against the transportation of gold by the Dutch; which all the town is glad of; and I have granted divers writs of ne exeat regnum, according to his Majesty's warrant. Sir Edward Coke keeps in still, and we have miss of him; but I supply it as I may by my further diligence. God ever bless you and keep you. Your Lordship's most faithful and bounden friend and servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. 11 December, 1618. I forget not your doctor's1 matter. I shall speak with him to-day, having received your Lordship's letter; and what is possible shall be done. I pray pardon my scribbling in haste. The "Hollanders" referred to in Buckingham's answer to this letter, were Commissioners sent from the States to treat about certain commercial differences which had arisen in the East Indies. "The States' Commissioners" (says Lorkin writing to Sir Thomas Puckering on the 1st of December) “are here arrived, in number eight: three men of remark, two civil lawyers, and three of inferior note, merchants; who are to treat with our East India Company, to see whether they can end all former differences by bringing them to this issue, that from henceforth they join their stocks into one bank and treat 2 out that trade and traffic together." They pretend two things," he says in another letter of the 18th, "a justification of themselves for their proceedings with our merchants for the time past, and the treating about some fit expedient of trading quietly together for the time to come. His Majesty hath remitted them over to his Council, who are to hear and relate particulars." 4 It will be seen that Bacon wished to be a commissioner to treat with them and I think he can hardly have been satisfied with the reasons the King gave for refusing. : TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR." My honourable Lord, I have acquainted his Majesty with your letters, who is very well 'Dr. Steward. See above p. 441. So printed. I should think 'beat.' + Ib. p. 113. 3 Court and Times of James I. vol. ii. p. 110. 5 Harl. MSS. 7006. f. 116. Orig. Docketed "14 Dec. 1618. My Lo. of Buck. to y Lp. touching the stay of Hall's patent, with directions for a letter to be written to the Lo. Deputy of Ireland touching the Earl of Ormonde.” pleased with your care of his service, in making stay of the grant of denizens upon that reason you alledge, whereof his Majesty will speak further with you at his return. The letter which you sent me about my Lord of Ormonde's son is not according to his Majesty's meaning; but he would have you frame another to my Lord Deputy to this purpose: "that his Majesty having seen a letter of his to Sir Francis Blundell, advertising that the Earl of "Ormonde's son and some other of his kindred did victual and fortify "their houses, his Majesty hath thereupon commanded you to write unto "him, that if the ground of his information be true (which he may best "know) that then he send for the said Earl's son and the principal of his "kindred to appear before him; and if they appear and give him satis"faction, it is well; but if they refuse to appear or give him not satis"faction though they appear, that then he assemble what forces he can, "be they never so few, and go against them, that he may crush the rebel"lion in the egg." I have remembered his Majesty, as I promised your Lordship, about the naming of you for a commissioner to treat with the Hollanders: But besides that you have so many businesses, both of the star-chamber and others, in the term-time, when this must be attended as well as in the vacation, whereby this would be either too great a toil to you or a hindrance to his Majesty's service; he thinketh it could not stand with the honour of your place to be balanced with those that are sent from a state so far unequal to his Majesty, and being themselves none of the greatest of that state. Therefore his Majesty holdeth it not fit or worthy of you to put you into such an employment, in which none of your predecessors, or any of the chief counsellors, have been ever used in that kind, but only in a treaty of marriage or a conclusion of a peace, as when the constable of Castile was here, when the commissioners on both sides had their authority under the great seal of either kingdom with direct relation to their sovereigns, far differing from this commission which is now given to these men, and whereunto his Majesty is to frame the course of his. As, for that part which concerneth Scotland, the choice hath not been made of the Chancellor or Archbishop of St. Andrew's, but of men nearer the rank of those that are come hither to treat. As yet his Majesty delayeth to name any commissioners at all, because he would first be informed from the Lords both of the points and form of their commission, which his Majesty hitherto understandeth to be with authority to overrule and direct their merchants in what they shall think fit; which if it be so, then his Majesty holdeth it fit for his part to appoint the whole body of the council with like power over his merchants. As for me, I shall be ever ready upon any occasion to shew myself Your Lordship's faithful friend and servant, Newmarket, the 14th of Decemb. 1618. Though the popular dissatisfaction with the execution of Ralegh was no doubt very general at the time; and though the remembrance of it afterwards, as the unpopular negotiations with Spain went on but did not prosper, helped materially to untune the relations between the government and the nation; it was not immediately followed by any threatening demonstrations of discontent: and Bacon seems to have thought that the only serious danger which then threatened the crown was the condition of the finances. Under this impression he had selected as the fittest New Year's Gift for the King on this occasion, an account of his revenue. I have not succeeded in finding any treatise answering the description: and as it was still only an intention, it may perhaps have remained in that state and not grown into anything better. That he should not have been able to have it ready at the exact time when it might be used to serve and dignify the office of a new year's compliment, is easy to understand. But it was an intention at any rate sufficiently mature to be formally announced to the King himself, and the letter in which he announced it, still extant in his own hand, is here printed from the original in the Bodleian Library. TO THE KING.1 It may please your most excellent Majesty, I do many times with gladness and for a remedy of my other labours, revolve in my mind the great happiness which God (of his singular goodness) hath accumulated upon your Majesty every way; and how complete the same would be, if the state of your means were once rectified, and well ordered. Your people militar and obedient; fit for war, used to peace. Your Church illightened with good preachers, as an heaven of stars. Your Judges learned, and learning from you; just, and just by your example. Your Nobility in a right distance between crown and people; no oppressors of the people, no overshadowers of the crown. Your Council full of tribute of care, faith, and freedom. Your gentlemen and justices of peace willing to apply your royal mandates to the nature of their several countries, but ready to obey. Your servants in awe of your wisdom, in hope of your goodness. The fields growing every day by the improvement and recovery of grounds, from the desert to the garden. The city grown from wood to brick. Your sca-walls or pomarium of 1 Tauner MSS. 74. fo. 176. Original. Own hand. your island, surveyed and in edifying. Your merchants embracing the whole compass of the world, east, west, north, and south. The times give you peace, and yet offer you opportunities of action abroad. And lastly, your excellent royal issue entaileth these blessings and favours of God to descend to all posterity. It resteth therefore that God having done so great things for your Majesty and you for others, you would do so much for yourself, as to go through (according to your beginnings) with the rectifying and settling of your estate of means, which only is wanting. Hoc rebus defuit unum. I therefore, whom only love and duty to your Majesty and royal line hath made a financier, do intend to present unto your Majesty a perfect book of your estate, like a prospective glass, to draw your estate nearer to your sight; beseeching your Majesty to conceive, that if I have not attained to do that that I would do in this which is not proper for me, nor in my element, I shall make your Majesty amends in some other things in which God ever preserve and prosper your M. Your Ms. servant I am better bred. most humble obliged and devoted FR. VERULAM. 2 Januar. 1618. |