Secondly, they ought to have performed that contract according to their subscription pro rata, without any of these orders and impositions. Soon after, they deserted their subscription, and had recourse to these devices of orders.

Thirdly, if by order and not by subscription, yet their orders should have laid it upon the whites, which is an unlawful and prohibited trade. Nevertheless they would have brought in lawful and settled trades, full manufactures, merchandise of all natures, poll-money or brotherhood-money, and I cannot tell what.

And now lastly it seemeth they would go back to lay it upon the whites. And therefore whether your Majesty will any more rest and build this great wheel of your kingdom upon these broken and brittle pins, and try experiments further upon the health and body of your state, I leave to your princely judg

ment.

The other answer of repulse is a kind of opposing them what they will do after the three years contracted for; which is a point hitherto not much stirred, though Sir Lionel Cranfield hath ever beaten upon it in his speech with me. For after the three years they are not tied otherwise than as trade shall give encouragement, of which encouragement your Majesty hath a bitter taste: and if they should hold on according to the third year's proportion, and not rise on by further gradation, your Majesty hath not your end. Nay I fear, and have long feared, that this feeding of the foreigner may be dangerous; for as we may think to hold up our clothing by vent of whites, till we can dye and dress: so they (I mean the Dutch,) will think to hold up their manufacture of dyeing and dressing upon our whites, till they can clothe. So as your Majesty hath the greatest reason in the world to make the new company to confirm and strengthen that part of their contract; and, they refusing (as it is confidently believed they will), to make their default more visible to all men.

For the second main part of your Majesty's consultation, that is, what shall be done supposing an absolute breach; I have had some speech with Mr. Secretary Lake, and likewise with Sir Lionel Cranfield; and, as I conceive, there may be three ways taken into consideration.

The first is, that the old company be restored, who, no doubt, are in appetite, and (as I find by Sir Lionel Cranfield) not un

prepared; and that the two licences, the one, that of 30000 cloths, which was the old licence, the other that of my Lord of Cumberland's, which is without stint, (my Lord of Cumberland receiving satisfaction,) be compounded into one entire licence without stint; and then that they amongst themselves take order for that profit which hath been offered to your Majesty.

This is a plain and known way, wherein your Majesty is not an actor; only it hath this, that the work of dyeing and dressing cloths, which hath been so much glorified, seemeth to be wholly relinquished, if you leave there.

The second is, that there be a free trade of cloth, with this difference, that the dyed and dressed pay no custom, and the whites double custom (it being a merchandise prohibited and only licentiate). This continueth in life and fame the work desired, and will have a popular applause. But I do confess I did ever think that trading in companies is most agreeable to the English nature, which wanteth that same general vein of a republic which runneth in the Dutch and serveth to them instead of a company; and therefore I dare not advise to adventure this great trade of the kingdom (which hath been so long under government) in a free or loose trade.

The third is a compounded way of both, which is to go on with the trade of whites by the old company restored; and that your Majesty's profit be raised by order amongst themselves, rather than by double custom, (wherein you must be the actor); and that nevertheless there be added a privilege to the same company to carry out cloths dyed and dressed, custom-free; which will still continue as a glorious beam of your Majesty's royal design.

I hope and wish at least that this which I have written may be of some use to your Majesty, to settle by the advice of the Lords about you this great business. At the least it is the effect of my care and poor ability, which, if in me be any, I know is given me to no other end but faithfully to serve your Majesty. God ever preserve you.

Your Majesty's most humble subject

and bounden servant,

25 Feb. 1615.

FR. BACON.

A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, TOUCHING A MOTION TO
SWEAR HIM COUNCILLOR. FEBRUARY 27, 1615.1

Sir,

I humbly pray you not to think me over-hasty or much in appetite, if I put you in remembrance of my motion of strengthening me with the oath and trust of a privy councillor; not for my own strength, (for as to that, I thank God, I am armed within) but for the strength of my service. The times I submit to you, who know them best; but sure I am, there were never times which did more require a King's Attorney to be well armed, and (as I said once to you) to wear a gauntlet and not a glove. The arraignments, when they proceed; the contention between the Chancery and King's Bench; the great cause of the Rege inconsulto, which is so precious to the King's prerogative; divers other services which concern the King's revenue and the repair of his estate. Besides, I see it pleaseth his Majesty to accept well of my relations touching his business, which may seem a Kind of interloping (as the merchants call it) for one that is no councillor. But I leave all to you, thinking myself infinitely bounden to you for your great favours, the beams whereof I see plainly reflect upon me even from others; so that now I have no greater ambition than this, that as the King sheweth himself to you the best master, so I mought be found your best servant. In which wish and vow I shall ever rest,

most devoted and affectionate to obey your commands.

TO THE KING, UPON SOME INTIMATION ABOUT THE CHANCEL-
LOR'S PLACE.2

It may please your most excellent Majesty,

The last day when it pleased your Majesty to express yourself towards me in favour far above that I can deserve or could expect, I was surprised by the Prince's coming in. I most humbly pray your Majesty to accept these few lines of acknowledgment. I never had great thoughts for myself, further than to maintain those great thoughts which I confess I have for your service. I know what honour is, and I know what the times

1 Add. MSS. 5503, f. 46.

2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 30. Fair co py, corrected in Bacon's hand.

1

are.

But I thank God with me my service is the principal, and it is far from me under honourable pretences to cover base desires; which I account them to be, when men refer too much to themselves, specially serving such a King. I am afraid of nothing but that the Master of the Horse, your excellent servant, and I shall fall out about this, who shall hold your stirrup best. But were you mounted and seated without difficulties and distastes in your business, as I desire and hope to see you, I should ex animo desire to spend the decline of my years in my studies: wherein also I should not forget to do him honour, who besides his active and politic virtues is the best pen of kings, much more the best subject of a pen. God ever preserve your Majesty. Your Majesty's most humble subject,

and more and more obliged servant,

FR. BACON.

1 April, 1616.

Ir will be remembered that the arraignment of the Somersets for the murder of Overbury, which seemed to be on the point of coming on in January, had been postponed till the arrival of Sir John Digby from Spain. The postponement seems to have been at the instance of Coke, who coming across a confidential despatch of Digby's which had got into Somerset's hands, and hastily inferring that it had been intercepted by him and the contents hidden from the King, scented high treason.' Digby arrived on the 21st of March,2 and was immediately put into communication with Coke. An extract, for which we are indebted to Mr. Gardiner, from his letter to the King written after the interview, will explain the occasion of the proceedings reported in the next letter, and at the same time prepare us to find that nothing came of them.

Sir John Digby to the King. April 3, 1616.

By the marginal notes of my Lord Chief Justice Coke upon the enclosed letter, which is the same I received from him, your M. will see in what particulars he desired to receive satisfaction, as judging he might make use of them in this business which he had now in hand, though indeed they have no relation to it; neither, as I conceived, can there any inference be drawn from them concerning it, since it now appeareth that my Lord of Somerset acquainted your Majesty with the despatch, and concealed not those businesses of consequence from you, as it seemeth my Lord Coke believed, when your Majesty commanded me to attend him, for (as I remember) he told me your Majesty had never seen that despatch.

I must confess unto your Majesty that I am of opinion that the coming of this letter unto my Lord Coke's hands hath been the cause of his aggra1 See 'Notes for an Indictment' (drawn up by Coke). S. P. Dom. James I. Feb. (?) 1615-16.

2 Sherburn to Carleton, March 23, 1615-16. S. P. Dom. James I.