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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 10,000l. 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 ma-
jesty's highest wisdom.

Your majesty's most humble and faithful servants,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

H. MONTAGU. HENRY YELVERTON.

4 Oct. 1618. The marquis of Buckingham writes from Theobalds to the lord chancellor, that the king being desirous to be satisfied of the gold and silver thread business, would have his lordship consult the lord chief justice, and the attorney and solicitor-general therein.

CCXIII. To the KING.

It may please your most excellent Majesty,
I Do many times with gladness, and for a remedy of
my other labours, revolve in my mind the great hap-
piness which God, of his singular goodness, hath accu-
mulated upon your majesty every way; and how com-
plete the same would be if the state of your means were
once rectified, and well ordered: Your people military
and obedient, fit for war, used to peace: your church
illightened with good preachers as an heaven of stars;
your judges learned, and learning from you, just, and
just by your example; your nobility in a right distance
between crown and people, no oppressors of the people,
no over-shadowers of the crown; your council full of
tributes of care, faith and freedom; your gentlemen and
justices of peace willing to apply your royal mandates
to the nature of their several counties, but ready to
obey; your servants in awe of your wisdom, in hope of
your goodness; the fields growing every day by the im-
provement and recovery of grounds from the desert to

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Stephens's second collection,

p. 91.

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Stephens's second collection, p. 93.

the garden; the city grown from wood to brick; your sea-walls or pomarium of your island surveyed, and in edifying; your merchants embracing the whole compass of the world, east, west, north, and south; the times gives you peace, and yet offer you opportunities of action abroad: and lastly, your excellent royal issue entaileth these blessings and favours of God to descend to all posterity. It resteth, therefore, that God having done so great things for your majesty, and you for others, you would do so much for yourself, as to go through, according to your good beginnings, with the rectifying and settling of your estate and means, which only is wanting; hoc rebus defuit unum. I therefore,

whom only love and duty to your majesty, and your royal line, hath made a financier, do intend to present unto your majesty a perfect book of your estate, like a perspective glass, to draw your estate nearer to your sight; beseeching your majesty to conceive, that if I have not attained to do that that I would do, in this which is not proper for me, in my element, I shall make your majesty amends in some other thing, in which I am better bred. God ever preserve, etc.

Jan. 2, 1618.

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

IF I should use the count de Gondomar's action, I should first lay your last letter to my mouth in token of thanks, and then to my heart in token of contentment, and then to my forehead in token of a perpetual remembrance.

I send now to know how his majesty doth after his remove, and to give you account, that yesterday was a day of motions in the chancery. This day was a day of motions in the star-chamber, and it was my hap to clear the bar, that no man was left to move any thing, which my lords were pleased to note they never saw before. To-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 reliques of business, and the commissioners of treasure have appointed to meet; but to see his majesty, is to me above all.

I have set down de bene esse, Suffolk's cause, the third sitting next term; if the wind suffer the commission of Ireland to be sped. I ever more and more rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant,

This 11th of May, 1619.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

CCXV. To the Lord Chancellor.

My most honourable Lord,

I ACQUAINTED his majesty with your letter at the first opportunity after I received it, who was very well pleased with that account of your careful and speedy dispatch of businesses, etc.

Greenwich, 13th May, 1619.

Yours, etc.

G. BUCKINGHAM.

P. S. Your business had been done before this, but I knew not whether you would have the attorney or solicitor to draw it.

CCXVI. To the Lord Chancellor.

My noble Lord,

I SHEWED your letter of thanks to his majesty, who says there are too many in it for so small a favour, which he holdeth too little to encourage so well a deserving servant. For myself, I shall ever rejoice at the manifestation of his majesty's favour towards you, and will contribute all that is in me to the increasing his good opinion; ever resting

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,

G. BUCKINGHAM.

Stephens's

second collection,

P. 94.

Ibid.

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Stephens's CCXVII. To my very loving friends Sir THOsecond col- MAS LEIGH and Sir THOMAS PUCKERING, knights and baronets.

lection, p. 94.

AFTER my hearty commendations, being informed by the petition of one Thomas Porten, a poor Yorkshireman, of a heavy accident by fire, whereby his house, his wife, and a child, together with all his goods, were utterly burnt and consumed; which misfortune, the petitioner suggests with much eagerness, was occasioned by the wicked practices and conjurations of one John Clarkson of Rowington in the county of Warwick, and his daughter, persons of a wandering condition, affirming, for instance, that one Mr. Hailes of Warwick did take from the said Clarkson certain books of conjuration and witchcraft: that the truth of the matter may be rightly known, and that Clarkson and his daughter, if there be ground for it, may answer the law according to the merit of so hainous a fact, I have thought good to wish and desire you to send for Clarkson, and his daughter, and as upon due examination you shall find cause, to take order for their forthcoming, and answering of the matter at the next assize for the county of York; and also to confer with Mr. Hailes, whether he took from the said Clarkson any such book of conjuration, as the petitioner pretends he did, and to see them in safe custody. Whereupon I desire to be certified how you find the matter; and your doing thereupon. So not doubting of your special care and diligence herein, I bid you heartily farewell, and rest

Your very loving friend,

York-house, 15 May, 1619.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Ibid. 95. CCXVIII. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM. My very good Lord,

I SEND his majesty a volume of my lord of Bangor's and my lord Sheffield, whereof I spake when I left his majesty at Theobalds. His majesty may be pleased,

at his own good time and pleasure, to cast his eye upon it. I purpose at my coming to London to confer with the chief justice as his majesty appointed; and to put the business of the pursevants in a way, which I think will be best by a commission of Oyer and Terminer; for the star-chamber, without confession, is long seas. I should advise that this point of the pursevants were not single, but that it be coupled in the commission with the offences of keepers of prisons hereabouts; it hatha great affinity: for pursevants are but ambulatory keepers, and it works upon the same party, of the papists, and it is that wherein many of his majesty's and the council's severe charges have been hitherto unfruitful; and it doth a great deal of mischief. I have some other reasons for it. But of this it will be fittest to advertise more particularly, what I have resolved of on advice, upon conference with the chief justice. I am wonderful glad to hear of the king's good health. God preserve his majesty and your lordship. I ever

rest

Your lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Gorhambury, this last of July, 1619.

CCXIX. To the Lord Chancellor.

My honourable Lord,

YOUR lordship hath sent so good news to his majesty, that I could have wished you had been the reporter of it yourself; but seeing you came not, I cannot but give you thanks for employing me in the delivering of that which pleased his majesty so well, whereof he will put your lordship in mind, when he seeth you. I am glad we are come so near together, and hoping to see you at Windsor, I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G BUCKINGHAM.

29 Aug. 1619.

Stephens's second col

lection,

P. 96.

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