Page images
PDF
EPUB

jesty'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 remem→ ber 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 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 Harl. MSS. Keeper, etc.

It may please your good Lordship,

Vol. 6997.

No. 18.

NOT 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 remembreth, 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 great gain; and I humbly pray your lordship to continue your commendation and countenance to me in the course of the queen's service that I am entered into: which when it shall please God to move the queen to profit, I hope +ƒ.perfect. I shall give cause for your lordship to obtain as many thanks, as you have endured chidings. And so I commend your good lordship to God's good preservation. Your Lordship's most humbly

*

at your honourable] commandment,
FR. BACON.

From Gray's-Inn the

11th of June, 1595.

[ocr errors]

Harl. MSS. XXIV. To the right honourable the Lord

Vol. 6997.

No. 37.

Keeper, etc.

It may please your Lordship,

[ocr errors]

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 alledge, 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 * Ita MSS. 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,

Ibid.
No. 44.

[ocr errors]

That beareth your lordship all humble respect,
FR. BACON.

From Gray's-Inn the 28th of July, 1595.
Endorsed, in Lord Keeper's hand, Mr. Bacon wronging me.

XXV. To the right honourable the Lord
Keeper, etc.

It may 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 counte

nance in public place, where I make account I shall
not receive it. And for my letter, the principal point
of it was, 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 as-
cended; 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 ac-
knowledge 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 Twickṇam-Park this

19th of August, 1595.

XXVI. To the right honourable the Lord Harl. MSS. Keeper, etc.

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 furtherance 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 desired, because he was removing from one building to another. And besides, he alledged his note-book was in the country at

Vol. 6997.
No. 59.

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 honourable] commandment, FR. BACON.

From Gray's-Inn this 25th

of September, 1595. ›

Harl. MSS. XXVII. To the right honourable my good lord, the Lord Keeper of the great seal of England.

Vol. 6997.
No. 60.

It may please your good Lordship,

My not acquainting your lordship hath proceeded of my not knowing any thing, and of my not knowing of my absence at Byssam with my lady Russel, upon some important cause of her son's. And as I have heard nothing, so I look for nothing, though my lord of Essex sent me word, he would not write till his lordship had good news. But his lordship may go on in his affection, which nevertheless myself have desired him to limit. But I do assure your lordship, I can take no farther care for the matter. Lam now at Twicknam-Park, where I think to stay: for her majesty placing a solicitor, my travel shall not need in her causes, though whensoever her like majesty sha to employ me in any particular, I shall be ready to do her willing service. This I write lest your lordship might think my silence came of any conceit towards your lordship, which, I do assure you, I have not...... And this needed I not to do, if I thought not so: for j my course will not give me any ordinary occasion to use your favour, whereof nevertheless I shall ever be glad. So I commend your good lordship to God's holy preservation.

I

Your Lordship's humble, etc.

FR. BACON.

nuxed
This eleventh of October, 1595. la bland an

« PreviousContinue »