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Thanks be to God, we have not much to do for matters of counsel, and I see now that his majesty is as well able by his letters to govern England from Scotland, as he was to govern Scotland from England.

Stephens's CLXXVIII. A note of some precedents as come nearest the case of the Lord Brackley: referred to in the foregoing letter.

tion, p. 206.

THE lord Hay was created baron of Sawley, 28 Junii 13 Regis, without the ceremony of robing, as I take it, but then the patent, as I conceive it also, delivered to the person of the said lord Hay by the king's own hands; and again, the dignity of a baron hath incident to it only the ceremony of robes, and not the cincture of the sword, coronet, etc.

The duke of Lenox was created earl of Richmond, 6 Octobris 11 Regis, without any of the ceremonies, as I take it, but the patent, as I conceive it also, was delivered to the person of the said duke, with the hands of the king: and again, in regard he was invested of the superior dignity of duke of Scotland, the ceremonies were not fit to be iterated.

King Henry VII. created Edward Courtenay knight, earl of Devon, 26 Octobris, 1 Regni, teste meipso apud Westmonasterium, etc. Whereby it may be collected, that it was done without the solemnities; for that where the solemnities were performed, it hath used to be with a hisce testibus, and not teste meipso; and whether it were delivered with the king's hand or not, it appears not.

Edward VI. created William earl of Essex, marquis of Northampton, 16 Feb. 1 Edw. VI. and it is mentioned to be per cincturam gladii, cappam honoris, et circuli aurei impositionem; but whether the delivery was by the king's own hand non constat, but it was teste meipso, and not hisce testibus.

The same king created John viscount L'Isle, earl of Warwick, the same time, and it is mentioned to be per cincturam gladii, etc. but it was teste meipso, and not hisce testibus.

Edward VI. created Thomas lord Wriothesley, earl

of Southampton in the same day, and in the same manner, with a teste meipso, and not hisce testibus. These three creations being made upon one day, and when the king was a child of about nine years old, and in the very entrance of his reign, for the patents bear date at the Tower of London, doth make me conjecture that all the solemnities were performed; but whether the king endured to be present at the whole ceremony, and to deliver the patents with his own hand, I doubt; for that I find that the very selfsame day, year, and place, the king created his uncle the earl of Hertford, to the duke of Somerset per cincturam gladii, cappum honoris, et circuli aurei impositionem, et traditionem virgula aurea, with a hisce testibus. and not teste meipso, and with a datum per manus nostras: yet these things are but conjectual.

I find no precedents for a non obstante, or a dispensation with the solemnities, as the lord Brackley's bill was penned.

CLXXIX. To the Lord Keeper.

My honoured Lord,

I HAVE acquainted his majesty with your letter, and the papers that came inclosed, who is exceedingly well satisfied with that account you have given him therein, especially with the speech you made at the taking of your place in the chancery. Whereby his majesty perceiveth that you have not only given proof how well you understand the place of a chancellor, but done him much right also, in giving notice unto those that were present, that you have received such instructions from his majesty; whose honour will be so much the greater, in that all men will acknowledge the sufficiency and worthiness of his majesty's choice, in preferring a man of such abilities to that place, which besides cannot but be a great advancement and furtherance to his service: and I can assure your lordship, that his majesty was never so well pleased, as

Stephens's second collection,

p. 47.

Stephens's second col

lection, p. 48.

Stephens's first collec

tion, p. 207.

he is with this account you have given him of this Thus with the remembrance of my service.

passage.
I rest

Your lordship's ever at command,

Edinburgh, 18 May, 1617.

G. BUCKINGHAM.

CLXXX. To the Earl of BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

I KNOW your lordship hath a special care of any
thing that concerneth the queen. She was entered
into dislike of her solicitor, this bearer Mr. Lowder,
and resolute in it. To serve, and not to please, is no
man's condition. Therefore, upon knowledge of her
pleasure, he was willing to part with his place, upon
hopes not to be destituted, but to be preferred to one
of the baron's places in Ireland. I pray move the king
for him, and let his majesty know from me, that I
think, howsoever he pleased not here, he is fit to do
his majesty service in that place; he is grave and for-
mal, which is somewhat there, and sufficient enough
for that place. The queen had made Mr. Hackwell
her solicitor, who hath for a long time taken much
pains in her business, wherein she hath done well.
He was an opposite in parliament, as Jones was, that
the king hath made chief justice in Ireland. But I
hold it no ill counsel to join, or to remove such men.
God
preserve and prosper you.

Your true and devoted friend and servant,

Whitehall, 25 May, 1617.

FR. BACON.

CLXXXI. To the Earl of BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

I SHALL write to your lordship of a business which your lordship may think to concern myself; but I do think it concerneth your lordship much more. For as for me, as my judgment is not so weak to think it can do me any hurt, so my love to you is so strong, as I

would prefer the good of you and yours before mine own particular.

It seemeth secretary Winwood hath officiously busied himself to make a match between your brother and Sir Edward Coke's daughter: and, as we hear, he doth it rather to make a faction, than out of any great affection to your lordship; it is true, he hath the consent of Sir Edward Coke, as we hear, upon reasonable conditions for your brother; and yet no better than, without question, may be found in some other matches. But the mother's consent is not had, nor the young gentlewoman's, who expecteth a great fortune from her mother, which without her consent is endangered. This match, out of my faith and freedom towards your lordship, I hold very inconvenient both for your brother and yourself.

First, He shall marry into a disgraced house, which in reason of state is never held good.

Next, He shall marry into a troubled house of man and wife, which in religion and Christian discretion is disliked.

Thirdly, Your lordship will go near to lose all such your friends as are adverse to Sir Edward Coke; myself only except, who out of a pure love and thankfulness shall ever be firm to you.

And lastly and chiefly, believe it, it will greatly weaken and distract the king's service; for though, in regard of the king's great wisdom and depth, I am persuaded, those things will not follow which they imagine: yet opinion will do a great deal of harm, and cast the king back, and make him relapse into those inconveniences which are now well on to be recovered.

Therefore my advice is, and your lordship shall do yourself a great deal of honour, if, according to religion and the law of God, your lordship will signify unto my lady your mother, that your desire is, that the marriage be not pressed or proceeded in without the consent of both parents; and so either break it altogether, or defer any farther delay in it, till your lordship's return: and this the rather, for that, besides the inconvenience of the matter itself, it hath been

Stephens's first collection, p. 210.

carried so harshly and inconsiderately by secretary Winwood, as, for doubt that the father should take away the maiden by force, the mother, to get the start hath conveyed her away secretly; which is ill of al sides. Thus hoping your lordship will not only accep well, but believe my faithful advice, who by my grea experience in the world must needs see farther than your lordship can; I ever rest

Your lordship's true

and most devoted friend and servant,
FR. BACON, C.S

I have not heard from your lordship since I sent the king my last account of council business: but I assure myself you received it, because I sent at the same time a packet to secretary Lake, who hath signified to me that he hath received it.

I pray your lordship deliver to his majesty this little note of chancery business.

July 12, 1617.

CLXXXII. To the KING.

It may please your most excellent Majesty,

I THINK it agreeable to my duty, and the great obligation wherein I am tied to your majesty, to be freer than other men in giving your majesty faithful counsel, while things are in passing; and more bound than other men in doing your commandments, when your resolution is settled, and made known to me.

I shall therefore most humbly crave pardon from your majesty, if in plainness, and no less humbleness, I deliver to your majesty my honest and disinterested opinion, in the business of the match of Sir John Villiers, which I take to be magnum in parvo: preserving always the laws and duties of a firm friendship to my lord of Buckingham, whom I will never cease to love, and to whom I have written already, but have not heard yet from his lordship.

But first I have three suits to make to your majesty, hoping well you will grant them all.

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