Wantofmoneyhad，asusual，inducedtheKingtoconvokehisParliament。Itmaybedoubted，however，whether，ifheorhisMinistershadbeenatallawareofthestateofpublicfeeling，theywouldnothavetriedanyexpedient，orbornewithanyinconvenience，ratherthanhaveventuredtofacethedeputiesofajustlyexasperatednation。Buttheydidnotdiscernthosetimes。IndeedalmostallthepoliticalblundersofJames，andofhismoreunfortunateson，arosefromonegreaterror。DuringthefiftyyearswhichprecededtheLongParliamentagreatandprogressivechangewastakingplaceinthepublicmind。ThenatureandextentofthischangewasnotintheleastunderstoodbyeitherofthefirsttwoKingsoftheHouseofStuart，orbyanyoftheiradvisers。Thatthenationbecamemoreandmorediscontentedeveryyear，thateveryHouseofCommonswasmoreunmanageablethanthatwhichhadprecededit，werefactswhichitwasimpossiblenottoperceive。ButtheCourtcouldnotunderstandwhythesethingswereso。TheCourtcouldnotseethattheEnglishpeopleandtheEnglishGovernment，thoughtheymightoncehavebeenwellsuitedtoeachother，weresuitedtoeachothernolonger;thatthenationhadoutgrownitsoldinstitutions，waseverydaymoreuneasyunderthem，waspressingagainstthem，andwouldsoonburstthroughthem。Thealarmingphaenomena，theexistenceofwhichnosycophantcoulddeny，wereascribedtoeverycauseexceptthetrueone。"InmyfirstParliament，"saidJames，"Iwasanovice。Inmynext，therewasakindofbeastscalledundertakers"andsoforth。InthethirdParliamenthecouldhardlybecalledanovice，andthosebeasts，theundertakers，didnotexist。YethisthirdParliamentgavehimmoretroublethaneitherthefirstorthesecond。
TheParliamenthadnosoonermetthantheHouseofCommonsproceeded，inatemperateandrespectful，butmostdeterminedmanner，todiscussthepublicgrievances。Theirfirstattacksweredirectedagainstthoseodiouspatents，undercoverofwhichBuckinghamandhiscreatureshadpillagedandoppressedthenation。ThevigourwithwhichtheseproceedingswereconductedspreaddismaythroughtheCourt。Buckinghamthoughthimselfindanger，and，inhisalarm，hadrecoursetoanadviserwhohadlatelyacquiredconsiderableinfluenceoverhim，Williams，DeanofWestminster。Thispersonhadalreadybeenofgreatusetothefavouriteinaverydelicatematter。BuckinghamhadsethisheartonmarryingLadyCatherineManners，daughterandheiressoftheEarlofRutland。Butthedifficultiesweregreat。TheEarlwashaughtyandimpracticable，andtheyoungladywasaCatholic。
Williamssoothedtheprideofthefather，andfoundargumentswhich，foratimeatleast，quietedtheconscienceofthedaughter。FortheseserviceshehadbeenrewardedwithconsiderableprefermentintheChurch;andhewasnowrapidlyrisingtothesameplaceintheregardofBuckinghamwhichhadformerlybeenoccupiedbyBacon。
Williamswasoneofthosewhoarewiserforothersthanforthemselves。Hisownpubliclifewasunfortunate，andwasmadeunfortunatebyhisstrangewantofjudgmentandself—commandatseveralimportantconjunctures。Butthecounselwhichhegaveonthisoccasionshowednowantofworldlywisdom。Headvisedthefavouritetoabandonallthoughtsofdefendingthemonopolies，tofindsomeforeignembassyforhisbrotherSirEdward，whowasdeeplyimplicatedinthevillaniesofMompesson，andtoleavetheotheroffenderstothejusticeofParliament。Buckinghamreceivedthisadvicewiththewarmestexpressionsofgratitude，anddeclaredthataloadhadbeenliftedfromhisheart。HethenrepairedwithWilliamstotheroyalpresence。TheyfoundtheKingengagedinearnestconsultationwithPrinceCharles。TheplanofoperationsproposedbytheDeanwasfullydiscussed，andapprovedinallitsparts。
ThefirstvictimswhomtheCourtabandonedtothevengeanceoftheCommonswereSirGilesMompessonandSirFrancisMichell。ItwassometimebeforeBaconbegantoentertainanyapprehensions。
HistalentsandhisaddressgavehimgreatinfluenceintheHouseofwhichhehadlatelybecomeamember，asindeedtheymusthavedoneinanyassembly。IntheHouseofCommonshehadmanypersonalfriendsandmanywarmadmirers。Butatlength，aboutsixweeksafterthemeetingofParliament，thestormburst。
AcommitteeofthelowerHousehadbeenappointedtoinquireintothestateoftheCourtsofJustice。OnthefifteenthofMarchthechairmanofthatcommittee，SirRobertPhilips，memberforBath，reportedthatgreatabuseshadbeendiscovered。"Theperson，"
saidhe，"againstwhomthesethingsareallegedisnolessthantheLordChancellor，amansoenduedwithallparts，bothofnatureandart，asthatIwillsaynomoreofhim，beingnotabletosayenough。"SirRobertthenproceededtostate，inthemosttemperatemanner，thenatureofthecharges。ApersonofthenameofAubreyhadacasedependinginChancery。Hehadbeenalmostruinedbylawexpenses，andhispatiencehadbeenexhaustedbythedelaysofthecourt。Hereceivedahintfromsomeofthehangers—onoftheChancellorthatapresentofonehundredpoundswouldexpeditematters。Thepoormanhadnotthesumrequired。
However，havingfoundoutanusurerwhoaccommodatedhimwithitathighinterest，hecarriedittoYorkHouse。TheChancellortookthemoney，andhisdependantsassuredthesuitorthatallwouldgoright。Aubreywas，however，disappointed;for，afterconsiderabledelay，"akillingdecree"waspronouncedagainsthim。AnothersuitorofthenameofEgertoncomplainedthathehadbeeninducedbytwooftheChancellor’sjackalstomakehisLordshipapresentoffourhundredpounds，andthat，nevertheless，hehadnotbeenabletoobtainadecreeinhisfavour。Theevidencetothesefactswasoverwhelming。Bacon’sfriendscouldonlyentreattheHousetosuspenditsjudgment，andtosendupthecasetotheLords，inaformlessoffensivethananimpeachment。
OnthenineteenthofMarchtheKingsentamessagetotheCommons，expressinghisdeepregretthatsoeminentapersonastheChancellorshouldbesuspectedofmisconduct。HisMajestydeclaredthathehadnowishtoscreentheguiltyfromjustice，andproposedtoappointanewkindoftribunalconsistingofeighteencommissioners，whomightbechosenfromamongthemembersofthetwoHouses，toinvestigatethematter。TheCommonswerenotdisposedtodepartfromtheirregularcourseofproceeding。OnthesamedaytheyheldaconferencewiththeLords，anddeliveredintheheadsoftheaccusationagainsttheChancellor。AtthisconferenceBaconwasnotpresent。Overwhelmedwithshameandremorse，andabandonedbyallthoseinwhomhehadweaklyputhistrust，hehadshuthimselfupinhischamberfromtheeyesofmen。Thedejectionofhismindsoondisorderedhisbody。Buckingham，whovisitedhimbytheKing’sorder，"foundhisLordshipverysickandheavy。"Itappears，fromapatheticletterwhichtheunhappymanaddressedtothePeersonthedayoftheconference，thatheneitherexpectednorwishedtosurvivehisdisgrace。Duringseveraldaysheremainedinhisbed，refusingtoseeanyhumanbeing。Hepassionatelytoldhisattendantstoleavehim，toforgethim，neveragaintonamehisname，nevertorememberthattherehadbeensuchamanintheworld。Inthemeantime，freshinstancesofcorruptionwereeverydaybroughttotheknowledgeofhisaccusers。Thenumberofchargesrapidlyincreasedfromtwototwenty—three。TheLordsenteredontheinvestigationofthecasewithlaudablealacrity。SomewitnesseswereexaminedatthebaroftheHouse。Aselectcommitteewasappointedtotakethedepositionsofothers;andtheinquirywasrapidlyproceeding，whenonthetwenty—sixthofMarch，theKingadjournedtheParliamentforthreeweeks。
ThismeasurerevivedBacon’shopes。Hemadethemostofhisshortrespite。HeattemptedtoworkonthefeeblemindoftheKing。HeappealedtoallthestrongestfeelingsofJames，tohisfears，tohisvanity，tohishighnotionsofprerogative。WouldtheSolomonoftheagecommitsogrossanerrorastoencouragetheencroachingspiritofParliaments？WouldGod’sanointed，accountabletoGodalone，payhomagetotheclamorousmultitude？
"Those，"exclaimedBacon，"whonowstrikeattheChancellorwillsoonstrikeattheCrown。Iamthefirstsacrifice。IwishImaybethelast。"Butallhiseloquenceandaddresswereemployedinvain。Indeed，whateverMr。Montagumaysay，wearefirmlyconvincedthatitwasnotintheKing’spowertosaveBacon，withouthavingrecoursetomeasureswhichwouldhaveconvulsedtherealm。TheCrownhadnotsufficientinfluenceovertheParliamenttoprocureanacquittalinsoclearacaseofguilt。
AndtodissolveaParliamentwhichisuniversallyallowedtohavebeenoneofthebestParliamentsthateversat，whichhadactedliberallyandrespectfullytowardstheSovereign，andwhichenjoyedinthehighestdegreethefavourofthepeople，onlyinordertostopagrave，temperate，andconstitutionalinquiryintothepersonalintegrityofthefirstjudgeinthekingdom，wouldhavebeenameasuremorescandalousandabsurdthananyofthosewhichweretheruinoftheHouseofStuart。Suchameasure，whileitwouldhavebeenasfataltotheChancellor’shonourasaconviction，wouldhaveendangeredtheveryexistenceofthemonarchy。TheKing，actingbytheadviceofWilliams，veryproperlyrefusedtoengageinadangerousstrugglewithhispeople，forthepurposeofsavingfromlegalcondemnationaMinisterwhomitwasimpossibletosavefromdishonour。HeadvisedBacontopleadguilty，andpromisedtodoallinhispowertomitigatethepunishment。Mr。MontaguisexceedinglyangrywithJamesonthisaccount。Butthoughweare，ingeneral，verylittleinclinedtoadmirethatPrince’sconduct，wereallythinkthathisadvicewas，underallthecircumstances，thebestadvicethatcouldhavebeengiven。
OntheseventeenthofApriltheHousesreassembled，andtheLordsresumedtheirinquiriesintotheabusesoftheCourtofChancery。
Onthetwenty—second，BaconaddressedtothePeersaletter，whichthePrinceofWalescondescendedtodeliver。Inthisartfulandpatheticcomposition，theChancelloracknowledgedhisguiltinguardedandgeneralterms，and，whileacknowledging，endeavouredtopalliateit。This，however，wasnotthoughtsufficientbyhisjudges。Theyrequiredamoreparticularconfession，andsenthimacopyofthecharges。Onthethirtieth，hedeliveredapaperinwhichheadmitted，withfewandunimportantreservations，thetruthoftheaccusationsbroughtagainsthim，andthrewhimselfentirelyonthemercyofhispeers。"Uponadvisedconsiderationofthecharges，"saidhe，"descendingintomyownconscience，andcallingmymemorytoaccountsofarasIamable，IdoplainlyandingenuouslyconfessthatIamguiltyofcorruption，anddorenouncealldefence。"
TheLordscametoaresolutionthattheChancellor’sconfessionappearedtobefullandingenuous，andsentacommitteetoinquireofhimwhetheritwasreallysubscribedbyhimself。Thedeputies，amongwhomwasSouthampton，thecommonfriend，manyyearsbefore，ofBaconandEssex，performedtheirdutywithgreatdelicacy。Indeed，theagoniesofsuchamindandthedegradationofsuchanamemightwellhavesoftenedthemostobduratenatures。"MyLords，"saidBacon，"itismyact，myhand，myheart。IbeseechyourLordshipstobemercifultoabrokenreed。"
Theywithdrew;andheagainretiredtohischamberinthedeepestdejection。Thenextday，thesergeant—at—armsandtheusheroftheHouseofLordscametoconducthimtoWestminsterHall，wheresentencewastobepronounced。Buttheyfoundhimsounwellthathecouldnotleavehisbed;andthisexcuseforhisabsencewasreadilyaccepted。Innoquarterdoesthereappeartohavebeenthesmallestdesiretoaddtohishumiliation。
Thesentencewas，however，severe——themoresevere，nodoubt，becausetheLordsknewthatitwouldnotbeexecuted，andthattheyhadanexcellentopportunityofexhibiting，atsmallcost，theinflexibilityoftheirjustice，andtheirabhorrenceofcorruption。Baconwascondemnedtopayafineoffortythousandpounds，andtobeimprisonedintheTowerduringtheKing’spleasure。HewasdeclaredincapableofholdinganyofficeintheStateorofsittinginParliament:andhewasbanishedforlifefromthevergeofthecourt。Insuchmiseryandshameendedthatlongcareerofworldlywisdomandworldlyprosperity。
EvenatthispassMr。Montagudoesnotdeserthishero。HeseemsindeedtothinkthattheattachmentofaneditoroughttobeasdevotedasthatofMr。Moore’slovers;andcannotconceivewhatbiographywasmadefor，"if’tisnotthesameThroughjoyandthroughtorment，throughgloryandshame。"
HeassuresusthatBaconwasinnocent，thathehadthemeansofmakingaperfectlysatisfactorydefence，thatwhen"heplainlyandingenuouslyconfessedthathewasguiltyofcorruption，"andwhenheafterwardssolemnlyaffirmedthathisconfessionwas"hisact，hishand，hisheart，"hewastellingagreatlie，andthatherefrainedfrombringingforwardproofsofhisinnocence，becausehedurstnotdisobeytheKingandthefavourite，who，fortheirownselfishobjects，pressedhimtopleadguilty。
Now，inthefirstplace，thereisnotthesmallestreasontobelievethat，ifJamesandBuckinghamhadthoughtthatBaconhadagooddefence，theywouldhavepreventedhimfrommakingit。
Whatconceivablemotivehadtheyfordoingso？Mr。MontaguperpetuallyrepeatsthatitwastheirinteresttosacrificeBacon。Butheoverlooksanobviousdistinction。ItwastheirinteresttosacrificeBacononthesuppositionofhisguilt;butnotonthesuppositionofhisinnocence。JameswasveryproperlyunwillingtoruntheriskofprotectinghisChancelloragainsttheParliament。ButiftheChancellorhadbeenable，byforceofargument，toobtainanacquittalfromtheParliament，wehavenodoubtthatboththeKingandVillierswouldhaveheartilyrejoiced。Theywouldhaverejoiced，notmerelyonaccountoftheirfriendshipforBacon，whichseems，however，tohavebeenassincereasmostfriendshipsofthatsort，butonselfishgrounds。
NothingcouldhavestrengthenedtheGovernmentmorethansuchavictory。TheKingandthefavouriteabandonedtheChancellorbecausetheywereunabletoaverthisdisgrace，andunwillingtoshareit。Mr。Montagumistakeseffectforcause。HethinksthatBacondidnotprovehisinnocence，becausehewasnotsupportedbytheCourt。ThetruthevidentlyisthattheCourtdidnotventuretosupportBacon，becausehecouldnotprovehisinnocence。
Again，itseemsstrangethatMr。Montagushouldnotperceivethat，whileattemptingtovindicateBacon’sreputation，heisreallycastingonitthefoulestofallaspersions。Heimputestohisidoladegreeofmeannessanddepravitymoreloathsomethanjudicialcorruptionitself。Acorruptjudgemayhavemanygoodqualities。Butamanwho，topleaseapowerfulpatron，solemnlydeclareshimselfguiltyofcorruptionwhenheknowshimselftobeinnocent，mustbeamonsterofservilityandimpudence。Baconwas，tosaynothingofhishighestclaimstorespect，agentleman，anobleman，ascholar，astatesman，amanofthefirstconsiderationinsociety，amanfaradvancedinyears。Isitpossibletobelievethatsuchamanwould，togratifyanyhumanbeing，irreparablyruinhisowncharacterbyhisownact？Imagineagrey—headedjudge，fullofyearsandhonours，owningwithtears，withpatheticassurancesofhispenitenceandofhissincerity，thathehasbeenguiltyofshamefulmalpractices，repeatedlyasseveratingthetruthofhisconfession，subscribingitwithhisownhand，submittingtoconviction，receivingahumiliatingsentenceandacknowledgingitsjustice，andallthiswhenhehasitinhispowertoshowthathisconducthasbeenirreproachable！Thethingisincredible。Butifweadmitittobetrue，whatmustwethinkofsuchaman，ifindeedhedeservesthenameofman，whothinksanythingthatkingsandminionscanbestowmorepreciousthanhonour，oranythingthattheycaninflictmoreterriblethaninfamy？
OfthismostdisgracefulimputationwefullyacquitBacon。Hehadnodefence;andMr。Montagu’saffectionateattempttomakeadefenceforhimhasaltogetherfailed。
ThegroundsonwhichMr。Montagureststhecasearetwo:thefirst，thatthetakingofpresentswasusual，and，whatheseemstoconsiderasthesamething，notdiscreditable;thesecond，thatthesepresentswerenottakenasbribes。
MrMontagubringsforwardmanyfactsinsupportofhisfirstproposition。HeisnotcontentwithshowingthatmanyEnglishjudgesformerlyreceivedgiftsfromsuitors，butcollectssimilarinstancesfromforeignnationsa...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：