army of Ireland, and the money of the cautionary towns; and the two Chief Justices are firm in it. I did also in this cause, by the assent of my lords, remove a part; for Mr. Attorney had laid it upon Serjeant Davies* to open the information, which is that which gives much life or coldness to the cause. But I will have none but trained men in this cause; and I cannot forget that the allotting of the opening of the information in this cause of the Dutch (I mean the main cause) to a mean fellow, one Hughes, did hurt, and was never well recovered. By my next I will write of the king's estate: and I ever rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend October 14, 1619. and faithful Servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Marquis of Buckingham. This morning the duket came to me, and told me the king's cause was yesterday left fair; and if ever there were a time for my Lord of Suffolk's submission, it was now; and that if my Lord of Suffolk should come into the court and openly acknowledge his delinquency, he thought it was a thing considerable. My answer was, I would not meddle in it; and, if I did, it must be to dissuade any such course; for that all would be but a play upon the stage, if justice went not on in the right course. This I thought it my duty to let the king know by your lordship. I cannot express the care I have had of this cause in a number of circumstances and discretions, which, though they may seem but small matters, yet they do the business, and guide it right. God ever keep your lordship. Your Lordship's most obliged Friend October 21, 1619. and faithful Servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Marquis of Buckingham. I am doubly bounden to the king for his majesty's trust and acceptation; whereof the one I will never deceive; the other, though I cannot deserve, yet I will do my best, and perhaps as much as another man. Sir John Davies, author of Nosce teipsum, knighted in February, 1607-8, and made serjeant at law in 1612. He had been attorney-general of Ireland. + Lodowick, Duke of Lennox. He was created Duke of Richmond, May 17, 1623; and died February 11, 1623-4. This day the evidence went well; for the solicitor* did his part substantially: and, a little to warm the business, when the misemployment of treasure, which had relation to the army of Ireland, I spake a word, that he that did draw or milk treasure from Ireland was handled, did not emulgere, milk money, but blood. But this is but one of the little things that I wrote of before. The king, under pardon, must come hither with two resolutions; the one, to remit all importunity touching this cause to the lords in court of justice; the other, to pursue the designs first taken at Windsor, and then at Hampton Court, for his commission of treasury: wherein I do my part, and it is reasonably well; but better would it be if instruments were not impediments. I ever rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend October 27, Wednesday. and faithful Servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. Friday will not end the business; for to-morrow will but go through with the king's evidence. To the Lord Chancellor.† My honourable Lord, This bearer, a Frenchman belonging to the ambassador, having put an Englishman in suit for some matters between them, is much hindered and molested by often removing of the cause from one court to another. Your lordship knows that the French are not acquainted with our manner of proceedings in the law, and must therefore be ignorant of the remedy in such a case. His course was to his majesty; but I thought it more proper that your lordship would be pleased to hear and understand this case from himself, and then to advise and take order for his relief, as your lordship in your wisdom shall think fit. So commending him to your honourable favour, I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Royston, 27th of October, 1619. Your lordship shall do well to be informed of every particular, because his majesty will have account of it at his coming. Sir Thomas Coventry, afterwards Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. + Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. To the Lord Chancellor. My honourable Lord, I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who commanded me to give your lordship thanks for your speed in advertising those things that pass, and for the great care he seeth you ever have of his service. I send your lordship back the bill of sheriffs for Sussex, wherein his majesty hath pricked the first, as your lordship wished. His majesty would not have you omit this opportunity of so gross an oversight in the judges, to admonish them of their negligence in suffering such a thing to come to his majesty, which needed his amending afterward; and withal, to let them know that his majesty observeth that every year they grow more and more careless of presenting fit men unto him for that place; and that you advise them to be more wary hereafter, that they may give his majesty better satisfaction. And so I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Royston, November 14, 1619. G. BUCKINGHAM. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, This day afternoon, upon our meeting in council, we have planed those rubs and knots which were mentioned in my last, whereof I thought good presently to advertise his majesty. The days hold without all question, and all delays diverted and quieted. Sir Edward Coke was at Friday's hearing, but in his nightcap; and complained to me he was ambulent, and not current. I would be sorry he should fail us in this cause. Therefore I desire his majesty to signify to him by your lordship (taking knowledge of some light indisposition of his) how much he should think his service disadvantaged in this cause, if he should be at any day away; for then he cannot sentence. By my next I will give his majesty some account of the tobacco and the currants. I ever rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend and faithful Servant, November 20, at evening, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Marquis of Buckingham. I know well his majesty taketh to heart this business of the Dutch, as he hath great reason, in respect both of honour and profit. And because my first letter was written in the epitasis, or trouble of the business; and my second in the beginning of the catastrophe, or calming thereof, (wherein nevertheless I was fain to bear up strongly into the weather, before the calm followed), and since every day hath been better and better, I thought good to signify so much, that his majesty may be less in suspense. The great labour was to get entrance into the business; but now the portcullis is drawn up. And though, I must say, there were some blots in the tables, yet, by well playing, the game is good. Rowland is passing well justified; for both his credit is by very constant and weighty testimony proved, and those vast quantities, which were thought incredible, or at least improbable, are now made manifest truth. Yet I find a little of the old leven towards the first defendants, carried in this style and character: "I would this that appears now had appeared at first. But this cometh of haste and precipitation ;" and the like. But yet, I hope, the corruption and practice upon the ore tenus, and the rectifying of Rowland's credit, will satisfy my lords upon the former proofs. For I would be very sorry that these new defendants (which, except one or two, are the smaller flies) should be in the net, and the old defendants, which are the greater flies, should get through. preserve you. God Your Lordship's most obliged Friend This November 26, 1619. Indorsed-Touching the Dutch business. To the Lord Chancellor.† My honourable Lord, I do, from time to time, acquaint his majesty with your letters, wherein he ever perceiveth your vigilant care in any thing that concerneth his service; and hath commanded me to give you thanks in his name, who is sure your Merchants, accused in the Star-chamber for exporting the gold and silver + Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. coin. endeavours will never be wanting, when any thing is to be done for the advancement of his affairs. According to your lordship's advice, his majesty hath written to the commissioners of the treasury, both touching the currants and the tobacco,* the plantation whereof his majesty is fully resolved to restrain; and hath given them order forthwith to set out a proclamation to that effect; not intending in that point to stand upon any doubt of law, nor to expect the judges' interpretation; nor to allow any freehold in that case; but holding this the safest rule, Salus reipublica suprema lex esto. And so I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Newmarket, Nov. 27, 1619. To the Lord Chancellor.† My honourable Lord, I have presented both the submissions to his majesty. His answer is, he cannot alter that which was allowed of by the lords of the last Star-chamber-day, except first they be acquainted with it, and the consent of the Lady Exeter be likewise had, because the decree doth necessarily require it. So I rest Your Lordship's humble Servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. Indorsed-Touching the submissions of Sir Thomas Lake and his Lady. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, I acquainted this day the bearer with his majesty's pleasure touching Lake's submission; which, whether it should be done in person or in writing, his majesty signified his will thus: that it should be spared in open court, if my Lady of Exeter should consent, and the board think fit. The board liked it well, and appointed my Lord Digby and Secretary Calvert to speak with my lady, who returned her answer in substance, that she would, in this and all things, be commanded by his majesty: but if his majesty left it to her liberty and election, she humbly prayed to be excused. And though it was told her, that this answer would be * Lord Bacon, in his letter of November 22, 1619, mentions that there was offered two thousand pounds increase yearly for the tobacco, to begin at Michaelmas, as it now is, and three thousand pounds increase if the plantations here within land be restrained. + Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. Sir Thomas Lake's. |