NOTE PP. 



and she would advise. I would have replied, but she stopped my mouth. To 

 morrow or the next day I will go to her, and then this excuse will be taken 

 away. When I know more, you shall hear more ; and so I end full of pain in 

 my head, which makes me write thus confusedly. Your most affectionate 

 friend. 



The Earl of Essex to Mr. Francis Bacon.* 



Mr. Bacon, Your letter met me here yesterday. When I came, I found 

 the queen so wayward, as I thought it no fit time to deal with her in any sort, 

 especially since her choler grew towards myself, which I have well satisfied this 

 day, and will take the first opportunity I can to move your suit. And if you 

 come hither, I pray you let me know still where you are. And so being full of 

 business, I must end, wishing you what you wish to yourself. 



1593, Sept. Your assured friend, ESSEX. 



The Earl of Essex to Mr. Francis Bacon. t 



Sir, I have now spoken with the queen, and I see no stay from obtaining a 

 full resolution of what we desire. But the passion she is in by reason of the 

 tales that have been told her against Nicholas Clifford, with whom she is in such 

 rage, for a matter, which I think you have heard of, doth put her infinitely out 

 of quiet ; and her passionate humour is nourished by some foolish women. 

 Else I find nothing to distaste us, for she doth not contradict confidently ; 

 which they, that know the minds of women, say is a sign of yielding. I will 

 to-morrow take more time to deal with her, and will sweeten her with all the 

 art I have to make benevolum auditorem. I have already spoken with Mr. 

 Vice-Chamberlain, | and will to-morrow speak with the rest. Of Mr. Vice- 

 Chamberlain you may assure yourself; for so much he hath faithfully promised 

 me. The exceptions against the competitors I will use to-morrow ; for then I 

 do resolve to have a full and large discourse, having prepared the queen to-night 

 to assign me a time under colour of some such business, as I have pretended. 

 In the mean time I must tell you, that I do not respect either my absence, or 

 my showing a discontentment in going away, for I was received at my return, 

 and I think I shall not be the worse. And for that I am oppressed with multi 

 tude of letters that are come, of which I must give the Queen some account 

 to-morrow morning, I therefore desire to be excused for writing no more to 

 night : to-morrow you shall hear from me again. I wish you what you wish 

 yourself in this and all things else, and rest your most affectionate friend, 



This Friday at night, ESSEX. 



Indorsed, March 29, 1594. 



Earl of Essex to Mr. Francis Bacon. 



Sir, I went yesterday to the queen through the galleries in the morning, af 

 ternoon, and at night. I had long speech with her of you, wherein I urged both 

 the point of your extraordinary sufficiency proved to me not only by your last 

 argument, but by the opinion of all men I spake withal, and the point of mine 

 own satisfaction, which, I protested, should be exceeding great, if, for all her 

 unkindness and discomforts past, she should do this one thing for my sake. 

 To the first she answered, that the greatness of your friends, as of my Lord 

 Treasurer and myself, did make men give a more favourable testimony than else 

 they would do, thinking thereby they pleased us. And that she did acknow 

 ledge you had a great wit, and an excellent gift of speech, and much other 

 good learning. But in the law she rather thought you could make show to the 

 uttermost of your knowledge, than that you were deep. To the second she said, 



* Among the papers of Antony Bacon, esq. vol. iii. fol. 197, in the Lambeth 

 Library. 



t Among the papers of Antony Bacon, Esq. vol. iv. fol. 89, in the Lambeth 

 Library. 



J Sir Thomas Heneage. 



