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To the Earl of Buckingham.

My very good Lord,

I do think long to hear from your lordship, touching my last letter, wherein I gave you my opinion touching your brother's match. As I then shewed my dislike of the matter, so the carriage of it here in the manner I dislike as much. If your lordship think it is humour or interest in me that leads me, God judge my sincerity. But I must say, that in your many noble favours towards me, they ever moved and flowed from yourself, and not from any of your friends whatsoever; and therefore in requital give me leave that my counsels to you again be referred to your happiness, and not to the desires of any of your friends. I shall ever give you, as I give my master, safe counsel and such as time will approve.

I received yesterday from Mr. Attorney the queen's bill, which I send your lordship. The payment is not out of lands, but out of the customs, and so it can be but the rent. Your lordship remembereth, it is but in a case which Í hope shall never be; that is, after his majesty's death, if she survive. God ever bless and direct you.

Gorhambury, this 25th of July, 1617.

Your Lordship's most faithful

and devoted Friend and Servant, FR. BACON, C. S.

To the Earl of Bristol.

My very good Lord,

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 of your voyage will not exceed the size of my hour-glass; but whilst I live, my affection to do you service shall remain quick under the ashes of my fortune.

Sir,

Το

In this solitude of friends, which is the base court of adversity, where nobody almost will be seen stirring, I have often remembered this Spanish saying, Amor sin fin, no tiene fin. This bids me make choice of your friend and mine for his noble succours; not now towards the aspiring but only the respiring of my fortunes. I who am a man of books have observed, that he hath both the magnanimity of the old Romans, and the cordiality of the old English, and withal I believe he hath the wit of both:

sure I am that, for myself, I have found him in both my fortunes to esteem me so much above my just value, and to love me so much above the possibility of deserving, or obliging on my part, as if he were a friend created and reserved for such a time as this. You know what I have

to say to the great lord, and I conceive it cannot pass so fitly to him by the mouth of any as of this gentleman, and therefore do your best (which I know will be of power enough) to engage him, both in the substance and to the secrecy of it; for I can think of no man but yourself to be used by me in this, who are so private, so faithful, and so discreet a friend to us both; as, on the other side, I dare swear he is, and know myself to be as true to you as your own heart.

To the Marquis of Buckingham..

My very good Lord,

Yesterday I know was no day; now I hope I shall hear from your lordship, who are my anchor in these floods. Meanwhile, to ease my heart, I have written to his majesty the inclosed, which I pray your lordship to read advisedly, and to deliver it, or not to deliver it, as you think good. God ever prosper your lordship.

*

March 25, 1621.

Yours ever, &c.

FR. St. ALBAN, Canc. To the Earl of Buckingham.

My very good Lord,

Since my last to your lordship, I did first send for Mr. Attorney General, and made him know, that since I heard from court, I was resolved to further the match and the conditions thereof for your lordship's brother's advancement the best I could. I did send also to my Lady Hatton and some other special friends, to let them know, I would in any thing declare myself for the match; which I did, to the end that, if they had any apprehension of my assistance, they might be discouraged in it. I sent also to Sir John Butler, and after by letter to my lady your mother, to tender my performance of any good office towards the match or the advancement from the mother. This was all I could think of for the present.

I did ever foresee, that this alliance would go near to leese me your lordship, that I hold so dear; and that was the only respect particular to myself that moved me to be

* See p. 66.

as I was, till I heard from you. But I will rely upon your constancy and nature and my own deserving, and the firm tie we have in respect of the king's service.

In the mean time I must a little complain to your lordship, that I do hear my lady your mother and your brother Sir John do speak of me with some bitterness and neglect. I must bear with the one as a lady, and the other as a lover, and with both for your lordship's sake, whom I will make judge of any thing they shall have against me. But I hope, though I be a true servant to your lordship, you will not have me to be a vassal to their passions, specially as long as they are governed by Sir Edward Coke and secretary Winwood, the latter of which I take to be the worst; for Sir Edward Coke I think is more modest and discreet. Therefore your lordship shall do me right, and yet I shall take it for favour, if you signify to them that you have received satisfaction from me, and would have them use me friendly, and in good manner. God keep us from these long journeys and absence, which make misunderstandings and give advantage to untruth, and God ever prosper preserve your lordship.

Gorhambury,

this 23d of Aug. 1617.

Your Lordship's true and

and

devoted Friend and Servant, FR. BACON. C. S.

To the Earl of Buckingham.

My very good Lord,

I send your lordship the certificate* touching the inrolment of prentices. We can find no ground for it by law. Myself shall ever be ready to further things that your lordship commendeth; but where the matter will not bear it, your lordship I know will think not the worse, but the better of me, if I signify the true state of things to your lordship; resting ever

York House, this 29th of October, 1617.

Your Lordship's true Friend

and devoted Servant, FR. BACON, C. S.

*The Certificate.

According to his majesty's command, signified by your lordship's letters, we have advisedly considered of the petition touching the inrolment of apprentices indentures, and heard the petitioners counsel, and do find as followeth":

1. That the act of parliament 5o Eliz. doth not warrant the erecting of an office to inrol such indentures in cities, towns corporate, or market towns. But if any such inrolment should be, it must be by the officers there, who are assigned to perform sundry other things touching apprentices and servants.

To the Earl of Buckingham.

My very good Lord,

The liking which his majesty hath of our proceeding, concerning his household, telleth me that his majesty cannot but dislike the declining and tergiversation of the inferior officers, which by this time he understandeth.

There be but four kinds of retrenchments: 1, the union of tables; 2, the putting down of tables; 3, the abatement of dishes to tables; 4, the cutting off new diets and allowance lately raised and yet perhaps such as are more necessary than some of the old.

In my opinion the first is the best and most feasible. The Lord Chamberlain's table is the principal table of state. The Lord Steward's table I think is much frequented by Scottish gentlemen. Your lordship's table hath a great attendance; and the groom of the stole's table is much resorted to by the bedchamber. These would not be touched; but for the rest (his majesty's case considered) I think they may well be united into one.

These things are out of my element, but my care runneth where the king's state most laboureth: Sir Lionel Cranfield is yet sick, for which I am very sorry; for methinks his majesty upon these tossings over of his business from one to others hath an apt occasion to go on with subcommittees. God ever preserve and prosper you.

York House,

Nov. 19, 1617.

Your Lordship's true Friend
and devoted Servant,
FR. BACON, C. S.

To the Earl of Buckingham.

My very good Lord,

Yesterday at afternoon were read at the table his majesty's two letters, written with his own hand, the matter worthy the hand; for they were written ex arte imperandi, if I can judge; and I hope they and the like will disenchant us of the opinion, which yet sticks with us, that today will be as yesterday, and to-morrow as to-day, so as there will be (as he saith) acribus initiis, fine incurioso.

2. That in country villages (for which the suit carries most colour) we can-' not give the suitors hope, that any profit will be there made warrantable by law. Thus we have (according to our duties) certified our opinions of this petition, submitting the same nevertheless to his majesty's great wisdom; and rest, Oct. 25, 1617. At your Lordship's command,

FR. BACON, C. S. H. MONTAGUE, THO. COVENTRY.

I hold my opinion given in my former letter, that the uniting of some tables is the most passable way; but that is not all, for when that is done, the king may save greatly in that which remaineth. For if it be set down what tables shall be fixed, and what diet allowed to them, my steward (as ill a mesnager as I am), or my Lord Mayor's steward, can go near to tell what charge will go near to maintain the proportion; then add to that some large allowance for waste (because the king shall not leese his prerogative to be deceived more than other men), and yet no question there will be a great retrenchment. But against this last abatement will be fronted the payment of arrears. But I confess, I would be glad that I might see, or rather, that a parliament may see, and chiefly that the king (for his own quiet) may see, that upon such a sum paid such an annual retrenchment will follow: for things will never be done in act, except they be first done in conceit.

I know these things do not pertain to me; for my part is to acquit the king's office towards God, by administration of justice, and to oblige the hearts of his people to him by the same, and to maintain his prerogative. But yet because it is in hoc, that the king's case laboureth, I cannot but yield my care and my strength too in counsel, such as it is, which cannot be so much as it was between our Ladyday, and Michaelmas last. But whatsoever it is, it is wholly his majesty's without any deflexion.

As soon as I find any possibility of health in Sir Lyonel Cranfield to execute a sub-commission, I will by conference with him frame a draught of a letter from his majesty, for which there is the fairest occasion in the world; and the king hath prepared it as well as possible. God ever preserve and prosper you.

York House, Nov. 22, 1617.

Your Lordship's true Friend
and devoted Servant,
FR. BACON, C. S.

To the Earl of Buckingham.

My very good Lord,

I send your lordship a draught of a letter touching the subcommission,* written in wide lines, because it may be

My Lords,

* Draught of the Subcommission.

In this first and greatest branch of our charge concerning our house we do find what difficulties are made, and what time is lost, in disputing and of devising upon the manner of doing it; whereof the matter must be, and is so fully

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