other parts more fortresses than
they could garrison or provide for, it seemed no bad policy to contract
their force, and to render the defence practicable, by reducing it
within a narrower compass.

* Cotton, p.643.

The commons were probably sensible, that this charge of treason against
Suffolk would not bear a strict scrutiny; and they therefore, soon
after, sent up against him a new charge of misdemeanors, which they also
divided into several articles. They affirmed, among other imputations,
that he had procured exorbitant grants from the crown, had embezzled the
public money, had conferred offices on improper persons, had perverted
justice by maintaining iniquitous causes, and had procured pardons for
notorious offenders.[*] The articles are mostly general, but are not
improbable; and as Suffolk seems to have been a bad man and a bad
minister, it will not be rash in us to think that he was guilty, and
that many of these articles could have been proved against him. The
court was alarmed at the prosecution of a favorite minister, who lay
under such a load of popular prejudices; and an expedient was fallen
upon to save him from present ruin. The king summoned all the lords,
spiritual and temporal, to his apartment: the prisoner was produced
before them, and asked what he could say in his own defence: he denied
the charge; but submitted to the king's mercy: Henry expressed himself
not satisfied with regard to the first impeachment for treason; but
in consideration of the second for misdemeanors, he declared that, by
virtue of Suffolk's own submission, not by any judicial authority, he
banished him the kingdom during five years. The lords remained silent;
but as soon as they returned to their own house, they entered a protest,
that this sentence should nowise infringe their privileges, and that, if
Suffolk had insisted upon his right, and had not voluntarily submitted
to the king's commands, he was entitled to a trial by his peers in
parliament.

It was easy to see, that these irregular proceedings were meant to favor
Suffolk, and that, as he still possessed the queen's confidence, he
would, on the first favorable opportunity, be restored to his country,
and be reinstated in his former power and credit. A captain of a vessel
was therefore employed by his enemies to intercept him in his passage to
France: he was seized near Dover; his head struck off on the side of
a long-boat; and his body thrown into the sea,[*