The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 55
TO THE QUEEN.* believe your lordship looked to have found hei
IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, majesty in all points as you have done; neither
It were great simplicity in me to look for better her majesty, percase, looked to have found your
than that your majesty should cast away my letter lordship as she hath done. And, therefore, I hope
as you have done me; were it not that it is pos- upon this experience may grow more perfect
sible your majesty will think to find somewhat in knowledge, and upon knowledge more true conit, whereupon your displeasure may take hold; sent; which I, for my part, do infinitely wish, as
and so indignation may obtain that of you which accounting these accidents to be like the fish,
favour could not. Neither might I in reason pre- remora, which, though it be not great, yet hath it
sume to offer unto your majesty dead lines, my- a hidden property to hinder the sailing of the ship.
self bein( excluded as I am; were it not upon And, therefore, as bearing unto your lordship,
this only argument or subject; namely, to clear after her majesty, of all public persons the second
myself in point of duty. Duty, though my state duty, I could not but signify unto you my affeclie buried in the sands, and my favours be cast tionate gratulation. And so I commend your
upon the waters, and my honours be committed good lordship to the best preservation of the
to the wind; yet standeth surely built upon the Divine Majesty.
rock, and hath been, and ever shall be unforced From Gray's Inn.
and unattempted. And, therefore, since the
world out of error, and your majesty I fear out of
art is pleased to put upon ume; that I have so
much as any election or will in this my absence TO SIR ROBERT CECIL.
from attendance; I cannot but leave this protestation with your majesty; That I am and have IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD HoNouR,
been merely a patient, and take myself only to I am apt enough to condemn 6;mendacia famae,"
obey and execute your majesty's will. And, yet it is with this distinction, as fame walks
indeed, madam, I had never thought it possible among inferiors, and not as it hath entrance into
that your majesty could have so disinterested some ears. And, yet, nevertheless, in that kind
yourself of me; nor that you had been so perfect also, I intend to avoid a suspicious silence, but
ill the art of forgetting; nor that after a quintes- not to make any base apology. It is blown about
sence of wormwood, your majesty would have the town that I should give opinion touching my
taken so large a draught of poppy; as to have Lord of Essex's cause; first, that it was a prepassed so many summers without all feeling of munire; and now last, that it reached to nigh
my sufferings. But the only comfort I have is treason. And this opinion should be given in
this, that I know your majesty taketh delight and opposition to the opinion of the lord chief justice,
contentment in executing this disgrace upon me. arid of Mr. Attorney-General. Sir, I thank God,
And, since your majesty can find no other use of whatsoever opinion my head serveth me to delime, I am glad yet I can serve for that. Thus ver to her majesty, being asked, my heart serveth
makincg my most humble petition to your majesty, me to maintain; the same honest duty directing
that in justice (howsoever you may by strange- me and assisting me. But the utter untruth of
ness untie, or by violence cut asunder all other this report God and the queen can witness; and
knots) your majesty would not touch me in that the improbability of it every man that hath wit,
which is indissoluble; that is, point of duty: and more or less, can conceive. The root of this I
that your majesty will pardon this my unwar- discern to be not so much a light and humorous
ranted presumption of writing, being to such an envy at my accesses to her majesty, (which of
end: I cease in all humbleness; her majesty's grace being begun in my first years,
Your majesty's poor, and never I would be sorry she should estrange in my last
so unworthy servant, years, for so I account them, reckoning by health,
EssEx. not by age;) as a deep malice to your honourable
self; upon whom, by me, thrbugh nearness, they
think to make some aspersion. But, as I know
TO IMY LORD OF ESSEX. no remedy against libels and lies, so I hope it
IT BMAY PLEASE YOUR LORD13SHIP, shall make no manner of disseverance of your
That your lordship is in'" statu quo prius," no honourable good conceits and affection towards
man taketh greater gladness than I do; the rather, me; which is the thing I confess to fear. For,
because I assure myself that of your eclipses, as as for any violence to be offered to me, wherewith
this hath been the longest, it shall be the least; my friends tell me, to no small terror, that I am
as the comical poet saith,, neque illam tu satis threatened, I thank God I have the privy coat of
noveras, neque te illa, hoe ubi fit, ibi non vivitur." a good conscience; and have a good while since
For, if I may be so bold as to say what I think, I put off any fearful care of life, or the accidents of
life. So, desiring to be preserved in your good
e Written by Mr. Bacon for my Lord of Essex. opinion, I remain,