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author that I have seen: I conceived it would be honour for his Majesty, and a work very memorable, if this island of Great Britain, as it is now joined in monarchy for the ages to come, so it were joined in history for the times past: and that one just and complete history were compiled of both nations. And if any man perhaps should think it may refresh the memory of former discords, he may satisfy himself with the verse olim hæc meminisse juvabit :" for the case being now altered, it is matter of comfort and gratulation to remember former troubles. Thus much, if it may please your lordship, is in the optative mood; and it is time that I did look a little into the potential; wherein the hope which I conceived was grounded upon three observations. The first, the nature of these times, which flourish in learning, both of art and language; which giveth hope not only that it may be done, but that it may be well done. Secondly, I do see that which all the world sees in his Majesty, both a wonderful judgment in learning, and a singular affection towards learning, and works which are of the mind more than of the hand. For there cannot be the like honour sought and found, in building of galleries,† and planting of elms along high-ways, and in those outward ornaments, wherein France is now so busy, things rather of magnificence than of magnanimity, as there is in the uniting of states, pacifying of controversies, nourishing and augmenting of learning and arts, and the particular actions appertaining to these; of which kind Cicero judged truly, when he said to Cæsar, "Quantum operibus tuis detrahet vetustas, tantum addet laudibus." And lastly, I call | to mind, that your lordship at some times hath been pleased to express unto me a great desire, that something of this nature should be performed; answerable indeed to your other noble and worthy courses and actions; joining and adding unto the great services towards his Majesty, which have, in small compass of time, been performed by your lordship, other great deservings, both of the church and commonwealth, and particulars: so as the opinion of so great and wise a man doth seem to me a good warrant both of the possibility and worth of the matter. But all this while I assure myself, I cannot be mistaken by your lordship, as if I sought an office or employment for myself; for no man knows better than your lordship, that if there were in me any faculty thereunto, yet neither my course of life nor profession would permit it; but because there be so many good painters || both for hand and colours, it needeth but encouragement and instructions to give

leaving the ecclesiastical and civil affairs of those times to be related by the learned pens of Dr. Burnet, notwithstanding the objections of the avowed enemies, and seeming friends to the reformation, and the lord Herbert of Cherbury; that I think there is not much of moment to be expected from a future hand. And for the annals of queen Elizabeth compiled by Mr. Camden, the esteem of them is as universal as the language in which they are written. Nor must I forget in this place to take notice of two fair and large volumes lately published in French by Monsieur de Larrey; where building upon the foundations laid by these gentlemen, and some other memoirs, he hath not forgotten to do much honour to the English nation: beginning his history also with Henry VII. Stephens.

* This I take to be meant of Buchanan's History of Scot

life unto it. So in all humbleness I conclude my presenting unto your lordship this wish; which, if it perish, it is but a loss of that which is not. And so craving pardon that I have taken so much time from your lordship, I remain

LXXXIV. TO THE KING, UPON SENDING UNTO HIM A BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF HIS MAJESTY'S TIMES.¶

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

HEARING that your Majesty is at leisure to peruse story, a desire took me to make an experiment what I could do in your Majesty's times, which being but a leaf or two, I pray your pardon, if I send it for your recreation; considering that love must creep where it cannot go. But to this I add these petitions: First, that if your Majesty do dislike any thing, you would conceive I can amend it upon your least beck. Next, that if I have not spoken of your Majesty encomiastically, your Majesty would be pleased only to ascribe it to the law of a history; which doth not cluster together praises upon the first mention of a name, but rather disperseth and weaveth them through the whole narrative. And as for the proper place of commemoration, which is in the period of life, I pray God I may never live to write it. Thirdly, that the reason why I presumed to think of this oblation, was because whatsoever my disability be, yet I shall have that advantage which almost no writer of history hath had; in that I shall write of times not only since I could remember, but since I could observe. And lastly, that it is only for your Majesty's reading.

LXXXV. A LETTER OF EXPOSTULATION, TO SIR EDWARD COKE, ATTORNEY-GENERAL.** 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, my experience, my discretion. What it pleaseth you, I pray, think of me: I am one that knows both mine own wants and other men's; and it may be, perchance, that mine mend, when others stand at a stay. And surely I may not endure, in public place, to be wronged without

land; a book much admired by some, though censured by many, for his partiality in favour of the lords, against Mary queen of the Scots, and the regal power. In other respects, archbishop Spotswood informs us that he penned it with such judgment and eloquence, as no country can show a better. Stephens.

The magnificent gallery at the Louvre in Paris, built by Henry IV.

The union of England and Scotland.

The conference at Hampton court held between the bishops and puritans, as they were then called, soon after the king's coming to the crown of England, and where his Majesty was the moderator. Stephens.

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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 conforming 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 passed. I write not this to show my friends what a brave letter I have written to Mr. Attorney; I have none of those humours; but that I have written is to a good end, that is, to the more decent carriage of my master's service, and to our particular better understanding one of another. This letter, if it shall be answered by you in deed, and not in word, I suppose it will not be worse for us both; else it is but a few lines lost, which for a much smaller matter I would have adventured. So this being to yourself, I for my part rest[Before June, 1606.]

LXXXVII. ANOTHER LETTER TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY, TOUCHING THE SOLICITOR'S PLACE.†

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

I AM not ignorant how mean a thing I stand for, in desiring to come into the solicitor's place: for I know well, it is not the thing it hath been; time having wrought alteration both in the profession, and in that special place. Yet because, I think, it will increase my practice, and that it may satisfy my friends, and because I have been voiced to it, I would be glad it were done. Wherein I may say to your lordship, in the confidence of your poor kinsman, and of a man by you advanced, "Tu idem fer opem, qui spem dedisti :" for, I am sure, it was not possible for a man living to have received from another more significant and comfortable words of hope; your lordship being pleased to tell me, during the course of my last service, that you would raise me; and that when you had resolved to raise a man, you were more careful of him than himself; and that what you had done for me in my marriage, was a benefit to me, but of no use to your lordship; and therefore I might assure myself, you would not leave me there; with many like speeches, which I know my duty too well, to take any other hold of than the hold of a thankful remembrance. And I acknowledge, and all the world knoweth, that your

LXXXVI. TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY, CON- lordship is no dealer of holy water, but noble and

CERNING THE SOLICITOR'S PLACE.*

MAY IT PLEAse your lordsHIP,

I AM not privy to myself of any such ill deserving towards your lordship, as that I should think it an impudent thing to be a suitor for your favour in a reasonable matter; your lordship being to me as, with your good favour, you cannot cease to be; but rather it were a simple and arrogant part in me to forbear it.

It is thought Mr. Attorney shall be chief justice of the common pleas; in case Mr. Solicitor rise, I would be glad now at last to be solicitor; chiefly because I think it will increase my practice, wherein God blessing me a few years, I may mend my state, and so after fall to my studies and ease; whereof one is requisite for my body, and the other serveth for my mind; wherein if I shall find your lordship's favour, I shall be more happy than I have been, which may make me also more wise. I have small store of means about the king, and to sue myself is not fit: and therefore I shall leave it to God, his Majesty, and your lordship, for I must still be next the door. I thank God, in these transitory things I am well resolved. So beseeching your lordship not to think this letter the less humble, because it is plain, I rest, &c.

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real: and, on my part, I am of a sure ground, that I have committed nothing that may deserve alteration. And therefore my hope is, your lordship will finish a good work, and consider, that time groweth precious with me, that I am now in vergentibus annis. And although I know that your fortune is not to need a hundred such as I am, yet I shall be ever ready to give you my first and best fruits; and to supply, as much as in me lieth, worthiness by thankfulness.

LXXXVIII. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR, CONCERNING THE SOLICITOR'S PLACE.‡

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, As I conceived it to be a resolution, both with his Majesty, and among your lordships of his council, that I should be placed solicitor, and the solicitor to be removed to be the king's serjeant; so I most thankfully acknowledge your lordship's fartherance and forwardness therein; your lordship being the man that first devised the mean: wherefore my humble request to your lordship is, that you would set in with some strength to finish this your work; which, I assure your lordship, I desire the rather, because being placed, I hope for many favours at last 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 matters, but certainly it will † Rawley's Resuscitatio. Ibid.

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 now and then 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 seven years elder in
his thoughts the first day: and therefore what a
discomfortable thing is it for me to be unsettled
still! Certainly, were it not that I think myself
born 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 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 above me. Sure

I am, I shall never have fairer promises and words
from all your lordships. For I know not what my
services are, saving that your lordships told me they
were good, and I would believe you in a much
greater matter. Were it 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 pro-
fession, much more in that 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 your wife
was some mean to make me to change the name of
another; so if it please you help me to change mine
own name, I can be but more and more bounden to
you and I am much deceived, if your lordship find
not the king well inclined, and my lord of Salisbury
forward and affectionate.
1606.

LXXXIX. TO MY LADY PACKINGTON, IN
ANSWER TO A MESSAGE BY HER SENT.*

MADAM,

You shall with right good will be made acquainted with any thing that concerneth your daughters, if you bear a mind of love and concord: otherwise you must be content to be a stranger unto us: for I may not be so unwise as to suffer you to be an author or occasion of dissension between your daughters and their husbands, having seen so much misery of that kind in yourself.

you ought. So wishing you better than it seemeth
you will draw upon yourself, I rest,
Yours,

FR. BACON.

XC. TO THE KING TOUCHING THE
SOLICITOR'S PLACE.+

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 knoweth. For both in the commission of union, the labour whereof, for men of my profession, rested most upon my hand, and this last parliament, in the bill of the subsidy, both body and preamble; in the bill of attainders, both Tresham and the rest; in the matter of purveyance; in the ecclesiastical petitions; in the grievances; and the like; as I was ever careful, and not without good success, sometimes to put forward that which was good, sometimes to keep back that which was not so good; 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 that obtained them were, by kings that reign in peace, no less to be esteemed, than services of commanders in the wars. In all which nevertheless I can challenge to myself no sufficiency, but that I was diligent and reasonably happy to execute those directions, which I received either immediately from your royal mouth, or from my lord of Salisbury: at which time it pleased your Majesty also to promise and assure me, that upon the remove of the then attorney I should not be forgotten, but brought into ordinary place. And this was after confirmed to me, by many of my lords, and towards the end of the last term, the manner also in particular was 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 your service; and of this resolution both court and country took knowledge. Neither was this any invention or project of mine own; but moved from my lords, and I think first from my lord chancellor; whereupon resting, your Majesty well knoweth I never opened my mouth for the greater place; though 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 germain to the lord of Salisbury, whom your Majesty esteemeth and trusteth so much. But for the less place, I con

And above all things I will turn back your kindness, in which you say, you will receive my wife ifceived it was meant me. But after that Mr. Attorney she be cast off; for it is much more likely we have occasion to receive you being cast off, if you remember what is passed. But it is time to make an end of those follies and you shall at this time pardon me this one fault of writing to you; for I mean to do it no more till you use me and respect me as * From an old copy of Sir Francis Bacon's Letters.

Hobart was placed, I heard no more of my preferment; but it seemed to be at a stop, to my great disgrace and discouragement. For, gracious sovereign, if still, when the waters are stirred, another shall be put in before me, your Majesty had need work a miracle, or else I shall be still a lame man Rawley's Resuscitatio.

to do your Majesty service. And therefore my most | another, contain you, even as I hope he will, at the humble suit to your Majesty is; that this, which least, within the bounds of loyalty to his Majesty, seemed to me intended, may speedily be performed: and natural piety towards your country. And I enand I hope, my former service shall be but as be- treat you much, sometimes to meditate upon the ginnings to better, when I am better strengthened: extreme effects of superstition in this last powder for, sure I am, no man's heart is fuller, I say not treason; fit to be tabled and pictured in the chambers but many may have greater hearts, but I say, not of meditation, as another hell above the ground: fuller of love and duty towards your Majesty and and well justifying the censure of the heathen, that your children; as, I hope, time will manifest against superstition is far worse than atheism; by how much envy and detraction, if any be. To conclude, I most it is less evil to have no opinion of God at all, than humbly crave pardon for my boldness, and rest- such as is impious towards his divine majesty and goodness. Good Mr. Matthew, receive yourself back from these courses of perdition. Willing to have written a great deal more, I continue, &c.

1606.

XCI. TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY, UPON
A NEW-YEAR'S TIDE.*

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP,
HAVING no gift to present you with in any degree
proportionable to my mind, I desire nevertheless to
take the advantage of a ceremony to express myself
to your lordship; it being the first time I could
make the like acknowledgment, when I stood out of
the person of a suitor: wherefore I most humbly pray
your lordship to think of me, that, now it hath pleased
you, by many effectual and great benefits, to add the
assurance and comfort of your love and favour to
that precedent disposition, which was in me to ad-
mire your virtue and merit; I do esteem whatsoever
I have or may have in this world, but as trash, in
comparison of having the honour and happiness to
be a near and well accepted kinsman to so rare and
worthy a counsellor, governor, and patriot: for hav-
ing been a studious, if not a curious observer of an-
tiquities of virtue, as of late pieces, I forbear to say
to your lordship what I find and conceive; but to
any other I would think to make myself believed.
But not to be tedious in that which may have the
show of a compliment, I can but wish your lordship
many happy years, many more than your father had;
even so many more, as we may need you more. So
I remain-

XCII. TO MR. MATTHEW, IMPRISONED FOR
RELIGION.†

MR. MATTHEW,

Do not think me forgetful or altered towards you: but if I should say, I could do you any good, I should make my power more than it is. I do hear that which I am right sorry for, that you grow more impatient and busy than at first; which maketh me exceedingly fear the issue of that which seemeth not to stand at a stay. I myself am out of doubt, that you have been miserably abused, when you were first seduced; but that which I take in compassion, others may take in severity. I pray God, that understandeth us all better than we understand one + Ibid.

Rawley's Resuscitatio.

1 Sir Tobie Matthew's Collection of Letters, p. 14.

Sir George Carew of Cornwall was master in chancery in the time of queen Elizabeth; and in 1597 sent ambassador into Poland; and in 1606 went to the court of France with the like character. After about three years' continuance, he was recalled by the king to make use of his services at home;

SIR,

XCIII. TO MR. MATTHEW.‡

Two letters of mine are now already walking towards you; but so that we might meet, it were no matter though our letters should lose their way. I make a shift in the mean time to be glad of your approaches, and would be more glad to be an agent for your presence, who have been a patient by your absence. If your body by indisposition make you acknowledge the healthful air of your native country; much more do I assure myself, that you continue to have your mind no way estranged. And as my trust with the state is above suspicion, so my knowledge both of your loyalty and honest nature will ever make me show myself your faithful friend without scruple. You have reason to commend that gentleman to me, by whom you sent your last, although his having travelled so long amongst the sadder nations of the world make him much the less easy upon small acquaintance to be understood. I have sent you some copies of my book of the "Advancement," which you desired; and a little work of my recreation, which you desired not. My "Instauration" I reserve for our conference; it sleeps

not.

Those works of the "Alphabet" are in my opinion of less use to you where you are now, than at Paris; and therefore I conceived, that you had sent me a kind of tacit countermand of your former request. But in regard that some friends of yours have still insisted here, I send them to you; and for my part, I value your own reading more than your publishing them to others. Thus, in extreme haste, I have scribbled to you I know not what, which therefore is the less affected, and for that very reason will not be esteemed the less by you.

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XCIV. TO SIR GEORGE CAREW§ ON SEND-
ING HIM THE TREATISE IN FELICEM
MEMORIAM ELIZABETHÆ." ||

BEING asked a question by this bearer, an old ser-
but he survived not many years. M. de Thou in a letter to
Mr. Camden in 1613, very much laments his death; as losing
a friend he much valued, and an assistant in the prosecution
of his history: having received helps from him in that
part which relates to the dissensions between the Poles and
the Swedes in the year 1598, as appears before the contents of
book CXXI. Stephens.
Rawley's Resuscitatio

vant of my brother Anthony Bacon's, whether I
would command him any thing 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 pro-
voke your remembrance of me by a letter and
thinking to fill it with somewhat besides salutations,
it came to my mind, that this last summer vacation,
by occasion of a factious book that endeavoured to
verify "Misera Fœmina," 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
pleased to read, both for the argument, and because
you were wont to bear affection to my pen. "Ve-
rum, ut aliud ex alio," if it came handsomely to
pass, I would be glad the president De Thou, who
hath 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 write to the
truth, and to the memory of that lady, as I 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 us both, that we serve our sove-
reigns 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 sci-
ences, which was ever a bond of friendship in the
greatest distance of places. But of this I make no
farther request, than your own occasions and re-
spects, to me unknown, may farther 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.

Rawley's Resuscitatio.

+ Ibid.

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IT MAY PLEASE YOUR EXCELLEent Majesty,

I KNOW not better how to express my good wishes of a new-year to your Majesty, than by this little book, which in all humbleness I send you. The style is a style of business, rather than curious or elaborate. And herein I was encouraged by my experience of your Majesty's former grace, in accepting of the like poor field-fruits touching the union. And certainly I reckon this action as a second brother to the union. For I assure myself that England, Scotland, and Ireland well united, is such a trefoil as no prince except yourself, who are the worthiest, weareth in his crown; "Si potentia reducatur in actum." I know well, that for me to beat my brains about these things, they be majora quam pro fortuna;" but yet they be "minora quam pro studio ac voluntate." For as I do yet bear an extreme zeal to the memory of my old mistress queen Elizabeth, to whom I was rather bound for her trust than her favour; so I must acknowledge myself more bound to your Majesty both for trust and favour; whereof I will never deceive the one, as I can never deserve the other. And so in all humbleness kissing your Majesty's sacred hand, I remain.

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Now your lordship hath been so long in the church and the palace, disputing between kings and popes: methinks you should take pleasure to look into the field, and refresh your mind with some matsovereign princes against the positions of the cardinals Bellarmine and Baronius: the French edition whereof he dedicated to Lewis the thirteenth, and the Latin to king James. This last performance was presented to king James, with a letter exhorting him, "de quitter d'oresenavant la plume, pour aller espée à la main desnicher l'antichrist hors de sa forteresse:" to give over waging a war with his pen, and to destroy the papal power with his sword; which he excites the king to attempt in the conclusion of his dedication, with so much life, that I shall crave the liberty to insert part of his own words, in order to declare the spirit and zeal of a gentleman, who for his valour and conduct in war, his judgment in council, his dexterity in despatches, and his firmness and constancy in religion, in the defence of which, hand, and tongue, and pen, were employed, is far above all the titles of honour that can be given.

The king and kingdom being exasperated by the gunpowder-treason, thought it necessary to make some more effectual laws to distinguish between those papists that paid due obedience to the king, and those that did not. For which end, in the parliament which met upon the memorable fifth of November, 1605, a new oath of allegiance was framed; declaring that the pope, &c. had no power to depose kings, absolve their subjects, or dispose of their kingdoms, &c. The court of Rome, jealous of losing an authority they had been many years assuming; and especially perceiving that many papists submitted to the oath, as not intrenching upon matters of faith, severely inhibited them from taking the same by two briefs, the one quickly succeeding the other. The king, on the other hand, esteeming it a point that nearly concerned him, had recourse to those arms he could best manage, and encountered the briefs by a premonition directed to all chris- "Hanc tu, rex potentissime, laudem, hanc lauream, absit tian princes; exhorting them to espouse the common quarrel. ut tibi præripi patiaris; cuiquam alii servatam velis; non sanCardinal Bellarmine, who, by virtue of his title, thought him-guine, non vita, non carioribus cæteris redemptam malis. At self almost equal to princes, and by his great learning much superior, enters the lists with the king. The seconds coming in on both sides, no man was thought fitter to engage this remarkable antagonist than that great and renowned prelate in learning and sanctity, Dr. Andrews, then bishop of Ely, and after of Winchester. Neither were the reformed of the French church idle spectators; as Monsieur du Moulin, and Monsieur du Plessis Mornay: this last published a book at Saumur in 1611, entitled, "The Mystery of Iniquity," &c. showing by what degrees the bishops of Rome had raised themselves to their present grandeur, asserting the right of

tu, Jehova Deus, cujus res, cujus gloria, hic proprie agitur; cujus absque ope frustra sint vota, suspiria, molimina nostra; evigila, exsurge, robur indue, justitiam ut loricam. Voca servum tuum per nomen suum, prehende dexteram Uncti tui, ambula ante faciem ejus; complanentur valles, subsidant montes, consternantur fluvii, pateant januæ, conterantur vectes, contremiscant populi, corruat Jericho illa in spiritu oris tui, in conspectu ejus. Ego sexagenario licet jam major, lateri tunc ipsius hæream indivulsus; inter angusta, inter as pera Alpium senectam exuam; inter principia prælium misceam; inter triumphos præcinente angelo Cecidit illud conge

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