LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 5 



humbly desiring pardon of so long a letter, I wish your lord 

 ship all happiness. 



Your Lordship s in all humbleness to be commanded. 



FR. BACON. 

 June 6, 1595. 



Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley. 



My Lord, 



With as much confidence as mine own honest and faith 

 ful devotion unto your service, and your honourable corre 

 spondence unto me and my poor estate can breed in a man, 

 do I commend myself unto your lordship. I wax now 

 somewhat ancient ; one and thirty years is a great deal of 

 sand in the hour-glass. My health, I thank God, I find 

 confirmed ; and I do not fear that action shall impair it : 

 because 1 account my ordinary course of study and medita 

 tion to be more painful than most parts of action are. I ever 

 bear a mind, in some middle place that I could discharge, 

 to serve her majesty ; not as a man born under Sol, that 

 loveth honour ; nor under Jupiter, that loveth business, for 

 the contemplative planet carrieth me away wholly : but as a 

 man born under an excellent sovereign, that deserveth the 

 dedication of all men s abilities. Besides I do not find in 

 myself so much self-love, but that the greater parts of my 

 thoughts are to deserve well, if I were able, of my friends, 

 and namely of your lordship ; who being the Atlas of this 

 commonwealth, the honour of my house, and the second 

 founder of my poor estate, I am tied by all duties, both of 

 a good patriot, and of an unworthy kinsman, and of an 

 obliged servant, to employ whatsoever 1 am, to do you 

 service. Again, the meanness of my estate doth somewhat 

 move me : for though I cannot accuse myself, that I am 

 either prodigal or slothful, yet my health is not to spend, nor 

 my course to get. Lastly, I confess that I have as vast 

 contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends : for I 



