EARL OF SOMERSET. 235 



Yesterday being Wednesday, I spent four or five 

 hours with the judges whom his majesty designed 

 to take consideration with, the four judges of the 

 king s bench, of the evidence against Somerset : 

 they all concur in opinion, that the questioning and 

 drawing him on to trial is most honourable and just, 

 and that the evidence is fair and good. 



His majesty s letter to the judges concerning the 

 &quot; Commendams&quot; was full of magnanimity and 

 wisdom. I perceive his majesty is never less alone, 

 than when he is alone ; for I am sure there was no 

 body by him to inform him, which made me admire 

 it the more. 



The judges have given a day over, till the second 

 Saturday of the next term ; so as that matter may 

 endure farther consideration, for his majesty not only 

 not to lose ground, but to win ground. 



To-morrow is appointed for the examination of 

 Somerset, which by some infirmity of the duke of 

 Lenox was put off from this day. When this is 

 done, I will write more fully, ever resting 



Your true and devoted servant, 



FR. BACON. 



May ( l, 1616. 



TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, OF SOMERSET S ARRAIGNMENT. 



Sir, 



I AM far enough from opinion, that the redintegra 

 tion or resuscitation of Somerset s fortune can ever 

 stand with his majesty s honour and safety ; and 



