410 LETTERS RELATING TO 



mandment to the rest of the judges ; whereof your- 

 lordship may not fail. And so I leave your lord 

 ship to God s goodness. 



Your loving friend to command, 



FR. BACON. 



This Thursday at afternoon, 

 the 25th of April, 1616. 



QUESTIONS LEGAL FOR THE JUDGES [iN THE CASE OF 

 THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF SOMERSET.*] 



WHETHER the ax is to be carried before the prisoner, 

 being in the case of felony ? 



Whether, if the lady make any digression to 

 clear his lordship, she is not by the lord Steward to 

 be interrupted and silenced ? 



Whether, if my lord of Somerset should break 

 forth into any speech of taxing the king, he be not 

 presently by the lord Steward to be interrupted and 

 silenced ; and, if he persist, he be not to be told, 

 that if he take that course, he is to be withdrawn, 

 and evidence to be given in his absence ? And whe 

 ther that may be ; and what else to be done ? 



Whether if there should be twelve votes to con 

 demn, and twelve or thirteen to acquit, it be not a 

 verdict for the king ? 



* See Vol. VI, page 201. 



