, 1861-03-21
completed, his political downfall was near at hand"


wealth, precedent. titles patronage the mace, the
seals, the coronet large houses, fair gardens, rich
manOrs, massy services Of plate gay hangings, Gu
rous cabinets ;"-for these his almost angelic ge-
MUS and his lofty soul could stoop to the dirtest
work and the meanest deeds
March Is, 1920, Sir Robert Philips, Of the
Committee appointed to inquire into the alleged
corruptiOns Of courts Of Justice, reported Lord
Chancellor Bacon as accused Of corruption and
bribcry--"a man exccllently well endowed with
all parts Of nature and Of art, Of whom he would
not speak much because he couldnotspeake enough"
The parties preterring the charge were Christie
| pher Aubrey and Edward EgertOn whose cases
went against them, and who confessed to have
given Bacon, while suits were pending presents
to the amount Of several hundred pounds sterling.
The Lord Bishop of landau (Dr. Field was i'm
plicated also in the same charge Of corruption.
| So great was the effect of the shock upon the
Lord Chancellor that he took to his bed, and when
the King sent the Lord Admiral to ask his attend
ance at Parliament, he reported that "he found
| his iorCiship very sick and heavy" Soon after
wards the Lord chancellor addressed letter " To
the Right Hon. his very good lords the lords Spir-
itua aud Temporal in the Upper House Of Parlia-
ment assembled" The opening sentence runs
| thus My very good lords, | humbly pray your
lOrdships all to make q favorable and good con-
structiOn Of my absence it is no fcgning nor
1
back, though joined with that comfort OF mind
that persuadeth me that am not far from Heaven,
whereof feel the first fruits, &c." April oath.
Bacon sent the "humble submission and supplca-
ton of the Lord Chancellor" to the Upper House,
in which be said,--" After the clear submission |
and confession which shall now make unto your
lordships, hope may say and justify with job:
Il have not hid my sins as did Adam, nor con-
cealed my faults in nv BOSOM This is the only
justification which will use 1t rests, therefore,
that without g-!eaves do ingenuousIy confess and
acknowledge that find matter sufficient and full,
both to move me to desert my defence and to
move your Iordships to condemn and censure me"
And in conclusion he said And therefore, my |
,mbe suit to your lordships is, that my penitent
submission may be my sentence; the loss Of my |
Seal my punishment; and that your lordships |
would recommend nc to his Maiesty's grace and |
pardon for all that is past"
But this did not satisfy their lordships, He
knew he was guilty, and hope by this general
confession and submission to their grace and piety,
to avoid further exposure of his crimes. A com
mittee of the House was appointed to investigate
the charges, and Coke willingly took the lead in
the proceedings. This course dispIeased the King,
who desired to shield him from disgrace and ruin
but Coke.-pedant, bigOt and savage as he was, |
was not TO he driven from his prev until he was
left writing under the agony Of an eternal odi. |
UNI. Bacon was finally inipeached, and Coke was |
appointed 10 conduct the trial. He was convicted |
Of eorruDtiop az a iudce. and of having. within
the three or four wears previous, received presents
and bribes to the amount Of nearly EfOO,OOO. |
The greater portion Of the twentyythFee charges |
of bribery brought against him and prOyed, he |
confessed To in writing adding. NV lords Il Is |
nv net my hand and nv heart beseech your |
| lorishiDs 10 be meroiful to a broken reedv'
| Thp King bad advised him To nlead gniltv |
which he willingly did to avoid he withering sar.
| casm and maIignitv Of Cake though II must be |
oj,n;,taJ ,hat FL s:,oj mors yentiamanIv touarls
him m tbis tban many nreviens occasions.
| Racon ,vos renewed from Office and his name |
bpandcd with inFamy and crime. He was sen- |
fenced IA nav lna Sf e4O nm. 10 be impTisoned
Il IN ToEes Snr;nc the roval neasnre n ~ lors
aver incanahle n h0Idin0 snv oTice. place or en-
| niovment n the commonWealfh- and never Ia at
= fparIioront nor co,ne Ivith;n the vargo AZ the
conrt The fine and Imprisonment. however. were |
soon remitted. and nens;on was even GRANTED him.
The case of Dr. Field. lord Bishop Of landau.
vas referred 10 the Archbishop of Canterbury. 10 |
| be admonished by his grace in the Conyocation
| House heG1Fe the bishons and clergy there.
Racon survived his faIl but Eve wears although
| he bas heen accused of occnpvin0 The most Of |
H. time S,b ehect eorts ~ recover the lavor
r M conrt ,he world 4 willing 10 fnroet or 10
narJ9n iii SnIts ami 10 remember with nr;de and |
passnre tbe ,ranscenIlent Greatness of his penius
he surnassng excellence Of his literary and phil
osonb;c writ;5gs and Inc Lasting benefts he has
con.rrrei unoS posterity by Ms Immortal works.
The remaining norton Of his life he devoted
| IN stndv and retirement. often greatly embar.
rnssed on account Of his former habits of prod.
| ,,l;tv Coke having seem his senpmy-his victim
hImb,cd and hsnished from court never Wis
! ited or tronbied him afterwards. His hatred
hod rnt lost H. venon but his opposition was
now directed towards those higher in authority;
and the two never a~ain met.
Ike was now more bitter than ever AGAINST
,be crn,vn aud the conrt When King James
| l " ,.; .,..o CaL. g. ,Ino ,nn,,.d