TRIAL OF PEACHAM. clxiX 



the King were excommunicated and deprived by the Pope, 

 it was lawful for any person to kill him. 



The prosecution against Peacham was for several trea 

 sonable passages in a sermon, found in his study, but 

 never preached, and never intended to be preached, (a) 



Doubts being entertained both of the fact with respect 

 to the intention to preach, and of the law supposing the 

 intention to have existed, recourse was had to expedients 

 from which, in these enlightened times, we recoil with 

 horror. 



To discover the fact, this old clergyman was put upon 

 the rack, and was examined &quot; before torture, in torture, 

 between torture, and after torture,&quot; but no confession was 

 extorted, which was instantly communicated by Bacon to 

 the King. (6) 



() Cro. Cas. 125. 

 (b) A Letter to his Majesty, concerning Peacham s cause. 



It may please your excellent Majesty, It grieveth me 

 exceedingly, that your majesty should be so much troubled 

 with this matter of Peacham s; whose raging devil seemeth 

 to be turned into a dumb devil. But although we are 

 driven to make our way through questions (which I wish 

 were otherwise) yet I hope well the end will be good. But 

 then every man must put to his helping hand ; for else I 

 must say to your majesty, in this and the like cases, as 

 St. Paul said to the centurion, when some of the mariners 

 had an eye to the cock-boat, &quot; except these stay in the 

 ship, ye cannot be safe.&quot; I find in my lords great and 

 worthy care of the business. And for my part, I hold my 

 opinion and am strengthened in it by some records that I 

 have found. God preserve your majesty. Your majesty s 

 most humble and devoted subject and servant. 

 21st January, 1614. 



