[403] “The Lord Darcy played the fool,” Montague said; “he went about to pluck the council. He should first have begun with the head. But I beshrew him for leaving off so soon.”—Baga de Secretis, pouch xi. bundle 2.
[404] “I am sorry the Lord Abergavenny is dead; for if he were alive, he were able to make ten thousand men.”—Sayings of Lord Montague: Ibid.
[405] “On Monday, the fourth of this month, the Marquis of Exeter and Lord Montague were committed to the Tower of London, being the King’s Majesty so grievously touched by them, that albeit that his Grace hath upon his special favour borne towards them passed over many accusations made against the same of late by their own domestics, thinking with his clemency to conquer their cankeredness, yet his Grace was constrained, for avoiding of such malice as was prepensed, both against his person royal and the surety of my Lord Prince, to use the remedy of committing them to ward. The accusations made against them be of great importance, and duly proved by substantial witnesses. And yet the King’s Majesty loveth them so well, and of his great goodness is so loath to proceed against them, that it is doubted what his Highness will do towards them.”—Wriothesley to Sir T. Wyatt: Ellis, second series, Vol. II.
[406] Southampton to Cromwell: Ellis, second series, Vol. II. p. 110.
[407] Southampton to Cromwell: Ellis, second series, Vol. II. p. 114.
[408] Robert Warren to Lord Fitzwaters: MS. Cotton. Titus, B 1, 143.
[409] Burnet’s Collectanea, p. 494, &c.
[410] Hall, followed by the chroniclers, says that the executions were on the 9th of January; but he was mistaken. In a MS. in the State Paper Office, dated the 16th of December, 1538, Exeter is described as having suffered on the 9th of the same month. My account of these trials is taken from the records in the Baga de Secretis: from the Act of Attainder, 31 Henry VIII. cap. 15, not printed in the Statute Book, but extant on the Roll; and from a number of scattered depositions, questions, and examinations in the Rolls House and in the State Paper Office.
[411] The degrading of Henry Courtenay, late Marquis of Exeter, the 3d day of December, and the same day convicted; and the 9th day of the said month beheaded at Tower Hill; and the 16th day of the same month degraded at Windsor: MS. State Paper Office. Unarranged bundle.
[412] Examination of Christopher Chator: Rolls House MS. first series.