The Works of Francis Bacon

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135

ALME MATRI ACADEMIE CANTABRIGIENSI (31 Oct. 1620) 135

7. Proceeding in the Star Chamber against Yelverton. OPENING
SPEECH BY BACON

Names and offices of the persons constituting the Court. Coke's

sentence. Bacon's concluding speech

SPEECH IN STAR CHAMBER, 10 NOVEMBER, 1620 .

LORD CHANCELLOR. BACON TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM

(11 Nov. 1620)

8. Proclamation issued for Parliament to meet on 16th of January.

Patent for engrossing Wills..

TO THE KING (from Bacon, Naunton, and Montagu, 15 Nov.

1620.).

SERENISSIMO AC POTENTISSIMO REGI AC DOMINO, DOMINO

CHRISTIANO QUARTO, DEI GRATIA DANIE, NORVEGIE,

VANDALORUM, GOTHORUMQUE, REGI, ETC., DOMINO SUO

CLEMENTISSIMO (19 Nov. 1620)

The Prince's writ of summons to Parliament. Precedents of Kings'
eldest sons called.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (from Bacon, Coke,
Montagu, Hobarte, and Crew, 21 Nov. 1620)

Question as to mode of dealing with patents likely to be com-
plained of in the Lower House.

TO THE R. HONOURABLE OUR VERY GOOD L. THE MARQ. of

BUCKINGHAM, L. HIGH ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND (from the

same: 29 Nov. 1620).

Private advice to Buckingham on the subject. Chief Justice

Montagu made Lord Treasurer. Instructions to be given him.

Choice of Speaker.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (29 Nov. 1620)
Patent for engrossing wills, opposed by the proctors of the Pre-
rogative Court. Legal question..

TO THE KING (from Bacon, Montagu, and Naunton, 12 De-
cember, 1620)
Consultation in Council concerning patents likely to be com-
plained of. Prognostics of Parliament not good.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (16 Dec. 1620)

Proclamation against licentious speaking and writing on state

matters, recommended by Bacon

Capture of Prague by the Bavarians. Change in the position.

of Frederic, and opening of a new prospect of settlement. Nego-

tiations set on foot

The King's decision on the Patent for engrossing wills

Draught of Proclamation approved.

Page

Analysis of Parliament business, sent to the King by Bacon.

"Huffing elections."

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (23 Dec. 1620)

155

A PROCLAMATION AGAINST EXCESS OF LAVISH SPEECH

MATTERS OF STATE

9. Bacon's suit for the making of a Baron. Buckingham's objections 157

Sir T. Coventry inade Attorney-General, and Robert Heath

Solicitor

Case of Lady Martin, a suitor recommended for despatch.

CHAPTER V.

A.D. 1620-1. JANUARY-MARCH. ETAT. 60.

1. Scarcity of money: abundance of other commodities.

Estimate of the cost of a war for the recovery of the Palatinate

Amount of Parliamentary taxation required

2. Prosperity of Bacon's personal fortunes.

To be created Viscount

SERENISSIMO AC POTENTISSIMO REGI AC DOMINO, DOMINO

CHRISTIANO QUARTO, DEL GRATIA DANIE, NORVEGIÆ,

VANDALORUM, GOTHORUMQU ETC. REGI, DOMINO SUO

CLEMENTISSIMO (Janu. 13, 1620)

3. Consultation as to the King's speech on opening the new

Parliament

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4. Grant of two subsidies; without reference to the Palatinate

Estimated cost of an army to recover the Palatinate communicated

to the House

xiv

5. Select committee appointed to report upon recompilement of the

laws

Pago

181

182

Petition for better execution of the laws against Recusants.
Bacon chosen spokesman for both Houses

6. Attack upon monopolies.

Bacon's policy overruled at the

Council-board. Position taken by the Government, Patent
for Gold and Silver Thread; for Inns; for forfeiture of the recog-
nisances for Alehouses. Sentence passed by the Commons on
Sir Francis Michell

Sir G. Monperson's petition. Coke's rules for the proceeding of
the Lower House as a Court of Justice. Search for prece-
dents

7. Threat of proceeding judicially against the Referees, who had

certified the patents to be good in law.

Precedents showing that the Lower House alone has no power to

punish for offences against the State, a conference with the

Upper House desired of which Bacon receives warning from

the King

TO THE KING (1 March, 1620-1)

Escape of Sir G. Monperson. Preparations in the Commons for
the Conference

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (March 7, 1620)
8. The Conference passes without any mention of the Referees till
Coke's turn comes. His peculiar position. Debate upon the
management of the Conference, and a second held to supply the
omissions.

9. Bacon and Montagu (the two principal Referees) censured for
offering to answer the charges made against them

Bacon's position. His warning to the King, as related by Bushel 199

His unconsciousness of his danger.

10. A third conference between the Houses, for the production of the

proofs. Debate on the method of proceeding. BACON'S MOTION 202

The charge against the Referees not pursued to any conclusion:

leaving it doubtful whether Bacon's part did not admit of a

sufficient justification. Probable explanation of his concurrence

in the imprisonment of certain citizens for refusing to sign a bond 204

CHAPTER VI.

A.D. 1620-1. MARCH-MAY. ÆTAT. 60.

1. Complaints of abuses in the Courts of Justice and Chancery.

CONTENTS.

Confessions of Churchill, the registrar. Bacon still without

His strange want of apprehension

2. Charged by a disappointed suitor with taking money for the

dispatch of his suit

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (14

3. A second complaint of the same kind. The Commons desire a

conference with the Lords

4. Bacon, being too ill to attend in his place, writes to the Lords to

excuse his absence.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD LORDS THE

LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL IN THE UPPER HOUSE OF

PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED (19 March, 1620) .
State of the law with regard to corruption. Conditions requisite
for criticising the evidence

BACON'S ANSWER TO THEIR MESSAGE PRAYING HIM TO PRO-

VIDE FOR HIS DEFENCE

5. The Lord Treasurer's report of the Conference. Charge of bribery
and corruption brought against Bacon and Dr. Feild
Commission proposed by the King

Examinations commenced at once by the Lords. Order of pro-

ceeding. More cases sent up from the Commons. Ad-

journment for Easter. Examinations to be continued during

the recess

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (March 25, 1621)

TO THE KING (March 25, 1621)

The King's speech to the Lords

6. Bacon's state of mind.