CUSTOM TO RECEIVE PRESENTS. CCCXV11 



compliance with long established practice, or were they 

 all bribed ? Were the practitioners in this noble profession 

 polluted by being accessory to the worst species of bribery ? 

 Why, when the charge was made, did the Recorder in 

 stantly say, &quot; If Egerton desired to congratulate him at 

 his coming to the seal for his kindnesses and pains in 

 former business, what wrong hath he done, if he hath 

 received a present ? And if there were a suit depending, 

 who keeps a register in his heart of all causes, nay, who 

 can amongst such a multitude ?&quot;(#) 



Could he not have said that the custom of the Chan- Customary 

 cellor s receiving presents had existed from the earliest 10 

 periods ? (b) that a member had reminded the house of 

 its existence, and said, &quot; I think the Chancellor took 



Coke, Lord Chief Justice of England, who was newly returned to Stoke 

 from the parts about London, where he was fayne to attend about his 

 unfortunate businesses at the court. Never man was so just, so upright, 

 so free from corrupte solicitations of great men or frendes as he was. 

 Never put counsellors that practised before him to annual pensions of 

 money or plate to have his favor. In all cawses before him the counsel 

 might assure his clyent from the danger of briberye, the secret mischiefs 

 growing by wife, children, servants, chamber motions, courtesans great or 

 small, and the most religious and orderlye man in his house that lived in 

 our state.&quot; 



And his diary contains the following entry : 



Profits of my office this half year, 1622 (inter alia). 

 My Lord Brook s New-year s gift .... 40 



Howard, the attorney 500 



New-year s gift, Sir R. Vaughan 1000 



Of Mr. Turner, the counsellor 500 



Pp. 103 and 109. 



(a) See note GGG. If Egerton, out of a desire to congratulate him at 

 his coming to the seal for his kindnesses and pains in former business, 

 what wrong hath he done, if he hath received a present? And if there 

 were a suit depending, who keeps a register in his heart of all causes, nay, 

 who can amongst such a multitude ? 

 (fe) Ante, p. cciii. 



