The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

xxxvi LIFE OF BACON.
the community; and that, if lhe were not indiffer- words of compliment, signifying to her majesty,
ent,-if he were to exercise any discretion as to " That if she would be pleased to spare me in my
the party for whom he pleads, the course of jus- lord of Essex's cause, out of the consideration she
tice would be interrupted by prejudice to the suitor, took of my obligation towards him, I should reckand the exclusion of integrity from the profession. on it for one of her greatest favours: but otherThe suitor would be prejudiced in proportion to wise desiring her majesty to think that I knew
the respectability of the advocate who had shrunk the degrees of duties; and that no particular
from his defence, and the weight of character of obligation whatsoever to any subject could supthe counsel would be evidence in the cause. In- plant or weaken that entireness of duty that I did
tegrity would be excluded from the profession, owe and bear to her and her service." And this
as the counsel would necessarily be associated was the goodly suitI made, being a respect no man
with the cause of his client; with the slanderer, that had his wits could have omitted: but neverthe adulterer, the murderer, or the traitor, whom theless I had a farther reach in it; for Ijudged tllav
it may be his duty to defend. day's work would be a full period of any bitterness
Such were the various conflicting duties by or harshnessbetween the queen and my lord: an&
which a common mind might have been per- therefore, if I declared myself fully according te
plexed; but, strong in knowledge, he, without her mind at that time, which could not do my lord
embarrassment, looked steadily at the undefined any manner of prejudice, I should keep my credit
shapes of difficulty and danger, of possible mis- with her ever after, whereby to do my lord service.
take or mischance, and, without any of the vacilla- The proceedings after this communication to
tion in which contemplative genius is too apt to the queen are thus stated by Bacon:-" IIereindulge, he saw instantly the path of his duty, upon the next news that I heard was, that we
and steadily advanced in it. He saw that, if he were all sent for again; and that her majesty's
acted in obedience to general rules, he ought pleasure was, we all should have parts in the buneither to desert the queen, or to bereave himself siness; and the lords falling into distribution of
of the power to do good. If, not adhering to ge- our parts, it was allotted to me, that I should set
neral rules, he exercised his own understanding forth some undutiful carriage of my lord, in giving
upon the particular circumstances of the case, he occasion and countenance to a seditious pamphlet,
saw that, by yielding to popular feeling, he might as it was termed, which was dedicated unto him,
gain momentary applause, might leave Essex to which was the book before mentioned of King
a merciless opponent, and, by depriving himself Henry IV. Whereupon I replied to that allotof all influence over the queen, might sacrifice his ment, and said to their lordships, That it was an
friend at the foot of the throne. old matter, and had no manner of coherence with
He therefore wrote instantly to the queen, and, the rest of the charge, being matters of Ireland:
by this sagacious and determined conduct, having and therefore, that I having been wronged by
at once defeated the stratagems by which it was bruits before, this would expose me to them more;
vainly hoped that he would be entangled, he, re- and it would be said I gave in evidence mine own
gardless of the senseless clamour of those who tales. It was answered again with good shew,
praise they know not what, and know not whom; that because it was considered howI stood tied to
of those who could neither be put in possession my lord of Essex, therefore that part was thought
of his real sentiments towards Essex, or the pri- fittest for me, which did him least hurt; for that
vate communications on his behalf with the queen, whereas all the rest was matter of charge and acwent right onward with his own, and the appro- cusation, this only was but matter of caveat and
bation of intelligence. admonition. Wherewith, though I was in mine
The following is Bacon's o-wn account of this own mind little satisfied, because I knew well a
extraordinary event:-And then did some princi- man were better to be charged with some faults,
pal counsellors send for us of the learned counsel, than admonished of some others; yet the concluand notify her majesty's pleasure unto us: save sion binding upon the queen's pleasure directly,
that it was said to me openly by one of them, that; volens nolens,' I could not avoid that part that
her majesty was not yet resolved whether she was laid upon me."I
would have me fcrborns in the business or no. On the 5th June, 1600, this trial took place.
And hereupon might arise that other sinister and It was marked by the same indecision that had
untrue speech, that I hear, is raised of me, how I characterized the whole of t':e queen's conduct.
was a suitor to be used against my lord of Essex To give effect to her wishes that Essex should
at that time; for it is very true, that I that knew be censured, not sentenced, each man had his
well what had passed between the queen and me, part allotted; and lest this mark of her disappro
and what occasion I had given her both of dis- bation should hereafter be urged against him, she
taste and distrust in crossing her disposition, by commanded that no official record should be kept
standing steadfastly for my lord of Essex, and of the proceedings, that he might not be rendered
suspecting it also to be a stratagem arising from incapable of bearing office in her household.
some particular emulation, I writ to her two or three, See Bacon's Apology, vol. ii. p. 339.