TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD Lord,

I send your lordship the certificate* touching the enrolment of prentices. We can find no ground for it by law. Myself shall ever be ready to further things that your lordship commendeth; but where the matter will not bear it, your lordship I know will think not the worse, but the bet ter of me, if I signify the true state of things to your lordship; resting ever

Your lordship's true friend
and devoted servant,
FR. BACON, C. S.

TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

last to your lordship, I did first send York House, this 29th of October, 1617. Since my for Mr. Attorney-General, and made him know, that since I heard from court, I was resolved to further the match and the conditions thereof, for your lordship's brother's advancement the best I could. I did send, also, to my Lady Hatton, and some other special friends, to let them know, I would in any thing declare myself for the match; which I did, to the end that, if they had any apprehension of my assistance, they might be discouraged in it. I sent also to Sir John Butler, ind after by letter to my lady, your mother, to tender my performance of any good office towards the match or the advancement from the mother. This was all I could think of for the present.

The liking which his majesty hath of our proceeding, concerning his household, telleth me that his majesty cannot but dislike the declining and tergiversation of the inferior officers, which by this time he understandeth.

There be but four kinds of retrenchments: 1. The union of tables; 2. The putting down of tables; 3. The abatement of dishes to tables: 4, The cutting off new diets and allowance lately raised; and yet perhaps such as are more necessary than some of the old.

These things are out of my element, but my care runneth where the king's state most laboureth: Sir Lyonel Cranfield is yet sick, for which I am very sorry; for methinks his majesty, upon these tossings over of his business from one to others

I did ever foresee, that this alliance would go near to leese me your lordship, that I hold so dear; and that was the only respect particular to In my opinion the first is the best and most myself that moved me to be as I was, till I heard feasible. The lord chamberlain's table is the from you. But I will rely upon your constancy principal table of state. The lord steward's and nature, and my own deserving, and the firm table is much frequented by Scottish gentlemen. tie we have in respect of the king's service. Your lordship's table hath a great attendance; In the mean time I must a little complain to and the groom of the stole's table is much resortyour lordship, that I do hear my lady your mothered to by the bedchamber. These would not be and your brother Sir John do speak of me with touched; but for the rest, (his majesty's case consome bitterness and neglect. I must bear with sidered,) I think they may well be united into the one as a lady, and the other as a lover, and one. with both for your lordship's sake, whom I will make judge of any thing they shall have against me. But I hope, though I be a true servant to your lordship, you will not have me to be a vassal to their passions, specially as long as they are governed by Sir Edward Coke and Secretary Winwood, the latter of which I take to be the worst; for Sir Edward Coke I think is more modest and discreet. Therefore your lordship shall do me right, and yet I shall take it for favour if you signify to thein that you have received satisfaction from me, and would have them use me friendly, and in good manner. God keep us from these long journeys and absence, which make misunderstandings and give advantage to untruth, and God ever prosper and preserve your lordship. Your lordship's true and devoted friend and servant, FR. BACON, C. S.

Worhambury, this 3d of Aug. 1617.

See p. 22,

*The Certificate :

According to his majesty's command, signified by your lord

ship's letters, we have advisedly considered of the petition the petitioners' counsel, and do find as followeth:

touching the enrolment of apprentices' indentures, and heard

1. That the act of parliament 5° Eliz. doth not warrant the erecting of an office to enrol such indentures in cities, towns corporate, or market towns. But if any such enrolment should be, it must be by the officers there, who are assigned to perform sundry other things touching apprentices and servants.' 2. That in country villages (for which the suit carries most colour) we cannot give the suitors hope, that any profit will

be there made warrantable by law.

Thus we have (according to our duties) certified our opinions of this petition, submitting the same, nevertheless, to his majesty's great wisdom; and rest,

Oct. 25, 1617.

At your lordship's command,
FR. BACON, C. S.

H. MONTAGUE.
THO. COVENTRY.

TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I send your lordship a draught of a letter touch. ing the sub-commission,* written in wide lines, because it may be the better amended by his majesty. I think it is so penned as none can except to it, no, nor imagine any thing of it. For the household-business there was given a fortnight's day for the pensions, the course which I first propounded of abating of a third throughout, and some wholly, seemeth well entered into. These be no ill beginnings. But this course of the sub-commission thrids all the king's business. God ever preserve and prosper you. Your lordship's true friend and devoted servant, FR. BACON, C. S.

York House, 27th Nov. 1617.

Sir Lyonel Cranfield is now reasonably well recovered.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
MY VERY good Lord,

I thought fit by this, my private letter to your lordship, to give you an account of such business as your lordship hath recommended unto me, that you may perceive that I have taken that care of them I ought, and ever shall in those things you recommend or remit to me.

I hold my opinion given in my former letter, that the uniting of some tables is the most passable way; but that is not all, for when that is done, the king may save greatly in that which remaineth. For if it be set down what tables shall be fixed, and what diet allowed to them, my steward (as ill a mesnager as I am,) or my Lord Mayor's steward, can go near to tell what charge will go near to maintain the proportion; then add to that some large allowance for waste (because the king shall not leese his prerogative to be deceived more than other men,) and yet no question For the suit of the ale-houses which concernthere will be a great retrenchment. But against eth your brother, Mr. Christopher Villiers, and this last abatement will be fronted the payment Mr. Patrick Mawle, I have conferred with my of arrears. But I confess, I would be glad that I | lord chief justice and Mr. Solicitor thereupon, and might see, or rather, that a parliament may see, there is a scruple in it, that it should be one of and chiefly that the king (for his own quiet) may see, that upon such a sum paid such an annual retrenchment will follow for things will never be done in act, except they be first done in conceit.

I know these things do not pertain to me: for my part is to acquit the king's office towards God, by administration of justice, and to oblige the hearts of his people to him by the same, and to maintain his prerogative. But yet because it is in hoc, that the king's case laboureth, I cannot but yield my care and my strength too in counsel, such as it is, which cannot be so much as it was between our Lady-day, and Michaelmas last. But whatsoever it is, it is wholly his majesty's without any deflexion.

As soon as I find any possibility of health in Sir Lyonel Cranfield to execute a sub-commission, I will by conference with him frame a draught of a letter from his majesty, for which there is the fairest occasion in the world; and the king hath prepared it as well as possible. God ever preserve and prosper you.

Your lordship's true friend

York House, Nov. 22, 1617.
VOL. III.-11

and devoted servant,

FR. BACON, C. S.

Draught of the Subcommission :

MY LORDS,

In this first and greatest branch of our charge concerning our house we do find what difficulties are made, and what time is lost, in disputing and of devising upon the manner of

doing it, whereof the matter must be, and is so fully resolved. Neither can we but see in this, as in a glass, the like event to follow in the rest upon like reason. For the inferior officers in every kind, who are best able for skill to propound the retrenchments, will, out of interest or fearfulness, make dainty to do service; and that which is done with an ill-will will never be well done. Again, to make it the act of the whole table, for the particular propositions and reckonings, will be too tedious for you, and will draw the business itself into length; and to make any particular committees of yourselves were to impose that upon a few which requireth to be carried indifferently as the act of you all. For since the great officers themselves think it too heavy for them, as our state now is, to deal in it, without bringing it to the table, with much more reason may any particular persons of you be loath to meddle in it, but at the board. In all which respects we have thought fit, (neither do we see any other way,) that you send unto us the names of the officers of our Exchequer and our Custom House, and auditors out of which we will make choice of

sonie few, best qualified to be subcommittees, for the better ease and the speeding of the business by their continual travails and meetings: whose part and employment we incline to be to attend the principal officers in their several

charges, and join themselves to some of the inferior officers, and so take upon them the mechanic and laborious part of every business, thereby to facilitate and prepare it for your consultations, according to the directions and instructions they shall receive from you from to time.

York House, Jan. 25th, 1617.

I pray your lordship to pardon me, if, in respect of a little watering in one of mine eyes, I have written this letter, being long and private business, in my secretary's hand.

the grievances put down in parliament; which ifted, being principal sinews of his majesty's au it be, I may not in my duty and love to you ad- thority. Therefore the course will be (as I am vise you to deal in it; if it be not, I will mould advised) that for this heinous misprison (that the it in the best manner and help it forward. The party without all colour or shadow of cause should stay is upon the search of the clerk of the parlia- threaten the life of his judge, and of the highest ment, who is out of town; but we have already judge of the kingdom next his majesty) he be found, that the last grievance in 7mo. is not the same first examined, and if he confess it, then an ore with this suit; but we doubt yet of another in 3°. tenus; if he confess it not, then an information in the For the business of Mr. Leviston, for your Star Chamber, and he to remain where he is till lordship's sake (who I perceive keeps your noble the hearing. But I do purposely forbear yet to course with me, in acquainting me with these have him examined till the decree or agreement things) I shall apply myself unto you, though in between him and my Lord Aubigny (which is my nature I do desire that those that serve in the now ready) be perfected, lest it should seem an court where I sit, though they be not in places oppression by the terror of the one to beat him of my gift, and so concerns not me nor my place down in the other. Thus I ever rest in profit; yet I wish, I say, I might leave them Your lordship's true friend and devoted servant, in as good case as I find them. And this suit FR. BACON, Canc. concerneth the main pa of the six clerks, who though they be of the master of the rolls his gift, yet they serve in my court. But my greatest doubt is, that the grant cannot be good in law; and that it is not like those other precedents, whereof I have received a note. For the difference is, where things have been written by all the clerks indifferently and loosely, (in which case the king may draw them into an office,) and where they have appertained to one especial office; IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, in which case the king can no more take away the profits of a man's office than he can the pro-and directions to your council, as now by speech fits of his land. Therefore, I think your lordship may do well to write to Mr. Solicitor and Serjeant Finch, or some other lawyers that you trust, or such as Mr. Leviston trusteth, being persons of account, to inform you of the point in law before you proceed any further: for without that all is in vain. For the business of Hawkyns, touching the register for the commission of bankrupts, I am not yet satisfied, likewise for the law, nor for the conveniency, but I rather incline to think it may pass; and I have set it in a course by which I may be thoroughly informed.

For Sir Rowland Egerton's cause, and his lady's, the parties have submitted themselves unto me, and are content to do it by bond, and therefore, I will undoubtedly make an end of it according to justice and conscience.

For Sir Gilbert Houghton's business I am in very good hope to effect your lordship's desire for his good.

For Moore's business, concerning the printing of books, after hearing all parties, I have sealed his patent; but for his former patent of salt I dare not do it without acquainting the council therewith, which I am ready to do, if he require that course to be taken.

If his majesty at any time ask, touching the Lord Clifton's business, I pray your lordship represent to his majesty thus much, that whatsoever hath passed I thank God I neither fear him aor hate him; but I am wonderful careful of the eat of justice, that they may still be well muni

TO THE KING.

Finding as well by your majesty's despatches

with Mr. Secretary Laque, that your majesty is content to be troubled with business of sundry natures, I thought good, according to the duty of my place and the necessity of the occasion, to put your majesty in mind, that on this day sennight, being Friday in the morning, I am, according to custom, to give a charge and admonition to the judges and justices of peace now before the circuits, wherein I am humbly to crave your majesty's pleasure and directions.

I have for your majesty's better ease set down the heads, which by the prescript of your book, and out of the consideration of the present times, I have thought fittest to be remembered. I have also sent your majesty the last account of the judges' circuits, not to trouble you with the reading of them all; but to the end, that if upon my memorial, or otherwise out of your majesty's own memory which is above memorials, you should have occasion to resort to those accounts, the papers may be by you.

The point of greatest weight in my opinion is the carrying of a balanced hand at this time in the matter of recusants, in regard of the treaty with Spain. For it were good in respect of your people, that there were no note made, that the string is relaxed, and in respect of the treaty, that it is not strained: and therefore the proceed. ing in those causes be rather diligent than severe.

I am wonderful glad to hear that this extremity of weather, which I think the Muscovite hath brought with him, hath not touched your majesty.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer hath signified to me, this day, that yesterday his majesty

called him to his coach and said to him, that one
that had used ill speech of me should be called
before me and make his submission to me, and,
thereupon be called before the council and receive
a sharp reprehension, and so be enlarged. And
Mr. Chancellor could not tell me who the person
was, but after, by some letter he received from
my
Lord Clifton, and speech with a man of his,
he perceived it was he.

I pray your lordship, in humbleness, to let his majesty know that I little fear the Lord Clifton, but I much fear the example, that it will animate ruffians and rodomonti, extremely, against the seats of justice, (which are his majesty's own seats) yea, and against all authority and greatness, if this pass without public censure and example, it having gone already so far as that the person

of a

The

baron hath been committed to the Tower. punishment it may please his majesty to remit, and I shall not formally but heartily intercede for him, but an example (setting myself aside) I wish for terror of persons that may be more dangerous than he, towards the least judge of the

kingdom.

Therefore, it may please his majesty to speak of it with myself and my lords when he cometh next; and in the mean time I will command from his majesty, the master of the rolls and Mr. Attorney, who were appointed by the table to examine him, to stay. God ever prosper you. Your lordship's true friend and devoted servant, FR. BACON, Canc.

March 17, 1617.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

Secondly, The warrant (as is acknowledged) came only from my Lord of Suffolk, and not from Mr. Chancellor, and yet my lord was wont to boast, that since he was treasurer, all commissions and contracts for sale of the king's land were broken off and ceased.

Thirdly, The rate of the moneys paid by the gentlemen, amounteth to but thirteen year's purchase, which is a plain gift of a good prortion

of value.

If his majesty, now informed, iterate his mandate, it is done, and I excuse; but I could wish his majesty would refer it to the commissioners of the treasury how the gentlemen may be otherwise satisfied.

commission of the wards in Ireland, which, this
I received, yesternight, a brave account of the
one year, is advanced from two hundred pounds
per annum to four thousand pounds, which is
twenty fold multiplied. This I write for two
reasons. First, because I glory in it, because it
was my work wholly: next, because his majesty
may take occasion by this to look better to the
improvement of his wards in England in due
time. God ever preserve and prosper you.
Your Lordship's most obliged
friend and faithful servant,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

York House,
July 27, 1618.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I am very glad to hear of the honour his majesty intendeth to my noble lady, your lordship's mother. This, amongst many other things, showeth, in your lordship, good nature, which is the root of all virtues, next religion. Besides, it doth sort well in states, when place and power do meet, and stand not too far at distance.

For the passing of it by direction without bill signed, it cannot be in law. So is Mr. Attorney's opinion, and so is mine; and, therefore, there is presently a bill sent with an endorsement of passing it by immediate warrant, and this antedate.

For the antedate, I must present his majesty with my caution, and with my obedience.

For the statute tieth me from antedates; and, indeed, the mischief is infinite: for, by that means the king may grant any land, &c., and take it away a month hence, and grant it another by an antedate. And, surely, were it land or the like, I would not say absit, or your majesty cannot do it I pray your lordship to signify to his majesty for the world; or your majesty is sworn, and I a that I thought it my duty to stay at the seal, a sworn; or such brave phrases: but, surely, (I say) book of Sir Francis Steward's and Sir James I would in humbleness represent it to his majesty Averlony, &c., of £200 land in charge in fee sim- But the case of honour differeth; for, therein ple: my reasons. his majesty's prerogative and declaration is abso First, It is a perpetuity, and so much rent in lute, and he may make him that is last to be tirs 1, Jiminution of revenue certain. And, therefore, upon his majesty's signification

of his pleasure upon the endorsement of the bill | hath been yielded communibus annis, by a medium signed, I take it I may lawfully do it.

If his majesty do like to pass the book at all; yet if he would be pleased to abridge the eight hundred pounds to five hundred pounds, and then give way to the other two books for the University, it were a princely work. And I would make But, two things I must represent to his maan humble suit to the king, and desire your lord-jesty: the first, that if I stay merchants from ship to join in it, that it might be so. their trading by this writ, I must do it either ex preserve and prosper you. officio, or by special warrant from his majesty.