He was left to employ his time as he would, and to work his way by himself.
He was not idle.

He prepared papers which he meant should come before the King, on the pressing subjects of the day.

The Hampton Court conference between the Bishops and the Puritan leaders was at hand, and he drew up a moderating paper on the _Pacification of the Church_.

The feeling against him for his conduct towards Essex had not died away, and he addressed to Lord Mountjoy that _Apology concerning the Earl of Essex_, so full of interest, so skilfully and forcibly written, so vivid a picture of the Queen's ways with her servants, which has every merit except that of clearing Bacon from the charge of disloyalty to his best friend.

The various questions arising out of the relations of the two kingdoms, now united under James, were presenting themselves.