Among

the papers
of Antony
Bacon, Esq.
vol. IV.
fol. 123, in

the Lam
beth libra-

ry.

that, I should talk of those things when I came to
her, not when she came to me; the term was com-
ing, and she would advise. I would have replied,
but she stopped my mouth. To-morrow or the next
day I will go to her, and then this excuse will be
taken away. When I know more, you shall hear
more; and so I end full of pain in my head, which
makes me write thus confusedly.

Your most affectionate friend.

THE SAME TO THE SAME.*

SIR,

I WENT yesterday to the queen through the galleries
in the morning, afternoon, and at night. I had
long speech with her of you, wherein I urged both
the point of your extraordinary sufficiency proved to
me not only by your last argument, but by the opinion
of all men I spake withal, and the point of mine own
satisfaction, which, I protested, should be exceeding
great, if, for all her unkindness and discomforts past,
she should do this one thing for my sake. To the first
she answered, that the greatness of your friends, as
of my lord treasurer and myself, did make men give
a more favourable testimony than else they would do,
thinking thereby they pleased us. And that she did
acknowledge you had a great wit, and an excellent
gift of speech, and much other good learning. But
in law she rather thought you could make show to the
uttermost of your knowledge, than that you were
deep. To the second she said, she shewed her mislike
to the suit, as well as I had done my affection in it;
and that if there were a yielding, it was fitter to be of
my side. I then added, that this was an answer, with
which she might deny me all things, if she did not
grant them at the first, which was not her manner to
do. But her majesty had made me suffer and give
way in many things else; which all I should bear,
not only with patience, but with great contentment,
if she would but grant my humble suit in this one.

And for the pretence of the approbation given you
upon partiality, that all the world, lawyers, judges,
and all, could not be partial to you; for somewhat
you were crossed for their own interest, and some for
their friends; but yet all did yield to your merit. She
did in this as she useth in all, went from a denial
to a delay, and said, when the council were all here,
she would think of it; and there was no haste in de-
termining of the place. To which I answered, that
my sad heart had need of hasty comfort; and there-
fore her majesty must pardon me, if I were hasty and
importunate in it. When they come we shall see
what will be done; and I wish you all happiness,

and rest

Your most affectionate friend,

Indorsed, 18th of May, 1594.

ESSEX.

FOULKE GREVILL, ESQ. TO MR. FRANCIS
BACON.*

Mr. Francis Bacon,

• Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. IV. fo

beth libra

SATURDAY was my first coming to the court, from lio 132, in
whence I departed again as soon as I had kissed the Lam-
her majesty's hands, because I had no lodging nearer ry.
than my uncle's, which is four miles off. This day
I came thither to dinner, and waiting for to speak
with the queen, took occasion to tell how I met you,
as I passed through London; and among other
speeches, how you lamented your misfortune to me,
that remained as a withered branch of her roots,
which she had cherished and made to flourish in her
service. I added what I thought of your worth, and
the expectation for all this, that the world had of her
princely goodness towards you: which it pleased her
majesty to confess, that indeed you began to frame
very well, insomuch as she saw an amends in those
little supposed errors, avowing the respect she carried
to the dead, with very exceeding gracious inclination
towards you. Some comparisons there fell out be-
sides, which I leave till we meet, which I hope

shall be this week. It pleased her withal to tell of the jewel you offered her by Mr. Vice-chamberlain, which she had refused, yet with exceeding praise. I marvel, that as a prince she should refuse those havings of her poor subjects, because it did include a small sentence of despair; but either I deceive myself, or she was resolved to take it; and the conclusion was very kind and gracious. Sure as I will 100%. to 50%. that you shall be her solicitor, and my friend : in which mind and for which mind I commend you to God. From the court this Monday in haste,

Your true friend to be commanded by you,

FOULKE GREVILL.

Among

the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq.

We cannot tell whether she come to or stay here. I am much absent for want of lodging; wherein my own man hath only been to blame.

Indorsed, 17 of June, 1594.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE QUEEN.*

Most gracious and admirable Sovereign,

vol. IV. As I do acknowledge a providence of God towards

fol. 141 and

Lambeth

library.

156, in the me, that findeth it expedient for me tolerare jugum in juventute meâ; so this present arrest of mine by his divine Majesty from your majesty's service is not the least affliction, that I have proved; and I hope your majesty doth conceive, that nothing under mere impossibility could have detained me from earning so gracious a vail, as it pleased your majesty to give me. But your majesty's service, by the grace of God, shall take no lack thereby; and, thanks to God, it hath lighted upon him, that may be best spared. Only the discomfort is mine, who nevertheless have the private comfort, that in the time I have been made acquainted with this service, it hath been my hap to stumble upon somewhat unseen, which may import the same, as I made my lord keeper acquainted before my going. So leaving it to God to make a good end of a hard beginning, and most humbly craving your

majesty's pardon for presuming to trouble you, I recommend your sacred majesty to God's tenderest preservation.

Your sacred majesty's,

in most humble obedience and devotion,

From Huntingdon, this 20th of July, 1594.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO HIS BROTHER
ANTONY.*

From Twickenham-park, this Tuesday morning, 1594. Indorsed, 16 Oct. 1594.

My good Brother,

beth library.

ONE day draweth on another; and I am well pleased fol. 197, in in my being here; for methinks solitariness collecteth the Lamthe mind, as shutting the eyes doth the sight. I pray you therefore advertise me what you find, by my lord of Essex (who, I am sure, hath been with you), was done last Sunday; and what he conceiveth of the matter. I hold in one secret, and therefore you may trust your servant. I would be glad to receive my parsonage rent as soon as it cometh. So leave I you to God's good preservation.

Your ever loving brother,

FR. BACON.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.t
SIR,

I WILL be to-morrow night at London. I purpose
to hear your argument the next day. I pray you
send me word by this bearer of the hour, and place,
where it is. Of your own cause I shall give better
account when I see you, than I can do now; for that
which will be done, will be this afternoon or to-

morrow.

Indorsed, 23 Oct. 1594.

VOL. VI.

I am fast unto you, as you can be to yourself,

FR. BACON.

с

• Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq.

ESSEX.

+ Ibid, fol, 195.

• Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. IV.

fol. 28, in the Lam

beth library.

Good Brother,

SINCE I saw you this hath passed. Tuesday, though
sent for, I saw not the queen. Her majesty alleged
she was then to resolve with the council upon her
places of law. But this resolution was ut supra;
and note the rest of the counsellors were persuaded
she came rather forwards than otherwise; for against
me she is never peremptory but to my lord of Essex.
I missed a line of my lord keeper's; but thus much I
hear otherwise. The queen seemeth to apprehend
my travel. Whereupon I was sent for by Sir Robert
Cecil in sort as from her majesty; himself having of
purpose immediately gone to London to speak with
me; and not finding me there, he wrote to me.
Whereupon I came to the court, and upon his rela-
tion to me of her majesty's speeches, I desired leave to
answer it in writing; not, I said, that I mistrusted his
report, but mine own wit; the copy of which answer
I send. We parted in kindness secundum exterius.
This copy you must needs return; for I have no other;
and I wrote this by memory after the original was sent
away. The queen's speech is after this sort. Why?
I have made no solicitor. Hath any body carried a so-
licitor with him in his pocket? But he must have it in his
own time (as if it were but yesterday's nomination), or
else I must be thought to cast him away. Then her ma-
jesty sweareth thus: "If I continue this manner, she
will seek all England for a solicitor rather than take
me. Yea, she will send for Heuston and Coven-
try (a) to-morrow next," as if she would swear
them both. Again she entereth into it, that "she
"never deals so with any as with me (in hoc erratum
"non est ); she hath pulled me over the bar (note the

66

66

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO HIS BROTHER
ANTONY.*

"

words, for they cannot be her own), she hath used "me in her greatest causes. But this is Essex; and "she is more angry with him than with me." And

(a) Thomas Coventry, afterwards one of the justices of the common pleas, and father of the lord keeper Coventry.