ir Griffin Markham, a Catholic
gentleman discontented with the government for private reasons, George
Brooke, Lord Cobham's brother, and Lord Grey. A fantastic scheme
propounded by Markham was adopted, and the conspirators decided to seize
the King while hunting, to carry him to the Tower, on the plea of
protecting him from his enemies, and there install themselves in power
under the shadow of his name. They were, as represented by Coke in
Raleigh's trial, to swear to protect the Sovereign from all his enemies,
and they affected to have a large following in the country. Copley, an
insignificant recruit, was added to the party, and the execution of the
plot was fixed for the 24th of June. On that day, however, their
partisans proved to be too few for their designs, and the next day Grey
separated himself from them. Meanwhile the Jesuits had become aware of
the plot and communicated their knowledge to the government; and the
conspirators were soon arrested. The connection of Brooke with the 'Bye'
plot suggested Cobham's complicity; and Raleigh, as his nearest friend,
was summoned to Windsor by Cecil to be examined before the Council.

After this examination he wrote the letter to Cobham so often referred
to in the trial, saying that he had said nothing to compromise him, and
reminding him that one witness, possibly referring either to Aremberg's
servant, or Brooke, was not enough to convict of treason. He
subsequently wrote to Cecil informing him that Cobham had been in
communication with Aremberg, and Cobham was arrested. Raleigh's own
arrest followed on July 17th, and within a fortnight he attempted to
commit suicide. He and Cobham were both subsequently examined, with the
results that appear in the course of the trial. It must be remembered
that the government probably had a quantity of private information which
they did not produce, partly no doubt with the view of protecting
Aremberg. This is particularly so in relation to the most serious part
of the case; that, namely, relating to the scheme of placing Lady
Arabella on the throne; as to which see Gardiner's _History_, vol. i.
pp. 132, 133.

The leading members of the 'Bye' were tried and convicted two days
before Raleigh. Cobham and Grey were tried and convicted by the
Chancellor sitting as Lord Steward soon after. The two priests and
Brooke were hung. Cobham, Grey, and Markham were brought to the scaffold
that they might be induced to make their dying declaration