THE FORERUNNER OF REVENGE.  
Upon the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, for the poisoning of the most potent King JAMES of happy memory King of great Britan, and the Lord Marquis of Hamilton, and others of the nobility.  
Discovered by M. GEORGE EGLISHAM one of King JAMES his Physicians for his Majesty's person above the space of ten years.  
FRANCKFORT. 1626.   

TO THE MOST POTENT MONARCH; CHARLES, KING OF GREAT BRITAN, FRANCE AND IRELAND.  
The humble complaint of GEORGE EGLISHAM Doctor of Physic, and lately one of King JAMES his Physicians for his Majesty's person above the space of ten years.  
SIr, no better motive there is for a safe government, them the sincere meditation of death, (equalling Kings to beggars) and of the severe and exact justice of God, requiring of him, that the good suffering misery in this life, should receive joy in the other, and the wicked flourishing securely in this, might be punished in the other. That which pleaseth lasteth but a moment, which tormenteth is everlasting. Many things we see unrewarded or unpunished in this inferior world, which in the universal weights of God's justice must be counterpoised elsewhere. but wilful and secret murder hath seldom been observed to escape undiscovered or unpunished even in this life, such a particular and notable revenge perpetually followeth it; to the end that they who are either Atheists, Lucianistes, or Machiavellists may not trust too much to there own wits in doing so horrible injustice. Would to God your Majesty would well consider what I have often said to my Master King james. The greatest policy is honesty, and howsoëuer any man seem to himself wise in compassing his desires by tricks, yet in the end he will prove a fool. for falsehood ever deceiveth her own master at length, as the devil author of all falsehood always doth, leaving his adherents desolate, when they have greatest need of his help. No falsehood without injustice, no injustice without falsehood albeit it were in the person of a king. There is no judge in the world more tied to do justice then a King, whose coronation tieth him unto it by solemn oath, which if he violate he is self and perjured. It is justice that maketh Kings, justice that maintaineth Kings, and injustice that bringeth both Kingdoms and Kings to destruction to fall in misery, to die like asses in ditches or more beastly deaths, with eternal infamy after death, as all histories from time to time do clearly testify. What need hath mankind of Kings, but for justice? men are not borne for them but they for men. What greater, what more Royal occasion in the would could be offered unto your Majesty to show your unpartial disposition in matter of justice at the first entry of your reign then this which I offer my just complaint against Buckingham; by whom your Majesty suffereth yourself so far to be led, that your best subjects are in doubt, whether he is your King or you his. If your Majesty Know and consider how he hath tyrannised over his Lord, and master, King james, the worldly creator of his fortunes, how insolent, how ingrat an oppressor, what a murderer and treator he hath proved himself towards him, how treacherous to his upholding friend the Marquis of Hamilton and others, your Majesty may think the giving way to the laws demanded against him, to yield a most glorious field for your Majesty to walk in, and display the banner of your Royal virtues. Your Majesty may perhaps demand, what interest have I therein? What have I to do therewith, that I should stir, all others being quiet. Sir the quietness or stirring of others expecteth only a beginning from me, whom they know to be so much obliged to stir as that none can be more, both in respect of knowledge of passages, and in regard of humane obligation, and of my independency from the accused or any one that his powar or credit can reach unto. Many know not what I know therein, others are little or nothing beholding to the dead, others albeit they know as well as I, and are obliged as deeply as I, yet dare not complain so safely as I, being out of there reach who are inseparable from him by his enchantements, and able to obscure myself until that the powar of just revenge upon him and his adherents be obtained from God. What I know sufficient against him, I have set down in my petition to the parliament, unto which if your Majesty dismiss him sequestered from your Majesty, chiefly in an accusation of treason, your Majesty shall do what is most just, and deliver yourself, and your Kingedoomes from the captivity in which he holdeth them and your Majesty oppressed. How easily I may eclipse myself from his powar to do me harm unless he hath legions of infernal spirits at his command to pursue me, your Majesty may well know, I being ultramarin unto these dominions where he reigneth and rageth. How far I am obliged to complain more than others I will only in few words express, that neither your Majesty nor any man may think otherways, but that I have most just reason not to be silent in wrongs so intolerable. The interest of blood which I have to any of them of whose death I complain, either by the house of Balgony Lundy or by the house of Siluertonhill, albeit it is easy to be made manifest and sufficient to move me, yet is it not the sole motive of my breach of silence.  
For birth, and ancestors, and what we have not done,  
Scarce call I ours.  
But the interest of received courtesies, and the heap of infallible tokens of true affection is more than sufficient to stir me thereto, unless I would prove the most ingrate in the world, and senseless of the greatest injuries that can be done to myself. For who hath killed King james and the Marquis of Hamilton, in that part of the injury which is done to me, therein he hath done as much as rob me of my life and of all my fortunes. Friends with such constant and loving impressions of me, are neither to be recovered nor duly valued. For his Majesty from the third year of my age, did practise honourable tokens of singular favour towards me, daily augmented them, in word, in writ, in deed accomplished them, with gifts, patents, offices, recommendations, both in private and in public, at home, and abroad, graced me so far that I could scarce have asked him any thing which I could not also obtain. How much honour he hath done to me▪ me there needeth no witness unto your Majesty who is sufficient for many. No less was my Lord Marquis of Hamilton his friendship established by mutual obligation of most acceptable offices continued by our ancestors these three generations, engraven in the tender minds and years of the Marquis and me, in the presence of our soveran King james. For when the Marquis his father with the right hand upon his head, and the left upon mine, did offer us young in years so joined to kiss his Majesty's hand, recommending me unto his Majesty's favour, said, I take God to witness that this young man his father was the best friend that ever I had or ever shall have in this world. Whereupon the young Lord resolved to put trust in me, and I fully to addict myu self unto him, to deserve of him as much commendation as my father did of his father. This Royal celebration of our friendship rooted itself so deep in my mind that to myself I proposed this remembrance, giving it to the young Lord and to my familiar friends, and set it upon all the books of my study. Semper Hamiltonium, etc.  
Always the King, and Hamilton,  
Within thy breast conserve.  
What ever be thy action  
Let Princes two deserve.  
Neither was it in vain. for both our loves increased with our age, the Marquis promising to engage his life and his whole estate for me if need were, and to share his fortunes with me, and not only promising but also performing when ever there was occasion. Yea for my cause, offering to hazard his life in combat, whose mind in wishing me well, whose tongue in honouring of me, and whose hands and means in defending me both absent and present, unto the last period of his life hath ever assisted me▪ I should be more tedious than were fit, if I rehearsed every particular favour so manifestly known to the whole court and to the friends of both. Who then can justly blame me for demanding justice as well for the slaughter of the Marquis of Hamilton as of my most gracious soveran King james, seeing I know whom to accuse. My profession of Physic, nor my education to letters, can not serve to hinder me from undertaking the hardiest enterprise that ever any Roman undertook, so far as the law of conscience will give way.  
Why shall I stay, at thy decay  
Of hamilton's the hope?  
Wy shall I see thy foe so free  
Unto his joy give scope?  
Rather I pray, a doleful day  
Set me in cruel fate,  
Then thy death strange, without revenge  
Or him in safe estate.  
This soul to heavens, hand to the dead I vow.  
No fraudful mind, no trembling hand I have:  
If pen it shun, the sword revenge shall follow.  
Soul, pen, and sword, what thing but just do crave?  
What affection I boor to the living, the same shall accompany the dead. For when one whose truth and sincerity was well known to me, told me, that it were better for the chiefest of my friends the Marquis of Hamilton to be quiet at home in Scotland, then to be eminent in the court of England, to whom by the opinion of all the wiser sort, his being at court would cost him no less than his life, sith that I stretching forth my arm (apprehending some plots laid against him) answered if no man dare revenge his death, I vow to God this hand shall revenge it, scarcely any other cause can be found, than the bond of our most close friendship, why in the scroll of the nobleman's names who were to be killed I hold be set down next to the Marquis of Hamilton in these words, (The Marquis of Hamilton and Doctor Eglisham to enbawme him) to wit, to the end that no discoverer or revenger should be left. This roll of names, I know not by what destiny, found near to Westminster about the time of the Duke of Richemund his death, and brought to the L. Marquis by his cousin the daughter of the Lord Oldbarre one of the privy counsel of Scotland, did cause no terror in me, until that I did see the Marquis poisoned, and remembered that the rest therein noted were dead, and myself next pointed but surviving. Why stay I any more? the case requireth the pen no more, but the sword.  
I do not writ so boldly, because I am amongst Buckingham his enemies, but I have retired myself to his enemies, because I was resolved to writ and do earnestly against him, as may very well appear. For since the Marquis of Hamilton his death, the most noble Marquis de Fiatta, ambassador for the most Christian King of France, and also Buckingham his mother sent on every side to seek me, inviting me to them: but I did forsake them, knowing certainly the falsehood of Bukingham, who would rather have suffered the Ambassador to receive an effront, then to be unsatisfied of his bloodthristie desire of my blood to silence me with death (for according to the proverb, the dead can not bite) if he could have found me. for my L. Duke of Lenox who was often crossed by Buckingham, and with his brother, and the Earl of Southampton, and others now dead, was one of the roll found of those that were to be murdered, well assured me, that where Buchinghan once misliked, no apology, no submission, no reconciliation could keep him from doing mischief. Neither do I writ this in this fashion so freely, for any entertainment here present, which I have not, nor for any future, which I have no ground to look for; seeing Buckingham hath so misled your Majesty that he hath caused not only here, but also unto all nations all britains natives to be disgraced and mistrusted. Your Majesty's Royal word which should be inviolable, your hand and seal, which should be true, to be most shamefully violated and yourself to be held most ingrat for your most kind usage in Spain which Buckinghan maketh to be requited with injuries in a most base & false manner, under Protestation of friendship, a bloody war being kindled on both sides whereby he hath buried with King james the glorious title of a peacemaker King: who had done much more justly, & more advisedly if he had procured peace unto Christiandome. Whereby small hope I have of obtaining justice in my most just complaint, unto which my true affection to my dead friends murdered, and the extreme detestation of Buckinghan his violent proceedings hath brought me. Your Majesty may find most just forces of reason to accuse him in my petition to the parliament, which shall serve for a tutchestone to your Majesty, and a whitstone to me and many other Scotsmen. And which if it be neglected will make your Majesty to incur such a censure amongst all vertuose men in the world that your Majesty will be loath to hear of, and I am astonished to express at this time. a serpent lurketh in this grass. No other way there is to be found to save your honour, but to give way to justice against that traitor Buckingham, by whom manifest damage apphroacheth unto your Majesty no otherways then death approached unto King james. If your Majesty will take any course therein, the examinations upon oath of all those that were about the King and the Marquis of Hamilton in there sickness, or at there death, or after there death, before indifferent judges no dependers of Buckingham, will serve for sufficient proof of Buckingham his guiltiness. In the mean time until I see what shall be the issue of my complaint without any more speech I rest.  
Your Majesty's daily suppliant. GEORGE EGLISHAM   

TO THE MOST HONOURABLE THE NOBILITY, KNIGHTS, AND BURGESSES OF BOTH THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, OF THE KINGDOM OF ENGLAND  
The humble supplication of M. GEORGE EGLISHAM Doctor of Physic, and one of the Physicians to King JAMES of happy memory, for his Majesty's person above the space of ten years.  
Whereas the chief humane cairo of Kings and courts of parliament, is the preservation and protection of the subjects lives, liberties, and estates, from private or public injuries, to the end that all things may be carried in the equal balance of justice; without the which no Monarchy, no common wealth, no society, no family, yea no man's life or estate can consist albeit never so little: it can not be thought injust to demand of Kings and parliaments the censure of wrongs. The consideration hereof was so great in our late Monarch of happy memory King james, that he hath often publicly protested, even in the presence of his apparent heir, that if his own son should commit murder or any such execrable act of injustice, he would not spare him, but would have him die for it, and would have him more severely punished than any other. For he well observed, no greater injustice, no injury more intolerable can be done by man to man then murder. In all other wrongs fortune hath recours, the losses of honour or goods may be repaired, satisffaction may be made, reconciliation may be procured, so long as the party inuried is alive, but when the person murdered is bereft of his life, what can restore it? what satisfaction can be given him, where shall the murderer meet with him to be reconciled to him, unless he be sent out of this world to follow his spirit, which by his wickedness he hath separated from his body? Therefore of all injuries, of all the acts of injustice, and of all things most to be looked into, murder is the greatest, and of all murders the poisoning under trust and profession of friendship, is the most heinous. Which if you suffer to go unpunished, let no man think himself so secure to live amongst you, as amongst the wildest and most furious beasts in the world. for by vigilancy and industry means may be had to resist, or evite the most violent beast that ever nature bred, but from false and treacherous hearts, from poisoning murderers what wit or wisdom can defend? This concerneth your lordships every one in particular as well as any. They of whose poisoning your petitioner complaineth, to wit king james, the L. Marquis of Hamilton, and others whose names after shallbe expressed, have been the most eminent of the kingdom, and sat on these honourable benches whereon your honours now do sit. The party whom your petitioner accuseth the Duke of Buckingham is so powerful that unless the whole body of a parliament lay hold upon him, no justice can be had of him. For what place is there of justice, what office of the crown, what degree of honour in the kingdom which he hath not sold, and sold in such craft that he can shake the buyers out of them, and intrude others at his Pleasure? All the judges of the kingdom, all the officers of the state are his bond vassals, or allies, or afeared to become his outcasts, as is notorious to all his Majesty's true and loving subjects. Yea so far hath his ambitious practices gone, that what he would have done should have been performed whether the king would or not, and what the king would have done could not be done if he opposed, whereof many instances may be given whensoever they shall be required, neither are they unkowen to this honourable assembly. Howsoever the means he useth be lawful or unlawful, humane or diabolike, so he tortereth the kingdom that he procureth the calling, breaking or continuing of parliaments at his pleasure, placing or displaceing the Officers of justice, of the counsel, of the king's court, of the courts of justice to his violent pleasure, and as his ambitious villainy moveth him. What hope then can your petitioner have that his complaint shall be heard or being heard should take effect? To obtain justice he may despair, to provoke the Duke to send forth a poisoner or other murderer to dispetch him, and send him after his dead friends already murdered, he may be sure this to be the event. Let the event be what it will, come what soever can come, the loss of his own life your petitioner valueth not, having suffered the loss of the lives of such eminent friends, esteeming his life can not be better bestowed then upon the discovery of so heinous murders. Yea the justness of the cause, the dearness and nearness of his friends murdered, shall prevail so far with him that he shall unfold unto your honours and to the whole world these raisins against the accused and named by him the author of so great murders George Villiers Duke of Buckingham, which against any private man are sufficient for his apprehension and torture. And to make his complaint not very tedious, he will only for the present declare unto your honours the two most eminent murders committed by Buckingham, to wit of the King's Majesty, and of the L. Marquis of Hamilton, which for all the subtility of his poisoning art could not be so cunningly conveyed as the murderer thought, but that God hath discovered manifestly the author. And to observe the order of the time of there death because the L. Marquis of Hamilton died first, his death shall be first related even from the root of his last quarrel with Buckingham, albeit many other jars have preceded from time to time betwixt them.  

CONCERNING THE POISONING OF THE L. Marquis of Hamilton.  
Bucikngham ones raised from the bottom to the top of fortune's wheel, by what desert, by what right or wrong, no matter is it, by his carriage verified the proverb, No thing more proud than base broud when it doth rise aloft.  
Suffered his ambition to carry himself so far as to aspire to match his blood with the blood Royal both of England and Scotland, and well knowing that the L. Marquis of Hamilton was acknowledged by King james to be the prime man in his dominions, who next to his own line in his proper season might claim an hereditary title to the Kingdom of Scotland by the daughter of King james the first, and to the crown of England by joan of Somerset wife to King james the first, declared by act of parliament heretrix of England in her due rank, never suffered the King to be at rest, but urged him always to send some of the privy counsel to solicit the Marquis to match his eldest son with Buckinghans' niece making great promises of conditions which the mean family of the bride could not perform without the king's liberality, to wit fifty thousand pounds sterling (valuing five hundreth thousand florins) with the earldom of Orknay under the title of a Duke whatsoever the Marquis would accept, even to be the first Duke of Britan. The glorious title of a Duke the Marquis refused twice upon special reasons reserved to himself. The matter of money was no motive to cause the Marquis match his son so unequally to his degree, seeing Buckingham himself the chief of his kindred was but a novice in nobility, his father obscure amongst gentlemen, his mother a serving woman, and he being infamous for his frequent consultations with the ringleaders of witches, principally that false Doctor Lamb publicly condemned for witchcraft. Whereby the Marquis knowing that the king was so far bewitched to Buckingham that if he refused the match demanded, he should find the kings deadly hatred against him. And seeing that Buckingham's niece was not yet nubile in years, and that before the marriage should be confirmed a way might be found out to annul it, unto which he was forced by deceitful importunity, therefore he yielded unto the kings desire of the match. whereupon Buckingham and his faction fearing that delays Would breed le's, urged my L. Marquis to send for his son upon a sunday morning be times in all haste from London to courtat Greenwich, where never a word Was spoken of marriage to the young lord, till a Little before supper, and the marriage made before the king after supper. and to make it more authentic Buckingham caused his niece be laid a bed with the Marquis his son for a short time in the king's chamber, and in his Majeties' presence, albeit the bird was yet innubile. Many were astonished at the sudden news thereof. All the Marquis his friends fretting thereat, and some writing unto him very scornful letters for the same. The Marquis having satisfied the king's demand, did what he could to prevent the confirmation of the marriage, and intended to send his son beyond the seas to travel through France and Italy, and so pass his time abroad until the time that means were found to untie that knot which Buckingham had urged the king to tie upon his son. But Buckingham to contrevene the Marquis his desaine caused the king and the Prince to make the Marquis his son be sworn gentleman of the Prince-his bedchamber, and so to be detained with him within the kingdom until that the bride was of years ripe for marriage.  
The time expired that Buckingham his niece became marigeable, Buckingham sent to the Marquis to desire him to make the marriage completly confirmed. The Marquis not willing to hear of any such matter answered briefly, he scorned the motion. This answer reported to Buckingham, and he seeing himself likely to be frustrate of his ambitious matching of his niece, and perceauing that the L. Marquis was able to raise a great faction against him whether king james did live or die, was mightily incensed against the Marquis, at his first encounter with him did challenge him of speaking disdainfully of him and his house. The Marquis replied that he did not remember of any offensive words uttered by himself against Buckingham, Then Buckinghan proudly said unto him out of the words of thy mouth I will judge the. For you have said you scorned the motion of matching with my house, which I made unto you. The Marquis answered that if he had said so, it became not the Duke to speak to him in that fashion. So Buckingham threatened to be revenged, the Marquis uttrered his defiance. and thus the quarrel begoud, which four or five times reiterate and as often reconciled by the Marquis de Fiatta a little before the Marquis of Hamilton fell sick, wherein it is evident that the quarrel hath been very violent that needed so many reconciliations, the Duck's fire of his anger and fury being inextinguible, as king james often did censure him in his absence albeit a favourite, that he was wonderfully vindicative whose malice insatiable towards my L. Marquis of Hamilton did well show itself as shall appear hereafter. Hardly can any man tell whether by the Marquis in his sickness Buckingham was more suspected then accused of the poison given or to be given him. For he would not taste of any thing that was sent to him by any of Buckingham's friends but he would first have some of his servants taste it before; and for the love that was mutual betwixt him and your petitioner whom he would never suffer to go out of his sight during his sickness, your petitioner also tasted of all that he took at that time, unto whom his suspicion of Buckingham▪ he expressed by name, and to other sufficient witness, who will justify it upon oath, if there be any course taken therein for the search thereof. All the time of his sickness he entreated your petitioner not to suffer my L. of Buckingham to come near him, but your petitioner having often sent word and also sometimes signified himself to Buckingham that there was no fit opportunity to see the Marquis, pretending something to be ministered unto him, but when your petitioner could find no more excuses, he told my L. Marquis that he had put my L. of Buckingham away so often that he could not keep him away any longer, but that he must needs see him. Then he knowing Buckingham's visit to proceed of dissimulation, requested your petitioner at least to find the means, to get him away quickly, which your petitioner did, interrupting Buckingham's discourse and entreating him to suffer my. L Marquis to be quiet. This did evidenly show my L. Marquis his disliking and distrusting of Buckingham, whereas he was well pleased with other nobleman's company. all the time of his sickness the Duke and my L. Denbigh would not suffer his own son to come to him, pretending that he was also sick, which was false for the time that my L. Marquis called for him after that your petitioner advised his Lordship to dispose of his estate and of his conscience, because his sickness was not without danger. which your petitioner four days before my L. his death did in such manner that he gave him no cause to despair of his health, but entreated him to commit all the cairo of his health to God and his Physicians, assuring him howsoever he had gotten wrong abroad, he should get none in the cure of his disease. At length his lordship burst out in these words to my lord Dembigh, it is a great cruelty in you that you will not suffer my son to come to me when I am a dying that I may see him and speak to him before I die. so they delayed his coming with excuses until my L. his agony of death was near, to the end that he should not have time to give his son private instructions to shun the marriage of Buckingham's niece, or to signify unto him the suspicion that he had of poison, for they had rather his son should know any thing then either of these. Yet many did suspect his poison before he died, for two days before his death two of his servants died with manifest signs and symptoms of poison, one belonging to his wine seller, and another to his kitchen. The fatal hour being come that my L. Marquis deceased, your petitioner entreated them that were present to suffer no man to touch his body until that he returned to see it opened, for than he protested earnestly that all the time of his sickness he judged him to be poisoned, and in all consultations urged always antidotes to be administered, but this poison was such and 〈◊〉 far gone that none could help. Nevertheless to have the matter concealed Buckingham's folks would have had him buried that same night in, Westminster church, and the ceremonies of the burial to be made afterwards, saying that such delicate bodies as his, could not be long kept. But his friends taking hold of the caveat given them by your petitioner, refused so to do and replied that they would have him as became him buried in Scotland in his own Chapel where his ancestors have been buried about this four hundreth years ago, and that his body must be first visited by his Physicians. No sooner was he dead, when the force of the poison had overcome the forces of his body, but it begoud to swell in such sort that his thighs were as big as six times there natural proportion, his belly became as big as the belly of an ox, his arms as big as the natural quantity of his thighs, his neck so broad as his shoulders, his cheeks over the tope of his nose, that his nose could not be seen or distinguished, the skin of his forehead over his eyes, and the same skin, with all the rest of the skin of his head two finger high swollen, his hair of his beard, eyebrows, and head, so far distant one from an other, as if an hundreth had been taken out betwixt every one, and when one did touch his hair it came away with the skin as easily as if one had pulled hay out of an heap of hay. He Was all over his breast, neck, shoulders, and arms, blistered with blisters so big as one's fist, with blisters I say, of six diverse colours full of waters of the same colours, some white, some black, some red, some yellow, some green, some blue, and that as well within his body as without. Also the cavities of his liver green, his stomach in some places a little purpurated with a bluish clammy matter adharinge to the sides of it, his mouth and nose foaming blood mixed with froth of diverse colours a yard high. Your petitioner being sent for to come visit his body and his servants all flocking about him saying see, see, presently weeping said he was poisoned, and that it was a thing not to be suffered, moreover he said that albeit his speech might cost him his life, yet seeing his sorrow had extorted that speech out of him, he would make it manifest and would have a jury of Physicians present. Some of my L. Marquis of Hamiltons' friends said, we must send to my L. Duke that he may send his Physicians, but your petitioner replied what have we to do with the Duke's Physicians? let us have indifferent men. Captain Hamilton hearing your petitioner so boldly take exceptions at Buckingham, and judging that he had good reason for what he had spoken said, for all that let us send to the Duke, and signify that they all who see the Marquis his body both Physicians and Chirurgeons, and others, think that he is poisoned, and that his friends desire more Physicians out of the College of London besides the Duke's physicians, to bear witness in what case the Marquis his body is in, and then if the Duke's conscience be guilty (said the Captain) it will show itself. Which in deed it did. For the Duke being advertised hereof sent for his own Physicians and others out of London, whom he caused first to be brought to him before they went to see the Marquis his body, giving them his direction in these words, my masters there is a brute spread abroad that the Marquis of Hamilton is poisoned. Go and see, but beware, what you speak of poison, (which he said in a threatening form of delivery) for now every noble man that dyeth must be poisoned. If his conscience had not been guilty should he not have commanded the Physicians to inquire be all means possible, and make it known rather than to suppress the speech of the poisoning. These Physicians being come, your petitioner with the one hand leading Doctor Moor to the table where the Marquis his body was laid to be opened, and with the other hand throwing of the cloth from the body said to him, look you here upon this pitiful spectacle. At the sight thereof Doctor Moor lifting up both his hands and his hat and his eyes to the heavens astonished, said jesus bliss me, I never saw the like. I can not know him, I can not distinguish a face upon him, and in like manner all the rest of the Doctors and also the Chirurgeons affirmed that they never saw the like, albeit they had travelled and practised through the greatest part of Europe, only one that saw my L. of Southamptons' body opened in Holland (which L. was also one of Buckingham's opposites) said that my L. of Southamptons' body was blistered all within the breast as my L. Marquis his was. Doctor Leester one of my L. of Buckingham's creatures, seeing Doctor Moor and others so amazed at the sight of my lords body, drew first him a side and then the others one after an other, and whispered them in the ear to silence them. whereupon many went away without speaking one word, the others who remained acknowledged that those accidents of the dead body could not be without poison, but they said they could not know how such a subtle art of poisoning could be brought into England, your pettioner replying that money could bring both the art and the artist from the furthest part of the world into England. from whence since your petitioner departed he hath conferred with the skilfullest pestmasters that could be found, who visit the bodies of those that die of the venom of the pest. They all admire the description oe my L. Marquis his body, and testify that never any of the pest hausuch accidents, but carbuncles, bubons, or the spots, no such huge blisters with waters, and such an huge uniform swelling to such dimensions above six-tymes the natural proportion. But he hath met with some, who have practised the poisoning of dogs to try the forces of some antidotes, and they have found that some poisons have made the dogs sick for a fortnight or more, without any swelling until they were dead, and then they swollen above measure, and became blistered with waters of diverse colours, and the hair came away with the skin when it was touched. The Plysitians then who remained were willing to certify with there handwrit that my L. Marquis was poisoned, but your petitioner told them it was not needful, seeing we must attend God's leisure to discover the author, the matter being so apparent, and so many hundreths having seen his body to witness it, for the doors were kept open for every man to behold and to be witness who would. The Duke of Buckingham making some counterfeited show of sorrow to men of great quality, found no other shift to divert the suspicion of the poisoning of the Marquis from his self, but to lay it upon his Master the King, saying that the Marquis for his person, spirit, & carriage, was such that he was borne worthy to reign, but the King his Master hated him to death, because he had a spirit too much for the commonwealth. Whereby the Duke show himself no good subject of the Kings, who made the King's humour to be tyrannical, and the King a bloodthristie murderer, and a most vile dissembler having heaped so many honours daily upon the Marquis even to the very last, making him Lord high Steward of his Majesty's house and judge of the verge court, whom he had made before Viceroy of Scotland for the time of the parliament in Scotland, earl of Cambridge, a privy counsellor in England, and Knight of the garter, as if he had raised him to all these honours that the murdering of him might be the less suspected to proceed from him. The King's nature hath beme always observed to be so gracious and so free hearted to every one, that he would never have wished the Marquis any harm unless that Buckingham had put great fears and ialousies in his mind, for if any other had done it, he would have acquainted his favourite therewith, & then was it Buckingham's duty to remove from the King such sinistrous conceits of the Marquis, as the Marquis hath often done for Buckingham, upholding him in all occasions, and keeping the King from giving way to introduce any other favourite. Wherefore Buckinghan in that diversion of the crime from himself, hath not only made the King but also himself guilty of the Marquis his death. But Buckingham's falsehood and evil intention long before was rightly discovered, when he did what he could to make the Earl of N●●esdale and my L. Gordon both near Kinsmen of my Lord Marquis so incensed at him, that they had likely all three killed one an other if it had not been that my L. Marquis by his wisdom did let them all know how they were abused. if any dissimulation be greater than Buckingham's let any man judge, for when my L. Marquis his body was to be transported from Whitehall to his house at Bishopsgate, Buckingham came out muffed and furred in his coach, giving out that he was sick for sorrow of my L. Marquis his death, but so soon as he went to his house out of London before his coming to the King he triumphed and dominired with his faction so excessively, as if he had gained some great victory, and the next day coming to the King put on a most lamentable and mournful countenance for the death of the Marquis of Hamilton. No greater victory could he have gotten to his mind, then to have destroyed that man who could and would have fetched his head of his shoulders if he had outlived King james to have known his carriage in the poisoning him in his sickness, wherefore he thought it necessary to remove the Marquis before hand. The same day that my L. Marquis died Buckingham sent my Lord Marquis his son out of the town, keeping him as a prisoner that none could have private conference with him until his marriage of Buckingham's niece was complete, but always either my L. Denbigh or my lady Denbigh or my L. of Buckingham or the countess of Buckingham or the Duchess of Buckingham was present, that none could let him understand how his father was murdered. even your pertioner himself when he went to see him within few days after his father's death was entreated not to speak to him of the poisoning of his father which he did conceal at his first meeting because there sorrow was too recent, but he was prevented of a second meeting. Neither would Buckingham suffer the young lord to go to Scotland to his father's funerals and to take order with his friends concerning his father's estate, for fear that there intended marriage, should be over thrown. This captivity of the young lord Marquis lasted so long until that Buckingham caused his Majesty King Charles take the young lord with himself and Buckingham into K. james his Park discharging all others to follow them, and there to persuade and urge the young lord without any more delay to accomphih his marriage with Buckingham's niece, which instantly was performed so that Buckingham trusteth and presumeth that albeit the young lord should understand how his father was poisoned by his means, yet being married to his niece, should not stir to revenge it, but comport with it. To all what is observed before, it is worthy to be added that the bruit went through London long before my L. Duke of Richemonds death, or his brothers, or my lord of Southamptons', or of the Marquis, that all the noblemen that were not of Buckingham's faction should be poysoved, and so remoned out of his way. Also a paper was found in kingstreete about the time of the Duke of Richemonds death, wherein the names of all these noblemen who have died since were expressed, and your petitioners name also set next to the lord Marquis of Hamiltons' name, with these words to embawme him. This paper was brought him by my lord Oldbarres daughter cousin german to the lord Marquis. Likeways a mountebank about that time was greatly countenanced by the Duke of Buckingham, and by his means procured letters patents and recommendation from the King to practise his skill through all England, who coming to London offered to sell poisons to kill men or beasts within a year, or half a year, or two years, or a month, or two, or what time prefixed any man desired, in such sort that they could not be helped nor yet discovered, Moreover the Christmas before my L. Marquis his death one of the Prince his footmen said that some of the great ones at court had got poison in his belly but he could not tell who it was. Here your honours considering the premises of my L. of Buckingham his ambitious and most vindicative nature, his frequent quarrels wih my L. Marquis after so many reconciliations, his threatening of him, his threatening of the Physicians to speak of poison, his triumphing after my Lord Marquis his death, his detaining of his son almost as a prisoner until the marriage complete with his niece, the preceding bruit of poisoning of Buckingham's adversaries, the paper of there names found with sufficient intimation of there death by the conclusion of the word Embawming, the poysonmunger mountibanck graced by Buckingham, may suffice for ground to take him and torture him, if he were a private man. And herein your petitioner most humbly and most ernesty demandeth justice against that treator, seeing by act of parliament it is made treason to conspire the death of a privy counsellor. out of this declaration interrogatories may be drawn for examination of witness, wherein more is discovered to begin with all, then was laid open at the beginning of the discovery of the poisoning of sir Thomas Ouerbury.   

CONCERNING, THE POISONING OF KING james of happy memory, King of great Britan, etc.  
THe Duke of Buckingham being in Spain advertised by letters, how that the King begoud to censure him in his absence freely, and that many spoke boldly to the King against him, and how the King had intelligence from Spain of his unworthy carriage in Spain, and how the Marquis of Hamilton upon the sudden news of the Prince his departure, had nobly reprehended the King, for sending the Prince with such a young man without experience, and in such a private and sudden manner, without acquainting the nobility or counsel therewith, wrotte a very bitter letter to the Lord Marquis of Hamilton, conceived new ambitious courses of his own, and used all the devices he could to disgust the Prince his mind of the match with Spain so far intended by the King. Made haste home, where when he came he so carried himself that what soever the King commanded in his bedchamber he controlled in the next chamber. Yea received packets to the King from foreign Princes and dispetched answers without acquainting the King therewith not in a great time thereafter. Whereas perceiving the King highly offended and that the King's mind was beginning to alter towards him, suffering him to be quarrelled and effronted in his Majesty's presence, and observing that the King reserved my Lord of Bristou to be a rod for him, urging daily his dispetch for France, and expecting the Earl of Gondomar his coming to England in his absence, feared much that the Earl of Gondomar, who as it seemed was greatly esteemed and wonderfully credited by the King, would second my Lord of Brestowes' accusations against him. He knew also that the King had vowed, that in despite of all the devils of hell he would bring the Spanish match about again, and that the Marquis of E●echosa had given the King bad impressions of him. by whose articles of accusation the King himself had examined some of the nobility and privy counsel, and found out in the examination that Buckingham had said after his coming from Spain that the King was an old man, it was now time for him to be at his rest, and to be confined to some park to pass the rest of his time in hunting, and the Prince to be crowned. The more the King urged him to be gone to France the more shifts he made to stay, for he did evidently see that the King was fully resolved to rid himself of the oppression wherein he held him.  
The King being sick of a tertian ague, and that in the spring which was of itself never found deadly, the Duke took his opportunity when all the King's Doctors of Physic were at Dinner upon the monday before the King died, without there knowledge or consent, offered to the King a white powder to take, the which the King longtime refused, but overcome by his flattering importunity at length took it, drunk it in wine, and immediately became worse and worse, falling into many soundings and pains, and violent fluxes of the belly so tormented, that his Majesty cried out aloud, o this white powder! this white powder! would to God I had never taken it, it will cost me my life. In like manner the countess of Buckingham my L. of Buckingham's mother upon the friday thereafter, the Physicians also being absent and at dinner, and not made acquainted with her doings, applied a plaster to the King's heart and breast, whereupon his Majesty grew faint, short breathed and in great agony. Some of the Physicians after dinner retouning to see the King, by the offensive smell of the plaster perceived some thing to be about the King hurtful to him, and searched what it could be, found it out and exclaimed that the King was poisoned. Then Buckingham entering commanded the Physicians out of the room, caused one to be committed prisoner to his own chamber, and another to remove from court, quarrelled others of the King's servants in the sick Kings own presence, so far that he offered to draw his sword against them in the King's sight. And Buckingham's mother kneeling before the King, with a brazen face cried out justice, justice, sir I demand justice of your Majesty. The King ask for what? she answered, for that which there lives is no sufficient satisfaction, for saying, that my son and I have poisoned your Majesty, poisoned me said the King. with that he turning himself sounded, and she was removed, The sunday thereafter the King died, and Buckingham desired the Physicians who attended the King, to sign with there handwrits a testimony that the powder which he gave the King was a good and a safe medicine, which they refused to do. Buckinghames creatures did spread abroad a rumour in London that Buckingham was so sorry at the King's death, that he would have died, that he would have killed himself, if they had not hindered him. Which your petitioner purposely inquired of them that were near him at that time, who said that neither in the time of the king's sickness nor after his death, he was more moved than if there had never happened either sickness or death to the King. One day when the King was in great extremity he road post to London to pursue his sister in law to have her stand in sackcloth at Paul's for adultery, an other time of the King's agony he was bussy contriving and concluding a marriage for one of his cousins. Immediately after the King's death the Physician who was commanded to his chamber, was set at liberty with a caveat to hold his peace, the others threatened if they kept not good tongues in there heads. But in the mean time the King's body and head swollen above measure, his hair with the skin of his head stuck to the pillow his nails became loose upon his fingers and toes. your petitioner needeth to say no more to understanding men. Only one thing he beseecheth that taking the traitor who ought to be taken without any fear of his greatness, the other matters be examined, the accessories with the guilty punished.