6 DR. RAAVLEY'S LIFE OF BACON. 



practice, amongst the Honourable Society of Gray's-Inn, of 

 which house he was a member ; where he erected that elegant 

 pile or structure commonly known by the name of The Lord 

 Bacon's Lodgings, which he inhabited by turns the most part of 

 his life (some few years only excepted) unto his dying day. In 

 which house he carried himself with such sweetness, comity, and 

 generosity, that he was much revered and beloved by the 

 readers and gentlemen of the house. 



Notwithstanding that he professed the law for his livelihood 

 and subsistence, yet his heart and affection was more carried 

 after the affairs and places of estate ; for which, if the majesty 

 royal then had been pleased, he was most fit. In his younger 

 years he studied the service and fortunes (as they call them) of 

 that noble but unfortunate earl, the Earl of Essex ; unto whom 

 he was, in a sort, a private and free counsellor, and gave him safe 

 and honourable advice, till in the end the earl inclined too much 

 to the violent and precipitate counsel of others his adherents 

 and followers ; which was his fate and ruin. 1 



His birth and other capacities qualified him above others of 

 his profession to have ordinary accesses at court, and to come 

 frequently into the queen's eye, who would often grace him 

 with private and free communication, not only about matters of 

 his profession or business in law, but also about the arduous 

 Affairs of estate ; from whom she received from time to time 



written in 1606, in which he speaks of his "nine years' service of the crown." This 

 would give 1597 as the year in which he began to serve as one of the learned 

 council ; at which time it was no extraordinary favour, seeing that he had been 

 recommended for solicitor-general three or four years before, both by Burghley and 

 Egerton. It appears however to have been no regular or formal appointment. He 

 was not sworn. He had no patent ; not even a written warrant. His tenure was only 

 ratione verbi regii Ellzabethce (see Rymer, A. D. 1604, p. 121.), Elizabeth, who 

 " looked that her word should be a warrant," chose to employ him in the business 

 which belonged properly to her learned council, and he was employed accordingly. 

 His first service of that nature, the first at least of which I find any record, was in 

 1594. In 1597 he had come to be employed regularly, and so continued till the end 

 of the reign, and was familiarly spoken of as " Mr. Bacon of the learned council." 



1 The connexion between Bacon and Essex appears to have commenced about the 

 year 1590 or 1591, and furnishes matter for a long story too long to be discussed 

 in a note. His conduct was much misunderstood at the time by persons who had no 

 means of knowing the truth, and has been much misrepresented since by writers who 

 cannot plead that excuse. The case is not however one on which a unanimous 

 verdict can be expected. Always, where choice has to be made between fidelity to the state 

 and fidelity to a party or person, popular sympathy will run in favour of the man who 

 chooses the narrower duty ; for the narrower duty is not only easier to comprehend, 

 but, being seen closer, appears the larger of the two. But though sentiments will 

 continue to be divided, facts may be agreed upon ; and for the correction of all errors 

 in matter of fact, I must refer to the Occasional Works, where the whole story will ne- 

 cessarily come out in full detail. In the mean time I may say for myself that I have 

 no fault to find with Bacon for any part of his conduct towards Essex, and I think many 

 people will agree with me when they see the case fairly stated. 



