The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 167
December, and have taken care of you rather ac- A LETTER TO MY LORD OF BUCKINGHAM, TOUCIHcording to your request than at your request; ING MOMPESSON'S BUSINESS OF INNS.*
forasmuch as I had done it before your letter MY VERY GOOD LORD,
came. This you may perceive by the joint letter We are left a little naked in the business of
which you shall receive from my lord chancellor, Inns, by the death of Justice Nicholls; and my
my lord treasurer, and myself. And, for me, you Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Justice Crooke having
may rest assured that nothing can concern you been with me, do desire the number of three may
little, or more nearly, or afar off, but you shall be fulfilled. I have, therefore, sent your lordship
have all care out of my affction, and all strength a warrant for the king's signature, wherein Justice
and help out of my means and power to conserve Winch is put in Jpstice Nicholls' place. It is
and advance your good estate and contentment. also altered at my request, in that other point of
And so I remain the former warrant, whereby the certificate was
Y~our very affectionate~ required in writing, which they desire may be by
and assured friend, attending his majesty themselves, at his coming,
FR. BACON. which I do think to be the more convenient and
December 28, 1616.
the more usual for judges. I ever rest
Your lordship's true and most
devoted servant.
October 18, 1616.
FRO',I TIIE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.*
RIGHT HTONOURABLE, TO MY LORD OF BUCKINGHAM, TOUCIHING MOMThe confidence which the townsmen have, in PESSON'S BUSINESS, THE MALTSTERS, &c.f
obtaining their charter and petition, makes us bold
D. MY VERY GOOD LORDn,
and importunate suitors to your honour, by whose
fa r w. I am much troubled in mind, for that I hear you
favour with his majesty and protection, we again
are not perfectly well, without whose health I
humbly entreat, the university and ourselves may
be freed from that danger which by them is in- cannot joy, and without whose life, I desire not
be freed from that danger which by them is in- to be. I bear nothing from Mr. Mompesson,
tended to us. By their own reports, it is a matter t o b e. I hear nothing from Mr. Mompesson,
of honour and advantage for which they sue save that some tell me is knighted, which I am
of honour and advantage for which they sue:
when they were at their lowest, and in their glad of, because he may the better fight with the
meat fetheier sbull and the bear, and the Saracen's head, and
meanest fortunes, they ever showed themselves such fearful creatures.
unkind neighbours to us; and their suits with us,
For Sir Robert I(lligrewe's suit of enrolment
within these few years, have caused us to spend
our common treasury, and trouble our best friends, of apprentices, I doubt we must part it
and, therefore, we cannot expect peace amongst suppose it may be left valuable.
them, when their thoughts and wills shall be Your office is despatched, and your books in
effect. I have given his majesty an account of
winged and strengthened by that power and authose things wherein I have received his pleasure
thority which the very bare title of a city will
give unto them. Since our late letter to-the right
honourable lord chancellor, your honour, and his open.
majesty's attorney-general, we (being better in- Good, my lord, once again have care of your
majtst's ttoneyg a,.e (health; and learn what Cardanus saith, that more
formed of the course they take, and of their con- health; and learn what Cardanus saith, that more
fidence to prevail at the end of the next term) men die wars. God ever exercise, than are slain in
have sent letters from the body of the university
Your lordship's true and much devoted servant.
to the king's majesty, the lord chancellor, and
others, our honourable friends; showing them of Nov. 21, 1616.
our fear, and their purpose, and to entreat them
to join with your honour and us, to his majesty,
to stay'their suit before we be driven to further A LETTER FROM HIS MAJESTY TO YOUR LORDSHIP, TOUCHING THE BUSINESS OF THE MINT.:
charge or trouble, in entertaining counsel, or soliciting our friends. Thus, humbly entreating your Right trusty and right beloved counsellor,
honour to pardon our importunity, and often we greet you well.
soliciting your lordship in this business, with our BEFORE your letters came to us, we had been
earnest prayers to the Almighty for your honour's informed of the pains and diligence you had
long life and happy estate, we end this. showed in our service, which we take very gra
\Your honour's in all duty ciously at your hands, and thank you for it, deto be cozmmanded. siring you still to continue in the course whereinto
Febrlaryla, 16iI6.
e Addit. MS. Mus. Brit. No. 5503, fol. 98. IbiJl
* Sloan MS. 3.562, art. 41.: Addit. 1MS. 5503, fol. 9I6.