you have made so good an entrance, and have steward : forasmuch as I have but even newly taken the right way of examining the business. recovered some degree of health, after a sharp And, whereas, you give your opinion of the mint, sickness of some weeks, I am constrained to put we have thought fit to remember unto you the off the hearing till Monday, the 20th of this instant, usual form which we have ever used in matters at my lodging at Gray's Inn, &c. of consequence, that when you have taken the

Your very loving friend, laborious part upon you in examination of the bu

FR. ST. ALBAX. siness, we first here report of the whole proceed

From Gray's Inn, this 8th September, 1624. ing, before we give our resolution thereupon. And, therefore, until we hear the report of it in particular, we cannot conclude with you. As for the point of the stay of commerce, we agree with A LETTER FROM MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE you in opinion thus far, that you call three or four LORD PRESIDENT OF YORK, IN FAVOUR OF MR. of the aldermen whom you shall think fittest, and

JOHNS, FOR THE SECRETARY'S PLACE AT YORK. assure them, in our name, that we see no likeli

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, hood or reason of raising our coin, for aught we

I have been moved to recommend a person and have yet heard, but rather of the contrary ; and suit to your lordship, which I assure myself

, if it that the raising of the value of the coin will be the last course we shall take, when we see no with you by; for both I know perfectly the honesty

may take place with you, I shall not lose credit other means left; for which we yet see no cause, and sufficiency of the man, and that which is the and, therefore, the stop of money is needless. As for the committee, we think it fit that they should next point, I am so well acquainted with his duticontinue to meet, until we have brought the busi

ful affection to your lordship, as I dare undertake ness to such ripeness, that by the report thereof,

no servant of yours shall be more observantly and at our return, we may perfectly understand every in court, that Mr. Secretary Herbert shall have

faithfully at your commandment. It is conceived particular.

conferred upon him the place of secretary there, Given at our court at Newmarket, this ith of Deceinber, 1618.

whose good will, by that which we do already find, Mr. Edward Jones hath reason to hope well of for a deputation. There rest two points, the one her majesty's good allowance, and the other

yours. The former whereof I hope he shall have A LETTER TO MY LORD BUCKINGHAM.*

good means to procure, and the second is that My VERY GOOD LORD,

which I am to sue to your lordship for. Wherein Your lords!.ip's former letter was honourable, but to move you, besides ihe fitness of the man hardly this your latter letter was both honourable and com- to be matched in any other particular, I will unfortable ; for which I yield your lordship humble dertake for his thankfulness in as good a manner thanks. And for my liberty, as your lordship as any other can be whatsoever; and all the poor hath, in your letter, vouchsafed to show a great credit myself have with you, which I have not deal of tenderness concerning the same, so you been unmindful to cherish, I desire may appear in will be nobly pleased to take some opportune time this suit rather than in any motion for myself. to move it; the rather, for that the season cometh And so, with my humble signification of duiy, 1 on now fit for physic, which at this time of the commend your lordship to God's goodness. year I have ever used ; and my health never so

At your lordship’s honourable much required. I ever humbly rest

commandment, Your lordship's most obliged friend

FR. Bacox. and faithful servant. 511. March, 1621.

a

A LETTER TO MR. MATTHEW.

Mr. Matthew,
TO MY VERY LOVNG FRIEND, THE MAYOR, &c.
OF CAMBRIDGE.

I hope it may stand with your business to come

hither down to me on Monday or Tuesday next. Whereas I am given to understand that there My Lord Digby I understand is in town, my are some differences lately risen between the now Lord of Doncaster not hastily expected, the king inayor and aldermen, and other the members of far off. I pray you, if your business be not very that corporation, touching the election of the important, let me see you one of those days. I mayor next to succeed ; wherein all parties have, do hear from you by Mr. Meautys that I am still according to charter, appealed to me as their high much bound to my Lord Digby. I take it, 1

directed Mr. Meautys to tell you, that having

A LETTER TO MY LORD TREASURER LEA.* somewhat better signs of my lord marquis's good My Lord, I humbly entreat your lordship disposition towards me, than when I wrote to my and (if I may use the word) advise your lordship Lord Digby last, I would raise my request to his to make me a better answer. Your lordship is lordship, that, whereas I desired his lordship to interested in honour in the opinion of all that move a temporary leave to come to London next hear how I ain dealt with. If your lordship niaLent for my health, and Easter term for my busi- lice me for Long's cause, surely it was one of the ness, he would now (if he so think it convenient) justest businesses that ever was in Chancery. I deal for a release of the confinement indefinite, will avouch it; and how deeply I was teinpted for the same reasons of an infirm health ; and the therein your lordship knoweth best. Your lordsettling the poor planks on my wrecks will con- ship may do well to think of your grave as I do tinue still. If my Lord Digby make haste to of mine, and to beware of hardness of heart. And couri, I pray do this before you come down to as for fair words, it is a wind by which neither me; if not, you may defer it till we have spoken. your lordship nor any man else can sail long. God keep and prosper you.

Howsoever, I am the man that shall give all due

Your most, &c. respects and reverence to your great place. 15th February, 1621.

2012 June, 1625.

FR. ST. ALBAN.

LETTERS FROM THE LAMBETH LIBRARY,

NEVER BEFORE PRINTED.

TO TIJE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.*

no divorce of your love; but present or absent GOOD MY LORD,

you baulk no opportunity for my good. I shall Procure the warrant for my discharge this day. never deserve your love unless that which is Death, I thank God, is so far from being unwel- mental may requite that which is real; and that come to me, as I have called for it (as Christian good prayers may be balanced with good deeds. resolution would permit) any time these two Touching the present overture, (the errand of months. But to die before the time of his ma- your letters,) though there be a great conflict jesty's grace, and in this disgraceful place, is within myself, yet nor must nor will I hold you in even the worst that could be; and when I am long suspense. Though I could content myself dead, he is gone that was always in one tenor, a with the obscure condition of my country fortune, true and perfect servant to his master, and one yet should I not neglect and slight the fair opporthat was never author of any immoderate, no, nor tunities of my better preferment. It is a sullen, unsafe, no, (I will say it,) not unfortunate coun- stoical humour, not to be drawn out of a dark sel; and one that no temptation could ever make retired corner into the warm and open sunshine. other than a trusty, and honest, and Christ-loving But I cannot resolve on the sudden: my present friend to your lordship; and howsoever I acknow- affairs being somewhat involved and perplexed. ledge the sentence just, and for reformation sake Respite me (I pray) but till the funeral; and then fit, the justest chancellor that hath been in the (God willing) I shall visit London, and give up five changes since Sir Nicholas Bacon's time. my determinate and satisfactory answer. MeanGod bless and prosper your lordship, whatsoever while, I desire my thankful love may be tendered become of me.

to that honest Mr. Hatcher. So I rest a devoted Your lordship's true friend, living and dying, homager to your virtues; or (if you suspect a FR. ST. ALBAN. compliment)

Your assured friend, Tower, 31st May, 1621.

ED. FRANKLIN. Endorsed,

Cressingham, April 30, 1625. To the Marquis of Buckingham, from the Tower.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD, EDWARD FRANKLIN TO LORD ST. ALBAN.

Your lordship's former letter was honourable, SIR,—You falsify the common proverb: Out this later is kind and loving; wherein I took of sight, out of mind. Distance of place makes much comfort. This I protest to God, who * MS. Gibson, Lambeth Library, 936, fol, 147, Orig.

* Addit. MS. Mus. Brit. 5503, fol. 109 b. + Ms. Gibson, Lambeth Lib. 936, fol. 210, Orig.

+ MS. Gibson, Lambeth Lib. 936, fol. 210, Orig Vol. III.--22

P

knoweth the secrets of hearts, that I do not think solemn and public audience in the presence, sung there was ever a son of Adain who wished more us in effect an old song to a new tune, for his prosperity to another that was a subject than 1 errand was only a formal relation of the passages have done and do to your lordship; and, as low of that achievement and defeat in the Low Counas I am, I had rather sojourn in a college than tries, (wherein, by the way, I heard not any mention recover a fortune by any other but yourself. at all of my Lord Craven's prowess, though sonie Marry, to recover you (if I have not) or to cease say he expects a room in the next Gazette.) The you of doing any thing for me wherein you would ambassador, in magnifying of the victory, when not be seen, I would use any man.

he had said as we thought enough, concluded God preserve and prosper your grace. I rest. with that which was more than all he had said Endorsed,

before; namely, in resembling it, both for the To Buckingham.

extent of the design, the greatness and expense in the preparation and manner of the deliverance, to that of the invasion in eighty-eight. At home

we say, Mr. Attorney-General is past hope of T. MEAUTYS TO LORD ST. ALBAN.*

being Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, for MY ALL HONOURED LORD,

he is assured of it; and, by the like reason, my Upon the first reading of your lordship's, re- Lord Richardson is past all fear of being removed ceived this day, I had almost put pen to paper to to the King's Bench. The attorney's place is ask your pardon for having (as I supposed) too now in competition only between Noye and rudely broken open a letter intended to another, Banks, for Sir John Finch is out at all, and some more deserving friend or servant of yours, Banks is the likeliest to carry it. St. George (for, by the infinite disproportion between the was less beholden this year than ever, either to noble favours therein expressed, and my disability the lords of the order or to the other lords, there any way to merit, I could not otherwise conjec- being only present those in the margin. So, ture;) but, upon second cogitations, remembering praying your lordship to believe that I have more it to be incident to heroic natures and spirits to room in my heart than in my paper for my devomeasure out and confer their graces and favours tion and service to your lordship, my most according to the latitude and dimensions of their honoured lord and lady, and all my noble ladies own noble and capacious hearts, and not accord- and especial friends, I rest ing to the narrower span and scantling of others'

Your lordship’s to serve you, merits; and calling to mind that this is not the

T. M. first time by many, that your lordship hath pointed October 11. me out as an instance hereof, by your singular and accumulated favours, I come now, instead of

Your commands to Mr. Maxwell I performed at asking pardon for a supposed error of my own, to Windsor on Monday was sevennight. Pardon render unto your lordship all humble acknowledg- this scribble, for my candle winks upon me to ment for a wilful, or rather, willing error of yours, hasten to an end, and my maid Mary is a bed in so overprizing the poor endeavours of your and in her first sleep, and very wayward if she unprofitable servant.

be waked. Next, I take leave to say somewhat of what we say here, arising as well from abroad as at LORD CHAMBERLAIN, LORD TREASURER, home; viz. that, upon later and more certain LORD MARSHAL, LORD LINDSEY, advertisement out of Germany, it is found the LORD SALISBURY, LORD BOXBOROUGH, blow given to the imperialists was far greater,

LORD CARLISLE, LORD MONMOUTH, both for numbers, being at least 20,000, and for LORD HOLLAND, LORD GORING, quality of the persons, than was first reported. LORD DORSET, Lord DONCASTER, Tilly himself being mortally wounded, and LORD ANDOVER,

Lord DUNLUCE. escaping to a town, called Holverstat, some miles distant, was pursued by the King of Sweden,

Endorsed, who, being advertised that he was dead, and that For your noble self, my most honoured lord. his body was newly taken thence, to be conveyed by a guard of 1500 horse to the Duke of Bavier's court, instantly went after them, and in a few hours overtook them, defeated the whole troops, TRASTLATION OF THE LATIN LÉTTER TO COUNT

GONDOMAR.* and brought back the corpse to Holverstat, where it remains in the town house, a spectacle of the Excellent Count, Jivine revenge and justice, for the bloody execu- I do first, as I ought, congratulate with you liun of Mackdeburgh. On Sunday, at Hampton your new honour, which, though great in itself, it Court, the States' ambassador here resident, at a is much greater because it was given you upon so MS. Gibson, Lambeth Lib. 936, fol. 252.

MS. Gibson, Lambeth Lib. 936, fol. 181 d.

a

a

ERS AND FEOFFEES FOR THE POOR OF THE

noble a ground. The repair of Mr. Matthew, my | TO HIS VERY LOVING FRIENDS, THE PARISHION true friend, as your lordship well knoweth, into these parts, makes me call to mind those great

PARISH OF ST. ALLDATS, IN OXFORD. and singular favours, which upon your noble

AFTER my hearty commendations, I send you visits, which both in field and town, by his means here enclosed a copy of an order made by the late and appointment, your lordship vouchsafed me a lord chancellor, my predecessor, in the cause little before your departure, and the great endea

depending in Chancery between Edmond Blyth, vours which your lordship used both with the

plaintiff, against John Phillips and others, defendking and the marquis for my fortunes. At that

ants, and formerly directed by his lordship’s lettime, if one had whispered me in the ear and said, ters unto you, to show cause why a decree made stay these things; England is a cold country; by commissioners for charitable purposes should defer them till the Prince of Wales, and the Mar

not be confirmed by decree of the Chancery, quis of Buckingham, and the Count Gondomar which hitherto you have not done; and, therefore, meet in Spain, where fruits ripen faster, I should it was desired that it might be decreed accordhave smiled at it. But since your lordship hath ingly, which I have forborne to do, but have had power to work these miracles in a public thought fit to recontinue the said order, and to fortune, it is a much less matter for you to work

renew the said letters unto you, requiring you to a miracle* in the fortune of a private friend. And show good cause by the second return of the next since your lordship hath power, and I have faith, term, why the commissioners' decree should not a miracle is soon wrought, if your lordship think be confirmed, otherwise the plaintiff is to have it worth the stretching forth your noble hand. his lease decreed as he hath desired. So, wishHaving written so lately to your lordship, I

ing you due respect herein, I bid you fareshorten this letter, only desiring your lordship to

well. give Mr. Matthew the same freedoin to propound

Your loving friend, or advise with your lordship concerning my busi

FR. VERULAM. ness, as heretofore you have vouchsafed ; and

From York House, this 13th of Feb., 1619. testing

a

LETTERS FROM MALLET.

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT VILLIERS.

entered into dislike of her solicitor, this bearer, IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

Mr. Lowder, and resolute in it. To serve, and I pray let his majesty understand, that although not to please, is no man's condition. Therefore, my lord chancellor's answer, touching the dis- upon knowledge of her pleasure he was willing mission of the farmer's cause, was full of respect to part with his place, upon hopes not to be desand duty, yet I would be glad to avoid an express tituted, but to be preferred to one of the barons' signification from his majesty, if his majesty may places in Ireland. I pray move the king for him, otherwise have his end. And therefore I have and let his majesty know from me that I think thought of a course, that a motion be made in open (howsoever he pleased not here) he is fit to do court, and that thereupon my lord move a com- his majesty service in that place; he is grave and promise to some to be named on either part, with formal, which is somewhat there, and sufficient bond to stand to their award. And as I find this enough for that place. The qucen hath made Mr. to be agreeable to my lord chancellor's disposi- Hackwell her solicitor, who hath for a long time tion, so I do not find but the farmers and the other taken much pains in her business, wherein she party are willing enough towards it. And there- hath done well. He was an opposite in Parliafore his majesty may be pleased to forbear any ment, as Jones was, that the king hath made other letter or message touching that business. Chief Justice of Ireland. But I hold it no ill God ever keep your lordship.

counsel to join, or to remove such men God Your lordship’s true and most devoted servant,

preserve

and prosper you.

Fr. Bacon. Your true and devoted friend and servant, January 23, 1616.

Whitehall, May 25, 1617.

Fra. Bacon, C. S.

TO TJIE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD,

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. I know your lordship hath a special care of My MOST HONOURABLE Lord, any thing that concerneth the queen. She was I acquainted his majesty with your letter, at The remainder is in Lord Bacon's hand,

the first opportunity after I received it, who was

TO MY

a

very well pleased with that account of your care- place; only in regard of my present urgent oceaful and speedy despatch of business, &c. sions, to take some present orde for the debis

Yours, &c. G. BUCKINGhAM. that press me most. I have petitioned his majesGreenwich, May 13, 1619.

ty to give me leave to stay at London till the P.S. Your business had been done before last of July, and then I will dispose of my this, but I knew not whether you would have the abode according to the sentence. I have sent attorney or solicitor to draw it.

to the prince to join with you in it, for, though
the matter seem small, yet it importeth me much.
God prosper you.

Your lordship's true servant,
VERY LOVING FRIENDS, SIR THOMAS

FR. ST. ALBAX.
LEIGH, AND SIR THOMAS PUCKERING, KNIGHTS June 20, 1621.
AND BARONETS.

After my hearty commendations, being informed by the petition of Mr. Thomas Porten, a

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. poor

Yorkshireman, of a heavy accident by fire, MY VERY GOOD LORD, whereby his house, his wife, and a child, together I thank God I am come very well to Gorhamwith all his goods, were utterly burnt and con- bury, whereof I thcught your lordship would be sumed; which misfortune the petitioner sug- glad to hear sometimes. My lord, I wish myself gests, with much eagerness, was occasioned by by you in this stirring world, not for any love tu the wicked practices and conjurations of one John place or business, for that is almost gone with me, Clarkson of Knowington, in the county of War- but for my love to yourself, which can never cease wick, and his daughter, persons of a wandering in Your lordship's most obliged friend condition; affirming, for instance, that one Mr.

and true servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN. Hailes of Warwick did take from the said Clarkson, certain books of conjuration and witchcraft. Being now out of use, and out of sight, I reThat the truth of the matter may be rightly commend myself to your lordship's love and known, and that Clarkson and his daughter, if favour, to maintain me in his majesty's grace and there be ground for it, may answer the law ac- good intention. cording to the merit of so heinous a fact, I have thought good to wish and desire you to send for Clarkson, and his daughter; and as upon due

TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. examination you shall find cause, to take orders for their forthcoming, and answering of the mat- Excellent LORD, ter at the next assize for the county of York; and I have received the warrant, not for land, but also to confer with Mr. Hailes, whether he took for the money, which, if it may be speedily from the said Clarkson any such book of conjura- served, is sure the better; for this I humbly kiss tion, as the petitioner pretends he did, and to see your grace's hands. But because the exchequer them in safe custody. Whereupon I desire to be is thought to be somewhat barren, although I have certified how you find the matter; and your doing good affiance of Mr. Chancellor, yet I hold it very thereupon. So, not doubting of your special care essential, and therein I most humbly pray your and diligence herein, I bid you heartily farewell, grace's favour, that you would be pleased, by and rest

your letter, to recommend to Mr. Chancellor the Your very loving friend,

speedy issuing of the money by this warrant, as Fr. Verulam, Canc. a business whereof your grace hath an especial York Ilouse, May 15, 1619.

care ; the rather, for that I understand from him, there be some other warrants for money to private suitors at this time on foot. But your grace may

be pleased to remember this difference, that the TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

other are mere gifts; this of ipine is a bargain, MY VERY GOOD LORD,

with an advance only. Your lordship, I know, and the king both, might

I most humbly pray your grace likewise to prethink me very unworthy of that I have been, or sent my most humble thanks to his majesty. God that I am, if I should not by all means desire to ever guide you by the hand. I always rest he freed from the restraint which debarreth my

Your faithful and more approach to his majesty's person, which I ever so

and more obliged servant, much loved and admired; and severeth me like

FR. ST. ALBAN wise from all conference with your lordship, Gray's Inn, this 17th of November, 1624. which is my second comfort. Nevertheless, if it be conceived that it may be matter of inconveni. I most humbly thank your grace for yong ence, or envy, my particular respects must give grace's favour to my honest, deserving servant.