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material point, of inserting a clause [that she was not a principal, but an accessary before the fact, by the instigation of base persons.] Her friends think long to have it despatched, which I marvel not at, for that in matter of life moments are numbered.

I do more and more take contentment in his majesty's choice of Sir Oliver St. John, for his deputy of Ireland, finding, upon divers conferences with him, his great sufficiency; and I hope the good intelligence, which he purposeth to hold with me by advertisements from time to time, shall work a good effect for his majesty's service.

I am wonderful desirous to see that kingdom flourish, because it is the proper work and glory of his majesty and his times. And his majesty may be pleased to call to mind, that, a good while since, when the great rent and divisions were in |the parliament of Ireland, I was no unfortunate remembrancer to his majesty's princely wisdom in that business. God ever keep you and prosper you.

Your true and most devoted and
bounden servant,

FR. BACON.

PAPERS

RELATING TO

THE EARL OF ESSEX.

THE APOLOGY

OF

SIR FRANCIS BACON,

IN CERTAIN

IMPUTATIONS CONCERNING THE LATE EARL OF ESSEX.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HIS VERY GOOD LORD,

THE EARL OF DEVONSHIRE, LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND

queen and the state; in which I would not show myself false-hearted, nor faint-hearted, for any man's sake living. For every honest man that hath his heart well planted, will forsake his king, rather than forsake God, and forsake his friend, rather than forsake his king; and, yet, will forsake any earthly commodity, yea, and his own life, in some cases, rather than forsake his friend. I hope the world hath not forgotten these degrees, else the heathen saying, "Amicus usque ad aras," shall judge them.

Ir may please your good lordship, I cannot be | ceeding, was done in my duty and service to the ignorant, and ought to be sensible of the wrong which I sustain in common speech, as if I had been false or unthankful to that noble, but unfortunate earl, the Earl of Essex: and for satisfying the vulgar sort, I do not so much regard it; though I love a good name, but yet as a handmaid and attendant of honesty and virtue. For I am of his opinion that said pleasantly, "That it was a shame to him that was a suitor to the mistress, to make love to the waiting-woman ;" and, therefore, to woo or court common fame, otherwise than it followeth on honest courses, I, for my part, find not myself fit or disposed. But, on the other side, there is no worldly thing that concerneth myself, which I hold more dear, than the good opinion of certain persons; among which, there is none I would more willingly give satisfaction unto, than to your lordship. First, because you loved my Lord of Essex, and, therefore, will not be partial towards me, which is part of that I desire: next, because it hath ever pleased you to show yourself to me an honourable friend, and so no baseness in me to seek to satisfy 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 shall decide this matter; wherein, my lord, my defence needeth to be but simple and brief; namely, that whatsoever I did concerning that action and pro

And if any man shall say, I did officiously intrude myself into that business, because I had no ordinary place; the like may be said of all the business, in effect, that passed the hands of the learned counsel, either of state or revenues, these many years, wherein I was continually used. For, as your lordship may remember, the queen knew her strength so well, as she looked her word should be a warrant; and, after the manner of the choicest princes before her, did not always tie her trust to place, but did sometime divide private favour from office. And I, for my part, though I was not so unseen in the world, but I knew the condition was subject to envy and peril; yet, because I knew again she was constant in her favours, and made an end where she began; and, especially, because she upheld me with extraordinary access, and other demonstrations

of confidence and grace, I resolved to endure it his service to be at my lord's disposing. And, in expectation of better. But my scope and on the other side, I must and will ever acknowdesire is, that your lordship would be pleased to ledge my lord's love, trust, and favour towards have the honourable patience to know the truth, me; and last of all his liberality, having in in some particularity, of all that passed in this feoffed me of land which I sold for eighteen cause, wherein I had any part; that you may hundred pounds to Mr. Reynold Nicholas, which, perceive how honest a heart I ever bare to my I think, was more worth; and that at such a time, sovereign, and to my country, and to that noble- and with so kind and noble circumstances, as the man, who had so well deserved of me, and so manner was as much as the matter; which, though well accepted of my deservings, whose fortune it be but an idle digression, yet, because I am not I cannot remember, without much grief. But, for willing to be short in commemoration of his be any action of mine towards him, there is nothing nefits, I will presume to trouble your lordship that passed me in my lifetime, that cometh to my with relating to you the manner of it. After the remembrance with more clearness, and less check queen had denied me the solicitor's place, for the of conscience: for it will appear to your lordship, which his lordship had been a long and earnest that I was not only not opposite to my Lord of suitor on my behalf, it pleased him to come to Essex, but that I did occupy the utmost of my me from Richmond to Twickenham Park, and wits, and adventure my fortune with the queen, brake with me, and said: "Mr. Bacon, the to have reintegrated his, and so continued faith- queen hath denied me the place for you, and hath fully and industriously, till his last fatal impa- | placed another; I know you are the least part of tience, for so I will call it, after which day there your own matter, but you fare ill because you was not time to work for him; though the same, my affection, when it could not work on the subject proper, went to the next, with no ill effect towards some others, who, I think, do rather not know it, than not acknowledge it. And this I will assure your lordship, I will leave nothing untold, that is truth, for any enemy that I have to add; and, on the other side, I must reserve much which makes for me, in many respects of duty, which I esteem above my credit: and what I have here set down to your lordship, I protest, as I hope to have any part in God's favour, is true.

It is well known, how I did many years since dedicate my travels and studies to the use, and, as I may term it, service of my Lord of Essex, which, I protest before God, I did not, making election of him as the likeliest mean of mine own advancement, but out of the humour of a man, that ever from the time I had any use of reason, whether it were reading upon good books, or upon the example of a good father, or by nature, I loved my country more than 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 myself to him in a manner which I think happeneth rarely among men: for I did not only labour carefully and industriously in that he set me about, whether it were matter of advice or otherwise, but, neglecting the queen's service, mine own fortune, and in a sort my vocation, I did nothing but advise and ruminate with myself, to the best of my understanding, propositions and memorials of any thing that might concern his lordship's honour, fortune, or service. And when, not long after I entered into this course, my brother, Mr. Anthony Bacon, came from beyond the seas, being a gentleman whose ability the world taketh knowledge of for matters of state, especially foreign, I did likewise knit

have chosen me for your mean and dependence; you have spent your time and thoughts in my matters; I die," these were his very words, “if 1 do not somewhat towards your fortune: you shall not deny to accept a piece of land which I will bestow upon you." My answer, I remember, was, that, for my fortune, it was no great matter; but that his lordship's offer made me call to mind what was wont to be said, when I was in France, of the Duke of Guise, that he was the greatest usurer in France, because he had turned all his estate into obligations: meaning, that he had left himself nothing, but only had bound numbers of persons to him. "Now, my lord," said I, "I would not have you imitate his course, nor turn your estate thus by great gifts into obli gations, for you will find many bad debtors." He bade me take no care for that, and pressed it: whereupon I said, "My lord, I see I must be your homager, and hold land of your gift; but do you know the manner of doing homage in law? Always it is with a saving of his faith to the king and his other lords; and, therefore, my lord," said I, "I can be no more yours than I was. and it must be with the ancient savings: and if I grow to be a rich man, you will give me leave to give it back again to some of your unrewarded followers."

But, to return: sure I am, though I can arrogate nothing to myself but that I was a faithful re membrancer to his lordship, that while I bad most credit with him, his fortune went on best: and yet in two main points we always directly and contradictorily differed, which I will mention to your lordship, because it giveth light to all that followed. The one was, I ever set this down, that the only course to be held with the queen, was by obsequiousness and observance; and 1 remember I would usually engage confidently. that if he would take that course constantly, and

with choice of good particulars to express it, the queen would be brought in time to Ahasuerus's question, to ask, "What should be done to the man that the king would honour?" Meaning, that her goodness was without limit, where there was a true con rrence: which I knew, in her nature, to be true. My lord, on the other side, had a settled opinion, that the queen could be brought to nothing, but by a kind of necessity and authority; and, I well remember, when, by violent courses at any time, he had got his will, he would ask me, "Now, sir, whose principles be true?" And I would again say to him; " My lord, these courses be like to hot waters, they will help at a pang; but if you use them, you shall spoil the stomach, and you shall be fain still to make them stronger, and stronger, and yet in the end, they will lessen their operation;" with much other variety, wherewith I used to touch that string. Another point was, that I always vehemently dissuaded him from seeking greatness by a military dependence, or by a popular dependence, as that which would breed in the queen jealousy, in himself presumption, and, in the state, perturbation: and I did usually compare them to Icarus's two wings, which were joined on with wax, and would make him venture to soar too high, and then fail him at the height. And I would farther say unto him; "My lord, stand upon two feet, and fly not upon two wings: the two feet are the two kinds of justice, commutative, and distributive: use your greatness for advancing of merit and virtue, and relieving wrongs and burdens; you shall need no other art or finesse:" but he would tell me, that opinion came not from my mind, but from my robe. But it is very true, that I, that never meant to enthral myself to my Lord of Essex, nor any other man, more than stood with the public good, did, though I could little prevail, divert him by all means possible from courses of the wars and popularity: for I saw plainly, the queen must either live or die; if she lived, 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 dangerous for him, and he for them. Nay, I remember, I was thus plain with him upon his voyage to the islands, when I saw every spring put forth such actions of charge and provocation, that I said to him, "My lord, when I came first unto you, I took you for a physician that desired to cure the diseases of the state; but now I doubt you will be like those physicians which can be content to keep their patients low, because they would always be in request." Which plainness, he, nevertheless, took very well, as he had an excellent ear, and was patientissimus veri," and assured me the case of the realin required it: and I think this speech of mine, and the like renewed afterwards,

pricked him to write that apology, which is in many men's hands.

But this difference in two points so main and material, bred in process of time a discontinuance of privateness, as it is the manner of men seldom to communicate where they think their courses not approved, between his lordship and myself: so as I was not called nor advised with for some year and a half before his lordship's going into Ireland, as in former time; yet, nevertheless, touching his going into Ireland, it pleased him expressly, and in a set manner, to desire mine opinion and counsel. At which time I did not only dissuade, but protest against his going; telling him, with as much vehemency and asseveration as I could, that absence in that kind would exulcerate the queen's mind, whereby it would not be possible for him to carry himself so as to give her sufficient contentment; nor for her to carry herself so as to give him sufficient countenance: which would be ill for her, ill for him, and ill for the state. And, because I would omit no argument, I remember, I stood also upon the difficulty of the action; setting before him, out of histories, that the Irish was such an enemy as the ancient Gauls, or Britons, or Germans were; and that we saw how the Romans, who had such discipline to govern their soldiers, and such donatives to encourage them, and the whole world in a manner to levy them; yet when they came to deal with enemies, which placed their felicity only in liberty, and the sharpness of their sword, and had the natural elemental advantages of woods, and bogs, and hardness of bodies, they ever found they had their hands full of them; and therefore concluded, that going over with such expectation as he did, and through the churlishness of the enterprise, not like to answer it, would mightily diminish his reputation: and many other reasons I used, so as, I am sure, I never in any thing in my lifetime, dealt with him in like earnestness by speech, by writing, and by all the means I could devise For I did as plainly see his overthrow chained, as it were by destiny, to that journey, as it is possible for any man to ground a judgment upon future contingents. But, my lord, howsoever his ear was open, yet his heart and resolution was shut against that advice, whereby his ruin might have been prevented. After my lord's going, I saw then how true a prophet I was, in regard of the evident alteration which naturally succeeded in the queen's mind; and thereupon I was still in watch to find the best occasion, that, in the weakness of my power, I could either take or minister, to pull him out of the fire, if it had been possible: and not long after, methought I saw some overture thereof, which I apprehended readily; a particularity which I think to be known to very few, and the which I do the rather relate unto your lordship, because I hear it should be talked, that while my lord was in Ireland, I revealed

some matters against him, or I cannot tell what; which, if it were not a mere slander as the rest is, but had any, though never so little colour, was surely upon this occasion. The queen, one day at Nonesuch, a little, as I remember, before Cuffe's coming over, where I attended her, showed a passionate distaste of my lord's proceedings in Ireland, as if they were unfortunate, without judgment, contemptuous, and not without some private end of his own, 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 to my grounds, which I thought surest for my lord's good, said to this effect: " Madam, I know not the particulars of estate, and I know this, that princes' actions must have no abrupt periods or conclusions; but otherwise I would think, that if you had my Lord of Essex here with a white staff in his hand, as my Lord of Leicester had, and continued him still about you for society to yourself, and for an honour and ornament to your attendance and court, in the eyes of your people, and in the eyes of foreign ambassadors, then were he in his right element; for to discontent him as you do, and yet to put arms and power into his hands, may be a kind of temptation to make him prove cumbersome and unruly. And, therefore, if you would imponere bonam clausulam,' and send for him, and satisfy him with honour, here near you, if your affairs, which, as I have said, I am not acquainted with, will permit it, I think were the best way." Which course, your lordship knoweth, if it had been taken, then all had been well, and no contempt in my lord's coming over, nor continuance of these jealousies, which that employment of Ireland bred, and my lord here in his former greatness. Well, the next news that I heard was, that my lord was come over, and that he was committed to his chamber for leaving Ireland without the queen's license; this was at Nonesuch, where, as my duty was, I came to his lordship, and talked with him privately about a quarter of an hour, and he asked mine opinion of the course that was taken with him: I told him, "My lord, Nubecula est cito transibit;' it is but a mist. But shall I tell your lordship, it is as mists are: if it go upwards, it may perhaps cause a shower: if downwards, it will clear up. And, therefore, good my lord, carry it so, as you take away by all means all umbrages and distastes from the queen; and especially, if I were worthy to advise you, as I have been by yourself thought, and now your question imports the continuance of that opinion, observe three points: first, make not this cessation or peace, which is concluded with Tyrone, as a service wherein you glory, but as a shuffling up of a prosecution which was not very fortunate. Next, represent not to the queen any necessity of estate, whereby, as by a coercion

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or wrench, she should think herself enforced to send you back into Ireland, but leave it to her. Thirdly, seek access importune, opportune,' seriously, sportingly, every way." I remember my lord was willing to hear me, but spake very few words, and shaked his head sometimes, as if he thought I was in the wrong; but sure I am, he did just contrary in every one of these three points. After this, during the while since my lord was committed to my lord keeper's, I came divers times to the queen, as I had used to do, about causes of her revenue and law business, as is well known; by reason of which accesses, according to the ordinary charities of court, it was given out, that I was one of them that incensed the queen against my Lord of Essex. These speeches I cannot tell, nor I will not think, that they grew any way from her majesty's own speeches, whose memory I will ever honour; if they did, she is with God, and "Miserum est ab illis lædi, de quibus non possis queri.” But I must give this testimony to my Lord Cecil, that one time, in his house at the Savoy, he dealt with me directly, and said to me, "Cousin, I hear it, but I believe it not, that you should do some ill office to my Lord of Essex; for my part, I am merely passive, and not active, in this action; and I follow the queen, and that heavily, and I lead her not; my Lord of Essex is one that, in nature, I could consent with, as well as with any one living; the queen indeed, is my sovereign, and I am her creature, I may not lose her, and the same course I would wish you to take.” Whereupon I satisfied him how far I was from any such mind. And, as sometimes it cometh to pass, that men's inclinations are opened more in a toy, than in a serious matter: a little before that time, being about the middle of Michaelmas term, her majesty had a purpose to dine at my lodge at Twicknam Park, at which time I had, though I profess not to be a poet, prepared a sonnet, directly tending and alluding to draw on her majesty's reconcilement to my lord; which, I remember, also I showed to a great person, and one of my lord's nearest friends, who commended it. This, though it be, as I said, but a toy, yet it showed plainly in what spirit I proceeded; and that I was ready not only to do my lord good offices, but to publish and declare myself for him: and never was I so ambitious of any thing in my lifetime, as I was, to have carried some token or favour from her majesty to my lord; using all the art I had, both to procure her majesty to send, and myself to be the messenger. For, as to the former, I feared not to allege to her, that this proceeding toward my lord, was a thing towards the people, very unplausible; and, therefore, wished her majesty, however she did, yet to discharge herself of it, and lay it upon others; and, therefore, that she should intermix her proceeding with some immediate graces from herself, that

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