ESSEX S LETTERS TO THE QUEEN. 



gration in his fortunes: which my intention, I did also 

 signify to my lord as soon as ever he was at his liberty, (a) 

 whereby I might without peril of the Queen s indignation 

 write to him; and, having received from his lordship a 

 courteous and loving acceptation of my good will and en 

 deavours, I did apply it in all my accesses to the Queen, 

 which were very many at that time ; and purposely sought 

 and wrought upon other variable pretences, but only and 

 chiefly for that purpose. And on the other side, I did not 

 forbear to give my lord from time to time faithful adver 

 tisement what I found, and what I wished. And I drew 

 for him, by his appointment, some letters to her majesty; 

 which, though I knew well his lordship s gift and style was 

 far better than mine own, yet, because he required it, 

 alleging, that by his long restraint he was grown almost a 

 stranger to the Queen s present conceits, I was ready to 

 perform it ; and sure I am, that for the space of six weeks 

 or two months, it prospered so well, as I expected con 

 tinually his restoring to his attendance. And I was never 

 better welcome to the Queen, nor more made of, than 

 when I spake fullest and boldest for him : in which kind 

 the particulars were exceeding many; whereof, for an 

 example, I will remember to your lordship one or two. 

 As at one time, I call to mind, her majesty was speak 

 ing of a fellow that undertook to cure, or at least to ease 

 my brother of his gout, and asked me how it went for 

 ward; and I told her majesty, that at the first he received 

 good by it, but after in the course of his cure he found 

 himself at a stay, or rather worse : the Queen said ao-ain 

 I will tell you, Bacon, the error of it : the manner of these 

 physicians, and especially these empirics, is to continue 

 one kind of medicine, which at the first is proper, being to 



(a) See note 4 E at the end. 

 VOL. XV. g 



