LEGAL SUBJECTS. 44 1 



have, upon divers meetings and conferences, consi 

 dered what form and manner of proceeding against 

 Sir Walter Ralegh might best stand with your 

 majesty s justice and honour, if you shall be pleased, 

 that the law shall pass upon him. 



And, first, we are of opinion, that Sir Walter 

 Ralegh being attainted of high-treason, which is the 

 highest and last work of law, he cannot be drawn 

 in question judicially for any crime or offence since 

 committed. And therefore we humbly present two 

 forms of proceeding to your majesty : the one, that 

 together with the warrant to the lieutenant of the 

 Tower, if your majesty shall so please, for his execu 

 tion, to publish a narrative in print of his late crimes 

 and offences : which, albeit your majesty is not 

 bound to give an account of your actions in these 

 cases to any but only to God alone, we humbly 

 offer to your majesty s consideration, as well in res 

 pect of the great effluxion of time since his attainder, 

 and of his employment by your majesty s commis 

 sion, as for that his late crimes and offences are not 

 yet publickly known. The other form, whereunto, 

 if your majesty so please, we rather incline, is, that 

 where your majesty is so renowned for your justice, 

 it may have such a proceeding, as is nearest to legal 

 proceeding ; which is, that he be called before the 

 whole body of your council of state, and your prin 

 cipal judges, in your council-chamber ; and that 

 some of the nobility and gentlemen of quality be 

 admitted to be present to hear the whole proceed 

 ing, as in like cases hath been used. And after the 



