letter, refused to receive it. Motions have been some servants, and some of my kindred, apt for made also of reconcilement, or of reference to some gentlemen of the country not partial: but the serjeant hath refused all, and now, at last, sueth him in the Earl Marshal's Court. The gentleman saith, he distrusteth not his cause upon the hearing; but would be glad to avoid restraint, or long and chargeable attendance. Let me, therefore, pray your good lordship to move the noble earl* in that kind, to carry a favourable hand towards him, such as may stand with justice and the order of that court. I ever rest Your lordship's faithful friend and servant. Endorsed, To E. Dorset. Gor. 1625. the place you write of, and have been already so At your lordship's commandment, Kingsbury, Oct. 29, 1625. To the right honourable, and my very good lord, the Viscount St. Alban. SIR THOMAS COVENTRY, ATTORNEY-GENERAL, MY VERY GOOD LORD, I received from your lordship two letters, the one of the 23d, the other of the 28th of this month. To the former, I do assure your lordship I have not heard any thing of any suits or motion, either touching the reversion of your honours or the rent of your farm of petty writs; and, if I had heard any thing thereof, I would not have been unmindful of that caveat, which heretofore you gave in by former letters, nor slack to do you the best service I might. The debt of Sir Nicolas Bacon resteth as it did; for in the latter end of King James's time, it exhibited a quo warranto in the Exchequer, touching that liberty, against Sr. Nicolas, which abated by his death; then another against Sir Edmund, which, by the demise of the king, and by reason of the adjournment of the late term, hath had no farther proceeding, but that day is given to plead. Concerning your other letter, I humbly thank your lordship for your favourable and good wishes to me; though I, knowing my own unaptness to so great an employment,† should be most heartily glad, if his majesty had, or yet would choose, a man of more merit. But, if otherwise, humbleness and submission becomes the servant, and to stand in that station where his majesty will have him. But as for the request you make for your servant, though I protest I am not yet engaged by promise to any, because I hold it too much boldness towards my master, and discourtesy towards my lord keeper,‡ to dispose of places, while he had the seal: yet, in respect I have TO MR. ROGER PALMER. GOOD MR. ROGER PALMER, I thank God, by means of the sweet air of the country, I have obtained some degree of health. Sending to the court, I thought I would salute you and I would be glad, in this solitary time and place, to hear a little from you how the world goeth, according to your friendly manner heretofore, Fare ye well most heartily. Your very affectionate and assured friend, FR. ST. ALBAN. Gorhambury, Oct. 29, 1625. TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. EXCELLENT Lord, I could not but signify unto your grace my rejoicing, that God hath sent your grace a son and heir,* and that you are fortunate as well in your house, as in the state of the kingdom. These blessings come from God, as I do not doubt but your grace doth, with all thankfulness, acknowledge, vowing to him your service. Myself, I praise his divine Majesty, have gotten some step into health. My wants are great; but yet I want not a desire to do your grace service; and I marvel, that your grace should think to pull down the monarchy of Spain without my good help. Your grace will give me leave to be merry, howI ever rest ever the world goeth with me. Your grace's most faithful and obliged servant, &c. I wish your grace a good new year. TO SIR HUMPHREY MAY, CHANCELLOR OF THE | miration, that those civil acts of sovereignty, DUCHY OF LANCASTER. GOOD MR. CHANCELLOR, I did wonder what was become of you, and was very glad to hear you were come to court; which, methinks, as the times go, should miss you as well as I. I send you another letter, which I wrote to you of an old date, to avoid repetition; and I continue my request then to you, to sound the Duke of Buckingham's good affection towards me, before you do move him in the particular petition. Only the present occasion doth invite me to desire, that his grace would procure me a pardon of the king of the whole sentence. My writ for Parliament I have now had twice before the time, and that without any express restraint not to use it. It is true, that I shall not be able, in respect of my health, to attend in Parliament; but yet I might make a proxy. Time hath turned envy to pity; and I have a long cleansing week of five years' expectation and more. Sir John Bennet hath his pardon; and my Lord of Somerset hath his pardon, and, they say, shall sit in Parliament. My Lord of Suffolk cometh to Parliament, though not to council. I hope I deserve not to be the only outcast. God keep you. I ever rest Your most affectionate friend, I wish you a good new year. Endorsed, To the Chancellor of the Duchy. Gor. 1625. TO THE MARQUIS D'EFFIAT, THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR. MONS. L'AMBASSADEUR, MON FILS, Vous scavez que le commencement est la moitié du fait. Voyla pourquoy je vous ay escrit ce petit mot de lettre, vous priant de vous souvenir de vostre noble promesse de me mettre en la bonne grâce de nostre très-excellente reyne, et m'en faire recevoir quelque gracieuse demonstration. Vostre excellence prendra aussi, s'il vous plaist, quelque occasion de prescher un peu, à mon advantage en l'oreille du Duc de Buckingham en général. Dieu vous ayt en sa saincte garde. Vostre très-affectionné et très-humble serviteur, FR. ST. ALBAN. Jan. 18, 1625. The following letters, wanting both dates and circumstances to determine such dates, are placed here together. TO KING JAMES I. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, Thinking often, as I ought, of your majesty's virtue and fortune, I do observe, not without ad which are of the greatest merit, and, therefore, of truest glory, are, by the providence of God, manifestly put into your hands, as a chosen vessel tc receive from God, and an excellent instrument to work amongst men the best and noblest things. The highest degree of sovereign honour is to be founder of a kingdom or estate; for as, in the acts of God, the creation is more than the conservation; and as among men the birthday is accounted the chiefest of the days of life; so, to found a kingdom is more worthy than to augment, or to administer the same. And this is an honour that no man can take from your majesty, that the day of your coming to the crown of England was as the birthday of the kingdom entire Britain. The next degree of sovereign honour, is the plantation of a country or territory, and the reduction of a nation, from waste soil and barbarous manners, to a civil population. And in this kind also your majesty hath made a fair and prosperous beginning in your realm of Ireland. The third eminent act of sovereignty is to be a lawgiver, whereof he speaketh, Pace datâ terris, animum ad civilia vertit Jura suum, legesque tulit justissimus author. And another saith, "Ecquid est, quod tam propriè dici potest actum ejus, qui togatus in republicâ cum potestate imperioque versatur, quam lex. Quære acta Gracchi; leges Semproniæ proferentur : quære Syllæ, Cornelia quid? Cnei Pompeii tertius consulatus in quibus actis consistit? Nempe legibus. A Cæsare ipso si quæreres quidnam egisset in urbe et toga; leges multas se respondeat et præclaras tulisse." TO THE KING. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, A full heart is like a full pen; it can hardly make any distinguished work. The more I look upon my own weakness, the more I must magnify your favours; and the more I behold your favours, the more I must consider mine own weakness. This is my hope, that God, who hath moved your heart to favour me, will write your service in my heart. Two things I may promise; for, although they be not mine own, yet they are surer than mine own, because they are God's gifts; that is, integrity and industry. And, therefore, whensoever I shall make my account to you, I shall do it in these words, ecce tibi lucrifeci, and not ecce mihi lucrifeci. And for industry, I shall take to me, in this procuration, not Martha's part, to be busied in many things, but Mary's part, which is, to intend your service; for the less my abilities are, the more they ought to be contracted ad unum. For the present, I humbly pray your majesty to accept my most humble thanks and vows as the DRAUGHT OF A LETTER TO THE MARQUIS OF MY LORD:—I say to myself, that your lordship Your forsaken friend and freed servant, FR. ST. ALBan. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD LORD, I I thought it my duty to take knowledge to his majesty from your lordship, by the enclosed, that, much to my comfort, I understand his majesty doth not forget me nor forsake me, but hath a gracious inclination to me, and taketh care of me; and to thank his majesty for the same. perceive, by some speech, that passed between your lordship and Mr. Meautys, that some wretched detractor hath told you, that it were strange I should be in debt; for that I could not but have received a hundred thousand pounds gifts since I had the seal; which is an abominable falsehood. Such tales as these made St. James say, that the tongue is a fire, and itself fired from hell, whither when these tongues shall return they will beg a drop of water to cool them. I praise God for it, I never took penny for any benefice or ecclesiastical living; I never took penny for releasing any thing I stopped at the seal; I never took penny for any commission, or things of that nature; I never shared with any servant for any second or inferior profit. My offences I have myself recorded, wherein I studied, as a good confessant, guiltiness, and not excuse; and, therefore, I hope it leaves me fair to the king's grace, and will turn many men's hearts to me. As for my debts, I showed them your lordship, when you saw the little house and the farm, besides a little wood or desert, which you saw not. If these things were not true, although the joys of the penitent be sometimes more than the joys of the innocent, I could not be as I am. God bless you and reward you for your constant love to me I rest, &c. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY GOOD Lord, It is vain to cure the accidents of a disease, except the cause be found and removed. I know adversity is apprehensive; but I fear it is too true, that now I have lost honour, power, profit, and liberty, I have, in the end, lost that which to me was more dear than all the rest, which is my friend. A change there is apparent and great; and nothing is more sure, than that nothing hath proceeded from and since my troubles, either towards your lordship or towards the world, which hath made me unworthy of your undeserved favours or undesired promises. Good my lord, deal so nobly with me, as to let me know whether I stand upright in your favour, that either I may enjoy my wonted comfort, or see my griefs together, that I may the better order them; though, if your lordship should never think more of me, yet your former favours should bind me to be Your lordship's most obliged and faithful servant, FR. ST. ALBan. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. This extreme winter hath turned, with me, a weakness of body into a state that I cannot call health, but rather sickness, and that more danger * Among Lord Bacon's printed letters, is one without a date, in which he complains, as in this, that he, being twice now in London, the marquis did not vouchsafe to see him ous than felt, as whereby I am not likely to be able to wait upon your lordship, as I desired, your lordship being the person, of whom I promise myself more almost than of any other; and, again, to whom, in all loving affection, I desire no less to approve myself a true friend and serMy desire to your lordship, is to admit this gentleman, my kinsman and approved friend, to explain to you my business, whereby to save further length of letter, or the trouble of your lordship's writing back. vant. TO MR. TOBIE MATTHEW. GOOD MR. MATTHEW, safing so to visit this poorest and unworthiest of your servants. It doth me good at heart, that, although I be not where I was in place, yet I amı in the fortune of your lordship's favour, if I may call that fortune, which I observe to be so unchangeable. I pray hard that it may once come in my power to serve you for it; and who can tell but that, as fortis imaginatio generat casum, so strange desires may do as much? Sure I am, that mine are ever waiting on your lordship; and wishing as much happiness as is due to your incomparable virtue, I humbly do your lordship reverence. Your lordship's most obliged and humble servant, TOBIE MATTHEW. P. S. The most prodigious wit that ever I knew of my nation, and of this side of the is sea, The event of the business, whereof you write, is, it may be, for the best: for seeing my lord, of himself, beginneth to come about, quorsum as yet? I could not in my heart, suffer my Lord of your lordship's name, though he be known by Digby to go hence, without my thanks and acknowledgments. I send my letter open, which pray seal and deliver. Particulars I would not I touch. Your most affectionate and assured friend, FR. ST. ALBan. TO MR. TOBIE MATTHEW. GOOD MR. MAtthew, When you write by pieces, it showeth your continual care; for a flush of memory is not so much; and I shall be always, on my part, ready to watch for you, as you for me. I will not fail, when I write to the lord marquis, to thank his lordship for the message, and to name the nuntius. And, to tell you plainly, this care they speak of, concerning my estate, was more than I looked for at this time; and it is that which pleaseth me best. For my desires reach but to a fat otium. That is truth; and so would I have all men think, except the greatest; for I know patents, absque aliquid inde reddendo, are not so easily granted. I pray my service to the Spanish ambassador, and present him my humble thanks for his favour. I am much his servant; and ashes may be good for somewhat. I ever rest Your most affectionate and assured friend, FR. ST. ALBan. I have sought for your little book, and cannot find it. I had it one day with me in my coach. But sure it is safe; for I seldom lose books or papers. TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. MOST HONOURed Lord, I have received your great and noble token and favour of the 9th of April, and can but return the humblest of my thanks for your lordship's vouch another. TO THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK.* MY VERY GOOD LORD, I must use a better style than mine own in saying, Amor tuus undequaque se ostendit ex literis tuis proximis, for which I give your grace many thanks, and so, with more confidence, continue my suit to your lordship for a lease absolute for twenty-one years of the house, being the number of years which my father and my predecessors fulfilled in it. A good fine requires certainty of term; and I am well assured, that the charge I have expended in reparations, amounting to one thousand marks at least already, is more than hath been laid out by the tenants that have been in it since my remembrance, answerable to my particular circumstance, that I was born there, and am like to end my days there. Neither can I hold my hand, but, upon, this encouragement, am like to be doing still, which tendeth to the improvement, in great measure, of the inheritance of your see by superlapidations, if I may so call it, instead of dilapidations, wherewith otherwise it might be charged. And whereas a state for life is a certainty, and not so well seen how it wears, a term of years makes me more depending upon you and your succession. For the providing of your lordship and your successors a house, it is part of the former covenant, wherein I desired not to be released. So, assuring myself of your grant and perfecting of this my suit, and assuring your grace of my earnest desire and continual readiness to deserve well of you, and yours chiefly, and likewise of the see in any the causes or preeminences thereof, I commend your grace to God's goodness, resting, &c. * Dr. Tobie Matthew. MINUTE OF A LETTER TO THE COUNT PALATINE MONSEIGNEUR, Je me tiens à grand honneur, qu'il plaise à vostre altesse de me cognoistre pour tel, que je suis, ou pour le moins voudrois estre, envers vous et vostre service et m'estimeray heureux, si par mes conseils auprès du roy, ou autre devoir, je pourroy contribuer à vostre grandeur, dont il semble que Dieu vous a basti de belles occasions, ayant en contemplation vostre très-illustre personne, non seulement comme très-cher allié de mon maistre, mais aussi, comme le meilleur appui, après les roys de Grande Bretagne, de la plus saine partie de la chrestieneté. Je ne puis aussi passer sous silence la grande raison, que vostre altesse fait à vostre propre honneur en choississant tels conseilleurs et ministres d'estat, comme se montre très-bien estre Monsieur le Baron de Dhona et Monsieur de Plessen, estants personages si graves, discrètes et habiles; en quoy vostre jugement reluict assez. Vostre altesse de vostre grâce excusera la faulte de mon langage François, ayant esté tant versé es vielles loix de Normandie: mais le coeur supplera la plume, en priant Dieu de vous tenir en sa digne et saincte garde, Monseigneur, de vostre Altesse le plus humble et plus affectionné serviteur. Endorsed, May 13, 1619. LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM. NEVER BEFORE PRINTED. TO LADY BURGHLEY, TO SPEAK FOR HIM TO HER TO LORD BURGHLEY, TO RECOMMEND HIM TO LORD.* MY SINGULAR GOOD LADY, THE QUEEN.* MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD, I was as ready to show myself mindful of my My humble duty remembered, and my humble duty, by waiting on your ladyship, at your being thanks presented for your lordship's favour and in town, as now by writing, had I not feared lest countenance, which it pleased your lordship, at your ladyship's short stay, and quick return might my being with you, to vouchsafe me, above my well spare me, that came of no earnest errand. I degree and desert. My letter hath no further am not yet greatly perfect in ceremonies of court, errand but to commend unto your lordship the whereof, I know, your ladyship knoweth both the remembrance of my suit, which then I moved right use, and true value. My thankful and ser- unto you; whereof it also pleased your lordship viceable mind shall be always like itself, howso- to give me good hearing, so far forth as to promise ever it vary from the common disguising. Your to tender it unto her majesty, and withal to add, ladyship is wise, and of good nature to discern in the behalf of it, that which I may better deliver from what mind every action proceedeth, and to by letter than by speech; which is, that although esteem of it accordingly. This is all the message it must be confessed that the request is rare and which my letter hath at this time to deliver, unaccustomed, yet if it be observed how few there unless it please your ladyship further to give me be which fall in with the study of the common leave to make this request unto you, that it would laws, either being well left or friended, or at their please your good ladyship, in your letters, where-own free election, or forsaking likely success in with you visit my good lord, to vouchsafe the mention and recommendation of my suit; wherein your ladyship shall bind me more unto you than I can look ever to be able sufficiently to acknowledge. Thus, in humble manner, I take my leave of your ladyship, committing you, as daily in my prayers, so, likewise, at this present, to the merciful providence of the Almighty. Your ladyship's most dutiful and bounden nephew, From Grey's Inn, this 16th September, 1580. * Lansd. MS. xxxi., art. 14. VOL. 1II.-21 B. FRA. other studies of more delight, and no less preferment, or setting hand thereunto early, without waste of years; upon such survey made, it may be my case may not seem ordinary, no more than my suit, and so more beseeming unto it. As I force myself to say this in excuse of my motion, lest it should appear unto your lordship altogether indiscreet and unadvised, so my hope to obtain it resteth only upon your lordship's good affection toward me, and grace with her majesty, who, methinks, needeth never to call for the experience of the thing, where she hath so great and so good * Lansd. MS. xxxi art. 14. 02 |