COUNTESS OF SOMERSET. 189 



Then follow the proceedings of justice against 

 the other offenders, Turner, Helwisse, Franklin. 



But all these being but the organs and instru 

 ments of this fact, the actors and not the authors, 

 justice could not have been crowned without this 

 last act against these great persons. Else Weston s 

 censure or prediction might have been verified, when 

 he said, he hoped the small flies should not be caught 

 and the great escape. Wherein the king being in 

 great straits, between the defacing of his honour and 

 of his creature, hath, according as he useth to do, 

 chosen the better part, reserving always mercy to 

 himself. 



The time also of this justice hath had its true 

 motions. The time until this lady s deliverance was 

 due unto honour, Christianity, and humanity, in re 

 spect of her great belly. The time since was due to 

 another kind of deliverance too ; which was, that 

 some causes of estate, that were in the womb, might 

 likewise be brought forth, not for matter of justice, 

 but for reason of state. Likewise this last procras 

 tination of days had the like weighty grounds 

 and causes. And this is the true and brief repre 

 sentation of this extreme work of the king s justice. 



Now for the evidence against this lady, I am 

 sorry I must rip it up. I shall first shew you the 

 purveyance or provisions of the poisons : that they 

 were seven in number brought to this lady, and by 

 her billetted and laid up till they might be used : 

 and this done with an oath or vow of secrecy, which 



