MR. FRANCIS BACON TO MR. ROBERT CECIL.* TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MY VERY GOOD SIR: I am very glad that the good affection and friendship, which conversation and familiari- MY LORD: I have, since I spake with your ty did knit between us, is not by absence and lordship, pleaded to the queen against herself for intermission of society discontinued; which the injury she doth Mr. Bacon in delaying him assureth me it had a farther root than ordinary so long, and the unkindness she doth me in acquaintance. The signification whereof, as it granting no better expedition in a suit which I is very welcome to me, so it maketh me wish, have followed so long, and so affectionately. And that if you have accomplished yourself as well though I find that she makes some difficulty, to in the points of virtue and experience, which you have the more thanks, yet I do assure myself she sought by your travel, as you have won the per- is resolved to make him. I do write this, not to fection of the Italian tongue, I might have the solicit your lordship to stand firm in assisting me, contentment to see you again in England, that because, I know, you hold yourself already tied we may renew the fruit of our mutual good will; by your affection to Mr. Bacon, and by your prowhich, I may truly affirm, is, on my part, much mise to me; but to acquaint your lordship of my increased towards you, both by your own demon-resolution to set up my rest, and employ my stration of kind remembrance, and because I dis- uttermost strength to get him placed before the cern the like affection in your honourable and nearest friends. Our news are all but in seed; for our navy is set forth with happy winds, in token of happy adventures, so as we do but expect and pray, as the husbandman when his corn is in the ground. Thus, commending me to your love, I commend you to God's preservation. 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 extraordinary advantage. I wish your lordship all honour and happiness, and rest Your lordship's very assured, Greenwich, this 14th of January, [1594.] ESSEX. My Lord of Essex for Mr. Fran. Bacon to be solicitor. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD 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 joined your lordship's obligation in dealing strongly for me as you have begun, no man can be more yours. A timorous man is everybody'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. FR. BACON. From Greenwich, this 5th of April, 1594. From the original draught in the library of Queen's College, Oxford, Arch. D. 2. This letter seems to be of a very early date, and to have been written to Mr. Robert Cecil, while he was upon his travels. + Harl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 20. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD Sir Thomas Egerton failing of your lordship, duty and service, FR. BACON. 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, From Gray's Inn, this 8th of April, 1591. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP me to pass over contrary times, so I humbly pray Your lordship's most humbly From Gray's Inn, this 25th TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD 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. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD 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 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 you honourable lordship to God's good preservation Your good lordship's humbly at your honourable commandments, FR. BACON. From Gray's Inn, the 25th Our Tower employment stayeth, and hath done TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD Your lordship's most humbly to receive your commandments, 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 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 tha it may be, when her majesty hath tried others, Your lordship's much bounden From Twickenham Park, this. 20th of May, 1595. Endorsed, I do well like the course they take, which is, in every kind to set down, as in beer, in wine, în beef, in muttons, in corn, &c., what cometh to the king's use, and then what is spent, and lastly what may be saved. This way, though it be not so accusative, yet it is demonstrative. Nam rectum est index sui et obliqui, and the false manner of accounting, and where the gain cleaveth will appear after by consequence. I humbly pray his majesty to pardon me for troubling him with these imperfect glances, which I do, both because I Mr. Fr. Bacon, his contentation to leave the solicitor- know his majesty thinketh long to understand ship. TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS.* somewhat, and lest his majesty should conceive, that he multiplying honours and favours upon me, I should not also increase and redouble my endea. vours and cares for his service. God ever bless, preserve, and prosper his majesty and your lord- Your true and most devoted servant, Jan. 16, 1617. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD SIR,-I think I cannot do better service towards the good estate of the kingdom of Ireland, than to procure the king to be well served in the eminent places of law and justice; I shall, therefore, name unto you for the attorney's place there, or for the solicitor's place, if the new solicitor shall go up, a gentleman of mine own breeding and framing, Mr. Edward Wyrthington, of Gray's Inn; he is born to eight hundred pounds a year; IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORdship, he is the eldest son of a most severe justicer amongst the recusants of Lancashire, and a man most able for law and speech, and by me trained in the king's causes. My lord deputy, by my description, is much in love with the man. I hear my Lord of Canterbury and Sir Thomas Laque should name one Sir John Beare, and some other mean men. This man I commend upon my credit, for the good of his majesty's service. God ever preserve and prosper you. I rest Not able to attend your lordship myself before your going to the court, by reason of an ague, but since, by abstinence, I thank God, I have which offered me a fit on Wednesday morning, 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 mo tion, 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 commendations and countenance to me in the course of the queen's service that I am entered into: which, when it shall * Harl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 18. please God to move the queen to profit, I hope 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, From Gray's Inn, the 11th of June, 1595 TO THE RIGHT Honourable the lord 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, idol 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 28th of July, 1595. Endorsed, in lord keeper's hand, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABle the lord IT MAY PLEASE your Lordship, give me grace to perform, which is, that if any Your lordship's, in all humble respect, 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 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 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 other remembereth by the verse. Thus I commend your honourable lordship to God's good preserva tion. Your lordship's most humble at your honourable commandment, FR. BACON From Gray's Inn, this 25th of September, 1595. I thought it became me to write to your lord-wise, except it be for the township your lordship ship, 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 Jordship some time before. Surely, my lord, for my behaviour, I am well assured, I omitted no point of duty or ceremony towards your lordship. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MY GOOD LORD, 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, that which I hope God will THE LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL OF 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. I am now at Twickenham Park, where I think to stay: for her majesty placing a solicitor, my travel shall not need in her causes, though, whensoever her majesty shall like 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 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. Your lordship's humble, &c. This 11th of October, 1595. FR. BACON. acquaintance. And because I conceive the gen tleman to be every way sortable with the service, I am bold to commend him to your lordship's good favour. And even so, with remembrance of my most humble duty, I rest Your lordship's affectionate to do you humble service, FR. BACON. Twickenham Park, July 3, 1595. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.* MY LORD,-In my last conference with your lordship, I did entreat you both to forbear hurting of Mr. Fr. Bacon's cause, and to suspend your judgment of his mind towards your lordship, till I had spoken with him. I went since that time to Twickenham Park to confer with him, and had signified the effect of our conference by letter ere this, if I had not hoped to have met with your lordship, and so to have delivered it by speech. I told your lordship when I last saw you, that this manner of his was only a natural freedom, and plainness, which he had used with me, and in my knowledge with some other of his best friends, than any want of reverence towards your lordship; and therefore I was more curious to look TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, into the moving cause of his style, than into the &c.* IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, I conceive the end already made, which will, I trust, be to me a beginning of good fortune, or at least of content. Her majesty, by God's grace, shall live and reign long, she is not running away, I may trust her. Or whether she look towards me or no, I remain the same, not altered in my intention. If I had been an ambitious man, it would have overthrown me, but minded as I am, Revertet benedictio mea in sinum meum. If I had made any reckoning of any thing to be stirred, I would have waited on your lordship, and will be at any time ready to wait on you to do you service. So I commend your good lordship to God's holy preservation. Your lordship's most humble, at your honourable commandment, FR. BACON. From Twickenham Park, this 14th of October. Endorsed, 14th October, 95. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, &c.t MY VERY GOOD LORD, I received a letter from a very friend of mine, requesting me to move your lordship to put into the commission for the subsidy, Mr. Richard Kempe, a reader of Gray's Inn, and besides born to good estate, being also my friend and familiar ⚫ Harl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 61. + Ibid. No. 29. form of it; which now I find to be only a diffidence of your lordship's favour and love towards him, and no alienation of that dutiful mind which he hath borne towards your lordship. And therefore I am fully persuaded, that if your lordship would please to send for him, there would grow so good satisfaction, as hereafter he should enjoy your lordship's honourable favour in as great a measure as ever, and your lordship have the use of his service, who, I assure your lordship, is as strong in his kindness, as you find him in his jealousy. I will use no argument to persuade your lordship, that I should be glad of his being restored to your lordship's wonted favour; since your lordship both knoweth how much my credit is engaged in his fortune, and may easily judge how sorry I should be, that a gentleman whom I love so much, should lack the favour of a person whom I honour so much. And thus commending your lordship to God's best protection, I rest Your lordship's very assured, ESSEX. |