Xxii PREFACE. 
*I am not servile to him, having regard to my superior duty. 
I have been much bound unto him. And on the other side, I 
have spent more time and more thoughts about his well- 
doing than ever I did about mine own.’ Still he had no 
suspicion of the dangerous secrets of which Essex was con- 
scious. His counsel was as ever patience, and for a time the 
Earl, to the outer world at least, seemed heedful of his advice. 
To his intimates he presented another aspect. ‘In my laste 
discourse,’ says Sir John Harington, ‘he uttered strange 
wordes, borderynge on suche strange desygns that made me 
hastene forthe, and leave his presence; thank heaven I am 
safe at home, and if I go in suche troubles againe, I deserve 
the gallowes for a meddlynge foole : His speeches of the Queene 
becomethe no man who hathe mens sana in corpore sano. 
(Nugae Antiquae, ii, 225, ed. 1779.) His patent for the 
monopoly of sweet wines was to expire at Michaelmas, and 
he petitioned for a renewal of the lease. His petition was 
_ refused and his patience at an end. From this time the 
Queen, who evidently was better informed than Bacon as to 
what Essex had really done, and supposed that Bacon knew 
as much as herself, was so angry at his importunity for his 
friend that she would no longer see him. For three months 
this estrangement lasted. It was not till after New Year’s 
Day, 1600-1, that Bacon was admitted to her presence, and 
then boldly and ‘with some passion’ spoke his mind, ‘Madam, 
I see you withdraw your favour from me, and now that I have 
lost many friends for your sake, I shall leese youtoo. . . . 
A great many love me not, because they think I have been 
against my Lord of Essex; and you love me not, because you 
know I have been for him: yet will I never repent me, that 
I have dealt in simplicity of heart towards you both, without 
respect of cautions to myself, and therefore vivus vidensque 
pereo.” The Queen was moved by the earnestness of his 
protestations, and spoke kindly to him as of old; but of Essex 
never a word. Henceforth Bacon determined to meddle no 
more in the matter, and never saw the Queen again till the 
Earl had put himself beyond the reach of intercession. He 
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