friends, which I account as my own friends; and so shewed myself when they were in suit. The one, that to Sir Giles Mompesson, touching the inns; the second, to Mr. Christopher Villiers and Mr. Maule, touching the recognizances for ale-houses; the third, to Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower, touching the cask. These in duty could not be omitted, for that, specially the two first of them, are more rumoured, both by the vulgar and by the gentlemen, yea, and by the judges themselves, than any other patents at this day. Therefore I thought it appertained to the singular love and affection which I bear you upon so many obligations, to wish and advise that your lordship, whom God hath made in all things so fit to be beloved, would put off the envy of these things, which I think, in themselves, bear no great fruit, and rather take the thanks for ceasing them, than the note for maintaining them. But, howsoever, let me know your mind, and your lordship shall find I will go your way. I cannot express how much comfort I take in the choice which his majesty hath made of my Lord Chief Justice to be Lord Treasurer; not for his sake, nor for my sake, but for the king's sake, hoping that now a number of counsels, which I have given for the establishment of his majesty's estate, and have lain dead and buried deeper than this snow, may now spring up, and bear fruit; the rather, for that I persuade myself he and I shall run one way. And yet I know well, that in this doubling world cor una et via una is rare in one man, but more rare between two. And therefore, if it please his majesty, according to his prudent custom in such cases, to cast out, now at his coming down, some words, which may the better knit us in conjunction to do him service, I suppose it will be to no idle purpose. And as an old truant in the commission of the treasury, let me put his majesty in remembrance of three things now upon his entrance, which he is presently to go in hand with the first, to make Ireland to bear the charge thereof: the second, to bring all accounts to one purse in the exchequer: the third, by all possible means to endeavour the taking off the anticipations. There be a thousand things more, but these being his majesty's last commands to the commissioners of the treasury, with such as in his majesty's princely judgment shall occur, will do well to season his place. Your Lordship's most obliged Friend November 29, 1620. As soon as I had written this letter I received your lordship's letter, touching my Lord Chief Justice, which redoubled my comfort, to see how his majesty's thoughts and mine, his poor servant's, and your lordship's, meet. I send inclosed names for the Speaker; and if his majesty, or your lordship, demand our opinion, which of them, my Lord Chief Justice will tell you. It were well it were dispatched; for else I will not dine with the Speaker; for his drink will not be laid in time enough. I beseech your lordship, care may be taken that our general letter may be kept secret, whereof my Lord Chief Justice will tell you the reason. To the King. It may please your most excellent Majesty, According to your commandment, we have heard once more the proctors of the prerogative court, what they could say, and find no reason to alter, in any part, our former certificate. Thus much withal we think fit to note to your majesty, that our former certificate, which we now ratify, is principally grounded upon a point in law, upon the statute of 21 Henry VIII. wherein we, the Chancellor and Treasurer, for our own opinions, do conceive the law is clear, and your solicitor-general concurs. * Now, whether your majesty will be pleased to rest in our opinions, and so to pass the patents, or give us leave to assist ourselves with the opinion of some principal judges now in town, whereby the law may be the better resolved, to avoid farther question hereafter; we leave it to your majesty's royal pleasure. This we represent the rather, because we discern such a confidence in the proctors, and those upon whom they depend, as it is not unlike, they will bring it to a legal question, And so we humbly kiss your majesty's hands, praying for your preservation. Your Majesty's most humble York House, December 12, 1620. and obedient Servants, FR. VERULAM, Canc. * Sir Thomas Coventry, who was made attorney-general, Jan. 14, 1620-1. To the Marquis of Buckingham. I was so full of cold, as I could not attend his majesty to-day. Yesterday I dispatched the proclamation with the council. There was a motion to have sharpened it; but better none, than over sharp at first. I moved the council also for supplying the committee for drawing of bills and some other matters, in regard of my Lord Hobart's sickness, who I think will hardly escape: which, though it be happiness for him, yet it is loss for us. Mean while, as I propounded to the king, which he allowed well, I have broken the main of the parliament into questions and parts, which I send. It may be, it is an over diligence; but still methinks there is a middle thing between art and chance: I think they call it providence, or some such thing, which good servants owe to their sovereign, specially in cases of importance and straits of occasions. And those huffing elections, and general licence of speech ought to make us the better provided. The way will be, if his majesty be pleased to peruse these questions advisedly, and give me leave to wait on him; and then refer it to some few of the council, a little to advise upon it. I ever rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend December 23, 1620. To the Lord Chancellor.† My honourable Lord, His majesty hath commanded me to signify his pleasure unto your lordship, that Sir Thomas Coventry, now his solicitor-general, be forthwith made his attorney-general: and that your lordship give order to the clerk of the crown to draw up a grant of the said place unto him accordingly. And so I rest your Lordship's faithful Whitehall, 9th of January, 1620. Friend and Servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. To the Lord Chancellor.‡ My honourable Lord, I have been intreated to recommend unto your lordship the distressed case of the Lady Martin, widow of Sir Richard Martin, deceased, who hath a cause to be heard VOL. XII. * Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Ibid. before your lordship in the Chancery, at your first sitting in the next term, between her and one Archer, and others, upon an ancient statute, due long since unto her husband; which cause, I am informed, hath received three verdicts for her in the common law, a decree in the Exchequerchamber, and a dismission before your lordship: which I was the more willing to do, because I have seen a letter of his majesty to the said Sir Richard Martin, acknowledging the good service that he did him in this kingdom, at the time of his majesty's being in Scotland. And therefore I desire your lordship, that you would give her a full and fair hearing of her cause, and a speedy dispatch thereof, her poverty being such, that having nothing to live on but her husband's debts, if her suit long depend, she shall be inforced to lose her cause for want of means to follow it: wherein I will acknowledge your lordship's favour, and rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Whitehall, the 13th of January, 1620. G. BUCKINGHAM. To the Lord Chancellor.* My honourable Lord, His majesty hath commanded me to signify his pleasure unto you, that you give present order to the Clerk of the Crown to draw a bill to be signed by his majesty for Robert Heath, late recorder of London, to be his majesty's solicitorgeneral. So I rest your Lordship's Theobalds, 20th of January, 1620. Friend and Servant, To the King.† May it please your Majesty, G. BUCKINGHAM. I thank God I number days, both in thankfulness to him, and in warning to myself. I should likewise number your majesty's benefits, which, as to take them in all kinds, they are without number; so even in this kind of steps and degrees of advancement, they are in greater number than scarcely any other of your subjects can say. For this is now the eighth time that your majesty hath raised me. You formed me of the learned council extraordinary, without patent or fee, a kind of individuum vagum. vagum. You * Harl. MSS. Vol. 7000. This seems to have been written by Lord St. Albans, just after he was created a viscount by that title, January 27, 1620. established me, and brought me into ordinary; soon after you placed me solicitor, where I served seven years: then your majesty made me your attorney, or procurator general; then privy counsellor, while I was attorney; a kind of miracle of your favour, that had not been in many ages: thence Keeper of your Seal; and because that was a kind of planet, and not fixed, Chancellor: and when your majesty could raise me no higher, it was your grace to illustrate me with beams of honour, first making me Baron Verulam, and now Viscount St. Alban. So this is the eighth rise or reach, a diapason in music, even a good number, and accord for a close. And so I may without superstition be buried in St. Alban's habit or vestment. Besides the number, the obligation is increased by three notes or marks: first, that they proceed from such a king; for honours from some kings are but great chancels, or counters, set high; but from your majesty, they are indeed dignities by the cooperation of your grace. Secondly, in respect of the continuance of your majesty's favour, which proceedeth as the divine favour, from grace to grace. And thirdly, these splendours of honour are like your freest patents, absque aliquid inde reddendo. Offices have burdens of cares and labours; but honours have no burden but thankfulness, which doth rather raise men's spirits than accable them, or press them down. Then I must say, quid retribuam? I have nothing of mine own. That that God hath given me I shall present unto your majesty; which is care and diligence, and assiduous endeavour, and that which is the chief, cor unum et viam unam; hoping that your majesty will do, as your superior doth; that is, finding my heart upright, you will bear with my other imperfections. And lastly, your majesty shall have the best of my time, which I assure myself I shall conclude in your favour, and survive in your remembrance. And that is my prayer for myself; the rest shall be in prayers for your majesty. To the Lord Chancellor.* My noble Lord, I have shewed your letter of thanks to his majesty, who saith there are too many thanks in it for so small a favour; which he holdeth too little to encourage so well a deserving * Harl. MSS. Vol. 7000. |