writeth to me, that his lordship cometh to London, I thought good to remember your lordship, and to request you, as I touched in my last, that if my lord treasurer be absent, your lordship would forbear to fall into my business with her majesty, lest it might receive some foil before the time when it should be resolutely dealt in. And so commending myself to your good favour, I most humbly take my leave. Your lordship's in all humble duty and service, FR. BACON. From Gray's Inn, this Sth of April, 1594. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP As your lordship hath at divers times helped me to pass over contrary times, so I humbly pray you not to omit this favourable time. I cannot bear myself as I should till I be settled. And thus, desiring pardon, I leave your lordship to God's preservation. Your lordship's most humbly From Gray's Inn, this 25th of August, 1594. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD IT MAY PLEASE your good Lordship, I understand of some business like enough to detain the queen to-morrow, which maketh me earnestly to pray your good lordship, as one that I have found to take my fortune to heart, to take some time to remember her majesty of a solicitor this present day. Our Tower employment stayeth, and hath done these three days, because one of the principal offenders being brought to confess, and the other persisting in denial, her majesty, in her wisdom, thought best some time were given to him that is obstinate, to bethink himself; which, indeed, is singular good in such cases. Thus, desiring your lordship's pardon, in haste I commend my fortune and duty to your favour. Your lordship's most humbly From Gray's Inn, this 13th of August, 1594. Harl. MSS. vol. 6996, No. 72. VOL. III.-25 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD LORD, THE LORD KEEPER, &c.f IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, I was minded, according to the place of employment, though not of office, wherein I serve, for my better direction and the advancement of the service, to have acquainted your lordship, now before the term, with such her majesty's causes as are in my hands. Which course, intended out of duty, I do now find, by that I hear from my Lord of Essex, your lordship of your favour is willing to use for my good, upon that satisfaction you may find in my travels. And I now send to your lordship, together with my humble thanks, to understand of your lordship's being at leisure, what part of to-morrow, to the end I may attend your lordship, which, this afternoon, I cannot, in regard of some conference I have appointed with Mr. Attorney-General. And so I commend you honourable lordship to God's good preservation Your good lordship's humbly at your honourable commandments, FR. BACON. From Gray's Inn, the 25th of September, Friday. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, I thought good to step aside for nine days. which is the durance of a wonder, and not for any dislike in the world; for I think her majesty hath done me as great a favour in making an end of this matter, as if she had enlarged me from some restraint. And, I humbly pray your lordship, if it so please you, to deliver to her majesty from me, that I would have been glad to have done her majesty service, now in the best of my years, and the same mind remains in me still; and that it may be, when her majesty hath tried others, Your lordship's much bounden From Twickenham Park, this. 20th of May, 1595. Endorsed, I do well like the course they take, which is, in every kind to set down, as in beer, in wine, in beef, in muttons, in corn, &c., what cometh to the king's use, and then what is spent, and lastly what may be saved. This way, though it be not so accusative, yet it is demonstrative. Nam rectum est index sui et obliqui, and the false manner of accounting, and where the gain cleaveth will appear after by consequence. I humbly pray his majesty to pardon me for troubling him with these imperfect glances, which I do, both because I Mr. Fr. Bacon, his contentation to leave the solicitor- know his majesty thinketh long to understand ship. TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS.* somewhat, and lest his majesty should conceive, Jan. 16, 1617. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD SIR,-I think I cannot do better service towards the good estate of the kingdom of Ireland, than to procure the king to be well served in the eminent places of law and justice; I shall, therefore, name unto you for the attorney's place there, or for the solicitor's place, if the new solicitor shall go up, a gentleman of mine own breeding and framing, Mr. Edward Wyrthington, of Gray's Inn; he is born to eight hundred pounds a year; IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, he is the eldest son of a most severe justicer amongst the recusants of Lancashire, and a man most able for law and speech, and by me trained in the king's causes. My lord deputy, by my description, is much in love with the man. I hear my Lord of Canterbury and Sir Thomas Laque should name one Sir John Beare, and some other mean men. This man I commend upon my credit, for the good of his majesty's service. God ever preserve and prosper you. I rest July 2, 1616. Your most devoted and most bounden servant, FR. BACON. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.† MY VERY GOOD LORD, I write now only, rather in a kind of continuance and fresh suit, upon the king's business, than that the same is yet ripe either for advertisement or advice. The subcommissioners meet forenoon and afternoon with great diligence, and without distraction or running several ways; which if it be no more than necessary, what would less have done? that is, if there had been no subcommissioners, or they not well chosen. I speak with Sir Lionel Cranfield as cause requireth either for account or direction, and as far as I can, by the taste I have from him, discern, probably their service will attain, and may exceed his majesty's expectation. Not able to attend your lordship myself before your going to the court, by reason of an ague, which offered me a fit on Wednesday morning, but since, by abstinence, I thank God, I have starved it, so as now he hath turned his back, I am chasing him away with a little physic, I thought good to write these few words to your lordship; partly to signify my excuse, if need be, that I assisted not Mr. Attorney on Thursday last in the Star Chamber, at which time, it is some comfort to me, that I hear by relation somewhat was generally taken hold of by the court which I formerly had opened and moved; and partly to express a little my conceit touching the news which your lordship last told me from the queen, concerning a condition in law knit to an interest, which your lordship remembereth, and is supposed to be broken by misfeyance. Wherein surely my mind, as far as it appertaineth to me, is this, that as I never liked not so much as the coming in upon a lease by way of forfeiture, so I am so much enemy to myself as I take no contentment in any such hope of advantage. as your lordship can give me best testimony, that I never in my life propounded any such like motion, though I have been incited thereto; so the world will hardly believe, but that it is underhand quickened and nourished from me. And, truly, my lord, I would not be thought to supplant any man for great gain; and I humbly pray your lordship to continue your commendations and countenance to me in the course of the queen's service that I am entered into: which, when it shall *Harl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 18. For * please God to move the queen to profit, I hope I shall give cause for your lordship to obtain as many thanks as you have endured chidings. And so I commend your good lordship to God's good preservation. Your lordship's most humbly at your honourable commandment, From Gray's Inn, the 11th of June, 1595 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, give me grace to perform, which is, that if any idol may be offered to her majesty, since it is mixed with my particular, to inform her majesty truly, which I must do, as long as I have a tongue to speak, or a pen to write, or a friend to use. And farther I remember not of my letter, except it were that I writ, I hoped your lordship would do me no wrong, which hope I do still continue. For if it please your lordship but to call to mind from whom I am descended, and by whom, next to God, her majesty, and your own virtue, your lordship is ascended; I know you will have a compunction of mind to do me any wrong. And, therefore, good my lord, when your lordship There hath nothing happened to me in the favoureth others before me, do not lay the separacourse of my business more contrary to my ex-tion of your love and favour upon myself. For I pectation, than your lordship's failing me, and crossing me now in the conclusion, when friends are best tried. But now I desire no more favour of your lordship, than I would do if I were a suitor in the Chancery; which is this only, that you would do me right. And I, for my part, though I have much to allege, yet, nevertheless, if I see her majesty settle her choice upon an able man, such a one as Mr. Serjeant Fleming, I will make no means to alter it. On the other side, if I perceive any insufficient, obscure,‡ idol man offered to her majesty, then I think myself double bound to use the best means I can for myself; which I humbly pray your lordship I may do with your favour, and that you will not disable me farther than is cause. And so I commend your lordship to God's preservation, That beareth your lordship all humble respect, From Gray's Inn, the 28th of July, 1595, Endorsed, in lord keeper's hand, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, will give no cause, neither can I acknowledge any, where none is; but humbly pray your lordship to understand things as they are. Thus, which is to me unpleasant, though necessary, I sorry to write to your lordship in an argument commend your lordship to God's good pre servation. Your lordship's, in all humble respect, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.* IT MAY PLEASE YOUr good Lordship, I am sorry the opportunity permitteth me not to attend your lordship as I minded. But I hope your lordship will not be the less sparing in using the argument of my being studied and prepared in the queen's causes, for my furtherance upon belief that I had imparted to your lordship my travels, which some time next week I mean to do. Neither have I been able to confer with Mr. Attorney, as I desired, because he was removing from one building to another. And, besides, he alleged his note book was in the country, at and so we respited it to some time next week. I think he will rather do me good offices than otherI thought it became me to write to your lord-wise, except it be for the township your lordship ship, upon that which I have understood from my Lord of Essex, who vouchsafed, as I perceive, to deal with your lordship of himself to join with him in the concluding of my business, and findeth your lordship hath conceived offence, as well upon my manner when I saw your lordship at Temple last, as upon a letter, which I did write to your lordship some time before. Surely, my lord, for my behaviour, I am well assured, I omitted no point of duty or ceremony towards your lordship. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MY GOOD LORD, But I know too much of the court to beg a countenance in public place, where I make account I shall not receive it. And for my letter, the principal point of it was, that which I hope God will remembereth by the verse. Thus I commend your honourable lordship to God's good preservaYour lordship's most humble tion. at your honourable commandment, FR. BACON From Gray's Inn, this 25th of September, 1595. THE LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL OF IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, My not acquainting your lordship hath proceeded of my not knowing any thing, and of my not knowing of my absence at Byssam with my Lady Russel, upon some important cause of her son's. And as I have heard nothing, so I look for nothing, though my Lord of Essex sent me word, he would not write till his lordship had good news. But his lordship may go on in his affection, which, nevertheless, myself have desired him to limit. But I do assure your lordship, I can take no farther care for the matter. I am now at Twickenham Park, where I think to stay: for her majesty placing a solicitor, my travel shall not need in her causes, though, whensoever her majesty shall like to employ me in any particular, I shal! be ready to do her willing service. This I write lest your lordship might think my silence came of any conceit towards your lordship, which, I do assure you, I have not. And this needed I not to do, if I thought not so: for my course will not give me any ordinary occasion to use your favour, whereof, nevertheless, I shall ever be glad. So I commend your good lordship to God's holy preservation. Your lordship's humble, &c. This 11th of October, 1595. FR. BACON. acquaintance. And because I conceive the gentleman to be every way sortable with the service, I am bold to commend him to your lordship's good favour. And even so, with remembrance of my most humble duty, I rest Your lordship's affectionate to do you humble service, FR. BACON. Twickenham Park, July 3, 1595. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.* MY LORD,-In my last conference with your lordship, I did entreat you both to forbear hurting of Mr. Fr. Bacon's cause, and to suspend your judgment of his mind towards your lordship, till I had spoken with him. I went since that time to Twickenham Park to confer with him, and had signified the effect of our conference by letter ere this, if I had not hoped to have met with your lordship, and so to have delivered it by speech. I told your lordship when I last saw you, that this manner of his was only a natural freedom, and plainness, which he had used with me, and in my knowledge with some other of his best friends, than any want of reverence towards your lordship; and therefore I was more curious to look TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, into the moving cause of his style, than into the &c.* IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD Lordship, I conceive the end already made, which will, I trust, be to me a beginning of good fortune, or at least of content. Her majesty, by God's grace, shall live and reign long, she is not running away, I may trust her. Or whether she look towards me or no, I remain the same, not altered in my intention. If I had been an ambitious man, it would have overthrown me, but minded as I am, Revertet benedictio mea in sinum meum. If I had made any reckoning of any thing to be stirred, I would have waited on your lordship, and will be at any time ready to wait on you to do you service. So I commend your good lordship to God's holy preservation. Your lordship's most humble, at your honourable commandment, FR. BACON. From Twickenham Park, this 14th of October. Endorsed, 14th October, 95. form of it; which now I find to be only a diffidence of your lordship's favour and love towards him, and no alienation of that dutiful mind which he hath borne towards your lordship. And therefore I am fully persuaded, that if your lordship would please to send for him, there would grow so good satisfaction, as hereafter he should enjoy your lordship's honourable favour in as great a measure as ever, and your lordship have the use of his service, who, I assure your lordship, is as strong in his kindness, as you find him in his jealousy. I will use no argument to persuade your lordship, that I should be glad of his being restored to your lordship's wonted favour; since your lordship both knoweth how much my credit is engaged in his fortune, and may easily judge how sorry I should be, that a gentleman whom I love so much, should lack the favour of a person whom I honour so much. And thus commending your lordship to God's best protection, I rest Your lordship's very assured, ESSEX. Endorsed, 31 August, 95. My Lord of Essex to have me send for Mr. Bacon, for he will satisfy me. In my lord keeper's own hand. industrious myself, and the more earnest in soliciting mine own friends. Upon me the labour must lie of his establishment, and upon me the disgrace will light of his being refused. There fore I pray your lordship, now account me not as a solicitor only of my friend's cause, but as a party interested in this; and employ all your lordship's favour to me, or strength for me, in procuring a short and speedy end. For though I know, it will never be carried any other way, yet I hold both my friend and myself disgraced by this protraction. More I would write, but that I know to so honourable and kind a friend, this which I have said is enough. And so I commend your lordship to God's best protection, resting, At your lordship's commandment, and to tell you truly, my meaning was not that the suit of this other gentleman, Mr. Temple,* should have been moved in my name. For J should have been unwilling to have moved his majesty for more than one at once, though many times in his majesty's courts of justice, if we move once for our friends, we are allowed to move again for our fee. But indeed my purpose was, that you might have been pleased to have moved it as for myself. Nevertheless, since it is so far gone, and that the gentleman's friends are in some expectation of success, I leave it to your kind regard what is farther to be done, as willing to give satisfaction to those which have put me in trust, and loath on the other side to press above good manners. And so, with my loving commendations, I remain Yours, &c. 1603. A LETTER TO DR. MORISON,* A SCOTTISH PHY SICIAN, UPON HIS MAJESTY'S COMING IN. MR. DOCTOR MORISON, I have thought good by this my letter to renew this my ancient acquaintance which hath passed between us, signifying my good mind to you, to perform to you any good office, for your particular and my expectation, and a firm assurance of the like on your part towards me: wherein I confess you may have the start of me, because occasion hath given you the precedency in investing you with opportunity to use my name well, and by your loving testimony to further a good opinion of me in his majesty, and the court. But I hope my experience of matters here will, with the light of his majesty's favour, enable me speedily both to requite your kindness, and to acquit and make good your testimony and report. So not doubting to see you here with his majesty, considering that it belongeth to your art to feel pulses, and I assure you Galen doth not set down greater variety of pulses than do vent here in men's hearts, I wish you all prosperity, and remain Yours, &c. From my Chamber at Gray's Inn, &c., 1603. TO MR. MATTHEW.+ SIR, I perceive you have some time when you can be content to think of your friends; from whom, since you have borrowed yourself, you do well, not paying the principal, to send the interest at six months' day. The relation, which here I send you enclosed, carries the truth of that which is public: and though my little leisure might have required a briefer, yet the matter would have endured and asked a larger. I have now, at last, taught that child to go, at the swaddling whereof you were. My work touching the Proficiency and Advancement of Learning I have put into two books; whereof the former, which you saw, I cannot but account as a page of the latter. I have now published them both; whereof I thought it a small adventure to send you a copy, who have more right to it than any man, except Bishop Andrews, who was my inquisitor. The death of the late great judge concerned not me, because the other was not removed. I write this in answer to your good wishes, which I return not as flowers of Florence,‡ but as you mean them; whom I conceive place cannot alter, no more than time shall me, except it be for the better. 1605. A LETTER TO MR. MURRAY, OF THE KING'S BEDCHAMBER. MR. MURRAY, It is very true that his majesty most graciously, at my humble request, knighted the last Sunday my brother-in-law, a towardly young gentleman;† for which favour I think myself more bound to his majesty, than for the benefit of ten knights: * He had held a correspondence with Mr. Anthony Bacon, and was employed to find intelligence from Scotland to the Earl of Essex.-See Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, from the year 1581 till her death, vol. i. p. 79. 109. 116. To this Sir John Constable, Sir Francis Bacon dedicated the second edition of his Essays, published at London, 1612, in octavo. TO MY LADY PACKINGTON, IN ANSWER TO A MESSAGE BY HER SENT. MADAM,-You shall with right good will be made acquainted with any thing that concerneth Probably Mr. William Temple, who had been educated in King's College, Cambridge, then master of the free school at Lincoln, next successively secretary to Sir Philip Sidney, Secretary Davison, and the Earl of Essex, made provost of Dublin College in 1609, and at last knighted, and appointed one of the masters in chancery in Ireland. He died about 1626, at the age of 72. + Sir Tobie Matthew's Collection of Letters, p. 11. Mr. Matthew wrote an elegy on the Duke of Florence's felicity. From an old copy of Sir Francis Bacon's Letters. |