THE DUTIFUL SERVANT. 455 by a Mr. Hall, that first showed how this might be accomplished. Bacon stopped the publication of the book, and advised the King to grant a commission or monopoly for the creation, thus seizing on the idea of a subject, and hindering him of his advantage for the Royal benefit. A few extracts from his letters to and from Villiers during December will show the progress of his indefatigable labours for his Majesty and his favourite. VILLIERS TO BACON. "MY HONOURABLE LORD,— "I having understood by Dr. Steward, that your Lordship hath made a decree against him in the Chancery which he thinks very hard for him to perform, although I know it is unusual to your Lordship to make any alterations, when things are so far past; yet in regard I owe him a good turn, which I know not how to perform but this way, I desire your Lordship if there be any place left for mitigation, your Lordship would show him what favour you may, for my sake, in his desires, which I shall be ready to acknowledge as a great courtesy done unto myself, and will ever rest 66 There came to the seal about a fortnight since a strange book passed by Mr. Attorney to one Mr. Hall; and it is to make subjects, (for so is denization), and this to go to a private use, till some thousand pounds be made by it. . . . I acquainted the Commissioners with it, and by one consent it is stayed. But let me counsel his Majesty to grant forth a commission of this nature so to raise money for himself, being a flower of 456 THE WRITTEN AID TO MONPESSON. the crown; and Hall may be rewarded out of it. . God ever bless and prosper you. "Your Lordship's most faithful "Dec. 8, 1618. and obliged Friend and Servant, BACON TO VILLIERS. "MY VERY GOOD LORD, 66 • .. • The patent touching Guinea and Bynny (Bonny?), for the trade of gold, stayed first by myself, and after by his Majesty's commandment, we have now settled by consent of all parties. "Mr. Attorney by my direction hath made upon his information exhibited in the Star Chamber, a thundering information against the transportation of gold by the Dutch;* which all the town is glad of; and I have granted divers warrants of Ne exeat regnum, according to his Majesty's warrant. God ever bless you and keep you. "Your Lordship's most faithful and bounden Friend and Servant, "FR. VERULAM, Canc." The multifarious demands on his time have not hindered him from concerning himself actively in a case of the Earl of Ormond's-against whom there was at the instance of James, given subsequently, a most iniquitous decree, which Ormond refusing to submit to, was committed to the Fleet, remaining in prison till 1625 In January and March, 1619, the old correspondence proceeds-favours asked and acknowledged for Sir John Wentworth, and a petitioner whose name, as he is the bearer of his own note, is not given. In April, there is an interference in the suit of Sir Arthur Manwaring at the instance of the King, Sir Arthur having been steward * This has reference to the Monpesson Monopoly, and is in aid thereof. CRANFIELD, ANOTHER OF VILLIERS' COURTIERS. 457 to Lord Ellesmere. On behalf of Philip Bernardi, possibly, a just and proper interference merely on state grounds. In May, Francis Verulam is moving in Suffolk's business. This Peer had been made Lord Treasurer in 1614. In his office he was in the way of Villiers. The Favourite will have none but his merest tools and dependents about him, and is anxious to supplant him by Lionel Cranfield, "an informer," a man of base and despicable character, whom he had raised step by step, through several grades of promotion, as he has elevated Bacon. Cranfield was a man, doubtless, of considerable penetration and sagacity, an acute and useful man of business, but on all hands admitted to be, a man of deplorable rascality. He has for his advancement, and the better to bind himself to Villiers, married into his family, for Villiers in all things takes Bacon's advice, as to advancing and supporting oneself by followers. In deference to his patron's wish, Bacon has long laid himself out, to attack the Suffolks. He is the friend of Cranfield; and Cranfield, as we know from Villiers' letters, takes every opportunity of eulogizing Bacon, which Villiers, knowing it to be to his own interest to have his creatures amicably bound together, duly reports to Bacon. As far back as July of last year, Bacon, in a letter to Buckingham, attacks Suffolk, from which we may learn which way the wind sets. In May, Buckingham-for by this time the king is only the puppet in the Earl's hands-grants Bacon 1,2007. a year, in answer, perhaps, to a begging petition for some substantial favour addressed to his Majesty, through the Earl, some time before. We find no correspondence now with James. The Earl is too wise to X 458 THE PLUNDER OF THE NATION. permit that. He is the medium of all communication with the sovereign. He fears not such men as Cranfield or Bacon, but he will not trust them between himself and his master. Promotion, advancement he will give them. He shines more in their honour, but trust them he will not. * In May, 1619, we find Bacon dealing in a case of witchcraft, and desiring his friends, Sir Thomas Leigh and Sir Thomas Puckering, to deal with the person accused, one John Clarkson of Knowington. Before this however, probably in December of the preceding year, Bacon, with his colleagues Montagu and Yelverton, have decided that the gold and silver thread business is likely to be very profitable to his Majesty, and to yield him at least 10,0007. a year, and should therefore be proceeded with. We find, moreover, that the Sir Gilbert Houghton, benefited in his suit at Villiers' entreaty, is a follower of that nobleman. We have also proof that two men, Lewis and Williams, having entered into a contract for a monopoly in the transport of butter out of Wales with Villiers' brother, refuse to perform the condition of their contract so far, it is presumed, as to pay the Villiers' their share of the plunder. This patent, sealed by Bacon, is conditional on the concealment of the Villiers' name and a division of the spoil; whereupon Bacon's aid is again needed to use the Chancery, as a means of vengeance to complete this private bargain, in which, no doubt, Buckingham himself is directly interested. Bacon is now in high favour again. His praises of himself, in James's own words, as pursuing affairs, “sua* Mallett, Montagu, vol. xiii., p. 5. † Stephen, Montagu, vol. xiii., p. 17. BACON'S STAR AGAIN IN THE ASCENDANT. 459 vibus modis," and as being, "in the words of St. Paul, omnibus omnia," all things to all men, and as pursuing great courses, “sine strepitu," noiselessly, are frequent. In September and October, James, through Buckingham, frequently praises the Chancellor. He is retrieving his ingratitude. He is carrying the "ore tenus," concerning the Dutch exportation, with great diligence in the Star Chamber, in this procuring the King fame, and enriching the family of the favourite. Buckingham again addresses him as his faithful friend and servant; and in one letter says that his slave, in the Roman fashion, deserves a garland for his services, and desires him also to bear his thanks to Coke, showing that again the Chancellor is triumphant and rides above his adversary. In June, July, and August, he is preparing for the trial of Lady Exeter, accused of incest, and Suffolk's cause fixed, de bene esse, the third sitting next term. Bacon about this time grows absolutely affectionate. He and Buckingham never interchange an epistle without a vast display of love, that with such men argues little for its sincerity or continuance. The grant of 12007. a year in the preceding May, has produced this fervour. The Chancellor is, as usual on the instant-grateful. It is unluckily the case that the converse of the proverb that "when knaves fall out," &c., especially holds-this newly-cemented affection auguring much mischief to the commonwealth. Here are some of the evidences of these new ties of consanguinity. BACON TO VILLIERS. This morning the King of himself did tell me some testimony, that your Lordship gave of me |