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1623.]

COPIES FOR THE UNIVERSITIES.

439

et vos hortor; ut Augmentis Scientiarum strenue incumbatis, et in animi modestiâ libertatem ingenii retineatis, neque talentum a veteribus concreditum in sudario reponatis. Affuerit proculdubio et affulserit divini luminis gratia, si humiliatâ et submissâ Religioni Philosophiâ, clavibus sensus legitime et dextre utamini, et, amoto omni contradictionis studio, quisque cum alio, ac si ipse secum, disputet. Valete.1

INCLYTE ACADEMIE OXONIENSI.

Cum almæ matri meæ inclytæ Academiæ Cantabrigiensi scripserim, deessem sane officio, si simile amoris pignus sorori ejus non deferrem. Sicut autem eos hortatus sum, ita et vos hortor, ut Scientiarum Augmentis strenue incumbatis, et veterum labores neque nihil neque omnia esse putetis; sed vires etiam proprias modeste perpendentes, subinde tamen experiamini: Omnia cedent quam optime, si arma non alii in alios vertatis, sed junctis copiis in naturam rerum impressionem faciatis ; sufficit quippe illa honori et victoriæ. Valete.3

FRANCISCUS BARO DE VERULAMIO, VICECOMES SANCTI ALBANI, PERCELEBRI COLLEGIO SANCTE ET INDIVIDUA TRINITATIS IN CANTABRIGIA SALUTEM.

Res omnes earumque progressus initiis suis debentur. Itaque cum initia scientiarum e fontibus vestris hauserim, incrementa ipsarum vobis rependenda existimavi. Spero itidem fore, ut

1 To the University of Cambridge. "The debts of a son, such as I can, I discharge. And what I do myself, I exhort you to do likewise; that is to apply yourselves strenuously to the advancement of the sciences, in modesty of mind to retain liberty of understanding, and not to lay up in a napkin the talent which has been transmitted to you in trust from the ancients. Surely the grace of the divine light will attend and shine upon you, if humbling and submitting Philosophy to Religion you make a legitimate and dexterous use of the keys of sense; and putting away all zeal of contradiction, each dispute with other as if he were disputing with himself. Farewell."

2 Blackbourne, vol. ii. p. 405.

3 To the University of Oxford. "Having written to my renowned nursingmother, the University of Cambridge, I should be wanting in duty if I did not send a like pledge of love to her sister. And as I have exhorted them, so likewise I exhort you, to apply yourselves strenuously to the advancement of the sciences, and to account the labours of the ancients neither as being nothing nor as being all; but to weigh your own powers modestly and yet nevertheless to make trial of them. All will succeed best, if instead of turning your arms one against the other, you join your forces to make an impression upon the nature of things. For that is enough for honour and victory. Farewell."

4 Baconiana, p. 193.

hæc nostra apud vos, tanquam in solo nativo, felicius succrescant. Quamobrem et vos hortor, ut salvâ animi modestiâ, et erga veteres reverentiâ, ipsi quoque scientiarum augmentis non desitis: verum ut post volumina sacra verbi Dei et Scripturarum, secundo loco volumen illud magnum operum Dei et creaturarum strenue et præ omnibus libris (qui pro commentariis tantum haberi debent) evolvatis. Valete.1

2.

The condition of the marriage treaty when the Prince and Buckingham returned was very different from what had been expected, and much more satisfactory to the people. It had not been concluded, and there were good hopes that it would be broken off after all; and broken off upon a disagreement concerning "material points of religion." The true history of the negotiation was of course still secret; but popular rumours gave Buckingham the credit of having brought the breach about upon Protestant grounds, and made him for the time a popular hero. His new position gave Bacon a new opportunity of being useful. So young a politician could not but need an experienced counsellor to advise him as to his conduct in it. And though Bacon did not know enough of what had passed to offer advice as to the further conduct of the negotiation, he knew what the English people were likely to think about the issue, and what Buckingham would have to do in order to maintain his place in the world: which was thought at the time to be so far from secure, that (according to Clarendon) both Williams and

1 To Trinity College, Cambridge. "All things and all the growths thereof are due to their beginnings. And therefore seeing that I drew my beginnings of knowledge from your fountains, I have thought it right to return to you the increase of the same; hoping likewise that these things of mine will spring up the more happily among you, as being in their native soil. Wherefore I exhort you likewise, while duly retaining the modesty of your minds and your reverence for the ancients, not to be wanting on your part also to the advancement of the sciences but next after the sacred volumes of the word of God and the Scriptures, to study earnestly and before all other books (which ought to be counted only as commentaries upon it) that great volume of the works of God and his Creatures. Farewell."

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3 66 'The Duke of Buckingham's carriage in all the business is much applauded and commended; and sure if it were altogether as is reported, it was brave and resolute. . . . . The Earl of Bristol and the Spaniards give out that if it had not been for his impatience the marriage had been consummated before Christmas Day." Chamberlain to Carleton, 11 Oct. 1623.

"This journey hath wrought one unexpected effect, that whereas it was thought the Spaniards and we should piece and grow together, it seems we are generally more disjointed and further asunder in affection than ever." Ibid. 25 Oct.

1623.]

BUCKINGHAM'S POSITION.

441

Cranfield had begun "to withdraw from their absolute dependence upon him, and to make some other essays.'

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The notes that follow would be more intelligible if we knew how far Bacon was acquainted with the part which Buckingham had really played in the business, and to what engagements the King and the Prince had committed themselves. He had opportunities through Matthew of knowing or conjecturing more of the truth than was known to people in general; but how much more, we have no means of judging. On the first of November, a committee of the Privy Council heard from Buckingham a narrative of his proceedings in Spain; but they had been sworn, by special command of the Prince, to repeat nothing of what they might hear: and therefore we may conclude that whatever may have got abroad was of no good authority. Bacon knew, what was notorious, that Buckingham had come back with a desire to break the treaty off. He knew also that he had quarrelled both with Gondomar and Olivarez that he had committed himself to a course which the King was not yet prepared to follow; and that there was an expectation abroad that a Parliament would be summoned very soon. The warrant commanding the Lord Keeper to issue writs was not signed till the 28th of December; but Buckingham and the Prince had been urging the measure upon the King some time before."

MINUTE FOR AN ADVICE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.3 That I am exceeding glad his Grace is comen home with so fair a reputation of a sound Protestant, and so constant for the King's honour and errand.

His Grace is now to consider that this reputation will vanish like a dream, except now upon his return he do some remarkable act to fix it and bind it in.

They have a good wise proverb in the country whence he cometh, taken I think from a gentlewoman's sampler, Quien no da nudo pierde punto, he that tieth not a knot upon his thridd leeseth his stitch.

Any particular I that live in darkness cannot propound. Let his Grace who seeth clear, make his choice; but let some such thing be done and then this reputation will stick by him, and his Grace may afterwards be at the better liberty to take and leave of the future occasions that shall present.

1 Hist. of Rebellion, book i. p. 47.

2 Gardiner, vol. ii. pp. 450-452.

3 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 271. Draught in Bacon's hand. No heading, nor any thing to show whether a minute for a letter or an interview.

TO THE R. HONBLE. HIS VERY GOOD LORD THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND.1

Excellent Lord,

I send Mr. Packer to have ready, according to the speech I had with your Grace, my two suits to his Majesty, the one for a full pardon, that I may die out of a cloud; the other for the translation of my honours after my decease. I hope his Majesty will have compassion on me, as he promised me he would. My heart telleth me that no man hath loved his Majesty and his service more entirely, and love is the law and the prophets. I

ever rest

Your Grace's most obliged

25 Nov. 1623.

and faithful servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

NOTES FOR CONFERENCES WITH BUCKINGHAM.2

My L., my counsels bear not so high an elevation as to have for their mark business of estate. That which I level at is your standing and greatness, which nevertheless I hold for a main pillar for the K's service.

For a Parliament, I hold it then fit, when there have passed some more visible demonstrations of your power with the K. and your constancy in the way you are in: before not.

The

There are considerable in this state three sorts of men. party of the Papists which hate you, The party of the Protestants, including those they call Puritans, whose love is yet but green towards [you], and particular great persons, which are most of them reconciled enemies, or discontented friends: and you must think there are a great many that will magnify you and make use of you for the breaking of the match or putting the realm into a war, which after will return to their old bias.

For particulars, it is good to carry yourself fair, but neither to trust too far nor to apply too much but keep a good distance, and to play your own game, shewing yourself to have, as the bee hath, both of the honey and of the sting.

1 Fortescue Papers. Original: own hand.

2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii, f. 192. In Bacon's hand. Docketed "Conf. Buck, 1, 2."

1623.

NOTES FOR ADVICE TO BUCKINGHAM.

443

The speech now abroad is, My L. of Buck. his head is full of thoughts, he hath a great task, either he must break, or the match must break, he was wont to go to the King's ways, but now he goeth cross his way he will easily leese his way.

There is a point nice to be managed, yea and tender to be spoken of, which is your carriage between the K. and the Prince, so that you may leese no manner ground with the Prince and yet the K. may not think himself the more solitary, nor that you adore too much the sun rising: Though this you may set down, that the way to have the King sure unto you is to keep great with the Prince.

17 Dec. 1623.

Conf. wth Bu. C 3a.1

You march bravely, but methinks you do not draw up your troops.

You must beware of these gen. pardons. It will make men less in awe and respect you. Urina chiara fa fico al medico. The points of the general advice.

If a war be proceeded in, to treat a strait league with France, under name of a Renovation. q.3 of the match with France. Three secret articles, The liberty of the German nation, whereof there is a fresh precedent of H. the 2 of Fr., that took it into protection prosperously, and to the arrest of the Emp. Charles his greatness. 2. The conservation of the liberties of the LowCountries for the United Provinces, and open trade into the East and West Indies.

Offer of mine own service upon a commission, into France. My L. hath against him these disadvantages; The catholic

1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 192. Docketed "Conf. Buck. C. 3." 2 So I read the word-short for 'general.' Birch read it 'your.' "Here is speech of a general pardon to come forth shortly, such as was at the Coronation, which would seem to be the forerunner of a Parliament, though others interpret it otherwise." Chamberlain, 25 Oct. 1623.

"At last on the 28th of August Conway was able to inform the Lord Keeper that the pardon and dispensation had been signed by the King, and at the same time he directed him to prepare a warrant for the liberation of the imprisoned priests, and to write a letter to the judges and magistrates, desiring them to take note of the pardon which had been granted and to allow it to be pleaded in Court." Gardiner, vol. ii. p. 418.

In Conway's Letter-book' there is a minute of a letter to the Lord Treasurer dated Royston, Oct. 14, “To proceed in the business of repairing the forts, and also to hasten the general pardon, and give an account of it." Cal. S. P. p. 95. 3 Birch read "a renovation of the match with France." But there is certainly a "q" before "of," and I think a full stop after renovation. "Q" is meant of course for query, and is parenthetical; but whether the doubt relates to the word before or the word after is hard to say.

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