LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 279 



nature and judgment. My ambition now I shall only put 

 upon my pen, whereby I shall be able to maintain memory 

 and merit of the times succeeding. 



Lastly, for this divulged and almost prostituted title of 

 knighthood, I could without charge, by your honour s 

 mean, be content to have it, both because of this late dis 

 grace, and because I have three new knights in my mess 

 in Gray s Inn commons ; and because I have found out an 

 alderman s daughter,^ a handsome maiden to my liking. 

 So as if your honour will find the time, I will come to the 

 court from Gorhambury upon any warning, 



How my sales go forward, your lordship shall in a few 

 days hear mean while, if you will not be pleased to take 

 farther day with this lewd fellow, I hope your Lordship 

 will not suffer him to take any part of the penalty, but 

 principal, interest, and costs. 



So I remain your Lordship s most bounden, 



3d July, 1603. FR. BACON. 



To Robert, Lord Cecil. 

 It may please your good Lordship, 



In answer of your last letter, your money shall be ready 

 before your day, principal, interest, and costs of suit. So 

 the sheriff promised when I released errors; and a Jew 

 takes no more. The rest cannot be forgotten ; for I cannot 

 forget your lordship s dum memor ipse mei: and if there have 

 been aliquid nimis, it shall be amended. And, to be plain 

 with your lordship, that will quicken me now which 

 slackened me before. Then I thought you might have 

 had more use of me, than now, I suppose, you are like 

 to have. Not but I think the impediment will be rather 

 in my mind than in the matter or times. But to do you 

 service, I will come out of my religion at any time. 



For my knighthood,f I wish the manner might be such 

 as might grace me, since the matter will not : I mean, that 

 I might not be merely gregarious in a troop. The corona 

 tion is at hand. It may please your lordship to let me 

 hear from you speedily. So I continue 



Your Lordship s ever much bounden, 



From Gorhambury, this 16th of July, 1603. FR. BACON. 



* Probably the lady whom he afterwards married, Alice, one of the daughters 

 and coheirs of Benedict Barnham, Esq., alderman of London. She survived 

 her husband above twenty years. Life of Lord Bacon, &v Dr. William Rowley, 



t He was knighted at Whitehall, July 23, 1603. 



