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I pray, Sir, let not my jargon privilege my letter from burning: because it is not such, but the light sheweth through.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.

SIR,

* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq.

fol. 90, in

brary.

I HAVE received your letter, and, since, I have had vol. IV. opportunity to deal freely with the queen. I have I have the Lamdealt confidently with her as a matter, wherein I did beth limore labour to overcome her delays, than that I did fear her denial. I told her how much you were thrown down with the correction she had already given you; that she might in that point hold herself already satisfied. And because I found, that Tanfield (a) had been most propounded to her, I did most disable him. I find the queen very reserved, staying herself upon giving any kind of hope, yet not passionate against you, till I grew passionate for you. Then she said, that none thought you fit for the place but my lord treasurer and myself. Marry, the others must some of them say before us for fear or for flattery. I told her, the most and wisest of her council had delivered their opinions, and preferred you before all men for that place. And if it would please her majesty to think, that whatsoever they said contrary to their own words when they spake without witness, might be as factiously spoken, as the other way flatteringly, she would not be deceived. Yet if they had been never for you, but contrarily against you, I thought my credit, joined with the approbation and mediation of her greatest counsellors, might prevail in a greater matter than this; and urged her, that though she could not signify her mind to others, I might have a secret promise, wherein I should receive great comfort, as in the contrary great unkindness. She said she was neither persuaded, nor would hear of it till Easter, when she might advise with her

(a) Probably Laurence Tanfield, made lord chief baron of the Exchequer in June, 1607.`

• Among

the papers

of Antony

vol. IV.

council, who were now all absent; and therefore in passion bid me go to bed, if I would talk of nothing else. Wherefore in passion I went away, saying, while I was with her I could not but solicit for the cause and the man I so much affected; and therefore I would retire myself till I might be more graciously heard; and so we parted. To-morrow I will go hence of purpose, and on Thursday I will write an expostulating letter to her. That night or upon Friday morning I will be here again, and follow on the same course, stirring a discontentment in her, etc. And so wish you all happiness, and rest

Indorsed, March 28, 1594.

Your most assured friend,

ESSEX.

THE EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.*
SIR,

Bacon, Esq. I HAVE now spoken with the queen, and I see no stay fol. 89, in from obtaining a full resolution of that we desire.

the Lam

beth li

brary.

But the passion she is in by reason of the tales that have been told her against Nicholas Clifford, with whom she is in such rage, for a matter, which I think you have heard of, doth put her infinitely out of quiet; and her passionate humour is nourished by some foolish women. Else I find nothing to distaste us, for she doth not contradict confidently; which they, that know the minds of women, say is a sign of yielding. I will to-morrow take more time to deal with her, and will sweeten her with all the art I have to make benevolum auditorem. I have already + Sir Tko- spoken with Mr. Vice-chamberlain;† and will tomas Heue-morrow speak with the rest. Of Mr. Vice-chamber

age.

lain you may assure yourself; for so much he hath faithfully promised me. The exceptions against the competitors I will use to-morrow; for then I do resolve to have a full and large discourse, having prepared the queen to-night to assign me a time, under colour of some such business, as I have pretended. In

the mean time I must tell you, that I do not respect either my absence, or my shewing a discontentment in going away, for I was received at my return, and I think I shall not be the worse. And for that I am oppressed with multitude of letters that are come, of which I must give the queen some account to-morrow morning; I therefore desire to be excused for writing no more to-night: to-morrow you shall hear from me again. I wish you what you wish yourself in this and all things else, and rest

Your most affectionate friend,

This Friday at night.

Indorsed, March 29, 1594.

ESSEX.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX.

My Lord,

Among

the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. III.

Lambeth

mas Eger

I THANK your lordship very much for your kind and fol. 62, comfortable letter, which I hope will be followed at library. hand with another of more assurance. And I must confess this very delay hath gone so near me, as it hath almost overthrown my health; for when I revolved the good memory of my father, the near degree of alliance I stand in to my lord treasurer, your lordship's so signalled and declared favour, the honourable testimony of so many counsellors, the commendations unlaboured, and in sort offered by my lords the judges and the master of the rolls elect;t that I was voiced + Sir Thowith great expectation, and, though I say it myself, ton. with the wishes of most men, to the higher place; That of ++ that I am a man, that the queen hath already done attorney for; and that princes, especially her majesty, love to make an end where they begin; and then add hereunto the obscureness and many exceptions to my competitors: when, I say, I revolve all this, I cannot but conclude with myself, that no man ever read a more exquisite disgrace; and therefore truly, my lord, I was determined, if her majesty reject me, this to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I will, by God's assistance, with this disgrace of my fortune,

general.

Among

the papers
of Antony
Bacon, Esq.
vol. IV.
fol. 122, in

the Lambeth libra

ry.

and yet with that comfort of the good opinion of so
many honourable and worthy persons, retire myself
with a couple of men to Cambridge, and there spend my
life in my studies and contemplations, without looking
back. I humbly pray your lordship to pardon me for
troubling you with my melancholy. For the matter
itself, I commend it to your love; only I pray you
communicate afresh this day with my lord treasurer
and Sir Robert Cecil; and if you esteem my fortune,
remember the point of precedency. The objections
to my competitors your lordship knoweth partly. I
pray spare them not, not over the queen, but to the
great ones, to shew your confidence, and to work
their distrust. Thus longing exceedingly to exchange
troubling your lordship with serving you, I rest
Your Lordship's,

in most intire and faithful service,

FRANCIS BACON.

I humbly pray your lordship I may hear from you some time this day.

30th of March, 1594.

MR. FRANCIS BACON TO SIR ROBERT CECIL.*

My most honourable good Cousin,

YOUR honour in your wisdom doth well perceive, that my access at this time is grown desperate in regard of the hard terms, that as well the earl of Essex as Mr. Vice-chamberlain, who were to have been the means thereof, stand in with her majesty, according to their occasions. And therefore I am only to stay upon that point of delaying and preserving the matter intire till a better constellation; which, as it is not hard, as I conceive, considering the French business and the instant progress, &c. so I commend in special to you the care, who in sort assured me thereof, and upon whom now, in my lord of Essex's absence, I have only to rely; and, if it be needful, I

humbly pray you to move my lord your father to lay his hand to the same delay. And so I wish you all increase of honour.

Your Honour's poor kinsman

in faithful service and duty,

FRANCIS BACON.

From Gray's-Inn, this 1st of May, 1594.

Cousin,

SIR ROBERT CECIL'S ANSWER.*

• Among

the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. IV.

beth libra

ry.

I Do think nothing cut the throat more of your pre- fol. 122, in sent access than the earl's being somewhat troubled the Lamat this time. For the delaying I think it not hard, neither shall there want my best endeavour to make it easy, of which I hope you shall not need to doubt by the judgment, which I gather of divers circumstances confirming my opinion. I protest I suffer with you in mind, that you are thus gravelled; but time will founder all your competitors, and set you on your feet, or else I have little understanding.

EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON.†
SIR,

I WROTE not to you till I had had a second con-
ference with the queen, because the first was spent
only in compliments: she in the beginning ex-
cepted all business: this day she hath seen me again.
After I had followed her humour in talking of those
things, which she would entertain me with, I told her,
in my
absence I had written to Sir Robert Cecil, to
solicit her to call you to that place, to which all the
world had named you; and being now here, I must
follow it myself; for I know what service I should
do her in procuring you the place; and she knew not
how great a comfort I should take in it. Her an-
swer in playing just was, that she came not to me for

+ Ibid. fol. 122.

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