AUliltEY AND EGERTON. CCCXlii 



possess him, as to recommend the greater sacrifice of 

 Bacon, should Mompesson and Michell be deemed insuf 

 ficient to allay the storm ; but if ambition did influence 

 this politic prelate, if the vision of the seals (a) floated 

 before him, and induced him to plot against the &quot; gracious 

 Duncan,&quot; he could not but foresee that the result of the 

 inquiries would only convince the parliament that Mom 

 pesson and Michell were mere puppets moved for the profit 

 and advantage of others, and that Buckingham, or one as 

 highly placed, might be demanded. 



On the 15th of March, 1620, Sir Robert Phillips re- Charge of 

 ported from the committee appointed to inquire into the ^ch 7 r 

 abuses of courts of justice, of which he was chairman, that 1620, 

 two petitions had been presented for corruption against the 

 Lord Chancellor, by two suitors in the court of Chancery, 

 the one named Aubrey, the other Egerton. 



Aubrey s petition stated, &quot; That having a suit pending 

 before the Lord Chancellor, and being worn out by delays, 

 he had been advised by his counsel to present 100 to 

 the Chancellor, that his cause might, by more than ordi 

 nary means, be expedited, and that, in consequence of this 

 advice he had delivered the 100 to Sir George Hastings 

 and to Mr. Jenkins, of Gray s Inn, by whom it was pre 

 sented to his lordship ; (6) but, notwithstanding this offering, 

 the Chancellor had decided against him.&quot; 



(a) Hacket, p. 51.&quot; The more the King sounded his judgment, the 

 deeper it appeared, so that his worth was valued at no less than to be 

 taken nearer, as counsellor upon all occasions.&quot; 



(6) See note GGG, March 15-17, from which the following is extracted : 

 Awbrey complaineth, that, wearied in his cause in Chancery, he was 

 advised by his counsel, to expedite his business, to present the Lord Chan 

 cellor with 100J. He got at use 100/. goeth with Sir George Hastings 

 and Mr. Jenkyns to York House : there they two went, and returned to 

 him, with thanks from my lord, and hopes of better success in his cause 

 than formerly. 



