CONCERNING THE EARL OF ESSEX. 261 



be for her majesty s honour; and therefore wished the 

 conclusion might be, that they might wrap it up pri 

 vately between themselves; and that she would restore 

 my lord to his former attendance, with some addition 

 of honour to take away discontent. But this I will never 

 deny; that 1 did shew no approbation generally of his 

 being sent back again into Ireland, both because it 

 would have carried a repugnancy with my former dis 

 course, and because I was in mine own heart fully 

 persuaded that it was not good, either for the queen, 

 or for the state, or for himself: and yet I did not 

 dissuade it neither, but left it ever as &quot; locus lubri- 

 cus.&quot; For this particularity I do well remember, 

 that after your lordship was named for the place in 

 Ireland, and not long before your going, it pleased 

 her majesty at Whitehall to speak to me of that no- 

 mination : at which time I said to her ; &quot; Surely, 

 &quot; madam, if you mean not to employ my lord of 

 &quot; Essex thither again, your majesty cannot make a 

 &quot; better choice ;&quot; and was going on to shew some 

 reason, and her majesty interrupted me with great 

 passion : &quot; Essex !&quot; said she ; &quot; whensoever I send 

 Essex back again into Ireland, I will marry you, 

 claim it of me.&quot; Whereunto I said ; &quot; Well, Madam, 

 &quot; I will release that contract, if his going be for the 

 &quot; good of your state.&quot; Immediately after the queen 

 had thought of a course, which was also executed, 

 to have somewhat published in the Star chamber, 

 for the satisfaction of the world, touching my lord 

 of Essex his restraint, and my lord not to be called 

 to it ; but occasion to be taken by reason of some 



