n unfounded. It was often by the express, though
secret, request of Burleigh that he formed these connexions; and he had
frequently supplied this minister with important articles of
intelligence procured from such persons, with whom it was by no means
unusual to perform the office of spy to England and to Spain
alternately, or even to both at the same time. At length, the urgency of
his friends and the clamors of his mother, whose protestant zeal,
setting a sharper edge on a temper naturally keen, prompted her to
employ expressions of great violence, compelled him, after many delays,
to quit the continent; and in the beginning of 1592 he returned to his
native country. His miserable state of health, from the gout and other
disorders which rendered him a cripple for life, prevented his
encountering the fatigues of the usual court attendance: yet he lost no
time in procuring a seat in parliament; and his close connexion with the
Cecils, joined to the opinion entertained of his political talents,
seems to have excited a general expectation of his rising to high
importance in the state. But he was not long in discovering, that for
some unknown reason the lord treasurer was little his friend; and
offended at the coolness with which his secret intelligence from
numerous foreign correspondents was received by this minister and his
son, in their joint capacity of secretaries of state, he was easily
prevailed upon to address himself to Essex.

The earl had by this time learned, that there was no surer mode of
recommending himself to her majesty, and persuading her of his
extraordinary zeal for her service, than to provide her with a constant
supply of authentic and early intelligence from the various countries of
Europe, on which she kept a vigilant and jealous eye. He was accordingly
occupied in establishing news-agents in every quarter, and the opportune
offers of Anthony Bacon were accepted by him with the utmost eagerness.
A connexion was immediately established between them, which ripened with
time into so confidential an intimacy, that in 1595 the earl prevailed
on Mr. Bacon to accept of apartments in Essex-house, which he continued
to occupy till commanded by her majesty to quit them on the breaking out
of the last rash enterprise of his patron.

Struck with the boundless affection manifested by Anthony towards his
brother, with whom he had established an entire community of interests,
Essex now espoused with more warmth