and supply new and unexpected information as to his political views and action. Among these I may especially mention the sketch of the speech which he wished the King to make to the two Houses at the meeting of Parliament in 1614, for the knowledge of which, with permission to print it, I am indebted to Mr. David Laing; and the long letter of advice, printed by permission of the Masters of the Bench from a copy in the Inner Temple library, which he addressed to him in the following year. Taken along with the letters and notes on the same subject which appeared in the last volume (pp. 365–373), these two papers complete our knowledge of Bacon's part in that well deserving and il succeeding enterprise, and disclose to us the whole history, from his point of view, of the design, the hopes, the preparations, the errors, the causes of failure, and the instructions for the future to be gathered therefrom. The short paper of "points to be observed" in the collection of the Benevolence (from which we learn for the first time how far and with what conditions and limitations he was a party to that measure), may also be mentioned among the more notable novelties. And the Decree on the Præmunire question, in the absence of which the history of that business was left very incomplete, may be added to the list. Though not new absolutely (for the substance of it may be gathered from a treatise in the first volume of the Collectanea Juridica), it is not to be found, so far as I know, in any more common book, and will therefore be quite new, I presume, to the great majority of readers. With regard to the other subjects contained in the volume, the more orderly arrangement of the papers and the collateral information supplied in the Commentary form the chief novelty. But it will be fornit to be a novelty of some consequence. It has been the fashion for the last thirty years to find great fault with Bacon for the art he took in some of these transactions. I think it will now appear that the judgment has in most cases been pronounced under a considerable misapprehension of the facts; and that when the story is truly told, the asp ct of it in relation to him is materially altered: so much so that the same Judges, if the case had been so presented to them at first, would probably have judged differently. Whether my version of the story be really the truer, is a question no doubt which may and will be disputed. But it is a question of fact. Where it differs from the common version, it aspires to differ by being in better accordance with the evidence. Now the evidence is within anybody's reach. Though I cannot hope that among my many references there are no wrong figures (for a mistake of that kind, once made, is of all mistakes the most likely to escape detection), I am quite sure that none of them are imaginary; I have tried to make them all distinct; and I hope that before my statements of the case are condemned as inaccurate, the evidence to which I appeal will be examined and weighed. The question which I have undertaken to deal with is not whether Bacon was wise or foolish, virtuous or wicked, but what he thought about the occasions of his time; and to make that knowledge of any value it is necessary to ascertain correctly what the occasions really were. J. S. CONTENTS 2. Apprehension of John Cotton on suspicion of high treason. port of the law officers upon the state of the evidence. TO THE KING (22 Jan. 1613) 3. Prosecution of Talbot in the Star chamber, for refusing to repu- diate Zuares's doctrine concerning the duty of Catholic subjects 4. Propositions for the coming Parliament, referred to the chief jus- TO THE R. HON. OUR VERY GOOD L. THE EARL OF SOMER- Policy and intentions of the government. Difficulties in the way 6. Bacon's idea of the style in which the King ought to meet his Par- 24 the House whether an Attorney General could serve. Resolu- 2. The King's second speech, announcing the Bills of Grace, re- ported to the House by the Solicitor-General. Motion for supply made by Winwood. Supported by Bacon (12 April) SPEECH IN SUPPORT OF A MOTION FOR SUPPLY Question postponed. Committee appointed to consider of mes- 3. Bill against Impositions on Merchandise read a second time (18 . Motion to enlarge the powers of the Committee, opposed by SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE KING'S ATTORNEY WHEN THE Motion carried. Result of it. 5. Question of Impositions. Speech of the King. Unanimity of Unsuccessful attempt to force on the question of Supply 7. Preparation for the Conference with the Lords concerning Impo- NOTES OF SPEECH ON PREPARATION FOR CONFERENCE TOUCH- Refusal of the Lords to confer. Rumour that words had been 8. Proceedings of the Commons with regard to the Bishop's speech. Explanations and apologies offered in vain. Disorderly debates, |