CCclxXXvi LIFE OF BACON. 



In the month of July he wrote both to Buckingham and 

 to the King letters in which may be seen his reliance 

 upon them for pecuniary assistance, his consciousness of 

 innocence, a gleam of hope that he should be restored 

 to his honors, and occasionally allusions to the favours he 

 had conferred, (a) To these applications he received the 

 following answer from Buckingham : 



() To the Marquis of Buckingham. My very good Lord, I have 

 written, as I thought it decent in me to do, to his majesty, the letter I 

 send inclosed. I have great faith that your lordship, now nobly and like 

 yourself, will effect with his majesty. In this the King is of himself, 

 and it hath no relation to parliament. I have written also, as your lord 

 ship advised me, only touching that point of means. I have lived hitherto 

 upon the scraps of my former fortunes ; and I shall not be able to hold 

 out longer. Therefore I hope your lordship will now, according to the 

 loving promises and hopes given, settle my poor fortunes, or rather my 

 being. I am much fallen in love with a private life ; but yet I shall so 

 spend my time, as shall not decay my abilities for use. God preserve 

 and prosper your lordship. Sept. 5, 1621. 



To the King. It may please your most excellent Majesty, I perceive, 

 by my noble and constant friend, the marquis, that your majesty hath a 

 gracious inclination towards me, and taketh care of me, for fifteen years 

 the subject of your favour, now of your compassion, for which I most 

 humbly thank your majesty. This same nova creatura is the work of 

 God s pardon and the King s, and since I have the inward seal of the 

 one, I hope well of the other. 



Uir, saith Seneca to his master, magnis exemplis; nee mca fortune, sed 

 tu(K. Demosthenes was banished for bribery of the highest nature, yet was 

 recalled with honour; Marcus Livius was condemned for exactions, yet 

 afterwards made consul and censor. Seneca banished for divers corrup 

 tions, yet was afterwards restored, and an instrument of that memorable 

 Quinquennium Neronis. Many more. This, if it please your majesty, I 

 do not say for appetite of employment, but for hope that if I do by myself 

 as is fit, your majesty will never suffer me to die in want or dishonour. I 

 do now feed myself upon remembrance, how when your majesty used to 

 go a progress, what loving and confident charges you were wont to give 

 me touching your business. For, as Aristotle saith, young men may be 

 happy by hope, so why should not old men, and sequestered men, by 

 remembrance. God ever prosper and preserve your majesty. Your majesty s 

 most bounden and devoted servant, Fu. ST. ALBAN. 



July 16, 1621. 



