affairs in general, and more particularly in reducing the expences of the king's government, now called the civil lift, into the compafs of his revenue. He procured a patent for conftituting two reporters in the courts of Westminster-hall: an instance of his care and concern for the public. For however small advantages it may have produced, the detign was good, and much benefit might have been deduced from it, as well to the nation in general, as to the profeffors of the law in particular.

This year, fo fruitful of extraordinary events to his lordship, produced at the end of it another scene, which might have been of the most dangerous confequence, as his life was concerned in it. Gervafe, lord Clifton, against whom he had made a decree in Chancery, publickly declared he was forry he had not stabbed the lordkeeper in his chair, at the time he pronounced the decree. He was for this offence committed clofe prifoner to the Tower of London; and the affair made the more noife, as the year before, Sir John Tyndal, mafter in Chancery, was actually fhot by one Bertram, a man of confide, rable fortune, for having made a report in Chancery against him, though perfectly agreeable to justice. It is not certain whether a profecution was commenced against the lord Clifton; but however that was, to fecure himself from the effects of his own ill conduct, he rashly and wickedly plunged into a greater enormity, by laying violent hands on himself. This thews how great danger Sir Francis Bacon was in, from a man of fuch ftrong paffions.

The king now raised him to the title of lord-high-chancellor of England, and was fo well pleafed with his free and honeft counfel, that he created him a peer, by the title of baron Verulam, in the county of Hertford. In the preamble of the letters patent, his faithful fervices in Chancery, council, and elsewhere, are declared the motives of this advancement; and the

witneffes to them are Charles 1613 prince of Wales, the duke of

Lenox, the marquis of Buckingham, the marquis of Hamilton, the earl of Pembroke, the earl of Arundel and Surry, and others of the prime nobility. His friendship with the favourite was as great as ever; and he fcrupled not to continue ftopping, as he had ever done, many

patents and grants obtained by his interest He always gave Buckingham his reasons, in very clear and free terms, who was fo far from refenting any thing in the chancellor's conduct, that it confirmed him the more in his efteem. There is a letter of his extant, in which he thanks him very fincerely; and affures him he defired nothing fhould pafs the feal, at his instance or request, but what was just and convenient.

He had a great concern in the profecution of the Dutch merchants, for tranfporting abroad vast quantities of gold and filver, in money, plate, and bullion. He proceeded with much caution, and due refpect to justice, and gained great reputation; as he likewife did in the trial of the lord high treasurer, Thomas Howard, earl of Suffolk, upon a 1619 fufpicion of corruption. He had the king's thanks, and a full approbation of his conduct, in a letter from the marquis of Buckingham. He received from his majefty the farm of the alienation-office, which proved a great part of his fubftance after he loft his office; and likewife procured York-house for his refidence. He had a great affection for it, as the place of his nativity, and the house where his father had lived all the time he poffeffed the high office of lord-keeper of the great feal. Here, in the following year, he kept his birth-day with great magnificence, as appears by fome verses of the famous poet Ben Johnson, Sir Edward Coke and the chancellor were now upon better terms with each other, which fhews the latter to have been of a forgiving temper, as the former had fome years before used him very indifferently; though, after Coke's difgrace, the chancellor had not fpared him. His chief study at this time feems to have been directed to keep all who were concerned in the king's affairs on good terms with each other; and thereby he fhewed himself a diligent fervant, and how much he had the interest of his mafter at heart.

Under the weight of all this business, and in the midft of fo many perplexing affairs; and notwithstanding the diligence and attention fhewn by him in the difcharge of the several branches of his duty, he was fo far from forgetting or neglecting his philofophical studies, that he now fent his mafter the ripeft fruit of them,

in the most perfect, and most im1620 portant work that ever fell from his pen, and which, of all, he valued most, Novum Organum, as a second part to his grand inftauration of the sciences. His majefty received it as graciously as he could with, and wrote him a letter, which does honour to both their memories. He received also the compliments of many of the learned, and had all the reason in the world to be fatisfied with the general reception of a work, which cost him so much pains. It would take up too much room to enter upon any account of this moft learned and wonderful performance: we, must therefore refer the reader to large collections, where his curiofity may be amply fatisfied.

A parliament was not only expedient, but neceffary for the king's affairs; in calling which no man more concurred than the chancellor. He was ever defirous of governing according to the conftitution, and valued himself particularly upon his managing fuch affemblies. He was therefore directed to confult with the proper perfons, on fuch means as were moft likely to render it safe and falutary for the king and kingdom: accordingly, taking to his affistance the two chief-juftices, Montagu and Hobart, and ferjeant Crewe, they, after mature deliberation, agreed upon four points; which the chancellor reprefented in a letter to his majesty.

The first was, looking carefully into the grievances formerly complained of, and examining into fuch things of a like nature, as might probably afford room for new complaints. The fecond was, the settling a proclamation, explaining the caufes which at that juncture moved his majefty to call a parliament, fo as to quiet and conciliate the minds of the people. The third related to the admonitions that might properly be given as to the choice of members. The fourth referred to commonwealth-bills, as his lordship called them; by which, we fuppofe, he meant popular laws, as they are now stiled. The king was extremely well pleafed with this advice, and the marquis of Buckingham returned him his majesty's thanks, and recommended to him the drawing fuch a proclamation; which he immediately performed, and fent it to the king, after it had received the approbation of Sir Edward Coke, the two chief-juftices, and

ferjeant Crewe. It is extant in his works, and must be allowed to have been never furpaffed by any thing of the kind: however, it did not entirely please king James. He thought it too long, and that it told the people too much of what ought to be referved for his own and the chancellor's fpeeches, at the opening of the parliament. It was therefore contracted, and the substance only retained. But it being found impoffible to get things in readiness by the day appointed for the parliament's meeting, another proclamation was therefore neceffary. This alfo was referred to his lordship to draw; and he so happily fucceeded therein, that the king declared, he thought a word could not be altered: and, in order to render the meeting of the king and his great council more agreeable to all parties, fome steps were taken to please the people. Amongst others, the king created the lord Verulam a viscount, by the title of vifcount St. Alban, to which was added a small penfion out of the cuftoms. His capacity and fidelity, his acceptable and faithful fervices, his affiduity and integrity in the administration of justice, his care and prudence as a privy-counfellor, and manager of the king's revenues, are the motives expreffed in the patent, for raifing him to this additional honour. The witneffes to it were more illustrious in fome refpects than to the former: for, befides the prince of Wales, there were the lord vifcount Mandeville, lord-high-treafurer; the earl of Worcester, lord privyfeal; the marquis of Buckingham, lordhigh-admiral; the marquis of Hamilton; the earl of Pembroke, Arundel, Rutland; Montgomery, Leicester, March, Holderneffe, and many others. He was likewife folemnly invefted with this new dignity. The robe of ftate was carried before him by the lord Crewe, and held up by the marquis of Buckingham: and the new viscount returned the king folemn thanks for all the favours he had beftow

ed upon him, which he particularly recapitulated.

Thus far all we have feen has been highly honourable for the lord chancellor; as a statesman, lawyer, philofopher, or confidered in what light you will, equally the fubject of our admiration and reverence. Unhappily, we must now shift the fcene, and dive into his private life, which will difcover actions greatly inconfiftent

Their mafter's heart was not fufficiently at ease to share in their feftivity. He held a coufultation with his friends in the parlour, whom he acquainted with the reafons he had to believe Mifs Darnel was confined in the fame house which had been his prison: a circumftance which filled them with equal pleafure and aftonishment. Dolly, in particular, weeping plentifully, conjured him to deliver her dear lady without delay; nothing now remained but to concert the plan for her deliverance. As Aurelia had informed Dolly of her connection with Mrs. Kawdle, at whofe houfe fhe propofed to lodge, before the was overtaken on the road by her uncle, this particular was now imparted to the council, and ftruck a light which feemed to point out the direct way. to Mifs Darnel's enlargement.

Our hero, accompanied by Mrs. Cowflip, and Tom Clarke, fet out immediately for the house of Dr. Kawdie, who happened to be abroad; but his wife received them with great courtesy. She was a wellbred, fenfible, genteel woman, and ftrongly attached to Aurelia by the ties of affection as well as of confanguinity. She no fooner learned the fituation of her coufin than fhe expressed the most impatient con"cern for her being fet at liberty; and affured Sir Launcelot he would concur in any scheme he should propofe for that purpofe. There was no room for hesitation or choice; he attended her immediately to the judge, who upon proper application iffued another fearch-warrant for

his poffe were ain retained; and Sir Launcelot Greaves once more croffed the threshold of Mr. Bernard Shackle. Nor was the fearchwarrant the only implement of juftice with which he had furnished himself for this vifit. In going thither, they agreed upon the method in which they should introduce themfelves gradually to Mifs Darnel, that her tender nature might not be too much fhocked by their fudden appearance.

When they arrived at the house therefore, and produced their credentials, in confequence of which, a female attendant was directed to shew the lady's apartment, Mrs. Dolly first entered the chamber of the accomplished Aurelia, who, lifting up her eyes, fcreamed aloud, and flew into the arms of her faithful Cow. flip. Some minutes elapfed before Dolly could make fhift to exclaim,"Am coom to live and daai with my beloved leady!" "Dear Dolly! (cried her miftrefs) I cannot exprefs the pleafure 1 have in feeing you again

good heaven! what folitary hours of keen affliction have I paffed fince, we parted!-but, tell me, how did you difcover the place of my retreat?

has my uncle relented?do I owe your coming to his indulgence?"

Dolly answered in the negative; and by degrees gave her to underftand that her coufin, Mrs. Kawdle, was in the next room; that lady immediately appeared, and a very tender fcene of recognition paffed between the two relations. It was fhe who, in the courfe of converfation, perceiving that Aurelia was perfectly compofed, declared the happy tidings of the approaching deliverance. When the other cager

ly