in which the arrears of the pension are named proves that it was drawn up before Michaelmas, 1622. At what time it was presented is more doubtful: and there is some reason for thinking that Bacon kept it back till he could get it presented by Buckingham (who in his present temper required careful approaching), and in the mean time applied to his mother to use her influence in his behalf. This I gather from a sheet of private memoranda, set down for the greater privacy in Greek characters, and headed "La. B.," which was found among his papers and had evidently been prepared for an interview with the Countess of Buckingham about this time. The date cannot be fixed exactly; but there are two circumstances by which the uncertainty is brought within bounds. The notes must have been set down while some proposition was on foot for Bacon's benefit, in which the Lord Treasurer had to be dealt with; and also when Buckingham's recent purchase of New-hall was a matter in which Bacon had some interest.

The first leaves a wide margin: for we know that some proposition of the kind was under discussion at the beginning of the year—a proposition which answers the description well enough and in which the Countess's intervention was to be invited. This appears from Meautys's letter of the 3rd of January, 1621-2, (p. 324) where he reports that Sir Edward Sackville and Mr. Packer had concurred in advising that Lady St. Alban (this was when Bacon himself was prohibited from coming within the verge) should "become a suitor to my Lady Buckingham and my Lady Marquess to work my Lord Marquis for obtaining of the King some bounty towards his Lordship, and in particular that of the 1000l. a-year for the small writs." We know also by a letter from Williams to Buckingham printed in the 'Cabala,' that as late as the end of August some business of the kind (in which Bacon was in some way interested) was still in hand, and that Buckingham was pressing for the despatch of it. As the Bishop's language is obscure and ambiguous, it will be better to quote the words.

"Yesterday, upon the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the 19th "he is writing on the 23rd of August, 1622,-" concerning the hastening of the business of the original Writs, I sent presently for Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor, who were altogether unprovided for their parts of the despatch, and are casually forced so to be, because three several officers in whose records they are to search are now out of town, and do not return yet these seven days. But your Lordship shall not fail to have all things concluded three weeks before the term, and I will (of purpose) put off all general sealing till it be effected.

"In the mean time (your Lordship's letter notwithstanding) it will be

nothing for your Lordship's ease to have Sir George Chaworth any way interested in this office of the originals: but I hold it fitter to leave it (as it is in Law and Equity) forfeited for non-payment of rent, in his Majesty's hand; for upon that issue I do not doubt but my Lord of St. Alban's and Sir George will be content to hear reason." "11

66

Now it may be remembered that in the beginning of the year 1618 there was some transaction between Bacon and Sir George Chaworth about this farm of the Petty Writs (for I suppose the 'originals' was only another name for them): which ended in an arrangement whereby Bacon retained the Patent and yet Sir George was contented." 112 What the arrangement was we do not exactly know, but I suppose Bacon undertook to pay over to him a proportion of the profits, so that he had an interest in the patent, though he was not joined in it. When the other sources of Bacon's income suddenly dried up, he could no longer answer these demands; and we learn from the Petition that the patent had been first seized for the satisfaction of a private debt, and afterwards detained as forfeit to the Crown for arrears of rent. Whether Chaworth was the person at whose suit it was seized, I cannot say. But it seems that Williams's object was to get it out of both their hands. And Meautys's warning to Bacon which we shall meet with a little further on,3-not to surrender his old patent, till he had the new under seal, "lest my Lord Keeper should take toy and stop it there -was not without reason.

If therefore the farm of the Petty Writs was the "business which Bacon was going to speak about, the interview may have taken place almost at any time between January and November. But the mention of New-hall points to a date somewhat more definite. "Marquis Buckingham," says Chamberlain, writing on the 13th of July, 1622, “"is gone through with the Earl of Sussex for New-hall, for the sum of 22,0007., who likewise is to resign to him the Lieutenancy of Essex, which lies fitly to his other commands of Buckinghamshire and Middlesex." The purchase was thought to be a great bargain: and I gather that there was something connected with it, though I cannot guess what, that pleaded for Bacon. For on the 11th of September, Meautys, who seems to have been recommended by him for some office-the clerkship of the Council probably, which he afterwards held,-writing doubtfully as to his success," for I have yet no more to show for it," says he, "than good words, of which many times I brought your Lordship good store"-adds :

16
'Cabala,' p. 291.

2 Vol. VI. p. 285.

See his letter of 25 Nov., p. 397.

"But because modice fideans were not made to thrive in Court, I mean to lose no time from assaying my Lord Marquis, for which purpose I am now hovering about New-hall, where his Lordship is expected (but not the King) this day or to-morrow: which place, as your Lordship advises, may not be ill chosen for my business. For if his Lordship be not very thick of hearing, sure New-hall will be heard to speak for me.

What either Bacon or Meautys can have deserved of Buckingham in such a matter I do not pretend to understand. But neither can I understand what other sense the words will bear. Thus much at any rate they prove: that if Bacon was preparing for a conference with Lady Buckingham about the 11th of September, he was likely to have something to say about New-hall. And as we do not know that this would be equally true either of an earlier or a later time, it may serve as a reason for assigning the following paper to this date, in the absence of any reason for assigning it to another.

Of York-house garden :

Of New-hall:

LA. B.2

Of my being with my L. Treasurer:

Of my business.

It is well begun: I desire it may be your act.

It is nothing out of the king's purse: it lieth fair; a third part of the profit.

The King bestows honour upon reward, one3 honour upon alms and charity.

Time, I hope, will work this, or a better. I know my Lord will not forsake me.

He can have but one mother. Friends wayfarers, some to Waltham, some to Ware, and where the ways part, farewell.

I have no desire to stage myself, nor pretensions but for the comfort of a private life; yet will I be ever at God's and the King's call: malcontent or busy-body I scorn to be.

Though my Lord shall have no use of me, yet he shall have honour by me.

1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 169. Original.

Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 273.

So Birch read it, and so I read it after him. But I think it cannot be right.

For envy, the almanack of that year is past.

You may observe last Parliament, though an high-coming Parliament, yet not a petition, not a clamour, not a motion, not a mention of me. Visitations by all the noblemen about the

town.

A little will make me happy: the debts I have paid.

I shall honour my Lord with pen, with words; and be ready to give him faithful and free counsel, as ready as when I had the seal; and mine ever suavibus modis, for safety as well as for greatness.

The King and the Prince I hear for certain well affected.
To dine with

To go to New-hall.

Towards the end of September the Countess was sent away from the Court in consequence of an open relapse to Popery, and confined to her house at Dalby in Leicestershire, but whatever communication Bacon had had with her seems to have been of some use. For we shall shortly see Buckingham stirring himself with more effect than he has done of late: and the next letter, addressed to her in her banishment, acknowledges Bacon's sense of obligation for what she had done.

TO THE COUNTESS OF BUCKINGHAM.2

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 favours towards me, the more out of my love to him I wish he had often by him so loving and wise a mother. For 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 a whole chapter of advices that his mother taught him. Madam, I can but retain your remembrance with affection and use your

if

1 Chamberlain to Carleton, 25 Sept.

2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 170. Original draught in Bacon's hand. No fly. leaf. Indorsed "To the Countess of Buck., the Duke's mother."

name with honour and intend you my best service if I be able, ever resting

Whether the Countess's influence had anything to do with it, I do not know, but Bacon must about this time have had a personal interview with Buckingham himself. And to the effect of that may be probably attributed the revival of an active interest in his affairs, of which the next letter gives us the first intimation-a letter quite in his own style.

The enclosure signed by the King may have been a warrant for the payment of the arrears of pension, and the "other business which was to be referred to Sir John Suckling may have been the "warrant touching his debts," which follows:

My Lord,

TO THE LORD ST. ALBAN.1

I have despatched the business your Lordship recommended to me, which I send your Lordship, here inclosed, signed by his Majesty, and have likewise moved him for your coming to kiss his hand, which he is pleased you shall do at Whitehall when he returneth next thither. In the meantime I rest

Your Lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Newmarket, 13 Nov. 1622.

I will give order to my servant to wait upon Sir John Suckling about your other business.

COPY OF THE KING'S WARRANT TOUCHING THE LORD ST.

James Rex,

ALBAN'S DEBTS.

We do much commiserate the estate of our right trusty and well-beloved the Lord of St. Alban, having served us in

1 Harl. MSS. 7000. f. 105. Orig. Own hand. Docketed by Bacon, "My Lord of Buck's. Ire. touching my warrant and access."

Add. MSS. 12,496. Fair copy in the hand of one of Bacon's scribes. Docketed in Bacon's hand, " Cop. of the K's war. touch. my debts, and below (I think in Sir Julius Cæsar's hand) "14 Nov. 1622."