The Works of Francis Bacon: Philosophical works

Copy of the letter .

Bacon's report of the trial.

A LETTER TO THE KING REPORTING THE DAY OF HEARING

OF ST. JOHN'S CAUSE IN THE STAR CHAMBER. 29 APR.

1615

THE CHARGE GIVEN BY SIR FRANCIS BACON, HIS MA-

JESTY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, AGAINST MR. I. S. FOR SCAN-

DALISING AND TRADUCING IN THE PUBLIC SESSIONS

LETTERS SENT FROM THE LORDS OF THE COUNCIL TOUCH-

ING THE BENEVOLENCE

Coke's opinions on the case

འ

St. John's submission in the Star Chamber

His release from prison.

His petition for the deletion of the

Remission of his fine

record of his sentence.

3. Proceedings against John

tion between speeches as delivered and speeches as reported.

The rough draft and the fair copy of the opening of Bacon's

charge in this case

Owen, for treasonable words. Rela-

THE CHARGE OF OWEN, INDICTED OF HIGH TREASON, IN

THE KING'S BENCH, BY SIR FRANCIS BACON, HIS MA-

JESTY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL.

The fair copy, corrected and enlarged, but also imperfect

Result of the trial. Probable intention of the proceeding.

Pardon of Owen

4. General result of the Benevolence

Sir Gilbert Haughton's patent.

TO OUR VERY GOOD FRIEND MR. JOHN MURRAY, OF HIS

MAJESTY'S BEDCHAMBER. (6 July, 1615)

5. Resignation of their charter by the Merchant Adventurers. In-

corporation of a New Company

A LETTER TO THE KING CONCERNING THE NEW COMPANY.

12 AUG. 1615

6. Verdict of manslaughter against Lord Norris by a Coroner's Jury.
His letter to Bacon.

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO LORD NORRIS, IN ANSWER TO HIM.

(Sept. 20, 1615)

CHAPTER VI.

A.D. 1615. ÆTAT. 55.

1. Question of calling another Parliament formally referred to the

Council. Bacon's letter of advice to the King

A LETTER TO THE KING, ADVISING HIM TO CALL A PAR-

2. Bacon's idea of the policy to be pursued.

Difficulties in the way. The Spanish match, and the rival fac-

tions at Court

Consultation in Council: Speeches of the several Councillors.

Preparations for another Parliament commenced. (Michaelmas,

1615)

CHAPTER VII.

A.D. 1615. ÆTAT. 55.

1. Discovery of the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. Proceedings
at the trial of Weston. Committal of the Earl and Countess
of Somerset

Page

2. Execution of Weston. Scene at the scaffold.

Proceeding in the

Star Chamber

211

SIR FRANCIS BACON HIS ACCUSATION OF SIR JOHN WENT-

WORTH, SIR JOHN HOLLYS AND MR. LUMSDEN.

3. Case of Rege inconsulto postponed .

. 213

223

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY (17 Nov. 1615) 224

4. Commencement of Bacon's acquaintance with George Villiers . 225

Sir John Roper's patent

A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS TOUCHING ROPER'S

PLACE. 22 JAN. 1615

228

5. Indictment of the Earl and Countess of Somerset, as accessaries
to the murder of Overbury before the fact. State of the case
against them. Bacon's opinion and advice upon it

THE KING'S ATTORNEY'S LETTER TO THE KING TOUCHING

THE PROCEEDING WITH SOMERSET, THE 22ND OF JANU.

1615

228

231

Postponement of the prosecution

232

6. Bacon's argument on the question of Rege inconsulto.

A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY TO THE KING TOUCH-

ING THE REGE INCONSULTO: NOT PERFECT. 27 JANU. 1615 233

The perfect copy of the same letter.

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY

A LETTER TO THE KING, ADVISING HOW TO BREAK OFF WITH

THE NEW COMPANY

7. The Lord Chancellor dangerously ill. First and second copy of
Bacon's letter to the King on the subject.

A LETTER TO THE KING TOUCHING THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S

SICKNESS (9 Feb. 1615)

239

The same rewritten and altered

Question whom to choose for Chancellor in case Ellesmere should
die. Bacon's recommendation of himself

A LETTER TO SIR G. VILLIERS TOUCHING A MESSAGE BROUGHT

TO HIM BY MR. SHUTE, OF A PROMISE OF THE CHANCEL-

LOR'S PLACE. (15 Feb. 1615) .

8. Recovery of Ellesmere.

Indictment of Præmunire preferred

against his Court in the King's Bench, with the approbation of

Coke

A LETTER TO THE KING, OF MY LORD CHANCELLOR'S AMEND-

MENT, AND THE DIFFERENCE BEGUN BETWEEN THE CHAN-

CERY AND THE KING'S BENCH

A LETTER TO SIR G. VILLIERS TOUCHING THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THE COURT OF CHANCERY AND KING'S BENCH.

19 FEB. 1615 .

LETTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, CON-

CERNING THE PRÆMUNIRE IN THE KING'S BENCH AGAINST

THE CHANCERY. 21 FEB. 1615

9. Bacon desires to be made a Privy Councillor

A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, TOUCHING A MOTION

TO SWEAR HIM COUNCILLOR. FEBRUARY 21, 1615

Esteem in which his services were held at this time.

A LETTER OF ADVICE TO THE KING UPON THE BREACH

WITH THE NEW COMPANY (25 Feb. 1615)

A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS TOUCHING A MOTION

TO SWEAR HIM COUNCILLOR. FEBRUARY 27, 1615

TO THE KING, UPON SOME INTIMATION ABOUT THE CHAN-

CELLOR'S PLACE (1 April, 1616)

CHAPTER VIII.

A.D. 1616. ӔТАТ. 56.

1. Inquiry into the Earl of Somerset's dealings with Spain. Arrival
of Sir John Digby. (21 March, 1615-16).

A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY TO SIR GEORGE

VILLIERS, TOUCHING THE EXAMINATION OF SIR ROBERT

COTTON UPON SOME INFORMATION GIVEN BY SIR JOHN

DIGBY. (9 April, 1616) .

Examination of Sir Robert Cotton.

262

263

A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY TO SIR GEORGE

VILLIERS, CONCERNING THE PROCEEDING WITH SOMERSET.

13o APR. 1616.

265

Page

Re-examination of Lady Somerset

Examination of Sir W. Monson.

TO THE R. HON. ETC. THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE

KING'S BENCH. (16 Apr.)

A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY GIVING ACCOUNT OF

TAKEN OF SOMERSET IN THE TOWER.

EXAMINATION

18° APR. 1616.

2. Result of inquiry into Somerset's relations with Spain. Fresh
interruption in the preparations for the arraignment. A letter
addressed to the Judges by the King's direction, declared by
them to be contrary to law and disregarded. Case of Commen-
dams.

A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY TO THE KING, GIV-

ING SOME ACCOUNT TOUCHING THE COMMENDAMS

3. Preparations for the trial of Somerset. Conditions of the case as

it came out of Coke's hands into Bacon's. Bacon's survey of

the chances to be provided for.

A LETTER OF THE KING'S ATTORNEY RETURNED WITH POS-

TILS OF THE KING'S OWN HAND. 28 APRIL, 1616. . 275

Expediency of inducing Somerset, if guilty, to make a confession.
Hope of pardon to be suggested to him as the probable conse-
quence of a voluntary confession