The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CHARGE AGAINST ROBERT, EARL OF SOMERSET. 325
and without which the impoisonmentcould never hands; so as there is work enough for secrets,
have been, and which could serve or tend to no whatsoever they were: and, like princes' confeother end but to the impoisonment. derates, they had their ciphers and jargons.
The third is, That your hand was in the very And, lastly, I will show you that it is but a toy
impoisonment itself, which is more than needs to to say that the malice was only in respect he
be proved; that you did direct poison; that you spake dishonourably of the lady; or for doubt of
did deliver poison; that you did continually breaking the marriage: for that Overbury was a
hearken to the success of the impoisonment; and coadjutor to that love, and the Lord of Somerset
that you spurred it on, and called for despatch was as deep in speaking ill of the lady as Overwhen you thought it lingered. bury. And, again, it was too late for that matter,
And, lastly, That you did all the things after for the bargain of the match was then made and
the impoisonment, which may detect a guilty past. And if it had been no more but to remove
conscience, for the smothering of it, and avoid- Overbury from disturbing of the match, it had
ing punishment for it: which can be but of three been an easy matter to have banded over Overkinds; That you suppressed, as much as in you bury beyond seas, for which they had a fair way;
was, testimony: That you did deface, and de- but that would not serve their turn.
stroy, and clip, and misdate all writings that And, lastly, 4"periculum periculo vincitur," to
might give light to the impoisonment; and that go so far as an impoisonment, must have a deeper
you did fly to the altar of guiltiness, which is a malice than flashes: for the cause must bear a
pardon, and a pardon of murder, and a pardon for proportion to the effect.
yourself, and not for your lady. For the next general head of proofs, which conIn this, my lord, I convert my speech to you, sists in acts preparatory to the middle acts, they
because I would have you attend the points of are in eight several points of the compass, as I
your charge, and so of your defence the better. may term it.
And two of these heads I have taken to myself, First, That there were devices and projects to
and left the other two to the king's two serjeants. despatch Overbury, or to overthrow him, plotted
For the first main part, which is the mortal between the Countess of Somerset, the Earl of
hatred, coupled with fear, that was in my Lord of Somerset, and the Earl of Northampton, before
Somerset towards Overbury, although he did they fell upon the impoisonment: for always bepalliate it with a great deal of hypocrisy and dis- fore men fix upon a course of mischief, there be
simulation, even to the end; I shall prove it, my some rejections: but die he must, one way or
lord steward, and you, my lords and peers, other.
manifestly, by matter both of oath and writing. Secondly, That my Lord of Somerset was a
The root of this hatred was that that hath cost principal practiser, I must speak it, in a most permany a man's life, that is, fear of discovering fidious manner, to set a train or trap for Overbury,
secrets: secrets, I say, of a high and dangerous to get him into the Tower; without which they
nature: Wherein the course that I will hold, never durst have attempted the impoisonment.
shall be this: Thirdly, That the placing of the lieutenant
First, I will show that such a breach and Helwisse, one of the impoisoners, and the dismalice was between my lord and Overbury, and placing of Waade, was by the means of my
that it burst forth into violent menaces and threats Lord of Somerset.
on both sides. Fourthly, That the placing of Weston, the unSecondly, That these secrets were not light, der-keeper, who was the principal impoisoner, and
but of a high nature; for I will give you the ele- the displacing of Cary, and the doing of all this
vation of the pole. They were such as my within fifteen days after Overbury's commitment,
Lord of Somerset for his part had made a vow, was by the means and countenance of my Lord of
that Overbury should neither live in court nor Somerset. And these two were the active instrucountry. That he had likewise opened himself ments of the impoisonment: and this was a busi
and his own fears so far, that if Overbury ever ness that the lady's power could not reach unto.
came forth of the Tower, either Overbury or him- Fifthly, That, because there must be a time for
self must die for it. And of Overbury's part, he the tragedy to be acted, and chiefly because they
had threatened my lord, that whether he did live would not have the poisons work upon the sudden
or die, my lord's shame should never die, but he and for that the strength of Overbury's nature,
would leave him the most odious man of the or the very custom of receiving poison into his
world. And, farther, that my lord was like enough body, did overcome the poisons, that they wrought
to repent it, in the place where Overbury wrote, not so fast; therefore Overbury must be held in
which was the Tower of London. He was a the Tower. And as my Lord of Somerset got
true prophet in that: so here is the height of the him into the trap, so he kept him in, and abused
secrets. him with continual hopes of liberty; and diverted
Thirdly, I will show you, that all the king's all the true and effectual means of his liberty. and
business was by my lord put into Overhury's made light of his sickness and extremities.
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