258 SIR FRANCIS BACON S APOLOGY 



clare myself for him : and never was I so ambitious 

 of any thing in my life-time, as I was to have carried 

 some token or favour from her majesty to my lord ; 

 using all the art I had, both to procure her majesty 

 to send, and myself to be the messenger. For as to 

 the former I feared not to allege to her, that this 

 proceeding toward my lord was a thing towards the 

 people very unplausible ; and therefore wished her 

 majesty, however she did, yet to discharge herself of 

 it, and lay it upon others ; and therefore that she 

 should intermix her proceeding with some immediate 

 graces from herself, that the world might take know 

 ledge of her princely nature and goodness, lest it should 

 alienate the hearts of her people from her : which I 

 did stand upon ; knowing well that if she once re 

 lented to send or visit, those demonstrations would 

 prove matter of substance for my lord s good. And 

 to draw that employment upon myself, I advised her 

 majesty, that whensoever God should move her to 

 turn the light of her favours towards my lord, to 

 make signification to him thereof; that her majesty, 

 if she did it not in person, would at the least use 

 some such mean as might not intitle themselves to 

 any part of the thanks, as persons that were thought 

 mighty with her to work her, or to bring her about; 

 but to use some such as could not be thought but a 

 mere conduit of her own goodness. But I could 

 never prevail with her, though I am persuaded she 

 saw plainly whereat I levelled ; and she plainly had 

 me in jealousy, that I was not hers intirely, but still 

 had inward and deep respects towards my lord, more 



