"may be perpetual, still having relation to do you "honour with those powers I have left. "I have therefore chosen to write the reign of King Henry the Seventh, who was in a sort your "forerunner, and whose spirit, as well as his blood " is doubled upon your majesty. 66 "I durst not have presumed to intreat your majesty to look over the book, and correct it, or at "least to signify what you would have amended. "But since you are pleased to send for the book, I "will hope for it. 66 66 "God knoweth, whether ever I shall see you again but I will pray for you to the last gasp, resting the same, your true beadsman, * "October 8, 1621." "FR. ST. Alban." During the progress of the work, considerable expectation was excited respecting the history. Rawley in his life of Bacon, says, "His fame is greater, and sounds louder, in foreign parts abroad, than at home, in his own nation. Thereby verifying that divine sentence; a prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own "house. Concerning which, I will give you a taste only, out of a letter written from Italy, (the store"house of refined wits,) to the late Earl of Devon 66 66 shire; then the Lord Cavendish. I will expect the "new Essays of my Lord Chancellor Bacon, as also "his history, with a great deal of desire; and what"soever else, he shall compose. But in particular, of "his history, I promise myself, a thing perfect, and *Note. This passage has a line drawn over it. singular; especially in Henry the Seventh, where "he may exercise the talent of his divine under After the completion of the work, there seems to have been a demur with respect to its publication, in a letter from Sir Thomas Meautys,* he says, May it please your lordship, I have been attending upon my lord marquiss' minutes for the "signing of the warrant." 66 says, The letter then continues, and, in the conclusion, Your books are ready, and passing well "bound up. If your lordship's letters to the king, prince, and my lord marquiss were ready, I think "it were good to lose no time in their delivery; for "the printer's fingers itch to be selling." 66 It seems by the following letter, that there was another letter from Sir Thomas Meautys complaining of this demur. "Good Mr. Meautys, for the difference of the "warrant, it is not material at the first. But I may "not stir till I have it; and therefore I expect it "to-morrow. For my Lord of London's stay, there may be “an error in my book; but I am sure there is none "in me, since the king had it three months by him, "and allowed it: if there be any thing to be "mended, it is better to be espied now than here"after. "I send you the copies of the three letters, "which you have, and, in mine own opinion, this *Birch, 310. VOL. 3. * "demur, as you term it, in my Lord of London,* “maketh it more necessary than before, that they "were delivered, specially in regard they contain "withal my thanks. It may be signified they were "sent before I knew of any stay; and being but in "those three hands, they are private enough. But "this I leave merely at your discretion, resting your "most affectionate and assured friend, "March 21, 1621”. "FR. ST. ALBAN." It was published in folio, in the year 1622. The following is a copy of the title page. The Historie Of the Raigne Of King The Seventh Written By the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam, Viscount London, Printed by W. Stransby for Matthew Lownes, and William 1622. * Dr. George Mountain. 1 He sent copies of the history, to the Queen of Bohemia, and to the Bishop of Lincoln, Dr. Williams, his successor. "To the Queen of Bohemia. "It may please your Majesty, "I find in books, and books I dare alledge to your majesty in regard of your singular ability to "read and judge of them even above your sex, that 66 66 it is accounted a great bliss for a man to have "leisure with honour. That was never my fortune, 66 nor is. For time was, I had honour without "leisure; and now I have leisure without honour. “And I cannot say so neither altogether, considering there remain with me the marks and stamp "of the king's, your father's, grace, though I go not for so much in value as I have done. "But my desire is now to have leisure without loitering, and not to become an abbey-lubber, "as the old proverb was, but to yield some fruit "of my private life. Having therefore written "the reign of your majesty's famous ancestor, King Henry the Seventh, and it having passed the file "of his Majesty's judgment, and been graciously " also accepted of the prince, your brother, to whom "it is dedicated, I could not forget my duty so far "to your excellent majesty, to whom, for that I 66 66 66 know and have heard, I have been at all times so "much bound, as you are ever present with me, "both in affection and admiration, as not to make "unto you, in all humbleness, a present thereof, as "now being not able to give you tribute of any ser"vice. If King Henry the Seventh were alive again, 66 "I hope verily he could not be so angry with me "for not flattering him, as well pleased in seeing "himself so truly described in colours, that will last "and be believed, I most humbly pray your majesty graciously to accept of my good-will; "and so, with all reverence, kiss your hands, praying to God above, by his divine and most benign providence, to conduct your affairs to happy issue; "and resting 66 "Your majesty's most humble and devoted servant, "FR. ST. ALBAN.” 66 "To the Lord Viscount St. Alban. My very good Lord, "I have received, by this bearer, the privy seal "for the survey of coals, which I will lay aside until "I shall hear further from my lord steward, and "the rest of the lords. "I am ready to do as much as your lordship "desireth, in keeping Mr. Cotton off from the vio"lence of those creditors: only himself is, as yet, wanting in some particular directions. 66 "I heartily thank your lordship for your book; "and all other symbols of your love and affection, " which I will endeavour, upon all opportunities, to deserve and, in the mean time, do rest "Your lordship's assured faithful Westminster College, this 7th of February, 1622. To the Right Honourable his very good Lord, the Lord Viscount St, Alban. |