LIFE OF BACOX. 



his thirtieth year was sworn queen s counsel learned extra 

 ordinary, (a) an honor which until that time, had never 

 been conferred upon any member of the profession. 



ease in coming within bars, and not any extraordinary or singular note of 

 favour. And for that your lordship may otherwise have heard of me, it 

 shall make me more wary and circumspect in carriage of myself; indeed I 

 find in my simple observation, that they which live as it were in umbra and 

 not in public or frequent action, how moderately and modestly soever they 

 behave themselves, yet laborant invidia ; I find also that such persons as 

 are of nature bashful (as myself is), whereby they want that plausible 

 familiarity which others have, are often mistaken for proud. But once I 

 know well, and I most humbly beseech your lordship to believe, that 

 arrogancy and overweening is so far from my nature, as if I think well of 

 myself in any thing it is in this, that I am free from that vice. And I hope 

 upon this your lordship s speech, I have entered into those considerations, 

 as my behaviour shall no more deliver me for other than I am. And so 

 wishing unto your lordship all honour, and to myself continuance of your 

 good opinion, with mind and means to deserve it, I humbly take my leave. 



Your Lordship s most bounden Nephew, 



Grey s Inn, F R . BACON. 



this 6th of May, 1586. 



(a) Rawley, in his life, says, he was after a while, sworn to the queen s 

 counsel learned extraordinary ; a grace, if I err not, scarce known before. 

 &quot; He was counsel learned extraordinary to his Majesty, as he had been to 

 Queen Elizabeth. 7 Extract from Biographia Britannica, vol. I. page 373. 

 He distinguished himself no less in his practice, which was very con 

 siderable, and after discharging the office of reader at Grays Inn, which he 

 did, in 1588, when in the twenty-sixth year of his age, he was become so 

 considerable, that the queen who never over valued any man s abilities, 

 thought fit to call him to her service in a way which did him very great 

 honour, by appointing him her council learned in the law extraordinary : 

 by which, though she contributed abundantly to his reputation, yet she 

 added but very little to his fortune, as indeed in this respect he was never 

 much indebted to her majesty, how much soever he might be in all others. 

 He, in his apology respecting Lord Essex, says, &quot; They sent for us of the 

 learned council.&quot; 



