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worthy your rare virtues; which, some good spirit
tells me, will be in the end. I do in all reverence
kiss your majesty's hands, ever resting

Your majesty's most humble and devoted servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

Stephens's CCXCIX. A letter of the Lord BACON's, in French, to the Marquis FIAT, relating to his Essays.

lection, p. 187.

Monsieur l'Ambassadeur mon Fil,

VOYANT que vostre excellence faict & traite ma-
riages, non seulement entre les princes d'Angleterre
& de France, mais aussi entre les langues (puis que
faictes traduire mon livre del Advancement des sciences
en Francois) j'ai bienvoulu vous envoyer mon livre der-
nierement imprimé, que j'avois pourveu pour vous, mais
j'estois en doubte de le vous envoyer, pour ce qu'il estoit
escrit en Anglois. Mais à cest heure
Mais à cest heure pour la raison
susdicte je le vous envoye. C'est un recompilement
de mes Essayes morales & civiles; mais tellement
enlargies & enrichies, tant de nombre que de poids,
que c'est de fait un œuvre nouveau. Je vous baise
les mains, & reste

Vostre très affectioné ami,
& très humble serviteur.

Sir Tobie CCC. To the Earl of ARUNDEL and SURRY: collection, just before his death, being the last letter he

Matthew's

p. 57.

ever wrote.

My very good Lord,

I WAS likely to have had the fortune of Caius Plinius the elder, who lost his life by trying an experiment about the burning of the mount Vesuvius: for I was also desirous to try an experiment or two, touching the conservation and induration of bodies. As for the experiment itself, it succeeded excellently well; but in the journey, between London and Highgate, I was taken with such a fit of casting, as I knew not whether it were the stone, or some surfeit, or cold, or indeed a

touch of them all three.. But when I came to your lordship's house, I was not able to go back, and therefore was forced to take up my lodging here, where your house-keeper is very careful and diligent about me; which I assure myself your lordship will not only pardon towards him, but think the better of him for it. For indeed your lordship's house was happy to me; and I kiss your noble hands for the welcome which I am sure you give me to it, etc.

I know how unfit it is for me to write to your lordship with any other hand than my own; but by my troth my fingers are so disjointed with this fit of sickness, that I cannot steadily hold a pen.

C. Baldwin, Printer, New Bridge-street, London.

END OF VOL. V.

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