XXXVIII.

TO MY LORD OF ESSEX1.

MOST HONOURABLE, AND MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD,

I CANNOT but importune your lordship, with thanks for your lordship's remembering my name to my lord keeper; which being done in such an article of time, could not but be exceedingly enriched, both in demonstration and effect; which I did well discern by the manner of expressing thereof by his lordship again to me. This accumulating of your lordship's favours upon me hitherto, worketh only this effect; that it raiseth my mind to aspire to be found worthy of them, and likewise to merit and serve you for them. But whether I shall be able to pay my vows or no, I must leave that to God, who hath them in deposito; whom also I most instantly beseech to give you fruit of your actions, beyond that your heart can propound: "Nam Deus major est corde:" even to the environing of his benedictions, I recommend your lordship.

XXXIX. TO THE QUEEN WRITTEN BY FRANCIS BACON FOR THE EARL OF ESSEX.2

IT MAY PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

IT were great simplicity in me to look for better, than that your majesty should cast away my letter, as you have done me; were it not that it is possible your majesty will think to find somewhat in it, whereupon your displeasure may take hold; and so indignation may obtain that of you which favour could not. Neither might I in reason presume to offer unto your majesty dead lines, myself being excluded as I am; were it not upon this only argument or subject; namely to clear myself in point of duty. Duty, though my state lie buried in the sands, and my favours be cast upon the waters, and my honours be committed to the wind, yet standeth surely built upon the rock, and hath been, and ever shall be, unforced and unattempted. And therefore, since the world, out of error, and vour majesty, I fear, out of art, is pleased to put upor I have so much as any election, or will

in this my absence from attendance, I cannot but leave this protestation with your majesty; that I am, and have been merely a patient, and take myself only to obey and execute your majesty's will. And indeed, madam, I had never thought it possible that your majesty could have so disinterested yourself of me; nor that you had been so perfect in the art of forgetting; nor that after a quintessence of wormwood, your majesty would have taken so large a draught of poppy, as to have passed so many1 summers without all feeling of my sufferings. But the only comfort I have is this, that I know your majesty taketh delight and contentment in executing this disgrace upon me. And since your majesty can find no other use of me, I am glad yet I can serve for that. Thus making my most humble petition to your majesty, that in justice, howsoever you may by strangeness untie, or by violence cut asunder all other knots, your majesty would not touch me in that which is indissoluble: that is, point of duty; and that your majesty will pardon this my unwarranted presumption of writing, being to such an end: I cease in all humbleness;

Your Majesty's poor, and never so unworthy servant,

ESSEX.

SIR,

XL. TO SIR ROBERT CECIL2.

I FORBEAR not to put in paper, as much as I thought to have spoken to your honour to-day, if I could have stayed: knowing that if your honour should make other use of it, than is due to good meaning, and that I am persuaded you will; yet to persons of judgment, and that know me otherwise, it will rather appear, as it is, a precise honesty, and this same "suum cuique tribuere,' than any hollowness to any. It is my luck still to be akin to such things as I neither like in nature, nor would

This shews this letter was wrote before the earl of Essex had been recouciled to the queen; and our author not having been called or advised with for some year and a half before the earl's going to Ireland, determines the date at the latest to the beginning of 1598.

Rawley's Resuscitatio.

I canker but importe er being with thanks for your horky's making my te lo keeper: winch leg is an atide of time, sold nut but he exedings ended bath in demonstration and effect; which I did well dissen by the manter of expresing feef by his lovisship again to me. Tiss accumulating for Ionishins Sironins upon De liftety, wotheth on this effect; that it misth mind to age to be found why of them, and likewise to next and serve you for them. But whether I shall be able to pay my wows or no, I must leave that to God, who hath them in deposito; whom also I most instantly beseech to give you fruit of your actims, beyond that your heart can proponed: -Nam Deus major est curde:" even to the environing of his benedictions. I recommend your lordship

in this my absence from attendance, I cannot but leave this protestation with your majesty; that I am, and have been merely a patient, and take myself only to obey and execute your majesty's will. And indeed, madam, I had never thought it possible that your majesty could have so disinterested yourself of me; nor that you had been so perfect in the art of forgetting; nor that after a quintessence of wormwood, your majesty would have taken so large a draught of poppy, as to have passed so many1 summers without all feeling of my sufferings. But the only comfort I have is this, that I know your majesty taketh delight and contentment in executing this disgrace upon me. And since your majesty can find no other use of me, I am glad yet I can serve for that. Thus making my most humble petition to your majesty, that in justice, howsoever you may by strangeness untie, or by violence cut asunder all other knots, your majesty would not touch me in that which is indissoluble: that is, point of duty; and that your majesty will pardon this my unwarranted presumption of writing, being to such an end: I cease in all humbleness;

Your Majesty's poor, and never so unworthy servant,

ESSEX.

SIR,

XL. TO SIR ROBERT CECIL2.

I FORBEAR not to put in paper, as much as I thought to have spoken to your honour to-day, if I could have stayed: knowing that if your honour should make other use of it, than is due to good meaning, and that I am persuaded you will; yet to persons of judgment, and that know me otherwise, it will rather appear, as it is, a precise honesty, and this same "suum cuique tribuere," than any hollowness to any. It is my luck still to be akin to such things as I neither like in nature, nor would

ter was wrote before the earl of Essex had been reconthor not having been called or advised with for

's going to Ireland, determines the date at

's Resuscitatio.

your own wisdom upon the case, with this plainness and liberty represented to you, will find out better expedients and remedies. I wish a cure applied to every of the five former impressions, which I will take not in order, but as I think they are of weight.

For the removing the impression of your nature to be opiniastre and not rulable: first and above all things I wish, that all matters past, which cannot be revoked, your lordship would turn altogether upon insatisfaction, and not upon your nature or proper disposition. This string you cannot upon every apt occasion harp upon too much. Next, whereas I have noted you to fly and avoid, in some respect justly, the resemblance or imitation of my lord of Leicester, and my lord Chancellor Hatton; yet I am persuaded, howsoever I wish your lordship as distant as you are from them in points of favour, integrity, magnanimity, and merit, that it will do you much good between the queen and you, to alledge them, as oft as you find occasion, for authors and patterns: for I do not know a readier mean to make her majesty think you are in your right way. Thirdly, when at any time your lordship upon occasion happen in speeches to do her majesty right, for there is no such matter as flattery amongst you all, I fear you handle it "magis in speciem adornatis verbis, quam ut sentire videaris." So that a man may read formality in your countenance; whereas your lordship should do it familiarly," et oratione fida." Fourthly, your lordship should never be without some particulars afoot, which you should seem to pursue with earnestness and affection and then let them fall, upon taking knowledge of her majesty's opposition and dislike. Of which, the weightiest sort may be, if your lordship offer to labour, in the behalf of some that you favour, for some of the places now void; choosing such a subject as you think her majesty is like to oppose unto: and if you will say that this is "conjunctum cum aliena injuria," I will not answer, "Hæc non aliter constabunt;" but I say, commendation from so good a mouth doth not hurt a man, though you prevail not. A less weighty sort of particulars may be the pretence of some journeys, which at