The first thing we hear of is his arrest a second time for debt; and his letters of thanks to Cecil, who had rendered him assistance, are written in deep depression.
"For my purpose or course I desire to meddle as little as I can in the King's causes, his Majesty now abounding in counsel, and to follow my private thrift and practice, and to marry with some convenient advancement.

For as for any ambition, I do assure your Honour, mine is quenched.

In the Queen's, my excellent Mistress's, time the _quorum_ was small: her service was a kind of freehold, and it was a more solemn time.

All those points agreed with my nature and judgment.

My ambition now I shall only put upon my pen, whereby I shall be able to maintain memory and merit of the times succeeding.
"Lastly, for this divulged and almost prostituted title of knighthood, I could without charge, by your Honour's mean, be content to have it, both because of this late disgrace and because I have three new knights in my mess in Gray's Inn's commons; and because I have found out an alderman's daughter, an handsome maiden, to my liking." Cecil, however, seems to have required that the money should be repaid by the day; and Bacon only makes a humble request, which, it might be supposed, could have been easily granted.
"IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP,--In answer of your last letter, your money shall be ready before your day: principal, interest, and costs of suit.