no man should better content yourself: which Attorney of the Wards,* for the one's remove to your exceeding favour you have not since varied the rolls, and the other to be drawn to his place. from, both in pleading the like signification into Which, to be plain with your lordship, I do the hands of some of my best friends, and also in apprehend much. For, first, I know Mr. Attorneyan honourable and answerable nomination and General, whatsoever he pretendeth or protesteth commendation of me to her majesty. Wherein to your lordship, or any other, doth seek it; and I hope your lordship, if it please you to call to I perceive well by his dealing towards his best mind, did find me neither overweening in presum- friends, to whom he oweth most, how perfectly ing too much upon it, nor much deceived in my he hath conned the adage of proximus egomet opinion of the event for the continuing it still in mihi ; and then I see no man ripened for the place yourself, nor sleepy in doing some good offices to of the rolls in competition with Mr. Attorneythe same purpose.

General. And lastly, Mr. Attorney of the Wards Now upon this matter I am to make your lord- being noted for a pregnant and stirring man, the ship three humble requests, which had need be objection of any hurt her majesty's business may very reasonable, coming so many together. First, receive in her causes by the drawing up of Mr. that your lordship will hold and make good your Attorney-General will wax cold. And yet, neverwishes towards me in your own time, for no theless, if it may please your lordship to pardon other I mean it, and in thankfulness thereof, I me so to say, of the second of those placings I will present your lordship with the fairest flower think with some scorn; only I commend the of my estate, though it yet bear no fruit, and that knowledge hereof to your lordship's wisdom, as is the poor reversion, which of her majesty's gift a matter not to be neglected. I hold; in the which I shall be no less willing And now, lastly, my honourable good lord, for Mr. John Egerton, * if it seem good to you, should my third poor help, I account [it] will do me succeed me in that, than I would be willing to small good, except there be a heave; and that is succeed your lordship in the other place. this place of the Star Chamber. I do confess

My next humble request is, that your lordship ingenuously to your lordship, out of my love to would believe a protestation, which is, that if the public, besides my particular, that I am of there be now against the next term, or hereafter, opinion, that rules without examples will do little for a little bought knowledge of the court teacheth good, at least not to coutinue; but that there is me to foresee these things, any heaving or palting such a concordance between the time to come and at that place upon my honesty and troth, niy the time passed, as there will be no reforming the spirit is not in, nor with it; I for my part, being one without informing of the other. And I will resolutely resolved not to proceed one pace or not, as the proverb is, spit against the wind, but degree in this matter but with your lordship’s yield so far to a general opinion, as there was foreknowledge and approbation. The truth of never a more * * or particular example. But I which protestation will best appear, if by any submit it wholly to your honourable grave conaccident, which I look not for, I shall receive any sideration; only I humbly pray you to conceive further strength. For, as I now am, your lord- that it is not any money that I have borrowed of ship may impute it only to policy alone in me, Mr. Mills, nor any gratification I receive for my that being without present hope myself, I would aid, that makes me show myself any ways in it, be content the matter sleep.

but simply a desire to preserve the rights of the My third humble petition to your lordship is, office, as far as is meet and incorrupt; and that you would believe an intelligence, and not secondly his importunity, who, nevertheless, as take it for a fiction in court; of which manner I far as I see, taketh a course to bring this matter like Cicero's speech well, who, writing to Appius in question to his farther disadvantage, and to be Claudius, saith ; Sin autem quæ tibi ipsi in men- principal in his own harm. But if it be true that tem veniant, ea aliis tribuere soles, inducis genus I have heard of more than one or two, that besides ser in am tiam minime liberale. But I do this forerunning in taking of fees, there are other assure your lordship, it is both true and fresh, and deep corruptions, which in an ordinary course are from a person of that sort, as having some glimpse intended to be proved against him ; surely, for of it before, I now rest fully confirmed in it; and my part, I am not superstitious, as I will not take it is this, that there should be a plot laid of some any shadow of it, nor labour to stop it, since it strength between Mr. Attorney-General, and Mr. is a thing medicinable for the office of the realm.

And thep, if the place by such an occasion or second son of the lord kecper,whose eldest son, Sir Thomas, otherwise should come in possession, the better Knighited at Cadiz upon the taking it in 1596 by the Earl of to testify my affection to your lordship, I shall be Essex, died in Ireland, whither he attended that earl. in 1599 glad, as I offered it to your lordship by way of as Mr. John Egerton likewise did, and was knighted by his lordship, and at the coronation of King James, was made (surrender], so in this case to offer it by way of Anight of the bath. He succeeded his father in the titles of Baron of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, and, on the 17th * Probably Sir Thomas Heskett, who died 15th of October, of May, was created Earl of Bridgewater.

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joint-patency, in nature of a reversion, which, as between his lordship and me, he may have reit is now, there wanteth no good will in me to ceived both of your lordship’s high love and good offer, but that both, in that condition it is not opinion towards his lordship, verified in many worth the offering; and, besides, I know not and singular offices, whereof now the realm, whether my necessity may enforce me to sell it rather than himself, is like to reap the fruit; and away; which, if it were locked in by any rever- also of your singular affection towards me, as a sion or joint-patency, I were disabled to do for my man chosen by you to set forth the excellency of relief.

your nature and mind, though with some error of Thus your lordship may perceive how assured your judgment. Hereof if it may please your a persuasion I have of your love towards me, and lordship to take knowledge to my lord, according care of me; which hath made me so freely to to the style of your wonted kindness, your lordcommunicate of my poor state with your lordship, ship shall do me great contentmeni. My lord as I could have done to my honourable father, if told me he had written io your lordship, and he had lived: which I most humbly pray your wished with great affection he had been so lucky lordship may be private to yourself, to whom I as to have had two hours' talk with you upon commit it to be used to such purpose as, in your those occasions, which have since fallen out. So, wisdom and honourable love and favour, should wishing that God may conduct you by the hand seem good. And so, humbly craving your par- pace by pace, I commend you and your actions to don, I commend your lordship to the divine pre- his divine providence. servation.

Your lordship’s ever deepliest bounden, At your lordship’s honourable

Fr. Bacon. commandment humbly and particularly. May 10, 1596.

TIIE EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.* MR. FRANCIS BACON TO TIIE EARL OF ESSEX, Sir, I have thought the contemplation of the

ON HIS LORDSHIP'S GOING ON TIIE EXPEDITION art military harder than the execution. But now AGAINST CADIZ.

I see where the number is great, compounded of MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD,

sea and land forces, the most tyrones, and almost I have no other argument to write on to your all voluntaries, the officers equal almost in age, good lordship, but upon demonstration of any quality, and standing in the wars, it is hard for deepest and most bounden duty, in fulness where- any man to approve himself a good coni mander. of I mourn for your lordship's absence, though I So great is my zeal to omit nothing, and so short mitigate it as much as I can with the hope of my sufficiency to perform all, as, besides my your happy success, the greatest part whereof, be charge, myself doth afflict myself. For I cannot it never so great, will be the safety of your most follow the precedents of our dissolute armies, and honourable person; for the which in the first my helpers are a little amazed with me, when place, and then for the prosperity of your enter they are come froin governing a little troop to a prise, I frequently pray. And as in so great dis- great; and from

to all the great spirits comfort it hath pleased God someways to regard of our state. And sometimes I am as much my desolateness, by raising me so great and so troubled with them, as with all the troops. But worthy a friend in your absence, as the new though these be warrants for my seldom writing, placed lord keeper,f in whose placing as it hath yet they shall be no excuse for my fainting induspleased God to establish mightily one of the chief try. I have written to my lord keeper and some pillars of this estate, that is, the justice of the other friends to have care of you in my absence. land, which began to shake and sink, and for that And so, commending you to God's happy and purpose no doubt gave her majesty strength of heavenly protection, I rest heart of herself to do that in six days, which the

Your true friend, deepest judgment thought would be the work of

Essex. many months; so, for my particular, I do find in Plymouth, this 17th of May, 1596. an extraordinary manner, that his lordship doth succeed my father almost in his fatherly care of me, and love towards me, as much as he pro- MR. FRANCIS BACON TO HIS BROTHER ANTONY. 1 tesseth to follow him in his honourable and sound courses of justice and estate; of which so Good Brother,— Yesternight Sir John Forspecial favour, the open and apparent reason I tescuț told me he had not many hours before can ascribe to nothing more than the impression, imparted to the queen your advertisements, anil which, upon many conferences of long time used

* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. xi. ful Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. xi. fol. 69, 139, in the Lambeth Library. in the Lambeth Library. | Egerton.

Chancellor of the Exchequer. Vol. III.-27

s

9

+ Ibid. fol. 29.

the gazette likewise; which the queen caused to her majesty but increase of virtue, but rather to Mr. John Stanhope* to read all over unto her; your own misfortune or errors. Wherein, neverand her majesty conceiveth they be not vulgar. theless, if it were only question of your own enThe advertisements her majesty made estimation durances, though any strength never so good may of as concurring with other advertisements, and be oppressed, yet you think you should have sufalike concurring also with her opinion of the focated them, as you had often done, to the imaffairs. So he willed me to return you the queen's pairing of your health, and weighing down of thanks. Other particular of any speech from her your mind. But that which, indeed, toucheth the majesty of yourself he did not relate to me. For quick is, that whereas you accounted it the choice my Lord of Essex's and your letters, he said, he fruit of yourself to be a contentment and entertainwas ready and desirous to do his best. But I ment to her majesty's mind, you found many seemed to make it but a love-wish, and passed times to the contrary, that you were rather a dispresently from it, the rather, because it was late quiet to her, and a distaste. in the night, and I mean to deal with him at some Again, whereas, in the course of her service, better leisure after another manner, as you shall though you confess the weakness of your own judg. hereafter understand from me. I do find in the ment, yet true zeal, not misled with any mercespeech of some ladies and the very face of the nary nor glorious respect, made you light sometimes court some addition of reputation, as methinks to upon the best and soundest counsels ; you had us both; and I doubt not but God hath an opera- reason to fear, that the distaste particular against tion in it, that will not suffer good endeavours to yourself made her majesty farther off from acceptperish.

ing any of them from such a hand. So as you The queen saluted me to-day as she went to seemed, to your deep discomfort, to trouble her chapel. ' I had long speech with Sir Robert Cecil majesty's mind, and to foil her business; inconthis morning, who seemed apt to discourse with veniences, which, if you be minded as you ought, me; yet of yourself, ne verbum quidem, not so thankfulness should teach you to redeein, with much as a quomodo valet ?

stepping down, nay, throwing yourself down, This I write to you in haste, aliud ex alio, 1 from your own fortune. In which intricate case, pray set in a course of acquainting my lord keeper finding no end of this former course, and, there. what passeth, at first by me, and after from your fore, desirous to find the beginning of a new, you self. I am more and more bound to him. have not whither to resort, but unto the oracle of

Thus, wishing you good health, I recommend her majesty's direction. For though the true inyou to God's happy preservation.

troduction ad tempora meliora, be by an amnestia Your entire loving brother, of that which is past, except it be in the sense,

Fr. Bacon. that the verse speaketh, Olim hæc meminisse juvaFrom the court, this 30th of May, [1596.)

bit, when tempests past are remembered in the calm; and that you do not doubt of her majesty's goodness in pardoning and obliterating any of

your errors and mistakings heretofore ; refreshing THE SUBSTANCE OF A LETTER IF NOW wish the memory and contemplations of your poor

YOUR LORDSHIPI SHOULD WRITE TO HER MA- services, or any thing that hath been grateful to JESTY.

her majesty from you; yea, and somewhat of That you desire her majesty to believe id, quod your sufferings, so, though that be, yet you may res ipsa loquitur, that it is not conscience to your be to seek for the time to come. For as you have self of any advantage her majesty hath towards determined your hope in a good hour not willingly you, otherwise than the general and infinite ad- to offend her majesty, either in matter of court or vantage of a queen and a mistress; nor any drift state, but to depend absolutely upon her will and or device to win her majesty to any point or parti-pleasure, so you do more doubt and mistrust your cular, that moveth you to send her these lines of wit and insight in finding her majesty's mind, your own mind : but first, and principally, grati- than your conformities and submission in obeying tude; next a natural desire of, you will not say, it; the rather because you cannot but nourish a the tedious remembrance, for you can hold nothing doubt in your breast, that her majesty, as princes' ledious that hath been derived from her majesty, hearts are inscrutable, hath many times towards out the troubled and pensive remembrance of that you aliud in ore, et aliud in corde. So that you, which is past, of enjoying better times with her that take her secundum literam, go many times majesty, such as others have had, and that you farther out of your way. have wanted. You cannot impute the difference Therefore, your most humble suit to her mato the continuance of time, which addeth nothing jesty is, that she will vouchsafe you that ap

proach to her heart and bosom, et ad scrinium * Made treasurer of the chamber in July, 1596 ; and, in pectoris, plainly, for as much as concerneth your. May, 1605, created Lord Stanhope of Harrington, in North 'self, to open and expound her mind towards you, amptonshire. | Francis Bacon.

Robert, Earl of Essex. suffering you to see clear what may have bred

any dislike in her majesty; and in what points own dedication doth to learning itself. And, she would have you reform yourself; and how therefore, you have no need to doubt, but I will she would be served by you. Which done, you emulate, as much as in me is, towards you the do assure her majesty, she shall be both at the merits of him that is gone, by how much the more beginning and the ending of all that you do, of I take myself to have more propriety in the printhat regard, as you may presume to impart to her cipal motive thereof. And, for the equality you majesty.

write of, I shall, by the grace of God, as far as may And so that, hoping that this may be an occa- concern me, hold the balance as equally between sion of some farther serenity from her majesty the two universities, as I shall hold the balance towards you, you refer the rest to your actions, of other justice between party and party. And which may verify what you have written; as that yet in both cases I must meet with some inclinayou have written may interpret your actions, and tions of affection, which, nevertheless, shall not the course you shall hereafter take.

carry me aside.

And so I commend you to God's

goodness. Endorsed by Mr. Francis Bacon, A letter framed for my Lord of Essex to the queen.

Your most loving and assured friend,

Fr. Bacox. Gorhambury, April 12, 1617.

TO SIR JOHN DAVIS, HIS MAJESTY'S ATTORNEY.

GENERAL IN IRELAND. MR. ATTORNEY,–I thank you for your letter, LORD KEEPER BACON TO MR. MAXEY, FELLOW

OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.* and the discourse you sent of this new accident, as things then appeared. I see manifestly the After my hearty commendations, I having beginning of better or worse : but methinketh it heard of you, as a man well deserving, and of is first a tender of the better, and worse followeth able gifts to become profitable in the church, and but upon refusal or default. I would have been there being fallen within my gift the rectory of glad to see you here; but I hope occasion re- Frome St. Quintin, with the chapel of Evershot, serveth our meeting for a vacation, when we in Dorsetshire, which seems to be a thing of good may have more fruit of conference. To requite value, eighteen pounds in the king's books, and your proclamation, which, in my judgment, is in a good country, I have thought good to make wisely and seriously penned, I send you another offer of it to you; the rather for that you are of with us, which happened to be in my hands when Trinity College, whereof myself was some time: yours came. I would be glad to hear often from and my purpose is to make choice of men rather you, and to be advertised how things pass, where- by care and inquiry, than by their own suits and by to have some occasion to think some good commendatory letters. So I bid you farewell. thoughts ; though I can do little. At the least it

From your loving friend, will be a continuance in exercise of our friendship,

Fr. Bacon, C. S. which on my part remaineth increased by that I From Dorset House, April 23, 1617. hear of your service, and the good respects I find lowards myself. And so, in Tormour's haste, I continue Your very loving friend,

TO THE LORD KEEPER BACON.
Fr. Bacon.

My LORD,—If your man had been addressed From Gray's Inn, this 23d of October, 1607.

only to me, I should have been careful to have procured him a more speedy despatch : but now you have found another way of address, I am

excused ; and since you are grown weary of emTO THE REVEREND UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. +

ploying me, I can be no otherwise in being em. AMONGST the gratulations I have received, none ployed. In this business of my brother's, that are more welcome and agreeable to me than your you overtrouble yourself with, I understand from leiters, wherein, the less I acknowledge of those London, by some of my friends, that you have attributes you give me, the more I must acknow- carried yourself with much scorn and neglect both ledge of your affection, which bindeth me no less toward myself and friends; which, if it prove to you, that are professors of learning, than my true, I blame not you, but myself, who was ever

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TO HENRY CARY, LORD VISCOUNT FALKLAND.* your advantage; and if you can think of any thing My very good LORD,

to instruct my affection and industry, your lordYour lordship's letter was the best letter I re

ship may have the more quick and handsome proof ceived this good while, except the last kind letter of my sure and real intentions to serve you, being from my lord of Buckingham, which this confirm

indeed your lordship's affectionate servant, eth. It is the best accident, one of them, amongst

Ed. Conway.

Royston, March 27, 1623. men, when they hap to be obliged to those whom naturally and personally they love, as I ever did your lordship; in troth not many between my lord marquis and yourself; so that the sparks of the five following letters, wanting both date and my affection shall ever rest quick, under the ashes

circumstances to delermine such dates, are. placed of my fortune, to do you service: and wishing to

here together. your fortune and family all good. Your lordship’s most affectionate, and much obliged, &c.

TO THE LORD TREASURER. I pray your lordship to present my humble ser- IT MAY PLEASE. YOUR HONOURABLE LORDSHIP, vice and thanks to my lord marquis, to whom, I account myself much bound to your lordship when I have a little paused, I purpose to write ; for your favour shown to Mr. Higgins upon my as likewise to his majesty, for whose health and commendations about Pawlet's wardship; the efhappiness, as his true beadsman, I most frequently fect of which your lordship’s favour, though it pray.

hath been intercepted by my lord deputy's suit, Endorsed,

yet the signification remains : and I must in all March 11_Copy of my answer to Lord Falkland. reason consent and acknowledge, that your lord

ship had as just and good cause to satisfy my lord deputy's request, as I did think it unlikely, that

my lord would have been suitor for so mean a SECRETARY CONWAY TO THE LORD VISCOUNT matter. ST. ALBAN.

So this being to none other end but to give your Right HONOURABLE,

lordship humble thanks for your intended favour, I do so well remember the motives, why I pre- I commend your lordship to the preservation of the sented you so with my humble service, and par

divine majesty. ticular application of it to your particular use, as From Gray's Inn. I neither forget nor repent the offer. And I must confess a greater quickening could not have been added to my resolution to serve you, than the chal

TO SIR FRANCIS VERE. lenge you lay to my duty, to follow, in his ab- Sır:-I am to recommend to your favour one sence, the affection of your most noble and hearty Mr. John Ashe, as to serve under you, as agent friend the marquis.

of your company: whose desire how much I do I lost no time to deliver your letter, and to con- affect, you may perceive if it be but in this, that tribute the most advantageous arguments I could. myself being no further interested in you, by acIt seems your inotion had been more than enough, quaintance or deserving, yet have intruded myself if a former engagement to Sir William Becher into this commendation : which, if it shall take upon the marquis his score had not opposed it. place, I shall by so much the more find cause to

I will give you his majesty's answer, which iake it kindly, by how much I find less cause in was, That he could not value you so little, or con- myself to take upon me the part of a mover or ceive you would have humbled your desires and commender towards you, whom, nevertheless, I your worth so low. That it had been a great deal will not so far estrange myself from, but that in a of case to him to have had such a scantling of your general or mutual respect, incident to persons of

a mind, to which he could never have laid so une- our qualities and service, and not without particuqual a measure. His majesty adding further, that lar inducements of friendship, I might, without since your intentions moved that way, he would breaking decorum, offer to you a request of this study your accommodation. And it is not out of nature, the rather honouring you so much for your hope, but that he may give some other content- virtues, I would gladly take occasion to be bement to Sir William Becher in due time, to ac- holden to you; yet no more gladly than to have commodate your lordship, of whom, to your occasion to do you any good office. And so, this comfort, it is my duty to tell you, his majesty being to no other end, I commend you to God's declared a good opinion, and princely care and goodness. respect.

From my chainber at the I will not fail to use time and opportunity to

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