80. THE first letter of Bacon's which I have met with was written, as I said, from Gray's Inn in his twentieth year. It is dated the 11th of July 1580, and addressed to a Mr. Doyly, in Paris. It has little interest for us, except as being the earliest of his writings that has come down to us; and the less because we know nothing either of the person to whom it was addressed or the circumstances to which it alludes. It seems that Francis had reported to his brother something which he had heard about Doyly: that Doyly had written two letters of explanation, and sent them to Francis to be forwarded to their destination if he thought fit: that Francis, thinking that he was under some false impression and that the explanation would do more harm than good, determined not to deliver the letters, and wrote to tell him His advice being to let the matter drop, he studiously avoids particulars, and means to be intelligible only to the person he is addressing. To the information which may be thus gathered from the letter itself, I can only add that Anthony Bacon had set out on his travels the year before, and resided for some time at Paris, and that "Mr. D. Doyly began his travel with him," then went to Flanders, where he was "of long time resident at Antwerp, depending upon Mr. Norris there," and returned to England in the spring of 1583. "He hath been of late" (says the writer from whom I derive this information)" extremely sick in those parts, and remaineth wonderfully altered since I see him in France, and having through ill order (as some say) caused this change in himself, I think his time not the best bestowed on the other side. I love the gentleman, and therefore must not credit what I hear on this behalf."l 1 See letter from Nicholas Faunt to Anthony Bacon, May 6th, 1583: Lambeth MSS. 647, p. 72. Nicholas Faunt was one of Walsingham's secretaries, and an intimate friend and constant correspondent of Anthony Bacon's. Their acquaintance had commenced at Paris. In the beginning of 1581 Faunt travelled into Germany, where he spent three months and a half. The next six or seven he spent between Geneva and the north of Italy. February and March, 1581-2, he passed at Paris, whence he returned in the beginning of April to London. He sympathized strongly with the Puritan party in religion, but was a diligent observer of public Mr. Doylie, To MR. DOYLIE.1 This very afternoon, giving date to these letters of mine, I received yours by the hands of Mr. Winibank. To the which I thought convenient not only to make answer, but also therein to make speed; lest upon supposition that the two letters enclosed were according to their direction delivered, you should commit any error, either in withholding your letters so much the longer where peradventure they mought be looked for, or in not withholding to make mention of these former letters in any others of a latter despatch. The considerations that moved me to stay the letters from receipt, whether they be in respect that I take this course to be needless, or insufficient, or likely to breed to more inconvenience otherwise than to do good as it is meant,in sum, such they are that they prevail with my simple discretion, which you have put in trust in ordering the matter, to persuade me to do as I have done. My trust and desire likewise is, that you will repose and satisfy yourself upon that which seemeth good to me herein, being most privy to the circumstances of the matter, and tendering my brother's credit as I ought, and not being misaffected to you neither. By those at whom you glance, if I know whom you mean, I know likewise that you mean amiss; for I am able upon knowledge to acquit them from being towards this matter. For mine own part, truly Mr. Doylie I never took it but that your joining in company and travel with my brother proceeded not only of goodwill in you, affairs and an able intelligencer. Copious extracts from his letters may be seen in Birch's Memorials of Queen Elizabeth. 1 Lambeth MSS. 647, 14. The original letter in Bacon's own hand: probably the earliest specimen remaining of his handwriting. Docketed by Anthony Bacon, "My Bro: Fra: his Ire to Mr. Doylie, 1580." Addressed, "To my verye frend Mr. Doylie del' these: at Parris." All the letters for which I refer to the Lambeth collection are printed from copies made (or, if they had been printed before, collated with the originals) by myself in 1843 or 1844; when Dr. Maitland was librarian, from whom no diligently disposed student ever failed to receive all possible assistance and encouragement, and to whom I in particular am indebted for facilities in studying the volumes under his charge for which I cannot sufficiently thank him. The copies of some of these letters lately published by Mr. Hepworth Dixon (Personal History of Lord Bacon. Murray, 1861) differ, I observe, very much from mine; most of them in the words and sense, more or less; and some in the name of the person writing, or the person written to, or both. But as mine are more intelligible, and were made with care and at leisure and when my eyes were better than they are now, I do not suspect any material error in them, and have not thought it worth while to apply for leave to compare them again with the originals. but also of his motion, and that your mind was always rather by desert than pretence of friendship to earn thanks than to win them; neither would I say thus much to you if I would stick to say it in any place where the contrary were enforced; and in that I certified my brother of this matter being delivered unto me for truth, I had this consideration, that between friends. more advertisements are profitable than true. My request unto you is that you will proceed in your good mind towards my brother's well-doing, and although he himself can best both judge and consider of it, yet I dare say withal that his friends will not be unthankful to misconstrue it, but ready to acknowledge it upon his liking; and as for this matter, if you take no knowledge at all of it, I will undertake it upon my knowledge that it shall be the better choice. Thus betake I you to the Lord. From Gray's Inn, the xith of July, 1580. Your very friend, FR. BACON. 2. From the foregoing letter we learn that Bacon was now living at Gray's Inn. From the three next we may partly gather what his views and hopes were with regard to the ordering of his studies and life. His intention was to study the common law as his profession; but at the same time it was his wish and hope to obtain some employment in it which should make him independent of ordinary practice at the Bar. What the particular employment was for which he hoped I cannot say; something probably connected with the service of the Crown, to which the memory of his father, an old and valued servant prematurely lost, his near relationship to the Lord Treasurer, and the personal notice which he had himself received from the Queen, would naturally lead him to look. It seems that he had spoken to Burghley on the subject, and made some overture; which Burghley undertook to recommend to the Queen; and that the Queen, who though slow to bestow favours was careful always to encourage hopes, entertained the motion graciously and returned a favourable answer. The proposition, whatever it was, having been explained to Burghley in conversation, is only alluded to in these letters. It seems to have been so far out of the common way as to require an apology, and the terms of the apology imply that it was for some employment as a lawyer. And this is all the light I can throw upon it. TO LADY BURGHLEY.1 My singular good Lady, I am I was as ready to show myself mindful of my duty by waiting on your Ladyship at your being in town as now by writing, had I not feared lest your Ladyship's short stay and quick return mought well spare one that came of no earnest errand. not yet greatly perfect in ceremonies of court, whereof I know your Ladyship knoweth both the right use and true value. My thankful and serviceable mind shall be always like itself, howsoever it vary from the common disguising. Your Ladyship is wise and of good nature to discern from what mind every action proceedeth, and to esteem of it accordingly. This is all the message which my letter hath at this time to deliver, unless it please your Ladyship further to give me leave to make this request unto you, that it would please your good Ladyship in your letters wherewith you visit my good Lord to vouchsafe the mention and recommendation of my suit; wherein your Ladyship shall bind me more unto you than I can look ever to be able sufficiently to acknowledge. Thus in humble manner I take my leave of your Ladyship, committing you as daily in my prayers so likewise at this present to the merciful providence of the Almighty. From G. Inn, this 16 September, 1580. Your Ladyship's most dutiful and bounden nephew, TO LORD BUrghley,2 My singular good Lord, My humble duty remembered and my humble thanks presented for your Lordship's favour and countenance, which it pleased your Lordship at my being with you to vouchsafe me above my degree and desert, my letter hath no further errand but to commend unto your Lordship the remembrance of my suit which then I moved unto you, whereof it also pleased your Lordship to give me good hearing so far forth as to promise to tender it unto her Majesty, and withal to add in the behalf of 'Lansd. MSS. 31. 14. 2 Lansd. MSS. 31. 14. eted B. Fra. Copy: no address. Copy in the same hand: also without address. Dock it that which I may better deliver by letter than by speech, which is, that although it must be confessed that the request is rare and unaccustomed, yet if it be observed how few there be which fall in with the study of the common laws, either being well left or friended, or at their own free election, or forsaking likely success in other studies of more delight and no less preferment, or setting hand thereunto early without waste of years; upon such survey made, it may be my case may not seem ordinary, no more than my suit, and so more beseeming unto it. As I force myself to say this in excuse of my motion, lest it should appear unto your Lordship altogether undiscreet and unadvised, so my hope to obtain it resteth only upon your Lordship's good affection toward me and grace with her Majesty, who methinks needeth never to call for the experience of the thing, where she hath so great and so good of the person which recommendeth it. According to which trust of mine, if it may please your Lordship both herein and elsewhere to be my patron, and to make account of me as one in whose well-doing your Lordship hath interest, albeit indeed your Lordship hath had place to benefit many, and wisdom to make due choice of lighting-places for your goodness, yet do I not fear any of your Lordship's former experiences for staying my thankfulness borne in heart,1 howsoever God's good pleasure shall enable me or disable me outwardly to make proof thereof. For I cannot account your Lordship's service distinct from that which I [owe] 2 to God and my Prince; the performance whereof to best proof and purpose is the meeting point and rendezvous of all my thoughts. Thus I take my leave of your Lordship in humble manner, committing you, as daily in my prayers, so likewise at this present, to the merciful protection of the Almighty. From G. Inn, this 16 of September, 1580. Your most dutiful and bounden nephew, TO LORD BURGHLEY.S My singular good Lord, Your Lordship's comfortable relation of her Majesty's gra So in MS. I suppose the transcriber has missed out some words. 2 MS. omits "owe." 3 Lansd. MSS. 31. 16. Copy in the same hand: no address. Docketed B. Fra. Another docket in a more modern hand describes it as a transcript by Sir Michael Hickes of Fra. Bacon's letter to the L. Treasurer Burghley. |