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BACON CREATED VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

169

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 aliquo inde reddendo. Offices have burdens of cares and labour; but honours have no burden but thankfulness, which doth rather raise men's spirits then accable them or press them down.

own.

Then I must say, quid retribuam? 1 have nothing of mine That that God hath given me I shall offer and 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, that 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 shall conclude in your favour, and survive in your remembrance.1 And that is my prayer for myself. Majesty.

The rest shall be in prayers for your

On the 30th the Houses met, and the King made his speech; one of his best speeches, and not the worse in my opinion because he reserved the weightiest matter for the last place, the best way (generally speaking) to make it impressive.

He began by reminding them of the reciprocal obligations of King and Parliament. They were called for advice. It was the King's business to make laws; theirs "to advise him to make such as were good for the commonwealth." "The Commons best knew the particular estate of the country; and if the King asked their advice could best tell him what was amiss; or else petition him to amend and redress it." It was also their duty to "offer what they thought fit to supply his wants;" while it was his duty "in lieu thereof to afford them justice and mercy."

He then proceeded to explain why they were called together now. It was not to make new laws against the Catholics: those they had already were severe enough. In dealing with matters of conscience, persuasion was fitter than compulsion; and they need not fear any danger to Protestantism from the marriage-treaty with

1 This sentence had been originally written thus: "which is a joyful heart, a studious thought, an incessant endeavour, and the best of my time, which I hope shall conclude with your favour and service in your remembrance." These words were then crossed out and the conclusion in the text substituted.

Spain. "He would do nothing therein which should not be honourable and for the good of religion; and if anything broke off the match it should be the cause of religion." 1

He had called them for help in two main causes, his own want of money, and the distracted state of Christendom.

The supplies granted to the late Queen during her later years 'grew to an annual contribution which by computation came to 135,000l. a year;" whereas during the 18 years he had reigned he had not had more than four subsidies and six fifteenths.2 And it was now ten years since he had troubled them for any. And though it might once be said that it was useless to supply him with treasure because it was so ill kept, it was not so now. During the last two years he had been labouring to reduce his expenditure and had succeeded in making considerable abatements. "In his household expenses he had abated 100,000l. per annum; in his Navy expenses 28,000l. per annum; and hoped shortly to abate 10,0007. more. In his ordinary he had brought his expenses from 34,000l. to 14,0007."8 For the distraction of Christendom, he was not responsible. When the quarrel between the States of Bohemia and the Emperor began, he had been requested by both sides to make an agreement between them, and the embassy which he had sent for that purpose had cost him 30,0007. But in the mean time the States had cast off all allegiance, and chosen his son-in-law; who, though he sent to him to know whether he should take the crown or no, did not wait for his answer; but within three days took it on his head. After which, he had abstained hitherto from all interference: partly because he had always held it wrong to depose Princes on account of religion; partly because he was not well enough acquainted with Bohemian law to judge between the parties; partly because he had undertaken the office of a mediator. But now the Palatinate, which was the inheritance of his grandchild, was invaded, and he was determined to recover it. He hoped to do so by peaceful negotiation; but he could negotiate with greater advantage if he were known to be prepared for war. And if negotiation failed, he was prepared to spend his crown, his blood, and his son's blood also in this quarrel. But in this nothing could be done without a speedy supply. Bis dat qui cito dat. He hoped they would not fail him now more than they had done his predecessors, but let it be seen that the King and his people were of one mind. He was ready to

1 S.P. vol. cxix. no. 47.

a About 502,000l. in all; giving an average of about 28,000l. annually.

3 So the figures are given in Proceedings and Debates. But they are given very differently in different reports, and cannot at all be relied upon.

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BACON'S SPEECH AFTER THE KING'S.

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hear and redress all complaints; and whatever was amiss, "if truly informed, he would rightly reform." He had called them of his own free motion, and his trust was in their good offices for the good of his estate.

At the opening of Parliament it was usual when the King's speech ended for the Lord Chancellor to make some observations. Bacon seems to have prepared his, or some part of them, before he knew what the King intended to say: and there was found among his papers the rough draught of the beginning of a speech evidently intended for this occasion. What we have of it is plainly a fragment, and whether it be that the rest was lost, or that he had proceeded only so far when he received the King's message on the 19th, and thereupon laid it by, must be left to conjecture. But it is an undoubted composition of his, and belongs to this place.

[BEGINNING OF A SPEECH INTENDED ΤΟ BE SPOKEN AFTER THE KING'S SPEECH TO THE TWO HOUSES.]1

My Lords and Masters,

You have heard the King speak, and it makes me call to mind what Solomon saith, who was also a king: The words of the wise are as nails and pins driven in and fastened by the masters of assemblies. The King is the master of this assembly, and though his words in regard of the sweetness of them do not prick, yet in regard of the weight and wisdom of them, I know they pierce through and through; that is, both into your memories and into your affections. And there I leave them.

As the King himself hath declared unto you the causes of the convoking of this Parliament, so he hath commanded me to set before you the true institution and use of a Parliament, that thereby you may take your aim, and govern yourselves the better in Parliament matters: for then are all things in best state, when they are preserved in their primitive institution; for otherwise ye know the principle of philosophy to be, that the corruption or degeneration of the best things is the worst.

The kings of this realm have used to summon their Parliaments or estates for three ends or purposes; for Advice, for Assent, and for Aid.

For Advice, it is (no doubt) great surety for kings to take

1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 239. Draught in Meautys's hand. Docketed "First Speech."

advice and information from their Parliament. It is an advice that proceedeth out of experience; it is not speculative, or abstract. It is a well-tried advice, and that passeth many reviews, and hath Argus eyes. It is an advice that commonly is free from private and particular ends, which is the bane of counsel; for although some particular members of Parliament may have their private ends, yet one man sets another upright; so that the resultate of their counsels is for the most part direct and sincere.

But this advice is to be given with distinction. In things which lie properly in the notice of the subjects they are to tender and offer their advice by bill or petition, as the case requires. But in those things that are Arcana Imperii, and reserved points of sovereignty, as making of war or peace, and the like,1 there they are to apply their advice to that which shall be communicated unto them by the King, without pressing further within the veil, or reaching forth to the forbidden fruit of knowledge. In these things the rule holds, tantum permissum quantum commissum.

Here the manuscript ends, leaving the two remaining heads of “Assent" and "Aid" untouched. Some part of what he would have gone on to say was probably transferred to the speech in which he replied to the new Speaker's oration, which will be found a few pages further on. But for the present he contented himself with the following observations:

CANCELLARIUS.2

May it please your Majesty,

I am strucken with admiration in the respect of your profound discourses: with reverence to your precepts, and contentment in a number of gracious passages which have fallen from your Majesty in your speech.

It is the saying of Solomon, somewhat dark but apt: The words of the wise are like nails and pins fastened by the master of the building in the midst of assemblies: So, in regard of the

1 This clause originally stood thus: "as the marriage of the King's children, as making of war or peace; choice and trust of counsellors or officers, and the like." A line is drawn through the words which I have printed in italic.

2 S. P. Dom. vol. cxix. no. 48. A collector's copy. Collated with Proceedings

and Debates.

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REPLY TO THE SPEAKER'S EXCUSE.

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wisdom and the reverence of your Majesty's words, they are like nails that strike thorough and thorough, sink into the memory, and next into the hearts of the hearers; which is the best way to imprint them in their minds.

For myself I hold it as great commendation in a Chancellor to be silent when such a King is by, who can so well deliver the oracles of his own mind, as for me to speak.

Only, Sir, give me leave to give my advice to the Higher and Lower Houses briefly in two words, Nosce teipsum. I would have the Parliament know itself, first in a modest carriage to so gracious a Sovereign, and secondly in valuing themselves thus far, as to know now it is in them by their cheerful dealing to procure infinite good to themselves in substance and reputation at home and abroad. As there is great expectation in the beginning of this Parliament, so I pray God it may be as good in the conclusion: that it may be generative, begetting others hereafter. And now I am to put you in mind of your laudable custom, to elect one to be your common mouth or speaker. The King for his presentation gives till Saturday next, the 3 of February, 1620.

On the 3rd of February, Serjeant Richardson, on whom the choice of the Commons fell, made his speech according to the usual form, pleading his unfitness for the office. To which Bacon made the following reply:

HIS LORDSHIP'S SPEECH IN THE PARLIAMENT, BEING LORD CHANCELLOR, TO THE SPEAKER'S EXCUSE.1

Mr. Serjeant Richardson,

The King hath heard and observed your grave and decent speech, tending to the excuse and disablement of yourself for the place of Speaker. In answer whereof, his Majesty hath commanded me to say to you that he doth in no sort admit the

same.

First, because if the party's own judgment should be admitted in case of elections touching himself, it would follow that the most confident and overweening persons would be received; and the most considerate men and those that understand themselves best would be rejected.

1 'Resuscitatio,' p. 94.