238 CHARGE AGAINST ROBERT 



TO THE KING, AIIOUT SOMERSET S EXAMINATION. 



It may please your Majesty, 



WE have done our best endeavours to perform 

 your majesty s commission, both in matter and man 

 ner, for the examination of my lord of Somerset ; 

 wherein that which passed, for the general, was to 

 this effect ; That he was to know his own case, for 

 that his day of trial could not be far off; but that 

 this day s work was that which would conduce to 

 your majesty s justice little or nothing, but to 

 your mercy much, if he did lay hold upon it ; 

 and therefore might do him good, but could do 

 him no hurt. For as for your justice, there had 

 been taken great and grave opinion, not only 

 of such judges as he may think violent, but of 

 the most sad and most temperate of the kingdom, 

 who ought to understand the state of the proofs, 

 that the evidence was full to convict him, so as 

 there needeth neither confession, nor supply of exa 

 mination. But for your majesty s mercy, although 

 he were not to expect we should make any promise, 

 we did assure him, that your majesty was com 

 passionate of him if he gave you some ground 

 whereon to work ; that as long as he stood upon his 

 innoconcy and trial, your majesty was tied in honour 

 to proceed according to justice; and that he little 

 understood, being a close prisoner, how much the 

 expectation of the world, besides your love to justice 

 itself, engaged your majesty, whatsoever your incli- 



