TO THE R. HON. ETC. THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY GIVING ACCOUNT OF AN EXAMINATION TAKEN OF SOMERSET IN THE TOWER. 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 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 A LETTER OF THE KING'S ATTORNEY RETURNED WITH POS- TILS OF THE KING'S OWN HAND. 28 APRIL, 1616. Expediency of inducing Somerset, if guilty, to make a confession. Hope of pardon to be suggested to him as the probable conse- A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, TOUCHING THE PROCEEDING WITH SOMERSET. Bacon's conference with the Judges concerning the evidence against Somerset. Object of such consultations Trial of the Countess fixed for the 15th of May. Bacon sends the King an outline of the case as he proposes to have it pre- A LETTER OF THE KING'S ATTORNEY TO SIR GEORGE VIL- LIERS, OF ACCOUNT AND ADVICE TO HIS MAJESTY TOUCH- ING SOMERSET'S ARRAIGNMENT. 5o MAII 1616 A LETTER FROM THE KING'S ATTORNEY AND SOME GREAT LORDS COMMISSIONERS CONCERNING THE PERSUASION USED TO THE LORD OF SOMERSET TO A FRANK CONFESSION Somerset's threat to bring some charge against the King visit to the King at Greenwich 4. Trial of the Countess (24 May); who pleads guilty. THE CHARGE, BY WAY OF EVIDENCE, BY SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, HIS MAJESTY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, BE- FORE THE LORD HIGH STEWARD, AND THE PEERS, AGAINST Her behaviour at the trial. THE CHARGE OF SIR FRANCIS BACON, HIS MAJESTY'S AT- TORNEY GENERAL, BY WAY OF EVIDENCE BEFORE THE LORD HIGH STEWARD AND THE PEERS, AGAINST ROBERT 7. Origin of the popular belief that there was some secret behind, 1. Differences between the Courts of Law. Bacon's suit to be made A LETTER TO SIR G. VILLIERS UPON THE CHOICE HIS M. GAVE HIM WHETHER HE WOULD BE SWORN COUNCILLOR, Bacon's advice as to the course to be taken for settling the dis- puted questions of jurisdiction. A MEMORIAL FOR HIS MAJESTY. COPIED FROM THE ORI- .338 . 343 2. Council held at Whitehall (6 June, 1616), all the Judges at- tending, to hear and decide the question raised in the Judges' Report on a monopoly patent. TO THE KING (5 June, 1616) COPY OF THE ACT OF COUNCIL. 4. Dr. Burgess (who had been silenced for non-conformity), being To SIR GEORGE VILLIERS (July, v To SIR GEORGE VILLIERS (5 July, 1616) 7. Case of the Præmunire against the Chancery. The King's The prohibition acquiesced in by Coke and the Judges of the He is heard before the Council in answer to certain charges (26 THE question of calling a new Parliament, which had been postponed in the preceding summer,1 does not appear to have been formally agreed upon in Council till the middle of February. But I think the King had made up his mind to it before, A letter of Bacon's, which dates itself by a reference to the rejoicings upon the birth of the King's grandchild as written not long after the 9th of January, 1613-4, shows that before that time the King had been speaking with him about the preparatory measures, and had also been in communication with "those gentlemen which professed to do him service in Parliament;"-who could be no other than Sir Henry Neville and his party; afterwards known as the "Undertakers." It shows also (which is a fact of some importance) that though desirous to make the best of their services, Bacon himself augured little good from their intervention. TO THE KING.2 It may please your most exc. M. I most humbly pray your M. to receive into your royal remembrance that one point whereof you spake unto me: which 1 See Vol. IV. p. 378. 2 Cott. MSS: Tit. F. IV. f. 333. All fairly written in Bacon's own hand. No date, docket or superscription. Fly-leaf gone, I think. VOL. V. B is this; to put but this case to those gentlemen which profess to do you service in Parliament, and desire (as they say) but to have some matter whereupon to work: If your M. be resolved not to buy and sell this Parliament, but to perform the part of a King, and not of a merchant or contractor, what they can desire or propound for the satisfaction and comfort of your people. Of this three uses may be made. First, if they fall upon an answer as to say, That the Parliament is so now in taste with matters of substance and profit, as it is in vain to think to draw them on but by some offer of that nature, then for my part I shall little esteem their service if they confess themselves to be but brokers for bargains. Secondly, if they do devise and propound anything that is fit, then that it be followed and pursued, because they are likest to be in love with their own child, and to nourish it. Thirdly, if they show good will to devise some such thing, but that their invention prove barren, in that their proposition be not such but that better may be found, then that they may be holpen by some better proposition from your M. whereupon they may work. This, because time runneth, I beseech your M. may be put unto them by some such mean as your M. is pleased to use, as soon as may be. I most humbly pray your M. also to take into consideration, that it may be inconvenient for your M. to have a Parliament in England and a Parliament in Ireland at one time. And therefore I do wish that the Parliament of Ireland (when time shall be) may upon some occasion fitly taken be put off. For I beseech your M. to observe this argument furder: That the unsettled business of the Parliament of Ireland is a just ground for the Parliament of England to furnish your M. with treasure in omnem eventum. And on the other side the loving and frank proceeding with you by your Parliament of England will daunt the ill affected part of the Parliament of Ireland. If your M. had heard and seen the thunder of the bells and the lightning of the bonfires for your grandchild, you would say there is little cause to doubt the affections of the people of England in puris naturalibus. God preserve your Majesty. I rest Your M.'s most bounden servant, FR. BACON. |