TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. EXCELLENT Lord, Now that your Grace hath the king private, and at better leisure, the noise of soldiers, ambassadors, parliaments, a little ceasing, I hope you will remember your servant; for at so good a time,* and after so long a time, to forget him, were almost to forsake him. But, howsoever, I shall still remain Your Grace's most obliged and faithful servant, I am bold to put into my good friend, Sir Tobie TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. EXCELLENT Lord, I AM infinitely bound to your Grace for your late favours. I send your Grace a copy of your letter, signifying his Majesty's pleasure, and of the petition. The course, I take it, must be, to make a warrant for the execution of the same, by way of reference to Mr. Chancellor of the exchequer, and Mr. Attorney. I most humbly pray your Grace likewise, to prostrate me at his Majesty's feet, with most humble thanks for the grant of my petition, whose sweet presence since I discontinued, methinks I am neither amongst the living, nor amongst the dead. I cannot but likewise gratulate his Majesty on the extreme prosperous success of his business, since this time twelvemonth. I know I speak it in a dangerous time, because the die of the Low-Countries I. For if is upon the throw. God evermore bless his Majesty's person and designs, and likewise make your Grace a spectacle of prosperity, as you have hitherto been. Your Grace's most faithful and obliged, and by you revived servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. Gray's-Inn, 9th of October, 1624. TO THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY,‡ GOOD MR. CHAncellor, I DO approve very well of your forbearance to move my suits, in regard the duke's return § is so near at hand, which I thought would have been a longer matter; and I imagine there is a gratiustitium till he come. I do not doubt but you shall find his Grace nobly disposed. The last time you spake with him about me, I remember you sent me word, he thanked you for being so forward for me. Yet I could wish, that you took some occasion to speak with him, generally to my advantage, before you move to him any particular suit; and to let me know how you find him. My lord treasurer sent me a good answer touching my moneys. I pray you continue to quicken him, that the king may once clear with me. A fire of old wood needeth no blowing; but old men do. I ever rest Yours to do you service. Consultations in Parliament anno 1 Caroli Regis, at Westminster, anno Domini 1625.|| THE Consultations now in parliament may be regulated into these four heads following. 1. What it was: and how far the introitus et exitus there ordered. Vide my book of a medium for ten years before primo Jacobi regis. This may be revoked. Grants of pensions, now £120,000, before but £18,000. Good times have resumed them upon necessity. Increase of household, from £45,000 to £80,000. The purveyors more, and the tables less furnished than formerly. Fruitless ambassages with larger allowance than formerly. To reduce them to the ordinary of the late queen. Treble increase of the privy purse. Double increase of the treasury of the chamber and great wardrobe. In all, by not using the best course of assignments, whereby the creditor is delayed in his payment, and the king surcharged in the price. The exchequer-man making his best profit from the king's wants. Subsidies and fifteenths, spent only in defence of the states, or aid of our allies. Tonnage and poundage employed in guard of the seas. Loans rarely, and that employed entirely for the public. Imposition by prerogative of old custom, rated easily by the book of rates, if any, either limited to time or measure. Custom enhanced by the new books of rates. Impositions and monopolies multiplied; and this settled to continue by grants. Tonnage and poundage levied, though no act of parliament, nor the seas guarded. The times, the ways, and the persons, that induce these. From Paris, whither the duke of Buckingham went in 1. The Palatinate. 2. Count Mansfield. 3. Land soldiers in the last fleet. The design, where they were sent. The council that directed it. The success of the action, and the return of the persons in number, and the loss. The number and quantity employed severally. The manner of embarking these ships, and what prejudice and discouragement of trade. The council, that directed such employments. The several successes, as at Algier, and Cadiz. 5. Strangers, as 6. Allies. 1. 7. Enemies. Hired by contract to serve, and how used: or How then delivered and dealt withal in the course of justice. What success hath followed upon injustice done them as the arrest of our goods in France and Germany, whereby our goods are at a stand for vent. The number and true value of the goods. The dismissing and dis- Majesty or his officers for it. 1. By whom the direction. 3. The value of the goods. 4. The place whither they went. Under this head will fall the complaint of Dover. How formerly we 2. The cause of the 3. In what condi- Condition we now A nation feared, renowned, victorious. It made the Netherlands there a state when it was none. Recovered Henry IV. of France's kingdom, when he had nothing left but the town of Dieppe. Conquered the invincible navy of Spain in 1588. Took towns in Portugal in the year following, and marched 100 miles upon the firm land. Fired, or brought away, the Spanish navy before Cadiz, and sacked the town. Took the Spanish ships daily, and spoiled the Port-Towns of the West-Indies, never losing but one ship during all the Spanish wars. Reduced the ambition of that king for a fifth monarchy to so low an ebb, that in one year he paid 2500 millions of ducats for interest, so as after he was inforced to beg treaties of peace, in low terms, at the last queen regent's hand. A carriage and readiness in the people to assist their sovereign in their purse and person. A wisdom and gravity of council, who ordered nothing but by public debate, and then assisted by the military professors, either by land or sea, of the best repute, and such only employed. 4. Loss in reputation by the ill success. 5. In the voyage of Algier. In the Palatinate. In the journey with Mansfield. The uncheerfulness we have either to adventure our purses or goods, occasioned by a distrust we have of the successes. The want of the like courses and counsels, that were formerly used. I could wish, that for every of these four heads there were a particular committee to examine an apt report for the houses; and the houses, upon every report, to put itself into a committee of the whole assembly; and after a full and deliberate debate, to order a model, or form, for a conference with the lords: and so, together, humbly to present unto his Majesty a remonstrance of their labour; offering withal a serious consultation and debate amongst themselves for the finding out the fittest manner both for the defence of the state and our allies, reformation of the errors, and a constant way to raise such supplies of money and necessaries, as may enable his Majesty to proceed cheerfully, and I hope assuredly, in this his glorious action, not only for himself and the state, but for all that profess the same religion, and are like to be overwhelmed in the ambition of the Spanish monarchy. assure myself, will not be wanting; for you have professed and showed, ever since I lost the seal, your good will towards me. I rest Your affectionate and assured friend, &c. Indorsed, To Sir Robert Pye. Gor. 1625. TO THE EARL OF DORSET.* MY VERY GOOD LORD, THIS gentleman, the bearer hereof, Mr. Colles by name, is my neighbour. He is commended for a civil young man. I think he wanteth no metal, but he is peaceable. It was his hap to fall out with Mr. Matthew Francis, serjeant at arms, about a toy; the one affirming, that a hare was fair killed, and the other foul. Words multiplied, and some blows passed on either side. But since the first falling out, the serjeant hath used towards him divers threats and affronts; and, which is a point of danger, sent to him a letter of challenge: but Mr. Colles, doubting the contents of the letter, refused to receive it. Motions have been made also of reconcilement, or of reference to some gentlemen of the country not partial: but the serjeant hath refused all, and now, at last, sueth him in the earl marshal's court. The gentleman saith, he distrusteth not his cause upon the hearing; but would be glad to avoid restraint, or long and chargeable attendance. Let me therefore pray your good lordship to move the noble earl in that kind, to carry a favourable hand towards him, such as may stand with justice and the order of that court. I ever rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant. that liberty, against Sir Nicholas, which abated by his death; then another against Sir Edmund, which by the demise of the king, and by reason of the adjournment of the late term, hath had no farther proceeding, but that day is given to plead. Concerning your other letter, I humbly thank your lordship for your favourable and good wishes to me, though I, knowing my own unaptness to so great an employment, should be most heartily glad, if his Majesty had, or yet would choose, a man of more merit. But, if otherwise, humbleness and submission becomes the servant, and to stand in that station where his Majesty will have him. But as for the request you make for your servant, though I protest I am not yet engaged by promise to any, because I hold it too much boldness towards my master, and discourtesy towards my lord keeper,§ to dispose of places while he had the seal: yet in respect I have some servants, and some of my kindred, apt for the place you write of, and have been already so much importuned by noble persons, when I lately was with his Majesty at Salisbury, as it will be hard for me to give them all denial; I am not able to discern how I can accommodate your servant; though for your sake, and in respect of the former knowledge myself have had of the merit and worth of the gentleman, I should be most ready and willing to perform your desire, if it were in my power. And so, with remembrance of my service to your lordship, I remain, At your lordship's commandment, Kingsbury, October 29, 1625. To the right honourable and my very good lord the viscount St. Alban. SIR THOMAS COVENTRY, ATTORNEY-GENERAL, TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. MY VERY GOOD Lord, I RECEIVED from your lordship two letters, the one of the 23d, the other of the 28th of this month. To the former I do assure your lordship I have not heard any thing of any suits or motion, either touching the reversion of your honours, or the rent of your farm of petty writs; and, if I had heard any thing thereof, I would not have been unmindful of that caveat, which heretofore you gave in by former letters, nor slack to do you the best service I might. The debt of Sir Nicholas Bacon resteth as it did; for in the latter end of king James's time, it exhibited a quo warranto in the exchequer, touching Sir Edward Sackville succeeded to that title on the death of his brother Richard, March 28, 1624. Arundel, earl marshal. That of the great seal, of which Sir Thomas Coventry was three days after made lord keeper, on the 1st of November, 1625. TO MR. ROGER PALMER. GOOD MR. ROGER PALMER, I THANK God, by means of the sweet air of the country, I have obtained some degree of health. Sending to the court, I thought I would salute you: and I would be glad, in this solitary time and place, to hear a little from you how the world goeth, according to your friendly manner heretofore. Fare ye well most heartily. Your very affectionate and assured friend, Gorhambury, Oct. 29, 1625. TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. I COULD not but signify unto your Grace my rejoicing, that God hath sent your Grace a son and § Bishop Williams, who had resigned the great seal on the 25th of October, 1625, to Sir John Suckling, who brought his Majesty's warrant to receive it, dated at Salisbury on the 23d of that month. heir, and that you are fortunate as well in your house, as in the state of the kingdom. These blessings come from God; as I do not doubt but your Grace doth, with all thankfulness, acknowledge, vowing to him your service. Myself, I praise his Divine Majesty, have gotten some step into health. My wants are great; but yet I want not a desire to to do your Grace service and I marvel, that your Grace should think to pull down the monarchy of Spain without my good help. Your Grace will give me leave to be merry, however the world goeth with me. I ever rest : Your Grace's most faithful and obliged servant, &c. I wish your Grace a good new year. TO SIR HUMPHREY MAY, CHANCELLOR GOOD MR. CHANCELLOR, I DID wonder what was become of you, and was very glad to hear you were come to court; which, methinks, as the times go, should miss you as well as I. I send you another letter, which I wrote to you of an old date, to avoid repetition; and I continue my request then to you, to sound the duke of Buckingham's good affection towards me, before you do move him in the particular petition. Only the pre nostre tres-excellente Royne, & m'en faire recevoir quelque gracieuse demonstration. Vostre Excellence prendra aussi, s'il vous plaist, quelque occasion de prescher un peu à mon avantage en l'oreille du Duc de Buckingham en general. Dieu vous ayt en sa | saincte garde. Vostre tres-affectionné et tres humble serviteur, January 18, 1625. The following letters, wanting both date and circumstances to determine such dates, are placed here together. TO THE LORD TREASURER.† IT MAY PLEASE YOUR HONOURABLE LORDSHIP, I ACCOUNT myself much bound to your lordship for your favour showed to Mr. Higgins upon my commendations about Pawlet's wardship; the effect of which your lordship's favour, though it hath been nification remains: and I must in all reason consent intercepted by my lord deputy's suit, yet the sigand acknowledge, that your lordship had as just and good cause to satisfy my lord deputy's request, as I did think it unlikely, that my lord would have been suitor for so mean a matter. So this being to none other end but to give your commend your lordship to the preservation of the lordship humble thanks for your intended favour, I Divine Majesty. From Gray's-Inn. sent occasion doth invite me to desire, that his Grace SIR, TO SIR FRANCIS VERE. I AM to recommend to your favour one Mr. John Ashe, as to serve under you, as agent of your comwhose desire how much I do affect, you may perceive if it be but in this, that myself being no farther interested in you, by acquaintance or deserving, yet have intruded myself into this commendation; which, if it shall take place, I shall by so much the more find cause to take it kindly, by how much I find less cause in myself to take upon me the part of a mover or commender towards you, whom nevertheless I will not so far estrange myself from, but that in a general or mutual respect, incident to persons of our qualities and service, and not without particular inducements of friendship, I might, without breaking decorum, offer to you a request of TO THE MARQUIS D'EFFIAT, THE FRENCH this nature, the rather honouring you so much for AMBASSADOR. MONS. L'AMBASSADEUR, MON FILS, Vous Scavez que le commencement est la moitié du fait. Voyla pourquoy je vous ay escrit ce petit mot de lettre, vous priant de vous souvenir de vostre noble promesse de me mettre en la bonne grace de Born November 17, 1625, and named Charles. Diary of the Life of Archbishop Laud, published by Mr. Wharton, p. 24. This son of the duke died the 16th of March, 1626-7. Ibid. p. 40. your virtues, I would gladly take occasion to be beholden to you; yet no more gladly than to have occasion to do you any good office. And so this being to no other end, I commend you to God's goodness. From my chamber at the From the original draught in the library of Queen's co!lege, Oxford, Arch. D. 2. + Ibid. SIR, TO MR. CAWFEILDE.* I MADE full account to have seen you here this reading, but your neither coming nor sending the interr. as you undertook, I may perceive † of a wonder. And you know super mirari cœperunt philosophari. The redemption of both these consisteth in the vouchsafing of your coming up now, as soon as you conveniently can; for now is the time of conference and counsel. Besides, if the course of the court be held super interrogat. judicis, then must the interr. be ready ere the commission be sealed; and if the commission proceed not forthwith, then will it be caught hold of for farther delay. I will not, by way of admittance, desire you to send with all speed the interr. because I presume much of your coming, which I hold necessary; and accordingly, pro more amicitiæ, I desire you earnestly to have regard both of the matter itself, and my so conceiving. And so, &c. Your friend particularly. more than the conservation; and as among men the birth-day is accounted the chiefest of the days of life; so, to found a kingdom is more worthy, than to augment, or to administer the same. And this is an honour that no man can take from your Majesty, that the day of your coming to the crown of England was as the birth-day of the kingdom entire Britain. The next degree of sovereign honour is the plantation of a country or territory, and the reduction of a nation, from waste soil and barbarous manners, to a civil population. And in this kind also your Majesty hath made a fair and prosperous beginning in your realm of Ireland. The third eminent act of sovereignty, is to be a lawgiver, whereof he speaketh, "Pace data terris, animum ad civilia vertit Jura suum, legesque tulit justissimus author." And another saith, "Ecquid est, quod tam proprie dici potest actum ejus, qui togatus in republica cum potestate imperioque versatur, quam lex? Quære acta Gracchi; leges Semproniæ proferentur: quære Syllæ, Corneliæ quid? Cneii Pompeii tertius consulatus in quibus actis consistit ? Nempe legibus. A Cæsare ipso si quæreres quidnam egisset in urbe et toga; leges multas se respondeat et præclaras tulisse." TO MY LORD MONTJOYE.t MY VERY GOOD LORD, FINDING by my last going to my lodge at Twickenham and tossing over my papers, somewhat that I thought might like you, I had neither leisure to perfect them, nor the patience to expect leisure; so desirous I was to make demonstration of my honour and love towards you, and to increase your good love towards me. And I would not have your lordship conceive, though it be my manner and rule to keep state in contemplative matters, "si quis venerit nomine suo, eum recipietis," that I think so well of the collection as I seem to do: and yet I dare not take too much from it, because I have chosen to dedicate it to you. To be short, it is the honour I can do to you at this time. And so I commend me to your love and honourable friendship. TO KING JAMES I. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, THINKING often, as I ought, of your Majesty's virtue and fortune, I do observe, not without admiration, that those civil acts of sovereignty which are of the greatest merit, and therefore of truest glory, are by the providence of God manifestly put into your hands as a chosen vessel to receive from God, and an excellent instrument to work amongst men the best and noblest things. The highest degree of sovereign honour is to be founder of a kingdom or estate; for, as in the acts of God, the creation is From the original draught in the library of Queen's college, Oxford, Arch. D. 2. + Query whether perceive. TO THE KING. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, A FULL heart is like a full pen: it can hardly make any distinguished work. The more I look upon my own weakness, the more I must magnify your favours; and the more I behold your favours, the more I must consider mine own weakness. This is my hope, that God, who hath moved your heart to favour me, will write your service in my heart. Two things I may promise; for, though they be not mine own, yet they are surer than mine own, because they are God's gifts; that is, integrity and industry. And therefore, whensoever I shall make my account to you, I shall do it in these words, ecce tibi lucrifeci, and not ecce mihi lucrifeci. And for industry, I shall take to me, in this procuration, not Martha's part, to be busied in many things, but Mary's part, which is to intend your service; for the less my abilities are, the more they ought to be contracted ad unum. For the present, I humbly pray your Majesty to accept my most humble thanks and vows as the forerunners of your service, which I shall always perform with a faithful heart. Your Majesty's most obedient servant, FR. BACON. From the original draught in the library of Queen's Col lege, Oxford, Arch. D. 2. |
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