NOTE EEK. 



fate for and from the aforesaid seventh day of this instant month of March 

 hitherto, and so from hencefoith, during the time that he shall occupy and 

 exercise the said room or office of lord keeper of our great seal. And also 

 that ye, the keeper of our great garderobe for and from the same time 

 hitherto, and from henceforth, of such our money or revenue as is or shall 

 be coming to your hands, do content and pay or cause to be contented and 

 paid to the said Sir Francis Bacon, for his wax due to him by reason of 

 his said office of lord keeper of our great seal, after the rate of sixteen pounds 

 by the year, for and from the same time hitherto, and so forth, in like manner 

 and form as the foresaid lord chancellors or lord keepers of the great seal 

 at any time had or received for the same in the said office or room of lord 

 chancellor or lord keeper of the great seal. And further, we will and grant 

 that ye, our said treasurers and barons of our said Exchequer, and the auditors, 

 and all other our officers and ministers for the time being, or that hereafter shall 

 be, and every of you, to whom in this cause it shall appertain, from time to 

 time do make or cause to be made to the said clerk or keeper of our Hanaper, 

 of our said Chancery, and to the said chief butler of England, and also to the 

 said keeper of our great garderobe, for the time being, and to every of them in 

 their several accompt or accompts, of which they or any of them be in yielding, 

 or shall yield before you or any of you, at or for any time or times, due allow 

 ance, plain deduction, and discharge of all and several the aforesaid sums of 

 money, as they or any of them shall content and pay for the wages, fees, 

 rewards, robes and wine, as before particularly expressed, by us granted as afore 

 said for and from the said seventh day of this instant month of March hitherto, 

 and from henceforth, during the time that the said Sir Francis Bacon shall exer 

 cise the said office of lord keeper of our great seal of England. 



Any matter, law, course, or cause you or any of you, moving to the contrary 

 in any wise notwithstanding ; and these our letters, under our great seal, shall 

 be unto you and every of you sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf. 

 In witness whereof, &c. Witness ourself at Westminster, the thirtieth day of 

 March. Per breve de privato-sigillo. 



See Rymer, vol. xviii. p. 1, 1617. Blackburn, vol. i. 97. 



Falsehoods in circulation. 



As a specimen of the falsehoods in circulation in these times, the following 

 extract from Weldon is inserted : &quot; Next, Egerton had displeased him by not 

 giving way to his exorbitant desires. He must out, and would not let him 

 seale up his dying eyes with the seals which he had so long carryed, and so 

 well discharged ; and to despight him the more, and to vex his very soul in the 

 last agony, he sent Bacon (one he hated yet to be his successor) for the seals, 

 which the old man s spirit could not brook, but sent them by his own servant to 

 the king, and shortly after yielded his soul to his Maker. 



&quot; And to the end you may know what men were made choyce of to serve 

 turns, I shall set you clown a true story. This great favorite sent a noble 

 gentleman, and of much worth, to Bacon with this message ; that he knew him 

 to be a man of excellent parts, and as the times were, fit to serve his master in 

 the keeper s place ; but he also knew him of a base and ingrateful disposition, 

 and an arrant knave, apt in his prosperity to ruine any that had raised him from 

 adversity ; yet for all this, he did so much study his master s service, (knowing 

 how fit an instrument he might be for him) that he had obtained the seals for 

 him ; but with this assurance, should he ever requite him, as he had done 

 some others, to whom he had been more bound, he would cast him down as 

 much below scorn, as he had now raised him high above any honor he could 

 ever have expected. 



&quot; Bacon was at that time attorney general, who patiently hearing this message, 

 replyed, I am glad my noble lord deals so friendly and freely with me, and 

 hath made that choyce of so discreet and noble a friend, that hath delivered his 

 message in so plain language. But, saith he, can my lord know these 

 abilities in me, and can he think when I have attained the highest preferment 

 my profession is capable of, I shall so much faile in my judgment and under- 



