BENEVOLENCE. 



Such was the state of the law and of the opinion of 

 justice which at that time prevailed ! () 



forget to relate this particular, that he wished that his sentencing of I. S. at 

 the day appointed might be his last work, to conclude his services, and 

 express his affection towards your majesty. I told him I knew your 

 majesty would be very desirous of his presence that day, so it might be 

 without prejudice, but otherwise your majesty esteemed a servant more than 

 a service, especially such a servant. Not to trouble your majesty, though 

 good spirits in sickness be uncertain calendars, yet I have very good com 

 fort of him, and I hope by that day, &c. 



See to the same effect, a letter of Feb. 7, 1614, entitled, A letter to the 

 King, touching my Lord Chancellor s amendment, and the putting off 

 I. S. his cause. 



() Bacon s speech has fortunately been preserved.* 

 &quot; In the last parliament there was,&quot; he says, &quot; a great and 

 reasonable expectation in the community that the people 

 would grant to the King such supplies as were necessary 

 for the maintenance of the government : and there was in 

 the house a general disposition to give, and to give largely, 

 The clocks in the house, perchance, might differ; some 

 went too fast, some went too slow : but the disposition to 

 give was general. It was, however, by an accident de 

 feated; and this accident, happening thus contrary to 

 expectation, it stirred up and awaked, in divers of his 

 majesty s worthy servants and subjects, of the clergy, the 

 nobility, the court, and others here near at hand, an affec 

 tion loving and cheerful, to present the King some with 

 plate, some with money, as a freewill offering. As the 

 occasion did awake the love and benevolence of those that 

 were at hand to give, so it was apprehended and thought 

 fit, by my lords of the council, to make a proof whether 

 the occasion and example both would not awake those in 



* See vol. vi. p. 138. It is entitled, The Charge given by Sir Francis 

 Bacon, his Majesty s Attorney General, against Mr. I.S. for scandalizing 

 and traducing, in the public sessions, letters sent from the Lords of the 

 Council touching the benevolence. 



