Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

AXD HIS SECRET SOCIETY. 71
Apologises abjectly to the Queen about his speech on the subsidy.
" The young patriot condescended to make the most abject apologies;
. . . he bemoaned himself to the Lord Keeper, in a letter which
may keep in countenance the most unmanly of the epistles which
Cicero wrote during his banishment. The lesson was not thrown
away. Bacon never offended in the same manner again.' 11 (Macaulay,
Essays, pp. 303-4.)
" The Queen was deeply incensed, and desired it to be intimated
to the delinquent . . . that he must never look to her
for favour or promotion. An eloquent eulogist says that ' he
heard them with the calmness of a philosopher,' but his answers
shoiv that he teas struck with repentance and remorse, and that, in
the hope of obtaining pardon, he plainly intimated that he should
never repeat the offence.' 1 ''
(Campbell, p. 23.)
" His compunction for his opposition to the subsidy." {lb. 24.)
Does not offer any apology to tlie Queen about his speech on the
subsidy.
The letter is extant and contains not a word of apology.
" This letter is a justification and no apology. 11 (Spedding, L.
L. i. 233.)
"It is worthy of note that, among the many expressions of
regret at the royal displeasure, there is no record of any apology
tendered by Bacon for his speech." (Abbott, int. to Essays, i.
xxix.)
See also the polite but independent letter which Bacon wrote
not long afterwards to the Queen herself, ignoring the obnoxious
matter of the speech, and applying directly to
the Queen's service. (Spedding, L. L. i. p. 240.)
be employed in
His speech charging tEssex, and his connection tvith the trial,
condemned as perfidious and unpardonable.
" The lamentable truth must be told. This friend, so loved,
so trusted, bore a principal part in ruining the Earl 7 s fortunes, in
shedding his blood, and in blackening his character, 11 etc. (Macaulay's
Essay.)