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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ffda94f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63844 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63844) diff --git a/old/63844-8.txt b/old/63844-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c295b6e..0000000 --- a/old/63844-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4832 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Chronicles of an Old Inn, by Andrée Hope - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Chronicles of an Old Inn - A Few Words about Gray's Inn - - -Author: Andrée Hope - - - -Release Date: November 22, 2020 [eBook #63844] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN*** - - -E-text prepared by deaurider, Martin Pettit, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/cu31924021676683 - - - - - -CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN - -Or, - -A Few Words about Gray's Inn. - -by - -ANDRÉE HOPE. - - - - - - -London: Chapman & Hall, -Limited. -1887. - -Charles Dickens and Evans, -Crystal Palace Press. - - - -Dedicated - -BY PERMISSION, AND WITH THE DEEPEST RESPECT, - -TO - -HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS - -THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT, - -Treasurer, - -AND TO THE - -HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF BENCHERS -OF GRAY'S INN. - - - - -PREFACE. - -It is with feelings of much diffidence, even with alarm, that this -little book is given to the world. It was written to give pleasure to -many dear to the writer's heart, relatives and friends, most of whom -have already gone to that "Shadowy Land" to which we are all so fast -hastening. - -They, alas! can no longer feel an interest in the pages written in -hours of much happiness and of cruel sorrow. Probably the literary -world, of whom the writer stands in trembling awe, will regard with -the same indifference a little work so crude and incomplete. But as -sometimes a rough sketch brings persons and places as vividly to -remembrance as highly finished pictures, perhaps these "In Memoriam -Chronicles of an Old Inn" may, in some degree, interest those who have -not time to read more skilfully written but longer histories. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - PAGE -GRAY'S INN 1 - -THE TWO BROTHERS, ANTHONY AND FRANCIS BACON 70 - -SIR NICHOLAS BACON 93 - -SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE 103 - -LORD BURLEIGH 122 - -SIR EDWARD COKE 140 - -OTHER EMINENT LAWYERS 176 - -STEPHEN GARDINER 181 - -THE CHAPEL 231 - -ARCHBISHOP LAUD 241 - -BISHOP JUXON AND ARCHBISHOPS SHELDON AND WHITGIFT 246 - - - - -CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN; - -OR, - -A Few Words about Gray's Inn, London. - -GRAY'S INN. - - -About half-way down the great thoroughfare of Holborn, there is an old -and somewhat gloomy gateway. That gateway is low and dark, but rarely -silent, as from early dawn until late into the night it echoes and -re-echoes with the thunder of the mighty traffic of the great street on -which it opens. - -From early dawn until late into the night may be heard the heavy roll -of omnibuses, the sharp rattle of cabs, the hurried steps of vast -multitudes of foot passengers. - -Like the arteries of the living body, that as long as life endures -receives fresh blood from the heart, are the main streets that lead -from "the City," that heart of gigantic London; and from this great -centre of the trade of Europe, the wondrous stream of commerce is for -ever flowing. - -Of these magnificent streets few are more striking to the stranger than -the grand old thoroughfare of Holborn. - -Its width, its length, the precipitous hill over which it passes, the -noble viaduct that now eases the too rapid descent, the memories that -are connected with this, one of the most ancient, as well as one of -the most important streets of the English capital, render it more than -ordinarily interesting to the foreigner, and to the stranger. - -A few of the ancient houses are still in existence, and from their -quaint old casements many royal pageants and many sorrowful processions -have been witnessed. - -Kings and Queens arrayed in gorgeous robes, blazing with costly -jewels, and surrounded by glittering courtiers, have gaily moved -onwards amid the blare of trumpets, and the shouts of admiring crowds, -to partake of sumptuous Court festivals. - -In awe-inspiring contrast to the gay trains, and to the beauty and -mirth of the pleasure-seekers so joyously riding forward to fresh -delight, other scenes have, alas! been too frequently witnessed from -these same windows. - -Amid the derisive cries of a savage rabble, or amid the gloomy silence -of a suffering and oppressed people, other and ghastly processions have -also passed this way. - -Merciless guards and black-robed priests are here, and in their midst, -watched with zealous and cruel care, are tottering and emaciated -figures--martyrs on their way to Smithfield, prepared to seal by their -blood the testimony they have borne to the truth of their faith. - -Broken down by suffering, with a frame ofttimes racked by the torture -it has undergone, many an heroic heart has still triumphed over the -crushed and mangled body, and with uplifted hands and in fervid accents -the Christian hero, even amidst the flames, praises God, who permits -His faithful servant to testify, though in death, undying love and -confidence in his Divine Father. - -God be thanked, however, that these hideous old times have long since -passed away, and that England is now, by her noble tolerance and -enlightened Christianity, doing much to show the world that it is not -by cruelty and persecution that our holy religion requires to be upheld. - - -Oldbourne, as it was called in olden times, was early one of the -important thoroughfares in, or rather leading to the City of London, -and although the traffic must in days of yore have been but a faint -shadow of what it now is, still even as far back as the reign of -Richard II. it was necessary to make special laws for its good -ordering, by reason of the number of carts, wains, drays, and other -conveyances that passed that way. - -One old chronicler complains thus quaintly: - -"The coachman rides behind his horses' tails," saith he, "he lasheth -them, but looketh not before nor behind him. The drayman sitteth and -sleepeth on his dray, and so letteth his horses lead him home." - -For the better maintenance of safety, it seems that it had been ordered -that the fore horse of every carriage should be led by hand; but we see -that in old days, as indeed is sometimes the case now, such prudent -regulations were but little regarded. So the same old chronicler -mournfully adds: "These wise laws are not faithfully observed." - -In these same old days coaches were unknown, but a singular kind of -chariot, or large covered chair, slung upon wheels, and called a -whirlicote, was used by ladies of high rank. - -When Richard II. travelled from Kent to London, the King and all his -Court rode on horseback, but the Queen Mother, being weak and sickly, -made the journey in a whirlicote. - -A new fashion came in vogue the following year, when King Richard -married Princess Anne of Bohemia. - -The fair young Queen made her first appearance in public arrayed in -white robes embroidered in silver, so that "she shone in beauty and -brightness like unto a sweet crescent moon," and to the admiration -of all beholders, she rode gallantly at the King's left hand, seated -sideways on her horse, on a machine called a side-saddle. - -From that moment whirlicotes went out of fashion, and every woman who -was young enough to mount a horse rode sideways like the Queen. - -But centuries have passed away, each century, each year indeed, adding -to the mighty stream of traffic, and now the roar of passing vehicles, -the hurrying footsteps of thousands of foot passengers, cease not from -early dawn until late into the night. - -To the unaccustomed ear, to the unaccustomed eye, such overpowering -noise, such perpetual movement, speedily becomes bewildering and even -stupefying. Ear and eye alike are exhausted by the unwonted strain. - -Very few, however, of the many who pass and repass that way, notice the -low, dark archway already mentioned opening on the left-hand side of -the street when proceeding towards the City. Turn down that archway, -and ere twenty steps are made a different world is found. Not only -indeed a different world, but a chance visitor might say with reason -that he is out of the world, the sudden quiet, the sudden peace, is in -such extraordinary contrast to the rush and hurry of the street he has -left. - -Instead of the blinding glare, the suffocating dust, the bewildering -noise of Holborn, the quiet court to which this archway leads, rests in -almost monastic calm. Lofty houses intercept the burning rays of the -sun, and cast their soft gray shadows half across the square. Even the -noise of the great street is softened to the ear, and becomes almost -soothing, as the echoes of it fall and are gradually lost amid the -thick old walls. - -The maddening hubbub of carts, cabs, and hurrying feet fades into -an indistinct murmur, like the throbbing of the waves of the great -Atlantic when heard far away inland. - -To one given to idle and desultory wanderings, and to idle and -desultory thoughts, the quaint old nooks and corners that may often -be found in the midst even of the most populous towns, have far more -charms than the busier haunts of men, for to those who love to muse on -bygone days there is a strange and constantly increasing fascination -in the conventual quiet, the faded grandeur of many of these time-worn -spots. - -In truth, however, the old squares of that ancient Inn of Court called -Gray's Inn, though quiet and retired, are by no means gloomy. Not only -are they cool and restful in the glowing days of summer, but in their -pleasant courts some remains may still be found of the sweet country -sights, of the sweet country sounds that centuries ago made the drives -and walks by Oldbourne Hill, with its pretty lanes and paths, and its -fragrant hedgerows, the favourite resort, not only of the tired and -heated citizens of London, but also of the great lords whose stately -palaces were either grouped around Westminster, or stretched far along -the picturesque river-bank then, as now, called the Strand. - -No doubt the beautiful and rapidly flowing river had many charms, and -we know from Pepys, that during the summer heats its broad bosom was -covered with pleasure-boats and wherries. - -In those days smoke did not darken, nor did evil smells and sights -defile the waters of the sweet Thames. Fair gardens then bordered its -banks, and trees and flowers dipped tendrils and branches into its -waves. - -Still, notwithstanding these attractions, the Londoners dearly loved -Oldbourne Hill, where the fresh cool breezes came from the Kent and -Surrey hills laden with the sweet scent of gorse and broom (that -favourite badge of our Plantagenet Princes), and from the valleys and -sunny slopes below came the richer perfumes of innumerable vineyards -and hop-grounds. - -It is difficult to realise, while wandering amongst the wilderness -of houses that now surrounds and connects the cities of London and -Westminster, that once fair fields and shady woods extended for miles, -where now are only found grimy streets and dismal courts. Still more -difficult is it to believe that within the last hundred years these -same fair fields were dangerous to traverse after dark, by reason of -the many footpads who infested the neighbourhood. - -Beyond St. Pancras Church a bell was rung at stated hours, in order -that foot passengers who wished to cross the meadows towards Hampstead -and Highgate, or go to those suburbs called Camden and Somers Towns, -should have the protection of an armed watchman. In those days few -persons ventured abroad after nightfall without carrying some defensive -weapon. Without gas, without police, London streets as well as London -suburbs were fraught with danger. - -Now, when dazzled by the glare of the streets, when wearied by the -overpowering noise of the great town, a shady corner in quiet Gray's -Inn Square seems doubly attractive. - -The bright August sun shines fiercely on the opposite pavement. Its -rays glint up and down the façade of the tall houses, here and there -catching the angle of a projecting cornice, then reddening and almost -beautifying some old smoke-blackened chimney. - -Many are the beautiful though rarely-noticed spots of colour these rays -bring to light. - -Tiny atoms of green moss, and of those other hardy lichens that time -gathers round about old tiles, glow like gems when caught by the -flickering beams. Even the shade-loving lycopodiums, that as years -roll on, softly carpet with their minute sprays all the damp, ugly -spots into which the sun rarely penetrates, even these modest plants -grow brighter and more beautiful as the unwonted warmth and sunshine -steal into their secluded corners. With what delicacy and grace does -not Nature soften and re-colour all the injuries that time and man's -neglect so surely bring about! - -As the hours wear on, the restfulness of the old precincts grows more -and more sweet. The subdued roar of the great city rises and falls in -measured cadence, and mingles quite pleasantly with the cawing of the -rooks as they slowly wing their way home from their feeding grounds -near Hampstead and Highgate, wheeling and cawing lazily as they circle -round the old trees ere they settle themselves for the night. - -An ancient rookery still exists in the gardens of the Inn, and the soft -evening air, as it sways to and fro the branches of the tall elms in -which the nests have been built, brings with it the delicious scent of -newly-cut grass. - -Well may the Benchers love their Inn. In no other place in London -are there so many pleasant reminders of the fair country that once -surrounded these Courts and Halls. - -When seated in the gardens under the shade of the ancient trees, -listening to the songs and chirpings of innumerable birds, it seems -really incongruous that in so restful a spot, where so much speaks -of quiet country life, weighty legal matters are for ever being -transacted. Could we penetrate into the secrets of many of the old, -dark houses that frown around, what tales of anxiety, of suffering, -what histories of the trials that blight men's lives would come to -light. - -To the doctor and to the lawyer the deadly malady, the heart-crushing -anxiety, must ever be told without reserve. No cruel symptom, no ugly -detail, must be concealed. No man may keep a secret from such advisers. -Lawyers as well as doctors must be told not only the truth, but the -whole often hateful truth. - -These old houses could indeed tell many mysterious, many marvellous -tales, but silent as they are, their heavy, solid doorways, their -long, narrow windows, their broad staircases and lofty rooms, are -in themselves a history of the past. They are accurate though mute -evidences of the time when they came into being. A faded grandeur -still hangs about them, for they were built when land was not sold -by the foot as it now is, and space was then a luxury comparatively -easily purchased. So the staircases are broad, and the rooms large and -lofty; but years have passed, centuries have passed, and staircases -and passages have grown dusky and dim, and the handsome rooms devoted -only to the stern purposes of life, and uncheered or graced by the -softening presence of woman, have become shabby and harsh of aspect. So -generation after generation of lawyers dwell here and pass away, each -generation leaving an additional shadow of dusky shabbiness upon the -poor old rooms. - -The occupiers of the Inn are for the most part day dwellers only, doing -their work in chambers, and leaving in the evening for their houses -elsewhere. - -Some few bachelors, however, make their home here, and when that is the -case, the sets of chambers so occupied are the perfection of comfort. -Those who have the good fortune to know these snug abodes, may well -be eloquent as to their merits. The solid old mahogany tables, the -exquisitely finished Chippendale chairs, are mellow with age, and glow -with the rich gloss produced by much rubbing. Then the fireplaces, so -hospitably deep and ample, where the ruddy flames can so well be seen -as they dart up the great chimneys, casting their light upon the quaint -masks and carvings that adorn the mantel-shelves; they make the ugly -faces laugh as they are caught by the genial light. - -The roomy arm-chairs, too, have assumed the cosy hollowness that speaks -of constant use, and look most invitingly comfortable. - -During summer the long narrow windows will be opened upon the bright -and sunny garden, where great beds of mignonette and long lines of -sweet-peas make the summer air full of fragrance; and not unfrequently -on a warm, drowsy afternoon may be heard the soothing tones of a -violoncello played by no unskilful hand, and perchance a tender old -melody of Purcell or Glück, or one of the grand harmonies of Beethoven, -adds yet another charm to the peace and restfulness of the place. - -In short, in many parts of this pleasant Inn old age has attained that -judicious number of years when men wisely discard mere show, and are -content to seek and obtain intense comfort. - -Some of the residents in Gray's Inn are Benchers, and these gentlemen -are not only entitled to chambers, but during Term time an especial -dinner is provided for them in the Great Hall; and as the Society -always numbers amongst its members some of the most distinguished men -of the day, it may readily be understood how interesting and attractive -these meetings are. - - -Inns of Court were originally so called because the students belonging -to them were bound to attend and serve the Courts of Judicature. - -Anciently these colleges received none but the sons of noblemen, and of -those gentlemen whose rank qualified them to do service to the King in -his Court. - -Fortescue affirms that in his time there were about two thousand -students in the Inns of Court and of Chancery, all of whom were _filii -nobilium_, or gentlemen born. But the rigidity of this rule was -gradually relaxed, and in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Edward -Coke reckons that not more than half the students then studying in the -various Inns were of gentle birth. - -These Inns of Court, that for centuries have been so justly famed for -the education and introduction of men of learning in the law, are -governed by masters, principals, Benchers, stewards, treasurers, and -other officers. - -Amongst their buildings are public halls for exercises, such as -reading, declaiming, reciting, etc. At one time every student was -compelled to attend and take part in these exercises for a certain -number of years before he was admitted to plead at the Bar. At the -present day, however, most of these regulations have fallen into -disuse, and are no longer insisted upon. - -The societies have not any judicial authority over their members, but -they have certain orders and rules amongst themselves, which have by -consent the force of laws. - -For slight offences persons are excommoned, or put out of commons. For -graver faults they forfeit their chambers, or, indeed, may be expelled -the college. When an offender has been thus expelled, he can never be -received by any of the other societies. - -The members of these societies, or Inns, may be divided into Benchers, -outer barristers, inner barristers, and students. - -The Inns themselves are divided into, and are severally denominated, -Inns of Chancery and Inns of Court. - -The most ancient of the former is Thavies Inn, which was begun in -the reign of Edward III. The other Inns of Chancery are New Inn, -Symond's Inn, Clement's Inn, Clifford's Inn (once the property of -Lord Clifford), Staples' Inn (so called because it had belonged to -the Merchants of the Staple), Lion Inn (formerly an ordinary hostelry -for travellers, bearing the sign of the Lion), Furnival's Inn, and -Barnard's Inn. - -Inns of Chancery were, in the earlier centuries, considered as a -preparatory college for the younger students, who could here pursue the -studies that would enable them to be admitted into the Inns of Court. - -The four principal Inns of Court are the Inner Temple, the Middle -Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn. - -Gray's Inn formerly belonged to Lord Gray, and Lincoln's Inn to the -Earl of Lincoln. The Inner and Middle Temple, once the dwellings of -the famous Knights Templar, were purchased about three hundred years -ago by the then leading Professors of the Common Law. - -There are also two other Inns, those of the Serjeants of the Law. - -The general daily life in the Inns of Court during olden times, is -described by Fortescue with much minuteness, and appears to have been -both varied and attractive: - -"On working days most of the students applied themselves to the study -of the law, and on holy days to the study of Holy Scripture. At the -same time, however, the students were not allowed to neglect lighter -pursuits, for they learned to sing, and to exercise themselves in all -kind of harmony, and they also made provision for the exercise and -consequent health of the body, for they constantly practised dancing -and other noblemen's pastimes. They did everything in peace and amity." - - -This last assertion appears somewhat startling in an age when scenes of -brawling and fighting were of almost daily occurrence in the streets of -London. However, it may be presumed that in these old times the heads -of societies, having young men to take care of, did try to take care of -them, and did not leave them quite so much to themselves as is the case -in these modern days. - -No doubt, there is much to be said in favour of training boys, as early -as possible, to be self-dependent. - -We are proud, and proud with reason, of "Our Boys." Still the most -sanguine amongst us must admit that there is room for improvement in -the system that is adopted in most of our schools and colleges. - -It is the fashion now to deem that old heads can be seated on very -young shoulders. These young fellows, scarcely more than children in -years, are left to their own guidance, both morally and physically. - -We may indeed glory in our boys in many respects. They are manly, -honourable, brave, and truthful, with a truthfulness that makes many a -parent's heart beat high with pride and pleasure; and yet, in how many -households has not the sad knowledge come that the boys so loved, so -gloried in, are ignorant and selfish--ignorant of most of the branches -of useful knowledge, having tacitly been permitted to adopt habits of -grievous self-indulgence? - -When the young fellow has to enter upon his profession, when he has -really to fight the battle of life, how often is it not found that -the expensive education bestowed upon him (often at the cost of much -self-denial from the rest of the family) is worth absolutely nothing? - -Now that the fruit of so much learning has to be gathered, it is -discovered that there is actually no fruit to gather; that, in order -to be eligible even for the contest of these competitive examinations, -a young man who has been at school for years has to learn the very -rudiments of necessary knowledge, and must _cram_ himself in a few -months, and at a dire expenditure of money and health, in those very -subjects that he has so long been _nominally_ studying. - -In how few schools are writing, English composition, arithmetic, -geography, or modern languages thoroughly taught? And yet these are the -very subjects absolutely essential for a candidate in a competitive -examination. - -Then again, with regard to those who study hard. How many and how sad -are the cases where the student has broken down physically, because due -care had not been taken of the bodily health, while the brain had been -unduly taxed? - -There are, doubtless, exceptional instances of genius so marvellous -that work comes easily both to mind and body. These are the men who -become eventually our great statesmen, our great lawyers; but these -mighty ones are the exception, not the rule. Few, indeed, are they -whose talents and whose powers enable them to overcome every difficulty. - -For the most part the learned student sinks into a frail and -over-sensitive man, whose weak physical strength breaks down under a -too severe mental strain. Often, indeed, it does so on the very eve of -victory. - -One of the most touching, and yet one of the truest and most vivid -pictures ever given to us by that great writer Bulwer, is the sorrowful -story in "Pelham" of the gentle and learned scholar, a student so -skilled in book learning that he had distanced all his compeers of -the day, and yet so feeble in health, so deficient in what is called -common-sense, that he was incapable of ruling his own household, or of -coping with the every-day affairs of life. - -Surely there must be some means by which those appointed to rule can -exercise a discreet supervision over the boys and young men entrusted -to their care. A supervision which, while not entrenching on their -liberty, will yet lead into right ways those who are entering on the -varied and dangerous paths of life. - -Some wise writer has said: "More education is effected during the -_amusements_ of youth than is gained by all the _studies_ to which -teachers give such zealous care." - -Now, in most places where boys are being trained, it seems a point -of honour that out of school the masters shall never interfere, nor, -indeed, in most cases do they appear. - - -Besides the practices of olden times already mentioned the ancient -custom called "Moots" must not be forgotten. - -Gray's Inn was especially conspicuous for those exercises, which Stow -calls "Boltes," "Mootes," or "putting of cases," for the "Boltes" were -conversational arguments addressed to or put to a student by a Bencher -and two barristers in private. - -Subsequently, when the student had become a sufficiently expert -"Bolter," he was admitted to the "Mootes," where questions upon legal -matters were debated by the students in the presence of the Benchers of -the Society. - -The object of these exercises was to promote the faculty of ready -speaking, and, in order to secure this end, the disputants were kept in -ignorance of the topic to be argued until called upon to discuss it. - -The case, drawn up by the Reader, was laid upon the salt-cellar before -meals; none were permitted to look into it under pain of expulsion from -the Society. - -These discussions were strictly legal, and the proceedings were -conducted as nearly as possible in like manner to those of the Courts -themselves. "About the end of the 17th century," says Lord Campbell, -"Mootes fell into disuse, and they have now entirely ceased." - -It is in such institutions as these Inns of Court and other similar -communities, that the old feudal feeling respecting ancient servitors -has been retained in much of its pristine integrity. Many of the old -servants and inferior officers of Grays Inn may be said to belong to -the place by right of descent. They were born within its precincts, -they have been trained beneath the shadows of its old walls. In their -youth they began their course of serving under the guidance of father, -or grandfather, and now, in their old age, have in their turns some -post of trust and responsibility confided to them. - -There is something especially delightful and heart-stirring in the -service of gray-headed men who have passed their lives in the same -place, serving the same masters. - -Shakespeare felt this, when, in describing old Adam in _As You Like -It_, he makes the old man say: - - - Master, go on, and I will follow thee, - To the last gasp, with love and loyalty. - - -Most of the old servitors in Gray's Inn are well-educated, -well-informed men, and are in general fully acquainted with the -histories, traditions, and quaint biographies connected with the -ancient Courts wherein their lives have been passed. - -The chief objects of their pride and affection, are of course the -Benchers. For the Benchers they entertain the profound reverence that -so powerful a body of learned men is entitled to expect, and this -respect is mingled at the same time with the affectionate solicitude -that old servants have for kind and esteemed masters. - -They feel a great interest in the students, although they regard them -for the most part as wild young fellows, promising, no doubt, but still -far from possessing the talents of former generations of lawyers. They -will sometimes, indeed, shake their heads dolefully over the degeneracy -of young men of to-day, when compared with the youth of the celebrated -personages, whose names adorn the walls of the great hall. - -Respecting the old buildings and old customs of the Inn they love to -dilate for the hour together, and even the rooks come in for a share -of their affection, and also for a considerable amount of anxiety, for -this venerable community shows alarming symptoms of decay, the aërial -colony having sadly diminished of late years. - -In vain has the welfare of the infant progeny been tenderly watched -over, latterly many unnatural parent rooks appear to have taken a -dislike to their own offspring, and in that case peck the little ones -to death without thought of parental duty. - -One old gray-headed rook, who is always the first to arrive on the -ground when feeding time has come, and who hops about with an -uncommonly consequential air, from all accounts appears to be a perfect -reprobate among his fellows. The number of wives he has cruelly -injured, and the number of children he has kicked out of the nest have -acquired for him the evil reputation of being the ringleader of the -badly disposed of the feathered tribe. - -Unfortunately, also, there is reason to fear that so bad an example -has perverted several of the younger husbands and fathers. Infanticide -has indeed of late so much increased, that it has now become a matter -of grave consideration whether it will not be advisable to inflict the -extreme punishment of the law upon the chief criminal. It is feared -that it will be necessary to put this venerable gray head to death, -as a terrible example to all rooks, and as a warning to all intending -sinners. - -Unhappily it must be admitted that the diminution of these interesting -inhabitants of the higher regions is not altogether owing to their -domestic delinquencies. It is, no doubt, partly caused by the rapid -growth of London, and the great distance the rooks have now to traverse -in order to arrive at their natural feeding grounds. - -Another and deplorable cause arises from the decay and unavoidable -destruction of some of the oldest trees. - -In former years there was a very large rookery in the gardens of Gray's -Inn. In 1875, however, storms and severe winters had so broken and -damaged many of the largest trees that it was necessary to cut them -down. This was done in March, and in April, to the consternation of the -inhabitants of the Inn, the rooks departed in a body, as if indignant -at being thus despoiled of a portion of their dominions. - -For nearly a month not a bird appeared; then about six pair shyly -returned, as if unwilling to quit for ever so fair and so peaceful a -dwelling. - -The other wanderers have never come back; but the little colony, though -so much diminished from what it was in days of yore, still flourishes -and indeed prospers. - -There are more nests this spring than there have been for several past -years, and it may therefore be hoped that this ancient rookery may long -continue to be one of the charms and attractions of Gray's Inn. - -Its existence undoubtedly mainly depends upon the durability of the -grand and beautiful dwelling-places of the birds, the noble old elms, -and unhappily such old elm trees are dangerous neighbours. With age -their wood becomes not only brittle, but peculiarly liable to internal -decay. - -After the heavy rains that so often succeed dry summers, huge branches, -sometimes the tree itself, will fall without warning. Such accidents -not unfrequently occur in calm and quiet weather when danger is not -suspected; the vicinity of elm trees is therefore perilous to life as -well as to neighbouring buildings. - -Besides rooks, many other birds, rare to London, may not unfrequently -be found in the pleasant gardens of Gray's Inn. - -Dun, or hooded crows, have occasionally been seen here, and even -jackdaws sometimes come for a meal. - -As for the starling, this clever bird knows where he is well off, he is -therefore a very constant visitor. Many delicate little songsters too, -who, having escaped from their cages, find that the liberty they have -gained has only made them persecuted waifs and strays in the wilderness -of London, seem to know, by intuition, that here they are not only in -safety, but secure of a kind welcome. - -Goldfinches, chaffinches, green and gray linnets, the lesser redpole, -robins, willow-wren, even the song-thrush may from time to time be -found here, and, perched on the lower branches of the trees, reward the -kind hands that have given them food by pouring forth some of their -sweetest and most touching songs. - -During the last three winters the tiny tomtit, with his pretty blue -head and delicate yellow breast, has made his appearance, and amongst -the rarer visitors are fieldfares, redwings, and the great titmouse. - -As for the pert little friendly sparrows, they are evidently aware that -this is the land of plenty, so they hop about the old Courts with an -assuming air of assured proprietorship; and from house-top, doorsill, -and projecting eave, chirp condescending acknowledgments of the good -things they enjoy. - -But why linger in the old Courts when the soft west wind is murmuring -so invitingly amongst the branches of the tall trees? Even the birds -cannot remain quiet this bright summer's evening. See how they are -flitting in and out the masses of dark green leaves, perching first -here, then there, and peeping into every crack and crevice of the old -bark. Now, many dart upwards to the topmost branches, whence they pour -forth their summer gladness in a burst of joyous song. - -Let us go to the pleasant gardens--gardens so pleasant, not only in -themselves, but also charming with all the associations of past ages; -so connected with the pleasant hours passed here by men both learned -and celebrated in our history. - -Every ancient tree has its story; every sunny grass-plot could relate a -little romance. - -How many a love tale has doubtless been told and listened to in these -quiet alcoves? How many a courtly dame has gloried in the compliments -paid to her beauty when walking on these smooth lawns? - -There is every reason to believe that these gardens were designed and -laid out in 1597 by Lord Bacon, who was then treasurer of Gray's Inn. - -Do we not all know how dearly this great and clever man loved gardens? -He says: "God Almighty first planted a garden; and, indeed, it is -the purest of human pleasures; it is the greatest refreshment to the -spirits of man." - -In the accounts of the Inn about that date appear the following items: - -"4th July, 1597. Ordered that the summee of £7 15s. 4d. due to Mr. -Bacon, for planting of elm trees in the walkes be paid next term;" and -again, in the following year, there was an order made for the supply -of more young elms, etc., the cost of which, as appears by Mr. Bacon's -accounts, was £60 6s. 8d., a very large sum in those days. - -We learn also from Howell's "Familiar Letters" and from Pepys' "Diary," -that Gray's Inn Walks were at one time a fashionable promenade. Howell, -writing from Venice in 1621, to a friend residing in Gray's Inn, says: -"I hold your walks to be the pleasantest place about London, and that -you have there the choicest society." Pepys seems to have frequently -visited Gray's Inn Gardens as appears by his "Diary": "4th May, 1662. -When church was done my wife and I walked to Gray's Inn to observe -fashions of the ladies, because of my wife's making some clothes." - -Cannot we picture to ourselves quiet Mrs. Pepys carefully scanning the -gay apparel of the fine ladies as they passed to and fro? daintily -walking with the little mincing French step that the fair Lady -Castlemaine had brought into fashion? The good little wife absorbed -in the many intricacies of plaits and puckers, weighing the several -advantages to be obtained by the use of plain or damask stuffs, all -unconscious, probably, that her volatile husband was as curiously -scanning the black eyes and pretty faces that had such overpowering -attractions for his wandering fancy. - -Pepys again says: - -"17th August, 1662. I was very well pleased with the sight of a fine -lady that I have often seen walk in Gray's Inn Gardens." - -Dryden, in his "Sir Martin Marall," 1661, makes the following reference -to Gray's Inn Walks: - -"_Sir John Shallow._ But where did you appoint to meet him? - -"_Mrs. Millicent._ In Gray's Inn Walks." - -Addison, in the _Spectator_, selects the terrace in Gray's Inn Gardens -as the place where Sir Roger de Coverley enjoys his morning walk. He -describes the dear old baronet as "hemming twice or thrice to himself -with great vigour, for he loves to clear his pipes in good air, to make -use of his own phrase, and is not a little pleased with any one who -takes notice of the strength which he still exerts in his morning hems." - -Charles Lamb, in his delightful "Essays of Elia," gives an interesting -description of these gardens, adding, however, an indignant protest -against the injury their beauty had received from the ugly pile of -houses called Verulam Buildings, that had been recently erected. He -says: - -"I am ill at dates, but I think it is now better than five-and-twenty -years ago that, walking in the gardens at Gray's Inn--they were then -finer than they are now--the accursed Verulam Buildings had not -encroached upon all the east side of them, cutting out delicate green -crankles, and shouldering away one of two of the stately alcoves of -the terrace. The survivor stands, gaping and relationless, as if it -remembered its brother. They are still the best gardens of any of -the Inns of Court--my beloved Temple not forgotten--have the gravest -character, their aspect being altogether revered and law-breathing. -Bacon has left the impress of his foot upon their gravel walks." - -If the gardens give the summer charm to these old precincts, the grand -old Hall is the glory, and may well be called the heart of Gray's Inn. - -Seventy feet in length, thirty-five in width, and forty-seven in -height, it is in truth a stately chamber, yet so harmonious are its -proportions, so graceful are its details, that the spectator knows not -which to admire most, the simple grandeur of its size, the delicate -beauty of the old stained glass windows, or the rich deep colouring -that time has given to the oaken panelling as well as to the heavy -oaken furniture. - -At the east end is a raised daïs, the place of honour, on which stands -the table reserved for the Benchers and their guests. - -The students dine in the body of the Hall, and the great black oak -tables and settles that they use were placed here in the reign of Queen -Elizabeth. As they were then, so they are now, and so they may probably -remain for as many more hundred years. - -In those good or bad old times, wood and labour were of comparatively -little value, so furniture was then massive, and often decorated with -a lavish richness of detail that a modern upholsterer would dread as -much as he would admire, so great would be the modern cost both of the -material and the work expended on it. How many remnants of the tables -and chairs of this veneering age will there be in another century? - -Near the daïs is a great oriel window, that beautiful characteristic -of the Tudor period; the old coloured glass, rich with the armorial -bearings of the Society, and emblazoned also with names well known and -distinguished in our English history. - -An elaborately carved oaken screen at the opposite end of the Hall -conceals the entrance vestibule, and supports a Minstrel Gallery, -another delightful adjunct to the large Halls of the fifteenth and -sixteenth centuries. - -The screen itself is of quaint but handsome design, and is especially -interesting, as its decorations denote the period when it was erected. -Short, thick Ionic columns, carved in arabesque with scroll ornaments, -are surmounted by a range of semicircular arches. Above these is a -balustrade of open carving enclosing the Minstrels' Gallery. - -Fortunately restorations have not been needed, nor have alterations -been made since the screen was placed here. As years have rolled on, -therefore, the solid old oak has acquired that richness of tone and -beauty of colouring that time alone can give. - -Above the gallery is a large traceried window, and, as on the north and -south walls are nine mullioned and transomed windows, the Great Hall is -bright, well-lighted, and cheerful. - -The great space between windows and floor is oak-panelled, and enriched -by the coats of arms of members of the Society who have filled the -office of treasurer. - -There is something pleasant, but nevertheless sad, in reading over the -names of many, honoured in their time, still honoured here in this -venerable Inn of Court, but yet how long ago forgotten by the world -without. - -Forgotten long ago, although as English laws are founded on precedent, -and not upon written codes, celebrated English lawyers probably make -more mark upon English history than great men of other professions. - -In every Government the Lord Chancellor is invariably a member of the -Cabinet, and most of our leading statesmen have begun their career by -studying, even if they have not practised, the profession of the Law. -Still how very many there are, who, famous in their time, have passed -away from all men's remembrance, and but for the names inscribed on -these parental old walls, have struggled, gained the prize, and yet -have again faded into the darkness from which they fought so hard to -emerge. - -Truly the glory of this world is but a shadow, nought but a faint -glimmer of a brief and perishing light. - -The fine open roof of the Hall, with its great hammer-beam timbers, is -also a grand relic of the past; but the ancient _reredos_, or brass -grate which once stood in the centre of the chamber, as well as its -_louvre_--or smoke chimney--has been removed, and replaced by a modern -stove. A great lapse from beauty, but, nevertheless, a change that -contributes much to warmth and comfort. - -The exterior of the building has, unhappily, been modernised, and, in -accordance with the bad taste that prevailed during the greater part of -the last century, the venerable brickwork has been covered with stucco. - -It seems extraordinary that this miserable pretence of stone should at -one time have been so universally adopted in England, because, while -subject to the same discolouration and decay that injure stone in -this damp climate, age does not bestow upon it either dignity or rich -colouring. - -Happily, fine brickwork is now beginning to be appreciated. Not only -is it rich in point of colour, but, skilfully used, the most delicate -ornamentation can be obtained. Witness, for instance, the glorious old -church of San Ambrogio in Milan, and in many churches of towns in North -Italy, where bricks have been used without any admixture of stone or -marble. - -It must not be supposed that the noble and dignified old Hall of Gray's -Inn has been used solely for the pleasures of the table. - -Many a gay masque, many a joyous revel has been held within its ancient -walls. - -Royalty itself has frequently honoured by its presence the balls, -banquets, marriage feasts, and other "merrie makings" given by the -Honourable Society of Gray's Inn. - -Queen Elizabeth came here soon after her accession to the throne. - -The fair maiden Queen, then in the early bloom of youth, deigned to -tread a measure on the floor of the Hall, and her beauty and grace so -turned the heads of some of the more impressionable students, that two -of them became raving mad from love for their Royal and unapproachable -mistress. - -Knowing how hopeless their passion was, these luckless young fellows -resolved to put themselves to death. They could not endure their cruel -torment; like the Persians, they declared their hearts were burnt up -with fire, and that life had become but a burden to them. - -The legend, however, only relates their sufferings, their struggles, -and their desperate purpose. It is silent as to whether these fatal -intentions were ever carried into execution. It may be hoped, -therefore, that these love-sick youths recovered in time from their -love fit. The study of the law does not tend to foster romance, and -hard work in most cases is an effectual panacea against the blighting -effects of hopeless passion. - -Standing in the old Hall, we can see, in fancy, the grand and -picturesque entertainment. We can see the young and graceful, -though somewhat stern-faced girl, queening it so royally amongst her -enthusiastic admirers. How happy she is now in her consciousness of -youth, and consequent beauty, in her royal dignity, a Queen at last in -her glorious kingdom. Above all, especially happy in being at length -free, no longer in daily terror of a prison or a scaffold. No longer -dreading to have to seal by her blood her resolve to keep intact her -royal position as heir to the throne, safe at last from the terror of -being called on to lay down her life ere she would abjure her religion -for that of her bigot sister Mary. - -No wonder the young Sovereign was then bright and happy. - -It is sad to think of the changes that years brought about. It is sad -to think of the suspicious, cold-hearted, merciless old woman, signing -not only the death warrant of the beautiful cousin of whom she was so -jealous, but also the death warrants of the men whom she had professed -to love. - -Truly it may be said that envy, malice, and uncharitableness are -the vices to which the great and prosperous are peculiarly exposed. -Greatness and prosperity eventually produce the very whips that scourge -those who have not been constantly chastened by care and sorrow; for -the Almighty bestows His good gifts far more equally than we mortals -can in general either perceive or understand. - -There is a peace of heart in lowly stations that the great can but -seldom enjoy. The biography of celebrated monarchs and statesmen -sufficiently shows that no rank, however exalted, is exempt from -mortifications and annoyances, trying alike to temper and to pride, -and it is very evident from such histories that the noblest of all -governments, the government of oneself, is far more difficult of -attainment for the exalted than for the humbler inhabitants of earth. - -Not only during Queen Elizabeth's reign, but at a much earlier period, -the Inns of Court had been celebrated for the magnificence of their -masques and revels. - -The first entertainment of this kind, of which there is any certain -record, took place at Gray's Inn in the year 1525. - -Hall in his chronicle thus speaks of it: - -"A Plaie at Gray's Inn. This Christmas was a goodly disguising played -at Gray's Inn, which was compiled by John Roo, Serjeant at the Law, -twenty years past. This plae was so set forth with rich and costly -apparel, and with strange devices of masks and morrisches, that it -was highly praised by all men, except by the Cardinal (Wolsey), who -imagined the play was devised of him. In a great fury he sent for -Master Roo, and took from him his Coif, and sent him to the Fleet, and -afterwards he sent for the young gentlemen that played in the play, and -highly rebuked and threatened them, and sent one of them, called Master -Moyle of Kent, to the Fleet, but by means of friends Master Roo and he -were delivered at last. - -"This play sore displeased the Cardinal, and yet it was never meant for -him; wherefore many wise men grudged to see him take it so to heart; -and even the Cardinal said the King (Henry VIII.) was highly displeased -at it, and spake nothing of himself." - -This unfortunate play seems to have made a great stir at the time, for -not only Hall, but Fox, in his "Acts and Monuments," thus alludes to -the performance when writing of a certain Simon Fish, who also belonged -to Gray's Inn. Fox says: - -"It happened the first year this gentleman came to London to dwell, -which was about the year of our Lord, 1525, that there was a certain -play, or interlude, made by one M. Roo, of the same Inn, gentleman, -in which play partly was matter against the Cardinal Wolsey; and when -none durst take upon them to play that part which touched the said -Cardinal, this aforesaid Mr. Fish took upon him to do it. Whereupon -great displeasure ensued against him on the Cardinal's part, insomuch -as he, being pursued by the said Cardinal the same night that this -tragedy was played, was compelled of force to avoid his own house, and -so fled over the sea to Tindal." - -It is singular that neither Hall nor Fox makes any mention of the name -of the play that had such unhappy results for the luckless gentlemen -who took part in it. - -The powerful Cardinal was a dread enemy. He brooked neither insult nor -slight, and, when angered, was apt to carry out his vengeance with a -completeness that, at the least, brought ruin on his victims. Happy -indeed were they did they escape with their lives. - -The two offenders on this occasion paid a heavy price for their night's -amusement. Their professional prospects were destroyed for ever, their -names were erased from the list of Gray's Inn, and never again appeared -on it. To Roo, a Serjeant in the Law of twenty years' standing, such a -penalty must have been a cruel blow. - - -Hard work seems to have been seasoned with much amusement in the merry -days of Queen Bess, for at no period do we read of so many masques, -revels, and such like entertainments as during the reign of our maiden -Queen. - -Men of all ages and ranks, even those devoted to the learned and -severe study of the law, indulged themselves to the full in these -amusements. Judges and statesmen condescended to arrange and fashion -the festivities, and occasionally indeed took part in them, nothing -daunted by the fact that they not unfrequently ended in brawls and -fighting. Men fought fiercely too in these turbulent times, and the -arms then in common use were formidable weapons. It was the custom to -carry bucklers with a point or poke, as it was called, in the centre, -from ten to twelve inches in length. Every haberdasher sold these -bucklers, and their use became so much abused, that, in the eighth year -of Elizabeth, a proclamation was issued prohibiting the sale of any of -which the poke exceeded two inches in length. At the same time, the -length of swords was limited to one yard and half a quarter, nor was -any dagger to have a blade above twelve inches long. - -In the records we have respecting many of these gay doings and -magnificent festivals, Gray's Inn and the Temple appear to have taken -the lead, and at last a sort of union was entered into between the two -Inns. Over the great gates of the gardens of the Inner Temple appears -the "Griffin" of Gray's Inn, whilst over the principal entrance in -Gray's Inn Square, is carved in bold relief the "Winged Horse" of the -Inner Temple. - -A curious pamphlet, published in 1594, commemorates this union. It -is entitled, "Gesta Grayorium, or the History of the High and Mighty -Prince, Henry Prince of Purpoole, etc." - -It gives a very detailed account of a grand masque that took place on -the 20th December, with a minute description of the rich and quaint -costumes worn by the actors who took part therein. - -There is reason to think that Lord Bacon himself organised this revel, -and also assisted in its preparation. - -On the said 20th December, it being St. Thomas's Eve, the Prince of -Purpoole, as he is termed (Purpoole being the name of the property on -which Gray's Inn was built), accompanied by a long train of courtiers -and followers, marched in procession from his lodgings in the Inn to -the Great Hall, where all things had with fitting dignity been prepared -for his reception. - -Here he seated himself on a magnificent throne, having over his head -a canopy made of rich cloth of state. His great Lords and Councillors -grouped themselves around him. Below the daïs were seated his learned -council and his learned lawyers, while the numerous officers and -attendants of his Court were arranged becomingly in their proper places. - -The narrator dilates with much enthusiasm on the magnificence and -beauty of the spectacle, and we can well believe the effect must have -been fine. Still, in these prosaic days, we find it difficult to -understand the Lord High Chancellor and the Queen's Judges of the High -Court of Justice giving much thought and time to an entertainment of -this description. - -However, there is no doubt that in these same riotous, fighting, -turbulent, and yet romantic times such spectacles did excite prodigious -interest. Our chronicler continues to relate, that common report had so -cried up the merits of this especial performance, that the expectation -of strangers, both English and foreign, was greatly excited, insomuch -that it became necessary to repeat it, and to have many grand nights -especially arranged for the entertainment of distinguished strangers. - -Unhappily however, then, as is sometimes the case now, the crowd of -spectators greatly exceeded the space provided for their accommodation. -The multitude of beholders, indeed, was so considerable that there was -not convenient room for those who were actors. Many of the performers -among the Templarians (as they were then called) left the Hall so -displeased and angry that their discontent resulted in blows, and the -fighting became so furious that the next day it was found necessary to -have an inquiry into the cause of "these disorders." - -Nothing daunted, however, by the ill-success of their opening night, -the revellers organised another grand performance on the 3rd January -following, in honour of a great number of ambassadors, knights, -ladies, and other worshipful personages, amongst whom were the Lord -Keeper, the Lords Shrewsbury, Burleigh, Cumberland, most of the -officers of State and of the Queen's household, and it is said all -these guests had convenient places and very good entertainment. - -The Temple and Gray's Inn were now reconciled and had become friendly -again, so the day after this entertainment the Prince of Purpoole, -accompanied by the "Ambassadors of Templaria," and attended by eighty -gentlemen of Gray's Inn and the Temple (each of them wearing a plume on -his head), dined in state with the Lord Mayor at Crosby Place. - -The next grand night was upon Twelfth Night, on which occasion there -was again a great company of lords, ladies, and knights; and at -Shrovetide the Prince and his company visited Queen Elizabeth at -Greenwich. - -After the performance Her Majesty "willed the Lord Chamberlain that the -gentlemen should be invited on the next day, and that he should present -them to her," which was done, and Her Majesty gave them her hand to -kiss, with most gracious words of commendation to them, "particularly -and in general of Gray's Inn, as an house that she was much beholden -unto, for that it did always study for some sports to present unto her." - -The same night there was fighting at "Barriers," at which the Prince -behaved so valiantly and skilfully that the prize, a jewel set with -seventeen diamonds and four rubies, was presented to him by the Queen. - -The following order of Pension, to defray the expenses of the above -entertainment, was made on February 9th, 37th Elizabeth. - -"At this Pension it is ordered that every Reader of this House, towards -the charges of the shows and sports before Her Majesty at Shrovetide -last year, shall pay ten shillings, and every Ancient six shillings and -eightpence, and every Utter Barrister five shillings, and every other -Gentleman of this Society, three shillings and sixpence before the end -of this term." - -There is a tradition in Gray's Inn that the screen already mentioned -under the gallery in the Great Hall, as well as the dining tables now -used in the Hall, were given to the Society by that Queen as tokens of -Her Majesty's regard. - -Queen Elizabeth's memory is still held in much affection by the ever -loyal subjects in Gray's Inn, and on the Grand Day of each term "the -glorious, pious, and immortal memory of good Queen Bess" is still -solemnly given in Hall. - -In 1613, "the Maske of Flowers was presented by the Gentlemen of -Graie's Inn, in the Banqueting House, at the Court of Whitehall, on -the occasion of the marriage of the Earle of Somerset with the Lady -Frances, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk." - -In "The Court and Times of King James I.," there is a letter from I. -Chamberlaine, dated 23rd December, 1613, in which he says: - -"Sir Francis Bacon prepares a masque to honour their marriage which -will stand him in above £2,000, and, although he has been offered some -help by the House, and especially by Mr. Solicitor Sir Henry Yelverton, -who would have sent him £500, yet he would not accept it." - -The story of this masque was published the following year, with a -dedication "to the verie honourable Sir Francis Bacon, His Majesty's -Attorney-General." - -The dedication states: - -"That you have graced in general the Societies of the Innes of Court in -continuing them still as third persons with the nobility and Court, in -doing the King honour, and particularly Graie's Inne, which, as you -have formerly brought to flourish both in the ancienter and younger -sort by countenancing virtue in every quality, so now you have made a -notable demonstration thereof in the lighter and less serious kind." - -The members of this learned Society did not always, it appears, amuse -themselves in so discreet a manner, for there is a letter in the same -book, "The Court and Times of James I.," relating that: - -"The gentlemen of Gray's Inn, to make an end of Christmas, on Twelfth -Night, at the dead time of the night, shot off all the chambers (small -cannon), which they had borrowed from the Tower, being as many as -filled four carts. - -"The King, awakened by this noise, started out of his bed, and cried: -'Treason! treason!' So the City was in an uproar, in such sort, as it -is said, that the whole Court was raised, and almost in arms, the Earl -of Arundel running to the bed-chamber, with his sword drawn, as to -rescue the King's person." - -The following sketch of a ticket of admission to the masque at Gray's -Inn on the 2nd February, 1682, is taken from Nichol's "Progresses of -Elizabeth:" - -[Illustration: Ticket] - -This entertainment is thus alluded to by Luttrell in his diary: - -"On Saturday the 4th inst., the revells began at Graie's Inn. On 23rd -January, Sir Richard Gipps, master of the revells at Graie's Inn, -attended by his revellers and comptrollers, went to Whitehall in one -of His Majesty's coaches, with several noble men's coaches, and six -horses, to invite the King and Queen, the Duke (York) and Duchesse, -and the rest of the Court, to a mask at Graie's Inn, on Candlemas Day; -and accordingly there was great preparation that day, diverse of the -nobility and gentry in masks attended, who danced in the Hall, and -afterwards were entertained with a splendid banquet." - -Evelyn had already spoken of these revels in terms of contempt and -disapprobation, terming them "solemn fooleries," and regretting that -the King countenanced them and the deep play that usually concluded the -evening. He says: - -"6th January, 1661-2.--This evening, according to custome, His Majesty -opened the revells (at Lincoln's Inn) of that night, by throwing the -dice himself in the privy chamber, where was a table set on purpose, -and lost his £100 (the year before he won £1,500). The ladies also -plaid very deepe.... Sorry I am that such a wretched custome as play -to that excess should be countenanced in a Court that ought to be an -example of virtue to the rest of the Kingdom." - -During the troubled reign of James II., and during the first year -of that of William III., men's minds were too harassed by political -anxieties to allow them much time, or indeed inclination, to indulge -in such costly and somewhat tedious entertainments. Money was scarce -in England, and the few who had any, cautiously concealed even the -semblance of riches, not knowing what changes a few years might produce. - -Who, indeed, could predict with reasonable probability what King would -rule over the land, or, indeed, which Church would gain the supremacy? - -From this period these masques fell into disrepute, and the last record -of so many gay revels is in 1773, on the occasion of Mr. Talbot being -elevated to the woolsack. - -After a long and elaborate dinner, every member of each mess had a -flask of claret, besides the usual allowance of port and sack. - -The Benchers then all assembled in the Great Hall, and a large ring was -formed round the fireplace, when the Master of the Revels taking the -Lord Chancellor by the right hand, he with his left took Mr. Justice -Page, who, joined to the other Serjeants and Benchers, danced about the -coal fire according to the old ceremony three times, while the ancient -song, accompanied with music, was sung by one Tony Aston, dressed as a -barrister. - -It is difficult to understand so dignified a personage as the Lord High -Chancellor inaugurating his accession to office by such an after-dinner -dance. - -Perhaps the extra flask of claret, following the usual port wine and -sack, may have had something to do with so singular a proceeding. - -At any rate, after this remarkable festival, all such hilarious -proceedings ceased, and henceforward the great dinners were given with -all befitting and solemn dignity. - -If the grand old Hall may be deemed the heart of Gray's Inn, then the -jewelled crown that is the noblest ornament of this time-honoured abode -of learning may be said to have been created by the distinguished men -who have grown up under her fostering care, whose studies have been -matured within the shelter of her old walls. - -Names are inscribed here--on the panels, on the windows, in the -hall--the very sight of which must fire the heart of many a student -with pride and hope. - -However poor he may be, however lowly his birth, however destitute -he may be of everything, save of the divine spark of genius and of -that safest attendant upon genius--resolute perseverance--the path of -success is open to him. - -The Temple of Fame is before him. He may seize the prize it contains, -if he will; but the road is steep and hard to climb, and the thorns -that beset it are many and sharp. - -What stories might be told of the early struggles, of the early -hardships of many of those who have ultimately attained the highest -places in the State and in the Law! - -How many of those whose names will never die while England has a -history, might relate how keen, nay, how terrible had been their -sufferings when they first started in their career. - -With what difficulty they obtained even necessary clothing. How hard -it was to earn the daily bread. How many sacrifices had to be made, -how many privations endured, ere the books could be bought that were -absolutely essential for their legal studies. - -And if it is thus hard for those who win, what tales of bitter woe -and anguish might be written of those who labour and fail. Of those -who, having both talent and application, yet lack, alas! the peculiar -genius that enables the great lawyer to grasp a subject or legal point -with a rapidity, and a perspicuity that is truly marvellous to the -unlearned! - -What hours of anxious study, what fevered days and terrible nights must -the unsuccessful, struggling man endure. Conscious, in all probability, -of his own deficiencies, and yet hoping on--ever hoping on, not daring -to confess even to himself that the studies of years have been of no -avail, that the tree is barren, and will never bear fruit. - -These are the unhappy men who eventually sink into the crowd of poor -legal hacks. These are indeed the jackals who must cater and work for -the lions of their order. - - -NOTE.--Those who are interested in the history and customs of this old -Inn of Court are referred to an admirable work on the subject, namely, -"Notes on Gray's Inn," by W. R. Douthwaite, Esq., librarian. - - - - -THE TWO BROTHERS, ANTHONY AND FRANCIS BACON. - - -The most notable of the many distinguished names recorded in Gray's Inn -is that of Francis Bacon, afterwards Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, -and Lord High Chancellor of England. - -The son of a distinguished and learned gentleman, he was also happy -in having in his mother a woman alike remarkable for her piety, her -domestic virtues, and her great learning. Accomplished in no common -degree in the charming arts of music and painting, few scholars of the -day excelled Lady Bacon in intimate knowledge of Latin and Greek. - -Francis, her second son, was born in 1561, and so early gave tokens of -such exceptional talent that when very young he was honoured by the -notice of Queen Elizabeth. Whatever the faults, errors, and meannesses -of Queen Elizabeth as a woman, in her character of sovereign, in one -respect at least, she showed herself to be well worthy to wear a crown, -well worthy to govern a great people, inasmuch as she possessed to a -rare extent that inestimable quality in those who have to rule, the -power of appreciating genius. - -Under no reign has learning been more fostered, under no reign have -talented men so clustered round the throne, as during the reign of this -maiden Queen. - -Elizabeth appreciated the powers of, and knew when she had a -distinguished statesman, and though she might ill-treat him, show -herself most niggardly towards him, not unfrequently betraying cruel -ingratitude, yet she ever respected his talents and caused them to be -respected by others. - -Both Francis Bacon and his elder brother Anthony were educated at -Trinity College, Cambridge. - -Anthony was a man of good and even brilliant parts, but being the -eldest son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, who, besides a great legal position, -had large landed estates in several of the midland counties, young -Anthony was not destined to any profession. He spent much of his time -in travelling, and thus became personally acquainted with most of the -learned persons of the age. - -In 1579, being then twenty-one, to the annoyance of his family he -resolved to reside entirely in Paris, and there he remained for some -years. He then went to Bourges and Geneva, and, at the latter place, -lodged in the house of the celebrated Theodore Beza. - -From Geneva he successively removed to Montpellier, Marseilles, -Bordeaux, and Montauban, having become by this time a sort of -recognised Government correspondent, constantly communicating to the -English ministry intelligence of any importance. - -In 1585 he went to Bearn on a visit to Henry of Navarre, afterwards the -great Henry IV. of France, and here made acquaintance with the learned -Lambert Dansens, who, as a mark of esteem, dedicated several of his -works to his English friend. - -Here, too, began for poor Sir Anthony the great romance of his life. -It was at this Court that he became acquainted with a beautiful French -lady, whose many charms and winning graces broke the poor baronet's -heart. With some rare and gifted natures love is an integral part of -life. When it is clear that love must die, life in a great measure dies -too, and so it was with Sir Anthony Bacon. - -His love was unsuccessful; so, sore-hearted and with broken health he -left the scene of his brief happiness and of his enduring grief, and -returned to England, never again to leave it. He took up his residence -at Essex House, and after a time rallied sufficiently from his -disappointment to resume his correspondence with some of his foreign -friends. Amongst these his most constant and valued correspondent was -King Henry IV. of France; but the sorrowful love romance had destroyed -the most brilliant portion of his existence, and Sir Anthony never -quite recovered from the pain he had then suffered. - -His more celebrated brother was framed in harder mould. Before Francis -was seventeen he had not only traversed the whole circle of the liberal -arts as then taught, but he had begun to perceive how fallacious -was the recognised philosophy of the day. And these fallacies he -subsequently effectually exposed. - -When the time came for leaving Cambridge, his father sent him first to -France, and afterwards allowed him to make, what was called, the grand -tour. - -So well did he profit by his travels, that he wrote a general view of -the state of Europe before he was nineteen. - -He had intended carrying his researches still farther abroad, -projecting a journey to Egypt and India, but the death of his father -obliging him to return to England, he applied himself to the study of -Common Law at Gray's Inn. - -Even in these early days, the lucidity of his reasoning, the keenness -of his intellect attracted the notice of many leading men. - -The Earl of Essex in particular, who was a great discerner of merit, -became his intimate friend, and endeavoured, though unsuccessfully, to -procure for Bacon the office of Queen's Solicitor. - -Failing in this, Lord Essex, to console his _protégé_ under such a -disappointment, generously conferred on him a present of land to the -value of £1,800. - -Notwithstanding, however, the friendship of so powerful a patron, -and notwithstanding the favour with which the Queen already regarded -him, young Francis had, during the earlier years of his career, many -obstacles to contend against. - -Talents so remarkable, such great patronage, and especially the favour -of the monarch, created a host of enemies, all of whom decried the -young aspirant with the spiteful bitterness and venom of envy. They -represented him as an essentially unpractical enthusiast, whose head -was filled with philosophical and speculative ideas. As one far more -likely therefore to perplex, than to forward public business. - -So many cabals resulted in his being unable to obtain for a -considerable period either office or preferment, and he was over forty -years of age before Lord Burleigh, who was then Lord Treasurer, -bestowed upon him the place of Registrar to the Star Chamber. - -This appointment was worth about £1,600, but its duties were both -onerous and unpleasant. It so happened that to Bacon they became -especially distasteful, for the critical moment arrived when he had -to decide whether he would resign his preferment, or disregard every -sacred claim of honour and friendship. - -Unhappily the choice he made at this juncture has tarnished for ever a -name, that in other respects he rendered so illustrious, and ultimately -it, in fact, proved the ruin of this great and gifted man. - -Even in the events of this world, how often do our own faults become -the very lashes that scourge us. How frequently does the evil we have -done to others return upon us fourfold. - -"Cast thy bread upon the waters," says the preacher, "and after many -days it shall come back to thee," and this applies to evil as well as -to good deeds. - -During the larger part of Queen Elizabeth's reign, both in Court and -State, two great parties were for ever struggling to obtain supremacy. - -The two Cecils were at the head of one of these parties. - -The leader of the other was first the Earl of Leicester, and -subsequently, his son-in-law, the Earl of Essex. - -Bacon's undoubted genius excited both the jealousy and the dislike of -his relatives, the Cecils, and the intimate friendship he had formed -with Lord Essex also much increased their covert animosity, although -they did not care to exhibit it openly against so near a connection. - -Still, though outwardly courteous, Bacon was well aware that in them he -had formidable enemies, and he knew that his future prosperity mainly -depended upon his being able to convert these enemies into friends. - -Essex, with the generosity that was his distinguishing characteristic, -had not only exerted himself strenuously on his friend's behalf, but -had also, as already mentioned, by a noble gift, sought to console him -for his disappointment in failing to obtain place. - -But after years of prosperity and power, the fatal day came when the -favourite was to share the fate of most Royal favourites, Essex was -disgraced and fell into deep misfortune. - -That a man could write as Bacon afterwards wrote of "Friendship," -and of "Honour and Reputation," and yet permit himself, at the base -dictates of ambition, to desert, nay, even to betray his earliest and -most generous friend, must seem to every noble heart a fact almost -incredible; but it is unhappily an undoubted fact, that when Essex -was at the bar of the House of Lords to be tried for his life. Bacon, -in his professional capacity, appeared _against_ his generous and -affectionate friend and patron. - -Nor was even this the extent of his unworthy treason. - -For some time previously, and also after the unhappy favourite had -expiated his follies by a shameful death, discontent and irritation had -been spreading amongst all classes, and the Government grew daily more -and more unpopular. - -At length the clamours of the people became so loud and deep, not only -against ministers, but also against the Queen herself, that it was -deemed necessary to make a formal vindication of the proceedings of the -Administration. - -For this end all the blame, all the obloquy of every administrative -failure must be thrown upon the dead man. - -Bacon accepted the discreditable, nay, disgraceful duty that had -been assigned to him. He allowed himself to vilify the name of -his benefactor, his early friend. He agreed to cast the odium of -treason upon one from whom he had accepted gifts, and for whom he had -professed, and professed for years, the most ardent friendship. - -In a skilful and masterly paper he justified the proceedings of the -Government, and drew up a declaration of the treason of which Essex had -been found guilty, and for which he had duly suffered. - -Bacon retained his place. He had assured his career. He had forced the -world to recognise his transcendent abilities; but ambition must have -indeed hardened the heart of this man, ere she could console him for -having thus cast from him every sentiment of gratitude, and affection, -for having thus forsworn the honourable fealty that he owed to his -benefactor and his friend. - -From this moment, however, Bacon rose steadily, and, after the -accession of James I., having published a brilliant pamphlet in favour -of uniting the two kingdoms of England and Scotland, he rapidly -obtained considerable honour. - -In 1616 he was sworn of the Privy Council. He then devoted himself to -reducing, and, in fact, recomposing the laws of England. - -When Attorney-General he distinguished himself by his endeavours to -restrain duelling, a practice at that time very frequent and very fatal. - -In 1617 he was appointed Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and the -following year he was raised to the woolsack, and created Lord Verulam. - -In the midst of these honours, and notwithstanding, also, the press of -business, he did not forget his studies in philosophy, but in 1620 he -published his great work, "Novum Organum." In 1621 he was advanced to -the dignity of Viscount, and as Lord St. Albans he appeared with great -splendour at the opening of Parliament. - -But he had now arrived at the culminating point of his triumphs, and -at the very moment when his power seemed greatest and his position most -stable, his fall was near. - -A very few months after Parliament had assembled, a committee of the -House of Commons was appointed to inquire into the abuses that existed -in the Courts of Justice; and, ere many sittings had taken place, the -Chancellor was openly accused of corrupt practices. - -The King, ever pusillanimous, and shrinking from giving support to a -falling man, sent for Bacon, and, it is said, positively enjoined him -to submit to his peers, promising to reward him afterwards! - -The Chancellor, although he could have had but little faith in such -promises, and foresaw his approaching ruin if he did not plead for -himself, resolved, however, to obey the Royal command. - -He was silent therefore under the accusations brought against him, and -on the 3rd May, 1621, the House of Lords gave judgment against him, -pronouncing upon him the following severe sentence: - -"That he was to pay a fine of £40,000, and be confined a prisoner in -the Tower, during the King's pleasure. That he should for ever be -incapable of holding any place, office, or employment in the State, and -that he should never again sit in Parliament, nor come within the verge -of the Court." - -At this distance of time the world judges him more leniently than he -was then judged by his peers. - -Greed of money had never been one of Bacon's failings. He loved power, -place, and the good things that money can procure. He also loved his -ease, and the affection and good-will of those about him; but of the -gold itself he took little or no heed. - -It was, in fact, to this carelessness, and to an amiability that he -carried to the extent of selfish weakness that he owed his fall. For -years all that he possessed had been at the service of those about him, -and unhappily he was surrounded by, and had bestowed his kindness on -persons, who were not only unworthy of it, but who had basely abused -the confidence he had reposed in them. - -We are told by Rushworth, that the Chancellor (Bacon) treasured up -nothing for himself or his family, but that he was so over-indulgent to -his servants, that this indulgence reached the point of conniving at -their evil doings. Both his servants and his dependents were therefore -profuse and extravagant, and had at their command whatever he was -master of. - -Too late did Bacon perceive his error. It is related that, one day -during his trial, he passed through a room where several of his -servants were sitting. They rose up respectfully to salute him as he -went by, but said the Chancellor, "Sit down, my masters, for your rise -has been my fall." - -There seems little reason now to doubt that the gifts the Chancellor -was accused of taking had been enforced, and received by these -underlings. - -It was these lamentable gifts that had caused him to be suspected of -injustice, and yet it was subsequently proved that his decrees had been -made for the most part with so much equity, that not one of them was -ever reversed as unjust. - -"It was peculiar to this man," says one of his numerous biographers, -"to have nothing narrow or selfish in his composition. He gave away -without concern whatever he possessed, and believing other men to be of -the same mould, he received with as little consideration." - -This opinion is probably correct in the main, but the greatest admirers -of this talented and in many respects exceptionally great man, must -admit that, ere he could have become unmindful of the honourable fealty -he owed to his dead friend, the greed of power must have been strong -in his heart, and that it was a selfish reluctance to take trouble -that made him disregard one of the most stringent duties of the great, -not only to be just themselves, but to ascertain that injustice is not -practised by their subordinates. - -After a short period of imprisonment the fallen Chancellor was released -from the Tower. The King ultimately remitted his fine; and, after the -death of James, he was again summoned to attend Parliament in the first -year of the reign of Charles I., but never again after his degradation -did Bacon take part in active life. - -At first, indeed, after his release from prison, he found himself in -extreme poverty. All he valued in this world had gone from him. Place, -position, money, and, above all, that consideration from others which -had been so dear to his heart. - -So great at one time was his pecuniary distress, that he wrote a -pathetic letter to King James, entreating His Majesty's assistance. -"Lest," as he expresses it, "he should be reduced to carry a wallet, -and after having lived only to study, be forced to study to live." - -Notwithstanding the sorrowfulness of the letter, there lurks within -it a vein of the humour that rendered him so delightful a companion, -and through it all can be perceived the indomitable spirit of the man, -that, even in the bitterest moment of his shattered fortunes, rose -superior to the ruin that had overtaken him. - -The energy that had made him so powerful in his public career did not -desert him in his retirement. - -With all the ardour of his great heart, he loved his country home, his -quiet lodgings in Gray's Inn, and the studies to which, during the last -years of his life, he wholly devoted himself. It was at this period -that he wrote some of his most important English and Latin works; -and from these it is evident that his thoughts were as free, and as -vigorous, as they had ever been during the earliest and most brilliant -years of his career. - -Although he had been unhappy in having had many false and unworthy -friends, one, at least, loved him faithfully to the end; and it was by -him, Sir Thomas Meanty, his secretary, that the monument was erected to -his memory in St. Michael's Church, St. Albans. - -Many have written the biography of this distinguished man, but the best -evidences of his life are the works he has given to the world: works -replete with noble thoughts; works so grand, that they make us the more -regret that there should be even one flaw to tarnish the golden lustre -that shines around the name of one so brilliant, so illustrious. - - -It was in chambers in Coney Court, now called Gray's Inn Square, -that Bacon passed his last years, and where he wrote several of his -greatest works. - -The aspect of these old houses--indeed, of these old chambers--bears -traces, not only of the storms and sunshine that have passed over them -in all this lapse of time, but they also speak to us powerfully of the -vicissitudes of human life, and of the changes that are taking place -around us yearly, nay, hourly. - -What anxiety and distress, what joy and what pain, have not these old -walls witnessed. - -How many hearts have beat high with hope, or have been racked with -anguish in the thoughtful gloom of many of these shadowy rooms. - -Bacon himself, though he bore so brave a front before the world, must -have had many torturing recollections and regrets as he paced up and -down these ancient chambers. But then, again, what noble thoughts came -to cheer and support him as he overcame the keenness of his pain, and -fixed his mind on objects higher and grander than the passing events of -human life. - -Thus generation after generation pass away, with all their joys and all -their fears. - -Each human being departs, and his name is no more known even in the -spot where he dwelt; but still the great squadrons of mankind are ever -advancing, with the same delights, the same anxieties as those who have -left this earth many hundreds of years ago; thus every place is filled -and emptied, and filled again in endless rotation. - -Truly life is but a magic-lantern, and the players therein are but -fleeting shadows. - -Bacon died on Easter Sunday, the 9th of April, 1626, being then -sixty-six years of age. - -In the December previous he had with his own hand written his will. In -it he writes: - -"For my burial, I desire it may be in St. Michael's Church near St. -Albans. There was my mother buried, and it is the parish church of my -mansion house at Gorhambury, and it is the only Christian church within -the walls of Old Verulam. For my name and memory, I leave it to men's -charitable speeches, and to foreign nations, and to the next ages." - - - - -SIR NICHOLAS BACON. - - -Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal during the greater -part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was born at Chislehurst, in Kent, -in 1510. - -Few men have enjoyed during a long and brilliant career a more -unblemished reputation for probity, or have conducted themselves in -troubled and dangerous times with more prudence and good discretion -than this celebrated statesman and judge. - -He received his first rudiments of learning at home, and at a small -village school in the neighbourhood of his father's house; but when -still very young he was sent to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. - -Here he made great progress in all branches of useful knowledge, and -then travelled over France, making some stay in Paris, in order, as an -old chronicler remarks, "to give the last polish to his education." - -Either this last polish or his natural gifts enabled him to turn his -speeches with singular aptitude and felicity. Though resolute in -proposing and carrying out any measure he deemed advisable, he spoke -with so much prudence and tact, that he ever succeeded in retaining the -good will even of his opponents. - -This is all the more remarkable, for never, perhaps, did party feeling -run so high, never was party animosity more bitter, both with regard to -politics and also on religious subjects, than during this period, when -England was convulsed by the tremendous changes that were taking place -in the Church, and by the savage persecutions that had been endured -and inflicted both by Protestants and by Roman Catholics. - -Alas! that men, while calling themselves Christians, should so distort -and make of none effect the first principles of our Divine Teacher! - -When Bacon returned from Paris he settled in Gray's Inn, and applied -himself with such assiduity to the study of the law, that he speedily -became of note amongst the learned in that profession. His profound -knowledge of many difficult points of law enabled him to be useful not -only to the Government but also to the King (Henry VIII.), insomuch -that, on the dissolution of the Monastery of Bury St. Edmund's, in -Suffolk, King Henry conferred upon him several manors in that county. - -Two years afterwards he was promoted to the office of Attorney of -Wards, an appointment of both honour and profit. - -Edward VI. confirmed him in this post, and in the last year of that -King's reign Bacon was elected treasurer of Gray's Inn. - -His great moderation and his consummate prudence preserved him safely -during the dangerous reign of Queen Mary, although he was well known to -be a staunch Protestant. - -No sooner did Elizabeth come to the throne, however, than he was -knighted, and the Great Seals of England having been taken from -Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York, they were delivered to Sir Nicholas -Bacon in November, 1558, with the title of Lord Keeper. - -It is much to the credit of Sir Nicholas that he himself introduced -a Bill into Parliament for the purpose of defining and settling the -position of Lord Keeper; although, had he chosen to be silent, and to -procure for himself the additional title of Lord Chancellor, he might -have obtained almost unlimited power. - -But his motto was, and ever had been, "_Mediocra firma_." He was -content to be safe, and did not desire greatness. - -Unlike many celebrated men, he was unaffectedly modest, and devoid of -self-seeking, so that while it was said of some other great personages -that they seemed wiser than they were, the common voice of the nation -agreed in this, that Sir Nicholas Bacon was even wiser than he seemed. - -To the Queen he was indeed a most valuable minister, and a most trusty -counsellor, for not only was he as a statesman remarkable for a clear -head, and wise, farseeing sagacity, but he had marvellous skill in -balancing factions, and it was thought he taught the Queen this same -secret, the more important to Elizabeth, for being, as Her Majesty -was, the last of her family, she was without those supports that are -ordinarily incidental to Princes. - -In Chancery, also, Bacon much distinguished himself by the very -moderate use he made of power, and by the great respect he ever showed -for the Common Law. But better than all, in an age of bigotry, when -religious differences aroused in men every violent and cruel passion, -Bacon showed that though his own religious opinions were strong, he -could speak and act on that, as on all other subjects, with moderation -and with strict equity. - -The main business of the session of January, 1559, was the settlement -of religious observances, and no man had a greater share in this -momentous and difficult question than the Lord Keeper. - -The speeches he made at this period are described by many contemporary -writers as "most eloquent, solid, and excellent speeches;" and at this -day we can perceive that they were, as another old chronicler observes, -"models of eloquence, profound wisdom, and conciliatory discretion." - -Few men have left behind them so delightful a character as this famous -statesman and lawyer. - -Powerful and wise in public life, in his home he was the tender father, -the affectionate relative, the indulgent and unostentatious friend. - -Though endowed with a keen appreciation of art, and gifted with a fine -and graceful taste, as appeared by his house and gardens at Gorhambury, -yet he never permitted himself to indulge in an undue or lavish -expenditure. So simple and modest was he in this respect, that, when -the Queen came to visit him at Redgrave, Her Majesty said she found the -house too small for so great a man. - -"Nay, madam," said the Chancellor, "but it is your Majesty who has made -me too great for my house." - -Yet, with his usual graceful tact and ready acquiescence in the wishes -of his Royal Mistress, he immediately built two small wings to his -house. - -His health began to fail during the later years of his life, and he -became distressingly corpulent; but he was as diligent in his work, and -his temper remained as kind, and his wit as bright as ever. - -After having held the Great Seal more than twenty years, this able -statesman and faithful counsellor was suddenly removed from this life -by the following accident: - -He was under the hands of his barber, and the weather being rather -sultry, although February, Sir Nicholas, who suffered much from heat by -reason of his great size, caused the window before him to be opened. He -presently fell asleep, but after a time, a current of cold air blowing -upon him, he awoke shivering and feeling very ill. - -"Why," said he to his servant, "did you suffer me to sleep thus -exposed?" - -The man replied that he durst not venture to disturb him. - -"Then," said the Lord Keeper, "by your civility I lose my life." And so -indeed it proved. He was removed immediately to his bed-chamber, and -was tended with loving care, but he expired a very few days after being -taken ill. - -Sir Nicholas was twice married. By his first wife, Jane, daughter of -William Fernley, he had three sons, who died young, and three daughters. - -By his second wife, Anne, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, a woman -distinguished alike for her beauty, her piety, and her learning, he -had two sons, of whom the youngest, Francis, became so celebrated -as Chancellor, philosopher, and writer; a man whose exceptionally -brilliant gifts have thrown comparatively into the shade the far more -elevated character of his father. - -Happy would it have been for the son, if, with his father's talents, -he had inherited his father's unswerving integrity and noble sense of -honour. - -Far happier would have been the closing years of Lord Bacon's life had -he, like his father, Sir Nicholas, dealt righteously with all men. - - - - -SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE. - - -It is not unusual to find amongst ancient families that the same -Christian name is retained from generation to generation, constantly -descending for centuries in unbroken succession. - -Sometimes this name is preserved in memory of a distinguished ancestor. -Sometimes from respect to some prince or powerful patron who had -conferred honour or lands upon the family. - -Many have supposed that the name of William came to this country at -the time of the Norman Conquest. It has been ascertained, however, -that long before that date it was in common use in Saxon families, -especially amongst those who inhabited the Northern Counties. - -This name William is a German word, and, according to Martin Luther, of -compound meaning. - -_Helm_, signifying "defence;" and _Kenhelm_, "Defence of kindred." - -_Willy_, _Villi_, or _Billi_ with the Germans, like _Poly_ amongst the -Greeks, before several names indicates "many," consequently _Wilhelm_, -now softened into _William_, means "Much defence" or "Defence of many." - -Not only did the Normans, who had settled here when their Duke became -King of England, call their sons after their victorious sovereign, -but many of the old lords of the soil, who, wearied with Harold's -tyranny, had gladly welcomed the advent of the foreign prince, gave -their children the name now so much in vogue. In addition to this -compliment to their new King, some of the Saxon Thanes and great landed -proprietors moulded their rougher Northern surnames into courtly -Norman terminations. - -Thus Gaskin, an old West Riding family, Normanised itself into -Gascoigne. - -As time went on, this Royal name of William was regularly transmitted -from father to son amongst those families who depended upon the -Conqueror or his line, or who had received gifts of offices, lands, -seignories, or privileges, until in a few years it became so common -amongst those of high rank, that at a certain festival given at the -Court of King Henry II., when Sir William St. John and Sir William -Fitz-Hamon, two especial officers, commanded that none "but those of -the name of William should dine in the Great Chamber with them," they -were accompanied by a hundred and twenty Williams, all knights. - -Sir William Gascoigne, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1401, the -second year of the reign of King Henry IV., was the eighth Sir William -in lineal descent, and was succeeded, as we learn from Dugdale and -Fuller, by seven more Sir Williams, all knights. - -The Chief Justice was born in 1350, _temp._ Edward III., at Gawthorp, -in the parish of Harwood, between Leeds and Knaresborough. - -Sir William was the eldest of five brothers. He married twice: first, -Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Alexander Mowbray, and by her had -an only son, Sir William Gascoigne, of Gawthorp, a brave commander in -the wars under King Henry V. His descendant, the last Sir William of -this branch, married Beatrice, daughter of Sir Richard Tempest, and -had four sons, all of whom died young, and one daughter, Margaret, -his sole heir, in whom the Gascoignes of this line terminated. This -daughter married, in 1552, Thomas Wentworth, of Wentworth Woodhouse, -in Yorkshire, and brought great estates into that family. Thomas -Wentworth was Sheriff for Yorkshire in the twenty-fourth year of Queen -Elizabeth, and had, besides four daughters, an only son, who became -afterwards Sir William Wentworth, and was the father of Thomas, first -Earl of Strafford. - -The Chief Justice married, secondly, Joan, daughter of Sir William -Pickering, and widow of Sir Ralph Graystock, Baron of the Exchequer. -By this marriage Sir William had also an only son, James Gascoigne, -settled at Cardington, in Bedfordshire. A descendant of this James -Gascoigne, the inheritrix of Cardington, married her distant cousin -William, a younger son of the Gascoignes of Gawthorp. - -This William Gascoigne was Sheriff for Bedfordshire in 1506, _temp._ -King Henry VII., and was Sheriff for Buckinghamshire in the fifth -year of King Henry VIII. He was subsequently knighted by Henry VIII., -and became Comptroller of the Household to Cardinal Wolsey; for the -great Cardinal in many respects affected Royal state, and succeeded -in having the chief offices of his household held by nobles, or by -men of gentle birth. This branch of the Gascoignes also terminated -in a daughter, Dorothy, who married Sir Jarrett Harvye; thus the -direct descendants of the famous Chief Justice became merged in other -families. Of collateral descendants, however, there are many; Nicholas -Gascoigne of Lavingcroft, Sir William's next brother, having left a -numerous family of sons and daughters, who married amongst the Percys, -Latimers, Vavasours, etc. - -From the eldest son of this Nicholas descended a somewhat celebrated -man, Richard Gascoigne, who was not only a learned antiquary and -collector, but who has done good service to the history of this country -by having brought before the public in 1638 Mr. Dugdale, whose writings -have given much interesting and important information. - -The greater part of the valuable collections made by Richard Gascoigne -is now at Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire. There are also relics of the -Gascoigne family at Ickwellbury, Bedfordshire. - -William Gascoigne became a student of the Law at Gray's Inn, and was -early enrolled a member of that learned Society. His career was both -brilliant and rapid. Towards the end of the reign of King Richard II. -he was already so eminent in his profession that, in 1398, he was made -one of the King's Serjeants. - -There are records of many transactions at this period, all of which -give proof, not only of Gascoigne's great abilities as a lawyer, but -also testify to the esteem in which he was held on account of the -fidelity and uprightness of his advice, and the invariable justice -of his decisions. His great merits caused him to be appointed one of -the Commissioners for Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, when this -Prince was about to go into banishment. - -Gascoigne had to watch over the interests and receive all moneys that -might come to the Duke during his absence from England. A most onerous -appointment, involving not only considerable difficulty but also no -inconsiderable danger, for in those turbulent days the law of might -frequently warred most successfully against the law of right. - -So early as the second year of the reign of King Henry IV., Gascoigne -was made Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and we find that in -1403 Judge Gascoigne and Ralph Nevill, Earl of Westmoreland, were -commissioned by the King to levy and assemble forces in the counties -of York and Northumberland in order to quell the insurrection of Henry -Percy, Earl of Northumberland. - -Somewhat later these Commissioners were also empowered to treat with -this same rebellious Earl. - -When Archbishop Scrope and others were taken in arms against the King, -His Majesty would have had Gascoigne immediately to give sentence -of death against the contumacious Archbishop; but the Chief Justice -refused, resolutely declaring he would not pronounce such a sentence -in so irregular and illegal a manner. This refusal brought upon him -the King's high displeasure, but the people praised him much for his -justice and his moderation. - -Again, when certain abbots, priors, knights, esquires, and other -persons of distinction had been wrongfully accused, and were suffering -imprisonment in consequence of the evidence of a perjured witness, -Sir William detected the fraud. He then caused the false witness to -be exposed and condemned, and obtained the release of the guiltless -persons. - -About this time, also, attorneys, by reason of their multitude, and -from their malpractices, had grown to be a public nuisance. Chief -Justice Gascoigne caused an Act to be passed limiting their number in -every county. They had also to swear every Term that they would deal -faithfully and truly by their clients, and could it be proved that they -had not done so they were liable to be imprisoned for a twelve-month -and condemned to pay a ransom according to the King's pleasure. - -In the abstract of the Parliament rolls there is a lone insertion -made of a curious and important case referred in part to the judgment -of the Chief Justice. William, Lord Roos of Hamalake, brought an -action against Sir Robert Therwit, one of the Justices of the King's -Bench, inasmuch as he had withheld certain manors and commons in the -county of Lincoln, and that he had lain in wait with five hundred men -to seize or apprehend the said Lord. Sir Robert confessed his fault -before the King, and offered to abide by the award of two Lords of the -complainant's kindred. - -These two Lords made a long judgment, and amongst other items enjoined -that Sir Robert should make a great feast at Milton-le-Roos. That for -this feast he should prepare two fat oxen, twelve sheep, two tuns of -Gascon wine, and other provisions. That he should then assemble there -all such knights, esquires, and yeomen as had been his accomplices. -That they should then confess their fault to Lord Roos, craving his -pardon, and offering him five hundred marks as compensation. Lord Roos -should refuse this sum, but he should pardon them, and partake of their -dinner. - -The arbitration respecting the land however, which was the point of the -greatest difficulty, was to be referred to Sir William Gascoigne, the -Chief Justice. - -But the event which became so noticeable in legal and in historical -annals, is a remarkable circumstance that has been described by many -writers, namely, his having committed the Heir Apparent to the Throne, -Prince Henry, to prison for contempt of Court. - -A story so extraordinary has of course been seized upon by dramatists -and poets, who have so embellished the original history, that they have -caused the fact to be doubted by some. However, the affair has been too -simply related by some of our best historians and other grave writers -to permit reasonable doubts that the circumstance did actually take -place as recorded. - -It appears that a servant of Prince Henry's being arraigned at -Westminster before Chief Justice Gascoigne for felony, the Prince, -hearing of the matter, came hastily into Court, and commanded that his -follower should be unfettered and set at liberty immediately. - -This demand was refused, the Chief Justice exhorting the Prince to be -patient, for his servant was to be tried according to the ancient laws -of the realm, adding that even in case the rigour of the law should -condemn the accused, His Highness might still obtain the gracious -pardon of the King, his father. - -Far from being appeased by this answer, the anger of the Prince -seemed only the more inflamed, and striding fiercely to the Bar, he -endeavoured to rescue the prisoner by force. - -Thereupon the Judge, with admirable courage and intrepidity, commanded -the Prince to forbear and to depart on his way; but the Prince's rage -at being thus thwarted made him quite beside himself, and, turning -hastily towards the Bench, he either struck, or endeavoured to strike, -the Chief Justice. - -At so unparalleled an insult the Court was stricken with horror, and -many threw themselves around the Judge, fearing the Prince was about to -slay him, but Sir William, nothing moved by the affront that had been -offered to him, nor by the peril in which he was placed, never stirred -from his seat, and with dignified calm, and with a bold and assured -countenance, said to the Prince: - -"Sir, remember yourself. I keep here the place of your Sovereign Lord -and father, to whom you owe double obedience. Wherefore in his name -I charge you, desist from your wilfulness, and from this unlawful -enterprise. From henceforth give good example to them, who hereafter -will be your own subjects. And now, for your contempt and disobedience, -go you to the prison of the King's Bench, whereunto I commit you, and -remain there a prisoner, until the pleasure of the King your father be -further known." - -So dignified was the Judge's bearing, so noble and calm were his few -coercive sentences, wherein were combined the paternal authority of the -King, and the awful gravity of the Judge, that the Prince was instantly -subdued. - -His Highness at once laid aside his weapon, and doing reverence to -the Court, he straightway withdrew, and submitted to the disgraceful -punishment--a punishment degrading indeed to a Prince, the Heir -Apparent to the Throne, but well merited from the outrageous insult -that had led to it. - -When some officious persons represented the affair to the King in such -a manner that His Majesty might well have taken offence at it, the wise -monarch, the wise father, defeated the ill-will of the informers by -"thanking God, who had given him not only a judge who could minister, -but also a son who could obey justice." - -Prince Henry had been carefully educated and governed at the University -of Oxford, and was afterwards for some years engaged with his father's -armies in stilling the commotions constantly taking place on the -borders of Wales. He seems to have done well also when first appointed -President of the Council, for again our old chronicler tells us that -the Commons voted him thanks for his good employment of the treasure; -but, unhappily, before his Royal father's death he abandoned himself -to dissolute courses, and made discreditable associates his intimate -companions and friends. - -After his father's death, however, on ascending the throne as Henry -V., he discarded his unworthy followers, and applied himself with both -assiduity and talent to the government of his kingdom. - -We learn from Tressel's continuation of "Daniel's Collection of the -History of England, 1641," that the King, addressing himself to his -former friends, said: - -"It was sufficient that for many years he had fashioned himself -according to their unruly dispositions, and had wandered with them in -a wilderness of riot and unthriftiness; whereby he had made himself -almost an alien to the hearts of his father and allies, and had so -disparaged himself, that in the eyes of mankind his presence was -grown vulgar and stale, and like the cuckoo in June, was heard but not -regarded." The King then proceeds to relate in brief, that when one -of his associates was summoned before the Lord Chief Justice he had -interposed, and had even struck the Judge, and that for this offence he -had deservedly been committed to prison by the Chief Justice. The King -thus terminates his speech: "For which act of justice I shall ever hold -him worthy of the place and of my favour. I wish all my judges to have -the like undaunted courage to punish offenders of what rank soever." - -It is greatly to the honour of Henry V. that the brave and good old -Chief Justice retained his post until age and infirmities compelled him -to relinquish it. - -Sir William Gascoigne appeared in his place in Parliament and sat in -Court in Westminster Hall during the first year of the reign of King -Henry V. But his long and arduous career had aged him before the -allotted threescore years and ten that are given to man, and in 1413 he -quitted public life. - -He did not long survive his retirement, but, after a short illness, -expired within a year of his resignation. - -His funeral was celebrated with the magnificence due to his eminent -dignity, his honourable family, his large fortune, and his exalted fame. - -On a stately monument in Harwood Church, Yorkshire, where he was -interred, he is represented lying at full length, attired in his -judge's robes, with a hood drawn over his head. At his right side is a -long dagger; on the left, a purse fastened to his girdle. One of his -wives lies beside him. There are the remains of an inscription cut in -brass around the edge of the tomb. Unfortunately, during the Civil Wars -much of this brass-work was torn away. - -In the east window of the same church there still remain some portions -of the ancient glass, and in this glass can be traced the figure of a -man arrayed in the scarlet robes of a judge. Both on his right hand and -on his left is the figure of a kneeling woman, and above these three -figures are the arms of the Gascoigne family, and also those of the -Mowbrays and of the Pickerings. - - - - -LORD BURLEIGH. - - -William Cecil, Baron of Burleigh, Burghley, or Burley, for some time -Secretary of State during the reigns of Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth, -and eventually Lord High Treasurer of England, was one of the ablest -statesmen, one of the worthiest ministers that England, or indeed, any -other country, has ever possessed. - -He was born at Bourne, in Lincolnshire, in 1520, and was educated at -the Grammar Schools of Grantham and Stamford. - -He was then sent to St. John's College, Cambridge, where, finding -himself associated with several young men of much talent, he was seized -with such a vehement passion for learning, that it is related of him -that he hired the bell-ringer to call him up every morning at four -o'clock. - -Unfortunately, he applied himself with too much zeal to his studies, -for, by neglecting to take due precautions to keep himself in health, -he brought on a severe illness, of which he was with difficulty cured. - -Amongst other painful disorders, want of exercise caused his legs to -swell to an immense size; and his physicians always declared that this -distressing illness laid the foundation of the severe attacks of gout -from which he suffered greatly during the latter years of his life. - -However, during his youth, no amount of suffering could subdue his -passion for learning. - -He doubtless loved knowledge for the sake of acquiring knowledge; but, -at the same time, it is evident from the notes he made, that a keen -desire to excel all his companions and contemporaries was one of the -chief spurs to his exertions. - -At sixteen he read a "Lecture on Sophistry," and at nineteen he had -written a lecture in Greek, a very remarkable circumstance, even -amongst students at this time, as there were but few men, either at -Cambridge or elsewhere, who were so perfectly masters of Greek that -they could write and deliver a discourse in that language. - -From Cambridge he proceeded to Gray's Inn, where he soon attracted -attention, both by his energy and by the assiduity with which he -applied himself to the intricate study of the law. - -He was happy in the possession of two excellent qualities, qualities -not often found united in the same person, sound judgment, and a -remarkably retentive memory. He strengthened these powers not only by -indefatigable application, but also by his habit of recording with his -pen every incident or remark that appeared to him worthy of notice, -both when reading or from observation. The prodigious number of notes -he has left behind him, testify to the marvellous industry and care -with which he devoted himself to any subject of interest. - -He also seized every opportunity of meeting and conversing with clever -men, delighting much in free disputes upon all sorts of subjects, by -which means he early became an eloquent and a correct speaker. - -He had originally intended to adopt the Law as a profession, but chance -introduced him to the knowledge of, and led to his obtaining the favour -of his Sovereign. - -Happening one day to pay a visit to his father, who was at that time -Master of the Robes to the King, he met there two priests, chaplains -to O'Neill, a famous Irish Chief, who was then at the English Court. -Falling into a violent dispute with them, touching the supremacy of the -Pope, young Cecil displayed so much skill in the argument, which was -carried on in Latin, that the circumstance came to the King's ears. - -Henry, who was one of the most learned princes of the age, and who -delighted in learned people, desired to see the young man who had -evinced such remarkable talent, and was so favourably impressed with -Cecil's good manners and good conversation, that he presently gave him -the reversion of the post of _Custos brevium_. - -This early introduction to Court led to an alteration of plans with -respect to the Law; and as Cecil's marriage, which took place soon -afterwards, with the daughter of Sir John Cheeks, brought him to the -notice of the Duke of Somerset, he resolved to devote himself to the -career that was now open to him. - -The Protector, the Duke of Somerset, took him into great favour, and -soon appointed him Master of Requests, a position of considerable -importance; and in 1547 still further promoted him by advancing him to -the dignity of a Secretary of State. - -As another mark of regard the Protector allowed Cecil to accompany him -to Scotland--a proof of affection that had well-nigh cost the young -statesman his life. At the battle of Musselburgh Cecil must have been -killed in the _mêlée_, had not one of his friends saved him at the -expense of losing his own arm. - -Within a year after the Scottish expedition the Duke of Somerset fell -into disgrace, and Cecil, sharing in the misfortunes of his friend and -patron, was also sent to prison, where he remained three months. On the -accession of Elizabeth, however, he was not only set at liberty, but -he was reinstated in his office of Secretary of State, and in 1561 the -additional appointment of Master of Wards was conferred upon him. - -Notwithstanding all these dignities and emoluments, his life at this -time was a sorely troubled one. Not only did factious opposition -distract both the Government and the Kingdom, but endless conspiracies -were formed that threatened each one of the Ministry. Like the old -fable of the dragon's teeth, no sooner was one plot discovered and -crushed than another arose in its place. - -In Leicester also Cecil had a powerful and formidable rival; but the -favourite, unfortunately for himself, was intemperate in speech, and -rash and violent in action. - -Cecil, on the contrary, was remarkable, not only for the control he -possessed over his temper during political controversies, but also -for the moderation of the opinions he gave to the world. All men also -agreed that he was eminently just. - -The Queen, therefore, was far too clear-sighted not to perceive how -valuable a minister, how judicious a counsellor she had in Cecil. -The Queen also saw plainly that Cecil's interests were intimately -interwoven with her own; and this wise Sovereign perfectly understood -that he was fitted to be her adviser and her minister whose personal -welfare, and indeed safety, depended upon the _success_ of the counsels -that he gave. - -Thus, amidst all the political storms and tempests that convulsed these -troubled times, Cecil, by his skill and prudence, steered both himself -and his Royal Mistress safely through the rocks and shoals by which -they were surrounded. Others rose and fell, but Cecil ever maintained -his position, and year by year gained fresh honours. - -In 1571 he was raised to the Peerage by the title of Baron Burleigh. -He was soon afterwards appointed Lord High Treasurer, and the great -distinction of the Garter was bestowed upon him. - -But while his public life was thus brilliant, his heart was bowed down -by domestic affliction. His first wife had lived but a few years, and -after her death he married Mildred, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke and -elder sister of Anne Cooke, afterwards Lady Bacon. - -These sisters were remarkable for their beauty, their accomplishments, -and their learning. They were well skilled in music, could converse -in many foreign tongues, and in their knowledge of Latin and Greek -were equal to some of the most famous scholars of the day. Both these -fair and charming women not only obtained but succeeded in keeping the -strong love of their husbands. - -After a married life of forty-three years, the loss of the wife he had -so fondly loved rendered Lord Burleigh a broken-hearted man. His health -gave way under the excess of his affliction, and, for the first time -during his long and arduous career, he felt himself unable to perform -the duties of his office. - -He became changed in many ways. The brightness and cheerfulness of his -temper left him. He grew silent and melancholy, and from the sad hour -when she, who had been the angel in his house, was taken from him, he -never regained that sunny hopefulness of disposition that in happier -days had been one of his peculiar characteristics. - -He entreated the Queen to allow him to resign, for he desired now to -spend the remainder of his days in quiet and retirement; but Elizabeth, -well aware that his abilities were as brilliant as ever, was unwilling -to part with her most trusted counsellor. - -He yielded to the Royal command, and from this time laboured if -possible more assiduously than ever, giving himself neither rest nor -relaxation. Notwithstanding such prodigious exertions, and the acute -sufferings he endured from attacks of gout, his life was prolonged -beyond the usual age of man. - -His last memorable public act was endeavouring to give peace to his -country, when reasonable terms might have been obtained from Spain. - -These terms, though considered reasonable by Burleigh, were violently -opposed by the Earl of Essex; who, having gained some reputation by the -sword, was unwilling to favour peace. - -He, in fact, expressed himself in such passionate language, that -the Lord Treasurer, after listening for a considerable time in calm -silence, was at length moved to say, "that the noble Lord seemed intent -on nothing but blood and slaughter." - -Then he pulled out a prayer-book, and with a dignity befitting his age -and experience, and with an earnestness that deeply impressed those -around, he pointed to the following words: "Men of blood shall not live -out half their days." This was his last appearance in public. - -Never again did Lord Burleigh attend either Council or Parliament, -but even when confined to his bed during the last trying and suffering -illness, he prepared and settled a new treaty between the Queen and the -States, whereby this nation was relieved of an expense of one hundred -and twenty thousand pounds per annum. - -Then, having filled the highest and most important offices of State, in -the seventy-eighth year of his age, calmly and peacefully, about five -o'clock in the morning of the 4th of August, 1598, surrounded by his -children and grandchildren, his dearest friends, and by many old and -faithful servants, he passed away from this life, full of years, rich -in honours, at peace with all men, and humbly trusting by the mercy of -his God, he should again see her whom he had so passionately loved. - -The history of Burleigh's life is the history of England during one of -the most anxious and troubled, but also one of the most memorable and -glorious periods this country has ever known. - -For forty years this great statesman guided the helm of Government, and -although the Queen from time to time allowed others to have influence -with her, yet whenever difficulties arose or matters occurred of more -than ordinary moment, it was in her long-tried and faithful Minister -that Elizabeth invariably confided. - -The moderate views, the calm foresight and wisdom of this consummate -politician, caused him not only to be regretted after his death, but to -be valued during his life, a good fortune that but rarely falls to the -lot of even the most celebrated political leaders. - -Burleigh deserved, and he obtained, the esteem and respect both of -his Sovereign and of her people, and from the beginning to the end of -his glorious career, however much men may have differed from him in -opinion, they ever acknowledged his honesty of purpose, his hearty love -for his country, and his earnest desire to increase both her prosperity -and her renown. - -At this distance of time, when subsequent events have shown the fallacy -of most of the hopes and fears that then influenced mankind, many may -see reason to disapprove of his policy; but it must be remembered that -in the sixteenth century swords were more readily drawn than they now -are. Measures that to-day seem needlessly harsh, were often forced upon -statesmen of that period by the fears and also suspicions of their own -partisans. - -Not only was Burleigh gifted with talents beyond the ordinary -endowments of men, but in all outward seeming Nature had been lavish in -her kindly gifts to him. Well-shaped, handsome, and graceful in person, -he also possessed in no common degree that winning charm of manner that -not only gains the affection of friends, but which also adds such -especial happiness to the intercourse of domestic life. - -His mode of living was such as became a man of high rank, entertaining -with magnificent hospitality all those who, from rank, merit, and -talent, were entitled to his acquaintance. To every one who came to his -house he was courteous and cheerful, for he held that a host should -not, by silent or reserved behaviour, mar the enjoyment of his guests. - -Whenever he could obtain a little relaxation from the press of public -business, he would hasten to the country, for his great delight was to -improve and beautify both his family seat at Burleigh and his house -and gardens at Theobalds; but above all he loved Theobalds, and, as -he expresses it, always fled there whenever it was possible to bury -himself in its delightful privacy. - -Lord Burleigh had also two other places of residence--his lodgings at -Court, and his house on the Strand. In his house in London he had -fifty persons of his family, and his expenses there, he writes to -a friend, were thirty pounds a week when absent, and between forty -and fifty when present. At Theobalds he had thirty persons of his -household. Besides the sum he gave away in charity, he directed that -ten pounds a week were always to be laid out in keeping the "poor" at -work in his gardens. His stables cost him about a thousand marks a year. - -In his service, or, rather, in his household, he had ever young men of -much distinction, they deeming it an honour to serve him. - -Besides his customary hospitality, he several times entertained the -Queen sumptuously, and at an expense of many thousand pounds. - -He built three fine houses--one in London, on the Strand, another at -Theobalds, and a third at Burleigh. All these houses were, though -large and grand, still more remarkable from their neatness and general -convenience. - -Though thus spending both liberally and magnificently, Burleigh was -ever prudent and careful. He took good heed as to how his money went. -He kept rigid accounts, and attended carefully, even minutely, to all -domestic matters. - -Writing to a friend respecting household arrangements, he says: - -"My house of Burghley is of my mother's inheritance, who liveth and is -the owner thereof. I am but a farmer; yet, when I am in the country, I -must buy my grain, my beef, my mutton; and, for my stable, I buy my hay -for the greatest part, my oats and my straw totally." - -When in the country he loved to walk about and talk to the country -folk, and would often stop to soothe little children in their troubles, -or watch them in their play, so gentle was his temper, so abundant was -his good-nature. - -At his death, notwithstanding his liberal and magnificent expenditure, -and though he was so little avaricious that he made less during his -forty years of office than most men at that period would have made in -seven, so prudently had he managed his affairs, that he left about -£4,000 a year in land, £11,000 in money, and about £14,000 in valuable -effects. - - - - -SIR EDWARD COKE. - - -Although Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during -the reign of James I., was not a member of the Ancient and Honourable -Society of Gray's Inn, yet, as his portrait hangs in the Great Hall, -and as he occupied himself much in the affairs of this Inn of Court, a -few words respecting this eminent lawyer may not be misplaced here. - -There has probably never been a more consummate master of his -profession than Sir Edward Coke. His interest in it amounted to -enthusiasm. He loved to grapple with every legal difficulty, and -brought to bear upon all its intricate technicalities a dispassionate -calmness that unfortunately failed him in the ordinary affairs of life. -For this reason he was even a greater man during the periods of his -disgrace than when most triumphant. - -During these seasons of enforced retirement he could devote himself to -a subject that he loved, and with which he was thoroughly conversant, -whereas the too great energy of his character, whilst in the enjoyment -of successful power, led to his giving way to intemperate violence both -of expression and action. - -Like most distinguished lawyers, success came to him early in life. One -of his first cases was a remarkable one, and brought him much credit. - -Mr. Edward Denny was Vicar of Northlinham in Norfolk, and the then -Lord Cromwell, who lived in the neighbourhood, procured two persons to -preach several sermons in Mr. Denny's church. - -Both these persons took the opportunity thus afforded them of -inveighing against the Book of Common Prayer, styling it superstitious -and impious. - -For this reason, the Vicar, having learnt they had no license, when one -of them came next to preach would have prevented him, but the man being -protected by Lord Cromwell insisted on preaching, and did preach. - -This proceeding caused warm words to pass between Lord Cromwell and the -Vicar, the former saying: - -"Thou art a false varlet, and I like not of thee." - -To which the latter replied: - -"It is no marvel that you like not of me, as you like those others" -(meaning the preachers) "that maintain sedition against the Queen's -proceedings." - -Upon this Lord Cromwell brought an action against the Vicar, _de -scandalis magnatum_. The defendant justified, thereupon the plaintiff -demurred, and the bar was held insufficient; but upon a motion in -arrest of judgment, that the declaration was insufficient, the Court -gave judgment for the defendant. - -Lord Cromwell then brought another action, and so the matter went on -for years until Coke became engaged in the case, and he so skilfully -seized the opportunity of managing and reporting it that his name was -at once brought favourably before the public. - -His marriage with Bridgett, daughter and co-heiress of John Paxton, -Esq., a lady, with whom he had £35,000, and who was allied to some -of the most powerful families in the kingdom, doubtless aided him in -his career, although in after life he was wont to boast that he had -triumphed neither by "pen nor purse," signifying thereby that he had -never craved any man's help, nor had he ever opened his purse to buy -any place. - -His perfect knowledge of the laws of England, and his wonderful memory -in recalling every technical circumstance bearing on or connected with -those laws, was something marvellous. For this reason his judgments on -all legal points have ever been held to be of exceeding value. - -Unhappily in criminal trials his warmth of temper and his violence of -language tended much to injure his reputation and to lessen him in -the opinion of the world. Still, in spite of these great defects, his -unequalled talents forced men to yield to his judgment, and however -much they might condemn him they bowed to his will. - -A notable instance of this occurred during the famous trial of Sir -Walter Raleigh. - -Sir Edward Coke, who was then Attorney-General, conducted the case on -behalf of the Crown, and expressed himself with such energy against the -prisoner, that Lord Cecil at length interfered and desired him to be -more patient. - -Much offended, Coke at once sat down, and preserved an angry silence. -At length the Commissioners were compelled to entreat him to continue -his address. For some time he refused; then suddenly rising, with a -power and skill that electrified all present, he recapitulated the -charges. So powerful were his words, so lucid were his arguments, that -it was evident from that moment that the prisoner's doom was sealed. - -The scene that day in the Court at Winchester, where the trial took -place, must have been alike impressive and sorrowful. - -The handsome, gallant Sir Walter Raleigh, the quondam favourite of the -Queen, for years the popular hero of the nation, now worn and bent by -age and many troubles, is standing at the bar, to be tried for his -life, accused of treason against his Sovereign and against his country. - -Brave he has ever been, brave he is now, and the noble face, though -pale and haggard, is stern and composed. Unmoved in look or action, he -listens attentively to the words of one who is urging the Judges, with -all the might of burning eloquence, to pronounce him worthy of death. - -Perchance for one moment a gleam of hope may have entered the -prisoner's breast when he heard Lord Cecil speak, but if so, it must -have been speedily dispelled when the Attorney-General addressed the -Court. - -Spare in form, exquisitely neat in dress, passionate in action and -emphasis, the fiery and searching eye of the great lawyer seems to scan -alike the thoughts as well as the faces of those on whom he looks. And -his voice, deep yet penetrating, has a ring that stirs men's hearts, -and brings conviction in its very accents. - -With terrible minuteness, and with crushing legal skill, he states -every circumstance that can tell against the accused, and each -powerfully-worded sentence that fell from the lips of the Counsel for -the Crown must, to the friends of the unhappy man, have been as another -nail driven into the coffin that awaited him. - -Long ere that famous speech was ended, hope and suspense must have been -over for the prisoner. The evidence against him had been slender, but -Coke's eloquence prevailed. Sir Walter was found guilty, and condemned -to death. - -For a month he lay in prison, daily expecting his execution. Then he -was reprieved, and sent to the Tower, where he remained a prisoner for -sixteen long years. - -After his release, he organised an expedition to Guiana, but, failing -in this, he returned to England, where he was soon after seized, -imprisoned, and beheaded, not for any fresh crime or misdemeanour, but -solely on the strength of his former trial and condemnation nineteen -years previously. He was executed in Old Palace Yard, 1618, and died, -as he had lived, a brave and resolute man. - -Coke's speech on this occasion, and also another made at the trial of -Sir Everard Digby, are masterpieces of skill and intelligence; but, -although such brilliant displays of eloquence and learning increased -his reputation as a lawyer, or rather as an orator, it was felt by the -world in general that he had permitted himself a license of expression -not seemly in one who held so high and responsible a position. - -These speeches, nevertheless, led to his promotion, for soon afterwards -he was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. - -This place fulfilled all his ambition, and here he would have willingly -remained, but his bitter tongue, his caustic remarks, his intolerance -of the least opposition, made him many enemies, many detractors. - -His foes calculated that were he placed in a position of greater power, -and therefore of greater prominence, his many faults of temper would, -notwithstanding his profound legal knowledge, speedily lead to his -downfall. - -They suggested, therefore, that his talents merited a higher post, and -after a time they succeeded in having him raised to the more elevated, -but, in those days, perilous position of Chief Justice of the King's -Bench, or as he styled himself, Chief Justice of England. - -They calculated, and the result showed they were correct, that -on account of the class of cases ordinarily brought within the -jurisdiction of the King's Bench, the Chief Justice would ere long find -himself at antagonism with the Court. - -The annals of the Law Courts at this period of English history are -terrible to read. It is frightful to see on what slight grounds men -were accused, tried, convicted, and executed for treason. - -Verily, in those days our laws appeared to have been written in blood; -but, notwithstanding their severity, it was for having shown too great -_leniency_ in an affair that occurred about two years after he was made -Chief Justice that Sir Edward lost the King's favour. - -This extraordinary and dreadful business was the discovery that Sir -Thomas Overbury had been murdered in the Tower, and as light was -gradually thrown on this dark matter, it became more and more evident -that great and powerful personages were deeply implicated, not only -in the foul murder, but also in other crimes of the most heinous and -disgraceful description. - -In tracing and detecting the secrets of this black business, Lord Chief -Justice Coke showed so much zeal and diligence that he succeeded in -having apprehended and brought to justice some of the (apparently) -principal culprits, in spite, not only of the attempts that were -first made to enable them to escape, but of the influence that was -afterwards employed to stay their execution. - -Richard Weston, who had been Overbury's keeper in the Tower, was early -brought to trial. At first he seemed resolved to be silent on every -subject, induced thereto, it is said, by an immense bribe from the Earl -of Somerset, but at length he was prevailed on to plead. - -Poor wretch, the "persuasions" to which he yielded were the thumbscrew -and the rack, but no sooner did he plead than he was speedily convicted -and executed. Even at the foot of the gallows the miserable creature -was not left in peace. Lord Clare, Sir John Wentworth, and Mr. Lumsden -(friends of Somerset) attended him to the scaffold, and vehemently -urged him to declare, in these his last moments, that a conspiracy had -been concocted against Somerset. - -So evident was it that Overbury's murder concealed even darker secrets, -and that these secrets implicated powerful and therefore formidable -personages, that Sir Edward, with his keen legal foresight, early -foresaw peril. So imminent, indeed, did he consider the danger, that -he went to the King at Royston to beg His Majesty would appoint a -commission to assist him during the necessary investigations, and thus -in some degree enable him to share the onus with others. - -It has been hinted by some historians that the King knew more about -this hateful matter than he cared to acknowledge. - -James I. was a shrewd and prudent man; he was timid also, and ever -shrank from allowing his name to be involved in any way with affairs -that would be distasteful to, or unpopular amongst, his newly-acquired -people. His shrewdness and his fears, however, led in several instances -to his acting in both a cowardly and a treacherous manner. - -In this case, whatever may have been the knowledge the King possessed, -he skilfully concealed his suspicions from the chief person implicated. -When informed of Overbury's murder, without a moment's delay he -despatched a messenger to the Chief Justice, desiring him to arrest -Lord Somerset. - -Sir Edward Coke at that time lived in the Temple, and so methodically -did he measure out his time, that every hour had its appointed usage. -One of his rules was to go to bed at nine of the clock, and to rise at -three in the morning. - -The Royal messenger arrived at the Temple about 1 a.m., and at once -proceeded to Sir Edward's lodging. Sir Edward's son was there, and also -some friends, but the Chief Justice was in bed. - -Mr. Coke therefore received the messenger, who said: - -"I come, sir, from His Majesty the King, and must have instant speech -with your father." - -"Though you come from the King," said Mr. Coke, "you cannot and shall -not see my father, for if he be disturbed in his sleep he will not -be fit for any business; but if you will do as we do, you shall be -welcome. In two hours my father will rise, and you can then do as you -please." - -To this proposal the messenger was compelled to assent, so he waited. - -At three o'clock, Sir Edward rang a little bell to give notice to his -servant to come to him. - -The Royal messenger then entered, and gave the King's letter to -the Chief Justice, who at once made out the warrant for Somerset's -apprehension. - -The messenger went post-haste back to Royston with the warrant, and on -being introduced into the Royal presence, found the King sitting with -his arm round the favourite's neck. - -When the officer with the fatal document entered the room, James was -saying to the man whom he himself was causing to be arrested on a -charge of murder: "When shall I see thee again?" the favourite being -on the eve of his departure for London. - -Somerset, when arrested by Sir Edward's warrant, exclaimed indignantly -at the affront thus offered to a peer of the realm, even in the -presence of the King's Majesty. In his anger he appealed to James. - -"Nay, man," said the King, "if Coke sends for _me_, I must go." - -No sooner, however, was Somerset out of the room, than his wily master -added: - -"Now the de'il go with thee, man, for I will never see thy face any -more." - -It is difficult to understand what was really the King's belief, or -what were really the King's motives, on this occasion. - -To some persons he asserted that he did not believe Somerset had -anything to do with the actual murder. Yet it was he who caused his -favourite to be arrested; and when that arrest had been made and the -Chief Justice had arrived at Royston, the King spoke with exceeding -angry energy, charging Sir Edward to prosecute the affair with the -utmost diligence. - -He was to search into the very bottom of the conspiracy, and to spare -no man, however great he might be; the King concluding his adjuration -thus: - -"God's curse be upon you and yours if _you_ spare any of them, and -God's curse be upon _me_ and mine, if _I_ spare any one of them." - -Not only the Earl of Somerset, but his wife, the young and beautiful -Countess of Somerset, was also arrested as being implicated in the -crime; and whilst their trials were in course of preparation, many -other persons of inferior rank were tried, condemned, and executed. - -On the 7th November, Mrs. Anne Turner, who had been about Lady Somerset -from her childhood, was tried, convicted, and hanged. - -On the 16th of the same month, Sir George Ellways, Lieutenant of the -Tower, was also convicted, and was hanged on Tower Hill on the 20th. - -A week later, namely, on the 27th, James Franklin was tried, convicted, -and, a few days afterwards, hanged. - -It might have been supposed that so many trials and executions showed -no want of zeal on the part of the Chief Justice and the other -Commissioners. Yet notwithstanding so sanguinary a list, Sir Edward -fell into disfavour for not hunting down and giving over to the gibbet -more of these miserable victims--victims who in all probability had -been but the creatures and tools of those who were far more deeply -implicated, and far more deeply culpable. - -It has been supposed that the friends of Somerset trusted that the -nation would at length weary of so much bloodshed, and that time and -political events would cause the recollection of one black crime to -fade away. - -At any rate, the delays which were for ever arising before Lord and -Lady Somerset could be brought to trial, were mainly attributed to the -unwillingness of many great personages (if not actually the Court) to -have certain secret transactions disclosed. - -At length, however, the trial took place, Lord Chancellor Ellesmere -sitting as High Steward. - -The King's instructions were produced to the Commissioners, by which -they were directed to try, first: - -"Whether there were good grounds to believe the Lord and Lady guilty, -and if not, they were then to inquire after the authors of the -conspiracy." - -The same instructions were afterwards produced to the Lords, both as -evidence of the King's care and impartiality, and also as proof of the -Commissioners' diligence in this business. - -Lady Somerset, who was tried first, gave her judges but little trouble. -Great as had been her position, brilliant as were her surroundings, to -this young and beautiful, but most erring and passionate woman, life -had early lost its charms. She was sated both with its pleasures and -its crimes, and when placed on her trial at once pleaded guilty. - -The next day, May 25th, her husband, Lord Somerset, was placed at the -bar, and after a trial that lasted twelve hours, his peers pronounced -the verdict of guilty. - -The Lord Chief Justice considered himself entitled to, and, indeed, -gained much credit from the nation generally, for the zeal and -acuteness he had displayed throughout the whole progress of this -terrible and mysterious affair; but though the King had expressed -himself with such vehemence when commanding the matter should be -thoroughly sifted, from the period of this trial Sir Edward fell into -disfavour, both with His Majesty and with all the Royal favourites. - -From this moment they, one after another, endeavoured to accomplish his -ruin. They seized every opportunity of misrepresenting his conduct to -the King, and as, unfortunately for the Chief Justice, serious disputes -had arisen both in the Court of Chancery and in the Court of King's -Bench, the proceedings of Coke were impugned on all sides. - -His arrogant temper, his haughty manner of speech, the intolerance he -displayed to all who might presume to differ from him, made him many -personal enemies, and created around him a very army of foes. - -The very fact, also, of his being so able a lawyer, so consummate a -master of his profession, did but increase the rancour of those whom he -had so haughtily rebuffed. - -In all such encounters he almost invariably proved he was right both -in law and in fact, and then the bitter words of his scorn stung the -vanquished like a whip of scorpions. - -There were very few persons, therefore, who would not rejoice in -his humiliation and his fall; but amongst his many opponents, the -most inveterate, the most powerful, and the most rancorous, was Lord -Villiers, afterwards Duke of Buckingham. - -Sir Edward had opposed with no small decision some matter that -concerned the favourite's imperious will and pleasure, and Villiers -exerted to the utmost his powerful influence to ruin the Chief Justice. - -These intrigues resulted in Coke's being suspended from his office on -June 30th, 1616. Sir Randolph Carew was commissioned to go Circuit, and -in the following November, Sir Henry Mountague received the appointment -of Lord Chief Justice. - -It was during this enforced retirement from Court and public life, -that Sir Edward Coke's higher qualities exhibited themselves in their -most favourable light, and he showed the world with what calmness and -courage he could support adversity. - -The dignity that his vehemence had so often endangered during the days -of his prosperity, now in the hours of adversity never failed him; and -however bitter and undeserved the attacks made upon him, he either -passed them over without notice, or replied to them in words of calm -moderation. - -His many legal works, his many letters to friends at this period, -indicate with what resignation, nay, even with what content, he bore -the loss of the power that had been so dear to him. Both his actions -and his words testify how cheerfully he contemplated the end of all his -ambitious projects, and looked forward to a life of complete retirement. - -But so admirable a lawyer, so able a judge, was not destined to be -long unemployed. - -After his disgrace, men of far inferior talent had been placed in high -stations; but ere much time had elapsed it soon became evident that the -new Ministers and judges were unfit for the places to which they had -been appointed. - -When the ship is in danger or in a difficult position, the best pilot, -however disagreeable he may be, must be called to the helm; and thus -even those who had been most active in bringing about Sir Edward's -fall, found it to their own interest to smooth the way towards his -restoration to the King's favour. - -For some time there had been serious differences amongst the Ministers, -and at length the quarrel between the Lord Keeper Bacon and Mr. -Secretary Winwood rose to such a pitch that they refused to sit in -Council together. - -It was at this juncture that the aid of so talented a man as the late -Chief Justice was imperatively needed. - -Unhappily, Coke was not content to let matters take their course, -and to remain quietly on the pedestal he had so deservedly gained -for himself, namely, to rest on his great reputation of being the -soundest and most skilful lawyer in the United Kingdom. He thought to -strengthen his position by an alliance with the family of the still -powerful favourite, the Earl, afterwards the Duke of Buckingham, the -famous "Steenie." For this purpose he negotiated a marriage between -his youngest daughter by his second wife, Lady Hatton, and Sir John -Villiers, the Earl's eldest brother. - -Lady Hatton, a proud, violent woman, who was incessantly insulting and -quarrelling with her husband, professed the greatest indignation that -their daughter should be disposed of in marriage without her (Lady -Hatton's) will and pleasure having been consulted in the matter. She -forthwith, therefore, carried off the young lady, and shut her up in -Sir Edmund Withipole's house, near Oatlands. - -Sir Edward Coke, highly incensed that his authority should be thus -set at naught, wrote to Lord Buckingham, requesting him to procure -immediately, from the Privy Council, a warrant that would enable him to -regain possession of his daughter. Unfortunately, before the warrant -could be conveyed to him, he had learnt where Miss Coke was, and, with -his usual impetuosity, without waiting for legal powers, he and his -sons proceeded to Sir Edmund Withipole's house and took the young lady -away from thence by force. - -Upon this imprudent action, Lady Hatton, who, by her letters, appears -to have been beside herself, so frenzied was she by rage, not only -appealed to the Privy Council, but, by her personal entreaties, gained -over the Lord Keeper Bacon to her side, he, probably, being nothing -loth to have again an opportunity of attacking his old enemy. - -Buckingham, however, was not a man to brook contradiction, and -both he and his mother, Lady Compton, treated the Lord Keeper with -extraordinary rudeness. Bitterly angry, the latter appealed to the Star -Chamber, and also filed an information against Sir Edward Coke. - -Thus this foolish marriage became a State business, and for many months -the war of words and of law processes raged with exceeding fury. As -might have been expected, the favourite eventually had his way, and, -somehow or other, the two ladies who had been foremost in the fight. -Lady Hatton and Lady Compton, came at length to a good understanding. - -The marriage, therefore, was arranged. Sir Edward Coke was admitted to -the presence of the King, and made a member of the Privy Council. - -On the Michaelmas Day following, Sir John Villiers was married to Mrs. -Frances Coke at Hampton Court, with all imaginable splendour. - -Sir Edward's plans had succeeded. He had been restored to the King's -favour, he had married his daughter to the brother of the Royal -favourite; but he paid dearly for these triumphs. Not only had he to -bestow on his daughter the sum of £10,000, to be paid down in money on -the day of the marriage, but he had to assure to Sir John Villiers a -rent charge of 2,000 marks per annum during his (Sir Edward's) life, -and another one of £900 during Lady Hatton's life. - -He engaged, also, to settle the manor of Stoke, in Buckinghamshire, a -property he had destined for his other two daughters, on Sir John and -Lady Villiers and their heirs. - -Lady Hatton also had from her private fortune, which was considerable, -to make large settlements upon her daughter. - -Lady Hatton, who, by her own showing, must have been an intolerable -woman, self-willed, passionate, and overbearing, had by this time -become reconciled to her son-in-law and his friends; but she still -pursued her quarrel with her husband with unrelenting acrimony. - -Many letters still in existence testify to the heat and resentment of -both parties. At length the dispute became quite a public matter, many -persons of consideration interesting themselves keenly on one side or -the other. - -So fiercely did the warfare rage between all the partisans, that at one -time Lord Houghton (formerly Sir John Hollis) was committed to prison -for having, in conjunction with Lady Hatton, framed some scandalous -libels respecting Sir Edward Coke. - -This most disagreeable and trying wife seems to have lost no -opportunity of insulting her husband both by word and deed. One of her -means of annoyance was to give costly entertainments to the King, the -Duke of Buckingham, and the whole Court, ostentatiously omitting her -husband. - -Not only was happiness far from this divided and discordant household, -but the fluctuations in Sir Edward's fortunes were frequent. - -During the early session of 1621, important matters occupied the -attention of the House of Commons; liberty of speech, the increase of -Popery, and many popular grievances were eagerly debated. - -Sir Edward spoke strongly and warmly on all these questions, and his -speeches are much commended by Camden. However, his views were not -those either of the Court, nor of the favourite, and were indeed so -ill received by the Government, that at the end of the year Coke was -committed to the Tower; his chambers in the Temple were broken open, -and his papers were delivered to Sir Robert Cotton and Mr. Wilson for -examination. - -Soon after his committal, Sir Edward was charged with having concealed -circumstances relating to the trial of the Earl of Somerset. - -Notwithstanding the assertions of his enemies, nothing could be proved -against him, so after a short imprisonment he was released from the -Tower. He regained his liberty, but at the same time he was made to -understand that he had signally incurred the Royal displeasure. He was -turned out of the Privy Council, the King observing: - -"That Sir Edward was the fittest instrument for a tyrant that ever was -in England." - -Posterity does not endorse this opinion, because His Majesty's -indignant remark was called forth by Coke's having _resisted_ an undue -exercise of the Royal prerogative. - -He was never again reconciled to the Court during the life of King -James, and even when Charles I. came to the throne, efforts were made -to keep him out of Parliament by pricking him for Sheriff. - -Sir Edward objected, and successfully, that it would not be seemly -in one who had held the great office of Chief Justice of England, to -attend the judges at the Assizes. - -He was subsequently elected Knight of the Shire for Bucks, and during -the sessions of 1628, distinguished himself more than any other man in -Parliament, by his bold and skilful arguments in defence of the liberty -of the subject, by the energy with which he urged upon the Government -the necessity that existed for the redress of many grievances, and by -the strenuous support he gave towards maintaining the privileges of -the House of Commons. - -It was during this same Parliament that he did the greatest service to -his country that was, perhaps, ever done by a private man. - -He it was who proposed and framed the "Petition of Rights," and it -was Sir Edward Coke also, who successfully vindicated the right of -the House of Commons to proceed against any subject whatever, however -exalted the position of that subject might be. - -After the dissolution of this Parliament in 1629, Sir Edward retired to -his country house at Stoke-Pogis, Buckinghamshire, and there he spent -the remainder of his days. - -Though his life was prolonged to the great age of eighty-six, he -retained his marvellous memory to the last. Were a passage quoted from -any of his favourite authors, he would remember and mention, not only -the context, but often the page in which the words would be found, and -on all legal matters he would bring forward the papers he had written -on the subjects in question. - -His industry in committing to writing everything that interested him -was beyond example, and posterity will never cease to admire his -learned and laborious works on the laws of this country. - -He also wrote some religious pamphlets, for he loved much to study the -great doctrines of Christianity. He especially delighted to dwell on -the sublime teachings of Our Lord, and during his last years, when the -interests of this life, with all its pains and pleasures, were rapidly -fading away, he, like Cardinal Wolsey, frequently lamented that he had -not studied Divine laws with the same care and earnestness that he had -devoted to the consideration and thorough understanding of temporal -laws. - -Our Saviour's own prayer was the one he best loved, and the last faint -words that were feebly murmured by his dying lips were: - -"Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done." - - -Sir Edward died September 3rd, 1634, in the eighty-sixth year of his -age. - -He left behind him a vast mass of manuscripts and writings of all -sorts, amongst them his will, in which he disposed of his very large -fortune in the manner he judged best, between his children and his -descendants. - -On the very day of his death his papers were seized and carried away by -an order from the Privy Council. Amongst other valuable documents was -this will, and it is a remarkable fact, as connected with the wills -of great lawyers, that this will of Sir Edward Coke's was never again -found, to the great prejudice and detriment of his family and heirs. - - - - -OTHER EMINENT LAWYERS. - - -In the long list of eminent lawyers who were members of Gray's Inn, are -to be found the names of three of the Yelverton family: Sir William -Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench in 1443; Sir Christopher -Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench in 1602; and also his son, Sir -Henry Yelverton, Justice of the Common Pleas in 1625. - -Emblazoned on the glass of the great window in the Hall are the arms -of Guido Fairfax, called Serjeant from Gray's Inn in 1463. Also those -of John Ernelye, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1519; of Sir -Anthony de Fitzherbert, Justice of the Common Pleas in 1522; with those -of Lord Riche, whose son Robert, also a member of Gray's Inn, was, in -1618, created Earl of Warwick; of Justice Stamford, Justice of Common -Pleas in 1554, and of Dr. Thomas Wilson, Secretary to Queen Elizabeth -in 1577, and who ultimately succeeded Sir Thomas Smith as Secretary of -State. - -Amongst the most ancient escutcheons on the walls are those of Sir -William Gascoigne, Sir John Markham, Chief Justice of the King's Bench -in 1400 and 1462, Lord Burghley, Sir Nicholas and Sir Francis Bacon, -Thomas Moyle, Reader of the Society in 1534, and in 1542 Speaker of the -House of Commons, Thomas Cromwell, afterwards Earl of Essex, of Henry -Cromwell, the second son of the Protector, and of Sir John Holt, Chief -Justice of the King's Bench in 1689. - -The following sketch of Lord Chief Justice Holt is given in the -fourteenth number of the _Tatler_: - -"He was a man of profound knowledge of the laws of his country, and -as just an observer of them in his own person. He considered justice -as a cardinal virtue, not as a trade for maintenance. Wherever he was -judge, he never forgot that he was also counsel. The criminal before -him was always sure he stood before his country, and, in a sort, before -a parent of it. The prisoner knew that though his spirit was broken -with guilt, and incapable of language to defend itself, all would be -gathered from him which could conduce to his safety, and that his judge -would wrest no law to destroy him, nor conceal any that could save him." - -Sir John Fortescue, of whom mention has been made (an ancestor of the -present Lord Fortescue), was Lord High Chancellor of England under -Henry VI. - -In 1430 he was made Serjeant-at-Law, in 1441, King's Serjeant. The -following year he became Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and -soon afterwards was raised to the dignity of Lord High Chancellor. - -But he lost all on the deposition of the King. He was ever faithful to -his old master, and for many years, therefore, remained in exile with -Queen Margaret, and her son, Prince Edward. - -When the Queen and the Prince returned to England, Sir John Fortescue -accompanied them, but soon after the decisive battle of Tewkesbury, he -was thrown into prison and attainted with other Lancastrians. - -He was, however, subsequently pardoned by Edward IV. - -Sir John, who was a man of great learning and a sound lawyer, wrote -many valuable legal works. One of these, entitled, "The Difference -between an Absolute and a Limited Monarchy as it more particularly -regards the English Constitution," has passed through many editions. - -The last of these editions, with amendments, was published as late as -1719. - -Another of Sir John's works is "A Commentary on the Politic Laws of -England." - -He also wrote many other works, some of which are still in manuscript. -It is in these papers that he describes the customs and practices of -the Inns of Court. - - - - -STEPHEN GARDINER. - - -Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England in the -sixteenth century, was an able lawyer, a learned divine, and a shrewd -statesman. - -Few men have risen higher by mere force of ability, few men have -suffered greater changes of fortune, few have been more magnified and -commended, and few more insidiously disparaged and outrageously treated -than this famous Prelate, not only during his lifetime, but also after -his decease. - -The accounts given of him by contemporary historians are so confused -and contradictory, that it is difficult to arrive at any just -conclusion with regard either to Gardiner's character and disposition, -or to fathom his motives as a churchman, or his measures as a statesman. - -Some writers, amongst others, Hall and Fox, describe him as a very -"devil incarnate," of a most fierce and sanguinary disposition, -delighting in bloodshed. They declare also that he was the principal -inciter to all the cruelties practised during the reign of Queen Mary. - -Others again, according to Pitt and Persons, assert that the Bishop of -Winchester was a very "angel of light," being of a singularly mild and -compassionate nature, and so tender was his heart that it was through -his influence and exertions that so many Protestants escaped death. - -All agree, however, that this celebrated man had great abilities, much -learning, and also an amount of general knowledge considerably in -advance of the age. He had, however, many failings, and some vices, -and either the natural bent of his mind, or the dangerous condition of -his position, induced him to adopt a policy so tortuous, that even now -it is difficult to trace the motives of some of the wisest and best, -as well as those of some of his most injudicious and apparently cruel -actions. - -He was born at Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk, but the year of his birth -as well as his parentage he ever held secret. Some believe his parents -were very obscure persons; but Dugdale, a great authority in such -matters, asserts that he was the illegitimate son of a prelate nobly -descended and royally allied--namely, of Dr. Lionel Woodville, Bishop -of Salisbury, and brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, consort of King -Edward IV. Certain it is that for many years neither he nor his brother -bishop, Bonner, born under the same circumstances, ever used the -surnames by which they were afterwards known. One called himself Dr. -Stephens, the other Dr. Edmunds, until Gardiner, on obtaining place, -assumed the surname he has made so celebrated. - -At Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he completed his education, Gardiner -was early distinguished for his talents and his quick parts, especially -for his extraordinary skill in Greek, and for the grace with which he -spoke and wrote Latin. In process of time he applied himself to the -study of Civil and Common Law, and his reputation both as a scholar and -a lawyer speedily made him known to some of the famous men of that age. - -He was first taken under the protection of a generous and powerful -patron, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, but soon afterwards was brought to the -notice, and then received into the household of Cardinal Wolsey, as -secretary to that great statesman, then in the zenith of his power. He -was thus early initiated into the skilful yet dread policy that for so -long a period made the powerful Cardinal the _de facto_ ruler of this -country. - -A mere accident gained for Gardiner the favour of the King. Wolsey and -the Emperor of Austria had been at one time such intimate friends that -the latter, when writing (which he did frequently) to the Cardinal, -always signed his letters with his own hand, subscribing himself, "Your -son and cousin, Charles." - -After the battle of Pavia, when the French King was taken prisoner, -Wolsey unexpectedly changed sides, and from being a friend of the -Emperor's, became a strong partisan of France's. This sudden change -of sentiment may possibly have arisen from compassion, but Guiscard -suggests another and less worthy motive. - -Some months previously, and for some unexplained reason, the Emperor -had ceased to write personally to the Cardinal, and only communicated -with him through his secretary in the same manner as he did with other -persons. According to Guiscard, Wolsey deeply resented this change and -lapse of friendship, hence, therefore, his animosity. - -Soon after the battle of Pavia, the Cardinal projected a treaty which -was to change the aspect of affairs in all civilised Europe, which, -indeed, it did. While this treaty was in progress, the King, coming -unexpectedly to More Park, in Hertfordshire, found Gardiner busily -employed in framing several of the important articles. - -Few princes understood business or could transact it better than Henry; -he rapidly, therefore, formed a favourable estimate of Gardiner's -abilities. Not only did he appreciate the secretary's talents, but -he was also pleased by his manner and conversation, and, above all, -admired the fertility of invention of which Gardiner had already given -convincing proofs. In short, Gardiner was the very man of whom the -King at that moment had especial need. - -Henry was bent upon obtaining his divorce from Queen Katherine; but -though he had obtained many fair promises from Rome, he had failed -to induce the then Pontiff, Clement II., to _do_ anything towards -advancing his suit. It was in the highest degree expedient, therefore, -to send a delegate to Rome who was not only a wary diplomatist, but -also a shrewd and skilful lawyer; above all, he must be one in whom the -King could fully confide. In Gardiner were found all these essential -qualifications, and the King did not hesitate to inform the Cardinal of -the favourable impression his secretary had made. - -With all his faults, there was nothing mean in the character of Wolsey. -He was truly great in this particular, that he feared no man's rise, -and grudged to none the reward due to talent. Though overbearing in -temper, haughty in manner, tyrannical and revengeful in action, it was -yet this noble quality that so strongly attached his adherents to him. - -Far from viewing with displeasure the favourable impression made upon -the King, he aided his secretary's interests with all his powerful -influence; and in February, 1528, Gardiner, together with Dr. Fox, -Provost of King's College, Cambridge, left England on a special mission -to Rome. - -It is evident, from many documents still extant, that the entire -confidence, both of the King and of his Minister, had been reposed in -Gardiner. - -Respecting his conduct in Rome, historians are again at variance as to -his motives; but all agree in praising his talents, his dexterity, and -his diligence. - -Some writers assert that he honestly endeavoured to carry out the -King's and the Cardinal's wishes; others, on the contrary, maintain -that, in order to secure his own advancement, he betrayed the Cardinal -in this embassy, and that for this end he urged forward with the -greatest eagerness proceedings which he knew his master in his heart -desired might be spun out as lengthily as possible. - -However, it must be admitted that such statements are barely compatible -with the affection which Wolsey ever entertained for his secretary. - -When writing to Gardiner, the Cardinal calls him "the half of himself, -than whom none was dearer to him;" and in recommending him to the Pope, -he says, when His Holiness hears him speak, it will be as if he heard -the Cardinal himself. - -At any rate Gardiner spoke boldly at Rome. His diligence and activity -also were so great, that between the conflicting interests and -exertions of the various Courts of England, France, Spain, and Austria, -the unfortunate Pontiff was so pressed and harassed that he fell -dangerously ill. - -The perplexities of his mind seriously increasing the sufferings of -his body, for some time he was like to die, a contingency that offered -fresh occasion for the intrigues that were so rife at that period. - -Had the Pope died, every effort would have been made to procure for -Wolsey the suffrages of the Conclave; and at one time there appeared -every probability that he would have succeeded to the Pontifical -throne, but Clement recovered, and matters returned to their normal -condition. - -No sooner did the Pope's health enable him to transact business, than -the matter of the English commission was again pressed forward. An -extraordinary amount of care and skill were now required, not only to -obtain the Pontiff's consent, but to pen the commission in such terms -as would satisfy Henry, and dispose the Cardinal Legate Campegio to -come to England with a good disposition towards the affair. - -At length the important papers were obtained, and Fox at once -forwarded them to the King. - -The joy with which they were received by Henry, the Cardinal, and Anne -Boleyn, was exceedingly great, and their satisfaction was expressed, -not only by letters, but also by the valuable presents they made to the -successful delegates. - -To Gardiner, however, were allotted the greatest honours, for though -Fox had nominally been the leading personage of the mission, yet -Gardiner had in fact taken the chief part throughout the negotiations; -and so impressed was Henry by the talents evinced by his clever agent, -that the latter was speedily recalled from Rome, in order to be -entrusted with the management of the case before the Legatine Court. - -Indeed, so great at this time was the Secretary's influence, that -without his advice the King was unwilling to commence his suit. No -sooner had Gardiner arrived in England than he was made Archdeacon of -Norwich, and soon after, the King took him from Wolsey's service and -made him Secretary of State. - -The suit had now begun; but whether Wolsey secretly sided with Rome in -this matter, or whether he was only suspected by Henry of so doing, the -King ere long became furious with his Minister on account of the delays -that were for ever occurring to hinder the progress of the divorce. - -The Pope's behaviour added much to the difficulties into which he was -thrown; and believing that the Cardinal, while apparently aiding, was -in reality fomenting the troubles by which he was beset, the King felt -convinced that either he was being duped by his Minister, or that his -Minister was allowing himself to be egregiously duped by the Court of -Rome. In either case, Henry determined to trust Wolsey no longer, and -only waited a favourable opportunity to effect his fall. - -This opportunity soon presented itself. The successor who was needed -was at hand, and again an accident furnished the King with the adviser -that he so urgently required. - -Dr. Cranmer, a tutor in the family of one Mr. Cressy, of Waltham Cross, -was with his pupils at their father's house at Waltham, when the King -with his Court passed a night there during one of the Royal progresses. - -Drs. Gardiner and Fox were in attendance on His Majesty, and Cranmer -had supper with them. - -Men's minds were so occupied with the Royal divorce that little -else was ever talked of; and the two courtiers, being already well -acquainted with the great reputation for learning and solid judgment -that Cranmer had gained for himself at Cambridge, sought to obtain his -opinion on the matter. - -Cranmer modestly declined to give an "opinion," but said that in his -poor judgment it appeared to him that, if the marriage were unlawful, -it was so by Divine precept; and if that were the case, then the Pope's -dispensation could be of no effect either to confirm or annul it, for -even the Pope could not make lawful that which God had declared to be -unlawful. Instead, therefore, of continuing these long and fruitless -negotiations with Rome, it might be better to consult all the learned -men, or, indeed, all the Universities of Christendom, and then, -according to their finding, the Pope must needs give judgment. - -So much impressed were Gardiner and Fox by this advice, that the next -day they laid the substance of it before the King. - -Some writers say that Gardiner wished to make it appear that the -opinion came from him, but that Fox, either from generosity to Cranmer -or from spite to Gardiner, took care to mention from whence it was -derived. - -At any rate, these observations of Cranmer's caused him to be presented -to the King, as Henry had at once perceived the importance of the -suggestion thus thrown out. - -Brilliant talents and an admirable judgment commanded respect, while -the candour and uprightness of Cranmer's character secured for him the -esteem of all who knew him. His rise in the King's favour was rapid, -and honours were showered upon him. - -In after times Henry might differ from his Minister, but he knew he -need never distrust him. The King often said that the Archbishop of -Canterbury (Cranmer) was the only Churchman he had ever known upon whom -he could implicitly rely. - -Unhappily, the haughty and hasty monarch occasionally succeeded in -prevailing upon Cranmer to swerve from the strict line of wisdom and -prudence to which his opinions inclined him, but although he yielded -in action, the purity of his intentions and the honesty of his purpose -were never doubted. - -The new adviser's rapid advancement was the signal of Wolsey's fall. - -While that powerful Minister was apparently enjoying the plenitude of -his greatness, and triumphing in the magnificence of his position, -destruction came upon him unawares. Great and brilliant had been his -rise, equally great and fatal was his fall. - -No sooner was his disgrace resolved upon than the Great Seal was taken -from him, his vast possessions were confiscated, he was banished to -his house at Asher, and informations were filed against him by the -Attorney-General. - -Such a tempest of misfortunes broke at once over the head of the -unhappy man that his calamities seemed without end, and the ruin of his -fortunes was speedily followed by the destruction of his health. - -When great men fall, their pseudo friends of prosperous days fall away -also. Such friendship but blossoms in the sunshine, it ever withers and -dies when clouds obscure their sun. - -In this time of cruel adversity, but very few of his many followers -remained faithful to the once mighty Cardinal. Of these few the chief -was his secretary, Thomas Cromwell, who proved his fidelity not only by -his steady adherence to his master, but also by stoutly soliciting the -Court in his favour. - -As Cromwell's rank did not entitle him to admittance to the King's -presence, he was compelled to have recourse to one of the Secretaries -of State. - -It was to Gardiner that he addressed himself, and it is to that -Minister's credit that although, on account of Henry's hasty and -tyrannical temper, the task involved considerable risk, the quondam -secretary did not desert his old patron and master, but interceded for -him with skill, if without much heartiness. - -The unhappy Cardinal's letters at this time are most dismal. In one -of them, to Thomas Cromwell, he says he has written it "with his rude -hand and sorrowful heart," and he signs himself, "T. Carlis. Ebor -misserrimus" (the most miserable Thomas, Cardinal of York). - -Gardiner at this time was devoting himself to the difficult task of -obtaining from the Heads of the Colleges and from the learned men -belonging to the University of Cambridge, their declaration in the -King's cause, a business that required no small amount of dexterity and -artifice. - -His efforts were successful. So brilliant an exploit must needs be -rewarded, and his rise in the Church was rapid. In the spring of 1531, -he was made Archdeacon of Leicester, and in November of the same year -he was installed Bishop of Winchester. - -"I have often squared" (meaning passed over) "with you, Gardiner," said -the King, when he gave his Minister this valuable preferment, "but I -love you never the worse, as the Bishoprick I now give will convince -you." - -The newly-made Bishop sat with Dr. Cranmer, then Archbishop of -Canterbury, when that prelate declared Queen Katherine's marriage with -the King to be null and void, May 23rd, 1533. He was then sent to -Marseilles to intimate to the Pope and the French King, that in case -difficulties should be made respecting the divorce, the King of England -would appeal to a General Council. - -On his return home he was called upon, together with all the other -Bishops, to acknowledge Henry as Supreme Head of the Church; and -his pen was henceforth constantly employed in vindicating Henry's -proceedings, both respecting that monarch's divorce and subsequent -marriage, and also with regard to his having thrown off the dominion -of the See of Rome. - -Gardiner's writings on these difficult subjects obtained for him at the -time the highest reputation. - -During this period of religious agitation, a strange spirit prevailed -amongst all classes of people, of whatever denomination of religion -they might be. - -Though all needed tolerance, none would grant it. On the contrary, -intolerance and bigotry seemed to rule every man's heart. Even those -who, whilst they were themselves undergoing its sufferings, had groaned -the loudest under persecution, were, when relieved, equally loud in -their opposition to the smallest indulgence being extended to those who -differed from them in opinion. - -Whichever might be the party in the ascendant, its leaders were urged -on to institute persecutions and trials, and to enforce executions -whenever a doctrine was started to which they did not agree. - -Some writers assert that Gardiner was vindictive and cruel; others, -that he was forced tacitly to permit proceedings of which he -disapproved, and of which he would willingly have mitigated the -severity. - -Others again say that the King's love of power, and his desire to -show himself as a true son of the Church, although he had assumed her -temporal headship, induced him to bear witness to his faith by severe -measures, whenever her authority in doctrines was impugned by his -subjects. - -Certain it is, that now began a series of religious persecutions that -cast shame and disgrace upon all who professed the name of Christ. - -His holy Church on earth, far from being a tender mother to poor, -suffering, and ignorant mortals, became a by-word for cruelty and -bigotry, a very Moloch, who desired the sacrifice of her children both -by fire and by the sword. - -What can men deem are the chief attributes of the Almighty, that to -give Him pleasure it is necessary to torture and put to death the -children that His dear Son came to save? - -It is sickening to read the list of those who suffered for religion's -sake during the latter part of Henry's reign, and during the whole of -the reign of his daughter, Queen Mary. - -A Frenchman writing at this time from England, tells his friend in -Latin: - -"They have a strange way of managing in England, for those who are for -the Pope are hanged, and those who are against him are burnt." - -Henry also each year became more tyrannical and overbearing. He brooked -neither opposition nor contradiction. His humours were so capricious -that even his Ministers were constantly in personal danger, it being -impossible to foresee how much involved the King might choose to -consider them in the schisms that were being brought to the Royal -notice. - -Gardiner was certainly once in very considerable peril. - -His young kinsman and secretary, Germain Gardiner, having been -suspected of denying the King's supremacy, had been tried, condemned, -and executed, and Gardiner's enemies sought to implicate the Bishop in -his secretary's treasonable opinions. - -Those who view Gardiner's character mercifully, urge that in order to -secure his own safety and that of his relatives, he was driven into -assenting rather than being a party to the numerous cruel executions -that now sullied the history of this country. - -Gardiner ultimately lost the King's favour, from having drawn up a -paper of articles against Queen Katherine Parr. - -It appears that, as usual, Henry had conceived some jealous suspicions -of his Queen, and had directed the Bishop of Winchester to prepare -these statements against her. - -This important document having been confided to Chancellor Wriothesley, -in order that the Queen should be committed to the Tower, he by -accident or design let it drop from his bosom. It was picked up by a -friendly hand, and immediately conveyed to the Princess. - -Katherine so wrought upon the King's affection, that she not only -succeeded in allaying his jealous fears and quieting his suspicions, -but she also so excited his resentment against the writer of the -accusations against her, that from that day Henry would never again see -Gardiner. - -It is also believed that this incident was the cause of the Bishop's -name not being included in the list of the King's executors. - -At one time, so high did Gardiner stand in the King's estimation, that -Henry had resolved not only to nominate him as an executor, but also -to direct that he should be a member of the Council to whom would be -entrusted the executive power during the minority of his son. - -Here again, however, is difference of opinion amongst historians, some -writers asserting that it was not the animosity of Queen Katherine -Parr, but the friendship of the Duke of Norfolk and his family, that -proved the ruin of Gardiner's fortunes at this period. - -Henry having become jealous of that powerful noble, seized upon every -opportunity of humbling his relatives and friends. - -But this, as well as most of the events of Gardiner's life, have been -related by contemporary writers with such violence of partisanship, -that it is difficult to ascertain the truth. - -To Gardiner, however, must be assigned the merit that both during the -life, and after the death of the King his master, he ever spoke and -wrote of him in terms of much deference and respect. - -Upon the accession of Edward VI. Archbishop Cranmer laboured earnestly -to establish the great work of the Reformation on a firm basis, and was -very desirous to obtain Gardiner's assistance, or, at any rate, his -concurrence in his plans. - -But this wily prelate would neither concur nor disagree with Cranmer's -schemes. His ruling maxim had ever been to keep things quiet, and he -asserted that this could not be done were any great alterations made -either in Church or State. - -He agreed in the wisdom with which the Archbishop sought to establish -the Reformed religion, and also in his desire to do away with -superstitious practices, but he saw grave objections to the innovation -being attempted at present. - -The King's youth and feeble health, the necessary absence of the -Protector Somerset, who was detained in Scotland by military duty, -made the future not only doubtful, but gloomy; and Gardiner was of -opinion that it would be injudicious to disturb the present Church -government. - -However, Cranmer carried his point in so far as having a Royal -Commission appointed for the purpose of visiting each diocese. - -The Bishop of Winchester, notwithstanding his love of peace, opposed -this measure, and refused to allow the Commissioners to enter his -diocese. For this contumacy he was committed to the Fleet Prison. - -His imprisonment there was not severe, the Warden of the Fleet being -his friend, neither did it last long, and when released he returned to -his diocese, and addressed himself zealously but quietly to his duties -there. - -This calm, however, was not of long duration, for within the year he -was summoned to preach in London on St. Peter Day, and his doctrines -so offended the Council that he was sent to the Tower where he remained -a prisoner during the remainder of Edward's reign. - -After Edward's death, Somerset visited Gardiner in prison with a view -of effecting his release. - -Gardiner readily expressed his approval of all that had been done to -establish the Reformed religion, and promised for the future obedience -to Royal authority, but he would not acknowledge that he had been -guilty of contumacy in the past. On this point he was immovable, -protesting that he was innocent in every respect. - -He was brought before the Privy Council, and then three months were -given to him for reflection. - -When this period had expired, as the Bishop remained in the same -sentiments, it was resolved to proceed judicially against him in order -to deprive him of the See of Winchester. - -He then refused to sign the articles that had been sent him previously, -and to which he had in a measure assented, and he vehemently demanded -to be tried as to the grounds of his imprisonment. - -But the Privy Council refused his prayer, and his bishopric was -sequestrated. - -All these proceedings were much censured as being contrary to the -liberties of Englishmen, and contrary also to all forms of legal -procedure. It was thought very hard that a man should be put in prison -solely from a complaint having been made against him, and still more -hard that after two years' durance, and without further inquiry, -articles should be put to him for his signature. - -Such actions were quite indefensible upon any constitutional principles. - -Archbishop Cranmer greatly deprecated this illegal harshness, for he -foresaw the injurious consequences. - -Such ill-timed severity would inevitably drive men like Gardiner, -Tonstall, and Day, who had already acknowledged the King's supremacy, -back to the Church of Rome, and the progress of the Reformation must -thereby be sorely hindered. - -And so it proved. - -During the few remaining years of Edward's life, Gardiner remained -in the Tower, a prisoner, and yet not strictly kept, for during this -period he wrote many controversial pieces, and several Latin poems, -besides putting into verse some of the most beautiful and poetical -passages in the books of Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, and Job. - -On the 3rd August, 1553, Queen Mary made her solemn entry into the -Tower, when Bishop Gardiner, for himself, and also in the name of his -fellow prisoners, the Duke of Norfolk, the Duchess of Somerset, Lord -Courtney, and others of high rank, delivered a congratulatory speech to -Her Majesty, who at its conclusion gave them their liberty. - -On August 8th, he, with Archbishop Cranmer, and in the presence of the -Queen, performed the obsequies of the late King Edward VI. The young -monarch was buried in Westminster Abbey, and the ceremonial was the -English funeral service. - -The next day Bishop Gardiner again took possession of Winchester House, -Southwark, after an imprisonment of rather more than five years. On the -23rd, he was declared Chancellor of England. - -On the 1st October he had the honour of crowning the Queen, and on the -5th of the same month he opened the first Parliament of her reign. - -He was also again restored to his academical honours, and was -re-elected Master of Trinity Hall. - -Not only were distinctions and emoluments thus showered upon him, but -the esteem that the Queen manifestly had for him, and the confidence -she reposed in him, led to his being speedily endowed with an unusually -large share of civil as well as ecclesiastical power. - -Mary was exceedingly anxious on three points. - -The first was to substantiate the legitimacy of her birth by annulling -her mother's divorce; the second was to effect the restoration of the -old religion in England, and to reconcile this country to Rome; and -thirdly, she eagerly desired to obtain the consent of Parliament to her -marriage with Prince Philip of Spain. - -In all these difficult and important matters Bishop Gardiner aided her -with marvellous sagacity and unflagging zeal. - -Thus it came to pass that the same man who procured the divorce for -the father, obtained for the daughter the reversal of that divorce. - -Now it was, in these days of triumph and success, that Gardiner gave -evidence of his ambition, and of his time-serving nature. To preserve -his ascendency over a weak and obstinate woman, he allowed himself -to yield many points of which he disapproved, and then, having begun -to swim with the stream, he found himself compelled to go faster and -farther than he had intended. - -The Spanish match was as distasteful to him as it was to the bulk of -the nation, foreseeing, as he did, that it would involve this country -in great expense, and that it would not tend to increase either the -happiness or the good disposition of the Queen. - -Unhappily, Mary had inherited obstinacy and violence of temper from -her father, and a jealous and melancholy temperament from her ill-used -mother. - -All the early years of her life had been overshadowed by misfortune -and insult, and she had been taught to believe that her sorrows mostly -arose from the sinfulness of the nation in resisting the authority of -the Church to which she belonged. - -Unattractive in mind as well as in person, she loved a man who cared -but little, if at all, for her, who had only consented to the marriage -from motives of policy, and whose morose and sullen manners embittered -the rare visits he accorded to his wife. - -However great were Gardiner's errors, not only as a religious bigot, -but as an unscrupulous and ambitious statesman, it must be remembered -to his credit, that he was ever zealous in preserving what he deemed -the constitution of his country, especially so in guarding her from the -encroachments of foreigners. - -To preserve his own power, he yielded against his judgment to the -Queen's desire for her marriage with Philip of Spain, but in drawing -up the articles of the marriage contract he took care so to frame them, -that they would not only be passed easily by the English Parliament, -but also that the Spaniards should be entirely excluded from any share -in the Government of England. - -To Philip was granted the "Title" of King of England, and his likeness -was to be united to that of the Queen upon every coin and seal, but -Mary's signature alone sufficed to give authority to all deeds and acts. - -No Spaniard could hold office in this country. - -The Queen could not be obliged to leave England, nor any child, should -there be children, without the consent of Parliament. - -The Queen was to have a jointure of £40,000 a year from Spain, and -£20,000 from the Netherlands. Should the Queen have only daughters, -they were to succeed to her throne, and have from Spain the usual -portions of kings' daughters. - -Should Philip survive the Queen, he was to have no share in the English -Government. - -Such stringent conditions appeared very disadvantageous to Spain; but -so great was Philip's desire to obtain a foothold in England, that -he yielded every point, believing, probably, that when once firmly -established in this country, his own influence, combined with the power -of the Church of Rome, would overcome much opposition and enable him to -gain important concessions. - -Parliament passed the Bill, and all obstacles to the marriage being now -removed, King Philip, attended and accompanied by a magnificent suite -of nobles, and escorted by a large fleet, put to sea, and arrived at -Southampton at the end of July, 1554. - -From thence he proceeded to the Palace at Winchester, where he was -magnificently entertained by the Bishop. The following day he was -solemnly married to the Queen by that prelate in the Cathedral of -Winchester. - -The newly-married pair made their entry into London with every -circumstance of pomp and splendour. - -At Windsor the King was installed a Knight of the Garter, and whenever -he and the Queen appeared in public they were received by the people -with universal acclamation. - -But this pleasant and joyful state of things was not to be of long -duration. - -Philip speedily gave evidence of the distaste he felt for his bride, -who, poor woman, had not only the misfortune of having an unlovely -and unlovable countenance, but was also afflicted with a peevish and -jealous temper. She was well aware how little attractive she was, and -therefore suspected and disliked every woman who approached her. Her -half-sister and heir, Elizabeth, was especially the object of her -jealous fears. - -This Princess, however, behaved with so much prudence and fortitude -that she gave no loophole for the attacks of her enemies. Still, -despite her care and prudence, and through the machinations of Gardiner -and Cardinal Pole, she was sent to the Tower; but she was saved from -perhaps a worse fate by her brother-in-law, Philip of Spain, who -interceded in her behalf. - -There is much reason to believe that of the two Philip much preferred -the younger sister, and as Queen Mary was in bad health and her life -most precarious, he hoped to marry Elizabeth after his wife's death. - -The unhappy Queen, in the bitter disappointment occasioned by her -marriage, again turned to her Church for consolation, and in spite of -the King's and the Chancellor's opposition, insisted upon Cardinal -Pole's coming to England, armed with a license under the Queen's Great -Seal to exercise his functions as the Pope's Legate. - -Soon after Pole's arrival, the Houses of Lords and Commons presented a -petition to the King and Queen, praying that the nation might again be -received into the bosom of the Catholic Church. - -The Cardinal, after a lengthy oration, granted the petition, absolving -the people of England, and declaring them reconciled to the See of Rome. - -But the joy attendant on this proclamation was speedily troubled by -the revival of the sanguinary laws for the repression of what was now -called heresy. - -These laws were speedily carried into execution with much rigour, and a -bloody persecution was set on foot in almost all parts of the kingdom. - -Whether this persecution was actively concurred in, or only passively -submitted to by the Bishop of Winchester, is a matter of doubt. On one -side he ever showed himself of the popular opinion by siding with -Cardinal Pole when they sat together on various commissions. On the -other hand, he saved the lives of many Protestants by merely locking -them up until quieter and more peaceable days should come. - -These were indeed dismal and dreadful times. A frightful religious zeal -prevailed in the minds of men, inducing them, under colour of promoting -the Gospel, to act precisely contrary to its spirit. - -Gardiner, no doubt, had his share, and a large one, in these barbarous -proceedings; but the whole reproach of these savage cruelties must not -rest upon his memory. - -It is certain that when there were hopes of an heir to the throne, the -Chancellor induced the Queen to restore several prisoners to liberty. -He went in person to the Tower on January 18th, 1555, and released the -Archbishop of York, Sir Edward Rogers, Sir James Crofts, Sir Nicholas -Throckmorton, Sir Edward Warner, Sir George Harper, Sir William -Saintlow, Sir Gawin Carew, Sir Andrew Dudley, William Gibs, Cuthbert -Vaughan, John Harrington, John Tremain, and others of less note. - -It must not be forgotten, also, that during Mary's second Parliament, -far from advocating the stringent laws that were in course of -preparation against heretics, as persons of the Reformed religion were -now called, he endeavoured to mitigate their severity; but in this, as -in other matters, he was borne on by the stream of Royal and popular -opinion, and, perhaps, compelled to acquiesce in proceedings of which -he disapproved. - -Thus Henry's severities and injustice were now emulated and surpassed -by Mary's severities and cruelty. - -If Gardiner disapproved in his heart of the persecution of heretics, -his clemency or merciful inclinations did but little or nothing towards -diminishing the frightful number of blazing piles that day by day -consumed the bodies of miserable victims of religious fury. - -Tortured by jealous love, unblessed with children, the unhappy -Mary turned with increased fervour to religion as her only solace. -Convinced, as she was, that the Church alone could afford relief to her -sorrows, the bigotry of her nature and education demanded the holocaust -of thousands of victims to appease the anger of an offended Deity. - -Violent and obstinate, her Ministers, even had they wished to oppose -her, could not, without peril to themselves, have resisted her stubborn -resolution to have her way. - -Unhappily then for England, her Ministers were both yielding and -unscrupulous. - -Not only was the Queen relentless in her resolve to exterminate heresy, -but if the Bishop of Winchester relaxed in zeal, Bishop Bonner, and -William, Marquis of Winchester (who for a time held the Great Seal), -were eager to show their love for their Church by the torture they -inflicted on her enemies. - -Gardiner, whatever may have been his personal wishes, also yielded to -the pressure put upon him; and by his dexterity and brilliant talents -made himself of inestimable value to the Queen, and by so doing -secured for himself supremacy in the Council, and also kept away other -pretendants, especially Cardinal Pole, who was a formidable rival. - -But if, as the writers who view him favourably assert, the Bishop of -Winchester was thus impelled by the temper of his Royal mistress, -and by a series of circumstances beyond his control, to acquiesce in -actions of which he disapproved, what must be thought of the conscience -of a man, who as statesman and Churchman permitted tortures to be -inflicted, and executions to take place, that have made the reign of -Mary a by-word of bloodshed and cruelty, and have covered the memories -of this monarch and her Ministers with indelible disgrace? - -The land was deluged in blood. The smoke of burning human beings -darkened the air, as it rose in hideous sacrifice to the Almighty -Father, and the shrieks of tortured victims, the prayers of martyrs -at the stake, ascended daily to heaven in one great agonised cry for -mercy--and for vengeance. - -For a time England seemed as one stunned by the frequency of such -unusual and horrible spectacles, but by degrees the mighty spirit of -the nation was roused. - -Laymen and Churchmen alike shook off their lethargy. The degrading -cruelties of the reign of Catholic Mary placed Protestant Elizabeth -more firmly on the throne; and when James II. struggled vainly to -restore his Church to England, it was doubtless the remembrance of -such scenes that induced many staunch Englishmen to welcome with -enthusiasm the advent of the foreign Prince of Orange, and his English -wife. - -Fox, who describes Gardiner as a monster delighting in torture and -blood, declares that the Bishop was stricken down by dreadful and -deadly disease, the very day on which he had consigned Bishops Latimer -and Ridley to the flames at Oxford. - -This historian relates that the Duke of Norfolk came to sup at -Winchester House, but that Gardiner would not sit down at table until -the messenger from Oxford had arrived to say the sacrifice of the -martyrs had been consummated. - -As he joyed over the narrative of their sufferings, the hand of Heaven -fell heavily upon him, and he died soon afterwards in inexpressible -anguish of body and mind. - -Other biographers say but little of the malady to which he succumbed, -but Fox's account is clearly incorrect in many particulars. The -Duke of Norfolk Fox alludes to, had been dead some thirteen months, -and Gardiner made a speech in Parliament more than a week after the -execution of these Bishops. - -It is also a disputed point whether Gardiner really exhibited -vindictive eagerness in bringing about the deaths of Latimer and -Ridley, or whether, as some say, he endeavoured to save them, straining -indeed his authority by offering Latimer a pardon without the knowledge -of the Queen or the Council. - -Bell, as well as Fox, declares that his death was a judgment brought -on him for his cruelty to these martyrs, but Dr. Godwin, Bishop of -Hereford, Dr. Fuller, and Archbishop Parker, all ascribe his death to -natural causes. - -For some years Gardiner had suffered from rheumatic gout, and -ultimately consumption of the lungs was joined to his other diseases. - -Whatever may have been his bodily ailments, it is agreed by every -writer that his latter days were embittered by remorse and mental -distress. The consciousness of his many sins of omission and commission -pressed heavily on his mind. He constantly averred that having been -endowed with much power, he felt that he had turned that power to evil -rather than to good. - -Some historians suggest that he repented having returned to the Church -of Rome. Be this as it may, his opinions respecting the two Churches -were such as to-day would be denominated broad. - -His sermons were very remarkable, for eloquence, for talent, and -also for a peculiar sophistry of argument, by which he could twist -every quotation or opinion so as to suit the views he at the moment -entertained. - -His manner was earnest and noble, his voice impressive, and few could -listen unmoved to the fervid accents, and to the brilliant and crafty -reasoning by which he advocated the various points of his discourse. - -It is evident, by the attachment that was felt for him for upwards of -forty years, by some of the greatest statesmen in Europe, that he had -the talent of conciliating men's minds and commanding their respect; -and in his own diocese he was not only a wise and considerate Bishop, -but he was infinitely loved and admired. - -He died in Winchester House, London, but he was buried in Winchester -Cathedral, close by the high altar. - -The funeral was solemnised by an amount of pomp and magnificence rare -even in those days, when much outward show was usual in every ceremony. - -To conduct the unconscious dead to their last resting-place with -every circumstance of lugubrious state and grandeur, was then deemed -but fitting expressions of affection and respect on the part of the -relatives and mourners. - -Amongst the many cruel actions of which the odium has been cast upon -Gardiner is the mournful tragedy of Lady Jane Grey. This poor girl was -a victim to the political intrigues of an unscrupulous and ambitious -party, and she paid by the sacrifice of her life, and that of her -husband, Lord Guilford Dudley, for her brief and unwilling reign. - -Sir Thomas Wyatt and Sir Peter Carew were the originators of a -deep-laid and formidable plot, by which Mary and her sister were to be -deprived of their rights of inheritance. They flattered the ambition -of the Duke of Suffolk by suggesting that his daughter-in-law should -ascend the throne, and thereby succeeded in implicating him and -his children so completely in their projects that the heads of all -ultimately fell upon the scaffold. - -The alarm occasioned to the Queen and her adherents by the discovery of -this plot was, no doubt, considerable; but against Gardiner is brought -the grave charge of having fomented this panic, rather than having -endeavoured to allay it. - -But for his influence, the deaths of the principal conspirators, Wyatt -and Carew, would have sufficed, and have been deemed a sufficient -sacrifice. Many others amongst those who suffered in connection with -the attempt might have been spared; but the Bishop is reported to have -said: - -"We may shake off the leaves and lop the branches, but if we do not -utterly destroy the root, the hope of hereticks, we do nothing." - - - - -THE CHAPEL. - - -Amongst the many nooks and corners of this ancient Inn of Gray's, the -little chapel must not be forgotten. Within its tranquil precincts all -things speak of the past, for little has been changed therein for many -generations. - -Small and unpretentious as it is, few can enter this tiny place -of worship without experiencing some emotion, without giving some -thought to the many great and illustrious men--lawyers, Churchmen, and -statesmen, now long numbered with the dead--who have knelt here for -prayer and praise. - -Centuries have elapsed since they have passed away, but their noble -deeds and writings are still remembered and cherished. - -Happily for England, this great race is not extinct. Some of those -who now assemble within these walls have already made for themselves -illustrious names--names that will be honoured and revered when they, -in the fulness of time, depart; but others come here in sorrow, and -perchance remorse, for many a promising but wasted life. - -Poor, feeble mortals that we are! How many of us live but to exist; and -often, indeed, that existence is but the puerile flutter of a day! - -Truly, we are but as the sand upon the sea-shore. The tiny atoms shine, -perhaps brilliantly, while the sun looks down upon them; but when -clouds darken the sky, their brightness fades and soon is gone. Then -a little later comes the rising tide--that overwhelming tide of Time, -that sweeps them rapidly away. They are gone, and the place where they -dwelt, and perchance glittered, knows them no more. No one asks for -them; no one misses them. The sand is again as smooth as when they were -there. The atoms around still quiver and shimmer in the sunshine as -those now departed did of yore. - -Not only from association with the past is the quiet little chapel -attractive, but there is something soothing in its very aspect. - -The fact that so little change has been made in the building or its -arrangements for some hundred years is interesting, and it is touching -to see the number of gray-headed men who usually attend the services. -The memorials around also speak of those who are gone--the painted -glass windows, the decorations, the richly-carved book of the Communion -Service, are all gifts from those who dearly loved the old place. - -In these days of greatly increased form, it is rare also to find a -preacher who appears in the pulpit arrayed in the old black Geneva -gown. - -This quaintly-fashioned gown is precisely that to which our Puritan -forefathers attached so much importance, deeming that it savoured less -of Popery than any other raiment, inasmuch as its severe simplicity -was as far removed as possible from the more imposing and, in their -opinion, gaudy vestments of Rome. - -From the pulpit in Gray's Inn Chapel may be heard sermons that stir -men's hearts, that enlighten men's minds. - -No man can hope to obtain the post of preacher to Gray's Inn, unless -he possesses talents that entitle him to be listened to with respect -and interest. Therefore, though quiet, though old-fashioned, though -unemotional in ceremonies, many who think deeply, and who wish to -listen to the words of those who also think deeply, may be found -amongst the congregation gathered together in Gray's Inn Chapel. - -The present little building stands upon the site of the ancient chapel -that received its Royal license from Edward II. in 1314, when John, the -son of Reginald de Grey, was authorised to convey thirty acres of land, -two acres of meadow, and ten shillings rent, with the appurtenances, -in Kentish Town, and in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn, to the -Prior and Convent of St. Bartholomew's, in Smithfield, and to their -successors, to provide a chaplain to perform divine service daily for -the repose of the soul of the said John, and for the repose of the -souls of his ancestors for ever. - -The Prior of St. Bartholomew's, however, instead of providing a -chaplain for the service of the chapel, appears, according to the -accounts of the rents and payments of that monastery, to have paid the -Society of Gray's Inn an annual sum of £7 13s. 4d. - -When the monasteries were dissolved, Henry VIII. decreed that the -Treasurer and Fellows of this same Society should receive yearly -from the King's Highness, during the King's pleasure, the sum of £6 -13s. 4d., to be paid in even portions, namely, at the "Feasts of The -Natyvytie of Our Lord God, of the Annunciation of Our Blessed Ladye, -the Vyrgyne, of the Natyvytie of Seynt John Baptist, and of Seynt -Michaell, the Archaungell." - -But in 1651, during the time of the Commonwealth, this payment ceased, -and has never been revived, though during the reign of Elizabeth the -officiating minister received a salary of £4 a year. - -By an order of Pension, 15th November, 1598, it was ordered that the -"Reader in Divinity" to be chosen, shall be a man unmarried, having -no ecclesiastical living other than a Prebend, that he be without the -care of souls, and that he shall keep the same place while he continues -unmarried. - -This order corresponds with an usage formerly existing with regard to -the vergers of St. Paul's Cathedral, who, by one of the Cathedral -statutes, were to be in a state of celibacy. They had either to -relinquish their wives or their office. - -According to Dean Milman, this statute declares: "That because having a -wife is a troublesome and disturbing affair, and because husbands are -apt to study the washes of their wives, or their mistresses, and no man -can serve two masters, the vergers are to be either bachelors, or to -give up their wives." - -Since these times either wives have improved and become less -troublesome, or else the vergers have become less subservient to them, -for at St. Paul's this rule has been abolished. As regards the Reader -of Gray's Inn, it still remains in force. - -Unfortunately the chapel is, architecturally speaking, of no -importance. It is low and insignificant, and quite unworthy externally -of the venerable Inn to which it belongs. - -Strype, in his edition of "Stowe," much praises the Hall of Gray's Inn, -but laments that the chapel is so small, and wishes the Society would -build a new one raised on arches, so that there would be a good dry -walk underneath them in rainy weather. - -The same writer mentions also a new entrance made into Holborn, where -had been erected, he says: - -"A fayre Gate and Gatehouse that were great improvements, making a more -convenient and honourable passage, whereof this house stood in much -neede, as the other entrances were rather posterns than gates." - -To the shop beneath this gateway a certain interest is attached from -its having been the place of business of Jacob Tonson, the celebrated -bookseller, who removed here from Chancery Lane in 1697. - -Several of the most ancient buildings were destroyed by fire in 1604, -and unhappily also nearly all the earliest records of the Society -perished in the same flames. - -Subsequently the increasing number of students has necessitated the -demolition of many more of the ancient houses, for some details -respecting them that still exist, describe these old buildings as being -not only dark and ill-convenient, but so deficient in space that the -students had frequently to lodge double. - -In 1688 the Inn appears to have been divided into three courts, but two -of these have been thrown into one large area, called Gray's Inn Square. - -This same lamentable fire of 1604 destroyed the greater part of the -once valuable library. The present library contains about 13,000 -volumes, a large proportion being, of course, works on law. There is -also a small but valuable collection of manuscripts in twenty-four -volumes, some of which are finely illuminated. They mostly relate -to theological subjects, and date from the twelfth to the fifteenth -century. One amongst them, Bracton's "De Legibus et Consuetudinibus -Angliæ," in folio, written about the end of the thirteenth or beginning -of the fourteenth century, was presented to the Society of Gray's Inn -in 1635 by John Godbolt, then Reader of the Inn. - - - - -ARCHBISHOP LAUD. - - -Five Archbishops of Canterbury have been connected with Gray's Inn, -one of whom was the celebrated Laud, Primate of England in 1633, temp. -Charles I.; a man as much loved in domestic and private life for -his kindness, charity, and tenderness, as he was feared, and indeed -hated, as a Churchman and as a statesman, both on account of the rigid -intolerance of his religious opinions, and from the uncompromising -tenacity with which he strove to enforce every right to which he -considered the Church entitled. - -Unhappily, this unbending austerity, far from assisting, did but injure -the cause he endeavoured to serve, and his zeal was so ill directed, -that it eventually brought his head to the block, and was one great -cause of the civil and religious war that for so many years desolated -this land. - -Animated as he was by the religious fervour of the times, Laud was -inflexible in his resolution of forcing upon all men the adoption of -principles he believed to be right. Even the fatal examples of previous -reigns had not taught him that one of the noblest attributes of -Christianity is forbearance. Great as was his pride, stern and severe -as were his judgments, yet in many respects the Archbishop was a man to -be much respected, even much loved. He considered that his pride as a -Churchman was but a fitting attribute of the great position he held as -Primate of England. He believed that his duty to the Church demanded of -him sternness and severity in dealing with her enemies, and he evinced -the heartfelt sincerity of his opinions by giving up his life in -support of them. - -When the end drew near, Laud nobly testified, by the fortitude and -calmness with which he faced death, by the tender thoughtfulness he -showed for all around him, that his pride and severity were but for his -office, that he himself was, as he had ever been, a humble and sincere -Christian. - -He has been accused by his enemies of endeavouring to overthrow the -Protestant religion; but one of the best pamphlets ever published -against Roman Catholic tenets was written by Laud in his answer to Dr. -Fisher. His foes also were especially rancorous against him for the -attempts he made to introduce wholesome and lawful games on Sundays -and holy-days; a proceeding viewed with much disfavour by the strict -Puritans of the day, who held that all exercises on the Sabbath, save -those of religion, tended to Popery. - -Laud also endeavoured to restrain the publication of irreligious and -other evil books, by subjecting all publications to the revision of -the Star Chamber. This endeavour on the part of the Archbishop caused -a storm of indignation, for it was held to be an attempt to subvert -the existing laws, and to restrain the liberty of the people. The -indiscreet zeal, also, that he displayed in his efforts to introduce -into Scotland the Liturgy of the Church of England, made him many -enemies in that country. - -At length, after many years of energetic but fruitless struggles, his -foes prevailed against him; he was committed to the Tower, tried before -a committee of the House of Lords, and condemned to death. - -He was beheaded on Tower Hill on the 10th of January, 1641, in the -seventy-second year of his age. - -Charles, it is said, though lamenting the death of his old servant, -made no attempt to save the life of one who, though opinionated and -mistaken, had served his King with affectionate fidelity. - -Archbishop Laud's only sister married Sir John Robinson, afterwards -Governor of the Tower in the reign of Charles II., and, if we may -believe Pepys, an intimate friend and boon companion of that merry -monarch. The descendants of Lady Robinson, namely, Sir George Robinson -of Cranford, Northamptonshire, Lord Lyveden, of Farming Woods, -Northamptonshire, and John Harvey, of Ickwell-Bury, Bedfordshire, still -possess many interesting relics of this famous prelate. - - - - -BISHOP JUXON - -AND - -ARCHBISHOPS SHELDON & WHITGIFT. - - -Archbishop Dr. William Juxon was Bishop of London when King Charles I. -was brought to trial, condemned, and executed. - -Throughout the civil wars, Juxon had resided at Fulham, and although -his steady adherence and loyalty to the King were well known, the -prelate's meek and inoffensive behaviour and his many charitable works -had gained him the respect of even the most violent of the Puritan and -Republican parties. - -When the trial of the Royal martyr commenced, Charles, who early -foresaw its result, especially requested the attendance of Bishop -Juxon; and the ministrations of this good man and truly Christian -divine soothed the unhappy monarch during the terrible hours of his -last days on earth. - -Juxon was unwearied in his devotion to his Royal master. He attended -the unhappy monarch on the scaffold; he received the last commissions, -he alone heard the sufferer's last words. - -When all was over, the Bishop, at considerable personal risk, took -charge of the mortal remains and conveyed them to Windsor. When there, -however, in spite of urgent remonstrances and earnest entreaties, he -was refused permission by the then Governor, Colonel Whichcote, to -perform the final sad offices over the Royal corpse. - -On his return to London, Juxon was thrown into prison for refusing to -divulge the particulars of his conversations with the King; but his -imprisonment was not of long duration, and, when released, he returned -to Fulham Palace, where he was allowed to pass several months in peace. - -The following year, however, he was deprived of his bishopric. He -then retired to his own property in Gloucestershire, where he resided -in much privacy until the Restoration. He was then made Archbishop of -Canterbury, and had the satisfaction of placing the crown upon the head -of Charles II. - -The Archbishop died in 1663. Few men have left this world more -universally beloved than this excellent prelate; but few men have -equalled him in having consistently led a life as blameless as it was -self-denying--a life made beautiful by exceeding humility, gentleness, -and charity. - -He was succeeded in the archbishopric by Gilbert Sheldon, in 1677. -This prelate had formerly been Clerk of the Closet to Charles I., and -had ever adhered faithfully to the King during the troubles of the -Rebellion and the trials of the Royalists during the Commonwealth. At -the Restoration he was made Bishop of London, and subsequently became -Archbishop of Canterbury. - -Dr. Sheldon was a man of great learning and of an excellent life. His -charities were numerous and magnificent, and he has also immortalised -his memory by building the famous theatre at Oxford that bears his name. - -Another Archbishop of Canterbury connected with Gray's Inn was Dr. John -Whitgift, Primate of England in 1583. A man of very exceptional talent, -eminent alike for the ability of his writings, and for his stirring -eloquence in the pulpit. - -By some historians he has been much praised, by others equally blamed; -but it must be remembered that Whitgift lived at a period when -men's minds were agitated and much troubled by religious and civil -contentions, and the great prelate was a violent man amongst violent -partisans. - -He was especially noted for his bitter hostility both to the Roman -Catholic party and to that of the Puritans. By each of these religious -bodies he was therefore equally hated and dreaded, and in many -instances his judgments and his actions were harsh and severe; still, -it must also be remembered that at a time when the Church of England -had to contend with many enemies, foreign as well as domestic, and -was menaced with dangers unknown to us in these days, Whitgift held -the reins of government with an able and a vigorous grasp, and to his -credit it can be said that though severe he was never cruel. - -This Archbishop was much favoured by Queen Elizabeth, and did many -excellent works of charity, both establishing and assisting large -hospitals for the poor. - -In the east window of the chapel at Gray's Inn may be seen the arms -of these prelates, as well as those of William Wake, Archbishop of -Canterbury in 1716. Here, also, are the escutcheons of George Morley, -Bishop of Winchester, Nathaniel Crewe, Bishop of Durham, and of Walker -King, Bishop of Rochester. - -Thus we see that this venerable Society exhibits, emblazoned on her -ancient walls, the names and arms of those who, during their lives, -shed such lustre on the sheltering house in which their earliest -struggles were fought. - -The children she had so much reason to be proud of honoured her in -their lives. They have gone, but in death she cherishes their memory, -and ever fondly and jealously guards their names from oblivion. - -But now, farewell, pleasant old Inn, with all your glorious Past, your -glorious Present, and your glorious Future. - -The student, labouring hard to master the difficulties of the -magnificent but stern profession of the Law, must often feel his heart -stir within him with emulation, when he remembers how many are the -celebrated men who have also studied diligently beneath the shelter of -these gray old walls, or who have reposed, perchance, at times beneath -the spreading branches of the grand old trees. - -The gates of the Temple of Fame are open to every man, if he can but -win his way up the steep and thorny path that leads to its golden -portals. - -None, however, can grapple with the difficulties of the road but the -courageous, the resolute, and the talented. - -Woe to him who lingers or faints by the way. To the laggard, as to the -weakly, the shining temple becomes but a glittering mist. It is there, -but unattainable. He who falters or shrinks from the struggle can but -veil his head in grief and disappointment, as those aspirants who are -made of stronger and sterner stuff than himself pass him in the race. - -Centuries roll on, generation after generation passes away; but those -who love this venerable and time-honoured Society, trust with heartfelt -affection and gratitude that there will ever be some "Chronicles of -this Old Inn." - - -CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN*** - - -******* This file should be named 63844-8.txt or 63844-8.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/8/4/63844 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: Chronicles of an Old Inn</p> -<p> A Few Words about Gray's Inn</p> -<p>Author: Andrée Hope</p> -<p>Release Date: November 22, 2020 [eBook #63844]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4 class="pgx" title="">E-text prepared by deaurider, Martin Pettit,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/cu31924021676683 - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt="front" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> - -<h1>CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN</h1> - -<p class="bold">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold2">A Few Words about Gray's Inn. </p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/title.jpg" alt="title page" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">CHRONICLES OF<br /> AN OLD INN</p> - -<p class="bold">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold"><i>A FEW WORDS ABOUT GRAY'S INN</i>.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BY</p> - -<p class="bold2">ANDRÉE HOPE.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL,<br /><span class="smcap">Limited</span>.<br />1887.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS,<br />CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">Dedicated<br /><br /> -BY PERMISSION, AND WITH THE DEEPEST RESPECT,<br /><br />TO<br /><br /> -HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS<br /><br />THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT,<br /><br />Treasurer,<br /><br /> -AND TO THE<br /><br />HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF BENCHERS<br /><br />OF GRAY'S INN.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> - -<h2>PREFACE.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>It is with feelings of much diffidence, even with alarm, that this -little book is given to the world. It was written to give pleasure to -many dear to the writer's heart, relatives and friends, most of whom -have already gone to that "Shadowy Land" to which we are all so fast -hastening.</p> - -<p>They, alas! can no longer feel an interest in the pages written in -hours of much happiness and of cruel sorrow. Probably the literary -world, of whom the writer stands<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> in trembling awe, will regard with -the same indifference a little work so crude and incomplete. But as -sometimes a rough sketch brings persons and places as vividly to -remembrance as highly finished pictures, perhaps these "In Memoriam -Chronicles of an Old Inn" may, in some degree, interest those who have -not time to read more skilfully written but longer histories.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<table summary="CONTENTS"> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">GRAY'S INN</td> - <td><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">THE TWO BROTHERS, ANTHONY AND FRANCIS BACON</td> - <td><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">SIR NICHOLAS BACON</td> - <td><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE</td> - <td><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">LORD BURLEIGH</td> - <td><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">SIR EDWARD COKE</td> - <td><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">OTHER EMINENT LAWYERS</td> - <td><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span>STEPHEN GARDINER</td> - <td><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">THE CHAPEL</td> - <td><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">ARCHBISHOP LAUD</td> - <td><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">BISHOP JUXON AND ARCHBISHOPS SHELDON AND WHITGIFT</td> - <td><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN;</p> - -<p class="bold">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold2">A Few Words about Gray's Inn, London.</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<h2>GRAY'S INN.</h2> - -<p>About half-way down the great thoroughfare of Holborn, there is an old -and somewhat gloomy gateway. That gateway is low and dark, but rarely -silent, as from early dawn until late into the night it echoes and -re-echoes with the thunder of the mighty traffic of the great street on -which it opens.</p> - -<p>From early dawn until late into the night may be heard the heavy roll -of omnibuses, the sharp rattle of cabs, the hurried steps of vast -multitudes of foot passengers. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> - -<p>Like the arteries of the living body, that as long as life endures -receives fresh blood from the heart, are the main streets that lead -from "the City," that heart of gigantic London; and from this great -centre of the trade of Europe, the wondrous stream of commerce is for -ever flowing.</p> - -<p>Of these magnificent streets few are more striking to the stranger than -the grand old thoroughfare of Holborn.</p> - -<p>Its width, its length, the precipitous hill over which it passes, the -noble viaduct that now eases the too rapid descent, the memories that -are connected with this, one of the most ancient, as well as one of -the most important streets of the English capital, render it more than -ordinarily interesting to the foreigner, and to the stranger.</p> - -<p>A few of the ancient houses are still in existence, and from their -quaint old casements many royal pageants and many sorrowful processions -have been witnessed.</p> - -<p>Kings and Queens arrayed in gorgeous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> robes, blazing with costly -jewels, and surrounded by glittering courtiers, have gaily moved -onwards amid the blare of trumpets, and the shouts of admiring crowds, -to partake of sumptuous Court festivals.</p> - -<p>In awe-inspiring contrast to the gay trains, and to the beauty and -mirth of the pleasure-seekers so joyously riding forward to fresh -delight, other scenes have, alas! been too frequently witnessed from -these same windows.</p> - -<p>Amid the derisive cries of a savage rabble, or amid the gloomy silence -of a suffering and oppressed people, other and ghastly processions have -also passed this way.</p> - -<p>Merciless guards and black-robed priests are here, and in their midst, -watched with zealous and cruel care, are tottering and emaciated -figures—martyrs on their way to Smithfield, prepared to seal by their -blood the testimony they have borne to the truth of their faith. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> - -<p>Broken down by suffering, with a frame ofttimes racked by the torture -it has undergone, many an heroic heart has still triumphed over the -crushed and mangled body, and with uplifted hands and in fervid accents -the Christian hero, even amidst the flames, praises God, who permits -His faithful servant to testify, though in death, undying love and -confidence in his Divine Father.</p> - -<p>God be thanked, however, that these hideous old times have long since -passed away, and that England is now, by her noble tolerance and -enlightened Christianity, doing much to show the world that it is not -by cruelty and persecution that our holy religion requires to be upheld.</p> - -<p class="space-above">Oldbourne, as it was called in olden times, was early one of the -important thoroughfares in, or rather leading to the City of London, -and although the traffic must in days of yore have been but a faint -shadow of what it now is, still even as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> far back as the reign of -Richard II. it was necessary to make special laws for its good -ordering, by reason of the number of carts, wains, drays, and other -conveyances that passed that way.</p> - -<p>One old chronicler complains thus quaintly:</p> - -<p>"The coachman rides behind his horses' tails," saith he, "he lasheth -them, but looketh not before nor behind him. The drayman sitteth and -sleepeth on his dray, and so letteth his horses lead him home."</p> - -<p>For the better maintenance of safety, it seems that it had been ordered -that the fore horse of every carriage should be led by hand; but we see -that in old days, as indeed is sometimes the case now, such prudent -regulations were but little regarded. So the same old chronicler -mournfully adds: "These wise laws are not faithfully observed."</p> - -<p>In these same old days coaches were unknown, but a singular kind of -chariot,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> or large covered chair, slung upon wheels, and called a -whirlicote, was used by ladies of high rank.</p> - -<p>When Richard II. travelled from Kent to London, the King and all his -Court rode on horseback, but the Queen Mother, being weak and sickly, -made the journey in a whirlicote.</p> - -<p>A new fashion came in vogue the following year, when King Richard -married Princess Anne of Bohemia.</p> - -<p>The fair young Queen made her first appearance in public arrayed in -white robes embroidered in silver, so that "she shone in beauty and -brightness like unto a sweet crescent moon," and to the admiration -of all beholders, she rode gallantly at the King's left hand, seated -sideways on her horse, on a machine called a side-saddle.</p> - -<p>From that moment whirlicotes went out of fashion, and every woman who -was young enough to mount a horse rode sideways like the Queen. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> - -<p>But centuries have passed away, each century, each year indeed, adding -to the mighty stream of traffic, and now the roar of passing vehicles, -the hurrying footsteps of thousands of foot passengers, cease not from -early dawn until late into the night.</p> - -<p>To the unaccustomed ear, to the unaccustomed eye, such overpowering -noise, such perpetual movement, speedily becomes bewildering and even -stupefying. Ear and eye alike are exhausted by the unwonted strain.</p> - -<p>Very few, however, of the many who pass and repass that way, notice the -low, dark archway already mentioned opening on the left-hand side of -the street when proceeding towards the City. Turn down that archway, -and ere twenty steps are made a different world is found. Not only -indeed a different world, but a chance visitor might say with reason -that he is out of the world, the sudden quiet, the sudden peace, is in -such extraordinary contrast to the rush and hurry of the street he has -left. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> - -<p>Instead of the blinding glare, the suffocating dust, the bewildering -noise of Holborn, the quiet court to which this archway leads, rests in -almost monastic calm. Lofty houses intercept the burning rays of the -sun, and cast their soft gray shadows half across the square. Even the -noise of the great street is softened to the ear, and becomes almost -soothing, as the echoes of it fall and are gradually lost amid the -thick old walls.</p> - -<p>The maddening hubbub of carts, cabs, and hurrying feet fades into -an indistinct murmur, like the throbbing of the waves of the great -Atlantic when heard far away inland.</p> - -<p>To one given to idle and desultory wanderings, and to idle and -desultory thoughts, the quaint old nooks and corners that may often -be found in the midst even of the most populous towns, have far more -charms than the busier haunts of men, for to those who love to muse on -bygone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> days there is a strange and constantly increasing fascination -in the conventual quiet, the faded grandeur of many of these time-worn -spots.</p> - -<p>In truth, however, the old squares of that ancient Inn of Court called -Gray's Inn, though quiet and retired, are by no means gloomy. Not only -are they cool and restful in the glowing days of summer, but in their -pleasant courts some remains may still be found of the sweet country -sights, of the sweet country sounds that centuries ago made the drives -and walks by Oldbourne Hill, with its pretty lanes and paths, and its -fragrant hedgerows, the favourite resort, not only of the tired and -heated citizens of London, but also of the great lords whose stately -palaces were either grouped around Westminster, or stretched far along -the picturesque river-bank then, as now, called the Strand.</p> - -<p>No doubt the beautiful and rapidly flowing river had many charms, and -we know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> from Pepys, that during the summer heats its broad bosom was -covered with pleasure-boats and wherries.</p> - -<p>In those days smoke did not darken, nor did evil smells and sights -defile the waters of the sweet Thames. Fair gardens then bordered its -banks, and trees and flowers dipped tendrils and branches into its -waves.</p> - -<p>Still, notwithstanding these attractions, the Londoners dearly loved -Oldbourne Hill, where the fresh cool breezes came from the Kent and -Surrey hills laden with the sweet scent of gorse and broom (that -favourite badge of our Plantagenet Princes), and from the valleys and -sunny slopes below came the richer perfumes of innumerable vineyards -and hop-grounds.</p> - -<p>It is difficult to realise, while wandering amongst the wilderness -of houses that now surrounds and connects the cities of London and -Westminster, that once fair fields and shady woods extended for miles, -where now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> are only found grimy streets and dismal courts. Still more -difficult is it to believe that within the last hundred years these -same fair fields were dangerous to traverse after dark, by reason of -the many footpads who infested the neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>Beyond St. Pancras Church a bell was rung at stated hours, in order -that foot passengers who wished to cross the meadows towards Hampstead -and Highgate, or go to those suburbs called Camden and Somers Towns, -should have the protection of an armed watchman. In those days few -persons ventured abroad after nightfall without carrying some defensive -weapon. Without gas, without police, London streets as well as London -suburbs were fraught with danger.</p> - -<p>Now, when dazzled by the glare of the streets, when wearied by the -overpowering noise of the great town, a shady corner in quiet Gray's -Inn Square seems doubly attractive.</p> - -<p>The bright August sun shines fiercely on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> the opposite pavement. Its -rays glint up and down the façade of the tall houses, here and there -catching the angle of a projecting cornice, then reddening and almost -beautifying some old smoke-blackened chimney.</p> - -<p>Many are the beautiful though rarely-noticed spots of colour these rays -bring to light.</p> - -<p>Tiny atoms of green moss, and of those other hardy lichens that time -gathers round about old tiles, glow like gems when caught by the -flickering beams. Even the shade-loving lycopodiums, that as years -roll on, softly carpet with their minute sprays all the damp, ugly -spots into which the sun rarely penetrates, even these modest plants -grow brighter and more beautiful as the unwonted warmth and sunshine -steal into their secluded corners. With what delicacy and grace does -not Nature soften and re-colour all the injuries that time and man's -neglect so surely bring about!</p> - -<p>As the hours wear on, the restfulness of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> the old precincts grows more -and more sweet. The subdued roar of the great city rises and falls in -measured cadence, and mingles quite pleasantly with the cawing of the -rooks as they slowly wing their way home from their feeding grounds -near Hampstead and Highgate, wheeling and cawing lazily as they circle -round the old trees ere they settle themselves for the night.</p> - -<p>An ancient rookery still exists in the gardens of the Inn, and the soft -evening air, as it sways to and fro the branches of the tall elms in -which the nests have been built, brings with it the delicious scent of -newly-cut grass.</p> - -<p>Well may the Benchers love their Inn. In no other place in London -are there so many pleasant reminders of the fair country that once -surrounded these Courts and Halls.</p> - -<p>When seated in the gardens under the shade of the ancient trees, -listening to the songs and chirpings of innumerable birds, it seems -really incongruous that in so restful a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> spot, where so much speaks -of quiet country life, weighty legal matters are for ever being -transacted. Could we penetrate into the secrets of many of the old, -dark houses that frown around, what tales of anxiety, of suffering, -what histories of the trials that blight men's lives would come to -light.</p> - -<p>To the doctor and to the lawyer the deadly malady, the heart-crushing -anxiety, must ever be told without reserve. No cruel symptom, no ugly -detail, must be concealed. No man may keep a secret from such advisers. -Lawyers as well as doctors must be told not only the truth, but the -whole often hateful truth.</p> - -<p>These old houses could indeed tell many mysterious, many marvellous -tales, but silent as they are, their heavy, solid doorways, their -long, narrow windows, their broad staircases and lofty rooms, are -in themselves a history of the past. They are accurate though mute -evidences of the time when they came into being. A faded grandeur -still hangs about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> them, for they were built when land was not sold -by the foot as it now is, and space was then a luxury comparatively -easily purchased. So the staircases are broad, and the rooms large and -lofty; but years have passed, centuries have passed, and staircases -and passages have grown dusky and dim, and the handsome rooms devoted -only to the stern purposes of life, and uncheered or graced by the -softening presence of woman, have become shabby and harsh of aspect. So -generation after generation of lawyers dwell here and pass away, each -generation leaving an additional shadow of dusky shabbiness upon the -poor old rooms.</p> - -<p>The occupiers of the Inn are for the most part day dwellers only, doing -their work in chambers, and leaving in the evening for their houses -elsewhere.</p> - -<p>Some few bachelors, however, make their home here, and when that is the -case, the sets of chambers so occupied are the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>perfection of comfort. -Those who have the good fortune to know these snug abodes, may well -be eloquent as to their merits. The solid old mahogany tables, the -exquisitely finished Chippendale chairs, are mellow with age, and glow -with the rich gloss produced by much rubbing. Then the fireplaces, so -hospitably deep and ample, where the ruddy flames can so well be seen -as they dart up the great chimneys, casting their light upon the quaint -masks and carvings that adorn the mantel-shelves; they make the ugly -faces laugh as they are caught by the genial light.</p> - -<p>The roomy arm-chairs, too, have assumed the cosy hollowness that speaks -of constant use, and look most invitingly comfortable.</p> - -<p>During summer the long narrow windows will be opened upon the bright -and sunny garden, where great beds of mignonette and long lines of -sweet-peas make the summer air full of fragrance; and not unfrequently -on a warm, drowsy afternoon may be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> heard the soothing tones of a -violoncello played by no unskilful hand, and perchance a tender old -melody of Purcell or Glück, or one of the grand harmonies of Beethoven, -adds yet another charm to the peace and restfulness of the place.</p> - -<p>In short, in many parts of this pleasant Inn old age has attained that -judicious number of years when men wisely discard mere show, and are -content to seek and obtain intense comfort.</p> - -<p>Some of the residents in Gray's Inn are Benchers, and these gentlemen -are not only entitled to chambers, but during Term time an especial -dinner is provided for them in the Great Hall; and as the Society -always numbers amongst its members some of the most distinguished men -of the day, it may readily be understood how interesting and attractive -these meetings are.</p> - -<p class="space-above">Inns of Court were originally so called because the students belonging -to them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> were bound to attend and serve the Courts of Judicature.</p> - -<p>Anciently these colleges received none but the sons of noblemen, and of -those gentlemen whose rank qualified them to do service to the King in -his Court.</p> - -<p>Fortescue affirms that in his time there were about two thousand -students in the Inns of Court and of Chancery, all of whom were <i>filii -nobilium</i>, or gentlemen born. But the rigidity of this rule was -gradually relaxed, and in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Edward -Coke reckons that not more than half the students then studying in the -various Inns were of gentle birth.</p> - -<p>These Inns of Court, that for centuries have been so justly famed for -the education and introduction of men of learning in the law, are -governed by masters, principals, Benchers, stewards, treasurers, and -other officers.</p> - -<p>Amongst their buildings are public halls for exercises, such as -reading, declaiming,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> reciting, etc. At one time every student was -compelled to attend and take part in these exercises for a certain -number of years before he was admitted to plead at the Bar. At the -present day, however, most of these regulations have fallen into -disuse, and are no longer insisted upon.</p> - -<p>The societies have not any judicial authority over their members, but -they have certain orders and rules amongst themselves, which have by -consent the force of laws.</p> - -<p>For slight offences persons are excommoned, or put out of commons. For -graver faults they forfeit their chambers, or, indeed, may be expelled -the college. When an offender has been thus expelled, he can never be -received by any of the other societies.</p> - -<p>The members of these societies, or Inns, may be divided into Benchers, -outer barristers, inner barristers, and students.</p> - -<p>The Inns themselves are divided into,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> and are severally denominated, -Inns of Chancery and Inns of Court.</p> - -<p>The most ancient of the former is Thavies Inn, which was begun in -the reign of Edward III. The other Inns of Chancery are New Inn, -Symond's Inn, Clement's Inn, Clifford's Inn (once the property of -Lord Clifford), Staples' Inn (so called because it had belonged to -the Merchants of the Staple), Lion Inn (formerly an ordinary hostelry -for travellers, bearing the sign of the Lion), Furnival's Inn, and -Barnard's Inn.</p> - -<p>Inns of Chancery were, in the earlier centuries, considered as a -preparatory college for the younger students, who could here pursue the -studies that would enable them to be admitted into the Inns of Court.</p> - -<p>The four principal Inns of Court are the Inner Temple, the Middle -Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>Gray's Inn formerly belonged to Lord Gray, and Lincoln's Inn to the -Earl of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> Lincoln. The Inner and Middle Temple, once the dwellings of -the famous Knights Templar, were purchased about three hundred years -ago by the then leading Professors of the Common Law.</p> - -<p>There are also two other Inns, those of the Serjeants of the Law.</p> - -<p>The general daily life in the Inns of Court during olden times, is -described by Fortescue with much minuteness, and appears to have been -both varied and attractive:</p> - -<p>"On working days most of the students applied themselves to the study -of the law, and on holy days to the study of Holy Scripture. At the -same time, however, the students were not allowed to neglect lighter -pursuits, for they learned to sing, and to exercise themselves in all -kind of harmony, and they also made provision for the exercise and -consequent health of the body, for they constantly practised dancing -and other noblemen's pastimes. They did everything in peace and amity."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> - -<p>This last assertion appears somewhat startling in an age when scenes of -brawling and fighting were of almost daily occurrence in the streets of -London. However, it may be presumed that in these old times the heads -of societies, having young men to take care of, did try to take care of -them, and did not leave them quite so much to themselves as is the case -in these modern days.</p> - -<p>No doubt, there is much to be said in favour of training boys, as early -as possible, to be self-dependent.</p> - -<p>We are proud, and proud with reason, of "Our Boys." Still the most -sanguine amongst us must admit that there is room for improvement in -the system that is adopted in most of our schools and colleges.</p> - -<p>It is the fashion now to deem that old heads can be seated on very -young shoulders. These young fellows, scarcely more than children in -years, are left to their own guidance, both morally and physically. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> - -<p>We may indeed glory in our boys in many respects. They are manly, -honourable, brave, and truthful, with a truthfulness that makes many a -parent's heart beat high with pride and pleasure; and yet, in how many -households has not the sad knowledge come that the boys so loved, so -gloried in, are ignorant and selfish—ignorant of most of the branches -of useful knowledge, having tacitly been permitted to adopt habits of -grievous self-indulgence?</p> - -<p>When the young fellow has to enter upon his profession, when he has -really to fight the battle of life, how often is it not found that -the expensive education bestowed upon him (often at the cost of much -self-denial from the rest of the family) is worth absolutely nothing?</p> - -<p>Now that the fruit of so much learning has to be gathered, it is -discovered that there is actually no fruit to gather; that, in order -to be eligible even for the contest of these competitive examinations, -a young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> man who has been at school for years has to learn the very -rudiments of necessary knowledge, and must <i>cram</i> himself in a few -months, and at a dire expenditure of money and health, in those very -subjects that he has so long been <i>nominally</i> studying.</p> - -<p>In how few schools are writing, English composition, arithmetic, -geography, or modern languages thoroughly taught? And yet these are the -very subjects absolutely essential for a candidate in a competitive -examination.</p> - -<p>Then again, with regard to those who study hard. How many and how sad -are the cases where the student has broken down physically, because due -care had not been taken of the bodily health, while the brain had been -unduly taxed?</p> - -<p>There are, doubtless, exceptional instances of genius so marvellous -that work comes easily both to mind and body. These are the men who -become eventually our great statesmen, our great lawyers; but these -mighty ones are the exception, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> the rule. Few, indeed, are they -whose talents and whose powers enable them to overcome every difficulty.</p> - -<p>For the most part the learned student sinks into a frail and -over-sensitive man, whose weak physical strength breaks down under a -too severe mental strain. Often, indeed, it does so on the very eve of -victory.</p> - -<p>One of the most touching, and yet one of the truest and most vivid -pictures ever given to us by that great writer Bulwer, is the sorrowful -story in "Pelham" of the gentle and learned scholar, a student so -skilled in book learning that he had distanced all his compeers of -the day, and yet so feeble in health, so deficient in what is called -common-sense, that he was incapable of ruling his own household, or of -coping with the every-day affairs of life.</p> - -<p>Surely there must be some means by which those appointed to rule can -exercise a discreet supervision over the boys<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> and young men entrusted -to their care. A supervision which, while not entrenching on their -liberty, will yet lead into right ways those who are entering on the -varied and dangerous paths of life.</p> - -<p>Some wise writer has said: "More education is effected during the -<i>amusements</i> of youth than is gained by all the <i>studies</i> to which -teachers give such zealous care."</p> - -<p>Now, in most places where boys are being trained, it seems a point -of honour that out of school the masters shall never interfere, nor, -indeed, in most cases do they appear.</p> - -<p class="space-above">Besides the practices of olden times already mentioned the ancient -custom called "Moots" must not be forgotten.</p> - -<p>Gray's Inn was especially conspicuous for those exercises, which Stow -calls "Boltes," "Mootes," or "putting of cases," for the "Boltes" were -conversational <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>arguments addressed to or put to a student by a Bencher -and two barristers in private.</p> - -<p>Subsequently, when the student had become a sufficiently expert -"Bolter," he was admitted to the "Mootes," where questions upon legal -matters were debated by the students in the presence of the Benchers of -the Society.</p> - -<p>The object of these exercises was to promote the faculty of ready -speaking, and, in order to secure this end, the disputants were kept in -ignorance of the topic to be argued until called upon to discuss it.</p> - -<p>The case, drawn up by the Reader, was laid upon the salt-cellar before -meals; none were permitted to look into it under pain of expulsion from -the Society.</p> - -<p>These discussions were strictly legal, and the proceedings were -conducted as nearly as possible in like manner to those of the Courts -themselves. "About the end of the 17th century," says Lord <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>Campbell, -"Mootes fell into disuse, and they have now entirely ceased."</p> - -<p>It is in such institutions as these Inns of Court and other similar -communities, that the old feudal feeling respecting ancient servitors -has been retained in much of its pristine integrity. Many of the old -servants and inferior officers of Grays Inn may be said to belong to -the place by right of descent. They were born within its precincts, -they have been trained beneath the shadows of its old walls. In their -youth they began their course of serving under the guidance of father, -or grandfather, and now, in their old age, have in their turns some -post of trust and responsibility confided to them.</p> - -<p>There is something especially delightful and heart-stirring in the -service of gray-headed men who have passed their lives in the same -place, serving the same masters.</p> - -<p>Shakespeare felt this, when, in describing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> old Adam in <i>As You Like -It</i>, he makes the old man say:</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>Master, go on, and I will follow thee,</div> -<div>To the last gasp, with love and loyalty.</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>Most of the old servitors in Gray's Inn are well-educated, -well-informed men, and are in general fully acquainted with the -histories, traditions, and quaint biographies connected with the -ancient Courts wherein their lives have been passed.</p> - -<p>The chief objects of their pride and affection, are of course the -Benchers. For the Benchers they entertain the profound reverence that -so powerful a body of learned men is entitled to expect, and this -respect is mingled at the same time with the affectionate solicitude -that old servants have for kind and esteemed masters.</p> - -<p>They feel a great interest in the students, although they regard them -for the most part as wild young fellows, promising, no doubt, but still -far from possessing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> talents of former generations of lawyers. They -will sometimes, indeed, shake their heads dolefully over the degeneracy -of young men of to-day, when compared with the youth of the celebrated -personages, whose names adorn the walls of the great hall.</p> - -<p>Respecting the old buildings and old customs of the Inn they love to -dilate for the hour together, and even the rooks come in for a share -of their affection, and also for a considerable amount of anxiety, for -this venerable community shows alarming symptoms of decay, the aërial -colony having sadly diminished of late years.</p> - -<p>In vain has the welfare of the infant progeny been tenderly watched -over, latterly many unnatural parent rooks appear to have taken a -dislike to their own offspring, and in that case peck the little ones -to death without thought of parental duty.</p> - -<p>One old gray-headed rook, who is always the first to arrive on the -ground when <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>feeding time has come, and who hops about with an -uncommonly consequential air, from all accounts appears to be a perfect -reprobate among his fellows. The number of wives he has cruelly -injured, and the number of children he has kicked out of the nest have -acquired for him the evil reputation of being the ringleader of the -badly disposed of the feathered tribe.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, also, there is reason to fear that so bad an example -has perverted several of the younger husbands and fathers. Infanticide -has indeed of late so much increased, that it has now become a matter -of grave consideration whether it will not be advisable to inflict the -extreme punishment of the law upon the chief criminal. It is feared -that it will be necessary to put this venerable gray head to death, -as a terrible example to all rooks, and as a warning to all intending -sinners.</p> - -<p>Unhappily it must be admitted that the diminution of these interesting -inhabitants<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> of the higher regions is not altogether owing to their -domestic delinquencies. It is, no doubt, partly caused by the rapid -growth of London, and the great distance the rooks have now to traverse -in order to arrive at their natural feeding grounds.</p> - -<p>Another and deplorable cause arises from the decay and unavoidable -destruction of some of the oldest trees.</p> - -<p>In former years there was a very large rookery in the gardens of Gray's -Inn. In 1875, however, storms and severe winters had so broken and -damaged many of the largest trees that it was necessary to cut them -down. This was done in March, and in April, to the consternation of the -inhabitants of the Inn, the rooks departed in a body, as if indignant -at being thus despoiled of a portion of their dominions.</p> - -<p>For nearly a month not a bird appeared; then about six pair shyly -returned, as if unwilling to quit for ever so fair and so peaceful a -dwelling. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> - -<p>The other wanderers have never come back; but the little colony, though -so much diminished from what it was in days of yore, still flourishes -and indeed prospers.</p> - -<p>There are more nests this spring than there have been for several past -years, and it may therefore be hoped that this ancient rookery may long -continue to be one of the charms and attractions of Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>Its existence undoubtedly mainly depends upon the durability of the -grand and beautiful dwelling-places of the birds, the noble old elms, -and unhappily such old elm trees are dangerous neighbours. With age -their wood becomes not only brittle, but peculiarly liable to internal -decay.</p> - -<p>After the heavy rains that so often succeed dry summers, huge branches, -sometimes the tree itself, will fall without warning. Such accidents -not unfrequently occur in calm and quiet weather when danger is not -suspected; the vicinity of elm trees is therefore perilous to life as -well as to neighbouring buildings. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> - -<p>Besides rooks, many other birds, rare to London, may not unfrequently -be found in the pleasant gardens of Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>Dun, or hooded crows, have occasionally been seen here, and even -jackdaws sometimes come for a meal.</p> - -<p>As for the starling, this clever bird knows where he is well off, he is -therefore a very constant visitor. Many delicate little songsters too, -who, having escaped from their cages, find that the liberty they have -gained has only made them persecuted waifs and strays in the wilderness -of London, seem to know, by intuition, that here they are not only in -safety, but secure of a kind welcome.</p> - -<p>Goldfinches, chaffinches, green and gray linnets, the lesser redpole, -robins, willow-wren, even the song-thrush may from time to time be -found here, and, perched on the lower branches of the trees, reward the -kind hands that have given them food by pouring forth some of their -sweetest and most touching songs. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> - -<p>During the last three winters the tiny tomtit, with his pretty blue -head and delicate yellow breast, has made his appearance, and amongst -the rarer visitors are fieldfares, redwings, and the great titmouse.</p> - -<p>As for the pert little friendly sparrows, they are evidently aware that -this is the land of plenty, so they hop about the old Courts with an -assuming air of assured proprietorship; and from house-top, doorsill, -and projecting eave, chirp condescending acknowledgments of the good -things they enjoy.</p> - -<p>But why linger in the old Courts when the soft west wind is murmuring -so invitingly amongst the branches of the tall trees? Even the birds -cannot remain quiet this bright summer's evening. See how they are -flitting in and out the masses of dark green leaves, perching first -here, then there, and peeping into every crack and crevice of the old -bark. Now, many dart upwards to the topmost branches, whence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> they pour -forth their summer gladness in a burst of joyous song.</p> - -<p>Let us go to the pleasant gardens—gardens so pleasant, not only in -themselves, but also charming with all the associations of past ages; -so connected with the pleasant hours passed here by men both learned -and celebrated in our history.</p> - -<p>Every ancient tree has its story; every sunny grass-plot could relate a -little romance.</p> - -<p>How many a love tale has doubtless been told and listened to in these -quiet alcoves? How many a courtly dame has gloried in the compliments -paid to her beauty when walking on these smooth lawns?</p> - -<p>There is every reason to believe that these gardens were designed and -laid out in 1597 by Lord Bacon, who was then treasurer of Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>Do we not all know how dearly this great and clever man loved gardens? -He says: "God Almighty first planted a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> garden; and, indeed, it is -the purest of human pleasures; it is the greatest refreshment to the -spirits of man."</p> - -<p>In the accounts of the Inn about that date appear the following items:</p> - -<p>"4th July, 1597. Ordered that the summee of £7 15<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i> due to Mr. -Bacon, for planting of elm trees in the walkes be paid next term;" and -again, in the following year, there was an order made for the supply -of more young elms, etc., the cost of which, as appears by Mr. Bacon's -accounts, was £60 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>, a very large sum in those days.</p> - -<p>We learn also from Howell's "Familiar Letters" and from Pepys' "Diary," -that Gray's Inn Walks were at one time a fashionable promenade. Howell, -writing from Venice in 1621, to a friend residing in Gray's Inn, says: -"I hold your walks to be the pleasantest place about London, and that -you have there the choicest society." Pepys seems to have frequently -visited Gray's Inn Gardens as appears by his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> "Diary": "4th May, 1662. -When church was done my wife and I walked to Gray's Inn to observe -fashions of the ladies, because of my wife's making some clothes."</p> - -<p>Cannot we picture to ourselves quiet Mrs. Pepys carefully scanning the -gay apparel of the fine ladies as they passed to and fro? daintily -walking with the little mincing French step that the fair Lady -Castlemaine had brought into fashion? The good little wife absorbed -in the many intricacies of plaits and puckers, weighing the several -advantages to be obtained by the use of plain or damask stuffs, all -unconscious, probably, that her volatile husband was as curiously -scanning the black eyes and pretty faces that had such overpowering -attractions for his wandering fancy.</p> - -<p>Pepys again says:</p> - -<p>"17th August, 1662. I was very well pleased with the sight of a fine -lady that I have often seen walk in Gray's Inn Gardens." </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> - -<p>Dryden, in his "Sir Martin Marall," 1661, makes the following reference -to Gray's Inn Walks:</p> - -<p>"<i>Sir John Shallow.</i> But where did you appoint to meet him?</p> - -<p>"<i>Mrs. Millicent.</i> In Gray's Inn Walks."</p> - -<p>Addison, in the <i>Spectator</i>, selects the terrace in Gray's Inn Gardens -as the place where Sir Roger de Coverley enjoys his morning walk. He -describes the dear old baronet as "hemming twice or thrice to himself -with great vigour, for he loves to clear his pipes in good air, to make -use of his own phrase, and is not a little pleased with any one who -takes notice of the strength which he still exerts in his morning hems."</p> - -<p>Charles Lamb, in his delightful "Essays of Elia," gives an interesting -description of these gardens, adding, however, an indignant protest -against the injury their beauty had received from the ugly pile of -houses called Verulam Buildings, that had been recently erected. He -says: </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I am ill at dates, but I think it is now better than five-and-twenty -years ago that, walking in the gardens at Gray's Inn—they were then -finer than they are now—the accursed Verulam Buildings had not -encroached upon all the east side of them, cutting out delicate green -crankles, and shouldering away one of two of the stately alcoves of -the terrace. The survivor stands, gaping and relationless, as if it -remembered its brother. They are still the best gardens of any of -the Inns of Court—my beloved Temple not forgotten—have the gravest -character, their aspect being altogether revered and law-breathing. -Bacon has left the impress of his foot upon their gravel walks."</p> - -<p>If the gardens give the summer charm to these old precincts, the grand -old Hall is the glory, and may well be called the heart of Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>Seventy feet in length, thirty-five in width, and forty-seven in -height, it is in truth a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> stately chamber, yet so harmonious are its -proportions, so graceful are its details, that the spectator knows not -which to admire most, the simple grandeur of its size, the delicate -beauty of the old stained glass windows, or the rich deep colouring -that time has given to the oaken panelling as well as to the heavy -oaken furniture.</p> - -<p>At the east end is a raised daïs, the place of honour, on which stands -the table reserved for the Benchers and their guests.</p> - -<p>The students dine in the body of the Hall, and the great black oak -tables and settles that they use were placed here in the reign of Queen -Elizabeth. As they were then, so they are now, and so they may probably -remain for as many more hundred years.</p> - -<p>In those good or bad old times, wood and labour were of comparatively -little value, so furniture was then massive, and often decorated with -a lavish richness of detail that a modern upholsterer would dread as -much as he would admire, so great would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> be the modern cost both of the -material and the work expended on it. How many remnants of the tables -and chairs of this veneering age will there be in another century?</p> - -<p>Near the daïs is a great oriel window, that beautiful characteristic -of the Tudor period; the old coloured glass, rich with the armorial -bearings of the Society, and emblazoned also with names well known and -distinguished in our English history.</p> - -<p>An elaborately carved oaken screen at the opposite end of the Hall -conceals the entrance vestibule, and supports a Minstrel Gallery, -another delightful adjunct to the large Halls of the fifteenth and -sixteenth centuries.</p> - -<p>The screen itself is of quaint but handsome design, and is especially -interesting, as its decorations denote the period when it was erected. -Short, thick Ionic columns, carved in arabesque with scroll ornaments, -are surmounted by a range of semicircular<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> arches. Above these is a -balustrade of open carving enclosing the Minstrels' Gallery.</p> - -<p>Fortunately restorations have not been needed, nor have alterations -been made since the screen was placed here. As years have rolled on, -therefore, the solid old oak has acquired that richness of tone and -beauty of colouring that time alone can give.</p> - -<p>Above the gallery is a large traceried window, and, as on the north and -south walls are nine mullioned and transomed windows, the Great Hall is -bright, well-lighted, and cheerful.</p> - -<p>The great space between windows and floor is oak-panelled, and enriched -by the coats of arms of members of the Society who have filled the -office of treasurer.</p> - -<p>There is something pleasant, but nevertheless sad, in reading over the -names of many, honoured in their time, still honoured here in this -venerable Inn of Court, but yet how long ago forgotten by the world -without. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> - -<p>Forgotten long ago, although as English laws are founded on precedent, -and not upon written codes, celebrated English lawyers probably make -more mark upon English history than great men of other professions.</p> - -<p>In every Government the Lord Chancellor is invariably a member of the -Cabinet, and most of our leading statesmen have begun their career by -studying, even if they have not practised, the profession of the Law. -Still how very many there are, who, famous in their time, have passed -away from all men's remembrance, and but for the names inscribed on -these parental old walls, have struggled, gained the prize, and yet -have again faded into the darkness from which they fought so hard to -emerge.</p> - -<p>Truly the glory of this world is but a shadow, nought but a faint -glimmer of a brief and perishing light.</p> - -<p>The fine open roof of the Hall, with its great hammer-beam timbers, is -also a grand relic of the past; but the ancient<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> <i>reredos</i>, or brass -grate which once stood in the centre of the chamber, as well as its -<i>louvre</i>—or smoke chimney—has been removed, and replaced by a modern -stove. A great lapse from beauty, but, nevertheless, a change that -contributes much to warmth and comfort.</p> - -<p>The exterior of the building has, unhappily, been modernised, and, in -accordance with the bad taste that prevailed during the greater part of -the last century, the venerable brickwork has been covered with stucco.</p> - -<p>It seems extraordinary that this miserable pretence of stone should at -one time have been so universally adopted in England, because, while -subject to the same discolouration and decay that injure stone in -this damp climate, age does not bestow upon it either dignity or rich -colouring.</p> - -<p>Happily, fine brickwork is now beginning to be appreciated. Not only -is it rich in point of colour, but, skilfully used, the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> delicate -ornamentation can be obtained. Witness, for instance, the glorious old -church of San Ambrogio in Milan, and in many churches of towns in North -Italy, where bricks have been used without any admixture of stone or -marble.</p> - -<p>It must not be supposed that the noble and dignified old Hall of Gray's -Inn has been used solely for the pleasures of the table.</p> - -<p>Many a gay masque, many a joyous revel has been held within its ancient -walls.</p> - -<p>Royalty itself has frequently honoured by its presence the balls, -banquets, marriage feasts, and other "merrie makings" given by the -Honourable Society of Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>Queen Elizabeth came here soon after her accession to the throne.</p> - -<p>The fair maiden Queen, then in the early bloom of youth, deigned to -tread a measure on the floor of the Hall, and her beauty and grace so -turned the heads of some of the more impressionable students,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> that two -of them became raving mad from love for their Royal and unapproachable -mistress.</p> - -<p>Knowing how hopeless their passion was, these luckless young fellows -resolved to put themselves to death. They could not endure their cruel -torment; like the Persians, they declared their hearts were burnt up -with fire, and that life had become but a burden to them.</p> - -<p>The legend, however, only relates their sufferings, their struggles, -and their desperate purpose. It is silent as to whether these fatal -intentions were ever carried into execution. It may be hoped, -therefore, that these love-sick youths recovered in time from their -love fit. The study of the law does not tend to foster romance, and -hard work in most cases is an effectual panacea against the blighting -effects of hopeless passion.</p> - -<p>Standing in the old Hall, we can see, in fancy, the grand and -picturesque <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>entertainment. We can see the young and graceful, -though somewhat stern-faced girl, queening it so royally amongst her -enthusiastic admirers. How happy she is now in her consciousness of -youth, and consequent beauty, in her royal dignity, a Queen at last in -her glorious kingdom. Above all, especially happy in being at length -free, no longer in daily terror of a prison or a scaffold. No longer -dreading to have to seal by her blood her resolve to keep intact her -royal position as heir to the throne, safe at last from the terror of -being called on to lay down her life ere she would abjure her religion -for that of her bigot sister Mary.</p> - -<p>No wonder the young Sovereign was then bright and happy.</p> - -<p>It is sad to think of the changes that years brought about. It is sad -to think of the suspicious, cold-hearted, merciless old woman, signing -not only the death warrant of the beautiful cousin of whom she was so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> -jealous, but also the death warrants of the men whom she had professed -to love.</p> - -<p>Truly it may be said that envy, malice, and uncharitableness are -the vices to which the great and prosperous are peculiarly exposed. -Greatness and prosperity eventually produce the very whips that scourge -those who have not been constantly chastened by care and sorrow; for -the Almighty bestows His good gifts far more equally than we mortals -can in general either perceive or understand.</p> - -<p>There is a peace of heart in lowly stations that the great can but -seldom enjoy. The biography of celebrated monarchs and statesmen -sufficiently shows that no rank, however exalted, is exempt from -mortifications and annoyances, trying alike to temper and to pride, -and it is very evident from such histories that the noblest of all -governments, the government of oneself, is far more difficult of -attainment for the exalted than for the humbler inhabitants of earth. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> - -<p>Not only during Queen Elizabeth's reign, but at a much earlier period, -the Inns of Court had been celebrated for the magnificence of their -masques and revels.</p> - -<p>The first entertainment of this kind, of which there is any certain -record, took place at Gray's Inn in the year 1525.</p> - -<p>Hall in his chronicle thus speaks of it:</p> - -<p>"A Plaie at Gray's Inn. This Christmas was a goodly disguising played -at Gray's Inn, which was compiled by John Roo, Serjeant at the Law, -twenty years past. This plae was so set forth with rich and costly -apparel, and with strange devices of masks and morrisches, that it -was highly praised by all men, except by the Cardinal (Wolsey), who -imagined the play was devised of him. In a great fury he sent for -Master Roo, and took from him his Coif, and sent him to the Fleet, and -afterwards he sent for the young gentlemen that played in the play, and -highly rebuked and threatened them, and sent one of them, called Master -Moyle of Kent, to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> Fleet, but by means of friends Master Roo and he -were delivered at last.</p> - -<p>"This play sore displeased the Cardinal, and yet it was never meant for -him; wherefore many wise men grudged to see him take it so to heart; -and even the Cardinal said the King (Henry VIII.) was highly displeased -at it, and spake nothing of himself."</p> - -<p>This unfortunate play seems to have made a great stir at the time, for -not only Hall, but Fox, in his "Acts and Monuments," thus alludes to -the performance when writing of a certain Simon Fish, who also belonged -to Gray's Inn. Fox says:</p> - -<p>"It happened the first year this gentleman came to London to dwell, -which was about the year of our Lord, 1525, that there was a certain -play, or interlude, made by one M. Roo, of the same Inn, gentleman, -in which play partly was matter against the Cardinal Wolsey; and when -none durst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> take upon them to play that part which touched the said -Cardinal, this aforesaid Mr. Fish took upon him to do it. Whereupon -great displeasure ensued against him on the Cardinal's part, insomuch -as he, being pursued by the said Cardinal the same night that this -tragedy was played, was compelled of force to avoid his own house, and -so fled over the sea to Tindal."</p> - -<p>It is singular that neither Hall nor Fox makes any mention of the name -of the play that had such unhappy results for the luckless gentlemen -who took part in it.</p> - -<p>The powerful Cardinal was a dread enemy. He brooked neither insult nor -slight, and, when angered, was apt to carry out his vengeance with a -completeness that, at the least, brought ruin on his victims. Happy -indeed were they did they escape with their lives.</p> - -<p>The two offenders on this occasion paid a heavy price for their night's -amusement. Their professional prospects were destroyed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> for ever, their -names were erased from the list of Gray's Inn, and never again appeared -on it. To Roo, a Serjeant in the Law of twenty years' standing, such a -penalty must have been a cruel blow.</p> - -<p class="space-above">Hard work seems to have been seasoned with much amusement in the merry -days of Queen Bess, for at no period do we read of so many masques, -revels, and such like entertainments as during the reign of our maiden -Queen.</p> - -<p>Men of all ages and ranks, even those devoted to the learned and -severe study of the law, indulged themselves to the full in these -amusements. Judges and statesmen condescended to arrange and fashion -the festivities, and occasionally indeed took part in them, nothing -daunted by the fact that they not unfrequently ended in brawls and -fighting. Men fought fiercely too in these turbulent times, and the -arms then in common use were formidable weapons.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> It was the custom to -carry bucklers with a point or poke, as it was called, in the centre, -from ten to twelve inches in length. Every haberdasher sold these -bucklers, and their use became so much abused, that, in the eighth year -of Elizabeth, a proclamation was issued prohibiting the sale of any of -which the poke exceeded two inches in length. At the same time, the -length of swords was limited to one yard and half a quarter, nor was -any dagger to have a blade above twelve inches long.</p> - -<p>In the records we have respecting many of these gay doings and -magnificent festivals, Gray's Inn and the Temple appear to have taken -the lead, and at last a sort of union was entered into between the two -Inns. Over the great gates of the gardens of the Inner Temple appears -the "Griffin" of Gray's Inn, whilst over the principal entrance in -Gray's Inn Square, is carved in bold relief the "Winged Horse" of the -Inner Temple. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> - -<p>A curious pamphlet, published in 1594, commemorates this union. It -is entitled, "Gesta Grayorium, or the History of the High and Mighty -Prince, Henry Prince of Purpoole, etc."</p> - -<p>It gives a very detailed account of a grand masque that took place on -the 20th December, with a minute description of the rich and quaint -costumes worn by the actors who took part therein.</p> - -<p>There is reason to think that Lord Bacon himself organised this revel, -and also assisted in its preparation.</p> - -<p>On the said 20th December, it being St. Thomas's Eve, the Prince of -Purpoole, as he is termed (Purpoole being the name of the property on -which Gray's Inn was built), accompanied by a long train of courtiers -and followers, marched in procession from his lodgings in the Inn to -the Great Hall, where all things had with fitting dignity been prepared -for his reception.</p> - -<p>Here he seated himself on a magnificent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> throne, having over his head -a canopy made of rich cloth of state. His great Lords and Councillors -grouped themselves around him. Below the daïs were seated his learned -council and his learned lawyers, while the numerous officers and -attendants of his Court were arranged becomingly in their proper places.</p> - -<p>The narrator dilates with much enthusiasm on the magnificence and -beauty of the spectacle, and we can well believe the effect must have -been fine. Still, in these prosaic days, we find it difficult to -understand the Lord High Chancellor and the Queen's Judges of the High -Court of Justice giving much thought and time to an entertainment of -this description.</p> - -<p>However, there is no doubt that in these same riotous, fighting, -turbulent, and yet romantic times such spectacles did excite prodigious -interest. Our chronicler continues to relate, that common report had so -cried up the merits of this especial <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>performance, that the expectation -of strangers, both English and foreign, was greatly excited, insomuch -that it became necessary to repeat it, and to have many grand nights -especially arranged for the entertainment of distinguished strangers.</p> - -<p>Unhappily however, then, as is sometimes the case now, the crowd of -spectators greatly exceeded the space provided for their accommodation. -The multitude of beholders, indeed, was so considerable that there was -not convenient room for those who were actors. Many of the performers -among the Templarians (as they were then called) left the Hall so -displeased and angry that their discontent resulted in blows, and the -fighting became so furious that the next day it was found necessary to -have an inquiry into the cause of "these disorders."</p> - -<p>Nothing daunted, however, by the ill-success of their opening night, -the revellers organised another grand performance on the 3rd January -following, in honour of a great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> number of ambassadors, knights, -ladies, and other worshipful personages, amongst whom were the Lord -Keeper, the Lords Shrewsbury, Burleigh, Cumberland, most of the -officers of State and of the Queen's household, and it is said all -these guests had convenient places and very good entertainment.</p> - -<p>The Temple and Gray's Inn were now reconciled and had become friendly -again, so the day after this entertainment the Prince of Purpoole, -accompanied by the "Ambassadors of Templaria," and attended by eighty -gentlemen of Gray's Inn and the Temple (each of them wearing a plume on -his head), dined in state with the Lord Mayor at Crosby Place.</p> - -<p>The next grand night was upon Twelfth Night, on which occasion there -was again a great company of lords, ladies, and knights; and at -Shrovetide the Prince and his company visited Queen Elizabeth at -Greenwich. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> - -<p>After the performance Her Majesty "willed the Lord Chamberlain that the -gentlemen should be invited on the next day, and that he should present -them to her," which was done, and Her Majesty gave them her hand to -kiss, with most gracious words of commendation to them, "particularly -and in general of Gray's Inn, as an house that she was much beholden -unto, for that it did always study for some sports to present unto her."</p> - -<p>The same night there was fighting at "Barriers," at which the Prince -behaved so valiantly and skilfully that the prize, a jewel set with -seventeen diamonds and four rubies, was presented to him by the Queen.</p> - -<p>The following order of Pension, to defray the expenses of the above -entertainment, was made on February 9th, 37th Elizabeth.</p> - -<p>"At this Pension it is ordered that every Reader of this House, towards -the charges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> of the shows and sports before Her Majesty at Shrovetide -last year, shall pay ten shillings, and every Ancient six shillings and -eightpence, and every Utter Barrister five shillings, and every other -Gentleman of this Society, three shillings and sixpence before the end -of this term."</p> - -<p>There is a tradition in Gray's Inn that the screen already mentioned -under the gallery in the Great Hall, as well as the dining tables now -used in the Hall, were given to the Society by that Queen as tokens of -Her Majesty's regard.</p> - -<p>Queen Elizabeth's memory is still held in much affection by the ever -loyal subjects in Gray's Inn, and on the Grand Day of each term "the -glorious, pious, and immortal memory of good Queen Bess" is still -solemnly given in Hall.</p> - -<p>In 1613, "the Maske of Flowers was presented by the Gentlemen of -Graie's Inn, in the Banqueting House, at the Court of Whitehall, on -the occasion of the marriage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> of the Earle of Somerset with the Lady -Frances, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk."</p> - -<p>In "The Court and Times of King James I.," there is a letter from I. -Chamberlaine, dated 23rd December, 1613, in which he says:</p> - -<p>"Sir Francis Bacon prepares a masque to honour their marriage which -will stand him in above £2,000, and, although he has been offered some -help by the House, and especially by Mr. Solicitor Sir Henry Yelverton, -who would have sent him £500, yet he would not accept it."</p> - -<p>The story of this masque was published the following year, with a -dedication "to the verie honourable Sir Francis Bacon, His Majesty's -Attorney-General."</p> - -<p>The dedication states:</p> - -<p>"That you have graced in general the Societies of the Innes of Court in -continuing them still as third persons with the nobility and Court, in -doing the King honour, and particularly Graie's Inne, which, as you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -have formerly brought to flourish both in the ancienter and younger -sort by countenancing virtue in every quality, so now you have made a -notable demonstration thereof in the lighter and less serious kind."</p> - -<p>The members of this learned Society did not always, it appears, amuse -themselves in so discreet a manner, for there is a letter in the same -book, "The Court and Times of James I.," relating that:</p> - -<p>"The gentlemen of Gray's Inn, to make an end of Christmas, on Twelfth -Night, at the dead time of the night, shot off all the chambers (small -cannon), which they had borrowed from the Tower, being as many as -filled four carts.</p> - -<p>"The King, awakened by this noise, started out of his bed, and cried: -'Treason! treason!' So the City was in an uproar, in such sort, as it -is said, that the whole Court was raised, and almost in arms, the Earl -of Arundel running to the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>bed-chamber, with his sword drawn, as to -rescue the King's person."</p> - -<p>The following sketch of a ticket of admission to the masque at Gray's -Inn on the 2nd February, 1682, is taken from Nichol's "Progresses of -Elizabeth:"</p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/ticket.jpg" alt="ticket" /></div> - -<p>This entertainment is thus alluded to by Luttrell in his diary:</p> - -<p>"On Saturday the 4th inst., the revells began at Graie's Inn. On 23rd -January, Sir Richard Gipps, master of the revells at Graie's Inn, -attended by his revellers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> and comptrollers, went to Whitehall in one -of His Majesty's coaches, with several noble men's coaches, and six -horses, to invite the King and Queen, the Duke (York) and Duchesse, -and the rest of the Court, to a mask at Graie's Inn, on Candlemas Day; -and accordingly there was great preparation that day, diverse of the -nobility and gentry in masks attended, who danced in the Hall, and -afterwards were entertained with a splendid banquet."</p> - -<p>Evelyn had already spoken of these revels in terms of contempt and -disapprobation, terming them "solemn fooleries," and regretting that -the King countenanced them and the deep play that usually concluded the -evening. He says:</p> - -<p>"6th January, 1661-2.—This evening, according to custome, His Majesty -opened the revells (at Lincoln's Inn) of that night, by throwing the -dice himself in the privy chamber, where was a table set on purpose, -and lost his £100 (the year before he won<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> £1,500). The ladies also -plaid very deepe.... Sorry I am that such a wretched custome as play -to that excess should be countenanced in a Court that ought to be an -example of virtue to the rest of the Kingdom."</p> - -<p>During the troubled reign of James II., and during the first year -of that of William III., men's minds were too harassed by political -anxieties to allow them much time, or indeed inclination, to indulge -in such costly and somewhat tedious entertainments. Money was scarce -in England, and the few who had any, cautiously concealed even the -semblance of riches, not knowing what changes a few years might produce.</p> - -<p>Who, indeed, could predict with reasonable probability what King would -rule over the land, or, indeed, which Church would gain the supremacy?</p> - -<p>From this period these masques fell into disrepute, and the last record -of so many gay revels is in 1773, on the occasion of Mr. Talbot being -elevated to the woolsack. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> - -<p>After a long and elaborate dinner, every member of each mess had a -flask of claret, besides the usual allowance of port and sack.</p> - -<p>The Benchers then all assembled in the Great Hall, and a large ring was -formed round the fireplace, when the Master of the Revels taking the -Lord Chancellor by the right hand, he with his left took Mr. Justice -Page, who, joined to the other Serjeants and Benchers, danced about the -coal fire according to the old ceremony three times, while the ancient -song, accompanied with music, was sung by one Tony Aston, dressed as a -barrister.</p> - -<p>It is difficult to understand so dignified a personage as the Lord High -Chancellor inaugurating his accession to office by such an after-dinner -dance.</p> - -<p>Perhaps the extra flask of claret, following the usual port wine and -sack, may have had something to do with so singular a proceeding.</p> - -<p>At any rate, after this remarkable festival,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> all such hilarious -proceedings ceased, and henceforward the great dinners were given with -all befitting and solemn dignity.</p> - -<p>If the grand old Hall may be deemed the heart of Gray's Inn, then the -jewelled crown that is the noblest ornament of this time-honoured abode -of learning may be said to have been created by the distinguished men -who have grown up under her fostering care, whose studies have been -matured within the shelter of her old walls.</p> - -<p>Names are inscribed here—on the panels, on the windows, in the -hall—the very sight of which must fire the heart of many a student -with pride and hope.</p> - -<p>However poor he may be, however lowly his birth, however destitute -he may be of everything, save of the divine spark of genius and of -that safest attendant upon genius—resolute perseverance—the path of -success is open to him.</p> - -<p>The Temple of Fame is before him. He may seize the prize it contains, -if he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> will; but the road is steep and hard to climb, and the thorns -that beset it are many and sharp.</p> - -<p>What stories might be told of the early struggles, of the early -hardships of many of those who have ultimately attained the highest -places in the State and in the Law!</p> - -<p>How many of those whose names will never die while England has a -history, might relate how keen, nay, how terrible had been their -sufferings when they first started in their career.</p> - -<p>With what difficulty they obtained even necessary clothing. How hard -it was to earn the daily bread. How many sacrifices had to be made, -how many privations endured, ere the books could be bought that were -absolutely essential for their legal studies.</p> - -<p>And if it is thus hard for those who win, what tales of bitter woe -and anguish might be written of those who labour and fail. Of those -who, having both talent and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> application, yet lack, alas! the peculiar -genius that enables the great lawyer to grasp a subject or legal point -with a rapidity, and a perspicuity that is truly marvellous to the -unlearned!</p> - -<p>What hours of anxious study, what fevered days and terrible nights must -the unsuccessful, struggling man endure. Conscious, in all probability, -of his own deficiencies, and yet hoping on—ever hoping on, not daring -to confess even to himself that the studies of years have been of no -avail, that the tree is barren, and will never bear fruit.</p> - -<p>These are the unhappy men who eventually sink into the crowd of poor -legal hacks. These are indeed the jackals who must cater and work for -the lions of their order.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—Those who are interested in the history and customs of -this old Inn of Court are referred to an admirable work on the subject, -namely, "Notes on Gray's Inn," by W. R. Douthwaite, Esq., librarian.</p> - - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> - -<h2>THE TWO BROTHERS, <br />ANTHONY AND FRANCIS BACON.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>The most notable of the many distinguished names recorded in Gray's Inn -is that of Francis Bacon, afterwards Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, -and Lord High Chancellor of England.</p> - -<p>The son of a distinguished and learned gentleman, he was also happy -in having in his mother a woman alike remarkable for her piety, her -domestic virtues, and her great learning. Accomplished in no common -degree in the charming arts of music and painting, few scholars of the -day excelled Lady Bacon in intimate knowledge of Latin and Greek. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> - -<p>Francis, her second son, was born in 1561, and so early gave tokens of -such exceptional talent that when very young he was honoured by the -notice of Queen Elizabeth. Whatever the faults, errors, and meannesses -of Queen Elizabeth as a woman, in her character of sovereign, in one -respect at least, she showed herself to be well worthy to wear a crown, -well worthy to govern a great people, inasmuch as she possessed to a -rare extent that inestimable quality in those who have to rule, the -power of appreciating genius.</p> - -<p>Under no reign has learning been more fostered, under no reign have -talented men so clustered round the throne, as during the reign of this -maiden Queen.</p> - -<p>Elizabeth appreciated the powers of, and knew when she had a -distinguished statesman, and though she might ill-treat him, show -herself most niggardly towards him, not unfrequently betraying cruel -ingratitude, yet she ever respected his talents<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> and caused them to be -respected by others.</p> - -<p>Both Francis Bacon and his elder brother Anthony were educated at -Trinity College, Cambridge.</p> - -<p>Anthony was a man of good and even brilliant parts, but being the -eldest son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, who, besides a great legal position, -had large landed estates in several of the midland counties, young -Anthony was not destined to any profession. He spent much of his time -in travelling, and thus became personally acquainted with most of the -learned persons of the age.</p> - -<p>In 1579, being then twenty-one, to the annoyance of his family he -resolved to reside entirely in Paris, and there he remained for some -years. He then went to Bourges and Geneva, and, at the latter place, -lodged in the house of the celebrated Theodore Beza.</p> - -<p>From Geneva he successively removed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> to Montpellier, Marseilles, -Bordeaux, and Montauban, having become by this time a sort of -recognised Government correspondent, constantly communicating to the -English ministry intelligence of any importance.</p> - -<p>In 1585 he went to Bearn on a visit to Henry of Navarre, afterwards the -great Henry IV. of France, and here made acquaintance with the learned -Lambert Dansens, who, as a mark of esteem, dedicated several of his -works to his English friend.</p> - -<p>Here, too, began for poor Sir Anthony the great romance of his life. -It was at this Court that he became acquainted with a beautiful French -lady, whose many charms and winning graces broke the poor baronet's -heart. With some rare and gifted natures love is an integral part of -life. When it is clear that love must die, life in a great measure dies -too, and so it was with Sir Anthony Bacon. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> - -<p>His love was unsuccessful; so, sore-hearted and with broken health he -left the scene of his brief happiness and of his enduring grief, and -returned to England, never again to leave it. He took up his residence -at Essex House, and after a time rallied sufficiently from his -disappointment to resume his correspondence with some of his foreign -friends. Amongst these his most constant and valued correspondent was -King Henry IV. of France; but the sorrowful love romance had destroyed -the most brilliant portion of his existence, and Sir Anthony never -quite recovered from the pain he had then suffered.</p> - -<p>His more celebrated brother was framed in harder mould. Before Francis -was seventeen he had not only traversed the whole circle of the liberal -arts as then taught, but he had begun to perceive how fallacious -was the recognised philosophy of the day. And these fallacies he -subsequently effectually exposed. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> - -<p>When the time came for leaving Cambridge, his father sent him first to -France, and afterwards allowed him to make, what was called, the grand -tour.</p> - -<p>So well did he profit by his travels, that he wrote a general view of -the state of Europe before he was nineteen.</p> - -<p>He had intended carrying his researches still farther abroad, -projecting a journey to Egypt and India, but the death of his father -obliging him to return to England, he applied himself to the study of -Common Law at Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>Even in these early days, the lucidity of his reasoning, the keenness -of his intellect attracted the notice of many leading men.</p> - -<p>The Earl of Essex in particular, who was a great discerner of merit, -became his intimate friend, and endeavoured, though unsuccessfully, to -procure for Bacon the office of Queen's Solicitor.</p> - -<p>Failing in this, Lord Essex, to console<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> his <i>protégé</i> under such a -disappointment, generously conferred on him a present of land to the -value of £1,800.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding, however, the friendship of so powerful a patron, -and notwithstanding the favour with which the Queen already regarded -him, young Francis had, during the earlier years of his career, many -obstacles to contend against.</p> - -<p>Talents so remarkable, such great patronage, and especially the favour -of the monarch, created a host of enemies, all of whom decried the -young aspirant with the spiteful bitterness and venom of envy. They -represented him as an essentially unpractical enthusiast, whose head -was filled with philosophical and speculative ideas. As one far more -likely therefore to perplex, than to forward public business.</p> - -<p>So many cabals resulted in his being unable to obtain for a -considerable period either office or preferment, and he was over forty -years of age before Lord Burleigh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> who was then Lord Treasurer, -bestowed upon him the place of Registrar to the Star Chamber.</p> - -<p>This appointment was worth about £1,600, but its duties were both -onerous and unpleasant. It so happened that to Bacon they became -especially distasteful, for the critical moment arrived when he had -to decide whether he would resign his preferment, or disregard every -sacred claim of honour and friendship.</p> - -<p>Unhappily the choice he made at this juncture has tarnished for ever a -name, that in other respects he rendered so illustrious, and ultimately -it, in fact, proved the ruin of this great and gifted man.</p> - -<p>Even in the events of this world, how often do our own faults become -the very lashes that scourge us. How frequently does the evil we have -done to others return upon us fourfold.</p> - -<p>"Cast thy bread upon the waters," says the preacher, "and after many -days it shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> come back to thee," and this applies to evil as well as -to good deeds.</p> - -<p>During the larger part of Queen Elizabeth's reign, both in Court and -State, two great parties were for ever struggling to obtain supremacy.</p> - -<p>The two Cecils were at the head of one of these parties.</p> - -<p>The leader of the other was first the Earl of Leicester, and -subsequently, his son-in-law, the Earl of Essex.</p> - -<p>Bacon's undoubted genius excited both the jealousy and the dislike of -his relatives, the Cecils, and the intimate friendship he had formed -with Lord Essex also much increased their covert animosity, although -they did not care to exhibit it openly against so near a connection.</p> - -<p>Still, though outwardly courteous, Bacon was well aware that in them he -had formidable enemies, and he knew that his future prosperity mainly -depended upon his being able to convert these enemies into friends. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> - -<p>Essex, with the generosity that was his distinguishing characteristic, -had not only exerted himself strenuously on his friend's behalf, but -had also, as already mentioned, by a noble gift, sought to console him -for his disappointment in failing to obtain place.</p> - -<p>But after years of prosperity and power, the fatal day came when the -favourite was to share the fate of most Royal favourites, Essex was -disgraced and fell into deep misfortune.</p> - -<p>That a man could write as Bacon afterwards wrote of "Friendship," -and of "Honour and Reputation," and yet permit himself, at the base -dictates of ambition, to desert, nay, even to betray his earliest and -most generous friend, must seem to every noble heart a fact almost -incredible; but it is unhappily an undoubted fact, that when Essex -was at the bar of the House of Lords to be tried for his life. Bacon, -in his professional capacity, appeared <i>against</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> his generous and -affectionate friend and patron.</p> - -<p>Nor was even this the extent of his unworthy treason.</p> - -<p>For some time previously, and also after the unhappy favourite had -expiated his follies by a shameful death, discontent and irritation had -been spreading amongst all classes, and the Government grew daily more -and more unpopular.</p> - -<p>At length the clamours of the people became so loud and deep, not only -against ministers, but also against the Queen herself, that it was -deemed necessary to make a formal vindication of the proceedings of the -Administration.</p> - -<p>For this end all the blame, all the obloquy of every administrative -failure must be thrown upon the dead man.</p> - -<p>Bacon accepted the discreditable, nay, disgraceful duty that had -been assigned to him. He allowed himself to vilify the name of -his benefactor, his early friend. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> agreed to cast the odium of -treason upon one from whom he had accepted gifts, and for whom he had -professed, and professed for years, the most ardent friendship.</p> - -<p>In a skilful and masterly paper he justified the proceedings of the -Government, and drew up a declaration of the treason of which Essex had -been found guilty, and for which he had duly suffered.</p> - -<p>Bacon retained his place. He had assured his career. He had forced the -world to recognise his transcendent abilities; but ambition must have -indeed hardened the heart of this man, ere she could console him for -having thus cast from him every sentiment of gratitude, and affection, -for having thus forsworn the honourable fealty that he owed to his -benefactor and his friend.</p> - -<p>From this moment, however, Bacon rose steadily, and, after the -accession of James I., having published a brilliant pamphlet in favour -of uniting the two kingdoms of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> England and Scotland, he rapidly -obtained considerable honour.</p> - -<p>In 1616 he was sworn of the Privy Council. He then devoted himself to -reducing, and, in fact, recomposing the laws of England.</p> - -<p>When Attorney-General he distinguished himself by his endeavours to -restrain duelling, a practice at that time very frequent and very fatal.</p> - -<p>In 1617 he was appointed Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and the -following year he was raised to the woolsack, and created Lord Verulam.</p> - -<p>In the midst of these honours, and notwithstanding, also, the press of -business, he did not forget his studies in philosophy, but in 1620 he -published his great work, "Novum Organum." In 1621 he was advanced to -the dignity of Viscount, and as Lord St. Albans he appeared with great -splendour at the opening of Parliament.</p> - -<p>But he had now arrived at the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>culminating point of his triumphs, and -at the very moment when his power seemed greatest and his position most -stable, his fall was near.</p> - -<p>A very few months after Parliament had assembled, a committee of the -House of Commons was appointed to inquire into the abuses that existed -in the Courts of Justice; and, ere many sittings had taken place, the -Chancellor was openly accused of corrupt practices.</p> - -<p>The King, ever pusillanimous, and shrinking from giving support to a -falling man, sent for Bacon, and, it is said, positively enjoined him -to submit to his peers, promising to reward him afterwards!</p> - -<p>The Chancellor, although he could have had but little faith in such -promises, and foresaw his approaching ruin if he did not plead for -himself, resolved, however, to obey the Royal command.</p> - -<p>He was silent therefore under the accusations brought against him, and -on the 3rd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> May, 1621, the House of Lords gave judgment against him, -pronouncing upon him the following severe sentence:</p> - -<p>"That he was to pay a fine of £40,000, and be confined a prisoner in -the Tower, during the King's pleasure. That he should for ever be -incapable of holding any place, office, or employment in the State, and -that he should never again sit in Parliament, nor come within the verge -of the Court."</p> - -<p>At this distance of time the world judges him more leniently than he -was then judged by his peers.</p> - -<p>Greed of money had never been one of Bacon's failings. He loved power, -place, and the good things that money can procure. He also loved his -ease, and the affection and good-will of those about him; but of the -gold itself he took little or no heed.</p> - -<p>It was, in fact, to this carelessness, and to an amiability that he -carried to the extent of selfish weakness that he owed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> his fall. For -years all that he possessed had been at the service of those about him, -and unhappily he was surrounded by, and had bestowed his kindness on -persons, who were not only unworthy of it, but who had basely abused -the confidence he had reposed in them.</p> - -<p>We are told by Rushworth, that the Chancellor (Bacon) treasured up -nothing for himself or his family, but that he was so over-indulgent to -his servants, that this indulgence reached the point of conniving at -their evil doings. Both his servants and his dependents were therefore -profuse and extravagant, and had at their command whatever he was -master of.</p> - -<p>Too late did Bacon perceive his error. It is related that, one day -during his trial, he passed through a room where several of his -servants were sitting. They rose up respectfully to salute him as he -went by, but said the Chancellor, "Sit down, my masters, for your rise -has been my fall." </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> - -<p>There seems little reason now to doubt that the gifts the Chancellor -was accused of taking had been enforced, and received by these -underlings.</p> - -<p>It was these lamentable gifts that had caused him to be suspected of -injustice, and yet it was subsequently proved that his decrees had been -made for the most part with so much equity, that not one of them was -ever reversed as unjust.</p> - -<p>"It was peculiar to this man," says one of his numerous biographers, -"to have nothing narrow or selfish in his composition. He gave away -without concern whatever he possessed, and believing other men to be of -the same mould, he received with as little consideration."</p> - -<p>This opinion is probably correct in the main, but the greatest admirers -of this talented and in many respects exceptionally great man, must -admit that, ere he could have become unmindful of the honourable fealty -he owed to his dead friend, the greed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> of power must have been strong -in his heart, and that it was a selfish reluctance to take trouble -that made him disregard one of the most stringent duties of the great, -not only to be just themselves, but to ascertain that injustice is not -practised by their subordinates.</p> - -<p>After a short period of imprisonment the fallen Chancellor was released -from the Tower. The King ultimately remitted his fine; and, after the -death of James, he was again summoned to attend Parliament in the first -year of the reign of Charles I., but never again after his degradation -did Bacon take part in active life.</p> - -<p>At first, indeed, after his release from prison, he found himself in -extreme poverty. All he valued in this world had gone from him. Place, -position, money, and, above all, that consideration from others which -had been so dear to his heart.</p> - -<p>So great at one time was his pecuniary distress, that he wrote a -pathetic letter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> to King James, entreating His Majesty's assistance. -"Lest," as he expresses it, "he should be reduced to carry a wallet, -and after having lived only to study, be forced to study to live."</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the sorrowfulness of the letter, there lurks within -it a vein of the humour that rendered him so delightful a companion, -and through it all can be perceived the indomitable spirit of the man, -that, even in the bitterest moment of his shattered fortunes, rose -superior to the ruin that had overtaken him.</p> - -<p>The energy that had made him so powerful in his public career did not -desert him in his retirement.</p> - -<p>With all the ardour of his great heart, he loved his country home, his -quiet lodgings in Gray's Inn, and the studies to which, during the last -years of his life, he wholly devoted himself. It was at this period -that he wrote some of his most important English and Latin works; -and from these it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> evident that his thoughts were as free, and as -vigorous, as they had ever been during the earliest and most brilliant -years of his career.</p> - -<p>Although he had been unhappy in having had many false and unworthy -friends, one, at least, loved him faithfully to the end; and it was by -him, Sir Thomas Meanty, his secretary, that the monument was erected to -his memory in St. Michael's Church, St. Albans.</p> - -<p>Many have written the biography of this distinguished man, but the best -evidences of his life are the works he has given to the world: works -replete with noble thoughts; works so grand, that they make us the more -regret that there should be even one flaw to tarnish the golden lustre -that shines around the name of one so brilliant, so illustrious.</p> - -<p class="space-above">It was in chambers in Coney Court, now called Gray's Inn Square, -that Bacon passed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> his last years, and where he wrote several of his -greatest works.</p> - -<p>The aspect of these old houses—indeed, of these old chambers—bears -traces, not only of the storms and sunshine that have passed over them -in all this lapse of time, but they also speak to us powerfully of the -vicissitudes of human life, and of the changes that are taking place -around us yearly, nay, hourly.</p> - -<p>What anxiety and distress, what joy and what pain, have not these old -walls witnessed.</p> - -<p>How many hearts have beat high with hope, or have been racked with -anguish in the thoughtful gloom of many of these shadowy rooms.</p> - -<p>Bacon himself, though he bore so brave a front before the world, must -have had many torturing recollections and regrets as he paced up and -down these ancient chambers. But then, again, what noble thoughts came -to cheer and support him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> as he overcame the keenness of his pain, and -fixed his mind on objects higher and grander than the passing events of -human life.</p> - -<p>Thus generation after generation pass away, with all their joys and all -their fears.</p> - -<p>Each human being departs, and his name is no more known even in the -spot where he dwelt; but still the great squadrons of mankind are ever -advancing, with the same delights, the same anxieties as those who have -left this earth many hundreds of years ago; thus every place is filled -and emptied, and filled again in endless rotation.</p> - -<p>Truly life is but a magic-lantern, and the players therein are but -fleeting shadows.</p> - -<p>Bacon died on Easter Sunday, the 9th of April, 1626, being then -sixty-six years of age.</p> - -<p>In the December previous he had with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> his own hand written his will. In -it he writes:</p> - -<p>"For my burial, I desire it may be in St. Michael's Church near St. -Albans. There was my mother buried, and it is the parish church of my -mansion house at Gorhambury, and it is the only Christian church within -the walls of Old Verulam. For my name and memory, I leave it to men's -charitable speeches, and to foreign nations, and to the next ages."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> - -<h2>SIR NICHOLAS BACON.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal during the greater -part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was born at Chislehurst, in Kent, -in 1510.</p> - -<p>Few men have enjoyed during a long and brilliant career a more -unblemished reputation for probity, or have conducted themselves in -troubled and dangerous times with more prudence and good discretion -than this celebrated statesman and judge.</p> - -<p>He received his first rudiments of learning at home, and at a small -village school in the neighbourhood of his father's house; but when -still very young he was sent to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> - -<p>Here he made great progress in all branches of useful knowledge, and -then travelled over France, making some stay in Paris, in order, as an -old chronicler remarks, "to give the last polish to his education."</p> - -<p>Either this last polish or his natural gifts enabled him to turn his -speeches with singular aptitude and felicity. Though resolute in -proposing and carrying out any measure he deemed advisable, he spoke -with so much prudence and tact, that he ever succeeded in retaining the -good will even of his opponents.</p> - -<p>This is all the more remarkable, for never, perhaps, did party feeling -run so high, never was party animosity more bitter, both with regard to -politics and also on religious subjects, than during this period, when -England was convulsed by the tremendous changes that were taking place -in the Church, and by the savage persecutions that had been endured -and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> inflicted both by Protestants and by Roman Catholics.</p> - -<p>Alas! that men, while calling themselves Christians, should so distort -and make of none effect the first principles of our Divine Teacher!</p> - -<p>When Bacon returned from Paris he settled in Gray's Inn, and applied -himself with such assiduity to the study of the law, that he speedily -became of note amongst the learned in that profession. His profound -knowledge of many difficult points of law enabled him to be useful not -only to the Government but also to the King (Henry VIII.), insomuch -that, on the dissolution of the Monastery of Bury St. Edmund's, in -Suffolk, King Henry conferred upon him several manors in that county.</p> - -<p>Two years afterwards he was promoted to the office of Attorney of -Wards, an appointment of both honour and profit.</p> - -<p>Edward VI. confirmed him in this post,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> and in the last year of that -King's reign Bacon was elected treasurer of Gray's Inn.</p> - -<p>His great moderation and his consummate prudence preserved him safely -during the dangerous reign of Queen Mary, although he was well known to -be a staunch Protestant.</p> - -<p>No sooner did Elizabeth come to the throne, however, than he was -knighted, and the Great Seals of England having been taken from -Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York, they were delivered to Sir Nicholas -Bacon in November, 1558, with the title of Lord Keeper.</p> - -<p>It is much to the credit of Sir Nicholas that he himself introduced -a Bill into Parliament for the purpose of defining and settling the -position of Lord Keeper; although, had he chosen to be silent, and to -procure for himself the additional title of Lord Chancellor, he might -have obtained almost unlimited power. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> - -<p>But his motto was, and ever had been, "<i>Mediocra firma</i>." He was -content to be safe, and did not desire greatness.</p> - -<p>Unlike many celebrated men, he was unaffectedly modest, and devoid of -self-seeking, so that while it was said of some other great personages -that they seemed wiser than they were, the common voice of the nation -agreed in this, that Sir Nicholas Bacon was even wiser than he seemed.</p> - -<p>To the Queen he was indeed a most valuable minister, and a most trusty -counsellor, for not only was he as a statesman remarkable for a clear -head, and wise, farseeing sagacity, but he had marvellous skill in -balancing factions, and it was thought he taught the Queen this same -secret, the more important to Elizabeth, for being, as Her Majesty -was, the last of her family, she was without those supports that are -ordinarily incidental to Princes.</p> - -<p>In Chancery, also, Bacon much <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>distinguished himself by the very -moderate use he made of power, and by the great respect he ever showed -for the Common Law. But better than all, in an age of bigotry, when -religious differences aroused in men every violent and cruel passion, -Bacon showed that though his own religious opinions were strong, he -could speak and act on that, as on all other subjects, with moderation -and with strict equity.</p> - -<p>The main business of the session of January, 1559, was the settlement -of religious observances, and no man had a greater share in this -momentous and difficult question than the Lord Keeper.</p> - -<p>The speeches he made at this period are described by many contemporary -writers as "most eloquent, solid, and excellent speeches;" and at this -day we can perceive that they were, as another old chronicler observes, -"models of eloquence, profound wisdom, and conciliatory discretion." </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> - -<p>Few men have left behind them so delightful a character as this famous -statesman and lawyer.</p> - -<p>Powerful and wise in public life, in his home he was the tender father, -the affectionate relative, the indulgent and unostentatious friend.</p> - -<p>Though endowed with a keen appreciation of art, and gifted with a fine -and graceful taste, as appeared by his house and gardens at Gorhambury, -yet he never permitted himself to indulge in an undue or lavish -expenditure. So simple and modest was he in this respect, that, when -the Queen came to visit him at Redgrave, Her Majesty said she found the -house too small for so great a man.</p> - -<p>"Nay, madam," said the Chancellor, "but it is your Majesty who has made -me too great for my house."</p> - -<p>Yet, with his usual graceful tact and ready acquiescence in the wishes -of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> Royal Mistress, he immediately built two small wings to his -house.</p> - -<p>His health began to fail during the later years of his life, and he -became distressingly corpulent; but he was as diligent in his work, and -his temper remained as kind, and his wit as bright as ever.</p> - -<p>After having held the Great Seal more than twenty years, this able -statesman and faithful counsellor was suddenly removed from this life -by the following accident:</p> - -<p>He was under the hands of his barber, and the weather being rather -sultry, although February, Sir Nicholas, who suffered much from heat by -reason of his great size, caused the window before him to be opened. He -presently fell asleep, but after a time, a current of cold air blowing -upon him, he awoke shivering and feeling very ill.</p> - -<p>"Why," said he to his servant, "did you suffer me to sleep thus -exposed?"</p> - -<p>The man replied that he durst not venture to disturb him. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Then," said the Lord Keeper, "by your civility I lose my life." And so -indeed it proved. He was removed immediately to his bed-chamber, and -was tended with loving care, but he expired a very few days after being -taken ill.</p> - -<p>Sir Nicholas was twice married. By his first wife, Jane, daughter of -William Fernley, he had three sons, who died young, and three daughters.</p> - -<p>By his second wife, Anne, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, a woman -distinguished alike for her beauty, her piety, and her learning, he -had two sons, of whom the youngest, Francis, became so celebrated -as Chancellor, philosopher, and writer; a man whose exceptionally -brilliant gifts have thrown comparatively into the shade the far more -elevated character of his father.</p> - -<p>Happy would it have been for the son, if, with his father's talents, -he had inherited his father's unswerving integrity and noble sense of -honour. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> - -<p>Far happier would have been the closing years of Lord Bacon's life had -he, like his father, Sir Nicholas, dealt righteously with all men.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> - -<h2>SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>It is not unusual to find amongst ancient families that the same -Christian name is retained from generation to generation, constantly -descending for centuries in unbroken succession.</p> - -<p>Sometimes this name is preserved in memory of a distinguished ancestor. -Sometimes from respect to some prince or powerful patron who had -conferred honour or lands upon the family.</p> - -<p>Many have supposed that the name of William came to this country at -the time of the Norman Conquest. It has been ascertained, however, -that long before that date it was in common use in Saxon families,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> -especially amongst those who inhabited the Northern Counties.</p> - -<p>This name William is a German word, and, according to Martin Luther, of -compound meaning.</p> - -<p><i>Helm</i>, signifying "defence;" and <i>Kenhelm</i>, "Defence of kindred."</p> - -<p><i>Willy</i>, <i>Villi</i>, or <i>Billi</i> with the Germans, like <i>Poly</i> amongst the -Greeks, before several names indicates "many," consequently <i>Wilhelm</i>, -now softened into <i>William</i>, means "Much defence" or "Defence of many."</p> - -<p>Not only did the Normans, who had settled here when their Duke became -King of England, call their sons after their victorious sovereign, -but many of the old lords of the soil, who, wearied with Harold's -tyranny, had gladly welcomed the advent of the foreign prince, gave -their children the name now so much in vogue. In addition to this -compliment to their new King, some of the Saxon Thanes and great landed -proprietors moulded their rougher<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> Northern surnames into courtly -Norman terminations.</p> - -<p>Thus Gaskin, an old West Riding family, Normanised itself into -Gascoigne.</p> - -<p>As time went on, this Royal name of William was regularly transmitted -from father to son amongst those families who depended upon the -Conqueror or his line, or who had received gifts of offices, lands, -seignories, or privileges, until in a few years it became so common -amongst those of high rank, that at a certain festival given at the -Court of King Henry II., when Sir William St. John and Sir William -Fitz-Hamon, two especial officers, commanded that none "but those of -the name of William should dine in the Great Chamber with them," they -were accompanied by a hundred and twenty Williams, all knights.</p> - -<p>Sir William Gascoigne, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1401, the -second year of the reign of King Henry IV., was the eighth Sir William -in lineal descent, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> was succeeded, as we learn from Dugdale and -Fuller, by seven more Sir Williams, all knights.</p> - -<p>The Chief Justice was born in 1350, <i>temp.</i> Edward III., at Gawthorp, -in the parish of Harwood, between Leeds and Knaresborough.</p> - -<p>Sir William was the eldest of five brothers. He married twice: first, -Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Alexander Mowbray, and by her had -an only son, Sir William Gascoigne, of Gawthorp, a brave commander in -the wars under King Henry V. His descendant, the last Sir William of -this branch, married Beatrice, daughter of Sir Richard Tempest, and -had four sons, all of whom died young, and one daughter, Margaret, -his sole heir, in whom the Gascoignes of this line terminated. This -daughter married, in 1552, Thomas Wentworth, of Wentworth Woodhouse, -in Yorkshire, and brought great estates into that family. Thomas -Wentworth was Sheriff for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> Yorkshire in the twenty-fourth year of Queen -Elizabeth, and had, besides four daughters, an only son, who became -afterwards Sir William Wentworth, and was the father of Thomas, first -Earl of Strafford.</p> - -<p>The Chief Justice married, secondly, Joan, daughter of Sir William -Pickering, and widow of Sir Ralph Graystock, Baron of the Exchequer. -By this marriage Sir William had also an only son, James Gascoigne, -settled at Cardington, in Bedfordshire. A descendant of this James -Gascoigne, the inheritrix of Cardington, married her distant cousin -William, a younger son of the Gascoignes of Gawthorp.</p> - -<p>This William Gascoigne was Sheriff for Bedfordshire in 1506, <i>temp.</i> -King Henry VII., and was Sheriff for Buckinghamshire in the fifth -year of King Henry VIII. He was subsequently knighted by Henry VIII., -and became Comptroller of the Household to Cardinal Wolsey; for the -great Cardinal in many respects affected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> Royal state, and succeeded -in having the chief offices of his household held by nobles, or by -men of gentle birth. This branch of the Gascoignes also terminated -in a daughter, Dorothy, who married Sir Jarrett Harvye; thus the -direct descendants of the famous Chief Justice became merged in other -families. Of collateral descendants, however, there are many; Nicholas -Gascoigne of Lavingcroft, Sir William's next brother, having left a -numerous family of sons and daughters, who married amongst the Percys, -Latimers, Vavasours, etc.</p> - -<p>From the eldest son of this Nicholas descended a somewhat celebrated -man, Richard Gascoigne, who was not only a learned antiquary and -collector, but who has done good service to the history of this country -by having brought before the public in 1638 Mr. Dugdale, whose writings -have given much interesting and important information.</p> - -<p>The greater part of the valuable collections made by Richard Gascoigne -is now at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire. There are also relics of the -Gascoigne family at Ickwellbury, Bedfordshire.</p> - -<p>William Gascoigne became a student of the Law at Gray's Inn, and was -early enrolled a member of that learned Society. His career was both -brilliant and rapid. Towards the end of the reign of King Richard II. -he was already so eminent in his profession that, in 1398, he was made -one of the King's Serjeants.</p> - -<p>There are records of many transactions at this period, all of which -give proof, not only of Gascoigne's great abilities as a lawyer, but -also testify to the esteem in which he was held on account of the -fidelity and uprightness of his advice, and the invariable justice -of his decisions. His great merits caused him to be appointed one of -the Commissioners for Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, when this -Prince was about to go into banishment.</p> - -<p>Gascoigne had to watch over the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>interests and receive all moneys that -might come to the Duke during his absence from England. A most onerous -appointment, involving not only considerable difficulty but also no -inconsiderable danger, for in those turbulent days the law of might -frequently warred most successfully against the law of right.</p> - -<p>So early as the second year of the reign of King Henry IV., Gascoigne -was made Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and we find that in -1403 Judge Gascoigne and Ralph Nevill, Earl of Westmoreland, were -commissioned by the King to levy and assemble forces in the counties -of York and Northumberland in order to quell the insurrection of Henry -Percy, Earl of Northumberland.</p> - -<p>Somewhat later these Commissioners were also empowered to treat with -this same rebellious Earl.</p> - -<p>When Archbishop Scrope and others<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> were taken in arms against the King, -His Majesty would have had Gascoigne immediately to give sentence -of death against the contumacious Archbishop; but the Chief Justice -refused, resolutely declaring he would not pronounce such a sentence -in so irregular and illegal a manner. This refusal brought upon him -the King's high displeasure, but the people praised him much for his -justice and his moderation.</p> - -<p>Again, when certain abbots, priors, knights, esquires, and other -persons of distinction had been wrongfully accused, and were suffering -imprisonment in consequence of the evidence of a perjured witness, -Sir William detected the fraud. He then caused the false witness to -be exposed and condemned, and obtained the release of the guiltless -persons.</p> - -<p>About this time, also, attorneys, by reason of their multitude, and -from their malpractices, had grown to be a public nuisance. Chief -Justice Gascoigne caused<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> an Act to be passed limiting their number in -every county. They had also to swear every Term that they would deal -faithfully and truly by their clients, and could it be proved that they -had not done so they were liable to be imprisoned for a twelve-month -and condemned to pay a ransom according to the King's pleasure.</p> - -<p>In the abstract of the Parliament rolls there is a lone insertion -made of a curious and important case referred in part to the judgment -of the Chief Justice. William, Lord Roos of Hamalake, brought an -action against Sir Robert Therwit, one of the Justices of the King's -Bench, inasmuch as he had withheld certain manors and commons in the -county of Lincoln, and that he had lain in wait with five hundred men -to seize or apprehend the said Lord. Sir Robert confessed his fault -before the King, and offered to abide by the award of two Lords of the -complainant's kindred. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> - -<p>These two Lords made a long judgment, and amongst other items enjoined -that Sir Robert should make a great feast at Milton-le-Roos. That for -this feast he should prepare two fat oxen, twelve sheep, two tuns of -Gascon wine, and other provisions. That he should then assemble there -all such knights, esquires, and yeomen as had been his accomplices. -That they should then confess their fault to Lord Roos, craving his -pardon, and offering him five hundred marks as compensation. Lord Roos -should refuse this sum, but he should pardon them, and partake of their -dinner.</p> - -<p>The arbitration respecting the land however, which was the point of the -greatest difficulty, was to be referred to Sir William Gascoigne, the -Chief Justice.</p> - -<p>But the event which became so noticeable in legal and in historical -annals, is a remarkable circumstance that has been described by many -writers, namely, his having committed the Heir Apparent to the Throne,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> -Prince Henry, to prison for contempt of Court.</p> - -<p>A story so extraordinary has of course been seized upon by dramatists -and poets, who have so embellished the original history, that they have -caused the fact to be doubted by some. However, the affair has been too -simply related by some of our best historians and other grave writers -to permit reasonable doubts that the circumstance did actually take -place as recorded.</p> - -<p>It appears that a servant of Prince Henry's being arraigned at -Westminster before Chief Justice Gascoigne for felony, the Prince, -hearing of the matter, came hastily into Court, and commanded that his -follower should be unfettered and set at liberty immediately.</p> - -<p>This demand was refused, the Chief Justice exhorting the Prince to be -patient, for his servant was to be tried according to the ancient laws -of the realm, adding that even in case the rigour of the law<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> should -condemn the accused, His Highness might still obtain the gracious -pardon of the King, his father.</p> - -<p>Far from being appeased by this answer, the anger of the Prince -seemed only the more inflamed, and striding fiercely to the Bar, he -endeavoured to rescue the prisoner by force.</p> - -<p>Thereupon the Judge, with admirable courage and intrepidity, commanded -the Prince to forbear and to depart on his way; but the Prince's rage -at being thus thwarted made him quite beside himself, and, turning -hastily towards the Bench, he either struck, or endeavoured to strike, -the Chief Justice.</p> - -<p>At so unparalleled an insult the Court was stricken with horror, and -many threw themselves around the Judge, fearing the Prince was about to -slay him, but Sir William, nothing moved by the affront that had been -offered to him, nor by the peril in which he was placed, never stirred -from his seat, and with dignified calm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> and with a bold and assured -countenance, said to the Prince:</p> - -<p>"Sir, remember yourself. I keep here the place of your Sovereign Lord -and father, to whom you owe double obedience. Wherefore in his name -I charge you, desist from your wilfulness, and from this unlawful -enterprise. From henceforth give good example to them, who hereafter -will be your own subjects. And now, for your contempt and disobedience, -go you to the prison of the King's Bench, whereunto I commit you, and -remain there a prisoner, until the pleasure of the King your father be -further known."</p> - -<p>So dignified was the Judge's bearing, so noble and calm were his few -coercive sentences, wherein were combined the paternal authority of the -King, and the awful gravity of the Judge, that the Prince was instantly -subdued.</p> - -<p>His Highness at once laid aside his weapon, and doing reverence to -the Court,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> he straightway withdrew, and submitted to the disgraceful -punishment—a punishment degrading indeed to a Prince, the Heir -Apparent to the Throne, but well merited from the outrageous insult -that had led to it.</p> - -<p>When some officious persons represented the affair to the King in such -a manner that His Majesty might well have taken offence at it, the wise -monarch, the wise father, defeated the ill-will of the informers by -"thanking God, who had given him not only a judge who could minister, -but also a son who could obey justice."</p> - -<p>Prince Henry had been carefully educated and governed at the University -of Oxford, and was afterwards for some years engaged with his father's -armies in stilling the commotions constantly taking place on the -borders of Wales. He seems to have done well also when first appointed -President of the Council, for again our old chronicler tells us that -the Commons voted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> him thanks for his good employment of the treasure; -but, unhappily, before his Royal father's death he abandoned himself -to dissolute courses, and made discreditable associates his intimate -companions and friends.</p> - -<p>After his father's death, however, on ascending the throne as Henry -V., he discarded his unworthy followers, and applied himself with both -assiduity and talent to the government of his kingdom.</p> - -<p>We learn from Tressel's continuation of "Daniel's Collection of the -History of England, 1641," that the King, addressing himself to his -former friends, said:</p> - -<p>"It was sufficient that for many years he had fashioned himself -according to their unruly dispositions, and had wandered with them in -a wilderness of riot and unthriftiness; whereby he had made himself -almost an alien to the hearts of his father and allies, and had so -disparaged himself, that in the eyes of mankind his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> presence was -grown vulgar and stale, and like the cuckoo in June, was heard but not -regarded." The King then proceeds to relate in brief, that when one -of his associates was summoned before the Lord Chief Justice he had -interposed, and had even struck the Judge, and that for this offence he -had deservedly been committed to prison by the Chief Justice. The King -thus terminates his speech: "For which act of justice I shall ever hold -him worthy of the place and of my favour. I wish all my judges to have -the like undaunted courage to punish offenders of what rank soever."</p> - -<p>It is greatly to the honour of Henry V. that the brave and good old -Chief Justice retained his post until age and infirmities compelled him -to relinquish it.</p> - -<p>Sir William Gascoigne appeared in his place in Parliament and sat in -Court in Westminster Hall during the first year of the reign of King -Henry V. But his long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> and arduous career had aged him before the -allotted threescore years and ten that are given to man, and in 1413 he -quitted public life.</p> - -<p>He did not long survive his retirement, but, after a short illness, -expired within a year of his resignation.</p> - -<p>His funeral was celebrated with the magnificence due to his eminent -dignity, his honourable family, his large fortune, and his exalted fame.</p> - -<p>On a stately monument in Harwood Church, Yorkshire, where he was -interred, he is represented lying at full length, attired in his -judge's robes, with a hood drawn over his head. At his right side is a -long dagger; on the left, a purse fastened to his girdle. One of his -wives lies beside him. There are the remains of an inscription cut in -brass around the edge of the tomb. Unfortunately, during the Civil Wars -much of this brass-work was torn away. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the east window of the same church there still remain some portions -of the ancient glass, and in this glass can be traced the figure of a -man arrayed in the scarlet robes of a judge. Both on his right hand and -on his left is the figure of a kneeling woman, and above these three -figures are the arms of the Gascoigne family, and also those of the -Mowbrays and of the Pickerings.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> - -<h2>LORD BURLEIGH.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>William Cecil, Baron of Burleigh, Burghley, or Burley, for some time -Secretary of State during the reigns of Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth, -and eventually Lord High Treasurer of England, was one of the ablest -statesmen, one of the worthiest ministers that England, or indeed, any -other country, has ever possessed.</p> - -<p>He was born at Bourne, in Lincolnshire, in 1520, and was educated at -the Grammar Schools of Grantham and Stamford.</p> - -<p>He was then sent to St. John's College, Cambridge, where, finding -himself associated with several young men of much talent, he was seized -with such a vehement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> passion for learning, that it is related of him -that he hired the bell-ringer to call him up every morning at four -o'clock.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, he applied himself with too much zeal to his studies, -for, by neglecting to take due precautions to keep himself in health, -he brought on a severe illness, of which he was with difficulty cured.</p> - -<p>Amongst other painful disorders, want of exercise caused his legs to -swell to an immense size; and his physicians always declared that this -distressing illness laid the foundation of the severe attacks of gout -from which he suffered greatly during the latter years of his life.</p> - -<p>However, during his youth, no amount of suffering could subdue his -passion for learning.</p> - -<p>He doubtless loved knowledge for the sake of acquiring knowledge; but, -at the same time, it is evident from the notes he made, that a keen -desire to excel all his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> companions and contemporaries was one of the -chief spurs to his exertions.</p> - -<p>At sixteen he read a "Lecture on Sophistry," and at nineteen he had -written a lecture in Greek, a very remarkable circumstance, even -amongst students at this time, as there were but few men, either at -Cambridge or elsewhere, who were so perfectly masters of Greek that -they could write and deliver a discourse in that language.</p> - -<p>From Cambridge he proceeded to Gray's Inn, where he soon attracted -attention, both by his energy and by the assiduity with which he -applied himself to the intricate study of the law.</p> - -<p>He was happy in the possession of two excellent qualities, qualities -not often found united in the same person, sound judgment, and a -remarkably retentive memory. He strengthened these powers not only by -indefatigable application, but also by his habit of recording with his -pen every incident<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> or remark that appeared to him worthy of notice, -both when reading or from observation. The prodigious number of notes -he has left behind him, testify to the marvellous industry and care -with which he devoted himself to any subject of interest.</p> - -<p>He also seized every opportunity of meeting and conversing with clever -men, delighting much in free disputes upon all sorts of subjects, by -which means he early became an eloquent and a correct speaker.</p> - -<p>He had originally intended to adopt the Law as a profession, but chance -introduced him to the knowledge of, and led to his obtaining the favour -of his Sovereign.</p> - -<p>Happening one day to pay a visit to his father, who was at that time -Master of the Robes to the King, he met there two priests, chaplains -to O'Neill, a famous Irish Chief, who was then at the English Court. -Falling into a violent dispute with them, touching the supremacy of the -Pope, young Cecil displayed so much skill in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> argument, which was -carried on in Latin, that the circumstance came to the King's ears.</p> - -<p>Henry, who was one of the most learned princes of the age, and who -delighted in learned people, desired to see the young man who had -evinced such remarkable talent, and was so favourably impressed with -Cecil's good manners and good conversation, that he presently gave him -the reversion of the post of <i>Custos brevium</i>.</p> - -<p>This early introduction to Court led to an alteration of plans with -respect to the Law; and as Cecil's marriage, which took place soon -afterwards, with the daughter of Sir John Cheeks, brought him to the -notice of the Duke of Somerset, he resolved to devote himself to the -career that was now open to him.</p> - -<p>The Protector, the Duke of Somerset, took him into great favour, and -soon appointed him Master of Requests, a position of considerable -importance; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> in 1547 still further promoted him by advancing him to -the dignity of a Secretary of State.</p> - -<p>As another mark of regard the Protector allowed Cecil to accompany him -to Scotland—a proof of affection that had well-nigh cost the young -statesman his life. At the battle of Musselburgh Cecil must have been -killed in the <i>mêlée</i>, had not one of his friends saved him at the -expense of losing his own arm.</p> - -<p>Within a year after the Scottish expedition the Duke of Somerset fell -into disgrace, and Cecil, sharing in the misfortunes of his friend and -patron, was also sent to prison, where he remained three months. On the -accession of Elizabeth, however, he was not only set at liberty, but -he was reinstated in his office of Secretary of State, and in 1561 the -additional appointment of Master of Wards was conferred upon him.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding all these dignities and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> emoluments, his life at this -time was a sorely troubled one. Not only did factious opposition -distract both the Government and the Kingdom, but endless conspiracies -were formed that threatened each one of the Ministry. Like the old -fable of the dragon's teeth, no sooner was one plot discovered and -crushed than another arose in its place.</p> - -<p>In Leicester also Cecil had a powerful and formidable rival; but the -favourite, unfortunately for himself, was intemperate in speech, and -rash and violent in action.</p> - -<p>Cecil, on the contrary, was remarkable, not only for the control he -possessed over his temper during political controversies, but also -for the moderation of the opinions he gave to the world. All men also -agreed that he was eminently just.</p> - -<p>The Queen, therefore, was far too clear-sighted not to perceive how -valuable a minister, how judicious a counsellor she had in Cecil. -The Queen also saw plainly that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> Cecil's interests were intimately -interwoven with her own; and this wise Sovereign perfectly understood -that he was fitted to be her adviser and her minister whose personal -welfare, and indeed safety, depended upon the <i>success</i> of the counsels -that he gave.</p> - -<p>Thus, amidst all the political storms and tempests that convulsed these -troubled times, Cecil, by his skill and prudence, steered both himself -and his Royal Mistress safely through the rocks and shoals by which -they were surrounded. Others rose and fell, but Cecil ever maintained -his position, and year by year gained fresh honours.</p> - -<p>In 1571 he was raised to the Peerage by the title of Baron Burleigh. -He was soon afterwards appointed Lord High Treasurer, and the great -distinction of the Garter was bestowed upon him.</p> - -<p>But while his public life was thus brilliant, his heart was bowed down -by domestic affliction. His first wife had lived but a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> few years, and -after her death he married Mildred, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke and -elder sister of Anne Cooke, afterwards Lady Bacon.</p> - -<p>These sisters were remarkable for their beauty, their accomplishments, -and their learning. They were well skilled in music, could converse -in many foreign tongues, and in their knowledge of Latin and Greek -were equal to some of the most famous scholars of the day. Both these -fair and charming women not only obtained but succeeded in keeping the -strong love of their husbands.</p> - -<p>After a married life of forty-three years, the loss of the wife he had -so fondly loved rendered Lord Burleigh a broken-hearted man. His health -gave way under the excess of his affliction, and, for the first time -during his long and arduous career, he felt himself unable to perform -the duties of his office.</p> - -<p>He became changed in many ways.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> The brightness and cheerfulness of his -temper left him. He grew silent and melancholy, and from the sad hour -when she, who had been the angel in his house, was taken from him, he -never regained that sunny hopefulness of disposition that in happier -days had been one of his peculiar characteristics.</p> - -<p>He entreated the Queen to allow him to resign, for he desired now to -spend the remainder of his days in quiet and retirement; but Elizabeth, -well aware that his abilities were as brilliant as ever, was unwilling -to part with her most trusted counsellor.</p> - -<p>He yielded to the Royal command, and from this time laboured if -possible more assiduously than ever, giving himself neither rest nor -relaxation. Notwithstanding such prodigious exertions, and the acute -sufferings he endured from attacks of gout, his life was prolonged -beyond the usual age of man. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> - -<p>His last memorable public act was endeavouring to give peace to his -country, when reasonable terms might have been obtained from Spain.</p> - -<p>These terms, though considered reasonable by Burleigh, were violently -opposed by the Earl of Essex; who, having gained some reputation by the -sword, was unwilling to favour peace.</p> - -<p>He, in fact, expressed himself in such passionate language, that -the Lord Treasurer, after listening for a considerable time in calm -silence, was at length moved to say, "that the noble Lord seemed intent -on nothing but blood and slaughter."</p> - -<p>Then he pulled out a prayer-book, and with a dignity befitting his age -and experience, and with an earnestness that deeply impressed those -around, he pointed to the following words: "Men of blood shall not live -out half their days." This was his last appearance in public.</p> - -<p>Never again did Lord Burleigh attend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> either Council or Parliament, -but even when confined to his bed during the last trying and suffering -illness, he prepared and settled a new treaty between the Queen and the -States, whereby this nation was relieved of an expense of one hundred -and twenty thousand pounds per annum.</p> - -<p>Then, having filled the highest and most important offices of State, in -the seventy-eighth year of his age, calmly and peacefully, about five -o'clock in the morning of the 4th of August, 1598, surrounded by his -children and grandchildren, his dearest friends, and by many old and -faithful servants, he passed away from this life, full of years, rich -in honours, at peace with all men, and humbly trusting by the mercy of -his God, he should again see her whom he had so passionately loved.</p> - -<p>The history of Burleigh's life is the history of England during one of -the most anxious and troubled, but also one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> most memorable and -glorious periods this country has ever known.</p> - -<p>For forty years this great statesman guided the helm of Government, and -although the Queen from time to time allowed others to have influence -with her, yet whenever difficulties arose or matters occurred of more -than ordinary moment, it was in her long-tried and faithful Minister -that Elizabeth invariably confided.</p> - -<p>The moderate views, the calm foresight and wisdom of this consummate -politician, caused him not only to be regretted after his death, but to -be valued during his life, a good fortune that but rarely falls to the -lot of even the most celebrated political leaders.</p> - -<p>Burleigh deserved, and he obtained, the esteem and respect both of -his Sovereign and of her people, and from the beginning to the end of -his glorious career, however much men may have differed from him in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> -opinion, they ever acknowledged his honesty of purpose, his hearty love -for his country, and his earnest desire to increase both her prosperity -and her renown.</p> - -<p>At this distance of time, when subsequent events have shown the fallacy -of most of the hopes and fears that then influenced mankind, many may -see reason to disapprove of his policy; but it must be remembered that -in the sixteenth century swords were more readily drawn than they now -are. Measures that to-day seem needlessly harsh, were often forced upon -statesmen of that period by the fears and also suspicions of their own -partisans.</p> - -<p>Not only was Burleigh gifted with talents beyond the ordinary -endowments of men, but in all outward seeming Nature had been lavish in -her kindly gifts to him. Well-shaped, handsome, and graceful in person, -he also possessed in no common degree that winning charm of manner that -not only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> gains the affection of friends, but which also adds such -especial happiness to the intercourse of domestic life.</p> - -<p>His mode of living was such as became a man of high rank, entertaining -with magnificent hospitality all those who, from rank, merit, and -talent, were entitled to his acquaintance. To every one who came to his -house he was courteous and cheerful, for he held that a host should -not, by silent or reserved behaviour, mar the enjoyment of his guests.</p> - -<p>Whenever he could obtain a little relaxation from the press of public -business, he would hasten to the country, for his great delight was to -improve and beautify both his family seat at Burleigh and his house -and gardens at Theobalds; but above all he loved Theobalds, and, as -he expresses it, always fled there whenever it was possible to bury -himself in its delightful privacy.</p> - -<p>Lord Burleigh had also two other places of residence—his lodgings at -Court, and his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> house on the Strand. In his house in London he had -fifty persons of his family, and his expenses there, he writes to -a friend, were thirty pounds a week when absent, and between forty -and fifty when present. At Theobalds he had thirty persons of his -household. Besides the sum he gave away in charity, he directed that -ten pounds a week were always to be laid out in keeping the "poor" at -work in his gardens. His stables cost him about a thousand marks a year.</p> - -<p>In his service, or, rather, in his household, he had ever young men of -much distinction, they deeming it an honour to serve him.</p> - -<p>Besides his customary hospitality, he several times entertained the -Queen sumptuously, and at an expense of many thousand pounds.</p> - -<p>He built three fine houses—one in London, on the Strand, another at -Theobalds, and a third at Burleigh. All these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> houses were, though -large and grand, still more remarkable from their neatness and general -convenience.</p> - -<p>Though thus spending both liberally and magnificently, Burleigh was -ever prudent and careful. He took good heed as to how his money went. -He kept rigid accounts, and attended carefully, even minutely, to all -domestic matters.</p> - -<p>Writing to a friend respecting household arrangements, he says:</p> - -<p>"My house of Burghley is of my mother's inheritance, who liveth and is -the owner thereof. I am but a farmer; yet, when I am in the country, I -must buy my grain, my beef, my mutton; and, for my stable, I buy my hay -for the greatest part, my oats and my straw totally."</p> - -<p>When in the country he loved to walk about and talk to the country -folk, and would often stop to soothe little children in their troubles, -or watch them in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> play, so gentle was his temper, so abundant was -his good-nature.</p> - -<p>At his death, notwithstanding his liberal and magnificent expenditure, -and though he was so little avaricious that he made less during his -forty years of office than most men at that period would have made in -seven, so prudently had he managed his affairs, that he left about -£4,000 a year in land, £11,000 in money, and about £14,000 in valuable effects.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> - -<h2>SIR EDWARD COKE.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>Although Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during -the reign of James I., was not a member of the Ancient and Honourable -Society of Gray's Inn, yet, as his portrait hangs in the Great Hall, -and as he occupied himself much in the affairs of this Inn of Court, a -few words respecting this eminent lawyer may not be misplaced here.</p> - -<p>There has probably never been a more consummate master of his -profession than Sir Edward Coke. His interest in it amounted to -enthusiasm. He loved to grapple with every legal difficulty, and -brought to bear upon all its intricate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> technicalities a dispassionate -calmness that unfortunately failed him in the ordinary affairs of life. -For this reason he was even a greater man during the periods of his -disgrace than when most triumphant.</p> - -<p>During these seasons of enforced retirement he could devote himself to -a subject that he loved, and with which he was thoroughly conversant, -whereas the too great energy of his character, whilst in the enjoyment -of successful power, led to his giving way to intemperate violence both -of expression and action.</p> - -<p>Like most distinguished lawyers, success came to him early in life. One -of his first cases was a remarkable one, and brought him much credit.</p> - -<p>Mr. Edward Denny was Vicar of Northlinham in Norfolk, and the then -Lord Cromwell, who lived in the neighbourhood, procured two persons to -preach several sermons in Mr. Denny's church.</p> - -<p>Both these persons took the opportunity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> thus afforded them of -inveighing against the Book of Common Prayer, styling it superstitious -and impious.</p> - -<p>For this reason, the Vicar, having learnt they had no license, when one -of them came next to preach would have prevented him, but the man being -protected by Lord Cromwell insisted on preaching, and did preach.</p> - -<p>This proceeding caused warm words to pass between Lord Cromwell and the -Vicar, the former saying:</p> - -<p>"Thou art a false varlet, and I like not of thee."</p> - -<p>To which the latter replied:</p> - -<p>"It is no marvel that you like not of me, as you like those others" -(meaning the preachers) "that maintain sedition against the Queen's -proceedings."</p> - -<p>Upon this Lord Cromwell brought an action against the Vicar, <i>de -scandalis magnatum</i>. The defendant justified, thereupon the plaintiff -demurred, and the bar was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> held insufficient; but upon a motion in -arrest of judgment, that the declaration was insufficient, the Court -gave judgment for the defendant.</p> - -<p>Lord Cromwell then brought another action, and so the matter went on -for years until Coke became engaged in the case, and he so skilfully -seized the opportunity of managing and reporting it that his name was -at once brought favourably before the public.</p> - -<p>His marriage with Bridgett, daughter and co-heiress of John Paxton, -Esq., a lady, with whom he had £35,000, and who was allied to some -of the most powerful families in the kingdom, doubtless aided him in -his career, although in after life he was wont to boast that he had -triumphed neither by "pen nor purse," signifying thereby that he had -never craved any man's help, nor had he ever opened his purse to buy -any place.</p> - -<p>His perfect knowledge of the laws of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> England, and his wonderful memory -in recalling every technical circumstance bearing on or connected with -those laws, was something marvellous. For this reason his judgments on -all legal points have ever been held to be of exceeding value.</p> - -<p>Unhappily in criminal trials his warmth of temper and his violence of -language tended much to injure his reputation and to lessen him in -the opinion of the world. Still, in spite of these great defects, his -unequalled talents forced men to yield to his judgment, and however -much they might condemn him they bowed to his will.</p> - -<p>A notable instance of this occurred during the famous trial of Sir -Walter Raleigh.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward Coke, who was then Attorney-General, conducted the case on -behalf of the Crown, and expressed himself with such energy against the -prisoner, that Lord Cecil at length interfered and desired him to be -more patient. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> - -<p>Much offended, Coke at once sat down, and preserved an angry silence. -At length the Commissioners were compelled to entreat him to continue -his address. For some time he refused; then suddenly rising, with a -power and skill that electrified all present, he recapitulated the -charges. So powerful were his words, so lucid were his arguments, that -it was evident from that moment that the prisoner's doom was sealed.</p> - -<p>The scene that day in the Court at Winchester, where the trial took -place, must have been alike impressive and sorrowful.</p> - -<p>The handsome, gallant Sir Walter Raleigh, the quondam favourite of the -Queen, for years the popular hero of the nation, now worn and bent by -age and many troubles, is standing at the bar, to be tried for his -life, accused of treason against his Sovereign and against his country.</p> - -<p>Brave he has ever been, brave he is now, and the noble face, though -pale<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> and haggard, is stern and composed. Unmoved in look or action, he -listens attentively to the words of one who is urging the Judges, with -all the might of burning eloquence, to pronounce him worthy of death.</p> - -<p>Perchance for one moment a gleam of hope may have entered the -prisoner's breast when he heard Lord Cecil speak, but if so, it must -have been speedily dispelled when the Attorney-General addressed the -Court.</p> - -<p>Spare in form, exquisitely neat in dress, passionate in action and -emphasis, the fiery and searching eye of the great lawyer seems to scan -alike the thoughts as well as the faces of those on whom he looks. And -his voice, deep yet penetrating, has a ring that stirs men's hearts, -and brings conviction in its very accents.</p> - -<p>With terrible minuteness, and with crushing legal skill, he states -every circumstance that can tell against the accused, and each -powerfully-worded sentence that fell from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> the lips of the Counsel for -the Crown must, to the friends of the unhappy man, have been as another -nail driven into the coffin that awaited him.</p> - -<p>Long ere that famous speech was ended, hope and suspense must have been -over for the prisoner. The evidence against him had been slender, but -Coke's eloquence prevailed. Sir Walter was found guilty, and condemned -to death.</p> - -<p>For a month he lay in prison, daily expecting his execution. Then he -was reprieved, and sent to the Tower, where he remained a prisoner for -sixteen long years.</p> - -<p>After his release, he organised an expedition to Guiana, but, failing -in this, he returned to England, where he was soon after seized, -imprisoned, and beheaded, not for any fresh crime or misdemeanour, but -solely on the strength of his former trial and condemnation nineteen -years previously. He was executed in Old Palace Yard, 1618,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> and died, -as he had lived, a brave and resolute man.</p> - -<p>Coke's speech on this occasion, and also another made at the trial of -Sir Everard Digby, are masterpieces of skill and intelligence; but, -although such brilliant displays of eloquence and learning increased -his reputation as a lawyer, or rather as an orator, it was felt by the -world in general that he had permitted himself a license of expression -not seemly in one who held so high and responsible a position.</p> - -<p>These speeches, nevertheless, led to his promotion, for soon afterwards -he was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.</p> - -<p>This place fulfilled all his ambition, and here he would have willingly -remained, but his bitter tongue, his caustic remarks, his intolerance -of the least opposition, made him many enemies, many detractors.</p> - -<p>His foes calculated that were he placed in a position of greater power, -and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>therefore of greater prominence, his many faults of temper would, -notwithstanding his profound legal knowledge, speedily lead to his -downfall.</p> - -<p>They suggested, therefore, that his talents merited a higher post, and -after a time they succeeded in having him raised to the more elevated, -but, in those days, perilous position of Chief Justice of the King's -Bench, or as he styled himself, Chief Justice of England.</p> - -<p>They calculated, and the result showed they were correct, that -on account of the class of cases ordinarily brought within the -jurisdiction of the King's Bench, the Chief Justice would ere long find -himself at antagonism with the Court.</p> - -<p>The annals of the Law Courts at this period of English history are -terrible to read. It is frightful to see on what slight grounds men -were accused, tried, convicted, and executed for treason.</p> - -<p>Verily, in those days our laws appeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> to have been written in blood; -but, notwithstanding their severity, it was for having shown too great -<i>leniency</i> in an affair that occurred about two years after he was made -Chief Justice that Sir Edward lost the King's favour.</p> - -<p>This extraordinary and dreadful business was the discovery that Sir -Thomas Overbury had been murdered in the Tower, and as light was -gradually thrown on this dark matter, it became more and more evident -that great and powerful personages were deeply implicated, not only -in the foul murder, but also in other crimes of the most heinous and -disgraceful description.</p> - -<p>In tracing and detecting the secrets of this black business, Lord Chief -Justice Coke showed so much zeal and diligence that he succeeded in -having apprehended and brought to justice some of the (apparently) -principal culprits, in spite, not only of the attempts that were -first made to enable them to escape, but of the influence that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> was -afterwards employed to stay their execution.</p> - -<p>Richard Weston, who had been Overbury's keeper in the Tower, was early -brought to trial. At first he seemed resolved to be silent on every -subject, induced thereto, it is said, by an immense bribe from the Earl -of Somerset, but at length he was prevailed on to plead.</p> - -<p>Poor wretch, the "persuasions" to which he yielded were the thumbscrew -and the rack, but no sooner did he plead than he was speedily convicted -and executed. Even at the foot of the gallows the miserable creature -was not left in peace. Lord Clare, Sir John Wentworth, and Mr. Lumsden -(friends of Somerset) attended him to the scaffold, and vehemently -urged him to declare, in these his last moments, that a conspiracy had -been concocted against Somerset.</p> - -<p>So evident was it that Overbury's murder concealed even darker secrets, -and that these secrets implicated powerful and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>therefore formidable -personages, that Sir Edward, with his keen legal foresight, early -foresaw peril. So imminent, indeed, did he consider the danger, that -he went to the King at Royston to beg His Majesty would appoint a -commission to assist him during the necessary investigations, and thus -in some degree enable him to share the onus with others.</p> - -<p>It has been hinted by some historians that the King knew more about -this hateful matter than he cared to acknowledge.</p> - -<p>James I. was a shrewd and prudent man; he was timid also, and ever -shrank from allowing his name to be involved in any way with affairs -that would be distasteful to, or unpopular amongst, his newly-acquired -people. His shrewdness and his fears, however, led in several instances -to his acting in both a cowardly and a treacherous manner.</p> - -<p>In this case, whatever may have been the knowledge the King possessed, -he skilfully concealed his suspicions from the chief person implicated. -When informed of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> Overbury's murder, without a moment's delay he -despatched a messenger to the Chief Justice, desiring him to arrest -Lord Somerset.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward Coke at that time lived in the Temple, and so methodically -did he measure out his time, that every hour had its appointed usage. -One of his rules was to go to bed at nine of the clock, and to rise at -three in the morning.</p> - -<p>The Royal messenger arrived at the Temple about 1 a.m., and at once -proceeded to Sir Edward's lodging. Sir Edward's son was there, and also -some friends, but the Chief Justice was in bed.</p> - -<p>Mr. Coke therefore received the messenger, who said:</p> - -<p>"I come, sir, from His Majesty the King, and must have instant speech -with your father."</p> - -<p>"Though you come from the King," said Mr. Coke, "you cannot and shall -not see my father, for if he be disturbed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> in his sleep he will not -be fit for any business; but if you will do as we do, you shall be -welcome. In two hours my father will rise, and you can then do as you -please."</p> - -<p>To this proposal the messenger was compelled to assent, so he waited.</p> - -<p>At three o'clock, Sir Edward rang a little bell to give notice to his -servant to come to him.</p> - -<p>The Royal messenger then entered, and gave the King's letter to -the Chief Justice, who at once made out the warrant for Somerset's -apprehension.</p> - -<p>The messenger went post-haste back to Royston with the warrant, and on -being introduced into the Royal presence, found the King sitting with -his arm round the favourite's neck.</p> - -<p>When the officer with the fatal document entered the room, James was -saying to the man whom he himself was causing to be arrested on a -charge of murder: "When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> shall I see thee again?" the favourite being -on the eve of his departure for London.</p> - -<p>Somerset, when arrested by Sir Edward's warrant, exclaimed indignantly -at the affront thus offered to a peer of the realm, even in the -presence of the King's Majesty. In his anger he appealed to James.</p> - -<p>"Nay, man," said the King, "if Coke sends for <i>me</i>, I must go."</p> - -<p>No sooner, however, was Somerset out of the room, than his wily master -added:</p> - -<p>"Now the de'il go with thee, man, for I will never see thy face any -more."</p> - -<p>It is difficult to understand what was really the King's belief, or -what were really the King's motives, on this occasion.</p> - -<p>To some persons he asserted that he did not believe Somerset had -anything to do with the actual murder. Yet it was he who caused his -favourite to be arrested; and when that arrest had been made and the -Chief Justice had arrived at Royston, the King spoke with exceeding -angry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> energy, charging Sir Edward to prosecute the affair with the -utmost diligence.</p> - -<p>He was to search into the very bottom of the conspiracy, and to spare -no man, however great he might be; the King concluding his adjuration -thus:</p> - -<p>"God's curse be upon you and yours if <i>you</i> spare any of them, and -God's curse be upon <i>me</i> and mine, if <i>I</i> spare any one of them."</p> - -<p>Not only the Earl of Somerset, but his wife, the young and beautiful -Countess of Somerset, was also arrested as being implicated in the -crime; and whilst their trials were in course of preparation, many -other persons of inferior rank were tried, condemned, and executed.</p> - -<p>On the 7th November, Mrs. Anne Turner, who had been about Lady Somerset -from her childhood, was tried, convicted, and hanged.</p> - -<p>On the 16th of the same month, Sir George Ellways, Lieutenant of the -Tower,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> was also convicted, and was hanged on Tower Hill on the 20th.</p> - -<p>A week later, namely, on the 27th, James Franklin was tried, convicted, -and, a few days afterwards, hanged.</p> - -<p>It might have been supposed that so many trials and executions showed -no want of zeal on the part of the Chief Justice and the other -Commissioners. Yet notwithstanding so sanguinary a list, Sir Edward -fell into disfavour for not hunting down and giving over to the gibbet -more of these miserable victims—victims who in all probability had -been but the creatures and tools of those who were far more deeply -implicated, and far more deeply culpable.</p> - -<p>It has been supposed that the friends of Somerset trusted that the -nation would at length weary of so much bloodshed, and that time and -political events would cause the recollection of one black crime to -fade away. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> - -<p>At any rate, the delays which were for ever arising before Lord and -Lady Somerset could be brought to trial, were mainly attributed to the -unwillingness of many great personages (if not actually the Court) to -have certain secret transactions disclosed.</p> - -<p>At length, however, the trial took place, Lord Chancellor Ellesmere -sitting as High Steward.</p> - -<p>The King's instructions were produced to the Commissioners, by which -they were directed to try, first:</p> - -<p>"Whether there were good grounds to believe the Lord and Lady guilty, -and if not, they were then to inquire after the authors of the -conspiracy."</p> - -<p>The same instructions were afterwards produced to the Lords, both as -evidence of the King's care and impartiality, and also as proof of the -Commissioners' diligence in this business. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> - -<p>Lady Somerset, who was tried first, gave her judges but little trouble. -Great as had been her position, brilliant as were her surroundings, to -this young and beautiful, but most erring and passionate woman, life -had early lost its charms. She was sated both with its pleasures and -its crimes, and when placed on her trial at once pleaded guilty.</p> - -<p>The next day, May 25th, her husband, Lord Somerset, was placed at the -bar, and after a trial that lasted twelve hours, his peers pronounced -the verdict of guilty.</p> - -<p>The Lord Chief Justice considered himself entitled to, and, indeed, -gained much credit from the nation generally, for the zeal and -acuteness he had displayed throughout the whole progress of this -terrible and mysterious affair; but though the King had expressed -himself with such vehemence when commanding the matter should be -thoroughly sifted, from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> period of this trial Sir Edward fell into -disfavour, both with His Majesty and with all the Royal favourites.</p> - -<p>From this moment they, one after another, endeavoured to accomplish his -ruin. They seized every opportunity of misrepresenting his conduct to -the King, and as, unfortunately for the Chief Justice, serious disputes -had arisen both in the Court of Chancery and in the Court of King's -Bench, the proceedings of Coke were impugned on all sides.</p> - -<p>His arrogant temper, his haughty manner of speech, the intolerance he -displayed to all who might presume to differ from him, made him many -personal enemies, and created around him a very army of foes.</p> - -<p>The very fact, also, of his being so able a lawyer, so consummate a -master of his profession, did but increase the rancour of those whom he -had so haughtily rebuffed. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> - -<p>In all such encounters he almost invariably proved he was right both -in law and in fact, and then the bitter words of his scorn stung the -vanquished like a whip of scorpions.</p> - -<p>There were very few persons, therefore, who would not rejoice in -his humiliation and his fall; but amongst his many opponents, the -most inveterate, the most powerful, and the most rancorous, was Lord -Villiers, afterwards Duke of Buckingham.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward had opposed with no small decision some matter that -concerned the favourite's imperious will and pleasure, and Villiers -exerted to the utmost his powerful influence to ruin the Chief Justice.</p> - -<p>These intrigues resulted in Coke's being suspended from his office on -June 30th, 1616. Sir Randolph Carew was commissioned to go Circuit, and -in the following November, Sir Henry Mountague received the appointment -of Lord Chief Justice.</p> - -<p>It was during this enforced <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>retirement from Court and public life, -that Sir Edward Coke's higher qualities exhibited themselves in their -most favourable light, and he showed the world with what calmness and -courage he could support adversity.</p> - -<p>The dignity that his vehemence had so often endangered during the days -of his prosperity, now in the hours of adversity never failed him; and -however bitter and undeserved the attacks made upon him, he either -passed them over without notice, or replied to them in words of calm -moderation.</p> - -<p>His many legal works, his many letters to friends at this period, -indicate with what resignation, nay, even with what content, he bore -the loss of the power that had been so dear to him. Both his actions -and his words testify how cheerfully he contemplated the end of all his -ambitious projects, and looked forward to a life of complete retirement.</p> - -<p>But so admirable a lawyer, so able a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> judge, was not destined to be -long unemployed.</p> - -<p>After his disgrace, men of far inferior talent had been placed in high -stations; but ere much time had elapsed it soon became evident that the -new Ministers and judges were unfit for the places to which they had -been appointed.</p> - -<p>When the ship is in danger or in a difficult position, the best pilot, -however disagreeable he may be, must be called to the helm; and thus -even those who had been most active in bringing about Sir Edward's -fall, found it to their own interest to smooth the way towards his -restoration to the King's favour.</p> - -<p>For some time there had been serious differences amongst the Ministers, -and at length the quarrel between the Lord Keeper Bacon and Mr. -Secretary Winwood rose to such a pitch that they refused to sit in -Council together.</p> - -<p>It was at this juncture that the aid of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> so talented a man as the late -Chief Justice was imperatively needed.</p> - -<p>Unhappily, Coke was not content to let matters take their course, -and to remain quietly on the pedestal he had so deservedly gained -for himself, namely, to rest on his great reputation of being the -soundest and most skilful lawyer in the United Kingdom. He thought to -strengthen his position by an alliance with the family of the still -powerful favourite, the Earl, afterwards the Duke of Buckingham, the -famous "Steenie." For this purpose he negotiated a marriage between -his youngest daughter by his second wife, Lady Hatton, and Sir John -Villiers, the Earl's eldest brother.</p> - -<p>Lady Hatton, a proud, violent woman, who was incessantly insulting and -quarrelling with her husband, professed the greatest indignation that -their daughter should be disposed of in marriage without her (Lady -Hatton's) will and pleasure having been consulted in the matter. She -forthwith,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> therefore, carried off the young lady, and shut her up in -Sir Edmund Withipole's house, near Oatlands.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward Coke, highly incensed that his authority should be thus -set at naught, wrote to Lord Buckingham, requesting him to procure -immediately, from the Privy Council, a warrant that would enable him to -regain possession of his daughter. Unfortunately, before the warrant -could be conveyed to him, he had learnt where Miss Coke was, and, with -his usual impetuosity, without waiting for legal powers, he and his -sons proceeded to Sir Edmund Withipole's house and took the young lady -away from thence by force.</p> - -<p>Upon this imprudent action, Lady Hatton, who, by her letters, appears -to have been beside herself, so frenzied was she by rage, not only -appealed to the Privy Council, but, by her personal entreaties, gained -over the Lord Keeper Bacon to her side, he, probably, being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> nothing -loth to have again an opportunity of attacking his old enemy.</p> - -<p>Buckingham, however, was not a man to brook contradiction, and -both he and his mother, Lady Compton, treated the Lord Keeper with -extraordinary rudeness. Bitterly angry, the latter appealed to the Star -Chamber, and also filed an information against Sir Edward Coke.</p> - -<p>Thus this foolish marriage became a State business, and for many months -the war of words and of law processes raged with exceeding fury. As -might have been expected, the favourite eventually had his way, and, -somehow or other, the two ladies who had been foremost in the fight. -Lady Hatton and Lady Compton, came at length to a good understanding.</p> - -<p>The marriage, therefore, was arranged. Sir Edward Coke was admitted to -the presence of the King, and made a member of the Privy Council.</p> - -<p>On the Michaelmas Day following, Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> John Villiers was married to Mrs. -Frances Coke at Hampton Court, with all imaginable splendour.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward's plans had succeeded. He had been restored to the King's -favour, he had married his daughter to the brother of the Royal -favourite; but he paid dearly for these triumphs. Not only had he to -bestow on his daughter the sum of £10,000, to be paid down in money on -the day of the marriage, but he had to assure to Sir John Villiers a -rent charge of 2,000 marks per annum during his (Sir Edward's) life, -and another one of £900 during Lady Hatton's life.</p> - -<p>He engaged, also, to settle the manor of Stoke, in Buckinghamshire, a -property he had destined for his other two daughters, on Sir John and -Lady Villiers and their heirs.</p> - -<p>Lady Hatton also had from her private fortune, which was considerable, -to make large settlements upon her daughter. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> - -<p>Lady Hatton, who, by her own showing, must have been an intolerable -woman, self-willed, passionate, and overbearing, had by this time -become reconciled to her son-in-law and his friends; but she still -pursued her quarrel with her husband with unrelenting acrimony.</p> - -<p>Many letters still in existence testify to the heat and resentment of -both parties. At length the dispute became quite a public matter, many -persons of consideration interesting themselves keenly on one side or -the other.</p> - -<p>So fiercely did the warfare rage between all the partisans, that at one -time Lord Houghton (formerly Sir John Hollis) was committed to prison -for having, in conjunction with Lady Hatton, framed some scandalous -libels respecting Sir Edward Coke.</p> - -<p>This most disagreeable and trying wife seems to have lost no -opportunity of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>insulting her husband both by word and deed. One of her -means of annoyance was to give costly entertainments to the King, the -Duke of Buckingham, and the whole Court, ostentatiously omitting her -husband.</p> - -<p>Not only was happiness far from this divided and discordant household, -but the fluctuations in Sir Edward's fortunes were frequent.</p> - -<p>During the early session of 1621, important matters occupied the -attention of the House of Commons; liberty of speech, the increase of -Popery, and many popular grievances were eagerly debated.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward spoke strongly and warmly on all these questions, and his -speeches are much commended by Camden. However, his views were not -those either of the Court, nor of the favourite, and were indeed so -ill received by the Government, that at the end of the year Coke was -committed to the Tower; his chambers in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> the Temple were broken open, -and his papers were delivered to Sir Robert Cotton and Mr. Wilson for -examination.</p> - -<p>Soon after his committal, Sir Edward was charged with having concealed -circumstances relating to the trial of the Earl of Somerset.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the assertions of his enemies, nothing could be proved -against him, so after a short imprisonment he was released from the -Tower. He regained his liberty, but at the same time he was made to -understand that he had signally incurred the Royal displeasure. He was -turned out of the Privy Council, the King observing:</p> - -<p>"That Sir Edward was the fittest instrument for a tyrant that ever was -in England."</p> - -<p>Posterity does not endorse this opinion, because His Majesty's -indignant remark was called forth by Coke's having <i>resisted</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> an undue -exercise of the Royal prerogative.</p> - -<p>He was never again reconciled to the Court during the life of King -James, and even when Charles I. came to the throne, efforts were made -to keep him out of Parliament by pricking him for Sheriff.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward objected, and successfully, that it would not be seemly -in one who had held the great office of Chief Justice of England, to -attend the judges at the Assizes.</p> - -<p>He was subsequently elected Knight of the Shire for Bucks, and during -the sessions of 1628, distinguished himself more than any other man in -Parliament, by his bold and skilful arguments in defence of the liberty -of the subject, by the energy with which he urged upon the Government -the necessity that existed for the redress of many grievances, and by -the strenuous support he gave towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> maintaining the privileges of -the House of Commons.</p> - -<p>It was during this same Parliament that he did the greatest service to -his country that was, perhaps, ever done by a private man.</p> - -<p>He it was who proposed and framed the "Petition of Rights," and it -was Sir Edward Coke also, who successfully vindicated the right of -the House of Commons to proceed against any subject whatever, however -exalted the position of that subject might be.</p> - -<p>After the dissolution of this Parliament in 1629, Sir Edward retired to -his country house at Stoke-Pogis, Buckinghamshire, and there he spent -the remainder of his days.</p> - -<p>Though his life was prolonged to the great age of eighty-six, he -retained his marvellous memory to the last. Were a passage quoted from -any of his favourite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> authors, he would remember and mention, not only -the context, but often the page in which the words would be found, and -on all legal matters he would bring forward the papers he had written -on the subjects in question.</p> - -<p>His industry in committing to writing everything that interested him -was beyond example, and posterity will never cease to admire his -learned and laborious works on the laws of this country.</p> - -<p>He also wrote some religious pamphlets, for he loved much to study the -great doctrines of Christianity. He especially delighted to dwell on -the sublime teachings of Our Lord, and during his last years, when the -interests of this life, with all its pains and pleasures, were rapidly -fading away, he, like Cardinal Wolsey, frequently lamented that he had -not studied Divine laws with the same care and earnestness that he had -devoted to the consideration<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> and thorough understanding of temporal -laws.</p> - -<p>Our Saviour's own prayer was the one he best loved, and the last faint -words that were feebly murmured by his dying lips were:</p> - -<p>"Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done."</p> - -<p class="space-above">Sir Edward died September 3rd, 1634, in the eighty-sixth year of his -age.</p> - -<p>He left behind him a vast mass of manuscripts and writings of all -sorts, amongst them his will, in which he disposed of his very large -fortune in the manner he judged best, between his children and his -descendants.</p> - -<p>On the very day of his death his papers were seized and carried away by -an order from the Privy Council. Amongst other valuable documents was -this will, and it is a remarkable fact, as connected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> with the wills -of great lawyers, that this will of Sir Edward Coke's was never again -found, to the great prejudice and detriment of his family and heirs.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> - -<h2>OTHER EMINENT LAWYERS.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>In the long list of eminent lawyers who were members of Gray's Inn, are -to be found the names of three of the Yelverton family: Sir William -Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench in 1443; Sir Christopher -Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench in 1602; and also his son, Sir -Henry Yelverton, Justice of the Common Pleas in 1625.</p> - -<p>Emblazoned on the glass of the great window in the Hall are the arms -of Guido Fairfax, called Serjeant from Gray's Inn in 1463. Also those -of John Ernelye, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1519;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> of Sir -Anthony de Fitzherbert, Justice of the Common Pleas in 1522; with those -of Lord Riche, whose son Robert, also a member of Gray's Inn, was, in -1618, created Earl of Warwick; of Justice Stamford, Justice of Common -Pleas in 1554, and of Dr. Thomas Wilson, Secretary to Queen Elizabeth -in 1577, and who ultimately succeeded Sir Thomas Smith as Secretary of -State.</p> - -<p>Amongst the most ancient escutcheons on the walls are those of Sir -William Gascoigne, Sir John Markham, Chief Justice of the King's Bench -in 1400 and 1462, Lord Burghley, Sir Nicholas and Sir Francis Bacon, -Thomas Moyle, Reader of the Society in 1534, and in 1542 Speaker of the -House of Commons, Thomas Cromwell, afterwards Earl of Essex, of Henry -Cromwell, the second son of the Protector, and of Sir John Holt, Chief -Justice of the King's Bench in 1689.</p> - -<p>The following sketch of Lord Chief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> Justice Holt is given in the -fourteenth number of the <i>Tatler</i>:</p> - -<p>"He was a man of profound knowledge of the laws of his country, and -as just an observer of them in his own person. He considered justice -as a cardinal virtue, not as a trade for maintenance. Wherever he was -judge, he never forgot that he was also counsel. The criminal before -him was always sure he stood before his country, and, in a sort, before -a parent of it. The prisoner knew that though his spirit was broken -with guilt, and incapable of language to defend itself, all would be -gathered from him which could conduce to his safety, and that his judge -would wrest no law to destroy him, nor conceal any that could save him."</p> - -<p>Sir John Fortescue, of whom mention has been made (an ancestor of the -present Lord Fortescue), was Lord High Chancellor of England under -Henry VI.</p> - -<p>In 1430 he was made Serjeant-at-Law,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> in 1441, King's Serjeant. The -following year he became Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and -soon afterwards was raised to the dignity of Lord High Chancellor.</p> - -<p>But he lost all on the deposition of the King. He was ever faithful to -his old master, and for many years, therefore, remained in exile with -Queen Margaret, and her son, Prince Edward.</p> - -<p>When the Queen and the Prince returned to England, Sir John Fortescue -accompanied them, but soon after the decisive battle of Tewkesbury, he -was thrown into prison and attainted with other Lancastrians.</p> - -<p>He was, however, subsequently pardoned by Edward IV.</p> - -<p>Sir John, who was a man of great learning and a sound lawyer, wrote -many valuable legal works. One of these, entitled, "The Difference -between an Absolute and a Limited Monarchy as it more particularly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> -regards the English Constitution," has passed through many editions.</p> - -<p>The last of these editions, with amendments, was published as late as -1719.</p> - -<p>Another of Sir John's works is "A Commentary on the Politic Laws of -England."</p> - -<p>He also wrote many other works, some of which are still in manuscript. -It is in these papers that he describes the customs and practices of -the Inns of Court.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> - -<h2>STEPHEN GARDINER.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England in the -sixteenth century, was an able lawyer, a learned divine, and a shrewd -statesman.</p> - -<p>Few men have risen higher by mere force of ability, few men have -suffered greater changes of fortune, few have been more magnified and -commended, and few more insidiously disparaged and outrageously treated -than this famous Prelate, not only during his lifetime, but also after -his decease.</p> - -<p>The accounts given of him by contemporary historians are so confused -and contradictory, that it is difficult to arrive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> at any just -conclusion with regard either to Gardiner's character and disposition, -or to fathom his motives as a churchman, or his measures as a statesman.</p> - -<p>Some writers, amongst others, Hall and Fox, describe him as a very -"devil incarnate," of a most fierce and sanguinary disposition, -delighting in bloodshed. They declare also that he was the principal -inciter to all the cruelties practised during the reign of Queen Mary.</p> - -<p>Others again, according to Pitt and Persons, assert that the Bishop of -Winchester was a very "angel of light," being of a singularly mild and -compassionate nature, and so tender was his heart that it was through -his influence and exertions that so many Protestants escaped death.</p> - -<p>All agree, however, that this celebrated man had great abilities, much -learning, and also an amount of general knowledge considerably in -advance of the age. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> had, however, many failings, and some vices, -and either the natural bent of his mind, or the dangerous condition of -his position, induced him to adopt a policy so tortuous, that even now -it is difficult to trace the motives of some of the wisest and best, -as well as those of some of his most injudicious and apparently cruel -actions.</p> - -<p>He was born at Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk, but the year of his birth -as well as his parentage he ever held secret. Some believe his parents -were very obscure persons; but Dugdale, a great authority in such -matters, asserts that he was the illegitimate son of a prelate nobly -descended and royally allied—namely, of Dr. Lionel Woodville, Bishop -of Salisbury, and brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, consort of King -Edward IV. Certain it is that for many years neither he nor his brother -bishop, Bonner, born under the same circumstances, ever used the -surnames by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> which they were afterwards known. One called himself Dr. -Stephens, the other Dr. Edmunds, until Gardiner, on obtaining place, -assumed the surname he has made so celebrated.</p> - -<p>At Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he completed his education, Gardiner -was early distinguished for his talents and his quick parts, especially -for his extraordinary skill in Greek, and for the grace with which he -spoke and wrote Latin. In process of time he applied himself to the -study of Civil and Common Law, and his reputation both as a scholar and -a lawyer speedily made him known to some of the famous men of that age.</p> - -<p>He was first taken under the protection of a generous and powerful -patron, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, but soon afterwards was brought to the -notice, and then received into the household of Cardinal Wolsey, as -secretary to that great statesman, then in the zenith of his power. He -was thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> early initiated into the skilful yet dread policy that for so -long a period made the powerful Cardinal the <i>de facto</i> ruler of this -country.</p> - -<p>A mere accident gained for Gardiner the favour of the King. Wolsey and -the Emperor of Austria had been at one time such intimate friends that -the latter, when writing (which he did frequently) to the Cardinal, -always signed his letters with his own hand, subscribing himself, "Your -son and cousin, Charles."</p> - -<p>After the battle of Pavia, when the French King was taken prisoner, -Wolsey unexpectedly changed sides, and from being a friend of the -Emperor's, became a strong partisan of France's. This sudden change -of sentiment may possibly have arisen from compassion, but Guiscard -suggests another and less worthy motive.</p> - -<p>Some months previously, and for some unexplained reason, the Emperor -had ceased to write personally to the Cardinal, and only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> communicated -with him through his secretary in the same manner as he did with other -persons. According to Guiscard, Wolsey deeply resented this change and -lapse of friendship, hence, therefore, his animosity.</p> - -<p>Soon after the battle of Pavia, the Cardinal projected a treaty which -was to change the aspect of affairs in all civilised Europe, which, -indeed, it did. While this treaty was in progress, the King, coming -unexpectedly to More Park, in Hertfordshire, found Gardiner busily -employed in framing several of the important articles.</p> - -<p>Few princes understood business or could transact it better than Henry; -he rapidly, therefore, formed a favourable estimate of Gardiner's -abilities. Not only did he appreciate the secretary's talents, but -he was also pleased by his manner and conversation, and, above all, -admired the fertility of invention of which Gardiner had already given -convincing proofs. In short,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> Gardiner was the very man of whom the -King at that moment had especial need.</p> - -<p>Henry was bent upon obtaining his divorce from Queen Katherine; but -though he had obtained many fair promises from Rome, he had failed -to induce the then Pontiff, Clement II., to <i>do</i> anything towards -advancing his suit. It was in the highest degree expedient, therefore, -to send a delegate to Rome who was not only a wary diplomatist, but -also a shrewd and skilful lawyer; above all, he must be one in whom the -King could fully confide. In Gardiner were found all these essential -qualifications, and the King did not hesitate to inform the Cardinal of -the favourable impression his secretary had made.</p> - -<p>With all his faults, there was nothing mean in the character of Wolsey. -He was truly great in this particular, that he feared no man's rise, -and grudged to none the reward due to talent. Though overbearing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> in -temper, haughty in manner, tyrannical and revengeful in action, it was -yet this noble quality that so strongly attached his adherents to him.</p> - -<p>Far from viewing with displeasure the favourable impression made upon -the King, he aided his secretary's interests with all his powerful -influence; and in February, 1528, Gardiner, together with Dr. Fox, -Provost of King's College, Cambridge, left England on a special mission -to Rome.</p> - -<p>It is evident, from many documents still extant, that the entire -confidence, both of the King and of his Minister, had been reposed in -Gardiner.</p> - -<p>Respecting his conduct in Rome, historians are again at variance as to -his motives; but all agree in praising his talents, his dexterity, and -his diligence.</p> - -<p>Some writers assert that he honestly endeavoured to carry out the -King's and the Cardinal's wishes; others, on the contrary, maintain -that, in order to secure his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> own advancement, he betrayed the Cardinal -in this embassy, and that for this end he urged forward with the -greatest eagerness proceedings which he knew his master in his heart -desired might be spun out as lengthily as possible.</p> - -<p>However, it must be admitted that such statements are barely compatible -with the affection which Wolsey ever entertained for his secretary.</p> - -<p>When writing to Gardiner, the Cardinal calls him "the half of himself, -than whom none was dearer to him;" and in recommending him to the Pope, -he says, when His Holiness hears him speak, it will be as if he heard -the Cardinal himself.</p> - -<p>At any rate Gardiner spoke boldly at Rome. His diligence and activity -also were so great, that between the conflicting interests and -exertions of the various Courts of England, France, Spain, and Austria, -the unfortunate Pontiff was so pressed and harassed that he fell -dangerously ill. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> - -<p>The perplexities of his mind seriously increasing the sufferings of -his body, for some time he was like to die, a contingency that offered -fresh occasion for the intrigues that were so rife at that period.</p> - -<p>Had the Pope died, every effort would have been made to procure for -Wolsey the suffrages of the Conclave; and at one time there appeared -every probability that he would have succeeded to the Pontifical -throne, but Clement recovered, and matters returned to their normal -condition.</p> - -<p>No sooner did the Pope's health enable him to transact business, than -the matter of the English commission was again pressed forward. An -extraordinary amount of care and skill were now required, not only to -obtain the Pontiff's consent, but to pen the commission in such terms -as would satisfy Henry, and dispose the Cardinal Legate Campegio to -come to England with a good disposition towards the affair.</p> - -<p>At length the important papers were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> obtained, and Fox at once -forwarded them to the King.</p> - -<p>The joy with which they were received by Henry, the Cardinal, and Anne -Boleyn, was exceedingly great, and their satisfaction was expressed, -not only by letters, but also by the valuable presents they made to the -successful delegates.</p> - -<p>To Gardiner, however, were allotted the greatest honours, for though -Fox had nominally been the leading personage of the mission, yet -Gardiner had in fact taken the chief part throughout the negotiations; -and so impressed was Henry by the talents evinced by his clever agent, -that the latter was speedily recalled from Rome, in order to be -entrusted with the management of the case before the Legatine Court.</p> - -<p>Indeed, so great at this time was the Secretary's influence, that -without his advice the King was unwilling to commence his suit. No -sooner had Gardiner arrived in England than he was made Archdeacon of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> -Norwich, and soon after, the King took him from Wolsey's service and -made him Secretary of State.</p> - -<p>The suit had now begun; but whether Wolsey secretly sided with Rome in -this matter, or whether he was only suspected by Henry of so doing, the -King ere long became furious with his Minister on account of the delays -that were for ever occurring to hinder the progress of the divorce.</p> - -<p>The Pope's behaviour added much to the difficulties into which he was -thrown; and believing that the Cardinal, while apparently aiding, was -in reality fomenting the troubles by which he was beset, the King felt -convinced that either he was being duped by his Minister, or that his -Minister was allowing himself to be egregiously duped by the Court of -Rome. In either case, Henry determined to trust Wolsey no longer, and -only waited a favourable opportunity to effect his fall.</p> - -<p>This opportunity soon presented itself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> The successor who was needed -was at hand, and again an accident furnished the King with the adviser -that he so urgently required.</p> - -<p>Dr. Cranmer, a tutor in the family of one Mr. Cressy, of Waltham Cross, -was with his pupils at their father's house at Waltham, when the King -with his Court passed a night there during one of the Royal progresses.</p> - -<p>Drs. Gardiner and Fox were in attendance on His Majesty, and Cranmer -had supper with them.</p> - -<p>Men's minds were so occupied with the Royal divorce that little -else was ever talked of; and the two courtiers, being already well -acquainted with the great reputation for learning and solid judgment -that Cranmer had gained for himself at Cambridge, sought to obtain his -opinion on the matter.</p> - -<p>Cranmer modestly declined to give an "opinion," but said that in his -poor <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>judgment it appeared to him that, if the marriage were unlawful, -it was so by Divine precept; and if that were the case, then the Pope's -dispensation could be of no effect either to confirm or annul it, for -even the Pope could not make lawful that which God had declared to be -unlawful. Instead, therefore, of continuing these long and fruitless -negotiations with Rome, it might be better to consult all the learned -men, or, indeed, all the Universities of Christendom, and then, -according to their finding, the Pope must needs give judgment.</p> - -<p>So much impressed were Gardiner and Fox by this advice, that the next -day they laid the substance of it before the King.</p> - -<p>Some writers say that Gardiner wished to make it appear that the -opinion came from him, but that Fox, either from generosity to Cranmer -or from spite to Gardiner, took care to mention from whence it was -derived. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> - -<p>At any rate, these observations of Cranmer's caused him to be presented -to the King, as Henry had at once perceived the importance of the -suggestion thus thrown out.</p> - -<p>Brilliant talents and an admirable judgment commanded respect, while -the candour and uprightness of Cranmer's character secured for him the -esteem of all who knew him. His rise in the King's favour was rapid, -and honours were showered upon him.</p> - -<p>In after times Henry might differ from his Minister, but he knew he -need never distrust him. The King often said that the Archbishop of -Canterbury (Cranmer) was the only Churchman he had ever known upon whom -he could implicitly rely.</p> - -<p>Unhappily, the haughty and hasty monarch occasionally succeeded in -prevailing upon Cranmer to swerve from the strict line of wisdom and -prudence to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> which his opinions inclined him, but although he yielded -in action, the purity of his intentions and the honesty of his purpose -were never doubted.</p> - -<p>The new adviser's rapid advancement was the signal of Wolsey's fall.</p> - -<p>While that powerful Minister was apparently enjoying the plenitude of -his greatness, and triumphing in the magnificence of his position, -destruction came upon him unawares. Great and brilliant had been his -rise, equally great and fatal was his fall.</p> - -<p>No sooner was his disgrace resolved upon than the Great Seal was taken -from him, his vast possessions were confiscated, he was banished to -his house at Asher, and informations were filed against him by the -Attorney-General.</p> - -<p>Such a tempest of misfortunes broke at once over the head of the -unhappy man that his calamities seemed without end, and the ruin of his -fortunes was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> speedily followed by the destruction of his health.</p> - -<p>When great men fall, their pseudo friends of prosperous days fall away -also. Such friendship but blossoms in the sunshine, it ever withers and -dies when clouds obscure their sun.</p> - -<p>In this time of cruel adversity, but very few of his many followers -remained faithful to the once mighty Cardinal. Of these few the chief -was his secretary, Thomas Cromwell, who proved his fidelity not only by -his steady adherence to his master, but also by stoutly soliciting the -Court in his favour.</p> - -<p>As Cromwell's rank did not entitle him to admittance to the King's -presence, he was compelled to have recourse to one of the Secretaries -of State.</p> - -<p>It was to Gardiner that he addressed himself, and it is to that -Minister's credit that although, on account of Henry's hasty and -tyrannical temper, the task involved considerable risk, the quondam -secretary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> did not desert his old patron and master, but interceded for -him with skill, if without much heartiness.</p> - -<p>The unhappy Cardinal's letters at this time are most dismal. In one -of them, to Thomas Cromwell, he says he has written it "with his rude -hand and sorrowful heart," and he signs himself, "T. Carl<sup>is.</sup> Ebor -misserrimus" (the most miserable Thomas, Cardinal of York).</p> - -<p>Gardiner at this time was devoting himself to the difficult task of -obtaining from the Heads of the Colleges and from the learned men -belonging to the University of Cambridge, their declaration in the -King's cause, a business that required no small amount of dexterity and -artifice.</p> - -<p>His efforts were successful. So brilliant an exploit must needs be -rewarded, and his rise in the Church was rapid. In the spring of 1531, -he was made Archdeacon of Leicester, and in November of the same year -he was installed Bishop of Winchester. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I have often squared" (meaning passed over) "with you, Gardiner," said -the King, when he gave his Minister this valuable preferment, "but I -love you never the worse, as the Bishoprick I now give will convince -you."</p> - -<p>The newly-made Bishop sat with Dr. Cranmer, then Archbishop of -Canterbury, when that prelate declared Queen Katherine's marriage with -the King to be null and void, May 23rd, 1533. He was then sent to -Marseilles to intimate to the Pope and the French King, that in case -difficulties should be made respecting the divorce, the King of England -would appeal to a General Council.</p> - -<p>On his return home he was called upon, together with all the other -Bishops, to acknowledge Henry as Supreme Head of the Church; and -his pen was henceforth constantly employed in vindicating Henry's -proceedings, both respecting that monarch's divorce and subsequent -marriage, and also<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> with regard to his having thrown off the dominion -of the See of Rome.</p> - -<p>Gardiner's writings on these difficult subjects obtained for him at the -time the highest reputation.</p> - -<p>During this period of religious agitation, a strange spirit prevailed -amongst all classes of people, of whatever denomination of religion -they might be.</p> - -<p>Though all needed tolerance, none would grant it. On the contrary, -intolerance and bigotry seemed to rule every man's heart. Even those -who, whilst they were themselves undergoing its sufferings, had groaned -the loudest under persecution, were, when relieved, equally loud in -their opposition to the smallest indulgence being extended to those who -differed from them in opinion.</p> - -<p>Whichever might be the party in the ascendant, its leaders were urged -on to institute persecutions and trials, and to enforce executions -whenever a doctrine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> was started to which they did not agree.</p> - -<p>Some writers assert that Gardiner was vindictive and cruel; others, -that he was forced tacitly to permit proceedings of which he -disapproved, and of which he would willingly have mitigated the -severity.</p> - -<p>Others again say that the King's love of power, and his desire to -show himself as a true son of the Church, although he had assumed her -temporal headship, induced him to bear witness to his faith by severe -measures, whenever her authority in doctrines was impugned by his -subjects.</p> - -<p>Certain it is, that now began a series of religious persecutions that -cast shame and disgrace upon all who professed the name of Christ.</p> - -<p>His holy Church on earth, far from being a tender mother to poor, -suffering, and ignorant mortals, became a by-word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> for cruelty and -bigotry, a very Moloch, who desired the sacrifice of her children both -by fire and by the sword.</p> - -<p>What can men deem are the chief attributes of the Almighty, that to -give Him pleasure it is necessary to torture and put to death the -children that His dear Son came to save?</p> - -<p>It is sickening to read the list of those who suffered for religion's -sake during the latter part of Henry's reign, and during the whole of -the reign of his daughter, Queen Mary.</p> - -<p>A Frenchman writing at this time from England, tells his friend in -Latin:</p> - -<p>"They have a strange way of managing in England, for those who are for -the Pope are hanged, and those who are against him are burnt."</p> - -<p>Henry also each year became more tyrannical and overbearing. He brooked -neither opposition nor contradiction. His humours were so capricious -that even his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> Ministers were constantly in personal danger, it being -impossible to foresee how much involved the King might choose to -consider them in the schisms that were being brought to the Royal -notice.</p> - -<p>Gardiner was certainly once in very considerable peril.</p> - -<p>His young kinsman and secretary, Germain Gardiner, having been -suspected of denying the King's supremacy, had been tried, condemned, -and executed, and Gardiner's enemies sought to implicate the Bishop in -his secretary's treasonable opinions.</p> - -<p>Those who view Gardiner's character mercifully, urge that in order to -secure his own safety and that of his relatives, he was driven into -assenting rather than being a party to the numerous cruel executions -that now sullied the history of this country.</p> - -<p>Gardiner ultimately lost the King's favour, from having drawn up a -paper of articles against Queen Katherine Parr.</p> - -<p>It appears that, as usual, Henry had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> conceived some jealous suspicions -of his Queen, and had directed the Bishop of Winchester to prepare -these statements against her.</p> - -<p>This important document having been confided to Chancellor Wriothesley, -in order that the Queen should be committed to the Tower, he by -accident or design let it drop from his bosom. It was picked up by a -friendly hand, and immediately conveyed to the Princess.</p> - -<p>Katherine so wrought upon the King's affection, that she not only -succeeded in allaying his jealous fears and quieting his suspicions, -but she also so excited his resentment against the writer of the -accusations against her, that from that day Henry would never again see -Gardiner.</p> - -<p>It is also believed that this incident was the cause of the Bishop's -name not being included in the list of the King's executors.</p> - -<p>At one time, so high did Gardiner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> stand in the King's estimation, that -Henry had resolved not only to nominate him as an executor, but also -to direct that he should be a member of the Council to whom would be -entrusted the executive power during the minority of his son.</p> - -<p>Here again, however, is difference of opinion amongst historians, some -writers asserting that it was not the animosity of Queen Katherine -Parr, but the friendship of the Duke of Norfolk and his family, that -proved the ruin of Gardiner's fortunes at this period.</p> - -<p>Henry having become jealous of that powerful noble, seized upon every -opportunity of humbling his relatives and friends.</p> - -<p>But this, as well as most of the events of Gardiner's life, have been -related by contemporary writers with such violence of partisanship, -that it is difficult to ascertain the truth.</p> - -<p>To Gardiner, however, must be assigned the merit that both during the -life, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> after the death of the King his master, he ever spoke and -wrote of him in terms of much deference and respect.</p> - -<p>Upon the accession of Edward VI. Archbishop Cranmer laboured earnestly -to establish the great work of the Reformation on a firm basis, and was -very desirous to obtain Gardiner's assistance, or, at any rate, his -concurrence in his plans.</p> - -<p>But this wily prelate would neither concur nor disagree with Cranmer's -schemes. His ruling maxim had ever been to keep things quiet, and he -asserted that this could not be done were any great alterations made -either in Church or State.</p> - -<p>He agreed in the wisdom with which the Archbishop sought to establish -the Reformed religion, and also in his desire to do away with -superstitious practices, but he saw grave objections to the innovation -being attempted at present.</p> - -<p>The King's youth and feeble health, the necessary absence of the -Protector<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> Somerset, who was detained in Scotland by military duty, -made the future not only doubtful, but gloomy; and Gardiner was of -opinion that it would be injudicious to disturb the present Church -government.</p> - -<p>However, Cranmer carried his point in so far as having a Royal -Commission appointed for the purpose of visiting each diocese.</p> - -<p>The Bishop of Winchester, notwithstanding his love of peace, opposed -this measure, and refused to allow the Commissioners to enter his -diocese. For this contumacy he was committed to the Fleet Prison.</p> - -<p>His imprisonment there was not severe, the Warden of the Fleet being -his friend, neither did it last long, and when released he returned to -his diocese, and addressed himself zealously but quietly to his duties -there.</p> - -<p>This calm, however, was not of long duration, for within the year he -was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>summoned to preach in London on St. Peter Day, and his doctrines -so offended the Council that he was sent to the Tower where he remained -a prisoner during the remainder of Edward's reign.</p> - -<p>After Edward's death, Somerset visited Gardiner in prison with a view -of effecting his release.</p> - -<p>Gardiner readily expressed his approval of all that had been done to -establish the Reformed religion, and promised for the future obedience -to Royal authority, but he would not acknowledge that he had been -guilty of contumacy in the past. On this point he was immovable, -protesting that he was innocent in every respect.</p> - -<p>He was brought before the Privy Council, and then three months were -given to him for reflection.</p> - -<p>When this period had expired, as the Bishop remained in the same -sentiments, it was resolved to proceed judicially against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> him in order -to deprive him of the See of Winchester.</p> - -<p>He then refused to sign the articles that had been sent him previously, -and to which he had in a measure assented, and he vehemently demanded -to be tried as to the grounds of his imprisonment.</p> - -<p>But the Privy Council refused his prayer, and his bishopric was -sequestrated.</p> - -<p>All these proceedings were much censured as being contrary to the -liberties of Englishmen, and contrary also to all forms of legal -procedure. It was thought very hard that a man should be put in prison -solely from a complaint having been made against him, and still more -hard that after two years' durance, and without further inquiry, -articles should be put to him for his signature.</p> - -<p>Such actions were quite indefensible upon any constitutional principles.</p> - -<p>Archbishop Cranmer greatly deprecated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> this illegal harshness, for he -foresaw the injurious consequences.</p> - -<p>Such ill-timed severity would inevitably drive men like Gardiner, -Tonstall, and Day, who had already acknowledged the King's supremacy, -back to the Church of Rome, and the progress of the Reformation must -thereby be sorely hindered.</p> - -<p>And so it proved.</p> - -<p>During the few remaining years of Edward's life, Gardiner remained -in the Tower, a prisoner, and yet not strictly kept, for during this -period he wrote many controversial pieces, and several Latin poems, -besides putting into verse some of the most beautiful and poetical -passages in the books of Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, and Job.</p> - -<p>On the 3rd August, 1553, Queen Mary made her solemn entry into the -Tower, when Bishop Gardiner, for himself, and also in the name of his -fellow prisoners,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> the Duke of Norfolk, the Duchess of Somerset, Lord -Courtney, and others of high rank, delivered a congratulatory speech to -Her Majesty, who at its conclusion gave them their liberty.</p> - -<p>On August 8th, he, with Archbishop Cranmer, and in the presence of the -Queen, performed the obsequies of the late King Edward VI. The young -monarch was buried in Westminster Abbey, and the ceremonial was the -English funeral service.</p> - -<p>The next day Bishop Gardiner again took possession of Winchester House, -Southwark, after an imprisonment of rather more than five years. On the -23rd, he was declared Chancellor of England.</p> - -<p>On the 1st October he had the honour of crowning the Queen, and on the -5th of the same month he opened the first Parliament of her reign.</p> - -<p>He was also again restored to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> academical honours, and was -re-elected Master of Trinity Hall.</p> - -<p>Not only were distinctions and emoluments thus showered upon him, but -the esteem that the Queen manifestly had for him, and the confidence -she reposed in him, led to his being speedily endowed with an unusually -large share of civil as well as ecclesiastical power.</p> - -<p>Mary was exceedingly anxious on three points.</p> - -<p>The first was to substantiate the legitimacy of her birth by annulling -her mother's divorce; the second was to effect the restoration of the -old religion in England, and to reconcile this country to Rome; and -thirdly, she eagerly desired to obtain the consent of Parliament to her -marriage with Prince Philip of Spain.</p> - -<p>In all these difficult and important matters Bishop Gardiner aided her -with marvellous sagacity and unflagging zeal.</p> - -<p>Thus it came to pass that the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> man who procured the divorce for -the father, obtained for the daughter the reversal of that divorce.</p> - -<p>Now it was, in these days of triumph and success, that Gardiner gave -evidence of his ambition, and of his time-serving nature. To preserve -his ascendency over a weak and obstinate woman, he allowed himself -to yield many points of which he disapproved, and then, having begun -to swim with the stream, he found himself compelled to go faster and -farther than he had intended.</p> - -<p>The Spanish match was as distasteful to him as it was to the bulk of -the nation, foreseeing, as he did, that it would involve this country -in great expense, and that it would not tend to increase either the -happiness or the good disposition of the Queen.</p> - -<p>Unhappily, Mary had inherited obstinacy and violence of temper from -her father, and a jealous and melancholy temperament from her ill-used -mother. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> - -<p>All the early years of her life had been overshadowed by misfortune -and insult, and she had been taught to believe that her sorrows mostly -arose from the sinfulness of the nation in resisting the authority of -the Church to which she belonged.</p> - -<p>Unattractive in mind as well as in person, she loved a man who cared -but little, if at all, for her, who had only consented to the marriage -from motives of policy, and whose morose and sullen manners embittered -the rare visits he accorded to his wife.</p> - -<p>However great were Gardiner's errors, not only as a religious bigot, -but as an unscrupulous and ambitious statesman, it must be remembered -to his credit, that he was ever zealous in preserving what he deemed -the constitution of his country, especially so in guarding her from the -encroachments of foreigners.</p> - -<p>To preserve his own power, he yielded against his judgment to the -Queen's desire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> for her marriage with Philip of Spain, but in drawing -up the articles of the marriage contract he took care so to frame them, -that they would not only be passed easily by the English Parliament, -but also that the Spaniards should be entirely excluded from any share -in the Government of England.</p> - -<p>To Philip was granted the "Title" of King of England, and his likeness -was to be united to that of the Queen upon every coin and seal, but -Mary's signature alone sufficed to give authority to all deeds and acts.</p> - -<p>No Spaniard could hold office in this country.</p> - -<p>The Queen could not be obliged to leave England, nor any child, should -there be children, without the consent of Parliament.</p> - -<p>The Queen was to have a jointure of £40,000 a year from Spain, and -£20,000 from the Netherlands. Should the Queen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> have only daughters, -they were to succeed to her throne, and have from Spain the usual -portions of kings' daughters.</p> - -<p>Should Philip survive the Queen, he was to have no share in the English -Government.</p> - -<p>Such stringent conditions appeared very disadvantageous to Spain; but -so great was Philip's desire to obtain a foothold in England, that -he yielded every point, believing, probably, that when once firmly -established in this country, his own influence, combined with the power -of the Church of Rome, would overcome much opposition and enable him to -gain important concessions.</p> - -<p>Parliament passed the Bill, and all obstacles to the marriage being now -removed, King Philip, attended and accompanied by a magnificent suite -of nobles, and escorted by a large fleet, put to sea, and arrived at -Southampton at the end of July, 1554.</p> - -<p>From thence he proceeded to the Palace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> at Winchester, where he was -magnificently entertained by the Bishop. The following day he was -solemnly married to the Queen by that prelate in the Cathedral of -Winchester.</p> - -<p>The newly-married pair made their entry into London with every -circumstance of pomp and splendour.</p> - -<p>At Windsor the King was installed a Knight of the Garter, and whenever -he and the Queen appeared in public they were received by the people -with universal acclamation.</p> - -<p>But this pleasant and joyful state of things was not to be of long -duration.</p> - -<p>Philip speedily gave evidence of the distaste he felt for his bride, -who, poor woman, had not only the misfortune of having an unlovely -and unlovable countenance, but was also afflicted with a peevish and -jealous temper. She was well aware how little attractive she was, and -therefore suspected and disliked every woman who approached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> her. Her -half-sister and heir, Elizabeth, was especially the object of her -jealous fears.</p> - -<p>This Princess, however, behaved with so much prudence and fortitude -that she gave no loophole for the attacks of her enemies. Still, -despite her care and prudence, and through the machinations of Gardiner -and Cardinal Pole, she was sent to the Tower; but she was saved from -perhaps a worse fate by her brother-in-law, Philip of Spain, who -interceded in her behalf.</p> - -<p>There is much reason to believe that of the two Philip much preferred -the younger sister, and as Queen Mary was in bad health and her life -most precarious, he hoped to marry Elizabeth after his wife's death.</p> - -<p>The unhappy Queen, in the bitter disappointment occasioned by her -marriage, again turned to her Church for consolation, and in spite of -the King's and the Chancellor's opposition, insisted upon Cardinal -Pole's coming to England, armed with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> license under the Queen's Great -Seal to exercise his functions as the Pope's Legate.</p> - -<p>Soon after Pole's arrival, the Houses of Lords and Commons presented a -petition to the King and Queen, praying that the nation might again be -received into the bosom of the Catholic Church.</p> - -<p>The Cardinal, after a lengthy oration, granted the petition, absolving -the people of England, and declaring them reconciled to the See of Rome.</p> - -<p>But the joy attendant on this proclamation was speedily troubled by -the revival of the sanguinary laws for the repression of what was now -called heresy.</p> - -<p>These laws were speedily carried into execution with much rigour, and a -bloody persecution was set on foot in almost all parts of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>Whether this persecution was actively concurred in, or only passively -submitted to by the Bishop of Winchester, is a matter of doubt. On one -side he ever showed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> himself of the popular opinion by siding with -Cardinal Pole when they sat together on various commissions. On the -other hand, he saved the lives of many Protestants by merely locking -them up until quieter and more peaceable days should come.</p> - -<p>These were indeed dismal and dreadful times. A frightful religious zeal -prevailed in the minds of men, inducing them, under colour of promoting -the Gospel, to act precisely contrary to its spirit.</p> - -<p>Gardiner, no doubt, had his share, and a large one, in these barbarous -proceedings; but the whole reproach of these savage cruelties must not -rest upon his memory.</p> - -<p>It is certain that when there were hopes of an heir to the throne, the -Chancellor induced the Queen to restore several prisoners to liberty. -He went in person to the Tower on January 18th, 1555, and released the -Archbishop of York, Sir Edward Rogers, Sir James Crofts, Sir Nicholas -Throckmorton, Sir Edward <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>Warner, Sir George Harper, Sir William -Saintlow, Sir Gawin Carew, Sir Andrew Dudley, William Gibs, Cuthbert -Vaughan, John Harrington, John Tremain, and others of less note.</p> - -<p>It must not be forgotten, also, that during Mary's second Parliament, -far from advocating the stringent laws that were in course of -preparation against heretics, as persons of the Reformed religion were -now called, he endeavoured to mitigate their severity; but in this, as -in other matters, he was borne on by the stream of Royal and popular -opinion, and, perhaps, compelled to acquiesce in proceedings of which -he disapproved.</p> - -<p>Thus Henry's severities and injustice were now emulated and surpassed -by Mary's severities and cruelty.</p> - -<p>If Gardiner disapproved in his heart of the persecution of heretics, -his clemency or merciful inclinations did but little or nothing towards -diminishing the frightful number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> blazing piles that day by day -consumed the bodies of miserable victims of religious fury.</p> - -<p>Tortured by jealous love, unblessed with children, the unhappy -Mary turned with increased fervour to religion as her only solace. -Convinced, as she was, that the Church alone could afford relief to her -sorrows, the bigotry of her nature and education demanded the holocaust -of thousands of victims to appease the anger of an offended Deity.</p> - -<p>Violent and obstinate, her Ministers, even had they wished to oppose -her, could not, without peril to themselves, have resisted her stubborn -resolution to have her way.</p> - -<p>Unhappily then for England, her Ministers were both yielding and -unscrupulous.</p> - -<p>Not only was the Queen relentless in her resolve to exterminate heresy, -but if the Bishop of Winchester relaxed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> zeal, Bishop Bonner, and -William, Marquis of Winchester (who for a time held the Great Seal), -were eager to show their love for their Church by the torture they -inflicted on her enemies.</p> - -<p>Gardiner, whatever may have been his personal wishes, also yielded to -the pressure put upon him; and by his dexterity and brilliant talents -made himself of inestimable value to the Queen, and by so doing -secured for himself supremacy in the Council, and also kept away other -pretendants, especially Cardinal Pole, who was a formidable rival.</p> - -<p>But if, as the writers who view him favourably assert, the Bishop of -Winchester was thus impelled by the temper of his Royal mistress, -and by a series of circumstances beyond his control, to acquiesce in -actions of which he disapproved, what must be thought of the conscience -of a man, who as statesman and Churchman permitted tortures to be -inflicted, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> executions to take place, that have made the reign of -Mary a by-word of bloodshed and cruelty, and have covered the memories -of this monarch and her Ministers with indelible disgrace?</p> - -<p>The land was deluged in blood. The smoke of burning human beings -darkened the air, as it rose in hideous sacrifice to the Almighty -Father, and the shrieks of tortured victims, the prayers of martyrs -at the stake, ascended daily to heaven in one great agonised cry for -mercy—and for vengeance.</p> - -<p>For a time England seemed as one stunned by the frequency of such -unusual and horrible spectacles, but by degrees the mighty spirit of -the nation was roused.</p> - -<p>Laymen and Churchmen alike shook off their lethargy. The degrading -cruelties of the reign of Catholic Mary placed Protestant Elizabeth -more firmly on the throne; and when James II. struggled vainly to -restore his Church to England, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> was doubtless the remembrance of -such scenes that induced many staunch Englishmen to welcome with -enthusiasm the advent of the foreign Prince of Orange, and his English -wife.</p> - -<p>Fox, who describes Gardiner as a monster delighting in torture and -blood, declares that the Bishop was stricken down by dreadful and -deadly disease, the very day on which he had consigned Bishops Latimer -and Ridley to the flames at Oxford.</p> - -<p>This historian relates that the Duke of Norfolk came to sup at -Winchester House, but that Gardiner would not sit down at table until -the messenger from Oxford had arrived to say the sacrifice of the -martyrs had been consummated.</p> - -<p>As he joyed over the narrative of their sufferings, the hand of Heaven -fell heavily upon him, and he died soon afterwards in inexpressible -anguish of body and mind.</p> - -<p>Other biographers say but little of the malady to which he succumbed, -but Fox's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> account is clearly incorrect in many particulars. The -Duke of Norfolk Fox alludes to, had been dead some thirteen months, -and Gardiner made a speech in Parliament more than a week after the -execution of these Bishops.</p> - -<p>It is also a disputed point whether Gardiner really exhibited -vindictive eagerness in bringing about the deaths of Latimer and -Ridley, or whether, as some say, he endeavoured to save them, straining -indeed his authority by offering Latimer a pardon without the knowledge -of the Queen or the Council.</p> - -<p>Bell, as well as Fox, declares that his death was a judgment brought -on him for his cruelty to these martyrs, but Dr. Godwin, Bishop of -Hereford, Dr. Fuller, and Archbishop Parker, all ascribe his death to -natural causes.</p> - -<p>For some years Gardiner had suffered from rheumatic gout, and -ultimately <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>consumption of the lungs was joined to his other diseases.</p> - -<p>Whatever may have been his bodily ailments, it is agreed by every -writer that his latter days were embittered by remorse and mental -distress. The consciousness of his many sins of omission and commission -pressed heavily on his mind. He constantly averred that having been -endowed with much power, he felt that he had turned that power to evil -rather than to good.</p> - -<p>Some historians suggest that he repented having returned to the Church -of Rome. Be this as it may, his opinions respecting the two Churches -were such as to-day would be denominated broad.</p> - -<p>His sermons were very remarkable, for eloquence, for talent, and -also for a peculiar sophistry of argument, by which he could twist -every quotation or opinion so as to suit the views he at the moment -entertained.</p> - -<p>His manner was earnest and noble, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> voice impressive, and few could -listen unmoved to the fervid accents, and to the brilliant and crafty -reasoning by which he advocated the various points of his discourse.</p> - -<p>It is evident, by the attachment that was felt for him for upwards of -forty years, by some of the greatest statesmen in Europe, that he had -the talent of conciliating men's minds and commanding their respect; -and in his own diocese he was not only a wise and considerate Bishop, -but he was infinitely loved and admired.</p> - -<p>He died in Winchester House, London, but he was buried in Winchester -Cathedral, close by the high altar.</p> - -<p>The funeral was solemnised by an amount of pomp and magnificence rare -even in those days, when much outward show was usual in every ceremony.</p> - -<p>To conduct the unconscious dead to their last resting-place with -every circumstance of lugubrious state and grandeur,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> was then deemed -but fitting expressions of affection and respect on the part of the -relatives and mourners.</p> - -<p>Amongst the many cruel actions of which the odium has been cast upon -Gardiner is the mournful tragedy of Lady Jane Grey. This poor girl was -a victim to the political intrigues of an unscrupulous and ambitious -party, and she paid by the sacrifice of her life, and that of her -husband, Lord Guilford Dudley, for her brief and unwilling reign.</p> - -<p>Sir Thomas Wyatt and Sir Peter Carew were the originators of a -deep-laid and formidable plot, by which Mary and her sister were to be -deprived of their rights of inheritance. They flattered the ambition -of the Duke of Suffolk by suggesting that his daughter-in-law should -ascend the throne, and thereby succeeded in implicating him and -his children so completely in their projects that the heads of all -ultimately fell upon the scaffold. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> - -<p>The alarm occasioned to the Queen and her adherents by the discovery of -this plot was, no doubt, considerable; but against Gardiner is brought -the grave charge of having fomented this panic, rather than having -endeavoured to allay it.</p> - -<p>But for his influence, the deaths of the principal conspirators, Wyatt -and Carew, would have sufficed, and have been deemed a sufficient -sacrifice. Many others amongst those who suffered in connection with -the attempt might have been spared; but the Bishop is reported to have -said:</p> - -<p>"We may shake off the leaves and lop the branches, but if we do not -utterly destroy the root, the hope of hereticks, we do nothing."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> - -<h2>THE CHAPEL.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>Amongst the many nooks and corners of this ancient Inn of Gray's, the -little chapel must not be forgotten. Within its tranquil precincts all -things speak of the past, for little has been changed therein for many -generations.</p> - -<p>Small and unpretentious as it is, few can enter this tiny place -of worship without experiencing some emotion, without giving some -thought to the many great and illustrious men—lawyers, Churchmen, and -statesmen, now long numbered with the dead—who have knelt here for -prayer and praise.</p> - -<p>Centuries have elapsed since they have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> passed away, but their noble -deeds and writings are still remembered and cherished.</p> - -<p>Happily for England, this great race is not extinct. Some of those -who now assemble within these walls have already made for themselves -illustrious names—names that will be honoured and revered when they, -in the fulness of time, depart; but others come here in sorrow, and -perchance remorse, for many a promising but wasted life.</p> - -<p>Poor, feeble mortals that we are! How many of us live but to exist; and -often, indeed, that existence is but the puerile flutter of a day!</p> - -<p>Truly, we are but as the sand upon the sea-shore. The tiny atoms shine, -perhaps brilliantly, while the sun looks down upon them; but when -clouds darken the sky, their brightness fades and soon is gone. Then -a little later comes the rising tide—that overwhelming tide of Time, -that sweeps them rapidly away. They are gone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> and the place where they -dwelt, and perchance glittered, knows them no more. No one asks for -them; no one misses them. The sand is again as smooth as when they were -there. The atoms around still quiver and shimmer in the sunshine as -those now departed did of yore.</p> - -<p>Not only from association with the past is the quiet little chapel -attractive, but there is something soothing in its very aspect.</p> - -<p>The fact that so little change has been made in the building or its -arrangements for some hundred years is interesting, and it is touching -to see the number of gray-headed men who usually attend the services. -The memorials around also speak of those who are gone—the painted -glass windows, the decorations, the richly-carved book of the Communion -Service, are all gifts from those who dearly loved the old place.</p> - -<p>In these days of greatly increased form, it is rare also to find a -preacher who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> appears in the pulpit arrayed in the old black Geneva -gown.</p> - -<p>This quaintly-fashioned gown is precisely that to which our Puritan -forefathers attached so much importance, deeming that it savoured less -of Popery than any other raiment, inasmuch as its severe simplicity -was as far removed as possible from the more imposing and, in their -opinion, gaudy vestments of Rome.</p> - -<p>From the pulpit in Gray's Inn Chapel may be heard sermons that stir -men's hearts, that enlighten men's minds.</p> - -<p>No man can hope to obtain the post of preacher to Gray's Inn, unless -he possesses talents that entitle him to be listened to with respect -and interest. Therefore, though quiet, though old-fashioned, though -unemotional in ceremonies, many who think deeply, and who wish to -listen to the words of those who also think deeply, may be found -amongst the congregation gathered together in Gray's Inn Chapel. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> - -<p>The present little building stands upon the site of the ancient chapel -that received its Royal license from Edward II. in 1314, when John, the -son of Reginald de Grey, was authorised to convey thirty acres of land, -two acres of meadow, and ten shillings rent, with the appurtenances, -in Kentish Town, and in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn, to the -Prior and Convent of St. Bartholomew's, in Smithfield, and to their -successors, to provide a chaplain to perform divine service daily for -the repose of the soul of the said John, and for the repose of the -souls of his ancestors for ever.</p> - -<p>The Prior of St. Bartholomew's, however, instead of providing a -chaplain for the service of the chapel, appears, according to the -accounts of the rents and payments of that monastery, to have paid the -Society of Gray's Inn an annual sum of £7 13<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i></p> - -<p>When the monasteries were dissolved, Henry VIII. decreed that the -Treasurer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> and Fellows of this same Society should receive yearly from -the King's Highness, during the King's pleasure, the sum of £6 13<i>s.</i> -4<i>d.</i>, to be paid in even portions, namely, at the "Feasts of The -Natyvytie of Our Lord God, of the Annunciation of Our Blessed Ladye, -the Vyrgyne, of the Natyvytie of Seynt John Baptist, and of Seynt -Michaell, the Archaungell."</p> - -<p>But in 1651, during the time of the Commonwealth, this payment ceased, -and has never been revived, though during the reign of Elizabeth the -officiating minister received a salary of £4 a year.</p> - -<p>By an order of Pension, 15th November, 1598, it was ordered that the -"Reader in Divinity" to be chosen, shall be a man unmarried, having -no ecclesiastical living other than a Prebend, that he be without the -care of souls, and that he shall keep the same place while he continues -unmarried.</p> - -<p>This order corresponds with an usage formerly existing with regard to -the vergers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> of St. Paul's Cathedral, who, by one of the Cathedral -statutes, were to be in a state of celibacy. They had either to -relinquish their wives or their office.</p> - -<p>According to Dean Milman, this statute declares: "That because having a -wife is a troublesome and disturbing affair, and because husbands are -apt to study the washes of their wives, or their mistresses, and no man -can serve two masters, the vergers are to be either bachelors, or to -give up their wives."</p> - -<p>Since these times either wives have improved and become less -troublesome, or else the vergers have become less subservient to them, -for at St. Paul's this rule has been abolished. As regards the Reader -of Gray's Inn, it still remains in force.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately the chapel is, architecturally speaking, of no -importance. It is low and insignificant, and quite unworthy externally -of the venerable Inn to which it belongs. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> - -<p>Strype, in his edition of "Stowe," much praises the Hall of Gray's Inn, -but laments that the chapel is so small, and wishes the Society would -build a new one raised on arches, so that there would be a good dry -walk underneath them in rainy weather.</p> - -<p>The same writer mentions also a new entrance made into Holborn, where -had been erected, he says:</p> - -<p>"A fayre Gate and Gatehouse that were great improvements, making a more -convenient and honourable passage, whereof this house stood in much -neede, as the other entrances were rather posterns than gates."</p> - -<p>To the shop beneath this gateway a certain interest is attached from -its having been the place of business of Jacob Tonson, the celebrated -bookseller, who removed here from Chancery Lane in 1697.</p> - -<p>Several of the most ancient buildings were destroyed by fire in 1604, -and unhappily also nearly all the earliest records of the Society -perished in the same flames. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> - -<p>Subsequently the increasing number of students has necessitated the -demolition of many more of the ancient houses, for some details -respecting them that still exist, describe these old buildings as being -not only dark and ill-convenient, but so deficient in space that the -students had frequently to lodge double.</p> - -<p>In 1688 the Inn appears to have been divided into three courts, but two -of these have been thrown into one large area, called Gray's Inn Square.</p> - -<p>This same lamentable fire of 1604 destroyed the greater part of the -once valuable library. The present library contains about 13,000 -volumes, a large proportion being, of course, works on law. There is -also a small but valuable collection of manuscripts in twenty-four -volumes, some of which are finely illuminated. They mostly relate -to theological subjects, and date from the twelfth to the fifteenth -century. One amongst them, Bracton's "De Legibus et Consuetudinibus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> -Angliæ," in folio, written about the end of the thirteenth or beginning -of the fourteenth century, was presented to the Society of Gray's Inn -in 1635 by John Godbolt, then Reader of the Inn.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p> - -<h2>ARCHBISHOP LAUD.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>Five Archbishops of Canterbury have been connected with Gray's Inn, -one of whom was the celebrated Laud, Primate of England in 1633, temp. -Charles I.; a man as much loved in domestic and private life for -his kindness, charity, and tenderness, as he was feared, and indeed -hated, as a Churchman and as a statesman, both on account of the rigid -intolerance of his religious opinions, and from the uncompromising -tenacity with which he strove to enforce every right to which he -considered the Church entitled.</p> - -<p>Unhappily, this unbending austerity, far from assisting, did but injure -the cause he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> endeavoured to serve, and his zeal was so ill directed, -that it eventually brought his head to the block, and was one great -cause of the civil and religious war that for so many years desolated -this land.</p> - -<p>Animated as he was by the religious fervour of the times, Laud was -inflexible in his resolution of forcing upon all men the adoption of -principles he believed to be right. Even the fatal examples of previous -reigns had not taught him that one of the noblest attributes of -Christianity is forbearance. Great as was his pride, stern and severe -as were his judgments, yet in many respects the Archbishop was a man to -be much respected, even much loved. He considered that his pride as a -Churchman was but a fitting attribute of the great position he held as -Primate of England. He believed that his duty to the Church demanded of -him sternness and severity in dealing with her enemies, and he evinced -the heartfelt <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>sincerity of his opinions by giving up his life in -support of them.</p> - -<p>When the end drew near, Laud nobly testified, by the fortitude and -calmness with which he faced death, by the tender thoughtfulness he -showed for all around him, that his pride and severity were but for his -office, that he himself was, as he had ever been, a humble and sincere -Christian.</p> - -<p>He has been accused by his enemies of endeavouring to overthrow the -Protestant religion; but one of the best pamphlets ever published -against Roman Catholic tenets was written by Laud in his answer to Dr. -Fisher. His foes also were especially rancorous against him for the -attempts he made to introduce wholesome and lawful games on Sundays -and holy-days; a proceeding viewed with much disfavour by the strict -Puritans of the day, who held that all exercises on the Sabbath, save -those of religion, tended to Popery.</p> - -<p>Laud also endeavoured to restrain the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> publication of irreligious and -other evil books, by subjecting all publications to the revision of -the Star Chamber. This endeavour on the part of the Archbishop caused -a storm of indignation, for it was held to be an attempt to subvert -the existing laws, and to restrain the liberty of the people. The -indiscreet zeal, also, that he displayed in his efforts to introduce -into Scotland the Liturgy of the Church of England, made him many -enemies in that country.</p> - -<p>At length, after many years of energetic but fruitless struggles, his -foes prevailed against him; he was committed to the Tower, tried before -a committee of the House of Lords, and condemned to death.</p> - -<p>He was beheaded on Tower Hill on the 10th of January, 1641, in the -seventy-second year of his age.</p> - -<p>Charles, it is said, though lamenting the death of his old servant, -made no attempt to save the life of one who, though opinionated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> and -mistaken, had served his King with affectionate fidelity.</p> - -<p>Archbishop Laud's only sister married Sir John Robinson, afterwards -Governor of the Tower in the reign of Charles II., and, if we may -believe Pepys, an intimate friend and boon companion of that merry -monarch. The descendants of Lady Robinson, namely, Sir George Robinson -of Cranford, Northamptonshire, Lord Lyveden, of Farming Woods, -Northamptonshire, and John Harvey, of Ickwell-Bury, Bedfordshire, still -possess many interesting relics of this famous prelate.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> - -<h2>BISHOP JUXON <br />AND<br /> ARCHBISHOPS SHELDON & WHITGIFT.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>Archbishop Dr. William Juxon was Bishop of London when King Charles I. -was brought to trial, condemned, and executed.</p> - -<p>Throughout the civil wars, Juxon had resided at Fulham, and although -his steady adherence and loyalty to the King were well known, the -prelate's meek and inoffensive behaviour and his many charitable works -had gained him the respect of even the most violent of the Puritan and -Republican parties.</p> - -<p>When the trial of the Royal martyr commenced, Charles, who early -foresaw its result, especially requested the attendance of Bishop -Juxon; and the ministrations of this good man and truly Christian -divine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> soothed the unhappy monarch during the terrible hours of his -last days on earth.</p> - -<p>Juxon was unwearied in his devotion to his Royal master. He attended -the unhappy monarch on the scaffold; he received the last commissions, -he alone heard the sufferer's last words.</p> - -<p>When all was over, the Bishop, at considerable personal risk, took -charge of the mortal remains and conveyed them to Windsor. When there, -however, in spite of urgent remonstrances and earnest entreaties, he -was refused permission by the then Governor, Colonel Whichcote, to -perform the final sad offices over the Royal corpse.</p> - -<p>On his return to London, Juxon was thrown into prison for refusing to -divulge the particulars of his conversations with the King; but his -imprisonment was not of long duration, and, when released, he returned -to Fulham Palace, where he was allowed to pass several months in peace.</p> - -<p>The following year, however, he was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>deprived of his bishopric. He -then retired to his own property in Gloucestershire, where he resided -in much privacy until the Restoration. He was then made Archbishop of -Canterbury, and had the satisfaction of placing the crown upon the head -of Charles II.</p> - -<p>The Archbishop died in 1663. Few men have left this world more -universally beloved than this excellent prelate; but few men have -equalled him in having consistently led a life as blameless as it was -self-denying—a life made beautiful by exceeding humility, gentleness, -and charity.</p> - -<p>He was succeeded in the archbishopric by Gilbert Sheldon, in 1677. -This prelate had formerly been Clerk of the Closet to Charles I., and -had ever adhered faithfully to the King during the troubles of the -Rebellion and the trials of the Royalists during the Commonwealth. At -the Restoration he was made Bishop of London, and subsequently became -Archbishop of Canterbury.</p> - -<p>Dr. Sheldon was a man of great learning and of an excellent life. His -charities<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> were numerous and magnificent, and he has also immortalised -his memory by building the famous theatre at Oxford that bears his name.</p> - -<p>Another Archbishop of Canterbury connected with Gray's Inn was Dr. John -Whitgift, Primate of England in 1583. A man of very exceptional talent, -eminent alike for the ability of his writings, and for his stirring -eloquence in the pulpit.</p> - -<p>By some historians he has been much praised, by others equally blamed; -but it must be remembered that Whitgift lived at a period when -men's minds were agitated and much troubled by religious and civil -contentions, and the great prelate was a violent man amongst violent -partisans.</p> - -<p>He was especially noted for his bitter hostility both to the Roman -Catholic party and to that of the Puritans. By each of these religious -bodies he was therefore equally hated and dreaded, and in many -instances his judgments and his actions were harsh and severe; still, -it must also be remembered that at a time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> when the Church of England -had to contend with many enemies, foreign as well as domestic, and -was menaced with dangers unknown to us in these days, Whitgift held -the reins of government with an able and a vigorous grasp, and to his -credit it can be said that though severe he was never cruel.</p> - -<p>This Archbishop was much favoured by Queen Elizabeth, and did many -excellent works of charity, both establishing and assisting large -hospitals for the poor.</p> - -<p>In the east window of the chapel at Gray's Inn may be seen the arms -of these prelates, as well as those of William Wake, Archbishop of -Canterbury in 1716. Here, also, are the escutcheons of George Morley, -Bishop of Winchester, Nathaniel Crewe, Bishop of Durham, and of Walker -King, Bishop of Rochester.</p> - -<p>Thus we see that this venerable Society exhibits, emblazoned on her -ancient walls, the names and arms of those who, during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> their lives, -shed such lustre on the sheltering house in which their earliest -struggles were fought.</p> - -<p>The children she had so much reason to be proud of honoured her in -their lives. They have gone, but in death she cherishes their memory, -and ever fondly and jealously guards their names from oblivion.</p> - -<p>But now, farewell, pleasant old Inn, with all your glorious Past, your -glorious Present, and your glorious Future.</p> - -<p>The student, labouring hard to master the difficulties of the -magnificent but stern profession of the Law, must often feel his heart -stir within him with emulation, when he remembers how many are the -celebrated men who have also studied diligently beneath the shelter of -these gray old walls, or who have reposed, perchance, at times beneath -the spreading branches of the grand old trees.</p> - -<p>The gates of the Temple of Fame are open to every man, if he can but -win<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> his way up the steep and thorny path that leads to its golden -portals.</p> - -<p>None, however, can grapple with the difficulties of the road but the -courageous, the resolute, and the talented.</p> - -<p>Woe to him who lingers or faints by the way. To the laggard, as to the -weakly, the shining temple becomes but a glittering mist. It is there, -but unattainable. He who falters or shrinks from the struggle can but -veil his head in grief and disappointment, as those aspirants who are -made of stronger and sterner stuff than himself pass him in the race.</p> - -<p>Centuries roll on, generation after generation passes away; but those -who love this venerable and time-honoured Society, trust with heartfelt -affection and gratitude that there will ever be some "Chronicles of -this Old Inn."</p> - - -<hr class="smler space-above" /> - -<p class="center">CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS.</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLES OF AN OLD INN***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 63844-h.htm or 63844-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/8/4/63844">http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/8/4/63844</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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