NOTE 4E. 



7. I held it for a principle that those diseases are hardest to cure, whereof the 

 _ause is obscure ; and those easiest, whereof the cause is manifest. Whereupon 

 I conclude, that since it hath been your errors in your lowness towards her 

 majesty which have prejudiced you, that your reforming and conformity will 

 restore you, so as you may be &quot; faber fortunae propriae.&quot; 



Lastly, considering your lordship is removed from dealing in causes of state, 

 and left only to a place of attendance, methinks the ambition of any which can 

 endure no partners in state matters may be so quenched, as they should not 

 laboriously oppose themselves to your being in court. So as upon the whole 

 matter, I cannot find, neither in her majesty s person, nor in your own person, 

 nor in any third person, neither in former precedents, nor in your own case, any 

 cause of peremptory despair. Neither do I speak this, but that if her majesty 

 out of her resolution should design you to a private life, you should be as 

 willing, upon the appointment, to go into the wilderness as into the land of 

 promise ; only I wish that your lordship will not despair, but put trust (next to 

 God) in her majesty s grace, and not be wanting to yourself. I know your 

 lordship may justly interpret, that this which I persuade may have some refe 

 rence to my particular, because I may truly say, &quot; tu stante non virebo,&quot; for I 

 am withered in myself; but manebo, or tenebo, I should in some sort be, or 

 hold out. But though your lordship s years and health may expect return 

 of grace and fortune, yet your eclipse for a time is an &quot; ultimum vale&quot; to my 

 fortune : and were it not that I desired and hope to see my brother established 

 by her majesty s favour, as I think him well worthy for that he hath done and 

 suffered, it were time I did take that course from which I dissuade your lord 

 ship. Now in the mean time, I cannot choose but perform those honest duties 

 unto you, to whom I have been so deeply bound, &c. 



A Letter framed as from the Earl, in answer to the former letter. 



Mr. Bacon, I thank you for your kind and careful letter. It persuades me 

 that which I wish strongly, and hope for weakly ; that is, possibility of restitu 

 tion to her majesty s favour : but your arguments that would cherish hope turn 

 to despair. You say the Queen never meant to call me to public censure, 

 which sheweth her goodness ; but you see I passed under it, which sheweth 

 other s power. I believe most steadfastly her majesty never intended to bring 

 my cause to a sentence ; and I believe as verily, that since that sentence she 

 meant to restore me to attend upon her person. But they that could use occa 

 sions, which was not in me to let, and amplify occasions, and practise upon 

 occasions, to represent to her majesty a necessity to bring me to the one, can 

 and will do the like to stop me from the other. You say, my errors were my 

 prejudice, and therefore I can mend myself, and that if I ever recover the 

 Queen, that I will never loose her again, will never suffer me to obtain interest 

 in her favour : and you say the Queen never forsook utterly where she hath in 

 wardly favoured, but know not whether the hourglass of time hath altered her ; 

 but sure I am, the false glass of other s informations must alter her, when I want 

 access to plead mine own cause. I know I ought doubly infinitely to be her 

 majesty s, both &quot;jure creationis,&quot; for I &quot;am her creature; and jure redemp- 

 tionis/ for I know she hath saved me from overthrow. But for her first love, 

 and for her last protection, and all her great benefits, I can but pray for her 

 majesty ; and my endeavour is now to make my prayers for her and myself 

 better heard. For thanks be to God, that they which can make her majesty 

 believe I counterfeit with her, cannot make God believe that I counterfeit with 

 him ; and they that can let me from coming near to her, cannot let me from 

 drawing nearer to him, as I hope I do daily. For your brother, I hold him an 

 honest gentleman, and wish him all good, much rather for your sake ; yourself, 

 I know, hath suffered more for me, and with me, than any friend that I have : 

 but 1 can but lament freely, as you see I do, and advise you not to do that I 

 do, which is, to despair. You know letters what hurt they have done me, and 

 therefore make sure of this ; and yet I could not, as having no other pledge of 

 my love, but communicate openly with you for the ease of my heart and yours. 



Your loving friend, R. ESSEX. 



