Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-19
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF FRANCIS BACON.

Sir Francis Bacon. the English phi
 1osophersand diplomat, found 1t difl- cult matter to prevail upon his sover- eigns to accept his philosophy and he was not diplomat enough to know just how to handle the obstinate rulers. While he wrote letters defending Eliz- abeth during her reign. he provoked her and her lords by his opposition in parliament to taxation measures in
 which the government was interested. When James came te the throne he fared better for a time, and rose rap idly in favor at court. He finally ad- vanced to the high position of lord chancellor, but the enjoyment of his new honors was brief. The storm which had been gathering against the and on the assenblage of parliament he was charged with bribery. The charges against Bacon were laid before the house of commons in March, 1621, and on March IT, the commons resolved to send the charges
 laid against him before the lords for inquiry, without committing them selves on one side or the other. Baeon's health broke down over worry caused by the charges and he begged for time to reply to the aceu- sations. Not being satisfied, his enc of these was Lady Wharton, who | claimed that she had given money di- rectly to Bacon and had received a | crushing sentence almost immediately afteFward.
 1 On April Is. Bacon. who was sufIi- ciently recovered to leave his house l had an interview with the king. He
 begged his sovereign to grant him 8 1 fair trial. but on the 20th he was giver sufficient details of the charges to bt | laid against him so that he felt he hac
 a difficult task before him to answer
 them. When the full charges were l disclosed to him he at once realized l that a defense was impossible. l On the 27th of April. Bacon made his formal submission to the lords hoping that they would be conten 1 with depriving him of office. Tn,
 lords. however, prtssed for an answe, to the charges. On May 1 the grea seal was taken from him.
 fl The lords, who were to be the judge of BacoHAs guilt. took the matter ou
 of the hands of the commons, the or igina1 accusers. and had become them
 arranging evidence, accepting or re
 jecting deposftiors.
 There appears to have been n
 cross s-examination of witnesses on Ba
 Icons behalf, or hearing witnesses fo him-not unnaturally at this stage o !. the business. when the prosecutor were engaged in making out their owl
 i case, but considering that the futur
 judges had of their own accord turne
 | themselves into the prosecutors, the un : fairness was great.
 fI Tn the accusations it WAS stated tha sf Bacon had taken many brfbes of $1 ,50t .t $2,00o and even $5, 900. The reason tn
 seal was taken from him was that
 person to whom it was attached wa
 immune froSn appearing before a ba : Of justice. When he gave it up h said: "By the kings great favor ! received the great seal; by my Ow st great fault I have lost it."
 After they had found Bacon guilt
 they intended him to come to the bs i, | to receive his sentence. But he wa too Ill to leave his bed. They did nc : push this point further. but on May 1. proceeded to settle the sentence. Thel ? were men who talked Of every es
 trennity short of death. Chief Justie
 Coke, from his usual store Of prs s cedencN, cited cases to the common t where Judges had been hanged ft q bribery. But the lords would not hes f l of this.
 Bacon was fined s2oooeo and to I
 imprisoned within the tower during u v 1 kings pleasure. He was to be 1T E employment in the state of common wealth. He was never to sit in pal n liament or come within the verge of u n court.
 catastrophe by which, in less ths h | two mouths Bacon WAS cast dow ,r from the height of fortune to becen = a byword of shame. Bacon remaint $ ing pardoned by the king. He liya It Ave years longer, devotinG the tin ]. priucdpaity Co literatuF&