touching the number convenient for manning the ships, wherein the number allowed by the commissioners had, in my judgment, a little of the merchant; for to measure by so many as were above dead pays, is no good argument. For the abuse of dead pays is to be amended, and not the necessary number abated. In this his majesty may fall upon a middle proportion between that of the commissioners and that of the officers. It were good, now the three books which we have appointed to be ingrossed into one ledger book are affirmed, there were a short book of his majesty's royal directions, and orders thereupon, extracted. For the commission of the treasury, I persuade myself, they are of the first hours that have been well spent in that kind. We have put those particulars whereof his majesty gave us charge into a way. Bingley's information will be to good purpose, and we find another of like nature revealed to Mr. Secretary and myself. God ever prosper you. October 9, 1618. My Lord, Your Lordship's most obliged Friend FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Lord Chancellor. I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who giveth you thanks for your advice to communicate the business of the Dutchmen to the commissioners of the treasury, which his majesty was before purposed to refer to them, as it concerns his treasure, for the carriage of it; and to your lordship and the rest named in your letter, for the relation it hath to the law. For the proposers of the suit, his majesty intendeth only to reward their pains as may stand with his service and his princely disposition, but to preserve the main benefit himself: all that his majesty would have your lordship to do for the present, is to take order about the writ of ne exeant Regnum, to advise with his learned counsel what course is to be taken, and if by a warrant from his majesty, that your lordship send him a warrant to be signed, which shall be returned with all speed. Of other things his majesty thinketh it will be time enough to speak at his return to London. In the mean time I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Hinchenbroke, Oct. 21, 1618. G. BUCKINGHAM. To the Marquis of Buckingham. I have this morning received the petty roll for the sheriffs. I received also the papers exhibited by Sir Miles Fleetwood, which I will use to his majesty's best service, and thereupon give account to his majesty when time serveth. My care, which is not dormant, touching his majesty's service, specially that of treasure (which is now summa summarum), maketh me propound to his majesty a matter, which, God is my witness, I do without contemplation of friend or end, but animo recto. If Sir Edward Coke continue sick, or keep in, I fear his majesty's service will languish too, in those things which touch upon law; as the calling in debts, recusants, alienations, defalcations, &c. And this is most certain, that in these new diligences, if the first beginning cool, all will go back to the old bias. Therefore it may please his majesty to think of it, whether there will not be a kind of necessity to add my Lord Chief Justice of England to the commissioners of treasure. This I move only to the King and your lordship, otherwise it is a thing ex non entibus. God preserve and prosper you. From the Star Chamber, Your Lordship's most faithful Servant, I forget not Tufton's cause. All things stay, and precedents are in search. To the King.* May it please your most excellent Majesty, According to your majesty's pleasure, signified to us by the Lord Marquis Buckingham, we have considered of the fitness and conveniency of the gold and silver thread business, as also the profit that may accrue unto your majesty. We are all of opinion that it is convenient that the same should be settled, having been brought hither at the great charge of your majesty's now agents, and being a means to set many of your poor subjects on work; and to this pose there was a former certificate to your majesty from some of us with others. pur October 4, 1618. The Marquis of Buckingham writes from Theobalds to the Lord Chancellor, that the King being desirous to be satisfied of the gold and silver thread business, would have his lordship consult the Lord Chief Justice, and the Attorney and Solicitor General therein." And for the profit that will arise, we see no cause to doubt; but do conceive apparent likelihood, that it will redound much to your majesty's profit, which we esteem may be at the least ten thousand pounds by the year; and therefore, in a business of such benefit to your majesty, it were good it were settled with all convenient speed, by all lawful means that may be thought of; which, notwithstanding, we most humbly leave to your majesty's highest wisdom. Your Majesty's most humble and faithful Servants, H. MONTAGU, HENRY YELVERTON. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, If I should use the Count de Gondomar's action, I should first lay your last letter to my mouth, in token of thanks, and then to my heart in token of contentment, and then to my forehead in token of a perpetual remembrance. I send now to know how his majesty doth after his remove, and to give you account, that yesterday was a day of motions in the Chancery. This day was a day of motions in the Star Chamber, and it was my hap to clear the bar, that no man was left to move any thing, which my lords were pleased to note they never saw before. To-morrow is a sealing day; Thursday is the funeral day; so that I pray your lordship to direct me whether I shall attend his majesty Friday or Saturday. Friday hath some relics of business, and the commissioners of treasure have appointed to meet; but to see his majesty is to me above all. I have set down, de bene esse, Suffolk's cause, the third sitting next term; if the wind suffer the commission of Ireland to be sped. I ever more and more rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend This 11th of May, 1619. and faithful Servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Lord Chancellor. My honourable Lord, Your lordship hath sent so good news to his majesty that I could have wished you had been the reporter of it yourself; but seeing you came not, I cannot but give you thanks for employing me in the delivering of that which pleased his majesty so well, whereof he will put your lordship in mind when he seeth you. I am glad we are come so near together, and hoping to see you at Windsor, I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. August 29th, 1619. To the Lord Chancellor. My honourable Lord, As I was reading your lordship's letter, his majesty came, and took it out of my hands, when he knew from whom it came, before I could read the paper inclosed, and told me that you had done like a wise counsellor; first setting down the state of the question, and then propounding the difficulties, the rest being to be done in its own time. I am glad of this occasion of writing to your lordship, that I may now let your lordship understand his majesty's good conceit and acceptation of your service, upon your discourse with him at Windsor; which, though I heard not myself, yet I heard his majesty much commend it, both for the method and the affection you showed therein to his affairs, in such earnest manner, as if you made it your only study and care to advance his majesty's service. And so I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Wanstead, September 9th, 1619. To the Lord Chancellor, My honourable Lord, I have received your letters by both your servants, and have acquainted his majesty with them, who is exceedingly pleased with the course you have held in the Earl of Suffolk's business, and holdeth himself so much the more beholden to you, because you sent the letter of your own motion, without order or consent of the lords, whereby his majesty is not tied to an answer. His majesty hath understood by many how worthily your lordship hath carried yourself both in this and the Dutch business; for which he hath commanded me to give you thanks in his name; and seeth your care to be so great in all things that concern his service, that he cannot but much rejoice in the trust of such a servant, which is no less comfort to Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. Royston, October 23d, 1619. Indorsed-On my Lord of Bucks, inclosing a Letter of Submission from my Lord of Suffolk. To the Lord Chancellor. My honourable Lord, The news of this victory hath so well pleased his majesty, that he giveth thanks to all; and I, among the rest, who had no other part but the delivering of your letter, had my part of his good acceptation, which he would have rewarded after the Roman fashion with every man a garland, if it had been now in use; but after the fashion of his gracious goodness, he giveth your lordship thanks; and would have you deliver the like, in his majesty's name, to Sir Edward Coke and the judges. Your news, which came the first, gave his majesty a very good breakfast, and I hope his health will be the better after it. Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, October 14th, 1619. Indorsed-Thanks on the Success in the Ore Tenus against the Dutch. To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, I send the submission of Sir Thomas Laque, drawn in such form as, upon a meeting with me of the chief justices and the learned counsel, was conceived agreeable to his majesty's meaning and directions; yet, lest we should err, we thought good to send it to his majesty. It is to be returned with speed, or else there will be no day in court to make it. God bless and prosper you. I rest Your Lordship's most obliged Friend November 28th, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Canc. To the Lord Chancellor. My honourable Lord, I have acquainted his majesty with your lordship's letter, and with the submission you sent drawn for Sir Thomas Lake, which his majesty liketh well, and, because he served him in so honourable a place, is graciously pleased that he maketh submission in writing, so that my Lady of Exeter be contented and the lords, whom his majesty would have you acquaint therewith. And so I rest Your Lordship's faithful Friend and Servant, Newmarket, 29th Nov. 1619. |