THE CHARGE OF SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, 

 THE KING S ATTORNEY-GENERAL, 



TOUCHING DUELS. UPON AN INFORMATION 



IN THE STAR-CHAMBER AGAINST 



PRIEST AND WRIGHT. 



With the DECREE of the Star-Chamber in the same Cause. 



MY LORDS, 



I THOUGHT it fit for my place, and for these times, 

 to bring to hearing before your lordships some cause 

 touching private duels, to see if this court can do 

 any good to tame and reclaim that evil which seems 

 unbridled. And I could have wished that 1 had 

 met with some greater persons, as a subject for your 

 censure, both because it had been more worthy of 

 this presence, and also the better to have shewed the 

 resolution myself hath to proceed without respect of 

 persons in this business : but finding this cause on 

 foot in my predecessor s time, and published and 

 ready for hearing, I thought to lose no time in a 

 mischief that groweth every day : and besides, it 

 passes not amiss sometimes in government, that the 

 greater sort be admonished by an example made in 

 the meaner, and the dog to be beaten before the 

 lion. Nay, I should think, my lords, that men of 



