NOTE EEE. 



the 



of those times say, who commend him for his affability and generosity at 

 beginning, by which, as he rose in the King s favour, he grew likewise in 

 esteem with his subjects, pursuing therein a conduct very different from that of 

 his predecessor, Somerset, who really raised and disgraced, brought into credit 

 or drove out of the court, without -the least regard to decency, men of great 

 merit or men of none, just as his interest required or his fancy dictated. It is 

 not therefore at all probable, that the new favourite, who so well knew by what 

 steps the old one became so very odious, should immediately pursue his path ; 

 more especially when he could not but very well know, that he was far enough 

 from being absolutely master of the King s good graces, out of which he had 

 very nearly thrown himself a very little after this, by most imprudently disco 

 vering his aversion to the King s intended journey into Scotland.&quot; 



Saunderson says, speaking of Lord Ellesmere, &quot; This aged statesman leaves 

 the seat of deciding, and sits down himself to his devotions, leaving the seal to 

 be born by Bacon. But the manner of the dispose is mis-told by the pamphlet 

 (who makes it the Chancellor s heart-break to be rid of the charge), when in 

 truth the term come, and Ellesmere sick, the King sent for the seal, by Secre 

 tary Winwood, with a gracious message ; that himself would be his deputy, and 

 not dispose it whilst Ellesmere lived to bear the title of Chancellor, nor did any 

 one receive it out of the King s sight till he was dead, nor long after.&quot; 1616. 



NOTE FFF. 



His works abound with proofs of this. In a letter to Lord Burleigh in the 

 year 1592, he says, &quot; My health, I thank God, I find confirmed ; and I do not 

 fear that action shall impair it : because I account my ordinary course of study 

 and meditation to be more painful than most parts of action are. I 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. The meanness 

 of my estate doth somewhat move me : for though I cannot accuse myself, that 

 I am either prodigal or slothful, yet my health is not to spend, nor my course to 

 get. Lastly, I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have 

 moderate civil ends : for I have taken all knowledge to be my province. 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 I have writ 

 unto your lordship, is rather thoughts than words, being set down without all 

 art, disguising, or reservation : wherein I have done honour both to your lord 

 ship 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.&quot; 



In a letter to the Lord Treasurer of 2lst March, 1594, he says, &quot; 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.&quot; 



In a letter to Essex, March 30, 1594, he says, &quot; 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; 



In a letter to the Earl of Northumberland, a few days before Queen Eliza 

 beth s death, he says, &quot; And to be plain with your lordship, it is very true, 

 and no winds or noises of civil matters can blow this out of my head or heart, 

 that your great capacity and love towards studies and contemplations, of & 

 higher and worthier nature than popular, a nature rare in the world, and in a 



