ion, or to have the parties to hear the
charge, and we to hear the parties answer." The demand of the Lords was
strictly just, but cruel; the Articles were now sent to him; he had been
charged with definite offences; he must answer yes or no, confess them
or defend himself. A further question arose whether he should not be
sent for to appear at the bar. He still held the seals. "Shall the Great
Seal come to the bar?" asked Lord Pembroke. It was agreed that he was to
be asked whether he would acknowledge the particulars. His answer was
"that he will make no manner of defence to the charge, but meaneth to
acknowledge corruption, and to make a particular confession to every
point, and after that a humble submission. But he humbly craves liberty
that, when the charge is more full than he finds the truth of the fact,
he may make a declaration of the truth in such particulars, the charge
being brief and containing not all the circumstances." And such a
confession he made. "My Lords," he said, to those who were sent to ask
whether he would stand to it, "it is my act, my hand, my heart. I
beseech your Lordships be merciful to a broken reed." This was, of
course, followed by a request to the King from the House to "sequester"
the Great Seal. A commission was sent to receive it (May 1). "The worse,
the better," he answered to the wish, "that it had been better with
him." "By the King's great favour I received the Great Seal; by my own
great fault I have lost it." They intended him now to come to the bar to
receive his sentence. But he was too ill to leave his bed. They did not
push this point farther, but proceeded to settle the sentence (May 3).
He had asked for mercy, but he did not get it. There were men who talked
of every extremity short of death. Coke, indeed, in the Commons, from
his store of precedents, had cited cases where judges had been hanged
for bribery. But the Lords would not hear of this. "His offences foul,"
said Lord Arundel; "his confession pitiful. Life not to be touched." But
Southampton, whom twenty years before he had helped to involve in
Essex's ruin, urged that he should be degraded from the peerage; and
asked whether, at any rate, "he whom this House thinks unfit to be a
constable shall come to the Parliament." He was fined L40,000. He was to
be imprisoned in the Tower during the King's pleasure. He was to be
incapable of any office, place, or employment in the State or
Commonwealth. He was never to sit i