The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

196 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS.
not knowing of my absence at Byssam with my acquaintance. And because I conceive the genLady Russel, upon some important cause of her tleman to be every way sortable with the service,
son's. And as I have heard nothing, so I look I am bold to commend him to your lordship's
for nothing, though my Lord of Essex sent me good favour. And even so, with remembrance
word, he would not write till his lordship had of my most humble duty, I rest
good news. But his lordship may go on in his Your lordship's affectionate to do you
affection, which, nevertheless, myself have desired humble service,
him to limit. But I do assure your lordship, I FR. BACON.
can take no farther care for the matter. I am now Twickenham Park, July 3,1595.
at Twickenham Park, where I think to stay: for
her majesty placing a solicitor, my travel shall TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER,
not need in her causes, though, whensoever her &c.*
majesty shall like to employ me in any particu- MY LORD,-In my last conference with your
lar, I shall be ready to do her willing service. lordship, I did entreat you both to forbear hurting
This I write lest your lordship might think my of Mr. Fr. Bacon's cause, and to suspend your
silence came of any conceit towards your lord- judgment of his mind towards your lordship, till
ship, which, I do assure you, I have not. And I had spoken with him. I went since that time
this needed I not to do, if I thought not so: for to Twickenham Park to confer with him, and had
my course will not give me any ordinary occasion signified the effect of our conference by letter ere
to use your favour, whereof, nevertheless, I shall this, if I had not hoped to have met with your
ever be glad. So I commend your good lordship lordship, and so to have delivered it by speech. I
to God's holy preservation. told your lordship when I last saw you, that this
Your lordship's humble, &c. manner of his was only a natural freedom, and
FR. BACON. plainness, which he had used with me, and in my
This 11th of October, 1595. knowledge with some other of his best friends,
than any want of reverence towards your lordship; and therefore I was more curious to look
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE TIlE LORD KEEPER, into the moving cause of his style, than into the
&c.* form of it; which now I find to be only a diffiIT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP, dence of your lordship's favour and love towards
I conceive the end already made, which will, I him, and no alienation of that dutiful mind which
trust, be to me a beginning of good fortune, or at he hath borne towards your lordship. And thereleast of content. Her majesty, by God's grace, fore I am fully persuaded, that if your lordship
shall live and reign long, she is not running would please to send for him, there would grow
away, I may trust her. Or whether she look so good satisfaction, as hereafter he should enjoy
towards me or no, I remain the same, not altered your lordship's honourable favour in as great a
in my intention. If I had been an ambitious man, measure as ever, and your lordship have the use
it would have overthrown me, but minded as I of his service, who, I assure your lordship, is as
am, Revertet benedictio mea in sinum meunr. If I strong in his kindness, as you find him in his
had made any reckoning of any thing to be stirred, jealousy. I will use no argument to persuade
I would have waited on your lordship, and will your lordship, that I should be glad of his being
be at any time ready to wait on you to do you restored to your lordship's wonted favour; since
service. So I commend your good lordship to your lordship both knoweth how much my credit
God's holy preservation. is engaged in his fortune, and may easily judge
Your lordship's most humble, how sorry I should be, that a gentleman whom I
at your honourable commandment, love so much, should lack the favour of a person
FR. BACON. whom I honour so much. And thus commending
From Twickenham Park, this 14th of October. your lordship to God's best protection, I rest
Endorsed, 14th October, 95. Your lordship's very assured,
EssEx.
Endorsed, 31 August, 95.
My Lord of Essex to have me send for Mr'. Bacon.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD KEEPER, for he will satisfy me. In my lord keeper's own
&c.t hand.
MY VERY GOOD LORD,
1 received a letter from a very friend of mine, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD
requesting me to move your lordship to put into KEEPER, &c.t
the commission for the subsidy, Mr. Richard My VERY GOOD LORD,
Kempe, a reader of Gray's Inn, and besides born The want of assistance from them which should
to good estate, being also my friend and familiar be Mr. Fr. Bacon's friends, makes [me] the more
* Harl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 61. Ibid. No. s. 9 * Harl. MSS. vol. 6997, No. 47. - Ibid. No. 106.