Bacon himself appears to have remained passive. He had not been at Court during the month, and the only letters of his which have been preserved relate to other matters. His patience was in fact wearing out, as well it might. "Touching my brother," Anthony writes to his mother on the 17th of May, "we are both resolute that in case he be not placed betwixt this and the next term, never to make any more words of it."1 And I think it probable that he would really have taken this occasion to cast himself loose and fulfil the resolution intimated in his letter to Essex of the 30th of March, if the Queen (who meant to punish but not to lose him) had not contrived to renew his lease of patience by employing him in a service of importance. But before I come to this I must give his two next letters, which sufficiently explain themselves. Mr. Conisby, FRANCIS BACON TO MR. CONISBY.2 There is remaining, as I think you know, at Mr. Holiland's house at Northall (?), a near kinsman of mine, Mr. Robert Bacon, who hath received sundry unneighbourly and contentious usages by one Huit, a dweller in the same town. Huit hath uttered both threatening and reproachful speeches towards him; and some other lewd persons, by his instigation as it is thought, have offered sundry quarrelsome and despiteful abuses to him; in which regard, though I am [my]self but a stranger unto you, yet because I know your father was beholding to my father, I did assure myself that at my 3 of request you would deserve my friendship in taking some pains to examine such disorders and take order, by the good behaviour or otherwise, that my kinsman may live in better quiet, being I know of so honest and civil a disposition as he will justly provoke no man. And this I heartily pray you to do, as a matter which I would accept as done to myself, and being accordingly ready to requite in any occasion of yours. And so good Mr. Conisbie, in some haste I desire your further acquaintance, and commit you to God. From Gray's Inn, this 17th of May, 1594. Your very loving friend, FR. BACON. 1 Lambeth MSS. 650. 124. 2 Lambeth MSS. 650. 228. Copy: docketed, "Copie de la lre. de Mons' Francois Bacon a Mons' Conisbie, en l'endroit de Mons' Robert Bacon, le 17me de May, 1594." 3 Blank left in MS. FRANCIS BACON TO HIS MOTHER.' My humble duty remembered, I was sorry to understand by Goodman Gotheram that your Ladyship did find any weakness; which I hope was but caused by the season and weather, which waxeth more hot and faint. I was not sorry, I assure your Ladyship, that you came not up, in regard that the stirring at this time of year, and the place where you should be not being very open nor fresh, mought rather hurt your Ladyship than otherwise. And for anything to be passed to Mr. Trot, such is his kindness as he demandeth it not; and therefore as I am to thank your Ladyship for your willingness, so it shall not be needful but upon such an occasion as may be without your trouble; which [may] the rather be because I purpose, God willing, to run down, and it be but for a day, to visit your Ladyship and to do my duty to you. In the meantime I pray your Ladyship, as you have done the part of a good Christian and saint of God in the comfortable preparing for your end, so nevertheless I pray deny not your body the due, nor your children and friends and the Church of God which hath use of you, but that you enter not into further conceit than is cause, and withal use all the comforts and helps that are good for your health and strength. In truth I heard Sir John Scidmore often complain, after his quartain had left him, that he found such a heaviness and swelling, specially under his ribs, that he thought he was buried under earth half from the waist; and therefore that accident is but incident. Thus I commend your Ladyship to God's good preservation. From Gray's Inn, this 9th of June, 1594. Your Ladyship's most obedient son, FR. BACON. It may be I shall have occasion, because nothing is yet done in the choice of a Solicitor, to visit the Court this vacation; which I have not done this month's space: in which respect, because carriage [of] stuff to and fro spoileth it, I would be glad of that light bed of striped stuff which your Ladyship hath, if you have not otherwise disposed it. 1 Lambeth MSS. 650. 140. Copy: docketed, "Copie de la lre. de Mons" Francois Bacon a Madame, le 9me de Juin, 1594." FROM the postscript of the last letter, it is clear that up to that time, which was the end of the first week in Trinity Term, the Queen had not held out any positive encouragement to Bacon, nor done anything to sweeten his disappointment. She did not think fit however to try him with another long vacation passed in total eclipse, lest his hope should go quite out; which was not her intention. Before the term was over therefore, she let a ray from the light of her countenance fall upon him. The conspiracy of Lopez had been detected; himself and his two confederates had been tried, found guilty, and after remaining for three months under sentence of death, at last executed. But there were more conspiracies behind, the bottom of which had not yet been fathomed. The authors and contrivers did not themselves venture within reach, but corresponded with some persons in the north of England; their plot being to procure the assassination of the Queen, and at the same instant to raise a rebellion. Two of the parties to this correspondence—Henry Walpole and Edward Lyngen—had been taken and sent up to London, where they had already undergone several examinations. On the 13th of June, Lyngen was examined again in the Tower,-I think for the fifth time; and on this occasion Bacon's name appears among the signatures. It seems therefore that though the Queen still refused to speak with him, she had at last relented so far as to employ him; a fact of the more importance because I find no evidence of his having been employed before in any service of this nature. Other signs of relenting she showed in speeches to his friends, witness the following letter from Foulke Greville. 1 State Paper Office: Domestic, 1594. April 27; May 3 and 18; June 4. FOULKE GREVILLE TO FRANCIS BACON.1 Mr. Francis Bacon, Saturday was my first coming to the Court, from whence I departed again as soon as I had kiss 1 her Majesty's hands, because I had no lodging nearer than my uncle's, which is four miles off. This day I came thither to dinner, and waiting for to speak with the Queen, took occasion to tell how I met you as I passed through London; and among other speeches 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. I added what I thought of your worth, and the expectation for all this that the world had of her princely goodness towards you; which it pleased her Majesty to confess that indeed you began to frame very well, insomuch as she saw an amends in those little supposed errors, avowing the respect she carried to the dead, with very exceeding gracious inclination towards you. Some comparisons there fell out besides, which I leave till we meet, which I hope shall be this week. It pleased her withal to tell of the jewel you offered by Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, which she had refused, yet with exceeding praise. I marvelled that as a prince she would refuse those homages of poor subjects, because it did include a final sentence of despair; but either I deceive myself, or she was resolved to take it; and the conclusion was very kind and gracious. So as I will lay £100 to £50 that you shall be her Solicitor, and my friend; in which mind and for which mind I commend you to God and man. From the Court this Monday in haste, Your true friend to be commanded by you, We cannot tell whether she come to Hampton2 on Friday or stay here. I am much absent for want of lodging; wherein my own man hath only been to blame. Nor were these favourable symptoms altogether fallacious: for within two or three weeks after the date of this letter, we find Bacon endeavouring to borrow a sum of money to furnish him for a journey towards the north, which he was to undertake immediately, upon some important business of the Queen's; Anthony assisting him as usual with all his credit and interest, and offering to pledge his own estate as a security for the repayment of the loan.3 What this business was, is not expressly stated; but on comparing the time with the other circumstances before and after, I have no doubt that it related to this new conspiracy, the seat of which being somewhere in the north, it was necessary to send some one down to study it on the 1 Lambeth MSS. 650. 132. Original?: docketed, "le 17me de June, 1594." 2 Qy. whether Hampton or Haveringe? See his letters to Alderman Spencer of the 5th and 12th of July, 1594. Lambeth MSS. 649, f. 138. spot. Bacon set out on the 18th or 19th of July, but was stopped on his way; as we shall see. In the meantime I must not omit (though it is but a bye matter) two short letters of recommendation addressed on the 3rd of July to certain authorities in Oxford, in favour of a French gentleman, a friend of his brother's, who was going to see the Commemoration. The first is to the Provost of some College, not named, by whom he had been entertained there himself on some similar occasion. Mr. Provost,1 I have proved your friendly entertainment in myself so much as I doubt not to commend my friend unto you, especially a stranger, whom in courtesy and humanity his own condition commendeth. He is son to a personage that beareth great dignity in France, and whose father was familiar and officious (I speak it preserving the quality of the man) to my brother during his abode in those parts. And surely the young gentleman, by that I could perceive by an hour's entertaining discourse with him, hath much pretty variety of learning and an humour of a scholar. In which regard I know he will take much pleasure in your exercises there: which that he may do with the more ease and respect, I commend him again to your courtesy and care. The like I have written to Mr. Proctor who reigneth; and so with mine own hearty commendations I leave you to God's preservation. From Gray's Inn, in haste, the 3rd of July, 1594. Your friend in very good affection. His name is Mr. Gourgues. The other is to the Proctor, who reigned in 1594. Mr. Proctor,2 Since during your reign it is the hap of a friend of mine upon humour of curiosity to visit your University now in the blossoming time, I pray you show in one both your humanity towards a stranger of good birth and quality and your kindness towards myself. His father was in great conjunction of friendship with my brother during his abode in France. I pray you pour your office upon him, that he may be well placed and hear and see: 1 Lambeth MSS. 650. 154. Copy. Anthony Blencowe was Provost of Oriel, Henry Robinson of Queen's. 2 Lambeth MSS. 650. 155. Copy. |