LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 97 



reputation in the world, to give over the course I am in 

 and to make proof to do you some honour by my pen ; 

 either by writing some faithful narrative of your happy 

 (though not untraduced) times, or by recompiling your 

 laws, which I perceive, your majesty laboureth with, and 

 hath in your head, (as Jupiter had Pallas,) or some other 

 the like work, (for without some endeavour to do you 

 honour I would not live,) than to spend my .wits and time 

 in this laborious place, wherein now I serve, if it shall be 

 deprived of those outward ornaments, and inward comforts, 

 which it was wont to have in respect of an assured succes 

 sion to some place of more dignity and rest, which seemeth 

 now to be a hope altogether casual, if not wholly inter 

 cepted. Wherefore (not to hold your majesty long,) my 

 suit (than the which I think I cannot well go lower) is, that 

 I may obtain your royal promise to succeed (if I live) into 

 the attorney s place, whensoever it shall be void, it being 

 but the natural, and immediate step and rise, which the 

 place I now hold hath ever (in sort) made claim to, and 

 almost never failed of. In this suit I make no friends to 

 your majesty, but rely upon no other motive than your 

 grace, nor any other assurance but your word, whereof I 

 had good experience when I came to the solicitor s place, 

 that they were like to the two great lights, which in their 

 motions are never retrograde. So, with my best prayer 

 for your majesty s happiness, I rest. 



Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Gary in France, 

 upon sending him his writing ; &quot; In felicem Me- 

 moricim Elizabethan 

 My very good Lord, 



Being asked the question by this bearer, an old servant 

 of my brother Anthony Bacon, whether I would command 

 him any service into France, and being at better leisure 



VOL. XI. H 



