During the recess an interview took place between the King and Bacon; and on the twentieth of April, four days afterwards, Bacon sent a letter to the King, thanking him for the access which he had vouchsafed, and expressing a hope that the lords of the Upper House would be merciful; adding these emphatic words:-' It is not possible, nor it were not safe, for me to answer particulars till I have my charge; which when I shall receive, I shall without figleaves, or disguise, excuse what I can excuse, extenuate what I can extenuate, and ingenuously confess what I can neither clear nor extenuate.'*

From Bacon's letters to the King, and particularly from his solemn address to the House of Lords, in which he requests to be allowed to except to the witnesses brought against him, and to move questions for their cross-examination, and likewise to produce

* Bacon's Works, vol. 13, p. 29.

his own witnesses,' * it is very evident that he intended to defend himself against the charges which had been brought against him. Soon after the before-mentioned interview, however, had taken place, (the design of which was attempted to be concealed by previously taking the advice of the privy council as to its expediency-a question which was at once left to the discretion of the King,) and in the face of his repeatedly expressed determination to the contrary, lord Bacon, who undeniably possessed the highest gifts of eloquence-gifts that might 'perplex and dash maturest counsels,' consented to abandon every measure of defence; and, instead of excepting to any of the witnesses, (some of whom were very exceptionable,) or moving any questions for their crossexamination, or producing any testimonies on his own behalf, submitted himself to the judgment and mercy of his peers. Now when we put together the circumstances which we

* Ante, p. 246.

have mentioned, and call to mind the state of public opinion and the principles which then influenced the counsels of the crown, there appears to be, at least, a strong presumption that Bacon's relinquishment of his defence was not a voluntary act, but the effect either of a threat or promise on the part of the government:-a threat to abandon and utterly undo him if he persisted in prosecuting his defence, which might possibly disclose some particulars unfavourable to the King and Buckingham;—a promise to retrieve his fortunes if broken by the sentence of the House of Lords. To confirm this strong antecedent presumption, there is a letter from Bacon to Buckingham, written about this time, which, we think, evidently shows that the former considered himself as a sacrifice to the safety of the King:-' I hear yesterday was a day of very great honour to his majesty,' says Bacon,' which I do congratulate. I hope, also, his majesty may reap honour out of my adversity, as he

hath done strength out of my prosperity. His majesty knows best his own ways; and for me to despair of him, were a sin not to be given. I thank God, I have overcome the bitterness of this cup of Christian resolution, so that worldly matters are but mint and cummin.'* But to put this question beyond all possibility of doubt, there is the positive testimony of Mr. Bushell, the secretary (or servant as he was then called,) of lord Bacon; and that testimony, expressed with the utmost degree of particularity, descending even to the words used by the Chancellor,— a circumstance which renders it highly probable that the facts were communicated to

his secretary by Bacon himself. • There arose,' says Bushell, 'such complaints against his lordship, and the then favourite of court, that for some days put the King to this quere, whether he should permit the favourite of his affections, or the oracle of his

* Bacon's Works, vol. 12, p. 465.

council to sink in his service? Wherefore his lordship was sent for by the King, who, after some discourse, gave him this positive advice, to submit himself to his House of Peers, and that, (upon his princely word,) he would then restore him again, if they (in their honours) should not be sensible of his merits. Now, though my lord foresaw his approaching ruin, and told his majesty there was little hopes of mercy in a multitude, when his enemies were to give the fire, if he did not plead for himself; yet such was his obedience to him from whom he had his being, that he resolved his majesty's will should be his only law; and so took leave of him with these words:-" Those that will strike at your Chancellor, (it is much to be feared,) will strike at your crown;" and wished, that as he was then the first, so he might be the last of sacrifices. Soon after,' continues Bushell, according to his majesty's com

mands, he wrote a submissive letter to the