Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

BURGHLEY.

MY SINGULAR good Lord,

I take least part, either of his abilities of mind, or of his worldly advancement; both which he held and received, the one of the gift of God immediately, the other of her majesty's gift; yet, in the loyal and earnest affection which he bare to her majesty's service, I trust my portion shall not be with the least: nor in proportion with the youngest birth.

contemplative planet carrieth me away wholly | SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE LORD TREASURER but as a man born under an excellent sovereign, that deserveth the dedication of all men's abilities. Besides, I do not find in myself so much self-love, Your lordship's comfortable relation of her but that the greater parts of my thoughts are to deserve well, if I were able, of my friends, and majesty's gracious opinion and meaning towards namely of your lordship; who being the Atlas of | me, though at that time your leisure gave me not this commonwealth, the honour of my house, and leave to show how I was affected therewith; yet the second founder of my poor estate, I am tied upon every representation thereof it entereth and by all duties, both of a good patriot, and of an striketh more deeply into me, as both my nature unworthy kinsman, and of an obliged servant, and duty presseth me to return some speech of to employ whatsoever I am, to do you service. thankfulness. It must be an exceeding comfort Again, the meanness of my estate doth somewhat and encouragement to me, setting forth and putmove me: for though I cannot accuse myself, that ting myself in way towards her majesty's service, I am either prodigal or slothful, yet, my health is to encounter with an example so private and donot to spend, nor my course to get. Lastly, I mestical, of her majesty's gracious goodness and confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, benignity; being made good and verified in my as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken father, so far forth, as it extendeth to his posterity. Accepting them as commended by his service, all knowledge to be my providence;* and if I could purge it of two sorts of rovers, whereof during the nonage, as I may term it, of their own the one with frivolous disputations, confutations, | deserts, I, for my part, am very well content, that and verbosities: the other with blind experiments and auricular traditions and impostures, hath committed so many spoils; I hope I should bring in industrious observations, grounded conclusions, and profitable inventions and discoveries; the best state of that providence.* This, whether it be curiosity, or vainglory, or nature, or, if one take it favourably, philanthropia, is so fixed in my mind, as it cannot be removed. And I do easily see, that place of any reasonable countenance doth bring commandment of more wits than of a man's own, which is the thing I greatly affect. And for your lordship, perhaps, you shall not find more strength and less encounter in any other. And if your lordship shall find now or at any time, that I do seek or affect any place, whereunto any that is nearer unto your lordship shall be concurrent, say then that I am a most dishonest man. And if your lordship will not carry me on, I will not do as Anaxagoras did, who reduced himself with contemplation unto voluntary poverty: but this I will do, I will sell the inheritance that I have, and purchase some lease of quick revenue, or some office of gain, that shall be executed by deputy, and so give over all care of service, and become some sorry bookmaker, or a true pioneer in that mine of truth, which, he said, lay so deep. This which I have writ unto your lordship, is rather thoughts than words, being set down without all art, disguising, or reservation: wherein I have done honour both to your lordship's wisdom, in judging that that will be best believed of your lordship which is truest; and to your lordship's good nature, in retaining nothing from you. And even so, I wish your lordship all happiness, and to myself means and occasion to be added to my faithful desire to do you service. From my lodging at Gray's Inn.

* Province.

For methinks his precedent should be a silent charge upon his blessing unto us all, in our degrees, to follow him afar off, and to dedicate unto her majesty's service both the use and spending of our lives. True it is, that I must needs acknowledge myself prepared and furnished thereunto with nothing but with a multitude of lacks and imperfections; but calling to mind how diversely, and in what particular providence God hath declared himself to tender the state of her majesty's affairs, I conceive and gather hope, that those whom he hath in a manner pressed for her majesty's service, by working and imprinting in them a single and zealous mind to bestow their duties therein; he will see them accordingly appointed of sufficiency convenient for the rank and standing where they shall be employed: so as, under this her majesty's blessing, I trust to receive a larger allowance of God's graces. And as I may hope for this, so I can assure and promise for my endeavour, that it shall not be in fault; but what diligence can entitle me unto, that I doubt not to recover.

And now seeing it hath pleased her majesty to take knowledge of this my mind, and to vouchsafe to appropriate me unto her service, preventing any desert of mine with her princely liberality; first, I humbly do beseech your lordship, to present to her majesty my more than humble thanks for the same: and withal, having regard to mine own unworthiness to receive such favour, and to the small possibility in me to satisfy and answer what her majesty conceiveth, I am moved to become a most humble

and inscrutable centre of the court, which is her majesty's mind, do not only toll the bell, but even ring out peals, as if your fortune were dead and buried, and as if there were no possibility of recovering her majesty's favour; and as if the best of your condition were to live a private and retired life, out of want, out of peril, and out of manifest disgrace. And so, in this persuasion to your lord

tions and mind to that end; I fear, I say, that this untimely despair may in time bring forth a just despair, by causing your lordship to slacken and break off your wise, loyal, and seasonable endeavour and industry for redintegration to her majesty's favour, in comparison whereof, all other circumstances are but as atomi, or rather as a vacuum, without any substance at all.

suitor to her majesty, that this benefit also may be affixed unto the other; which is, that if there appear in me no such towardness of service, as it may be her majesty doth benignly value and assess me at, by reason of my sundry wants, and the disadvantage of my nature, being unapt to lay forth the simple store of those inferior gifts which God hath allotted unto me, most to view: yet that it would please her excellent majesty, not to ac-ship-wards, to frame and accommodate your account my thankfulness the less, for that my disability is great to show it; but to sustain me in her majesty's gracious opinion, whereupon I only rest, and not upon any expectation of desert to proceed from myself towards the contentment thereof. But if it shall please God to send forth an occasion whereby my faithful affection may be tried, I trust it shall save me labour for ever making more protestation of it hereafter. In the mean time, howsoever it be not made known to her majesty, yet God knoweth it, through the daily solicitations wherewith I address myself unto him, in unfeigned prayer, for the multiplying of her majesty's prosperities. To your lordship, also, whose recommendation, I know right well, hath been material to advance her majesty's good opinion of me, I can be but a bounden servant. So much may I safely promise, and purpose to be, seeing public and private bonds vary not, but that my service to her majesty and your lordship draw in line. I wish, therefore, to show it with as good proof, as I can say it in good faith, etc.

Your lordship's, etc.

TWO LETTERS FRAMED, ONE AS FROM MR. AN-
THONY BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX, THE
OTHER, AS THE EARL'S ANSWER.

MY SINGULAR GOOD LOBD,

Against this opinion, it may please your lordship to consider of these reasons, which I have collected; and to make judgment of them, neither out of the melancholy of your present fortune nor out of the infusion of that which cometh to you by others' relation, which is subject to much tincture, but "ex rebus ab ipsis," out of the nature of the persons and actions themselves, as the truest and less deceiving ground of opinion. For, though I am so unfortunate as to be a stranger to her majesty's eye, much more to her nature and manners, yet by that which is extant I do manifestly discern, that she hath that character of the divine nature and goodness, as "quos amavit, amavit usque ad finem ;" and where she hath a creature, she doth not deface nor defeat it: insomuch as, if I observe rightly, in those persons whom heretofore she hath honoured with her special favour, she hath covered and remitted, not only defections and ingratitudes in affection, but errors in state and service.

2. If I can, scholar-like, spell and put together This standing at a stay doth make me, in my the parts of her majesty's proceedings now tolove towards your lordship, jealous, lest you do wards your lordship, I cannot but make this consomewhat, or omit somewhat, that amounteth to a struction: that her majesty, in her royal intention, new error; for I suppose, that of all former mat- never purposed to call your doings into public ters there is a full expiation; wherein, for any question, but only to have used a cloud without thing which your lordship doth, I, for my part, a shower, and censuring them by some restraint (who am remote,) cannot cast or devise wherein of liberty, and debarring from her presence. For my error should be, except in one point, which I both the handling the cause in the Star Chamber dare not censure nor dissuade; which is, that as was enforced by the violence of libelling and ruthe prophet saith, in this affliction you look up mours, wherein the queen thought to have satisfied "ad manum percutientem," and so make your the world, and yet spared your appearance. And peace with God. And yet I have heard it noted, then after, when that means, which was intended that my Lord of Leicester, who could never get for the quenching of malicious bruits, turned to to be taken for a saint, yet in the queen's disfa- kindle them, because it was said your lordship vour waxed seeming religious. Which may be was condemned unheard, and your lordship's sisthought by some, and used by others, as a case ter wrote that private letter, then her majesty saw resembling yours, if men do not see, or will not plainly, that these winds of rumours could not he see, the difference between your two dispositions. commanded down, without a handling of the But, to be plain with your lordship, my fear rather cause, by making you party, and admitting your is, because I hear how some of your good and defence. And to this purpose, I do assure your wise friends, not unpractised in the court, and sup- | lordship, that my brother, Francis Bacon, who is posing themselves not to be unseen in that deep too wise to be abused, though he be both reserved

in all particulars more than is needful, yet in generality he hath ever constantly, and with asseveration, affirmed to me, that both those days, that of the Star Chamber, and that at my lord keeper's, were won of the queen, merely upon necessity and point of honour, against her own inclination.

3. In the last proceeding, I note three points, which are directly significant, that her majesty did expressly forbear any point which was irrecuperable, or might make your lordship in any degree incapable of the return of her favour, or might fix any character indelible of disgrace upon you for she spared the public places, which spared ignominy; she limited the charge precisely, not to touch disloyalty, and no record remaineth to memory, of the charge or sentence.

[ocr errors]

trust (next to God) in her majesty's grace, and not be wanting to yourself. I know your lordship may justly interpret, that this which I persuade may have some reference to my particular, because I may truly say, "tu stante non virebo,' for I am withered in myself; but manebo, or tenebo, I should in some sort be or hold out. But though your lordship's years and health may expect return of grace and fortune, yet your eclipse for a time is an "ultimum vale" to my fortune: And were it not that I desired and hope to see my brother established by her majesty's favour, as I think him well worthy for that he hath done and suffered, it were time I did take that course from which I dissuade your lordship. Now, in the mean time, I cannot choose but perform those honest duties unto you, to whom I have been so deeply bound, etc.

4. The very distinction which was made in the sentence of sequestration, from the places of service in state, and leaving to your lordship the place of master of the horse, doth, in my understanding, point at this, that her majesty meant to THE EARL OF ESSEX'S ANSWER TO MR. ANTHONY use your lordship's attendance in court, while the exercises of other places stood suspended.

5. I have heard, and your lordship knoweth better, that now since you were in your own custody, her majesty, "in verbo regio," and by his mouth to whom she committeth her royal grants and decrees, hath assured your lordship, she will forbid and not suffer your ruin.

6. As I have heard her majesty to be a prince of that magnanimity, that she will spare the service of the ablest subject or peer, where she shall be thought not to stand in need of it; so she is of that policy, as she will not blaze the service of a meaner than your lordship, where it shall depend merely upon her choice and will.

7. I held it for a principle, that those diseases are hardest to cure, whereof the cause is obscure; and those easiest, whereof the cause is manifest. Whereupon I conclude, that since it hath been your errors in your lowness towards her majesty which have prejudiced you, that your reforming and conformity will restore you, so as you may be "faber fortunæ propriæ."

Lastly, considering your lordship is removed from dealing in causes of state, and left only to a place of attendance, methinks the ambition of any which can endure no partners in state-matters may be so quenched, as they should not laboriously oppose themselves to your being in court. So as, upon the whole matter, I cannot find, neither in her majesty's person, nor in your own person, nor in any third person, neither in former precedents, nor in your own case, any cause of peremptory despair. Neither do I speak this, but that if her majesty out of her resolution should design you to a private life, you should be as willing, upon the appointment, to go into the wilderness, as into the land of promise; only I wish that your lordship will not despair, but put

Mr. BACON,

BACON'S LETTER.

I thank you for your kind and careful letter, it persuadeth that which I wish for strongly, and hope for weakly, that is, possibility of restitution to her majesty's favour; your arguments that would cherish hope, turn into despair: you say the queen never meant to call me to public censure, which showeth her goodness; but you see I passed it, which showeth others' power. I believe most steadfastly, her majesty never intended to bring my cause to a public censure: and I believe as verily, that since the sentence she meant to restore me to tend upon her person: but those which could use occasions, (which it was not in me to let,) and amplify and practise occasions to represent to her majesty a necessity to bring me to the one, can and will do the like to stop me from the other. You say, my errors were my prejudice, and therefore I can mend myself. It is true; but they that know that I can mend myself, and that if I ever recover the queen, that I will never loose her again, will never suffer me to obtain interest in her favour and you say, the queen never forsook utterly where she hath inwardly favoured; but know not whether the hourglass of time hath altered her; but sure I am, the false glass of others' informations must alter her, when I want access to plead mine own cause. I know I ought doubly, infinitely to be her majesty's, both "jure creationis," for I am her creature: and "jure redemptionis," for I know she hath saved me from overthrow. But for her first love, and for her last protection, and all her great benefits, I can but pray for her majesty; and my endeavour is now to make my prayers for her and myself better heard. For, thanks be to God, that they which can make her majesty believe I counterfeit with her, cannot make God believe that I

counterfeit with him; and they that can let me | because, of all the accidents of state at this time, from coming near to her, cannot let me from the labour resteth upon that most; and because drawing nearer to him, as I hope I do daily. For the world will make a kind of comparison beyour brother, I hold him an honest gentleman, tween those that set it out of frame, and those that and wish him all good, much rather for your sake; shall bring it into frame: which kind of honour yourself, I know, hath suffered more for me, and giveth the quickest kind of reflection. The transwith me, than any friend that I have: but I can ferring this honour upon yourself consisteth in two but lament freely, as you see I do, and advise you points: the one, if the principal persons employed not to do that I do, which is, to despair. You come in by you, and depend upon you; the other know letters what hurt they have done me, and if your lordship declare yourself to undertake a therefore make sure of this; and yet I could not, care of that matter. For the persons, it falleth as having no other pledge of my love, but com- out well that your lordship hath had no interest in municate openly with you for the ease of my the persons of imputation: For neither Sir Wilheart and yours. liam Fitz-Williams, nor Sir John Norris was yours: Sir William Russel was conceived yours, but was curbed: Sir Coniers Clifford, as I conceive it, dependeth upon you, who is said to do well; and if my Lord of Ormond in this interim

Your loving friend,

R. ESSEX.

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY, do accommodate well, I take it he hath always

CONCERNING THE SOLICITOR'S PLACE.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

I am not privy to myself of any such ill deserving towards your lordship, as that I should think it an imprudent thing to be a suitor for your favour in a reasonable matter, your lordship being to me as (with your good favour) you cannot cease to be: but rather it were a simple and arrogant part in me to forbear it.

my

It is thought Mr. Attorney shall be chief justice of the Common-place; in case Mr. Solicitor rise, I would be glad now at last to be solicitor: chiefly because I think it will increase my practice, wherein God blessing me a few years, I may mend state, and so after fall to my studies and ease; whereof one is requisite for my body, and the other serveth for my mind; wherein if I shall find your lordship's favour, I shall be more happy than I have been, which may make me also more wise. I have small store of means about the king, and to sue myself is not fit; and therefore I shall leave it to God, his majesty, and your lordship: for I must still be next the door. I thank God, in these transitory things I am well resolved. So, beseeching your lordship not to think this letter the less humble, because it is plain, I rest, etc.

FR. BACON.

had good understanding with your lordship. So
as all things are not only whole and entire, but of
favourable aspect towards your lordship, if you
now choose well: wherein, in your wisdom, you
will remember there is a great difference in choice
of the persons, as you shall think the affairs to in-
For your care-
cline to composition, or to war.
taking, popular conceit hath been, that Irish
causes have been much neglected, whereby the
very reputation of better care will be a strength :
and I am sure, her majesty and my lords of the
council do not think their care dissolved, when
they have chosen whom to employ; but that they
will proceed in a spirit of state, and not leave the
main point to discretion. Then, if a resolution be
taken; a consultation must proceed; and the
consultation must be governed upon information to
be had from such as know the place, and matters
in fact; and in taking of information I have always
noted there is a skill and a wisdom. For I can-
not tell what account or inquiry hath been taken
of Sir William Russel, of Sir Ralph Bingham, of
the Earl of Thomond, of Mr. Wilbraham: but I
am of opinion, much more would be had of them,
if your lordship shall be pleased severally to con-
fer, not obiter, but expressly, upon some caveat
given them to think of it before, for, "bene docet
qui prudenter interrogat." For the points of op-
posing them, I am too much a stranger to the busi-
ness to deduce them: but in a topic methinks the

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX, pertinent interrogations must be either of the

WHEN SIR ROBERT CECIL WAS IN FRANCE.

MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD,

I do write, because I have not yet had time fully to express my conceit, nor now, to attend you touching Irish matters, considering them as they may concern the state; that it is one of the aptest particulars that hath come, or can come upon the stage, for your lordship to purchase honour upon, I am moved to think for three reasons; because it is ingenerate in your house in respect of my lord your father's noble attempts;

possibility and means of accord, or of the nature of the war, or of the reformation of the particular abuses, or of the joining of practice with force in the disunion of the rebels. If your lordship doubt to put your sickle in other men's harvests, yet consider you have these advantages. First, time being fit to you in Mr. Secretary's absence: next, "vis unita fortior:" thirdly, the business being mixed with matters of war, it is fittest for you: lastly, I know your lordship will carry it with that modesty and respect towards aged dignity, and

that good correspondence towards my dear ally, weaken by division and disunion of the heads; and your good friend, now abroad, as no incon- the other, by recovering and winning the people venience may grow that way. Thus have I play-by justice, which of all other causes is the best. ed the ignorant statesman, which I do to nobody but your lordship, except I do it to the queen sometimes, when she trains me on. But your lordship will accept my duty and good meaning, and secure me touching the privateness of that I write.

[blocks in formation]

SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX,
CONCERNING THE EARL OF TYRONE.

THOSE advertisements which your lordship imparted to me, and the like, I hold to be no more certain to make judgment upon than a patient's water to a physician: therefore for me upon one water to make a judgment, were indeed like a foolish bold mountebank, or Dr. Birket, yet, for willing duty's sake, I will set down to your lordship what opinion sprung in my mind upon that I read. The letter from the council there, leaning to distrust, I do not much rely upon, for three causes. First, because it is always both the grace and the safety from blame of such a council to err in caution: whereunto add, that it may be they, or some of them, are not without envy towards the person who is used in treating the accord. Next, because the time of this treaty hath no show of dissimulation, for that Tyrone is now in no streights, but like a gamester that will give over because he is a winner, not because he hath no more money in his purse.

Now for the Athenian question, you discourse
well, "Quid igitur agendum est ?" I will shoot
my fool's bolt, since you will have it so. The
Earl of Ormond to be encouraged and comforted
above all things, the garrisons to be instantly pro-
vided for; for opportunity makes a thief: and if
he should mean never so well now, yet such an
advantage as the breaking of her majesty's garri-
And because he
sons, might tempt a true man.
may as well waver upon his own inconstancy, as
upon occasion, and want of variableness is never
restrained but with fear, I hold it necessary to be
menaced with a strong war; not by words, but by
musters and preparations of forces here, in case
the accord proceed not; but none to be sent over,
lest it disturb the treaty, and make him look to be
overrun as soon as he hath laid down arms. And,
but that your lordship is too easy to pass, in such
cases, from dissimulation to verity, I think, if
your lordship lent your reputation in this case, it
is to pretend, that if not a defensive war, as in
times past, but a full reconquest of those parts of
the country be resolved on, you would accept the
charge, I think it would help to settle him, and
win you a great deal of honour gratis. And that
which most properly concerneth this action, if it
prove a peace, I think her majesty shall do well
to cure the root of the disease, and to profess by a
commission of peaceable men chiefly of respect
and countenance, the reformation of abuses, extor-
tions and injustices there, and to plant a stronger
and surer government than heretofore, for the ease
and protection of the subject; for the removing of
the sword, or government in arms, from the Earl
of Ormond, or the sending of a deputy, which
will eclipse it, if peace follow, I think unseasona-
ble. Lastly, I hold still my opinion, both for
your better information, and your fuller declara-
tion of your care, and evermore meriting service,
that your lordship have a set conference with the
persons I named in my former writing. I rest,
At your lordship's service,
FR. BACON.

Lastly, I do not see but those articles whereon they ground their suspicion, may as well proceed out of fear as out of falsehood, for the retaining of the dependence of the protracting the admission of a sheriff, the refusing to give his son for hostage, the holding from present repair to Dublin, the refusing to go presently to accord, without including O'Donnell, and others his associates, may very well come of a guilty reservation, in case he should receive hard measure, and not out of treachery; so as if the great person be faithful, and that you have not here some present intelligence of present succours from Spain, for the expectation whereof Tyrone would win time, I see ANOTHER TO THE EARL BEFORE HIS GOING TO no deep cause of distrusting the cause if it be good. And for the question, her majesty seemeth | MY SINGUlar good Lord, to me a winner three ways: first, her purse shall have rest: next, it will divert the foreign designs unon that place: thirdly, though her majesty is like for a time to govern precario in the north, and be not in true command in better state there than before, yet, besides the two respects of ease of charge, and advantage of opinion abroad, before mentioned, she shall have a time to use her princely policy in two points: in the one, to

IRELAND.

Your note of my silence in your occasions hath made me set down these few wandering lines, as one that would say somewhat, and can say nothing touching your lordship's intended charge for Ireland; which my endeavour I know your lordship will accept graciously and well, whether your lordship take it by the handle of the occasion ministered from yourself, or of the affection from which it proceedeth. Your lordship is designed

« AnteriorContinuar »