PREFACE, XV 
tified at the ill success of his suit, the failure of which had 
perhaps in some measure been due to his own want of judge- 
ment in pressing it. Lady Bacon said truly, ‘though the Earl 
showed great affection, he marred all with violent courses.’ 
But he generously resolved that his friend should not be alto- 
_ gether a loser by his friendship. The relation between them _ 
at this juncture is excellently expressed by Mr. Spedding. 
‘In the account between him and Bacon the obligation was 
not all on one side. Bacon owed him much for his friendship, 
trust, and eager endeavours to serve him. He owed Bacon 
much, not only for affection and zeal, but for time and pains 
gratuitously spent in his affairs. ‘These he had done his best 
to requite in the best way—namely by advancing him in his 
profession; but having failed, he (not unnaturally) desired to 
make him some reparation.’ ‘ You shall not deny,’ said Essex, 
‘to accept a piece of land which I will bestow upon you.’ 
Bacon declined, but the Earl insisted, and what followed 
must be told in Bacon’s own words, because it shows in what 
light he viewed the respective duties of citizenship and friend- 
ship, and how fixed a principle it was with him that, like 
Pericles, he could only be a friend usque ad aras, so far, that 
is, as was consistent with higher obligations. After in vain 
endeavouring to persuade Essex not to imitate the Duke of 
Guise and turn his estate into obligations, he 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.’ It looks 
as if Bacon already foresaw that the impetuous rashness of 
Essex might at some time place him in such a position that 
the lower duty would have to give way before the higher. 
How strongly he felt this is shown by the closing sentence of 
a letter to the Earl, which is very properly assigned to this 
period of his life, and carries with it a warning sound, ‘1 
reckon myself as a common (not popular, but common); and as 
much as is lawful to be enclosed of a common, so much your 
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