* serjeant Davies to open the information, which is that which gives much life or coldness to the cause. But I will have none but trained men in this cause; and I cannot forget, that the allotting of the opening of the information in this cause of the Dutch, I mean the main cause, to a mean fellow, one Hughes, did hurt, and was never well recovered. By my next I will write of the king's estate: and I ever rest, Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, October 14, 1619. FR. VERULAM, CANC. two resolutions: the one, to remit all importunity, touching this cause, to the lords in court of justice; the other, to pursue the designs first taken at Wind| sor, and then at Hampton-Court, for his commission of treasury: wherein I do my part, and it is reasonably well but better would it be, if instruments were not impediments. I ever rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, CANC. October 27, Wednesday. Friday will not end the business; for to-morrow will but go through with the king's evidence. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, THIS morning the duke † came to me, and told me the king's cause was yesterday left fair; and if ever there were a time for my lord of Suffolk's submission, it was now; and that, if my lord of Suffolk should come into the court, and openly acknowledge his delinquency, he thought it was a thing considerable. My answer was, I would not meddle in it; and, if I did, it must be to dissuade any such course; for that all would be but a play upon the stage, if justice went not on in the right course. This I thought it my duty to let the king know by your lordship. I cannot express the care I have had of this cause in a number of circumstances and discretions, which, though they may seem but small matters, yet they do the business, and guide it right. God ever keep your lordship. Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, October 21, 1619. FR. VERULAM, CANC. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.§ THIS bearer, a Frenchman belonging to the ambassador, having put an Englishman in suit for some matters between them, is much hindered and molested by often removing of the cause from one court to another. Your lordship knows, that the French are not acquainted with our manner of proceedings in the law, and must therefore be ignorant of the remedy in such a case. His course was to his Majesty ; but I thought it more proper, that your lordship would be pleased to hear and understand this case from himself, and then to advise and take order for his relief, as your lordship in your wisdom shall think fit. So commending him to your honourable favour, I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Royston, 27th of October, 1619. Your lordship shall do well to be informed of every particular, because his Majesty will have account of it at his coming. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, I AM double bounden to the king, for his Majesty's trust and acceptation; whereof the one I will never deceive; the other, though I cannot deserve, yet I will do my best, and perhaps as much as another man. This day the evidence went well; for the solicitor did his part substantially : and, a little to warm the business, when the misemployment of treasure, which had relation to the army of Ireland, was handled, I spake a word, that he, that did draw or milk treasure from Ireland, did not emulgere, milk money, but blood. But this is but one of the little things, that I wrote of before. The king, under pardon, must come hither with Sir John Davies, author of Nosce teipsum, knighted in February, 1607-8, and made serjeant at law in 1612. He had been attorney-general of Ireland. + Lodowick, duke of Lenox. He was created duke of Richmond, May 17, 1623; and died February 11, 1623-4. | TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.|| MY HONOURABLE LORD, I HAVE acquainted his Majesty with your letter, who commanded me to give your lordship thanks for your speed in advertising those things that pass, and for the great care he seeth you ever have of his service. I send your lordship back the bill of sheriffs for Sussex, wherein his Majesty hath pricked the first, as your lordship wished. His Majesty would not have you omit this opportunity of so gross an oversight in the judges, to admonish them of their negligence in suffering such a thing to come to his Majesty, which needed his amending afterward: and withal, to let them know, Sir Thomas Coventry, afterwards lord keeper of the great Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. Ibid. seal. that his Majesty observeth, that every year they grow more and more careless of presenting fit men unto him for that place; and that you advise them to be more wary hereafter, that they may give his Majesty better satisfaction. And so I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Royston, November 14, 1619. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, THIS day afternoon, upon our meeting in council, we have planed those rubs and knots, which were mentioned in my last, whereof I thought good presently to advertise his Majesty. The days hold without all question, and all delays diverted and quieted. Sir Edward Coke was at Friday's hearing, but in his night-cap; and complained to me, he was ambulant, and not current. I would be sorry he should fail us in this cause. Therefore I desired his Majesty to signify to him by your lordship, taking knowledge of some light indisposition of his, how much he should think his service disadvantaged in this cause, if he should be at any day away; for then he cannot sentence. By my next I will give his Majesty some account of the tobacco and the currants. I ever rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, CANC. November 20, at evening, 1619. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. I KNOW well his Majesty taketh to heart this business of the Dutch, as he hath great reason, in respect both of honour and profit. And because my first letter was written in the epitasis, or trouble of the business; and my second in the beginning of the catastrophe, or calming thereof, wherein nevertheless I was fain to bear up strongly into the weather before the calm followed; and since every day hath been better and better, I thought good to signify so much, that his Majesty may be less in suspense. The great labour was to get entrance into the business; but now the portcullis is drawn up. And though, I must say, there were some blots in the tables, yet, by well playing, the game is good. Rowland is passing well justified; for both his credit is, by very constant and weighty testimony, proved; and those vast quantities, which were thought incredible, or at least improbable, are now made manifest truth. Yet I find a little of the old leaven towards the Merchants, accused in the star-chamber for exporting the gold and silver coin. + Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. Lord Bacon, in his letter of November 22, 1619, mentions, | first defendants, carried in this style and character; "I would this, that appears now, had appeared at first. But this cometh of haste and precipitation ;" and the like. But yet I hope, the corruption and practice upon the ore tenus and the rectifying of Rowland's credit, will satisfy my lords upon the former proofs. For I would be very sorry, that these new defendants, which, except one or two, are the smaller flies, should be in the net; and the old defendants, which are the greater flies, should get through. God preserve you. Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, CANC. This November 26, 1619. Indorsed, Touching the Dutch business. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.† I Do, from time to time, acquaint his Majesty with your letters, wherein he ever perceiveth your vigilant care in any thing that concerneth his service; and hath commanded me to give you thanks in his name, who is sure your endeavours will never be wanting, when any thing is to be done for the advancement of his affairs. According to your lordship's advice, his Majesty hath written to the commissioners of the treasury, both touching the currants and the tobacco, the plantation whereof his Majesty is fully resolved to restrain; and hath given them order forthwith to set out a proclamation to that effect; not intending in that point to stand upon any doubt of law, nor to expect the judges' interpretation; nor to allow any freehold in that case; but holding this the safest rule, "Salus reipublicæ suprema lex esto." And so I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Newmarket, Nov. 27, 1619. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, I ACQUAINTED this day the bearer with his Majesty's pleasure touching Lake's * submission; which whether it should be done in person, or in writing, his Majesty signified his will thus, that it should be spared in open court, if my lady of Exeter should consent, and the board think fit. The board liked it well, and appointed my lord Digby and secretary Calvert to speak with my lady, who returned her answer in substance, that she would, in this and all things, be commanded by his Majesty: but if his Majesty left it to her liberty and election, she humbly prayed to be excused. And though it was told her, that this answer would be cause, that it could not be performed this term; yet she seemed willing rather it should be delayed, than dispensed with. The This day also Traske,† in open court, made a retractation of his wicked opinions in writing. form was as good as may be. I declared to him, that this court was the judgment-seat; the mercyseat was his Majesty: but the court would commend him to his Majesty and I humbly pray his Majesty to signify his pleasure speedily, because of the misery of the man; and it is a rare thing for a secretary, that hath once suffered smart and shame, to turn so unfeignedly, as he seemed to do. God ever bless and keep you. Your most obliged friend and faithful servant, December 1, 1619. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. ON Friday I left London, to hide myself at Kew; for two months and a half together to be strong-bent is too much for my bow. And yet, that the king may perceive that in my times of leisure I am not idle, I took down with me Sir Giles Mompesson, and with him I have quietly conferred of that proposition which was given me in charge by his Majesty, and after seconded by your lordship. Wherein I find some things I like very well, and some other that I would set by. And one thing is much to my liking, that the proposition for bringing in his Majesty's revenue with small charge is no invention, but was on foot heretofore in king Philip's and queen Mary's *Sir Thomas Lake's. John Traske, a minister, who was prosecuted in the starchamber for maintaining, as we find mentioned in the Reports of the lord chief justice Hobart, p. 236, that the Jewish Sabbath ought to be observed, and not ours; and that we ought to abstain from all manner of swine's flesh, and those meats which the Jews were forbidden in Leviticus, according to bishop Andrews, in his speech, in the star-chamber on that occasion, printed among his lordship's works. Mr. Traske being examined in that court, confessed, that he had divulged those opinions, and had laboured to bring as many to them as he could; and had also written a letter to the king, wherein he seemed to tax his Majesty with hypocrisy, and expressly inveighed against the bishops high commissioners, as bloody and cruel in their proceedings against him, and a papal clergy. He was sentenced to fine and imprisonment, not for holding those opinions, for those were examinable in the ecclesiastical time, and had a grave and mighty opinion for it. The rest I leave to his relation, and mine own attendance. I hope his Majesty will look to it, that the fines now to come in may do him most good. Both causes produce fines of one hundred and fourscore thousand pounds, whereof one hundred thousand may clear the anticipations, and then the assignations may pass under the great seal, to be enrollable; so as we shall need to think of nothing but the arrears in a manner, of which I wish the 20,000l. to the strangers, with the interest, be presently satisfied. The remain may serve for the king's present and urgent occasions. And if the king intend any gifts, let them stay for the second course, for all is not yet done, but nothing out of these, except the king should give me the 20,000l. I owe Peter Vanlore out of his fine, which is the chief debt I owe. But this I speak merrily. I ever rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, CANC. Kew, December 12, 1619. After I had written this letter, I received from your lordship, by my servant, his Majesty's acceptation of my poor services; for which I pray your lordship to present to his Majesty my most humble thanks. I have now other things in my mind for his Majesty's service, that no time be lost. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.§ His Majesty hath been pleased, out of his gracious care of Sir Robert Killigrew, to refer a suit of his, for certain concealed lands, to your lordship and the rest of the commissioners for the treasury; the like whereof hath been heretofore granted to many others. My desire to your lordship is, that he being a gentleman, whom I love and wish very well unto, your lordship would show him, for my sake, all the favour you can, in farthering his suit. Wherein your lordship shall do me a courtesy, for which I will ever rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Royston, December 25, 1619. court, and not there, but for making of conventicles and commotions, and for scandalizing the king, the bishops, and clergy. Dr. Fuller, in his Church History of Britain, Book X. p. 77. § 64, mentions his having heard Mr. Traske preach, and remarks, that his voice had more strength than any thing else he delivered; and that after his recantation he relapsed, not into the same, but other opinions, rather humorous than hurtful, and died obscurely at Lambeth in the reign of king Charles I. Who in the parliament, which began January 30, 1620-1, was sentenced to be degraded and rendered incapable of bearing any office, for practising several abuses, in setting up new inns and alehouses, and exacting great sums of money of the people, by pretence of letters patents granted him for that purpose. But he fled into foreign parts, finding himself abandoned by the marquis of Buckingham, on whom he had depended for protection. § Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.* MY HONOURABLE LORD, I HAVE acquainted his Majesty with your letter, who for that business, whereof Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer brought the message to his Majesty to Theobald's, returned the answer by him. As for that, whereof Sir Giles Mompesson spake to your lordship, his Majesty liketh very well, and so do all others, with whom his Majesty hath spoken of it; and therefore he recommendeth it to your care, not doubting but your lordship will give all your fartherance to it, being your own work, and so much concerning his Majesty's honour and profit; and will speak farther with your lordship of it at his return to London. For those other businesses of the star-chamber, which his Majesty hath recommended to your lordship, he hopeth you will keep the clock still going, his profit being so much interested therein, especially seeing Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer † hath promised his Majesty, that he will be no more sick, whereby you shall have this comfort, that the burden will not lie upon your lordship alone. The little leisure I had at Theobald's made me bring your man down hither for this answer, which I hope your lordship will excuse; and ever hold me for Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. Royston, Jan. 19. Indorsed, 1619. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, IN the midst of business, as in the midst of a way, one should not stay long, especially when I crave no direction, but only advertise. This day we met about the commission, the commonwealth's commission, for the poor and vagabonds, &c. We have put it into an exceeding good way, and have appointed meetings once in fourteen days, because it shall not be a-slack. I was glad to hear from the two chief justices, that whatsoever appears in the country to come from primum mobile, that is, the king's care, works better than if it came from the law. Therefore we have ordered, that this commission shall be published in the several circuits in the charges of the judges. For the rest hereafter. For the proposition of Sir Giles Mompesson, we have met once. Exchequer-men will be exchequermen still; but we shall do good. For the account, or rather imparting, of the commissioners of treasury to the council, I think it will but end in a compliment. But the real care, and I hope good purpose, I will not give over, the better because I am not alone. Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. Sir Fulke Greville, who surrendered that office in September, 1621, being succeeded in it by Sir Richard Weston. | For the star-chamber business, I shall, as you write, keep the clock on going, which is hard to do, when sometimes the wheels are too many, and sometimes too few. But we shall do well, especially if those, whom the king hath hitherto made bond-men, (I mean, which have given bonds for their fines,) he do not hereafter make free-men. For Suffolk's business it is a little strange, that the attorney made it a question to the commissioners of treasury, whether Suffolk should not be admitted to the lease of the extent of his own land, which is the way to encourage him not to pay his fine. But when it was told him that the contrary course was held with the earl of Northumberland, and that thereby he was brought to agree for his fine; then he turned, as his manner is. For the errors, we have yet so much use of the service of Sir Henry Britten in bringing in the fines, indeed more than of the attorney, as we cannot, without prejudice to his Majesty's service, enter yet into them; and besides, Sir Edward Coke comes not abroad. Mr. Kirkham hath communicated with me, as matter of profit to his Majesty, upon the coals referred by his Majesty to us of the treasury, wherein I hope we shall do good, the rather, because I am not alone. The proclamation for light gold, Mr. Secretary Calvert, I know, hath sent to his Majesty; and therefore of that I say no more. For the raising of silver by ordinance, and not by proclamation, and that for the time to come, we have given order to finish it. I hear a whispering, that thereupon the commissioners of the navy, the officers of the household, the wardrobe, may take occasion to break the book and the undertakings, because the prices may rise, which I thought good to signify to his Majesty. And to speak plainly, I fear more the pretence, than the natural effect. God evermore preserve your lordship. I rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful January 20, 1619. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. MY HONOURABLE LORD, I HAVE acquainted his Majesty with your letter, who is very well pleased therewith, finding in you a continual care of his service. In that point of the star-chamber business, his Majesty saith, there is a mistaking; for he meant not the Dutchmen's business, but that motion, which your lordship made unto him, of sitting in the star-chamber about the commissions, which he had not leisure to read till he came down to Royston, and hath reason to give you thanks for it, desiring you to prepare it, and study the point, of which he will speak more with He had been created lord Brooke of Beauchamp's Court, Jan. 9, 1620-1. Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. you at his return to London, being a matter worthy | though there had been very good diligence used, yet your thinking on, and his Majesty's practice. For the last point of your letter, his Majesty saith, it cannot but proceed of malice, that there should be any such plot, which he will not endure, but he will account those, that whisper of it in that sort, enemies of his service; and will put them out of their places, that practise it. And so I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. Newmarket, Jan. 22, 1619. TO MR. SECRETARY CALVERT. MR. SECRETARY, I HAVE received your letter of the 3d of this present, signifying his Majesty's pleasure touching Peacock's examinations, of which I will have special care. My lord Coke is come to town, and hath sent me word, he will be with me on Monday, though he be somewhat lame. Howsoever, the service shall be done. I was made acquainted, by your letter to secretary Naunton, with his Majesty's dislike of the sending to him of the jolly letter from Zealand. I will now speak for myself, that, when it was received, I turned to the master of the wards,‡ and said, "Well, I think you and I shall ever advise the king to do more for a Burlamachi, when he seeketh to his Majesty by supplication and supplying the king at the first word, than for all the rest upon any bravadoes from the burgomasters of Holland and Zealand;" who answered very honestly, that it was in the king's power to make them alter their style when he would. But when another of us said, we could not but in our own discharge send the king the letter, scilicet negandum non fuit; though indeed my way is otherwise. I have at last recovered from these companions, Harrison and Dale, a copy of my lord of Bangor's book, the great one, and will presently set in hand the examinations. God keep you. He was a minister of the University of Cambridge. He was committed to the Tower, for pretending that he had, by sorcery, infatuated the king's judgment in the cause of Sir Thomas Lake. Camd. Annal. Regis Jacobi I. P. 54. I Sir Lionel Cranfield. Dr. Lewis Bayly, born at Caermarthen, in Wales, and educated in Exeter College, Oxford. He had been minister of Evesham, in Worcestershire, and chaplain to prince Henry, and rector of St. Matthew's, Friday-street, in London. He certainly we are not at the bottom; and he, that would not use the utmost of his line to sound such a business as this, should not have due regard, neither to your Majesty's honour nor safety. A man would think he were in Luke Hutton's case again; for as my lady Roos personated Luke Hutton, so, it seemeth, Peacock personateth Atkins. But I make no judgment yet, but will go on with all diligence and, if it may not be done otherwise, it is fit Peacock be put to torture. He deserveth it as well as Peacham did. I beseech your Majesty not to think I am more bitter, because my name is in it; for, besides that I always make my particular a cypher, when there is question of your Majesty's honour and service, I think myself honoured for being brought into so good company. And as, without flattery, I think your Majesty the best of kings, and my noble lord of Buckingham the best of persons favoured; so I hope, without presumption, for my honest and true intentions to state and justice, and my love to my master, I am not the worst of chancellors. God ever preserve your Majesty. Your Majesty's most obliged and most obedient servant, Feb. 10, 1619. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. I PRESUME, now after term, if there be any such thing as an after-term with your lordship, to offer this enclosed paper || to your sight, concerning the duke of Lerma; which, if your lordship have not already read, will not, I think, be altogether unpleasing, because it is full of particular circumstances. I know not how commonly it passeth up and down more or less. My friend, Mr. Gage, sent it me lately out of Spain. But howsoever I build upon a sure ground; for though it should be vulgar, yet, for my desire to serve your lordship, I cannot demerit so much, as not to deserve a pardon at your lordship's most noble hand. Before the departure of the duke of Lerma from that court, there was written upon the gate for a pasquinade, that the house was governed "por el Padre, y el Hijo, y un Santo;" as in Paris about the same time was written upon the Louvre-Gate, “ C'est icy l'hostel des troys Roys;" for Luynes's brother is almost as great as himself. But the while there is good store of kings now in christendom, though there be one fewer than there was. was promoted to the bishopric of Bangor in 1616. On the 15th of July, 1621, he was committed to the Fleet, but on what account is not related by Camden, Annales Regis Jacobi I. p. 72, who mentions the circumstance of the bishop's imprisonment, but that he was soon after set at liberty. He was the author of the well-known book, the Practice of Piety. I have, out of a ragged hand in Spanish, translated it, and accompanied it with some marginal notes, for your lordship's greater ease. Note of Mr. Matthew. |