Harl. MSS. XX. To the right honourable the Lord Keeper, etc. Vol. 6996. No. 110. Ibid. Vol. 6697. It may please your good Lordship, I RECEIVED, at my lord of Essex last going from court, a message of good assurance, which his lordship sent to my brother and to myself; which was this: That her majesty had stedfastly promised him to dispatch my matter to-morrow. And somewhat her majesty said to myself, when I attended her upon some service since, which I liked well, though it was with some doubtfulness, as, they say, her majesty useth till the last hour. This I thought good to signify to your good lordship, both that your lordship may perceive how effectual and operative your lordship's last dealing with her majesty was; and also that, now the wheel is going, your lordship would set it forward, the rather in respect of the necessity to go presently in hand with these criminal causes, if the commission shall hold according to the adjournment. And if her majesty should not be pleased presently to give order for a patent, yet if your lordship may by her warrant give me warning to prepare myself, it will be some hold and satisfaction. So thinking long to have the strength of place, to do your lordship acceptable service, I leave your good lordship to God's good preservation. Your Lordship's most humbly at your hon[ourable] commandments, FR. BACON. From Gray's-Inn this 28th of September, 1594. XXI. To the right honourable the Lord Keeper,etc. I THOUGHT good to step aside for nine days, which is the durance of a wonder, and not for any dislike in the world; for I think her majesty hath done me as great a favour in making an end of this matter, as if she had enlarged me from some restraint. And I humbly pray your lordship, if it so please you, to deliver to her majesty from me, that I would have been glad to have done her majesty service now in the best of my years, and the same mind remains in me still; and that it may be, when her majesty hath tried others, she will think of him that she hath cast aside. For I will take it upon that which her majesty hath often said, that she doth reserve me, and not reject me. And so I leave your good lordship to God's good pre servation. Your Lordship's much bounden, FR. BACON. From Twicknam-Park this 20th of May, 1595. Endorsed: Mr. Fr. Bacon, his contentation to leave the solicitorship. Resuscita XXII. A LETTER to the lord treasurer BURGH- Rawley's LEY, recommending his first suit, touching tio. the solicitor's place. My Lord, AFTER the remembrance of my most humble duty, though I know, by late experience, how mindful your lordship vouchsafeth to be of me and my poor fortunes, since it pleased your lordship, during your indisposition, when her majesty came to visit your lordship, to make mention of me for my employment and preferment; yet being now in the country, I do presume that your lordship, who of yourself had so honourable care of the matter, will not think it a trouble to be solicited therein. My hope is, that whereas your lordship told me her majesty was somewhat gravelled upon the offence she took at my speech in parliament; your lordship's favourable and good word, who hath assured me, that for your own part you construed, that I spake to the best, will be as a good tide to remove her from that shelf. And it is not unknown to your good lordship, that I was the first of the ordinary sort of the lower house of parliament that spake for the subsidy; and that which I after spake in difference, was but in circumstances of time and manner, which methinks should be no greater matter, since there is variety allowed in counsel, as a discord in music, to make it more perfect. But I may justly doubt, not so much her ma jesty's impression upon this particular, as her conceit otherwise of my insufficiency; which though I acknowledge to be great, yet it will be the less, because I purpose not to divide myself between her majesty and the causes of other men, as others have done, but to attend her business only: hoping that a whole man meanly able, may do as well as half a man better able. And if her majesty think that she shall make an adventure in using one that is rather a man of study, than of practice and experience; surely I may remember to have heard that my father, an example, I confess, rather ready than like, was made solicitor of the augmentation, a court of much business, when he had never practised, and was but twenty-seven years old; and Mr. Brograve was now in my time called to be attorney of the duchy, when he had practised little or nothing; and yet discharged his place with great sufficiency. But these things and the like are as her majesty shall be made capable of them; wherein, knowing what authority your lordship's commendation hath with her majesty, I conclude with myself, that the substance of strength which I may receive, will be from your lordship. It is true, my life hath been so private, as I have had no means to do your Fordship service; but yet, as your lordship knoweth, I have made offer of such as I could yield; for as God hath given me a mind to love the public; so incidently, I have ever had your lordship in singular admiration; whose happy ability her majesty hath so long used, to her great honour and yours. Besides, that amendment of state or countenance, which I have received, hath been from your lordship. And therefore if your lordship shall stand a good friend to your poor ally, you shall but tueri opus proprium, which you have begun. And your lordship shall bestow your benefit upon one that hath more sense of obligation than of self-love. Thus humbly desiring pardon of so long a letter, I wish your lordship all happiness. This 7th of June 1595. Your Lordship's in all humbleness to be commanded. XXIII. To the right honourable the Lord Harl. MSS. Keeper, etc. Vol. 6997. No. 18. NoT able to attend your lordship myself, before your going to the court, by reason of an ague, which offered me a fit on Wednesday morning, but since by abstinence, I thank God, I have starved it, so as now he hath turned his back, I am chasing him away with a little physic: I thought good to write these few words to your lordship, partly to signify my excuse, if need be, that I assisted not Mr. Attorney on Thursday last in the star-chamber, at which time, it is some comfort to me, that I hear by relation somewhat was generally taken hold of by the court, which I formerly had opened and moved; and partly to express a little my conceit, touching the news which your lordship last told me from the queen, concerning a condition in law knit to an interest, which your lordship remembreth, and is supposed to be broken by misfeyance. Wherein surely my mind, as far as it appertaineth to me, is this, that as I never liked not so much as the coming in upon a lease by way of forfeiture, so I am so much enemy to myself, as I take no contentment in any such hope of advantage. For as your lordship can give me best testimony, that I never in my life propounded any such like motion, though I have been incited thereto; so the world will hardly believe, but that it is underhand quickened and nourished from me. And truly, my lord, I would not be thought to supplant any man for great gain; and I humbly pray your lordship to continue your commendation and countenance to me in the course of the queen's service that I am entered into: which when it shall please God to move the queen to *profit, I hope +f.perfect. I shall give cause for your lordship to obtain as many thanks, as you have endured chidings. And so I commend your good lordship to God's good preservation. Your Lordship's most humbly at your honourable] commandment, From Gray's-Inn the 11th of June, 1595. Harl. Mss. XXIV. To the right honourable the Lord Vol. 6997. No. 37. Keeper, etc. It may please your Lordship, THERE hath nothing happened to me in the course of my business more contrary to my expectation, than your lordship's failing me, and crossing me now in the conclusion, when friends are best tried. But now I desire no more favour of your lordship, than I would do if I were a suitor in the chancery; which is this only, that you would do me right. And I for my part, though I have much to alledge, yet nevertheless, if I see her majesty settle her choice upon an able man, such a one as Mr. Serjeant Fleming, I will make no means to alter it. On the other side, if I perceive any * Ita MSS. insufficient obscure* idole man offered to her majesty, then I think myself double bound to use the best means I can for myself; which I humbly pray your lordship I may do with your favour, and that you will not disable me farther than is cause. And so I commend your lordship to God's preservation, Ibid. That beareth your lordship all humble respect, From Gray's-Inn the 28th of July, 1595. XXV. To the right honourable the Lord It may please your Lordship, I THOUGHT it became me to write to your lordship, upon that which I have understood from my lord of Essex, who vouchsafed, as I perceive, to deal with your lordship of himself to join with him in the concluding of my business, and findeth your lordship hath conceived offence, as well upon my manner when I saw your lordship at Temple last, as upon a letter, which I did write to your lordship some time before. Surely, my lord, for my behaviour, I am well assured, I omitted no point of duty or ceremony towards your lordship. But I know too much of the court to beg a counte 7. |