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safed to open. They were two, the one, that I in practice. For a time, till your assurance pass, should include ***

1593, April.

The rest of the Letter is wanting.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO SIR JOHN PUCK-
ERING, LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT
SEAL.*

MY LORD,

Ir is a great grief unto me, joined with marvel, that her Majesty should retain a hard conceit of my speeches in parliament. It might please her sacred Majesty to think what my end should be in those speeches, if it were not duty, and duty alone. I am not so simple, but I know the common beaten way to please. And whereas popularity hath been objected, I muse what care I should take to please many, that take a course of life to deal with few. On the other side, her Majesty's grace and particular favour towards me hath been such, as I esteem no worldly thing above the comfort to enjoy it, except it be the conscience to deserve it. But if the not seconding of some particular person's opinion shall be presumption, and to differ upon the manner shall be to impeach the end; it shall teach my devotion not to exceed wishes, and those in silence. Yet notwithstanding, to speak vainly as in grief, it may be her Majesty hath discouraged as good a heart, as ever looked toward her service, and as void of self-love. And so in more grief than I can well express, and much more than I can well dissemble, I leave your lordship, being as ever,

Your lordship's entirely devoted, &c.

|

so it pass with convenient speed, because of the
uncertainty of life, I am content to enter into one;
looking, nevertheless, for some present of gratification
for my very joining in conveyance, and much more
having yielded to this. For any warranty or char-
ter, I had had neither law nor wit, if I should have
meant it; and the reforming of the covenant and
the deed of feoffment, doth sufficiently witness my
intention. Thus bid I heartily farewell.
Your very loving friend,

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YOUR letter met me here yesterday. When I came, I found the queen so wayward, as thought it no fit time to deal with her in any sort, especially since her choler grew towards myself, which I have well satisfied this day, and will take the first opportunity I can to move your suit. And if you come hither, I pray you let me know still where you are. And so being full of business, I must end, wishing you what you wish to yourself. Your assured friend,

ESSEX.

LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY TO MR. >
FRANCIS BACON.

NEPHEW,

I HAVE no leisure to write much; but for answer,

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO ALDERMAN JOHN I have attempted to place you: but her Majesty

SPENCER.I

MR. ALDERMAN SPENCER,§

THOUGH I be ready to yield to any thing for my brother's sake, so yet he will not, I know, expect, no nor permit me, that I should do myself wrong. For me, that touch no money, to have a statute hurrying upon my estate of that greatness, were a thing utterly unreasonable, and not to be moved, specially, since your assurance is as good without. There is much land bought and sold in England, and more entailed than fee-simple. But for a remainder man to join in seal, I think was never put * Harl. MSS. Vol. 286. No. 129. fol. 232.

On Wednesday the 7th of March, 1592-3, upon the three subsidies demanded of the house of commons; to which he assented, but not to the payment of them under six years, urging the necessities of the people, the danger of raising public discontentment, and the setting of an evil precedent against themselves and their posterity. See Sir Simonds D'Ewes's Journals, p. 493. He sat in that parliament, which met November 19, 1592, and was dissolved 10 April, 1593, as one of the knights of the shire for Middlesex.

Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iii. fol. 186, in the Lambeth library.

Sir John Spencer, lord mayor of London in 1594. His vast fortune came to his only daughter, Elizabeth, married to

hath required the lord keeper** to give to her the
names of divers lawyers to be preferred, wherewith
he made me acquainted, and I did name you as a
meet man, whom his lordship allowed in way of
friendship, for your father's sake: but he made
scruple to equal you with certain, whom he named,
as Brograve†† and Branthwayt, whom he specially
commendeth. But I will continue the remembrance
of you to her Majesty, and implore my lord of
Essex's help.
Your loving uncle,
N. BURGHLEY.

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SIR ROBERT CECIL TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.

COUSIN,

ASSURE yourself, that the solicitor's + coming gave no cause of speech; for it was concerning a book to be drawn concerning the bargain of wines. If there had been, you should have known, or when there shall. To satisfy your request of making my lord know how recommended your desires are to me, I have spoken with his lordship, who answereth, he hath done and will do his best. I think your absence longer than for my good aunt's comfort will do you no good: for, as I ever told you, it is not likely to find the queen apt to give an office, when the scruple is not removed of her forbearance to speak with you. This being not yet perfected may stop good, when the hour comes of conclusion, though it be but a trifle, and questionless would be straight despatched, if it were luckily handled. But herein do I, out of my desire to satisfy you, use this my opinion, leaving you to your own better knowledge what hath been done for you, or in what terms that matter standeth. And thus, desirous to be recommended to my good aunt, to whom my wife heartily commends her, I leave you to the protection of Almighty God. From the court at Windsor, this 27th of September, 1593.

Your loving cousin and friend,

ROBERT CECIL.

indeed, and access to your royal person, I did ever, encouraged by your own speeches, seek and desire; and I would be very glad to be reintegrate in that. But I will not wrong mine own good mind so much, as to stand upon that now, when your Majesty may conceive, I do it but to make my profit of it. But my mind turneth upon other wheels than those of profit. The conclusion shall be, that I wish your Majesty served answerable to yourself. • Principis est virtus maxima nosse suos.' Thus I most humbly crave pardon of my boldness and plainness. God preserve your Majesty.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO ROBERT KEMP, OF GRAY'S-INN, ESQ.§

GOOD ROBIN,

THERE is no news you can write to me, which I take more pleasure to hear, than of your health, and of your loving remembrance of me; the former whereof though you mention not in your letter, yet I straight presumed well of it, because your mention was so fresh to make such a flourish. And it was afterwards accordingly confirmed by your man Roger, who made me a particular relation of the former negotiation between your ague and you. Of the latter, though you profess largely, yet I make more doubt, because your coming is turned into a sending; which when I thought would have been repaired by some promise or intention of yourself, your man

I have heard in these causes, Facies hominis Roger entered into a very subtle distinction to this est tanquam leonis,'

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE QUEEN.
MADAM,

REMEMBERING, that your Majesty had been gracious to me both in countenancing me, and conferring upon me the reversion of a good place, and perceiving that your Majesty had taken some displeasure towards me, both these were arguments to move me to offer unto your Majesty my service, to the end to have means to deserve your favour, and to repair my error. Upon this ground I affected myself to no great matter, but only a place of my profession, such as I do see divers younger in proceeding to myself, and men of no great note, do without blame aspire unto. But if any of my friends do press this matter, I do assure your Majesty my spirit is not with them.

It sufficeth me, that I have let your Majesty know, that I am ready to do that for the service, which I never would do for mine own gain. And if your Majesty like others better, I shall, with the Lacedæmonian, be glad, that there is such choice of abler men than myself. Your Majesty's favour Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iii. fol. 197, verso, in the Lambeth library.

Mr. Edward Coke.

purpose, that you could not come, except you heard I was attorney; but I ascribe that to your man's invention, who had his reward in laughing; for I hope you are not so stately, but that I shall be one to you stylo vetere or stylo novo. For my fortune (to speak court) it is very slow, if any thing can be slow to him that is secure of the event. In short, nothing is done in it; but I propose to remain here at Twickenham till Michaelmas term, then to St. Alban's, and after the term to court. Advise you, whether you will play the honest man or no. In the mean time I think long to see you, and pray to be remembered to your father and mother.

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I THOUGHT it not amiss to inform your lordship of that which I gather partly by conjecture, and partly by advertisement of the late recovered man, that is § 1593, Nov. 4. Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iii. fol. 281, in the Lambeth library.

1593, Nov. 10. Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, 1593. Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. Esq. vol. iii. fol. 283, in the Lambeth library.

iii. fol. 315, in the Lambeth library.

so much at your devotion, of whom I have some | Yet if they had been never for you, but contrarily cause to think, that he* worketh for the Huddler † | against you, I thought my credit, joined with the underhand. And though it may seem strange, considering how much it importeth him to join straight with your lordship, in regard both of his enemies and of his ends; yet I do the less rest secure upon the conceit, because he is a man likely to trust so much to his art and finesse, (as he, that is an excellent wherryman, who, you know, looketh towards the bridge, when he pulleth towards Westminster,) that he will hope to serve his turn, and yet to preserve your lordship's good opinion. This I write to the end, that if your lordship do see nothing to the contrary, you may assure him more or trust him less; and chiefly, that your lordship be pleased to sound again, whether they have not, amongst them, drawn out the nail, which your lordship had driven in for the negative of the Huddler; which if they have, it will be necessary for your lordship to iterate more forcibly your former reasons, whereof there is such copia, as I think you may use all the places of logic against his placing.

Thus, with my humble thanks for your lordship's honourable usage of Mr. Standen, I wish you all honour.

Your lordship's in most faithful duty,

FR. BACON.

I pray, Sir, let not my jargon privilege my letter from burning; because it is not such, but the light showeth through.

THE EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS
BACON.‡

SIR,

I HAVE received your letter, and since I have had opportunity to deal freely with the queen. I have dealt confidently with her as a matter, wherein I did more labour to overcome her delays, than that I did fear her denial. I told her how much you were thrown down with the correction she had already given you, that she might in that point hold herself already satisfied. And because I found, that Tanfield § had been most propounded to her, I did most disable him. I find the queen very reserved, staying herself upon giving any kind of hope, yet not passionate against you, till I grew passionate for you. Then she said, that none thought you fit for the place but my lord treasurer and myself. Marry, the others must some of them say before us for fear or for flattery. I told her the most and wisest of her council had delivered their opinions, and preferred you before all men for that place. And if it would please her Majesty to think, that whatsoever they said contrary to their own words when they spake without witness, might be as factiously spoken, as the other way flatteringly, she would not be deceived.

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approbation and mediation of her greatest counsellors, might prevail in a greater matter than this; and urged her, that though she could not signify her mind to others, I might have a secret promise, wherein I should receive great comfort, as in the contrary great unkindness. She said she was neither persuaded nor would hear of it till Easter, when she might advise with her council, who were now all absent; and therefore in passion bid me go to bed, if I would talk of nothing else. Wherefore in passion I went away, saying, while I was with her, I could not but solicit for the cause and the man I so much affected; and therefore I would retire myself till I might be more graciously heard; and so we parted. To-morrow I will go hence of purpose, and on Thursday I will write an expostulating letter to her. That night or upon Friday morning I will be here again, and follow on the same course, stirring a discontentment in her, &c. And so wish you all happiness, and rest

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I HAVE now spoken with the queen, and I see no stay from obtaining a full resolution of that we desire. But the passion she is in by reason of the tales that have been told her against Nicholas Clifford, with whom she is in such rage, for a matter, which I think you have heard of, doth put her infinitely out of quiet; and her passionate humour is nourished by some foolish women. Else I find nothing to distaste us, for she doth not contradict confidently; which they, that know the minds of women, say is a sign of yielding. I will to-morrow take more time to deal with her, and will sweeten her with all the art I have to make benevolum audilorem. I have already spoken with Mr. Vice-chamberlain; ¶ and will to-morrow speak with the rest. Of Mr. Vice-chamberlain you may assure yourself; for so much he hath faithfully promised me. exceptions against the competitors I will use tomorrow; for then I do resolve to have a full and large discourse, having prepared the queen to-night to assign me a time under colour of some such business, as I have pretended. In the mean time I must tell you, that I do not respect either my absence, or my showing a discontentment in going away, for I was received at my return, and I think I shall not be the worse. And for that I am oppressed with multitude of letters that are come, of which I must

The

Probably Laurence Tanfield, made lord chief baron of the Exchequer in June 1607. Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iv. fol. 89, in the Lambeth library. Sir Thomas Heneage.

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I THANK your lordship very much for your kind and comfortable letter, which I hope will be followed at hand with another of more assurance. And I must confess this very delay hath gone so near me, as it hath almost overthrown my health; for when I revolved the good memory of my father, the near degree of alliance I stand in to my lord treasurer, your lordship's so signalled and declared favour, the honourable testimony of so many counsellors, the 'commendations unlaboured, and in sort offered by my lords the judges and the master of the rolls elect; † that I was voiced with great expectation, and, though I say it myself, with the wishes of most men, to the higher place; † that I am a man, that the queen hath already done for; and that princes, especially her Majesty, love to make an end where they begin; and then add hereunto the obscureness and many exceptions to my competitors: when, I say, I revolve all this, I cannot but conclude with myself, that no man ever read a more exquisite disgrace; and therefore truly, my lord, I was determined, if her Majesty reject me, this to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I will, by God's assistance, with this disgrace of my fortune, and yet with that comfort of the good opinion of so many honourable and worthy persons, retire myself with a couple of men to Cambridge, and there spend my life in my studies and contemplations without looking back. I humbly pray your lordship to pardon me for troubling you with my melancholy. For the matter itself, I commend it to your love; only I pray you communicate afresh this day with my lord treasurer and Sir Robert Cecil; and if you esteem my fortune, remember the point of precedency. The objections to my competitors your lordship knoweth partly. I pray spare them not, not over the queen, but to the great ones, to show your confidence, and to work their distrust. Thus longing exceedingly to exchange troubling your lordship with serving you, I rest

Your lordship's, in most entire and faithful service,

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MR. FRANCIS BACON TO SIR ROBERT
CECIL.§

MY MOST HONOURABLE GOOD COUSIN,

YOUR honour in your wisdom doth well perceive, that my access at this time is grown desperate in regard of the hard terms, that as well the earl of Essex as Mr. Vice-chamberlain, who were to have been the means thereof, stand in with her Majesty, according to their occasions. And therefore I am only to stay upon that point of delaying and preserving the matter entire till a better constellation; which, as it is not hard, as I conceive, considering the French business and the instant progress, &c. so I commend in special to you the care, who in sort assured me thereof, and upon whom now, in my lord of Essex's absence, I have only to rely; and, if it be needful, I humbly pray you to move my lord your father to lay his hand to the same delay. And so I wish you all increase of honour.

Your honour's poor kinsman in faithful service and duty,

FRANCIS BACON. From Gray's-Inn, this 1st of May, 1594.

SIR ROBERT CECIL'S ANSWER.]]
COUSIN,

I Do think nothing cut the throat more of your present access than the earl's being somewhat troubled at this time. For the delaying I think it not hard, neither shall there want my best endeavour to make it easy, of which I hope you shall not need to doubt by the judgment which I gather of divers circumstances confirming my opinion. I protest I suffer with you in mind, that you are thus gravelled; but time will founder all your competitors, and set you on your feet, or else I have little understanding.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.¶ SIR,

I WROTE not to you till I had a second conference with the queen, because the first was spent only in compliments; she in the beginning excepted all business: this day she hath seen me again. After I had followed her humour in talking of those things, which she would entertain me with, I told her, in my absence I had written to Sir Robert Cecil, to solicit her to call you to that place, to which all the world had named you; and being now here, I must follow it myself; for I know what service I should do her in procuring you the place; and she knew not how great a comfort I should take in it. Her answer in playing just was, that she came not to me for that, I should talk of those things when I

Among the Papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iv. fol. 122, in the Lambeth library. Ibid. Ibid.

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I WENT yesterday to the queen through the galleries in the morning, afternoon, and at night. I had long speech with her of you, wherein I urged both the point of your extraordinary sufficiency, proved to me not only by your last argument, but by the opinion of all men I spake withal, and the point of mine own satisfaction, which, I protested, should be exceeding great, if, for all her unkindness and discomforts past, she should do this one thing for my sake. To the first she answered, that the greatness of your friends, as of my lord treasurer and myself, did make men give a more favourable testimony than else they would do, thinking thereby they pleased us. And that she did acknowledge you had a great wit, and an excellent gift of speech, and much other good learning. But in law she rather thought you could make show to the uttermost of your knowledge, than that you were deep. To the second she said, she showed her mislike to the suit, as well as I had done my affection in it; and that if there were a yielding, it was fitter to be of my side. I then added, that this was an answer, with which she might deny me all things, if she did not grant them at the first, which was not her manner to do. But her Majesty had made me suffer and give way in many things else; which all I should bear, not only with patience, but with great contentment, if she would but grant my humble suit in this one. And for the pretence of the approbation given you upon partiality, that all the world, lawyers, judges, and all, could not be partial to you; for somewhat you were crossed for their own interest, and some for their friends; but yet all did yield to your merit. She did in this as she useth in all, went from a denial to a delay, and said, when the council were all here, she would think of it; and there was no haste in determining of the place. To which I answered, that my sad heart had need of hasty comfort: and therefore her Majesty must pardon me, if I were hasty and importunate in it. When they come we shall see what will be done; and I wish you all happiness, and rest Your most affectionate friend,

Indorsed, 18th of May, 1594.

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FOULKE GREVILL, ESQ. TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.+

MR. FRANCIS BACON,

SATURDAY was my first coming to the court, from whence I departed again as soon as I had kissed her Majesty's hands, because I had no lodging nearer than my uncle's, which is four miles off. This day I came thither to dinner, and waiting for to speak with the queen, took occasion to tell how I met you, as I passed through London; and among other speeches, how you lamented your misfortune to me, that remained as a withered branch of her roots, which she had cherished and made to flourish in her service. I added what I thought of your worth, and the expectation for all this, that the world had of her princely goodness towards you: which it pleased her Majesty to confess, that indeed you began to frame very well, insomuch as she saw an amends in those little supposed errors, avowing the respect she carried to the dead, with very exceeding gracious inclination towards you. Some comparisons there fell out besides, which I leave till we meet, which I hope shall be this week. It pleased her withal to tell of the jewel you offered her by Mr. Vice-chamberlain, which she had refused, yet with exceeding praise. I marvel, that as a prince she should refuse those havings of her poor subjects, because it did include a small sentence of despair; but either I deceive myself, or she was resolved to take it; and the conclusion was very kind and gracious. Sure as I will 100%. to 50%, that you shall be her solicitor, and my friend: in which mind and for which mind I commend you to God. From the court this Monday in haste,

Your true friend to be commanded by you,
FOULKE GREVILL.

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MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE QUEEN.†

MOST GRACIOUS AND ADMIRABLE SOVEREIGN, As I do acknowledge a providence of God towards me, that findeth it expedient for me tolerare jugum in juventute mea; so this present arrest of mine by his Divine Majesty from your Majesty's service is not the least affliction, that I have proved; and I hope your Majesty doth conceive, that nothing under mere impossibility could have detained me from earning so gracious a vail, as it pleased your MaESSEX. jesty to give me. But your Majesty's service by the grace of God shall take no lack thereby; and thanks to God, it hath lighted upon him, that may be best spared. Only the discomfort is mine, who nevertheless have the private comfort, that in the time I Ibid. folio 132. Ibid. fol. 141 and 156.

Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iv. fol. 123, in the Lambeth library.

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