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1

V. THE TRIAL OF SIR NICHOLAS THROCKMORTON
2KNIGHT, IN THE GUILDHALL OF LONDON, FOR HIGH-TREASON, THE
317TH OF APRIL, 1554. THE IST OF MARY.

4
5    The Commissioners appointed to try him were,

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6    Sir Thomas White Knight, Lord Mayor
7of London ;
8The Earle of Shrewesbury ;
9The Earle of Derby ;
10Sir Thomas Bromley Knyght, Lorde
11Chiefe Justice of Englande ;
12Sir Nicholas Hare Knyght, Mayster of the Rolles ;
13Sir Frauncis Englefielde Knight, Maister of the
14Courte of Wardes and Liberties;

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15Sir Richard Southwell Knight, one of the
16Privy-Council;
17Sir Edward Walgrave Knight, one of the
18Privy-Council;
19Sir Roger Cholmeley Knight;
20Sir Wyllyam Porteman Knyght, one of the Justices
21of the King's Benche;
22Sir Edwarde Saunders Knight, one of the Justices
23of the Common Place;

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24Maister Stanford ,
25Maister Dyer , Sergeants;
26Maister Edward Griffin , Attourney-Generall;
27Maister Sendall ,
28Peter Tichbourne , Clerkes of the Crowne.
29    Firste, after Proclamation made, and the Commission
30red, the Lieutenant of the Tower , Master
31Tho. Bridges , brought the Prisoner to the Barre;
32then Silence was commaunded, and Sendall said to
33the Prisoner as foloweth:
107    The Names of the Jurours.
108
109    Lucas. Lowe.
110Yong. Whetston.
111Martyn. Pointer.
112Beswike. Bankes.
113Bascafeeld. Calthrop.
114Kightley. Cater.
115
116    What time the Atturney went forthwith to
117Mr. Cholmley , and shewed him the Sheriffes Returne,
118who being acquainted with the Citizens,
119knowing the Corruptions and Dexterities of them
120in such Cases, noted certaine to be chalenged for
121the Q. (a rare case) and the same Men being
122knowen to be sufficient and indifferent, that no
123Exceptions were to be taken to them, but only
124for their upright Honesties, notwithstanding the
125Attorney prompting Sergeant Dier . The said Sergeant
126chalenged one Bacon , and another Citizen
127peremptorily for the Queen. Then the Prisoner
128demanded the cause of the Chalenge: the Sergeante
129aunswered, we neede not shew you the
130cause of the Chalenge for the Queen. Then the
131Inquest was furnished with other honest Men, that
132is to say, Whetstone and Lucas , so the Prisoner
133vsed these Words.
161    The Jury then was sworne, and Proclamation
162made, that whosoeuer woulde giue Euidence againste
163Sir Nicholas Throckmorton Knight, shoulde
164come in and be heard, for the Prisoner stood upon

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165his Deliuerance: whereupon Sergeant Stanford presented
166hymself to speake.
242    Stanford red Winter's Confession, whyche was
243of this effect; That Throckmorton mette with Winter
244one Day in Tower-street , and told him, that
245Sir Thomas Wyat was desirous to speak with him,
246and Winter demanded where Wyat was: Throckmorton
247aunswered, at his House in Kente , not farre
248from Gillingham , as I heard say, where the Shyps
249lye. Then they parted at that time, and shortly
250after Throckmorton met with Winter , vnto whome
251Winter sayd, Maister Wyat dothe much mislike
252the comming of the Spanyardes into this Realme,
253and feareth their short arriuall here, in as much
254as dayly he heareth thereof; dothe see daily diuers
255of them arrive heere, scattered like Soldyers; and
256therefore he thinketh good the Tower of London
257should be taken by a sleighte, before the Prince
258came, least that peece be deliuered to the Spanyardes .
259How say you Throckmorton to it? Throckmorton
260aunswered, I mislike it for diuers respects;
261euen so do I, sayde Winter . At another tyme
262Throckmorton mette me the sayd Winter in Poules ,
263when hee had sent one to my House to seeke me
264before; and he said to me, you are Admiral of
265the Fleet that now goeth into Spayne . I aunswered
266yea. Throckmorton saide, when will your
267Shippes be ready? I saide, within tenne Dayes.
268Throckmorton sayde, I vnderstand you are appointed
269to conduct and carrie the Lord Priuie
270Seale into Spaine ; and considring the Daunger
271of the Frenchmen , which you say arme them to the
272Sea apace, me thinke it well done, you put my
273sayde Lorde and his Traine on Lande in the West
274Country to avoyde all Daungers. Throckmorton
275saide also, that Wyat changed his purpose, for
276taking the Tower of London ; I said I was glad
277of it: and as for the Frenchmen , I care not much
278for them, I will so handle the matter, that the
279Queenes shippes shall bee I warrante you in safegard.
280Another time I met with M. Throckmorton
281when I came from the Emperours Ambassadors,
282vnto whome I declared, that the Emperour had
283sent me a fayre Cheyne, and shewed it unto
284Throckmorton , who said, for this Cheyne you haue
285sold your Country. I saide, it is neyther French
286King nor Emperoure that can make me sell my
287Country, but I will be a true Englishman : then
288they parted. This is the summe of the Talke betwixt
289Throckmorton and Winter .
456    Then Sergeant Stanford did reade Vaughan's
457Confession, tending to this effect, That Vaughan
458comming out of Kent , met with Throckmorton at
459M. Warner's House, who after he had don Commendations
460from Wyat to him, desired to know
461where Crofts was; Throckmorton answered, either
462at Arundel House where he lodgeth, or in Poules .
463Then Vaughan desired to know howe thyngs went
464at London saying, M. Wyat and wee of Kent do
465much mislike the Mariage with Spaine , and the
466comming of the Spanyardes for diuers respectes;
467howbeit, if other Countries mislike them as Kent
468doth, they shall be but hardly welcome: and so
469they parted. Shortly after Throckmorton met with
470Vaughan in Poules , unto whome Throckmorton declared
471with sundry Circumstances, that the Western
472Men were in readinesse to come forwards; and
473that Sir Peter Caroe had sent unto him euen now,
474and that he had in order a good Band of Horsemen,
475and an other of Footemen. Then Vaughan
476demanded what the Erle of Devon would do;
477Throckmorton answered he will marre all, for he
478will not go hence; and yet Sir Peter Caroe wold
479mete him with a Band both of Horsemen and
480Footemen, by the way of Andeuer , for his Safeguard;
481and also he should haue bin well accompanyed
482from hence with other Gentlemen, yet all this
483wyl not moue him to departe hence. Moreouer,
484the said Erle hath, as is said, discovered al the
485whole matter to the Chancellor, or else it is
486comen out by his Taylor, aboute the trimming
487of a Shirte of Mayle, and the making of a Cloke.
488At another time, Vaughan saith, Throckmorton shewed
489him, that he had sent a Poste to Sir Peter Caroe
490to come forwarde with as muche speede as might
491be, and to bring his force with him. And also
492Throckmorton advised Vaughan to will M. Wyat
493come forward with his Power, for nowe was the
494time, in as much as the Londoners would take his
495part, if the matter were presented unto them.
496Vaughan said also, that Throckmorton and Warner
497should haue ridden with the said Erle Westward.
498Moreouer, the said Vaughan deposed, that Throckmorton
499shewed him in talke of the Erle of Pembroke ,
500that the said Earle woulde not fight against
501them, though hee woulde not take their partes.
502Also Vaughan said, That Throckmorton shewed hym
503that he would ride downe to Barkeshire to Sir
504Francis Englefield's House, there to meete his eldest
505Brother, to moue him to take his part. And
506this was the Summe of Cutbert Vaughan's
507Confession.
548
549    Then was Cutbert Vaughan brought into the open
550Court .
551
560
561    Then was Vaughan sworne on a Booke to say nothing
562but the Truth .
563     The Clerke
837did begin to reade; Throckmorton desired M. Stanford
838to read it, and the Jury well to marke it.
839Then M. Stanford did read the Prisoner's own
840Confession to this effect, that Throckmorton had
841Conference with Wyat, Caroe, Croftes, Rogers and
842Warner , as well of the Queenes Mariage with the
843Prince of Spayne , as also of Religion, and did particularly
844confer with euery the forenamed of the
845matters aforesaid. Moreouer, with Sir Thomas
846Wyat , the Prisoner talked of the bruite, that the
847Western Men should much mislike the comming of
848the Spanyards into this Realme, beeing reported also
849that they intended to interrupt theyr arriual here.
850And also that it was said, that they wer in consultation
851about the same at Exeter . Wyat also did say,
852that Sir Peter Caroe could not bring the same matter
853to good effect, nor was there any Man so
854mete to bring it to good effect, as the Erle of
855Devon ; and especially in the West Country, in as
856much as they did not draw al by one line. Then
857Throckmorton ask'd how the Kentishmen were affected
858to the Spanyards ? Wyat said, the People
859like them euill ynough, and that appeared now at
860the comming of the Count Egmont , for they were
861ready to sturre against him and his Traine, supposing
862it had bin the Prince; but said Wyat ,
863Sir Robert Southwel , M. Baker , and M. Moyle , and
864their Affinitie, which bee in good Credite in some
865places of the Shire, wil for other malicious Respects
866hinder the Libertie of their Country.
867Then Throckmorton shuld say, though I know ther
868hath bin an vnkindnesse betwixt M. Southwell and
869you for a Money matter, wherein I trauelled to
870make you Friends, I doubt not, but in so honest
871a matter as this is, he will for the safegard
872of his Country joyne with you, and so you
873may be sure of the Lord Burgainey and his Force.
874Then Wyat said, it is for another matter than
875for Money that we disagree, wherein he hath
876handled me and others very doubly and vnneighbourly;
877howbeit he can do no other, neither to
878me, nor to anye other Man, and therefore I forgiue
879him. Item , with Sir Peter Caroe, Throckmorton
880had Conference touching the Impeachment of
881the landing of the said Prince, and touchyng
882Prouision of Armour and Munition, as ensueth;

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883that is to say, that Sir Peter Caroe told Throckmorton ,
884that he trusted his Countrymen would be
885true Englishmen , and would not agree to let the
886Spanyards to gouerne them. Item , the said Sir
887Peter Caroe sayd, the matter importing the French
888King as it did, he thought the French King would
889work to hinder the Spanyards coming hither, with
890whome the said Sir Peter dyd thinke good to
891practise for Armour, Municions and Money.
892Then Throckmorton did advise him to beware
893that he brought any Frenchmen into the Realme
894forceably, in as much as he could as euill
895abyde the Frenchmen after that sort as the Spanyards .
896And also Throckmorton thought the French
897King vnable to giue aide to vs, by meanes of the
898great Consumption in their own Warres. M. Caroe
899said, as touching the bringing in of Frenchmen ,
900he meant it not, for he loued neither Partie, but
901to serue his own Countrey, and to help his Countrey
902from Bondage; declaring further to Throckmorton ,
903that he had a small Barke of his owne to
904worke his practise by; and so he said, that
905shortely he intended to depart to his own Countrey
906to vnderstand the Deuotion of his Countrymen.
907Item, Throckmorton did say, he would for his
908part hinder the comming in of the Spaniards as
909much as he could by Perswasion. Item , to Sir
910Edward Warner , he had and did bemone his owne
911Estate, and the Tyrannie of the tyme extended
912upon dyuers honest Persons for Religion, and
913wished it were lawfull for all of each Religion
914to liue safely according to their Conscience; for
915the Law ( Ex officio ) will be intolerable, and the
916Cleargies discipline now may rather be resembled
917to the Turks Tyrannie, than to the teaching
918of Christian Religion. This was the Summe of
919the matter, whiche was red in the foresaid Confession,
920as matters most grieuous against the Prisoner.
921Then Throckmorton said, sithence M. Sergeante
922you haue red and gathered the place as
923you think, that maketh most against me, I pray
924you take the Paynes, and reade further, that
925hereafter whatsoeuer become of me, my Words
926be not peruerted and abused to the hurt of som
927others, and especially against the great Personages,
928of whome I haue bin sundry times (as
929appeareth by my Answers) examined; for I perceiue
930the Net was not cast only for little Fishes,
931but for the great ones, juxta adagium .
940    Then the said Sergeant red the Dukes Confession
941touching the Prisoner, amounting to this effect;
942That the Lord Thomas Grey did informe the said
943Duke, that Sir Nicholas Throckmorton was privie to
944the whole Deuises againste the Spanyardes , and
945was one that shoulde goe into the West-Country
946with the Earle of Deuonshire .
1029    Then John Fitzwilliams departed the Court, and
1030was not suffered to speake.
1837    Then the Chief Justice Bromley remembred
1838particularly all the Depositions and Euidences giuen
1839against the Prisoner, and eyther for wante of
1840good Memorie, or good Will, the Prisoners Aunsweres
1841were in part not recited: wherevppon the
1842Prisoner craued Indifferencie, and did helpe the
1843Judges olde Memorie with his owne Recital.
1909    Upon the Prisoners Suite on this behalfe, the
1910Benche gaue Order, that two Sergeauntes were
1911sworne to suffer no Man to repaire to the Jurie,
1912vntill they were agreed.
1913    Then the Prisoner was by Commandement of
1914the Benche withdrawne from the Barre, and the
1915Court adjourned vntill three of the Clocke at Afternoone;
1916at whiche houre the Commissioners returned
1917to the Guildehall , and there did tarrie vntill
1918the Jurie were agreed vpon the Verdit. And aboute
1919five of the Clocke, their Agreement being
1920aduertised to the Commissioners, the sayde Prisoner,
1921Sir Nicholas Throckmorton , was again brought
1922to the Barre, where also the Jurie did repaire;
1923and being demaunded whether they were agreed
1924vpon their Verdit, aunswered vniuersally with one
1925Voyce, Yea. Then it was asked, who shoulde
1926speake for them; they aunswered, Whetston the
1927Foreman.
1930    Then the Prisoner did so uppon the Summons.
1933    The Jurie did as they were enjoyned.
1952    The whole Inquest aunswered yea.
1979    When the Prisoner had saide these wordes, the
1980Commissioners consulted togither.
2025    There was no Aunswere made by any of the
2026Benche to the Prisoners Sute, but the Attorney did
2027speake these wordes:     The Court
2047being dissatisfy'd with the Verdict, committed the
2048Jury to Prison.