My Lord, James I. to Lord Bacon.1 I have received your letter and your book," than which you could not have sent a more acceptable present unto me. How thankful I am for it, cannot better be expressed by me, than by a firm resolution I have taken: first, to read it through with care and attention, and though I should steal some hours from my sleep, having otherwise as little spare time to read it as ye had to write it; and then, use the liberty of a true friend in not sparing to ask you the question in any point whereof I shall stand in doubt: Nam ejus est explicare, cujus est condere. As for the other part, I will willingly give a due commendation to such places as in my opinion shall deserve it. In the mean time, I can with comfort assure you, that ye could not make choice of a subject more befitting your place and your universal and methodic knowledge. And, in the general, I have already observed that ye jump with me in keeping the middle way between the two extremes. In medio tutissimus ibis; as also in some particulars, I have found that ye agree fully with my opinion. And so, praying God to give your work as good success as your heart can wish, and your labours deserve, I bid you heartily farewell. JAMES R. 1 Rawlinson MSS. Bodleian Library. 2 The book in question was the Novum Organum, and a nice specimen is this letter of the king's extreme vanity and conceit of his learning. The work itself was published in 1620. means. opinion for the remedy, for if by no means the troops can be gotten to land in France, without apparent hazarding of them, there is no other safe way but that ye have set down, that they may land in Holland, and so go through the bishop's countries, but not to go near Breda by any He thinks it very fit, likewise, that the French king should hire our merchant ships to transport their horse. As for the embargo on the Hamburg ships, whereof the council hath written to his majesty, ye may let them know that he approves that order, only he wishes them to see that it may be to the good satisfaction of the Hamburgers. And, in regard of Mansfeld's juggling, he desires that Secretary Conway may renew a strict commandment in his name to the chief commanders of his subjects in that army, that they may precisely observe those rules already set down unto them. And if Mansfeld would presume to lead them any other way, or do any contrary actions, that rather they leave him wherever they be. To conclude, my father has commanded me to tell you that he is extremely sorry for your late illness, and for, likewise, your delay of coming hither; but he assures himself that ye will not lose an hour of time coming away out of that filthy town, as soon as your pressing occasions will permit you, and that ye may know mischiefs come by planets, and never one single, he has commanded me to tell you that he is as ill-tormented at this time in his right elbow and knee as he was at Cambridge; but he hopes that your coming merrily hither, with the countesses in your company to be his nurses, will make him a hale man again, and he expressly com : they are worthy to lie on Steenie and Kate's bed, and all of them run together in a lump both at scent and view; and God thank the master of the horse for providing me such a number of fair useful horses, fit for my hand; in a word I profess, I never was master of such horses and hounds the bearer will tell you what fine running we had yesterday. Remember now to take the air discreetly, and for God's sake and mine keep thyself very warm, especially thy head and thy shoulders; put thy park of Bewly to an end, and love me still and still, and so God bless thee, and my sweet daughter and god-daughter, to the comfort of thy dear dad. JAMES R. Your old purveyor sent thee yesternight six partridges and two leverets. I am now going to hawk the pheasant. Prince Charles to the Duke of Buckingham.1 Steenie, I have received your despatch by John Cooke, and have acquainted the king with it, who gives you this answer, that, first, he fully approves the course ye have taken, and directions ye have given hitherto; he is likewise of your opinion, that this juggling proceeds from the importunity of the Jesuits2 and Spanish faction with that king, who would gladly sail between waters, and play unseen of either side: he also fully approves of your 1 Harl. MS. No. 6011, p. 42. 2 Who wished James to enter into an arrangement never to punish a Roman Catholic subject, without first communicating with the pope. means. opinion for the remedy, for if by no means the troops can be gotten to land in France, without apparent hazarding of them, there is no other safe way but that ye have set down, that they may land in Holland, and so go through the bishop's countries, but not to go near Breda by any He thinks it very fit, likewise, that the French king should hire our merchant ships to transport their horse. As for the embargo on the Hamburg ships, whereof the council hath written to his majesty, ye may let them know that he approves that order, only he wishes them to see that it may be to the good satisfaction of the Hamburgers. And, in regard of Mansfeld's juggling, he desires that Secretary Conway may renew a strict commandment in his name to the chief commanders of his subjects in that army, that they may precisely observe those rules already set down unto them. And if Mansfeld would presume to lead them any other way, or do any contrary actions, that rather they leave him wherever they be. To conclude, my father has commanded me to tell you that he is extremely sorry for your late illness, and for, likewise, your delay of coming hither; but he assures himself that ye will not lose an hour of time coming away out of that filthy town, as soon as your pressing occasions will permit you, and that ye may know mischiefs come by planets, and never one single, he has commanded me to tell you that he is as ill-tormented at this time in his right elbow and knee as he was at Cambridge; but he hopes that your coming merrily hither, with the countesses in your company to be his nurses, will make him a hale man again, and he expressly com mands you to send him word of the certain day of your remove out of London, and how long ye will stay at Newhall1 by the way, for he knows ye cannot bring the women out of London hither in a day, and your own house is not a mile or two out of the way, from whence ye bring the king an account of your planting and deer, and of the going on of your new pale. That he is not able to write unto you ye have already heard the occasion. All this the king hath dictated to me. I have only to add, that I am very well, if I had your company; but can enjoy nothing rightly while you be not here, and I do not think ye would be the worse if ye wanted physic, and had the company of Your loving, faithful, constant friend, your CHARLES P. I only speak against your physic; but doubt not but that ye will make as much haste as you may. James I. to the Duke of Buckingham.2 My Sweet Hearty, I thank thee for thy sweet, kind letter. I have passed the Presidents' Bill, for it is reasonable; as to Holland's suit, I have, according to my custom, put the note in the Master of Requests' hands, and when the party shall be convicted, I will do in it as the worthy of the thing shalt prove, as thou shall advise me. As to the Dunkirk business, my captain of my ship complains of the Hollanders' behaviour; if that prove so, I must 1 In Essex, a seat of the duke of Buckingham's. 2 Harl. MS. No. 6011, p. 32. Hearne has printed an extract from this letter in his glossary to Robert of Gloucester. |