For the name, his majesty's will is a law in but you may think your private fortunes establishthose things; and to speak the truth, it is a well-ed; and therefore it is now time, that you should

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.

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. Deckome; but if I hear of any delay, you will give me leave (especially since the king named me) to deal with Sir Joseph Roper myself; for neither I, nor my lord treasurers can deserve any great thanks in this business of yours, considering the king hath spoken to Sir Joseph 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 their head withal, as it was at London. Upon this you may conclude, that most of my thoughts are to his majesty, and then you cannot be far off. God ever keep you, and prosper you: I rest always,

Your true and most dutiful servant.

The 5th of August, one of the happiest days.

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS,
UPON THE SENDING HIS PATENT FOR VISCOUNT

VILLIERS TO BE SIGNED.

SIR,

refer your actions to the good of your sovereign,
and your country. It is the life of an ox or beast
always to eat, and never exercise; but men are
borr (and especially Christian men) not to cram
in their fortunes, but to exercise their virtues; and
yet the other hath been unworthy, and (thanks be
to God) sometimes unlucky humour of great per-
sons in our times. Neither will your future for-
tune be the farther off'; for assure yourself, that
fortune is of a woman's nature, and will sooner
follow by slighting, than by too much wooing.
And in this dedication of yourself to the public, I
recommend unto you principally, that which I
think, was never done since I was born; and
which, because it is not done, hath bred almost a
wilderness and solitude in the king's service;
which is, that you countenance, and encourage,
and advance able men, in all kinds, degrees, and
professions. For in the time of the Cecils, the
father and the son, able men were by design and
of purpose suppressed: and though, of late, choice
goeth better, both in church and commonwealth,
yet money and turn-serving, and cunning can-
vasses and importunity, prevaileth too much.
And in places of moment, rather make able and
honest men yours, than advance those that are other-
wise, because they are yours. As for cunning and
corrupt men, you must (I know) sometimes use
them, but keep them at a distance; and let it
appear rather, that you make use of them, than
that they lead you. Above all depend wholly
(next unto God) upon the king, and be ruled (as
hitherto you have been) by his instructions, for
that is best for yourself. For the king's care and
thoughts for you are according to the thoughts of
a great king; whereas your thoughts concerning
yourself are, and ought to be, according to the
thoughts of a modest man. But let me not weary
you: the sum is, that you think goodness the best
part of greatness, and that you remember whence
your rising comes, and make return accordingly.
God keep you.
Aug. 12, 1616.

I have sent you now your patent, creation of
Lord Bletchly of Bletchly, and of Viscount Villiers.
Bletchly is your own, and I liked the sound of
the name better than Whaddon; but the name
will be hid, for you will be called Viscount Vil-
liers. I have put them in a patent, after the man-
ner of the patent for earls, where baronies are
joined; but the chief reason was, because I would
avoid double prefaces, which had not been fit;
nevertheless, the ceremony of robing, and other- IT MAY PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

wise, must be double.

And now, because I am in the country, I will send you some of my country fruits, which with me are good meditations; which, when I am in the city, are choked with business.

After that the king shall have watered your new dignities, with the bounty of the lands which he intends you, and that some other things concerning your means, which are now likewise in intention, shall be settled upon you, I do not see,

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE KING, ABOUT A CER

TIFICATE OF MY LORD COKE'S.

I send your majesty enclosed, my Lord Coke's answers, I will not call them rescripts, much less oracles. They are of his own hand, and offered to me (as they are) in writing, not required by me to have them set down in writing, though I am glad of it, for my own discharge. I thought it my duty, as soon as I received them, instantly to send them to your majesty, and forbear, for the present, to speak farther of them. I, for my part, (though this Moscovia weather be a little too haro for my constitution,) was ready to have waited | may say to your lordship, in the confidence of upon your majesty this day, all respects set aside; your poor kinsman, and a man by you advanced, but my lord treasurer, in respect of the season, "in idem fer opem qui spem dedisti:" for I am

and much other business, was willing to save me. I will only conclude, touching these papers, with a text divided; I cannot say " Oportuit hæc fieri," but I may say, "Finis autem nondum." God preserve your majesty.

sure, it was not possible for a man living to have received from another more significant and comfortable words of hope: your lordship being pleased to tell me, during the course of my last service, that you would raise me, and that, when you are resolved to raise a man, you were more care-, ful of him than himself, and that what you had done for me in my carriage, was a benefit for me, but I humbly pray your majesty, to keep the papers of no use to your lordship; and, therefore, I might

Your majesty's most humble and
devoted subject and servant.

Feb. 14, at 12 o'clock.

safe.

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO MR. TOBY MATTHEWS. MR. MATTHEWS,

Do not think me forgetful, or altered towards

assure myself, you would not leave me there, with many like speeches; which I know too well my duty to take any other hold of, than the hold of a thankful remembrance: and I know, and all the world knoweth, that your lordship is no dealer of holy water, but noble and real; and on my part, on sure ground, that I have committed nothing that may deserve any alteration; and if I cannot

you: but if I should say, I could do you any good, observe you as I would, your lordship will impute

it to my want of experience, which I shall gather better, when I am once settled.

And therefore my hope is, your lordship will finish a good work, and consider, that time groweth precious, and that I am now " vergentibus annis:" and although I know your fortune is not to want a hundred such as I am, yet I shall be ever ready to give you my best and first fruits, and to supply, as much as in me lieth, a worthiness by thankfulness.

I should make my power more than it is. I do fear that which I am right sorry for, that you grow more impatient and busy than at first, which makes me exceedingly fear the issue of that which seemeth not to stand at a stay. I myself an out of doubt, that you have been miserably abused, when you were first seduced; and that which I take in compassion, others may take in severity. I pray God, that understands us all better than we understand one another, continue you, as I hope he will, at least, within the bounds of loyalty to his majesty, and natural piety to your country. And I entreat you much, to meditate sometimes upon the effect of superstition in this last powdertreason, fit to be tabled and pictured in the chambers of meditation, as another hell above the ground; and well justifying the censure of the IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

heathen, that "Superstition is far worse than Atheism," by how much it is less evil to have no good opinion of God at all, than such as are impious towards his divine majesty and goodness. Good Mr. Matthews, receive yourself back from these courses of perdition. Willing to have written a great deal more, I continue

Your, etc.

FR. BACON.

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF SALIS-
BURY.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP,

I am not ignorant how mean a thing I stand for, in desiring to come into the solicitor's place: for I know well, it is not the thing it hath been, time having wrought an alteration, both in the profession, and in that special place. Yet, because I think it will increase my practice, and that it may satisfy my friends, and because I have been voiced to it, I would be glad it were done. Wherein I

FR. BACON.

LORD CHANCELLOR BACON TO THE KING.

I dare not presume any more to reply upon your majesty, but reserve my defence till I attend your majesty at your happy return, when I hope verily to approve myself not only a true servant to your majesty, but a true friend to my Lord of Buckingham; and for the times also, I hope to give your majesty a good account, though distance of place may obscure them. But there is one part of your majesty's letter, that I could be sorry to take time to answer; which is, that your majesty conceives, that whereas I wrote that the height of my lord's fortune might make him secure, I mean, that he was turned proud, or unknowing of himself. Surely, the opinion I have ever had of my lord (whereof your majesty is best witness) is far from that. But my meaning was plain and simple, that his lordship might, through his great fortune, be the less apt to cast and foresee the unfaithfulness of friends, and the malignity of enemies, and accidents of times. Which is a judgment (your majesty knoweth better than I) that the best authors make of the best, and best tempered spirits "ut sunt res humanæ;" insomuch as Guicci

God ever preserve, etc.

Jan. 2, 1618.

ardini maketh the same judgment, not of a parti- | would do, in this, which is not proper for me, nor cular person, but of the wisest state of Europe, in my element, I shall make your majesty amends the senate of Venice, when he saith, their prospe- in some other thing, in which I am better bred. rity had made them secure, and under-weighers of perils. Therefore, I beseech your majesty, to deliver me in this, from any the least imputation to my dear and noble lord and friend. And so expecting, that that sun which, when it went from us, left us cold weather, and now it is returned towards us hath brought with it a blessed harvest, will, when it cometh to us, dispel and disperse all mists and mistakings.

July 31, 1617.

I am, etc.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR BACON TO THE KING.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, I do many times, with gladness, and for a remedy of my other labours, revolve in my mind the great happiness which God (of his singular goodness) hath accumulated upon your majesty

THE LORD CHANCELLOR BACON TO THE KING.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, Time hath been, when I have brought unto you "Gemitum Columbæ" from others, now I bring it from myself. I fly unto your majesty with the wings of a dove, which, once within these seven days, I thought, would have carried me a higher flight. When I enter into myself, I find not the materials of such a tempest as is come upon me. I have been (as your majesty knoweth best) never author of any immoderate counsel, but always desired to have things carried "suavibus modis." I have been no avaricious oppressor of the people. I have been no haughty, or intole

every way, and how complete the same would be, rable, or hateful man, in my conversation or carif the state of your means were once rectified, and riage: I have inherited no hatred from my father,

but am a good patriot born. Whence should this be; for these are the things that use to raise dislikes abroad.

For the House of Commons, I began my credit there, and now it must be the place of the sepulture thereof. And yet this Parliament, upon the message touching religion, the old love revived, and they said, I was the same man still, only honesty was turned into honour.

For the Upper House, even within these days, before these troubles, they seemed as to take me into their arms, finding in me ingenuity, which they took to be the true straight line of nobleness, without crooks or angles.

And for the briberies and gifts wherewith I am charged, when the books of hearts shall be opened, I hope I shall not be found to have the troubled fountain of a corrupt heart, in a depraved habit of taking rewards to pervert justice; howsoever I may be frail, and partake of the abuses of the times.

well ordered; your people military and obedient, fit for war, used to peace; your church illightened with good preachers, as a heaven of stars; your judges learned, and learning from you, just, and just by your example; your nobility in a right distance between crown and people, no oppressors of the people, no over-shadowers of the crown; your council full of tributes of care, faith, and freedom; your gentlemen, and justices of peace, willing to apply your royal mandates to the nature of their several counties, but ready to obey; your servants in awe of your wisdom, in hope of your goodness; the fields growing every day, by the improvement and recovery of grounds, from the desert to the garden; the city grown from wood to brick; your sea-walls, or Pomerium of your island, surveyed, and in edifying; your merchants embracing the whole compass of the world, east, west, north, and south; the times give you peace, and, yet offer you opportunities of action abroad; and, lastly, your excellent royal issue entaileth these blessings and favours of God to descend to all posterity. It resteth, therefore, that God having done so great things for your majesty, and to the Lords) by cavillations or voidances; but you for others, you would do so much for yourself, to speak to them the language that my heart as to go through (according to your good begin- speaketh to me, in excusing, extenuating, or innings) with the rectifying and settling of your genuous confessing; praying God to give me the estate and means, which only is wanting, "Hoc grace to see to the bottom of my faults, and that rebus defuit unum." I, therefore, whom only no hardness of heart do steal upon me, under love and duty to your majesty, and your royal line, hath made a financier, do intend to present unto your majesty a perfect book of your estate, like a perspective glass, to draw your estate nearer to your sight; beseeching your majesty to concerve, that if I have not attained to do that I

And therefore I am resolved, when I come to my answer, not to trick my innocency (as I writ

show of more neatness of conscience, than is cause.

But not to trouble your majesty any longer, craving pardon for this long mourning letter; that which I thirst after, as the hart after the streams, is, that I may know, by my matchless friend that presenteth to you this letter, your majesty's heart beth; wherein I may note much, but this at this

it for your recreation, considering, that love must the strangest variety, that in so little number of

be no better than a wish; but if your lordship a little into the potential; wherein the hope that should apprehend it, it may take some good and I received was grounded upon three observations worthy effect. The act I speak of, is the order The first, of these times, which flourish in learngiven by his majesty for the erection of a tomb ing, both of art, and language; which giveth or monument for our late sovereign, Queen Eliza- hope, not only that it may be done. but that it may be well done. Secondly, I do see that which nor place, nor employment; but only, after so all the world sees in his majesty, a wonderful long a time of expiation, a complete and total judgment in learning, and a singular affection remission of the sentence of the Upper House, towards learning, and works which are of the to the end that blot of ignominy may be

removed from me, and from my memory with
posterity, that I die not a condemned man, but
may be to your majesty, as I am to God, "nova
creatura." Your majesty hath pardoned the like
to Sir John Bennet, between whose case and mine
(not being partial to myself, but speaking out of
the general opinion) there was as much difference,
I will not say, as between black and white, but
as between black and grey, or ash-coloured; look,
therefore, down (dear sovereign) upon me also in
pity. I know your majesty's heart is inscrutable
for goodness; and my Lord of Buckingham was
wont to tell me, you were the best natured man
in the world; and it is God's property, that those
he hath loved, he loveth to the end. Let your
majesty's grace, in this my desire, stream down
upon me, and let it be out of the fountain and
spring-head, and "ex mero motu," that living or
dying, the print of the goodness of King James
may be in my heart, and his praises in my mouth.
This my most humble request granted, may make
me live a year or two happily; and denied, will
kill me quickly. But yet the last thing that will
die in me will be the heart and affection of
Your majesty's most humble and

mind, and not of the hand. For there cannot be
the like honour sought in building of galleries,
and planting of elms along highways, and the
outward ornaments wherein France now is busy,
(things rather of magnificence than of magnani-
mity,) as there is in the uniting of states, pacify-
ing of controversies, nourishing and augmenting
of learning and arts, and the particular action
appertaining unto these; of which kind Cicero
judged truly, when he said to Cæsar, "Quantum
operibus tuis detrahet vetustas, tantum addet
laudibus." And, lastly, I called to mind, that
your lordship, at some times, hath been pleased to
express unto me a great desire, that something
of this matter should be done, answerable indeed
to your other noble and worthy courses and ac-
tions; joining, and adding unto the great ser-
vices towards his majesty (which have in small
compass of time been performed by your lord-
ship) other great deservings, both of the church,
and commonwealth, and particulars: so as the
opinion of so great and wise a man doth seem to
me a good warrant, both of the possibility, and
worth of the matter. But all this while, I assure
myself, I cannot be mistaken by your lordship,
as if I sought an office or employment for myself;
for no man knows better than your lordship, that
if there were in me any faculty thereunto, yet July 30, 1624.
neither my course of life, nor profession would
permit it. But because there be so many good
painters, both for hand and colours, it needeth
but encouragement and instructions to give life
unto it. So, in all humbleness, I conclude my
presenting unto your lordship this wish, which
if it perish, it is but a loss of that which is not.
And so craving pardon that I have taken so much
time from your lordship, I remain, etc.

true devoted servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE KING, UPON PRE-
SENTING HIS DISCOURSE, TOUCHING THE PLAN-
TATION OF IRELAND.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, I know no better way how to express my good wishes of a new year to your majesty, than by this little book, which in all humbleness I send you. The style is a style of business, rather than curious or elaborate, and herein I was en

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE KING, ABOUT THE couraged by my experience of your majesty's

PARDON OF THE PARLIAMENT'S SENTENCE.

MOST GRACIOUS AND DREAD SOVEREIGN,

Before I make my petition to your majesty, I make my prayers to God above, "pectore ab imo," that if I have held any thing so dear as your majesty's service, (nay) your heart's ease, and your honour, I may be repulsed with a denial. But if that hath been the principal with me, that God, who knoweth my heart, would move your majesty's royal heart to take compassion of me, and to grant my desire.

I prostrate myself at your majesty's feet; I, your ancient servant, now sixty-four years old in age, and three years and five months old in ınısery. I desire not from your majesty means,

former grace, in accepting of the like poor fieldfruits, touching the union. And certainly I reckon this action as a second brother to the union, for I assure myself, that England, Scotland, and Ireland, well united, is such a trefoil as no prince except yourself (who are the worthiest) weareth in his crown, "si potentia reducatur in actum." I know well that for me to beat my brains about these things, they be "majora quam pro fortuna," but yet they be "minora quam pro studio et voluntate." For as I do yet bear an extreme zeal to the memory of my old mistress, Queen Elizabeth, to whom I was rather bound for her trust than for her favour; so I must acknowledge myself more bound to your majesty, both for trust and favour; whereof I will never deceive the