CONFESSION. CCCllX 



sealed up, which was delivered to the clerk; and being 

 opened, and found directed to their lordships, it was read : 



&quot; To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Tem 

 poral, in the High Court of Parliament assembled. 

 &quot; The Confession and Humble Submission of me, the Lord 

 Chancellor. 



&quot; Upon advised consideration of the charge, descending 

 into my own conscience, and calling my memory to account 

 so far as I am able, I do plainly and ingenuously confess 

 that I am guilty of corruption, and do renounce all de 

 fence, and put myself upon the grace and mercy of your 

 lordships. 



&quot; The particulars I confess and declare to be as followeth : 



&quot;1. To the first article of the charge, viz. in the cause Egerton 

 between Sir Rowland Egerton and Edward Egerton, the ^ gerton- 

 Lord Chancellor received five hundred pounds on the part 

 of Sir Rowland Egerton, before he decreed the cause : I do 



22. He took of the French merchants a thousand pounds 

 to constrain the Vintners of London to take from them 

 fifteen hundred tuns of wine ; proved by the depositions of 

 Robert Bell, William Spright, and Richard Peacock. To 

 accomplish which, he used very indirect means, by colour 

 of his office and authority, without bill or -suit depending ; 

 terrifying the Vintners, by threats and imprisonments of 

 their persons, to buy wines, whereof they had no need nor 

 use, at higher rates than they were vendible ; proved by 

 the depositions of John Child, Henry Ashton, Thomas 

 Haselfote, Raphe Moore, Thomas Knight, and his own 

 letters and orders. 



23. The Lord Chancellor hath given way to great exac 

 tions by his servants, both in respect of private seals, and 

 likewise for sealing of injunctions, and otherwise; proved 

 by the depositions of Thomas Manwood and Richard 

 Keeling. 



