lordship adviseth, may not be ill chosen for my business. For, if his lordship be not very thick of hearing, sure New-hall will be heard to speak for me. And now, my good lord, if any thing make me diffident, or indeed almost indifferent how it succeeds, it is this; that my sole ambition having ever been, and still is, to grow up only under your lordship, it is become preposterous, even to | my nature and habit, to think of prospering, or receiving any growth, either without or besides your lordship. And, therefore, let me claim of your lordship to do me this right, as to believe that which my heart says, or rather swears to me, namely, that what addition soever, by God's good providence, comes at any time to my life or fortune, it is, in my account, but to enable me the more to serve your lordship in both; at whose feet I shall ever humbly lay down all that I have, or am, never to rise thence other than Your lordship's in all duty memorial to my lord treasurer: that your lordship Your lordship's most bounden 4th of November, 1622. and reverent affections, T. MEAUTYS. September 11, 1622. TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. Since my last to your lordship, I find by Mr. MY MOST HONOURED Lord, TO THE COUNTESS OF BUCKINGHAM, MOTHER Johnson, that my lord treasurer is not twice in TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. MY VERY HONOURABLE GOOD LADY, Your ladyship's late favour and noble usage towards me were such, as I think your absence a great part of my misfortunes. And the more I find my most noble lord, your son, to increase in favour towards me, the more out of my love to him, I wish he had often by him so loving and wise a mother. For if my lord were never so wise, as wise as Solomon; yet, I find, that Solomon himself, in the end of his Proverbs, sets down a whole chapter of advices that his mother taught him. Madam, I can but receive your remembrance with affection, and use your name with honour, and intend you my best service, if I be able, ever resting Your ladyship's humble Bedford House, this 29th of October, 1622. one mind, or Sir Arthur Ingram not twice in one tale. For, Sir Arthur, contrary to his speech but yesterday with me, puts himself now, as it seems, in new hopes to prevail with my lord treasurer for your lordship's good and advantage, by a proposition sent by Mr. Johnson, for the altering of your patent to a new mould, more safe than the other, which he seemed to dissuade, as I wrote to your lordship. I like my lord treasurer's heart to your lordship, so much every day worse than other, especially for his coarse usage of your lordship's name in his last speech, as that I cannot imagine he means you any good. And, therefore, good my lord, what directions you shall give herein to Sir Arthur Ingram, let them be as safe ones as you can think upon; and that your lordship surrender not your old patent, till you have the new under seal, lest my lord keeper should take toy, and stop it there. And I know your lordship cannot forget they have such a savage word among them as fleecing. God in heaven bless your lordship from such hands and tongues; and then things will mend of themselves. Your lordship's, in all humbleness, This Sunday morning. Endorsed-25th of November, 1622. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. My Very Good Lord, I find my lord treasurer, after so many days and appointments, and such certain messages and pro mises, doth but mean to coax me, (it is his own | which I will endeavour, upon all opportunities, word of old,) and to saw me asunder, and to do to deserve: and in the mean time do rest just nothing upon his majesty's gracious reference, nobly procured by your lordship for this poor remnant. My lord, let it be your own deed; and to use the prayers of the litany, good Lord, deliver me from this servile dependence; for I had rather beg and starve, than be fed at that door. God ever prosper your lordship. Your lordship's most bounden Bedford House, this and faithful servant, Endorsed, Your lordship's assured faithful poor friend and servant, Westminster College, this 7th of Feb., 1622. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. Though your lordship's absence* fall out in an ill time for myself; yet, because I hope in God this noble adventure will make your lordship a To Buckingham, about Lord Treasurer Cranfield's rich return in honour, abroad and at home, and using of him. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. EXCELLENT LORD, I perceive this day by Mr. Comptroller,* that I live continually in your lordship's remembrance and noble purposes concerning my fortunes, as well for the comfort of my estate, as for countenancing me otherwise by his majesty's employments and graces; for which I most humbly kiss your hands, leaving the times to your good lordship; which, considering my age and wants, I assure myself your lordship will the sooner take into your care. And for my house at Gorhambury, I do infinitely desire your lordship should have it; and howsoever I may treat, I will conclude with none, till I know your lordship's farther pleasure, ever resting Your lordship's obliged and faithful servant, Bedford House, this 5th of Feb. 1622.† TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. MY VERY GOOD LORD, 1 have received by this bearer, the privy seal for the survey of coals, which I will lay aside, until I shall hear farther from my Lord Steward, and the rest of the lords. chiefly in the inestimable treasure of the love and trust of that thrice-excellent prince; I confess I am so glad of it, as I could not abstain from your lordship's trouble in seeing it expressed by these few and hasty lines. I beseech your lordship, of your nobleness vouchsafe to present my most humble duty to his highness, who, I hope, ere long will make me leave King Henry the Eighth, and set me on work in relation of his highness's adventures. I very humbly kiss your lordship's hands, resting ever Your lordship's most obliged February 21, 1622. friend and servant. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM EXCELLENT LORD, Upon the repair of my Lord of Rochford unto your lordship, whom I have ever known so fasi and true a friend and servant unto you; and who knows likewise so much of my mind and affection towards your lordship, I could not but kiss your lordship's hands, by the duty of these few lines. My lord, I hope in God, that this your noble adventure will make you a rich return, especially in the inestimable treasure of the love and trust of that twice-excellent prince. And although, to a man that loves your lordship so dearly as I do, and knows somewhat of the world, it cannot be, but that in my thoughts there should arise many fears, or shadows of fears, concerning so rare an accident; yet, nevertheless, I believe well, that this your lordship's absence will rather be a glass unto you, to show you many things, whereof you may make use hereafter, than otherwise any hurt or hazard to your fortunes; which God grant. For myself, I am but a man desolate till your return, and have taken a course accordingly. Vouchsafe. of your nobleness, to remember my most humble Two days before, the Marquis of Buckingham set out duty to his highness. And so God, and his hely privately with the prince, for Spain. angels guard you, both going and coming. I am ready to do as much as your lordship desireth, in keeping Mr. Cottons off from the violence of those creditors: only himself is, as yet, wanting in some particular directions. I heartily thank your lordship for your book; and all other symbols of your love and affection, Henry Cary, Viscount Falkland. Duke of Lenox. Probably the surety of Lord Bacon for the debt to Harrys the goldsmith, mentioned in his lordship's letter of May 30, 1622 Endorsed-March 10, 1622. In Spain. TO SIR FRANCIS COTTINGTON, SECRETARY TO GOOD MR. SECRETARY, * Though I wrote so lately unto you, by my Lord Rochford; yet, upon the going of my Lord Vaughan, the prince's worthy and trusty servant, and my approved friend, and your so near ally, I could not but put this letter into his hand, commending myself and my fortunes unto you. You know the difference of obliging men in prosperity and adversity, as much as the sowing upon a pavement and upon a furrow new made. Myself for quiet, and the better to hold out, am retired to Gray's Inn: for when my chief friends were gone so far off, it was time for me to go to a cell. God send us a good return of you all. I ever rest, &c. My humble service to my lord marquis, to whom I have written twice. I would not cloy him. My service also to the Count Gondomar, and Lord of Bristol. Endorsed, TO MR. SECRETARY CONWAY. When you did me the honour and favour to visit me, you did not only in general terms express your love unto me, but, as a real friend, asked me whether I had any particular occasion, wherein I might make use of you? At that time I had none: now there is one fallen. It is, that Mr. Thomas Murray, Provost of Eton, (whom I love very well,) is like to die. It were a pretty cell for my fortune. The college and school, I do not doubt, but I shall make to flourish. His majesty, when I waited on him, took notice of my wants, and said to me, that, as he was a king, he would have care of me: this is a thing somebody would have, and costs his majesty nothing. I have written two or three words to his majesty, which I would pray you to deliver. I have not expressed this particular to his majesty, but referred it to your relation. My most noble friend, the mar. quis, is now absent. Next to him I could not think of a better address than to yourself, as one To Mr. Secretary, Sir Francis Cottington, March likest to put on his affection. I rest 22, 1622. TO THE KING. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, Now that my friend is absent, (for so I may call him still, since your majesty, when I waited on you, told me, that fortune made no difference,) your majesty remaineth to me king, and master, and friend, and all. Your beadsman therefore addresseth himself to your majesty for a cell to retire into. The particular I have expressed to my very friend, Mr. Secretary Conway. This help, which costs your majesty nothing, may reserve me to do your majesty service, without being chargeable unto you; for I will never deny but my desire to serve your majesty is of the nature of the heart, that will be ultimum moriens with me. God preserve your majesty, and send you a good return of the treasure abroad, which passeth all Indian fleets. Your majesty's most humble To the king, touching the Provostship of Eton.‡ He was son and heir of Walter Vaughan, of Golden Grove, in Caermarthenshire, Esq.; and was created Lord Vaughan, in the year 1620. The Lord St. Alban, after he was delivered from his confinement in the Tower, was permitted to stay at Sir John Vaughan's house, at Parson's Green, near Fulham. +In a MS. letter of Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, dated at London, March 8, 1622-3, is the following passage: "The Lord of St. Alban is in his old remitter, and came to lie in his old lodgings in Gray's Inn; which is the fulfilling of a prophecy of one Locke, a familiar of his, of the same house, that knew him intus et in cute: who, seeing him go thence in pomp, with the great seal before him, said to divers of his friends, we shall live to have him here again." ↑ Mr. Thomas Murray, the provost of that college, having been cut for the stone, died April 1, 1623. Your honour's very affectionate friend, FR. ST. ALBAN.* Gray's Inn, the 25th of March, 1623. TO THE MArquis of BUCKINGHAM, IN SPAIN. EXCELLENT LORD, Finding so trusty a messenger as Sir John Epsley, I thought it my duty to put these few lines into his hands. I thank God, that those shadows, which either mine own melancholy, or my extreme love to your lordship, did put into my mind concerning this voyage of the prince and your lordship, rather vanish and diminish than otherwise. The gross fear is past of the passage of France. I think you had the ring which they write of, that, when the seal was turned to the palm of the hand, made men go invisible. Neither do I hear of any novelty here worth the esteeming. There is a general opinion here that your lordship is like enough to return, and go again, before the prince come: which opinion, whether the business lead you to do so, or no, doth no hurt; for it keeps men in awe. I find, I thank God, some glimmering of the *To this letter Secretary Conway wrote an answer, ac quainting the Lord Viscount St. Alban, that the king could not value his lordship so little, or conceive that he limited his desires so low; in which, however, he should have been gratified, had not the king been engaged, by the Marquis of Buckingham, for Sir William Becher, his agent in France.See Account of the Life of Lord Bacon, p. 26, prefixed to the edition of his Letters, Memoirs, &c., by Robert Stephens, Esq. The Duke of Buckingham himself, likewise, after his return from Spain, in a letter to the Lord Viscount St. Alban, dated at Hinchinbrook, October 27, 1623, expresses his concern that he could do his lordship no service in that affair, “having engaged myself," says he, "to Sir William Becher, before my going into Spain; so that I cannot free myself, unless there were means to give him satisfaction." king's favour, whics your lordship's noble work of my access, no doubt, did chiefly cherish. I am much bound to Mr. Secretary Conway. It is wholly for your lordship's sake, for I had no acquaintance with him in the world. By that I see of him, he is a man fit to serve a great king, and fit to be a friend and servant to your lordship. Good my lord, write two or three words to him, both of thanks, and a general recommendation of me unto him. Vouchsafe, of your nobleness, to present my most humble duty to his highness. We hear he is fresh in his person, and becomes this brave journey in all things. God provide all things for the best. I ever rest, &c. Endorsed-March 30, 1623. TO MR. SECRETARY CONWAY. GOOD MR. Secretary, I was looking of some short papers of mine touching usury,* to grind the teeth of it, and yet make it grind to his majesty's miil in good sort, without discontentment or perturbation. If you think good, I will send it to his majesty, as the fruit of my leisure. But yet, I would not have it come from me, not for any tenderness in the thing, but because I know, in courts of princes, it is usual, non res, sed displicet auctor. God keep your honour, &c. Endorsed, To Mr. Secretary Conway, touching the provostship of Eton, March 31, 1623. TO THE EARL OF BRISTOL, AMBASSADOR IN MY VERY GOOD Lord, Though I have written to your lordship lately, yet I could not omit to put a letter into so good a hand as Mr. Matthew's, being one that hath often made known unto me how much I am beholden to your lordship; and knoweth, likewise, in what estimation I have ever had your lordship, not according to your fortunes, but according to your inward value. Therefore, not to hold your lordship in this time of so great business, and where I have so good a mean as Mr. Matthew, who, if there be any thing that concerns my fortune, can better express it than myself, I humbly commend myself, and my service to your lordship, resting, &c. I am much comforted by your last letter, wherein I find that his majesty, of his mere grace and goodness, vouchsafeth to have a care of me, a man out of sight, out of use; but yet his, as the Scripture saith, God knows those that are his. In particular, I am very much bound to his majesty (and I pray you, sir, thank his majesty most humbly for it) that, notwithstanding the former designment of Sir William Becher, his majesty (as you write) is not out of hope, in due time, to accommodate me of this cell, and to satisfy him otherwise. Many conditions, no doubt, may be as contenting to that gentleman, and his years may expect them. But there will hardly fall, TO SIR FRANCIS COTTINGTON, SECRETARY TO especially in the spent hourglass of my life, any thing so fit for me, being a retreat to a place of study so near London, and where (if I sell my house at Gorhambury, as I purpose to do, to put myself in some convenient plenty) I may be accommodated of a dwelling for summer time. And, therefore, good Mr. Secretary, further this his majesty's good intention, by all means, if the place fall. I For yourself, you have obliged me much. will endeavour to deserve it: at least your nobleness is never lost; and my noble friend, the marquis, I know, will thank you for it. Sir William had not, however, that post, but, in lieu of it, the promise of two thousand five hundred pounds, upon the fall of the first of the six clerks' places, and was permitted to keep his clerkship of the council.-MS. Letter of Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, dated at London, July 24, 1624. The provostship was given to Sir Henry Wotton, who was instituted into it the 26th of that month, having purchased it by a surrender of a grant of the reversion of the mastership of the rolls, and of another office, which was fit to be turned into present money, which he then, and afterwards, much wanted: [Life of him by Mr. Isaac Walton:] for, when he went to the election at Eton, soon after his being made provost, he was so ill provided, that the fellows of the college were obliged to furnish his bare walls, and whatever else was wanting.-MS. Letter of Mr. Chamberlain, Aug. 7, 1024. THE PRINCE. GOOD MR. SEcretary, Though I think I have cloyed you with letters, yet, had I written a thousand before, I must add one more by the hands of Mr. Matthew, being as true a friend as any you or I have; and one that made me so happy, as to have the assurance of our friendship; which, if there be any stirring for my good, I pray practise in so good a conjunction as his. I ever rest, &c. TO MR. TOBIE MATTHEW. GOOD MR. MATTHEW, Because Mr. Clarke is the first that hath been sent since your departure, who gave me also the comfortable news, that he met you well, I could not but visit you with my letters, who have so often visited me with your kind conferences. My health, I thank God, is better than when you left me; and, to my thinking, better than be * In his works is published, A Draught of an Act against an usurious Shift of Gain in delivering of Commodities instead of Money. TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. EXCELLENT LORD, I write now only to congratulate with your grace your new honour;* which, because I reckon to be no great matter to your fortune, (though you are the first English duke that hath been created since I was born,) my compliment shall be the shorter. So, having turned almost my hopes of your grace's return by July, into wishes, and not to them neither, if it should be any hazard to your health, I rest, &c. Vouchsafe, of your nobleness, to present my most humble duty to his highness. Summer is a thirsty time; and sure I am, I shall infinitely thirst to see his highness's and your grace's return. TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, IN SPAIN. EXCELLENT LORD, I humbly thank your grace for your letter of the 29th of May; and that your grace doth believe that no man is gladder of the increase of your honour and fortune than I am; as, on the other part, no man should be more sorry, if it should in the least degree decline, nor more careful, if it should so much as labour. But, of the first, I speak as of a thing that is: but, for the two latter, it is but a case put, which I hope I shall never see. And, to be plain with your grace, I am not a little comforted to observe, that, although in common sense and experience a man would have doubted that some things might have sorted to your prejudice; yet, in particulars we find nothing of it. For, a man might reasonably have feared that absence and discontinuance might have lessened his majesty's favour; no such thing has followed. So, likewise, that any that might not wish you well, should have been bolder with you. But all is continued in good compass. Again. who might not have feared, that your grace being there to manage, in great part, the most important business of Europe, so far from the king, and not strengthened with advice there, except that of the prince himself, and thus to deal with so politic a state as Spain, you should be able to go through DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM to the lord VISCOUNT as you do? and yet nothing, as we hear, but for MY GOOD LORD, ST. ALBAN. I have received your hearty congratulation for the great honour, and gracious favour which his majesty hath done me: and I do well believe, that no man is more glad of it than yourself. Tobie Matthew is here; but what with the journey, and what with the affliction he endures, to find, as he says, that reason prevails nothing with these people, he is grown extreme lean, and looks as sharp as an eyas.† Only, he comforts himself with a conceit, that he is now gotten on the other side of the water, where the same reason that is valuable in other parts of the world, is of no validity here; but rather something else, which yet he hath not found out I have let his highness see the good expressions of your lordship's care, and faithful affection to The title of duke, conferred on him May, 1623. ↑ A young hawk, just taken out of the nest. your honour, and that you do your part. Surely, my lord, though your virtues be great, yet these things could not be, but that the blessing of God, which is over the king and the prince, doth likewise descend upon you as a faithful servant; and you are the more to be thankful to God for it. I humbly thank your grace, that you make me live in his highness's remembrance, whom I shall ever bear a heart to honour and serve. And I much joy to hear of the great and fair reputation which at all hands are given him. For Mr. Matthew, I hope by this time he hath gathered up his crumbs; which importeth much, I assure your grace, if his cure must be, either by finding better reason on that side the line, or by discovering what is the motion, that moveth the wheels, that, if reason do not, we must all pray for his being in good point. But, in truth, my * The Duke of Buckingham went to Spain, February, 1623, and returned in September. |