The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

cviii IAIFE OF BACON.
formerly received of Smithwick, which, after that I thanks from the king, and honour by it; and that
had understood the nature of it, I ordered him to they would gratify me with a thousand pounds
repay it, and to defaulk it of his accompt. for my travel in it; whereupon I treated between'" 22. To the two-and-twentieth article of the them, by way of persuasion, and (to prevent any
charge, viz., in the cause of Sir henry Russwell, compulsory suit) propounding such a price as the
lie received money from Russwell; but it is not vintners might be gainers six pounds per tun, as
certain how much: I confess and declare, that I it was then maintained to me; and after, the merreceived money from my servant Hunt, as from chants petitioning to the kingr, and his majesty
Mr. Russwell, in a purse; and, whereas the sum recommending the business unto me as a busiin the article is indefinite, I confess it to be three ness that concerned his customs and the navy, I
or four hundred pounds; and it was about some dealt more earnestly and peremptorily in it; and,
months after the cause was decreed, in which de- as I think, restrained in the messengers' hands
cree I was assisted by two of the judges. for a day or two some that were the more stiff;
6" 23. To the three-and-twentieth article of the and afterwards the merchants presented me with a
charge, viz., in the cause of Mr. Barker, the lord thousand pounds out of their common purse; acchancellor received from Barker seven hundred knowledging themselves that I had kept them
pounds: I confess and declare, that the money from a kind of ruin, and still maintaining to me
mentioned in the article was received from Mr. that the vintners, if they were not insatiably
Barker, some time after the decree passed. minded, ]lad a very competent gain. This is
6" 24. To the four-and-twentieth article, five- the merits of the cause, as it then appeared unto
and-twentieth, and six-and-twentieth articles of me.
the charge, viz., the four-and-twentieth, there being, 28. To the eight-and-twentieth article of the
a reference from his majesty to his lordship of a charge, viz., the lord chancellor hath given way
business between the Grocers and the Apotheca- to great exactions by his servants, both in respect
ries, the lord chancellor received of the Grocers of private seals, and otherwise for sealing of intwo hundred pounds. The five-and-twentieth junctions: I confess, it was a great fault of
article; in the same cause, he received of the neglect in me, that I looked no better to my
Apothecaries that stood with the Grocers, a taster servants.
of gold, worth between forty and fifty pounds, and i" This declaration I have made to your lorda present of ambergrease. And the six-and-twen- ships with a sincere mind; humbly craving, that
tiethl article: he received of the New Company if there should be any mistaking, your lordships
of the Apothecaries that stood against the Gro- would impute it to want of memory, and not to
cers, a hundred pounds: To these I confess and any desire of mine to obscure truth, or palliate any
declare, that the several sums from the three par- thing: for I do again confess, that in the points
ties were received; and for that it was no judicial charged upon me, although they should be taken as
business, but a concord, or composition between myself have declared them, there is a great deal of
the parties, and that as I thought all had received corruption and neglect, for which I am heartily
good, and they were all three common purses, I and penitently sorry, and submit myself to the
thought it the less matter to receive that which judgment, grace, and mercy of the court.
they voluntarily presented; for if I had taken it ", For extenuation, I will use none concerning
in the nature of a corrupt bribe, I knew it could the matters themselves; only it may please your
not be concealed, because it must needs be put lordships, out of your nobleness, to cast your eyes
to accompt to the three several companies. of compassion upon my person and estate. I was' 27. To the seven-and-twentieth article of the never noted for an avaricious man. And the
charge, viz., he took of the French merchants a apostle saith, that covetousness is the root of.thousand pounds, to constrain the vintners of all evil. I hope also, that your lordships do the
London to take from them fifteen hundred tuns rather find me in the state of grace; for that, in
of wine; to accomplish which, he used very in- all these particulars, there are few or none that
direct means, by colour of his office and authority, are not almost two years old, whereas those tha
without bill or suit depending; terrifying the have a habit of corruption do commonly wax
vintners, by threats and imprisonments of their worse and worse; so that it hath pleased God to
persons, to buy wines, whereof they had no need prepare me, by precedent degrees of amendment,
or use, at higher rates than they were vendible: I to my present penitency. And for my estate, it
do confess and declare, that Sir Thomas Smith is so mean and poor, as my care is now chiefly to
did deal with me in the behalf of the French com- satisfy my debts.
pany; informing me that the vintners, by combi- 6, And so, fearing I have troubled your lordships
nation, would not take off their wines at any too long, I shall conclude with an humble suit
reasonable prices. That it would destroy their unto you, that, if your lordships proceed to sentrade, and stay their voyage for that year; and tence, your sentence may notbe heavy to my ruin,
that it was a fair business, and concerned the but gracious, and mixed with mercy; and not only
state; and he doubted not but I should receive so, butthat you would be noble intercessors for me