LIFE OF BACON* 



promoting it, had violated bis coronation oath, and that, 

 by such means as these, King Richard the Second had 

 given an opportunity to Henry the Fourth to deprive him 

 of his crown; desiring, if he thought fit, that his senti 

 ments should be communicated to the justices who were 

 to meet respecting the benevolence. 



For this letter, Mr. St. John was tried in the Star 

 Chamber on the 15th of April, 1615; when, the Attorney 

 General appearing, of course, as counsel for the crown, 

 the defendant was fined 5000., imprisoned during the 

 King s pleasure, and ordered to make submission in writing. 



So deeply were the judges impressed with the enormity 

 of this offence, that some of the court thought the crime 

 of a higher nature than a contempt,, but they all agreed 

 that the benevolence was not restrained by any statute; 

 and the Lord Chancellor, who was then, as he supposed, 

 on his death-bed, more than once expressed his anxiety 

 that his passing sentence upon Mr. St. John might be his- 

 last act of judicial duty, (a) 



they got but little money, and lost a great deal of love : for no levies do so 

 much decline and abase the love and spirits of the people as unjust levies. 

 Subsidies get more of their money, but exactions enslave the mind ; for 

 they either raise them above, or depress them beneath their sufferings, 

 which are equally mischievous, and to be avoided.&quot; 



(a) A letter reporting the state of my Lord Chancellor s health, 



Jan. 29, 1614. 



It may please your excellent Majesty, Because I know your majesty 

 would be glad to hear how it is with my Lord Chancellor ; and that it 

 pleased him out of his ancient and great love to me, which many times in 

 sickness appeareth most, to admit me to a great deal of speech with him 

 this afternoon, which during these three days lie hath scarcely done to any; 

 I thought it might be pleasing to your majesty to certify you how I found 

 him. I found him in bed, but his spirits fresh and good, speaking stoutly, 

 and without being spent or weary, and both willing and beginning of him 

 self to speak, but wholly of your majesty s business. Wherein I cannot 



