the point in law, before you proceed any farther: for without that all is in vain.

For the business of Hawkins, touching the register for the commission of bankrupts; I am not yet satisfied likewise for the law, nor for the conveniency; but I rather incline to think it may pass; and I have set it in a course by which it may be thoroughly informed.

For Sir Rowland Egerton's cause, and his lady's, the parties have submitted themselves unto me, and are content to do it by bond, and therefore I will undoubtedly make an end of it according to justice and conscience.

For Sir Gilbert Houghton's business, I am in very good hope to effect your lordship's desire for his good.

For Moor's business, concerning the printing of books, after hearing all parties, I have sealed his patent; but for his former patent of salt, I dare not do it, without acquainting the council therewith, which I am ready to do, if he require that course to be taken.

If his majesty at any time ask touching the lord Clifton's business, I pray your lordship represent to his majesty thus much: that whatsoever hath passed, I thank God I neither fear nor hate him; but I am wonderful careful of the seats of justice, that they may still be well munited, being principal sinews of his majesty's authority. Therefore the course will be, as I am advised, that for this hainous misprision, that the party, without all colour or shadow of cause, should threaten the life of his judge, and of the highest judge of the kingdom next his majesty, he be first examined, and if he confess it, then an ore tenus; if he confess it not, then an information in the star-chamber, and he to remain where he is till the hearing. But I do purposely forbear yet to have him examined, till the decree or agreement between him and my lord Aubigny, which is now ready, be perfected, lest it should seem an oppression, by the terror of the one, to beat him down in the other. Thus I ever rest

Your lordship's true friend and devoted servant, FR. BACON, Canc.

York-house, Jan. 25, 1617.

I pray your lordship to pardon me, if in respect of a little watering in one of mine eyes, I have written this letter, being long and private business, in my secretary's hand.

CXCVIII. To the Lord Chancellor.

My honourable Lord,

I HAVE received your lordship's letters, wherein I see the continuance of your love and respect to me, in any thing I write to you of, for which I give your lordship many thanks, desiring nothing for any man but what you shall find just and convenient to pass. I am very glad to understand that there is so good hope of Sir Gilbert Houghton's business, which I must needs ascribe to your lordship's great favour toward him for my sake, which I will ever acknowledge. If his majesty at any time speak of the lord Clifton's business, I will answer according to that your lordship hath written, etc.

Your lordship's faithful servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Newmarket, the last of Jan. 1617.

CXCIX. To the KING.

It may please your most excellent Majesty, FINDING as well by your majesty's dispatches and directions to your council, as now by speech with Mr. Secretary Lake, that your majesty is content to be troubled with business of sundry natures; I thought good, according to the duty of my place, and the necessity of the occasion, to put your majesty in mind, that on this day seven-night, being Friday in the morning, I am, according to custom, to give a charge and admonition to the judges and justices of peace now before the circuits, wherein I am humbly to crave your majesty's pleasure and directions.

I have for your majesty's better ease set down the heads, which by the prescript of your book, and out of the consideration of the present times, I have thought

Stephens's second col

lection,

p. 75.

Ibid. p.76.

Stephens's second collection, P. 77.

fittest to be remembered. I have also sent your majesty the last account of the judges circuits, not to trouble you with the reading of them all; but to the end that if upon my memorial, or otherwise out of your majesty's own memory, which is above memorials, you should have occasion to resort to those accounts, the papers may be by you.

The point of greatest weight, in my opinion, is the carrying of a balanced hand at this time in the matter of recusants, in regard of the treaty with Spain. For it were good, in respect of your people, that there were no note made, that the string is relaxed, and in respect of the treaty, that it is not strained; and therefore that the proceeding in those causes be rather diligent than severe.

I am wonderful glad to hear that this extremity of weather, which I think the Muscovite hath brought with him, hath not touched your majesty, whose health and ease is far dearer to me than my life with all the appurtenances. God ever preserve and pros

per you.

Your majesty's most faithful
and most obliged servant,
FR. BACON, Canc.

Friday morning, Feb. 6, 1617.

Your majesty will be pleased your answer be with me on Thursday at noon, or soon after.

CC. To the Lord Chancellor.

My honourable Lord,

I HAVE acquainted his majesty with your letter to me, and delivered likewise to him the letter and other things directed to his majesty, who hath commanded me to return this answer to them all.

First, For your memorial of your charge to the judges, he liketh it so well, that he findeth nothing either to be added or diminished, and was so well satisfied therewith, that he accounteth it needless to read the other papers, but sealed them up again, and sendeth them back to your lordship without reading

them. Only in the point of recusants his majesty is
of the quite contrary opinion to you; for though he
would not by any means have a more severe course
held, than his laws appoint in that case, yet sith the
many reasons why, there should be no mitigation above
that which his laws have enacted, and his own con-
science telleth him to be fit. As first, the papists in
his kingdom have taken such heart upon the commis-
sion given to Sir John Digby touching the match with
Spain, that they have sent copies thereof privately up
and down, and are so lifted up in their hopes of what
they desire, that his majesty cannot but take a more
severe course, as far as by his laws he may, than
hitherto he hath done. Besides, when they shall see
a harder hand carried toward them than hath been
accustomed, his majesty assureth himself, they will
employ all their means to further the match, in hope
of mitigating of that severity when it shall be accom-
plished. And though these reasons were not, his ma-
jesty would account it a baseness in a prince to shew
such a desire of the match, as to slack any thing in
his course of government, much more in propagation
of the religion he professeth, for fear of giving hin-
drance to the match thereby. And so with many
thanks for your favours to my brother in his business,
I rest

Your lordship's faithful servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Newmarket, 8 Feb. 1617.

CCI. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

MR. Chancellor of the exchequer hath signified to me this day, that yesterday his majesty called him to his coach, and said to him, that one that had used ill speech of me should be called before me, and make his submission to me; and thereupon be called before the council, and receive a sharp reprehension, and so be inlarged. And Mr. Chancellor could not tell me who the person was, but after by some letter he

Stephens's second col

lection,

p. 79.

Stephens's
second col-
lection,
p. 80.

received from my lord Clifton, and speech with a man of his, he perceived it was he.

I pray your lordship in humbleness to let his majesty know, that I little fear the lord Clifton, but I much fear the example, that it will animate ruffians and rodomonti extremely against the seats of justice, which are his majesty's own seats, yea and against all authority and greatness, if this pass without public censure and example; it having gone already so far as that the person of a baron hath been committed to the Tower. The punishment it may please his majesty to remit, and I shall not formally but heartily intercede for him: but an example, setting myself aside, I wish for terror of persons that may be more dangerous than he, towards the least judge of the kingdom.

Therefore it may please his majesty to speak of it with myself and my lords, when he cometh next, and in the mean time I will command, from his majesty, the master of the rolls, and Mr. Attorney, who were appointed by the table to examine him, to stay. God ever prosper you.

Your lordship's true friend and devoted servant,
FR. BACON, Canc.

March 17, 1617.

CCII. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM.
My very good Lord,

We have sat once upon the commission of treasure to no ill purpose, as may appear by the account inclosed; wherein his majesty will find no preposterous issue of treasure: Mr. Chancellor imagines well, Coke seeks and beats over, as well where it is not, as where it is; secretary Naunton forgets nothing. I will look to bow things to the true ends. God bless and prosper his majesty and yourself.

Your lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,

25 July, 1617.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

'I know not whether there was any prosecution against the lord Clifton, or whether it was prevented by the laying of violent hands upon himself, in the year ensuing. Stephens.