IT may please your good Lordship: I cannot be ignorant, and ought to be sen­sible of the wrong which I sustaine in common speech, as if I had bene false, or vnthankfull to that noble but vnfortunate Earle the Earle of Essex: And for satisfying the vulgar sort, I do not so much re­gard [Page 6] it; though I loue good name, but yet as an handmaid and atten­dant of honestie and vertue. For I am of his opinion that said pleasant­ly, That it was a shame to him that was a suter to the Mistresse, to make loue to the wayting woman; and therefore to woo or court common fame other­wise then it followeth vpon honest courses, I for my part, finde not my selfe fit nor disposed. But on the o­ther side, there is no worldly thing that concerneth my selfe, which I hold more deare, then the good o­pinion of certaine persons; amongst which there is none I would more willingly giue satisfactiō vnto, then to your Lordship. First, because you loued my Lord of Essex, and there­fore will not be partiall towards me; [Page 7] which is part of that I desire: next, because it hath euer pleased you to shew your selfe to me an honora­ble friend; and so no basenesse in me to seeke to satisfie you: and lastly, because I know your Lord­ship is excellently grounded in the true rules and habits of duties and moralities; which must be they which shal decide this matter: wher­in (my Lord) my defence needeth to be but simple and briefe: namely, that whatsoeuer I did concerning that action and proceeding, was done in my dutie and seruice to the Queene and the State; in which I would not shew my selfe false hear­ted nor faint hearted for anie mans sake liuing. For euerie honest man, that hath his heart well planted, will [Page 8] forsake his King rather then forsake God, and forsake his friend rather then forsake his King; and yet will forsake any earthly commoditie, yea and his owne life in some cases, ra­ther then forsake his friend. I hope the world hath not forgotten these degrees, else the heathen saying: A­micus vsque ad ar as, shal iudge them. And if anie man shall say, that I did officiously intrude my selfe into that businesse, because I had no ordinary place; the like may be said of all the businesse in effect that passed the hands of the learned counsell, either of State or Reuenues these manie yeares, wherein I was continually vsed. For, as your Lordship may re­member, the Queene knewe her strength so well, as she looked her [Page 9] word should be a warrant; and after the manner of the choisest Princes before her, did not alwayes tye her trust to place, but did sometime de­uide priuate fauor from office. And I for my part, though I was not so vnseene in the world, but I knewe the condition was subiect to enuie and perill; yet because I knew againe she was constant in her fauours, and made an end where she began, and specially, because she vpheld me with extraordinarie accesse, and o­ther demonstrations of confidence and grace, I resolued to endure it in expectation of better. But my scope & desire is, that your Lordship wold be pleased to haue the honourable patience, to know the truth in some particularitie of all that passed in this [Page 10] cause wherein I had any part, that you may perceiue howe honest a heart I euer bare to my Soueraigne and to my Countrey, & to that No­ble man, who had so well deserued of me, and so well accepted of my deseruings; whose fortune I cannot remember without much griefe. But for anie action of mine towards him, there is nothing that passed me in my life time, that cometh to my remembrance with more clearnesse and lesse checke of conscience: for it wil appeare to your Lordship, that I was not onely not opposite to my Lord of Essex, but that I did occupy the vtmost of my wits, and aduen­ture my fortune with the Queene to haue reintegrated his, and so con­tinued faithfully and industriously [Page 11] till his last fatall impatience, (for so I wil call it) after which day there was not time to worke for him, though the same my affectiō when it could not worke vpon the subiect proper, went to the next, with no ill effect towards some others, who I thinke do rather not know it, then not ac­knowledge it. And this I will assure your Lordship, I will leaue nothing vntold that is truth, for anie enemie that I haue to adde; & on the other side, I must reserue much which makes for me, vpon manie respects of dutie, which I esteeme aboue my credite: and what I haue here set downe to your Lordship, I protest, as I hope to haue any part in Gods fauour, is true.

It is wel knowne, how I did many [Page 12] yeares since dedicate my trauels and studies to the vse & (as I may terme it) seruice of my Lord of Essex, which, I protest before God, I did not, making election of him as the likeliest meane of mine owne ad­uancement, but out of the humor of a man, that euer, from the time I had anie vse of reason, (whether it were reáding vpon good bookes, or vpon the example of a good father, or by nature) I loued my countrey more then was answerable to my fortune, and I held at that time, my Lord to be the fittest instrument to do good to the State: and therefore I applied my selfe to him, in a manner which I thinke happeneth rarely amongst men: for I did not only labour care­fully and industriously in that he set [Page 13] me about, whether it were matter of aduice or otherwise, but neglecting the Queenes seruice, mine owne fortune, and in a sort my vocation, I did nothing but deuise and rumi­nate with my selfe to the best of my vnderstanding, propositions & me­morials, of any thing that might cō ­cerne his Lordships honor, fortune or seruice. And when not long after I entred into this course, my brother Maister Anthony Bacon came from beyond the seas, being a Gentle­man whose abilitie the world taketh knowledge of for matters of State, specially forreine; I did likewise knit his seruice to be at my Lords dispo­sing. And on the other side, I must & will euer acknowledge my Lords loue, trust, and fauour towards me; [Page 14] last of all his liberalitie, hauing in­feoffed me of land which I sold for eighteene hundred pounds to Mai­ster Reynold Nicholas, and I thinke was more worth, and that at such a time, and with so kinde and noble circumstances, as the maner was as much as the matter: which though it be but an idle digression, yet be­cause I am not willing to be short in commemoration of his benefites, I will presume to trouble your Lord­ship with the relating to you the ma­ner of it. After the Queene had de­nied me the Sollicitors place, for the which his Lordship had bene a long and earnest sutor on my behalfe, it pleased him to come to me from Richmond to Twicknam Parke, and brake with me & said: Maister Bacon, [Page 15] the Queene hath denied me yon place for you, and hath placed ano­ther; I know you are the least part of your owne matter, but, you fare ill because you haue chosen mee for your meane and dependance: you haue spent your time and thoughts in my matters, I die (these were his verie words) If I do not somewhat towards your fortune: you shall not denie to accept a peece of Land, which I will bestow vpon you. My answer I remember was, that for my fortune it was no great matter: but, that, his Lordships offer made me call to minde what was wont to be said when I was in Fraunce of the Duke of Guise, that he was the grea­test vsurer in Fraunce, because he had turned all his estate into Obli­gations; [Page 16] meaning that he hast left him selfe nothing, but onely had bound numbers of persons to him. Now my Lord (said I) I would not haue you imitate his course, nor turne your state thus by great giftes into obligations, for you will find many bad debters: he bad me take no care for that, and pressed it; wher­upon I said, My Lord, I see I must be your homager, and hold land of your gift: but do you know the ma­ner of doing homage in law? al­waies it is with a sauing of his faith to the King and his other Lords, and therefore my Lord (said I) I can be no more yours then I was, and it must be with the auncient sauings: and if I grow to be a rich man, you will giue me leaue to giue [Page 17] it back to some of your vnrewarded followers. But to returne, sure I am (though I can arrogate nothing to my selfe, but that I was a faithfull re­membrancer to his Lordship) that while I had most credit with him, his fortune went on best. And yet in two maine points we alwaies direct­ly & contradictorily differed, which I wil mention to your Lordship, be­cause it giueth light to all that fol­lowed. The one was, I euer set this downe, that the onely course to be held with the Queene, was by obse­quiousnesse and obseruance; and I remember I would vsually gage cō ­fidently, that if he would take that course constantly, and with choice of good particulars to expresse it, the Queene would be brought in [Page 18] time to Assuerus question, to aske, VVhat should be done to the man, that the King wold honour: meaning, that her goodnesse was without limite, where there was a true concurrence, which I knew in her nature to be true. My Lord on the other side had a setled opinion, that the Queene could be brought to nothing, but by a kind of necessitie and authori­ty; and I well remember, when by violent courses at any time he had got his will, he wold aske me: Now Sir, whose principles be true? and I would againe say to him: My Lord, these courses be like to hote waters, they will helpe at a pang: but if you vse thē, you shall spoile the stomacke, and you shall be faine still to make them stronger and stronger, and yet in the end they [Page 19] will lesse their operation: with much other varietie, wherewith I vsed to touch that string. Another point was, táhat I alwaies vehemently dis­swaded him from seeking greatnes by a militarie dependance, or by a popular dependance, as that which would breed in the Queene iealou­sie, in himselfe presumption, and in the State perturbation: and I did v­sually compare them to Icarus two wings which were ioyned on with waxe, and would make him ven­ture to soare too high, and then faile him at the height. And I would fur­ther say vnto him: My Lord, stand vpon two feet, and flie not vpō two wings. The two feete, are the two kinds of Iustice, Commutatiue and Distributiue: vse your greatnesse for [Page 20] aduancing of merit and vertue, and releeuing wrongs and burdens, you shall need no other art or finenesse: but he would tell me, that opinion came not from my mind, but from my robe. But it is very true, that I that neuer meant to inthral my selfe to my Lord of Essex, nor any other man, more thē stood with the pub­like good, did (though I could lit­tle preuaile) diuert him by all means possible from courses of the warres and popularitie: for I saw plainely the Queene must either liue or die; if she liued, then the times would be as in the declination of an old Prince; if she died, the times would be as in the beginning of a new: and that if his Lordship did rise too fast in these courses, the times might be [Page 21] dangerous for him, and he for them. Nay, I remember I was thus plaine with him vpon his voyage to the I­lands, when I saw euery spring put foorth such actions of charge and prouocation, that I said to him: My Lord, when I came first vnto you, I tooke you for a Phisition that desi­red to cure the diseases of the State; but now I doubt you will be like those Phisitions, which can be con­tent to keepe their patients low, be­cause they would alwaies be in re­quest: which plaineresse he neuer­thelesse tooke very well, as he had an excellent care, and was patientis­simus veri, and assured me the case of the Realme required it: and I thinke this speech of mine, and the like renewed afterwards, pricked [Page 22] him to write that Apologie which is in many mens hands.

But this difference in two points so maine and materiall, bred in pro­cesse of time a discontinuance of priuatenesse (as it is the manner of men seldom to communicate where they thinke their courses not appro­ued) betweene his Lordship and my selfe; so as I was not called nor adui­sed with, for some yeare and a halfe before his Lordships going into Ire­land as in former time: yet neuer­thelesse touching his going into Ire­land, it pleased him expresly and in a set manner to desire mine opinion and counsell. At which time I did not onely disswade, but protest a­gainst his going, telling him with as much vehemencie and asseueration [Page 23] as I could, that absence in that kind would exulcerate the Queens mind, whereby it would not be possible for him to carrie himselfe so, as to giue her sufficient contentment: nor for her to carie her selfe so, as to giue him sufficient countenance, which would be ill for her, ill for him, and ill for the State. And because I wold omit no argument, I remember I stood also vpon the difficultie of the action: setting before him out of Histories, that the Irish was such an enemie as the ancient Gaules, or Bri­tons, or Germaines were, and that we saw how the Romans, who had such discipline to gouerne their soldiers, and such donatiues to encourage thē, and the whole world in a maner to leauie them; yet when they came [Page 24] to deale with enemies which placed their felicitie onely in libertie, and the sharpnesse of their sword, and had the naturall and elementall ad­uantages of woods, and bogges, and hardnesse of bodies, they euer found they had their hands full of them: and therefore concluded, that going ouer with such expectation as he did, and through the curlishnesse of the enterprise not like to answer it, would mightily diminish his re­putation; and many other reasons I vsed, so as I am sure I neuer in any thing in my life time dealt with him in like earnestnes by speech, by wri­ting, and by all the meanes I could deuise. For I did as plainely see his ouerthrow chained as it were by de­stinie to that iourney, as it is possible [Page 25] for any man to ground a iudgment vpon future contingents: But my Lord, howsoeuer his eare was open, yet his heart and resolution was shut against that aduice, whereby his ruine might haue bin preuēted. Af­ter my Lords going, I saw how true a Prophet I was, in regard of the e­uident alteration which naturally succeeded in the Queens mind; and thereupon I was stil in watch to find the best occasion that in the weake­nesse of my power I could either take or minister, to pull him out of the fire if it had bene possible: and not long after, me thought I saw some ouerture thereof, which I ap­prehended readily; a particularitie I thinke be knowne to very few, and the which I do the rather relate to [Page 26] your Lordship, because I heare it shold be talked, that while my Lord was in Ireland, I reuealed some mat­ter against him or I cannot tel what, which if it were not a meere slaun­der as the rest is, but had any though neuer so litle colour, was surely vpon this occasion. The Queene one day at Nonesuch, a litle (as I remember) before Cuffes coming ouer, I atten­ding her, shewed a passionate distast of my lords proceedings in Ireland, as if they were vnfortunate, without iudgement, contemptuous, and not without some priuate end of his owne; and all that might be, and was pleased as she spake of it to ma­ny that she trusted least, so to fall in­to the like speech with me; whereu­pon I who was still awake, and true [Page 27] to my grounds which I thought su­rest for my Lords good, said to this effect: Madame, I know not the par­ticulars of Estate, and I know this, that Princes actions must haue no abrupt periods or conclusions, but otherwise I would thinke, that if you had my Lord of Essex here with a white staffe in his hand, as my Lord of Leicester had, and continued him still about you for societie to your selfe, and for an honour and orna­ment to your attendance and Court in the eyes of your people, and in the eyes of forreine Embassadours, then were he in his right element: for, to discontent him as you do, and yet to put armes and power into his hands, may be a kind of temptation to make him proue cumbersome and vnruly. [Page 28] And therefore if you would imponere bonam clausulam, and send for him and satisfie him with honour here neare you, if your affaires which (as I haue said) I am not acquainted with, wil permit it, I thinke were the best way. Which course your Lord­ship knoweth, if it had bene taken, then all had bene well, and no con­tempt in my Lords comming ouer, nor continuance of these iealousies, which that employment of Ireland bred, and my Lord here in his for­mer greatnesse. Wel, the next newes that I heard, was, that my Lord was come ouer, and that he was com­mitted to his chamber for leauing Ireland without the Queenes li­cence: this was at Nonesuch, where (as my duty was) I came to his Lord­ship [Page 29] and talked with him priuately a­bout a quarter of an houre, and he asked mine opinion of the course was taken with him; I told him: My Lord, Nubecula est, citò transibit: it is but a mist: but shall I tell your Lordship, it is as mists are, if it go vpwards, it may haps cause a shower, if downewards, it will cleare vp. And therefore good my Lord carie it so, as you take away by all meanes all ombrages and distasts from the Queene, and specially if I were wor­thie to aduise you, (as I haue bene by your self thought, and now your question imports the continuance of that opiniō) obserue three points: First, make not this cessation or peace which is concluded with Ty­rone, as a seruice wherein you glo­rie, [Page 30] but as a shuffling vp of a pro­secution which was not very for­tunate. Next, represent not to the Queene any necessitie of e­state, whereby as by a coercion or wrench, she should think her selfe in­forced to send you back into Ireland, but leaue it to her. Thirdly, seeke ac­cesse, importunè, oportunè, seriously, sportingly euery way. I remember my Lord was willing to heare me, but spake very few words, & shaked his head sometimes, as if he thought I was in the wrong; but sure I am, he did iust cōtrary in euery one of these three points. After this, during the while since my Lord was committed to my Lord Keepers, I came diuers times to the Queene, as I had vsed to do, about causes of her reuenue and [Page 31] law businesse, as is well knowne: by reason of which accesses, according to the ordinarie charities of Court, it was giuē out, that I was one of them that incensed the Queene against my Lord of Essex. These speeches I can­not tel, nor I wil not thinke that they grew any way from her Maiesties owne speeches, whose memory I wil euer honour: if they did, she is with God, and miserum est ab illis ledi, de quibus non possis quaeri. But I must giue this testimonie to my Lord Ce­cill, thát one time in his house at the Sauoy he dealt with me directly, and said to me; Cousin, I heare it, but I beleeue it not, that you should do some ill office to my Lord of Essex: for my part I am meerely passiue and not actiue in this action, and I follow [Page 32] the Queene and that heauily, and I leaue her not; my Lord of Essex is one that in nature I could consent with as well as with any one liuing; the Queen indeed is my Soueraigne, and I am her creature, I may not leese her, and the same course I wold wish you to take: whereupon I satisfied him how farre I was from any such mind. And as sometimes it cometh to passe, that mens inclinations are opened more in a toy, then in a seri­ous matter: A little before that time, being about the middle of Michael­mas terme, her Maiestie had a pur­pose to dine at my lodge at Twicknā Parke, at which time I had (though I professe not to be a Poet) prepared a Sonnet directly tending and allu­ding to draw on her Maiesties recon­cilement [Page 33] to my Lord, which I remē ­ber also I shewed to a great person, & one of my Lords nearest friends, who commended it: this though it be (as I said) but a toy, yet it shewed plainely in what spirit I proceeded, and that I was ready not onely to do my Lord good offices, but to publish and declare my selfe for him; and ne­uer was I so ambitious of any thing in my life time, as I was to haue ca­ried some token or fauour from her Maiestie to my Lord, vsing all the art I had both to procure her Maiestie to send, and my selfe to be the mes­senger: for as to the former, I feared not to alleage to her, that this pro­ceeding towards my Lord, was a thing towards the people verie im­plausible, and therefore wished her [Page 34] Maiestie howsoeuer she did, yet to discharge her selfe of it; and to lay it vpon others, and therefore that she should intermixe her proceeding with some immediate graces from her selfe, that the world might take knowledge of her Princely nature and goodnesse, lest it should alienate the hearts of her people from her. Which I did stand vpon, knowing very well, that if she once relented to send or visite, those demonstrati­ons wold proue matter of substance for my Lords good. And to draw that employment vpon my selfe, I aduised her Maiestie, that whensoe­uer God should moue her to turne the light of her fauour toward my Lord, to make signification to him thereof: that her Maiestie if she did [Page 35] it not in person, would at the least vse some such meane as might not intitle themselues to any part of the thanks, as persons that were thought mightie with her, to worke her, or to bring her about; but to vse some such as could not be thought but a meere conduct of her owne good­nesse: but I could neuer preuaile with her, though I am perswaded she saw plainely whereat I leuelled: but she had me in iealousie, that I was not hers intirely, but still had in­ward and deepe respects towards my Lord, more then stood at that time with her will and pleasure. A­bout the same time I remember an answer of mine in a matter which had some affinitie with my Lords cause, which though it grew from [Page 36] me, went after about in others names. For her Maiesty being migh­tily incensed with that booke which was dedicated to my Lord of Essex, being a storie of the first yeare of king Henry the fourth, thinking it a seditious prelude to put into the peoples heads boldnesse and facti­on, said she had good opinion that there was treason in it, and asked me if I could not find any places in it, that might be drawne within case of treason: whereto I answered; for treason surely I found none, but for fellonie very many. And when her Maiestie hastily asked me wherein; I told her, the Author had commit­ted very apparant theft, for he had taken most of the sentences of Cor­nelius Tacitus, and translated them [Page 37] into English, and put them into his text. And another time when the Queene would not be perswaded, that it was his writing whose name was to it, but that it had some more mischieuous Author, and said with great indignation, that she would haue him racked to produce his Au­thor, I replyed, Nay Madame, he is a Doctor, neuer racke his person, but racke his stile; let him haue pen, inke, and paper, and helpe of bookes, and be enioyned to continue the storie where it breaketh off, and I will vn­dertake by collecting the stiles, to iudge whether he were the Author or no. But for the maine matter, sure I am, when the Queene at any time asked mine opinion of my Lords case, I euer in one tenor, said vnto [Page 38] her: that they were faults which the Law might tearme Contempts, be­cause they were the transgression of her particular directions and instru­ctions: but then what defence might be made of them, in regard of the great interest the person had in her Maiesties fauour, in regard of the greatnesse of his place, and the amplenesse of his Commission; in regard of the nature of the businesse being action of warre, which in cō ­mon cases cannot be tyed to strict­nesse of instructions, in regard of the distance of the place, hauing also a sea betweene that demaunds and commands, must be subiect to wind and weather; in regard of a counsell of State in Ireland which he had at his backe to auow his actions vpon, [Page 39] and lastly in regard of a good inten­tion that he would alleadge for him­selfe, which I told her in some religi­ons was held to be a sufficient dis­pensation for Gods commaunde­ments, much more for Princes. In all these regards, I besought her Ma­iestie to be aduised againe and again, how she brought the cause into any publike question: nay, I went fur­ther, for I told her, my Lord was an eloquent and well spoken man, and besides his eloquence of nature or art, he had an eloquence of accident which passed them both, which was the pittie and beneuolence of his hearers; and therefore that when he should come to his answer for him­selfe, I doubted his words would haue so vnequall passage aboue [Page 40] theirs that should charge him, as would not be for her Maiesties ho­nour; and therefore wished the con­clusion might be, that they might wrap it vp priuatly betweene them­selues, and that she would restore my Lord to his former attendance, with some addition of honour to take a­way discontent. But this I will neuer deny, that I did shew no approba­tion generally of his being sent back againe into Ireland, both because it would haue caried a repugnancie with my former discourse, and be­cause I was in mine owne heart ful­ly perswaded, that it was not good neither for the Queene, nor for the State, nor for himselfe: and yet I did not disswade it neither, but left it e­uer as locus lubricus. For this parti­cularitie [Page 41] I do well remember, that after your Lordship was named for the place in Ireland, and not long be­fore your going, it pleased her Ma­iestie at White hall to speake to me of that nomination: at which time I said to her, Surely Madame, if you meane not to employ my Lord of Essex thither againe, your Maiestie cannot make a better choice, and was going on to shew some reason; and her Maiestie interrupted me with great passion: Essex! (said she) whensoeuer I send Essex backe again into Irelād, I will marrie you, claime it of me: wherunto I said, Well Ma­dame, I will release that contract if his going be for the good of your State. Immediatly after the Queene had thought of a course (which was [Page 42] also executed) to haue somewhat published in the Starre-chamber, for the satisfaction of the world tou­ching my Lord of Essex his restraint, and my Lord of Essex not to be cal­led to it, but occasion to be taken by reason of some Libels then disper­sed; which when her Maiestie pro­pounded vnto me, I was vtterly a­gainst it; and told her plainely, that the people would say, that my Lord was wounded vpon his backe, and that Iustice had her ballance taken from her, which euer consisted of an accusation and defence, with many other quicke and significant tearms to that purpose: in so much that I remember I said, that my Lord in foro famae was too hard for her; and therefore wished her as I had done [Page 43] before, to wrap it vp priuatly. And certainely I offended her at that time, which was rare with me: for I cal to mind that both the Christmas, Lent, and Easter Terme following, though I came diuers times to her vpon Law busines, yet me thought her face and maner was not so cleare and open to me, as it was at the first. And she did directly charge me, that I was absent that day at the Starre­chamber, which was very true; but I alleaged some indisposition of bo­die to excuse it: and during all the time aforesaid, there was altum silen­tium from her to me touching my Lord of Essex causes.

But towardes the end of Easter tearme, her Maiestie brake with me, and told me that she had found my [Page 44] words true, for that the proceeding in the Starre-chamber had done no good, but rather kindled factious bruites (as she termed them) then quenched them, and therefore that she was determined now for the sa­tisfaction of the world, to proceed a­gainst my Lord in the Star-chamber by an information ore tenus, and to haue my lord brought to his answer: howbeit she said she wold assure me, that whatsoeuer the did, should be towards my Lord ad castigationem, & non ad destructionem, as indeed she had often repeated the same phrase before: whereunto I said (to the end vtterly to diuert her:) Madam if you will haue me speake to you in this ar­gument, I must speake to you as Frier Bacons head spake, that said first, [Page 45] Time is, and then, Time was, and time would neuer be; for certainly (said I) it is now far too late, the matter is cold and hath taken too much winde; whereat she seemed againe offended and rose from me, and that resolutiō for a while continued; and after, in the beginning of Midsomer terme, I attending her, and finding her setled in that resolution (which I heard of also otherwise) she falling vpon the like speech, it is true, that seeing no other remedie, I said to her slightly, Why Madame, if you will needs haue a proceeding, you were best haue it in some such sort as Ouid spake of his mistris, Est aliquid luce patente minus, to make a counseltable matter of it, and there an end; which speech againe she seemed to take in il [Page 46] part, but yet I thinke it did good at that time, and holpe to diuert that course of proceeding by informatiō in the Starre-chamber. Neuertheles afterwards it pleased her to make a more solemne matter of the procee­ding; and some few dayes after when order was giuen that the matter shold be heard at York house, before an assembly of Counsellers, Peeres, and Iudges, and some audience of men of qualitie to be admitted, and then did some principal Counsellers send for vs of the learned Counsell, and notifie her Maiesties pleasure vnto vs, saue that it was said to me o­penly by one of them, that her Maie­sty was not yet resolued whether she would haue me forborne in the busi­nes or no. And hereupon might arise [Page 47] that other sinister and vntrue speech that I heare is raised of me, how I was a suter to bee vsed against my Lord of Essex at that time: for it is very true, that I that knew well what had passed betweene the Queen and me, and what occasion I had giuen her both of distast & distrust, in cros­sing her disposition, by standing sted­fastly for my Lord of Essex, & suspe­cting it also to be a stratageme arising from some particular emulation, I writ to her two or three words of complement, signifying to her Ma­iestie, that if she would be pleased to spare me in my Lord of Essex cause, out of the consideration she tooke of my obligation towards him, I should reckō it for one of her highest fauors; but otherwise desiring her Maiestie [Page 48] to thinke that I knew the degrees of duties, and that no particular obliga­tiō whatsoeuer to any subiect could supplant or weaken that entirenes of dutie that I did owe and beare to her and her seruice; & this was the good­ly sute I made, being a respect no mā that had his wittes could haue omit­ted: but neuerthelesse I had a further reach in it, for I iudged that dayes worke would be a full period of any bitternesse or harshnes betweene the Queene and my Lord, and therefore if I declared my selfe fully according to her mind at that time, which could not do my Lord any manner of pre­iudice, I should keepe my credit with her euer after, whereby to doe my Lord seruice. Hereupon the next news that I heard, was, that we were [Page 49] all sent for againe, and that her Ma­iesties pleasure was, we all should haue parts in the businesse; and the Lords falling into distribution of our parts, it was allotted to me, that I should set foorth some vndutifull ca­riage of my Lord, in giuing occasion and countenance to a seditious Pamphlet, as it was tearmed, which was dedicated vnto him, which was the booke before mentioned of king Henry the fourth. Whereupon I re­plyed to that allotment, and said to their Lordships, that it was an old matter, and had no maner of cohe­rence with the rest of the charge, be­ing matters of Ireland, and therefore that I hauing bene wronged by bruites before, this wold expose me to them more; and it would be said, [Page 50] I gaue in euidence mine owne tales. It was answered againe with good shew, that because it was considered how I stood tyed to my Lord of Es­sex, therefore that part was thought fittest for me which did him least hurt: for that wheras all the rest was matter of charge and accusation, this onely was but matter of caueat and admonition. Wherewith though I was in mine owne mind litle satis­fied, because I knew wel a man were better to be charged with some faults, then admonished of some o­thers: yet the conclusion binding v­pon the Queenes pleasure directly, volens nolens, I could not auoide that part that was laid vpon me; which part if in the deliuerie I did handle not tenderly, (though no man be­fore [Page 51] me did in so cleare tearmes free my Lord from al disloyaltie as I did) that, your Lordship knoweth, must be ascribed to the superior dutie I did owe to the Queenes fame and and honor in a publike proceeding, and partly to the intention I had to vphold my self in credit & strength with the Queene, the better to be a­ble to do my Lord good offices af­terwards: for assoone as this day was past, I lost no time, but the very next day following (as I remember) I at­tended her Maiesty, fully resolued to try and put in vre my vtmost inde­uour, so farre as I in my weaknesse could giue furtherance to bring my Lord againe speedily into Court & into fauour, and knowing (as I sup­posed at least) how the Queene was [Page 52] to be vsed, I thought that to make her conceiue that the matter went well then, was the way to make her leaue off there; and I remember wel, I said to her, you haue now Madame obtained victorie ouer two things which the greatest Princes in the world cannot at their wils subdue: the one is ouer Fame, the other is ouer a great mind: for surely the world be now I hope reasonably well satisfied; and for my Lord, he did shew that humiliation towards your Maiestie, as I am perswaded he was neuer in his life time more fit for your fauor then he is now: ther­fore if your Maiestie will not marre it by lingring, but giue ouer at the best, and now you haue made so good a full point, receiue him againe [Page 53] with tendernesse, I shall then thinke that all that is past is for the best. Wherat I remember she took excee­ding great contentment, and did of­ten iterate and put me in mind, that she had euer said, that her procee­dings should be ad reparationem, and not ad ruinam, as who saith, that now was the time I should well per­ceiue, that that saying of hers should proue true. And further she willed me to set downe in writing all that passed that day. I obeyed her com­mandement, and within some fewe daies brought her againe the narra­tion, which I did reade vnto her at two seuerall after-noones: and when I came to that part that set foorth my Lords owne answer, (which was my principall care) I do well beare in [Page 54] mind, that she was extraordinarily mooued with it, in kindnesse and re­lenting towards my Lord, and told me afterwards (speaking how well I had expressed my Lords part) that she perceiued old loue would not easily be forgotten: wherto I answe­red suddenly, that I hoped she meant that by her selfe. But in con­clusion, I did aduise her that now she had taken a representation of the matter to her selfe, that she would let it go no further: for Madame (said I) the fire blazeth well alreadie, what should you tumble it: and be­sides it may please you keepe a con­uenience with your selfe in this case: for since your expresse directiō was, there should be no Register nor Clearke to take this sentence, nor no [Page 55] record or memoriall made vp of the proceeding, why should you now do that popularly, which you would not admit to be done iudicially? Whereupon she did agree, that that writing should be suppressed, and I thinke there were not fiue persons that euer saw it. But from this time foorth during the whole latter end of that Sommer, while the Court was at Nonsuch and Otlands, I made it my taske and scope to take and giue occasions for my Lords reinte­gration in his fortune: which my in­tention I did also signifie to my Lord assoone as euer he was at his li­bertie; whereby I might without perill of the Queenes indignation write to him, and hauing receiued from his Lordship a courteous and [Page 56] louing acceptation of my good will and indeuours, I did apply it in all my accesses to the Queene, which were very many at that time, and purposely sought and wrought vp­pon other variable pretences, but onely and chiefly for that purpose. And on the other side, I did not for­beare to giue my Lord from time to time faithfull aduertisement what I found, and what I wished. And I drew for him by his appointment some letters to her Maiestie, which though I knew well his Lordships gift and stile was farre better then mine owne, yet because he required it, alleaging that by his long restraint he was growne almost a stranger to the Queens present conceipts, I was readie to performe it: and sure I am [Page 57] that for the space of sixe weekes, or two moneths it prospered so well, as I expected continually his restoring to his attendance. And I was neuer better welcome to the Queene, nor more made of, then when I spake fullest and boldest for him: in which kind the particulars were exceeding many, whereof for an example I wil remember to your Lordship one or two; as at one time I cal to mind, her Maiestie was speaking of a fellow that vndertook to cure, or at least to ease my brother of his goute, and as­ked me how it went forwards; and I told her Maiestie, that at the first he receiued good by it, but after in the course of his cure he found himselfe it a stay or rather worse: the Queene said againe, I will tell you Bacon the [Page 58] error of it, the maner of these Phisi­tions and especially these Empericks is to continue one kind of medi­cine, which at the first is proper, be­ing to draw out the ill humor, but after they haue not the discretion to chaunge their medicine, but apply still drawing medicines, when they shold rather intend to cure and cor­roborate the part. Good Lord Ma­dame (said I) how wisely and aptly can you speake and discerne of Phi­sicke ministred to the bodie, and consider not that there is the like oc­casion of Phisicke ministred to the mind: as now in the case of my Lord of Essex, your Princely word euer was, that you intended euer to re­forme his mind, and not ruine his fortune: I know well you cannot [Page 59] but think that you haue drawne the humor sufficiently, and therefore it were more then time, and it were but for doubt of mortifying or exul­cerating, that you did apply and mi­nister strength and comfort vnto him: for these same gradations of yours are fitter to corrupt then cor­rect any mind of greatnesse. And an other time I remember she told me for newes, that my Lord had writ­ten vnto her some very dutifull let­ters, and that she had bene moued by them, and when she tooke it to be the abundance of the heart, she found it to be but a preparatiue to a sute for the renewing of his farme of Sweet wines: whereunto I replyed; O Madame, how doth your Maie­stie conster of these things, as if these [Page 60] two could not stand well together, which indeed nature hath planted in all creatures. For there are but two sympathies, the one towards Perfe­ction, the other towards Preseruati­on. That to Perfection, as the iron contendeth to the Loadstone: that to Preseruation, as the vine will creepe towards a stake or prop that stands by it, not for any loue to the stake, but to vphold it selfe. And therefore Madame, you must distin­guish my Lords desire to do you seruice, is as to his perfection, that which he thinkes himself to be born for: whereas his desire to obtaine this thing of you, is but for a susten­tation. And not to trouble your Lordship with many other particu­lars like vnto these, it was at the selfe [Page 61] same time that I did draw with my Lords priuitie, and by his appoint­ment, two letters, the one written as from my brother, the other as an an­swer returned from my Lord, both to be by me in secret maner shewed to the Queene, which it pleased my Lord very strangely to mention at the barre: the scope of which were but to represent and picture foorth vnto her Maiesty my Lords mind to be such, as I knew her Maiestie wold fainest haue had it, which letters whosoeuer shall see, (for they cannot now be retracted or altered, being by reason of my brothers, or his Lordships seruants deliuerie, long since comen into diuerse hands) let him iudge, specially if he knew the Queene, and do remember those [Page 62] times, whether they were not the la­bours of one that sought to bring the Queene about for my Lord of Essex his good. The troth is, that the issue of all his dealing grew to this, that the Queene by some flacknesse of my Lords, as I imagine, liked him worse and worse, and grew more in­censed towards him. Then, she re­membring belike the continuall, and incessant, and confident speeches and courses that I had held on my Lords side, became vtterly alienated from me, and for the space of at least three moneths, which was be­tweene Michaelmas and Newyears tide following, would not as much as looke on me, but turned away frō me with expresse and purpose-like discountenance wheresoeuer she [Page 63] saw me: and at such time as I desired to speake with her about Law busi­nesse, euer sent me forth very slight refusals; insomuch as it is most true, that immediatly after Newyeares tide I desired to speake with her; and being admitted to her, I dealt with her plainely and said: Madame I see you withdraw your fauor from me, and now I haue lost many friends for your sake I shall leese you too: you haue put me like one of those that the Frenchmen call Enfans per­dus, that serue on foote before hors­men, so haue you put me into mat­ters of enuie without place, or with­out strength: and I know at Chesse a pawn before the king, is euer much plaid vpon: a great many loue me not, because they thinke I haue bene [Page 64] against my Lord of Essex; and you loue me not, because you know I haue bene for him: yet will I neuer repent me, that I haue dealt in sim­plicitie of heart towards you both, without respect of cautions to my selfe: and therefore viuus videns (que) pereo. If I do breake my necke, I shall do it in manner as Maister Dorring­ton did it, which walked on the bat­tlements of the Church many daies, and tooke a view and suruey where he should fall: and so Madame (said I) I am not so simple, but that I take a prospect of mine ouerthrow, only I thought I would tell you so much, that you may know that it was faith, and not folly that brought me into it, and so I will pray for you. Vpon which speeches of mine vttered [Page 65] with some passion, it is true her Ma­iestie was exceedingly moued, and accumulated a number of kind and gracious words vpon me, and wil­led me to rest vpon this, Gratia mea sufficit, and a number of other sensi­ble and tender words and demon­strations, such as more could not be; but as touching my Lord of Essex, ne verbum quidem. Wherupon I de­parted, resting then determined to meddle no more in the matter; as that, that I saw would ouerthrowe me, and not be able to do him any good. And thus I made mine owne peace with mine owne confidence it that time; and this was the last time I saw her Maiestie, before the eight of Februarie, which was the day of my Lord of Essex his misfor­tune. [Page 66] After which time, for that I performed at the barre in my pub­like seruice, your Lordship knoweth by the rules of dutie, that I was to do it honestly, and without preuari­cation: but for any putting my selfe into it, I protest before God, I ne­uer moued neither the Queene, nor any person liuing concerning my being vsed in the seruice, either of e­uidence or examination: but it was meerely laid vpon me with the rest of my fellowes. And for the time which passed, I meane betweene the arraignement and my Lords suffe­ring, I well remember I was but once with the Queene; at what time though I durst not deale directly for my Lord as things then stood; yet generally I did both commend her [Page 67] Maiesties mercie, tearming it to her as an excellent balme that did conti­nually distill from her Soueraigne hands, and made an excellent odour in the senses of her people: and not onely so, but I tooke hardinesse to extenuate, not the fact; for that I durst not, but the danger, telling her that if some base or cruell minded persons had entred into such an acti­on, it might haue caused much bloud and combustion: but it ap­peared well they were such as knew not how to play the malefactors, and some other words which I now o­mit. And as for the rest of the cari­age of my selfe in that seruice, I haue many honorable witnesses that can tell, that the next day after my Lords arraignement, by my diligence and [Page 68] information touching the qualitie and nature of the offendors, sixe of nine were stayed, which otherwise had bene attainted, I bringing their Lordships letter for their stay, af­ter the Iurie was sworne to passe v­pon them: so neare it went, and how carefull I was, and made it my part, that whosoeuer was in trouble a­bout that matter, assoone as euer his case was sufficiently knowne and de­fined of, might not continue in re­straint, but be set at libertie: and ma­ny other parts, which I am well as­sured of stood with the dutie of an honest man. But indeed I will not deny for the case of Sir Thomas Smith of London, the Queene de­maunding my opinion of it, I told her, I thought it was as hard as many [Page 69] of the rest: but what was the reason? because at that time I had seene only his accusation, and had neuer bene present at any examination of his: and the matter so standing, I had bin very vntrue to my seruice, if I had not deliuered that opinion. But af­terwards vpon a reexamination of some that charged him, who weak­ned their owne testimonie; and es­pecially hearing himselfe viua voce, I went instantly to the Queene out of the soundnesse of my conscience, and not regarding what opinion I had formerly deliuered, told her Maiestie, I was satisfied and resolued in my conscience, that for the repu­tation of the action, the plot was to countenance the action further by him in respect of his place, then they [Page 70] had indeed any interest or intelli­gence with him. It is very true also, about that time her Maiesty taking a liking of my pen, vpon that which I had done before concerning the proceeding at Yorke house, and like­wise vpon some other declarations, which in former times by her ap­pointment I put in writing, com­maunded me to penne that booke, which was published for the better satisfaction of the world: which I did, but so, as neuer Secretarie had more particular and expresse directi­ons, and instructions in euery point how to guide my hand in it: and not onely so, but after that I had made a first draught therof, and pro­pounded it to certaine principall Councellers by her Maiesties ap­pointment, [Page 71] it was perused, weighed, censured, altered, and made almost anew, writing according to their Lordshippes better consideration, wherein their Lordshippes and my selfe both were as religious and curi­ous of truth, as desirous of satisfa­ction: and my selfe indeed gaue on­ly words and forme of stile in pur­suing their direction. And after it had passed their allowance, it was a­gaine exactly perused by the Queen her selfe, and some alterations made againe by her appointment: nay, and after it was set to print, the Queene, who as your Lordshippe knoweth, as she was excellent in great matters, so she was exquisite in small: and noted that I could not forget my auncient respect to my [Page 72] Lord of Essex, in terming him euer My Lord of Essex, My Lord of Es­sex, in almost euery page of the booke, which she thought not fit, but would haue it made, Essex, or the late Earle of Essex: whereupon of force it was printed de noue, and the first copies suppressed by her pe­remptorie commaundement. And this my good Lord, to my furthest remembrance, is all that passed, wherein I had part, which I haue set downe as neare as I could in the ve­ry words and speeches that were v­sed, not because they are worthie the repetition, I mean those of mine owne; but to the end your Lord­ship may liuely and plainly discerne betweene the face of truth, and a [Page 73] smooth tale. And the rather also be­cause in things that passed a good while since, the very wordes and phrases did sometimes bring to my remembrance the matters, wherein I report me to your Honourable iudgement, whether you do not see the traces of an honest man: and had I bene as well beleeued either by the Queene or by my Lord, as I was well heard by them both, both my Lord had beene fortunate, and so had my selfe in his fortune.

To conclude therfore, I humbly pray your Lordshippe to pardon me for troubling you with this long Narration, and that you will vouchsafe to hold me in your good opinion, till you know I haue [Page 74] deserued, or find that I shall deserue the contrarie; and euen so I continue

At your Lordships Honorable commandements very humbly.