CCXXvi LIFE OF BACON. 



Though evidently rejoicing at this windfall for his royal 

 master, (a) Bacon, regardless of the importunities of the 

 Attorney General, refused to issue writs of ne exeat against 

 the merchants till he had obtained evidence to warrant 

 his interposition, and cautioned his majesty against grant 

 ing the forfeitures accruing from this discovery. (6) He 

 entreated that a commission might be formed, empowering 

 Sir E. Coke, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Lord 

 Chief Justice, and himself, to investigate this matter. 

 These observations were well received, and immediately 

 adopted by the King; and, although informations were 

 filed against a hundred arid eighty, only twenty of the 

 principal merchants were tried and convicted. They were 

 fined to the amount of 100,000, which, by the inter 

 cession of Buckingham, was afterwards remitted to about 

 30,000. (c) The rest of the prosecutions were stayed at 

 his instance, intercession having been made to him by 

 letters from the States General, and probably by the mer 

 chants themselves in the way in which he was usually 

 approached by applicants. 



While this cause was pending, the Earl of Suffolk, 

 Lord Treasurer, was prosecuted, with his lady, in the Star 

 Chamber, for trafficking with the public money to the 

 amount of 50,000 ; and they were sentenced to imprison 

 ment and fine, not, according to the judgment of Sir 

 Edward Coke, of 100,000, but of 30,000. Bacon com 

 mended Coke to the King, as having done his part 



assured to know the best course for his justice, honour, and profit, and 

 that he may dispose what bounty he will. 



See also vol. xii. pp. 263, 265, 374. 



(a) See letter of October 14, 1619, vol. xiii. p. 19. 



(6) See note (a), ante, p. ccxxiv. 



(c) Stephens, p. xlvii. 



