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MR. FRANCIS BACON TO MR. ROBERT CECIL.*

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MY VERY GOOD
LORD, THE LORD KEEPER.*

MY LORD:-I have, since I spake with your lordship, pleaded to the queen against herself for the injury she doth Mr. Bacon in delaying him so long, and the unkindness she doth me in granting no better expedition in a suit which I have followed so long, and so affectionately. And though I find that she makes some difficulty, to have the more thanks, yet I do assure myself she is resolved to make him. I do write this, not to solicit your lordship to stand firm in assisting me, because, I know, you hold yourself already tied by your affection to Mr. Bacon, and by your promise to me; but to acquaint your lordship of my

SIR-I am very glad that the good affection and friendship, which conversation and familiarity did knit between us, is not by absence and intermission of society discontinued; which assureth me it had a farther root than ordinary acquaintance. The signification whereof, as it is very welcome to me, so it maketh me wish, that if you have accomplished yourself as well in the points of virtue and experience, which you sought by your travel, as you have won the perfection of the Italian tongue, I might have the contentment to see you again in England, that we may renew the fruit of our mutual good will; which, I may truly affirm, is, on my part, much increased towards you, both by your own demon-resolution to set up my rest, and employ my stration of kind remembrance, and because I discern the like affection in your honourable and

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uttermost strength to get him placed before the term: so as I beseech your lordship think of no temporizing course, for I shall think the queen deals unkindly with me, if she do not both give him the place, and give it with favour and some extraordinary advantage. I wish your lordship all honour and happiness, and rest

Your lordship's very assured,

Greenwich, this 14th of January, [1594.]
Endorsed,

Essex.

My Lord of Essex for Mr. Fran. Bacon to be solicitor.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD
LORD, THE LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT
SEAL, &c.t

MY VERY GOOD Lord,

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD
LORD, THE LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL.†
MY VERY GOOD Lord,

Sir Thomas Egerton failing of your lordship, being newly gone, sent his letter to me to see conveyed unto you, which I send enclosed; desiring your lordship, according to your kind af

therance. And I pray your lordship to call to
remembrance my lord treasurer's kind course,
who affirmed directly all the rest to be unfit.
And because vis unita fortior, I pray your lord-
ship to take a time with the queen when my lord
treasurer is present. Thus, in hope to-morrow
will bring forth some good effect, I rest
Your lordship's, in all humble

I was wished to be here ready in expectation of some good effect; and therefore I commend my fortune to your lordship's kind and honourable furtherance. My affection inclineth me to be much [your] lordship's, and my course and way, infection, to make the best use thereof for my furall reason and policy for myself, leadeth me to the saine dependence: hereunto if there shall be joined your lordship's obligation in dealing strongly for me as you have begun, no man can be more yours. A timorous man is everybody's, and a covetous man is his own. But if your lordship consider my nature, my course, my friends, my opinion with her majesty, if this eclipse of her favour were past, I hope you will think, I am no unlikely piece of wood to shape you a true servant of. My present thankfulness shall be as much as I have said. I humbly take my leave. Your lordship's true humble servant. FR. BACON.

From Greenwich, this 5th of April, 1594.

* From the original draught in the library of Queen's College, Oxford, Arch. D. 2. This letter seems to be of a very early date, and to have been written to Mr. Robert Cecil, while he was upon his travels.

+ Harl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 20.

duty and service, FR. BACON.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, &c., THE LORD
KEEPER, &c.‡

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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 8th of April, 1594.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD
KEEPER, &c.*

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
at commandment,
FR. BACON.

From Gray's Inn, this 25th of August, 1594.

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TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD
KEEPER, &c.

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
to receive your commandments,
FR. BACON.

From Gray's Inn, this 13th

of August, 1594.

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TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD LORD, THE LORD KEEPER, &c.†

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 your 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
KEEPER, &c.‡

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 lo dship, 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

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it may be, when her majesty hath tried others, I do well like the course they take, which is, she will think of him that she hath cast aside. in every kind to set down, as in beer, in wine, in For, I will take it upon that which her majesty | beef, in muttons, in corn, &c., what cometh to the hath often said, that she doth reserve me, and not reject me. And so I leave your good lordship to God's good preservation.

Your lordship's much bounden
FR. BACON.

From Twickenham Park, this.

20th of May, 1595.

Endorsed,

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,
that he multiplying honours and favours upon me,
I should not also increase and redouble my endea-
vours and cares for his service. God ever bless,
preserve, and prosper his majesty and your lord-
ship, to whom I ever remain

Your true and most devoted servant,
FR. BACON, C. S.

Jan. 16, 1617.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD
KEEPER, &c.*

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

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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.

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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 lordship; partly to signify my excuse, if need thought good to write these few words to your

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. For 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.

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,
FR. BACON.

From Gray's Inn, the 11th of June, 1595

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD
KEEPER, &c.f

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

There hath nothing happened to me in the course of my business more contrary to my expectation, 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,
FR. BACON.

From Gray's Inn, the 28th of July, 1595.

Endorsed, in lord keeper's hand,
Mr. Bacon wronging me.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD
KEEPER, &c.)

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, favoureth others before me, do not lay the separatherefore, good my lord, when your lordship tion of your love and favour upon myself. For I 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, sorry to write to your lordship in an argument I commend your lordship to God's good pre

servation.

Your lordship's, in all humble respect,
FR. BACON.
From Twickenham Park, this 19th of August, 1595.

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

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remembereth by the verse.

Thus I commend

your honourable lordship to God's good preserva

tion.

Your lordship's most humble

at your honourable commandment, FR. BACON. From Gray's Inn, this 25th of September, 1595.

THE LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL OF
ENGLAND.†

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDship,

My not acquainting your lordship hath proceeded of my not knowing any thing, and of my

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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 shall 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.

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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,

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