The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

DECLARATION OF THE TREASON OF ROBERT, EARL OF ESSEX. 349t
he sought to discountenance any one that might thirst he did affect and compass the government
be a competitor to him in any part of that great- of Ireland, which he did obtain. For although
ness, that with great violence and bitterness he he made some formal shows to put it from him;
sought to suppress and keep down all the yet in this, as in most things else, his desires
worthiest martial men, which did not appropriate being too strong for his dissimulations, he did so
their respects and acknowledgments only to- far pass the bounds of decorum, as he did in effect
wards himself. All which did manifestly detect name himself to the queen by such description
and distinguish, that it was not the reputation of and such particularities as could not be applied
a famous leader in the wars which he sought, as to any other but himself; neither did he so only,
it was construed a great while, but only power but, farther, he was still at hand to offer and urge
and greatness to serve his own ends, considering vehemently and peremptorily exceptions to any
he never loved virtue nor valour in another, but other that was named.
where he thought he should be proprietary and Then, after he once found that there was no man
commander of it, as referred to himself. but himself, who had other matters in his head,
So likewise those points of popularity which so far-in love with that charge, as to make any
every man took notice and note of, as his affable competition or opposition to his pursuit, whereby
gestures, open doors, making his table and his bed he saw it would fall upon him, and especially
so popularly places of audience to suitors, deny- after himself was resolved upon; he began to
ing nothing when he did nothing, feeding many make propositions to her majesty by way of taxamen in their discontentments against the queen tion of the former course held in managing the
and the state, and the like; as they were ever actions of Ireland, especially upon three points;
since Absalom's time the forerunners of treasons the first, that the proportions of forces which had
following, so in him were they either the qualities been there maintained and continued by supplies,
of a nature disposed to disloyalty, or the be- were not sufficient to bring the prosecutions there
ginnings and conceptions of that which after- to period. The second, that the axe had not
wards grew to shape and form. been put to the root of the tree, in regard there
But as it were a vain thing to think to search had not been made a main prosecution upon the
the roots and first motions of treasons, which are arch-traitor, Tyrone, in his own strength, within
known to none but God that discerns the heart, the province of Ulster. The third, that the proseand the devil that gives the instigation; so it is cutions before time had been intermixed and intermore than to be presumed, being made apparent rupted with too many temporizing treaties, whereby the evidence of all the events following, that by the rebel did ever gather strength and reputahe carried into Ireland a heart corrupted in his tion to renew the war with advantage. All which
allegiance, and pregnant of those or the like trea- goodly and well-sounding discourses, together
sons which afterwards came to light. with the great vaunts, that he would make the
For being a man by nature of a high imagina- earth tremble before him, tended but to this, that
tion, and a great promiser to himself as well as to the queen should increase the list of her army,
others, he was confident that if he were once the and all proportions of treasure and other furniture,
first person in a kingdom, and a sea between the to the end his commandment might be the greater.
queen's seat and his, and Wales the nearest land For that he never intended any such prosecution,
from Ireland, and that he had got the flower of may appear by this, that even at the time before
the English forces into his hands, which he his going into Ireland, he did open himself so far
thought so to intermix with his own followers, in speech to Blunt, his inwardest counsellor,
as the whole body should move by his spirit, and, That he did assure himself that many of the
if he might have also absolutely into his own rebels in Ireland would be advised by him:" so
hands 1"potestatem vita et necis, et arbitrium far was he from intending any prosecution towards
belli et pacis," over the rebels of Ireland, where- those in whom he took himself to have interest.
by he might entice and make them his own, first But his ends were two; the one, to get great
by pardons and conditions, and after by hopes to forces into his hands; the other, to oblige the
bring them in place where they should serve for heads of the rebellion unto him, and to make
hope of better booties than cows, he should be them of his party. These two ends had in themable to make that place of lieutenancy of Ireland selves a repugnancy; for the one imported proseas a rise or step to ascend to his desired greatness cution, and the other treaty: but he that meant
in England. to be too strong to be called to account for any
And although many of these conceits were thing, and meant besides, when he was once in
windy, yet neither were they the less like to his; Ireland, to engage himself in other journeys that
neither are they now only probable conjectures or should hinder the prosecution in the north, took
comments upon these his last treasons, but the things in order as they made for him; and so first
very preludes of actions almost immediately sub- did nothing, as was said, but trumpet a final and
sequent, as shall be touched in due place. utter prosecution against Tyrone in the north, te
But, first, it was strange with what appetite and the end, to have his forces augmented.
2 G