198 LETTERS FROM THH BACONIANA. 



being but the several tenses of one verb. Nay, I do 

 further presume, that both houses of parliament will love 

 their justice the better if it end not in my ruin. For I have 

 been often told by many of my lords, as it were in excusing 

 the severity of the sentence, that they knew they left me in 

 good hands. And your majesty knoweth \vell I have been 

 all my life long acceptable to those assemblies, not by flat 

 tery, but by moderation, and by honest expressing of a de 

 sire to have all things go fairly and well. 



But if it may please your majesty, (for saints I shall give 

 them reverence, but no adoration ; my address is to your 

 majesty the fountain of goodness) your majesty shall by the 

 grace of God not feel that in gift which I shall extremely 

 feel in help. For my desires are moderate, and my courses 

 measured to a life orderly and reserved, hoping still to do 

 your majesty honour in my way. Only I most humbly be 

 seech your majesty to give me leave to conclude with those 

 words which necessity speaketh: Help me, dear sovereign 

 lord and master, and pity me so far as I that have borne 

 a bag be not now in my age forced in effect to bear a 

 wallet ; nor I that desire to live to study may not be driven 

 to study to live. I most humbly crave pardon of a long 

 letter after a long silence. God of heaven ever bless, pre 

 serve, and prosper your majesty. 



Your Majesty s poor ancient 



servant and beadsman, 

 FR. ST. ALB. 



The Lord Chancellor Bacon s Letter to the Queen 

 of Bohemia*, in Answer to one from her Majesty, 

 and upon sending to her his Book about a War 

 with Spain. 



It may pleasey our Majesty, 

 I have received your majesty s gracious letter from Mr. 



* A.D. 1625. 



