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as that I have found a fitness to my thinking, in myself to observe and revere your virtues: for the continuance whereof, in the prolonging of your days, I will still be your beadsman; and accordingly, at this time, commend your lordship to the divine protection.

| title, a principal owner and proprietor of that, I can not call, talent, but mite, that God hath given me which I ever do and shall devote to your service And in like humble manner, I pray your lordship to pardon mine errors, and not to impute unt me the errors of any other, which I know als themselves have by this time left and forethought but to conceive of me to be a man that daily profiteth in duty. It is true I do in part comfor

X. TO THE LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY.* myself, supposing that it is my weakness and in

ex

sufficiency that moveth your lordship, who hath s
general a command, to use others more able. Bu
let it be as it is, for duty only and homage I wil
boldly undertake, that nature and true thankfulness
shall never give place to a politic dependence
Lastly, I most humbly desire your lordship to con
tinue unto me the good favour, and countenance
and encouragement, in the course of my poor travails
whereof I have had some taste and experience; for
the which I yield your lordship my very humble
good thanks. And so again, craving your honour's
pardon for so long a letter, carrying so empty an
offer of so impuissant a service, but yet a true and
unfeigned signification of an honest and vowed duty
I cease, commending your lordship to the preserv
ation of the Divine Majesty.

XI. A LETTER TO THE LORD TREASURER
BURGHLEY, IN EXCUSE OF HIS SPEECH
IN PARLIAMENT AGAINST THE TRIPLE
SUBSIDY.+

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

MOST HONOURABLE AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, I KNOW I may commit an error in writing this letter, both in a time of great and weighty business, as also when myself am not induced thereto by any new particular occasion; and therefore your lordship may impute to me either levity, or ignorance what appertaineth to good respects and forwardness of dealing, especially to an honourable person, in whom there is such concurrence of "magnitudo honoris et oneris," as it is hard to say whether is the greater. But I answer myself first, that I have ever noted it as a part of your lordship's excellent wisdom, "parvis componere magna; "that you do not exclude inferior matters of access, amongst the care of great. And for myself, I thought it would better manifest what I desire to express, if I did write out of a deep and settled consideration of my own duty, rather than upon the spur of a particular occasion and therefore, my singular good lord, " abundantia cordis," I must acknowledge how greatly diversly your lordship hath vouchsafed to tie me unto you by many your benefits. The reversion of the office which your lordship only procured unto me, and carried through great and vehement opposition, though it yet bear no fruit, yet it is one of I WAS sorry to find, by your lordship's speech the fairest flowers of my poor estate; your lordship's yesterday, that my last speech in parliament, deconstant and serious endeavours to have me solicit-livered in discharge of my conscience, and duty to or; your late honourable wishes for the place of the wards; together with your lordship's attempt to give me way by the remove of Mr. Solicitor; they be matters of singular obligation: besides many other favours, as well by your lordship's grants from yourself, as by your commendation to others, which I have had for my help; and may justly persuade myself, out of the few denials I have received that fewer might have been, if mine own industry and good hap had been answerable to your lordship's goodness. But, on the other side, I most humbly pray your lordship's pardon if I speak it; the time is yet to come that your lordship did ever use, or command, or employ me, in my profession, in any services or occasions of your lordship's own, or such as are near unto your lordship; which hath made me fear sometimes, that your lordship doth more honourably affect me, than thoroughly discern of my most humble and dutiful affection to your lordship again which if it were not in me, I knew not whether I were unnatural, unthankful, or unwise. This causeth me most humbly to pray your lordship, and I know mine own case too well, to speak it as weening I can do your lordship service, but as willing to do it, as, to believe, that your lordship is upon just * Rawley's Resuscitatio.

God, her Majesty, and my country, was offensive.
If it were misreported, I would be glad to attend
your lordship to disavow any thing I said not; if it
were misconstrued, I would be glad to expound my
self, to exclude any sense I meant not. If my hear
be misjudged by imputation of popularity or oppo
sition, by any envious or officious informer, I have
great wrong; and the greater, because the manne
of my speech did most evidently show, that I spake
simply and only to satisfy my conscience, and no
with any advantage, or policy to sway the cause
and my terms carried all signification of duty an
zeal towards her Majesty and her service. It i
true, that from the beginning, whatsoever was abov
a double subsidy, I did wish might, for precedent'
sake, appear to be extraordinary, and, for discontent'
sake, might not have been levied upon the poore
sort though otherwise, I wished it as rising as
think this will prove, and more. This was my min
I confess it and therefore I most humbly pra
your good lordship, first, to continue me in your ow
good opinion and then to perform the part of a
honourable friend towards your poor servant an
alliance, in drawing her Majesty to accept of th
sincerity and simplicity of my heart, and to bea
+ Rawley's Resuscitatio.

:

with the rest, and restore me to her Majesty's good | nary advantage. I wish your lordship all honour favour, which is to me dearer than my life. And and happiness; and rest, 80, &c. Your lordship's very assured,

Your lordship's most humble in all duty. 1593, April.

XII. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY
GOOD LORD, THE LORD KEEPER OF THE
GREAT SEAL, &c.*

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

I was wished to be here ready in expectation of some good effect; and therefore I commend my fortune to your lordship's kind and honourable furtherance. My affection inclineth me to be much [your] lordship's, and my course and way, in all reason and policy for myself, leadeth me to the same dependence hereunto if there shall be join'd your lordship's obligation in dealing strongly for me as you have begun, no man can be more yours. A timorous man is every body's, and a covetous man is his own. But if your lordship consider my nature, my course, my friends, my opinion with her Majesty, if this eclipse of her favour were past, I hope you will think, I am no unlikely piece of wood to shape you a true servant of. My present thankfulness shall be as much as I have said. I humbly take my leave.

Your lordship's true humble servant,

From Greenwich this 5th of April, 1594.

FR. BACON.

ESSEX.

Greenwich, this 14th of January, [1594.]
Endorsed,

My lord of Essex for Mr. Fran. Bacon to be solicitor.

XIV. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS
VERY GOOD LORD, THE LORD KEEPER
OF THE GREAT SEAL.‡

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

SIR Thomas Egerton failing of your lordship, being newly gone, sent his letter to me to see conveyed unto you, which I send enclosed; desiring your lordship, according to your kind affection, to make the best use thereof for my fartherance. And I pray your lordship to call to remembrance my lord treasurer's kind course, who affirmed directly all the rest to be unfit. And because vis unita fortior, I pray your lordship to take a time with the queen when my lord treasurer is present. Thus in hope to-morrow will bring forth some good effect, I rest, Your lordship's in all humble duty and service, FR. BACON.

XV. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, &c.
THE LORD KEEPER, &c.§

XIII. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MY
VERY GOOD LORD, THE LORD KEEPER.†

MY LORD,

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

BECAUSE I understand your lordship remaineth at court till this day, and that my lord of Essex writeth to me, that his lordship cometh to London, I thought good to remember your lordship, and to request you, as I touched in my last, that if my lord treasurer be absent, your lordship would forbear to fall into my business with her Majesty, lest it might receive some foil before the time, when it should be resolutely dealt in. And so commending myself to your good favour, I most humbly take my leave. Your lordship's in all humble duty and service, FR. BACON.

From Gray's-Inn this
8th of April, 1594.

I HAVE, since I spake with your lordship, pleaded to the queen against herself for the injury she doth Mr. Bacon in delaying him so long, and the unkindness she doth me in granting no better expedition in a suit which I have followed so long, and so affectionately. And though I find that she makes some difficulty, to have the more thanks, yet I do assure myself she is resolved to make him. I do write this not to solicit your lordship to stand firm in assisting me, because, I know, you hold yourself already tied by your affection to Mr. Bacon, and by your promise to me; but to acquaint your lordship XVI. EARL OF ESSEX TO LORD KEEPER of my resolution to set up my rest, and employ my uttermost strength to get him placed before the term: so as I beseech your lordship think of no temporizing course, for I shall think the queen deals unkindly with me, if she do not both give him the place, and give it with favour and some extraordi

Harl. MSS. Vol. 6997. No. 20.
Ibid. No. 87.

MY LORD,

PUCKERING ||

My short stay at the court made me fail of speaking with your lordship; therefore I must write that which myself had told you; that is, that your lord§ Ibid. No. 50.

Harl. MSS. Vol. 6996. No. 52.

Ibid. No. 72.

ship will be pleased to forbear pressing for a solicitor, since there is no cause towards the end of a term to call for it; and because the absence of Mr. Bacon's friends may be much to his disadvantage. I wish your lordship all happiness, and rest Your lordship's very assured to be commanded, ESSEX.

Wanstead this 4th of May, 1594.

XVII. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE ·LORD KEEPER, &c.

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, I UNDERSTAND of some business like enough to detain the queen to-morrow, which maketh me earnestly to pray your good lordship, as one that I have found to take my fortune to heart, to take some time to remember her Majesty of a solicitor this present day.

Our Tower employment stayeth, and hath done these three days, because one of the principal offenders being brought to confess, and the other persisting in denial, her Majesty in her wisdom thought best some time were given to him that is obstinate, to bethink himself; which indeed is singular good in such cases. Thus desiring your lordship's pardon, in haste I commend my fortune and duty to your favour.

Your lordship's most humbly to receive your
commandments,

From Gray's-Inn this 13th of August, 1594.

FR. BACON.

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now find by that I hear from my lord of Essex, your lordship of your favour is willing to use for my good, upon that satisfaction you may find in my travels. And I now send to your lordship, together with my humble thanks, to understand of your lordship's being at leisure, what part of to-morrow, to the end I may attend your lordship, which this afternoon I cannot, in regard of some conference I have appointed with Mr. Attorney-general. And so I commend your honourable lordship to God's good preservation.

Your good lordship's humbly at your hon[ourable] commandments, FR. BACON.

From Gray's-Inn the 25th of September, Friday.

XX. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.t

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP,

I RECEIVED, at my lord of Essex last going from court, a message of good assurance, which his lordship sent to my brother and to myself; which was this: That her Majesty had stedfastly promised him to despatch my matter to-morrow. And somewhat her Majesty said to myself, when I attended her upon some service since, which I liked well, though it was with some doubtfulness, as, they say, her Majesty useth till the last hour. This I thought good to signify to your good lordship, both that your lordship may perceive how effectual and operative your lordship's last dealing with her Majesty was; and also that, now the wheel is going, your lordship would set it forward, the rather in respect of the necessity to go presently in hand with these criminal causes, if the commission shall hold according to the adjournment. And if her Majesty should not be pleased presently to give order for a patent, yet if your lordship may by her warrant give me warning to prepare myself, it will be some hold and satisfaction. So thinking long to have the strength of place, to do your lordship acceptable service, I leave your good lordship to God's good preservation. Your lordship's most humbly at your hon[ourable] commandments,

From Gray's-Inn this 28th of September, 1594.

FR. BACON.

XIX. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD LORD, THE LORD KEEPER, &c.t

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD lordship, I WAS minded, according to the place of employment, though not of office, wherein I serve, for my better direction and the advancement of the service, to have acquainted your lordship, now before the term, with such her Majesty's causes as are in my hands. Which course intended out of duty, I do Harl. MSS. Vol. 6996. No. 103. Ibid. No. 109.

XXI. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.§

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORdship,

I THOUGHT good to step aside for nine days, which is the durance of a wonder, and not for any dislike in the world; for I think her Majesty hath done me as great a favour in making an end of this matter, as if she had enlarged me from some restraint. And I humbly pray your lordship, if it so Ibid. No. 110. § Ibid. Vol. 6697. No. 14.

please you, to deliver to her Majesty from me, that I would have been glad to have done her Majesty service now in the best of my years, and the same mind remains in me still; and that it may be, when her Majesty hath tried others, she will think of him that she hath cast aside. For I will take it upon that which her Majesty hath often said, that she doth reserve me, and not reject me. And so I leave your good lordship to God's good preservation. Your lordship's much bounden,

From Twicknam-Park this 20th of May, 1595.

Endorsed,

FR. BACON.

Mr. Fr. Bacon, his contentation to leave the solicitorship.

XXII. A LETTER TO THE LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY, RECOMMENDING HIS FIRST SUIT, TOUCHING THE SOLICITOR'S PLACE.*

MY LORD,

AFTER the remembrance of my most humble duty, though I know, by late experience, how mindful your lordship vouchsafeth to be of me and my poor fortunes, since it pleased your lordship, during your indisposition, when her Majesty came to visit your lordship, to make mention of me for my employment and preferment; yet being now in the country, I do presume that your lordship, who of yourself had so honourable care of the matter, will not think it a trouble to be solicited therein. My hope is, that whereas your lordship told me her Majesty was somewhat gravelled upon the offence she took at my speech in parliament; your lordship's favourable and good word, who hath assured me, that for your own part you construed, that I spake to the best, will be as a good tide to remove her from that shelf. And it is not unknown to your good lordship, that I was the first of the ordinary sort of the lower house of parliament that spake for the subsidy; and that which I after spake in difference, was but in circumstances of time and manner, which methinks should be no great matter, since there is variety allowed in council, as a discord in music, to make it more perfect. But I may justly doubt, not so much her Majesty's impression upon this particular, as her conceit otherwise of my insufficiency; which though I acknowledge to be great, yet it will be the less, because I purpose not to divide myself between her Majesty and the causes of other men, as others have done, but to attend her business only: hoping that a whole man meanly able, may do as well as half a man better able. And if her Majesty think that she shall make an adventure in using one that is rather a man of study, than of practice and experience; surely I may remember to have heard that my father, an example, I confess, rather ready than like, was made solicitor of the augmentation, a court of much business, when he had never practised, and Rawley's Resuscitatio.

was but twenty-seven years old; and Mr. Brograve was now in my time called to be attorney of the duchy, when he had practised little or nothing; and yet discharged his place with great sufficiency. But these things and the like are as her Majesty shall be made capable of them; wherein, knowing what authority your lordship's commendation hath with her Majesty, I conclude with myself, that the substance of strength which I may receive, will be from your lordship. It is true, my life hath been so private, as I have had no means to do your lordship service; but yet, as your lordship knoweth, I have made offer of such as I could yield; for as God hath given me a mind to love the public; so incidently, I have ever had your lordship in singular admiration; whose happy ability her Majesty hath so long used, to her great honour and yours. Besides, that amendment of state or countenance, which I have received, hath been from your lordship. And therefore if your lordship shall stand a good friend to your poor ally, you shall but "tueri opus proprium," which you have begun. And your lordship shall bestow your benefit upon one that hath more sense of obligation than of self-love. Thus humbly desiring pardon of so long a letter, I wish your lordship all happiness. This 7th of June 1595. Your Lordship's in all humbleness to be commanded.

XXIII. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.t

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, Nor able to attend your lordship myself, before your going to the court, by reason of an ague, which offered me a fit on Wednesday morning, but since by abstinence, I thank God, I have starved it, so as now he hath turned his back, I am chasing him away with a little physic: I thought good to write these few words to your lordship, partly to signify my excuse, if need be, that I assisted not Mr. Attorney on Thursday last in the star-chamber, at which time, it is some comfort to me, that I hear by relation somewhat was generally taken hold of by the court, which I formerly had opened and moved; and partly to express a little my conceit, touching the news which your lordship last told me from the queen, concerning a condition in law knit to an interest, which your lordship remembereth, and is supposed to be broken by misfeyance. Wherein surely my mind, as far as it appertaineth to me, is this, that as I never liked not so much as the coming in upon a lease by way of forfeiture, so I am so much enemy to myself, as I take no contentment in any such hope of advantage. For as your lordship can give me best testimony, that I never in my life propounded any such like motion, though I have been incited thereto; so the world will hardly believe, but that it is underhand quickened and nourished from me. And truly, my lord, I would not be thought to supplant any man for + Harl. MSS. Vol. 6997. No. 18.

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XXIV. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.+

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, THERE hath nothing happened to me in the course of my business more contrary to my expectation, than your lordship's failing me, and crossing me now in the conclusion, when friends are best tried. But now I desire no more favour of your lordship, than I would do if I were a suitor in the chancery; which is this only, that you would do me right. And I for my part, though I have much to allege, yet nevertheless, if I see her Majesty settle her choice upon an able man, such a one as Mr. Serjeant Fleming, I will make no means to alter it. On the other side, if I perceive any insufficient obscure idole man offered to her Majesty, then I think myself double bound to use the best means I can for myself; which I humbly pray your lordship I may do with your favour, and that you will not disable me farther than is cause. And so I commend your lordship to God's preservation,

That beareth your lordship all humble respect,
From Gray's-Inn the
FR. BACON.

28th of July, 1595.

Endorsed, in Lord Keeper's hand,

Mr. Bacon wronging me.

XXV. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.§

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

I THOUGHT it became me to write to your lordship, upon that which I have understood from my lord of Essex, who vouchsafed, as I perceive, to deal with your lordship of himself to join with him in the concluding of my business, and findeth your lordship hath conceived offence, as well upon my manner when I saw your lordship at Temple last, as upon a letter, which I did write to your lordship some time before. Surely, my lord, for my behaviour, I am well assured, I omitted no point of duty or ceremony towards your lordship. But I know too much of the court to beg a countenance in public place, where I make account I shall not receive it. And for my letter, the principal point of it was, * f. perfect. + Harl. MSS. Vol. 6997. No. 37. + Ita MSS.

that which I hope God will give me grace to perform, which is, that if any idole may be offered to her Majesty, since it is mixt with my particular, to inform her Majesty truly, which I must do, as long as I have a tongue to speak, or a pen to write, or a friend to use. And farther I remember not of my letter, except it were that I writ, I hoped your lordship would do me no wrong, which hope I do still continue. For if it please your lordship but to call to mind from whom I am descended, and by whom, next to God, her Majesty, and your own virtue, your lordship is ascended; I know you will have a compunction of mind to do me any wrong. And therefore, good my lord, when your lordship favoureth others before me, do not lay the separation of your love and favour upon myself. For I will give no cause, neither can I acknowledge any, where none is; but humbly pray your lordship to understand things as they are. Thus sorry to write to your lordship in an argument which is to me unpleasant, though necessary, I commend your lordship to God's good preservation.

Your lordship's in all humble respect,
FR. BACON.

From Twicknam-Park this
19th of August, 1595.

XXVI. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.||

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP,

I AM Sorry the opportunity permitteth me not to attend your lordship as I minded. But I hope your lordship will not be the less sparing in using the argument of my being studied and prepared in the queen's causes, for my fartherance, upon belief that I had imparted to your lordship my travels, which some time next week I mean to do. Neither have I been able to confer with Mr. Attorney, as I de sired, because he was removing from one building to another. And besides, he alleged his note-book was in the country at and so we respited it to some time next week. I think he will rather do me good offices than otherwise, except it be for the township your lordship remembereth by the verse. Thus I commend your honourable lordship to God's good preservation.

Your Lordship's most humble at your hon[our-
able] commandment,
FR. BACON.
From Gray's-Inn this 25th

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