but meaning, as I said, to deal fairly and plainly Your lordships' humble servant, March 19th, 1620. TO THE KING. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, I think myself infinitely bounden to your majesty, for vouchsafing me access to your royal person, and to touch the hem of your garment. I see your majesty imitateth him that would not break the broken reed, nor quench the smoking flax; and as your majesty imitateth Christ, so I hope assuredly my lords of the Upper House will imitate you, and unto your majesty's grace and mercy, and next to my lords, I recommend myself. It is not possible, nor it were not safe, for me to answer particulars till I have my charge; which, when I shall receive, I shall, without fig-leaves or disguise, excuse what I can excuse, extenuate what I can extenuate, and ingenuously confess what I can neither clear nor extenuate. And if there be any thing which I might conceive to be no offence, and yet is, I desire to be informed, that I may be twice penitent, once for my fault, and the second time for my error, and so submitting all that I am to your majesty's grace, I rest. April 20, 1621. TO THE KING. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, with the good liking of the House, and that cup may pass from me, it is the utmost of my desires. This I move with the more belief, because I assure myself, that if it be reformation that is sought, the very taking away of the seal, upon my general submission, will be as much in example, for these four hundred years, as any further severity. The means of this I most humbly leave unto your majesty, but surely I should conceive, that your majesty opening yourself in this kind to the lords, counsellors, and a motion of the prince, after my submission, and my lord marquis using his interest with his friends in the House, may affect the sparing of the sentence; I making my humble suit to the House for that purpose, joined with the delivery up of the seal into your majesty's hands. This is my last suit that I shal! make to your majesty in this business, prostrating myself at your mercy-seat, after fifteen years' service, wherein I have served your majesty in my poor endeavours, with an entire heart. And, as I presume to say unto your majesty, am still a virgin, for matters that concern your person of crown, and now only craving that after eight steps of honour, I be not precipitated altogether. But, because he that hath taken bribes is apt to give bribes, I will go further, and present your majesty with bribe; for if your majesty give me peace and leisure, and God give me life, I will present you with a good history of England, and a better digest of your laws. And so concluding with my prayers, I rest Clay in your majesty's hands, May 2, 1621. FR. ST. ALBAN. TO THE PRINCE OF WALES. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR HIGHNESS, It hath pleased God for these three days past, to visit me with such extremity of headach upon the hinder part of my head, fixed in one place, that I thought verily it had been some imposthumation; and then the little physic that I have told me that either it must grow to a congelation, When I called to mind how infinitely I am and so to a lethargy, or to break, and so to a bound to your highness, that stretched forth your mortal fever or sudden death; which apprehen- arm to save me from a sentence, that took hold sion, and chiefly the anguish of the pain, made of me to keep me from being plunged deep in a me unable to think of any business. But now sentence, that hath kept me alive in your gracious that the pain itself is assuaged to be tolerable, memory and mention since the sentence, pitying I resume the care of my business, and therein | me, as I hope I deserve, and valuing me far above prostrate myself again, by my letter, at your majesty's feet. Your majesty can bear me witness, that at my last so comfortable access, I did not so much as move your majesty by your absolute power of pardon, or otherwise, to take my cause into your hands, and to interpose between the sentence of the House. And according to my desire, your majesty left it to the sentence of the House by my lord treasurer's report. But now, if not per omnipotentiam, as the divines say, but per potestatem suaviter disponentem, your majesty will graciously save me from a sentence, that I can deserve, I find my words almost as barren as my fortunes, to express unto your highness the thankfulness I owe. Therefore, I can but resort to prayers to Almighty God to clothe you with his most rich and precious blessings, and likewise joyfully to meditate upon those he hath conferred upon you already; in that he hath made you to the king your father a principal part of his safety, contentment, and continuance; in yourself so judicious, accomplished. and graceful in all your doings, with more virtues in the buds, which are the sweetest that have been known in a young prince of long time; with the realm so well beloved, so much honoured, as it is men's daily observation how nearly you approach to his majesty's perfections; how every day you exceed yourself; how, compared with other princes, which God hath ordained to be young at this time, you shine amongst them; they rather setting off your religious, moral, and natural excellences, than matching them, though you be but a second person. These and such like meditations I feed upon, since I can yield your highness no other retribution. And for myself, I hope by the assistance of God above, of whose grace and favour I have had extraordinary signs and effects during my afflictions, to lead such a life in the last acts thereof, as, whether his majesty employ me, or whether I live to myself, I shall make the world say that I was not unworthy such a patron. I am much beholden to your highness's worthy servant, Sir John Vaughan, the sweet air and loving usage of whose house hath already much revived my languishing spirits: I beseech your highness, thank him for me. God ever preserve and prosper your highness. Your highness's most humble and June 1, 1621. most bounden servant, TO THE KING. IT MAY PLEASE your most excellent MAJESTY, June 4, 1621. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, TO THE KING. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, Utar, saith Seneca to his master, magnis exemplis; nec meæ fortunæ, sed tuæ. Demosthenes was banished for bribery of the highest nature, yet was recalled with honour; Marcus Livius was condemned for exactions, yet afterwards made consul and censor. Seneca banished for divers corruptions, yet was afterwards restored, and an instrument of that memorable Quinquennium Neronis. Many more. This, if it please your majesty, I do not say for appetite of employment, but for hope that if I do by myself as is fit, your majesty will never suffer me to die in want or dishonour. I do now feed myself upon remembrance, how, when your majesty used to go a progress, what loving and confident charges you were wont to give me touching your business. For, as Aristotle saith, young men may be happy by hope, so why should not old men, and sequestered men, by remembrance. God ever prosper and preserve your majesty. Your majesty's most bounden July 16, 1621. TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. MY HONOURABLE Lord, I have delivered your lordship's letter of thanks to his majesty, who accepted it very graciously, and will be glad to see your book, which you promised to send very shortly, as soon as it cometh. I send your lordship his majesty's warrant for your pardon, as you desired it; but am sorry, that in the current of my service to your lordship there should be the least stop of any thing; yet having moved his majesty, upon your servant's I heartily thank your lordship for getting me intimation, for your stay in London till Christmas, out of prison; and now my body is out, my I found his majesty, who hath in all other occa Mind, nevertheless, will be still in prison, till I sions, and even in that particular already, to the may be on my feet to do his majesty and your dislike of many of your own friends, showed with lordship faithful service. Wherein your lordship, great forwardness his gracious favour towards by the grace of God, shall find that my adversity you, very unwilling to grant you any longer liberty hath neither spent, nor pent my spirits. God to abide there; which, being but a small advanprosper you. tage to you, would be a great and general distaste, as you cannot but easily conceive, to the whole state. And I am the more sorry for this refusal of his majesty's falling in a time when I was a suitor to your lordship in a particular concerning Your lordship's most obliged friend June 4. 1621. FR. ST. ALBAN. myself, wherein, though your servant insisted Your lordship's faithful servant, October, 1621. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD Lord, thereof, that you may no longer hang upon the treaty, which hath been between your lordship and me, touching York House; in which 1 assure your lordship I never desired to put you to the least inconvenience. So I rest Your lordship's servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. MY LORD, I am glad your lordship understands me so rightly in my last letter. I continue still in the same mind, for, I thank God, I am settled to my contentment; and so I hope you shall enjoy yours with the more, because I am so well pleased in mine. And, my lord, I shall be very far from taking it ill, if you part with it to any else, judging it alike unreasonableness to desire that which is another man's, and to bind him by promise or otherwise not to let it to another. My lord, I will move his majesty to take commiseration of your long imprisonment,* which, in some respects, both you and I have reason to think harder than the Tower; you for the help of An unexpected accident maketh me hasten this letter to your lordship, before I could despatch Mr. Meautys; it is that my lord keeper hath stayed my pardon at the seal. But it is with good respect; for he saith it shall be private, and then he would forthwith write to your lordship, and would pass it if he received your pleasure; and doth also show his reason of stay, which is, that he doubt-physic, your parley with your creditors, your coneth the exception of the sentence of Parliament is not well drawn, nor strong enough, which, if it te doubtful, my lord hath great reason. But sure I am, both myself, and the king, and your lordship, and Mr. Attorney meant clearly, and I think Mr. Attorney's pen hath gone well. My humble request to your lordship is, that, for my lord's satisfaction, Mr. Solicitor may be joined with Mr. Attorney, and if it be safe enough, it may go on; if not it may be amended. I ever rest ference for your writings and studies, dealing Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. These main and real favours which I have lately received from your good lordship in procuring my liberty, and a reference of the consideration of my release, are such as I now find, that in building upon your lordship's noble nature and friendship, I have built upon the rock where neither winds or waves can cause overthrow. I humbly pray your lordship to accept from me such thanks as ought to come from him whom you have much com forted in fortune, and much more comforted in showing your love and affection to him, of which I have heard by my Lord of Faulkland, Sir Edward Sackville, Mr. Matthew, and otherwise. I have written, as my duty was, to his majesty, thanks, touching the same, by the letter I here put into your noble hands. I have made also, in that letter, an offe. to his majesty, of my service, for bringing into better order and frame the laws of England. The declaration whereof I have left with Sir Ed Restraint from coming within the verge of the court. ward Sackville, because it were no good manners | farther, if it stand with vour majesty's good plea to clog his majesty, at this time of triumph and sure, since now my study is my exchange, and recreation, with a business of this nature, so as my pen my factor for the use of my talent, that your lordship may be pleased to call for it to Sir your majesty, who is a great master in these Edward Sackville, when you think the time things, would be pleased to appoint me some reasonable. task to write, and that I should take for an oracle. And because my Instauration, which I esteem my great work, and do still go on with in silence, was dedicated to your majesty, and this History of King Henry VII., to your lively and excellent image the prince, if now your majesty will be pleased to give me a theme to dedicate to my Lord of Buckingham, whom I have so much reason to honour, I should with more alacrity embrace your majesty's direction than my own choice. Your majesty will pardon me for troubling you thus long. God evermore preserve and prosper you. I am bold likewise to present your lordship with a book of my History of King Henry VII., and now that, in summer was twelve months, I dedicated a book to his majesty, and this last summer, this book to the prince, your lordship's turn is next; and this summer that cometh, if I live to it, shall be yours. I have desired his majesty to appoint me the task, otherwise I shall use my own choice, for this is the best retribution I can make to your lordship. God prosper you. I rest Your lordship's most obliged friend FR. ST. ALBAN. Gorhambury, this 20th of March, 1621. Endorsed, To the Right Honourable his very good lord, the Lord Marquis of Buckingham, High Admiral of England. TO THE KING. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, Your majesty's poor beadsman most devoted, Gorhambury, this 20th March, 1621. TO THE LORD DIGBY. MY VERY GOOD LORD, TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN. MY LORD, I have despatched the business your lordship recommended to me, which I send your lordship here enclosed, signed by his majesty, and have likewise moved him for your coming to kiss his hand, which he is pleased you shall do at Whitehall when he returneth next thither. In the mean time I rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. Newmarket, Nov. 13th, 1622. I now only send my best wishes, to follow you at sea and land, with due thanks for your late great favours. God knows, whether the length I acknowledge myself in all humbleness infi- of your voyage will not exceed the size of my nitely bounden 'o your majesty's grace and good-hour-glass. But whilst I live, my affection to do ness, for that, at the intercession of my noble and you service shall remain quick under the ashes constant friend, my lord marquis, your majesty of my fortune. hath been pleased to grant me that which the civilians say, is res inæstimabilis, my liberty; so that now, whenever God calleth me, I shall not die a prisoner; nay, further, your majesty hath vouchsafed to rest a second and iterate aspect of your eye of compassion upon me, in the referring the consideration of my broken estate to my good lord the treasurer, which as it is a singular bounty in your majesty, so I have yet so much left of a late commissioner of your treasure, as I would be sorry to sue for any thing that might seem immodest. These your majesty's great benefits, in casting your bread upon the waters, as the Scripture saith, because my thanks cannot any ways be sufficient to attain, I have raised your progenitor of famous memory, and now I hope of more famous memory than before, King Henry VII., to give your majesty thanks for me; which work, My Lord of Bucks touching my warrant and most humbly kissing your majesty's hands, I do present. And because, in the beginning of my trouble, when in the midst of the tempest I had a kenning of the harbour, which I hope now, by your majesty's favour, I am entering into, I made a tender to your majesty of two works, a History of England, and a Digest of your Laws, as I have by a figure of pars pro toto performed the one, so I have herewith sent your majesty, by way of an epistle a new offer of the other; but my desire is | I will give order to my secretary to wait upon Sir John Suckling about your other business. access. Endorsed, TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. EXCELLENT LORD, Though I have troubled your lordship with many letters, oftener than I think I should, (save that affection keepeth no account,) yet, upon the repair of Mr. Matthew, a gentleman so much your lordship's servant, and to me another myself, as your lordship best knoweth, you would not have thought me a man alive, except I had put a letter into his hand, and withal, by so faithful and approved a man, commended my fortunes afresh unto your lordship. My lord, to speak my heart to your lordship, I never felt my misfortunes so much as now: not for that part which may concern myself, who profit (I thank God for it) both in patience and in settling mine own courses; but when I look abroad and see the times so stirring, and so much dissimulation and falsehood, baseness and envy in the world, and so many idle clocks going in men's heads, then it grieveth me much, that I am not sometimes at your lordship's elbow, that I might give you some of the fruits of the careful advice, modest liberty, and true information of a friend that loveth your lordship as I do. For, though your lordship's fortunes be above the thunder and storms of inferior regions, yet, nevertheless, to hear the wind, and not to feel it, will make one sleep the better. My good lord, somewhat I have been, and much I have read; so that few things that concern states or greatness, are new cases unto me: and therefore I hope I may be no unprofitable servant to your lordship. I remember the king was wont to make a character of me, far above my worth, that I was not made for small matters and your lordship would sometimes bring me from his majesty that Latin sentence, de minimis non curat lex; and it hath so fallen out, that since my retiring, times have been fuller of great matters than before; wherein, perhaps, if I had continued near his majesty, he might have found more use of my service, if my gift lay that way; but that is but a vain imagination of mine. True it is, that as I do not aspire to use my talent in the king's great affairs; yet, for that which may concern your lordship, and your fortune, no man living shall give you a better account of faith, industry, and affection than I shall. I must conelude with that which gave me occasion of this letter, which is Mr. Mathew's employment to your lordship in those parts, wherein I am verily persuaded your lordship shall find him a wise and able gentleman, and one that will bend his knowledge of the world (which is great) to serve his majesty, and the prince, and in especial your lordship. So I rest Your lordship's most obliged and faithful servant, you, and how much I need you. There be many things in this journey, both in the felicity and in the carriage thereof, that I do not a little admire, and wish your grace may reap more and more fruits in continuance answerable to the beginnings; myself have ridden at anchor all your grace's absence, and my cables are now quite worn. I had from Sir Toby Mathew, out of Spain, a very comfortable message, that your grace had said, I should be the first that you would remember in any great favour after your return; and now coming from court, he telleth me he had commission from your lordship to confirm it: for which I humbly kiss your hands. My lord, do some good work upon me, that I may end my days in comfort, which, nevertheless, cannot be complete except you put me in some way to do your noble self service, for I must ever rest Your grace's most obliged October 12, 1623. FR. ST. ALBAN. MY HONOURABLE LORD, I have delivered your lordship's letter and your book to his majesty, who hath promised to read it over: I wish I could promise as much for that which you sent me, that my understanding of that language might make me capable of those good fruits, which I assure myself, by an implicit faith, proceed from your pen; but I will tell you in good English, with my thanks for your book. that I ever rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant, Hinchenbrook, October 29, 1623. |