of two parts. And I render you no less kind thanks for your aid and favour towards him, than if it had been for myself; assuring you that this bond of alliance shall on my part tie me to give all the tribute to your good fortune upon all occasions, that my poor strength can yield. I send you, so required, an abstract of the lands of inheritance; and one lease of great value, which my kinsman bringeth; with a note of the tenures, values, contents, and state, truly and perfectly drawn; whereby you may perceive the land is good land, and well countenanced by scope of acres, woods, and royalties; though the total of the rents be set down as it now goeth, without improvement in which respect it may somewhat differ from your first note. Out of this, what he will assure in jointure, I leave it to his own kindness; for I love not to measure affection. To conclude, I doubt not your daughter might have married to a better living, but never to a better life; having chosen a gentleman bred to all honesty, virtue, and worth, with an estate convenient. And if my brother or myself were either thrivers, or fortunate in the queen's service, I would hope there should be left as great an house of the Cokes in this gentleman, as in your good friend Mr. Attorney-General. But sure I am, if Scriptures fail not, it will have as much of God's blessing; and sufficiency is ever the best feast, etc.

LXI. A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION OF HIS SERVICE TO THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND, A FEW DAYS BEFORE QUEEN ELIZABETH'S DEATH1.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP,

As the time of sowing a seed is known, but the time of coming up and disclosing is casual, or according to the season; so I am witness to myself, that there hath been covered in my mind a long time, a seed of affection and zeal towards your lordship, sown by the estimation of your virtues, and your particular honours and favours to my brother deceased, and myself; which seed still spring

'Rawley's Resuscitatio.

ing, now bursteth forth into this profession. And to be plain with your lordship, it is very true, and no winds or noises of civil matters can blow this out of my head or heart, that your great capacity and love towards studies and contemplations of an higher and worthier nature, than popular, a nature rare in the world, and in a person of your lordship's quality almost singular, is to me a great and chief motive to draw my affection and admiration towards you. And therefore, good my lord, if I may be of any use to your lordship, by my head, tongue, or pen, means, or friends, I humbly pray you to hold me your own; and herewithal, not to do so much disadvantage to my good mind, nor partly to your own worth, as to conceive that this commendation of my humble service proceedeth out of any straits of my occasions, but merely out of an election, and indeed the fulness of my heart. And so wishing your lordship all prosperity, I continue, etc. March 1603.

THE occasion awaketh in me the remembrance of the constant and mutual good offices, which passed between

1 Upon the death of queen Elizabeth Mr. Fowlys was sent out of Scotland with letters to divers of the lords of the privy council; soon after whose arrival the lord Treasurer, the lord High Admiral, and Sir Robert Cecil, principal secretary of state, returned a large letter of thanks, and of advice to the king concerning the then posture of affairs. He was afterwards created a baronet by the name of Sir David Fowlys of Ingleby, in the north riding of Yorkshire, where he had seated himself, and where his posterity now remain. Stephens.

៥

my good brother and yourself; whereunto, as you know, I was not altogether a stranger; though the time and design, as between brethren, made me more reserved. But well do I bear in mind the great opinion which my brother, whose judgment I much reverence, would often express to me, of your extraordinary sufficiency, dexteri ty, and temper, which he had found in you, in the business and service of the king our sovereign lord'. This latter bred in me an election, as the former gave an inducement for me, to address myself to you; and to make this signification of my desire towards a mutual entertainment of good affection and correspondence between us: hoping that both some good effect may result of it towards the king's service; and that for our particulars, though occasion give you the precedence of furthering my being known, by good note, unto the king; so no long time will intercede before I on my part shall have some means given to requite your favours, and to verify your commendation. And so with my loving commendations, good Mr. Fowlys, I leave you to God's goodness.

From Gray's-Inn, 27 March, 1603.

MR. FOWLYS,

LXIII. TO MR. FOWLYS 2.

I DID write unto you yesterday by Mr. Lake, who was dispatched hence from their lordships, a letter of reviver of those sparks of former acquaintance between us in my brother's time; and now, upon the same confidence, finding so fit a messenger, I would not fail to salute you; hoping it will fall out so happily, as that you shall be one of the king's servants which his majesty will first employ here with us; where I hope to have some means not to be barren in friendship towards

you.

'Mr. Anthony Bacon, the elder and only brother to our author, of the whole blood, reported to have been equal to him in height of wit, though inferior in the improvements of learning and knowledge. Sir Henry Wotton observes, that he was a gentleman of impotent feet, but of a nimble head, through whose hands ran all the intelligences with Scotland. Stephens.

2 Rawley's Resuscitatio.

We all thirst after the king's coming, accounting all this but as the dawning of the day before the rising of the sun, till we have his presence. And though now his majesty must be " Janus bifrons," to have a face to Scotland, as well as to England, yet "quod nunc instat agendum :" the expectation is here that he will come in state, and not in strength'. So for this time I commend you to God's goodness,

28 March, 1603.

LXIV.

2

TO SIR ? THOMAS CHALONER, THEN IN SCOTLAND, BEFORE HIS MAJESTY'S ENTRANCE3.

SIR,

FOR our money matters, I am assured you received no insatisfaction: for you know my mind, and you know my means; which now the openness of the time, caused by this blessed consent, and peace, will increase; and so our agreement, according to your time, be observed. For the present, according to the Roman adage, that "one cluster of grapes ripeneth best besides another," I know you hold me not unworthy, whose mutual friendship you should cherish; and I, for my part, conceive good hope, that you are likely to become an acceptable servant to the king our master: not so much for any way made heretofore, which, in my judgment, will make no great difference, as for the stuff and sufficiency which I know to be in you; and whereof, I know, his majesty

1

My lord Bacon, in his history of K. Henry VII. observes the like conduct in that wise prince, in order to quiet the fears of the people, and disperse the conceit of his coming in by conquest.

2 Sir Thomas Chaloner was son to Sir Thomas Chaloner, who had behaved himself with great valour, under the command of the emperor Charles V. and the duke of Somerset, and with equal prudence, in the courts of the emperor and king of Spain; whither he was sent ambassador in the beginning of the reign of queen Elizabeth. The son was, like his father, a gentleman of great parts and abilities, to whose care King James committed the tuition of prince Henry. 17 Aug. 1603. Rymer, xvi. 545. Sir Thomas had, a few years before, made the first discovery of alum mines in this nation, at or near Gisborough in Yorkshire where some of his name and family still continue. He survived his royal pupil just; three years, dying in November, 1615. Stephens.

Rawley's Resuscitatio.

may reap great service. And therefore, my general request is, that according to that industrious vivacity which you use towards your friends, you will further his majesty's good conceit and inclination towards me, to whom words cannot make me known, neither mine own, nor others; but time will, to no disadvantage of any that shall fore-run his majesty's experience, by your testimony and commendation. And though occasion give you the precedence of doing me this special good office; yet I hope no long time will intercede before I shall have some means to requite your favour and acquit your report. More particularly, having thought good to make oblation of my most humble service to his majesty by a few lines, I desire your loving care and help, by yourself, or such means as I refer to your discretion, to deliver and present the same to his majesty's hands: of which letter I send you a copy, that you may know what you carry; and may take of Mr. Matthew the letter itself, if you be pleased to undertake the delivery. Lastly, I do commend to yourself, and such your courtesies as occasion may require, this gentleman Mr. Matthew, eldest son to my lord bishop of Duresme, and my very good friend, assuring you that any courtesy you shall use towards him, you shall use to a very worthy young gentleman, and one, I know, whose acquaintance you will much esteem. And so I ever continue.

1603.

LXV. AN OFFER OF SERVICE TO THE KING UPON HIS FIRST COMING IN1.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

It is observed by some, upon a place in the Canticles, Ego sum flos campi, et lilium convallium," that, a dispari, it is not said, "Ego sum flos horti, et lilium montium;" because the majesty of that person is not inclosed for a few, nor appropriated to the great. And yet, notwithstanding this royal virtue of access, which both nature and judgment have planted in your ma