The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

ixiv LIFE OF BACON.
been deeply interested in the downfall of Somerset, whom I owe most after the king and yourself,
and accused of secretly working his ruin, Bacon should be locked to his successor for any adgained great honour in the opinions of all men, by vancement or gracing of me. So I ever remain
his impartial yet merciful treatment of a man whom your true and most devoted and obliged servant.
in his prosperity he had shunned and despised. -3d June, 1616."
Early in this year, (1615, 1Et. 55,) a dispute
which occasioned considerable agitation, arose He was accordingly sworn of the privy counbetween the Court of Chancery and the Court of cil, and took his seat at the board on the 9th of
King's Bench, respecting the jurisdiction of the June; it having been previoussly agreed that,though
chancellor after judgment given in courts of law. in general he should cease to plead as an advocate,
Upon this dispute, heightened by the warmth and his permission to give counsel in causes should
haughtiness of Sir Edward Coke, and the danger- continue, and that if any urgent and weighty
ous illness of the chancellor at the time when matter should arise, that he might, with the king's
Coke promoted the inquiry, the king and Villiers permission, be allowed to plead. Upon this unuconferred with Bacon, to whom and other emi- sual honour he was immediately congratulated by
nent members of the profession, the matter was the university of Cambridge.
referred, and upon their report, the king in person Such were the occupations of this philosopher,
pronounced judgment in favour of the lord chan- who, during the three years in which period he
cellor, with some strong observations upon the was attorney-general, conducted himself with
conduct of Coke. such prudent moderation in so many perplexed
Pending this investigation, (1616, PEt. 56,) and difficult cases, and with such evenness and
VTilliers, it seems, communicated to Bacon the integrity, that his conduct has never been quesking's intention either to admit him a member of tioned, nor has malice dared to utter of him the
the privy council, or, upon the death or resignation least calumny.
of the chancellor, to intrust him with the great He now approached his last act as attorneyseal, a trust to which he was certain of the chan- general, which was of the same nature as the first,
cellor's recommendation. his prosecution of Mr. Markham in the Star ChamHaving thus discharged the duties of solicitor ber, for sending a challenge to Lord Darcy.
and attorney-general, with much credit to himself On the 3d of March, 1616-17, Lord Brackley,
and advantage to the community, he, early in the then lord chancellor, being worn out with age and
year 1615-16, expressed to Villiers his wish to be infirmities, resigned the great seal, and escaped,
admitted a member of the privy council, from the for a short interval, from the troubles of the Court
hope that he might be of service ",in times which of Chancery, over which he had presided for
did never more require a king's attorney to be thirteen years, amidst the disputes between this
well armed, and to wear a gauntlet and not a high tribunal and the courts of common law, and
glove." In consequence of this communication, the pressure of business, which had so increased
the king, on the 3d of June, gave him the option as to have been beyond the power of any indieither to be made privy councillor, or the assur- vidual to control.
ance of succeeding the chancellor. Bacon, for On the 7th of the same month, the seals were
reasons which he has thus expressed in a letter to delivered by the king to Sir Francis Bacon, with
Villiers, preferred being sworn privy councillor: four admonitions: First, To contain the jurisdiction
of the court within its true and due limits, without
4" Sir, the king giveth me a noble choice, and swelling or excess. Secondly, Not to put the gre. t
you are the man my heart ever told me you were. seal to letters patent, as a matter of course to follow
Ambition would draw me to the latter part of the after precedent warrants. Thirdly, To retrench
choice; but in respect of my hearty wishes that all unnecessary delays, that the subject might find
my lord chancellor may live long, and the small that he did enjoy the same remedy against the
hopes I have that I shall live long myself, and, fainting of the soul and the consumption of the
above all, because I see his majesty's service estate, which was speedy justice. 6, Bis dat, qui
daily and instantly bleedeth; towards which I cito dat." Fourthly, That justice might pass with
persuade myself (vainly, perhaps, but yet in mine as easy charge as might be; and that those same
own thoughts firmly and constantly) that I shall brambles, that. grow about justice, of needless
give, when I am of the table, some effectual fur- charge and expense, and all manner of exactions,
therance, (as a poor thread of the labyrinth, which might be rooted out so far as might be.
hath no other virtue but a united continuance, Thus was Francis Bacon, then in the fiftywithout interruption or distraction,) I do accept of seventh year of his age, created Lord Keeper of
the tormer, to be councillor for the present, and to the Great Seal of England.
give over pleading at the bar; let the other mat- In the joy of recent possession he instantly
ter rest upon my proof and his majesty's pleasure, wrote to his friend and patron, the Earl of Buckand the accidents of time. For, to speak plainly, ingham, with a pen overflowing with the expresI would be loath that my lord chancellor, to sion of his gratitude.