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THOMAS MEAUTYS, ESQ. TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

I HAVE been attending upon my lord marquis's minutes for the signing of the warrant. This day he purposed in earnest to have done it but it falls out untowardly, for the warrant was drawn, as your lordship remembers, in haste, at Gorhambury, and in as much haste delivered to Sir Edward Sackville, as soon as I alighted from my house, who instantly put it into my lord marquis's hands, so that no copy could possibly be taken of it by me. Now his lordship hath searched much for it, and is yet at a loss, which I knew not till six this evening: and because your lordship drew it with caution, I dare not venture it upon my memory to carry level what your lordship wrote, and therefore despatched away this messenger, that so your lordship, by a fresh post, for this will hardly do it, may send a warrant to your mind, ready drawn, to be here to-morrow by seven o'clock, as Sir Arthur tells me my lord marquis hath directed: for the king goes early to Hampton-Court, and will be here on Saturday.

Your books are ready, and passing well bound up. If your lordship's letters to the king, prince, and my lord marquis were ready, I think it were good to lose no time in their delivery; for the printer's fingers itch to be selling.

My lady hath seen the house at Chiswick, and may make a shift to like it: only she means to come to your lordship thither, and not go first: and therefore your lordship may please to make the more haste, for the great lords long to be in York-house.

Mr. Johnson will be with your lordship to-morrow; and then I shall write the rest.

Your lordship's in all humbleness and honour to serve you.

TO THOMAS MEAUTYS, ESQ.

GOOD MR. MEAUTYS,

FOR the difference of the warrant, it is not material at the first. But I may not stir till I have it; and therefore I expect it to-morrow.

For my lord of London's stay, there may be an error in my book; § but I am sure there is none in me, since the king had it three months by him, and allowed it if there be any thing to be mended, it is better to be espied now than hereafter.

I send you the copies of the three letters, which you have; and, in mine own opinion, this demur, as you term it, in my lord of London, maketh it more necessary than before, that they were delivered, specially in regard they contain withal my thanks. It may be signified they were sent before I knew of any stay; and being but in those three hands, they * Ingram.

"History of the Reign of King Henry VII."

are private enough. But this I leave merely at your discretion, resting

Your most affectionate and assured friend,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

March 21, 1621.

TO MR. TOBIE MATTHEW.
GOOD MR. MATTHEW,

I DO make account, God willing, to be at Chiswick on Saturday; or, because this weather is terrible to one, that hath kept much in, Monday.

In my letter of thanks to my lord marquis, which is not yet delivered, but to be forthwith delivered, I have not forgotten to mention, that I have received signification of his noble favour and affection, amongst other ways, from yourself by name. If, upon your repair to the court, whereof I am right glad, you have any speech with the marquis of me, I pray place the alphabet, as you can do it right well, in a frame, to express my love faithful and ardent towards him. And for York-house, that whether in a straight line, or a compass line, I meant it his lordship in the way, which I thought might please him best. I ever rest

Your most affectionate and assured friend,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

March 21, 1621.

Though your journey to court be before your receipt of this letter, yet it may serve for another time.

TO THE QUEEN OF BOHEMIA.
IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

I FIND in books, and books I dare allege to your Majesty, in regard of your singular ability to read and judge of them even above your sex, that it is accounted a great bliss for a man to have leisure with honour. That was never my fortune, nor is. For time was, I had honour without leisure; and now I have leisure without honour. And I cannot say so neither altogether, considering there remain with me the marks and stamp of the king's your father's grace, though I go not for so much in value as I have done. But my desire is now to have leisure without loitering, and not to become an abbey-lubber, as the old proverb was, but to yield some fruit of my private life. Having therefore written the reign of your Majesty's famous ancestor, king Henry the Seventh; and it having passed the file of his Majesty's judgment, and been graciously also accepted of the prince, your brother, to whom it is dedicated, I could not forget my duty so far to your excellent Majesty, to whom, for that I know and have heard, I have been at all times so much bound, as you are ever present with me, both in affection and admiration, as not to make unto you, in all humbleness,

Dr. George Mountain.

His History of the Reign of King Henry VII."

a present thereof, as now being not able to give you | the town were yours; and all your straitest shackles tribute of any service. If king Henry the Seventh were alive again, I hope verily he could not be so angry with me for not flattering him, as well pleased in seeing himself so truely described in colours that will last and be believed. I most humbly pray your Majesty graciously to accept of my good will; and so, with all reverence, kiss your hands, praying to God above, by his divine and most benign providence, to conduct your affairs to happy issue; and resting Your Majesty's most humble and devoted servant,

April 20, 1622.

SIR EDWARD SACKVILLE TO THE LORD
VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

cleared off, besides more comfort than the city air only. The marquis would be exceedingly glad the treasurer had it. This I know; but this you must not know from me. Bargain with him presently, upon as good conditions as you can procure, so you have direct motion from the marquis to let him have it. Seem not to dive into the secret of it; though you are purblind if you see not through it. I have told Mr. Meautys how I would wish your lordship to make an end of it. From him, I beseech you, take it, and from me only the advice to FR. ST. ALBAN. perform it. If you part not speedily with it, you may defer the good which is approaching near you, and disappointing other aims, which must either shortly receive content, or never, perhaps, anew yield matter of discontent, though you may be, indeed, as innocent as before. Make the treasurer believe, that since the marquis will by no means accept of it, and that you must part with it, you are more willing to pleasure him than any body else, because you are given to understand my lord marquis so inclines; which inclination, if the treasurer shortly send unto you about it, desire may be more clearly manifested than as yet it hath been; since, as I remember, none hitherto hath told you in terminis terminantibus, that the marquis desires you should gratify the treasurer. I know that way the hare runs; and that my lord marquis longs until Cranfield hath it; and so I wish too, for your good, yet would not it were absolutely passed, until my lord marquis did send, or write, unto you, to let him have it; for then his so disposing of it were but the next degree removed from the immediate acceptance of it, and your lordship freed from doing it otherwise than to please him, and to comply with his own will and way.

MY VERY HOnoured lord, LONGING to yield an account of my stewardship, and that I had not buried your talent in the ground, I waited yesterday the marquis's pleasure, until I found a fit opportunity to importune some return of his lordship's resolution. The morning could not afford it; for time only allowed leave to tell him, I would say something. In the afternoon I had amends for all. In the forenoon he laid the law, but in the afternoon he preached the gospel; when, after some revivations of the old distaste concerning York-house, he most nobly opened his heart unto me, wherein I read that which argued much good towards you. After which revelation, the book was again sealed up, and must, in his own time, only by himself be again manifested unto you. I have leave to remember some of the vision, and am not forbidden to write it. He vowed, not court-like, but constantly, to appear your friend so much, as if his Majesty should abandon the care of you, you should share his fortune with him. He pleased to tell me, how much he had been beholden to you; how well he loved you; how unkindly he took the denial of your house, for so he will needs understand it. But the close, for all this, was harmonious, since he protested he would seriously begin to study your ends, now that the world should see he had no ends on you. He is in hand with the work, and therefore will, by no means, accept of your offer; though, I can assure you, the tender hath much won upon him, and mellowed his heart towards you; and your genius directed you right, when you wrote that letter of denial unto the duke.* The king saw it, and all the rest; which made him say unto the marquis, you played an after-game well; and that now he had no reason to be much offended.

I have already talked of the revelation, and now am to speak in apocalyptical language, which I hope you will rightly comment; whereof, if you make difficulty, the bearer† can help you with the key of the cypher.

My lord Falkland, by this time, hath showed you London from Highgate. If York-house were gone, * Of Lenox, of the 30th of January, 1621-2.

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I UNDERSTAND, there is an extent prayed against me, and a surety of mine, by the executors of one Harris, a goldsmith. The statute is twelve years old, and falleth to an executor, or an executor of an executor, I know not whether. And it was sure a statute collected out of a shop debt, and much of it paid. I humbly pray your lordship, according to justice and equity, to stay the extent, being likewise upon a double penalty, till I may better inform myself touching a matter so long past, and if it be requisite, put in a bill, that the truth of the + Probably Mr. Meautys.

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I THOUGHT it appertained to my duty, both as a subject, and as he that took once the oath of a counsellor, to make known to your lordship an advertisement, which came to me this morning. A gentleman, a dear friend of mine, whom your lordship cannot but imagine, though I name him not, told me thus much, that some English priests, that negotiated at Rome to facilitate the dispensation, did their own business, that was his phrase; for they negotiated with the pope to erect some titulary bishops for England, that might ordain, and have other spiritual faculties; saying withal most honestly, that he thought himself bound to impart this to some counsellor, both as a loyal subject, and as a catholic; for that he doubted it might be a cause to cross the graces and mercies, which the catholics now enjoy, if it be not prevented; and he asked my advice, whether he should make it known to your lordship, or to my lord keeper,* when he came back to London. I commended his loyalty and discretion, and wished him to address himself to your lordship, who might communicate it with my lord keeper, if you saw cause, and that he repaired to your lordship presently, which he resolved to do. Nevertheless, I did not think mine own particular duty acquitted, except I certified it also myself, borrowing so much of private friendship in a cause of state, as not to tell him I would do so much.

Indorsed,

your lordship, the end only can prove. For I have yet no more to show for it than good words, of which many times I brought your lordship good store. But because modicefideans were not made to thrive in court, I mean to lose no time from assailing my lord marquis, for which purpose I am now hovering about Newhall, where his lordship is expected, but not the king, this day, or to-morrow; which place, as your lordship adviseth, may not be ill chosen for my business. For, if his lordship be not very thick of hearing, sure Newhall will be heard to speak for me.

And now, my good lord, if any thing make me diffident, or indeed almost indifferent, how it succeeds, it is this; that my sole ambition having ever been, and still is, to grow up only under your lordship, it is become preposterous, even to my nature and habit, to think of prospering or receiving any growth, either without or besides your lordship. And therefore let me claim of your lordship to do me this right, as to believe that, which my heart says, or rather swears to me, namely, that what addition soever, by God's good providence, comes at any time to my life or fortune, it is, in my account, but to enable me the more to serve your lordship in both; at whose feet I shall ever humbly lay down all that I have, or am, never to rise thence other than

Your lordship's in all duty and reverent
affections,
T. MEAUTYS.

September 11, 1622.

TO THE COUNTESS OF BUCKINGHAM,§ MO

THER TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY HONOURABLE GOOD LADY,

YOUR ladyship's late favour and noble usage towards me were such, as I think your absence a great part of my misfortunes. And the more I find my most noble lord, your son, to increase in favour

My letter to my lord marquis, touching business of towards me, the more, out of my love to him, I wish estate advertised by Mr. Matthew.†

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

MY MOST HOnoured lord,

I COME in these to your lordship with the voice of thanksgiving, for the continuance of your accustomed noble care of me and my good, which overtakes me, I find, whithersoever I go. But for the present itself, whereof your lordship writes, whether or no it be better than that I was wont to bring

Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln.

The date of this letter may be pretty nearly determined by one of the lord keeper to the marquis of Buckingham, dated August 23, 1622, and printed in the Cabala. The postscript to that letter is as follows: "The Spanish ambassador took the alarm very speedily of the titulary Roman bishop; and before my departure from his house at Islington, whither I went privately to him, did write both to Rome and Spain to prevent it. But I am afraid that Tobie will prove but an apocryphal, and no canonical, intelligencer, acquainting the

he had often by him so loving and wise a mother. For, if my lord were never so wise, as wise as Solomon; yet, I find that Solomon himself, in the end of his Proverbs, sets down a whole chapter of advices, that his mother taught him.

Madam, I can but receive your remembrance with affection, and use your name with honour, and intend you my best service, if I be able, ever resting

Your ladyship's humble and affectionate servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN. Bedford-house, this 29th of October, 1622.

state with this project for the Jesuits, rather than for Jesus's sake." In Essex. Mary, daughter of Anthony Beaumont, a younger son of William Beaumont, of Cole-Orton, in Leicestershire. She was thrice married; 1. to Sir George Villiers, father of the duke of Buckingham; 2. to Sir William Rayner; and 3. to Sir Thomas Compton, knight of the Bath, a younger brother of William, earl of Northampton. She was created countess of Buckingham, July 1, 1618, and died April 19, 1632.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD lord,

I HAVE many things to thank your lordship for, since I had the happiness to see you; that your lordship, before your going out of town, sent my memorial to my lord treasurer: that your lordship offered, and received, and presented my petition to the king, and procured me a reference: that your lordship moved his Majesty, and obtained for me access to him, against his Majesty comes next, which in mine own opinion, is better than if it had been now, and will be a great comfort to me, though I should die next day after: that your lordship gave me so good English for my Latin book. My humble request is, at this time, that because my lord treasurer keepeth yet his answer in suspense, though by one, he useth to me, he speaketh me fair, that your lordship would nick it with a word: for if he do me good, I doubt it may not be altogether of his own. God ever prosper you. Your lordship's most bounden and faithful

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Memorial of Access.*

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

I MAY now in a manner sing nunc dimittis, now I have seen you. Before methought I was scant in state of grace, but in a kind of utter darkness. And therefore, among other your mercies and favours, I do principally thank your Majesty for this admission of me to kiss your hands.

I may not forget also to thank your Majesty for your remission of my fine, for granting of my quietus, and general pardon; and your late recommendation of my debts; favours not small, specially to a servant out of sight, and out of use.

I beseech your Majesty to give me leave to tell you what had, in my misfortunes, sustained me. Aristotle says, "Old men live by remembrance, young men by hope." And so it is true, that young men live by hope, and fallen men by remembrance. Two remembrances have sustained me: the one, that since I had the prime vote in the lower house, to be first commissioner for the union, until the last assembly of parliament, I was chosen messenger of both houses, in the petitions of religion, which were my two first and last services, having passed a number of services of importance, your Majesty never chid me; neither did ever any public service miscarry in my hands. This was the finishing act of my prosperity. The second was of my adversity, which, in few words, is this, that as my fault was not against your Majesty, so my fall was not your act; and therefore I hope I shall live and die in your favour.

This paper was written in Greek characters, soon after his access to king James I. which had been promised him in

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I have this farther to say in the nature of an humble oblation; for things once dedicated and vowed cannot lose their character, nor be made common. I ever vowed myself to your service. Therefore,

First, if your Majesty do at any time think it fit, for your affairs, to employ me again publicly upon the stage, I shall so live and spend my time, as neither discontinuance shall disable me, nor adversity shall discourage me, nor any thing, that I shall do, give any scandal or envy upon me.

Secondly, if your Majesty shall not hold that fit; yet, if it shall please you at any time to ask my opinion, or require my propositions privately by my lord marquis, or any of your counsellors, that is my friend, touching any commission or business; for, as Ovid said, "Est aliquid luce patente minus ; " I shall be glad to be a labourer, or pioneer in your service.

Lastly, and chiefly, because your Majesty is an universal scholar, or rather master, and my pen (as I may it, passed * *) gained upon the world, your Majesty would appoint me some task, or literary province, that I may serve you calamo, if not consilio. I know that I am censured of some conceit of mine ability or worth: but I pray your Majesty, impute it to desire, possunt quia posse videntur. And again, I should do some wrong to your Majesty's school, if, in sixteen years access and near service, I should think I had learned, or laid in, nothing.

May it please your Majesty, I have borne your image in metal; and I shall keep it in my heart, while I live.

That his Majesty's business never miscarried in my hands, I do not impute to any extraordinary ability in myself; but to my freedom from particular, either friends, or ends, and my careful receipt of his Majesty's directions, being, as I have formerly said to him, but as a bucket and cistern to that fountain; a bucket to draw forth, a cistern to preserve. I may allude to the three petitions of the Litany, "Libera nos, Domine; parce mihi, Domine; et exaudi nos, Domine." First, the first, I am persuaded, his Majesty hath a mind to do it, and could not conveniently in respect of his affairs. For the second, he had done it in my fine and pardon. For the third, I had likewise performed, in restoring to the light of his countenance.

There be mountebanks, as well in the civil body as in the natural. I ever served his Majesty with modesty; no shouldering, no undertaking.

Seneca saith, "Tam otii debet constare ratio quam negotii." So I make his Majesty oblation of both. For envy, it is an almanack of the last year; and as a friend of mine said, the parliament died penitent towards me.

Of my offences, far be it from me to say, "dat veniam corvis, vexat censura Columbas:" but I will say that I have good warrant for; "they were not the greatest offenders in Israel, upon whom the wall of Shilo fell."

What the king bestowed upon me, will be farther seen, than upon Paul's steeple.

a letter of the marquis of Buckingham, from Newmarket, November 13, 1622.

My story is proud, I may thank your Majesty ; for I heard him note of Tasso, that he could know which poem he made when he was in good condition, and which when he was a beggar. I doubt he could make no such observation of me. My lord hath done many things to show his greatness. This of mine is one of them, that shows his goodness.

am like ground fresh. If I be left to myself, I will grow and bear natural philosophy: but if the king will plough me up again, and sow me on, I hope to give him some yield.)

Kings do raise and pull down with reason ; but the greatest work is reasoning.

For my hap, I seek an otium, and, if it may be, a fat otium.

I am said to have a feather in my head. I pray God some are not wild in their head, that gird not well.

I am too old, and the seas are too long, for me to double the Cape of Good Hope.

Ashes are good for somewhat; for lees, for salts. But I hope I am rather embers than ashes, having the heat of good affections, under the ashes of my fortunes.

Your Majesty hath power: I have faith. Therefore a miracle may be soon wrought.

I would live to study, and not study to live; yet I am prepared for date obolum Belisario; and I that have borne a bag, can bear a wallet.

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To ask leave of the king to kiss the prince's hands if he be not now present.

Indorsed, Mem. of access.

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

MY MOST HONOURED LORD,

SINCE my last to your lordship, I find, by Mr. Johnson, that my lord treasurer is not twice in one mind, or Sir Arthur Ingram not twice in one tale. For Sir Arthur, contrary to his speech but yesterday with me, puts himself now, as it seems, in new hopes to prevail with my lord treasurer for your lordship's good and advantage, by a proposition, sent by Mr. Johnson, for the altering of your patent to a new mould, more safe than the other, which he seemed to dissuade, as I wrote to your lordship. I like my lord treasurer's heart to your lordship, so much every day worse than other, especially for his coarse usage of your lordship's name in his last speech, as that I cannot imagine he means you any good. And therefore, good my lord, what directions you shall give herein to Sir Arthur Ingram, let them be as safe ones, as you can think upon: and that your lordship surrender not your old patent, till you have the new under seal, lest my lord keeper should take toy, and stop it there. And I know your lordship cannot forget they have such a savage word among them, as fleecing. God in heaven bless your lordship from such hands and tongues; and then things will mend of themselves.

Your lordship's, in all humbleness to honour and serve you,

This Sunday morning.

Indorsed,

T. MEAUTYS.

25th of November [1622].

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I FIND my lord treasurer, after so many days and appointments, and such certain messages and promises, doth but mean to coax me, it is his own word of old, and to saw me asunder, and to do just nothing upon his Majesty's gracious reference, nobly prolord, let it be your own deed; and, to use the prayers cured by your lordship for this poor remnant. My of the Litany, good Lord deliver me from this servile dependence; for I had rather beg and starve, than be fed at that door.

God ever prosper your lordship.

Your lordship's most bounden and faithful
servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

Bedford-house, this

Indorsed,

To Buckingham, about lord treasurer Cranfield's using of him.

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