opportunity should be taken to give them some information about the financial condition of the kingdom,—with a hint that an offer of subsidy would not be unwelcome. Of the communication which was thereupon made, we have the following partially intelligible note. Sir Francis Bacon maketh report of the Conference with the Lords, touching the Bill of Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage. Reported the reading and consideration of sundry amendments in the Bill. Collateral speeches : That we were well fenced with Privileges:-That it was good husbandry to fence. A good account of this Parliament, to maintain privileges and preserve the King's favour. An insinuation of a message from the King, touching subsidy or gratuity. Excuse of the Lords that they propounded matter of charge or contribution.— An approbation of the forbearing to offer by this House. No meaning that this insinuation should possess the House as with a motion: Not to preoccupate our thanks: Not to prejudicate our assent or dissent.— The state of the King. The nature of the Peace. Not within the knowledge of this Four last years of Queen Eliz. the charge of this state 2,200,000l. Debt of the City of London, 80,0007. The exchange of Ireland, 120,000l. Entry, Funeral, Coronation, a great accumulation of charge.— Peace only between the persons of the King of England and Spain -Nothing articulate:-A mere cessation, or abstinence, from hostility. The proportion of the charge of Ireland is yet 30,000l.—The rebel hath put up, not put off, his sword.— Conclus. To think of the point of honour, in respect of advertisement to foreign states.1 Simultaneously with this (for though the report was not made till the 22nd of June, the Conference appears to have been held on the 1 C. J. p. 244 (22 June). 19th) a motion was made in the House of Commons for a committee to consider of some sort of gratuity to be offered to the King. But whoever advised it, it was an unlucky motion. Though introduced by two of the most independent and popular members-Sir Francis Hastings and Sir Edward Hobyl-in the interest of national honour, harmony, and reputation abroad, it was received so doubtfully that the King thought it best to avoid the risk of a refusal by making it his personal request a request conveyed in a letter too transparent to allow a doubt of its sincerity2-that they would not meddle any further in the question. This of course was not the issue which had been intended or anticipated, and (coming upon him at the same time with rumours of the 'Apology') proved more than he could comfortably digest. And though the Speaker, by a lavish profession of affection, admiration, and loyalty, made in the name of all the Commons,-together with a liberal offer of all they had whenever it was wanted,—did as much as words could do to make the parting pleasant, the King could not bring himself to repay the flattery in kind, but frankly told them exactly what he felt. And so Parliament was prorogued on the 7th of July, and they parted for the present, each with better means of knowing what was to be expected of the other. 7. In Sir Toby Matthew's Collection of Letters (p. 20) there is one with this title "Sir Francis Bacon desiring a friend to do him a service." It has no date, and like many others in that collection it appears to have been stripped of all particulars which might serve to fix the occasion. But I think it belongs to this session of this Parliament. The service' desired is assistance in preparing a 'report' of some debate or conference in which Bacon had himself taken an active part. The friend has always been supposed to be Matthew himself. Now it has been seen that Bacon was continually employed during this session both as spokesman for the House in conferences, and as reporter to the House of what had passed. The attention requisite for taking part in the discussion would of course interfere with the attention requisite for remembering the passages 1 C. J. p. 994. It was of course supported (though I think not advised) by Bacon of whose speech we have only this note: : "The Kingdom in the Queen's time but as a tenant for life: if for a state for life a gratuity, then much more for a planted posterity-a state of inheritance. "Let not this Parliament end, like a Dutch feast, in salt meats; but like an English feast, in sweet meats."-C. J. p. 242: and compare p. 994. 26 June. C. J. p. 246. 3 S. P. Dom. viii. 93. : of it while engaged in thinking what he should say himself, he would be in danger of not hearing what others were saying. When called upon for a report, therefore-especially when the call was unexpected, as happened sometimes-the help of another man's memory would be of great value. And as Toby Matthew was a member of Parliament, and of more than one Conference-Committee in which Bacon had a principal part, nothing is more natural than that on some occasion of this kind he should have had recourse to him. What the particular occasion was it is probably impossible to guess. That it was a matter of some importance, which had given some trouble, may be inferred from the terms in which it is alluded to. But many such businesses were on hand, and almost all of them sooner or later "fell and seized upon" Bacon. SIR FRANCIS BACON DESIRING A FRIEND TO DO HIM A Sir, SERVICE. The report of this act, which I hope will prove the last of this business, will probably, by the weight it carries, fall and seize on me. And therefore, not now at will but upon necessity, it will become me to call to mind what passed; and (my head being then wholly employed about invention) I may the worse put things upon the account of mine own memory. I shall take physic to-day, upon this change of weather and vantage of leisure; and I pray you not to allow yourself so much business but that you may have time to bring me your friendly aid before night, &c. THE King having now had a taste of Bacon's disposition and abilities, was not long in marking his appreciation of them. On the 18th of August, 1604, he granted him by patent the office of Learned Counsel, which he had hitherto held only by verbal warrant and at the same time conferred on him a pension for life of £60. For a man of Bacon's abilities and long service, it was not much; but it was a beginning; and it came at a time when he had a very good opportunity to show how well it was deserved. For the Commissioners for the Union were to meet in October, and his vacation's work was to prepare for the conference by taking a survey of all the questions which would fall under consideration. In such matters one of the best-informed men of the time was Sir Robert Cotton, and the following letter has been preserved by accident, to show that consultation with such men was not neglected. Sir, TO SIR ROBERT COTTON.2 Finding during Parliament a willingness in you to confer with me in this great service concerning the Union, I do now take hold thereof to excuse my boldness to desire that now which you offered then, for both the time as to leisure is more liberal, and as to the service itself is more urgent. Whether it will like you to come to me to Gray's Inn or to appoint me where to meet with you, I am indifferent, and leave it to your choice, and accordingly desire to hear from you; so I remain your very loving friend Gray's Inn, this 8th day of Sept. 1604. FR. BACON. This was the date of the warrant; the patents were dated August 25. S. P. O. 2 Cott. MSS. Jul. C. iii. fo. 30. Original: own hand. The first fruit of these studies and conferences was a concise but complete analysis of the whole subject, drawn up for the King's information in which all the particular questions that would have to be dealt with-questions which it took a hundred years to adjust— were enumerated and explained. What use was made of it at the time, besides submitting it to the King, and to what extent it was circulated, I do not know. The only manuscript of it which I have met with and that appears to be only a collector's copy, without any special value as an authority for the text-is in the Library of Queen's College, Oxford. The earliest printed copy I know or have heard of is in Rawley's Resuscitatio: and from this the text is here. taken. CERTAIN ARTICLES OR CONSIDERATIONS TOUCHING THE UNION OF THE KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND. Collected and dispersed for his Majesty's better Service. Your Majesty, being (I do not doubt) directed and conducted by a better oracle than that which was given for light to Æneas in his peregrination (Antiquam exquirite matrem), hath a royal and indeed an heroical desire to reduce these two kingdoms of England and Scotland into the unity of their ancient mother kingdom of Britain. Wherein as I would gladly applaud unto your Majesty, or sing aloud that hymn or anthem, Sic itur ad astra; so in a more soft and submisse voice, I must necessarily remember unto your Majesty that warning or caveat, Ardua quæ pulchra it is an action that requireth, yea and needeth, much not only of your Majesty's wisdom, but of your felicity. In this argument I presumed at your Majesty's first entrance to write a few lines, indeed scholastically and speculatively, and not actively or politicly, as I held it fit for me at that time, when neither your Majesty was in that your desire declared, nor myself in that service used or trusted. But now that both your Majesty hath opened your desire and purpose, with much admiration even of those who give it not so full an approbation; and that myself was by the Commons graced with the first vote of all the Commons selected for that cause; not in any estimation of my ability (for therein so wise an assembly could not be so much deceived), but in an acknowledgment of my extreme labours and integrity in that business; I thought myself every way bound, both in 1 1 xxxii. 27. |