1 LIFE OF BACON. 



true to my grounds which I thought surest for my lord s 

 good, said to this effect : Madam, I know not the particu 

 lars of estate, and I know this, that princes actions must 

 have no abrupt periods or conclusions, but otherwise I 

 would think, that if you had my lord of Essex here with a 

 white staff in his hand, as my lord of Leicester had, and 

 continued him still about you for society to yourself, and 

 for an honour and ornament to your attendance and court 

 in the eyes of your people, and in the eyes of foreign 

 ambassadors, then were he in his right element ; for, to dis 

 content him as you do, and yet to put arms and power 

 into his hands, may be a kind of temptation to make him 

 prove cumbersome and unruly. And therefore if you would 

 imponere bonam clausulam, and send for him, and satisfy 

 him with honour near you, if your affairs, which (as I have 

 said) I am not acquainted with, will permit it, I think 

 were the best way.&quot;() 



Return of These kind exertions for his friend were, however, 

 wholly defeated by the haughtiness and imprudence of 

 Essex, who, to the just remonstrances of the Queen, gave 

 no other answers than peevish complaints of his enemies ; 

 and, to the astonishment of all persons, he, without her 

 permission, returned to England, arrived before any person 

 could be apprised of his intention, and, the Queen not being 

 in London, he, without stopping to change his dress, or to 

 take any refreshment, proceeded to Nonsuch, where the 

 court was held. Travel-stained as he was, he sought the 

 Queen in her chamber, and found her newly risen, with 

 her hair about her face. He kneeled to her, and kissed her 

 hands. Elizabeth, taken by surprise, gave way to all her 

 partiality for him, and to the pleasure she always had in 

 his company. He left her presence well pleased with his 

 reception, and thanked God, though he had suffered much 



() Bacon s Apology, vol. vi. p. 254. 



