The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS RELATING TO LORD COKE. 497
pretation, and that it was against common sense Reasons why it should be exceeding much for his
to think the contrary, especially since there is no majesty's service to remove the LORD COIlE fromt
mention made in their oath of delay of justice, but the place he now holdeth,* to be Chief oJustice of
only that they should not deny justice, nor be England,t and the atlorney4 to succeed hinz,
moved by any of the king's letters, to do any and the solicitor~ the attllorney.
thing contrary to law or justice. FIRST, It will strengthen the king's causes
G, Cant. Tho. Ellesmere, Cane. Th. greatly amongst the judges: for both my Lord
Suffolk, E. Worcester, Pembroke, Coke will think himself near a privy counsellor's
Nottingham, Lenox, WV. Knollys, place, and thereupon turn obsequious; and the
John Digby, Ralph Winwood, The. attorney-general, a new man, and a grave person,
Lake, Fulke Greville, Jul. Cesar, in a judge's place, will come in well to the other,
Fra. Bacon. and hold him hard to it, not without emulation
between them, who shall please the king best.
Secondly, The attorney-general sorteth not so
well with his present place, being a man timid
A TRUE REMEMBRANCE OF THE ABUSE I RE- and scrupulous both in parliament and other busiCEIVED OF MR. ATTORNEY-GENERAL" PUB- ness, and one that, in a word, was made fit for
LICLY IN THE EXCHEQUER THE FIRST DAY the late lord treasurer's bent, which was to do litOF TERM; FOR THE TRUTH W1HEREOF I RE- tle with much formality and protestation: whereas
FER MYSELF TO ALL rTHAT WERE PRESENT the now solicitor going more roundly to work, and
being of a quicker and more earnest temper, and
I MOVED to have a reseizure of the lands of
Geoe ore, a relapsed recusant, a fugitive, and more effectual in that he dealeth in, is like to re6.g ioe eas rcsn a,u e a cover that strength to the king's prerogative,
a practising traitor; and showed better matter for hat te
qeagistedcag awhich is.which it hath had in times past, and which is
the queen against othe discharge by plea, which is due unto it. And for that purpose there must be
gever with a "salvo jure." And this I did in as brought in to be solicitor some man of courage
gentle and reasonable terms as might be.
tMr. Attorney kndled at it, and said, "Mr and speech, and a grounded lawyer; which done,
Mr. Attorney kindled at it, and said, ";Mr.
Bacon, if you have any tooth against me, pluck it iis majesty will speedily find a marvellous change
out; for it do you more hurt than all the teeth in in his busin ess. For it is not to purpose for the
your head will do you good." I answered coldly judges to stand well-disposed, except the king's'in these very words; Mr. Attorney, Irespect yon: council, which is the active and moving part, put
i n these very words; Mr. lttorney, I respect your the judges well to it; for in a weapon, what is a
I fear you not: and the less you speak of your back without an edge.
own greatness, the more I will think of it.
own greatness, the more I will think of it. Thirdly, The king shall continue and add repuI-e replied, I thinlk scorn to stand upon terms tation to the attorney's and solicitor's place, by
of greatness towards you, who are less than little; this orderly advancement of them; which two
less than the least;" and other such strange light
i places are the champion's places for his rights
terms he gave me, with that insulting which can- and prerogative; and being stripped of their exnot be expressed. ytIadomrhtis pectations and successions to great place, will
Herewith stirred, yet I said no more but this:
Mr. Attor, do wax vile; and then his majesty's prerogative
Mr. Attorney, do not depress me so far; for I goeth down the wind. Besies, the remove of
have been your better, and may be again, whens
ie t umy Lord Coke to a place of less profit, though it
it please this he queen. n be with his will, yet will be thought abroad a
tith this he spake, neither I nor himself could kind of discipline to him for opposing himself in
tell what, as if he had been born attorney-general; the ings causes the example whereof will conmeddle with the queen' the king's causes; the example whereof will conand in the end bade me not meddle with the queen' others in more awe.
business, but with mine own; and that I was un-ow it is voiced abroad tochsworn etc. I told him, sworn or unsworn Was Lastly, Whereas now it is voiced abroad touchsworn, etc. I told him, sworn or unsworn was
swlorn et In honestol anand hmso or enswrn wse ing the supply of places, as if it were a matter of
all one to an honest man; and that I ever set my
labour, and canvass, and money; and other perservice first, and myself second; and wished to a
sons are chiefly spoken of to be the men, and the
God, that he would do the like. great suitors; this will appear to be the king's
Then he said, it were good to clap a, cap.
7tlegatum" on my back! To which I only said own act, and is a course so natural and regular,
oltlegatuln'm on my back! To which I only said
as it is without all suspicion of these by-courses,
he could not; and that he was at fault, for he
huteould not; anold that hewasat, fo to the king's infinite honour. For men say now,
hunted upon an old scent.
e gav e a,. simer of. w the king can make good second judges, as he hath
lie gave me a number of disgraceful words
besides; which I answered with silence, and Of chief justice of the common pleas, having been ap.
besides; which I allnsw+ered with silence, and pointed to that office June 30, 1606.
showing that I was not moved with them. - He was advanced to that office October 25, 1613.
$ Sir Henry Hobart, who had been appointed attorney
Edward Coke, knighted by King James at Greenwich in general, July 4, 1606.
16J3; andl made lord chief justice of the common pleas, 30 pSir Francis Bacon, who had been sworn solicitorgeneral
Jtlloe, iCeOO. June 25, 1607.
VOL. IJ.-63T2