learned librarian, Andrew Coltee Ducarel, LL. D. Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies, to whose knowledge, industry, and love of history and antiquities, the valuable library of manuscripts of the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury is highly indebted for the order in which it is now arranged; and by whose obliging and communicating temper it is rendered generally useful. Bishop Gibson's collection, including what is the chief part of it, that of archbishop Tenison, fills fourteen large volumes in folio. The eighth of these consists merely of lord Bacon's papers.

Of them principally, the work which I now offer the public is formed; nor has any paper been admitted into it that had been published before, except two of lord Bacon's letters, which having been disguised and mutilated in all former impressions, were thought proper to be reprinted here, together with two other letters of his lordship; one on the remarkable case of Peacham, the other accompanying his present to king James I. of his Novum Organum. These letters I was unwilling to omit, because the collection, in which they have lately appeared, entitled by the very learned and ingenious editor, Sir David Dalrymple, Bat. Memorials and Letters relating to the History of Britain in the reign of James the First, published from the Originals, at Glasgow, 1762, in 8vo, is likely to be much less known in England, from the smalness of the number of printed copies, than it deserves.

The general rule, which I have prescribed myself, of publishing only what is new, restrained me from adding those letters, written in the earlier part of Mr. Francis Bacon's life, which I had before published from the originals, found among the papers of his brother Anthony, in the Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, from the year 1581 to her death.

The example of the greatest men, in preserving in their editions of the classics the smallest remains of their writings, will be a full justification of my industry in collecting and inserting even the fragments of a writer equal to the most valuable of the ancients. Nor will the candid and intelligent object to the least considerable of the duke of Buckingham's letters, since they acquire an importance from the rank and character of the writer, as well as from their carrying on the series of his correspondence, acquainting us with new facts, or ascertaining old ones with additional evidence and circumstances, and showing the extent of that authority and influence, which his situation, as a favourite, gave him in all parts of the government, even as high as the seat of justice itself.

POSTSCRIPT, RELATING TO THIS SECOND EDITION.

SINCE the former edition, there came into my hands, among the collections in print and manuscript, relating to lord Bacon and his works, made by the late John Locker, Esq. two letters of Dr. Tenison, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, which will enable me to give the public full satisfaction, in what manner that learned divine became possessed of the Letters, &c. of the noble author published by me.

One of these letters, the original, written to Mr. Richard Chiswell, the bookseller, for whom the Baconiana had been printed, is as follows:

SIR,

Decemb. 16, 1682.

"I HAVE now looked over all the books and papers in the box. In the books there are copies of Essays, Maxims of Law, &c. all printed already: but they contain some things fit to be printed; and they and the Letters will make a handsome folio, which I doubt not but will turn to account. For the Letters, there are divers of Sir Thomas Meautys, &c. worth nothing: but there are more than forty letters to the duke of Buckingham, and some of the duke of Buckingham to him.

There are eight or ten to king James. There are three or four to Gondomar, and Gondomar's answer to one of them.

"After the holy-days I will methodize all, and put all letters of the same date together, (for as yet they are in confusion,) and then we will take farther resolutions about them. I will get an afternoon (if God permit) to see the remaining papers in Bartholomew-Close. The Greek MS. will not prove much worth.

The latter and greater part is only a piece of Tzetzes.

"It is necessary that you procure for me Tobie Matthew's printed letters, for here are also ten of his to lord Bacon; and I know not which they are yet printed. Also I shall want a copy of the Essays printed in 12mo, 1663, printed for Thomas Palmer, at the Crown in Westminster-Hall, with a preface by one Griffith. I have the book; and the preface is mentioned in the title page, but is wanting.

"If more sheets of Dr. Spencer's are done, pray send them."
For Mr. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, London.

The other letter of which I have a copy taken by the late Richard Rawlinson, L.L. D. from bishop Tanner's manuscripts, in Christ-Church, Oxford, Vol. XXXV. p. 152, was addressed to archbishop Sancroft in these terms:

"I HAVE received your Grace's letter touching my course of preaching in Lent, which I shall be ready, God assisting me, to do my duty at that time according to my poor talent.

"I did forget on Tuesday to acquaint your Grace, that I had, by a strange providence, lately found out in this town a great many original papers of the lord Bacon. When I have looked over them and sorted them, I will be bold to present your Grace with a catalogue of them. They came to me from the executor of Sir Thomas Meautys, who was his lordship's executor. Amongst his lordship's papers are letters from king James, the queen of Bohemia, count Gondomar, and others. Amongst his lordship's own letters there is one in Latin to Isaac Casaubon.

"One just now come from my lord chancellor's* assured me he was not indeed dead, but just dying. "I am your Grace's most obliged servant,

The reason of the rule, which I prescribed to myself in the former edition, of publishing only what was new, not subsisting in the present, which forms a part of a complete collection of the author's writings, I have inserted in it such letters from and to him, as I had published in 1754 in the Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

LETTERS, &c. OF LORD CHANCELLOR BACON.

early date, and to have been written to Mr. Rob. Cecil, while he was upon his travels. From the original draught in the library of Queen's col- Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. III. fol lege, Oxford. Arch. D. 2. This letter seems to be of a very | 74, in the Lambeth library.

safed to open. They were two, the one, that I in practice. For a time, till your assurance pass, should include ***

SIR ROBERT CECIL TO MR. FRANCIS
BACON.*

COUSIN,

ASSURE yourself, that the solicitor's † coming gave no cause of speech; for it was concerning a book to be drawn concerning the bargain of wines. If there had been, you should have known, or when there shall. To satisfy your request of making my lord know how recommended your desires are to me, I have spoken with his lordship, who answereth, he hath done and will do his best. I think your absence longer than for my good aunt's comfort will do you no good: for, as I ever told you, it is not likely to find the queen apt to give an office, when the scruple is not removed of her forbearance to speak with you. This being not yet perfected may stop good, when the hour comes of conclusion, though it be but a trifle, and questionless would be straight despatched, if it were luckily handled. But herein do I, out of my desire to satisfy you, use this my opinion, leaving you to your own better knowledge what hath been done for you, or in what terms that matter standeth. And thus, desirous to be recommended to my good aunt, to whom my wife heartily commends her, I leave you to the protection of Almighty God. From the court at Windsor, this 27th of September, 1593. Your loving cousin and friend,

ROBERT CECIL.

indeed, and access to your royal person, I did ever, encouraged by your own speeches, seek and desire; and I would be very glad to be reintegrate in that. But I will not wrong mine own good mind so much, as to stand upon that now, when your Majesty may conceive, I do it but to make my profit of it. But my mind turneth upon other wheels than those of profit. The conclusion shall be, that I wish your Majesty served answerable to yourself. Principis est virtus maxima nosse suos.' Thus I most humbly crave pardon of my boldness and plainness. God preserve your Majesty.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO ROBERT KEMP, OF
GRAY'S-INN, ESQ.§

GOOD ROBIN,

THERE is no news you can write to me, which I take more pleasure to hear, than of your health, and of your loving remembrance of me; the former whereof though you mention not in your letter, yet I straight presumed well of it, because your mention was so fresh to make such a flourish. And it was afterwards accordingly confirmed by your man Roger, who made me a particular relation of the former negotiation between your ague and you. Of the latter, though you profess largely, yet I make more doubt, because your coming is turned into a sending; which when I thought would have been repaired by some promise or intention of yourself, your man

I have heard in these causes, Facies hominis Roger entered into a very subtle distinction to this est tanquam leonis.'

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE QUEEN.‡
MADAM,

purpose, that you could not come, except you heard I was attorney; but I ascribe that to your man's invention, who had his reward in laughing; for I hope you are not so stately, but that I shall be one to you stylo vetere or stylo novo. For my fortune (to speak court) it is very slow, if any thing can be slow to him that is secure of the event. In short, REMEMBERING, that your Majesty had been gra- nothing is done in it; but I propose to remain here cious to me both in countenancing me, and confer- at Twickenham till Michaelmas term, then to St. ring upon me the reversion of a good place, and | Alban's, and after the term to court. Advise you, perceiving that your Majesty had taken some dis- whether you will play the honest man or no. In the pleasure towards me, both these were arguments to mean time I think long to see you, and pray to be move me to offer unto your Majesty my service, to remembered to your father and mother. the end to have means to deserve your favour, and to repair my error. Upon this ground I affected myself to no great matter, but only a place of my profession, such as I do see divers younger in proceeding to myself, and men of no great note, do without blame aspire unto. But if any of my friends do press this matter, I do assure your Majesty my spirit is not with them.

It sufficeth me, that I have let your Majesty know, that I am ready to do that for the service, which I never would do for mine own gain. And if your Majesty like others better, I shall, with the Lacedæmonian, be glad, that there is such choice of abler men than myself. Your Majesty's favour Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iii. fol. 197, verso, in the Lambeth library.

Mr. Edward Coke.

1593. Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iii. fol. 315, in the Lambeth library.

Yours in loving affection,

From Twickenham-Park,
this 4th of Nov. 1593.

FR. BACON.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF
ESSEX.

MY LORD,

I THOUGHT it not amiss to inform your lordship of that which I gather partly by conjecture, and partly by advertisement of the late recovered man, that is § 1593, Nov. 4. Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iii. fol. 281, in the Lambeth library.

1593, Nov. 10. Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iii. fol. 283, in the Lambeth library.

so much at your devotion, of whom I have some | Yet if they had been never for you, but contrarily cause to think, that he worketh for the Huddler † against you, I thought my credit, joined with the underhand. And though it may seem strange, con- approbation and mediation of her greatest counselsidering how much it importeth him to join straight lors, might prevail in a greater matter than this; and with your lordship, in regard both of his enemies urged her, that though she could not signify her and of his ends; yet I do the less rest secure upon mind to others, I might have a secret promise, the conceit, because he is a man likely to trust so wherein I should receive great comfort, as in the much to his art and finesse, (as he, that is an excel- contrary great unkindness. She said she was neither lent wherryman, who, you know, looketh towards persuaded nor would hear of it till Easter, when she the bridge, when he pulleth towards Westminster,) might advise with her council, who were now all that he will hope to serve his turn, and yet to pre- absent; and therefore in passion bid me go to bed, serve your lordship's good opinion. This I write if I would talk of nothing else. Wherefore in to the end, that if your lordship do see nothing to passion I went away, saying, while I was with her, the contrary, you may assure him more or trust him I could not but solicit for the cause and the man I less; and chiefly, that your lordship be pleased to so much affected; and therefore I would retire sound again, whether they have not, amongst them, myself till I might be more graciously heard; and drawn out the nail, which your lordship had driven so we parted. To-morrow I will go hence of purin for the negative of the Huddler; which if they pose, and on Thursday I will write an expostulating have, it will be necessary for your lordship to letter to her. That night or upon Friday morning iterate more forcibly your former reasons, whereof I will be here again, and follow on the same course, there is such copia, as I think you may use all the stirring a discontentment in her, &c. And so wish places of logic against his placing. you all happiness, and rest

Thus, with my humble thanks for your lordship's honourable usage of Mr. Standen, I wish you all honour.

Your lordship's in most faithful duty,

FR. BACON.

I pray, Sir, let not my jargon privilege my letter from burning; because it is not such, but the light showeth through.

THE EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS
BACON.

SIR,

I HAVE now spoken with the queen, and I see no stay from obtaining a full resolution of that we desire. But the passion she is in by reason of the tales that have been told her against Nicholas Clifford, with whom she is in such rage, for a matter, which I think you have heard of, doth put her infinitely out of quiet; and her passionate humour is nourished by some foolish women. Else I find nothing to distaste us, for she doth not contradict confidently; which they, that know the minds of women, say is a sign of yielding. I will to-morrow take more time to deal with her, and will sweeten her with all the art I have to make benevolum auditorem. I have already spoken with Mr. Vice-chamberlain; ¶ and will to-morrow speak with the rest. Of Mr. Vice-chamberlain you may assure yourself; for so much he hath faithfully promised me. The exceptions against the competitors I will use tomorrow; for then I do resolve to have a full and large discourse, having prepared the queen to-night to assign me a time under colour of some such business, as I have pretended. In the mean time I must tell you, that I do not respect either my absence, or my showing a discontentment in going away, for I was received at my return, and I think I shall not be the worse. And for that I am oppressed with

I HAVE received your letter, and since I have had opportunity to deal freely with the queen. I have dealt confidently with her as a matter, wherein I did more labour to overcome her delays, than that I did fear her denial. I told her how much you were thrown down with the correction she had already given you, that she might in that point hold herself already satisfied. And because I found, that Tanfield § had been most propounded to her, I did most disable him. I find the queen very reserved, staying herself upon giving any kind of hope, yet not passionate against you, till I grew passionate for you. Then she said, that none thought you fit for the place but my lord treasurer and myself. Marry, the others must some of them say before us for fear or for flattery. I told her the most and wisest of her council had delivered their opinions, and preferred you before all men for that place. And if it would please her Majesty to think, that whatsoever they said contrary to their own words when they spake without witness, might be as factiously spoken, as the other way flatteringly, she would not be deceived. multitude of letters that are come, of which I must

• Probably Lord Keeper Puckering.

+ Mr. Edward Coke.

Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iv. fol.

9), in the Lambeth library

Probably Laurence Tanfield, made lord chief baron of the Exchequer in June 1607.

Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iv. fol. 89, in the Lambeth library. Sir Thomas Heneage.