To the Marquis of Buckingham.

Our very good Lord,

We thought it our duty to impart to his majesty, by your lordship, one particular of parliament business, which we hold it our part to relate, though it be too high for us to give our opinion of it.

The officers that make out the writs of parliament addressed themselves to me, the Chancellor, to know whether they should make such a writ of summons to the Prince, giving me to understand, that there were some precedents of it, which I, the Chancellor, communicated with the rest of the committees for parliament business, in whose assistance I find so much strength, that I am not willing to do any thing without them. Whereupon we (according to his majesty's prudent and constant rule, for observing in what reigns the precedents were) upon diligent search have found as followeth.

That King Edward I. called his eldest son, Prince Edward, to his parliament in the thirtieth year of his reign, the Prince then being about the age of eighteen years; and to another parliament in the four and thirtieth year of his

reign.

Edward III. called the Black Prince, his eldest son, to his parliament in the five and twentieth, eight and twentieth, and two and fortieth years of his reign.

Henry IV. called Prince Henry to his parliaments in the first, third, eighth, and eleventh years of his reign, the Prince being under age in the three first parliaments: and we find in particular, that the eighth year, the Prince sat in the upper-house in days of business and recommended a bill to the lords.

King Edward IV. called Prince Edward, his son, to his parliament, in anno 22 of his reign, being within age. King Henry VII. called Prince Arthur to his parliament in the seventh year of his reign, being within age.

Of King Edward VI. we find nothing; his years were tender, and he was not created Prince of Wales.

And for Prince Henry, he was created Prince of Wales during the last parliament at which he lived.

We have thought it our duty to relate to his majesty what we have found; and, withal, that the writs of sum mons to the Prince are not much differing from the writs to the peers; for they run in fide et ligeanciâ, and sometimes in fide et homagio in quibus nobis tenemini, and after

consilium nobis impensuri circa ardua regni. Whereby it should seem that princes came to parliament, not only the days of solemnity, when they came without writ, but also on the days of sitting. And if it should be so, then the Prince may vote, and likewise may be of a committee of the upper-house, and consequently may be of a conference with the lower-house, and the like.

This might have been made more manifest as to the presence and acts of the Prince in days of sitting, if through the negligence of officers, the journal-books of the upperhouse of parliament, before the reign of King Henry VIII. were not all missing.

All which we thought it appertained to our care to look through, and faithfully to represent to his majesty. And having agreed secrecy amongst ourselves, and enjoined it to the inferior officers, we humbly desire to know his majesty's pleasure, whether he will silence the question altogether, or make use of it for his service, or refer it to his council, or what other course he will be pleased to take according to his great wisdom and good pleasure.

This we have dispatched the sooner, because the writs of summons must have forty days distance from the first days of the parliament. And for the other parts of our accounts, his majesty shall hear from us, by the grace of God, within few days. Evermore praying for his majesty's prosperity, and wishing your lordship much happiness,

Your Lordship's to be commanded,
FR. VERULAM, Canc. HENRY HOBARTE,
H. MONTAGU,
RAN. CREW.

EDW. COKE,

York House, Nov. 21st, 1620.

To the Marquis of Buckingham.

My very good Lord,

We have, these two days past, made report to the board of our parliament committee, upon relation whereof, for some things we provide, for some things we arm.

The King, by my Lord Treasurer's signification, did wisely put it upon a consult, whether the patents which we mentioned in our joint letters, were at this time to be removed, by act of council before parliament. I opined (but yet somewhat like Ovid's mistress that strove, but yet as one that would be overcome) that yes. My reasons: That men would go better and faster to the main errand.

That these things should not be staged, nor talked of, and so the less fuel to the fire.

That in things of this nature, wherein the council had done the like in former particulars (which I enumerated) before parliament, near parliament, during parliament, the council were to keep their wonted centinel, as if they thought not of a parliament, to destroy in other patents, as concealments.

The reasons on the other side were,

That it would be thought but a humouring of the parliament (being now in the calends of a parliament), and that after parliament they would come up again.

That offered graces, by reason and experience, lose their thanks.

They that are to be suffered to play upon something, since they can do nothing of themselves.

That the choosing out of some things, when perhaps their minds might be more upon other things, would do no great effect.

That former patents, taken away by act of council, were upon the complaints of particular persons; whereas now it should seem to be done tanquam ex officio.

To this I yielded, though I confess I am yet a little doubtful to the point of suavibus modis. But it is true that the speech of these, though in the lower-house, may be contemned; and if way be given to them (as I writ to your lordship of some of them in my last) it will sort to your honour. For other things, the lords have put them in a very good way, of which I will give express account when I see his majesty, as also of other observations concerning parliament. For if his majesty said well that when he knew the men and the elections, he would guess at the success; the prognostics are not so good as I expected, occasioned by the late occurrents abroad, and the general licentious speaking of state matters, of which I wrote in my last. God ever keep you.

Your Lordship's most obliged Friend
and faithful Servant,
FR. VERULAM, Canc.

Dec. 16, 1620.

To the Lord Chancellor.

My honourable Lord,

As soon as his majesty's convenience would permit, I have acquainted him with the draught of the proclamation your lordship sent me by his majesty's direction. His majesty liketh it in every point so well, both in matter and

form, that he findeth no cause to alter a word in it, and would have your lordship acquaint the lords of the council with it (though he assureth himself, no man can find any thing in it to be changed) and to take order for the speedy setting it forth. And so I rest

Theobalds, Dec. 21, 1620.

Yours, &c.

G. BUCKINGHAM.

To the Lord Chancellor.

I have acquainted his majesty with your letter and the inclosed, the matter which his majesty hath been thinking upon for his speech, concerneth both the points of the institution of a parliament, and of the end for which this is called; yet his majesty thinketh it fit that some extract be made out of it which needeth to be but very short, as he will show you at his return.

Theobalds, Jan. 19, 1620.

Yours, &c.

G. BUCKINGHAM.

To the Right Honourable his very good Lords, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in the Upper House of Parliament assembled.

My very good Lords,

I humbly pray your lordships all to make a favourable and true construction of my absence. It is no feigning or fainting, but sickness both of my heart and of my back, though joined with that comfort of mind that persuadeth me that I am not far from Heaven, whereof I feel the first fruits.

And because, whether I live or die I would be glad to preserve my honour and fame, so far as I am worthy; hearing that some complaints of base bribery are coming before your lordships, my requests unto your lordships

are:

First, That you will maintain me in your good opinion, without prejudice, until my cause be heard.

Secondly, That in regard I have sequestered my mind at this time in great part from worldly matters, thinking of my account and answers in a higher court, your lordships will give me convenient time, according to the course of other courts, to advise with my counsel, and to make my answer; wherein, nevertheless, my counsel's part will be the least: for I shall not, by the grace of God, trick up an innocency with cavillations, but plainly and ingenuously (as

your lordships know my manner is) declare what I know or remember.

Thirdly, That according to the course of justice, I may be allowed to except to the witnesses brought against me; and to move questions to your lordships for their crossexaminations; and likewise to produce my own witnesses for the discovery of the truth.

And lastly, That if there be any more petitions of like nature, that your lordships would be pleased not to take any prejudice or apprehension of any number or muster of them, especially against a judge, that makes two thousand orders and decrees in a year (not to speak of the courses that have been taken for hunting out complaints against me) but that I may answer them according to the rules of justice, severally and respectively.

These requests I hope appear to your lordships no other than just. And so thinking myself happy to have so noble peers, and reverend prelates to discern of my cause; and desiring no privilege of greatness for subterfuge of guiltiness; but meaning, as I said, to deal fairly and plainly with your lordships, and to put myself upon your honours and favours; I pray God to bless your counsels and persons. And rest

March 19th, 1620.

Your Lordships' humble Servant,
FR. St. ALBAN, Canc.

To the King.

It may please your most excellent Majesty,

I think myself infinitely bounden to your majesty, for vouchsafing me access to your royal person, and to touch the hem of your garment. I see your majesty imitateth him that would not break the broken reed, nor quench the smoking flax; and as your majesty imitateth Christ, so I hope assuredly my lords of the upper-house will imitate you, and unto your majesty's grace and mercy, and next to my lords, I recommend myself. It is not possible, nor it were not safe, for me to answer particulars till I have my charge; which, when I shall receive, I shall, without fig-leaves or disguise, excuse what I can excuse, extenuate what I can extenuate, and ingenuously confess what I can neither clear nor extenuate. And if there be any thing which I might conceive to be no offence, and yet is, I desire to be informed, that I may be twice penitent, once for my fault, and the second time for my error, and so submitting all that I am to your majesty's grace, I rest April 20, 1621.