22: Birch's Memoirs.]

The ministers of a sovereign who scrupled not to accept of bribes from
parties engaged in law-suits for the exertion of her own interest with
her judges, could scarcely be expected to exhibit much delicacy on this
head. In fact, the venality of the court of Elizabeth was so gross, that
no public character appears even to have professed a disdain of the
influence of gifts and bribes; and we find lord Burleigh inserting the
following among rules moral and prudential drawn up for the use of his
son Robert when young: "Be sure to keep some great man thy friend. But
trouble him not for trifles. Compliment him often. Present him with many
yet small gifts, and of little charge. And if thou have cause to bestow
any great gratuity, let it be some such thing as may be daily in his
sight. Otherwise, in this ambitious age, thou shalt remain as a hop
without a pole; live in obscurity, and be made a football for every
insulting companion[123]."

[Note 123: In connexion with this subject the following letter
appears worthy of notice.

_Hutton Archbishop of York to the lord treasurer:_--

I am bold at this time to inform your lordship, what ill success I had
in a suit for a pardon for Miles Dawson, seminary priest, whom I
converted wholly the last summer from popery. Upon his coming to church,
receiving the holy communion and taking the oath of supremacy, I and the
council here, about Michaelmas last, joined in petition to her majesty
for her gracious pardon, and commended the matter to one of the masters
of requests, and writ also to Mr. Secretary to further it if need were,
which he willingly promised to do. In Michaelmas term nothing was done.
And therefore in Hilary term, I being put in mind that all was not done
in that court for God's sake only, sent up twenty French crowns of mine
own purse, as a small remembrance for a poor man's pardon, which was
thankfully accepted of.

Some say that Mr. Topcliffe did hinder his pardon; who protesteth that
he knoweth no cause to stay it. There is some fault somewhere, I know it
is not in her majesty. Of whom I will say, as the prophet David speaketh
of God, "Hath queen Elizabeth forgotten to be gracious? And is her mercy
come to an end for evermore?" _Absit._ The whole world knoweth the
contrary. Your lordship may do very well in mine opinion to move Mr.
Secretary Cecil to deal often in these works of mercy. It will make him
beloved of God and man.

(Dated Yo