LIFE OF BACON. 



above my desert, yet my thoughts and cares concerning 

 the good thereof were beyond and over and above my 

 place : so now, being as I am, no more able to do my 

 country service, it remained unto me to do it honour; 

 which I have endeavoured to do in my work of the reign 

 of King Henry VII. As for my essays, and some other 

 particulars of that nature, I count them but as the recrea 

 tion of my other studies, and in that sort I purpose to 

 continue them; though I am not ignorant that those kind 

 of writings would, with less pains and embracement, per 

 haps, yield more lustre aud reputation to my name than 

 those other which I have in hand. But I account the use 

 that a man should seek of the publishing his own writings 

 before his death to be but an untimely anticipation of that 

 which is proper to follow a man, and not to go along 

 with him.&quot; 



Imprison- The sentence now remained to be executed. On the 

 ment of j agt j a y Q f M av? Lord St. Albans was committed to the 

 Tower; and, though he had placed himself altogether in 

 the King s hands, confident in his kindness, it is not to be 

 supposed that he could be led to prison without deeply 

 feeling his disgrace. In the anguish of his mind he 

 instantly wrote to Buckingham and to the King, sub 

 mitting, but maintaining his integrity as Chancellor. 



&quot; Good my Lord, Procure the warrant for my discharge 

 this day. Death, I thank God, is so far from being 

 unwelcome to me, as I have called for it (as Christian 

 resolution would permit) any time these two months. But 

 to die before the time of his majesty s grace, and in this 

 disgraceful place, is even the worst that could be; and 

 when I am dead, he is gone that was always in one tenor, 

 a true and perfect servant to his master, and one that was 

 never author of any immoderate, no, nor unsafe, no (I will 

 say it), not unfortunate counsel ; and one that no tempta- 



