Page images
PDF
EPUB

I took to have commissions in readiness, because Mr. Secretary Lake hath let me understand, he signified... as much to your majesty: but I hope there shall be no use for them at this time. And as I am glad to advertise your majesty of the amendment of your chancellor's person, so I am sorry to accompany it with an advertisement of the sickness of your chancery court, though by the grace of God, that cure will be much easier than the other. It is true I did lately write to your majesty, that for the matter of the Habeas corpora, which was the third matter in law you had given me in charge, I did think the communion in service between my lord chancellor and my lord chief justice, in the great business of examination, would so join them as they would not square at this time; but pardon me, I humbly pray your majesty, if I have too reasonable thoughts.

And yet that which happened the last day of term, concerning certain indictments in the nature of præmunire, preferred into the king's bench, but not found; is not so much as is voiced abroad; though I must say, it is omni tempore nimium, et hoc tempore alienum; and therefore, I beseech your majesty not to give any believing ear to reports, but to receive the truth from me, that am your attorney-general, and ought to stand indifferent for jurisdictions of all courts; which account I cannot give your majesty now, because I was then absent; and some are now absent, which are properly and authentically to inform me touching that which passed. Neither let this any ways disjoint your other business, for there is a time for all things, and this very accident may be turned to good. Not that I am of opinion that that same cunning maxim of Separa et impera, which sometimes holdeth in persons, can well take place in jurisdictions; but because some good occasion by this excess may be taken to settle that which would have been more dangerous, if it had gone out by little and little. God ever preserve your majesty. Your majesty's most humble subject

Feb. 15, 1615.

and most bounden servant,
FR. BACON.

Rawley's

Resuscitatio.

CXXIX. To Sir GEORGE VILLIERS.

SIR,

I RECEIVED this morning from you two letters by the same bearer; the one written before, the other after his majesty had received my last.

In this difference between the two courts of chancery and king's bench, for so I had rather take it for this time, than between the persons of my lord chancellor and my lord chief justice, I marvel not, if rumour get way of true relation; for I know fame hath swift wings, specially that which hath black feathers: but within these two days, for sooner I cannot be ready, I will write unto his majesty both the narrative truly, and my opinion sincerely; taking much comfort that I serve such a king that hath God's property in discerning truly of mens hearts. I purpose to speak with my lord chancellor this day; and so to exhibit that cordial of his majesty's grace, as I hope that other accident will rather rouse and raise his spirit, than deject him, or incline him to relapse. Mean while I commend the wit of a mean man that said this other day, “Well, "the next term you shall have an old man come with a besom of wormwood in his hand that will sweep away all this." For it is my lord chancellor's fashion, specially towards the summer, to carry a posy of wormwood. I write this letter in haste to return your messenger with it. God keep you; and long and happily may you serve his majesty.

[ocr errors]

Your true and affectionate servant,
FR. BACON.

[merged small][ocr errors]

Sir, I thank you for your inward letter; I have burned it as you commanded: but the fire it hath kindled in me will never be extinguished.

CXXX.

[ocr errors]

To Sir GEORGE VILLIERS, about Rawley's⇒ swearing him into the privy council.

SIR,

My lord chancellor's health growing with the days, and his resignation being an uncertainty, I would be glad you went on with my first motion, my swearing privy counsellor. This I desire not so much to make myself more sure of the other, and to put it past competition, for herein I rest wholly upon the king and your excellent self, but because I find hourly that I need this strength in his majesty's service, both for my better warrant and satisfaction of my conscience, that I deal not in things above my vocation; and for my better countenance and prevailing, where his majesty's service is, under any pretext, opposed, I would it were dispatched. I remember a greater matter than this was dispatched by a letter from Royston, which was the placing of the archbishop that now is; and I imagine the king did it on purpose, that the act might appear to be his own.

My lord chancellor told me yesterday in plain terms, that if the king would ask his opinion touching the person that he would commend to succeed him upon death or disability, he would name me for the fittest man. You may advise, whether use may not be made of this offer.

I sent a pretty while since a paper to Mr. John Murray, which was indeed a little remembrance of some things past, concerning my honest and faithful services to his majesty; not by way of boasting, from which I am far, but as tokens of my studying his service uprightly and carefully. If you be pleased to call for the paper, which is with Mr. John Murray, and to find a fit time that his majesty may cast an eye upon it, I think it will do no hurt; and I have written to Mr. Murray to deliver the paper, if you call for it. God keep you in all happiness.

Feb. 21, 1615,

Your truest servant,
FR. BACON.

Resuscita tio.

Rawley's CXXXI. To the KING, concerning the præmunire in the king's bench, against the chancery.

Resuscita

tio.

It may please your most excellent Majesty, I WAS yesterday in the afternoon with my lord chancellor, according to your commandment which I received by the master of the horse, and find the old man well comforted, both towards God, and towards the world and that same middle comfort which is divine and human, proceeding from your majesty, being God's lieutenant on earth, I am persuaded, hath been a great cause that such a sickness hath been portable to such an age. I did not fail in my conjecture, that this business of the chancery hath stirred him; hẹ sheweth to despise it, but he is full of it, and almost like a young duellist that findeth himself behind-hand.

I will now, as your majesty requireth, give you a true relation of that which hath passed: neither will I decline your royal commandment for delivering my opinion also, though it be a tender subject to write on; but I that account my Being but as an accident to my Service, will neglect no duty upon self-safety.

First, it is necessary I let your majesty know the ground of the difference between the two courts, that your majesty may the better understand the narrative.

There was a statute made 27 Edw. III. cap. 1. which, no doubt, in the principalintention thereof was ordained against those that sued to Rome; wherein there are words somewhat general against any "that questioneth

66

or impeacheth any judgment given in the king's "courts, or in any other court." Upon these doubtful words, other courts, the controversy groweth. For the sounder interpretation taketh them to be meant of those courts, which though locally they were not held at Rome, or where the pope's chair was, but here within the realm; yet in their jurisdiction had their dependence upon the court of Rome; as were the court of the legate here, and the courts of the archbishops and bishops, which were then but subordinate judgmentseats to that high tribunal of Rome. And for this con

4

struction, the opposition of the words, if they be well observed, between the king's courts and other courts, maketh very much; for it importeth as if those other courts were not the king's courts. Also the main

scope of the statute fortifieth the same. And lastly, the practice of many ages. The other interpretation, which cleaveth to the letter, expoundeth the king's courts to be the courts of law only, and other courts to be courts of equity, as the chancery, exchequer-chamber, dutchy, etc. Though this also flieth indeed from the letter, for that all these are the king's courts.

66

There is also another statute, which is but a simple prohibition, and not with a penalty of a pramunire, as the other is," that after judgments given in the king's "courts, the parties shall be in peace, except the judgment be undone by error or attaint," which is a legal form of reversal. And of this also I hold the sounder interpretation to be to settle possessions against disturbances, and not to take away remedy in equity, where those judgments are obtained ex rigore juris, and against good conscience.

But upon these two statutes there hath been a late conceit in some, that if a judgment pass at the common law against any, that he may not after sue for relief in chancery; and if he doth, both he, and his counsel, and his solicitors, yea and the judge in equity himself, are within the danger of those statutes.

Here your majesty hath the true state of the question, which I was necessarily to open to you first, because your majesty calleth for this relation, not as news, but as business. Now to the historical part.

It is the course of the king's bench, that they give in charge to a grand jury offences of all natures, to be presented within Middlesex, where the said court is; and the manner is, to enumerate them as it were in articles. This was done by justice Crook, the Wednesday before the term ended. And that article, If any man, after a judgment given, had drawn the said judgment to a new examination in any other court, was by him specially given in charge; which had not used to be given in charge before. It is true, it was not

« PreviousContinue »