mnade it your only study and care to advance his of the chief justices and the learned counsel, was majesty's service. And so I rest conceived agreeable to his majesty's meaning and Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, directions; yet, Jest we should err, we thought G. BUCKINGHAM. good to send it to his majesty. It is to be reWanstead, September 9th, 1619. turned with speed, or else there will be no day in court to make it. God bless and prosper you. I rest TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, My HONOURABLE LORD, FR. VERULAM, Canc. I have received your letters by both your ser November 28th, 1619. vants, and have acquainted his majesty with them, who is exceedingly pleased with the course you have held in the Earl of Suffolk's business, and holdeth himself so much the more beholden to you, because you sent the letter of your own mo- My HONOURABLE LORD, tion, without order or consent of the lords, where- I have acquainted his majesty with your lordby his majesty is not tied to an answer. His ship's letter, and with the submission you sent majesty hath understood by many how worthily drawn for Sir Thomas Lake, which his majesty your lordship hath carried yourself both in this liketh well, and, because he served him in so and the Dutch business; for which he hath com- honourable a place, is graciously pleased that he manded me to give you thanks in his name; and maketh submission in writing, so that my Lady seeth your care to be so great in all things that of Exeter be contented and the lords, whom his concern his service, that he cannot but much majesty would have you acquaint therewith. And rejoice in the trust of such a servant, which is no so I rest less comfort to Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. G. BUCKINGHAM. Newmarket, 291h Nov., 1619. Endorsed, TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. sion from my Lord of Suffolk. My very gooD LORD, We sentence to-morrow, but I write to-day, because I would not leave the king in suspense. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. I shall write not so good news as I would, but MY HONOURABLE LORD, better than I expected. The news of this victory hath so well pleased We met amongst ourselves to-day, which I his majesty, that he giveth thanks to all; and I, find was necessary more than convenient. I gave among the rest, who had no other part but the aim that the meeting was not to give a privie delivering of your letter, had my part of his good verdict, or to determine what was a good proof or acceptation, which he would have rewarded after not a good proof, nor who was guilty or not the Roman fashion with every man a garland, if guilty, but only to think of some fit proportion of it had been now in use; but after the fashion of the fines, that there might be less distraction in his gracious goodness, he giveth your lordship the sentence, in a cause so scattered; some would thanks; and would have you deliver the like, in have entered into the matter itself, but I made it his majesty's name, to Sir Edward Coke and the good and kept them from it. judges. Your news, which came the first, gave I perceive the old defendants will be censured his majesty a very good bre st, and I hope his as well as the new, (which was the goal,) and I health will be the better after it. am persuaded the king will have a great deal of Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, honour of the cause. Their fines will be modeG. BUCKINGHAM. rate, but far from contemptible. The attorney October 14th, 1619. did very well to-day; I perceive he is a better Endorsed, pleader than a director, and more eloquent than Thanks on the Success in the Ore Tenus against considerate. the Dutch. Little thinks the king what ado I have here, but I am sure I acquit my trust. To-morrow I will write particularly. God ever preserve you. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. Your lordship's most obliged friend MY VERY GOOD LORD, and faithful servant, I send the submission of Sir Thomas Laque, Fr. Verulam, Canc. drawn in such form as, upon a meeting with me Tuesday Afternoon, this 7th Dec., 1619. TO THE LORD CIIANCELLOR effect more than they can. But still it must be My LORD,–His majesty having seen in this remembered, that the stringing of the harp, nor great business your exceeding care and diligence the tuning of it will not serve, except it be well in his service by the effect which hath followed played on from time to time. thereupon, hath commanded me to give you many If his majesty's business or commandments thanks in his name, and to tell you that he seeth require it, I will attend him at Windsor, though you play the part of all in all, &c. I would be glad to be spared, because quick airs Yours, &c. at this time of the year do affect me. At LonG. BUCKINGHAM. don, and so at Theobalds and Hampton Court, I will not fail, God willing, to wait upon his Newmarket, the 10th December, 1619. Endorsed, majesty. Meanwhile I am exceeding glad to In the Dutch Cause. hear his majesty hath been lusty and well this progress. Thus, much desiring to see your lordship, cujus amor tantum mihi crescit in horas, (as the poet saith,) I ever remain TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, MY VERY GOOD LORD, FR. VERULAM, Canc. To keep form, I have written immediately to Gorhambury, this 30th August, 1620. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, The tobacco business is well settled in all points. For the coals, they that brought the offer to Secretary Calvert, do very basely shrink from TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. their words; but we are casting about to piece it MY VERY GOOD LORD, and perfect it. The two goose quills, Maxwell I doubt not but Sir Giles Montpesson adver- and Alured, have been pulled, and they have tiseth your lordship how our revenue business made submissions in that kind which the board proceeds. I would his majesty had rested upon thought fit: for we would not do them the honour the first names; for the additionals, specially the to require a recantation of their opinion, but an exchequer man, doth not only weaken the matter, acknowledgment of their presumption. but weakeneth my forces in it, he being thought His majesty doth very wisely, (not showing to have been brought in across. But I go on, and much care or dread to it,) yet really to suppress hope good service will be done. this licentious course of talking and writing. For the commissions to be published in the My old Lord Burghley was wont to say, that Star Chamber, for which it pleaseth his majesty the Frenchman, when he hath talked, he hath 1) give me special thanks, I will have special done; but the Englishman, when he hath talked, care of them in time. God ever prosper you. he begins. It evaporateth malice and discontent Your lordship's most obliged friend in the one, and kindleth it in the other. And and faithful servant, therefore, upon some fit occasion, I wish a more FR. VERULAM, Canc. public example. The king's states, if I should February 10, 1619. now die and were opened, would be found at my heart, as Queen Mary said of Calais; we find additionals still, but the consumption goeth on. I pray God give his majesty resolution, passing TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. by at once all impediments and less respects, to MY VERY GOOD LORD, do that which may help it, before it be irrenie diable. God ever preserve and prosper your One gave me a very good precept for the stone; lordship. that I should think of it most when I feel it Your lordship’s most obliged friend Jeast. This I apply to the king's business, and faithful servant, which surely I revolve most when I am least in FR. VERULAM, Canc action, whereof, at my attendance, I will give his July 23d, 1620. majesty such account as can proceed from my poor and mean abilities, which as his majesty, I have stayed the thousand pounds set upon out of grace, may think to be more than they are, Englefield, for his majesty, and given order for so I, out of desire, may think sometime they can levying it. TO THE KING. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. Your majesty needeth not to doubt but I shall MY VERY GOOD LORD, carry the business with that secrecy wlich I write now only a letter of thanks to his appertaineth. majesty, for that I hear in my absence, he was pleased to express towards me, (though unworthy,) a great deal of grace and good opinion before his lords; which is much to my comfort, TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. whereunto I must ever impute your lordship as My LORD:-I have acquainted his majesty with accessary. I have also written to him what sig. nification I received from Secretary Naunton, of he commandeth me to give you thanks, and to let your letter, and labour in his service, for which his majesty's will and pleasure, lest in so great a your lordship know, that he liketh exceeding business, there should be any mistaking. well your method held by the judges, which The pain of my foot is gone, but the weakness could not be amended, and concurreth with you doth a little remain, so as I hope, within a day in your opinions. First, touching the proclamaor two, to have full use of it. I ever remain tion, that it should be monitory and persuasive Your lordship’s most obliged friend and faithful servant, rather than compulsive: and, secondly, that the point concerning the persons, who should be FR. VERULAM, Canc. admitted and who avoided, is fit to be kept October 21, 1620. from the knowledge of the council table, and to be carried with all secrecy. For the business of Ireland, his majesty had heard of it before, and gave commandment to the IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, master of the wards, that it should be hastened and set in hand with all speed, which his majesty I thought myself an unfortunate man, that I doubteth not but is done by this time. Touchcould not attend you at Theobald's. But I hear that your majesty hath done, as God Almighty ing your advice for a treasurer, his majesty is useth to do, which is to turn evil into good, in very mindful of it, and will let you know as that your majesty hath been pleased upon that much at his return, when he will speak further with occasion to express, before your lords, your gra your lordship of it: and so I rest Yours, &c. cious opinion and favour towards me, which I G. BUCKINGHAM. most humbly thank your majesty for, and will aspire to deserve. Royston, Oct. 9th, 1620. Secretary Naunton this day brought me your pleasure in certain notes: that I should advise with the two chief justices, (old Parliament men,) and Sir Edward Coke, (who is also their senior in that school,) and Sir Randall Crewe, the last speaker, My HONOURABLE LORD, and such other judges as we should think fit, touch- I have showed your letter and the proclamation ing that which might in true policy, without to his majesty, who expecting only, according as packing or degenerate arts, prepare to a Parliament, his meaning was, directions therein for the well in case your majesty should resolve of one to be ordering of the elections of the burgesses, findeth heid, and withal he signified to me some particu- a great deal more, containing matter of state, and lar points, which your majesty very wisely had the reasons of calling the Parliament; whereof deduced. neither the people are capable, nor is it fit for his All your majesty's business is super cor meum, majesty to open unto them, but to reserve to the for I lay it to heart, but this is a business secun- time of their assembling, according to the course dum cor meum; and yet, as I will do your majesty of his predecessors, which his majesty intendeth all possible good services in it, so I am far from to follow. The declaring whereof, in the proclaseeking to impropriate to myself the thanks, but mation, would cut off the ground of his majesty's shall become omnibus omniu, (as St. Paul saith,) and your lordship's speech at the proper time; to attain your majesty's ends. his majesty hath, therefore, extracted somewhat As soon as I have occasion, I will write to of the latter part of the draught you have sent, your majesty touching the same, and will have purposing to take a few days' space to set down special care to communicate with my lords in himself what he thinketh fit, and to inake it ready some principal points, though all things are not against his return hither, or to Theobald's at the at first fit for the whole table. I ever rest furthest, and then to communicate it to your Your majesty's most bounden lordship, and the rest of the lords. And so I rest and most devoted servant, Yours, &c. G. BUCKINGHAM. netober 20, 1620. Royston, Oct. 191h, 1620. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. a This might have been made more manifest 38 TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. to the presence and acts of the prince in days of VUR VERY GOOD LORD, sitting, if, through the negligence of officers, the We thought it our duty to impart to his majesty, journal books of the Upper House of Parliament, by your lordship, one particular of Parliament before the reign of King Henry VIII., were not business, which we hold it our part to relate, all missing. though it be too high for us to give our opinion of it. All which we thought it appertained to our care 'The officers that make out the writs of Parlia- to look through, and faithfully to represent to his ment, addressed themselves to me, the chancellor, majesty. And having agreed secrecy amongst to know whether they should make such a writ ourselves, and enjoined it to the inferior offiof summons to the prince, giving me to under- cers, we humbly desire to know his majesty's stand that there were some precedents of it, which pleasure, whether he will silence the question I, the chancellor, communicated with the rest of altogether, or make use of it for his service, or the committees for Parliament business, in whose refer it to his council, or what other course he assistance I find so much strength, that I am not will be pleased to take, according to his great willing to do any thing without them. Where wisdom and good pleasure. upon, we, (according to his majesty's prudent This we have despatched the sooner, because and constant rule, for observing in what reigns the writs of summons must have forty days disthe precedents were,) upon diligent search, have tance from the first days of the Parliament. And found as followeth: for the other parts of our accounts, his majesty That King Edward I. called his eldest son shall hear from us, by the grace of God, within Prince Edward, to his Parliament, in the thirtieth few days. Evermore praying for his majesty's year of his reign, the prince then being about the prosperity, and wishing your lordship much hapage of eighteen years; and to another Parliarnent, piness, in the four-and-thirtieth year of his reign. Your lordship's to be commanded, Edward III. called the Black Prince, his eldest FR. VERULAM, Canc., son, to his Parliament in the five-and-twentieth, H. MONTAGU, eight-and twentieth, and two-and-fortieth years of Edw. Coke, his reign. HENRY HOBARTE, Henry IV. called Prince Henry to his Parlia Ran. Crew. ments in the first, third, eighth, and eleventh York House, Nov. 21st, 1620. years of his reign, the prince being under age in the three first Parliaments; and we find in particular, that the eighth year, the prince sat in the Upper House in days of business, and recom TO TUE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGIIAM. mended a bill to the lords. MY VERY GOOD LORD, King Edward IV. called Prince Edward, his We have, these two days past, made report to son, to his Parliament, in anno 22 of his reign, the board of our Parliament committee, upon re. being within age. lation whereof, for some things we provide, for King Henry VII. called Prince Arthur to his some things we arm. Parliament in the seventh year of his reign, The king, by my lord treasurer's signification, being within age. did wisely put it upon a consult, whether the paOf King Edward VI. we find nothing; his tents which we mentioned in our joint letters, years were tender, and he was not created Prince were at this time to be removed, by act of counci! of Wales. before Parliament. I opined, (but yet somewhat And for Prince Henry, he was created Prince of like Ovid's mistress that strove, but yet as one Wales during the last Parliament at which he lived. that would be overcome) that yes. My reasons: We have thought it our duty to relate to his That men would go better and faster to the majesty what we have found ; and, withal, that main errand. the writs of summons to the prince are not much That these things should not be staged, nor differing from the writs to the peers ; for they run talked of, and so the less fuel to the fire. in fule et ligeancia, and sometimes in fide et homa- That in things of this nature, wherein the coungio in quibus nobis tenemini, and after consilium cil had done the like in former particulars (which nubis impensuri circa ardua regni. Whereby it I enumerated) before Parliament, near Parliament, should seem that princes came to Parliament, not during Parliament, the council were to keep their only in the days of solemnity, when they came wonted sentinel, as if they thought not of a Parwithout writ, but also on the days of sitting. liament, to destroy in other patents, as concealAnd, if it should be so, then the prince may vote, ments. and likewise may be of a committee of the Upper The reasons on the other side were, House, and, consequently, may be of a conference That it would be thought but a humouring of with the Lower House, and the like. the Parliament, (being now in the calends of a Q AS IN THE UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT Parliament,) and that after Parliament they would majesty thinketh it fit that some extract be made come up again. out of it, which needeth to be but very short, as That offered graces, by reason and experience, he will show you at his return. lose their thanks. Yours, &c. They that are to be suffered to play upon some G. BUCKINGHAM. thing, since they can do nothing of themselves. Theobalds, Jan. 19, 1620. That the choosing out of some things, when perhaps their minds might be more upon other things, would do no great effect. That former patents, taken away by act of TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD LORDS, THE LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL council, were upon the complaints of particular persons; whereas now it should seem to be done tanquam ex officio. To this I yielded, though I confess I am yet a MY VERY GOOD LORDS, little doubtful to the point of suavibus modis. But I humbly pray your lordships all to make a it is true that the speech of these, though in the favourable and true construction of my absence. Lower House, may be contemned ; and if way be It is no feigning or fainting, but sickness both of given to them (as I writ to your lordship of some my heart and of my back, though joined with that of them in my last) it will sort to your honour. comfort of mind that persuadeth me that I am not For other things, the lords have put them in a far from Heaven, whereof I feel the first-fruits. very good way, of which I will give express ac And because, whether I live or die I would be count when I see his majesty, as also of other glad to preserve my honour and fame, so far as I observations concerning Parliament. For if his am worthy; hearing that some complaints of base majesty said well that when he knew the men and bribery are coming before your lordships, my rethe elections, he would guess at the success; the quests unto your lordships are : prognostics are not so good as I expected, occa First, That you will maintain me in your good sioned by the late occurrents abroad, and the opinion, without prejudice, until my cause be heard. general licentious speaking of state matters, of which I wrote in my last. God ever keep you. Secondly, That in regard I have sequestered Your lordship's most obliged friend my mind at this time in great part from worldly and faithful servant, matters, thinking of my account and answers in Fr. Verulam, Canc. a higher court, your lordships will give me conDec. 16, 1620 venient time, according to the course of other courts, tv advise with my counsel, and to make my answer; wherein, nevertheless, my counsel's part will be the least: for I shall not, by the grace of God, trick up an innocency with cavilla. MY HONOURABLE LORD, tions, but plainly and ingenuously (as your lordAs soon as his majesty's convenience would ships know my manner is) declare what I know permit, I have acquainted him with the draught or remember. of the proclamation your lordship sent me by his Thirdly, That according to the course of justice, majesty's direction. His majesty liketh it in I may be allowed to except to the witnesses every point so well, both in matter and form, that brought against me; and to move questions to he findeth no cause to alter a word in it, and your lordships for their cross-examinations; and would have your lordship acquaint the lords of likewise to produce my own witnesses for the the council with it, (though he assureth himself, discovery of the truth. no man can find any thing in it to be changed,) And lastly, That if there be any more petitions and to take order for the speedy setting it forth. of like nature, that your lordships would be And so I rest pleased not to take any prejudice or apprehension Yours, &c. of any number or muster of them, especially G. BUCKINGHAM. against a judge, that makes two thousand orders Theobalds, Dec. 21, 1620. and decrees in a year, (not to speak of the courses that have been taken for hunting out complaints against me,) but that I may answer them accord ing to the rules of justice, severally and reTO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. spectively. I have acquainted his majesty with your letter These requests, I hope, appear to your lordand the enclosed, the matter which his majesty ships no other than just. And so thinking myself hath been thinking upon for his speech, concerneth happy to have so noble peers and reverend preboth the points of the institution of a Parliament, lates to discern of my cause; and desiring ng and of the end for which this is called ; yet his privilege of greatness for subterfuge of guiltiness: TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. |