CCCXV1 



LIFE OF BACOX. 



Decision 



against 

 donors. 



King, in the administration of justice, by which the im 

 partiality of the judges might be, or might appear to be 

 disturbed, (a) 



Could he not have said that both petitions contained 

 internal and unanswerable proof that it was not the cor 

 ruption of the judge, but the fault of the times, in which 

 the practice originated ? Could he not have said that the 

 presents were made openly, in the presence of witnesses ? 



How could these offerings have influenced his judgment 

 in favour of the donor, when, in both cases, he decided 

 against the party by whom the presents were made ? In 

 the case of Awbrey he, to repeat the strong expressions 

 which had been used, made &quot; a killing decree against 

 him:&quot; (&) and with respect to Egerton, the decision was in 

 favour of his opponent Rowland, who did not make any 

 present until some weeks after the judgment was pro 

 nounced, (c) 



But, not contenting himself by thus showing that the 



advised by o ff er i ns:s were neither presented nor received as bribes, could 

 counsel. 



he not have said, the petitions both state that the presents 



were recommended by counsel-, and delivered by men of 

 title and members of parliament ? (c) Did they then act in 



(a) Ante, p. clxxiii. 



(6) See Journals in note GGG, under date 17th March, &quot;a killing 

 order made to Awbrey s prejudice.&quot; 



(c) See note (6), ante, p. cccxiii. See note G G G, at the end, where 

 the passage is as follows : &quot; In the cause between Sir Rowland Egerton, 

 knt. and Edward Egerton, the Lord Chancellor received five hundred 

 pounds, on the part of Sir Rowland Egerton, before he decreed the same ; 

 proved by the depositions of Sir Rowland Egerton : of John Brooke, who 

 deposeth to the providing of the money, of purpose to be given to the Lord 

 Chancellor, and that the same is delivered to Mr. Thelwall, to deliver to 

 the Lord Chancellor : of Bevis Thelwall, who delivered the five hundred 

 pounds to the Lord Chancellor.&quot; 



Whitelock, in his &quot; Liber Famelicus,&quot; (see ante) says, &quot; Presently upon 

 my return to Cluer I did visit that honorable and worthy judge, Sir Edw. 



Presents 



