1

and I think in a hand which he himself at one time employed; and agreeing for the most part with the principal collection in the 'Resuscitatio: probably therefore copied from Bacon's own register of letters. The "Lord President of York," to whom it is addressed, was I presume the second Lord Burghley, who was appointed President of the Council of the North in 1599. There was an Edward Jones, at one time secretary to the Lord Keeper Puckering, after his death secretary to the Earl of Essex, who was an acquaintance and correspondent of both the Bacons; "a great translator of books; and preferred by Mr. Waad for a special man of language." He may very well have been the person in whose behalf Bacon writes. The vacant office was no doubt that of "Secretary and Keeper of the Signet to the Council of the North," which was granted to John Herbert, second Secretary of Estate, by Queen Elizabeth;2 at what precise date I do not know, and (owing to the changes now in progress at the State Paper Office) have not at present the means of inquiring. But the particulars which I have mentioned will probably satisfy as much curiosity as the letter will raise. The rest it will tell for itself.

A LETTER FROM MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE LORD PRESIDENT OF YORK IN FAVOUR OF MR. JOHNS FOR THE SECRETARY'S PLACE AT YORK.3

It may please your good Lordship,

I have been moved to recommend a person and suit to your Lordship which I assure myself if it may take place with you I shall not leese credit with you by; for both I know perfectly the honesty and sufficiency of the man, and that which is the next point, I am so well acquainted with his dutiful affection to your Lordship, as I dare undertake no servant of yours shall be more observantly and faithfully at your commandment. It is conceived in Court that Mr. Secretary Herbert shall have conferred upon him the place of Secretary there, whose goodwill, by that which we do already find, Mr. Edward Jones hath reason to hope well of for a deputation. There rest two points: the one, Her Majesty's good allowance; the other, yours. The former whereof I hope he shall have good means to procure, and the second is that which I am to sue to your Lordship for: wherein to move

1 Birch's 'Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth,' i. 87, 90, 91, 118; ii. 107.
2 See Calendar of State Papers: Domestic: Janies I., p. 63. No. 76.
3 Lansd. MSS. 238, fo. 127.

you, besides the fitness of the man, hardly to be matched in any other particular, I will undertake for his thankfulness in as good a manner as any other can be whatsoever; and all the poor credit myself have with you, which I have not been unmindful to cherish, I desire may appear in this suit rather than in any motion for myself. And so with my humble signification of duty I commend your Lordship to God's goodness.

At your Lordship's honourable commandment,

FR. BACON.

Of the three remaining letters for which a place must be found, I cannot offer any elucidation. They come from the old collection in the library of Queen's College, Oxford, which I have mentioned before as containing most of the letters printed by Rawley in his supplementary collection, and a few besides, which were first published I believe by Dr. Birch, and stated by him (on the authority I suppose of the person from whom he received the copies) to be from the original draughts; which is certainly a mistake. They are probably genuine; but the occasions to which they refer are not such as would be likely, except by mere chance, to leave any trace in history. I therefore print them simply as I find them, and so conclude this chapter. In the next I shall have to give an account of Elizabeth's last Parliament, and of her last and not least successful public appearance in the great part which she had sustained so long.

TO THE LORD TREASURER.

It may please your honourable Lordship,

I account myself much bound to your Lordship for your favour showed to Mr. Higgins upon my commendations about Parett's wardship; the effect of which your Lordship's favour, though it hath been intercepted by my Lord Deputy's suit, yet the signification remains; and I must in all reason consent and acknowledge that your Lordship had as just and good reason to satisfy my Lord Deputy's request as I did think it unlikely that my Lord would have been suitor for so mean a matter.

So this being to none other end but to give your Lordship

So I read the name in the MS. Birch printed it "Pawlet." The name of "Parett," in connexion with "my Lord Deputy," suggests Sir John Perrot; who was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1584 to 1587; and it is quite possible that this letter may belong to as early a date.

humble thanks for your intended favour, I commend your Lordship to the preservation of the Divine Majesty. From Gray's Inn.

Sir,

TO SIR FRANCIS VERE.

I am to recommend to your favour one Mr. John Ashe, as to serve under you as agent of your company: whose desire how much I do affect, you may perceive if it be but in this, that myself being no further interessed in you by acquaintance or deserving yet have intruded myself into this commendation. Which if it shall take place, I shall by so much the more find cause to take it kindly as I find less cause in myself to take upon me the part of a mover or commender towards you; whom nevertheless I will not so far estrange myself from, but that in a general or mutual respect, incident to persons of our qualities and service, and not without particular inducement of friendship, I might without breaking decorum offer to you a request of this nature; the rather honouring you so much for your virtues, I would gladly take occasion to be beholding to you; yet no more gladly than to have occasion to do you any good office. And so this being to no other end, I commend you to God's goodness. From my chamber at the

Sir,

To MR. CAWFEILDE.

I made full account to have seen you here this reading, but your neither coming nor sending the interr. as you undertook, I may [ ]1of a wonder. And you know super mirari cœperunt philosophari. The redemption of both these consisteth in the vouchsafing of your coming up now as soon as you conveniently can; for now is the time of conference and counsel.

Besides, if the course of the Court be held super interrogat. judicis, then must the interr. be ready ere the commission be sealed; and if the commission proceed not forthwith, then will

The word in the MS. looks like parcell, with the first syllable contracted. I cannot think of any word like it that would suit.

it be caught hold of for further delay. I will not by way of admittance desire you to send with all speed the interr. because I presume much of your coming, which I hold necessary; and accordingly pro jure amicitiæ I desire you earnestly to have regard both of the matter itself and my so conceiving. And so etc.

Your friend particularly.