Page:Celebrated Trials - Volume 1.djvu/104

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except the duke himself, and that Hopkins, in reply, did declare, that the duke should have all, advising him the belter to accomplish his ends to engage the affections of the people to him: that de la Court returned with this answer, which he reported to the duke next morning, being the 25th of April, at Thornbury.

That the duke, on the 22d of July the same year, sent the same de la Court with letters to the same monk, in order to be further informed in that matter. The monk answered again, he should have all: but being now, as well as before, asked, how he knew this to be true; he said by the grace of God; and with this answer de la Court returning to his master, he declared the same to him on the 24th of July at Thornbury. Moreover, that the duke sent de la Court the third time to the same monk, with a letter, the 25th of April, in the fifth year of the king's reign, when he was about his expedition into France, desiring to know what would be the issue of those wars, and whether the King of Scots, during his majesty's absence, would invade the realm or not; that the monk, among other things, in answer to the duke's letter, sent him word, the king should have no issue male.

Again, that the said duke, on the 20th of February, in the sixth year of the king's reign, being at Thornbury, said these words to Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland, "Well, there are two new dukes[1] created here in England, but if the king should any way miscarry, the Duke of Buckingham would be the next in blood and succession to the crown. That the duke himself, after this, viz. on the 16th of April, in the said sixth year of the king's reign, went to the priory of Henton, and there had a conference with Nicholas Hopkins, the said monk, who told him that he should he king; to which the duke replied, if it should so happen he would act the part of a good and just prince. That the monk told the duke farther, that he knew this by revelation, and advised him by all manner of means to acquire the love of the people, the better to accomplish his designs.

That the duke, at the same time, promised to give every year to the said priory six pounds to buy them a tun of wine; that he promised besides to the same priory twenty pounds in ready money, of which he gave ten in hand, towards conveying water by a conduit to he erected for the use of the house; that he gave at that time to Nicholas Hopkins a reward of three pounds, forty shillings at another time, once a mark, and six and eightpence upon another occasion, That he came after this, viz. on the 20th of March, in the 10th year of the king's reign, to the same priory, and presently had a conference with the same monk about the premises; and that the monk also told him, that he should be king. That the duke said, he had done very well to enjoin John de Ja Court lo an oath of secrecy, for if the king should come to the knowledge of these things, it would be his ruin.

Farther, that the said duke, on the 20th of October, in the seventh year of the king, and at divers times, as well before as

  1. ↑ He meant the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, for there were no other besides himself in the kingdom.
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