The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LIFE OF BACON. xvr
The queen having been coldly received by the health visibly declined, and the last blow was
citizens, after the death of Essex, or moved by given to her by some disclosure made on the
some other cause, was desirous that a full state- death-bed of the Countess of Nottingham. Vament should be made of the whole course of his rious rumours have arisen regarding this intertreasons, and commanded Bacon to prepare it. view, and the cause of the queen's grief; but the
He says, "1 Her majesty taking a liking of my pen, fatal result has never been doubted. From that
upon that which I had done before, concerning the day, refusing the aid of medicine, or food, or rest,
proceeding at York House, and likewise upon she sat upon the floor of her darkened chamber,
some other- declarations, which in former times and gave herself up to the most unrestrained sorby her appointment I put in writing, commanded row. The spirit that had kept aworld inawe was
me to pen that book, which was published for the utterly prostrate; and, after a splendid and prosbetter satisfaction of the world: which I did but so perous reign of forty-five years, desolate, afflictas never secretary had more particular and ex- ed, and weary of existence, she lingered till the
press directions and instructions in every point, 24th of March, 1603, on which day she died.
how to guide my hand in it: and not only so, but Bacon's respect for the queen was more maniafter that I had made a first draught thereof, and fested after her death, and even after his own
propounded it to certain principal councillors, by death, than during her life.
her majesty's appointment, it was perused, weigh- In one of his wills he desires, that, whatever
ed, censured, altered, and made almost a new part of his manuscripts may be destroyed, his euwriting, according to their lordships' better con- logy " In feliciem memoriam Elizabethae" may
sideration: wherein their lordships and myself be preserved and published: and, soon after the
both were as religious and curious of truth, as accession of James to the throne, he thus speaks
desirous of satisfaction: and myself indeed gave of the queen.
only words and form of style in pursuing ", She was a princess that, if Plutarch were now
their direction. And after it had passed their al- alive to write lives by parallels, would trouble
lowance, it was again exactly perused by the him, I think, to find for her a parallel amongst
queen herself, and some alterations made again women. This lady was endued with learning in
by her appointment; after it was set to print, the her sex singular and rare, even amongst mascuqueen, who, as she was excellentin great matters, line princes; whether we speak of learning, lanso she was exquisite in small, noted that I could guage, or of science, modern or hncient, divinity
not forget my ancient respect to my Lord of or humanity: and, unto the very last year of her
Essex, in terming him ever my Lord of Essex, life, she was accustomed to appoint set hours for
my Lord of Essex almost in every page of the reading, scarcely any young student in an univerbook, which she tholight not fit, but would have sity more daily or more duly. As for her governit made, Essex, or the'ate Earl of Essex: where- ment, I assure myself, I shall not exceed, if I
upon of force it was printed de novo, and the first do affirm that this part of the island never had
copies suppressed by her peremptory command- forty-five years of better times, and yet not through
ment." He concludes the whole with these the calmness of the season, but through the wiswords; "Had I been as well believed either by the dom of her regimen. For if there be considered
queen or by my lord, as I was well heard. by them of the one side, the truth of religion established;
both, both my lord had been fortunate, and so the constant peace and security; the good admihad myself in his fortune." nistration of justice; the temperate use of the preHappier would it have been for the queen, and rogative, not slackened, nor much strained; the
her ill-fated favourite, had they listened to his flourishing state of learning, suitable to so excelwarning voice. Essex paid the forfeiture of his lent a patroness; the convenient estate of wealth
unrestrained passions by the stroke of the axe, and means, both of crown and subject; the habit
but Elizabeth suffered the lingering torture of a of obedience, and the moderation of discontents;
broken heart. the offended majesty of England and there be considered, on the other side, the
triumphed, she "L queened it nobly," but the en- differences of religion, the troubles of neighbour
venomed asp was in her bosom; she sunk under countries, the ambition of Spain and opposition of
the consciousness of abused confidence, of ill-be- Rome; and then that she was solitary and of herstowed favours, of unrequited affection: the very self; these things, I say, considered, I could not
springs of kindness were poisoned: suspicious have chosen a more remarkable instance of the
of all around her, and openly deserted by those conjunction of learning in the prince, with felicity
who hastened to pay court to her successor, her in the people."