CHARLES I. r6z

VenGE. This casual, and seemingly innocent j cat least ambiguous, expression, was reported toStrafford ; who, on pretence that such a sug-gestion might prompt Annestey to avenge him-self in another mariner, ordered Mountnorris ,who was an officer, to be tried by a court-martialfor mutiny and sedition against his general. Thecourt, which consisted of the chief officers Of thearmy , found the crime to be capital and con-es demned that nobleman to lose his head

In vain did Strafford plead in his own defenceagainst this article of impeachment, that thesentence of Mountnorris was the deed, and thattoo unanimous , of the court, not the act ofthe deputy; that he spake not to a member ofthe court, nor voted in the cause, but sat un-covered as a party, and then immediately with-drew, to leave them to their freedom; that sen-sible of the iniquity of the sentence, he procuredhis majesty’s free pardon to Mountnorris ; andthat he did not even keep that nobleman a mo-ment in suspense with regard to his fate, butinstantly told him, that he himself would soonerJose his right hand than execute such a sentence,nor was his lordship’s life in any danger. In vaindid Strafford’s friends add, as a further apology,that Mountnorris was a man of an infamouscharacter, who paid court, by the lowest adu-lation , to all deputies , while present; and black-ened their character, by the vilest calumnies,

" Rulhworth, vol. isr.-p. 187.

M a

H Anv.*641.