66

bably refers to. From it we glean that Bacon offers to make "a submission in writing," which can be for no other purpose but that his word is considered of no avail.

In October we find the two gentlemen again in correspondence. On the 11th, Bacon writes to Buckingham, detailing his work in Chancery, and from this letter we learn that the case of Egerton's, one of those in which he was afterwards charged with bribery, is now pending. He has spoken with all the judges, signifying to them his Majesty's pleasure, in this acting as the mere mouthpiece of the King. The committee are proceeding with the purging of Coke's Reports, "wherein I told them his Majesty's meaning was not to disgrace the person but to rectify the work, having in his royal contemplation rather posterity than the present. The case of the Egertons I have put off according to his Majesty's commandment," &c.

Herein we gain another glimpse at the depravity of Bacon's mind. Justice is a mere mockery, if it be not independent of bias, or partiality to persons, yet here we see Bacon making it subservient to a King's wishes. How opposed to Coke's practice! Coke is only head of an inferior court; he is not the legal head of the realm; yet he, standing by the majesty of law, has defied the monarch, and has shielded and protected the subject against him. Can any one ever more wonder why Elizabeth, who knew a man's character by intuition, did not favour and raise her "young Lord Keeper?"

October 18th he sends another letter, alleging that he has "reformed the ordinance according to his Majesty's corrections ;" another proof of the interference of the

446

A COMMAND REFUSED.

crown. On the 28th of October, Buckingham, who wishes some illegal act done for his own benefit, writes to praise Bacon for his zeal in the King's service. On the 28th, we have a letter from Bacon declining the illegal service, albeit on the face of it, there is no abuse concerned with it. As the letter is rather favourable to the Lord Keeper than otherwise, I will give it.

"MY VERY GOOD LORD,—

"I send your lordship the certificate concerning the enrolment of apprentices. We can find no ground for it by law. Myself shall be ever ready to further things that your lordship commandeth; but where the matter will not bear it, your lordship, I know, will not think the worse, but the better of me, if I signify the true state of things to your lordship, resting ever,

"Your lordship's true friend and devoted servant.” In November, he is busy reorganizing the King's household, the expenses of which are compelled to be curtailed by James' straitened means.

On 12th November, 1617, we find Buckingham pleading in behalf of Lord Stanhope, my Lord of Huntingdon, and Sir Thomas Gerard, and again, on the 22nd, in the matter of controversy between Barnaby Leigh, and Sir Edward Dyer, plaintiffs, and Sir Thomas Wynes, defendant, desiring favour for the plaintiffs so far as the justice of the case shall require. Yet on the very next day he writes again, this time to demand Bacon's furtherance in the business of Sir Richard Haughton's alum mines, for the present relief of Sir Richard Haughton. “Any favour you will do I will not fail to achnowledge," says Buckingham, and doubtless he will keep his word. Again on the day after there is an application on behalf of one

THE LICENSE FOR ALE-HOUSES.

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Thomas Stukely, a merchant; and on the 4th December, Sir Thomas Blackstone, he being a brother-in-law of Sir Henry Constable, whom Buckingham much respects. On New-Year's day, 1618, Buckingham is made Marquis of Buckingham; and so well do these gentlemen play into each other's hands, three days after Bacon is made Lord Chancellor and Baron Verulam.

In January, 1618, we light on another important letter, from which we learn that the suits in Chancery of Villiers' friends or suitors are,-Hawkyn's, Sir Rowland Egerton's, Sir Gilbert Houghton's, and Moore's, this last being a patent for printing books, and "concerning the suit for ale-houses which concerneth your brother, Mr. Patrick Maule. I have conferred with my Lord Chief Justice, and Mr. Solicitor thereupon, and there is a scruple in it, that it should be one of the grievances put down in parliament ; which if it be, I may not in my duty and love to you, advise you to deal in it; if it be not, I will mould it in the best manner and help it forward."

Within a week of the dignity of Chancellorship being granted, Villiers solicits, in a letter from Royston,* Bacon's aid, "favour, and furtherance" in the licence of ale-houses, for the benefit of his brother Christopher, "whose benefit I have reason to wish and advance by any just courses."

It was among the grievances already struck at in parliament. Notwithstanding its illegality, notwithstanding its oppression, as it is to enrich the favourite's brother, Bacon will assist in it, if it is not contrary to parliament. There is no word against its iniquity or its injustice, but being * Montagu, vol. xii., p. 346.

418

THE EGERTONS' SUIT.

dangerous the Chancellor will advise Villiers in prudence not to push it.

From this same letter we find that Bacon's life has been threatened by one of his suitors, Lord Clifton. Bacon recommends an information in the Star Chamber, but will, from merciful consideration, withhold it for the present. In March, this same Lord Clifton, however, abuses Bacon to the King.

Five days after Bacon's elevation Villiers writes the following peremptory letter to the man he has just invested with the dignity of Lord Chancellor and Baron Verulam ; in the suit of the Egertons, and actually defining the precise manner in which it is to be settled* :

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.

"MY HONOURABLE LORD,

:

"I have heretofore recommended unto your Lordship the determination of the cause between Sir Rowland Egerton and Edward Egerton, who I understand did both agree, being before your Lordship, upon the values of the whole lands. And as your Lordship hath already made so good an entrance into the business, I doubt not but you will be as noble in furthering the full agreement between the parties: whereunto I am informed, Sir Rowland Egerton is very forward, offering on his part, that which to me seemeth very reasonable, either to divide the lands, and his adverse party to choose; or the other to divide, and he to choose. Whereupon my desire to your Lordship is, that you would accordingly make a final end between them, in making a division and setting forth the lands according to the values agreed upon by the parties themselves. Wherein besides the charitable work your Lordship shall do, in making an end of a controversy between those, whom name and blood should tie together

*Montagu, vol. xii., p. 345.

DOUBLE BRIBERY.

449

and keep in unity, I will acknowledge your favour as unto myself and will ever rest

44

"Your lordship's faithful servant,

"G. BUCKINGHAM.

Theobalds, 9th January, 1617 (1618, N.S.)"

We cannot now see all the strings, the wheels, and works of the machinery of that day; but plainly as anything can be interpreted, this note declares on the face of it-I have received a bribe in money or in kind, and therefore desire you to decide accordingly. Either Villiers is much more angelic and disinterested than the rest of the evidence against him would lead us to suppose, or this is a fair and correct interpretation. But if Villiers has been fee'd, the Chancellor, while obeying him, will be bribed too. For this is one of the identical cases in which Bacon afterwards acknowledges his receipt in all of seven hundred pounds, by two instalments, from Mr. Edward Egerton-a sum, be it remembered, equal to as many thousands in our days.

The answer to this we have just read. Intermediately, another application on behalf of Sir John Cotton, who has been put from his office of custos rotulorum.

On the 19th, we find Bacon acting in concert with the Bishop of Winchester (Dr. James Montagu), Bacon's nephew Sir Julius Cæsar, and Dr. Andrews, the Bishop of Ely. His servants, Sir Henry Montagu, and Sir Henry Hobart, Justices Dodderidge and Hutton, holding, at the instance of the King, an extra judicial court, concerning tithes.

On the 20th, we find that Bacon had displaced Cotton