Tremendous as the accusation was, he made not the slightest fight about it.

Up to this time he had held himself innocent.
Now, overwhelmed and stunned, he made no attempt at defence; he threw up the game without a struggle, and volunteered an absolute and unreserved confession of his guilt--that is to say, he declined to stand his trial.
Only, he made an earnest application to the House of Lords, in proceeding to sentence, to be content with a general admission of guilt, and to spare him the humiliation of confessing the separate facts of alleged "bribery" which were contained in the twenty-eight Articles of his accusation.

This submission, "grounded only on rumour," for the Articles of charge had not yet been communicated to him by the accusers, took the House by surprise.

"No Lord spoke to it, after it had been read, for a long time." But they did not mean that he should escape with this.

The House treated the suggestion with impatient scorn (April 24).
"It is too late," said Lord Saye.