56 



LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 



farther examination of Somerset, 

 concerning matters of estate, after 

 he shall begin once to be a con- 

 fessant ; and so make as well a po 

 litic ground, as a ground of cle 

 mency, for farther stay. 



And for the second degree of proceeding to trial, and 

 staying judgment, I must better inform myself by prece 

 dents, and advise with my lord chancellor. 



The second case is, 

 if that fall out which is 

 likest (as things stand, 

 and which we expect) 

 which is, that the lady 

 confess : and that So 

 merset himself plead not 

 guilty, and be found 

 guilty. 



REX. If stay of judg 

 ment can stand with 

 the law, 1 would even 

 wish it in this case ; 

 in all the rest this 

 article cannot be 

 mended. 



In this case, first, I suppose 

 your majesty will not think of any 

 stay of judgment, but that the 

 public process of justice pass on. 



Secondly, for your mercy to be 

 extended to both, for pardon of 

 their execution, I have partly 

 touched, in the considerations ap 

 plied to the former case ; where- 

 unto may be added, that as there 

 is ground of mercy for her, upon 

 her penitency and free confession &amp;gt; 

 and will be much more upon his 

 finding guilty, because the malice 

 on his part will be thought the 

 deeper source of the offence ; so 

 there will be ground for mercy, on 

 his part, upon the nature of the 

 proof, because it rests chiefly upon 

 presumptions. For certainly, there 

 may be an evidence so balanced, 

 as it may have sufficient matter for 

 the conscience of the peers to con 

 vict him, and yet leave sufficient 

 matter in the conscience of a king, 



