SIR, I haue recei­ued a Letter from you by which I per­ceiue, howe much you desire to be par­ticularly enfourmed of the cause and ma­ner of the stay of the late Lord Cobhams. Lord Grayes, and Sir Griffin Marckhams Execution, appoin­ted at Winchester: wherein, although there are many better able to discourse at large of such an Action then my selfe; yet I conceiue (when you haue perused this plaine and true Relation, of that [Page] [...] [Page 1] [...] [Page 2]which all men there behelde that day, and many more since haue heard from persons of best quali­tie and knowledge) you will thanke me more, for suffering the trueth to shew it selfe vnclothed, then if I had laboured to haue deliuered you a Tale well painted with curious words and fine phrases.

You must therfore vnderstand, That as soone as the Arraignmēts were passed at Winchester, his Ma­iesties priuie Counsel (to the number of fourteene or fifteene, of which companie all of them had ei­ther bene tryers of the Noble men as their Peeres, or sitten as high Commissioners vpon the Gentle­men) were called before his Maiestie (in his priuie Chamber) at Wilton, where hee commanded them to deliuer (without respect to any person) the true Narration onely, of the order in the Triall of these persons that had beene condemned by the Law, of the manner of their behauiour at Barre, and of the nature [...] degree of their offences, as had appeared in euery one of them by their seuerall answeres.

All which being cleerely and iustly reported by them, (each speaking in the hearing of the rest) his Maiestie (for his part) vsed himselfe so grauely and so reseruedly in all his speeches, as well to themselues at that time, as also to all other persons after in priuate or publique, as neither any of his priuie Counsell, Nobilitie, or any that attended neerest to his sacred Person, durst presume to me­diate for any, or so much as to enquire what should bee the conclusion particularly, of this procee­ding.

In the meane time, while the Court was full of varietie of discourse, some speaking out of proba­bilitie, others arguing out of desire, what was like to bee the fortune of all, or of any of these offen­dours; His Maiestie hauing concluded onely in his owne secret heart (which is the true oracle of grace and knowledge) in what manner to proceed, (and that without asking counsell of any earthly person) It pleased him to resolue (betweene God and him­selfe) that their Execution should be stayed, euen at the instant when the Axe should be layde to the Trees rootes. For the secret and orderly carriage whereof, his Maiestie was carefull to preuent all cause or colour of suspicion, of that Iudicious, Royall, and vnexpected course which followed. And therefore, after the two Priests were execu­ted on Tuesday the 29. of Nouember, and Master George Brooke on Munday following, his Maiestie on the same day, being the fifth of December, sig­ned three Warants, for the Execution of the late Lord Cobham, L. Gray, and Sir Gryffin Marckham Knight, with particular direction to the Sheriffe, to performe it on Friday after before ten a clocke in the morning.

All these directions being now become noto­rious, both by the Writs of execution (which pas­sed vnder the great Seale) and by the making rea­die the Scaffolds at Winchester, His Maiestie very secretly (as now appeareth by the sequele) drewe himselfe into his Cabinet, on Wednesday before [Page 4]the day of Execution, and there priuately framed a Warrant written all with his owne hand, to the Sheriffe, by vertue whereof, hee countermaunded all the former directions, alledging the reasons therein mentioned: Of which seeing no mans Pen can so well expresse, as his owne, I send you the Copie verbatim, as I tooke it out of the Originall, which many read in my Cousen Sir Beniamin Tichbournes hand.

And now to come to the ordering of this busi­nesse; among many other circumstances, It is very remarkable, with what discretion and foresight, that person was elected, which must bee vsed in carriage of the Warrant. First his Maiestie resol­ued, it should be a Scottishman, being thereby like to be freest from particular dependancie vpon any Nobleman, Counsellours, or others, their friends or Allyes. Next hee resolued, to send a man of no extraordinarie ranke, because the standers by should not obserue any alteration, nor the delin­quents themselues should take any apprehension of such a mans being there at that time: This being his Maiesties speciall desire, that euery one of them (being seuerally brought vpon the Scaffold) might quietly breath foorth their last wordes, and true confession of his secretest conscience. And so (to be short) his Maiestie made choise of M. Iohn Gibb, a Scottishman (as aforesaid) a man that had neuer dealt with any Counsellor, or other, for suite or bu­sinesse, but one that had (within short while after [Page 5]the Kings first entrie) beene sent backe into Scot­land, from whence he was but now freshly arriued at Wilton some fewe dayes before.

This party being by the King approoued for an ancient, trustie, and secret seruant (as a Groome of his Maiesties bed-chamber) receiuing the war­rant secretly on Thursday from the Kings owne hand, & telling his fellowes (who would otherwise haue missed him) that he must lie that night at Sa­lisburie vpon some priuate businesse of his owne, he rode directly to Winchester, and there, keeping him­selfe priuate all night, rose earely in the morning on Friday, and went obscurely to the Castle greene, where the people flocking in all the morning, as the time drewe neere, hee put himselfe with the throng, close by the Scaffold, and there leaned till the Sheriffe brought vp sir Griffin Markham to the place, who was the man appointed first to die.

There the sayd Sir Griffin Markham, hauing ended his praier, and made himselfe ready to kneele downe, M. Iohn Gibb finding it fit time, while the Axe was preparing, to giue some secret notice of his charge, called to my cosin Tichborne the She­riffe, to speake with him, and then deliuered him (priuately) his Maiesties warrant, with further di­rections verbally, how he should vse it.

Hereupon the Sheriffe perceiuing fully his Maiesties intention, so warily and discreetly mar­shalled the matter, as hee onely called Sir Griffin Markham vnto him on the Scaffold, and told him, [Page 6]that he must withdraw himselfe into the Hall, to be confronted (before his death) before those two Lords, that were to follow him, about some points that did concerne his Maiesties seruice: and so ca­rying Markham into the Hall, he left him there, and went vp hastily for the Lord Gray to the Castle, who being likewise brought vp to the Scaffold, and suffered to powre out his prayers to God (at great length) and to make his last confession, as he would answere it vpon his soule, when he was readie to kneele downe, to receiue the stroke of death, Ma­ster Sheriffe caused him to stay, and told him that he must goe downe for a while into the Hall, where finding Sir Griffin Markham, he willed him to tarry there till he returned.

Last of all, he went for the Lord Cobham, who ha­uing also ended his deuotion to God, and making himselfe ready to receiue the same blow, the She­riffe finding the time come to publish the Kings mercie to the world, and to reuease his mysterie, he caused both the Lord Gray, and Sir Griffin Markham, to be brought backe to the Scaffold, and there, be­fore them all three that were condemned, and in the hearing of all the company, notified his Ma­iesties warrant, by which he was authorised to stay the execution. Which strange and vndeserued Grace and mercie proceeding from a Prince, so deeply wounded without cause, or colour of cause giuen by himselfe towards them in any thing, but meerely contrary (to both the Lords especially) bred in the hearts as well of the offenders, as of the [Page 7]standers by, such sundry passions, according to the diuers tempers of their minds, as to those that must receiue those things by report, which others did behold with their eyes, it may rather seeme to be a relation of a well acted Comedie, then that it was euer possible for any other man, to contriue a mat­ter (of this nature and consequence) to serue all purposes so aptly, as this was ordered by his Maie­sties owne and onely directions.

The Lord Cobham (holding his hand to heauen) applauded this incomparable mercie of so graci­ous a Soueraigne, aggrauating his owne fault, by comparing it with the Princes clemencie, wishing confusion to all men aliue, that should euer thinke a thought against such a Prince, as neither gaue cause of offence, nor tooke reuenge of ingratitude.

The Lord Gray, finding in what measure this rare King had rewarded good for euill, and forborne to make him an example of discouragement, and ter­rour to all men that hereafter might attempt to breake the bonds of loyalty, vpon the passions of any ambition, beganne to sobbe and weepe for a great while, with most deepe contrition, protesting now, that such was his zeale and desire to redeeme his fault, by any meanes of satisfaction, as he could easily sacrifice his life, to preuent the losse of one finger of that royall hand, that had dealt so merci­fully with him, when he least looked for it.

Sir Griffin Marckham (standing like a man asto­nished) did nothing but admire and pray. The people that were present, witnessed by infinite ap­plause [Page 8]and shouting the ioy and comfort, which they tooke in these wonderfull effects of grace and mercie, from a Prince, whome God had inspired with so many Royall gifts, for their conseruation, and would conserue for his owne glorie.

The crie being carried out of the Castle Gates into the Towne, was not onely sounded with ac­clamation of all sexes, qualities, and affections, but the true report diuulged since in all partes, hath bred in the woorst disposed mindes, such remorse of iniquitie, in the best such incouragement to loyaltie, and in those that are indifferent, such feare to offend, and generally such affection to his Ma­iesties Person: as perswades the world, that Sathan himselfe can neuer so farre preuaile with any, as to make them lift vp their hearts or hands against a Prince, from whom they receiue so true effects of Iustice, and goodnesse.

To conclude therefore, I haue now done my best, to satisfie your desire, though I feele (to my griefe) how short I come to my owne wish, be­cause I would haue expressed to the life (if it had beene possible) both the matter and the forme of this proceeding; of both which, the wisest men, that haue seene and vnderstoode all particular cir­cumstances, are at the ende of their wits, to giue an absolute censure, whether of them both deserue greater recommendation, (this being most assu­red) that there is no Record extant, wherein so great wisedome and vnderstanding, so solid iudge­ment, so perfect a resolution, to giue way to no re­quest, [Page 9]or mediation; so inscrutable a heart, so Roy­all and equall a tempered mercie, after so cleare and publike Iustice, haue euer concurred so de­monstratiuely as in this late Action, wherein this blessed King hath not proceeded after the manner of men and of Kings, Sed caelestis Iudicis aeterni (que) Re­gis more, whereof he shall be most assured to reape these lasting fruites, of being beloued and fea­red of all men, obeyed with comfort, and serued with continuall ioy and admiration. And so for­bearing to hold you any longer at this time, I end: From my house neere Salisburie, the 15. of De­cember. 1603.