X

dispatched and therefore I marvel it lingereth. It
were no good manners to take the business out of my
lord treasurer's hands; and therefore I purpose to write
to his lordship, if I hear not from him first by Mr.
Deccomb. But if I hear of
But if I hear of any delay, you will give
me leave, especially since the king named me, to deal
with Sir John Roper myself; for neither I nor my lord
treasurer, can deserve any great thanks of you in this
business; considering the king hath spoken to Sir
John Roper, and he hath promised: and, besides, the
thing itself is so reasonable, as it ought to be as soon
done as said. I am now gotten into the country to my
house, where I have some little liberty to think of that
I would think of, and not of that which other men
hourly break my head withal, as it was at London.
Upon this you may conclude, that most of my thoughts
are of his majesty; and then you cannot be far off.
God ever keep you, and prosper you. I rest always
Your true and most devoted servant,
FR. BACON.

Aug. 5, one of the hap-
piest days, 1616.

CLVI. To Sir GEORGE VILLIERS, on sending Rawley's

SIR,

his patent.

Resuscitatio.

I HAVE sent you now your patent of creation of lord Blechly of Blechly, and of viscount Villiers. Blechly is your own; and I liked the sound of the name better than Whaddon; but the name will be hid, for you will be called viscount Villiers. I have put them both in a patent, after the manner of the patent of arms where baronies are joined: but the chief reason was, because I would avoid double prefaces, which had not been fit: nevertheless the ceremony of robing, and otherwise, must be double. And now,

and king's serjeant, being more complaisant, Sir John Roper re-
signed towards the latter end of the same month; and Mr. Shute, and
Mr. Heath, who was afterwards the king's solicitor-general, being
the deputies and trustees of Sir George Villiers, were admitted.
Stephens's Introduct. p. 37.

because I am in the country, I will send you some of my country fruits, which with me are good meditations; which, when I am in the city, are choked with business.

After that the king shall have watered your new dignities with his bounty of the lands which he intends you, and that some other things concerning your means, which are now likewise in intention, shall be settled upon you: I do not see but you may think your private fortunes established; and therefore it is now time, that you should refer your actions chiefly to the good of your sovereign and your country. It is the life of an ox or a beast always to eat, and never to exercise; but men are born, especially Christian men, not to cram in their fortunes, but to exercise their virtues; and yet the other have been the unworthy, and sometimes the unlucky humour of great persons in our times; neither will your farther fortune be the farther off: for assure yourself, that fortune is of a woman's nature, that will sooner follow you by slighting than by too much wooing. And in this dedication of yourself to the public, I recommend unto you principally that which I think was never done since Iwas born; and which not done, hath bred almost a wilderness and solitude in the king's service; which is, that you countenance, and encourage, and advance able and virtuous men in all kinds, degrees, and professions. For in the time of some late great counsellors, when they bare the sway, able men were by design and of purpose suppressed; and though now since choice goeth better both in church and commonwealth, yet money, and turn-serving, and cunning canvasses, and importunity prevail too much. And in places of moment, rather make able and honest men yours, than advance those that are otherwise because they are yours. As for cunning and corrupt men, you must, I know, sometimes use them, but keep them at a distance; and let it appear, that you make use of them, rather than that they lead you: Above all, depend wholly, next to God, upon the king; and be ruled, as hitherto you have been, by his instructions; for

that's best for yourself. For the king's care and thoughts concerning you are according to the thoughts of a great king; whereas your thoughts concerning yourself are, and ought to be, according to the thoughts of a modest man. But let me not weary you: the sum is, that you think goodness the best part of greatness; and that you remember whence your rising comes, and make return accordingly. God ever keep

you.

Your true and most devoted servant,
FR. BACON.

Gorhambury, Aug. 12, 1616.

CLVII. To the KING, of Sir GEORGE VIL- Rawley's LIERS's patent.

It may please your most excellent Majesty,

I HAVE sent Sir George Villiers' patent, drawn again, containing also a barony; the name Blechly, which is his own, and to my thinking soundeth better than Whaddon. I have included both in one patent, to avoid a double preface, and as hath been used in the patents of earls of the like nature: nevertheless the ceremony of robing and otherwise is to be double, as is also used in the like case of earls.

It resteth, that I express unto your majesty my great joy, in your honouring and advancing this gentleman; whom to describe, not with colours, but with true lines, I may say this; your majesty certainly hath found out and chosen a safe nature, a capable man, an honest will, generous and noble affections, and a courage well lodged, and one that I know loveth your majesty unfeignedly, and admireth you as much as is in a man to admire his sovereign upon earth. Only your majesty's school, wherein he hath already so well profited, as in this entrance upon the stage, being the time of the greatest danger, he hath not committed any manifest error, will add perfection to your majesty's comfort and the great contentment of your people.

Resuscita

tio.

God ever preserve your majesty. I rest in all hum

bleness,

Your majesty's most bounden

and devoted subject and servant,

Gorhambury,
Aug. 12, 1616.

FR. BACON.

Rawley's CLVIII. To Sir GEORGE VILLIERS, on sending his patent sealed.

Resuscita

tio, with corrections from the original.

SIR,

I TOOK much contentment in that I perceived by your letter, that you took in so good part the freedom of my advice, and that yourself in your own nature and judgment consented therewith. There is no service comparable to good counsel; and the reason is, because no man can do so much for another, as a man may do for himself: now good counsel helpeth a man to help himself; but you have so happy a master as supplieth all. My service and good will shall not be wanting.

It was graciously and kindly done also of his majesty towards me, to tell you that you were beholden to me; but it must be then for thinking of you as I do; for otherwise, for speaking as I think, it is but the part of an honest man. I send you your patent, whereof God give you joy; and I send you here inclosed a little note of remembrance for that part of the ceremony which concerneth the patent; for as for other ceremonies, I leave to others.

My lord chancellor dispatched your patent presently upon the receipt; and writ to me, how glad he was of it, and how well he wished you. If you write to him a few words of thanks, I think, you shall do well. God keep you and prosper you. I ever rest

Your true and most devoted servant,
FR. BACON.

Gorhambury, Aug. 19, 1616.

CLIX. To Sir GEORGE VILLIERS, acknow- Rawley's ledging the King's favour.

SIR,

Resuscitatio.

I AM more and more bound unto his majesty, who,
I think, knowing me to have other ends than ambition,
is contented to make me judge of mine own desires. I-
am now beating my brains, among many cares of his
majesty's business, touching the redeeming the time in
this business of cloth. The great question is; how to
miss, or how to mate the Flemings; how to pass by
them, or how to pass over them.

In my next letter, I shall alter your stile: but I shall
never whilst I breathe alter mine own stile, in being
Your true and devoted servant,

Aug. 22, 1616.

CLX. To the KING.

FR. BACON.

It may please your most excellent Majesty,

FIRST, from the bottom of my heart I thank the God of all mercy and salvation, that he hath preserved you from receiving any hurt by your fall; and I pray his divine Majesty ever to preserve you on horseback and on foot from hurt and fear of hurt.

Now touching the clothing business; for that I perceive the cloth goeth not off as it should, and that Wiltshire is now come in with complaint, as well as Glocestershire and Worcestershire, so that this gangrene creepeth on; I humbly pray your majesty to take into your majesty's princely consideration a remedy for the present stand, which certainly will do the deed; and for any thing that I know will be honourable and convenient, though joined with some loss in your majesty's customs, which I know in a business of this quality, and being but for an interim till you may negotiate, your majesty doth not esteem: and it is this:

That your majesty by your proclamation do forbid, after fourteen days, giving that time for suiting mens

Stephens's

first collec

tion,
P. 179.