that, I should talk of those things when I came to her, not when she came to me; the term was coming, and she would advise. I would have replied, but she stopped my mouth. To-morrow or the next day I will go to her, and then this excuse will be taken away. When I know more, you shall hear more; and so I end full of pain in my head, which makes me write thus confusedly.

Your most affectionate friend.

THE SAME TO THE SAME.*

Among

the papers
of Antony
Bacon, Esq.
vol. IV.
fol. 123, in

SIR,

beth library.

I WENT yesterday to the queen through the galleries the Lam in the morning, afternoon, and at night. I had long speech with her of you, wherein I urged both the point of your extraordinary sufficiency proved to me not only by your last argument, but by the opinion of all men I spake withal, and the point of mine own satisfaction, which, I protested, should be exceeding great, if, for all her unkindness and discomforts past, she should do this one thing for my sake. To the first she answered, that the greatness of your friends, as of my lord treasurer and myself, did make men give a more favourable testimony than else they would do, thinking thereby they pleased us. And that she did acknowledge you had a great wit, and an excellent gift of speech, and much other good learning. But in law she rather thought you could make show to the uttermost of your knowledge, than that you were deep. To the second she said, she shewed her mislike to the suit, as well as I had done my affection in it; and that if there were a yielding, it was fitter to be of my side. I then added, that this was an answer, with which she might deny me all things, if she did not grant them at the first, which was not her manner to do. But her majesty had made me suffer and give way in many things else; which all I should bear, not only with patience, but with great contentment, if she would but grant my humble suit in this one.

And for the pretence of the approbation given you upon partiality, that all the world, lawyers, judges, and all, could not be partial to you; for somewhat you were crossed for their own interest, and some for their friends; but yet all did yield to your merit. She did in this as she useth in all, went from a denial to a delay, and said, when the council were all here, she would think of it; and there was no haste in determining of the place. To which I answered, that my sad heart had need of hasty comfort; and there. fore her majesty must pardon me, if I were hasty and importunate in it. When they come we shall see what will be done; and I wish you all happiness, and rest

Your most affectionate friend,

Indorsed, 18th of May, 1594.

ESSEX.

FOULKE GREVILL, ESQ. TO MR. FRANCIS
BACON.*

Among

the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq.

lio 132, in

beth libra

ry.

Mr. Francis Bacon, SATURDAY was my first coming to the court, from vol. IV. fowhence I departed again as soon as I had kissed the Lamher majesty's hands, because I had no lodging nearer than my uncle's, which is four miles off. This day I came thither to dinner, and waiting for to speak with the queen, took occasion to tell how I met you, as I passed through London; and among other speeches, how you lamented your misfortune to me, that remained as a withered branch of her roots, which she had cherished and made to flourish in her service. I added what I thought of your worth, and the expectation for all this, that the world had of her princely goodness towards you: which it pleased her majesty to confess, that indeed you began to frame very well, insomuch as she saw an amends in those little supposed errors, avowing the respect she carried to the dead, with very exceeding gracious inclination towards you. Some comparisons there fell out besides, which I leave till we meet, which I hope

Among

the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq.

shall be this week. It pleased her withal to tell of
the jewel you offered her by Mr. Vice-chamberlain,
which she had refused, yet with exceeding praise. I
marvel, that as a prince she should refuse those hav-
ings of her poor subjects, because it did include a
small sentence of despair; but either I deceive my-
self, or she was resolved to take it; and the conclu-
sion was very kind and gracious. Sure as I will 100%.
to 50%. that you shall be her solicitor, and my friend:
in which mind and for which mind I commend you
to God. From the court this Monday in haste,

Your true friend to be commanded by you,

FOULKE GREVILL.

We cannot tell whether she come to
or stay here. I am much absent for want of lodging;
wherein my own man hath only been to blame.

Indorsed, 17 of June, 1594.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE QUEEN.*

Most gracious and admirable Sovereign,

vol. IV. fol. 141 and

Lambeth

library.

As I do acknowledge a providence of God towards 156, in the me, that findeth it expedient for me tolerare jugum in juventute meá; so this present arrest of mine by his divine Majesty from your majesty's service is not the least affliction, that I have proved; and I hope your majesty doth conceive, that nothing under mere impossibility could have detained me from earning so gracious a vail, as it pleased your majesty to give me. But your majesty's service, by the grace of God, shall take no lack thereby; and, thanks to God, it hath lighted upon him, that may be best spared. Only the discomfort is mine, who nevertheless have the private comfort, that in the time I have been made acquainted with this service, it hath been my hap to stumble upon somewhat unseen, which may import the same, as I made my lord keeper acquainted before my going. So leaving it to God to make a good end of a hard beginning, and most humbly craving your

1

I re

majesty's pardon for presuming to trouble you, commend your sacred majesty to God's tenderest pre

servation.

Your sacred majesty's,

in most humble obedience and devotion,

From Huntingdon, this 20th of July, 1594.

MR. FRANCIS

BACON TO HIS BROTHER
ANTONY.*

Among the papers

My good Brother,

of Antony Bacon, Esq,

fol. 197, in

beth library.

ONE day draweth on another; and I am well pleased vol. IV. in my being here; for methinks solitariness collecteth the Lamthe mind, as shutting the eyes doth the sight. I pray you therefore advertise me what you find, by my lord of Essex (who, I am sure, hath been with you), was done last Sunday; and what he conceiveth of the matter. I hold in one secret, and therefore you may trust your servant. I would be glad to receive my parsonage rent as soon as it cometh. So leave I you to God's good preservation.

Your ever loving brother,

From Twickenham-park, this Tuesday morning, 1594. Indorsed, 16 Oct. 1594.

FR. BACON.

Indorsed, 23 Oct. 1594.

VOL. VI.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.†
SIR,

I WILL be to-morrow night at London. I purpose
to hear your argument the next day. I pray you
send me word by this bearer of the hour, and place,
where it is. Of your own cause I shall give better
account when I see you, than I can do now; for that
which will be done, will be this afternoon or to-

morrow.

FR. BACON.

I am fast unto you, as you can be to yourself,

C

ESSEX

+ Ibid, fol. 195.

• Among

the papers
of Antony
Bacon, Esq.
vol. IV.
fol. 28, in
the Lam-

beth li-
brary.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO HIS BROTHER
ANTONY.*

Good Brother,

SINCE I saw you this hath passed. Tuesday, though
sent for, I saw not the queen. Her majesty alleged
she was then to resolve with the council upon her
places of law. But this resolution was ut supra ;
and note the rest of the counsellors were persuaded
she came rather forwards than otherwise; for against
me she is never peremptory but to my lord of Essex.
I missed a line of my lord keeper's; but thus much I
hear otherwise. The queen seemeth to apprehend
my travel. Whereupon I was sent for by Sir Robert
Cecil in sort as from her majesty; himself having of
purpose immediately gone to London to speak with
me; and not finding me there, he wrote to me.
Whereupon I came to the court, and upon his rela-
tion to me of her majesty's speeches, I desired leave to
answer it in writing; not, I said, that I mistrusted his
report, but mine own wit; the copy of which answer
I send. We parted in kindness secundum exterius.
This copy you must needs return; for I have no other;
and I wrote this by memory after the original was sent
away. The queen's speech is after this sort. Why?
I have made no solicitor. Hath any body carried a so-
licitor with him in his pocket? But he must have it in his
own time (as if it were but yesterday's nomination), or
else I must be thought to cast him away. Then her ma-
jesty sweareth thus: "If I continue this manner, she
"will seek all England for a solicitor rather than take
"me. Yea, she will send for Heuston and Coven-
"try (a) to-morrow next," as if she would swear
them both. Again she entereth into it, that "she
"never deals so with any as with me (in hoc erratum
"non est ); she hath pulled me over the bar (note the

66

words, for they cannot be her own), she hath used "me in her greatest causes. But this is Essex; and "she is more angry with him than with me." And

(a) Thomas Coventry, afterwards one of the justices of the common pleas, and father of the lord keeper Coventry.