BaconwasinstructedbytheKingtodrawupapaperofallthepointsof“mercyandfavour“toSomersetwhichmightresultfromtheevidence；andSomersetwasagainrecommendedtopleadguilty，andpromisedthatnoevilshouldensuetohim。
TheCountesswasfirsttried。Shetrembledandshedtearsduringthereadingoftheindictment，and，inalowvoice，pleadedguilty。Onbeingaskedwhysentenceofdeathshouldnotbepassedagainsther，sherepliedmeekly，“Icanmuchaggravate，butnothingextenuatemyfault。Idesiremercy，andthatthelordswillintercedeformewiththeKing。“Sentenceofdeathwaspasseduponher。
NextdaytheEarlwasbroughttotrial。HeappearstohavemistrustedthepromisesofJames，andhepleadednotguilty。Withaself-possessionandconfidence，whichhefelt，probably，fromhisknowledgeoftheKing’scharacter，herigorouslycross-examinedthewitnesses，andmadeastubborndefence。Afteratrialwhichlastedelevenhours，hewasfoundguilty，andcondemnedtothefelon’sdeath。
WhatevermayhavebeenthesecretsbetweenthecriminalandtheKing，thelatter，notwithstandinghisterrificoath，wasafraidtosignthedeath-warrant。Itmight，perchance，havebeenhisown。TheEarlandCountesswerecommittedtotheTower，wheretheyremainedfornearlyfiveyears。Attheendofthisperiod，tothesurpriseandscandalofthecommunity，andthedisgraceofitschiefmagistrate，theybothreceivedtheroyalpardon，butwereorderedtoresideatadistancefromthecourt。Havingbeenfoundguiltyoffelony，theestatesoftheEarlhadbecomeforfeited；butJamesgrantedhimoutoftheirrevenuesanincomeof4，000poundsperannum！Shamelessnesscouldgonofurther。
Oftheafterlifeofthesecriminalsnothingisknown，exceptthatthelovetheyhadformerlyborneeachotherwaschangedintoaversion，andthattheylivedunderthesameroofformonthstogetherwithouttheinterchangeofaword。