Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 4.djvu/246

226 his harlot, thinking thereby to bring it to pass, and so would rule both father and son, what this importeth?

'If a man say these words, 'If the King die, who should have the rule of the prince but my father or I?' what it importeth?'

If a man say these words of a man or a woman of the realm, 'If the King were dead, I would shortly shut him up,' what it importeth?

If a man, provoked or compelled by his duty of allegiance, shall declare such matters as he heareth touching the King, and shall after be continually threatened by the person accused to be killed or hurt for it, what it importeth?'

The last of these questions refers to something of which the evidence is lost; the second to a right pretended by Surrey to bear the arms of Edward the Confessor. Whether the extremity of suspicion was justified is of little importance. Enough had been proved to bring Surrey under the letter of the treason law, and to make him far more than guilty under the spirit of it. He had played for a high stake; he had failed, and had now to pay the forfeit. On the 13th of January, the day before the meeting of Parliament, he was tried before a special commission at the Guildhall; and, after a rhetorical defence, he was found guilty, sentenced, and executed.