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I hope to give the king a good account of my time. this vacation.

If your lordship pass back by London, I desire to wait on you, and discourse a little with you; if not, my prayers shall go progress with you, and my letters

attend you, as occasion serveth.
God ever preserve and prosper you.
Your Lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,

July 19, 1619.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

THIS day, according to the first appointment, I thought to have waited upon his majesty, and to have given him an account of my cares and preparations for his service, which is my progress. And therefore, since his coming to Windsor is prolonged, I thought to keep day by letter, praying your lordship to commend my most humble service to his majesty, and to let him know, that since I see his majesty doth me the honour, as to rely upon my care and service, I lose no time in that which may pertain thereunto. I see the straits, and I see the way out; and what lieth in one man, whom he hath made great, and trained, shall not be wanting. And I hope, if God give me life for a year or two, to give his majesty cause to think of me seven years after I am dead.

I am glad the time approacheth, when I shall have the happiness to kiss his majesty's hands, and to embrace your lordship, ever resting

Your Lordship's most obliged friend.

and faithful servant,

York-house, August 28, 1619.

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. (a)

My honourable Lord,

His majesty, upon a petition delivered by Mr. Thomas Digby, wherein he complaineth of great wrongs done unto him, hath been pleased, for his more speedy relief and redress, if it prove as he alledgeth, to refer the consideration thereof unto your lordship. And because he is a gentleman, whom I have long known and loved, I could not but add my desire to your lordship, that if you find he hath been wronged, you would do him so much favour, as to give him such remedy, as the equity of his case may require. For which I will ever rest

Your Lordship's faithful friend and servant, Royston, Octob. 8, 1619.

G. BUCKINGHAM,

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. (b)

My honourable Lord,

I HAVE acquainted his majesty with your letter, who hath given order to Mr. Secretary Calvert, to signify his pleasure for the proceeding in that business, whereof you write, without any farther delay, as your lordship will more fully understand by Mr. Secretary, who for that purpose is to return to London against the day of hearing.

I have no answer to make to your former letter; and will add no more to this, but that his majesty hath a great confidence in your care of his service. And so I rest

Your Lordship's faithful friend and servant, Royston, Oct. 10, 1619.

Indorsed,

G. BUCKINGHAM.

Shewing his majesty's acceptation of your lordship's care, in particular in the business against the earl of Suffolk.

(a) Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006.

VOL. VI.

(b) Ibid.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

AFTER my last letter yesterday, we entered into conference, touching the Suffolk cause, myself, and the commissioners, and the two chief justices. (a) The fruit of this conference is, that we all conceive the proceedings against my lord himself to be not only just and honourable, but in some principal parts plausible in regard of the public; as namely, those three points, which touch upon the ordnance, the army of Ireland, and the money of the cautionary towns; and the two chief justices are firm in it.

I did also, in this cause, by the assent of my lords, remove a part; for Mr. Attorney had laid it upon serjeant Davies (b) to open the information, which is that which gives much life or coldness to the cause. But I will have none but trained men in this cause; and I cannot forget, that the allotting of the opening of the information in this cause of the Dutch, I mean the main cause, to a mean fellow, one Hughes, did hurt, and was never well recovered.

By my next I will write of the king's estate: and I ever rest

Your Lordship's most obliged friend

October 14, 1619.

and faithful servant,

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

(a) Sir Henry Montagu of the King's Bench, and Sir Henry Hobart, of the Common Pleas.

(b) Sir John Davies, author of Nosce teipsum, knighted in February, 1607-8, and made serjeant at law in 1612. He had been attorney-general of Ireland.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

THIS morning the duke (a) came to me, and told me the king's cause was yesterday left fair; and if ever there were a time for my lord of Suffolk's submission, it was now; and that, if my lord of Suffolk should come into the court, and openly acknowledge his delinquency, he thought it was a thing considerable. My answer was, I would not meddle in it; and, if I did, it must be to dissuade any such course; for that all would be but a play upon the stage, if justice went not on in the right course. This I thought it my duty to let the king know by your lordship.

I cannot express the care I have had of this cause in a number of circumstances and discretions, which, though they may seem but small matters, yet they do the business, and guide it right.

God ever keep your lordship.

Your Lordship's most obliged friend

October 21, 1619.

and faithful servant,

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

I AM doubly bounden to the king, for his majesty's trust and acceptation; whereof the one I will never deceive; the other, though I cannot deserve, yet I will do my best, and perhaps as much as another

man.

This day the evidence went well; for the solicitor (6) did his part substantially: and, a little to warm

(a) Lodowick, duke of Lenox. He was created duke of Richmond, May 17, 1623; and died February 11, 162.

(b) Sir Thomas Coventry, afterward lord keeper of the great seal.

the business, when the misemployment of treasure, which had relation to the army of Ireland, was handled, I spake a word, that he, that did draw or milk treasure from Ireland, did not emulgere, milk money, but blood. But this is but one of the little things, that I wrote of before.

The king, under pardon, must come hither with two resolutions: the one, to remit all importunity, touching this cause, to the lords in court of justice; the other, to pursue the 'designs first taken at Windsor, and then at Hampton-Court, for his commission of treasury: wherein I do my part, and it is reasonably well; but better would it be, if instruments were not impediments. I ever rest

Your Lordship's most obliged friend

October 27, Wednesday.

and faithful servant,

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Friday will not end the business; for to morrow will but go through with the king's evidence.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. (a)

My honourable Lord,

THIS bearer, a Frenchman belonging to the ambassador, having put an Englishman in suit for some matters between them, is much hindered and molested by often removing of the cause from one court to another. Your lordship knows, that the French are not acquainted with our manner of proceedings in the law, and must therefore be ignorant of the remedy in such a case. His course was to his majesty; but I thought it more proper, that your lordship would be pleased to hear and understand this case from himself, and then to advise and take order for his relief, as your

(a) Harl. MSS. Vol. 7006.

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