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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
master_n	bear_v	full_a	great_a	111	3	2.1191	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58844	Scrinia Ceciliana, mysteries of state & government in letters of the late famous Lord Burghley, and other grand ministers of state, in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and King James, being a further additional supplement of the Cabala.; Scrinia Ceciliana.	Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626.; Burghley, William Cecil, Baron, 1520-1598.; Sidney, Philip, Sir, 1554-1586.; Throckmorton, Nicholas, Sir, 1515-1571.	1663 (1663)	Wing S2109; ESTC R10583	213,730	256

entertainments in Forrein parts It had been an easie thing for you to set Carlile or some other blood-hound on work when your person had been beyond the Seas and so this news might have come to you in a packet and you might have looked on how the storm would pass but God bereaved you of this fore-sight and bound you here under that hand of a King that though abundant in Clemenev vet is no less ze lons of Justice Again when you came in at Lambeth you might have persisted in the denial of the procurement of the fact Carlile a resolute man might perhaps have cleared you for they that are resolute in mischief are commonly obstinate in concealing their porcurers and so nothing should have been against you but presumption But then also God to take away all obstructions of Justice gave you the grace which ought indeed to be more true comfort to you than any device whereby you might have escaped to make a clear and plain Confession Other impediments there were not a few which might have been an interruption to this dayes Justice had not God in his Providence removed them But now that I have given God the Honour let me give it likewise where it is next due which is to the King our Sovereign This Murther was no sooner committed and brought to his Majesties ears but his just indignation wherewith he first was moved cast it self into a great deal of care and prudence to have Justice done First came forth his Proclamation somewhat of a rare Form and devised and in esfect dictated by his Majesty himself and by that he did prosecute the Offendors as it were with the breath and blast of his Mouth Then did his Majesty stretch forth his long Arms for Kings have long Arms when they will extend them one of them to the Sea where he took hold of Grey shipped for Luedia who gave the first light of Testimony the other Arm to Scotland and took hold of Carlile ere he was warm in his house and brought him the length of his Kingdom under such safe watch and custody as he could have no means to escape no nor to mischief himself no nor learn no lessons to stand mute in which case perhaps this dayes Justice might have received a stop so that I may conclude his Majesty hath shewed himself Gods true Lieutenant and that he is no Respecter of persons but English Scottish Noblemen Fencer are to him alike in respect of Justice Nay I must say further That his Majesty hath had in this a kind of Prophetical Spirit for what time Carlile and Grey and you my Lord your self were fled no man knew whether to the four winds the King ever spake in a confident and undertaking manner That wheresoever the Offenders were in Europe he would produce them forth to Justice of which noble word God hath made him Master Lastly I will conclude towards you my Lord That though your Offence hath been great yet your Confession hath been free and your behaviour and speech full of discretion and this shews That though you could not resist the Tempter yet you bear a Christian and generous spirit answerable to the noble Family of which you are descended This I commend in you and take it to be an assured Token of God smercy and favour in respect whereof all worldly things are but Trash and so it is fit for you as your state now is to account them and this is all I will say for the present My Lady Shrewsburies Cause Your Lordships do observe the Nature of this Charge MY Lady of Shrewsbury a Lady wise and that ought to know what duty requireth is charged to have refused and to have persisted in refusal to answer and to be examined in a High cause of State being examined by the Council-table which is a Representative body of the King The nature of the cause upon which she was examined is an essential point which doth aggravate and encrease this contempt and presumption and therefore of necessity with that we must begin How graciously and Parent-like His Majesty used the Lady Arbella before she gave him cause of Indignation the world knoweth My Lady notwithstanding extreamly ill-advised transacted the most weighty and binding part and action of her life which is her Marriage without acquanting His Majesty which had been a neglect even to a mean Parent But being to Our Sovereign and she standing so near to His Majesty as she doth and then choosing such a Condition as it pleased her to chuse all parties laid together how dangerous it was my Lady might have read it in the fortune of that house wherewith she is matched for it was not unlike the case of Mr. Seymers Grandmother The King nevertheless so remembred He was a King as He forgot not he was a Kinsman and placed her only sub libera custodia But now did my Lady accumulate and heap up this offence with a far greater than the former by seeking to withdraw her self out of the Kings Power into Forreign Parts That this flight or escape into Forreign Parts might have been seed of trouble to this State is a matter whereof the conceit of a Vulgar person is not capable For although my Lady should have put on a mind to continue her Loyalty as nature and duty did bind her yet when she was in another sphere she must have moved in the motion of that O b and not of the Planet it self And God forbid the Kings felicity should be so little as she should not have envy and enviers enough in Forreign Parts It is true if any forreigner had wrought upon this occasion I do not doubt but the intent would have been as the Prophet saith They have conceived mischief and brought forth a vain thing But yet your Lordships know that it is Wisdom in Princes and it is a watch they owe to themselves and to their people to stop the beginnings of evils and not to despise them Seneca saith well Non jam amplius levia sunt pericula si levia videantur dangers cease to be light because by delp●sing they grow and gather strength And accordingly hath been the practice both of the Wisest and stoutest Princes to hold for matter pregnant of peril to have any near them in blood flie into Forreign Parts Wherein I will not wander but take the example of King Hen. 7. a Prince uot unfit to be parallel'd with his Majesty I mean not the particular of Perkin Werbeck for he was but an idol or a disguise but the example I mean is that of the Earl of Suffolk whom that King extorted from Philip of Austria The story is memorable That Philip after the death of Isabella coming to take Possession of His Kingdom of Castilia which was but Matrimonial to His Father in Law Ferdinando of Arragon was cast by weather upon the Coast of Tamouth where the Italian story saith King Henry used him in all things else as

such directions or significations of Your pleasure as this advertisement may induce and that with speed because the time cometh on Well remembring who is the person whom Your Majesty admitted to this secret I have sent this Letter open unto him that he may take Your Majesties times to report it or shew it unto You assuring my self that nothing is more firm than his Trust tyed to Your Majesties Commandments Your Majesties most humble and most bounden Subject and Servant April 28. 1616. The Copy of a Letter conceived to be written to the late Duke of Buckingham when he first became a Favourite to King James by Sir Francis Bacon afterwards Lord Verulam and Viscount St. Alban Containing some Advices unto the Duke for his better direction in that eminent place of the Favourite Drawn from him at the intreaty of the Duke himself by much importunity Noble SIR WHAT you requested of me by word when I last waited on you you have since renewed by your Letters Your requests are commands unto me and yet the matter is of that nature that I find my self very unable to serve you therein as you desire It hath pleased the King to cast an extraordinary eye of favour upon you and you express your self very desirous to win upon the Judgment of your Master and not upon his Affections only I do very much commend your noble ambition herein for Favour so bottomed is like to be lasting whereas if it be built upon the sandy foundation of personal respects only it cannot be long-lived Yet in this you have erred in applying your self to me the most unworthy of your servants to give assistance upon so weighty a subject You know I am no Courtier nor vers'd in State-affairs my life hitherto hath rather been contemplative then active I have rather studied Books then Men I can but guess at the most at these things in which you desire to be advised Nevertheless to shew my obedience though with the hazard of my discretion I shall yield unto you Sir In the first place I shall be bold to put you in minde of the present condition you are in you are not only a Courtier but a Bed-Chamber man and so are in the eye and eare of Your Master but you are also a favourite The Favourite of the time and so are in his bosome also The world hath so voted you and doth so esteem of you for Kings and great Princes even the wisest of them have had their friends their Favourites their Privadoes in all ages for they have their affections as well as other men of these they make several uses sometimes to communicate and debate their thoughts with them and to upon their judgments thereby sometimes to ease their cares by imparting them and sometimes to interpose them between themselves and the envy or malice of their people for Kings cannot erre that must be discharged upon the shoulders of their Ministers and they who are neerest unto them must be content to bear the greatest load Truly Sir I do not believe or suspect that you are chosen to this eminency out of the last of these considerations for you serve such a Master who by his Wisdom and Goodness is as free from the malice or envy of His Subjects as I think I may say truly ever any King was who hath sate upon His Throne before him But I am confident his Majesty hath cast His eys upon you as finding you to be such as you should be or hoping to make you to be such as he would have you to be for this I may say without flattery your out-side promiseth as much as can be expected from a Gentleman But be it in the one respect or other it belongeth to you to take care of your self and to know well what the name of a Favourite signifies If you be chosen upon the former respects you have reason to take care of your actions and deportment out of your gratitude for the Kings sake but if out of the latter you ought to take the greater care for your own sake You are as a new-risen starre and the eys of all men are upon you let not your own negligence make you fall like a Meteor The contemplation then of your present condition must necessarily prepare you for action what time can be well spar'd from your attendance on Your Master will be taken up by suitors whom you cannot avoid nor decline without reproach for if you do not already you will soon find the throng of suitors attend you for no man almost who hath to do with the King will think himself safe unless you be his good Angel and guide him or at least that you be not a Malus Genius against him so that in respect of the King Your Master you must be very wary that you give him true information and if the matter concern him in his Government that you do not flatter him if you do you are as great a Traytor to him in the Court of Heaven as he that draws his sword against him and in respect of the suitors which shall attend you there is nothing will bring you more honour and more ease then to do them what right in justice you may and with as much speed as you may for believe it Sir next to the obtaining of the suit a speedy and a gentle denial when the case will not bear it is the most acceptable to suitors they will gaine by their dispatch whereas else they shall spend their time and money in attending and you will gaine in the ease you will find being rid of their importunity But if they obtain what they reasonably desired they will be doubly bound to you for your favour Bis dat qui cito dat it multiplies the courtesie to do it with good words and speedily That you may be able to do this with the best advantage my humble advice is this when Suitors come unto you set apart a certain hour in a day to give them Audience If the business be light and easie it may by word only be delivered and in a word be answered but if it be either of weight or of difficulty direct the Suitor to commit it to writing if it be not so already and then direct him to attend for his Answer at a set-time to be appointed which would constantly be observed unless some matter of great moment do interrupt it when you have received the Petitions and it will please the Petitioners well to have access unto you to deliver them into your own hand let your Secretary first read them and draw lines under the material parts thereof for the matter for the most part lies in a narrow room The Petitions being thus prepared do you constantly set apart an hour in a day to peruse those Petitions and after you have ranked them into several Files according to the subject matter make choice of two or three Friends whose judgments and fidelities you believe you may

March 30. 1663. Let this Collection of Letters and other Discourses be Printed HENRY BENNET SCRINIA CECILIANA MYSTERIES OF State Government IN LETTERS Of the late Famous Lord Burghley And other Grand Ministers of STATE In the Reigns of Queen ELIZABETH and King JAMES Being a further Additional Supplement of the CABALA AS ALSO Many Remarkable Passages faithfully Revised and no where else Published With two exact Tables The one of the Letters The other of Things most Observable LONDON Printed for G. Bedel and T. Collins and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple-gate in Fleetstreet 1663. The Stationers To the READER Courteous Reader ALthough it be a received Position That Merit is worthier than Fame yet duly considered they ought to be inseparable the one being the just Guerdon of the other Upon that account we have presumed to make Publick these ensuing Memorials or Letters being Monuments of some late Eminent Patriots and Hero's of this Nation Who whilst they were Actors in such grand Affairs as suited with their high Service under their Sovereigns were deservedly Dignified here and Renowned abroad The first of these Worthies being Sir William Cecil Lord Burghley who was an unparallel'd Minister of State And as we conceive of the longest continuance that any Prince then or ever since with such Success enjoyed a person alwayes peaceable and moderate free from Covetousness or Ambition in the course of his Service rather willing to endure the Burthen than desiring the fruition of Honour or Profit profound in Judgment assisted with great Experience and therefore worthily celebrated both here and abroad as Pater Patriae and an indefatigable Votary to the Crown And for the matters and designs in the Letters themselves we shall be silent hoping the Fame of the person will be motive sufficient for you to purchase this Jewel Concerning the Times they were wheeled about with new and great Revolutions and Divisions not only at Home but also in France Scotland the Low Countries and generally in most of the other Kingdoms and States abroad Forâs Pugnae intus Timores Conspiracies Invasions and Insurrections amongst our selves War Devastations and Massacres amongst our Neighbours for the most part shadowed with the Vaile of Religion many Princes of the Blood and persons of great Authority being sacrificed on either part turbulent Times and of great mutations proper to try the Ability and Fidelity of a State Atlas wherein with what Wisdom he acquitted himself is referred to you to determine The next is Sir Nicholas Throckmorton Ambassador in France for Queen Elizabeth in the Infancy of her Reign we have nothing here of his remains but only his Letter to Her Majesty touching a free passage for the Queen of Scots through England wherein you will find variety of Politick Reasons pressed on each part with smart Judgment In the third place is Sir Philip Sidney that choice Darling of the Muses whom we suppose you will freely grant to have been Tam Marti quam Mercurio in whom England Netherland the Heavens and the Arts the Souldiers and the World did emulate a share here we have only a dissuasive Letter to the Queen touching Her Marriage with Mounsieur of France fortified with many pressing and effectual Reasons against that match and penned with a Politick and Ingenuous Stile And in the last place we present you with some Pieces of the inimitable Viscount St. Alban some in the Reign of the late glorious Queen and others in the Halcyon dayes of the late King James never before to our best knowledge made Publick deck't with many grateful Flowers of Philosophy History and Policy the Fall of the Earl of Somerset and the immediate Advance of the Duke of Buckingham with many other passages of moment and here you may observe the memorials of other worthy persons although the Title point only at Sir William Cecil for we conceive it not imaginable That such experienced and sure Masters of Knowledge would employ their thoughts in any thing sleight or superficial However we dare not assume that boldness as to write Encomiasticks of such great Personages that Right we suppose is much better performed by more quaint Pens already Lunae Radiis non maturescit Botrus And their Names and Honour still live in fresh memory Here you may safely turn Necromancer and consult with the dead or rather with the living for such Monuments as these survive Marble Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori These are not like Augustus his two infamous Daughters or his unworthy Nephew Posthumus Agrippa Impostumes as he termed them that broke from him but pure and legitimate Issue of the nobler part which is with care exposed to publick View for the better accomodation of those that have been pleased to purchase the two former Volumes of the like Nature and Quality Temple-gate June 18. 1663. G. B. T. C. A TABLE of the LETTERS contained in this COLLECTION B. SIR Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley Pag. 1. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley p. 2. Sir Francis Bacon in recommendation of his Service to the Earl of Northumberland a few dayes before Queen Elizabeths death p. 4. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Robert Kempe upon the death of Queen Elizabeth p. 5. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. David Foules in Scotland upon the entrance of His Majesties Reign ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon presenting his Discourse touching the Plantation of Ireland p. 6. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Chancellor touching the History of Britain p. 7. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon the sending unto him a beginning of a History of His Majesties time p. 9. Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Salisbury upon sending him one of his Books of Advancement of Learning ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Buckhurst upon the same occasion of sending his Book of Advancement of Learning p. 10. A Letter of the like Argument to the Lord Chancellor ibid. Sir Francis Bacon of like Argument to the Earl of Northampton with Request to present the Book to His Majesty p. 11. Sir Francis Bacon his Letter of Request to Dr. Plafer to Translate the Book of Advancement of Learning into Latine ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley upon sending him his Book of the Advancement of Learning p. 13. Sir Francis Bacon to the Bishop of Ely upon sending his Writing intituled Cogitata visa ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley after he had imparted to him a Writing intituled Cogitata visa p. 14. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Matthew upon sending him part of Instauratio Magna p. 15. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Matthew touching Instauratio Magna p. 16. A Letter to Mr. Matthew upon sending his Book De Sapientia Veterum p. 17. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Savill ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the King touching the Sollicitors place p. 18. Sir Francis Bacon to the King his Suit to succeed in the

of that fame and diligence saw it chiefly because I know not whether it may not serve him for some use in his Story wherein I would be glad he did right to the truth and to the memory of that Lady as I perceive by that he hath already written he is well inclined to do I would be glad also it were some occasion such as absence may permit of some acquaintance or mutual notice between us For though he hath many ways the precedence chiefly in worth yet this is common to us both that we serve our Sovereigns in places of Law eminent and not our selves only but that our Fathers did so before us and lastly that both of us love Learning and Liberal Sciences which was ever a bond of Friendship in the greatest distances of places But of this I make no farther request then your own occasions and respects to me unknown may further or limit my principal purpose being to salute you and to send you this Token whereunto I will add my very kind commendations to my Lady And so commit you both to Gods holy protection A Letter to Sir Geo. Villiers touching the difference between the Courts of Chancery and Kings Bench. Sir I Received this morning from you two Letters by the same bearer the one written before the other both after his Majesty had received my last In this difference between the two Courts of Chancery and Kings Bench for so I had rather take it at this time then between the persons of my Lord Chancellor and my Lord Chief Justice I marvaile not if rumour get way of true Relation for I know Fame hath swift wings specially that which hath black feathers but within these two days for sooner I cannot be ready I will write to his Majesty both the Narrative truly and my opinion sincerely taking much comfort that I serve such a King as hath Gods property in discerning truly of mens hearts I purpose to speak with my Lord Chancellor this day and so to exhibit that Cordial of his Majesties grace as I hope this other accident will rather rowse and raise his spirits then deject him or incline him to a relapse Mean while I commend the wit of a mean man that said this other day Well saith he next Term you shall have an old man come with a besom of Worm-wood in his hand that will sweep away all this For it is my Lord Chancellor his fashion especially towards the Summer to carry a posie of Worm-wood I writ this Letter in haste to return the Messenger with it God keep you and long and happily may you serve his Majesty Your true and affectionate servant Feb. 19. 1615. POST-SCRIPT Sir I humbly thank you for your inward Letter I have burned it as you commanded but the flame it hath kindled in me will never be extinguished Sir Francis Bacon to the King concerning the Praemunire in the Kings Bench against the Chancery It may please your most Excellent Majesty I Was yesterday in the Afternoon with my Lord Chancellor according to Your Commandment which I received by the Master of the Horse and find the old man well comforted both towards God and towards the world And that same middle comfort which is a divine and humane proceeding from your Majesty being Gods Leiutenant on earth I am perswaded hath been a great cause that such a sickness hath been portable to such an age I did not faile in my conjecture that this business of the Chancery hath stirred him He sheweth to despise it but yet he is full of it and almost like a young Duelist that findeth himself behind hand I will now as your Majesty requireth give you a true relation of that which passed neither will I decline your Royall Commandment for delivering my opinion also though it be a tender subject to write on But I that account my being but an accident to my service will neglect no duty upon self-safety First it is necessary I let your Majesty know the ground of the difference between the two Courts that your Majesty may the better understand the Narrative There was a Statute made 27. Ed. 3. Cap. 1. which no doubt in the principal intention thereof was ordained against those that sued to Rome wherein there are words somewhat general against any that questioneth or impeacheth any judgement given in the Kings Courts in any other Courts Upon these doubtfull words other Courts the Controversie groweth For the founder interpretation taketh them to be meant of those Courts which though locally they were not held at Rome or where the Popes Chair was but here within the Realm yet in their jurisdiction had their dependency upon the Court of Rome as were the Court of the Legat here and the Courts of the Arch-bishops and Bishops which were then but subordinate judgement seats to that high Tribunal of Rome And for this Construction the opposition of the words if they be well observed between the Kings Courts and other Courts maketh very much For it importeth as if those other Courts were not the Kings Courts Also the main scope of the Statute sortifieth the same and lastly the practice of many ages The other interpretation which cleaveth to the letter expoundeth the Kings Courts to be the Courts of Law only and other Courts to be Courts of Equity as the Chancery Exchequer-Chamber Dutchy c. though this also flyeth indeed from the letter for that all these are the Kings Courts There is also another Statute which is but a simple Prohibition and not with a penalty of Praemunire as the other is That after judgements given in the Kings Courts the parties shall be in Peace except the judgments be undone by Error or Attaint which is a legall form of reversall And of this also I hold the sounder interpretation to be to settle possessions against disturbances and not to take away remedy in equity where those judgments are obtained ex rigore juris and against good Conscience But upon these two Statutes there hath been a late conceipt in some that if a judgement passe at the Common-Law against any he may not after sue for relief in Chancery and if he do both he and his Councel and his Solicitor yea and the Judge in Equity himself are within the danger of those Statutes There your Majesty hath the true state of the question which I was necessarily to shew you first because your Majesty calleth for this relation not as news but as business Now to the Historical part It is the Course of the Kings Bench that they give in Charge to the Grand Jury offences of all natures to be presented within Middlesex where the said Court is and the manner is to enumerate them as it were in Articles This was done by Justice Crooke the Wednesday before the Term ended and that Article if any man after a judgement given had drawn the said judgement to a new examination in any other Court was by him

at a miserable loss for want of Learned menin that profession III. I come now to the consideration of those things which concern Councellors of State The Council Table and the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom which are those who for the most part furnish out the honourable Board 1. Of Councellors there are two sorts The first Consiliarii nati as I may term them such are the Prince of Wales and others of the Kings Sons when he hath more of these I speak not for they are naturally born to be Councellors to the King to learn the Art of Governing betimes 2. But the ordinary sort of Councellors are such as the King out of a due consideration of their worth and abilities and withal of their fidelities to his person and his Crown calleth to be of Councel with him in his ordinary Government And the Councel Table is so called from the place where they ordinarily assemble and sit together and their Oath is the only ceremony used to make them such which is solemnly given unto them at their first admission These honourable persons are from thenceforth of that Board and Body They cannot come until they be thus called and the King at his pleasure may spare their attendance and he may dispence with their presence there which at their own pleasure they may not do 3. This being the quality of their service you will easily judge what care the King should use in his choice of them It behoveth that they be persons of great trust and fidelity and also of wisdom and judgment who shall thus assist in bearing up the Kings Throne and of known experience in publick affairs 4. Yet it may not be unfit to call some of young years to train them up in that trade and so fit them for those weighty affairs against the time of greater maturity and some also for the honour of their persons But these two sorts not to be tied to so strict attendance as the others from whom the present dispatch of business is expected 5. I could wish that their number might not be so over great the persons of the Councellors would be the more venerable And I know that Queen Elizabeth in whose time I had the happiness to be born and to live many years was not so much observed for having a numerous as a wise Councel 6. The duty of a Privy Councellor to a King I conceive is not only to attend the Councel Board at the times appointed and there to consult of what shall be propounded But also to study those things which may advance the Kings honour and safety and the good of the Kingdom and to communicate the same to the King or to his fellow Councellors as there shall be occasion And this sir will concern you more then others by how much you have a larger share in his affections 7. And one thing I shall be bold to desire you to recommend to His Majesty That when any new thing shall be propounded to be taken into consideration that no Councellor should suddenly deliver any positive opinion thereof it is not so easie with all men to retract their opinions although there shall be cause for it But only to hear it and at the most but to break it at first that it may be the better understood against the next meeting 8. When any matter of weight hath been debated and seemeth to be ready for a Resolution I wish it may not be at that sitting concluded unless the necessity of the time press it lest upon second Cogitations there should be cause to alter which is not for the Gravity and Honour of that Board 9. I wish also that the King would be pleased sometimes to be present at that Board it adds a Majesty to it And yet not to be too frequently there that would render it less esteemed when it is become common Besides it may sometimes make the Councellors not to be so free in their Debates in His Presence as they would be in His Absence 10. Besides the giving of Councel the Councellors are bound by their Duties Ex vi termini as well as by their Oaths to keep Councel therefore are they called De Privato Consilio Regis à secretioribus Consiliis Regis 11. One thing I add in the Negative which is not fit for that Board the entertaining of private Causes of Meum Tuum those should be left to the ordinary course and Courts of Justice 12. As there is great care to be used for the Councellors themselves to be chosen so there is of the Clerks of the Councel also for the secreting of their Consultations and methinks it were fit that His Majesty be speedily moved to give a strict Charge and to bind it with a solemn Order if it be not already so done that no Copies of the Orders of that Table be delivered out by the Clerks of the Councel but by the Order of the Board nor any not being a Councellor or a Clerk of the Councel or his Clerk to have access to the Councel-Books And to that purpose that the Servants attending the Clerks of the Councel be bound to Secresie as well as their Masters 13. For the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom I shall say little for the most of them are such as cannot well be severed from the Councellorship and therefore the same rule is to be observed for both in the choice of them In the general only I advise this let them be set in those places for which they are probably the most fit 14. But in the quality of the persons I conceive it will be most convenient to have some of every sort as in the time of Queen Elizabeth it was one Bishop at the least in respect of questions touching Religion or Church Government one or more skilled in the Laws some for Martial affairs and some for I orreign affairs By this mixture one will help another in all things that shall there happen to be moved But if that should fail it will be a safe way to consult with some other able persons well versed in that point which is the subject of their Consultation which yet may be done so warily as may not discover them in end therein IV. In the next place I shall put you in mind of Forreign Negotiations and Embassies to or with Forreign Princes or States wherein I shall be little able to serve you 1. Only I will tell you what was the course in the happy dayes of Queen Elizabeth whom it will be no dis-reputation to follow she did vary according to the nature of the employment the quality of the persons she employed which is a good rule to go by 2. If it were an Embassy of Gratulation or Ceremony which must not be neglected choice was made of some noble person eminent in place and able in purse and he would take it as a mark of favour and discharge it without any great burthen to the

bounden Servant July 5. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney General to the Master of the Horse upon the sending of his Bill for Viscount sc. SIR I Send you the Bill for His Majesties Signature reformed according to His Majesties amendments both in the two places which I assure you were altered with great judgment and in the third place which His Majesty termed a question only But he is an idle body that thinketh His Majesty asketh an idle question and therefore His Majesties questions are to be answered by taking away the cause of the question and not by replying For the name His Majesties Will is a Law in those things and to speak the truth it is a well-sounding and noble name both here and abroad and being your proper name I will take it for a good sign that you shall give honour to your dignity and not your dignity to you Therefore I have made it Viscount Villiers and for your Barony I will keep it for an Earldom For though the other had been more orderly yet that is as usual and both alike good in Law For Ropers place I would have it by all means dispatched and therefore I marvaile it lingreth It were no good manners to take the business out of my Lord Treasurers hands and therefore I purpose to write to his Lordship if I hear not from him first by Mr. Deckome but if I hear of any delay you will give me leave especially since the King named me to deal with Sir Joseph Roper my self for neither I nor my Lord Treasurer can deserve any great thanks in this business of yours considering the King hath spoken to Sir Jo. Roper and he hath promised and besides the thing it self is so reasonable as it ought to be as soon done as said I am now gotten into the Countrey to my house where I have some little liberty to think of that I would think of and not of that which other men hourly break their head withal as it was at London Upon this you may conclude that most of my thoughts are to His Majesty and then you cannot be far off God ever keep you and prosper you I rest always Your true and most dutiful Servant The 5. of August one of the happiest dayes Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Villiers upon the sending his Pattent for Viscount Villiers to be Signed SIR I Have sent you now your Patent of Creation of Lord Bletchly of Bletchly and of Viscount Villiers Beltchly is your own and I liked the sound of the name better then Whaddon but the name will be hid for you will be called Viscount Villiers I have put them in a Patent after the manner of the Patent for Earls where Baronies are joyned but the chief reason was because I would avoid double prefaces which had not been fit nevertheless the Ceremony of Robing and otherwise must be double And now because I am in the Countrey I will send you some of my Countrey fruits which with me are good Meditations which when I am in the City are choked with business After that the King shall have watered your new Dignities with the bounty of the Lands which he intends you and that some other things concerning your Means which are now likewise in intention shall be setled upon you I do not see but you may think your private Fortunes established and therefore it is now time that you should refer your Actions to the good of your Sovereign and your Countrey It is the life of an Oxe or Beast alwayes to eat and never exercise but men are born and specially Christian men not to cramb in their Fortunes but to exercise their Vertues and yet the other hath been the unworthy and thanks be to God sometimes the unlucky humour of great Persons in our times Neither will your future Fortune be the further off for assure your self that Fortune is of a Womans nature and will sooner follow by sleighting than by too much wooing And in this dedication of your self to the Publick I recommend unto you principally that which I think was never done since I was born and which because it is not done hath bred almost a Wilderness and Solitude in the Kings Service which is That you countenance and encourage and advance able men in all kinds degrees and professions For in the time of the Cecils the Father and the Son able men were by design and of purpose suppressed and though of late choice goeth better both in Church and Commonwealth yet money and turn-serving and cunning canvasses and importunity prevaileth too much And in places of moment rather make able and honest men yours than advance those that are otherwise because they are yours As for cunning and corrupt men you must I know sometimes use them but keep them at a distance and let it appear rather that you make use of them than that they lead you Above all depend wholly next unto God upon the King and be ruled as hitherto you have been by His Instructions for that is best for your self For the Kings care and thoughts for you are according to the thoughts of a great King whereas your thoughts concerning your self are and ought to be according to the thoughts of a modest man But let me not weary you the sum is That you think Goodness the best part of Greatness and that you remember whence your rising comes and make return accordingly God keep you August 12. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon to the King about a Certificate of my Lord Coke's It may please Your Excellent Majesty I Send your Majesty inclosed my Lord Coke's answers I will not call them rescripts much less Oracles They are of his own hand and offered to me as they are in writing not required by me to have them set down in writing though I am glad of it for my own discharge I thought it my duty as soon as I received them instantly to send them to Your Majesty and forbear for the present to speak further of them I for my part though this Muscovia-weather be a little too hard for my constitution was ready to have waited upon Your Majesty this day all respects set aside but my Lord Treasurer in respect of the season and much other business was willing to save me I will onely conclude touching these Papers with a Text divided I cannot say Oportuit haec fieri but I may say Finis autem nondum God preserve Your Majesty Your Majesties most humble and devoted Subject and Servant Feb. 14. at 12. a Clock I humbly pray Your Majesty to keep the Papers safe A Letter to the King touching the Lord Chancellors place It may please Your most Excellent Majesty YOur worthy Chancellour I fear goeth his last day God hath hitherto used to weed out such Servants as grew not fit for Your Majesty but now he hath gathered to himself a true sage or salvia out of Your Garden But Your Majesties service must not be mortal

some speeches concerning the Cardinal Castillon whom they finde very well and courteously used here by the Queens Majesties order but they have not hitherto spoken a word of him At their first being here on Tuesday they told the Queens Majesty that they had newly received letters out of France by which they were given to understand that Martignes pursued Dandelot and overthrew all his force and made him to flye which news was onely heard and not credited insomuch as the next day following we heard credibly that Martignes had indeed pursued certain followers of Dandelot at the passage of Leyer which Dandelot had before safely passed with all his Forces Footmen and Horsemen and perceiving that Martignes had used some cruelty upon a small number of simple people that followed Dandelot he returned over the water with his Horsemen and avenged the former injury upon Martignes and from thence went to Rhemes where finding certain of the Presidents or Judges which had given order to destroy all that could be found of the Religion he executed their own Law upon some of them and hanged some of the Judges which news being brought unto us the day after he had given us the other for a farewell he was this day welcomed with these the rather because they touched his own Town of Reynes and I wish them to be true to cool their heating of lying The Cardinal Castillons wife is come over whom I think the Queen means to use very well The Duke of Chastilherault comes hither to morrow to the Queens Majesty but I think he shall not be permitted to go to the Queen of Scots very hastily If by the next letters it shall not appear that you can have Rowland delivered and your letters restored I perceive the Queens Majesty will be well content that some one of theirs shall be stayed in the like manner And so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor 1. Oct. 1568. Postscript I pray send me word whether you thought diot to be suspected of the matter concerning the or no. By the next which shall be by my Lady your wise I will change my Cipher To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR THis present being the 18. your servant came with your letters of the 12. which I longed much for not having of a great time heard from you The Prince of Orange passing the and his proceeding cannot be unknown to you and therefore I leave to write thereof The French Ambassador promised once to write favorably in this poor mans behalf but this morning he sent his Nephew to me declaring that considering he perceived much favor shewed by us to the King his Masters Rebels he could not without some misliking write in favor of our Countrimen I required of him whom in particular he could name as Rebels that had favor of us he would name none I told him we accepted the Cardinal Chastillon as a Nobleman and a good faithful subject and Councellor to the King for that upon pride and inveterate malice done to him by the Cardinal of Lorrein he was by him and his so persecuted as he could not live in France without danger of his life and I told him we had the more cause to favor him and all such because the said Cardinal Lorrein was well known to be an open enemy to the Queens Majesty our Sovereign So he departed with no small misliking and I well contented to utter some round speeches The Queens Majesty is resolved to set out certain of our Ships to Britain and Guyen to preserve our Burdeaux Fleets from depredations whereupon I think there will be some misliking uttered there to you But considering the frequent Piracies already committed and the menacing of the Pyrats to our Burdeaux Fleet we can do no other and so you may answer I think this Ambassador will advertise many devices of suspitions of our aiding of the Prince with Money Shot and Powder but the King shall never finde her Majesty to do any thing therein to be reprehended If in case of Merchandize for Salt or Wine the Princes Ministers can borrow things of our Merchants I know not how to remedy secret bargains where Merchandize is in use The Treaty of York shall cease for a while for that some of the Commissioners on either side are sent for hither to confer with her Majesty The Queen of Scots case appeareth not defensible by her own In so much as they intend another course to make the Duke of Chastilherault their head and provide for themselves And so having no more at this present I end with my hearty thanks for your kind accepting of my friendly good will that I bear you Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 28. Oct. 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR IT seemeth long since I heard from you trusting that my Lady and your Son came safely to you although their passage was very hard at Rye We hear many divers news of the matters in France But I give no credit untill you shall play the Bishop and confirm them Our Commissioners at York have heard the Queen of Scots complaint and the answer of the other part wherein they have forborn to charge the Queen with the murther upon some reasonable respects not knowing what end they will make if they should charge and prove her guilty hereupon the Queens Majesty hath sent for some on either part Sir Ra Sadler came hither yesterday and the Bishop of Ross and the Lord Harris for the Scotish Queen came this day and so shall Liddington and Mackgill for the Prince It is mentioned to have a composition whereto the Scotish Queen as they say is very willing Dover But A and B for the more part are earnestly disposed and if as it is thought very probable then so to be 7 for other wise quietness will never long continue The Queens Majesty finding her subjects continually spoiled by the French upon the Seas is forced to send Mr. Winter to the Seas with 4. Ships of her Majesties and two Barks I know how many tales will be spred of his going but truly you may avow that his going is wholly to preserve our Fleet at Burdeaux from Piracy and therefore he is appointed to go towards Burdeaux with A hath agreed and for the son to have I hear say that some of our Merchants in London have bargained with certain Merchants of Rochell and thereabout to buy a quantity of Salt wherewith it is likely that the King there when he shall hear thereof will be very suspicious but in such cases Merchants must be permitted to make their bargains and so you shall have reason to maintain their doings The Cardinal Chastillion sheweth himself so quiet a person and in all his languages so faithful a servant to the King his Master as he meriteth great commendations he medleth in nothing here but wholly occupyed