The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 79
body of the gentleman of England) grow to be queen's bill, which I send your lordship. The,
loving and obsequious, and to be weary of the payment is not out of lands, but out of the cushumour of ruffling; all mutinous spirits grow to toms, and so it can be but the rent. Your lordbe a little poor and to draw in their horns, and not ship remembereth, it is but in a case which, I
the less for your majesty's disauctorizing the man hope, shall never be; that is, after his majesty's
I speak of. Now, then, I reasonably doubt, that death, if she survive. God ever bless and direct
if there be but an opinion of his coming in with you.
the strength of such an alliance, it will give a Your lordship's most faithful and
turn and relapse in men's minds into the former devoted friend and servant,
state of things hardly to be holpen, to the great FR. BACON, C. S.
weakening of your majesty's service. Gorhambury, this
Again, Your majesty may have perceived that, 25th of July, 117.
as far as it was fit for me in modesty to advise, I
was ever for a Parliament, (which seemeth to me
to be cardo rerum, or summa summarunm, for the
TO THE EARL OF BRISTOL.
present occasions.) But this my advice was ever
conditional, that your majesty should go to a Par- MY VERY GOOD LORD,
liament with a council united and not distracted; I now only send my best wishes, to follow you
and that your majesty will give rne leave never to at sea and land, with due thanks for your late
expect, if that man come in. Not for any differ- great favours. God knows whether the length
ence of mine own, (for I am omnibus omnia for of your voyage will not exceed the size of my
your majesty's service,) but because he is by na- hour-glass; but whilst I live, my affection to do
ture unsociable, and by habit popular, and too old you service shall remain quick under the ashes of
now to take a new ply. And men begin already my fortune.
to collect, yea, and to conclude, that he that raiseth
such a smoke to get in, will set all on fire when
he is in. TO
It may please your majesty, now I have said, I SiR,-In this solitude of friends, which is the
have done: and, as I think I have done a duty not base court of adversity, where nobody, almost,
unworthy the first year of your last high favour, will be seen stirring, I have often remembered
1 most humbly pray your majesty to pardon me, this Spanish saying, inor sin fin, no tiene fin.
if in any thing I have erred; for, my errors shall This bids me make choice of your friend and mine
always be supplied by obedience; and so I con- for his noble succours; not now towards the asclude with my prayers for the happy preservation piring, but only the respiring of my fortunes. I,
of your majesty's person and estate. who am a man of books, have observed, that he
Your majesty's most humble, bounden, hath both the magnanimity of the old Romans,
and most devoted servant, and the cordiality of the old English, and, withal,
FR. BACON, C. S. I believe he hath the wit of both: sure I am, that,
Fromn Gorhambury, for myself, I have found him in both my fortunes,
this 25th of July, 1617. to esteem me so much above my just value, and
to love me so much above the possibility of deserving, or obliging on my part, as if he were a
friend created and reserved for such a time as this.
You know what I have to say to the great lord,
MY VERY GOOD LORD, and I conceive it cannot pass so fitly to him, by
I do think long to hear from your lordship, the mouth of any, as of this gentleman; and
touching my last letter, wherein I gave you my therefore do your best (which, I know, will be of
opinion touching your brother's match. As I then power enough) to engage him, both in the subshowed my dislike of the matter, so the carriage stance and to the secrecy of it; for I can think of
of it here in the manner I dislike as much. If no man but yourself to be used by me in this,
your lordship think it is humour or interest in me who are so private, so faithful, and so discreet a
that leads me, God judge my sincerity. But, I friend to us both; as, on the other side, I dare
must say, that in your many noble favours to- swear he is, and know myself to be as true to
wards me, they ever moved and flowed from you as your own heart.
yourself, and not from any of your friends whatsoever; and, therefore, in requital, give me leave
that my counsels to you again be referred to your
happiness, and not to the desire of any of your TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
friends. I shall ever give you, as I give my mas- Mv VERY GOOD LORD,
ter, safe counsel, and such as time will approve. Yesterday, I know, was no day; now I hope I
I received, yesterday, from Mr. Attorney, the shall hear from your lordship, who are my anchor