224 CHARGE AGAINST ROBERT 



those, joined to the information which we have re 

 ceived from Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, may be full in 

 structions unto us for his examination. Farther, I 

 pray let his majesty know, that on Thursday in the 

 evening my lord chief justice and myself attended 

 my lord chancellor at his house for the settling 

 that scruple which his majesty most justly con 

 ceived in the examination of the lady Somerset ; at 

 which time, resting on his majesty s opinion, that 

 that evidence, as it standeth now uncleared, must 

 &quot; secundum leges sanae eonscientias&quot; be laid aside ; 

 the question was, whether we should leave it out, or 

 try what a re-examination of my lady Somerset 

 would produce? Whereupon we agreed upon a re-ex 

 amination of my lady Somerset, which my lord chief 

 justice and I have appointed for Monday morning. 

 I was bold at that meeting to put my lord chief 

 justice a posing question ; which was, Whether that 

 opinion which his brethren had given upon the whole 

 evidence, and he had reported to his majesty, namely, 

 that it was good evidence, in their opinions, to con 

 vict my lord of Somerset, was not grounded upon 

 this part of the evidence now to be omitted, as well 

 as upon the rest : who answered positively, No ; and 

 they never saw the exposition of the letter, but the 

 letter only. 



The same Thursday evening, before we entered 

 into this last matter, and in the presence of Mr. Se 

 cretary Winwood, who left us when we went to the 

 former business, we had conference concerning the 

 frauds and abusive grants passed to the prejudice of 



