NOTE GGG. 



cellor were highly commended ; his place he holds, magnified ; from whence 

 bounty, justice, and mercy, were to be distributed to the subjects, with which 

 he was solely trusted ; whither all great causes were drawn, and from whence 

 no appeal lay for any injustice, or wrong done, save to the parliament. 



That the Lord Chancellor is accused of great bribery and corruption, com 

 mitted by him in this eminent place. Whereof two cases were alleged ; the 

 one concerning Christopher Awbrey, the other concerning Edward Egerton. 



In the cause depending in chancery between this Awbrey and Sir William 

 Brouncker, Awbrey, feeling some hard measure, was advised to give the Lord 

 Chancellor an hundred pounds ; the which he delivered to his counsel (Sir 

 George Hastings), and he to the Lord Chancellor. This business proceeding 

 slowly notwithstanding, Awbrey did write divers letters, and delivered them to 

 the Lord Chancellor, but could never have any answer from his lordship ; but 

 at last, delivering another letter, his lordship answered, &quot; If he importune him, 

 he will lay him by the heels.&quot; 



The proofs of this accusation are five : 



1. Sir George Hastings related it long since unto Sir Charles Montague. 

 2. The Lord Chancellor, fearing this would be complained of, desired silence 

 of Sir George Hastings. 3. Sir George Hastings testimony thereof, which 

 was not voluntary, but urged. 4. The Lord Chancellor desired Sir George 

 Hastings to bring the party (Awbrey) unto him, and promised redress of the 

 wrongs done him. 5. That the Lord Chancellor said unto Sir George Hastings, 

 if he would affirm the giving this hundred pounds, his lordship would and must 

 deny it upon his honour. 



The case of Edward Egerton is this. There being suits depending between 

 Edward Egerton and Sir Rowland Egerton, in the chancery, Edward Egerton 

 presented his lordship (a little after he was Lord Keeper) with a bason and 

 ewre of fifty pounds and above; and afterwards, he delivered unto Sir George 

 Hastings and Sir Richard Younge, four hundred pounds in gold, to be pre 

 sented unto his lordship, Sir Richard Younge presented it ; his lordship took 

 it, and poised it, and said it was too much, and returned answer, that Mr. 

 Egerton had not only inriched him, but had laid a tie upon his lordship to do 

 him favour in all his just causes. 



The proofs are, the testimony of Sir George Hastings, and the testimony of 

 Merefyll, a scrivener, thus far, that he took up seven hundred pounds for 

 Mr. Egerton, Mr. Egerton then telling him, that a great part of it was to be 

 given to the Lord Chancellor; and that Mr. Egerton afterwards told him that 

 the four hundred pounds in gold was given to the Lord Chancellor. 



At this conference, was further declared of a bishop, who was touched in this 

 business upon the bye, whose function was much honoured, but his person 

 touched herein. 



This business (depending) being ordered against Edward Egerton, he pro 

 cured a new reference thereof from the king, to the Lord Chancellor. His 

 lordship demanded the parties first to be bound in six thousand marks, to stand 

 to his lordship s award; they having entered into that bond, his lordship 

 awarded the matter against Edward Egerton, for Sir Rowland Egerton. And 

 Edward Egerton refusing to stand to the said award, a new bill was exhibited 

 in the chancery ; and thereupon his lordship ordered that this bond of six thou 

 sand marks should be assigned unto Sir Rowland Egerton, and he to put the 

 same in suit, in his lordship s name. The Bishop of Landaph (as a friend 

 unto Edward Egerton&quot;) adviseth with Randolph Davenport and Butler (which 

 Butler is now dead), that they would procure a stay of the decree upon that 

 award, and procure a new hearing. It was agreed, that six thousand pounds 

 should be given for this by Edward Egerton, and shared amongst them and cer 

 tain honourable persons. A recognizance of ten thousand pounds was required 

 from Mr. Egerton to the bishop, for performance hereof ; the bishop s share of 

 this six thousand pounds was to have been so great, as no court of justice 

 would allow. They produced letters of the bishop s, naming the sum, and 

 setting down a course how this six thousand pounds might be raised ; videlicet, 

 the land in question to be decreed for Mr. Egerton, and out of that the money 



