revive a deed of long date, and confirm with my truest-hearted intent; only I beseech you to recommend me, where I know you will, as I will you, to all the best and worthiest fortunes, which your exceeding noble virtues may most justly claim."

Mr. Bacon having procured a commission from the Earl of Essex, sent it to Sir Anthony Sherley, but the latter, disliking it, returned it to Mr. Bacon with a letter, on the 3rd of April, in which he observed, that the confidence he had in that gentleman's judgment and love, made him send back that commission, desiring him to consider of it, and redeliver it to the giver. "For if," says he, "I desired a commission from my lord of Essex, it was to furnish me with authority to govern this heap of confused people, which I have here gathered together, that are more subject than any people to fall into extreme disorders; in which point you shall find me not at all assisted. And then, for increase of credit, which men that have commissions ordinarily assume from them, you shall find me so scanted by my title for myself, and so restrained for my friends which go with me, that, if I receive it, I must either diminish unto them the place which I have given them, or else equal others to mine, since, by my commission, I am restrained to one regiment, and I have already divided my companies into two. Sir,

I have told you how much I have been afflicted for the opinion of my lord of Essex's coldness towards me, only for the truth of mine own zeal and affection towards him, which I do find so far from respect, that it is not only heavy to my mind, but to my fortune, which receive no manner of grace from him. I have found, since my coming, my business thwarted by the mayor, and hindered by other devices, as much as malice and such authority could. I have cried out to my lord, I have implored his letters; and I have not received one so much as unto myself, but only this poor commission, which doth but diminish the reputation of what I am. Wherefore, as I first said unto you, the assured knowledge which I have of your wisdom and affection to me, makes me bold to send it unto you, to be re-delivered to my lord of Essex, in such terms as I know you are furnished with, both fit for him and for me." In the postscript, he desires Mr. Bacon not to urge the Earl for any other commission, since he would content himself with what grace he could do himself. The same day, the Earl himself wrote the following letter to Sir Anthony Sherley, from Dover, whither his lordship had been sent by the Queen, upon the Archduke Albert's having laid siege to Calais, after a feint march to the relief of La Fere. "Cousin, the

news of the siege of Calais hath made me be posted down to this place, whence I have sent Sir Conyers Clifford, to see whether he can go in and see the state of the town. And I have also sent a gentleman to Boulogne, to see what means they do prepare on that side to succour Calais. I do look for an answer from both places by to-morrow morning, and on Monday will return to Greenwich, from whence I will send you some money the next day. For if I had had but one hour more of stay at London, I had furnished you; but upon Wednesday you shall hear from me at the farthest. I pray you send me word, both hither and to the court, in what forwardness you are, for my stay here is uncertain. And so wishing to you as to myself, I rest your most affectionate cousin, Essex."

The zeal which Mr. Bacon had shown in Sir Anthony Sherley's business, induced Sir Thomas Sherley, his father, to write him a letter of thanks on that account, dated from Whitefriars, on the 4th of April, 1596, inclosing one from his son to himself, expressing his great obligations to Mr. Bacon, whom Sir Thomas professed to honour, and to reverence his virtues. The next day, Sir Anthony wrote another letter from Southampton to Mr. Bacon, by a gentleman, whom he sent to him about two things,

which concerned the effecting of his business. And on the 9th of April, a commission was sent to Sir Anthony from the two generals, the Earl of Essex and the Lord Admiral, empowering him to levy, arm, &c. men not exceeding the number of one thousand five hundred, and appointing him captain and commander of all such ships and vessels, as were set forth, at the charge of Sir Thomas Sherley, her Majesty's treasurer at war, and Sir Anthony Sherley, in the designed expedition. Sir Anthony was still at Southampton on the 12th of April, when he wrote to Mr. Bacon, that he had heard that the Earl's great journey was shortened to Calais, and that he hoped by this means his own voyage should receive liberty to proceed; recommending to Mr. Bacon his brother Croftes, whose advancement in honour he desired as a large increase to his own fortune. "My absence," says he, "from him, from whom it should be derived, next to his own worth, makes me run to your favour, as the relieving sanctuary of all that troubles me." In the postscript, he added, that he had just received a letter from his brother Croftes, mentioning the sickness of the Lady Cheyney; on which account, he requested Mr. Bacon to strengthen that gentleman's resolution to stay with her, and to give him probable assurance by the Earl's love to her, favour to Sir Anthony, and good disposition to

C

Mr. Croftes, that though the present act of honour be deferred, yet it should not fail.*

The commission being at length completed, Sir Anthony proceeded on his voyage; a brief narration of which is given in Hackluyt, in the following words.

"A true relation of the Voyage undertaken by Sir Anthony Sherley, Knt. Anno 1596, intended for the Isle of St. Tomè, but performed to St. Jago, Dominica, Margarita, along the coast of Terra Firma, &c.

"We arrived at Plymouth the 29th April, where we found the Right Honble the Earl of Essex ready for the attempt of his Cadiz action, with whom our general left three ships, and five hundred soldiers, well victualled and furnished. So, the 21st May, we departed from Plymouth with the Bevis, the Gallion, the George, the George Noble, the Wolf, and the Galley. On the 27th May, came in sight of the coast of Spain, thence passed in sight of the coast of Barbary, and came to Magasant, where the Spaniards have a garrison. Bending their course to the Canary Isles to water, the Galley lost her rudder. Having

*Birch's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 455.