The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

330 LETTERS CONCERNING ROBERT, EARL OF SOMERSET.
and that with speed, because the time cometh on. Yesterday being Wednesday, I spent four or
Well, remembering who is the person whom your five hours with the judges whom his majesty
majesty admitted to this secret, I have sent this designed to take consideration with, the four
letter open unto him, that he may take your judges of the king's bench, of the evidence
majesty's times to report it, or show it unto you; against Somerset: they all concur in opinion, that
assuring myself that nothing is more firm than the questioning and drawing him on to trial is
his trust, tied to your majesty's commandments. most honourable and just, and that the evidence is
Your majesty's most humble fair and good.
and most bounden subject and servant, His majesty's letter to the judges concerning
FR. BACON. the ", Commendamrs' was full of magnanimity and
April 28, 1616. wisdom. I perceive his majesty is never less
alone, than when he is alone; for I am sure there
was nobody by him to inform him, which made
TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, ABOUT THE EARL me admire it the more.
OF SOMERSET. The judges have given a day over, till the
SIR, second Saturday of the next term; so as that
I have received my letter from his majesty, with matter may endure farther consideration, for his
his marginal notes, which shall be my directions, majesty not only not to lose ground, but to win
being glad to perceive I understand his majesty ground.
so well. That same little charm, which may be To-morrow is appointed for the examination of
secretly infused into Somerset's ear some few Somerset, which, by some infirmity of the Duke
hours before his trial, was excellently well of Lenox, was put off from this day. When this
thought of by his majesty; and I do approve it is done, I will write more fully, ever resting
both for matter and time; only, if it seem good to Your true and devoted servant,
his majesty, I would wish it a little enlarged: Fa. BACON.
for if it be no more than to spare his blood, he May 2, 1616.
hath a kind of proud huinour which may overWo\.rk the medicine. Therefore I could wish it
were made a little stronger, by giving him some TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, OF SOMERSET'S
hopes that his majesty will be good to his lady ARRAIGNMENT.
and child; and that time, when justice and his SIR,
mnajesty's honour is once saved and satisfied, may I am far enough from opinion, that the redinteproduce farther fruit of his majesty's compassion: gration or resuscitation of SoiAerset's fortune can
which was to be seen in the example of South- ever stand with his majesty's honour and safety;
ampton, whom his majesty after attainder restored: and therein I think I expressed nmyself fully to
and Cobham and Gray, to whom his majesty, not- his majesty in one of my former letters; and I
withstanding they were offenders against his own know well any expectation or thought abroad
person, yet he spared their lives; and for Gray, will do much hurt. But yet the glimmering of
hris majesty gave him back some part of his estate, that which the king hath done to others, by way
and was upon point to deliver him much more. of talk to him, cannot hurt, as I conceive; but I
He having been so highly in his majesty's favour, would not have that part of the message as from
may hope well, if he hurt not himself by his the king, but added by the messenger as from
public misdemeanor. himself. This I remit to his majesty's princely
For the person that should deliver this message, judgment.
I am not so well seen in the region of his friends, For the person, though he trust the lieutenant
as to be able to make choice of a particular; my well, yet it must be some new man: for, in these
lord treasurer, the Lord Knollys, or any of his cases, that which is ordinary worketh not so
nearest friends should not be trusted with it, for great impressions as that which is new and
they may go too far, and perhaps work contrary to extraordinary.
his majesty's ends. Those which occur to me The time I wish to be the Tuesday, being the
are my Lord Hay, my Lord Burleigh, of Eng- even of his lady's arraignment; for, as his maland, I mean, and Sir Robert Carre. jesty first conceived, I would not have it stay in
My Lady Somerset hath beenre-examined, and his stomach too long, lest it sour in the digeshis majesty is found both a true prophet and a tion; and to be too near the time, may be thought
most just king in that scruple he made; for now but to tune him for that day.
she expoundeth the word He, that should send I send herewithal the substance of that which
the tarts to Elwys's wife, to be of Overbury, and I purpose to say nakedly, and only in that part
not of Somerset; but for the person that should which is of tenderness; for that I conceive was
bid her, she said it was Northampton or Weston, his majesty's meaning.
not pitching upon certainty, which giveth some It will be necessary, because I have distributed
advantage to the evidence. parts to the two serjeants, as that paper doth