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1621-2.]

ANOTHER REPORT FROM MEAUTYS.

339

for he shall better perceive the value, and I shall make it good to his Lordship, being my state requireth speed.

It appears from the next letter that Bacon wrote again to Matthew on the 2nd of March: but no letter has been preserved which appears to suit that date.

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.1

May it please your Lordship,

Remembering that the letter your Lordship put yesterday into my hand was locked up under two or three seals, it ran in my head that it might be business of importance, and require haste; and not finding Mr. Matthew in town, nor any certainty of his return till Monday or Tuesday, I thought it became me to let your Lordship know it, that so I might receive your Lordship's pleasure (if need were) to send it after him; which I can undertake to do by as a safe a hand, as if it had three seals

more.

My Lord, I saw Sir Arthur Ingram, who let fall somewhat, as if he could have been contented to have received a letter by me from your Lordship, with something in it like an acknowledgement to my Lord Treasurer, that by his means you had received a kind letter from my Lord Marquis. But in the close he came about, and fell rather to excuse what was left out of the letter, than to please himself much with what was in it. Only indeed he looked upon me as if he did a little distrust my good meaning in it. But that is all one to me; for I have been used to it of late from others as well as from him; but persons apt to be suspicious may well be borne with, for certainly they trouble themselves most, and lose most by it; for of such it is a hard question, whether those be fewest whom they trust, or those who trust them. But for him and some others, I will end in a wish, That, as to your Lordship's service, they might prove but half so much honester, as they think themselves wiser, than other men.

It is doubtful whether the King will come to-morrow or not, for they say he is full of pain in his foot.

My Lord Marquis came late to town last night, and goeth back this evening; and Sir Edward Sackville watcheth an opportunity to speak with him before he go. However he wisheth that your Lordship would lose no time in returning an answer (made all of sweet meats) to my Lord Marquis his letter, which he is confident will be both well tasted and digested by him. And Sir Edward wisheth, that the other letter to my Lord Marquis (for presenting your discourse of laws to his Majesty) might follow the first. I humbly rest

Martii 3, 1621.

Your Lordship's for ever truly

to honour and serve you,
T. MEAUTYS.

1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 163. Orig.

Of the three next letters, all of the same date and relating to the same occasion, it is difficult to make out the exact relation and order of priority. Two of them appear to be original drafts, and the third is copied into Bacon's own collection of letters. They are all attempts at such a letter as Sackville recommended him to write; and the question is which was preferred.

I place first the one without a date, which seems to have been the first experiment.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM,1

My very good Lord,

Your Lordship's former letter was honourable, this later is kind and loving; wherein I took much comfort. This I protest to God, who 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 you not) or to ease you of doing any thing for me wherein you would not be seen, I would use any

man.

God preserve and prosper your Lp. I rest.

The next is apparently an improved version of this.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.2

My very good Lord,

Though I have returned answer to your Lordship's last letter by the same way by which I received it, yet I humbly pray your Lordship to give me leave to add these few lines.

My Lord, as God above is witness, that I ever have loved and honoured your Lordship as much, I think, as any son of Adam can love or honour any subject; and continue in as hearty and strong wishes of felicity to be heaped and fixed upon you as ever; so, as low as I am, I had rather sojourn in a college in Cambridge than recover a good fortune by any other but your

! Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 223. Buck."

Draught, I think. No fly-leaf. Indorsed "To

* Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 162. Original draught in Bacon's hand.

1621-2.] LETTER OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BUCKINGHAM. 341

self. Marry to recover yourself to me, if I have you not, or to ease your Lordship in any thing wherein your Lordship would not so fully appear, or to be made participant of your favours in your own way, I would use any man that were your Lordship's friend. And therefore, good my Lord, in that let me not be mistaken. Secondly, if in any of my former letters I have given your Lordship any distaste by the style of them, or any particular passages, I humbly pray your Lordship's benign construction and pardon. For I confess it is my fault, though it be some happiness to me withal, that I do most times forget my adversity. But I shall never forget to be

5 March, 1621.

Your Lordship's most obliged friend,
and faithful servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

The next, which is the one entered in the Register-book, and might seem on that ground to have the best claim to be considered as that which was chosen to supersede the others, may however be the letter alluded to in the first paragraph of the last; as the answer which he had already returned to Buckingham's" comfortable "letter "by the way by which he received it." For it seems that two were sent, and we do not know when Bacon received that "comfortable letter, further than that it was between the 3rd of February and the 3rd of March.

A LETTER TO MY LORD OF BUCKINGHAM.1 My very good Lord,

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Your Lordship's former letter was honourable, but this your latter letter was both honourable and comfortable, for which I yield your Lordship humble thanks. And for my liberty, as your Lordship hath in your letter vouchsafed to shew a great deal of tenderness concerning the same, so you will be nobly pleased to take some opportune time to move it; the rather for that the season cometh on now fit for physic, which at this time of the year I have ever used, and my health never so much required. I ever humbly rest

Your Lordship's most obliged friend,

and faithful servant.

5th of March, 1621.

1 Addl. MSS. 5503, f. 105

The correspondence which follows contains what we know of the rest of the story.

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.1

May it please your Lordship,

I had not failed to appear this night upon your Lordship's summons, but that my stay till to-morrow I knew would mend my welcome by bringing Mr. Matthew, who means to dine with your Lordship only, and so to rebound back to London, by reason my Lord Digby's journey calls for him on the sudden. Neither yet was this all that stayed me; for I hear somewhat that I like reasonably well, and yet I hope it will mend too; which is, that my Lord Marquis hath sent you a message by my Lord of Falkland (which is far a better hand than my Lord Treasurer's,) that gives you leave to come presently to Highgate: and Sir Edward Sackville speaking for the other five miles, my Lord commended his care and zeal for your Lordship, but silenced him thus: "Let my Lord be ruled by me: it will be never the worse for him." But my Lord Marquis saying farther to him, "Sir Edward, however you play a good friend's part for my Lord St. Alban, yet I must tell you I have not been well used by him ;" and Sir Edward desiring of him to open himself in whatsoever he might take offence at, and withal taking upon him to have known so much from time to time of your Lordship's heart and endeavours towards his Lordship, as that he doubted not but he was able to clear any mist that had been cast before his Lordship's eyes by your enemies; my Lord Marquis by this time being ready to go to the Spanish Ambassador's to dinner, brake off with Sir Edward, and told him that after dinner he would be back at Wallingford-house, and then he would tell Sir Edward more of his mind; with whom I have had newly conference at large, and traced out to him (as he desired me) some particulars of that which they call a treaty with my Lord Treasurer about York-house, which Sir Edward Sackville knows how to put together, and make a smooth tale of it for your Lordship; and this night I shall know all from him, and to-morrow by dinner I shall not fail to attend your Lordship; till when and ever I humbly rest

Your Lordship's in all truth
to honour and serve you,
T. MEAUTYS.

SIR EDWARD SACKVILLE TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

My ever honoured Lord,

Longing to yield an account of my stewardship, and that I had not buried your talent in the ground, I awaited yesterday the Marquis's plea

1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 266. Orig. Mar. 11."

2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 177. Original. Ire. rec. the 11 of Mar. 1621."

Docketed by Bacon, "Meut. rec.

Docketed by Bacon, “Sr Ed. Sack.

1621-2.] REPORT AND ADVICE FROM SIR E. SACKVILLE. 343

sure, until I found a fit opportunity to importune some return of his Lordship's resolution. The morning could not afford it, for time only allowed leave to tell him, I would say something. In the afternoon I had amends for all. In the forenoon he laid the law, but in the afternoon he preached the gospel; when, after some revivations of the old distaste concerning York-house, he most nobly opened his heart unto me; wherein I read that which augured much good towards you. After which revelation, the book was again sealed up, and must in his own time only by himself be again manifested unto you. I have leave to remember some of the vision, and am not forbidden to write it. He vowed (not court-like) but constantly to appear your friend so much, as if his Majesty should abandon the care of you, you should share his fortune with him. He pleased to tell me how much he had been beholding to you, how well he loved you, how unkindly he took the denial of your house (for so he will needs understand it); but the close for all this was harmonious, since he protested he would seriously begin to study your ends, now that the world should see he had no ends on you. He is in hand with the work, and therefore will by no means accept of your offer, though I can assure you the tender hath much won upon him and mellowed his heart towards you, and your genius directed you aright when you writ that letter of denial unto the Duke. The King saw it, and all the rest, which made him say unto the Marquis, you played an after-game well; and that now he had no reason to be much offended.

I have already talked of the Revelation, and now am to speak in apocalyptical language, which I hope you will rightly comment; whereof if you make difficulty, the bearer can help you with the key of the cypher. My Lord Falkland by this time hath showed you London from Highgate. If York-house were gone, the town were yours, and all your straitest shackles clean off, besides more comfort than the city-air only. The Marquis would be exceeding glad the Treasurer had it. This I know; yet this you must not know from me. Bargain with him presently, upon as good conditions as you can procure, so you have direct motion from the Marquis to let him have it. Seem not to dive into the secret of it, though you are purblind, if you see not through it. I have told Mr. Meautys how I would wish your Lordship now to make an end of it. From him I beseech you take it, and from me only the advice to perform it. If you part not speedily with it, you may defer the good which is approaching near you, and disappointing other aims (which must either shortly receive content or never), perhaps anew yield matter of discontent, though you may be indeed as innocent as before. Make the Treasurer believe that since the Marquis will by no means accept of it and that you must part with it, you are more willing to pleasure him than anybody else because you are given to understand my Lord Marquis so inclines; which inclination, if the Treasurer shortly send unto you about it, desire may be more clearly manifested than as yet it hath been; since as I remember none hitherto hath told you in terminis terminantibus that the Marquis desires you should gratify the Treasurer. I know that

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