CHAPTER II.

1617.

The foolish position of Coke in the negociation-Bacon's opposition to it-His letter to Buckingham-His letter to the King and to Buckingham-Receives a letter from the King, and changes his opinion of the match-Bacon's letter to the King-The King's letter to Bacon-Buckingham's to Bacon-Bacon becomes a warm friend to the match-His letter to Buckingham-Sir Henry Yelverton's letter to Bacon-The marriage settlements-Lady Hatton's letter to the King -Her memorial to the King with regard to Coke's treatment of her-The marriage celebrated-The history of this union-Sir John Villiers made Viscount PurbeckLady Purbeck's letter to her mother-Purbeck deserts his wife-Lady Purbeck's letter to Buckingham-Gossiping letters of that period-Death of Lady Purbeck-History of Sir Robert Wright.

THE position which Coke assumed in these wretched family broils, was at once lamentable

and ridiculous; and, in truth, from the day of his second marriage he appears never to have been master of his own family. His wife absolutely refused to take his name, and to her death was invariably called Lady Hatton; she never signed her name as Elizabeth Coke, but openly justified her conduct in this respect, upon the plea of breaches on the part of Coke, of certain marriage agreements. To do her justice, she appeared, as is generally the case in matrimonial broils, to be the injured as well as the weaker party.

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While these family feuds were thus proceeding the Chancellor Bacon was neither disinterested nor an idle. spectator. On the 12th July 1617, he addressed Villiers, now Earl of Buckingham, on the subject of his brother's match, with his usual zeal. He saw that this union would tend to restore again Coke's interest at court, and his rival seemed once more about to verify the King's observation, that "he ever fell upon his legs."*

"It seemeth," said the sagacious chancellor, "that Secretary Winwood hath officiously busied himself to make a match between your brother

* Bacon's Works, vol. 5, p. 477.

and Sir Edward Coke's daughter, and as we hear he does it more to make a faction, than out of any great affection for your Lordship. It is true he hath the consent of Sir Edward Coke, as we hear upon reasonable conditions for your brother, and yet no better than, without question, may be found in some other matches.

"But the mother's consent is not had, nor the young gentlewoman's, who expects a great fortune from her mother, which without her consent is endangered.

"This match, out of my faith and freedom towards your Lordship, I hold very inconvenient both for your brother and yourself.

"First he shall marry into a disgraced house, which in reason of state is never held good.

Next he shall marry into a troubled house, of man and wife, which in religion and christian discretion is disliked.

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Thirdly, your Lordship will go near to lose all such your friends as are adverse to Sir Edward Coke, myself only excepted, who out of a pure love and thankfulness shall ever be firm to you.

And lastly, and chiefly, believe it will greatly weaken and distract the King's service; for

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though in regard of the King's great wisdom, and depth, I am persuaded those things will not follow which they imagine, yet opinion will do a great deal of harm, and cast the King back and make him relapse into those inconveniences which are now well on to be recovered. Therefore my devise is, and your Lordship shall do yourself a great deal of honour, if according to religion and the law of God, your Lordship will signify unto my Lady your mother, that your desire is, that the marriage be not pressed or proceeded in without the consent of both parents, and so break it altogether, or defer any further delay in it till your Lordship's return; and this the rather, for that besides the inconvenience of the matter itself, it hath been carried so harshly and inconsiderately by Secretary Winwood, as for doubt that the father shall take away the maiden by force, the mother, to get the start, hath conveyed her away secretly, which is ill of all sides.

"Thus hoping your Lordship will not only accept well, but believe my faithful advice, who by my great experience in the world, must need see farther than your Lordship can, I ever rest, &c."

To this earnest expostulatory letter Buckingham made no reply, and the chancellor having

remained silent for a fortnight, now addressed King James in a letter, upon the same disagreeable subject. The time which elapsed from the date of his letter to Buckingham, had not reconciled him to the match; neither had it moderated his hatred of Coke. On the 25th of July 1617, from his seat at Gorhambury in Hertfordshire, he thus eloquently expressed his feelings. *

"I think it agreeable to my duty, and the great obligations wherein I am tied to your Majesty, to be freer than other men, in giving your Majesty faithful counsel while things are in passing, and more bound than other men, in doing your commandments when your resolution is settled and made known to me.

"I shall therefore most humbly crave pardon from your Majesty, if in plainness and no less humbleness I deliver my honest and disinterested opinion in the business of the match of Sir John Villiers, which I take to be magnum in parvo, preserving always the laws and duties of a firm friendship to my Lord Buckingham, whom I will never cease to love, and to whom

* Bacon's Works, vol. 4, p 481. Stephen's first collection

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