172 TAXES AND CONTRIBUTIONS. 



the king's friends. The charges conclude with a formal accusa- 

 tion and impeachment of Suffolk, and a prayer that they be 

 enacted in Parliament. 



Most historians criticise these charges as vague and uncertain, 

 and even as malevolent. But the independent testimony of 

 Gascoigne l shews that this, and more than what is stated here, 

 was popularly believed, and founded on what seemed sufficient 

 evidence. The charges were read to the Lords on Feb. 12, 

 and it was suggested that a copy of them should be sent to the 

 judges. The king, however, determined to postpone the matter. 

 On March 7, the Lords concluded by a majority that Suffolk 

 should answer the charges, and on March 9 the Commons put 

 in eighteen other articles of a far more particular character. 

 These comprise malversations in office, the lavish grant of 

 liberties, the bestowal of the earldom of Kendai on his niece's 

 husband (a French subject, and son of Gaston de Foix, the 

 Captal de Buch, who, after obtaining enormous grants, leagued 

 with the king's enemies), the trafficking in offices on behalf of 

 unworthy persons (a constant complaint of Gascoigne), the 

 procuring of grants, the embezzlement of subsidies to a prodi- 

 gious amount, the impoverishment of the crown lands, the 

 denial of justice to injured parties, and the concession of 

 pardon to a murderer, the tampering with the election of 

 sheriffs, and the alienation of the king's allies. The articles are 

 more substantial and more serious than those alleged before. 



Suffolk was brought from the Tower on March 9, and the 

 charges were read to him. He asked for copies, and was com- 

 mitted, under the custody of three persons, to a tower in the 

 Palace of Westminster. On March 13 he made his answer, 

 denying the truth or the relevancy of the charges, stating that 

 as regards the cession of Maine and Anjou, other lords were 

 equally responsible with himself, and that in particular the 

 Bishop of Chichester (Adam de Moleyns, murdered at Ports- 

 mouth on Jan. 8, 1450) had actually made the transfer. He 



1 Liber Veritatum, Index, Suffolk. 



