XXIII. To the right honourable the Lord Harl. MSS. Vol. 6997. It may please your good Lordship, 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 remembereth, 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 I shall • ƒ perfect. 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, FR. BACON. Harl. MSS. XXIV. To the right honourable the Lord Keeper, etc. Vol. 6997. No. 37. 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 allege, 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, That beareth your lordship all humble respect, FR. BACON. Ibid. It From Gray's Inn, the 28th of July, 1595. Indorsed, in Lord Keeper's hand, Mr. Bacon wronging me. 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 nance in public place, where I make account I shall not receive it. And for my letter, the principal point of it was, that which I hope God will give me grace to perform, which is, that if any idole may be offered to her majesty, since it is mixt with my particular, to inform her majesty truly, which I must do, as long as I have a tongue to speak, or a pen to write, or a friend, to use. And farther I remember not of my letter, except it were that I writ, I hoped your lordship would do me no wrong, which hope I do still continue. For if it please your lordship but to call to mind from whom I am descended, and by whom, next to God, her majesty, and your own virtue, your lordship is ascended; I know you will have a compunction of mind to do me any wrong. And therefore, good my lord, when your lordship favoureth others before me, do not lay the separation of your love and favour upon myself. For I will give no cause, neither can I acknowledge any, where none is; but humbly pray your lordship to understand things as they are. Thus sorry to write to your lordship in an argument which is to me unpleasant, though necessary, I commend your lordship to God's good preservation. Your Lordship's in all humble respect, FR. BACON. From Twicknam-Park, this 19th of August, 1595. Vol. 6997. XXVI. To the right honourable the Lord Harl. MSS. Keeper, etc. No. 59. It may please your good Lordship, I AM Sorry the opportunity permitteth me not to attend your lordship as I minded. But I hope your lordship will not be the less sparing in using the argument of my being studied and prepared in the queen's causes, for my furtherance upon belief that I had imparted to your lordship my travels, which some time next week I mean to do. Neither have I been able to confer with Mr. Attorney, as I desired, because he was removing from one building to another. And besides, he alleged his note-book was in the country at --- and so we respited it to some Your Lordship's most humble at your honourable] commandment, From Gray's Inn, this 25th FR. BACON. Harl. MSS. XXVII. To the right honourable my good lord, Vol. 6997. It may please your good Lordship, My not acquainting your lordship hath proceeded Your Lordship's humble, etc. This eleventh of October, 1595. FR. BACON. XXVIII. To the right honourable the Lord Harl. MSS. Vol. 6997. Keeper, etc. No. 61. It may please your good Lordship, I CONCEIVE the end already made, which will, I Your Lordship's most humble From Twicknam-Park, this 14th of October. at your honourable] commandment, FR. BACON. XXIX. To the right honourable the Lord VOL. V. My very good Lord, I RECEIVED a letter from a very friend of mine, FR. BACON. Twicknam-Park, July 3, 1595. Q Ibid. No. 29. |