CHAPTER XIII

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FRANCIS NORTH.

His noble birth, 185. Early life, 186. A court keeper, 188. Called to the bar, 189. His early practice, 189. A lickspittle, 193. A leader at the bar, 194. Makes his fortune by avowing "loyal" principles, 195. Solicitor general, 197. His practice, 198. His loves, 199. Marriage, 200. Insignificant as a member of Parliament, 200. Attorney general, 201. Fees in abundance, 202. Chief justice of the Common Pleas, 203. Conduct on the bench, 203. Career as a politician, 206. Legal oracle of the party of arbitrary power, 206. Proclamation against coffee houses, 206. Petitioners and Abhorrers--North obstructs the right of petition, 207. Parliamentary proceedings against him, 208. Draws a declaration against the popular party, 209. Trial of College, the Protestant joiner, 210. Proceedings against Shaftesbury, 212. Attack on the municipal privileges of London, 216. North made lord chancellor, 217. His disappointment and dissatisfaction, 219. Assists at the inauguration of Saunders, 220. His conduct as a law reformer and equity judge, 221. As a statesman, 223. Joins in the proceedings against the charter of London, 224. Made a peer--Disfranchises many towns, 226. Dismisses Burnet, 226. Rye house plot, 227. Jeffreys his rival, 227. His mortifications, 229. Triumphs over Jeffreys in the matter of the recusants, 230. Death of Charles II., 233. Continued in office by James II., 234. Puts the seal to a questionable proclamation, 235. Parliament meets, 236. North snubbed, 236. Clings to office, 237. Still thwarted and browbeaten by Jeffreys, 237. Further mortifications, 239. His dejection and misery, 240. Monmouth's insurrection, 240. His conduct as to the prisoners, 241. Death and character, 242. Jokes upon him, 244. His writings, 245. His method of living, 245. His domestic relations, 246. Descendants, 247. His early death, 247. His life by Roger North, 247.

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