TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

TO THE KING.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, I have written, as I thought it decent in me to do, Now that your Majesty hath passed the recreation to his Majesty, the letter I send enclosed. I have of your progress, there is nevertheless one kind of great faith, that your lordship, now nobly and like recreation, which, I know, remaineth with your yourself, will effect with his Majesty. In this the Majesty all the year, which is to do good, and to king is of himself, and it hath no relation to parlia- exercise your clemency and beneficence. I shall ment. I have written also, as your lordship advised never measure my poor service by the merit, which me, only touching that point of means. I have perhaps is small, but by the acceptation, which hath lived hitherto upon the scraps of my former fortunes ; been always favourably great. I have served your and I shall not be able to hold out longer. There- Majesty now seventeen years; and since my first fore I hope your lordship will now, according to the service, which was in the commission of the union, loving promises and hopes given, settle my poor for. I received from your Majesty never chiding or retunes, or rather my being. I am much fallen in love buke, but always sweetness and thanks. Neither was with a private life; but yet I shall so spend my time, 1, in these seventeen years, ever chargeable to your as shall not decay my abilities for use.

Majesty, but got my means in an honourable sweat God preserve and prosper your lordship.

of my labour, save that of late your Majesty was (Sept. 5, 1621.]

graciously pleased to bestow upon me the pension of twelve hundred pounds for a few years. For in that other poor prop of my estate, which is the

farming of the petty writs, I improved your Majesty's TO THE PRINCE.

revenue by four hundred pounds the year. And

likewise, when I received the seal, I left both the MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HIGIINESS,

attorney's place, which was a gainful place, and the I CANNOT too oft acknowledge your highness's clerkship of the star-chamber, which was queen favour in my troubles; but acknowledgment now is Elizabeth's favour, and was worth twelve hundred but begging of new favour. Yet even that is not in- pounds by the year, which would have been a good convenient; for thanksgiving and petition go well commendam. The honours which your Majesty hath together, even to God himself. My humble suit to done me, have put me above the means to get my your highness, that I may be thought on for means to living; and the misery I am fallen into hath put me subsist; and to that purpose, that your highness will below the means to subsist as I am. I hope my join with my noble friend to the king. That done, courses shall be such, for this little end of my thread I shall ever be ready, either at God's call, or his which remaineth, as your Majesty, in doing me Majesty's, and as happy, to my thinking, as a man good, may do good to many, both that live now, and can be, that must leave to serve such a king. shall be born hereafter. I have been the keeper of God preserve and prosper your highness. your seal, and now am your beadsman. Let your own

royal heart, and my noble friend, speak the rest. God preserve and prosper your Majesty.

Your Majesty's faithful poor servant and On the back of the draughts of the three preceding

beadsman, letters were written the following MEMORANDA.

FR. ST. ALBAN. Bishops Winchester, * Durham,+ London. I

September 5, 1621. Lord Duke, $ Lord Hunsdon.

Cardinal Wolsey said, that if he had pleased God Lord chamberlain,ll to thank him for his kind as he pleased the king, he had not been ruined. remembrance by you ; and though in this private My conscience saith no such thing; for I know not fortune I shall have use of few friends, yet I cannot but in serving you I have served God in one. But but acknowledge the moderation and affection his it may be, if I had pleased God, as I had pleased lordship showed in my business, and desire, that of you, it would have been better with me. those few his lordship will still be one for my comfort, in whatsoever may cross his way, for the fartherance of my private life and fortune.

TO THE KING. Mr. John Murray. If there be any thing that may concern me, that is fit for him to speak, and IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, me to know, that I may receive it by you.

I do very humbly thank your Majesty for your Mr. Maxwell. That I am sorry, that so soon as gracious remission of my fine. I can now, I thank I came to know him, and to be beholden to him, I God and you, die, and make a will. wanted power to be of use to him.

I desire to do, for the little time God shall send Lord of Kelly ; and to acquaint him with that me life, like the merchants of London, which, when part touching the confinement.

they give over trade, lay out their money upon land. * Dr. Andrews. + Dr. Richard Ncile.

So, being freed from civil business, I lay forth my me to add the least affliction, or discontentment, poor talent upon those things which may be per- unto your lordship’s present fortune. May it therepetual, still having relation to do you honour with fore please your lordship to suspend the passing of those powers I have left.

this pardon, until the next assembly be over and I have therefore chosen to write the reign of king dissolved; and I will be then as ready to seal it as Henry the VIIth, who was in a sort your forerunner, your lordship to accept of it; and, in the mean and whose spirit, as well as his blood, is doubled time, undertake, that the king and my lord admiral upon your Majesty.

shall interpret this short delay as a service and I durst not have presumed to entreat your Majesty respect issuing wholly from your lordship; and rest, to look over the book, and correct it, or at least to in all other offices whatsoever, signify what you would have amended. But since

Your lordship's faithful servant, you are pleased to send for the book, I will hope for it.

JO. LINCOLN, ELECT. CUSTOS SIGILLI. (God knoweth, whether ever I shall see you

Westminster-College, October 18, 1621. again; but I will pray for you to the last gasp,

To the right honourable his very good lord, the lord resting ]

viscount St. Alban. The same, your true beadsman,

FR. ST. ALBAN. October 8, 1621.

TO THE LORD KEEPER.

MY VERY GOOD LORD, Grant of Pardon to the Viscount St. Alban, under

I know the reasons must appear to your lordship the privy sealt

many and weighty, which should move you to stop

the king's grace, or to dissuade it; and somewhat A SPECIAL pardon granted unto Francis, Viscount the more in respect of my person, being, I hope, St. Alban, for all felonies done and committed no unfit subject for noble dealing. The message I against the common laws and statutes of this realm ; received by Mr. Meautys did import inconvenience, and for all offences of præmunire; and for all mis- in the form of the pardon ; your lordship's last letprisions, riots, &c. with the restitution of all his ter, in the time : for, as for the matter, it lay so fair lands and goods forfeited by reason of any of the for his Majesty's and my lord of Buckingham's own premises ; except out of the same pardon all trea- knowledge, as I conceive your lordship doth not aim sons, murders, rapes, incest; and except also all at that. My affliction hath made me understand fines, imprisonments, penalties, and forfeitures, myself better, and not worse ; yet loving advice, I adjudged against the said Viscount St. Alban, by a know, helps well. Therefore I sent Mr. Meautys sentence lately made in the parliament. Teste Rege to your lordship, that I might reap so much fruit of apud Westm. 17 die Octob. anno Regni sui 19. your lordship's professed good affection, as to know Per lettre de privato sigillo.

in some more particular fashion, what it is that your lordship doubteth, or disliketh, that I may the better endeavour your satisfaction, or acquiescence, if there be cause.

So I rest DR. WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN ELECT,

Your lordship's to do you service, AND LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL,

FR. ST. ALBAN. TO THE VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

October 18, 1621. MY VERY GOOD LORD, Having perused a privy seal, containing a pardon for your lordship, and thought seriously thereupon, Petition of the Lord Viscount St. Alban, intended I find, that the passing of the same, the assembly

for the House of Lords. in parliament so near approaching, I cannot but be much prejudicial to the service of the king, to the

MY RIGHT HONOURABLE VERY GOOD LORDS, honour of my lord of Buckingham, to that commiser- In all humbleness, acknowledging your lordships' ation which otherwise would be had of your lord- justice, I do now in like manner crave and implore ship's present estate, and especially to my judgment your grace and compassion. I am old, weak, ruined, and fidelity. I have ever affectionately loved your in want, a very subject of pity. My only suit to lordship's many and most excellent good parts and your lordships is, to show me your noble favour toendowments; nor had ever cause to disaffect your wards the release of my confinement, so every conlordship's person. So as no respect in the world, finement is, and to me, I protest, worse than the beside the former considerations, could have drawn Tower.|| There I could have had company, phy* This passage has a line drawn over it.

London, 1654, gives his reasons, why he hesitated to seal that + Cotton Library, Titus Book VII.

pardon. It met November 24, 1621; and was dissolved February 8, || He had been committed to the Tower, in May, 1621, and 1821-2.

discharged after two days' confinement there, according to $ The lord keeper, in a letter to the marquis of Buckingham, Cainden, Annales Regis Jac. I. p. 71. There is a letter of daied October 27, 1621, printed in the Cabala, p. 60. Edit. his lordship to the marquis of Buckingham, dated from the sicians, conference with my creditors and friends

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.T about my debts, and the necessities of my estate,

MY HONOURABLE LORD, helps for my studies and the writings I have in hand. Here I live upon the sword-point of a sharp air, I have received your lordship's letter, and have endangered if I go abroad, dulled if I stay within, been long thinking upon it, and the longer, the less solitary and comfortless without company, banished able to make answer unto it. Therefore if your from all opportunities to treat with any to do myself lordship will be pleased to send any understanding good, and to help out any wrecks; and that, which man unto me, to whom I may, in discourse, open is one of my greatest griefs, my wife, that hath been myself, I will, by that means, so discover my heart no partaker of my offending, must be partaker of with all freedom, which were too long to do by this misery of my restraint.

letter, especially in this time of parliament business, May it please your lordships, therefore, since there that your lordship shall receive satisfaction. In the is a time for justice, and a time for mercy, to think mean time I rest with compassion upon that which I have already

Your lordship's faithful servant, suffered, which is not little ; and to recommend this

Royston, Dec. 16 [1621]. G. BUCKINGHAM. my humble, and as I hope, modest suit to his most excellent Majesty, the fountain of grace, of whose mercy, for so much as concerns himself merely, I have already tasted, and likewise of his favour of this TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. very kind, by some small temporary dispensations.

MY VERY GOOD LORD, Herein your lordships shall do a work of charity and nobility : you shall do me good; you shall do

The reason why I was so desirous to have had my creditors good ; and, it may be, you shall do conference with your lordship at London, was indeed posterity good, if out of the carcass of dead and to save you the trouble of writing; I mean, the rearotten greatness, as out of Samson's lion, there may

son in the second place ; for the chief was to see be honey gathered for the use of future times.

your lordship. But since you are pleased to give me God bless your persons and counsels.

the liberty to send to your lordship one, to whom Your lordships' supplicant and servant,

you will deliver your mind, I take that in so good

part, as I think myself tied the more to use that FR. ST. ALBAN. liberty modestly. Wherefore, if your lordship will Indorsed,

vouchsafe to send me one of your own, except I Copy of the petition intended for the house of might have leave to come to London, either Mr. parliament.

Packer, my ancient friend, or Mr. Aylesbury, I of whose good affection towards me I have heard report; to me it shall be indifferent. But if your

lordship will have one of my nomination, if I might TO JOHN LORD DIGBY.*

presume so far, I would name before all others, my

lord of Falkland. But because perhaps it may cost MY VERY GOOD LORD,

him a journey, which I may not in good manners Receiving, by Mr. Johnson, your loving saluta- desire, I have thought of Sir Edward Sackville, Sir tions, it made me call to mind many of your lord

Robert Mansel, my brother, Mr. Solicitor-general, ship’s tokens, yea and pledges, of good and hearty who, though he be almost a stranger to me, yet, as affection in both my fortunes; for which I shall be my case now is, I had rather employ a man of good ever yours. I pray, my lord, if occasion serve, give nature than a friend, and Sir Arthur Ingram, notme your good word to the king, for the release of withstanding he be great with my lord treasurer. my confinement, which is to me a very strait kind of these, if your lordship will be pleased to prick of imprisonment. I am no Jesuit, nor no leper, but one, I hope well I shall entreat him to attend your one that served his Majesty these sixteen years, lordship, and to be sorry never a whit of the emeven from the commission of the union till this last ployment. Your lordship may take your own time parliament, and ever had many thanks of his Ma- to signify your will, in regard of the present busijesty, and was never chidden. This his Majesty, I ness of parliament. But my time was confined, by know, will remember, at one time or other; for I due respect, to write a present answer to a letter, am his man still.

which I construed to be a kind letter, and such as God keep your lordship.

giveth me yet hope to show myself to your lordship, Your lordship’s most affectionate to do you

Your lordship's most obliged friend, and faith.

ful servant, service,

FR. ST. ALBAN. FR. ST. ALBAN.

Indorsed, Gorhambury, this last of December, 1621. To the lord of Buckingham, in answer to his of

the 16th of December. Tower, May 31, 1621, desiring his lordship to procure his dis- I Thomas Aylesbury, Esq. secretary to the Marquis of charge that day.

Buckingham as lord high admiral. He was created a baronet * Created so in November, 1618, and in September, 1622, in 1627. Lord chancellor Clarendon married his daughter earl of Bristol.

Frances. † Harl. MSS. Vol. 7000.

s Sir Robert Heath, made solicitor in January, 1620-1.

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yet have great reason to desire it, specially being A Memorial of Conference, when the Lord Viscount now stirred: chiefly, first, because I have been St. Alban expected the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM. so sifted ; and now it is time there were an end.

Secondly, because I mean to live a retired life; and MY LORD MARQUIS,

so cannot be at hand to shake off any clamour. Inducement. ] APflictions are truly called trials ; For any offence the parliament should take, it trials of a man's self, and trials of friends. For the is rather honour, that in a thing wherein the king first, I am not guilty to myself of any unworthiness, is absolute, yet he will not interpose in that, which except perhaps too much softness in the beginning of the parliament hath handled ; and the king hath my troubles. But since, I praise God, I have not lived already restored judicature, after a long intermission : like a drone, nor like a mal-content, nor like a man but for matter of his grace, his Majesty shall have confused. But though the world hath taken her reason to keep it entire. talent from me, yet God's talent I put to use.

I do not think any, except a Turk or Tartar, For trial of friends, he cannot have many friends, would wish to have another chop out of me. But that hath chosen to rely upon one.

So that is in a the best is, it will be found there is a time for envy, ending in yourself. My suit therefore and a time for pity; and cold fragments will not to you is, that you would now, upon this vouchsafed serve, if the stomach be on edge. For me, if they conference, open yourself to me, whether I stand in judge by that which is past, they judge of the your favour and affection, as I have done; and if weather of this year by an almanack of the old year; there be an alteration, what is the cause ; and, if they rather repent of that they have done, and think none, what effects I may expect for the future of they have but served the turns of a few. your friendship and favour, my state being not un

small room,

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known to you.

Reasons of doubting. ] The reasons, why I should doubt of your lordship's coolness towards me, or THOMAS MEAUTYS, ESQ.* TO THE LORD falling from me, are either out of judgment and dis

VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. course, or out of experience, and somewhat that I

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, find. My judgment telleth, that when a man is out of sight and out of use, it is a nobleness somewhat As soon as I came to London, I repaired to Sir above this age to continue a constant friend : that Edward Sackville,t whom I find very zealous, as I some, that are thought to have your ear, or more, told your lordship. I left him to do you service, in love me not, and may either disvalue me, or dis- any particular you shall command him, to my lord taste your lordship with me. Besides, your lordship marquis, though it were with some adventure ; and hath now so many, either new-purchased friends, or withal he imparted to me what advice he had given reconciled enemies, as there is scarce room for an to my lady this afternoon, upon his visiting of her old friend specially set aside.

And lastly, I may

at York-house, when Mr. Packer also, as it fell out, doubt, that that, for which I was fittest, which was was come, at the same time, to see my lady, and to carry things suavibus modis, and not to bristle, or seemed to concur with Sir Edward Sackville in the undertake, or give venturous counsels, is out of same ways; which were, for my lady to become a fashion and request.

suitor to my lady Buckingham,f and my lady marAs for that, I find your lordship knoweth, as well chioness, $ to work my lord marquis for obtaining of as I, what promises you made me, and iterated them the king some bounty towards your lordship; and back by message, and from your mouth, consisting in particular, that of the thousand pounds for the of three things : the pardon of the whole sentence; small writs. If I may speak my opinion to your some help for my debts ; and an annual pension, lordship, it is not amiss to begin any way, or with which your lordship did set at 20001, as obtained, any particular, though but small game at first, only and 30001. in hope. Of these being promises unde- to set a rusty clock a going, and then haply it may sired, as well as favours undeserved, there is effected go right for a time, enough to bring on the rest of only the remission of the fine, and the pardon now your lordship's requests. Yet because your lordship stayed. From me I know there hath proceeded directed me to wish my lady, from you, by no means, nothing, that may cause the change. These I lay to act any thing, but only to open her mind, in disbefore you, desiring to know what I may hope for; course unto friends, until she should receive your for hopes are racks, and your lordship, that would farther direction; it became not me to be too fornot condemn me to the Tower, I know will not con- ward in putting it on too fast with Sir Edward ; and demn me to the rack.

my lady was pleased to tell me since, that she hath The pardon stayed.] I have, though it be a thing written to your lordship at large. trivial, and that at a coronation one might have it I inquired, even now, of Benbow, whether the for five marks, and after a parliament for nothing, proclamation for dissolving the parliament were com

He had been secretary to the lord viscount St. Alban, the rolls ; who purchased the reversion of Gorhambury, from while his lordship had the great seal, and was afterwards clerk Sir Hercules Meautys, nephew of the second Sir Thomas. of the council, and knighted. He succeeded his patron in † Afterwards earl of Dorset, well known for his duel in 1613, the manor of Gorhambury, which, after the death of Sir with the lord Kinloss, in which the latter was killed. Thomas, came to his cousin and heir, Sir Thomas Meautys, I Mary, countess of Buckingham, mother of the marquis. who married Anne, daughter of Sir Nathaniel Bacon of Cúl- Catharine, marchioness of Buckingham, wife of the ford-Hall, in Suffolk, knight; which lady married a second marquis, and only daughter and heir of Francis, earl of Rutbusband, Sir Harbottle Grimstone, baronet, and master of land.

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ing forth. He tells me he knows no more certainty Edward Sackville, who is forward to make my lady of it than that Mr. Secretary commanded him yes- a way by the prince, if your lordship advise it. terday to be ready for despatching of the writs, when There are packets newly come out of Spain : and he should be called for ; but since then he hears it the king, they say, seems well pleased with the sticks, and endures some qualms; but they speak it contents ; wherein there is an absolute promise, and still loud at court, that the king is resolved of it. undertaking, for restitution of the Palatinate; the

Benbow tells me likewise, that he hath attended, dispensation returned already from the pope, and the these two days, upon a committee of the lords, with match hastened on their parts. My lord Digby the book of the commission of peace; and that their goes shortly ; and Mr. Matthew tells me, he means, work is to empty the commission in some counties before his going, to write by him to your lordship. by the score, and many of them parliament-men : The king goes not till Wednesday, and the prince which course sure helps to ring the passing-bell to certainly goes with him. My lord marquis, in the parliament.

person, christens my lord of Falkland's child toMr. Borough * tells me, he is at this present fain morrow, at his house by Watford. to attend some service for the king; but about Mr. Murray ş tells me, the king hath given your Saturday he hopes to be at liberty to wait upon your book || to my lord Brooke, I and enjoined him to read lordship. I humbly rest

it, recommending it much to him: and then my

lord Brooke is to return it to your lordship; and so Your lordship’s for ever to honour and serve,

it may go to the press, when your lordship pleases,

T. MEAUTYS. with such amendments as the king hath made, January 3, 1621.

which I have seen, and are very few, and those To the Right Ilonourable my most honoured Lord, rather words, as epidemic, and mild instead of dethe Lord Viscount St. Alban,

bonnaire, &c. Only that of persons attainted, enabled to serve in parliament by a bare reversal of their attainder, the king by all means will have

left out. I met with my lord Brooke, and told him, TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. that Mr. Murray had directed me to wait upon him

for the book, when he had done with it. He desired MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

to be spared this week, as being to him a week of This afternoon my lady found access to my lord much business, and the next week I should have it: marquis, procured for her by my lord of Montgomeryť and he ended in a compliment, that care should be and Sir Edward Sackville, who seemed to contend taken, by all means, for good ink and paper to print which of them should show most patience in waiting, for that the book deserveth it. which they did a whole afternoon, the opportunity I beg leave to kiss your lordship’s hands. to bring my lord to his chamber, where my lady attended him. But when he was come, she found

Your lordship's in all humbleness to honour time enough to speak at large : and though my lord

T. MEAUTYS. spake so loud, as that what passed was no secret to January 7, 1621-2. me and some others, that were within hearing ; yet, because my lady told me she purposeth to write

This proclamation is not yet sealed ; and therefore to your lordship the whole passage, it becomes not

your lordship may please, as yet, to keep it in your

own hands. me to anticipate, by these, any part of her ladyship's relation.

I send your lordship herewith the proclamation for dissolving the parliament; wherein there is TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. nothing forgotten, that we | have done amiss: but for most of those things, that we have well done,

MY MOST HONOURED LORD, we must be fain, I see, to commend ourselves.

I Met, even now, with a piece of news so unesI delivered your lordship's to my lord of Montgo- pected, and yet so certainly true, as that, howsoever mery, and Mr. Matthew, who was even then come I had much ado, at first, to desire the relater to to York-house to visit my lady, when I received the speak probably; yet now I dare send it your lordletter ; and, as soon as he had read it, he said, that ship upon my credit. It is my lord of Somerset's he had rather your lordship had sent him a chal- and his lady's coming out of the Tower, on Saturlenge ; and that it had been easier to answer, than day last, ** fetched forth by my lord of Falkland, and so noble and kind a letter. He intends to see your without the usual degrees of confinement, at first to lordship some time this week; and so doth Sir some one place,tt but absolute and free to go where

John Borough, educated in common law at Gray's-Inn, tioned above in the letter of 21 January, 1614, or Thomas keeper of the Records of the Tower of London, secretary to the Murray, tutor and secretary to the prince, made provost of earl marshal, in 1623 made Norroy; in July the year follow- Eton-College, in the room of Sir Henry Saville, who died ing knighted, and on the 23d of December, the same year, February 19, 1621-2. Mr. Murray died likewise, April 1, made garter king at arms in the place of Sir William Segar. 1623. He died October 21, 16 13.

11 “ The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh." † Philip, afterwards earl of Pembroke.

Fulk Grevile. Mr. Meautys was member, in this parliament, for the ** January 6, 1621-2. Camdeni Annales Regis Jacobi I. town of Cambridge.

it in;

and serve,

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