The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 47
man, and of just elevation for monarchy, but Company9 that they are unlawful and unjust, and
your majesty's service must not be mortal; and themselves have now acknowledged the work imif you lose him, as your majesty hath now of possible without them by their petition in writing,
late purchased many hearts by depressing the now registered in the Council Book: so as this
wicked, so God doth minister unto you a coun- conclusion (of their own making) is become
terpart to do the like by raising the honest. God peremptory and final to themselves; and the imevermore preserve your majesty. possibility confessed the practice and abuse, reYour majesty's most humble subject served to the judgment the state shall make of it.
and bounden servant. This breach then of this great contract is wholly
on their part; which could not have been, if your
majesty had broken upon the patent: for the
patent was your majesty's act, the orders are their
A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, TOUCHING act; and in the former case they had not been
A MOTION TO SWEAR HIM COUNCILLOR. FEB. liable to further question, now they are.
21, 1615. There rest two things to be considered: the one
SIR, —My lord chancellor's health growing if they (like Proteus when he is hard held) shall
with the days, and his resignation being an un- yet again vary their shape, and shall quit their
certainty, 1 would be glad you went on with my orders, convinced of injustice, and lay their imfirst motion, my swearing privy councillor. This position only upon the trade of whites, whether
I desire, not so much to make myself more sure your majesty shall further expect? The other, if
of the other, and to put it past competition; (for your majesty dissolve them upon this breach on
herein, I rest wholly upon the king, and your ex- their part, what is further to be done for the setcellent self) but, because I find hourly, that I ting of the trade again in joint, and for your own
need this strength in his majesty's service, both honour and profits In both which points I will
for my better warrant, and satisfaction of my con- not presume to give opinion, but only to break
science, that I deal not in things above my voca- the business for your majesty's better judgment.
tion; and for my better countenance and prevail- For the first, I am sorry the occasion was given,
ing where his majesty's service is under any (by my Lord Coke's speech at this time of the
pretext opposed, I wohld it were despatched. I commitment of some of them,) that they should
remember a greater matter than this, was seek,,"omnem movere lapidem," to help themdespatched by a letter from Royston; which was, selves. Better it had been, if (as my Lord Fen.
the placing of the archbishop that now is: and I ton said to me that morning very judiciously, and
imagine, the king did on purpose, that the act with a great deal of foresight) that, for that time,
might appear to be his own. they should have had a bridge made for them to
My lord chancellor told me yesterday, in plain be gone. But my Lord Coke floweth according
terms, that if the king would ask his opinion to his own tides, and not according to the tides
touching the person that he would commend to of business. The thing which my Lord Coke
succeed him, upon death or disability, he would said, was good and too little, but at this time it
name me for the fittest man. You may advise was too much. But that is past. Howsoever, if
whether use may not be made of this offer. they should go back, and seek again to entertain
I sent a pretty while since a paper to Mr. John your majesty with new orders or offers, (as is said
Murray; which was, indeed, a little remembrance to be intended,) your majesty hath ready two
of some things past; concerning my honest and answers of repulse, if it please your majesty to
faithful services to his majesty, not by way of use them.
boasting, (from which I am far,) but as tokens of The one, that this is now the fourth time that
my studying his service uprightly and carefully.'they have mainly broken with your majesty and
If you be pleased to call for the paper which is contradicted themselves. First, They undertook to
with Mr. John Murray, and to find a fit time, that dye and dress all the cloths of the realm; soon after
his majesty may cast an eye upon it, I think it they wound themselves into the trade of whites,
will do no hurt: and I have written to Mr. Mur- and came down to the proportion contracted. Se,
ray to deliver the paper if you call for it. God condly, They ought to have performed that con.
keep you in all happiness. tract according to their subscription, pro rata,
Your truest servant. without any of these orders and impositions soon
after they deserted their subscription, and had re.
course to these devices of orders. Thirdly, If by
order and not by subscription, yet their orders
A LETTER TO THE KING OF ADVICE, UPON THE should have laid it upon the whites, which is an
BREACH OF THE NEW COMPANY. FEB. 25, 1615. unlawful and prohibited trade, nevertheless, they
Ir MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, would have brought in lawful and settled trades.
Your privy council have wisely and truly dis- full manufactures, merchandise of all natures,
cerned of the orders and demands of the New poll money or brotherhood money, and I cannot