The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

122 LETTERS FROM BIRCH.
TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. I cause my first letter was written in the epitasis,
MY HONOURABLE LORD, or trouble of the business; and my second in the
I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, beginning of the catastrophe, or calming thereof,
who commanded me to give your lordship thanks (wherein, nevertheless, I was fain to bear n:p
for your speed in advertising those things that pass, strongly into the weather, before the calm foland for the great care he seeth you ever have of lowed,) and since every day hath been better and
his service. better, I thought good to signify so much, that
I send your lordship back the bill of sheriffs his ajesty may be less in suspense.
for Sussex, wherein his majesty hath pricked the The great labour was to get entrance into
first, as your lordship wished. the business; but now the portcullis is drawn
His majesty would not have you omit this up. And though, I must say, there were some
opportunity of so- gross an oversight in the blots in the tables, yet, by well playing, the game
judges, to admonish them of their negligence in is good.
suffering such a thing to come to his majesty, Roland is passing well justified; for both his
which needed his amending afterwards; and, credit is by very constant and weighty testimony
withal, to let them know, that his majesty ob- proved, and those vast quantities, which wre
serveth that every year they grow more and more thought incredible, or at least improbable, are
careless of presenting fit men unto him for that now made manifest truth.
place; and that you advise them to be more wary Yet I find a little of the old leaven towards the
hereafter, that they may give his majesty better first defendants, carried in this style and characsatisfaction. And so I rest ter: 6"I would this that appears now, had apYour lordship's faithful friend and servant, peared at first. But this cometh of haste and
G. BUCKINGHAM. precipitation;" and the like. But yet, I hope,
Royston, November 14, 1619. the corruption and practice upon the ore tenus,
and the rectifying of Rowland's credit, will
satisfy my lords upon the former proofs. For I
would be very sorry that these new defendants
TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. (which, except one or two, are the smaller flies)
MY VERY GOOD LORD, should be in the net, and the old defendants,
This day afternoon, upon our meeting in which are the greater flies, should get through.
council, we have platted those rubs and knots, God preserve you.
which were mentioned'u my last, whereof I Your lordship's most obliged friend
thought good presently to advertise his majesty. and faithful servant,
The days hold without all question, and all delays FR. VERULAMI, Cane.
diverted and quieted. November 26, 1619.
Sir Edward Coke -was at Friday's hearing, but Endorsed,
in his nightcap; and complained to me he was
ambulent, and not current. I would be sorry he
should fail us in this cause. Therefore, I desire
his majesty to signify to him, by your lordship,
(taking knowledge of some light indisposition
of his,) how much he should think his service TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.*
disadvantaged in this cause, if he should be at MY HONOURABLE LORD,
any day away; for then he cannot sentence. I do, from time to time, acquaint his majesty
By my next, I will give his majesty some with your letters, wherein he ever perceiveth
-account of the tobacco and the currants. I
your vigilant care in any thing that concerneth
ever rest
his service; and hath commanded me to give you
Your lordship's most obliged friend
our lordship's most obliged friend thanks in his name, who is sure your endeavours
and faithful servant,
will never be wanting, when any thing is to be
FR. VERUAM, Cane done for the advancement of his affairs.
November 20, at evening, 1619. According to your lordship's advice, his majesty hath written to the commissioners of the
treasury, both touching the currants and the tobacTO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. co,t the plantation whereof his majesty is fully
resolved to restrain; and hath given them order
MY VERY GOOD LORD,
I know well his majesty taketh to heart this * Harl. MSS. vol. 7006.
business of the Dutch,* as he hath great reason, t Lord Bacon, in his letter of November 22, 1619, mentions
hzi respect both of honour and profit. And be- that there was offered two thousand pounds increase yearly,
for the tobacco, to begin at Michaelnlas, as it now is, ancm
* Merchants, accused in the Star Chamber for exporting three thousand pounds increase, if the plantations here within
gold and silver coin. land be restrained.