The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 59
will offer my project with this condition, that if I i yet neither do I repent me of safe counsel; neither
advise any thing that the council of war shall | do I judge of the whole play by the first act. But
think dangerous, it may be rejected; or if myself whether I counsel you the best, or for the best,
be actor in any thing belonging to this project, duty bindeth me to offer to you my wishes. I
wherein her majesty receives dishonour, that I said to your lordship last time; "s Martha, Martha,
may answer it with my life. And yet your attendis ad plurima, unum sufficit." Win the
lordships know I am matched with those in queen; if this be not the beginning, of any other
whom I have no particular interest; but I must course I see no end. And I will not now speak
attribute their assenting to me, to my good hap, of favour of affection, but of other correspondence
to take the better part. In my lord with whom I and agreeableness, which, whensoever it shall be
joined, I find so much honour and service, as conjoined with the other of affection, I durst
I doubt not but our unity in affection will mlake wager my life (let them make what prosopopeus
a unity in council, action, and government. I they will of her majesty's nature) that in you she
have troubled your lordships with a tedious letter, will come to the question of "quid fiet homini,
begun in a day of leisure, and finished in the quem rex vult honorare "' But how is it now.
midst of our troublesome business. I pray your A man of a nature not to be ruled, that hath the
lordships pardon the errors in it, and keep so advantage of my affection and knoweth it, of an
honourable opinion of me as I be not condemned estate not grounded to his greatness, of a popular
by you upon any complaints, advertisements, or reputation, of a military dependence: I demand
reports, till I have given answer to them. For whether there can be a more dangerous image
as the nature of my place is subject to envy and than this represented to any monarch living, much
detraction, so a little body full of sharp humours more to a lady, and of her majesty's apprehension 1
is hardest kept in temper; and all the discontent- And is it not more evident than demonstration
ed humours of an army do make their greatest itself, that whilst this impression continueth in her
quarrel to him that commands the army, not so majesty's breast, you can find no other condition
much for his faults as for because he bridles than inventions to keep your estate bare and low;
their's. And so commending your good lordships crossing and disgracing your actions, extenuating
to God's divine protection, I rest and blasting of your merit, carping with contempt
At your lordships' commandment, at your nature and fashions; breeding, nourishing,
ROBERT ESSEX. and fortifying such instruments as are most
factious against you, repulses and scorns of your
friends and dependants that are true and steadfast,
winning and inveigling away from you such as
TO IMCY LORD OF ESSEX, FROM MIR. BACON1'. are flexible and wavering, thrusting you into
MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD, odious employments and offices to supplant your
I will no longer dissever part of that, which I reputation, abusing you, and feeding you with
meant to have said to your lordship at Barnhelmes, dalliances and demonstrations, to divert you from
from the exordium, which I then made. Where- descending into the serious consideration of your
unto I will only add this; that I humbly desire own case; yea, and percase venturing you in
your lordship before you give access to my poor perilous and desperate enterprises. HIerein it
advice, to look about, even jealously a little, if may please your lordship to understand me; for I
you will, and to consider: First, whether I have mean nothing less than that these things should be
not reason to think that your fortune comprehend- plotted and intended as in her majesty's royal
eth mine: Next, whether I shift my counsel and mind towards you; I know the excellency of her
do not 6" constare mihi;" for I am persuaded there nature too well. But I say, wheresoever the forare some would give you the same counsel now, merly described impression is talien in any king's
which I shall, but that they should derogate from breast towards a subject, these other recited inthat which they have said heretofore: Thirdly, conveniences must of necessity of politic consewhether you have taken hurt at any time by my quences follow; in respect of such instruments
careful and devoted counsel. For although I as are never failing about princes, which spy into
remember well your lordship once told me that their humours and conceits, and second them;
you having submitted upon my well-meant motion and not only second them, but in seconding
at Nonsuch, (the place where you renewed a increase them; yea, and many times without their
treaty with her majesty of obsequious kindness,) knowledge pursue them further than themselves
she had taken advantage of it; yet I suppose you would. Your lordship will ask the question
do since believe, that it did much attemper a cold wherewith the Athenians were wont to interrupt
malignant humour then growing upon her majesty their orators when they exaggerated their dangers;
toward your lordship, and hath done you good in " quid igitur agendum est."
consequence. And for being against it, now I will tell your lordship, "squw mihi nunc in
lately, that you should not estrange yourself, mentum veniunt;" supposing, nevertheless, that
although I give pla:e to none in true gratulation, yourself, out of your own wisdom upon the case