CHIEF JUSTICE COKE. 301 



up all at one blow, a merciful cruelty ; this would 

 have done the same by degrees, a lingring but a sure 

 way ; one might by one be called out, till all op- 

 posers had been removed. 



Besides, that other plot was scandalous to Rome, 

 making popery odious in the sight of the whole 

 world ; this hath been scandalous to the truth of the 

 whole gospel ; and since the first nullity to this in 

 stant, when justice hath her hands bound, the devil 

 could not have invented a more mischievous practice 

 to our state and church than this hath been, is, arid 

 is like to be. God avert the evil. 



Butherein you committed another fault : that as 

 you were too open in your proceedings, and so taught 

 them thereby to defend themselves ; so you gave them 

 time to undermine justice, and to work upon all ad 

 vantages both of affections, and honour, and oppor 

 tunity, and breach of friendship ; which they have 

 so well followed, sparing neither pains nor costs, that 

 it almost seemeth an higher offence in you to have 

 done so much indeed, than that you have done no 

 more : you stopt the confessions and accusations of 

 some, who perhaps, had they been suffered, would 

 have spoken enough to have removed some stumbling- 

 blocks out of your way ; and that you did not this 

 in the favour of any one, but of I know not what 

 present unadvised humours, supposing enough behind 

 to discover all ; which fell not out so. Howsoever, 

 as the apostle saith in another case, you &quot; went not 

 rightly to the truth ;&quot; and therefore, though you were 

 to be commended for what you did, yet you were to 



