le protection from his powerful relations, that he had not
yet obtained any preferment in the law, which was his profession. But
Essex, who could distinguish merit, and who passionately loved it, had
entered into an intimate friendship with Bacon; had zealously attempted,
though without success, to procure him the office of solicitor-general;
and in order to comfort his friend under the disappointment, had
conferred on him a present of land to the value of eighteen hundred
pounds.[*] The public could ill excuse Bacon's appearance before the
council against so munificent a benefactor; though he acted in obedience
to the queen's commands: but she was so well pleased with his behavior,
that she imposed on him a new task, of drawing a narrative of that day's
proceedings, in order to satisfy the public of the justice and lenity of
her conduct. Bacon, who wanted firmness of character more than humanity,
gave to the whole transaction the most favorable turn for Essex; and, in
particular, painted out, in elaborate expression, the dutiful submission
which that nobleman discovered in the defence that he made for his
conduct. When he read the paper to her, she smiled at that passage,
and observed to Bacon, that old love, she saw, could not easily be
forgotten. He replied, that he hoped she meant that of herself.[**]

All the world, indeed, expected that Essex would soon be reinstated in
his former credit;[***] perhaps, as is usual in reconcilements founded
on inclination, would acquire an additional ascendant over the queen,
and after all his disgraces would again appear more a favorite than
ever.

* Cabala, p. 78.

** Cabala, p. 83.

*** Winwood, vol i. p. 254., Birch's Memoirs, vol. ii p.
462.

They were confirmed in this hope, when they saw that, though he was
still prohibited from appearing at court, he was continued in his office
of master of horse, and was restored to his liberty, and that all his
friends had access to him. Essex himself seemed determined to persevere
in that conduct which had hitherto been so successful, and which the
queen, by all this discipline, had endeavored to render habitual to him:
he wrote to her, that he kissed her majesty's hands, and the rod with
which she had corrected him; but that he could never recover his wonted
cheerfulness, till she deigned to admit him to that presence which had
ever been the chief source of his happiness and enjoyment: and that he
had now resol