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Show .A 1 H. 0 C 1 V lJ ;-) J U D (.{ E ' . [ \. n. lG ·'.!. \Yhen SorLh arriveJ, he founcl Lord l{ochester, the trca~u rer, aud cveral other n1ini ~ tcrs, closeted with Charlo . A· yet tbere wa ~ no distinction between the funds to be applied to the king's private expen cs and to the public service- the exchequer being now very c1npty, ancl the resolution being taken never 1nore to . ummon a Parliament for s upplies - it was consiucreu an object that the keeper of the great seal should be contented with the fees of hi~ ofllcc, without any allowance or pension fr01n the crown. Charles him.'clf was careleus about such matter", Lut the trea urer had inculcated upon hitn the importance of this piece of econon1y. A3 soon as North entered, his n1ajesty offered hin1 the seal, and the ministers began to congratulate the new lord keeper; but, with 1nany acknowledgment. for his maje ty'::; gracious intention , he begged leave to suggest the nece~ ity, for his majesty's honor, that a pension 'x. ·hould be a signed to him, a" it had been to hi predeces or, for otherwise the dignity of this high oflice coulu not be supported. l~ochestcr interposed, pointing out the necessity, in tirne · like these, for a ll his rrwjesly's servants to be ready to n1ake so1ne sacrifices ; that the cmolumenU; of the g reat seal \vere cou ' ideraule ; and that it would be n1ore becoming to tru. t to his 1naje:·ty's bounty than to oeek to drive a hard bargain with hi1n. Dut Sir George Je;ffreys being yet only a bustling city ofllcer, who coultl not wjLh auy decency have been put at the head of the law; the atLorney and solicitor general not being considered men of mark or l ikelihood ; Sir Ilarbottle Grimston, the 1na ter of the roll~, Leing at death's <loor, and no other con1mon law * By this word "pension," I conceive we arc to understand salary while the lord keeper was in office, and not, as mjght be supposed, an allowance on his retirement. A. D. 1682.1 FRANC IS KOI<.TII . 219 judge beside · him.~ eif being produ cable, the little gentleman was firm, and po iLi vely ueclare<l that he would not touch the great seal \YiUwut a pension. Aft ·r n1uch haggliug, a con1- promise took pla ·e, by which he wa ~ to hase two thou aud pound a year instead of ihc fou r tlwu:and pounds a year assigned to his predece,'sor. The k ing th en lifted up the purse containing the seal, and putting it into hi hand, ·aid, " llere, my lord, tak it; you will lind it heavy." ''Thus," says Roger North, "his maj "~ ty acted the prophet as well a, the ldng; for, shortly before his lord 'h ip's death, he declan:d that, since he !tad tlte sea!, lte !nul not enjoyed one easy anrl contented m~·nute." '\Vhen the new lord keeper cmne ho1ne at night from \ Vhitehall to his hou ~ e in Chancery Lane brin (rin cr the rrreat seal ' 0 b b with him, and attended by the o!licers of the Court of Chan-cery, instead oC appcari n~ lll LH.:h grntiJiccl, as wa , expect •cl hy his brother and h i::; fi·iencl:-), w bo were waiting to wclco1ne him, he was in a g reat rage - di~appointcd that he had not Lccn able to make a better bargain, mHl, perhaps, a litllc nwrtified that he had only the title of '~ lonl keeper" in~tead of' the more sounding one of '' lord chane<'llor ." H.ccrin1inating on tho e with wh01n he had l>een , o keenly a ·ting the chapmau, he exclaimed, '· To l)e lwggleJ w iLh nl>ou L a pension, a ~ at tbe purchase of a hor ·e or an ox l Afl T I JwJ <.1cclared that I would not accept without a pe11sion, to think I was o fri volous as to i nsi t and de.s, i --t all in a moment! As if I were to be wheedled and cbarn1ed uy their insignificant tr ope, l To think me worthy of so g reat a trus t, and withal so little and mean as to endure ,'uch usage ! It i:) disobliging, incon i tent, and insufferable. What have I done that may give them cause to think of 1ne so poor a spirit as to be thus trifled |
