have given his majesty an account of those things wherein I have received his pleasure from your lordship by this letter which I send open. Good, my lord, once again have care of your health; and learn what Cardanus saith, that more men die of cold after exercise, than are slain in the wars. God ever keep you. Your Lordship's true and much devoted Servant. Nov. 21, 1616. A Letter from his Majesty to your Lordship, touching the Business of the Mint*. Right trusty and right beloved Counsellor, we greet you well. Before your letters came to us, we had been informed of the pains and diligence you had shewed in our service, which we take very graciously at your hands, and thank you for it, desiring you still to continue in the course whereinto you have made so good an entrance, and have taken the right way of examining the business. And, whereas, you give your opinion of the Mint, we have thought fit to remember unto you the usual form which we have ever used in matters of consequence, that when you have taken the laborious part upon you in examination of the business, we first here report of the whole proceeding, before we give our resolution thereupon. And, therefore, until we hear the report of it in particular, we cannot conclude with you. As for the point of the stay of commerce, we agree with you in opinion thus far, that you call three or four of the aldermen whom you shall think fittest, and assure them, in our name, that we see no likelihood or reason of raising our coin, for ought we have yet heard, but rather of the contrary; and that the raising of the value of the coin will be the last course we shall take, when we see no other means left; for which we yet see no cause, and, therefore, the stop of money is needless. As for the committee, we think it fit that they should continue to meet, until we have brought the business to such ripeness, that by the report thereof, at our return, we may perfectly understand every particular. Given at our Court at Newmarket, this 4th of December, 1618. Addit. MS. 5503. fol. 96. A Letter to my Lord Buckingham.* Your lordship's former letter was honourable, but this your latter letter was both honourable and comfortable; for which I yield your lordship humble thanks. And for my liberty, as your lordship hath, in your letter, vouchsafed to shew a great deal of tenderness concerning the same, so you will be nobly pleased to take some opportune time to move it; the rather, for that the season cometh on now fit for physic, which at this time of the year I have ever used; and my health never so much required. I ever humbly rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend 5th March, 1621. and faithful Servant. To my very loving Friends the Mayor, &c. of Whereas I am given to understand that there are some differences lately risen between the now mayor and aldermen, and other the members of that corporation, touching the election of the mayor next to succeed; wherein all parties have, according to charter, appealed to me as their high steward: forasmuch as I have but even newly recovered some degree of health, after a sharp sickness of some weeks, I am constrained to put off the hearing till Monday the 20th of this instant, at my lodging at Gray's Inn, &c. Your very loving friend, FR. ST. ALBAN. From Gray's Inn, this 8th September, 1624. A Letter from Mr. Francis Bacon to the Lord President of York, in favour of Mr. Johns, for the Secretary's Place at York.‡ It may please your good Lordship, I have been moved to recommend a person and suit to your lordship, which I assure myself, if it may take place with you, I shall not lose credit with you by; for both I know perfectly the honesty and sufficiency of the man, and that which is the next point, I am so well acquainted with his dutiful affection to your lordship, as I dare undertake no servant of yours shall be more observantly and faithfully * Addit. MS. 5503. fol. 105. h + MS. Cole, Mus. Brit. vol. xx. fol. 229. MS. Lansd. Mus. Brit. vol. ccxxxviii. fol. 126. at your commandment. It is conceived in court, that Mr. Secretary Herbert shall have conferred upon him the place of secretary there, whose good will, by that which we do already find, Mr. Edward Jones hath reason to hope well of for a deputation. There rest two points, the one her majesty's good allowance, and the other yours. The former whereof I hope he shall have good means to procure, and the second is that which I am to sue to your lordship for. Wherein to move you, besides the fitness of the man hardly to be matched in any other particular, I will undertake for his thankfulness in as good a manner as any other can be whatsoever; and all the poor credit myself have with you, which I have not been unmindful to cherish, I desire may appear in this suit rather than in any motion for myself. And so with my humble signification of duty, I commend your lordship to God's goodness. At your Lordship's honourable commandment, A Letter to Mr. Matthew.* Mr. Matthew, I hope it may stand with your business to come hither down to me on Monday or Tuesday next. My Lord Digby I understand is in town, my Lord of Doncaster not hastily expected, the king far off. I pray you, if your business be not very important, let me see you one of those days. I do hear from you by Mr. Meautys that I am still much bound to my Lord Digby. I take it, I directed Mr. Meautys to tell you, that having somewhat better signs of my lord marquis's good disposition towards me, than when I wrote to my Lord Digby last, I would raise my request to his lordship, that, whereas I desired his lordship to move a temporary leave to come to London next Lent for my health, and Easter term for my business, he would now (if he so think it convenient) deal for a release of the confinement indefinite, for the same reasons of an infirm health; and the settling the poor planks of my wrecks will continue still. If my Lord Digby make haste to court, I pray do this before you come down to me; if not, you may defer it till we have spoken. God keep and prosper you. 15th February, 1621. Your most, &c. * Addit. MS. Mus. Brit. 5503. fol. 103. A Letter to my Lord Treasurer Lea.* I humbly entreat your lordship, and (if I may use the word) advise your lordship to make me a better answer. Your lordship is interested in honour in the opinion of all that hear how I am dealt with. If your lordship malice me for Long's cause, surely it was one of the justest businesses that ever was in Chancery. I will avouch it; and how deeply I was tempted therein your lordship knoweth best. Your lordship may do well to think of your grave as I do of mine, and to beware of hardness of heart. And as for fair words, it is a wind by which neither your lordship nor any man else can sail long. Howsoever I am the man that shall give all due respects and reverence to your great place. 20th June, 1625. FR. ST. ALBAN. LETTERS FROM THE LAMBETH LIBRARY. NEVER BEFORE PRINTED. To the Marquis of Buckingham.† Good my Lord, Procure the warrant for my discharge this day. Death, I thank God, is so far from being unwelcome to me, as I have called for it (as Christian resolution would permit) any time these two months. But to die before the time of his majesty's grace, and in this disgraceful place, is even the worst that could be; and when I am dead, he is gone that was always in one tenor, a true and perfect servant to his master, and one that was never author of any immoderate, no, nor unsafe, no (I will say it), not unfortunate counsel; and one that no temptation could ever make other than a trusty, and honest, and Christ loving friend to your lordship; and howsoever I acknowledge the sentence just, and for reformation sake fit, the justest Chancellor that hath been in the five changes since Sir Nicholas Bacon's time. God bless and prosper your lordship, whatsoever become of me. Your Lordship's true Friend, living and dying, FR. ST. ALBAN. Tower, 31st May, 1621. Indorsed-To the Marq. of Buckingham, from the Tower: * Addit. MS. Mus. Brit. 5503. fol. 109 b. + MS. Gibson, Lambeth Library. 936. fol. 147. Orig. Sir, Edward Franklin to Lord St. Alban.* You falsify the common proverb: Out of sight out of mind. Distance of place makes no divorce of your love; but present or absent you baulk no opportunity for my good. I shall never deserve your love unless that which is mental may requite that which is real; and that good prayers may be balanced with good deeds. Touching the present overture, (the errand of your letters) though there be a great conflict within myself, yet nor must nor will I hold you in long suspense. Though I could content myself with the obscure condition of my country fortune, yet should I not neglect and slight the fair opportunities of my better preferment. It is a sullen stoical humour, not to be drawn out of a dark retired corner into the warm and open sunshine. But I cannot resolve on the sudden my present affairs being somewhat involved and perplexed. Respite me (I pray) but till the funeral; and then (God willing) I shall visit London, and give up my determinate and satisfactory answer. Meanwhile, I desire my thankful love may be tendered to that honest Mr. Hatcher. So I rest a devoted homager to your virtues or (if you suspect a compliment) Cressingham, April 30, 1625. Your assured Friend, To the Marquis of Buckingham.† My very good Lord, Your lordship's former letter was honourable, this later is kind and loving; wherein I took much comfort. This I protest to God, who knoweth the secrets of hearts, that I do not think there was ever a son of Adam who wished more prosperity to another that was a subject than I have done and do to your lordship; and, as low as I am, I had rather sojourn in a college than recover a fortune by any other but yourself. Marry, to recover you (if I have not) or to cease you of doing any thing for me wherein you would not be seen, I would use any man. God preserve and prosper your Grace. I rest. Indorsed To Buckingham. |