MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. G7 



England, by the ordinary and legal part of his power: and 

 your majesty knoweth your Chancellor is ever a principal 

 counsellor, and instrument of monarchy, of immediate de 

 pendence upon the King : and therefore like to be a safe 

 and tender guardian of the royal rights. 



For the case of the commendams, a matter likewise of 

 great consequence, though nothing near the first, this day 

 I was prepared to have argued it before all the judges ; 

 but, by reason of the sickness of the serjeant which was 

 provided to argue on the other side, although I pressed to 

 have had some other day appointed this term ; yet it pleased 

 divers of the judges to do me the honour, as to say it was 

 not fit any should argue against me, upon so small time of 

 warning, it is adjourned to the first Saturday next term. 



For the matter of the habeas corpus, I perceive this com 

 mon employment of my Lord Chancellor, and my Lord 

 Chief Justice, in these examinations, is such a mnculum, 

 as they will not square while these matters are in hand, so 

 that there is altum silentium of that matter. God ever pre 

 serve your majesty. 



Your Majesty s most humble 



and bounden Subject and Servant, 

 Jan. 27, 1615. FR. BACON. 



To Sir George Villiers, on sending his Bill for 



Viscount.* 

 Sir, 



I send you the bill for his majesty s signature, reformed 

 according to his majesty s amendments, both in the two 

 places, which, I assure you, were both altered with great 

 judgment, and in the third place, which his majesty termed 

 a question only. But he is an idle body that thinks his 

 majesty asks an idle question; and therefore his majesty s 

 questions are to be answered by taking away the cause of 

 the question, and not by replying. 



For the name, his majesty s will, is law in those things ; 

 and to speak truth, it is a well sounding and noble name, 

 both here and abroad ; and being your proper name, I will 

 take it for a good sign that you shall give honour to your 

 dignity, and not your dignity to you. Therefore I have 

 made it Viscount Villiers : and for your barony, I will keep 

 it for an earldom ; for though the other had been more 

 orderly, yet that is as usual, and both alike good in law. 



* Stephens s second Collection, p. 10. 



