LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 249 



To the Earl of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



I do think long to hear from your lordship, touching my 

 last letter, wherein I gave you my opinion touching your 

 brother s match. As I then shewed my dislike of the 

 matter, so the carriage of it here in the manner I dislike as 

 much. If your lordship think it is humour or interest in 

 me that leads me, God judge my sincerity. But I must 

 say, that in your many noble favours towards me, they ever 

 moved and flowed from yourself, and not from any of your 

 friends whatsoever; and therefore in requital give me leave 

 that my counsels to you again be referred to your happi 

 ness, and not to the desires of any of your friends. I shall 

 ever give you, as I give my master, safe counsel and such 

 as time will approve. 



I received yesterday from Mr. Attorney the queen s bill, 

 which I send your lordship. The payment is not out of 

 lands, but out of the customs, and so it can be but the rent. 

 Your lordship remembereth, it is but in a case which I 

 hope shall never be; that is, after his majesty s death, if 

 she survive. God ever bless and direct you. 



Your Lordship s most faithful 



Gorhambury, this and devoted Friend and Servant, 



25th of July, 1617. FR. BACON, C. S. 



To the Earl of Bristol. 

 My very good Lord, 



I now only send my best wishes, to follow you at sea 

 and land, with due thanks for your late great favours. 

 God knows whether the length of your voyage will not 

 exceed the size of my hour-glass; but whilst I live, my 

 affection to do you service shall remain quick under the 

 ashes of my fortune. 



To 

 Sir, 



In this solitude of friends, which is the base court of 

 adversity, where nobody almost will be seen stirring, I 

 have often remembered this Spanish saying, Amor sin Jin, 

 no tienejin. This bids me make choice of your friend and 

 mine for his noble succours ; not now towards the aspiring 

 but only the respiring of my fortunes. I who am a man 

 of books have observed, that he hath both the magnani 

 mity of the old Romans, and the cordiality of the old 

 English, and withal I believe he hath the wit of both : 



