year
of her reign, Lord High Treasurer of England: In the succeeding year
1599, he was in commission with Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Chancellor,
and the earl of Essex, Earl-Marshal, for negotiating affairs with the
Senate of Denmark, as also in a special commission for suppressing
schism, and afterwards when libels were dispersed by the earl of Essex
and his faction against the Queen, intimating that her Majesty took
little care of the government, and altogether neglected the state of
Ireland,[7] his lordship engaged in a vindication of her Majesty,
and made answers to these libels, representing how brave and well
regulated an army had been sent into Ireland, compleatly furnished
with all manner of provisions, and like wise that her Majesty had
expended on that war in six months time, the sum of 600,000 l. which
lord Essex must own to be true. He suspected that earl's mutinous
designs, by a greater concourse of people resorting to his house than
ordinary, and sent his son to pay him a visit,[8] and to desire him
to be careful of the company he kept. Essex being sensible that
his scheme was already discovered by the penetrating eye of lord
Buckhurst, he and his friends entered upon new measures, and breaking
out into an open rebellion, were obliged to surrender themselves
prisoners. When that unfortunate favourite, together with the earl of
Southampton, was brought to trial, lord Buckhurst was constituted on
that occasion Lord High Steward of England, and passing sentence on
the earl of Essex, his Lordship in a very eloquent speech desired him
to implore the Queen's mercy. After this, it being thought necessary
for the safety of the nation, that some of the leading conspirators
should suffer death, his Lordship advised her Majesty to pardon the
rest. Upon this he had a special commission granted him, together with
secretary Cecil, and the earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral, to
call before them all such as were concerned in the conspiracy with the
earls of Essex and Southampton, and to treat and compound with such
offenders for the redemption and composition of their lands. After the
death of Queen Elizabeth, his lordship was concerned in taking the
necessary measures for the security of the kingdom, the administration
being devolved on him and other counsellors, who unanimously
proclaimed King James, and signed a letter March 28, 1603 to the lord
Eure, and the rest of the commissioners, for the treaty of Breme,
notifyi