NOTES L L M M. 



the concluding of my business, and findeth your lordship hath conceived offence, 

 as well upon my manner when I saw your lordship at Temple last, as upon a 

 letter, which 1 did write to your lordship some time before. Surely, my lord, 

 for my behaviour, I am well assured, I omitted no point of duty or ceremony 

 towards your lordship. But I know too much of the court to beg a countenance 

 in public place, where I make account I shall not receive it. And for my 

 letter, the principal point of it was, that which I hope God will give me grace 

 to perform, which is, that if any idol man be offered to her majesty, since it is 

 mixed with my particular, to inform her majesty truly, which I must do, as long 

 as I have a tongue to speak, or a pen to write, or a friend to use. And farther 

 I remember not of my letter, except it were that I writ, I hoped your lordship 

 would do me no wrong, which hope I do still continue. For if it please your 

 lordship but to call to mind from whom 1 am descended, and by whom, next to 

 God, her majesty, and your own virtue, your lordship is ascended ; I know you 

 will have a compunction of mind to do me any wrong. And therefore, good 

 my lord, when your lordship favoureth others before me, do not lay the separa 

 tion of your love and favour upon myself. For I will give no cause, neither 

 can I acknowledge any, where none is ; but humbly pray your lordship to un 

 derstand things as they are. Thus sorry to write to your lordship in an argu 

 ment which is to me unpleasant, though necessary, I commend your lordship 

 to God s good preservation. Your Lordship s, in all humble respect, 



From Twickenham Park, FR. BACON. 



this 19th of August, 1595. 



To the Right Honourable the Lord Keeper, &c.* 



It may please your Lordship, ---There hath nothing happened to me in the 

 course of my business more contrary to my expectation, than your lordship s 

 failing me, and crossing me now in the conclusion, when friends are best tried. 

 But now 1 desire no more favour of your lordship, than I would do if I were a 

 suitor in the chancery ; which is this only, that you would do me right. And 

 I for my part, though I have much to allege, yet nevertheless, if I see her ma 

 jesty settle her choice upon an able man, such a one as Mr. Sergeant Fleming, 

 I will make no means to alter it. On the other side, if I perceive any insuffi 

 cient, obscure, idol man offered to her majesty, then 1 think myself double 

 bound to use the best means I can for myself; which I humbly pray your 

 lordship I may do with your favour, and that you will not disable me farther 

 than is cause. And so I commend your lordship to God s preservation, that 

 beareth your Lordship all humble respect, FR. BACON. 



From Gray s Inn, the 28th of July, 1595. 

 Indorsed, in Lord Keeper s hand---Mr. Bacon wronging me. 



M M. Life, p. xxx. 



Your lordship would yet tueri opus tunm and give as much life unto this pre 

 sent suit for the solicitor s place, as may be without offending the queen (for 

 that were not good for me). This last request I find it more necessary forVie 

 to make, because (though I am glad of her majesty 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, 1 shall reap no great benefit to myself in that course. 



To Lord Burleigh. 



I have ever had your lordship in singular admiration ; whose happy ability 

 her majesty hath so long used, to her great honour and yours. Besides that 

 amendment of state or countenance, which I have received, hath been from 



* llarl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 37. 



