[180] This case brings to our notice a third pamphlet issued by the Government in defence of its proceedings. This was entitled, “The Execution of Justice in England, for Maintenance of publique and Christian Peace, against certeine Stirrers of Sedition, and Adherents to the Traytours and Enemies of the Realme, without any Persecution of them for Questions of Religion, as is falsely reported and published by the Fautors and Fosterers of their Treasons: xvii. December, 1583.” Reprinted in Harleian Mis., ii. 137-55, and in Somer’s Tracts, i. 189-208. This also has been ascribed to Lord Burghley. It is a defence of the penal laws against Catholics. A recent Act, 23 Eliz. (1581) c. 1, made it high treason, punishable with drawing, hanging, and quartering, to convert any one to the Church of Rome, or to be converted. It is proverbially dangerous to argue with the master of legions; it was equally dangerous to argue with the mistress of the rack, the gallows, and the ripping-knife. Alfield and Webley had circulated copies of an answer to “The Execution of Justice in England.” They experienced this “Justice” in consequence; were tortured in prison and afterwards hanged. [181] For an account of Lopez see “A History of the Jews in England,” by Mr. Albert M. Hyamson, 1908, pp. 136-9. [182] Camden’s “History of Q. Elizabeth,” in Kennett’s “History,” ii. 632. Lingard says: “No man who will read a report of his trial can entertain a doubt of his innocence.” [183] =1618.= _March 1._ Touching the News of the Time: Sir George Villiers, the new Favourite, tapers up apace, and grows strong at Court: His Predecessor the Earl of Somerset hath got a Lease of 90 years for his Life, and so hath his _Articulate_ Lady, called so, for articling against the frigidity and impotence of her former Lord. She was afraid that Coke, the Lord Chief Justice (who had used such extraordinary art and industry in discovering all the circumstances of the poisoning of Overbury) would have made white _Broth_ of them, but that the _Prerogative_ kept them from the _Pot_: yet the Subservient Instruments, the lesser Flies could not break thorow, but lay entangled in the Cobweb; amongst others Mistress Turner, the first inventress of _yellow Starch_, was executed in a Cobweb Lawn Ruff of that colour at Tyburn, and with her I believe that _yellow Starch_, which so much disfigured our Nation, and rendered them so ridiculous and fantastic, will receive its Funeral. (Howell’s “Familiar Letters,” ed. Jacobs, 1890, p. 20). [184] Journals of the House of Lords, iv. pp. 662, 723.