LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM, 477 



that upon your joint means or credit, I might be furnished 

 at my day, and if either of you like the bargain of my marsh 

 lands, you shall have their refusal, and I shall think you 

 true and timely friends. So in great haste, I bid you both 

 farewell. 



From my chamber, Your Friend &amp;gt; lovin g * assured, 



this 12th of March, 1595. rK. .BACON, 



To Lord Burghley.* 

 It may please your good Lordship, 



I am sorry the joint mask from the four inns of court 

 faileth, wherein I conceive there is no other ground of that 

 event but impossibility. Nevertheless, because it faileth 

 out that at this time Grey s Inn is well furnished of gallant 

 young gentlemen, your lordship may be pleased to know 

 that rather than this occasion shall pass without some de 

 monstration of affection from the inns of court ; there are 

 a dozen gentlemen of Grey s Inn, that out of the honour 

 which they bear to your lordship and my Lord Chamber 

 lain, to whom at. their last mask they were so much bounden, 

 will be ready to furnish a mask, wishing it were in their 

 powers to perform it according to their minds. And so for 

 the present I humbly take my leave, resting 



Your Lordship s very humble and much bounden, 



FR. BACON. 



To Mr. Michael Hickes-t 

 Sir, 



The queen hath done somewhat for me, though not in 

 the proportion I hoped; but the order is given, only the 

 monies will not in any part come to my hand this fort 

 night; the later by reason of Mr. Attorney s absence, busied 

 to J the queen, and I am like to borrow the 



mean while. Thus hoping to take hold of your invitation 

 some day this borrowing, I rest 



Your assured Friend, 



FR. BACON. 



To the Earl of Salisbury. 

 My Lord, 



No man can better expound my doings than your lord 

 ship, which maketh me need to say the less ; only I humbly 

 pray you to believe that I aspire to conscience and com 

 mendation, first of bonus civis, which with us is a good and 

 true servant to the queen, and next of bonus vir, that is an 



* Lansd. MS. cvii. art. 8. Grig. t Lansd. MS. cvii. art. 9. Orig. 



J Difficult to decypher, q. intercede 1 $ Lansd. MS. Ixxxvii. art. 79. Orig. 



