Sir Francis Bacon, the King's Attorney, to the King, giving some account touching the Commendams. [Inserted in Vol. VII. p. 307.] Sir Francis Bacon his Advertisement touching an Holy War to the Right Reverend Father in God, Lancelot Andrews, Lord Bishop of Winchester, and Counsellor of Estate to His Majesty. [Inserted in Vol. VII. p. 112.] Sir Francis Bacon to King James, of a Digest to be made of the Laws of England. [Inserted in Vol. V. p. 353.] Sir Francis Bacon to the Right Honourable his very good Lord, the Earl of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. [Inserted in Vol. VI. p. 242.] Sir Francis Bacon, to the King. May it please your most excellent Majesty, It is observed, upon a place in the Canticles by some, Ego sum Flos Campi, et Lilium Convallium;" that it is not said, "Ego sum flos horti, et lilium montium :" because the majesty of that person is not inclosed for a few, nor appropriate to the great. And yet, notwithstanding, this royal virtue of access, which nature and judgment hath placed in your majesty's mind, as the portal of all the rest, could not of itself (my imperfections considered) have animated to me have made oblation of myself immediately to your majesty, had it not been joined to a habit of like liberty which I enjoyed with my late dear sovereign mis tress, a princess happy in all things, but most happy in such a successor. And yet farther, and more nearly, I was not a little encouraged, not only upon a supposal, that unto your majesty's sacred ears (open to the air of all virtues) there might have come some small breath of the good memory of my father, so long a principal counsellor in your kingdom, but also, by the particular knowledge of the infinite devotion, and incessant endeavours, beyond the strength of his body, and the nature of the times, which appeared in my good brother towards your majesty's service, and were on your majesty's part, through your singular benignities, by many most gracious and lively significations and favours accepted and acknowledged, beyond the thought of any thing he could effect: all which endeavours and duties, for the most part, were common to myself with him) though my design between brethren dissembled. And therefore, most high and mighty king, my most dear and dread sovereign lord, since now the corner-stone is laid of the mightiest monarchy in Europe, and that God above, who is noted to have a mighty hand in bridling the floods and fluctuations of the seas, and of people's hearts, hath by the miraculous and universal consent, (the more strange, because it proceedeth from such diversity of causes,) in your coming in, given a sign and token, what he intendeth in the continuance; I think there is no subject of your majesty, who loveth this island, and is not hollow and unworthy, whose heart is not on fire, not only to bring you peace-offerings to make you propitious; but to sacrifice himself as a burnt-offering to your majesty's service: amongst which number, no man's fire shall be more pure and fervent; but how far forth it shall blaze out, that resteth in your majesty's employment: for since your fortune, in the greatness thereof, hath for a time debarred your majesty of the fruitful virtue which one calleth the principal, "Principis est virtus maxima nôsse suos," because your majesty hath many of yours, which are unknown unto you, I must leave all to the trial of farther time; and thirsting after the happiness of kissing your royal hand, continue ever Your, etc. FR. BACON. Sir Francis Bacon, to the Lord Kinloss, upon the Entrance of King James. My Lord, The present occasion awakeneth in me a remembrance of the constant amity and mutual good offices which passed between my brother deceased and your lordship, whereunto I was less strange, than in respect of the time I had reason to pretend; and withal I call to mind the great opinion my brother (who seldom failed in judgment of a person) would often express to me of your lordship's great wisdom and soundness, both in head and heart, towards the service and affairs of our sovereign lord the king. The one of those hath bred in me an election, and the other a confidence, to address my good will and sincere affection to your good lordship, not doubting, in regard my course of life hath wrought me not to be altogether unseen in the matters of the kingdom, that I may be in some use both in points of service to the king, and your lordship's particular: And on the other side, I will not omit to desire humbly your lordship's favour, in furthering a good conceit and impression of my most humble duty, and true zeal towards the king, to whose majesty words cannot make me known, neither mine own nor others, but time will, to no disadvantage of any that shall fore-run his majesty's experience, by their humanity and commendations. And so I commend your lordship to God's protection. From Grays-Inn, etc. Your, etc. FR. BACON. Sir Francis Bacon, to the Earl of Northumberland, concerning a Proclamation upon the King's Entry. It may please your Lordship, I do hold it a thing formal and necessary, for the king to fore-run his coming, be it never so speedy, with some gracious declaration for the cherishing, entertaining, and preparing of men's affections. For which purpose I have conceived a draught, it being a thing to me familiar, in my mistress her times, to have used my pen in politic writings of satisfaction. The use of this may be in two sorts: First properly, if your lordship think convenient to shew the king any such draught, because the veins and pulses of this state cannot but be known here; which if your lordship should, then I would desire your lordship to withdraw my name, and only signify that you gave some heads of direction of such a matter to one of whose style and pen you had some opinion. The other collateral, that though your lordship make no other use of it, yet it is a kind of portraiture of that which I think worthy to be advised by your lordship to the king, to express himself according to those points which are therein conceived, and perhaps more compendious and significant than if I had set them down in articles. I would have attended your lordship, but for some little physic I took. To morrow morning I will wait on you. So I ever continue, etc. FR BACON. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Edward Coke, Mr. Attorney, Expostulatory. I thought best once for all, to let you know in plainness, what I find of you, and what you shall find of me, you take to yourself a liberty to disgrace and disable my law, experience, and discretion; what it pleases you I pray think of me. I am one that know both mine own wants and other men's; and it may be, perchance, that mine may mend when others stand at a stay: And surely, I may not in public place endure to be wronged, without repelling the same to my best advantage, to right myself. You are great, and therefore have the more enviers, which would be glad to have you paid at another's cost. Since the time I missed the solicitor's place, the rather I think by your means, I cannot expect that you and I shall ever serve as attorney and solicitor together, but either to serve with another upon your remove, or to step into some other course. So as I am more free than ever I was from any occasion of unworthy confirming myself to you, more than general good manners, or your particular good usage shall provoke; and if you had not been short-sighted in your own fortune, (as I think) you might have had more use of me; but that tide is past. I write not this to shew any friends what a brave letter I have writ to Mr. Attorney, I have none of those humours, but that I have written is to a good end, that is, to the more decent carriage of my master's service, and to our particular better understanding one another. This letter, if it shall be answered by you in deed, and not in word I suppose it will not be the worse for us both; else it is but a few lines lost, which for a much smaller matter I would adventure. So this being to yourself, I for my part rest, Yours, etc. FR. BACON. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Edward Coke, after Lord Chief Justice, and in Disgrace. [Inserted in Vol. VII. p. 296.] |