LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 235 



any knots and difficulties in your business, wherein hitherto 

 I have been not unfortunate. God ever have you in his most 

 precious custody. Your majesty s most faithful 



and most bounden Servant, 

 Sept. 13, 1616. FRA. BACON. 



To the Lord Viscount Villers. 



My very good Lord, 



It was my opinion from the beginning, that this com 

 pany will never overcome the business of the cloth ; and 

 that the impediments are as much or more in the persons 

 which are instrument a animata than in the dead business 

 itself. 



I have therefore sent unto the king here enclosed my 

 reasons, which I pray your lordship to show his majesty. 



The new company and the old company are but the sons 

 of Adam to me, and I take myself to have some credit with 

 both, but it is upon fear rather with the old, and upon love 

 rather with the new, and yet with both upon persuasion 

 that I understand the business. 



Nevertheless I walk in via regid, which is not absolutely 

 acceptable to either. For the new company would have 

 all their demands granted, and the old company would have 

 the king s work given over and deserted. 



My opinion is, that the old company be drawn to suc 

 ceed into the contract, (else the king s honour sufFereth); 

 and that we all draw in one way to effect that. If time, 

 which is the wisest of things, prove the work impossible or 

 inconvenient, which I do not yet believe, I know his ma 

 jesty and the state will not surfer them to perish. 



I wish what shall be done were done with resolution 

 and speed, and that your lordship (because it is a gracious 

 business) had thanks of it next the king ; and that there 

 were some commission under his majesty s sign manual, to 

 deal with some selected persons of the old company, and 

 to take their answers and consent under their hands, and 

 that the procuring the commission, and the procuring of 

 their offers to be accepted, were your lordship s work. 



In this treaty my Lord Chancellor must by no means be 

 left out, for he will moderate well, and aimeth at his majes 

 ty s ends. 



Mr. Solicitor is not yet returned, but I look for him 

 presently. I rest 



Your Lordship s true and 

 Monday, 14th of October, most devoted Servant, 



at 10 of the Clock. FR. BACON. 



