As for Stukeley, the acquisitiveness which had made a Judas of
him was destined, by a poetic justice, ever desired but rarely
forthcoming for knaves, soon to be his ruin. He was caught
diminishing the gold coin of the realm by the operation known to-
day as "clipping," and with him was taken his creature Manourie,
who, to save himself, turned chief witness against Stukeley. Sir
Lewis was sentenced to death, but saved himself by purchasing his
pardon at the cost of every ill-gotten shilling he possessed, and
he lived thereafter as bankrupt of means as he was of honour.
Yet before all this happened, Sir Lewis had for his part in Sir
Walter Ralegh's death come to be an object of execration
throughout the land, and to be commonly known as "Sir Judas." At
Whitehall he suffered rebuffs and insults that found a climax in
the words addressed to him by the Lord Admiral, to whom he went
to give an account of his office.
"Base fellow, darest thou who art the contempt and scorn of men
offer thyself in my presence?"
For a man of honour there was but one course. Sir Judas was not a
man of honour. He carried his grievance to the King. James leered
at him.
"What wouldst thou have me do? Wouldst thou have me hang him? On
my soul, if I should hang all that speak ill of thee, all the
trees of the country would not suffice, so great is the number.
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