A Letter written out of England to an English Gentleman remaining at Padua, containing a true Report of a strange Conspiracy, contrived between Edward Squire, lately executed for the same treason as Actor, and Richard ●allpoole a jesuite, as Deviser and Suborner against the person of the Queen's Majesty.  
Imprinted at London by the Deputies of CHRISTOPHER BARKER, Printer to the Queen's most excellent Majesty. 1599   

SIR, I thank you for your Relation of Ferrara; and to make you payment in the like commodities, I return to you a true report of a fresh accident of State, happened here with us; memorable for the strangeness of the matter, and the great signification it carrieth with it of God's extraordinary and most visible providence; but otherwise worthy to be damned to perpetual oblivion, as well for the detestable nature of the fact, as yet more (if more were possible) for the impiety of the persuasion; such as I assure you, a man ought to make scruple to infame the times, or infect men's cogitations with the repetition of it, were it not that these works of darkness are framed and forged in such a deep vault of hypocrisy, as there is more danger, that they should be unrevealed or unbelieved, then that being brought to clear light, they should provoke an imitation in any, of that which is so odious and foul.  
And this Sir you may believe, that as I have had good means, to inform myself to the full, of that which passed in this matter, and the truth of all the particulars, aswell those which were opened at the arraignment of Edward Squire, one of the offenders, as those which were reserved, so I have set down this Narration, rather abridged of some circumstances, than any ways amplified or enlarged.  
This Squire dwelled in Greenwich divers years, and took upon him the practice of a Scrivener, yet rather as a help to maintain himself for a time, then that he bore a mind to settle in that trade. He obtained also before his going to Sea, for some two years space, an employment about the Queen's Stable, by way of deputation to one Keys, a purveyor of those provisions. But being of a wit above his vocation, disliked with that condition of life, and put himself into action by Sea, in the last voyage Sir Francis Drake made into the Indies; in which voyage, it was his hap, that the Frances● (a small bark wherein he went) was scattered from the Fleet about Guadalupe, and taken by ●iue Spanish frigates. And so was Squire brought prisoner into Spain, where soon after he was set at liberty.  
Not long after his enlargement, he became known to Richard Walpoole an English fugitive, and by order a jesuite, a man of principal credit there, and a kind of Vicar general to Parsons in his absence. This Walpoole, carrying a waking & waiting eye, upon those of our Nation, to discover and single out sit instruments for the greatest treasons, observed this Squire, found him a man of more than ordinary sense and capacity, for his quality and education; found him a man, that had passed his middle age, well advised, and yet resolved enough, and not apprehensive at all of danger; (for I do affirm this unto you, that never man answered upon his trial for life and death, with less perturbation, nay scarcely with any alteration, as if he understood not his peril and calamity, and yet as sensible for speech, as insensible for passion.) But besides the disposition and temper of the man, Walpoole discerned in him two conditions of special advantage; The one, that coming into Spain a prisoner, and not a fugitive, his return into England would be subject to less suspicion: The other, that he understood, Squire had formerly had some attendance about the Queen's Stable, which he straight caught hold of, as an opportunity.  
Yet nevertheless, the better to prepare him, and work him to his purpose; and the better also to give colour, (when Squire should return into England) that he was a man that had suffered in Spain for his conscience, subtly he compassed, that upon a quarrel picked, Squire was put into the Inquisition. By this means, when he had got his heart into his hands, mollified by distress, and became secure of him, that he was a fixed and resolved Papist.  
After probation and preparation sufficient, he began to open himself unto him; and first for introduction, fell into the ordinary burden or song, of that kind of people, touching the tyrannies and persecutions exercised here in England against Catholics; though Sir, you know very well, the distinction and moderation of the proceed here in Ecclesiastical causes, with what lenity, and gentleness, it hath been carried, except where it was mixed with matter of State; for else I would gladly learn, what should make the difference, between the temper of the Laws in the first year of the Queen, and in 23. or 27. but that at the one time, they were Papists in conscience, and at the other they were grown Papists in faction; or what should make the difference at this day in Law, between a Queen Mary Priest, and a Seminary Priest, save that the one is a Priest of superstition, and the other is a Priest of sedition. But to the purpose; After the jesuite had at sundry conferences, discoursed his pleasure of the miseries of Catholics here in England, and of the slanders of the government, and upon how few persons lives, the State here did stand; and Squire on the other side, (who wanted no wit to perceive which way he was led) had first made 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 saw he was gotten into the true circle, he began to charm; and yet not having the power to fall upon the highest point first, without a gradation or bridge, It were no doubt (saith he) an act ●ery meritorious to kill the Earl of Essex, but unum necessarium, One thing is necessary. And having kept him in suspense a while, broke with him plainly, and told him, that he would put a service into his hands, that he might execute and accomplish, without any evident peril of his life, because it was to be done, what time the Queen herself should not be in presence; (which I think he spoke as having heard that which is very true, of some Conspirators, that having undertaken and vowed her majesties destruction, have nevertheless at the very instant of the access and opportunity, been stricken with astonishment, and had no power to execute their malice.) Nay further he said, that he should not need to fear, in the doing thereof, to be seen or observed, by any persons of care or judgement, but such as might be easily conversed withal, without suspicion: And it was the empoisonment of the pommel of the Queen's saddle, at such time as she should ride abroad; her Majesty being 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 nostrils; and this by reason of his former acquaintance and service about the Stable, he thought he might easily perform, and safely; And yet he said, If imminent death should ensue thereupon he might not account of it, as being assured that he should exchange his present state, with the state of a glorious Saint in heaven. Unto which accursed proposition after that Squire had assented, then did the Friar use all diligence to confirm and bind him to resolution and performance. And to that end, at sundry confessions took his vow and promise to be constant; caused him to receive the Sacrament upon it; renewed his devilish persuasions, varying them in all forms to besiege his mind and cogitations, that he might find no way to get out of this wicked purpose; Telling him that he stood now in the state of damnation, if he did not his uttermost endeavour to perform his vow. And bid him remember how that sin did seldom obtain pardon; and if he did but once make doubt of the lawfulness or merit of the act, it was enough to cast him headlong down into hell; And if he did cast any difficulties or terrors, he wished him to consider What it did 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 objections, cast no doubts; but the eyes of his understanding blinded and sealed up, he must only contemplate upon these vows and adjurations. And for a conclusion and final benediction of this most execrable plot, Squire kneeling before Wallpoole at confession, he lifted him up, hugde him about the neck with his left arm (such were Squires own words) and crossing him with the other hand after some words mumbled in Latin, said distinctly to him in English, God bless thee and give thee strength my son; be of good courage, I pawn my soul for thine, and thou shalt have my prayers dead and alive. And upon this embracement and enchantment, this desperate wretch and this blasphemous Exorcist parted for that time.  
Then doth he give him full instructions for the disposing of this poison; showing him that he should receive it in a double bladder, and when it should be used, he was to prick the bladderfull of holes 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 was to be applied, he should turn it in his hand ●he upside down, and so press it hard upon the pommel of the saddle: telling him further of the nature of it, That it would lie and tarry long where it was laid; and that it would not be checked by the air. And lastly upon his coming away, delivered him the confection itself in such a bladder as was before described.  
This was the true manner of the subornation of Edward Squire by Richard Wallpoole as it was confessed by the same Squire almost in the same words, as well for the persuasions as for the instructions. Which confession I do affirm unto you upon knowledge was delivered without torture or show of torture: and was roundly and sensibly uttered with all circumstances of a credible narration for that part which concerneth the manner of the impoisonment: and for that part which concerneth the manner of the persuasion was set down by an advised declaration under his own hand, and the same as far as hitherto we have gone, was maintained and confirmed, and in no point retracted or disavowed, either at his trial or at his death.  
It seems also that Wallpoole in some of his conferences did insist upon the impoisonment of the Earl of Essex, the rather to defeat the voyage by Sea, than expected (for these things passed about May 1597.) So as Squire conceived it, there could be no one thing more acceptable in the second degree.  
Now after that Squire had received both poisons, as well the spiritual poison of wicked resolution, as the material within the bladders; and that Wallpoole had interlaced some promise to him of rewards and comforts, besides those of the other world, and had schooled him for secrecy, which he made to be parcel of his vow, there rested only his dispatch for England. Whereunto to give an apt colour, it was devised that there should be a permutation treated, by the means of a Cannon in Civil of two Spanish prisoners here, taken at Cales, friends of the said Cannon, for Squire and Rowles now Prisoner in the Tower, who came over with him● whereby it might be carried, far off from suspicion, that Squire did not return as a man employed, but upon that private occasion. According to which project he was sent away conveniently moneyed, that he might be the better in heart, and yet not so abundantly as might make him love his life too well, and to go away with his fare quietly, though indeed there were more money stirring, but not in that hand.  
And being arrived here in England about a fortnight before the Earls setting forth towards the Islands, he did address himself to a Counsellor of Estate here, both to show himself to the end to avoid suspicion, and with pretence also of some advertisements, to the end to win the better opinion and trust; and finding his coming well conceived of according to his desire, he did craftily and subtly devise with himself, that if he could find any opportunity to execute his purpose before the Earl went, (supposing that the poison could not work but in some space of time) it would be more security for him to be absent, and in the voyage, left percase some suspicious tokens of poison's appearing, somewhat might fall out (upon such diligent inquisition as in such a case were like to be made) to be discovered against him; and therefore made his means to go with the Earl in his Shippe● and obtained his suit. So as now making his reckoning to have the peril upon his back, he did but watch his time.  
And it pleased God for the manifestation of his glory, that the munday seven-night next after Squires coming home out of Spain, he understood that the horses were making ready for her majesties riding abroad. Whereupon, full of those evil spirits wherewith so many exorcisms had possessed him, he came into the Stable yard where her majesties horse stood ready saddled, and in a familiar and cheerful manner in the hearing of divers that stood thereby, having all things ready according to his instructions, he laid his hand upon the pommel of the Saddle, and said, God save the Queen, (wherein it pleased God to take his words and not his meaning) and bruised the poison as he was directed.  
Thus was her majesties sacred and precious life by the All-haile of a second judas betrayed, the attempt put in act, and all the Conspirators part played to the uttermost line and title; there rested only God's part: For so it was, that her majesties going abroad held; & as the Viper was upon S. Paul's hand, and shaked off without hurt; so this done, was in july in the heat of the year, when the poors and veins were openest to receive any malign vapour or tincture, if her Majesty by any accident had laid her hand upon the place. And as the Heathenish people at that time did argue and conclude thereupon, that S. Paul was a God, so we may christianly infer that it was Gods doing and power who hath defended his Handmaid and servant by his secret and more than natural influence and preservative from so actual & mortal a danger, speaking by these signs to all her disloyal Subjects and ambitious enemies, That as he hath done great things by her, past ordinary discourse of reason, so he hath done, and will do as great things for her, beyond the course of his ordinary providence.  
For surely, if a man consider how many times her life hath been sought and assailed, since the beginning of her reign, by violence, by poisoning, by superstitious Votaries, by ambitious Undertakers, by singular Conspirators, by Conspirators combined, (speaking of those that have been revealed, besides a number (no doubt) of the like which have groveled in darkness, and never came to light) he will not find the like reflection of God's favour in any Sovereign Prince that hath reigned.  
But in the mean time you see the strange mysteries of the jesuits doctrine that have mingled heaven and hell, and lift up the hands of Subjects against the anointed of God; arming them with the invisible armour of Scriptures, Sacraments, Vows, Prayers and Blessings against their natural Sovereigns. Wherein there is great difference between the spirit that wrought in David, and this that worketh in them. For David when relation was made to him (by one that thought he had done Saul the last good office) how Saul had fallen upon his own sword in battle, and being in the anguish of death, and careful not to fall alive in the hands of the Philistims a people uncircumcised desired this soldier to make an end of him, who did so, and was therefore by David adjudged to die, because he dared to lay his hands upon the anointed of the Lord: and yet was Saul a king forsaken and abandoned of God; he had taken his mortal wound before, so as this soldier took from him his pain, and not his life; and it was to a good end, lest a heathenish people should reproach the name of God by insulting upon the person of Saul.  
And surely for my part I do wonder that Princes do not concur in losing these bands, and suppressing this Sect, which maketh a traffic of their sacred lives, concluding and contracting for them with these blinded Votaries in the secrecy of confessions and shrifts. For I do not see that Pirates (whom the Civilians account to be Publici hostes societatis humanae, and therefore Princes bound as they affirm, though they be otherwise in no league one with an other, yea and though they be enemies, to join in the suppressing & extirpation of them) are any such disturbers of human society as these are. Neither do I think, that the order of the Templars (that was put down throughout Christendom in a few weeks) were ever offenders in so high a degree. And I find somewhat strange that the bishop of Rome (if it were but to avoid the aspersion of so great a slander and imputation to that Religion) should not purge out this leaven so strange and odious.  
But to return: within five or six days after this fact committed, Squire went to Sea in the Earls own ship, and belike as Tacitus saith, Ferox scelerum quia prima provenerant, taking the remain of the same poison with him in a little pot in his portmanteau, when the Earl was at Sea between Faial and S● Michael, he bestowed it upon the pommels of a chair of wood, where the Earl used to dine and sup: but thanks be to God nothing came of it neither.  
Now let me acquaint you a little with the manner of detecting of this matter, which God did likewise strangely bring about. Squire slept now in security: for although he failed of success, yet he took himself to be out of danger: thinking because it was carried between his Confessor and him, it could never be revealed. But his Confessor whom it imported not so much to keep it secret as it did Squire, tickled belike with the joy, that he had such an iron in the fire, imparted it (for his own glory) to some principal of the fugitives there; This raised a great expectation in them of some effect to ensue. When time passed, and nothing came of it, they made construction of it, that Squire had been false to them. One of the more passionate of them inveigheth bitterly against Squire, tells how he was trusted, and how he had undone the cause; and the better to be revenged on him, is content that one (that they let slip hither as if he had fled from them) should give information of this matter, not with the circumstances, but generally against Squire, partly to win himself credit, partly to wreck themselves on Squire. And this fellow, because he would be thought to do the better service, would not bring this in his mouth, but in a letter, which he pretended to have stolen out of one of their Studies. This letter compared with another letter that the same man brought as written from a several person, both which letters had one and the same busy knot to both names, is suspected to be counterfeited; it is so found. Hereupon it is collected that this was but an engine against Squire, and that he was an honest man. Yet because it was a tender matter, Squire was sent for and examined. For a time he denieth; after, he cometh to some circumstances, which concurring with the others tale, it gave it to be understood that there was somewhat true, and that all was not an invention against him: Hold was taken of that; and thereupon Squire, not knowing how far his Confessor had broken trust with him, by good persuasion, and Gods good working, disclosed all without any rigour in the world.  
●ut upon a second advise being a man of a very good reach, finding that it had been his wisest way to have confessed the whole plot and subornation which was known to Wallpoole, and there to have stopped, and not to have told of the putting of i● in execution, which was only known to himself, and which indeed was won from him by good following, he endeavoured at his arraignment to have distinguished, and avowching the first part, to have retracted the second; pretending that although he undertook it, yet he had not any purpose to perform it.  
Whereupon one of the Commissioners being well acquainted with all the particular circumstances, did set before him the absurdity of his denial against his former confession which was voluntary, particular, and needless (otherwise then in conscience of truth) upon which speech he being stricken with remorse, and convicted in himself, acknowledged and justified the truth of his former confession in the hearing of all the standers by.  
Thus Sir, I have entertained you with a discourse, which I think in reading will affect you diversly, as it did me in writing; But in the end I think we shall join in congratulating for our good deliverance, and desiring of God the continuance of her Majesty, in whom our good days do consist.