a

women.

ing I will be here again, and follow on the same hath gone so near me, as it hath almost over-
course, stirring a discontentment in her, &c. thrown my health ; for when I revolved the good
And so wish you all happiness, and rest memory of my father, the near degree of alliance
Your most assured friend, I stand in to my lord treasurer, your lordship's so

Essex. signalled and declared favour, the honourable tes-
Endorsed, March 28, 1594.

timony of so many counsellors, the commenda-
tions unlaboured, and in sort offered by my lords
the judges and the master of the rolls elect;* that

I was voiced with great expectation, and, though
TBE EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.*

I say it myself, with the wishes of most men, to SIR:-1 have now spoken with the queen, and the higher place;t that I am a man, that the I see no stay from obtaining a full resolution of queen hath already done for; and that princes, that we desire. But the passion she is in by especially her majesty, love to make an end where reason of the tales that have been told her against they begin ; and then add hereunto the obscureNicholas Clifford, with whom she is in such ness and many exceptions to my competitors : rage, for a matter, which I think you have heard when I say I revolve all this, I cannot but conof, doth put her infinitely out of quiet; and her clude with myself, that no man ever read a more passionate humour is nourished by some foolish exquisite disgrace; and, therefore, truly, my lord,

Else I find nothing to distaste us, for I was determined, if her majesty reject me, this, she doth not contradict confidently; which they to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I that know the minds of women, say is a sign of will, by God's assistance, with this disgrace of yielding. I will to-morrow take more time to my fortune, and yet with that comfort of the good deal with her, and will sweeten her with all the opinion of so many honourable and worthy perart I have to make benevolum auditorem. I have sons, retire myself with a couple of men to Camalready spoken with Mr. Vice-Chamberlain,t bridge, and there spend my life in my studies and and will to-morrow speak with the rest. Of Mr. contemplations without looking back. I humbly Vice-Chamberlain you may assure yourself; for pray your lordship to pardon me for troubling you so much he hath faithfully promised me. The with my melancholy. For the matter itself, I exceptions against the competitors I will use to commend it to your love; only I pray you commorrow; for then I do resolve to have a full and municate afresh this day with my lord treasurer large discourse, having prepared the queen to- and Sir Robert Cecil; and if you esteem my fornight to assign me a time under colour of some tune, remember the point of precedency. The such business, as I have pretended. In the mean objections to my competitors your lordship knowtime I must tell you, that I do not respect either eth partly. I pray spare them not, not over the my absence, or my showing a discontentment in queen, but to the great ones, to show your confi. going away, for I was received at my return, and dence, and to work their distrust. Thus, longing I think I shall not be the worse. And for that I exceedingly to exchange troubling your lordship am oppressed with multitude of letters that are with serving you, I rest come, of which I must give the queen some Your lordship's, account to-morrow morning, I therefore desire to

in most entire and faithful service, be excused for writing no more to-night: to

Francis Bacon. morrow you shall hear from me again. I wish March 30, 1594. you what you wish yourself in this and all

I humbly pray your lordship I may hear from things else, and rest

you some time this day.
Your most affectionate friend,

Essex.
This Friday at nigbt.
Endorsed, March 29, 1594.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO SIR ROBERT CECIL.1
MY MOST HONOURABLE Good Cousin,

Your honour in your wisdom doth well per-
MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX. ceive, that my access at this time is grown despe-

My LORD,—I thank your lordship very much rate in regard of the hard terms, that as well the for your kind and comfortable letter, which I hope Earl of Essex as Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, whu will be followed at hand with another of more were to have been the means thereof, stand in with assurance. And I must confess this very delay her majesty, according to their occasions. And,

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON

delaying and preserving the matter entire till a better constellation; which, as it is not hard, as I

Sir, I went yesterday to the queen through conceive, considering the French business and the galleries in the morning, afternoon, and at the instant progress, &c., so I commend in special night. I had long speech with her of you, wherein to you the care, who in sort assured me thereof, I urged both the point of your extraordinary suffiand upon whom now, in my Lord of Essex's ab ciency proved to me not only by your last argusence, I have only to rely; and, if it be needful, ment, but by the opinion of all men I spake withal, I humbly pray you to move my lord your father and the point of mine own satisfaction, which, 1 to lay his hand to the same delay. And so I wish protested, should be exceeding great, if, for all you all increase of honour.

her unkindness and discomforts past, she should Your honour's poor kinsman,

do this one thing for my sake. To the first she in faithful service and duty, answered, that the greatness of your friends, as of Francis Bacon.

my lord treasurer and myself, did make men give From Gray's Inn, this Ist of May 1594.

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
SIR ROBERT CECIL'S ANSWER.*

learning. But in law she rather thought you

could make show to the uttermost of your knowCousin,—I do think nothing cut the throat more of your present access than the earl's being some

ledge, than that you were "deep. To the second what troubled at this time. For the delaying I

she said, she showed her mislike to the suit, as think it not hard, neither shall there want my there were a yielding, it was fitter to be of my

well as I had done my affection in it; and that if best endeavour to make it easy, of which I hope side. I then added, that this was an answer, with you shall not need to doubt by the judgment, which she might deny me all things, if she did which I gather of divers circumstances confirming my opinion. I protest I suffer with you in mind, not grant them at the first, which was not her that you are thus gravelled; but time will founder manner to do. But her majesty had made me all your competitors, and set you on your feet, or

suffer and give way in many things else; which else I have little understanding.

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 EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.

partial to you; for somewhat you were crossed Sir,—I wrote not to you till I had had a second for their own interest, and some for their friends; conference with the queen, because the first was

but yet all did yield to your merit. She did in spent only in compliments : she in the beginning this as she useth in all, went from a denial to a excepted all business: this day she hath seen

delay, and said, when the council were all here, me again. After I had followed her humour in she would think of it; and there was no haste in talking of those things, which she would entertain determining of the place. To which I answered, me with, I told her, in my absence I had written that my sad heart had need of hasty confort; and, to Sir Robert Cecil, to solicit her to call you to therefore, her majesty must pardon me, if I were that place, to which all the world had named you; hasty and importunate in it

. When they come and being now here, I must follow it myself;

we shall see what will be done; and I wish you for I know what service I should do her in

all happiness, and rest pro

Your most affectionate friend curing you the place; and she knew not how great

Essex. a comfort I should take in it. Her answer in

Endorsed, 18th of May, 1594. playing just was, that she came not to me for 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

FOULKE GREVILL, ESQ. TO MR. FRANCIS BACON. she stopped my mouth. To-morrow or the next day I will go to her, and then this excuse will be Mr. Francis Bacon, taken away. When I know more, you shall hear Saturday was my first coming to the court, more; and so I end full of pain in my head, which from whence I departed again as soon as I had makes me write thus confusedly.

kissed her majesty's hands, because I had no Yuur most affectionate friend. lodging nearer than my uncle's, which is four

a

Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iv. fol. 122, in the Lambeth Library.

* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iv. fol. 123, in the Lambeth Library.

uiles off. This day I came thither to dinner, which may import the same, as I made my lord and waiting for to speak with the queen, tonk keeper acquainted before my going. So, leaving mcasion to tell how I met you, as I passed it to God to make a good end of a hard beginthrough London; and among other speeches, ning, and most humbly craving your majesty's how you lamented your misfortune to me, that pardon for presuming to trouble you, I recomremained as a withered branch of her roots, mend your sacred majesty to God's tenderest which she had cherished and made to flourish in preservation. her service. I added what I thought of your Your sacred majesty's, in most humble worth, and the expectation for all this, that the

obedience and devotion, world had of her princely goodness towards you:

Fr. Bacon. which it pleased her majesty to confess, that From Huntingdon, this 20th of July, 1591. 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

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO HIS BROTHER ANTONY.. dead, with very exceeding gracious inclination towards you. Some comparisons there fell out My good Brother, besides, which I leave till we meet, which I One day draweth on another; and I am well hope shall be this week. It pleased her withal pleased in my being here; for methinks solitarito tell of the jewel you offered her by Mr. Vice-ness collecteth the mind, as shutting the eye doth Chamberlain, which she had refused, yet with the sight. I pray you, therefore, advertise me exceeding praise. I marvel, that as a prince she what you find, by my Lord of Essex, (who, I am should refuse those havings of her poor subjects, sure, hath been with you,) was done last Sunday; because it did include a small sentence of despair; and what he conceiveth of the matter. I hold in but either I deceive myself, or she was resolved one secret, and therefore you may trust your serto take it; and the conclusion was very kind and vant. I would be glad to receive my parsonage gracious. Sure as will one hundred pounds to rent as soon as it cometh.

So leave I you to fifty pounds that you shall be her solicitor, and God's good preservation. my friend; in which mind and for which mind I

Your ever loving brother, commend you to God. From the court, this Mon

FR. BACON. day in haste,

From Twickenham Park, this Tuesday morning, 1594. Your true friend to be commanded by you,

Endorsed, 16 Oct. 1594.
FOULKE GREVILL.

a

We cannot tell whether she comes to

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON. or stay here. I am much absent for want of lodging; wherein my own man hath only been Sir:- I will be to-morrow night at London. I to blame.

purpose to hear your argument the next day. I Endorsed, 17th of June, 1594.

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 MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE QUEEN.* be this afternoon or to-morrow. Most GRACIOUS AND ADMIRABLE Sovereign, I am fast unto you, as you can be to yourself, As I do acknowledge a providence of God

Essex. towards me, that findeth it expedient for me lole

Endorsed, 23 Oct. 1594. rare jugum in juventute meâ; so this present arrest of mine by his divine majesty from your majesty's service is not the least affliction, that I

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO IIIS BROTIIER ANTONY. I have proved; and I hope your majesty doth conceive, that nothing under mere impossibility could Good Brother, have detained me from earning so gracious a veil, Since I saw you this hath passed. Tuesday, as it pleased your majesty to give me. But your though sent for, I saw not the queen. Her mamajesty's service by the grace of God shall take jesty alleged she was then to resolve with the no lack thereby; and, thanks to God, it hath council upon her places of law. But this resolulighted upon him that may be the best spared. tion was ut supra ; and note the rest of the counOnly the discomfort is mine, who nevertheless sellors were persuaded she came rather forwards have the private comfort, that in the time I have than otherwise; for against me she is never pebeen made acquainted with this service, it hath been my hap to stumble upon somewhat unseen, Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iv. fol 197

in the Lambeth Library. . Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq., vol. iv. fol. 141, Ibid. fol. 195. and 156, in the Lambeth Library.

IIbid. fol. 28.

s

remptcry but to my lord of Essex. I missed a then, as to the proper opportunity; so now that I line of iny Lord Keeper's; but thus much I hear see such delay in mine own placing, I wish ( otherwise. The queen seemeth to apprehend my animo it should not expect. travel. Whereupon I was sent for by Sir Robert I pray you let me know what mine uncle KilliCecil in sort as from her majesty ; himself having grew will do ;* for I must be more careful of my of purpose immediately gone to London to speak credit than ever, since I receive so litle thence with me; and not finding me there, he wrote to where I deserved best. And, to be plain with you, me. Whereupon I came to the court, and upon I mean even to make the best of those small things his relation to me of her majesty's speeches, I de- I have with as much expedition, as may be withsired leave to answer it in writing; not, I said, out loss; and so sing a mass of requiem, I hope, that I mistrusted his report, but mine own wit; abroad. For I know her majesty's nature, that the copy of which answer I send. We parted in she neither careth though the whole surname of kindness, secundum exterius. This copy you must Bacons travelled, nor of the Cecils neither. needs return, for I have no other; and I wrote this I have here an idle pen or two, specially one, by memory after the original was sent away. The that was cozened, thinking to have got some moqueen's speech is after this sort. Why? I have ney this term. I pray send me somewhat else made no solicitor. Hath any body carried a solicitor for them to write out besides your Irish collection, wilh him in his pocket? But he must have it in his which is almost done. There is a collection of own time, (as if it were but yesterday's nomina- King James, of foreign states, largeliest of Flantion,) or else I must be thought to cast him away. ders; which, though it be no great matter, yet Then her majesty sweareth thus: “If I continue would be glad to have it. Thus I commend you this manner, she will seek all England for a soli- to God's good protection. citor rather than take me. Yea, she will send for

Your entire loving brother, Heuston and Coventry* to-morrow next,” as if

Fr. Bacon. she would swear them both. Again she entereth

From my lodging, at Twickenham Park,

this 25th of January, 1594. 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 words, for they cannot be her own) she hath used me in her greatest causes. LETTER OF MR. FRANCIS BACON TO SIR ROBERT But this is Essex, and she is more angry with CECIL;t A COPY OF WHICH WAS SENT WITH him than with me.” And such like speeches, so

THE PRECEDING TO MR. ANTONY BACON. strange, as I should lose myself in it, but that I Sır:-Your honour may remember, that upon have cast off the care of it. My conceit is, that I relation of her majesty's speech concerning my am the least part of mine own matter. But her travel, I asked leave to make answer in writing; majesty would have a delay, and yet would not not but I knew then what was true, but because I bear it herself. Therefore she giveth no way to was careful to express it without doing myself me, and she perceiveth her council giveth no way wrong. And it is true, I had then opinion to have to others; and so it sticketh as she would have it. written to her majesty : byt, since weighing with But what the secret of it is, oculus aquilæ non pene- myself, that her majesty gave no ear to the motion travit. My lord † continueth on kindly and wisely made by yourself, that I might answer by mine a course worthy to obtain a better effect than a own attendance, I began to doubt the second dedelay, which to me is the most unwelcome con- gree, whether it might not be taken for presumpdition.

tion in me to write to her majesty; and so resolved, Now, to return to you the part of a brother, and that it was best for me to follow her majesty's to render you the like kindness, advise you, whe- own way in committing it to your report. ther it were not a good time to set in strongly with It may please your honour to deliver to her mathe queen to draw her to honour your travels. For jesty, first, that it is an exceeding grief to me, in the course I am like to take, it will be a great that any not motion (for it was not a motion) but and necessary stay to me, besides the natural com- mention, that should come from me, should offend fort I shall receive. And if you will have me her majesty, whom for these one-and-twenty years deal with my Lord of Essex, or otherwise break it (for so long it is, that I kissed her majesty's hands by mean to the queen, as that, which shall give upon my journey into France) I have used the me full contentment, I will do it as effectually, best of my wits to please. and with as much good discretion as I can. Next, mine answer standing upon two points, Wherein if you aid me with your direction, I the one, that this mention of travel to my lord of snall observe it. This, as I did ever account it Essex was no present motion, suit, or request; sure and certain to be accomplished, in case myself had been placed, and therefore deferred it till Mr. Antony Bacon had written to Sir Henry Killigrew on

9

but casting the worst of my fortune with an ho- lordship best knows. Which your two honouranourable friend, that had long used nie privately, ble friendships I esteem so much [in so great I told his lordship of this purpose of mine to tra- sort) as your countenance and favour in my pracvel, accompanying it with these very words, that tice, which are somewhat to my poverty; yet 1 upon her majesty's rejecting me with such cir- count them not the best [greatest) part of the cunstance, though my heart might be good, yet obligation wherein I stand bound to you. mine eyes would be sore, that I should take no And now, my lord, I pray you right humbly, pleasure to look upon my friends; for that I was that you will vouchsafe your honourable license not an impudent man, that could face out a dis- and patience, that I may express to you, what in a grace ; and that I hoped her majesty would not be doubtful liberty I have thought fit, partly by way of ofended, that, not able to endure the sun, I filed praying your help, and partly by way of offering into the shade. The other, that it was more than my good will; partly again by way of preoccuthis; for I did expressly and particularly, (for so pating your conceit, lest you may in some things much wit God then lent me,) by way of caveat, mistake. restrain my lord's good affection, that he should My estate, to confess a truth to your lordship, in no wise utter or mention this matter till her is weak and indebted, and needeth comfort; for majesty had made a solicitor; wherewith (now both my father, though I think I had greatest part since my looking upon your letter) I did in a du- in his love to all his children, yet in his wisdom tiful manner challenge my lord, who very honour- served me in as a last comer; and myself, in mine ahly acknowledged it, seeing he did it for the own industry, have rather referred and aspired to best; and therefore I leave his lordship to answer virtue than to gain: whereof, I am not yet wise for himself. All this my Lord of Essex can testify enough to repent me. But the while, whereas, to be true: and I report me to yourself, whether Solomon speaketh that “want cometh first like at the first, when I desired deliberation to answer, a wayfaring man,” and after like “ an armed u an," yet nevertheless said, I would to you privately I must acknowledge to your lordship myself to declare what had passed, I said not in effect so (be) in primo gradu ; for it stealeth upon me. much. The conclusion shall be, that wheresoever But, for the second, that it should not be able to God and her majesty shall appoint me to live, I be resisted, I hope in God I am not in that case; shall truly pray for her majesty's preservation and for the preventing whereof, as I do depend upon felicity. And so I humbly commend me to you. God's providence all in all, so in the same his Your poor kinsman to do you service, providence I see opened unto me three not unlikely

Fr. Bacon. expectations of help: the one my practice, the Endorsed, January, 1594.

other some proceeding in the queen's service, the third [the] place I have in reversion; which, as it standeth now unto me, is but like another man's

ground reaching upon my house, which may mend TO SIR THOMAS EGERTON, LORD KEEPER OF THE my prospect, but it doth not fill my barn.

For my practice, it presupposeth my health, MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURABLE GOOD LORDSHIP, which, if I should judge of as a man that judgeth

of your lordship’s honourable disposition, both of a fair morrow by a fair evening, I might have generally and to me, I have that belief, as what I reason to value well. But, myself having this think, I am not afraid to speak; and what I would error of mind, that I am apter to conclude in every speak, I am not afraid to write. And therefore I thing of change from the present tense than of a have thought to commit to letter some matter, continuance, do make no such appointment. Bewhereunto (which] I have been [conceived] led sides, I am not so far deceived in myself but that [into the same] by two motives: the one, the I know very well, and I think your lordship is consideration of my own estate ; the other, the major corde, and in your wisdom you note it more appetite which I have to give your lordship some deeply than I can in myself, that in practising the evidence of the thoughtful and voluntary desire, law, I play not all my best game, which maketh which is in me, to merit well of your most ho- me accept it with a nisi quod potius, as the best nourable lordship: which desire in me hath been of my fortune, and a thing agreeable to better bred chiefly by the consent I have to your great gifts than mine, but not to mine. virtue come in good tiine to do this state pleasure;

For my placing, your lordship best knows, that and next by your loving courses held towards me, when I was much dejected with her majesty's especially in your nomination and enablement of strange dealing towards me, it pleased you, of me long since to the solicitor's place, as your your singular favour, so far to comfort and

* From the original draught in the library of Queen's Col- encourage me, as to hold me worthy to be excited lege, Oxford, Arch. D. 2, the copy of which was communi to think of succeeding your lordship in your cated to me by Thomas Tyrwhitt, Esq., clerk of the honoura- second place ;* signifying in your plainness, that ble House of Commons. Sir William Dugdale, in his Baronage of England, vol. ji. p. 438, has given two short passages of The mastership of the rolls; which office the lord keepps this letter iranscribed by lain from the unpublished original. I held ti! the Lord Bruce was advanced to it, May 18, 1603

GREAT SEAL.*