nd they regarded
his death as the only security which they could have, both for the
establishment of their present power, and for success in their future
enterprises. His impeachment, therefore, was pushed on with the utmost
vigor; and, after long and solemn preparations, was brought to a final
issue.

Immediately after Strafford was sequestered from parliament, and
confined in the Tower, a committee of thirteen was chosen by the lower
house, and intrusted with the office of preparing a charge against him.
These, joined to a small committee of lords, were vested with authority
to examine all witnesses, to call for every paper, and to use any
means of scrutiny, with regard to any part of the earl's behavior and
conduct.[*] After so general and unbounded an inquisition, exercised by
such powerful and implacable enemies, a man must have been very cautious
or very innocent, not to afford, during the whole course of his life,
some matter of accusation against him.

This committee, by direction from both houses, took an oath of
secrecy; a practice very unusual, and which gave them the appearance of
conspirators, more than ministers of justice.[**] But the intention of
this strictness was, to render it more difficult for the earl to elude
their search, or prepare for his justification.

Application was made to the king, that he would allow this committee
to examine privy counsellors with regard to opinions delivered at the
board: a concession which Charles unwarily made, and which thenceforth
banished all mutual confidence from the deliberations of council; where
every man is supposed to have entire freedom, without fear of future
punishment or inquiry, of proposing any expedient, questioning any
opinion, or supporting any argument.[***]

Sir George Ratcliffe, the earl's intimate friend and confidant, was
accused of high treason, sent for from Ireland, and committed to close
custody. As no charge ever appeared or was prosecuted against him, it
is impossible to give a more charitable interpretation to this measure,
than that the commons thereby intended to deprive Strafford, in his
present distress, of the assistance of his best friend, who was most
enabled, by his testimony, to justify the innocence of his patron's
conduct and behavior.[****]

* Clarendon, vol. i. p. 192.

** Whitlocke, p. 37.

*** Clarendon, vol. i. p. 193.

**** Clarendon, vol. i. p 214.

When intelligence arrived in Ireland o