work, such as beyond which I could not expect at the first in so abstruse an argument, yet, nevertheless, I have just cause to doubt that it flies too high over men's heads. I have a purpose, therefore, though I break the order of time, to draw it down to the sense by some patterns of a natural story and inquisition. And again, for that my book of Advancement of Learning may be some preparative or key for the better opening of the Instauration, because it exhibits a mixture of new conceits and old; whereas the Instauration gives the new unmixed, otherwise than with some little aspersion of the old, for taste's sake, I have thought good to procure a translation of that book into the general language, not without great and ample additions and enrichment thereof, especially in the second book, which handleth the partition of sciences, in such sort, as I hold it may serve in lieu of the first part of the Instauration, and acquit my promise in that part. "Again, because I cannot altogether desert the civil person that I have born, which if I should forget, enough would remember. I have also entered into a work touching laws, propounding a character of justice in a middle term, between the speculative and reverend discourses of philosophers and the writings of lawyers, which are tied, and obnoxious to their particular laws; and although it be true that I had a purpose to make a particular digest, or recompilement of the laws of mine own nation, yet because it is a work of assistance, and that I cannot master by my own forces and pen, I have laid it aside. Now having in the work of my Instauration had in contemplation the general good of men in their very being, and the dowries of nature; and in my work of laws, the general good of men likewise in society, and the dowries of government: I thought in duty I owed somewhat to my country, which I ever loved; insomuch, as although my place hath been far Imprison ment of Bacon. above my desert, yet my thoughts and cares concerning the good thereof were beyond and over and above my place so now, being as I am, no more able to do my country service, it remained unto me to do it honour; which I have endeavoured to do in my work of the reign of King Henry VII. As for my essays, and some other particulars of that nature, I count them but as the recreation of my other studies, and in that sort I purpose to continue them; though I am not ignorant that those kind of writings would, with less pains and embracement, perhaps, yield more lustre aud reputation to my name than those other which I have in hand. But I account the use that a man should seek of the publishing his own writings before his death to be but an untimely anticipation of that which is proper to follow a man, and not to go along with him." The sentence now remained to be executed. On the last day of May, Lord St. Albans was committed to the Tower; and, though he had placed himself altogether in the King's hands, confident in his kindness, it is not to be supposed that he could be led to prison without deeply feeling his disgrace. In the anguish of his mind he instantly wrote to Buckingham and to the King, submitting, but maintaining his integrity as Chancellor. "Good my Lord,-Procure the warrant for my discharge this day. Death, I thank God, is so far from being unwelcome to me, as I have called for it (as Christian resolution would permit) any time these two months. But to die before the time of his majesty's grace, and in this disgraceful place, is even the worst that could be; and when I am dead, he is gone that was always in one tenor, a true and perfect servant to his master, and one that was never author of any immoderate, no, nor unsafe, no (I will say it), not unfortunate counsel; and one that no tempta tion could ever make other than a trusty, and honest, and "Your Lordship's true friend, living and dying, Tower, 51st May, 1621. After two days' imprisonment he was liberated: (b) and, Liberation the sentence not permitting him to come within the verge of the court, he retired, with the King's permission, to Sir John Vaughan's house at Parson's Green, (c) from whence, (a) That he wrote to the King is clear, from a letter dated June 22, 1621, which concludes thus: "I submit myself, desiring his majesty and your lordship to take my letters from the Tower as written de profundis, and those I continue to write to be ex aquis falsis." (b) The following is the notice in Camden. It is placed as after May 15, and before June 1, 1621. " Ex cancellarius in arcem traditur, post biduum deliberatus." I am (c) In a letter to the Prince of Wales, dated June 1, he says: much beholden to your highness's worthy servant, Sir John Vaughan, the sweet air and loving usage of whose house hath already much revived my languishing spirits, I beseech your highness, thank him for me. God ever preserve and prosper your highness. Your Highness's most humble and most bounden servant, FR. ST. ALBAN." Upon his arrival at Sir John's, he wrote to express his obligations both to the King and to Buckingham. To the King. It may please your most excellent Majesty,—I humbly thank your majesty for my liberty, without which timely grant any farther grace would have come too late. But your majesty, that did shed tears in the beginning of my trouble, will, I hope, shed the dew of your grace and goodness upon me in the end. Let me live to serve you, else life is but the shadow of death to your Majesty's most devoted servant, June 4, 1621. FR. ST. ALBAN. To the Marquis of Buckingham.-My very good Lord, I heartily thank your lordship for getting me out of prison, and now my body is out, my although anxious to continue in or near London, he went, in compliance with his majesty's suggestion, for a temporary retirement to Gorhambury, (a) where he was obliged to mind nevertheless will be still in prison till I may be on my feet to do his majesty and your lordship faithful service. Wherein your lordship, by the grace of God, shall find that my adversity hath neither spent nor pent my spirits. God prosper you. Your Lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, FR. ST. ALBAN.-June 4, 1621. (a) To the Marquis of Buckingham.-My very good Lord, If it be conceived that it may be matter of inconvenience, or envy, my particular respects must give place; only in regard of my present urgent occasions, to take some present order for the debts that press me most. I have petitioned his majesty to give me leave to stay at London till the last of July, and then I will dispose of my abode according to the sentence. I have sent to the Prince to join with you in it, for though the matter seem small, yet it importeth me much. God prosper you. June 20, 1621. Your Lordship's true servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. My very good Lord,-I humbly thank your lordship for the grace and favour you did both to the message and messenger, in bringing Mr. Meautys to kiss his majesty's hands, and to receive his pleasure from himself. My riches in my adversity have been, that I have had a good master, a good friend, and a good servant. I perceive by Mr. Meautys his majesty's inclination, that I should go first to Gorhambury; and his majesty's inclinations have ever been with me instead of directions. Wherefore I purpose, God willing, to go thither forthwith, humbly thanking his majesty, nevertheless, that he meant to have put my desire, in my petition contained, into a way, if I had insisted upon it; but I will accommodate my present occasions as I may, and leave the times and seasons and ways to his majesty's grace and choice. Only I desire his majesty to bear with me if I have pressed unseasonably. My letters out of the Tower were de profundis; and the world is a prison, if I may not approach his majesty, finding in my heart as I do. God preserve and prosper his majesty and your lordship. Your Lordship's faithful and bounden servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. June 22, 1621. My very good Lord, I thank God I am come very well to Gorhambury, whereof I thought your lordship would be glad to hear sometimes. My lord, I wish myself by you in this stirring world, not for any love to place or business, for that is almost gone with me, but for my love to yourself, emain till the end of the year, but with such reluctance, that, with the hope of quieting the King's fears, he, at one time, intended to present a petition to the House of Lords to remit this part of his sentence. (a) which can never cease in your Lordship's most obliged friend and true servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. Being now out of use, and out of sight, I recommend myself to your lordship's love and favour, to maintain me in his majesty's grace and good intention. To Lord Digby.-I pray, my Lord, if occasion serve, give me your good word to the King for the release of my confinement, which is to me a very strait kind of imprisonment. Your Lordship's most affectionate Gorhambury, this last of December, 1621. FR. ST. ALBAN. (a) Petition of the Lord Viscount St. Alban, intended for the House of Lords. My right honourable very good Lords,-In all humbleness acknow ledging your lordships' justice, I do now, in like manner, crave and implore your grace and compassion. I am old, weak, ruined, in want, a very subject of pity. My only suit to your lordships is, to shew me your noble favour towards the release of my confinement (so every confinement is), and to me, I protest, worse than the Tower. There I could have had company, physicians, conference with my creditors and friends about my debts, and the necessities of my estate, helps for my studies, and the writings I have in hand. Here, I live upon the sword point of a sharp air endangered if I go abroad, dulled if I stay within, solitary and comfortless' without company, banished from all opportunities to treat with any to do myself good, and to help out any wrecks; and that which is one of my greatest griefs, my wife, that hath been no partaker of my offending, must be partaker of this misery of my restraint. May it please your lordships, therefore, since there is a time for justice, and a time for misery, to think with compassion upon that which I have already suffered, which is not little, and to recommend this my humble, and, as I hope, modest suit to his most excellent majesty, the fountain of grace, of whose mercy, for so much as concerns himself merely, I have already tasted, and likewise of his favour of this very kind, by some small temporary dispensations. Herein your lordships shall do a work of charity and nobility; you shall do me good; you shall do my creditors good; and it may be, you shall do posterity good, if out of the carcass of dead and rotten greatness, as out of Samson's lion, there may be honey gathered for the use of future times. God bless your persons and counsels. VOL. XV. Your Lordship's supplicant and servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. сс |