NOTE G G O. 



Memoranda of what the Lord Chancellor intended to deliver to the King, April 

 16, 1621, upon his first access to his Majesty after his troubles. 



That howsoever it goeth with me, I think myself infinitely bound to his 

 majesty for admitting me to touch the hem of his garment ; and that, according 

 to my faith, so be it unto me. That I ought also humbly to thank his majesty 

 for that, in that excellent speech of his, which is printed, that speech of so 

 great maturity, wherein the elements are so well mingled, by kindling affection, 

 by washing away aspersion, by establishing of opinion, and yet giving way to 

 opinion, I do find some passages which I do construe to my advantage. 



And lastly, that I have heard from my friends, that notwithstanding these 

 waves of information, his majesty mentions my name with grace and favour. 



In the next place, I am to make an oblation of myself into his majesty s 

 hands, that, as 1 wrote to him, I am as clay in his hands, his majesty may make 

 a vessel of honour or dishonour of me, as I find favour in his eyes ; and that I 

 submit myself wholly to his grace and mercy, and to be governed both in my 

 cause and fortunes by his direction, knowing that his heart is inscrutable for 

 good. Only I may express myself thus far, that my desire is, that the thread, 

 or line, or my life, may be no longer than the thread, or line of my service : 

 I mean, that I may be of use to your majesty in one kind or other. 



Now for any further speech, 1 would humbly pray his majesty, that whatso 

 ever the law of nature shall teach me to speak for my own preservation, your 

 majesty will understand it to be in such sort, as I do nevertheless depend wholly 

 upon your will and pleasure. And under this submission, if your majesty will 

 graciously give me the hearing, I will open my heart unto you, both touching 

 my fault and fortune. 



For the former of these, I shall deal ingenuously with your majesty, without 

 seeking fig-leaves, or subterfuges. 



There be three degrees or cases, as I conceive, of gifts and rewards given to a 

 judge. 



The first is of bargain, contract, or promise of reward, pendente lite. And this 

 is properly called venalis sententia, or buratria, or corrupted munerum. And of 

 this my heart tells me I am innocent ; that I had no bribe or reward in my eye 

 or thought when I pronounced any sentence or order. 



The second is a neglect in the judge to inform himself, whether the cause be 

 fully at an end, or no, what time he receives the gift ; but takes it upon the credit 

 of the party that all is done, or otherwise omits to inquire. 



And the third is, when it is received sine fraude, after the cause ended, 

 which it seems by the opinion of the civilians is no offence. Look into the case 

 of simony, &c. 



Draught of another paper to the same purpose. 



There be three degrees or cases of bribery, charged or supposed in a judge : 



The first, of bargain or contract, for reward to pervert justice. 



The second, where the judge conceives the cause to be at an end, by the 

 information of the party, or otherwise, and useth not such diligence as he ought 

 to inquire of it. And the third, when the cause is really ended, and it is sine 

 fraude, without relation to any precedent promise. 



Now if I might see the particulars of my charge, I should deal plainly with 

 your majesty, in whether of these degrees every particular case falls. But for 

 the first of them, I take myself to be as innocent as any born upon St. Inno 

 cent s day in my heart. For the second, I doubt in some particulars I may be 

 faulty. And for the last, I conceived it to be no fault ; but therein I desire to 

 be better informed, that I may be twice penitent ; once for the fact, and again 

 for the error. For I had rather be a briber, than a defender of bribes. 



I must likewise confess to your majesty, that at New-year s tides, and likewise 

 at my first coming in (which was, as it were my wedding), I did not so pre 

 cisely, as perhaps 1 ought, examine whether those that presented me had causes 

 before me yea or no. And this is simply all that I can say for the present con 

 cerning my charge, until I may receive it more particularly. And all this 



