CONCERNING THE EARL OF ESSEX. 271 



ther they were not the labours of one that sought to 

 bring the queen about for my lord of Essex his good. 

 The truth is, that the issue of all his dealing grew 

 to this, that the queen, by some slackness of my 

 lord s, as I imagine, liked him worse and worse, and 

 grew more incensed towards him. Then she re 

 membering belike the continual, 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 last, 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 purpose-like 

 discountenance wheresoever she saw me ; and at 

 such time as I desired to speak \vith her about law- 

 business, ever sent me forth very slight refusals, in 

 somuch as it is most true, that immediately after 

 New-year s-tide I desired to speak with her, and be 

 ing admitted to her, I dealt with her plainly ; and 

 said, &quot; Madam, I see you withdraw your favour 

 &quot; from me, and now I have lost many friends for 

 &quot; your sake, 1 shall lose you too : you have put me 

 u like one of those that the Frenchmen call &quot; en- 

 &quot; fans perdus,&quot; that serve on foot before horsemen ; 

 f( so have you put me into matters of envy without 

 &quot; place, or without strength ; and I know at chess a 

 &quot; pawn before the king is ever much played upon ; 

 &quot; a great many love me not, because they think I 

 &quot; have been against my lord of Essex j and you love 

 &quot; me not, because you know I have been for him ; 

 &quot; yet will I never repent me, that I have dealt in 

 &quot; simplicity of heart towards you both, without 



