APPENDIX 1603. Aug. 18. stood, a practise in hand by my Lord GRAY and the Puritains against His Majestic. This Relation brings one thinge to my minde which I had forgotten, to witt, 1602-1603. how that I still altered my motives to urge men on to be in a readines for His Majesties defence and furthering of the Catholike cause, according to the diversityes of chaunges in mens opinions. Daungers increasing dayly to His Majesties person, I mooved it as one1 upon a speeche of Mr. BROAKE'S unto me about that same time (and it was before my Lord GRAY had entered in with us); to witt, Mr. BROAKE and I talked togeather of the daungers His Majestie was in,-yea, and the whole Realme,—and how he had heard of a most daungerous plott intended for a generall confussion and distruccion of all, which was to begine by coming by coming? in thorroughe Scotlande at first;- but whether the Spaniards] or the Frenche, or bothe, I know not. Onely this I remember, he told me of the Count of AREMBERGE some things that in both our conceipts did seeme to make it manifest that the great masse of monic reported to be in the Jesuits' disposing was moste of it from the said Count, as impossible for all the Catholikes in Englande to raise so muche of themselves. And withall wee had some speeche then also of his brother my Lord COBHAM and Sir WALTER RAWLEY - how they two stood for the Spanishe faction; at what time something (as I take it) was spoken concerning Sir WALTER'S surprizing of the King's Fleete, as Mr. COPLY hathe noted; and what it was I cannot possibly call to mynde. But, for my Lord GRAY, thus it was, as farr as I can remember touching that pointe: Mr. BROOKE being with his brother my Lord COBHAM, whoe tould him then (as 2 So repeated in original MS. 1 So in MS. I take it) that one MILES GERRARD (whoe is wholly Jesuited, and dweles at Trent in Somersetshire) whispered him in the care,1 bid him be of good comforte, for his Lordship should see the Catholikes very shortly ease bothe his Lordship and others, and send redresse, &c. About which time (as I take it), my Lord GRAY and Sir WALTER RAWLEY were there, at the Black Fryers, and shewed, every one of them, great discontent, but especyally the two Lords; my Lord COBHAM discovering his revenge to no lesse then the depriving of his Majestie and all his royall issue both of crowne, kingdome, liff, and all, at once. And my Lord GRAY (to use Mr. BROOKE'S owne words unto me) uttering nothing but treason at every worde, and soe forward to doe something for revenge, as he seemed even desperate in a sort. Hereupon, all theis circumstances concuring togeather, I used that of my Lord GRAVES intent and others, to hasten on Mr. BENSON, and others, as occacion was offered; and withall, upon a motion of Sir GRIFFIN MARKHAM for weapons, I wished Mr. BENSON to send to his sonne to bring up his armor brought out of Ireland to be solde. But Sir GRIFFIN tould me, afterwards, there would neede no armes, save only caliveres to breake open locks withall, if neede were. And afterwards, when Mr. BROOKE and Sir GRIFFIN MARKHAM had drawne my Lord GRAY to them, yet did 1 The word 'and' would seem here to have been omitted by the scribe. The whole of this and the preceding paragraph, from the words “and withall wee had some speeche,” consists, it is obvious, of an amplification—at third hand-of the statements of George Brooke; statements, too, the most material of which were earnestly retracted by Brooke, when at the point of death. As regards Watson, they were hearsays. To those who now read them, they are an 'abstract' of Watson's hearsays, drawn up by Sir William Waad. VI. Plots and 1603. Aug. 18. APPENDIX I still, to some, use the same perswacion as before to be reddy to defend the Kinge, against the Lord GRAY and Counterthe Puritanes faction; partly to make Catholikes more plots of 1602-1603. reddy to joyne in the Kings behalf, but moste especyally indeede for that I still doubted of my Lord GRAY, what his intent might be (even when he was joyned to ours), as well against the King's person as also against Catholikes in generall, if he and his had prevayled. And therefore was I carefull to learne oute by Mr. BROOKE what companie my Lord GRAY was able to bringe with him, and withall that he might not prevent us nor over rull all, but,-if it came to accion,-that either Sir GRIFFIN MARKHAM or Master COPLEY might have the guarde of the Kinges person; and that accion in hand for surprizing of his Majestie and my Lord to be sett to my Lord of SOUTHAMPTON, and those whome it was thought he had an earnest desire to be revenged upon; and so his Majestie to have bin secured from him or anie other of his ennemyes. This Declaration is not signed by WATSON. It bears the following subscription, in the hand of Sir WILLIAM WAAD:— "Taken out of a lardge Declaration of WILLIAM WATSON, of the 18th of August, 1603. 1 Apparently, meaning Lord Cecil. "W. WAAD." XI. SECRETARY LORD CECIL (BY COMMAND OF KING AUGUST 18, 1603. From the original draft. In the hand of an Amanuensis, with corrections Here the word 'Princes' has been supplied and then struck out, and 'nations' restored by Cecil in his own hand. 2 In the sense of ‘livelihood' or the like. 3 This clause is an insertion in Cecil's hand. APPENDIX VI. Plots and Counterplots of 1602-1603. 1603. Aug. 18. number of His Majesty's subjects, if they will proceed by the same courses and means to draw Voluntaries to their service. Secondly, His Majesty having, as before was answered you, sent unto the States purposely to represent his resolution to hold peace with the Archdukes upon honorable terms; howsoever they should resolve to join in treating or no with him, it were hard for him to take so direct negative courses with them, before he have heard how they stood affected to rely upon his counsels.1 And, therefore, in this matter he conceiveth that the Count of AREMBERGE now will easily reconcile any his mistaking of His Majesty's words, or any doubts of His Majesty's sincerity, which shall never be easily violated in any his Majesty's actions towards the meanest; —much less towards such Princes, of whose amity he maketh such estimation. 1603. Aug. 20. XII. SECRETARY LORD CECIL TO SIR G. HARVEY, From the original Minute. Cecil Papers, vol. ci. § 125 (Hatfield). FOR any of their letters, I am not desirous of them because I cannot procure their requests, which I have no more power to effect then others; neyther have 1 The following addition has been first written and then cancelled :-"He hath only kept himself thus retentive as neither to yield letter, commission, perswasion, or money, towards it; but left them barely to their own industry and charges." The closing paragraph is in Lord Cecil's hand. |