NOTES Y 7. 



he set me about, whether it were matter of advice or otherwise, but, neglecting 

 the queen s service, mine own fortune, and in a sort my vocation, 1 did nothing 

 but advise and ruminate with myself, to the best of my understanding, propo 

 sitions, and memorials of any thing that might concern his lordship s honour, 

 fortune, or service. And when, not long after I entered into this course, my 

 brother, Mr. Anthony Bacon, came from beyond the seas, being a gentleman 

 whose ability the world taketh knowledge of for matters of state, especially 

 foreign, I did likewise knit his service to be at my lord s disposing. 



Z. Life, p. xxvi. 



Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burgh ley. 



My Lord, With as much confidence as mine own honest and faithful devo 

 tion unto your service, and your honourable correspondence unto me and my 

 poor estate can breed in a man, do 1 commend myself unto your lordship. I 

 wax now somewhat ancient ; one and thirty years is a great deal of sand in the 

 hour-glass. My health, I thank God, 1 find confirmed, and 1 do not fear that 

 action shall impair it ; because 1 account my ordinary course of study and 

 meditation to be more painful than most parts of action are. 1 ever bear a mind, 

 in some middle place that I could discharge, to serve her majesty ; not as a 

 man born under Sol that loveth honour ; nor under Jupiter that loveth business, 

 for the contemplative planet carrieth me away wholly : but as a man born under 

 an excellent sovereign, that deserveth the dedication of all men s abilities. Be 

 sides 1 do not find in myself so much self-love, but that the greater parts of my 

 thoughts are to deserve well, if I were able, of my friends, and namely of your 

 lordship ; who being the Atlas of this commonwealth, the honour of my house, 

 and the second founder of my poor estate, I am tied by all duties, both of a 

 good patriot, and of an unworthy kinsman, and of an obliged servant, to employ 

 whatsoever I am, to do you service. Again, the meanness of my estate doth 

 somewhat move me : for though I cannot accuse myself, that I am either prodi 

 gal or slothful, yet my health is not to spend, nor my course to get. Lastly, 1 

 confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends ; 

 for I have taken all knowledge to be my providence ;* and if 1 could purge it of 

 two sorts of rovers, whereof the one with frivolous disputations, confutations, 

 and verbosities : the other with blind experiments and auricular traditions and 

 impostures, hath committed so many spoils ; I hope I should bring in indus 

 trious observations, grounded conclusions, and profitable inventions and dis 

 coveries ; the best state of that providence.* This, whether it be curiosity, or 

 vain glory, or nature, or, if one take it favourably, philanthropia, is so fixed in 

 my mind, as it cannot be removed. And I do easily see, that place of any rea 

 sonable countenance doth bring commandment of more wits than of a man s 

 own, which is the thing I greatly affect. And for your lordship, perhaps you 

 shall not find more strength and less encounter in any other. And if your lord 

 ship shall find now or at any time, that I do seek or affect any place, whereunto 

 any that is nearer unto your lordship shall be concurrent, say then that I am a 

 most dishonest man. And if your lordship will not carry me on, I will not do 

 as Anaxagoras did, who reduced himself with contemplation unto voluntary 

 poverty : but this I will do, I will sell the inheritance that I have, and purchase 

 some lease of quick revenue, or some office of gain, that shall be executed by 

 deputy, and so give over all care of service, and become some sorry book 

 maker, or a true pioneer in that mine of truth, which, he said, lay so deep. 

 This which 1 have writ unto your lordship, is rather thoughts than words, being 

 set down without all art, disguising, or reservation : wherein 1 have done honour 

 both to your lordship s wisdom, in judging that that will be best believed of 

 your lordship which is truest ; and to your lordship s good nature, in retaining 

 nothing from you. And even so, I wish your lordship all happiness, and to 

 myself means and occasion to be added to my faithful desire to do you service. 

 From my lodging at Gray s Inn. 



* Province. 



