Whereas the late Lord Chancellor thought it fit to dismiss out of the chancery a cause touching Henry Skipwith to the common law, where he desireth it should be decided; these are to entreat your lordship+ in the gentleman's favour, that if the adverse party shall attempt to bring it now back again into your lordship's court, you would not retain it there, but let it rest in the place where now it is, that, without more vexation unto him in posting him from one to another, he may have a final hearing and determination thereof. And so I rest My Lord, Your Lordship's ever at command, G. BUCKINGHAM. This is a business wherein I spake to my Lord Chancellor; whereupon he dismissed the suit. Lincoln, the 4th of April, 1617. which may arise of this conjunction, as the union of both kings in actions of state, as may make the difference in religion as laid aside, and almost forgotten. As first, that it will be a means utterly to extinguish and extirpate pirates, which are the common enemies of mankind, and do so much infest Europe at this time. Also, that it may be a beginning and seed (for the like actions heretofore have had less beginnings) of a holy war against the Turk; whereunto it seems the events of time do invite christian kings, in respect of the great corruption and relaxation of discipline of war in that empire; and much more in respect of the utter ruin and enervation of the Grand Signor's navy and forces by sea; which openeth a way (with congregating vast armies by land) to suffocate and starve Constantinople, and thereby to put those provinces into mutiny and insurrection. Also, that by the same conjunction there will be erected a tribunal or prætorian power, to decide the controversies which may arise amongst the princes and estates of Christendom, without effusion of christian blood; for so much as any estate of Christendom will hardly recede from that which the two kings shall mediate and determine. Also, that whereas there doth, as it were, creep upon the ground a disposition, in some places, to make popular estates and leagues to the disadvantage of monarchies, the conjunction of the two kings will be able to stop and impedite the growth of any such evil. These discourses you shall do well frequently to treat upon, and therewithal to fill up the spaces of the active part of your negotiation; representing that it stands well with the greatness and majesty of the two kings to extend their cogitations and the influence of their government, not only to their own subjects, but to the state of the whole world besides, specially the christian portion thereof. Harl. MSS. vol. 7006. This is the first of many letters which the marquis of Buckingham wrote to Lord Bacon in favour of persons who had causes depending in, or likely to come into, the court of Chancery. And it is not improbable that such recommendations were considered in that age as less extraordinary and irregular than they would appear now. The marquis made the same kind of applications to Lord Bacon's successor, the Lord Keeper Williams, in whose Life, by Bishop Hacket, part i. p. 107, we are informed, that "there was not a cause of moment, but, as soon as it came to publication, one of the parties brought letters from this mighty peer, and the Lord Keeper's patron." The Lord Keeper to his Niece, touching her Marriage. Good Niece, Amongst your other virtues, I know there wanteth not in you a mind to hearken to the advice of your friends. And, therefore, you will give me leave to move you again more seriously than before in the match with Mr. Comptroller.* The state wherein you now are is to be preferred before marriage, or changed for marriage, not simply the one or the other, but according as, by God's providence, the offers of marriage are more or less fit to be embraced. This gentleman is religious, a person of honour, being counsellor of state, a great officer, and in very good favour with his majesty. He is of years and health fit to be comfortable to you, and to free you of burdensome cares. He is of good means, and a wise and provident man, and of a loving and excellent good nature; and, I find, hath set his affections upon you; so as I foresee you may sooner change your mind, which, as you told me, is not yet towards marriage, than find so happy a choice. I hear he is willing to visit you before his going into France, which, by the king's commandment, is to be within some ten days: and I could wish you used him kindly, and with respect. His return out of France is intended before Michaelmas. you, and be with you. I rest God direct Your very loving Uncle and assured Friend, Dorset House, this 28th of April, 1617. I have acquainted his majesty with your letters, who liked all your proceedings well, saving only the point, for which you have since made amends, in obeying his pleasure touching the proclamation. His majesty would have your lordship go thoroughly about the business of Ireland, whereinto you are so well entered, especially at this time, that the Chief Justice is come over, who hath delivereď Sir Thomas Edmondes, who had been appointed to that office, December 21, 1616, and January 19, 1617-8, was made Treasurer of the Household. He had been married to Magdalen, one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir John Wood, Knight, Clerk of the Signet, which lady died at Paris, December 31, 1614. The proposal for a second marriage between him and the Lord Keeper's niece does not appear to have had success. + Harl. MSS. vol. 7006. Sir John Denham, one of the Lords Justices of Ireland in 1616. He was made one of the Barons of the Exchequer in England, May 2, 1617. He died January 6, 1638, in the eightieth year of his age. He was the first who set up his opinion thereof to his majesty, and hath understood what his majesty conceived of the same; wherewith he will acquaint your lordship, and with his own observation and judgment of the businesses of that country. I give your lordship hearty thanks for your care to satisfy my Lady of Rutland's desire; and will be as careful, when I come to York, of recommending your suit to the bishopt. So I rest Newark, the 5th of April, 1617. Your Lordship's ever at command, To the Lord Keeper.‡ My honourable Lord, I spake at York with the Archbishop, || touching the house, which he hath wholly put into your hands to do with it what your lordship shall be pleased. I have heretofore, since we were in this journey, moved his majesty for a dispatch of my Lord Brackley's§ business: but, because his majesty never having heard of any precedent in the like case, was of opinion, that this would be of ill consequence in making that dignity as easy as the pulling out of a sword to make a man a knight, and so make it of little esteem, he was desirous to be assured, first, that it was no new course, before he would do it in that fashion. But since he can receive no assurance from your lordship of any precedent in that kind, his majesty intendeth not so to precipitate the business, as to expose that dignity to censure and contempt, in omitting the solemnities required, and usually belonging unto it. His majesty, though he were a while troubled with a little pain in his back, which hindered his hunting, is now, God be thanked, very well, and as merry as ever he was; and we have all held out well. customs in Ireland (not but there were laws for the same before); of which the first year's revenue amounted but to 500l.; but before his death, which was about twenty-two years after, they were let for 54,000l. per annum.-Borlase's Reduction of Ireland to the Crown of England, p. 200. Edit. London, 1675. Frances, Countess of Rutland, first wife of Francis, Earl of Rutland, and daughter and coheir of Sir Henry Knevet, of Charleton, in Wiltshire, knight. She had by the earl an only daughter and heir, Catharine, first married to George, Marquis, and afterwards Duke, of Buckingham; and secondly, to Randolph Macdonald, Earl, and afterwards Marquis, of Antrim, in Ireland. Relating to York House. Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. || Dr. Tobie Matthew. Who desired to be created earl in an unusual manner, by letters patents, without the delivering of the patent by the king's own hand, or without the ordinary solemnities of creation. He was accordingly created Earl of Bridgewater, May 27, 1617. I shewed his majesty your letter, who taketh very well your care and desire to hear of his health. you to God, and rest So I commit Your Lordship's most assured Friend Aukland, the 18th of April, 1617. to do you service, G. BUCKINGHAM. Since the writing of this letter I have had some farther speech with his majesty, touching my Lord Brackley; and find, that if, in your lordship's information in the course, you write any thing that may tend to the furthering of the dispatch of it in that kind, he desireth it may be done. To the Lord Keeper.* My honourable Lord, I send your lordship the warrant for the queen, † signed by his majesty, to whom I have likewise delivered your lordship's letter. And touching the matter of the pirates, his majesty cannot yet resolve; but within a day or two your lordship shall see a dispatch, which he purposeth to send to the lords of his council in general, what his opinion and pleasure is in that point. I would not omit this opportunity to let your lordship know, that his majesty, God be thanked, is in very good health, and so well pleased with his journey, that I never saw him better nor merrier. So I rest From Newcastle, the 23d of April, 1617. Your Lordship's ever at command, To the Lord Keeper. My honourable Lord, I understand that Sir Lewis Tresham hath a suit depending in the Chancery before your lordship; and therefore, out of my love and respect toward him, I have thought fit to recommend him unto your favour so far only as may stand with justice and equity, which is all he desireth, having to encounter a strong party. And because he is shortly to go into Spain about some other business of his own, I farther desire your lordship to give him what expedition you can, that he may receive no prejudice by his journey. Indorsed.-May 6, 1616. * Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. Your Lordship's ever at command, Relating to her house. See the Lord Keeper's letter of April 7, 1617, printed in his works. To the Lord Keeper. * My honourable Lord, I have, by reports, heard that which doth much grieve and trouble me, that your lordship hath, through a pain in one of your legs, been forced to keep your chamber. And being desirous to understand the true estate of your health, which reports do not always bring, I intreat your lordship to favour me with a word or two from yourself, which, I hope, will bring me the comfort I desire, who cannot but be very sensible of whatsoever happeneth to your lordship, as being From Edinburgh, the 3d of June, 1617. Your Lordship's most affectionate to do you service, G. BUCKINGHAM. His majesty, God be thanked, is very well, and safely returned from his hunting journey. To the Earl of Buckingham. My very good Lord, This day I have made even with the business of the kingdom for common justice; not one cause unheard; the lawyers drawn dry of all the motions they were to make; not one petition unanswered. And this, I think, could not be said in our age before. This I speak, not out of ostentation, but out of gladness, when I have done my duty. I know men think I cannot continue if I should thus oppress myself with business: but that account is made. The duties of life are more than life; and if I die now, I shall die before the world be weary of me, which in our times is somewhat rare. And all this while I have been a little unperfect in my foot. But I have taken pains more like the beast with four legs than like a man with scarce two legs. But if it be a gout, which I do neither acknowledge, nor much disclaim, it is a good-natured gout; for I have no rage of it, and it goeth away quickly. I have hope it is but an accident of changing from a field air + to a Thames air; or rather, I think, it is the distance of the king and your lordship from me, that doth congeal my humours and spirits. When I had written this letter I received your lordship's letter of the third of this present, wherein your lordship sheweth your solicitous care of my health, which did wonderfully comfort me. And it is true, that at this + Gray's Inn. * Harl, MSS. Vol. 7006. Dorset House, originally belonging to the Bishops of Salisbury, afterwards the house of Sir Richard Sackville, and then of his son, Sir Thomas, Earl of Dorset, and Lord Treasurer. |