CHAP. which had been manufactured by the patentees XLVIII. was universally found to be adulterated, and to be composed more of copper than of the precious metals. 1621. Bacon's fall. THESE grievances the commons represented to the King; and they met with a very gracious and very cordial reception. He seemed even thankful for the information given him; and declared himself ashamed, that such abuses, unknowingly to him, had crept into his administration. "I assure you, said he, "Had I before heard these things complained "of, I would have done the office of a just King, "and out of parliament have punished them, as "severely, and peradventure more, than you now "intend to do d." A sentence was passed for the punishment of Michel and Mompesson. It was executed on the former. The latter broke prison and escaped. Villiers was, at that time, sent purposely on a foreign employment; and his guilt being less enormous, or less apparent, than that of the others, he was the more easily protected by the credit of his brother Buckingham. ENCOURAGED by this success, the commons carried their scrutiny, and still with a respectful hand, into other abuses of importance. The great seal was, at that time, in the hands of the celebrated Bacon, created Viscount St. Alban's; a man universally admired for the greatness of his genius, and beloved for the courteousness and humanity of his behaviour. He was the great ornament of his age d e Franklyn, p. 51. Rushworth, p. 25. Franklyn, p. 52. Rushworth, vol. i. p. 27. f Yelverton, the attorney-general, was accused by the commons for drawing the patents for these monopolies, and for supporting them. He apologised for himself, that he was forced by Buckingham, and that he supposed it to be the King's pleasure. The lords were so offended at these articles of defence, though necessary to the attorney-general, that they fined him 10,000 pounds to the King, 5000 to the Duke. The fines, however, were afterwards remitted, Franklyn, p. 55. Rushworth, vol. i. p. 31, 32, &c. and and nation; and nought was wanting to render him CHAP. the ornament of human nature itself, but that XLVIII. strength of mind which might check his intemperate 1621. desire of preferment, that could add nothing to his dignity, and might restrain his profuse inclination to expence, that could be requisite neither for his honour nor entertainment. His want of economy, and his indulgence to servants, had involved him in necessities; and, in order to supply his prodigality, he had been tempted to take bribes, by the title of presents, and that in a very open manner, from. suitors in chancery. It appears that it had been usual for former chancellors to take presents; and it is pretended that Bacon, who followed the same dangerous practice, had still, in the seat of justice, preserved the integrity of a judge, and had given just decrees against those very persons, from whom he had received the wages of iniquity. Complaints rose the louder on that account, and at last reached the house of commons, who sent up an impeachment against him to the peers. The chancellor, conscious of guilt, deprecated the vengeance of his judges, and endeavoured, by a general avowal, to escape the confusion of a stricter inquiry. The lords insisted on a particular confession of all his corruptions. He acknowledged twenty-eight articles; and was sentenced to pay a fine of 40,000 pounds, to be imprisoned in the Tower during the King's pleasure, to be for ever incapable of any office, place, or employment, and never again to sit in parliament, or come within the verge of the court. THIS dreadful sentence, dreadful to a man of nice sensibility to honour, he survived five years; and, being released in a little time from the Tower, his genius, yet unbroken, supported itself amidst involved circumstances and a depressed spirit, and shone out in literary productions, which have made his guilt or weaknesses be forgotten or overlooked 1621. CHAP. by posterity. In consideration of his great merit, the XLVIII. King remitted his fine, as well as all the other parts of his sentence, conferred on him a large pension of 1800 pounds a-year, and employed every expedient to alleviate the weight of his age and misfortunes. And that great philosopher, at last, acknowledged with regret, that he had too long neglected the true ambition of a fine genius; and by plunging into business and affairs, which require much less capacity, but greater firmness of mind, than the pursuits of learning, had exposed himself to such griev'ous calamities ". THE Commons had entertained the idea, that they were the great patrons of the people, and that the redress of all grievances must proceed from them; and to this principle they were chiefly beholden for the regard and consideration of the public. In the execution of this office, they now kept their ears open to complaints of every kind; and they carried their researches into many grievances, which, though of no great importance, could not be touched on, without sensibly affecting the King and his ministers. The prerogative seemed every moment to be invaded; the King's authority, in every article, was disputed; and James, who was willing to correct the abuses of his power, would not submit to have his power itself questioned and denied. After the house, therefore, had sitten near six months, and had, as yet, brought no considerable business to a full conclusion, the King resolved, under pretence of the advanced season, to interrupt their proceedings; and he sent them word, that he was determined, in a little time, to adjourn them till next winter. The commons made application to the It is thought, that appeals from chancery to the house of peers first came into practice while Bacon held the great seal. Appeals, under the form of writs of error, had long before lain against the courts of law. Blackstone's Commentary, vol. iii. p.454. lords, III 1621. lords, and desired them to join in a petition for de- CHAP. laying the adjournment; which was refused by the XLVIII. upper house. The King regarded this project of a joint petition as an attempt to force him from his measures: He thanked the peers for their refusal to concur in it, and told them, that if it were their desire, he would delay the adjournment, but would not so far comply with the request of the lower house. And thus, in these great national affairs, the same peevishness, which, in private altercations, often raises a quarrel from the smallest beginnings, produced a mutual coldness and disgust between the King and the commons. DURING the recess of parliament, the King used Rupture every measure to render himself popular with the between the King nation, and to appease the rising ill-humour of its and the representatives. He had voluntarily offered the commonS parliament to circumscribe his own prerogative, and to abrogate for the future his power of granting monopolies. He now recalled all the patents of that kind, and redressed every article of grievance, to the number of thirty-seven, which had ever been complained of in the house of commons'. But he gained not the end which he proposed. The disgust, which had appeared at parting, could not so suddenly be dispelled. He had likewise been so imprudent as to commit to prison Sir Edwin Sandys *, without any known cause, besides his activity and vigour in discharging his duty as a member of parliament. And, above all, the transactions in Germany were sufficient, when joined to the King's cautions, negotiations, and delays, to inflame that jea lousy of honour and religion which prevailed throughout the nation'. This summer, the ban of the empire Rushworth, vol. i. p. 35. i Ibid. vol. i. p. 36. Kennet, P: 733% shew to what degree the nation was inflamed with regard to One the Palatinate, there occurs a remarkable story this session. pressions, CHAP. empire had been published against the Elector PalaXLVIII. tine; and the execution of it was committed to the Duke of Bavaria ". The Upper Palatinate was, in a 1621. little time, conquered by that Prince; and measures were taken in the empire for bestowing on him the electoral dignity, of which the Palatine was then despoiled. Frederic now lived with his numerous family, in poverty and distress, either in Holland or at Sedan, with his uncle the Duke of Bouillon; and throughout all the new conquests, in both the Palatinates, as well as in Bohemia, Austria, and Lusatia, the progress of the Austrian arms was attended with rigours and severities, exercised against the professors of the reformed religion. 14th Nov. THE zeal of the commons immediately moved them, upon their assembling, to take all these transactions into consideration. They framed a remonstrance, which they intended to carry to the King. They represented, that the enormous growth of the Austrian power threatened the liberties of Europe; that the progress of the catholic religion in England bred the most melancholy apprehensions lest it should again acquire an ascendant in the kingdom; that the indulgence of His Majesty towards the professors of that religion had encouraged their insolence and temerity; that the uncontrolled conquests, made by the Austrian family in Germany, raised mighty expectations in the English papists; but above all, that the prospect of the Spanish match elevated them so far as to pressions, in private conversation, as if he were pleased with the misfortunes of the Palatine and his wife. The commons were in a flame, and, pretending to be à court of judicature and of record, proceeded to condemn him to a severe punishment. The house of fords checked this encroachment; and, what was extraordinary, considering the present humour of the lower house, the latter acquiesced in the sentiments of the peers. This is almost the only pretension of the English commons, in which they have not prevailed. Happily for the nation, they have been successful in almost all their other claims. See Parliamentary History, vol. v. p. 428. 429, &c. Journ. 4, 8, 12 May 1621. Franklyn, p.73. m hope |