. The popular history of England : an illustrated history of society and government from the earliest period to our own times . n. 79. 258 CONVICTION OF EMPSON AND DUDLEY. [1509. Manv of the false witnesses, or promoters, who were employed by thesecriminal agents of a greater criminal, were also apprehended; and, in theIanfuas;e of the time, wore papers,—that is, they stood in the pLUoryc:ich with a paper describing his offences. The prosecution of Empson andDudley was a signal instance of the abuse of justice, however politic it mighthave been to appease the clamours of those whom they had in
. The popular history of England : an illustrated history of society and government from the earliest period to our own times . n. 79. 258 CONVICTION OF EMPSON AND DUDLEY. [1509. Manv of the false witnesses, or promoters, who were employed by thesecriminal agents of a greater criminal, were also apprehended; and, in theIanfuas;e of the time, wore papers,—that is, they stood in the pLUoryc:ich with a paper describing his offences. The prosecution of Empson andDudley was a signal instance of the abuse of justice, however politic it mighthave been to appease the clamours of those whom they had injured. Theydefended themselves before the council with eloquence, and with a show oftruth. They acted, as they declared, according to the commissions withwhich they were entrusted, and they conformed to precedent and the letter ofthe law. The charges against them failed; for the real offender was theirlord the king, who had benefited by their practices. But it was expedientto punish them ; and a ridiculous charge of treason agJiinst the reigningjuonarch was got up against them, it being pretended that they conspired to. Queen Ctttljermo, From a by Uolboln. seize the person of Henry on the death of his father, and to nflsume thefunctions of government. Empson was convicted on this charge by a jury atKorlhampton. .and Dudley by a jury in London. Tlie jiarliamcnt passed abill c)f attainder against tliem at llie beginning of 1510; and they wereexecuted in the following August. But out of the treasury, whicliHenry VIII. found ain|)ly supplied in part througli their evil labours, therecame no relief to their victims. Some laws were made to prevent suchabuses in future—an easier duty than that of restitution. 1609.] MARRIAGE OP THE KING—CORONATION. 25S The doubtful position of the princess Catherine was soon relieved by thedetermination of Henry to complete the contract of marriage which had beenlegalised by a papal dispensation in 1503. They were publicly united by t
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