Xxxii PREFACE. 
the King and the Commons, on the subject of the King’s 
debts. Bacon spoke in favour of supply, and in defence of the 
King’s right of imposition. Towards the end of August this 
year his mother died, and to the summer vacation Mr. Sped- 
ding refers ‘The beginning of the History of Great Britain.’ 
What were his occupations in 1611 we have no certain inform- 
ation, Perhaps he amused himself with elaborating his 
Essays, of which he published a much enlarged edition in the 
following year. His letter to the King touching Sutton’s 
Estate, a report on the scarcity of silver at the Mint, and a 
charge on opening the Court of the Verge, show that his pro- 
fessional duties were not neglected. Salisbury’s death in 1612 
left an opening for the appointment of a Secretary of State, 
and Bacon offered his services to the King. The office was 
not filled up immediately, and soon after the Mastership of 
the Wards, vacant from the same cause, was given to Sir 
George Carey, though popular rumour assigned it to Bacon, who 
had drawn up a frame of declaration and instructions for the 
new Master. In the trial of Lord Sanquhar for murder (June 
27, 1612), Bacon appeared in his capacity of Solicitor General 
as counsel for the prosecution. Three days later he made 
a speech before the Council and Judges, on the refusal of the 
Countess of Shrewsbury to be examined for aiding the Lady 
Arabella Stewart in her attempt to escape. 
The proposed marriage of the Princess Elizabeth to the 
Elector Palatine in 1612, gave Bacon additional employment 
in drawing up Instructions to the Commissioners for collect- 
ing the Aid which was levied on the occasion. Probably 
towards the end of November he published the second edition 
of his Essays. It was his intention to have dedicated them to 
Prince Henry; but the Prince’s unexpected death on the 6th 
of November prevented him from carrying this intention into 
effect, and the Essays were addressed to Sir John Constable, 
who had married Lady Bacon’s sister. They must have ap- 
peared in the interval between the death of the Prince and 
the 17th of December, when they are referred to in one of 
Chamberlain’s letters. 
