A historical sketch of Francis Bacon’s association with Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, the Shakespeare Circle, the Essex Rebellion, and Essex’s Trial.

Peter Dawkins on the interrelated circles of politicians and writers. 2019 (Bacon)

When Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, died on 22 September 1576, his son Robert, now the 2nd Earl of Essex, became a ward of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and in 1577 came to live at Burghley House amongst the Cecil household. The following year, 1578, Robert’s mother, Lady Essex, married Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the Queen’s favourite.

Lo…