sometimes assailed with this cogitation, that by reason of my slowness to sue and apprehend sudden occasions, keeping on one plain course of painful service, I may (in fine dierum) be in danger to be neglected and forgotten. And if that should be, then were it much better for me now while I stand in your majesty's good opinion, (though unworthy,) and have some reputation in the world, to give over the course I am in, and to make proof to do you some honour by my pen; either by writing some faithful narrative of your happy (though not untraduced) times, or by recompiling your laws, which, I perceive, your majesty laboureth with, and hath in your head, (as Jupiter had Pallas,) or some other the like work, (for without some endeavour to do you honour I would not live,) than to spend my wits and time in this laborious place, wherein now I serve, if it shall be deprived of those outward ornaments, and inward comforts, which it was wont to have in respect of an assured succession to some place of more dignity and rest, which seemeth now to be a hope altogether casual, if not wholly intercepted. Wherefore, (not to hold your inajesty long,) my suit (than the which I think I cannot well go lower) is, that I may obtain your royal promise to succeed (if I live) into the attorney's place, whensoever it shall be void, it being but the natural, and immediate step and rise, which the place I now hold hath ever (in sort) made claim to, and almost never failed of. In this suit I make no friends to your majesty, but rely upon no other motive than your grace, nor any other assurance but your word, whereof I had good experience when I came to the solicitor's place, that they were like to the two great lights, which in their motions are never retrograde. So, with my best prayer for your majesty's happiness, I rest SIR FRANCIS BACON TO SIR GEORGE CARY IN FRANCE, UPON SENDING HIM HIS WRITING, "IN FELICEM MEMORIAM ELIZAВЕТИЕ." MY VERY GOOD LORD, Being asked the question by this bearer, an old servant of my brother Anthony Bacon, whether I would command him any service into France, and being at better leisure than I would, in regard of sickness, I began to remember, that neither your business nor mine (though great and continual) can be, upon an exact account, any just occasion why so much good-will as hath passed between us should be so much discontinued as it hath been. And, therefore, because one must begin, I thought to provoke your remembrance of me, by my letter. And thinking how to fit it with somewhat besides salutations, it came to my mind, that this last summer, by occasion of a factious VOL. III.-5 book that endeavoured to verify, " Misera fæmina" (the addition of the pope's bull) upon Queen Elizabeth; I did write a few lines in her memorial, which I thought you would be well pleased to read, both for the argument, and because you were wont to bear affection to my pen. "Verum, ut aliud ex alio," if it came handsomely to pass, I would be glad the President De Thou (who hatlı written a history, as you know, of that fame and diligence) saw it; chiefly because I know not, whether it may not serve him for some use in his story; wherein I would be glad he did right to the truth, and to the memory of that lady, as 1 perceive by that he hath already written, he is well inclined to do; I would be glad also, it were some occasion (such as absence may permit) of some acquaintance or mutual notice between us. For though he hath many ways the precedence, (chiefly in worth,) yet this is common to them both, that we may serve our sovereigns in places of law eminent, and not ourselves only, but that our fathers did so before us; and, lastly, that both of us love learning, and liberal sciences, which was ever a bond of friendship, in the greatest distances of places. But of this I make no farther request, than your own occasions and respects (to me unknown) may further or limit, my principal purpose being to salute you, and to send you this token, whereunto I will add my very kind commendations to my lady. And so commit you both to God's holy protection. SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE KING. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, It is observed, upon a place in the Canticles by some, " Ego sum Flos Campi, et Lilium Convallium;" that it is not said, "Ego sum fios horti, et lilium montium:" because the majesty of that person is not enclosed for a few, nor appropriate to the great. And yet, notwithstanding, this royal virtue of access, which nature and judgment hath placed in your majesty's mind, as the portal of all the rest, could not of itself (my imperfections considered) have animated me to have made oblation of myself immediately to your majesty, had it not been joined to a habit of like liberty which I enjoyed with my late dear sovereign mistress, a princess happy in all things, but most happy in such a successor. And yet, farther, and more nearly, I was not a little encouraged, not only upon a supposal, that unto your majesty's sacred ears (open to the air of all virtues) there might have come some small breath of the good memory of my father, so long a principal counsellor in your kingdom, but also, by the particular knowledge of the infinite devotion, and incessant endeavours, beyond the strength of his body, and the nature of the times, which appeared in my good brother towards your majesty's service, and the other side, I will not omit to desire humbly were on your majesty's part, through your singular your lordship's favour, in furthering a good conbenignities, by many most gracious and lively ceit and impression of my most humble duty, and significations and favours accepted and acknow-true zeal towards the king, to whose majesty ledged, beyond the thought of any thing he could words cannot make me known, neither mine own effect: all which endeavours and duties, for the nor others, but time will, to no disadvantage of most part, were common to myself with him, though my design between brethren dissembled. And, therefore, most high and mighty king, my most dear and dread sovereign lord, since now the corner-stone is laid of the mightiest monarchy in Europe, and that God above, who is noted to From Gray's Inn, etc. have a mighty hand in bridling the floods and fluctuations of the seas, and of people's hearts, hath by the miraculous and universal consent, any that shall forerun his majesty's experience, by their humanity and commendations. And so I commend your lordship to God's protection. Your, etc. FR. BACON. (the more strange, because it proceedeth from SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF NORTHUM such diversity of causes,) in your coming in, given a sign and token, what he intendeth in the continuance; I think there is no subject of your majesty, who loveth this island, and is not hollow and unworthy, whose heart is not on fire, not only to bring you peace-offerings to make you propitious; but to sacrifice himself as a burnt-offering to your majesty's service: amongst which number, no man's fire shall be more pure and fervent; but how far forth it shall blaze out, that resteth in your majesty's employment: for, since your fortune, in the greatness thereof, hath for a time debarred your majesty of the fruitful virtue which one calleth the principal, "Principis est virtus maxima nôsse suos," because your majesty hath nany of yours, which are unknown unto you, I must leave all to the trial of farther time; and, thirsting after the happiness of kissing your royal hand, continue ever Your, etc. FR. BACON. SIR FRANCIS BACON, TO THE LORD KINLOSS, MY LORD, The present occasion awakeneth in me aremembrance of the constant amity and mutual good offices which passed between my brother deceased and your lordship, whereunto I was less strange, than in respect of the time I had reason to pretend; and withal I call to mind the great opinion my brother (who seldom failed in judgment of a person) would often express me of your lordship's great wisdom and soundness, both in head and heart, towards the service and affairs of our sovereign lord the king. The one of those hath bred in me an election, and the other a confidence, to address my good will and sincere affection to your good lordship, not doubting, in regard my course of life hata wrought me not to be altogether unseen in the matters of the kingdom, that I may be in some use, both in points of service to the king, and your lordship's particular: And, on BERLAND, CONCERNING A PROCLAMATION UPON IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, I do hold it a thing formal and necessary, for the king to forerun his coming, be it never so speedy, with some gracious declaration for the cherishing, entertaining, and preparing of men's affections. For which purpose I have conceived a draught, it being a thing to me familiar, in my mistress her times, to have used my pen in politic writings of satisfaction. The use of this may be in two sorts: First, properly, if your lordship think convenient to show the king any such draught, because the veins and pulses of this state cannot but be known here; which if your lordship should, then I would desire your lordship to withdraw my name, and only signify that you gave some heads of direction of such a matter to one of whose style and pen you had some opinion. The other collateral, that though your lordship make no other use of it, yet it is a kind of portraiture of that which I think worthy to be advised by your lordship to the king, to express himself according to those points which are therein conceived, and perhaps more compendious and significant than if I had set them down in articles. I would have attended your lordship, but for some little physic I took. To morrow morning I will wait on you. So I ever continue, etc. FR. BACON. SIR FRANCIS BACON TO SIR EDWARD COKE MR. ATTORNEY, I thought best, once for all, to let you know in plainness, what I find of you, and what you shall find of me. You take to yourself a liberty to disgrace and disable my law, experience, and discretion; what it pleases you I pray think of me. I am one that know both mine own wants and other men's; and it may be, perchance, that mine may mend when others stand at a stay: And, surely, I may not in public place endure to be friends what a brave letter I have writ to Mr. SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. Attorney; I have none of those humours, but that IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, I have written is to a good end, that is, to the As I conceived it to be a resolution, both with more decent carriage of my master's service, and his majesty, and among your lordships of his to our particular better understanding one another. council, that I should be placed solicitor, and the wronged, without repelling the same to my best advantage, to right myself. You are great, and therefore have the more enviers, which would be glad to have you paid at another's cost. Since the time I missed the solicitor's place, the rather, I think, by your means, I cannot expect that you and I shall ever serve as attorney and solicitor together, but either to serve with another upon your remove, or to step into some other course. So as I am more free than ever I was from any occasion of unworthy confirming myself to you, more than general good manners, or your particular good usage shall provoke; and if you had not been short-sighted in your own fortune, (as I think,) you might have had more use of me; but that tide is past. I write not this to show any pleasure. But this I leave with this, that it is the first matter wherein I had occasion to discern of your friendship, which I see to fall to this, that whereas Mr. Chancellor, the last time in my man's hearing, very honourably said, that he would not discontent any man in my place, it seems you have no such caution. But my writing to you now, is to know of you, where now the stay is, without being any more beholden to you, to whom indeed no man ought to be beholden in those cases in a right course. And so I bid you farewell. FR. BACON. This letter, if it shall be answered by you in deed, and not in word, I suppose it will not be the worse for us both; else it is but a few lines lost, which for a much smaller matter I would adventure. So, this being to yourself, I for my part rest, Yours, etc. FR. BACON. SIR FRANCIS BACON TO SIR VINCENT SKINNER, EXPOSTULATORY. SIR VINCENT SKINNER, I see by your needless delays, this matter is grown to a new question, wherein, for the matter itself, it had been stayed at the beginning by my lord treasurer, and Mr. Chancellor, I should not so much have stood upon it; for the great and daily travails which I take in his majesty's service, either are rewarded in themselves, in that they are but my duty, or else may deserve a much greater matter. Neither can I think amiss of any man, that in furtherance of the king's benefit, moved the doubt, that I knew not what warrant you had, but my wrong is, that you havirg had my lord treasurer's, and Mr. Chancellor's warrant for payment, above a month since, you (I say) making your payments, belike, upon such differences as are better known to yourself, than agreeable to due respect of his majesty's service, have delayed all this time, otherwise than I might have expected either from our ancient acquaintance, or from that regard that one in your place may owe to one in mine. By occasion whereof there ensueth to me a greater inconvenience, that now my name, in sort, must be in question among you, as if I were a man likely to demand that that were unreasonable, or to be denied that that is reasonable; and this must be, because you can pleasure men at solicitor to be removed to be the king's serjeant; so I most humbly thank your lordship's fartherness and forwardness therein, your lordship being the man that first devised the mean; wherefore my humble request unto your lordship is, that you would set in with some strength to finish this your work; which (I assure yourself) I desire the rather, because, being placed, I hope, for your many favours, to be able to do you some better service: for as I am, your lordship cannot use me, nor scarcely indeed know me; not that I vainly think I shall be able to do any great matter, but certainly it will frame me to use a more industrious observance and application to such as I honour so much as I do your lordship, and not, I hope, without some good offices, which may deserve your thanks. And herewithal, good my lord, I humbly pray your lordship to consider, that time groweth precious with me, and that a married man is years seven older in his thoughts the first day; and therefore what a discomfortable thing it is for me to be unsettled still. For, surely, were it not that I think myself born for to do my sovereign service, and therefore in that station I will live and die; otherwise, for mine own private comfort, it were better for me that the king should blot me out of his book, or that I should turn my course to endeavour to serve him in some other kind, than for me to stand thus at a stop, and to have that little reputation which by my industry I gather, to be scattered and taken away by continual disgraces, every new man coming in before me; and sure I am, I shall never have fairer promises and hope from all your lordships, and I would believe you in a far greater matter: and if it were nothing else, I hope the modesty of my suit deserveth somewhat; for I know well the solicitor's place is not as your lordship left it, time working alteration, somewhat in the profession, much more in that CT special place. And were it not to satisfy my wife's friends, and to get myself out of being a common gaze, and a speech, (I protest before God,) I would never speak word for it. But to conclude, as my honourable lady was some mean to make me to change the name of another; so, if it please you to help me, as you said, to change mine own name, I cannot be but more and more bounden to you; and I am much deceived, if your lordship find not the king well inclined: as for my Lord of Salisbury, he is forward and affectionate. SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE KING.* IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, How honestly ready I have been, most gracious sovereign, to do your majesty humble service to the best of my power, and in a manner beyond my power, as I now stand, I am not so unfortunate but your majesty knows; both in the commission of union, the labour whereof, for men of my profession, rested most upon my hands; and this last parliament, for the bill of subsidy, both body and preamble: in the bill of attainders of Tresham, and the rest; in the matter of purveyance, in the ecclesiastical petitions, in the grievances, and the like; as I was ever careful, not without good success, sometimes to put forward that which was good, sometimes to keep back that which was worse; so your majesty was pleased kindly to accept of my services, and to say to me, such conflicts were the wars of peace, and such victories the victories of peace; and therefore such servants as obtained them were, by kings that reign in peace, no less to be esteemed than conquerors in the wars. In all which, nevertheless, I can challenge to myself no sufficiency, that I was * This is merely a copy of a letter, which will be found in diligent, and reasonably happy to execute those directions which I have received, either immediately from your royal mouth, or from my Lord of Salisbury. At that time it pleased your majesty also to assure me, that upon the remove of the then attorney, I should not be forgotten, but be brought into ordinary place; and this was confirmed unto me by many of my lords. And towards the end of the last term, the manner also in particular spoken of, that is, that Mr. Solicitor should be made your majesty's serjeant, and I solicitor; for so it was thought best to sort with both our gifts and faculties for the good of our service, and of this resolution both court and country took notice. Neither was this any invention or project of mine own, but moved from my lords, I think first from my lord chancellor; whereupon resting, your majesty well knoweth, I never opened my mouth for the greater place, although, I am sure, I had two circumstances that Mr. Attorney that now is could not allege; the one nine years' service of the crown; the other, the being cousin-german to my Lord of Salisbury; for of my father's service I will not speak. But for the less place, I conceive, it was never meant me: but after that Mr. Attorney Hubbard was placed, I heard no more of any preferment, but it seemed to be at a stop, to my great disgrace and discontentment. For, gracious sovereign, if still, when the waters be stirred, another shall be put in before me, your majesty hath need work a miracle, or else I shall be a lame man to do your services. And therefore my most humble suit unto your majesty is, that this, which seemed to me intended, may speedily be performed; and I hope my former services shall be but as beginnings to better, when I am better strengthened: for sure I am no man's heart is fuller, I say not, but many may have greater hearts, but I say not fuller of love and duty towards your majesty and your children, as I hope time will manifest against envy and detraction, if any be. To conclude, I humbly crave pardon for my boldness, Yours, etc. page 32, but there are some variations, which have induced me to insert both of them: In the latter letter he refers to his father. etc. FR. BACON. LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. A LETTER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH, UPON SENDING ipsos." Your profession of affection, and offer OF A NEW YEAR'S GIFT. IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, According to the ceremony of the time, I would not forget, in all humbleness, to present your majesty with a small New Year's gift: nothing to my mind. And therefore to supply it, I can but pray to God to give your majesty his New Year's Gift; that is, a new year that shall be as no year to your body, and as a year with two harvests to your coffers; and every other way prosperous and gladsome. And so I remain. of good offices, are welcome to me: For answer to them, I will say but this; that you have believed I have been kind to you; and you may believe that I cannot be other, either upon humour or mine own election. I am a stranger to all poetical conceits, or else I should say somewhat of your poetical example. But this I must say: that I never flew with other wings than desire to merit; and confidence in my sovereign's favour; and when one of these wings failed me, I would light no where but at my sovereign's feet, though she suffered me to be bruised, with my fall. And till her majesty, that knows I was never bird of prey, finds it to agree with her will and her service, that my wings should be imped again, I have com A LETTER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH, UPON THE mitted myself to the mue. No power, but my SENDING OF A NEW YEAR'S GIFT. MOST EXCELLENT SOVEREIGN MISTRESS: God's, and my sovereign's can alter this resolu- SIONS TO SIR THOMAS CHALLONER, THEN IN SIR, The only New Year's Gift which I can give your majesty, is that which God hath given to me: which is, a mind, in all humbleness, to wait upon your cominandments and business: wherein I A LETTER COMMENDING HIS LOVE AND OCCAwould to God that I were hooded, that I saw less; or that I could perform more: for now I am like a hawk, that bates, when I see occasion of service, but cannot fly, because I am tied to another's fist. But, meanwhile, I continue my presumption of making to your majesty my poor oblation of a garment, as unworthy the wearing as his service that sends it: but the approach to your excellent person may give worth to both: which is all the happiness I aspire unto. AN ANSWER OF MY LORD OF ESSEX, TO A MR. BACON, I can neither expound, nor censure your late actions; being ignorant of all of them, save one; and having directed my sight inward only, to examine myself. You do pray me to believe, that you only aspire to the conscience and commendation, of "Bonus Civis," and "Bonus Vir;" and I do faithfully assure you, that while that is your ambition, (though your course be active and mind contemplative,) yet we shall, both, "Convenire in eodem Tertio;" and "Convenire inter nos For our money matters, I am assured you received no insatisfaction: for you know my mind; and you know my means; which now the openness of the time, caused by this blessed consent and peace, will increase; and so our agreement according to your time be observed. For the present, according to the Roman adage, (that one cluster of grapes ripeneth best beside another;) I know you hold me not unworthy, whose mutual friendship you should cherish and I, for my part, conceive good hope that you are likely to become an acceptable servant to the king our master. Not so much for any way made heretofore, (which in my judgment will make no great difference,) as for the stuff and sufficiency, which I know to be in you; and whereof I know his majesty may reap great service. And, therefore, my general request is, that according to that industrious vivacity, which you use towards your friends, you will further his majesty's good conceit and inclination towards me; to whom words cannot make me known; neither mine own nor others; but time will, to no disadvantage of any that shall forerun his majesty's experience, by |