XXVl&quot; PREFACE. 



desirable that an authoritative statement should be drawn up, 

 setting forth with all clearness the real nature of the offence, 

 and the evidence on which judgement had been pronounced, 

 and the task of drawing up such a statement was entrusted 

 to the skilful pen of Bacon. The result was A Declaration of 

 the Practises and Treasons attempted and committed by Robert 

 late Earle of Essex and bis Complices, against her Maiestie and 

 her Kingdoms, fyc., which was published in 1601. His in 

 structions as to the writing were very precise, and after 

 a first draft had been made, it was submitted to certain 

 principal counsellors, who made almost a new writing, so 

 that Bacon himself gave only words and form of style, and 

 in this he nothing extenuated or set aught down in malice. 

 The principal offenders being punished, he exerted himself 

 to save the inferior actors, and with such good success that 

 six out of nine were stayed from being attainted. 



In the course of the spring of 1601 he lost his brother 

 Anthony, to whom he had always been greatly attached. 

 His circumstances were by this somewhat improved, and with 

 the i2oo/. which he received from the fine of Catesby, one 

 of the accomplices of Essex, he was enabled to get rid of 

 some obligations which had pressed heavily upon him. 



In the last Parliament of Elizabeth, which met on the 27th 

 of October, 1601, Bacon was returned both by Ipswich and 

 St. Alban s, a conspicuous proof that his conduct in the Essex 

 conspiracy had not brought upon him the censure of the 

 country. His voice, as of old, was heard, and his pen was still 

 busy, on all important questions. 



With the death of Elizabeth on the 24th of March, 1602-3, 

 and the accession of James, no great change took place in 

 Bacon s prospects. He was still allowed to continue one of 

 the learned counsel. On the 3rd of July he writes to Cecil 

 that he is forced to sell the skirts of his living in Hertford 

 shire to preserve the body, thereby leaving himself free from 

 debt and with a little money in hand, 3007. land per annum, 

 with a fair house, and the ground well timbered. He wishes 

 to be made a knight because of some disgrace which had 



