The difference in the character of his offences, as understood by Lord Macaulay, and as acknowledged by himself . . 555 Reasons for thinking that Lord Macaulay must have been Payment of services by fees at the discretion of the payer, a practice natural and (where not expressly forbidden) universal 560 11. Bacon's mode of doing business as a Judge in Chancery, to be looked for in the "Registrar's Book of Decrees and His personal character and disposition Choice of vocation, repented of only because the hopes with which His real contribution to the progress of modern scientific discovery 574 Whether his character deserves the approbation of posterity, a 454 473 505 Fortesque 1621. Fortescue. rumour. 1, Insert note, "so in the copy sent to me. But Lordship' must be a mistake for 'Lord."" 7, dele "to." 3 (up) payment 2 (up), insert in blank, "it." * An error in Birch's copy which I had overlooked. IN introducing the first order issued by the Commissioners for the Treasury (24th July, 1618),' I ought to have mentioned how it came that the Treasury was then in commission. On the 12th of July, 1618, some complaint had been made against the Earl of Suffolk, then Lord Treasurer, (of what nature does not clearly appear) for misconduct in his office. On the 16th he was directly accused by a former servant of illegal exaction. On the 19th he was deprived of his staff-the sub-treasurer, Sir John Bingley, being at the same time sent to prison.4 3 The private history of such a transaction, that is, the private conjecture as to its history made by the quidnuncs of the time,is easy to imagine. Buckingham could not allow any high office in the State to be held by the head of a rival faction: it was necessary that Suffolk should be deposed: it was easy to find a pretext: a pretext was found: and he was deposed accordingly. If the report of news-writers be admitted as evidence, I dare say it would be easy to produce evidence of all this: for this is no doubt what people 1 Vol. V. p. 317. 3 Thesaurarius insimulatur de rebus Fisci male curatis. Camden. Annalium Apparatus. 3 Humfreis, ab Epistolis Vicecomitis Wallingfordiæ, scriniis excussis in custodiam datur. Thesaurarium et alios repetundarum accusat. Ib., Ibid. Comes Suffolcia, Angliæ Thesaurarius, bacillo adempto abdicatur, repetundarum accusatus. et Jo. Bingley, ejus subminister, in custodiam com mittitur. Ib. VOL. VII. B 49 would say, and it is the business of news-writers to report what is said. But as it does not appear that any such complaint was made by Suffolk himself; as it does appear that between himself and his wife there had been corruption enough going on to make his removal from the office both just and expedient; and as I find no evidence worth mentioning that Buckingham took any part in the matter; I am content for my own part to believe that Suffolk was dismissed from his place because he had been detected in practices which proved that he was unfit to hold it any longer; and that he acquiesced because he had no justification to offer. The Commissioners who were appointed to discharge the duties of his office were also required to examine the charges which had been brought against him; and while their report was expected, nothing more was done. On the 8th of November, as we learn again from Camden, there was a consultation about them. And the result will best appear from a letter addressed by Buckingham himself to the Earl, -one recently found among the Fortescue Papers and printed by Mr. Gardiner for the Camden Society: THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM TO THE EARL of Suffolk.2 The care I have to acquit myself according to the profession of my friendship toward your Lp. makes me acquaint you at this time with something that fell out concerning you in the time of his M's. last being at Whitehall.3 Some two days before his remove from thence, the Lords and other Commissioners for enquiry touching the misspending of his treasure repaired to his M. and gave him an account of all their labours, and amongst the rest what they had found against your Lp. and your wife, and in conclusion did all upon their knees beseech his M. to be pleased that both your Lp. and your wife together with Sir John Bingley might be called to the Star-chamber, there to be censured for your misdemeanours in your office. The reasons for which they moved his M. to yield to this order were two: first, for his M's. own honour who could not otherwise be cleared except by such a public and legal course in regard of his taking the staff from you, and for stopping the mouths of those that reported that your Lp's. office was taken from you not upon just grounds but only by the partiality of a Court faction. The other reason was that by this legal and public proceeding there might an example be made for securing his M. and his posterity from being ill-served by any that shall exercise that place hereafter. But though his M. (as himself told me soon after) disputed with them that it had been for his M. honour to grant you first a hearing upon all the points that you are to be 1 Consultatur de corruptelis nuperi Thesaurarii et aliorum. Ib. 2 Fortescue Papers, p. 77. Draft. Docketed "My Lord to the E. of Suffolk, 11 Jan. 1618." 3 He left London for Theobald's on the 8th of January. See Nichols's Progresses. |