LIFE OF BACON. 



injudicious friends, by endeavouring to circulate a report 

 that these suspicions were but an artifice to ruin that 

 nobleman, the King commanded the Attorney General to 

 prosecute in the Star Chamber Mr. Lumsden, a gentleman 

 of good family in Scotland, Sir John Hollis, afterwards 

 Earl of Clare, and Sir John Wentworth, who were con 

 victed and severely punished. The speech of Bacon upon 

 this trial is fortunately preserved, (a) 



Shortly after this investigation, so many circumstances 

 transpired, all tending to implicate the Earl and Countess 

 of Somerset, and so great an excitement prevailed through 

 the whole country, that the King determined to bring 

 these great offenders to trial ; a resolution which he could 

 not have formed without the most painful struggle be 

 tween his duty to the public and his anxiety to protect 

 his fallen favourite. His sense of duty as the dispenser of 

 justice prevailed. Previous to the trial, which took place 

 May 1616, the same course of private consultation with 

 the judges was pursued, and the King caused it to be 

 privately intimated to Somerset, that it would be his own 

 fault if favour was not extended to him : (b) favour which 

 was encouraged by Bacon, in a letter to the King, in which 

 he says, &quot; The great downfall of so great persons carrieth 

 in itself a heavy judgment, and a kind of civil death, 

 although their lives should not be taken. All which may 

 satisfy honour for sparing their lives.&quot; 



In his speech upon the trial (c) Bacon gave a clear and 

 circumstantial account of the whole conspiracy against 



the revenues of crown; empty coffers give an ill sound. 9. Forfeitures. 

 10. Pastimes and disports, when there is a queen and ladies. 11. But for 

 the King and Prince. 12. Dice and cards. 



(a) Vol. vi. p. 154. 



(6) See letter of April 28, 1616, from Bacon to Villiers, vol. vi. p. 223 



(c) See vol. vi. p. 235. 



