LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 27 



That these things should not be staged, nor talked of, 

 and so the less fuel to the fire. 



That in things of this nature, wherein the council had 

 done the like in former particulars (which I enumerated) 

 before parliament, near parliament, during parliament, 

 the council were to keep their wonted centinel, as if they 

 thought not of a parliament, to destroy in other patents, as 

 concealments. 



The reasons on the other side were, 



That it would be thought but a humouring of the par 

 liament (being now in the calends of a parliament), and that 

 after parliament they would come up again. 



That offered graces, by reason and experience, lose their 

 thanks. 



They that are to be suffered to play upon something, 

 since they can do nothing of themselves. 



That the choosing out of some things, when perhaps 

 their minds might be more upon other things, would do 

 no great effect. 



That former patents, taken away by act of council, were 

 upon the complaints of particular persons ; whereas now it 

 should seem to be done tanquam ex officio. 



To this I yielded, though I confess I am yet a little 

 doubtful to the point of suavibus modis. But it is true 

 that the speech of these, though in the lower-house, may 

 be contemned ; and if way be given to them (as I writ to 

 your lordship of some of them in my last) it will sort to 

 your honour. For other things, the lords have put them 

 in a very good way, of which I will give express account 

 when I see his majesty, as also of other observations con 

 cerning parliament. For if his majesty said well that 

 when he knew the men and the elections, he would guess 

 at the success ; the prognostics are not so good as I ex 

 pected, occasioned by the late occurrents abroad, and the 

 general licentious speaking of state matters, of which I 

 wrote in my last. God ever keep you. 



Your Lordship s most obliged Friend 



and faithful Servant, 



Dec. 16, 1620. FR. VERULAM, CanC. 



To the Lord Chancellor. 



My honourable Lord, 



As soon as his majesty s convenience would permit, I 

 have acquainted him with the draught of the proclamation 

 your lordship sent me by his majesty s direction. His ma 

 jesty liketh it in every point so well, both in matter and 



