_Did Elizabeth visit Bacon at Twickenham Park?_ (Vol. ii., pp. 408.
468.).--To this question your correspondent J.I.D. replies with a quotation
from Nicols (edition of 1823), who dates her visit in 1592 or 1593. I had
looked into Nichols's first edition (1788) without finding the subject
mentioned; and I am now inclined to think, as at first, that it is
altogether a misapprehension. Sir Francis Bacon, in _His Apologie in
Certaine Imputations concerning the late Earl of Essex, written to the
Right Hon. his very Good Lord the Earle of Devonshire, Lord-lieutenant of
Ireland_. Lond. 1604, in 16mo. pp. 74., says, at p. 32.:--
"A little before that time, being about the middle of Michaelmas terme,
her Maiestie had a purpose to dine at my Lodge at Twickna[m] Parke, at
which time I had (though I professe not to be a poet) prepared a
Sonnet, directly tending and alluding to draw on her Maiesties
reconciliation to my Lord," &c. &c.
This I conceive to have reference to an intention of Elizabeth, rather than
to an accomplished fact.
At p. 14. of this work, Bacon says he had sold Twickenham park some time
ago to Reynold Nicholas. I consider Lysons to have been the first author
who mentions the subject and at _Environs_, vol. iii. (1795), p. 565.,
there is a note: "From the information of the Earl of Orford." And I
therefore conclude it to have been some mistake of Lord Orford's.