PRESENTS TO BACON. CC1X 



that the principle of the French monarchy was honour ! 

 It may be truly said, that the world has not produced a 

 more learned, enlightened, or honourable order in society, 

 than the French magistracy. 



&quot; Englishmen are much scandalized, when they are in 

 formed that the French judges were personally solicited 

 by the suitors in court, their families and protectors, and 

 by any other person whom the suitors thought likely to 

 influence the decision of the cause in their favour. But it 

 all amounted to nothing: to all these solicitations the 

 judges listened with equal external reverence and internal 

 indifference ; and they availed themselves of the first mo 

 ment when it could be done with decency, to bow the 

 parties respectfully out of the room: it was a corvee on 

 their time which they most bitterly lamented.&quot; 



Bacon had scarcely been an hour appointed Lord Keeper 

 when these presents of gold and of furniture, and of other 

 costly articles, were showered upon him by various per 

 sons, and amongst others, by the suitors of the court, (#) 



Immediately after his appointment as Lord Keeper, he 

 waited upon the late Lord Chancellor, to acquit himself of 

 the debt of personal gratitude (6) which he owed to that 



(ft) This appears from the answers to the charges which, at the time 

 when &quot; greatness was the mark, and accusation the game,&quot; were made 

 against Bacon. 



The second article of the charge was : &quot; In the same cause he received 

 from Edward Egerton 400/.&quot; To which he answers : &quot;I confess and 

 declare, that soon after my first coming to the seal, being a time when I 

 was presented by many, the 400/. mentioned in the said charge was deli 

 vered unto me in a purse, and, as I now call to mind, from Mr. Edward 

 Egerton, but as far as I can recollect, it was expressed by them that brought 

 it to be for favours past, and not in respect of favours to come.&quot; 



(/&amp;gt;) Baconiana, p. 248. In 14 Jac. he was constituted Lord Keeper of 

 the Great Seal (7 Martii), being then fifty-four years of age. It is said in 

 a libel (in which are many other notorious slanders), &quot; that the Duke of 



VOL. XV. p 



