ex had at
last finished their expostulation and parted with charitable
prayers, each that the other might be forgiven, then (says our
reporter) Mr. Bacon entered into a speech much after this fashion:

"'In speaking of this late and horrible rebellion which hath been
in the eyes and ears of all men, I shall save myself much labour in
opening and enforcing the points thereof, insomuch as I speak not
before a country jury of ignorant men, but before a most honourable
assembly of the greatest Peers of the land, whose wisdoms conceive
far more than my tongue can utter; yet with your gracious and
honourable favours I will presume, if not for information of your
Honours, yet for the discharge of my duty, to say thus much. No man
can be ignorant, that knows matters of former ages--and all history
makes it plain--that there was never any traitor heard of that
durst directly attempt the seat of his liege prince but he always
coloured his practices with some plausible pretence. For God hath
imprinted such a majesty in the face of a prince that no private
man dare approach the person of his sovereign with a traitorous
intent. And therefore they run another side course, _oblique et a
latere_: some to reform corruptions of the State and religion; some
to reduce the ancient liberties and customs pretended to be lost
and worn out; some to remove those persons that being in high
places make themselves subject to envy; but all of them aim at the
overthrow of the State and destruction of the present rulers. And
this likewise is the use of those that work mischief of another
quality; as Cain, that first murderer, took up an excuse for his
fact, shaming to outface it with impudency, thus the Earl made his
colour the severing some great men and councillors from her
Majesty's favour, and the fear he stood in of his pretended enemies
lest they should murder him in his house. Therefore he saith he
was compelled to fly into the City for succour and assistance; not
much unlike Pisistratus, of whom it was so anciently written how he
gashed and wounded himself, and in that sort ran crying into Athens
that his life was sought and like to have been taken away; thinking
to have moved the people to have pitied him and taken his part by
such counterfeited harm and danger; whereas h