Gloucester's Alleged Confession

Hume claims that the truth of Gloucester's confession "may be entirely depended on"--that it was "genuine, and obtained without violence."

His evidence is this: In the first parliament of Henry IV, Judge Rickhill, who brought the confession over from Calais, was tried on the charge of fabricating the confession, but was acquitted, even though "Glocester's party was prevalent."

To Hume, Rickhill's acquittal "may even appear marvellous, considering the times." (Hume believed him to be innocent.)