CONCERNING THE SOLICITOR'S PLACE.
SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE LORD TREASURER, (his place with great sufficiency. But those anıl
the like things are as her majesty shall be made AFTER the remembrance of my humble duty, capable of them; wherein, knowing what authorthough I know, by late experience, how mindful ity your lordship’s commendations have with her your lordship vouchsafeth to be of me and my majesty, I conclude with myself, that the subpoor fortune, and since it pleased your lordship, stance of strength which I may receivė, will be during my indisposition, and when her majesty from your lordship. It is true, my life hath been came to visit your lordship, to make mention of so private, as I have had no means to do your lordme for my employment and preferment; yet being ship service; but yet, as your lordship knoweth, now in the country, I do presume that your lord- I have made offer of such as I could yield; for, ship, who of yourself had an honourable care of as God hath given me a mind to love the public, the matter, will not think it a trouble to be solicited so, incidently, I have ever had your lordship in therein. My hope is this, that whereas your lord- singular admiration; whose happy ability her ship told me her majesty was somewhat gravelled majesty hath so long used, to her great honour upon the offence she took at my speech in parlia- and yours. Besides, that amendment of state or ment; your lordship's favourable endeavour, who countenance, which I have received, hath been hath assured me that for your own part you con- from your lordship. And, therefore, if your lordstrue that I spake to the best, will be as a good ship shall stand a good friend to your poor ally, tide to remove her from that shelve. And it is you shall but 6 tueri opus” which you have benot unknown to your good lordship, that I was gun. And your lordship shall bestow your benefit the first of the ordinary sort of the Lower House upon one that hath more sense of obligation than that spake for the subsidy: and that which I after of self-love. Thus humbly desiring pardon of so spake in difference, was but in circumstance of long a letter, I wish your lordship all happiness. time, which methinks was no great matter, since Your lordship’s in all humbleness to be comthere is variety allowed in counsel, as a discord manded. in music, to make it more perfect.
FR. Bacon. But I may justly doubt, her majesty's impres- June 6, 1595. sion upon this particular, as her conceit otherwise of my insufficiency and unworthiness, which, SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE LORD TREASURER though I acknowledge to be great, yet it will be the less, because I purpose not to divide myself My Lord, 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 I nor under Jupiter, that loveth business, for the Vol. III.-I
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