It was resolved, without any division, that he should be sent to the Tower, that he should be kept close prisoner there, that he should be expelled from the House.

Whether any further punishment could be inflicted on him was a perplexing question.

The English law touching forgery became, at a later period, barbarously severe; but, in 1698, it was absurdly lax.

The prisoner's offence was certainly not a felony; and lawyers apprehended that there would be much difficulty in convicting him even of a misdemeanour.

But a recent precedent was fresh in the minds of all men.
The weapon which had reached Fenwick might reach Duncombe.