LADY BACON'S WRATH. 149 promptly and severely :-" Though I pity your brother (Anthony), yet so long as he pities not himself, but keepeth that bloody Perez, yea, as a coach companion, and as a bed companion; a proud, profane, costly fellow, whose being about him, I verily fear, the Lord God doth mislike, and doth less bless your brother in credit and otherwise in his health; surely I am utterly discouraged, and make conscience farther to undo myself, to maintain such wretches as he is, that never loved your brother, but for his own credit living upon him." Lady Ann Bacon, with all her acumen and scholarship, cannot see the policy Anthony Bacon is playing. He takes Standen and Perez to his bosom because they are his useful instruments. Like many women in similar plight, she abuses him for what she sees, not without reason. Anthony is still in great straits for money, and has applied to his mother again to make some sacrifice for them. Why should she undo herself for two such thriftless prodigals-for such a scapegrace, keeping such godless company as Anthony? Poor Lady Ann! it is too true, and yet you are a mother, and perforce while protesting, commit the folly you so severely deprecate. You have already taken steps in it, and yet their ingratitude is past belief and very discouraging. These two astute men of the world, lawyer and statesman, do not obtain the reward of their desert. Many fools succeed better, nay, indeed, it is likely if they had been but fools they would have succeeded, and would not now be eating up your patrimony while you live— eating you piecemeal, a mouthful at a time, not the less surely, that there is delay between each bite. They would 150 THE PLAGUE IN LONDON. not have kept company with such rake-helly ruffians, such godless villains. Ah, Lady Ann! genius and great gifts are often a sore inheritance. During 1592, the Queen has visited Sir Edward Hoby, who lives with his mother, Lady Elizabeth Russell, Lady Bacon's younger sister, at Bisham, in Berkshire, about two miles from Henley. Sir Edward Hoby has also derived some genius from his mother and from her education. He is a distinguished orator in the Commons. He is the friend of the learned Camden, who thinks so highly of him as to dedicate his Hibernia' to him. Lady Russell had only one son by her second husband, John Lord Russell, named Francis, either after his grandfather Francis, Earl of Bedford, or after his cousin Francis Bacon, most probably the former: we have seen that the Bacons, who were invited, were unable to attend, being both too unwell. There, as usual, there are masques, tilting, and all kinds of games. In September of the same year she visited Oxford; and installed in that seat of learning is a Mr. Henry Cuffe, Greek professor of the University, whom we shall meet again by-and-by. Her Majesty is at Hampton Court. The plague is in London, and in November killed a page of Lady Scroop, who is one of the ladies of the queen's bedchamber. There Royalty will keep Christmas; so that how Francis spends his time this Christmas we cannot tell. The Queen holds revels at Hampton Court on New Year's Day, and Thomas Churchyard, the poet, who is in favour now at court, and who is another hanger-on of the Earl of Essex, has been cudgelling his brains this month past to provide and shape verses for her Majesty's delectation. CHURCHYARD'S VERSE. 151 He it is, and not Spenser, who once had to complain that "You bid your treasurer on a time He gave me neither rhyme nor reason." Poor Tom Churchyard is no great wit. He has stolen the idea of rhyme and reason in antithesis from Sir Thomas More; and as your apparel does not always fit your true thief, has not made good use of the stolen raiment. It is quaint old Fuller that says a man should measure his mouth before he steals other men's words, to see if they will fit; and Churchyard, as an old practitioner, should be wiser in his generation. But if he is no wit and no poet, he is far better, he is a lucky man. William Shakspere, the Divine, the foremost man in all the world, who has created a literature that shall see the great globe itself roll down the steep of time before it ceases to be, is working laboriously for the "groundlings "-a Samson grinding corn for the Philistines; while Thomas Churchyard makes verses for royalty; is, in a sort, poet-laureate. Francis Bacon is not yet so fortunate as he-he is still under the cloud of her Majesty's displeasure; living at his chambers in Gray's Inn, where he most probably ate his Christmas dinner, joining in the Gray's Inn revels on New Year's day and Twelfth Night. At this time Gray's Inn is the most famous of the inns of court, having twice as many students as the Inner or Middle Temple, and is very prodigal and boisterous at all 152 ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT. festive seasons, being in great favour with her Majesty for its brave shows and masques. In January, while Bacon sits reading, or is at his crucibles, a letter comes from the Lord Keeper Puckering, to say to-morrow the Queen will nominate officers in law, and that he, the Lord Keeper, not wishing that Mr. Bacon should be ignorant, now apprises him that he had better see my Lord of Essex to-morrow, Friday, the 18th. Mr. Francis Bacon posts off to court; but lo! the Queen only nominates a judge of the Common Pleas, and a baron of the Exchequer, and is told by the Earl kindly, that he will look after his interest; that nothing will be done till Easter Term at least; and he will be the first to apprise Mr. Bacon. On Monday, the 28th, the Earl of Essex takes Mr. Standen aside at court, and laying his hand on his shoulder, tells him that he again interceded yesterday with the Queen for Mr. Francis Bacon, but that she still answered, on the youth and small experience" of Mr. Francis Bacon. 66 During this month, a Dr. Lopez, a Portuguese physician, is arrested on suspicion of an attempt to poison Elizabeth. The Earl of Essex has made himself very busy therein, as his royal mistress thinks without good cause, calling him a "rash and temerarious youth," which so vexes the proud and hasty earl, that he shuts himself from her for two days. Among Bacon's works will be found his account of Don Lopez's treason, and all its vile purports, which, however, does not seem to be very important, so that this is probably one part of Bacon's labour during the months of February and March. On the 3rd of February the Earl tells Mr. Standen to call on him at eleven BACON'S FIRST GREAT BRIEF. 153 at night; and he then confides to him that Mr. Francis Bacon has been arguing a case (at last) in the Queen's Bench, and that he has been much pleased with his arguments; and that the queen has been made acquainted with the matter, but that she has been much moved to appoint Sir Edward Coke to be her attorney-general, and to nominate Sir Robert Cecil and Sir Edward Stafford to be her secretaries of state. Lopez had been at last committed to the Tower, and Essex and Robert Cecil are appointed to examine him. They return home in a coach from that place together, not ill pleased with their mission, for they have discovered quite enough by his confession to prove him guilty. On their journey, subtle Sir Robert Cecil, the stiff, precise, high-shouldered, methodical man of business, with the busy, energetic, bustling, yet repressed air, and the compressed mouth, commences a conversation, in spite of the shakings and rumbling of the springless vehicle, with the Earl. He pauses a little, and then breaks out suddenly, and with an effort, "My lord, the Queen has resolved, ere five days pass, without any further delay, to make an attorney-general. I pray your lordship to let me know whom you will favour." The wily secretary in posse would seem to help my Lord of Essex, and as though he were not already aware that Essex was moving heaven and earth to gain the place for his client. The Earl answers that he wonders at his asking such a question, "for resolutely against all whomsoever he stood for Francis Bacon." "Good lord," replies Sir Robert, "I wonder your lordship should go about and waste your time on so un |