TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. myself, wherein, though your servant insisted | thereof, that you may no longer hang upon the further than, I am sure, would ever enter into treaty, which hath been between your lordship your thoughts, I cannot but take it as a part of a and me, touching York House; in which I assure faithful servant in him. But if your lordship, or your lordship I never desired to put you to the your lady, find it inconvenient for you to part with least inconvenience. So I rest the house, I would rather provide myself other Your lordship's servant, wise than any way incommodate you, but will G. BUCKINGHAM. never slack any thing of my affection to do you service; whereof, if I have not yet given good proof, I will desire nothing more than the fittest occasion to show how much I am Your lordship's faithful servant, My Lord,-I am glad your lordship understands G. BUCKINGHAM. me so rightly in my last letter. I continue still in October, 1621. the same mind, for, I thank God, I am settled to my contentment; and so I hope you shall enjoy yours with the more, because I am so well pleased in TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. mine. And, my lord, I shall be very far from My very gooD LORD, taking it ill, if you part with it to any else, judgAn unexpected accident maketh me hasten this ing it alike unreasonableness to desire that which letter to your lordship, before I could despatch is another man's, and to bind him by promise or Mr. Meautys; it is that my lord keeper hath stayed otherwise not to let it to another. my pardon at the seal. But it is with good re- My lord, I will move his majesty to take comspect; for he saith it shall be private, and then he miseration of your long imprisonment,* which, in would forthwith write to your lordship, and would some respects, both you and I have reason to pass it if he received your pleasure; and doth also think harder than the Tower; you for the help of show his reason of stay, which is, that he doubt- physic, your parley with your creditors, your coneth the exception of the sentence of Parliament is ference for your writings and studies, dealing not well drawn, nor strong enough, which, if it with friends about your business; and I for this be doubtful, my lord hath great reason. But sure advantage, to be sometimes happy in visiting and I am, both myself, and the king, and your lord- conversing with your lordship, whose company I ship, and Mr. Attorney meant clearly, and I think am much desirous to enjoy, as being tied by anMr. Attorney's pen hath gone well. My humble cient acquaintance to rest request to your lordship is, that, for my lord's Your lordship’s faithful friend and servant, satisfaction, Mr. Solicitor may be joined with Mr. G. BUCKINGHAM. Attorney, and if it be safe enough, it may go on; if not it may be amended. I ever rest Your lordship’s most obliged friend, and faithful sérvant, TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. My very good LORD, These main and real favours which I have lately received from your good lordship in procuring my TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. liberty, and a reference of the consideration of my MY HONOURABLE LORD, release, are such as I now find, that in building I have brought your servant along to this place, upon your lordship's noble nature and friendship, in expectation of the letter from the lord keeper, I have built upon the rock where neither winds which your lordship mentioneth in yours, but or waves can cause overthrow. I humbly pray having not yet received it, I cannot make answer your lordship to accept from me such thanks as to the business you write of; and, therefore, ought to come from him whom you have much com forted in fortune, and much more comforted in thought fit not to detain your man here any longer, having nothing else to write, but that I always I have heard by my Lord of Faulkland, Sir Ed showing your love and affection to him, of which Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, ward Sackville, Mr. Matthew, and otherwise. G. BUCKINGHAM. I have written, as my duty was, to his majesty, thanks, touching the same, by the letter I here Hinchenbrook, Oct. 20, 1621. put into your noble hands. I have made also, in that letter, an offer TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. to his majesty, of my service, for bringing into better order and frame the laws of England. MY NOBLE LORD, The declaration whereof I have left with Sir Ed. Now that I am provided of a house, I have thought it congruous to give your lordship notice * Restraint from coming within the verge of the court. Vol. III.-24 Q2 rest a TO THE LORD DIGBY. TO THE KING. ward Sackville, because it were no good manners | farther, if it stand with your majesty's good pleato clog his majesty, at this time of triumph and sure, since now my study is my exchange, and recreation, with a business of this nature, so as my pen my factor for the use of my talent, that your lordship may be pleased to call for it to Sir your majesty, who is a great master in these Edward Sackville, when you think the time things, would be pleased to appoint me some reasonable. task to write, and that I should take for an oracle. I am bold likewise to present your lordship And because my Instauration, which I esteem my with a book of my History of king Henry VII., great work, and do still go on with in silence, and now that, in summer was twelve months, I was dedicated to your majesty, and this History dedicated a book to his majesty, and this last of King Henry VII., to your lively and excellent summer, this book to the prince, your lordship’s image the prince, if now your majesty will be turn is next; and this summer that cometh, if I pleased to give me a theme to dedicate to my live to it, shall be yours. I have desired his ma- Lord of Buckingham, whom I have so much jesty to appoint me the task, otherwise I shall reason to honour, I should with more alacrity use my own choice, for this is the best retribution embrace your majesty's direction than my own I can make to your lordship. God prosper you. choice. Your majesty will pardon me for trouI rest bling you thus long. God evermore preserve and Your lordship's most obliged friend prosper you. and faithful servant, Your majesty's poor beadsman most devoted, FR. ST. ALBAN. FR. ST. ALBAN. Gorhambury, this 20th of March, 1621. Gorhambury, this 2014 March, 1621. My very good LORD, I now only send my best wishes, to follow you at sea and land, with due thanks for your late MAY IT PLEASE your MAJESTY, great favours. God knows, whether the length I acknowledge myself in all humbleness infi- of your voyage will not exceed the size of my nitely bounden to your majesty's grace and good-hour-glass. But whilst I live, my affection to do ness, for that, at the intercession of my noble and you service shall remain quick under the ashes constant friend, my lord marquis, your majesty of hath been pleased to grant me that which the civilians say, is res i næstimabilis, my liberty ; so that now, whenever God calleth me, I shall not die a prisoner; nay, further, your majesty hath vouchsafed to rest a second and iterate aspect of My Lord,—I have despatched the business your eye of compassion upon me, in the referring your lordship recommended to me, which I send the consideration of my broken estate to my good your lordship here enclosed, signed by his malord the treasurer, which as it is a singular bounty jesty, and have likewise moved him for your in your majesty, so I have yet so much left of a coming to kiss his hand, which he is pleased you late commissioner of your treasure, as I would be shall do at Whitehall when he returneth next sorry to sue for any thing that might seem immo- thither. In the mean time I rest dest. These your majesty's great benefits, in Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. casting your bread upon the waters, as the Scripture saith, because my thanks cannot any ways be Newmarket, Nov. 13th, 1622. sufficient to attain, I have raised your progenitor I will give order to my secretary to wait upon of famous memory, and now I hope of more Sir John Suckling about your other business. famous memory than before, King Henry VII., Endorsed, to give your majesty thanks for me; which work, My Lord of Bucks touching my warrant and most humbly kissing your majesty's hands, I do present. And because, in the beginning of my trouble, when in the midst of the tempest I had a kenning of the harbour, which I hope now, by TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. your majesty's favour, I am entering into, I made a tender to your majesty of two works, a History Excellent Lord, of England, and a Digest of your Laws, as I have Though I have troubled your lordship with by a figure of pars pro toto performed the one, so many letters, oftener than I think I should, (save I have herewith sent your majesty, by way of an that affection keepeth no account,) yet, upon the epistle, a new offer of the other; but my desire is repair of Mr. Matthew, a gentleman so much my fortune. TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. access. your lordship’s servant, and to me another my-, you, and how much I need you. There be many self, as your lordship best knoweth, you would things in this journey, both in the felicity and in not have thought me a man alive, except I had the carriage thereof, that I do not a little admire, put a letter into his hand, and withal, by so faith- and wish your grace may reap more and more fruits ful and approved a man, commended my fortunes in continuance answerable to the beginnings; afresh unto your lordship. myself have ridden at anchor all your grace's My lord, to speak my heart to your lordship, I absence, and my cables are now quite worn. I never felt my misfortunes so much as now : not had from Sir Toby Mathew, out of Spain, a very for that part which may concern myself, who comfortable message, that your grace had said, profit (I thank God for it) both in patience and in I should be the first that you would remember in settling mine own courses; but when I look abroad any great favour after your return; and now and see the times so stirring, and so much dis- coming from court, he telleth me he had commissimulation and falsehood, baseness and envy in sion from your lordship to confirm it: for which the world, and so many idle clocks going in men's I humbly kiss your hands. heads, then it grieveth me much, that I am not My lord, do some good work upon me, that I sometimes at your lordship’s elbow, that I might may end my days in comfort, which, neverthegive you some of the fruits of the careful advice, less, cannot be complete except you put me in modest liberty, and true information of a friend some way to do your noble self service, for I that loveth your lordship as I do. For, though must ever rest your lordship's fortunes be above the thunder and Your grace's most obliged storms of inferior regions, yet, nevertheless, to and faithful servant, hear the wind, and not to feel it, will make one FR. ST. ALBAN. sleep the better. October 12, 1623. I have written to his highness, and had preor greatness, are new cases unto me: and there- sented my duty to his ess to kiss his hands fore I hope I may be no unprofitable servant to at York House, but that my health is scarce yet your lordship. I remember the king was wont confirmed. to make a character of me, far above my worth, that I was not made for small matters : and your lordship would sometimes bring me from his majesty that Latin sentence, de minimis non curat lex; and it hath so fallen out, that since my My Lord,—The assurance of your love makes retiring, times have been fuller of great matters me easily believe your joy at my return; and if I than before; wherein, perhaps, if I had continued may be so happy as, by the credit of my place, to near his majesty, he might have found more use supply the decay of your cables, I shall account of my service, if my gift Jay that way ; but that it one of the special fruits thereof. What Sir is but a vain imagination of mine. True it is, Toby Matthew hath delivered on my behalf, I that as I do not aspire to use my talent in the will be ready to make good, and omit no opporking's great affairs; yet, for that which may con- tunity that may serve for the endeavours of cern your lordship, and your fortune, no man Your lordship’s faithful friend and servant, living shall give you a better account of faith, G. BUCKINGHAM. industry, and affection than I shall. I must con Royston, Oct. 14, 1623. clude with that which gave me occasion of this letter, which is Mr. Mathew's employment to your lordship in those parts, wherein I am verily persuaded your lordship shall find him a wise and able gentleman, and one that will bend his knowledge of the world (which is great) to serve his My HONOURABLE LORD, majesty, and the prince, and in especial your I have delivered your lordship's letter and your lordship. So I rest book to his majesty, who hath promised to read Your lordship's most obliged it over: I wish I could promise as much for thai and faithful servant, which you sent me, that my understanding of FR. ST. ALBAN. that language might make me capable of those Gray's Inn, this 18th of April, 1623. good fruits, which I assure myself, by an implicit faith, proceed from your pen; but I will tell you in good English, with my thanks for your book, that I ever rest Excellent LORD, Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, How much I rejoice in your grace's safe return G. BUCKINGHAM. you will easily believe, knowing how well I love Ilinchenbrook, October 29, 1623. TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. TO THE LORD ST. CBAN. means. to his majesty, the one for a full pardon, that I Excellent Lord, may die out of a cloud; the other for the translaI send your grace for a parabien, a book of tion of my honours after my decease. I hope his mine, written first and dedicated to his majesty majesty will have compassion on me, as he proin English, and now translated into Latin, and mised me he would. My heart telleth me that enriched. After his majesty and his highness, no man hath loved his majesty and his service your grace is ever to have the third turn with me. more entirely, and love is the law and the prophets. Vouchsafe, of your wonted favour, to present also I ever rest the king's book to his majesty. The prince's I Your grace's most obliged have sent to Mr. Endimion Porter. I hope your and faithful servant, grace (because you are wont to disable your FR. ST. ALBAN. Latin) will not send your book to the Conde November 25th, 1023. d'Olivares, because he was a deacon, for I understand by one, (that your grace may guess whom I mean,) that the Conde is not rational, and I hold this book to be very rational. Your grace will pardon me to be merry, however, the world My Lord, I have moved his majesty in your goeth with me. I ever rest suit, and find him very gracious inclined to grant Your grace's most faithful it; but he desireth first to know from my lord and obliged servant, treasurer his opinion and the value of it, to FR. ST. ALBAN. whom I have written to that purpose this enclosed Gray's Inn, 220 October, 1623. letter, and would wish your lordship to speak I have added a begging postscript in the king's with him yourself for his favour and furtherance letter; for, as I writ before, my cables are worn therein, and for my part I will omit nothing that out, my hope of tackling is by your lordship's appertaineth to For me and mine, I pray command. G. BUCKINGHAM. Newmarket, 28th of January, 1623. TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. My Lord,—I give your lordship many thanks for the parabien you have sent me; which is so welcome unto me, both for the author's sake and for the worth of itself, that I cannot spare a work Right HONOURABLE AND MY very noble Lord, of so much pains to your lordship and value to Mr. Doctor Rawley, by his modest choice, hath me, unto a man of so little reason and less art; much obliged me to be careful of him, when God wl if his skill in languages be no greater than shall send any opportunity. And if his majesty I found it in argument, may, perhaps, have as shall remove me from this see, before any such much need of an interpreter (for all his deaconry) occasion be offered, not to change my intentions as myself; and whatsoever mine ignorance is with my bishopric. in the tongue, yet this much I understand in the It true that those ancients, Cicero, Demosthenes, book, that it is a noble monument of your love, and Plinius Secundus, have preserved their orawhich I will entail to my posterity, who, I hope, tions (the heads and effects of them at least) and will both reap the fruit of the work, and honour their epistles; and I have ever been of opinion, the memory of the author. The other book I that those two pieces, are the principal pieces of delivered to his majesty, who is tied here by the our antiquities: those orations discovering the feet longer than he purposed to stay. forin of administering justice, and the letters the For our For the business your lordship wrote of in your carriage of the affairs in those times. other letters, I am sorry I can do you no service, histories (or rather lives of men) borrow as much having engaged myself to Sir William Becher from the affections and phantasies of the writers, before my going to Spain, so that I cannot free as from the truth itself, and are for the most of myself , unless there were means to give him them built together upon unwritten relations and satisfaction. But I will ever continue traditions. But letters written è re nata, and bearYour lordship's assured friend and servant, ing a synchronism or equality of time cum rebus G. BUCKINGHAM. gestis, have no other fault, than that which was Ilinchenbrook, Oct. 27th, 1623. imputed unto Virgil, nihil peccat nisi, quod nihil peccet, they speak the truth too plainly, and cast too glaring a light for that age, wherein they were, or are written. Excellent Lord, Your lordship doth most worthily, therefore, in I send Mr. Parker to have ready, according to preserving those two pieces, amongst the rest of the speech I had with your grace, my two suits ! those matchless monuments you shall leave be TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. TO TIE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. to come. hind you; considering that, as one age hath not Your lordship may therefore inform yourself if one bred your experience, so is it not fit it should be Sidley, of Kent, hath not already founded in Os. confined to one age, and not imparted to the times ford a lecture of this nature and condition. But For my part therein, I do embrace the if Oxford in this kind be an Argus, I am sure honour with all thankfulness, and the trust im- poor Cambridge is a right Polyphemus, it hath posed upon me, with all religion and devotion. but one eye, and that not so steadily or artificialFor those two lectures in natural philosophy, ly placed, but bonum est facile sui diffusivum ; and the sciences woven and involved with the your lordship being so full of goodness, will same; it is a great and a noble foundation, both quickly find an object to pour it on. That which for the use and the salary, and a foot that will made me say thus much I will say in verse, that teach the age to come, to guess in part at the your lordship may remember it the better, greatness of that herculean mind which give them Sola ruinosis stat Cantabrigia pannis their existence. Only your lordship may be ad Atque inopi lingua disertas invocat Artes, vised for the seats of this foundation. The two I will conclude with this vow: Deus, qui animum universities are the two eyes of this land, and istum tibi, animoisti tempus quam longissimum fittest to contemplate the lustre of this bounty; tribuat. It is the most affectionate prayer of these two lectures are as the two apples of these Your lordship's most humble servant, eyes. An apple when it is single is an ornament, Jo. LINCOLN. when double a pearl, or a blemish in the eye. Buckden, last of December, 1625. LETTERS FROM MATHEWS, NOT BEFORE PUBLISHED. HIM A SERVICE. SIR FRANCIS BACON, DESIRING A FRIEND TO DO I speak like a critic) that I do perhaps indormis cere; or where I do indulgere genio; or where, in Sır,—The report of this act, which I hope fine, I give any manner of disadvantage to myself. will prove the last of this business, will probably, This, super totam materiam, you must not fail to by the weight it carries, fall, and seize on me. note, besides all such words and phrases as you And, therefore, not now at will, but upon necessity cannot like; for you know in how high account ! it will become me to call to mind what passed ; have your judgment. and (my head being then wholly employed about invention) I may the worse put things upon the account of mine own memory. I shall take physic to-day, upon this change of weather, and SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE SAME PERSON UPON vantage of leisure; and I pray you not to allow THE LIKE SUBJECT; WITH AN ADDITION OF yourself so much business, but that you may have CONDOLING THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. time to bring me your friendly aid before night, &c. SIR,—The reason of so much time taken before my answer to yours of the fourth of August, was chiefly my accompanying my letter with the paper which here I send you; and again, now SIR FRANCIS BACON TO A FRIEND, ABOUT READ lately (not to hold from you till the end of a letter ING AND GIVING JUDGMENT UPON HIS WRIT. that which by grief may, for a time, efface all the former contents,) the death of your good friend and SIR,—Because you shall not lose your labour mine, A. B.; to whom, because I used to send my this afternoon, which now I must needs spend letters for conveyance to you, it made me so much with my Lord Chancellor, I send my desire to the more unready in the despatch of them. In you in this letter, that you will take care not to the mean time, I think myself (howsoever it hath leave the writing which I left with you last with pleased God otherwise to bless me) a most unforany man so long as that he may be able to take a tunate man, to be deprived of two (a great number copy of it; because, first, it must be censured by in true friendship) of those friends whom I ac you, and then considered again by me. The counted as no stage friends, but private friends, thing which I expect most from you is, that you (and such as with whom I might both freely and would read it carefully over by yourself, and to safely communicate;) him by death, and you by inake some little in writing, where you think (to absence. As for the memorial of the late deceased INGS |