XXli 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 you too .... 

 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 



