274 EDITOR S PREFACE. of all instability and peregrinations; so that as it cometh to pass in massive bodies, that they tia certain trepidations and waverings before they fix and settle; so it seemeth that by the providence of God, this monarchy, before it was to settle in your majesty and your generations, (in which, I hope, it is now established forever,) had these prelusive changes and varieties." And the same passage is repeated in the treatise " De Augmentis," which was published in the year 1623, with the omission of the praise of the reign of Elizabeth. HISTORY OF HENRY VII. The history of Henry VII. was written in English, and was the first book which he composed after his retirement from active life. 1 In. a letter to the king, dated 20th of March, 1621, he says, " To the King s most excellent majesty. k May it please your majesty, "I acknowledge myself in all humbleness infinitely bounden to your majesty s grace and goodness, for that, at the intercession of my noble and constant friend, my lord marquis, your ma jesty hath been pleased to grant me that which the civilians say is res inaestimabilis, my liberty. So that now, whenever God calleth me, I shall not die a prisoner. Nay, farther, your majesty hath vouchsafed to cast a second and iterate aspect of your eye of compassion upon me, in referring the consideration of my broken estate to my good lord the treasurer; which as it is a singular bounty in your majesty, so I have yet so much left of a late commissioner of your treasure, as I would be sorry to sue for any thing that might seem immodest. These your majesty s great benefits, in casting your bread upon the waters, as the Scripture saith, because my thanks cannot any ways be sufficient to attain, I have raised your progenitor of famous memory, (and now, I hope, of more famous memory than before,) King Henry VII., to give your majesty thanks for me; which work, most humbly kiss ing your majesty s hands, I do present. And because, in the beginning of my trouble, when in the midst of the tempest I had a kenning of the harbour, which I hope now by your majesty s favour I am entering into, I made a tender to your majesty of two works, A History of England, and A digest of your laws; as I have, by a figure of pars pro toto, performed the one, so I have herewith sent your majesty, by way of an epistle, a new offer of the other. But my desire is farther, if it stand with your majesty s good pleasure, since now my study is my exchange, and my pen my factor, for the use of my talent; that your majesty, who is a great master in these things, would be pleased to appoint me some task to write, and that I shall take for an oracle. And because my In- stauration, which I esteem my great work, and do still go on with silence, was dedicated to your majesty; and this History of King Henry VII. to your lively and excellent image the prince; if now your majesty will be pleased to give me a theme to dedicate to my Lord of Buckingham, whom I have so much reason to honour, I should with more alacrity embrace your majesty s direction than my own choice. Your majesty will pardon me for troubling you thus long. God evermore preserve and prosper you. Your majesty s poor beadsman most devoted, "Fa. ST. ALBAN. " Gorhambury, 20 Mar. 1621." " To the Right Honourable his very good lord, the Lord Marquis of Buckingham, High-Admiral of England. "My very good lord, "These main and real favours which I have lately received from your good lordship, in procuring my liberty, and a reference of the consideration of my release, are such, as I now find that in build ing upon your lordship s noble nature and friendship, I have built upon the rock, where neither winds nor waves can cause overthrow. I humbly pray your lordship to accept from me such thanks as ought to come from him whom you have so much comforted in fortune, and much more comforted in showing your love-and affection to him; of which also I have heard by my Lord Falkland, Sir Edward Sackville, Mr. Mathews, and otherways. " I have written, as my duty was, to his majesty, thanks touching the same, by the letter here put into your noble hands. " I have made also, in that, letter, an offer to his majesty, of my service, for bringing into better His historical works are these : the first is the history of Henry the Seventh, written elegantly, by his lordship in the English tongue, and addressed to hi required such a reporter : those ti union of the roses. "This was the first book which he v. the Bishop of Winchester. Bcin honour; which I have endeavoured Highness the Prince of Wales : and turned afterwards into Latin. A history which es being times both of great revolution, and settlement, through the division and omposed after his retirement from an active life. Upon which occasion he wrote thus (as I am) no more able to do my country service, it remaineth unto me, to do it o do in my work of the reign of King Henry the Seventh." Bacuniana.
