96 LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 



that this which seemed to me was intended, may speedily 

 be performed. And I hope my former service shall be but 

 beginnings to better, when I am better strengthened. For 

 sure I am, no man s heart is fuller (T say not but many 

 have greater hearts, but I say, not fuller) of love and duty 

 towards your majesty, and your children, as I hope time 

 will manifest against envy and detraction, if any be. To 

 conclude, I most humbly crave pardon for my boldness, 

 and rest. 



Sir Francis Bacon to the King, his Suit to succeed 

 in the Attorney s Place. 



It may please your Majesty. 



Your great and princely favours towards me in ad 

 vancing me to place, and that which is to me of no less 

 comfort, your majesty s benign and gracious acceptation 

 from time to time of my poor services, much above the 

 merit and value of them, hath almost brought me to an 

 opinion, that I may sooner perchance be wanting to myself 

 in not asking, than find your majesty s goodness wanting to 

 me, in any my reasonable and modest desires. And there 

 fore, perceiving how at this time preferments of law fly 

 about my ears, to some above me, and to some below me, 

 I did conceive your majesty may think it rather a kind of 

 dulness, or want of faith, than modesty, if I should not 

 come with my pitcher to Jacob s Well, as others do. 

 Wherein I shall propound to your majesty, that which 

 tendeth not so much to the raising my fortune, as to the 

 settling of mv mind, being sometimes assailed with this 

 cogitation, that by reason of my slowness to sue and appre 

 hend sudden occasions, keeping on one plain course of 

 painful service, I may (in fine dierum) be in danger to be 

 neglected and forgotten. And if that should be, then 

 were it much better for me now while I stand in your 

 majesty s good opinion, (though unworthy,) and have some 



