cause, that it could not be performed this term; yet she seemed willing rather it should be delayed, than dispensed with. This day also Traske,* in open court, made a retractation of his wicked opinions in writing. The form was as good as may be. I declared to him, that this court was the judgment-seat; the mercy-seat was his majesty: but the court would commend him to his majesty: and I humbly pray his majesty to signify his pleasure speedily, because of the misery of the man; and it is a rare thing for a sectary, that hath once suffered smart and shame, to turn so unfeignedly, as he seemed to do. God ever bless and keep you. Your most obliged Friend and faithful Servant, December, 1, 1619. my To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, On Friday I left London, to hide myself at Kew; for two months and a half together to be strong-bent is too much. for my bow. And yet, that the king may perceive, that in times of leisure I am not idle, I took down with me Sir Giles Mompesson,† and with him I have quietly conferred of that proposition, which was given me in charge by his majesty, and after seconded by your lordship. Wherein I find some things I like very well, and some other, that I John Traske, a minister, who was prosecuted in the Star-chamber for maintaining, as we find mentioned in the Reports of the Lord Chief Justice Hobart, p. 236, that the Jewish Sabbath ought to be observed and not ours; and that we ought to abstain from all manner of swine's flesh, and those meats which the Jews were forbidden in Leviticus, according to Bishop Andrews, in his speech in the Star-chamber on that occasion, printed among his lordship's works. Mr. Traske being examined in that court, confessed, that he had divulged those opinions, and had laboured to bring as many to them as he could; and had also written a letter to the king, wherein he seemed to tax his majesty with hypocrisy, and expressly inveighed against the bishops high commissioners, as bloody and cruel in their proceedings against him, and a papal clergy. He was sentenced to fine and imprisonment, not for holding those opinions (for those were examinable in the Ecclesiastical Court, and not there,) but for making of conventicles and commotions, and for scandalizing the king, the bishops, and clergy. Dr. Fuller, in his Church History of Britain, book x. p. 77. § 64. mentions his having heard Mr. Traske preach, and remarks, that his voice had more strength than any thing else he delivered; and that after his recantation he relapsed, not into the same, but other opinions, rather humorous than hurtful, and died obscurely at Lambeth, in the reign of King Charles I. + Who in the parliament, which began January 30, 1620-1, was sentenced to be degraded, and rendered incapable of bearing any office, for practising several abuses, in setting up new inns and alehouses, and exacting great sums of money of the people, by pretence of letters patents granted him for that purpose. But he fled into foreign parts, finding himself abandoned by the Marquis of Buckingham, on whom he had depended for protection. would set by. And one thing is much to my liking, that the proposition for bringing in his majesty's revenue with small charge is no invention, but was on foot heretofore in King Philip's and Queen Mary's time, and had a grave and mighty opinion for it. The rest I leave to his relation, and mine own attendance. I hope his majesty will look to it, that the fines now to come in may do him most good. Both causes produce fines of one hundred and fourscore thousand pounds, whereof one hundred thousand may clear the anticipations; and then the assignations may pass under the great seal, to be inrollable; so as we shall need to think of nothing but the arrears in a manner, of which I wish the twenty thousand pounds to the strangers (with the interest) be presently satisfied. The remain may serve for the king's present and urgent occasions. And if the king intend any gifts, let them stay for the second course (for all is not yet done,) but nothing out of these, except the king should give me the twenty thousand pounds I owe Peter Vanbore out of his fine, which is the chief debt I owe. But this I speak merrily. I ever rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend Kew, Decemb. 12, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Canc. After I had written this letter, I received from your lordship, by my servant, his majesty's acceptation of my poor services; for which I pray your lordship to present to his majesty my most humble thanks. I have now other things in my mind for his majesty's service, that no time be lost. To the Lord Chancellor.* My honourable Lord, His majesty hath been pleased, out of his gracious care of Sir Robert Killigrew, to refer a suit of his, for certain concealed lands, to your lordship and the rest of the commissioners for the Treasury; the like whereof hath been heretofore granted to many others. My desire to your lordship is, that he being a gentleman, whom I love and wish very well unto, your lordship would shew him, for my sake, all the favour you can, in furthering his suit. Wherein your lordship shall do me a courtesy, for which I will ever rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Royston, Decemb. 15, 1619. G. BUCKINGHAM. * Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. To the Lord Chancellor.* My honourable Lord, I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who for that business, whereof Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer brought the message to his majesty to Theobalds, returned the answer by him. As for that, whereof Sir Giles Mompesson spake to your lordship, his majesty liketh very well, and so do all others with whom his majesty hath spoken of it; and therefore he recommendeth it to your care, not doubting but your lordship will give all your furtherance to it, being your own work, and so much concerning his majesty's honour and profit; and will speak farther with your lordship of it at his return to London. For those other businesses of the Star-chamber, which his majesty hath recommended to your lordship, he hopeth you will keep the clock still going, his profit being so much interested therein, especially seeing Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer hath promised his majesty that he will be no more sick, whereby you shall have this comfort, that the burden will not lie upon your lordship alone. The little leisure I had at Theobald's made me bring your man down hither for this answer, which I hope your lordship will excuse; and ever hold me for Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Royston, 19th of Jan. G. BUCKINGHAM. Indorsed-1619. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, In the midst of business, as in the midst of a way, one should not stay long, especially when I crave no direction, but only advertise. This day we met about the commission, the commonwealth's commission, for the poor and vagabonds, &c. We have put it into an exceeding good way, and have appointed meetings once in fourteen days, because it shall not be a-slack. I was glad to hear from the two Chief Justices, that whatsoever appears in the country to come from primum mobile (that is, the king's care) works better than if it came from the law. Therefore we have ordered that this commission shall be published in the several circuits in the charges of the judges. For the rest hereafter. Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. + Sir Fulke Greville, who surrendered that office in September, 1621, being succeeded in it by Sir Richard Weston. He had been created Lord Brooke of Beauchamp's Court, Jan. 9, 1620-1. For the proposition of Sir Giles Mompesson we have met once. Exchequer-men will be exchequer-men still; but we shall do good. For the account, or rather imparting, of the commissioners of treasury to the council, I think it will but end in a compliment. But the real care (and I hope good purpose) I will not give over, the better, because I am not alone. For the Star-chamber business, I shall, as you write, keep the clock on going, which is hard to do, when sometimes the wheels are too many, and sometimes too few. But we shall do well, especially if those whom the king hath hitherto made bondmen (I mean, which have given bonds for their fines) he do not hereafter make freemen. For Suffolk's business, it is a little strange, that the attorney made it a question to the commissioners of treasury, whether Suffolk should not be admitted to the lease of the extent of his own land, which is the way to encourage him not to pay his fine. But when it was told him, that the contrary course was held with the Earl of Northumberland, and that thereby he was brought to agree for his fine; then he turned, as his manner is. For the errors, we have yet so much use of the service of Sir Henry Britten in bringing in the fines (indeed more than of the attorney) as we cannot, without prejudice to his majesty's service, enter yet into them; and besides, Sir Edward Coke comes not abroad. Mr. Kirkham hath communicated with me, as matter of profit to his majesty, upon the coals referred by his majesty to us of the treasury; wherein I hope we shall do good, the rather, because I am not alone. The proclamation for light gold Mr. Secretary Calvert, I know, hath sent to his majesty; and therefore of that I say no more. For the raising of silver by ordinance, and not by proclamation, and that for the time to come we have given order to finish it. I hear a whispering, that thereupon the commissioners of the navy, the officers of the household, the wardrobe, may take occasion to break the book and the undertakings, because the prices may rise, which I thought good to signify to his majesty. And, to speak plainly, I fear more the pretence than the natural effect. God evermore preserve your lordship. I rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend and faithful Servant, January 20, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Lord Chancellor.* My honourable Lord, I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who is very well pleased therewith, finding in you a continual care of his service. In that point of the Star-chamber business, his majesty saith there is a mistaking; for he meant not the Dutchmen's business, but that motion which your lordship made unto him, of sitting in the Star-chamber about the commissions, which you had not leisure to read till he came down to Royston, and hath reason to give you thanks for it, desiring you to prepare it, and study the point (of which he will speak more with you at his return to London,) being a matter worthy your thinking on, and his majesty's practice. For the last point of your letter, his majesty saith it cannot but proceed of malice, that there should be any such plot, which he will not endure, but he will account those that whisper of it in that sort, enemies of his service; and will put them out of their places that practise it. And so I rest Your lordship's faithful Newmarket, January 22, 1619. Friend and Servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. To Mr. Secretary Calvert. Mr. Secretary, ex I have received your letter of the 3d of this present, signifying his majesty's pleasure touching Peacock's aminations, of which I will have special care. My Lord Coke is come to town, and hath sent me word, he will be with me on Monday, though he be somewhat lame. Howsoever, the service shall be done. I was made acquainted by your letter to Secretary Naunton, with his majesty's dislike of the sending to him of the jolly letter from Zealand. I will now speak for myself, that when it was received, I turned to the Master of the Wards,‡ and said, "Well, I think you and I shall ever advise the king to do more for a Burlamachi, when he seeketh to his majesty by supplication and supplying the king at the first word, than for all the rest upon any bravados from the Burgomasters of Holland and Zealand?" who answered very honestly, that it was in the king's power to make them * Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006. +He was a minister of the University of Cambridge. He was committed to the Tower for pretending that he had by sorcery infatuated the king's judgment in the cause of Sir Thomas Lake.-Camd. Annal. Regis Jacobi I. p. 54. Sir Lionel Cranfield. |