482 LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



To his very loving Friend, Mr. John Murray, of his 



Majesty s Bed Chamber. Deliver these.* 

 Good Mr. Murray, 



I have laboured like a pack horse in your business, and, 

 as I think, have driven in a nail. I pray deliver the in 

 closed to his majesty, wherein I have made mention of the 

 same. I rest 



Yours assured, 



27th January, 1611. FR. BACON. 



From the University of Cambridge to the Right 

 Honourable Sir Francis Bacon, Knight, his Ma 

 jesty s Attorney General, and one of his Honourable 

 Privy Council, these.f 



Right Honourable, 



The special love and favour which your honour by word 

 and writing hath ever professed to learning and this Uni 

 versity, makes us fly to your protection in a present danger, 

 where we fear the chief nerves and foundation of all our 

 jurisdiction, and gracious charters, are (under a pretence of 

 dignity and honour to this University) either intended to 

 be shaken, or wholly overthrown. We doubt not but your 

 honour hath heard of a late petition preferred to his 

 majesty by the mayor and others of Cambridge (as they 

 pretend), to dignify the University in making the town a 

 city; which, upon so fair a gloss, his majesty (out of his 

 gracious favour to this University) hath referred to the 

 order of the Lord Chancellor of England, their high 

 steward ; the Lord Treasurer, our honourable and our most 

 loving chancellor, and your honour. By this project (though 

 dignity and honour to us be the first colour they cast upon 

 their suit, yet by the cunning carriage of the business, and 

 secret workings of friends) we cannot but fear this shadow 

 will be overcast with matter of such substance for them and 

 their purpose, that it will either draw our former grants 

 into question, or us to great inconvenience. Neither is this 

 suspicion without a cause; first for that, about six years 

 past, the like petition was preferred and followed by them ; 

 at what time by a secret view of their book, we perceived 

 our best charters nearly touched : secondly, upon our earn- 

 nest request to have a copy of such matters as they desire, 

 they slight us, saying, &quot; That were but to part the lion s 



* Had. MS 6986. art. 114. t Sloan MS. 3562. art. 40. 



