"to represent to your majesty, the unworthiness of "the history of England in the main continuance

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thereof, and the partiality and obliquity of that of "Scotland, in the latest and largest author that I "have seen; supposing that it would be honour for your majesty, and a work very memorable, if this "island of Great Brittany, as it is now joined in "monarchy for the ages to come: so were joined in "one history for the times passed, after the manner "of the sacred history, which draweth down the story of the ten tribes, and of the two tribes, as "twins together. And if it shall seem that the greatness of this work may make it less exactly performed, there is an excellent period of a much "smaller compass of time, as to the story of Eng"land, that is to say, from the uniting of the roses, "to the uniting of the kingdoms; a portion of time "wherein, to my understanding, there hath been "the rarest varieties that in like number of succes"sions of any hereditary monarchy hath been known: "for it beginneth with the mixed adoption of a crown

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by arms and title; an entry by battle, an esta"blishment by marriage: and therefore times an"swerable, like waters after a tempest, full of work

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ing and swelling, though without extremity of "storm; but well passed through by the wisdom of "the pilot, being one of the most sufficient kings of "of all the number. Then followeth the reign of a "king, whose actions, howsoever conducted, had "much intermixture with the affairs of Europe, ba"lancing and inclining them variably; in whose "time also began that great alteration in the state

'ecclesiastical, an action which seldom cometh upon "the stage. Then the reign of a minor: then an "offer of an usurpation, though it was but as febris

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ephemera :' then the reign of a queen matched "with a foreigner: then of a queen that lived solitary " and unmarried, and yet her government so mascu"line that it had greater impression and operation upon the states abroad than it any ways received "from thence. And now last, this most happy and glorious event, that this island of Britain, divided "from all the world, should be thus united in itself: "and that oracle of rest, given to Æneas. 'Anti

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quam exquirite matrem,' should now be performed "and fulfilled upon the nations of England and "Scotland, being now reunited in the ancient mother

name of Britain, as a full period of all instability "and peregrinations: so that as it cometh to pass. "in massive bodies, that they have certain trepida"tions and waverings before they fix and settle; so "it seemeth that by the providence of God this mo

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narchy, before it was to settle in your majesty and your generations, (in which, I hope, it is now esta"blished for ever,) had these preclusive changes and " varieties."

And the same passage is repeated in the treatise "De Augmentis," which was published in the year 1623, with the omission of the praise of the reign of Elizabeth.

HISTORY OF HENRY VII.

The history of Henry VII. was written in English, and was the first book which he composed after

his retirement from active life.* In a letter to the king, dated 20th of March, 1621, he says,

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"To the King's most excellent Majesty.

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May it please your Majesty,

"I acknowledge myself in all humbleness infinitely bounden to your majesty's grace and goodness, for that, at the intercession of my noble and "constant friend, my lord marquis, your majesty "hath been pleased to grant me that which the "civilians say is 'res inestimabilis,' my liberty. So "that now, whenever God calleth me, I shall not "die a prisoner. Nay, farther, your majesty hath "vouchsafed to cast a second and iterate aspect of your eye of compassion upon me, in referring the "consideration of my broken estate to my good lord "the treasurer; which as it is a singular bounty in your majesty, so I have yet so much left of a late "commissioner of your treasure, as I would be sorry "to sue for any thing that might seem immodest. "These your majesty's great benefits, in casting

"His historical works are these:-the first is the history "of Henry the Seventh, written elegantly, by his lordship in the "English tongue, and addressed to his Highness the Prince of "Wales; and turned afterwards into Latin. An history which "required such a reporter: those times being times both of "great revolution, and settlement, through the division and "union of the roses.

"This was the first book which he composed after his re"tirement from an active life. Upon which occasion he wrote "thus to the Bishop of Winchester. Being (as I am) no more "able to do my country service, it remaineth unto me, to do it "honour: which I have endeavoured to do in my work of the "reign of King Henry the Seventh."-Baconiana.

"

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your bread upon the waters, as the Scripture "saith, because my thanks cannot any ways be suf"ficient to attain, I have raised your progenitor, of "famous memory (and now, I hope, of more famous memory than before) King Henry VII. to give "your majesty thanks for me; which work, most humbly kissing your majesty's hands, I do present. "And because in the beginning of my trouble, "when in the midst of the tempest I had a kenning "of of the harbour, which I hope now by your majesty's favour I am entering into, I made a " tender to your majesty of two works, 'An History "of England,' and 'A digest of your laws;' as I "have, by a figure of pars pro toto, performed the one, so I have herewith sent your majesty, by way "of an epistle, a new offer of the other. But my "desire is farther, if it stand with your majesty's good pleasure, since now my study is my exchange, " and my pen my factor, for the use of my talent ; that your majesty, who is a great master in these things, would be pleased to appoint me some task "to write, and that I shall take for an oracle. And "because my "Instauration," which I esteem my great work, and do still go on with silence, was "dedicated to your majesty; and this History of King Henry VII. to your lively and excellent image the prince; if now your majesty will be pleased to give me a theme to dedicate to my Lord "of Buckingham, whom I have so much reason to honour, I should with more alacrity embrace your majesty's direction than. my own choice. Your majesty will pardon me for troubling you thus

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"long. God evermore preserve and prosper you. "Your majesty's poor beadsman most devoted, "FR. ST. ALBAN.

"Gorhambury, 20 Mar. 1621."

"To the Right Honourable his very good Lord, "the Lord Marquiss of Buckingham, High"Admiral of England.

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"These main and real favours which I have lately received from your good lordship, in procuring my liberty, and a reference of the consi"deration of my release, are such, as I now find "that in building upon your lordship's noble nature "and friendship, I have bullt upon the rock, where "neither winds nor waves can cause overthrow. I 'humbly pray your lordship to accept from me "such thanks as ought to come from him whom you "have much comforted in fortune, and much more "comforted in shewing your love and affection to “him; of which also I have heard by my Lord Falk"land, Sir Edward Sackville, Mr. Matthews, and otherways.

"I have written, as my duty was, to his majesty "thanks touching the same, by the letter here put "into your noble hands.

I have made also, in that letter, an offer to his "majesty of my service, for bringing into better "order and frame the laws of England: the decla"ration whereof I have left with Sir Edward Sack

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ville, because it were no good manners to clog his "majesty, at this time of triumph and recreation, "with a business of this nature; so as your lordship