criminall. Besides, who should doe it? For if it bee graunted (wch I beeleeve will bee a matter of much difficulty to prove), The Lords' howse, or my Lord Keeper in it, may in some cases administer an Oath to a Commoner, may a Committee of the Lords and Commons doe it? I conceive they had no president for doing so. Yet that was our case. Mr Spencer, Sr George Strood, and myselfe must upon oath have accused each other, though told wee were not to answer anything concerned ourselves. But our integryty was such, nothing of consequence could be discovered more then beefore. After this, they two (and Sr Edward Dering absent) were empeached. Of my charge a stoppe was made, wch after was layd aside as forgotten; and those two having by good advise put in their answer, there was no farther prosecution of them, onely wee were commanded to call in all ye copies of this petition had beene by us distributed, wdl was done accordingly.
   39. Some may, perhaps, admire why the two howses were so transcendently incenced at this petition I why they laboured so earnestly the finding out a plot wdl was never imagined I why they tooke so unheard of wayes in their proceedings'? for when ever did the howse of Commons appoynt theyr members to joyn wth ye Lords in examining Commoners upon oath, much lesse such as were criminis participes, one against ye other I Why they shewde so strange partialyty as to incourage petitioning in some, yet make this a crime so heynous, as it is certayn a lawyer¹ of the Howse went so far as to say there were in it things not far from treason ? and another gentleman² of, I dare say, sincere and pious intentions, told me, defending it, I did not understand the ayme of that Petition; to whom I could onely wish the event might
prove me ye foole.
   ¹  Mr. George Peard, of the Inner Temple.—T.
    ²  Mr. Rich, Browne, of Great Chart.—T.