*

the papers Diese of Antony

. .

ry.

I pray, Sir, let not myjargon privilege my letter from
burning ; because it is not such, but the light sheweth
through. Low I soost cho
SHS 3

si Color
waktu sud jou die prosesin sen ole
023

Lota Tacoun ca 10 og bus atro
EARL OF ESSEX TO MR. FRANCIS BACON 3 Among

TO00
SIR,

1. Bacon, Esq. I HAVE received your letter, and since I have had op- fol90, in portunity to deal freely with the queen. I have the Lam

I
dealt confidently with her as a matter, wherein I did beth libra-
more labour to overcome her delays, than that I did

I
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 dis-
able him. I find the queen very reserved, staying her-
self 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 ma-
jesty 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.

ESSEX.

the papers
of Antony
Bacon, Esq.
vol. IV.
fol. 89, in

council, who were now all absent; and therefore in pássion 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 Euak 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
bi bilo * Your most assured friend,
Indorsed, March 28, 1594.
UD

Onsdom * Among

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

I have now spoken with the queen, and I see no the Lam- stay from obtaining a full resolution of that we de

es 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 ; 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 + Sir Tho- already spoken with Mr. Vice-chamberlaint; and

will to-morrow speak with the rest. Of Mr. Vicechamberlain 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

a colour of some such business, as I have pretended. In

beth libra sire. ry.

which therOX SA

mas Heneage.

the mean time I must tell you, that I do not respect either my absence, or my shewing a discontenitment 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: tomorrow you shall hear from me again. I wish you what you wish yourself in this

o and all things else, and rest, do thiocftodio

to downe Your most affectionate friend, os od This Friday at night. l 100 Comfoit un sister van

Indorsed, March 29, 1594..09 HOC wote O OESSEX.

Beer I uov zarna sitios aisladossoldou MR. FRANCIS BACON TO THE EARL OF ESSEX*. * Among

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

Lambeth

car mend I must

of so many coupsellors, the commentaires

My Lord, Sobots trosie si 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. is confess this very delay hath gone so near me, as it hath almost overthrown my health ; for the good memory of my father, the al

er degree of liance I stand in to my lord Treasurer, your lordship's so signalled and declared favour, the honourable tęsti. mony laboured, and in sort offered by my lords the judges and the master of the rolls elect * ; that I was voiced + Sir

Thowith great expectation, and, though I say?

myself, ton.

Egerwith the wishes of most men, to the higher place That of that I am a man, that the queen hath already done aeraty

general. for; and that princes, especially her majesty, love to make an end where they begin ; and then add hereunto the obscureness and man

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 to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I will, by God's assistance, my fortune,

ton.

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 spendmy 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 pray y

I

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

ITAITOTOOL

Your Lordship's,

in most intire and faithful service, Tabor mij voor

ch

* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. IV. fol. 12%, in the Lam.

1

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

STÖ Jorge 30th of March, 1594.

al mom hoge

Foto u Da
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 beth libra- of the hard terms, that as well the earl of Essex as

Mr. Vice-chamberlain, who were 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

ry.

humbly pray you to move my lord your father to lay his hand to the same delay. And so

. And so I wish

wish you all increase of honour.

Your Honour's poor kinsman
to in faithful service and duty,

FRANCIS BACON.

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

SIR ROBERT CECIL'S ANSWER*.

Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq.

IV.

beth library.

Cousin 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 BACONT:

+ Ibid. fol.

122.

1 WROTE not too

SIR,

till I had had a second conference with the queen, because the first was spent only in compliments : she in the beginning excepted 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 answer in playing just was, that she came not to me for

5