LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 59 



you, assuring myself that nothing is more firm than his 

 trust, tried to your majesty s commandments ; 



Your Majesty s most humble and most bounden 



subject and servant. 

 April 28, 1616. 



Sir Francis Bacon, the King s Attorney General, to 

 the Master of the Horse, upon the sending of his 

 Bill for Viscount, sc. 



Sir, 



I send you the bill for his majesty s signature, reformed 

 according to his majesty s amendments, both in the two 

 places (which I assure you, were altered with great judg 

 ment) and in the third place, which his majesty termed 

 a question only. But he is an idle body, that thinketh his 

 majesty asketh an idle question ; and therefore his majesty s 

 questions are to be answered, by taking away the cause of 

 the question, and not by replying. 



For the name, his majesty s will is a law in those things; 

 and to speak the truth, it is a well-sounding, and noble 

 name, both here and abroad : and being your proper name, 

 I will take it for a good sign, that you shall give honour to 

 your dignity, and not your dignity to you. Therefore I 

 have made it Viscount Villiers, and for your barony, I will 

 keep it for an earldom : for though the other had been 

 more orderly, yet that is as usual, and both alike good in 

 law. 



For Roper s place, I would have it by all means dis 

 patched ; and therefore I marvel it lingereth. It were no 

 good manners, to take the business out of my lord treasurer s 

 hands, and therefore I purpose to write to his lordship, if I 

 hear not from him first, by Mr. Deckome ; but if I hear of 

 any delay, you will give me leave (especially since the king 

 named me) to deal with Sir Joseph Roper myself; for 



