The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 159
forerunners of your service, which I shall always DRAUGHT OF A LETTER TO THE MARQUIS OF
perform with a faithful heart. BUCKINGHAM, NOT SENT.*
Your majesty's most obedient servant, MY LoRD: —I say to myself, that your lordship
FR. BACON. hath forsaken me; and 1 think I am one of the last,
that findeth it, and in nothing more, than that, twice
at London, your lordship would not vouchsafe to
TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. see me, though the latter time I begged it of you.
If your lordship lack any justification about
MY VERY GOOD LORD, York House, good my lord, think of it better;
I hear yesterday was a day of very great for I assure your lordship, that motion to me was
honour to his majesty, which I do congratulate. to me as a second sentence; for I conceived it
I hope, also, his majesty may reap honour out of sentenced me to the loss of that, which I thought
my adversity, as he hath done strength out of my was saved from the former sentence, which is
prosperity. His majesty knows best his own your love and favour. But sure it could not be
ways; and for me to despair of hlim, were a sin that pelting matter, but the being out of sight,
not to be forgiven. I thank God, I have over- out of use, and the ill offices done me, perhaps,
come the bitterness of this cup by Christianreso- by such as have your ear. Thus I think, and
lution, so that worldly matters are but mint and thus I speak; for I am far enough from any basecu min. ness or detracting, but shall ever love and honour
God ever preserve you. you, howsoever I be
Endorsed, Your forsaken friend and freed servant,
To my Lord Buckingham, after my troubles. FR. ST. ALBAN.
TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, MY VERY GOOD LORD,
I thought it my duty to take knowledge to his It is vain to cure the accidents of a disease,
majesty from your lordship, by the enclosed, except the cause be found and removed. I know
that, much to my comfort, I understand his ma- adversity is apprehensive; but I fear it is too
jesty doth not forget me nor forsake me, but hath true, that now I have lost honour, power, profit,
a gracious inclination to me, and taketh care of and liberty, I have, in the end, lost that which to
me; and to than~k his majesty for the same. I me was more dear than all the rest, which is my
perceive, by some speech, that passed between friend. A change there is apparent and great;
your lordship and Mr. Meautys, that some and nothing is more sure, than that nothing hath
wretched detractor hath told you, that it were proceeded from and since my troubles, either
strange I should be in debt; for that I could not towards your lordship or towards the world,
but have received a hundred thousand pounds which hath made me unworthy of your undegifts since I had the seal; which is an abomina- served favours or undesired promises. Good my
ble falsehood. Such tales as these made St. lord, deal so nobly with me, as to let me know
James say, that the tongue is a fire, anditself fired whether I stand upright in your favour, that
from hell, whither when these tongues shall re-either I may enjoy my wonted comfort, or see my
turn they will beg a drop of water to Gcool them. I griefs together, that I may the better order them;
praise God for it, I never took penny for any be- though, if your lordship should never think
nefice or ecclesiastical living; I never took penny more of me, yet your former favours should bind
for releasing any thing I stopped at the seal; I me tobe
never took penny for any commission, or things Your lordship's most obliged
of that nature; I never shared with any servant: and faithful servant,
for any second or inferior profit. My offences I FR. ST. ALBAN.
have myself recorded, wherein I studied, as a
good confessant, guiltiness, and not excuse; and,
therefore, I hope it leaves me fair to the king's
grace, and will turn many men's hearts to me. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAIM.
As for my debts, I showed them your lordship,
when you saw the little house and the farm, MY VERY GOOD LORD,
besides a little wood or desert, which you saw not. This extreme winter hath turned, with me, a
If these things were not true, although the weakness of body into a state that I cannot call
joys of the penitent be sometimes more than the health, but rather sickness, and that more dangerjoys of the innocent, I could not be as I am.
God bless you and reward you for your con- *Among Lord Bacon's printed letters, is one without a
stant bloess toad meward yI fore, yr date, in which he complains,) s in this, that he, being twice
stant love to me I rest, &c. now in London, the marquis did not vouchsafe to see himb