taken them as they came among the rest. I have given all that I know of up to this date. And as it appears by the dockets that the series has been carefully kept for Bacon's own use, I do not think it likely that there were ever many more. At any rate these are all that we have to judge by, so far: and each reader may decide for himself whether they afford reason for thinking that BuckinghamI will not say was in the habit of "dictating Bacon's decrees," which is absurd-but that he so much as wished him in any case to decide in favour of a party whom he thought in the wrong. I attach no weight to the qualifying clause. That instead of being used at first and omitted afterwards, according to Lord Campbell's original assertion, it was in fact used more uniformly afterwards than at first, was probably an accident. The recommendation was meant I think in all cases alike to be subject to the qualification. But how was it understood by Bacon himself? How did he deal with these recommendations; or how did he wish Buckingham to believe that he dealt with them? No attempt has ever been made to connect an unjust decree of his with one of these letters: and the manner in which he professed to deal with them may be gathered from the next letter. How Buckingham accepted the report will appear by his answer (31st January) a little further on.1 TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.2 My very good Lord, I thought fit by this my private letter to your Lordship, to give you an account of such business as your Lordship hath recommended unto me, that you may perceive that I have taken that care of them I ought and ever shall in those you recommend or remit to me. For the suit of the Alehouses which concerneth your brother Mr. Christopher Villiers, and Mr. Patrick Mawle, I have conferred with my Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Solicitor thereupon, and there is a scruple in it that it should be one of the grievances put down in Parliament; which if it be, I may not in my duty and love to you advise you to deal in it; if it be not, I will mould it in the best manner and help it forward. The stay is upon the search of the Clerk of the Parliament, who is out of town; but we have already found, that the last grievance in 7mo 1 See p. 298. 2 Stephens's first collection, p. 224. From the original. Reprinted in second collection, p. 73. is not the same with this suit; but we doubt yet of another in 30. For the business of Mr. Leviston, for your Lordship's sake (who I perceive keeps your noble course with me, in acquainting me with these things) I shall apply myself unto you; though in my nature I do desire that those that serve in the court where I sit, though they be not in places of my gift, and so concerns not me nor my place in profit; yet I wish, I say, I mought leave them in as good case as I find them. And this suit concerneth the main profit of the Six Clerks; who though they be of the Master of the Rolls his gift, yet they serve in my court. But my greatest doubt is that the grant cannot be good in law; and that it is not like those other precedents, whereof I have received a note. For the difference is, where things have been written by all the clerks indifferently and loosely (in which case the King may draw them into an office) and where they have appertained to one especial office; in which case the King can no more take away the profits of a man's office, than he can the profits of his land. Therefore I think your Lordship may do well to write to Mr. Solicitor and Serjeant Finch, or some other lawyers that you trust, or such as Mr. Leviston trusteth, being persons of account, to inform you of the point in law, before you proceed any further: for without that all is in vain. For the business of Hawkins, touching the register for the commission of Bankrupts; I am not yet satisfied likewise for the law, nor for the conveniency; but I rather incline to think it may pass and I have set it in a course by which I throughly informed. : may be For Sir Rowland Egerton's cause, and his lady's, the parties have submitted themselves unto me, and are content to do it by bond, and therefore I will undoubtedly make an end of it according to justice and conscience. For Sir Gilbert Houghton's business, I am in very good hope to effect your Lordship's desire for his good. For Moor's business, concerning the printing of books, after hearing all parties I have sealed his patent; but for his former patent of Salt, I dare not do it without acquainting the Counci. therewith, which I am ready to do if he require that course to be taken. If his Majesty at any time ask touching the Lord Clifton's business, I pray your Lordship represent to his Majesty thus much, That whatsoever hath passed, I thank God I neither fear him nor hate him; but I am wonderful careful of the seat of justice, that they may still be well munited, being principal sinews of his Majesty's authority. Therefore the course will be (as I am advised) that for this heinous misprision (that the party, without all colour or shadow of cause, should threaten the life of his Judge, and of the highest Judge of the kingdom next his Majesty,) he be first examined, and if he confess it, then an ore tenus; if he confess it not, then an information in the Star-chamber, and he to remain where he is till the hearing. But I do purposely forbear yet to have him examined, till the decree or agreement between him and my Lord Aubigny (which is now ready) be perfected, lest it should seem an oppression by the terror of the one to beat him down in the other. Thus I ever rest Your Lordship's true friend and devoted servant, York-house, Jan. 25, 1617. I pray your Lordship to pardon me, if in respect of a little watering in one of mine eyes, I have written this letter, being long and private business, in my secretary's hand. Lord Clifton had been prosecuted in the Star Chamber for some misdemeanour, and condemned to pay a fine of 10007. and to be imprisoned in the Fleet, where he behaved himself (says Chamberlain, writing on the 3rd of January) "so foolishly and insolently in traducing the justice of the land and threatening to kill the Lord Keeper, that on Tuesday he was called to the Council table and from that committed to the Tower."1 TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.2 My honourable Lord, I have been entreated by a gentleman whom I much respect to recommend to your Lordship's favour Mr. John Huddy, between whom and Mr. Richard Huddy there is, as I am informed, a cause to be heard before your Lordship in the Chancery on Saturday next. My desire unto your Lordship is, that you would shew the said John Huddy what 1 S. P. Dom. vol. xcv. no. 5. 2 Harl. MSS. 7006. f. 70. Orig. Docketed by Meautys, "Jan. 1617. The Marq. of Buck. to your Lp. touching a suit in Chancery between Huddy and Huddy." favour you lawfully may and as his cause will bear when it cometh before you, for my sake. Which I will not fail to acknowledge, ever resting Your Lordship's faithful servant, Newmarket, the 28 of Jan. 1617. G. BUCKINGHAM. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.1 My honourable Lord, I have received your Lordship's letters, wherein I see the continuance of your love and respect to me in any thing I write to you of, for which I give your Lordship many thanks, desiring nothing for any man but what you shall find just and convenient to pass. I am very glad to understand that there is so good hope of Sir Gilbert Houghton's business, which I must needs ascribe to your Lordship's great favour toward him for my sake, which I will ever acknowledge. If his Majesty at any time speak of the Lord Clifton's busines, I will answer according to that your Lordship hath written. I understand by Jack Butler how bountiful your Lordship hath been to him, for which I thank your Lordship, he being brother to my sister's husband, and besides I account your favour placed upon a thankful youth who speaketh of it to all his friends, which I take well in him that will not smother the benefits bestowed upon him. I am sorry your Lordship maketh an apology for using the liberty (upon such a necessary occasion) of another's hand, which I so often take by reason of my little leisure, and desire your Lordship hereafter to spare yourself more, without tying yourself to that ceremony which I so little observe. I send back unto your Lordship the Commission for the Court Martial signed by his Majesty, who hath (God be thanked) had a better day of this than any since his pain began, and purposeth this afternoon to take some air abroad, and I hope will be very well able at his return to take the contentment of the Mask, whereof I have signified your care unto him. And so I rest Your Lordship's faithful servant, G. BUCKINGHAM. Newmarket, the last of January, 1717. The "mask" was most likely an entertainment to be presented by Gray's Inn. We learn from Chamberlain that on Candlemas Day Bacon "dined at Gray's Inn to give countenance to their Lord 1 Harl. MSS. 7006. Docketed by Meautys, "Jan. 30, 1607. The Marq. of Buck to y' Lp. of thanks for your favour to Mr. Butler your servant and other particulars." and Prince of Purpoole, and to see their revels." And a mask appears to have been in preparation for Shrove Tuesday, though it could not be performed till Thursday, owing to the occupation of the Banqueting hall by an improved edition of the "Prince's Mask"a piece of Ben Jonson's which had been acted on Twelfth night with little applause. "On Thursday night," says Chamberlain, "the gentlemen of Gray's Inn came to the court with their show, for I cannot call it a masque, seeing they were not disguised, nor had vizards. For the rest, their fashion and device were well approved, though it were thought to be somewhat out of season to revel in Lent."8 TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. My honourable Lord, I understand that his Majesty hath been pleased to refer a suit unto him by two of his servants, Robert Maxwell and John Hunt, for the making of sheriffs and escheators patents, to your Lordship's consideration. My desire unto your Lordship in their behalf is, that you would shew them thus much favour for my sake, as with as much expedition as may be and your Lordship's other occasions may permit, to certify your opinion thereof unto his Majesty; which I will be ready to acknowledge, and ever rest Your Lordship's faithful servant, Newmarket, the 4 day of February, 1617. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.5 My honourable Lord, G. BUCKINGHAM. Though I had resolved not to write to your Lordship in any matter between party and party, yet at the earnest request of my noble friend the Lord Norris, to whom I account myself much beholden, I could not but recommend unto your Lordship's favour a special friend of his, Sir Thomas Monk, who hath a suit before your Lordship in the chancery 1 Chamberlain to Carleton, 7 Feb. 1617-8. 2 "The Masque on Twelfth Night is not commended of any. The poet is grown so dull that his device is not worth the relating, much less the copying out. Divers think fit he should return to his old trade of bricklaying again." Nathanael Brent to Sir D. Carleton 10 Jan. 1617. 3 Court and Times of James I. vol. ii. p. 66. Harl. MSS. 7006. f. 74. Orig. Docketed by Meautys, "4 Feb. 1617. The Marqs of Buck to yr Lp. touching Maxwell's suit." ⚫ Harl. MSS. 7006. f. 76. Orig. Docketed by Meautys, " 4 Feb. 1617. The Lord Marq. of Buck to yr Lp. in the behalf of Sir Thomas Monk." 6 This is another passage which agrees very well with the supposition that Bacon had taken some occasion to remind Buckingham of the inconvenience of this practice of writing letters in favour of parties. It does not prove that he had, but I think it should at least forbid us to assume that he had not. |