SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, 



HIS MAJESTY S ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND ONE OF HIS PRIVY COUNCIL; 

 TOUCHING THE 



COMPILING AND AMENDMENT OF THE LAWS OF 

 ENGLAND. 



YOUR majesty, of your favour, having made me 

 privy-counsellor, and continuing me in the place of 

 your attorney-general, which is more than was these 

 hundred years before, I do not understand it to be, 

 that by putting off the dealing in causes between 

 party and party, I should keep holy-day the more ; 

 but that I should dedicate my time to your service 

 with less distraction. Wherefore in this plentiful 

 accession of time, which I have now gained, I take 

 it to be my duty, not only to speed your command 

 ments and the business of my place, but to meditate 

 and to excogitate of myself, wherein I may best, by 

 my travels, derive your virtues to the good of your 

 people, and return their thanks and increase of love 

 to you again. And after I had thought of many 

 things, I could find, in my judgment, none more 

 proper for your majesty as a master, nor for me as a 

 VOL. v. 7. 



