The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

134 LETTERS FROM BIRCH.
I do hear from divers of judgment, that to-mor- summons of the exchequer, which is, sicut teipsumn
tow's conference* is like to pass in a calm, as to et omnia tua diligis; whereas this was sicut me
the referees.t Sir Lionel Cranfield, who hath diligis; I used all possible care to effect your
been formerly the trumpet, said yesterday, that he majesty's good will and pleasure.
(lid now incline to Sir John Walter's opinion and I sent early to the prince, and to my lord
motion, not to have the referrees meddled with treasurer; and we attended his highness soon
otherwise, than to discount it from the king; and after seven of the clock, at Whitehall, to avoid
so not to look back, but to the future. And I do farther note. We agreed, that if the message
hear almost all men of judgment in the House came, we would put the lords into this way, that
wish now that way. I woo nobody: I do but the answer should be that we understood they
listen, and I have doubt only of Sir Edward Coke, came prepared both with examination and precewho, I wish, had some round caveat given him dent; and we likewise desired to be alike prefrom the king; for your lordship hath no great pared, that the conference might be with more
power with him: but I think a word from the fruit.
king mates him. I did farther speak with my Lord of Canterbury,
If things be carried fair by the committees of when I came to the Ilouse, not letting him know
the Lower House, I am in some doubt, whether any part of the business, that he would go on
there will be occasion for your lordship to speak with a motion which he had told mre of the day
to-morrow; though, I confess, I incline to wish before, that the Lords' HIouse might not sit W5edyou did, chiefly because you are fortunate in that nesday and Friday, because they were convocakind; and, to be plain also, for our better counte- tion-days; and so was the former custom of Parnance, when your lordship, according to your liament.
noble proposition, shall show more regard of the As good luck was, the house read two bills,
fraternity you have with great counsellors, than and had no other business at all; whereupon my
of the interest of your natural brother. Lord of Canterbury made his motion; and I adAlways, good my lord, let us think of times journed the House till Saturday. It was no sooner
out of Parliamefit, as well as the present time in done, but came the message from the Lower House.
Parliament; and let us not all be put es ppozr- But the consummature est was past, though I perpoint. Fair and moderate courses are ever best ceived a great willingness in many of the lords to
in causes of estate; the rather, because I wish have recalled it, if it might have been.
this Parliament, by the sweet and united passages So, with my best prayers for your majesty's
thereof, may increase the king's reputation with preservation, I rest
foreigners, who may make a far other judgment Your majesty's most bounden,
than we mean, of a beginning to question great and most devoted servant,
counsellors and officers of the crown, by courts or Fit. ST. ALB3AN, Caneo
assemblies of estates. But the reflection upon my Thursday, at eleven of our forenoon, March 8, 1620.
particular in this makes me more sparing than
perhaps, as a counsellor, I ought to be.
God ever preserve and prosper you.
Your lordship's true servant all and ever, To THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.*
Fa. ST. ALBAN, Cane. Mv VERT GOOD LRD,
March 7, the day I received the seal, 1620. Your lordship spoke of purgatory. I am now
in it; but my mind is in a calm; for my fortune
is not my felicity. I know I have clean hands,
and a clean heart; and I hope a clean house
TO THE KING.t
IT MAY PLEASE YOUR ~/[AJEST~.
1620, the said House, at which were present the Prince of
I received your majesty's letter about midnight; Wales and Marquis of Buckingham, was adjourned to Saturand because it was stronger than the ancient day the 10th, on which day a conference of both Houses was
held relating to the complaint of that of the Commons against
Sir Giles Mompesson. Of this conference the lord chancellor
* On Monday the 5th of March, 1620-21, the House of Lords made report on Monday, March 12, to the House of Lords,
received a message from the Commons, desiring a conference remarking, that "' the inducement to this conference was to
touching certain grievances, principally concerning Sir Giles clear the king's honour, touching grants to Sir Giles, and the
MIomnpesson.-See Jo0rnlal of the House of Loerds. passages in procuring the same." After this report of the
t Those to whom the king referred the petitions, to con- conference, the lord chamberlain, William, Earl of Pemsider whether they were fit to be granted or not. This ex- broke, complained to the House, that two great lords, meanplanation of the word referees, I owe to a note in a MS. let- ing the lord chancellor and the lord treasurer, the Lord
ter, written to the celebrated Mr. Joseph Mead, of Christ's Viscount'Mandeville, had, in that conference, spake in theilr
College, Cambridge. own defence, not being allowed to do so when the committees: The date of this letter is determined to be the Sth of neore srasmed. Upon which both the lords acknowledged their
March, 1620-1, from the circumstance of its being mentioned error, and begged pardon of the Iouse.
to have been written on that Thursday, on which the House * This letter seems to have been written soon after Lord
of Lords adjourned to the Saturday following. It appears St. Alban began to be accused of abuses in his office of
from the journal of that House, that, on the 8th of Mtarch, chancellor.