The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 03
TO TIIE LORD KEEPER.* he can receive no assurance from your lordship
MY HONOURABLE LORD, of any precedent in that kind, his majesty intendI have acquainted his majesty with your letters, eth not so to precipitate the business, as to
who liked all your proceedings well, saving only expose that dignity to censure and contempt, in
the point, for which you have since made amends, omitting the solemnities required, and usially
in obeying his pleasure touching the proclama- belonging unto it.
tion. His majesty would have your lordship go His majesty, though he were a while troubled
thoroughly about the business of Ireland, where- with a little pain in his back, which hindered his
into you are so well entered, especially at this hunting, is now, God be thanked, very well, and
time, that the chief justicet is come over, who as merry as ever he was; and we have all held
hath delivered his opinion thereof to his majesty, out well.
and hath understood what his majesty conceived I showed his majesty your letter, who taketh
of the same; wherewith he will acquaint your very well your care and desire to hear of his
lordship, and with his own observation and judg- health. So I commit you to God, and rest
ment of the businesses of that country. Your lordship's most assured friend
I give your lordship hearty thanks for your care to do you service,
to satisfy my Lady of Rutland's: desire; and will G. BUCXINGHANI.
be as careful, when I come to York, of recom- Aukland, the 18th of April, 1617.
mending your suit to the bishop.~ So I rest Since the writing of this letter I have had some
Your lordship's ever at command, farther speech with his majesty, touching my
G. BUCKIINGHAMI. Lord Brackley; and find, that if, in your lordNewark, the 5th of April, 1617. ship's information in the course, you write any
thing that may tend to the furthering of the despatch of it in that kind, he desireth it may be
done.
TO TIlE LORD KEEPER.Il
MY IIONOURABLE LORD,
I spake at York with the archbishop,~ touching TO TIIE LORD KEEPER.*
the house, which he hath wholly put into your MY HONOURABLE LORD,
hands to do with it what your lordship shall be I send your lordship the warrant for the queen,t
ple have heretofore, since we wer in this journey, signed by his majesty, to whom I have likewise
I have heretofore, since we were in this journey, delivered your lordship's letter. And, touchtng
delivered your lordship's letter. And, touchingy
Bmoved his bmajesty for a despatch of my Lord the matter of the pirates, his majesty cannot yet
Brackley's* business: but, becausehis majesty resolve; but within a day or two your lordship
never having heard of any precedent in the like shall see a despatch, which he purposeth to send
case, was of opinion, that this would be of ill con-cil in general, what his
sequence in making that dignity as easy as the opinion and pleasure is in that point.
pulling out of a sword to make a man a knight,
C$llin out of a sword to malte a man a knit, I would not omit this opportunity to let your
and so make it of little esteem, he was desirous lordship know, that his majesty, God be thanked,
to be assured, first, that it was no new course, is in very good health, and so well pleased with
before he would do it in that fashion. But since his journey, that I never saw him better nor
* Itari. ISS. vol. 7,006. merrier. So I rest
- Sir John Denham, one of the Lords Justices of Ireland Your lordship's ever at command,
in 1616. Hle was made one of the Barons of the Exchequer G. BUCKINGHAM.
in England, May 2, 1617. IIe died, January 6, 1638, in the From Newcastle, the 23d of April, 1617.
eightieth year of his age. IIe was the first who set up customs in Ireland, (not but there were laws for the same before;) of which the first year's revenue amounted but to
5001.; but before his death, which was about twenty-two
years after, they were let for 54,0001. per annum.-Borlase's
Redlctiol of Ireland to the Crowen of Esngland, p. 200. Edit.
London, 1675. MY HONOURABLE LORD,: Frances, Countess of Rutland, first wife of Francis, Earl I understand that Sir Lewis Tresham hath a
of Rutland, and daughter and coheir of Sir Henry Knevet, of
Charleton, in Wiltshire, knight. She had by the earl an only suit depending in the Chancery before your lorddaughter and heir, Catharine, first married to George Marquis, ship; and, therefore, out of my love and respect
and afterwards Duke of Buckingham; and secondly to Ran- toward him, I have thought fit to recommend him
dolph Macdonald, Earl, and afterwards Marquis, of Antrim,
in Ireland. unto your favour so far only as may stand with
Relating to York Ihouse. justice and equity, which is all he desireth,
Harl. M.SS. vol. 7006. T Dr. Tobie Matthew. having toencounter a strong party. And, because
~ Who desired to be created earl in an unusual manner,
by letters patents, without the delivering of tile patent by the
king's own hand, or without the ordinary solemnities of crea- Harl. MSS. vol. 7006.
tion. He was accordingly created Earl of Bridgewater, May -- Relating to her house. See the lord keeper's letter of
27 1617. I pril 7, 1617, printed in his works.