Ixxiv 



LIFE OF BACON. 



The answer of Lord Howard to this letter, the best 

 answer that could be made to the slanderers of whom 

 Bacon complains, is as follows : &quot; I might be thought un 

 worthy of that good conceit you hold of me, good Mr. 

 Bacon, if I did not sympathize with so sensitive a mind 

 in this smart of wrongful imputation of unthankfulness. 

 You were the first that gave me notice, I protest, at Rich 

 mond of the rumour, though within two days after I heard 

 more than I would of it ; but as you suffer more than you 

 deserve, so I cannot believe what the greedy malice of the 

 world hath laid upon you. The travels of that worthy 

 gentleman in your behalf, when you stood for a place of 

 credit ; the delight which he hath ever taken in your com 

 pany; his grief that he could not seal up assurance of his 

 love by fruits, effects, and offices proportionable to an infi 

 nite desire ; his study, in my knowledge, to engage your 

 love by the best means he could devise, are forcible per 

 suasions and instances to make me judge that a gentleman 

 so well born, a wise gentleman so well levelled, a gentleman 

 so highly valued by a person of his virtue, worth, and 

 quality, will rather hunt after all occasions of expressing 

 thankfulness, so far as duty doth permit, than either omit 

 opportunity or increase indignation. No man alive out of 

 the thoughts of judgment, the ground of knowledge, and 

 lesson of experience, is better able to distinguish betwixt 

 public and private offices, and direct measure in keeping a 

 measure in discharge of both, to which I will refer you for 

 the finding out of the golden number. In my own parti 

 cular opinion I esteem of you as I have ever done and your 

 rare parts deserve; and so far as my voice hath credit, 

 justify your credit according to the warrant of your pro 

 fession, and the store of my best wishes in all degrees 

 towards you, &c. My credit is so weak in working any 

 strange effect of friendship where I would do most, as to 



