than that of the good success of my kinsman; wherein if he be happy he cannot be happy alone it consisting of two parts. And I render you no less kind thanks for your aid and favour towards him, than if it had been for myself; assuring you that this bond of alliance shall on my part tie me to give all the tribute to your good fortune upon all occasions that my poor strength can yield. I send you so required an abstract of the lands of inheritance, and one lease of great value which my kinsman bringeth, with a note of the tenures, values, contents, and state, truly and perfectly drawn; whereby you may perceive the land is good land, and well countenanced by scope of acres, woods and royalties, though the total of the rents be set down as it now goeth without improvement: in which respect it may somewhat differ from your first note. Out of this what he will assure in jointure I leave it to his own kindness; for I love not to measure affection. To conclude, I doubt not your daughter might have married to a better living, but never to a better life; having chosen a gentleman bred to all honesty, virtue, and worth, with an estate convenient. And if my brother or myself were either thrivers, or fortunate in the queen's service, I would hope there should be left as great an house of the Cookes in this gentleman as in your good friend Mr. Attorney General. But sure I am, if scriptures fail not, it will have as much of God's blessing and sufficiency as ever the best feast, &c.

To Sir Robert Cecil, at his being in France.

It may please you honourable lordship,

I know you will pardon this my observance in writing to you empty of matter, but out of the fulness of my love. I am sorry that as your time of absence is prolonged above that was esteemed at your lordship's setting forth; so now, upon this last advertisement received from you there groweth an opinion amongst better than the vulgar, that the difficulties also of your negociation are increased. But

because I know the gravity of your nature to be not to hope lightly, it maketh me to despair the less. For you are "natus ad ardua:" and the indisposition of the subject may honour the skill of the workman. Sure I am, judgment and diligence shall not want in your lordship's self: but this was not my purpose; being only to signify unto your lordship my continual and incessant love towards you, thirsting after your return for many respects. So I commend you ever to the good preservation of the divine majesty. Gray's-Inn.

At your honour's commandment, ever, and particularly.

To Sir Robert Cecil.

My singular good Lord,

The argument of my letters to your lordship rather increaseth than spendeth; it being only the desire I have to salute you which by your absence is more augmented than abated. For me to write your lordship occurrences either of Scottish brags or Irish plants, or Spanish ruffling, or Low Country states were (besides that it is "alienum quiddam," from mine own humour) to forget to whom I write; save that you, that know true advertisements, sometimes desire and delight to hear common reports; as we that know but common reports desire to hear the truth. But to leave such as write to your fortunes I write to yourself in regard of my love to you, you being as near to me in heart's blood as in blood of descent. This day I had the contentment to see your father upon occasion; and methought his lordship's countenance was not decayed, nor his cough vehement; but his voice was as faint all the while as at first. Thus wishing your lordship a happy and speedy return, I commend you to the Divine Majesty.

To the Queen.

It may please your sacred Majesty,

I would not fail to give your majesty my most humble and due thanks for your royal choice of such commissioners in the great Star-chamber cause; being persons besides their honour of such science and integrity. By whose report I doubt not but your majesty will find that which you have been heretofore informed (both by my Lord Keeper, and by some much meaner person) touching the nature of that cause to be true. This preparatory hearing doth already assail me with new and enlarged offers of composition; which if I had borne a mind to have hearkened unto, this matter had been quenched long ago without any benefit to your majesty. But your majesty's benefit is to me in greater regard than mine own particular: trusting to your majesty's gracious disposition and royal word, that your majesty will include me in any extraordinary course of your sovereign pleasure, which your majesty shall like to take in this cause. The other man I spoke to your majesty of, may within these two terms be in the same straits between your majesty's justice and mercy, that this man now is, if your majesty be so pleased. So most humbly craving pardon for my presuming to seek access for these few lines, I recommend your majesty to the most precious custody, and best preservation of the Divine Majesty.

Your majesty's, most humble, and entirely

obedient servant and subject.

To the Queen.*

It may please your Majesty,

It were great simplicity in me to look for better than that your majesty should cast away my letter as you have done me; were it not that it is possible your majesty will

*Written by Mr. Bacon for my Lord of Essex.

think to find somewhat in it, whereupon your displeasure may take hold; and so indignation may obtain that of you which favour could not. Neither might I in reason presume to offer unto your majesty dead lines, myself being excluded as I am; were it not upon this only argument or subject; namely, to clear myself in point of duty. Duty though my state lie buried in the sands, and my favours be cast upon the waters, and my honours be committed to the wind; yet standeth surely built upon the rock, and hath been, and ever shall be unforced and unattempted. And therefore, since the world out of error, and your majesty I fear out of art is pleased to put upon me; that I have so much as any election or will in this my absence from attendance; I cannot but leave this protestation with your majesty: That I am and have been merely a patient, and take myself only to obey and execute your majesty's will. And indeed madam, I had never thought it possible that your majesty could have so disinterested yourself of me; nor that you had been so perfect in the art of forgetting; nor that after a quintessence of wormwood, your majesty would have taken so large a draught of poppy; as to have passed so many summers without all feeling of my sufferings. But the only comfort I have is this, that I know your majesty taketh delight and contentment in executing this disgrace upon me. And since your majesty can find no other use of me, I am glad yet I can serve for that. Thus making my most humble petition to your majesty, that in justice (howsoever you may by strangeness untie, or by violence cut asunder all other knots) your majesty would not touch me in that which is indissoluble; that is, point of duty: and that your majesty will pardon this my unwarranted presumption of writing, being to such an end: I cease in all humbleness;

Your majesty's poor; and never

so unworthy servant,

"

That your lordship is in "statu quo prius," no man taketh greater gladness than I do; the rather, because I assure myself that of your eclipses, as this hath been the longest, it shall be the least; as the comical poet saith, neque illam tu satis noveras, neque te illa, hoc ubi fit, ibi non vivitur." For if I may be so bold as to say what I think, I believe your lordship looked to have found her majesty in all points as you have done; neither her majesty, per case, looked to have found your lordship as she hath done. And therefore I hope upon this experience may grow more perfect knowledge, and upon knowledge more true consent; which I for my part do infinitely wish, as accounting these accidents to be like the fish, remora, which, though it be not great, yet hath it a hidden property to hinder the sailing of the ship. And therefore, as bearing unto your lordship, after her majesty, of all public persons the second duty, I could not but signify unto you my affectionate gratulation. And so I commend your good lordship to the best preservation of the Divine Majesty.

From Gray's-Inn.

To my Lord Treasurer Burghley.
[Inserted in this Vol. p. 5.]

To the Lord Treasurer Burghley.
[Inserted in this Vol. p. 7.]

To Sir Robert Cecil.

It may please your good Honour,

I am apt enough to condemn "mendacia famæ," yet it is with this distinction, as fame walks among inferiors, and