LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 25 



virtues, and your particular honours and favours, to my 

 brother deceased, and to myself; which seed still springing, 

 now bursteth forth into this profession. And to be plain 

 with your lordship, it is very true, and no winds or noises 

 of civil matters can blow this out of my head or heart, that 

 your great capacity and love towards studies and contem 

 plations, of a higher and worthier nature than popular, a 

 nature rare in the world, and in a person of your lordship s 

 quality almost singular, is to me a great and chief motive 

 to draw my affection and admiration towards you: and 

 therefore, good my lord, if I may be of any use to your 

 lordship by my head, tongue, pen, means, or friends, I 

 humbly pray you to hold me your own: and herewithal, 

 not to do so much disadvantage to my good mind, nor 

 partly, to your own worth, as to conceive, that this com 

 mendation of my humble service produceth out of any 

 straits of my occasions, but merely out of an election, and 

 indeed, the fulness of my heart. And so wishing your 

 lordship all prosperity, I continue. 



Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Robert Kempe, upon the 



death of Queen Elizabeth. 



Mr. Kempe, this alteration is so great, as you might 

 justly conceive some coldness of my affection towards you, 

 if you should hear nothing from me, I living in this place. It 

 is in vain to tell you, with what a wonderful still and calm 

 this wheel is turned round, which whether it be a remnant of 

 her felicity that is gone, or a fruit of his reputation that is 

 coming, I will not determine; for I cannot but divide 

 myself, between her memory and his name. Yet we 

 account it but as a fair morn before sun rising, before his 

 majesty s presence ; though, for my part, I see not whence 

 any weather should arise. The papists are contained with 

 fear enough, and hope too much. The French is thought 



