SOL1CITORSHIP. XXXlll 



who had been recommended by the Lord Keeper, was 

 without practice. () 



This contest lasted from April 1594 till November 1595; 

 and what at first was merely doubt and hesitation in the 

 Queen s mind, became a struggle against the ascendency, 

 which she was conscious Essex had obtained over her, as 

 she more than once urged that &quot; if either party were to 

 give way it ought to be Essex; that his affection for 

 Bacon should yield to her mislike. (/) Of this latent 

 cause Essex became sensible, and said to Bacon, &quot; I never 

 found the Queen passionate against you till I was pas 

 sionate for you.&quot; (m) 



Such was the nature of this contest, which was so long 

 protracted, that success could not compensate for the 

 trouble of the pursuit ; of this, and of the difficulties of his 

 situation, he bitterly complained. &quot; To be,&quot; he said, &quot; like 

 a child following a bird, which when he is nearest flieth 

 away and lighteth a little before, and then the child after 

 it again. I am weary of it, as also of wearying my good 

 friends. &quot; (n) 



On the 5th of November, 1596, (o) Mr. Serjeant Fleming 

 was appointed Solicitor-General, to the surprise of the ^t. 36. 

 public, and the deep-felt mortification of Bacon, and of his Solicitor, 

 patron and friend, Lord Essex. The mortification of Essex 

 partook strongly of the extremes of his character; of the 

 generous regard of wounded affection, and the bitter 

 vexation of wounded pride: he complained that a man, 

 every way worthy had &quot; fared ill, because he had made 

 him a mean and dependence;&quot; but he did not rest 

 here : he generously undertook the care of Bacon s future 



(a) See note T Tat the end. 



(/) See note P P, letter beginning &quot; I went yesterday.&quot; 

 (m) See note P P, letter beginning &quot; I have received/ 

 (n) See note V V at the end. (o) See Dug. Orig. Jud. 



VOL. XV. d 



