BACON S INTERVIEW WITH THE QUEEN&quot;. IxXXV 



field, like Nebuchadnezzar, until the Queen should restore 

 his senses,&quot; now, that this abject prostration proved fruit 

 less, loudly proclaimed that &quot; he could not serve with base 

 obsequiousness ; that he was thrust down into private life, 

 and wrongfully committed to custody, and this by an old 

 woman no less crooked in mind than in body.&quot; These ebul 

 litions of peevish anger were duly repeated to the Queen 

 by those who hoped for his utter ruin. Elizabeth, shocked 

 at the ingratitude of a man upon whom she had lavished 

 so many favours ; whose repeated faults she had forgiven, 

 till forgiveness became folly, now turned away with extreme 

 indignation from all whom she suspected of urging one 

 word in his favour ; and, remembering the constant exer 

 tions which had ever been made by Bacon on his behalf, 

 began to think of him with distrust and jealousy. She 

 would not so much as look at him; and whenever he 

 desired to speak with her about law business, sent him out 

 slighting refusals. 



Bacon, acting in obedience to his own doctrine, &quot; that January, 

 the best mean to clear the way in the wood of suspicion is aL 60 ?; 

 frankly to communicate with the party who is suspect if 

 he is of a noble nature,&quot; (a) demanded the cause of this 

 alienation, in an interview with the Queen, which he has 

 thus related : &quot; Then, she remembering, belike, the con 

 tinual, and incessant, and confident speeches and courses 

 that I had held on my lord s side, became utterly alienated 

 from me, and for the space of at least three months, 

 which was between Michaelmas and New-year s-tide fol 

 lowing, would not so much as look on me, but turned away 

 from me with express and purposelike discountenance 

 wheresoever she saw me ; and at such time as I desired to 

 speak with her about law business, ever sent me forth very 



() See his Essay on Suspicion, vol. i. p. 113. 



