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behalf of Philip Bernardi, whom he is to send about some special employment over the seas, to the Duke of Savoy, that before his going, the business mentioned in this petition may be ended, hath commanded me to recommend the same unto your lordship's care, that with all expedition the cause may be heard and ended by your lordships, according to his majesty's reference; or left to the determination of the Court

of Chancery, where it is depending, and where the party assureth himself of a speedy end.

And so I rest your lordship's

very assured friend at command,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Royston, the 19th of April, 1619.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

My Very Good Lord,

wise to your lordship. I see, by the late accesses I am much bounden to his majesty, and likeI have had with his majesty, and now by his royal and real favour,* that he loveth me, and acknowledgeth me for the servant that I am, or desire to be. This, in me, must turn to a great alacrity to honour and serve him with a mind less troubled and divided. And, for your lordship, my affection may and doth daily receive addition, but cannot, nor never could, receive alteration. I pray present my humble thanks to his majesty; and I am very glad his health confirmeth; and I hope to see him this summer at Gorhambury; there is sweet air as any is. God preserve and prosper you both. I ever rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, Cane.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I think fit to let your lordship understand what passed yesterday in the Star Chamber, touching Suffolk's business.

There came to me the clerk of the court in the inner chamber, and told me that my Lord of Suffolk desired to be heard by his council, at the * sitting of the court, because it was pen *** him.

I marvelled I heard not of it by Mr. Attorney, who should have let me know as much, that I might not be taken on the sudden in a cause of that weight.

I called, presently, Mr. Attorney to me, and asked him whether he knew of the motion, and what it was, and how he was provided to answer it. He signified to me, that my lord would desire to have the commission for examinations in Ireland, to be returnable in Michaelmas term. I said it might not be, and presently drew the council, then present, to me, and made Mr. Attorney repeat to them the passages past, and settled it, that the commission should be returnable the first day of the next term, and then, republication granted, that it might, if accidents of wind and weather permit, come to hearing in the term. And, upon motion in open court, it was ordered accordingly.

God ever preserve and prosper you. I pray God this great easterly wind agree well with his majesty.

May 6, 1619.

Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc.

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Sent by Sir Gilbert Houghton.

May 9, 1619.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.+

MY HONOURABLE LORD,

His majesty was pleased, at the suit of some who have near relation to me, to grant a license for transportation of butter out of Wales, unto one Lewis and Williams, who, in consideration that the patent should be passed in their names, entered into articles for the performance of certain conditions agreed upon between them, which, now that the patent is under the great seal, they utterly refuse to perform. My desire, therefore, to your lordship is, that you would call the said Lewis and Williams before you, with the other parties, or some of them, who shall be ready at all times to attend your lordship; and, out of your consideration of the matter, according to equity, to take such course therein, that either the said agreement may be performed, or that they which refuse it may receive no benefit of the patent; which, upon reason thereof, was passed in their names. And herein I desire your lordship to make what expedition you can; because, now is the season to make provision of the butter that, for this year, is to be transported, whereof they take advantage to stand out. And so I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G. BUCKINGHAM.

Greenwich, May 14, 1619.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

Though it be nothing, and all is but duty, yet,

* Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, who had been made I pray, show his majesty the paper enclosed, that

lord treasurer in 1614. He was accused of several misdemeanors in that office, together with his lady, and Sir John Bingley, her ladyship's agent; and an information preferred against them all in the Star Chamber..

Probably the grant made to him, about this time, of twelve hundred pounds a year.

+ Harl. MSS. vol. 7006.

his majesty may see how careful his poor servant | And, therefore, since his coming to Windsor is is, upon every emergent occasion, to do him what prolonged, I thought to keep day by letter, pray. honour he can. The motion made in court by the ing your lordship to commend my most humble king's sergeant, Crew,* that the declaration might service to his majesty, and to let him know, that be made parcel of the record, and that I hear since I see his majesty doth me the honour as to otherwise of the great satisfaction abroad, encou- rely upon my care and service, I lose no time in rageth me to let his majesty know what passed. that which may pertain thereunto. I see the God ever preserve and prosper you both. straits, and I see the way out; and what lieth in Your lordship's obliged friend one man, whom he hath made great, and trained, and faithful servant, shall not be wanting. And, I hope, if God give FR. VERULAM, Canc. me life for a year or two, to give his majesty cause to think of me seven years after I am dead. I am glad the time approacheth, when I shall have the happiness to kiss his majesty's hands, and to embrace your lordship, ever resting Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant,

Endorsed,

June 29, 1619. My lord to my lord marquis, enclosing the form of a declaration used in point of acknowledgment in the Lady Exeter's† cause.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

I PURPOSED to have seen you to-day, and receive your commandments before the progress; but I came not to London till it was late, and found you were gone before I came. Nevertheless, I would not fail to let your lordship understand, that, as I find every day more and more occasions whereby you bind me to you; so, this morning, the king of himself did tell me some testimony, that your lordship gave of me to his majesty even now, when you went from him, of so great affection and commendation, (for I must ascribe your commendation to affection, being above my merit,) as I must do contrary to that that painters do; for they desire to make the picture to the life, and I must endeavour to make the life to the picture, it hath pleased you to make so honourable a description of me. I can be but yours, and desire to better myself, that I may be of more worth to such an owner.

I hope to give the king a good account of my time this vacation.

If your lordship pass back by London, I desire to wait on you, and discourse a little with you: if not, my prayers shall go progress with you, and my letters attend you, as occasion serveth. God ever preserve and prosper you. Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc.

July 1, 1619.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD,

1

This day, according to the first appointment, I thought to have waited upon his majesty, and to have given him an account of my cares and preparations for his service, which is my progress. * Sir Randolph Crew, made Chief Justice of the King's Bench, January 26, 1624.

+ Countess of Exeter, accused of incest and other crimes by the Lady Lake, wife of Secretary Lake, and their daughter the Lady Roo8.

York House, Aug. 28, 1619.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.*

My Honourable Lord,

Thomas Digby, wherein he complaineth of great His majesty, upon a petition delivered by Mr. wrongs done unto him, hath been pleased, for his more speedy relief and redress, if it prove as he allegeth, to refer the consideration thereof unto whom I have long known and loved, I could not your lordship. And, because he is a gentleman, but add my desire to your lordship, that if you find he hath been wronged, you would do him so much favour, as to give him such remedy as the equity of his case may require. For which I will

ever rest

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Royston, Oct. 8, 1619.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.*

My Honourable Lord,

I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who hath given order to Mr. Secretary Calvert to signify his pleasure for the proceeding in that business, whereof you write, without any farther delay, as your lordship will more fully understand by Mr. Secretary, who for that purpose is to return to London against the day of hearing.

I have no answer to make to your former letter, and will add no more to this, but that his majesty hath a great confidence in your care of his ser vice. And so I rest

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

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TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD Lord,

After my last letter yesterday we entered into conference touching the Suffolk cause, myself, and the commissioners, and the two chief justices. The fruit of this conference is, that we all conceive the proceedings against my lord himself to be not only just and honourable, but in some principal parts plausible in regard of the public; as, namely, those three points which touch upon the ordnance, the army of Ireland, and the money of the cautionary towns; and the two chief justices are firm in it.

I did also in this cause, by the assent of my lords, remove a part; for Mr. Attorney had laid it upon Serjeant Daviest to open the information, which is that which gives much life or coldness to the cause. But I will have none but trained men in this cause; and I cannot forget that the allotting of the opening of the information in this cause of the Dutch (I mean the main cause) to a mean fellow, one Hughes, did hurt, and was never well recovered.

By my next I will write of the king's estate: and I ever rest

Your lordship's most obliged friend

October 14, 1619

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
MY VERY GOOD Lord,

I am doubly bounden to the king for his majesty's trust and acceptation; whereof the one I will never deceive; the other, though I cannot deserve, yet I will do my best, and perhaps as much as another man.

This day the evidence went well; for the solicitor* did his part substantially: and, a little to warm the business, when the misemployment of treasure, which had relation to the army of Ireland, I spake a word, that he that did draw or milk treasure from Ireland was handled, did not emulgere, milk money, but blood. But this is but one of the little things that I wrote of before.

The king, under pardon, must come hither with two resolutions; the one, to remit all importunity touching this cause to the lords in court of justice; the other, to pursue the designs first taken at Windsor, and then at Hampton Court, for his commission of treasury: wherein I do my part, and it is reasonably well; but better would it be if instruments were not impediments. I ever rest

Your lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

and faithful servant,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

October 27, Wednesday.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

Friday will not end the business; for tomorrow will but go through with the king's evidence.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.†

MY HONOURABLE LORD,

This morning the duket came to me, and told me the king's cause was yesterday left fair; and if ever there were a time of my Lord of Suffolk's submission, it was now; and that if my Lord of This bearer, a Frenchman, belonging to the Suffolk should come into the Court and openly ambassador, having put an Englishman in suit acknowledge his delinquency, he thought it was for some matters between them, is much hindered a thing considerable. My answer was, I would and molested, by often removing of the cause not meddle in it; and, if I did, it must be to dis- from one court to another. Your lordship knows, suade any such course; for that all would be but that the French are not acquainted with our mana play upon the stage, if justice went not on inner of proceedings in the law, and must therefore the right course. This I thought it my duty to let the king know by your lordship.

I cannot express the care I have had of this cause in a number of circumstances and discretions, which, though they may seem but small matters, yet they do the business, and guide it right.

God ever keep your lordship.
Your lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

October 21, 1619.

Sir Henry Montagu of the King's Bench, and Sir Henry

Hobart of the Common Pleas.

† Sir John Davies, author of Nosce teipsum, knighted in February, 1607-8, and made serjeant at law in 1612. He had been Attorney-General of Ireland.

be ignorant of the remedy in such a case. His
course was to his majesty; but I thought it more
hear and understand this case from himself, and
proper that your lordship would be pleased to
then to advise and take order for his relief, as
your lordship in your wisdom shall think fit.
So, commending him to your honourable favour,
I rest

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Royston, 27th of October, 1619.

Your lordship shall do well to be informed of every particular, because his majesty will have account of it at his coming.

Sir Thomas Coventry, afterwards lord keeper of the + Harl. MSS. vol. 7006.

Lodowick, Duke of Lenox: he was created Duke of Rich- great seal. mond, May 17, 1623, and died February 11, 1623-4. VOL. III-16

L

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his service.

I send your lordship back the bill of sheriff's for Sussex, wherein his majesty hath pricked the first, as your lordship wished.

His majesty would not have you omit this opportunity of so gross an oversight in the judges, to admonish them of their negligence in suffering such a thing to come to his majesty, which needed his amending afterwards; and, withal, to let them know, that his majesty observeth that every year they grow more and more careless of presenting fit men unto him for that place; and that you advise them to be more wary hereafter, that they may give his majesty better satisfaction. And so I rest

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Royston, November 14, 1619.

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in

This day afternoon, upon our meeting council, we have planed those rubs and knots, which were mentioned in my last, whereof I thought good presently to advertise his majesty. The days hold without all question, and all delays diverted and quieted.

Sir Edward Coke was at Friday's hearing, but in his nightcap; and complained to me he was ambulent, and not current. I would be sorry he should fail us in this cause. Therefore, I desire his majesty to signify to him, by your lordship, (taking knowledge of some light indisposition of his,) how much he should think his service disadvantaged in this cause, if he should be at any day away; for then he cannot sentence.

By my next, I will give his majesty some

account of the tobacco and the currants. ever rest

Your lordship's most obliged friend

and faithful servant,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

November 20, at evening, 1619.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD Lord,

I

I know well his majesty taketh to heart this business of the Dutch,* as he hath great reason, in respect both of honour and profit. And be

• Merchants, accused in the Star Chamber for exporting gold and silver coin.

cause my first letter was written in the epitasis, or trouble of the business; and my second in the beginning of the catastrophe, or calming thereof, (wherein, nevertheless, I was fain to bear p strongly into the weather, before the calm followed,) and since every day hath been better and better, I thought good to signify so much, that his majesty may be less in suspense.

The great labour was to get entrance into the business; but now the portcullis is drawn up. And though, I must say, there were some blots in the tables, yet, by well playing, the game is good.

Roland is passing well justified; for both his credit is by very constant and weighty testimony proved, and those vast quantities, which were thought incredible, or at least improbable, are now made manifest truth.

Yet I find a little of the old leaven towards the

first defendants, carried in this style and character: "I would this that appears now, had appeared at first. But this cometh of haste and precipitation;" and the like. But yet, I hope, the corruption and practice upon the ore tenus, and the rectifying of Rowland's credit, will satisfy my lords upon the former proofs. For I would be very sorry that these new defendants (which, except one or two, are the smaller flies) should be in the net, and the old defendants, which are the greater flies, should get through. God preserve you.

Your lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,

November 26, 1619.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Endorsed,

Touching the Dutch business.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.*

MY HONOUrable Lord,

I do, from time to time, acquaint his majesty with your letters, wherein he ever perceiveth your vigilant care in any thing that concerneth his service; and hath commanded me to give you thanks in his name, who is sure your endeavours will never be wanting, when any thing is to be done for the advancement of his affairs.

According to your lordship's advice, his majesty hath written to the commissioners of the treasury, both touching the currants and the tobacco, the plantation whereof his majesty is fully resolved to restrain; and hath given them order

* Harl. MSS. vol. 7006.

+ Lord Bacon, in his letter of November 22, 1619, mentions

that there was offered two thousand pounds increase yearly,

for the tobacco, to begin at Michaelmas, as it now is, and three thousand pounds increase, if the plantations here within land be restrained.

forthwith to set out a proclamation to that effect; retractation of his wicked opinions in writing. not intending in that point to stand upon any The form was as good as may be. I declared to doubt of law, nor to expect the judges' interpre- him, that this court was the judgment-seat; the tation; nor to allow any freehold in that case; mercy-seat was his majesty: but the court would but holding this the safest rule, Salus reipublicæ commend him to his majesty and I humbly pray suprema lex esto. And so I rest his majesty to signify his pleasure speedily, because of the misery of the man; and it is a rare thing for a sectary, that hath once suffered smart and shame, to turn so unfeignedly, as he seemed to do.

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Newmarket, Nov. 27, 1619.

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On Friday I left London, to hide myself at Kew; for two months and a half together to be strongbent is too much for my bow. And yet, that the king may perceive, that in my times of leisure I am not idle, I took down with me Sir Giles Mompesson, and with him I have quietly conferred

Touching the submissions of Sir Thomas Lake of that proposition, which was given me in and his lady.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I acquainted this day, the bearer with his majesty's pleasure, touching Lake'st submission; which, whether it should be done in person or in writing, his majesty signified his will thus: that it should be spared in open court, if my Lady of Exeter should consent, and the board think fit. The board liked it well, and appointed my Lord Digby, and Secretary Calvert, to speak with my lady, who returned her answer in substance, that she would, in this and all things, be commanded by his majesty: but if his majesty left it to her liberty and election, she humbly prayed to be excused. And though it was told her, that this answer would be cause that it could not be performed this term; yet she seemed willing rather it should be delayed, than dispensed with.

This day also Traske, in open court, made a

Harl. MSS. vol. 7006. + Sir Thomas Lake's.

John Traske, a minister, who was prosecuted in the Star chamber for maintaining, as we find mentioned in the Reports of the Lord Chief Justice Hobart, p. 236, that the Jewish Sabbath ought to be observed and not ours; and that we ought to abstain from all manner of swine's flesh, and those meats which the Jews were forbidden in Leviticus, according to Bishop Andrews, in his speech in the Star Chamber on that occasion, printed among his lordship's works. Mr. Traske being examined in that court, confessed, that he had divulged those opinions, and had laboured to bring as many to them as he could; and had also written a letter to the king, wherein he seemed to tax his majesty with hypocrisy, and expressly inveighed against the bishops high commis

charge by his majesty, and after seconded by your lordship. Wherein I find some things I like very well, and some other, that I would set by. And one thing is much to my liking, that the proposition for bringing in his majesty's revenue with small charge is no invention, but was on foot heretofore in King Philip's and Queen Mary's time, and had a grave and mighty opinion for it. The rest I leave to his relation, and mine own attendance.

I hope his majesty will look to it, that the fines now to come in may do him most good. Both causes produce fines of one hundred and fourscore thousand pounds, whereof one hundred thousand may clear the anticipations; and then the assignations may pass under the great seal, to be enrollable; so as we shall need to think of nothing but the arrears in a manner, of which I wish the twenty thousand pounds to the strangers (with the interest) be presently satisfied. The remain

sioners, as bloody and cruel in their proceedings against him,

and a papal clergy. He was sentenced to fine and imprisonment, not for holding those opinions, (for those were examinable in the Ecclesiastical Court, and not there,) but for making of conventicles and commotions, and for scandalizing the king, the bishops, and clergy. Dr. Fuller, in his Church History of Britain, book x. p. 77, 64, mentions his having heard Mr. Traske preach, and remarks, that his voice had more strength than any thing else he delivered; and that after his recantation he relapsed, not into the same, but other opinions, rather humorous than hurtful, and died obscurely at Lambeth, in the reign of King Charles I.

* Who, in the parliament, which began, January 30, 1620–1, was sentenced to be degraded, and rendered incapable of bearing any office, for practising several abuses, setting up new inns and alehouses, and exacting great sums of money of the people, by pretence of letters patents granted him for that purpose. But he fled into foreign parts, finding himself abandoned by the Marquis of Buckingham, on whom he e↑ depended for protection.

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