a letter write out of England to a English gentleman remain at Padua contain a  true report of a strange conspiracy contrive between Edward squire late execed  for the same treason as actor and Richard allpoole a jesuit as deviser and  suborn against the person of the queen majesty sir I thank you for your  relation of Ferrara and to make you payment in the like commodity I return to  you a true report of a fresh accident of state happen here with we memorable  for the strangeness of the matter and the great signification it carry with it  of God extraordinary and most visible providence but otherwise worthy to be  damn to perpetual oblivion as well for the detestable nature of the fact as  yet more if more be possible for the impiety of the persuasion such as I  assure you a man ought to make scruple to infame the time or infect man  cogitation with the repetition of it be it not that these work of darkness be  frame and forge in such a deep vault of hypocrisy as there be more danger that  they shall be unreveal or unbelieved then that be bring to clear light they  shall provoke a imitation in any of that which be so odious and foul and this  sir you may believe that as I have have good mean to inform my self to the  full of that which pass in this matter and the truth of all the particular  aswell those which be open at the arraignment of Edward squire one of the  offender as those which be reserve so I have set down this narration rather  abridge of some circumstance then any way amplify or enlarge this squire dwell  in Greenwich diverse year and take upon he the practice of a scrivener yet  rather as a help to maintain himself for a time then that he bear a mind to  settle in that trade he obtain also before his go to sea for some two year  space a employment about the queen Stable by way of deputation to one key a  Purueiour of those provision but be of a wit above his vocation dislike with  that condition of life and put himself into action by sea in the last voyage  sir Francis drake make into the Indies in which voyage it be his hap that the  Frances a small bark wherein he go be scatter from the fleet about Guadalupe  and take by iue Spanish frigate and so be squire bring prisoner into Spain  where soon after he be set at liberty not long after his enlargement he become  know to Richard Walpoole a English fugitive and by order a jesuit a man of  principal credit there and a kind of vicar general to parson in his absence  this Walpoole carry a wake wait eye upon those of our nation to discover and  single out sit instrument for the great treason observe this squire find he a  man of more then ordinary sense and capacity for his quality and education  find he a man that have pass his middle age well advice and yet resolve enough  and not apprehensive at all of danger for I do affirm this unto you that never  man answer upon his trial for life and death with less perturbation nay scarce  with any alteration as if he understand not his peril and calamity and yet as  sensible for speech as insensible for passion but beside the disposition and  temper of the man Walpoole discern in he two condition of special advantage  the one that come into Spain a prisoner and not a fugitive his return into  England will be subject to less suspicion the other that he understand squire  have former have some attendance about the queen Stable which he straight  catch hold of as a opportunity yet nevertheless the better to prepare he and  work he to his purpose and the better also to give colour when squire shall  return into England that he be a man that have suffer in Spain for his  conscience subtle he compass that upon a quarrel pick squire be put into the  inquisition by this mean when he have get his heart into his hand mollify by  distress and become secure of he that he be a fix and resolve papist after  probation and preparation sufficient he begin to open himself unto he and  first for introduction fall into the ordinary burden or song of that kind of  people touch the tyranny and persecution exercise here in England against  catholic though sir you know very well the distinction and moderation of the  proceed here in ecclesiastical cause with what lenity and gentleness it have  be carry except where it be mix with matter of state for else I will glad  learn what shall make the difference between the temper of the law in the  first year of the queen and in or but that at the one time they be papist in  conscience and at the other they be grow papist in faction or what shall make  the difference at this day in law between a queen marry priest and a seminary  priest save that the one be a priest of supersition and the other be a priest  of sedition but to the purpose after the jesuit have at sundry conference  discourse his pleasure of the misery of catholic here in England and of the  slander of the government and upon how few person life the state here do stand  and squire on the other side who want no wit to perceive which way he be lead  have first make some signification and after some more serious and vehement  protestation of his mind and devotion to do service to the cause when the  wicked friar fauve he be get into the true circle he begin to charm and yet  not have the power to fall upon the high point first without a gradation or  bridge it be no doubt say he a act ery meritorious to kill the earl of Essex  but One relative one thing be necessary and have keep he in suspense a while  break with he plain and tell he that he will put a service into his hand that  he may execute and accomplish without any evident peril of his life because it  be to be do what time the queen her self shall not be in presence which I  think he speak as have hear that which be very true of some conspirator that  have undertake and vow her majesty destruction have nevertheless at the very  instant of the access and opportunity be strike with astonishment and have no  power to execute their malice nay further he say that he shall not needs to  fear in the do thereof to be see or observe by any person of care or judgement  but such as may be easy converse withal without suspicion and it be the  impoisonment of the pommel of the queen Sadell at such time as she shall ride  abroad her majesty be like to rest her hand thereupon for a good time together  and not unlike for her hand to come often about her face mouth and nosethrill  and this by reason of his former acquaintance and service about the Stable he  think he may easy perform and safe and yet he say if imminent death shall  ensue thereupon he may not account of it as be assure that he shall exchange  his present state with the state of a glorious saint in heaven unto which  accurse proposition after that squire have assent then do the friar use all  diligence to confirm and bind he to resolution and performance and to that end  at sundry confession take his vow and promise to be constant cause he to  receive the sacrament upon it renew his devilish persuasion vary they in all  from to besiege his mind and cogitation that he may find no way to get out of  this wicked purpose tell he that he stand now in the state of damnation if he  do not his uttermost endeavour to perform his vow and bid he remember how that  sin do seldom obtain pardon and if he do but once make doubt of the lawfulness  or merit of the act it be enough to cast he headlong down into hell and if he  do cast any difficulty or terror he wish he to consider what it do avail a man  to win the whole world and to lose his own soul so as now squire must not  descend into himself he must make no objection cast no doubt but the eye of  his understanding blind and seal up he must only contemplate upon these vow  and adjuration and for a conclusion and final benediction of this most  execrable plot squire kneel before Wallpoole at confession he lift he up hugde  he about the neck with his leave arm such be squire own word and cross he with  the other hand after some word mumble in Latin say distinct to he in English  God bless thou and give thou strength my son be of good courage I pawn my soul  for thou and thou shall have my prayer dead and alive and upon this  embracement and enchantment this desperate wretch and this blasphemous  exorcist part for that time then do he give he full instruction for the  dispose of this poison show he that he shall receive it in a double bladder  and when it shall be use he be to prick the bladderfull of hold upon the upper  part and so to carry it within the palm of his hand with a thick glove for the  safeguard of his hand and in the instant when it be to be apply he shall turn  it in his hand he upside down and so press it hard upon the pommel of the  saddell tell he further of the nature of it that it will lie and tarry long  where it be lie and that it will not be check by the air and last upon his  come away deliver he the confection it self in such a bladder as be before  describe this be the true manner of the subornation of Edward squire by  Richard Wallpoole as it be confess by the same squire almost in the same word  as well for the persuasion as for the instruction which confession I do affirm  unto you upon knowledge be deliver without torture or show of torture and be  roundly and sensible utter with all circumstance of a credible narration for  that part which concern the manner of the impoisonment and for that part which  concern the manner of the persuasion be set down by a advice declaration under  his own hand and the same as far as hitherto we have go be maintain and  confirm and in no point retract or disavow either at his trial or at his death  it seem also that Wallpoole in some of his conference do insist upon the  impoisonment of the earl of Essex the rather to defeat the voyage by sea then  expect for these thing pass about may so as squire conceive it there can be no  one thing more acceptable in the second degree now after that squire have  receive both poison as well the spiritual poison of wicked resolution as the  material within the bladder and that Wallpoole have interlace some promise to  he of reward and comfort beside those of the other world and have school he  for secrecy which he make to be parcel of his vow there rest only his dispatch  for England whereunto to give a apt colour it be devise that there shall be a  permutation treat by the mean of a canon in civil of two Spanish prisoner here  take at cales friend of the say canon for squire and roll now prisoner in the  tower who come over with he whereby it may be carry far off from suspicion  that squire do not return as a man employ but upon that private occasion  accord to which project he be send away convenient money that he may be the  better in heart and yet not so abundant as may make he love his life too well  and to go away with his fare quiet though indeed there be more money stir but  not in that hand and be arrive here in England about a fortnight before the  earl set forth towards the island he do address himself to a counselor of  estate here both to show himself to the end to avoid suspicion and with  pretence also of some advertisement to the end to win the better opinion and  trust and find his come well conceive of accord to his desire he do crafty and  subtilely devise with himself that if he can find any opportunity to execute  his purpose before the earl go suppose that the poison can not work but in  some space of time it will be more security for he to be absent and in the  voyage leave percase some suspicious token of poison appear somewhat may fall  out upon such diligent inquisition as in such a case be like to be make to be  discover against he and therefore make his mean to go with the earl in his  ship and obtain his suit so as now make his reckon to have the peril upon his  back he do but watch his time and it please God for the manifestation of his  glory that the Monday sevennight next after squire come home out of Spain he  understand that the horse be make ready for her majesty ride abroad whereupon  full of those evil spirit wherewith so many exorcism have possess he he come  into the Stable yard where her majesty horse stand ready saddle and in a  familiar and cheerful manner in the hear of diverse that stand thereby have  all thing ready accord to his instruction he lie his hand upon the pommel of  the saddle and say God save the queen wherein it please God to take his word  and not his meaning and bruise the poison as he be direct thus be her majesty  sacred and precious life by the all-hail of a second judas betray the attempt  put in act and all the conspirator part play to the uttermost line and title  there rest only God part for so it be that her majesty go abroad hold as the  viper be upon S Paul hand and shake off without hurt so this do be in July in  the heat of the year when the poor and vein be open to receive any malign  vapour or tincture if her majesty by any accident have lie her hand upon the  place and as the heathenish people at that time do argue and conclude  thereupon that S Paul be a God so we may Christianly infer that it be God do  and power who have defend his handmaid and servant by his secret and more then  natural influence and preservative from so actual mortal a danger speak by  these sign to all her disloyal subject and ambitious enemy that as he have do  great thing by her pass ordinary discourse of reason so he have do and will do  as great thing for her beyond the course of his ordinary providence for sure  if a man consider how many time her life have be seek and assail since the  beginning of her reign by violence by poison by superstitious votary by  ambitious undertaker by singular conspirator by conspirator combine speak of  those that have be reveal beside a number no doubt of the like which have  grovel in darkness and never come to light he will not find the like  reflection of God favour in any sovereign prince that have reign but in the  mean time you see the strange mystery of the jesuits doctrine that have mingle  heaven and hell and lift up the hand of subject against the anoint of God arm  they with the invisible armour of scripture sacrament vow prayer and blessing  against their natural sovereign wherein there be great difference between the  spirit that wrought in David and this that work in they for David when  relation be make to he by one that think he have do Saul the last good office  how Saul have fall upon his own sword in battle and be in the anguish of death  and careful not to fall alive in the hand of the Philistine a people  uncircumcised desire this soldier to make a end of he who do so and be  therefore by David adjudge to die because he dare to lie his hand upon the  anoint of the lord and yet be Saul a king forsake and abandon of God he have  take his mortal wound before so as this soldier take from he his pain and not  his life and it be to a good end least a heathenish people shall reproach the  name of God by insult upon the person of Saul and sure for my part I do wonder  that prince do not concur in lose these band and suppress this sect which make  a traffic of their sacred life conclude and contract for they with these blind  votary in the secrecy of confession and shrift for I do not see that pirate  who the civilian account to be public officer host joint pursuit of man and  therefore prince bind as they affirm though they be otherwise in no league one  with a other yea and though they be enemy to join in the suppress extirpation  of they be any such disturber of humane society as these be neither do I think  that the order of the templar that be put down throughout Christendom in a few  week be ever offender in so high a degree and I find somewhat strange that the  bishop of Rome if it be but to avoid the aspersion of so great a slander and  imputation to that religion shall not purge out this leaven so strange and  odious but to return within five or six day after this fact commit squire go  to sea in the Erles own ship and belike as Tacitus say ferox crime because  prima prouenerant take the remain of the same poison with he in a little pot  in his portmantue when the earl be at sea between Faial and S Michael he  bestow it upon the pommels of a chair of wood where the earl use to dine and  sup but thank be to God nothing come of it neither now let I acquaint you a  little with the manner of detect of this matter which God do likewise strange  bring about squire sleep now in security for although he fail of success yet  he take himself to be out of danger think because it be carry between his  confessor and he it can never be reveal but his confessor who it import not so  much to keep it secret as it do squire tickle belike with the joy that he have  such a iron in the fire impart it for his own glory to some principal of the  fugitive there this raise a great expectation in they of some effect to ensue  when time pass and nothing come of it they make construction of it that squire  have be false to they one of the more passionate of they inveigh bitter  against squire tell how he be trust and how he have undo the cause and the  better to be revenge on he be content that one that they let slip hither as if  he have flee from they shall give information of this matter not with the  circumstance but general against squire partly to win himself credit partly to  wreck themselves on squire and this fellow because he will be think to do the  better service will not bring this in his mouth but in a letter which he  pretend to have steal out of one of their study this letter compare with  another letter that the same man bring as write from a several person both  which letter have one and the same busy knot to both name be suspect to be  counterfeit it be so find hereupon it be collect that this be but a engine  against squire and that he be a honest man yet because it be a tender matter  squire be send for and examine for a time he deny after he come to some  circumstance which concur with the other tale it give it to be understand that  there be somewhat true and that all be not a invention against he hold be take  of that and thereupon squire not know how far his confessor have break trust  with he by good persuasion and God good work disclose all without any rigour  in the world ut upon a second advice be a man of a very good reach find that  it have be his wise way to have confess the whole plot and subornation which  be know to Wallpoole and there to have stop and not to have tell of the put of  I in execution which be only know to himself and which indeed be win from he  by good follow he endeavour at his arraignment to have distinguish and  auowching the first part to have retract the second pretend that although he  undertake it yet he have not any purpose to perform it whereupon one of the  commissioner be well acquaint with all the particular circumstance do set  before he the absurdity of his denial against his former confession which be  voluntary particular and needless otherwise then in conscience of truth upon  which speech he be strike with remorse and convict in himself acknowledge and  justify the truth of his former confession in the hear of all the slander by  thus sir I have entertain you with a discourse which I think in read will  affect you diverse as it do I in write but in the end I think we shall join in  congratulate for our good deliverance and desire of God the continuance of her  majesty in who our good day do consist