The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

lxxxvi LIFE OF BACON.
all classes of society who were connected with in matters of such moment, Buckingham should
Buckingham. Amongst the patentees were the apply for counsel to Williams rather than to
Lord Harrington and the Countess of Bedford. Bacon, by whose advice he professed to be alChristopher Villiers, and Sir Edward Villiers, ways guided: it is, however, certain that he not
half-brother of the lord marquis, received ~1,800 only communicated privately with Williams, but
annually between them; and from one single that he carried him to the king, whom they found
patent the king's annual profit was ~210,000. closeted with the prince, in much distress and
These rumours reached and alarmed the king, perplexity, wheqn the dean read to his royal
who instantly caused a communication to be made master a document prepared at the suggestion
to the lords, that the patent was sanctioned by of Buckingham, or the fruit of his own politic
divers of the judges for the point of law, and by brain.
divers lords for point of convenience. It is to be hoped that the fiend ambition did not
Reform was now the universal cry of the na- so far possess him, as to recommend the greater
tion. It was one of those periodical outcries, sacrifice of Bacon, should Mompessonand I\lichell
which ever has been and ever will be heard in be deemed insufficient to allay the storm; but if
Enoland, till, by admitting the gradual improve- ambition did influence this politic prelate, if the
ment which the progress of knowledge requires, vision of the seals floated before him, and induced
the current, instead of being opposed, is judi- him to plot against the 1" gracious Duncan," he
ciously directed. The streams which for cen- could not but foresee that the result of the inturies roll on, and for centuries are impeded, at quiries would only convince the parliament that
last break down or rush over the barriers and Mompesson and Michell were mere puppets
carry every thing before them. When in this moved for the profit and advantage of others, and
deluge the ark itself is in danger, the patriot en- that Buckingham, or one as highly placed, n!ight
deavours to confine the torrent within its proper be demanded.
banks, and to resist or direct its impetuosity, On the 15th of March, 1620, Sir Robert
while the demagogue joins in the popular clamour, Phillips reported from the committee appointed to
visiting on individuals the faults of the times, and inquire into the abuses of courts of justice, of
sacrificing, as an atonement to injured feeling, which he was chairman, that two petitions had
the most virtuous members of the community. been presented for corruption against the lord
VWhen the complaints of the people could no chancellor, by two suitors in the court of chanlonger be resisted, and public inquiry became cery, the one named Aubrey, the other Egerton.
inevitable, Buckingham, insensible to all other.Aubrey's petition stated, "That having a suit
shame, appeared fully conscious of the infamy pending before the lord chancellor, and being
of exposure. The honour of a gentleman and the Sworn out by delays, lie had been advised by his
pride of nobility slept at ease upon the money- counsel to present ~100 to the chancellor, that
bags extorted from the sufferers, but he and his his cause mighlt, by more than ordinary means,
noble colleagues endured the utmost alarm at the be expedited, and that in consequence of this
prospect of discovery. advice he had delivered the ~100 to Sir George
Conscious of his peril, disquieted, and robbed Hiastings and to Mr. Jenkins, of Gray's Inn, by
of all peace of mind, admonished " That the whom it was presented to his lordship; but notarrow of vengeance shot against his brother withstanding this offering, the chancellor had degrazed himself," he consulted one of the ablest cided against him."
men in England, Williams, then Dean of West- Egerton's complaint was, that " To procure my
minster, who, well versed in matters of state, lord's favour, lhe had been persuaded by Sir
soon saw the position in which all parties were George Hastings and Sir Richard Young, to make
placed. He recommended that Villiers should, some present to the chancellor; and that he acwithout a moment's delay, be sent upon some cordingly delivered to Sir George and to Sir
foreign embassy; and, his guilt being less enor- Richard ~400, which was delivered by them to
mous or less apparent than of the other offenders, the chancellor as a gratuity, for that my lord,
he was thus protected by the power of his brother. when attorney-general, had befriended him: and
Villiers being safe, Williams advised compliance that, before this advice, Egerton had himself,
with the humour of the people, and suggested either before or after the chancellor was intrusted
that in this state tempest Sir Giles Mompesson with the great seal, presented to his lordship a
and Sir F. Michell "should be thrown overboard piece of plate worth fifty guineas; but that, notas wares that might be spared," quoting a wise withstanding these presents, the lord chancellor,
heathen as a precedent, well knowing that his assisted by Lord Chief Justice Hobart, had debreviary contained no such doctrine: advice.ci4ded against hin.
which was gratefully received by the marquis, If Bacon, instead of treating the charge with
who declared that, for the future, he would attend contempt, and indulging in imaginations of the
to no other counsellor. friendship of Buckingham and of the king, thinkIt may, at first sight, appear remarkable, that, ing, as they were, only of their own safety, had