342 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



at this time, being to meet you so shortly, where will be 

 better trial of all that hath passed, than can be made by 

 letters. So I rest 



Your Lordship s at command, 



Warwick, Sept. 5, 1617. G. BUCKINGHAM. 



The Earl of Buckingham to the Lord Keeper, Sir 



Francis Bacon.* 

 My Lord, 



I have made his majesty acquainted with your note con 

 cerning that wicked fellow s speeches, which his majesty 

 contemneth, as is usual to his great spirit in these cases. 

 But notwithstanding, his majesty is pleased that it shall 

 be exactly tried whether this foul-mouthed fellow was taken 

 either with drunkenness or madness, when he spake it. 

 And as for your lordship s advice for setting up again the 

 commissioners for suits, his majesty saith, there will be 

 time enough for thinking upon that, at his coming to 

 Hampton Court. 



But his majesty s direction, in answer of your letter hath 

 given me occasion to join hereunto a discovery upon the 

 discourse you had with me this day.*f* For I do freely con 

 fess, that your offer of submission unto me, and in writing, 

 if so I would have it, battered so the unkindness that I had 

 conceived in my heart for your behaviour towards me in 

 my absence, as out of the sparks of my old affection towards 

 you, I went to sound his majesty s intention towards you, 

 specially in any public meeting ; where I found on the one 

 part, his majesty so little satisfied with your late answer 

 unto him, which he counted (for I protest I use his own 

 terms) confused and childish, and his rigorous resolution 

 on the other part so fixed, that he would put some public 

 exemplary mark upon you ; as I protest the sight of his 

 deep conceived indignation quenched my passion, making 

 me upon the instant change from the person of a party into 

 a peace-maker; so as I was forced upon my knees to beg 

 of his majesty, that he would put no public act of disgrace 

 upon you. And as I dare say, no other person would have 

 been patiently heard in this suit by his majesty but my- 



* This seems to be the letter to which the Lord Keeper returned an answer, 

 September 22, 1617, printed in his works. 



t At Windsor, according to Sir Antony Weldon, who may perhaps be believed 

 in such a circumstance as this. See Court and Character nf King James I. 

 p. 122, 



