affairs in so great confusion, jointly with Secretary Cooke I examined y^e man and found he had no particular offence against y^e Duke, more than all others for want of some small entertayments were owing him: but he grounded his practise upon y^e Parliament’s Remonstrance as to make himselfe a Martyr for his Country, which he confessed to have resolved to execute y^e Monday before, he being then at London, and came from thence expressly by the Wednesday morning, arriving at Portsmouth y^e very morning, not above half an hour before he committed it. We could not then discover any complices, neither did we take more than his free and willing confession: but now His Majestie hath ordayned by Commission y^e Lord Treassurer, Lord Steward, Earl of Dorset, Secretary Cooke and myselfe to proceed with him as y^e nature of y^e fact requires, and wee shall begin this afternoon: meane while I would not but give you this relation to y^e end you may know y^e truth of this bloudy act, which will flye about the world diversly reported to you, and you should not find it strange such a blowe to be struck in y^e midst of y^e Duke’s friends and followers: you must know y^e murderer took his time and place at y^e presse near y^e issue of y^e room, and many of us were stept out to our horses, as I my selfe was to go to Court with the Duke. The murderer gloryed in his acte y^e first day; but when I told him he was y^e first assassin of an Englishman, a gentleman, a soldier, and a protestant, he shrunk at it, and is now grown penitent. It seems this man and Ravillac were of no other Religion (though he professeth other) than _assassanisme_; they have the same maxims as you will see by two writings were found sowed in his hat, wc^h goe herewith. “From Lord Viscount Dorchester to” [not addressed.][128] Footnote 125: Letters. Footnote 126: Lady Anglesea, the sister-in-law of Buckingham’s mother, being the wife of his brother, Christopher, Earl of Anglesea. Footnote 127: There is an hiatus here in the MS. Footnote 128: Domestic State Papers, August 27, 1628. No. 21. In another letter, addressed to the King of Bohemia by Sir Charles Morgan, it was also shown in what sanguine spirits the Duke was, and how he was forming good resolutions, when he received the fatal blow which cut him off from all hope of retrieving the errors he so candidly confessed, or of completing the work of reformation, in various departments, which he hoped to accomplish. Although we may feel assured that the blow was suffered to fall for some purpose of mercy, yet never did any sudden death seem more untimely.