STUDENT IN GRAY S INN. XXI 



rely upon others rather than upon himself, and to venture 

 on the quicksands of politics, instead of the certain pro 

 fession of the law, in which the queen had, when he was 

 a child, predicted that he would one day be &quot; her Lord 



Keeper. V) 



To law, therefore, he was reluctantly obliged to devote 

 himself, and, as it seems, in the year 1580, he was admitted 

 a student of Gray s Inn, of which society his father had 

 for many years been an illustrious member, (e) 



Having engaged in this profession, he, as was to be 

 expected, encountered and subdued the difficulties and 

 obscurities of the science in which he was doomed to labour, 

 and in which, he, afterwards, was so eminently distinguished, 

 not only by his professional exertions and honours, but by 

 his various valuable works upon different practical parts of 



your ladyship s short stay, and quick return might well spare me, that came 

 of no earnest errand. I am not yet greatly perfect in ceremonies of court, 

 whereof, I know, your ladyship knoweth both the right use, and true value. 

 My thankful and serviceable mind shall be always like itself, howsoever it 

 vary from the common disguising. Your ladyship is wise, and of good 

 nature to discern from what mind every action proceedeth, and to esteem 

 of it accordingly. This is all the message which my letter hath at this time 

 to deliver, unless it please your ladyship further to give me leave to make 

 this request unto you, that it would please your good ladyship, in your 

 letters, wherewith you visit my good lord, to vouchsafe the mention and 

 recommendation of my suit; wherein your ladyship shall bind me more 

 unto you than I can look ever to be able sufficiently to acknowledge. Thus 

 in humble manner, I take my leave of your ladyship, committing you, as 

 daily in my prayers, so, likewise, at this present, to the merciful providence 

 of the Almighty. 



Your Ladyship s most dutiful and bounden nephew, 

 From Grey s Inn, B. FRA. 



this 16th of September, 1580. 



(of) See ante page 111. 



(e) The admission book at Gray s Inn begins in the year 1580; but the 

 first four pages have been torn out. Bacon s name, however, appears in 

 the list of members of the society, in the year 1581 : the book abounds 

 with Lord Bacon s Autographs. 



