The maner of the Arraignement of William Parry the xxv. of Februarie, 1584. at Westminster, in the place where the courte commonly called the Kings Bench, is vsually kept by vertue of her Maiesties Commission of Oyer & Terminer, before Henrie L. Hunsdon gouer­nour of Barwicke, Sir Francis Knolles Knight, Treaso­rer of the Queenes Maiesties housholde, Sir Iames Croft Knight, Comptroller of the same houshold, Sir Christopher Hatton Knight, Vicechamberlaine to her Maiestie, Sir Christopher Wray Knight, Chiefe Iustice of Englande, Sir Gilberte Gerrard Knight, master of the Rolles, Sir Edmund Anderson Knight, chiefe Iu­stice of the Common Plees, Sir Roger Manwood Knight, chiefe Barron of the Eschequer, and Sir Tho­mas Hennage Knight, Treasorer of the Chamber.

FIrst, three Proclamations for silence were made according to the vsuall course in such cases. Then the Lieutenant was com­maunded to returne his precept, which did so, and brought the prysoner to the Barre, to whom Miles Sandes Esquire, Clerke of the Crowne sayde, William Parrie, hold vp thy hand, and he did so. Then said y^e Clerke of the crowne, Thou art here indicted by the othes of xii. good and lawful men of the Countie of Middlesex, before Sir Christopher Wray Knight, and others which tooke the Indictment by the name of William Parry late of Lon­don Gentleman,The Indictment. otherwise called William Parry, late of London Doctor of the lawe, for y^t thou as a false traitor a­gainst the most noble and Christian Prince, Queene E­lizabeth thy most gracious Soueraigne and liege La­die, not hauing the feare of God before thine eyes, nor re­garding thy due allegiance, but being seduced by the in­stigation [Page 28] of the deuill, and intending to withdrawe and extinguish the heartie loue and due obedience, which true and faithfull Subiectes shoulde beare vnto the same our Soueraigne Ladie, diddest at Westminster in the Coun­tie of Middlesex on the first day of Februarie, in the xxvi. yeere of her Highnesse raigne, and at diuers other times and places in the same Countie, maliciously, and trayte­rously conspire and compasse, not onely to depriue and de­pose the same our Soueraigne Ladie of her Royall e­state, title and dignitie, but also to bring her highnesse to death and finall destruction, and sedition in the Realme to make, and the gouernement thereof to subuert, and the sincere religion of God established in her highnesse domi­nions to alter & subuert. And that, whereas thou William Parry, by thy letters sent vnto Gregorie Bishoppe of Rome, diddest signifie vnto the same Bishoppe thy pur­poses and intentions aforesayde, and thereby diddest pray and require the same Bishoppe to giue thee absolution, that thou afterwards, that is to say, the last day of March in the xxvi. yeere aforesayde, diddest trayterously receiue letters frō one called Cardinall de Como, directed vnto thee William Parry, whereby the same Cardinall did signifie vnto thee, that the Bishoppe of Rome had perused thy letters, and allowed of thine intent, and that to that ende hee had absolued thee of all thy sinnes, and by the same letter did animate and stirre thee to proceede with thine enterprise, and that therupon, thou, the last day of August in the xxvi. yeere aforesaide, at Saint Giles in the fieldes, in y^e same Countie of Middlesex, diddest trayterously con­ferre with one Edmunde Neuill Esquire, vttering to him all thy wicked and trayterous deuises, and then and there diddest moue him to assist thee therin, & to ioyne with thee in those wicked treasons aforesayd, against y^e peace of our sayd Soueraigne Ladie the Queene, her Crowne & dig­nity: What sayest thou William Parry, art thou guilty of these treasons whereof thou standest here indicted, or not [Page 29] guiltie?

Then Parry sayde,Parries answere to the indict­ment, Before I pleade not guiltie, or con­fesse my selfe guiltie, I pray you giue me leaue to speake a fewe words: and with humbling himselfe, began in this maner. God saue Queene Elizabeth, and God sende mee grace to discharge my duetie to her, and to send you home in charitie. But touching the matters that I am indicted of, some were in one place, and some in another, and done so secretely, as none can see into them, except y^t they had eyes like vnto God, wherefore I will not lay my blood vpon the Iurie, but doe minde to confesse the indictment. It containeth but the parts that haue bene openly redde, I pray you tel me? Whereunto it was answered, that the Indictment conteined the partes he had heard redde, and no other: whereupon the Clarke of the Crowne saide vn­to Parry, Parry, thou must answere directly to the indict­ment, whether thou be guiltie or not.

Then sayde Parry, Parrie confes­seth that he is guilty of all things contey­ned in the indict­ment. I doe confesse that I am guiltie of al that is therein cōtained: And further too, I desire not life, but desire to die. Unto which the clarke of y^e Crowne sayd, If you confesse it, you must confesse it in maner and fourme as it is comprised in the Iudictment. Whereunto he sayd, I doe confesse it in maner and fourme as the same is set downe, and all the circumstances thereof. Then the confession being recorded, the Queenes learned counsel being readie to pray iudgement vpon the same confession, Master Vicechamberlaine sayde, These matters contai­ned in this indictment, and confessed by this man, are of great importance: they touch the person of the Queenes most excellent Maiestie in the highest degree, the very state and weldoing of the whole common wealth, and the trueth of Gods worde established in these her Maiesties dominions, and the open demonstration of that capi­tall enuie of the man of Rome, that hath set him selfe a­gainst God and all godlinesse, all good Princes and good gouernment, and against good men. Wherefore, I pray [Page 30] you, for the satisfaction of this great multitude, let the whole matter appeare, that euery one may see that the matter of it selfe is as bad as y^e indictment purporteth, & as he hath confessed. Wherto in respect y^t the Iustice of y^e Realme hath bin of late very impudētly slaūdered, al yeel­ded as a thing necessarie to satisfie the world in particular, of y^t which was but summarily comprised in y^e indictmēt, though in the lawe, his confession serued sufficiently to haue proceeded thereupon vnto iudgement. Whereupon the Lordes and others the Commissioners, her Maiesties learned Counsel, and Parry him self agreed, that Parrys confession (taken the xi. and xiii. of Februarie 1584. be­fore the Lord of Hunsdon, master Vicechamberlaine, and master Secretarie,) and Cardinall de Como his letters, and Parrys letters to the Lorde Treasourer and Lorde Stewarde, should be openly read.

And Parry, for the better satisfying of the people and standers by, offered to reade them him selfe: but being tolde that the order was, the Clerke of the Crowne should reade them, it was so resolued of all partes. And then master Vicechamberlaine caused to be shewed to Parry his sayde confession, the Cardinals letter, and his owne letter aforesayde, which after hee had particularly viewed euery leafe thereof, he confessed, and sayde openly they were the same.

Then sayde master Vicechamberlaine, Before we pro­ceede to shewe what he hath confessed, what say you, sayd he to Parry, is that which you haue confessed here true, and did you confesse it freely and willingly of your selfe, or was then any extort meanes vsed to drawe it from you?

Surely sayde Parry, I made that confession freely without any constraint, and that is all true, and more too: for there is no treason that hath bene sithens the first yeere of the Queene any way touching religion, sauing receipt of Agnus dei, and perswading of others, wherein I haue [Page 31] not much dealt, but I haue offended in it. And I haue al­so deliuered mine opinion in writing, who ought to bee successor to the crowne, which he sayde to be treason also.

Then his confession of the eleuenth and thirteenth of Februarie,Parrys confes­sion of his trea­sons was red by his owne assent. all of his owne hand writing, & before parti­cularly sette downe, was openly, and distinctly red by the Clarke of the crowne. And y^t done, y^e Cardinall di Como his letter in Italian was deliuered vnto Parrys hande, by the direction of Master Vicechamberlayne, which Parry there perused,A letter of Car­dinall di Como to Parry, also red. and openly affirmed to bee wholy of y^e Car­dinals owne hand writing, and the seale to bee his owne also, and to bee with a Cardinals hat on it: And himselfe did openly read it in Italian, as before is set downe. And the wordes bearing sence as it were written to a Bishop or to a man of such degree, it was demaunded of him by Master Vicechamberlayne, whether he had not taken the degree of a Bishoppe? He said, No: But said at first, those termes were proper to the degree hee had taken: and after saide that the Cardinall did vouchsafe as of a fauour to write so to him. Then the coppie of that letter in Eng­lish as before is also set downe, was in like maner openly red by the Clarke of the Crowne, which Parry then ac­knowledged to be truely translated.

And thereupon was shewed vnto Parry his letter of y^e xviii. of Februarie,Parrys letter of the 18. of Febru. to the L. Treaso. and the Earle of Leycester red. written to the Lord Treasorer, and the Lord Steward: which he confessed to bee all of his owne hand writing and was as before is set downe.

These matters being redde openly for manifestation of the matter, Parry prayed leaue to speake: whereto Ma­ster Vicechamberlayne sayde, If you will say any thing for the better opening to the worlde of those your foule & horrible facts, speake on: but if you meane to make any excuse of that which you haue confessed, which els would haue bene and do stand proued against you, for my part, I will not sit to heare you.

Then her Maiesties Attourney general stood vp & said, [Page 32] It appeareth before you my Lords, y^t this man hath bene indicted & arraigned of seuerall most haynous and horri­ble treasons, and hath confessed them, which is before you of recorde: wherefore there resteth no more to be done, but for the Court to giue iudgement accordingly,The Queenes Attourney re­quireth Iudge­ment. which here I require in the behalfe of the Queenes Maiestie.

Then said Parry, I pray you heare me for discharging of my conscience. I will not goe about to excuse my selfe, nor to seeke to saue my life, I care not for it, you haue my confession of recorde, that is enough for my life: And I meane to vtter more, for which I were worthie to die. And sayde, I pray you heere mee, in that I am to speake to dis­charge my conscience.

Then said Master Vicechamberlayne, Parry, then doe thy duetie according to conscience, and vtter all that thou canst say concerning those thy most wicked facts.

Then said Parry, My cause is rare, singular & vnnatu­rall, conceyued at Venice, presented in generall wordes to the Pope, vndertaken at Paris, commended & allowed of by his Holines, and was to haue bene executed in Eng­land, if it had not bene preuented. Yea, I haue committed many treasons, for I haue committed treason in being re­conciled, and treason in taking absolution.Parry had for his credit afore time said very se­cretly, that he had bene solici­ted beyond the seas to commit the fact, but he would not do it, wherewith he craftily abused both y^e Queenes Maiesty, & those two Counsellers whereof he now woulde helpe himselfe with these false spee­ches against most manifest proofes. There hath bene no Treason sithens the first yeere of the Queenes reigne touching religion, but that I am guiltie of (except for receiuing of Agnus Dei, and perswading as I haue said:) And yet neuer intended to kil Queene Elizabeth. I appeale to her owne knowledge and to my Lorde Trea­sorers and Master Secretaries.

Then said my Lord Hunsdon, Hast thou acknowledged it so often, and so plainly in writing vnder thy hande, and heere of recorde: and nowe, when thou shouldest haue thy iudgement according to that which thou hast confessed thy selfe guiltie of, doest thou goe backe againe, and deny the effect of all? Howe can wee beleeue that thou nowe fayest?

[Page 33]Then said Master Vicechamberlaine,M. Vicecham­berlaines spea­ches, prouing manifestly Par­rys traiterous intentions. This is absued. Thou hast not onely confessed generally, that thou wert guilty according to the indicemēt, which summarily, and yet in expresse woordes doeth conteyne that thou haddest trayterously compassed & intended the death and destruc­tion of her Maiestie: but thou also saydest particularly that thou wert guilty of euery of the Treasons conteined therein, whereof the same was one in playne and expresse letter set downe, and red vnto thee. Yea, thou saydest that thou were guilty of moe Treasons too besides these. And diddest thou not vpon thy examination voluntaryly con­fesse, howe thou wast moued first thereunto by mislike of thy state after thy departure out of the Realme, And that thou diddest mislike her Maiestie for that shee had done nothing for thee, Howe by wicked Papistes and Popish bookes, thou wert perswaded that it was lawfull to kill her Maiestie, Howe thou wert by reconciliation become one of that wicked sort, that helde her Maiestie for ney­ther lawfull Queene, nor Christian, And y^t it was meri­torious to kill her? And diddest thou not signifie that thy purpose to the Pope by letters, and receiuedst letters frō the Cardinall, howe he allowed of thyne intent, & excited thee to perfourme it, and thereupon diddest receiue abso­lution? And diddest thou not conceyue it, promise it, vow it, sweare it, and receyue the Sacrament that thou woul­dest doe it? And diddest not thou thereupon affirme, that thy vowes were in heauen, and thy letters and promyses on earth to bynde thee to doe it? And that whatsoeuer her Maiestie would haue done for thee, coulde not haue remo­ued thee from that intention or purpose, vnlesse she would haue desisted from dealing as shee hath done with the Ca­tholiques, as thou callest them? All this thou hast plainely confessed: and I protest before this great assembly, thou hast confessed it more playnely and in better sort, then my memory will serue me to vtter: And sayest thou now, that thou neuer mentest it?

[Page 34]Ah sayde Parry, your honours knowe, howe my Con­fession vpon myne examination was extorted.

Then both the Lord Hunsdon and Master Vicecham­berlayne affirmed, that there was no torture or threatning wordes offered him.

But Parry then sayde, that they tolde him, that if hee would not confesse willingly, he should haue torture: wher­unto their honours answered, that they vsed not any spech or worde of torture to him.

You sayde, sayd Parry, that you would proceede with rigour against me, if I would not confesse it of my selfe.

But their honours expresly affirmed, that they vsed no such words. But I will tell thee, sayd Master Vicecham­berlayne, what we saide. I spake these words, If you will willingly vtter the truth of your selfe, it may do you good, and I wish you to doe so: If you will not, wee must then proceede in ordinary course to take your examination. Whereunto you answered, that you would tell the trueth of your selfe.Parry reproued of false spea­ches, and so by himselfe also confessed. Was not this true? which then hee yeelded vnto.

And hereunto, her Maiesties Attourney generall put Parry in remembraunce what speeches hee vsed to the Lieutenant of the Tower, the Queenes Maiesties Ser­iant at Lawe, Master Gaudie, and the same Attourney on Satterday y^e twentieth of February last, at y^e Tower, vpon that hee was by them then examined by order from y^e Lords: which was, that he acknowledged he was most myldely and fauourably dealt with, in all his examinati­ons, which he also at the Barre then acknowledged to be true.

Then Master Vicechamberlayne sayde, that it was wonder to see the magnanymitie of her Maiestie, which after that thou haddest opened those trayterous practises in sort as thou hast layd it downe in thy confession, was neuerthelesse such, and so farre from all feare, as that shee woulde not so much as acquaint any one of her highnes [Page 35] priuie Counsel with it, to his knowledge, no not vntil af­ter this thine enterprise discouered & made manifest. And besides that which thou hast set downe vnder thine owne hande, thou diddest confesse, that thou haddest prepared two Scottish Daggers, fit for such a purpose: and those being disposed away by thee, thou diddest say that an o­ther would serue thy turne. And with all, Parry, diddest thou not also confesse before vs howe wonderfully thou wert appauled and perplexed vpon a suddaine at the pre­sence of her Maiestie at Hampton Court this last Som­mer, saying that thou diddest thinke thou then sawest in her, the very likenes & image of king Henry the seuenth? And that therewith, and vpon some speeches vsed by her Maiestie, thou diddest turne about and weepe bitterly to thy selfe? And yet diddest call to mynde that thy vowes were in heauen, thy letters and promises on earth, and that therefore thou diddest say with thy selfe, that there was no remedy but to do it? diddest thou not confesse this? the which he acknowledged.

Then saide the lorde Hunsdon, The L. of Huns­dons speaches conuincing Parry manifest­ly of his treason. Sayest thou nowe, that thou diddest neuer meane to kill the Queene? diddest thou not confesse, that when thou diddest vtter this practise of trecherie to her Maiestie, that thou diddest couer it with al the skill thou haddest, and that it was done by thee, rather to get credite and accesse thereby, then for any regard thou haddest of her person? but in trueth thou diddest it, that thereby thou mightest haue better oportunitie to performe thy wicked enterprise. And wouldest thou haue runne into such feare as thou diddest confesse that thou wert in, when thou diddest vtter it, if thou haddest neuer meant it? what reason canst thou shewe for thy selfe? With that he cryed out in a furious maner, I neuer meant to kill her: I will lay my blood vpon Queene Elizabeth and you, before God and the worlde: and thereupon fell into a rage and euill wordes with the Queenes Maiesties Attourney generall.

Then said the lord Hunsdon, This is but thy popish pride [Page 36] and ostentation, which thou wouldest haue to be told to thy fellowes of that faction, to make them belieue that thou diest for poperie, when thou diest for most horrible and dan­gerous treasons against her Maiestie, and thy whole coun­trey. For thy laying of thy blood, it must lye on thine owne head, as a iust reward of thy wickednesse. The lawes of the Realme most iustly condemne thee to die out of thine owne mouth for the conspiring the destruction both of her Maiestie, and of vs all: therefore thy blood be vpon thee, neither her Maiestie, nor we at any time sought it, thy selfe hast spilt it.

Then he was asked what he coulde say, why iudgemēt of death ought not to be awarded against him.

Whereto he said, he did see that he must die, because he was not setled.

What meanest thou by that, said master Vicechamber­laine. Said he, looke into your studie, and into your newe bookes, and you shall finde what I meane.

I protest (said his honour) I knowe not what thou mea­nest: thou doest not well to vse such darke speaches, vn­lesse thou wouldest plainely vtter what thou meanest thereby. But he saide, he cared not for death, and that hee would laye his blood amongst them.

The L. chiefe Iustices speache to Parry.Then spake the lorde chiefe Iustice of England, being required to giue the iudgement, and saide, Parry, you haue bene much heard, and what you meane by being setled, I knowe not, but I see you are so setled in poperie, that you cannot settle your selfe to be a good subiect. But touching that you should say to stay iudgement from being giuen a­gainst you, your speaches must be of one of these kindes, [...]ther to proue the Inditement (which you haue confessed to be true) to be insufficient in lawe, or els to pleade some­what touching her Maiesties mercie, why Iustice should not be [...]e of you. All other speaches wherein you haue vsed great libertie, is more then by lawe you can aske. These be the matters you must looke to, what say you to [Page 37] them? whereto he said nothing.

Then said the lord chiefe Iustice, Parry, thou hast bene before this time indited of diuers most horrible and hatefull treasons, cōmitted against thy most gratious Soueraigne, and natiue countrey: the matter most detestable, the maner most subtile and dangerous, and the occasions and meanes that led thee thereunto, most vngodly and villanous. That thou diddest intende it, it is most euident by thy selfe. The matter was the destruction of a most sacred and an anoyn­ted Queene thy soueraigne & mystresse, who hath shewed thee such fauour, as some thy betters haue not obteined: yea, the ouerthrowe of thy countrey wherein thou wert borne, and of a most happie common wealth whereof thou art a member, and of such a Queene, as hath bestowed on thee the benefite of all benefites in this worlde, that is, thy life, heretofore graunted thee by her mercie when thou had­dest lost it by Iustice and desert. Yet thou her seruant, sworne to defende her, mentest with thy bloodie hande to haue taken away her life, that mercifully gaue thee thine when it was yeelded into her handes. This is the matter wherein thou hast offended. The maner was most subtile and dangerous beyonde all that before thee haue commit­ted any wickednes against her Maiestie: For thou making shewe as if thou wouldest simplie haue vttered for her safe­tie the euill that others had contriued, diddest but seeke thereby credite & accesse, that thou mightest take the apter opportunitie for her destruction. And for the occasions and meanes that drewe thee on, they were most vngodly and villanous, As the perswasions of the Pope, of Papists and Popish bookes. The Pope pretendeth that hee is a pa­stour, when as in trueth hee is farre from feeding of the flocke of Christ, but rather as a woolfe seeketh but to feede on and to sucke out the blood of true Christians, and as it were thirsteth after the blood of our most gracious and Christian Queene. And these Papists and Popish bookes, while they pretende to set foorth diuinitie, they doe in deede [Page 38] most vngodly teach and perswade that which is quite con­trarie both to God and his worde. For the word teacheth obedience of subiectes towardes Princes, and forbiddeth any priuate man to kill: but they teache subiectes to dis­obey Princes, and that a priuate wicked person may kill. Yea, and whom? a most godly Queene, and their owne na­turall and most gracious soueraigne. Let all men there­fore take heede how they receiue any thing frō him, heare or reade any of their bookes, and howe they conferre with any Papists. God graunt her Maiestie, that she may know by thee, howe euer shee trust such like to come so neere her person. But see the ende, and why thou diddest it, and it will appeare to bee a most miserable, fearefull and foolish thing: For thou diddest imagine, that it was to relieue those that thou callest Catholiques, who were most likely amongst all others to haue felt the worst of it, if thy deuilish practise had taken effect. But sith thou hast bene indited of the treasons comprised in y^e inditement, and thereupon ar­raigned, and hast confessed thy selfe guiltie of them, the Court doth award,The fourme of the iudgement against the traytour. that thou shalt be had from hence to the place whence thou diddest come, and so drawne through the open citie of Londō vpon an hurdle to the place of exe­cution, and there to bee hanged and let downe aliue, and thy priuie partes cutte off, and thy entrals taken out and burnt in thy sight, then thy head to be cut off, and thy body to be deuided in foure partes, and to be disposed at her Ma­iesties pleasure: And God haue mercie on thy soule.

Parry neuerthelesse persisted still in his rage and fonde speach, and ragingly there sayd, he there sūmoned Queene Elizabeth to answere for his blood before God: wherwith, the Lieutenant of the Tower was cōmaunded to take him from the barre: and so he did. And vpon his departure, the people striken as it were at heart with the horrour of his intended enterprise, ceased not, but pursued him with out­cryes, as, Away with the Traitour, away with him, & such like: whereupon he was conueyed to the Barge, to passe [Page 39] to the Tower againe by water: and the Court was ad­iorned.

After which,2. Martii. W. Parry the traitour exe­cuted. vpon the second day of this instant March, William Parry was by vertue of processe in that behalfe a­warded from the same Commissioners of Oyer and Ter­miner, deliuered by the Lieutenant of the Tower early in the morning, vnto the Sheriffes of London and Middle­sex, who receiued him at the Tower hill, and thereupon, according to the iudgement, caused him there to be foorth­with set on the hurdell. From whence hee was drawen thereupon through the middest of the Citie of London, vn­to the place for his execution in the Pallace at Westmin­ster: where, hauing long time of stay admitted vnto him before his execution, he most maliciously and impudently, after some other vayne discourses eftsoones and often de­liuered in speach, that he was neuer gyltie of any intention to kill Queene Elizabeth, and so (without any request made by him to the people to pray to God for him, or pray­er publiquely vsed by himselfe for ought that appeared: but such as he vsed, if he vsed any, was priuate to himselfe) he was executed according to the iudgement. And nowe for his intent, howe so euer hee pretended the contrary in words, yet by these his owne writings, confessions, letters, and many other proofes afore here expressed, it is most manifest to all persons, howe horrible his intentions and Treasons were, and how iustly he suffered for the same: and thereby greatly to be doubted, that as he had liued a long time vainely and vngodly, and like an Atheist and godlesse man, so hee continued the same course till his death to the outwarde sight of men.