The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 20J
but casting the worst of my fortune with an ho- lordship best knows. Which your two honouranourable friend, that had long used me privately, ble friendships I esteem so much [in so great
I told his lordship of this purpose of mine to tra- sort] as your countenance and favour in my pracvel, accompanying it with these very words, that tice, which are somewhat to my poverty; yet I
upon her majesty's rejecting me with such cir- count them not the best [greatest] part of the
cumstance, though my heart might be good, yet obligation wherein I stand bound to you.
mine eyes would be sore, that I should take no And now, my lord, I pray you right humbly,
pleasure to look upon my friends; for that I was that you will vouchsafe your honourable license
not an impudent man, that could face out a dis- and patience, that I may express to you, what in a
grace; and that I hoped her majesty would not be doubtful liberty I have thought fit, partly by way of
offended, that, not able to endure the sun, I fled praying your help, and partly by way of offering
into the shade. The other, that it was more than my good will; partly again by way of preoccuthis; for I did expressly and particularly, (for so pating your conceit, lest you may in some things
much wit God then lent me,) by way of caveat, mistake.
restrain my lord's good affection, that he should My estate, to confess a truth to your lordship,
in no wise utter or mention this matter till her is weak and indebted, and needeth comfort; for
majesty had made a solicitor; wherewith (now both my father, though I think I had greatest part
since my looking upon your letter) I did in a du- in his love to all his children, yet in his wisdom
tiful manner challenge my lord, who very honour- served me in as a last comer; and myself, in mine
ably acknowledged it, seeing he did it for the own industry, have rather referred and aspired to
best; and therefore I leave his lordship to answer virtue than to gain: whereof, I am not yet wise
for himself. All this my Lord of Essex can testify enough to repent me. But the while, whereas,
to be true: and I report me to yourself, whether Solomon speaketh that " want cometh first like
at the first, when I desired deliberation to answer, a wayfaring man," and after like " an armed man,"
yet nevertheless said, I would to you privately I must acknowledge to your lordship myself to
declare what had passed, I said not in effect so [be] in primo gradu; for it stealeth upon me.
much. The conclusion shall be, that wheresoever But, for the second, that it should not be able to
God and her majesty shall appoint me to live, I be resisted, I hope in God I am not in that case;
shall truly pray for her majesty's preservation and for the preventing whereof, as I do depend upon
felicity. And so I humbly commend me to you. God's providence all in all, so in the same his
Your poor kinsman to do you service, providence I see opened unto me three not unlikely
FR. BACON. expectations of help: the one my practice, the
Endorsed, January, 1594. other some proceeding in the queen's service, the
third [the] place I have in reversion; which, as
it standeth now unto me, is but like another man's
ground reaching upon my house, which may mend
TO SIR TtHOMAS EGERTON, LORD KEEPER OF THE my prospect, but it doth not fill my barn.
GREAT SEAL.*
For my practice, it presupposeth my health,
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURABLE GOOD LORDSHIP, which, if I should judge of as a man that judgeth
Of your lordship's honourable disposition, both of a fair morrow by a fair evening, I might have
generally and to me, I have that belief, as what I reason to value well. But, myself having this
think, I am not afraid to speak; and what I would error of mind, that I am apter to conclude in every
speak, I am not afraid to write. And therefore I thing of change from the present tense than of a
have thought to commit to letter some matter, continuance, do make no such appointment. Bewhereunto [which] I have been [conceived] led sides, I am not so far deceived in myself but that
[into the same] by two motives: the one, the I know very well, and I think your lordship is
consideration of my own estate; the other, the major corde, and in your wisdom you note it more
appetite which I have to give your lordship some deeply than I can in myself, that in practising the
evidence of the thoughtful and voluntary desire, law, I play not all my best game, which maketh
which is in me, to merit well of your most ho- me accept it with a nisi quod potits, as the best
nourable lordship: which desire in me hath been of my fortune, and a thing agreeable to better
bred chiefly by the consent I have to your great gifts than mine, but not to mine.
virtue come in good time to do this state pleasure; For my placing, your lordship best knows, that
and next by your loving courses held towards me, when I was much dejected with her majesty's
especially in your nomination and enablement of strange dealing towards me, it pleased you, of
me long since to the solicitor's place, as your your singular favour, so far to comfort and
* From the original draught in the library of Queen's Col- encourage me, as to hold me worthy to be excited
lege, Oxford, Arch. D. 2, the copy of which was communi- to think of succeeding your lordship in your
cated to me by Thomas Tyrwhitt, Esq., clerk of the honoura- second place;* signifying in your plainness, that
ble House of Commons. Sir William Dugdale, in his Baronage
of England, vol. ii. p. 438, has given two short passages of " The mastership of the rolls; which office the lord keeper
this letter; transcribed by ihim from the unpublished original. held till the Lord Bruce was advanced to it, May 18, 1603