LORD BACON'S WORKS. LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE LORD TREASURER, | his place with great sufficiency. But those and CONCERNING THE SOLICITOR'S PLACE. the like things are as her majesty shall be made AFTER the remembrance of my humble duty, though I know, by late experience, how mindful your lordship vouchsafeth to be of me and my poor fortune, and since it pleased your lordship, during my indisposition, and when her majesty came to visit your lordship, to make mention of me for my employment and preferment; yet being now in the country, I do presume that your lordship, who of yourself had an honourable care of the matter, will not think it a trouble to be solicited therein. My hope is this, that whereas your lordship told me her majesty was somewhat gravelled upon the offence she took at my speech in parliament; your lordship's favourable endeavour, who hath assured me that for your own part you construe that I spake to the best, will be as a good tide to remove her from that shelve. And it is not unknown to your good lordship, that I was the first of the ordinary sort of the Lower House that spake for the subsidy: and that which I after spake in difference, was but in circumstance of time, which methinks was no great matter, since there is variety allowed in counsel, as a discord | manded. in music, to make it more perfect. capable of them; wherein, knowing what authority your lordship's commendations have with her majesty, I conclude with myself, that the substance of strength which I may receivé, will be from your lordship. It is true, my life hath been so private, as I have had no means to do your lordship service; but yet, as your lordship knoweth, I have made offer of such as I could yield; for, as God hath given me a mind to love the public, so, incidently, I have ever had your lordship in singular admiration; whose happy ability her majesty hath so long used, to her great honour and yours. Besides, that amendment of state or countenance, which I have received, hath been from your lordship. And, therefore, if your lordship shall stand a good friend to your poor ally, you shall but "tueri opus" which you have begun. And your lordship shall bestow your benefit upon one that hath more sense of obligation than of self-love. Thus humbly desiring pardon of so long a letter, I wish your lordship all happiness. Your lordship's in all humbleness to be com June 6, 1595. FR. BACON. SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY. But I may justly doubt, her majesty's impression upon this particular, as her conceit otherwise of my insufficiency and unworthiness, which, though I acknowledge to be great, yet it will be the less, because I purpose not to divide myself between her majesty and the causes of other men, With as much confidence as mine own honest as others have done, but to attend her business and faithful devotion unto your service, and your only: hoping that a whole man meanly able, may honourable correspondence unto me and my poor do as well as half a man better able. And if her estate can breed in a man, do I commend myself majesty thinketh that she shall make an adven- unto your lordship. I wax now somewhat ancient ; ture in using one that is rather a man of study one-and-thirty years is a great deal of sand in the than of practice and experience, surely I may re- hour-glass. My health, I thank God, I find con. member to have heard that my father, an example, firmed; and I do not fear that action shall impair I confess, rather ready than like, was made solici- it: because I account my ordinary course of study tor of the augmentation, a court of much business, and meditation to be more painful than most parts when he had never practised, and was but twenty- of action are. I ever bear a mind, in some middle seven years old; and Mr. Brograve was now in place that I could discharge, to serve her majesty ; my time called attorney of the duchy, when he had not as a man born under Sol, that loveth honour; practised little or nothing, and yet hath discharged | nor under Jupiter, that loveth business, for the VOL. III.-1 A 1 |