great friendship and confidence with Anthony Bacon.1 Another was Mr. Edward Bruce, Abbot of Kinloss, who had been twice sent to England on particular embassies, first in April, 1594, and again (with the Earl of Mar) in 1600-1: the embassy out of which grew the secret correspondence between the King and Cecil.2

Messengers were of course despatched as soon as possible from the Council to the King, and by one of these Bacon sent to Mr. Foulis the following letter, which comes from his own register-book.

A LETTER TO MR. DAVID FOULES, IN SCOTLAND, UPON THE ENTRANCE OF HIS MAJESTY'S REIGN.

Sir,

The occasion awaketh in me the remembrance of the constant and mutual good offices which passed between my good brother and yourself; whereunto (as you know) I was not altogether a stranger; though the time and design (as between brethren) made me more reserved. But well do I bear in mind the great opinion which my brother (whose judgment I much reverence) would often express to me, of the extraordinary sufficiency, dexterity, and temper, which he had found in you, in the business and service of the King our sovereign lord. This latter bred in me an election, as the former gave an inducement for me, to address myself to you, and to make this signification of my desire towards a mutual entertainment of good affection and correspondence between us: hoping that both some good effect may result of it towards the King's service; and that for our particulars, though occasion give you the precedence of furthering my being known by good note unto the king, so no long time will intercede before I on my part shall have some means given to requite your favours, and to verify your commendation. And so with my loving commendations, good Mr. Foules, I leave you to God's goodness. From Gray's Inn, this 25th of March.

The same day he wrote a letter of like import to Bruce, though it seems doubtful whether it was sent. For it is not given by Dr. Kawley in the 'Resuscitatio,' either among the letters taken from Bacon's own register-book or in the supplementary collection: nor is it to be found in the manuscript volume now in the British Museum,

1 Birch, Mem. of Eliz. i. pp. 162, 178, 496, etc.; ii. p. 44. 2 Ib. i. p. 175; ii. p. 509. 3 Add. MSS. 5503, fo. 20 b.

Resuscitatio,' p. 21.

which I take to be a contemporary copy of the register-book itself, It was certainly delayed (as appears by a postscript which has been added and then crossed out) in order that it might be accompanied by a letter to the King; and it may be that it was stopped altogether by news that Bruce was already on his way to London; for the despatch from the Lords of the Council was anticipated by Sir Robert Cary, who saw James on the night of the 26th, and informed him that the Queen was dead: upon which both Bruce and Foulis were immediately despatched to London, and appear to have set out before the official messenger arrived.

The letter, however, whether sent or not, is undoubtedly genuine ; for there is a copy (or draft to dictation) among the Lanibeth papers, written in the hand of one of Bacon's men, with additions in his own. And from this copy I take it.

TO EDWARD BRUCE, ABBOT OF KINLOSS.1

My Lord,

The present occasion awaketh in me a remembrance of the constant amity and mutual good offices, which passed between my good brother deceased and your Lordship, whereunto I was less strange than in respect of the time I had reason to pretend; and withal I call to mind the great opinion which my brother (who seldom failed in judgment of persons) would often express to me of your Lordship's great wisdom and soundness both in head and heart towards the service and affairs of the King our sovereign lord. The one of these hath bred in me an election, and the other a confidence to address my goodwill and sincere affection . to your Lordship; not doubting, in regard that my course of life hath wrought me not to be altogether unseen in the matters of this kingdom, that I may be of some use both in points of service to the King and in your Lordship's particular. And on the other side I will not omit humbly to desire your Lordship's favour, in furdering a good conceit and impression of my most humble duty and true zeal towards the King; to whose majesty words cannot make me known, neither mine own nor others: but time will, to no disadvantage of any that shall forerun his Majesty's experience, by their humanity and commendation. And so I commend your good Lordship to God's preservation. From Gray's-Inn, this xxvth of March, 1603. To do your L. humble. service.

1 Lambeth MSS. 976, fo. 3. Addressed in Bacon's own hand "To his honble. good L. Mr. Breuze, L. of Kynlosse, be these delivered."

So the letter stood originally; but at the end the following postscript is added, I think in Bacon's own hand.

Since my writing of this letter I have taken courage to make oblation of my most humble service by letter unto his Majesty; whereof I send your Lordship a copy, and shall esteem it an exceeding courtesy if you will take some speedy and good opportunity to present it to his royal hands: which if your L. shall vouchsafe to undertake, I have desired this gentleman, Mr. Matthew, eldest son to my L. B. of Durham, to deliver the same unto your L. desiring your L. furder for my sake to show him what courtesies his occasions shall require: which I assure your L. shall be towards a very worthy and rare young gentleman.

The letter to Foulis had gone by Mr. Lake, who was despatched from the Council on the 27th. This, at the time when the postscript was written, was evidently intended to be carried and presented by Toby Matthew,' a private friend of Bacon's own-the same who acted the Squire in Essex's 'Device' on the Queen's day in 1595,2 and a man for whom Bacon retained a great personal affection, through much variety of fortune on both sides, to the end of his life. Upon further thoughts however, or further news, he appears to have changed his mind again; for he struck out the postscript, and transferred it, along with the commission which it carried, to another letter addressed to another man; as we shall presently see.

Matthew set out on the 28th or 29th of March, charged with a letter from Bacon to the King, and another to Sir Thomas Challoner (enclosing a copy or duplicate of it) to serve by way of introduction: his commission being to get it delivered in the handsomest way that offered. Sir Thomas Challoner, an accomplished scholar, and a student in natural history and chemistry,3 had been employed in Italy as an intelligencer in the service of the Earl of Essex, upon Anthony Bacon's recommendation, who kept up a continual correspondence with him, and whom he "acknowledged to be the first author of manifesting his firm zeal to his Lordship's service." When his acquaintance with Francis began, I do not know: but on the 27th of October, 1596, when he was on the point of departure to Italy, I find him begging Anthony "most heartily to salute his brother " for him. How the business prospered, I cannot say but the letters In Sir Toby Matthew's collection of letters, edited by Dr. Donne, the name is printed Matthews. But as Bacon always writes it Matthew, I shall keep

that form.

2 Vol. I. P. 375.

4

Birch, ii. pp. 150, 182, 226, 270, 304.

5 Lambeth MSS. 959, fo. 222.

themselves are preserved in Bacon's own collection, and with the headings, which I suppose to have been inserted by himself or copied from his dockets, may be left to tell their own story.

Of the letter to the King we have three copies, independent of each other and slightly differing: one in the Register-book, one in Sir Toby Matthew's collection, and one in the 'Remains.' Sir Toby Matthew's copies I do not hold very high as authorities for the exact text: for I suspect that he used the privilege of an editor rather freely in omitting or disguising personal allusions, and occasionally in mending the style by the alteration of a word or two. The copies in the 'Remains' are full of mere blunders: but in some cases, as in this, they appear to have been taken from the original letter, while those in the Register were taken from the rough draft. I have therefore in this instance formed my text from the 'Remains ;' correcting obvious misprints from the Register, and giving the other differences in foot-notes.

AN OFFER OF SERVICE TO HIS MAJESTY K. JAMES UPON HIS FIRST COMING IN.'

It may please your most excellent Majesty,

It is observed upon a place in the Canticles by some, Ego sum flos campi et lilium convallium, that, à dispari, it is not said, Ego sum flos horti, et lilium montium; because the majesty of that person is not inclosed for a few, nor appropriate to the great. And yet notwithstanding, this royal virtue of access, which nature and judgment have planted in your Majesty's mind as the portal of all the rest, could not of itself (my imperfections considered) have animated me to make oblation of myself immediately to your Majesty, had it not been joined with an habit of like liberty, which I enjoyed with my late dear Sovereign Mistress; a Prince happy in all things, but most happy in such a successor. And yet further and more nearly, I was not a little encouraged, not only upon a supposal that unto your Majesty's sacred ears (open to the air of all virtues) there might perhaps have come some small breath of the good memory of my father, so long a principal counsellor in this your kingdom; but also by the particular knowledge of the infinite devotion and incessant endeavours (beyond the strength of his body, and the nature of the times) which appeared in my good brother towards your 2 some knowledge: A.

1 Remains, p. 55. Add. MSS. 5503, fo. 19, b.

Majesty's service; and were on your Majesty's part, through your singular benignity, by many most gracious and lively significations and favours accepted and acknowledged,' beyond the merit of anything he could effect. All which endeavours and duties for the most part were common to myself with him, though by design (as between brethren) dissembled. And therefore, most high and mighty King, my most dear and dread sovereign lord, since now the corner-stone is laid of the mightiest monarchy in Europe; and that God above, who is noted to have a mighty hand in bridling the floods and fluctuations of the seas and of people's hearts, hath by the miraculous and universal consent (the more strange because it proceedeth from such diversity of causes1) in your coming in, given a sign and token what he intendeth in the continuance ;5 I think there is no subject of your Majesty's, who loveth this island, and is not hollow and unworthy, whose heart is not set on fire, not only to bring you peace-offerings to make you propitious, but to sacrifice himself a burnt-offering to your Majesty's service: amongst which number no man's fire shall be more pure and fervent than mine. But how far forth it shall blaze out, that resteth in your Majesty's employ. ment. For since your fortune in the greatness thereof hath for time debarred your Majesty of the princely virtue which one calleth the principal-“ Principis est virtus maxima nosse suos -because your Majesty hath many of yours which are unknown to you, I must leave all to the trial of further time, and so thirsting after the happiness of kissing your royal hand, continue ever, etc.

A LETTER COMMENDING HIS LOVE AND SERVICES TO SIR THOMAS CHALLONER, THEN IN SCOTLAND, UPON HIS MAJESTY'S ENTRANCE.8 Sir,

For our money matters, I am assured you conceived no insatisfaction; for you know my mind, and you know my means; which now the openness of the time, caused by this blessed con1 Birch, Mem. of Eliz. i. 181.

2 who hath ever hand: A.

3 motions: A.

4 For an exposition of these various causes, see the Beginning of a History of Great Britain, Works, VI. 277.

5 of great happiness in the continuance of your reign : A.

6

or holocaust: A.

7fruitly in the Remains. This whole sentence-from for since to time-is omitted in A; which has only, so, thirsting, etc.

Add. MSS. 5503, fo. 21.