berland's influence continued unimpaired, Somerset was naturally bent upon removing that aspiring peer out of his way. The mode in which he thought of accomplishing this is uncertain. Probably, his plans never approached maturity, for the lynx-eye of Northumberland's ambition attended every movement, and marked him for a prey so soon as he should fairly come within reach. As a prelude to his fall rumours were spread abroad, attributing to him treasonable, or rather insane designs. It was reported even, that he had caused himself to be proclaimed king in several counties'. The malice of his enemies found, however, no feasible means of attacking him effectually until the 7th of October, when Sir Thomas Palmer, who had been in his confidence, acquainted Northumberland with some of his indiscretions. This gentleman charged the Duke with having purposed, in the last spring, to raise sa insurrection in the North, and with plotting to murder Northumberland, the Marquess of Northampton, and some other persons of distinction, at an entertainment. Four days afterwards, Palmer was examined again, and he then related, that Sir Ralph Vane held two thousand men in readiness for Somerset's use; that Sir Miles Partridge had concerted with him a plan for raising the London apprentices, and seizing the great seal; and that a general slaughter of the gens d'armes was in agitation. It also appeared, that

* Hayward, $20.

* King Edward's Journal. Burnet, Hist. Ref. Records, II. 52.

the Duke's chamber, at Greenwich, had been guarded through the night by a number of armed men". Upon the whole it was evident enough, that Somerset was intent upon overthrowing his rival's influence, and it is highly probable, that he had let slip, in the course of unguarded conversation, hints of some among the various absurd and criminal designs attributed to him. That Northumberland should have been truly rendered uneasy and incensed by these disclosures was natural; nor could such a man be expected to meditate any thing short of destruction for so dangerous a rival. Unhappily for Somerset, his conversational indiscretions afforded grounds for alienating the King's affections from him. Edward, himself the model of youthful integrity and mildness, was shocked to hear his uncle accused, with some probability, of harbouring such cruel and treacherous intentions. The Duke, accordingly, was unhesitatingly abandoned to his fate, and on the 16th of October, he was committed to the Tower. About the same time were apprehended also several persons charged with being privy to his designs.

Men's attention was unexpectedly diverted from Somerset's calamities by the splendid reception given to the Queen Dowager of Scotland. That Princess was driven by stress of weather into the harbour of Portsmouth, on the 22nd of October, in her way from France'; whither she

h Ibid. 55.

King Edward's Journal, 53.

i Burnet, Hist. Ref. II, 287. 1 Ibid.

had gone for the avowed purpose of visiting her daughter, and her own family; but really for the sake of concerting means to overthrow the Hamilton influence, now paramount in North Britain". Having escaped the fatigues and dangers of a sea voyage, she felt unwilling to encounter them again, and, therefore, she sent from Portsmouth notice of her intention to travel through England. This intelligence was no sooner received at the seat of government, than preparations were made for giving her a royal welcome. She was conducted with great parade and hospitality to Hampton Court, where she was accommodated for two days in princely magnificence. On the 2d of November, she proceeded to London, and was lodged there, during four days, in the Bishop's palace; entertainment being provided for her at the expence of the city". During this residence, she rode in a chariot attended by a gorgeous cavalcade, to Whitehall, where the young King received her in state, and entertained her amidst all the pomp of royalty. On the 6th of the month, a gay procession of lords and ladies, guards and attendants escorted her through the city to Shoreditch. There the courtiers took leave, and she continued her journey to Waltham Cross, attended by one hundred gentlemen of Middlesex, on horseback. A similar escort, headed by the sheriff, was waiting for her on the borders of every shire through which

m Burnet, Hist. Ref. II. 258.

n

" Hayward, 314.

she passed, and entertainment was provided for her, in some of the noblest mansions lying near the road °.

On the first of December the Duke of Somerset, having been previously indicted at Guildhall”, was brought to trial in Westminster Hall. William Paulet, lately known as Earl of Wiltshire, and raised to the title of Marquess of Winchester, in the 'recent distribution of honours, acted as High Steward upon this occasion. This nobleman was then Lord Treasurer, and with him were associated as judges twenty-seven other peers. The crimes objected to Somerset were stated in three indictments, embracing the following alle

46.

• King Edward's Journal. Proceedings of Privy Council,

P Collier, II. 313.

Viz. The Dukes of Suffolk and Northumberland; the Marquess of Northampton; the Earls of Derby, Bedford, Huntingdon, Rutland, Bath, Sussex, Worcester, and Pembroke; the Viscount Hereford; the Barons Abergavenny, Audley, Wharton, Evers, Latimer, Borough, Zouch, Stafford, Wentworth, Darcy, Stourton, Windsor, Cromwell, Cobham, and Bray. (King Edward's Journal, 59.) Among these noble persons, the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquess of Northampton, and the Earl of Pembroke, were parties to the charge against the prisoner. They ought certainly, therefore, to have excused themselves from sitting in judgment upon him.

Collier, ut supra. King Edward, in his journal, says that the indictments were five in number. But this is contrary to the record. Probably he means, that the charges were esteemed to comprise five articles. These are thus given by Heylin: 1. That the prisoner had designed to raise an insurrection in the North, and to assemble men at his house for the purpose of assassinating the Duke of Northumberland. 2. That he had

gations that the prisoner had aimed at the King's deposition; that he had intended with the aid of others, instigated by him, to seize and imprison the Duke of Northumberland; and that he had incited divers of the King's subjects to rise against the government, with a view of placing Northumberland under personal restraint. In arguing the case, it was maintained by the crown lawyers, that to provide armed men for such an attempt, as the murder of privy councillors, was treason; to assault the lords, or contrive their deaths, was felony; to take measures for resisting an attachment, was felony; and that to raise the Londoners, was treason. The charges were supported in a very unfair manner, depositions being brought forward instead of witnesses. Of this, the accused complained bitterly, pressing particularly upon the character of his former confidant, Sir Thomas Palmer, who was a principal source of this written evidence. As, however, his objections were over-ruled, Somerset found him

resolved to resist his attachment. 3. That he had plotted to massacre the gens d'armes. 4. That he had intended to raise the Londoners. 5. That he had devised the deaths of certain peers. (Hist. Ref. 115.) It is probable, indeed, that Somerset was charged directly or indirectly with all these crimes; but still Heylin's enumeration cannot be accurate, because the first indictment ran thus: "quod false, malitiose, et proditorie per apertum factum circumivit, compassavit, et imaginavit, cum diversis aliis personis, Dominum Regem de statu suo regali deponere et deprivare." Now no mention is made in the articles above of any design upon the King.

S

Collier, ut supra.