that is sought, the very taking away the seal, upon my general submission, will be as much in example for these four hundred years as any furder severity.”

At length, informally, but for the first time distinctly, the full nature of the accusation, with its overwhelming list of cases, came to Bacon’s knowledge (April 20 or 21).  From the single charge, made in the middle of March, it had swelled in force and volume like a rising mountain torrent.  That all these charges should have sprung out of the ground from their long concealment is strange enough.  How is it that nothing was heard of them when the things happened?  And what is equally strange is that these charges were substantially true and undeniable; that this great Lord Chancellor, so admirable in his despatch of business, hitherto so little complained of for wrong or unfair decisions, had been in the habit of receiving large sums of money from suitors, in some cases certainly while the suit was pending.  And further, while receiving them, while perfectly aware of the evil of receiving gifts on the seat of judgment, while emphatically warning inferior judges against yielding to the temptation, he seems really to have continued unconscious of any wrong-doing while gift after gift was offered and accepted.  But nothing is so strange as the way in which Bacon met the charges.  Tremendous as the accusation was, he made not the slightest fight about it.  Up to this time he had held himself innocent.  Now, overwhelmed and stunned, he made no attempt at defence; he threw up the game without a struggle, and volunteered an absolute and unreserved confession of his guilt—­that is to say, he declined to stand his trial.  Only, he made an earnest application to the House of Lords, in proceeding to sentence, to be content with a general admission of guilt, and to spare him the humiliation of confessing the separate facts of alleged “bribery” which were contained in the twenty-eight Articles of his accusation.  This submission, “grounded only on rumour,” for the Articles of charge had not yet been communicated to him by the accusers, took the House by surprise.  “No Lord spoke to it, after it had been read, for a long time.”  But they did not mean that he should escape with this.  The House treated the suggestion with impatient scorn (April 24).  “It is too late,” said Lord Saye.  “No word of confession of any corruption in the Lord Chancellor’s submission,” said Southampton; “it stands with the justice and honour of this House not to proceed without the parties’ particular confession, or to have the parties to hear the charge, and we to hear the parties answer.”  The demand of the Lords was strictly just, but cruel; the Articles were now sent to him; he had been charged with definite offences; he must answer yes or no, confess them or defend himself.  A further question arose whether he should not be sent for to appear at the bar.  He still held the seals.  “Shall the Great Seal come to the