The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 213
TO MR. CAWFEILDE.* TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR, AND THE LORD
SIR, —I made full account to have seen you MANDEVILLE, LOR D TREASURER OF ENGLAND.*
here this reading, but your neither coming nor MY HONOURABLE LORDS,
sending the interr., as you undertook, I may per- His majesty is pleased, according to your lordceivet of a wonder. And you know super mirari ships' certificate, to rely upon your judgments,
cceperunt philosophari. The redemption of both and hath made choice of Sir Robert Lloyd, knight,
these consisteth in the vouchsafing of your coming to be patentee and master of the office of engrossup now, as soon as you conveniently can; for now ing the transcripts of all wills and inventories in
is the time of conference and counsel. Besides, the prerogative courts, during his highness's pleaif the course of the court be held super interrogat. sure, and to be accountable unto his majesty for
judicis, then must the interr. be ready ere the such profits as shall arise out of the same office.
commission be sealed; and if the commission And his majesty's farther pleasure is, that your
proceed not forthwith, then will it be caught hold lordship forthwith proportion and set down, as
of for further delay. I will not, by way of ad- well a reasonable rate of fees for the subject to
mittance, desire you to send, with all speed, the pay for engrossing the said transcripts, as also
interr., because I presume much of your coming, such fees as your lordship shall conceive fit to be
which I hold necessary; and, accordingly, pro allowed to the said patentee for the charge of
mzore ansicitix, I desire you earnestly to have re- clerks and ministers for execution of the said
gard both of the matter itself, and my so conceiv- office. And to this effect his majesty hath comino. And so, &c. manded me to signify his pleasure to his solicitorYour friend particularly. general,t to prepare a book for his majesty's
signature. And so, I bid your lordship heartily
well to fare, and remain
TO MR. TOBIE MATTHEW. Your lordships' very loving friend,
GOOD MR. MATTHEW, G. BUCKINGHAM
The event of the business whereof you write, Royston, December 17,1620.
is, it may be, for the best: for seeing my lord, of
himself, beginneth to come about, quorsum as
yet. I could not in my heart suffer my Lord
Digby to go hence without my thanks and acknowledgments. I send my letter open, which I TO THE REV. UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.t
pray seal and deliver. Particulars I would not AMoNsTT the gratulations I have received, none
touch. Your most affectionate are more welcome and agreeable to me than your
and assured friend, letters, wherein, the less I acknowledge of those
FRi. ST. ALBAN. attributes you give me, the more I must acknowledge of your affection, which bindeth me no less
to you, that are professors of learning, than mine
TO MY LORD MONTJOYE.1 own dedication doth to learning itself. And,
MY VERY GOOD LORD, therefore, you have no need to doubt, but I will
Finding, by my last going to my lodge emulate (as much as in me is) towards you the
at Twiclkenham, and tossing over my papers, merits of him that is gone, by how much the
somewhat that I thought might like you, I had more I take myself to have more propriety in the
neither leisure to perfect them, nor the patience principal motive thereof. And, for the equality
to expect leisure; so desirous I was to make de- you write of, I shall, by the grace of God, (as far
monstration of my honour and love towards vou, as may concern me,) hold the balance as equally
and to increase your good love towards me. And between the two universities, as I shall hold the
I would not have your lordship conceive, though balance of other justice between party and party.
it be my manner and rule to keep state in con- And yet, in both cases, I must meet with some
templative matters, si quis venerit nomine suo, eumn inclinations of affection, which, nevertheless,
recipietis, that I think so well of the collection as shall not carry me aside. And so. I commend
I seem to do: and yet I dare not take too much you to God's goodness.
from it, because I have chosen to dedicate it to Your most loving and assured friend,
you. To be short, it is the honour I can do to Fi. BACON.
you at this time. And so I commend me to your Gorhambury, April 12,1617.
love and honourable friendship.
* lHarl. M8s. vol. 7000.
* From the original draught in the library of Queen's Col- t Sir Thomas Coventry.
lege, Oxford. Arch. D. 2. $ This and the following letter are from the collections of
t Query whether perceive. the late Robert Stephens, Esq., historiographer royal, and
$ From the original draught in the library of Queen's Col- John Locker, Esq., deceased, now in possession of the
lege, Oxford. Arch. D. 2. I editor.