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Stephens's second collection, P. 90.

It is long, because we all thought fit not to piece new instructions with old instructions, but to reduce both old and new into one body of instructions. I do not see that of the articles, which are many, any could have been spared. They are plain, but they have a good property, that they will take fast hold. I may not trouble his majesty with choosing some of them in particular, when all are good: only I think fit to let his majesty know of one, which is, that according to his own directions, the oath of making no private unlawful profit is now as well translated to the master and officers, that may take, as to the parties and suitors that may give.

It little becometh me to possess his majesty that this will be to his majesty's benefit ten thousands yearly, or fifteen thousands, or twenty thousands: for these rattles are fitter for mountebanks of service, than grave counsellors. But my advices, as far as I am able to discern, tend or extend but to thus much: this is his majesty's surest and easiest way for his most good.

Sir Miles Fleetwood, who both now and heretofore hath done very good service in this, meriteth to be particularly from your lordship encouraged; which I beseech your lordship not to forget. God ever prosper

you.

Your lordship's most faithful bounden friend and servant,

Dec. 4, 1618.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

CCXII. To the KING.

May it please your most excellent Majesty, ACCORDING to your majesty's pleasure, signified to us by the lord marquis Buckingham, we have considered of the fitness and conveniency of the gold and silver thread business, as also the profit that may accrue unto your majesty.

We are all of opinion that it is convenient that the same should be settled, having been brought hither at the great charge of your majesty's now agents, and

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being a means to set many of your poor subjects on work; and to this purpose there was a former certificate to your majesty from some of us with others.

And for the profit that will arise, we see no cause to doubt: but do conceive apparent likelihood, that it will redound much to your majesty's profit, which we esteem may be at the least 10,000l. by the year; and therefore in a business of such benefit to your majesty, it were good it were settled with all convenient speed, by all lawful means that may be thought of, which, notwithstanding, we most humbly leave to your majesty's highest wisdom.

Your majesty's most humble and faithful servants,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

H. MONTAGU. HENRY YELVERTON.

4 Oct. 1618. The marquis of Buckingham writes from Theobalds to the lord chancellor, that the king being desirous to be satisfied of the gold and silver thread business, would have his lordship consult the lord chief justice, and the attorney and solicitor-general therein.

CCXIII. To the KING.

It may please your most excellent Majesty, I DO many times with gladness, and for a remedy of my other labours, revolve in my mind the great happiness which God, of his singular goodness, hath accumulated upon your majesty every way; and how complete the same would be if the state of your means were once rectified, and well ordered: Your people military and obedient, fit for war, used to peace: your church illightened with good preachers as an heaven of stars; your judges learned, and learning from you, just, and just by your example; your nobility in a right distance between crown and people, no oppressors of the people, no over-shadowers of the crown; your council full of tributes of care, faith and freedom; your gentlemen and justices of peace willing to apply your royal mandates to the nature of their several counties, but ready to obey; your servants in awe of your wisdom, in hope of your goodness; the fields growing every day by the improvement and recovery of grounds from the desert to

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Stephens's second collection,

p. 91.

Stephens's second collection, p. 93.

the garden; the city grown from wood to brick; your
sea-walls or pomarium of your island surveyed, and in
edifying; your merchants embracing the whole com-
pass of the world, east, west, north, and south; the
times gives you peace, and yet offer you opportunities of
action abroad: and lastly, your excellent royal issue
entaileth these blessings and favours of God to descend
to all posterity. It resteth, therefore, that God having
done so great things for your majesty, and you for
others, you would do so much for yourself, as to go
through, according to your good beginnings, with the
rectifying and settling of your estate and means, which
only is wanting; hoc rebus defuit unum. I therefore,
whom only love and duty to your majesty, and your
royal line, hath made a financier, do intend to present
unto your majesty a perfect book of your estate, like a
perspective glass, to draw your estate nearer to your
sight; beseeching your majesty to conceive, that if I
have not attained to do that that I would do, in this
which is not proper for me, in my element, I shall
make your majesty amends in some other thing, in
which I am better bred. God ever preserve, etc.
Jan. 2, 1618.

CCXIV. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

IF I should use the count de Gondomar's action, I should first lay your last letter to my mouth in token of thanks, and then to my heart in token of contentment, and then to my forehead in token of a perpetual remembrance.

I send now to know how his majesty doth after his remove, and to give you account, that yesterday was a day of motions in the chancery. This day was a day of motions in the star-chamber, and it was my hap to clear the bar, that no man was left to move any thing, which my lords were pleased to note they never saw before. To-morrow is a sealing day; Thursday is the funeral day; so that I pray your lordship to direct me whether I shall attend his majesty Friday or Saturday. Friday 7

hath some reliques of business, and the commissioners of treasure have appointed to meet; but to see his majesty, is to me above all.

I have set down de bene esse, Suffolk's cause, the third sitting next term; if the wind suffer the commission of Ireland to be sped. I ever more and more rest Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant,

This 11th of May, 1619.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

CCXV. To the Lord Chancellor.

My most honourable Lord,

I ACQUAINTED his majesty with your letter at the first opportunity after I received it, who was very well pleased with that account of your careful and speedy dispatch of businesses, etc.

Greenwich, 13th May, 1619.

Yours, etc.

G. BUCKINGHAM.

P. S. Your business had been done before this, but I knew not whether you would have the attorney or solicitor to draw it.

CCXVI. To the Lord Chancellor.

My noble Lord,

I SHEWED your letter of thanks to his majesty, who says there are too many in it for so small a favour, which he holdeth too little to encourage so well a deserving servant. For myself, I shall ever rejoice at the manifestation of his majesty's favour towards you, and will contribute all that is in me to the increasing his good opinion; ever resting

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Stephens's

second col Jection,

P. 94.

Ibid.

Stephens's CCXVII. To my very loving friends Sir THOsecond col- MAS LEIGH and Sir THOMAS PUCKERING, knights and baronets.

lection, p. 94.

AFTER my hearty commendations, being informed by the petition of one Thomas Porten, a poor Yorkshireman, of a heavy accident by fire, whereby his house, his wife, and a child, together with all his goods, were utterly burnt and consumed; which misfortune, the petitioner suggests with much eagerness, was occasioned by the wicked practices and conjurations of one John Clarkson of Rowington in the county of Warwick, and his daughter, persons of a wandering condition, affirming, for instance, that one Mr. Hailes of Warwick did take from the said Clarkson certain books of conjuration and witchcraft: that the truth of the matter may be rightly known, and that Clarkson and his daughter, if there be ground for it, may answer the law according to the merit of so hainous a fact, I have thought good to wish and desire you to send for Clarkson, and his daughter, and as upon due examination you shall find cause, to take order for their forthcoming, and answering of the matter at the next assize for the county of York; and also to confer with Mr. Hailes, whether he took from the said Clarkson any such book of conjuration, as the petitioner pretends he did, and to see them in safe custody. Whereupon I desire to be certified how you find the matter; and your doing thereupon. So not doubting of your special care and diligence herein, I bid you heartily farewell, and rest

Your

York-house, 15 May, 1619.

very loving friend,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Ibid. 95. CCXVIII. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM. My very good Lord,

I SEND his majesty a volume of my lord of Bangor's and my lord Sheffield, whereof I spake when I left his majesty at Theobalds. His majesty may be pleased,

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