LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 29 



sake might not have been levied upon the poorer sort, though 

 otherwise I wished it as rising as I think this will prove, or 

 more. This was my mind, I confess it : and therefore I 

 most humbly pray your lordship, first, to continue me in 

 your own good opinion, and then, to perform the part of an 

 honourable good friend, towards your poor servant and ally, 

 in drawing her majesty to accept of the sincerity and sim 

 plicity of my zeal, and to hold me in her majesty s favour, 

 which is to me dearer than my life, and so, etc. 



Your Lordship s most humble in all duty, 



FR. BACON. 



Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Northampton. 

 [This letter is a transcript of the one to the Earl of Nor 

 thumberland at page 24, except that in this the words 

 &quot; by my head, tongue, pen, means, or friends,&quot; are 

 omitted.] 



A Letter to Mr. Matthew, upon sending his book 



De Sapientia Veterum. 

 Mr. Matthew, 



I do very heartily thank you for your letter of the 24th 

 of August, from Salamanca; and in recompence thereof, I 

 send you a little work of mine, that hath begun to pass the 

 world. They tell me my Latin is turn d into silver, and 

 become current. Had you been here you had been my 

 inquisitor, before it came forth. But I think the greatest 

 inquisitor in Spain will allow it. But one thing you must 

 pardon me, if I make no haste to believe, that the world 

 should be grown to such an extasy, as to reject truth in 

 philosophy, because the author dissenteth in religion; no 

 more than they do by Aristotle, or Averrois. My great 

 work goeth forward, and after my manner, I alter even 

 when I add : so that nothing is finished till all be finished. 



