NOTE Z Z. 



latter were not heard in court, but referred to a judge for him to hear, and 

 eport to the court upon it, he was entitled to a proportion only of the Apices, 

 id the other judges were entitled to no part of them. Those among the magis- 

 .ates who were most punctual and diligent in their attendance in court, and the 

 lischarge of their duty, had most causes referred to them, and were therefore 

 ichest in epices ; but the superior amount of them, however it might prove 

 ieir superior exertions, added little to their fortune, as it did not often exceed 

 )/. and never 100L a year. The judges had some other perquisites, and also 

 jme remuneration from government ; but the whole of the perquisites and re- 

 luneration of any judge, except those of the presidents, amounted to little more 

 than the epices. The presidents of the parliament had a higher remuneration : 

 but the price which they paid for their offices was proportionally higher, and 

 the whole amount, received by any judge for his 6pices, perquisites, and other 

 remunerations, fell short of the interest of the money which he paid for the 

 charge ; so that it is generally true, that the French judges administered justice 

 not only without salary, but even with some pecuniary loss. Their real remu 

 neration was the rank and consideration which their office gave them in society, 

 and the respect and regard of their fellow citizens. How well does this illustrate 

 Montesquieu s aphorism, that the principle of the French monarchy was honour ! 

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

 lightened, or honourable order in society, than the French magistracy. 



Englishmen are much scandalised when they are informed that the French 

 judges were personally solicited by the suitors in court, their families and pro 

 tectors, 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 moment 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. 



Inquiry whether Presents were made to Judges in England. 



Before time of James. 21 Henry VI. 



Receiving presents was a practice neither uncommon among his predecessors 

 in that court, nor, I believe, imputed to them for unrighteousness. This will 

 appear plainly by the curious anecdote that follows ; which I myself copied 

 from the original manuscript, in the possession of Henry Wise, Esq. of Hampton 

 Court, (a) 



Declarant etiam executores predict! quod ipsi ad speciale rogatum prcedicti 

 domini Henrici fili docti Domini nuper comitis, quod erat eis ad preceptum, 

 dederunt Domino Cancellario Anglic, 1 shaving bacyn argenti, quae erat predicti 

 domini patris sui, viz. Ad excitandum dictum Dominum Cancellarium fore 

 benevolum et benefacientem materiis dicti Domini Henrici in curiis Domini 

 regis pendentibus pretium vin. 



Declarant etiam executores predicti quod ipsi dederant Domini Archi. Can- 

 tuariae Cancellario Angliae, J. saultauri ad similitudinem Cervi jacentis facti,. 

 quod erat dicti domini nuper comitis, appretiatum ad 40. 16s. 8d. ad inten- 

 tionem ut ipse Dom. Archi. et Cane, suum bonum Dominum et auxilium dictis 

 executoribus favorabiliter ostenderet et faceret in certis materiis que versus eos- 

 dem executores ad grave prejudicium et impedimentum debite executionis- 

 testarnenti et ultime voluntatis dicti Domini nuper comitis subtiliter movebantur - f 

 ad valentiam sicut predicitur. 



This paper is called, Declaracio Thomas Huggeford, Nicoli Rody et Willr. 

 Berkswel presbyter. These were executors and feoffees of Richard Beauchamp, 

 Earl of Warwick, and this declaration was made in the 21st year of Henry the 

 Sixth, to account for certain plate, jewels, and so forth, which had come into 

 their hands as his executors. 



(a) I copied this some years ago, but I have forgotten from whence. 



