He seemed even thankful for the information given him; and declared himself ashamed that such abuses, unknowingly to him, had crept into his administration.

"I assure you," said he, "had I before heard these things complained of, I would have done the office of a just king, and out of parliament have punished them, as severely, and peradventure more, than you now intend to do."[*] A sentence was passed for the punishment of Michel and Mompesson.[**] It was executed on the former.

The latter broke prison and escaped.
Villiers was at that time sent purposely on a foreign employment; and his guilt, being less enormous, or less apparent, than that of the others, he was the more easily protected by the credit of his brother Buckingham.[***] * Franklyn, p.51.Rushworth, vol.i.p.

25.
** Franklyn, p.52.Rushworth, vol.i.p.

27.
**** Yelverton, the attorney-general, was accused by the commons for drawing the patents for these monopolies, and for supporting them.