To Mr. M. Hickes.* Mr. Hickes, your remain shall be with you this term, but I have now a further request, which, if you perform, I shall think you one of the best friends I have, and yet the matter is not much to you, but the timing of it is much to me; for I am now about this term to free myself from all debts, which are any ways in suit or urged, following a faster pace to free my credit than my means can follow to free my state, which yet cannot stay long after; I having resolved to spare no means I have in hand (taking other possibilities for advantage) to clear myself from the discontent, speech, or danger of others. And some of my debts of most clamour and importunity I have this term, and some few days before, ordered, and in fact paid. I pray you to your former favours, which I do still remember, and may hereafter requite, help me out with two hundred pounds more for six months; I will put you in good sureties, and you shall do me a great deal of honesty and reputation; I have written to you the very truth and secret of my course, which to few others I would have done, thinking it may move you. And so with my loving commendations, I rest Your assured loving Friend, FR. BACON. Jan. 21, 1600. Sir, To Sir Robert Cotton. Finding, during parliament, a willingness in you to confer with me in this great service concerning the union, I do now take hold thereof to excuse my boldness to desire that now which you offered then, for both the time as to leisure is more liberal, and as to the service itself is more urgent. Whether it will like you to come to me to Gray's Inn, or to appoint me where to meet with you, I am indifferent, and leave it to your choice, and accordingly desire to hear from you; so I remain your very loving friend, F. BACON. Gray's Inn, this 8th of Sept. 1604. Sir, To Sir M. Hickes.† For your travel with all disadvantages, I will put it upon my account to travel twice so far, upon any occasion of yours; but your wits seemed not travelled, but fresh, by Lansd. MS. lxxxviii. art. 3. Orig. + Lansd. MS. lxxxix. art. 78. Orig. your letter, which is to me an infallible argument of heartsease which doth so well with you, as I must intreat you to help me to some of the same. And therefore I will adjourn our conference to your return to the Strand, on Monday, where I will find you, if it chance right. And this day would I have come to your Friary, but that I am commanded to attend the indictments at Westminster. so I leave to perceive your good disposition. I remain your's assured, Jan. 17, 1605. Sir, * To Sir Michael Hickes.† And FR. BACON. I pray try the concension I spoke to you of out of hand. For it is a mind I shall not continue in, if it pass this very tide. So I rest October, 1606. Sir, Yours, FR. BACON, To Sir Michael Hickes.+ There is a commission, touching the king's service, to be executed at your house, on Tuesday next; the commissioners are Mr. Recorder of London, Sir John Bennett, Sir Thomas Bodley, and myself. There are blanks left for other names, such as you in your wisdom shall think fit to fill. Mr. Horden is wished, for the better countenance of the service, and Sir Thomas Lowe is spoken of, but these and others are wholly left unto you. It will take up a whole afternoon, and therefore no remedy but we must dine with you; but for that you are not so little in grace with Mr. Chancellor but you may have allowance, the Exchequer being first full; hereof I thought most necessary to give you notice. So I remain This Sunday at Afternoon, Sir, Your assured Guest and Friend, To Sir Robert Cotton.§ You may think the occasion was great and present, that made me defer a thing I took much to heart so long; I have in the blank leaf supplied some clauses, which, warranted by your kind respect and liberty, I wish were inserted for my father's honour, as a son I confess; but yet no farther than I have the two great champions, both truth * Augustine Friars. + Lansd. MS. lxxxix. art. 105. Orig. Lansd. MS. xci. art. 40. Orig. Cotton MS. Julius, c. iii. fol. 71. b. Orig. and opinion, of my side. They be but three places, and that you may readily find them, I have turned down leaves; desiring you to reform the Latin or the sense by your better style and conceit, which done, if it please you (being but three pages) to have them written again, and so incorporate them into the copy you carry to the king, you shall content me much, who I think am no unfit man to give you some contribution or retribution to your worthy intention. So in haste I remain Grey's Inn, this 7th of April, 1610. Your assured Friend, To Sir Michael Hickes.* Sir Michael Hickes, FR. BACON, It is but a wish, and not any ways to desire it to your trouble, but I heartily wish I had your company here at my mother's funeral, which I purpose on Thursday next, in the forenoon. I dare promise you a good sermon, to be made by Mr. Fenton, the preacher of Gray's Inn: for he never maketh other feast; I make none: but if I might have your company for two or three days at my house, I should pass over this mournful occasion with more comfort. If your son had continued at St. Julian's it might have been an adamant to have drawn you; but now, if you come, I must say it is only for my sake. I commend myself to my lady, and commend my wife to you both. And rest Yours ever assured, This Monday, 27th of August, 1610. FR. BACON. To Sir Michael Hickes.† Sir Michael, I do use as you know to pay my debts with time; but indeed if you will have a good and perfect colour in a carnation stocking, it must be long in the dying: I have some scruple of conscience whether it was my lady's stockings or her daughter's, and I would have the restitution to be to the right person, else I shall not have absolution. Therefore I have sent to them both, desiring them to wear them for my sake, as I did wear theirs for mine own sake. So wishing you all a good new year, I rest Gray's Inn, this 8th of Jan. 1611. Yours assured, FR. BACON. Lansd. MS. xci. art. 94. Orig. + Lansd. MS. xcii. art. 81. Orig. VOL. XII. II To his very loving Friend, Mr. John Murray, of his Majesty's Bed Chamber. Deliver these.* Good Mr. Murray, I have laboured like a pack horse in your business, and, as I think, have driven in a nail. I pray deliver the inclosed to his majesty, wherein I have made mention of the same, I rest 27th January, 1611. Yours assured, FR. BACON. From the University of Cambridge to the Right Honourable Sir Francis Bacon, Knight, his Majesty's Attorney General, and one of his Honourable Privy Council, these.† Right Honourable, The special love and favour which your honour by word and writing hath ever professed to learning and this University, makes us fly to your protection in a present danger, where we fear the chief nerves and foundation of all our jurisdiction, and gracious charters, are (under a pretence of dignity and honour to this University) either intended to be shaken, or wholly overthrown. We doubt not but your honour hath heard of a late petition preferred to his majesty by the mayor and others of Cambridge (as they pretend), to dignify the University in making the town a city; which, upon so fait a gloss, his majesty (out of his gracious favour to this University) hath referred to the order of the Lord Chancellor of England, their high steward; the Lord Treasurer, our honourable and our most loving chancellor, and your honour. By this project (though dignity and honour to us be the first colour they cast upon their suit, yet by the cunning carriage of the business, and secret workings of friends) we cannot but fear this shadow will be overcast with matter of such substance for them and their purpose, that it will either draw our former grants into question, or us to great inconvenience. Neither is this suspicion without a cause; first for that, about six years past, the like petition was preferred and followed by them; at what time by a secret view of their book, we perceived our best charters nearly touched: secondly, upon our earnnest request to have a copy of such matters as they desire, they slight us, saying, "That were but to part the lion's * Harl. MS 6986. art. 114. + Sloan MS. 3562. art. 40. skin;" thirdly, by experience we find the danger of trusting their kindness, for upon our late sufferance of their last charter to pass (without good advice of our council), they both incroach upon our ancient grants, and inforce that charter not only against our privileges and customs, but the special proviso and reservation therein made for our former liberties. These peremptory answers and dealings of theirs, upon so kind and friendly usage and requests of ours, make us fear the sequel; for that as yet we could never find by any record, act, or wish of theirs, that this University ever received honour, dignity, or favour; in regard whereof we earnestly intreat your honour to stand with our worthy chancellor and us in staying this suit, until we be truly informed how the town may receive grace and the University no dishonour. So with our hearty thanks to your honour, for all your former favours shewed us and this University, and with our daily prayers to the Almighty for your long life and happiness, we take our leave. This 9th of December, 1616. Your Honour's in all duty. To the Right Worshipful the Vice-chancellor and others, the Masters, and the Heads of the Houses of the University of Cambridge.* After my very hearty commendations, I have received your letter of the 9th of this present December, and have taken care of you rather according to your request, than at your request; forasmuch as I had done it before your letter came. This you may perceive by the joint letter which you shall receive from my Lord Chancellor, my Lord Treasurer, and myself. And for me you may rest assured, that nothing can concern you little, or more nearly, or afar off, but you shall have all care out of my affection, and all strength and help out of my means and power to conserve and advance your good estate and contentment. And so I remain Your very affectionate and assured Friend, December 28, 1616. From the University of Cambridge.† The confidence which the townsmen have, in obtaining their charter and petition, makes us bold and importunate suitors to your honour, by whose favour with his majesty Sloan MS. No. 3562. art. 25. Sloan MS. 3562. art. 41. |