their seats at the head of the table. On the authority of Aubrey, we learn that "at a consultation at Whitehall, after Queen Elizabeth's death, how matters were to be ordered and what ought to be done, Sir Walter Ralegh declared his opinion that 'twas the wisest way for them to keep the government in their own hands, and set up a commonwealth, and not be subject to a needy and beggarly nation." The authority is not worth much in either case; but if anything of this kind really occurred-and it does not appear that any Englishman of the time had heard of it-Ralegh's proposal could only be meant and taken as a jest, and the Lord Keeper's offer was of course declined. The Council continued not only to act during the interregnum, but to act with vigour and the King made the interval as short as possible by immediately directing that all persons in office at the Queen's death should so continue till his further pleasure were known: a direction which appears to have included everybody concerned, except Bacon.

:

Bacon had for some years been employed and described as one of the Learned Counsel; but it was by the verbal order of the Queen : he had never been sworn in, and had no written warrant. Not being now mentioned by name in the King's letters, and not coming properly under the description of a person "in office at the Queen's death," he was in effect left out. The omission however was altogether accidental, and as soon as the King was informed of it was supplied at once. What, in the meantime, had become of his letter to the King, and whether either it or the personal influence of any of his correspondents had done him any good, we do not know. It appears, however, from the two private and familiar letters which come next, and though not dated must belong to the first week in April, that he was very well satisfied with the King's proceedings so far.

The first is addressed to Toby Matthew, from whose own collection it comes; and who no doubt inserted the heading, and probably suppressed the names of the persons alluded to. For his object in making his collection was not to illustrate history or biography, but to exhibit specimens of epistolary composition; and he

1 Gardiner, i. 54. An English narrative, apparently official, represents the Lord Keeper as offering, on behalf of himself and the Councillors who were not peers, to take the lower place at the table, but says nothing of any dispute about their authority. "But as they began to sit in council in the Privy Chamber at Whitehall, the Lord Keeper, Sir Thomas Egerton, and the rest of the Council that were no Barons, offered to sit at the lower end of the Council table, and not above any of the meanest nobility: but the noblemen, in respect of their former authority, called them to the higher end of the table, and wished them to keep their places." -Add. MSS. 1786, 5, b. The ambassador's story would easily grow out of this. 2 Aubrey, ii. p. 515. 3 Egerton Papers (Camd. Soc.), p. 268.

has evidently taken pains to remove names and dates, and such particulars as might serve to identify persons. In this case, however, there is little doubt that the persons alluded to are Foulis and Bruce, both of whom had certainly arrived in London before the 12th of April.1

SIR FRANCIS BACON SIGNIFYING TO A FRIEND AND SERVANT OF HIS THE WISE PROCEEDING OF KING JAMES AT HIS FIRST ENTRANCE TO THIS KINGDOM.2

Sir,

I was heartily glad to hear that you had passed so great a part of your journey in so good health. My aim was right in my address of letters to those persons in the court of Scotland who are likeliest to be used for the affairs of England; but the pace they held was too swift; for the men were come away before my letters could reach them. With the first I have renewed acquaintance, and it was like a bill of reviver by way of crosssuits; for he was as ready to have begun with me. The second did this day arrive; and took acquaintance of me instantly in the council-chamber, and was willing to entertain me with further demonstrations of confidence than I was willing at that time to admit. But I have had no serious speech with him; nor do I yet know whether any of the doubles of my letter have been delivered to the King. It may perhaps have proved your luck to be the first.

Things are here in good quiet. The King acts excellently well; for he puts in clauses of reservation to every proviso.3 He saith, he would be sorry to have just cause to remove any. He saith, he will displace none who hath served the Queen and state sincerely, etc. The truth is, here be two extremes. Some few would have no change, no not reformation. Some many would have much change, even with perturbation. God, I hope, will direct this wise king to hold a mean between reputation enough and no terrors. In my particular I have many comforts and assurances; but in mine own opinion the chief is, that the canvassing world is gone, and the deserving world is And withal I find myself as one awaked out of sleep;

come.

1 Chamberlain to Carleton, 12 April, 1603.

2 A collection of letters made by Sir Tobie Matthews, Kt., etc. (published, with a Dedicatory Letter by Dr. Donne, in 1660), p. 18.

3 So printed. Qu. promise?

which I have not been this long time, nor could, I think, have been now, without such a great noise as this; which yet is in aura leni. I have written this to you in haste; my end being no more than to write, and thereby to make you know that I will ever continue the same, and still be sure to wish you as heartily well as to myself.

The next is from Bacon's own collection, and is addressed to his cousin Robert Kempe-the "good Robin," I presume, with whom we are already acquainted.'

TO MR. ROBERT KEMPE, UPON THE DEATH OF QUEEN

Mr. Kempe,

ELIZABETH.2

This alteration is so great, as you mought justly conceive some coldness of my affection towards you if you should hear nothing from me, I living in this place. It is in vain to tell you with what wonderful still and calm this wheel is turned round; which whether it be a remnant of her felicity that is gone, or a fruit of his reputation that is coming, I will not determine : but I cannot but divide myself between her memory and his name. Yet we account it but a fair morn before sunrising, before his Majesty's presence: though for my part I see not whence any weather should arise. The Papists are contained with fear enough, and hope too much. The French is thought to turn his practice upon procuring some disturbance in Scotland, where crowns may do wonders. But this day is so welcome to the nation, and the time so short, as I do not fear the effect. My lord of Southampton expecteth release by the next dispatch, and is already much visited and much well-wished. There is continual posting by men of good quality towards the King; the rather, I think, because this spring time is but a kind of sport. It is hoped that as the State here hath performed the part of good attorneys to deliver the King quiet possession of his kingdom, so the King will redeliver them quiet possession of their places; rather filling places void, than removing men placed. So, etc.

Of Bacon's personal know little or nothing.

1 See Vol. I. pp. 261, 269.

relations with the Earl of Southampton we The intimate connexion of both with the

Add. MSS. 5503, fo. 22 6.

3 For: Res.

Earl of Essex must, no doubt, have brought them together; but no letters had passed between them that I know of, nor has any record been preserved of any other communication. In drawing up the "Declaration of Treasons," Bacon had mentioned his name as slightly as it was possible to do without misrepresenting the case in one of its most material features; and there is some reason to believe that he had used his private influence with the Queen after the trial, as Cecil and Nottingham had certainly done,' to mitigate her displeasure. Yet considering the circumstances under which they had last seen each other, it was too much to expect that Southampton (who did not know what had passed since) was prepared to regard him as a friend; and there were two ways in which Bacon might easily commit an error. Others were visiting him with congratulations upon his approaching liberation. It was natural that he should do the same; for there can be no doubt that he was really glad of it; and if Southampton was disposed to take a true view of the case and to be friends, it would seem churlish and unfriendly to stand aloof. But if, on the contrary, he saw the case with the eyes of his former associates, and regarded Bacon as the ungrateful and ungenerous enemy of his friend and himself, then it would seem indelicate and unfeeling to intrude on him. He thought it best therefore to begin with a letter, excusing his non-attendance and explaining the reasons of it. The letter which he wrote is preserved in his own collection and runs thus

A LETTER TO THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, UPON THE KING'S COMING IN.2

It may please your Lordship,

I would have been very glad to have presented my humble service to your Lordship by my attendance, if I could have foreseen that it should not have been unpleasing unto you. And therefore, because I would commit no error, I choose to write; assuring your Lordship (how credible soever it may seem to you at first) yet it is as true as a thing that God knoweth, that this great change hath wrought in me no other change

1 "Was it anybody else," wrote the Earl of Northumberland to James, in the secret correspondence, speaking of Cecil, "that saved Southampton ?" Correspondence, etc., Camd. Soc. p. 68. "Those that would deal for him," writes Cecil to Sir G. Carew, " (of which number I protest to God I am one as far as I dare) are much disadvantaged of arguments to save him."

For the Earl of Southampton," writes Nottingham to Montjoy, "though he be condemned, yet I hope well for his life: for Mr. Secretary and myself use all our wits and power for it."

2 Add. MSS. 5503, fo. 23, b.

towards your Lordship than this, that I may safely be now that which I was truly before. And so craving no other pardon than for troubling you with this letter, I do not now begin, but continue to be

Your Lordship's humble and much devoted

Southampton was released from the Tower on the 10th of April; which determines within a few days the date of the last letter. Of the reception which it met with, I find no account anywhere.

Meanwhile the news which Bacon received from his friends in the Scotch Court appears to have been favourable: sufficiently so, at least, to encourage him to seek a personal interview with the King. I cannot find the exact date, but it will be seen from the next letter that, before the King arrived in London, he had gone to meet him, carrying a despatch from the Earl of Northumberland; and that he had been admitted to his presence. The copy of this letter in the British Museum MS. is in the same hand as the rest of the volume, but is distinguished from the others by having a few corrections and interlineations in another hand, which I believe to be Bacon's own; though I cannot speak with perfect confidence. His handwriting varied very much-according, I suppose, to pens, attitudes, moods, and times-and a few words inserted here and there are often difficult to identify. But it is certainly not the hand of the transcriber; the alterations are of a kind which it is not likely that anybody else would have made (no alteration being apparently required by the sense or grammar); and it is likely enough, considering his subsequent relations with James, that he may have looked back some time in his later life with great curiosity and interest to this fresh record of his first impressions of him, and made the corrections either from memory or taste, or from a better copy of the original which may have accidentally turned up. They are not at all material in substance, but are just such changes as he would naturally have made in writing a fair copy from a first draught. The text represents the letter as corrected: the notes as it stood in the original transcript.

A LETTER TO THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND AFTER HE HAD BEEN WITH THE KING.1

It may please your good Lordship,

I would not have lost this journey, and yet I have not that for which I went. For I have had no private conference to

1 Add. MSS. 5503, fo. 24.

2 that I went for.