n Parliament or come within the verge
of the Court. This was agreed to, Buckingham only dissenting. "The Lord
Chancellor is so sick," he said, "that he cannot live long."

What is the history of this tremendous catastrophe by which, in less
than two months, Bacon was cast down from the height of fortune to
become a byword of shame? He had enemies, who certainly were glad, but
there is no appearance that it was the result of any plot or
combination against him. He was involved, accidentally, it may almost be
said, in the burst of anger excited by the intolerable dealings of
others. The indignation provoked by Michell and Mompesson and their
associates at that particular moment found Bacon in its path, doing, as
it seemed, in his great seat of justice, even worse than they; and when
he threw up all attempt at defence, and his judges had his hand to an
unreserved confession of corruption, both generally, and in the long
list of cases alleged against him, it is not wonderful that they came to
the conclusion, as the rest of the world did, that he was as bad as the
accusation painted him--a dishonest and corrupt judge. Yet it is strange
that they should not have observed that not a single charge of a
definitely unjust decision was brought, at any rate was proved, against
him. He had taken money, they argued, and therefore he must be corrupt;
but if he had taken money to pervert judgment, some instance of the
iniquity would certainly have been brought forward and proved. There is
no such instance to be found; though, of course, there were plenty of
dissatisfied suitors; of course the men who had paid their money and
lost their cause were furious. But in vain do we look for any case of
proved injustice. The utmost that can be said is that in some cases he
showed favour in pushing forward and expediting suits. So that the real
charge against Bacon assumes, to us who have not to deal practically
with dangerous abuses, but to judge conduct and character, a different
complexion. Instead of being the wickedness of perverting justice and
selling his judgments for bribes, it takes the shape of allowing and
sharing in a dishonourable and mischievous system of payment for
service, which could not fail to bring with it temptation and
discredit, and in which fair reward could not be distinguished from
unlawful gain. Such a system it was high time to stop; and in this rough
and harsh way, which also satisfied some personal enmities, it was