The King's most Excellent Majesty considering the scarcity of money and coin of late years grown within the realm, occasioned partly by transportation thereof out of this kingdom, and partly by the unlawful consumption thereof within the land, whereof many unsufferable inconveniences do daily arise, and more are like to ensue to the general hurt and damage of the whole Commonweal, if some timely and good Statutes made in the time of his most noble progenitors and predecessors kings of this realm, as also the several Proclamations published by his own royal authority since the beginning of his most happy reign, notwithstanding all of which, and some remarkable Examples of Justice in his High Court of Star Chamber against some principal offenders in this kind, many covetous and greedy persons have and daily do with great boldness and contempt continue and proceed in those unlawful and offensive courses, tending to the exhausting of the treasure of the realm, and utter overthrow of trade and commerce within the same.
And therefore his Majesty in his princely wisdom and upon necessity of state, sees it fit that from henceforth all care and diligence in the discovery and all severity in the correction and punishment of such delinquents without favour to any shall be used; and to the end that all men may take notice hereof, his Majesty thinketh fit to publish this his Proclamation, to the end that no man upon hope of impunity presume hereafter to transgress his Majesty's laws or this his royal commandment in that behalf; hereby straitly charging and commanding that no person or persons alien, denizen, or other subject of what estate quality or condition soever, do at any time hereafter, without his Majesty's licence, transport carry or convey, or attempt or endeavour to transport carry or convey out of this realm any gold or silver, either in coin, plate, vessels, jewels, goldsmiths' work, bullion or other mass, or otherwise howsoever, upon pain of his Majesty's heavy indignation and displeasure, and of the severest censure of his High Court of Star Chamber, and such further pains punishments and imprisonments as by the laws and statutes of this realm may be inflicted upon them for such their offence....
[BACON TO BUCKINGHAM (1623).]
Source.—Works of Francis Bacon. Spedding, Ellis, and Heath. Vol. xiv., p. 423. London: Longmans, 1874.
To the Marquis of Buckingham.
Excellent Lord,
Though I have troubled your Lordship with many letters, oftener than I think I should (save that affection keepeth no account,) yet upon the repair of Mr. Matthew, a gentleman so much your Lordship's servant, and to me another myself, as your Lordship best knoweth, you would not have thought me a man alive, except I had put a letter into his hand, and withal by so faithful and approved a mean commended my fortunes afresh unto your Lordship.
My Lord, to speak my heart to your Lordship, I never felt my misfortunes so much as now, not for that part which may concern myself, who profit (I thank God for it) both in patience, and in settling mine own courses. But when I look abroad, and see the times so stirring, and so much dissimulation, falsehood, baseness and envy in the world, and so many idle clocks going in men's heads; then it grieveth me much, that I am not sometimes at your Lordship's elbow, that I might give you some of the fruits of the careful advice, modest liberty, and true information of a friend that loveth your Lordship as I do. For though your Lordship's fortunes be above the thunder and storms of inferior regions, yet nevertheless to hear the wind and not to feel it will make one sleep the better.
My good Lord, somewhat have I been and much have I read: so that few things that concern states or greatness are new cases unto me. And therefore I hope I may be no unprofitable servant unto your Lordship. I remember the King was wont to make a character of me, far above my worth, that I was not made for small matters; and your Lordship would sometimes bring me from his Majesty that Latin sentence, De minimis non curat lex: and it hath so fallen out that since my retiring, times have been fuller of great matters than before: wherein perhaps, if I had continued near his Majesty, he mought have found more use of my service, if my gift lay that way. But that is but a vain imagination of mine. True it is, that as I do not aspire to use my talent in the King's great affairs; yet for that which may concern your Lordship, and your fortune, no man living shall give you a better account of faith, industry, and affection than I shall. I must conclude with that which gave me occasion of this letter, which is Mr. Matthew's employment to your Lordship in those parts. Wherein I am verily persuaded your Lordship shall find him a wise and able gentleman, and one that will bend his knowledge of the world (which is great) to serve his Majesty, and the Prince, and in especial your Lordship. So I rest,
Your Lordship's most obliged and faithful servant,
Fr. St. Albans.