NOT I- c: c; G. 



1 confess and declare that the money mentioned in the article was received 

 from Mr. Barker, some time after the decree passed. 



&quot; 24. To the four and twentieth article, five and twentieth, and six and 

 twentieth articles of the charge, viz. the four and twentieth, there being a refe 

 rence from his majesty to his lordship of a business between the Giocers and 

 the Apothecaries, the Lord Chancellor received of the Grocers two hundred 

 pounds. The five and twentieth article : in the same cause, he received of the 

 Apothecaries that stood with the Grocers, a taster of gold, worth between forty 

 and fifty pounds, and a present of ambergrease. And the six and twentieth 

 article : he received of the New Company of the Apothecaries that stood against 

 the Grocers, an hundred pounds : To these I confess and declare, that the 

 several sums from the three parties were received ; and for that it was no 

 judicial business, but a concord, or composition between the parlies, and that as 

 I thought all had received good, and they were all three common purses, I 

 thought it the less matter to receive that which they voluntarily presented ; for 

 if I had taken it in the nature of a corrupt bribe, 1 knew it could not be con 

 cealed, because it must needs be put to accompt to the three several companies. 

 &quot; 27. To the seven and twentieth article of the charge : viz. he took of the 

 French merchants a thousand pounds, to constrain the vintners of London to 

 take from them fifteen hundred tons of wine ; to accomplish which, he used very 

 indirect means, by colour of his office and authority, without bill or suit depend 

 ing ; terrifying the vintners, by threats and imprisonments of their persons, to 

 buy wines, whereof they had no need or use, at higher rates than they were 

 vendible : 1 do confess and declare, that Sir Thomas Smith did deal with me 

 in the behalf of the French company ; informing me, that the vintners, by 

 combination, would not take off their wines at any reasonable prices. That it 

 would destroy their trade, and stay their voyage for that year ; and that it was a 

 fair business, and concerned the state ; and he doubted not but I should receive 

 thanks from the King, and honour by it ; and that they would gratify me with a 

 thousand pounds for my travel in it; whereupon I treated between them, by 

 way of persuasion, and (to prevent any compulsory suit) propounding such a 

 price as the vintners might be gainers six pounds a ton, as it was then main 

 tained to me ; and after, the merchants petitioning to the King, and his majesty 

 recommending the business unto me, as a business that concerned his customs 

 and the navy, I dealt more earnestly and peremptorily in it ; and, as I think, 

 restrained in the messengers hands for a day or two some that were the more 

 stiff; and afterwards the merchants presented me with a thousand pounds out 

 of their common purse ; acknowledging themselves that I had kept them from a 

 kind of ruin, and still maintaining to me that the vintners, if they were not 

 insatiably minded, had a very competent gain. This is the merits of the cause, 

 as it then appeared unto me. 



&quot; 28. To the eight and twentieth article of the charge ; viz. the Lord Chan 

 cellor hath given way to great exactions by his servants, both in respect of 

 private seals, and otherwise for sealing of injunctions : I confess, it was a great 

 fault of neglect in me, that I looked no better to my servants. 



&quot; This declaration I have made to your lordships with a sincere mind ; 

 humbly craving, that if there should be any mistaking, your lordships would 

 impute it to want of memory, and not to any desire of mine to obscure truth, or 

 palliate any thing : for I do again confess, that in the points charged upon me, 

 although they should be taken as myself have declared them, there is a great 

 deal of corruption and neglect, for which I am heartily and penitently sorry, and 

 submit myself to the judgment, grace, and mercy of the court. 



&quot; For extenuation, I will use none concerning the matters themselves; only 

 it may please your lordships, out of your nobleness, to cast your eyes of com 

 passion upon my person and estate. I was never noted for an avaricious man. 

 And the apostle saith, that covetousness is the root of all evil. I hope also, 

 that your lordships do the rather find me in the state of grace; for that, in all 

 these particulars, there are few or none that are not almost two years old, 

 whereas those that have an habit of corruption do commonly wax worse and 



