THE CHARGE OF OWEN, INDICTED OF 

 HIGH TREASON, IN THE KING S BENCH, BY 



SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, 

 HIS MAJESTY S ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 



THE treason wherewith this man standeth charged, 

 is for the kind and nature of it ancient, as ancient as 

 there is any law of England ; but in the particular, 

 late and upstart : and again, in the manner and 

 boldness of the present case, new and almost unheard 

 of till this man. Of what mind he is now, I know 

 not ; but I take him as he was, and as he standeth 

 charged. For high treason is not written in ice ; 

 that when the body relenteth, the impression should 

 go away. 



In this cause the evidence itself will spend little 

 time : time therefore will be best spent in opening 

 fully the nature of this treason, with the circum 

 stances thereof; because the example is more than 

 the man. I think good therefore by way of induce 

 ment and declaration in this cause to open unto the 

 court, jury, and hearers, five things. 



The first is the clemency of the king ; because it 

 is news, and a kind of rarity to have a proceeding in 

 this place upon treason : and perhaps it may be 

 marvelled by some, why after so long an intermis 

 sion it should light upon this fellow ; being a person 



