Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

though the other had been more orderly, yet that faction of justice, and example to others: we

is as usual, and both alike good in law.

For Roper's place,* I would have it by all means despatched; and therefore I marvel it lingereth. It were no good manners to take the business out of my lord treasurer's hands; and therefore I purpose to write to his lordship, if I hear not from him first by Mr. Deccomb. But if I hear of any delay, you will give me leave, especially since the king named me, to deal with Sir John Roper myself; for neither I nor my lord treasurer can deserve any great thanks of you in this business, considering the king hath spoken to Sir John Roper, and he hath promised; and, besides, the thing itself is so reasonable as it ought to be as soon done as said. I am now gotten into the country to my house, where I have some little liberty to think of that I would think of, and not of that which other men hourly break my head withal, as it was at London. Upon this you may conclude, that most of my thoughts are of his majesty; and then you cannot be far off. God ever keep you, and prosper you. I rest always

Your true and most devoted servant,
FR. BACON.

Aug. 5, one of the happiest days, 1616.

BY KING JAMES.+

being always graciously inclined to temper mercy with justice, and calling to mind his former good services, and how well and profitably he hath spent his time since his trouble, are pleased to remove from him that blot of ignominy which yet remaineth upon him, of incapacity and disablement; and to remit to him all penalties whatsoever inflicted by that sentence. Having therefore formerly pardoned his fine, and released his confinement, these are to will and require you to prepare, for our signature, a bill containing a pardon, in due form of law, of the whole sentence; for which this shall be your sufficient warrant.

[blocks in formation]

TO OUR TRUSTY AND WELL BELOVED THOMAS co-ance, not only because it is the best wisdom in

VENTRY, OUR ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well: Whereas, our right trusty and right well beloved cousin, the Viscount of St. Alban, upon a sentence given in the Upper House of Parliament full three years since, and more, hath endured loss of his place, imprisonment, and confinement also for a great time, which may suffice for the satis

* Sir John Roper, who had for many years enjoyed the place of the chief clerk for enrolling of pleas in the court of King's Bench, esteemed to be worth about four thousand pounds per annum, being grown old, was prevailed with to

surrender it upon being created Lord Teynham, with a reservation of the profits thereof to himself during life. Upon which surrender, Sir George Villiers was to have the office granted to two of his trustees for their lives, as Carr, Earl of Somerset, was to have had before. But the Lord Chief Justice Coke not being very forward to accept of the surrender, or make a new grant of it upon those terms, he was, upon the 3d of October, 1616, commanded to desist from the service of this place, and at last removed from it upon the 15th of November following. His successor, Sir Henry Montagu, third son of Sir Edward Montagu, of Boughton in Northamp tonshire, recorder of London, and king's sergeant, being more complaisant, Sir John Roper resigned, towards the lat ter end of the same month; and Mr Shute, and Mr. Heath, who was afterwards the king's solicitor-general, being the deputies and trustees of Sir George Villiers, were admitted.Stephens's Introduct. p. 37.

Cabala, 270. Edw. 1663.

Ilis sentence forbid his coming within the verge of the court. [In consequence of this letter, my Lord Bacon was summoned to Parliament in the first year of King Charles.]

any man in his own matters, to rest in the wisdom of a friend, (for who can by often looking in favour as another with whom he converseth ?) the glass discern and judge so well of his own but also because my affection to your lordship hath made mine own contentment inseparable from your satisfaction. But, notwithstanding, I know it will be pleasing to your good lordship that I use my liberty of replying; and I do almost assure myself, that your lordship will rest persuaded by the answer of those reasons which your lordship vouchsafed to open. They were two, the one, that I should include April, 1593.

**

The rest of the letter is wanting.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

move your suit. And if you come hither, I pray | And thus, desirous to oe recommended to my you let me know still where you are. And so, good aunt, to whom my wife heartily commends being full of business, I must end, wishing you her, I leave you to the protection of Almighty what you wish to yourself.

[blocks in formation]

God.

Your loving cousin and friend, ROBERT CECIL. From the Court at Windsor, this 27th of Sept., 1593. I have heard in these causes, Facies hominis es

LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY TO MR. FRANCIS tanquam leonis.

BACON.*

NEPHEW, I have no leisure to write much; out for answer I have attempted to place you: but her majesty hath required the lord keeper† to give to her the names of divers lawyers to be preferred, wherewith he made me acquainted, and I did name you as a meet man, whom his lordship allowed in way of friendship, for your father's sake: but he made scruple to equal you with certain, whom he named, as Brograve and Branthwayt, whom he specially commendeth. But I will continue the remembrance of you to her majesty, and implore my Lord of Essex's help.

Sept. 27, 1593.

Your loving uncle,
N. BURGHLEY.

SIR ROBERT CECIL TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.

COUSIN, Assure yourself that the solicitor's coming gave no cause of speech; for it was concerning a book to be drawn, concerning the bargain of wines. If there had been, you should have known, or when there shall. To satisfy your request of making my lord know, how recommended your desires are to me, I have spoken with his lordship, who answereth he hath done and will do his best. I think your absence longer than for my good aunt's comfort will do you no good: for, as I ever told you, it is not likely to find the queen apt to give an office, when the scruple is not removed of her forbearance to speak with you. This being not yet perfected may stop good, when the hour comes of conclusion, though it be but a trifle, and questionless would be straight despatched, if it were luckily handled. But herein do I, out of my desire to satisfy you, use this my opinion, leaving you to your own better knowledge what hath been done for you, or in what terms that matter standeth. * Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iii. fol. 197, in the Lambeth Library.

+ Puckering.

John Brograve, attorney of the duchy of Lancaster, and afterwards knighted. He is mentioned by Mr. Francis Bacon, in his letter to the lord treasurer of the 7th of June, 1595,

from Gray's Inn, as having discharged his post of attorney of the duchy, with great sufficiency. There is extant, of his, in print, a reading upon the statute of 27 Henry VIII., concerning jointures.

Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iii. fol. 197, verso, in the Lambeth Library.

Mr. Edward Coke.

VOL. III.-26

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE QUEEN.* MADAM,-Remembering that your majesty had been gracious to me both in countenancing me, and conferring upon me the reversion of a good place, and perceiving that your majesty had taken some displeasure towards me, both these were arguments to move me to offer unto your majesty my service, to the end to have means to deserve your favour, and to repair my error. Upon this ground, I affected myself to no great matter, but only a place of my profession, such as I do see divers younger in proceeding to myself, and men of no great note, do without blame aspire unto. But if any of my friends do press this matter, I do assure your majesty my spirit is not with

them.

It sufficeth me that I have let your majesty know that I am ready to do that for the service, which I never would do for mine own gain. And if your majesty like others better, I shall, with the Lacedemonian, be glad that there is such choice of abler men than myself. Your majesty's favour indeed, and access to your royal person, 1 did ever, encouraged by your own speeches, seek and desire; and I would be very glad to be reintegrate in that. But I will not wrong mine own good mind so much as to stand upon that now, when your majesty may conceive I do it but to make my profit of it. But my mind turneth upon other wheels than those of profit. The conclusion shall be, that I wish your majesty served answerable to yourself. Principis est virtus maxima nosse suos. Thus I most humbly crave pardon of my boldness and plainness. God preserve your majesty.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO ROBERT KEMP, OF
GRAY'S INN, ESQ.†

GOOD ROBIN,-There is no news you can write to me, which I take more pleasure to hear, than of your health, and of your loving remembrance of me; the former whereof though you mention not in your letter, yet I straight presumed well of it, because your mention was so fresh to make such a flourish. And it was afterwards accord

Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iii. fol 315, in the Lambeth Library.

+ Ibid. fol. 281.

Your lordship's, in most faithful duty,

Nov. 10, 1593.

I

FR. BACON.

ingly confirmed by your man, Roger, who made ship's honourable usage of Mr. Standen, I wish inc a particular relation of the former negotiation you all honour. between your ague and you. Of the latter, though you profess largely, yet I make more doubt, because your coming is turned into a sending; which when I thought would have been repaired by some promise or intention of yourself, your man Roger entered into a very subtle distinction to this purpose, that you could not come except you heard I was attorney; but I ascribe that to your man's invention, who had his reward in laughing; for I hope you are not so stately, but that I shall be one to you stylo vetere or stylo

novo.

For my fortune, (to speak court,) it is very slow, if any thing can be slow to him that is secure of the event. In short, nothing is done in it; but I propose to remain here at Twickenham till Michaelmas term, then to St. Albans, and after the term to court. Advise you, whether you will play the honest man or no. In the mean time I think long to see you, and pray to be remembered to your father and mother. Yours, in loving affection,

FR. BACON.

From Twickenham Park, this 4th of Nov. 1593.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX.*

pray, sir, let not my jargon privilege my letter from burning; because it is not such, but the light showeth through.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.*

SIR-I have received your letter, and since 1 have had opportunity to deal freely with the queen. I have dealt confidently with her as a matter, wherein I did more labour to overcome her delays, than that I did fear her denial. I told how much you were thrown down with the correction she had already given you, that she might in that point hold herself already satisfied. And because I found, that Tanfield had been most propounded to her, I did most disable him. I find the queen very reserved, staying herself upon giving any kind of hope, yet not passionate against you, till I grew passionate for you. Then she said, that none thought you fit for the place but my lord treasurer and myself. Marry, the others must some of them say before us for fear MY LORD:-I thought it not amiss to inform or for flattery. I told her, the most and wisest your lordship of that, which I gather partly by of her council had delivered their opinions, and conjecture, and partly by advertisement of the preferred you before all men for that place. And late recovered man, that is so much at your if it would please her majesty to think, that devotion, of whom I have some cause to think, whatsoever they said contrary to their own words that he worketh for the Huddler‡ underhand. when they spake without witness, might be as And though it may seem strange, considering factiously spoken, as the other way flatteringly, how much it importeth him to join straight with she would not be deceived. Yet if they had been your lordship, in regard both of his enemies and never for you, but contrarily against you, I of his ends; yet I do the less rest secure upon thought my credit, joined with the approbation the conceit, because he is a man likely to trust so and mediation of her greatest counsellors, might much to his art and finesse, (as he, that is an prevail in a greater matter than this; and urged excellent wherryman, who, you know, looketh her, that though she could not signify her mind towards the bridge, when he pulleth towards to others, I might have a secret promise, whereWestminster,) that he will hope to serve his turn, in I should receive great comfort, as in the conand yet to preserve your lordship's good opinion. trary great unkindness. She said she was This I write to the end, that if your lordship do neither persuaded nor would hear of it till see nothing to the contrary, you may assure him Easter, when she might advise with her council, more, or trust him less; and chiefly, that your who were now all absent; and, therefore, in lordship be pleased to sound again, whether they passion bid me go to bed, if I would talk of have not, amongst them drawn out the nail, nothing else. Wherefore in passion I went which your lordship had driven in for the nega- | away, saying, while I was with her, I could not tive of the Huddler; which, if they have, it will be necessary for your lordship to iterate more forcibly your former reasons, whereof there is such copia, as I think you may use all the places of .ogic against his placing.

but solicit for the cause and the man I so much affected; and therefore I would retire myself till I might be more graciously heard; and so we parted. To-morrow I will go hence of purpose, and on Thursday I will write an expostulating

Thus, with my humble thanks for your lord- letter to her. That night or upon Friday morn

Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iii. fol.

$63, in the Lambeth Library.

+ Probably Lord Keeper Puckering.

Mr. Edward Coke.

Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iv. fol. 90, in the Lambeth Library.

+ Probably Laurence Tanfield, made lord chief baron of the exchequer in June, 1607.

ing I will be here again, and follow on the same | hath gone so near me, as it hath almost over course, stirring a discontentment in her, &c. thrown my health; for when I revolved the good And so wish you all happiness, and rest

[blocks in formation]

THE EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.*

SIR-I have now spoken with the queen, and I see no stay from obtaining a full resolution of that we desire. But the passion she is in by reason of the tales that have been told her against Nicholas Clifford, with whom she is in such rage, for a matter, which I think you have heard of, doth put her infinitely out of quiet; and her passionate humour is nourished by some foolish women. Else I find nothing to distaste us, for she doth not contradict confidently; which they that know the minds of women, say is a sign of yielding. I will to-morrow take more time to deal with her, and will sweeten her with all the art I have to make benevolum auditorem. I have already spoken with Mr. Vice-Chamberlain,† and will to-morrow speak with the rest. Of Mr. Vice-Chamberlain you may assure yourself; for so much he hath faithfully promised me. The exceptions against the competitors I will use tomorrow; for then I do resolve to have a full and large discourse, having prepared the queen tonight to assign me a time under colour of some such business, as I have pretended. In the mean time I must tell you, that I do not respect either my absence, or my showing a discontentment in going away, for I was received at my return, and I think I shall not be the worse. And for that I am oppressed with multitude of letters that are come, of which I must give the queen some account to-morrow morning, I therefore desire to be excused for writing no more to-night: tomorrow you shall hear from me again. I wish you what you wish yourself in this and all things else, and rest

Your most affectionate friend,

I

memory of my father, the near degree of alliance I stand in to my lord treasurer, your lordship's so signalled and declared favour, the honourable testimony of so many counsellors, the commendations unlaboured, and in sort offered by my lords the judges and the master of the rolls elect;* that I was voiced with great expectation, and, though say it myself, with the wishes of most men, to the higher place; that I am a man, that the queen hath already done for; and that princes, especially her majesty, love to make an end where they begin; and then add hereunto the obscureness and many exceptions to my competitors: when I say I revolve all this, I cannot but conclude with myself, that no man ever read a more exquisite disgrace; and, therefore, truly, my lord, I was determined, if her majesty reject me, this to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I will, by God's assistance, with this disgrace of my fortune, and yet with that comfort of the good opinion of so many honourable and worthy persons, retire myself with a couple of men to Cambridge, and there spend my life in my studies and contemplations without looking back. I humbly pray your lordship to pardon me for troubling you with my melancholy. For the matter itself, I commend it to your love; only I pray you communicate afresh this day with my lord treasurer and Sir Robert Cecil; and if you esteem my fortune, remember the point of precedency. The objections to my competitors your lordship knoweth partly. I pray spare them not, not over the queen, but to the great ones, to show your confidence, and to work their distrust. Thus, longing exceedingly to exchange troubling your lordship with serving you, I rest Your lordship's,

in most entire and faithful service, FRANCIS BACON.

March 30, 1594.

I humbly pray your lordship I may hear from you some time this day.

[blocks in formation]

delaying and preserving the matter entire till a better constellation; which, as it is not hard, as I conceive, considering the French business and the instant progress, &c., so I commend in special to you the care, who in sort assured me thereof, and upon whom now, in my Lord of Essex's absence, I have only to rely; and, if it be needful, I humbly pray you to move my lord your father to lay his hand to the same delay. And so I wish you all increase of honour.

Your honour's poor kinsman,

in faithful service and duty, FRANCIS BACON.

From Gray's Inn, this 1st of May 1591.

SIR ROBERT CECIL'S ANSWER.*

COUSIN,-I do think nothing cut the throat more of your present access than the earl's being somewhat troubled at this time. For the delaying I think it not hard, neither shall there want my best endeavour to make it easy, of which I hope you shall not need to doubt by the judgment, which I gather of divers circumstances confirming my opinion. I protest I suffer with you in mind, that you are thus gravelled; but time will founder all your competitors, and set you on your feet, or else I have little understanding.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.†

SIR,-I wrote not to you till I had had a second conference with the queen, because the first was spent only in compliments: she in the beginning excepted all business: this day she hath seen me again. After I had followed her humour in talking of those things, which she would entertain me with, I told her, in my absence I had written to Sir Robert Cecil, to solicit her to call you to that place, to which all the world had named you; and being now here, I must follow it myself; for I know what service I should do her in procuring you the place; and she knew not how great a comfort I should take in it. Her answer in playing just was, that she came not to me for that, I should talk of those things when I came to her, not when she came to me; the term was coming, and she would advise. I would have replied, but she stopped my mouth. To-morrow or the next day I will go to her, and then this excuse will be taken away. When I know more, you shall hear more; and so I end full of pain in my head, which makes me write thus confusedly.

Your most affectionate friend.

* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iv. fol. 122, in the Lambeth Library.

† Ibid. fol. 122.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.*

SIR, I went yesterday to the queen through the galleries in the morning, afternoon, and at night. I had long speech with her of you, wherein I urged both the point of your extraordinary sufficiency proved to me not only by your last argument, but by the opinion of all men I spake withal, and the point of mine own satisfaction, which, I protested, should be exceeding great, if, for all her unkindness and discomforts past, she should do this one thing for my sake. To the first she answered, that the greatness of your friends, as of my lord treasurer and myself, did make men give a more favourable testimony than else they would do, thinking thereby they pleased us. And that she did acknowledge you had a great wit, and an excellent gift of speech, and much other good learning. But in law she rather thought you could make show to the uttermost of your knowledge, than that you were deep. To the second she said, she showed her mislike to the suit, as there were a yielding, it was fitter to be of my well as I had done my affection in it; and that if side. I then added, that this was an answer, with which she might deny me all things, if she did not grant them at the first, which was not her manner to do. But her majesty had made me suffer and give way in many things else; which all I should bear, not only with patience, but with great contentment, if she would but grant my humble suit in this one. And for the pretence of the approbation given you upon partiality, that all the world, lawyers, judges, and all, could not be partial to you; for somewhat you were crossed for their own interest, and some for their friends; but yet all did yield to your merit. She did in this as she useth in all, went from a denial to a delay, and said, when the council were all here, she would think of it; and there was no haste in determining of the place. To which I answered, that my sad heart had need of hasty comfort; and, therefore, her majesty must pardon me, hasty and importunate in it. When they come we shall see what will be done; and I wish you all happiness, and rest

if I were

Your most affectionate friend ESSEX. Endorsed, 18th of May, 1594.

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »