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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.

They that are to be suffered to play upon something, since they can do nothing of themselves.

That the choosing out of some things, when perhaps their minds might be more upon other things, would do no great effect.

Theobalds, Jan. 19, 1620.

Yours, &c.

G. BUCKINGHAM.

LORDS, THE LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL IN THE UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

That former patents, taken away by act of TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD 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 little doubtful to the point of suavibus modis. But it is true that the speech of these, though in the Lower House, may be contemned; and if way be given to them (as I writ to your lordship of some of them in my last) it will sort to your honour. For other things, the lords have put them in a very good way, of which I will give express account when I see his majesty, as also of other observations concerning Parliament. For if his majesty said well that when he knew the men and the elections, he would guess at the success; the prognostics are not so good as I expected, occasioned by the late occurrents abroad, and the general licentious speaking of state matters, of which I wrote in my last. God ever keep you. Your lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Dec. 16, 1620

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.

MY HONOURABLE Lord,

As soon as his majesty's convenience would permit, I have acquainted him with the draught of the proclamation your lordship sent me by his majesty's direction. His majesty liketh it in every point so well, both in matter and form, that he findeth no cause to alter a word in it, and would have your lordship acquaint the lords of the council with it, (though he assureth himself, no man can find any thing in it to be changed,) and to take order for the speedy setting it forth. And so I rest

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MY VERY GOOD LORDS,

I humbly pray your lordships all to make a favourable and true construction of my absence. It is no feigning or fainting, but sickness both of my heart and of my back, though joined with that comfort of mind that persuadeth me that I am not far from Heaven, whereof I feel the first-fruits.

And because, whether I live or die I would be glad to preserve my honour and fame, so far as 1 am worthy; hearing that some complaints of base bribery are coming before your lordships, my requests unto your lordships are:

First, That you will maintain me in your good opinion, without prejudice, until my cause be

heard.

Secondly, That in regard I have sequestered my mind at this time in great part from worldly matters, thinking of my account and answers in a higher court, your lordships will give me convenient time, according to the course of other courts, to 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 cavillations, but plainly and ingenuously (as your lordships know my manner is) declare what I know or remember.

Thirdly, That according to the course of justice, I may be allowed to except to the witnesses brought against me; and to move questions to your lordships for their cross-examinations; and likewise to produce my own witnesses for the discovery of the truth.

And lastly, That if there be any more petitions of like nature, that your lordships would be pleased not to take any prejudice or apprehension of any number or muster of them, especially against a judge, that makes two thousand orders 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 according to the rules of justice, severally and respectively.

These requests, I hope, appear to your lordships no other than just. And so thinking myself happy to have so noble peers and reverend prelates to discern of my cause; and desiring no privilege of greatness for subterfuge of guiltiness ;

but meaning, as I said, to deal fairly and plainly
with your lordships, and to put myself upon your
honours and favours; I pray God to bless your
counsels and persons. And rest
Your lordships' humble servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN, Canc.

March 19th, 1620.

TO THE KING.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
I think myself infinitely bounden to your ma-
jesty, 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,

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, and so to a lethargy, or to break, and so to a mortal fever or sudden death; which apprehension, and chiefly the anguish of the pain, made me unable to think of any business. But now that the pain itself is assuaged to be tolerable, I resume the care of my business, and therein 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,

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 shall 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 or 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,

When I called to mind how infinitely I am bound to your highness, that stretched forth your arm to save me from a sentence, that took hold of me to keep me from being plunged deep in a sentence, that hath kept me alive in your gracious memory and mention since the sentence, pitying me, as I hope I deserve, and valuing me far above 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
most bounden servant,
FR. ST. ALban.

June 1, 1621.

TO THE KING.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
I humbly thank your majesty for my liberty,
without which timely grant, any farther grace
would have come too late. But your majesty,
that did shed tears in the beginning of my trouble,
will, I hope, shed the dew of your grace and
goodness upon me in the end. Let me live to
serve you, else life is but the shadow of death to
Your majesty's most devoted servant,
FR. ST. ALBan.

June 4, 1621.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

TO THE KING.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLent Majesty,
I perceive, by my noble and constant friend,
the marquis, that your majesty hath a gracious
inclination towards me, and taketh care of me,
for fifteen years the subject of your favour, now
of your compassion, for which I most humbly
thank your majesty. This same nova creatura
is the work of God's pardon and the king's, and
since I have the inward seal of the one, I hope
well of the other.

Utar, saith Seneca to his master, magnis ex-
emplis; 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 Quinquen-
nium Neronis. Many more. This, if it please
your majesty, I do not say for appetite of employ
| ment, 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 remem-
brance, how, when your majesty used to go a pro-
gress, 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 seques-
tered men, by remembrance. God ever prosper
and preserve your majesty.

Your majesty's most bounden
and devoted servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

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 occaind, 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
and faithful servant,

June 4, 1621.

FR. ST. ALBan.

myself, wherein, though your servant insisted | thereof, that you may no longer hang upon the further than, I am sure, would ever enter into treaty, which hath been between your lordship your thoughts, I cannot but take it as a part of a and me, touching York House; in which I assure faithful servant in him. But if your lordship, or your lordship I never desired to put you to the your lady, find it inconvenient for you to part with least inconvenience. So I rest the house, I would rather provide myself otherwise than any way incommodate you, but will never slack any thing of my affection to do you service; whereof, if I have not yet given good proof, I will desire nothing more than the fittest occasion to show how much I am

Your lordship's faithful servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

October, 1621.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD Lord,

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 be 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

Your lordship's most obliged friend,
and faithful servant,
FR. ST. ALban.

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ference for your writings and studies, dealing
with friends about your business; and I for this
advantage, to be sometimes happy in visiting and
conversing with your lordship, whose company
am much desirous to enjoy, as being tied by an-
cient acquaintance to rest

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
MY VERY GOOD Lord,

I

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 offer 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. Q 2

ward Sackville, because it were no good manners | farther, if it stand with your majesty's good pleato 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.

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
and faithful servant,

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,

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

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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

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 to 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

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Newmarket, Nov. 13th, 1622.

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

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