A Letter to Sir George Villiers, touching his Sir, The time is, as I should think, now or never, for his majesty to finish his good meaning towards me; if it please him to consider what is past, and what is to come. But If I would tender my profit, and oblige men unto me by my place and practice, I could have more profit than I could devise, and could oblige all the world and offend none; which is a brave condition for a man's private. my heart is not on these things. Yet, on the other side, I would be sorry that worthless persons should make a note that I get nothing but pains and enemies; and a little popular reputation, which followeth me whether I will or no. If any thing be to be done for yourself, I should take infinite contentment, that my honour might wait upon yours: But I would be loath it should wait upon any man's else. If you would put your strength to this business it is done; and that done many things more will begin. God keep you ever; I rest, Your true and devoted servant. A Letter to Sir George Villiers, upon the choice his Majesty gave him, whether he would be sworn. Councillor or have assurance to succeed the Chancellor, June 3, 1616. Sir, The king giveth me a noble choice, and you are the man, my heart ever told me you were. Ambition would draw me to the latter part of the choice; but in respect of my hearty wishes that my Lord Chancellor may live long, and the small hopes I have, that I shall live long myself, and above all, because I see his majesty's service daily and instantly bleedeth; towards which I persuade myself (vainly perhaps, but yet in mine own thoughts firmly and constantly) that I shall give, when I am of the table, some effectual furtherance (as a poor thread of the labyrinth, which hath no other virtue but an united continuance without interruption or distraction), I do accept of the former to be councillor for the present, and to give over pleading at bar; let the other matter rest upon my proof and his majesty's pleasure, and the accidents of time. For to speak plainly I would be loath that my Lord Chancellor, to whom I owe most after the king and yourself, should be locked to his successor for any advancement or gracing of me. So I ever remain. Your true, and most devoted, and obliged servant. To his very Honourable good Friend, Sir George Villiers, Master of the Horse to his Majesty, and of the most Noble Order of the Garter, June 12, 1616. Sir, I send his majesty a draught of the act of council, concerning the judges' letter; penned as near as I could to his majesty's instructions received in your presence. I then told his majesty my memory was not able to keep way with his, and therefore his majesty will pardon me for any omission or errors, and be pleased to supply and reform the same. I am preparing some other materials for his majesty's excellent hand concerning business that is coming on. For since his majesty hath renewed my heart within me methinks I should double my endeavours. God ever preserve and prosper you; I rest. Your most devoted and bounden servant. A Letter to Sir George Villiers, for the restoring of Doctor Burgis to preach, June 12, 1616. Sir, I do think you may do yourself honour, and (that which is more) do a good work, if you will assist and perfect a motion begun (and that upon a good ground, both of submission and conformity) for the restoring of Doctor Burgis to preach; and I wish, likewise, that if Gray's-Inn should think good (after he is free from the state) to choose him for their preacher his majesty should not be against it; for certainly we should watch him well if he should fly forth; so as he cannot be placed in a more safe auditory. This may seem a trifle, but I do assure you, I do scarce know a particular wherein you may open more honest mouths to speak honour of you than this. And I do extremely desire there may be a full cry from all sorts of people (especially the best) to speak and to trumpet out your commendations. I pray you take it to heart, and do somewhat in it. I rest. Your devoted and bounden servant. A Letter to Sir George Villiers, of Advice concerning Ireland; from Gorhambury to Windsor. July 5, 1616. [Inserted in this Vol. p. 44.] A Letter from the King's Attorney-General to the Master of the Horse, upon the sending of his Bill for Viscount. August 5, 1616. [Inserted in this Vol. p. 59.] A Letter to Sir George Villiers upon the sending his Patent of Viscount Villiers to be signed. August 12, 1616. [Inserted in this Vol. p. 60.] A Letter to the King touching Sir George Villiers' Patent for Baron of Bletchley and Viscount Villiers. August 12, 1616. It may please your most excellent Majesty, I have sent Sir George Villiers' patent, drawn again, containing also a barony; the name Bletchley 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 like nature; nevertheless, the ceremony of robing, and otherwise, is to be double, as is also used in 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, 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 greatest danger, he hath not committed any manifest error ;) will add perfection to your majesty's comfort, and the great contentment of your people. God ever preserve and prosper your majesty. I rest in all humbleness Your majesty's most bounden and most devoted subject and servant. A Letter to Sir George Villiers upon the sending of his Patent for the creation of Viscount, sealed August 20, 1616. Sir, I took much contentment in that I perceive by your letter that you took in so good part the freedom of my advice, and that yourself in your own nature consented therewith. Certainly no service is 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 beholding 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 wrote to me how glad he was of it, and how well he wished you. If you writ to him a few words of thanks I think you shall do well. God keep you, and prosper you. Your true and most devoted servant. A Letter to Sir George Villiers, acknowledging the King's Favour in granting some suit of his. August 22, 1616. Sir, 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 (amongst many cares of his majesty's business) touching the redeeming of 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 hem. |