1621-2.] PUBLICATION OF THE HISTORY OF HENRY VII. 353 press, and was now ready for delivery; when one of those smaller vexations with which fortune loves to persecute those who have lost her favour crossed him in a manner quite unexpected and still inexplicable. The Bishop of London, Dr. George Mountain, interposed a "stay." Whether he had been consulting with the Lord Keeper (who had just succeeded him in his late Bishopric) and been told that the Houses of Parliament would think themselves mocked and derided if a man whom they had judged unworthy to be a constable were allowed to publish a book,—or whether he thought that a man who might not come within the verge ought not to print within the verge, or whether he feared that literature itself would be disgraced if convicts were permitted to become authors,-or what else was the nature of his objection, we are left to guess: for it cannot have been anything that he found in the book itself, and all we know is that Bacon heard from Meautys on the 21st of March that the publication of the book had been arrested by some "demur" on the part of the Bishop of London. But whatever it was, it appears to have been speedily overruled, for we hear no more of it, and we know that the book was out before the end of the month, and might be bought in the shops for six shillings." While the manuscript remained with the King, and Bacon waited for the effect (which was not much, so far), he turned his own attention to his philosophy,--selecting for his next task that part which was furthest advanced;-the completion and translation into Latin of the argument of the 'Advancement of Learning,' which he had now resolved to make serve for the first part of the Instauratio Magna. This was already so far advanced that he expected it to be finished by the end of the summer.3 If the History of Henry VII.' took two months and a half to go through the press, the De Augmentis Scientiarum, being in Latin and about twice the size, would not be likely to take less than six: even if the manuscript were as complete and fair, and the printing were pressed on as fast, And therefore though it was not out before October, 1623, we need not doubt that the composition was the work mainly of the winter of 1621 and the following spring and summer. But it was important for Bacon, as his affairs and prospects now stood, to keep the King in mind of him by labours in which he had a more direct interest. He had given a fair specimen of the service he was capable of as a historian, and he wished to shew what use might still be made of him as a lawyer. Now the recompilement of 1 Chamberlain to Carleton, 30 March, 1622. S. P. 3 Court and Times of James I.,' vol. ii. p. 303. 3 See Letter to Baranzano, a little further on. VOL. VII. 2 A the Laws was a work of which he had long since and repeatedly pointed out the value, and offered his help in.1 It was a work which he was particularly well suited to superintend, if he might have the requisite authority and assistance. And there was no occasion more suitable for a renewal of the proposal than the presentation of a copy of the History of Henry VII.' If the reader bears these things in mind, he will find no difficulty in understanding the correspondence which follows. TO MR. TOBIE MATTHEW.2 Good Mr. Matthew, When you write by pieces it sheweth your continual care; for a flush of memory is not so much; and I shall be always on my part ready to watch for you, as you do for me. I will not fail, when I write next to my Lord Marquis, to thank his Lordship for the message, and to name the nuntius. And to tell you plainly, this care (they speak of) concerning my estate was more than I looked for at this time, and it is that which pleaseth me best. For my desires reach but to a fat otium. That is truth; and so would I have all men think, except the greatest; for I know Patents absque aliquo inde reddendo are not so easily granted. I pray commend my service to the Spanish Ambassador, and present him my humble thanks for his favour. I am much his servant, and ashes may be good for somewhat. I ever rest Your most affectionate and assured friend, FR. ST. ALBAN. I have sought for your little book, and cannot yet find it. I had it one day with me in my coach. But sure it is safe; for I seldom leese books or papers. THOMAS MEAUTYS, ESQ., TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.3 May it please your Lordship, I have been attending upon my Lord Marquis his 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 Lord 1 See Vol. VI. pp. 57-71. 2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 268. 3 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 234. Bacon, "Mewt sin dat." 4 Probably for permitting him to Draught in Bacon's hand. Original, though not signed. Docketed by come within the verge of the Court. 1621-2.] WARRANT FOR LIBERTY TO COME WITHIN VERGE. 355 ship remembers, in haste at Gorhambury, and in as much haste delivered to Sir Edward Sackville as soon as I alighted from my horse, who instantly put it into my Lord Marquis his 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 writ, and therefore dispatched 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 be ready, I think it were good to lose no time in the delivery; for the printer's fingers itch to be selling. My Lady hath seen the house at Chiswick, and can make a shift to like it; only she means to come to your Lordship thither, and not to 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 to honour and serve you. TO THOMAS MEAUTYS, ESQ.2 Good Mr. Meautys, For the difference of the warrant, it is not much 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 amended, it is better it be spied now than hereafter. I send you the copies of the three letters which you have,3 and in mine own opinion this demur as you term it of 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 1 Ingram, I suppose. 2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 164. Original draught in Bacon's hand. No flyleaf. Indorsed, "To Mr. Thos. Meautys." 3 That is, I suppose, the fair copies in Bacon's own hand of the letters to the King, the Prince and Buckingham, which were to be delivered along with the copies of the book. being but in those three hands, they are private enough. But this I leave merely to your discretion, resting Your most affectionate and assured friend, 21 March, 1621. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD LORD, THE BUCKINGHAM, HIGH ADMIRAL OF LORD MARQUIS OF ENGLAND. 1 My very good Lord, These main and real favours which I have lately received from your good Lordship, in procuring my liberty, and a reference of the consideration of my relief, are such as I now find that in building upon your Lordship's noble nature and friendship I have built 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 of Falkland, Sir Ed. Sackville, Mr. Matthew, and other wise. I have written, as my duty was, to his Majesty thanks touching the same, by the letter I 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 declaration whereof I have left with Sir Edward Sackville, because it were no good manners to cloy his Majesty at this time of triumph and recreation with a business of this nature. So as your Lordship may be pleased to call for it to Sir Edward Sackville when you think the time seasonable. I am bold likewise to present your Lordship with a book of my History of king Henry the seventh. And now that, in summer was twellmonth, I dedicated a book to his Majesty; and this last summer, this book to the Prince; your Lordship's turn is next, and this summer that cometh (if I live to it) shall be yours. I have desired his Majesty to appoint me the task, 1 Tanner MSS. 73 (i.) f. 111. Original. In the draught of this letter (Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 141) opposite to these words is written in the margin "for if a mist be upon the rock sometimes, that is nothing to the builder." 1621-2.] THANKS FOR LIBERTY AND OFFER OF WORK. 357 otherwise I shall use mine own choice; for this is the best retribution I can make to your Lordship. God prosper you. I rest Your Lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. Gorhambury, this 20th of March, 1621. TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.1 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 further, 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 Lord 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 mought seem immodest. These your Majesty's great benefits in casting your bread upon the waters (as the Scripture saith) because my thanks cannot any ways be sufficient to attain, I have raised your progenitor of famous memory (and now I hope of more famous memory than before) King Henry the 7th, 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 the harbour which I hope now by your Majesty's favour I am entring 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 further, if it stand with your 1 Tanner MSS. 73, (i.) f. 109. Original. In Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 142, are three rough draughts in Bacon's own hand. |