CCCXXX1V LIFE OF BACON. 



men of character, counsellors, and members of parliament, 

 Sir George Hastings, Sir Richard Young, Sir Henry 

 Holmes, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Thelwall, Mr. Toby Matthew, 

 and Sir Thomas Perrott ; and that they were made openly, 

 with the greatest publicity, both from the nature of the 

 presents themselves, and from the manner in which they 

 were presented ; so openly, (a) that even Sir Edward Coke 

 admitted the fact, that they were delivered in the presence 

 of witnesses; (b) and the Chancellor, in answer to the 21st 

 charge, that, &quot; upon a dispute between three public com 

 panies of the Apothecaries and Grocers, he had received 

 presents from each of the companies,&quot; instantly said, &quot; Could 

 I have taken these presents in the nature of a bribe, when 

 I knew it could not be concealedj because it must needs 

 be put to the account of the three several companies, each 

 of whom was jealous of the other?&quot; 



Presents of Who can suppose that, if secrecy had been the object, 

 lie presents of articles constantly in sight would have been 

 selected, gold buttons, tasters of gold, ambergrease, cabinets, 

 and suits of hangings for furniture ; they were made, as 

 was notorious, according to the established custom, in this, 

 and in all countries, a custom which, as the Chancellor 

 L Hopital endeavoured to abolish in France, (c) the Chan 

 cellor Bacon would most gladly have abolished in England, 

 and demanded from the country a proper remuneration for 

 the arduous labours of his high office. 



Presents No man felt more deeply the evils which then existed, 



customary. Q f ^ interference by the crown and by statesmen to 



influence judges. How beautifully did he admonish 



Buckingham, regardless as he proved of all admonition, 



(a) See the Whitelocke MSS. as to presents. 

 (6) See Note G G G, date 20th March, 

 (r) Ante, p. ccvi. 



