it, by the fire; so iust authority and lawfull meanes; the first ouer Kings is Gods alone, as before I proued, otherwise, as S Augustine speaketh of impatient worldlings, Nisi homini Deus placiterit Deus non erit, vnlesse God please men, he shall be no God: so in this case of discontented subiects, except the prince please them, she shall be no prince, and all shall be accompted wicked who satisfie not their humors. Belooued, sée here what it is, when it pleaseth God to leaue a man to himselfe; or as the Earle sayd of himselfe, to be carried away and puffed vp with vanitie and wordly loue, in his first speach vppon the scaffolde.

This stifnesse of his, both at the barre, and with the Deane, my associate and my selfe hearing, not vnderstanding of his repentance, we agréeed betwéene vs, fearing he would so [Page] haue dealt with vs, to haue beate him downe, and to haue wounded his ha [...]t with the dreadfull iudgementes of God: yet afterwarde to haue raysed him againe with the comfortable promises of the Gospell: but when we came vnto him, we found him more open to reueale, then beca [...]e vs to inquire, and more resolute himselfe, then we, vpon the suddaine, could haue made him, and we more welcome a great deale then we expected: for he most hartely desired God so to blesse vs as our comming did comfort him: and so fell into expressing the memory of this his purposed mischiefe, with such detestation and remorse, that I, fearing as the Apostle speaketh of that Corinthian,2. Cor. 2.7. 2 Cor. 2 7. that he should be ouercome with ouermuch heauinesse layd before him the comfortable speach of S Paul ▪ that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners, though a man were peccatorum maximus, 2. Tim. 1.17 1. Tim. 1.17. but saith Doctor Montford vnto him, who had béen at [Page] his araignement: I wounder your Lordshippe thus guiltie to your selfe, could be so confident at the barre, it offended many of your very good friends: yea, but now saith the late Earle, I am become another man, the cause thereof he ascribed to the worke of Gods spirite within him; and the meanes to his chaplain Maister Ashton who was there present with vs, for he, as he said to the honourable the Lord Kéeper and the rest, hath plowed vp my hart, as he said to vs, hath brought me down and humbled me. And then he tolde vs he had satisfied the Councell with his voluntary confession vnder his owne hand subscribed with his name, wherin though I haue, said he, detected many (already apprehended) yet I hold it my duty to God and the Realme to cleare my conscience. For some thrée or foure dayes before his execution he made meanes by maister Warbarton one of her Maisties gentlemen Pencioners, to haue some conference with [Page]three or foure of the Lordes of her Maiesties Counsell, wishing also if it pleased her Maiestie, that maister Secretary Cecill might be sent with them: wherevpon the Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, & the Lord Admiral, taking Maister Secretary with them, came vnto him, to whome he clearely laide open the whole proiect and purpose, penitently cōfessed it, expressed his harty sorrow for his confidence at his araignment, asked forgiuenes of the Lord Keeper, &, by him, of the rest whom he caused in his house to be imprisoned: particulerly and vehemently in christian charitie desired Maister Secretary to forgiue him that great iniury which at the Barre in his passion, by vniust calumniatiō, he had cast vpon him, and of them also he requested forgiuenes whom he had challenged for his enimies, & had charged with such great, but false imputation. (All which, in grosse and general, he confessed to vs, forgiuing and asking forgiuenes) & so after an entire reconciliation [Page] with teares on both sides shed, he moued two requestes, the one very earnest, the other most necessarye the first was, it would please them to moue her maiestie that he might die pr [...]uately within the Tower; the reason thereof he expressed vnto vs in the morning of his execution, of which anone. The second was, that he might haue libertie to set downe in writing what in worde he had confessed to them, and other things which either at the barre he had denied, or should then occure to his memory. The confession it selfe filles foure shéetes of paper, euery worde in his owne hand, and his name at the end, which my selfe haue séene, and will shew vnto you so much as is fit: the preface thereof I haue transcribed for your sakes, and this it is, Since that God of his mercie hath opened mine eyes, and made me see my sinne, my offence, and so touched my hart as I hate it both in my selfe and others, I will as God shall inable my memorie, set downe how far[Page]we all are guiltie, and where, and by what degrees our sinne, this offence grew. The cheife, and the briefe is this, his purpose of surprising the court with a power; the places allotted to foure persons, S. Christopher Blunt the gate with a company; S. Iohn Dauis the hal a third to master the guard by seazing the halberts; S. Charles Dauers to possesse the priuie chamber with another companie; all this confess by himselfe, and the rest vnder their handes.

Here now imagine with your selues what aff [...]ighting euen the rumour thereof had béene to a prince of that sex, a Lady Quéene in a time of peace, and the peace so long by her meanes continued: in her owne court and chamber; the prouerbe is, Leues loquntur, ingentes stupent, that sleight feared make women shrike, but if they be great and sodayne, they cast them into aswoune; and I doubt if in that [...] she should haue swounded, they would haue taken it for death, and haue [...] stowed [Page] little paynes to fetch her againe. But resistance béeing made, as it is not possible but there would, there must néedes be bloud shed: now thinke you what an horror would this haue béene to her gratious nature, to haue séene bloud running in her chambers?

Then looke to the commanders, two of the principall, stiffe and open Papists, and the fourth, by report, affected that way, what danger to her person, to religion, to the Realme they may gesse, who haue reade the libelles of B [...]zi [...], Reyno [...]d [...], Gifforde and others of that church, writing slaunderously of her Maiesties person, blasphemously of our religion; and basely of our Realme and policie. You may remember the state of Israel, when they were forced to sharpen their axes and tooles, and haue no weapons but from the Philistines. 1. Sam. 13. 1. Sam. 13. And such a slauery and misery, assure your selues, had ours béen for Prince and religion, if we had stoode to the courtesie of armed Papistes and their reformation. [Page] Perhaps you will say, that this was but like the grouth of a Tadstoole, Oritu [...], moritur, a nights conceit, but vanished in the morning. Yea, but himselfe voluntarily confessed to vs, that it was plotting and deuising not long after hee laye in the Lorde Keepers hous [...]: euen then when he protested that he had made a diuorce betwéene the worlde and himselfe; But he meant no hurt to the Quéenes person, say you. Surely that he [...] protested both in his confession to the Lords and to vs, and writeth it, that when he sent the Articles to Drury house to be considered of, by his complices, he put in that caueat still, that as little bloud might be shed as could, and that the Queenes owne person might receiue no harme And we will beléeue it. Marry the question is first, w [...]ether it had béene in his owne power at the time of their rage and in whot bloud to haue kept her safe? certainely, as we obiected to him, [...] which could not, as him selfe, to [...] [Page] confessed, restraine them from murthering the Queenes subiects when he stood vpon his defence in his house, they béeing but a few, must not thinke hee could haue stayed them in the Court, the obiect of their reuenge. For béeing many, and many of them néedy, what Rapine would haue satisfied them? béeing youthfull, and lustfull, what Rapes woulde haue stanched them? being discontented and reuengefull, what bloud would haue glutted them? and the chiefe of them Pop [...]sh and armed, would they not haue said, which comes euen now to my minde, as that bloudy Story once saide; What doe we pruning the boughes and branches, let vs strike at the roote.

For mine owne part, I professe, I woulde trust neuer a Papist in the world, if he might haue her at that vantage. God be thanked that this is but an imagination, for had it come ab ima [...]ine ad rem, from a purpose to an effect; God knowes, saith [Page] he himselfe to vs, what daunger and harme it had wrought to the Realme▪

But in this point of the Queenes safetie, what thinke you of summoning a Parlament, which foure or fiue vnder their hands, and himselfe [...] hath confessed. Who should haue called it, she or they? It is a controuersie betwéene vs and the Papists, whether the Emperour or the Pope, haue the absolute authoritie of calling a Councell, but it was neuer made question, that I can read, in England who ha [...] authoritie to call a Parlament, either the Prince or the Péeres. Among the Spaniards and French they may saith Bodi [...], but apud A [...]glos, in the Realme of England, ne [...] admi [...]ti possunt [...]mu [...]ntus, nec dimitti abs (que) [...] [...]dict [...], without the Princes warrant it cannot either be sumoned or dis [...] ued. Why, she should haue done it▪ how? voluntarily or by force? the first we may not imagine that she would so soone yéeld: if the second, where is the safety of her person? vnlesse you [Page] count that safety for a Prince to be a prisoner to her subiects. God forbid we should haue felt the Issue of this, nay God be thanked saith he to vs, that it was preuented. And withall gaue God like thankes that he had made him this example to be iustly spewed out of the land. Which word Spewed he inforced with a violence, arguing himselfe therby to be, vnto this Realme, as a furfet vnto the stomack, both a burthen and a danger. He saw himselfe a burthen in this charge of souldiers, béeing a burthen to the Cittie and countrie, which but for him had now béen spared: he felt himselfe a burthen, as it séemed, to vs by longing and desiring, which oft he did, that the time of execution were come. A danger he confessed himselfe to be in these words of his, which I pray you obserue, he knew that the Queene could not be in safetie so long as he liued vpon the earth. I will stretch nothing to farre, but yet marke this, if her safety were so vncertain, he being a prisoner in the [Page] Tower, what could her safety haue béene when he was possessed of her court with an armed power?

But why do I eyther amplifie by circumstance, or inforce by argument the haynousnesse and daunger of this plot? if I had the tongue of men and Angels, I could not better, nor would in more bitter tearmes expresse it, th [...] himselfe hath done in foure epithet [...]s or adiunctes in his prayer to God, or in his speach to the Lordes, or in both vpon the Scaffolde: desiring God to forgiue him his great sinne, his bloudy sinne, his crying sinne, his infectious sinne: why these wordes, for none of them is,Basill as Basil speaketh, [...] [...] idle worde. First, great in comparison of his other sinnes, which he on the Scaffold laide out in odious termes against himselfe: his delicta juuentutis, not that they were little sinnes, [...] vnto vs, in his Chamber, he confessed that sometimes in the Fielde encountring the enemye, beeing in any daunger, the weight of his [Page] [...]nnes lying heauie vpon his conscience, being not reconciled to God, quelled his spirits, and made him the most timorous and fearefull man that might be. But this sinne excéeded them a [...]l, euen that which we obiected to him in his chamber, and he acknowledged, which the Schoolemen call Vactans conscientiam, so wasting and spoiling his conscience, as that not one good thought was left in his hart. That sinne which Moses calleth the sinne with an high hand Nomb. 33. himselfe called it,Nom. 33. a Presumptuous sinne. Secondly, great in it selfe, because as the Nabis in Egipt is a beast shaped of many beasts and Hannibals armie in Liui [...], was colluui [...]s omnium gentium, the miscellan of all nations: so this his offence and treason, the compound of all the famous rebellions eyther in Gods booke, or our owne land: (which himselfe in other words scatteringly expressed:) consisting of Abners discontment, of Corahs enuie, of Absalons popularity, of Shebas defection, [Page] of Abimelechs faction, and banding his familie and allyes, of Hamans pride and ambition: in pretence finall, all one with that of Henrie Duke of Lancaster, against Richard the second, remoouing certaine which missed the King. In pretence originall, that of Kettes and Tylers [...] the King, as they in your citty cryed in that insurrection for the Queene▪ for the Queene.

The second worde was his bloudy sinne. It should haue béene no drye rebellion, for how could it be? in that he who could hardly represse the rage of his owne people from murthering [...] honourable counsellers in his owne house, they béeing the men not aym [...] at in shew of their reformation should not be able to stay their armed fury at the place designed for the execution of their intent. But here you of the [...] will say, it should not haue béene bloudy to vs, he loued vs well: be it so: yet I will tell you his opinion vttered of you the very myght of his apprehension, [Page] and his béeing in Lambeth house, in the hearing of the Lord Archbishop, of the Lord Admirall, of the Lord of Effingham, and diuers other, and my selfe among the rest, That you were a very base people: that he trampled vp and downe your city without any resistance: that he would vndertake with foure hundreth men of his choise to haue ouerrunne your citie: that he passed many of your lanes and chaines baraccadoed (it was his worde) without one blow offered at him, in his returne from Ludgate to Queenchith. Againe, what his conceipt was of your loue to him, his owne spéeches shall testifie, wherby he argued that you were both a daunger to his body and his soule: in the first, I telling him that his relieng vpon the peoples plausibilitie spurred him on, but now they had deceiued him. True (sayth he) a mans friendes will fayle him; and addes to that a very diuine spéech, All popularitie and trust in men is vayne, whereof my selfe haue had late experience. [Page] Thus he accompted your loue at the best to be but vanitie, or as he sayd i [...] the prophet,Esa. 37.66 an Aegiptian réede, which eyther breaketh & fayleth him that leaneth on it or pearceth his hand to his hurt: in-sinuating hereby, that, ha [...] he not trusted vpon you, he would not haue ventured so farre: and thus you séemed by his wordes to haue indaungered his body, as béeing a remote motiue to that his action. Then the request which he so earnestly made vnto the Lordes for his priuate death within the tower, was principally because of you: for in the morning he conf [...]sed himselfe much bound to God, and her maiestie that he should die thus priuately, because he feared, least if it had beene publike, your acclamations should haue houen him vp (for this [...] much doubted in himselfe euen in [...] small companie which was there, [...] therefore desired God still to graunt him an humbled spirite: and requested vs if we eyther see his countenance, eye, or tongue wander, that[Page]we would interrupt him) and so haue withdrawne his minde from God, and haue b [...]ene a temptation vnto him: and thus he tooke your loue to him, but as a danger to his soule: but thinke you it had not béen vnto you a bloudy day, if it had béene effected what they purposed: now heare and tremble; béeing asked what he meant by taking the tower of London, sithence his principall proiect was for the court [...] he answered, that he meant it should haue beene a bridle, to your citie, mark [...] that worde, a bridle hath raines and a bit: so that if you had made an head for him agaynst the Quéene (which I hope you wou [...]d not) he would haue giuen you the raines, you should haue gone on without any restraint to haue béene rebels to your prince and country: but if you had vnited your force against him as good subiects (and as I am fully perswaded you would) they are his owne wordes, if happely the Citie should haue misliked his other attempt, then you should taste of the [Page] Bit. They call it the playeng of the Bit in the horse mouth: but I beléeue the playing of the Ordinance from the Tower would haue fetcht both you [...] houses downe, and your bloud out.

The third word, his crying sinne [...] which word is borrowed from Gen. 19. Where the sinnes of Sodom are said to cry vp to heauen, namely, to fetch downe vengeance from God, so intollerable they were, and one of those sinnes was pride; which, I wel bold to tell him, was the ground of all this action, and he tooke it very well. This also argued, that there was bloud in this sinne, for the first crying sinne we read of was Caines murther Gen. 4. The last word was his infectious sinne, the meaning thereof he explaned to vs in our conference with him (which I named before) that it was a leaprosie which had infected far and neare. Which vnfoldeth both the greatnesse of the danger, and [...] gueth that the contagiō of the sinne is not gone with him. Doctor Montfo [...]d [Page] asked him if there were not an oth taken by them for secrecie and resolusion. He vtterly denied that: how durst you trust each other being so many said we? His answere was that they were firmly perswaded each of others faithfulnesse mutually, as any one of them could be of his owne hart to himselfe. Now then, the time béeing more then spent, conferre these points together, all out of his owne wordes, and beginne with the last first, they are thirtéene in all.

1. THis conspiracie thus banded.

2. The offence contagiously, and generally dispersed.

3. His sinne crieng to God for present vengeance.

4. A sinne bloudy in execution, if effected.

[Page]5. Great in it selfe, the compound and mixture of all rebellions.

6. His life a daunger to the Queene. Marke that.

7. Himselfe a surfet to the realme, to bespewed out iustly.

8. Articles propounded, disputed, concluded so long together agaynst the state.

9. The court surprised with an [...] power, and the Queene mu [...]ed vp with her owne vassalles.

10. A Parlament to be summoned.

11. The cheife places of the court at the commaund of Papists, armed and attended, neyther with the welthiest, nor[Page]the contentedst men.

12. The command of the tower, as a bridle to you of this citie.

13. His hard opinion and censure of your basenesse and vnfaithfulnesse to the Queene.

And then iudge you with what safetie to the Quéenes person; with what peace to the land; with what hope of the Gospels continuance; could this man haue liued, if he had béene remitted: and thinke with your selues whether you may not iustlye conclude that it was the most daungerous plotte that euer was hatched within this land. What now remaines? but to conclude with my text, Giue vnto Caesar the things of Caesar, our most gracious Soueraigne, I meane; honour her, obey her, feare her, but aboue all pray for her, that shée being the light of this [Page] land may shine among vs as long [...] the two great lights of heauen, the Sunne and the Moone endureth. This God grant for his mercie sake, Amen.

Certaine obseruations.

[Page]

IN one onely thing Doctor Montford differeth from me viz. where I report that the Earle said this plot was framing when be lay at my Lord Keepers. That worde when, Doctor Montford thinkes, should be not long after: I haue great inducements of circumstance and substance to holde my oppinion still: but, at his earnest intreatie, I haue altered it, and for thy sake, reader, no [...]ed this, least he should accuse me of obstinacie, ay thu of difference in my report: yet it no the w [...]akneth the force of that which I owrre vrge, namely, that it was no late, nor sudden deuise, but by his owne wordes, a yeare olde, at least: In the rest we i [...]pe together.

2. The said Doctor Montford presently after my Sermon, put me in minde of one thing, somewhat materiall, arguing what conceit the Earle had of his owne purpose and action. For we speaking of the constancie of Martyrs at their death; and of that place of Paul▪ Rom. 8.18. The [Page] Earle, with passion, said that they dyed in a good cause, but he should dye in [...] BAD CAVSE, To comfort him I [...] plyed that albeit he dyed not for Christ, y [...] I doubted not but he should dye in Christ.

3 Another thing I call to minde, noted by me, but forgotten in my Sermon, how the Earle speaking to vs of some his complices apprehended in this action, but NOW, saith he, I am in my soule perswaded they wil proue good subiects. Which word Now, referred to his death, confirmes those wordes of his cited in my Sermon that his life was no safety to the Queene. Himselfe being taken [...] the Cynosura of their affections.

The true copy, in substance, of the late Earle of Essex, his behauiour, speach, and prayer, at the time of his execution.

[Page]

ON Wednesday the xxv. of Februarie An. Domini. 1600. called Ashwednesday, about eight of the clocke in the morning, was the sentence of death executed vpon Robert Deuoreux Earle of Essex, within the Tower of London, where a scaffold beeing set vp in the court, and a forme neare vnto the place, whereon sat the Earles of Cumberland, and Hertforde, the Lord vicecount Bindon, the Lord Thomas [Page]Haward, the Lord Darcie, and the Lord Compton: The Lieutennant with some sixteene partizans of the guarde was sent for the prisoner, who came in a gowne of wrought veluet, a black sattē sute, a felt hat black, a little ruffe about his necke, accompanied from his chamber with three Diuines, Doctor Montford, Doctor Barlow and Maister Ashton his Chapleine [...] them he had requested, not to part from him, but obserue him, and recall him, if eyther his eye, countenance, or speach, should bewray any thing which might not beseeme him for that time: all the way he desired the spectators to pray for him, and so ariuing on the skaffold, he vayled his hat, and with obeysance vnto the Lords, to this effect he spake. viz.

[Page] MY Lordes, and you my Christian Brethren, who are to be witnesses of this my iust punishment, I confesse to the glory of God, that I am a most wretched sinner, and that my sinnes are more in number then the hayres of my head, I confesse that I haue bestowed my youth in wantonnesse, lust, and vncleannesse, that I haue bene puffed vp with pride, vanitie, and loue of this worlds pleasures. And that notwithstanding diuerse good motions inspired into me from the spirit of God, The good which I would, I haue not done, and the euill which I would not, that haue I done. For all which I humblie beseech my Sauiour Christ to be a Mediatour to the eternall Maiestie for my pardon: especially for this my last sinne, this great, this bloudy, this crying, this infectious sinne, whereby so many [Page]haue for loue to me beene drawne to offend God, to offend their Soueraigne to offend the world; I beseech God to forgiue it vs, and to forgiue it me most wretched of all; I beseech her Maiestie and the state and ministers thereof to forgiue it vs; and I beseech God to send her maiesty a prosperous raigne and a long, if it be his will: O Lord grant her a wise and vnderstanding heart: O Lorde blesse her and the Nobles, and the ministers of the church and state. And I beseech you and the worlde to hould a charitable opinion of me for my intention toward her Maiestie, whose death, I protest I neuer meant, nor violence to her person. I neuer was I thanke God Athist, not beleeuing the worde and scriptures, neither Papist trusting in my owne merites. But hope for saluation from God onely, by the mercy and[Page]merites of my Sauiour Christ Iesus. This faith was I brought vp in, and herein I am now ready to die. Beseeching you all, to ioyne your soules with me in praier, that my soule may belifted vp by faith aboue all earthlie things in my praier, for now I will giue my selfe to my priuate praier: yet, for that I beseech you to ioyne with me, I will speake that you may heare me. And heere, as he turned himselfe aside to put of his gowne, Doctor Montford requested him to remember to pray to God to forgiue all his enemies if he had any. To whom he answered, I thanke you for it: and so turning himselfe againe to the Lords and the rest, he said, I desire all the world to forgiue me, euen as I do freely and from my hart forgiue all the world. Then putting off his Gowne and Ruffe, [Page] and presenting himselfe before the blocke, kneeling downe, he was by Doctor Barlowe encouraged against the feare of death. To whom he answered, That hauing beene diuerse times in places of daunger; where death was neither so present, nor yet so certaine, he had felt the weakenesse of the flesh, and therefore now in this great conflict desired God to assist and strengthen him: and so with eyes fixed on Heauen, after some passionate pauses and breathings, he began his prayer in effect following.

§

O GOD, Creator of all things, and iudge of all men, thou hast let me knowe by warrant out of thy worde, that Sathan is then most busie when our [Page] end is neerest, and that Sathan being resisted will flee. I humbly beseech thee to assist me in this my last combat: and seeing thou acceptest euen of our desires as of our actes: accept I beseech thee, of my desires to resist him, as of true resistance, and perfect, by thy grace, what thou seest in my flesh to be fraile and weake, giue me patience to beare as becommeth me, this iust punishment inflicted vpon me by so Honorable a triall: Graunt me the inward comfort of thy spirit: let thy spirit scale vnto my soule an assurance of thy mercies, lift my soule aboue all earthly cogitations: and when my life and body shall part, send thy blessed Angels which may receiue my soule, and conuaye it to thy ioyes in heauen.

Then concluding his prayer for all Estates of the Realme, he [Page] shut vp all with the Lords prayer, reiterating this petition: Lord Iesus forgiue vs our trespasses, Lord Iesus receiue my soule: Then desiring to be informed what was fit for him to doe for disposing himselfe fitly for the blocke, the Executioner on his knees presented himselfe, asking him forgiuenesse: to whom the Earle said, I forgiue thee▪ thou art welcome vnto me, thou art the minister of iustice. At which time Doctor Montford requested him to rehearse the Creed, which he did, repeating euery article after the Diuines. So opening and putting off his doublet, he was in a Scarlet Wastecoate, and then ready to lye downe, he said he would onely stretch foorth his Armes, and spread them abroade, for then he was ready: So bowing towards [Page] the blocke, the Doctors requested him to say the two first verses of the 51. Psalme, which he did: and then inclining his bodie he sayd. In humilitie and obedience to thy commaundement, in obedience to thy ordinance, to thy good pleasure, O God, I prostrate my selfe to my deserued punishment, Lord be mercifull to thy prostrate seruant: so lyeng flatte along on the bordes, and laying downe his head, and fitting it vpon the blocke, stretched out his armes, with these last wordes, which he was requested to say. Lord into thy hands I commend my spirite. His head was seuered from his bodie by the axe at three stroakes. But the first deadly, and absolutely depriuing all sence and motion.

Thomas Montford.

William Barlow.

Information about this book

Title statement

A sermon preached at Paules Crosse, on the first Sunday in Lent: Martij 1. 1600 With a short discourse of the late Earle of Essex his confession, and penitence, before and at the time of his death. By William Barllow Doctor of Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed a true copie, in substance, of the behauiour, speache, and prayer of the said Earle at the time of his execution.

Barlow, William, d. 1613.

Edition statement

1601

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Text Creation Partnership,

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Date

2003-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A04416

ID [STC]

STC 1454

ID [STC]

ESTC S100950

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99836777

ID [PROQUEST]

99836777

ID [VID]

1063

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A04416)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 1063)

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— A sermon preached at Paules Crosse, on the first Sunday in Lent: Martij 1. 1600 With a short discourse of the late Earle of Essex his confession, and penitence, before and at the time of his death. By William Barllow Doctor of Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed a true copie, in substance, of the behauiour, speache, and prayer of the said Earle at the time of his execution., Barlow, William, d. 1613..

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[80] p.

Printed by [R. Read] for Mathew Law, dwelling in Paules Church-yard neere Watling-streete,. London :: 1601.. (Printer's name from STC.) (Signatures: A-E.) (The last leaf is blank.) (At least quire C is in two settings: page C2r, line 5 ends: (1) "dead Lion:" or (2) "deade Lion:". Other formes except D inner have been reimposed.) (Reproduction of the original in Cambridge University Library.)

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