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shadows of fears, concerning so rare an accident; yet nevertheless, I believe well, that this your lordship's absence will rather be a glass unto you, to shew you many things, whereof you may make use hereafter, than otherwise any hurt or hazard to your fortunes, which God grant. For myself, I am but a man desolate till your return, and have taken a course accordingly. Vouchsafe, of your nobleness, to remember my most humble duty to his highness. And so God, and his holy angels guard you, both going and coming. Indorsed March 10, 1622.

To Sir Francis Cottington, Secretary to the Prince. Good Mr. Secretary,

Though I wrote so lately unto you, by my Lord Rochford; yet, upon the going of my Lord Vaughan,* the prince's worthy and trusty servant, and my approved friend, and your so near ally, I could not but put this letter into his hand, commending myself and my fortunes unto you. You know the difference of obliging men in prosperity and adversity, as much as the sowing upon a pavement and upon a furrow new made. Myself for quiet, and the better to hold out, am retired to Grey's Inn: for when my chief friends were gone so far off, it was time for me to go to a cell. God send us a good return of you all. I ever rest, &c.

My humble service to my Lord Marquis, to whom I have written twice. I would not cloy him My service also to the Count Gondomar, and Lord of Bristol.

Indorsed To Mr. Secretary, Sir Francis Cottington,
March 22, 1622.

⚫ He was son and heir of Walter Vaughan, of Golden Grove, in Caermarthenshire, Esq.; and was created Lord Vaughan in the year 1620. The Lord St. Alban, after he was delivered from his confinement in the Tower, was permitted to stay at Sir John Vaughan's house at Parson's Green, near Fulham.

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In a MŠ. letter of Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, dated at London, March 8, 1622-3, is the following passage: "The Lord of St. Alban is in his old remitter, and came to lie in his old lodgings in Grey's Inn which is the fulfilling of a prophecy of one Locke, a familiar of his, of the same house, that knew him intus et in cute; who, seeing him go thence in pomp, with the great seal before him, said to divers of his friends, we shall live to have him here again."

To the King.

It may please your Majesty,

Now that my friend is absent (for so I may call him still, since your majesty, when I waited on you, told me, that fortune made no difference) your majesty remaineth to me king, and master, and friend, and all. Your beadsman therefore addresseth himself to your majesty for a cell to retire into. The particular I have expressed to my very friend, Mr. Secretary Conway. This help, which costs your majesty nothing, may reserve me to do your majesty service, without being chargeable unto you; for I will never deny but my desire to serve your majesty is of the nature of the heart, that will be ultimum moriens with me. God preserve your majesty, and send you a good return of the treasure abroad, which passeth all Indian fleets. Your Majesty's most humble and devoted Servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. Indorsed To the King, touching the Provostship of Eton.* To Mr. Secretary Conway.

March 25, 1623.

Good Mr. Secretary,

When you did me the honour and favour to visit me, you did not only in general terms express your love unto me, but, as a real friend, asked me, whether I had any particular occasion, wherein I might make use of you? At that time I had none: now there is one fallen. It is, that Mr. Thomas Murray, provost of Eton (whom I love very well) is like to die. It were a pretty cell for my fortune. The college and school, I do not doubt, but I shall make to flourish. His majesty, when I waited on him, took notice of my wants, and said to me, that, as he was a king, he would have care of me. This is a thing somebody would have, and costs his majesty nothing. I have written two or three words to his majesty, which I would pray you to deliver. I have not expressed this particular to his majesty, but referred it to your relation. My most noble friend, the marquis, is now absent. Next to him I could not think of a better address than to yourself, as one likest to put on his affection. I rest

Your Honour's very affectionate Friend,
FR. ST. ALBAN.+

Gray's Inn, the 25th of March, 1623.

* Mr. Thomas Murray, the provost of that college, having been cut for the stone, died April 1, 1623.

To this letter Secretary Conway wrote an answer, acquainting the Lord Viscount St. Alban, that the king could not value his lordship so little, or conceive that he limited his desires so low; in which, however, he should have

To Count Gondomar, then in Spain.
Illustrissime Comes,

Multa sunt, quæ mihi animos addunt, et quandam alacritatem conciliant, ut dominationem tuam illustrissimam hoc tempore de meis fortunis compellam et deprecer. Primum, idque vel maximum, quod cum tam arcta regum nostrorum conjunctio jam habeatur pro transactâ, inde et tu factus sis intercessor tanto potentior; et mihi nullus jam subsit scrupulus universas fortunas meas viro tanto, licet extero, debendi et acceptas referendi. Secundum, quod cum ea, quæ dominatio tua illustrissima de me promisso tenus præsens impetraveras, neque ullam repulsam passa sint, neque tamen ad exitum perducta; videatur hoc innuere providentia divina, ut hoc opus me à calamitate eximendi planè tuum sit initio et fine. Tertium, quod stellæ duæ, quæ mihi semper fuerunt propitiæ, major et minor, jam splendent in urbe vestra, unde per radios auxiliares et benignos amoris erga me tui eum possint nancisci influxum, qui me in aliquo non indigno priore fortuna gradu collocet. Quartum, quod perspexi ex literis, quas ad amicum meum intimum Dominum Tobium Matthæum nuper scripsisti, memoriam mei apud te vivere et vigere, neque tantâ negotiorum arduorum et sublimium mole, quanta dom. tuæ incumbit, obrutam esse aut extinctam. Postremum accidit et illud, quod postquam ex favore excellent. domini marchionis ad regis mei conspectum et colloquium admissus fuerim, videar mihi in statu gratiæ collocatus. Non me allocutus est rex ut criminosum, sed ut hominem tempestate dejectum; et simul constantem meum et perpetuum in sermone suo industriæ et integritatis tenorem prolixè agnovit, cum insigni, ut videbatur, affectu: unde major mihi oboritur spes, manente ejus erga me gratiâ, et extinctâ omni ex diuturnitate invidiâ, labores illustr. domin. tuæ pro me non incassum fore. Ipse interim nec otio me dedi, nec rebus me importunè immiscui, sed in iis vivo, et ea tracto, quæ nec priores, quos gessi, honores dedeceant, et posteris memoriam nominis mei haud ingratam fortasse relinquent. Itaque spero me non indignam fore materiam, in quâ et potentiæ et amicitiæ tuæ vis

been gratified had not the king been engaged, by the Marquis of Buckingham, for Sir William Becher, his agent in France. See Account of the Life of the Lord Bacon, p. 26, prefixed to the edition of his Letters, Memoirs, &c. by Robert Stephens, Esq. The Duke of Buckingham himself, likewise, after his return from Spain, in a letter to the Lord Viscount St. Alban, dated at Hinchinbrook, October 27, 1623, expresses his concern that he could do his lordship no service in that affair," having engaged myself, says he, to Sir William Becher, before my going into Spain; so that I cannot free myself, unless there were means to give him satisfaction."

elucescat et celebretur; ut non non minus in privatâ hominis fortunâ potuisse videaris, quam in negotiis publicis. Deus illustriss. dominationem tuam incolumem servet et felicitate cumulet.

Indorsed My Lord St. Alban's first letter to Gondomar, into Spain, March 28, 1623.

To the Marquis of Buckingham, in Spain.
Excellent Lord,

Finding so trusty a messenger as Sir John Epsley, I thought it my duty to put these few lines into his hands. I thank God, that those shadows, which either mine own melancholy, or my extreme love to your lordship, did put into my mind concerning this voyage of the prince and your lordship, rather vanish and diminish than otherwise. The gross fear is past of the passage of France. I think you had the ring which they write of, that, when the seal was turned to the palm of the hand, made men go invisible. Neither do I hear of any novelty here worth the esteeming.

There is a general opinion here that your lordship is like enough to return, and go again, before the prince come: which opinion, whether the business lead you to do so, or no, doth no hurt; for it keeps men in awe.

I find, I thank God, some glimmering of the king's favour, which your lordship's noble work of my access, no doubt, did chiefly cherish. I am much bound to Mr. Secretary Conway. It is wholly for your lordship's sake, for I had no acquaintance with him in the world. By that I see of him, he is a man fit to serve a great king, and fit to be a friend and servant to your lordship. Good my lord, write two or three words to him, both of thanks, and a general recommendation of me unto him.

Vouchsafe, of your nobleness, to present my most humble duty to his highness. We hear he is fresh in his person, and becomes this brave journey in all things. God provide all things for the best.

I ever rest, &c.

Indorsed March 30, 1623.

To Mr. Secretary Conway.

Good Mr. Secretary,

I am much comforted by your last letter, wherein I find that his majesty, of his mere grace and goodness, vouchsafeth to have a care of me, a man out of sight, out of use; but yet his, as the Scripture saith, God knows those that are his. In particular, I am very much bound to his

majesty (and I pray you, sir, thank his majesty most humbly for it) that, notwithstanding the former designment of Sir William Becher,* his majesty (as you write) is not out of hope, in due time, to accommodate me of this cell, and to satisfy him otherwise. Many conditions, no doubt, may be as contenting to that gentleman, and his years may expect them. But there will hardly fall, especially in the spent hourglass of my life, any thing so fit for me, being a retreat to a place of study so near London, and where (if I sell my house at Gorhambury, as I purpose to do, to put myself in some convenient plenty) I may be accommodate of a dwelling for summer time. And therefore, good Mr. Secretary, further this his majesty's good intention, by all means, if the place fall.

For yourself, you have obliged me much. I will endeavour to deserve it: at least your nobleness is never lost; and my noble friend, the marquis, I know, will thank you for it.

I was looking of some short papers of mine touching usury, to grind the teeth of it, and yet make it grind to his majesty's mill in good sort, without discontentment or perturbation. If you think good, I will send it to his majesty, as the fruit of my leisure. But yet I would not have it come from me, not for any tenderness in the thing, but because I know, in courts of princes, it is usual, non res, sed displicet auctor. God keep your honour, &c. Indorsed To Mr. Secretary Conway, touching the Provostship of Eton, March 31, 1623.

To Count Gondomar.

Illustrissime Comes,

Primo loco, ut debeo, gratulor dominationi tuæ illustrissimæ novum honoris tui gradum per se sublimem, sed ex causâ, propter quam evectus es, haud parum nobilitatum.

Sir Willam had not, however, that post, but, in lieu of it, the promise of two thousand five hundred pounds, upon the fall of the first of the six clerks places, and was permitted to keep his clerkship of the council.-MS. Letter of Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, dated at London, July 24, 1624. The provostship was given to Sir Henry Wotton, who was instituted into it the 26th of that month, having purchased it by a surrender of a grant of the reversion of the mastership of the Rolls, and of another office, which was fit to be turned into present money, which he then, and afterwards, much wanted [Life of him by Mr. Isaac Walton:] for when he went to the election at Eton, soon after his being made provost, he was so ill provided, that the fellows of the college were obliged to furnish his bare walls, and whatever else was wanting.-MS. Letter of Mr. Chamberlain, Aug. 7, 1624.

In his works is published, A Draught of an Act against an usurious Shift of Gain, in delivering of Commodities instead of Money.

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