The great oyer of poisoning : the trial of the Earl of Somerset for the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, in the Tower of London, and various matters connected therewith, from contemporary mss / by Andrew Amos.

  • Amos, Andrew, 1791-1860.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The great oyer of poisoning : the trial of the Earl of Somerset for the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, in the Tower of London, and various matters connected therewith, from contemporary mss / by Andrew Amos. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Lord High Steward.—All the Council together could not justify the making of such a warrant. Lord of Somerset.—For my endeavouring to get a pardon ; having had many things of trust under the King, and the custody of both the seals, without particular warrant, I desired by this means to be exonerated. And for all gene- ral words, the lawyers put them in without my privity. And for the precedent of the largest pardon, which I had from Sir R. Cotton, it was upon this occasion Sir R. Cotton said, ‘‘In respect you have received some disgrace in the opinion of the world, in having past that pardon which the last summer you desired, especially seeing there be many precedents of larger, I would have you now get one after the largest precedent, that so by that addition you might recover your honour.” And upon this I bad him search for the largest. Serjeant Montague.—Sir R. Cotton says otherwise. Sir R. Cotton's examination.—Saith, my Lord desired to seek precedents of the largest pardons. Lord of Somerset.—¥ or the declaration which I lately sent to the King, and particularly the word [mercy] which is now so much urged against me, it was the Lieutenant’s; for I would have used another, but he said it could be nothing prejudicial unto me; but when I writ it, I did not think thus to be sifted in this declaration; for I in that, in all humility, did so far endeavour to humble and yield myself, that the King might the better express his grace. And for the words, [that I did consent to and endeavour the im- prisonment of Sir T. Overbury,] it is true, for the reason there alleged. Mr. Attorney. —May it wleace your Gdns, my Lord here hath had a most gracious hearing, and hath behaved himself modestly and wittily. Lord High Steward.—If you have any more to say, my Lord, you shall be heard at length; we will not straiten you in time.