of a term, and almost the beginning of the circuits; so that the seal cannot stand still. But this may be done as heretofore, by commission, till your majesty hath resolved on an officer. God ever preserve your majesty.

Your Majesty's most humble

subject, and bounden servant, F. BACON.

A Letter written by the Lord Bacon to King James, for Relief of his Estate.

May it please your most excellent Majesty.

In the midst of my misery, which is rather assuaged by remembrance than by hope; my chiefest worldly comfort is, to think, that since the time I had the first vote of the Commons House of parliament for commissioner of the union, until the time that I was this last parliament, chosen by both houses for their messenger to your majesty in the petition of religion (which two were my first and last services), I was evermore so happy as to have my poor services graciously accepted by your majesty, and likewise not to have had any of them miscarry in my hands. Neither of which points I can any ways take to myself, but ascribe the former to your majesty's goodness, and the latter to your prudent directions; which I was ever careful to have and keep. For as I have often said to your majesty, I was towards you but as a bucket, and a cistern, to draw forth and conserve, yourself was the fountain. Unto this comfort of nineteen years' prosperity, there succeeded a comfort even in my greatest adversity, somewhat of the same nature; which is, that in those offences wherewith I was charged, there was not any one that had special relation to your majesty, or any your particular commandments. For as, towards Almighty God, there are offences against the first

* About a year and half after his retirement.

and second table, and yet all against God. So with the servants of kings, there are offences more immediate against the sovereign: although all offences against law are also against the king. Unto which comfort there is added this circumstance, that as my faults were not against your majesty, otherwise than as all faults are; so my fall was not your majesty's act, otherwise than as all acts of justice are yours. This I write not to insinuate with your majesty, but as a most humble appeal to your majesty's gracious remembrance, how honest and direct you have ever found me in your service; whereby I have an assured belief, that there is in your majesty's own princely thoughts, a great deal of serenity and clearness to me your majesty's now prostrate and cast-down servant.

Neither, my most gracious sovereign, do I by this mention of my services, lay claim to your princely grace and bounty, though the privilege of calamity doth bear that form of petition. I know well, had they been much more, they had been but my bounden duty. Nay, I must also confess, that they were from time to time, far above my merit, over and super-rewarded by your majesty's benefits which you heaped upon me. Your majesty was and is that master to me, that raised and advanced me nine times; thrice in dignity, and six times in office. The places indeed were the painfullest of all your services; but then they had both honour and profits: and the then profits might have maintained my now honour, if I had been wise. Neither was your majesty's immediate liberality wanting towards me in some gifts, if I may hold them. All this I do most thankfully acknowledge, and do herewith conclude, that for any thing arising from myself to move your eye of pity towards me, there is much more in my present misery, than in my past services; save that the same your majesty's goodness, that may give relief to the one, may give value to the other.

And indeed, if it may please your majesty, this theme of

my misery is so plentiful, as it need not be coupled with any thing else. I have been somebody by your majesty's singular and undeserved favour, even the prime officer of your kingdom. Your majesty's arm hath been over mine in council, when you presided at the table, so near I was: I have borne your majesty's image in metal, much more in heart: I was never in nineteen years' service chidden by your majesty, but contrariwise often overjoyed, when your majesty would sometimes say, I was a good husband for you, though none for myself: sometimes, that I had a way to deal in business "suavibus modis," which was the way which was most according to your own heart: and other most gracious speeches of affection and trust, which I feed on to this day. But why should I speak of these things which are now vanished, but only the better to express the downfall?

For now it is thus with me: I am a year and a half old in misery; though I must ever acknowledge, not without some mixture of your majesty's grace and mercy; for I do not think it possible, that any you once loved should be totally miserable. Mine own means, through mine own improvidence, are poor and weak, little better than my father left me. The poor things which I have had from your majesty, are either in question or at courtesy. My dignities remain marks of your favour, but burthens of my present fortune. The poor remnants which I had of my former fortunes in plate or jewels, I have spread upon poor men unto whom I owed, scarce leaving myself a convenient subsistence. So as to conclude, I must pour out my misery before your majesty, so far as to say, "Si deseris tu, perimus."

But as I can offer to your majesty's compassion little arising from myself to move you, except it be my extreme misery, which I have truly laid open; so looking up to your majesty's own self, I should think I committed Cain's fault if I should despair. Your majesty is a king, whose

heart is as unscrutable for secret motions of goodness, as for depth of wisdom. You are, creator-like, factive and not destructive. You are the prince, in whom hath been ever noted an aversation against any thing that savoured of a hard heart; as, on the other side your princely eye was wont to meet with any motion that was made on the relieving part. Therefore as one that hath had the happiness to know your majesty near hand, I have, most gracious sovereign, faith enough for a miracle, much more for a grace, that your majesty will not suffer your poor creature to be utterly defaced, nor blot that name quite out of your book, upon which your sacred hand hath been so oft for new ornaments and additions.

Unto this degree of compassion, I hope God above, of whose mercy towards me both in my prosperity and adversity, I have had great testimonies and pledges, though mine own manifold and wretched unthankfulnesses might have averted them) will dispose your princely heart, already prepared to all piety. And why should I not think, but that thrice noble prince who would have pulled me out of the fire of a sentence, will help to pull me (if I may use that homely phrase) out of the mire of an abject and sordid condition in my last days: And that excellent favourite of yours, the goodness of whose nature contendeth with the greatness of his fortune, and who counteth it a prize, a second prize, to be a good friend, after that prize which he carrieth to be a good servant, will kiss your hands with joy for any work of piety you shall do for me. And as all commiserable persons, especially such as find their hearts void of all malice, are apt to think that all men pity them; I assure myself that the lords of your council, who out of their wisdom and nobleness, cannot but be sensible of human events, will in this way which I go for the relief of my estate, further and advance your majesty's goodness towards me for there is, as I conceive, a kind of fraternity between great men that are, and those that have been,

being but the several tenses of one verb. Nay, I do further presume, that both houses of parliament will love their justice the better if it end not in my ruin. For I bave been often told by many of my lords, as it were in excusing the severity of the sentence, that they knew they left me in good hands. And your majesty knoweth well I have been all my life long acceptable to those assemblies, not by flattery, but by moderation, and by honest expressing of a desire to have all things go fairly and well.

But if it may please your majesty, (for saints I shall give them reverence, but no adoration; my address is to your majesty the fountain of goodness) your majesty shall by the grace of God not feel that in gift which I shall extremely feel in help. For my desires are moderate, and my courses measured to a life orderly and reserved, hoping still to do your majesty honour in my way. Only I most humbly beseech your majesty to give me leave to conclude with those words which necessity speaketh: Help me, dear sovereign lord and master, and pity me so far as I that have borne a bag be not now in my age forced in effect to bear a wallet; nor I that desire to live to study may not be driven to study to live. I most humbly crave pardon of a long letter after a long silence. God of heaven ever bless, preserve, and prosper your majesty.

Your Majesty's poor ancient

servant and beadsman, FR. ST. ALB.

The Lord Chancellor Bacon's Letter to the Queen of Bohemia*, in Answer to one from her Majesty, and upon sending to her his Book about a War with Spain.

It may pleasey our Majesty,

I have received your majesty's gracious letter from Mr.

* A.D. 1625.