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tified at the ill success of his suit, the failure of which had perhaps in some measure been due to his own want of judgement in pressing it. Lady Bacon said truly, ‘though the Earl showed great affection, he marred all with violent courses.’ But he generously resolved that his friend should not be altogether a loser by his friendship. The relation between them at this juncture is excellently expressed by Mr. Spedding. ‘In the account between him and Bacon the obligation was not all on one side. Bacon owed him much for his friendship, trust, and eager endeavours to serve him. He owed Bacon much, not only for affection and zeal, but for time and pains gratuitously spent in his affairs. These he had done his best to requite in the best way—namely by advancing him in his profession; but having failed, he (not unnaturally) desired to make him some reparation.’ ‘You shall not deny,’ said Essex, ‘to accept a piece of land which I will bestow upon you.’ Bacon declined, but the Earl insisted, and what followed must be told in Bacon’s own words, because it shows in what light he viewed the respective duties of citizenship and friendship, and how fixed a principle it was with him that, like Pericles, he could only be a friend usque ad aras, so far, that is, aS was consistent with higher obligations. After in vain endeavouring to persuade Essex not to imitate the Duke of Guise and turn his estate into obligations, he said, ‘My Lord, I see I must be your homager and hold land of your gift: but do you know the manner of doing homage in law? Always it is with a saving of his faith to the King and his other lords: and therefore, my Lord’ (said I), ‘I can be no more yours than I was, and it must be with the ancient savings.’ It looks as if Bacon already foresaw that the impetuous rashness of Essex might at some time place him in such a position that the lower duty would have to give way before the higher. How strongly he felt this is shown by the closing sentence ot a letter to the Earl, which is very properly assigned to this period of his life, and carries with it a warning sound. ‘1 reckon myself as a common (not popular, but common); and as much as is lawful to be enclosed of a common, so much your