Discovery of the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. - Proceedings of the Trial of Weston.-Committal of the Earl and Countess of Som- erset. Execution of Weston. Scene at the Scaffold - Proceed- ing in the Star Chamber. - Commencement of Bacon's Acquaint- ance with George Villiers. Indictment of the Earl and Countess of Somerset, as Accessories before the Fact to the Murder of Over- bury. State of the Case against them. - Postponement of the Prosecution. The Lord Chancellor dangerously ill. First and second Copy of Bacon's Letter to the King on the Subject. — Ques- tion whom to choose for Chancellor in case Ellesmere should die. — Bacon's Recommendation of himself.-A Letter to Sir George Villiers. Recovery of Ellesmere. - Indictment of Præmunire pre- ferred against his Court in the King's Bench, with the approbation of Coke. Bacon desires to be made a Privy Councillor. - - A letter to Sir George Villiers touching a Motion to swear him Councillor. -Esteem in which his Services were held at this time. - Inquiring
into the Earl of Somerset's Dealings with Spain. — Reëxamination of Lady Somerset. — Result of Enquiry into Somerset's Relations with Spain. Conditions of the Case of Somerset as it came out of Coke's Hands into Bacon's. - Expediency of inducing Somerset, if guilty, to make a Confession. - Hope of Pardon to be suggested to him as the probable Consequence of a voluntary Confession.— Bacon's Conference with the Judges concerning the Evidence against Somerset. - Object of such Consultations. -Somerset's Threat to bring some Charge against the King. - Trial of the Countess, who pleads guilty. - Her Behavior at the Trial. Sentence. Weldon's Story of the midnight Visit. - Somerset's The King's Direction to Sir George More. - Trial of Somer- Abstract of Evidence adduced in Support of the Charge