New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-11

truths from these records Not only judges. law
yers. courtiers landlords. merchants ard officials
were corrupt in the Elzabcthan age, but the
ralIant soldiers whose exploits have beer handed
down 70 us smelling Of incenstn were as fond Of a
profitable Job as one OF our own army contractors
during the War Of the Rebellion. AS to the
Elizabethan army contractor. he was wholly With
out scrupes and at the bottom Of all the military
nIund,rina Sir George Cascy who held the Inn
nortant Office OF Treasurer al War in Ireland, was
subsequently charged with Wholesale population
IN consniracy with q score two of Irish regl-
mental coloncs any number OF civil officers, and
noesibly tie Governor OF Ireland. 1t all arose
ont of army contracts, the contractors being Lon
don merchants Bat tic most significant fact
is that all the Irish colonies who were by Ir-
plication charged with stealing the clothes OF the
backs Of their own soldiers were men of rank
and distinction scions OF old houses. and included
among their number such names Sir Arthur
Chichester. Sir Richard Wingncld Sir Henry
Docwra Sir Fulk Conway, aud the Earl OF Clan
ricard.
H. was 10 easier then than it has been since
to obtain Justice in cases OF this kind. Power and
influence were at hand TO screen the wrong-docrs
and when il is remembered that pecuation and
thunder were thought little of by cOurtlers,
iudqes and merchants, it need not be thought
|
places commonly ended in smoke. 1t is impossible
no, 70 recall the case Of Bacon in reading these
Elizabethan records. and they render it more than
ever necessary in judging his Offences to bear in
! mind the judicial and social ethics of his time.
Indeed after reflection upon the prevailing moral
| laxity and the proncness to corruption. II seems
not little curious that Bacon should have been
so severely judged by his contemporaries; and
| when moreover il is remembered that his con-
! dcmnation rested mainly upon his own confession.
/ and that if he had dcfcd his accuers and denied
| everything il would probably have been mpos,-
! bic TO bring home the proofs against him. IL may
| even bc thought that he manifested greater
/ tenderness Of conscience than the average official
| Of his generation. The venality 10 which Bacon
| confessed was a trivial offence compared with
| what his predecessors had committed nor was
tho moral sense OF his contemporaries notably
| raised above that of the preceding generation.
| But there is much solid comfort 10 he derived
! from Mr. Halls book by those who think that tho
world has been going backward since the time Of
| Elizabeth. One peculiar illustration Of the de
pravty Of that period Will bc found in tho curious
| and instructive report Of divorce cause. in the
| appendix The case was that of Lady Hunting
| ton. and Wild Darrell WAS made correspondent.
! Tie witnesses put forward 10 show cause tod
| tho most elaborate and complete stories. furnish
! ing any amount Of proof; but all this testimony
was suhorncd, pcriurcd, fabulous. and 50 the
court finally decided. refusing tie divorce and
Acquiring the wronged wife completely. lhiS
shows to what lengths the people of the period
were prepared 10 20 20 carry their ends and re-
vensc themselves upon their advcrsaries.
II was much rougler coarser. wickeder age
than literature has represented 1t 70 he. In one
respect i; was no worse than tic books have
/ picturcd il. perhaps. People In goo! circum
stances lived well as instance the highly In
tcrestils list Of Wld Darrcll's menus given by
Mr. Hall The commons had 70 he content with
an uncomfortable proportion Of sated meats, and
hence arose scurvy and divers diseases. culuinat-
ing in the plague, which Was The offspring OF
filthy surroundings. personal uncleanli"eSS ana Ia
/ proper food. Eut landlords Ike Darrell, who
/ could keep up constant communication Win thelr
/ country estates while living IN London, com
! nandcl the fa' Of the land. prime hu's ana
ycseta bcs and plcn'y OF game and fish paIr'h s.
menus are certainly deficient In variety, roast
mutton playing too principal role IN them h''
! they are marked b. solIdity and also ny "h"'
somcncss, and there was no reason why men WIN
sucb n wcllktpt table should not be vigorous
and sound in mind and body. The subject upon
which the least information is given is that Of
the Host" particularly interesting one, ana
which might have been illustrated much more
I'll ,,i,h advantage The rehabilitation OF
wild Darrell" which is one OF the objects Of
e, Halls work. is successfully accomplished, and
the facts brought to light serve once more TO SHOW
tie DANCER Of accepting popular traditions. anl
IN. extent % which SANDER and calumny coud
Inc carried in what has been regarded as rather an
unsophistcatcd age.