TO THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY (a), SIR

HUMPHREY MAY.

come.

Good Mr. Chancellor, I do approve very well of your forbearance to move my suits, in regard the duke's return (6) is so near at hand, which I thought would have been a longer matter; and I imagine there is a gratiastitium till he

I do not doubt but you shall find his grace nobly disposed. The last time you spake with him about me, I remember you sent me word, he thanked ,

, you for being so forward for me. Yet I could wish, that you took some occasion to speak with him, generally to my advantage, before you move to him any particular suit; and to let me know how you find him.

My lord treasurer sent me a good answer touching my monies. I pray you continue to quicken him, that the king may once clear with me. A fire of old wood needeth no blowing ; but old men do. I ever rest

Yours to do you

service.

so (a) This letter is indorsed, 1625. (b) From Paris, whither the duke of Buckingham went in May, 1625, to conduct the new queen to England.

*

a

Lands;

his crown).

now

Consultations in Parliament anno 1 Caroli Regis, at Westminster, anno Domini 1625 (a).

[Found among Lord Bacon's Papers.] The consultations now in parliament may be regulated into these four heads following.

f. 1. What it was; and how far the introitus et
eritus there ordered. Vide my book of a medium
for ten years before primo Jacobi regis,

2.
What now it is

Customs and impositions ;
in clear
revenue,

Casualties.
1.

either by The state of the

Gifts of land, ex mero motu, king in the con

and no valuable consideration, stant revenue of

This may be revoked.

Grants of pensions, 1200001. before but 180001. Good times have resumed them upon necessity.

Increase of household, from

450007. to 800001. 3.

The purveyors more, and the
The means how tables less furnished than for-

{
it is abated by merly.

Fruitless ambassages with larger allowance than formerly.

To reduce them to the ordinary of the late queen.

Treble increase of the privy purse. Double increase of the treasury of the chamber and great wardrobe. - In all, by not using the best course of assignments, whereby the creditor is delayed in his payment, and the king surcharged in the price.

The exchequer-man making bis best profit from the king's wants.

(a) This parliament met on the 18th of June, and was dissolved August 12, 1695.

our

r Subsidies and fifteenths, spent only in defence of the states, or aid of allies.

Tonnage and poundage em

ployed in guard of the seas. Formerly in Loans rarely, and that employed taxes by par

entirely for the public. Impoliament. sition by prerogative of old cus

tom, rated easily by the book of 2.

rates, if any, either limited to The condition

time or measure.
of the subject in
his freedom and

Custom enhanced by the new fortune.

books of rates. Impositions and

monopolies multiplied; and this 2.

settled to continue by grants. Now in

Tonnage and poundage levied, though no act of parliament, nor the seas guarded. The times, the ways, and the persons, that induce these.

What sums have been granted for the defence of the state these last

three years.

1

How in particular spent and where. 1.

The number and quantity employed severally,

The manner of imbarking these

ships, and what prejudice and dis4.

couragement of trade.

The council, that directed such employments.

The several successes, as at Argier, and Cadiz.

Our own.

or

3. In ships and munition of

5. Strangers, as prize.

[ Hired by contract to
serve, and how used :

Taken as prize: if so,

How then delivered and dealt withal in the course of justice.

What success hath fol. lowed upon injustice done them : as the arrest of our

goods in France and Ger6.

many, whereby our goods Allies.

are at a stand for vent.

The number and true value of the goods.

The account made to his majesty or his officers, for it.

1. By whom
The dis- the direction.

missing and
19. discharging tence.
Enemies. of

3. The value
them and of the goods.
the goods, 4. The place
namely, whither they

went.

2. The pre

any of

Under this head will fall the complaint of Dover.

r Anation feared, renowned, victorious.

It made the Netherlands there a state when it was none.

Recovered Henry IV. of France's
kingdom, when he had nothing left but
the town of Dieppe.

Conquered the invincible navy of
Spain in 1588.

Took towns in Portugal the year fol-
lowing, and marched 100 miles upon
the firm land.

Fired, or brought away, the Spanish

a

as

horoby

1. navy before Cadiz, and sacked the How for

town. ees

merly" we { Took the Spanish ships daily, and
stood. spoiled the Port-Towns of the West-In-

dies, never losing but one ship during Z ribet

all the Spanish wars.

Reduced the ambition of that king
BORDEAU

for a fifth monarchy to so low an ebb,
that in one year he paid 2500 millions
of ducats for interest, so as after he was
inforced to beg treaties of peace, in low
terms, at the last queen regent's hands.

A carriage and readiness in the peo

ple to assist their sovereign in their ?H 4.

(purse and person. Honour of

2.

A wisdom and gravity of council, the king and state, which,

The cause

who ordered nothing but by public dein all

of the good bate, and then assisted by the military other, consuccess then. / professors, either by land or sea, of the

best repute, and such only employed. sists more in fuma than vi.

r In the voyage of Al

4. gier.
S.
Loss in

In the Palatinate.
putation by In the journey with
condition.
the ill suc-

Mansfield.

In this last to Ca. diz (b).

The unchearfulness we have either to adven

ture our purses or goods, Condition

occasioned by a distrust

5. we have of the suc-
( stand by
The reasons.

The want of the like

courses and counsels, ooo

oli (that were formerly used. I could wish, that for every of these four heads there were a particular committee to examine an apt report for the houses ; and the houses, upon every report, to put itself into a Committee of the whole

??? assembly; and after a full and deliberate debate, to order a model, or form, for a conference with the lords: and so, together, humbly to present unto his majesty a remonstrance of their labour ; offering withal a serious consultation and debate amongst

re

In what

cess.

we now

cesses.

(b) In October, 1625.