LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 257 



in regard of the treaty with Spain. For it were good in 

 respect of your people, that there were no note made, that 

 the string is relaxed, and in respect of the treaty, that it is 

 not strained: and therefore that the proceeding in those 

 causes be rather diligent than severe. 



I am wonderful glad to hear that this extremity of 

 weather, which I think the Muscovite hath brought with 

 him, hath not touched your majesty, whose health and ease 

 is far dearer to me than my life with all the appurtenances. 

 God ever preserve and prosper you. 



Your Majesty s most faithful and 



most obliged Servant, 



This Fnday morning, the o 



sixth of February, 1617. r R. 15 A CON, Cane. 



Your majesty will be pleased your answer be with me 

 on Thursday at noon, or soon after it. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer hath signified to me 

 this day, that yesterday his majesty called him to his 

 coach and said to him, that one that had used ill speech of 

 me should be called before me and make his submission to 

 me, and thereupon be called before the council and re 

 ceive a shjajp reprehension, and so be enlarged. And Mr. 

 Chancellor could not tell me who the person was, but after, 

 by some letter he received from my Lord Clifton, and speech 

 with a man of his, he perceived it was he. 



I pray your lordship in humbleness to let his majesty 

 know that I little fear the Lord Clifton, but I much fear 

 the example, that it will animate ruffians and rodomonti ex 

 tremely against the seats of justice, (which are his majesty s 

 own seats) yea, and against all authority and greatness, if 

 this pass without public censure and example, it having 

 gone already so far as that the person of a baron hath been 

 committed to the Tower. The punishment it may please 

 his majesty to remit, and I shall not formally but heartily 

 intercede for him, but an example (setting myself aside) I 

 wish for terror of persons that may be more dangerous than 

 he, towards the least judge of the kingdom. 



Therefore it may please his majesty to speak of it with 

 myself and my lords when he cometh next ; and in the mean 

 time I will command from his majesty, the Master of the 

 Rolls, and Mr. Attorney, who were appointed by the table 

 to examine him, to stay. God ever prosper you. 



Your Lordship s true Friend and devoted Servant, 



March 17, 1617. FR. BACON, Cane. 



VOL. xii. s 



