The choice lay before him.

He seems hardly to have gone through any struggle.

He persuaded himself that he could not help himself, under the constraint of his duty to the Queen, and he did his best to get Essex condemned.
And this was not all.

The death of Essex was a shock to the popularity of Elizabeth greater than anything that had happened in her long reign.
Bacon's name also had come into men's mouths as that of a time-server who played fast and loose with Essex and his enemies, and who, when he had got what he could from Essex, turned to see what he could get from those who put him to death.

A justification of the whole affair was felt to be necessary; and Bacon was fixed upon for the distinction and the dishonour of doing it.