LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 269 



fully when I shall perceive that my propositions shall not 

 be litera scripts in glade. 



Meanwhile to keep the commission in doing of somewhat 

 worth the doing, it may please his majesty to take know 

 ledge that, upon our report, we had agreed to make re 

 monstrance to him, that we thought Ireland might (if his 

 majesty leave it to our care) be brought by divers good 

 expedients to bear their own charge; and therefore his 

 majesty may be pleased, by his commandment, to set us 

 in hand with it out of hand. God ever prosper you. 

 Your Lordship s most obliged 



October 7, 1620. Friend and faithful Servant, 



FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



To Sir Henry Wotton. 

 My very good Cousin, 



The letter which I received from your lordship upon your 

 going to sea was more than a compensation for any former 

 omission; and I shall be very glad to entertain a corres 

 pondence with you in both kinds which you write of: for 

 the latter, I am now ready for you, having sent you some 

 ore of that mine. I thank you for your favours to Mr. 

 Meautys, and I pray continue the same. So wishing you 

 out of your honourable exile, and placed in a better orb, I 

 rest 



Your Lordship s affectionate Kinsman 

 York House, and assured Friend. 



FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



I send his majesty a form of a proclamation* for the par 

 liament, which I thought fit ito offer first to his majesty s 

 perusal before I acquainted the counsel. 



For that part which concerneth the foreign business, his 



* Draught of a proclamation for a parliament. 



As in our princely judgment, we hold nothing more worthy of a Christian 

 monarch than the conservation of peace at home and abroad ; whereby effusion of 

 Christian blood and other calamities of war are avoided ; trade is kept open, laws 

 and justice retain their due vigour and play ; arts and sciences flourish, subjects 

 are less burthened with taxes and tallages, and infinite other benefits redound to 

 the state of a common-weal : so in our practice, we suppose there hath been seldom 

 any king that hath given more express testimonies and real pledges of this desire 

 to have peace conserved than we have done in the whole course of our regiment. 



For neither have we, for that which concerns ourselves, been ready to appre 

 hend or embrace any occasions or opportunities of making war upon our neigh 

 bours 5 neither have we omitted, for that which may concern the states abroad, 



