131 lordship, while business is but in passage, were the singular comfort which I received by his matime lost. I ever rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. October 16, 1620. jesty's letter of his own hand, touching my book. And I must also give your lordship of my best thanks for your letter so kindly and affectionately written. I did even now receive your lordship's letter touching the proclamation, and do approve his majesty's judgment and foresight about mine own. TO THE KING, THANKING HIS MAJESTY FOR HIS Neither would I have thought of inserting matter GRACIOUS ACCEPTANCE OF HIS BOOK. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, I I cannot express how much comfort I received by your last letter of your own royal hand. see your majesty is a star that hath benevolent aspect and gracious influence upon all things that tend to a general good. Daphni, quid antiquos signorum suspicis artus? This work, which is for the bettering of men's bread and wine, which are the characters of temporal blessings and sacraments of eternal, I hope, by God's holy providence, will be ripened by Cæsar's star. Your majesty shall not only do to myself a singular favour, but to your business a material help, if you will be graciously pleased to open yourself to me in those things wherein you may be unsatisfied. For, though this work, as by position and principal, doth disclaim to be tried by any thing but by experience, and the results of experience in a true way, yet the sharpness and profoundness of your majesty's judgment ought to be an exception to this general rule; and your questions, observations, and admonishments may do infinite good. This comfortable beginning makes me hope farther that your majesty will be aiding to me in setting men on work for the collecting of a natural and experimental history, which is basis totius negotii, a thing which I assure myself will be from time to time an excellent recreation unto you; I say to that admirable spirit of yours that delighteth in light: and I hope well, that, even in your times, many noble inventions may be discovered for man's use. For who can tell, now this mine of truth is opened, how the veins go; and what lieth higher, and what lieth lower? But let me trouble your majesty no farther at this time. God ever preserve and prosper your majesty. [October 19, 1620.] TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, I send now only to give his majesty thanks for *Of the 16th of October, 1620, printed in Lord Bacon's works. + Virgil, Eclog. IX. vers. 46-49. of state for the vulgar, but that nowadays there is no vulgar, but all statesmen. But, as his majesty doth excellently consider, the time of it is not yet proper. I ever rest Your lordship's most obliged friend October 19, 1620. Endorsed, In answer to his majesty's directions touching the proclamation for a Parliament. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.* AFTER my very hearty commendations I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who commanded me to tell you that he had been thinking upon the same point whereof you write three or four days ago, being so far from making any question of it that he every day expected when a writ should come down. For at the creation of Prince Henry, the lords of the council and judges assured his majesty of as much as the precedents mentioned in your letter speak of. And so I rest your lordship's Very loving friend at command, Showing his majesty is satisfied with precedents, touching the prince's summons to Parliament. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. Your lordship may find, that in the number of patents which we have represented to his majesty, as like to be stirred in the Lower House of Parliament, we have set down three, which may concern some of your lordship's special friends, which I account as my own friends; and so showed myself when they were in suit. The one, that to Sir Giles Mompesson, touching the inns; the second, to Mr. Christopher Villiers and Mr. Maule, touching the recognisances for ale-houses; the third, to Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower, touching the cask. These in duty could not be omitted, for that, spe *Harl. MSS. vol. 7000. cially the two first of them, are more rumoured, both by the vulgar and by the gentlemen, yea, and by the judges themselves, than any other patents at this day. Therefore, I thought it appertained to the singular love and affection which I bear you upon so many obligations, to wish and advise that your lordship, whom God hath made in all things so fit to be beloved, would put off the envy of these things, which, I think, in themselves, bear no great fruit, and rather take the thanks for ceasing them, than the note for maintaining them. But, howsoever, let me know your mind, and your lordship shall find I will go your way. I cannot express how much comfort I take in the choice which his majesty hath made of my lord chief justice to be lord treasurer; not for his sake, nor for my sake, but for the king's sake, hoping that now a number of counsels, which I have given for the establishment of his majesty's estate, and have lain dead and buried deeper than this snow, may now spring up, and bear fruit; the rather, for that I persuade myself he and I shall run one way. And yet I know well, that in this doubling world cor una et via una is rare in one man, but more rare between two. And, therefore, if it please his majesty, according to his prudent custom in such cases, to cast out, now at his coming down, some words, which may the better knit us in conjunction to do him service, I suppose it will be to no idle purpose. And as an old truant in the commission of the treasury, let me put his majesty in remembrance of three things now upon his entrance, which he is presently to go in hand with: the first, to make Ireland to bear the charge thereof: the second, to bring all accounts to one purse in the exchequer : the third, by all possible means to endeavour the taking off the anticipations. There be a thousand things more, but these being his majesty's last commands to the commissioners of the treasury, with such as in his majesty's princely judgment shall occur, will do well to season his place. Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. November 29, 1620. As soon as I had written this letter I received your lordship's letter, touching my lord chief justice, which redoubled my comfort, to see how his majesty's thoughts and mine, his poor servant's, and your lordship's, meet. I send enclosed names for the speaker; and if his majesty, or your lordship, demand our opinion, which of them, my lord chief justice will tell you. It were well it were despatched; for else I will not dine with the speaker; for his drink will not be laid in time enough. I beseech your lordship, care may be taken that our general letter may be kept secret, whereof my lord chief justice will tell you the reason. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD Lord, I was so full of cold, as I could not attend his majesty to-day. Yesterday I despatched the proclamation with the council. There was a motion to have sharpened it; but better none, than over sharp at first. I moved the council also for supplying the committee for drawing of bills and some other matters, in regard of my Lord Hobart's sickness, who I think will hardly escape: which, though it be happiness for him, yet it is loss for us. Meanwhile, as I propounded to the king, which he allowed well, I have broken the main of the Parliament into questions and parts, which I send. It may be, it is an over diligence; but still methinks there is a middle thing between art and chance: I think they call it providence, or some such thing, which good servants owe to their sovereign, specially in cases of importance and straits of occasions. elections, and general license of speech ought to And those huffing make us the better provided. The way will be, if his majesty be pleased, to peruse these questions advisedly, and give me leave to wait on him; and then refer it to some few of the council, a little to advise upon it. I ever rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. MY HONOURABLE Lord, His majesty hath commanded me to signify his pleasure unto your lordship, that Sir Thomas Coventry, now his solicitor-general, be forthwith made his attorney-general: and that your lordship give order to the clerk of the crown to draw up a grant of the said place unto him accordingly. And so I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Whitehall, 9th of January, 1620. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.+ MY HONOURABLE Lord, I have been entreated to recommend unto your lordship the distressed case of the Lady Martin, widow of Sir Richard Martin, deceased, who hath a cause to be heard before your lordship in the Chancery, at your first sitting in the next term, between her and one Archer, and others, upon an ancient statute, due long since unto her husband; which cause, I am informed, hath received three verdicts for her in the common law, a decree in * Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. + Harl. MSS. vol. 7000. to illustrate me with beams of honour, first making me Baron Verulam, and now Viscount St. Alban. So, this is the eighth rise or reach, a diapason in music, even a good number, and an accord for a close. And so I may without superstition be buried in St. Alban's habit or vestment. the Exchequer Chamber, and a dismission before jesty could raise me no higher, it was your grace your lordship: which I was the more willing to do, because I have seen a letter of his majesty to the said Sir Richard Martin, acknowledging the good service that he did him in this kingdom, at the time of his majesty's being in Scotland. And therefore I desire your lordship, that you would give her a full and fair hearing of her cause, and a speedy despatch thereof, her poverty being such, that having nothing to live on but her husband's debts, if her suit long depend, she shall be enforced to lose her cause for want of means to follow it: wherein I will acknowledge your lordship's favour, and rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Whitehall, the 13th of January, 1620. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.* MY HONOURAble Lord, friend and servant, Theobalds, 20th of January, 1620. TO THE KING.† MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, Besides the number, the obligation is increased by three notes or marks: first, that they proceed from such a king; for honours from some kings are but great chancels, or counters, set high; but from your majesty, they are indeed dignities by the co-operation of your grace. Secondly, in respect of the continuance of your majesty's favour, which proceedeth as the divine favour, from grace to grace. And, thirdly, these splendours of honour are like your freest patents, absque aliquid inde reddendo. Offices have burdens of cares and labours; but honours have no burden but thankfulness, which doth rather raise men's spirits than accable them, or press them down. Then I must say, quid retribuam? I have nothing of mine own. That that God hath given me I shall present unto your majesty; which is care and diligence, and assiduous endeavour, and that which is the chief, cor unum et viam unam; hoping that your majesty will do, as your superior doth; that is, finding my heart upright, you will bear with my other imperfections. And, lastly, your majesty shall have the best of my time, which I assure myself I shall conclude in your favour, and survive in your remembrance. And that is my prayer for myself; the rest shall be in prayers for your majesty. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.* MY NOBLE LORD, I have showed your letter of thanks to his majesty, who saith there are too many thanks in it I thank God I number days, both in thankfulness to him, and in warning to myself. I should likewise number your majesty's benefits, which, as to take them in all kinds, they are without number; so even in this kind of steps and degrees of advancement, they are in greater number than scarcely any other of your subjects can say. For this is now the eighth time that for so small a favour; which he holdeth too little to encourage so well a deserving servant. For your majesty hath raised me. You formed me of the learned council extraor-myself, I shall ever rejoice at the manifestation of his majesty's favour toward you, and will condinary, without patent or fee, a kind of indivitribute all that is in me, to the increasing of his duum vagum. You established me, and brought me into ordinary; soon after you placed me solicitor, where I served seven years: then your majesty made me your attorney, or procurator general; then privy counsellor, while I was attorney; a kind of miracle of your favour, that had not been in many ages: thence keeper of your seal; and because that was a kind of planet, and not fixed, chancellor: and when your ma good opinion; ever resting Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, With due thanks for your last visit, this day is a play-day for me. But I will wait on your lordship, if it be necessary. Harl. MSS. vol. 7000. Job himself, or saith, satis est lapsos non erigere; urgere vero re, by such hunt- jacentes, aut præcipitantis impellere, certe est inhu m, as hath been manum. Mr. Chancellor, if you will be nobly time seem foul, pleased to grace me upon this occasion, by showatness is the mark, ing tenderness of my name, and commiseration And if this be to be of my fortune, there is no man in that assembly great seal lay upon from whose mouth I had rather it should come. aid take it up. But I hope it will be no dishonour to you. It will I hope put an end oblige me much, and be a worthy fruit of our last or other. And, in reintegration of friendship. I rest is, lest continual ther with these cares, weak body right this will cast me down; feigning, or fainting. hold out. God prosper Your faithful friend to do you service. |