The Forerunner OF REVENGE. Being two Petitions: THE ONE To the KING'S most Excellent Majesty. THE OTHER, To the most Honourable Houses of Parliament.  
Wherein is expressed divers actions of the late Earl of Buckingham; especially concerning the death of King james, and the marquis Hamelton, supposed by poison.  
Also may be observed the inconveniences befalling a State where the Noble disposition of the Prince is misled by a Favourite.  
By George Eglisham Doctor of Physic, and one of the Pysicians to King james of happy memory, for his Majesty's person above ten year's space.  
Printed at London, in the year, 1642.   

To the most Potent Monarch CHARLES King of great Britain.  
The humble Petition of George Eglisham, Doctor of Physic, 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 than the safe meditation of death, (equalling Kings with Beggars) and the exact justice of God requiring of them, that the good suffering inmisery 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 weight of God's justice, must be counterpoised elsewhere. But wilful and secret murder hath seldom been observed to 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 or Matchiavelists, may not trust too much to their 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 howsoever 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 the 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 false and perjured.  
It is justice that maketh Kings, justice that mayntains Kings, and injustice that brings Kings and Kingdoms to destruction to fall into misery, to die like Asses in ditches, or a more beastly death, eternal infamy after death, as all Histories from time to time do clearly manifest.  
What need hath mankind of Kings but for justice? Men are not born for them, but they for men: what greater, what more royal occasion in the World could be offered to your Ma. to show your impartial disposition in matters of justice at the first entry of your Reign, than this which I offer in 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 ingrate an Oppressor, what a murderer and traitor he hath proved himself towards him, how treacherous to his upholding friends the Marquis of Hamelton, and others, your Majesty may think (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 I have 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 so much obliged to stir, as 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 other that his power 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 it as well as I, and are obliged as deep as I, yet dare not complain so safely as I, being out of their reach, who are inseparable from him by his enchantments, and all to obscure myself, until the power of just revenge upon him be obtained from God.  
What I know sufficient against him, I have set down in my petition against him to the Parliament; to which if your Majesty dismiss him, sequestered from your Majesty chief in an accusation of treason, you shall do what is just, and deliver yourself and your Kingdom from the captivity in which he holdeth them, and your Majesty oppressed. How easily I may eclipse myself from his power to do me harm, unless he hath legions of infernal spirits at his command to pursue me, your Majesty may well know, I being ultra mare, to these Dominions where he ruleth and rageth.  
How far I am obliged to complain more than others, I will in few words express, that neither your Majesty nor any man may think otherwise but that I have most just reason not to be silent in a wrong so intolerable, the interest of blood which I have to any of them, of whose death I complain either by the House of Balgony, Lunday or Silverton-Hill, albeit it is easy to be made manifest and sufficient to move me, yet it is not the sole motive of my breach of silence, but the interest of received courtesy, and the heap of infallible tokens of true affection, is more than suffient to stir me thereto, unless I would prove the most ingrate in the World, and senseless of the greatest injuries that can be done unto myself; for who killed King James and marquis Hamelton, in that part of the injury which is done unto me therein, he hath done as much as rob me of my life, and all my fortunes and friends.  
With such constant and loving impressions of me as are neither to be recovered not 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, accompanied them with gifts, patents, offices, recommendations both in private and public, at home and abroad graced so far, that I could scarce ask any thing, but I could have obtained it.  
How much honour he hath done unto me there needs no witness unto your Majesty, who is sufficient for many; no less is my Lord marquis Hameltons' friendship established by mutual obligation of most acceptable offices continued by our ancestor these three generations, engraven in the tender minds and years of the marquis and me in the presence of our Sovereign King james. For when the marquis his Father, who with the right hand on his head and the left on mine, did offer us (young in years) so joined, to kiss his Majesty's hand, recommending me to his Majesty's favour, said, I take God to witness, that this young man's father was the best friend that ever I had, or shall have in this World. Whereupon the young Lord resolved to put trust in me, and I fully to addict myself to him, to deserve of him as much commendations as my father did of his father.  
This Royal celebration of our friends rooted itself so deep in my mind, that to myself I purposed this remembrance, giving it to my young Lord, and to my familiar friends, and set it upon the books of my study, Semper Hameltonium, etc.  
Always the King and Hamelton  
Within thy breast conserve,  
What ever be thy actions,  
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 whole estate for me, if need were and so share his fortunes with me; and not only promising, but also performing when ever there was occasion: yea, for my sake 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 should rehearse every particular favour so manifestly known to the whole Court, and to the friends of us both: who then can justly blame me, demanding justice as well for the slaughter of the marquis of Hamelton, as of my most gracious Sovereign King james, seeing I know whom to accuse; My profession of Physic, nor my education to letters, cannot serve to hinder me from undertaking the hardest enterprise that ever any Roman undertook, so far as the Law of conscience will give way.  

Why should I stay at the decay  
Of Hameltons' the hope,  
Why shall I see thy foe so free,  
Unto this 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, nor 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 bore to the living, the same shall accompany the dead: for when (whose truth and sincerity was well known unto me) told me that it was better that the chiefest of my friends the marquis of Hamelton, to be quiet at home in Scotland, then eminent in Court of England; to whom by the opinion of the wiser sort, his being at Court will cost him no less than his life, sigh that I stretching forth mine arm (apprehending some plots laid against him) answered, if no man dare to revenge his death, I vow to God this hand of mine shall revenge it, scarcely any other cause to be found, than the bond of our close friendship, why in the scroll of Noble men's names who were to be killed, I should be set down next to the marquis of Hamelton and under these words, viz. (the marquis and Doctor Eglisham to embalm him) to wit, to the end that no discoverer or revenger should be left, this roll of names, I know not by what destiny, was found near to Westminster, about the time of the Duke of Richmond his death, and brought to the Lord marquis by his cousin the daughter of the Lord Oldbarre, one of the privy Council of Scotland, did cause no terror in me until I did see the marquis poisoned, and remembered that the rest therein noted, were dead, and myself next pointed at only surviving: why stay I any more, the cause requireth no more the pen but the sword?  
I do not write so boldly, because I am amongst the Duke's enemies, but I have retired myself to his enemies, because I was resolved to write and do earnestly against him, as may very well appear: for since the marquis of Hameltons' 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 Buckingham would suffer the Ambassador rather to receive an affront then to be unsatisfied of his bloodthirsty desire of my blood, to silence me with death, (for according to the proverb The dead cannot by't) if he could have found me: for my Lord Duke of Lenox, who was often crossed by Buckingham, with his brother; and the Earl of Southampton now dead was one of the roll found of those that were to be murdered, well assured me, that where Buckingham once misliked, no apology, no submission, no reconciliation could keep him from doing mischief.  
Neither do I write 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 much misled your Majesty, that he hath caused not only here, but also in all Nations, all Britain Natives to be disgraced and mistrusted, your Majesty's most royal word, which should be inviolable, your hand and seal which should be uninfringeable, to be most shamefully violated, and yourself to be most ingrate for your kind usage in Spain, which Buckingham maketh to be requited with injuries in a most base manner; under protestation of friendship, a bloody war being kindled on both sides, whereby he hath buried with King james, the glorious name of Peacemaking King, who had done much more justly and advisedly if he had procured peace unto Christendom, whereby small hope I have of obtaining justice on my most just complaint, unto which my dear affection unto my dear friends murdered, and extreme detestation of Buckingham his violent proceed hath brought me. Your Ma: may find most just causes to accuse him in my Petition to the Parliament which shall serve for a touchstone to your Majesty, and a whetstone to me and many other Scotsmen; and which if it be neglected, will make your Majesty to incur a censure amongst all virtuous 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 the 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 danger approacheth to your Majesty, no otherwise then death approached to King james.  
If your Majesty will therefore take any course therein, the examination upon oath of all those that were about the King and the marquis of Hamelton in their sickness, or at their deaths, or after their deaths, before indifferent Judges (no dependants on Buckingham) will serve for sufficient proof of Buckingham his guiltiness. In the mean time, until I see what will be the issue of my complaint, without any more speech I rest,  
Your Majesties daily Suppliant, George Eglisham.   

To the most Honourable the Nobility, Knights and Burgesses of the Parliament of ENGLAND.  
The humble Petition of George Eglisham Doctor of Physic, and one of the Physicians to K. James of happy memory, for his Majesty's person above the space of ten years.  
WHereas the chief humane care of Kings, and Courts of Parliament, is the preservation and protection of the subjects lives, liberties and estates, from private and public injuries, to the end that all things may be carried in the equal balance of Justice, without which no monarchy, no Commonwealth no society, no family, yea no man's life or estate can consist, albeit never so little: It cannot be thought unjust to demand of Kings and Parliaments the censure of wrongs, the consideration whereof was so great in our 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 injury, he would not spare him, but would have him die for it, and would have him more severely punished then any other: For he very well observed, no greater injustice, no injury more intolerable can be done by man to man, than murder. In all other wrongs fortune hath recourse, the loss of honour or goods may be repaired, satisfaction may be made, reconciliation may be procured, so long as the party injured is alive. But when the party 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 the spirit, which by his wickedness he hath separated from his body? Therefore of all injuries, of all the acts of injustice, 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 hey, nous. 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 of evict the most violent beast that ever nature bred, but from false and treacherous hearts, from poisoning murders, what wit of wisdom can defend?  
This concerneth your Lordships every one in particular, as well as myself. They (of whose poisoning your Petitioner complaineth) viz. King JAMES, the marquis of HAMELTON, and others whose names after shall be expressed, have been the most eminent in the Kingdom and sat on these Benches whereon your Honours do now sit. The party whom your Petitioner accuseth is the Duke of Buckingham, woe is so powerful, that unless the whole body of a Parliament lay hold on 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 buyer out of them, and intrude others at his pleasure.  
All the Judges of the Kingdom, all the Officers of State, are his bond vassals, or allies are afraid to become his outcasts, as it is notorious to all his Majesty's true and loving subjects; yea, so fare hath his ambitious practice gone, that what the King would have done, could not be done if he opposed it, whereof many instances may be given, whensoever they shall be required: Neither are they unknown to this Honourable assembly, howsoever the means he useth be, whether lawful or unlawful, whether humane or diabolique, so he tortureth the Kingdom, that he procureth the calling, breaking, or continuing of the Parliament, at his pleasure, placing and displacing the Officers of Justice, of the Council 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 should be heard; or being heard, should take effect? To obtain justice he may despair; to provoke the Duke to send forth a poisoner or murthere to dispatch 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 whatsoever 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 cannot be better bestowed, then upon discovery of so heinous murders, yea the justness of the cause, the dearness and nearness of his friends murdered, shall prevail so fare with him, that he shall unfold unto your Honours, and unto the whole world, against the accused, and name him the author of so great murders, George Villers, 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 eminent murders committed by Buckingham, to wit of the King's Majesty, and of the Lord marquis Hamelton, which for all the subtlety 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 their death, because the Lord marquis Hamelton died first, his death shall be first related, even from the root of his first quarrel with Buckingham, albeit many other jars have proceeded from time to time betwixt them.   

Concerning the poisoning of the Lord marquis HAMELTON.  
BUCKINGHAM once raised from the bottom of Fortune's wheel to the top, by what desert, by what right or wrong, no matter it is, (by his carriage the proverb is verified) Nothing more proud than basest blood, when it doth rise aloft. He suffered his ambition to carry himself so fare, as to aspire to match his blood with the Blood-royal both of England and Scotland. And well knowing, that the marquis of Hamelton 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 his Crown of Scotland, by the Daughter of King james the second, and to the Crown of England by joane of Somerset, wife to King james the first, declared by an Act of Parliament Heretrix of england to be in her due rank, never suffered the King to be at rest, but urged him always to send some of his Privy Council to solicit the marquis to match his eldest son with Buckingham's 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 pound Sterling, valuing five hundred thousand Florins with the Earldom of Orkney, under the title of Duke, whatsoever the marquis would accept, even to the first Duke of Britain.  
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 to match his son so unequal to his degree, seeing Buckingham himself, the chief of her kindred was but a novice in Nobility, his father obscure amongst Gentlemen, his mother a Serving-woman: and he being infamous for his frequent consultation with the Ringleader of Witches, principally that false Doctor Lamb, publicly condemned for witchcraft▪ whereby the marquis knowing that the King was so fare bewitched to Buckingham thrt if he refused the match demanded, he should find the kings deadly hatred agains 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 King desire of the match; whereupon Buckingham and his faction fearing that delays would bring lets, urged my Lord marquis to send for his son upon a Sunday morning be times in all haste from London to Court at Greenwich, where never a word was spoken of marriage to the young Lord, till a little before Supper, and the marriage mad● before the King after Supper, And to make it more authentic, Buckingham cause his Niece to be lard in bed with the marquis his son, for a short time in the King Chamber, and in his Majesty's presence, albeit the Bride was yet innubile. Many wer● astonished at the sudden news thereof; all the marquis his friends fretting thereat an some writing unto him very scornful letters for the same.  
The marquis having satisfied the King's demands, did what he could to preve●● the confirmation of the marriage, and intended to send his son beyond the seas travel through France, and so to pass his time a broad, until that means were fou● to untie that knot which Buckingham had urged the King to tie upon his son.  
Buckingham ham to countermand the marquis his design, causes the King and Prince to make the marquis his son to be sworn Gent: to the Prince's Bedchamber, and so to be detained with him within the Kingdom, until that the Bride was at years ripe for marriage.  
The time expired that Buckingham's niece became marriageable, Buckingham sent to the Marquis to desire him to make the marriage, to be completely confirmed.  
The marquess (not willing to hear of any such matter) answered briefly he scorned the motion.  
This answer reported to Buckingham, and seeing himself like to be frust ated of his ambitious matching of his niece, and perceiving that the Lord marquis was able to raise a great faction against him, whether King james did live or die, was mightily incensed against the marquis: At the first encounter with him, did challange him for speaking disdainfully of him and his house.  
The marquis replied, he did not remember any offensive words uttered by himself against Buckingham. Buckingham then proudly said unto him, out of the words of thy mouth I will judge thee: for you have said, you scorn the motion of matching with my house, which I made unto you. The marquess answered, that if he had said so, it became not the Duke to speak unto him in that fashion. So Buckingham threatened to be revenged: The marquis uttered his defiance; and thus the quarrel began, which four or five times was reiterated, and as often reconciled by marquis de Fietta, alittle before the marquis of Hamelton fell sick, wherein it is very evident that the quarrel hath been very violent, that needed so many reconciliations, The Duke's fire of his anger, being unextinguishable, as K. james did often censure him in his absence, albeit that a favourite, that he was wonderful vindicative, whose malice was insatiable towards my Lo: marquis of Hamelton, 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 him by any of Buckingham's friends; but he would have some of his servants taste of it before: and for the love that was mutual between him and your Petitioner (whom he would never suffer to go out of his sight during his sickness) your Petitioner cast off all that he took in that time, unto whom his suspicion of Buckingham he expressed by name before sufficient witness, who will testify 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 Lo: of Buckingham to come near him, and your Petitioner having often sent word, and also sometimes signified himself to Buckingham, that there was no sit opportunity to see the marquis, pretending something to be ministered to him. But when your petitioner could find no more excuses, he told my Lo: Marquis that he had put away my Lo: of Buckingham so often, that he could not keep him away any longer, but that he must needs see him.  
Then he knowing Buckingham's visitation to proceed of disimulation, requested your petitioner at last to find the means to get him away quiekly: which your Petitioner did, interrupting. Buckingham his discourse, and entreating him to suffer my Lord Marquis to be quiet.  
This did evidently show my Lord Marquis his disliking and distrusting of Buckingham, whereas he was pleased with other Nobleman's Company. All the time of his sickness, the Duke and my Lord 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 Lord Marquis called for him. After this your Petitioner advised his Lordship to dispose of his estate, and of his conscience, his sickness was not without danger, which your Petitioner four days before my Lord's death, did in such manner perceive, that he had cause to commit all the care of his health to God and his Physicians, assuring 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 Denbigh, It is a great cruelty in you, that you will not suffer my son to come to me when I am dying that I may see him, and speak to him before I die. So they delayed his coming with excuses, until my Lord 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 fuspition 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 suspicion, of poison, the one belonging to the Wine-celler, the other to the Kitchin.  
The Fatal hour being come, that my Lord Marquis deceased, your Petitioner entreated all 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 it to be poison; but this poison was such, and so fare gone, that none could help it: Nevertheless, to have the matter concealed, Buckingham would have him buried that same night in Westminster Church, and the Ceremonies of his burial to be kept afterwards, saying, that such delicate bodies as his could not be kept.  
But his friends taking hold of the cavet before given by your Petitioner, refused so to do, and replied, that they would have him, as became him to be buried in Scotland in his own Chapel, where all his Ancestors have been buried for more than these four hundred years; and that his body mustbee visited by his Physicians.  
No sooner was he dead, when the force of the poysou had overcome the force of his body, but it began to swell in such sort, that his Thighs were swollen six times as big as their natural proportion: his Belly became as the belly of an Ox, his Arins as the natural quantity of Thighs, his Neck so broad as his Shoulders, his Cheeks over the top of his Nose, that his Nose could not be seen or distinguished, the skin of his forehead two fingers high swolled, the hair of his beard, eyebrows and head, so fare distant one from another, as if an hundred had been taken out bet ween each one; and when one did touch the 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 neck, breast, shoulders, arms, and brows I say of divers colours, full of waters of the same colour, some white, some black, some red, some yellow, some green, some blue, and that as well within the body as without.  
Also the concavities of his Liver green his ftomach in some places a little purpurated with a blue clammy water, adhering to the sides of it. His Mouth and Nose foaming blood mixed with froth mightily, of divers colours a yard high. Your Petitioner being sent for to visit his body, and his servants flocking about him, saying, See, see, presently weeping, said he was poisoned, and that it was a thing not be suffered.  
Moreover, he said, that albeit his speech might cost him his life, yet seeing his sorrow had extorted that speech out, he would make it manifest, and would have a Jury of Physicians. Presently, some of my Lord Marquis of Hameltons' friends said, we must send to my Lord Duke, that he may send his Physitlans: but your Petitioner replied, what have we to do with the Duke's Physicians? Let us have indifferent men. Captain Hamelton hearing your Petitioner so boldly take exceptions at Buckingham, and juding 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 have seen the Marquis his body, both Physicians, Surgeons, and others, may see 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 than if the Duke's conscience be guilty (said the Captain,) it will show itself, as indeed 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 unto him, before they went to see the Marquis his body, giving them his directions in these words, viz.  
My Masters, there is a bruit spread abroad, that the marquis of Hamelton is poisoned; Go see, but beware what you speak of poison (which he said in a hreatning form of delivery) for every Noble man that dieth must be poisoned.  
If his conscience had not been guilty, should not he have commanded the Physicians to inquire by all means possible, and made it known rather than to uppresse the speech of poisoning so worthy a man.  
These Physicians being come, your Petitioner with one hand leading Doctor More to the Table where the Marquis his body was laid, and with the other hand throwing off the cloth from the body said to him, Look you here upon his spectacle.  
At the sight whereof Doctor More lifting up both his hands, heart and eyes ●o the Heavens, agonished, said, Jesus bless me, I never saw the like, I cannot distinguish a face upon him; and in like manner all the rest of the Doctors, and so the Chirurgjons affirmed, that they never saw the like, albeit that they have ●…availed and practised through the greatest part of Eorope: only one that said, ●…y Lo: of Southampton was blistered all within the breast as my Lo: marquess' was. Doctor Leicester, one of Buckingham's creature, seeing Doctor More & others so amazed at the sight of my Lord's body, drew first him aside, and then the others, one after another, and whispered them in the ear to silence them.  
Whereupon many went away without speaking one word, the other 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 Petitioner replied that money would bring both the Art and the Artist from the furthest part of the World into England, from whence since your Petitioners departure, 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 admired the description of my Lo: Marques his body, and testify that never any of the pest have such accidents, but Carbuncles, Rubons, or Spots, no such huge blisters with waters, and such a huge uniform swelling to such dimensions, above six times 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 round 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 divers colours, and the hair came away with the skin when it was touched.  
The Physicians then who remained, were willing to certify under their hands, that my Lo: marquis was poisoned. But your petitioner told them it was not needful, seeing we must needs attend God's leisure to discover the author, the manner being so apparent, and so many hundreds having seen the 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 counterfeit show of sorrow, two men of great quality, found no other shift to divert the suspicion of the poisoning of the marquis from him, but to lay it upon his master the King, saying, that the marquess for his person, spirit and carriage, was such as he was born 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 did show himself no good subject to the King, who made the King's honour to be tyrannical, and the King a bloodthirsty 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 very Court, whom he had made before Viceroy of Scotland, for the time of the Parliament in Scotland, Earl of Cambridge, privy Councillor 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 always been observed, to have been so gracious and so freehearted towards every one, that he would never have wished the marquis any harm, unless that Buckingham had put great jealousies and fea●s into as mind: for if any other had done it, he would have acquainted his favourite therewith. And then was it Buckingham's duty to remove from the King such smistrous conceits of the marquis, as the marquess hath often done of Buckingham, upholding him upon all occasions, and keeping the King from giving way to introduce any other favourite: wherefore Buckingham in that diversion of the crime from him, hath not only made the King but also himself guilty of the Marquis' death  
But Buckingham's falsehood and ill intention, was long before rightly discovered, when he did what he could to make the E. of Nethersdale and my Lord Gordan (both near kinsmen of my Lord marquis) so incensed at him, that they had like all three to have killed one another, if it had not been that my Lord marquis by his wisdom, did let them all know, how they were abused.  
If any dissimulation be greater than Buckingams, let any man judge: For when my Lord 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 Lord marquis his death; but as soon as he went to his house out of London, before his coming to the King, he triumphed and domineered 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. No greater victory could he have gotten in his mind, then to have destroyed that man who would have fetched his head off his shoulders if he had out lived King james, to have known his carriage in the poisoning of him in his sickness; wherefore he thought it necessary to remove the marquis beforehand.  
The same day that my Lord marquis died, Buckingham sent my Lord marquis his son out of Town, keeping him as prisoner, none could have private conference with him, until his marriage of Buckingham's Niece was complete; but either my Lord of Denbigh or my lady of Denbigh, or my Lord Duke of Buckingham, or the Countess of Buckingham was present, that none could let him understand how his father was murdered. Even your petitioner himself when he went to see him, was entreated not to speak to him of the poisoning of his father, which he did conceal at his first meeting, because their sorrow was too recent. But he was prevented of a second meeting, neither would Buckingham suffer the young Lord to go to Scotland to see his Father's Funerals, and to take order with his friends concerning his father's estate, for fear that their intended marriage should be overthrown.  
This Captivity of the young Lord marquis lasted so long, until that Buckingham caused his Majesty, King CHARLES, to take the young Lord, with himself and Buckingham, into St. james his Park, discharging all others from following them; and there to persuade and urge the young Lord, without any more delay to accomplish the marriage with Buckingham his 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, he would not stir to revenge it, but comport with it.  
To all that is observed before, it is wothy to be added, that the bruit went through London long before the Lord Duke of Richmond's death, or his brothers, or my Lord of Southamptons', or of the Marquis, that all the Noble men that were not of the Duke's faction, should be poisoned, and so removed out of his way.  
Also a Paper was found in King's Street, about the time of the Duke of Richmond's death, wherein the Names of all those Noblemen who have died since, were expressed; and your Petitioners Name also set next to my Lord Marquis of Hameltons' Name, with these words (to embalm him) This Paper was brought by my Lord Oldbarrs Daughter, Cousin german to the Lord Marquis: Likewise a Mountebank about that time, was greatly countenanced by the Duke of Buckingham, and by his means procured Letters Patents, and Recommendations from the King, to practise his skill in Physic through all England: who coming to London, to sell Poison, to kill man or beast 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 discovered. Moreover, the Christmas before my Lord Marquis his death, one of the Prince his footmen said, That some of the great ones at Court had gotten, Poison in these belly, but he could not tell who it was.  
Here your Honours considering the premises, of my Lord Duke of Buckingham his ambitious and most vindicative nature, his frequent quarrels with my Lord marquis, after so many reconciliations; his threatening of the Physicians, not to speak of the poison; his triumphing after my Lord marquis his death; his detaining of his son almost prisoner, until the Marriage was complete with his Niece; the preceding bruit of poisoning Buckingham his Adversaries; the Paper of their Names found, with sufficient intimation of their death, by the conclusion of the word (embalming) the Poyson-monger, Mountebank, graced by Buckingham, may suffice for ground to take him and torture him, if he were a private man: And herein your Petitioner most earnestly demandeth Justice against that Traitor, seeing by Act of Parliament it is made Treason to conspire the death of a Privy Councillor. Out of this Declaration, Interrogatories may be drawn for Examination of Witnesses; wherein more is discovered to begin withal, then was laid open at the beginning of the Discovery of the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury.   

Concerning the poisoning of King JAMES of happy memory, KING of GREAT BRITAIN.  
THe Duke of Buckingham being in Spain, advertised by Letters, how that the King began 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 Hamelton (upon the sudden news of the Prince's 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 Council therewith, wrote a very kitter letter to the marquis of Hamelton, conceived new ambitious courses of his own, and used all the devices he could to disgust the Prince's mind of the match with Spain, so far intended by the King, made haste home; where, when he came, he so carried himself, that whatsoever the King commanded in his Bedchamber, he controlled in the next; yea, received Packets to the King from foreign Princes, and dispatched Answers without acquainting the King therewith, in a long time after. Whereat perceiving the King highly offended, and that the King's mind was beginning to alter towards him, suffering him to be quarrelled and affronted in His Majesty's presence; and observing that the King reserved my Lord of Bristol to be a rod for him, urging daily his dispatch for France, and expecting the Earl of Gond●mor, who as it seemed was greatly esteemed and wonderfully credited by the King, and would second my Lord of Bristol his accusations against him. He knew also the King had vowed, that in spite of all the Devils in hell, he would bring the Spanish match about again, and that the marquis of Inicosa had given the King bad impressions of him, by whose articles of accusation, the King himself had examined some of the Nobility and Privy Council, and found out in the examination, that Buckingham had said after his coming from Spain, that the King was now an old man, it was now time for him to be at 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 certain Ague, and that in the Spring, 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 their knowledge or consent, offered to him a white powder to take: the which he a long time refused; but overcome with his flattering importunity, at length took it in wine, and immediately became worse and worse, falling into many swoon and pains, and violent fluxes of the belly, so tormented, that His Majesty cried out aloud of this white powder, Would to God I had never taken it, it will cost me my life.  
In like manner also the Countess of Buckingham, my Lord of Buckingham's mother, upon the Friday after, the Physicians also being absent, and at Dinner, not made acquainted with her do applied a plaster to the King's heart & brea●… whereupon he grew faint, short breathed, and in a great Agony. Some of the Physicians after dinner returning to see the King, by the offensive smell of the plaster, perc●…ved something to be about him hurtful unto him and searched what it should be, fou●… it out, and exclaimed, that the King was poisoned. Then Buckingham entering, commanded the Physicians out of the room, caused one of them to be committed prisoner his own house, and another to be removed from Court, quarrelled with others of King's servants in his sick Majesties own presence, so far that he offered to draw sword against them in his Majesty's sight. And Buckingham's mother kneeling do●… before His Majesty, cried out with a brazen face, justice, justice; Sir, I demand-stice of your Majesty. His Majesty asked her for what? For that which their li●… are no ways sufficient to satisfy, for saying that my son and I have poisoned y●… Majesty. Poisoned me? said he; with that turning himself, swooned, and she 〈◊〉 removed.  
The Sunday after His Majesty died, and Buckingham desired the Physician's 〈◊〉 attended his Majesty, to sign with their hands a writ of testimony, that the pow●… which he gave him, was a good and safe medicine; which they refused.  
Buckingham's creatures did spread abroad a rumour in London, that Buckingham was so srrry for his Majesty's death, that he would have died, that he would have led himself if they had not hindered him; which your Petitioner purposely enqui●… after of them that were near him at that time, who said, that neither in the tim●… His Majesty's sickness, nor after his death, he was more moved, then if there happened either sickness or death to His Majesty.  
One day when his Majesty was in great extremity, he road post to London to p●…sue his sister in law to have her stand in sackcloth in S. Paul's for adultery. And other time in his Majesty's Agony, he was busy in contriving and concluding a m●…riage for one of his cousins.  
Immediately after his Majesty's death, the Physician who was commanded to chamber, was set at liberty with a caveat to hold his peace; the others threatn●… they kept not good tongues in their heads.  
But in the mean time the King's body and head swelled above measure, his h●… with the skin of his head stuck to the pillow, his nails became lose upon his fin and toes.  
Your Petitioner needeth to say no more to understanding men, only one thing beseecheth, That taking the Traitor who ought to be taken without any fear of greatness, the other waters may be examined, and the Accessaries with the G●… punished.  
FINIS.