I

Lord of Buckingham's fortune must break.
am of another opinion; and yet perhaps it will
be hard to make you believe it, because both
sides will persuade you to the contrary. For
they, that would not have it go on, will work
upon that conceit, to make you oppose it more
strongly. They that would have it go on, will
do the same, to make you take up betimes, and
come about. But I having good affiance in your
grace's judgment, will tell you my reasons, why
I thus think, and so leave it. If the match
should go on, and put case against your counsel
and opinion; doth any man think that so pro-
found a king, and so well seen in the science of
reigning, and so understanding a prince, will
ever suffer the whole sway of affairs and great-
ness to go that way? And if not, who should be
a fitter person to keep the balance even than your
grace, whom the king and prince know to be so
entirely their own, and have found so nobly
independent upon any other? Surely my opinion
is, you are likely to be greater by counterpoise
against the Spanish dependence, than you will by
concurrence. And, therefore, in God's name, do
your duty faithfully and wisely; for behaving
yourself well otherwise, as I know you will,
your fortune is like to be well either way.

For that excellent lady, whose fortune is so
distant from her merits and virtue, the Queen of
Bohemia, your grace being, as it were, the first-
born, or prime man of the king's creatures, must
in consequence owe the most to his children and
generations; whereof I know your noble heart
hath far greater sense than any man's words can
infuse into you.
And, therefore, whatsoever
liveth within the compass of your duty, and of
possibility, will no doubt spring from you out of

that fountain.

It is open to every man's discourse, that there are but two ways for the restitution of the palatinate, treaty and arms. It is good, therefore, to consider of the middle acts, which may make either of these ways desperate, to the end they may be avoided in that way which shall be chosen. If no match, either this with Spain, or perhaps some other with Austria, no restitution by treaty. If the Dutch either be ruined, or grow to a peace of themselves with Spain, no restitution by war.

TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.*

EXCELLENT LORD,

There is a suit, whereunto I may, as it were, claim kindred, and which may be of credit and profit unto me; and it is an old arrear which is called upon, from Sir Nicolas Bacon, my eldest brother. It may be worth to me perhaps two thousand pounds; and yet I may deal kindly with my brother, and also reward liberally (as I mean to do) the officers of the Exchequer, which have brought it to light. Good my lord obtain it of the king, and be earnest in it for me. It will acquit the king somewhat of his promise, that he would have care of my wants; for hitherto, since my misfortunes, I have tasted of his majesty's mercy, but not of his bounty. But your lordship may be pleased in this, to clear the coast with my lord treasurer; else there it will have a stop. 1 am almost at last cast for means; and yet it grieveth me most, that at such a time as this, 1 should not be rather serviceable to your grace, than troublesome.

God preserve and prosper your grace.
Your grace's most obliged
and faithful servant,

This 234 of January, 1623.

FR. ST. ALBAN.

TO THE EARL OF OXFORD.4

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

Let me be an humble suitor to your lordship, for your noble favour. I would be glad to receive my writ this Parliament, that I may not die in dishonour; but by no means, except it should be with the love and consent of my lords to readmit me, if their lordships vouchsafe to think me worthy of their company; or if they think that which I have suffered now these three years, in loss of place, in loss of means, and in loss of liberty for a great time, to be a sufficient expiation for my faults, whereby I may now seem in their eyes to be a fit subject of their grace, as 1 have been before of their justice. My good lord, the good, which the commonwealth might reap of my suffering, is already inned. Justice is done; an example is made for reformation; the authority of the House for judicature is established. There can be no farther use of my misery; perhaps some little may be of my service; for, I hope I shall be found a man humbled as a Christian, though not dejected as a worldling. I have great opinion of your lordship's power, and great hope, for many reasons, of your favour; which,

But these things your grace understandeth far better than myself. And, as I said before, the points of state I aim not at farther, than they may concern your grace, to whom, while I live, and shall find it acceptable t: you, I shall ever be ready to give the tribute of a true friend and servant, and shall always think my counsels given you happy, if you shall pardon them the 28th of January, 1623, is printed in Lord Bacon's works. when they are free; and follow them when they are good

The duke's answer to this letter, dated at Newmarket,

+ Henry Vere, who died in 1025. He was Lord Great Chamberlain of England.

That met February 19, 1623, and was prorogued May 29

TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. EXCELLENT LORD,

near at hand, which I thought would have been a longer matter; and I imagine there is a gratiastitium till he come. I do not doubt but you shall find his grace nobly disposed. The last time that you spake with him about me, I remember you sent me word, he thanked you for being so Yet, I could wish that you took

Now that your grace hath the king private, and
at better leisure, the noise of soldiers, ambassa-
dors, parliaments, a little ceasing, I hope you
will remember your servant; for at so good a
time, and after so long a time, to forget him, forward for me.
*
were almost to forsake him. But, howsoever, I
shall still remain

Your grace's most obliged and faithful servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

I am bold to put into my good friend, Sir Tobie
Matthew's hand, a copy of my petition, which
your grass had sent to Sir John Suckling.
Endorsed, August, 1624.

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 moneys. I pray you continue to quicken fire of old wood needeth no blowing; but old him, that the king may once clear with me. And

men do. I ever rest

Yours to do you service.

TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

EXCELLENT LORD,

I am infinitely bound to your grace for your late favours. I send your grace a copy of your letter, signifying his majesty's pleasure, and of the petition. The course, I take it, must be, to make a warrant for the execution of the same, by way of reference to Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Attorney.† I most humbly pray your grace likewise, to prostrate me at his majesty's feet, with most humble thanks for the grant of my petition, whose sweet presence since I discontinued, methinks, I am neither amongst the living, nor amongst the dead.

I cannot but likewise gratulate his majesty on the extreme prosperous success of his business, since this time twelvemonth. I know I speak it in a dangerous time; because the die of the Low Countries is upon the throw. But yet that is all one. For, if it should be a blow, (which I hope in God it shall not,) yet it would have been ten times worse, if former courses had not been taken. But this is the raving of a hot ague.

and

God evermore bless his majesty's person designs, and likewise make your grace a spectacle of prosperity, as you have hitherto been. Your grace's most faithful and obliged, and by you revived servant, FR. ST. ALBAN.

Gray's Inn, 9th of October, 1624.

TO SIR ROBERT PYE.

GOOD SIR ROBERT PYE,

Let me entreat you to despatch that warrant of a petty sum, that it may help to bear my charge of coming up to London. The duke, you know, loveth me, and my lord treasurert standeth now towards me in very good affection and respect.‡ You, that are the third person in these businesses, I assure myself, will not be wanting; for you have professed and showed, ever since I lost the seal, your good will towards me. I rest

Your affectionate and assured friend, etc.

Endorsed,

To Sir Robert Pye. Gor. 1625.

TO THE EARL OF DORSET

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

This gentleman, the bearer hereof, Mr. Colles by name, is my neighbour. He is commended for a civil young man. I think he wanteth no metal, but he is peaceable. It was his hap to fall out with Mr. Matthew Francis, sergeant at arms, about a toy; the one affirming, that a hare was fair killed, and the other, foul. Words multiplied, and some blows passed on either side. But since the first falling out, the serjeant hath used towards him diverse threats and affronts, and, which is a point of danger, sent to him a letter of challenge: but Mr. Colles, doubting the contents of the

*From Gorhambury.

Sir James, Lord Ley, advanced from the post of Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, on the 20th of December 1624, to that of lord treasurer; and created Earl of Marilo rough on the 5th of February, 1625–6.

His lordship had not been always in that disposition to wards the Lord Viscount St. Alban; for the latter has, among the letters printed in his works, one to this lord treasurer, severely expostulating with him about his unkindness and injustice.

Sir Edward Sackville succeeded to that title on the death of his brother Richard, March 28, 1624.

letter, refused to receive it. Motions have been | some servants, and some of my kindred, apt for made also of reconcilement, or of reference to the place you write of, and have been already so some gentlemen of the country not partial: but much importuned by noble persons, when I lately the serjeant hath refused all, and now, at last, was with his majesty at Salisbury, as it will be saeth him in the Earl Marshal's Court. The hard to me to give them all denial; I am not able gentleman saith, he distrusteth not his cause upon to discern, how I can accommodate your servant; the hearing; but would be glad to avoid restraint, though for your sake, and in respect of the former or long and chargeable attendance. Let me, there- knowledge myself have had of the merit and fore, pray your good lordship to move the noble worth of the gentleman, I should be most ready earl in that kind, to carry a favourable hand and willing to perform your desire, if it were in towards him, such as may stand with justice and my power. And so, with remembrance of my the order of that court. I ever rest service to your lordship, I remain

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant.

At your lordship's commandment,
THо. COVENTRY.

Kingsbury, Oct. 29, 1625.

To the right honourable, and my very good lord, the Viscount St. Alban.

SIR THOMAS COVENTRY, ATTORNEY-GENERAL,
TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I received from your lordship two letters, the one of the 23d, the other of the 28th of this month. To the former, I do assure your lordship I have not heard any thing of any suits or motion, either touching the reversion of your honours or the rent of your farm of petty writs; and, if I had heard any thing thereof, I would not have been unmindful of that caveat, which heretofore you gave in by former letters, nor slack to do you the best service I might.

The debt of Sir Nicolas Bacon resteth as it did; for in the latter end of King James's time, it exhibited a quo warranto in the Exchequer, touching that liberty, against Sr. Nicolas, which abated by his death; then another against Sir Edmund, which, by the demise of the king, and by reason of the adjournment of the late term, hath had no farther proceeding, but that day is given to plead. Concerning your other letter, I humbly thank your lordship for your favourable and good wishes to me; though I, knowing my own unaptness to so great an employment,† should be most heartily glad, if his majesty had, or yet would choose, a man of more merit. But, if otherwise, humbleness and submission becomes the servant, and to stand in that station where his majesty will have him. But as for the request you make for your servant, though I protest I am not yet engaged by promise to any, because I hold it too much boldness towards my master, and discourtesy towards my lord keeper, to dispose of places, while he had the seal: yet, in respect I have

Arundel, Earl Marshal.

✦ Bubup Williams, who had resigned the great seal on the 2th of October, 1625, to Sir John Suckling, who brought his majesty's warrant to receive it, dated at Salisbury, on the Dd of that month.

That of the great seal, of which Sir Thomas Coventry was three days after made lord keeper, on the 1st of November, 1623.

TO MR. ROGER PALMER.

GOOD MR. ROGER Palmer,

I thank God, by means of the sweet air of the country, I have obtained some degree of health. Sending to the court, I thought I would salute you and I would be glad, in this solitary time and place, to hear a little from you how the world goeth, according to your friendly manner heretofore,

Fare ye well most heartily.

Your very affectionate and assured friend, FR. ST. ALBan. Gorhambury, Oct. 29, 1625.

TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

EXCELLENT LORD,

I could not but signify unto your grace my rejoicing, that God hath sent your grace a son and heir,* and that you are fortunate as well in your house, as in the state of the kingdom. These blessings come from God, as I do not doubt but your grace doth, with all thankfulness, acknowledge, vowing to him your service. Myself, I praise his divine Majesty, have gotten some step into health. My wants are great; but yet I want not a desire to do your grace service; and I marvel, that your grace should think to pull down the monarchy of Spain without my good help. Your grace will give me leave to be merry, howI ever rest ever the world goeth with me.

Your grace's most faithful

and obliged servant, &c. I wish your grace a good new year.

TO KING JAMES L

MAY IT PLPARE your Mastery,

virtue and fortune, I do observe, not without ad- accept my most humble thanks and rows as the Thinking often, as I ought, of your majesty's Fot the prement, I humbly pray the mijeser to