Ixxvi 



LIFE OF BACON. 



by her own hand to Essex, when in Ireland, should be 

 made public, in which she had commanded to the con 

 trary. Upon sending to Essex for her letter, he returned 

 a submissive reply, but said that it was either lost or 

 mislaid; and, though her anger was great at the non- 

 production of this document, she, early in the next month, 

 ordered him to be liberated from his keeper, but not to 

 quit London, (b) 



Upon this release, which his declining health rendered 

 necessary, he solicited permission to retire to the house of 

 a relation near Reading ; a permission which the Queen, 

 although she commanded him to dismiss two of his friends 

 from his service, and although disturbed and displeased, 

 seemed inclined to grant, as she listened to friendly com 

 munications made on his behalf, and received letters from 

 him, (c) in which, having discovered the wisdom of his 

 friend s advice, &quot; that the Queen could not be controlled 

 by resistance,&quot; (d) he was endeavouring to regain by obse 

 quiousness the ascendancy which he had lost by his rude 



(b) Sydney Papers, p. 204. Her majesty is greatly troubled with the 

 last number of knights made by the Earl of Essex in Ireland, and purposes, 

 by public proclamation, to command them from the place due to their 

 dignity; and that no ancient gentleman of the kingdom gave them any 

 place. The warrant was signed, as I heard ; but by Mr. Secretary s very 

 special care and credit, it is stayed till Sunday the lords meet in court. 

 Mr. Bacon is thought to be the man that moves her majesty unto it, affirm 

 ing, that by the law the earl had no authority to make them, being by her 

 majesty s own letter, of her own hand written, commanded the contrary. 



Her Majesty had ordered the Lord Keeper to remove my lord of Essex s 

 keeper from him ; but awhile after, being somewhat troubled with the 

 remembrance of his making so many knights, made a stay of her former 

 order, and sent unto the earl for her own letter, which she writ unto him to 

 command him to make none. But, with a very submissive letter, he 

 returned answer that he had lost it or mislaid it, for he could not find it, 

 which somewhat displeases her majesty. As yet his liberty stands upon 

 these terms, &c. &c. 28 June, 1600. 



(c) Sydney Papers, 205-7-8-12. 

 (rf) Ante, page xlv. 



