ness with her majesty, lest it might receive some foil before the time, when it should be resolutely dealt in. And so commending myself to your good favour, I most humbly take my leave. Your Lordship's in all humble duty and service, FR. BACON. Harl. MSS. XVI. Earl of Essex, to Lord Keeper Puckering. Vol. 6969. My Lord, My short stay at the court made me fail of speaking with your lordship; therefore I must write that which myself had told you; that is, that your lordship will be pleased to forbear pressing for a solicitor, since there is no cause towards the end of a term to call for it; and because the absence of Mr. Bacon's friends may be much to his disadvantage. I wish your lordship all happiness and rest, Your Lordship's very assured to be commanded, XVII. To the right honourable the Lord ESSEX. It may please your good Lordship, I UNDERSTAND of some business like enough to detain the queen to-morrow, which maketh me earnestly to pray your good lordship, as one that I have found take my fortune to heart, to take some time to remember her majesty of a solicitor this present day. Our Tower employment stayeth, and hath done there three days, because one of the principal offenders being brought to confess, and the other persisting in denial, her majesty in her wisdom thought best some time were given to him that is obstinate, to bethink himself; which indeed is singular good in such cases. Thus desiring your lordship's pardon, in haste I commend my fortune and duty to your favour. Your Lordship's most humbly From Gray's Inn, this to receive your commandments, FR. BACON. XVIII. To the right honourable the Lord Har. MSS. Vol. 6996. It may please your good lordship, As your lordship hath at divers times helped me to pass over contrary times, so I humbly pray you not to omit this favourable time. I cannot bear myself as I should, till I be settled. And thus desiring pardon, I leave your lordship to God's preservation. Your Lordship's most humbly at commandment, FR. BACON. From Gray's-Inn, this XIX. To the right honourable his very good Ibid. No. Lord, the Lord Keeper, etc. 109. It may please your good Lordship, I WAS minded, according to the place of employment, though not of office, wherein I serve, for my better direction and the advancement of the service, to have acquainted your lordship, now before the term, with such her majesty's causes as are in my hands. Which course intended out of duty, I do now find by that I hear from my lord of Essex, your lordship of your favour is willing to use for my good, upon that satisfaction you may find in my travels. And I now send to your lordship, together with my humble thanks, to understand of your lordship's being at leisure, what part of to-morrow, to the end I may attend your lordship, which this afternoon I cannot, in regard of some conference I have appointed with Mr. Attorney General. And so I commend your honourable lordship to God's good preservation. Your good Lordship's humbly at your hon[ourable] From Gray's-Inn, the 25th FR. BACON. Harl. MSS XX. To the right honourable the Lord Keeper, etc. Vol. 6996. No. 110. Ibid. No. 14. 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 steadfastly 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, From Gray's-Inn, this 28th FR. BACON. XXI. To the right honourable the Lord Keeper, etc. I THOUGHT good to step aside for nine days, which 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 preservation. Your Lordship's much bounden, From Twicknam-Park, this 20th of May, 1595, Indorsed: Mr. Fr. Bacon, his contentation to leave the solicitorship. FR. BACON. 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 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 bad 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 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 lordship 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 asking 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. |