Stephens's second collection, p. 80.

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 ma-
jesty 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 baron hath been committed to
the Tower. The punishment it may please his ma-
jesty 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.

ever prosper you.

God

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

March 17, 1617.

CCII. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM.
My very good Lord,

WE have sat once upon the commission of treasure
to no ill purpose, as may appear by the account in-
closed; wherein his majesty will find no preposterous
issue of treasure: Mr. Chancellor imagines well, Coke
seeks and beats over, as well where it is not, as where
it is; secretary Naunton forgets nothing. I will look
to bow things to the true ends. God bless and pros-
per his majesty and yourself.

Your lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,

25 July, 1617.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

'I know not whether there was any prosecution against the lord Clifton, or whether it was prevented by the laying of violent hands upon himself, in the year ensuing. Stephens.

1

CCIII. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

I PRAY your lordship to signify to his majesty, that I thought it my duty to stay at the seal, a book of Sir Francis Steward's, and Sir James Auterlony, etc. of 2001. land in charge in fee-simple: my rea

sons,

First, It is a perpetuity, and so much rent in diminution of revenue certain.

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 lands were broken off and ceased.

Thirdly, The rate of the moneys paid by the gentlemen amounteth but to thirteen years purchase; which is a plain gift of a good proportion of value.

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

I received yesternight a brave account of the commission of the wards in Ireland, which this one year is advanced from 2001. per annum to 4000l. 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

Stephens's second collection,

p. 80.

York-house, July 27, 1618.

Stephens's

second colJection, P. 82.

cap. 1.

CCIV. 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 2 mother.. This, amongst many other things, sheweth 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 indorsement 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, etc. and take it away a month 18 H. VI. hence, and grant it another by an antedate. And şurely were it land or the like, I would not say absit, or, Your majesty cannot do it, for a world; or, Your majesty is sworn and I am sworn; or such brave phrases: but surely, I say, I would in humbleness represent it to his majesty.3

But the case of honour differeth; for therein his majesty's prerogative and declaration is absolute, and he may make him that is last to be first. And there

2 The advancement of this lady to the title of the countess of Buckingham, was, notwithstanding the reasons here alledged, so ill resented by the house of commons in 1626, that in article XI of their impeachment of the duke her son, it was objected against him as one of his offences. Stephens.

3 By this and the preceding letter it appears, that as my lord chancellor thought it his duty to offer to the king his reasons against passing of a patent: yet if then the king, who was judge of the inconvenience, was pleased to command it, he was obliged to allow the same. But in those things which were contrary to law, as it is to be presumed, that after an humble representation thereof, no prince would exact, so no minister in such a case would yield an obedience. Stephens.

fore upon his majesty's signification of his pleasure upon the indorsement of the bill signed, I take it I may lawfully do it.

4

I am here rejoicing with my neighbours the townsmen of St. Albans, for this happy day, the fifth of August, 1618.

Your lordship's most obliged friend

Gorhambury.

and faithful servant,

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Stephens's second col

CCV. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM.
My very good Lord,

I THANK your lordship for your last loving letter. I now write to give the king an account of a patent I have stayed at the seal. It is of licence to give in mortmain eight hundred pound land, though it be of tenure in chief to Allen that was the player, for an hospital.

5

The fifth of August, being the anniversary of the king's deliverance from the earl of Gowry's conspiracy, was by some called the court-holiday, and ridiculed as a fiction; though the truth thereof being delivered down by archbishop Spotswood, and other good historians, I see no great reason to call it into question. Stephens.

5 That Allen the player, who founded an hospital at Dulwich in Surry, had been an excellent actor of the comical and serious part, will appear evident to any one that shall thoroughly consider the following epigram made by that admirable dramatic poet, Ben Johnson.

To Mr. EDWARD ALLEN.

age,

If Rome so great, and in her wisest
Fear'd not to boast the glories of her stage:
As skilful Roscius, and grave Æsop, men
Yet crown'd with honours, as with riches then;
Who had no less a trumpet of their name,
Than Cicero, whose every breath was fame:
How can so great example die in me?
That, Allen, I should pause to publish thee;
Who both their graces in thy self has more
Outstript, than they did all that went before:
And present worth in all dost so contract,
As others speak, but only thou dost act.
Wear this renown. 'Tis just that who did give
So many poets life, by one should live.

.

lection,

p. 83.

I like well that Allen playeth the last act of his life 80 well; but if his majesty give way thus to amortize his tenures, his courts of wards will decay; which I had well hoped should improve.

But that which moved me chiefly is, that his majesty now lately did absolutely deny Sir Henry Savile for 2001. and Sir Edward Sandys for 100l. to the perpetuating of two lectures, the one in Oxford, the other in Cambridge, foundations of singular honour to his majesty, the best learned of kings, and of which there is great want; whereas hospitals abound, and beggars abound never a whit the less.

If his majesty do like to pass the book at all; yet if he would be pleased to abridge the 800l. to 5007. and then give way to the other two books for the university, it were a princely work. And I would make an humble suit to the king, and desire your lordship to join in

It were to be wished this observation did not hold true to this day for though the foundations of hospitals are to be com mended, which Sir Francis Bacon hath done both in this letter, and other his writings; yet it shews that some more adequate remedy for supporting the poor, than what arises from these cha rities, or even from the laws enacted for their relief, was then, and yet is to be desired. And as the defect thereof is no small reproach to the government of a country, happy in its natural product, and enriched by commerce; so it would be an act of the greatest humanity, to provide for the poor, and that idleness and beggary, the successive nursery of rogues, might as far as possible be extirpated. Upon this occasion I cannot but take notice of a story which has been spread abroad to the defamation of Sir Francis Bacon, though upon no good ground, as far as I can judge, as if in the accomplishment of the foundation of the Charter-house hospital, begun by Mr. Sutton, and carried on by his executors, Sir Francis, who was then the king's solicitor, had, for some ill designs of gain to himself or others, endeavoured to have defeated the same. The fact was, that the heir at law supposing, notwithstanding what Mr. Sutton had done in procuring acts of parliament, and patents from the king, in order to establish this noble charity, that the greatest part of his estate was descended to him, it was argued on his behalf by the solicitorgeneral, by Mr. Henry Yelverton, and Mr. Walter, men of great reputation in those times: and whatever ill intentions some of the court might have, my request to the reader is, that before he pass any censure upon Sir Francis Bacon, relating hereunto, he would please to peruse his advice, printed in Vol. III. p. 388, given to the king touching Mr.Sutton's estate. Stephens.