y say to your Lordship, in the confidence of your poor
kinsman, and of a man by you advanced, _Tu idem fer opem, qui spem
dedisti_; for I am sure it was not possible for any living man to
have received from another more significant and comfortable words
of hope; your Lordship being pleased to tell me, during the course
of my last service, that you would raise me; and that when you had
resolved to raise a man, you were more careful of him than himself;
and that what you had done for me in my marriage was a benefit to
me, but of no use to your Lordship.... And I know, and all the
world knoweth, that your Lordship is no dealer of holy water, but
noble and real; and on my part I am of a sure ground that I have
committed nothing that may deserve alteration. And therefore my
hope is your Lordship will finish a good work, and consider that
time groweth precious with me, and that I am now _vergentibus
annis_. And although I know your fortune is not to need an hundred
such as I am, yet I shall be ever ready to give you my best and
first fruits, and to supply (as much as in me lieth) worthiness by
thankfulness."

Still the powers were deaf to his appeals; at any rate he had to be
content with another promise. Considering the ability which he had shown
in Parliament, the wisdom and zeal with which he had supported the
Government, and the important position which he held in the House of
Commons, the neglect of him is unintelligible, except on two
suppositions: that the Government, that is Cecil, were afraid of
anything but the mere routine of law, as represented by such men as
Hobart and Doddridge; or that Coke's hostility to him was unabated, and
Coke still too important to be offended.

Bacon returned to work when the Parliament met, November, 1606. The
questions arising out of the Union, the question of naturalisation, its
grounds and limits, the position of Scotchmen born _before_ or _since_
the King's accession, the _Antenati_ and _Postnati_, the question of a
union of laws, with its consequences, were discussed with great keenness
and much jealous feeling. On the question of naturalisation Bacon took
the liberal and larger view. The immediate union of laws he opposed as
premature. He was a willing servant of the House, and the House readily
made use of him. He reported the result of conferences, even when his
own opinion was adverse to that