d between the 19th of
October and the 4th of December 1615; but the grand trial of the Earl and
Countess of Somerset did not take place till the month of May following.

On the trial of Sir Jervis Elwes, circumstances had transpired, shewing a
guilty knowledge of the poisoning on the part of the Earl of Northampton,
the uncle of Lady Somerset, and the chief falconer Sir Thomas Monson. The
former was dead; but Sir Thomas Monson was arrested and brought to trial.
It appeared, however, that he was too dangerous a man to be brought to the
scaffold. He knew too many of the odious secrets of James I., and his
dying speech might contain disclosures which would compromise the king. To
conceal old guilt it was necessary to incur new: the trial of Sir Thomas
Monson was brought to an abrupt conclusion, and himself set at liberty.

Already James had broken his oath. He now began to fear that he had been
rash in engaging so zealously to bring the poisoners to punishment. That
Somerset would be declared guilty there was no doubt, and that he looked
for pardon and impunity was equally evident to the king. Somerset, while
in the Tower, asserted confidently that James would not _dare_ to bring
him to trial. In this he was mistaken; but James was in an agony. What the
secret was between them will now never be known with certainty; but it may
be surmised. Some have imagined it to be the vice to which the king was
addicted; while others have asserted that it related to the death of
Prince Henry, a virtuous young man, who had held Somerset in especial
abhorrence. This prince died early, unlamented by his father, and, as
public opinion whispered at the time, poisoned by Somerset. Probably some
crime or other lay heavy upon the soul of the king; and Somerset, his
accomplice, could not be brought to public execution with safety. Hence
the dreadful tortures of James when he discovered that his favourite was
so deeply implicated in the murder of Overbury. Every means was taken by
the agonised king to bring the prisoner into what was called a safe frame
of mind. He was secretly advised to plead guilty, and trust to the
clemency of the king. The same advice was conveyed to the countess. Bacon
was instructed by the king to draw up a paper of all the points of "mercy
and favour" to Somerset which might result from the evidence; and Somerset
was again recommended to plead guilty, and promised that no evil should
ensue to him.

[Illustration: THE EAR