om Sir George Reynell, my near
ally, to be bestowed upon furniture of my house, adding further that
he had received divers former favors from me. And this was, as I
verily think, before any suit was begun. The ring was received
certainly _pendente_ _lite_, and though it was at New Year's tide it was
too great a value for a New Year's gift, though, I take it, nothing
near the value mentioned in the article."

That while Lord Chancellor of England he took gifts intended to
corrupt justice, he confessed to his shame, but he does not seem to
have been wholly able to decide whether in doing so he broke faith
with those who wished to corrupt him, or with the kingdom and
constitution of England he represented, against their desire to
purchase justice. He seems to have believed that though his conduct
was corrupt, his decisions were honest. He says, indeed, that in
spite of his bribe-taking, "he never had bribe or reward in his eye
or thought when he pronounced any sentence or order."

This cannot be admitted in excuse even for Bacon, but his moral
weakness, if it obscure for the time the splendor of his intellect,
died with him, while his genius, marvelously radiant above that of
any other of the last ten centuries, still illuminates the path of
every pioneer of progress.

His address to the Star Chamber on Dueling was delivered in the
proceedings against Mr. William Priest for writing and sending a
challenge, and Mr. Richard Wright for carrying it, January 26th,
1615, Bacon being then the King's attorney-general. The text is from
T. B. Howell's 'State Trials,' London 1816.

SPEECH AGAINST DUELING

My Lords, I thought it fit for my place, and for these times, to
bring to hearing before your lordships some cause touching private
duels, to see if this court can do any good to tame and reclaim that
evil, which seems unbridled. And I could have wished that I had met
with some greater persons, as a subject for your censure; both
because it had been more worthy of this presence, and also the
better to have shown the resolution I myself have to proceed without
respect of persons in this business. But finding this cause on foot
in my predecessor's time, I thought to lose no time in a mischief
that groweth every day; and besides, it passes not amiss sometimes
in government, that the greater sort be admonished by an example
made in the meaner, and the dog to be eaten before the lion. Nay, I
should think, my lords, that me