were, with their crew, employed in hunting for charges: and, so ready was the community to listen to complaints, that it mattered not by whom they were preferred; "greatness was the mark, and accusation the game." One of his many faithful friends, (a) Sir Thomas Meautys, rose to resist this virulence. He admonished the house of the misstatements that would be made by such accusers, men without character, (b) under the influence of motives which could not be misunderstood. "I have known," he said, "and observed his lordship for some years: he hath sown a good seed of justice; let not the abandoned and envious choke it with their tares." He had as much prospect of success as if he had attempted to stop the progress of a volcano.

after, she put 2007. more

as she said after, gave it my lord. That, in into a purse, and took the money from Gardener at York House, went in to my lord, and as she said, delivered it to my lord, and had after presently the decree.

To the fourth article of the charge, namely, " In a cause between the Lady Wharton and the coheirs of Sir Francis Willoughby, he received of the Lady Wharton three hundred and ten pounds," I confess and declare that I did receive of the Lady Wharton at two several times, as I remember, in gold, two hundred pounds and one hundred pieces, and this was certainly pendente lite; but I have a vehement suspicion that there was some shuffling between Mr. Shute and the register in entering some orders, which afterwards I did distaste.

(a) Not so all his servants.-Upon his being in disfavour, his servants suddenly went away: he compared them to the flying of the vermin when the house was falling.-Aubrey, 1656.

(b) Mr. Meawtys. Touching the persons that inform, I would entreat this honourable house to consider, that Keeling is a common solicitor (to say no more of him); Churchill, a guilty register, by his own confession. I know that fear of punishment, and hopes of lessening it, may make them to say much, yea, more than is truth. For my own part, I must say, I have been an observer of my lord's proceedings; I know he hath sown a good seed of justice, and I hope that it will prove, that the envious man has sown these tares. I humbly desire that those generals may not be sent up to the lords, unless these men will testify them in particular.

Additiona charge thus collected, and of the same naturs, wer preferred agams: nim..

In the 2. o. arch. n. conformity with the advice gwen. my Villanis sentence was passet upon Mompesson ani. Muche.. many patents were recalled, and the King, after having addressed the houst, adjourned the parliamen: cò

The King's sheet abounder, with, that adroit flattery to the house, wincl. he so frequently practised when he had any thing t gan o am thing to tear: he did not name the Chancellor direct and, wher in glanced at the charge a brineTM whith cautioner, then no I be carried away wil minerument inscourses of those who named the

displeasure which, in both houses, seemed strong against the Chancellor. (a)

The proceedings within the house were suspended, but the Chancellor's opponents, unchecked or secretly encouraged by his pretended friends, continued their exertions, actuated either by virtuous indignation at the supposition of his guilt, or by motives less pure,—the hope of gaining by his fall, or envy of the greatness which overshadowed them.

The state of the Chancellor's mind during this storm has been variously represented; (b) by some of his contemporaries he is said to have been depressed; by others that he was merry, and not doubting that he should be able to ride safely through the tempest. His playfulness

(a) Adjourned from the 27th of March to the 18th of April. The marquis had an eye in it upon the Lord Chancellor, to try if time would mitigate the displeasure which in both houses was strong against him.—Hackett. (6) March 24, 1621. Strange bills against him: Thursday and Friday was se'ennight the days that shook him, and himself sick in bed, and swoln in his body and suffering none to come at him. Some say he desired his gentlemen not to take any notice of him, but altogether to forget him, and not hereafter to speak of him, or to remember there was ever any such man in the world. Strange to hear that they talk at London of his former actions, and now of his present sickness. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity! Happy are you who live as it were out of the jurisdiction of these great temptations, and walk not upon these dangerous pinnacles of these tottering pyramids of such false happy dignities.

The following is an extract from a letter from Nathaniel Brent to Sir Richard Beaumont, of Whitley Hall, Yorkshire, dated London, March 23, 1620. Brent held an office under Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury. “On Thursday next the parliament wil be adjorned for three weekes; but before they dissolve, Mem. Parsons the fugitive must receave his doome in his absence, which is like to be exceeding severe. Your good friend the Lord Chancelor hath so many grievous accusations brought against him, that his ennemies do pittie him, and his most judicous frends have alreadie given him for gon. Notwithstanding, himself is merrie, and doubteth not that he shall be able to calme al the tempests raysed against him."-From the original, in possession of the Rev. B. Baudinell,

innocent as well as the guilty;" he contrived to praise Buckingham, and to turn the charge itself into a dextrous commendation both of his favourite and the prince. (a)

The parliament was then adjourned to the 17th of April, with the hope that, during the recess, the favourite or his master might contrive some expedient to delay or defeat investigation: and that time might mitigate the

(a)" And the like I may say of one that sits there (Buckingham); he hath been so ready, upon all occasions, to do good offices, both for this house in general, and every member thereof in particular. One proof thereof, I hope my lord of Arundel hath already witnessed unto you, in his report made unto you of my answer touching the privileges of the nobility, how earnestly he spake unto me in that matter. This I profess and take comfort in, that the House of Commons at this time have shewed greater love, and used me with more respect in all their proceedings, than ever any House of Commons have heretofore done to me, or, I think, to any of my predecessors. As for this house of yours, I have always found it respective to me; and accordingly do I, and ever did favour you, as you well deserved. And I hope it will be accounted a happiness for you, that my son doth now sit amongst you, who, when it shall please God to set him in my place, will then remember, that he was once a member of your house, and so be bound to maintain all your lawful privileges, and like the better of you all the days of his life. But, because the world at this time talks so much of bribes, I have just cause to fear the whole body of this house hath bribed him to be a good instrument for you on all occasions, he doth so good offices in all his reports to me, both for this house in general, and every one of you in particular. Now, my lords, the time draws near of your recess; whether formality will leave you time for proceeding now to sentence against all, or any of the persons now in question, I know not. In sentence, ye are to observe two parts: first, to recollect that which is worthy of judging and censuring; and secondly, to proceed against these, as against such like crimes, properly. We doubt there will be many matters before you, some complained of out of passion, and some out of just cause of grievance. Weigh both; but be not carried away with the impertinent discourses of them that name as well innocent men as guilty; let your judgments only take hold of the guilty; proceed judiciously, and spare none where you find just cause to punish; but let your proceedings be according to law: and remember, that laws have not their eyes in their necks, but in their foreheads."