Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 At this parlement sir Richard Empson knight,Empson and Dudleie at|teinted of treason. and Edmund Dudleie esquier late councellors vn|to king Henrie the seauenth, were atteinted of high treason. They were charged with manie offenses committed in the late kings daies, as partlie before yée haue heard; Polydor. who being brought before the coun|cell, as they were graue and wise personages, and both of them learned and skilfull in the lawes of the realme: so had they vtterance verie readie whereby to deliuer the conceipts of their minds with singular dexteritie, speciallie in a case of importance; in so much that when the said parties were conuented be|fore the assemblie of the lords, they alleged for them|selues right constantlie (in their owne defenses) much good and sufficient matter, of whome Empson (being the elder in yeares) had these words.
20.1. A speech vttered by Empson to the lords of the councell to find fauour.
A speech vttered by Empson to the lords of the councell to find fauour.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 _I Know (right honorable) that it is not vnknowne to you, how profitable and necessarie lawes are for the good preseruation of mans life: without the which neither house, towne, nor citie can long continue or stand in safetie. Which lawes heere in England, thorough negligence of magi|strates, were partlie decaied, and partlie quite forgotten and worne out of vse; the EEBO page image 816 mischeefe whereof dailie increasing, Henrie the seauenth a most graue and prudent prince wished to suppresse, and therefore appointed vs to see, that such lawes as were yet in vse might continue in their full force; and such as were out of vse might a|gaine be reuiued and restored to their for|mer state; & that also those persons which transgressed the same, might be punished according to their demerits. Wherein we discharged our dueties in most faithfull wise, and best maner we could, to the great aduantage & commoditie (no doubt) of the whole commonwealth. Wherfore we most humblie beseech you in respect of your ho|nours, courtesie, goodnesse, humanitie, and iustice, not to decree any greeuous sentence against vs, as though we were worthie of punishment, but rather to appoint how with thankfull recompense our paines & trauell may be worthilie considered.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Manie of the councell thought that he had spoken well, and so as stood with great reason: but yet the greater number (supposing that the reuiuing of those lawes had procéeded rather of a couetous meaning in the king and them, than of anie zeale of iustice, and hauing also themselues felt the smart latelie be|fore for their owne offenses and transgressions) had conceiued such malice towards the men,Most of the [...] of the co [...]cell a|gainst Emp|son. that they thought it reason, that such as had béene dealers therein, were worthie to lose their heads, in like sort as they had caused others to lose their monie. Héere|vpon, their accusors were mainteined, and manie od matters narrowlie sought out against them, as by two seuerall indictments framed against sir Ri|chard Empson (the copies whereof I haue séene) it may well appeare.