Oh that by not hearkening to wholesome and careful good counsel, and by continuing still the means of his own great hindrance, he had not procured his own early discredit; but had joined with God that hath bestowed on him good gifts of natural wit and understanding. But the same good God that hath given them to him will I trust and heartily pray to sanctify his heart by the right use of them to glorify the Giver of them to his own inward comfort. The scope of my so called by him circumstance, which I am sure he must understand, was not to use him as a ward, a remote phrase to my plain motherly meaning—and yet, I thank the Lord and the hearing of his word preached, not void of judgment and conceiving. My plain proposition was and is to do him good. After further protest about his "riotous men " she closes the letter in a gentler spirit: But He perceives my good meaning by this, and before too. Percie had winded him. God bless my son. What he would have me do and when for his own good, as I now write, let him return plain answer by Fynch. He was his father's first choice (?)1 and God will supply if he will trust in him and call upon [him] in truth of heart; which God grant to mother and sons. I send the first flight of my doves to you both, and God bless you in Christ. A. B.2 The noble and true nature underlying these letters is apparent, though the point of view at the time might preclude forbearance and understanding. I quote these extracts for the light they throw on Bacon's existence at this time. Both then and for a long time after he was in great straits for money, and it has always been difficult to account for this. A word may be added as to Lady Bacon's letters. She writes not only as a religious woman but as a woman of the world, and though she is very plain with her sons, she takes their part loyally in dealing with others. Her account of an interview with her nephew, Sir Robert Cecil, about the delay in the advancement of Francis, written to Anthony in January 1595, is evidence of this— 1 "The word is written so close to the edge of the paper that I cannot make it out. It looks like chis." (Note by Spedding.) 2 Spedding, Life, i. 245. a shrewd and (in spite of its pathos) most entertaining letter. I can only quote some of it: Well (inquam) the eldest of my but two in all sons is visited by God,1 and the other methinks is but strangely used by man's dealing God knows who and why. I think he is the very first young gentleman of some account made so long such a common speech of this time placed, and then out of doubt, and yet nothing done. Enough to overthrow a young and studious man, as he is given indeed, and as fit by judgment of wiser both for years and understanding to occupy a place as the Attorney. The world marvels in respect of his friends and his own towardness. -Experience teacheth that her Majesty's nature is not to resolve, but to delay. But with none so seen, quod I.-Why (inquit) she is yet without officers of three white staffs together: seldom seen: But, saith he, I dare say my Lord would gladly have had my cousin placed ere this. I hope so myself, inquam: but some think if my Lord had been earnest it had been done.2 4 Lady Bacon's latter years were sad. She lived on till 1610, and Spedding notes that nothing is heard of her since 1600, when "her health was worn," "3 and she is alluded to in Goodman's Court of King James the First in these words: "But for Bacon's mother, she was but little better than frantic in her age." Indeed she appeared to one of Anthony's servants to be approaching this condition in 1594.5 Her son Anthony died in 1601: "Anthony Bacon died not long since, but so far in debt that I think his brother is little the better by him." It appears, however, that he allowed his brother to draw on him freely in his lifetime. " 6 In August 1593 Essex writes to Francis Bacon that he had been pressing the Queen to restore him to favour -"an absolute ȧuvnoría, and an access as in former times"-but so far without success. He reports her as saying that "if it had been in the King her father's time, a less offence than that would have made a man be banished his presence for ever," and that "she should 1 Anthony Bacon's health was completely broken at this time. 3 Petition of Francis Bacon to the Queen, ibid. iv. 217. 4 Goodman (ed. Brewer), i. 285. 6 Spedding, Life, i. 310-312. 6 Chamberlain to Carleton, 27th May 1601, ibid. iii. 5. precipitate too much from being highly displeased with you to give you near access. Her humour is yet to delay."1 In the same month Lady Bacon received a discouraging letter from her brother-in-law (Lord Burghley) professing his goodwill towards her two sons, "though I am of less power to do my friends good than the world thinketh," and he refers to them as "being so qualified in learning and virtue as if they had a supply of more health they wanted nothing." "2 In September 1593 Robert Cecil advises Bacon to keep in evidence, "for, as I ever told you, it is not likely to find the Queen apt to give you an office, when the scruple is not removed of her forbearance to speak with you. This being not yet perfected. . .”4 By March 1594, in spite of all the efforts of Essex, it was understood that Coke was to be Attorney, and Essex now begins to sue for Bacon's appointment as Solicitor. He writes to Bacon: "I find the Queen very reserved, staying herself from giving any kind of hope, yet not passionate against you till I grew passionate for you. Then she said that none thought you fit for the place but my lord Treasurer and myself . . . and therefore in passion bade me go to bed if I would talk of nothing else. Wherefore in passion I went away.. . . " 5 In reply to a further letter to the same effect, Bacon writes to Essex: "And I must confess this very delay hath gone so near me, as it hath almost overthrown my health." He then bitterly complains (after calling his father to memory, etc.) that when he considers that he was "voiced with great expectation, and (though I say it myself) with the wishes of most men, to the higher place; that I am a man that the Queen hath already done for; and princes, especially her Majesty, loveth to make an end where they begin. . . . I cannot but conclude with myself that no man ever received a more exquisite disgrace." "And therefore truly, my Lord," he continues, "I was 1 Spedding, Life, i. 254. 3 Spedding, Life, i. 255. 2 Cf. Froude, History, xii. 133, note. determined, and am determined, if her Majesty reject me, this to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I will by God's assistance with this disgrace of my fortune. retire myself with a couple of men to Cambridge, and there spend my life in my studies and contemplations, without looking back."1 It is characteristic that when the final rejection came in 1595 Bacon did nothing of the kind. This letter was, presumably, intended to be shown to the Queen, and was an effort to bring her round by threat of spoiling or losing a good servant. In May 1594 Robert Cecil writes to his cousin: "I protest I suffer with you in mind that you are thus yet gravelled." 2 In the same month Essex reports two interviews with the Queen. The account of the first is very attractive, and told with the simplicity which characterises Essex. The Queen, he says, came to him, and when he began to speak for Bacon for "that place which all the world had named you to," "her answer in playing jest was that she came not to me for that; I should talk of those things when I came to her, not when she came to me; the term was coming and she would advise. I would have replied, but she stopped my mouth "3-which, in Elizabethan language, no doubt means that she gave him a kiss (cf. Benedick to Beatrice at the end of Much Ado About Nothing: "Peace! I will stop your mouth "). Of the next interview the Earl says: "I had long speech with her of you; wherein I urged both the point of your extraordinary sufficiency . . . and the point of mine own satisfaction, which I protested to her should be exceeding great, if for all her unkindnesses and discomforts past she would do this one thing for my sake.* "To the first she answered, that the greatness of your friends, as of my Lord Treasurer and myself, did make men give a more favourable testimony than else they would do, thinking thereby they pleased us. And that she did acknowledge you had a great wit, and an 1 Spedding, Life, i. 290. 2 Ibid. i. 296. 3 Ibid. i. 297. 4 Cf. Chapter XIV. on the Amoretti. excellent gift of speech, and much other good learning. But in law she rather thought you could make show to the uttermost of your knowledge, than that you were deep. To the second, she said she had showed her mislike of the suit as well as I had done my affection in it; and that if there were a yielding, it was fitter to be of my side." "She did in this," he adds, "as she useth in all; went from a denial to a delay, and said when the Council were all here she would think of it; and there was no haste in determining of the place. To which I answered, that my sad heart had need of hasty comfort, and therefore her Majesty must pardon me if I were hasty and importunate in it." 1 Essex made the fatal mistake of mixing up business and sentiment, which the Queen knew well how to keep apart. But this was his nature, which was unsophisticated and wilful. In June 1594 Bacon is found in "Tower" employment, assisting in the examination of prisoners charged with plots against the life of the Queen. Spedding finds evidence in this that "though the Queen still refused to speak with him she had at last relented so far as to employ him." 2 But I have no doubt this was under the instructions of Burghley or the Secretaries, a gloomy business enough, but one from which Bacon could hardly shrink in connection with a career as a Crown lawyer. Nor do I think he would, as Crown service was held by him to supersede all personal considerations. He appears to have been frequently employed in such work about this time. In the same month Foulke Greville writes to him about an interview he had had with the Queen, at which he took occasion to tell her "how you lamented your misfortune to me, that remained as a withered branch of her roots, which she had cherished and made to flourish in her service." 8 For reasons which will appear in the next chapter I draw particular attention to these words, which were evidently those used by Bacon himself. In August he writes to his brother, "I hear nothing |