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knoweth the secrets of hearts, that I do not think there was ever a son of Adam who wished more prosperity to another that was a subject than I have done and do to your lordship; and, as low as I am, I had rather sojourn in a college than recover a fortune by any other but yourself. Marry, to recover you (if I have not) or to cease you of doing any thing for me wherein you would not be seen, I would use any man.

God preserve and prosper your grace. I rest.

Endorsed,

To Buckingham.

T. MEAUTYS TO LORD ST. ALBAN.*

MY ALL HONOUred Lord,

Upon the first reading of your lordship's, received this day, I had almost put pen to paper to ask your pardon for having (as I supposed) too rudely broken open a letter intended to another, some more deserving friend or servant of yours, (for, by the infinite disproportion between the noble favours therein expressed, and my disability any way to merit, I could not otherwise conjecture;) but, upon second cogitations, remembering it to be incident to heroic natures and spirits to measure out and confer their graces and favours according to the latitude and dimensions of their own noble and capacious hearts, and not according to the narrower span and scantling of others' merits; and calling to mind that this is not the first time by many, that your lordship hath pointed me out as an instance hereof, by your singular and accumulated favours, I come now, instead of asking pardon for a supposed error of my own, to render unto your lordship all humble acknowledgment for a wilful, or rather, willing error of yours, in so overprizing the poor endeavours of your unprofitable servant.

solemn and public audience in the presence, sung us in effect an old song to a new tune, for his errand was only a formal relation of the passages of that achievement and defeat in the Low Countries, (wherein, by the way, I heard not any mention at all of my Lord Craven's prowess, though some say he expects a room in the next Gazette.) The ambassador, in magnifying of the victory, when he had said as we thought enough, concluded with that which was more than all he had said before; namely, in resembling it, both for the extent of the design, the greatness and expense in the preparation and manner of the deliverance, to that of the invasion in eighty-eight. At home we say, Mr. Attorney-General is past hope of being Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, for he is assured of it; and, by the like reason, my Lord Richardson is past all fear of being removed to the King's Bench. The attorney's place is now in competition only between Noye and Banks, for Sir John Finch is out at all, and Banks is the likeliest to carry it. St. George was less beholden this year than ever, either to the lords of the order or to the other lords, there being only present those in the margin. So, praying your lordship to believe that I have more room in my heart than in my paper for my devotion and service to your lordship, my most honoured lord and lady, and all my noble ladies and especial friends, I rest

Your lordship's to serve you,

October 11.

T. M.

Your commands to Mr. Maxwell I performed at Windsor on Monday was sevennight. Pardon this scribble, for my candle winks upon me to hasten to an end, and my maid Mary is a bed and in her first sleep, and very wayward if she be waked.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN, LORD Treasurer,
LORD MARSHAL, LORD LINDSEY,
LORD SALISBURY, LORD BOXBOROUGH,
LORD CARLISle,
LORD MONMOUth,
LORD HOLLAND,
LORD GORING,
LORD DORSET,
LORD DONCASter,
LORD ANDOVER, LORD DUNLUCE.

Endorsed,

Next, I take leave to say somewhat of what we say here, arising as well from abroad as at home; viz. that, upon later and more certain advertisement out of Germany, it is found the blow given to the imperialists was far greater, both for numbers, being at least 20,000, and for quality of the persons, than was first reported. Tilly himself being mortally wounded, and escaping to a town, called Holverstat, some miles distant, was pursued by the King of Sweden, who, being advertised that he was dead, and that his body was newly taken thence, to be conveyed by a guard of 1500 horse to the Duke of Bavier's court, instantly went after them, and in a few hours overtook them, defeated the whole troops, TRASTLATION OF THE LATIN LETTER TO COUNT and brought back the corpse to Holverstat, where it remains in the town house, a spectacle of the divine revenge and justice, for the bloody execution of Mackdeburgh. On Sunday, at Hampton Court, the States' ambassador here resident, at a

* MS. Gibson, Lambeth Lib. 936, fol. 252.

For your noble self, my most honoured lord,

EXCELLENT Count,

GONDOMAR.*

I do first, as I ought, congratulate with you your new honour, which, though great in itself, it is much greater because it was given you upon so

MS. Gibson, Lambeth Lib. 936, fol. 184 d.

noble a ground. The repair of Mr. Matthew, my | TO HIS VERY Loving friends, THE PARISHION

true friend, as your lordship well knoweth, into these parts, makes me call to mind those great and singular favours, which upon your noble visits, which both in field and town, by his means and appointment, your lordship vouchsafed me a little before your departure, and the great endeavours which your lordship used both with the king and the marquis for my fortunes. At that time, if one had whispered me in the ear and said, stay these things; England is a cold country; defer them till the Prince of Wales, and the Marquis of Buckingham, and the Count Gondomar meet in Spain, where fruits ripen faster, I should have smiled at it. But since your lordship hath had power to work these miracles in a public fortune, it is a much less matter for you to work a miracle* in the fortune of a private friend. And since your lordship hath power, and I have faith, a miracle is soon wrought, if your lordship think it worth the stretching forth your noble hand. Having written so lately to your lordship, I shorten this letter, only desiring your lordship to give Mr. Matthew the same freedom to propound or advise with your lordship concerning my business, as heretofore you have vouchsafed; and resting

ERS AND FEOFFEES FOR THE POOR OF THE
PARISH OF ST. ALLDATS, IN OXFORD.

AFTER my hearty commendations, I send you
here enclosed a copy of an order made by the late
lord chancellor, my predecessor, in the cause
depending in Chancery between Edmond Blyth,
plaintiff, against John Phillips and others, defend-
ants, and formerly directed by his lordship's let-
ters unto you, to show cause why a decree made
by commissioners for charitable purposes should
not be confirmed by decree of the Chancery,
which hitherto you have not done; and, therefore,
it was desired that it might be decreed accord-
ingly, which I have forborne to do, but have
thought fit to recontinue the said order, and to
renew the said letters unto you, requiring you to
show good cause by the second return of the next
term, why the commissioners' decree should not
be confirmed, otherwise the plaintiff is to have
his lease decreed as he hath desired. So, wish-
ing you due respect herein, I bid you fare-
well.
Your loving friend,

FR. VERULAM.

From York House, this 13th of Feb., 1619.

LETTERS FROM MALLET.

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT VILLIERS.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

I pray let his majesty understand, that although my lord chancellor's answer, touching the dismission of the farmer's cause, was full of respect and duty, yet I would be glad to avoid an express signification from his majesty, if his majesty may otherwise have his end. And therefore I have thought of a course, that a motion be made in open court, and that thereupon my lord move a compromise to some to be named on either part, with bond to stand to their award. And as I find this to be agreeable to my lord chancellor's disposition, so I do not find but the farmers and the other party are willing enough towards it. And therefore his majesty may be pleased to forbear any other letter or message touching that business. God ever keep your lordship.

Your lordship's true and most devoted servant,
FR. BACON.
January 23, 1616.

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 *The remainder is in Lord Bacon's hand.

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 barons' 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 formal, which is somewhat there, and sufficient enough for that place. The queen hath 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 of Ireland. But I hold it no ill counsel to join, or to remove such men God preserve and prosper yon.

Your true and devoted friend and servant, Whitehall, May 25, 1617. FRA. BACON, C. S.

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 care- | place; only in regard of my present urgent occaful and speedy despatch of business, &c. G. BUCKINGHAM.

Yours, &c.

Greenwich, May 13, 1619.

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

TO MY VERY LOVING FRIENDS, SIR THOMAS
LEIGH, AND SIR THOMAS PUCKERING, KNIGHTS
AND BARONETS.

AFTER my hearty commendations, being informed by the petition of Mr. 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 Knowington, 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 heinous 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 orders 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,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

York House, May 15, 1619.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

sions, to take some present orde for the debts that press me most. I have petitioned his majesty to give me leave to stay at London till the last of July, and then I will dispose of my abode according to the sentence. I have sent to the prince to join with you in it, for, though the matter seem small, yet it importeth me much. God prosper you.

June 20, 1621.

Your lordship's true servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I thank God I am come very well to Gorhambury, whereof I thought your lordship would be glad to hear sometimes. My lord, I wish myself by you in this stirring world, not for any love to place or business, for that is almost gone with me, but for my love to yourself, which can never cease in Your lordship's most obliged friend

and true servant, FR. ST. ALBAN.

Being now out of use, and out of sight, I recommend myself to your lordship's love and favour, to maintain me in his majesty's grace and good intention.

TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Excellent Lord,

I have received the warrant, not for land, but for the money, which, if it may be speedily served, is sure the better; for this I humbly kiss your grace's hands. But because the exchequer is thought to be somewhat barren, although I have good affiance of Mr. Chancellor, yet I hold it very essential, and therein I most humbly pray your grace's favour, that you would be pleased, by your letter, to recommend to Mr. Chancellor the speedy issuing of the money by this warrant, as a business whereof your grace hath an especial care; the rather, for that I understand from him, there be some other warrants for money to private suitors at this time on foot. But your grace may be pleased to remember this difference, that the other are mere gifts; this of mine is a bargain, with an advance only.

Your lordship, I know, and the king both, might think me very unworthy of that I have been, or that I am, if I should not by all means desire to be freed from the restraint which debarreth my approach to his majesty's person, which I ever so much loved and admired; and severeth me likewise from all conference with your lordship, which is my second comfort. Nevertheless, if it be conceived that it may be matter of inconvenience, or envy, my particular respects must give grace's favour to my honest, deserving servant.

I most humbly pray your grace likewise to present my most humble thanks to his majesty. God ever guide you by the hand. I always rest Your faithful and more and more obliged servant, FR. ST. ALBAN

Gray's Inn, this 17th of November, 1624.

I most humbly thank your grace for your

TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN.

MY NOBLE LORD,

The hearty affection I have borne to your person and service, hath made me ambitious to be a messenger of good news to you, and an eschewer of ill; this hath been the true reason why I have been thus long in answering you, not any negligence in your discreet, modest servant you sent with your letter, nor his who now returns you this answer, ofttimes given me by your master and mine; who, though by this may seem not to

satisfy your desert and expectation, yet, take the word of a friend, who will never fail you, hath a tender care of you, full of a fresh memory of your by-past service. His majesty is but for the present, he says, able to yield unto the three years' advance, which, if you please to accept, you are not hereafter the farther off from obtaining some better testimony of his favour, worthier both of him and you, though it can never be answerable to what my heart wishes you, as Your lordship's humble servant, G. BUCKINGHAM.

LETTERS FROM STEPHENS.

TO THE KING.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCEllent Majesty, According to your commandment, I send enclosed the Preface to the Patent of Creation of Sir George Villiers. I have not used any glaring terms, but drawn according to your majesty's instructions, and the note which, thereupon, I framed, and your majesty allowed, with some additions, which I have inserted. But I hope your majesty will be pleased to correct and perfect it. Your majesty will also be pleased to remember, that if the creation shall be at Roughford, your pleasure and this draught be speedily returned; for it will ask a sending of the bill for your majesty's signature, and a sending back of the same to pass the seals, and a sending thereupon of the patent itself: so it must be twice sent up and down before the day. God evermore preserve your majesty. Your majesty's most devoted, and most bounden servant, FR. BACON.

July 28, 1616.

TO SIR FRANCIS BACON, HIS MAJESTY'S ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

SIR,-I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, and the other papers enclosed, who liketh very well of the course you purpose, touching the manifest to be published of Bertram's fact, and will have you, according to your own motion, advise with my lord chancellor of the manner of it. His majesty's pleasure likewise is, that, according to the declaration he made before the lords of his council, at Whitehall, touching the review of my Lord Coke's reports, you draw a warrant ready for his signature, directed to those judges whom he then named to that effect, and send it speedily to him to be signed, that there may be a despatch

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TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY SINGULAR GOOD Lord,

When I heard your lordship was dead, I though I had lived too long. That was (to tell your lordship truly) the state of my mind upon that report. Since, I hear it was an idle mistaking of my Lord Evers, for my Lord Villiers: God's name be blessed, that you are alive to do infinite good, and not so much as sick or ill disposed for any thing I now hear.

I have resigned the prince's seal, and my Lord Hobart is placed. I made the prince laugh, when I told him I resigned it with more comfort than I received it; he understanding me that I had changed for a better: but after I had given him that thought, I turned it upon this, that I left his state and business in good case, whereof I gave him a particular account.

The queen called upon me for the matter of he house, wherein your lordship and my Lord Chamberlain and I dealt, and received his majesty's direction, so that I shall prepare a warrant, first to my lord treasurer and Mr. Chancellor, (for that is the right way) to advise how to settle it by assignment, in case she survive his majesty, which I hope in God she shall not.

Her desire was expressly and of herself, that when I had prepared a warrant to be sent to his majesty, I should send it by your lordship's hand's.

We sit in council, that is all I can yet say Sir John Denham is not come, upon whose coming the king shall have account of our consulta

tions touching Ireland, which we cannot conclude, till we have spoken with him. God ever preserve and prosper you.

It grieveth me much, that I cannot hear enough of his majesty's good disposition of health, and his pleasures, and other ordinary occurrences of his journey: I pray your lordship will direct Mr. Packer to write to me sometime, of matters of that kind. I have made the like request to Sir Edward Villiers, by whom I write this present, to whose good affection I think myself beholden, as I do also esteem him much for his good parts, besides his nearness to your lordship, which bindeth me above all.

Your lordship's most faithful

April 7, 1617.

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

derstand the place of a chancellor, but done him much right also, in giving notice unto those that were present, that you had 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 he is with this account you have given him of this passage. Thus, with the remembrance of my service, I rest

Your lordship's ever at command,

Edinburgh, May 18, 1616.

G. BUCKINGHAM.

TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY SINGULAR Good Lord,

I pray your lordship to deliver to his majesty the enclosed.

TO THE LORD KEEPER.

MY HONOURABLE Lord,

His majesty commandeth me to write to your lordship, that he wonders your hand being at that letter of the lords of the council, which he saith I send your lordship, also, the warrant to my is a very blunt one: you have not besides sent lord treasurer and Mr. Chancellor of the Exche-him some advice of your own, his majesty having quer for the queen's house, it is to come again only entrusted you to speak with Sir Lionel to the king, when the bill is drawn for the let- Cranfield about his estate. ters patents; for this is only the warrant to be signed by his majesty.

I asked the queen whether she would write to your lordship about it; her answer was very modest and discreet, that because it proceeded wholly from his majesty's kindness and goodness, who had referred it, it was not so fit for her to write to your lordship for the despatch of it, but she desired me to thank your lordship for your former care of it, and to desire you to continue it: and withal she desireth your lordship not to press his majesty in it, but to take his best times. This answer (because I like it so well) I write to you at large, for other matters I will write by God ever prosper you and pre

the next. serve you.

Your lordship's most faithful

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

London, April 19, 1617.

TO THE LORD KEEPER.

MY HONOURED LORD,

I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, and the papers that came enclosed, 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 un

* Somerset House.

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.
Newmarket, Nov. 19, 1617.

TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM. MY LORD:-How well I wish to Sir Gilbert Haughton, himself, I dare say, doth not doubt, partly out of mine own affection, and chiefly for your lordship's affection towards him, which to me is more than mine own. That the king should make bargains of hope, when his treasure sufficeth not for his own charge, I may not advise for my dearest friends; for I am nailed to the king's estate. But two things I shall assent unto; the one, that if the king can redeem his works without charge of officers, I shall be glad of it, both for the gentleman's sake, and because I perceive the uniting of the alum works in the king's hands is best: the other, that if his majesty be pleased to signify his pleasure to my lord treasurer and me, that there be no forfeiture taken by Banister, till the king shall advise of this bargain, we will hold him to it. God preserve and prosper your lordship. Your lordship, I think, perceiveth both my scribbling and cursory inditing, that I write in straits of business. Your lordship's true friend

and devoted servant, FR. BACON, C. S York House, this 24th of Nov., 1617.

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