The Government had found him useful in affairs of the revenue, in framing interrogatories for prisoners in the Tower, in drawing up reports of plots against the Queen.

He did not in this way earn enough to support himself; but he had thus come to have some degree of access to the Queen, which he represents as being familiar and confidential, though he still perceived, as he says himself, that she did not like him.

At the first news of Essex's return to England, Bacon greeted him-- "MY LORD,--Conceiving that your Lordship came now up in the person of a good servant to see your sovereign mistress, which kind of compliments are many times _instar magnorum meritorum_, and therefore it would be hard for me to find you, I have committed to this poor paper the humble salutations of him _that is more yours than any man's, and more yours than any man_.

To these salutations I add a due and joyful gratulation, confessing that your Lordship, in your last conference with me before your journey, spake not in vain, God making it good, That you trusted we should say _Quis putasset_! Which as it is found true in a happy sense, so I wish you do not find another _Quis putasset_ in the manner of taking this so great a service.

But I hope it is, as he said, _Nubecula est, cito transibit_, and that your Lordship's wisdom and obsequious circumspection and patience will turn all to the best.
So referring all to some time that I may attend you, I commit you to God's best preservation." But when Essex's conduct in Ireland had to be dealt with, Bacon's services were called for; and from this time his relations towards Essex were altered.