Anthony Bacon, son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, entered the service of Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of Essex, and was private secretary for foreign affairs. The papers are primarily concerned with his official duties and family matters and cover the years 1579-98. The collection was used extensively by Thomas Birch in Memoirs of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 1754. This set includes Manuscripts 647-662 in the Lambeth Palace Library.