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LXVI. A Letter commending his love to the Scrip.in saLord of KINLOSSE, upon his majesty's en- Edit. 1654.

trance.

My Lord,

THE present occasion awakeneth in me a remembrance of the constant amity and mutual good offices, which passed between my brother deceased and your lordship, whereunto I was less strange, than in respect of the time I had reason to pretend; and withal, I call to mind the great opinion which my brother, who seldom failed in judgment of a person, would often express to me of your lordship's great wisdom and soundness, both in head and heart, towards the service and affairs of our sovereign lord the king.

The one of those hath bred in me an election, and the other a confidence to address my good will and sincere affection to your good lordship; not doubting, in regard that my course of life hath wrought me not to be altogether unseen in the matters of the kingdom, that I may be of some use, both in point of service to the king, and in your lordship's particular.

And on the other side, I will not omit humbly to desire your lordship's favour, in furthering a good conceit and impression of my most humble duty and true zeal towards the king; to whose majesty words cannot make me known, neither mine own nor others: but time will, to no disadvantage of any, that shall forerun his majesty's experience, by their humanity and commendations. And so I commend your good lordship to God's providence and protection.

From Gray's-Inn, etc. 1603.

6 Edward Bruce Mil. Dom. Kinlosse, Magis. Rotulorum curia eancellaria, 19 Jul. 1603. Rymer xvi. p. 491.

cra, p. 56.

LXVII. A Letter to Doctor MORISON, a 'Scotish physician, upon his majesty's coming in. Mr. Dr. Morison,

I HAVE thought good by this my letter to renew this my ancient acquaintance which hath passed between us, signifying my good mind to you, to perform to you any good office, for your particular, and my expectation and a firm assurance of the like on your part towards me: wherein I confess you may have the start of me, because occasion hath given you the precedency in investing you with opportunity to use my name well, and by your loving testimony to further a good opinion of me in his majesty, and the court.

But I hope my experience of matters here will, with the light of his majesty's favour, enable me speedily both to requite your kindness, and to acquit and make good your testimony and report. So not doubting to see you here with his majesty; considering that it belongeth to your art to feel pulses (and I assure you, Galen doth not set down greater variety of pulses, than do vent here in mens hearts) I wish you all prosperity, and remain

Yours, etc.

From my chamber at Gray's-Inn, etc. 1603.

8

Rawley's LXVIII. To Mr. DAVIES, gone to meet the

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tio.

Mr. Davies,

king.

THOUGH you went on the sudden, yet you could not go before you had spoken with yourself, to the purpose

7 He had held a correspondence with Mr. Anthony Bacon, and was employed to find intelligence from Scotland to the earl of Essex. See Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, from the year 1581, till her death. Vol. I. p. 79, 109, 116.

8 Mr. Davies having made his way unto the knowledge of King James, by a poem he dedicated unto the late queen, intitled, Nosce teipsum, was very favourably received by the king; and not long after made his attorney-general in Ireland, and serjeant at law: and in the next reign, was nominated to be chief justice of the

which I will now write: and therefore I know it shall
be altogether needless, save that I meant to shew you,
that I was not asleep. Briefly, I commend myself to
your love and the well using my name; as well in
repressing and answering for me, if there be any biting
or nibbling at it in that place, as in imprinting a good
conceit and opinion of me, chiefly in the king, of whose
favour I make myself comfortable assurance, as other-
wise in that court: and not only so, but generally to
perform to me all the good offices which the vivacity of
your wit can suggest to your mind, to be performed to
one, with whose affection you have so great sympa-
thy, and in whose fortune you have so great interest,
So desiring you to be good to concealed poets, I con-
tinué
Your assured friend,

Gray's-Inn this

28th of March, 1603..

FR. BACON.

LXIX. To Mr. ROBERT KEMPE, upon the Rawley's death of Queen Elizabeth.

Mr. Kempe,

THIS alteration is so great, as you might justly conceive some coldness of my affection towards you, if you should hear nothing from me, I living in this place. It is in vain to tell you with what wonderful still and calm this wheel is turned round; which, whether it be a remnant of her felicity that is gone, or a fruit of his reputation that is coming, I will not determine. For I cannot but divide myself between her memory and his name: yet we account it but a fair morn, before sunrising, before his majesty's presence: though for my part I see not whence any weather should arise. The papists are contained with fear enough, and hope too much. The French is thought to turn his practice upon procuring some disturbance in Scotland, where

king's-bench in England upon the displacing of Sir Randal Crew; but died suddenly on 27 December, 1626. He was very conversant with the wits of his time; some of his writings declare his excellency in that kind, as others do his abilities in his own profession. Stephens.

Resuscitatio.

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crowns may do wonders: but this day is so welcome to the nation, and the time so short, as I do not fear the effect. My lord of Southampton expecteth release by the next dispatch, and is already much visited and much well-wished. There is continual posting by men of good quality towards the king: the rather, I think, because this spring-time, it is but a kind of sport. It is hoped, that as the state here hath performed the part of good attorneys to deliver the king quiet possession of his kingdoms, so the king will redeliver them quiet possession of their places; rather filling places void, than removing men placed. So etc. 1603.

Rawley's LXX, To the Earl of 'NORTHUMBERLAND, recommending a proclamation to be made by the king at his entrance.

tio.

It may please your Lordship,

I DO hold it a thing formal and necessary for the king to forerun his coming, be it never so speedy, with some gracious declaration for the cherishing, entertaining, and preparing of mens affections.' For which purpose

Henry Piercy, the ninth earl of Northumberland of that name, had not only great learning himself, but was also patron of other learned men, especially mathematicians. And though no man espoused the title of kingJames to the English throne with a greater zeal than himself, declaring that he would remove all impediments by his sword; yet the king, perhaps fearing that one who thought he could confer crowns, might attempt to resume them, caused this great man to be so effectually prosecuted in the starchamber in the year 1606, upon a supposition of his being privy to the powder-plot, or at least of concealing his cousin Mr. Thomas Piercy, one of the conspirators therein: that he was fined 30,000l. and condemned to perpetual imprisonment. But the lord Hay, afterwards created viscount Doncaster and earl of Carlisle, marrying in 1617 his youngest daughter the lady Lucy Piercy, a lady of the most celebrated wit and beauty of any in her times; his release from the Tower was obtained about the year 1621. Though it is said, the earl was with great difficulty prevailed to accept of this favour, because procured by a man he disdained to own to be so near a relation, as that of a son. Stephens.

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Instead of this declaration, Sir Francis Bacon tells us, that at this time there came forth in print the king's book containing matter of instruction to the prince his son, touching the office of a king; which falling into every man's hand, filled the whole realm as with a good perfume or incense before the king's

I have conceived a draught, it being a thing familiar in my mistress her times to have my pen used in public writings of satisfaction. The use of this may be in two sorts: first, properly, if your lordship think it convenient to shew the king any such draught, because the veins and pulses of this state cannot but be best known here; which if your lordship should do, then I would desire you to withdraw my name, and only signify, that you gave some heads of direction of such a matter to one, of whose style and pen you had some opinion. The other collateral; that though your lordship make no other use of it, yet it is a kind of portraiture of that which I think worthy to be advised by your lordship to the king; and perhaps more compendious and significant, than if I had set them down in articles. I would have attended your lordship but for some little physic I took. To-morrow morning I will wait on you. So I ever, etc. 1603.

LXXI. To the Earl of 2 SOUTHAMPTON, upon Rawley's the king's coming in.

It may please your Lordship,

I WOULD have been very glad to have presented my humble service to your lordship by my attendance, if I could have foreseen that it should not have been unpleasing unto you. And therefore, because I would be sure to commit no error, I chose to write; assuring your lordship, how little soever it may seem credible to you at first, yet it is as true as a thing that God knoweth;

'coming in; and far exceeded any formal or curious edict or de'claration, which could have been devised of that nature, wherewith princes in the beginning of their reigns do use to grace ⚫ themselves, or at least express themselves gracious in the eyes of their people.' Vol. V. p. 200.

Henry Wriothesley earl of Southampton having been involved in the guilt of the unfortunate earl of Essex, was condemned for the same crimes; but that earl, who seemed careless of his own life, interceded for the life of his friend, as did Southampton' own modest behaviour at his trial: from which time he suffered imprisonment in the Tower till the 10th of April, 1603. He was afterwards restored in blood, made knight of the garter, and one of his majesty's privy council. Stephens.

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