The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

3!8 CHARGE AGAINST FRANCES, COUNTESS OF SOMERSET.
wise this last procrastination of days had the like long in the body, and work by degrees; and for
weighty grounds and causes. And this is the true this purpose there must be essays of them upon
and brief representation of this extreme work of poor beasts, &c.
the king's justice. And, lastly, I shall show you the rewards of this
Now, for the evidence against this lady, I am impoisonment, first demanded by Weston, and
sorry I must rip it up. I shall first show you the denied, because the deed was not done; but after
purveyance or provisions of the poisons; that the deed done and perpetrated, that Overbury was
they were seven in number brought to this lady, dead, then performed and paid to the value of
and by her billetted and laid up till they might 1801.
be used: and this done with an oath or vow And so, without farther aggravation of that,
of secrecy, which is like the Egyptian darkness, which in itself bears its own tragedy, I will
a gross and palpable darkness, that may be felt. conclude with the confessions of this lady herself,
Secondly, I shall show you the exhibiting and which is the strongest support of justice; and yet
sorting of the same number or volley of poisons: is the footstool of mercy. For, as the Scripture
white arsenic was fit for salt, because it is of like says, "Mercy and truth have kissed each other;"
body and colour. The poison of great spiders, and there is no meeting or greeting of mercy, till there
of the venonious fly cantharides, was fit for pigs' be a confession, or trial of truth. For these
sauce or partridge sauce, because it resembled pep- read,
per. As for mercury-water, and other poisons, Franklin, November 16,
they mnightbe fit for tarts, which is akind of hotch- Franklin, November 17,
pot, wherein no one colour is so proper: and some Rich. Weston, October 1,
of these were delivered by the hands of this lady, Rich. Weston, October 2
and some by her direction. Will. Weston, October 2,
Thirdly, I shall prove and observe unto you the Rich. Weston, October 3,
cautions of these poisons; that they might not be Helwisse, October 2,
too swift, lest the world should startle at it by the The Countess's letter, without date,
suddenness of the despatch: but they must abide The Countess's confession, January 8.
THE
CHARGE, BY WAY OF EVIDENCE,
BY
SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT,
HIS MIAJESTY'S ATTORNEY-GENERAL,
BEFORE THE LORD HIGH STEWARD, AND THE PEERS;*
AGAINST
FRANCES, COUNTESS OF SOMERSET,
CONCERNING THE POISONING OF SIR THOMAS OVERBURY.
IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GRACE, MY LORD HIGH STEWARD OF ENGLAND, AND YOU, MY LORDS, THE PEERS:
I AM very glad to hear this unfortunate lady persons, upon whom justice passed before, condoth take this course, to confess fully and fieely, fessed not; she doth. I know your lordships
and thereby to give glory to God and to justice. cannot behold her without compassion: many
It is, as I may term it, the nobleness of an things may move you, her youth, her person, her
offender to confess:: and, therefore, those meaner sex, her noble family; yea, her provocations, if I
should enter into the cause itself, and furies about
The Lord hancellor Egerton Lord Elesmereecy and Earlconfession.
4,f Bridgwater. her; but chiefly her penitency and confession.