CCCxlvl LIFE OF BACON. 



never had bribe or reward in my eye or thought when 

 pronouncing sentence or order. If, however, it is abso 

 lutely necessary, the King s will shall be obeyed. I am 

 ready to make an oblation of myself to the King, in 

 whose hands I am as clay, to be made a vessel of honour 

 or dishonour.&quot; 



That an interview between the King and Bacon took 

 place is clear, from the following entry in the journals of 

 the House of Lords of April 17 : 



&quot; The Lord Treasurer signified, that in the interim of 

 this cessation, the Lord Chancellor was an humble suitor 

 unto his majesty, that he might see his majesty and speak 



Now if I might see the particulars of my charge, I should deal plainly 

 with your majesty, in whether of these degrees every particular case falls. 

 But for the first of them, I take myself to be as innocent as any born upon 

 St. Innocent s day in my heart. For the second, I doubt in some parti 

 culars I may be faulty. And for the last, I conceived it to be no fault ; 

 but therein I desire to be better informed, that I may be twice penitent ; 

 once for the fact, and again for the error. For I had rather be a briber 

 than a defender of bribes. 



I must likewise confess to your majesty, that at New-year s tides, and 

 likewise at my first coming in (which was, as it were my wedding), I did 

 not so precisely, as perhaps I ought, examine whether those that presented 

 me had causes before me yea or no. And this is simply all that I can say 

 for the present concerning my charge, until I may receive it more particu 

 larly. And all this while, I do not fly to that, as to say that these things 

 are vitia temporis, and not vitia hominis. 



For my fortune, summa summorum with me is, that I may not be made 

 altogether unprofitable to do your majesty s service or honour. If your 

 majesty continue me as I am, I hope I shall be a new man, and shall 

 reform things out of feeling, more than another can do out of example. If 

 I cast part of my burden, I shall be more strong and delivre to hear the 

 rest. And, to tell your majesty what my thoughts run upon, I think of 

 writing a story of England, and of recompiling of your laws into a better 

 digest. 



But to conclude, I most humbly pray your majesty s directions and 

 advice. For as your majesty hath used to give me the attribute of care of 

 your business, so I must now cast the care of myself upon God and you. 



