it was soon resumed. But just now Bacon felt that all the world was
against him. He would retire "out of the sunshine into the shade." One
friend only encouraged him. He did more. He helped him when Bacon most
wanted help, in his straitened and embarrassed "estate." Essex, when he
could do nothing more, gave Bacon an estate worth at least L1800.
Bacon's resolution is recorded in the following letter:

"IT MAY PLEASE YOUR GOOD LORDSHIP,--I pray God her Majesty's
weighing be not like the weight of a balance, _gravia deorsum levia
sursum_. But I am as far from being altered in devotion towards
her, as I am from distrust that she will be altered in opinion
towards me, when she knoweth me better. For myself, I have lost
some opinion, some time, and some means; this is my account; but
then for opinion, it is a blast that goeth and cometh; for time, it
is true it goeth and cometh not; but yet I have learned that it may
be redeemed. For means, I value that most; and the rather, _because
I am purposed not to follow the practice of the law_ (_if her
Majesty command me in any particular, I shall be ready to do her
willing service_); and my reason is only, _because it drinketh too
much time, which I have dedicated to better purposes_. But even for
that point of estate and means, I partly lean to Thales' opinion,
That a philosopher may be rich if he will. Thus your Lordship seeth
how I comfort myself; to the increase whereof I would fain please
myself to believe that to be true which my Lord Treasurer writeth;
which is, that it is more than a philosopher morally can disgest.
But without any such high conceit, I esteem it like the pulling out
of an aching tooth, which, I remember, when I was a child, and had
little philosophy, I was glad of when it was done. For your
Lordship, I do think myself more beholding to you than to any man.
And I say, I reckon myself as a _common_ (not popular but
_common_); and as much as is lawful to be enclosed of a common, so
much your Lordship shall be sure to have.--Your Lordship's to obey
your honourable commands, more settled than ever."

It may be that, as Bacon afterwards maintained, the closing sentences of
this letter implied a significant reserve of his devotion. But during
the brilliant and stormy years of Essex's career which followed, Bacon's
relations to him cont