1617.] RETURN OF TOBY MATTHEW. 215 overcoming a scruple in the King's mind; and Matthew took advantage of the opportunity to press his suit. As a mediator both with Villiers and the Archbishop and the King, Bacon could be of great use; and though the complimentary phrases used by a fine and ingenious writer in expressing his obligations to such a man are not to be quoted as historical evidence, it is plain that Matthew really attributed the success of the mediation (so far as it was successful) in great part to Bacon's zeal and judgment. A letter which he certainly received from him about the middle of August 1616 would have given us better information; but the copy which was once among his papers' has unfortunately disappeared; and all we know of it is gathered from the terms in which it was acknowledged. These therefore I give in full. “I have been made happy by your Honour's noble and dear lines of the two and twentieth of July, and the joy that I took therein was only kept from excess by the notice they gave me of some intentions and advices of your Honour which you had been pleased to impart to other of my friends with a meaning that they should acquaint me with them, whereof they have entirely failed. And therefore (if still it should import me to understand what they were) I must be enforced to beg the knowledge of them from yourself. Your Honour hath by this short letter delivered me otherwise from a great deal of laborious suspense. For besides the great hope you give me of being so shortly able to do you reverence) I am come to know that by the diligence of your favour towards me my Lord of Canterbury hath been drawn to give way, and the Master of the Horse hath been induced to move. That motion I trust will be granted howsoever, but I should be out of fear thereof if, when he moves the King, your Honour would cast to be present; that if his Majesty should make any difficulty, some such reply as is wont to come from you in such cases may have power to discharge it." The difficulty seems now to have been entirely with the King. Chamberlain, who had an interest in Matthew as a friend of Carleton's, spoke to Winwood in favour of his suit on the 11th of October, who told him plainly "that the King would not hear of it; and yet he had both moved it himself, and got the Lord Villiers, for the acquaintance he had abroad with Mr. Matthew, to move it likewise; but with the like success. Yet he says that if he could be brought to take the oath of allegiance he would not leave urging till he had effected it." In the beginning of December Bacon was again cm See entry of a letter in Stephens's catalogue; date "23 July 1616," beginning "you might have assured:" subject, "touching his return:" address "Mr. Matthews." 2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 46, dated 1 September 1616, new style. 3 Court and Times of James I. vol. i. p. 428. ployed in the negotiation; as I gather from another entry in Stephens's catalogue; but in what way and with what success we do not know. All we know is that Matthew obtained leave to return (though subject to some conditions of restraint)2 in May, and that in the middle of July he arrived. On the 18th Chamberlain saw him at Winwood's house: who “used him," he says, "kindly, and dealt earnestly with him to take the oath of allegiance; but as far as I could perceive it was lost labour; though he told him without doing it he was verily of opinion the King would not endure him long here."3 Bacon, I imagine, had undertaken to be answerable for his behaviour. For it was as his guest that he remained in England. "Perhaps (adds Chamberlain) he presumes upon my Lord Keeper's favour, which indeed is very great now at first, if it continue; for he lodgeth him in York House, and carries him the next week along with him to Gorhambury by St. Albans." So great indeed was the favour ho showed him, that people began to think it too much. For writing again three weeks after, Chamberlain reports him still at Gorhambury; "being so exceedingly favoured and respected by that Lord that it is thought aliquid nimium, that a man of his place should give so much countenance to one so affected. And some stick not to say that former private familiarity should give place to public respects."5 It could not be expected that when all papists were so much suspected and disliked as they then were, attentions of this kind to a pervert and a recusant would escape popular censure. But they were open to no just objection, and were of important service to a valued friend; whose society we leave Bacon to enjoy during the short interval of fair weather which preceded the squall to be described in the next chapter. 1 Date "9 Dec. 1616." Beginning "The only cause why." Subject “About suing for his return." Address "Mr. Matthews." 2 Chamberlain to Carleton, 10 May, 1617. Id. 19 July 1617. S. P. vol. xc:i. no. 96. · ས "Toby Matthew is received with great grace by the Lord Keeper and lodged in his house, and resides a kind of prisoner with him until the return of the King." George Gerrard to Sir D. Carleton, 22 July, 1617. Id. ibid. no. 101. — 9 Aug. 1617. Id. vol. xciii. no. 15. 217 CHAPTER V. A.D. 1617. JUNE-SEPTEMBER. ETAT. 57. 1. EARLY in July Bacon received a letter from a friend who had been to the Court in Scotland, giving a favourable report of the progress of business in the session of Parliament which had just closed. The business I need not meddle with, as it does not concern any part of his correspondence. But the concluding paragraph seems to imply some apprehension of trouble in store for Bacon himself. Lord “I have made good profit," he says, “of my journey hither; for I have gotten a transcript of the speech which your Lordship did deliver at your first and happy sitting in the Chancery; which I could not gain in England. It hath been shewed to the King, and received duc approbation. The God of Heaven, all-wise and all-sufficient, guard and assist your ship in all your actions; for I can read here whatsoever your Lordship doth act there; and your courses be such as you need not to fear to give copies of them. But the King's ears be wide and long, and he seeth with many eyes. All this works for your honour and comfort. I pray God nothing be soiled heated or cooled in the carriage. Envy sometimes attends virtues and not for good; and these bore certain proprieties and circumstances inherent to your Lordship's mind, which men may admire, I cannot express. But I will wade no further herein lest I should seem eloquent," etc. Whatever these vague hints meant, it was true that Bacon's favour with the King and Buckingham was in great danger at this time; and the danger had arisen in an unsuspected quarter. We left Sir Edward Coke last November preparing to follow the counsel of his anony. mous adviser and “learn of the unjust steward to make friends of the 1 Dated June 28, 1618. S. P. vol. xcii. no. 103 I. unrighteous Mammon." It was a new part for him, and the harder to play because he could not altogether lay aside his old character. But the force, and perhaps I should add the coarseness, of his nature carried him through, and he succeeded in the end in getting what he wanted. His youngest daughter was a fit match in point of age for Sir John Villiers, Buckingham's brother; and he had the means of making it a desirable match in point of wealth. Buckingham, who had never come into personal collision with him and was always eager to advance his own kindred, took him into favour at once; and the King, who in spite of continual collisions and many causes of irritation and not unreasonable displeasure, scems to have retained a respect and even a kind of liking for the man, could not be long at enmity with one whom Buckingham favoured. Within less than a month from the time when Coke received his supersedeas we find symptoms of returning grace. "Sir Edward Coke," writes Edward Sherburn to Carleton on the 7th of December 1616, “was the last week with the King at Newmarket, and kissing his M. hands he received some kind promises also, which was to this effect: That although his M. had removed him from the place of Chief Justice for some special ends, as holding him not altogether so fit a man to do his M. service in that office, yet his meaning was not to lose so good a servant, but that he would have him in remembrance and employ him in some other condition. Which whether it may content Sir Edward, I know not: but I am sure the generality will be much affected to see him restored to honour." Again on the 14th, "Sir Edward Coke hath been again with his M. since my last to your Lp. and it is generally reported that his M. will create him a Baron, sometime these holidays; for either his friends (whereof the Queen and Prince are two) or else his money, or both together, hath so turned the current, as your Lp. may see which way the tide begins to run." To the same effect, Chamberlain, writing a week later, reports, "The Lo. Coke was twice with the King at Newmarket, so well and graciously used that he is as jocund and jovial as ever he was. It is generally said he shall shortly be made a Baron: but some interpret this kindness to be but for the compassing of a match for the L. Villiers' brother with one of his daughters." But though the way seemed smooth, there were obstructions both in himself and in his house. For himself, he could not, when it came 'S. P. Dom. James I. vol. lxxxix. no. 69. 1617.] DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COKE AND HIS WIFE. 219 to the point, make up his mind to part with so large a portion as was expected; while his wife was averse to the match altogether, and having a will about as strong as his own, and accustomed to choose the other way, was not likely to be accommodating. Already he was engaged in a dispute with her concerning the administration of her first husband's property, which had to be brought before the Council table; whereby the domestic dissension became the lawful property of Paul's walk, and supplied the newsmen of the time with very good entertainment in the absence of the Court. It happened alsɔ very unluckily that a suit for damages was at the same time pending against him on account of an act done while he was Chief Justice; he having taken ordinary bail for the appearance of an Englishman to answer a charge of piracy against France, and thereby let him escape: an act which it seems no one but himself would undertake to justify; and which there were several willing enough to aggravate. Our knowledge of the proceedings in Council to which these things led happens to come from persons who had unusually good means of information; and (being very good reporters) they shall tell the story themselves. On the 15th of March, Chamberlain wrote to Carleton: “The Lord Coke is left in the suds, but sure it is God's doing, according to the old saying, perdere quos vult Jupiter prius dementat. For if he had had the grace to have taken hold of the match offered by Sir John Villiers, it is assuredly thought that before this day he had been Lord Chancellor. But standing on terms to give but 10,000 marks with his daughter, when £10,000 was demanded, and sticking at £1000 a year during her life. (together with some idle words that he would not buy the King's favour too dear, being so uncertain and variable), he hath let slip the occasion, and brought himself in danger (besides the disgrace) of paying double that sum, if he be convicted in the Star Chamber of somewhat that it is thought will be proved against him.” On the 18th of May we hear of him again from a still better authority, Secretary Winwood writing to Sir Thomas Lake: "We have had before us the Lady Hatton and Sir Edward Coke. I could have wished between themselves by common friends their differ ences had been determined. I believe he will acquit himself of that im putation which is laid upon him. But I doubt the matter of the bail in the cause of the governor of Dieppe will lie more heavy upon his heart. For his brother Judges do clear themselves, and it cannot be denied but the carriage was foul, and satisfaction must be made either by him or by the King. On Wednesday next Sir Ed. Coke is to appear before the Lords in both causes.' 112 'S. P. Dom. James I. vol. xc. no. 122. * Ibid. vol. xcii, no. 27. |