CONCERNING THE EARL OF ESSEX. 247 



though I was not so unseen in the world, but I 

 knew the condition was subject to envy and peril ; 

 yet because I knew again she was constant in her 

 favours, and made an end where she began; and 

 especially because she upheld me with extraordinary 

 access, and other demonstrations of confidence and 

 grace, I resolved to endure it in expectation of bet 

 ter. But my scope and desire is, that your lordship 

 would be pleased to have the honourable patience to 

 know the truth, in some particularity, of all that 

 passed in this cause, wherein I had any part, that 

 you may perceive how honest a heart I ever bare to 

 my sovereign, and to my country, and to that noble 

 man, who had so well deserved of me, and so well 

 accepted of my deservings, whose fortune I cannot 

 remember without much grief. But for any action 

 of mine towards him, there is nothing that passed 

 me in my life-time, that cometh to my remembrance 

 with more clearness, and less check of conscience; 

 for it will appear to your lordship, that I was not 

 only not opposite to my lord of Essex, but that I 

 did occupy the utmost of my wits, and adventure my 

 fortune with the queen, to have reintegrated his, and 

 so continued faithfully and industriously, till his last 

 fatal impatience, for so I will call it, after which day 

 there was not time to work for him ; though the 

 same, my affection, when it could not work on the 

 subject proper, went to the next, with no ill effect 

 towards some others, who I think, do rather not 

 know it, than not acknowledge it. And this I will 

 assure your lordship, I will leave nothing untold, 



