TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. MY NOBLE LORD, satisfy your desert and expectation, yet, take the word of a friend, who will never fail you, hath a tender care of you, full of a fresh memory of your by-past service. His majesty is but for the present, he says, able to yield unto the three years' advance, which, if you please to accept, you are not hereafter the farther off from obtain The hearty affection I have borne to your person and service, hath made me ambitious to be a messenger of good news to you, and an eschewer of ill; this hath been the true reason why I have been thus long in answering you, not any negli-ing some better testimony of his favour, worthier gence in your discreet, modest servant you sent with your letter, nor his who now returns you this answer, ofttimes given me by your master and mine; who, though by this may seem not to both of him and you, though it can never be an- LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. TO THE KING. of that business before the end of the term. And so I rest Your faithful friend at command, Newmarket, Nov. 19, 1616. GEORGE VILliers. TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM. MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD, IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCellent Majesty, According to your commandment, I send enclosed the Preface to the Patent of Creation of Sir George Villiers. I have not used any glaring terms, but drawn according to your majesty's instructions, and the note which, thereupon, I framed, and your majesty allowed, with some additions, which I have inserted. But I hope your| majesty will be pleased to correct and perfect it. Your majesty will also be pleased to When I heard your lordship was dead, I remember, that if the creation shall be at though I had lived too long. That was (to tell Roughford, your pleasure and this draught be your lordship truly) the state of my mind upon speedily returned; for it will ask a sending of the bill for your majesty's signature, and a sending back of the same to pass the seals, and a sending thereupon of the patent itself: so it must be twice sent up and down before the day. God evermore preserve your majesty. Your majesty's most devoted, and most bounden servant, FR. BACON. July 28, 1616. TO SIR FRANCIS BACON, HIS MAJESTY'S ATTOR- that report. Since, I hear it was an idle mistaking of my Lord Evers, for my Lord Villiers: God's name be blessed, that you are alive to do infinite good, and not so much as sick or ill disposed for any thing I now hear. I have resigned the prince's seal, and my Lord Hobart is placed. I made the prince laugh, when I told him I resigned it with more comfort than I received it; he understanding me that I had changed for a better: but after I had given him that thought, I turned it upon this, that I left his state and business in good case, whereof I gave him a particular account. The queen called upon me for the matter of he house, wherein your lordship and my Lord Chamberlain and I dealt, and received his majesty's direction, so that I shall prepare a warrant, first to my lord treasurer and Mr. Chancellor, (for that is the right way) to advise how to settle it by assignment, in case she survive his majesty, which I hope in God she shall not. SIR,-I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, and the other papers enclosed, who liketh very well of the course you purpose, touching the manifest to be published of Bertram's fact, and will have you, according to your own motion, advise with my lord chancellor of the manner of it. His majesty's pleasure likewise is, that, according to the declaration he made before the lo ds of his council, at Whitehall, touching the review of my Lord Coke's reports, you draw a warrant ready for his signature, directed to those judges whom We sit in council, that is all I can yet say he then named to that effect, and send it speedily Sir John Denham is not come, upon whose comto him to be signed, that there may be a despatch ing the king shall have account of our consulta Her desire was expressly and of herself, that when I had prepared a warrant to be sent to his majesty, I should send it by your lordship's hand's. tions touching Ireland, which we cannot con- | derstand the place of a chancellor, but done him clude, till we have spoken with him. God ever preserve and prosper you. It grieveth me much, that I cannot hear enough of his majesty's good disposition of health, and his pleasures, and other ordinary occurrences of his journey I pray your lordship will direct Mr. Packer to write to me sometime, of matters of that kind. I have made the like request to Sir Edward Villiers, by whom I write this present, to whose good affection I think myself beholden, as I do also esteem him much for his good parts, besides his nearness to your lordship, which bindeth me above all. Your lordship's most faithful much right also, in giving notice unto those that Edinburgh, May 18, 1616. G. BUCKINGHAM. TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM. MY SINGULAR good Lord, I pray your lordship to deliver to his majesty the enclosed. TO THE LORD KEEPER. MY HONOURABLE LORD, His majesty commandeth me to write to your lordship, that he wonders your hand being at that letter of the lords of the council, which he saith I send your lordship, also, the warrant to my is a very blunt one: you have not besides sent lord treasurer and Mr. Chancellor of the Exche-him some advice of your own, his majesty having quer for the queen's house, it is to come again only entrusted you to speak with Sir Lionel to the king, when the bill is drawn for the let- Cranfield about his estate. ters patents; for this is only the warrant to be signed by his majesty. I asked the queen whether she would write to your lordship about it; her answer was very modest and discreet, that because it proceeded wholly from his majesty's kindness and goodness, who had referred it, it was not so fit for her to write to your lordship for the despatch of it, but she desired me to thank your lordship for your former care of it, and to desire you to continue it: and withal she desireth your lordship not to press his majesty in it, but to take his best times. This answer (because I like it so well) I write to you at large, for other matters I will write by the next. God ever prosper you and pre serve you. Your lordship's most faithful and devoted friend and servant, Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM. MY LORD:-How well I wish to Sir Gilbert Haughton, himself, I dare say, doth not doubt, partly out of mine own affection, and chiefly for your lordship's affection towards him, which to me is more than mine own. That the king should make bargains of hope, when his treasure sufficeth not for his own charge, I may not advise for my dearest friends; for I am nailed to the king's estate. But two things I shall assent unto; the one, that if the king can redeem his works without charge of officers, I shall be glad of it, both for the gentleman's sake, and because I perceive the uniting of the alum works in the king's hands is best: the other, that if his majesty be pleased to signify his pleasure to my lord treasurer and me, that there be no forfeiture taken by Banister, till the king shall advise of I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, this bargain, we will hold him to it. God preand the papers that came enclosed, who is exceed-serve and prosper your lordship. Your lordship, I ingly well satisfied with that account you have think, perceiveth both my scribbling and cursory given him therein, especially with the speech inditing, that I write in straits of business. you made at the taking of your place in the Your lordship's true friend Chancery. Whereby his majesty perceiveth that you have not only given proof how well you un London, April 19, 1617. TO THE LORD KEEPER. MY HONOURED LORD, *Somerset House. and devoted servant, FR. BACON, C. S York House, this 24th of Nov., 1617. TO THE KING. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, Being yesterday assembled in council to proceed in the course we had begun, for retrenchment of your majesty's expenses; we received your princely letters, whereby we are directed to send to your majesty the names of the officers of the exchequer, custom-house, and auditors, out of which you purpose to make choice of some to be sub-committed to handle the mechanic and laborious part of that which your majesty had appointed to our care; we have, according to our duty, sent unto your majesty the names of the several officers of your majesty in those places, to be ordered as your wisdom shall think best to direct. But withal, we thought it appurtenant to our duties to inform your majesty how far we have proceeded in the several heads of retrenchments by your majesty at your departure committed unto us, that when you know in what estate our labours are, your judgment may the better direct any further course, as shall be meet. The matter of the household was by us, some days since, committed peremptorily to the officers of the house, as matter of commandment from your majesty, and of duty in them, to reduce the expense of your house to a limited charge of fifty thousand pounds by the year, besides the benefit of the compositions; and they have ever since painfully, as we are informed, travailed in it, and will be ready on Sunday next, which was the day given them, to present some models of retrenchments of divers kinds, all aiming at your majesty's service. In the point of pensions we have made a beginning, by suspending some wholly for a time, and of others of a third part; in which course we are still going on, until we make it fit to be presented to your majesty; in like manner the Lord Chamberlain, and the Lord Hay, did yesterday report unto us, what their travail had ordered in the wardrobe; and, although some doubt did arise unto us, whether your majesty's letters intended a stay of our labours, until you had made choice of the sub-committee intended by you, yet, presuming that such a course by sub-committee was purposed rather for a furtherance than let to that work, we did resolve to go on still, till your majesty's further directions shall come unto us; and then, according to our duty, we will proceed as we shall be by your majesty commanded; in the mean time, we thought it our duty to inform your majesty of what we have done, that neither your majesty may conceive that we have been negligent in those things which were committed unto us, nor your directions by your late letters hinder or east back that which is already so far pro <ceeded in. And so, humbly kissing your royal hands, TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. MY HONOURABle Lord, I have received your lordship's letters, wherein I see the continuance of your love and respect to me, in any thing I write to you of, for which I give your lordship many thanks, desiring nothing for any man but what you shall find just and convenient to pass. I am very glad to understand that there is so good hope of Sir Gilbert Houghton's business, which I must needs ascribe to your lordship's great favour toward him for my sake, which I will ever acknowledge. If his majesty at any time speak of the Lord Clifton's business, I will answer according to that your lordship hath written, &c. Your lordship's faithful servant, Newmarket, the last of January, 1617. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. MY HONOURABLE Lord, I have acquainted his majesty with your letter to me, and delivered likewise to him the letter and other things directed to his majesty, who hath commanded me to return this answer to them all. First, for your memorial of your charge to the judges, he liketh it so well, that he findeth nothing either to be added or diminished; and was so well satisfied therewith, that he accounteth it needless to read the other papers, but sealed them up again, and sendeth them back to your lordship without reading them. Only in the point of recusants his majesty is of the quite contrary opinion to you; for though he would not by any means have a more severe course held than his laws appoint in that case, yet since the many reasons why, there should be no mitigation above that which his laws have enacted, and his own conscience telleth him to be fit. As, first, the Papists in his kingdom have taken such heart upon the commission given to Sir John Digby, touching the match with Spain, that they have sent copies thereof privately up and down, and are so lifted up in their hopes of what they desire, well spent in that kind. We have put those particulars whereof his majesty gave us charge into a way. Bingley's information will be to good purpose, you. October 9, 1618. FR. VERULAM, Canc. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. MY LORD, I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who giveth you thanks for your advice to communicate the business of the Dutchmen to the commissioners of the treasury, which his majesty was before purposed to refer to them, as it concerns his treasure, for the carriage of it; and to your lordship and the rest named in your letter, for the relation it hath to the law. For the proposers of the suit, his majesty intendeth only to reward their pains as may stand with his service and his princely disposition, but to preserve the main benefit himself: all that his majesty would have your lordship to do for the present, is to take order about the writ of ne exeant regnum, to advise with his learned counsel what course is to be taken, and if by a warrant from his majesty, that your lordship send him a warrant to be signed, which shall be returned with all speed. Of other things his majesty thinketh it will be time enough to speak at his return to London. In the mean time I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. Hinchinbroke, Oct. 21, 1618. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, What passed in your lordship's presence your lordship can tell, touching the navy. The morrow following we concluded in approbation of the books, save in one point, touching the number convenient for manning the ships, wherein the number allowed by the commissioners had, in my judgment, a little of the merchant; for to measure by so many as were above dead pays, is no good argument. For the abuse of dead pays is to be amended, and not the necessary number abated. In this his majesty may fall upon a middle proportion between that of the commissioners and that of the officers. It were good, now the three books which we have appointed to be engrossed into one ledger book are affirmed, there were a short book of his majesty's royal directions, and orders thereupon, extracted. For the commission of the treasury, I persuade myself, they are of the first hours that have been TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD Lord, I have this morning received the petty roll for the sheriffs. I received also the papers exhibited by Sir Miles Fleetwood, which I will use to his majesty's best service, and thereupon give account to his majesty when time serveth. My care, which is not dormant, touching his majesty's service, specially that of treasure, (which is now summa summarum,) maketh me propound to his majesty a matter, which, God is my witness, I do without contemplation of friend or end,. but animo recto. If Sir Edward Coke continue sick, or keep in,. I fear his majesty's service will languish too, in those things which touch upon law; as the calling in debts, recusants, alienations, defalcations, etc. And this is most certain, that in these new diligences, if the first beginning cool, all will go, To back to the old bias. Therefore, it may please! I send now to know how his majesty doth after his majesty to think of it, whether there will not his remove, and to give you account, that yester be a kind of necessity to add my Lord Chief day was a day of motions in the Chancery. This Justice of England to the commissioners of trea- day was a day of motions in the Star Chamber, sure. This I move only to the king and your and it was my hap to clear the bar, that no man lordship, otherwise it is a thing ex non entibus. was left to move any thing, which my lords were God preserve and prosper you. pleased to note they never saw before. morrow is a sealing day; Thursday is the funeral day; so that I pray your lordship to direct me whether I shall attend his majesty Friday or Saturday. Friday hath some relics of business, All things stay, and the commissioners of treasure have appointed to meet; but to see his majesty is to me above all. Your lordship's most faithful servant, From the Star Chamber, Nov. 25, 1618. I forget not Tufton's cause. and precedents are in search. TO THE KING.* MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, According to your majesty's pleasure, signified to us by the Lord Marquis Buckingham, we have considered of the fitness and conveniency of the gold and silver thread business, as also the profit that may accrue unto your majesty. We are all of opinion that it is convenient that the same should be settled, having been brought hither at the great charge of your majesty's now agents, and being a means to set many of your poor subjects on work; and to this purpose there was a former certificate to your majesty from some of us with others. And for the profit that will arise, we see no cause to doubt; but do conceive apparent likelihood, that it will redound much to your majesty's profit, which we esteem may be at the least ten thousand pounds by the year; and, therefore, in a business of such benefit to your majesty, it were good it were settled with all convenient speed, by all lawful means that may be thought of; which, notwithstanding, we most humbly leave to your majesty's highest wisdom. Your majesty's most humble TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. MY HONOURABLe Lord, As I was reading your lordship's letter, his majesty came, and took it out of my hands, when he knew from whom it came, before I could read the paper enclosed, and told me that you had done like a wise counsellor; first setting down the state of the question, and then propounding the difficulties, the rest being to be done in its own time. I am glad of this occasion of writing to your lordship, that I may now let your lordship understand his majesty's good conceit and acceptation of your service, upon your discourse with him at Windsor; which, though I heard not myself, yet I heard his majesty much commend it, both for the method and the affection you showed therein to his affairs, in such earnest manner, as if you |