Of the REIGN of

QUEEN ELIZABETH,

From the Year 1581 till her DEATH.

IN WHICH

The SECRET INTRIGUES of her COURT,

And the CONDUCT of her FAVOURITE,

ROBERT Earl of ESSEX, both at Home and Abroad,

ARE PARTICULARLY ILLUSTRATED.

From the Original Papers of his intimate Friend,

ANTHONY

BACON, Efquire,

And other Manuscripts never before published.

By THOMAS BIRCH, D. D.

Rector of the United Parishes of St. Margaret Pattens and St. Gabriel Fenchurch, and Secretary of the ROYAL SOCIETY,

EPISTOLÆ magis in proximo, & ad vivum, negotia folent repræfentare, quam BACON. de Augm. Scient. 1. viii. cap. ii.

vel ANNALES vel VITE.

VOL. II.

LONDON,

Printed for A. MILLAR, in the STRAND.
MDCCLIV.

TO THE HONOURABLE CHARLES YORKE,

IN TESTIMONY OF THE REGARD

DUE TO HIS EXCELLENT AND AMIABLE QUALITIES,

AND FROM A JUST SENSE

OF THE HONOUR AND ADVANTAGE OF HIS FRIENDSHIP,

AS WELL AS FROM AN AMBITION

PUBLICLY TO DECLARE AND PERPETUATE IT,

THIS SECOND VOLUME

OF

MEMOIRS OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH

IS INSCRIBED BY

THE AUTHOR.