The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

44 LETTERS FROM THtE RESUSCITATIO.
because I could be content that the matter of that it is needless; I commended my lord's diliPeacham were first settled and put to a point. gence, but withal put it by; and fell upon the
For there be, perchance, that would make the ex- other course, (which is the true way;) that is, that
ample upon I. S. to stand for all. For Peacham, whosoever shall affirm, in diem, or sub-condiI expect some account from my fellows this day. tione, that your majesty may be destroyed, is a
If it should fall out otherwise, then I hope it may traitor de praesenti; for that he maketh you but
not be left so. Your majesty, in your last letter, tenant for life at the will of another. And I put
very wisely, put in a disjunctive that the judges the Duke of Buckingham's case, who said, that
should deliver an opinion privately, either to my if the king caused him to be arrested of treason,
lord chancellor or to ourselves, distributed; his he would stab him; and the case of the impossickness, made the latter way to be taken: but tress, Elizabeth Barton, that said, that if King
the other may be reserved, with some accommo- Henry the Eighth took not his wife again, Kathadating, when we see the success of the former. rine Dowager, he should be no longer king; and
I am appointed, this day, to attend my lord the like.
treasurer for a proposition of raising profit and It may be these particulars are not worth the
revenue, by enfranchising copy-holders. I am relating. But, because I find nothing in the
right glad to see the patrimonial part of your world, so important to your service as to have
revenue well looked into, as well as the fiscal. you thoroughly informed, (the abilityofyourdirecAnd I hope it will so be, in other parts as well tion considered,) it maketh me thus to do; most
as this. God preserve your majesty. humbly praying your majesty to admonish me, if
Your majesty's most humnble and devoted I be over troublesome.
subject and servant. For Peacham, the rest of my fellows are ready
to make their report to your majesty, at such time,
and in such manner, as your majesty shall require
it. Myself yesterday, took my Lord Coke aside,
A LETTER TO TIIE RINTG OF ACCOUNT OF OWEN'S after the rest were gone, and told him all the rest
CAUSE, ETC. 11 FEBRUARY, 1i14.
IT USE, MAY PLASE YUR EXELLEN, MAJwere ready, and I was now to require his lordIT MAY PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENT MIAJESTY, ship's opinion, according to my commission. Hie
Myself, with the rest of your counsel learned, said, I should have it; and repeated that, twice
conferred with my Lord Coke and the rest. of or thrice, as thinking he had gone too far, in that
the judges of the King's Bench only, being met kind of negative (to deliver any opinion apart)
at my lord's chamber, concerning the business before; and said he would tell it me within a
of Owen. For although it be true that your ma- short time, though he were not at that instant
jesty in your letter did mention, that the same ready. I have tossed this business, in omnes
course might be held in the taking of opinions partes, whereof I will give your majesty knowapart, in this which was prescribed and used in ledge, when time serveth. God preserve your
Peacham's cause; yet both my lords of the coun- majesty.
oil and we, amongst ourselves, holding it, in a Your majesty's most humble and devoted
case so clear, not needful; but rather that it subject and servant.
would import a diffidence in us, and deprive us
of the means to debate it with the judges (if cause
were) more strongly, (which is somewhat,) we
thought best rather to use this form. A LETTER TO THE KING, REPORTING THE DAY
The judges desired us to leave the examina- OF HEARING OF I. S. HIS CAUSE, IN THE STAR
tions and papers with them, for some little time, CHAMBER. 29 APRIL, 1615.
to consider (which is a thing they use;) but I IT MAY PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
conceive there will be no manner of question made 1. S.'s day is past, and well past. I hold it to
of it. My lord chief justice, to show forward- be Janus bifrons; it hath a good aspect to that
ness, (as I interpret it,) showed us passages of which is past, and to the future; and doth both
Suarez and others, thereby to prove, that though satisfy and prepare. All did well: My lord
your majesty stood not excommunicated by par- chief justice delivered the law for the benevoticular sentence, yet by the general bulls of Ccena lence, strongly; I would he had done it timely.
Domini, and others, you were upon the matter Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer spake finely,
excommunicated; and therefore that the treason somewhat after the manner of the late lord privy
was, as De preesenti. But I that foresee, that if seal: not all out so sharply, but as elegantly.
that course snould be held, when it cometh to a Sir Thomas Lake (who is also new in that court)
public day, to disseminate to the vulgar an opi- did very well, familiarly and counsellor-like. My
nion that your majesty's case is all one as if you Lord of Pembroke (who is likewise a stranger
were de facto particularly and expressly excommu- there) did extraordinary well, and became himnicated, it would but increase the danger of your self well, and had an evident applause. I meant
person with those that are desperate Papists; and well also; and because my information was the