“No warrant was needed for what I have done,” replied Southampton, in a proud and defiant tone. “My attention cannot be given at one and the same time to affairs of state and to the business of the Court of Chancery, and I have therefore chosen to devote myself chiefly to the former. But all decisions of the masters will be ratified by myself before enrolment.”
“You have outstripped your authority, my lord, in what you have done,” observed Somerset, sternly. “The judges have been consulted upon the matter, and their well-considered answer is, that you, my lord chancellor, ought not, without warrant from the council, to have set the seal to such a commission. They regard it as a precedent of very high and ill consequence, and as an indication that a change in the laws of England is intended by you.”
“Tut! tut! their fears are groundless,” remarked Southampton, contemptuously.
“Hear me out, I pray you, my lord,” pursued Somerset. “The judges unanimously declare that by the unwarrantable and illegal act committed by you, you have forfeited your place to the king, and rendered yourself liable to fine and imprisonment at his majesty’s pleasure.”
“What say you to this, my lord?” cried Paget, in a taunting tone.
“I say the judges are in error, or have been basely tampered with, to deliver such an opinion,” rejoined Southampton, furiously. “But the scheme is too transparent not to be seen through at a glance. ‘T is a weak device of the lord protector to get rid of me. But I tell him to his face that I hold my office by a better authority than he holds his own.”
“How by a better authority, my lord?” cried Somerset.
“Because it was conferred upon me by my late royal master,” returned Southampton, “who not only made me what I am, lord chancellor, but one of the governors of the realm during his son’s minority, of which office your Highness seeks to deprive me. But you cannot do it, for the king’s will must be observed, and by that will, as you well know, none of you have powers over the others, or can cause their dismissal. Declare the commission void, if you will. I am content. But think not to deprive me of my office for no fault, or to remove me from the government, for you cannot do it.”
“The arguments you have used, my lord, are of little weight,” observed Lord Rich. “Each executor under the late king’s will is subject to his colleagues, and cannot do any act on his own responsibility. Thus, if one of our number should be guilty of high treason or rebellion, he would be clearly punishable, and could not shelter himself under the plea that he was a member of the council, and therefore absolved from his act. If you can show that you have any warrant for what you have done, you will be held excused, but not otherwise.”
“Ay, produce your warrant, my lord, if you have it?” demanded Paget, sarcastically.
The lord chancellor made no reply. He saw that he was caught in the toils of his enemies.
“Can you advance aught in your justification, my lord?” said the king, who had not hitherto spoken. “If so, we are willing to hear you.”
“I should speak to little purpose, sire,” replied Southampton, with dignity, “for my enemies are too strong for me. But I take Heaven to witness that I acted for the best.”
“You had best make your submission, my lord,” observed Lord Seymour. “This haughty tone will only make matters worse.”
“Is it you who counsel submission, my lord admiral?” cried Southampton, almost fiercely. “I have declared that I had no ill design in what I did. I believed, and still believe, that I had power to act as I have acted; but you all declare otherwise. I therefore submit myself humbly to the king’s mercy. If I am to be deprived of mine office, I pray that, in consideration of past services, I may be dealt with leniently.”
“Strict justice shall be done you, doubt it not, my lord,” said Edward. “Withdraw, we pray you, while we deliberate upon the matter.”