Xxxviii PREFACE, 
with new value.’ He confesses that it is a fragment, and yet 
not written in haste, for he has been about it near thirty 
years. But he feels that his own life is hastening to its close, 
and he wishes that a portion of his work at least should be 
saved. The end was now very near. On the 27th of 
January, 1620-1, he became Viscount St. Alban. His for- 
tune, which for nearly four years had borne him smoothly 
on, now raised him to his greatest height, as if to make 
the final catastrophe more dramatic’ and appalling. Parlia- 
ment met on the 30th. ‘Fhe Chancellor, in addressing 
the new Speaker, gave expression to a sentiment which, 
read in the light of subsequent events, seems prophetic, 
—‘It is certain that the best governments,. yea, and the 
best of men, are like the best precious stones, wherein every 
flaw or icicle or grain are seen and noted more than in 
those that are generally foul and corrupted.’ Coke, who had 
not been in the House for many years, was returned as 
member for Liskeard. On the 5th of February he moved fora 
Committee to inquire into public grievances. A Committee 
was appointed to report concerning the Courts of Justice. 
Bacon, unsuspecting any malice, acted like a man who was 
certainly not conscious of any great delinquency. On the 
17th of February Sir E. Sackville reported to the House that 
the Chancellor willingly consented that any man might speak 
anything freely concerning his Court. On the 15th of March 
Sir Robert Phillips laid before the Lower House the report 
of the Committee on Courts of Justice. It came like a 
thunderclap. The Lord Chancellor was accused of corrup- 
tion in the exercise of his functions, and two instances were 
given as proofs. On the rgth the Lords received a message 
from the Commons requesting a conference concerning abuses 
in certain eminent persons. Bacon was absent through ill- 
ness. He sat in the House of Lords for the last time on 
Saturday, the 17th of March. Next day, Sir James Ley, 
Lord Chief Justice, was empowered by the King’s commis- 
sion to act as his substitute. On the Monday the con- 
ference for which the Lower House applied was granted, 
