240 LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 



lordship what I think of for that supply ; to the end that 

 you may, as you have begun to your great honour, despise 

 money, where it crosseth reason of state or virtue. But I 

 will trouble you no further at this time. God ever preserve 

 and prosper your lordship. 



Your true and most devoted Servant, 



November 29, 1616. FR. BACON. 



To the Lord Viscount Villiers. 

 My very good Lord, 



I delivered the proclamation for cloth to Secretary Win- 

 wood on Saturday, but he keepeth it to carry it down him 

 self, and goeth down, as I take it to-day : his majesty may 

 perceive by the docket of the proclamation, that I do 

 not only study, but act that point touching the j udges, 

 which his majesty commandeth in your last. 



Yesterday was a day of great good for his majesty s 

 service, and the peace of this kingdom concerning duels, by 

 occasion of Darcye s case. I spake big, and publishing his 

 majesty s straight charge to me, said it had struck me 

 blind, as in point of duels and cartels, &c. I should not 

 know a coronet from a hatband. I was bold also to declare 

 how excellently his majesty had expressed to me a con 

 templation of his touching duels; that is, that when he 

 came forth and saw himself princely attended with goodly 

 noblesse and gentlemen, he entered into the thought, that 

 none of their lives were in certainty not for twenty-four 

 hours from the duel ; for it was but a heat or a mistaking, 

 and then a lie, and then a challenge, and then life : saying 

 that I did not marvel seeing Xerxes shed tears to think none 

 of his great army should be alive once within a hundred 

 years, his majesty were touched with compassion to think 

 that not one of his attendants but might be dead within 

 twenty-four hours by the duel. This I write because his 

 majesty may be wary what he sayeth to me (in things of 

 this nature) I being so apt to play the blab. In this also, 

 I forgot not to prepare the judges, and wish them to profess, 

 and as it were to denounce, that in all cases of duel capital 

 before them, they will use equal severity towards the inso 

 lent murder by the duel, and the insidious murder; and 

 that they will extirpate that difference out of the opinions 

 of men, which they did excellent well. 



I must also say that it was the first time that I heard 

 my Lord of Arundel speak in that place ; and I do assure 

 your lordship, he doth excellently become the court ; he 



