90 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 



less, as far as I see, taketh a course to bring this matter in 

 question to his farther disadvantage, and to be principal in 

 his own harm. But if it be true that I have heard of more 

 than one or two, that besides this forerunning in taking of 

 fees, there are other deep corruptions, which in an ordinary 

 course are intended to be proved against him ; surely, for 

 my part, I am not superstitious, as I will not take any 

 shadow of it, nor labour to stop it, since it is a thing medi- 

 cineable for the office of the realm. And then if the place 

 by such an occasion or otherwise should come in possession, 

 the better to testify my affection to your lordship, I shall 

 be glad, as I offered it to your lordship by way of [sur 

 render], so in this case to offer it by way of joint-patency, 

 in nature of a reversion, which, as it is now, there wanteth 

 no good will in me to offer, but that both, in that condition 

 it is not worth the offering; and besides, I know not whe 

 ther my necessity may enforce me to sell it away ; which, 

 if it were locked in by any reversion or joint-patency, I 

 were disabled to do for my relief. 



Thus your lordship may perceive how assured a persua 

 sion I have of your love towards me, and care of me ; which 

 hath made me so freely to communicate of my poor state 

 with your lordship, as I could have done to my honourable 

 father, if he had lived : which I most humbly pray your 

 lordship may be private to yourself, to whom I commit it 

 to be used to such purpose as, in your wisdom and honour 

 able love and favour, should seem good. And so, humbly 

 craving your pardon, I commend your lordship to the divine 

 preservation. 



At your Lordship s honourable commandment 



humbly and particularly. 



Mr. Francis Bacon to the Earl of Essex,* on his 

 Lordship s going on the Expedition against Cadiz. 



My singular good Lord, 



I have no other argument to write on to your good lord 

 ship, but upon demonstration of my deepest and most 

 bounden duty, in fulness whereof I mourn for your lord 

 ship s absence, though I mitigate it as much as I can with 

 the hope of your happy success, the greatest part whereof, 

 be it never so great, will be the safety of your most honour 

 able person ; for the which in the first place, and then for 



* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. xi. fol. 69, in the Lambeth 

 Library. 



