66 "ecclesiastical, an action which seldom cometh upon "the stage. Then the reign of a minor: then an "offer of an usurpation, though it was but as febris ephemera :' then the reign of a queen matched "with a foreigner: then of a queen that lived solitary “and unmarried, and yet her government so mascú"line that it had greater impression and operation 65 upon the states abroad than it any ways received "from thence. And now last, this most happy and glorious event, that this island of Britain, divided "from all the world, should be thus united in itself: "and that oracle of rest, given to Æneas. 'Anti 66 quam exquirite matrem,' should now be performed "and fulfilled upon the nations of England and Scotland, being now reunited in the ancient mother name of Britain, as a full period of all instability "and peregrinations: so that as it cometh to pass "in massive bodies, that they have certain trepida"tions and waverings before they fix and settle; so "it seemeth that by the providence of God this mo"narchy, before it was to settle in your majesty and your generations, (in which, I hope, it is now esta"blished for ever,) had these preclusive changes and "varieties." And the same passage is repeated in the treatise "De Augmentis," which was published in the year 1623, with the omission of the praise of the reign of Elizabeth. HISTORY OF HENRY VII. The history of Henry VII. was written in English, and was the first book which he composed after his retirement from active life.* In a letter to the king, dated 20th of March, 1621, he says, 66 66 "To the King's most excellent Majesty. 66 May it please your Majesty, "I acknowledge myself in all humbleness infinitely bounden to your majesty's grace and goodness, for that, at the intercession of my noble and "constant friend, my lord marquis, your majesty "hath been pleased to grant me that which the "civilians say is 'res inestimabilis,' my liberty. So "that now, whenever God calleth me, I shall not "die a prisoner. Nay, farther, your majesty hath "youchsafed to cast a second and iterate aspect of your eye of compassion upon me, in referring the "consideration of my broken estate to my good lord "the treasurer; which as it is a singular bounty in your majesty, so I have yet so much left of a late "commissioner of your treasure, as I would be sorry "to sue for any thing that might seem immodest. "These your majesty's great benefits, in casting "His historical works are these: -the first is the history "of Henry the Seventh, written elegantly, by his lordship in the English tongue, and addressed to his Highness the Prince of "Wales; and turned afterwards into Latin. An history which "required such a reporter: those times being times both of "great revolution, and settlement, through the division and "union of the roses. "This was the first bock which he composed after his re"tirement from an active life. Upon which occasion he wrote "thus to the Bishop of Winchester. Being (as I am) no more "able to do my country service, it remaineth unto me, to do it honour: which I have endeavoured to do in my work of the "reign of King Henry the Seventh."-Baconiana. 66 your bread upon the waters, as the Scripture saith, because my thanks cannot any ways be suf"ficient to attain, I have raised your progenitor, of "famous memory (and now, I hope, of more famous "memory than before) King Henry VII. to give 66 66 your majesty thanks for me; which work, most humbly kissing your majesty's hands, I do present. "And because in the beginning of my trouble, "when in the midst of the tempest I had a kenning "of the harbour, which I hope now by your 66 majesty's favour I am entering into, I made a "tender to your majesty of two works, An History "of England,' and 'A digest of your laws;' as I have, by a figure of pars pro toto, performed the one, so I have herewith sent your majesty, by way "of an epistle, a new offer of the other. But my "desire is farther, if it stand with your majesty's 66 good pleasure, since now my study is my exchange, "and my pen my factor, for the use of my talent ; "that your majesty, who is a great master in these things, would be pleased to appoint me some task "to write, and that I shall take for an oracle. And "because my "Instauration," which I esteem my 66 great work, and do still go on with silence, was "dedicated to your majesty; and this History of King Henry VII. to your lively and excellent image the prince; if now your majesty will be pleased to give me a theme to dedicate to my Lord "of Buckingham, whom I have so much reason to "honour, I should with more alacrity embrace your "majesty's direction than my own choice. Your 66 66 majesty will pardon me for troubling you thus "long. God evermore preserve and prosper you. "Your majesty's poor beadsman most devoted, "FR. ST. ALBAN. "Gorhambury, 20 Mar. 1621." "To the Right Honourable his very good Lord, "the Lord Marquiss of Buckingham, High"Admiral of England. 46 These main and real favours which I have lately received from your good lordship, in procuring my liberty, and a reference of the consi"deration of my release, are such, as I now find "that in building upon your lordship's noble nature " and friendship, I have bullt upon the rock, where "neither winds nor waves can cause overthrow. I "humbly pray your lordship to accept from me "such thanks as ought to come from him whom you "have much comforted in fortune, and much more "comforted in shewing your love and affection to "him; of which also I have heard by my Lord Falk"land, Sir Edward Sackville, Mr. Matthews, and "otherways. "I have written, as my duty was, to his majesty "thanks touching the same, by the letter here put ❝ into your noble hands. 66 "I have made also, in that letter, an offer to his majesty of my service, for bringing into better "order and frame the laws of England: the decla"ration whereof I have left with Sir Edward Sack 66 66 ville, because it were no good manners to clog his majesty, at this time of triumph and recreation, "with a business of this nature; so as your lordship may be pleased to call for it to Sir Edward Sack"ville when you think the time seasonable. "I am bold likewise to present your lordship "with a book of my History of King Henry the "Seventh.' And now that, in summer was twelve "months, I dedicated a book to his majesty; and "this last summer, this book to the prince; your "lordship's turn is next, and this summer that "cometh (if I live to it) shall be yours. I have "desired his majesty to appoint me the task, other"wise I shall use my own choice; for this is the "best retribution I can make to your lordship. "God prosper you. I rest "Your lordship's most obliged friend " and faithful servant, "FR. ST. ALBAN. Gorhambury, this 20th of March, 1621." On September 5, 1621, Bacon in a letter to the Marquiss of Buckingham, says, "I am much fallen "in love with a private life; but yet I shall so spend 66 my time, as shall not decay my abilities for use." On the 8th of October, 1621, he wrote the following letter to the king. "It may please your most excellent majesty,"I do very humbly thank your majesty for your 66 gracious remission of my fine. I can now, I thank "God and you, die, and make a will. "I desire to do, for the little time God shall "send me life, like the merchants of London, which, "when they give over trade, lay out their money 66 upon land. So, being freed from civil business, I lay forth my poor talent upon those things, which |