LORD CLIFTON. CCXli 



rages, (a) Towards the end of the year the Lord Keeper 

 was in danger of sharing the fate of Sir John Tindal, 

 from the vindictive temper of Lord Clifton, against whom 

 a decree had been made, who declared publicly that &quot; he 

 was sorry he had not stabbed the Lord Keeper in his 

 chair the moment he pronounced judgment.&quot; (b) As 

 soon as this misguided suitor, who afterwards destroyed 

 himself, was committed to the Tower, Bacon wrote to 

 Buckingham, saying, &quot; I pray your lordship in humble 

 ness to let his majesty know that I little fear the Lord 

 Clifton, but I much fear the example, that it will animate 

 ruffians and rodomonti extremely against the seats of 

 justice, which are his majesty s own seats, yea, and 

 against all authority and greatness, if this pass without 

 public censure and example, it having gone already so 

 ir as that the person of a baron hath been committed 

 to the Tower. The punishment it may please his majesty 

 to remit, and I shall, not formally but heartily, intercede 

 for him, but an example, setting myself aside, I wish for 

 terror of persons that may be more dangerous than he, 

 towards the first judge of the kingdom.&quot; (6) 



At the conclusion is a third tract, entitled, &quot; The Examination of John 

 Bartram, taken this 16 day of November, 1616, before Sir Francis Bacon, 

 his Maiesties Atturney Generall, and Sir Henry Yelverton, his Maiesties 

 Solicitor Generall. London, printed by John Beale, 1616.&quot; 



(a) See note X O U at the end. 



(6) See letter of March 17, 1617, vol. xii. p. 257; and in another 

 letter, vol. xii. p. 255, he says, &quot; If his majesty at any time ask touching 

 the Lord Clifton s business, I pray your lordship represent to his majesty 

 thus much, that whatsoever hath passed I thank God I neither fear him 

 nor hate him ; but I am wonderful careful of the seat of justice, that they 

 may still be well munited, being principal sinews of his majesty s authority. 

 Therefore the course will be (as I am advised) that for this heinous mis- 

 prision (that the party without all colour or shadow of cause should threaten 

 the life of his judge, and of the highest judge in the kingdom next his 

 majesty) he be first examined, and if he confess it, then an ore tenus; if he 



VOL. xv. r 



