PREFACE. xxvii 
been passed upon him, and because there were three new 
knights in his mess at Gray’s Inn. The most important 
reason for seeking this honour he keeps to the last—‘ because 
I have found out an alderman’s daughter, an handsome 
maiden, to my liking.’ But he desired especially that the 
honour should be conferred as a real distinction, and that he 
‘might not be merely gregarious in a troop.’ On the 23rd 
of July he gained his wish, but in the company of three 
hundred others. His ambition for professional advancement 
was quenched under the new sovereign. In the letter to Cecil 
which has already been referred to, he says, ‘My ambition 
now I shall only put upon my pen, whereby I shall be able 
to maintain memory and merit of the times succeeding.’ 
James, if not wise, was undoubtedly learned, and in his 
advent to the throne Bacon saw hopes of at last realizing 
his magnificent dreams of the regeneration of learning and 
the extension of the kingdom of man. And it may be that 
during this year (1603) he wrote the first book of The 
Proficience and Advancement of Learning. His other literary 
productions of this period are 4 Brief Discourse touching the 
Happy Union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and 
Certain Considerations touching the better Pacification and Edific- 
ation of the Church of England. The latter of these may be 
regarded as the sequel to a tract on the same subject which 
he had written in 1589. It was partly printed in 1604, but 
not published, and was evidently composed with direct refer- 
ence to the subjects discussed at the Hampton Court con- 
ference. His Apology for his conduct in the Essex trial, 
which was addressed to Montjoy, now Earl of Devonshire, 
belongs to the same year. 
The first Parliament of the new reign met on the roth of 
March, 1603-4, and Bacon was again returned both by 
Ipswich and St. Alban’s, still taking the same prominent part 
in the proceedings of the House. His office as one of the 
learned counsel was confirmed to him by patent on the 18th. 
of August, coupled with the grant of a pension of 60/, a year 
for life. His vacation was employed in drawing up Certain 
