S. Life, p. xxii. 



Bacon s love of contemplation may be seen in various parts of his works. In 

 a letter to the Lord Treasurer of 21st of March, 1594, he says, This last request 

 1 find it more necessary for me to make because (though I am glad of her ma 

 jesty s favour, that I may with more ease practise the law, which percase I may 

 use now and then for my countenance,) yet to speak plainly, though perhaps 

 vainly, I do not think that the ordinary practice of the law, not serving the 

 queen in place, will be admitted for a good account of the poor talent that God 

 hath given me, so as I make reckoning, I shall reap no great benefit to myself 

 in that course. 



In a letter to Essex, dated March 30, 1594, he says : &quot; When I say I 

 revolve all this, I cannot but conclude with myself, that no man ever read a 

 more exquisite disgrace ; and therefore truly, my lord, I was determined, if 

 her majesty reject me, this to do. My nature can take no evil ply ; but I will, 

 by God s assistance, with this disgrace of my fortune, and yet with that comfort 

 of the good opinion of so many honourable and worthy persons, retire myself, 

 with a couple of men to Cambridge, and there spend my life in my studies and 

 contemplations without looking back.&quot; 



To my Lord of Essex. 



It may please your good Lordship, I pray God her majesty s weighing be not 

 like the weight of a balance, &quot; gravia deorsum, levia sursum.&quot; But I am as 

 far from being altered in devotion towards her as I am from distrust that she 

 will be altered in opinion towards me when she knoweth me better. For myself 

 I have lost some opinion, some time, and some means ; this is my account : 

 but then, for opinion, it is a blast that goeth and cometh ; for time, it is true, it 

 goeth and cometh not ; but yet I have learned that it may be redeemed. For 

 means, 1 value that most ; and the rather, because I am purposed not to follow 

 the practice of the law : if her majesty command me in any particular I shall 

 be ready to do her willing service ; and my reason is only because it drinketh 

 too much time, which I have dedicated to better purposes. But even, for that 

 point of estate and means I partly lean to Thales opinion, &quot; that a philosopher 

 may be rich if he will.&quot; Thus your lordship seeth how I comfort myself; to 

 the increase whereof I would tain please myself to believe that to be true which 

 my Lord Treasurer writeth, which is, that it is more than a philosopher morally 

 can digest; but without any such high conceit, I esteem it like the pulling out 

 of an aching tooth, which I remember when I was a child, and had little phi 

 losophy, I was glad of when it was done. For your lordship, I do think myself 

 more beholding to you than to any man ; and I say I reckon myself as a com 

 mon, (not popular but common,) and as much as is lawful to be enclosed as a 

 common, so much your lordship shall be sure to have. Your Lordship s to 

 obey your honourable commands more settled than ever. 



In a letter to the Lord Treasurer in 1594, he says, I will use no reason to 

 persuade your lordship s mediation but this, that your lordship and my other 

 friends shall in this beg my life of the queen ; for I see well the bar will be my 

 bier, as I must and will use it rather than my poor estate or reputation shall 

 decay; but I stand indifferent whether God call me or her majesty. Had I 

 that in possession which by your lordship s only means against the greatest 

 opposition her majesty granted me, I would never trouble her majesty, but 

 serve her still voluntarily without pay. 



The following is from the dedication, in 1597, to the first edition of his 

 Essays, to his brother who was lame : &quot; I have preferred them to you, that are 

 next myself, dedicating them, such as they are, to our love, in the depth 

 whereof, I assure you, I sometimes wish your infirmities translated upon myself, 

 that her majesty might have the service of so active and able a mind, and I 

 might be with excuse confined to these contemplations and studies for which I 

 am fittest.&quot; 



