king's feet while he sat in council; craving pardon for past offences
and offering to atone for them by any services which should be required
of him. Henry then told him, that the best proof he could give of
penitence, and the only service he could now render him, was the full
confession of his guilt, and the discovery of all his accomplices,
however distinguished by rank or character. Encouraged by this
exhortation, Clifford accused Stanley, then present, as his chief
abettor; and offered to lay before the council the full proof of
his guilt. Stanley himself could not discover more surprise than was
affected by Henry on the occasion. He received the intelligence as
absolutely false and incredible; that a man, to whom he was in a great
measure beholden for his crown, and even for his life; a man, to, whom,
by every honor and favor, he had endeavored to express his gratitude;
whose brother, the earl of Derby, was his own father-in-law; to whom
he had even committed the trust of his person, by creating him lord
chamberlain: that this man, enjoying his full confidence and affection,
not actuated by any motive of discontent or apprehension, should engage
in a conspiracy against him. Clifford was therefore exhorted to weigh
well the consequences of his accusation; but as he persisted in the same
positive asseverations, Stanley was committed to custody, and was soon
after examined before the council.[*] He denied not the guilt imputed to
him by Clifford; he did not even endeavor much to extenuate it; whether
he thought that a frank and open confession would serve as an atonement,
or trusted to his present connections and his former services for pardon
and security. But princes are often apt to regard great services as
a ground of jealousy, especially if accompanied with a craving and
restless disposition in the person who has performed them. The general
discontent also, and mutinous humor of the people, seemed to require
some great example of severity. And as Stanley was one of the most
opulent subjects in the kingdom, being possessed of above three thousand
pounds a year in land, and forty thousand marks in plate and money,
besides other property of great value, the prospect of so rich a
forfeiture was deemed no small motive for Henry's proceeding to
extremities against him.

* Bacon, p. 611 Polyd. Virg. p. 593.

{1495.} After six weeks' delay, which was interposed in order to show
that the king was restrained by doub