The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 163
to my lord, and by speech with Sir Robert, and with more ease, practise the law, which, percase,
write what you find. Thus, in haste, I wish you I may use now and then for my countenance,) yet,
right well. to speak plainly, though perhaps vainly, I do not
Your friend assured, think that the ordinary practice of the law, not
FR. BACON. serving the queen in place, will be admitted for
From Gorhambury, this 26th of September, 1593. a good account of the poor talent that God hath
given me, so as I make reckoning, I shall reap no
I pray send ale word what is your day of pay- great benefit to myself in that course. Thus, again
ment, and whether you can be certain to renew, desiring the continuance of your lordship's goodbecause my brother's land is not yet sold. ness as I have hitherto found, and on my part,
sought also to deserve, I commend your good
lordship to God's good preservation.
TO TIIE LORD HIGH TREASURER.* Your lordship's most humbly bounden,
FR. BACON.
AFTER the remembrance of my humble and From Gray's Inn, this 21st of March, 1594.
bounden duty, it may please your good lordship,
the last term I drew myself to my house in the
country, expecting that the queen would have
TO MR. HENRY MAYNARD, AND MR. MICHAEL
placed another solicitor, and so I confess a little TO. HENRY MAYNARD, AND MR. ICHEL
to help digestion, and to be out of eye, I absented
myself, for I understood her majesty not only to MR. MAYNARD and Mr. Hickes, I build somecontinue in her delay, but, (as I was advertised what, upon the conceit I have of your good wills,
chiefly by my Lord of Essex,) to be retrograde, which maketh me direct my request to you in so
(to use the term applied to the highest powers;) pressing an occasion as is fallen unto me, by the
since which time, I have, as in mine own conceit, strange slipping, and uncertain over-cunning dealgiven over the suit, though I leave it to her ma- ing of a man in the city, who, having concluded a
jesty's tenderness, and the constancy of my bargain with me for certain marsh lands, now in
honourable friends, so it be without pressing. mortgage for a thousand pounds, and standing to
And now my writing to your lordship is chiefly be redeemed the 24th of this present, which is
to give you thanks. For, surely, if a man con- but twelve days hence, and being to give me sixsider the travail and not the event, a man is often teen hundred and odd pounds for the sale, doth
more bounden to his honourable friends for a suit now upon a point, as clear as any case in Littledenied than for a suit succeeding. Herewithal, ton, and wherein Mr. Attorney-General, Mr.
I am bold to make unto your lordship three re- Brograve, Mr. Heskett, Mr. Gerard, Mr. Altham,
quests, which ought to be very reasonable, and all that I can speak with, make no manner
because they come so many at once. But I of doubt, quarrel upon the assurance, and so in
cannot call that reasonable, which is only this time of difficulty for money pensions, and in
grounded upon favour. The first is, that your so instant a quantity of time as twelve days,
lordship would yet tueri ojpus tuurm, and give as plunge me to seek my redemption money, or to
much life unto this present suit for the solicitor's forfeit my land to seven hundred pounds less and
place, as may be without offending the queen, more. This maketh me desire the help of two
(for that were not good for me.) The next is, so good friends as I esteem yourselves to be, the
that, if I did show myself too credulous to idle rather because the collateral pawn which I would
hearsays, in regard of my right honourable kins- offer, which is the assurance of my lease of
man and good friend, Sir Robert Cecil, (whose Twickenham, being a thing which will pass with
good nature did well answer my honest liberty,) easy and short assurance, and is every way clear
your lordship will impute it to the complexion of and insubject to encumbrance, (because it is my
a suitor, and of a tired sea-sick suitor, and not to pleasure and my dwelling,) I would not offer but
mine own inclination; lastly, that howsoever this to a private friend; upon which assurance my
matter go, yet I may enjoy your lordship's good desire is, that upon your joint means or credit, I
favour and help, as I have done in regard of my might be furnished at my day, and if either of
private estate, which, as I have not altogether you like the bargain of my marsh lands, you shall
neglected, so I have but negligently attended, have their refusal, and I shall think you true and
and which hath been bettered only by yourself, timely friends. So, in great haste, I bid you
(the queen except,) tnd not by any other in mat- both farewell.
ter of importance. This last request, I find it Your friend, loving and assured,
more necessary for rie to make, because, (though FR. BACON
I am glad of her majesty's favour, that I may, From my chamber, this 12th of March, 1595.
* Lansd. MS. lxxviii. art. 31, Orig. * Lansd. MS. lxxx. art. 71, Orig.