To the Marquis of Buckingham. I think fit to let your lordship understand what passed yesterday in the Star-chamber touching Suffolk's* business. There came to me the clerk of the court in the inner chamber, and told me that my Lord of Suffolk desired to be heard by his council at the sitting of the court, because *** him. it was pen * I marvelled I heard not of it by Mr. Attorney, who should have let me know as much, that I might not be taken on the sudden in a cause of that weight. I called presently Mr. Attorney to me, and asked him whether he knew of the motion, and what it was, and how he was provided to answer it. He signified to me, that my lord would desire to have the commission for examinations in Ireland to be returnable in Michaelmas term. I said it might not be, and presently drew the council then present, to me, and made Mr. Attorney repeat to them the passages past, and settled it, that the commission should be returnable the first day of the next term, and then republication granted, that it might, if accidents of wind and weather permit, come to hearing in the term. And upon motion in open court it was ordered accordingly. God ever preserve and prosper you. I pray God this great easterly wind agree well with his majesty. Your Lordship's most obliged Friend May 6, 1619. and faithful Servant, Indorsed-Sent by Sir Gilbert Houghton. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, I am much bounden to his majesty, and likewise to your lordship. I see by the late accesses I have had with his majesty, and now by his royal and real favour,+ that he loveth me, and acknowledgeth me for the servant that I am, or desire to be. This in me must turn to a great alacrity to honour and serve him with a mind less troubled and divided. And for And for your lordship, my affection may and * Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, who had been made Lord Treasurer in 1614. He was accused of several misdemeanours in that office, together with his lady, and Sir John Bingley, her ladyship's agent; and an information preferred against them all in the Star-chamber. + Probably the grant made to him about this time of twelve hundred pounds a year. VOL. XII. BB doth daily receive addition, but cannot, nor never could, receive alteration. I pray present my humble thanks to his majesty; and I am very glad his health confirmeth; and I hope to see him this summer at Gorhambury; there is sweet air as any is. God preserve and prosper you both. I ever rest your Lordship's most obliged Friend and faithful Servant, May 9, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Canc. Minute of a Letter to the Count Palatine of the Monseigneur, Rhine. Je me tiens à grand honneur, qu'il plaise à vostre altesse de me cognoistre pour tel, que je suis, ou pour le moins voudrois estre, envers vous et vostre service: et m'estimeray heureux, si par mes conseils auprès du roy, ou autre devoir, je pourroy contribuer à vostre grandeur, dont il semble que Dieu vous a basti de belles occasions, ayant en contemplation vostre très-illustre personne, non seulement comme très-cher allié de mon maistre, mais aussi, comme le meilleur appui, après les roys de Grande Bretagne, de la plus saine partie de la chrestieneté. Je ne puis aussi passer sous silence la grande raison, que vostre altesse fait à vostre propre honneur en choississant tels conseilleurs et ministres d'estat, comme se montre très-bien estre Monsieur le Baron de Dhona et Monsieur de Plessen, estants personages si graves, discrètes et habiles; en quoy vostre jugement reluict assez. Vostre altesse de vostre grâce excusera la faulte de mon langage François, ayant esté tant versé es vielles loix de Normandie: mais le coeur supplera la plume, en priant Dieu de vous tenir en sa digne et saincte garde, Monseigneur, de vostre Altesse le plus humble et plus affectionné Serviteur. Indorsed-May 13, 1619. To the Lord Chancellor.* My honourable Lord, His majesty was pleased, at the suit of some who have near relation to me, to grant a license for transportation of butter out of Wales unto one Lewis and Williams, who, in consideration that the patent should be passed in their names, entered into articles for the performance of certain * Harl. MSS. vol. 7006. conditions agreed upon between them, which, now that the patent is under the great seal, they utterly refuse to perform. My desire therefore to your lordship is, that you would call the said Lewis and Williams before you, with the other parties, or some of them, who shall be ready at all times to attend your lordship; and out of your consideration of the matter, according to equity, to take such course therein that either the said agreement may be performed; or that they which refuse it, may receive no benefit of the patent; which upon reason thereof was passed in their names. And herein I desire your lordship to make what expedition you can; because now is the season to make provision of the butter, that for this year is to be transported, whereof they take advantage to stand out. And so I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Greenwich, May 14, 1619. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, Though it be nothing, and all is but duty; yet I pray shew his majesty the paper inclosed, that his majesty may see how careful his poor servant is upon every emergent occasion to do him what honour he can. The motion made in court by the king's serjeant, Crew,* that the declaration might be made parcel of the record, and that I hear otherwise of the great satisfaction abroad, encourageth me to let his majesty know what passed. God ever preserve and prosper you both. FR. VERULAM, Canc. Indorsed―June 29, 1619. My Lord to my Lord Marquis, inclosing the form of a declaration used in point of acknowledgment in the Lady Exeter's+ cause. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, I purposed to have seen you to-day, and receive your commandments before the progress; but I came not to London till it was late, and found you were gone before I * Sir Randolph Crew, made Chief Justice of the King's Bench, January 26, 1624. Countess of Exeter, accused of incest and other crimes by the Lady Lake, wife of Secretary Lake, and their daughter the Lady Roos. came. Nevertheless, I would not fail to let your lordship understand, that as I find every day more and more occasions whereby you bind me to you; so this morning the king of himself did tell me some testimony, that your lordship gave of me to his majesty even now, when you went from him, of so great affection and commendation (for I must ascribe your commendation to affection, being above my merit) as I must do contrary to that that painters do; for they desire to make the picture to the life, and I must endeavour to make the life to the picture, it hath pleased you to make so honourable a description of me. I can be but yours, and desire to better myself, that I may be of more worth to such an owner. 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 July 19, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Marquis of Buckingham. 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 York House, Aug. 28, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Lord Chancellor.* 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 allegeth, 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.f 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, Octob. 10, 1619. G. BUCKINGHAM. Indorsed Shewing his Majesty's acceptation of your Lordship's care, in particular in the business against the Earl of Suffolk. 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. 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 Sir Henry Montagu of the King's Bench, and Sir Henry Hobart of the Common Pleas. |