rmy to the recovery of
Calais, now held by a Spanish garrison; and he took some secret steps
with the French ambassador in order to procure a request to this effect
from Henry IV. to Elizabeth. But this king absolutely refused to allow
the town to be recaptured by his ally, on the required condition of her
retaining it at the peace as an ancient possession of the English crown;
the Cecil party also opposed the design; and the disappointed general
saw himself compelled to pause in the career of glory.

It was not in the disposition of Essex to support these mortifications
with the calmness which policy appeared to dictate; and Francis Bacon,
alarmed at the courses which he saw the earl pursuing, and already
foreboding his eventual loss of the queen's favor, and the ruin of
those, himself included, who had placed their dependence on him,
addressed to him a very remarkable letter of caution and remonstrance,
not less characteristic of his own peculiar mind than illustrative of
the critical situation of him to whom it was written.

After appealing to the earl himself for the advantage which he had
lately received by following his own well-meant advice, in renewing with
the queen "a treaty of obsequious kindness," which "did much attemper a
cold malignant humor then growing upon her majesty towards him," he
repeats his counsel that he should "win the queen;" adding, "if this be
not the beginning of any other course, I see no end. And I will not now
speak of favor or affection, but of other correspondence and
agreeableness, which, when it shall be conjoined with the other of
affection, I durst wager my life... that in you she will come to
question of _Quid fiet homini quem rex vult honorare?_ But how is it
now? A man of a nature not to be ruled; that hath the advantage of my
affection and knoweth it; of an estate not grounded to his greatness; of
a popular reputation; of a military dependence. I demand whether there
can be a more dangerous image than this represented to any monarch
living, much more to a lady, and of her majesty's apprehension? And is
it not more evident than demonstration itself, that whilst this
impression continueth in her majesty's breast, you can find no other
condition than inventions to keep your estate bare and low; crossing and
disgracing your actions; extenuating and blasting of your merit;
carping with contempt at your nature and fashions; breeding, nourishing
and fortifying such instruments as ar