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Sir Francis Bacon, to the King, about a Certifi∣cate of my Lord Coke's.
It may please Your Excellent Majesty,
I Send your Majesty, inclosed, my Lord Coke's answers; I will not call them rescripts, much less Oracles. They are of his own hand, and offered to me (as they are) in writing, not required by me to have them set down in writing, though I am glad of it, for my own discharge. I thought it my duty, as soon as I received them, instantly to send them to Your Majesty, and forbear, for the present, to speak further of them. I, for my part, (though this Muscovia-weather be a little too hard for my constitution) was ready to have waited upon Your Majesty this day, all respects set aside; but my Lord Treasurer, in respect of the sea∣son, and much other business, was willing to save me. I will onely con∣clude, touching these Papers, with a Text divided; I cannot say, Oportuit haec fieri, but I may say, Finis autem nondum. God preserve Your Majesty.
Your Majesties most humble, and devoted Subject and Servant.
Feb. 14. at 12. a Clock.
I humbly pray Your Majesty, to keep the Papers safe.