The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

80 LETTERS FROM STEPHENS.
in these floods. Meanwhile, to ease my heart, I TO TIHE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM.
nave written to his majesty the enclosed,* which, MY VERY GOOD JLORD,
I pray your lordship, to read advisedly, and to I send your lordship the certificate* touching
deliver it, or not to deliver it, as you think good. the enrolment of prentices. We can find no
God ever prosper your lordship. ground for it by law. Myself shall ever be ready
Yours ever, &c. to further things that your lordship commendeth;
FR. ST. ALBAN, Cane. but where the matter will not bear it, your lordMarch 25, 1620. ship I know will think not the worse, but the better of me, if I signify the true state of things
to your lordship; resting ever
TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGIIAM. Your lordship's true friend
and devoted servant,
MY VERY GOOD LORD, FR. BACO, C. S.
Since my last to your lordship, I did first send York House this 2Fth of October, 1617.
for Mr. Attorney-General, and made him know,
that since I heard from court, I was resolved to
further the match and the conditions thereof, for
your lordship's brother's advancement the best I TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHIAM.
could. I did send, also, to my Lady Hatton, and MY VERY GOOD LORD,
some other special friends, to let them know, I The liking which his majesty hath of our proceedwould in any thing declare myself for the match; ing, concerning his household, telleth me that his
which I did, to the end that, if they had any majesty cannot but dislike the declining and terapprehension of my assistance, they might be dis- giversation of the inferior officers, which by this
couraged in it. I sent also to Sir John Butler, time he understandeth.
and after by letter to my lady, your mother, to There be but four kinds of retrenchments: 1.
tender my performance of any good office towards The union of tables; 2. The putting down of
the match or the advancement from the mother. tables; 3. The abatement of dishes to tables; 4,
This was all I could think of for the present. The cutting off new diets and allowance lately
I did ever foresee, that this alliance would go raised; and yet perhaps such as are more necesnear to leese me your lordship, that I hold so sary than some of the old.
dear; and that was the only respect particular to In my opinion the first is the best and most
myself that moved me to be as I was, till I heard feasible. The lord chamberlain's table is the
from you. But I will rely upon your constancy principal table of state. The lord steward's
and nature, and my own deserving, and the firm table is much frequented by Scottish gentlemen.
tie we have in respect of the king's service. Your lordship's table hath a great attendance,;
In the mean time I must a little complain to and the groom of the stole's table is much resortyour lordship, that I do hear my lady your mother ed to by the bedchamber. These would not be
and your brother Sir John do speak of me with touched; but for the rest, (his majesty's case consome bitterness and neglect. I oust bear with sidered,) I think they may well be united into
the one as a lady, and the other as a lover, and one.
with both for your lordship's sake, whom I will These things are out of my element, but my
ma ke judge of any thing they shall have against care runneth where the king's state most laboureth:
me. But I hope, though I be a true servant to Sir Lyonel Cranfield is yet sick, for which I am
your lordship, you will not have me to be a vassal very sorry; for methinks his majesty, upon these
to their passions, specially as long as they are tossings over of his business from one to others
governed by Sir Edward Coke and Secretary
WTinwood, the latter of which I take to be the * The Certificate:worst; for Sir Edward Coke I think is more According to his majesty's command, signified by your lordmodest and discreet. Therefore your lordshi p's letters, we have advisedly considered of the petition
touching the enrolment of apprentices' indentures, and heard
shall do me right, and yet I shall take it for favour the petitioners' counsel, and do find as followeth:
if you signify to thein that you have received sa- 1. That the act of parliament 50 Eliz. doth not warrant the
tisfaction from me, and would have them use me erecting of an office to enrol such indentures in cities, towns
corporate, or market towns. But if any such enrolment should
friendly, and in good manner.. God keep us from be, it must be by the officers there, who are assigned to perthese long journeys and absence, which make form sundry other things touching apprentices and servants.
misunderstandings and give advantage to untruth, 2. That in country villages (for which the suit carries most
colour) we cannot give the suitors hope, that any profit will
and God ever prosper and preserve your lordship. be there made warrantable by law.
Your lordship's true and Thus we have (according to our duties) certified our opinions
devoted friend and servant, of this petition, submitting the same, nevertheless, to his
majesty's great wisdom; and rest,
FR. BACON, C. S. Oct. 25, 1617. At your lordship's command,
Gorhanibury, this 23d of Aug. 1617. FR. BACON, C. S.
H. MONTAGUE.
$ See p. 22. Tieo. COVENTRY.