Books," a work to which he devoted himself as eagerly and delightedly as ever refined critic did to an edition of Homer or Shakspeare.* Yet, from the mouth of this same dull black-letter lawyer came two of the most felicitous sayings in the English language, to be envied by Congreve or Sheridan. Jeffreys having once rudely taunted him with having grown so old as to forget his law: "True, Sir George," replied he; "I have forgotten more law than you ever learned.” When the Prince of Orange first took up his quarters at Whitehall, on James' flight, different public bodies presented addresses to him, and Maynard came at the head of the men of the gown. The Prince took notice of his great age, and observed that he must have outlived all the lawyers of his time. "If your highness," answered he, " had not come over to our aid, I should have outlived the law itself."+ We ought to value still more highly his encomium on the great palladium of our freedom; "Trial by Jury," said he, "is the subject's birthright and inheritance, as his lands are; and without which he is not sure to keep them or any thing else. This way of trial is his fence and protection against all frauds and surprises, and against all storms of power."+ * I subjoin the title-page of the first volume, the gipsey jargon of which may amuse the reader: "LES REPORTS DES CASES argue & adjudge in le Temps del' Roy Edward le Second, Et auxy Memoranda del' Exchequer en Temps le Selonq; les ancient manuscripts ore remanent les maines de Sir Jehan Maynard ovesq; un perfect Table des Matters en les dits Cases de Temps del' Roy Edward le Second colligee per le mesme Serjeant. 1678." † 2 Burn. O. T. 550. The exact contemporary of Maynard, to whom he was introduced by William, was the Duke of Schomberg, killed a few months after at the battle of the Boyne, in his eighty-third year-who, a short time before he set off for Ireland, being asked whether he did not mean to give himself the repose to which his years entitled him, replied, "A good general makes his retreat as late as he can." By his subsequent conduct, as well as courage, he added greatly to the glory of the octogenarians. Grey's Debates, i. 447. CHAPTER CV. LIFE OF LORD COMMISSIONER TREVOR. NOTWITHSTANDING the complaints raised against the Court of Chan[MAY 15, 1690.] and his Ministers thought that the experiment of cery under Lord Commissioner Maynard, the King having several co-ordinate Judges jointly to do the business there had not yet been fairly tried, and a new commission, (as we have seen) was issued, with Sir JOHN TREVOR at the head of it.* Rawlinson, one of the former commissioners, was continued, and Sir George Hutchins, another new one, was introduced, but, though a sensible man and a sound lawyer, he likewise was too obscure and uninteresting to deserve further notice. If I were to select for commemoration those only who displayed amiable and praiseworthy qualities, I fear that Sir John Trevor ought equally to be consigned to oblivion: but it is my duty to trace his career, for, though devoid of principle, he was gifted with singular energy and versatility, and he acted a conspicuous part in the most interesting period of our history. He was descended from Edward ap David, an illustrious Welshman, who, no doubt carrying up his own pedigree to Noah, was the common ancestor of several noble and distinguished families taking the surname of Trevor. Our John was the second son of John Trevor of Brynkinalt, in the county of Denbigh, Esq., by an aunt of Lord Chancellor Jeffreys. He was born during the civil war in the reign of Charles I. Notwithstanding the high " Welsh plood in his pody, which all the water in Wye could not wash out," his family was at this time in reduced circumstances, and, being a younger brother, great difficulty was found in procuring him education, and giving him a start in life. It is certain that he never was at the university, and it is sup[A. D. 1660-1677.] posed that he never was at any higher seminary than a village school. He likewise had the misfortune to have a cast in his eye, which alarmed all who saw him. Arthur Trevor, a cousin, who was an eminent barrister, hearing how sadly the Brynkinalt folks were at a loss to dispose of "squinting Jack," took compassion upon them, and sent for the lad to London. On his arrival, he displayed very lively parts, although his manners were rather uncouth, and he could not speak a sentence of correct English. He was now put to copy papers and go messages. Roger North gives us an amusing description of this part of his career. "He was bred a sort of clerk in old Arthur Trevor's chamber, an eminent and worthy professor of the law in the Inner Temple. A gentleman that visited Mr. Arthur Trevor, \ * Books of Privy Council, June 3, 1690. Cr. Off. Min. fol. 137. † Among others, that of Theodor Trevor, Earl of Hereford. Yorke's Royal Tribes of Wales. Collins's Peerage. at his going out observed a strange-looking boy in his clerk's seat (for no person ever had a worse sort of squint than he had,) and asked who that youth was? A kinsman of mine,' said Arthur Trevor, that I have allowed to sit here to learn the knavish part of the law.' This John Trevor grew up, and took in with the gamesters, among whom he was a great proficient: and being well grounded in the law, proved a critic in resolving gaming cases and doubts, and had the authority of a judge among them; and his sentence for the most part carried the cause."* But, in truth, though he occasionally kept loose company, it was with a view to his advancement, and his office of "Lord Chancellor of the Jockey Club" he only considered as a stepping stone to the woolsack. From his arrival in London, he cogitated night and day how he was to become rich and great, and he made his love of pleasure always subservient to his avarice and ambition. Being entered a student of the Inner Temple, he studied the law with much assiduity, and rendered himself well versed in all branches of his profession. Ever looking to the main chance, he had formed an extensive connexion among attorneys and their clerks while in the office of his cousin Arthur; and when he was called to the bar, being particularly skilled in "the knavish part of the law," he soon got into extensive practice, although not of the most reputable description. His countryman and cousin, Jeffreys, was rising into high repute, and showed him kindness. Through the interest, of Sir George, who had now renounced Shaftesbury and the [A. D. 1678.] Whigs, he was made King's counsel, introduced at Court, returned a member to the House of Commons, and put in the way to the highest preferments. I am sorry, from the constant allusions to the topic in contemporary writings, to be obliged to mention that he was likewise supposed to owe his advancement to another member of the same family. He had been a lover of the gay widow of a Montgomeryshire squire,daughter of Sir Thomas Bludworth, Lord Mayor of London,-and this liaison was still supposed to continue, after she became Lady Jeffreys, and he had been advanced to high stations, in which gravity of character and purity of morals ought especially to be preserved. It was said that Sir George was not unaware of his own disgrace, and a story went, that Scroggs and he once having quarrelled in their cups, the former taunted him with it, but that they were very soon good friends again, *Life of Guilford, ii. 27, 28. † These publications are generally too gross for the present day; but, to show the manners of the age, I will venture on one more modest specimen from a Ballad published on Jeffreys soon after his second marriage-(which the ladies may skip:) "But to allay the secret so hot, George from the Court has knighthood got, A royal mark for catterwauling. There's something more that George has got, and jointly pursued their infamous designs against the law, justice, and humanity.* Trevor never seems to have made any figure in the House of Commons as an orator, but he was busy and bustling, [A. D. 1679-1681.] and by activity and intrigue acquired considerable influence among the members. He occasionally spoke, and he made up for his want of eloquence by the slavish doctrines which he inculcated, The exercise of the royal prerogative he maintained was by no means to be inquired into by parliament. "Tis the King's prerogative," said he, "to make peace or war; 'tis he that makes it, and he that breaks it. The disciples came to our Saviour in the ship, and said, Lord, save us or we perish;' and we say no more to the King.' When the popish plot broke out, falsely thinking to please Charles II., who, in this instance, displayed more generosity than he had credit for, he said, I would satisfy the loyal subjects of England, and pass a vote in plain English to make an address to the King that the Queen and her family, together with all reputed or suspected papists, may be removed from Whitehall." The vote was carried by acclamation, but was censured by his Majesty. Trevor took an active part in the infamous prosecution of Lord Strafford, saying, "Upon the evidence, I am satisfied clearly that this Lord Strafford is guilty, and so I would make no manner of bones to demand judgment. I would have no more delay, but go up and demand judg * This story is referred to in the following doggerel: 1 Scroggs. "But one thing more must not be past When George with Clodpate' feasted last, He by his almanack did discover His wife scarce thirty weeks went over, Ere she, poor thing, in pieces fell, Which made Mouth2 stare and bawl like hell. What then, you fool! some wives miscarry, And reckon June for January. This Clodpate did assert as true, Which he by old experience knew; But all his canting would not do, George put him to't upon denial, Which set him hard as Wakeman's trial." They rail'd, and bawl'd, and kept a pother, And like two curs did bite each other, Which brought some sport, but no repentance: 3 For the Popish Plot. 4 Life of Jeffreys, 39. ment." ." What was more to his credit, he boldly, though ineffectually, attempted to defend Jeffreys when attacked in the House of Commons. for obstructing the right of petitioning in the great controversy between the "Petitioners" and the "Abhorrers." "This gentleman," said he, "has been Recorder of London many years, and it is a place of great authority; and it is his happiness that there is no evidence against him that he ever packed a jury, or has gone about to clear the guilty. He has been counsel for the King when persons were indicted for the horrid plot, and laboured himself worthily; and, if I may say so, he was too forward in prosecuting: if so, that may make some atonement for his forwardness in other matters. I hope in some measure you will take pity of him." Jeffreys was deprived of his recordership, but soon rallied from the blow, and revenged himself upon his enemies.* Such was Trevor's reputation as a high prerogative lawyer, that at the meeting of James II.'s only parliament in May, [MAY 30, 1685.] 1685, he was proposed by the government as Speaker, and of course was elected. He succeeded in getting one supply bill passed. Presenting it according to the custom which then prevailed, that the King pending the session might pass it in person, he said: We bring not with it any bill for the preservation or security of our religion, which is dearer to us than our lives: in that we acquiesce, entirely rely, and rest wholly satisfied in your Majesty's gracious and sacred word, repeated declarations and assurance to support and defend the religion of the Church of England as it is now by law established. We present this revenue to your Majesty without the addition of any conditional appropriating or tacking clauses, and we humbly beseech your Majesty to accept of it, and along with it our hearty prayers, that God Almighty would bless you with a long life and happy reign to enjoy it.”+ Every thing went smoothly during the first short session, till it was interrupted by Monmouth's rebellion: but when parliament again met. in the end of the year, notwithstanding all the Speaker's efforts to repress free discussion, such symptoms appeared in the House of Commons of resistance to tyranny, that a speedy dissolution took place, with a resolve to rule thereafter by prerogative alone. In the mean while, Trevor was rewarded with the office of Master of the Rolls, Jeffreys having received the Great Seal, as Chancellor, about a month before.§ From this time their friendship was at an end, and they became rivals and enemies.|| * See 4 Parl. Hist. 543, 990. Grey's Debates. Rot. Pat. 1 Jac. 2, m. 32. † Ib. 1349. § Cr. Off. Min. fol. 121. The scandalous Chronicle asserted that his Honour now likewise broke with Lady Jeffreys, and was superseded in her affections by one Montfort, a comedian taken into the service of the Chancellor to make him laugh by mimicking the Judges as a substitute for the ancient fool-an officer who does not seem to have been professedly kept by King or Chancellor after the Restoration. A libel on Jeffreys said, VOL. IV. "He now wears horns that are by M-t made, 5 |