your daughters, if you bear a mind of love and finely, somewhat after the manner of my late lord concord, otherwise you must be content to be a privy seal;* not all out so sharply, but as elestranger unto us ; for I may not be so unwise as gantly. Sir Thomas Lake, who is also new in to suffer you to be an author or occasion of dis- that court, did very well, familiarly and counsel. sension between your daughters and their hus- lor-like.f My lord of Pembroke, who is likebands, having seen so much misery of that kind wise a stranger there, did extraordinary well, in yourself.

and became himself well, and had an evident And above all things I will turn back your applause. I meant well also; and because my kindness, in which you say, you will receive my information was the ground; having spoken out wife if she be cast off; for it is much more likely of a few heads which I had gathered, for I seldom we have occasion to receive you being cast off, if do more, I set down, as soon as I came home, you remember what is passed. But it is time to cursorily, a frame of that I had said; though I make an end of those follies, and you shall at this persuade myself I spake it with more life. I time pardon me this one fault of writing to you; have sent it to Mr. Murray sealed; if your mafor I mean to do it no more till you use me and jesty have so much idle time to look upon it respect me as you ought. So, wishing you better may give some light of the day's work: but I than it seemeth you will draw upon yourself, Imost humbly pray your majesty to pardon the rest, Yours,

God preserve you ever.
FR. Bacon. Your majesty's most humble subject,

and devoted servant,

Fr. Bacon.

April 29, 1615. TO SIR THOMAS BODELEY, AFTER HE HAD IM

PARTED TO HIM A WRITING, ENTITLED, COGI

errors.

TATA ET VISA.

my house

1607.

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO KING JAMES. Sir,-In respect of my going down to in the country, I shall have miss of my papers,

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, which I pray you therefore to return unto me.

It pleased your majesty to commit to my care You are, I bear you witness, slothful, and you that of the rege inconsulto, which concerneth

and trust for Westminster Hall three particulars; help me nothing: so as I am half in conceit that you affect not the argument, for myself, I know Murray; that of the commendams, which conwell, you love and affect. I can say no more to

to Queen Elizabeth, counsellor to King James, and friend to you, but non canimus surdis, respondent omnia Sir Philip Sidney.” Nor is he less remembered by the monu. sylvæ. If you be not of the lodgings chalked up, ment he has left in his writings and poems, chiefly composed whereof I speak in my preface, I am but to pass have before mentioned.- Stephens.

I

in his youth, and in familiar exercises with the gentleman I by your door. But if I had you a fortnight at * Late Earl of Northampton. Gorhambury, I would make you tell me another + Sir Thomas Lake was about this time made one of the tale; or else I would add a cogitation against principal secretaries of state, as he had been formerly Latin libraries, and be revenged on you that way. I secretary Queen Elizabeth, and, before that time, bred

under Sir Francis . Bul, in the year 1619, fall. pray you send me some good news of Sir Thomas ing into the king's displeasure, and being engaged in the Smith, and commend me very kindly to him. quarrels with his wife and daughter, the Lady Roos, with

the Countess of Exeter, he was at first suspended from the So I rest.

execution of his place, and afterwards removed, and deeply censured and fined in the Star Chamber; although it is said the king then gave him, in open court, this public eulogy, that

he was a minister of state fit to serve the greatest prince in TO THE KING.f

Europe. Whilst this storm was hanging over his head, he

writ many letters to the king and the Marquis of Bucking. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

ham, which I have seen, complaining of his misfortune, that Mr. St. John his day is past, and well past. his nearest relations.-Stephens.

his ruin was likely to proceed from the assistance he gave to I hold it to be Janus Bifrons; it hath a good # William, Earl of Pembroke, son to Henry Herbert, Earl aspect to that which is past, and to the future; of Pembroke, Lord President of the Council in the marches

of Wales, by Mary his wife, a lady in whom the muses and and doth both satisfy and prepare. All did well; graces seemed to nieet; whose very letters, in the judgment my lord chief justice delivered the law for the of one who saw many of them, declared her to be mistress benevolence strongly; I would he had done it of a pen not inferior to that of her brother, the admirable Sir

Philip Sidney, and to whom he addressed bis Arcadia. Xor timely. Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequert spake did this gentleman degenerate from their wit and spirit, as cerneth the Bishop of Lincoln; and that of the of fourteen several patents, part in Queen Eliza habeas corpus, which concerneth the Chancery. beth's time, some in your majesty's time, which

These causes, although I gave them private depend upon the like question; but chiefly beadditions, yet, they are merely, or at least chiefly, cause this writ is a mean provided by the ancient yours; and the die runneth upon your royal prero- law of England, to bring any case that may congative's diminution, or entire conservation. Of cern your majesty, in profit or power, from the these it is my duty to give your majesty a short ordinary benches, to be tried and judged before account.

your Chancellor of England, by the ordinary and For that of the rege inconsulto, I argued the legal part of his power : and your majesty same in the King's Bench on Thursday last. knoweth your chancellor is ever a principal counThere argued on the other part Mr. George Crook, sellor, and instrument of monarchy, of immediate the judge's brother, an able bookman, and one dependence upon the king: and, therefore, like that was manned forth with all the furniture that to be a safe and tender guardian of the roya the bar could give him, I will not say the bench, rights. and with the study of a long vacation. I was to For the case of the commendams, a matter answer, which hath a mixture of the sudden; and likewise of great consequence, though nothing of myself I will not, nor cannot say any thing, near the first, this day I was prepared to have but that my voice served me well for two hours argued it before all the judges; but, by reason and a half; and that those that understood nothing of the sickness of the sergeant which was procould tell me that I lost not one auditor that was vided to argue on the other side, although I present in the beginning, but stayed till the later pressed to have had some other day appointed end. If I should say more, there were too many this term; yet it pleased divers of the judges to witnesses, for I never saw the court more full, do me the honour, as to say it was not fit any that might disprove me.

should argue against me, upon so small time My Lord Coke was pleased to say, that it was of warning, it is adjourned to the first Saturday a famous argument; but withal, he asked me a next term. politic and tempting question: for, taking occa- For the matter of the habeas corpus, I perceive sion by a notable precedent I had cited, where, this common employment of my lord chancellor, upon the like writ brought, all the judges in and my lord chief justice, in these examinations, England assembled, and that privately, lest they is such a vinculum, as they will not square while should seem to dispute the king's commandment, these matters are in hand, so that there is altum and, upon conference, with one mind agreed, that silentium of that matter. God ever preserve the writ must be obeyed. Upon this hold, my your majesty. lord asked me, whether I would have all the rest Your majesty's most humble of the judges called to it. I was not caught; but

and bounden subject and servant, knowing well that the judges of the Common

Fr. Bacon. Pleas were most of all others interested in respect January 27, 1615. of the prothonotaries, I answered, civilly, that I could advise of it; but that I did not distrust the court; and, besides, I thought the case so clear, TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, ON SENDING HIS BILL as it needed not.

Sir, I do perceive, that I have not only stopped, Sir: I send you the bill for his majesty's sigbut almost turned the stream; and I see how nature, reformed according to his majesty's things cool by this, that the judges that were amendments, both in the two places, which, I wont to call so hotly upon the business, when assure you, were both altered with great judgthey had heard, of themselves, took a fortnight ment, and in the third place, which his majesty day to advise what they will do, by which time termed a question only. But he is an idle body the term will be near at an end; and I know they that thinks his majesty asks an idle question; little expected to have the matter so beaten down and therefore his majesty's questions are to be with book-law, upon which my argument wholly answered by taking away the cause of the queswent; so that every mean student was satisfied. tion, and not by replying. Yet, because the times are as they are, I could

For the name, his majesty's will is Jaw wish, in all humbleness, that your majesty would in those things; and to speak truth, it is a remember and renew your former commandment well sounding and noble name, both here and which you gave my lord chief justice in Michael abroad; and being your proper name, I will take mas term, which was, that after he had heard it for a good sign that you shall give honour to your attorney, which is now done, he should for- your dignity, and not your dignity to you. Therebear further proceeding till he had spoke with fore I have made it Viscount Villiers: and for your majesty,

your barony, I will keep it for an earldom; for, It concerneth your majesty threefold. First, in this particular of Murray; next, in consequence * Stephens's second Collection, p. 10.

FOR VISCOUNT.*

though tắe other had been more orderly, yet that faction of justice, and example to others: we is as usual, and both alike good in law.

being always graciously inclined to temper mercy For Roper's place, * I would have it by all with justice, and calling to mind his former good means despatched; and therefore I marvel it lin- services, and how well and profitably he hath gereth. It were no good manners to take the spent his time since his trouble, are pleased to business out of my lord treasurer's hands; and remove from him that blot of ignominy which therefore I purpose to write to his lordship, if I yet remaineth upon him, of incapacity and disahear not from him first by Mr. Deccomb. Bụt blement; and to remit to him all penalties if I hear of any delay, you will give me leave, whatsoever inflicted by that sentence. Hav. especially since the king named me, to dealing therefore formerly pardoned his fine, and with Sir Jol.. Roper myself; for neither I nor my released his confinement, these are to will and lord treasurer can deserve any great thanks of require you to prepare, for our signature, a bill you in this business, considering the king hath containing a pardon, in due form of law, of the spoken to Sir John Roper, and he hath pro- whole sentence; for which this shall be your mised; and, besides, the thing itself is so rea- sufficient warrant. sonable as it ought to be as soon done as said. I am now gotten into the country to my house, where I have some little liberty to think of that I would think of, and not of that which other MR. FRANCIS BACON TO TIIE EARL of essex.. men hourly break my head withal, as it was at

My Lord, I did almost conjecture, by your London. Upon this you may conclude, that most silence and countenance, a distaste in the course of my thoughts are of his majesty; and then I imparted to your lordship touching mine own you cannot be far off. God ever keep you, and fortune; the care whereof in your lordship as it is prosper you. I rest always

no news to me, so, nevertheless, the main effects Your true and most devoted servant,

and demonstrations past are so far from dulling Fr. Bacon.

in me the sense of any new, as, contrariwise, every Aug. 5, one of the happiest days, 1616.

new refresheth the memory of many past. And for the free and loving advice your lordship hath given me, I cannot correspond to the same with

greater duty, than by assuring your lordship, that BY KING JAMES.

I will not dispose of myself without your allowTo our TRUSTY AND WELL BELOVED THOMAS co- ance, not only because it is the best wisdom in VENTRY, OUR ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

any man in his own matters, to rest in the wis

dom of a friend, (for who can by often looking in Trusty and well beloved, we greet yon well: Whereas, our right trusty and right well be- favour as another with whom he converseth ?)

the glass discern and judge so well of his own loved cousin, the Viscount of St. Alban, upon a but also because my affection to your lordship sentence given in the Upper House of Parliament hath made mine own contentment inseparable full three years since, and more, hath endured

from loss of his place, imprisonment, and confinement know it will be pleasing to your good lordship

your satisfaction. But, notwithstanding, I also for a great tiine, which may suffice for the satis- that I use my liberty of replying; and I do

almost assure myself, that your lordship will rest * Sir John Roper, who had for many years enjoyed the place of the chief clerk for enrolling of pleas in the court of persuaded by the answer of those reasons which King's Bench, esteemed to be worth about four thousand your lordship vouchsafed to open. They were pounds per annum, being grown old, was prevailed with to two, the one, that I should include surrender it upon being created Lord Teynham, with a reservation of the profits thereof to himself during life. Upon April, 1593. which surrender, Sir George Villiers was to have the office

The rest of the letter is wanting. granted to two of his trustees for their lives, as Carr, Earl of Somerset, was to have had before. But the Lord Chief Jus. rice Coke not being very forward to accept of the surrender, or make a new grant of it upon those terms, he was, upon the 3d of October, 1616, commanded to desist from the service THE EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON. of this place, and at last removed from it upon the 15th of November following. His successor, Sir Henry Montagu,

MR. Bacon,-Your letter met me here yester. third son of Sir Edward Montagu, of Boughton in Northamp- day. When I came, I found the queen so way. innshire, recorder of London, and king's sergeant, being inore complaisant, Sir John Roper resigned, towards the lat ward, as I thought it no fit time to deal with her ler end of the same month; and Mr Shute, and Mr. Heath, in any sort, especially since her choler grew towho was afterwards the king's solicitor-general, being the wards myself, which I have well satisfied this seputies and trustees of Sir George Villiers, were admitted. day, and will take the first opportunity I can 10 Stephens's Introduct. p. 37. + Cabala, 270. Edw. 1663.

llis sentence forbid his coming within the verge of the Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. in. fol. court. [In conseq'ience of this letter, my Lord Bacon was 74, in the Lambeth Library. summoned to Parliament in the first year of King Charles.] # Ibid. fol. 197.

*

move your suit. And if you come hither, I pray And thus, desirous to oe recommended to my you let me know still where you are. And so, good aunt, to whom my wife heartily commends being full of business, I must end, wishing you her, I leave you to the protection of Almighty what you wish to yourself.

God.
Your assured friend,

Your loving cousin and friend,
Essex.

Robert Cecil. Sept. 1593.

From the Court at Windsor, this 27th of Sept., 1593.

I have heard in these causes, Facies hominis est LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY TO MR. Francis tanquam leonis.

BACON.* Nephew,- I have no leisure to write much ; nu fir answer I have attempted to place you :

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO TIIE QUEEN.* but her majesty hath required the lord keepers to Madam,—Remembering that your majesty had giye to her the names of divers lawyers to be pre- been gracious to me both in countenancing me, ferred, wherewith he made me acquainted, and I and conferring upon me the reversion of a good did name you as a meet man, whom his lordship place, and perceiving that your majesty had taken allowed in way of friendship, for your father's some displeasure towards me, both these were sake: but he made scruple to equal you with arguments to move me to offer unto your majesty certain, whom he named, as Brogravef and my service, to the end to have means to deserve Branthwayt, whom he specially commendeth. your favour, and to repair my error. Upon this But I will continue the remembrance of you to ground, I affected myself to no great matter, but her majesty, and implore my Lord of Essex's only a place of my profession, such as I do see help.

divers younger in proceeding to myself, and men Your loving uncle,

of no great note, do without blame aspire unto.

N. Burghley. But if any of my friends do press this matter, I Sept. 27, 1593.

do assure your majesty my spirit is not with them.

It sufficeth me that I have let your majesty SIR ROBERT CECIL TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.

know that I am ready to do that for the service, Cousin,-Assure yourself that the solicitor'sll which I never would do for mine own gain. And coming gave no cause of speech ; for it was con- if your majesty like others better, I shall, with cerning a book to be drawn, concerning the har- the Lacedemonian, be glad that there is such gain of wines. If there had been, you should choice of abler men than myself. Your majesty's bave known, or when there shall. To satisfy favour indeed, and access to your royal person, 1 your request of making my lord know, how did ever, encouraged by your own speeches, seek recommended your desires are to me, I have and desire; and I would be very glad to be rein. spoken with his lordship, who answereth he hath tegrate in that. But I will not wrong mine own done and will do his best. I think your absence good mind so much as to stand upon that now, longer than for my good aunt's comfort will do when your majesty may conceive I do it but to you no good: for, as I ever told you, it is not make my profit of it. But my mind turneth upon likely to find the queen apt to give an office, when other wheels than those of profit. The conclusion the scruple is not removed of her forbearance to shall be, that I wish your majesty served answerspeak with you. This being not yet perfected able to yourself. Principis est virtus maxima inay stop good, when the hour comes of conclu- nosse suos. Thus I most humbly crave pardon sion, though it be but a trifle, and questionless of my boldness and plainness. would be straight despatched, if it were luckily your majesty. handled. But herein do I, out of my desire to satisfy yoo, use this my opinion, leaving you to your own better knowledge what hath been done MR. FRANCIS BACON TO ROBERT KEMP, OF for you, or in what terms that matter standeth.

GRAY'S INN, ESQ.+ Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iii. fol. Good Robin,-There is no news you can write 197, in the Lambeth Library.

to me, which I take more pleasure to hear, than + Puckering.

John Brograve, attorney of the duchy of Lancaster, and of your health, and of your loving remembrance afterwards koighted. He is mentioned by Mr. Francis Bacon, of me; the former whereof though you mention in his letter to the lord treasurer of the 7th of June, 1595, not in your letter, yet I straight presumed well of Iron Gray's Inn, as having discharged his post of attorney of the duchy, with great sufficiency. There is extant, of his, it, because your mention was so fresh to make in print, a reading upon the statute of 27 Henry Vill., con- such a flourish. And it was afterwards accordcerning jointures.

God preserve

novo.

ingly confirmed by your man, Roger, who made ship’s honourable usage of Mr. Standen, I wish ine a particular relation of the former negotiation you all honour. between your ague and you.

Of the latter, Your lordship's, in most faithful duty, inough you profess largely, yet I make more

Fr. Bacon. doubt, because your coming is turned into a send- Nov. 10, 1593. ing; which when I thought would have been repaired by some promise or intention of yourself,

I pray, sir, let not my jargon privilege my letyour man Roger entered into a very subtle dis- ter from burning; because it is not such, but the tinction to this purpose, that you could not come light showeth through. except you heard I was attorney; but I ascribe that to your man's invention, who had his reward in laughing; for I hope you are not so stately, but that I shall be one to you stylo vetere or stylo

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON. For my fortune, (to speak court,) it is very Sir:--I have received your letter, and since I slow, if any thing can be slow to him that is have had opportunity to deal freely with the secure of the event. In short, nothing is done in queen. I have dealt confidently with her as a it; but I propose to remain here at Twickenham matter, wherein I did more labour to overcome till Michaelmas term, then to St. Albans, and her delays, than that I did fear her denial. I after the term to court. Advise

you,
whether you

told how much you were thrown down with the will play the honest man or no. In the mean correction she had already given you, that she time I think long to see you, and pray to be might in that point hold herself already satisfied. remembered to your father and mother.

And because I found, that Tanfields had been Yours, in loving affection,

most propounded to her, I did most disable him.

Fr. Bacon. I find the queen very reserved, staying herself From Twickenham Park, this 4th of Nov. 1593.

upon giving any kind of hope, yet not passionate against you, till I grew passionate for you. Then she said, that none thought you fit for the place

but my lord treasurer and myself. Marry, the MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX.*

others must some of them say before us for fear My Lord:-1 thought it not amiss to inform or for flattery. I told her, the most and wisest your lordship of that, which I gather partly by of her council had delivered their opinions, and conjecture, and partly by advertisement of the preferred you before all men for that place. And late recovered man, that is so much at your if it would please her majesty to think, that devotion, of whom I have some cause to think, whatsoever they said contrary to their own words that hef worketh for the Huddlerf underhand. when they spake without witness, might be as And though it may seem strange, considering factiously spoken, as the other way flatteringly, ho much it importeth him to join straight with she would not be deceived. Yet if they had been your lordship, in regard both of his enemies and never for you, but contrarily against you, I of his ends; yet I do the less rest secure upon thought my credit, joined with the approbarion the conceit, because he is a man likely to trust so and mediation of her greatest counsellors, might much to his art and finesse, (as he, that is an prevail in a greater matter than this; and urged excellent wherryman, who, you know, looketh her, that though she could not signify her mind towards the bridge, when he pulleth towards to others, I might have a secret promise, whereWestminster,) that he will hope to serve his turn, in I should receive great comfort, as in the conand yet to preserve your lordship’s good opinion. trary great unkindness. She said she was This I write to the end, that if your lordship do neither persuaded nor would hear of it till see nothing to the contrary, you may assure him Easter, when she might advise with her council, more, or trust him less; and chiefly, that your who were now all absent; and, therefore, in lordship be pleased to sound again, whether they passion bid me go to bed, if I would talk of have not, amongst them drawn out the nail, nothing else. Wherefore in passion I went which your lordship had driven in for the nega- away, saying, while I was with her, I could not tivo of the Huddler; which, if they have, it will but solicit for the cause and the man I so much be necessary for your lordship to iterate more for- affected; and therefore I would retire myself till cibly your former reasons, whereof there is such I might be more graciously heard; and so we crpia, as I think you may use all the places of parted. To-morrow I will go hence of purpose, lugic against his placing.

and on Thursday I will write an expostulating Thus, with my humble thanks for your lord- letter to her. That night or upon Friday morn

4

* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iii. fol. 3, in the Lambeth Library.

+ Probably Lord Keeper Puckering. t Mr. Edward Coke.

* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iv. fol. 90, in the Lainbeth Library.

+ Probably Laurence Tanfield, made lord chief baron & the exchequer in June, 1607.